<see Part 1 for disclaimers>
Red Moon Series, Book 10
Frau Hunter Ash
Summary: Buffy and Scoobies learn more about Xena and Gabrielle and bacchae as Bacchus, Rack and Faith’s evil continues to spread.
Part 4
Buffy really wasn’t surprised when she woke early the next morning and found Giles awake and researching in the den of the Summers-Giles house. “Hey,” she said softly.
Giles looked up and smiled an almost sad smile. “Should you be out of bed?” he asked. The Watcher thought Buffy looked about as beaten as he had ever seen her outside of actually ending up in the hospital. “Can’t sleep?”
“Tara’s restless without Willow with us and everything kinda aches,” Buffy admitted. “What are you researching? Bacchus and bacchae stuff?”
Giles nodded, rubbing at his temple above the eye patch.
“What about you, are you all right?” Buffy asked with a frown. Ever since Rack and Faith had teamed up, everyone was stressed but, like her mother, Buffy worried especially about Giles. She knew he was strong physically unless stressed out, then his old wounds began hurting, including the missing eye.
“I will be once we’ve dealt with a sorcerer, a rogue Slayer and a Greek God,” Giles said with a tired smile. “You know, it’s rather obvious but I believe Xena and Gabrielle are right, we should concentrate on the University. It’s the right age group, right atmosphere and somewhat self contained.”
“What do you mean?” Buffy asked, sitting down across from her mentor and step-father.
“The target girls live on campus, they usually eat on campus, attend school and such,” Giles explained. “Going off campus isn’t usually a daily thing except perhaps to eat.”
Buffy nodded. “I can see that. They aren’t going from the high school campus to home or the mall. They have a short distance to get to their dorms but that also means anyone on or near campus has a controlled group to prey on.”
“Exactly, slightly harder to prey on than at the Bronze or the streets but these vampires are different. They aren’t hunting for blood and death but blood and infection and fit in easier than our vampires,” Giles added. “Greek parties, social get togethers, even study sessions could easily be utilized as hunting grounds for both males and female victims.”
“And Rack and Faith are drawing us away by showing up in cemeteries and the Bronze,” Buffy said thoughtfully. “So we don’t find out about Bacchus and his scheme.”
“Angelus did the same thing,” Giles said softly, taking a sip of his tea. “Halloween is this week, there will be a lot of parties on campus. We have to find where Bacchus is hiding and stop him before he completes the ritual Halloween night and makes those girls full bacchae.”
“Okay, Xander, Anya, Tara and I will hit the campus. Can you and Dawn handle the Bronze in case Rack and Faith show up there?” Buffy asked.
“I believe so. I have a tranquilizer gun to surprise either of them with and my shields and energy levels are good,” Giles said easily.
“Giles... I know you kinda wig when you think about Rack...”
“I’ll be able to face him,” Giles said softly, his jaw muscles clenching. “He won’t do that to anyone again when I’m done.”
“Just yell loud if you get in over your head,” Buffy said gently, reaching across the desk and squeezing his hand. “We lose you again and we’ll go nuts.”
“Don’t intend on becoming lost again,” Giles said with a smile, squeezing her hand in return. “Now, go help your mother with breakfast. Brad is going to go over the missing persons reports with me, see if we can track a hunting pattern later today.”
“Cool, maybe we can talk Theresa and Mom into cooking,” Buffy suggested.
“They are the best, aren’t they?” Giles asked with a smile.
# # #
Xena walked up behind Gabrielle and wrapped her arms around her wife. “It’ll be alright, little one,” she said softly. The tension was almost radiating from the smaller warrior.
“I just hate running into other vampires,” Gabrielle said, her voice almost as whisper. “This town is crawling with them.”
“You aren’t a vampire, Gabrielle,” Xena said firmly.
“Close enough,” Gabrielle countered. “I can sense them and they can sense me. You know Tara might be infected.”
“Yes,” Xena said gently. “I’ll talk to Buffy about it.”
“Be careful,” Gabrielle advised. “They’re soul bound, you know.”
Xena sighed and nodded. “I wish we could meet Willow, the third of their triad. It’s damned uncommon for a triad to work.”
