The Emperor's Key
Chapter Seven

Authors note
To be honest I think that his could warrant a "R" rating. If so tell me and I'll change it ASAP.

Illyria stepped out of the slayers bed room, vaguely annoyed at the child. She was the high commander of the slayers, perhaps the strongest force on the planet and she let emotions cloud her judgement. Sitting outside the younger girl's room the one with a wolf's head just to the right of the door, he was looking at her.

'You are the priest of your god.' She sat down at the opposite side of the small corridor.

'I am the story keeper and chooser of the slain. I am a Wolf Priest.'

'You choose who is to die. A worthy rank.'

'I choose those who have died. If a warrior is willing to fight with all his might and excels in battle he is worthy. If he dies, in battle, while still young a Wolf Priest will bring him back from death and induct him into our chapter.' The strange wolf headed man gazed intently at her but Illyria could tell his attention was divided between her and inside the closed room.

'You have that power to return warriors from the dead?'

'Many wounds you call fatal can be healed. As long as the brain and soul remains I can bring a person back. But after time it would not be possible. You have many questions for one so old.'

'This world is new to me. For many years I slept as mankind changed and then ruled this planet. There is another thing I must ask.'

'I will answer if I can.'

'Your chosen are here to protect that child from your enemies. Why?'

'Russ has commanded us to. His word is our deed.'

'But your Russ has been dead for millennia. Has no other leader come?'

'Other leaders have come, Logan Grimnar has been our great wolf for many centuries now but no one can match Leman Russ, as our primarch he is the founding of our chapter and we are all his children.'

'The leader of your expedition? He has come himself to this place and time to protect the girl. I do not see why she is so important.' A muffled noise came from the closed room interrupting the discussion. Instantly the large man was on his feet raising his strange club, foot flying towards the door.

As the door shattered the young girl shouted, 'Hah! Got you!' Before squeaking and pulling her bedclothes over herself amongst the ruins of her door.

'What happened?' he demanded

She pointed at a sword with a pink/purple thing stuck to the end of it. 'That pixie thing came in through the window and tried to throw something at me but I got it.' The three occupants looked at the window, a small army of very ugly pixie things looked back.

The wolf skull-ed Space Marine drew and fired a large pistol. Instead of a bullet a ball of blue fire came out, followed by two more before it emitted a sullen whine. The three shots vaporised most of the window and all but two of the small winged creatures. Illyria picked up the end of the bed and used it to block the window frame.

Outside the room all of the household had gathered. 'We are under attack. The forces of chaos are gathering.' Said the priest as he squashed the remaining things.

The largest smiled with suppressed mirth. 'Good! Things were getting dull. Brother Durfast prepare yourself.'

'Aye my lord' the most barbarically decorated of all the Space Wolves answered.

The child still held the thin blankets tightly. 'I would still like to prepare my self if you don't mind.'

Spike came out of the bathroom to see Dawn in a hastily made toga carrying a pile of clothes. 'Excuse me Spike.' She said as she shoved him away and locked herself in the bathroom. Shaking his head Spike walk into the front room, still drying his hair.

The Space Wolves surrounded one of their number as he took off his armour. As part of some sort of ritual the Ulrik was taking the armour from him and also telling some sort of story.

'...And did Russ's friend drink from the chalice. His thirst for power driving him. Then the change started. Russ's friend became other than man other than daemon and other than beast. With a great sadness Russ smote he who was as dear to him as a brother. He then said "The wolf in my brother was too strong. He will forever be this thing. Every one who drink from this cup will face this creature within themselves. If you are strong and selfless you can win and join the Great Crusade. If not you will be banished."' Ulrik put down the armour he had gathered and picked up his medicine bag.

'The first of these creatures was named after that friend. The Wulfen. Every Space Wolf must drink from the cup. Many pass the test and become one with the chapter.' Now he was mixing something together in a bowl.

The now almost completely naked Space Wolf looked at the Wolf Priest. 'I did not.' He declared.

'Many fail and are lost in the mountains of Asaheim.' Ulrik dipped his finger in the bowl of what Spike realised was face paint.

'I did not.' Again the lone wolf replied. Ulrik started to paint a strange rune on his face.

'Few continue their battle within. Few can harness the change. They are alone on the battle field, they are Wulfen and Space Wolf.'

