Lust

Suscitatio

Buffy walked into the empty school, looking at the wreckage that was left behind after the final battle. Her footsteps echoed through the burnt walls and ash-ridden debris. They had destroyed the school, again, during the battle against the First. She paused at the place where Anya's body was found after they came back to make sure the seal was broken. They buried her near Tara's grave, and unbeknownst to her, the entire area was reserved for when the rest of the scoobies died. Willow had set it up after Tara had died, she wanted them to be together if anything happened. Buffy only found out after she went to make sure everything was set up for Anya's funeral and the keeper of the grounds told her about why no one else was buried in the plots surrounding Tara's. She wanted to get mad at Willow for doing that, not wanting to face the possibility of losing anymore of her friends. But her anger died, reality taking its place. And in some morbid way, it was kind of sweet, knowing that her friends would be nearby after she died, again. She chuckled to herself as she made her way down the wreckage into the basement. She sat on the steps and looked at the spot where she last saw Spike. She knew on some level she loved him, she didn't know what would happen if they had more time to explore but that was not the case. She sat there, staring into the darkness. It had become a habit for her, to stop by once a week to check on the school, paranoia ripping through her, telling her that it still was not safe to relax. And now with this new player on the scene, she had a hard time relaxing. She smiled as the memories of her breakfast out with Kennedy and Willow flooded her head

They walked into a small diner, smiling at the new owner. Sunnydale was slowly starting to come back to life, the entire town deserting before the battle with the First. They sat down and started to chat inanely about any topic that came to their mind. Willow was babbling about the coven and how they were going to set up a base at Sunnydale so that it will be easier to communicate and work. They ordered their food, laughing as the waiter winked at Willow, who suddenly became red as the blush crept up her chest and turned her face as red as her hair. Kennedy raised her eyebrow, laughing at Willow. Soon all three of the women were laughing, tears springing to their eyes as they held their stomachs. Buffy smiled fondly at her friends, storing this simple outing into her memory. They dug into their food, acting like normal people on a day out with their friends…

She was brought out of her memory by a movement in the darkness. She reached for a stake, then realizing she didn’t bring one with her because it was still daylight. She tried to peer into the darkness as she quelled the fear that was building inside of her. “Who’s there” she called out, watching the figure in the dark step over to the seal. “I destroyed the last of Turok-Hans” she thought, her body tensing.

Amdis materialized in the chamber where the “last” battle was held. She looked around, “Must have been a hell of a fight, the scent of blood is saturated here”, she thought as she started towards the seal. She stopped, her senses picking up a powerful being nearby. She looked over towards the stairs, spotting the slayer. Amdis watched the golden-haired slayer, smirking at her as she watched her eyes glaze over. She cocked her head at the slayer’s far away look, reaching into her mind to see what she was thinking. She smiled as the slayer got lost in her memory. She slowly moved to the seal, stopping as soon as she felt the slayer return back to her senses. She was hoping the slayer would give her some time to check out her charges seal. She had created the first evil, and the first good, to try and balance out what Lucifer had done during the Reign of Demons. If she didn’t then the wars would have torn the world apart and it wasn’t fun reigning over a dimension that no longer exists. The first good, or the Powers that Be, as she has found out is what they are called these days, has been slacking lately if The First was able to get a grip on things. She knelt down to the seal, even though the slayer was now on her feet, calling out to her. Her melodious voice, even though dripping with anxiety, drifted into her ears, causing her to shudder. Looking down at the seal, she recognized the markings. “Ronwe has been busy” she growled under her breath, standing up. The symbols were from Ronwe’s lair and can be seen on almost all of his books. The slayer took a tentative forward, her eyes still fixed on her.

“Hello” Buffy said again, watching nervously as the figure inspected the seal. She heard the growl and stopped walking forward when the figure stood up. Her anger took place of her fear as she watched the figure back further into the shadows. “Dammit who the hell are you and what are you doing here!” she growled in anger, dropping into a defensive stance.

