BB Ficathon May 2009 - Apocalypse

[Lyri]

Title: Beyond the End of Days
Author: Andrew Crossett
Rating: PG
Summary: It's all over. Buffy won. Should she have?
Notes: Set several years in the future, after "Chosen" and the Season 8 comics.
Word count: 1,500
Disclaimer: I am not a Mutant Enemy, I am a Mutant Friend. And hence I do not own any of these characters.
Warnings: No spoilers for those who have seen the whole series. All speculative future stuff.


"Is it done, then?"

The Man Who Never Left the Shadows had an edge to his voice that The Man Who Kept to the Light had never heard before. It was disturbing.

"Of course it's done. Why do you ask?"

"Because the Clavis Coelorum does as she pleases, and goes as she pleases. And when last I saw her, she did not please."

The Man Who Kept to the Light shuddered a bit at the memory. "She understands. She sees the need. Better than we do, I think. And she will be guided and protected."

"Then it went smoothly?"

The Illuminated One sighed and looked up toward the Invisible Heights. "No. It did not. If it had, I would be more concerned. Many of the monks died, which I'm sure came as no surprise to them. Doxa Astaroth is not some common demon, that she can be defeated so easily. The moment things begin to go smoothly, I will plant my sword in the ground, and kneel, and pray until death comes for me. As it will, in a swirl of yellow hair and red cruelty."

"I'm sure we all aspire to such confidence," scoffed the Shadowed One. "So the spell is cast. The Helian Gate is open."

"Yes," said the Illuminated One. "Last night those with eyes in both worlds "“ those ridden by fever and madness and coma "“ welcomed her, and announced her coming in dreams to those who must be prepared. Reality has begun re-spooling itself, spinning new roots and branches deep in the minds and souls of all. In two years' time exactly, she will fully enter a world remade to accept her. And in that moment, Doxa Astaroth will become aware of her."

The Shadowed One considered for a moment. "And then, as we used to say in another life, it will truly hit the fan."

"Indeed," sighed the Illuminated One. "Indeed."

* * * * * *

Buffy knew that Xander didn't understand why she felt the need to apologize to him every single day for the past three years. Every day, since they had banished all demons and magic from the world, and the Glory Gate had opened, creating Heaven on Earth.

He didn't understand why she usually cried when she apologized, either. He wouldn't recall seeing anyone else shed so much as a single tear since the Heavenly Hosts arrived to claim a world that was no longer contested.

Not even tears of joy. Tears of joy were a reaction to an unexpected occasion of happiness. But now, the happiness was constant. Unending, and invariable.

Buffy apologized to him in particular because for the past three years, he hadn't cracked a single joke or come out with one of his clever quips. Humor was only a means of bringing joy into a place of sorrow or fear, after all. But now, there was no more sorrow or fear to be conquered. Bringing cheer into the world now was like bringing water to the ocean. No need.

Despite it all, Buffy had lived with Xander that whole time. Their relationship was not a sexual one. No need to make love"¦ all the love had already been made for them. Buffy honestly didn't know if anyone had sex at all anymore, in this new world of contentment. She didn't think so.

Xander was almost the only friend she had left, since the Apocalypse that had allowed the Powers That Be unchallenged control of this world. Willow, deprived of her magic, had disappeared to parts and goals unknown. Giles and Faith and all the other Slayers were dead or sealed off in other dimensions, forever.

Buffy tried to show her love for Xander whenever she could. Perhaps one day he would recognize what was different about her love "“ that it was given by choice. Was love better when it was voluntary rather than automatic?

"Will I see you again?" he asked her on the day she left the house for the last time.

The question startled Buffy. It was the closest Xander had come in three years to questioning the rightness of things"¦ to being concerned about something.

"No," she answered him. "You won't. But Xander? When it's over, I want you to remember that I love you."

He stared at her, uncomprehending.

"I don't have to love you. But I do." Then she kissed Xander on the cheek, and walked away. He stood in the doorway looking after her, his expression unreadable.

The time should have been well after dark, but it never got dark anymore"¦ the Glory Gate saw to that. Buffy looked up into the brilliant blue midnight sky, shading her eyes against the glare of heavenly light that poured from the permanent portal, every day and every night. Every so often an angel winged its way through from the other side, carrying out some errand on behalf of the Powers That Be.

Buffy remembered her own Angel, there in the final battle"¦ his humanity restored thanks to the Shanshu Prophecy"¦ his soul intact, but beaten nearly beyond recognition. He'd been there at the head of an army of demons, fighting on behalf of Hell"¦ and against her. At the time, Buffy thought that was the most terrible act of betrayal she had ever endured.

