ILLYRIAN
Druish Pervonian Wizard
All characters from the TV serials BTVS and ATV are property of Joss Whedon, not me.
The Annuika are fact, leaders of the Sumerian's, thought by some to be of an alien race.
"˜Introduction'
The son of the devil, Be-Elzeaboul, now sought to destroy all vampires, some of them had tricked his father. Having sworn revenge, he started taking it, that was over a year ago. Systematically he removed clusters of vampires from existence, continually removing all knowledge of them. He found evidence of two that did as he did, so ignoring Angel and Spike he went for the girl that attracted the vampires. As he knew Illyria, he would make her vanish, when the time was right. He did think about killing Buffy but this time he and Buffy wanted the same thing; no more vampires.
STUCK IN CLEVELAND
"Fish and chips for five then," said Xander, "Come on Buffy, I'll help you carry them back."
Buffy walked to the door with Xander, opening it, she saw Giles. He greeted her, then brought in several girls.
"There is a new evil destroying all... everything," said Giles.
"Who are these girls?" asked Buffy.
"They are a few that we found alive, chained to a wall, these are the best of who were left."
"Tortured?, were they being tortured?" asked Xander.
"Not as I know torture, the others, we had to kill them. Their minds were drained of every-thing, they were only left with eyes and ears that worked. I saw pleas for help in those eyes, the evil had left them with memories."
Buffy had thought they were different. Now she knew why. Giles introduced them to the girls.
"Sorry but no-one knows who they are," said Giles.
Buffy talked to them but they just looked at her, or something just behind her.
"I think they heard you," said Giles.
"What are we meant to do with them? we fight evil, we can't do anything with them."
"I am sorry Buffy, they might be able to tell us what we are facing, I was hoping you might see something we have missed."
"Who are they?" asked Willow.
"What do you mean?"
"They are dressed differently, the skin colour is different, where are they from?"
"I have got these files about them but that is all," said Giles.
Willow started looking at the files.
"Giles? these files are rubbish," said Willow, "Those girls might not even speak English."
"How could I tell?" asked Giles.
"Try fingerprints, dental records, DNA, use big brother is watching to help us," said Dawn.
"I will get a few people to help me," said Willow.
The next two days past by slowly, they all seemed to be working hard but nothing new was being learnt about the girls. Buffy, Dawn and Willow sat around the kitchen table, wondering what to do next. Willow seemed deep in thought then she announced.
"Is the security on this place working?"
"Yeah why?" asked Dawn.
"Can you try it out?" asked Willow, "I'm going to try something."
Dawn returned five minutes later. "All done."
"Good, because there is something very wrong here, has Giles mentioned Angel, Spike or Illyria?"
Buffy and Dawn exchanged puzzled looks.
"Nothing has come back about those girls," said Willow, "About two months ago you told me that Giles was going to see a Brother Luca, you haven't said what happened Buffy?"
"Giles didn't say anything to me, what about you Dawn?"
Dawn shrugged her shoulders.
"Is Xander still in the garden Dawn? get him then go to the basement we are leaving," said Willow.
"Oh good, I hate this place," said Buffy, "I know there is meant to be a hellmouth here, Giles said so. I chased a vampire the other night, he ran under a train, I never even caught him."
They went to the top of the basement stairs, as soon as Dawn and Xander joined them they went to the others in the basement.
"I am going to move us all," said Willow.
"Where to?" asked Dawn.
"Oh, it is this place. Why are we in a cage Will?" asked Buffy.
"This building is the Hyperion Hotel, when Angel became Angelus they built a cage to put him in, this is the cage. I will let Angel know we are down here."
The door at the top of the steps opened, Angel came down the steps followed by Spike. Angel opened the cage.
"If you are going to turn up un-announced, chances are there is a reason, what is it?" asked Spike.
"First things first, we need to find Giles, now. Who can do it?"
"I can," replied Angel.
"You can? how?" asked Buffy.
"When Giles was trying to stop you having a face to face with the Master, the night I gave him the Pergamum Codex."
"That was when we were trapped in the old schools basement," said Xander, "Following that creepy flute."
"When Giles tried to turn off the gas some of his blood was on the threads, since then."
"Good, well I am glad about that Angel, is Illyria here?" asked Willow.
"Tell us Willow, what is wrong?" asked Spike.
"Giles might be in two places, I think there is two of him. One of him might be in Cleveland the other is likely to be the real one. I think he is in Cortona, where ever that is."
"I know this?, that is it! Brother Luca, that is where I know that from, clever me, yaay," exclaimed Buffy.
"Do you know where Cortona is Buff."
"It is a place in Italy Will."
"That will save us some time, Angel, we know where to start looking."
"Ok Willow but I need to get there, it is a big place then I will need to find him, the person?"
"I will get him the same way I got here," said Willow.
"Do you still need Illyria?" asked Angel.
"Yes, we will set up in the office, then I will call you in."
Walking in to the foyer Willow looked about, "This place brings back memories."
"You go into the office Willow, I will try and find Illyria. You let me know when you are ready."
Willow pushed the door to the office open, running her fingers along the edge of the desk she gracefully sat in the chair, with a wave of her hand the desk drawers opened, she flicked through the papers in the draw. Hearing the door close.
"Who do you want to find."
Looking up, from what she had been told, she knew it was Illyria.
"I want to find Giles, then get him here," said Willow.
"Do you know where he is?"
"Angel said he can track him. I was hoping that he can pin point on the map where he is, then I was hoping you would help me find him."
"That sounds like going door to door, as Spike would say. Have you another way?" asked Illyria.
"I have just been told the e-mail address of where he might be."
"What is an e-mail address?" asked Illyria.
"On the computer, for me to send a message to a specific person I would need to enter an address for that person," said Willow.
"Why do you not follow that address to get him?" asked Illyria.
"I cannot do that," replied Willow.
"Spike and Angel say you are a powerful witch, who taught you?"
"I taught myself, some people have helped me to understand things," replied Willow, "But basically I taught myself."
"Basically? what things?"
"Well, that everything is connected."