'I am one of the few. I serve Russ. Let this sacrifice earn me a place at his side at the final battle.'

Then as one the Space Wolves brayed to the roof, 'For the Wolftime!'

Two of the Astartes stepped forward. 'He may have my sword' declared one offering one of the serrated, over sized chainsaws they called weapons

'...And he may have my axe.' Unlike the one Logan carried this one was dull grey and with a single head with a list of runes carved on the blade.

The lone wolf looked at his companions and smiled showing his huge teeth that made him look like a vampire. Now that he knew more about these people Spike realised they were the long pointed canines of a wolf. As he approached the door Spike smelt something on its other side, a group of demons were ready to pounce into the room. Durfast strode to the door flexing his hands.

Arching his back he howled. Spike felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as the howl continued, becoming more animalistic and louder and louder. Underneath the howl the Space Wolf's bones cracked and exploded. His feet stretched as he stood on the tip of his toes, from beneath his long hair fur spread across his back like wild fire. Dropping his head to look ahead his face elongated forward and he grew a long mussel that became more wolf like than man. Over his already broad shoulders muscles literally exploded, shoulders popping and reforming stronger than ever. His arms became longer, almost reaching his now elongated ankles. With an enormous wrench all the new bones and joints slotted back together and a terrible werewolf stood there panting. Spike had seen werewolves before. He never liked them, far to big for his liking. This thing was twelve foot if it as an inch. It was so big it had to crouch to fit in the room, with a powerful swipe of its axe the Wulfen smashed the door to splinters and fell upon the helpless demons on the other side. Spike noticed in passing that the victims were frayl demons but that didn't matter they were already dead.

The other Space Wolves turned to the window. 'Wolves, load fresh clips' Logan snapped a drum magazine on to the double barrelled gun on his left gauntlet. 'When your clips are empty go hand to hand. I want this done fast and done well!' Outside several dozen vampires, frayl and more of those thing spike had saw in Buffy's mind were heading to the front door and climbing up the walls.

'For Russ and the Emperor!' they shouted as one and burst out of the cramped flat.

While they jumped from the balcony Spike dashed for some weapons. Illyria and Angel, who were also watching the events, did the same. They found a few choice items, Angel ended up with a broadsword, Illyria found a pair of fighting axes that she appeared to like. Spike picked up his weapon first, Blood red and shining silver with a wooden stake at the end. The slayer scythe. When he picked it up his hand started to smoke for a moment before stopping, he could feel the strength of the weapon and something more.

'What the hell is that thing Spike?'

'Slayer scythe, lets go!' Outside was a war zone. The Space wolves held guns in one hand and Chain-swords, axes and whatever else they had in the other . The sorcerer glided on the edges using a pistol to take out anyone who tried to get away, the blocky pistol fired with a hollow crack explosive shells that blew gaping holes in anything hit. The Wolf Guard had larger visions of the same pistol but were using their rifles in the same way. Logan's gun, however, was the most destructive. While it worked the same as the others both barrels spat the explosive rounds in a stuttered roar. Ulrik had no gun so was relying on a pouch of grenades he dipped into periodically.

Amongst this display of ordinance The Immortal watched as his army was devastated. Unfortunately the shells just bounced off him and grenades didn't do much other than obscure him. Then Durfast, or the Wulfen he had become, burst out of the building. Spike watched as it sniffed the air and let out a low, rumbling, growl and charged The Immortal. The Immortal, in response, flicked his left wrist in a strong jerking motion. The skin around his arm ripped and fell to the ground as tentacles unwound from out of nowhere and smothered the helpless werewolf. That sickly sweet smell came from The Immortal only this time in real life it was even stronger.

Spike watched as the werewolf was ripped apart and squeezed until the pieces exploded. Wiping the blood from his face he saw Angel sneak up behind The Immortal and bring the broadsword down with all his strength. It just bounced off.

The skin on the Immortals right hand fell off becoming a pail three fingered talon. Without so much as a reaction the Immortals talon scratched Angel's chest. The superficial wound should have done nothing more than stagger Angel. Instead he fell to his knees and groaned before fainting, his face twisted with pleasure.

