Asher followed Buffy only to find she had Belle cornered and imprisoned against the wall."You are to be judged and sentenced tonight, Belle.As will all those of your line and their servants."
"Sacre Blu, who are you to judge me, mon sorcière?"
"I am the daughter of the moon and the ruler of the gods.I am the Guardian of the Earth, humanity's champion."Buffy's eyes glowed while her whole body was outlined in gold.The scythe appeared in her hand.She turned it towards Belle's heart and it started to glow and hum.
Asher saw delicate lines of light of gold, grey and the darkest black.Buffy used the point of the scythe to separate the glowing lines of gold and grey from the black.She smoothly severed the pale lines.Asher now knew what an avenging angel looked like.
"You and your line have been judged and sentence will now be passed."The sound of two intertwined voices could be heard coming from Buffy.Her shields were down completely as waves of power streamed off her and the scythe like a waterfall. She raised the scythe and severed the Beautiful Death's head.Belle de Morte burst into ashes.
Asher rushed to Buffy as she tried to catch her breath, her shoulder's sagged.He kissed her forehead then bent to taste the honey of her lips.Damian appeared beside them, soothing his mates with his quiet comfort.Buffy raised a tear-stained face to them."I was afraid Jean-Claude would have to be sentenced."
He caught his breath.Asher's feeling of bitterness towards his old lover were not resolved but he didn't want him dead.They head a shout and took off running back into the hall.Just as they made it around the corner, they saw Dwayne burst into ash.Everything in room screeched to a halt. Everyone tried to figure out what just happened.Buffy saw Padma held between Jamil and Shang Da.Richard beat the traitors but left them alive.She sighed seeing this.Richard couldn't kill a Council member but he should have taken care of pack matters swiftly.A quick glance showed her, Jean-Claude in the same boat regarding Gretchen.She waslaid beside his feet unconscious but still very much alive.
She moved towards Padma, her shields now firmly in place.A single look had Jamil and Shang Da stepping away with a bow of their heads.Asher and Damian stood close by but out of her way.Once again, she called forth the scythe. Her shields melted away flooding the room with unimaginable power. Everyone but her mates fell to the floor.The weres rolled in the waves of power.They tasted the moon and their leader's signature combined.They all thought and felt one word - safe.
The vampires felt full, as if they just finished feeding from their sire only more so.Anita felt her inner beast, her necromancy and an inner peace she never knew existed.She felt protected, something she couldn't remember feeling in a long time.Buffy stood before Padma."Master of Beast, you are the last of the Council.You are to be judged and sentenced with your entire line.There will no longer be a Council to rule over the Masters. Your ancient laws and the laws of the land will rule you.Your souls will guide you just like they do humans.I am Earth's Guardian.I am here to guard, protect and sentence non-humans who choose to harm innocents."
She quickly completed the Padma's sentence.As soon as he turned to ash, releasing the web on the Council's headquarters.Those that had passed judgment ran from the castle after watching vampires and human servants burst into ash.They shared their sire's fate.The minute the last one stepped off the grounds the castle exploded leaving only a ruin as a reminder.All over the world, the ones who didn't survive the judgment burst into ash. The survivors turned towards St. Louis for answers.
Buffy looked at the others in the room as she took her mates hands.She walked over to the weres.Once again, she raised her shields, only leaving a tendril sending out a reassuring pulse.Buffy looked at the weres.She went to Rafael and kissed her friend on the cheek."Thank you for your help."She repeated her actions with all the were, even Jamil and Shang Da, who blushed.
"I will always help you in any way that I can."
Buffy turned to Richard, Anita and Jean-Claude.They looked at her with a mixture of hurt, betrayal, anger and curiosity."Why didn't you tell me?Didn't you trust me?"Anita fired off the minute Buffy got to them.
"Why all the secrecy?Why didn't you tell us who would betray us?We could have stopped them, found a way to help them before they felt a need to do this."Richard still didn't understand his role or even simple human responses.
