"And that's all that I remember before Spike knocked me out." 

   Explained Buffy, as she put an ice pack to her forehead.

   "Very unusual I would say." Said Giles.  He was trying to make sense of what Buffy, who was sitting next to Xander, Willow, and Oz, had told him, about how Spike had had the Slayer at his mercy and did not kill her.

   "Did he say anything to you, anything at all?" Giles asked.

   "Well, after our usual insults, he said something about me giving something over to a guy called...what was it... oh yeah, Kain.  The guy's name was Kain."

   Giles than gave Buffy a bewildered look and almost turned white.

   "Did I say something wrong?" Buffy asked.

   "Kain?  Are you sure?  Are you absolutely sure he said that name?"

   "Yeah why?"

   "Then we are in serious trouble."

   Giles walked past Buffy to the bookshelves and pulled out a very old looking book.  He brought it over and opened it, searching near the middle of the book.  As he found the spot he was looking for, he began to speak.

   "You see, Kain was, as legends go, the first vampire to be created.  He was a nobleman who was brutally murdered sometime in twelve hundred B.C.  His only loyal followers were six sorcerer-warrior priests that tried to resurrect him, but instead they changed him into a vampire, then he made his followers into his vampire 'sons'.   He became so powerful that there was even a time when he and his 'sons' ruled the world.  The human race was reduced to slaves for the vampires-"

   "What a minute, how could he have ruled the world and no one knows about it now?" Asked Xander.

   "Simple really, it happened so long ago that the truth was lost to all human knowledge except-"

   "The Watchers." Buffy interrupted.

   "Yes, anyway, Kain's rule lasted for over a millenium until a Slayer, who was in the slave camps, organized a revolt against their vampire masters.  With her abilities and leadership, the humans were able to decimate entire legions of vampires."

   "But what about Kain and his 'sons', did they survive?" Willow asked.

   "Kain did, but it is believed that his 'sons' were killed in the final battle.  The Slayer was not skilled enough to successfully destroy Kain, so she and her followers placed a spell on him that would put him into torpor-it's a type comatose state.   And if he were risen, than it could spell certain doom for humanity."

   "Why is that?" Asked Oz.

   "Because Kain is so powerful that he is naturally immune many things that could kill a normal vampire.  He would also be able to turn any dead body into a vampire nearly as strong as himself."

   "Hold on, why didn't they kill him after putting him to sleep?" Asked Xander

   "It's somewhat vague, it says here that 'in order to save himself, his true essence was preserved in his most valued treasure.'" Explained Giles.

   "So is there any way to revive him?" Asked Buffy.

   "Only one.  He must drink the blood of the Slayer, only then will he awaken.  We're just lucky Spike didn't get any."
      Buffy suddenly remembered the scar on her left arm, the one that she noticed when she woke up in the park.

   "Uh, Giles?" Said Buffy, as she showed him her wound.

   "Oh dear.  May Heaven help us all."

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Sunnydale Cemetery, Wednesday, 11:13 PM.

   "Well boys, the moment is at hand and the Slayer is as good as lunch.  No more hiding from the humans."  Spike said as he walked up to the sarcophagus carrying the jar with Buffy's blood in it.

   "Alright, lets get this thing open.  Michael, Daniel, pop the lid on this thing."

   The two vampires got crowbars came up to the sarcophagus.  Digging the bars into the lid, they began to rip it off.  The lid burst off with a gust of dust and stinking air, an air that smelled almost exactly like death.  When the dust cleared, Spike looked into the opening and saw the first of his kind.   Kain looked human only in shape, his skin was so pale and transparent that one could almost see his muscles underneath.  Instead of hands and feet he had talons, three on each hand that acted as fingers and two on the feet that acted as toes. His face was sunken in at his cheeks and his brow was swiped back into four horns that overlapped his waist length, white hair.   He wore black leather arm gloves and pants with steel shin guards.

   "Guess he never won a beauty contest in his lifetime." Joked Spike

   He opened Kain's mouth and began to pour the contents of the jar in it.  When the jar was empty, he stepped back and waited. and waited.

   "Am I missing something here or is he supposed to wake up?" Spike said impatiently, "Daniel, go check and see what's happening."

   Daniel walked over to the open sarcophagus and peered in.  After a minute, Daniel turned around.

   "Nothings happening Spi-"
   A clawed hand grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground interrupted him.  Kain rose from the sarcophagus with Daniel in hand, feet dangling above the ground, and with little effort, sank his teeth into Daniel and drank from him until the fledgling vampire was a pile of dust.

   Spike could not believe what he saw.  Damn, the sheer strength of this guy is amazing, I'd better get on his good side, he thought.

   "Uh. um. hi there." Spike stuttered as Kain merely looked at him with those inhuman yellow eyes.  "Uh. welcome back to the living. so to speak."

   "Who are you and how long have I been gone?" Kain's voice spoke with a tone that could only be described as pure evil.

   "Well. um. My name is Spike. I'm a vampire-"

   "I know that you are, even though you look human, I can recognize my kin.  Now how long have I been gone?"

   "Well. according to my resources. um. you've been 'asleep' for about a thousand years."

