Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer and related characters are owned by Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy. I can only take credit for the new main characters I have created and various other vampire minions which may wander into my stories. I created them, so they are mine. Don't sue as this is just pure fanfic.
*****Chapter Four – The Thirteenth Eve*****
The sun poured through Buffy’s mom’s bedroom window and onto the bed. Buffy opened her eyes and sat up wearily. She yawned and stretched her arms. Standing, and stretching again she walked out of the door. She padded softly down the stairs, trying not to wake anyone else. She went into the lounge and found all the curtains drawn, preventing the sunlight from entering. Angel was asleep in an armchair, Esme, Eve and Eli were curled up together on the sofa and Oz was just stirring in the other armchair.
‘Morning?’ he asked sleepily. ‘Already?’
‘Yeah, shall I leave them asleep?’
‘You’d better, they were awake all night talking.’
‘About what?’ she asked innocently, trying not to pry. Secretly she wondered if they had talked about her, and if perhaps an old flame had been rekindled between Angel and Esme.
‘About Spike, Darla, the past, the future…then they got into deep vampire stuff…and then I fell asleep’
‘Oh, right.’
‘Don’t worry, they didn’t talk about you.’
‘What made you think I wanted to know that, I was just asking…I mean, out of curiosity.’
‘Of course.’ He said knowingly, as he followed her into the kitchen. Shortly afterwards Cordelia, Xander, Willow and Giles came down the stairs and into the kitchen.
‘I notice that they are asleep.’ Said Giles. ‘This gives us the opportunity to discuss a course of action.’
‘Which is?’ asked Cordelia.
‘Well, I’m not quite sure yet. We’ve managed to establish that Esmerelda is not suffering with lycanthropy as I initially thought. Now we concentrate on them being actual demons. Vampires have always been dispossessed of all emotion, and finding three more of them with ‘souls’ is almost unbelievable. A coincidence perhaps, I’m not so sure. Now, at this particular time it seems that there is some sort of grandiose pulse flowing forth from the hell mouth and, as yet, I am unable to establish what it is, but I have a feeling it will be bad. For all of us. Another thing that confuses me is their complete and utter ostracism from other vampire cults, a vampire with Esmerelda’s strength should, in all logic, be pre-eminent, exalted by Masters and minions alike…’
‘Giles, Giles, slow down, okay?’ Said Buffy
‘Once again, Giles turns the language gap into a chasm.’ Said Xander.
‘What…oh, I see, you don’t understand. It’s simple really. I mean that now we’ve established that they are in fact what they say they are, how do we know if we can trust them and why have they been rejected by other vampire groups? Do you see?’ Giles said, simplifying what he’d said before.
‘So you’re saying that we shouldn’t trust them?’ Asked Xander.
‘No, simply that we should just be sure of who they really are and what they want with us, before we do anything else.’
‘I trust them.’ Said Buffy. ‘They saved our lives yesterday, if they hadn’t helped Angel with those six vampires…’
‘Seven.’ Said Willow.
‘Seven what?’ asked Buffy.
‘Seven vampires, there where seven vampires that attacked us yesterday.’
‘But we only killed six. Well, where the hell is the other one?’ yelled Buffy.
‘Other what?’ asked Angels’ voice from the shadow of the doorway. Everyone jumped in shock, except Xander and Buffy who had grown used to his sudden appearances…and disappearances.
‘Vampire.’ Supplied Xander. ‘Apparently there were seven yesterday, but you only got six.’
‘So that would mean that one of them got away, right?’ asked Cordelia.
‘It would appear so, yes.’ Said Giles.
‘Well then where is he!’ Cordelia panicked.
‘Wherever he is, he can’t get us in here, okay.’ Xander reassured her.
‘Okay, but he can get us out there though, right?’ Cordelia said, not calming down.
‘Right, which is why we have to find out why so many of them attacked us, we need to know what’s going on. It’s something big, and I want to know how we can stop it.’ Declared Buffy. They all turned to stare at Giles, who was busily flipping through some of the books that he had brought over from the library.
‘Hmmm?’ he asked, slightly bewildered. ‘I was just checking for anything that would help us find out what’s going on. Obviously it’s very important.’
‘Well, you go back to the library and start searching, maybe use the Internet too.’ Ordered Buffy.
‘Please, I’d rather not use the computers if you don’t mind.’ He said.
‘Whatever, just do what you can. Willow, you and Oz can stay here and watch these guys, Xander, Cordelia, you come with me.’
‘Where are we going?’ asked Cordelia.
‘The cemetery.’
‘Cemetery? As in, where the dead people live?’ Said Xander.
‘Yup, that cemetery.’ Said Buffy. ‘Lets go.’ So, they each headed off in different directions. None of them had asked what mystical forces were flowing from the hellmouth, but Buffy guessed that Giles would tell them after more research or Angel would suddenly turn on the warning lights.
**********
Somewhere in the sewers the seventh vampire was telling Spike exactly what had happened the previous night.