But she understood, now.

She was waiting at the top of the hill. Buffy wasn't surprised.

She was older than this world"¦ far older. And ever since the banishment of evil, she remembered everything. A thousand worlds, a thousand dimensions, a thousand millennia. The spell which had fit her seamlessly into this world had faded when the last Hellmouth closed, and years of childhood memories stood exposed as mere lies.

But Buffy's love for her had never disappeared, and somehow it seemed right and natural to call her by the small name she'd used during their years of pantomime.

"Dawn," Buffy said to her. "It's time, isn't it?"

Dawn nodded. She still appeared as she always had, with her brilliant blue eyes and long chestnut hair, and the smile that always seemed just a little bit mischievous. Buffy knew she took that form so that Buffy would be more comfortable around her, on those rare occasions they still met.

"We don't really have to do this, you know," Dawn said. "You and I are the only people in this world who aren't completely happy. Maybe it's wrong of us to take that away from them."

Buffy crossed her arms and looked up at the strobing, silvery Glory Gate.

"It's been three years since anyone has told a story," she said. "Three years since anyone cracked a joke. Three years since anyone cried, and three years since anyone laughed for a reason."

She looked at Dawn. "I always wondered why, if there was enough magic to power an entire army of Slayers, the Shadow Men created only one. Why create only one warrior to fight an army of demons? Why not meet an army with an army?"

Dawn looked back at her with million-year eyes. "And now you know. It's because you were never supposed to win. It was always about the balance. Always fighting. Never winning, never losing."

"Because when good or evil wins, it all stops," Buffy concluded. "The play is over, and there's nothing left but a curtain call that never ends. It's like dying in your sleep, forever."

Dawn smiled, and, for the first time in three years, she hugged her sister. "I'm glad you're here," she said. "I don't think it would work without you. This is the real reason I was sent here, you know."

"I know," Buffy said. "I think it's why I was sent here, too. To save the world from the vampires and the demons"¦ and the angels and the powers"¦ and the prophecies, and the destinies, and the visions. To cut the puppet strings, and let humanity find its own way. I don't think the world will need any more Slayers or Keys after us."

"Maybe not. Until the wheel turns again."

Dawn took Buffy by the hand. "Are you ready? Ready to be the Dusk to my Dawn?"

"I think so."

"The time is now. They might try to stop us, but they won't be able to. There'll be panic"¦ a lot of people will die when the Powers are banished. But then the world's heart will start beating on its own, for the first time."

"What'll happen to us?" Buffy asked. "Will we be around somewhere to see it?"

I have no idea," Dawn replied with a smile. "No more destiny."

Buffy smiled back. "Good," she said.

Hand in hand, the two sisters rose from the ground, flying with the spell Willow had taught Dawn years earlier. They closed their eyes and laughed as the wind sang in their ears, and the blinding light of the Glory Gate grew nearer and nearer. The Key turned.

Then nightfall came at last, and the story began.

 

[Lyri]

My offering has a long build up with a short apocalypse but
they can't all last a long time. And I do like a happy ending. I
have decided to be schizophrenic, so if there are any spelling
mistakes, I can blame him.

Characters of the Buffy or Angel TV serials are the property
of Joss Whedon, not me. All other characters and scenarios
are from my imagination. Except the cubit stick which is factual.

