Summary: This is a story that introduces a new character, Annasia
Cordiare, a woman from the past who comes back with Ethan and integrates
herself into the present. I think I know where its going, but I never like
to be too certain. There will be drama, romance, and probably reason for
the severely high rating.
Distribution: Please ask, but you probably won't want it anyhow.
Reviews: Write whatever you think, I'm not affected by flames because I'm writing this for me, not you.
Disclaimer: Blah dee blah, Joss is God and owns the characters, the city, the situations, but I own Anna, and she's amazing enough for me.
This is my story, enjoy.
Of Blood and Mystics
By: T.C.G.
Things never seemed that unusual on the Hellmouth, at least not to those who were used to it. The day was unremarkable, and the Magic Shop crew was going about the business of daily living. Giles, Buffy, Tara, Willow and Xander were doing research, well, Giles was doing research and the rest were half following along half absorbed in their own conversations, which was also usual. Anya was keeping shop and playing with her money as she so enjoyed doing, counting it and running it through her fingers, occasionally glancing at Xander in promise of what was later to come. No unusual prophesies, no end of the world, no looming evil nasties to mar the day. Then two out of towners walked through the door and began looking around, making the day quite remarkable indeed.
"It isn't as if I remember all of it, it's been twenty years since I last saw the both of you, you were so young then, and so very different." Anya was the first to look up at the voice speaking. She noticed a young looking woman with pale skin, green eyes, and hair so blonde it appeared white. The others looked up as well, but they didn't notice the woman, they were too focused on her traveling companion.
Buffy was the first to comment. "Ethan, didn't someone de-invite you or something?"
"Now now, slayer, I have a present for your watcher and I wanted to personally deliver it." With that Giles looked up at his once closest companion, and he did indeed notice the striking woman who had arrived almost as a testament to the chaos Ethan worshipped.
"Anna." Was all Giles could manage to utter for a moment.
"Hello Rupert, is that all I get from you after flying the whole way to the colonies just to see you? It was an awfully long trip you know, and very exhausting."
"Can you tell me just who the hell you are and what you want with my watcher?" Buffy hated the thought of another woman from Giles past interfering with things and she was determined to make it obvious.
"Annasia Cordiare, an old friend." Anna extended her hand but Buffy backed away. "I'm sorry you don't like me. Its quite understandable, I've hated so many of his friends myself."
Giles turned to address his slayer, "Buffy, she's alright. If it's any consolation she hated Olivia undoubtedly more than you did."
Buffy blushed, remembering the awkward situation Olivia had been the cause of, but Anna decided that a more violent approach of disapproval was necessary. "I don't believe that hate even begins to extend to the depths of my loathing for the woman. She was coarse and vulgar and no GENTLEMAN would have her." Anna scowled for a moment but laughed softly at the absurdity of her outburst.
Buffy laughed at the strong speech of Giles' old friend. "You're right, Giles, I think I'm going to like her after all."
"Buffy, everyone, could I have a moment alone?" They all knew not to argue with the watcher, and made their way into the training room to allow the two mystics time alone with the strange woman.
"Anna, as much as I'm flattered that you are here, and make no mistake you are welcome to stay as long as you like, but please do not undermine me in front of my slayer again?"
"She's….. she's your?" Anna was visibly flustered and began running her fingers through the length of her hair. "But Ethan didn't—of course he didn't. I….. I didn't know Rupert. I shouldn't have come, I'm very sorry. I just, I mean, it has been so long, and I ran into Ethan and after I saw him I just knew I had to see you again also, it has been so very long."
"Anna I'm sorry, so many things have changed."
"Too many things? As in it would be better if I left you alone, or merely that we need to get to know each other again?"
"I'd like to get to know you again Anna, it would make me very happy if you would stay awhile."
"And Ethan?"
Giles took a deep breath and took a long look at the old mystic. "I suppose. After all, An, you were the only one who could ever control him."
"I don't see why it's so hard, he's really a kitten if you know him well enough."
"I doubt that. We still have some work to do here, though, so I'm afraid that I must be back to it, and undoubtedly my friends are not enjoying their current situation."
At that Xander's voice could be heard, "Don't worry G-man, we're just fine listening in from here." Willow's reproach of "Xander!" could also be heard and everyone in and out of the training room laughed a bit.
"Rupert," Anna began, "Can I meet you somewhere later? Well, maybe not tonight, I still haven't even found a place to stay. Tomorrow though?"
