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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode Three – The Harvest Prologue

By

Celgress

Summers Residence in California mid-January 2016, late afternoon

Buffy Summers, recently turned sixteen-years-old, stood at the front door of her house. She carefully considered her next move. Although she had faced down demons & monsters, stood shoulder to shoulder with legendary superheroes in high-stakes battles (see the events of "Oblivion Paradox" and "Where You Need to Be" for further information about Buffy's globe-trotting adventures) she was paralyzed by fear. Battling the forces of evil was nothing compared to dealing with her disappointed parents. While she could have stayed on Vigilance Station a while longer (see Legion of Superheroes) she knew doing so did not offer a real solution to her problems. She had to patch things up with her estranged family if she wanted a halfway normal life. There were no two ways about it. With great hesitant and a sense of foreboding Buffy gently knocked (with her enhanced strength she would otherwise have caused serious damage) on the door surface. Minutes passed without an answer. At first, Buffy thought no one was home. She was about to leave when the door opened. Her mother Joyce stood there dumbfounded as did her younger sister Dawn.

"Buffy," Joyce said although the name seemed more a question than a greeting on her lips.

"Yeah, it's me, surprise mom," Buffy said weakly.

"Where have you been these past six months?" Joyce asked. "I was worried sick."

"With friends," Buffy said. "I'll tell you everything later, but I'd rather speak inside." Buffy glanced over her shoulder at the few neighbors who were milling about. Joyce gestured for Buffy to follow her and Dawn then closed the door behind them. "Where's dad? Is he not home from work yet?" Buffy inquired looking around for her absentee father as she followed her mother and Dawn to the living room.

"Your father won't be joining us today, Buffy," Joyce said a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Is he working late again?" Buffy asked. That was her father always plugging away at his job so he could provide them with a happy home life.

"Dad isn't coming home today or any other day! He left us because of what you did, Buffy!" Dawn snapped at Buffy hatred in her eyes.

"W-What, what do you mean?" Buffy stammered taken off guard by Dawn's venomous response to her seemingly innocent question.

"Your father moved to Arizona this fall. He decided he needed a 'break from all the stress'." Joyce explained her usual happy voice tinged with anger. "After what happened there was talk."

"You mean after I disappeared from the hospital?" Buffy asked.

"And got arrested for arson when you almost burnt down that club in June," Dawn said. "Dad and mom are getting a divorce. Our family has been torn apart, happy?"

"That's enough Dawn," Joyce said.

"But mom she needs to know the damage he actions have caused." Dawn protested.

"I'll handle things from here," Joyce said.

"But mom," Dawn said.

"No more buts," Joyce said.

"T-there were vampires at the Bronze I had no choice. They were going t-," Buffy began.

"Buffy I don't want to hear about vampires anymore or demons or associated monsters. They aren't real," Joyce said cutting off her eldest daughter. Unlike metahumans, mutants and certain aliens vampires were still considered legend by the general public. "You should have stayed in the hospital. You're clearly still delusional. You need help and I'm going to see you get it." Joyce retrieved her smartphone from her pants pocket.

"Don't," Buffy said shaking her head fearfully tears in her eyes. "Don't send me back there! I'll be good! No more monster talk! Please, mom, I'll do anything! I can't go back there! I'll die if I do! I know I will!"

"Do you promise to see a psychiatrist?" Joyce said. Buffy nodded vigorously. "And no more talk of vampires or demons?" Buffy again nodded.

"Just don't send me back there, mom," Buffy said.

"Alright, Buffy," Joyce said after taking a deep breath. "You can stay if you receive counseling."

"Mom what if she's dangerous?" Dawn pointed out.

"I'm not dangerous," Buffy said her wet eyes grew wide with disbelief at her sister's allegation. "I'd never hurt you or mom or anyone. How could you suggest I would, Dawn?"

"For all we know you're some sort of mentally unstable mutant. We have to protect ourselves." Dawn fired back.

"Dawn," Joyce said. "Buffy isn't a mutant. Her X-Gene test came back negative."

