Jean-Claude decided to talk to Buffy tonight. He landed at her front door only to have it opened by Warwick who waved him inside.
"Buffy felt you coming," the knightly vampire answered him before he could ask.
The lady in question was in her study meditating. Jean-Claude watched in awe to see Buffy bathed in a blue light, her eyes glowing, floating above the ground.
She landed softly then turned to look at him with a huge smile. "Come in you don't have to stand in the door. Warwick would you mind getting us something to drink, please." Warwick smiled, bowed and left the room. Jean-Claude hadn't even realized that he stayed behind him. "He guards me when I meditate, it make him feel better. He thinks it is too vulnerable a position and open to attack. Asher and Damian have told him that he is responsible for protecting my flank." She scrunched up her nose then looked at Jean-Claude. "What's a flank and do I really want to know?" She asked in a stage whisper then giggled.
Jean-Claude threw his head back laughing. "You are a minx. I need your help, petite sorcière."
"What cha need?"
"How can I help ma petite?"
Buffy's eyes grew sad and she got very quiet. Jean-Claude felt panic that grew into fear. "She has to truly want to change JC, I'm not sure she is there yet. Unfortunately, I've seen this before, and that time I didn't handle it very well. Anita is probably going to have to fall a little farther before she is ready for help. My friend killed two people and tortured several others before she finally broke. She asked for help and paid for her crimes by dedicating herself to helping to fight the darkness and eventually helped to save the world."
"So, we just let ma petite destroy herself." He started to pace the library as his fear grew.
"Well, well tinman you found your heart. Have you seen me turn away from her? I didn't say that, JC. My hand is out to her and I will help her, she just had to take it. No one can do this for her. I know that isn't what you were hoping to hear but it's the truth and both of you are going to have to face it."
He kissed her forehead then quietly left the room.
Buffy heard the fluttering of wings. A small bronze man appeared wearing winged helmet and sandals. He kissed Buffy's cheek causing her to laugh.
"Hi Merc, you got mail for me?"
The tiny man pouted. "What if I just wanted to see my favorite niece, huh what about that?"
"Okay, bad Buffy. How are you Merc? What cha been doing? Are you hear to see me or you got biz?"
"You have a smart mouth little girl?"
She laughed, "Who you calling little and as far as my smart mouth goes well that is one of the things my mates like the best about me. If you know what I mean." Her eyebrows wiggled up and down suggestively.
He zoomed around the room nervous about the news he had to tell him. "Okay enough, you naughty girl. Its bad news, Buffy. In the rush to get you here, the Fates didn't give Selene all the information she needed to tell you. There are a few things you need to take care of pronto. Like right now!" The tiny messenger of the gods all but yelled in her ear.
Buffy waved him away from her face. "Wow, stop flapping your wings and the yelling not needed. Enhanced hearing in case you forget." She frowned at him. "Did a Hellmouth pop open or something? I should have felt that."
"No, Hades is furious and ready to let Ares start a war. All the spirits of the dead raised in this world are bound in their graves. They aren't in Tartarus."
"They are WHAT!" Buffy screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Necromancers use blood and salt to call the spirits from their graves. The blood animates the body and the salt contains it. More blood puts them back, but they don't just put the body back in the ground and release the spirit they bind both to the grave! The largest number are concentrated here and have been done by Anita. You have to release all of the ones here tonight or Hades is going to war!!"
Buffy jumped up running from the room, calling for Asher, Damian and Warwick at the top of her lungs. "Call Anita right away, tell her we are coming to get her. We have a situation that we have to take care of tonight or we are all screwed." She ran past them to the bedroom to change into leather pants, boots and blue shimmering top. Buffy grabbed a coat; made sure she had her necklace on then ran for the door.
They piled into the car then took off for Anita's. They made it to her house in record time, Buffy jumped out of the car before it even stopped.
"Anita," Buffy yelled, bursting through the door. "Listen, I can't explain everything to you but it kinda goes like this. When you raise people, you use blood and more blood to put them back. Balance right. Well you didn't just bind their bodies to the grave you bound their spirits too. It's all about balance and right now, there's a big honking hole in the balance. Anita, I need your help. I need you to show me everywhere that you have raised anyone in St. Louis. Listen, I know that you are pissed at me and I'm your least favorite person, but lots of bad shit is gonna be knockin at the door if you don't help." It was as close as Buffy had ever come to begging but she would do that as well if she had to.