Quickly dispatching the vampires in his way Spike went for the daemon who tried to corrupt and destroy the woman he loved. Using all his speed and strength he dodged the writhing tentacles that shot out at him. After a quick role and jump he kicked out at whatever The Immortal truly was.

The kick didn't even phase the pervert. Nether did the pair of punches Spike landed on its face. In response The Immortal lashed out with his talon hand, desperately Spike chopped at the hand with the scythe. It slid through like a knife in hot butter. With a horrible hiss the daemon whipped his hand way.

With a cold smile Spike capitalised on the discovery, slicing into The Immortal a dozen times. Each one causing deep cuts that bled for a moment before a whole section of flesh fell off. Between one stroke and the next the Immortal backed off with a grin. His grin was far too wide for a human face, with a sickening lurch The Immortal grew taller.

'Oh bollocks!' The Immortal's head cracked open, a hollow skull fell broken at his feet, his body pealed like a banana as a sleek, faintly muscled, pail new body arose out of it.

By the end a shredded cares of The Immortal lay at the feet of a 15 foot tall true daemon, the arms had remained the same if not bigger, the pail legs were thin but looked strong enough to run for miles. The most striking difference was the long goat like head with curling horns.

The sweet sent was rolling off the daemon in waves and for a moment it began to work its way into Spikes mind. Spike felt his knees starting to give as he saw the gloating daemons eyes. Fighting the numb sensation spreading around him Spike charged the big Daemon, only to be picked up by the mass of writhing tentacles and brought up to the goat like head.

'Spike, do you know what I am? I am your master. I am your salvation.' Each breath was heavy with that pink/purple smog that drove Spike's senses wild with lust and desire. 'Give in and you can have it all. Worship me and I will give you everything.'

'And I'll give you THIS!' With a great lunge Spike buried the wooden stake deep into the daemon's eye. What was The Immortal shivered with what had to be a mixture of indiscernible pain and joy. 'Aww balls. Bondage. You got off on that.'

'Yesss.' With that The Immortal tossed Spike way.

The Old Wolf beheaded another two chaos spawn with a backhand blow before the white haired man bounced off his back. 'Hello!'

'We're got a problem mate.' Glancing around Logan saw the greater daemon of Slaanesh advance towards them.

'What problem?'

'That one!' The warrior jumped up and swung his small weapon in a infinity loop.

'I'll deal with tiny, watch and learn.' With that Logan pushed the man to one side and charged the foul Chaos Daemon.

Despite the bulk of his terminator armour and his age Logan wasn't slow. With a dive he passed under the legs of the warp spawned creature, cutting into its right leg on the way. Coming to his feet he jumped and buried his axe in its left collar bone. Planting his feet firmly on its shoulders he wrenched the Axe of Morkai out before flipping to stand behind the half crippled daemon. Taking the holy axe back Logan allowed himself a grin as he swung the heavy blade under his arm and watched the double headed effigy of the two headed wolf vanish half way into the Daemons groin. Yet again he wrenched it out, this time by booting the daemon up the arse.

Now that the daemon was curled up into a tight ball Logan watched as the white haired warrior lopped of its head with the blessed weapon. The fallen body warped and twisted as it was sucked back into the warp along with all those it had summoned.

After that the small army of daemons that were left fell apart, many tried to run only to be destroyed with little fuss. The vampires left nothing but the courtesy dust and the almost white horned daemons exploded into ash from the chain-swords.

Dawn (now fully dressed) had watched the fight progress and smiled when the pure demon got his comeuppance. With a sad sigh she pulled out her carry bag and looked for what she would need.

Illyria carried Angel back inside. The insane grin had faded but he was still asleep. As far as anyone could tell he would be alright. For some reason the surviving Space Wolves were quietly reserved.

Once indoors Illyria asked the one called Ulrik why.

'The loss of our brother and our victory is worthy of great celebration but there is no ale. This victory should be told in song, but there is no music. We are far from home and our brothers.'

'Can you not celebrate here?'

'There is nothing to drink, nothing to feast upon. Without these we cannot truly toast to our fallen brother.'

'Bollocks to that!' Spike rifled through Angel's pockets until he found his wallet. 'Let's see, seven Space Wolves, two vampires and one former demon god. That's ten bottles. Start writing the songs I'll be getting the booze.'

'I hardly believe the weak drinks of this time will do.'

