E-Mail: north@pathcom.com
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel & Co. belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN and the WB Network. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: How would things be diffrent if Buffy hadn't quite made it to Sunnydale when she did? Pre-"Wish."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU WILL BE EXTREMELY CONFUSED IF YOU DO NOT READ THIS NOTE: This story is very unique. I basically disregarded everything that's happened since the very beginning of the series. This story takes place the summer before Willow, Jesse, and Xander's junior year. They're all sixteen. However, you'll notice that by changing just a few things that I included characters and ideas from season #2. This is my first fanfic. I basically have no idea what I'm doing but I thought that this idea was so cool that I had to try it. Everyone always seems to just take up where the episodes left off when they started their fic, I thought this would be much more interesting. I'm open to suggestions and criticism. Please send all feedback you have to me. I know that some people will be mad at how I messed with the foundation of Joss's work and how the characters relate to one another, but I believe that I stayed true to the characters' personalities, more or less. I really hope you like this, because if nothing else, as I said, this fanfic is truly unique. And now, on with the show.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 1~
"Luke," said Darla. "Absolutely not." She turned away from him with a frustrated sigh. He had always been a moron, but this idea was simply idiotic.
"Why?" countered Luke. "It's a perfect idea, he'd never see it coming." Luke followed after her.
"What makes you think that you can take the Master anyway?" Darla fixed him with an icy stare. She knew he was an arrogant fool, but this was madness. The Master was the most powerful vampire on earth. Killing him would be impossible.
"It wouldn't be impossible," Luke said, seemingly reading her thoughts. "He'll be weakened from hibernation, vulnerable until he regains his strength."
"Still, why kill the Master? He's our ticket to ruling the world." Darla wasn't sure what Luke was up to, but she knew it was risky, stupid, and extremely unwise.
"You're wrong. Once he kills the Slayer and opens the hellmouth, the Master will see no need for us. He'll kill us and rule the world himself. He's too power-hungry to let us take any of the glory out of his conquest."
Perhaps Darla was wrong. Luke had seemed to have thought more about this than she had given him credit for. "You will kill him then?" Darla snarled, interested in hearing more but still full of doubt. "You will simply stake him through the heart as soon as he comes out of that black pool he's been in for decades?" Darla chuckled. "It'll take more than a stake to dust the Master, even in his weakened state."
"I know that, Darla." Luke said through clenched teeth. "I'm not as stupid as you think. Killing the Master is not something to consider lightly. However, he is a vampire and can still be killed by sunlight."
"Sunlight," Darla considered this for a moment, "wouldn't be such a bad idea. He wouldn't realize what was happening until it was too late. All we'd have to do is break the ceiling of this cavern just above the black pool..."
"And when he comes out, POOF!" Luke made an exploding gesture with his hands, "No Master. My thoughts exactly." Luke and Darla grinned evilly at the thought of ruling the world themselves, instead of constantly obeying their Master's wishes and waiting for his approval.
"Ya know Luke, that plan of yours just might work. It'd be a nice change if it did, too. Your plans usually leave me wondering why I ever listen to an idiot like you." Darla sauntered past him, moving to leave the room and prepare the other vampires to execute the plan.
"Hey!" Luke said with a frown. "That's not fair!" When Darla gave no response he added, "Wait for me!", and hurried after her.
****
"Hey, Will, wait up!" shouted Jesse. He and Xander were running down the streets of Sunnydale. The three had been friends since preschool, so Willow recognized their voices immediately and turned around.
"What's up, guys?" Willow responded.
"Just enjoying the summer weather, the scenery... and the fact that there's no school or homework for another six weeks." Xander happily replied.
"Cool. I'm supposed to be getting some stuff for my mom at the mall, but I'm loitering."
"Well, Willow. Aren't you quite the sneaky, deceptive little vixen." Jesse chided.
"Oh, yeah. Quite." Willow returned with a wry smile. "So we going to the Bronze tonight?" Willow asked.
