Note: So, I've been nominated for my first award EVER! Woot! It feels amazing, cause I really did work hard for Darkness and Forsaken. So, if you liked my work *please with Angelus on top* take a moment to vote! You may have to join the site, but I joined and it's a wonderful reference point for all lovers of fanfiction. Here's the link, just take the spaces out! http:// thereadershavechosen. eternflame .com/forum/index. php?topic=1325.0
Love you guys, enjoy!
Buffy's eyes shot open.
Her room was dark, darker than usual at this time of night. She sat up quickly as an unfamiliar smell invaded her senses. Fire.
She shot out of her bed and opened her door letting thick, black smoke fill into her room. The smoke was so deep she could barely see through it.
"Oh my God," she mumbled as she made her way to her parents room. It was empty. "Mom! Dad! Where are you?"
She scrambled down the stairs, the first floor even more filled with smoke. No matter how she searched she couldn't find the source of the smoke or her parents.
"Mom? Mom, where are you?" Buffy fought through the thick, heavy smoke looked around their house.
Everything in her once beautiful home was slowly being covered by soot. Even with her superior eye sight, the smog in her living room left her struggling to see.
"Mom! Dad!" Thankfully the need to breathe clean air wasn't an issue for her. It was one less thing for her to worry about ash she searched for her missing parents.
She couldn't hear them, she couldn't see them, she couldn't feel them… something was horribly, horribly wrong.
"Pa! Pa, you guys have to answer me!" She collapsed in the corner of the room, drawing her legs closer to her chest. Though there was obviously smoke from a fire, there was no heat or any flames. She wrapped her arms around herself even tighter, feeling the most helpless she had ever felt in her life.
"Buffy!"
Her head shot up as she heard her mothers' voice. She stood quickly and moved in the direction she'd heard it.
"Buffy!" Her fathers' voice now rang out. It was coming from the front door. She ran to it and saw her parents just outside the front of their large glass door. Hope shone in her eyes and she ripped the fabric covering the entry. She gripped the handle to open the door.
Hissing, she stepped back. The door knob was scalding hot. She looked up at her parents who were standing together, their arms wrapped around each other.
"Help me open the door! I can't do it by myself!" She screamed at them, wondering why they were acting so nonchalant.
"No." Her father murmured, "You can, Buffy."
Her brow furrowed and she tried the knob again. Her heat sensitive skin sizzled and she jumped from the door. "Pa, I can't!"
"Not now." Her mother said softly. It was right then she noticed that their lips weren't even moving as they spoke, "Now, you have to run, Buffy."
"What? No! I have to open this door! Help me!" She gripped the door, this time longer, but still jumped away when it started burning. She growled, angry at herself, and prepared to try again. She stopped when she saw her mothers hand reach up and place her palm against the glass door.
"Buffy, now you have to run." Her mother spoke, but once again her lips did not move. She pulled her hand back and to Buffy's shock and horror, both her and her father began to flake away into ash. Ashy particles began floating in the air as her parents slowly disappeared. "It's ok, Buffy."
"No!" She screamed and, mindless of the pain, tried her best to open the door. She scratched and pulled at it with all her strength. Blisters began forming on her skin, but she kept clawing at the door. It was not budging, "NO!"
"It's ok, Buffy." Her fathers' voice began repeating even after the last bits of her parents began dissolving.
She sobbed brokenly as she watched her parents disappear. She began banging on the door desperately, but it didn't even rattle.
"Buffy….Buffy, it's ok!"
"NO!"
Buffy's eyes shot open.
She was lying in bed. Through her blurry vision she saw someone hovering over her. Where were her parents? A hand quickly, but lovingly caressed her face, "Buffy, honey, it's ok."
Her eyes focused on her fathers concerned face, "Pa?"
"I'm here. What happened?" He had raced into her bedroom once he'd heard her screaming. It had taken nearly 2 full minutes of shaking until she woke.
Buffy sat up and embraced her father, "You and mom w-were ashing and I couldn't see why. I couldn't save you! I tried so hard, but I couldn't do it! I-I-"
Hank hugged her right back, "It's ok, sweetheart. We are right here, safe and sound. You don't have to worry about us. It was just a dream."
She released him a bit, only enough to look into his eyes, "God, I sound like I'm 12 years old."
