This story happens about a year after Pangs, during season 5, sometime after Riley leaves but before Crush. Glory exists, but is in the background. This is in response to Challenge 131 here on the BSV. (Challenge requirements at the very end, or feel free to go hunt them down if you must know). The usual disclaimer: the characters belong to Joss Whedon, I’m just playing with them.
 
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Prologue:
 
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His brother was dead.
 
Gabriel, his beloved little brother, who had devoted his life to God. He had been the intellectual one of the family, a history buff. His life of promise had been tragically cut short. It had taken Dominic six months to find out what had really happened. The story was unbelievable at first. Killed by the spirit of a Chumash Indian? Could such things be possible? He learned about this girl, the Slayer, Buffy Summers. Her sacred calling was to protect the innocent, to destroy the forces of darkness. Instead she associated with witches and vampires, had been involved with men before marriage, and most damning in his eyes, had led the vengeful spirit directly to his brother. Dominic’s anger was slow to build, but became all-consuming. He spent another six months watching this girl and her group of dubious companions, all the while delving deeper into the magic arts. He watched the blond shop girl count her money, watched the bleached vampire strut and preen, watched the red headed witch grow stronger and more convinced of her own invincibility. They needed to know what their sins could lead to. They needed to understand what they had done. He wasn’t going to destroy them, but he was going to enjoy watching them destroy themselves and each other.
 
He saw them through the window of that profane store, The Magic Box. The Slayer was there, and her sister. He had seen the little miscreant stealing things once when he had pretended to be a customer. Too lazy to earn any spending money, little girl? The witches were there, the red haired one in her spell books, the other munching on pizza. The brown haired man was arguing with the vampire. Can you not see that all his insults are his because of his jealousy, his desire to have your level of self assurance? The shop girl danced as she totaled up the day’s profits. Dominic was ready. It was time for them all to feel his wrath.
 
He chanted quietly as he pulled the talisman out of his pocket. He tucked it in a small hole in the base of the wall behind the downspout near the front door as he finished the spell. Lust, greed, envy and sloth. Gluttony, pride and anger take you all.
 
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“What are you even doing here, bleached wonder?” Xander barked at Spike, as the vampire lounged annoyingly in a chair with his feet up on the table.
 
“Like I told you,” Spike said casually, “I came to find out if anyone had heard anything more about this Glory character. I figure with soldier boy gone, you lot could probably use some extra muscle. Plus, I’ve nothing better on tonight.” He loved tweaking Harris. It didn’t have the same effect as a good fight, but it was great fun on a slow night.
 
“Do you two think you could go maybe 10 whole minutes without bickering?” Buffy asked, exasperated. It was a toss-up which of the two men in the room was more annoying, and truly, she didn’t need to hear Riley mentioned, ever.
 
“How much longer are we going to be here?” asked Dawn in a slightly whiny tone. “There’s a movie I want to watch that starts in half an hour. Why couldn’t I just stay at home?”
 
“You can’t stay at home because there is a hell god out there, somewhere, and mom is out of town.” Buffy replied. Dawn just rolled her eyes and went back to stalking around the store.
 
“Yes! We made a lot of money off those new enchanted candles,” Anya bubbled happily from her position at the till. “I told Giles they were a sure hit.”
 
“Where is G-man tonight anyhow?” Xander asked.
 
“He had some engagement, he said,” answered Tara, polishing off the last piece of pizza.
 
“Has anyone seen that translation of the Sumerian demonology text I was looking at yesterday?” asked Willow, rummaging around on the table.
 
“Um, over here, Red,” said Spike, who was using it as a footrest.
 
Willow glared at him and grabbed the book. “This book is pretty rare. Do you think you could keep your dirty boots off of it?”
 
“Relax,” Spike replied, putting his hands behind his head. “I was just…”
 
A strange sensation passed through all of them at that point. It was like a collective shiver. They all found their trains of thought derailed for a moment. Then the feeling passed, and they started their conversation again, without remembering the pause at all.
 
After another 20 minutes of attempting to research whatever they could about hell gods, and getting nowhere at all, they decided it was time to split for the night. They all headed off in various directions – Willow and Tara toward campus, Xander and Anya toward their apartment, Buffy and Dawn toward Revello Drive, and Spike toward the nearest convenience store to stock up on cigarettes.
 

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Dawn found herself feeling more and more tired as they made their way home. “I just want to flop on the couch for a month,” she moaned. “I am soooo glad tomorrow is Saturday.”
 
