Immortal: the Virtual Series
Episode 3.3: Alla Luce Del Sole
(English Translation: At the Light of the Sun)
Written by Anne
Airdate: June 11, 2006
Episode rating: K+

-"Because things are impossible, they exist, and because others are possible, they don't exist" - Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts-

The sun was so bright…fingers were touching the light. It was filled with peace and happiness…if the light could just be captured, everything would be alright, everything would return to normal. The light gently wrapped around the hand trying to capture it, sending warmth through the body.

'I am here if you need me.'

Whose was that voice? Where did it come from? It seemed so familiar and yet…changed. The light glowed now an abnormal gray color…what was happened? The hand pulled away in fear.

'They are coming. Call upon me for help.'

Who? Call out for whom? The now dark gray sunlight was moving in wisps towards it target with ferocity and rage. And suddenly it stopped in fear. And from out of nowhere, a loud tiger's growl, booming through the sky like thunder, scared the abnormal gray light…and it reverted back to its normal shade.

--

"My queen," a servant bowed and kneeled at his lady's feet, "We have found him."

The Queen of the Beholders looked at her servant apprehensively, wondering if she should trust him or kill him.

"He is living under a mortal name, a human name," the servant stuttered.

"I must go about this quietly," the Queen said, "Vulcan will not be pleased after all this time."

"My Queen, he does not remember," the servant squeaked. She turned and glared at him, "the spell our Lord created, made him human and mad him so not to remember anything."

"Damn him," the Queen cursed her husband.

"But I already am damned," the Lord of the Underworld entered the room, "You leave that boy be."

"He is a god!" The Queen shouted, "And my brother! You took him away like you took so much else away!"

"I took so much away because you were out of control," the Lord growled and snatched the Queen's wrist tightly, "You're still out of control. Remember I can destroy you as fast as I created you."

"Then do it," the Queen smiled, knowing he was lying, "Kill me now and be done with it." The Lord glowered at her for a moment before tossing her on the floor and leaving the room. "Find him and break that spell," the Queen seethed from the floor, "or bring him here."

"Yes, my lady," the servant bowed out.

--

Sean Montgomery felt…odd. The hairs on the back of his neck had prickled upwards and his gut told him something very, very big was going to happen, and soon. He wondered…

He had, the other day, finally built up the courage to start wearing a necklace that was given to him by his adoptive parents, a rather large fire opal. With the necklace came a note. You'll find your way to us. He didn't know his real parents, but his adoptive parents loved him like their own son before they died.

He didn't notice, but a small flame had begun to burn inside of the stone.

--

It was early in the morning, and Angel was already up making breakfast. Buffy who was sleeping, had been awakened by the smell of eggs and pancakes. Buffy walked into the kitchen as quietly as she could. Angel was hunched over the stove, wordlessly making the food. His whole demeanor had changed since she had come home with Tristan.

"Angel?" She called to him, but he ignored her. "Angel?" She tried again. "Angel!" She put her hand on his shoulder. His quick reflexes caught her wrist and held her there.

"Oh, Buffy," Angel let go of her, "I'm sorry."

"Why didn't you answer me the first time I called you?" She began to gently rub his back with one hand.

"I was thinking about things," Angel replied, "Must have been thinking a little too hard." He chuckled lightly.

Buffy smiled, but knew there was something else troubling him. But, she decided to leave it alone for the time being. "So, anything special in those pancakes?"

"Oh, no, I just tossed in a few fresh strawberries," Angel beamed. Buffy grinned and wrapped her arms around him, "You've been much better since we got Tristan back."

"I am, but I am worried about you. You seem happier, but…" Buffy trailed.

"Good morning!" Kathy blithely entered the kitchen, "And how are you two on this lovely morning?"

"Fine, you seem happy yourself," Buffy answered, detaching herself from Angel and sitting down at the table.

"I am, you know? Everything seems right in the world for once. The twins are safe and sound, you two are as happy as can be and Sean…oh Sean," Kathy sighed dreamily.

"Here we go, again," Angel playfully rolled his eyes as placed the pancakes on a large plate.

"I mean, I know I sound crazy right now, but Sean just makes me so…happy…it's like you two," when Buffy and Angel gave her a look, she corrected herself, "Well, I mean, without the whole vampire slayer-in-love-with-a-vampire part. But we've had our ups-and-downs too, you know. Sean…I wonder what he's doing right now…"

--

Hear me, brother…I am here for you

The voice kept popping in and out of his head all day and night. But Sean had no sister, and yet this female voice kept calling him brother. And there was another voice, a deeper, foreign voice, in a different tongue that urged him not to listen.