‘So, let me get this straight, you were surrounded, defeated and *beaten*?’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t believe it, I only left this place for a few months, I come back to lead you all to victory and what do I find? Absolute chaos, that’s what, it’s a bloody good thing I came back when I did. Tell me how it happened.’
‘It was that traitor Angel.’
‘Seven vampires defeated by *one*, I think you’re lying to me. What do you think Dru?’
‘I think he’s lying to us, I can see it in his hands.’ She took hold of the vampires hands and gently ran her fingers over the palm of his left hand. Then, suddenly, she viciously scratched it, the vampire yelped in pain.
‘Okay, okay, there were others. I watched from nearby. The slayer, that werewolf and three other vampires…’
‘What?’
‘Three oth…’
‘I heard what you said! What did they look like?’
‘Er…a blonde, a brunette and a guy with dark hair.’ The vamp fumbled with his words.
‘Esmerelda, Elijah and Evelyn.’ He said shocked.
‘The witch!’ Said Dru fearfully.
‘Witch?’ The vampire asked.
‘Yes, one of them is a witch…are you telling me that they got away with their lives?’
‘Yes, I tried to…’
‘*SHUT UP*! You’ve wasted enough of my time!’ he held up a stake.’
The vampire fell to his knees and held up his hands pleadingly. ‘They were two strong for us, even when they came out of the museum…’
‘The museum?’ Spike lowered the stake again. ‘They came out of the museum? Were they carrying anything with them?’
‘One of the mortals had something silver, a pendant I think, I couldn’t really see...’
‘The amulet.’ Druscilla whispered, she turned to Spike worriedly, and seemed to sway slightly as her eyes grew wide and twitched a little crazily. ‘She was all mixed up like an un-baked cake. But she’ll be one now Spike, we can’t fight her as one…we can’t!’ Spike placed a protective arm around Dru and nodded for the vampire to leave.
‘Oh, and Joseph?’ The vampire turned back. ‘We need food, run along now.’ Joseph left.
‘Dru, you go and rest, you need to calm yourself down a bit pet.’ Dru nodded and left the sewer chamber. Spike sat down on a large and ornate wooden chair. He stared distractedly into a wide pool of water.
‘So Esmerelda, you’ve come back for more.’ He smiled wickedly. ‘And befriended the slayer, but tell me, how far do you think you’ll get this time?’ He began laughing hysterically. He felt he was really getting into his new role as the Lord of Darkness. And by the Devil, these vampires needed a new leader to rally them…since the Master was, shall we say, dust. From anoth chamber Dru started screaming again about the mixed-up Esme.
‘Ah, bloody hell!’ Spike muttered as he dashed through the water and out of the chamber to soothe his beloved.
**********
On Buffy’s sofa Esme awoke with a start. She could sense something evil was lurking…waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, but she had no idea what it was.
**********
At the cemetery gate Buffy, Xander and Cordelia were discussing what to look for inside.
‘Just look out for any open graves, okay?’ Buffy said.
‘Why open graves?’ whined Cordelia.
‘We need to get an idea of the size of Spike’s army, and who they are. Now that he’s back, even if he’s only been here a few days he’ll have been busy, we can’t take any chances. This time I think he’s changed his mind; I think he does want to end the world.’
‘Great, another apocalypse, the usual stuff.’ Xander sighed. ‘So you want an enrolment list for the army of the undead? Great.’ He said. ‘And this helps how?’
‘We know if we’re fighting strong quarterback types, or weak chess club types…and we might be able to pick a few off tonight. So just start looking okay?’
They each took a different path through the cemetery and carefully peered at any suspicious grave sights. ‘I thought they were all pretty strong.’ He muttered to himself as he walked along. When they eventually met up in the middle they each compared their lists.
‘Well, I found four that looked recently opened. All of them were tough guys, and that moody waitress from the Bronze.’ Said Buffy.
‘Eww.’ Said Xander, pulling a revolted face. ‘I’m so glad for whoever ate her.’
‘Xander, that’s sick…I’m sure she was a nice person when she wasn’t spitting in drinks and wiping her nose on napkins and…eww…anyway, I found two, a couple of bikers from the rough part of town I think.’ Said Cordelia
‘I saw four too, not sure who they were, but it looked like they just got up and walked outta there.’ Said Xander. ‘Oh, I did get the name of one…Michael Franklin…isn’t he the security guard at the hospital?’
‘Was you mean. Didn’t he take care of the blood bank at night?’ Asked Cordelia.
‘Well, I guess he’s gotta be fit and strong anyway, and I remember him being a big guy…’ Xander muttered.
‘And he knows his way around the blood bank…he’s got access to all that fresh blood!’ Yelled Buffy.
**********
Inside the library Giles was reading a large, old book (nothing unusual there.) when Buffy, Xander and Cordelia burst in.
‘Giles, have you found anything?’ Said Buffy.
‘I’m not sure, I think so.’
‘Well, we did.’ Buffy said.
‘Yeah, we found loads of open graves, one of them was a hospital security guard.’ Said Cordelia.
