Carpe Diem - The Novel Version: Part 3 Continued
by Gaius Petronius
CARPE DIEM - Part 3 Continued
by
Gaius Petronius
DISCLAIMER:
All the characters of BtVS belong to Joss Whedon, Fox and Mutant
Enemy and not me. I only borrow them, mess with their heads, make
them cry and, once in a while, torture them.
The Ancient One is loosely derived from the Cthulhu Mythos stories
of the classic 20th century horror writer, H. P. Lovecraft.
Spoilers and Synopsis:
Originally written as a script in mid season 2 (Jan - March 1998)
just after Angel lost his soul. Willow accidently reanimates an
eighteen year old telekinetic from the seventeenth century, Johannes
Martel who may hold the secred to restoring a vampire's lost soul.
A Note On the Text:
The plot for the original script version of Carpe Diem was drafted
in mid season two before Angel's age and the relationship with
Dru and Spike were fully developed. The dating in this story and
their backgrounds, as a result, are a departure from BtVS canon.
Rating: PG-13 for some violence, language and a racy scene.
* * * * * *
"Then there's Giles," Xander announced with a flourish,
"Who might be fun to torture, but they already know most
of what you know. Sorry, G-man."
"I feel somehow slighted!" the Watcher replied as
he fussed with his glasses.
"Which leaves Buffy and Cousin Johno," Xander said
a little ominously as he turned to face the pair, "Now Angel'd
cash in his account at the local blood bank to finish the Buffster
off. But that raid the other night, from what I'm hearing, Drusilla
is running this one. And who's the only person that absolutely
has to be at this party for it to fly?"
No one spoke for a moment as the Xander logic sank in.
"That's you, Johno," he finally said, pointing at
Jonathan.
"You're quite the strategist, Iskander," Jonathan
nodded, "I see why you're named after Alexander the Great."
"It's 'Xander., big guy," Xander corrected him as
the reference went right over his head, "And it looks like
your ex, your 'Princess Drusilla,' has got it out for you big
time!"
Jonathan stood and began pacing, disturbed by Xander's analysis.
Cordelia shook her head.
"Drusilla? A princess?" she said in amazement, "She's
the one that's like, loony? This is completely nuts!"
Relishing the points he had scored, Xander opened his mouth
to speak again. Buffy could see the mistake coming. She wanted
to tell Xander to shut up before he even said anything but was
too late.
"Yeah," Xander marveled, "If you two had gotten
hitched, you a Prince and all and Miss Princess Drusilla who's
admittedly not the sharpest crayon in the box, well that would
have made you, like . . . an Emperor! You could have done any
damn thing you wanted!"
It was the way Xander said it, the last words especially, dripping
with sarcasm and at the same time taunting. Buffy's mouth dropped
open.
Jonathan, his face creased with hurt and anger, glared at Xander.
The young telekinetic spun on his heels and stormed out of the
library.
"Jonathan!" Buffy shouted as she jumped to her feet,
"Xander, you idiot!" she spat out over her shoulder
as she ran after him.
"Touchy!" Xander exclaimed, raising his hands as
he saw Willow's glare, "Whadd I say?"
"Sometimes that troll in your brain forgets where the
'on-off' button is!" Cordelia snapped as she smacked him
across the top of his head.
"OW!"
"Yep," Willow nodded to Cordelia, "He'll be
a toad by the end of the week."
*****
Moving in from across the street, Angelus stealthily approached
the partially lit high school building. He slipped carefully between
walls and shrubs staying concealed from the glaring overhead street
lights. Finally he paused and hid in the shadows near the stairs
of the school front entrance just in time to see Jonathan storm
out the front door and sit dejectedly on the bottom step.
In the darkened hallway inside, Buffy glanced back and forth,
searching for Jonathan. The metallic click of the front door snapping
shut echoed among the lockers and linoleum. She turned and knew
immediately that he had headed out into the night. The Slayer
burst through the front entrance and quickly surveyed the darkness
hanging over the concrete steps.
Instantly she spotted Jonathan, sitting alone. He was staring
up at the moonless sky filled with stars. Slowly Buffy descended
the stairs. As she sat down beside him she wrapped her arm around
his waist and kissed him softly on the cheek.
"You okay?" she asked gently as she rubbed her face
against his.
"Yeah, just a little ticked off," he replied as he
ran his fingers through her long hair. He tipped his head forward
so they met forehead to forehead and sighed.
"You're still thinking about her," Buffy said her
heart sinking, "The Princess, . . . you can't let her go,
can you."
