Chapter Eight: The Heart of Shadows
Or Why the Gods Invented Seat Belts
_ _ _ _ _
Callista stood at the entrance of the small cell, a mild look of satisfaction on her face. She was
wearing nothing more than a ragged pair of denim jeans and some blood-soaked bandages that were
wrapped around her chest. When Willow had used her newfound powers to send Callista flying through the
wall, it had shattered most of the bones in Callista's body. Even with the advanced healing powers of a
vampire, that kind of damage was slow to heal.
Callista stepped into the cell, running a hand through her dark hair. She smiled in spite of the pain
in her chest at the sight before her. Father Paul hung on the wall, nailed there in the crucifix position by
silver spikes driven through his wrists and ankles. His clothing was in shreds, his priest's collar long gone.
He was split from his waist from his neck, his flesh peeled back to expose the muscle and bones beneath.
His intestines hung loosely, almost reaching his knees. A thin sheen of blood covered his face, sweated out
of his pores. He groaned softly. Callista smiled, and reached up to stroke his face softly.
"You should have carried out my command, Father Paul," she said softly. Father Paul inhaled
sharply, and looked at her, trying to focus his eyes.
"He was dead, Mistress," he gasped out. Callista shook her head and raised her hand as it reshaped
itself into a fleshy claw. She plunged the claw deep into Father Paul's insides. Father Paul tilted his head
back and screamed.
"He was not dead. He could not have been dead and come try to shoot me. I am not pleased with
you, Father Paul," she said quietly, twisting the claw a little deeper into his guts. She ripped her claw out of
him with a quick jerk. She raised the claw, examining the blacked, withered organ in his hand. She studied
it briefly and decided it must have been whatever had been left of his liver. She tossed the withered organ
over her shoulder and looked back at Father Paul.
"You need time to consider how you've failed me," Callista said sweetly. She reached over to a
small table and picked up a wooden stake. She rammed the stake into Father Paul's heart, a cruel smile on
her face. Father Paul stiffened, and completely stopped moving, a pained expression on his blood-soaked
face. Callista turned and walked out the door, looking up at the two male vampires that were standing there.
The vampires were obviously twins; they were both tall, almost seven feet in height, and very thin.
They had short, dark hair, and thin, bony faces. Their eyes were dark green. They were both dressed in
expensive business suits, the one on the left was wearing a black suit, the other a white suit. There was a
understated air of menace about the two. Callista watched the twins silently for a moment, then spoke.
"Michael, Gabriel, I do hope you two have good news to report. I'd hate to have you share a room
with Father Paul," she said cold. The twins looked at each other, then back to Callista.
"Mohammed is dead Mistress," Michael, the one in black said.
"He was killed by the Children of Megami shortly after sunrise Mistress," Gabriel, the one in
white said. Callista let out a long, exasperated sigh and turned, walking down the corridor. The twins
followed closely behind her.
"Mohammed was a fool but he knew this city better than anyone else. Things will be difficult
without him," Callista said as she walked. "These 'Children' have become too much of a pain."
"The War Parties are in place Mistress," Michael said.
"We have nearly a hundred and fifty vampires and almost twice as many ghouls in position to
attack the city," Gabriel said. Callista stopped and turned, looking at the two, a smile on her face.
"Some good news at last. I take it we are prepared for tomorrow night then?" she asked. The twins
nodded in unison. Callista's smiled widened. "We'll either take this city or burn it to the ground."
"You had better hope so Callista," a dark and evil voice said from the shadows. Callista and the
twins whirled in the direction of the voice as a tall figure stepped out of the shadows. Callista's eyes
widened in shock and she quickly dropped to her knees, Michael and Gabriel a nano-second behind her.
"Archbishop! I did not know you were in the city," Callista said while staring at the floor, the
slightest quiver in her voice. The Archbishop moves to stand over Callista, looking down at her.
"I had to come after hearing how badly you fucked up in Sunnydale," The Archbishop said, the
menace obvious in his voice. "That was to be expected however. You didn't know whom you were really
dealing with. I warned you the Stormbringer was dangerous."
"One of my servants failed me, Your Grace. He is being punished," Callista said, her voice
shaking quite badly now.
"It is of no matter now. The Slayer and her friends will be dealt with in time. They can't stop the
Siege once it begins," The Archbishop said. "Get up Callista, we have work to do."
Callista stood slowly, keeping her eyes downward. The Archbishop was one of the few people that
truly frightened her. She knew he would punish her for her failures whenever she proved no longer useful
to him. Callista took a deep breath, even though she didn't breathe.
