"Found anything yet?" inquired Principal Wood as he stared at the redhead
fiddling with her computer.
"Nope, nothing at all," sighed Willow who was scanning the screen. "The best I found was a vague reference to a black knight but that was it."
"How odd," spoke up Giles, who had been perusing through the tomes. "You would have to think that there would be some information on this fellow, but I'm afraid my search has turned up nothing as well."
"Nor mine," Wesley muttered as he strutted into the room, tossing the tome he was reading aside as he plopped down on the couch by the table where Willow and Kennedy were sitting.
"Well, looks like we're fresh out of options unless anyone has any suggestions," commented Willow, who sat back in her chair.
The room was silent until Kennedy's eyes suddenly widened as a thought crossed her mind. She rose to her feet and spoke loudly, "Faith said the man was some kind of a religious fanatic. Do you think the Catholic Church would have some dossier on him?"
Giles smiled, "I'm sure not all zealots are connected with the Church in Rome. After all, the watcher's council has heard little of them battling demonic activity for at least a hundred years, so I highly doubt this search will procure any information."
"That might not be necessarily accurate," Willow answered as her fingers flew away on the keys and she whispered magic to aid her hacking past the papal security. "Guys, I suggest you come look at this," her voice sounded grave. Wood, Giles, Wesley and Kennedy clustered beside Willow's computer and examined the dossier in front of them.
The extensive page documented a ruthless assassin who had cleansed entire villages in the name of God. He was a product of a failed ritual to turn him into a demonic champion, instead he was turned into a dark warrior for the light. However, the church had abused his power and the onlookers were sickened by the details of his atrocities. Thousands of innocents died during his savage raids throughout Renaissance Europe and his nefarious activities had persisted until the early twentieth century when they suddenly decreased in number. The site also revealed the extent of his extraordinary power, how he was able to summon both black magic and holy power at will. Nevertheless, his activities weren't all for the cause of evil, after all, he single-handedly had curtailed at least a dozen potential apocalypses and had driven Angellus, Drusilla and Spike underground.
Fred walked in to find the others huddled over Willow's computer screen.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"We have a serious problem," answered Willow who didn't even look up from the screen.
Fred walked over to the group and covered her mouth with her hand as she read over the bloody details of La Morte's history.
"Dear God, this man could be the end of us all," Wesley said in a horrified voice.
Giles nodded, "we need to inform Faith and tell her what she's up against." Kennedy ran over to the phone and hurriedly dialed a number.
Faith, Connor, Gunn and Xander walked down the empty street lit only by the pale light of the moon. Not a single lamp shone in the windows surrounding them and shadows covered every doorway and alley, giving an eerie sense of foreboding to the place. There was nothing alive or dead in this place, it was just simply void of anything.
"I got a bad feeling about this," said Xander as he clutched his axe with a feeling of nervousness and anxiety he hadn't encountered in weeks.
"I second that," muttered Gunn as he unsheathed his axe and carried it in both hands.
"You guys are just wimps," Faith laughed as she strutted ahead of them. "There ain't nothing here that worries me. I mean there aren't any vampires out tonight, so what's there to worry about?" She turned around and gave them a sweet sarcastic smile, then turned back around and walked forward.
Connor rolled his eyes at the excessive brashness of the black-haired slayer. He slung his sword over his shoulders and plodded onward, noting the anxiety of the other two men and the arrogance of the woman. Even though he tried to conceal a rising fear within him, he knew it was apparent.
Xander and Gunn stared at each other and followed her, each scanning the buildings adjacent to their patrol.
Meanwhile, figures watched from the alleys and windows. These were not vampires nor demons, these were just simple human beings. But these weren't the ignorant everyday denizens of Los Angeles, in fact these were the followers of Micah. These people were the homeless and the unemployed whom the demons had been preying on for decades. This time, they were going to change history and strike out at their tormentors, but only now their duties were to watch and listen. Then, when the time arrived, they would strike.
They crept back into darkness and vanished in the direction of the church.
Xander's cellphone started ringing, startling all three with its melodious sound. Xander grabbed the phone and answered it. His ear connected with the hysterical voice of Kennedy ordering the four to return back to the hotel and there was something dangerous out there. He assured her nothing was wrong and he hung the phone up.
"What's up?" inquired Gunn.
"Bad news, this La Morte character seems to be the new big bad. And believe me, Kennedy told me a few stories about how ruthless this guy is. Honestly, I suggest we should be slightly prudent and beat a hasty retreat back to the hotel."
"Sounds good," nodded Gunn, whose confidence had all but vanished.
"Come on guys, we can take him," grinned Faith.
"I'm afraid that might be a bit of an overstatement," a voice answered her.
The four whirled around to face a dark armored figure concealed in the shadows in front of them. The figure stood forward, revealing the familiar scraggly beard, flowing black hair and scarred face. His brown eyes glistened with hatred and bloodlust.
"Sir Robert La Morte, enchanted to meet you all."
His sword gleamed in the moonlight giving off a purple glow.
