A/N: Hey sorry it's been a while since I updated. Been kinda stuck for
inspiration anyway let me know what you think cause I'd really like some
feedback. This chapter's a little shorter but that's because it's in two
parts haven't actually got round to finishing the second but if you like it
and want me to continue please let us know.
Chapter Three: Grim Defeat.
The abandoned warehouse showed no signs that anyone was there. There was no lights, no sounds; it was completely devoid of any inhabitants. That was until the loud crack of thunder and the bright flash of green light erupted from within.
"Get the hell out of my head." Angelus bellowed waving his hands around his head as trying to force the unseen force within him out.
"My dear Angelus, I have no desire to remain inside your mind, but I warn you..." Shalimar now emerging from the shadows, "That if you keep up this reckless need to settle your meaningless grudges I will be forced to act most severely." Angelus's contorted with a silent rage, how she dare tell him what to do. He was the scourge of an entire continent.
"We got your little trinket." Angelus replied bluntly no longer caring about whom he was talking to. Angelus stood there expecting a reply, any kind of reply but there was only silence. "Hello! Big omnipotent pain in my arse, are you there?" Still there was no reply.
"Did you she them? I mean they where like, wow!" One of the surviving slayers said, her voice filled with complete awe.
"Yeah but I could have taken them. They weren't all that, I mean Buffy, the supposed 'true' Slayer wasn't even there." The last slayer replied full of confidence in her powers.
Angelus had finally reached his threshold. Being forced to work for Shalimar was once thing but with brats like these who hadn't seen true power was degrading. He was the scourge of Europe; none who fell before the might Angelus lived long enough to know true fear. So before either of them could even breathe, Angelus pounced through the air and grasped one of the slayers snapping her neck in one fluid motion. Not stopping for even a second Angelus continued his movement grasping the second Slayer by the throat, lifting her into the air. Not knowing what was happening or what to do the rouge Slayer simple hung there gasping. Angelus smiled and hurled the Slayer onto a near by pile of scrap metal. As the rouge Slayer landed, she did it with such force that she impaled herself on several steel rods.
In complete shock, the final Slayer stood looking for Angelus to the bodies of the dead Slayers. "You... how... why...?" But the Slayer barely had time to register what had happened before Angelus had rushed her sinking his fangs deep within her flesh drawing the precious blood, he had long to taste.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." He uttered as he raised his head from the limp corpse of the Slayer.
"Sufletul la el!" The cold voice whispered in the darkness, and Angelus was surrounded by a light mist carrying the cries of his victims for over a hundred years.
"What!? I won't go back!" Angelus bellows fear now covering his face.
"You disgusting abomination, you honestly think I have the power to return your soul? Only the divine being herself can return it. I can merely make you feel the pain of your soul. An Illusion as it were." Alex answered stepping out of the shadows. "But you don't honestly think that you'll survive... this...?" Alex asked pointing to the bodies of the three dead Slayers.
"I..." Angelus gasped, clearly plagued by the soul surrounding him, "I... I'll kill... I'll kill you!"
"Well good luck in that, but in all honesty I don't think you have the power to kill me." Alex moved closer to Angelus the disgust showing in his eyes. "The orb vampire!" he bellowed but Angelus didn't move. "Hand over the orb! NOW!"
"Bite me!" Angelus retorted bitterly, the pain was overwhelming.
"Oh I'll do more than that Vampire." A look of pure hatred now filled Alex's face. He was going to kill the Vampire slowly and painfully but most of all he was going to enjoy it.
"I think your Queen might have other ideas." Angelus began to smile malevolently; he knew Shalimar was keeping him around in order to ensure her survival.
"She is all powerful; she merely keeps you around as one of many means to achieving her goal. Now I'll say it once more hand over the orb or die." Angelus didn't move he merely stared directly into Alex's eyes.
"Just curious, exactly how do you want to die, slow and painful or quick and painful." Angelus replied but leaving no time for Alex to answer he continued, "You strike me as a slow and painful guy really."
Just then, the realisation that Angelus was no longer suffering from the effects of the ensouled mist hit Alex. "The..." but before he could continue Angelus charged at him forcing both their bodies to the ground, where Angelus continued his attack by once more sinking his teeth into the neck.
Angelus pulled away moments before he drank the last of Alex's blood and turn his mouth towards his ear. "You think I wouldn't notice?" The cold voice resonated through Alex's body, for it wasn't that of the vampire, the creature he despised but the glorious voice of his master.
"Why?" Alex said softly as the coldness of death was covering him. "I set yo...you fr...fr...free."
From the corner of his eye, Alex could see the magnificent form of his goddess standing in the shadow. "That you did, but I don't see your point. You honestly think I need anyone, let alone a pathetic mortal. I will have the ultimate power and when I do this world will, return to the old ways, the gates of hell will open and the demons spill out and cover the Earth in my darkness." Shalimar broke off as she moved closer to Alex's body. "You should feel lucky that you won't be around to see it, because it's going to be one hell of a party." Just then Alex realised that this had been her plan for the start, that he had just been a pawn in her great plan but it was to late, for Alex's body was now falling into the coldness of death, but he was able to whisper one final thing.
"Our salvation lies within the hands of a blind..."
"There is no salvation for this world." Shalimar stands up and turns to Angelus. "The orb!"
(Boston University- Connor's Dorm)
"Connor." Cordy stood frozen on the spot. She had witnessed the past year of Connor's life, the life he no longer remembered and she immediately wanted to pull him into her embrace but resisted with all of her being.
"Have... have we met?" Connor replied slightly confused.
"Erm... yeah, well sort of. Could we?" Cordy motioned to enter which Connor without hesitation accepted. "This is... nice." She said looking around the room, which was covered in various movie posters and rather clean, something Cordelia never thought Connor would manage.
"Thanks, I think. So who are you?" Connor asked still highly confused.
"Well erm, that's gonna be hard for you to understand. You see we're friends of your father's but not the person who you think is your father, I mean you real father, the one you don't remember." Connor's face first looked as he was actually trying to come to grasps with this news but no sooner had Cordy finished did Connor burst out in laughter.