Amdis chuckled again, crossing her arms at the slayer’s defiant words. She was waiting for her to grow a backbone. “Hello Slayer” she said throatily, her voice huskier than normal. Buffy faltered as she recognized the voice.

“It’s you” she said, slightly dropping her stance. Amdis nodded, stepping further into the darkness.

“This is a surprise slayer, I figured that you had enough tormenting yourself. Yet here you are, standing in the dirt and blood of vampire’s and fellow slayers” Amdis said, walking along the wall. Buffy followed her, growling at her words.

“What do you want from me?” she growled, her muscles flexing under her skin. Amdis licked her lips, enjoying the anger, fear, confusion and primal force exuding from the slayer.

“I am just seeing what defeated my servant” she said calmly. Buffy stood still for a minute before lunging at her. Her fists raining down on her, only to hit air. Buffy looked around in confusion, wondering why she didn’t feel contact. Amdis came up behind her, putting a hold on her, completely immobilizing the slayer, who had frozen in panic. She hadn’t seen her move, that kind of speed was impossible. Amdis stood still as the slayer woke from her panic and was trying to break free.

“Stop” Amdis commanded. Buffy stilled in her arms, trembling as the tears rolled down her face. She thought back to Willow and Kennedy and how she would never see them again. Amdis heard her thoughts and shook her head. “I do not want to kill you slayer. I need you to trust me. I need something from you, but not right now. It is not time” she said, releasing her. Buffy spun around and slapped at Amdis. A loud smack echoed in the empty room. Buffy’s hand was still on her face, but Amdis’s head didn’t move under the force of the blow.

“You are the reason they are dead” Buffy whispered venomously. Amdis looked into Buffy’s hazel eyes, her own eyes showing more emerald in them. Her eyes glowed in sorrow as her face remained shrouded in shadows.

“I created it yes, but I did not send it after you or your friends” she whispered softly. Buffy let her hand drop to her side as she lifted her head to look at Amdis, close enough to smell her, feel her clothes. But she was gone before Buffy could look her in the face, her words hanging in the air. “Mox novus unus”

Willow jumped at the sound of the door flying open against the wall. She jumped up, her lips starting a protection incantation. Buffy looked at Willow, the looked down at the splintered door flustered.

“Buffy what the hell is going on?” Willow asked her, waving her hand. The door was fixed and closed as Buffy threw off her jacket and stomped into the living room. Willow followed the slayer, a look of concern and bewilderment painted across her face. Buffy sat down and motioned for Willow to sit down.

“You know that person that I have been hearing in my head” she said, waiting for Willow to nod her head. Willow nodded, her confusion growing deeper.

“The one that we think is the thing that created the First” said the redhead, sitting down in the lazy chair.

“Yes well I met her today” Buffy said, rubbing her arm where she was held tightly in the woman’s arms. No one had every held her like that before, it was tight, but a gentle hold, like she didn’t want to hurt Buffy. Buffy shook her head to clear her thoughts.

“What! Are you okay? She didn’t hurt you did she? What did she want?” Willow babbled, standing up. Buffy watched in amusement as her friend paced back and forth. She stopped listening to the words flowing out of Willow’s mouth and just sat back, smiling. Kennedy was right, Willow is cute when she babbles.

“Whoa wait a minute! Where did that come from?” she asked herself. She shook head again, putting her hand up to stop the Willow babble. When Willow didn’t stop she sighed, “Wil… Will…Willo… WILLOW” she finally yelled, grabbing Willow’s arms as she passed her again. Willow looked down at Buffy, her face getting as red as her hair.

“I was babbling again wasn’t I” she said, her blush growing deeper. Buffy smiled as she felt the panic and fear from her early encounter ebb away at her friend’s innocence. Willow took a deep breath, straightening her shirt and sat down next to Buffy, facing her. “What happened? You look fine. It’s a she are you sure” Willow started, stopped abruptly by Buffy’s hand.

