Disclaimers

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

All original characters, such as Naoikientan (Nah-Kean-Tune) and Edvackia (Eid-veak-key-ah), are the property of Celgress.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Four AU - Corruption: Episode Five: First Strike

By

Celgress

"I'd fashioned my own cross, been crushed by its weight. There's no stronger message than dirt in your face."

Bones (2013) Young Guns

The Magic Box mid-afternoon of August 28th 1999

Removing his glasses Rupert Giles wiped the sweat off his face for the fourth time in as many hours. Even though he had bought the Magic Box, the local spell shop, several weeks ago, with his payout from the Southern California School Board following the destruction of Sunnydale high, the damn air conditioner was still on the fritz. This in spite of the fact the realtor had assured him the issue would be taken care of before the closing. If the infernal realty company wasn't represented by the notorious LA based Law Firm of Wolf, Ram and Heart he would have long ago taught them a lesson. As things now stood there was little he could do about the situation, except grit his teeth and bare it.

At least Willow seemed unaffected by the oppressive condition. The young red headed woman was her usual chipper self. This brought a smile to Giles' tired face. Giles could always count on Willow to approach each situation, no matter how dire, with her typical upbeat can do attitude. If Giles was still officially a number of the Watchers' Council he'd recommend Willow be considered for membership in the organization of all the so called 'Scoobies' Willow held the most promise in his mind, even though he'd never let Xander or Oz know he felt so. He knew it would be wrong of him to play favorites, and blatantly doing so would surely damage the relationship between him and his young charges. Still he felt Willow had a very bright future ahead of her both as a researcher and a magic user.

Giles' musings were broken up by the tinkle of the small bell above the customer entrance which announced the arrival of Llewellyn Drake. The business man was dressed in his normal casual attire of mirrored sunglasses, buttoned down short shelved semi-formal white shirt, gray slacks and khaki scandals. Llewellyn Drake's long, iron gray, hair flowed freely around his shoulders and a warm smile graced his handsome features.

"Ah M-Mr. Drake how are today?" Giles asked, putting his glasses back on.

"Please Giles how many times must I tell you, call me Llewellyn" Llewellyn Drake said with a soft chuckle.

"Alright Llewellyn how are you?" Giles said with a chuckle of his own.

"Fine, whew is it hot in here or is it just me?" Llewellyn Drake said, fanning his face with his hand.

"I-it isn't j-just you the air conditioner isn't working. It bloody well hasn't been since I bought the damn place" Giles admitted ruefully.

"What a shame" Llewellyn Drake said, shaking his head. "Would it be alright if I took a look at the unit? Perhaps I can fix it. Once upon a time I specialized in refrigeration, admittedly that was ages ago but it is like riding a horse you never forget."

"Hi Llewellyn" Willow said, waving her hand at the handsome business man. "Oz told me to thank you for helping his band get that try out with the Record Company. The executives really liked their sound they might even sign them soon. You have no idea what this means for Oz and for me."

"Don't mention it Willow. Glad I could help a couple crazy kids like Oz and yourself. No matter what, remember you along with your friends deserve everything I do" Llewellyn Drake said, his smile broader than ever. "Now Giles where is that air conditioner?" Llewellyn Drake asked, putting his sunglasses down on the counter and rubbing his hands together in anticipating.

About twenty minutes later Llewellyn Drake was still working on restoring the health of the air conditioning unit when Willow entered the back room carrying an ancient looking thick tome. Giles was standing watching Llewellyn Drake. The two had made small talk while the latter worked away.

Giles had to admit the man was very pleasant. When Giles had first met Mr. Drake, scratch that Giles mentally chided himself when he had first met Llewellyn Drake, Giles hadn't known what to make of the businessman. Giles naturally felt protective of Buffy, Joyce and Dawn. Giles chalked it up to his role as Buffy's Watcher, even though he technically no longer held said title. Now only a short month later Giles felt like he had known the other man for years. Giles felt he could trust Llewellyn Drake with his life, and was happy Joyce had finally found somebody who could make her and her children happy. Buffy and Dawn had been through a lot the past few years since moving to Sunnydale, they deserved a normal happy life.

"Yes Willow, what is it?" Giles asked, seeing Willow had entered the room holding one of his books.

"Um I found some more background on o-our client. Remember the one Buffy dealt with a few weeks ago?" Willow said her and Giles exchanged knowing looks.

"L-Llewellyn I-I must take care of this. I'll return momentarily" Giles said.