'I'm talking about bottles of Jack'

The leader glanced up from polishing his mighty axe, 'It would be suitable as there is nothing else.' Spike left.

Illyria half bowed to the white haired giant, 'You are a mighty warrior and a great leader. How could your axe cut through one such as that?'

'I took this Axe from a champion of the Chaos god of murder and death. It is one of a kind. After I took it I went to the great Iron priest Ulf Blackbrow, he and his scalds re-forged it. Making it into the Axe of Morkai, the two headed wolf that Russ banished to guard the underworld until the end of time.'

'It is most impressive.'

'And you were once a daemon god. Why do you help us against the powers of Chaos?'

'I once ruled this world, long before your mortal kind cawed out of the primeval rivers my armies watched over this world. I have seen the coming of the beings from the sky, I watched as they chose your forms and banished my kind. What you call Chaos were nought but shadows, their time will come and go. I am forever.'

'I doubt that, you are no longer a god and the Emperor is soon to come into being. Soon now your dreams of rebuilding will fade.'

'I doubt that. Once you have tasted power you are reluctant to give it up.'

'Ha! Power? You have ruled one world. As a Space Wolf I have fought on hundreds of worlds in thousands of battles. I lead my chapter into battle, as one of the first twelve Space wolves are responsible for whole star systems. Some worlds have cities so massive they hold more people in them than this world ever can. Others are wastelands where hearty men fight to survive. As Great Wolf of the Space Wolves I protect them all. I do not fight for my own power to grow, I do not fight to conquer or to live in luxury. To the Astartes power is there to protect and there to guide as the Emperor, Russ and all the Primarchs taught us.'

'You rule that much yet follow a few dreams far into the past to save one mortal life.'

'Aye, in the end one mortal life is the most important thing of all.' Illyria spent a long time thinking about the old mans words. It worried her that somehow he was right. The trapping of power, desired for so long, were never the true meaning of power. Honor, respect and devotion to those who you rule is. You don't need a fancy throne or servants to do that. Already she had stopped this "Chaos" from their great plans twice. This gave her pride, something she never had as a master of the world. As her thoughts became more and more morose Spike finally returned.

'I'm back and I bring whiskey.' Illyria was the first to pick up her bottle...

Not much later that night both Illyria and Spike had drunk them selves unconscious, Dawn had packed as has the seven Space Wolves readied themselves for the trip. Before she could go Dawn had to do one more thing.

'Hello Buffy, it's morning. Well almost. I'm sorry but I have to go. You wouldn't believe me if I told you. To be honest I don't think I believe me. I think, no I know I will make a promise. I haven't made it yet but I have to honour it.

'I don't know if you can hear me but please don't look for me. If I don't come back then you have to know that I forgive you. You weren't yourself, somebody else made you try and hurt me. I love you. Goodbye.'

Post script

No I haven't finished yet, two or three chapters left I think and an epilogue for fun.

This little bit is this chapter's message to "huh".with a little of the history of the begining of life in the universe. (if your not familiar with Warhammer or Warhammer 40k this will mean beep all to you)

The Necrontyr and the C'tan. The old ones kicked the crap out of the Necrontyr until they found the star gods, the C'tan. After that the Necrontyr became the Necron's and became a race of cold metallic killers. With the C'tan guiding them the Necron's obliterated everything in sight, massacring anything that lived and feeding of their life force. The Old Ones counteracted with Warp spawned magic's that tore the fabric of space and created the chaos gods! In the end the Old Ones died out and the robotic Necron's hid in giant status chambers. For this story, the Wraith are a race of servants who maintain the chambers. (If your interested I have, in development, a companion story. With the SG-1 team finding a sealed status chamber with a group of Necron warriors...) and the virus was the last devastating weapon used against the Old Ones forcing them to ascend.

As for the Great Deceiver controlling Buffy, it couldn't work. The Deceiver tricks and traps its foes, there is no way to trick Buffy to sacrifice her sister. However If you want to find a place for the Great Deceiver in the Buffy-verse, look at The First!

And as an afternote Thank you for your reviews! They have helped me tweak out the bugs with my story and get my ideas straight. So thank you for your help, please keep reviewing I need all the help I can get.

EVERYONE be warned I have a plot twist coming. It's a big one and a lot of people are going to hate it. If you read closely you can guess...