"Sure. I mean, where else would we go?" said Xander.
"There's nowhere else to go in this boring little town." Jesse said matter-of-factly. "Sunnydale sucks that way, it lacks a reasonable amount of places to hang."
"So who's playing tonight?" asked Willow.
"Some new band called 'Dingoes Ate My Baby'" Xander stated.
"Sounds like lotsa fun." Willow turned in the direction of the mall. "I gotta go get that stuff for my mom. I'll meet you guys at the Bronze at 8:00. C-ya."
****
Willow cut through the park on her way to the Bronze that night. She tugged at her modest knee-length crimson skirt and straightened her black knit sweater over the white tank top. On her feet she wore black two-inch heels over fishnet stockings. Her auburn hair was blow-dried in soft waves.
It was a windy night. It was already dark and slightly chilly. Willow quickened her pace and wrapped her sweater tighter around herself, trying to warm up.
Suddenly, four figures dropped in front of Willow.
"W-what do you want?" Willow asked, nervous and frightened.
"Oh, just a little snack." One replied, moving closer to Willow and invading her personal space.
Willow gulped and replied shakily, "Well, there's a yogurt place just down the street..."
The man in front of her snickered. "Thanks for the tip but you'll make a fine snack." He reached a hand out to push her hair away and expose her throat.
Willow then tried to scream, but he grabbed her and clamped a hand over her mouth. He tilted her neck to his lips and whispered in her ear, "You open your pretty little mouth again and I'll beat you senseless before I drain the blood from your body." His face then shifted to that of a vampire, and Willow stared in horror as his fangs moved to close in on her jugular.
The vampire was then abruptly thrown off of her. A man was now fighting off the other vampires. After staking the one who tried to bite Willow, he wrestled with two others while the last one tried to attack Willow. It slashed her deeply across the back with it's vampire claws then hit her on the back of her head, causing her to pass out.
The man had finished with the other vampires and was going to help Willow when he saw her get knocked unconscious. He let out a low hiss and punched the vampire in the face. He then drew another stake from his long black jacket and thrust it into the demon's heart. After the explosion of dust it was all over.
The man hurried to the young woman's side. He gently picked up her slight, limp form and carried her in his arms. He had no idea who she was or where she lived. The cut on her back needed to be tended as well as the blow she had taken to the head. She wouldn't be safe in the park and wouldn't even wake up for a few hours. He decided to take her to his apartment.
~Part: 2~
"Where's Willow?" asked Xander impatiently. He was beginning to worry. Willow was rarely late. Especially forty-five minutes late. It wasn't as if Sunnydale had a high crime rate, but he couldn't help but wonder if something had happened to her.
"She'll be here" Jesse responded. "She's just late." Upon seeing Xander's frown deepen, Jesse continued. "Don't worry, Willow's fine. Stop moping so much."
Jesse spotted someone on the other side of the Bronze. He turned to Xander. "Hey, Xand, there's Cordelia and Harmony. Maybe they'll pay some attention to us now that school's out and most of the football players are off at that Sports Camp."
"If you want to go over there, that's fine." Xander began with a disgusted look. "But I wouldn't spend time with Cordy if she were that last chick on earth. Besides, you still don't have a chance. She's talking to that Devon guy, the leader of the band that's playing tonight."
"Well, they're almost done their break. And I promised myself that I'd dance with Cordelia at least once before the summer's over."
"Good luck, then, buddy." Xander told him.
Looking around once more for Willow, he gave up and decided to leave. He walked out of the club into the cool night air. Turning in the direction of his home, Xander directed a question to no one in particular, "Where is Willow?"
****
'Where am I?' Willow thought. She was lying on a soft surface, possibly a bed. Her head hurt. So did her back.
Willow shifted uncomfortably, tried to sit up, and heard a low, soothing voice say "Slowly." She felt a strong arm come around her and help her into a sitting position.
