FIC: Royalty Redux (Chapter 3)

["Cilia" <cilia@xxxxx>]

Title: Royalty Redux
Author: Cilia
Archives: List archivers go right ahead.
Notes: The rewrite of the classic B/W story Royalty, the story that set
the stage for the epic Two Worlds story and made many of the characters
that are still around and kicking in Prophecy's Twilight. 
Relative to the show, this takes place after the events of Graduation,
so those are still in continuity while, but I have take some liberties
and this is very much an alternate universe story.
Summary: Buffy finds herself in San Francisco looking for Willow, but
the young witch has gone missing, both of them struggle with their
emerging affection for each other and new enemies. Along for the ride
are Spike, Giles, Anya and Xander, every single one of them with a
mission of their own.


Chapter 3: In the Prince's Court


The next night Buffy drifted through the streets along with Giles.
They'd wandered from club to bloc since the sun had gone down and still
had seen no sign of Willow, Spike was out on his own and Anya and Xander
had gone off to be romantic.
"How many places can there be where a witch goes to cut loose?" Buffy
muttered to no one in particular as they left the latest club.
"Apparently quite a few," Giles answered and then his ears perked. "Did
you hear that?" he asked.
"Yep," Buffy said drawing a stake from her jacket as they broke into a
run.
"Drop her," Buffy shouted as they ran into an alley.
The figure looked up, laid its pray on the ground and then ran. Instead
of giving chase they quickly ran to the limp body on the ground.
"I'll go after." Buffy said, but stopped as she felt a hand on her
shoulder restraining her from running.
"I'm afraid I can't allow that," the man holding her said.
"And you are?" Giles asked looking up from his crouch position on the
ground.
"My name is Daniel Night. I am an undying one," the man answered.
"Let me go! That thing just killed her," Buffy protested and looked down
at the limp woman on the ground.
"She's not dead," Giles stated and Buffy froze as her other senses did
an inspection of the man holding her shoulder. She turned to face the
man that had introduced himself as Daniel Night. 
"You're not a vampire," she stated.
"That is true," the man answered.
"But you just said you were undying," Buffy stated.
"That I am," he answered. "Perhaps your scholar can explain," he said
and motioned to Giles
"Giles what's this guy talking about?" Buffy asked.
"The undying ones are a myth and according to it they're an offshoot of
the human race," Giles explained.
"Human vampires?" Buffy asked with a raised eyebrow.
"In essence yes, immortality without the demon, but still with the need
for blood," Giles replied.
"And our rules forbid the killing of humans," Daniel said and stepped
back making a gesture of peace with his hands.
"Explains why I couldn't sense the vampire who just ran away or you for
that matter," Buffy stated looking the man over. Lean, muscular and his
jacket didn't flow right.
"Buffy we really should be going," Giles said and Daniel's eyes lit up.
"Buffy what's your true name?" he asked for the first time looked Buffy
over. 
"What to you mean?" Buffy asked suspiciously.
"It's Elisabeth isn't it?" Daniel asked.
"How did you.?" Buffy asked, lifting the stake.
"You search for a magic user named Willow," Daniel went on not flinching
at the sight of the stake.
"Yes, you know her?" Giles said and forced Buffy to lower her stake.
"I know of every child of the night that passes through here," Daniel
answered.
"Can you take us to her?" Giles asked.
"I can show you that she's safe, but nothing more," Daniel replied.
"Why?" Buffy asked.
"In short she doesn't want to be found," Daniel stated bluntly.
"That's ridiculous we're her friends," Buffy exclaimed.
"Well my offer stands," Daniel nodded calmly.
"We accept," Giles said.
"Giles," Buffy hissed.
"At least this way we know she's alright," Giles whispered and Daniel
Night was already walking out of the allay.
"Coming?" he said over his shoulder.
"It's up to you," Giles said in soft voice and Buffy looked at Giles,
then at Daniel's back and back at Giles
"Hey wait up," she shouted as they jogged after him.