THE DEMON BELAC
The wind was whipping the tops of the waves to a foam, bushes
creaked. Grasses tried to lay flat, knowing they'd only be thrust
flat again, soon. The last rays from the setting sun highlighted the
long narrow storm clouds as they moved towards Brian and Jerry.
Jerry looked up at the clouds seeing that the light was fading he
took a few more photographs of the statue. Deciding the light was
a bit to bad Brian put his camera away, he smiled at his friend
Jerry who was still trying to make the most of the fading light.
Brian sat on a rock and began flicking through the pages of the
guide book. Going to the index, he opened the page that spoke
of the area they were in.
"Well that is odd," he said to Jerry, "There is no mention of this
statue in the guide book."
"What? why not?, it's by far the best I've seen. What would
make them decide to leave it unmentioned."
"Good question that, but I think right now we'd better go back
to the car and hurry about it, there's a storm brewing, it could
be a bad one."
Jerry looked around expecting to see the horizon covered with
dark clouds.
"Where?" he asked taking a few more photo's of the statue.
"Above us, the clouds are above us," stated Brian.
Jerry looks up, "They don't look right."
"They are, admittedly it is a rare storm formation, it only
happens once every several years and then it is hardly ever
seen," said Brian,
"I'd suggest we find cover, from what I've been told when
the rain comes down you don't want to be underneath it."
Jerry had just got undercover when the rains came down, he
noticed the way each raindrop hit a leaf it made the whole
branch shake.
Seeing movement from the corner of his eye he glanced to it,
just in time to see what he thought was the statue move.
"I think we ought to go and get the ferry," said Brian.
Without speaking Jerry started the car and headed to the port.
"What time is the next ferry?"
"It's in half an hours time, I hope it's early," said Brian.
"I reckon I'd agree with that, here, have a look at my photo's."
Brian took Jerry's camera, he started to run through the pictures.
"Some of yours are a bit odd."
Jerry slowed the car down and glanced at the pictures.
"They seem alright to me."
"You didn't look close enough then," Brian told him, "Your first
photo's had me in the background, then you said you were going
to get the profile of the statue. That's the problem, none of these
pictures show a profile. I can tell from the background that
you'd moved but that statue is still looking straight at you, and
the damned thing is smiling!"
Jerry had a look at the last picture then accelerated, pulling into
the car park, faster than he should. They ran to the ferry master.
"Are you ready to leave, we'll pay extra if you leave now."
"Hey hey, settle down a bit, what the rush?"
They were interrupted by a loud screeching, turning to look up
at where the noise came, from they saw the "˜statue' flying
towards the mainland.
"Do you want to stay here now, Jerry?"
"Hmm, yes, the first place will have to have a computer, scanner,
fax. I want to sell these pictures to a newspaper, before some-
one else does."
In the city of Bristol four people sat around a table, they were representatives from various cultures that sought to rid the world
of vampires. Mary was there at the request of the catholic church.
Myles had been asked to attend by the Paranormal Research
Society of Britain. Williams had been told to attend by a secretive organization that studied the effects of religious beliefs and Myths.
Giles was an oddment, he sought a place even though his
comments might cause an argument, he was a representative
of those who studied the occult philosophy's, he represented
the demonological practises and practitioners society.
"How many more times must he be killed?" asked Mary.
Myles thought on the statement.
"Yes, this Dracula has been killed to many times."
"It is said he cannot be killed, without the church."
"That has been written...."
"It may have been written by people like us. A hundred years
ago would the church have dictated what could be written?"
"What do you mean?"
"Maybe when he was killed another appeared, he would
appear to keep coming back," suggested Mary.
"You're getting it, a hundred years ago it may have been thought
he could not die."
"So the reports of battles may have been written by the clerics
but the view changed to be acceptable to the church."
Mary closed her eyes, not wanting to be a party to what was
being suggested, yet she knew they could be right, the church
had unknowingly caused the evil to continue.
Myles looked at the books in front of him.
"We need to ignore what is in these books."
Reluctantly he pushed them out of reach.
"A case of the church defeating the church," agreed Mary.
"I don't think that view would be accepted by the church,"
said Giles, "But I don't know how it could be said differently?"
"Yes Mary, how could it be said differently, officially they'd
argue with you, but unofficially they might agree with you,
after all the catholic church will be well aware of the increase
in the number of exorcisms being done of late," said Williams.
"To put matters right, we will need to rewrite the stories of
what happened and I don't think those re-writes should be
given to the church, they would just help any evil faced."
"I just hope that any-one who finds the evil will have access to
our writings," said Williams.
"I was close to Dracula when he was being fought, I saw
what his mind was telling another," said Mary.
"That is well and good Mary, but was he really showing you
the truth?"
"I agree with Myles, if I was an evil entity I'd only let you see
what I wanted you to see."
"I saw about Judas Iscariot," said Mary.
"Ok, that might explain the silver and the cross, that is all."
"True, have a think about it though, he has only been mentioned
in the last hundred years or so, what was before him?"
"That would indicate that there was more before him. That
would mean the stories of Dracula are false, is there another?"
"If there is another, and he protects, in theory there could be
lots of Dracula's."
"Since the tales of Dracula have started, how many times has
Dracula been killed?" asked Giles.
"If Dracula is a cover?, who is the real threat?" asked Mary.
"There are many mentions in mythology that an Eve was cast
out of the garden of Eden, that she became a demon herself?"
"Going back that far, how did the first vampire get started?"
"A pure demon drank a human, so now there is vampires."
Williams looked at the books in front of him.
"There was mention of four others who sought the truth, as we
do. One of them has a passage, it's in one of these books."
As he read the title of each book, he tried to remember what
was in the book. Picking up a silver embossed book.
"This is the book."
Flicking through the pages.
"Yes, here it is, Kuh-Derov-Iltan: Returning As
Repeated, Returning Made Anew," declared Williams.
"Where was it found? what was written before and after that?"
"The passage states, The Beast of Evermore Lives - advise
caution. If you suffer to meet her; that is her name. The two
lines before it and the two lines after it spoke of the battles
against it," said Williams.
"Now, the text itself, the number of letters is thirty six, the
number of words is six. Six, six, six," said Giles.
He looks at them.
"What is it?" asked Myles.
"6, 6, 6. The number of the beast. If this is the Beast of
Evermore, maybe it was always known as that."
"Do you really think one of us might look that way? In that
way lies witchcraft. Do not permit a witch to live," said Mary.
"I thought you might promote what the church says," said Giles.
"Oh let's face it, killing a witch will do nothing if the one that is
in charge isn't killed, and as far as I'm aware the devil hasn't
been killed yet."
"About the name of the beast, it's taken from the first letter of
each of the words, if it is literal, it spells Belac," said Giles.
"And the battles against him?" asked Williams.