"You have a nasty bump on your head." He began, softly. It was a good thing he spoke softly, too, because she could tell that a major headache was coming in a little while. "Do you remember what happened?" He asked gently.
Willow slowly opened her eyes. She saw a young man not too much older than herself. He had dark hair and eyes, and a strong build. He wore a black jacket and slacks, and a white shirt. His face was shadowed in the scant light, but she could see he had handsome features and a sweet smile.
"Yeah, I remember walking in the park...and then these guys attacking me. One tried to..to bite me. Then you came, and I got knocked out." She paused then, not wanting to be rude but extremely curious. "Why did you help me? Who are you?"
"My name is Angel." He started. "I helped you because no one else would know how to."
"Those guys who attacked me. There was something weird about them. Were they...." Willow hesitated, thinking that this would sound insane. "Angel, were they vampires?" she blurted it out.
He rose from his place on the floor at the side of the bed. He turned his back from her, not sure what to say. He couldn't lie. She already knew they were vampires, she just wanted him to say it. He turned back, looked her straight in the eye. "Yes, they were vampires."
She shifted under his penetrating gaze. "Thank you for helping me. I would have died, you saved my life." Willow offered him a smile, Angel smiled back at her. "I'm Willow" she told him.
"Pleased to meet you, Willow." He said, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. She blushed, despite her efforts not to.
"Why would there be vampires in Sunnydale?" Willow asked him. "Wouldn't they want to live in a big city, like New York or Los Angeles?"
"Sunnydale is located right on top of something called a Hellmouth." Angel started. "It's a center of mystical convergence. Vampires, demons, all evil creatures have gathered here." Angel began pacing in front of the bed. He looked worried about something. Then he spoke again, "I believe that something bad is going to happen. Soon. The vampires are preparing."
"Do you know what it is?" Willow asked shakily. This was a bit much to take. A few hours ago her life was fine. Now she had a gouge on her lower back, was in a stranger's apartment, and some guy named "Angel" was telling her that he was worried that some vampires were up to something. Not to mention she had just learned that she was living on a Hellmouth.
"No...maybe. I'm not sure. I think it has something to do with opening the Hellmouth. Demons are always trying to take over the world." Angel seemed confused, like he was used to knowing what was going on.
"Well, I'm thankful that you saved my life. But if you don't mind me asking, what's your deal?" Willow paused, not wanting to offend him. "I mean, do you just go around fighting vampires? Or did I get lucky?" Angel smiled. He thought she was taking this well. Considering that she had almost died from getting attacked by things she thought mythical.
"I've been fighting vampires ever since my parents were killed by them." Angel told her. He didn't like lying to Willow, she was so sweet. But he didn't want her to know that he was part of the race that attacked her.
"Oh," Willow responded sympathetically. "I'm sorry." Then she had an idea. "Hey, why don't I help you figure out what the vampires are preparing for. I can research stuff on the internet."
"I don't know if that's a good idea. You'd be putting yourself at risk. The vampires know me, they'd find out that you're helping me and you'd be in danger." Angel seemed seriously concerned for Willow's safety.
"Angel, I have to help. If Sunnydale's in danger, I have to do something. My family and friends all live here, I have to do something to help protect them." When Willow finished, Angel had a grim look on his face. He understood why she wanted to help, he just didn't want to see her hurt again, especially because of him.
"Alright." Angel gave in. "But you really need to rest now. I'll take you home." He started to pick Willow up, but she stopped him.
"Wait. My parents can't see the cut on my back, I'd have to explain to them what happened." Willow stated.
"Oh. I see the problem. Okay, well, you could take off the shirt your wearing and I'll give you one of mine." He offered.
"Okay." said Willow. Angel got one for her and she limped to the bathroom. When Willow finished changing they left Angel's apartment, heading towards her home.
****
They were a few blocks from Willow's house when Willow fell to her knees. "I'm sorry," she said weakly. "My back really hurts, I can't walk any further."
Angel scooped Willow up and carried her. She rested her head against his chest. When they came to Willow's house Angel set her down. Angel waited as Willow fumbled in her pocket until she found her key.
