Greetings one and all. It's the ole Devious One, aka WilTaraFan, here with the next update for Book 1. I have the entire book nearly completed with today's update. It should be completely finished in the next couple days.
WARNING: There is specific and detailed scenes of violence in this update. If your a bit squimish, please skip through the details. I didn't originally intend to be as descriptive as I was (as you'll see if you read through it), but I felt to completely tell the story and have it seem believeable, the details needed to be there.
However, if after reading it, you moderaters feel it's too descriptive, send me a note at
letsrocket_1998@yahoo.com and I will edit the worst details out.
Now, the Willow/Tara reunion is getting closer and closer. They won't have their reunion on this update, but the next update will see them seeing each other.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the reading and again, if you have any dislikes for the details of the violence, let me know and I will change the violent scenes. Thanks.
Kudos!!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Disclaimers: -->
I don't own any characters from the syndicated series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Joss Whedon owns them. I have no hopes of making any profit off this story, or any others I've done in the past or ones I might do in the future. Comments or criticisms are available to send to
letsrocket_1998@yahoo.com.
Violence Disclaimer: --> This is the part of the Book that contains some pretty explicit and detailed violence. If you've seen the movie Blade 2, then you'll know. I'm just putting what happened in that seen at the House of Pain in my story, only I'm substituting it with the Bronze. Also, much of the details here are specific and taken off of the official Script for the movie taken from the Blade 2 DVD. Just be warned. And when you do come to it, if you don't like reading about violent fights, then skip past it. And I promise, the Willow/Tara reunion is getting closer.
Spoi:[/u] Set in Season 7, sometime after the first couple episodes. Willow is still in England with Giles.
Author's Note: --> The idea for this story hit me after reading my friend Kaine Parker's Power Ranger story The Second Prophecy and after reading The Kali Prophecy, written by Celia. I enjoyed both stories and inspiration comes from them both. So, congrats to you both for magnificent stories. I hope you enjoy the story. Also, some of the characters in this book you'll recognize as characters from the movie "Blade 2", which I don't own. Those characters are owned by the movie's writer, David Goyer. The character Michael is, as you could guess, the Archangel Michael from the Bible. Many authors have used him and you can add me to the list. In the television series "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules", Charles Masure played him. I see Charles Masure playing Michael here. In the Hercules episode Revelations, Michael wore this white outfit with a shiny silver and gold chest armor. If you've seen the episode, you know what I'm talking about. That's how Michael looks in this story.
Special Note: --> Just so the readers know this going in, the actual reunion between Willow and Tara isn't going to happen towards the end. When I came up with this story, I wanted it to be a world in peril type of deal and I wanted our favorite lovers to have their special moment just as the big battle unfolds. So, it won't happen until the end. Just be warned. But I promise, the journey will be worth it.
Prophecies & Legends
Book 1 - Rise of the Reapers
by The Devious[/b]
Chapter 3Giles rode his horse, Winnigo towards the front gate of the Coven. There were two guards already posted there to keep out intruders. Giles had been riding his horse at a fast pace since he received a very urgent phone call by Buffy. The Slayer had, as quickly as she could, confided in him the details of the meeting with the two vampires.
The Watcher had never actually expected Buffy or anyone from Sunnydale to ever cross paths with a Pure Blood. And the fact that two Pure Bloods came to Sunnydale, actively seeking her out was a very important thing indeed. Giles slowed his horse to a stop as one of the female guards flashed a light at his face. He was breathing heavy and he squinted his eyes at the light hitting him.
"Mr. Giles?" the guard said, recognizing him. "What is going on?"
Giles got off of his horse. "I need to speak with Madam Isheeta right away."
"She received your message and she is on her way to the guest house as we speak." the guard replied as she took the reins from Winnigo's saddle and led the horse to the stables.
Giles turned and headed towards the guest house where Willow was appointed to stay. As he neared the house, he saw Isheeta standing outside the front door, dressed in one of her red silk robes, tied at the waist. She walked up to Giles.
"Rupert, what is this about?" she demanded.
Giles entered the large and spacious house, Isheeta hot on his heels. "I believe I explained it on the phone Alyeena." Giles said as he began heading upstairs, towards the room Willow was occupying.
Isheeta grabbed his arm and roughly stopped him, pressing him against the wall of the hallway they were in. "Rupert, removing her from the Coven right now is very dangerous. Willow is at a very critical point right now. I am only a step away from getting her to face her grief. Having her leave now could ruin everything we've gained since you brought her here. She can't be taken now."
Giles sighed, knowing she was right. But, he knew what had to be done. "Isheeta, I understand your view point, I really do. But Buffy needs my help and Willow's. I made a personal vow that I would stay with Willow until I was sure she'd be alright. There is a helicopter coming to pick me up and I have to take Willow with me."
Isheeta stepped back. "This is a very bad idea."
"Believe me, I know." Giles replied. "But it's the only option right now because I won't leave her here with no familiar faces around her."