"So, mon sorcière, what all can you do"?Jean-Claude smiled at her.
"Do you want to find out JC?"Buffy purred, her voice sent shivers through every man in the room.Making them think thoughts of the tiny blonde, her mates wouldn't appreciate.Several of were whimpered. Faster than even a vampire could see, Buffy lashed out with her foot sending Jean-Claude against a wall over twelve feet away.
"Don't' push me fang-face.It's been a long night and I hate fighting in prom dresses.It bring back bad memories."
Asher and Damien kissed her temples causing her to smile up at them.Buffy ran her fingers through their hair.Reluctantly, she brought her mind back to the subject at hand.
"First, Richard, I told you as much as you needed to know or that I was allowed.I have helped you and your pack in every way that I could.You are the Ulfric, there will always be situations like this.You have to decide if you can do the job.Yes, Richard, I could have taken care of it but that is your job.Those guys chose to betray your pack and attack its Ulfric.They knew what they were risking. They did it for greed and power.The big question is what are you going to do Mr. Big Bad Wolf?You better figure out how to be a real leader, Richard, quickly."
"That is enough Buffy.What gives you the right to talk to him like that?"Anita defended Richard.She still loved him and this gave her another reason to revert to her resentment of Buffy.
"Anita, I don't need you to defend me.She is right.We are leaving.Jamil, you and Shang Da bring the prisoners."Richard growled then swept out of the room.
Anita looked at his back as he exited the mansion then turned to glare at Buffy."So, Miss High-and-Mighty, you came here to destroy the Council and pass judgment on all of us. What gives you that right?"
"The Powers," Buffy responded sadly."I am here to protect innocents in the way the PTBs require me to.Should I have trusted you, Anita?You barely trust yourself.I have tried to help you, even be a friend to you.I didn't do anything to harm you or anyone you care for.So, you tell your inner bitch to sit down and shut, the hell, up."Buffy stepped closer to her.Anita stepped back, she always used her anger in situations like this.It was all she knew, an immediate reflex for her.She wondered if this time it would get her killed."I'm getting tired of your bullshit.Other people were involved, lots of other people.Namely your pard, Nimir Ra, do you even remember them.While you run around with your guns, shooting first and playing musical boyfriends.Your entire pard were hurt.Lady, it's not me who thinks they're Miss High-and-Mighty.Now, get out of my way.We're going home, I'm tired."Buffy growled, causing those still in the room to jump.Anita stayed put with her arms crossed over her chest.Her eyes turned an empty black as the feelings drained away."Don't make me move you, not tonight.You won't like it, I promise."
"Ma petite, come away."Jean-Claude pulled Anita out of harms way
Buffy, Damian and Asher walked past as Anita glared at them.Jean-Claude bowed his head.Rafael and the wererats all bowed as Buffy walked by them.Even the vampires performed this act of respect.
"Do you believe this shit?She acts like she is the fucking queen of the world, now.Did you see them all bow?They practically kissed her feet."Anita hissed as she watched the others responses to Buffy.
"Tell me, ma petite, are you angry because they honor and respect her or because you are no longer the most feared woman in St. Louis?"Jean-Claude purred beside her.
Anita spun around to look at him."You think I am jealous of her?Why should I be?"
"Indeed, ma petite, indeed."Jean-Claude's eyes wandered to the door as Buffy left.An almost wistful look lit his eyes.
"You want her too?That is it right. Then go after her.She already has two men in her bed. I'm sure she could handle one more."
"Non, ma petite, I want you. Buffy is a beautiful woman, any man would be lucky to have her. What I want is what she has with Asher and Damian.I had that once and I want if again.I thought I could have it with you. That is up to you, Anita."He turned and made his way towards the others motioning for the vampires to gather up Gretchen.
Anita looked around her.She was all alone in the mansion.What the hell just happened here?How did my life get so out of control?
Zane and Carlos stuck their heads inside the door, but waited patiently for her.She walked over to them with a tired smile."Let's go home, boys.I hear we might be having company next week."
The End.