"Thanks, Angel." Willow told him.
"You're welcome." Angel turned to leave, but she stopped him by asking, "Hey. If I find something on the net, how do I reach you?"
"You can find me near the Bronze, usually." He answered.
Willow smiled. "Goodnight, Angel." She turned to unlock the door.
"See you around, Willow." Angel replied.
She turned back before opening the door, but Angel had gone.
~Part: 3~
Darkness filled the cavern. All was still, the air thick with anticipation. The sound of bubbles bursting filled the room, breaking the silence. The Master rose from the black pool with a roar of triumph. Then the roar morphed from pleased satisfaction to an agonizing scream as sunlight poured through the cavern roof. As it spilled onto him like acid Darla cackled with glee and Luke uttered an arrogant chuckle. They were protected behind a wall and watched with delight as the Master turned to dust. His ashes fell to the pool beneath him. Interesting, Luke thought, that the Master's final resting place was the very place he had been trapped in for years.
"What shall we do about taking over the world, now?" Asked Luke to his female partner in evil.
"Well, I was actually thinking that we should call some old friends to help us." Darla answered.
"Oh?" Luke asked, intrigued. "Who might these friends be?"
"Spike and Druscilla," Darla returned with a smile. "Think they'd be up for a little fun on the Hellmouth?"
****
RIIIIIIIIINNG!
"Nngh." Willow moaned. She lifted her head from her pillow and rubbed her soar eyes.
RIIIIIIIIINNG!
"Oh, God." Willow muttered. "Who'd call at 12:04am?" She rolled off the bed and limped to pick the receiver off the phone on her desk, placing a hand on her back and groaning at the pain of moving.
"Hello?" Wilow yawned.
"Willow!" cried Xander.
"Uh, yeah, that's me Xand." Willow was more than slightly groggy, and exhaustion laced her sarcastic remark.
"Where were you tonight?" He asked, confused. "You said you'd show at the Bronze."
"Oh," Willow replied. After her encounter with the vampires and Angel that night, she'd completely forgot about her plans with the guys. "I..um..." Willow trailed off, not knowing what to say. She didn't want to involve Xander in anything that might endanger him or Jesse. Willow couldn't tell him or anyone else about the vampires... or Angel. She had to think of a reasonable excuse why she didn't come to the Bronze.
"I was at home, I'm not feeling that great." It wasn't a total lie, Willow thought. She was feeling like crap after nearly getting killed by a bunch of blood-sucking dudes who seriously didn't believe in volunteer blood donors. "Sorry I didn't call, I've been sleeping and am full of Tylonol pain killers." she went on.
"Oh, Will, that's too bad." Xander said sympathetically. "What do you have? Are you okay?" he pressed.
"Ah, I'm fine. Just, uh, women's problems." Willow explained, knowing that would shut up any guy.
"Oh, well." Xander said hurriedly. "I'll let you get some sleep then."
"Okay, bye Xander." Willow returned, "Thanks for calling."
"See you when you're feeling better." Xander said.
"Later." Willow put the phone on it's cradle and sighed. She hated lying to Xander, but it was the only way to protect him. Knowing about the vampires would make him a target, and Willow wouldn't allow that.
Turning off the light on her night table, Willow sank back down on her bed and drifted off to sleep.
****
"Darla, my old friend!" shouted a loud, heavily accented voice. A man in a black trenchcoat with bleached blond hair came throught the cavern entrance, with a pretty brunette on his arm.
"Spike," returned Darla. "Druscilla, welcome. It's been a few years since we last saw you guys. What've you been up to? Darla asked conversationally.
"This and that," replied Spike. "Killed a few Slayers, massacred some towns and villages. You?" He asked, eyeing Luke with a 'where'd you get this dope?' look.