*~*~*~*

Willow was once again getting lost in the night, forgetting and living.
It felt strange though. How easy it was to forget and let yourself go,
forgetting the dreams of the previous night and forgetting the pangs of
guilt for lying to her friends, lying to Buffy. Forgetting everything
but the night and being alive. 

Buffy looked over the club from the office where the man named Daniel
Night had brought them in promise of seeing Willow.
"I don't see her?" Buffy said and looked back.
"She'll be here, wait and watch," Daniel said patiently as he poured tea
into Giles cup.
"Tell me more about the undying ones?" Giles asked as he sipped his tea.
"There isn't much more to tell actually. There are several clans, each
city or area has a prince who makes sure that everyone more or less gets
along and that no one breaks the rules," Daniel explained.
"Who is the prince here and what are the rules?" Buffy asked from the
window.
"Some fellow named Night," Daniel said with a grin.
"Oh!" Buffy said and turned her attention back to the dance floor.
"You're. you're the prince?" Giles stammered slightly.
"Yes, when I heard the Slayer had come to the city, my first duty was of
course to seek her out," Daniel replied.
"And why's that?" Giles asked.
"There are rules and I have to be sure the Slayer understands them.
First: undying ones never kill humans. Second: humans must never find
out about us," Daniel explained.
"So you want me to careful?" Buffy asked.
"No I want you to do nothing. You will not kill my kind is that
understood," Daniel said firmly.
"And if I do?" Buffy asked turning away from the window, still keeping
on eye on it though, in case Willow wandered past.
"If you do, I will be forced to take action," Daniel replied calmly.
"But what about the demons?" Giles asked hoping to calm both sides down.
"Those you can kill," Daniel said with a flourish of a hand. "Granted
they haven't been granted sanctuary by me," he added.
"How generous of you." the comment died on Buffy's lips as she saw
Willow 
"What, what is it?" Giles said and quickly joined her.
"Willow," Buffy said as the redhead came into view again.
"So you see why she doesn't wish to see you?" Daniel said as he stepped
next to the staring pair. "She is not your Willow, your librarian, when
she is here,"
"But." Buffy said as she watched Willow spin around the dance floor
between partners of both genders.
"She's free here," Daniel went on.
"Why didn't she tell us?" Buffy whispered.
"That I can't answer," Daniel said.
"I have to go to her," Buffy stated and made for the door, but in a
blink of an eye Daniel stood in front of her, blocking her way.
"I can't allow that. Imagine for one second what would happen if you
would storm out there and demand an explanation?" he asked.
"I." Buffy started, but the answer died on her lips.
"You don't know do you? Mr. Giles help me out here," Daniel said tearing
Giles away from the window.
"I'm afraid he's right Buffy. Willow will in most likelihood turn and
run, and that in turn would only make things worse," Giles said calmly.
"But she's my friend and I mean. this isn't how she acts," Buffy said as
she stepped back to the glass and watched her friend. "There has to be
something wrong and I want to know what it is," she whispered.
"There is nothing wrong Elisabeth," Daniel said. "She just grew up and
you missed it. When the time comes I'm sure she'll share all with you,
but until then." he trailed off.
"I'm not leaving the city if that's what you are hoping for," Buffy
said.
"I wouldn't dream of it, which brings us to the second reason why I
sought you out," Daniel said.
"And that is?" Buffy asked.
"Please have a seat both of you," Daniel said and motioned to the
chairs. Both Buffy and Giles took the offered seats and waited for him
to make his proposal.
"Now the job of prince isn't an easy one, there is always someone trying
to kill you, ruin things for you and so on," Daniel explained.
"Your point is?" Buffy asked.
"There will be an attempt on my life sometime within the next two
months. I want to hire you two and even those who came with you here to
make sure that doesn't happen," Daniel stated bluntly.
"Why?" Giles asked.
"I know the attack will be made by the demons and I can't allow them to
succeed," Daniel explained.
"And why should we take this offer?" Buffy asked.
"Because if you don't and they succeed this city will become like the
Hellmouth," Daniel said plainly and both Buffy and Giles went silent.
"You see the reason for the massive chaos surrounding the Hellmouth is
caused by two reason, first of course is the gateway and second is
because there is no prince to keep order. So in light of this will you
help me?" he asked.
"How much?" Buffy asked.
"Buffy," Giles whispered.
"Giles what if he's right. We can't risk that," Buffy said.
"What about the Hellmouth?" Giles asked.
"Giles its summer and we're only a day away. Plus being paid for slaying
can't be that bad. I mean think of college for one moment, education
isn't free you know," Buffy argued.
"What else is involved?" Giles asked.
"You will have to move into my mansion of course, but other than keeping
your eyes open and following me around, not much," Daniel answered.
"For two months?" Buffy asked.
"Two months and you will be paid handsomely," Daniel stated.
"Free room and board?" Giles asked.
"Yes and expenses," Daniel answered.
"Well since we are going to be in town for a while." Giles said.
".and waiting for Willow to come to us," Buffy added.
"Then to we have a deal?" Daniel asked with a salesman smile, with
fangs.
"What do you think Giles," Buffy asked, but Giles just shrugged.
"It's up to you," he said.
"We accept," she said and offered Daniel her hand.
"Excellent, now the cars will arrive tomorrow at sundown to pick up you
and your companions," Daniel said. "Is there anything you need brought
in from Sunnydale?"
"You knew we were going to say yes?" Buffy asked, but it was more of a
statement.
"I'm the prince," Daniel said like it would explain everything.
"Oho!" Buffy said and moved back to the window as Giles and Daniel
discussed plans for the upcoming assignment.
Willow what are you doing, she thought to herself, as she watched Willow
flirting shamelessly with another girl. This isn't the Willow I know, or
maybe it is. Have I been blind? What's she done with her hair?
"Buffy are you ready to leave?" Giles question snapped Buffy out of her
thoughts.
"Uh!"
"Ready to go?" Giles asked looking concerned.
"No you go ahead and explain everything to the gang. I think I'll just
stay here and watch for while," Buffy answered. Giles studied his Slayer
for a moment before speaking up again.
"Take care and I'll see you at the hotel," Giles said and left, leaving
Buffy alone in the dark office watching Willow chat up some blond witch,
that she already had a great dislike for.

