Part II – The Raven
Raven sat on Spike's sarcophagus. Her task was fulfilled, the deal perfect. A vampire who had died for the Slayer. She shook her head, sending black strands of hair flying in the silent air. Who would have guessed?
She knew she should leave now, but she remained seated. Somehow, she had a feeling that this wasn't over yet.
***
"This isn't over yet!" Buffy stormed into the Magic Shop. Her friends were sitting around their usual table, looking at her in surprise. As did the few customers, but the young woman ignored them. She stared determinedly at the gang, eyeing one after another. They stared back, uncertain of what to do now.
"Buffy… are you okay? How's Dawn?" Xander finally asked cautiously. During the four days since Spike's… well, death, Buffy had barely spoken at all. Stunned, her friends had watched her shock and grief, unable to comfort her. Even if they had known a way, she wouldn't have let them. She had gone on patrol every night, most likely killing every demon or vampire that had the bad luck of hitting her eye. Slayer they called her, slain she had indeed. Giles spoke of an over reaction, but they all could understand her need to kill something. She didn't have to think then.
Buffy nodded. " She will cope. Now, I want every bit of information we've got about Raven."
"What for?" Willow asked, exchanging a look with Tara. "She's gone, isn't she?"
"She has to reverse this. I'll make her."
The group fell silent.
"Buffy… you're going to die if she reverses the spell," Willow began slowly.
"Yeah. Very bad idea," Xander agreed.
"No. There must be another kind of deal," the Slayer said firmly. "A way to solve this without… " She broke off, tightly pressing her lips together.
"Uh, Buffy… I know the guy helped us, but-"
"You know nothing, Xander. And don't try to stop me. I will find this woman, we will make a deal, she will bring him back. End of story."
The dark-haired boy finally lost his patience. "Hello? This is Spike we're talking about!"
Buffy felt their looks on her, as she finally answered, her voice determined. "I know. That's why I want to do it."
Giles, who had watched that scene from across the room, interrupted the uncomfortable silence that had followed the young woman's words. He walked over to the counter where Anya was busy wrapping up some purchase, picked up a pile of books and carried them over to the gang, placing them on the table.
"I'm afraid this is everything I can offer," he said. "Every source of information about Raven." Noticing their confused gazes, he turned directly to Buffy. "I was expecting your question. So I did a little research, collecting all written descriptions of her that I could find."
Buffy smiled thankfully at him. "Thank you, Giles." She picked up the first book. "So, let's get this started."
***
A few hours later, none of them ever wanted to see a written word again, let alone whole pages filled with one after another. Every research had that effect. And like most, this one as well had been successful.
Apparently, Raven was as powerful as she was old. First reports of her appearance had been dated at around 3,000 years before Jesus of Nazareth had ever been heard of. In every text that mentioned her, she was described as a woman dressed in black, known for granting wishes to the desperate, the helpless, but also those greedy for power over others. Yet, she never did anything without demanding a price to be paid.
"You give what you want to get," Giles summarized.
"I wonder how Spike knew about her," Willow said quietly. "He didn't seem that interested in mythology."
"He must have stumbled over the legend somewhere," Giles answered. "He had over a hundred years to learn about such things. He was part of a mythology himself, remember that."
"Kinda pointless, if you ask me." Xander leant over to Anya, who had joined them after the last customer had left. "Guess you just wanted some money. You'd have to give it to her just to get it, right?"
The others looked at Giles, waiting for an explanation. The Watcher cleared his throat.
"Well, all it says here is that the price has to be paid. No limitation to a certain person."
Xander's face went blank. "Huh?"
But Buffy had already gotten to it. "So, the one who calls her does not necessarily have to pay whatever she asks for? It can be someone else?"
"Obviously."
"Okay. I'll call her, she will reverse the deal, and we will find someone else to pay up."
"What? Who would ever-" Xander began.
"Buffy, are you sure you-" Willow started as well.
"How?" It was Tara's first word to be spoken that day, and it silenced them all. She blushed slightly as all attention turned to her. "I mean, how do you call her? It wasn't mentioned in any text I read."
"Giles?" Again, Buffy turned to the one person who she thought could help her.
He blinked. "Well… I have a book somewhere… 'The Summoning Of Demons And Lesser Forces'… if anywhere, the ritual should be described there…" He turned, walked over to a shelf, reached out, and frowned.
"Right shelf. It must be somewhere in the middle," Anya said helpfully.
"I know, but I can't find it." Then he sighed. "I'm afraid it is not here anymore."
Anya frowned. "You mean like, somebody stole it?" Righteous indignation radiated from her voice. "But that's not right! Who would steal a book we need just now?"
"Someone who wanted to perform a summoning ritual," Giles answered. "Someone like… well, someone like Spike." He looked at Buffy. "I'm sorry, but this is the only reasonable answer. It must be still where he left it."
