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The Call by Mefiant
 
Chapter 7 - Origins
 
 
 

Spike lie in his bed, the book Giles had given him earlier lay discarded beside him. He picked up the small sheet of paper that held the Watcher’s carefully written notes; he was close, but not quite there. The book contained the oldest-known written record of how the First Slayer had come to being, the first of the warrior women who would grace the earth, forced into her life by men hidden in shadows.

The Shadow Men. Spike had heard of them before, he and Dawn had come across references to them in their own research. The thing the Watcher’s small book did not reveal was the fact that the demon the ancient men had used was, in fact, one of the Old Ones—a demon pure in its form, plucked from the Deeper Well under the very nose of its keeper. An occurrence never before achieved, but one that would soon come to pass once more.

Spike gave a derisive snort, he wondered if the Shadow Men had chosen this demon deliberately; if they had known what was to come, or if it was pure chance that Jkeira had been the one chosen to create the First Slayer. None of it really mattered; what was to come would still come—this time, however, he would make sure that they were prepared.

The first thing he would need to do, though, was to be there for Buffy when she learnt of her origins. “No time like the present,” Spike muttered to himself as he gathered up the book and Giles’ notes. He pulled himself from the bed and headed downstairs to find his girls.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike made his way downstairs, pausing just out of sight he listened to the conversation emanating from the Summers’ living room.

“I’m just saying there has to be a book here somewhere that will give us a hint as to the source of the slayers’ power,” Willow’s voice drifted out of the room, a hint of frustration and annoyance lacing her words.

“Yes, well, I’m sure we will find something soon.” Giles tried to reassure the pouting wicca.

“Maybe we should look at slayer power from a different angle?” Dawn offered tentatively.

“How do you mean, Dawnie?”

Spike moved forward silently, until the occupants of the room came into view. Buffy and Dawn sat on the sofa with books piled around them, Willow and Tara were on the floor huddled with their own selection of books scattered across the coffee table, and Giles sat in one of the single chairs just out of Spike’s line of sight; the only evidence of his presence was the tip of one leather shoe that protruded into the scene.

Dawn was currently the centre of everyone’s attention as they waited for her to continue. “Well, we’ve been looking for how the slayers’ power was originally created; what if the power already existed?”

“You mean like it already existed so… ummm… whoever created the first slayer just took it?” A small frown appeared on Willow’s brow as she turned the idea over in her mind. “Uh huh.” Dawn cast a furtive glance towards her sister. “It would make sense, wouldn’t it?”

Willow began to nod in agreement. “Of course it would.” She slapped her palm to her forehead. “Ughhh I should have thought of that first. Of course, it makes perfect sense. Use what you have available to you. Why didn’t I think of that?”

Giles cleared his throat drawing the gaze of the women gathered to him. “Perhaps because you’ve had no formal training,” he offered to Willow. “Most magically gifted individuals are guided by someone already proficient in magic; they take the novice under their wing and train them in their coven. Unfortunately circumstances did not provide you with that same opportunity.” Giles paused for a moment, allowing himself a brief moment to remember that which was lost to him. “If Jenny had survived I’m sure she would have offered to mentor you Willow, but…” His voice trailed away for a moment.

“My mother taught me what she could before she died,” Tara’s’ softly spoken words filled the silence.

Spike watched as Dawn straightened her back slightly, a look of determination settling over her face. “Well it’s not too late, is it? I mean is there a coven that Willow and Tara can join or something? ‘Cause it could only help them, couldn’t it?”

“There was that coven at Sunnydale U but they were a bunch of phonies.” Willow began to chew on her bottom lip. “The only good thing that came from that bunch was Tara.”

Tara smiled widely, reaching for her girlfriend’s hand. “It is a very good idea, though.”

“I can make a few calls if you like?” Giles offered. “I’m sure there is a more reputable coven hereabouts. They usually like to keep themselves private.”

Giles’ foot disappeared from the small scene in front of Spike, the soft rustle of clothing caught by the vampire’s sensitive hearing. Spike imagined Giles straightening himself in his chair, most likely cleaning his glasses, as was his habit when he was frustrated, nervous, or feeling just about any emotion.

“In the mean time, I suggest we get back to the matter at hand.” Giles’ voice held a determined edge, and Spike knew that soon his slayer’s world would be turned on its end once more.

