***Author's Note***
Yes, yes, I'm still alive. Sorry for how long it's taken me to get this thing out but it's been one heckuva year. I just want to say a quick thank you to all of you who gave me reviews for The Forgotten -your words were all so very wonderful and inspiring -and it's one of the reasons why it's taken me forever to get going on a sequel. I really don't wanna disappoint anybody.
Now, reason number two…. Now I know it's here somewhere…. Oh yes, SHAMELESS PLUG! I recently published my own original novel StarChild -now available where eBooks are sold (except Amazon T.T)
Okay, but the main reason is that I wasn't sure if I should put out the two months Emily and Darwin spend with Angel prior to meeting Buffy and the gang or not. To do that, I needed to watch at least the season before last of Angel and that seemed a lot of work and I really wanted to get working on this… so I said "meh, rebel assault" and launched this thing. There will be some references to those months spent in LA but it shouldn't affect the story. Key word there: should. I'll get around to writing that out… eventually… someday… no, really, I swear….
Enjoy.
SMG
Rebirth: Prelude to Lost
A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fan Fiction
Sequel to The Forgotten
Disclaimer: *snatches BTVS characters off Joss Whedon's shelf, leaving bags of sand* … _ … *back wall opens revealing a life-size Serenity ship with a "Security" sign attached, all weapons locked and loaded* O.O Crap! Forgot the golden rule! Never steal from a nerd with cash! *flees*
Part One: The Army of Mara
Chapter One
Okay, as far as awkward moments go, this one probably takes the cake.
Buffy never believed in fate or anything like that. Well, okay, she was sorta "fated" to be the Chosen One and all that, but, other than that, no way Jose was anyone other than her the master of her destiny. Still, she couldn't help but feel like something had set up this meeting.
Because, seriously, how the heck else would she be sitting at her dining table across from Darwin Brown AKA Darwin Holtz, star of the latest chapter in the Watcher Council's Biography of Suck-itude. And let's not forget his companion, the vampire girl Emily who hadn't said a word since being invited inside; she just moved over to the darkest corner of the room like she was ready to disappear at a moment's notice.
Darwin took a polite sip of the instant coffee Buffy had offered then set the cup aside as far away from him as the table would allow. "Ah, yes, of course. I had heard about the recent misfortune the Council had suffered. Though I clearly had no love for any of my former co-workers, it is always sad to hear about the loss of life. I supposed I always just assumed the Forgotten Archive would stay hidden even if the worse should befall them. It appears I was mistaken."
Buffy squirmed a little before making her body sit still. She felt like apologizing for prying into this man's private affairs. "When Angel said you were coming he didn't exactly give me a heads up who I was supposed to be expecting." She glanced behind her at Emily. "How do you know Angel, anyway?"
Emily's eyes tightened around the edges but otherwise she didn't react.
"We ran into him a couple of months ago in Los Angeles," Darwin supplied, bringing the spotlight off the vampire. "We were in the middle of tracking down a group of demons. Angel provided us with assistance."
Something was popping up on Buffy's Slayer Radar. Her eyes flickered over to Giles. It wasn't just her; she could tell by the expression on his face that he thought something was more than a little odd too.
Weirdest thing, there was something freaky familiar about Emily –almost like this wasn't the first time she and Buffy had met. Probably because of all that stuff Buffy had read back at the rubble formerly known as the Council Headquarters.
Without warning, Kennedy jumped to her feet. "Okay, am I the only one dying to know what happened in the mega-battle between Emily and Eve?"
Once again all eyes focused on Emily and this time it wasn't just her eyes that twitched.
"So what happened?" Kennedy was either oblivious to the tense atmosphere around the vampire or uncaring –it was always hard to tell with Kennedy. "Did you kill her or hide her away somewhere? If you killed her, how'd you keep your soul? And what about those other vamps and that guy vamp, Vinc-"
Emily's eyes locked on the approaching Slayer, silencing Kennedy's relentless questions. The tension was so palpable it spiked all the hairs on the back of Buffy's neck.
Emily pushed away from the wall. "I'm going to get some air."
"Wait, I thought vampires don't need air," Andrew piped up from the couch in the living room.
Everyone stared at him.
Slowly it dawned on him. "Oh, right. Never mind." He hid behind his Ultimate Spider-Man comic book, ears glowing bright red.
Casting a sidelong glance at Darwin, Emily left the room. The only noise she made was when she closed the front door behind her.
"I'm sorry about that," Darwin said solemnly. "It's been… rather difficult for her these last few months. Returning to Los Angeles after all that happened took its toll on her."
"What happened to her in LA?" Dawn asked. She'd gotten the Cliff Notes version on the way home.
Darwin grimaced and stared at Dawn apologetically. "Forgive me, but it's not my tale to tell. Besides, that's not the reason I'm here." He focused on Buffy again. "We came here to talk to you about a very serious threat that is on its way here."
"What kind of threat?" Buffy asked, all ears.
"There's an army on the way here called the Army of Mara."
"The Army of Mara?" Giles stepped forward, concern coloring his face. "I've heard of them. They worship the demon Gaylen, yes?"