“She grabbed me from behind. Her chest and voice kinda gave her away” Buffy chuckled, trying to ignore the shiver the memory of feeling the mystery woman pressed against her back.

“What the fuck is going on with me?” she thought, Willow’s voice breaking through her mind.

“What did she want? Where did this happen? Buffy?…Hellloooo” Willow asked waving her hand in front over Buffy’s face.

“Sorry…It was at the school. I was walking past and I felt something so I went down to check out the seal. Y’know make sure everything was closed and there she was. She didn’t say what she wanted but that she was just checking out her servant’s seal. I kinda attacked her” Buffy said sheepishly, quelling the pang of guilt that rose in her for lying to her friend.

“Buffy what were you thinking you could have been seriously hurt!” Willow said, her resolve face slipping into place. Buffy cowered sheepishly.

“ I was mad but I didn’t even get a punch in Will. She moved so fast that I didn’t even realize she moved until she was behind me. She said that it wasn’t time yet then she poofed” Buffy said, making poofing hand gestures.

“She poofed?” Willow asked, confusion and humor settling on her features. “And to think she is the savior of the world” she thought.

“Well not poof but she disappeared. She said something in another language, Latin I think, what was it” she said, her eyes turning to the ceiling as she thought. “Oh it was box no fuss anus” she said blushing as the words came out of her mouth. Willow covered her mouth to stop the giggles. Even after all this time Buffy was still terrible at figuring out what enemies said to her.

“Buffy. Box no fuss anus? Are you sure it wasn’t ‘Mox novus unus’” Willow said, her laughter squeaking out between the words. She stood up and grabbed the Latin Dictionary off the bookshelf.

“Yea it was Mox no-fuss unus” she nodded, her blush creeping up her neck at her mistake.

“ Novus” Willow corrected her, handing her the dictionary. “It means ‘Soon young one’” Willow said as Buffy scrunched her nose.

“I am sooo not a young one anymore! Why do thety insist on calling me young one” she grumbled. Willow shook her head at the slayers naivety, still in wonder how she still retained that side of her after the battle.

“To a couple billion year old demon you are” Willow said patting Buffy’s head, snatching her hand back as Buffy took a swipe at it. Willow’s face suddenly got serious. “Do you think she wants to open the seal again?”

“No, for some reason I don’t. She said she needed us to trust her. I guess we just have to wait and see. When does Xander and Giles plane get back?” Buffy said, setting the book aside. “Tomorrow hopefully. Oh and Dawnie called from the base in New York, the coven there just found another slayer in Tibet. She is going to send Andrew out tomorrow to find her. She also said that she is doing great in college and that she should be able to get out here in another month or so to visit” Willow said, remembering the phone call.

Buffy smiled sadly. She missed her little sister but she was glad that she was doing great. Willow was running a computer company from home, which was a huge success, and helped to pay for all the expenses of Slayer Inc. as Xander has named their weird network. Giles took over what was left of the watcher’s council and created bases all over the world to help settle and train the new slayers. Buffy, being the original slayer, stayed on the Hellmouth, the silent president of their international empire. She missed everyone but was glad that Willow and Kennedy were chosen to stay behind with her to help with the Hellmouth. Xander traveled all over the world, with Giles as translator, to recruit the other slayers. Dawn, Andrew and about ten other slayers that survived the final battle went to New York. Buffy allowed them to set up base there if and only if they all attended college. They all received their GED’s with the help of Willow and went on their way. Buffy missed her family but realized it was for the better good, considering the fact that the demons were running scared.

“We’ll do the whole sit-down with the new slayer and decide which base she will be sent to. Then we will sit down and talk about what is going on with Xander and Giles. Until then we will just sit tight” Buffy said standing up.

“Do you want to stay in and watch movies tonight with Ken and I?” Willow asked, shifting in her seat. Buffy shook her head no.

“I think I will just head out on patrol. We are driving demons and vamps out of their hiding places and they are swarming here. You would think that after all this time they would think that this place would not be left unguarded” Buffy said heading up the stairs to get ready.