"Bunch of Crap," said Illyria, "New age idiocy!, energy flows from one thing to another thing of the same kind, that is all. Making a plant appear from another part of the world is not the same as making something appear from nothing, they are both done with magic but that is the only connection. It is like saying the theory of evolution is correct."
"But it is," said Willow.
"Evolution happened once, I saw it but has it ever happened again or are you aware of fish becoming humans?"
"Evolution happens all the time," said Willow.
"To animals? is that evolution? or do they just change to suit the environment? so, in magic
what limits you? the only answer is that you do. Send him this e-mail, tell him to answer it. Then send him another one, tell him to read it repeatedly, then you need to imagine him reading it, see him reading it, watch him reading it, then be with him as he reads it. Then all you need is to bring him back," said Illyria.
"That is it?" asked Willow.
"Just one more part, get him to announce himself. Think of it like lightening, you can go there but he will need to show where he is."
"The sky down and the earth up thing?" asked Willow.
"That is it, the second message you send, make it something that will provoke a big reaction in him," said Illyria.
"Like lightening! yes, thank you Illyria," said Willow.
Illyria went out of the office, persuaded the others move away from the office so as not to interrupt Willows concentration.
After a few minutes Dawn wanted to go into the office, saying that she could see flashes.
"That will be Willow contacting Giles or Giles replying," said Illyria.
Ten minutes later Willow and Giles joined them on the steps.
"Angel, remember when you gave me the Pergamum Codex to look after? can you remember the other book I wanted?"
"Yes, it was the Tiberius Manifesto," replied Angel.
"Well the monastery that Brother Luca is in had two copies. They let me have a copy," said Giles.
Dawn started laughing, "You were in a monastery for all that time? Cup of English tea?"
"Thank you Dawn, you are a life saver."
"While she is gone lets have a look at this book." Giles opens it.
"That is a waste of time," remarked Angel, "It is written in Latin, all of it, so unless any-one can translate it."
"Shall I tell Dawn now or later," said Buffy.
"Why?" asked Giles.
"Dawn has been learning Latin."
When Dawn brought Giles the tea, every-one was smiling at her.
"Okay, what is it?"
"The book I brought with me, it is written in Latin," said Giles then he smiled at her. "Somebody said you have been learning Latin."
Buffy began to practise her whistling capabilities.
"Thank you little sister," said Dawn, "Okay what am I looking for?"
"Where those girls are from, who or what they are from," said Giles.
"Alright I will go and read this, see what I can turn up for you."
Giles took some of the tea that Dawn had made, thought for a minute.
"What do you know about this evil?"
"It pretended to be you, it took me til now to get you here."
"I can feel him!, he is..."
"Where did she go Giles? where is Illyria?" asked Buffy.
They looked to each other.
"If that is the him we are facing, and it does that to Illyria that easily, God help us," said Willow.
"What chance do we stand?" asked Buffy.
"Could we do something together Buffy," said Willow.
"Like what?"
"I will need a bit more power, this might require some dark magic."
"You reckon?" asked Buffy.
"Yes, depending in who-ever it is I have to keep in contact with.."
"I will get Dawn to write what we do. And what about those girls? it would be good if you would help them. If one of them remembers who tortured them you might know who we are up against who you need to contact."
"Spike can you go and get Dawn for us?" asked Buffy.
"Ok, where is she."
"In the dining room."
"No!, I was just in there, the place is empty. Apart from the book that Giles had," said Spike.
"How do you know about that book?" asked Buffy.
"Gunn told me."
"Ok, look we are trying to find Dawn to help Willow and me."
"Count me in there's nothing else to do," said Spike.
"Why so glum?" asked Buffy.
"All my mates have gone, Angel's the same, it is a weird feeling when you are the only vampire in every demon bar in town."
Three hours later, Buffy was in the foyer when Willow came in.
"What is up Buffy?"
"No-one has seen Dawn, Gunn and Illyria have gone as well. I had almost asked Giles to do a bit of checking up for me when he told me that vampires are disappearing from, well everywhere."
"Are..?"
"No! Spike and Angel seem to be ok. Giles said the thing that is different about them is that they are good guys now."
"But that would mean...."
"Way ahead of you Will, that would mean that something good is out to get them."
"Did you feel that Buffy? it felt like some-one just walked over my grave, I could feel the hairs on my back stand on end."
They both stopped, listening to the quiet in the hotel.
"It is too quiet in here. BANG," shouted Buffy.
They both listened to the echoes.
"That was to many echoes for this place," said Buffy.
"I have never noticed it, but this place is really quiet."
"It is only like that when it is empty Buffy, I cannot sense any-one else in here, apart from us."
"Are we alone?" asked Buffy.
"Sort of, wait there is something or is that some-one? here," said Willow.
"Do you know what?"
"Not what Buff, it is who, I feel as though I know him, at least that is what it feels like."
"Who do you think it is?" asked Buffy.
"Be-Elzeaboul, he that gave the living death to the First, he who resides with Proserpina, the son of..... it is him!"
"The son of what!, who?" asked Buffy.
"Oh god, I can feel him, he is here Buffy, in this room!" exclaimed Willow.
"Who is?"
"SO, YOU ARE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER." The voice boomed in the hotel, yet there was no echo.
"THE WITCH IS RIGHT I AM BE-ELZEABOUL."
"Who is that?"
"You don't know? the Prince of Wickedness?"
Buffy shrugged her shoulders.
"It is him Buffy, the son of the Devil!"
Buffy looked about the room, "Why are you speaking to us?" asked Buffy, "What does he look like Willow?"
"DO YOU WANT TO SEE ME?"
"Yes, when I answer, having some-one to speak to will help."
It went deathly quiet for a few seconds.
"THE VENGEANCE DEMON, SHE HATED THESE."
"Oh no, not a rabbit!" exclaimed Willow.
Looking about the room again. "Could you speak a little quieter?" asked Buffy.
"If I was to give you a million dollars, would you say I gave it to you?"
"No, you had best keep it, I will not lie," said Buffy.
"The one who I am with, she says hello."
