Based on characters and situations created by Joss Whedon.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all characters are the sole property of Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement is intended through the writing of this fan fiction.
Copyright 1997 by John Dorsey.
Spike and Drusilla sat on the wooden crate in the old abandoned warehouse.
“Now that the Annoying One is gone,” Spike said, “I’m the man around here.”
“When will you kill the Slayer, Spike?” Drusilla asked.
“We shall bide our time for now. We’re a bit short on troops. I shall wait until our forces are at full strength. I’ll not be defeated by the Slayer again. Next time I take her on, I will destroy her once and for all.”
“I can’t wait,” Drusilla smiled. She picked up a sceptor carved out of bone. A skeleton was carved at the top. “Look at this. This must have belonged to the Annoying One.”
“Let me see it.” Spike took the sceptor, and held it in front of his face. Suddenly, the skeleton’s eyes lit up and Spike’s head reeled backwards.
“What’s wrong?!” Dusilla asked.
“Nothing,” Spike answered. “Nothing’s wrong. This sceptor just fed me its power.”
“Power?”
“It’s only temporary, love. I can sense it. But no matter. There’s enough time to put it to use, though. I can look into people’s minds and souls. I think, love, I will perform a tactical study of my enemies. I can learn their strengths, their weaknesses, their wants, their fears... and who knows what else.”
Spike stood up on the crate and his arms reached outward. “Yes, this is going to be very interesting...”
* * *
Xander.
I do enjoy looking at this boy. He is the awkward one, the foolish one, the pathetic one, and the stupid one. He is all of these and so much more.
What is so completely obvious is that Xander is in love with Buffy. How sweeteningly disgusting. He follows her around from adventure to adventure, like an obedient little puppy dog, clamoring for her attention. He has her friendship. He tells himself he is happy with that. But it is not enough. It will never be enough.
Of course, Buffy denies him. Her eyes rest on Angel. I can truly feel Xander’s pain. But I sense not even he realizes how deep his feelings run. One day he will. One day he realize how much he loves her, and if she rejects him again... Their friendship may not survive. Perhaps killing this boy will be an act of mercy, not malice.
Yet there is more to Xander than meets the eye.
He is the wild card. His foolish bravery has shown itself time and time again at the most unfortunate times. Xander has saved Buffy’s life on several occasions through his unthinking courage, unbelievable timing, and, not to mention, a ridiculous amount of luck. His love for Buffy has been his most dangerous weapon.
Yes, Xander is the wild card. I must be careful. Fortunately, I have a few wild cards of my own.
* * *
Willow.
Perhaps the most intelligent of the brat bunch, she is the most timid, the most frail. She reads countless books with a constant craving for knowledge. I truly feel pity for this girl. She can learn how to hack into inaccessible computer files, she can learn to access databases across the country, yet she can never learn how to gain the one thing she desires more than anything else in the world: the love of Xander.
Oh, I love the web that is being woven!
But for all of Willow’s frailness, she has shown courage in the face of danger. She is the anchor in the bond that the three share. I doubt Buffy and Xander could exist without her. Why? I do not know. They obviously find something in her that I cannot. Yet, it all seems so clear. Take away Willow, and the foundation will collapse from mere emotional overwhelm alone. Such weaklings...
But I will stay my hand. A victory over the Slayer through such means would be far too easy. I relish the chance to destroy her directly. And yet it may be out of my control. Willow may one day remove herself from their bond. She knows that Xander loves Buffy. But I sense she cannot hide her feelings forever. Sooner or later, she will tell him. And he will reject her. That alone will likely pull the three of them apart. And then I can do the rest.
I can just hear the timebomb ticking.
* * *
Cordelia.
Oh, how I would love to love Cordelia...
On the surface, this appears to be a girl after my own heart. She puts down others. She makes her peers feel like dirt. She treats virtually everyone as if they are beneath her. And yet, I can sense that this is merely an act, a fasod to disguise her own feelings of inferiority. Deep within, she actually cares for others. She knows kindness, and has aided Buffy and her friends in times of need.
Ugh! Such a waste of potential.
Buffy, Xander, and Willow have allowed Cordelia to drift into their group. They have shared their secrets with her. They trust her. To me, they trust too willingly. Another sign of weakness. Yet she will not betray them. Despite all this, Cordelia does not share the bond that they do, at least not yet. She is of little threat to me, a sideliner who should have little impact in the battles to come. Yet, I shall take no chances. There will be no loose ends. When the time comes, she will be dispatched with the rest.