"Let me grab my stuff. Where are we gonna get enough blood this time of night?" Anita asked as she jogged over to her hall closet to pull out her bag.
"We don't need blood just lots of salt. Wear shoes that are easy to take off and no weapons. Bring someone you trust to protect your back if you want but you can't have any steel on your body." Buffy was a study of contained energy. The air nearly crackled around her it was so charged.
"You have got to be shitting me! I don't go anywhere unarmed." Suspicion filled dark eyes as all emotion faded away leaving a death glare in place.
"Anita for once would you just pick someone to watch your back, grab some salt and come on!" Buffy ran for the door. She didn't have time to placate the woman's suspicions, not now, not tonight.
Anita looked at Micah. "Would you come and help," she asked her new lover. She hated this shit, she was so not emotions girl. She was taking her weapons but would leave them in the car. Zane and Caleb grabbed several large bags of salt which Anita kept in her basement and loaded them in the car.
Two cars raced down the road to the largest cemetery in St. Louis. Buffy instructed Damian and Asher to circle the entire parameter with salt. She grabbed Anita's hand pulling her to the side of a car.
"Pull off your shoes and coat and leave your weapons in the car. Make sure you don't have any metal on your body, Anita."
"What about your necklace, Buffy?" Anita's tone was catty and challenging. She reluctantly did as the she was told.
"We are going to need it, believe me." Buffy removed her shoes and coat then grabbed Anita practically dragging her to the center of the cemetery.
Damian and Asher closed the circle behind them. Everyone felt the snap of power as the salt met; a wind immediately started blowing causing Buffy to have to speak up to be heard.
"Listen to me Anita, hate me tomorrow just help me do this tonight. Just do what I tell you when I tell you, okay?" Not waiting for an answer Buffy turned firmly planting her feet, her arms raised straight out to her sided then moved in ever-growing circles. "Hear me those bound to this earth, we come to send you back to your final rest. Those responsible did not know and ask for your forgiveness. One comes tonight to represent them." Buffy looked directly at Anita, her eyes glowing eerily in the night.
Anita called out over the graves as if she was trying to speak to each grave personally. "Please, forgive our ignorance. We meant you no harm. We wished to help your friends and families."
Buffy nodded in approval then raised her hands higher. "Gaia, Mother Earth, please release the spirits of those children already passed. Let their spirits rest once more!"
The ground trembled under their feet. Buffy pointed her arms straight down as blue lights shot from her hands while under her feet it began to glow an iridescent green. The green spread out across the cemetery covering each grave until it hit the salt circle. The trembling increased until Anita couldn't stand any longer. Those watching outside the circle could see what was going on but where they stood the earth was still. They saw Anita fall causing Micah to move as if to help her but Damian stopped him.
Anita watched as opalescent shaped started rising from over 400 graves. They floated about in a swirl; some were blindingly beautiful while others were a dull grey. The dull ones tried to move towards her, but Buffy threw up her hands and they moved back.
"Go to your rest, you are free. She didn't know and will atone. You won't punish or judge her." Buffy's voice range out.
A large funnel opened up and the spirits were pulled away. Buffy's necklace glowed and lightning shot out at the ground near by. Buffy just smiled and held out her hand to help Anita up.
"Doesn't anything scare you?" The dark haired woman groused brushing dirt off her black jeans.
"Lots of things, but I can't think of that right now. Come on places to go Caspers to free." Buffy gave her a saucy smile as she walked out of the circle of salt.
Anita shook her head as they walked towards the cars. Just as they reached the others, Anita moved in front of Buffy and a shot rang out. Suddenly, a body hit the ground.
Anita's eyes grew wide in her face as she knelt beside the small body. Asher looked at her back there was a large hole directly where her heart was. Anita gasped when she saw the skin knit together and the bullet pop out. The wound was closed completely leaving no trace of a gunshot.
"Damnit, I hate being shot!" Buffy cursed from her place on the ground.
"What happened? How did you do that?"
"I heard someone pull a trigger, you stepped in the way. It was too late for me to stop it. So, I just rolled our bodies around. No biggie."
"No biggie, you saved my life, someone tried to kill you and you just healed before our eyes."