"Do I know her?" asked Buffy.
"Not you Buffy, he means me," said Willow, "It was she who released her power into me, so that I could destroy the world, she is Proserpina, known as Proserpexa."
"So you are the son of the devil, why are you speaking to me?"
"Because slayer, you speak the truth."
"That is so weird Buffy, watching a rabbit say that stuff," said Willow.
"Yes, I try to speak the truth, but how do you know that?"
"Your friends told me. I will return them soon." Once again Willow stared at the rabbit.
"What do I have to do?" asked Buffy.
"He is not a cops tv show Buffy, he will not threaten you. His threats are promises, mind you, I think what he wants you to do, is the same as what you want," said Willow.
"Your friend is right, but if you want me to threaten you, I can."
"Do not say yes Buffy!" interjected Willow as fast as she could, "You would not want to hear it."
"Oh you think I would not?" asked Buffy.
"Oh no Buffy! that has done it."
"I will cause something to happen that you want."
"Willow?" asked Buffy.
"Trust him Buffy, he is telling you the truth."
"Willow! she has the curiosity of Eve when my father offered her the apple. So, so be it. A vampire tricked my father, I vowed to end all vampire's. I will leave Angel and Spike. If the others are not I will end those that can become vampires, your choice."
"What is the threat?" asked Buffy.
"The threat? it is for you to destroy all vampires, if you do not I will end the human race and I will put Angelus into you."
"I thought as much. Buffy, listen to me Angel would not want you to have Angelus in you. Help him now," said Willow, "What he said confirms it, he is not the son of anymore, he is the devil!"
"Can you at least tell me where to go?" asked Buffy.
The rabbit smiled, an evil smile with a hint of a laugh.
"Oh you are joking?" asked Willow, "Oh no. Can she at least have other slayers and her watcher with her?"
"As long as the sixteen vampires die."
"It will be done," said Buffy.
As the rabbit vanished, all her friends appeared in the foyer.
Buffy looked at the girls, one of them went up to Giles.
"You are the real one, we will speak now."
"So, are they slayers?" asked Buffy, "What are your names?"
"I am Annika, this is Anita and our leader Annuika...........
"Bloody hell! Annuika! oh crap!" exclaimed Dawn, "Buffy that is not a name, that is what she is! Sumerian, the name of those who were the first of their kind to arrive on earth. Show her, show her everything, let her learn from you."
"Take those three, Vi and Giles. I will bring Faith," said Willow looking at Dawn.
"Where am I going Will?" asked Buffy.
"He has got his fathers sense of humour alright, where is the classic place for vampires?"
"The castle? is that it?" asked Giles
"He said where the last of them are. It is Transylvania," said Willow.
"Excuse us, but are we included?" asked Spike.
"No, he said you can stay, I have not included you," said Buffy.
"Who said?" asked Angel.
"Be-Elzeaboul," said Willow.
"What! you actually spoke to the son of the devil?"
"He is not the son of anymore and he promised Buffy if all the vampires aren't killed then all humans would die and Angelus would be put into her."
"Willow, they just left," said Angel, "can you take us to help Buffy?"
"Not a good idea, they would feel your presence, it would not help."
"Will you both promise to stay here."
They look at each other.
"We agree."
Willow vanished.
"Something Cordy told me, there was three girls that you knew that can help," said Spike.
"Who are they?" asked Angel.
"I can't remember their names, but does "˜mmm Angel, mmm help you remember them?" asked Spike, "I told Willow that I would stay here, so how about them sending me as a ghost."
Giles and the girls stood at the edge of a forest. They walked towards the castle, as they approached the solid aged wooden doors the sound of bells rang around them, a figure opened the doors, he looked at them.
"Who are those two?" asked the figure.
"What is he on about now?"
"Giles, I think he means them," said Buffy.
"Who? oh Willow, Faith? what brings you here?" asked Giles.
"Do not look at me and expect an answer, Willow appeared, told me we are going then I am here, so? what are we doing?" asked Faith.
"I was told to kill all the vampires here, or every-human on earth will die and Angelus will be put into me," said Buffy.
"He will? I have met him, you do not want to! so let us go and get the vampires. Where are they?"
"We have got to find them first."
"Well there are three options for us here. There is the big castle in front of us, the forest behind us or there is a village at least in every film I have seen there is a village," said Faith.
"Me, I would go for the castle as well," said Vi.
"Castle it is then," said Faith.
Standing in the dining hall.
"Right then, where now?" asked Faith.
Willow held the back of a chair, she looked around the room accepting all the details of it into her brain.
"Vi, Faith, Buffy? can you sense a vampire in this room?"
Seeing a negative reply.
"You can come out now Spike," said Willow.
He walked to her, straight through the table.
"Is he a ghost?" asked Faith.
"Sort of, it is a bit like astral projection, Angel's got my body so I will be safe," said Spike.
"Sure, as long as we are not here for to long," said Willow.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Spike.
"Safe as in lying on a bed, or safe from harm as in he just dropped you in a swimming pool?" asked Willow.
"Spikie could be an inky dinky wittle shrively boy soon," said Faith.
Spike looked at Faith, thinking his manhood could be his babyhood very soon.
"Where do we begin? and when do we begin?" asked Anita.
"Wait until morning, there is fourteen vampires here and only three or four slayers, a bit of sunlight might even up the odds a bit," said Spike.
Giles sat at the table, looking at the fruit bowl. "Who wants some fruit?"
"That is a good idea! Blood oranges any-one?" asked Spike.
"Get some rest girls, tomorrow we start hunting," said Giles.
Giles stayed awake most of the night, looking at the plans of the castle that had been given to him by Be-Elzeaboul. Spike questioned if they were good, but as Giles remarked, he
wants to get rid of the vampires as well.
"Fair enough," replied Spike, "Any ideas for tomorrow?"
"I am checking the lower floors around the courtyard," said Giles.
"Why?"
"It has all been arranged, the garden in the courtyard that will be where the fight happens, crosses have been put all entrances or exits. I just hope that all of them are not in the same place."
