Thanks to Meli for her beta expertise! I appreciate it.
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~ Chapter 1 ~
Alessandra tossed her long, jet-black hair behind her in order to obtain a better view of her scrying mirror. She had been waiting thousands of years for this moment. The old ones had spoken to only a small few of the prophecy, but they had entrusted her with the locket that held the secret.
It was the secret to a new dawn for her kind, the key to their survival.
Slowly she lit several tall, black candles before she began to chant. The light softly reflected against the ornate silver frame of the mirror. Allowing the energy of the old ones pass to through her so she could look onto the human world always drained her.
The human world was only a fraction of the beauty of Elin in Alessandra’s eyes; nothing like her glorious home.
Her eye color transitioned from brown to red as she viewed the human realm for the first time in centuries. She was shocked at the changes she saw, but the images flashed by so quickly she could barely register and comprehend them. Finally, they settled down to the one she was waiting for.
A beautiful blond haired woman, in the process of giving birth and by her side was her husband. A well built man, with marble skin and sharp cheekbones. This couple fit the description of the two the old ones had told her of.
The Vampire Slayer and her vampire mate.
Alessandra was elated. If the child the Slayer gives birth to was a girl, it would confirm the moment had come along. She felt awkward watching this intimate moment between the two, but her mission was far more important than her consciousness telling her not to intrude on the moment.
It was really intruding, it was spying, but all the same, she had to find out.
She heard the girl screaming at the man at her side, Spike. That was his name. Alessandra felt badly for the girl and the pain she must be going through, even for a Slayer. She could not stifle her laughter though when she saw the look on the attending nurses’ face when the Slayer told her lover that she was going to stake his undead vampire ass. It had not helped that Spike had flashed a little fang at the nurse before flashing a smile and whispering sweet nothing into his love’s ear.
Buffy, he had said her name so softly and sweetly, but it was clear enough for Alessandra to hear it. They seemed like a lovely couple in love, it pained her that she would have to intervene and rip their family apart. Suddenly, the cries of a child interrupted her from her inner musing.
A girl, the doctor proclaimed the baby was a girl, a beautiful little girl indeed. Of course, she had not expected anything different since her parents were images of perfection themselves. Buffy and Spike gloated over the new addition to their family. When the nurse asked them what her name would be, they simultaneously answered “Dawn Elizabeth.”
Alessandra pushed all of the candles aside, immediately terminating her view to the human realm. The wax cooled on contact with the cold stone floor. The only comfort she had was that she now had permission to pass through to the human realm, but she could only come back with Dawn in hand.
Dawn would be their salvation. Dawn would be their sacrifice.
Perchance, Alessandra could go over and wander the human realm for a few years while she tried to find ways to preserve her world and preserve Dawn’s life.
Alessandra gathered her red velvet dress in her hands and gently lifted it up so she could walk out of her sanctuary and back up to her bedroom. First she have to prepare for her crossover by gathering her clothing and necessary supplies. Second, she would have to acquaint herself with the current ways of the human race. At least she could use a hiding spell so she could observe first hand.
In order to ensure that she had the proper time on Earth, Alessandra had to keep the other trusted vessels from finding out. If they did, they would surely send someone after Dawn immediately. She knew she could only trust one kindred friend with her plan, Edith.
Edith had been able to communicate with the human world much easier than the other resident’s of Elin had. She had for many years continued conversations with an insane vampire on earth. Alessandra hoped Edith had kept them up, since it would seem that Alessandra was going to need all the help she could get.
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Buffy and Spike held their precious bundle in the arms. Buffy had been grateful that they decided to go for a home birth. Once the demon doctor had been sure that the baby was healthy, he left them alone.
“Spike, I can’t believe you scared the nurse like that while I was in the middle of delivering our daughter!” Buffy exclaimed.
“Wot? I’m the Big Bad, ‘sides how was I supposed to know that he hadn’t acquainted his nurse with demons?”
“Whatever, you liked it and you know it.” Buffy retorted as she rolled her eyes in jest at her mate.
Spike carefully picked Dawn up and held her close to him.
“You ought to get some sleep luv. Need to let that Slayer healing kick in and make you better, yeah?”
Buffy yawned and tried to fight her exhaustion. Spike gently covered her with the blankets and placed a kiss on her forehead.
“I love you Buffy.”
“Mmm, love you too Spike.” Buffy mumbled as she passed off to sleep. Spike quietly slipped out the door to find Dru, in a simple pair of blue jeans, a red tank top, and a long leather jacking on, waiting for him.
“Look at the little angel, she’s so precious,” Dru said.
“Yeah, she is. Looks like her mum,” Spike replied.
“But she’s got her daddy’s eyes.”
“I’m glad you could come Dru, but I know your not here to just congratulate me on the birth of my daughter. Buffy and I haven’t even seen you since William’s birth,” Spike queried with a voice filled with concern.
“Naughty, naughty Spike! I’ve sent plenty of letters and I’ve called plenty of times. You know how it is when you’re immortal. Decades between visits is considered short,” Dru said in her defense.
“You sounded like good old crazy Dru I used to know for a moment.”
“Don’t be concerned Spike, but I will tell you that is part of the reason for my visit.”
“You’re crazy again?”
“No. But Miss Edith is back,” Dru whispered.
Spike looked at her, puzzled. “I don’t understand.”
“When I became sane again, she would still whisper to me far and few between; but she came to me tonight with a warning for your baby. She said she’d be coming more often, to keep us advised.”
“What did she warn us of luv?”
“She said to look into the Elin scrolls. They would explain it all. She said to carefully guard the baby, for it was the key to a new dawn,” Drusilla explained.
“Dawn. That’s what we named the little sprog. So that’s it, nothing else from Miss Edith,” Spike asked.
“She did mention a friend would be coming our way to help. That’s all. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay here with you and Buffy Spike. I want to help protect your family until we can figure out the next step we are supposed to take in figuring out this prophecy,” Drusilla offered.
Spike leaned in and placed a gentle, friendly kiss on the side of Drusilla’s face. “I appreciate it Dru, more than you know. When the Slayer wakes up, she is not going to be happy about having to deal with another prophecy.”
Dru patted Spike on the back as she guided him over to take a seat on the sofa.
“Well Spike, you can’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“No luv, I can’t. You don’t suppose Angelus is being resurrected do you?”
“I don’t know Spike. I honestly don’t know. But if he was, in either incarnation he may prove to be an asset.”
Spike ran his free hand through his bleached locks and said a silent prayer to the Powers That Be. He hoped for his family’s sake that they would be able to overcome whatever force was threatening to tear his family apart.
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