Title: Dark Childe
Author: spikegirl7
Rating: undetermined
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I do not own anything but the plot, and am making no money from this whatsoever.
Summery: The joining together of one family, the bringing together of the light and the dark.
Spoilers: none really. Early season one
Distribution: my site http://www.geocities.com/spikegirl7, the bloodshedverse, and anyone else who asks

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Underneath the streets of a small sunny California town lay the ruins of a church that had been buried there for nearly half a century. Almost fifty years ago an earthquake had struck the area and as a result this church had been brought down beneath the ground. Over time the people above had forgotten it was there and simply built on top of it, forgetting what lay beneath.

What had been odd about that earthquake was that it had only struck that town, no other place had been affected at all. In fact the church was the only structure in the earthquake that had been destroyed. But people in that town were accustomed to disregard and forget strange happenings. Some things were best ignored or forgotten.

The inside of the church was a ruin, more than would be expected of something so young. The pews the altar and the confessionals were all gone. No trace remained to say that this was once a church except for the cross at one end of the chamber. The entire room besides that had been cleared out or was filled with rubble and decaying wood.

This church was more of a tomb now, a home for a hibernating vampire. He had been brought down with the church, down into the earth and trapped there. Eventually there came an opening as the wood decayed that would allow a person to walk into the sewers and into a crypt going to the outside world. But the vampire was still trapped there by a mystical barrier, unable to escape.

For years he had raged in the small space, waiting for a way to get out. When he had heard speak from other vampires who could come and go freely from his tomb he knew that he was there until the mystical forces were ripe for his escape. He settled himself down and slept the sleep of the truly dead, waiting to awaken at a time when everything would be in place for him to leave his dank prison beneath the earth.

The time of his imprisonment was finally coming to an end.

The stars had finally come their assigned places, the hellmouth was buzzing with mystical energies, the dark powers and magics were the most powerful they’d been for almost three hundred years. And the final catalyst was finally in place, the one focal point of mystical energy that was needed for his ascension had finally settled in Sunnydale.

The ancient rites to awaken a vampire from hibernation had been called forth. The grave that he had burrowed into the earth for his rest had been cleared of all dirt and made into a round pit which had been filled to the brim with the blood of children, of goats, and of murderers. These were the three elements needed to bring him back: the blood of the innocent, the blood of the tainted creatures, and the blood of the wicked.

The blood began to bubble as the rite was performed. The mystic vampires stood around the chamber, candles lit, chanting the sacred words that would awaken him. The room buzzed with the mystical energy as the blood began to boil in the pool.

Slowly from the pool a form arose, human yet not. The flesh was pale and warped, the brow distorted and clearly visible were the fangs and claws of the vampire. He was clothed in black, intimidating in his dress and air. He opened his eyes and they were blood red pools ringed with yellow. The mystic vampires of the clan fell to their knees, their heads bowed in submission to him and his power.

Calmly he stepped from the pool, and approached one of the mystics. He looked down at the cowering vampire, who had been the most powerful and had controlled the forces in the ritual. The master spoke, his voice crisp and clear, with a hint of menace in them that was always present in these creatures, “I suppose that by my rising the imprisonment I have suffered for so long in this hole is almost over.”

The vampire cowered, “Yes, master. The signs are all aligned, you shall soon walk free upon the earth once more.”

The master nodded, making a non-committal noise at the comment. He fastened his eyes upon the minion before him, “Tell me, how long have I been sleeping?”

A voice from the side piped up, “Less than fifty years, master.” It was a female voice, coming from a blonde haired female vampire. She wore the clothing of a schoolgirl, but the look of her and the air she carried was that of someone older. To all the vampires around it was clear that she was one of the oldest in the room, she had control of the demonic features and hid them beneath the pleasing guise of a beautiful woman.

The master turned his eyes towards her, his face lightening with joy almost at the sight of her. His voice too, betrayed the joy he felt at seeing her, “Darla! My childe! It’s so good to see you here!” He had walked up to her and now had his hands on her shoulders, looking down at her as a father would his favored daughter.

She smiled up at him, her voice sultry almost. Yet this was just the way that it always flowed, soft and sweet. “I came when I heard that you were going to be brought back. I know how much family means to you.”

He chuckled, “You’re right. You were always one of my favorites, you know.” He ran the back of his fingers across her soft cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, purring at the sensation of being once again so close to her sire.

He moved away, and sat in the throne that had been brought for him. He lounged out on it, “And I think that since I am back I should have all my family with me, don’t you?” He looked around at the silent room. Most of the vampires there were young, still unable to fully control their human faces. Even Luke, one of the oldest whom he had sired almost 60 years ago, still held the brutish appearance of one who still had much to learn.

“Well, at least the most powerful of my family. They should be with me in this time. I want to join the world with a new coven, the most powerful of them all. I will make the name Aurelius feared once again in our world.”

