The Book of Homecoming part 3a
By Phoenixgod2000
Rating-R for violence and maybe gore in the future.
Summary- Riley and Anya go on a date. Spike shows his hand. And the Three
engage in a LOTR style gift giving. Wackiness, a spot of violence, and
hopefully fun ensues. And Xander gives a speech to dawn. It's not
potential but then again I'm not a professional writer.
Feedback-yes please-it's the only way I'll get better. I'm very interested
in what people think about the speech at the end of this chapter. I'm
rather proud of it.
***
Friday, October 31 1999- four days after the initial events of homecoming
Sunnydale Middle School
The future Mrs. Dawn Harris raced down the hallway to her first class of the morning. Normally she wasn't late but she had spent a little too much time daydreaming about where she was going to be that night. She ran into her homeroom and leapt into her seat with seconds to spare before the bell rang.
" Guess where I am going to be tonight," she said to Janice, her current best friend who sat next to her.
" Where." Janice sounded bored. She was getting a little too old for Halloween but she couldn't get an invite to the party she really wanted to go to. It irritated her just a little bit of course, that dawn seemed to have a real plan for Halloween.
" At a dinner party being thrown by Xander Harris. You know my sisters friend that I talk about all the time." Dawn threw back her hair and her sapphire blue eyes shone with unrestrained happiness.
" I thought you said that he dropped out." Despite herself, Janice was intrigued. Dawn talked a lot about her crush with Xander Harris. Supposedly he had dropped out with is girlfriend early last year before he was supposed to graduate from high school. He sounded like a real loser to her.
" He did." Dawn knew that Xander's disappearance was hellmouthy related but not the specifics. Of course she couldn't tell that to Janice. " He came back a few days ago. And get this, He and his roommates bought a house in Sunnydale Hills. They're totally rich now. They wanted to get all their friends together to celebrate them being back from where ever they are. Which includes me," she added smugly.
" That is cool." Janice was impressed and not bitter or jealous. Nope, not at all.
" I know. My mom is getting me a new dress and everything." Dawn bounced up and down in her seat. She thought she had lost her chance with Xander when he disappeared. But now he was back and she wasn't wasting another minute.
She is going to tell Xander that she loved him tonight.
***
Thomas Thorne raged in his warehouse. Four days he'd been trapped here. Somehow that bitch slayer healed her broken leg and managed to get back up. Between her, those soldiers and her friends, they managed to kill two-thirds of his army. The nine minions that remained were a mixed bunch consisting of some of his smartest and luckiest minions. At least most of the stupid and young ones were the first to die. He needed to find a way to bring his roster back up. He needed more troops, but every time he thought about leaving his lair he got a cold feeling. Fear. Fear of the slayer, and fear of her friends and he hated that. He was a master. He should be beyond such foolish, such mortal emotions. He paced back and forth in the warehouse as he thought about what to do. He was trapped for the day by the sunlight, which added nothing good to his disposition.
Alicia watched Thomas with barely disguised disgust. She could remember several hundred years ago Thomas had seemed so strong, so powerful. She had been the one with the fear back then. Her supposedly noble husband had taken a liking to beating his pretty young bride. Thomas had ridden into her town and immediately she was taken in by his power and brutality even as mortal. There was one she thought would protect her. Instead he made her a vampire, able to protect herself. Her husband took several days to die after she was changed and his sanity lasted even less time. Now after the debacle in the cemetery she could see his weakness. Now she was the strong one. He had grown soft, weak over time. His powerful clan was reduced to a handful of vampires as well as herself and Thorne. He hadn't even left his lair to hunt in three days. He was the picture of a leader whose authority was disintegrating around him. She was disgusted with him and with herself for staying with him. But in a town ruled by the slayer, what else could she do.
Just then the warehouse door slammed open and vampire destroying sunlight shined in. Thomas protected his eyes and shouted. " Who the hell opened the door?" He looked around for the stupid minion that opened the door but he easily accounted for all of them.
A cockney accent called out, " That would be me mate. You remember your old pal Spike, don't you?" Spike walked into the room from outside the warehouse, Sunlight streaming around his lean form. Spike looked around and laughed. " Your coming up in the world Tommy. Last time I saw you, you were living the high life off nazi gold in Switzerland. Now you're living in the warehouse district of Sunnydale. Nice." Spike gave Thomas thumbs up. Then he turned to Alicia and leered at her. " Hullo pet. Thomas doesn't look like he's supporting in the lifestyle to which he promised. I don't see the furs and diamonds you wanted. Spike thinks maybe you need a new sugar daddy."
Thomas was stunned. " How-What, your standing in sunlight Spike?"
Spike flipped off Thomas, the Gem of Amara gleaming on his middle finger. " This little bauble lets me get a tan."
Thomas didn't understand the rings significance, but Alicia Killdare did. " The gem of Amara," she breathed in awe.
" Got it in one luv." Spike walked further into the warehouse and shut the door with a backwards kick. " You got your ass handed to you by that bitch Buffy," and before Marcus could rebut Spike quickly added, " no shame in that mate. She's a tough bitch to kill."
Marcus growled, " I broke her leg but a minute later she was standing on it good as new. That isn't tough. That's fucking unnatural."
Spike appeared a little surprised, but quickly shrugged, " bitch has a new trick. Have a few new ones me self. Anyway moving on. Gather 'round boys and girls, uncle spike's got a story."
***
Buffy hated eating alone but alone she was. Anya had ditched college to spend the whole day panicking about her date with Riley. Apparently, in Anya's long life the one thing she hasn't done was date. Willow was in class. The crazy redhead was taking what seemed like a hundred units worth of classes. Oz was, well wherever he went when he wasn't with Willow. Tara and Amy were doing some kind of Wicca research, and Xander, Faith, and Cordelia were getting ready for the party they were throwing that night. Thus Buffy was eating alone.
As she ate she thought about all that had transpired in the last few days. They had submitted to all of the checks required, and now they had preliminary access to the initiative base beneath the frat house. Complete with badges and pagers. Despite her misgivings, it was pretty cool to now have the level of backup they now had. Even if something about Dr. Walsh gave her the creeps.
Meanwhile the hellmouth seemed quieter than ever. When word got around that a goddess who likes to hunt vampires and demons had moved into town just about every little baddie decided to take time off. Faith seemed to love what her rep did to the hellmouth. And she wasn't even around that much at night. Faith had gotten a job in LA as a high-class stripper. Xander said it was because she needed to absorb lust from people on a regular basis. It was her divine source of food. Buffy could not believe how matter of fact Xander seemed about his wife being a stripper. It just weirded her out. But then again everything about their threesome marriage did.
Meanwhile the other two parts of the bizarre marriage Xander and Cordelia had spent the last few days overseeing their new home and furnishing it with things shipped to them from their other homes around the world and storage. The three had moved into a beautiful home in Sunnydale Hills, the upper-upper class area of sunnydale. They also weren't letting people over to their home until the grand unveiling, which was going to be tonight. All in all, things seemed to be looking up for Buffy and the rest of the scoobies. That worried Buffy.
