Monastery Chap 4-6

The Abbot

A military helicopter landed in the large courtyard of the main building, several military types carried an old man in a wheelchair out and wheeled him to the main entrance. The leader saluted the bursar and spoke quickly to him as some novices lead the old man away.

"Is that an army helicopter?" Buffy asked looking out the window

"Yes, even in the communist days the government was always very helpful to a group of people who would stop demons destroying the crops, so the new regime felt the same"

"Just how long have you been protecting the crops?" Dawn, ever the historian

"Oh, since long before the east roman empire fell, several emperors were patrons of ours, hence our ability to rebuild and gain novices, in a hard year food and a purpose can be very addictive, and rewarding". Darius had a happy look in his eye; fighting demons had obviously been good to him.

The Bursar entered the room and walked straight for the sisters

"I am afraid the Abbott is exhausted and hopes you will be able to meet tomorrow."

"Of course, we are actually quite tired after the journey ourselves, I think a good nights sleep would suit us fine."

The bursar smiled " An excellent idea, we will have evening prayers in 30 min, the bathroom will be free for the rest for the next 3 hours so you can use it then, Brother Darius will show you, goodnight."

The bursar walked away

"He is used to command, he was in the army himself before he joined, and he does most of the work in the Abbots absence"

"So why doesn't he tell us about me?" Dawn asked

"Well, like me, he was not here when you were transformed, and some things are still left to the head of the order, shall we go?"

Buffy and Dawn soaked in the large tubs

"Oh, this is the best I have felt in days." Buffy slid under the water again.

"Tell me about it, I could stay here all night, I mean, I'm not sure I'll sleep at all"

"I know Dawnie, but we are here and all will be revealed tomorrow. Hang tight, we will find out"

"I know it's just..."

"Its just you need to know?"

"Yeah, I need to know, I mean is there much point in going to university if I am just going to dissolve a week later?"

"Hey, you're going to college, your going to help Giles save the world, marry a nice boy and give me Nieces and nephews!" Buffy tossed a cloth at Dawnie

"Really? I get to go out without you arm-wrestling my dates?"

"Yes...when you are forty" Dawn through the towel at her sister and they both laughed.

And they both slept very well that night.

The meeting

After breakfast and after Dawn spending an hour choosing the right outfit "to meet her maker" as she called him, the Bursar fetched the sisters to meet the Abbott.

They were ushered into a small chamber, lit by the morning sun through stained glass windows and smelling of fragrant oil. The Abbott was sitting in a wheel chair facing the morning sun when the Bursar turned him to his audience.

"Come, sit, we have much to discuss" His voice showed none of the frailty of his body.

"Thank you, and thank you for seeing us, we know you are not well"

"I am as well as I will ever be, and you have had a long journey from what I am told, so I think we can bypass the small talk, and as you say, cut to the chase?"

"I need to know" Dawn blurted out.

There was a moment's pause "Yes you do" The abbot smiled, "Ask."

"How did you make me? Am I evil? Will I fade away? Will I –"

"One question at a time my dear. You are not evil, you were power, neither good nor evil, and our spell was certainly not evil, so if anything your creation was good." He paused letting them take all the information in "And as for the spell, well, we feel that we must take that secret and keep it too ourselves, I am sorry to disappoint you, but you can not be unmade, and you will not fade away."

"So" Buffy was almost out of her seat "She is my sister? For ever?"

"Well, not forever, but she is Human and will be for a lifetime and I think that is what you mean."

Buffy hugged Dawn and then went to hug the Abbott, almost crying, the bursar stepped forward,

"Please miss, he is no state for a hug from a slayer"

"Oops, sorry" Buffy blushed

"That is quite alright, besides, I do not think it is appropriate for young single women to hug Abbots" A smile appeared across his wrinkled face.

Buffy turned to dawn "Isn't this great? It means we don't have to worry about-"

Dawn was still sitting, looking at the Abbott.

"I think your sister has 1 more question too ask, and I suspect it is the right one. Please, continue"

"I need to know" Dawn swallowed, and looked up, directly into the Abbots eyes.

"Do I have a soul?"

Soul

Buffy Froze, she had never thought about this, Does she have a soul? All the Angst and discussion about Angel's soul, Spikes Soul, even Anya's soul, she had never stopped to wonder if Dawn, who was more important to her than any of the others, had a soul.

The Bursar laughed "you never though of this?"

"Well, there was saving the world, and dying and coming back and..."

The Abbott was beginning to chortle, "The bursar is teasing you, we are aware of your situation, but the answer is more important." He turned to Dawn "Yes my child, you have a soul, we are Christian monks after all, interested in saving the soul, God would not give us the power to create a person without granting it a soul and freewill to use."

Dawn was starting to cry, "I have a soul, I'm real"

"Yes, as real as anyone in this room, perhaps more so than your sister"

"Hey, I am here you know, how did you create a soul? I mean, giving one back is one thing, but creating a soul?"

"We could not create a soul? Only the divine creator can do that, we had to borrow part of someone else, just as we borrowed your blood to make your sister."

"You used a piece of Buffy's soul to make me?"

"No, a slayers soul is tarnished, before you interrupt Ms Summers, do not worry, slayers go to heaven, I am sure you know this, salvation by faith does not come for those who do not use faith because they know it is all true, they are saved by action. But the slayers soul, whether from the Demon influence, or the life of a slayer, the soul is darker than most, we felt it may be too dangerous. So we used a purer soul, from one of the people who was around your sister, that way they too would feel the need to protect you, and it would make the spell harder too break".

"Buffy shifted uneasily "Then whose soul did you use to make dawn?"