Dark Moon: Pt One - Waxing Moon

“I have not seen him, or at least interacted with him since the day I ran from him and his sire,” Ciorstaidh told them, “But yes, I do believe Angel was the name he went by at the time.”

“Is that why you came here?” Buffy asked, beginning to get angry, “To pour salt in fresh wounds?”

“Oh no,” Ciorstaidh said quickly, shaking her head, “I came here only to help. I didn’t know about you and Angel’s history until I had already taken Faith from the hospital. She talked a lot when she was drifting in and out of consciousness.”

“Help with what? Things have been incredibly quiet since graduation,” Buffy replied.

“And to think,” Xander quipped, “Some people think that life actually begins after school ends!”

“Xander...” Buffy warned, shooting him a look.

Xander smiled, and said, “I have a need for more marshmallows... but it can wait.” Despite his craving for junk food, he really wanted to hear what Ciorstaidh had to say.

Ciorstaidh took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. Buffy leaned slightly forward, anticipating what Ciorstaidh would say. She exhaled slowly, then began.

“I don’t usually keep the same residence for very long. I’ve been travelling all across Europe and North America for many many years, mostly in an effort avoid both Vampires and members of the Watcher’s Council.

“I have lived in Greece for the last fourteen months, working as an archaeologist’s assistant. About eight months ago, the dig I was a part of moved into an area that was once a part of Attica. Buried under the remains of a fallen chapel, which we estimate in itself to be around twelve hundred years old, were the remains of a shrine to the Goddess Hekate.

“Further exploration of the shrine revealed an entrance into a massive underground community; long dead, but still very much intact. It looks as though is was once home to a cult; perhaps a cult dedicated to Hekate herself. It was much older than the chapel built on top of it, possibly several thousand years old. I found several books and scrolls of various ages that I think would be very much of interest to the Watcher’s Council.”

Ciorstaidh reached into her pocket and withdrew two computer disks, which she handed to Giles.

“I became very concerned because one of the scrolls spoke of a prophecy... one of two Slayers. When I heard that Faith had been called, I knew had to reach you.”

Giles graciously accepted the disks, examined them briefly, then handed them to Willow, how immediately loaded them into Giles’ computer. Willow was really the only one who ever used the computer, due to Giles’ still very prominent fear of technology.

“Exactly what does this prophecy entail?” he asked Ciorstaidh.

“On the thirtieth day of Hekatombaion... the moon will fade into darkness, and the children of Kxynthaion will gather in mourning. It will be the night of Erinyes Vrekolakas.”

“Well,” said Giles, “The moon is only dark for a period of a few hours. I’m sure Buffy, and the er...”

“Slayerettes?” Buffy suggested.

“Uh, yes, Slayerettes... I’m sure they can take care of it for a few hours.”

“There is so much more to it than just that,” Ciorstaidh replied, “Just be sure to read the file... it will give you a better idea of what the situation entails. The other Watchers will be eager to learn of it and the other files as well.”

“I’m backing it up on your hard drive, and on another set of disks, so you can send a copy to the Watcher’s Council,” Willow told him and she tapped on the computer’s keyboard, “I’m also printing up a paper copy for you, so you can flip through it later.”

“Thank you, Willow,” Giles replied, before turning to Ciorstaidh, “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but I was removed from the Watcher’s Council some months ago for defying direct orders.”

“This will help you get back in,” Ciorstaidh told him, “They can’t deny you, not if you have information like this.”

“I think she’s right,” Willow echoed from her seat at the computer, “This is pretty intense. I’m going to print up enough copies for everyone, if that’s ok. It’s sixty-two pages... but I think it’s something we all need to read.”

“Fair enough,” Giles told her, “You may proceed.”

“This may seem like a relatively stupid question,” Xander said, turning to Ciorstaidh, “Well, compared to the never-ending string of prophecies we manage to get tangled in. But I’m curious; has Angel ever tried to find you since he sired you?”

“No, he hasn’t. Which leaves me to believe that he thinks I died the day I ran out into the sun. As far as I know, it seems that all Vampires seem to recognise me as one of their own. I don’t think they realise that I’m not quite as damned as they.”

“So what you’re saying,” Giles recapped, “Is that although you’re technically not a Vampire, given as you still possess a soul, and not a Demon, you still outwardly seem to put off the same appearance as true Vampires... allowing you to walk among them as you wish.”

Ciorstaidh nodded her head in confirmation. “There have been brief periods of time when I have walked among them... mostly to gain insight into their world, and discover their plans for what may come.”

“Do you need the blood? To survive?” Buffy asked, having calmed down from her previous outburst.

“Well...”Ciorstaidh hesitated, “I need frequent meals that are extremely high in protein, in order to keep up with the fast metabolism my body has had since my transformation. The protein goes back into repairing the tissues, which is why I don’t seem to age at all. Vampires basically work on the same system, except they possess the Demon’s unnatural blood lust.”

“But do you... partake?” Buffy asked again.

Ciorstaidh looked down at her hand guiltily, her pale face growing slightly pink.

“Well, sometimes I eat my steak... rare,” she whispered.

“Now you’re a girl after my own heart!” Xander exclaimed with a goofy grin, then added, “Not literally, of course.”

He then looked over to Faith, whom he was sure would agree, only to find that she had fallen fast asleep.

“So hey, what’s up with that?” he asked everyone, referring to Faith’s unusually deep sleep.

Giles cleared his throat nervously, and said, “I know that you all want to be able to welcome Faith back with open arms, but I have my doubts as to her sanity. I gave her a sedative, and telephoned the Watcher’s Council to inform them of her whereabouts. Wesley, or someone to take his place will be arriving in a couple of hours, to assess condition her and such. Her new Watcher will likely be taking her back for some retraining, if they see it fit.”

Ciorstaidh’s already pale face blanched even further, and she abruptly stood up, dropping her mug of hot chocolate onto the floor.

“No, you can’t do that!” she stuttered.

“I really believe that it may be for the best, until we can get a better idea of the situation at hand.”

“You don’t understand,” she whispered, as she backed towards the door, “Faith needs to be here. You can’t send her away... not with Erinyes Vrekolakas...”

With that, she turned, and ran from the room. The slamming of Giles’ front door marked her exit from the house.

“Do you think maybe someone should do something?” asked Xander, getting up to get more marshmallows..

“I think we should let her go,” said a pre-occupied Buffy quietly, letting herself drift into her own thoughts.

“I don’t,” Willow said abruptly, “Giles, you’d better read this!”

The first of several copies of the prophetic scroll Ciorstaidh had left finished printing, and Willow immediately placed it in Giles’ hands.

“Oh dear,” he said hoarsely.