A young woman walked into the room.
Williams looked to her.
"Excuse me, we'd prefer it if you leave this room."
She ignored him, standing by the table intently looking at each
of them.
"This is a private room, at least sit over the other side of the
room," said Williams.
"Why would you ask me that? It is you need our help."
"How?"
Again she ignored his question.
"Giles? what is it?" asked Vi.
"You know her?" asked Mary.


"Excuse me Mary, Vi can you ask Willow to call you back,
get her to find out about the passage, "˜Beast of Evermore,
advise caution"˜. Also about the name Belac," said Giles
Two days later Giles entered the Hyperion Hotel.
"This your place?" he asked.
"Sort of, it's Angel's place, but it is my name on the papers.
We would have put Angels name on the papers but he had to
put his date of birth and we didn't think their sense of humour
would stretch to him putting, in the mid 1700's," said Gunn.
"And Xander used to have a go at me for not being brief,
still, is Willow about? I ought to make a start on this beast
of evermore stuff."
"Already done Giles, Illyria has heard of her," said Spike,
"Belac was at rest until last week, Belac she is just a vampire.
Thing is, The Demon Belac, she was the first demon to drink
a human's blood."
"She is a vampire? is that all?" asked Giles.
"No!, remember those Turok-Hans? well they came after her.
The un-dead is about her and I'm getting ahead of myself
here. Start again! right The Demon Belac became Belac, she
drank from a human then entered the body. The human
became a vampire, then after a few days it was Belac.
Willow contacted her sources, between her, Angel, Illyria
and me, a picture was made. Belac has taken four hosts, the
last one was nearly five thousand years ago. About the
un-dead story, if she walks into the moonlight she appears
as a skeleton and like that she cannot be killed," said Spike.
"Even a stake through the heart won't do it?" asked Giles.
"What heart? skeletons don't have one. You have to get
her in her human form," said Spike.
"What about when she is in demon form?"
"Run!," exclaimed Spike, "The Demon Belac is about twenty
five foot high, winged with cloven feet."
"Sounds more like the devil!" exclaimed Giles.
"Yes! she is where the image came from."
"Well at least we know what we are looking for, don't we?"
"No, all we have is she looks like a woman of Egyptian birth.
We know she is near here as something that fitted The Demon
Belac's description was seen where Sunnydale used to be, and
several demons are said to be in the area," said Spike.
"Who saw them?"
"We are still waiting to find out. It was Willow and her contacts
in the coven, they think the crop circles might not be UFO
related, but a sign of demon activity in the area where they are
found. That theory was confirmed by Illyria she had never said
anything as she thought we knew."
"GILES!"
"Huh? who?" replied Giles turning around, "Oh hello Buffy."
"What can you tell me about the crop circles and Belac?"
asked Buffy.
"As Spike just said. Her name is from the Beast of Evermore
Lives, advice caution."
Another young woman approached them.
"Hello Buffy, how's things?"
"They'd be alright if I hadn't left this lot alone for too long."
"I told them not to, but they did anyway" replied Vi.
"We did? what?" asked Giles.
"Allowed an apocalypse."
"Vi? who else is here?" asked Buffy.
"A few just now, the rest are coming, they should be here soon."
"There should be some of the coven dropping by," said Giles.
"The ones that are here then, when can I see them?" asked Buffy.
Vi looked at her watch. "They should be having morning tea now."
"Morning tea? whose idea was that?"
"We thought of Giles, so blame him," said Vi,.
"It is a good idea, Buffy. It serves another purpose. It gives them
chance to say what they are doing and to make plans," said Giles.
"He could have two cups of tea during the day and one at night,
oh and his girlfriend is here," said Spike bursting into laughter.
"Very funny Spike," said Giles.
"What are those two on about Vi?" asked Buffy.
"Something Spike once said about Giles, cup of tea, cup of tea,
nearly had a shag, cup of tea."
"I'll show you where the others are," said Giles, ignoring them.
Leading her through to what had become the dining area, quietly
opening the door Buffy looked at her old friends.
"I leave you with him for five minutes and you're drinking tea."
"Hi sis," said Dawn.
Willow had just taken a mouthful of tea, seeing Buffy she
swallowed it to quickly.
"Hot!, hot!, hot!" she said trying to fan her mouth.
"Thanks Will, but in these old clothes? you really think so?"
"Did he say who it is this time?" asked Willow.
"He did, but not how many," replied Buffy.
"That is because we don't know, hopefully when the coven
gets here I'll have a better idea," said Giles, "We only know
about her and those who have been hiding her."
"Who?"
"Hmm, right, I haven't told you about them. It seems she had
created seven to keep us humans from knowing about her,
these others kept returning. As far as I am aware these
vampires have been killed a hundred and sixty two times."
"No-one noticed?"
"We noticed Buffy, we just thought he couldn't be killed. After
all you killed him twice."
"I did? who was that?"
"Dracula! he or they are why no-one knew about this Belac."
"So, what is this Belac doing now?" asked Buffy.