"Listen, I'm very hard to kill, Anita. I would have saved anyone's life. It's what I do and I figured they were going to start sending people after me pretty soon." Buffy answered getting in the car with Damian and Asher holding her body as if she were dead. They wanted to make sure that anyone watching would think the hit was successful. "We need to go to my house in case they follow us. Anita will you trust Damian to fly you to the next location? Asher can take Micah. We have to finish this tonight. We can go out the back there is no way for anyone to enter or see into the house. I can cloak us for short amounts of time. Are you still willing to help?"
"Let's do this." She climbed out of Buffy's car then into her Jeep. Anita has a bad feeling that she already knew who shot Buffy.
They pulled up to Buffy's house, hauling her body out of the car making their way to the back of the house. They were airborne in minutes. The group worked diligently going from cemetery to cemetery until all the spirits were where they belonged. Damian landed with Anita in his arms only to find her fast asleep. Micah gently relieved the vampire of his cargo. Buffy appeared only to quickly wilt. If it weren't for the quick reflexes of her mates, she would have hit the ground. They wrapped their arms around her, neither willing to give up their spot by her side.
Warwick waited anxiously for them; he smiled brightly when he saw Buffy. He hugged her before he realized what he was doing. He stepped back looking down at his hands. "My pardon Lady Buffy, my lords. I over stepped my bounds." Warwick acted as if he expected to be punished.
Buffy left the support of her husbands' arms. "Warwick, friends worry about each other and they hug. They hug to say hi, bye and I'm glad that you're safe, thank you and just because they are friends. We are friends, Warwick. You can hug me anytime. No one here is going to punish you or harm you as long as I am on this Earth. Your safe and you are part of this family. I always wanted a brother." She smiled at him hoping that he would understand and finally start to feel safe. Buffy hugged him then kissed his cheek. He gave her a 1000-watt smile and hugged her back.
"Damian, baby, would you show Micah and Anita to a room. They are too exhausted to make it home. I have to make a call to Daddy. Come down when you're through, Asher and I will be in the study. Love you."
Buffy walked into the study then called out. "Daddy, do you have a few minutes?"
Zeus appeared in a flash of lightning. "You look tired baby girl."
"Well freeing over 4000 spirits will do that to you. Is Hades off the warpath now?"
The Ruler of the Gods sat in a chair and Buffy crawled onto his lap like a little girl. Damian came and smiled at his wife. She is so complex. One minute, a woman, a warrior, avenging angel, protector, a little girl then a seductress. I love every one of them. At the most interesting moments, they peak out.
Asher looked at him and smiled as if they shared the same thought. He realized that they probably did. It was very hard to know Buffy and not love her in one way or another. They were just lucky enough to have her love them in return.
"What happens now am I supposed to release spirits all over the world?"
"No, the Fates say the balance has tipped back. They will send visions to those who are sensitive to help free the rest. Justice will use her influence to change laws to ensure Animators are re-certified by a licensed Wicca. They will have to learn how to release the spirit at the end of the ceremony."
Buffy hid her face in his shoulder. He felt her body shudder causing his arms to wrap around her tighter. "I wish that I could make it so that no one could ever be brought back." She whispered remembering being in her own grave.
"We can't change everything that this world is based on baby girl. People have this power for a reason and most use it wisely to help people. If they would have known what they were doing, they would never have trapped the spirits. You can only punish those who abuse that power." He kissed her head while he rocked her as if she were a baby. "The Fates do agree with your actions with the Ulfric and Anita. You didn't have any other choice; you had every right to pass sentence on them if you chose to. Why didn't you?"
"I won't kill as long as I can still see that there is at least a chance, another way to at least try to help them. I had lots of chances and lots of help still do!" She shrugged her shoulders.
"You are going to have to go to LA to handle the situation there. The Master will refuse to come here, but it is important that he is taken care of. Buffy, it is going to be a big challenge for you. There was magic in place that protected the people there. You will know what to do but it won't be easy just trust yourself."
She looked at her father closely, knowing he was telling her something. Buffy thought back over everything she knew about this world. Her eyes widened in understanding. "Its Angel isn't it? He's the Master of LA. Is he Angelus again? He wasn't descended from the council so I that would be why I wouldn't have been able to feel him."
Zeus looked at her closely trying to gauge her feelings. He knew that she loved her bond mates but did she still have feelings for Angel? "Yes, he is. He isn't Angelus. He is somewhere in between. Angel got distracted from his path long ago. The Powers washed their hands of him when he failed every opportunity given him for selfish reasons. Now he is a creature of his own making. He will try to play on your past if you let him."
