Fury of the Beast 2/?
Feedback: Please send it. If I'm to continue this fic, I'm going to need it.
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing, and I'm not making a dime. Please do not sue.
Here's the next part.
March 15, 2000 Sunnydale
Christof and Anezka were putting their bags away in their hotel room, and placing weapons and the like under the bed.
The hotel owner thought they were just newlyweds, on their honeymoon. After all, few would think that these two could be vampires.
Both were over eight hundred years old, although Christof was not aware for that time.
Anezka, however, spent that time in servitude to a powerful vampire lord, as a ghoul. As he watched Anezka unpack with such grace, he began to remember what events brought him to this place, and time.
1141 A.D Moravia
The sun beat down on Christof and his fellow crusaders as they chased the lighter armed barbarian horde. The heavy armor they wore slowed them down, as it was very hot and uncomfortable, but it had saved Christof's life several times. The same for his broadsword, and the shield on his left arm.
The air was thick and humid, and the stench of death permeated the air, as if it was a blanket.
Christof heard the sound of light footsteps behind him. Not one of his brother crusaders, as they wore heavy armor, and would have been much louder than these footsteps.
On instinct, he spun, blade extended. He stabbed the barbarian in the stomach, causing him to grunt, dropping the battle axe that was about to dig into Christof's back.
The barbarian collapsed to the ground, while Christof pulled his blade out with practiced ease.
Not looking behind him, Christof marched on.
The battle was joined.
The barbarians were fighting with all of their strength.
The Swordbrethren fought with their superior training and weaponry. Christof was fighting a barbarian that seemed to be abnormally strong, as if the pagan gods had granted him unholy strength.
He parried a slash, then in a quick move, sliced through the heretic's neck.
He heard a sound from behind him.
Turning quickly, he felt himself flung back from the force, as if a hammer had just smashed him the stomach.
He looked down, just in time to see the arrow in his right side, before he lost strength and fell to the ground.
The last thing he saw was the sun descending in the sky.
Sight slowly returned to Christof, and the first thing he saw, was a beautiful face.
"Mother Mary?" He managed to say. His sight became clearer, and he saw that she was a nun.
The woman looked shocked for a moment, then shook her head with a small smile.
"Nay milord. Sister Anezka." The woman said, placing a candle she held on a small table next to Christof.
"Where am I?" He said. "In Prague, in the convent of the Knights of the Red Cross. Now hush. Thou hast suffered a grievous wound and must rest." She said.
Christof tried to rise from his bed. "I must return to my..AGH!" He fell back, clutching his bandaged wound with his left hand.
"Peace, I beg thee!" Anezka almost yelled, placing her hand on his right.
Both smiled at the other for a moment.
She slowly took her hand away, then picked up a scroll that sat on the table.
"Thy brave captain left this letter for thee before thy Swordbrethren carried on their crusade."
"I thank thee for this news milady. And for thy care. Surely thou hast drawn me back from the jaws of death itself." He said.
"It was the Lord that saw fit to spare thy life. We humble sisters simply attended thee."
Their talk was interrupted by a deep voice. "Sister Anezka is too modest. She ministered to thy shattered body day and night long after all others had given up hope. She did indeed, restore thy life."
The man came more into view, showing himself as a small fat man in the robes of a bishop. "I am Archbishop Geza. Thou hast done great service for Christianson, young sir. I shall make prayers of thanksgiving that thou live, and may send more sinners to Hell." Geza said.
With that, he turned and walked out of sight. "I offer all my gratitude for thy service. I am in thy debt." Christof said to Anezka.
"The rosy life in thy cheek is payment enough." The two continued to talk, not knowing of the evil creatures walking the streets.
Later that night.... A scream woke Christof from his slumber, causing his heart to race.
Groaning in pain, he rolled out of his bed, looking for his sword. He found it holstered upon a mantle next to his bed. With ease, he drew it, and ran into the next room as another scream pierced the convent.
He found two small grey creatures, only slightly humanoid, attacking Anezka and another nun. Anezka was holding them back with a torch, but they were getting more and more bold.
Shouting a war cry, Christof ran at one of them. His attack sliced into it's back, piercing the misshapen heart.
He then attacked the other creature, spinning around, sword extended. The head flew off to Christof's right. The body stood still a moment, then toppled over.