"So what you're saying is that my father isn't my father. Well I'll give you credit for originality but you're mistaken. Who put you up to this? Was it Marcus? He always said he'd get me back for the doughnut prank."
"Well this is going well isn't it? Got any bright ideas Queen C?" Buffy asked leaning against the far wall.
"Well," Cordy replied, "I have one but it could get messy." Cordy turned to face Buffy. Immediately Buffy understood, willow had used that look many times, all of which involved many powerful magicks. As Cordy turned back to Connor, she was wearing a look of sorrow. "I'm really sorry Connor but we have no choice. I hope you can forgive me." With that, she raised her hand and pointed her palm at Connor, which sent him flying into the wall, knocking him out cold.
"Whoa! Remind me not to get in your bad books, k." Buffy replied awestruck. "Is he...?"
"He's alive just knocked out. But just in case we might want to, you know, tie him down or somethin." Cordy replied, "And we better hurry, who knows what kind of trouble they could be in."
"So exactly how long to you know?" Buffy asked pointing to the unconscious body of Connor.
"Erm not to sure, depends on how Wolfram and Hart actually erased Connor's memory." Suddenly Cordelia was hit with a startling revelation. Buffy Remembered Connor. How? Cordy turned to face Buffy. "How do you know about Connor?" She asked unable to hide the fear in her voice. "No one's supposed to remember anything about him. Only Angel and Lilah."
"Willow told me, told all of us. Connor is Angel's son, from Darla no less." Buffy answered not understanding the motives behind Cordy's question. "What is it? It's not like I haven't had my memory altered before. Maybe it's some kind of mystical side effect, I donno!"
"Yeah that could be it. Anyway we've got to hurry no telling what kind of trouble they're in."
(Back at the Hyperion Hotel)
"Okay they're all sleeping soundly." Xander said as he walked down the main staircase into the lobby. "How long do you think...?"
"They should be out for a couple of days. They've had a lot taken out of them." Nicholas replied sounding rather tired himself.
"Hey you alright? You sound kinda beet."
"No I'm fine, just y'know a little worried. I have all this power, more power than you can imagine and, and I have no idea what's going to happen."
"Hey no sweat, everything's gonna be fine. For eight years we've faced all sorts of big bads', okay none have been like Ubergods but hey, we stopped The First and that had Ubervamps. What I'm trying to say is we'll beat her." Xander replied reassuringly.
The lobby once again fell silent but it was soon broken by the return of Faith, Willow and Wesley.
"So this Scythe was created specifically for the Slayer? And without the Council's knowledge." Wesley said rather awestruck.
"Yeah who would have thought, the Watchers Council not knowing something, My God what ever will we do?" Faith said lightheartedly.
"Yes well..." Wesley was lost for words he knew that the Council use to see itself as a power not to be reckoned with, but in actual fact they were nothing more than fools, "My isn't it shinny."
"Yeah a shinny weapon of death." Xander added, "How's G-man?" But before anyone could answer the hotel door opened once again to reveal two familiar people.
"I thought I asked you never to call me that again Xander." Giles said wearing a small smile.
"Mr. Giles, Dawn." Nicholas said slightly astounded. "Did you find something?"
"Please just Giles and yes we may have found something but I could use your help." As Nicholas, Giles and Wesley headed into the office Xander turned to Dawn.
"Hey Dawnie, nice trip?"
"Oh yeah, great I think I left my insides somewhere."
"I found several references to something known as the day of shared light. It's supposed to be a day where all the dimensional doorways align and cast a cleansing light to ever corner of existence. It occurs..."
"On the thousandth anniversary of the receding darkness." Nicholas said slowly.
"Yes exactly, my resources in this area are severally limited. Perhaps you know something that maybe of some use?"
"She's after it." Nicholas replied clearly distracted by his own thoughts.
"She's after what? Nicholas."
"She can't be serious, no one can wield it."
"What can't she wield? Nicholas!" Giles bellowed hoping to pull Nicholas out of his little world he's apparently entered.
(Connor's Dorn Room)
"Ready?"
"Scared sand check, stinky herbs check, we're good to go." Buffy replied with her fingers over her nose.
"It's not that bad." Cordy retorted.
"Yeah well you should try holding them then."
"Okay here goes nothing." Cordy took a small knife from her belt and began to carve pagan symbols on Connor's chest. "There has been unfairness done to thee, I summon the elements, I envoke them, I conjure them to do my bidding, desnd`a amadabous ocrom intenda." As Cordy spoke the final words the symbols carved in Connor's chest began to glow, first a bright red but soon the colour changed to a deep blue almost black.
"Aaarrrggghhh!" Connor began to convulse and cry out in pain.
"Recede the darkness; return that which has been lost." As Cordy continued the sacred sands, which Buffy had used to mark out a sacred space erupted in flames.
"Erm Cordy, fire." Buffy said but getting no response.
"Now." The flames that erupted from the scared sands converged above the pagan symbols, "NOW!" The flames began to churn in the air, spinning fast and faster until it suddenly stopped and forced it's way into Connor's chest through the symbols.
"Aaarrrggghhh! Oh God!" Connor was now delirious with pain, Buffy finally understood why Cordy needed a Slayers help Connor was incredibly strong, he broke free of the straps used to hold him down and was now double bent in pain.
"Cordy how much longer?" Buffy asked, the concern in her voice was so openly evident.
"Boy that Wolfram and Hart mojo is something." Cordy said as she watched Connor's every move. Suddenly an energy wave originating from within Connor sent both Buffy and Cordelia flying into the far wall.
(The Hyperion Hotel Office)
"Nicholas what is it? What is it she's after?" Giles was getting nowhere; Nicholas seemed to be miles maybe even worlds away.
"What's all the ruckus my little tea cakes?" Lorne asked as he entered the office holding a half-empty glass. "You know all this kerfuffle's really messing with the vibes."
"Lorne..." Wesley began but soon remembered that Lorne has connections with the Power That Be, "Lorne you have connections with the Powers, do you know anything about the Day of Shared Light?"