Curiously, looking around.
"What type of place is this," she thought to herself, "I've been
asleep to long."
Going into the open, turning to see where she was.
"Oh right, it was one of those places, they look a bit better now.
It has been so long since I was in a church it's no wonder I
didn't recognise the place," said Belac.
Even though she didn't know the town where she was, she
headed for the bright lights, seeing cars going past she smiled.
"That's it you hurry home, I'll make sure it's play time later."
The nearer she got to town the angrier she got.
"What is this? why are so many people here? children? even
children playing in the dark?. Why isn't there any others
like me? What have those stupid Dracula's done?"
She continued to walk along the road, cars would sound their
horn as they passed her. Passing a theatre house she saw a
vision of what one of the Dracula's had seen, it brought a smile
to her lips. Lots of people every night of the week. She went
into the place, seeing rooms with people in them. She didn't
understand why they were in the room, but she understood
that they would soon be food for her new children.
Then she remembered her last time, when a ballroom had
given her the strength to sleep for a few hundred years.
Wandering outside again, continuing the way she was going.
Moving quietly along the path she gradually moved closer to
where the humans were. Grinning at the clothes the women
were wearing, she thought that only a vampire could have
designed them.
"There is so much lovely skin to see and so many blood lines."
Thinking back she remembered the clothes they used to wear,
how nearly all the skin was covered.
She hadn't gone far before she heard the sound of music being
played, thinking of the Elizabethan dance she went to watch it.
As the music was getting louder she climbed up to the roof,
then finding a skylight, she looked in.
"Dancing has changed a lot!," she thought to herself.
Looking at what the girls were wearing, "That explains why
I've seen so many holding hands."
Watching how the girls got in, Belac altered her dress,
showing as much flesh as she wanted to, then she confidently
walked to the doors. The doorman glanced at her and waved
her in. He may have mistaken her look thinking she was being
fresh with him.
Belac's thought's were... refuse me if you dare.
Inside Belac watched how the people on the dance floor were
moving, it was one of those few times in her long life that she
didn't know if she was hungry or happy to see people moving.
Mind you the amount of movement was far greater than at the
Elizabethan dances. But here she was, she had to control
herself, the sight of all the lovely tasty bodies, of all that blood
that close, the found herself smiling at more than one girl, then
one particular girl caught her eye, Belac smiled to her and the
smile was returned
"Now for the fun part, the chase. I"˜ll have the others later."
With out being noticed, Belac flew to the ceiling as she saw
the girl leave the dance floor. Once on the roof she watched
the girl walk the pathways, keeping a safe distance from her.
She'd only been following for a minute or two when the girl
headed into a brightly lit supermarket. Feeling slightly under-
dressed she took a girls clothing, closing to her prey she
watched her, followed her and then faced her, Belac looked
directly at the girl.
"I'm going to drink you tonight." Belac revealed her teeth,
smiling at the panic she was starting to cause, Belac began
throwing people around.