Amdis materialized in Ronwe’s lair, finding Ronwe gone. “LUCIFER!” she bellowed, the walls shaking in her fury. Lucifer materialized in front of her. His black cloak swirling at his feet. The silver clasp bearing his coat of arms glistened in the torchlight.

“You called my dear” he said, his voice floated in the room, making Amdis sick to her stomach at ever loving the man in front of her. She knew he wasn’t pure evil or pure good, but just an arrogant ass that spent way to much time in power.

“Where is Ronwe” she demanded. Lucifer looked at the empty wall.

“ I sent him to rest, you gave him quite a thrashing.”

“He deserved it, and much more. Why is his markings on the seal” she demanded.

“Contrary to what you believe I do not know everything my servants are up to. I may be able to control their will to a point, you are the one that can see what they are thinking. And even if I was able to see into the fog that is the future, which again you can, why would I care. I am here to control the souls of the fallen, decide their fates, and only to control the dimensional winds. I may be one of the most powerful beings, but we all have rules to follow” he said, his voice growing deeper.

“You use your power like a child to a toy. You may be neutral but you have a sick sense of humor” she growled, the specks in her eyes changing from emerald to gold as she let some of her demon out.

“Hey I am not the one that created the balance in this world my love, you did. I have spent many years loving the battles between good and evil, but things had gotten dreadful boring when you left. That is until this slayer showed up, tipping the balance. She reminds me of a certain girl I knew billions of years ago” Lucifer smiled, materializing his chair behind him. Amdis growled at him, her teeth lengthening, her eyes turning more golden.

“I continued the slayer line so that creature you called a high council would not run wild with the servants and power you yourself bestowed on him. What happened to you Lucifer you used to be smarter than this! YOU CANNOT CONTROL A WORLD THAT DOESN’T EXIST!” she bellowed. Lucifer flinched.

“I know Ardere I know” he said, her human name slipping past his lips. She hated it when she was called that, her demon raging against the humanity that she used to contain. For millions of years she was torn between her soul and her demon. She was still full demon, but she had control. She realized that one day she might lose grip on her humanity, that is why she secretly created the balance of good and evil, The First of both sides. She gave them both powers to do what needed to be done when mankind first entered the world. She then lost her humanity, falling into her demon. She spent millions of years next to Lucifer and Ronwe after that, running rampant around the world as humans created names for them to try to understand why things happened to them. Amdis’s name changed theover the years as new civilizations tried to rationalize them. Then almost a million years ago Earth time, she met a human girl, Eve. She was going to kill her and start a war between two kingdoms. But when she looked into the girl’s eyes, her humanity came rushing back to her. Eve had taught her to live again, to be human, something a demon as old as she was had forgotten. Amdis and Eve became lovers, and for ten years Amdis lived on the Earth with Eve. Lucifer did not like this and sent Ronwe to get Amdis. Ronwe attacked Eve’s kingdom when Amdis was distracted by Lucifer. Amdis didn’t not realize it was a trick till it was too late…

*Flashback*

Lucifer stared at Amdis as they fought. Lucifer watched at the sun dropped over the horizon. Amdis stopped, flipping back away from him. “Give it up Luci, I won’t come back. I will continue my duties as I have always but I do not want to be by your side” she said dropping her hands. Lucifer looked her in the eye. “This was never about you Amdis. It was about an obstacle that I have now taken out” Lucifer said. Realization dawned over her face, “Eve”.

Ronwe smiled as the kingdom was burning to the ground, it reminded of when he destroyed Amdis’s village. He smiled as he walked through the wreckage of the kingdom, one person on his mind that he yearned to hear scream. He walked up the steps of the grand castle, blood soaking the steps. He say Eve stare scared out of a high window. “Don’t worry Eve, you will fall with your beloved Atlantis”.