Things never went right on the hellmouth.
*** Flashback- Two nights ago-The Temple of Amara
Drusilla stared unblinkingly at the still, pale form of Catherine Madison. Spike brought the body back to the temple and laid it in a special alter room that Drusilla found and insisted she lay in. Normally vampires rose after a single night but Catherine lay in state for two days and one night and still had not stirred from her deathsleep.
Spike walked into the room and watched Drusilla stare intently at Catherine. " Still 'asn't stirred, 'as she?" He growled. " Bloody bint is taking too damn long to wake up," then he shook his head, " just like a damn woman."
Drusilla turned to Spike and placed a finger to his lips. " Shush, she's sleeping. Miss Edith says she'll wake soon enough and the party will be gloriously gloomy."
" Whatever you say luv." Spike rolled his eyes. He loved Drusilla but she could be frustratingly patient. He wanted to get started with the maiming and the violence. Of course he couldn't really since he needed a bloody translator to figure what the hell exactly he was supposed to do.
A few moments later Catherine Madison's body began to twitch. Drusilla laughed and started to clap like a kid at a show. Then Catherine got up and her face shifted into gameface. But not the game face of other vampires. It was similar, but somehow deeper and more hollowed, more sinister than the game faces of other vampires. Her eyes were red instead of the standard yellow and she seemed to glow with power.
" I know what must be done." Catherine's voice was velvet and steel. She took off confidently down the hall towards the room filled with all of the magic. Easily opening the door with a short phrased hissed in Sumerian, Catherine Madison smiled upon the piles of magic books.
" Best get started reading. The books won't read themselves." Spike spoke from behind her.
" That's where you are wrong sire. That's exactly what they are going to do." Catherine stretched out her hands and spoke in Sumerian. The books shined darkly and then the words bleed from the page and crawled up her arms. The ink sunk into her skin, and when she turned around her eyes were orbs of blackness that seemed to swallow what little light was in the room.
Drusilla clapped. " Miss Edith says that there are no more secrets left, they're all inside you." Then she pouted and asked innocently, " Can I open you up? I so wanted to learn secrets."
Catherine bowed to Spike. " The secrets are yours sire. I am merely their unliving vessel." Then she began to speak in the far away voice. " Long ago, during the time of the first ones, vampires were among the lowest of the demons. Yet when the greatest True Demons were sent away from the earth, Vampires alone managed to find a way to stay."
***
Amy lay on Tara's bed, a book across her chest. She was supposed to be studying Renaissance history, but something was distracting her. Tara was playing with her hair again. There was something so damn sweet and seductive in the way the shy blond would chew on a few strands of her hair as she scribbled in her notebook. Amy knew that she was working on some sort of new spell. It was odd. The only time Tara's shell seemed to slip away was when she was working her magic. Tara was a truly gifted Wiccan and her skill shined through any other uncertainties or esteem issues she might have.
" How's the spell going?"
Tara looked up. " Fine, and its not a spell. It's a potion I want to mimic the effects of sunlight on vampires. I can't seem to get the ingredients right. My mom showed me a similar potion once, when I was little. I just wish I could remember what she used."
" Your mom." Amy's voice was curiously flat.
Tara looked sharply at Amy when her heard her voice. She took a moment to quickly read Amy empathically.
Tara immediately realized what happened. She got up and walked over to the small bed and curled up next to Amy. " I'm sorry baby. I forgot about your mom."
Amy smiled softy at Tara. " Its not your fault you had a great mom. Just when you talk about learning magic from your mom, it really hits me. I would have liked my mom to teach me magic. You know, instead of what she actually did."
Tara knew all about Amy's mom and what happened with the cheerleading tryouts. She could not imagine how a mother could do that to her own daughter. Her own mother had been a lovely and quiet woman who tried her hardest to pass on her hereditary magic's to her only daughter.
" At least your dad is a great guy. He didn't even care when you c-c- came out of the closet." Tara stuttered. " M-My dad disowned me when he found out."
" I think we both may have gotten a little screwed in the parents department." Amy kissed Tara lightly on the lips. " I think you need a break from all the deep thoughts and studying." She whispered seductively in Tara's ear. " Release some tension."
Tara moaned lightly as Amy's mouth drifted to her pulse point. " This is why my dad disowned me, I temptress."
" And you love it."
Tara would have replied, but by then she was much too busy.
*** Spikes Story
" See, it turns out that a long time ago, vampires were the weakest of the demon races. Then when the world was sealed off from the old ones, vampires became the most numerous of remaining demons. Most vampires were weak, barely stronger than the mortals they hunted. Some shamans in Africa created the slayer to protect humanity from them about that time. But some vampires were better, stronger than others. A master race if you will. One day the thirteen greatest of these master vampires got together. Seems they wanted to preserve their knowledge in case the slayer or something else ever killed them. Good thing they did, cause eventually they were all killed in the legendary flood. But before they did they created the Books of Blood, the sum total of their unique magic's, powers, and prophecies about the end of days. They hid the books so that when a vampire bad ass enough to deserve them came along, they could be found."
Spike paused in his story and found Thomas hanging intently on his word, despite himself, along with Alicia and the remaining vampires in their gang.
" Eventually, a vampire did. Vamp by the name of Amara. Turned out Amara was just the type of badass the founders were looking for. Even went one step further and found a piece of Ambrosia and ate it, turning him into the first and only vampire god. Anyway he discovered the Books of Blood and set himself up a nice little thousand year Reich. Eventually though a group of champions led by the slayer and the watchers council brought his kingdom down. Since they found out the hard way that they could not kill Amara, the greatest sorcerers bound his spirit to his ring and sank it and his temple into the earth. For all their power they could not destroy it, they could only hide it from the world and pray another bad ass didn't find it. For the past six thousand years it has lain hidden from the world."
Then spike leaned forward and power seemed to roll off him. Every vampire was awed by his presence. They could feel the emotion that poured from his words as an almost tangible force that drew them in.
" A new badass has found the Temple. Me, and I'm bloody well going to use its power to destroy the slayer and all her little friends. We vamps used to rule and we will again." Then William the Bloody smiled widely. " Want in?"
The sound of Thomas's laughter echoed in the nearly empty warehouse.
*** That Night- Anya's apartment
Anya paced back and forth as she waited for Riley to arrive. She wore a simple green dress that hugged her slender form. She impatiently looked at her watch and fumed. She was ready fifteen minutes early for her date. Cordelia had told her that she should keep Riley waiting for a while to 'keep him enticed,' but Anya didn't want to do that. It was all well and good for Cordelia to say that. She was immortal, but Anya wasn't one anymore. She wanted to get things rolling. After all she had a mere sixty years of productive living left. That was nothing!
Then the doorbell rang and she rushed to open the door. Riley was on the other side, looking distinctly uncomfortable in a shirt and tie. He had in his hand a dozen red roses. At first Anya was going to rake him over the coals for being on time, but then she noticed his eyes. Those earnest, puppy dog like eyes that begged her to like him and she melted. Not that Anyanka, the demoness of scorned women would ever admit to being a softie for a MAN!