Panting, Christof dropped his sword.
"Christof! Thy wound!" Anezka almost screamed. "Nay. Tis nothing, a scratch." Then, he collapsed upon the floor, fresh blood seeping from the bandage.
----------------- Later that night.........
Christof was lying in his bed again, fresh bandages on his arrow wound. Anezka was telling him of the troubles Prague was facing.
"The mighty walls of Prague once held all demons at bay, but the Szlachta have overtaken a silver mine to the east. With a haven so close to the city they boldly walk the streets by night to kill, and worse than kill. Many have been dragged alive from their homes for some unspeakable purpose!" Anezka said.
Christof's eyes were hard as steel. "I will never let them take thee." Christof said, voice tinged with anger.
"Oh, sir!" She said, shocked.
His face darkened. "Tomorrow I will venture into the mines and flush the vermin from their holes!" He said.
"Thou must not! Thy wound is too great!" She said, fear evident her face and voice.
"Nay. I am resolved. They will pay in angry blood for the fright they have given thee!" He said, his voice cold.
"Oh sir, if they should harm thee my heart....."
Archbishop Geza interrupted them. "Come away, Anezka. Thou hast wasted enough of good Sir Christof's time."
Hanging her head slightly, she left the room.
"Christof, the Lord smiles upon thy wrath. I shall pray for thy victory." Geza said.
"I shall not fail." Christof said, voice cold.
2000
After the pair had set up in their hotel room, they began to discuss how to approach the contact here.
"Did Samuel tell you who our contact was?" Anezka asked.
"Yes, it was a woman. He couldn't tell what clan she was, though." Christof replied.
"How many women Kindred do you know, Christof?" Anezka said.
"Many, but most of them are dead. I know not who this one could be."
"So what will we do now, Christof?" "I will go and meet our contact. I suggest you go and procure a supply of vitae, both of us will need to feed soon." Anezka nodded.
"Hurry back, my love." She said.
He pulled her into a hug. "I shall, my lady."
Christof was headed for a small bar, Willy's, when he heard someone come up behind him.
"Ooooohhhhh, you look classy. Tell me, is that a new fashion, or are all vampires dressing like that these days?" He heard a girl say from behind him.
He turned around.
Buffy was patrolling the city, when she felt something unsettling.
A vampire. Powerful. Very old, very dangerous.
She went in search of it, letting her Slayer-sense guide her to it. She saw a handsome man, wearing black boots, blue jeans, a red shirt, and black leather trench coat.
He was the powerful vampire she was sensing.
She stepped up and said. "Ooooooohhhhh, you look classy. Tell me, is that a new fashion, or are all vampires dressing like that these days?"
He turned around. "And what are you? A hunter of my kind? You have no idea what you are dealing with, mortal." The vampire said.
Buffy chuckled. "A hunter? I'm the Slayer, vampy."
He rose an eyebrow. "I've never heard of a Slayer, mortal. However, you shall not slay me, for I am Christof Romuald, of the Brujah clan." He said.
She ran at him, stake in hand, and swept her legs along the ground, to trip him. He dodged, his form a blur.
She followed him with her eyes, which would be almost impossible for normal people. She took a chance, and stabbed where he would be in the next second.
He retreated with the stake in his chest. He looked down, and pulled it out. The stake was broken. Underneath his shirt, was a small glint of metal.
"A heartshield, mortal. It's hard to stake one of us when this is worn." With impossible speed, he jumped over her, and landed on the other end of the street.
"I'm impressed, mortal. I have no wish to kill you, however, and I need to meet a friend." He bowed to her, then impossibly, faded from sight.
Buffy blinked, then looked around for the master vampire.
Nothing. Not even on her Slayer-sense. He just vanished.
She shook her head, then walked for Giles' place, intending to tell him of this.
Christof watched her go, from the shadows from a nearby alley. Slayer? What speed! What power! She must not be Embraced, lest she become a deadly vampire. She nearly matched him, and he was over eight centuries old.
Even as a fledgling, she would be dangerous.
As he was, when he was Embraced. She would be as strong as an Elder, and would only get stronger. If she was ghouled, though, her master would have a powerful pawn.
He will protect her for as long as he is here. He turned around, and was about to walk out of the other side of he alley, when he saw a shadow pointing something at him. He was struck in the chest by a powerful shock.