"Well....obviously, I could force both of you to stay here until Willow is better." Isheeta stated, staring into his eyes.
"What?" Giles was taken back by her sudden agressiveness.
"Rupert, you brought her to me, to this Coven because she needed to learn about her power and she needed to deal with her grief. It's taken all summer to get through those walls she's built around her. But I've done it, just as you asked of me. And now, when I'm closer to helping her than ever, your wanting to remove her, this is going to be more dangerous for her. I have the authority and the power to not let you both leave." Isheeta told him.
"You can't be serious." Giles said, taking a deep breath.
"I'm very serious Rupert. During these past four months, I've come to respect Willow's ability. And more than that, she is very dear to my heart. I've been in this world for a very long time Rupert and she's been through more than any young woman should. I will not have you making her relapse just because the Slayer has a problem!" Isheeta's voice drilled into him.
"Alyeena, you know me. If I thought this would be dangerous to Willow, I would not take her. Truth be told, I believe that this is what she needs. She rarely speaks unless spoken to and when she does, it's negative words about herself. She needs to have her mind occupied. She needs to be busy and this situation that Buffy is facing is the perfect chance. And I swear to you, I will bring her back when this is over." Giles swore.
Isheeta debated with her better self of judgment, finally making a decision. "I will let you take her on this....whatever it is....on one condition."
"Name it and it's yours." Giles instantly replied, more at ease now that Isheeta was letting him and Willow join the others.
"When this helicopter gets here, I'm going with you." Isheeta told him.
Giles's eyes widened at the implications of the words. "Alyeena..."
"Rupert, I will not let her leave this compound unless I'm absolutely positive she's protected. That means, I'm going. Otherwise, I will put up enough magickal shields around this compound that nothing can get through it. It's your decision." Isheeta said.
Giles shook his head as he closed his eyes. Reluctantly, though, he nodded. "Fine, get yourself dressed and ready to leave. The transport will be here in less than an hour."
She nodded back at him as she headed away to tell her fellow sisters about the news. Giles continued up the stairs to get Willow ready.
*****The black helicopter soared through the night sky as it headed overseas towards the Czech Republic. Asad had told Buffy and her friends that their journey would be a lengthy one. It would take them about three hours to get them where they're going. It was a fairly large helicopter and Buffy sat in the far back with Dawn and Xander next to her. Anya had agreed to teleport herself there by the time they arrived.
A second helicopter was going to pick up Giles and Willow and take them to the location. Asad was riding in the passenger's seat next to the pilot and Nyssa sat across from Buffy. As they were going over the ocean, Nyssa looked over at Buffy.
Buffy turned her head and gave what she hoped was a glare at Nyssa. "What?" she said pointedly.
Nyssa shook her head, "They tell bedtime stories about you. Buffy the big, bad, Slayer. Frankly, I'm disappointed."
Buffy just shrugged at her.
"That you are willing to come along so easily. I mean, without any assurances." Nyssa shook her head again.
Buffy smiled at her. She was wearing one of her leather jackets and Xander was wearing his large leather coat. She opened her coat and Xander, likewise, did the same. She gestured to a bandolier of plastic explosives secured to her chest and to his. "Xander got them for me." she said.
"Semtex explosive. Enough to level a city block. How's that for assurance, suck head?" Xander said, looking at Nyssa directly.
"Well," Nyssa said, "I stand corrected."
Buffy turned her head and continued to stare outward as the helicopter continued passing over the ocean and towards the continent of Asia.
*****Back in Sunnydale, Tara entered the main office of a hotel. She'd been able to get to one before any demons or vampires got to her. She walked up to the reception desk and slowly pulled her hood back to show her face to the person there.
"What can I do for you, ma'am?" an older man asked.
Tara pulled out a twenty dollar bill from her pocket. "I need a room for one. Just for the night."
The man nodded as he looked at his log book. After a few moments of looking through it, he looked back up at her. "I have a room on the second floor. 2-D. My charge is eighteen dollars a night. Cable is already installed in case you want to watch tv."
She nodded. "Alright."
Tara handed the clerk the twenty and he gave her the two dollars back after giving her a key and having her sign a form. Tara turned and headed to her room. She found it a few moments later after she climbed a small flight of stairs that led to the second floor. Putting the key into the lock, Tara entered the room and switched on the light.
The hotel room was like that of any normal room. There was a single twin sized bed in the corner, a small desk off to the side and a television situated on a television stand. A large mirror was hanging on the door by a nail. Tara stood in the room for a minute and just looked around.
"Seven days." Tara murmured. "I can do this."
She took her cape of her shoulders and placed it on the bed. She walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed, taking several deep breaths. She looks up at the window, at the night sky that's just visible through the openings of the curtains. "Please let me have the strength to do this." she whispered. Every instinct in her was screaming at her to get up and go to the Summers House, to find Willow and be with her. That's what her heart was saying to her, but her heart was fighting with her brain, that was reminding her of Skip's warning.
