Prologue

     The early sunlight slipped through the slats of the blinds, softly illuminating the pretty 16 year old who slept.  Unfortunately, Buffy Summers' sleep was fitful.  A frown on her pretty face, the sleeping girl shifted uncomfortably.

     A madcap series of images flashed in Buffy's dream:  A heavy old leather-bound tome bearing the word "Vampyr", and a simple cross laid beside it...the sun setting against a skyline of Victorian buildings...a moss-covered marble angel in an old cemetery, backlit by the sunset...a quartet of black vampires offering the sinister variant of the "toothy grin"...robed men chanting around a candle-lit altar...Buffy staring into a bathroom mirror that smiled mockingly back at her...an older man's taunting laughter...an open grave...a dirge-like voice angrily shouting, "Hell is coming!"...a door leading into an aged, shadowy chamber--Buffy walks toward it against her will, then the sensation of something grabbing her...


...and then, Buffy woke up.

A gentle knock at the door.  Joyce Summers peeked around the door. With a warm smile on her face, Buffy's mother asked, "Buffy?  Honey, are you awake?  Today's the start of your new life!"

The words offered optimistic reassurrance.  Perhaps underneath that was a little guarded worry?

Buffy moaned and shoved her pillow over her head. From beneath it, Joyce could hear a muttered: "...five more minutes..."

Buffy did not want to get up, she did not want to dream about creepy old books and dusty old dudes who got their rocks off by drinking blood and wearing clothes better suited to the Spanish Inquisition. Ugh, so tacky. Plus, a new school was also on the top of the list of things Buffy was not looking forward to. The awkward stares, not knowing, well, anyone.

Plus, there was always the chance she could be dressing out of style, which ranked up there as super embarrassing.

Buffy sighed and curled herself into a ball.

"Five more minutes..."

"Breakfast is on the table, Buffy.  I'll drop you off at your school."  Joyce noticed the resistance, but answered in her "Mom's Resolve" voice.  It wasn't over-the-top autocratic terror, just warm, maternal common sense.

School was today, Buffy was going, end of discussion--with warm hugs & pancakes on top!