He fell to the ground, unable to move his limbs. As he blacked out, he berated himself for allowing a mortal to ambush him.
Christof's contact waited in Willy's until two hours before sunrise, then she ran for the haven she had set up in an old apartment.
Walking inside, she took off her leather jacket, setting it on her kitchen table.
She was an attractive woman, long raven black hair, nice figure. She was wearing a knee length black skirt, and had a white t-shirt on.
"Where are you, Christof? You were supposed to meet me in Willy's three hours ago."
She was tired. Tired of guarding this place. Tired of foiling the demonic vampires that sought to end the world. Tired of living. Tired of surviving on the blood of the innocent. Tired of being the last of her clan.
She rubbed her face, and walked into the bathroom.
Her reflection stared back at her, a pale, tired visage. Sighing, she went to her bedroom to sleep through the day.
"You're certain about what this master vampire said? Brujah clan?" Giles said.
Buffy nodded. "He said he was Christof Romuald, of the Brujah clan, whatever that means."
The gang had gathered, minus Riley, at Giles' place. The Initiative had called Riley to patrol for demons.
Giles was sitting in his chair, Buffy and Xander on the couch, Willow and Tara were standing near the kitchen, Anya was reading through one of the books.
Giles sighed. "I know that the Watchers have heard about several strange vampire clans. One of them is the Brujah."
"What does that mean, Brujah?" Xander asked.
"I don't know what the name means, but I believe I know what the clan means."
He paced, took off his glasses, and rubbed his eyes for a moment.
"I've heard legends of vampire clans, with blood thicker than the blood of the vampires we normally fight. They are closer to the first vampire than the ones we've met, with the exception being the Master. According to legend, they gain strength and strange powers." Giles said slowly.
"Trust me, if a vampire is a member of these clans, they're very dangerous." Anya said
"Anya?" Giles asked.
"I've heard of some of these clans when I was a demon. Some are benign, just trying to survive, others are really nasty. They've learned how to unlock the powers of their blood."
"That would explain why he was so strong, and why he vanished from my sight. How can we fight something with that kind of power?" Buffy said.
"We could set up a spell of quickening, Buffy. It would let you move a little faster and enhance your senses, but you'll be in a lot of pain the next day." Willow said.
"Let's save that for a last resort. We need to find out where Spike and other demons have disappeared to. We can't let him set up a plan to kill us. It will be especially terrible if Spike allies himself with this new vampire." Giles said.
"Why don't we just ask Soldier-boy if he's seen them?" Xander said.
"I'm certain Riley would have told us if he knew where they were, after all, we're working on the same side." Giles said.
Xander looked at his watch, swore, then stood up. "Look, I'm going to call it a night, I gotta get up early tomorrow." He said.
"I've got to help Giles track down info on these vampires. I'm the only one here who knows what to look for." Anya said.
"Good night, Xander." Giles said.
He nodded, then walked out the door.
Giles rubbed his eyes again, then put his glasses back on. "I've still got a few friends in the Watcher's Council, I'll call them and see if they know about this, Christof Romuald."
The next night......
Anezka woke an hour before sundown, very worried for Christof.
She paced for that hour in the little room, thinking about the time Christof came to meet her, the night of his Embrace.
After the sunset, she left the hotel room, searching for Christof. As she stepped out, she looked at the sky that was filled with stars. She found the night sky quite beautiful, and she seemed to shine in the moon's light.
She walked to Willy's, thinking that was the best place to start.
Anezka walked into Willy's, looking for fellow Kindred.
Anezka found her fellow Kindred sitting in the back, almost hidden by the shadows.
The woman looked up. "Who are you?" She said.
"I am Anezka, childe of Christof Romuald."
The woman's eyes widened.
"Ah, you're looking for him? I set the meeting up for yesterday, but he didn't show." The woman said.
"Who are you?" Anezka asked.
She stayed silent for a moment.
"I don't know anymore." She whispered.
She rose her head slightly. "I've heard of a group around here, they're called the Initiative. They've been taking vampires and other demons for some reason. What, I don't know. What I do know is that their base is under the Lowell house on UC Sunnydale campus." The woman said.
"Thanks, I'm in your debt." Anezka said.
"Just help Christof. And be wary of the Slayer"
Anezka looked puzzled, then asked. "What's a Slayer?"
