Title: Hope Rising, Chapter 2
Author: Kalika (http://forsaken-kalika.envy.nu)
Summary: Someone unexpected comes to Sunnydale. Who is she, and
why is Spike acting strange around her.
Author's Notes: Chapter two! Woo! It took me two hours to write chapter
one. Jeez! Anyway, Hope is a character based off of me (egocentric much?)
but if you've noticed, she's not who she seems to be.
Oh, and Hope said earlier that she remembered when Anya was a young'un.
You'll understand why she's only 200-some odd years in a bit.
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Don't sue me. But Hope... she is mine... ALL MINE!
MWAHAHAH*cough*crazy*cough* I also stole some concepts from other
writers. Just letting you know they aren't mine.
"Seeing is decieving" -Emily Strange
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Hope made her way through the throng of people outside The Bronze,
two people were already inside and getting drinks. One, a short blonde with
shoulder-length hair turned to a tall, blonde man and nodded to a comment he'd
made as they ordered their drinks.
"Yes Spike, I understand that Billy Idol copied your hair colour, but
really, do you have to bring that up every time a punk band plays here?"
"Well, luv, it just seems like everyone is copying after Billy, who
copied his style from me. I'm not original anymore."
The blonde woman sighed and walked back to the table, barely
sidestepping a pair of dancers. She turned, "Spike, why don't you dye your
hair blue or something. Some completely unnatural shade. Not that bleach-
blonde isn't unnatural or anything. But do something, I can't take your
whining."
"Oh I see, the Slayer can piss and moan all she wants, but when
her vampy boyfriend does it, it's unacceptable. Buffy, when are you going to
learn that I have soddin' feelings too?" The comment was only meant as a joke,
but Buffy had taken it completely seriously.
"Spike, two things. You're not my boyfriend, and you're a vampire,
you're not supposed to have feelings." She sipped at her drink and made
a face. "This is yours," she said, as she switched the Jack Daniels for her
Southern Beer.
"I don't know how you can drink that, luv. Southern Comfort and
Rootbeer Schnapps? It's a travesty to liquor."
"Says he with the whiskey. You remind me of my grandfather." He
feigned offense and grinned roguishly.
"I'm older and significantly more attractive, I hope."
"Actually," Buffy began, "My grandfather has this thing where he's
not a member of Bloodsuckers Anonymous."
"The bloody twelve step programme they have is hell," Spike
commented nonchalantly.
"Step one, humans equal fluffy bunnies. Fluffy bunnies good. Humans
good. Step two..." Buffy smirked and sipped her drink again.
"No, really, luv, it's Hell. They call it a vacation. I'd rather go to Tahiti.
At least the room and board are nicer."
"Plus, you can relate to the mosquitoes. Being second cousins and
all... I'm sure you'd have oodles to talk about. Ya know, hey Merle, how're the
offspring?"
"She Who Induces Death made a funny. Isn't that adorable?" Buffy
made a face at him and continued sipping her drink, which was becoming
more watery as her ice melted quickly with the heat in the club.
As she finished, she looked up at Spike, still halfway through his
J.D. and shook her head.
"What, Slayer?"
"Can't you ever just call me something run-of-the-mill? Like honey
or sweetie, or snugglemuffin?"
"No, that takes all the fun out of... whatever we have."
"Shut up and finish your drink."
"Why?"
"So that we can dance." It was then that Spike became aware of
the slow song playing. He quickly finished his drink and took Buffy by the
hand to dance. Their bodies melded together in syncopated passion and
their fingers intertwined.
Spike breathed in the scent of Buffy's hair and smiled. "What?"
she asked.
"You smell nice."
She hid a visible blush and smiled slightly. "Thank you," came
the muffled reply from the folds of his deep red shirt. He smelled of smoke
and Aspen cologne. Buffy's favourite scents. Or at least, now they were.
She'd never be able to tell him how she felt. He was Spike. He tried to kill
her and her friends, her family, everyone she held close.