" Are these for me?"
Riley's face reddened. " Umm, yeah they are. I know it's a little goofy, but I was raised to bring flowers to a first date."
Anya smiled. " I love them." She took the flowers and motioned for Riley to come in as she looked for a something to put them in. While she looked, she asked Riley, " So where are we going tonight? I expect some high class wooing to make up for you lying to me."
" Well, I have reservations at the nicest French restaurant in town and then dancing. You do like French food don't you?" Riley appeared a little nervous."
Anya smiled and took his arm to lead him out the door. " I love everything about the French. Their food, their culture, their revolutions. Everything they do is so much fun."
Riley blinked in surprise. Their REVOLUTIONS?
***
Dawn bounced up and down in impatience. She looked in awe at the house that Xander was living in. It was huge, like three stories huge. And it was set a hundred yards behind a huge fence with a gate. It was on a huge plot of land with giant trees that shaded most of the grounds. She very consciously smoothed her black dress down and looked at her mom, who smiled at her indulgently. Her mom didn't get it. She thought she just had a crush on Xander, but it wasn't that. They had a connection. Xander understood her.
Meanwhile Joyce Summers covered the fact she was pretty impressed as well. She knew a little about the missing three's adventures and clearly what they had been doing was quite lucrative. The house was an old one, probably belonging to one of the founding families of Sunnydale. It was on a large number of acres, although how much she couldn't say.
Joyce and Dawn were still deep in their respective thoughts when the door opened, revealing Cordelia in a rather unusual dress. She wore a white gown that sent little shivers of sound through the air when she moved. It was cut and styled like a woolen Greek gown, although it was clearly made of much finer material. Silver bracelets wrapped about her tanned, toned arms and a matching Tiara gathered up her hair that had been curled into ringlets. She smiled warmly at the two guests. " Joyce, Dawn. We're so glad that you have arrived. Xander is just ending the tour for everyone else."
Joyce just shook her head as she crossed the threshold with dawn in tow. This polite Cordelia was so different from the one that she remembered dating Xander back during their junior year. Of course she knew that she, Xander, and Faith, of all people had some sort of weird group marriage thing going on, so she must have really changed while she was gone. Joyce knew some of what had gone on, while not really understanding the particulars. She let Cordelia guide her into the large marble foyer and up the brass staircase onto the third level. She saw the whole group assembled at the end of the hall. Her eyes sought out Xander and Faith. She had yet to see either of them since they had gotten home. She found Faith first. She wore an identical gown to Cordelia, except that hers was made of black silk and the bands in her hair and arms seemed to be made from dark green jade. She was laughing at something Willow just said to her. Cordelia was clearly not the only person to have changed over time. Faith radiated confidence and self-assurance. Joyce knew the difference between the real thing and the front the Faith that she knew put up.
She looked around and saw everyone except for Giles. " Where is Rupert?"
The whole group laughed. Then Faith answered. " When G found out that we had several books that were lost since the burning of Alexandria, he disappeared into our library and none of us seen him since."
Buffy added. " He's pretty much in watcher heaven right now. Nothing but moldy books as far as the eye can see."
Then she saw Xander duck his head out of a room and call out her name. " Joyce, Dawnie," he said, clearly pleased they had come. " Get over here. I'm getting ready to show the gang my carpentry room."
Intrigued, Joyce made her way over, Dawn quickly skipping ahead. Buffy murmured a quick hello to her mother. Joyce could tell that she was nervous about something, but what she couldn't tell. Then she walked into the room Xander disappeared into and stopped in amazement. The room was filled with half finished pieces of furniture. Lathes and carving tools littered several workbenches that covered three of the walls. Xander smiled proudly as he showed the room off to the crowd. " Xander," Joyce said in awe, " these pieces are magnificent."
" They should be. I've spent enough time on perfecting my skills." Xander said proudly.
" Of all the things that you could learn to do, why carpentry?" Buffy seemed surprised. She had done some reading on the three and carpentry seemed so mundane compared to their legendary exploits.
Faith looked about to cut off the question but Xander silenced her. " I went through a really dark period in my life a while ago. Some stuff had happened to me and I couldn't deal. The three of us were traveling through China, and a Taoist carpenter took me under his wing." Xander looked at his hands. " I discovered I could make things too. It was kind of nice to find that out."
Everyone seemed to understand what Xander was saying except for Dawn. She didn't seem to understand. She was wandering around the room when she spied a completed hope chest. It was crafted of polished oak with suns in various states of rising and setting carved along the lid. She sighed. Breaking out of his funk Xander smiled. " Do you like that Dawn?"
" I love it."
" Its yours." Dawn looked at Xander in shock. He smiled. " Its carved full of suns, Dawn. Who do you think I made it for?"
Dawn was struck speechless. Joyce said, " Xander we can't accept this gift. It's too much. That must have taken months."
" Years actually. Taoists take their time to carve. And don't worry about the gift. I want Dawnie to have it. We have gifts for everybody. In our travels we've found a bunch of things that can really help the group and we'll pass them out after dinner." Xander smiled indulgently at the group. " Merry Christmas."
" Before we have dinner, I have something that I want to tell you mom." Buffy sounded serious. " I waited till tonight because I wanted to have everyone else around to answer any questions you'll have."
Cordelia smiled at Buffy and Joyce. " Lets take it down stairs in the living room. This isn't the place for that talk.
As Joyce walked down stairs, her anxiety built. She had the nagging feeling that something was going to changer her world. And she wasn't going to like it at all.
***
Thomas Thorne looked around the enclosed heart of the temple. He and Alicia had been led by Spike into the warrens of the hidden resting place of Amara. He could feel the age of this place. The holiness. Spike led the two of them down winding stairs into the very bowls of the temple. He silently led them to a room that seemed out of place within the temple. It had a natural organic feel. Pillars carved in the shape of forms twisted in pain held the ceiling in place. In the center of the room a pool of blood roiled and hissed with power. Catherine Madison and Drusilla were waiting for them.
Spike turned to Thomas and Alicia and smiled. " Once, a long time ago, a master vampire wasn't a title given to just any vamp who could string two minions together. It was a title given to vampires who mastered the abilities innate to the demon within. Too bad those powers have been lost to the centuries." Then spike smirked. " Until now." He motioned to Catherine. Catherine produced a silver chalice encrusted with moonstones and sapphires. She dipped it into the well of blood. Holding the chalice forth she said, " drink from the hearts blood of Amara. It will awaken your sleeping gifts."
Thomas motioned for Alicia to be the first to drink. Shooting a wry look at her lover and sire, Alicia lifted the chalice to her lips and drank deeply. She involuntarily shifted into game face and shadows seemed to gather around her briefly and shroud her hollowed vampire face for a moment before swirling away. Looking at Thomas, she smiled. " Its safe, Tommy. I've never felt better." She extended her hand and several shadows in the corner of the rooms gathered into tentacles that writhed and thrashed around the room. She purred, " Well that's new. I like it."
