"Tales of D'Hoffryn…"
Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .com...
Summary: While saddled with the job of tending the discombobulated First Evil, the Lord of all Things Vengeful tells a few tales of his (well, his people's) exploits with some old friends…
Part II…cont…
Confinement chamber, Hell…
'Buffy' frowned at her storyteller and supposed 'sister from a parallel universe', 'Cicely'…
"So I lost my soul and regained my Cicely memories…And now I've turned against William, out of soulless jealousy?"
"Viciously ironic, isn't it?" 'Cicely' beamed. 'Buffy' eyeing her narrowly…
Though…It is terrible…Poor William…
Dear B'aal… 'she' blinked. That worthless Mears…He must be doing this.
"What's happening to me?" 'Cicely' hissed to a nearby Buffy minion. This one in nurse's uniform…
"Cicely? Aren't you feeling well?" the 'nurse Buffy' eyed her… "Should I get you something…?"
"You know damned well what I mean…" 'Cicely' raged. But struggled to keep 'her' voice down…
"I'm D'Hoffryn, lord of all things vengeful…"
"Of course you are…" the imp in Buffy form nodded, soothingly. "But with a little rest, you'll be fine…Cicely…"
"Stop that!" 'she' shouted.
"What's wrong?" 'Buffy' hurried over… "Am I needed?"
"No, no…" 'nurse Buffy' noted. "Cicely here is just a bit upset. The story she's telling being so sad…"
"It sure is…" 'Buffy' frowned. "And it better not end with me breaking William's heart. Or else…" she eyed 'Cicely'…
"Better get back to your story, sweetie…" 'nurse Buffy' nodded. Patting the somewhat dazed Cicely…er 'Cicely'… "I'm sure it has a happy ending for you and William…"
Yeah…
Wait, no…All right…All right, D-H…Finish the tale. And then get the here out of here…Back to good ole vengeance and imposition of suffering…
"Ok…So they had found the part demon, Willie…"
Monitor console in CHQ, Hell…Angelus and Mears chuckling…
"Poor thing…It's sad to watch. But I always did think D-H was unusually 'close' to his girls." Warren, mock-solemn…Then roaring…Angelus joining in…
"God, Mears…I have to admit." Angelus leaned back in his chair. "This is even worse than what I did to Drusilla."
"Sunset…"
Part IV…
"And you felt nothing? No different when the others changed so suddenly?" Dru asked. She, with Willow beside her, seated at one of the bar tables…
"Same as always…" Willie shrugged. "I figured at first it was somebody gunning for those folks with targeted magics but then I saw what was going on all over town and I came back here to hole up till things settled down or at least I could find a way outta town…"
He eyed them. Dru, pale and lovely, looking concerned, with rather less of that psycho waif look he remembered from one time when he'd seen her strolling about…That William, standing, frowning at him…Still pretty menacing in his way, even souled and even in that small package…The red-headed kid, the Slayer's pal, looking pretty much outta it…Bit, he noted.
Not likely to go over well with the Slayer…Even with soul…
"So all the vamps in town have souls now…And everyone else…Human, that is…No soul?" he asked.
"It seems so…" Dru nodded… "Though of course we can't be sure everyone is affected. Especially given you…"
"Now there's a howl…" Willie grinned. Ummn…He caught sight of Dru's stern look…William's deepening frown…
Uh…Well… "Of course, it's terrible, too. Just, ya know…Ironic and all that jazz…"
"And you'll find out how ironic if the Slayer catches us here. Minus that usual compassion and regard for human or semi-human life…" Will noted.
"That would be bad…" Willie nodded, pensive now. "I met a turned Slayer once. She was not fun…"
"But it must be important…A clue to the cause of all this…" Dru suggested. "That he…You, sir…" she nodded to Willie… "Are still souled. Something about your nature…"
"The demon part somehow protecting him…" William eyed him.
"Can't help you there…" Willie shrugged. "I'm no big expert on the subject…"
"What about your father, the demon…?" Dru asked. "Was he unusual in any way…The species?"