Without saying a word, Faith drew her blades and charged at him.
"Nope, nothing at all," sighed Willow who was scanning the screen. "The best I found was a vague reference to a black knight but that was it."
"How odd," spoke up Giles, who had been perusing through the tomes. "You would have to think that there would be some information on this fellow, but I'm afraid my search has turned up nothing as well."
"Nor mine," Wesley muttered as he strutted into the room, tossing the tome he was reading aside as he plopped down on the couch by the table where Willow and Kennedy were sitting.
"Well, looks like we're fresh out of options unless anyone has any suggestions," commented Willow, who sat back in her chair.
The room was silent until Kennedy's eyes suddenly widened as a thought crossed her mind. She rose to her feet and spoke loudly, "Faith said the man was some kind of a religious fanatic. Do you think the Catholic Church would have some dossier on him?"
Giles smiled, "I'm sure not all zealots are connected with the Church in Rome. After all, the watcher's council has heard little of them battling demonic activity for at least a hundred years, so I highly doubt this search will procure any information."
"That might not be necessarily accurate," Willow answered as her fingers flew away on the keys and she whispered magic to aid her hacking past the papal security. "Guys, I suggest you come look at this," her voice sounded grave. Wood, Giles, Wesley and Kennedy clustered beside Willow's computer and examined the dossier in front of them.
The extensive page documented a ruthless assassin who had cleansed entire villages in the name of God. He was a product of a failed ritual to turn him into a demonic champion, instead he was turned into a dark warrior for the light. However, the church had abused his power and the onlookers were sickened by the details of his atrocities. Thousands of innocents died during his savage raids throughout Renaissance Europe and his nefarious activities had persisted until the early twentieth century when they suddenly decreased in number. The site also revealed the extent of his extraordinary power, how he was able to summon both black magic and holy power at will. Nevertheless, his activities weren't all for the cause of evil, after all, he single-handedly had curtailed at least a dozen potential apocalypses and had driven Angellus, Drusilla and Spike underground.
Fred walked in to find the others huddled over Willow's computer screen.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"We have a serious problem," answered Willow who didn't even look up from the screen.
Fred walked over to the group and covered her mouth with her hand as she read over the bloody details of La Morte's history.
"Dear God, this man could be the end of us all," Wesley said in a horrified voice.
Giles nodded, "we need to inform Faith and tell her what she's up against." Kennedy ran over to the phone and hurriedly dialed a number.
Faith, Connor, Gunn and Xander walked down the empty street lit only by the pale light of the moon. Not a single lamp shone in the windows surrounding them and shadows covered every doorway and alley, giving an eerie sense of foreboding to the place. There was nothing alive or dead in this place, it was just simply void of anything.
"I got a bad feeling about this," said Xander as he clutched his axe with a feeling of nervousness and anxiety he hadn't encountered in weeks.
"I second that," muttered Gunn as he unsheathed his axe and carried it in both hands.
"You guys are just wimps," Faith laughed as she strutted ahead of them. "There ain't nothing here that worries me. I mean there aren't any vampires out tonight, so what's there to worry about?" She turned around and gave them a sweet sarcastic smile, then turned back around and walked forward.
Connor rolled his eyes at the excessive brashness of the black-haired slayer. He slung his sword over his shoulders and plodded onward, noting the anxiety of the other two men and the arrogance of the woman. Even though he tried to conceal a rising fear within him, he knew it was apparent.
Xander and Gunn stared at each other and followed her, each scanning the buildings adjacent to their patrol.
Meanwhile, figures watched from the alleys and windows. These were not vampires nor demons, these were just simple human beings. But these weren't the ignorant everyday denizens of Los Angeles, in fact these were the followers of Micah. These people were the homeless and the unemployed whom the demons had been preying on for decades. This time, they were going to change history and strike out at their tormentors, but only now their duties were to watch and listen. Then, when the time arrived, they would strike.
They crept back into darkness and vanished in the direction of the church.
Xander's cellphone started ringing, startling all three with its melodious sound. Xander grabbed the phone and answered it. His ear connected with the hysterical voice of Kennedy ordering the four to return back to the hotel and there was something dangerous out there. He assured her nothing was wrong and he hung the phone up.
"What's up?" inquired Gunn.
"Bad news, this La Morte character seems to be the new big bad. And believe me, Kennedy told me a few stories about how ruthless this guy is. Honestly, I suggest we should be slightly prudent and beat a hasty retreat back to the hotel."
"Sounds good," nodded Gunn, whose confidence had all but vanished.
"Come on guys, we can take him," grinned Faith.
"I'm afraid that might be a bit of an overstatement," a voice answered her.
The four whirled around to face a dark armored figure concealed in the shadows in front of them. The figure stood forward, revealing the familiar scraggly beard, flowing black hair and scarred face. His brown eyes glistened with hatred and bloodlust.
"Sir Robert La Morte, enchanted to meet you all."
His sword gleamed in the moonlight giving off a purple glow.
Without saying a word, Faith drew her blades and charged at him.