Freedom Fighter
Author's note: This is the second part to Chapter 6. It's the almost complete background of Geia and Jamal, so the reader gets to hear their story. Think of it as a reference guide that you can use to try to connect some of the loose ends in the story. Here's a hint-remember when Geia said that Angel was "the one they [we're] were looking for" toward the end of Chapter 4? Keep that on the backburner, because it's important. This chapter deals heavily with religion, so be aware if you're sensitive to such material. It's not blatant or anything like that. And the song in this one is by Pink called "Goin' to California"-good song, but it's not mine, so don't worry. The song connects with not just this chapter, but the entire story because it's meant to point out the other moral conflicts in the world of Buffy than just the paranormal. If you have the CD (it's on Pink's album "Missundaztood") I suggest you play the song while reading.
Author's note #2: GO COLTS!….the high school I attend won our division's state title yesterday (March 23), and that is why this chapter is so late. I wouldn't have missed those games for anything.
CHAPTER 6; Part 2
Goin' to California
To live in the summer sun
The streets are made of silver
I'm like a rabbit on the run
Philadelphia freedom
Well, it's not like you have heard
The City of Brotherly Love
Is full of pain and hurt
I'm goin' to California
To find my pot of gold
Corruption on every corner
Hustlers sellin' sweets
Baby is home crying
While her momma's on the streets
Everybody's dying
Have you heard the news today?
A woman in north Philly is mourning
The bullet took another son away
I'm goin' to California
I'm goin' far, far away
Goin' to California, yes
To resurrect my soul
The sun is always shining
Or at least that's what I'm told
Goin' to California
There's a better life for me
Goin' to California
I'll write and tell you what I see
Goin' to California
Somebody say a prayer for me
"So explain it."
Jamal's eyes burned with anger as he struggled against his bonds. "You should consider yourselves blessed to receive the knowledge that no mortal is worthy of."
Geia's laugh echoed through the training room of the Magic Box. Chills swept across all beings in the room—her laughter had that half-anxious, half-self-assured resonance to it that was enough to give even the dead goosebumps. "Patience, my young apprentice. Impurity rages abound in this room, in this pathetic world, but these mortals know what I speak of. Calm yourself--brazen and irrational decisions will cost you later."
Jamal couldn't help but smile at his crazed master. Battle sometimes did this to her, but it would fade. She had taken extreme enjoyment in killing those vampires that had trapped Giles and Buffy. "But they have no right to tie us up. We are no danger to them."
Buffy stepped forward, wielding Geia's sword. "Shut up, both of you. I hate to interrupt your little conversation, but I want to know what the hell is going on."
"You go, Buffy," Xander shouted from the other side of the room.
She smiled slightly at her friend, despite his lame words. "So talk, if you're so powerful and great." Buffy hefted the sword threateningly and admired its make.
Geia's head lolled back and she cackled again. "I'd put that sword down if I were you, Slayer. Wielding it can only cause injury to yourself and others."
The Slayer smirked. "I know how to use a sword." She swung the blade once in the air for emphasis, then halted as Willow and Anya came in some books.
The witch saw her friend with Geia's sword and panicked as she recalled the blue light that spoke to her outside Geia's house, and its words of danger. "Buffy! Drop that sword, it will kill you."
She shot a withering glare at her friend. "Please, Willow, that's ridiculous-" Her words were cut off as the sword shook then flew out of her hand to land at Geia's feet. A smug smile came across Geia's face as Buffy bent to pick the sword up.
"Can't say I told you so."
Buffy had to exert more strength to pick the blade up…it seemed heavier than before. "Willow, Anya, get out of here." She pointed it at Geia's throat. "I've had enough. Either talk, or we can settle this easily." She turned as Giles, who nearly ran into Willow and Anya leaving, came in with Angel and Spike. "Find anything?"
Giles pushed his glasses up on his nose and nodded. "Yes, it's exactly as Angel and Spike tried to explain to us before." He motioned toward the two captives. "They are what they say they are."
Angel exchanged a panicked look with Spike then walked over to the two immortals and began to untie them. "I see no need in tying them up. They aren't the bad guys, Buffy."
The sword landed right beside Angel as again it had shot out of Buffy's grasp. Buffy saw how close to Angel the sword was, and was not convinced. "I don't think so, Angel. It's not hurting them to be tied up."
Angel saw the petrified look on Buffy's face and gave a pitying glance to Geia. She smiled softly in response. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"It's fine."
Angel handed Buffy the sword, who was seeing red at the exchange of words between her former lover and the raging beauty. It was a completely involuntary response and couldn't be helped. She still loved him, always would, but their destinies tore them apart.
