Ch.44

Buffy was stunned silly by my words and frowning. I continued. "I'd kill them both just to be sure but considering what happened last time Giles tried he thought it would be prudent to ask your opinion on the matter."

She reread the prophecy before looking me in the eyes. "I'd never cheat on you-"

I stopped her with a sad look. "You wouldn't have a choice in the matter. Twilight is or will be a living dimension. It's power will be far to much for any slayer's mind to handle. You would be overwhelmed and effectively buried under it's will as it uses your body like that creature did Cordelia. Only twilight, once it's born, will be far more powerful than any simple power that be. Even I am not it's match as I am. I'm not sure I could kill it even in my god form at this form. Sineya herself would be hard pressed to fight it in her full power and she's a goddess of death."

Buffy grimaced. "Let's go to the command center. I'm not getting magic, mind and body raped by some stupid mystical dimension."

I nodded. "You should read this interpretation and understand that if it were stronger right now it might've tried to take me over to do just that."

Buffy nodded as she read on before paling and saying. "Sorry Dawn, it's important."

Dawn was already wide eyed. "No, I get that. Rape is always an important thing to avoid."

I sighed. "Dawn, I'd it succeeds all of earth will be drowned in demons so old it'll activate the old ones in the deeper well. No matter who wins of those things, humanity looses."

Dawn paled and nodded. "I should go with, you know, just in case you need some extra magic on your side."

I shrugged and Buffy was too distracted to say no so she followed along. Giles was overseeing a mission Wood was carrying out in Cleveland with a squad of new recruits. When wood announced. "There's a vampire with children, Giles, we need a cleaner. Odds are they're all turned."

I told Giles as I came in with Buffy. "I'll handle it. You fill Buffy in. Wood, I'm headed your way."

Robin answered. "See you in a bit then."

I grabbed a holocom and Giles began talking to Buffy. I teleported to Robin and found his group of slayers finishing off the vamps here. He came out of the shadows. "Good to see you're as punctual as ever."

I chuckled. "It's good to see you too Wood. It's been a few months."

He nodded. "That nest in Romania."

I grimaced at the reminder. "Not the best of my temper. I've a history with some Romanian vampires that was freshly dug up when I saw their victims."

He sighed. "I get that, I do, but did you have to level the mountain on top of us?"

I shrugged. "I protected you and got everyone out safe. That's all I could do withou leveling the country. I have some serious anger issues and I'd prefer never to see another Romanian again."

He looked me over before sighing again. "What the hell, it's only a few nightmares of being crushed alive every so often. It's actually pretty tame considering all we've been through. Almost peaceful some nights."

I shrugged. "The address?"

He handed it over and I teleported away after promising drinks sometime. I found the house easy enough and the children inside. They'd all been turned. I killed them quickly and absorbed their essence into special jars. I cleaned all traces of their victims in the basement before leaving with all their victims money and valuables.

The house was clearly a rental so no selling there and I hadn't a clue as to what here bank accounts had been. I told Robin it was taken care of and teleported back to command. There they all were grim. No one liked to see children die, vampires or not. Then to see me loot and dissolve their victims dead and mangled bodies in the basement, well, they were a bit pale when I returned.

It's not something I haven't done before but it's never nice to see. I played the stock markets all over the world and pulled diamonds and precious metals out of the earth to help fund this organization. They'd seen it all and understood what I did, I did for them.

Thanks to that the slayer organization was worth more than a hundred billion in various vaults and currencies in bank accounts all over the world. We had the second most knowledgeable and comprehensive mystical and demonic library on the planet. The first still being Wolfram and Hart as they were less global and more inter-dimensional.

Every team brought back what they could and contributed as it went to their pay and seeing them kept in armor and weapons. There own protection was ensured up to apocalypses as they could go either way in certain circumstances. That plus the money was what brought on a couple hundred extra slayers that were just doing solo runs.

With an actual chance at retirement in a senior citizens home or even just retirement after their third apocalypse as we offered with full benefits and a penchant attracted many slayers who would've just fought and eventually died on a nameless battlefield.