_ _ _ _ _
"Explain this to me again, because it makes no sense," Willow said. She was sitting on the roof of
Jason's building, looking out over Sunnydale. The morning sun shone brightly in the sky as she and Chelle
looked out over the town.
"It's not as unbelievable as it sounds Willow," Chelle said. She was dressed much as she always
was, in her black wedding dress, minus the veil, and was rubbing her glass monocle with her thumb. "The
words and rituals a mage uses to make her magick are not important. They mean nothing in the end."
Willow looked at Chelle with a confused expression.
"Why is that then?" she asked. Chelle took a deep breath and tried to explain.
"A true mage only needs one thing to re-shape reality; her will. Chants, spells, herbs, talismans,
they are all just tools used by the mage to help focus her will," Chelle said, holding up her monocle. "They
are called foci, or focus. This monocle is my focus. It helps me form my will into what I want… but in the
end, I don't need it to make magick. It just makes things easier."
"Wow," Willow said reverently. Chelle shook her head.
"You are a long way off from just willing reality into whatever you want," Chelle said. Willow
sighed.
"I know. I've tried to recreate some of the things I did when we escaped Callista, but I can't seem
to do anything," she said, disappointment obvious in her voice. Chelle smiled and patted her on her
shoulder.
"Strange things happen to mages when they first Awaken," Chelle said. "Your Avatar was helping
you get out of a dangerous situation, by helping you access your power directly. But Avatars rarely speak
directly to the people they are connected to like that. It will take time, but you will learn ways to use your
power like that again."
Willow opened her mouth to speak when she was cut off by the loud sound of Jason's car starting.
She and Chelle stood up and looked over the edge of the roof, watching as Jason pulled his Mustang out on
the street and parked it. He shut the car off and got out, looking up to the roof and waving toward the two
on the roof. He was dressed as he always was, torn jeans, a t-shirt, combat boots, and his battered black
leather jacket.
"They must be getting ready to leave," Willow said. "Let's go say goodbye." Chelle nodded and
followed Willow to the fire escape. They climbed down and walked over to the car just as Buffy walked
outside, carrying a small nylon bag with her. Giles was right behind her, a worried look on his face.
"We shouldn't be gone for more than a couple of days Giles," Buffy was saying as she came out.
The former librarian frowned.
"Still, be careful. If some of the things I have heard recently are true, Los Angeles is very unstable
right now. Don't hesitate to call if you need help," Giles said. Buffy smiled, then reached over and gave
him a quick hug.
"I'll be careful Watcher-man," she said with a grin. She then turned to Willow as Chelle moved
over to the car to talk to Jason.
"You be careful Will. Stick close to Chelle until I get back," Buffy said as she gave her best friend
a hug. Willow smiled.
"Chelle is going to stay with me until you two get back. My parents are out of town for a week,"
she said. She and Buffy hugged one more time and turned toward the car, just in time to see Chelle give
Jason a very deep kiss. They watched in amazement at this for a few seconds, until Chelle broke the kiss
and turned, walking back inside the warehouse. Jason stood there, watching her as she left, a sad look on
his face. He then turned and got in the car.
"Let's go Buffy," he said.
_ _ _ _ _
Almost an hour later, Jason and Buffy were speeding down the freeway at close to a hundred miles
an hour. The stereo was blasting some painfully cheery Japanese pop song at glass-shattering levels. Buffy
stared at Jason as he sang along with the lyrics, in Japanese, at the top of his lungs. She was wearing her
seatbelt, which was really more of a racing harness, and gripping the dashboard with one white knuckled
hand, and had her left ear pressed to her shoulder, her other hand covering her right ear, trying to block out
the music.
Jason wasn't wearing his seat belt, and had only one hand on the steering wheel, the other holding
a cigarette. He was weaving in and out of traffic like a maniac, and Buffy let out a little screech as he cut in
front of a semi. Jason didn't seem to hear her as he kept singing along with the mind-numbing song.
"Oh what was I thinking," Buffy said to herself. "This guy is crazy." She groaned as he pressed
down farther on the gas pedal, and the car started going at least ten miles-an-hour faster.
"Jason! Slow down!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Jason abruptly stopped singing and
blinked at her. He gave her a slightly insane smile, then reached out and switched the radio off, and slowed
the car down to a saner eighty mph.
"I was wondering how long you would go without saying something," Jason said as Buffy sat up
straight, leaning back in her seat. She glared at him.
"You did that on purpose?!" she asked, annoyed. He grinned.
