The First: Version Slash, 8/?
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Twenty minutes ago, Willow had stuck her head in the room where Xander had been reading the slim volume Marie gave to him. She had scolded him for being alone and made him promise he'd rejoin the group in the main part of the library shortly. She had asked yet again if he was okay and if he needed anything. Xander made the promise, assured her he was indeed okay, and gently refused her offer of food, drink, comfort, etc. Once she was gone he had spent his time trying to figure out just what the book had meant, and it's possible application to him and his life. Now it was time to try and explain what he had found to the others.
Somewhat reluctantly, Xander left the small room, leaving peace and quiet behind. As he neared the group, he noticed that Buffy had returned and Alexei was now there as well. Buffy didn't look happy. She was pacing and her hands were flinging about as she spoke to Giles and Alexei. Xander approached quietly hoping to go unnoticed and here what was up. "It's crazy out there Giles. All kinds of demons are just wandering the streets and taking whatever they want."
Alexei sighed, "They are coming, just as you did. Some are drawn by prophecy, others simply by the energy of the Six. I protect my city, but I am afraid that this will be too much for my people to handle on their own." He paused, "Buffy, I'm asking for your assistance. I'm asking that you help me to restore and maintain balance in this city." The words were spoken in a more humble tone than any of them had heard from Alexei and seemed to touch a chord with Buffy.
"I want to help. Fighting demons, that's what I do. What are the ground rules?" She asked with just the faintest touch of annoyance that there would be any rules at all.
Alexei smiled, "I want to make this easy for you. The vampires of the city are under my protection. My people will deal with any that are out of control. You may deal with any other demon that you see harm people or overtly threaten them, in whatever way you see fit."
"Good enough. I'll be hitting the streets then. Don't expect to see too much of me here." As Buffy turned to walk out of the Library she noticed Xander standing there. "Are you alright?" Her voice was laced with concern.
"I'm fine. God I wish people would stop asking me that. I'm a little stressed, but I'm fine." Xander snapped, looking contrite immediately after.
Buffy backed up a small step. "Sorry. I know how that is, having everyone worry about you. Look, I've got work, but if you find anything out or I can help somehow, call me."
Xander smiled brightly, "We will. Thanks." He watched as Buffy walked away, looking more confident and happier than she had since they had discovered the prophecy. There was finally something tangible to fight. She was back in her element. "Here's another puzzle for you Giles." Xander handed the small book he held to Giles.
"Marie gave you this?" Alexei asked as soon as he saw the book.
"Yeah. Earlier."
"What is it?" Willow asked.
Alexei looked thoughtful, "A legend, a story from centuries before I was born."
"Maybe, but I've lived on the hellmouth long enough to know that most legends are real. Not always what you thought they were, but real nonetheless. So, I'm not quite as ready to dismiss this as you are." Xander responded to Alexei's obvious disbelief in the tale he had just read.
"I will of course, read this myself, but if I may ask, what is the story?" Giles questioned.
Xander glanced at Alexei who nodded slightly at him, "It tells of a young man who will restore control to the Outcast. Let them choose to kill or not, just like Alexei and his people." Xander explained. "I think Marie believes, I'm the one."
"The story was first written by a vampire some hundred years after we went into hiding. My master actually knew him. He tells me that the man had been a mystic before his death, many believed he was a prophet, the voice of God. As with most of us, he retained this when he was turned. He claimed this as his prophecy to vampirekind. There are those who believe it, they have formed a sort of cult around this man. Marie is one of these. My master led me to believe that this story is nothing more than the creative ramblings of a somewhat mad vampire." Alexei expanded.
"Alright, without making any judgement on the truth of this story, what might lead Marie to believe that Xander is the young man in question?" Wesley inquired.
"There are some similarities. The man is described as bound to one of the outcast. As I understand it, the boy's own dream points to this occurrence. That the binding be in response to a prophecy, and that both are male. Further the young man is desribed as having hidden power. I believe that is true of your Xander. Nicholas fears him. In the many long years since I created him, I have never known Nicholas to fear anyone, even when such fear would have been warranted. That speaks to some power, which he may not know he possesses, but which manifested itself in some way with my childe." Alexei laid the reasons out.
"Umm, I think you're leaving one important thing out. It says he'll be the friend of the Slayer." Xander added, before slumping down into a nearby chair.