Very few slayers actually meet me as I stick to the special operations and emergency missions. Buffy on the other hand preferred to meet them all personally and train them in her down time. Faith used that same down time to hold counseling for the troubled ones.

They had group sessions and even one on one talks to deal with their issues. While Buffy was the leader, Faith was second in command and the one they went to with their problems. They respected Buffy and were in awe of her, while they liked and cared about Faith.

Alice helped with the counseling on occasions while she mostly ran the information network. I looked to Buffy who was staring at a black book on twilight I'd retrieved from the dark warlock and now dead slayer.

Giles has clearly filled her in on the missions I'd done last night. Sighing I told her. "The slayer was a threat and the warlock was little more than an instrument of twilight. If you're upset tell me so, because I don't regret my actions. I'd do far worse to keep you protected. Hell, I'd become far worse to keep all that darkness and evil from you."

Buffy furrowed her brows before shaking her head. "We're at war, deaths and casualties are expected. I knew your nature when I married you. Hell, I'd do far worse so that you didn't have to. No, I'm just worried about the implications. If she could kill me and take my place in this prophecy then that means I need to be extra careful."

I chuckled. "The slayers can't get to you without going through me. That they will have trouble with. My worry is your decision on Angel and Spike."

Buffy nodded. "We need to know which it is. Can you tell?"

I frowned and searched them out. Spike I could instantly feel. He was somewhere in California. As for Angel, it wasn't that I couldn't feel him, it was more that something else was in there with him and as soon as I made contact I was driven to my knees as a battle of minds began and I was on the defensive.

The being was powerful beyond anything I'd ever felt before except my mother. I roared and screamed as my body started to fluctuate and shift. For a moment I was neither wolf, human or vampire on the outside but some form of lion with wings and a fiery mane.

But that was just my physical body as my mind was in a battle I had never imagined could be possible until I was forced to cut my connection with Angel permanently. From now on he was free from my power and influence while he could eventually sire his own line now and become it's patriarch.

The presence reluctantly withdrew as it had no choice or ground to stand on. I ended up in a puddle of blood and sweat panting. When I opened my eyes I told the room at large. "It's in Angel, goddess it's strong. In a battle of minds I was forced to the last resort. Angel is free and unfettered and under it's influence."

Buffy was at my side wiping blood off my chest where the damn thing carved its symbol there. Snorting I hit it with all my available magic in a healing spell. It resisted but without that connection it's magic's paled in comparison to my own.

The wound healed up and I released the spells now bleeding from my nose to add to my eyes and ears from the creatures mind invasion. The world shook and the ground cracked as a fiery form of my mother appeared.

She asked in a hollow clearly pissed voice. "Who dares invade my last son's mind and body! Speak!"

The very earth shook as her voice entered the heads of every being on the planet. She merely looked at me once and turned away as a presence made itself known across the globe. It must've answered because she screamed and turned into a hurricane next and the world itself killed thousands of the beings marked followers until it calmed her some how.

She appeared before us again as a water woman. "It is not your battle my son. I cannot interfere any more in this dimension without risking it's collapse. Leave that being be, it is not for you to fight."

I growled. "It's after my mate!"

She looked to Buffy before sighing. "Then it is her fight and decisions to make. I warn you now as I love you, you cannot bear it as you are. If you do so you risk more than just your mortal form, it can consume your essence and soul, killing you for good. You have barely stepped on your path as a god, if you fall here I cannot help you. A war of the gods is imminent, you are needed there at my side. These mortal actions will fade in the face of true eternity. Do not be foolish."

I snorted. "It is not my nature to bend knee to another. I will not leave my mate to face it alone!"

My mother looked sad and nodded all the same. "I pray you'll survive what is to come then. It doesn't need a God's artifact to kill you at your current level. It will tear you apart with it's avatar."

I shrugged. "Then I die. It matters not to me. I've died before, I don't fear it."

She turned into a tree creature and touched my cheek before disappearing inside the earth as it healed. The compound's wards went back up as she'd forcefully suppressed them. I turned to see a both terrified and sad Buffy. "Calm love. Twilight, no matter how powerful can be beaten. I'll find a way I swear."

