"Tales of D'Hoffryn…"
Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .com...
Summary: While saddled with the job of tending the discombobulated First Evil, the Lord of all Things Vengeful tells a few tales of his (well, his people's) exploits with some old friends…
"Sunset…"
Part XI…
"Oh…Lovely…" a grim Buffy banged at the interior of the vault door of the Bank of Sunnydale… "My protector…That goddamn fool!" she glared.
Well, this is a fine kettle…One hundred plus years of waiting to resolve this matter…And yes, I admit it was my mistake to trust in that bitch of a vengeance demon, Halfreck, and my dear protectors and mentors of the Council…And my fool husband decides it's time to be overprotective.
Well, thank God and that vengeance Lord, D'Hoffryn for my not being troubled with a soul for the time being…Able to focus clearly on our own self-interest, just this once.
Hmmn…She pondered. Given it'll take a while to bash through this door or the wall…Perhaps it's time to negotiate?
Ummn…No…Soulless I may be for the nonce but no fool am I, even in this ridiculous Yank skeletal frame…She frowned at herself in the reflection on the vault's metal door. He wants me to offer myself, that's clear…And while I may reserve that for a last-ditch effort, not quite yet the time.
"William?!" she cried. "Will? I'm hurt! Darling?! Help!
Help?"
Hmmn…
Well, it was worth a try…
For the Lord's sake? Isn't he monitoring me in here? What if I had been injured?
Sometimes that man is so thoughtless…
"Hello, I say, God? Cicely Addams Buffy Summers Walthrop here…" Lord, what a ridiculous name…"Buffy"? Sounds like a pet rabbit or something…Not even short for Elizabeth? A name with some character…
"…I have rather a complaint to make…And I demand action, forthwith!" she cried. "Do as you like with me, you sodden, cowardly bastard…Abandoning your Duty to a bevy of poor young women…But spare my husband! William's done nothing to deserve this, you know that! God! God, damn you! You'd better step up and help out here or so help me…Even if I get my soul back, I'll be considering taking up with the other team, quite seriously, I assure you! Now see here…!"
"Mrs. Walthrop?" A young woman's voice… Buffy whirling to eye…
Hmmn…
"So…" she regarded Anyanka coolly. "You must be the other vengeance bitch, the cause of all this current disturbance…"
…..
"It's a hideous situation, Mr. Wyndham-Price…?" Dru tried the name apologetically as she stood quietly before the two Watchers in their gear.
"Yes, Wyndham-Price, Miss Waverly." Wesley as politely as he could manage, Ronsom nervously staring at the quiet, clearly shy yet rather dignified in her way, figure in a strangely appealing combination of antique and modern dress.
"I hope you understand…" Wesley indicated the crucifix in Ronsom's hand and the crossbow raised in his… "We accept that you may be telling the truth and mean no offense to your innocent soul…"
"Of course, sir. Perfectly understandable and wise, if I may say so. But we do have little time and you will need my enhanced services." Dru noted.
She seems so…Ronsom blinked… Still rather nonplused
Steady, man…This is the fearsome Drusilla, subject of many an intensive lecture…Not a wistful, tragic soul…Even if that soul might be temporarily reoccupying the monster's body…And might seem rather…Feisty…At that.
"Have all humans here been affected?" Wesley asked. Ronsom, looking a bit sheepish at his quick, stern glance…A clear, 'Get hold of yourself, man' look.
"So far as we can tell, yes…And all vampires…I'm not sure as to demons of other species. I would beware them still."
"I see…And you feel your soul remains in control, for now?" Wesley, carefully.
"As best I can tell. As I'm sure you know I do have clairvoyant abilities, enhanced in this form…"
"Yes." Wesley nodded. "I understand from Mr. Giles you've been able to use them to herd the humans to safety. Thank you."
"Of course." She gave wan smile. "Anything I can do while I have the power…"
"And you're aware…" Ronsom, unable to restrain…Wesley giving him a cool look.
"Yes, sir. I'm aware of what I've been…And done…" she nodded. "I can only say, I'm horrified by what I've done and will do all I can to help here, as we all will…"
"I'm sorry there's no time to consider your own situation right now." Wesley, firmly. "But the Council appreciates your assistance and will try to provide what assistance it can once the current matter of concern is dealt with."
"Thank you, sir…" Dru… "We're aware there may be little that can be done for us…Especially in so short a time. But shall we proceed to the matter at hand? We must secure the safety of the humans and stop Lord D'Hoffryn from taking the Slayer in his fold. I can bring you and your people to our containment area. William…Mr. Walthrop…Has secured Ms. Summers at the Bank of Sunnydale, for now."
"He did?" Wesley blinked. "He captured our Slayer?" Ronsom equally startled.
"She…Well, let us say till we can discuss it safely…She has formed…Revived…An attachment to him, from their past. She's no intention of harming him, in fact she's rather dangerously protective especially in her current state."
"Indeed…" Wesley tried to seem unperturbed.
Past? Their past? Isn't she only…?
"Sir?" Dru, urging a bit… "There's little time."
"Yes, lets go. I'll contact our team on the way. Ronsom?" glance to Ronsom to take a large knapsack and several items from the ground. "As to Ms. Summers…" Wesley, slightly nearing but keeping distance from Drusilla… "You're quite sure…"
"She's likewise unsouled, sir. Though as I said there seems to have been an additional effect in her case…The attachment I mentioned…But we should hurry."
"Uh…Yes…Indeed…" Wesley regarded the vampiress, Ronsom following behind…
"Past?" Ronsom hissed as they hurried after Dru… "Isn't she only…?"
"Later…" Wesley replied.
"Gentlemen, please…?" Dru, urgently.
Am I wrong or are we letting the deadly killer vampiress Drusilla lead us on a mission to retrieve our Slayer, deadly foe of vampires? Ronsom thought as they picked up their pace.
And are we in fact the ones deceiving her as to our intentions and priorities regards helping the humans she seems so anxious to save?
…..
"Uh…Uh…" a raised Anya twisted in Buffy's firm grip, choking…Her reflection shimmering on the vault's polished metal walls.
"So you're in human form and without this…" Buffy beamed benevolently at her, holding up the talisman she'd snatched before Anya could react… "…you're quite mortal."
"My…Lord…Will…Kill…" Anya choked out…
"He'd find it difficult." Smile. "Though he is welcome to try…"
"William…Nootyou…"
Buffy's face dark red, grim… "You dare threaten my husband…!" she growled harshly. "Who do you think you are dealing with here, girl?" cold tone.
"Cicely?" Anya choked out.
"Ah…" Buffy nodded, color lightening, but keeping Anya in tight choke hold, a foot off the floor.
"Quite right, miss. Your Lord's little game has, shall we say, hardened my heart but opened my mind…Yes, you are dealing with the woman D'Hoffryn helped to deceive and murder…Which I could let slide under certain circumstances…But your employer also murdered and condemned my husband. And I must take that very unkindly. Indeed the only things keeping you and your minor demon 'lord' alive are my desire to avoid accidentally condemning myself forever and, even more important, my desire to free Will from his curse, permanently."
Anya…Turning rather blue now…Gargling…
"Oh, a thousand pardons, I forget you're mortal now." Buffy lowered her. "Better?" She maintained her hold.
"Ahhh…Yes…" gasp.
"Right then, lets have Lord D'Hoffryn here, at once."