DISCLAIMER: None of the characters from the TV shows of BTVS or ATS are my property. They belong to Joss and whoever else has claim to the intellectual property. This is all in a bit of fun, so please don't sue me or abuse me (as if anyone who cares is actually reading this).
AUTHORS NOTE: This is third story in my King Trilogy, which I've recently made an attempt to truly tidy up a little. I've proof read the thing for what seems like hundreds of times so spelling mistakes, typos and bad grammar in this repost should be pretty thin on the ground now. As for those of you who've never read any of these stories (a fair few I assume) and can't be bothered to read the previous ones before leaping into Triumvirate, I've included a recap of the previous two stories at the end of this prologue. Just so you all know, the setting for Triumvirate is early series six of Buffy, and early series three of Angel. Hope you all enjoy.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
TRIUMVIRATE
PART THREE IN THE KING TRILOGY
"When I fell from Grace,
I never realized,
How deep the flood was around me."
Queensryche
"I don't believe in LoveI never have, I never will.
I don't believe in Love.
It's never worth the pain that you feel."
Queensryche
"Call no man happy, until he is dead."
Histories
Herodotus
Prologue
Reflections
The desert was calm, peaceful and serene around them, as Buffy and Faith strolled unhurriedly over the crunching sands. The two Slayers moved with a confident ease over the dunes that rose and fell around them. Even the wind that tugged sands in great shifting clouds over the horizon failed to touch them. Clouds drifted lazily across the sky, as if they had all the time in the world to get where they were headed. Slowly the sun moved across the sky, its burning rays driving them into the shade of the dunes in an effort to escape the all-encompassing heat.
"It's so hot." Said Buffy plainly.
"Like the fires of hell." Faith added. Buffy glanced at her.
"Better get used to it." She said. "After all, Heaven doesn't want you." Faith looked up, the light from the sun blinding her.
"Who'd want it?" she asked raising her hand to shield her eyes from the blazing rays. "It's too bright and too high." She scuffed the sand with the toe of her boot.
"The higher you climb, the further you have to fall." She finished. Buffy followed her gaze, staring up at the sky. Unlike Faith she didn't shield her eyes.
"We all fall sooner or later." She said moving out from the shadows of the dune. "Only the truly righteous are lent wings upon which they can save themselves."
"While the rest of us keep on reaching." Said Faith bitterly.
"At least you're doing better than him." Said Buffy pointing out across the sands to where a man was stood, he too staring toward the sky. Slowly the small blonde Slayer began to make her way across the sand into the shimmering heat haze of the desert. Faith stood in the shadow for a moment, fearing to step out into the glare of the sun.
"Buffy!" she shouted.
"Come on Faith!" Buffy replied. "He needs our help!" Faith stepped out of the shadows, the heat immediately beginning to bake her. Slowly, she picked her way over the sands, following Buffy's footsteps. Each footstep was more painstaking than the last under the baking sun.
As they drew nearer, the two Slayers could see the man more clearly. A long ponytail of almost black hair hung to his waist. He was broad, tall and stood with a regal air that was hard to imitate. His head was tipped back to stare up at the sky, his mouth working in silent, muttering sentences. The two Slayers stood and watched as he began to sink into the sand.
"I know you." Said Buffy watching as the man's shins disappeared into the sand. He turned to stare at her with despairing eyes.
"Help me." He said raising his arms pleadingly toward them. "She's waiting for me. She's waited so long for me, and I'm worried I'll never reach her. I've been trying for so long. Please help me out of the this." The sand was already past his knees. Faith darted forward, mopping at the sweat that now poured from her brow with her arm.
"I'll help you." She said, reaching out for his grasping hands, ignoring the wisps of smoke that were beginning to curl up from her skin. "Buffy will help you too." She glanced back over her shoulder. The other Slayer simply stood and watched, arms folded.
"It's not my place to help." Said Buffy calmly. "I've done my part for him." Faith grasped at the man's arms, wincing as his fingers closed around her burning skin.
"Please don't let go." The man begged her as the sand crept up past his waist. "She's waiting for me."
"You'll find her." Said Faith gritting her teeth with effort and heaving. The man continued to sink and she could feel the sun burning past her skin.
