Uneternal Sleep
Principal Snyder looked at the scene unfolding before him with utter shock. He always thought that Buffy was unstable, but he was surprised to see that she would act out in front of him. He watched as Michael leaned in and whispered something in her ear and he could see that she was starting to cry.
Willow, Xander, and Oz ran over to Buffy to free her. Who ever this guy was he had some skills. He was really strong as well. Oz grabbed this strange man and tried to get him off of her. The man threw Oz off and continued his assault. Xander tried next and was also unsuccessful. Willow was thinking about trying to do something when the man suddenly let off.
Buffy lay on the ground panting while Snyder, Willow, Xander, Oz, and the rest of the school cafeteria watched the scene end. Snyder was the first to say something. "Summers what in the hell do you think your doing?" he yelled grabbing Buffy from the ground. "Let me tell you something. I couldn't get you kicked out because of drugs but rules be damned if this doesn't get you kicked out!"
Everyone was amazed at the way Snyder was talking. He never seemed to get this mad. Then the last person you would expect to speak did just that. "Mr. Snyder Please, we just scared her that is all. I hold nothing against her. If she is willing to apologize than I am ready to except It." said Michael looking over to Buffy.
Willow, Xander, and Oz also diverted their gaze towards Buffy to see what she would do. Buffy was looking Michael straight in the eyes. She could see that he was enjoying himself. He was offering her salvation from Snyder, yet she could tell it was only to show her that he had an immense amount of power over people. Buffy then did the only thing that she could do. She swallowed her pride and offered Michael an apology.
"I accept your apology Buffy. Now you may go along with your little friends and play your games." said Michael. "Hey pal, we don't play games anymore." said Xander getting offended. "Yeah and we're not little." Oz continued. "Then you may go do…whatever it is you teenagers do." Michael said, getting angry. The group started walking away and Xander pointed back towards Michael seemingly in a silent challenge.
Back in the library the group spent a good five minutes getting Buffy to calm down. "There, There. You seem to be alright." said Giles, handing her a tissue. "Giles, everything will not be alright. He knows how to get me. He knows he come anywhere he wants to get me. He knows that he can bring me to him. I don't classify that as being alright." she said getting upset again. "I mean, none of you know what he's capable of. He has control of some seriously cruel things." She continued.
"We can try to do some research, what, did you say his name was again?" asked Giles trying to comfort her. "Michael, he said his name was Michael." She said sniffling. "Alright, Willow, you and Oz check for any Vampires that have had or do go by that name. Xander you do the same for demons. I will go check with Ms. Calendar to see if she knows anything." Giles said relegating duty.
Giles then went to find out what he could. He walked down the hallway in silence. He thought frequently of Jenny Calendar. She fascinated him. She wanted nothing to do with books, like he did, preferring the internet. He lost himself in his thoughts and he was in front of her class room before he knew it.
"I'm sorry Rupert. I haven't heard of any vampire or demon that goes by that name. The only thing that strikes me is that Michael is the name of the Arc-angel. Other than that, I'm drawing a blank." said Jenny Calendar. She is a middle aged woman with reddish brown hair. Her eyes were the same color. She taught a computer class and was also a pagan.
"That's too bad. Buffy is really upset with this whole thing. Of all my time of knowing her as the slayer, I have never seen her, this frightened." Giles said disappointed. "I can put a inquiry out over the net and see what comes up." Jenny offered. "Yes, that would be good. I have to get back and tend to her, or she's liable to do something rash." Giles said leaving the room.
The hours slipped by with nothing whatsoever being mentioned about a man named Michael. "Giles, I haven't found anything about a Michael." said Willow. "It is best that you all go home and get a good night sleep. I will continue searching and let you know if I find anything." said Giles. "But, what about Buffy?" asked Xander, pointing to Giles office, where she had fallen asleep. "Don't worry about her. I'll get her home." answered Giles. With that the Scooby gang left Giles to his own devices and left.
About and hour passed when Angel came into the library. "Oh Angel, I'm glad you could come on short notice." said Giles. "No problem, what is it that you needed me for?" asked Angel looking around. "Nothing major, I just need you to take Buffy home." answered Giles. "O.K. anything else?" Angel continued. "You wouldn't happen to know about a Vampire or a demon named Michael would you?" Giles asked optimistically.
Angel stopped right where he was. He had indeed heard of Michael. "Yeah I heard of him. He's really bad news. I met him once, a long time ago." Angel said cautiously. "Really, what do you know about him?" asked Giles intently. "He is old, he predates me. From what I understand, he was a templar Knight that was killed in the second crusade." said Angel. "Good lord. He was killed in battle for the holy land. Then why is he doing all of these evil things?" Giles Asked confused. "He wasn't killed in battle. He was executed by the order for stealing relics from temples and also killing innocent civilians in Jerusalem."