Angel sat down dejectedly beside Spike. "She'll kill them if she doesn't like what they have to say. Wankering bitch."
Angel shook his head at the blonde vamp's words. "Just shut up, Spike. Anything goes wrong, we'll deal. Buffy can't kill them, anyways. Remember what Geia said?"
"Right. We'll just take on the Slayer and her little crew and see how far we get. You two will be gazing into each other's eyes like lovesick buggers while Buffy's little friends make me dust. And I'm not counting on supergirl and her buddy over there to stop the Slayer's little tantrum either."
Angel shifted uncomfortably and watched as Buffy swung the sword around. The blade's hum pierced the air with a note of the destruction and danger it had seen and caused during the centuries. "Spike, my childe, you are NOT helping the situation. But we can't do anything. I don't want interfere because they need to hear the story themselves. They wouldn't believe us if we told them, and I have a feeling Giles will be the first to understand fully. He knows something's up already."
Buffy stopped her tirade with Geia's sword and looked to Xander, who took the cue and promptly left. He knew that Buffy would want to deal with this in her own way, and he and the others would be backup if it was needed. But he had this strange feeling that Buffy was completely wrong in her accusations of Geia and Jamal. She didn't even believe Giles when he had told her that the two were on their side. Xander knew she'd come around, but he also knew she was frustrated with everything that had been going on: the protestor vamps, the attack on Geia, Angel coming back, and now this mess.
Geia watched as Buffy struggled to pick her sword up after leaning it against the wall to test the ropes binding the two captives. "Problems, Slayer?"
"Shut up, bitch."
Geia's insane laughter rang through Buffy's ears, mocking her. "Poor Slayer, can't even pick up my sword. Harsh words for someone so young." Her head snapped down, and she stared at Buffy, despite wild hair in her eyes. The Slayer felt like Geia could see right through her. "Wanna know why you can't pick that sword up?"
Buffy chanced a quick peek at the insane girl, and it cost her. The sword lifted itself off the ground and flew dangerously around the room, stopping right in front of Buffy. She knew she shouldn't dare move, even as the ropes that bound Geia began to burn a bright blue.
The ashes of the disintegrated ropes scattered as Geia stood up and took her sword out of midair. "That's why you can't pick up this sword." She leaned in toward the shocked Slayer. "It's mine. Simple enough, huh?"
Jamal was now also free, as the ropes binding him had disintegrated in a green light. "I think we should leave here, Master. Angel, Spike, and the Watcher were the only ones who we determined to be worthy, and we only have one more to tell."
Geia slid her sword into its scabbard, which was hidden underneath her jacket. Her insane appearance was gone, leaving behind only a deadly calm. "No. I don't want her and her friends hunting us down and interfering with our job because they think we're advocates with the devil. We'll tell them what they need to know."
After everyone was congregated in the training room, the story began.
(the story is told by Geia)
"Good and Evil have existed since the dawn of time. Their struggle has raged back and forth over the centuries, neither having a great advantage over the other. W hen Jesus Christ died for the sins of humanity, a huge advantage was given to Evil. God's greatest gift of Good yet had been sacrificed, and that is when the decision was made to create a group of guardians to watch over humanity and help in the fight against Evil. The Slayer was the only mortal being on Earth who knew how to fight the dark children of Satan, but she was not enough. Too many Slayers died too quickly, some ill-trained, ill-suited for the life of a warrior. Bravery, strength, stamina, compassion, and a will to survive, to kill, or to sacrifice herself were the qualities needed, and few were superior in all. The forces of Evil were getting stronger as the Slayers became weaker, and it became obvious that a new force was needed to fight for Good.
God gathered a group of angels specified to be guardian angels, and trained them in the ways of the Slayer, but gave them immortality and superior strength and stamina that would serve them on Earth. These ten were also given many supernatural powers, such as the ability to fly and quick healing capabilities, and a specialized weapon. The sword was given to the strongest of the ten, the Master of these warrior angels, and they were sent to Earth to live as normal people, but also as the secret protectors of humanity. There was another gift given to these ten, but God refused to tell them what it was, but to use it with caution We are not permitted to tell anyone our secret power, but can use it if needed, despite the fact that doing so reveals the power. It's simply a precautionary rule. All that was known was that they were tainted in some way, and thus the name Tainted Ones was given. These Tainted Ones also had their own flaws, such as vulnerability to a certain weapon, or to a certain supernatural power. Mine is a vulnerability to bullets-they do more damage than any other weapon.