“Come on, let’s get searching for Bacchus and that sorcerer and Slayer that’s been bothering them,” Gabrielle said. “I’ve got breakfast ready.”
# # #
Buffy walked to the address Xena and Gabrielle had given the Scooby gang and hesitated near the front porch. Hearing the familiar sound of metal on metal, she walked around to the side gate and opened it slowly, senses and body on alert.
The Slayer stopped in the shade of a tree and watched the scene before her.
Xena and Gabrielle were sparring with sharp steel; Xena with a short, thick sword and Gabrielle with... what were those called, Buffy thought, yeah, sais. A martial arts weapon Buffy hadn’t practice with much. Made of metal, short and mainly for sword breaking and thrusting, there wasn’t much opportunity to use them against demons or vampires.
In Gabrielle’s hands though... Buffy thought she might reconsider.
The warrior and bard were amazing. Sais and sword flashing in the bright California sunlight with speed that had the Slayer blinking. After a few moments Xena and Gabrielle stepped back from each other, both breathing heavily but smiling.
Buffy applauded and stepped into the sunlight. Xena bowed slightly with a playful grin while Gabrielle went to the back porch and brought back two bottles of water and a rag. Xena took the rag and a bottle and took a drink of water and then began cleaning her sword.
“Thanks, we try and spar daily,” Xena said as they all retreated to the shade of the tree and a bench and lawn chairs.
“That was quite impressive,” Buffy commented. “I’ve worked with swords but usually stakes. A few martial arts weapons but never sais.”
“Well, we’ve had a few centuries to practice,” Gabrielle said with a grin. “We’ve been in almost every corner of the world.”
“And studied every fighting skill in the world,” Xena added.
“What else have you two done for a couple thousand years?” Buffy asked, watching the two with obvious curiosity.
“Most everything,” Gabrielle said with a thoughtful smile. “From barmaids to outlaws fighting for Saxon rights.”
“Resistance fighters in the Baltics to nannies,” Xena grinned, leaning over and kissing Gabrielle’s cheek.
“Ever meet any Slayers? I guess that you’ve seen vampires before beside Bacchus and your Greek types,” Buffy asked.
“We’ve never run across a Slayer,” Gabrielle said with a shrug, taking a drink of water. “We’ve heard legends about them but never met one. We’re usually close to a fight, war, or trying to lead a quiet life. We’ve run across a few vampires but not many.”
“We try to avoid them,” Xena added.
“Tell me about being part bacchae,” Buffy urged and wasn’t surprised when Gabrielle frowned and leaned closer to Xena.
“I crave blood,” Gabrielle said after a moment. “Sometimes it has to be human blood and... well... heightened sexuality.”
Xena grinned and shook her head. “All these centuries and she still blushes.” Then the warrior grew serious. “If she’s injured, starved or really angry, the bacchae can come out.”
“Do other vampires sense you?” Buffy asked.
“Yes,” Gabrielle nodded as Xena wrapped an arm around her.
“It... confuses them.”
”They can hear her heartbeat but sense that she’s... related,” Xena said
gently. Even after centuries the warrior knew Gabrielle hated being part bacchae.
“Tell me about the partial bacchae stuff,” Buffy said softly. “The girls can be saved up until the point where they drink blood from Bacchus, right?”
“Yes,” Gabrielle nodded. “I tasted his blood but only a drop and with being the daughter of a god, kept me mostly human. You’re worried.”
“Yeah,” Buffy admitted. “Not just for the college and high school girls.” The Slayer glanced at her wedding ring, a Celtic triad knotwork pattern.
“You know Tara is most likely infected,” Gabrielle ventured.
“She can’t be,” Buffy said with a frown. “She’s... she can’t be. No offense but she doesn’t do darkness.”
Xena’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Gabrielle
isn’t darkness.”
“Easy, lover,“ Gabrielle said with a sigh. “You know
it’s darkness to counter Apollo and my own light. How is Tara part of the light and I’m assuming you’re
not including yourself in that, or Willow, why?”
Buffy got up and began pacing. “We took on Dracula once and... Will and I... gave in. I couldn’t fight him and... almost became a vampire willingly. He hooked Willow on dark magic until she was like a junkie withdrawing from heroin. Tara’s never... given into temptation or darkness.”