"Oh Anna, you're welcome to stay with me if you'd like, I've always enjoyed your, uh, your company." Ethan extended his hand out to her and she accepted it.
Giles looked less than thrilled about that arrangement, but he let it drop. "Alright then, you two go on home and meet me later tonight at my apartment, yes?"
"Yes, thank you so much, Rupert, the three of us being together will be quite fun."
"It'll be something at any rate." Giles muttered as the two Brits turned to leave.
As they moved to exit the magic shop, however, another twist of chaos was to await them; a figure huddled in a dark blanket entered the shop dragging a small girl along. "Bloody hell Dawn! Its not like I TAN!"
Spike dropped his cloak and released Dawn's hand, glancing around the room and stopping on Anna's face.
She gave him a wide-eyed look as if she were stunned by his presence.
"Do I know you, pet? Because I'd think if the slayer had introduced us before I would certainly remember. But call me Spike."
She couldn't speak, but continued staring at the vampire nervously.
"I do know you from somewhere though don't I? Pretty face like yours…." He looked at Giles and asked, "She does know, doesn't she? I mean its safe to let her in on the secret, so to speak?"
Anna spoke in a quiet voice; so small it was at the edges of being audible. "I know what you are, William."
Giles cringed, "You know him?"
"Well, yeah, he was a friend of my father's a long long time ago, a family friend you might say."
Spike looked at her again and his demon flashed for a moment. "Jareth? But that would make you…. I mean that was….. That was at least seventy years ago."
"It was about one hundred and twenty years ago, I was very young then." Anna had the look of someone who was longing for her past.
It began to occur to him slowly, "So that's what you chose, to be like us? I can't imagine why you would want that."
"I watched my mother die William. And I watched my father die because of her. Do you want to know how he died? Staked himself."
Buffy was very confused and indignant at being left out of the conversation, "So you mean to tell me that your father is a vampire? And that not only are you here with Ethan and friends with Giles but you know Spike?!?! I'm not liking this."
Anna laughed at the absurdity of the situation and then looked to Ethan, leaning on him for support, "Ethan you didn't plan this did you, because its all falling into place a bit too nicely if you ask me."
"I planned for you to come here and see Ripper, nothing more. The fact that you know the vampire is proof of chaos, not my own handiwork."
Distribution: Please ask, but you probably won't want it anyhow.
Reviews: Write whatever you think, I'm not affected by flames because I'm writing this for me, not you.
Disclaimer: Blah dee blah, Joss is God and owns the characters, the city, the situations, but I own Anna, and she's amazing enough for me.
This is my story, enjoy.
Of Blood and Mystics
By: T.C.G.
Things never seemed that unusual on the Hellmouth, at least not to those who were used to it. The day was unremarkable, and the Magic Shop crew was going about the business of daily living. Giles, Buffy, Tara, Willow and Xander were doing research, well, Giles was doing research and the rest were half following along half absorbed in their own conversations, which was also usual. Anya was keeping shop and playing with her money as she so enjoyed doing, counting it and running it through her fingers, occasionally glancing at Xander in promise of what was later to come. No unusual prophesies, no end of the world, no looming evil nasties to mar the day. Then two out of towners walked through the door and began looking around, making the day quite remarkable indeed.
"It isn't as if I remember all of it, it's been twenty years since I last saw the both of you, you were so young then, and so very different." Anya was the first to look up at the voice speaking. She noticed a young looking woman with pale skin, green eyes, and hair so blonde it appeared white. The others looked up as well, but they didn't notice the woman, they were too focused on her traveling companion.
Buffy was the first to comment. "Ethan, didn't someone de-invite you or something?"
"Now now, slayer, I have a present for your watcher and I wanted to personally deliver it." With that Giles looked up at his once closest companion, and he did indeed notice the striking woman who had arrived almost as a testament to the chaos Ethan worshipped.
"Anna." Was all Giles could manage to utter for a moment.
"Hello Rupert, is that all I get from you after flying the whole way to the colonies just to see you? It was an awfully long trip you know, and very exhausting."
"Can you tell me just who the hell you are and what you want with my watcher?" Buffy hated the thought of another woman from Giles past interfering with things and she was determined to make it obvious.
"Annasia Cordiare, an old friend." Anna extended her hand but Buffy backed away. "I'm sorry you don't like me. Its quite understandable, I've hated so many of his friends myself."
