E-mail: finnmentality@yahoo.co.uk
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy et al own The characters, The story and the tattoo are mine.
Rating: Thus far a pathetic universal.. but it might get better later.
Pairing: none as yet but the major players are Willow, Spike & Angel
Author's note: Yes I know I have a million other stories to finish but this one has been bubbling under the surface for a while so I needed to get it out.
Feedback: it's like blood to me :o)
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~Part: 1~
The Heart of Darkness came. Slowly she glided through the crowd; head bent to one side as if she was listening to someone. The murmuring ceased. The Heart of Darkness had arrived. She stepped up on the wooden platform. Looking out over the crowd that had gathered to hear her words, she frowned slightly. It was smaller again than the previous year. And this time there had been an urgency to the summons that should not have been ignored. But the new ways had been creeping in, and people did not come when summoned anymore. She waited for quiet and then spoke. Her words were not good, and were not expected.
"I am the Heart of Darkness. Freely I bore the task for two full generations. I wear the mark upon my skin and answer to the call of the dark. I am it's heart. I am it's voice." She paused a little before continuing, "and I am dying. There will be no-one to fill my place. The Dark has spoken to me and warned me that what will follow my death will be a Darkness without a voice, without reason, until one will bear the mark again. You will hide and live in fear for many lives until this happens. I am the Heart and the Dark has spoken. Let no-one deny this has occurred." With this she stepped down.
Her final prophecy had gone out, but so very few had come to hear it.
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Willow bit her lip to keep from screaming. It had seemed like a very good idea at the time. While leafing through some of the non-magical folklore type books Giles had left behind she had found some interesting designs. One in particular caught her attention. She kept returning to the page it was on. It seemed to call to her. At least once a day she felt the need to see it. She couldn't remember when the idea of getting it as a tattoo had entered her mind but once it had she couldn't get rid of it.
So now here she was, gritting her teeth in pain as some abnormal gut got his kicks by needling in her chosen design. A heart with black lines coming from it. Almost as if they were black tree branches reaching outwards. Strangely as the tattoo neared completion she felt a strange calmness as if something inside her that she had not realised was broken was mended.
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In a crypt not so far away from the seedier side of Sunnydale, a blonde haired vampire was pacing. Something was itching his bones. He couldn't understand it. The feeling had been bubbling under the surface for days but now it was impossible to ignore. It felt like pins and needles all over his skin. He couldn't understand it. He'd never felt this way. It was almost like being in the presence of the master but far far stronger.
He felt a need to hunt, but it was daylight so he had to content himself with monotonous pacing. His blood thrummed. Whatever was happening was picking up pace. Unbeknownst to Spike every vampire of age was feeling this way. A summons older than blood was calling. And it demanded to be answered.
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Angel hurried down the stairs, holding Conner as far away from himself as possible. "Someone please take him from me", he pleaded as he thrust his beloved son into the arms of Lorne. "Happy to oblige Lorne muttered before noticing how agitated Angel was. "What's up Angel-cakes, you seem a little on the pacey side today." Angel turned around to face the former lounge host. "My demon is just barely under control, something is happening, and I don't understand it. If the master were alive I'd say it was him but he's dead and crushed now." He began a circuit of the foyer, only to be interrupted by Cordelia coming out of the office. "Yup something's up alright, Got a vision from the powers about a tattoo. Don't know what that's about. It's hardly a life threatening occurrence." Wesley stirred at the mention of a tattoo, "Cordy could you draw the tattoo?" Cordelia shrugged and reached for a pen and pad. She drew a heart with black squiggly lines almost like the branches of a tree reaching out from it. Wesley looked at it and paled. "Heart of Darkness" he muttered. He went into his office and returned with a book. Flicking through the pages he found a mirror image of the design Cordy had drawn.
"Here it is," he began, "Approximately 2,000 years ago there was a cult following in northern Europe. They followed the prophecies of a person or being called the Heart of Darkness. The last Heart foretold that there would come a time after her death that darkness would have no heart, no path and no voice until a person freely chose the life of the Heart. Their choice would be marked on them permanently." He closed the book, "A Tattoo!" He turned to Cordelia; "Do you have any idea who was getting the tattoo. We need to know, this person will have immense power over the creatures of the underworld. The night dwellers. Angel here is feeling the summons already."
Cordelia looked a little odd, she stuttered slightly before saying quietly, "Willow".
~Part: 2~
They had been researching the Heart of Darkness for hours. Cordelia was exhausted. There was nothing new, at all. Just the same legend repeated over and over. No-one knew what power this Heart person had. They had paused briefly to phone the Sunnydale crew. They needed to know that one their lot may be wrapped up in this. Willow had not been around at the time. Anya had explained that she was avoiding the Magic Shop, due to her overdosing in Magic.
This had worried the staff of Angel Investigations. If Willow was emotionally unstable this vision did not bode well for anyone. Shoving the books away from her she stood and began to pace. She wasn't sure what they were looking for. Her vision wasn't the usual urgent extreme warning type she normally got. This was more of a "We're letting you know" type. That was the feeling. Lorne came down the stairs from checking on Conner. Their eyes locked. As soon as they did their minds were flung away.