"You don't have to worry. I've been driving cars since Henry Ford rolled off the first Model A.
There isn't a more experienced driver on this planet," he said with a grin. Buffy sighed and started rubbing
her forehead.
"You are out of your mind, you know that?" she said quietly. Jason just grinned. Buffy glared at
him for a moment, then sighed. "So, how are we going to find Callista, any ways."
"We'll ask around," Jason said simply. Buffy looked at him, frowning.
"We're just going to go up to people and say, 'Excuse me, have you seen a psychotic vampire
bitch lurking around?' That'll work," Buffy said sarcastically. Jason let out s short laugh.
"No, there is a night club we can go to, called the Heart of Shadows," Jason said with a slight
smile. "It's a sort of hang-out for all the supernatural thingies in Los Angeles. Vampires, werewolves,
demons, mages, fae, whatever, they go to this place to meet and network."
"Sounds like a real party spot," Buffy said. Jason grinned at her.
"It can be, but it's a relatively safe place to be. It's neutral ground," Jason said as he turned back to
look at the road. "The management makes sure of it. You could meet your worst enemy there, and you'd be
expected to buy him or her a drink. All personal vendettas are left outside the door. It's a safe haven, and
anyone who tries to make trouble usually gets dealt with rather harshly."
"You think someone there might know where Callista is?" Buffy asked. Jason nodded.
"Someone will likely know something. You can count on it," Jason said grimly.
_ _ _ _ _
Richard Gaimen III was a mage, a member of the Sons of Ether. He was small and bookish. With
his unkempt white hair and tendency to babble most of the time, along with his taste for tweed clothing,
was an odd little man that tended to remind people of a slightly crazy college professor. That was the
impression Richard's drinking companion got, anyway.
Richard and his companion sat at a table on the second floor of the Heart of Shadows. The club
was an old converted warehouse, with three levels. The first level held the large dance floor and the bar.
The second was more of a wide balcony that ran along all four walls, some twenty feet above the first floor.
There were many tables and booths on the second floor, all of them overlooking the dance floor and bar,
and most of them hidden in some kind of shadow.
The third floor was for employees of the club only, and no one went there without permission. The
two burly Kindred guarding the staircase made sure of that.
"Quite an interesting place wouldn't you say?" Gaimen asked his drinking companion, a man
dressed completely in black. The man in black had not yet told Gaimen his name, but Gaimen really hadn't
noticed, or noticed that the man in black rarely said anything in reply to him. He just sat there, nursing a
beer. Gaimen went on oblivious.
"So many different species of supernatural beings under one roof, and many of them wanting to
kill each other. I mean, it is simply amazing the owners keep this place in peace," Gaimen said. "A Garou
and a Kindred, drinking peacefully side by side. That just does not happen very often. And I would swear
that woman over there is a member of the Technocracy, and the man she is dancing with is definitely an
Ecstasy Cultist . Simply amazing"
"Everyone has to have some sort of neutral ground," the man in black said quietly. Gaimen
rambled on as if he didn't hear him.
"Yes, simply amazing. I could spend years studying the social ramifications of this place. I
mean… oh dear me, is that the Slayer?" Gaimen said in amazement. The man in black looked up in
surprise, looking toward the door. Sure enough, Buffy has entered, following close behind Jason. The man
in black looked stricken. Gaimen watched Buffy in amazement, then turned back to look at the man on
black.
"The Slayer here, that ought to cause quite a…" he started to say, but stopped when he saw that
the man in black was gone.
"Hmnph, that was rude," he said quietly.
_ _ _ _ _
Buffy moved through the crowd on the dance floor, desperately trying to keep up with Jason. He
was moving quickly toward the bar, not looking back to see if Buffy was able to keep up with him. Buffy
let out a little growl and kept moving, bumping into people as they got in her way. She tried not to let the
fact that most of the "people" she was bumping into were vampires and demons.
The club was full of all types of creatures, some she'd seen before and some she hadn't. Kindred
sat side by side with the vampires she was used to fighting, drinking wine glasses filled with what looked
like blood. Demons of several different species danced on the dance floor, next to people who looked
human, as far as Buffy could tell.
"I wouldn't stare too much Buffy," Jason shouted over his shoulder at her. "Might make 'em
nervous. Some of them have to know you are the Slayer!" He grinned and continued walking to the bar.
Buffy frowned and pushed through the crowd, trying to follow him. By the time she got through the crowd,
she spotted Jason leaning against the bar, speaking animatedly to an attractive redheaded woman standing
behind the bar. The woman nodded, and walked away just as Buffy moved up next to Jason.
