Rating: NC-17
Summary: A slayer barters with a demon to rescue her lover, and finds herself unwittingly projected nearly three hundred years into the future with no memory of the life she left behind.
Author's Notes: The demon Paimon is based in Christian mythology.
*~*~*
“The devil takes a hand in what is done in haste.”
- Kurdish Proverb loss
This story is complete.
Chapter 1 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A few things…
First, thanks so much to ![[info]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
megan_peta, spikeslovebite, dusty273, elizabuffy, yutamiyu, and angelic_amy for betaing. The support and feedback you guys have lent me has been irreplaceable. Thank you so much!
Secondly, I interpreted the challenge guideline “William days” as Spike’s “human days,” which I believe faithfully adheres to the guideline challenge. And in that, I was absolutely faithful…just inventive. I did double check with angelic_amy to make sure inventive interpretation was acceptable, and she OK’d my plotline based on the guidelines of the banner-challenge. She’s also one of my betas, which helps muchly.
I’m having such a blast with this fic; I can only hope you guys are ready for a wild ride.
Added: 06-20-07
Chapter 2 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 06-20-07
Chapter 3 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 06-20-07
Chapter 4 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 06-20-07
Chapter 5 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 06-20-07
Chapter 6 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: For those who were curious if I’d disclose any details about William and Elizabeth’s past…I hope you’re not disappointed. I’ve always enjoyed the art of telling a story within a story, and though I might not be successful, this fic provides a wonderful excuse to practice.
My boundless thanks to megan_peta, spikeslovebite, elizabuffy, dusty273, yutamiyu, and angelic_amy for their comments and criticisms. I couldn’t ask for a better staff of betas.
Added: 06-20-07
Chapter 7 ~ Reviews (1)
Added: 06-20-07
Chapter 8 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 06-26-07
Chapter 9 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 06-26-07
Chapter 10 ~ Reviews (1)
Author's Notes: I get the idea that you guys wanted Spike.
Well, you can't say I never gave you anything.
Thank you guys SO MUCH for the reviews and support. And to my betas for their suggestions, encouragement, and input. You all are completely awesome. *hugs*
Added: 06-26-07
Chapter 11 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A/N: Okay, so the general consensus of the last chapter was…Angel wasn’t too terribly out of character and people think I’m a meanie-head for acquiescing to the “Spike” demand without including “Buffy.”
*points to halo* I’m not a meanie-head. I’m just a…ummm…*hides*
Okay, okay…so if I give you smut, will you be satisfied? ‘Cause I have smut… *bribes*
Heh. Seriously, guys, thank you for all the wonderful feedback and encouragement. You brighten up my day in so many ways. Thank you.
Added: 07-07-07
Chapter 12 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes:
A/N: Sorry for the teeny delay. And it really was teeny. Just trying to get you all antsy. *huggles*
I finally present you with what you’ve been waiting for…kinda in the sense that it’s one of the things I’ve noted most in reviews… ONE of the things...perhaps not the biggest thing, but one of the things nonetheless. *hides*
Thank you all so much. *squishes* And who knows…I might be moved to update again this weekend if given proper motivation.
In all seriousness, I love you guys. My endless thanks for your encouragement and enthusiasm.
Added: 07-07-07
Chapter 13 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A/N: I’m a woman of my word. Two updates this weekend! Thank you guys so much for the warm reviews to yesterday’s chapter. *huggles* They made my day.
My thanks as always to my betas.
Added: 07-07-07
Chapter 14 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A/N: Hey everyone! Hope all my American friends had a great holiday. :)
Thank you guys so much for your encouragement and enthusiasm over this fic. I’m having such a blast writing it—you all just make it more so.
My thanks to Megan, Tami, Mari, ElizaBuffy, and Jenny as always, for finding all my silly mistakes, offering opinions, and feeding me suggestions.
You all are completely awesome. Thank you!
Added: 07-07-07
Chapter 15 ~ Reviews (2)
Author's Notes: A/N: Okay…I know I’m very evil, but you guys can’t tell me you didn’t see this coming.
If you’re nice, I might update again this weekend. ^_^ You know…with a chapter that has Buffy and Spike…together. In the resolution-of-cliffhanger sense.
I do love you guys. If I didn’t, I’d wait a lot longer between updates. *grins*
Added: 07-07-07
Chapter 16 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 07-13-07
Chapter 17 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 07-13-07
Chapter 18 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A/N: Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm and your oh so kind words. Really, I can’t put into words how much you all brighten my day.