Thomas grabbed the chalice from Catherine and drank it down in a gulp. He could feel the hot blood course though his veins working its will upon his body. The aristocratic vampire sank to his knees. Power flared around him and he fought back to his feet and roared.
Spike stepped in front of him. " Feels good, don't it. It gets better mate. A lot better.
***
Joyce was right. The news did change her world. And she didn't like it. The group was sitting in the Three's living room. Relics from more than three thousand years of life surround her but she saw none of it. Her mind spun in circles as she grappled with information that had thrown her world into chaos. Immortality. The daughter she worried about every night was going to live forever. Or at least had that potential. There was still something to worry about. That Game that Xander mentioned. She watched her young daughter. Her daughter that was always going to be young. She saw the pain in her beautiful blue-green eyes. Eyes that reminded her of her father. Eyes that led to Buffy's creation in the first place. Dawn had those eyes too. Dawn. She looked at her youngest daughter and saw the girl welling up with tears in her eyes.
" No, No," the young girl murmured. " It's.what's your saying. It's not possible. Your lying." The girl's lips quivered with unrestrained emotions. " Its not supposed to be like this. Buffy is supposed to be just the slayer. And-And you're supposed to be normal. Normal like me. This was going to be.this night was supposed to be different." Dawn turned and ran out of the room a trail of sobs behind her.
Joyce stood up to go after dawn, when Xander intercepted her. " Don't worry. I'll bring her back." He smiled comfortingly at Joyce.
After Xander left, Joyce turned back to the others. " So honey, how are you doing?" She looked at Buffy. " I can't imagine what is going through your mind."
Buffy smiled weakly. " I'll be okay. Xander has started training me to fight immortals. And I have my friends." With that she looked up at the ever-silent Angel and then to Willow and the others.
" I'm glad honey." Joyce smiled comfortingly at her daughter. Then Joyce changed the subject. " So exactly how does this group marriage thing work?"
***
" So what's the game plan?" Thomas asked the other four master vampires that were in an upper chamber of the temple. This particular room has several comfortable chairs in it. Clearly it had been some sort of planning chamber back when Amara ruled. The five of them sat around looking at each other when Catherine spoke up.
" This temple is a focusing point for dark energy. It can take the energy released by pain and death and store it, redirect it to a very specific purpose." She smiled. " It's like a battery for human sacrificial energy. Thanks to the sacred geometry of this place and the power of the Hellmouth, any people we kill in, lets say, a thirty-mile radius around the temple is shunted here and stored to power the domain of ever night."
" What's that," Alicia asked.
Spike grinned widely. " This is where it gets good luv."
" The domain of ever night," Catherine continued. " Is a mystical shield that will cover an area around a hundred miles in every direction of this temple. It only has one power, but it's a biggie. The shield covers against sunlight and prevents the need to be invited in. You can't even see the shield. But when its up vampires have free roaming privileges. Day or night."
Thomas looked intrigued. " So how did we get this magic shield up?"
" That's the best part mate. Alls we 'ave to do is lots of killing. Store up enough power and Cathy 'ere can set the spell. Then we have our own little playground filled with happy meals on legs."
Drusilla let out a childish giggle. " We'll be able to stay up all night and watch daddy sun play with momma moon. And kill all the day long."
" That's right pet," Spike cooed. " We can kill who ever you want." Then he turned to the others. " We're going to need more minions. Between yours and the ones Dru and I have snatched up, we have a good beginning but we'll need more. We've cooked up a plan to get lots of death done. But we are going to need a lot more minions.
" Lets go recrutin'." Alicia looked very eager to test her new powers.
***
" Dawn?"
" Go away Xander." She turned away from him and pouted. She hunched her shoulders like she was trying to disappear. " Just go away."
" Why." Xander asked. He followed Dawn into the library using her scent to track her through the large house. " I thought you liked me?"
She turned to face him, her red-rimmed eyes narrowed in anger. " I did. Back when you were normal. Like me."
He sat down next to her. " Now I'm not normal? Is it because I'm an immortal like Buffy?"
" That and the age thing." A hundred emotions clouded Dawns face. " It's just.Xander, I thought you were going to be the guy for me. In a few years I would be eighteen and faith would've dumped you. Then we could have hooked up. I had it all planned out."
Xander chuckled. " You thought Faith was going to dump me."
Dawn smiled tremulously. " Well sure. Lets face it. You're a geek."
" Got me there. You know I used my knowledge of the future to pad my comic book collection." He smiled. " Have three first edition issues of Superman number one. Mint condition." He grew serious again. " I understand your having issues. We are all feeling it. Do you know how weird it is too see your face after so long?" He chucked her under the chin and smiled. " Weird and good."
" I hate being the normal one." Dawns voice dropped. " Now you and Cordy are all cool and have nifty powers. Faith always had them. Now this new thing with Buffy." She sighed. " I feel invisible, like nothing will ever get me noticed. Like I'll never be the important one."
" Sucks don't it." Xander smiled. " I've lived a long time, but I still remember when I couldn't stake a vampire to save my life. When my girl friend could arm-wrestle me into submission. I hated it so much, sometimes I was actually jealous of Angel." He snorted. " Then the immortality thing kicked in, and I thought here it was. Now I finally got something cool of my own. You know what happened?'
Dawn shook her head, entranced by his monologue.
" My friends kept dying. I started taking huge risks thinking that I could survive anything. I'd take arrows, sword thrusts, anything to keep the people I cared about alive. I survived everything the war could throw at me, but nothing I had, no skill I possessed could keep them all safe. What kind of hero was I that I couldn't save the people I cared about? This was what being a hero was all about? Remembering that I couldn't save everyone? Was this what Buffy lived with?"
" My teacher noticed and talked to me about it. A depressed immortal is one that's easy pickings and he wanted my head firmly attached to my shoulders. He told me that being a hero wasn't about saving everybody because you can't. No one can. It was about will. About the desire to do something even when everything around you said it was impossible. It's about realizing sometimes all the power in the world can't help you." He poked Dawn in the center of her chest. " Its about heart. Buffy's not perfect but she has heart. Her power isn't in her arms or the amount she could bench press. It's her compassion, her love. You have that same heart Dawn. It comes from your mom. It's that strong Summers heart. Be proud of what you have and who you are Dawn. Don't worry about not being able to stake vampires or kill dragons. That's not what makes you worthwhile." He bent down and kissed her forehead. " Be a doctor Dawn, save lives that way. Be a lawyer and stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves. You can be whatever you want Dawn because I don't need to see the future to know that your life will shine as brightly as your namesake."
Dawn blushed and looked down. " Thanks Xander."
He held out his hand and lifted her up. " Lets get back to the party. And if you want, I can show you a few martial art moves so you can pick on your big sister." He smiled. " How 'bout I show you how to breathe."
" Breathe?"
