SUMMARY:
It is the end of the world as we know it, Angel and Wes have travelled to Rome to seek the help of Giles to translate some ancient texts that seems to hold the clue to the nature of a mysterious demon, which controls minds and is able to prey on its victims' fears. Yet, the Scoobies are not too sure they trust their visitors to be telling the truth and meanwhile the demon grows in strength to bring on a possible apocalypse. Betrayal, forgotten love, trust and sacrifices takes hold of our heroes' lives.
BuffyAngel, Spike friendly. Set AtS s5 AU after 'Damage', X-over with BtVS s7
A/N: This is the concluding part of a two-part story (hence the 'part 2' in the title :-) and I'm afraid most of the events in this story will make little to no sense if you haven't read part one.
If it seems too long (part 1) then here's a short and not at all detailed recap:
Spike and Angel finds a strange book, which has been the cause of many a murder in LA. They find that it is written in Djé-vàil and Wes informs them that they must seek the help of Giles who is one of the only people who can read this demon tongue. Arriving in Italy they both begin to experience strange nightmares and soon make the link to the book and the strange demon that was released when Spike tried to burn it. Meanwhile they are hunted by a group of vampires who seem very eager to get their hands on the book, Wes arrives in Italy to help them out and they finally traces the vampires to an Italian vampire called Cerbero, who has an old score to settle with Angel. Attacking Cerbero's mansion, they destroy all his servants though he escapes. That night the three of them goes out for a drink, Spike and Angel reflect on the growing friendship between them before Spike leaves.
This story is set BtVS season 7. The Potentials have all been scattered throughout Italy along with Watchers trained by Giles, though they still remain in close contact with the Scoobies who live in Rome. Buffy still occasionally patrols along with Kennedy and Xander, and since I was never a great fan of dawn, she's in England taking her graduation in Wiltshire where I have decided there's a lot of demonic activity.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. Yep, that's right. NOTHING. Zilch. Zero. Not even the poem. Everything Buffy/Angel belongs to Joss Whedon and co. I am just borrowing them for a bit of torture but promise to return them alive (in one piece was never part of the deal :-).
REVIEWS: Firstly, thanks to all who reviewed part one. I love you guys for bothering with reading and commenting on my work! So thanks for all the support and encouragement! Feedback is always, always appreciated (in other words YES, YES PLEASE!). Praise pretty, flames bad, but constructive criticism is always welcomed.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x
PROLOGUE:
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x
'Then scanning the o'ercrowded mass, should you
Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,
It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.
Great Death has made all his for evermore.' C.H. Sorley.
X
The leaves curled and blackened at his feet and the warm night breeze stilled. The stones crumbled and the night darkened where he passed.
He felt the darkness inside him, eating him from within, wringing his insides out, all rotten. All rotten. The decay of death was at his heels now; he always felt it there. Wherever he went, it would follow. Wherever he looked, it would see. Wherever he was, it would be.
His limbs were growing heavier, his limp more defined as he struggled with the weight of Death upon him. Yet the song was inside him now. He could see. He could walk. He could touch. And he could slay.
Warmth. He paused, searching through the blindness, the sea of white that lied about the darkness within. And the spirit was before him and he could see. It withered under his touch, screaming, dying, rotting. He drank the life from it, revelling in the darkness.
He was rot. He was death. And it was joyous.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
It is the end of the world as we know it, Angel and Wes have travelled to Rome to seek the help of Giles to translate some ancient texts that seems to hold the clue to the nature of a mysterious demon, which controls minds and is able to prey on its victims' fears. Yet, the Scoobies are not too sure they trust their visitors to be telling the truth and meanwhile the demon grows in strength to bring on a possible apocalypse. Betrayal, forgotten love, trust and sacrifices takes hold of our heroes' lives.
BuffyAngel, Spike friendly. Set AtS s5 AU after 'Damage', X-over with BtVS s7
A/N: This is the concluding part of a two-part story (hence the 'part 2' in the title :-) and I'm afraid most of the events in this story will make little to no sense if you haven't read part one.
If it seems too long (part 1) then here's a short and not at all detailed recap:
Spike and Angel finds a strange book, which has been the cause of many a murder in LA. They find that it is written in Djé-vàil and Wes informs them that they must seek the help of Giles who is one of the only people who can read this demon tongue. Arriving in Italy they both begin to experience strange nightmares and soon make the link to the book and the strange demon that was released when Spike tried to burn it. Meanwhile they are hunted by a group of vampires who seem very eager to get their hands on the book, Wes arrives in Italy to help them out and they finally traces the vampires to an Italian vampire called Cerbero, who has an old score to settle with Angel. Attacking Cerbero's mansion, they destroy all his servants though he escapes. That night the three of them goes out for a drink, Spike and Angel reflect on the growing friendship between them before Spike leaves.
This story is set BtVS season 7. The Potentials have all been scattered throughout Italy along with Watchers trained by Giles, though they still remain in close contact with the Scoobies who live in Rome. Buffy still occasionally patrols along with Kennedy and Xander, and since I was never a great fan of dawn, she's in England taking her graduation in Wiltshire where I have decided there's a lot of demonic activity.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. Yep, that's right. NOTHING. Zilch. Zero. Not even the poem. Everything Buffy/Angel belongs to Joss Whedon and co. I am just borrowing them for a bit of torture but promise to return them alive (in one piece was never part of the deal :-).
REVIEWS: Firstly, thanks to all who reviewed part one. I love you guys for bothering with reading and commenting on my work! So thanks for all the support and encouragement! Feedback is always, always appreciated (in other words YES, YES PLEASE!). Praise pretty, flames bad, but constructive criticism is always welcomed.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x
PROLOGUE:
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- x-x-x
'Then scanning the o'ercrowded mass, should you
Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,
It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.
Great Death has made all his for evermore.' C.H. Sorley.
X
The leaves curled and blackened at his feet and the warm night breeze stilled. The stones crumbled and the night darkened where he passed.
He felt the darkness inside him, eating him from within, wringing his insides out, all rotten. All rotten. The decay of death was at his heels now; he always felt it there. Wherever he went, it would follow. Wherever he looked, it would see. Wherever he was, it would be.
His limbs were growing heavier, his limp more defined as he struggled with the weight of Death upon him. Yet the song was inside him now. He could see. He could walk. He could touch. And he could slay.
Warmth. He paused, searching through the blindness, the sea of white that lied about the darkness within. And the spirit was before him and he could see. It withered under his touch, screaming, dying, rotting. He drank the life from it, revelling in the darkness.
He was rot. He was death. And it was joyous.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x