Part Seven
"21 years ago, you're mother had just gotten married. It was great… We loved each other… Then it happened."
IFlashback, May , 1981-
Los Angeles, LA Law-
The company was closed for the night. But one light was on. Hank Summers' office.
He was just finished up his case.
25 years old and on top of the world, working at a job he loved, living with a woman he worshiped.
Joyce Reynolds, soon to be Joyce Summers. Hank was preparing to propose to her soon and he prayed to the Gods she would say yes. He was in love with her, deeply.
Hank closed the file and put on his coat; grabbing his briefcase. He locked up the doors and went to his car, preparing to go home. He was almost to his car when he was grabbed by cold hands. He was shoved into a wall then into an alley. He was momentarily dazed which gave his attacker the time needed to advance. His head was pushed sideways and his neck exposed. Pain pricked at his skin.
Something was happening, but all too soon, everything went black.
4 HOURS LATER-
Cold cement, heart beats, and blood were the first things Hank was aware of. Everything looked, felt, and seemed different. More sharper and attentive. He slowly stood up and fell a wave of pain and nausea go through him.
Something was wrong.
*
He came home late.
Joyce was waiting up.
"Hank, what happened? Where were you?" She asked.
"Overtime." Hank answered.
"Oh." She said, looking down.
Hank cupped her chin and kissed her.
"I love you, you know that right?" He asked.
She nodded.
"I do." He whispered, kissing her and leading her to their bedroom.
And, that's where they remained, all night.
Together.
*
Hank awoke groggily the next morning. He staggered to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. In the mirror, she saw twin punctures in his neck. His mind flashed back to last night. The attack, this blood.
Blood..
The thought nearly sent his mind into euphoria. He shook it out and his eyes unglazed allowing him to see the disfigured…thing in front of him.
A monster./I
*
(BUFFY'S POV)
Present-
"You were bitten by a vampire?" I asked, disbelievingly.
"Yes." My Father answered.
"Are you shitting me?" I asked.
"Watch your language." He said.
"No, no, see. I'm the Slayer. I know these things and you would not be alive, you
wouldn't have a soul so don't feed me this bullshit!" I said, coldly.
"Something went wrong. I don't know what or how. I've never cared to find out."
I almost blew up.
"You never found out why you're this way? Why you're in-between, I don't believe you!" I cried.
"It's the truth." He said.
"Like hell it is." I hissed.
"Why am I like this?" I asked, carefully controlling my haywire emotions.
"You're my daughter. I guess it's in my genes." Dad shrugged.
How could he be so damn casual?!
"What about Dawn?" I asked.
"She's not real. And, she's made from you, not me."
I was confused.
"Gee, thanks a lot then. So glad I'm you're daughter!"
"Buffy…"
"No!" I yelled, "No."
"It's not a big deal…"
"Like hell it isn't! I'm a DEMON!" I yell.
"Calm down!" Dad ordered.
"No! No! And, and why was that camera in my house?" I demanded.
"We had to watch you." Dad said.
"What…?" I ask, "You knew."
"Of course."
I was silent for a moment.
"Who are you?" I ask.
"I'm your Father." He says.
"No… No, a Father would have told me. Warned me. Prepared me. And, what did you do? Nothing. You weren't there when we needed you. When Mom needed you. You weren't there when we buried Mom. When I found out I had to save the whole damn world. When Mom kicked me out… Did she even know?" I ask.
"No. I couldn't tell her."
"So, you lied?!"
"I'm sorry." Dad tried.
"I don't care! Sorry won't make me normal, won't make me good. Sorry is less than the dust of the vamps I kill." I sneered.
"Buffy Anne…" Dad said in his warning voice.
"Fuck you! You were never my father! Never! You made me like this! Made me lost, made me a lie! I'm not the Slayer, NO! I'm the one thing I hate, AND ITS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!" I scream and lunge for him.
I don't know what's gotten over me.
I scream and tackle him, clawing at him.
My eyes flash and I feel my teeth grow.
Oh God, it's happening.
I don't know what's going on. I'm losing control.
Something is inside of me, awakening, demanding my full attention.
Dad slaps me and pushes me away.
He looks like me.
His eyes are yellowed and his lips curled. He snarls at me and clenches his hands. I can see myself in him right now.
"Is this what you wanted to see? Yes! This is what I am, and it's what you are too! Why do you think I stayed away?! I didn't want too! I left for your own safety." He growled.
I cried out, my shock overwhelming me. I lifted fluttery hands to hand face and
let out shaky breaths.
"No…" I whimpered, then fled.
"Buffy!" My Father roared.
I ran out.
Faster than I've ever been.
I'm panicking.
I can't control my feelings, what's happening to me.
My head starts to pound. I feel clenching pain in my belly.
I cry out, oh God, what's happening to me?!
My vision swims and I see colors.
All before it turns black.
*
I open my eyes and I am freezing. I'm laying on the cold sidewalk. I stand on shaky legs and remember all that's happened. I'm close to Angel's.
So I go there.
