Belit-Ili
Previously on BtVS…
Damian stalked over to the watcher, pulling Darla along with him. He stopped in front of him, nearly touching. Giles was an inch taller than Damian. But Damian seemed more comfortable being a bit short, and he was able to be intimidating. Giles stepped back.
He whispered, but his voice carried and everyone could hear. "I am the Devil. No little spell is going to keep away." He turned to everyone else. "You have been warned. You all have made a very powerful enemy. If I want something from you, I will have it. Nothing, I mean nothing, can stop me." He looked straight at Buffy. "Not even you."
He took a few steps to the middle of the store, so that everyone got a good view of him. Still dragging Darla. He raised hid hand into a clicking position. He gave one last look at Buffy.
"You still have something of mine, my love. I will return for it when the time is right. You will always carry it with you. Don't anger me and all will go well. I'll keep in touch, sweetie." He than clicked his fingers and disappeared in a fiery flame.
…And now the Conclusion.
While Xander's place was being fumigated, he and Willow were staying the night at Buffy's. A sleep-over they called it. Buffy hadn't had one since her high school years. And since it was only her and her two best friends, it seemed like old times. They had set up for the night in the lounge room. Sleeping bags spread out on the floor. Although it wasn't comfy, it was fun. Tara would have come, but an assignment was becoming threateningly due. She stayed at home. Anya just didn't want to come.
Buffy sat on the arm of the single lounge while Willow lay on her sleeping bag and Xander lounged on the sofa. They were discussing Damian.
"What do you supposed he meant by the "you'll always carry it" bit?" Xander asked. Buffy had told him about Damian's little visit the other night.
Buffy shrugged. She didn't know. She didn't want to know.
Willow sat up and hugged her arms. "Maybe we should put up that spell here just in case Damian and his kids, you know, come here?" she said.
"If it didn't keep Damian out of the shop, I doubt it will keep him out of here." Buffy responded. But it stopped Shenzi. She all of a sudden wanted the spell up. It would at least make her feel safer.
Willow was gathering some supplies from the stock of witchy stuff that Buffy kept in her room. Xander and Buffy sat in silence in the living room. It was fairly quiet. Joyce was out at the gallery and Dawn was in her room doing some homework. The duo jumped as someone knocked at the door. Buffy slowly walked to the door and held her breath as she peeked through the peep hole. As if Damian ever used the door. But there was a first time for everything. She let out a sigh of relief and let Giles inside.
"I thought it might be Damian." She said as she locked the door behind him.
"He uses doors?" Giles asked. If he was joking, Buffy couldn't tell.
Willow had set up the spell and some of the tension had lifted in the room. Although it wouldn't keep Damian out; it felt better somehow.
Giles had come to return Buffy's slayer kit. She had left it at The Magic Box. He wanted her to go patrolling before coming to the store. Giles was going to be busy the entire day. He was going to call The Watcher's Council and see what they could come up with about their Damian problem.
"I really do fear for Buffy's safety. According to Darla, once Damian is 'fascinated' by someone, he'll never let them go. That is, until he destroys them."
Buffy looked at her watcher. "Thanks, Giles. I felt a whole lot better."
Joyce came home around midnight. Dawn had come downstairs and settled herself next to Willow on her sleeping bag. Since it was now the weekend, she didn't have to go to bed at a set time. Joyce said her goodnights, and told Dawn not to stay up too long. She turned to walk up the stairs when she turned around suddenly.
"Oh, Mr. Giles, be careful when you leave tonight. There are three kids hanging around the streets. They being out this time of night means that they can't be up to any good. Goodnight."
"Do you think it's them?" Willow asked shakily. Buffy walked over to look out the window.
"Yep, it's them." She said as Giles came over to join her.
Bonzai and Ed were playing some sort of fighting game on the street. But Shenzi was no where to be seen. Buffy leaned her face closer to the glass to see if she could she her when "BOO!" Shenzi appeared just out side the window. Giles and Buffy fell back. Buffy landed on her ass while Giles fell against the couch. Shenzi still stood just out side. At least she wasn't covered in blood. She looked prettier. She, like her brothers, had lost the uniforms for some more casual clothes. She wore tight leather pants and a reveling, low-cut, black top. She put her hand to the window and scratched her nail's down it like you would do to a black-board. The screeching was somehow more painful than usual. Everyone covered their ears and squinted their eyes till suddenly it stopped. Buffy looked over at the window and was relived that Shenzi was gone. But there were some nasty claw marks going down the glass.
"They're playing with us." Willow cried. "They're playing with us till they can kill us." Giles was a attempting to calm her down. Buffy stayed by the window. Almost daring Shenzi to show herself again. She ran the tips of her fingers down the claw marks, almost to see if they had come through to this side. They didn't.
After Willow had calmed down she announced that she had an idea.
"Last year I found this spell to call forth a god or goddess for your aid. Because I wasn't strong enough, all I got was some essence. But it still worked. Maybe I can call a god or goddess to protect us from Damian and his family."