"Don't worry Daddy, I never wanted to admit but I quit loving Angel a long time ago. He became someone I couldn't respect. The things he did weren't done by the man I fell in love with when I was 16. You don't charge people to help you or allow lawyers to be murdered even if they are evil or try to lose your soul. The vampires were always too happy to tell me the latest news from LA before I dusted them. No my Angel died a long time ago. I'm with who I'm supposed to be with, we complete each other."
"Okay princess, you know we are only a thought away and that we love you, right." Zues kissed her forehead, set her on the chair then disappeared.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(NC17)
Asher walked forward to pick her up then carried her upstairs with Damian following close behind. Damian opened the bedroom door moving inside to pull back the bedcovers. Asher placed Buffy carefully on the bed. Each man moved in synchronized movements to slowly remove her clothes. Each article taken from her body was replaced with kisses and caresses.
Her exhaustion fell away as the love and passion filled her through their bond. Buffy looked them through heavy lidded eyes. It always amazed her that these two beautiful were her husbands. A blood red head and one of molten gold snapped up to look at her. Their eyes were like twin flames that burned her with their love and passion. Echoing growls sounded in the room as they crawled up her body stopping to suckle at her breasts.
Burying her hands in silken locks, she held them in place. Not able to stand it any longer, Buffy pulled Asher and Damian up to meet her hungry lips. They kissed in tandem. When one vampire sipped the nectar of her lips, the other buried his fangs in her neck. She never tired of sharing this with them of giving them her blood. It bound them that much tighter.
"You both have too many clothes on." She pulled on the offending garments. "I want to feel your skin next to mine. I need to feel both of you now." Her hands were almost frantic as she all but tore the clothes from them.
"Shush, my love, let us love you. You have done so much tonight. Faced so much let us worship you and take you away from it all." Damian whispered in her small shell like ear.
Buffy tried to catch her breath at his words. This night caused bad memories to surface that she thought were long buried. The rustling of clothes brought her mind back to the matter at hand. She looked up to see both her mates standing on the side of the bed nude. Their pale skin glowed from the moonlight that showed in the room.
Moving her body around until her face was aligned with their groins. Her tongue came out to lick up the length of first one then the other man. A warm mouth engulfed an engorged member while a strong hand worked on another ensuring neither was neglected.
Buffy felt Damian step away from her hand and protested in the back of her throat. Her hands pulled Asher's hips closer giving her better access. She couldn't stop from smiling when she felt long fingers pushing her legs apart. Buffy pushed up to her knees in order to give her red haired husband better access to her body.
Damian parted her nether lips inhaling her fragrant arousal. Her scent never failed to heighten his passion. It was a scent like no other in the world it was - moonlight, passion, and power - Buffy. He found her dripping core, hot and ready for him. Her clit already swollen begged for his attention. Damian wasn't one to ever deny his love anything.
Asher ran his fingers through her long blonde hair. His eyes caught those of Damian's as he entered Buffy from behind. Their bond grew daily and they could feel what the other person was feeling. As Damian felt Buffy's dripping core grab hold of him while he pumped into her so did Asher. Just as they, both felt Buffy's mouth sucking Asher down her throat. Their eyes almost crossed when she hummed and clenched her walls at the same time.
Damian started to increase his pace as Asher thrust into Buffy's mouth. She squeezed his balls in her small hands. Her body was on fire. Giving and receiving pleasure with her mates never failed to send her libido into overdrive. A moan escaped her lips when Damian took her to the edge of an orgasm but didn't let her cum. An evil thought entered her mind deciding that she was ready to drive for a while. Her hand continued to massage Asher while her head bobbed up and down faster and faster. One small hand moved up to tease the soft skin behind his hard cock then continue on to the rosette.
She smiled when she heard the twin moans. Damian's pace became frantic and Asher had to force himself not to match it in Buffy's mouth. Her hips moved in time with both husbands knowing they were all about the find release. One slender finger slid into the puckered opening, with unerring experience, it found the button it sought sending waves of pleasure through the blonde vampire's body. It created a chain reaction in all three lovers as their bodies shook with simultaneous orgasms.
They crawled up on the bed and back into each others arms. The days ahead would bring enough problems between Anita, the Masters from various cities and eventually Angel but tonight all that mattered was each other.