Knighted
A Forever Knight / Buffy:TVS / Charmed Crossover
By Teri

Chapter 2: Dhampirs, Vampires, and Cole

The gang had gathered at Buffy's to talk. All were present, Giles, Dawn, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, and Anya's new boyfriend Cole.


(Okay time out, I know most of you are saying what about Spike. So here is what happened to him: Spike wasn't there, he had disappeared after they defeated the first. He had been a big help, but he held a loose grip on reality. He said he had some friends who could help him get fixed-up so he left. He and Dawn had made-up before he left and he promised he would keep in touch with his bit. Buffy had also come to realize that the events with Spike were blown-up in her mind because of the stress she had been under. She came to understand that yes he had been rough with her but that was how they usually started when they were together. She also realized that when she finally said no, he had stopped. He stopped when not many mortal men would have and he was a demon. Not a pleasant evening by any stretch of the imagination, but hardly a rape attempt. -- Okay, so that's what happened to Spike. He may or may not come back, I'm not telling. Satisfied for now? Good - Time in.)


So the gang, minus Spike plus Cole, were together discussing the "Angel has a child" situation. Only, Buffy was very upset.

"Buffy, it seems that Angel's son was part of a prophesy. I don't think it could happen under other circumstances," Giles tried to explain. He didn't see the problem other than what he assumed was the unresolved feelings Buffy had for Angel. He chalked the whole thing up to being another prophesy. Yes, he wanted to know more, but it wasn't a problem.

"Buffy you shouldn't be upset," Anya said softly leaning over and patting Buffy on the hand. She glanced at Xander who gave her a thumbs up then at Cole gave her a smile. "Besides, it is Angel who should be upset. Do you know how much children cost to raise!"

"An, I don't think he has to worry about it. The kid is like 16 or 17," Xander pointed out.

Cole was merely chuckling.

"Well that's worse. Do you know how much college costs!" Anya was getting upset.

"Anya," Cole spoke for the first time. "I think we are moving away from the issue."

"I'm just trying to help Buffy see that Angel having a child should bother him more than it bothers her," Anya explained.

"It is not bothering me," Buffy defended. "I am just worried about vampires that can have children."

"Buffy, it sounds like it is a one time thing," Willow had gotten the straight story from her on-line buddy, screen-name 'RogueWWP'. "You know 'cause of the prophesy."

"Actually," Cole voice came softy over the room, silencing all present. "Although it is virtually unheard of for these lower level vampire demons to have children, it is not unheard for the upper level vampires."

"An upper-level vampire? " Buffy asked. "Do you mean master vampires?"

"No, there are different levels of demons and within those levels there are different breeds of demons," Cole explained.

"How do you know this?" Giles asked studying the man before him.

Cole looked over at Anya, "I thought you told them."

Anya only shrugged.

"Rupert, Anya is the only former demon in the room."

"Were you also a Vengeance demon?" Dawn asked but when she noticed Anya glaring at her, she amended, "Justice demon?"

"No, I was a half human/half demon. My demon half was known as Belthazor," Cole explained.

As Cole explained, Giles pulled his Claymore (sword) from somewhere. Xander noticing Giles' reaction also grabbed for this English Long Axe.

"Hold on there Rupert, I am not a demon anymore," Cole said backing up a little as Giles stood.

"I know," Giles said his voice focused and deep. "You became the Source."

"Source? What Source?" Buffy asked, although she was ignored.

"True, but I was tricked into it and I am not anymore," Cole tried to explain, "and how did you know about that anyway?"

"Anya?" Giles asked ignoring Cole's question.

"It's true Giles," Anya asserted. "He isn't the source anymore. He's just a guy."

Xander snorted. "Yeah, and that's what Methos always says and we know that isn't true."

"Xander, your letting your inner sci-fi nerd show," Willow scolded.

"Yeah, he is; but, he has a point," Buffy agreed.

"Well, he still has demonic powers he picked-up after he was vanquished," Anya said as if it wasn't important, "but he is a good guy."

"He has been helping us," Dawn chimed in. "And he did save me from that weird demon last week." Which is also when Dawn found out he had powers; but, knowing how the others over-react at times, she kept the knowledge to herself.

