Anointed: One
by King Skullo
DISCLAIMER: The TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and characters and storylines that have appeared on both shows are the exclusive property of Joss Whedon, David Greenwalt, and Mutant Enemy, Inc.

Sunnydale, 1997

It was a scene of carnage. The Brethren of Aurelius had stopped the mini-bus and torn free anyone who had been inside.

Their screams were loud, and Demetri pitied the passengers for this. As the vile brotherhood ripped them apart and gorged themselves, they cried out in desperation and vain hope. But they might well have been silent, for no one was coming to save them.

Demetri looked upon each of them in turn. One of them was already dead. He lay some distance from the others. From his uniform, clearly he had been the bus driver. One of the brotherhood, whom Demetri recognised as Edward, had his maw buried deep within shredded veins in the man’s neck.

Feasting.

Another man, well-muscled and with a short beard, lay convulsing, near death. His screams were intermittent. As two brothers drank from his neck, he was barely able to breathe, let alone bellow. But in moments with breath, his screams were wrenching.

A large black woman, her shrieks piercing, struggled against the brothers. One of the Brethren kept hold as the other drank deeply.

And finally, another woman, slim and fit, with short hair. She reminded Demetri of his wife, Emelina, except her hair was tawny and smooth. Emelina’s had been black and curled. Her screams were far different from the others. She screamed not in fear for her own life, but for the life of her son, Collin. She fought bravely, and continued to shout her son’s name into the night.

The boy himself did not move. He watched as the long-haired brother, Peter, devoured his mother. She was beloved to him. Demetri knew this for he had seen the bond between them. He had watched Collin and his mother, Claire, for many years. The boy was special.

He was the Chosen One.

It was all over within moments. Peter lifted his mouth from Claire’s neck. It was shiny with dark blood. He fixed his eyes on Collin, and growled.

Collin could not detach his gaze from his mother’s prone form. Though lifeless, Collin desperately wanted to be with her. This much was obvious. The boy began to bawl, and Peter hastened to him. Collin abruptly stopped crying, spurred by instinct, and began to crawl away. Peter snared the collar of the boy’s sweater and yanked him upwards by it.

The boy however, managed to slip out of the sweater and started to run, glancing behind himself to see Peter.

“Stop him!” Peter shouted.

One of the brothers looked up and moved quickly to intercept the boy. Collin turned his head back around to face forwards and ran into the brother. The brother pulled him off the ground and held him high.

Demetri pushed two fingers into the side of the brother’s neck, and then pressed his thumb into the nape. The brother dropped Collin and bent over as he applied pressure. He hurled him against the side of the mini-bus.

Collin looked up at Demetri, and looked into his eyes. In his eyes Demetri saw questioning. Collin didn’t know what to make of the man in that moment. Demetri felt his own eyes betraying his own questions and intentions as he stared at the boy, which he felt might scare him. However, there was little time for him to reassure the boy.

Peter snarled loudly. “Welcome old man. We’ve been waiting for you.”

One of the brothers leapt and somersaulted in the air. He landed behind Demetri and pivoted. He raised his shoulder and Demetri caught his wrist as he swung through. Pulling down on his wrist, disbalancing him, Demetri smacked his walking cane crossways into his stomach, then quickly backhanded him with the golden handle of the cane. The brother slammed to the ground, but flipped back up to his feet almost instantly. Demetri brought his cane down crossways to parry a quick roundhouse kick. The brother aimed another roundhouse kick at his head. Demetri caught hold of his heel in both hands and twisted the ankle, causing a short grunt of pain. He pushed the foot aside, forcing the brother to the ground. When he landed, Demetri stomped on his solar plexus, and then on the bridge of his nose.

Another brother came at Demetri from behind, snapping an arm round his neck. He found his fingers and pulled them sharply backwards. The brother released his hold and threw a punch with his good hand. Demetri blocked his wrist and pushed his arm aside, before stabbing the pointed handle of his cane through the brother’s left eye. The brother howled as he yanked out the handle.

Demetri swung upward, holding the blunt end of the cane in both hands, embedding the handle-point deep under the now one-eyed brother’s chin. The brother fell limply and Demetri pulled the handle upwards, yanking head from neck. The brother instantly burst into ashes.

Demetri blocked a punch from another brother. He thrust a palm against the brother’s ribs, breaking one of them, and staggering the brother. Demetri then pushed the release button on the handle of his cane and pulled out his cane-sword. He cleft through the brother’s neck with a double-handed swing of the blade, and the body tried to catch the head even as it disintegrated.

Demetri turned to find Collin. Peter had a strong hold of his collar. Demetri took a step forward and felt a jolt. His back surged with pain briefly, and then went numb. The pain swept through him, and blasted his teeth and brain.

Electricity.

He fell forwards to the ground. With great effort, he lifted his head to stare up at his assailant. Edward. He held a taser stun-gun.

Edward spoke calmly to Collin. “Come, child.”

Demetri moved his neck and saw the boy. He stood still and was silent. Their eyes locked for a brief moment before Demetri lost consciousness.

In Collin’s eyes, Demetri saw hope die.


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