"I've been hanging around the Hellmouth lately." Darla replied. "There seems to be a large number of vampires gathering here. Actually, Luke and I have been thinking of organizing an army. We'd like to see if we can't take over this miserable world the mortals are so fond of. Wanna join us?" She asked, eyebrow raising in an almost challenging way.
"What do you think, luv?" Spike turned to Druscilla.
"Sounds like fun." Druscilla giggled. Spike wrapped his arms around her tiny waist.
"What did have in mind, mate?" He asked Darla.
"Opening the Hellmouth seems the best way to do it. The Master tried years ago, but I think we could manage it without getting trapped like that idiot did." Darla stated.
"Well, I think between the three of us we can come up with something." Spike agreed.
"Hey," Luke stepped in. "Don't you mean the four of us." He glared at Darla. "I came up with the plan to kill the Master. I want a part in taking over the world, too."
"Well," Darla replied. "I wouldn't worry. There's plenty of world here to rule." She waved him off.
"Now, about that army..." Spike began.
~Part: 4~
'God, it's a good thing that my parents are on business trips', Willow thought. It was three nights after her little run-in with a few of the neighborhood vampires. The slash on her back had healed enough that she could walk reasonably well, and other smaller cuts and bruises were no longer such an annoyance. Willow decided to do some demon research on the net, hoping to find some useful information that would help Angel figure out what was up with the vampires.
As she was typing away at her computer, there was a knock at her outside bedroom door. Willow got up to look out the window, and smiled when she saw that it was Angel.
"Hey," Willow greeted him. "Come on in."
"Thanks," Angel responded, stepping inside her bedroom. "How are you feeling?" Angel still felt bad that she had been injured, he guilty that he hadn't saved her sooner.
"I'm still sore, I guess it'll take a while before my back's completely healed." Willow answered. "But, I can walk now." she added. "I've been doing some research." Willow walked back to her desk and sat down at the computer.
"Actually," she continued. "I think that I might have found something."
"Yeah?" Angel prompted. "That's great. What did you find?"
"Well, I can't be sure if I'm right. But from the information you gave me and the fact that we've confirmed the Master is dead, I'd say that Luke and Darla are going to open the Hellmouth using an old ritual called the Rite of Melerius." Willow stated gravely.
"The Rite of Melerius." Angel tried to recall anything he could remember about it. "That's a summoning ritual which calls upon the power of the Hellmouth itself." He started pacing. 'Angel paces when he's neverous or confused. This can not be good.' thought Willow.
"Also, if I recall correctly, the summoning requires four vampires." Angel stopped pacing, turning towards Willow to see if he had left anything out.
"Yes. Two female vampires, and two male. They must all be at least over one hunderd years old for the ritual to work. From what I read, it's because of something involving a balanced strength to revive the power of the Hellmouth." Willow supplied what she knew.
"So, what you're saying is that to stop the ritual, all we have to do is kill one of the four." Angel hoped his assumption was correct. Killing one vampire wouldn't be as hard to do as killing four vampires. Especially if all four were over one hundered years old, making each about equal to him in strength.
"I think so. I really can't be sure. We'd need to do more research." Willow answered. "Though, it would help if we knew which vampires we were dealing with."
"Hmmm," Angel thought. "Darla and Luke don't have that many friends. Especially after killing the Master. Most of the older vampires had been following him for a long time."
Angel then remembered something that sent shivers down his spine. "Oh no..." he whispered. "Spike and Druscilla."
"You want me to do a search on them?" Willow asked, turning her chair back to her computer.
"No, um, I know them pretty well already." Angel replied.
"What is it?" Willow asked softly, getting up and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It's nothing." Angel answered. How could he tell Willow that he had created the monsters they were about to face? "Hey, why don't I help you research that ritual?" Angel asked with a small attempt at a smile.
"Sure." Willow replied. "Take a seat."
Angel did, and they spent much of the night together at Willow's computer.
****
"Ugh." Willow moaned. "That feels nice. Thanks." Angel was giving Willow a back rub. They'd been working for hours, and were now in the kitchen getting some coffee and resting their over-worked brain cells.