"Who was that?" Buffy asked loudly over the din. Jason grinned.
"That was Amanda Sall. She's the manager here. She hasn't seen Callista lately, but she did see
two of her flunkies a few nights ago." He said. Buffy frowned.
"Flunkies?" she asked. Jason nodded.
"A couple of real psycho's. Twins named Michael and Gabriel. They used to be serial killers when
they were alive, until Callista embraced them. Turned them into her main errand boys, behind Father Paul,"
Jason said. Buffy laughed darkly.
"I can't imagine Father Paul is having a good time tonight," she said. She looked up at Jason and
blinked, seeing a rather dark expression on his face as he looked over her shoulder. She frowned and turned
around, just as Jason raised his hand, trying to get her to keep from looking around.
Faith stood twenty feet away from Buffy, leaning against the bar, a half-empty mug of beer sitting
in front of her. She was dressed as she usually was, tight leather pants, tight red shirt, and leather jacket.
She hadn't noticed Buffy, but Buffy planned to change that as she took a step forward. She was stopped
when Jason placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You get in a fight with her here, you will get yourself killed. Wait until she leaves," he said
quietly. Buffy turned around slowly, an angry look on her face, but stopped when she saw that Amanda was
standing behind Jason, two large and leather clad Kindred flanking her. Jason saw the change in Buffy's
expression and turned around slowly, looking Amanda and Kindred over slowly.
"Uhm, what's up Amy?" Jason asked innocently. Amanda let out a sigh and shook her head before
she spoke.
"The boss wants to see you and the girl. He was rather insistent on it. Please come along,"
Amanda said, sounding like she'd rather be somewhere else. Jason looked the two Kindred over once more,
then back at Buffy, who was had a peeved expression on her face. Jason turned back to Amanda.
"Sure, why not?" he said.
_ _ _ _ _
The Hollywood sign overlooking Los Angeles was perhaps the most famous landmark in the city.
Raven had visited the sign several times, as he enjoyed the view it afforded him of the city. As he walked
along the wooded trail that led to the sign, he though about a variety of things that he'd experienced over
his rather long life.
"Wonder how much longer this is all going to go on," he mused quietly as he walked. He
continued along silently for a few moments, wrapped in his thoughts, until he slowly noticed the music
coming softly over the wind. He stopped and listened for a moment, a sad smile crossing his face. He
recognized the soft sound of a flute.
Raven shook his head and starting walking again, heading toward the sound of the flute. He
eventually coming upon the source of the music, a rather scruffy looking young man, sitting crossed legged
in front of a tree, eyes closed, playing an old Jethro Tull song on his flute. Raven stopped in front of him,
looking down at him silently, waiting for the song to end. After a few moments the song did end, the flute
player setting the flute into his lap and looking up at Raven.
"You must be Scott," Raven said quietly. "I've been looking for you."
"No you haven't," Scott said quietly. Raven blinked.
"You aren't the Bard I've been looking for?" he asked, soundly slightly annoyed. Scott laughed
and shook his head.
"Oh yes, I am that person, but you haven't been looking for me, not really," he said, grinning.
Raven shook his head.
"I haven't got time for riddles. You're worse than my mother," Raven said, obviously angry. "The
prophecy stated you would help me deal with the Raising. Are you or aren't you?"
Scott looked up at Raven, then slowly got to his feet. He stood there silently for a moment,
looking Raven over, then tilted his head, bringing his flute up and pressing it close to his left ear. Raven
sighed and started to turn away.
"Wait," Scott said quietly. Raven turned back to him as he lowered the flute.
"You can't stop Gehenna, Lord Raven," he said quietly. Raven growled softly.
"I know I can't stop it. But I can slow it down, and I am going to, with or without your help,"
Raven spat out, frustrated. Scott laughed.
"I never said I wouldn't help you… I'll not be fighting along side you, like you seem to think I
can, but I'll still help you," he said. Raven sighed.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Raven asked. Scott tilted his head and pressed his ear to the
flute again briefly, then looked up at Raven.
"I can help in two ways," Scott started. "First, by letting you know that you already have
everything you need."
"And the other?" Raven asked, impatient.
"It's simple," Scott said. "What are you fighting for, Lord Raven?"
Raven opened his mouth to say something, but stopped, closing his mouth again as a disturbed
look crossed his face. He stood there quietly, thinking about what he had been told until long after Scott
had walked away. Eventually he looked up, staring at star-filled sky.
"What am I fighting for…" he mused quietly. "Bloody good question."