You belong with me, in my world, our world. This mortal world is no place for someone like you.

Someone like him? And wasn't he a mortal? He wasn't extraordinary in any special way. Sure, he could fight demons pretty well, but that had taken years of practice, hadn't it? The foreign voice told him to go to Angel, to ask Angel for help.

Just look into the necklace, and you will find your way back to me.

His instincts didn't trust the female voice, but there was something that rang honest and sincere…but his family was with Kathy. He knew no other. He had lived alone for so many years…why was this voice appearing now?

I've been searching for you since you were taken from me.

What was this voice talking about? Taken? He never remembered being taken from anywhere…only from the foster home where his adoptive parents had found him. Sean decided to ignore the voice and sleep…he'd been so tired. He didn't know why either…

--

Dawn and Kathy went out later that day and met up with Gabby at the mall. Dawn gave her a small peck on the lips and clasped her hand. Kathy sighed and rolled her eyes. "You'd do the same if Sean were here," Dawn smiled and retorted. Kathy smiled as she thought of Sean.

"I haven't seen him in a while," Gabby said, "How's he been?"

"Wonderful," Kathy danced happily around, "He took me to an art show last night, and then we went for a walk through Central Park…"

"She can't stop talking about him," Dawn murmured in Gabby's ear.

"…and then he bought another ice cream! Can you believe that? He…"

"They love each other very much," Gabby whispered back.

--

'Call upon me for help'

Where had Buffy heard that voice before? She just couldn't place it, and it was so familiar that she wouldn't stop thinking about it until she knew who it was.

"Hello?"

'You need not speak aloud.'

'Who are you? And why are you here?'

'You don't remember from oh, so long ago? My mark still resides upon you.'

'Yes, yes, I do remember…why have you returned? Why now?'

'Because of your children, Tristan and Kera. They are both here.'

'Well of course they're both here. They're right in there…'

'No, they're here, in a way that indescribable.'

'What?'

'A new friend of Dawn and Kathy's…you will see.'

'I'm still way…'

"Buffy?"

Buffy dropped the dish she'd been washing continually as she spoke to the mysterious voice. "Faith, oh my goodness, I didn't see you there."

"Lost in your own dream world, B?" Faith chuckled.

"I guess," Buffy sighed. What did the voice knows about her children? A new friend? What was the tiger talking about?

"B, I had a strange vision a few weeks ago," Faith sat down, ringing her hands together nervously.

Buffy instantaneously whirled on her, "What about?"

"Connor," Faith said, "He was killed in it."

"What?" Buffy's jaw dropped.

"B, I've never said this before in my life…but I'm scared, I'll prevent this from happening but…watching him die?"

"I know how it feels, Faith," Buffy put a hand on her sister slayer, "I had dreams like that about Angel, a long time ago." Faith looked up, with hope, 'Angel's still here!' she thought.

"What actually happened was that he didn't physically die…he lost his soul and became…"

"Angelus." Buffy solemnly nodded her head.

--

"Oh, Sean," Kathy giggled with several bags in her hands, "We've come to visit you!" Dawn and Gabby were behind her, holding several more bags from their shopping outing.

'Help him!'

"What was that?" Kathy dropped her bags and looked around to see if anyone else was in the house.

"What was what?"

'Go! Go now!'

"That! That voice!"

"Kathy, there's no voice," Dawn looked at Kathy oddly.

"Sean?" Kathy ran up the stairs to find Sean kneeling on the floor in his room. "Sean? Are you alright?"

"Kathy," he still hadn't turned around to face her, "I've been hearing voices, so many voices," and when he finally did turn around, Kathy gasped, "Help me."

"Sean, you're eyes!" Kathy carefully moved towards him, "Their red, and such a fiery red."

'Run! Run now!'

Kathy grabbed Sean and they both ran down the stairs. "Let's go!" Kathy cried to Dawn and Gabby, but when the reached the door, two strange people were standing, blocking the door.

"Hello, my brother," a female voice said, "It is so good to finally see you again."