"Buffy!" she cried out. "We need your help!" She turned to watch as a pair of birdlike wings unfolded from the other Slayer's back.
"Spread your wings Faith." She said with a happy smile.
"I can't spread my wings!" Faith yelled. "I don't have them." Buffy frowned at her.
"We all have wings Faith." She said scolding the other Slayer. "Spread them and fly." With a beat of her own immaculate feathers, Buffy launched herself into the air, spiralling up through the sky toward the heavens.
"Please help me." The man continued to beg as the sand began to close over his shoulders. "Please, I'm begging you!"
"I'm trying!" Faith grunted as the sand tugged at him. "I'm not strong enough!" she said.
"You should spread your wings!" she said desperately heaving at him as her skin boiled and blistered in the heat.
"They burned away in the light." The man said just before the sand closed over his mouth. Faith gave one final tug, before his hand slipped from hers, raking away her burning flesh as it went. She screamed in agony, tumbling backward to watch in horror as the hand disappeared beneath the shifting sands.
Her skin burned under the sun, blackening and hissing, cracking and oozing as she tried to flee the suns burning light. The heat was merciless, assaulting her, driving her to her knees in the sand. With a final gasp, Faith opened her mouth to scream as she burst into flames.
*****
Faith awoke with a start, tangled in her sweat drenched regulation prison sheets. Slowly she clambered out of her bed and made her way over to the washbasin. Outside her small cell's window she could hear birds chirping the song of early morning. It wasn't often you heard bird song in the heart of LA. With a slight grunt she twisted the tap until it ran cold water into the basin. Reaching down she cupped her hands to collect the chilly clear liquid, before splashing it in her face. The sweat vanished in an instant and she suddenly felt incredibly refreshed.
She stared down at her reflection in the gathering pool of water at the bottom of the sink. She still didn't look it. Large dark bags hung beneath her eyes, mute testament to her haunted state of mind. Her thick brown hair hung in matted locks down the sides of her face, and her skin was pale and sallow. For some reason she was relieved. For the briefest of moments she'd expected her skin to be black and charred.
"That was one fun filled dream." She said, her rippling reflection staring blankly back at her. She gave a groan and stretched. She hated it when dreams were that vivid. She didn't have them that often and when she did they unnerved her. She was about to turn away when an image of the man from her dream appeared in the water staring darkly up at her.
"You think Heaven wants you Slayer?" The man's reflection hissed. Faith felt anger brim up inside her. She was trying! Gods knew she was trying, and now she was being taunted by reflections of strange men in her washbasin. A few years ago that would have been enough to put her into therapy. These days it just made her angry.
"What did you say!" she yelled, plunging her hands into the water, seeking a neck to throttle. Already the reflection of the man was fading. "I'm trying!" she cried at the water desperately, her anger fading into anguish. "I'm trying!" she felt tears begin to slide down her cheeks as she clawed desperately at the water.
"I'm trying, but I'm not strong enough!" she wept feeling her legs give out from under her. "I'll never be strong enough!" she collapsed into a heap beneath the washbasin, weeping tiredly. She lay there for minutes on end, sobbing dejectedly.
She jumped as a loud banging sounded at the steel door of her cell, bringing her quickly out of her sobbing fit.
"Faith?" came the guard's voice. "Faith, you in there?"
"Nope." Faith said, annoyed at being caught unawares. She scrubbed the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand and clambered to her feet. "Out in the yard doing push ups as we speak. Please leave a message after the beep."
"Very funny wise ass." The guard muttered.
"I try." She replied. The sliding peep hatch clanged loudly open. A pair of brown eyes appeared leering in at her.
"Well stop trying and get your shit together. You got a visitor waiting and we wouldn't want to disappoint her now would we." Faith shrugged, hoping the guard hadn't heard her sobbing minutes earlier
"Normally I couldn't give a crap, but for you lover," she smiled coyly at the slit and wiggled her hips, "anything." The eyes narrowed.
"Just shut your hole and get dressed." The smile vanished from Faith's face as the slit slammed shut. Who wanted to see her and why? The only visitor she got these days was Angel, and even he hadn't been around that much recently. She let out a long sigh. She hoped there was a good reason and that he hadn't just given up on her. She was used to being snubbed by people, her dad, her mom, just about every one she had ever met, but to have Angel do it was more than she thought she could bear.