"That would be a problem, how would the girls deal with that situation though?" asked Spike, "And what do they fight with?"
Giles smiled.
"I mentioned that, as I said, he wants the vampires killed just as much as we do. The devil gave two cross bows and fifty arrows for each of us."
"But what about his threat?"
"It was not mentioned!, I kept the talk on what he wanted. You know I never realised it but he has been killing the vampires for over a year," said Giles.
"So what he wants Buffy to do, it is the small end of the stick."
"The sunlight though that will be a bit unfair," asked Spike.
"Only if the vampires try to climb out, but I avoided that."
"Why?"
"Letting the girls have cross-bows could be a unfair," said Giles.
"What time does the battle begin?"
"Just after sunrise."
"Who will be in the courtyard first Giles?"
"That has been organised as well, both sides have to be in the holding area at either side of the courtyard."
"Sounds a bit to organised, can he be trusted?"
"Good point, but as long as we do as he wants, I think so."
"Do not tell Buffy, tell them it was your idea, or that we arranged it together."
"Ok, you know as a way of stopping an apocalypse, this is a good way," said Spike.
"If we win," said Giles.
"I had not thought we could loose. How long is it until sunrise?"
"Four hours Spike, are you going to check them?" asked Giles.
"No way! do you know what they are doing?" asked Spike.
"Sleeping?" asked Giles.
"Nope, playing flaming Dungeons and Dragons."
Standing in the entrance to the courtyard the next morning, Giles gave them a cross-bow and some arrows each, he then told them the gates would open automatically when the vampires were together. He pointed to the courtyard.
"That is where the battle is to be, the gates behind you will not open until the vampires are all dead."
"That is one way, at least we will not need to keep count," said Faith, as the gates to the courtyard opened.
"Willow I want you and Anita to stay with Giles in the archway. Vi, I want you and Spike to stay near the entrance. The rest of us will take the brunt of their attack," said Buffy.
Buffy, Faith, Annika and Annuika crept towards the well, looking about them continuously after they had passed the bushes.
Seeing three vampires they carefully stalked them, trapping them against some trees, only revealing themselves when needed Faith and Buffy dropped two of the vampires. Lying on the ground the other vampire, surprised by the slayers lack of movement and seeing an opportunity, was about to strike at Buffy when Annuika delivered a fatal blow.
Two vampires that were following them were suddenly confronted by a smiling Annika, blackness enveloped what was once their daylight. Annuika helped Buffy and Faith to their feet.
As the four vampires moved to where they thought Vi and Spike were meant to be. Vi attracted Willows attention, pointing to both her eyes, then displaying two fingers; Vi indicated where two more vampires were hiding. Willow telepathically contacted Buffy informing her of the next two. As they all join under the archway Faith quietly tells about their first excursion into the courtyard.
"That is seven of the little buggers taken care of."
Spike told them about the pond in the middle and how it would be a good place for the vampires to hide. They listened to his idea, agreeing to the concept they slowly make their way followed by Willow and Anita. Spike and Vi stayed with Giles. The four girls crept into the bushes, watching where they tread; not wanting to snap any twigs and give their position away.
But in watching below their feet they failed to see that a vampire was hiding in a tree, it was trying to disguise itself as part of a branch. As it was about to drop on them Anita got the drop on it. Faith span to see what the noise was only to see Anita happily standing over a pile of dust.
Nearing the pond, Annika moved by it, watching the bushes, wandering around the pond. Three vampires suddenly rise from the pond about to grab her, she dropped to the ground as several small shafts of wood strip the vampires of any form of life.
"Did any of you notice the water feature in the pond?" asked Willow.
"What do you mean?" asked Buffy.
"How the water spouts are on the base."
"So?" asked Faith.
"At the top of these buildings is Be-Elzeaboul, that is why the er, figurine is here so that he can know what is happening on the ground."
"What do you mean?" asked Annika.
"The figurine is Proserpexa, his girlfriend." The "˜figurine' faced Willow.
"Don't tell every-one about me Willow," said Proserpexa.
Seeing who was walking towards them, Vi and Spike moved forward from the archway, unseen were the figures that crept to the entry of the archway, Giles quickly fired an arrow from his cross-bow but it ricocheted of the walls, glaring at Giles the vampires told him to start praying, just as shafts of wood protruded from the front of their chests.
"You really should not have gloated," said Vi.
As the vampires fell to the ground as dust, Vi smiled.
"Thanks for that," commented Giles.
As they gathered by Giles, Anita asked where the other one might be.
"What do you mean? the other one?"
"Thirteen of them have been dusted here, so if you include Spike and Angel, there is only one of them left," said Willow.
"One place that ave not looked at, is this place on the other side of the courtyard," said Giles.
A lone vampire was sat by itself waiting for the others to return, hearing several footsteps it looked up, only to see a barrage of small shafts of wood heading towards.......
Giles looked to them, then he looked at where they were.
"Back in the hotel? why here?" asked Giles.
"I guess that means we did it," said Buffy.
Spike and Angel walked down the stairs.
"Where do we go from here?" asked Dawn.
"Hey! less of that! they'll be no singing!" exclaimed Spike.
"I hope those Wiccan's realise what has happened, that they will stop saying Blessed Be," said Illyria.
"Yes it would be a bit off," agreed Willow.
"What are you two on about?" asked Giles.
"If they keep saying Blessed Be they will be like devil worshippers."
"How?" asked Giles.
"The one that told us to help him is Be-Elzeaboul, he said his father had been tricked by the vampires. Be-Elzeaboul is now the devil, so if a Wiccan person says Blessed Be, that person will be saying Blessed to Be, the first part of the name of the devil," stated Willow.
Hearing some-one running along the corridor they all looked to the top of the stairs Xander came into sight, then running down the stairs.
"Has any-one seen what is above this place? there is a spaceship!"
Buffy looked at Giles.
"Well why look at me! I do not know much about those things, who would?"
Dawn glanced at Anita.
"Seems like this planet will be safe from them for a while, we can go home again," said Annuika.
Annuika, Annika and Anita started going to the top of the hotel. Glancing over her shoulder to Buffy, "But we will be back."