The first five hundred years or so was a constant battle, but one that these warriors enjoyed. However, the death and carnage and the use of their now-known gift got to three of the Tainted Ones, and they tried many times unsuccessfully to commit suicide. God saw how life on Earth was affecting his angel warriors, and decided to allow the three, two women and one man, to keep their immortality long enough to find someone they loved, and start families. The only limitation was that it must be someone mortal or immortal, preferably a vampire with a soul, to mate with. Three families were started, and three children were selected, one from each family, to follow in their parents footsteps. From then on, Tainted Ones have been chosen at birth to die on their eleventh birthday, and to become a Tainted One. The ones that are chosen come from families that have had a Tainted One as an ancestor, for there have been many. The oldest one alive today is nearly a thousand years old, as others have passed on, whether they were killed in battle or were chosen to start families to keep our kind alive, or they simply wanted to go back to Heaven, and were granted their wish after hundreds of years of service.
Tainted Ones never come to Earth in their true identity, and if necessary, can change identities quickly to keep secret their existence. The only way we have been able to keep ourselves a secret has been by disguising our presence on Earth as a fairy tale, a myth that God wrote and sent to Earth when the Tainted Ones were created. Ever since then, we have been the scary bedtime story to the forces of Evil, and a beautiful yet fictitious myth to those of Good, and to most of humanity. If everyone knew we existed, Evil would combine its forces and a great battle would reign, causing the destruction of the Earth. We only show our true faces when we need to, to prove to those deemed as worthy that we are not a myth, or when in the face of great Evil. Being disguised limits our power somewhat, and only in our true form can we take advantage of our powers.
After the first Tainted Ones, God set up a Master-Apprentice system, and ever since then, Tainted Ones are given apprentices to train so that when one goes back to Heaven, a replacement can be made, as there are only ten of us on Earth at one time, no more and no less. Jamal is my apprentice, for I was deemed worthy enough to have one. When I completed my apprenticeship, I replaced my Master, and was given this sword by God as my weapon. It cannot be destroyed, nor used by anyone except myself. It can kill anything Evil that can be killed by such a force, including vampires, because it is holy. Once Jamal completes his apprenticeship, he will receive a weapon also. I know not whether I am the Master of all Tainted Ones on Earth, even though my sword resembles the one given to the first Master. Just like all other Tainted Ones, I died on my eleventh birthday after having a dream a few weeks earlier detailing how I would die, when, where, and who I would be with. However, a slight error was made. I was to be killed on the train I would be riding on with my parents and younger sister on the way to see relatives in South Carolina. We lived in Pennsylvania, and the year was 1846. The dream had told me that the train would derail, and I would be the only fatality. I was killed on the train, but so was my sister. Because I was older, I received my training first, and once I completed my apprenticeship, my sister Emily became my apprentice. She was very young and naïve, as I was nearly seventy years old before I became a Master, which was very young. Most don't become Masters until their three hundredth year. I let her go patrolling the graveyards in a small town not far from London one night, as I was posing to be a young student enrolled in a London college. She met up with a vampire, a very strong one, who overpowered her and drained her blood. Only Tainted Ones who are Masters have blood poisonous to all vampires and demons, and she was sent back to Heaven, as my failure. My sister and I were close when we were mortals, but when my training started, she and I grew apart, and even more so when she became my apprentice. God saw pity on me and sent me Jamal, and he has been with me ever since. He is very close to culminating all his powers, for he is a quick learner, though still irrational at times and stubborn to his Master's will. We have traveled the world, pretending to be lovers, friends, enemies, and even family. We live normal by day, and fight when the midnight hours call.
We were sent here because of a warning we received in advance of a new and very powerful Evil that would be coming to the California Hellmouth. The vampire attack that William, or Spike as you call him, was planned, unknown to the vampire, to test the Good inside of all you. An excellent group you are, I must say, including the vampires. They are the ones who make the biggest difference, for they have gifts they know not of yet, but will soon.
Geia could sense the one thousand and one questions everyone wanted to ask, and couldn't help but smile. Mortals were always amazed by the story, and always had inquiries about things even she didn't know of.
The Watcher shook his head in amazement. "Unbelievable. Simply astounding."
"But you had a feeling something was different about me," a voice said in his mind. Giles saw the look Geia was giving him, and only nodded. Telepathy was one of the simplest, yet most valuable gifts that Tainted Ones had, so the myth went.
"There's more than one Hellmouth? You said you were sent to the California Hellmouth."