Opening her eyes she found herself in a crowd of people. Lorne was sitting beside her. Everyone was looking up towards a platform. Turning her head she gasped. Willow suddenly appeared.
The Heart of Darkness comes.
Deep in her trance back in LA she repeated the words.
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Willow tossed in her sleep. Her bedcovers were scrunched at the bottom of her bed. Her eyelids fluttered madly.
She Dreamt.
The Heart of Darkness comes.
The thought bounded against the walls of her mind. Suddenly there was light and it was glaring. She looked around her apprehensively. Her childhood fear of crowds surfaced as she took in all the people looking up at her. They appeared to be waiting for something.
The Heart of Darkness comes.
Again that echo, deep and foreboding, yet somehow familiar. She looked up. Coming toward her were two almost human figures. Their faces were painted strangely. Willow had a funny feeling that their bodies would be painted likewise, if it were paint. "We are the Oracles" They chimed in harmony. "The Rite of Acceptance will begin". A hush fell on the crowd. They looked unblinkingly towards Willow and the Oracles.
The Oracles in turn faced only Willow. "Who are you?" They intoned. Willow paused before answering, unsure as yet of what she was doing or where she was. "I am Willow" she eventually replied. A murmur echoed throughout the crowd. The Oracles nodded sagely before adding, "The Tree that Bends, A worthy recipient."
They turned once more to Willow, " What are you?" Willow didn't understand at first. She looked deep within herself to find what they were looking for. What was she? She felt a burning at her hip and looked down. She saw the tattoo that had been etched onto her skin earlier that day and knew. She looked up.
"I am the Heart of Darkness!"
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Cordelia opened her eyes. "The Heart of Darkness is here."
~Part: 3~
Willow felt complete. The hole inside her that she had strained to fill with magic was no longer empty. She opened her eyes to darkness. She floated. Or at least that is how it seemed. Voices murmured around her like the soft flow of a river. "Who are you?" Her voice echoed and warped through the darkness. A million whispers returned, all different, all the same. "We are the Hearts, those who came before, we are your prophets, you are our voice." Willow nodded, she understood. "I am your voice, speak to me." All at once there were voices in her head telling her of their history, making her aware of her lineage.
Back in her room in Sunnydale she floated a foot above her bed.
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Spike had been roaming since sundown. Normally he would go stalk the slayer but that idea seemed repulsive to him now. The incessant buzz he had been feeling earlier had died down leaving him strangely empty. He had felt a call, although almost primeval, and had failed to answer it. His demon was subdued and he was deep in thought, barely watching where he was going.
Looking up he realised he was at the slayer's house, but not in his usual position under her window. Tonight he was under the witch's room. There was a strange light coming from the window. He frowned to himself. The witch had given up magic. He didn't like to think she had regressed. She wasn't all that stable at the minute, and to tell you the truth he felt a kind of sympathy for her. He'd been through withdrawal when he couldn't hunt properly anymore.
He decided to investigate further and made his way swiftly to the back door. He quietly moved upstairs to Willow's room. As he opened the door the light grew stronger. It was a soft red almost pink. He moved as if in a trance. Willow floated above her bed, seemingly asleep. He looked on her in awe. His demon lay cowed inside him.
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The darkness ebbed. Willow Knew. She knew everything. The beginning and end of all. She wouldn't keep the knowledge. Despite everything she was still human and a human brain cannot hold the secrets of the universe. But the essential knowledge would stay. She knew her role. The oracles had not explained. They had left that to her ancestors. She would be a voice to the creatures of the night. Too long Demons had been without a heart. She was theirs now. And they were hers. She didn't know what this would mean for her friends but for her it was a change of everything.
A voice returned, "Your protector has come" it whispered. "He answered your summons, reward him well." Willow smiled. Spike, she had a feeling he would be the one to answer the summons. All others were insignificant. Slowly she opened her eyes. She gently floated to the mattress. Turning her head she appraised the vampire. She sat up and reached out a hand, "William," She began, "Will you freely answer the summons."
Spikes demon stirred. Again came the call before time. "Accept" it urged, "it is an honour unknown." Nodded his head in assent. Gently Willow pulled him toward her. They fell back on the bed. A passion he had never felt before rose up in him. He kissed her fully and she arched into him, starting a rite of bonding not performed for nearly 2,000 years.
~Part: 4~
"We were called to witness it," Cordelia was still in a daze. She was trying to sort out everything that happened as well as giving an account of it. Angel ran a hand through his hair, "So we're too late, Willow has accepted the role of Heart of Darkness, Have we figured out what that is by the way, Wesley?" Cordelia shook her head. "Willow was meant for this. The powers called her and us. Everyone in that audience had some connection to the powers. They were all seers or readers. And the place was filled with them. I don't think all were from this dimension either."
