Dark Moon: Pt One - Waxing Moon

Giles had gathered enough chairs into the study so that everyone was comfortable. They sat in a circle, and all eyes were focused on Ciorstaidh.

“Oz is going to be so sorry he missed this,” Willow whispered to Buffy, “He loves this kind of thing.”

“I took the liberty of getting this,” Giles said, holding up a hand held tape-recorder, “I hope you don’t mind. I think the Watcher’s Council would be very interested in your story.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Ciorstaidh replied, “It’s actually a very good idea. I guess it’s about time that the Watchers learned what I’m about to say.”

Giles nodded, and gently placed the recorder on the corner of his desk. Ciorstaidh swallowed nervously, brushed a stray lock of dark hair away from her face, and took a deep breath.

“I know you’re going to find some of this hard to believe, even with your experience with the supernatural,” Ciorstaidh began, “But here goes nothing.”

“I was born on June 21, 1737, in a small town in Ireland. My parents were farmers, working the land of a wealthy merchant. We were by no means well-off, but at the same time, we were not poor either.”

“Um, you do realise, don’t you,” interrupted Xander, “That your date of birth makes you roughly 250 years old. Care to explain?”

“I will get to that part, I promise,” she replied, glancing around the room at everyone’s faces. Everyone one looked to be in one stage of shock or another, with the exception of Giles, who almost looked as though he expected it.

“I spent most of my early life working on the farm, feeding animals and what not, until I reached the age of twelve, at which point my father was approached by a gentleman who said he wanted my hand in marriage. The gentleman was very well versed, and seemed to be quite wealthy, so my father agreed. In the times when I was young, it was a common practise to arrange these types of marriages, even if the man was significantly older than the woman.

“It turned out that the gentleman really wasn’t interested in marriage; he had actually been sent to find me by a group of gentlemen who fancied themselves as being the most knowledgeable about the monstrosities and such that plagued our lands. These were the Watchers of yester-year. They told me that I was destined to be among the next ‘Chosen Ones,’ one of the next ‘Vampire Slayers.’ Even as a fairly fledgling operation, the Watchers had taken it upon themselves to ‘guide and train’ those young women who they could find that carried with them the prophecy of fighting the evil that plagued this Earth.

“I had always had a decent head on my shoulders, and realised the importance he stressed on keeping this revelation a secret, so I went along the with fraud that was to be my marriage. Of course, there was nothing between the gentleman and I, as it was only his duty to train me. As a feisty twelve year old, the idea enthralled me, and I went along with it wholeheartedly. He moved me from my town of Galway to Watcher’s Council compound, not far outside of London, England.

“Training went as it goes for most ‘Slayers in training,’ I suppose. I was shown I had strengths I never knew of, that I could sense things I previously could not. It was all very empowering, but I was still so young, and by the time I was fifteen, the novelty had begun to wear off. I missed my family, and I wanted to go home. When I made my wishes clear to my Watcher, Martin, I was told that I needed to forget my past, as it would do nothing but hinder me in my future. He told be I had higher responsibilities now, and that it was imperative that I adhere to them.”

“Gee, doesn’t that sound familiar,” mumbled Buffy, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Ciorstaidh smiled, and continued with her story.

“Perhaps it was his fault for being so severe with me, or perhaps the fault lies with myself for being so young and flighty. In any case, I took matters into my own hands, and fled from the compound, seeking a new life of liberty. My family was thrilled to see me again, and readily believed that story I told them about my ‘husband’ dying from a mysterious illness.

“I was on a high, being free from the Watchers, although I realised that they would search for me and return me to London. In my haste to live as much as possible in as little time as possible, I took up with a very handsome older gentleman. I admit now that he was much too fond of drinking, and was actually a bit of a derelict, but at the time, I was head over heels in love with him.

“Although the Watchers were very quick to find me, taking only a little over a month, it was too late by the time they physically took me into custody. I was already pregnant, and that one fact almost to caused them to toss me aside; to dispose of me, you could say.

“But then, one of the Watchers brought up the fact that I might possibly be carrying a child that was destined to be a Slayer. That possibility did not take away the great sorrow they felt for the situation. To be honest, they were downright distraught. But it did shed a little light in on the matter. They gathered together, and as a whole decided that it was time they took on the training of the future Slayers from infancy, not as adolescents. The quietly informed me of exactly what they intended to do, and I was horrified.

“To think; the child that I carry might be forced to live among people who saw her as nothing more than a tool!

“I was definitely not about to let that happen, and so I left once again; being much more careful in covering my tracks. As much as I wanted to return to my family, I did not. Doing so would put my child back in the hands of those I was trying so desperately to avoid.

“From the time that I left London until the time I gave birth, I wandered throughout various parts of Europe, even contemplating making a new home in Spain or Greece; two areas where there seemed to slightly less Watcher influence. However, I decided to remain on the British Isles, and gave birth to my daughter in the town of Bryony, Scotland. I named her Hope Mnemosyne... I suppose it was silly choice for a name, but I was still so young myself, and my daughter meant the world to me.

“I established a new identity, and took up residence with my Aunt, not far from where I had grown up. My Aunt was a bit of a strange woman; very much a healer, and what many people would call a ‘Witch’ these days. She took very good care of me and Hope, and taught me everything she knew about using herbs and plants to bring both good health and good fortune. My mother, who was her sister, had once told me that my Aunt had the gift of second sight, although I myself do not know if this was true or not.

“I lived well enough, although there was always a nagging fear in the back of my mind that someday I might be discovered by the Watchers, who would then take Hope from me. I didn’t know that something far worse might lay in wake.