Giles took a long look at Cole, then lowered his sword. "Don't make me sorry." Giles flashed him a Ripperish look, "you wouldn't like that, powers or no."

Cole smiled, "I knew I knew you. You're Ripper!" He added excitedly, "so, that explains how you know about the Source. You've changed though. . . . . for the better."

"So, it seems have you," Giles said looking at him.

"One day at a time," Cole said. Anya squeezed his hand.

Giles nodded, "if I can be of help. . . "

"Enough with the Reformed Bad Guys anonymous society meeting. No one has answered my questions. What do you mean about upper-level vampires having children?" Buffy asked.

"There is a Reformed Bad Guys society? Can I get an application?" Willow said lightly.

"When did I lose control of the conversation?" Buffy said to herself.

Xander grinned, "you had control?"

Buffy glared at Xander before turning to Giles, "can you answer my question?"

"Buffy, you know that here on the Hellmouth we have mostly lower level demons. Of course, there are rare occurrences of upper level demons like the Mayor," Giles began. "The vampires here are a low-level breed of demons. There are vampires at a higher level. Their faces don't shift, but their eyes do change colors and they have retractable fangs. They are also capable of flight and Hypnosis."

"You mean like Dracula?" Willow asked.

"No, that was a thrall. Many upper level vampires have hypnotic abilities that are much stronger," Giles explained.

"So, how come you haven't mentioned these vampires before?" Buffy asked a little miffed that Giles hadn't told her about them.

"Most tend to avoid areas that are populated with the lower-level vampires," Giles explained.

Dawn noticed a quick self-deprecating smile cross Xander's lips as Giles explained.

"Additionally, many tend to live in communities and remain away from the mortal population or live in harmony with them," Giles continued. "If one gets out of control the community self-polices themselves. They don't want to draw attention to themselves."

"But, don't get the wrong idea. There are some that are trying to atone for problems in their pasts. I have heard of a vampire in Canada who works as police officer trying to atone. Vampires like him are the exception, not the rule." Cole added to Giles' explanation.

"Quite, they also have the same weaknesses that our vampires have," Giles concluded.

"Our vampires, G-man?" Xander threw in, earning himself a glare from Buffy, Giles, and Willow; giggling from Dawn and Anya; and a smirk from Cole.

"They also don't lose their souls," Anya spoke-up.

Cole added, "Actually, I believe that most demons including the lower-level vampires have souls, they are merely repressed."

"Really, what makes you think that?" Giles asked in full research mode.

Cole began, "well you see. . . ." before being cut-off by Buffy.

"Okay that's interesting and we will so have to talk about that, but later, 'cause no one has answered my questions about the kids," Buffy said again.

"I believe what Cole is referring to is a Dhampir, which is a child of a vampire and his human wife. They were highly prized vampire hunters. Often earning their living by slaying vampires," Giles said.

"Slay for Pay? Sign me up," Buffy smiled.

"Actually, Rupert, that is a misconception. Many older cultures did not believe in female vampires. So if was possible that what was thought of as a 'mixed' marriage was actually a union of two vampires. The term Dhampir originally applied to any human children of vampire parents." Cole explained, "although, you are right many did earn a living hunting vampires."

"Dhampir are very rare," Anya added smiling. "Oh, and for mortals they are also incredible in bed, kind of like Xander."

Xander blushed slightly, but they all had learned to ignore Anya's bluntness by now and didn't even address the issue.

"Do the Dhampirs have any special abilities?" Willow asked.

"Yes," "No," "Sort of," Giles, Cole, and Anya answered at the same time.

"So guys which is it?" Dawn asked.

They glanced at each other and it was silently decided that Cole would speak. "All of the above. There are some abilities that many have, but not all. There is not set rule. Many have increased speed, agility, hearing, eyesight, and healing. Some actually require a little blood. Some have managed flying or hypnosis. Very rarely, a Dhampir could be a seer, an empath, or both. Of course some are completely human with no powers."

"Well as interesting as all of this is. It doesn't seem to have much to do with Connor. So why don't we give it a rest and have dinner," Willow suggested.

Xander perked up, "food, did you mention food? I'm in."


Edited: 01/01/2006