The Praetorian Guard
~ Prelude ~
Neopolis, Syria, The Roman Empire, 324 c.e.
The last of the visible stars began to fade away. Bathed in the golden orange rays of light, the mountainous horizon at sunrise looked as though it could be the very doorways of heaven itself.
A dark-haired young woman stood at the top of the fortification walls, staring out at the first rays of light, trying to ignore the many fires and encampments that now surrounded the city.
"Abigail! What are you doing up there?" a guard's voice came from the archer's post. "Get over here before you are shot!"
Abigail smiled at her friend, Elisha, who stood, crouching behind the wall concerned for her safety. He was the first real friend she had had. After her parents were killed by the Germans working for Rome, she had to rely on the help of the Christians of the town to take care of her.
After Elisha's family took her in, fed her, and helped raise her, she felt she could never repay them. They simply told her that God, through their savior had helped her. And, if she wished to pay them back, she should accept Jesus Christ as her savior.
To a long time practicing Jew, it seemed a strange cult. Even now, she could not understand how they could simply wait inside the city and pray to God when the Praetors had sent a mighty force to come to the city and slaughter them.
Elisha ran across the wall to Elisha, taking his hand and smiling. "Where is the Breton? Where is my Watcher, Julian?" Abigail asked.
"He has not awakened, yet. He had better, soon. I fear the Praetorians are ready to send their troops in. They've been itching for a battle to prove themselves."
"So, they've come here to slaughter Christians and any who would defend them?" Abigail asked.
"Jews, Barbarians, Christiansit matters notthey're just ready to fight," Elisha answered. "I don't know that I trust your Breton friend, though. He acts awfully strange at times."
Julian, from a very small fishing village way up in the northern part of the Empire had come to Neopolis a year ago. He told Abigail that she was a special person. She was an instrument of God to defeat the dark forces. The forces of Satan.
Julian had spent the last year, against the wishes of the family of Abigail, teaching her how to fight in the ways of the Romans. How to use weapons, and how to fight without weapons in order to kill creatures that stalked the night. Since Abigail had become the instrument, the number of sudden deaths by "animals" in the night had fallen dramatically. She dared not tell those around what she really fought, for fear that they would kill her for witchery. But, she fought on, killing the human-like creatures that fed on blood.
"What is going on?" Abigail asked. "Why are all the guards on the wall?"
"We fear an attack at any moment, acutally," Elisha answered. "Their forces have been gathering since the early hours, readying their weapons and barking out orders all over the place."
Suddenly, the catapults were swung and a large boulder slammed into the side of the wall. The Roman Army stood in long lines, spears ready, and watched, silently as the town's militia began arming the walls with fire arrows, ready to shoot.
The Roman army was over 1,000 strong, with infantry, archers, chariots, and cavalry. They had machines ready to storm over the city walls, and Neopolis would not be able to withstand much of a fight.
A Roman General and Praetor rode forth on his horse, just out of reach of the archers on the wall, but close enough to be heard.
"My name is Ephesus. Praetor of the Roman Army, General of Diocletian, Emperor of Rome. By his decree, we are to destroy the Christians which are hiding within your city walls! Release them now, and no harm will come to your city. Withhold them from us, and you will parish the same as they."
Abigail leaned closer to the wall to try to hear the commander of Neopolis' Army's response. She jumped, however, as a hand came down on her shoulder. She quickly snapped back and grabbed the arm on her shoulder, and snapped the man over, landing him on his back on the wall.
"Oh, no! Julian! I am so sorry!" she cried, looking down at the red-haired man, who was smiling at her.
"Well done, Abigail, well done," Julian laughed. "Were I a demon, I would be very frightened!"
The Watcher rolled around and sat up, his thick red beard matted against his face. "What is going on out here, now?"
"I don't know," Abigail said. "It seems the commander is deciding whether or not to feed the Christians to the Romans."
"They are most lucky, here. In Breton, they wouldn't be given to the Legions, they would be stoned by the Bretons themselves. Christianity is not a popular cult in Londinium. At least here, the Jews will fight for them."
"What do we do if they attack?" Abigail asked, looking worried.
"We fightwith the rest of the Neooplian Army."
A thunderous crash sounded out as a boulder slammed into the wall again, this time exploding with flames, sending dozens of soldiers flying from the walls. The Army began to advance.
Abigail's curiosity got to her. She stood up, and looked over the wall, watching as the masses in front of the walls began to advance. The Neopolian Army began its barrage of arrows onto the army, but it would not last long. The arrows were barely hitting anything but the shields, anyway.