Xander nodded gravely. " Breath control is the core of every martial art." His eyes twinkled and he bent down conspiratorially. " I bet you'll even pick it up faster than Buffy. She's a little slow sometimes."
Dawn giggled. She whispered back. " I think it's the hair dye."
****
***
Friday, October 31 1999- four days after the initial events of homecoming
Sunnydale Middle School
The future Mrs. Dawn Harris raced down the hallway to her first class of the morning. Normally she wasn't late but she had spent a little too much time daydreaming about where she was going to be that night. She ran into her homeroom and leapt into her seat with seconds to spare before the bell rang.
" Guess where I am going to be tonight," she said to Janice, her current best friend who sat next to her.
" Where." Janice sounded bored. She was getting a little too old for Halloween but she couldn't get an invite to the party she really wanted to go to. It irritated her just a little bit of course, that dawn seemed to have a real plan for Halloween.
" At a dinner party being thrown by Xander Harris. You know my sisters friend that I talk about all the time." Dawn threw back her hair and her sapphire blue eyes shone with unrestrained happiness.
" I thought you said that he dropped out." Despite herself, Janice was intrigued. Dawn talked a lot about her crush with Xander Harris. Supposedly he had dropped out with is girlfriend early last year before he was supposed to graduate from high school. He sounded like a real loser to her.
" He did." Dawn knew that Xander's disappearance was hellmouthy related but not the specifics. Of course she couldn't tell that to Janice. " He came back a few days ago. And get this, He and his roommates bought a house in Sunnydale Hills. They're totally rich now. They wanted to get all their friends together to celebrate them being back from where ever they are. Which includes me," she added smugly.
" That is cool." Janice was impressed and not bitter or jealous. Nope, not at all.
" I know. My mom is getting me a new dress and everything." Dawn bounced up and down in her seat. She thought she had lost her chance with Xander when he disappeared. But now he was back and she wasn't wasting another minute.
She is going to tell Xander that she loved him tonight.
***
Thomas Thorne raged in his warehouse. Four days he'd been trapped here. Somehow that bitch slayer healed her broken leg and managed to get back up. Between her, those soldiers and her friends, they managed to kill two-thirds of his army. The nine minions that remained were a mixed bunch consisting of some of his smartest and luckiest minions. At least most of the stupid and young ones were the first to die. He needed to find a way to bring his roster back up. He needed more troops, but every time he thought about leaving his lair he got a cold feeling. Fear. Fear of the slayer, and fear of her friends and he hated that. He was a master. He should be beyond such foolish, such mortal emotions. He paced back and forth in the warehouse as he thought about what to do. He was trapped for the day by the sunlight, which added nothing good to his disposition.
Alicia watched Thomas with barely disguised disgust. She could remember several hundred years ago Thomas had seemed so strong, so powerful. She had been the one with the fear back then. Her supposedly noble husband had taken a liking to beating his pretty young bride. Thomas had ridden into her town and immediately she was taken in by his power and brutality even as mortal. There was one she thought would protect her. Instead he made her a vampire, able to protect herself. Her husband took several days to die after she was changed and his sanity lasted even less time. Now after the debacle in the cemetery she could see his weakness. Now she was the strong one. He had grown soft, weak over time. His powerful clan was reduced to a handful of vampires as well as herself and Thorne. He hadn't even left his lair to hunt in three days. He was the picture of a leader whose authority was disintegrating around him. She was disgusted with him and with herself for staying with him. But in a town ruled by the slayer, what else could she do.
Just then the warehouse door slammed open and vampire destroying sunlight shined in. Thomas protected his eyes and shouted. " Who the hell opened the door?" He looked around for the stupid minion that opened the door but he easily accounted for all of them.
A cockney accent called out, " That would be me mate. You remember your old pal Spike, don't you?" Spike walked into the room from outside the warehouse, Sunlight streaming around his lean form. Spike looked around and laughed. " Your coming up in the world Tommy. Last time I saw you, you were living the high life off nazi gold in Switzerland. Now you're living in the warehouse district of Sunnydale. Nice." Spike gave Thomas thumbs up. Then he turned to Alicia and leered at her. " Hullo pet. Thomas doesn't look like he's supporting in the lifestyle to which he promised. I don't see the furs and diamonds you wanted. Spike thinks maybe you need a new sugar daddy."
Thomas was stunned. " How-What, your standing in sunlight Spike?"
Spike flipped off Thomas, the Gem of Amara gleaming on his middle finger. " This little bauble lets me get a tan."
Thomas didn't understand the rings significance, but Alicia Killdare did. " The gem of Amara," she breathed in awe.
" Got it in one luv." Spike walked further into the warehouse and shut the door with a backwards kick. " You got your ass handed to you by that bitch Buffy," and before Marcus could rebut Spike quickly added, " no shame in that mate. She's a tough bitch to kill."
Marcus growled, " I broke her leg but a minute later she was standing on it good as new. That isn't tough. That's fucking unnatural."
Spike appeared a little surprised, but quickly shrugged, " bitch has a new trick. Have a few new ones me self. Anyway moving on. Gather 'round boys and girls, uncle spike's got a story."
***
Buffy hated eating alone but alone she was. Anya had ditched college to spend the whole day panicking about her date with Riley. Apparently, in Anya's long life the one thing she hasn't done was date. Willow was in class. The crazy redhead was taking what seemed like a hundred units worth of classes. Oz was, well wherever he went when he wasn't with Willow. Tara and Amy were doing some kind of Wicca research, and Xander, Faith, and Cordelia were getting ready for the party they were throwing that night. Thus Buffy was eating alone.
As she ate she thought about all that had transpired in the last few days. They had submitted to all of the checks required, and now they had preliminary access to the initiative base beneath the frat house. Complete with badges and pagers. Despite her misgivings, it was pretty cool to now have the level of backup they now had. Even if something about Dr. Walsh gave her the creeps.
Meanwhile the hellmouth seemed quieter than ever. When word got around that a goddess who likes to hunt vampires and demons had moved into town just about every little baddie decided to take time off. Faith seemed to love what her rep did to the hellmouth. And she wasn't even around that much at night. Faith had gotten a job in LA as a high-class stripper. Xander said it was because she needed to absorb lust from people on a regular basis. It was her divine source of food. Buffy could not believe how matter of fact Xander seemed about his wife being a stripper. It just weirded her out. But then again everything about their threesome marriage did.
Meanwhile the other two parts of the bizarre marriage Xander and Cordelia had spent the last few days overseeing their new home and furnishing it with things shipped to them from their other homes around the world and storage. The three had moved into a beautiful home in Sunnydale Hills, the upper-upper class area of sunnydale. They also weren't letting people over to their home until the grand unveiling, which was going to be tonight. All in all, things seemed to be looking up for Buffy and the rest of the scoobies. That worried Buffy.
Things never went right on the hellmouth.