But something had changed inside him and she wanted to know
what.
Suddenly, Spike tensed. She looked up and he was staring off
at something. She then realized that they hadn't been dancing for at least
a minute. "Spike? What is it?"
Buffy turned and her eyes shifted around the room. They landed
on a girl, about her own height, with long auburn hair and green eyes. Said
girl had to have only been nineteen, twenty at most.
Suddenly, the girl turned and walked out of The Bronze, or at
least began to, before Spike went after her.
'I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous...' Buffy repeated
mentally.
"Sod it, I'm jealous. Oh great, now I even sound like him," she
muttered as she went after Spike and the girl.
As she stepped outside, she caught sight of Spike standing at
the end of the street, still following the girl. "Spike!" she called. He stopped
and waited for her. "Spike, who was that?"
"Buffy, she looked... like... there she is again!" And with that, he
took off after her, Buffy fast on his heels.
They finally caught up with the girl near the high school. She was
leaning against the railing of the staircase, smoking a cigarette. She looked
up and smiled at Spike.
"Well, well, well... William. Long time, no talky. I wouldn't have
recognized you without that soul." Buffy came up behind Spike and a look
of astonishment crossed her face.
"You have a soul now?" The girl appeared confused.
"He didn't have one before?"
"Not really, but that's beside the point. Who are you?"
"Emma," Spike supplied.
"Who-ma?" Buffy questioned with the feeling that she was more
than just out of the loop. In fact, the entire loop closed and she was outside
the circle.
"I'm his sister." Spike sat and searched for his cigarettes. "I go
by Hope now. Oh for Christ's sake, here!" She handed him a cigarette
which he promptly lit and puffed on.
He looked up at her, and stole the cigarette from her fingers. "These
things cause cancer, ya know."
She looked down and stole it back, "Too late for that."
Buffy sat next to Spike and threaded her arm through his. "So, are
we talking literal sister? And if so, are you vampy or demonish, because I
want to know if the whole vampire thing is a family trait."
Spike remained silent, which worried Buffy. In fact, that cigarette
in his hands was looking pretty tempting, if she didn't say so. And if he
didn't say something soon, she'd steal it right from him.
"Literal sister," Hope replied, "and I'm half-demon. I was in the
area and just thought I'd see my good ol' brother William. Heard some
stories about you, I did."
Spike still hadn't said anything yet, and Buffy did as she mentally
promised herself. She stole his cigarette and took a drag. Immediately,
she coughed. "You're lucky, your lungs don't work and you're already dead."
He looked at her with a sadness and confusion in his eyes that
frightened her. It took alot to frighten her, especially from Spike, and that
did it. 'Johnny, tell him what he's won,' she thought ironically.
Buffy was about to open her mouth and say something to Hope,
but the girl had disappeared. Spike realized that too, and rose from the
steps to walk in the direction of his crypt.
"Spike? Don't you think you should be walking the other way? I
mean, to get home and all?" Spike had been living in Buffy's basement for
the past couple of months now, and she'd gotten used to him.
He looked up at her, a single tear escaping his left eye. "No,
I'm going the right way." With that, he turned and walked off.
As Buffy stared after him, she unconsciously shivered and
tightened her grip on herself. "Oh, Spike," she said under her breath. She
didn't know what was going on, but she'd never seen him like this. Not
even over Dru.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Willow, you've been doing magick again," Tara said knowingly.
The redhead looked up from the book she was reading and cocked
her head. "What are you talking about?" Over the years, she'd gotten good
at lying. Though she didn't do it often, she knew the value of a well-placed
mistruth.
"I know you have because my incense burner is still warm." Tara
smirked a bit, knowing she wasn't the least bit mad, but then her face
straightened. "Next time, just ask, hun."