"As you know the knights templar were created to give Christian pilgrims safe passage to the holy land. Well Michael, thought that he would use this to his advantage. He charged people outrageous amounts of money for safe passage and also, as I said, stole priceless artifacts from the temples in Jerusalem. If the people didn't pay him, he simply killed them." Angel said.
"He was found out and the order had him executed. His executioner wore a metal pyramid on his head, and it is said that after Michael died his executioner died a short time later. Michael has since bound his executioner's soul and commands him to do his work." Angel continued. "Good lord. I have heard that the knights Templar were unsavory fellows but." Giles said awestruck. "That's not entirely true. Most of the Templars were good people. He normally hangs out around Jerusalem. The thing is he has taken it upon himself to hunt down slayers. He finds them inferior to him and he thinks they belong to some kind of cult. From the last time that a tally was taken, he has claimed the lives of ten slayers." Angel said finishing his story.
"Why do you ask by the way?" asked Angel. "The reason is Buffy is supposedly being followed by a man named Michael. She apparently ran into him at school today." Giles answered. "Yeah, it could be anybody though. But it does seem like something Michael would do; show himself just to see her squirm. He is pretty brazen." Angel said looking toward the ground in thought.
"I will go and find out what I can. You just try to stay out of his radar if he truly is here." With that Angel walked out of the library, leaving Giles to ponder over his books and manuscripts.
"Man that was fun! Spike, Drusilla where are you guys?" Michael said walking into the warehouse, obviously in a good mood. "It seems that you've had a good day." said Spike, clearly angry about Michael's return. Spike and Drusilla came up to the table to find that Michael was already sitting at it.
"Man, you guys should have been there. O.K. so there I was, talking with the principal, when lo-and-behold, little miss Summers comes walking up to us. I can tell that she and the principal don't get along, but anyway, we start talking to her about her being a bully and she tries to punch Me." said Michael obviously amused.
"She tried to hull off and pop you in the middle of school?" Spike asked amazed. "Fancy this Dru, the slayer has a short temper." Spike said leaning back to his lover. "It would seem that the slayer is a bad girl, she deserves to be punished." Drusilla said in her singsong voice.
"Yeah, O.K. so she tries to hit me and I see it coming, right. So I pull out my steel baton and wrap her arm in it and pin her to the ground. I lean in and tell her that she has nowhere to hide and she starts crying. It was great, the whole cafeteria was watching as I let her go and gave her my Mercy." said Michael on the verge of falling over laughing.
"Jeez. It seems you had quite the time mate." Spike said, clearly enjoying the tale. "Can I ask you something though, Mate?" asked Spike. "I want to know why it is that you have taken a fancy to the slayer. Could you answer me that?" Spike asked, wanting to figure Michael out.
"You still don't know who I am, do you? Let me fill you in. I am Michael, Baron of Wessex. I was executed in Jerusalem during the second crusade. After doing what I did, there was no way I was going to go to hell, so I made a pact with a demon to become one of them. They agreed but on one condition. I actively hunt the slayer, whoever she may be." explained Michael, filling in the gaps for Spike.
"Good god. You're Michael Baron of Wessex? I see it now, sorry mate I didn't recognize you at first. Dru, were in the presence of celebrity!" Spike said getting excited.
"Yeah, about that, I had to get a new look for coming here. There are two reasons I changed my look, one to get around without attracting attention to myself, and two, to confuse the slayer." Michael said, elaborating.
"Damn, I am having to good a time to just sit in here. Spike, Drusilla, its night, lets go out on the town." Michael said jumping onto the table. "Ohm, Spike he said a naughty word." Drusilla said holding onto spikes shoulder. "Alright mate, now that I know who you are I won't feel embarrassed to be seen with you. Dru lets go." Spike said getting up. "Oh, since it's no question who I am anymore, I think I'll change back into what I normally wear." Michael said walking off. "Now were talking." Spike said excitedly.
Angel had just come from Buffy's house. He had heard what happened today at the school from Giles and he was immediately concerned. He went to her house and up to her window. They talked and they cuddled, angel promising Buffy that everything was going to be O.K. when he knew that If Michael was in town she was in serious danger. He had since come from her house and was at the Bronze. It was late so a lot of the high school crowd had already gone home by the time that he got there.
The band was packing up on the stage and the coffee bar was closing. There were only a few collage couples still enjoying there evening. Angel was thinking of getting up when there was a loud disturbance coming from the direction of the entrance. The collage couples all diverted their attention from their lover's lips and looked over there along with angel.
Angel was looking over at the door and saw the vampire that he had sired, Spike. He was accompanied by his apparent girlfriend, Drusilla. It was no shock to see them because he had heard that they were in town. In fact, Angel had stopped Spike from attacking the school a few nights ago.