After I have some fun with her first.
* * *
Giles.
What could this man possibly do? Hit me with a book?
Oh, but I am grateful for this ever so faithful Watcher who warns Buffy of upcoming danger, pitting her against one enemy after another. He does not realize that the more danger he puts her in, the more her psyche will begin to crack. Her personality shift after her battle with the Master is just the beginning. But the world needs saving, so there is no choice. His constant demands and warnings may slowly, inevitably tear her apart.
Warn her, Giles. Warn her that I’m coming. You’ll only be aiding me in my quest to destroy her...
The man lives in a library. He reads endless books about lore and prophecy. He sees his knowledge as power. He knows nothing of power. One day the two of us shall be pitted in the ultimate game of chess. Does he really believe he can match me move for move? Does he really believe he can predict a foe who is unpredictable?
Come, my friend. Try. I shall be the Black King. Let the pieces fall where they may.
* * *
Angel.
Such a sweet name for one who is a malicious monster. That a vampire would call himself Angel is but one example of how this man is made up of the most amazing contradictions.
He is a benevolent vampire, a caring killer, a noble murderer... I could go on forever. Cursed with a conscience for eternity, I can only imagine the nightmare he must be living every waking moment of his life. And that’s not even the half of it.
Angel loves Buffy. A vampire in love with a slayer. That’s like a condemned man falling in love with his executioner. I laugh with delight at the possibilities here.
He feels he must protect her, help keep her alive. And he has. But the wonderful irony here is that the more he hangs around her, the more she loves him. The more she loves him, the more she will sink into despair knowing that they can never be together. And when I see she is in the depths of despair, when she is at her most vulnerable, that is when I shall strike. Doesn’t he see that the cure will inevitably kill her just as dead as the poison?
What a shame. I had such respect for Angel. But love is making him stupid. He lets his feelings control him. If he could think, he would aid her without mixing business with pleasure. But that is fine with me. I see no reason to have Angel as an ally when he works just as well for me as an enemy. As much as he tries to help her, in the end he will only keep her offguard. Inevitably, he will blame himself for her death.
And that will be true torture for all eternity.
* * *
Buffy.
The Slayer.
She is the strongest one and the weakest one, the sanest one and the craziest one, the bravest one and the most afraid, the most benevolent and the most malicious. Such a complex girl. How does she hold herself together? With so many demands pulling her in so many different directions, it’s amazing she hasn’t already collapsed under the strain. Why the powers of the Slayer would be conferred upon such a child, I’ll never understand.
Having fought her once already, I must say I’m rather unimpressed. I’ve fought and killed two slayers before, and they were stronger opponents than her. Their heads were clear, they had no doubts, no insecurities, but I still destroyed them. And yet against her I failed. But she had her mommy to come to her rescue. Lucky little slayer... You won’t be so lucky again.
I cannot believe the turmoil I see here! She cannot chose between Angel and Xander. She is torn between them, and I don’t believe she even knows it! Yet she cannot have either one. Angel is a vampire, and Willow loves Xander. Anything between her and Xander would likely push Willow away from them. This alone may eventually drive her to the depths of despair.
Everyone turns to her. They need her for protection. They need her for strength. They have so much faith in her, and yet, deep down, she has so little faith in herself. She would rather turn to them, but she can’t. She must simultaneously save the world, protect her friends, keep her mother happy, and still hand her homework in on time. The pressure must be unbearable. The Slayer plods on because she has to, not because she wants to.
And that insecurity is the key to her destruction.
So many, many weaknesses. So many Achilles’ heels to exploit. And yet... she survives. They all survive.
This Slayer has faced more opponents, more challenges, more obstacles than any Slayer before her. Despite all her faults, she has overcome all odds to achieve victory time and time again. How does she do it? The answer, I see, is quite simple.
Them.
Xander, Willow, Giles... It is the bond between her and her friends. They have stood by her through every terror, every hardship, every nightmare. By herself, Buffy would have surely perished, but with their aid she has triumphed. These four mortals together have become a most formidable team.
Yes, the bond they share is their greatest strength. But even the strongest bonds can be broken.
Despite all my power, I must never underestimate this wily, unpredictable foe. For though Buffy is the least of the Slayers, she is also the greatest of them all.
Oh, how I do love a challenge...
* * *
So... did you love it? Hate it? I love to hear comments, or just to get in touch with other Buffy fans who are as obsessed with the show as I am. Please e-mail me at hart@blast.net.
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