End of Chapter 8
Or Why the Gods Invented Seat Belts
_ _ _ _ _
Callista stood at the entrance of the small cell, a mild look of satisfaction on her face. She was
wearing nothing more than a ragged pair of denim jeans and some blood-soaked bandages that were
wrapped around her chest. When Willow had used her newfound powers to send Callista flying through the
wall, it had shattered most of the bones in Callista's body. Even with the advanced healing powers of a
vampire, that kind of damage was slow to heal.
Callista stepped into the cell, running a hand through her dark hair. She smiled in spite of the pain
in her chest at the sight before her. Father Paul hung on the wall, nailed there in the crucifix position by
silver spikes driven through his wrists and ankles. His clothing was in shreds, his priest's collar long gone.
He was split from his waist from his neck, his flesh peeled back to expose the muscle and bones beneath.
His intestines hung loosely, almost reaching his knees. A thin sheen of blood covered his face, sweated out
of his pores. He groaned softly. Callista smiled, and reached up to stroke his face softly.
"You should have carried out my command, Father Paul," she said softly. Father Paul inhaled
sharply, and looked at her, trying to focus his eyes.
"He was dead, Mistress," he gasped out. Callista shook her head and raised her hand as it reshaped
itself into a fleshy claw. She plunged the claw deep into Father Paul's insides. Father Paul tilted his head
back and screamed.
"He was not dead. He could not have been dead and come try to shoot me. I am not pleased with
you, Father Paul," she said quietly, twisting the claw a little deeper into his guts. She ripped her claw out of
him with a quick jerk. She raised the claw, examining the blacked, withered organ in his hand. She studied
it briefly and decided it must have been whatever had been left of his liver. She tossed the withered organ
over her shoulder and looked back at Father Paul.
"You need time to consider how you've failed me," Callista said sweetly. She reached over to a
small table and picked up a wooden stake. She rammed the stake into Father Paul's heart, a cruel smile on
her face. Father Paul stiffened, and completely stopped moving, a pained expression on his blood-soaked
face. Callista turned and walked out the door, looking up at the two male vampires that were standing there.
The vampires were obviously twins; they were both tall, almost seven feet in height, and very thin.
They had short, dark hair, and thin, bony faces. Their eyes were dark green. They were both dressed in
expensive business suits, the one on the left was wearing a black suit, the other a white suit. There was a
understated air of menace about the two. Callista watched the twins silently for a moment, then spoke.
"Michael, Gabriel, I do hope you two have good news to report. I'd hate to have you share a room
with Father Paul," she said cold. The twins looked at each other, then back to Callista.
"Mohammed is dead Mistress," Michael, the one in black said.
"He was killed by the Children of Megami shortly after sunrise Mistress," Gabriel, the one in
white said. Callista let out a long, exasperated sigh and turned, walking down the corridor. The twins
followed closely behind her.
"Mohammed was a fool but he knew this city better than anyone else. Things will be difficult
without him," Callista said as she walked. "These 'Children' have become too much of a pain."
"The War Parties are in place Mistress," Michael said.
"We have nearly a hundred and fifty vampires and almost twice as many ghouls in position to
attack the city," Gabriel said. Callista stopped and turned, looking at the two, a smile on her face.
"Some good news at last. I take it we are prepared for tomorrow night then?" she asked. The twins
nodded in unison. Callista's smiled widened. "We'll either take this city or burn it to the ground."
"You had better hope so Callista," a dark and evil voice said from the shadows. Callista and the
twins whirled in the direction of the voice as a tall figure stepped out of the shadows. Callista's eyes
widened in shock and she quickly dropped to her knees, Michael and Gabriel a nano-second behind her.
"Archbishop! I did not know you were in the city," Callista said while staring at the floor, the
slightest quiver in her voice. The Archbishop moves to stand over Callista, looking down at her.
"I had to come after hearing how badly you fucked up in Sunnydale," The Archbishop said, the
menace obvious in his voice. "That was to be expected however. You didn't know whom you were really
dealing with. I warned you the Stormbringer was dangerous."
"One of my servants failed me, Your Grace. He is being punished," Callista said, her voice
shaking quite badly now.
"It is of no matter now. The Slayer and her friends will be dealt with in time. They can't stop the
Siege once it begins," The Archbishop said. "Get up Callista, we have work to do."
Callista stood slowly, keeping her eyes downward. The Archbishop was one of the few people that
truly frightened her. She knew he would punish her for her failures whenever she proved no longer useful
to him. Callista took a deep breath, even though she didn't breathe.