Buffy spoke up for the first time, her voice hesitant at first but gaining conviction as she finally voiced the thoughts that had been plaguing her for days. “One of the books I’ve been reading mentioned something about…” she looked about her, searching through the pile of books until she found the one she wanted. Opening to the page she had marked, Buffy scanned down the page, searching for the words that had jumped out at her days before. “And the men of the shadows captured the pure power and began their search for a vessel.”

Spike glanced down at the volume in his hands, most other books they had read would occasionally make vague references to the Shadow Men and their use of a great power, this one, however, would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind as to who they were, and what they had done to that girl who was to become the First Slayer.

“I think Dawn’s right.” Buffy continued, dragging Spike’s attention back to the room before him. “I think these men somehow managed to take a power that already existed and somehow pour it into the first slayer.”

Willow reached for the book, poring over the page, as she searched for more clues. “Pure power? Maybe? No, not that.” She began searching through the books around her. “Tara, do you remember reading anything about pure power? It would have to be something natural I think… to be purely good.”

“Maybe not.” Buffy stood from her chair, noticing Spike standing in the doorway watching them. She held his gaze, her eyes holding no doubt as she continued. “I think the first slayer’s power was demonic.” Slowly she expelled her breathe, releasing the weight that had seemed to fill her since she had been called.

“Buffy, no!” Willow began to protest.

“It makes sense, Will.” Buffy turned to face her friend. “Know thy enemy. Be thy enemy. The Slayer spends her life fighting demons, so she needs to be, if not stronger, at least as strong as them. I think these shadowy men used the power from a pretty strong demon to make the first slayer.”

“Giles.” Willow looked frantically at the watcher. “Tell her she’s wrong.”

“I would love to, Willow.” Giles suddenly appeared in view, standing before Buffy as he directed his words to his slayer. “Unfortunately, I agree with Buffy. I came across a book a few days ago which pretty much confirms what Buffy has just said. These Shadow Men used the essence of a pure demon to create the first slayer.” Giles closed his eyes for a moment. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Buffy, I guess I didn’t want to believe it at first.”

“Where’s this book?” Willow asked a little angrily. “How do you know it’s even real? I mean it could just be some demon’s twisted idea of revenge or something. Write a book and let the slayer think she’s evil.”

“Being a demon doesn’t make you evil, Red.” Spike finally spoke up, stepping into the room as he did. “There are plenty of good demons in the world.” He held up the book in question. “An’ this thing talks about a demon that comes from the deeper well… an old one.” Spike turned to Buffy and handed her the book. “Best you read it yourself, luv. Just because something started its existence as an evil thing doesn’t mean it will stay that way.”

“I know.” Buffy smiled as she laid her palm softly against his cheek, letting her thumb caress the line of his jaw. “You showed me that.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander stood beneath the tree on the front lawn of the Summers’ house, staring in the front window for some sign of Buffy and the others. He looked down at the ground around his feet, a few old and weather-worn cigarette butts still lay scattered about. There was no doubt in his mind that these had been casually tossed here by Spike during one of his long vigils in this exact spot. Xander absently moved one around with the toe of his shoe; it was weird how much things could change over the span of a few short months. Part of him finally understood what Spike must have felt all those nights as he patiently waited for just a glimpse of the people he cared about.

Buffy had told him not to come back until he was invited, somehow the prospects of that happening any time soon, didn’t seem too good. The thought of climbing those stairs, knocking on the door and having it slammed shut in his face terrified him. So here he was, standing on the outside looking in at the people whose love and friendship he craved more than anything in this world. Now all he had to do was find the courage to ask for their forgiveness and the chance to start again.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy turned to Giles, the small book clasped in her hand. “So this book is all with the y splainy about the First Slayer and how she was created?” She frowned as she stared at the worn cover. “How come Spike had it?”

“Well I ummm… I gave it too him.” Giles fiddled with his collar. “I asked his opinion on what I had discovered; I thought he may be able to shed some light on some of the more ambiguous areas.”

Buffy stared at her watcher incredulously. “You asked Spike for his opinion? You actually gave him one of your precious books and ASKED for his help?”

“Well, yes.” Giles looked about him uncomfortably, acutely aware of similar looks of disbelief and amazement coming from the others in the room.