“What attracted you to Dracula?” Gabrielle asked softly.
“He offered eternal life with Willow,” Buffy said after a moment. “The price was too high though, he wanted us to reject Tara and the light. Neither of us could do that and Willow fought back eventually.”
“But you gave in,” Xena ventured, watching the girl’s face.
“Yeah, the bite was... wasn’t like when I was bit other times,” Buffy said softly, slowing her pacing. “It was...”
“Erotic?” Xena asked and wasn’t surprised when Buffy nodded and blushed. “It can be highly erotic. Buffy, no one can think straight when hit with that energy. How did the three of you beat him?”
“Tara and Willow... reminded me of who I am,” Buffy said, sinking onto the bench. “Tara s-showed me the First Slayer and the Slayers down the line. Each of them fighting to the end. Then they hit me with... love.”
Gabrielle moved out of Xena’s arm and knelt in front of Buffy, meeting the Slayer’s eyes. “Go on,” she urged, placing a hand on Buffy’s knee.
“Tara and Willow channelled energy from everyone,” Buffy went on. “Everybody, Xander, Giles, Mom, Angel and everyone. Willow was hurt and stuff and almost died, giving me the last of her life energy but Carson, a friend, stepped in and gave his instead.”
Gabrielle glanced at Xena, both of them remembering the bard doing the same, only no one had stepped in to stop Gabrielle. Only intervention by the gods had brought Gabrielle back.
“And you’re worried about losing that,” Xena commented. “If Tara falls to the darkness you think you’ll fall next time it gets tight.”
“They’re... everything to me,” Buffy said, looking up at both of them. “You... you’ve lived for centuries, longer than Dracula. I’ve lived longer than any other Slayer. I died once but CPR brought me back. It’s kinda... hard. I know I won’t make 30. To see both of you and this immortality thing, it was tempting.”
“We also died young,” Gabrielle pointed out, squeezing Buffy’s knee and moving back onto the bench. “We knew the odds were high we wouldn’t make 25. Different times, different world.”
“Believe me, Bacchus isn’t anything to get excited about,” Xena said with a slight growl. “Full bacchae really don’t have a mind of their own, all they do is go around looking for victims and drawing others in bacchanalia celebrations.”
“Sounds less free will than newbies,” Buffy commented. “Okay, you think Tara might be infected and we’ve got until Halloween to fix this. Tell me about partial bacchae and how we stop this idiot Bacchus.”
# # #
Dawn stopped outside the den and listened for a moment as the sounds of a guitar drifted into the rest of the house. A combination of blues and classic rock told her that Giles was frustrated and worried.
The teenager thought it was a good sign that her father was playing, however. When caught in an alternative universe, he hadn’t picked up a guitar during the entire year, not even when she encouraged him. Since returning from “the dead”, he had been playing more frequently and the music was becoming more... hopeful. Except after run-ins with Rack or Faith.
Dawn knocked gently and opened the door. “Hey, dad, ready to patrol?”
Giles looked up from his guitar and smiled. “Yes, let me tell Joyce we’re heading out. Where to tonight?”
“Well, I was thinking, that Bacchus guy wants someplace secure and dark,” Dawn said thoughtful as he put his guitar away and gathered his weapons for the evening. It was always a surprise to watch him, she thought. A lifetime preparing to train Slayers had left Rupert Giles in excellent physical shape and well trained in a variety of fighting styles and knowledge of a lot of weapons, many of them archaic.
Dawn had discovered that Giles had been a natural at fighting with weapons, especially a knife. After some encouragement he had told her some about his days as a youth in the rock n roll scene in the rough days of London in the early 80s. The fights between punk rockers, skin heads, classic rockers, Teddy boys and New Wavers. Dawn had heard about a lot of it from Ethan, hearing about it from Giles’ point of view had been... enlightening. Ethan had always praised Giles’ fighting skills and roughness whereas Giles downplayed it. Ethan had almost made the fights seem adventurous and glorious, Giles had barely talked about them.
Giles nodded as he placed a spike in a bracer on his right arm. Dressed in tennis shoes, jeans, t-shirt and long coat with bracers, he looked like.... a dangerous cowboy or biker, Dawn decided. The eyepatch helped the image.