Buffy wanted to tell her not to bother. Spells don't seem to last long on Damian, or not at all. But if it made everyone feel better, why not try? Moral is important in times like these.
Willow found the spell and told everyone to stand in a circle. "I'm going to call forth the goddess's Athena, Brigit and Demeter. They are the goddess's of protection and Athena is the goddess of war and wisdom. I really think they might help."
Everyone did as Willow told them. Buffy had to admit, this felt a little silly. As if a goddess would come to their rescue?
As Willow read out a chant in some ancient language, Buffy did as she was told and imagined a bright light in the middle of their circle. She was about to tell Willow that she couldn't think anymore happy thoughts when she was blinded by a bright light. In the middle of the circle was an orb the size of her head. Than it spoke:
"Speak of whom ye seek,
Of the power's need."
Willow look taken back. "This is different."
She stepped a forward "We seek a goddess to help us against a Daemonicus named Damian." She said clearly.
Nothing happened for a second or two than the orb started to grow. It grew to be nearly six feet tall. Than it started to take a form. Molding in places here and there and it took Buffy a minute to realize that it was taking a human form. All of a sudden the light burst out of the orb and all that was left was bubble. In the bubble was a beautiful sleeping woman. She was wearing nothing as far as Buffy tell, but contained light covered all the necessary parts. The women opened her eyes and Buffy was amazed at the color. A bright Caribbean-Sea blue. Her hair was a strawberry blonde and it fell around her like she was amerced in water. She smiled at them.
"This is defiantly different." Willow said softly.
The women stepped out of the bubble and everything changed. Her hair was now shorter, much shorter. Near her ears and spiked upwards. And it was purple. She wore a purple leather mini skirt, a matching sleeveless top and high purple boots that reached her thighs. Even her face seemed to change. Not a soft as the bubble made her; but still the same. The only part that didn't change was her eyes; they were still a beautiful blue.
She looked around the group like she wasn't impressed with what she saw.
"Who was it that summoned me?" Her voice seemed angry; maybe they had disturbed something important.
Willow looked frightened. "I…I did."
The women walk, no stalked over to her. She was taller than Willow and Willow looked worryingly up at the women.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Willow Rosenberg." She responded shakily.
"You're a witch, and a good one. No one has been able to summon a god since the Dark Ages." The women seemed impressed. She turned to look at the rest of the group. She turned to Dawn and placed her hand near her forehead, not touching. "Interesting," was all she said. She did the same to Giles and Xander, than she came to Buffy. She was about to same thing but stopped mid-gustier. She smiled. "A slayer? I haven't seen one for centuries." She turned around quickly, a little too quick for Buffy's liking. She was getting a feeling she wasn't a goddess.
"I am Belit-Ili. But you can call me Lilith." She sat down in the couch like she had sat in a throne. "You asked for assistance and here I am." Her attitude changed. She liked them.
Willow turned red. "No offence, but how can you help us? Wouldn't someone like Demeter be, well, better."
Lilith looked insulted for a second, than said: "No, Demeter know nothing about Damian. Where as he and I go way back." She made circular movements with her right hand as she said it. She stopped and rested her right cheek in the palm of her hand, staring at Dawn. "How old are you?"
But before Dawn could answer, Giles stepped forward. "Too old for you!" He snapped at her. Lilith smiled and stood up as if she was pulled up by strings. She walked towards Giles and stopped in front of him, a fraction away from touching him.
"What do you see in front of you, old man? A demon or a goddess? I already sense that more of you see me as a demon. If you continue to treat me as one, I will become one. It's all about belief. And the demon belief is becoming majority."
Xander looked confused. "I thought we were calling a goddess, or a few?"
Lilith smiled at him than turned to Giles. "Tell him, Watcher." She sat back down in the couch.
Giles took of glasses and rubbed his eyes. "And if I insult you?" he asked.
"Pray that you don't." She said smiling. The snake must have smiled at Eve that way.
"Lilith is a biblical figure." Giles said. "She was said to be the first real first wife of Adam. Both were made out of clay and sticks. Both were equal. When Lilith refused to bow before him, they argued and she left, mating with every demon she came along to. God sent three angels to bring her back or kill her. She refused to return to Adam so they threaten her with her life. She pleaded for her life and they took pity on her. The spared her life, but each night she would give birth to one hundred children and each night the three angels would slaughter them." Giles turned to Lilith who just sat there with a look that Buffy couldn't read. But if she had to guess it looked like pain. When she said nothing, Giles continued.
"It is said in Jewish mythology, that Lilith was the cause of still birth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and the deaths of young children." He glanced at Dawn as he said it. "It is said it is because God has her children slaughtered so she slaughters God's children. But she is also the pagan goddess for individuality and sexuality. But in Satanism, she the wife of Lucifer. She is the only being in many religions under the same name that contradict everything that she is." Buffy turned to look at Lilith who sat there with a Cheshire cat grin on her face.
