Chapter 15: Reward
"What are you going to do now?" Buffy was asked.
"Me?" Buffy questioned, looking around her. She found and defeated the bad guy, now everything felt anticlimactic. She was tired; couple of hours of sleep doesn't make a good Buffy. It was a deep down to the bone weariness. For the last couple of years she resented the fact she had been fighting for the last five hundred years. She was tired of putting out fires, but didn't want to give up what she was. This was what she knows, but she wanted to rest. She needed one. While she was being introspective, a bright flash of light abounds across the room.
"Hey there Slayer" a voice called from of the shadows, startling the group.
There was a collective growl as they saw the demon.
"Whistler," Buffy said lackluster. She wasn't really surprised to see him. She thought she would have seen before this. At first, she had thought Sabine's magic that caused her not to care but soon she was dissuadedof that notion. It was her sense of ennui.
He looked at her surprised; where was her fire, her passion. She seemed snapped of all of her energy. The powers had told him, but he didn't believe it. They said their warrior was giving up, and she deserved a reward. "I am here to help you," he said softly.
"How?" Buffy scoffed. "Telling me there is another apocalypse to stop. I heard that and done that. I am tired Whistler, I don't think I can fight anymore," she said, her voice tight. Julian gathered Buffy into his arms. "We both are," he said.
Whistler nodded thoughtfully as he walked around the room. "I am here to give you a reward," he announced. "And also to send Drusilla home, she doesn't belong here."
Do you mean to tell me this is really Drusilla from home," Buffy asked with incredulous air, as she watched the mad vampiress, skipping merrily from one dead body to the next.
"Yes," Whistler said. "It was a mistake that need to be corrected. She upsets the balance. Isn't that what you were trying to achieved here," he said with a gesture. "No one person should have absolute power. There must be give and take, and in your world it's good and evil."
"Come Drusilla," he said. "You are going home.
The vampiress skipped up to Whistler and hold unto his hand, like a small child, and for a minute sanity shone through her eyes. "Good bye Sasha," she said with a wave of her hand. "I will think about you always and your kindness towards me. Goodbye poppa Julian," she said, and then she turned towards Buffy. She licks her lips. "Bye Mummy Buffy," she said crisply. "I'll take care of my other Papa for you," she said.
Buffy stiffened, and then she sighed. She can be afford to be generous she thought. "Goodbye Drusilla, take care of yourself," said, walking over to give her a hug.
Julian jerked up in surprise at her affection to Drusilla, knowing of Buffy's animosity towards the other woman.
"She leaving," Buffy said with a shrug. "I can be generous. Plus she didn't do anything to me.
"Good girl," Julian said with a wry grin.
"I'll be right back," Whistler said and in a flash, he was gone. It only took a minute before he came back. "Now," he said dusting off his hand. The powers heard your cry and recognized your hearts desire. And because of that you will be both taken out of the game."
"What!" Buffy said her jaw dropping open in shock. "I don't want to die," she announced.
"What!" Julian shouted pushing Buffy aside and to storm Whistler menacingly.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Whistler shouted his eyes open in fright, backing slowly away. "Who said anything about dying?" he demands.
"You did," said Buffy, her voice strained.
"No, no," he said waving his hands in denial. "No I didn't. All I said I was taking you out of the game."
"B-ut," Buffy stammered. "But to take me out is to kill me."
"Not necessarily, the world needs champions," he said. "Champions who would fight for justice, truth and the American way."
Buffy narrowed her eyes at him.
"All right," he said smiling.
Buffy shuddered slightly. It was weird seeing Whistler smiling. It was like a baby shark, all teeth. She could imagine that mouth full of teeth coming towards you, until snap. It would have you into his clutches.
"I digress," he said. "This world will always need warriors of light and you Buffy Summers are a warrior."
"So if I am not dying what will happen to me?"
"You will sleep."
"What?" she said, not sure she had heard right.
"Sleep," he repeated. "You will be put in a stasis never knowing hunger, pain, fear etc. Until the world needs you."
Buffy looked uncertainly at Julian's he smiled down at her. "I am tired," she said aloud. "But…"
Seeing where her eyes lingered. And knowing her heart, he said. "Julian and you will be together. The world needs you both."
Julian arms tighten around Buffy shoulders. He didn't want to give up his love. They had so many years together, but still it wasn't enough. "How about my city, he asked. As if that was all he cared about. Buffy patted his arm comfortably. She knew her worth in his eyes. "If I leave there will be chaos.
Whistler pursed his lips as if in thought. But he knows what he was going to do would upset the balance. But right now, it couldn't be help. "How about Daedalus?"