"That's not true," he answered looking her straight
in the eyes, "Buffy, she's gone. The woman I knew, the Crown
Princess Drusilla of the Holy Roman Empire died four hundred years
ago. I tried to bring her back, to find her soul once . . . I
never will again." He hung his head.
Buffy wrapped her arms around Jonathan drawing him tightly
against her. She trembled slightly.
"You cold?" he asked her.
"No," she answered almost in a whisper, "I'm
. . . I'm afraid." She couldn't believe she said it. But
then she couldn't believe she had said so many things to him during
that afternoon in the library.
"It's okay," he said firmly so there could be no
question in her mind, "I won't let the Ancient One hurt you.
I'll use every power I have. I can even draw on natural forces
and concentrate them so that . . ."
Buffy reached out and gently put her hand over his mouth, interrupting
him in mid sentence.
"That's not why I'm afraid," Buffy said looking down.
"Why?"
Buffy stared back up and one more time their blue eyes met.
"I'm afraid this is the last time we'll be together like
this."
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Jonathan
announced, straightening up with mock indignation.
"How're you holding out? The spell I mean." Buffy
asked nervously.
"Okay. Holding," he said trying to exude confidence
but he could tell Buffy wasn't buying the front. In the dim light,
he realized her eyes were starting to glisten.
"It's like you're dying . . . !" she suddenly shouted
at him in frustration, "Right in front of me . . . and I
can't do anything!"
"I'm not dying. I just have a better handle on the future,"
he quipped, trying to be flippant like Xander but he knew immediately
it was totally the wrong thing to say.
Buffy scowled at him and bit her lip.
"I'm sorry. Buffy," Jonathan said searching for the
right words to reassure her. "I'm not afraid. Well actually
I am but I'm not."
Puzzled, Buffy stared at him.
"I know this doesn't help but the way I see it, everything
in life is constant change," he tried to explain, "Who's
to say that death should be anything different?"
"Try telling that to Giles about Ms. Calendar," Buffy
said letting the despair begin to overwhelm her.
"Buffy, I don't know any easy way to explain this,"
Jonathan said gently as he held her shoulders between his hands,
"Slaying is your thing; this is mine. I've studied it for
a long time, and I know that souls don't just vanish. They're
all around us, always."
Buffy looked up in surprise at his words. She felt the warmth
and energy in his hands passing to her, calming her fears.
"Tiny rainbows in a drop of water," he continued,
"The brush of wind against your skin, the fresh smell at
dawn . . ."
He turned his head up to face the sky full of stars. Buffy
followed his gaze and the surge of unseen power passing to her
through his embrace made her feel warm inside.
"Look," he spoke softly, "Millions of them,
souls shining on brightly. Some, like Drusilla and Angelus, are
shrouded by a darkness. But they're there. All you have to do
is know," he touched her softly on her forehead, "Here,
in your mind. . . and feel," he placed his palm over her
chest, "Here in your heart . . . and you can see them."
"That's how you find a lost soul!" Buffy murmured
in astonishment.
Jonathan nodded and cracked an impish smile as if to say "How
could you miss it?"
"How long have you been able to do . . . that?" Buffy
could barely get the question out.
"Always," he answered calmly, "I just never
realized it."
"You must not get many dates," Buffy grinned, her
fears dissipating, "You'd scare the hell out of most girls."
"Do I scare you?"
"Nah!" Buffy gave Jonathan a playful little shove,
"But Xander's right. You are crazy."
"Keeps your mind off what you 'have to do,' right?"
Buffy could sense the seriousness in his response.
"Yeah," she nodded as she wrapped her arms around
him again. As their lips met once more in the half light on the
steps, Angelus suddenly stepped into the open. Immediately Buffy
and Jonathan jumped up on the defensive.
"Oh, how sweet," the vampire said, his voice dripping
sarcasm, "The two new lovers. Don't get me wrong, I'm not
jealous. I'm happy for you Buffy, that you've found somebody.
I really feel bad about how we broke up. They say you never forget
your first love."
"What the hell do you want!" Buffy snarled as she
placed herself protectively in front of Jonathan.
"Just dropping off some invitations to Dru's coming out
party for the Ancient One," Angelus said with a phony casualness,
"We're kicking off in about two hours. You both are coming?"
"Wouldn't miss it, Angelus" Jonathan glared
at the vampire.
