Disclaimers

All characters appearing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are copyright Joss Whedon. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.

All original characters, such as Naoikientan (Nah-Kean-Tune), are the property of Celgress.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Four AU - Corruption: Episode Three Seduced by Evil

By

Celgress

"But our most dangerous enemies are the ones we never knew we had."

Narrator - Gossip Girls Season Four, Planet Clair

The apartment of Rupert Giles mid-August 1999 early afternoon

"So how do we stop this Neck Tie guy?" Xander Harris said from his position on Giles' couch while tossing popcorn into his mouth.

"Naoikientan, his name is Naoikientan" Rupert Giles said, with a hint of annoyance. "Stopping him will require finding out why exactly he is here first."

"Same reason they all come to open the Hell Mouth" said Buffy, who was pacing a hole in the floor of Giles' apartment. "And I'm the one who has to stop him. Only this one has made it personal. God Giles I hate, hate double dog hate the fact this Nacky-Tune has threatened my family. Why can't we just have a clean fight, me and him one on one?"

"Guys we just found something" Willow Rosenberg said. She was sitting in a corner with her boyfriend "OZ" Osborne. The two were surrounded by piles of old books.

"Spill it" Buffy demanded.

"It isn't good" said Oz, his gaze downcast.

"When is it ever" Xander laughed bitterly.

"What is it?" Giles asked with mounting concern.

"It says here that Naoikientan is personally responsible for the death of at least twenty slayers over the course of roughly fifteen-hundred years" Willow said, holding up a thick tome. "Also Naoikientan was leader of one of the most powerful vampire cults in Europe up until 1520 C.E. when the Watchers Council wiped the group out in Salisbury, England. Shortly after the purge Naoikientan vanished from the record only reappearing now it seems."

"Why would reappear now?" Giles wondered aloud.

"There is more" Willow said, as she continued reading. "Naoikientan is an expert sorcerer. One of his specialities was soul removal and containment. Apparently when the Watchers Council destroyed his cult Naoikientan was in the process of preforming a complex ceremony during the Autumn Equinox a ritual that involved offering four hundred pure souls to the lower powers in return for making him a hell god. The ritual thankfully was never completed. The Watchers Council apparently also freed the captured souls."

"Of course" Giles said, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"'Of course', of course what Giles?" Buffy asked, ceasing her pacing.

"Oh sorry" Giles said, putting his glasses back on. "Naoikientan is here to complete his ritual and become a hell god. The ritual involved can only be successfully preformed at certain places during certain times. The place must be located at a nexus of mystical convergence. The time must be one of celestial significance. He's picked the Hell Mouth as the place, the autumn equinox this September as the time."

"What happens if ol' Neck Tie succeeds anyhow?" Xander asked.

"If Naoikientan ascends transforming into a hell god he will become, by default, the ruler of this realm" Giles said.

"Which means?" Buffy asked.

"Which means he will literally create hell on Earth, or more precisely Earth will become a part of Hell with Naoikientan as the undisputed master of the realm" Giles finished explaining the dire consequences of Naoikientan's plan.

"So we just help Buffy dust Neck Tie, like we've helped her dust the Master and all the others big bad demons no biggie" Xander said nonchalantly.

"Yes biggie" Willow said, from her seated position besides Oz. "This demon is going after Buffy's family which is a big biggie."

"How does this Naoikientan guy know about Mrs. S and Dawn in the first place?" Oz wondered aloud, in his usual laid back tone.

"Me and Buffy have been giving that some thought" Giles said, turning his attention towards Xander, Willow & Oz. "As near as we can figure Naoikientan must have gained this knowledge through either direct association with the remnants the Mayor's operation or what is left Angelus/Spike's old gang. However he gained the information Buffy will be counting on all of us to protect Joyce and Dawn while she takes care of Naoikientan himself."

"You can count on us Buffy" Oz said.

"You know it Buffster" Xander chimed in.