"She could be a metahuman though," Dawn said suspiciously.

"Even if Buffy is a metahuman being a metahuman isn't a crime Dawn, in spite of what certain politicians tell us," Joyce said. "Many metahumans are created sheerly by accident. You can't hold something against your sister beyond her control."

"Dad ran out on us because of her! He said so!" Dawn shouted trying a different line of attack.

"Dawn, calm down," Joyce said. "What your father did is on him no one else."

"Mom I can't believe you are siding with Buffy! She's ruined our lives!" Dawn ranted.

"Enough," Joyce said firmly. "Go to your room Dawn, now!" In a huff, Dawn raced upstairs.

"Thanks, for standing up for me, mom," Buffy sniffed.

"Buffy I love you. You're my daughter, that will never change." Joyce said pulling Buffy into a hug. " I wish I knew how to help you."

Buffy felt her mother's sobs. "Have I made you sad mom?"

"Not at all," Joyce said. "These are tears of joy. I was so worried about you. I'm glad you're home safe. Don't ever ran away again."

"I won't," Buffy said.

Sunken Church, night

"Rejoice brethren for the hour of deliverance is almost upon us. Soon our Master will raise. With his accession, the Great Old Ones will once more walk the Earth. Trigon, Dormammu, Chthon and their siblings will lay wast to this world. The end of Humanity will arrive and we shall rejoice in our glorious reward." Boomed the deep voice of the dark-skinned male vampire Absalom.

Nearby the Master watched his zealot offspring whip the faithful into a frenzy of religious fervor. No one could quite work a crowd like Absalom. The Master remembered when sired Absalom in 15th Century Ethiopia. Absalom had been a Christian priest during his previous existence. Even then, however, Absalom had a flair for the dramatic. He would often terrify his congregation with vivid descriptions of hellfire and brimstone.

Abalsom ended his sermon with a verbal flourish reciting what he thought Hell realized on Earth would look like. "Encore, encore," Another male vampire a tall light skinned brown haired one said clapping. His name was Luke although he was better known in certain circles by his medieval nickname "The Satchel"; earned by his habit of carrying the served ears if his human victims in a pouch hooked around his belt. Once a Hospitaller Knight he had been turned by the Master in mid-12th Century Jerusalem. Beside Luke stood a fair skinned female vampire with blonde hair and a wicked smile. "Heed Brother Absalom's words sisters and brothers. He speaks the truth. In one week's time, the Harvest arrives when I become the vessel for our Master. Each human life I take will strengthen him. When I have taken enough our Master will break free of his accursed mystical prison." The members of the Order of Aurelius cheered their approval.

Luke and Darla (the blonde female) were but two of many scattered Aurelian vampires who had answered the Master's call following the demise of Lothos & Amilyn in May. Another had been Heinrich Joseph Nest a male German vampire sired by the Master in Vienne during the Black Death of 1347 C.E. Heinrich had led an attack on the Bronze Nightclub to bait the new Vampire Slayer Buffy into a fiery trap. Unfortunately, Buffy and her allies got the best of him. Heinrich alongside his gang perished in the flames. No matter, Heinrich was but one of many. If need be the Master would sacrifice his entire Order, save a few of his favorites, to gain freedom. Trapped since 1906 C.E. he yearned to once more walk the Earth. If only the Great San Francisco Earthquake had not struck the night of his ritual devastating Northern California he would be dining with his gods upon human flesh now. Alas, the best-laid plans. Still, he was confident he would succeed this time. No one could stop him or his eager minions, certainly not some snort nosed cheerleader.

To Be Continued

Author's Note -

Back from the dead! This series alongside "Legion of Superheroes" will be one of four such ongoings that will comprise Universe 7531 moving forward (the upcoming "Adventures of Spider-Man & Spinneret" will be the third I have yet to decide on a fourth). In the next full chapter, we catch up with Willow, Merrick (a twist there), Angel, Xander and a few others. Oh, and Buffy returns to school but in a much different social position which only adds to her problems.