Disclaimer: All BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Co. The original ones are mine.
Distribution: Sure, just let me know where it's going.
Half way across town Spike and Jezeil approached a large Victorian house perched on a hill. It had no immediate neighbors and looked like a horror movie maker's dream. One could easily imagine all sorts of ghosts and monsters in a house like this one.
Jezeil unlocked the door and they went in to a suprisingly well-furnished living room. A woman sat curled in one of the chairs near a roaring fire. When they entered she stood with fluid grace. Spike met her gaze and knew this must be the vampire with a soul. She was striking with aquiline features and short cropped dark hair.
Jezeil stepped forward. "William this is Lenore, Lenore William."
Lenore inclined her head. "Welcome. Brandy?" she asked her brows rising.
Jezeil nodded. "Absolutely. Come, William and sit down. I have a story to tell you."
Lenore appeared with a tray with three snifters that she passed around. Once they were all comfortable Jezeil began his tale.
"Our story begins in the year of our Lord 974 in Britain. A boy is born and his mother names him, for some reason unknown to me, Malabor. He grows up strong and healthy. In fact, he becomes a hero. One of the greatest heroes the world has seen. His compassion for the weak and voiceless and his skill with a sword become legendary. In fact, he is probably the best swordsman in Christendom. But one day he runs into an enemy he cannot beat. Were he alive today he would be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. But then, it was a mystery. He went to a local healer but she could not help him. She suggested he visit a sorceress but Malabor never allowed magic to be used for healing. He didn't trust the consequences. And small blame to him.
"As the pain increased he knew he was dying. How could he make sure the fight for good went on? Seeing his sword on the wall he had an idea. That sword had become an extension of him. He would use it to keep the fight alive. He took the sword and went to the aforementioned sorceress. Between them they came up with a ritual. The sword was melted down and then re-forged with magic. Runes now decorated the blade and even an apprentice wizard could have seen that it was filled with magic. The last part of the plan was Malabor's alone. At the moment of his death he would complete the ritual and shove the blade into its scabbard. Once that was done part of his spirit would inhabit the blade and only a very specific person would be able to pull the blade from the scabbard. The wielder would have to be a man directly descended from Malabor and he would have to have the spirit of a Champion. As he felt death approach he called his wife Sela in and explained it all to her, made her promise to give the blade to her sons. They were young now, only 7 and 9 but Malabor was sure one of them, probably the elder, would follow in his father's footsteps and Malabor's essence would be there to help.
"On April 12, 1009 just after sunset Malabor completed the ritual and died. Sela took the blade and hid it, far from the house. She was not too sure she wanted her boys taking up their father's sword.
They would never have the chance.
"A local warlord had gotten wind of Malabor's plan. He came that night and murdered Sela and the boys. But he did not find the blade. Of course with no heirs, what did it matter?
"Only one other person knew the blade's location."
Spike interrupted to say, "You."
Jezeil nodded. "Yes. And I knew something else. 15 Years earlier Malabor had known another woman. Her name was Reyal. And where Sela had been all earth and water Reyal was air and fire. There relationship had been passionate but Malabor was young, only 20 and not ready to settle down. Reyal didn't want to hold him back so she let him go without telling him that she was carrying his child. In due course she gave birth to a little girl. Well, Malabor did not conceive of a woman using the blade so I knew she could not be the wielder but I had time to wait. And so I did. For a long time. Although the girl did indeed bear sons none of them had the spark, the inner fire needed. Finally in 1231 a boy was born who I thought could be the one. Sadly he died of scarlet fever at the age of 5. Once again I waited. This time until 1415. But this boy had a different destiny. A vocation found him and he became a priest. His inner fire took another direction. I could not interfere.
"By this time I was becoming afraid that the line was too diluted, that I'd never see the spark again. But in 1851 my patience was rewarded. A boy named William was born to Anna and Edward. I went to his Christening and there I saw the spark, felt the inner fire."
Spike said nothing. What could he say?
"Jezeil continued. "Of course I had to wait until the boy was grown. Things did not go so well with that. Your father died and your mother was far too gentle a creature. Her adoration and the Victorian mindset dampened your fire. I was trying to think of a way to change your course when I had to travel to Asia with the Hamatra. When I returned to London two days later I discovered, to my horror, that you had been turned. And you were the last of the line. It had been narrowing steadily over the years and now it had come to an end.
"Say what you will about Drusilla, she can see. She felt that fire and decided she had a use for it.