-Part 2-

Kera watched from her mirror the turmoil that was going on among her family. But she couldn't stop it, she couldn't interfere. Not yet anyways. "Don't you love the smell of fear," Tristan said from the doorway of the room, "Look at them. Helpless. Weak. Stupid. They don't deserve to be called our family. We're better than them." Kera let her anger run through her veins, and she punched him. She punched him so hard that he flew into the back wall.

"Don't you DARE say that," Kera seethed, "They're not the ones who're weak. You are!" Tristan was surprised at his sister's strength and her words.

"Weak, you say?" Tristan got up and grabbed Kera by her neck. She, in response, kicked him where she knew it would hurt.

"Weak doesn't always refer to physical strength, Tristan," Kera warned.

"Then tell me what it does mean in my case, dear philosophizing sister," Tristan smirked.

"Your soul," Kera replied calmly, "Your soul cries out, but no one hears it. You let your anger consume you. Become you. You hide everything that you think makes you weak. Don't hide it, Tristan. You make yourself weaker by the moment if you do."

Tristan's face contorted into a mixture of anger, sadness, and fear, for he knew she spoke the truth. "Your view on weakness is completely distorted, sister."

"Then why do I see fear in your eyes?" Kera asked, "Tristan, this is not how it's supposed to be. Help me. Don't let the queen take over our lives. Again. Look at what she's doing."

Just then, a sunbeam came into the room and reflected of Kera's mirror, and into Tristan's eyes. Tristan stumbled back and became very shaken. Kera didn't know it, but he was having a vision. She gently approached him after a few moment, "Tristan, are you alright?" He looked up at Kera, kicked her back and began to run, but not before he said, "You'll never defeat her. She's knows all, just watch the mirror."

Kera turned back to see her. "Oh no," Kera breathed, "No, I have to help them." She grabbed her father's sword and ran.

--

"B, there's something out there. Something big. And it's coming for us," Faith said, "It's in my gut."

"I know, Faith," Buffy sighed.

"You know what?" Angel entered the room, newspaper in hand.

"Angel, do you get the feeling that something big is about to happen?" Faith asked. Angel paled and thought of the deal he made with Hank.

"Faith was telling me about a dream she had…like the ones I used to have about you…"

"About who?"

"Connor," Faith answered. What little color was left in Angel's face drained away (and that's saying something for a 279-year-old vampire).

"Angel, are you alright?" Buffy got up and cupped his cheek, "Do you need…"

"No," Angel choked out, "No, I'm fine." And he turned on his heel and walked out of the room. Buffy and Faith glanced at each other before following him into the master bedroom.

"Angel, what's really the matter?" Buffy pressed on.

"I did it for you!" Angel cried out, "I did it so you could have him back! It killed me seeing you brokenhearted! And now…"

"Angel, what are you talking about?" Buffy looked more worried than ever.

"The guilt is eating at me like a slow poison," Angel wasn't talking to either of them anymore, but to himself. He seemed to have forgotten that the two Slayers were in the room, "Everyday, everyday I see your faces more clearly, each day I know you might not be there the next, because of what I've done…I deserve to go to hell forever for what I've done!"

"Angel," Faith finally couldn't take his crazed talking anymore and went up and punched him. Buffy cried out, but Faith said, "No, whatever you've done, whatever it is that's going to happen has NOTHING to do with you."

"No, no, you don't understand…"

"You helped me during the worst time of my life, when I didn't deserve anything, or anyone," Faith reminded him, "You haven't even done anything and you're beating yourself up."

"I have," Angel whimpered, "I've done the worst thing possible. I'm sorry, Buffy, I'm so sorry."

"Angel, you're scaring me," Buffy was at the point of tears now, "I've never seen you this…crazed, this…this maniacal…what happened?"

"I can't," Angel started murmuring to himself, "I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't…"

--

"Brother?" Sean cried out, "Who the hell are you? Breaking into my home? What do you want?"

"Only you, brother" the Queen of the Beholders stepped into the mortal world for the first time in a long time.

"Stop calling me that!" Sean shouted, pushing Kathy aside, "I'm not your brother!"

"Of course you don't remember, yet," the Queen continued to speak in a soothing tone, "But the changes…you kept me in your heart." She walked up to him and fingered the firestone necklace he wore. As she touched it, Sean let out a cry of pain, and his eyes, along with the fiery red, had flecks of gold in them.

"Leave him alone!" Kathy made an attempt to go after the Queen, but the Queen stopped her with a wave of her hand, "Let me go!"

