Buffy the Vampire Slayer, chapter 10

[maryperk73703]

There is a bit of a gore warning at the first section of this chapter.  

Chapter 10

Anyanka spent considerable time in the Arashmahaar archive researching exactly how to make her Rupert immortal without changing anything about him. She had stumbled across a ceremony for a blood binding that tied two beings’ lives together. Anyanka had tried to find other viable methods, but each and every time she came back to the blood binding ceremony. She memorized the steps before she put the books away.

Anyanka stepped into the outer chamber of D'Hoffryn’s quarters. Her demonic senses took in the scent of blood and semen inside, and while she didn’t care if she watched her boss fuck as she had in the past, there was something different this time. There was something foreboding in the scents this time. Anyanka tilted her head to listen more closely to whatever was happening inside the private rooms.

Anyanka heard nothing behind the big wooden doors. She stepped forward to push one of the doors open. When she stepped inside the room, she gasped in horror. Anyanka was used to seeing disgusting things. She’d eviscerated many a man in her career as a vengeance demon, but she had never expect to find D’Hoffryn laying naked on what looked like an altar with his dead, vacant eyes staring at her.

Anyanka stepped back, not wanting to bring attention to herself as she watched some strange version of Willow Rosenberg munching on D'Hoffryn’s heart. The vengeance demon didn’t know quite what to think of what she was seeing, and she silently called for Halfrek and Azriel. When the two women popped into sight, the creature finally acknowledged someone’s existence.

“This body is weaker than I thought.” Willyria tossed down the heart that she had been eating. “I will require proper sustenance. Where can I find such a thing?”

“Uh, what kind of sustenance are you looking for?” Halfrek said in a brave voice. She could tell that Azriel was shell shocked at the sight of D'Hoffryn demise.

“I need to eat the souls of Gods,” Willyria said in a cool voice. “Clearly my servant forgot to prepare for my return properly.”

“Hmm, well, it’s been a long time since Gods walked the Earth,” Halfrek said in an equally cool voice. “Humans have taken over. They crowd the planet with their wants and desires. It’s quite disgusting, but it’s good for business.”

“I wish to walk with the Gods,” Willyria commented.

All three vengeance demons changed into their demonic visages as they said as one, “Wish granted.”

Willyria vanished from the room. The god-woman found herself in a strange dimension where she was the only corporeal being. She was miffed, but she found that she was unable to escape using either her own powers or the shell’s powers. The shell’s soul could only cry and moan when she attempted to talk to it.

“Anyanka, take Azriel to her rooms,” Halfrek ordered. “I’ll take care of D’Hoffryn.” She stepped towards the body.

“Of course, Mistress Halfrek,” Anyanka said with a small bow.

“What?” Halfrek whirled around to stare at her friend. “I don’t want to be the boss. You be the boss, Mistress.”

“Why don’t you both be the boss?” Azriel’s voice was small and quiet. She really had adored D’Hoffryn, and she needed time to mourn her loss.

“Both of us?” Anyanka tilted her head. “I suppose that could work. Then I won’t need anyone’s permission to use the blood binding ritual with Rupert.”

“You actually found something that’ll work?” Halfrek sounded astonished.

Anyanka nodded mutely as she went to Azriel’s side. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, Hallie. Then, we’ll break the news to the others.” She led the upset young demon out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy, Spike, and their friends converged on the Magic Box’s entrance. Once they moved inside they were not surprised at how disjointed the other Slayer team appeared to be. Oz and Tara were sitting to one side together, chatting quietly between themselves. Giles was behind the counter, counting the money. The Watcher looked sad and unsure of himself. Faith, Jesse, and Hope were around the table. None of them were sitting close together, and Jesse looked torn between wanting to talk to both of the Lehane females. He opened his mouth several times to say something, but he quickly closed it again.

Lydia watched all of the interactions with an interested gaze. It was obvious to her that whatever cohesiveness Faith’s group had before her death was slowly eroding away with the resurrection and loss of Willow. Then she turned her sights on the group that had just entered the room.

Dot went to join Oz and Tara. The female werewolf easily connected with the other two. Lawson followed Dot’s lead, and he too went over to Oz and Tara. The vampire’s interest in Tara was easily seen by anyone who was observant.

