Chapter 5
~ The Quiet of the Rain ~
Taps on the second story window signaled the start of something that didn't occur very often in Sunnydale: Rain. The drizzle started slowly, then became steady, with the occasional flash of lighting. Thunder never seemed to follow, or, at least the Angel sitting next to the bed couldn't hear any.
The second story room that belonged to Buffy Summers was now occupied by two close friends of Buffy, and a complete stranger, who insisted on sitting in a chair next to the bed that held the young lady who was fighting to recover from wounds from earlier that night.
Tara, lover and kindred spirit to Willow, slumped in a chair at the far end of the room, sleeping uneasily. She was too exhausted to stay awake, but too scared to stay away from Willow, who still hadn't awaken after being knocked out earlier.
Christopher's eyes looked to Tara, noticing she had finally fallen asleep. The Angel stood, pulled a blanket from the end of the bed and draped it over the sleeping girl. He brushed a small rogue lock of hair from her face, and moved his hand down her face gently. The touch brought an easiness to Tara, helping her fall into a deeper sleep.
The Angel returned to his seat, leaning forward and leaning his hands on his chin. His gaze returned to Willow. He had sat motionless for more than an hour, keeping guard over her, and making sure she didn't suffer from her cuts. He sat, now, in a white collared shirt and blue jeans, on loan from Giles until the blood and dust could be cleaned from his own clothes.
"I'm sorry, Willow," the Angel finally whispered. "I wish I could be there to protect you, now."
Christopher sat back in his chair and looked up to the portraits on the wall, unable to look at her, anymore.
"I hope you don't hold it against me. When a soul becomes strong enough, we have to leave them. There are just only so many of us, and too many of you. Your growing up at the Hellmouth sure did make me powerful, though. And now, I'm part of the Archangel's Clan. You shouldn't suffer because of me. You deserve better, and I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't be," a voice awkwardly, not trying to sound too quiet. Or too loud.
Christopher turned around and looked at Tara, now barely awake, and trying to sit up.
"She's become very powerful as a witch," she finished.
A smile came across Christopher's lips. "A Guardian never feels satisfied. Humans will always hurt themselves, that can't be helped. But, behind every skinned knee, stands an Angel in tears."
"That's sweet," Tara smiled. "But it's not your fault."
The Angel turned back to the girl lying on the bed. "I know. I can't help it, though. I love her."
Tara sat forward suddenly, trying not to let her jealousy show.
Christopher looked at her and smiled. "Don't worry. I simply couldn't compete with you."
Tara nodded slightly and smiled. She let the relief she felt show.
***
Buffy lay her head on her arm, trying to fight the drowsiness that was trying to consume her. In her other arm, she held an ice-pack against her blackened eye. Across from her sat Giles, Joyce, and Victoria, drinking tea and searching through files that now littered the table.
"I just don't know that I really trust that thing up there," Joyce said, looking at Giles. "I mean, how do we know it won't harm the girls?"
"I can assure you he won't," Victoria replied. "If Willow was truly once his charge, than he not only won't hurt her, he'll defend her with his dying last breath."
"Besides, Mom, believe me, if it wanted Will, or any of us dead, nothing would stop it," Buffy added.
"Is it really so powerful?" Joyce asked.
"Mom, did you see Xander and Anya?" Buffy asked. "All their wounds came just from the rocks and dirt kicked up by the force of the battle."
"Besides, if we know it's here, then we don't have to worry about it destroying the city," Giles added.
"I just can't believe the power of their fight," Buffy said, exasperated. "I mean, how do I fight something like that?"
"You don't," Victoria answered. "Fortunately, it's on our side. What we have to worry about is Ashbury. He's the one who could change the outcome of this grand episode we have here."
"Ah!" Giles smiled. "Here it is! Heaven's Key. Um, well it saysWell, it uhhmm."
"What? What does it say?" Buffy asked.
"Uh, right, well" Giles started, taking his glasses off and looking at Buffy. "Well, it says A legend from early Christian Texts. Vampires search heavily for it, but not much is known about it."
"Andthat's it?" Buffy asked.
"That's all," Giles answered.
"Itis on the lips of Vampires, sometimes," Victoria said. "I mean, we've heard of it, but that's all. We never really knew what it was."
"I may be able to help you!" a muffled cry came from outside the window in the kitchen.
"Did you hear something?" Victoria asked.
"Oh, ignore it," Buffy said. "It's Spike. He can't come in."
Victoria walked over to the window and opened it up. Standing, now drenched on the back porch was the blond-haired Vampire. "C'mon, let me in! It's freezing out here!"
"Not a chance!" Buffy yelled.
"I know what it is!" Spike yelled. "I tried to get it one time for Dru's birthday, but a Slothmeyer Demon had it!"
Buffy stood up and walked over to the window. "I'm listening."
"Let me in, and I'll tell you the rest!" Spike pleaded.
"Tell me what you know and I'll think about it," Buffy answered.