Buffy, for her part, found she was getting incredibly irritated at her sister’s whiny tone. “You haven’t done anything today but go to school! What are you so tired about? I had to patrol AND watch you, so quit whining,” she snapped out. Dawn was surprised at her sister’s grouchy response, but didn’t feel like pursuing the conversation. Too much effort, she thought.
 
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Elsewhere in Sunnydale, the witches were making their way back to campus. Willow hadn’t found any new information on hell gods, but she had found a really neat spell to turn an enemy’s bones temporarily into rubber. She talked on and on about it to Tara. “It would be awesome to use on a vampire or robber or something. They would just fall to the ground, then you could stake them or tie them up or whatever!”
 
“That came out of that new book Anya just got in, didn’t it?” asked Tara. “I thought you said that book was a bit beyond you.”
 
Willow scoffed. “I didn’t say that, did I? Doesn’t matter. I could totally do that spell blindfolded. I almost wish a vampire would attack us so I could show you.”
 
Tara had stopped paying attention as they passed a coffee shop that was still open. The counter had a selection of pastries to go with the coffee, and they were calling to Tara. “Will, let’s get some of those muffins for breakfast tomorrow, ok?” Before Willow could answer, Tara was in the shop and buying a half dozen large chocolate muffins.
 
When she came back out, Willow said, “Isn’t that a bit much for the two of us?”
 
Tara took one of the muffins out and started nibbling as they walked. “Maybe. But these are seriously good. You have got to try one.”
 
“I’m full right now, but thanks,” said Willow. They continued homeward, Tara devouring the muffin, while Willow ran through spells in her mind.
 
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“What about magic demonstrations? Do you think that would draw even more customers in?” Anya was asking Xander as they got ready for bed. She had gabbled all the way home about needing new ideas to turn more profits at the store.
 
“What are you going to do with all this money, anyhow?” asked Xander peevishly. “You already seem to be making money hand over fist. I do construction work all day, getting filthy and exhausted while you do your little money dance and it all just falls into your lap!”
 
Anya was a little taken aback. “Are you ok, Xander? The money dance never bothered you before.”
 
Xander sighed. He wasn’t sure where this nagging jealousy had sprung from. “I dunno, Anya. I just sometimes with I could be someone different. Even Spike seems to have it easier than me, and he lives in a hole in the ground.”
 
Anya came over and put her arms around Xander. “When I get some more profits, we’ll get a nice house for ourselves. We can fill it with everything we want and live in the lap of luxury,” she said soothingly. “But until then, maybe we should get some sleep.”
 
Easy for you to say. You have a steady job and me. I only just got out of my parents’ basement for heaven’s sake. But Xander kept his insecure thoughts to himself and followed her to bed.
 
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Spike was sitting in his favorite chair with a bottle of whiskey, which he was using to wash down the blood he had just finished. Pig’s blood was never going to be something he got used to. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes for a moment. Immediately, her face popped up in his mind. Slayer. Buffy. Lord she’s beautiful. He felt himself stiffening as he thought about her blonde hair, her toned muscles, the scent she wore. Almost of its own volition his free hand drifted down his chest to the buttons on his jeans. He popped them open one by one, imagining it was her sweet little hand doing it. Wouldn’t that be just heavenly, he thought as he freed his cock and began stroking. His eyes remained closed, imagining what she must look like under all those clothes. Tanned skin, curvy ass… oh yeah, Buffy. Want you so bad. His mind kept spinning fantasies of him fucking her in every position imaginable until he roared and came, shooting his dead seed all over his jeans and the floor.
 
He came down from the orgasm and noticed the mess. Haven’t wanked off in an age, he thought. Hadn’t needed to with Harmony around. But she had been a passing fling, and he was glad to be rid of her and her endless prattle. He got up and went down to the lower level of his crypt, shedding his stained jeans and his t-shirt as he headed for bed. Once he got there, he reveled in the feeling of the satin sheets against his skin. He once more started stroking himself, this time through the satin, imagining how it would feel to wrap Buffy’s hair around his cock. He found himself moaning aloud, ”Oh yeah, Slayer, so hot!” His fantasy completely took over until at last he climaxed again and collapsed panting onto his pillow. What’s gotten into me? I haven’t been this desperate for a shag in decades. Still pondering this, he fell asleep, dreaming of the Slayer.
 
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Dominic sat cross-legged on the floor of his small rented room. He was surrounded by candles and mystical symbols. The air was heavy with the scent of burnt herbs, and he chanted in a strange tongue. A silver bowl of water in front of him showed images, one after the other, of the Slayer and her companions. A faint smile curled his lips. It has begun.
 
TBC