"And I'm betting it's safe to say this Gaylen guy wasn't your My Little Ponies demon," Xander quipped. "'Cause, well, let's face it, we're us."
Giles nodded. "He was a warrior demon –a conqueror. Rumor has it he was the one who first helped Alexander the Great then Napoleon rise to power."
"See, I like how you're saying everything in the past tense," Willow said. "Usually that's a good sign. And yet I'm thinking it's a not so good sign."
"Well," Both Darwin and Giles spoke at the same time.
"Sorry, go ahead," Darwin waved a hand for the other gentleman to continue.
"It's your meeting."
"She's your Slayer."
"It's funny, really. I'm used to being the only knowledgeable one in the room."
"Believe me, I can relate. Just the other day –"
"Um, hello?" Buffy interrupted, raising her hand. "Dumb, non-knowledgeable Americans still needing backstory here."
Both former Watchers cleared their throats and muttered apologies.
Giles took up the slack. "After betraying Napoleon by convincing him to send his fleet into Russia in the dead of winter, Gaylen was eventually defeated. If memory serves his heart was pierced by an enchanted sword and his soul banished from this dimension. Not long after that, his army disbanded for the most part. Only his most devout of followers remain, ever searching for a way to resurrect their fallen master."
"But it's been almost two hundred years," Dawn pointed out. "Shouldn't they have given up by now?"
"These are fanatics more or less," Giles answered. "It's not surprising they're still out and about. But why are they coming here?" he asked Darwin.
Darwin shrugged. "Isn't it obvious? They've found a way to reach their master's realm."
"How?" Kennedy asked, sitting on the armrest of Willow's chair. "Did they find some 'Get Out of Dimension Free' card?"
He laughed dryly at Kennedy's humor. "Close. They plan to use the Key."
All at once, the atmosphere in the room changed. Panic coursed through Buffy's body, freezing her to the core. Giles was a bit more composed but the concern was there, peeking through his eyes. A frightened look passed between Xander and Willow.
Dawn was on her feet, moving toward Darwin. "B-but I thought the Key was a one-time-use only thing." Her eyes were so wide the whites showed all around her iris.
"Normally, yes, the Key's power is dormant. However, the Mara believe if they can revert the Key back to its original state they'll be able to use it. It won't be nearly as powerful as it was but it'll be enough to open single doors between worlds."
"Can they do that?" Dawn's voice sounded hysterical.
Buffy immediately composed herself and tugged on her sister's arm. "Dawn –"
Dawn ignored Buffy, focusing all her attention on Darwin. "Can they do that?"
Darwin glanced around at the faces staring at him before he settled on the young girl. "I cannot say for sure –the research is very vague. All I know is they believe they have it in their power and will stop at nothing until they have the Key in the grasp. And since you," he pointed at Buffy "are the Key's last known guardian…"
"…they're coming for me," Buffy finished.
"Precisely, which is why we came to warn you."
The Slayer chewed on her lip for a moment before meeting Darwin's eyes. "About the Key… what exactly did Angel tell you?"
"Only that it is very precious to you; he wouldn't say more than that. And I won't press for details either. So long as I know it is either in your possession or you have access to it, it's not necessary for us to know specifically what it is."
Buffy met Giles's eyes again, an unspoken message passing between. Even though Buffy no longer saw Giles as the mentor she'd once had she still valued his opinion above most everyone else's aside from her own. Sure everything seemed on the up and up about this guy but she wasn't comfortable letting these strangers in on Dawn's secret identity –especially now with this new threat.
"Okay," she said finally. "Tell me everything you know about these guys."
Several minutes later, Darwin pushed open the front door and stepped onto the porch. Emily was seated on the steps, a half-smoked cigarette dangling from her lips.
"They've got an attic you should be alright in; only one window to worry about. It's only for one night. I can stay up there with you to make it easier," he said, settling down onto the step beside her.
She stamped out the cig, knowing how much he disapproved of her habit. "And how long are we going to pretend Dawn isn't the Key?"
He glanced over at her. "You caught that too, eh?"
"Difficult not to. Remind me to challenge them all to a poker game later."
That brought out a chuckle.
Staring over her shoulder at the door, Emily's brow furrowed with worry. "She's so young."
"Older than you, yes? You always did have a weak spot for children."
She turned back around. "They're scared."
Darwin nodded. "But they're more than prepared for what's coming with the lot they've got." He glanced sideways at her. "They don't need us."
Emily said nothing.
He patted her on the shoulder then stood up. "I'll go see if I can be of further use." He looked back down at her. "We'll leave as soon as the sun sets tomorrow evening."
Still the vampire remained quiet, deep in thought. After a moment, her head moved to the side like she was listening to something.
Or someone.
"Emily."
She jerked as if she'd forgotten he was even there.
"Are you alright?"
She nodded a little absentmindedly. "Just a little tired."
"We could leave now, if you'd prefer. Find some motel. You know how I always love those arguments about nailing bed linens to the walls."
She met his gaze unwavering and said in a tone that left no room for argument, "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "An impossible request."
She rolled her eyes, visibly fighting against the smile trying to cross her lips. "Baka. Jigoku ni ochiro."
"Love you too, precious," he said, slipping through the door once more, leaving the vampire alone.
Hopefully alone.