“Go on,” Giles encouraged. “We’ve searched all the large tombs near the university.”
“Well, Buffy told me about those caves where you guys found that bionic demon mixed up guy,” Dawn said slowly. “They weren’t destroyed, were they?”
“Not all of them, no,” Giles said softly, his eye narrowing in thought. “Let’s check those out. I’ll tell Joyce where we’re going. We’ll do a light reconn, nothing in depth. It’s damned dark and confusing down there.”
“Okay,” Dawn said as she adjusted her own weapons of two stakes, a large knife and a flask of holy water. “I’ll meet you at the front door.”
# # #
Buffy brushed off a frat boy’s invitation to dance as she walked out of the frat house of Ki Sigma Delta or something. She spotted Tara waiting under a nearby tree with Gabrielle and smiled, shaking her head.
The bard sighed and glanced around as the Slayer approached. “I was hoping that a huge frat party would attract at least two bacchae. Let’s check that other party Xena’s at.”
Buffy reached for Tara’s hand and frowned, noticing her wife’s distracted expression. “What’s wrong, Tare?”
“Hmm? Nothing, just listening to the music,” Tara said softly as Gabrielle watched the university students partying at an early Halloween party at the frat house Buffy had just left.
Buffy glanced back at the house, puzzled. The music wasn’t really clear and certainly nothing outstanding or notable, she thought. She turned back to Tara and took the witch’s hand. “Let’s hook up with Xena and then hit the Bronze and grab Xander and Anya.”
“Okay,” Tara said softly, her eyes still somewhat distant.
It didn’t take long to arrive at the other party, also being held at a frat house. Buffy sighed, she had learned quickly that frat parties usually weren’t exciting and sometimes, on the Hellmouth, not what they appeared to be either.
“I just hope there’s not snake-like demon these guys pray to,” she muttered as they approached the house.
Gabrielle raised her eyebrows as she looked at the Slayer. “Snake demons?”
“Frat boys wanting success, money and girls, sacrifices, turning into Bill Gates, more sacrifices, that sorta stuff,” Buffy explained.
“How about I go in and find Xena and see if there’s any bacchae?” Gabrielle suggested. “You two watch out here. If they sense me they’ll probably scatter and you can follow them back to Bacchus.”
“Sounds good,” Buffy said, noticing Tara was more quiet than usual.
Gabrielle headed inside the frat house, bracing herself against the noise, smoke and come-ons from males and females. Even in modern clothes, the bard moved with a grace that attracted attention from both sexes. Add the hint of strength, the beautiful face and body and she had long since become accustomed to invitations, some polite, some not. When they weren’t, the ill-mannered Romeo usually found out just how strong and quick the petite woman could be.
Buffy leaned against Tara as the witch wrapped her arms around the Slayer. “I love you, Buffy.”
“Back at you, Tara,” Buffy said, moving her head slightly as Tara nuzzled her neck. “You okay tonight?”
“Worried about Will, you, Giles, everybody,” Tara said, her voice almost a whisper as she pulled Buffy close, nibbling on an earlobe.
Buffy moaned softly and glanced around. They were in a fairly shadowed area of the frat house yard, off the sidewalk leading to the house, very close to the bushes bordering the property line. “Tare... kinda public.”
Buffy’s beginning arousal suddenly became a chill as the energy from her lover changed and the connections they shared shut down abruptly. “Tare?”
Tara’s arms tightened around her and the moan became a growl.
Buffy felt fangs at her throat, the hands holding her now had very long black fingernails, almost talon-looking.
“No, Tara, please don’t,” Buffy whispered as she tried to reach for the dryad bone Xena had given her the night before.
Buffy whimpered as fangs pierced her skin, the sting quickly replaced by a feeling of arousal and euphoria. “Tare, don’t...” she begged as she fought her body responding to the bite.
Tara growled in her ear as the Slayer pulled the dryad bone and bit Buffy harder. The Slayer cried out as Tara grabbed her wrist tightly, with unearthly strength, snapping her wrist bones.
Buffy began to lose her focus as Tara drained her blood and the infection began spreading through the Slayer’s body. The Slayer went limp as the blood loss continued.