"Good to see you, too Johannes!" Angelus taunted
back as he turned to the Slayer, " Buffy, I'm really worried
about you. This new guy you're hanging out with, Dru says he left
a trail of broken hearts all across Europe. And she should know.
. ."
"Jonathan," Buffy announced coldly, "You want
to dust him, or should I?"
"I have a better idea," Jonathan suddenly loomed
up at Buffy's side, "After we roast the Ancient One, you
can beat the crap out of him . . .and then I'll . . . skin him!"
The telekinetic's eyes suddenly glowed with the same faint yellow
light that Willow had seen on their first meeting in the library.
Together Buffy and Jonathan glared at Angel like a solid wall
of cold steel.
"Geez, sorry, man," Angelus grinned but for the first
time Buffy could sense worry in the vampire's tone of voice, "
I'm just the errand boy dropping off the invites. Party's in the
basement of Warehouse number three. I'm outta here."
Angel turned and quickly sauntered away into the darkness.
Buffy turned to Jonathan, a grin on her face.
"That was pretty cool!" she exclaimed confidently.
"Man, were we scary! Whadda team!" Jonathan answered,
smirking.
"Yeah, could have some real good times together,"
Buffy exclaimed.
Suddenly, Jonathan and Buffy looked at each other sadly, realizing
the irony of what she had just said.
"I guess I better follow this loser," he said trying
to keep the conversation light, "Oz's van is out of the shop.
Get him and Giles to pick me up on the way to the warehouse and
we'll do a reconnaissance. You guys get Giles' weapons together
back at the library. When we find out exactly what we're dealing
with, I'll have Oz come back for you and the others."
"Hey wait, I'm the Slayer," Buffy protested, not
liking taking orders, "I should be doing the hunting here."
"Not this time," the telekinetic replied gently,
realizing he'd touched a nerve, "When we make our move, you've
got to lead us in. Don't worry, I won't do anything stupid. At
least not until you get there. Then I can show off. Wouldn't want
you to miss the fun."
Buffy stared at the grin on his face. Suddenly she imagined
the dream she had the previous night and the fear returned in
a rush.
"Jonathan, let's get outta here," she said suddenly.
"What?"
"Let's just blow this whole place!" Buffy was begging
him, "I don't want to be in Sunnydale anymore! I hate it
here! I really do want to quit. Just you and me. Please, let's
get away from here now!"
He gently took her in his arms once more and spoke softly,
his words full of regret.
"Buffy, we've been through this. The deal doesn't work
that way."
"I know," she answered as she tightened her grip
on him. She couldn't let him go. If she did, he would disappear
just like in her dream. Suddenly her lips were pressed against
his, as she kissed him passionately. At the same time, she drank
in the raw energy she felt surging from within him.
"That was the last time . . . wasn't it," she whispered
drawing away as her premonition intensified.
"No way!" he shot back.
"You promise? Really promise?"
Jonathan held up one hand as if he were taking an oath.
"I promise," he smiled innocently, "Crazy man's
honor."
There was a long pause, each one exchanging silent emotions
with the other as the weight of the uncertain future loomed over
them both.
"Okay, Slayer, let's get this show rolling! Time to kick
some vampire butt!" he announced taking a deep breath.
"You got it, Couz!" she grinned back as the adrenalin
surge of an impending battle stimulated her muscles. Somehow there
was a comfort in the familiarity of knowing what she "had
to do."
Jonathan stepped away from Buffy and in an instant dashed off
to follow Angelus. He stopped momentarily on the edge of the darkness
just beyond the light of a street lamp.
"I'll see you in a little bit," he called out quietly.
Then he was gone.
"Yeah," Buffy answered softly and whispered a silent
prayer to herself, ". . . be careful, Couz."
Buffy stood alone with the deepening darkness for just a few
seconds more. Then she turned and ran up the steps back into the
school to the library.
*****
Angelus walked quickly under the dim street lights through
Sunnydale's run down industrial district. The whole area of what
had once been a city planner's dream in the early 1960's now was
a neglected urban nightmare. Several blocks of factories and their
accompanying storage facilities lingered empty and in a critical
state disrepair. Arson was common, hence the lack of any serious
investigation by the authorities into the most recent fire three
months back after computer teacher Jenny Calendar was murdered
by a serial killer at Gile's apartment.
In fact, the Sunnydale police, on orders from the City Council,
had finally stopped patrolling the area entirely. Seems several
Council members had decided on a new policy of "natural urban
renewal" for the remaining dilapidated structures.