Geia nodded at Buffy. "There are three Hellmouths on Earth, but Hellmouths are just like volcanoes. Only the one here is active. It would take a great Evil to open the other two, one in the jungles of the Congo, near the Amazon River, and the other in the Australian outback. A few hundred years ago, all ten Tainted Ones joined together in a spell to permanently seal the other two, for they were weaker than this one. It resulted in three exhausting their powers completely, including the Master, and three replacements were sent. Those three didn't die, as we say, but couldn't come back to full strength in time."
Xander snapped out of his shock and stared at Geia as if he was seeing her for the first time. "So how old are you?"
"156. And Jamal is only 86."
Spike crushed his cigarette under his boot and tried to hide his amazement by brushing Geia and Jamal off as if they were nothing. "Well, looks like I get to go back home instead of doing bloody graveyard duty at an angel's house."
He tried to go out the back door, but Geia beat him. "You and Angel are still staying at my house."
The vampire crossed his arms and met her stare. "I'm no angel, and neither is….well, Angel, so we can't help you."
She grabbed his shoulders roughly and pushed him up against the door. "Angel is here because he was called, but you are the one I need the most, Spike. I can't explain it any more than that, but you must trust me and just accept the fate that has been chosen for you."
Spike was quickly losing his patience, and he managed to shake her hands off but was still trapped against the door. "What bloody fate? Am I supposed to get dusted saving someone's ass, or be the hero and stop all Evil? News flash, luv, I'm a VAMPIRE, meaning a bad guy. Both me and Angel are. I thought you knew that already."
Geia didn't feel like arguing, or dealing with headstrong vampires, and her patience was rapidly disappearing as well. "Fine. Do it your way, WILLIAM, but when you do come around, don't be surprised as to what you find out about yourself. Truth is everywhere if you look hard enough, or if you're just damn lucky." She backed up enough to let Spike slide by her, but was surprised that he didn't try to leave. Maybe he was already having the visions that would haunt him until he accepted his fate.
Jamal sensed his Master was ready to leave, and he looked to Angel to see what he would do, and not astonishingly, he followed Geia out the door. Angel had already been plagued by the visions. They were what brought him to Sunnydale to begin with, along with a great concern for Buffy and the others. So he had already accepted his fate.
The three walked down the alley, leaving behind a still-stunned group of mortals. It wasn't long before Geia heard the Spike's footsteps not far behind them. She stopped abruptly and turned to face him.
"Change your mind?"
The look on Spike's face was almost one of embarrassment. "No I just….yeah. I did change my mind." He gave her a pleading look. "These dreams, they're so bloody vivid and real to the point where they nearly drive me crazy. I want them to stop."
Geia laced her arm around his shoulders and proceeded to walk home. "They will. Just takes time. It's the only way to get the message across, so that you learn what's going on, and what MAY happen if certain actions aren't taken." She stopped and looked at Jamal and Angel. "We are the only ones who are powerful enough to stop the Evil coming here. The Slayer and her friends stay out of any battle, and we go to only to Giles and perhaps Anya if any information is needed. I don't need or want a bunch of dead mortals on my hands."
Geia walked silently down the hallway to her bedroom. She was unbelievably tired, despite her great stamina. The past few days' events had been a blur of activity, as was expected. She needed rest, but Angel's room was beside hers, and she felt an urge to look in on him. The sun was just beginning to rise, and she wanted to make sure he was resting. He would need it once he found out that he was no longer a creature of the night, so to speak.
The door creaked ever so slightly as she stuck her head just inside the room. His sleeping form was curled up on the bed, his back to her. Going against her own will, she sat down on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on his shoulder. He wasn't dreaming, which was good. The visions were supposed to be gone by now, and she liked to avoid dealings of the mind whenever possible.
"Geia."
Her whispered name caused Geia to snap out of her trance, and she looked down to see Angel staring at her, a mixture of confusion and what she thought to be joy or pleasure in his dark eyes. Mind reading was hardest to do on vampires, and Geia would have felt like she was invading his privacy if she read his mind. "I apologize for waking you."
"Don't." Angel sat up, still confused as to why she was in his room, yet delighted that she was. "Did you need something or-"
Geia shook her head. "No." Her emotions were too jumbled to make any sense out of, and she knew what she was doing was wrong. For some odd reason, she was drawn to this vampire, perhaps because of their connection, yet unknown to him. He only knew that he was chosen for a reason pertaining to his days as an "evil" vampire.
She hastily removed her hand from his shoulder, got up and left the room, leaving Angel even more confused. He fell back asleep, dreaming of things that were and were yet to be, and didn't notice the glowing handprint on his shoulder as it slowly faded.