_ _ _ _ _
"Explain this to me again, because it makes no sense," Willow said. She was sitting on the roof of
Jason's building, looking out over Sunnydale. The morning sun shone brightly in the sky as she and Chelle
looked out over the town.
"It's not as unbelievable as it sounds Willow," Chelle said. She was dressed much as she always
was, in her black wedding dress, minus the veil, and was rubbing her glass monocle with her thumb. "The
words and rituals a mage uses to make her magick are not important. They mean nothing in the end."
Willow looked at Chelle with a confused expression.
"Why is that then?" she asked. Chelle took a deep breath and tried to explain.
"A true mage only needs one thing to re-shape reality; her will. Chants, spells, herbs, talismans,
they are all just tools used by the mage to help focus her will," Chelle said, holding up her monocle. "They
are called foci, or focus. This monocle is my focus. It helps me form my will into what I want… but in the
end, I don't need it to make magick. It just makes things easier."
"Wow," Willow said reverently. Chelle shook her head.
"You are a long way off from just willing reality into whatever you want," Chelle said. Willow
sighed.
"I know. I've tried to recreate some of the things I did when we escaped Callista, but I can't seem
to do anything," she said, disappointment obvious in her voice. Chelle smiled and patted her on her
shoulder.
"Strange things happen to mages when they first Awaken," Chelle said. "Your Avatar was helping
you get out of a dangerous situation, by helping you access your power directly. But Avatars rarely speak
directly to the people they are connected to like that. It will take time, but you will learn ways to use your
power like that again."
Willow opened her mouth to speak when she was cut off by the loud sound of Jason's car starting.
She and Chelle stood up and looked over the edge of the roof, watching as Jason pulled his Mustang out on
the street and parked it. He shut the car off and got out, looking up to the roof and waving toward the two
on the roof. He was dressed as he always was, torn jeans, a t-shirt, combat boots, and his battered black
leather jacket.
"They must be getting ready to leave," Willow said. "Let's go say goodbye." Chelle nodded and
followed Willow to the fire escape. They climbed down and walked over to the car just as Buffy walked
outside, carrying a small nylon bag with her. Giles was right behind her, a worried look on his face.
"We shouldn't be gone for more than a couple of days Giles," Buffy was saying as she came out.
The former librarian frowned.
"Still, be careful. If some of the things I have heard recently are true, Los Angeles is very unstable
right now. Don't hesitate to call if you need help," Giles said. Buffy smiled, then reached over and gave
him a quick hug.
"I'll be careful Watcher-man," she said with a grin. She then turned to Willow as Chelle moved
over to the car to talk to Jason.
"You be careful Will. Stick close to Chelle until I get back," Buffy said as she gave her best friend
a hug. Willow smiled.
"Chelle is going to stay with me until you two get back. My parents are out of town for a week,"
she said. She and Buffy hugged one more time and turned toward the car, just in time to see Chelle give
Jason a very deep kiss. They watched in amazement at this for a few seconds, until Chelle broke the kiss
and turned, walking back inside the warehouse. Jason stood there, watching her as she left, a sad look on
his face. He then turned and got in the car.
"Let's go Buffy," he said.
_ _ _ _ _
Almost an hour later, Jason and Buffy were speeding down the freeway at close to a hundred miles
an hour. The stereo was blasting some painfully cheery Japanese pop song at glass-shattering levels. Buffy
stared at Jason as he sang along with the lyrics, in Japanese, at the top of his lungs. She was wearing her
seatbelt, which was really more of a racing harness, and gripping the dashboard with one white knuckled
hand, and had her left ear pressed to her shoulder, her other hand covering her right ear, trying to block out
the music.
Jason wasn't wearing his seat belt, and had only one hand on the steering wheel, the other holding
a cigarette. He was weaving in and out of traffic like a maniac, and Buffy let out a little screech as he cut in
front of a semi. Jason didn't seem to hear her as he kept singing along with the mind-numbing song.
"Oh what was I thinking," Buffy said to herself. "This guy is crazy." She groaned as he pressed
down farther on the gas pedal, and the car started going at least ten miles-an-hour faster.
"Jason! Slow down!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Jason abruptly stopped singing and
blinked at her. He gave her a slightly insane smile, then reached out and switched the radio off, and slowed
the car down to a saner eighty mph.
"I was wondering how long you would go without saying something," Jason said as Buffy sat up
straight, leaning back in her seat. She glared at him.
"You did that on purpose?!" she asked, annoyed. He grinned.
"You don't have to worry. I've been driving cars since Henry Ford rolled off the first Model A.