Added: 07-13-07
Chapter 19 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 07-24-07
Chapter 20 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 07-24-07
Chapter 21 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: There’s only one more flashback chapter following this one. And a few lines toward the end of this chapter were stolen lovingly from William Shakespeare.
Added: 07-24-07
Chapter 22 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 07-24-07
Chapter 23 ~ Reviews (1)
Added: 07-24-07
Chapter 24 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A/N: One of my betas is out of town, so there’s every chance I’ll eventually replace this chapter with a cleaner version. As it is, four pairs of eyes have already looked over it, and I’ve read through it several times to try and catch all my silly errors.
Those of you familiar with my work know how I feel about Spuffy, even at the expense of ostensibly devaluing the significance of Spike and/or Buffy’s past relationships. I don’t do this out of malice toward Drusilla or Angel or even Riley; rather, out of an artistic license of how I view the vast difference in the way my Spike and Buffy experience each other. The characters are always subject to interpretation by the person writing them; my views are very likely to be at odds with the views of someone else. I say this because I know myself, and I know the way I feel about these characters because I write how I feel. I feel Spike’s previous relationships as well as Buffy’s are very important in understanding how they react to each other—what makes them, together, work whereas others have failed.
I say this as a precursor for something I did very intentionally in this chapter. Needless to say, I’ve done it unintentionally in other chapters of other stories, but based on the premise I’ve established here—one wherein Spike and Buffy knew and loved each other before meeting in S.2—I feel it’s necessary to point out what I did before I am accused of ‘ship bashing, or downplaying the significance of Drusilla’s role in Spike’s life. Such is not at all my intention. I’m slightly more conscious of it going into this story—particularly entering into this part of the story—based on what has been established about Elizabeth and William’s relationship prior to Spike regaining his memories. This is something I discussed at length with at least two of my betas, so it was very considered and ultimately, I decided to follow my instincts.
That being said, I know it’s been a few days since I updated. Truly sorry about the delay—I give you a long chapter to make up for it. Oh, and there are more Shakespeare quotes.
Thank you all again so much for your encouragement and enthusiasm.
Added: 08-05-07
Chapter 25 ~ Reviews (1)
Author's Notes: A/N: Thank you all very much for your reassurances in the previous chapter. A few of my readers sent me words of encouragement which led me to believe my Author’s Note was a response to criticism I’ve received, thus I feel I should clarify. My words weren’t directed at any one person or a response to an incident wherein I’d been accused of downgrading the importance of Spike and Buffy’s relationships with people that aren’t each other. Admittedly, I have stumbled across forums and ‘pet peeve’ posts where such has been the discussion, and I am incredibly aware of the mentality I bring to my fics. I was doing it, in my opinion, much more consciously in this story, and a bit more blatantly than I have in others. I’m not sorry for the way I’ve written those stories or this one. It’s the way I feel about Spike/Buffy, and I can’t be sorry for that.
Still, I thank you all so much for your reassurances, comments, thoughts, encouragement, and everything you gave me in the wonderfully generous response to the last chapter. It means the world to me. You are the best readers a girl could ask for. *hugs*
Added: 08-05-07
Chapter 26 ~ Reviews (1)
Author's Notes: A/N: For this chapter, and indeed, for the rest of the story, I created demonology based on a form of interpretation of lore present in the series, as well as interpretation present in many schools of religious thought. Everything is based on something I saw on my specific reading of certain BtVS episodes…twisted to fit my purpose.
Thank you all so much for your continued enthusiasm and support. *snuggles*
Added: 08-05-07
Chapter 27 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes:
A/N: Running off to work…I really wish I’d done this last night, but time slipped away from me. Just thank you to my betas and my lovely readers. I hope to have another update soon.
Oh, and I keep meaning to add this but…so many people have emailed me in regards to this fic and I know I owe about a thousand emails back. I’m really behind in answering those. Just wanted to shout my thanks to everyone who’s emailed me. I hope to answer everyone…it’s just a matter of finding the time to sit down and do so.