"It's ok," Hank realized how vivid and strong her dreams could be and hugged her to him again, "Are you going to be alright?"
She hugged him for another moment, before she nodded, "Yes. I am fine."
"Good. Now, we have guests downstairs. They've come a little early, but don't waste time. We don't want to keep them waiting."
She nodded again, remembering her training session. "Who is it, today?"
Her father smiled knowingly, "It's Ethan and his new blood, Parker."
Buffy's eyes rounded in glee. Ethan had always given her the creeps, but his new blood more than made up for that. She quickly got out of bed to get ready.
"Now don't get too dolled up, you have to remember what this is all about."
She spun towards him, two pairs of exercise pants, already clutched in her hands. The smile slid from her face, replaced with a grim look. "The history and future of the Azilot Union for the Awakener to become the shining Beacon of our pride."
Hank nodded, a half-grin on his face. She may not like the clichéd motto of the Awakeners, but she knew it like the back of her hand, "I'll meet you downstairs in…" He checked his watch, "…15 minutes."
She faked saluted him and got back to picking out her clothes.
He shook his head and left the room, leaving her to get ready.
*
*
*
The only light in the room came from a small, but ornately designed lamp on his desk. Outlined was the large, but lean frame of a man sitting, staring. It almost seemed as if nothing was going on behind his incredibly dark brown eyes and the cast of the orange-yellow light gave an eerie glow. The figure didn't even move when a knock on the door came.
"Who is it?" His deep voice rumbled, though he already knew who it was.
"It's me." A female voice called from behind the door.
Finally, the figure moved. He gave a deep sigh and called, "Come in."
The door opened and a woman stepped inside. She closed the door behind her. She gave a small disgruntled noise and in the next moment, the lights flashed don.
He snarled slightly at the seemingly young woman, but she was unafraid. She simply slid over to his desk and unopened her move briefcase on top of it, "You can't keep doing this, Angelus."
His posture relaxed, slightly, but his tone was biting, "I think I have an explicit say in what I do now, Willow."
Her eyes met his them, "Of course. You are my oldest friend and I trust your judgment. But, you're going to have to reign yourself in. You're making more enemies than friends. And I'm talking even before you became Master."
"Even though I could have sung show tunes when Nest was killed, I never wanted this position. Too much…politicking, not enough living." He gave a slight roll of his eyes and reclined in his chair. He rested his feet up on the lavish wooden desk in front of him. It wasn't the only beautiful thing in the large office.
The petite red head gave a slight chuckle, "We aren't alive."
Angelus scoffed, "Reason enough to throw some fun in the mix."
"Just not at the Gathering. Please, Angelus, not this year." After removing several documents she closed her briefcase and set it down on the floor next to her.
The large vampire then gave a chuckle of his own and smoothly changed subjects, "Not that seeing you isn't always a pleasure, Willow; to what do I owe this visit?"
"It's the Azilots." Her voice changed, then, suddenly all business. "They were behind this entire operation. They are the only breed capable of being out in sunlight for a little while and that was more than enough time to rip the roof off that building."
He sighed and mumbled, "Of course. Who else would it be? How'd they know?"
"My guess is as good as yours. How they knew our most ancient Elders were all together at once is shocking. The meeting was kept top secret."
"A traitor," Angelus growled out.
"That is most likely. We will find out, Angelus."
Angelus' face returned to being completely stoic, "We have to retaliate."
"Yes. But, now is not a good time. They are expecting us to go in aggressively and violently as is our custom. If we do that, with our lowered moral-"
"-it would only be a blood bath." Angelus stood, his lower half incased in tight leather pants. "This is a new era of Aurelius, Willow, and I plan to make that very clear. I've made my choices for the new Elders."
She nodded taking up a pen and paper and waiting for him to speak.
He noticed her movements and gestured for her to stop, "No. I'm going to be announcing this at the gathering."
His advisors' eyes widened, "Angelus…"
"No matter what I do, I'm going to leave with twice as many enemies as when I came in."
"I suppose. I guess… I'll just leave you to it." She relented. She then reached into a manila envelope and pulled out several forms, "The Stregas are our next concern. Not only did you cancel the last few meetings, but I think that Aurora Black is getting antsy from you not calling her back."
All serious business was tucked into the back of his mind and mischief flashed in his eyes, "Is that what you're supposed to do these days?"