"No problem, take your time" Llewellyn Drake said, glancing at Giles and Willow over his shoulder. "This job is more complex than I first thought. I am sure I will still be here when you come back."

Shutting the door behind them Giles followed Willow into the stock room, where Willow laid the book out on an empty table. "What did you find on Naoikientan?"

"Not a lot on him himself" Willow confessed with a shrug.

"Than who, or what, is this about?"

"Naoikientan's former mate a vampires named Edvackia (pronounced - Eid-veak-key-ah)" Willow explained. "According to these records from the Watchers' Council Edvackia was a Nubian princess who was sired by an unnamed ancient Egyptian vampire in the 4th Century B.C.E. This Egyptian vampire became obsessed with the human who would become Edvackia due to her great beauty to such an extent that when her father refused his demands the Egyptian vampire, and his followers, massacred everyone in the town and he sired Edvackia."

"Dear lord" Giles said.

"There is more. Sometime during the first century C.E. Naoikientan and Edvackia met in what is now southern France. In spite of being only a young vampire at the time, barely over a one hundred years old, Naoikientan somehow slayed Edvackia's sire taking her for his own mate. In fact the name Edvackia is a cognate of several Classical European languages it means either treasured one or beloved one. They celebrated their wedding, and Edvackia's freedom, by cutting a swath of destruction through the Roman Province of Gaul into Northern Italy. It took an army to top them and their followers Giles" Willow said wide eyed.

"Do we know what happened to this Edvackia?"

"Yes, she was slayed by the Watchers' Council during Naoikientan's failed attempt at becoming a Hell God in 1520 C.E."

"That is a relief one crazed ancient Master Vampire is enough" Giles said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Tsk tsk Giles I do not call you names" said the silken voice of Llewellyn Drake.

The instant Giles whirled around Llewellyn Drake's now clawed hand encircled his throat. The red eyed vampire effortlessly pulled the former watcher off his feet with a single hand. Llewellyn Drake's formerly handsome features had melted away revealing the ugly countenance of a millennia old monster. His brow ridges were especially pronounced. Long fangs kept his mouth slightly agape. Willow screamed knocking the book off the table in her panic.

"Run Willow run" Giles managed to choke out before the relentless gripe of Llewellyn Drake cut of Giles'wind.

Willow bolted for the door that leads out of the storage room. Only to be stopped by Llewellyn Drake who stepped in front of her, now dragging the unconscious Giles along by the latter's shirt collar. Llewellyn Drake waved his free hand in front of Willow's terrified face, his fiery eyes meeting her own innocent gaze. A moment later Willow stood mesmerized under Llewellyn Drake's spell.

"Willow be a dear call Buffy" Llewellyn Drake said calmly. "Tell her you and Giles have found some information about Naoikientan. Tell her it is very important that she most come at once. After you have done so, set the Magic Box on fire. Start with the Watcher and Slayer diaries that are here, including the one on the floor. Above all they must be destroyed. Then you will accompany me and Giles on a little trip. Do you understand?"

"I understand" Willow said, a dreamy look on her face.

By the time Buffy arrived at the scene, half an hour later, the Magic Box was engulfed in flames. The fire fighters, who were having a devil of a time containing the blaze, had zero patience for the hysterical young blonde who claimed her friends were inside. Eventually the police made Buffy leave the area. The first thing Buffy did, once she regained he senses, was call up Xander followed by Oz. She told both what had happened, including the phone call from Willow which had proceeded the disaster.

Meanwhile at the Summers' residence Dawn had gotten home early. The thirteen year old was unlocking the front door when an unfamiliar car skidded into the driveway. Before Dawn could react Faith jumped out of the car and placed a rag soaked in chloroform over the mouth of the teen. Dawn feebly struggled for several seconds before succumbing to the noxious fumes. Fiath placed Dawn's limp body into the car. Before getting back in the vehicle and speeding off using a combat knife Faith stuck a large envelop on the front door. An hour later Buffy and the remaining numbers of the Scooby Gang discovered the envelope.

"What is it?" Oz asked.

"Don't touch it, let me" Buffy said removing the knife and opening the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of white bristol board. Written in blood was the message;

You were warned. The fate of your sister, Giles and Willow is your punishment. Do not make me take away the rest of your loved ones. Retire or else they pay the price singed Naoikientan.

Buffy looked at the message for a long time. Her expression set. Her body still as stone, not so much as a single muscle twitched. Both Xander and Oz were concerned. Neither knew what to do, what to say. Finally, mercifully Buffy herself ended their state of acute unease.