"This is easier than I remember."
Slicing her teeth into the girls neck she drank some of her
blood, then cutting herself she forced the girl to drink her.
Picking up the girl she ran into the night, to the theatre. As the
sunlight covered the land Belac was in the same room as the
others she had caught. Luckily the girl from the nightclub woke
up first. Belac smiled to her.
"What are you going to do with me?" asked Granore.
"Depends, if you are nice you might be good company for me."
Granore looked at her, looked around the small room saw the
other bodies lying on the floor.
"No, not them, look to the ceiling."
Granore looked up.
"Why is she on the ceiling?" asked Granore.
"Watch me."
Belac flew to the ceiling sinking her teeth into a girls soft skin.
"I wonder if she knew I was a left biter," thought Belac.
Gently she was lowered to the floor, Belac slit the girls wrist
allowing Granore to drink from her.
During the early hours Liander awoke, watching him pace the
room, Belac finally announced herself to him, "Feeling thirsty?"
"Yes, I am."
"You can have one of them, the ones here are to be like us,
you can lead them just get as many as you can each night, use
this place but don't take anyone from here. I will be back in
two nights."
"How many do you expect to find?"
"Get fifteen each, every night for starters," said Belac.
"You'll need to teach me then," said Liander
"It's simple really, put her body near yours, like this, you feed
from it, but not very much then you make her drink some of
your blood, later you can take her out for a drink, get a few
others."
"What about her?"
"She is mine, I'll look after her."
Liander took the blonde, smiled then began to gorge himself.
"I said not to much, all you need do is take some of her blood
into your body, then she takes the same amount of blood from
you, your blood will put the demon into her."
"So the demon rebuilds itself," said Liander.
"That's right just like any virus that attacks a human body. The
older you get the more powerful the demon gets."
"Should I ever need to make the other become a vampire
immediately, can it be done?" asked Liander.
"It is possible, where you drink the blood from, clean the area,
make sure the veins are open then let your blood flow into
them, just be careful," said Belac.
"Right, I suppose we'd better get some-one for her to drink."
"Any-one special you can think of for this one."
"I'll get some-one for this girl."
Belac watched him walk away.
"So much for companionship from you."
"I'll be your friend," said Granore.
"Thanks, I think I would like that," said Belac.
"I knew him, before, he was always a bit to needy."
"Come on then lets find some-one for you to drink, I'll teach
you a few tricks that'll help you, if you ever find that you are
by yourself and thirsty."
They walk into a bar, they'd only been in there a minute before
two young men tried to chat them up. Ignoring them Belac
asked Granore what she would do.
"Tell them to sod off, I'm guessing this isn't the place to reveal
what I am, also never to feed from them as even though they
are a pain, they would be remembered. That bloke sat alone
in the corner, no-one would remember him."
"Good, well done Granore, everything has to be done sneakily,
if no-one sees us then the next night will be much easier."
During the night they walked the streets together. Once in a
nearly deserted alley, two men who decided they didn't like
the way their advances had been caste aside threatened Belac.
Obligingly, not wanting to make a scene near the street lights
Belac and Granore led them further into the alley. A minute
later they returned licking the blood from their mouths.
Trying to clean the drip of blood from her blouse Granore
became a bit impatient.
"Do you know any tips for this?"
"One or two," said Belac, "there is a third, but I see you aren't
able to do that. The second option is to take your blouse off."
"The first option?"
"Don't bite them."
"What is the third option?" asked Granore
"Be like me, wear a top that can cover any drips."