Angel just sat in the shadows waiting to see what the pair would do. Spike was muscling the waiter behind the bar, while Drusilla stood back and watched. The bronze had cleared out in a matter of minutes, except for a few unfortunate people who couldn't get out.
Angel just sat in the shadows, when he noticed a short man in a white cloak come into the building. On the left side of the cloak was a bright red cross, and under the cloak he seemed to be wearing a white tunic, also emblazoned with a white cross down the front. He was wearing a sword to his left on a belt that was fastened around his waist.
Angel couldn't believe what he was seeing. That was Michael, baron of Wessex, there were no two ways about it. 'I don't like anyone who would sell their soul to become a demon… coward.' Angel thought. Not two second after finishing his thought, Michael looked over in his direction and saw him. "Angelus!" Michael beamed after finding him.
"Michael. I heard you were in town." Angel said calmly looking at him. Michael and Angel met in the middle of the Bronze dance floor and the size comparison was laughable. Angel stood more than six feet tall, while Michael was just less than five feet. Someone behind Michael had gotten the idea to see if he could take him down. The man charged and right before he got to him, Michael unsheathed his sword and struck him down in an upward strike.
The assailant was dead before he hit the ground. Michael, having been trained as a swordsman by the knights' templar, was an excellent swordsman. "I hate it when they do that." Michael said casually. "Michael what are you doing here?" Angel asked him. "Surely you have been playing the game? I am here to kill the slayer. Same as you Right?" Michael asked looking angel dead in the eyes.
At that moment Spike and Drusilla came up to the pair. "Michael, what are you talking to him for?" Spike asked in his English accent. "He's gone and got himself a soul. Now he's gone and made nice with the slayer, stupid git." Spike said kissing Drusilla. "Not Angelus. He's a legend." Michael said looking back at him, not wanting to believe what spike had just told him. "You leave Buffy alone. If you don't I swear to god that I will kill you myself." Angel said grabbing the front of Michael's tunic. "Good god in heaven. You have gone soft." Michael said looking at him with a face of disbelief.
"You're either against me or with me, Angelus. If you want to pal around with that slut of a slayer, be my guest. Just don't expect me to. I will kill her and her friends and family. Just give me time." Michael said Getting infuriated. "If you touch one hair on her head, I will send you to hell myself, you little rat." Angel said Turning into his vampire form.
"I told ya so." Spike said mockingly from a distance. Michael drew his sword and was about to go into combat with Angel. Angel knew he couldn't take on Michael. He looked around to see what he had in his surroundings. Spike and Drusilla were a few feet away on a table to his right. There was an empty table to his left. Behind him was the empty dance floor, but Michael would be on him in a minute if he decided to run without covering his tracks.
Angel didn't have time to decide, because Michael had thrust his sword to stab him. Angel dodged it, and wheeled around to Michael's left. He grabbed his Robe and pulled it over his head. Spike a Drusilla didn't know how to react and just stood there. Angel held his robe over his head as Michael flailed his sword in every direction trying to get Angel off of him.
Angel took this opportunity to run and let Michael go. Michael stumbled forward and called out something in Latin that he couldn't understand. Angel was about to the door when a huge man with a pyramid on his head materialized and stood blocking the door. Angel kept on running as the Huge pyramid head lifted up a huge knife and was about to bring it down on him. Angel dropped to his knees and slid under the huge behemoth. After he was cleared of the monster, he got to his feet and ran out the door. Angel heard a loud crash shortly after he was out the door. Apparently Michael had been chasing him, and ran into his own creation.
Angel ran for a little while longer and stopped. He was sure that Michael had stopped giving chase after slamming into the pyramid head. It was as he feared. Michael had come to Sunnydale. He was probably drawn here because of the Hellmouth, The slayer was also here. He would wait until tomorrow, and tell Buffy and Giles. Buffy had to take special care not to cross Michael's path.
Michael was pissed. "How could you let them get away1?" he yelled at Spike. Drusilla was getting scared. You could see it on her face. Michael then brought his attention to her. "Now where were you in all of this?" he asked her. "Answer me, wench!" Michael yelled at her. Drusilla could not take this chastisement and started to cry. "Now you leave her alone, you bullocks!" Spike yelled back, cuddling Drusilla.
Michael took one look at Spike and drew his sword and put it to his throat. "You have no right, to chastise me for letting Angelus go." Spike quickly dropped his tough guy persona with the threat of death. "All right, we'll try again tomorrow. We should get back to the warehouse and recuperate." Michael said Sheathing his sword. On the way out Michael, had noticed that Drusilla and Spike had stopped following. "What is it now?" he asked turning to them. "We haven't eaten yet. Can we get something to go?" Spike asked. "What, Oh yeah, Go ahead." Michael said waving and walking out the door. Spike then wheeled around and grabbed the bar manager, before walking out of the door.