"Moray…Nothing special…They get on ok with humans, not violent, generally. I dunno…" Willie looked at them. "Look, if the Slayer's gunning for you, you'd best get outta town. She's sure to find you here sooner or later…"
"We can hope…" Dru nodded.
"What?" Willie said. Nervous eyes darting…Hopes of offering to provide 'help' in exchange for hitching a ride under the protection of two famously mighty otherworlders fading fast…
"We're trying to help her. Not run from her…" Dru explained. "But to help her we need something, anything, that could counter whatever D'Hoffryn's done…"
A caravan, actually, considering…Well, doesn't seem likely, given the sad lack of self-preservation instinct here…Willie sighed.
Wait…
"D-H? The revenge king?" Willie looked at them… "One of his is here?"
"Anya…" William noted. "Who seems the prime mover. At least the prime instrument…"
"Anyanka? Jesus…" Willie sighed. "She's bad news. One of his best…"
William eyed Dru who nodded…
Looks like we came to the right place…If utterly by chance…
Surely God is guiding us in some way…
Willie rather convinced otherwise. Anxious now to find his own path...
After all, wouldn't want to get in the way of their efforts. Just be on his own merry…
"What can you tell us about her…?" Dru asked, kind tone. "Is there any way to break her spells that you know of…?"
"Willie? The lady asked a question…" William frowned at the little half-man as he glanced round. Clearly seeking the nearest exit route…
"There's always a way…" Willie noted, shrugging. "But usually it involves years of study…Careful research…And a Slayer backing you up don't hurt."
"Not enough time…We need to cut corners on the research fast track now and worry about long-term later. We'll have to make due with Dru and me instead of a Slayer for the moment. No offense dear heart…"
"Not at all…" Dru shook head. "I'm honored." Wan smile to William's own… "Of course the Council could provide that research if they really are coming…"
"The Council of Watchers?" Willie eyed them. "You're in touch with them? You two?..."
"Yeah, welcome to bizarro-world…" Will nodded. "But given their idea of rapid response…And their inclination to stake, crossbow, burn, or set a vampire (really, no offense, love…patting Dru's hand…though plenty to them…) on one first and confirm their good intentions later…I wouldn't exactly consider them the cavalry on the way."
"But getting back to focus…?" he eyed Willie sternly. "If you want to get out of this alive…And remarkably, no personal threat intended…If you have any ideas or first- or second-hand info…Speak up…"
Ummn…
"We don't mean to press, but anything you know could help." Dru, gently. "And William is right. We aren't any threat to you but you are in danger here…"
"Especially should we have to battle an angry, soulless Slayer here…" William eyed him. "The property damage alone is sure to be…"
"The girl…The demon…" Willie, hastily. "They get their power from him…D'Hoffryn. It's supposed to be channeled through a talisman…"
Hmmn…More than I had a right to expect…Will eyed him.
"And the talisman?"
"Could be anything. A bracelet…A necklace…But she'll fuss with it. Never let it alone. That'll be the giveaway…"
"And summoning?"
"Who knows…?" Willie shook his head. "D-H's got his own system…Designed to confuse…That's all I know. Honest…"
"That's very helpful, sir…" Dru beamed. "Thank you…If you'd like to try and make your escape now? I know you're very anxious to go…"
William frowned…Not all that helpful, girl. She shrugged. "The poor man's told us what he knows. No need to put him at risk…"
Will sighed… "I suppose…" he looked at Willie who was a bit nonplussed…Go…? Alone? "All right…Well, good luck, mate." he offered a hand. Willie, now increasingly hesitant…Go?...Out there? Took it gingerly… "Thanks…Make for the south and keep from downtown. Well…Guess I mean get out of downtown as quick as you can…"
Uh…Willie looked over to the door…
Rampaging soulless humans…Brutally murderous Slayer…
And now, likely a pissed-off vengeance demon and her boss gunning for him out there…
And…The others…
"Uh…I'm fine here, for now…"
"Of course…" Dru nodded. "This is your place, after all…"
"Well, if you'll be staying…How's about a drink?" William suggested. "I actually having a bit of coin of the realm about my person…" he pulled out the change from Anya's twenty…
"And something for Miss Rosenberg…?" Dru asked. "She must be thirsty. Willow, would you like something to drink…?"