THE VISITORS TIME 8:15 PM
Spike asked Angel to help him in the reception as they were
getting a lot of "˜guests"˜. Angel asked Buffy and Giles to be
with them as some of the guests were unimpressed with
vampires. Buffy was the first to join them, she looked about.
"What rooms are left?"
"They are all full," said Spike.
"Oh you're doubling them up?"
"Buffy, there is only fifty rooms here, they all have four or five
in each room. The dance room has got a hundred in there, but
the kitchen and the dining are being room clear," said Spike.
Giles wandered towards them. "I've had a good look around
this place, I like it, it is full of work-able potential."
"Oh, Willow told me they were all slayers now," said Angel.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Buffy.
"They don't have potential anymore," he said grinning.
"That what I'd expect blondie bear to say," said Giles.
"Hey guys look who I found!" exclaimed Dawn.
Buffy looked at the person Dawn had brought in.
"Sam?"
"What are you doing here?" asked Sam.
"Oh you know, any port in a storm," replied Buffy.
"What sort of storm is it?" asked Sam.
"An apocalyptic one, again," said Giles.
"I'll tell Lilac, er Riley."
Angel was taking a drink of blood at the time, it got sprayed
everywhere, joining Spike, Buffy and Dawn in fits of laughter.
"Excuse them, is Riley near?" asked Giles.
"Not to far, can I use your phone?" asked Sam.
Vi, seeing Giles, went into the garden to get the women who
had asked to see him. When they got to the reception.
"Giles, some people to see you, from Cornwall."
Giles nearly ran to greet them, as he hugged both of them. Sam
said that Riley was on his way.
"Who are they?" asked Sam. She looked to each of them but
no-one replied.
"Vi?" asked Buffy.
"I think they said they were part of a coven, I think."
Willow walked into the room. Buffy looked at the ceiling.
"Dawn? what's she doing?" asked Angel.
"Oh right, she's checking to see if any chandeliers are starting
to work, you know the power of three thing."
"Sorry Sam, you'll have to forgive her, she bought the set of
Charmed with her," said Spike.
"It won't work, there is another, she went to the car," said Vi.
"She might have been born in secret."
"Whitelighters don't exist Dawn," said Spike, then thinking
about what he had said, "Not that I've watched the show."
As they wandered over to meet the coven, Gunn joined them.
"So Giles, any news on who we are to fight?" asked Buffy.
"A bit, it needs some pin pointing though."
"No, not really," said Miss Harkness, "Angel has been there,
but we are a bit confused about the bird in front of the place."
"I remember that one, the big red bird. Good thing it wasn't a
big yellow bird, you wouldn't have believed the name of the
street," said Gunn.
"What! Sesame Street?" asked Angel.
"Nope," said Gunn starting to laugh, "It's Brightman Street."
"God, every-one wants to be a comedian!" exclaimed Giles.
The main doors opened, in walked Riley.
"You caught me just in time Sam, some vampires have been
seen near Brightman, there's a few of us on our way now."
"Is that a few or a few thousand?" asked Buffy.
"Four of us, why?"
"The one in charge there is The Demon Belac, she is one of
the first demons, that whole thing about vampires being
un-dead? she is where that comes from. She made the first
vampire, did you hear about our battle with the First?"
"We heard," replied Riley.
"The First came from her. She isn't good or evil, she just is.
Oh and the images you are likely to have of the devil, flame
red eyes a skin that like rock, wings and cloven feet. That is
her and in her true form she is twenty five foot high."
"We think that there might be thousands," said Anathea.
"Riley, this place is full of slayers, it's an apocalypse,"
said Buffy.
"Ok, I'll call this in."
"Riley, get your bosses on side, ask them if they could get
these girls out of here tonight if need be?" asked Giles.
"What are you thinking?"
"It is a confined space, if we all go in some of us will get hit
by friendly fire, but if the whole place is set alight it'll be a lot
safer for us. What I'm thinking is we may need to get the girls
away from here quickly," said Giles.