"Whoa there Wes, that's some heavy and I mean heavy preordained happenings. You don't wanna go messing with it."
"We're not going to 'mess' with it; we just want to know what it is." Giles replied.
"Well I don't know much, No one does. What I do know is that it's to commemorate that day the demons where forced back. Supposedly some great champion used a weapon to cast the essence of the Powers through out the higher realms which forced the demons from the Earth." Giles immediately turned to Nicholas.
"Is that what she's after, this weapon? Nicholas is Shalimar after the weapon?" Giles grasped Nicholas by the shoulders trying to snap him back from wherever his mind had wandered. "Nicholas is that what she's after, the weapon?" This Giles shock him, a little harder than he had intended.
"Huh? Oh." Nicholas had returned from his lapse in reality. "Shalimar's after Gomthosal." He said in an eerily calm voice.
"Gomthosal, that's ridiculous! Gomthosal is a myth, a legend, a fable, it doesn't exist." Wesley retorted.
"I'm afraid it's very much a reality. Gomthosal is the ultimate weapon, the ultimate power. If she gets it, Shalimar will be unstoppable. No force can beat that of Gomthosal."
"No one's ever seen it; they've just met people who have. There's no shred of evidence, no solid proof that it exists."
"What doesn't exist?" Faith now having finished her training session came to see what all the noise was.
"Gomthosal." Giles replied leaving Faith rather confused.
"Okay a little less wordy than I'm use to from you G."
"If you're right then if we get it first Shalimar's got no chance of winning. Oh I'm gonna need a bigger drink." Lorne said and began to move towards the door when Nicholas interrupted.
"Yes Gomthosal exists but..."
"But, oh no, no buts. Buts are bad. Very bad, no buts." Lorne's excitement had disappeared almost as fast as it had arrived.
"But no one can retrieve it."
"What do you mean?" Wesley asked rather perplexed. "Is it guarded by magicks?"
"Gomthosal exists outside of this dimension; in fact it exists separately from all dimensions." As Nicholas looked around, he was greeted by confused expressions. "You all know that there are a countless number dimensions, each of which are trying to force their way into the next, well Gomthosal exists in a dimension separate from all of them, sealed by the most powerful magicks known to man or demon."
"So... so if Shalimar wanted to get to this dimension how would she do it?" Faith asked now catching up.
"She can't, it's just not possible..." Nicholas paused for a moment. How could have he have not realised, it was right there staring him in the face. "The Day of the Shared Light."
(The Abandoned Warehouse)
"Ah do you feel it?" Shalimar was standing arms open in the middle of the warehouse, "The time is almost upon us." Shalimar smiled evilly as she looked form Angelus to a limp body chained to the wall. "I think it's time to up the stakes if you'll pardon the pun."
"Hey so long as I can stake soul-boy here, you can play with fire, hey I'll even provide the matches."
"Angel's usefulness will soon come to and end," Shalimar walked over to the limp body, "I'm gonna tear your bitch into pieces, how do you like that, Angel?" The limp body suddenly jerked to life, revealing Angel's vamp features.
"You hurt Cordy and I'll kill you!"
"We haven't much time."
(Meanwhile back in Boston)
"Cordy?" Connor said in disbelief as he pulled himself from the ground. "But you're... you're dead, Jasmine!"
"Connor it's me, the real me, no evil she-bitch wearing my body. I'm one hundred percent pure Cordy." As those words left Cordelia's mouth Connor rushed to hold his beloved, but Cordy backed off leaving Connor confused.
"It's him isn't it? You gone back to Angel. He's always ruining things!" Connor retorted taking no effort to hide his hatred of Angel. "And who are you, a witch, a demon?" He said turning to Buffy still displaying his loathing of Angel.
"A demon! Me? You think I'm a demon?" Buffy seemed rather offended by Connor's offhanded question. "And he's supposed to help us? He can't see past his issues with Angel."
"Connor, Connor listen to me what is the last thing you can remember? The very last thing."
"The mall, I took people as hostages. I was gonna blow them up and you." Connor's reply came across so calmly it unnerved Cordy.
"Connor, the truth. What is truly the last thing you remember?"
"My family, my home. The lie." Connor's eyes filled with a silent depression that his new life had freed him from.
"Connor I'm sorry but we need your help... I need your help." Cordelia knew that it was low to use Connor's feelings for her to manipulate him into helping them but they were fast running out of time and ideas. "Connor Angelus is back."
"What! How?" Connor's face now displayed a fire, a fire for revenge, on Angel.
"We're not sure but we know it..."
"Magicks, when will you people learn? Magicks never work."
"Erm listen here junior, whatever your deal is, get over it. We didn't do this a God did okay. You do know what a God is right? An all-powerful being, one that could rip you into tiny pieces and not even break a sweat doing it. So you can either help us get Angel back or you can stay here either way get over your problem!" Buffy just let go on Connor which surprised even Cordy but Cordelia's surprise wasn't from Buffy's outburst, she had seen enough of them in her past, no her surprise was the advice she was giving. So many times before Buffy had been Connor, the one moaning about how her life sucked, how hard it was being the Slayer, how she wished she could just be a normal girl. Buffy turned slightly towards Cordy. "Let's just go, if junior wants to come so be it but we need to go before things get out of hand."
As Buffy and Cordelia walked to the door Connor was struck by something he never considered, something he was only just getting now.
"He loves me, doesn't he?" he said softly. Cordy stopped at the door and turned slowly towards Connor, who was now sitting on his bed.
"Yes he does, more than you know."
(The library at Wolfram and Hart)
"Okay I'm still confused. There's this weapon, a weapon so powerful that if Shalimar were to get it we'd be dead and to make it just that little bit more fun it's sealed away in a dimension somewhere." Xander said absent- mindedly flicking through a book.
"Yeah exactly." Faith replied in a matter of factly tone. "Okay I have no idea what we're looking for either." Faith said seeing Xander's expression of disbelief.
"You'd think an evil law firm who defends all kinds of evil cretins would you know make this a bit easier."
"What d'you mean easier? These are like two-year-old talk to me books. You tell'em what you want and they find it. What you prefer old style research, well I'm sure Giles could fix you up with some good old musty books." Faith retorted playfully.