Tara looked to her right and looked at the TV. She stood up and walked to the TV stand. She grabbed the remote that was on top of the TV and returned to the bed. She sat back down and flipped the TV on. Sighing with resignation, she settled down to spend the first of seven nights, alone.
*****Just a couple hours later, two black helicopters simultaneously neared a top notch, state of the art, maximum security complex. The helicopter that Buffy, Xander, and Dawn are being carried in banks right while dropping down low and the other helicopter carrying Giles, Willow, and Isheeta banks left white it dropped down low. A few minutes later, the Bell Jet Rangers touch down outside a terraced, Frank Lloyd Wright structure overlooking the ocean.
As Nyssa and Asad exit the helicopter and lead Buffy, Xander, and Dawn over to the other helicopter, a circular crimson logo encircling a double-helix flaps about as the wind breezes through the area.
Giles exited the other helicopter with Willow following behind and Isheeta getting out last. Isheeta is wearing her normal battle gear. A pair of black leather battle pants with a black sleeveless armored vest with gold designs over it. She has her hair pulled back into a ponytail and she has a sword strapped to her back and several small daggers attached to her hip. Buffy walked over.
"Giles, who's this?" Buffy asked.
"Buffy, this is Alyeena Isheeta. She insisted on coming along." Giles replied.
Isheeta stepped forward. "Hello Buffy."
Asad walked over. "You all can save the introductions and reunions for another time, we are on a tight schedule. Please, follow us."
As the group headed towards the doors that entered the complex, Buffy glanced down at his arms and saw a series of red light dots. She looked up and saw dozens of vampire marksmen on the roofs around them, training their weapons on all of them. "Oh boy." she whispered.
Nyssa and Asad lead the group to a large and spacious elevator. Getting into the elevator, Nyssa pressed a series of buttons on the pad. The elevator takes them down for several moments before it stopped. The steel doors opened after the elevator stopped moving downward.
Stepping out, Nyssa and Asad led them into a hub out of which multiple corridors project. The Pure Blood Vampires took the central corridor with everyone following behind them. The corridor ended at a pair of steel security doors. Nyssa came up to a biometric scanner, allowing a beam of light to play over her face for a few seconds. The scanner acknowledged her identity within the computer database and opened a pair of doors ahead of them with a hiss, which revealed a series of security doors beyond these which successively opened into a final door. It was oak, set into a stainless steel wall. Incalculably ancient and elaborately carved, the stainless steel wall was brought over by the Pure Bloods from what their people call the "Old World."
Nyssa turned around to look at the assembled group of humans. "The true power of the Vampire Nation lies here."
She turned and led them towards the final door. As they neared the door, the air around them chilled suddenly. Buffy took a breath and it appeared in a frosty plume. They continued towards the final door.
"Few humans have seen what lies beyond this door. Tonight, you are given that opportunity." Asad said as they approached the final door.
Asad stepped forward and opened the doors to show an inside lair. It's a crescent-shaped room filled with antiquities. There are quarry columns from Middle Kingdom Egypt, stacks of arcane volumes, Medieval frontispieces, and a Borgia-esque Renaissance portrait staring down at them with a severe gaze. Towering over all of those, though, is a massive Greek Cross carved from stone. Music echoed around the room, Boito's Faust. Standing in the midst of all of this is a single figure.
The figure wore a robe of black silk and his back is facing the Slayer and her friends. Nyssa stepped forward. "Father..."
The figure held up a hand for silence as he listened to the remainder of the music crescendo, then he turned, his face still hidden in the shadow. A few moments passed before he stepped out from the shadow and showed his face to them. Bright eyed with a smile like moonlight gleamed off of a knife blade, his skin is impossibly pale, almost marble-like, with traceries of blue blood pulsing underneath.
"Slayer, this is Overlord of the Vampire Nation, The Father, Eli Damaskinos." Asad said, nodding his head to the figure.
Lord Damaskinos nodded in Buffy's direction. "I hope you do not mind the cold conditions. When one such as myself reaches a certain age, certain precautions must be made in order to preserve the flesh."
Buffy and the others didn't know what to make of him, so they kept quiet.
"Welcome, Vampire Slayer. I thank you for coming. I've been rather anxious to meet you for quite some time." Lord Damaskinos declared.
"Have you?" Buffy inquired.
"Oh yes....it has been said, you may have enemies whom you hate, but not enemies whom you despise. Be proud of your enemy, then their success shall be yours, too. In that regard, I must thank you." Damaskinos said, nodding towards Buffy.
Feeling apprehensive, Buffy responded. "For what?"
"Eliminating the Master, of course." came a voice that came from the far wall.
Buffy and the others turned to see a human male walk out. The man has short blonde hair with a pair of eye glasses on and he looked officious-looking. It became obvious to Buffy that he was watching from the the back of the room. He extended his hand and she grabbed it, shaking it.