Lilith sat and listened as Buffy and her friends discussed the situation that they were in. Buffy had tried to get Dawn to go to bed; but she refused. She sat on the opposite side of the room from Lilith. Like her big sister, Dawn was a bit wary of Lilith.
They decided to use Lilith while she was here. If she didn't co-operate, Willow had the banishing spell ready. Buffy walked over to her. Lilith was now spread out on the one-seated couch with her long legs over the arm. She was playing with her nails.
"Ok, tell us what we need to know." Buffy said bravely.
Lilith stopped what she was doing and turned her head slowly to Buffy. She looked as if she was in another world listening to music that only she could hear. And Buffy had disturbed her.
"What would you like to know, B?" Buffy hated being called B; it always reminded her of Faith.
"About Damian, how do I get rid of him?"
Lilith sat up and rested her elbows on her knees, head in her hands. She looked up at Buffy. The gesture made her look innocent.
"Did you sleep with him?" she asked.
The question took Buffy aback. She was about to defend herself, started to say no, but then she close her mouth. Now she wasn't so sure. Her lack of an answer was proof enough for Lilith.
"Did you do a pregnancy test?"
Buffy shock her head, trying not to cry. This was not the conversation she wanted.
Lilith tutted and shock her head. She looked up at Buffy.
"Then it seems, lovie that you might not be able to get rid of him." Lilith placed her hand to Buffy stomach. It seemed like a strange thing to do. But Buffy didn't like where she was getting at.
"Congratulations, you are now carrying a spawn of Satan." Buffy felt her knees turn to jelly. The world turned to dots and then everything went black.
Buffy awoke in her bed, light streaming through the curtains. She heard soft whispering from the corner of her room. She moved her head. She felt fine. Nothing hurt, but her ego was a bit bruised; she never fainted before. The voices sounded familiar. She slowly sat up and saw Lilith and, to her surprise, the albino women. Lilith was talking to her in another language. The albino just stood there, her arms crossed under her breasts, nodding. She looked at Buffy and smiled. Buffy all of a sudden felt better for some reason. She wanted to go the albino and touch her, be embraced by her. It was a strange feeling. The albino put up a hand and Lilith instantly stopped. She then walked over to the bed and sat on the side. "How are you feeling? She asked in her sweet voice.
Buffy couldn't talk, her throat was dry. She managed a nod. Then she tried to say "where are my friends?" but she couldn't. The albino handed her a glass of water from her bedside table and Buffy gulped it down greedily.
"Your friends are downstairs. I can tell Lilith to get them if you would like?" Buffy shock her head. Somehow if her friends were to come up, the albino would surely leave. She needed to know who she was.
"Your Grace?" Lilith interrupted. The albino turned, but didn't look at her. "Leave us Lilith. But don't go far." With that Lilith gave a small bow and exited.
Buffy sat up more comfortably and the albino watched her curiously. When Buffy found she could sit up without dizziness she turned to the white lady sitting on the edge of the bed. Now that she got a closer look, the albino wasn't in fact and albino. She was a pale, shining creature. The power radiating off her was like the spring wind. It was a good feeling. Parents would probably get this feeling holding their baby for the first time. The while lady's hair was still Christmas tree tinsel silver. Her eyes were the palest blue; paler than Spike's. Her skin and the whites of her eyes were pale silver. She lips were full and pale pink. She wore no make-up. She looked like and angel. But she was more powerful, much more powerful. She was dressed in a while summer dress with white sandals. She had no jewelry. Jewelry wouldn't do her justice.
"I am sorry for what Damian has done to you." The white lady said. "It is un-heard of; impregnating non-demonic beings, even a slayer. But there is nothing that can be done. Once impregnated, the child cannot be aborted." She looked sad as she said it. Buffy didn't want her to be sad. She reached out to Buffy's face and, without touching, ran her fingers down her side of her cheek. "I will talk to him about it." She smiled at her. Buffy felt like it was Christmas and she was five again. It was pure happiness, seeing her smile. "And I will tell the children to stop disturbing you. But Shenzi might feel threatened. If you have a girl, Shenzi might feel her life is in jeopardy. But she not attack or she will have to answer to her father's anger. Shenzi does not answer well to Damian's wraith." She got up to leave.
"Please don't go" Buffy managed to get out. "Who are you?" The white lady just smiled.
"That, you are not ready to hear. Lilith is to stay with you at all times. I will tell her to tone down her attitude. Amazingly, she can be quite pleasant. If I do say so myself." She nodded at Buffy and disappeared in a whisk of white shimmering light.
"Well." Lilith said on entering, "She has always been the one for flashy exits and entrances. And is it just me, or does she love the sound of her voice or what?"
Buffy didn't want to admit to Lilith, but she loved the sound of the white lady's voice. "Who is she?" she asked Lilith.
"What she say?"
"I wasn't ready to know."
Lilith gave a nice smile. "Than maybe you're not. Do you want me to get your friends?" She jerked her thumb to the door. Buffy nodded and watched Lilith leave. She couldn't wait to tell them about what the white lady said. She wondered what they thought of her.
To be continued…