Buffy looked sorrowful while Giles and the other slayers were fearful. Dawn finally regained her voice asking. "That was Gaia?"

I chuckled and shook my head. "Not really. Gaia is special even amongst gods. The mortal realms are made by her from her own power and body. Pieces of her if you will. That was a avatar of her will formed in this reality by her sheer mental presence. To put it into perspective that was the equivalent of a quick glance by her real form outside reality. If she'd focused solely on this reality it would crumble from her gaze."

Dawn frowned. "But you're nowhere near that strong! Even with half your strength you'd expect a son of hers would be at least a tenth as powerful."

I chuckled then laughed and burst into a fit of laughter on the floor before sighing and telling her and all those that cared to listen. "I'm a mortal god, the very edge if you will of godly qualifications. If I took on my full god form I'd be barely stronger than a single full powered power that be. My mother is what gods would call a primordial god of creation. Those beings are few and only the either itself is stronger than them. In Greek term it would be chaos, the entity that created the primordial gods."

Giles listened intently as I continued. "There are six born primordial gods and goddesses. Three of creation and three of destruction. They form the balance in the multiverse or omniverse as everything is made of their essence. There are of course gods that have grown in strength to the point they equal them when the born ones are having a bad day and they're having a good one."

"They call themselves the primordial ascended. Below them are gods that draw power from or rule vast territories of realities. They are called true god kings, and unlike Illyria they can and will squash realities on a whim and wage wars for territories with special pieces of primordial essence that beings like my mother leave as they create or destroy something. If a god king gathers enough they can rise to equal the ascended. Thus they war for known territories with those essence inside them."

Taking a deep breath I sat up. "Then come the primal gods. Those that have consumed enough demon essence or god energy, or hell, even souls to break the previous barriers. They pay homage and align themselves with kings. They're the ones that war in their kings name for territory and a small amount of said primordial essence."

I turned to Giles who had a holocom recording my every word. "Before primal is chaotic, then down the ladder is elemental, rulers, nature, law, and finally basic gods like Glory was before her fall. Below her, at where she landed in her fall and where I grew to is the very boundary edge of godhood. Mortal god. A god that is reality bound and cannot go outside or the in between as it were, of realities. As long as they're flesh and blood or have actual blood instead of essence anyway, they cannot enter the in between."

I sighed. "When and if I ever ascend I'll be a full god at best, equal to Glory at her best or worst depending on how you look at it. These gods have no real body but can take on avatar forms. The female body Glory has was one such form. If and when I take that form I'll be locked out of the dimension I do it in, it's to protect me mostly as a god can normally only be truly killed by lower beings in the dimension they first rise in."

Buffy sighed. "Can't you go to another and-"

I shook my head. "Two reasons. I took my first step in this reality, technically I've done half the step but it's enough to ensure it's this reality I can die in. Apart of that was the stakes my mother gave you. A god in the reality they rise in must have a weakness or it breaks the balance of nature and both the god and reality crumble."

"Another thing is that Sineya is here, the slayer line she's bound to is here. When we rise we must do so as one or the reality will feel the imbalance and again, it will crumble. I have to rise with Sineya and in a reality with my weaknesses in it. There's no alternative. All things have rules, or laws, it's the way of the universe."

They all looked complicated and I sighed. "Now the worse news. Twilight, it's a reality trying to be reborn. It must've failed or been mostly destroyed like the old ones at some point because it's trying again. A regular god, no matter how powerful, cannot destroy a reality without permanently destroying itself. My best guess and maybe reason twilight has a consciousness is because the god that destroyed that reality either failed or was aiming to absorb it into itself and ended up merging with the leftovers after it collapsed."

I rubbed my head as I continued. "It needs a representation of two other gods, mortal or not to merge for a moment. In that moment it can draw from the latent energies and give birth to itself. It chose you Buffy, because you took a spark of the extra power you gained from your resurrection and closeness to Sineya and used it to kindle the spark in all other potential slayers."

She asked. "So it's because of the slayer spell?"