Buffy dropped the book and launched herself at her watcher. “Giles, I’m so proud of you. Thank you. Thank you for trusting him.”

Giles allowed himself to bask in Buffy’s enthusiasm and joy. “Well, I wouldn’t say that I trust him exactly. But it would be remiss of me to ignore any information Spike has gleaned over the years because of our…err… shall we say, differences of opinion.”

“But still, Giles,” Willow cut in. “Yay with the progress.”

“Way to go, Giles,” Dawn added.

Tara simply sat back, quietly watching the scene before her and smiling her approval in her typical soft manner.

“If you are all quite done? Perhaps we could return to the matter at hand.” Flustered, Giles’s moved away from Buffy’s overjoyed embrace. “And yes, much as I am loathe to admit it, Spike’s extensive knowledge of both human and demon history could be a vital asset to us.”

Buffy took a step back, giving Giles the space he needed to recover his composure. “So do I have to read the whole thing?” She held the book aloft. “Or can we just get to the bit where you point and tell me what to kill?”

“Or in this case, wouldn’t it be the part where he points and Willow does a spell?” Dawn chimed in, still grinning widely at Giles’ progress towards accepting Spike, even if it was somewhat grudging.

“Very well, if you could all sit, and quieten down a little, I’ll give you a brief synopsis of what I managed to decipher from the text. Then perhaps Spike would be able to add any insights he may have on the matter as well.”

Spike grinned at the slightly pained look on Buffy’s face as Giles drew breathe to begin what would no doubt be a protracted explanation of the history of the slayer. “Right, before the Watcher here gets started with his boring little speech, I’ll give you the cliff-notes, shall I?” Spike casually threw himself onto the lounge, feet carelessly shoving ancient books aside as he propped them on the coffee table before him. Leaning back, he raised his arms to lace his fingers together behind his head. “The short of it is the Shadow Men managed to steal one of the old ones from the deeper well and channel its essence into some poor unsuspecting chit an’ turned her into the First Slayer. Now the way I see it they woulda had to have played with some serious mojo to manage that little feat without loosin' the human part and leavin' just a shell filled up to the brim with demon.”

“You mean they did something like what happens when a human becomes a vampire?” Tara leaned forward searching for a pen and paper of her own.

“Not even close.” Spike shook his head, stretching one arm out to drape around Buffy’s shoulders as she sat beside him. “What you lot can’t seem to get is that the old ones were pure demons, they had power beyond anything you lot have ever seen. Hell, beyond anything any demon has ever seen. They could tear through this quiet little world and leave it a bloody burning mess in a matter of hours—if that’s what caught their fancy. Then they could resurrect the whole lot and do it all again, just for fun.”

Spike watched the others’ faces, waiting until he was sure they would listen without bias to what he was about to say. He had to suppress a smile as he noticed Dawn surreptitiously fiddling with the books on the table, slowly moving the ones that they would need to the top of the piles. He knew that Dawn, like him, could feel a sense of urgency within. Somehow they both knew that things were going to start happening soon.

“When a human becomes a vampire they might loose their soul, but the human is still in there. All their memories and feelings are still bottled up and sharing a body with the demon, if the person is weak then the demon takes over completely. But if the person is strong then they can learn how to repress the demon’s desires—control it so to speak.”

“Like you do.” Buffy whispered to him, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

“A pure demon, if they choose to take a human’s body.” Spike paused, trying to work out what to say next. “Shit, they pretty much just hollow it out; like one of those bloody pumpkins you lot like messin’ with at Halloween. The demon pretty much reaches in and scoops out everything that makes the person a person, leavin’ just an empty shell. No soul, no emotions, no nothing; just a few little memories floating around in the brain that the demon can use if it wants too.”

“So how did the Shadow Men manage to create the Slayer from one of these pure demons without loosing the human part of her?” Willow frowned at her hastily written notes, before glancing at Tara’s to see if she had missed something.

‘There are a few passages on the matter in that book, but most of it is very vague.” Giles spoke up. “It does, however, refer to the small detail that the old ones were beyond number; a race, or races, more prolific than human kind.”

“An’ there’s your starting point, Watcher.”

“Surely you’re not suggesting that we try to identify each of the old ones. The task would be monumental and take several lifetimes to complete.” Giles shook his head, dismissing Spike’s suggestion as folly.