‘We think Spike’s going after the blood bank!’ Buffy practically shouted.
‘That would make sense.’ Said Giles.
‘Oh really? Do you wanna elaborate on that?’ Asked Xander.
‘Well, I was reading in this book, it was written about the time of the birth of the first slayer. It says that on the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth month in the thirteenth year of the thirteenth century, in the thirteenth age of man there will be an almighty blood bath. “Many thousands of mortals will be slain, and one vampire shall rise to claim the earth.” Or so it is said.’
‘Oooooh, lucky thirteen…horror movies were right afterall.’ Xander said sarcastically.
‘Thirteenth month?’ Asked Buffy, confused.
‘Well, I wondered about that too…but I looked it up in other books…the Black Chronicles were particularly helpful. Apparently it’s the thirteenth etc from the date when the first master was killed by a slayer…and the thirteenth month is Seftary, it forms part of an ancient calendar. And if I’m right this particular month falls between March and April in modern terms…so its now.’
‘So does that mean that this thirteenth whatever is happening now?’ Buffy was still a little puzzled.
‘Well, yes…and this year is the anniversary of the thirteenth…um, thing…the eve of the first masters death. This symbolises the rise of the final master, the one who will bring hell unto the world. Only a vampire who is strong enough, and drinks the blood of his own brethren and…a slayer.’ He looked at Buffy cautiously, in case she reacted badly.
‘So Xander was right, it’s another apocalypse? Great.’ She sighed.
‘Perhaps Spike is hoping to be the last master by obtaining, and feeding on, all the blood in the blood bank, his present army shall grow in strength, and increase in number. Then he will be all powerful, the number of vampires will eventually become more than any slayer can handle, and so the slayers life circle shall be broken…’
‘Slayers life circle? Esme was telling me about that yesterday, she said that I existed in a circle of life, it gave me immortality, like an unbroken chain.’
‘Yes, she’s right, and I fear that she may know more about this than we do. All I can say now is that if this final day of reckoning does come, and slayers become extinct, that circle will be broken.’
‘Extinct, cool.’ Xander smiled, then he noticed the others face’s. ‘I meant to say bad, very bad.’
‘Okay, I think we should head home and ask them all about this.’ Said Buffy.
***********
When they arrived, the others were already awake.
‘Esme, you need to tell us about this day of reckoning, now.’ Demanded Buffy. Everyone followed her into the kitchen. They seated themselves around the table as it grew dark outside. After Buffy quickly recapped on what Giles had learnt from his books, Esme took a deep breath and reluctantly told the story to their expectant faces.
‘The day of reckoning has been prophesised since the beginning of time, but it’s never been proven to exist. Whenever something remotely apocalyptic happens people tend to panic and say its judgement day…but the truth is, no-one really knows when it will be. It will just happen one day…if ever an apocalypse comes and we lose, then its time to be judged. But The Thirteenth Eve, what you read about, signifies the coming of something pretty bad. It was said when the first of the slayers was born that they would exist in a circle of life, immortality, each one beginning when the last one ended. Only on the Thirteenth Eve will the last slayer really be the last.’
‘But what exactly is the Thirteenth Eve? And how come you know so much anyway.’ Asked Buffy.
‘Well, I read a lot of other books and things while we were searching for the amulet.’ Esme said, looking down at her hands uncomfortably. Then she continued. ‘The whole thing is pretty nondescript, but basically it’s on a day when mystical energy is flowing strongly from the Hellmouth, which is here. It was already written that the slayer would be here for it…like you are. So, then a strong force of evil will be unleashed, and only the most powerful being on earth can harness it…’
‘…and use it for evil.’ Said Giles. ‘So, if Spike feasts on every drop of blood in Sunnydale, and can build a big enough army of vampires, he will be that powerful being?’
‘In a nutshell. The only thing that can make him that powerful is to drink the blood of the final slayer, which will probably be Buffy. Then there won’t be time for anymore slayers to be trained before the Thirteenth Eve.’ Esme finished.
‘So, this may seem an odd question, but, how the hell do we stop him? I don’t like our chances. Evil army of bloodsucking monsters, and…us.’ Said Xander.
‘Xander, don’t be so…’ Willow began.
‘No. He’s right, what chance do we have, we’re powerless against him.’ Said Cordelia.
‘No, we’re not. If I’m the last slayer left that can stop this, then I’m gonna do all I can.’ Said Buffy.
‘Me too.’ Said Angel.
‘Me three.’ Said Willow.
‘I’m in.’ Said Oz.
‘Yes, me also.’ Said Giles.
‘You can count on us.’ Said Eve.
‘I guess so,’ said Xander, ‘but only if you have a plan.’
‘I do.’ Said Buffy. ‘I’ve got a great plan.’ She smiled outside, but inside she was filled with doubts. It never occurred to her that she wasn’t the last slayer, and it never occurred to Spike either…he never knew that Faith even existed, or that she had been banished to LA with her Watcher Wesley.
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