Author's note: This is the second part to Chapter 6. It's the almost complete background of Geia and Jamal, so the reader gets to hear their story. Think of it as a reference guide that you can use to try to connect some of the loose ends in the story. Here's a hint-remember when Geia said that Angel was "the one they [we're] were looking for" toward the end of Chapter 4? Keep that on the backburner, because it's important. This chapter deals heavily with religion, so be aware if you're sensitive to such material. It's not blatant or anything like that. And the song in this one is by Pink called "Goin' to California"-good song, but it's not mine, so don't worry. The song connects with not just this chapter, but the entire story because it's meant to point out the other moral conflicts in the world of Buffy than just the paranormal. If you have the CD (it's on Pink's album "Missundaztood") I suggest you play the song while reading.
Author's note #2: GO COLTS!….the high school I attend won our division's state title yesterday (March 23), and that is why this chapter is so late. I wouldn't have missed those games for anything.
CHAPTER 6; Part 2
Goin' to California
To live in the summer sun
The streets are made of silver
I'm like a rabbit on the run
Philadelphia freedom
Well, it's not like you have heard
The City of Brotherly Love
Is full of pain and hurt
I'm goin' to California
To find my pot of gold
Corruption on every corner
Hustlers sellin' sweets
Baby is home crying
While her momma's on the streets
Everybody's dying
Have you heard the news today?
A woman in north Philly is mourning
The bullet took another son away
I'm goin' to California
I'm goin' far, far away
Goin' to California, yes
To resurrect my soul
The sun is always shining
Or at least that's what I'm told
Goin' to California
There's a better life for me
Goin' to California
I'll write and tell you what I see
Goin' to California
Somebody say a prayer for me
"So explain it."
Jamal's eyes burned with anger as he struggled against his bonds. "You should consider yourselves blessed to receive the knowledge that no mortal is worthy of."
Geia's laugh echoed through the training room of the Magic Box. Chills swept across all beings in the room—her laughter had that half-anxious, half-self-assured resonance to it that was enough to give even the dead goosebumps. "Patience, my young apprentice. Impurity rages abound in this room, in this pathetic world, but these mortals know what I speak of. Calm yourself--brazen and irrational decisions will cost you later."
Jamal couldn't help but smile at his crazed master. Battle sometimes did this to her, but it would fade. She had taken extreme enjoyment in killing those vampires that had trapped Giles and Buffy. "But they have no right to tie us up. We are no danger to them."
Buffy stepped forward, wielding Geia's sword. "Shut up, both of you. I hate to interrupt your little conversation, but I want to know what the hell is going on."
"You go, Buffy," Xander shouted from the other side of the room.
She smiled slightly at her friend, despite his lame words. "So talk, if you're so powerful and great." Buffy hefted the sword threateningly and admired its make.
Geia's head lolled back and she cackled again. "I'd put that sword down if I were you, Slayer. Wielding it can only cause injury to yourself and others."
The Slayer smirked. "I know how to use a sword." She swung the blade once in the air for emphasis, then halted as Willow and Anya came in some books.
The witch saw her friend with Geia's sword and panicked as she recalled the blue light that spoke to her outside Geia's house, and its words of danger. "Buffy! Drop that sword, it will kill you."
She shot a withering glare at her friend. "Please, Willow, that's ridiculous-" Her words were cut off as the sword shook then flew out of her hand to land at Geia's feet. A smug smile came across Geia's face as Buffy bent to pick the sword up.
"Can't say I told you so."
Buffy had to exert more strength to pick the blade up…it seemed heavier than before. "Willow, Anya, get out of here." She pointed it at Geia's throat. "I've had enough. Either talk, or we can settle this easily." She turned as Giles, who nearly ran into Willow and Anya leaving, came in with Angel and Spike. "Find anything?"
Giles pushed his glasses up on his nose and nodded. "Yes, it's exactly as Angel and Spike tried to explain to us before." He motioned toward the two captives. "They are what they say they are."
Angel exchanged a panicked look with Spike then walked over to the two immortals and began to untie them. "I see no need in tying them up. They aren't the bad guys, Buffy."
The sword landed right beside Angel as again it had shot out of Buffy's grasp. Buffy saw how close to Angel the sword was, and was not convinced. "I don't think so, Angel. It's not hurting them to be tied up."
Angel saw the petrified look on Buffy's face and gave a pitying glance to Geia. She smiled softly in response. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
"It's fine."
Angel handed Buffy the sword, who was seeing red at the exchange of words between her former lover and the raging beauty. It was a completely involuntary response and couldn't be helped. She still loved him, always would, but their destinies tore them apart.