"Sweetheart, I haven't been doing magick. I lit some incense
for my bath earlier." Willow replied, her eyes never wavering. She had lit
then incense for her bath, but the bath was meant to cleanse her after
her glamour. She'd only been practicing little magicks, so as not to
get addicted again, but she always felt better cleansing herself after
every spell.
Tara nodded. "That explains the salt ring in the bathtub. My
feet hurt after I took my shower."
"Why does it matter, anyway?"
"It doesn't, I just want you to be honest with me. I won't be
mad, I just think it's important to be honest."
"Well, I'm not, but if I do even the smallest magick, you'll
be the second to know, aside from the God and Goddess."
"Will, you can te-"
"I'm not doing magick!" Willow screamed, sick of the third
degree.
"No need to yell," Tara said soothingly, yet a bit hurt.
"Well stop asking, already. Jesus, I'm sick of it."
"Fine, whatever. I'm going to bed. Goodnight." Tara promptly
turned over and covered herself with the sheet. 'It's hot this time of
year,' she thought to herself, 'maybe Willow's just aggrivated because
of the heat.'
Willow walked to the dresser and put her book away, then
flipped off the lights and crawled into bed. Not a word was uttered,
no goodnight, no I love you, nothing.
Soon, Tara heard a soft snoring and allowed herself to
silently cry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why had she agreed to patrol with Hope? This girl gave her
the creeps. Spike just seemed so intent on it, as though it affirmed
that his sister lived. Buffy looked over at the girl walking beside her.
'Well, sort of,' she thought. 'I guess you can call that living.'
"It is living. Not that you would know anything about that. You'd
think you'd tell William how you feel, being in love with him and all. He got
his soul back for you. More than Angel ever did."
"What?" Buffy turned to question the girl who had pissed her off
with one little statement. The words 'more than Angel ever did' rang through
her head. Unfortunately, the girl wasn't there.
"Hope? Where'd you go?" No answer. "Hope?"
"Hey Slayer!" came a yell from behind her. Buffy turned and Hope
was holding a small golden triangle. It resembled a pyramid. "I learned
something when I was in Egypt for the first time. There is only one way I
can survive. Every eight years, I must take the essence of a person to
survive. It filters into my body and rejuvenates me. It's really an honour.
You've been chosen."
"Do I get a new car? How about a lifetime supply of Spaghettios?"
"Something much better," Hope replied to Buffy's wit. "You get
to die."
"Damn. I was hoping for the Spaghettios. Unfortunately for you,
I don't die easily."
"You don't understand what I mean by die. William was dead before
you, you know. And that's how you will be. Soulless, remorseless. No longer
a Slayer. You'll be like Drusilla."
Yep, Buffy's worst fear. Drusilla, just the name sent tremors of rage
floating up Buffy's spine. "Sorry, I have better taste in men. I like Spike, and
I have no intention of dumping him for the fad demon of the moment."
"You think Spike will have you? Ha! He'll shun you, like you do him.
Revenge sucks, sweetie. Bye bye now." Hope began muttering a spell, and
the pyramid began to glow a bright red. Soon, an eye opened and focused
on Buffy. Unable to move, all she could do was scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy jolted awake, and grabbed the hand on her shoulder. "Buffy?
Buffy, you were screaming. Are you okay? What happened?" Buffy gazed
up into Dawn's face and shook her head.
"Just a nightmare. Nothing important."
"Well," Dawn began, sitting on Buffy's bed, "Nightmares with you
have a nasty habit of coming true."
"I hope this one doesn't, Dawnie. I really hope it doesn't."
"Get ready for school, I'll make you some coffee and we can leave,"
Dawn said, changing the subject. She rummaged through Buffy's closet and
chose a nice skirt and suit jacket, and a shirt. "Now all you have to do is
shower and find heels. Now go. Do that. I makey the breakfast."
"When did you become an adult?"
"When you weren't looking. Now go!"
