Xander's Chance

He froze. Eden braced herself, uncertain how the first spell would affect him. Red fog filled the air around him. It swirled and eddied before finding its way to the gem. The smoke funneled into the red ruby, disappearing into its depths.

Xander frowned. She sensed him testing his bonds. The second spell hadn't hit yet, or he wouldn't be on his feet.

"What is happening?" he asked at last.

"I righted a wrong," she replied. "I didn't give you power, son. I granted you immortality. No weapon made by man or immortal can kill you. In exchange, you no longer influence the vamps you create. You no longer access the power created when a human is vamped. The crystal sustains you for eternity and binds you."

The surprised look on his face bothered her. He wasn't expecting betrayal on the day of their victory.

"The second spell will teach you mercy. You and I have no capacity for such a thing, but we will learn. If you take an innocent life, you will feel the same pain that life does, only you will feel it thrice over," she continued. "To give you a sense of what it's like to harm an innocent, you will first feel the pain you've caused throughout your life. One day of pain for every innocent you've harmed."

The idea of him in pain caused the familiar vise around her chest to return. She made him what he was, but his suffering was necessary to ensure his survival.

"Your immortality will ensure you survive the pain," she added.

His shock wore off, replaced by anger. He gripped the gem.

"You have a choice, Xander," she said. "The gem can be destroyed to release its magic, but by doing so, you lose all that remains of your mother and me."

"Simple. I want … need power." Fury was in his voice. His hand was clenching and releasing the gem. He didn't remove it.

"You didn't carry that bauble with you for twenty years to sacrifice it now."

His hand dropped from the necklace. The emotions flying across his features were too quick for her to follow. She held her breath. Accustomed to extreme risk, she nonetheless was not fully certain that enough of the boy remained to counter the beast Xander had become.

"You betrayed me," he whispered. "Like my father."

"I am doing what I must. Your life is important to me, more so than the amount of pain I must put you through to sustain it," she replied. "Protect the gem. Whoever has it will have the power to control you - and your magic."