"Yeah…" Willow nodded, vaguely. "But not blood…"
"Of course not…Water? A soda?"
"Ginger ale?"
"Comin' right up…" Willie, rather glad to have business to focus on…
"And a whiskey…Double…" William added.
"Just water for me, thank you." Dru called. "Will…We need to decide what to do now." she insisted. "We can't sit here, waiting. People are in danger. And what if some leave Sunnydale in their current condition? We can't be sure they'd revert once out of town…"
"Love…I'd like to help. But there's only us…" he noted. "And my dear spouse seems ready to institute extreme divorce proceedings if she spots us…"
"Not only us…" Dru replied. Eyeing Willie…
"Him?" William stared.
"Willie?" Dru, gently…
He blinked…Ummn…
"Please…Introduce us to your friends…" she said, quietly. "It was very brave of you to protect them…"
"What?" William stared…
"They're rather well-hidden. A spell barrier?" she asked. "It took a moment, even for me. But I can sense a faint trace about here…"
"They're not harming anyone…" Willie insisted. "I wouldn't've done it but…They got souls now. And the Slayer wasn't listenin'. Just staking left and right…"
"And you took them in…" Dru nodded. "Willie, you are a good man…" she smiled.
"Had to do somethin'…" he shrugged. "They're in the cellar…It's where I keep contraband. Just a little stuff that wouldn't be kosher, you know. Nothing dangerous…Just special foods and things some of the folks like…Shielded so as not to give the stuff away. Just a little 'black market' stuff…Nothing bad…And only for the ones who don't make trouble…"
"Of course…" she agreed, gently. "May we meet them…?"
"Who?" William looked round.
Willie sighed, then went over to a corner, lifting a rug…Then the trap door the rug concealed…
"Come on up, folks…It's ok." he called.
…..
"People! People!" Dru called, looking out over the group. The milling crowd of nearly seventy vampires and vampiresses slowly heeding her. "Please…"
"Come on, you lot!" William called, standing on a table next to the one where Willow sat, sipping her ginger ale quietly…
"Hey!" Willie banged a glass on bar. All staring… "Listen up!"
"Right…" Dru smiled at him. "People…I know you're all confused. This has been a terrifying, if unique experience…"
"Drusilla!" one teenaged-appearing female gasped. "Lemme out of here! She'll kill us all!"
Some sounds of panic…Anxious glances…
Oh…My…Dru sighed.
"Quiet!" Willie banged again, stern look… "She's just like you…Souled…Now listen up!"
"Yes, Mr. Willie is quite right…" Dru resumed. "William and I are souled like you..."
"Can we go home now?" one tall male of fortiesh appearance in suit spoke up. "My wife is still…"
"You can't go home, Albert…" a blonde female frowned at him. "And your wife must be dead or one of us. I transformed you sixty years ago."
"You…Bitch…" Albert glared. "You killed me!"
"Sorry…" she shrugged. "Someone killed me, too, you know. And you were looking for some action that night when you came up to me…"
Several angry and accusatory conversations now springing up…
"People!" Dru cried.
More bitter words… "You made me!" "You killed my family! Well, I wouldn't have helped if you hadn't…" "I didn't wanna eat my dog!" "I never said I wanted to sleep with you, I just wanted to live forever!" "It's over, Henry. I want my own crypt!"
She went to Willie's bar counter…Please? He handed the heavy glass…
Slam! "Hey!" she hollered. A window shattering in the front…
William staring…The group staring…
"Friends…This is no time to blame each other. God knows we all feel ourselves guilty in some way. But we are also all victims…" she noted.