Buffy had fallen into a fitful sleep. After having talked with her mother about what happened at school today and getting more grounded, she was really tired. That however did not stop her dreams from tormenting her. After having fallen asleep she found herself in the school gym. There were robed men around a circle painted on the floor. They had candles and were standing around the circle. One of the leaders then started to chant something that Buffy could not understand.
"Dio merciful dell'OH. Conducali non nella tentazione. Chastise i nostri corpi per sbarazzarsi del demon. Se abbiamo la capacità di sbarazzare il demon di noi, trasporti unto noi un saviour che può. Nel nome del jesus preghiamo." As the man said this he got really into it. He was looking up to the heavens and started to tear up it looked like. He looked like he was in really desperate need of something. Buffy didn't know what to do. She just stood and watched as they continued.
"sì grazie signore. Ho visto quello chi avete trasportato il untio noi. È lo slayer. che osserva il nuaght ma un bambino. Le estati di Buffy, li sbarazzerà del demon Michael." The man said getting emotional, like he had heard the best news of his life. After he got done with his sentence he looked back at Buffy. Then the whole congregation followed suit. Buffy just stood and watched as she was rocketed back to the world of reality. She awoke in a cold sweat and just sat on the edge of her bed, thinking of the vision she just had.
The next morning she was contemplating whether or not to tell Giles. She decided that she should, because if she didn't and he found out he would make her do extra practice drills. She went down to her kitchen and saw her mother there making her breakfast. "Hi, honey. Would you like some eggs?" Joyce asked flipping some pancakes. For a brief moment Buffy had forgotten all about her problems. The smell of freshly made pancakes was enough to stifle any girl's ill feelings.
The sun shone through the window warming the room in a bright glow. The eggs were put on the stove and started to sizzle in the comforting way that they do. The kitchen even had the ambiance. They were in the middle of Sunnydale California, but the way the kitchen was decorated it had the feeling of down home country kitchen. Buffy was momentarily comforted by the sights and smells around her.
After breakfast her mother drove her to school. She would not let her get her drivers license yet. They got to the front of the school and Buffy got out of the car. Her mother then called out to her. "Buffy, Please try not to get into any trouble today, O.K."
"Don't worry mom I won't." she told her mom turning to go into the school.
Walking into Sunnydale high, Buffy was taken with an overwhelming sense of joy and happiness. Now she was concerned. She had never felt good about going to school. She went to the library to talk to Giles and se what she could get, if anything on Michael.
She walked down the hallway in silent thought. Every one who was here already was not paying any attention to her. The school seemed to have a bright and cheerful air about it. She got to the library and talked to Giles.
"Giles, something is strange." Buffy said walking to the table and sitting down.
"What is it Buffy." Giles said walking out of his office. "I feel good about coming to school." She said getting into her backpack for a sucker. "What's so strange about that?" he answered. "Uh Giles, I'm sixteen. I don't want to have anything to do with school." She told him. "Oh right. Well is there any reason that you would be happy coming to school?" he asked putting his book down. "I don't think it is school exactly. I have been in a really good mood all morning. With what's happening, I don't see how that can happen." She said putting the sucker in her mouth.
Willow, Xander, and Oz walked in the library before Giles could answer. "What's going on gang?" Willow asked. Buffy and Giles looked to see who had come into the library. "Hi Buff, what's new?" Xander asked her sitting on the table. "Well it seems that Buffy is noticing something strange." answered Giles. "What's eating you Buffy. Spill it." Xander asked again forcefully. "I have had a good feeling about coming to school today." Buffy answered. "Yeah, something's wrong alright." Oz said holding Willow.
"Before you all came in I had a thought. In ancient manuscripts, when a demon is attached to someone, either physically or emotionally, the demon can tap into their prey's emotions and vice versa. The only thing is, it isn't like in the movies. When the person the demon is feeling happy doesn't translate to the demon feeling good. It's reversed. I think that since Buffy is feeling really good, this demon Michael is having a really bad day." Giles explained.
Giles ran back into his office and grabbed a book. When he came out he noticed Buffy didn't look very good. "Buffy what's matter?" Giles asked putting down his book. Xander, Willow, and Oz looked around to her and they also noticed she didn't look very good. "Giles remember when I said I was having a good day?" she asked. He nodded and willed her on. "I think Michael's day is getting better." She said before getting violently ill and throwing up.
"Good lord, it can't be. Willow, Xander, Oz, everyone stay right were you are." After Giles said that the room took on a dark shade of grey. The air got really stale, and the atmosphere had a feeling of death and great sorrow. Willow held on to Oz, fearing for their lives. Xander ran under the table and Buffy was still sick. Giles went to the library door and it didn't open.
"He has us trapped." He said turning to the kids.
A/N: this is where the story really starts to pick up. I know I haven't had any real action for the last couple of chapters but this is where the journey begins. Tell me what you think.