"Oh my. Well, I will of course see what I can learn, but I see little hope of verifying this, if what Alexei tells us is true. Even if I could, I'm not sure that there is anything to be done about it." Giles faltered, trying to think of something reassuring to say to Xander.
Xander just smiled. "Don't worry about it Giles. There's more important stuff for you to research. If this happens, it happens. I don't really see how it could be a bad thing. We need to know what's coming and how to fight it though, and I think about this whole binding ritual stuff. By the way, weren't we supposed to be getting some help with that?" Xander turned to Alexei for this last.
"You will. I've made the necessary arrangements. My man will be on an early flight, he should be here before I retire for the day. You should be forewarned, that he is nothing like you. I did not hire him because he is a good man, but because he is a useful man." Alexei cautioned them.
Wes looked somewhat wary. "If you don't mind my asking, what exactly do you mean by that?"
Alexei thought for a moment before answering. "He is weak, but he is extremely intelligent. He can read more than forty ancient and demon languages. As I told you yesterday, though, he does have a somewhat more flexible morality than most humans. We seldom see the world the same way. He has for many years been a practitioner of chaos magic, while I believe in order above all else, but he is useful. He will be on our side in this. His sense of self-preservation will see to that. I would not count on him being of help in a fight, but in research, you can rely on his work." The answer was honest and fair.
"I don't like this chaos stuff. Dealt with someone who was into it a couple of times, we kicked his ass, but doesn't mean it was fun." Cordelia answered, sounding almost like her old self.
"Cordelia, you might not wish to be flip. There are few enough chaos mages in the world, this one speaks many languages, lacks our usual sense of morality, and his primary concern is self-preservation. Unless, god forbid it, there is another man like him, I believe Alexei is referring to Ethan Rayne." Giles didn't sound happy.
Alexei laughed, "You've dealt with him I take it?"
"I'm afraid we are quite old acquaintances. I watched him become what he is, perhaps contributed to it. He has bothered us a few times." Giles responded.
Alexei was surprised, but that expression was soon replaced by understanding, "Of course. I believe he has spoken of you. If you can't work with Mr. Rayne, I will of course keep him from you, but I do believe he could be most useful in this research." There was a bit of amusement in his tone.
"Will he really be helpful, Giles? Willow asked.
Giles thought for a moment, calling up all of his thoughts on the man. "He may. Ethan always was brilliant. I don't trust him for a moment, but he knows languages I don't. His use of magic is instinctual, he may be able to assist with that. He won't cross us. He's a coward. In this case, helping us will be in his best interest, so yes, I think he may be helpful."
"Then let him come, but you better tell him just not to mess with me. I am down to my last nerve, he better not get on it. I will hurt him." Cordelia sounded deadly serious.
"If there is no objection then he will be here when you arrive tomorrow." Alexei paused for comments, when none were voiced he took that as assent. "Good. I'm afraid I must leave you all now. As important as this is, I have things I must do. The city does not run itself." Alexei left without another word.
Once he was gone, attention returned to Xander. "Have you made any decisions?" Wesley asked.
"No. Not beyond the decision to talk to Spike a lot more before we decide anything. What about you guys, Cordy?" Xander sounded exhausted.
Cordelia reached her hand out and Angel took it giving it a gentle squeeze before she answered, "We're going to do it. If we can ever work out the ritual anyway. It's a lot, but hey, I gave up normal a long time ago. Besides, once this whole thing is over, the Powers will still need their champion, and he'll still need a seer. This way, he won't have to find someone else." Cordelia smiled a bright if somewhat weary smile.
Xander returned an almost identical smile. "Good luck. Hey, Giles. I'm exhausted, it's been a rough day, and I still have to talk to Spike. Do you think I could call it a day, and head back to the hotel. I don't think I'd be much good here anyway."
"Of course. We all need to be as fresh as we can. If we're exhausted, we are going to miss something. You go back, get some rest. Find Spike and take him with you. If anyone else wants to go, you can. I'd like us to move in groups. We shouldn't be alone, if things are as bad as Buffy says. But feel free to come and go as you please. We need to be alert, and that means being well-rested." Giles spoke to the whole group who nodded their understanding.
Willow gave Xander a quick hug, "Call me if you need anything."
"I will." Xander answered her and left to go in search of Spike.