The Scoobies looked at one another. Nobody had been to Spike's crypt since… That Day. Somehow, they felt as if they had no right to enter the abandoned place. Not even to recollect the things that had been theirs before a certain vampire had decided to get organized.
Finally, Buffy stretched her shoulders.
"Alright. I'll go."
***
Hesitantly, the young woman stepped into the silent crypt. Her gaze swept over the familiar room, and she swallowed. Spike… She half awaited the peroxide blonde vampire to step out of the shadows, as he had done so often before. His crystal blue eyes shooting her another of those blazing looks… his sensitive mouth snarling another of those nasty remarks… his soft lips curling into that longing little smile… yes, longing. Funny, how she had only noticed all these things about him now that he had gone. She had hurt him, willingly as much as by accident. She had pushed him away whenever he had dared to take another step towards her. Still, he had always returned, ready to be by her side when she needed him. Needed him…
"And where are you now, you disgusting bastard of a vampire?" Buffy whispered, feeling tears rising in her eyes. She had used him, nothing more, nothing less. Taken whatever he would offer, without ever giving anything in return. Yet, his love for her had been so deeply felt that he…
She blinked away the tears resolutely. No time for crying.
I will make it good again, Spike, she vowed silently, as she stepped deeper into the crypt. I promise, I will make it good again.
The Slayer looked around with newly found determination. Lying on the TV, she spotted something rather unlikely to belong there, unless it was the program for the next three years. The stepped over to it, and took up a book in leather binding. The title, engraved in big gothic letters, read 'The Summoning Of Demons And Lesser Forces'. A light smile on her lips, she turned a few pages, when suddenly she sensed another presence near to her.
Buffy spun around, only to find herself eye to eye with a black-dressed woman. She gasped in surprise, almost lost in the dark depths she was staring into. The stranger pointed at the book.
"You have no need for that. I am still here."
~~~ COMMERCIAL BREAK ^_^ ~~~
Buffy stared at the woman. Black clothes. Black hair. A skin that seemed almost white made her eyes shine like black gems, glimmering with an inner fire, but no emotion.
"Raven," she finally whispered. A rage unlike anything she had ever felt before, and which she had not even been aware of, burst free. She tossed the book aside, and in a fierce attack, she threw herself at the woman.
"How could you!" she screamed, launching blow after blow at her opponent, who blocked them easily. "How did you dare killing him!" Tears of anger, and pain, rose in her eyes, ready to fall. "How could you do that to me!"
One last blow she struck out, which Raven easily caught. As Buffy looked at her in utter surprise, the woman smiled coldly.
"A: This was not my idea." She caught the Slayer's other hand, and pressed firmly. Buffy winced, as pain shot up her arms, and slowly sank to her knees, panting.
"B: It was not me who killed him, but he himself." She lifted her moaning victim off her feet, and hurled her across the crypt against the opposite wall, with a force that made the impact almost bone breaking.
"And C," she walked over to the slumped figure of the dazed Slayer, lifting her up with one hand and holding her at arms length, "that was the deal."
After a long hard stare, she put Buffy back on her feet, and a quick smile crossed her pale features. "D: Don't mess with me. You're not strong enough."
Buffy struggled for breath. "I… want him back."
Raven shook her head, looking directly into the young woman's eyes. "The deal is perfect."
"Change it!"
"I am not allowed to."
"Well, that wouldn't be the first thing you're not allowed to do, would it!" Buffy snapped, remembering Spike's story. "Bring him back!"
"You don't understand. The deal is valid. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't change it."
"Then we will make a new one."
"And create an endless life-for-life circle? As if he would let you stay dead. And by the way, negotiating a wish by making another one is not possible."
"There are quite a lot of things that are impossible to you, aren't they!" Buffy screamed in growing frustration. Right at this moment, she hated that woman with her calm black eyes.
Raven shrugged. "I'm afraid you've got me there. And as this discussion doesn't seem to lead us anywhere… " She turned.
"Wait! We can make a different deal! I can find someone else who pays the price! Wait!"
But the woman had already left the crypt, leaving the other standing alone and completely at a loss. For a moment, she wanted to run after Raven, follow her, yell at her. But she remained still. Then her eyes fell onto the book that still lay on the ground where she'd thrown it. She picked it up, absent-mindedly smoothing some of the battered pages. She felt empty. And tired, so tired…
Buffy walked over to the vampire's sarcophagus, where his blankets still lay. Without really knowing what she was doing, she climbed on top of the stone, and lay down. The scent surrounded her, the scent she had known for so long now, both from battle as – later – from working side by side. Spike's scent. Slowly, the tears she had not allowed herself to shed started to fall, and softly, finally, Buffy began to cry.
***
Outside, a figure snorted in disgust. A vampire dying for the Slayer, and the Slayer crying over a vampire. The world had certainly changed.
Raven turned away. Best if she left now. Some things you just didn't want to watch.