   Kain seemed to be in deep thought at this time, as if he was trying to comprehend that time span.

   "You were the one who woke me?'

   "Yeah, that was me."

   "Then did you kill the Slayer?"

   "No. I thought that I should leave her to you."

   Kain walked closer to Spike and seemed to tower over him.  Spike began to withdraw in fear.

   "Good.  I like the way you think, Spike.  My minions will take care of this Slayer, while I find something of importance to me."

   With that, Kain pulled down the dead bodies from the walls and lined them up.  He cut his wrist with one of his claws and fed some of his blood to the rotting skeletons.  Moments later, Spike could see the bones renewing them selves followed by tendons and sinew and muscle and skin beginning to form on them.   Holy s***, Thought Spike, Now the Slayer has met her match.

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      A cave in Sunnydale Park, Wednesday, 11:21 PM.

   "This cannot be.  Madness, this is sheer madness." He said to himself.

   He had been laying inside his shelter ever since he first fed on that girl's soul, unable to believe what he saw himself as.  His mind had been hurting from trying to remember how he become the way he is now.  This doesn't make sense, how did this happen to me? He thought.   He felt his face again, and pulled his hand away when it came to his mouth.  He quickly searched and found a large, old, and tattered cloth on the cave floor, and he used to cover his face, as if afraid someone was about to see him.

   Instantly, a flood of memories attacked his brain.  He could see that he was in a different place at a different time.  He was in a large, circular chamber that was lined with pillars and flags.  He was walking through the entrance and towards the center.   As he walked to the throne at heart of the chamber he could see, standing in a circle, his "brothers": the proud and honorable Turel with his long, black hair tied at the end, staring at him with curiosity.  The arrogant Dumah, with his black armor as a symbol of his ruthlessness and his head held high as if no one could touch him.   Rahab, his loyal and over zealous "brother", avoiding any physical contact with what light that came in.  The insidious and jealous Zephon, with his dark eyes glaring at him with envy.  And Melchiah, his youngest and weakest "brother" whom he could smell before entering, stood with a sullen face, his mortal skin showing its latest signs of decay.

   The throne ahead of him was a sight to see, carved out of black onyx into the shape of a large claw with a pillar jutting vertically out of the center.  And on that throne sat his lord, Kain.

   I remember what happened, He thought, I came to show Kain what my transformation had given me.

   He walked into the circle; all eyes were on him.  Kain looked up and sneered at his reluctance to appear sooner.  When he reached the center, he looked at his "brothers" and knelt before his master, bowing his head in total loyalty.  Then he unfolded his gift; wings!   They were magnificent, stretching from his lower back were bones that were similar to a bat's arms with skin lining the interiors.  Kain seemed shocked at first, as he rose and walked to him.  He stood up as well, in order to let his master inspect the wings himself.   Kain began to feel the bones and skin, stroking them almost lovingly.

   I thought he would be proud of his first born, to be given such a gift from the "Change", He thought.

   But once he turned away from his "father", he felt the agony of the bones being ripped form his wings, and lost consciousness.  When he awoke, his "brothers" Turel and Dumah were dragging him towards a cliff edge.  He was too weak to struggle but was able to see where he was; the Lake of the Dead; this was where they executed traitors and weaklings, where he was about to be executed!

   As his "brothers" stopped at the edge, he could see where his fate was leading into, below the cliff side was a whirlpool being fed by several waterfalls, it was a magnificent union of beauty and terror.  As he watched the waters, he heard Kain's voice,

   "Cast him in!"

   And he was in the air, given the feeling of flying as he watched the sneering faces of his "brothers" drift farther and farther away.  Then came the pain as he hit the waters, it was total agony as he felt his body burn and melt, crack and tear, every fiber of mind and body screamed out in pain.

   He had no concept of how long the pain lasted, it could have been a lifetime or several, and he would have lost his mind had it gone on any longer.  And he awoke in the forest.

   He was pulled out of his mind and back into the real world. Kain killed me for an unjust reason, and I should return the favor in kind.  But I will need help; I can't do this alone. He thought.

   "Find...find...fin...the Slayer...Slayer...Slay..." A voice echoed in his mind. The Slayer?  Of course, the Slayer would be able to assist me in my quest. He thought.

   With that, he left his shelter to find her, thinking, I know who I am now and I must not forget.  I am... was the first born of Kain's "sons".  I am... Raziel.

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Sunnydale Woods, Thursday, 12:02 AM.

   "Well, I'd have to say that that put me in better mood." Said Buffy as she and Willow walked back to the campus.

   "An ancient vampire more powerful than the Master is very likely being awaken, and it puts you in a better mood?"  Questioned Willow.

   Again, Buffy starred at her with one eye cocked up.

   "Oh, right.  You were being sarcastic again.  Sorry." Willow said.

   "Actually, its helping keep my mind off of Angel." Buffy paused.

   "Are you all right?"

   "Yeah I'm fine, I've just got him on my mind too much."

   "Yeah, that kind of obvious. I mean. to someone who knows you. I mean."

   "Its okay, Willow, I know what you're talking about."