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Twenty minutes ago, Willow had stuck her head in the room where Xander had been reading the slim volume Marie gave to him. She had scolded him for being alone and made him promise he'd rejoin the group in the main part of the library shortly. She had asked yet again if he was okay and if he needed anything. Xander made the promise, assured her he was indeed okay, and gently refused her offer of food, drink, comfort, etc. Once she was gone he had spent his time trying to figure out just what the book had meant, and it's possible application to him and his life. Now it was time to try and explain what he had found to the others.
Somewhat reluctantly, Xander left the small room, leaving peace and quiet behind. As he neared the group, he noticed that Buffy had returned and Alexei was now there as well. Buffy didn't look happy. She was pacing and her hands were flinging about as she spoke to Giles and Alexei. Xander approached quietly hoping to go unnoticed and here what was up. "It's crazy out there Giles. All kinds of demons are just wandering the streets and taking whatever they want."
Alexei sighed, "They are coming, just as you did. Some are drawn by prophecy, others simply by the energy of the Six. I protect my city, but I am afraid that this will be too much for my people to handle on their own." He paused, "Buffy, I'm asking for your assistance. I'm asking that you help me to restore and maintain balance in this city." The words were spoken in a more humble tone than any of them had heard from Alexei and seemed to touch a chord with Buffy.
"I want to help. Fighting demons, that's what I do. What are the ground rules?" She asked with just the faintest touch of annoyance that there would be any rules at all.
Alexei smiled, "I want to make this easy for you. The vampires of the city are under my protection. My people will deal with any that are out of control. You may deal with any other demon that you see harm people or overtly threaten them, in whatever way you see fit."
"Good enough. I'll be hitting the streets then. Don't expect to see too much of me here." As Buffy turned to walk out of the Library she noticed Xander standing there. "Are you alright?" Her voice was laced with concern.
"I'm fine. God I wish people would stop asking me that. I'm a little stressed, but I'm fine." Xander snapped, looking contrite immediately after.
Buffy backed up a small step. "Sorry. I know how that is, having everyone worry about you. Look, I've got work, but if you find anything out or I can help somehow, call me."
Xander smiled brightly, "We will. Thanks." He watched as Buffy walked away, looking more confident and happier than she had since they had discovered the prophecy. There was finally something tangible to fight. She was back in her element. "Here's another puzzle for you Giles." Xander handed the small book he held to Giles.
"Marie gave you this?" Alexei asked as soon as he saw the book.
"Yeah. Earlier."
"What is it?" Willow asked.
Alexei looked thoughtful, "A legend, a story from centuries before I was born."
"Maybe, but I've lived on the hellmouth long enough to know that most legends are real. Not always what you thought they were, but real nonetheless. So, I'm not quite as ready to dismiss this as you are." Xander responded to Alexei's obvious disbelief in the tale he had just read.
"I will of course, read this myself, but if I may ask, what is the story?" Giles questioned.
Xander glanced at Alexei who nodded slightly at him, "It tells of a young man who will restore control to the Outcast. Let them choose to kill or not, just like Alexei and his people." Xander explained. "I think Marie believes, I'm the one."
"The story was first written by a vampire some hundred years after we went into hiding. My master actually knew him. He tells me that the man had been a mystic before his death, many believed he was a prophet, the voice of God. As with most of us, he retained this when he was turned. He claimed this as his prophecy to vampirekind. There are those who believe it, they have formed a sort of cult around this man. Marie is one of these. My master led me to believe that this story is nothing more than the creative ramblings of a somewhat mad vampire." Alexei expanded.
"Alright, without making any judgement on the truth of this story, what might lead Marie to believe that Xander is the young man in question?" Wesley inquired.
"There are some similarities. The man is described as bound to one of the outcast. As I understand it, the boy's own dream points to this occurrence. That the binding be in response to a prophecy, and that both are male. Further the young man is desribed as having hidden power. I believe that is true of your Xander. Nicholas fears him. In the many long years since I created him, I have never known Nicholas to fear anyone, even when such fear would have been warranted. That speaks to some power, which he may not know he possesses, but which manifested itself in some way with my childe." Alexei laid the reasons out.
"Umm, I think you're leaving one important thing out. It says he'll be the friend of the Slayer." Xander added, before slumping down into a nearby chair.
