A/N: It's about that time again – prepare to enter the black void that is my mind BWHAHAHA
Seriously, sorry about the long update – ThePrejudiceSpaniard has been reminding me that I haven't updated in a little while (oops) so this chapter is for you
Chapter 10 – Answers
The Scooby gang sat in their new quarters; normally the massive quarters would have elicited awe from its inhabitants, but they were too emotionally drained. After having lost hope of seeing their friend again, only to have it returned then snatched away. Desperately, they tried to hold on to what little hope they had left.
"It's still Buffy, she just doesn't remember us right now," Willow said, trying to convince herself as much as the others.
"Yeah, it's B if she was a blood thirsty demon," Faith retorted back. Willow leaned into Xander for support.
Giles cleaned his glasses and said, "I believe the best course of action is to interact with Buffy as much as possible. We don't know what has happened to cause her to lose her memory, but it's more likely to return around familiar surroundings."
"That's going to be easier said than done, she wants nothing to do with us," Xander said sadly. The room fell silent, until a knock on the door.
The Scooby gang were surprised to find that their visitor was Harry Potter…and his demon bodyguard, Gawain. Harry smiled nervously at the group, while Gawain just appeared bored.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?" Harry asked quietly. The teenagers stared at the boy in astonishment.
"Why? So you can keep B on a tighter leash?" Faith growled, making a movement towards the boy but stopped when Gawain produced a knife from…somewhere.
"No! I just want to understand Slayer better…I want to know what she was like before…" Harry said, trying to gauge the reactions of his audience. Faith had resorted to her cold mask, and Willow and Xander were looking at the boy sceptically. Only Giles appeared to take the boy's comments seriously.
"Very well, what is it you would like to know?"
Harry thought for a moment, and Gawain spoke up.
"Why do you remain here, when you know you're Buffy is dead?"
Faith glared at the demon, "B isn't dead! You've brainwashed her, or something. We'll get her back."
"If Slayer hasn't remembered her former life in a hundred years, what makes you think that your mere presence will suddenly resurrect her memories?" he asked condescendingly. That stopped the group, and Willow stared unbelieving at the demon.
"What do you mean, 'a hundred years'? Buffy's only seventeen, and she doesn't look old, because if she was over a hundred she'd be old, and withered, and probably dead, but definitely not the way she looks now," Willow babbled and Xander held her hand and told her to breath.
Gawain looked at his master for a moment, and shrugged.
"A spell was placed on her while she was being tortured, to prevent her from dying during the process. It had the unexpected affect of apparently prolonging her life; though there was some debate that she, in actuality, was a demon. She has lived a little over a hundred years and has spent almost all of it in service of our former master."
The second Slayer, powerful demon hunter, slid to the floor as her legs could no longer support her.
"Is Slayer really different from Buffy?" Harry asked quietly, surprised by the depth of the group's sorrow – but heartened that Slayer had been loved so much.
Faith chuckled dryly.
"Except for being a demon who wants to kill us, she's exactly like B – even with her weird sense of humour." Gawain chuckled at that, remembering how that humour had amazed him while he watched her being tortured.
"Then why can't you leave her be?" Harry asked somewhat desperately. Giles eyed the boy speculatively, wondering why the boy was agitated.
"Because she's still not B…and I promised her mom I would bring her home," Faith added quietly, receiving surprised looks from her friends who hadn't known about the promise.
"But she would never agree to becoming human!"
"Why? She is human," Willow stating what she thought was obvious.
"Slayer dislikes humans, at the best she'll tolerate them – with the exception of master," Gawain said emotionlessly, not liking the turn in the conversation; his own feelings on being half-human brought to the surface.
Harry nodded in agreement.
"She said it's because a human she had treated well tried to kill her, and 'all humans are just pathetic slaves who didn't have the intelligence to rebel against their mistreatment'," Harry quoted.
Tears ran down Willow and Xander's faces, as the events of the last few days overwhelmed them.
"Harry, as Buffy's, um, master you can help us to regain her trust and memory," Giles stated, watching the boy.
Harry opened his mouth, then shut it, and thought some more. Gawain placed a hand on his master's shoulder and said, "My lord will inform you of his decision," and disappeared.
Giles turned to the drained teenagers, and sighed.
"Everyone better get some sleep, we have class to teach tomorrow."