*~*~*~*

Giles stepped out into the night, adjusted the collar of his coat and
rubbed his hands together to ward of the slight chill of the night.
She's confused, but I hope she'll come around sooner or later, he
thought as he started walking towards the Hotel.
He walked until he found his way blocked and He looked up at two demonic
vampires.
"I don't have time for this," he muttered.
"Well if it isn't the Slayers pet," One of the vampires commented,
obviously a Sunnydale survivor and it was the last thing it said as a
black streak swept through its neck.
"Like I said I don't have time for this," he said as he swung for the
second vampire. He walked away from the piles of dust, his eyes
seemingly on fire and the obsidian blade disappearing into his coat.

*~*~*~*

Willow woke in a bed that was not her own and left it before dawn. She'd
screamed Buffy's name in the night, she was sure of it. Right now she
felt tired and unclean. Still it had been her choice. Then why on earth
was it making her feel like she'd just done something that would
dishonor Buffy? Buffy was her friend, she'd understand, right? She
turned on the light and nodded to Lily.
"What do you want now?" she asked.
"You did it didn't you?" Lily asked.
"Yes I had sex," Willow stated.
"But why?" Lily asked.
"That's a weird question," Willow snorted.
"You know very well what I mean," Lily scowled. "You are skating very
close to the edge young one," she said firmly.
"Because I wanted to feel what it would be like, because if I closed my
eyes I could imagine it was Buffy," she looked around and saw that Lily
was gone. Well you had to give the woman credit she knew how to get you
to confess things to yourself. Even if the things you realized were not
the things you wanted to hear.


To Be Continued.