"Yes ma'am." Soon, the two were on their way to Sunnydale High,
for a fun-filled day of learning and teaching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author: Kalika (http://forsaken-kalika.envy.nu)
Summary: Someone unexpected comes to Sunnydale. Who is she, and
why is Spike acting strange around her.
Author's Notes: Chapter two! Woo! It took me two hours to write chapter
one. Jeez! Anyway, Hope is a character based off of me (egocentric much?)
but if you've noticed, she's not who she seems to be.
Oh, and Hope said earlier that she remembered when Anya was a young'un.
You'll understand why she's only 200-some odd years in a bit.
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Don't sue me. But Hope... she is mine... ALL MINE!
MWAHAHAH*cough*crazy*cough* I also stole some concepts from other
writers. Just letting you know they aren't mine.
"Seeing is decieving" -Emily Strange
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Hope made her way through the throng of people outside The Bronze,
two people were already inside and getting drinks. One, a short blonde with
shoulder-length hair turned to a tall, blonde man and nodded to a comment he'd
made as they ordered their drinks.
"Yes Spike, I understand that Billy Idol copied your hair colour, but
really, do you have to bring that up every time a punk band plays here?"
"Well, luv, it just seems like everyone is copying after Billy, who
copied his style from me. I'm not original anymore."
The blonde woman sighed and walked back to the table, barely
sidestepping a pair of dancers. She turned, "Spike, why don't you dye your
hair blue or something. Some completely unnatural shade. Not that bleach-
blonde isn't unnatural or anything. But do something, I can't take your
whining."
"Oh I see, the Slayer can piss and moan all she wants, but when
her vampy boyfriend does it, it's unacceptable. Buffy, when are you going to
learn that I have soddin' feelings too?" The comment was only meant as a joke,
but Buffy had taken it completely seriously.
"Spike, two things. You're not my boyfriend, and you're a vampire,
you're not supposed to have feelings." She sipped at her drink and made
a face. "This is yours," she said, as she switched the Jack Daniels for her
Southern Beer.
"I don't know how you can drink that, luv. Southern Comfort and
Rootbeer Schnapps? It's a travesty to liquor."
"Says he with the whiskey. You remind me of my grandfather." He
feigned offense and grinned roguishly.
"I'm older and significantly more attractive, I hope."
"Actually," Buffy began, "My grandfather has this thing where he's
not a member of Bloodsuckers Anonymous."
"The bloody twelve step programme they have is hell," Spike
commented nonchalantly.
"Step one, humans equal fluffy bunnies. Fluffy bunnies good. Humans
good. Step two..." Buffy smirked and sipped her drink again.
"No, really, luv, it's Hell. They call it a vacation. I'd rather go to Tahiti.
At least the room and board are nicer."
"Plus, you can relate to the mosquitoes. Being second cousins and
all... I'm sure you'd have oodles to talk about. Ya know, hey Merle, how're the
offspring?"
"She Who Induces Death made a funny. Isn't that adorable?" Buffy
made a face at him and continued sipping her drink, which was becoming
more watery as her ice melted quickly with the heat in the club.
As she finished, she looked up at Spike, still halfway through his
J.D. and shook her head.
"What, Slayer?"
"Can't you ever just call me something run-of-the-mill? Like honey
or sweetie, or snugglemuffin?"
"No, that takes all the fun out of... whatever we have."
"Shut up and finish your drink."
"Why?"
"So that we can dance." It was then that Spike became aware of
the slow song playing. He quickly finished his drink and took Buffy by the
hand to dance. Their bodies melded together in syncopated passion and
their fingers intertwined.
Spike breathed in the scent of Buffy's hair and smiled. "What?"
she asked.
"You smell nice."
She hid a visible blush and smiled slightly. "Thank you," came
the muffled reply from the folds of his deep red shirt. He smelled of smoke
and Aspen cologne. Buffy's favourite scents. Or at least, now they were.
She'd never be able to tell him how she felt. He was Spike. He tried to kill
her and her friends, her family, everyone she held close.