Dawn and Gabby suddenly grabbed the nearby weapons on the wall that Sean had up as decoration and swung them at the two apparent minions guarding the door. While they were fighting the Queen said to Kathy, "You're in love with him. How touching. It is always common for us to take mortal lovers."

"Who are you?" Sean growled, in a deeper voice that shocked Kathy.

"Look into your heart, and you'll know everything," the Queen lightly brushed her fingers across his face.

Dawn was just barely managing to overcome the Beholder she was struggling with. Gabby on the other hand, wasn't faring so well. "You think you can defeat us?" the Beholder growled, "You overestimate your chances, missy."

"I think you underestimate us, quite a bit," Gabby smirked as she landed a kick to the Beholder's gut. At that moment, a bang could be heard on the door. Soon after, the door was broken open by…

"Kari!" Dawn screamed, "Get out of here!" Kari looked around and saw the Queen standing over Sean, while a helpless Kathy looked on.

"It's you," she spat, unsheathing the sword from her back. The Queen wasn't paying attention to her, so Kari threw the sword. It sliced through the Queen.

"Who dares to try and…" the Queen snarled before she saw her attacker, "…oh, it's you. I shouldn't have even bothered sending your brother here, when now I can just kill you myself." She yanked the sword out of herself and sent it back to Kari.

"I'd like to see you try," Kari glared back at her, with determination in her eyes. As they were about to fight, a loud scream pierced the air. The Beholder fighting Gabby had scratched her across the neck, not causing blood to seep out, but a clear, transparent silver liquid.

"You idiot!" The Queen yelled, "You know what happens when we touch mortals! Curse you!"

"I'm so sorry, my Queen," the Beholder trembled.

"I'll come back for you, you brat, and dear brother," she looked at Sean, "I won't be forgetting you either." And with that the Queen and her two minions disappeared in a silver wisp. Gabby held her neck where the Beholder had wounded her, while Dawn walked over to see how she was.

"Who was that?" Kathy asked, now caring for a trembling Sean.

"The Queen of the Beholders," Kari answered.

"What did she want?"

"She wanted Sean," Kari sighed.

"That woman was saying he was her brother," Kathy looked at Kari more inquisitively now, "Why?"

"I…I don't know," Kari replied nervously.

"Look, you guys go home," Kathy said to Dawn and Gabby, "I can't leave Sean here alone." Sean at the moment was trembling on the ground with his hands protecting his head. "Tell Buffy and Angel that…we were nearly mugged or something."

"You're not going to tell them the truth?" Kari inquired. If she wanted to start to change the future, this would be a good starting point.

"They don't need to know," Kathy said.

"Yes, they do! And if you don't tell them," Kari turned to Dawn and Gabby, "I will."

Kathy sighed, "Fine. But tell them at least not to come here. I need time alone with him."

"Alright," Dawn said, "Come on. We have to get you cleaned up too." She put her arm around Gabby and walked with Kari out the door. After they'd left, Kathy turned back to Sean.

"Come on, my man," she helped pick him up off the floor, "We're getting you into a bed."

"My sister," Sean said in that same deep voice, "She's my sister…I'm remembering…" Kathy looked at him, worriedly.

"You believe her?" she asked softly.

"Memories, Kathy, so many memories," Sean whimpered, "They're coming back. Please, Kathy, whatever happens, stay with me, just stay with me."

"You know I will," Kathy gently kissed his hand, "I promise. I love you, you big lug. It's pretty hard to live without you."

"I love you too, Kathy," he cupped his hand around her cheek. Suddenly, in another wisp, the Queen appeared in Sean's bedroom.

"Oh, my brother," the Queen glided over to the two of them, "I'm sorry you had to suffer this way. But you needed to know the truth," she glanced at Kathy, "I see this mortal girl is still with you."

"Excuse me, the mortal girl has a name, you know," Kathy spat back at her, still not believing what this woman said.

"I know, Kathy," the Queen replied calmly, "I know everything about you, you and Vulcan, your family…"

"Vulcan? His name is Sean!" Kathy yelled back at her. Sean squeezed her hand to warn her not to do anything rash.

"Sean, such a pitiful name, for such a strong being…stupid mortals…you can't trust them with anything," the Queen seemed to sigh, "Come Vulcan, we're going home."

"This is my home, sister," Sean said, but in the same strange voice he had earlier, "With Kathy."

"You prefer being with her over me?" the Queen began to get angry.

"I love her," Sean said, "And I can't be without her."

