Posted here because I have this anxiety to post when I write a story, and I'm never quite satisfied with it so I keep editing; thus here, I can do both! Also I never seem to be able to complete my stories, hence in posting here I can safely creep away should I revert to my old habit. Please do read, and do comment.
Disclaimer: All BtVS and AtS properties belong to Joss Whedon etc. The quote at the end is from an English version of Dante’s Inferno. Some lines are taken from Buffyverse Dialogue Database. Plots are mineee, mineee, mineee, with massive amount of help from my cousin; however, certain ideas are borrowed from players in the previous incarnation of this story, an RPG I gm-ed.
Feedback: Stroke my ego. Oh god, yesss!!! Mmm, yes, that’s it…now constructive feedback as well. Ooo.
Email/MSN: inlerf@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17 overall, to be safe.
Summary: What if the First had won?
In a world where vampires and demons are up and about, where the people you love have been turned evil, and you’re battling a losing war, what do you have to fight for?
Prologue
Willow clung desperately to Tara. Her crying face, her white blouse, her clutching hands were all stained red. “Oh God. Oh no...please...please. Come on...come on Tara! Please! Come on baby!” Green eyes suddenly turned ebony; the air cracked with dark magick. Stygian mass of foreboding clouds swirled above her, gathering force: lightning flashed in the small room. “By Osiris,” Willow choked out, “I command you! Bring her back! Hear me! Keeper of darkness--”
“Witch!” Osiris demanded from the fog; “How dare you invoke Osiris in this task?!”
“Please, please…bring her back!”
“You may not violate the laws of natural passing--”
“How?” Willow looked at her unmoving lover. “How is this natural?”
“It is a human death, by human means.”
“But I--”
“You raised one killed by mystical forces. This is not the same. She is taken by natural order. It is done.”
“No,” Willow pleaded. “There has to be a way!”
“It is done!”
“NOOO!” Willow screamed. Her immense power shattered his form and Osiris disappeared in his cries of pain.
* * *
A middle-aged woman resembling Tara, stood by Tara’s body. “My, my, isn’t she a feisty one? That actually hurt.” Bent and her hand close to Tara’s head, she mimicked soothing Tara’s hair. “But I’m glad you chose her, angel.”
The melodic hum of Que Sera, Sera brushed away the deathly silence.
* * *
“Proserpexa,” Willow recited, “let the cleansing fires from the depths burn away the suffering souls and bring sweet death.” As Willow sucked up the Earth’s energy, vegetation shriveled and died as if from a radiating plague. Magick arced around her, then bolted toward the satanic temple. The overcast sky grew gloomier. A cyclone of dust swiftly arose from beneath her feet, surrounding her. Willow held her concentration. Orbs of green energy shot forth from her chest and into the hideous effigy.
* * *
Blood flowed down in rivulets toward the hungry maw of the Hellmouth. Scarred claws stretched up, grasping air. “Hello, my lovelies,” Buffy genially greeted them. The Hellmouth roared its awakening.
* * *
“I love you, Willow.”
Willow tried to continue blasting Xander, to no avail: insignificant blue arcs leapt out of her palms only to vanish. She tried again and again, but the tears were proof of her frustration--and grief.
“I…love you,” Xander said as he staggered toward her.
“Stop!” She tried one last time: it was null. Sobbing, she repeatedly punched Xander’s chest; in defeat Willow collapsed onto the ground and broke down in his arms.
“I love you,” Xander whispered, embracing her. Her black hair gradually returned to their natural red.
* * *
The Magic Box had been a war zone. Giles lay weak and injured on the floor while Anya sat on the stairs with her hands in her hair, her shoulders slumped. Suddenly, she snapped up to a low rumble and looked out onto the streets: hordes of Turok-Hans were coursing down the avenue. Her eyes widened.
Anya quickly dragged Giles behind a wall.
* * *
“Oh God,” Xander uttered to a scene of chaos. Mutilated bodies were scattered about Main Road; screams were promptly silenced by claws or fangs before others rang out. He spotted a blonde and brunette running away from a dark mass. Xander pulled Willow to meet them.
* * *
Buffy glimpsed over her shoulder: the Turok-Hans were relentless in their pursuit.
“Xander! Willow!” Dawn shouted in relief. To her horror, Buffy saw more Turok-Hans closing in behind them.
The foursome faced their foes with their backs to each other.
“I need the three of you out. Now!” Buffy commanded. “Find Giles and Anya!” She grabbed a pole of metal and a thick shard of wood from the ground and held her battle stance. “GO!”
“I’m not leaving you!” Dawn cried.
Buffy glanced at her sister then stared straight at the approaching throng. “I need you safe. Take care of Willow. GO, NOW!”
“Hey, Buffster,” Xander said, gripping a baseball bat. “Six years of friendship and you’re ditching us?” He backed Buffy, his weapon poised. “Not gonna happen. Dawnie? Take Small Alley. Promise me you’re not gonna let anything happen to my best friend, all right?” Xander flashed a smile at Dawn. “Uh uh,” Xander said to Buffy. “No protests. Today seems to be Xander Saves the Day! day.”
“Then I’m staying too!” Dawn said.
Buffy looked at her. “Remember what I said about showing you the world? It’s a promise, and I’m not going to break it. We’ll meet you at the Magic Box. Get Willow to safety.”
Dawn harshly wiped away her tears and took Willow’s hand. “If you die, Buffy, I’m gonna put on YouTube what you did last summer.” Buffy gaped at the sprinting figures of Dawn and Willow.
Xander chuckled.
“Shut up.”
Ten yards….
“Hey, I thought I was your best friend?”
“Can’t a guy have two best friends?”
Nine yards….
“Thank you, Xander.”
Eight yards….
“Don’t mention it. You’re my best friend.”
They backed closer.
* * *
Through me you pass into the city of woe.
Through me you pass into eternal pain.
Through me among the people lost for aye.
All hope abandon, ye who enter here.
Welcome to Sunnydale.