The woman sighed. "A mortal, with the power of a vampire. Very strong, very agile. She can tell when we're around, unless we cloak our energy. Be wary, the one guarding this place is stronger than most."
"How do you know all this?" Anezka asked.
"I've been here for quite some time, and I've had time to learn about the creatures around here, and the people who keep them at bay." The woman said.
"Thanks." Anezka said. The woman nodded, then seemed to become very plain, as if she became unremarkable. Anezka walked out the door.
Christof tossed and turned in his cell, remembering the fateful night he became Kindred.
1141 Prague
Outside the convent
Christof walked away from the convent, thinking about his own selfish heart.
How could he ask Anezka to renounce God for him?
How could he consider dragging her pure soul down into Hell with him?
He was damned for his lust. For loving a holy nun, who had taken holy orders so that she may be elevated to Heaven.
Who was he to damn her along with him? He loved her too much.
He would do God's work, and redeem his sinner's soul.
He walked by the town well, feeling his broadsword drag on the cobblestones.
He heard a ghostly laugh. He drew his sword, the wound in his side giving him little trouble now.
He slowly walked into the alley he heard the laugh come from, feeling his heart beat quickly.
A crow cawed and flew off, causing Christof to look at it for a moment.
He began to calm down, then he was picked up and thrown into the far wall by an unseen force.
He rubbed the back of his head, as he rose to his feet. He saw a redheaded woman, dressed in yellow finery, the lower half of her face concealed by a yellow scarf.
He readied himself to strike at her. "Hold fast." She said. And his body was caught, he was stuck standing in place, and a force made him drop his sword.
"Release me! I command thee!" He said, almost growling at her. She began walking around him. "Thou struggles nobly. I love such passion." She said.
She gripped his jaw and turned his face to the left. "A lesser man could not even speak in my grasp." She said. She let him go, and walked in front of him.
"What art thou? A demon sent from Hell?" He said.
"I am here to save thee, Christof. To deliver thee from thy mortal shackles."
Struggling, he managed to grip the iron cross on his belt, and lifted it into the demon's face. "By the power of the Lord Eternal I banish thee from my presence!" He growled.
Then another unseen force forced his to drop the cross. "Poor child. Thy faith died long ago." She began to walk around him again.
"Amidst a dread battle thou came to realize thy true nature. Thou art a killer of men, no matter how thou dost try to justify thy deeds. Thou kills not, when compelled by God, but when ordered by men."
Christof struggled, and then her words sunk in.
It was true.
He was a killer.
She stood before him again.
"Now come to me. I am the mother of thy rebirth." She said.
"I know thy ways demon! I have lore enough to kill thee!" He said.
"Nay, thou art as helpless in my hands as a naked babe." She said, as she removed the scarf.
The lower half of her face........
It was decayed. Rotted. Two gleaming fangs were evident. Her eyes began to glow red, and she hissed.
"Nay!" He yelled.
She leaned into the side of his neck, and he felt her fangs penetrate the soft flesh.
His scream echoed off of the buildings.
2000
He awoke in his bright white cell, hearing voices outside of it.
Keeping his eyes closed, he listened.
"This hostile is strange. He has some of the characteristics of the typical bloodsucker we capture around here, but not others." One voice said, in a monotone that only lab workers could have.
"How so?" Another voice, deep and strong, said.
"He needs blood, we've noticed that. But he seems to have power beyond that of normal vamps."
"Perhaps we caught a really strong one?"
"I'm not sure. His skin and blood samples are different. They didn't dissolve at the same rate as the others. He seems to have a kind of energy reading that the others lack."
"Hmmm. Maybe a new species of hostile?"
"Yeah, we'll have to add this to the list."
"Has the chip been implanted yet?"
"No, we're busy with other hostiles. This one is odd, but I see little point in keeping this one for testing. We'll throw him into the daylight tomorrow afternoon."
"Understood. We'll prepare for the termination."
The voices stopped, and walked away.
Christof sat up.
"Good to see you're awake, mate. Those little mad scientists did a number on you." A British sounding voice said.
Christof looked over into the next cell.
There was a Caitiff there.
No. Not a Caitiff, but one of those demonic vampires Anezka met.
"The name's Spike." The demonic vampire said.
Just so you know, reviews are the coin of the realm. More feedback equals more chapters.