"You did us a favor. Karel Kounen." he said.
Buffy felt the warmness of the hand she shook and she scrunched her brow. "Your human."
He smiled at her. "Barely....I'm a lawyer. European Health Consortium."
"He also works with the National Institute of Health." Asad told them. When Buffy and the others gave the lawyer a look, Asad spoke up. "Given that they monitor the nation's blood supply, a strategic alliance seemed prudent for the Vampire Nation."
"Ew." Dawn made a face.
"Whatever, do you want to get on with why we're here?" Buffy asked.
"In a moment, Miss Summers. We also finance a number of humanitarian organizations, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases for one, the Human Genome Project..." Karel said.
"Why?" Willow spoke up for the first time. The witch had been following the conversation and she had a desire to know the answer.
"Survival." Nyssa answered. The others turned and looked at her. Nyssa was over to the side, using a complex mechanical key to activate a holo-projector mounted above the table. As she focused the image, a 3-D Diorama of vampire viral nucleocapsids swirled into view. The nucleocapsids began attacking human red blood cells with a vengeance. "If the world knew about Pure Bloods, your scientists would discover that Vampirism, that is to say the Vampirism of the Pure Bloods is an arbovirus, one that spreads through the saliva of parasitic organisms..." she gestured to the hologram, "in this case, Pure Bloods are the vector. The virus replicates within the human bloodstream, evolving its host into an entirely new life-form."
"Unfortunately," Lord Damaskinos said, "viruses evolve as well..."
As the Vampire Overlord spoke, one of the viral nucleocapsids changed, mutating from it's original, elegant design into a harster, more menacing form. The mutated nucleocapsid began feedingon the original vampire capsids, causing a chain reaction of mutation. In seconds, the holo-image filled with throbbing, microscopic horrors.
"We've encountered a new one." Karel took up the explanations, looking at Buffy and Giles mainly. "We've dubbed this new virus the Reaper Strain. And like any good pathogen, it appears to have found itself a carrier, a Patient Zero."
Nyssa pressed some keys of a keyboard she was standing near. The holo-image changed from the nucleocapsids to a video surveillance shot. It showed what happened at the Blood Bank in Prague. "His name is Jared Nomak."
Damaskinos took the conversation back. "Thiavolos, as we used to say in Greece. The Devil, Pure Thirst. Nothing more. He was born a Pure Blood Vampire, but he is an anomaly. Unlike the rest of the Pure Bloods, he feeds on not just humans, but vampires as well. That includes Pure Bloods and the Half Breeds you are used to fighting."
Buffy tilted her head after listening to them. "Looks like he was doing me a favor, then."
"You're missing the point, Buffy." Nyssa said, motioning to her. "Their vampire victims don't die, they turn. They become carriers, Reapers. If the Reapers continue unchecked, there could be thousands of them before the month is over. Do the math."
They were all silent as they waited for Buffy and her friends to think about the news just shared. As the moments passed by, Damaskinos was surprised when Buffy started laughing softly. "Is there something you find amusing, Slayer?" the Overlord demanded.
"Yes actually," she said, "let me get this straight. Today, I find out that the vampires I've taken out are only half of the actual vampire species and now, you want me and my friends to hunt these Reapers....for you?"
"Think about it, this way Slayer," Damaskinos said, "when they are finished with us....when every Pure Blood, Half Breed, and all demons are taken off this planet, do you think they will just stop there. No, the taste of blood will be in their system, they will need more and more of it. Who do you think they will turn on next? Your precious human race. When they are finished, not one human life will be left."
Buffy pursed her lips, now beginning to understand the importance of the situation.
"We've been training a small tactical unit for a little over two years. They are called the Bloodpack. We want you to lead them." Karel Kounan said, looking at her.
"You can't be serious." Buffy said, not believing her ears. The Slayer leading a team of vampires. It was ridiculous to her.
"We are quite serious, Miss Summers." Damaskinos replied.
Giles tilted his head and regarded the lawyer. "Two years?"
"Then they weren't created to go after this Patient Zero." Buffy said.
"We've been training.....to hunt you." Nyssa stated, looking at Buffy.
Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Isheeta, and Dawn were all silent.
"Wonderful." Xander whispered.
*****After the meeting ended, Nyssa and Asad took them to a spacious waiting room to wait until the helicopters were ready to transport them back to Sunnydale. Before they would be taken back, though, they were told that they would be meeting with the Bloodpack. Damaskinos told them one final tidbit of important information. Karel Kounan learned through his confidential channels that the Reapers were headed to Sunnydale.
And while that shouldn't have surprised Buffy, it did for some reason. The battle with the Reapers was going to happen on her home turf, which made it all the more real. Dawn and Xander sat on a bench on one side of the room while Willow sat on a bench on the other side. Isheeta sat next to her while Buffy and Giles stood. After they were brought into the room, they all spoke with Willow about how she was doing. And while she evaded actually answering, the redhead was genuinely touched by their concern for her.
