Title: Lessons of the Heart
Author: Redd Summers (ReddSummers@yahoo.com)
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Set after the end of "Normal Again" then AU. When Dawn is targeted and Buffy's left in the hospital, it's up to Spike to keep the promise he made to Buffy the night she died. To protect Dawn until the end of the world… even if it means his own death.
Spoilers: Anything is up for grabs, people. I do not intentionally put spoilers in, but realize that they may show up. The whole 6 seasons thus far. Do not worry about future spoilers, I do not read anything posted about unaired episodes. Mere speculation and inane hopes.
Feedback: Constructive. I welcome
comments as well as criticism, don't be shy, just don't be rough. Let's keep it
all hugs and puppies.
Distribution: Vampyr Dust.
Everyone else: Want? ASK. Take. Have. I don't mind this being reposted
somewhere else, but I do want to know where it's at. And I must be properly
credited.
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the characters associated within the show were created by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and FOX. Any resemblance to persons either living or undead is strictly unintentional.
Authors Notes: Once known as "Near Dawn,"
this story has largely developed since my first idea for this story. Unfortunately, I have a very hard time
writing when I don't know anyone is reading.
If you review, I'll love you forever!
Seriously, it's terribly daunting to write for no audience, so please
let me know about what you like and what you don't. This will be novel length eventually, but
it's in it's baby stages right now.
Review to make it grow!
The steam rose from the ground, plumes mixing with the salt sodden ocean air creating an intoxicating fragrance rare to find in Southern California this time of year. The smell of fresh rain, wet grass, and tangy salt mixed together forming an unholy alliance in the air. For a seemingly charming place called Sunnydale, this was just one more thing to add to the list of all things unholy.
Gathered in a clearing deep in the density of the forest, a handful of rather large demons came together in the form of a giant pinnacle. Each demon carried the burden of wearing a bulky set of three different robes, each more ornate than the previous layer. They handled thick black and green candles, the flames dancing on the wick with the slight movement of the chilly wind. Their green skin glowed in the dim yellow light, casting eerie shadows across their already eerie forms. They had bulging black eyes that seemed to suck in any stray light, as if they were black holes in space. Five stood in the pinnacle – only these five remained of their once proud warrior culture.
From the silence of the J'teniu, the leader, located at the head of the pinnacle, began chanting. The incantation was long and overdrawn, like most magickal rites. Calling the powers, seeking the elements, and communing with the Universe itself was just hard enough to say a few actual phrases of a particular ancient language and then stretch it out with utter bullshit. The prominent religions on the planet realized that all you had to do was say one well placed Latin phrase and you could set things on fire or levitate objects with your mind. Of course, to counter-act this, in light if the general public knew, chaos would most certainly follow, they recorded magickal rites so insanely drawn out and pompous sounding that most of the population wouldn't try. They were too lazy. Added to the fact, most of the religions currently held contempt for the "old ways" and labeled any real practitioner of the dark arts as following Satan or whatever they believed to be evil.
As the leader finally spoke the ending words, the other four demons bowed their bulbous heads and chanted along with their leader. "So mote it be," formed from a low guttural repetition until the air around them froze the flames of the candles. Each demon looked to his candle, gazing with astonishment, seeing the peaked ball on the end of the candle. This is what they came for. This was the sign.
The leader broke the silence by throwing his hood back and laughing with a fervor of happiness. "The sign! It is true, brothers. Our time is at hand!"
The demon off to his right raised his candle as if it were some kind of prize. The others followed his actions. When at last the leader raised his candle, he screamed out to the sky "Show us!"
Lightning shot from the previously dormant rain clouds, filling the sky with a shockingly bright white luminosity. The lightning played in the air, as if it tried to change its destination by itself. Finally, after the slight resistance, a single bolt shot down to the ground, and in a blaze of fury and fire, it split and arched in five different directions. Each candle tip exploded in fire, the ice incinerated instantly, and each demon felt the harsh electricity as it covered their leathery skin and coursed through their veins. One by one, they fell to the marshy ground into a deep unconscious state. The leader was the last to fall, and just as the darkness claimed him, he saw the answer to his plea in his mind.
Now he was certain.
The Key was in Sunnydale; being protected by the Slayer no less.
His eyes rolled up and back into his head as the darkness claimed him.
To Be Continued…