"We'll guard them with our lives" Willow said, crossing her heart.

"Thanks guys" Buffy said looking relaxed for the first time in weeks. "I know I can always count on you."

"I think the big question now is why Naoikientan hasn't made a move during the past month" Giles said, his concerned look returning.

"Maybe he's give up" Xander offered, the others looked at him like he had two heads. "Hey, it could happen."

"He's planning something, I just know it" Buffy said.

"I agree, the questions are what is it and when will it be unleashed?" Giles said, looking around the room the deeply troubled faces of the young people mirroring his own inner turmoil. "For now all we can do is prepare, and wait for the inevitable confrontation."

The Sunnydale Art Gallery afternoon

Llewellyn Drake flashed Joyce a brilliant smile when he entered the building. He was dressed in a casual, yet tasteful, ensemble of short sleeved white dress shirt, a pair of kaki colored dress pants, brown leather scandals and stylish sunglasses. His dark grey hair was tied back in a tight ponytail. "How is my girl doing today?" Llewellyn Drake asked, gently kissing Joyce's outstretched hand.

"Just fine Drake" Joyce said, Llewellyn preferred that everyone call him by his surname. "How are you doing this glorious afternoon?"

"It is indeed glorious is it not?" Llewellyn Drake said, releasing Joyce's hand. "Joyce would you and Dawn do me the honor of accompanying me for ice cream once you are finished work for the day?"

"Of course Drake, nothing would please me more" Joyce said, blushing. "You know you are totally spoiling both Dawn and myself."

"What can I say" Llewellyn Drake said, flashing her another dazzling smile. "I enjoy the company of attractive, intelligent women. My driver will drop by your home this afternoon at 5:00 pm. Until then I bide you adieu." Llewellyn Drake gave a small bow before leaving the Art Gallery.

Joyce let out a giggle at the gesture. Llewellyn, no Drake, was such a good man. Not only had he and Joyce herself formed a tight bond over the past month, but he and Dawn had really hit it off as well. Even Buffy admitted Drake was charming, though she still remained standoffish. No matter Joyce was sure Drake would eventually win her over, it was only a matter of time. Drake was one a million after all.

By 5:00 pm that afternoon Buffy was just arriving home with Willow, Oz and Xander in tow. Upon seeing the white stretched limousine parked in the driveway of Summers Residence Xander did a double take. Buffy's Mother & little sister Dawn came out of the house and immediately got into the limousine.

"Hi Buffy, hi guys. Drake is taking Mom and me out for ice cream. Isn't that nice of him?" Dawn said in her usual chipper tone before jumping into the vehicle.

"Yeah, Drake is a real peach" Buffy said.

"Drake my man" Xander said in a half joking fashion, leaning into the open door of the limousine. "You never told me you were loaded, why you holding out on the X man?"

"Sorry Xander" Llewellyn Drake said with a smile. "We all need some secrets. What do you say I take you out for lunch sometime, my treat?"

"Sounds like a date" Xander said. "Well not like a date date, ah you know."

Llewellyn Drake chuckled. "Oz my man has you band made that demo CD I asked for yet?"

"You were serious the other day when you said you liked our sound?" Oz asked, a little taken aback.

"I never kid around about such important matters" Llewellyn Drake said. "I think your group has something special. I know several important players in the industry. I would love to help your group out. Next time we meet say in about a week, you have that demo CD ready okay?"

"You know we will, thanks again Mr. Drake" Oz said enthusiastically.

"Drake Oz, it is just Drake" Llewellyn Drake said, still smiling. "Buffy and Willow it was great seeing you two again. We really need to go out and do something together, soon. See you kids later, don't wait up." Llewellyn Drake said with a cheesy wink, which caused both Dawn & Joyce to giggle, closing the door. The limousine then slowly pulled away.

"What a great guy" Willow said.

"Yeah" Xander agreed.

To Be Continued