Wesley interrupted her, "You mean the Powers orchestrated this? I wonder why? It looks like they wanted everyone to know this was happening. What does the Heart of Darkness mean, We still haven't figured it out!" Lorne made a strange noise, as if clearing his throat; "Well I might be able to help with that problem. The Powers believe in balance. A great cosmic scales. What is on one side should be on another. Now over 2,000 years ago, according to the books, the last Heart predicted that there would be a considerable passage of time before the next person came forward for the role. 2,000 years without a heart left the creatures of the dark lost and allowed a corruption, or more to the point Wolfram & Hart, and their ilk."
"So this Willow chick is evil, then?" Gunn asked. Lorne shook his head. "No in fact she is the exact opposite. It's all part of the balance. She isn't pure or anything like that, but she has the potential to be the most kind, generous and loving soul in the entire world. On the side of light we have our very own Heart in the shape of big, tall and brooding over there, " He pointed to Angel, "The reason being that he has the potential to be the most evil creature on the planet. It's a balance. Now this doesn't mean that Willow will be good. She has new priorities, and they will most likely clash with ours. She could very well be our new nemesis."
~Part: 5~
The phone rang. A long manicured hand reached out and lifted the handset. "Lilah Morgan, How can I help you?" There was a slight pause, "Yes Sir", followed quiet closely by "Already, Of course, Sir, I'll see to it right away. Don't worry, I won't let you down!" She replaced the handset, and brought her hands up to her temples. Massaging them slowly she contemplated the phone call. Apparently all of the seers employed by the firm had been pulled simultaneously into a great hall to witness an event.
A new Heart of Darkness had been called.
The senior partners were not impressed that they had not been forewarned so a number of the seers had met untimely deaths before the reign of terror ended. The fact that the whole thing was over in a matter of minutes and a decision had been made over what was to happen next, was what had Lilah massaging her head. She was to decide what happened next. If she decided incorrectly then she would wish she had been one of the seers. Her death would be legendary.
The first thing she had to do was find out who the new Heart was and whether she was willing to join forces with Wolfram & Hart. That would be a major coop. The forces of darkness would be more tightly bound to the company. But this was all just imaginings, and in this offices you could end up dead if you believed they would come through. Always be prepared. She reached for the phone again. She had questions to ask.
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Willow rolled over. Her dreams had once again been hijacked by the voices of the ancient Hearts. She felt a comforting arm go around her. Spike. He had been there with her. Receiving his instructions. Understanding that they were bound now, truly. He gained benefits, as did she. He was to protect her from any that threatened her. His life now belonged to her. In return he gained protection from sunlight and the stake. But fire would still kill him. She reached a hand up to the side of his head, pulled it down towards her and kissed him. When they parted she brought her hand down. Set in the middle of her palm was a small metallic object. The chip.
Spike quirked an eyebrow questioningly. She smiled at him, "After all how can you protect me when many of my enemies may be human?" He nodded solemnly and pulled her towards him. He kissed her passionately and began to do his best to push away the thought that her friends may not like what she had become.
~Part: 6~
WILLOW ROSENBERG. The file lay on Lilah's desk. The type burned into her skull. This wasn't good. Willow Rosenberg. Born Sunnydale California. Has never left. Friends: Alexander Harris and Buffy Summers. The slayer. The heart of Darkness was a friend of the Slayer. If that was it, it would have been complicated enough but no, further reading proved that young Miss Rosenberg was the one to restore Angel's soul. A witch. Not just any witch either. To perform the soul restoration spell requires power and that is not normally found in a seventeen-year-old girl.
She was blatantly on the side of good, but now she was the Heart of Darkness. Lilah couldn't figure it out. She couldn't see a way of bringing her in to the fold either. Angel was bound to have mentioned the lawfirm. But maybe he hadn't. The girl was smart, looking at her class records; maybe she could be enticed in with a corner office and a substantial salary. Working out a plan, she closed the file and reached for the phone. She had to see what kind of job would suit Miss Rosenberg best.
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Willow was troubled. The creatures of the darkness had been without a pure voice for so long that things had become corrupted. She knew she had to stop the corruption and make the dark clean again. Spike nuzzled her neck. He was pure evil, and loved it. She smiled. He was hers too. He had given over all claims to himself. She grinned suddenly wondering how his grandsire would feel about it. Unfortunately for Angelus he too would have to answer her call should she demand it. Things could be fun. A voice inside her cautioned her. She had a job to do. She could not let the power go to her head. It would lead to downfall and the ultimate end to the balance.
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Angel was still struggling to understand that Willow, sweet innocent Willow, was now the ruler in effect of all the creatures of the dark. And apparently it was all sanctioned by the powers. He had forgotten that the powers were not interested in good and evil. Such things were considered petty and beneath their notice. No they wanted balance and would strive for it. He was deeply uncomfortable with the fact that his Willow, the saviour of his soul, would be his ultimate opposite. His Arch-Nemesis.
He also knew that it wouldn't be long before Wolfram and hart would find her and begin corrupting her for their use. He didn't know how he would deal with the law firm if Willow joined forces with them. Which of course she would be inclined to do. Now that she was the voice of evil and they were the hand of it.
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