"Yeah! And I want compensation!" a heavy-set, middle-aged-looking 'woman' in frightful print blouse responded. "I was just passing through six months ago and one of you kills me…!"
"And you killed me and my little girl…!" a slender, brown-haired 'woman' in gown fumed back. "…and you made me have sex with you!"
"That wasn't me. I'm a God-fearing Christian…" the heavy woman glared back. "I'd never…"
"Yeah, right…" the young 'woman' replied, bitter. "Can't hide it from your demon, you rapist! And I'm through calling you, mistress, lady!"
"Can I call my mom?" a young male asked, raising hand. "I think I only died a week ago…"
"Enough!" Dru cried. "And we'll see, young man. We don't want to upset your family, you know…"
"Please, friends…" she looked out over the group. "God has given us a chance to do good this night…"
"I don't believe in God…" one male spoke up…
"Fine…Fate, then…" she waved him off. No time for a religion debate… "You all know the humans of Sunnydale are afflicted…Soulless…They need our help!"
"What's the girl…The Slayer…For?" the heavy-set 'woman' fumed. "Let her take care of them. Instead of coming after us…"
"She's for getting rid of us…" Albert frowned. "Whatdaya mean, not come after us? We've all been mad killers until tonight…"
"Not me…" the large 'woman' insisted. "I'm of the blessed elect…It was Satan doing the killing…"
"…And the raping?" her former companion glared…
"The point is, people! People!" Dru called. "We are needed. Our human brothers and sisters…Our descendants and families…Need us tonight! We must act to help them while they can't help themselves!"
"No one ever helped me…" the blonde 'woman' who argued with Albert insisted. "Not even the Slayer…I was left like this for eighty years. Why should I stick my neck out to help a few mortals?"
"Any one who doesn't want to help is welcome to stay here." Dru noted. "But those who want to prove they are still human, inside. Can help to save Humanity tonight. Great Evil threatens the world and we have a chance here to fight back. To stop being victims, for once…"
"That's the Slayer's job…" the large 'woman' fumed. "I'm a victim…I don't have to do anything for anybody."
"The Slayer is affected, she told you lot that…" William glared. "We're it, tonight folks. The last line…"
"What can we do?" Albert shook his head. Several agreeing… "We're just a bunch of vamps with soul. There are thousands of crazy people out there. And a Slayer who don't take souls for an excuse…"
"We have unique abilities…We can influence human minds." Dru noted. "And the humans are running on instinct. They will respond easily to base impulses…Fear, reward…We can use that to herd them and keep them safe through the night. Prevent more deaths…"
"And what about us?" another woman, a tall black woman of about forty, spoke up. "What happens to us now? Do we try to live like this? Burning or hiding by day…Drinking blood…And from where and what? I can't live like this. Let the Slayer or the sun take me…"
Several cries in agreement…
"Ir won't last…" Dru sighed. "By tomorrow night we'll be back…To what we were…" she eyed the suddenly still group… "I know it's horrible, but that's the truth of it. We only have about nineteen hours with our souls…"
"And you know that…How?" the large 'woman' eyed her…
"Because I'm the cause…" William said, quietly…Firmly… "Not intentionally but there it is…"
"You?" several stared…Others looking at each other…
Uh-oh…Willie slowly slid down behind the bar counter…
William tensing…Might perhaps have been a bit too honest on this one…
Albert started clapping…The blonde…Others joining in…
Dru stared…More joining in, some with tears running…
"Thank you!" shouts… "William!" Fists in the air… "Thank God!" a few cries…
Dru looking to Will who stared, stunned. She beamed at him…
Willie rising back up…Hmmn…
"Even a day alive again…God…" Albert beamed. "To know, finally, we're still what we were. That we're still here, somewhere…Not…Those things, whatever they do. Thank you, both of you…" he came up. "What do you want us to do? I'm in!"
"Yeah!" the young brown-haired ex-love slave came forward… "Count me in!"
More stepped forward…Only a few hanging back…
"First…" Dru began…