Angel sat down dejectedly beside Spike. "She'll kill them if she doesn't like what they have to say. Wankering bitch."
Angel shook his head at the blonde vamp's words. "Just shut up, Spike. Anything goes wrong, we'll deal. Buffy can't kill them, anyways. Remember what Geia said?"
"Right. We'll just take on the Slayer and her little crew and see how far we get. You two will be gazing into each other's eyes like lovesick buggers while Buffy's little friends make me dust. And I'm not counting on supergirl and her buddy over there to stop the Slayer's little tantrum either."
Angel shifted uncomfortably and watched as Buffy swung the sword around. The blade's hum pierced the air with a note of the destruction and danger it had seen and caused during the centuries. "Spike, my childe, you are NOT helping the situation. But we can't do anything. I don't want interfere because they need to hear the story themselves. They wouldn't believe us if we told them, and I have a feeling Giles will be the first to understand fully. He knows something's up already."
Buffy stopped her tirade with Geia's sword and looked to Xander, who took the cue and promptly left. He knew that Buffy would want to deal with this in her own way, and he and the others would be backup if it was needed. But he had this strange feeling that Buffy was completely wrong in her accusations of Geia and Jamal. She didn't even believe Giles when he had told her that the two were on their side. Xander knew she'd come around, but he also knew she was frustrated with everything that had been going on: the protestor vamps, the attack on Geia, Angel coming back, and now this mess.
Geia watched as Buffy struggled to pick her sword up after leaning it against the wall to test the ropes binding the two captives. "Problems, Slayer?"
"Shut up, bitch."
Geia's insane laughter rang through Buffy's ears, mocking her. "Poor Slayer, can't even pick up my sword. Harsh words for someone so young." Her head snapped down, and she stared at Buffy, despite wild hair in her eyes. The Slayer felt like Geia could see right through her. "Wanna know why you can't pick that sword up?"
Buffy chanced a quick peek at the insane girl, and it cost her. The sword lifted itself off the ground and flew dangerously around the room, stopping right in front of Buffy. She knew she shouldn't dare move, even as the ropes that bound Geia began to burn a bright blue.
The ashes of the disintegrated ropes scattered as Geia stood up and took her sword out of midair. "That's why you can't pick up this sword." She leaned in toward the shocked Slayer. "It's mine. Simple enough, huh?"
Jamal was now also free, as the ropes binding him had disintegrated in a green light. "I think we should leave here, Master. Angel, Spike, and the Watcher were the only ones who we determined to be worthy, and we only have one more to tell."
Geia slid her sword into its scabbard, which was hidden underneath her jacket. Her insane appearance was gone, leaving behind only a deadly calm. "No. I don't want her and her friends hunting us down and interfering with our job because they think we're advocates with the devil. We'll tell them what they need to know."
After everyone was congregated in the training room, the story began.
(the story is told by Geia)
"Good and Evil have existed since the dawn of time. Their struggle has raged back and forth over the centuries, neither having a great advantage over the other. W hen Jesus Christ died for the sins of humanity, a huge advantage was given to Evil. God's greatest gift of Good yet had been sacrificed, and that is when the decision was made to create a group of guardians to watch over humanity and help in the fight against Evil. The Slayer was the only mortal being on Earth who knew how to fight the dark children of Satan, but she was not enough. Too many Slayers died too quickly, some ill-trained, ill-suited for the life of a warrior. Bravery, strength, stamina, compassion, and a will to survive, to kill, or to sacrifice herself were the qualities needed, and few were superior in all. The forces of Evil were getting stronger as the Slayers became weaker, and it became obvious that a new force was needed to fight for Good.
God gathered a group of angels specified to be guardian angels, and trained them in the ways of the Slayer, but gave them immortality and superior strength and stamina that would serve them on Earth. These ten were also given many supernatural powers, such as the ability to fly and quick healing capabilities, and a specialized weapon. The sword was given to the strongest of the ten, the Master of these warrior angels, and they were sent to Earth to live as normal people, but also as the secret protectors of humanity. There was another gift given to these ten, but God refused to tell them what it was, but to use it with caution We are not permitted to tell anyone our secret power, but can use it if needed, despite the fact that doing so reveals the power. It's simply a precautionary rule. All that was known was that they were tainted in some way, and thus the name Tainted Ones was given. These Tainted Ones also had their own flaws, such as vulnerability to a certain weapon, or to a certain supernatural power. Mine is a vulnerability to bullets-they do more damage than any other weapon.