Spike, Buffy, and Joyce moved to talk to Giles while Wesley stood at the door way with a tall, skinny brunette. They held hands, and he led her into the store to make introductions.

“Everyone, this is Fred.” Wesley smiled at the young woman.

“Hi, y’all.” Fred waved at the gathered group. “Wesley has told me so much about y’all.”

“How did you join this little group?” Lydia asked the stranger. She had a notebook and pencil at the ready.

Fred glanced at Wesley. “Oh, that’s easy. Buffy saved me from being sucked into another dimension.”

Buffy looked up. “Yeah, who knew libraries were so dangerous.” She turned to look at Oz when he let out a snort.

Giles caught Buffy’s attention when he cleared his throat to speak. “Yes, well, I never thought that libraries were all that threatening either until I moved to Sunnydale. You see, the high school library was built right over the Hellmouth.”

Lydia wanted the attention back on herself. She cleared her throat, and she started to speak, “As I have told you, I want to do a report on how the Slayer benefits from having a group to work with.”

“Not much of a group anymore,” Faith muttered. “Angel and Willow are gone. Hope’s leaving. Tara and Oz have defected. Just Jesse, Giles, and me, and I don’t know about Jesse.”

“Faith, how can you say that?” Jesse said in a hurt voice. “You know I love you.”

“It’s not enough, Jesse,” Faith said softly. “I can’t give you what you want.” She stood up, and she marched towards the back of the store to the workout room.

“Well, that went smashing,” Hope muttered. She too rose to her feet. “Look, Ms. Chambers, I don’t know what you’re looking for with this whole Slayers need a group thing, but I have to say I think Buffy’s group is more together than we ever were.” She turned to Tara. “I’m sorry about what I’m gonna say about Willow, but it all really started in that last year of high school. Sorry to you too, Oz and Jesse.”

“What do you mean?” Lydia questioned.

Hope turned to the older woman. “Willow and Xander got all smoochie-faced. She always had a crush on him. This one time Xander was on the outs with Cordelia, and Willow started to seduce him. Oz and Cordy walked in before it got too far though.”

“That’s old business,” Jesse replied. “Oz and Cordelia forgave them a long time ago.”

“It’s when our group started to fall apart and you know it, Jesse Michael Young.” Hope put her hands on her hips. “Things were never the same between Oz and Willow after that. If Xander and Cordelia hadn’t moved to Los Angeles, I’m sure they would have broken totally up too.”

“Cordelia’s doing good in L.A.,” Tara said in a soft informative voice. “She’s the face of Estee Lauder now.”

“Yeah, and Xander’s opened a detective agency in some old hotel.” Hope nodded. “He emailed me last week after I said I was leaving Sunnydale. He’s recruited some street kids who have been fighting vamps and this empath demon named Lorne. Xander even has a lawyer on his side. He’s doing pretty well for himself.”

“You never liked Willow.” Oz tilted his head to look at Hope. “It’s all fake memories, but you never did.”

“Not really, no.” Hope shook her head. “Now she’s hurt Tara and my sister too by her actions. She hurts everyone she claims to care about. I don’t like that in a person.”

“She won’t be a problem again.” Anyanka popped into the shop. “D’Hoffryn changed her, and she killed him. She’s in a dimension where she won’t be causing any trouble. Oh, Rupert, I found the perfect way for us to stay together. We’ll just do a blood binding ceremony.”

“Willow’s dead?” Tara asked in a shocked voice.

“Oh no, Hoffy changed her into some kind of heart-eating thing.” Anyanka nodded with a small grimace. “It was nasty, and I’ve seen nasty.”

Tara let out a cry of anguish, and she hurried off towards the backroom where they all could hear Faith hitting one of the punching bags. Lawson started to follow her, but Oz shook his head as he grabbed the vampire’s arm. Lawson sighed before he stopped his pursuit of the upset Wicca.

Lydia sighed as the meeting that she had hoped was demolished by the arrival of Anyanka. She continued to observe and take notes. She decided that she needed to call Travers to let him know she was going to stay in Sunnydale indefinitely. This was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Lydia Chambers was determined to revolutionize the Council if it was the last thing she did.

“Let me tell you all about the blood bonding ceremony,” Anyanka announced.