"So....what do you think?" Buffy asked her mentor.
Giles shook his head. "I think we're going to be hunting Reapers."
"What do you really think, Giles?" Willow asked, watching him.
Giles sighed. "The fact is.....the Pure Bloods are just very ticked off because they're no longer at the top of the food chain. As long as we serve a purpose to Damaskinos, they'll keep us in the loop. But the first chance they get, they're gonna betray us. So just be watchful."
Dawn looked up. "So, we're really going to do this?"
Buffy nodded. "Yeah, we're gonna play along for now. They'll take us deeper into their world than we've ever been before. We'll get a chance to see how these Pure Bloods work."
Isheeta rose from her position and walked over. "If you need the assistance of the Coven, I can guarantee you that they will help."
"Thank you Alyeena, but right now, we need to keep the number of who knows about this limited." Giles put a hand on her shoulder.
The doors to the waiting room opened and Nyssa and Asad stood at the doorway. "The Bloodpack is assembled downstairs. Please....come with us." Nyssa said.
The two Pure Bloods led Buffy and her friends down several corridors and took them into the lower part of the structure, into a large room that was reminiscent of a warehouse interior. There were a group of Pure Bloods standing there, watching them approach. They were the Bloodpack, legendary Pure Bloods with great skills at fighting.
Asad gestured with his hand to them. "Buffy, meet the Bloodpack."
"Well," Xander quipped, "if it isn't Snow White and the seven suckheads."
Asad ignored the insult and made the introductions. "Lighthammer and Verlaine."
Lighthammer was a massive Blackfoot Indian and Verlaine was a curvaceous beauty with bee-stung lips that exudes a predatory sexuality. Asad continued, "This is Priest and Snowman." he said. Priest was a long blonde haired modern primitive with copious piercings and facial tattoes. Snowman was a wire albino with alert eyes that watched everything. "And the last two members of the Bloodpack, Chupa and Dieter Reinhardt." Asad introduced. Chupa was a blunt featured Puerto Rican and Reinhardt, the leader of the Bloodpack, was a square jawed, chiseled Austrian.
As Buffy, Isheeta, Giles, Willow, Xander, and Dawn stare down the members of the Bloodpack, Reinhardt moves forward slowly, looking Buffy up and down. She likewise, studied him in silence.
"Hey uh....me and the gang just wanted to know. Are you afraid?" he said with a sneering smile.
The other members of the Bloodpack snickered behind Reinhardt, waiting to see if Buffy was going to take the bait. She snorted. "Of you, as if! All you are is just another vampire for me dust before this is over."
"Really." Reinhardt said.
"Yeah," Buffy said as she started walking around him. "You know, you've been training for two years to take me out. Well, here I am. Ooh, this is so exciting, isn't it. You finally got your chance to take me out. I'm here. Why don't I make it easier for you..." Buffy said, bringing out her wooden stake and holding it up. The Bloodpack immediately went on defense, pulling out their weapons and aiming them at Buffy's back.
"Buffy..." Xander warned.
"It's alright Xander." Buffy assured him. "Come on, Reinhardt, what're you waiting for?" Buffy held the point of the stake against her chest and stepped close to him, close enough for him to shove the stake into her. Behind Reinhardt, Nyssa raised her hand, a signal for the Bloodpack to step down with their aggressive stance. "Here I am, right here in front of you. I'll even give baldy here the first shot."
Reinhardt shoots a look at Nyssa.
"Hey! What are you looking at her for? You need permission, is that it?" Buffy taunted. "Oh, I got it, maybe you need some incentive."
Buffy reaches up with her left hand and slaps him across the face, not enough force to send him down, but enough to turn his head. "What's wrong, did you miss that? I'll do it again." She reaches up and slaps Reinhardt again. Buffy smirked when she saw the anger flare in his face. "Come on!"
"Do it Reinhardt! Do it!!" Verlaine, behind him, called out.
"Come on, what do you need, a manuel." Buffy continued, putting the stake in Reinhardt's hand. "Do it!!"
"Kill her!!" Chupa encouraged.
"Take the Slayer out!!" Lighthammer yelled.
"Finish her Reinhardt!!" Priest decreed.
Encouraged by the responses of his team mates, Reinhardt used his right hand and grabbed Buffy's shirt and attempted to thrust the stake in Buffy's chest. As he moved with the stake, Buffy sidestepped him and flipped him on his back, taking the stake from him as he was being flipped over. As he fell on the ground, Buffy had the point of the stake against his chest. "Still think I'm afraid of you. Think again." she hissed as she stepped away.
Reinhardt leapt to his feet and was about to charge her when Nyssa stepped forward and stopped him. "That's enough!" she told him. Because she is the heir to the Vampire Nation, Reinhardt had to obey her. He bowed his head and stepped back.