Eyeing the washbasin cautiously in case another reflection appeared, she started to get dressed.
*****
Buffy rolled over in her bed and glared at the digital clock that stared back at her. The readout read nine am. She rolled over, reaching back so that her head rested on her arms and stared up at the ceiling. For some reason she expected to see blue sky with gently rolling clouds and a blazing hot sun rather than the dull white plaster that faced her. With a slight groan she clambered out of bed and was surprised when her bare feet touched thick carpet rather than coarse-grained sand.
"Honestly Buffy." She muttered to herself. "You have one dream you're in the desert and suddenly you think everything should be sandy and roasting hot."
She padded tiredly down the stairs yawning as she went, the sunlight outside seeming strangely subdued after the dream. As she passed the mirror that hung from the hall wall, she stopped and checked her reflection. Her hair hung limply down either side of her face and her skin was slightly flushed from the days heat. Nothing a bit of makeup and a quick shower couldn't fix she grinned, taking pride in her own grooming skills. Suddenly an image of Faith stood behind her. Tears stained the other Slayer's cheeks, her long brown hair hanging in greasy waves around her surprisingly pallid face.
"But I'm not strong enough!" the reflection of Faith wept.
"Faith!" Buffy's voice was the epitome of surprise. "Faith how did you…" her voice trailed off as she glanced over her shoulder to see if the other girl was there. The hall was empty save her. She felt a snarl of anger rising up inside her as she turned back to face the reflection of the rogue Slayer.
"Faith." She snapped at the mirror. "I don't know what new torture you think this is, but I'm not falling for any of it. You can rot in your own little Hell for all I care!" The reflection of Faith continued to weep as if she hadn't heard a word Buffy had said.
"I'll never be strong enough!" The reflection continued to sob as it faded from the mirror.
*****
King sat bolt upright in his seat, his eyes scanning the shadowy interior of the warehouse, the memory of the dream still fresh in his mind. Outside the sun was shining in from between the boards that covered the warehouse windows. Thick clouds of dust drifted in the sunlight that shone through the gaps. The dream had had an eerie feeling about it, a feeling of reality that was making him feel uncomfortable already. King hated it. Before the Slayer had cursed him with this thing they called a soul he'd been strong. Nothing had made him feel uncomfortable, but now… Since coming to LA he'd been jumping at shadows every night. A deeply engrained sense of wariness had haunted him where previously he hadn't had a care in the world.
Slowly he eased himself cautiously out of his seat and began to edge his way through the warehouse, sniffing the air as he went. Something wasn't right. He could smell it. There was something not quite right in the air around him. As he moved he caught sight of a puddle rippling slightly. There was no breeze or vibration to make it ripple. Cautiously he moved toward it, watching the ripples move across the surface like miniature waves. As he drew nearer a reflection of the little blonde Slayer who had cursed him shimmered into existence in the puddle of water.
"Buffy!" he snarled, glaring around the warehouse. "Come to finish the job Slayer!" he yelled into the shadows. As if it wasn't enough that she cursed him with a soul and haunted his dreams, now she was taunting him from the shadows. He frowned as his eyes continued to scan the shadows. Something was wrong, why couldn't he smell her?
"You can rot in your own little Hell for all I care!" Buffy's reflection snarled at him in reply. With a roar of fury, King hurled himself at the puddle.
"You think Heaven wants you Slayer?" he hissed as he plunged his hands into the puddle. They passed through the reflection to slap loudly against the floor at the bottom of the puddle. Before he'd even finished speaking the reflection had faded. With a deep growl of frustration he fell back onto the ground.
"I hate this place." He muttered under his breath, continuing to eye the puddle suspiciously.
*****
High above the busy streets of LA, the strange figure sat cross-legged on the floor of the office, thick curtains drawn heavily across the windows to block out the sunlight. His eyes were closed and his breathing steady and trained. Three crystal balls were placed evenly around him. Each one was nestled at the centre of a plush cushion, with a burning candle next to it. Slowly he opened his eyes. It was done, and rather well too even if he did say so himself. He let his eyes move around the office taking in the pine wood walls and various certificates and diplomas, each one lovingly framed and displayed so that anyone who entered could see the owner's achievements.