THE END
The Annuika are fact, leaders of the Sumerian's, thought by some to be of an alien race.
"˜Introduction'
The son of the devil, Be-Elzeaboul, now sought to destroy all vampires, some of them had tricked his father. Having sworn revenge, he started taking it, that was over a year ago. Systematically he removed clusters of vampires from existence, continually removing all knowledge of them. He found evidence of two that did as he did, so ignoring Angel and Spike he went for the girl that attracted the vampires. As he knew Illyria, he would make her vanish, when the time was right. He did think about killing Buffy but this time he and Buffy wanted the same thing; no more vampires.
STUCK IN CLEVELAND
"Fish and chips for five then," said Xander, "Come on Buffy, I'll help you carry them back."
Buffy walked to the door with Xander, opening it, she saw Giles. He greeted her, then brought in several girls.
"There is a new evil destroying all... everything," said Giles.
"Who are these girls?" asked Buffy.
"They are a few that we found alive, chained to a wall, these are the best of who were left."
"Tortured?, were they being tortured?" asked Xander.
"Not as I know torture, the others, we had to kill them. Their minds were drained of every-thing, they were only left with eyes and ears that worked. I saw pleas for help in those eyes, the evil had left them with memories."
Buffy had thought they were different. Now she knew why. Giles introduced them to the girls.
"Sorry but no-one knows who they are," said Giles.
Buffy talked to them but they just looked at her, or something just behind her.
"I think they heard you," said Giles.
"What are we meant to do with them? we fight evil, we can't do anything with them."
"I am sorry Buffy, they might be able to tell us what we are facing, I was hoping you might see something we have missed."
"Who are they?" asked Willow.
"What do you mean?"
"They are dressed differently, the skin colour is different, where are they from?"
"I have got these files about them but that is all," said Giles.
Willow started looking at the files.
"Giles? these files are rubbish," said Willow, "Those girls might not even speak English."
"How could I tell?" asked Giles.
"Try fingerprints, dental records, DNA, use big brother is watching to help us," said Dawn.
"I will get a few people to help me," said Willow.
The next two days past by slowly, they all seemed to be working hard but nothing new was being learnt about the girls. Buffy, Dawn and Willow sat around the kitchen table, wondering what to do next. Willow seemed deep in thought then she announced.
"Is the security on this place working?"
"Yeah why?" asked Dawn.
"Can you try it out?" asked Willow, "I'm going to try something."
Dawn returned five minutes later. "All done."
"Good, because there is something very wrong here, has Giles mentioned Angel, Spike or Illyria?"
Buffy and Dawn exchanged puzzled looks.
"Nothing has come back about those girls," said Willow, "About two months ago you told me that Giles was going to see a Brother Luca, you haven't said what happened Buffy?"
"Giles didn't say anything to me, what about you Dawn?"
Dawn shrugged her shoulders.
"Is Xander still in the garden Dawn? get him then go to the basement we are leaving," said Willow.
"Oh good, I hate this place," said Buffy, "I know there is meant to be a hellmouth here, Giles said so. I chased a vampire the other night, he ran under a train, I never even caught him."
They went to the top of the basement stairs, as soon as Dawn and Xander joined them they went to the others in the basement.
"I am going to move us all," said Willow.
"Where to?" asked Dawn.
"Oh, it is this place. Why are we in a cage Will?" asked Buffy.
"This building is the Hyperion Hotel, when Angel became Angelus they built a cage to put him in, this is the cage. I will let Angel know we are down here."
The door at the top of the steps opened, Angel came down the steps followed by Spike. Angel opened the cage.
"If you are going to turn up un-announced, chances are there is a reason, what is it?" asked Spike.
"First things first, we need to find Giles, now. Who can do it?"
"I can," replied Angel.
"You can? how?" asked Buffy.
"When Giles was trying to stop you having a face to face with the Master, the night I gave him the Pergamum Codex."
"That was when we were trapped in the old schools basement," said Xander, "Following that creepy flute."
"When Giles tried to turn off the gas some of his blood was on the threads, since then."
"Good, well I am glad about that Angel, is Illyria here?" asked Willow.
"Tell us Willow, what is wrong?" asked Spike.
"Giles might be in two places, I think there is two of him. One of him might be in Cleveland the other is likely to be the real one. I think he is in Cortona, where ever that is."
"I know this?, that is it! Brother Luca, that is where I know that from, clever me, yaay," exclaimed Buffy.
"Do you know where Cortona is Buff."
"It is a place in Italy Will."
"That will save us some time, Angel, we know where to start looking."
"Ok Willow but I need to get there, it is a big place then I will need to find him, the person?"
"I will get him the same way I got here," said Willow.
"Do you still need Illyria?" asked Angel.
"Yes, we will set up in the office, then I will call you in."
Walking in to the foyer Willow looked about, "This place brings back memories."
"You go into the office Willow, I will try and find Illyria. You let me know when you are ready."
Willow pushed the door to the office open, running her fingers along the edge of the desk she gracefully sat in the chair, with a wave of her hand the desk drawers opened, she flicked through the papers in the draw. Hearing the door close.
"Who do you want to find."
Looking up, from what she had been told, she knew it was Illyria.
"I want to find Giles, then get him here," said Willow.
"Do you know where he is?"
"Angel said he can track him. I was hoping that he can pin point on the map where he is, then I was hoping you would help me find him."
"That sounds like going door to door, as Spike would say. Have you another way?" asked Illyria.
"I have just been told the e-mail address of where he might be."
"What is an e-mail address?" asked Illyria.
"On the computer, for me to send a message to a specific person I would need to enter an address for that person," said Willow.
"Why do you not follow that address to get him?" asked Illyria.
"I cannot do that," replied Willow.
"Spike and Angel say you are a powerful witch, who taught you?"
"I taught myself, some people have helped me to understand things," replied Willow, "But basically I taught myself."
"Basically? what things?"
"Well, that everything is connected."