"Now," Buffy said, looking at all of them, "from this point on, we work as a collective unit. All of us. You'll be taking orders from me or this arrangement is off! Is that clear?" she waited, but no one made any words. "Good. Now, since these Reapers are headed to Sunnydale, I need you to tell me where they might hit first."
Nyssa stepped forward to answer Buffy's question. "There's a saying Buffy that we like to go by. If you want to catch the hunter, target the prey. The Reapers will most likely either hit the streets or they'll go after the night places where vampires congregate. You know, blood banks or safe houses. You have those in your town, don't you?"
Buffy nodded. "Yes, there's some blood banks I know of. There are a lot of vampires at the cemeteries."
"Ugh, Half Breeds." Chupa huffed.
"Well, Half Breeds are vampires and it makes no difference to the Reapers." Asad said.
"Get the copters ready, let's go home." Buffy said, looking at them silently.
Chapter 4She was restless. Tara had tried watching TV, catching up on the news of the world, but that hadn't helped her desire to be up and doing something. She wanted to try some of her meditation spells, but she couldn't remember everything she needed to perform one and she suspected all of her books were at the Summers House.
For the past hour, Tara had been trying to pry a leg off of the table. It was made out of wood and Tara wanted to go out for at least a little while. She hated being tucked up in a hotel room and she just wanted to get some fresh air. And she knew that if she did run into some vampires, she could use her stake. And if she should come across some demons, she could use her magick to get rid of it. She'd inadvertently done it before.
Tara grabbed her stake and put in her back jeans pocket. Grabbing her cape, she pulled it over her body and fastened it at the neck. Then, she pulled the hood up over her head and headed out.
And while Tara was leaving her hotel room for her walk through Sunnydale, Buffy and the others were arriving back at the Summers House. Buffy took a long deep breath as she moved inward and plopped herself down on the couch. Dawn trudged her way upstairs.
"I'm going to bed." she said, moving up the stairs.
"Fine." Buffy sighed, watching her sister ascend the stairs.
The Bloodpack had gone back with them, but they'd decided to hole themselves up at a crypt in one of the cemeteries. Even though the threat of the Reapers was there, they stayed at the cemetery. They'd decided to begin the hunt on the next night, giving everyone the chance to have a good night's rest. Instead of coming back to the house, Willow had requested to stay at Xander's apartment.
And Isheeta had more or less became somewhat of a guardian for Willow until the redhead was better emotionally, so Isheeta was staying with Xander as well. The only ones that remained at the house now was Giles and Buffy and Giles entered the living room to see Buffy studying the table.
"So, how much about these Pure Bloods do you know?" Buffy asked, looking at him.
Giles took a breath. "I only know what's on record at the Council."
Buffy stood. "So, you've known that the vampire species has had two races. The kind I've been fighting and these Pure Bloods."
Giles nodded. "Yes, I've known about both them both. The reason why I never told you was because you were never expected to come across them. The Pure Bloods follow orders given by the Shadow Cabinet. And the Shadow Cabinet and the Council have had a peace agreement going on for over fifty years. The agreement was that no Pure Blood vampire was allowed in any of America. And that agreement has been followed."
"What are we going to do, Giles? I mean, can we trust these vampires?" Buffy asked.
"No, they are going to turn against us when it serves their methods. For now, we just have to work with the Bloodpack and track these Reapers down." Giles answered.
"You know what," Buffy said, "I still have a lot of energy to burn. I'm going out on a late patrol."
"Would you like me to come with you?" Giles asked politely.
"Nah, I'll be fine. Besides, there's somewhere I'm wanting to go that I'll need privacy for." Buffy replied.
"I understand." Giles said as he watched Buffy turn and head out the door after grabbing a couple weapons.
*****About twenty minutes later, Tara walked through the cemetery, making sure to keep her hood fastened over her face. She didn't want to break her word with her guide and be taken to Tartarus because she had every intention of returning to Tara once the seven days were over. She passed by a couple brushes of bushes and stopped by a tombstone. Somehow, she knew exactly where the tombstone was. She looked at the words inscribed on the tombstone.
Tara Maclay
1979 - 2002
A Devoted Friend, A Devoted Partner
& A Gentle Soul
May You Rest [/center]
Tara's eyes stared at her tombstone as if in a trance. She felt tears forming at knowing that six feet under that dirt, there was indeed a body in a casket that did look like her own. Tara let the tears fall at the injustice that the world brought down upon her and upon Willow. Tara believed that this shouldn't have happened. She believed it with all her heart and she wished this could have been altered. That her body wasn't down there and that she hadn't died.
But sadly, she knew her wish would never come to pass. Tara kneeled down until she was on her knees and she kept looking at the tombstone with teary eyes.
*****Carrying a wooden stake at her hip and swinging her broadsword in her right hand, Buffy moved through the cemetery. She had one designation to go. She wanted to visit a grave she hadn't been to in a while and one she regretted not coming to. It wasn't her mother's grave because she visits her mother's grave weekly. No, this grave belongs to Tara Maclay. Buffy hadn't spent much time at Tara's grave over the summer.