"Oh sure make fun of the half blind man. It's not like I'm physically challenged here." Xander replied making an over exaggerated motion to his eye patch. Just then, Willow barged into the elaborately decorated library.
"Guys, Xander, Faith, Wes found a reference to the Day of Shared Light and Gomthosal!"
"What? Where?" Faith asked stunned that despite their work the old research methods had paid off.
"Aww man this bites, I've been here straining my eye and Wes finds something."
"In the Sircyn codex. Apparently, it was written before the final battle with the old ones." Willow said her voice filled with a childlike excitement.
"There's more I can hear it in your voice. What is it?" Faith asked now intrigued.
"Well Dilir, the prophet who wrote the codex made two prophecies..."
"Oh god not prophecies, anything but prophecies they just ruin lives." Xander said defeatedly.
"As I was saying one of these prophecies is definitely happening now. Listen..." Willow reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "The hands of eternal darkness shall rise up and covet the Earth. Day shall bleed away, giving birth to death. I'd say that's pretty much the time to panic, maybe pack your bags and head under the nearest rock and hope to as many Gods as you want that you survive, kinda deal."
"What's the other?" Xander asked. "If that's the bad one as people usually give bad new first then the next one must be good... right?"
"Erm... well the next one is kinda strange. The first one's obvious Shalimar's evil, she wants the Earth or at least she wants something from here and oh yeah lets not forget the standard eclipse for some big evil brewer..."
"Red hey Red, your rambling." Faith shouted trying to get Willow's focus back.
"Oh, oh right yeah well here look." Willow handed Faith the piece of paper.
"Nobel mind and light of heart, Salvation lies within hands of blind. Stripped of valor, hope and love, Gomthosal shall seek thee, nay for power nor for greed, Deaths slight hand shall thee wield." Faith looked at the paper then to Willow. "Okay so that's not the clearest prophecy we've seen, hey when are prophecies ever really clear anyway?"
"Yeah I suppose you're right anyway Wes wants you up at Angel's office."
"I still can't believe dead boy owns this place." Xander retorted somewhat jealously.
(Boston, Massachusetts)
The streets of Boston where unusually busy, cars were bumper to bumper, people were standing so close to each other you could hardly breathe.
"Erm Cor couldn't we you know just 'pop' back?" Buffy said as she dodged past three people.
"We will it's just there's something I need to do first and there's definitely something you need to do." Motioning to an alleyway where two big demons were dragging a young woman away.
"Oh please, please don't hurt me." The young woman sat huddled in a corner crying. The two demons didn't seem to be affected in anyway to the woman's please; in fact, they seemed to thrive on her fear.
"You know you never learn do you? It's always 'oh girl kill', well you know what I'm really getting tired of it all." Buffy stood at the entrance to the alleyway, a single stake in her hand. "You wanna girl well here's one for taking." As soon as she said that the lead demon charged at her, his teeth bared, his claws swinging for Buffy's torso but the Slayer simply jumped up over the demon spin kicking him in the back. "Now look what you made me do." She retorted as the demon span head first into the wall.
"Slayer." The second demon knew exactly what she was. "This will be fun." The demon turned to the woman, bared his teeth and said, "I'll just be one moment."
"You know what I am but you should really understand just exactly who I am..." The demon didn't care who she was he had killed many slayers before and this one would be no different. Buffy could see that the demon wasn't the slightest bit scared but she had met and killed tougher demons in her life so this one wouldn't be any different.
From across the street Connor and Cordelia could see the fight. Connor watched on in awe he was amazed by Buffy's power and skill, he had only seen fighting like this once, from Faith.
"She's amazing, she's like wow!"
"Yep definitely genetic." Cordy simply replied.
"Huh?"
"You are your dad's son, both of you are completely love-struck by the presence of a Slayer."
"But I thought Faith... she's dead." Connor said realizing that there is only one Slayer, when one dies the next is called.
"What, Faith's not dead. Why would you...? Oh sorry forgot the whole no memory thing, yeah well last year Buffy changed the rules there are way more Slayers now." Cordy explained but just then, one of the demons came flying out of the alleyway with a stake embedded deeply into his skull.
"She's gonna need...." Connor began to run off but Cordy grabbed his arm holding him back.
"Connor some things you have to do on your own."
"But she doesn't..."
"Connor trust me, everything will be fine."
"Aww what's the matter Slayer lost something?" The remaining demon was now reeling in the fact that the Slayer was defenseless, "Now weapons, no hope..."
"Hey I know this one, this is where you say take all that away and what's left and this is where I..." Buffy leaped into the air with such force and speed all the demon could see was a blur of colour. "Hey behind you." Buffy had landed directly behind the demon but leaving no time for him to respond Buffy kicked out both of his kneecaps with one fluid motion forcing the oversized demon to the ground. Buffy quickly looked around for anything that she could use as a weapon, when she spotted it, a shard of glass just the right size.
"You end is near. Her power will blanket the Earth and all will be destroyed." The demon just stood there as Buffy used the glass shard to decapitate him.
"Well good to know." Buffy retorted as she walked over to the young woman. "Hey you okay?" Still overwhelmed by fear the young woman could only nod.
"Buffy here let me." Cordy moved into position directly in front of her, held out her hand for her to take it. "Erase from her mind memories grim, of resents slights of sin, Tabula Rasa, Tabula Rasa, Tabula Rasa."
"What you do?" Connor asked already knowing the answer.
"She erased her memory." Buffy replied somberly.
"There are times when things like this need to be done. If she can't remember she'll be safer, you know I'm right."
"Yeah but it's wrong, messing with people's memories it's just wrong." Buffy replied.
"What did it mean the end is near?" Connor asked looking at the headless corpse on the ground.
"You heard that? Wow good hearing." Buffy was impressed with Connor's abilities, not even a Slayer would have heard that from the other side of the street. "Y'know same old bad guy talk, I'm gonna kill you blah, blah, blah, darkness will blah, blah, blah."
"Oh."
