A/N: This story was inspired by a story request I received from BellaVision. I've incorporated some of her requests as well as a few twists and turns of my own. So to BellaVision and all the rest of you I hope you enjoy.
A/N 2: Hi everyone please send me your thoughts on this story. If you love it I'd love to hear why. If you hate it tell me what could make it better. Feedback is a very powerful tool, as my favorite writing instructor use to say "the pen is mightier than the sword". You're thoughts and opinions have power.
A/N 3: Just a little heads up everyone I am now considered full term in my pregnancy and so that means that I can't promise regular updates over the next couple of months. I will do my best, but as a mom of two planning on a home birth for our latest addition my time is VERY VERY crazy and hectic right now.
Betas: I am blessed to have the lovely benefit of the very helpful beta work of a long time reader and reviewer of this story Nathy Faithy . Thank you so much sweetie you're a lifesaver!
Disclaimer: Nope unfortunately I don't own any of it, Buffy and Angel belong to Joss and the idea stems from a challenge by BellaVision. Sadly I don't own Charmed or anything connected with it either.
No one expected what they saw in the cage, that had only moments before only held Darla. The cage now housed two decomposing beings and a demon. The stench was overwhelming and flooded the entire room chocking everyone. The two beings in varying stages of decomposition appeared to be one male and one female. Their flesh dripped and slithered down their faces and oozing onto the floor.
Dawn had seen a lot of things in her young life, but absolutely nothing had prepared her for the sights or smells that emanated from the cage. Even though Dawn had noticed the stench before the illusion was broken it was a thousand times worse now. Spike's eyes snapped to Dawn when he heard the noises her stomach was making and the telltale noises of early retching, with the speed only a vampire could achieve he had a waste basket in front of his baby sister before she could even open her mouth to release the bile. Her brother wrapped one arm around her holding the refuse bin and with the other he held her hair back, while pressing his cold face against her head to sooth her as best he could.
Faith and Dru were both more than a little impressed by the caring and comforting responses of one of the most infamous master vampires in history, even if they both knew that on many levels his reputation was more myth and fiction than reality. It wasn't every day that you witnessed a vampire caring and comforting a human. They had no doubts that Spike truly loved and cared for the teen in his arms. His actions toward Dawn made the way he treated Dru seem like those of a violent, abusive pimp to his worst whore. The bond between the two was almost tangible and that was even more interesting considering that according to science neither should exist. One was technically a reanimated corpse that was truly a functional being now and the other was a ball of mystical energy that unlocked portals between dimensions, and yet here they were plain as day treating each other as loving siblings.
Angel had been staring at the occupants of the cage, his held tilted to the side as though he was trying to suss out who they were. Finally a light seemed to dawn as he approached the cage and took a stab at identifying it's occupants. The female was Darla or at least what was left of her, the male however was a little more difficult to identify, but after some thought Angel ventured a guess "Hotlz?" the vampire questioned trying to process mentally how the vampire hunter who was still nearly human, near as Angel could tell had survived over 200 years beyond what any mortal should have been able to.
"Angelus" sneered the vampire hunter, before turning his attention toward the demon. "Sahjhan why the Hell can they see us? What the bloody hell is the excuse for the way we look? You promised me vengeance! How in God's name does this aid in my quest for vengeance against Angelus? Where is his child if Darla isn't pregnant?"
Dru cocked her head to the side. It seemed that letting the prisoners talk amongst themselves might be more revealing than asking questions. Now I need s'mores Dru thought as she plopped down on a chair in the corner and started swinging her legs like a small child. The vampiress was clearly content to just watch the scene unfold before her eyes. This is turning out to be very entertaining. She mused.
Sahjhan directed his attention to Dawn and Willow "What are you? How did you...? How is that kind of power possible?" The demon had at some point drifted from talking to the girls to muttering to himself, about magics beyond human control and the death of the old gods and goddesses being gone forever and with them their power was suppose to have been lost forever.
Drusilla who'd grown bored with the demon's ramblings finally spoke, well more like giggled "You should learn to read. Prophecies are very enlightening."
The occupants of the basement not currently behind bars turned to look at the dark haired vampiress. "Which one?" Giles asked, already suspecting the answer as his mind flashed back to moments before.
"She's a goddess." Dru said, clearly amused she began reciting an archaic passage.
From nothing born
A witch by soul
Tempted to turn
Power like none has known
A White witch she'll become
The first of the goddesses reborn
Red witch becomes White
The goddess line restored
"Oh dear Lord! So it's true then." Giles swore wrapping Willow in his arms.
"Red Tree is a goddess. The first of the old ones reborn. She will give birth to the new goddess line. They are her's to train." Dru said in a smug sing song fashion, clearly pleased with herself. The shock of the rest of the basement was overwhelming. Sahjhan's eyes widened in horror as he shrank back into the darkest corner of the cage. It was at that moment he realized that there was something else he hadn't noticed before. Not only had his magics and spells been broken with such ease, but something he'd truly never fathomed had happened as well … he was fully corporeal and that meant it would be easy for them to kill him. The stones of the basement wall dug into his back as he realized they wouldn't even need the goddess to kill him a simple human could easily complete the task.