"Oh my. Well, I will of course see what I can learn, but I see little hope of verifying this, if what Alexei tells us is true. Even if I could, I'm not sure that there is anything to be done about it." Giles faltered, trying to think of something reassuring to say to Xander.
Xander just smiled. "Don't worry about it Giles. There's more important stuff for you to research. If this happens, it happens. I don't really see how it could be a bad thing. We need to know what's coming and how to fight it though, and I think about this whole binding ritual stuff. By the way, weren't we supposed to be getting some help with that?" Xander turned to Alexei for this last.
"You will. I've made the necessary arrangements. My man will be on an early flight, he should be here before I retire for the day. You should be forewarned, that he is nothing like you. I did not hire him because he is a good man, but because he is a useful man." Alexei cautioned them.
Wes looked somewhat wary. "If you don't mind my asking, what exactly do you mean by that?"
Alexei thought for a moment before answering. "He is weak, but he is extremely intelligent. He can read more than forty ancient and demon languages. As I told you yesterday, though, he does have a somewhat more flexible morality than most humans. We seldom see the world the same way. He has for many years been a practitioner of chaos magic, while I believe in order above all else, but he is useful. He will be on our side in this. His sense of self-preservation will see to that. I would not count on him being of help in a fight, but in research, you can rely on his work." The answer was honest and fair.
"I don't like this chaos stuff. Dealt with someone who was into it a couple of times, we kicked his ass, but doesn't mean it was fun." Cordelia answered, sounding almost like her old self.
"Cordelia, you might not wish to be flip. There are few enough chaos mages in the world, this one speaks many languages, lacks our usual sense of morality, and his primary concern is self-preservation. Unless, god forbid it, there is another man like him, I believe Alexei is referring to Ethan Rayne." Giles didn't sound happy.
Alexei laughed, "You've dealt with him I take it?"
"I'm afraid we are quite old acquaintances. I watched him become what he is, perhaps contributed to it. He has bothered us a few times." Giles responded.
Alexei was surprised, but that expression was soon replaced by understanding, "Of course. I believe he has spoken of you. If you can't work with Mr. Rayne, I will of course keep him from you, but I do believe he could be most useful in this research." There was a bit of amusement in his tone.
"Will he really be helpful, Giles? Willow asked.
Giles thought for a moment, calling up all of his thoughts on the man. "He may. Ethan always was brilliant. I don't trust him for a moment, but he knows languages I don't. His use of magic is instinctual, he may be able to assist with that. He won't cross us. He's a coward. In this case, helping us will be in his best interest, so yes, I think he may be helpful."
"Then let him come, but you better tell him just not to mess with me. I am down to my last nerve, he better not get on it. I will hurt him." Cordelia sounded deadly serious.
"If there is no objection then he will be here when you arrive tomorrow." Alexei paused for comments, when none were voiced he took that as assent. "Good. I'm afraid I must leave you all now. As important as this is, I have things I must do. The city does not run itself." Alexei left without another word.
Once he was gone, attention returned to Xander. "Have you made any decisions?" Wesley asked.
"No. Not beyond the decision to talk to Spike a lot more before we decide anything. What about you guys, Cordy?" Xander sounded exhausted.
Cordelia reached her hand out and Angel took it giving it a gentle squeeze before she answered, "We're going to do it. If we can ever work out the ritual anyway. It's a lot, but hey, I gave up normal a long time ago. Besides, once this whole thing is over, the Powers will still need their champion, and he'll still need a seer. This way, he won't have to find someone else." Cordelia smiled a bright if somewhat weary smile.
Xander returned an almost identical smile. "Good luck. Hey, Giles. I'm exhausted, it's been a rough day, and I still have to talk to Spike. Do you think I could call it a day, and head back to the hotel. I don't think I'd be much good here anyway."
"Of course. We all need to be as fresh as we can. If we're exhausted, we are going to miss something. You go back, get some rest. Find Spike and take him with you. If anyone else wants to go, you can. I'd like us to move in groups. We shouldn't be alone, if things are as bad as Buffy says. But feel free to come and go as you please. We need to be alert, and that means being well-rested." Giles spoke to the whole group who nodded their understanding.
Willow gave Xander a quick hug, "Call me if you need anything."
"I will." Xander answered her and left to go in search of Spike.