No sooner had Cordelia stood up was she once again confronted by a vision, this time stronger, faster and with a greater intensity than any vision she had ever seen.
"Oh God, Buffy!"
Chapter Three: Grim Defeat.
The abandoned warehouse showed no signs that anyone was there. There was no lights, no sounds; it was completely devoid of any inhabitants. That was until the loud crack of thunder and the bright flash of green light erupted from within.
"Get the hell out of my head." Angelus bellowed waving his hands around his head as trying to force the unseen force within him out.
"My dear Angelus, I have no desire to remain inside your mind, but I warn you..." Shalimar now emerging from the shadows, "That if you keep up this reckless need to settle your meaningless grudges I will be forced to act most severely." Angelus's contorted with a silent rage, how she dare tell him what to do. He was the scourge of an entire continent.
"We got your little trinket." Angelus replied bluntly no longer caring about whom he was talking to. Angelus stood there expecting a reply, any kind of reply but there was only silence. "Hello! Big omnipotent pain in my arse, are you there?" Still there was no reply.
"Did you she them? I mean they where like, wow!" One of the surviving slayers said, her voice filled with complete awe.
"Yeah but I could have taken them. They weren't all that, I mean Buffy, the supposed 'true' Slayer wasn't even there." The last slayer replied full of confidence in her powers.
Angelus had finally reached his threshold. Being forced to work for Shalimar was once thing but with brats like these who hadn't seen true power was degrading. He was the scourge of Europe; none who fell before the might Angelus lived long enough to know true fear. So before either of them could even breathe, Angelus pounced through the air and grasped one of the slayers snapping her neck in one fluid motion. Not stopping for even a second Angelus continued his movement grasping the second Slayer by the throat, lifting her into the air. Not knowing what was happening or what to do the rouge Slayer simple hung there gasping. Angelus smiled and hurled the Slayer onto a near by pile of scrap metal. As the rouge Slayer landed, she did it with such force that she impaled herself on several steel rods.
In complete shock, the final Slayer stood looking for Angelus to the bodies of the dead Slayers. "You... how... why...?" But the Slayer barely had time to register what had happened before Angelus had rushed her sinking his fangs deep within her flesh drawing the precious blood, he had long to taste.
"Now that's what I'm talking about." He uttered as he raised his head from the limp corpse of the Slayer.
"Sufletul la el!" The cold voice whispered in the darkness, and Angelus was surrounded by a light mist carrying the cries of his victims for over a hundred years.
"What!? I won't go back!" Angelus bellows fear now covering his face.
"You disgusting abomination, you honestly think I have the power to return your soul? Only the divine being herself can return it. I can merely make you feel the pain of your soul. An Illusion as it were." Alex answered stepping out of the shadows. "But you don't honestly think that you'll survive... this...?" Alex asked pointing to the bodies of the three dead Slayers.
"I..." Angelus gasped, clearly plagued by the soul surrounding him, "I... I'll kill... I'll kill you!"
"Well good luck in that, but in all honesty I don't think you have the power to kill me." Alex moved closer to Angelus the disgust showing in his eyes. "The orb vampire!" he bellowed but Angelus didn't move. "Hand over the orb! NOW!"
"Bite me!" Angelus retorted bitterly, the pain was overwhelming.
"Oh I'll do more than that Vampire." A look of pure hatred now filled Alex's face. He was going to kill the Vampire slowly and painfully but most of all he was going to enjoy it.
"I think your Queen might have other ideas." Angelus began to smile malevolently; he knew Shalimar was keeping him around in order to ensure her survival.
"She is all powerful; she merely keeps you around as one of many means to achieving her goal. Now I'll say it once more hand over the orb or die." Angelus didn't move he merely stared directly into Alex's eyes.
"Just curious, exactly how do you want to die, slow and painful or quick and painful." Angelus replied but leaving no time for Alex to answer he continued, "You strike me as a slow and painful guy really."
Just then, the realisation that Angelus was no longer suffering from the effects of the ensouled mist hit Alex. "The..." but before he could continue Angelus charged at him forcing both their bodies to the ground, where Angelus continued his attack by once more sinking his teeth into the neck.
Angelus pulled away moments before he drank the last of Alex's blood and turn his mouth towards his ear. "You think I wouldn't notice?" The cold voice resonated through Alex's body, for it wasn't that of the vampire, the creature he despised but the glorious voice of his master.
"Why?" Alex said softly as the coldness of death was covering him. "I set yo...you fr...fr...free."
From the corner of his eye, Alex could see the magnificent form of his goddess standing in the shadow. "That you did, but I don't see your point. You honestly think I need anyone, let alone a pathetic mortal. I will have the ultimate power and when I do this world will, return to the old ways, the gates of hell will open and the demons spill out and cover the Earth in my darkness." Shalimar broke off as she moved closer to Alex's body. "You should feel lucky that you won't be around to see it, because it's going to be one hell of a party." Just then Alex realised that this had been her plan for the start, that he had just been a pawn in her great plan but it was to late, for Alex's body was now falling into the coldness of death, but he was able to whisper one final thing.
"Our salvation lies within the hands of a blind..."
"There is no salvation for this world." Shalimar stands up and turns to Angelus. "The orb!"
(Boston University- Connor's Dorm)
"Connor." Cordy stood frozen on the spot. She had witnessed the past year of Connor's life, the life he no longer remembered and she immediately wanted to pull him into her embrace but resisted with all of her being.
"Have... have we met?" Connor replied slightly confused.
"Erm... yeah, well sort of. Could we?" Cordy motioned to enter which Connor without hesitation accepted. "This is... nice." She said looking around the room, which was covered in various movie posters and rather clean, something Cordelia never thought Connor would manage.
"Thanks, I think. So who are you?" Connor asked still highly confused.
"Well erm, that's gonna be hard for you to understand. You see we're friends of your father's but not the person who you think is your father, I mean you real father, the one you don't remember." Connor's face first looked as he was actually trying to come to grasps with this news but no sooner had Cordy finished did Connor burst out in laughter.
"So what you're saying is that my father isn't my father. Well I'll give you credit for originality but you're mistaken. Who put you up to this? Was it Marcus? He always said he'd get me back for the doughnut prank."