“Oh, master, that would be wonderful! Just to think of it, our coven together again. The most powerful of us all in one place.” Her eyes nearly glazed over at this thought, so intoxicating was it for her.

The master chuckled, “Yes, exactly. It has been too long since I have seen all of my line together in one place. Tell me, is everything as I left it?”

Darla’s eyes fell, “Drusilla is weak and sick. She and Spike are traveling, searching for a way to make her strong and healthy again. Last anyone heard they had left Europe.”

The master nodded, “Then their coming will be of benefit. When she is here we will be able to heal her. I know a few things that can heal a weak vampire.” He noticed that Darla’s eyes were still downcast, “What else is there?”

“Angelus now has a soul. He does not hunt anymore. He says that he is going to protect the humans from us now, instead of hunting with us.”

The master sat back, “Well that is a problem, isn’t it? A soul. How disgusting.” He sighed, “We shall have to find some way to get rid of it then, now won’t we? He was always such a vicious creature. It will be a thrill to have him back once again.”

Darla’s eyes lit up, “You think we can do it?”

The master grinned, “Oh, my dear, I know we can.” He sat up again, “But now it is time for us to gather together our family. The time of our power is coming, and we should all be together for it.”

He closed his eyes and focused his energies, calling for the strongest of his line to join him. He called around the world to those who might hear him. All over vampires knew that the clan of Aurelius was returning, and they cowered. The members of the clan ceased their wanderings and turned towards his call, starting their travels to join their master.

On the streets of Sunnydale one vampire in particular stopped. He was dressed in black, simple cotton garments that covered his large frame. His eyes and hair were also a dark brown, his hair gelled up in the style of the day. He heard the call, felt the pull that it gave to him. But he did not answer.

Inside he could feel himself tearing. The vampire in him raged, telling him that his hour of glory was nigh, that he should join his coven and assume his rightful place. He had been one of the most powerful and potent of their clan.

But he did not. He shook his head, trying hard to lose these feelings that welled up in him. His soul would not let him join that again. He would not kill, would not cause himself any more guilt. Already the pain of the acts he had committed, the faces of those he had killed haunted his dreams, mocking him and making him wish for the sunrise.

He walked on, determined. I will not be a part of it. Not tonight. I will not go. No. Not tonight. Don’t call me anymore.

Many miles away in the city of New Orleans two others heard the call.

New Orleans was a warm city, all year long. Now in September it was quite warm. Palm trees stood tall, lit up against the night. The warm salty air blew across the old city, the beautiful architecture lining the streets. Above ground cemeteries seemed strangely less frightening than the conventional ones.

In one of the old buildings that lined the streets a dark haired woman idly toyed with a doll that sat in her lap. She brushed the black hair of the doll which looked a lot like her own hair. She cooed softly to the doll, “Now miss Edith, we’ll want to look our best for when we see our family. Always make the best impression you can mummy says.”

A man in black leather with white hair burst into the room. He strode up to the bed and threw himself down next to her. He himself had heard the call from his kin, telling him to come with his mate and to join his family. His demon was calling for him, telling him to go and reclaim his place with the coven.

But his first priority was to his mate. He turned to her, his blue eyes focusing on her thin form, “Hello luv, how’s miss Edith tonight?”

She turned to him, a small smile on her face, “Oh Spikey, she says the most wonderful things.” She leaned in close to him, whispering “We’re going back to the family. That’s why she has to look her best.”

Spike smiled, “Is that what she says now?”

She nodded, “She says that we’re going back to our family. She says that I can grow strong again there, that the stars will align and we can have our party.”

His eyes lit up at this statement. “Is that true pet? Does she really say that you’ll grow strong again there?” He grinned, running his hand across her face and neck. “Then I guess we’re going to join the family. This town wasn’t getting us anywhere anyway.”

He got up and began packing the things, moving their bag out to the large black car out back while the dark woman hummed to the doll in her lap. “Soon miss Edith, soon we’ll be strong again. And we’ll have a family and our little girl to help grow.”

Back in Sunnydale a new family moved into a house on Revello Drive. The name on the mailbox read Summers. Inside a mother and daughter unpacked their boxes and settled into their new home. The young daughter was sitting in her room, brushing her hair in front of the mirror.

She was a young girl, only 16 years old. Her hair was blonde and long, falling past her shoulders as she brushed it out. But there was something in her eyes. Something that suggested that she had seen too much.

She stopped brushing her hair after a moment. She had felt something, something pulling at her almost. It was as though someone was calling, but the voice was weak. It was as though the voice was calling to someone else, but she knew that it was meant for her.

She felt an emptiness. Something missing inside of her. She dismissed it. She would not go down that road again. Too much pain came of it. She would not be called back to that path again.

Determined to ignore the nagging feeling she picked up the brush again. She resumed brushing her hair, perhaps with a bit too much violence, as though trying to take out the frustration she felt at her own inaction. She would not go there again, nothing would convince her otherwise.