Giles turned to address his slayer, "Buffy, she's alright. If it's any consolation she hated Olivia undoubtedly more than you did."
Buffy blushed, remembering the awkward situation Olivia had been the cause of, but Anna decided that a more violent approach of disapproval was necessary. "I don't believe that hate even begins to extend to the depths of my loathing for the woman. She was coarse and vulgar and no GENTLEMAN would have her." Anna scowled for a moment but laughed softly at the absurdity of her outburst.
Buffy laughed at the strong speech of Giles' old friend. "You're right, Giles, I think I'm going to like her after all."
"Buffy, everyone, could I have a moment alone?" They all knew not to argue with the watcher, and made their way into the training room to allow the two mystics time alone with the strange woman.
"Anna, as much as I'm flattered that you are here, and make no mistake you are welcome to stay as long as you like, but please do not undermine me in front of my slayer again?"
"She's….. she's your?" Anna was visibly flustered and began running her fingers through the length of her hair. "But Ethan didn't—of course he didn't. I….. I didn't know Rupert. I shouldn't have come, I'm very sorry. I just, I mean, it has been so long, and I ran into Ethan and after I saw him I just knew I had to see you again also, it has been so very long."
"Anna I'm sorry, so many things have changed."
"Too many things? As in it would be better if I left you alone, or merely that we need to get to know each other again?"
"I'd like to get to know you again Anna, it would make me very happy if you would stay awhile."
"And Ethan?"
Giles took a deep breath and took a long look at the old mystic. "I suppose. After all, An, you were the only one who could ever control him."
"I don't see why it's so hard, he's really a kitten if you know him well enough."
"I doubt that. We still have some work to do here, though, so I'm afraid that I must be back to it, and undoubtedly my friends are not enjoying their current situation."
At that Xander's voice could be heard, "Don't worry G-man, we're just fine listening in from here." Willow's reproach of "Xander!" could also be heard and everyone in and out of the training room laughed a bit.
"Rupert," Anna began, "Can I meet you somewhere later? Well, maybe not tonight, I still haven't even found a place to stay. Tomorrow though?"
"Oh Anna, you're welcome to stay with me if you'd like, I've always enjoyed your, uh, your company." Ethan extended his hand out to her and she accepted it.
Giles looked less than thrilled about that arrangement, but he let it drop. "Alright then, you two go on home and meet me later tonight at my apartment, yes?"
"Yes, thank you so much, Rupert, the three of us being together will be quite fun."
"It'll be something at any rate." Giles muttered as the two Brits turned to leave.
As they moved to exit the magic shop, however, another twist of chaos was to await them; a figure huddled in a dark blanket entered the shop dragging a small girl along. "Bloody hell Dawn! Its not like I TAN!"
Spike dropped his cloak and released Dawn's hand, glancing around the room and stopping on Anna's face.
She gave him a wide-eyed look as if she were stunned by his presence.
"Do I know you, pet? Because I'd think if the slayer had introduced us before I would certainly remember. But call me Spike."
She couldn't speak, but continued staring at the vampire nervously.
"I do know you from somewhere though don't I? Pretty face like yours…." He looked at Giles and asked, "She does know, doesn't she? I mean its safe to let her in on the secret, so to speak?"
Anna spoke in a quiet voice; so small it was at the edges of being audible. "I know what you are, William."
Giles cringed, "You know him?"
"Well, yeah, he was a friend of my father's a long long time ago, a family friend you might say."
Spike looked at her again and his demon flashed for a moment. "Jareth? But that would make you…. I mean that was….. That was at least seventy years ago."
"It was about one hundred and twenty years ago, I was very young then." Anna had the look of someone who was longing for her past.
It began to occur to him slowly, "So that's what you chose, to be like us? I can't imagine why you would want that."
"I watched my mother die William. And I watched my father die because of her. Do you want to know how he died? Staked himself."
Buffy was very confused and indignant at being left out of the conversation, "So you mean to tell me that your father is a vampire? And that not only are you here with Ethan and friends with Giles but you know Spike?!?! I'm not liking this."
Anna laughed at the absurdity of the situation and then looked to Ethan, leaning on him for support, "Ethan you didn't plan this did you, because its all falling into place a bit too nicely if you ask me."
"I planned for you to come here and see Ripper, nothing more. The fact that you know the vampire is proof of chaos, not my own handiwork."