"Well this is going well isn't it? Got any bright ideas Queen C?" Buffy asked leaning against the far wall.
"Well," Cordy replied, "I have one but it could get messy." Cordy turned to face Buffy. Immediately Buffy understood, willow had used that look many times, all of which involved many powerful magicks. As Cordy turned back to Connor, she was wearing a look of sorrow. "I'm really sorry Connor but we have no choice. I hope you can forgive me." With that, she raised her hand and pointed her palm at Connor, which sent him flying into the wall, knocking him out cold.
"Whoa! Remind me not to get in your bad books, k." Buffy replied awestruck. "Is he...?"
"He's alive just knocked out. But just in case we might want to, you know, tie him down or somethin." Cordy replied, "And we better hurry, who knows what kind of trouble they could be in."
"So exactly how long to you know?" Buffy asked pointing to the unconscious body of Connor.
"Erm not to sure, depends on how Wolfram and Hart actually erased Connor's memory." Suddenly Cordelia was hit with a startling revelation. Buffy Remembered Connor. How? Cordy turned to face Buffy. "How do you know about Connor?" She asked unable to hide the fear in her voice. "No one's supposed to remember anything about him. Only Angel and Lilah."
"Willow told me, told all of us. Connor is Angel's son, from Darla no less." Buffy answered not understanding the motives behind Cordy's question. "What is it? It's not like I haven't had my memory altered before. Maybe it's some kind of mystical side effect, I donno!"
"Yeah that could be it. Anyway we've got to hurry no telling what kind of trouble they're in."
(Back at the Hyperion Hotel)
"Okay they're all sleeping soundly." Xander said as he walked down the main staircase into the lobby. "How long do you think...?"
"They should be out for a couple of days. They've had a lot taken out of them." Nicholas replied sounding rather tired himself.
"Hey you alright? You sound kinda beet."
"No I'm fine, just y'know a little worried. I have all this power, more power than you can imagine and, and I have no idea what's going to happen."
"Hey no sweat, everything's gonna be fine. For eight years we've faced all sorts of big bads', okay none have been like Ubergods but hey, we stopped The First and that had Ubervamps. What I'm trying to say is we'll beat her." Xander replied reassuringly.
The lobby once again fell silent but it was soon broken by the return of Faith, Willow and Wesley.
"So this Scythe was created specifically for the Slayer? And without the Council's knowledge." Wesley said rather awestruck.
"Yeah who would have thought, the Watchers Council not knowing something, My God what ever will we do?" Faith said lightheartedly.
"Yes well..." Wesley was lost for words he knew that the Council use to see itself as a power not to be reckoned with, but in actual fact they were nothing more than fools, "My isn't it shinny."
"Yeah a shinny weapon of death." Xander added, "How's G-man?" But before anyone could answer the hotel door opened once again to reveal two familiar people.
"I thought I asked you never to call me that again Xander." Giles said wearing a small smile.
"Mr. Giles, Dawn." Nicholas said slightly astounded. "Did you find something?"
"Please just Giles and yes we may have found something but I could use your help." As Nicholas, Giles and Wesley headed into the office Xander turned to Dawn.
"Hey Dawnie, nice trip?"
"Oh yeah, great I think I left my insides somewhere."
"I found several references to something known as the day of shared light. It's supposed to be a day where all the dimensional doorways align and cast a cleansing light to ever corner of existence. It occurs..."
"On the thousandth anniversary of the receding darkness." Nicholas said slowly.
"Yes exactly, my resources in this area are severally limited. Perhaps you know something that maybe of some use?"
"She's after it." Nicholas replied clearly distracted by his own thoughts.
"She's after what? Nicholas."
"She can't be serious, no one can wield it."
"What can't she wield? Nicholas!" Giles bellowed hoping to pull Nicholas out of his little world he's apparently entered.
(Connor's Dorn Room)
"Ready?"
"Scared sand check, stinky herbs check, we're good to go." Buffy replied with her fingers over her nose.
"It's not that bad." Cordy retorted.
"Yeah well you should try holding them then."
"Okay here goes nothing." Cordy took a small knife from her belt and began to carve pagan symbols on Connor's chest. "There has been unfairness done to thee, I summon the elements, I envoke them, I conjure them to do my bidding, desnd`a amadabous ocrom intenda." As Cordy spoke the final words the symbols carved in Connor's chest began to glow, first a bright red but soon the colour changed to a deep blue almost black.
"Aaarrrggghhh!" Connor began to convulse and cry out in pain.
"Recede the darkness; return that which has been lost." As Cordy continued the sacred sands, which Buffy had used to mark out a sacred space erupted in flames.
"Erm Cordy, fire." Buffy said but getting no response.
"Now." The flames that erupted from the scared sands converged above the pagan symbols, "NOW!" The flames began to churn in the air, spinning fast and faster until it suddenly stopped and forced it's way into Connor's chest through the symbols.
"Aaarrrggghhh! Oh God!" Connor was now delirious with pain, Buffy finally understood why Cordy needed a Slayers help Connor was incredibly strong, he broke free of the straps used to hold him down and was now double bent in pain.
"Cordy how much longer?" Buffy asked, the concern in her voice was so openly evident.
"Boy that Wolfram and Hart mojo is something." Cordy said as she watched Connor's every move. Suddenly an energy wave originating from within Connor sent both Buffy and Cordelia flying into the far wall.
(The Hyperion Hotel Office)
"Nicholas what is it? What is it she's after?" Giles was getting nowhere; Nicholas seemed to be miles maybe even worlds away.
"What's all the ruckus my little tea cakes?" Lorne asked as he entered the office holding a half-empty glass. "You know all this kerfuffle's really messing with the vibes."
"Lorne..." Wesley began but soon remembered that Lorne has connections with the Power That Be, "Lorne you have connections with the Powers, do you know anything about the Day of Shared Light?"
"Whoa there Wes, that's some heavy and I mean heavy preordained happenings. You don't wanna go messing with it."
"We're not going to 'mess' with it; we just want to know what it is." Giles replied.