-Part 3-

"You can't what?" Buffy grabbed onto Angel's shoulders, "Angel, I need you to talk to me. I need you to tell me what's going on!"

"Please, Buffy, don't…you'll loathe me," Angel said, "I can't take that too along with this."

"I won't hate you," Buffy said, "I can't hate you Angel! I'm too damn in love with you to hate you!"

"I'm not ready…this is something I have to bear alone right now," Angel seemed to calm down upon hearing Buffy's words, "I'll tell you…soon."

Buffy sighed, "Fine. But you can't be a total basket case again, or I will make you tell me, even if I have to beat it out of you."

"And I'll be here to back her up," Faith added.

"Buffy! Angel!"

"Oh, now what?" Buffy scowled as she and Faith went out into the kitchen.

"Buffy," Dawn said breathlessly.

"Gabriella, what happened to you?" Buffy immediately saw the wound on her neck.

"We were attacked at Sean's house," Gabby replied.

"Who's this?" Faith pointed to Kari. Buffy's gaze wandered to where Faith was pointing and locked eyes with Kari. 'Kera…this is my little girl, all grown up!' Buffy instantly thought, 'No. No it can't be. Kera's sleeping in her crib right now.'

"Sorry!" Kari had been looking at Buffy, "I'm Kari…Kari Dawson. I just moved here."

"And what happened at Sean's," Buffy questioned again.

"There was a woman, a woman and two minions," Dawn began, "The woman seemed to be talking to Sean, saying that he was her brother. Sean's eyes were a fierce red and yellow, and he was in pain…so we tried to fight the two minions who blocked the front door. They were strong. Too strong, but then when one of them scratched Gabby, the woman seemed angered and yelled 'you know what happens when we touch mortals!' and then they disappeared."

"Wait, where's K?" Faith asked.

"She's staying with Sean," Dawn answered, "She said not to worry and not to come over. She needed time alone with him."

"Who was this woman?"

"The Queen of the Beholders," Kari answered, "she's powerful. When she wants something she gets it."

"And she definitely wanted Sean," Dawn looked worriedly at her sister.

"Come on, Gabriella," Faith said, "There's a first aid kit in the back. Let's get you fixed up." The pair went into the other room, leaving Dawn, Kari, and Buffy alone to talk.

'Mother, oh, how beautiful you look. You still look happy, even though everything's about to turn upside-down.' Kera thought to herself. "One of the reason I moved here was because I was told by…a friend that there would be a Queen who would try and take the prophecy child that's supposed to destroy the world."

"How do you know about that?" Buffy's eyes narrowed. There was something very off about this girl.

"My friend…m-my teacher found the prophecy among his ancient texts," Kari answered. She was figuring out her own way to get them to try and help. "Look, all I know is, is that Sean isn't the child she's after. She called him brother. This child has no relation to her," Kari said, "Wait, how do you know about the prophecy?" Kari decided to be coy.

"It's my son who's in that prophecy," Buffy stated.

"Buffy, maybe Kari can help us," Dawn suggested, "She seems to know a lot about this Queen."

"How much?"

"A lot," Kari said, "I would be glad to help you, if it means that the world will survive and your son goes down the right path. I'll tell you right now, not all prophecies come true. And I will help you make sure this one doesn't either."

--

'She lures you into a false sense of security and power. She uses you.'

It was that voice again. That comforting voice. The vision didn't help either. Could it be right? Could that happen? Just because of what he could do? No, no it was impossible. The Queen told him who he really was, loved him, didn't try and shut him out ever.

'You can choose your destiny. Choose it well. Think of those who love you. Those loved ones who you turned your back on.'

'They turned their backs on me. They never understood me.' And there it was again, that sunlight. That bright annoying sunlight that showed him was could have been. Picnics in the park, in the sunlight, the whole family. Trips to the zoo, to museums, to amusement parks. Quality time with the family. School, girlfriends, cars, jobs, the beach, everything that a normal child could have. That was all he ever wanted.

'And you can have it.'

No. It was too late. He was happy where he was. Independent. Free. No attachments or emotions holding him down. Nothing. But there was that light. At the light of the sun, he was with his family, with all the memories he wanted to have. But they would never understand, never could understand.

'No! Tristan, No!'

'I'm sorry my son.'

'Go to hell mother.'

The sound of a neck snapping.

A daughter's scream.

A father and husband's rage.

That was what he relished in. That was his comfort. The pain.

…or was it?