"Daedalus?" cried Cash shock. A Nosferatu having a city. It was never heard of. A prince needed to be visual to reassure the people and to stop petty arguing.
"Yes Daedalus," said Julian looking at his long time friend. He didn't see what was wrong with Daedalus being Prince of a city. He would make a great ruler. Little would he know that when Daedalus took reigns of the city, something would shift into balance, it would create a brand new world, but at that moment, he did not know that, and if he did, he would not care. He will be with his beloved Lissa. "Will you hold this city my friend, make it yours. Rule with a soft fist and an iron glove," he said.
Daedalus eyes were alight with wonder. No one trusted him as much as Julian did with his beloved city. "I will be honored," he said. "I will rule this city as long as you permit me to," he said bowing regally.
"What!" cried Cameron. "You give your city to the Nosferatu," he asked, gazing at Julian in disbelieve. "You allowed the woman to make you soft."
"Be careful what you say," growled Daedalus, his hands sporting claws. "Do you want to fight me for the city? I'm willing to accommodate you," he said.
"I-I," said Cameron looking around him. "He was surrounded by Gangrel, Ventrue, Toreadors and Nosferatu. His own delegation was surrounded.
"Enough!" yelled Julian. "I am not gone yet, and yet you are bickering." He sighed rubbing his forehead as if in pain. "My decision is finally," he snapped. "Daedalus will have this city. I will sign papers over to that affect. Sasha, Cash, help Daedalus, be his hands and ears. He cannot be visual as you can, so both of you will help and support him.
"I will," said Cash, concerned but didn't know how to show it. Daedalus was a great person, but can he run a city when he can't be seen in public. He shook his head slightly.
"Oh Uncle Julian!" Sasha cried rushing Julian to be gathered up into his arms. Her crying jags only last for a few minutes, and she gently disengaged her self from his arms. "I'm going to miss you," she said, red tears stain on her face.
Stoic Buffy turned towards Whistler. "How long we'll be gone," she asked, fighting back tears.
"I don't know," he said, studying her thoughtfully for a moment. "But I can give you some hope."
"What?" Buffy questioned eying him suspiciously.
"When you wake up, the world will know that vampire exists," he said.
"What?" said Julian, gawking in disbelief. "We'll no longer be hunted," he said taking a step towards him.
"Uh, I never said that," Whistler said, dancing out of reach. "Say your goodbyes, I will come for you in two hours," he said as he disappears.
"Whistler? Whistler! Get back here!" Julian shouted.
"Let him go my love," Buffy said drawing him back. "We have a lot of goodbyes to say."
Julian nod, irate with balance demon.
"Are you sure you want to do this," Buffy said.
"Don't you know I'll do anything for you," he said.
"I know, but what do you want," she asked struggling with uncertainty. Is this the right thing to do," she wondered.
He sighs. "Bebe, I know that for the last few days you had been feeling as if the world has been on your shoulders. I understand you wanted a break. Well here is an opportunity for you and me, get out of the rat race. I love you enough to do this with you, for you."
"Well," she said, biting her lips. "If you are sure."
"I am sure," he said firmly.
"I am going to miss everyone," she said, sadly walking into his arms.
"Me too," Julian said softly in her hair. "Me too. Although what he just said to Lissa was true. Part of him is wondering if he's doing the right thing. But one thing he does know, he can't imagine living without Lissa. Where she goes, he goes.
During the next two hours, Buffy called several people including the president of the US. She told him about what her aspiration she had for the Unit, and who she wanted to succeed her. Although she tried to put it off, she called the Levy's telling them about the sacrifice their son had made. At the time, they did not want to hear it, but they were willing to pick up his body. Paavo had changed Charity in time, and she was now Ventrue Kindred, and it will takes several more days before she could feed on her own. The Spell members mind was still damaged and Cash and Sasha promise to take care of them. Julian took Daedalus aside and reminded him about his vision to see that the Kindred have a better life. With everything was taken care of to their satisfaction, except on thing, their sons. Jordan and Alain. Both men had come into town earlier that day, maybe it was instinct or fate, they would never know. But they had chosen that time to visit.
Buffy and Julian turned towards them, caressing their feature with their gaze, memorizing every line, every dot of their face. Buffy heart ached. She was saying goodbye to her babies. Although physically they were grown men.
"Jordan and Alain," said Julian, manly trying to fight back tears. "It's been a privilege and honor to watch both of you grown into the fine men I see before me. We love you both, and we loved that you had chosen such fine women to called mates. And we are proud to call them daughters. We wanted both of you to know," he said in a choked voice. "That we won't be gone forever and we will be with you always."
Buffy started sobbing.
Nodding the two men, masters of their own city rushed into their parent's arms and wept bitter red tears.