"Watch out!" Abigail yelled, ducking back down behind the wall. Elisha looked up to see what she was yelling about, and, suddenly, the sky began to rain arrows. They were lit on fire, and came down in so great a number, that there was no where to hide on the walls. Dozens of soldiers were killed, and many of the houses immediately under the walls caught fire. The population of the city began pouring out of their homes and running into the city streets.
"Live through this, Elisha," Abigail said, grabbing the soldier's hand. "No matter what, please live through this."
The young woman turned and, with her Watcher, leapt from the wall, landing on the rooftops below, and ran down to the ground. Elisha watched as they pulled swords from the bodies of dead soldiers.
"Lord help us all" Elisha whispered. "The Romans are going to see to our deaths."
***
Sunnydale, California, United States of America, 2001 c.e.
"Okay, so, we haveGladiator, Erin Brokavich, or Frequency," the young black haired man said, smiling and holding up Gladiator and waving it around with a smile. He was hoping and praying the group would chose that one.
"Erin Brokavich, Xander," Buffy said.
"Yeah, definitely Erin," Willow agreed.
Xander let out an audible sigh and held up the tape, looking at it. "I have got to get myself more male friends. Okay! Ms. Brokavich-Chick-Flick it is! But, I just want to warn youIf you ever are in a tough fight, you could really use some of Russell Crowe's moves."
"I think I can handle things alright," Buffy said, shaking her head. "Not that I don't mind looking at Russell."
"Definitely," Willow said.
The two friends looked at her strangely.
"What?" Willow said. "I'm gay, now, not dead. I mean, who wouldn't like Mr.-Aussie-turned-Spaniard? Even Xander thinks he's cute."
Xander waved his hand down low back and forth. "That was a joke," he whispered.
"Popcorn, anyone?" Giles asked, walking into the room. "I believe I've made more than enough for everyone."
"Well, then, pass those puffy clouds-o-joy, amigo," Xander said, smiling. He quickly stopped smiling when Giles gave him a dirty look and grabbed some popcorn.
"Oh, dear," Giles grumbled, turning to Xander. "Not Brokovich?"
"You were gone, I was outnumbered."
"Well," Willow said with a smile, "Now you just get to look at Julia Roberts in a push-up bra."
Xander brightened up. "hey, you knowyou're right."
"Of course I'm right," Willow said, holding her head up.
The group continued to watch and laugh at the movie, making fun of each other and everyone else not there. They sat back and did something they rarely had the chance to do: Relax. However, what they didn't know was they were being watched.
Spike lit up a cigarette and blew the smoke out his nose. "You will give me a chance to talk, Buffy. Just as soon as you need my help againand you will need my help again, soon. You will understandI love you."
***
The Vatican, Rome, 2001, c.e.
"Are you sure, Father Abrigo?" the Cardinal asked.
"Yes, Cardinal Vencini," Father Abrigo said, breathlessly. "The Praetorian Guard was seen, again, two days ago. They are on the move."
"If this is true, then this could mean a great deal of trouble. Where were they spotted this time?"
"A report from New York City by Father Charles Robinson," Father Abrigo said. "Two of his nuns were slaughtered in the streets. He says the mark was left on their arms."
"The mark of the cross and star?" the Cardinal asked. "He is absolutely sure about this?"
"Yes, CardinalAbsolutely positive. Father Robinson has spent some time studying the Praetorians here, at the Vatican. He knows them well."
"The sightings were first in Jerusalem," Cardinal Vencini said, walking to the large map laid out on a table at the end of the hall. "They were then spotted in Istanbul, Venice, Berlin, Edinburgh, Greenland, and now New York."
"They've left a path of destruction in their wake. What if they've finally begun to renew their war against us?"
"Then God help us all, Father," Cardinal Vencini whispered. "No one knows how the Preatorian Guard was stopped last time, and we have no idea what to do this time."
"God is with us, now, as he was when they were first defeated. We'll find a way."
"I wish I had your optimism, Father," Cardinal Vencini said. "We will call a meeting together with his holiness's council, and whatever Cardinals are visiting at present. Until we can decide what to do, send warning to America. Make sure all major cities are ready to close up and run should they encounter the Guard."
"As you command," Father Abrigo said.
"One more thing, FatherThese members of the Praetorian GuardThey are dangerous. They will wipe out the entire Catholic Church, and all followers of Christ if they can."
"Surely," Father Abrigo laughed, "There are too many of us for them to kill."
"Not at allThey will destroy the world if they have to," the Cardinal said solemnly. "They are completely immortal. What have they to fear?"
***