   Buffy suddenly stopped then ran to her left with Willow following behind her even more puzzled than before.

   "Buffy, where are we going?" Willow asked.

   "I see something."

   Buffy stopped in the middle of woods just as Willow caught up.

   "What is it?  What do you see... oh man, that's disgusting."

   Willow saw the body of one her classmates laying face down in the dirt, even though his head was a foot away.

   "I've seen some sick stuff before, this isn't the sickest, but still." Said Buffy.

   "Hey, there's someone over here." Willow said as she walked deep into the woods.  She stopped and gasped as Buffy saw the other body.  This one was the body of Amy Cambonson, Buffy's chemistry partner.

   Buffy kneeled to inspect the body, she noticed the large wound in her back but most of all, was the bite mark on her neck.

   "What... what do you think killed her?" Willow asked as Buffy checked the body.

   "I don't know, it looks like a vamp, but there's more blood around the body than missing, whatever it was it was brutal, very brutal.  I'd better let Giles know tomorrow."

   They continued to walk through the woods.  Had Buffy's senses been more attuned to her surrounding, then she would have noticed the pair of glowing blue eyes in the trees above her.

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Sunnydale Woods, Thursday, 12:06 AM.

   So she is the one I seek, not much to look at, for a human, Raziel thought as he watched the Slayer's movements, studying her.  He was also trying to figure out where that voice come from, the one that told him where to find her and who she was.

   He moved from tree to tree, following her.  He had cursed himself when they found the bodies of his prey.  Damn! He thought, I should have disposed of the bodies after feeding, now she's going to be suspicious.

   But he couldn't move the girl's body; it would feel as if he was disposing a part of himself.  Consuming the girl's soul had made her a part of him, if he wasn't careful he would sometimes think he was the girl.  I must stay focused,  I should find where this Slayer lives so as to contact her when needed, He thought.

   Raziel continued to follow the Slayer to a large building complex and read the sign above the entrance, "Sunnydale University".

   "Hmmm. this must be where she stays", He said as looked at the many windows, "I had better find out which one she lives in."

   Raziel could see the Slayer as she walked up to the second floor and into one of the rooms.  He perched himself on one of the trees outside of the window and continued to watch as she and her redheaded companion began to talk.  He seemed almost fascinated by the way she carried herself; the women from his time usually did not have the confidence in themselves that she had and rarely lived without a man.  Much has indeed changed since I have been gone.  Now that I think about it; what has happened to my former empire? He thought, Since I have awaken I have not seen nor even smelled another of my kind.  I will seek those answers later.

   Suddenly, Raziel was ambushed by something from above.  He was knocked out of his tree and slammed onto the ground but it just momentarily phased him.

   "And just what do you think you're doing here pal?" The other inquired.  He was tall and human looking but Raziel could already tell that he was a vampire.  He had brown, spiked hair and a square and slightly sunken face, one that wasn't looking too happy right now.

   "And why should I concern myself with you, vampire?" Raziel replied as he squatted, preparing to pounce.  The other seemed surprised by what was said and then tried to attack.  Raziel easily grabbed the vampire and threw him aside.

   "What do you want with Buffy?  And you had better answer me!" The vampire lunged at Raziel, but again landed face first in the dirt.

   "So that's her name" Said Raziel, "I have no more quarrel with you.  For your safety, do not follow."

   Raziel turned to leave but this vampire was persistent.  He jumped Raziel, pinning him to the ground, but he grabbed the vampire's back threw him into a tree.  When the vampire got up, Raziel was waiting for him.  He took hold of the vampire's neck and threw him towards the Slayer's window then ran into the darkness.

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Sunnydale University, Thursday, 12:11 AM.

   Buffy was just getting ready for bed when she heard a loud "thump" at her window.  She and Willow both looked at each other as Buffy pulled out her stake and went to check.

   "Oh my God!" Buffy shouted as she opened the window.

   "What?  What is it?" Willow asked as she saw Buffy whisper to something outside.

   Willow was shocked as Buffy pulled in somebody from outside, he was tall and had brown hair, and then she realized who it was.

   "Oh my God, Angel?  Are you all right?" Willow asked as Buffy let him rest on her bed.

   "Not really" He struggled to say, "There was something watching you from outside your window."

   "'Peeping Toms', we have a lot of them here on campus." Buffy said.

   "No. this wasn't human, I could tell from a mile away he was something else."

   "Well, what did you do?  Did you kick his butt or what?" Willow asked.

   "More the other way around, I pinned him once but he threw me at your window afterwards."

   "Did you get a good look at him?" Buffy asked.

   "No, it was too dark, even for me.  All I could really see of him were his glowing eyes."  Angel laid back to rest as Buffy took Willow to the other side of the dorm.

   "I thought you said he wasn't going to be here for a while." Buffy whispered.

   "Yeah, well. he came to me few days ago and told me not to tell you he was here, and, well.  I wanted to give you an early warning before he actually showed himself." Willow stuttered.

   "Well keep an eye on him, I'm going to go track down that thing that attacked him."

   Before Willow could convince her otherwise, Buffy was out the door.