“No” Amdis yelled, turning back to look at the kingdom in the distance. “I can stop him if you promise to leave her” he said calmly. “Never” she said, rushing him. He went flying through the trees, knocking them over. Amdis spun around facing the Kingdom. “Eve” she yelled out, disappearing as Lucifer walked out of the forest. “Ronwe” he whispered into the wind.

Ronwe turned as a voice said his name, carried by the soft wind blowing past the decimated kingdom. He smiled as he disappeared, appearing in Eve’s and Amdis’s room. “Hello Eve” Ronwe growled, his eyes glowing red. Eve ran to the wall, grabbing the sword on the wall.

“Leave Vera and I alone” she growled back. Ronwe bellowed in laughter at her name for Amdis.

“Amdis? Vera? Wow Vera of truth and faith. Did you give Amdis that name. That is so sweet” he laughed, holding his hand out. A jagged, flamed sword appeared in his hand. Eve’s eyes opened widely as her grip tightened on the sword. Ronwe brought the sword violently down, slashing at Eve.

Metal hit metal as Ronwe stepped back in surprise, Amdis’s golden eyes staring venomously into his. “Don’t touch what is mine” Amdis said, pushing his sword back.

Eve stared at Amdis, watching as her emerald vest and black shorts were replaced with the dark armor that she was wearing when they first met.

Eve stirred in her sleep, opening her eyes as she felt something about her. Amdis stopped dead, the dagger in her hand stopping its descent as her eyes met Eve’s. Eve showed no fear as she took in the creature in front of her. Amdis dropped her arm to her side, the dagger dropping to the floor as she got lost in the girl’s sapphire eyes. “Are you going to kill me?” the girl’s voice sang as she sat up in bed.

“That was the plan” Amdis’s voice coming out softly. Amdis looked over the chocolate-haired goddess below her, taking in the her smooth bronzed skin, her lithe body. She quickly picked up the dagger, trying to stop her bumbling movements. She had never come across a human as beautiful as the one in front of her. She felt herself fall into this girl's presence, her aura almost blinding.

“What changed” Eve asked, taking in the armor clad warrior. The blood red symbols practically glowed in the one-candlelit room. Amdis’s hair was in a pony-tail, blood red streaks running through it. Her skin was unnaturally white, giving off an otherworldly aura. The armor fit to her body, not to bulky but looked like it was hard to penetrate. A sword was fastened to her back, the handle within easy reach. Another sword was at her side, the holder for the dagger just next to it. More weapons were strategically placed all over her body. The armor was pitch black, making it look like she was floating there. Blood red symbols all over the armor led the girl to believe the warrior was adept in the magics. The armor reached from her shoulders to her feet, fitting like a second skin. She looked into the warrior’s golden flecked eyes. “So what changed the plan”

Amdis snapped out of her reverie, the young queen’s beauty enchanting her. “I don’t know”. She laid the dagger next to the girl on the bed, who picked it up and examined it. Her strong yet delicate hands traced the intricate carvings and design on the dagger. "Beautiful and Violent" she thought staring at the warrior above her. Eve smiled, knowing the warrior heard her thoughts. "Just like you" she said, getting lost in the warriors eyes.

Eve had spent three years showing Amdis what is was like to be loved again, taping into the humanity that laid dormant within the demon. She gave Amdis anew name, Vera, forthr truth and faith that shone brightly in her eyes.Slowly but surely Amdis came out of the darkness that had been her life for more than 2 billion years, having lost her humanity in the middle of her 2nd billion years as a demon. Slowly her eyes lost the golden specks, replaced by the green specks that made her chocolate brown eyes seem deeper. Her armor and weapons she at first refused to let out of her sight soon was replaced by a deep green vest that hugged her body, the front stopping at her waist, but the back of it acting like tail’s on a suit, reaching down to her knees. Black shorts ran down to mid-thigh. Black leather boots laced up to mid-calf. Still standing at 5’11 she was still the tallest woman in the kingdom, and was a welcome addition. The people were happy that their young queen finally picked a mate. They had spent ten years together in bliss, Amdis swearing it was a lifetime.