After Willow left for the Coven, Buffy found herself occupied with teaching Dawn about how to track vampires and hunt them. She hadn't had time to visit Tara's grave and she missed that. And after seeing Willow today, it just reminded Buffy of how lousy a person she'd been by not visiting the grave more.
She'd considered herself Tara's friend before the shooting, but over the summer, she hadn't acted like it. She'd gotten so wrapped up in her own life that she hadn't even bothered with going to take care of Tara's grave and Buffy hated herself for it. She knew eventually, Willow would come here to see the grave. The only time Willow had been at the grave was at the funeral. And it had been Giles who'd planned the funeral.
Tara's father wanted nothing to do with it. He blamed Willow for Tara's death. He told them flatly that it was Willow that kept Tara in Sunnydale and it was ultimately Willow that was the reason his daughter was killed. That had multiplied Willow's depression then and Buffy had been near rage. She'd wanted to kill Mr. Maclay for that. But instead, he'd left and Giles had gotten everything ready.
Buffy walked up a steep hill that Tara's grave was situated at. The grave itself was just beyond the hill, nestled between two slopes with bushes surrounding it. As the Slayer neared, her Slayer instincts prickled at her and she went on the alert as she neared the grave. Moving slowly, she pulled a tree limb aside and saw that there was someone on their knees in front of the grave, looking at the tombstone. Buffy didn't know who it was because of the hood, but she knew the tales about grave robbers and she wasn't about to let Tara's grave be defiled by the likes of grave robbers. She stepped out from behind the bushes and poised the point of her sword against the hooded person's neck. "Don't even think about moving. Slowly, pull the hood back." she said with a strong tone in her voice.
*****Tara pulled her cape around her as the last of the tears she was going to shed dried on her cheeks. Her wooden stake laid in front of her as she gazed at the tombstone, seemingly unable to tear her gaze away from it. She knew she should leave. She knew it'd be wise to get back to the hotel room for the night, but she found herself unable to leave the grave.
If she'd been listening to her senses, she would have felt the presence of someone behind her. But instead, her entire attention was focused on the tombstone and when the point of a blade touched her on her left shoulder, her entire body tensed. Then, she heard the words from a familiar voice and Tara closed her eyes, breathing heavily.
"Don't even think about moving. Slowly, pull the hood back." she heard Buffy say.
Tara knew within an instant that she had two choices. One, she could pull the hood back and let Buffy know she was alive again. Or two, she could take her chance and run for it and hope Buffy didn't throw that sword at her back. Tara hoped and prayed that the decision she made concerning her situation wouldn't cost her dearly. Swallowing and taking a deep breath, Tara twisted her body to the right, shoving back with all her might and sending Buffy back a few steps, the sword no longer touching her.
Then, Tara took off running.
When Tara twisted her body around and shoved back, Buffy stumbled against the trunk of a tree. Her eyes widened when she saw the hooded person take off running down the hill. Buffy wasn't about to let the figure get away and she took off after her, forgetting her sword. As the figure moved down the hill, Buffy got closer and closer to her by running at breakneck speed.
Just as the hooded figure reached the bottom of the hill, Buffy was right there, grabbing her shoulders and pushing her. It was enough force to just knock the figure down. Tara stumbled after the push and fell to the ground, her face hitting first. The hood and cape covered her body, except for her feet and Buffy didn't get a clear chance to see who it was. Buffy was leaning over, taking deep breaths.
She slowly stood up to her full height. "Now, don't move." Buffy ordered. "Turn over slowly and pull the hood back. I've had a rotten day and I don't feel like messing around with you."
Tara closed her eyes, her cheek pressed to the ground. There's no way out of this. She thought to herself. Resigned to her fate, Tara moved her body around until she was on her back. The hood still covered her face as she leaned up until she was sitting on the ground.
"Alright, now who are you?" Buffy demanded.
Taking a deep breath, Tara reached up and pulled the hood from her cape back, exposing her identity to Buffy. Her long dark blonde hair covered part of her face, but her face was clearly visible. She looked up at Buffy, the corners of her lips lifting upwards in a half smile. "Hi Buffy."
Shock radiated through Buffy's body and her face clearly showed it. She stared at the face before her in stunned disbelief. "My god...Tara." she breathed, taking a step back. Buffy staggered back instead of stepping back and she ended up tripping on a root in the ground. She flopped down on her behind, the wind driving out of her.
Buffy stared at Tara and Tara stared at Buffy.
"My god.. Tara, how is this possible?" Buffy said, looking at the blonde and shocked. Tara was very much alive.
Tara looked at the ground for a moment before her gaze returned to Buffy. "It's a long story Buffy. One I want to tell you, but we should get to my hotel room first."