Added: 08-09-07
Chapter 28 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A/N: I think, after the last chapter, a little clarification is needed…
Kendra has NOT been called—I realized upon taking this venue that there were already loopholes, so I decided to rather cruelly yank the obvious loopholes away. Paimon explained this as follows:
“Oh, the Powers have certainly given me a run. Even arranged to have the poor girl die last year so that her Calling would be passed on before I could collect. It didn’t take, I’m afraid. As long as little Buffy lives…as long as she pumps her human blood and beats her human heart and lives her little human life, our agreement holds higher value than the line of potentials waiting after her. The girl they tried to Call…well, she’ll die. As will every other girl with an inner daimon. The line will cease to exist. I’m sorry to say… To think…had her little friend not revived her, he might have saved the world.” - Echoes, Chapter 27.
Meaning his deal with Buffy has the Powers scrambling around to find a loophole themselves—ergo, she died in Season 1, in my ‘verse, for this very reason: to preserve the Slayer line. Paimon’s plans were not averted because Xander was there to save her, and since Paimon’s agreement with Buffy has essentially placed the Slayer line in his hands, even if he hasn’t collected yet, their agreement holds higher value than the natural order because Buffy has broken the natural order.
I hope that makes sense. I was rather discouraged when so many people believed Kendra was the answer…of course, it is my fault if I didn’t explain it well enough. My betas, however, didn’t seem to think the language was all that ambiguous…or if they did, they were too kind to say anything.
Secondly, and this is a little less surprising, many people seem to believe Buffy will turn into a vampire to escape her fate. I only ask you to keep the following in mind: in this ‘verse, I’ve already established that Buffy, and indeed all slayers have daimons inside them—daimons from which they draw upon their power. And as Whedonverse has established, to become a vampire, the soul is removed and a demon invades the intended’s body. Picture what happened to Angel in S.2’s The Dark Age when he had two demons in his body. And I believe I’ll leave it at that.
That being said…I am incredibly glad that so many people are interested in speculating on what might occur and what I might throw at the characters. I know I’ve displayed a penchant for vamp!Buffy fics in the past, so I can definitely see where people would come to the above conclusion…however, in the rules I’ve established and in the Slayer lore I’ve created, a simple vamping isn’t going to do the trick.
Thank you so much to everyone who’s stuck with me through this—and please, don’t let the above make you think I don’t like the speculation. I do. I truly do. I just needed to respond to a few things and, in doing so, keep the mystery in. Believe me…all will be addressed.
Thank you to Tami, Megan, ElizaBuffy, yutamiyu, and Mari for being the bestest betas a girl could ask for.
And a special thanks to Shauna, who made my day with her review.
Added: 08-09-07
Chapter 29 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: A/N: I said I’d redeem Angel. (sorry, Wulfie *giggles*)
Thank you so much to everyone for your feedback, encouragement, and insight. I bring you smut to make the dire situation at least a little better.
We are nearing the end. There are 33 chapters and an epilogue. Anyone else getting excited?
Added: 08-09-07
Chapter 30 ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes:
Well, this should answer any lingering questions, as it’s the chapter wherein I complete my lore. As some of you have already guessed, I left some crucial details out when Giles and Spike were telling Buffy about the nature of slayers. The no-slayer-can-be-a-vampire thing is going to be addressed, as well as a full explanation as to why (I left out some of the finer details in my author’s note a few chapters back). And though I know it seems I’m going that way (despite what I said to the contrary), I say again…Buffy will not be a vampire in this story (*see ending note).
A part of my lore in this comes from my thoughts while watching Angel, Season 2 for the first time years and years ago. When Darla was sired again by Drusilla, she became the same vampire all over again, even though Dru was NOT the sire she’d had the first time around. This led me to believe that once a demon has claimed a body, the body becomes untouchable to other demons. It’s marked, in other words. I’ve been waiting for a story wherein to explore this thought for a long while, and though Echoes is my first, there’s every chance it will not be my last.
Voting for best “Art Before Fic” submission has commenced over at Spuffy Haven. To cast your vote for Echoes (and any of the other wonderful submissions) please visit:
As always, thank you all so much for your enthusiasm and feedback. <3
Added: 08-13-07
Chapter 31 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 08-13-07
Chapter 32 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 08-13-07
Chapter 33 ~ Reviews (0)
Added: 08-20-07
Chapter 34: Epilogue ~ Reviews (0)
Author's Notes: All my notes are at the end. Just wanted to again express my deepest thanks to all my wonderful readers; you all made both writing and publishing this story so much fun. You reinvigorated my love of the series and, more importantly, my love of my ‘ship. Your emails, reviews, criticisms, notes of encouragement, and so forth have positively made my summer.
Added: 08-20-07