"Why are you showing me this, why tell me?" asked Granore.
"I slept to long, and all of this? it isn't me, I cannot relate to it.
I was alive for eighteen years and dead for over five thousand
years. I can't tell the demon what these things are here but you
can, this is your world. Granore, I took your life from you then
I gave you life. Now I'm going to do more, just promise me
you'll try to keep the demon happy, you will have three days
until you are the demon."
"What? what do you mean?" asked Granore, "Belac?"
Belac moved away, she became The Demon Belac, became a
silky black fluid, weaving about in the air, then the head of it
entered Granore's body.
For the next few hours Granore wandered about aimlessly, she
passed near the theatre but that was on fire, most of it had
fallen in on itself. She kept walking, not noticing the sun rising
until she wandered around a corner, stopping, looking down at
herself she felt the warmth of the sun. Not knowing what to do,
looking around she went into the nearest biggest building.
Standing inside the entrance she heard some-one talking to her.
"Sorry, I was miles away, what did you say?"
"Can I help you?" asked Xander.
"I don't know, a friend died last night, I think you'd say she
committed suicide, right in front of me. I'm lost now."
"Is some-one looking after your friends body?" asked Xander.
"She didn't leave a body, her essence, if that's the right word
flowed into me, I saw it, I only knew her as Belac."
"I'll just get a friend she may know how to help you."
Xander went in to the office, picked up the phone and dialled
Buffy's number.
"Buffy remember how I said that I was a demon magnet, you'll
never guess who I've just been speaking to?"
"I am a bit tired just now, so just tell me who it is," said Buffy.
"Belac."
Buffy, Spike and Angel ran to the reception.
"Where is she?" asked Buffy.
Xander pointed to the circular chair, to the grief stricken girl.
"Excuse me? who are you?" asked Buffy.
Looking up they saw tears running down her face. She wiped
her tears away. Gazing at each of her would be killers.
"Before you kill me, let me tell you about me, who I will be,"
said Granore, "At the moment I am Granore, in three days time
I will be the one you are after, I will be The Demon Belac."
"I thought you were Belac?" asked Buffy.
"No, Belac is the name of the demon, I never asked what my
friends name was. The last one like me."
Giles breathlessly ran to them.
"Hello....whew....what is...it?...I ...thought it...was a ...problem
I'll....just ...catch...my breath."
"I can fix that if you want?" asked Granore.
"You...can...oh good."
"Giles! this is Granore, she is a vampire," said Buffy.
"Oh! your offering to make me a vampire?" asked Giles.
"No, only to increase your strength so you won't run out of
breath. Just take a few sips of my blood."
Giles looked at Angel, "Could you do that?"
"They can't but I can, all vampires come from me, well they
come from Belac, today's vampires like Angel and Spike have
been, it's like to many years of inbreeding, the power that the
first ones had has faded through the years."
"How did you know our names and what we are?" asked
Angel.
"Can you still feel if another vampire is near, or a human? and
you Buffy? you are a vampire slayer. If you want to know what
a real vampire can do just say so," suggested Granore.
"Why are you offering to help us?"
"Because I can, because I want to. The demon in me she
doesn't mind if I am good or evil, as long as she is happy with
me giving her knowledge, ooh, that felt different."
"Giles? what is it? it looks like she just hit the off switch?"
asked Spike.
Suddenly Granore became The Demon Belac all twenty five
foot of her. Fearing for their safety Angel and Spike took
several paces back. Buffy and Giles faced her. Granore came
into being again.
"That happened quicker than I was told it would. Oh well!
where was I? oh I know, about Xander, I was about to
apologise for that pratt who wanted in with the First."
"What?" asked Giles, "Why is it you again?"
"The demon must like me, or what I am doing."
Walking towards Xander,
"You haven't learnt the art of winking with one eye yet."
Putting her arm around Xander's shoulders then gently blowing
into his ear. He quickly pulled away from her.
"What did you do that for?"
"So that you wouldn't notice my hand brushing past your face,"
said Granore.
Turning to Buffy. "Did she do that?"
"Yes Xand she did."
"Hmm, I didn't even notice it, I.....owh," Xander grabbed his
face with both hands, owh, OWH, OWH!!, YEEAARRGH."
Xander dropped to his knees still holding his face.
Willow walked in to the room and rushed to Xander. He
removed his eye patch to look at Willow.
"Bloody hell! where did that come from?" asked WiWill? what is it?" asked Buffy.
Xander stood, then faced them, "I can see again!"
Giles faced Granore, "Did you do that? why."
"It seemed better than saying sorry," said Granore.
"But you are a demon."
"So are Angel and Spike."
"They have souls," said Giles.
"Meaning?" asked Granore.
"If they didn't have souls they'd be killers again," said Buffy.
"Which idiot told you that? humans have been killing each other
since I can remember and they had souls," Granore looked
closer to them, "Oh right, you think vampires take the soul.
How many souls have you actually seen in the body?. Who told
you what one looks like and how did they know?. This bullshit
story about a vampire taking the soul? who started it? was it
some-one who didn't like vampires? Angel, Spike, you were
both tricked."
"Is it like brainwashing?" asked Xander.
Willow looked at Granore, "What are you going to do?"
"I hadn't thought about it, as long as Belac gets knowledge she
will be happy," said Granore.
"Put me down for a week or two then, I can teach you about
buildings," said Xander.
"Well, that will make her happy, the one before me she was a
builder, in Egypt. We can compare notes if you want."
"What did she work on?" asked Xander.
"She did a bit on a pyramid, but her main thing was building or
designing temples. That is a thought? how do you measure
things?" asked Granore.
"A ruler, all forms of measurement are set spaces between two
points. Like an inch, twelve inches are called a foot three feet
are known as a yard. There are many different names, many
variations but they all come from the same thing," said Xander.
"Do you mean the Cubit stick?"
"Yes!, you know about that? how?" asked Xander.
"The girl that was Belac before me, she invented it!"
"You are going to love what I can show and tell you then."
Xander looked to Buffy.
"Forget about the week, make it six months!"
"Make that an eternity," said Granore, smiling.
As they walked out of the doors together, she linked arms
with Xander.
Giles smiled, he looked at Willow, then to Buffy.
"That's twice he has saved the world."

THE END