"Well I don't know much, No one does. What I do know is that it's to commemorate that day the demons where forced back. Supposedly some great champion used a weapon to cast the essence of the Powers through out the higher realms which forced the demons from the Earth." Giles immediately turned to Nicholas.
"Is that what she's after, this weapon? Nicholas is Shalimar after the weapon?" Giles grasped Nicholas by the shoulders trying to snap him back from wherever his mind had wandered. "Nicholas is that what she's after, the weapon?" This Giles shock him, a little harder than he had intended.
"Huh? Oh." Nicholas had returned from his lapse in reality. "Shalimar's after Gomthosal." He said in an eerily calm voice.
"Gomthosal, that's ridiculous! Gomthosal is a myth, a legend, a fable, it doesn't exist." Wesley retorted.
"I'm afraid it's very much a reality. Gomthosal is the ultimate weapon, the ultimate power. If she gets it, Shalimar will be unstoppable. No force can beat that of Gomthosal."
"No one's ever seen it; they've just met people who have. There's no shred of evidence, no solid proof that it exists."
"What doesn't exist?" Faith now having finished her training session came to see what all the noise was.
"Gomthosal." Giles replied leaving Faith rather confused.
"Okay a little less wordy than I'm use to from you G."
"If you're right then if we get it first Shalimar's got no chance of winning. Oh I'm gonna need a bigger drink." Lorne said and began to move towards the door when Nicholas interrupted.
"Yes Gomthosal exists but..."
"But, oh no, no buts. Buts are bad. Very bad, no buts." Lorne's excitement had disappeared almost as fast as it had arrived.
"But no one can retrieve it."
"What do you mean?" Wesley asked rather perplexed. "Is it guarded by magicks?"
"Gomthosal exists outside of this dimension; in fact it exists separately from all dimensions." As Nicholas looked around, he was greeted by confused expressions. "You all know that there are a countless number dimensions, each of which are trying to force their way into the next, well Gomthosal exists in a dimension separate from all of them, sealed by the most powerful magicks known to man or demon."
"So... so if Shalimar wanted to get to this dimension how would she do it?" Faith asked now catching up.
"She can't, it's just not possible..." Nicholas paused for a moment. How could have he have not realised, it was right there staring him in the face. "The Day of the Shared Light."
(The Abandoned Warehouse)
"Ah do you feel it?" Shalimar was standing arms open in the middle of the warehouse, "The time is almost upon us." Shalimar smiled evilly as she looked form Angelus to a limp body chained to the wall. "I think it's time to up the stakes if you'll pardon the pun."
"Hey so long as I can stake soul-boy here, you can play with fire, hey I'll even provide the matches."
"Angel's usefulness will soon come to and end," Shalimar walked over to the limp body, "I'm gonna tear your bitch into pieces, how do you like that, Angel?" The limp body suddenly jerked to life, revealing Angel's vamp features.
"You hurt Cordy and I'll kill you!"
"We haven't much time."
(Meanwhile back in Boston)
"Cordy?" Connor said in disbelief as he pulled himself from the ground. "But you're... you're dead, Jasmine!"
"Connor it's me, the real me, no evil she-bitch wearing my body. I'm one hundred percent pure Cordy." As those words left Cordelia's mouth Connor rushed to hold his beloved, but Cordy backed off leaving Connor confused.
"It's him isn't it? You gone back to Angel. He's always ruining things!" Connor retorted taking no effort to hide his hatred of Angel. "And who are you, a witch, a demon?" He said turning to Buffy still displaying his loathing of Angel.
"A demon! Me? You think I'm a demon?" Buffy seemed rather offended by Connor's offhanded question. "And he's supposed to help us? He can't see past his issues with Angel."
"Connor, Connor listen to me what is the last thing you can remember? The very last thing."
"The mall, I took people as hostages. I was gonna blow them up and you." Connor's reply came across so calmly it unnerved Cordy.
"Connor, the truth. What is truly the last thing you remember?"
"My family, my home. The lie." Connor's eyes filled with a silent depression that his new life had freed him from.
"Connor I'm sorry but we need your help... I need your help." Cordelia knew that it was low to use Connor's feelings for her to manipulate him into helping them but they were fast running out of time and ideas. "Connor Angelus is back."
"What! How?" Connor's face now displayed a fire, a fire for revenge, on Angel.
"We're not sure but we know it..."
"Magicks, when will you people learn? Magicks never work."
"Erm listen here junior, whatever your deal is, get over it. We didn't do this a God did okay. You do know what a God is right? An all-powerful being, one that could rip you into tiny pieces and not even break a sweat doing it. So you can either help us get Angel back or you can stay here either way get over your problem!" Buffy just let go on Connor which surprised even Cordy but Cordelia's surprise wasn't from Buffy's outburst, she had seen enough of them in her past, no her surprise was the advice she was giving. So many times before Buffy had been Connor, the one moaning about how her life sucked, how hard it was being the Slayer, how she wished she could just be a normal girl. Buffy turned slightly towards Cordy. "Let's just go, if junior wants to come so be it but we need to go before things get out of hand."
As Buffy and Cordelia walked to the door Connor was struck by something he never considered, something he was only just getting now.
"He loves me, doesn't he?" he said softly. Cordy stopped at the door and turned slowly towards Connor, who was now sitting on his bed.
"Yes he does, more than you know."
(The library at Wolfram and Hart)
"Okay I'm still confused. There's this weapon, a weapon so powerful that if Shalimar were to get it we'd be dead and to make it just that little bit more fun it's sealed away in a dimension somewhere." Xander said absent- mindedly flicking through a book.
"Yeah exactly." Faith replied in a matter of factly tone. "Okay I have no idea what we're looking for either." Faith said seeing Xander's expression of disbelief.
"You'd think an evil law firm who defends all kinds of evil cretins would you know make this a bit easier."
"What d'you mean easier? These are like two-year-old talk to me books. You tell'em what you want and they find it. What you prefer old style research, well I'm sure Giles could fix you up with some good old musty books." Faith retorted playfully.