His lip twisted up in a sneer as he glared at each one. In his opinion, there was no need for such wanton vanity. The owner should be capable of displaying their strength and skill without need for such flashiness. He smiled inwardly to himself. It had been so long and yet he still remembered his master's teachings as if it were yesterday. He stroked the hilt of the sword that hung at his hip lovingly. He remembered the first time he had drawn it had been against someone like the owner of this office, someone who felt the need to broadcast their achievements. The encounter had been the end of those achievements.
He watched the crystal balls as they glowed softly on their cushions. In the depths of each one, he watched each of the three players go about their lives, each one blissfully unaware of what awaited them on the horizon.
"Master." He said smiling at the three lives arrayed out in front of him. "You would be so proud of me."
RECAP (WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD)
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INNER LIGHT: A dream of a strange man asking for help and a prediction of an
unusual star alignment by Giles are only the beginning for Buffy. She soon
finds herself attacked by three strong vampires, each with a black bladed
tattoo on their forearm. She is saved by the man from her dream who is known to
the vampires as the Reaver. He his asking for Buffy's help to protect a
derelict temple beneath Sunnydale from an ancient and immensely powerful
vampire known as King. Buffy agrees and soon meets King who warns her to stay
out of his way. As the night of the star alignment approaches, Buffy uncovers a
little knowledge of King and his nemesis. King is a legendary almost King
Arthur figure among vampires, whose existence was believed for a long time to
be a myth. He ruled over an underworld kingdom which he eventually burned to
the ground when his subjects became too decadent as punishment for their
complacency. He is dying from the poisoned blood of the Reaver and intends to
use the power of the temple on the night of the star alignment to cure himself.
The Reaver (aka Marcus) wants to stop him but also wants to use the temple to
cure his particular malady. Devising a plan to fight King, Buffy and the gang
are ambushed on the eve of the alignment and Buffy is bitten by King, who
leaves her to bleed to death. Marcus brings Buffy to the temple and at the time
of the alignment uses the temple to heal her instead of himself. King is
furious and fights both Buffy and Marcus. Eventually Buffy manages to stun the
vampire and as they flee the temple, Xander detonates a cache of explosives he
'requisitioned' from the military burying King beneath it. Marcus leaves
Sunnydale and King finds one particle of the life giving light in the ruins of
the temple that he uses to restore himself to life.
ODIUM: A construction project blasts open the remains of the temple, allowing King to escape, intent on revenge against Buffy. In the meantime the mysterious new curator of the Sunnydale museum takes delivery of an ancient black bladed sword for exhibition. King reveals his freedom to Buffy, but is quickly distracted from vengeance by the news of his own sword arriving in Sunnydale. As Buffy and the others research King in an attempt to defend themselves from him, they too discover the presence (and significance) of the sword which is supposedly called Odium. Planning to steal the sword before King can reach it, the band break into the Sunnydale museum before sunset, only to find the sword guarded by none other than Marcus, and a creepy Watcher by the name of Gibson with the unique ability to 'hear' peoples auras, and who also appears to know Giles. It turns out the Council know of the significance of Odium, and have sent it to Sunnydale in the hope that Buffy will protect it from King. King quickly learns of Buffy's theft of the sword, and promptly kidnaps Dawn, setting up a bargain with Buffy to trade her sister for his sword. Under the cajoling of Gibson, Buffy realises she cannot afford to let King live, but after previous experiences knows that she simply cannot beat him in a straight fight. She convinces Willow to perform the same soul giving spell they used on Angel, while she keeps King busy. After trading Odium for Dawn, Buffy confronts King and manages to destroy Odium, but in retribution King, readies himself to kill her. As he is about to perform the final deed, Willow, with the help of Gibson, manages to perform the spell and King's soul is restored. In the aftermath, tortured by guilt and the pain of a long lost love, King leaves for LA where he seeks advice from the only other vampire with a soul. Angel is unable to convince him however and King disappears from the Hyperion claiming that he doesn't care for the path of redemption.