"Bunch of Crap," said Illyria, "New age idiocy!, energy flows from one thing to another thing of the same kind, that is all. Making a plant appear from another part of the world is not the same as making something appear from nothing, they are both done with magic but that is the only connection. It is like saying the theory of evolution is correct."
"But it is," said Willow.
"Evolution happened once, I saw it but has it ever happened again or are you aware of fish becoming humans?"
"Evolution happens all the time," said Willow.
"To animals? is that evolution? or do they just change to suit the environment? so, in magic
what limits you? the only answer is that you do. Send him this e-mail, tell him to answer it. Then send him another one, tell him to read it repeatedly, then you need to imagine him reading it, see him reading it, watch him reading it, then be with him as he reads it. Then all you need is to bring him back," said Illyria.
"That is it?" asked Willow.
"Just one more part, get him to announce himself. Think of it like lightening, you can go there but he will need to show where he is."
"The sky down and the earth up thing?" asked Willow.
"That is it, the second message you send, make it something that will provoke a big reaction in him," said Illyria.
"Like lightening! yes, thank you Illyria," said Willow.
Illyria went out of the office, persuaded the others move away from the office so as not to interrupt Willows concentration.
After a few minutes Dawn wanted to go into the office, saying that she could see flashes.
"That will be Willow contacting Giles or Giles replying," said Illyria.
Ten minutes later Willow and Giles joined them on the steps.
"Angel, remember when you gave me the Pergamum Codex to look after? can you remember the other book I wanted?"
"Yes, it was the Tiberius Manifesto," replied Angel.
"Well the monastery that Brother Luca is in had two copies. They let me have a copy," said Giles.
Dawn started laughing, "You were in a monastery for all that time? Cup of English tea?"
"Thank you Dawn, you are a life saver."
"While she is gone lets have a look at this book." Giles opens it.
"That is a waste of time," remarked Angel, "It is written in Latin, all of it, so unless any-one can translate it."
"Shall I tell Dawn now or later," said Buffy.
"Why?" asked Giles.
"Dawn has been learning Latin."
When Dawn brought Giles the tea, every-one was smiling at her.
"Okay, what is it?"
"The book I brought with me, it is written in Latin," said Giles then he smiled at her. "Somebody said you have been learning Latin."
Buffy began to practise her whistling capabilities.
"Thank you little sister," said Dawn, "Okay what am I looking for?"
"Where those girls are from, who or what they are from," said Giles.
"Alright I will go and read this, see what I can turn up for you."
Giles took some of the tea that Dawn had made, thought for a minute.
"What do you know about this evil?"
"It pretended to be you, it took me til now to get you here."
"I can feel him!, he is..."
"Where did she go Giles? where is Illyria?" asked Buffy.
They looked to each other.
"If that is the him we are facing, and it does that to Illyria that easily, God help us," said Willow.
"What chance do we stand?" asked Buffy.
"Could we do something together Buffy," said Willow.
"Like what?"
"I will need a bit more power, this might require some dark magic."
"You reckon?" asked Buffy.
"Yes, depending in who-ever it is I have to keep in contact with.."
"I will get Dawn to write what we do. And what about those girls? it would be good if you would help them. If one of them remembers who tortured them you might know who we are up against who you need to contact."
"Spike can you go and get Dawn for us?" asked Buffy.
"Ok, where is she."
"In the dining room."
"No!, I was just in there, the place is empty. Apart from the book that Giles had," said Spike.
"How do you know about that book?" asked Buffy.
"Gunn told me."
"Ok, look we are trying to find Dawn to help Willow and me."
"Count me in there's nothing else to do," said Spike.
"Why so glum?" asked Buffy.
"All my mates have gone, Angel's the same, it is a weird feeling when you are the only vampire in every demon bar in town."
Three hours later, Buffy was in the foyer when Willow came in.
"What is up Buffy?"
"No-one has seen Dawn, Gunn and Illyria have gone as well. I had almost asked Giles to do a bit of checking up for me when he told me that vampires are disappearing from, well everywhere."
"Are..?"
"No! Spike and Angel seem to be ok. Giles said the thing that is different about them is that they are good guys now."
"But that would mean...."
"Way ahead of you Will, that would mean that something good is out to get them."
"Did you feel that Buffy? it felt like some-one just walked over my grave, I could feel the hairs on my back stand on end."
They both stopped, listening to the quiet in the hotel.
"It is too quiet in here. BANG," shouted Buffy.
They both listened to the echoes.
"That was to many echoes for this place," said Buffy.
"I have never noticed it, but this place is really quiet."
"It is only like that when it is empty Buffy, I cannot sense any-one else in here, apart from us."
"Are we alone?" asked Buffy.
"Sort of, wait there is something or is that some-one? here," said Willow.
"Do you know what?"
"Not what Buff, it is who, I feel as though I know him, at least that is what it feels like."
"Who do you think it is?" asked Buffy.
"Be-Elzeaboul, he that gave the living death to the First, he who resides with Proserpina, the son of..... it is him!"
"The son of what!, who?" asked Buffy.
"Oh god, I can feel him, he is here Buffy, in this room!" exclaimed Willow.
"Who is?"
"SO, YOU ARE THE VAMPIRE SLAYER." The voice boomed in the hotel, yet there was no echo.
"THE WITCH IS RIGHT I AM BE-ELZEABOUL."
"Who is that?"
"You don't know? the Prince of Wickedness?"
Buffy shrugged her shoulders.
"It is him Buffy, the son of the Devil!"
Buffy looked about the room, "Why are you speaking to us?" asked Buffy, "What does he look like Willow?"
"DO YOU WANT TO SEE ME?"
"Yes, when I answer, having some-one to speak to will help."
It went deathly quiet for a few seconds.
"THE VENGEANCE DEMON, SHE HATED THESE."
"Oh no, not a rabbit!" exclaimed Willow.
Looking about the room again. "Could you speak a little quieter?" asked Buffy.
"If I was to give you a million dollars, would you say I gave it to you?"
"No, you had best keep it, I will not lie," said Buffy.
"The one who I am with, she says hello."
"Do I know her?" asked Buffy.