Angelus paused at the front entrance of Warehouse #3. The vampire
resisted the temptation to glance over his shoulder back up the
street from where he had come. He could have just as easily slipped
into the warehouse via the lower level loading dock but since
he knew he was being followed, he wanted to make his destination
fully clear to his pursuers. He listened carefully for the distant
sound of several internal combustion engines.
After reassuring himself, he slipped in the main entrance.
Moments later, the sound of car engines grew louder. Giles
and Jonathan in the Citroen and Oz and Xander in the van rolled
down the street with their headlights out. They stopped about
twenty yards away from the factory entrance. Xander jumped out
of the van and ran up to Giles' open window.
"This is where it's happening," he announced to Giles,
"You know Giles, we hang out around here too much. We're
turning into regulars."
"I know." Giles nodded and then issued the orders,
"You and Oz go get Buffy. Jonathan and I will reconnoiter
the inside and meet you back here."
"Sounds like a plan," Xander replied as he turned
to Jonathan in the passenger seat, "And Johnno, . . .you
guys are supposed to be just the scouts. Don't get too far ahead
before the reinforcements arrive."
"We'll be careful. Thanks . . . Iskander."
"You're gonna have to explain this Alexander guy to me
sometime," Xander remarked sincerely as he turned from the
car window and ran back to join Oz in the van.
Seconds later, the van lumbered away up the street. At the
same time, Giles and Jonathan slipped out of the Citroen and entered
the door of the warehouse where they had seen Angelus. Just inside
the building, they stopped. The first floor was an open manufacturing
area now abandoned and strewn with debris. The skeletons of overturned
rusting machinery, the target of vandals and scavengers over the
years, littered the floor. At the opposite end, a doorway opened
on what appeared to be a staircase leading downward. A faint,
flashing light emanated from the depths below.
"There," Jonathan whispered as he pointed across
the warehouse floor, "There's where we go."
"Shouldn't we find out . . ." Giles stuttered but
Jonathan interrupted him.
"No. No further. As Lady Willow says, 'Now we wait.'"
*****
In the library, Willow and Cordelia pulled weapon after weapon
from Giles' storage cabinet. Buffy stood off alone by the table
of books. She's held the empty Martel notebook in her hands and
thumbed the pages as if the blank paper could somehow warn her
of what was coming.
"Come on, Buffy," Cordelia sang out, "Are you
gonna give us a hand here or what?"
"In a second," Buffy answered over her shoulder as
she ran her hands across one page just as she had seen Willow
do the night Jonathan materialized.
"Buffy, focus!"
Buffy looked up at Willow standing directly in front of her.
"You're right," Buffy answered, shutting the book
and setting it carefully on the table, "Okay I'm ready!"
Willow didn't move as she blocked the Slayer's path to the
weapons.
"Buffy, you have to protect Jonathan," she said quietly,
"He doesn't know Drusilla like she is now. She must be ten
times worse than when he knew her."
"Protect Jonathan?" Buffy studied Willow in surprise,
"He knows what he's up against."
"No, he doesn't! He's got a big heart and doesn't see
things like we do. I can tell. Drusilla hates that about him more
than anything."
"It's gonna be okay, Will," Buffy answered trying
to reassure her friend but failing herself.
"Buffy, she's not just going to try to kill him,"
Willow was now almost pleading with the Slayer, "I don't
know what she's going to do, but it'll be something horrible.
You've got to protect him, Buffy."
Xander and Oz ran into the room.
"Hey, troops," Xander announced, "We're moving
out. Giles and Big John have found where Drusilla and the gang
are gassing up the Ancient One!" The pace suddenly picked
up.
"I got the van outside," Oz thumbed towards the door.
"Right!" Buffy called out, "Let's go!"
"I think we'll need a few implements of destruction,"
Xander said with relish as he stepped up to the pile of weapons
on the table.
Xander picked up an ax while Oz hefted a particularly lethal
looking device that might have been a cross between a brush hook
and a scimitar.
Willow grabbed Buffy by the arm and turned the Slayer to face
her.
"Promise me you'll protect him!" she demanded and
Buffy could sense the building despair in her voice. Could she
see, could Willow sense the same premonition?
"He doesn't know this Drusilla! Promise me! He's depending
on you!" Willow begged.
"I promise, Willow," Buffy said with as much conviction
as she could muster despite the continuous visions from her dream
now dancing in her head.
*****
This story archived at: The Slayer\'s Fanfic Archive
The Slayer\\\\\\\\'s FanFic Archive - http://www.slayerfanfic.com/viewstory.php?sid=3345