"Oz I need your van"

"You got it" Oz said, his usual laid back demeanour absent.

Buffy's next request shocked both young men. "Xander can you make me a bomb?"

"A bomb" Xander stuttered. "S-Sure B-Buff what kind of, bomb do you want?"

"Something big enough to destroy a small building, like your average mausoleum" Buffy said her expression still unchanged.

"It'll take t-time to make something like that" Xander confessed.

"You have until sundown. Oz go with him, transport the bomb to the External Rest Cemetery south gate by sundown. Then you guys can leave, I'll do the rest" Buffy said her eyes full of steely determination.

"What do you have planned Buff?" Xander asked.

"Don't worry about it just do as I say. If you want to see them alive again you have to trust me, now go!"

Lair of Naoikientan

"Drink my child" Naoikientan, still in vamp face and now dressed in his elaborate black robe and sitting upon his stone throne, said urging Willow on. Willow was sucking the dark blood that oozed from a self-inflicted wound on Naoikientan's left wrist. "Become strong become blood of my blood, life of my life young one. I sense great magical potential in you. Under my tutelage a skilled vampiress sorceress you will one day be."

Giles closed his eyes unable to stomach the disgusting sight of Naoikientan turning the innocent, and still mesmerized, Willow. "What is the matter watcher?" Naoikientan spat out the last word as if it was something vile and dirty. "Do not be jealous your time will soon come. I will bestow upon you the honor of becoming one of my children just like Willow." The ancient vampire's mouth contorted into a dreadful smirk, his mouth yawned open like a chasm lined with gagged rocks.

"No matter what you do to us Buffy will stop you" Giles said defiantly.

"I do not think so" Naoikientan laughed, "you under estimate your importance Mr. Giles. See each slayer is unique in her own way. Some are smart, others are not. Some are cunning while others are foolish. Some are brave while others are cowardly. Some are self-reliant while others are dependent on those around them. Take a stab at it, into which category do you think your girl best fits hmm?"

Giles didn't say a word. Giles wasn't going to give this creature that had conned them all the satisfaction of playing the game. It was a small victory.

"What no answer Mr. Giles. I'm disappointed in you. I was under the impression you have a particularly sharp mind. Cat got your tongue perhaps? Allow me, your slayer this slayer one Buffy Anne Summers is heavily dependent upon those around her, including you her watcher. That is her weakness and your failure Mr. Giles. You should have taught her true self-reliance, but you did not. Now my job has been made so much easier than it could have otherwise been. By exploiting Buffy's weakness, her over reliance on her support group, I can emotionally cripple her. Negatively impacting her ability to fight back without ever firing a shot as the saying goes. Not only am I taking her loved ones away from her. I am making them into enemies at the same time. Ah here comes our latest recruit."

Faith entered the chamber dragging the bound and gagged Dawn Summers. Giles eyes went wide. He could not believe what he was seeing. The grin on Naoikientan's face grew even wider, if that was possible.

"I got what you wanted my Master" Faith said, causally tossing the teen on the hard stone floor.

By this time Willow had stopped drinking from Naoikientan's wrist. The young red head lay slumped on the ground near his feet, her eyes closed. "Excellent you have done well my disciple."

"F-Faith!?" Giles stammered.

"In the flesh G" Faith said with a twirl.

"B-but h-how is this possible?" Giles asked in bewilderment.

"For me all things are possible" Naoikientan declared. "I revived Faith after I found her in the long term care facility where you compassionate people left her to rot."

"It wasn't like that!" Giles protested.

"Silence" Naoikientan bellowed. Faith slapped the already battered Giles hard across his face. Naoikientan continued his speech. "Where was I, oh yes. Faith is now my chief acolyte. Once I eliminated Buffy Summers I will perform a ritual that will make Faith into a powerful vampiress. You may ask why not just turn Faith the old fashioned way. The answer is simple. Once Buffy is gone and if Faith never technically dies the line of the Slayer will end forever. Then we will destroy the Watchers' Council, ushering in a new era of demonic rule on Earth my demonic rule. Even if I failed to ascend into a Hell God I will still have my vengeance for the destruction of my family including my beloved Edvackia. There will be no more chosen ones. Now come Giles drink."

Giles struggled valiantly but to no avail. Faith forced his open mouth upon Naoikientan's now bleeding right wrist. The old monster licked the crimson coating off his left index nail, a look of pure ecstasy on his hideous face.

"Ah that is the stuff."

To Be Continued