This was pathetic.
***
Willow held the door open. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked. Not too many hours ago, Buffy had silently returned to the home she and Dawn still shared with the two witches. Her eyes had been red from crying; yet nobody had dared to ask any questions.
"Somebody should go out on patrol. I am the Slayer," she answered.
"But why now? It's far past midnight. The sun's soon going to be up anyway."
Buffy looked into the silent night.
"Won't let them think the Slayer's gone soft," was her determined answer. And all Willow could do was watch worriedly as her friend disappeared into the darkness.
***
Buffy strolled across the cemetery. She sighed as she noticed where her feet had led her. A few yards away was the dark entrance to Spike's crypt. Absent-mindedly she had walked there, just like the nights before. And like before, she would not enter. Perhaps Willow had been right. Patrolling had been a bad idea. Nothing had turned up, no badly wanted diversion from her dark thoughts to encounter.
She wondered where she should turn now. But she was relieved of a decision when something hit her back, hard, sending her to the ground. The Slayer cursed herself for not having sensed the nearing enemy. Rolling to one side, she avoided the next attack, and swiftly got back to her feet to face her opponent.
"Oh, it's just a vampire," she teased. Growling, the creature flung itself at her, and using its own momentum, she sent it to the ground. With a quick turn of her wrist, the stake slid into her hand, but the vampire pushed her away and rose again.
"A strong one, aren't we?" Buffy charged, throwing a series of kicks and punches at the demon in front of her, but with no apparent effect. A heavy blow nearly lifted her off her feet.
"Strong enough for you, Slayer!" the creature roared proudly, yellow eyes glinting.
"We'll see." Buffy decided to change tactics. Punch after punch, kick after kick she ducked, blocked, avoided. Let him tire himself. Had anybody watched them, it would have seemed as if the two of them were dancing. And slowly, her plan seemed to work. As the vampire attacked once more, she sent him to the ground again, using the same move as before. Only this time, there was a gravestone between the creature's head and its contact with the ground. Dazzled, it fell backwards.
"Falling twice for the same trick, eh?" she panted, raising her stake, as suddenly the vampire cried out in pure agony.
She looked up. A few yards away, Raven was standing, watching, her hair waving in a wind the Slayer did not feel.
"Deal: A life for a life. From one world to another. You give what you want to get." She hesitated. "And the price is not yours to pay."
Buffy gasped as the meaning of those words came to her. She raised the stake, plunging it deeply into the vampire's chest. It screeched as it turned to dust, and a jerk went through Ravens body. Blackness deeper than the night surrounded her, and with a tearing sound, a pair of wings enfolded on the woman's back. Black like those of a true raven, they grew into the sky, shedding a rain of feathers.
"So be it!" Raven raised her arms, and a wave of pure energy radiated from her body, causing Buffy to close her eyes in pain.
Then everything was silent.
Slowly, Buffy opened her eyes. And her heart stopped. Raven had disappeared. Where she had stood, a figure Buffy knew only too well was lying. She gasped, and crawled over to it, not trusting her legs enough to try and stand up. She reached the unmoving body, and for a moment, she sat still, not able, not daring to believe. Slowly, her fingers reached out, closing around peroxide blonde hair. She closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply. That scent…
"Oh my god," she whispered. "Spike."
With a trembling hand, she reached for his cheek, caressing the cold but soft skin. He didn't move, lost too deeply in his unconsciousness. Blinking away her tears, she looked up, her gaze meeting the first rays of the approaching dawn. Willow had been right. The sun would be up soon.
The Slayer lifted the motionless vampire, and carried him over to his crypt, laying him on his sarcophagus before climbing up as well. She held him in his arms, gently stroking his hair, as she sensed something. She looked up, and was not surprised to find Raven standing in the doorway. Her wings had disappeared, leaving her to look like her normal self again. But maybe the other form was normal to her.
Buffy's hazel eyes looked straight into black ones.
"Why?" she asked quietly. "Why did you change your mind?"
Raven shrugged.
"Don't know. Perhaps I'm one for a happy ending."
Buffy nodded, still not letting go of the body in her arms. "Thanks," she said simply. Raven shrugged again, turned, and left.
Outside, the sun was rising.
Author's Note: I know I said I'd put this up next week, but since I got so many reviews, and obviously not all of them by force (*blush*), I decided to do this a little earlier. Thanks to everyone who read this! ^_^ Now, somebody complained about my blackmailing, and I can understand that. Just so you know, I cared enough about this story to type 14 hours straight to get it all finished in a way I liked it, thank you. The parts (three) are already there, I just have to post them. It's only my sick ego that's longing for reviews, because I really am fed up with loading up chapters on a PC that's a better pocket calculator and not even getting any feedback. I write for me, but I post for others, you know. And besides, when there's no criticism, how can there be any improvement? So sorry if I offended anybody, I didn't mean to.