Eve snapped back to the battle in front of her, her heart breaking as the armor covered her lover. Amdis looked back at her, her eyes almost fully gold. Eve took a step back, Amdis’s face masked in confusion. “Stay back Eve” she ordered, turning back just in time to stop Ronwe’s attack. Eve felt the hot tears flowing down her face as she watched her lover fightfor her, crying watching the battle not only occur between the demon in front of them, but the battle for her humanity within herself.Amdis and Ronwebattled in the room, sparks flying as their swords meeting. Another man appeared in the corner of the room, a oddly glowing sword in his hand. He rushed at Amdis.

Everything started to go in slow motion as she knocked Ronwe through the window. She had felt Lucifer’s presence. She turned to face him, watching in horror as Eve pushed her out of the way of Lucifer’s sword. Amdis felt time stop as she watched Eve’s eyes widen in pain as Lucifer withdrew the sword, the blood on it causing the glow to fade. “EVE!” she screamed, dropping her sword, her armor quickly fading from her body, replaced by her clothes. She stopped Eve from falling to the ground, slowly bringing her to the floor. Tears flooded her now dark eyes. Her hands raced to the wound, her tears blurring her vision.

“Eve baby you will be okay, baby it’s going to be okay” she kept saying ripping her shirt to try to stop the bleeding. Eve reached for Amdis’s face, bringing her to face her.

“Vera my love it is okay.” she said, blooding starting to trickle from her rose-colored lips.

“Why did you do this! Why! I could have” Amdis started, Eve’s finger stopping her.

“That sword is used to rid demons of their souls, to send them into a void of darkness where they can never. I thought it was legend until I saw it. But if a pure human’s blood touches it, it loses its power. I would rather have died then see that light in you die.” She coughed as more blood made its way out of her mouth.

“You can’t leave me. Not now, please baby stay with me” Amdis sobbed her head falling to her chest. Eve smiled at her, lifting her chin. Sapphire eyes met chocolate eyes, flecks of emerald growing deeper. “I am here with you. Don’t forget me my love, my life, my faith” she said, bringing Amdis’s head down to her lips. They kissed, Amdis’s tears mixing with Eve’s. She pulled back, watching her lover draw her last breath.

Lucifer stood in the shadows, sorrow gripping him at the loss of Amdis’s lost love for him. He quashed it, reminding himself that it was for the best. “You could have left her” he said, watching Amdis pick up Eve’s lifeless body. She shot her head up, her eyes a deadly gold. “Leave this place. I will take care of everything and I will meet you back at Beasthorn” she said, mentioning Lucifer’s home for the first time in ten years. She faded, leaving Lucifer there, looking out the window into a destroyed kingdom.

*End of Flashback*

“You no longer have right to that name Lucifer” she growled, watching the memory flashing through Lucifer’s head.

“Do you miss her?” Lucifer asked, smiling as Amdis’s body clenched in fury. Suddenly she stopped, smiling at him. She came back to him after burying her lover in a beautiful valley in another dimension, filled with mystical creatures that she had previously rescued from Lucifer and Ronwe’s experiments. She stayed watched the pyre swallow her lover as the flames licked the sky. The creatures of the world swarming in remembrance and respect for the soul that tamed the immortal. She took some of the ashes from the pyre, and put them in a charm that she kept below her armor. She then spread the rest over the world, casting a spell to keep this dimension safe from evil. Heaven, that is what humans called a place like this. Only the ones that Amdis felt worthy could reach this place. Sure there were other dimensions similar to this one, the ones that she controlled next to Lucifer, she controlling heaven, he controlling the demon and hell dimensions, or at least deciding who deserves going to purgatory. At least until he decided to change his profession.

“You are so evil sometime you know that” She said, her smile widening at his confusion. She disappeared, leaving a very confused Lucifer in her wake.

*. Vera means truth in latin and in Russian it means faith…hint hint… hoped you like it. The title means awakening.