*** Flashback- Two nights ago-The Temple of Amara
Drusilla stared unblinkingly at the still, pale form of Catherine Madison. Spike brought the body back to the temple and laid it in a special alter room that Drusilla found and insisted she lay in. Normally vampires rose after a single night but Catherine lay in state for two days and one night and still had not stirred from her deathsleep.
Spike walked into the room and watched Drusilla stare intently at Catherine. " Still 'asn't stirred, 'as she?" He growled. " Bloody bint is taking too damn long to wake up," then he shook his head, " just like a damn woman."
Drusilla turned to Spike and placed a finger to his lips. " Shush, she's sleeping. Miss Edith says she'll wake soon enough and the party will be gloriously gloomy."
" Whatever you say luv." Spike rolled his eyes. He loved Drusilla but she could be frustratingly patient. He wanted to get started with the maiming and the violence. Of course he couldn't really since he needed a bloody translator to figure what the hell exactly he was supposed to do.
A few moments later Catherine Madison's body began to twitch. Drusilla laughed and started to clap like a kid at a show. Then Catherine got up and her face shifted into gameface. But not the game face of other vampires. It was similar, but somehow deeper and more hollowed, more sinister than the game faces of other vampires. Her eyes were red instead of the standard yellow and she seemed to glow with power.
" I know what must be done." Catherine's voice was velvet and steel. She took off confidently down the hall towards the room filled with all of the magic. Easily opening the door with a short phrased hissed in Sumerian, Catherine Madison smiled upon the piles of magic books.
" Best get started reading. The books won't read themselves." Spike spoke from behind her.
" That's where you are wrong sire. That's exactly what they are going to do." Catherine stretched out her hands and spoke in Sumerian. The books shined darkly and then the words bleed from the page and crawled up her arms. The ink sunk into her skin, and when she turned around her eyes were orbs of blackness that seemed to swallow what little light was in the room.
Drusilla clapped. " Miss Edith says that there are no more secrets left, they're all inside you." Then she pouted and asked innocently, " Can I open you up? I so wanted to learn secrets."
Catherine bowed to Spike. " The secrets are yours sire. I am merely their unliving vessel." Then she began to speak in the far away voice. " Long ago, during the time of the first ones, vampires were among the lowest of the demons. Yet when the greatest True Demons were sent away from the earth, Vampires alone managed to find a way to stay."
***
Amy lay on Tara's bed, a book across her chest. She was supposed to be studying Renaissance history, but something was distracting her. Tara was playing with her hair again. There was something so damn sweet and seductive in the way the shy blond would chew on a few strands of her hair as she scribbled in her notebook. Amy knew that she was working on some sort of new spell. It was odd. The only time Tara's shell seemed to slip away was when she was working her magic. Tara was a truly gifted Wiccan and her skill shined through any other uncertainties or esteem issues she might have.
" How's the spell going?"
Tara looked up. " Fine, and its not a spell. It's a potion I want to mimic the effects of sunlight on vampires. I can't seem to get the ingredients right. My mom showed me a similar potion once, when I was little. I just wish I could remember what she used."
" Your mom." Amy's voice was curiously flat.
Tara looked sharply at Amy when her heard her voice. She took a moment to quickly read Amy empathically.
Tara immediately realized what happened. She got up and walked over to the small bed and curled up next to Amy. " I'm sorry baby. I forgot about your mom."
Amy smiled softy at Tara. " Its not your fault you had a great mom. Just when you talk about learning magic from your mom, it really hits me. I would have liked my mom to teach me magic. You know, instead of what she actually did."
Tara knew all about Amy's mom and what happened with the cheerleading tryouts. She could not imagine how a mother could do that to her own daughter. Her own mother had been a lovely and quiet woman who tried her hardest to pass on her hereditary magic's to her only daughter.
" At least your dad is a great guy. He didn't even care when you c-c- came out of the closet." Tara stuttered. " M-My dad disowned me when he found out."
" I think we both may have gotten a little screwed in the parents department." Amy kissed Tara lightly on the lips. " I think you need a break from all the deep thoughts and studying." She whispered seductively in Tara's ear. " Release some tension."
Tara moaned lightly as Amy's mouth drifted to her pulse point. " This is why my dad disowned me, I temptress."
" And you love it."
Tara would have replied, but by then she was much too busy.
*** Spikes Story
" See, it turns out that a long time ago, vampires were the weakest of the demon races. Then when the world was sealed off from the old ones, vampires became the most numerous of remaining demons. Most vampires were weak, barely stronger than the mortals they hunted. Some shamans in Africa created the slayer to protect humanity from them about that time. But some vampires were better, stronger than others. A master race if you will. One day the thirteen greatest of these master vampires got together. Seems they wanted to preserve their knowledge in case the slayer or something else ever killed them. Good thing they did, cause eventually they were all killed in the legendary flood. But before they did they created the Books of Blood, the sum total of their unique magic's, powers, and prophecies about the end of days. They hid the books so that when a vampire bad ass enough to deserve them came along, they could be found."
Spike paused in his story and found Thomas hanging intently on his word, despite himself, along with Alicia and the remaining vampires in their gang.
" Eventually, a vampire did. Vamp by the name of Amara. Turned out Amara was just the type of badass the founders were looking for. Even went one step further and found a piece of Ambrosia and ate it, turning him into the first and only vampire god. Anyway he discovered the Books of Blood and set himself up a nice little thousand year Reich. Eventually though a group of champions led by the slayer and the watchers council brought his kingdom down. Since they found out the hard way that they could not kill Amara, the greatest sorcerers bound his spirit to his ring and sank it and his temple into the earth. For all their power they could not destroy it, they could only hide it from the world and pray another bad ass didn't find it. For the past six thousand years it has lain hidden from the world."
Then spike leaned forward and power seemed to roll off him. Every vampire was awed by his presence. They could feel the emotion that poured from his words as an almost tangible force that drew them in.
" A new badass has found the Temple. Me, and I'm bloody well going to use its power to destroy the slayer and all her little friends. We vamps used to rule and we will again." Then William the Bloody smiled widely. " Want in?"
The sound of Thomas's laughter echoed in the nearly empty warehouse.
*** That Night- Anya's apartment
Anya paced back and forth as she waited for Riley to arrive. She wore a simple green dress that hugged her slender form. She impatiently looked at her watch and fumed. She was ready fifteen minutes early for her date. Cordelia had told her that she should keep Riley waiting for a while to 'keep him enticed,' but Anya didn't want to do that. It was all well and good for Cordelia to say that. She was immortal, but Anya wasn't one anymore. She wanted to get things rolling. After all she had a mere sixty years of productive living left. That was nothing!
Then the doorbell rang and she rushed to open the door. Riley was on the other side, looking distinctly uncomfortable in a shirt and tie. He had in his hand a dozen red roses. At first Anya was going to rake him over the coals for being on time, but then she noticed his eyes. Those earnest, puppy dog like eyes that begged her to like him and she melted. Not that Anyanka, the demoness of scorned women would ever admit to being a softie for a MAN!
" Are these for me?"
Riley's face reddened. " Umm, yeah they are. I know it's a little goofy, but I was raised to bring flowers to a first date."