But something had changed inside him and she wanted to know
what.
Suddenly, Spike tensed. She looked up and he was staring off
at something. She then realized that they hadn't been dancing for at least
a minute. "Spike? What is it?"
Buffy turned and her eyes shifted around the room. They landed
on a girl, about her own height, with long auburn hair and green eyes. Said
girl had to have only been nineteen, twenty at most.
Suddenly, the girl turned and walked out of The Bronze, or at
least began to, before Spike went after her.
'I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous, I'm not jealous...' Buffy repeated
mentally.
"Sod it, I'm jealous. Oh great, now I even sound like him," she
muttered as she went after Spike and the girl.
As she stepped outside, she caught sight of Spike standing at
the end of the street, still following the girl. "Spike!" she called. He stopped
and waited for her. "Spike, who was that?"
"Buffy, she looked... like... there she is again!" And with that, he
took off after her, Buffy fast on his heels.
They finally caught up with the girl near the high school. She was
leaning against the railing of the staircase, smoking a cigarette. She looked
up and smiled at Spike.
"Well, well, well... William. Long time, no talky. I wouldn't have
recognized you without that soul." Buffy came up behind Spike and a look
of astonishment crossed her face.
"You have a soul now?" The girl appeared confused.
"He didn't have one before?"
"Not really, but that's beside the point. Who are you?"
"Emma," Spike supplied.
"Who-ma?" Buffy questioned with the feeling that she was more
than just out of the loop. In fact, the entire loop closed and she was outside
the circle.
"I'm his sister." Spike sat and searched for his cigarettes. "I go
by Hope now. Oh for Christ's sake, here!" She handed him a cigarette
which he promptly lit and puffed on.
He looked up at her, and stole the cigarette from her fingers. "These
things cause cancer, ya know."
She looked down and stole it back, "Too late for that."
Buffy sat next to Spike and threaded her arm through his. "So, are
we talking literal sister? And if so, are you vampy or demonish, because I
want to know if the whole vampire thing is a family trait."
Spike remained silent, which worried Buffy. In fact, that cigarette
in his hands was looking pretty tempting, if she didn't say so. And if he
didn't say something soon, she'd steal it right from him.
"Literal sister," Hope replied, "and I'm half-demon. I was in the
area and just thought I'd see my good ol' brother William. Heard some
stories about you, I did."
Spike still hadn't said anything yet, and Buffy did as she mentally
promised herself. She stole his cigarette and took a drag. Immediately,
she coughed. "You're lucky, your lungs don't work and you're already dead."
He looked at her with a sadness and confusion in his eyes that
frightened her. It took alot to frighten her, especially from Spike, and that
did it. 'Johnny, tell him what he's won,' she thought ironically.
Buffy was about to open her mouth and say something to Hope,
but the girl had disappeared. Spike realized that too, and rose from the
steps to walk in the direction of his crypt.
"Spike? Don't you think you should be walking the other way? I
mean, to get home and all?" Spike had been living in Buffy's basement for
the past couple of months now, and she'd gotten used to him.
He looked up at her, a single tear escaping his left eye. "No,
I'm going the right way." With that, he turned and walked off.
As Buffy stared after him, she unconsciously shivered and
tightened her grip on herself. "Oh, Spike," she said under her breath. She
didn't know what was going on, but she'd never seen him like this. Not
even over Dru.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Willow, you've been doing magick again," Tara said knowingly.
The redhead looked up from the book she was reading and cocked
her head. "What are you talking about?" Over the years, she'd gotten good
at lying. Though she didn't do it often, she knew the value of a well-placed
mistruth.
"I know you have because my incense burner is still warm." Tara
smirked a bit, knowing she wasn't the least bit mad, but then her face
straightened. "Next time, just ask, hun."