Lot of tears and reassurances later, Buffy and Julian Luna stood in their bedroom surround by family and friends when Whistler appeared with a flash.
"So how does this worked," Buffy asked, her stomach churning with anxiety. "Do we lay down or what?"
"Both of you will be taken to a place, a place that is neither heaven nor hell, but between where you body and spirit will reside until the world need you again."
"Suppose the world doesn't me any more," Buffy said worrying her lips.
"Don't worry Slayer," Whistler said cheerfully. "Do you see how the world is right now?" he asked.
Buffy nodded.
"Well it's going to get worse," he said.
"Worse?" Buffy questioned, her eyes opened in fright.
"Uh, not a cheerful thought to look forward to eh," he said.
"No," Buffy conceded.
"Well you can handle it," Whistler said. "Did you say your goodbyes?"
Both Julian and Buffy nod.
"Good," he said and with a wave of his hands, they abruptly disappeared.
Sasha started to cry.
In a place that time forgot, neither heaven nor hell. Buffy Summers and Julian Luna stood uncertain in a room. The room was bare of any furnishing. Just a bed with a dark curtains that cover a window that gaze upon darkness. The only light that shines in the room was a singular candle.
"Here we are," said Whistler
"This is it?" Buffy demand in astonishment and something else undefined in her voice.
"What were you expecting, the Waldorf Astoria?" he mocked.
"Well yes," she said, not sure what she meant. Although she wasn't expecting luxury, but she wasn't expecting this bleak existence.
"Well we can't have everything," he snorts.
"I'm going to kill him," Buffy snapped.
"Calm down honey," Julian said smoothly, as he gather her into his arms and breathed the scent of her hair. "As long as we have each other, nothing matters."
"Yeah," said Whistler, eying Buffy nervously. "Listen to Julian," he said clearing his throat. "Well it is time for me to say good bye," he said.
Buffy hold on Julian tightens. Suddenly she was afraid. Annoyed with her self, she pushed her self out of his arms, strode towards the huge bed, and sat on it.
"Uh Slayer. Buffy," said Whistler.
"Yes," she said looking up from her study of the pattern on the bed.
"There's another reward, the Powers wanted you to have."
"Yeah," said mildly curious. "What is it?"
"What is your heart desire," he asked.
"My heart desire," she repeated almost silently. "I don't know," she said with a sigh.
"You know," he said eying her silently.
"I don't," she said.
"Yes, you know," he argued.
"I really don't know what you talking about," she yelled frustrated. In her heart, she knew. But to voice it aloud and having it rejected would be cruel.
"Think about it."
Frustration on her face Buffy got off the bed and strode around the room.
Julian watched, his heart aching for her. If he could help her, he could. However, it was her decision.
Buffy stopped abruptly and said to Whistler, "I want to see them."
Whistler nodded happily. With this prize, Buffy had to say aloud what she wanted. "I will take you back to the point where you and the other Buffy (read New Beginnings) had switch places. There you will see them but they won't see you. You will see how they lived their lives. Are you ready?
Buffy nodded, choked up. She was so nervous.
Suddenly a white light flash; blinding her momentarily. When she opens her eyes, she was back in that cave trying to save Lily and the others. Her life flashed before her. She saw herself fighting the demons, going back home, first day back at school. The new Slayer Faith and Angel return. Graduation day. Angel leaving. Her first day of college, her demon roommate, Oz leaving and Willow being gay. Meeting Riley for the first time. Spike being chipped. Fighting Adam, seeing the first Slayer. Found out she had a sister, and seeing the devastation in the life of the other Buffy when her mother died. Fighting Glory, seeing the other Buffy herself, and being resurrected by the Scooby's gang. She saw how coming back had displaced Buffy and how she ended up sleeping with Spike. She saw it all. Fighting the First, and then destruction of Sunnydale.
Buffy continued to watch, tears streaming down her face as each Scooby found a mate and settle down to a semi normal life. She watched, as they grew old surrounded by grandchildren. She saw the other Buffy got a shot at normalcy by settling down in ménage trios with Angel and Spike. The other Buffy life continued to play out in front of her. With tears running unashamed down her cheeks, in a choked voice, she asked Whistler to stop it shy of witnessing the other Buffy's death.
Buffy felt as if she was battered and she climbed wearily unto the bed with Julian following suit. He held her tightly in his arms. They both close their eyes, the cares of the world soon melt away, and they start to breathe deeply. Soon the lone candle extinguishes itself and plunge the room into darkness.
"Sleep well Slayer," Whistler whispered as he faded from the room.
The End
Story will continue in Warriors of Light, and it will be posted at Twisting the Hellmouth.