Anya smiled. " I love them." She took the flowers and motioned for Riley to come in as she looked for a something to put them in. While she looked, she asked Riley, " So where are we going tonight? I expect some high class wooing to make up for you lying to me."
" Well, I have reservations at the nicest French restaurant in town and then dancing. You do like French food don't you?" Riley appeared a little nervous."
Anya smiled and took his arm to lead him out the door. " I love everything about the French. Their food, their culture, their revolutions. Everything they do is so much fun."
Riley blinked in surprise. Their REVOLUTIONS?
***
Dawn bounced up and down in impatience. She looked in awe at the house that Xander was living in. It was huge, like three stories huge. And it was set a hundred yards behind a huge fence with a gate. It was on a huge plot of land with giant trees that shaded most of the grounds. She very consciously smoothed her black dress down and looked at her mom, who smiled at her indulgently. Her mom didn't get it. She thought she just had a crush on Xander, but it wasn't that. They had a connection. Xander understood her.
Meanwhile Joyce Summers covered the fact she was pretty impressed as well. She knew a little about the missing three's adventures and clearly what they had been doing was quite lucrative. The house was an old one, probably belonging to one of the founding families of Sunnydale. It was on a large number of acres, although how much she couldn't say.
Joyce and Dawn were still deep in their respective thoughts when the door opened, revealing Cordelia in a rather unusual dress. She wore a white gown that sent little shivers of sound through the air when she moved. It was cut and styled like a woolen Greek gown, although it was clearly made of much finer material. Silver bracelets wrapped about her tanned, toned arms and a matching Tiara gathered up her hair that had been curled into ringlets. She smiled warmly at the two guests. " Joyce, Dawn. We're so glad that you have arrived. Xander is just ending the tour for everyone else."
Joyce just shook her head as she crossed the threshold with dawn in tow. This polite Cordelia was so different from the one that she remembered dating Xander back during their junior year. Of course she knew that she, Xander, and Faith, of all people had some sort of weird group marriage thing going on, so she must have really changed while she was gone. Joyce knew some of what had gone on, while not really understanding the particulars. She let Cordelia guide her into the large marble foyer and up the brass staircase onto the third level. She saw the whole group assembled at the end of the hall. Her eyes sought out Xander and Faith. She had yet to see either of them since they had gotten home. She found Faith first. She wore an identical gown to Cordelia, except that hers was made of black silk and the bands in her hair and arms seemed to be made from dark green jade. She was laughing at something Willow just said to her. Cordelia was clearly not the only person to have changed over time. Faith radiated confidence and self-assurance. Joyce knew the difference between the real thing and the front the Faith that she knew put up.
She looked around and saw everyone except for Giles. " Where is Rupert?"
The whole group laughed. Then Faith answered. " When G found out that we had several books that were lost since the burning of Alexandria, he disappeared into our library and none of us seen him since."
Buffy added. " He's pretty much in watcher heaven right now. Nothing but moldy books as far as the eye can see."
Then she saw Xander duck his head out of a room and call out her name. " Joyce, Dawnie," he said, clearly pleased they had come. " Get over here. I'm getting ready to show the gang my carpentry room."
Intrigued, Joyce made her way over, Dawn quickly skipping ahead. Buffy murmured a quick hello to her mother. Joyce could tell that she was nervous about something, but what she couldn't tell. Then she walked into the room Xander disappeared into and stopped in amazement. The room was filled with half finished pieces of furniture. Lathes and carving tools littered several workbenches that covered three of the walls. Xander smiled proudly as he showed the room off to the crowd. " Xander," Joyce said in awe, " these pieces are magnificent."
" They should be. I've spent enough time on perfecting my skills." Xander said proudly.
" Of all the things that you could learn to do, why carpentry?" Buffy seemed surprised. She had done some reading on the three and carpentry seemed so mundane compared to their legendary exploits.
Faith looked about to cut off the question but Xander silenced her. " I went through a really dark period in my life a while ago. Some stuff had happened to me and I couldn't deal. The three of us were traveling through China, and a Taoist carpenter took me under his wing." Xander looked at his hands. " I discovered I could make things too. It was kind of nice to find that out."
Everyone seemed to understand what Xander was saying except for Dawn. She didn't seem to understand. She was wandering around the room when she spied a completed hope chest. It was crafted of polished oak with suns in various states of rising and setting carved along the lid. She sighed. Breaking out of his funk Xander smiled. " Do you like that Dawn?"
" I love it."
" Its yours." Dawn looked at Xander in shock. He smiled. " Its carved full of suns, Dawn. Who do you think I made it for?"
Dawn was struck speechless. Joyce said, " Xander we can't accept this gift. It's too much. That must have taken months."
" Years actually. Taoists take their time to carve. And don't worry about the gift. I want Dawnie to have it. We have gifts for everybody. In our travels we've found a bunch of things that can really help the group and we'll pass them out after dinner." Xander smiled indulgently at the group. " Merry Christmas."
" Before we have dinner, I have something that I want to tell you mom." Buffy sounded serious. " I waited till tonight because I wanted to have everyone else around to answer any questions you'll have."
Cordelia smiled at Buffy and Joyce. " Lets take it down stairs in the living room. This isn't the place for that talk.
As Joyce walked down stairs, her anxiety built. She had the nagging feeling that something was going to changer her world. And she wasn't going to like it at all.
***
Thomas Thorne looked around the enclosed heart of the temple. He and Alicia had been led by Spike into the warrens of the hidden resting place of Amara. He could feel the age of this place. The holiness. Spike led the two of them down winding stairs into the very bowls of the temple. He silently led them to a room that seemed out of place within the temple. It had a natural organic feel. Pillars carved in the shape of forms twisted in pain held the ceiling in place. In the center of the room a pool of blood roiled and hissed with power. Catherine Madison and Drusilla were waiting for them.
Spike turned to Thomas and Alicia and smiled. " Once, a long time ago, a master vampire wasn't a title given to just any vamp who could string two minions together. It was a title given to vampires who mastered the abilities innate to the demon within. Too bad those powers have been lost to the centuries." Then spike smirked. " Until now." He motioned to Catherine. Catherine produced a silver chalice encrusted with moonstones and sapphires. She dipped it into the well of blood. Holding the chalice forth she said, " drink from the hearts blood of Amara. It will awaken your sleeping gifts."
Thomas motioned for Alicia to be the first to drink. Shooting a wry look at her lover and sire, Alicia lifted the chalice to her lips and drank deeply. She involuntarily shifted into game face and shadows seemed to gather around her briefly and shroud her hollowed vampire face for a moment before swirling away. Looking at Thomas, she smiled. " Its safe, Tommy. I've never felt better." She extended her hand and several shadows in the corner of the rooms gathered into tentacles that writhed and thrashed around the room. She purred, " Well that's new. I like it."
Thomas grabbed the chalice from Catherine and drank it down in a gulp. He could feel the hot blood course though his veins working its will upon his body. The aristocratic vampire sank to his knees. Power flared around him and he fought back to his feet and roared.