There isn't a more experienced driver on this planet," he said with a grin. Buffy sighed and started rubbing
her forehead.
"You are out of your mind, you know that?" she said quietly. Jason just grinned. Buffy glared at
him for a moment, then sighed. "So, how are we going to find Callista, any ways."
"We'll ask around," Jason said simply. Buffy looked at him, frowning.
"We're just going to go up to people and say, 'Excuse me, have you seen a psychotic vampire
bitch lurking around?' That'll work," Buffy said sarcastically. Jason let out s short laugh.
"No, there is a night club we can go to, called the Heart of Shadows," Jason said with a slight
smile. "It's a sort of hang-out for all the supernatural thingies in Los Angeles. Vampires, werewolves,
demons, mages, fae, whatever, they go to this place to meet and network."
"Sounds like a real party spot," Buffy said. Jason grinned at her.
"It can be, but it's a relatively safe place to be. It's neutral ground," Jason said as he turned back to
look at the road. "The management makes sure of it. You could meet your worst enemy there, and you'd be
expected to buy him or her a drink. All personal vendettas are left outside the door. It's a safe haven, and
anyone who tries to make trouble usually gets dealt with rather harshly."
"You think someone there might know where Callista is?" Buffy asked. Jason nodded.
"Someone will likely know something. You can count on it," Jason said grimly.
_ _ _ _ _
Richard Gaimen III was a mage, a member of the Sons of Ether. He was small and bookish. With
his unkempt white hair and tendency to babble most of the time, along with his taste for tweed clothing,
was an odd little man that tended to remind people of a slightly crazy college professor. That was the
impression Richard's drinking companion got, anyway.
Richard and his companion sat at a table on the second floor of the Heart of Shadows. The club
was an old converted warehouse, with three levels. The first level held the large dance floor and the bar.
The second was more of a wide balcony that ran along all four walls, some twenty feet above the first floor.
There were many tables and booths on the second floor, all of them overlooking the dance floor and bar,
and most of them hidden in some kind of shadow.
The third floor was for employees of the club only, and no one went there without permission. The
two burly Kindred guarding the staircase made sure of that.
"Quite an interesting place wouldn't you say?" Gaimen asked his drinking companion, a man
dressed completely in black. The man in black had not yet told Gaimen his name, but Gaimen really hadn't
noticed, or noticed that the man in black rarely said anything in reply to him. He just sat there, nursing a
beer. Gaimen went on oblivious.
"So many different species of supernatural beings under one roof, and many of them wanting to
kill each other. I mean, it is simply amazing the owners keep this place in peace," Gaimen said. "A Garou
and a Kindred, drinking peacefully side by side. That just does not happen very often. And I would swear
that woman over there is a member of the Technocracy, and the man she is dancing with is definitely an
Ecstasy Cultist . Simply amazing"
"Everyone has to have some sort of neutral ground," the man in black said quietly. Gaimen
rambled on as if he didn't hear him.
"Yes, simply amazing. I could spend years studying the social ramifications of this place. I
mean… oh dear me, is that the Slayer?" Gaimen said in amazement. The man in black looked up in
surprise, looking toward the door. Sure enough, Buffy has entered, following close behind Jason. The man
in black looked stricken. Gaimen watched Buffy in amazement, then turned back to look at the man on
black.
"The Slayer here, that ought to cause quite a…" he started to say, but stopped when he saw that
the man in black was gone.
"Hmnph, that was rude," he said quietly.
_ _ _ _ _
Buffy moved through the crowd on the dance floor, desperately trying to keep up with Jason. He
was moving quickly toward the bar, not looking back to see if Buffy was able to keep up with him. Buffy
let out a little growl and kept moving, bumping into people as they got in her way. She tried not to let the
fact that most of the "people" she was bumping into were vampires and demons.
The club was full of all types of creatures, some she'd seen before and some she hadn't. Kindred
sat side by side with the vampires she was used to fighting, drinking wine glasses filled with what looked
like blood. Demons of several different species danced on the dance floor, next to people who looked
human, as far as Buffy could tell.
"I wouldn't stare too much Buffy," Jason shouted over his shoulder at her. "Might make 'em
nervous. Some of them have to know you are the Slayer!" He grinned and continued walking to the bar.
Buffy frowned and pushed through the crowd, trying to follow him. By the time she got through the crowd,
she spotted Jason leaning against the bar, speaking animatedly to an attractive redheaded woman standing
behind the bar. The woman nodded, and walked away just as Buffy moved up next to Jason.