"Aw, bloody hell, it's freezin' out here!" Spike yelled.
"Then better get talking," Buffy laughed.
"Alright, Alright! I don't know much. But I do know it is over 600 years old, and it is supposed to make a Vampire invincible if he wears it."
Victoria smiled. "That was quite nice, thank you," she said, closing the window.
"What?" Spike yelled. "Aw come on, you stupid sods, you said you would let me in!"
Buffy opened the window and stuck her head out. "No, I said I would think about it. I'll have an answer for you in June." The Slayer smiled and closed the window.
Spike threw his arms up in the air and slowly turned away.
"Well, that would certainly explain a lot," Giles said, thumbing through his book. "I wondered how Ashbury was able to survive hits from the Angel."
"And why several creatures, including Christopher, are looking for it," Victoria added.
"I just don't get it," Joyce said. "I mean, so, there are Angels out there? Why haven't we ever run into one before?"
"Yeah," Buffy said. "And why is it that after all these battles and with all these demons they haven't been helping? I mean, why do I have to keep fighting all these creatures and demons when this is really their job? Shouldn't they be doing the fighting?"
"Are you really so arrogant?" a voice chimed out. "Are you really so arrogant as to believe that the war being fought between good and evil takes place only on Earth?"
Buffy turned, startled by the voice, and looked at the Angel as he stood in the doorway. "It's just that"
"It's nothing. You understand nothing. The demons and warriors you fight here are miniscule in comparison to what lies on the other side. Every day Angels fight and are destroyed to try to keep certain realms free from the darkness that spews out of the many hells."
Victoria stood up, setting her book gently down. "Hello, Christopher," she said compassionately. "We meant no harm, no offense. We simply aren't informed of what is on the other side."
The Angel looked around the room at each person and took in a deep breath. "I do not know Vampires well, and you do not know the Fallen well. It would do us both well to share our knowledge."
"The Fallen?" Buffy asked.
"Of course," Victoria laughed to herself. "Stinky Casp–er, Adonis! He's a Fallen! A Fallen Angel!"
***
"He's been here for a day or two, now, sire," the small vampire answered. "He's coming here, now. He may already be in the building."
"Damn," Robert replied. "Things were going so well. Our operations were under the Slayer's watch, and then he had to come into town."
The old building at 4th and Jefferson St. in Sunnydale had been home to a small band of Vampires for about three months. The Vampires moved about from this location, which had access to the sewers, hunting the poorer population that lived around this area. The building was far enough away from Buffy's house and campus that they had managed to build up quite an army without catching her attention.
"And this is the welcome I get, Umetsa?" Fang asked, stepping down from the stairs with his arms apart as if he owned the building. "After 300 years, I would hope for a better welcome than this."
"I'm sorry, my lord," Robert replied, "It's just that your brawl with the Slayer is all over town, now, and it might bring her searching out here."
"Why, Umetsa, I'm surprised at you," Fang laughed. "When I found you in Africa, you were always the hunter. It didn't matter what the size of the beast, or how fearsome it was. You were a hailed warrior in your tribe."
"I am still a hailed warrior in my tribe," Robert replied. "But I was also known for being smart, as well. I know when to hide. And call me Robert,' now, not Umetsa."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Robert,'" Fang mocked. "I thought I was walking into the nest of the most powerful creatures on the planet. Instead, I find I walk into a hole, full of starving, scared mice."
Several of the Vampires stood up, and began moving in around Fang, who never stopped smiling.
"It's alright, guys," Robert said. "Back off, he's an old friend."
"An old friend?" Fang asked. "I'm so much more than that. I'm the deliverer. The invincible Vampire that will bring this town to where it belongs."
"Yeah, and where is that?" one of the Vampires asked.
"To us," Fang laughed.
Robert smiled, walked up to Fang and put his hand on the older man's shoulder. "You're out of your mind," he said. Moving faster than any around could follow, Robert pulled out a wooden stake and brought it down into Fang's chest.
All gasped, waiting for Fang to turn to dust. Instead, Fang laughed and pulled the stake back out, unharmed. "Robert, now that's what I'm talking about!" he yelled, slapping Robert on the shoulder. "You used to be such a mean son-of-a-bitch. You almost make me want to change my mind about killing you."
Robert's jaw hung open as he took a few steps back, trying to get away. Fang charged in and put the wooden stake through his heart, turning him to dust. "Stupid idiot," he spit. "When I found him, he was scared, lonely, and bleeding to death. I brought him back to life and gave him powers unimagined. What a waste."
The gang began to back away from Fang. "Where are you all going?" he asked. "I am now in charge of this nest. You will do what I say. If you run away, you'll be hunted down and destroyed. Do you understand? Things are going to change around here. You are no longer the hunted. You are now the hunters, and I will see to it that you destroy that which you are most scared of."
The Vampires looked to each other, but none said anything. Finally one of them stepped forward and smiled. "It's about damn time."
***