Wordlessly, Buffy nodded. She got to her feet and watched as Tara rose from her seated position. She continued to watch with slight concern as Tara pulled the hood over her head again and kept it there. Tara headed down the hill with Buffy alongside her. Buffy was looking forward to this explanation.
*****The keys rattled in the door as Tara unlocked her hotel room door. Opening the door silently, she flicked on the light as Buffy entered just behind her. The Slayer closed the door and watched Tara as she moved through the hotel room. Without speaking, Tara unfastened the cape and took it off of her shoulders and neatly folded it, taking her time doing it. She wasn't sure what to say to Buffy. So much had happened since Tara had died and she wasn't sure what to say or do now that they were at the hotel.
As Tara finished folding the cape, she slowly turned around, fully expecting to see Buffy watching her from the spot near the door. But instead, Tara found herself caught up in a fierce hug coming from the blonde Slayer. Buffy had moved forward, surprising herself with the emotions she'd suddenly felt swirling through her and just felt the need to have physical contact to convince herself that it really was Tara. That the blonde woman was alive and not just a figment of her imagination.
"You are real." Buffy whispered, hugging Tara.
Tara closed her eyes and gently returned the hug. The embrace lasted a few more moments before Buffy pulled back and stepped away, still watching Tara. She watched as Tara sat down at the edge of her bed and looked at the floor, too emotional to say any words. Buffy pulled up a plastic chair that was near her and sat down on it, glancing at Tara after a moment.
After a few moments of silence, Tara looks up and flicks her eyes at Buffy. Buffy is watching her, still with a stunned expression.
"So..." Tara starts, "your looking good."
Buffy chuckled, looking at the floor a moment. "Yeah. Too bad I'm not feeling that good."
Tara fell silent, not knowing what to say really.
After a moment, Buffy's face turned serious. "Tara, how....how is this possible? I mean, excuse me for saying it....but your dead."
Tara nodded. "It's a long story, Buffy." Tara responded. "I was allowed to have a second chance by the Powers That Be."
Eyebrows raised up at hearing this. Buffy showed surprise. "You actually got to meet with the Powers..."
Tara quickly shook her head. "No, I have a guide that was appointed to me. He visited me in Heaven."
Buffy sucked in a breath. She remembered all too clearly about the paradise of heaven. "So, you were in heaven."
"Yeah, it was beautiful. It was peaceful....and for the most part, I was content." Tara said.
"Most part?" Buffy replied in question.
Tara swallowed, emotions beginning to hit her. It always happened when she thought about Willow. "My mother was there....it was....I can't explain how it felt to see my mother again, Buffy." Tara said, seeing the emotions in Buffy's eyes. She knew Buffy was thinking about Joyce Summers then. "But, it wasn't perfect for me. There was one thing missing. Something that I needed."
Buffy gave her a smile. "Willow."
Tara nodded. "Yes. I need Willow. Not being with her....it's a horrible experience. Especially now."
Hearing that brought something to mind to Buffy. "Willow! She's at Xander's. Let's go over there!"
"No!" Tara exclaimed, rising up from her bed and grabbing Buffy's shoulder.
Surprised by the outburst, Buffy stopped. "Tara, she needs to know about you. Willow is in a horrible place right now. She needs you."
Tara took several deep breaths as she tried to calm her ratting nerves. "I know....but I can't. Not yet."
"Why?" Buffy asked.
"My guide, when he offered me this second chance, he told me that there is a catch." Tara said.
Buffy narrowed her eyes. "What catch?"
Tara let go of Buffy's arm. "For the first seven days and seven nights of my second chance, I have to stay away from Willow. I can't let her see me or even know I'm back. If I do, the Powers will take me away from Earth and cast me into Hell."
Buffy paled, shaking her head. "I can't believe this."
"I know," Tara replied, "I wasn't even supposed to let anyone know I'm here. I'm hoping you knowing about me won't be like breaking that rule."
"But why....why seven days?"
"My guide told me it's a test." Tara said. "A test for both me....and Willow. The test for me is being back and having the strength to stay away from her for the seven days. The test for Willow....is accepting continuing on in this life without me."
"This is so not fair Tara. Me knowing and having to watch Will be tormented." Buffy said, plopping back down on the plastic chair.
"I-Imagine how I feel." Tara said, sitting back down. "This is t-torture for me Buffy."
They were both silent as they consumed the info provided. Buffy shook her head, acknowledging once again that life sometimes was simply not fair. Here she was, sitting in front of the one person that could make Willow's depression go away and could begin the healing process for her friend and she couldn't even tell her for seven days. "So, what do we do now?" Buffy asked.
Tara smiled sadly. "I need you to just act like this meeting never happened. For the next seven days, just watch Willow for me. That's about all that can be done at this point."
Buffy nodded, not liking it. But, she did know one thing. She knew where Tara was staying, so within the next seven days, she was planning on coming back here, just to assure herself that Tara was alright. She wasn't about to lose Tara twice.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
There's more, don't worry!
Kudos!!!