Willow smiled at her long time friend, "Yes, Angelus. Generally when people sleep together they stay in touch."
He scoffed and reclined in his chair, "Please. What kind of name is Aurora anyway? Sounds to me like she hasn't accepted the fact that she can't see the sun anymore."
"Well, what about Angelus? You can't tell me you kept that name because of your devout Catholic values."
A wave of emotion flashed on his face, but was quickly replaced with a blank expression. "You'd be surprised, Will. Now, when are these dead witches expecting to meet with me?"
Willow noticed the change in her leader, but wisely chose not to say anything. She slid the forms to him, "As soon as possible. Just give me a time and I'll make it happen."
*
*
*
14 minutes and 36 seconds later, Buffy was on her way down the stairs. Her hair, clothing, and (light) makeup were as good as she could make it in such a short time. Goodness knows she never wanted to keep her father waiting. She'd decided on black stretchy yoga pants and a halter sports bra top. It was white and showed more than a little bit of her midriff. She had swept her hair into a high ponytail and made sure to have a few tendrils of hair out of it. She may not have even been on a date before, but she knew she looked good.
The sight that greeted her down the stairs was her father, Ethan, and Parker sitting around talking.
"Hello." She stalked over to them and all three men stood with her presence. Ethan and Parker gave a half-bow to her and she nodded politely in response. She would never get used to people treating as if she were royalty. Though, in a way, she was.
"Buffy, my Awakener, it is always a pleasure to see your lovely face." Ethan reached his hand out to hers and placed a kiss on top of her wrist.
Ethan was a stark contrast from her father. Her father was slightly shorter than Ethan and had a round, proud face. His eyes, the exact same color as hers, were filled with not only trust, but great power.
Ethan was tall and lanky. His hair was always frazzled slightly and the wrinkles in his face resembled thin scars. He was dark haired and eyed and his entire being was foreboding.
Buffy did her best not to gag and slapped on a happy face, "Mister Rayne… Parker."
Parker jumped to attention as she said his name, "H-hello, Buffy, my Awakener."
Parker, Ethan's new blood, was very close to her age than anyone she had ever spared with. A new blood was a recently turned vampire, whether created by choice or chance. Azilot society shunned rebels and, most times, new bloods were adopted out.
In the years that she had known Ethan she knew he desperately envied her father. He had always wanted an Awakener of his own. Not for the love of a child, of course. He only wanted the power. Parker was as close as he got.
She smiled prettily at him, "Hi, Parker, my spar partner."
They both laughed at their little inside joke. Parker had dark brown hair and eyes, just like his adopted sire. His, however, didn't hold an ounce of cruelty. In fact, the boy was downright swoon worthy. He was 22, in actual years, and she really had no idea about his life prior to living with Ethan. It didn't matter though. He was adorable and all hers for the next 3 hours.
Hank cleared his throat and brought their focus back. "We have much work to do today. Buffy has a test coming to pass soon."
The girl in question rolled her eyes as if to say, 'don't remind me'. "What are we working on today?"
"Today, we're going to help you learn how to predict fighting styles and pattern of movements. Different opponents have different signs." Her father moved them into the slightly hidden training room, directly across from the sitting area.
Ethan stayed back from the group, as he only gave pointers when it was absolutely necessary. Buffy still found it unbelievable that her father voluntarily hung around him.
Hank positioned Buffy across from parker. "Fighting styles and patterns have everything to do with personality."
"So, the good guys fight differently than the bad guys?"
"Well, yes. I guess you could say that." He gave a charming smile to his pupils.
A scoff came from across the room and all eyes were drawn to Ethan.
With an almost unperceivable snarl he spoke, "There are no such things as good people. There are only bad people with slightly more conscience."
All parties involved were startled by his outburst. Hank shook it off first. He clapped his hands loudly to gain the students' attention.
"You guys will start with each other, then my style, and then Ethan's. By then, your mother should be home from work and she will be your last example."
Parker and Buffy nodded. All crushes, 'royalty', and vivid dreams were put aside and the work began.
Hopefully this part is to your liking. I'm trying to set everything up, this universe is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Send the reviews please, it's honestly what gives me the motivation to keep going and write faster.
Chyna
Oh, and don't forget to vote! Just take the spaces out! http:// thereadershavechosen. eternflame .com/forum/index. php?topic=1325.0