The lights are on and I can feel the presence of people in there. I quickly feel my face and its normal. I peer into the windows see everyone standing around the counter. I walk in quietly and watch from the shadows. I stay there for a few moments before I see Angel stiffen.
He looks around and seems to look straight at me.
I can feel that my eyes switch golden.
"Angel, what is it?" Cordelia asked.
I growl softly at her.
Oh how easy it would be to snap her neck and…
What the hell am I thinking?
"Something's here." He answers.
Ha!
I'm a something now.
"Show yo'self." The colored man orders.
I snicker and step away from the shadows.
Everyone gasps.
I must look bad because everyone is wide-eyed and shocked.
I can't help but laugh.
"Buffy…" Angel murmurs, looking so sad and wounded.
I shrug.
"Oh God, you're a vampire now?" Cordelia bursts.
"You'd think so. Close, but no cigar." I saunter deeper into the room.
"Who did this to you?" Angel asked, his eyes were crushed, as if everything was gone.
"You really want to know? It's a shocker, I'm telling you. My father." I say.
Angel growls.
"Oh! And it gets better!" I exclaim, "Now this will make you shit your pants! I'm not the Slayer!"
"Yeah, you're a vamp." Cordelia rolled her eyes.
I flash my eyes.
"I never was." I hiss.
"What are you?" Angel asks slowly.
"Why, I'm Buffy. The freak. " I hiss.
"Well, I've been saying that for years." Cordelia said.
Before I knew what was going on my hands were around her neck.
"I hate you! Why did you always have to be such a bitch!? You were no better
than me, NO BETTER! If anything, YOU'RE WORSE! WORSE THAN ANY DEMON, WORSE THAN ANY VAMP. YOU ARE JUST PLAIN FUCKING EVIL! I'VE SAVED YOU SO MANY TIMES AND I EXPECTED NOTHING IN RETURN EXCEPT MAYBE A LITTLE KINDNESS! DID I EVER GET IT? NO!" I scream.
I shove her away and try to run.
Angel catches my arm and pulls me to him.
We meet eye to eye.
Both golden.
"No!" I cried, and I shoved him and tried to run.
But he wouldn't let me.
"Buffy, what happened?" He asked, holding me, smoothing my hair off of my face.
"I can't…" I sobbed.
"Buffy…" Angel said, softly, soothingly.
Trying to calm me down.
It didn't work.
I felt like everything was closing up on me.
"Angel!" I heard Cordelia scream.
He turned around with me in his arms and I felt a sharp pain in my chest.
I looked down and saw a stake protruding from me.
I cried out.
Cordelia looked happy.
I pushed Angel away. He was frozen. His eyes wide, waiting for me to explode.
"You IDIOT!" I screamed at Queen Bitch, "I'm not a fucking VAMPIRE!"
I pulled the stake out of me, God it hurt so much. But, it didn't stake my heart. It was a couple inches away. I threw the stake and it was just inches from Cordy's head.
Damn, it missed.
I spun on my heel and ran out.
I thought they could help me, but they couldn't.
He couldn't.
But, there he was.
On his feet and running after me, screaming my name.
"Buffy, no!"
He was close, I could feel his feet pounding on the cement.
His fingers brushed up against my skin, trying to grab me.
"NO!" I screamed, pumping my legs faster.
"Buffy, please?" He cried, his voice sounding far away.
I stopped and saw he had stopped running. He was standing in the middle of the street, looking helpless.
"No! You just go back to Cordelia, I promise I won't come by again." I yelled, my voice somewhat deformed from the fangs.
"What are you?" Angel asked quietly, but I heard him.
"I don't know what I am. Not the Slayer, not human, not vampire. I'm an it." I hissed, turning and disappearing in the shadows.
I thought I heard him start to cry. Let out a strangled sob.
Maybe it was just my imagination.
Maybe…
*
I need answers.
I need to know why this is happening, and how I can stop it.
I need to see the Powers.
So, I go to Wesley's.
He answers the door and looks shocked at my appearance.
"Dear Lord, what happened?" He gasps, letting me in.
I tell him, everything.
After, he is stunned.
"My…God…"
"Yeah, my same reaction."
God, I'm such a liar.
"I looked over the results and…you were the Slayer." He answered.
"Were?" I asked, scared.
"Yes, it seems that for two years you were the Slayer, but when you died the first time…"
Water.
I HATE water.
"…the Slayer part died with you and the…demonic visage took its place, therefore giving you you're strength, healing capabilities and such." He answered.
"Oh…"
"I know this a is a shock." He says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
No, it's only just flipped my fucking life upside down.
"Its alright. But, I need answers and I can't talk to my Father. I can't." I said, desperately.
"I can take you to see the Powers That Be." Wesley answers.
"Take me." I say, giving him a small smile.
And, we go.
*
We end up under the Post Office, which is weird in its own way.
"We beseech access to the knowing ones…" Wesley murmurs.
And I'm awash in a bright light, and a sea of confusion.
"Why are you here, lower being?" An echoing voice asks.
I see two blue and golden figures.
Wow.
Cool.
I wish I was blue.
"What am I?"