"Oh sure make fun of the half blind man. It's not like I'm physically challenged here." Xander replied making an over exaggerated motion to his eye patch. Just then, Willow barged into the elaborately decorated library.
"Guys, Xander, Faith, Wes found a reference to the Day of Shared Light and Gomthosal!"
"What? Where?" Faith asked stunned that despite their work the old research methods had paid off.
"Aww man this bites, I've been here straining my eye and Wes finds something."
"In the Sircyn codex. Apparently, it was written before the final battle with the old ones." Willow said her voice filled with a childlike excitement.
"There's more I can hear it in your voice. What is it?" Faith asked now intrigued.
"Well Dilir, the prophet who wrote the codex made two prophecies..."
"Oh god not prophecies, anything but prophecies they just ruin lives." Xander said defeatedly.
"As I was saying one of these prophecies is definitely happening now. Listen..." Willow reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "The hands of eternal darkness shall rise up and covet the Earth. Day shall bleed away, giving birth to death. I'd say that's pretty much the time to panic, maybe pack your bags and head under the nearest rock and hope to as many Gods as you want that you survive, kinda deal."
"What's the other?" Xander asked. "If that's the bad one as people usually give bad new first then the next one must be good... right?"
"Erm... well the next one is kinda strange. The first one's obvious Shalimar's evil, she wants the Earth or at least she wants something from here and oh yeah lets not forget the standard eclipse for some big evil brewer..."
"Red hey Red, your rambling." Faith shouted trying to get Willow's focus back.
"Oh, oh right yeah well here look." Willow handed Faith the piece of paper.
"Nobel mind and light of heart, Salvation lies within hands of blind. Stripped of valor, hope and love, Gomthosal shall seek thee, nay for power nor for greed, Deaths slight hand shall thee wield." Faith looked at the paper then to Willow. "Okay so that's not the clearest prophecy we've seen, hey when are prophecies ever really clear anyway?"
"Yeah I suppose you're right anyway Wes wants you up at Angel's office."
"I still can't believe dead boy owns this place." Xander retorted somewhat jealously.
(Boston, Massachusetts)
The streets of Boston where unusually busy, cars were bumper to bumper, people were standing so close to each other you could hardly breathe.
"Erm Cor couldn't we you know just 'pop' back?" Buffy said as she dodged past three people.
"We will it's just there's something I need to do first and there's definitely something you need to do." Motioning to an alleyway where two big demons were dragging a young woman away.
"Oh please, please don't hurt me." The young woman sat huddled in a corner crying. The two demons didn't seem to be affected in anyway to the woman's please; in fact, they seemed to thrive on her fear.
"You know you never learn do you? It's always 'oh girl kill', well you know what I'm really getting tired of it all." Buffy stood at the entrance to the alleyway, a single stake in her hand. "You wanna girl well here's one for taking." As soon as she said that the lead demon charged at her, his teeth bared, his claws swinging for Buffy's torso but the Slayer simply jumped up over the demon spin kicking him in the back. "Now look what you made me do." She retorted as the demon span head first into the wall.
"Slayer." The second demon knew exactly what she was. "This will be fun." The demon turned to the woman, bared his teeth and said, "I'll just be one moment."
"You know what I am but you should really understand just exactly who I am..." The demon didn't care who she was he had killed many slayers before and this one would be no different. Buffy could see that the demon wasn't the slightest bit scared but she had met and killed tougher demons in her life so this one wouldn't be any different.
From across the street Connor and Cordelia could see the fight. Connor watched on in awe he was amazed by Buffy's power and skill, he had only seen fighting like this once, from Faith.
"She's amazing, she's like wow!"
"Yep definitely genetic." Cordy simply replied.
"Huh?"
"You are your dad's son, both of you are completely love-struck by the presence of a Slayer."
"But I thought Faith... she's dead." Connor said realizing that there is only one Slayer, when one dies the next is called.
"What, Faith's not dead. Why would you...? Oh sorry forgot the whole no memory thing, yeah well last year Buffy changed the rules there are way more Slayers now." Cordy explained but just then, one of the demons came flying out of the alleyway with a stake embedded deeply into his skull.
"She's gonna need...." Connor began to run off but Cordy grabbed his arm holding him back.
"Connor some things you have to do on your own."
"But she doesn't..."
"Connor trust me, everything will be fine."
"Aww what's the matter Slayer lost something?" The remaining demon was now reeling in the fact that the Slayer was defenseless, "Now weapons, no hope..."
"Hey I know this one, this is where you say take all that away and what's left and this is where I..." Buffy leaped into the air with such force and speed all the demon could see was a blur of colour. "Hey behind you." Buffy had landed directly behind the demon but leaving no time for him to respond Buffy kicked out both of his kneecaps with one fluid motion forcing the oversized demon to the ground. Buffy quickly looked around for anything that she could use as a weapon, when she spotted it, a shard of glass just the right size.
"You end is near. Her power will blanket the Earth and all will be destroyed." The demon just stood there as Buffy used the glass shard to decapitate him.
"Well good to know." Buffy retorted as she walked over to the young woman. "Hey you okay?" Still overwhelmed by fear the young woman could only nod.
"Buffy here let me." Cordy moved into position directly in front of her, held out her hand for her to take it. "Erase from her mind memories grim, of resents slights of sin, Tabula Rasa, Tabula Rasa, Tabula Rasa."
"What you do?" Connor asked already knowing the answer.
"She erased her memory." Buffy replied somberly.
"There are times when things like this need to be done. If she can't remember she'll be safer, you know I'm right."
"Yeah but it's wrong, messing with people's memories it's just wrong." Buffy replied.
"What did it mean the end is near?" Connor asked looking at the headless corpse on the ground.
"You heard that? Wow good hearing." Buffy was impressed with Connor's abilities, not even a Slayer would have heard that from the other side of the street. "Y'know same old bad guy talk, I'm gonna kill you blah, blah, blah, darkness will blah, blah, blah."
"Oh."
No sooner had Cordelia stood up was she once again confronted by a vision, this time stronger, faster and with a greater intensity than any vision she had ever seen.
"Oh God, Buffy!"