"Not you Buffy, he means me," said Willow, "It was she who released her power into me, so that I could destroy the world, she is Proserpina, known as Proserpexa."
"So you are the son of the devil, why are you speaking to me?"
"Because slayer, you speak the truth."
"That is so weird Buffy, watching a rabbit say that stuff," said Willow.
"Yes, I try to speak the truth, but how do you know that?"
"Your friends told me. I will return them soon." Once again Willow stared at the rabbit.
"What do I have to do?" asked Buffy.
"He is not a cops tv show Buffy, he will not threaten you. His threats are promises, mind you, I think what he wants you to do, is the same as what you want," said Willow.
"Your friend is right, but if you want me to threaten you, I can."
"Do not say yes Buffy!" interjected Willow as fast as she could, "You would not want to hear it."
"Oh you think I would not?" asked Buffy.
"Oh no Buffy! that has done it."
"I will cause something to happen that you want."
"Willow?" asked Buffy.
"Trust him Buffy, he is telling you the truth."
"Willow! she has the curiosity of Eve when my father offered her the apple. So, so be it. A vampire tricked my father, I vowed to end all vampire's. I will leave Angel and Spike. If the others are not I will end those that can become vampires, your choice."
"What is the threat?" asked Buffy.
"The threat? it is for you to destroy all vampires, if you do not I will end the human race and I will put Angelus into you."
"I thought as much. Buffy, listen to me Angel would not want you to have Angelus in you. Help him now," said Willow, "What he said confirms it, he is not the son of anymore, he is the devil!"
"Can you at least tell me where to go?" asked Buffy.
The rabbit smiled, an evil smile with a hint of a laugh.
"Oh you are joking?" asked Willow, "Oh no. Can she at least have other slayers and her watcher with her?"
"As long as the sixteen vampires die."
"It will be done," said Buffy.
As the rabbit vanished, all her friends appeared in the foyer.
Buffy looked at the girls, one of them went up to Giles.
"You are the real one, we will speak now."
"So, are they slayers?" asked Buffy, "What are your names?"
"I am Annika, this is Anita and our leader Annuika...........
"Bloody hell! Annuika! oh crap!" exclaimed Dawn, "Buffy that is not a name, that is what she is! Sumerian, the name of those who were the first of their kind to arrive on earth. Show her, show her everything, let her learn from you."
"Take those three, Vi and Giles. I will bring Faith," said Willow looking at Dawn.
"Where am I going Will?" asked Buffy.
"He has got his fathers sense of humour alright, where is the classic place for vampires?"
"The castle? is that it?" asked Giles
"He said where the last of them are. It is Transylvania," said Willow.
"Excuse us, but are we included?" asked Spike.
"No, he said you can stay, I have not included you," said Buffy.
"Who said?" asked Angel.
"Be-Elzeaboul," said Willow.
"What! you actually spoke to the son of the devil?"
"He is not the son of anymore and he promised Buffy if all the vampires aren't killed then all humans would die and Angelus would be put into her."
"Willow, they just left," said Angel, "can you take us to help Buffy?"
"Not a good idea, they would feel your presence, it would not help."
"Will you both promise to stay here."
They look at each other.
"We agree."
Willow vanished.
"Something Cordy told me, there was three girls that you knew that can help," said Spike.
"Who are they?" asked Angel.
"I can't remember their names, but does "˜mmm Angel, mmm help you remember them?" asked Spike, "I told Willow that I would stay here, so how about them sending me as a ghost."
Giles and the girls stood at the edge of a forest. They walked towards the castle, as they approached the solid aged wooden doors the sound of bells rang around them, a figure opened the doors, he looked at them.
"Who are those two?" asked the figure.
"What is he on about now?"
"Giles, I think he means them," said Buffy.
"Who? oh Willow, Faith? what brings you here?" asked Giles.
"Do not look at me and expect an answer, Willow appeared, told me we are going then I am here, so? what are we doing?" asked Faith.
"I was told to kill all the vampires here, or every-human on earth will die and Angelus will be put into me," said Buffy.
"He will? I have met him, you do not want to! so let us go and get the vampires. Where are they?"
"We have got to find them first."
"Well there are three options for us here. There is the big castle in front of us, the forest behind us or there is a village at least in every film I have seen there is a village," said Faith.
"Me, I would go for the castle as well," said Vi.
"Castle it is then," said Faith.
Standing in the dining hall.
"Right then, where now?" asked Faith.
Willow held the back of a chair, she looked around the room accepting all the details of it into her brain.
"Vi, Faith, Buffy? can you sense a vampire in this room?"
Seeing a negative reply.
"You can come out now Spike," said Willow.
He walked to her, straight through the table.
"Is he a ghost?" asked Faith.
"Sort of, it is a bit like astral projection, Angel's got my body so I will be safe," said Spike.
"Sure, as long as we are not here for to long," said Willow.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Spike.
"Safe as in lying on a bed, or safe from harm as in he just dropped you in a swimming pool?" asked Willow.
"Spikie could be an inky dinky wittle shrively boy soon," said Faith.
Spike looked at Faith, thinking his manhood could be his babyhood very soon.
"Where do we begin? and when do we begin?" asked Anita.
"Wait until morning, there is fourteen vampires here and only three or four slayers, a bit of sunlight might even up the odds a bit," said Spike.
Giles sat at the table, looking at the fruit bowl. "Who wants some fruit?"
"That is a good idea! Blood oranges any-one?" asked Spike.
"Get some rest girls, tomorrow we start hunting," said Giles.
Giles stayed awake most of the night, looking at the plans of the castle that had been given to him by Be-Elzeaboul. Spike questioned if they were good, but as Giles remarked, he
wants to get rid of the vampires as well.
"Fair enough," replied Spike, "Any ideas for tomorrow?"
"I am checking the lower floors around the courtyard," said Giles.
"Why?"
"It has all been arranged, the garden in the courtyard that will be where the fight happens, crosses have been put all entrances or exits. I just hope that all of them are not in the same place."
"That would be a problem, how would the girls deal with that situation though?" asked Spike, "And what do they fight with?"