"What to do now? You couldn't wield the blade without a soul. But there I had a crumb of hope. I knew, you see, that it was possible for a vampire to have a soul, and not through a curse like Angel. I knew of two others who had gotten theirs back on their own. I told you about Lenore here, and there was another. I'll tell his story some other time.
"I did begin to think that I would be doomed to wait for eternity. I thought about eliminating Angelus, Darla and Drusilla but instinct stopped me. They had a part to play yet. I did keep a close watch on you. Then that day in France I thought, perhaps you might be able to join us. With the Hamatra you might find your way. Little did I know that what was required was love for a Slayer!"
Spike closed his eyes and dropped his head. "I haven't found my way. I feel"
Jezeil interrupted him. "I know. But that can and will change. The road to redemption is long, but it is not endless." He turned away then and when he turned back he had a sword in a scabbard. It was plain, a bit of silver work near the top. He extended the hilt toward Spike.
"Stand up William and meet your destiny."
Spike stood and raised his eyes to Jezeil's. He shook his head.
"You have come this far because Buffy believed in you. I have believed for more than150 years."
Spike swallowed hard. He stretched out his hand and grasped the hilt. He paused for a moment to stare at Jezeil. Then he pulled the sword free. A brilliant light coruscated up and down the blade. Spike felt something enter his mind. A moment later he was hit with a pain so intense he could not even cry out. Then just as suddenly the pain was gone as if it had never been. He found himself taking a deep, shuddering breath.
"So," asked Jezeil, "How do you feel?"
Spike stood up straight and answered, "I feel alive."
"And so you are."
"But how? Your magic?"
"No. The spirit in the blade will not suffer any evil. It forced the demon out and life returned. Welcome back William."
William shook his head. "I don't..."
"Deserve this?" interrupted Jezeil. "Mmm, that's tricky, deciding what we do or do not deserve. Fortunately this transformation is not about that. It's about bringing light into darkness. This night shall thy soul be required of thee'.
"The Hamatra do not judge. Good and Evil are two sides of the same coin. Both are necessary to this universe. There are those who would wish to tear down the walls, bring about the end of everything. It is true that all things in the universe tend toward entropy but that doesn't mean we have to get there all in one go. So we hold the line against chaos and to do that we must look at the larger picture. The Slayer exists to level the field for human beings, to fight for individuals. We fight for existence."
"Buffy has averted the end, at least 4 times. Maybe more. I've lost track," said William.
"Indeed. Had she not been here we would have done the job."
William clenched a fist. "She died saving the world! You could have saved her!"
"Yes. I could have. But as I said, we are not about individuals. And in any case Buffy had a path to follow, the one that led her here, now." Jezeil sighed deeply. "You cannot imagine how many friends I have lost in my life. But that is my burden, one that I bear willingly. Destiny is a funny thing William. It is rarely what you expect."
Lenore spoke up. "I think that that is quite enough of this depressing conversation. I have a gift for you," she said to William. "Just for this occasion. It's a bit like a birthday I think."
She pulled out a small box and holding it far out in front of herself she opened it. Inside was a fold of velvet.
Jezeil said, "Lenore is a jeweler and silversmith. It took her quite a while to make this, especially as it began to take shape. I charmed a pair of gloves so she could finish it. Go on, open it."
Under the velvet lay a silver cross. It was exquisite with three blue stones, one at each point. William gently picked it up, surprised at the lack of burning. He slipped the chain over his neck and the let the cross rest on his chest.
"Thank you. It's beautiful, like it's maker."
Lenore smiled and leaned forward to kiss him gently on the cheek.
Jezeil drained the last of his brandy. "Come. We have to see if Malabor's skill with the sword has passed into you. Can you feel his spirit?
"Yes. I have some new memories, new images in my mind."
"Good. Come out to the back. We'll indulge in a little swordplay. And tomorrow we'll start hand to hand training. We only have 5 days to get ready."
"What happens five days from now?"
"An army is coming."
"I have to call Buffy. She'll be wondering where I am."
"She is. Miss Rosenberg has tried to do a locator spell but I've blocked it."
William grabbed Jezeil by the arm. "She'll think the First has taken control of me."
"Possibly. But I believe Miss Rosenberg will be able to tell that the magic blocking her is not the First. The magic will have a different feel, a different taste. We cannot reveal ourselves yet. Don't worry William. It will all work out."
Lenore watched them leave and then removed the snifters to the kitchen. Soon the sound of steel on steel could be heard. She climbed the stairs to their room and lay down for some sleep. There would not be much chance for a good sleep in the coming days and she intended to get as much as she could.