"Sweetheart, I haven't been doing magick. I lit some incense
for my bath earlier." Willow replied, her eyes never wavering. She had lit
then incense for her bath, but the bath was meant to cleanse her after
her glamour. She'd only been practicing little magicks, so as not to
get addicted again, but she always felt better cleansing herself after
every spell.
Tara nodded. "That explains the salt ring in the bathtub. My
feet hurt after I took my shower."
"Why does it matter, anyway?"
"It doesn't, I just want you to be honest with me. I won't be
mad, I just think it's important to be honest."
"Well, I'm not, but if I do even the smallest magick, you'll
be the second to know, aside from the God and Goddess."
"Will, you can te-"
"I'm not doing magick!" Willow screamed, sick of the third
degree.
"No need to yell," Tara said soothingly, yet a bit hurt.
"Well stop asking, already. Jesus, I'm sick of it."
"Fine, whatever. I'm going to bed. Goodnight." Tara promptly
turned over and covered herself with the sheet. 'It's hot this time of
year,' she thought to herself, 'maybe Willow's just aggrivated because
of the heat.'
Willow walked to the dresser and put her book away, then
flipped off the lights and crawled into bed. Not a word was uttered,
no goodnight, no I love you, nothing.
Soon, Tara heard a soft snoring and allowed herself to
silently cry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why had she agreed to patrol with Hope? This girl gave her
the creeps. Spike just seemed so intent on it, as though it affirmed
that his sister lived. Buffy looked over at the girl walking beside her.
'Well, sort of,' she thought. 'I guess you can call that living.'
"It is living. Not that you would know anything about that. You'd
think you'd tell William how you feel, being in love with him and all. He got
his soul back for you. More than Angel ever did."
"What?" Buffy turned to question the girl who had pissed her off
with one little statement. The words 'more than Angel ever did' rang through
her head. Unfortunately, the girl wasn't there.
"Hope? Where'd you go?" No answer. "Hope?"
"Hey Slayer!" came a yell from behind her. Buffy turned and Hope
was holding a small golden triangle. It resembled a pyramid. "I learned
something when I was in Egypt for the first time. There is only one way I
can survive. Every eight years, I must take the essence of a person to
survive. It filters into my body and rejuvenates me. It's really an honour.
You've been chosen."
"Do I get a new car? How about a lifetime supply of Spaghettios?"
"Something much better," Hope replied to Buffy's wit. "You get
to die."
"Damn. I was hoping for the Spaghettios. Unfortunately for you,
I don't die easily."
"You don't understand what I mean by die. William was dead before
you, you know. And that's how you will be. Soulless, remorseless. No longer
a Slayer. You'll be like Drusilla."
Yep, Buffy's worst fear. Drusilla, just the name sent tremors of rage
floating up Buffy's spine. "Sorry, I have better taste in men. I like Spike, and
I have no intention of dumping him for the fad demon of the moment."
"You think Spike will have you? Ha! He'll shun you, like you do him.
Revenge sucks, sweetie. Bye bye now." Hope began muttering a spell, and
the pyramid began to glow a bright red. Soon, an eye opened and focused
on Buffy. Unable to move, all she could do was scream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy jolted awake, and grabbed the hand on her shoulder. "Buffy?
Buffy, you were screaming. Are you okay? What happened?" Buffy gazed
up into Dawn's face and shook her head.
"Just a nightmare. Nothing important."
"Well," Dawn began, sitting on Buffy's bed, "Nightmares with you
have a nasty habit of coming true."
"I hope this one doesn't, Dawnie. I really hope it doesn't."
"Get ready for school, I'll make you some coffee and we can leave,"
Dawn said, changing the subject. She rummaged through Buffy's closet and
chose a nice skirt and suit jacket, and a shirt. "Now all you have to do is
shower and find heels. Now go. Do that. I makey the breakfast."
"When did you become an adult?"
"When you weren't looking. Now go!"
"Yes ma'am." Soon, the two were on their way to Sunnydale High,
for a fun-filled day of learning and teaching.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~