Banner by Selene

Chapter 10

The Outskirts of Rome

The cloak-clad figure stood with his back to the hearth while the minion brought everything in that was needed. He’d had to fast for a week to prepare his body for the rigors needed to create the elixir that would bring about the destruction of the Slayer. Silently, he watched while everything was prepared to his satisfaction. The minion worked quickly to get everything laid out as it should be. Once done, he stood back from the table, his head bowed in a manner of subservience towards his master.

“Leave me.” The minion bowed quietly and left the room, soundlessly shutting the door on the way out.

Stepping away from the fire, the figure slowly approached the table. He reached up to remove the cloak from his head, revealing silky black hair that fell in waves down to his shoulders. Various markings were etched into his cheeks and forehead. His black gaze swept over the contents of the table, assuring everything was to his satisfaction. Appeased that all was as it should be, he removed the cloak from his body. Well-defined muscle showed in his chest and arms. Markings were etched in his taut, olive skin all over his arms and chest. His eyes flashed red and his markings began to glow as he began to make the elixir that would bring about the destruction of the blond Slayer, and with her, all the other slayers created that fateful day. ‘Soon, my King, it will be as it was before. And then we will rule this Earth.’

Reading from a book that was ancient long before his own time, the man carefully combined the ingredients needed. Softly, he began to chat in a language so old, no written record of it was still in existence. The bowl containing the mixed ingredients began to vibrate on the wooden table. Wind blew on the flames of candles scattered throughout the room, the only means of light. Shadows shifted, and a blue, hazy mist materialized above the bowl. The chanting became louder, more forceful until it built to a fevered climax. Then, silence. The markings on his body began to fade; his eyes faded from red to once again become black, opaque circles. Coming out of his semi-trancelike state, he glanced in the bowl. Staring down at the deep blue liquid, an evil smile came to his face. ‘It’s ready,’ Damius thought to himself. ‘Now it’s time to introduce the Slayer to death.’

~*~*~*~*~

Rome

“Nothing yet, Buffy. I’m still working on it,” Giles voice sounded in her ear.

“Thanks, Giles. I’ll talk to you tomorrow then,” Buffy replied, then hung up the phone in her office. ‘Damn!’

Buffy was starting to get impatient. Truth be told, she’d passed impatient days ago. Each day, Giles called to update her on the progress of the prophecy he received from Angel. Each day it was the same answer. Absolutely nothing. She was ready to pull her hair out from frustration. Actually, it made her kill a few extra demons each night then go back home to shag Spike for a few hours.

‘Oh my God. Did I just think the word shag? Spike’s really starting to rub off on me.’ That thought brought a smile to her lips.

It had been a great week. She was eating better and wasn’t dropping from exhaustion each night. Now, she could at least get a decent night’s rest. The Sunnydale dream hadn’t returned, which was a good thing. And there had been no more prophetic slayer dreams, either. Though, she still couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom.

Grumpily, she got up and made her way upstairs to spend time with her vampire before she needed to head to the third floor to start her workout session with her girls.

~*~*~*~*~

Buffy, Spike, and the young slayers slowly made their way through the cemetery, senses alert for any demons. Buffy grabbed Spike’s arm to let the other girls move a little ahead of them. He stopped, head cocked to the side. ‘Vampires. Two of them,’ he thought. Silently, he held up two fingers. Buffy nodded, agreeing. Buffy upended the sword she was carrying so that the tip was resting lightly in the ground. Spike swung the axe he was carrying loosely over his shoulder. Standing still, they watched the scene play out before them.

Angelina, who was leading the pack of girls, saw them first. Two vampires had cornered a man out walking his dog, poised and ready to attack. Pulling out her stake from beneath her jacket she got their attention.

“Hey! Leave him alone!” she yelled. The two vampires looked away from their dinner only to be confronted by not one, but ten girls. The girls quickly fanned out to surround the two vampires. The man picked up his dog, running away from the vampires. Safely behind the girls surrounding the vampires, he could only get out half asked questions: “What…are? Are you?” The man was close to fainting from shock as he approached Buffy. She took one hand off the hilt of the sword and placed it on his shoulder, getting the man’s attention.

“It’s ok. Just go on home. We’ll handle this,” she said. Dazed, he wandered off towards home, mumbling under his breath. Buffy gazed after him to make sure he was going to be all right. Satisfied, she once again turned her attention towards the action going on. Even though the girls outnumbered the vamps ten-to-two, they weren’t all that experienced. This evened the odds out a little bit. That’s why Spike and Buffy were there as backup.

The concern on her face gave way to a slight smile. What the girls lacked in experience, they more than made up for in teamwork. Angelina and Francesca distracted the first vamp long enough for Kat to position herself behind him, stake ready. All that remained was a forceful jab. Kat rammed the stake through the vamp’s back, straight into his heart. It gave out a loud yell, and then vaporized to dust between the three girls. The second vamp, seeing his friend meet his end, attempted to run. Suddenly, he stopped and stared at something in the distance. Buffy and Spike, seeing the vamp’s gaze, turned and looked at the far side of the cemetery.

At the edge of the cemetery stood a man cloaked from head to foot. Six vampires surrounded him. Buffy quickly pulled the sword point out of the ground and assumed a defensive stance. She motioned for the girls to fall back behind Spike and herself. Just then, the vamps attacked. They avoided Buffy and aimed straight for the girls. Spike put himself between the vampires and the young slayers and vamped out as the first wave reached him. The vampires were obviously not that skilled and Spike dusted two in a matter of seconds.

‘Guess this leaves the mysteriously cloaked one for me,’ Buffy thought, as she engaged the new enemy. Sword at the ready, she waited for her attacker. It wasn’t long in coming. Seeing that the vampires had the others distracted, he made his move. He ran towards the Slayer, arms shoulder high, sword poised to attack. As he got close, he swung his sword down, attempting to embed his sword in her shoulder. Buffy waited until the last second before bringing her sword up to block. And so it began. The fighters were well matched. Neither could gain the edge over the other. During the battle, the hood fell from his head. Buffy noticed the black hair, olive skin complexion, and weird markings on his face; she filed the information away for later.

Without warning, one of the remaining vampires broke off from the other girls and attempted to take out Buffy. Seeing his intention, Spike intercepted the vampire before it reached her, but it was enough for Buffy to momentarily take her eyes off her attacker. It was the opening he needed. In that brief moment of distraction, he swung his sword in a wide arc, slicing Buffy’s midsection. She cried out in pain as the force of the blow spun her sideways. She fell to her knees clutching her stomach.

“Buffy!” Spike yelled. Enraged, he quickly dusted the vamp and ran to put himself between her and her attacker. Realizing that the distraction the vampires had provided was almost at an end, the cloaked figure smirked at the vampire standing guard in front of the Slayer.

“Some other time, vampire,” he said, and twirling on his heel, swiftly left the cemetery.

Spike would have liked nothing better than to go after him, but he could smell Buffy’s blood on the air as it poured out of her wound. He needed to get her back home so he could tend to her injury.

‘Count on it,’ he thought. When he realized that no other dangers were present in the cemetery he backtracked to Buffy, passed off his axe to one of the girls, then he bent down and carefully lifted Buffy up into his arms.

“’s ok, luv. I’ve got ya. You’ll be right as rain in no time.”

Slowly, he made his way home, Buffy cradled gently in his arms.

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