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Slayer grumbled as she walked through the massive hallways of the demon palace. After Harry had ordered her to stay away -- far away -- while he talked to her 'friends', she returned home. Slightly ashamed, she realized that she had forgotten about the time differences between the two dimensions – so it had been nearly ten years. Relieving the regent had been easy, but what to do with the empire now that Caligula was dead?
The demon was pretty sure her new master didn't want to live in a demon dimension, which left the empire in her hands.
Oh, goody.
So here she was, taking control of one of the most expansive and feared demonic empires. A grin broke out across her face as she realized that at least one or two of the demons will try to wrench control from her. A few years of bloodshed before she returned to her master would make it easier to follow his ridiculous 'no killing' policy.
She walked into the throne room and sat down, surveying the regents of the various territories.
"Caligula is dead. I killed him. Any questions?" she asked cheekily, to the amusement of her guards. She had left the Elite with her master, but that didn't mean she was without aid. Caligula had allowed Slayer to take control of the breeding program for the Elite and now the Empire was filled with soldiers loyal only to her.
"You aren't even a demon, you can't rule!" one demon shouted – before he felt to the ground headless.
"Any other questions?" Slayer asked, casually wiping the blood of her sword. The demons exchanged glances; the only reason they had feared Caligula for so long was because of the Elite and Slayer. Frantically, they nodded their assent and vowed allegiance. Slayer smiled.
"Excellent! Return to your territories and inform your subjects of the change of rule – and there better be celebrations in the streets," Slayer stated, the threat clear in her voice.
One of her soldiers came forward as the demons left.
"Slayer, Danann has been bought, as you requested."
Slayer nodded and the feared torturer was brought into the room. Even though he had tortured the current lord, Danann wasn't worried; he had long since lost that particular emotion. He was, however, curious what the new master wanted with him. Revenge, or for something else…?
"You wished to see me, my lord?"
"Yes, I was tortured by you for a year, do you remember?" Danann nodded, watching the demon carefully.
"You are the considered the greatest torturer ever, but you failed with me." It was a statement of fact, but the torturer nodded regardless.
"Why did you fail?"
"My lord?"
"You gained nothing; my name, my home dimension…why?"
Danann studied the demon, wondering if she wanted to truth or something she wanted to hear. Deciding to take the risk, he told the truth.
"You hid, my lord."
Slayer frowned.
"What do you mean: 'hid'?"
"You hid your memories within your own mind – somewhere that even you could not touch them. Far beyond the subconscious, and far beyond my reach."
"Are the memories destroyed…or can they be recovered?" Slayer asked, after a moment's hesitation.
"I do not know, my lord. I have never come across a creature before you that attempted such a feat. I have waited, hoping you would provide me with an answer."
The torturer was dismissed and Slayer sat back in her throne, thinking.
That is something we both have in common, torturer; both of us want answers that are dependent on the actions of someone else…
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Harry sat outside, watching the clouds. Thinking about what Mr. Giles had asked him; thinking about what he wanted; thinking about what was the right thing to do.
A familiar presence knelt by the boy, and Harry asked, "Where's Slayer?"
"She tying up loose ends in our home dimension; since Caligula is dead Slayer can take charge," Gawain answered, paused for a moment, then said, "Are you thinking of the human's request, young master?"
Harry nodded, continuing to watch the sky.
"I'm afraid," Harry said so quietly that Gawain barely heard it.
"Of what, master? You have nothing to fear while the Elite guard you."
"That's what I'm afraid of. I'm afraid that you'll leave me and I'll be alone again…" Harry turned to look at Gawain.
"I'm afraid if Slayer gains her memories she'll leave me."
The two sat quietly, both lost in their memories.
"When I was born, I was taken from my human mother and taken to a training facility. I lived there for fourteen years; during that time I watched many friends die. I then spent twenty years training with various Elite members until they died. Then I became the leader of the Elite, and I wasn't expected to live five years. But even though I was feared, I had no power or respect. I was the dispensable half-breed general. Then Slayer came, and where we were once only feared we are now respected. There are more half-breed soldiers – and more powerful – then all the other demons. She may not have her memories, but she knows I am the one responsible for her being taken from her home."
Gawain looked directly into Harry's eyes, sincerity shining.
"Yet, she still calls me comrade. If I could go back in time, I would do nothing different. Demons are selfish creatures, master, but we won't lose what is important for these morals humans are so fond of."
Harry laid down on the grass, considering Gawain's words.
"But I'm not a demon."
"Neither was Slayer."
TBC
Don't worry, I won't make you wait a week to find out Harry's choice – I think…