I shook my head. "Not fully. That spark that burns inside them making them slayers is yours. It's grown in each of them but by nature it belongs to you. If you were to take it all back in as it's grown you'd be a full goddess made flesh and yet not Sineya. You'd be an impossibility. A full goddess cannot have blood and flesh like that but you're the exception to the rule. A goddess in her own right and still reality bound."

I frowned. "Then there's Angel. He was just an ensouled vampire before but during the battle that sent LA to hell I entered his body and left a piece of my power behind. He would naturally grow stronger and eventually do as the older vampires when they grow in strength, become a master of a coven. It was a bit more than that though as he not only took in my power but he drank a child the senior partners dry. Not a kid mind you but a creation of their own flesh and blood, there essence mixed in."

I sighed. "It altered him, made his potential far more than it ought to be. The blood and essence of three pure blood demons mixed with a spark of power from a god. It made him into the perfect choice other than just simply taking my body. For that he'd have a hell of a fight and perhaps risk loosing everything. Taking over a gods body while it's still inside, no matter how weak the god is, is a suicide mission. It forced me to release Angel and retreat but it knew it couldn't push for more."

I looked at Buffy then Giles. "When a god, in their right mind I should add, I'd backed into a corner they can blow their vessel and retreat into the either. The resulting explosion would crack a planet in half. We don't carry just a little power in us. All it takes is a sane thought, just one, and we're free to escape as everything burns behind us."

Buffy frowned. "But she said you'd be killed."

I nodded. "She knows I won't choose that option while you and those we care about are here. She knows I'd let him consume all that I am to keep you safe. Better unmade, no heaven or hell than to see you die like that and flee in shame. For you I'll fight and die, I'll take that last breathe to send you all away and blow this rock if I can sure, but I doubt I'd have that option. There's no way I can fight that thing and send you away at the same time so I'll die."

I stood fully and turned to Giles. "Find me Angel. It's time I show this would be rapist what it means to be a god. I cannot find him on my own any more but the satellites should be able to do-"

A punch sent me flying to the back wall. The wards went to activate and Buffy's talisman negated it. The special bracelet I'd made for myself and Spike ended up wearing was fused with her talisman allowing me to add a special spell that allows for negation of wards to the wearer.

Buffy was angry now as a second punch landed and I just looked at her and rolled with them as to not hurt her. She began slamming her fists into my chest like a carpet bomb going off. I saw her anger shift to tears and sadness and when she tired of hitting me I pulled her into my arms and held her.

Sighing I held her as she cried and looked to Giles who had a sad look on his face. I nodded and he began the search. Dawn was red eyed and tears were leaking from them. I pulled her into the hug as well and after a while I told Buffy. "It's time we inform Faith and Alice. They deserve to know-"

A cough rang out and I turned my head to two very angry and crying women. I sighed again and pulled them into the hug as well. I teleported is all to our private quarters. When they all cried themselves out I let them sleep on the bed. They curled around Dawn as I left and headed to the command center once more.

There I told Giles. "Talk to me. Where is he?"

Giles sighed. "Our search is coming up blank, no wait, that can't be right. It says he's right above us."

I stilled and felt the being now. "It's not lying. Code green, code green."

The wards flared and I heard a giant crack. I teleported everyone into the second half of the compound and everything we owned into the pocket dimension before sending Giles away with the bag saying. "Tell then I love them, goodbye my friend."

I teleported him and the second part of the compound away to the beta site in Devon. The sheer amount of power it took to send it all that far was staggering even for me. The last of the wards shattered revealing the first part of Sanctuary that Xander had built with me all those years ago. It was empty of everything except me and a holocom now.

As soon as he came down I snorted. "Take off the mask. I'm well aware of the one you possess. After all, I released him to you."

The individual lifted the mask off revealing Angel's face. Sighing I told him. "Angel, how far you've fallen. Letting something like that inside you willingly, a fool to be sure."

The thing smiled with his lips. "Oh he doesn't mind one bit. Usually he'd protest at the thought of harming others, but you? He wants you dead as much as I do. After all you're standing in the way of progress with his women."