Giles smiled.
"I mentioned that, as I said, he wants the vampires killed just as much as we do. The devil gave two cross bows and fifty arrows for each of us."
"But what about his threat?"
"It was not mentioned!, I kept the talk on what he wanted. You know I never realised it but he has been killing the vampires for over a year," said Giles.
"So what he wants Buffy to do, it is the small end of the stick."
"The sunlight though that will be a bit unfair," asked Spike.
"Only if the vampires try to climb out, but I avoided that."
"Why?"
"Letting the girls have cross-bows could be a unfair," said Giles.
"What time does the battle begin?"
"Just after sunrise."
"Who will be in the courtyard first Giles?"
"That has been organised as well, both sides have to be in the holding area at either side of the courtyard."
"Sounds a bit to organised, can he be trusted?"
"Good point, but as long as we do as he wants, I think so."
"Do not tell Buffy, tell them it was your idea, or that we arranged it together."
"Ok, you know as a way of stopping an apocalypse, this is a good way," said Spike.
"If we win," said Giles.
"I had not thought we could loose. How long is it until sunrise?"
"Four hours Spike, are you going to check them?" asked Giles.
"No way! do you know what they are doing?" asked Spike.
"Sleeping?" asked Giles.
"Nope, playing flaming Dungeons and Dragons."
Standing in the entrance to the courtyard the next morning, Giles gave them a cross-bow and some arrows each, he then told them the gates would open automatically when the vampires were together. He pointed to the courtyard.
"That is where the battle is to be, the gates behind you will not open until the vampires are all dead."
"That is one way, at least we will not need to keep count," said Faith, as the gates to the courtyard opened.
"Willow I want you and Anita to stay with Giles in the archway. Vi, I want you and Spike to stay near the entrance. The rest of us will take the brunt of their attack," said Buffy.
Buffy, Faith, Annika and Annuika crept towards the well, looking about them continuously after they had passed the bushes.
Seeing three vampires they carefully stalked them, trapping them against some trees, only revealing themselves when needed Faith and Buffy dropped two of the vampires. Lying on the ground the other vampire, surprised by the slayers lack of movement and seeing an opportunity, was about to strike at Buffy when Annuika delivered a fatal blow.
Two vampires that were following them were suddenly confronted by a smiling Annika, blackness enveloped what was once their daylight. Annuika helped Buffy and Faith to their feet.
As the four vampires moved to where they thought Vi and Spike were meant to be. Vi attracted Willows attention, pointing to both her eyes, then displaying two fingers; Vi indicated where two more vampires were hiding. Willow telepathically contacted Buffy informing her of the next two. As they all join under the archway Faith quietly tells about their first excursion into the courtyard.
"That is seven of the little buggers taken care of."
Spike told them about the pond in the middle and how it would be a good place for the vampires to hide. They listened to his idea, agreeing to the concept they slowly make their way followed by Willow and Anita. Spike and Vi stayed with Giles. The four girls crept into the bushes, watching where they tread; not wanting to snap any twigs and give their position away.
But in watching below their feet they failed to see that a vampire was hiding in a tree, it was trying to disguise itself as part of a branch. As it was about to drop on them Anita got the drop on it. Faith span to see what the noise was only to see Anita happily standing over a pile of dust.
Nearing the pond, Annika moved by it, watching the bushes, wandering around the pond. Three vampires suddenly rise from the pond about to grab her, she dropped to the ground as several small shafts of wood strip the vampires of any form of life.
"Did any of you notice the water feature in the pond?" asked Willow.
"What do you mean?" asked Buffy.
"How the water spouts are on the base."
"So?" asked Faith.
"At the top of these buildings is Be-Elzeaboul, that is why the er, figurine is here so that he can know what is happening on the ground."
"What do you mean?" asked Annika.
"The figurine is Proserpexa, his girlfriend." The "˜figurine' faced Willow.
"Don't tell every-one about me Willow," said Proserpexa.
Seeing who was walking towards them, Vi and Spike moved forward from the archway, unseen were the figures that crept to the entry of the archway, Giles quickly fired an arrow from his cross-bow but it ricocheted of the walls, glaring at Giles the vampires told him to start praying, just as shafts of wood protruded from the front of their chests.
"You really should not have gloated," said Vi.
As the vampires fell to the ground as dust, Vi smiled.
"Thanks for that," commented Giles.
As they gathered by Giles, Anita asked where the other one might be.
"What do you mean? the other one?"
"Thirteen of them have been dusted here, so if you include Spike and Angel, there is only one of them left," said Willow.
"One place that ave not looked at, is this place on the other side of the courtyard," said Giles.
A lone vampire was sat by itself waiting for the others to return, hearing several footsteps it looked up, only to see a barrage of small shafts of wood heading towards.......
Giles looked to them, then he looked at where they were.
"Back in the hotel? why here?" asked Giles.
"I guess that means we did it," said Buffy.
Spike and Angel walked down the stairs.
"Where do we go from here?" asked Dawn.
"Hey! less of that! they'll be no singing!" exclaimed Spike.
"I hope those Wiccan's realise what has happened, that they will stop saying Blessed Be," said Illyria.
"Yes it would be a bit off," agreed Willow.
"What are you two on about?" asked Giles.
"If they keep saying Blessed Be they will be like devil worshippers."
"How?" asked Giles.
"The one that told us to help him is Be-Elzeaboul, he said his father had been tricked by the vampires. Be-Elzeaboul is now the devil, so if a Wiccan person says Blessed Be, that person will be saying Blessed to Be, the first part of the name of the devil," stated Willow.
Hearing some-one running along the corridor they all looked to the top of the stairs Xander came into sight, then running down the stairs.
"Has any-one seen what is above this place? there is a spaceship!"
Buffy looked at Giles.
"Well why look at me! I do not know much about those things, who would?"
Dawn glanced at Anita.
"Seems like this planet will be safe from them for a while, we can go home again," said Annuika.
Annuika, Annika and Anita started going to the top of the hotel. Glancing over her shoulder to Buffy, "But we will be back."
THE END