Dawn took the opportunity to speak up. “You said that there were more of these pure demons than humans, right? So does that mean that humans existed at the same time as them?”

“Well, yes, from the references in the book, I would say that is correct.”

“So why are we even here?” Dawn paused, waiting a few moments before continuing. “I mean if they are as powerful as Spike says wouldn’t they have just wiped us off the face of the planet.”

“Well, I would surmise that they had a use for the humans,” Giles offered.

“So the old ones kept humans around because we were useful? As what? Food? Slaves? What were we useful for?” Dawn continued.

“All those things are valid possibilities, I suppose.” Giles turned his attention to the blonde vampire once more. “Spike, perhaps you could enlighten us more on the rumours surrounding the old ones time on Earth? Or at least give us some idea where we might look for the information.”

Spike leant forward, relinquishing his hold on the slayer beside him. “Well, there are stories about how the old ones used to war between themselves. Great armies were amassed in their struggles to become the only one. Would imagine that humans were useful canon fodder.” Spike paused, giving the impression that he was searching his mind for something that lay just out of reach. “Mind you, I do seem to remember some talk about some of the old ones using humans as more than just disposable slaves, that they kept them in their citadels, pampering them and the such.”

“What, like children or something?” Willow’s mind was racing as she tried to think of ways she could use the information to narrow their search.

“More like a pet, Red.”

“A pet?” Buffy turned to Spike in amazement. “You mean these grandpa type demons kept people around like dogs?”

“Actually…” Giles broke in, “I’m sure I read….” He began to sort through the books before him. “There was reference to some of the old ones in one of… ahhh here it is.” Giles began to flick through the pages, scanning each in turn before moving on to the next. “Over the years there have been stories—well, more fairytales, we thought—about a city of humans who were protected by a great power. Many believed that this great power was in fact a demon more powerful than any seen before—rumoured to be the last of the old ones, in fact. The last pure demon on earth, protecting mankind from the half-breeds that had taken their place.”

Finally coming to the page he wanted, Giles passed the book across to Willow and Tara. “I think perhaps this would be a good starting place.”

Both Wiccan’s bent their heads, studying the words on the page before them. “It’s like a children’s story.” Tara glanced at Willow before moving the book closer to her. “It talks about two sisters, both beautiful and powerful, who warred for centuries for dominion over a great city. The youngest was ruthless in her quest, destroying many of those she sought to rule. It says she saw them as mere animals, pets to be bent to her every whim.” Tara continued to read, the others about her mesmerised by the story. “The older sister sought not to control or dominate, but to protect and care for the great city, it is said she treated those who dwelt there as much-loved children.”

“So who won?” Buffy reached for the book, frowning as she tried to find the place where Tara had stopped. “After centuries of war the two stood together, the earth around them trembled as the final battle began. Eventually the older sister managed to send the younger into the very depths of the deeper well. There her body and soul would sleep for eternity. Her great armies were banished to a place out of time. The older sister then saw the walls of her great city crumbling about her and knew that soon the others would come and destroy all she had fought to protect. She sacrificed herself, sending her shell into the deeper well to rest beside her family; however, she left behind a protector to watch over her people for all eternity.”

“Wow.” Willow sat back. “I think that pretty much tells us where the First Slayer comes from. Don’t suppose it gives us a name at all?” she quipped light heartedly.

“Nope, no name.” Buffy scanned the pages again.

“It does, however, give us a great deal of information.” Giles began sorting through the books once again, moving some aside as he gathered others up; unaware that the pile of books growing before him contained all those that Dawn had moved into place. “We are looking for any references to pure demons, sisters who were at war with each other.”

“Yeah, like how many can there be?” Dawn offered her enthusiastic support.

“Well, I imagine there could be hundreds of thousands of female siblings amongst the old ones. They were those without number, after all. However, we are not only looking for sisters that wared with each other for centuries, but who also had a deep affection, or feeling of possession, for human beings. That will surely decrease the numbers considerably.”

Buffy sighed, reaching for the book at the top of Giles’ still-growing pile. “I suppose it would be too easy for them just to tell us what their names were, wouldn’t it.”

Mumbles of agreement came from the others in the room as they reached for their own books in turn. Dawn and Spike were the only ones who seemed confident that they would find what they needed before night’s end.