“It began with me making another secret visit with Hope to my family. She was two years old at the time. I arrived there, and was horrified at the chaos and destruction I found before me. They were dead. All dead.”

Ciorstaidh looked sadly at her hands, and said, “No amount of time can ever heal the wounds you received when the ones you love are taken so violently.”

“It was the work of a creature, not human. My Slayer training left me certain of that. There was no doubt in my mind, it was a Vampire that had done this.

“I left as immediately, a million thoughts running through my mind. How could I ever leave my daughter vulnerable to this? I had been told that as a Slayer, Vampires would unconsciously gravitate towards me, thus putting all I love in danger. And what if the Watchers were right, and that as a future Slayer, Hope would be subject to the same risks? How could I possibly leave my daughter defenceless against it?

“It was a rash decision, but in my mind’s eye, I could only see Hope as a young women, her body broken and battered by the creatures that would seek her out. I took her to the Watchers, and told them that they needed to protect her, and more importantly, teach her how to protect herself. They, in return, told me that I was free to visit her at any time, that my influence as her mother could have positive effects on her upbringing.

“They lied. Little had I known that I would likely never see my daughter again. Hope was sent to a new home, with new parents who resided with the Watcher’s council. Now, I know that it was for her safety, as the creatures who would seek me might follow me to her while she was still vulnerable. But back then, it was devastating; like they were punishing me for destroying their hopes of me becoming a Slayer.

“When I arrived back at the home of my Aunt, I was still mourning both the loss of my family and that of my daughter. She was not there when I arrived, but someone else I had once knew was.

“Hope’s father was there; it was the first time I had seen him since the Watchers had re-apprehended me. I wanted to tell him so much, and seek comfort in his arms. But he quickly silenced me, and told me I was in grave danger, because of what had happened to my parents. I told him I knew, and that I had taken my daughter- his daughter, to a safe place so she would not be harmed. He was surprised to learn of his child, but quickly recovered and asked where I had taken her. I told him that I didn’t know where she was because a new family had adopted her, but I did not reveal that I wanted her to be safe from me, or that the danger she was in was even caused by me.

“He smiled, and told me that it didn’t matter, that either I would tell him eventually, or he would find her himself. Then his face changed... really changed, to that of a Demon. I should have know from instinct that something was wrong, but grief had clouded my mind. The man I had once loved was a Vampire- the creature I had once been trained to destroy.

“Even with three years of training, I had never actually come face to face with a Vampire; that was the job of the Slayer, and I had never been actually called as one. I panicked, and with that I lost all opportunity to escape. He grabbed me, and fed upon me. I remember growing weak, I remember shadows starting to cloud my vision. Just when I thought I was about to lose consciousness, he stopped, and looked me straight in the eye. He told me that love went undying, and that I would learn that forever. Then he forced his mouth onto mine, and kissed me. I think he bit his tongue, because I could taste the blood in his mouth; much more was left in his mouth than what would have remained of my blood after he had swallowed it. He forced the blood down my throat, and then I lost consciousness.

“When I had awaken, I heard yelling. I was no longer in my Aunt’s house, but at another residence which I did not recognise. My former love was being screamed at for being so thoughtless, for creating another without the permission of his mistress, his sire. I think she told him to destroy me, but I can’t be sure. I know I felt different. It’s hard to explain, I felt like I was floating almost... like I wasn’t as attached to my body as before.”

Willow had an extremely puzzled expression on her face, as did the others. “But if you got sucked on, then sucked back... wouldn’t that make you a Vampire too?” Willow asked, her brow furrowed in total confusion.

“And I distinctly heard you tell me that you weren’t a Vampire,” Buffy reminded her.

“You told me that too,” echoed Faith.

“I know I did,” replied Ciorstaidh, “And it was the truth. I’m not a Vampire. I simply don’t have the Demon possessing me. Apparently, there’s something about a Slayer’s blood that stops the possession from ever happening. I got everything a Vampire gets, but without the negative repercussions. I can enter without being invited, and can reasonably tolerate sunlight, and I still have a reflection. Those qualities are ones the Demon inflicts with his presence. But, like a Vampire, I can still be killed. My immortality lies only with my lack of ageing an increased rate of healing. Otherwise, I’m as human as the rest of you.”

“Amazing,” said Giles, awe-struck.

“What happened after that?” asked Buffy.

“I ran. I got out of there are fast as I could. The sun was up, and it hurt my eyes and burned my skin, but it did not kill me. The two Vampires could not follow me. They thought that I would have been killed instantly by the sun anyway. But that didn’t stop them from pursuing what little family I had left.

“Eventually, they found Hope, and they killed her.”

The tears that had filled Ciorstaidh’s eyes when she had first spoke of her lost family, then overflowed.

“She was only slightly younger than I was when I had been transformed. So young, and she hardly stood a chance. They took her... they tortured her... then they killed her.”

“I know you did the best you could for your daughter, and that she was offered the best protection possible with the Watchers,” Giles said soothingly.

“I know that,” said Ciorstaidh through her tears, “But nothing hurts more than when a mother outlives her child.”

“Did you ever find that Vampires that did it, and kill them?” asked Faith, eagerly.

“My lover’s sire is dead, at his own hand. He still walks, but I could never kill him.”

“Why not?” asked Buffy with a puzzled expression on her face, “A Vampire is a Vampire. A Slayer is there to stake them.”

“Because, I never was truly a Slayer. And he paid for what he did, through other means. For me to kill him now would be pointless and heartless; it would make me more of a monster than he is. When he was condemned with a soul, he paid for his crimes far more than I could have ever made him.”

The colour drained from Buffy’s face, and she was the first to speak what they all had realised.

“You’re talking about Angel, aren’t you.”