The first five hundred years or so was a constant battle, but one that these warriors enjoyed. However, the death and carnage and the use of their now-known gift got to three of the Tainted Ones, and they tried many times unsuccessfully to commit suicide. God saw how life on Earth was affecting his angel warriors, and decided to allow the three, two women and one man, to keep their immortality long enough to find someone they loved, and start families. The only limitation was that it must be someone mortal or immortal, preferably a vampire with a soul, to mate with. Three families were started, and three children were selected, one from each family, to follow in their parents footsteps. From then on, Tainted Ones have been chosen at birth to die on their eleventh birthday, and to become a Tainted One. The ones that are chosen come from families that have had a Tainted One as an ancestor, for there have been many. The oldest one alive today is nearly a thousand years old, as others have passed on, whether they were killed in battle or were chosen to start families to keep our kind alive, or they simply wanted to go back to Heaven, and were granted their wish after hundreds of years of service.
Tainted Ones never come to Earth in their true identity, and if necessary, can change identities quickly to keep secret their existence. The only way we have been able to keep ourselves a secret has been by disguising our presence on Earth as a fairy tale, a myth that God wrote and sent to Earth when the Tainted Ones were created. Ever since then, we have been the scary bedtime story to the forces of Evil, and a beautiful yet fictitious myth to those of Good, and to most of humanity. If everyone knew we existed, Evil would combine its forces and a great battle would reign, causing the destruction of the Earth. We only show our true faces when we need to, to prove to those deemed as worthy that we are not a myth, or when in the face of great Evil. Being disguised limits our power somewhat, and only in our true form can we take advantage of our powers.
After the first Tainted Ones, God set up a Master-Apprentice system, and ever since then, Tainted Ones are given apprentices to train so that when one goes back to Heaven, a replacement can be made, as there are only ten of us on Earth at one time, no more and no less. Jamal is my apprentice, for I was deemed worthy enough to have one. When I completed my apprenticeship, I replaced my Master, and was given this sword by God as my weapon. It cannot be destroyed, nor used by anyone except myself. It can kill anything Evil that can be killed by such a force, including vampires, because it is holy. Once Jamal completes his apprenticeship, he will receive a weapon also. I know not whether I am the Master of all Tainted Ones on Earth, even though my sword resembles the one given to the first Master. Just like all other Tainted Ones, I died on my eleventh birthday after having a dream a few weeks earlier detailing how I would die, when, where, and who I would be with. However, a slight error was made. I was to be killed on the train I would be riding on with my parents and younger sister on the way to see relatives in South Carolina. We lived in Pennsylvania, and the year was 1846. The dream had told me that the train would derail, and I would be the only fatality. I was killed on the train, but so was my sister. Because I was older, I received my training first, and once I completed my apprenticeship, my sister Emily became my apprentice. She was very young and naïve, as I was nearly seventy years old before I became a Master, which was very young. Most don't become Masters until their three hundredth year. I let her go patrolling the graveyards in a small town not far from London one night, as I was posing to be a young student enrolled in a London college. She met up with a vampire, a very strong one, who overpowered her and drained her blood. Only Tainted Ones who are Masters have blood poisonous to all vampires and demons, and she was sent back to Heaven, as my failure. My sister and I were close when we were mortals, but when my training started, she and I grew apart, and even more so when she became my apprentice. God saw pity on me and sent me Jamal, and he has been with me ever since. He is very close to culminating all his powers, for he is a quick learner, though still irrational at times and stubborn to his Master's will. We have traveled the world, pretending to be lovers, friends, enemies, and even family. We live normal by day, and fight when the midnight hours call.
We were sent here because of a warning we received in advance of a new and very powerful Evil that would be coming to the California Hellmouth. The vampire attack that William, or Spike as you call him, was planned, unknown to the vampire, to test the Good inside of all you. An excellent group you are, I must say, including the vampires. They are the ones who make the biggest difference, for they have gifts they know not of yet, but will soon.
Geia could sense the one thousand and one questions everyone wanted to ask, and couldn't help but smile. Mortals were always amazed by the story, and always had inquiries about things even she didn't know of.
The Watcher shook his head in amazement. "Unbelievable. Simply astounding."
"But you had a feeling something was different about me," a voice said in his mind. Giles saw the look Geia was giving him, and only nodded. Telepathy was one of the simplest, yet most valuable gifts that Tainted Ones had, so the myth went.
"There's more than one Hellmouth? You said you were sent to the California Hellmouth."