Spike stepped in front of him. " Feels good, don't it. It gets better mate. A lot better.
***
Joyce was right. The news did change her world. And she didn't like it. The group was sitting in the Three's living room. Relics from more than three thousand years of life surround her but she saw none of it. Her mind spun in circles as she grappled with information that had thrown her world into chaos. Immortality. The daughter she worried about every night was going to live forever. Or at least had that potential. There was still something to worry about. That Game that Xander mentioned. She watched her young daughter. Her daughter that was always going to be young. She saw the pain in her beautiful blue-green eyes. Eyes that reminded her of her father. Eyes that led to Buffy's creation in the first place. Dawn had those eyes too. Dawn. She looked at her youngest daughter and saw the girl welling up with tears in her eyes.
" No, No," the young girl murmured. " It's.what's your saying. It's not possible. Your lying." The girl's lips quivered with unrestrained emotions. " Its not supposed to be like this. Buffy is supposed to be just the slayer. And-And you're supposed to be normal. Normal like me. This was going to be.this night was supposed to be different." Dawn turned and ran out of the room a trail of sobs behind her.
Joyce stood up to go after dawn, when Xander intercepted her. " Don't worry. I'll bring her back." He smiled comfortingly at Joyce.
After Xander left, Joyce turned back to the others. " So honey, how are you doing?" She looked at Buffy. " I can't imagine what is going through your mind."
Buffy smiled weakly. " I'll be okay. Xander has started training me to fight immortals. And I have my friends." With that she looked up at the ever-silent Angel and then to Willow and the others.
" I'm glad honey." Joyce smiled comfortingly at her daughter. Then Joyce changed the subject. " So exactly how does this group marriage thing work?"
***
" So what's the game plan?" Thomas asked the other four master vampires that were in an upper chamber of the temple. This particular room has several comfortable chairs in it. Clearly it had been some sort of planning chamber back when Amara ruled. The five of them sat around looking at each other when Catherine spoke up.
" This temple is a focusing point for dark energy. It can take the energy released by pain and death and store it, redirect it to a very specific purpose." She smiled. " It's like a battery for human sacrificial energy. Thanks to the sacred geometry of this place and the power of the Hellmouth, any people we kill in, lets say, a thirty-mile radius around the temple is shunted here and stored to power the domain of ever night."
" What's that," Alicia asked.
Spike grinned widely. " This is where it gets good luv."
" The domain of ever night," Catherine continued. " Is a mystical shield that will cover an area around a hundred miles in every direction of this temple. It only has one power, but it's a biggie. The shield covers against sunlight and prevents the need to be invited in. You can't even see the shield. But when its up vampires have free roaming privileges. Day or night."
Thomas looked intrigued. " So how did we get this magic shield up?"
" That's the best part mate. Alls we 'ave to do is lots of killing. Store up enough power and Cathy 'ere can set the spell. Then we have our own little playground filled with happy meals on legs."
Drusilla let out a childish giggle. " We'll be able to stay up all night and watch daddy sun play with momma moon. And kill all the day long."
" That's right pet," Spike cooed. " We can kill who ever you want." Then he turned to the others. " We're going to need more minions. Between yours and the ones Dru and I have snatched up, we have a good beginning but we'll need more. We've cooked up a plan to get lots of death done. But we are going to need a lot more minions.
" Lets go recrutin'." Alicia looked very eager to test her new powers.
***
" Dawn?"
" Go away Xander." She turned away from him and pouted. She hunched her shoulders like she was trying to disappear. " Just go away."
" Why." Xander asked. He followed Dawn into the library using her scent to track her through the large house. " I thought you liked me?"
She turned to face him, her red-rimmed eyes narrowed in anger. " I did. Back when you were normal. Like me."
He sat down next to her. " Now I'm not normal? Is it because I'm an immortal like Buffy?"
" That and the age thing." A hundred emotions clouded Dawns face. " It's just.Xander, I thought you were going to be the guy for me. In a few years I would be eighteen and faith would've dumped you. Then we could have hooked up. I had it all planned out."
Xander chuckled. " You thought Faith was going to dump me."
Dawn smiled tremulously. " Well sure. Lets face it. You're a geek."
" Got me there. You know I used my knowledge of the future to pad my comic book collection." He smiled. " Have three first edition issues of Superman number one. Mint condition." He grew serious again. " I understand your having issues. We are all feeling it. Do you know how weird it is too see your face after so long?" He chucked her under the chin and smiled. " Weird and good."
" I hate being the normal one." Dawns voice dropped. " Now you and Cordy are all cool and have nifty powers. Faith always had them. Now this new thing with Buffy." She sighed. " I feel invisible, like nothing will ever get me noticed. Like I'll never be the important one."
" Sucks don't it." Xander smiled. " I've lived a long time, but I still remember when I couldn't stake a vampire to save my life. When my girl friend could arm-wrestle me into submission. I hated it so much, sometimes I was actually jealous of Angel." He snorted. " Then the immortality thing kicked in, and I thought here it was. Now I finally got something cool of my own. You know what happened?'
Dawn shook her head, entranced by his monologue.
" My friends kept dying. I started taking huge risks thinking that I could survive anything. I'd take arrows, sword thrusts, anything to keep the people I cared about alive. I survived everything the war could throw at me, but nothing I had, no skill I possessed could keep them all safe. What kind of hero was I that I couldn't save the people I cared about? This was what being a hero was all about? Remembering that I couldn't save everyone? Was this what Buffy lived with?"
" My teacher noticed and talked to me about it. A depressed immortal is one that's easy pickings and he wanted my head firmly attached to my shoulders. He told me that being a hero wasn't about saving everybody because you can't. No one can. It was about will. About the desire to do something even when everything around you said it was impossible. It's about realizing sometimes all the power in the world can't help you." He poked Dawn in the center of her chest. " Its about heart. Buffy's not perfect but she has heart. Her power isn't in her arms or the amount she could bench press. It's her compassion, her love. You have that same heart Dawn. It comes from your mom. It's that strong Summers heart. Be proud of what you have and who you are Dawn. Don't worry about not being able to stake vampires or kill dragons. That's not what makes you worthwhile." He bent down and kissed her forehead. " Be a doctor Dawn, save lives that way. Be a lawyer and stand up for people who can't stand up for themselves. You can be whatever you want Dawn because I don't need to see the future to know that your life will shine as brightly as your namesake."
Dawn blushed and looked down. " Thanks Xander."
He held out his hand and lifted her up. " Lets get back to the party. And if you want, I can show you a few martial art moves so you can pick on your big sister." He smiled. " How 'bout I show you how to breathe."
" Breathe?"
Xander nodded gravely. " Breath control is the core of every martial art." His eyes twinkled and he bent down conspiratorially. " I bet you'll even pick it up faster than Buffy. She's a little slow sometimes."
Dawn giggled. She whispered back. " I think it's the hair dye."
****