"Who was that?" Buffy asked loudly over the din. Jason grinned.
"That was Amanda Sall. She's the manager here. She hasn't seen Callista lately, but she did see
two of her flunkies a few nights ago." He said. Buffy frowned.
"Flunkies?" she asked. Jason nodded.
"A couple of real psycho's. Twins named Michael and Gabriel. They used to be serial killers when
they were alive, until Callista embraced them. Turned them into her main errand boys, behind Father Paul,"
Jason said. Buffy laughed darkly.
"I can't imagine Father Paul is having a good time tonight," she said. She looked up at Jason and
blinked, seeing a rather dark expression on his face as he looked over her shoulder. She frowned and turned
around, just as Jason raised his hand, trying to get her to keep from looking around.
Faith stood twenty feet away from Buffy, leaning against the bar, a half-empty mug of beer sitting
in front of her. She was dressed as she usually was, tight leather pants, tight red shirt, and leather jacket.
She hadn't noticed Buffy, but Buffy planned to change that as she took a step forward. She was stopped
when Jason placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You get in a fight with her here, you will get yourself killed. Wait until she leaves," he said
quietly. Buffy turned around slowly, an angry look on her face, but stopped when she saw that Amanda was
standing behind Jason, two large and leather clad Kindred flanking her. Jason saw the change in Buffy's
expression and turned around slowly, looking Amanda and Kindred over slowly.
"Uhm, what's up Amy?" Jason asked innocently. Amanda let out a sigh and shook her head before
she spoke.
"The boss wants to see you and the girl. He was rather insistent on it. Please come along,"
Amanda said, sounding like she'd rather be somewhere else. Jason looked the two Kindred over once more,
then back at Buffy, who was had a peeved expression on her face. Jason turned back to Amanda.
"Sure, why not?" he said.
_ _ _ _ _
The Hollywood sign overlooking Los Angeles was perhaps the most famous landmark in the city.
Raven had visited the sign several times, as he enjoyed the view it afforded him of the city. As he walked
along the wooded trail that led to the sign, he though about a variety of things that he'd experienced over
his rather long life.
"Wonder how much longer this is all going to go on," he mused quietly as he walked. He
continued along silently for a few moments, wrapped in his thoughts, until he slowly noticed the music
coming softly over the wind. He stopped and listened for a moment, a sad smile crossing his face. He
recognized the soft sound of a flute.
Raven shook his head and starting walking again, heading toward the sound of the flute. He
eventually coming upon the source of the music, a rather scruffy looking young man, sitting crossed legged
in front of a tree, eyes closed, playing an old Jethro Tull song on his flute. Raven stopped in front of him,
looking down at him silently, waiting for the song to end. After a few moments the song did end, the flute
player setting the flute into his lap and looking up at Raven.
"You must be Scott," Raven said quietly. "I've been looking for you."
"No you haven't," Scott said quietly. Raven blinked.
"You aren't the Bard I've been looking for?" he asked, soundly slightly annoyed. Scott laughed
and shook his head.
"Oh yes, I am that person, but you haven't been looking for me, not really," he said, grinning.
Raven shook his head.
"I haven't got time for riddles. You're worse than my mother," Raven said, obviously angry. "The
prophecy stated you would help me deal with the Raising. Are you or aren't you?"
Scott looked up at Raven, then slowly got to his feet. He stood there silently for a moment,
looking Raven over, then tilted his head, bringing his flute up and pressing it close to his left ear. Raven
sighed and started to turn away.
"Wait," Scott said quietly. Raven turned back to him as he lowered the flute.
"You can't stop Gehenna, Lord Raven," he said quietly. Raven growled softly.
"I know I can't stop it. But I can slow it down, and I am going to, with or without your help,"
Raven spat out, frustrated. Scott laughed.
"I never said I wouldn't help you… I'll not be fighting along side you, like you seem to think I
can, but I'll still help you," he said. Raven sighed.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Raven asked. Scott tilted his head and pressed his ear to the
flute again briefly, then looked up at Raven.
"I can help in two ways," Scott started. "First, by letting you know that you already have
everything you need."
"And the other?" Raven asked, impatient.
"It's simple," Scott said. "What are you fighting for, Lord Raven?"
Raven opened his mouth to say something, but stopped, closing his mouth again as a disturbed
look crossed his face. He stood there quietly, thinking about what he had been told until long after Scott
had walked away. Eventually he looked up, staring at star-filled sky.
"What am I fighting for…" he mused quietly. "Bloody good question."
End of Chapter 8