I chuckled. "Angel's not that petty, no, if anything he'd want me dead for threatening to kill his kid. But for Buffy, well, she made her choice a long time ago. No, what you're spewing is all lies."

I laughed at it's frown and began to fly like it. Let's go up a bit. Don't want to destroy the planet and your only chance at being reborn."

It frowned before smirking. "So you know?"

I nodded. "It wasn't hard to guess. Realities have wills of their own, but no reality has so much power especially before a rebirth. So, which long forgotten god are you?"

It sneered. "My name true cannot be said with these human vocal cords."

I nodded. "I get that. When I was reborn as a god I felt the binding and limitations of this form."

We'd broken the stratosphere now and we're heading into space in moments at these speeds until it stopped just at the edge of the mesosphere. He spoke in my mind now as we continued to talk, I recorded it all for Buffy and the rest. (Enough. I won't give you the chance to escape. After all, I didn't have the chance myself. The battle of the gods before saw to that. Their sheer presence crumbled the reality I was in and as a last resort I was left to fuse with it's leftovers or be erased.)

I smirked. (So you plan to use me and my mate to have yourself reborn as a living dimension. Granted it's a poor substitute but it might help you recover if you absorb more essence from other dimensions.)

It nodded and I grinned wickedly. (Shall we show these mortals what it means to be gods? It's been so long since they've experienced the real thing.)

The mesosphere quakes and ripples spread as for the first time since my second rebirth I truly put my life on the line. Power poured from each of us and he waved a hand, signaling for me to come. I needed no encouragement as I attacked. The ripples of our blows sent waves of power out into the galaxy.

We moved at speeds beyond human or any being weaker than an old one's comprehension. Our blows rattled the earth and shook the heavens. When I started to wane a bit I decided it was time.

I charged as I shifted and went full power mid swing. My claws pierced it's flesh a few inches as it's fist entered my chest with ease. Sighing I felt him grab my heart saying to me. (You never stood a chance. I've been around since before this dimension came into being. I've been absorbing it's essence like mothers milk until I found what I needed.)

I nodded. (I know, but I've bet you didn't expect me to be recording everything from the beginning. Even if I can't beat you, someone will eventually.)

It roared at my words and crushed my heart. I felt it siphoning off my essence and I just prayed. [Mother goddess, I don't ask for safety for myself. All I ask is that you protect my mates while I cannot. Accept my sacrifice as payment.]

I released all my magic, in one moment, into the planet below. I didn't get an answer but a small feeling everything was going to be ok. With that I smirked and gripped his fist before pulling it out with sheer force of will and the last bit of strength inside me.

Smiling I kicked him back before praying. [Mother Earth, Gaia, bear my plea. Send my body to Illyria so that my mates bargain of fealty can be completed.]

A sucking feeling happened in a fraction of a second and I saw my body fall to earth my essence and soul in astral form was all that remained and most of that was gone. Twilight sneered. (Even if I can't have your body I'll still take all that you are and use it to fuel my certain victory.)

I nodded. (I'm ok with that, after all, your end is certain now. My mate will kill you if I cannot.)

I smiled and did one last prayer to a being I'd never even met before. [Chaos, father, mother, all that was before and after. I sacrifice all that is left to you, weaken my enemy as much as I have left in exchange for the rest of what I am.]

The would be dimension plunged it's hand towards me to finish me off when I felt an answer. There was only one being that had the balls to answer that pray and it was the one I prayed to.

Twilight roared but I smiled as I saw it weaken before my eyes. I kept smiling as all I was began to fade. (Goodbye mother, goodbye, Buffy, Alice, Faith, and Sineya. I loved you all.)

My thoughts ceased to be then and there as I became nothing, undone as it were. Unmade. But is the end really just that, the end? Or is it something more, more than just death unmaking? What are we if not a collective of thoughts and ideas expressed to the world?

Can a thought really die? Or just fade away until it's remembered? Is it the same thought if it's had and expressed by others? Or does it become something more as well? And ideal or action, a movement of many thoughts and ideals into being once more. From creation came destruction and destruction creation. A balance of more ideals and thoughts focused on a single point, the end is never truly the end, but a new beginning. 😁