"Here, I'll do you." She got up from her stool at the kitchen's island and motioned for Angel to take the seat. Willow worked her hands up and down his back and shoulders.
"Thank you." Angel said when Willow was done.
"Your welcome," Willow replied, smiling and sipping her coffee.
'Willow looks so cute when she smiles,' Angel thought. Then he quickly dismissed the thought, knowing that a relationship with a mortal woman would only hurt everyone involved, including himself.
"Hey," Angel said, looking at his watch. "It's really late. I'd better go."
"Yeah, I guess you should." Willow replied. They left the kitchen and Willow walked Angel to the door.
Willow opened the door for Angel and said to him, "See you later, Angel."
"Bye Willow." He replied. Willow smiled at Angel and their eyes locked. Angel wanted to kiss her so badly, he couldn't help himself. Angel leaned forward and their lips met in a light kiss. Then Willow's body responded and the kiss deepened. When they pulled apart they were both gasping. Angel took a few steps back and Willow waved goodbye. Angel turned to leave and Willow shut the door behind him.
"Whoa." Willow whispered to herself and then walked back to her room to go to bed.
~Part: 5~
'What have I done?' Angel thought as he stalked around his apartment. 'We can never be together. Willow's mortal, I'm a vampire. Our worlds could never fit together.' Angel was pacing. He felt restless. A good way to battle that feeling was to focus his frustration on a target. He got a few stakes and headed out to go hunting.
'If Willow knew what I am, she would never want to be with me anyway.' He thought.
****
"We need a girl." Darla informed the others.
"What?" asked Spike.
"Why?" asked Luke.
"The Rite of Melerius states that a pure, innocent teenage girl must be sacrificed to the Hellmouth. We all need to drink equal portions of her blood and turn her into a vampire. Then we do the opening of the Hellmouth ritual."
"Fine. Get the men to find an innocent. The ritual is tomorrow." Spike ordered.
****
The following night Willow was at the Bronze with Jesse and Xander. They were having a good time talking and laughing. After a few hours, Willow decided to return home.
She didn't realize a vampire was watching her. He had picked her among the other girls to bring to his masters because she shone with innocence and purity. Also, she had a rather lovely neck.
He came up behind Willow as she made her way across the club. As she passed through a shadow, he grabbed Willow by her waist and used his other hand to cover her mouth. Willow let out a yelp, but with the loud music no one heard her cry.
The vampire slipped them through the back door and once outside knocked her out. He then brought her unconcious form down to Spike and Darla's underground lair.
****
'I have to talk to her.' Angel thought. He had hunted, and killed two vampires. Though his mind was occupied, he vaguely noted that with all the vampires gathering to Sunnydale there should have been more out.
Angel made his way to Willow's house. She wasn't there. He looked for her at the Bronze. Willow wasn't there, either. Seeing he wouldn't find her that night, Angel went hunting again. But even less vampires were found. None, in fact.
'Oh, my God. It's time. They're doing the ritual tonight.' Angel thought. He expected them to wait awhile, but apparently they were ready. The problem was that Angel didn't know where the Rite of Melerius would be held.
****
"They're having it on the hill overlooking Sunnydale." gasped Willie the Snitch. "At midnight."
"Well, thanks for your co-operation,Willie." Angel said, dropping his neck and watching Willie sink to the floor.
"Don't ever say your old buddy Willie doesn't come through in a pinch." Willie rubbed his throat and got to his feet.
"Yeah, right." Angel said over his shoulder as he ran out of the bar.
****
'Ooh. Knocked unconcious twice in one week. Can't be a good thing.' thought Willow as she came to.
"I have the worst luck." Willow muttered under her breath.
"You could say that, luv." Laughed an amused, accented voice. The person, 'No, vampire.' thought Willow, who had invaded the quiet in the room stepped out of the shadows.
"I guess you could." Willow returned, refusing to be intimidated. She rose to her feet and noticed that her hands were chained to the wall.
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