Geia nodded at Buffy. "There are three Hellmouths on Earth, but Hellmouths are just like volcanoes. Only the one here is active. It would take a great Evil to open the other two, one in the jungles of the Congo, near the Amazon River, and the other in the Australian outback. A few hundred years ago, all ten Tainted Ones joined together in a spell to permanently seal the other two, for they were weaker than this one. It resulted in three exhausting their powers completely, including the Master, and three replacements were sent. Those three didn't die, as we say, but couldn't come back to full strength in time."
Xander snapped out of his shock and stared at Geia as if he was seeing her for the first time. "So how old are you?"
"156. And Jamal is only 86."
Spike crushed his cigarette under his boot and tried to hide his amazement by brushing Geia and Jamal off as if they were nothing. "Well, looks like I get to go back home instead of doing bloody graveyard duty at an angel's house."
He tried to go out the back door, but Geia beat him. "You and Angel are still staying at my house."
The vampire crossed his arms and met her stare. "I'm no angel, and neither is….well, Angel, so we can't help you."
She grabbed his shoulders roughly and pushed him up against the door. "Angel is here because he was called, but you are the one I need the most, Spike. I can't explain it any more than that, but you must trust me and just accept the fate that has been chosen for you."
Spike was quickly losing his patience, and he managed to shake her hands off but was still trapped against the door. "What bloody fate? Am I supposed to get dusted saving someone's ass, or be the hero and stop all Evil? News flash, luv, I'm a VAMPIRE, meaning a bad guy. Both me and Angel are. I thought you knew that already."
Geia didn't feel like arguing, or dealing with headstrong vampires, and her patience was rapidly disappearing as well. "Fine. Do it your way, WILLIAM, but when you do come around, don't be surprised as to what you find out about yourself. Truth is everywhere if you look hard enough, or if you're just damn lucky." She backed up enough to let Spike slide by her, but was surprised that he didn't try to leave. Maybe he was already having the visions that would haunt him until he accepted his fate.
Jamal sensed his Master was ready to leave, and he looked to Angel to see what he would do, and not astonishingly, he followed Geia out the door. Angel had already been plagued by the visions. They were what brought him to Sunnydale to begin with, along with a great concern for Buffy and the others. So he had already accepted his fate.
The three walked down the alley, leaving behind a still-stunned group of mortals. It wasn't long before Geia heard the Spike's footsteps not far behind them. She stopped abruptly and turned to face him.
"Change your mind?"
The look on Spike's face was almost one of embarrassment. "No I just….yeah. I did change my mind." He gave her a pleading look. "These dreams, they're so bloody vivid and real to the point where they nearly drive me crazy. I want them to stop."
Geia laced her arm around his shoulders and proceeded to walk home. "They will. Just takes time. It's the only way to get the message across, so that you learn what's going on, and what MAY happen if certain actions aren't taken." She stopped and looked at Jamal and Angel. "We are the only ones who are powerful enough to stop the Evil coming here. The Slayer and her friends stay out of any battle, and we go to only to Giles and perhaps Anya if any information is needed. I don't need or want a bunch of dead mortals on my hands."
Geia walked silently down the hallway to her bedroom. She was unbelievably tired, despite her great stamina. The past few days' events had been a blur of activity, as was expected. She needed rest, but Angel's room was beside hers, and she felt an urge to look in on him. The sun was just beginning to rise, and she wanted to make sure he was resting. He would need it once he found out that he was no longer a creature of the night, so to speak.
The door creaked ever so slightly as she stuck her head just inside the room. His sleeping form was curled up on the bed, his back to her. Going against her own will, she sat down on the edge of the bed and placed a hand on his shoulder. He wasn't dreaming, which was good. The visions were supposed to be gone by now, and she liked to avoid dealings of the mind whenever possible.
"Geia."
Her whispered name caused Geia to snap out of her trance, and she looked down to see Angel staring at her, a mixture of confusion and what she thought to be joy or pleasure in his dark eyes. Mind reading was hardest to do on vampires, and Geia would have felt like she was invading his privacy if she read his mind. "I apologize for waking you."
"Don't." Angel sat up, still confused as to why she was in his room, yet delighted that she was. "Did you need something or-"
Geia shook her head. "No." Her emotions were too jumbled to make any sense out of, and she knew what she was doing was wrong. For some odd reason, she was drawn to this vampire, perhaps because of their connection, yet unknown to him. He only knew that he was chosen for a reason pertaining to his days as an "evil" vampire.
She hastily removed her hand from his shoulder, got up and left the room, leaving Angel even more confused. He fell back asleep, dreaming of things that were and were yet to be, and didn't notice the glowing handprint on his shoulder as it slowly faded.