Scene 5
Willow raced ahead of her new friend at the sight of the flashing lights. She immediately halted, putting her hand over her mouth at the sight of the stretcher covered in a sheet. Yellow caution tape marked off the death scene.
“Oh Goddess, what happened?” she whispered.
“Willow!”
She whipped her head toward the voice. Buffy hurried over. The slayer’s face looked drained.
“The slayer we captured crashed through the upstairs window,” Buffy explained.
Willow shook her head. She couldn’t comprehend committing suicide over the belief that all creatures of the night deserved to suffer. She wished somehow they could have gotten through to her, but the woman’s mind had been closed off.
She sensed movement and turned to spot Edea approach. For the first time Willow was taken by her lithe form. She moved like a cat. She had dark hair twisted behind her head. Wow, she’s hot, Willow thought. Her lips twitched, but she reminded herself of the current situation.
“Who’s this?” Buffy asked.
“Oh, this is Edea. She’s a witch and needs our help. A warlock is after her,” Willow said.
Buffy nodded. “Sorry you had to come at such a bad time.”
Edea smiled. “It is a shame.”
Buffy was pulled aside by one of the detectives.
Willow fumbled with her hands, not sure what to do.
“I don’t think we are needed here,” Edea said. “Why don’t we go inside?”
She was right. There wasn’t anything Willow could do. She nodded and led the other woman to the door.
Scene 6
Buffy was exhausted, but she couldn’t seem to sleep peacefully. She drifted in and out of slumber, tossing and turned restlessly. She kicked off the sheets, to pull them back up a moment later. She couldn’t get comfortable. She longed for her bleached angel now more than ever. She always could relax in his arms.
But he’s a dream, Buffy, she told herself. And you have the real thing downstairs. What are you waiting for? What are you scared of?
She wasn’t quite sure. Maybe she didn’t want to discover that he couldn’t live up to her fantasies. Or maybe she was scared he could, scared to truly be happy. But that was crazy, wasn’t it? Or, possibly, she was scared to remember. What if it changed her? What if she was someone else?
Eventually she gave up. She shot up and swung her legs over the mattress. She couldn’t avoid him forever.
Vampires were nocturnal. He was bound to still be up. She crept into the darkened hallway. The place was unearthly quiet. It unnerved her for some reason. She groped her way to the stairs. It was getting easier to navigate through the mansion as time went by. She made her way to the main floor.
“Spike,” she called, not too loud.
There was no answer. She did hear something, though. Grunting? Curious, she followed the sound. It led her downward to the training gym. She blinked, not believing her eyes.
Xander was completely upside down on the chin-up bar. He swiftly flipped himself upright and jumped down.
“I’m not sure if I should clap or faint,” Buffy said.
Startled, he spun around. “Whoa, mama, don’t sneak up on a guy like that.”
Buffy pointed toward the bar. “When did you get all acrobatty?”
He went over to a wooden bench. It held a bottle of water, which he grabbed and drained in almost one gulp.
“Long story,” Xander said.
Buffy crossed her arms. “Which you seem awfully fond of avoiding. What happened in Africa?”
“It’s kinda personal.” He met her straight on with his intense brown eyes. There was something there that hadn’t been before. It was like he could see into her entire core.
“Skim the surface then.”
“Alright.” He gestured to the bench. “Sit down.”
She did. He settled down next to her with a sigh.
“I was really confused after Sunnydale,” he went on. “I didn’t know what I wanted, where I belonged. So I escaped to Africa. It was cowardly of me, I know.”
“Maybe so,” Buffy said. “But not weak. You weren’t alone. Rome wasn’t my home, Xander.”
He nodded. He found the empty water bottle quite fascinating. “I came across this man. I wanted to be left alone, but he had this way of shocking me with Obi-Won enlightenment. He told me truths about myself, made me face myself. Do you know what it is like to face yourself? It is scarier than any demon I’ve ever seen. But afterward, I was a changed man. I’m one with myself, body and soul. I can see.” He paused. “Not just physically. I see the world, myself, as it truly is. I’ve been so blinded in the past. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Huh?”
He turned toward her. “About Angel. About Spike. I’m sorry.”
Buffy bit her lip. She wondered if Anya was included in his thoughts as well. The moment was too tense. She stood up.
“Speaking of Spike,” she said. “Have you seen him tonight? I have to talk to him.”
Xander shook his head. “No, sorry. The only one I saw was this girl I didn’t know. She must have been a slayer. She left.”
“Left? She left? Without telling anyone?”
“This isn’t a prison, Buffy. We don’t keep girls here against their will.”
“What did she look like?” Buffy had to know which one it was. They had to keep track of who was there and who wasn’t.
He took a moment to think. “It was dark. But I think she had black hair. She was tall, thin.” He smiled. “Very attractive.”
“Could have been Willow’s new friend.” What was her name again?
“Willow has a new friend?”
“Yeah, a witch. She needed help. I hope she isn’t going to get herself hurt by leaving.”
Xander stretched and yawned. “Well, I’m beat. I think I’ll take a shower and hit the sack.”
Buffy nodded.
He began to leave. Just before he made it to the steps, she called after him. She rushed up to his side and gave him a hug. He was sweaty and stinky, but she didn’t care. When they pulled away he lifted an eyebrow.
“What was that for?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Just wanted to.”
They both grinned at each other.
She followed him right after. She was met by the front door opening. Spike stopped as if he was a deer in a pair of headlights. She tried to control her pounding heart.
“Where did you go?” Buffy demanded. She hadn’t meant to sound so harsh.
He tightened his jaw. “Out. Blue ran off.”
“Blue?”
“Illyria, the goddess bird who is wearing Fred’s skin. Hard telling what chaos she’ll dish out on the public. Especially since she’s knocked up. Hormones must be hay-wire.”
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah, she’s pregnant. All I can figure is that Fred and Wesley got lucky before she took over. Still, how the baby coulda survived the organ liquification is beyond me.”
“Wow.” Okay, it was a lame response, but Buffy was still trying to make sense of what he told her.
“So, we have a goddess on the loose?” Buffy asked.
“Yeah.”
“What time is it?”
“Vampire, luv. But sunrise is a bit away.”
She smiled. “Must be after midnight. That makes it Tuesday.”
He chuckled, getting it.
“We can wake up Willow,” Buffy said. “She can pin-point her in a flash.”
They began the journey to Willow’s room. Buffy suddenly stopped. Spike craned his neck in question. She touched his arm. An electric current passed through her fingers, making her light headed.
“I’m sorry about before,” she whispered.
His face hardened. “Nothing new. Forget about it.”
Her grasp tightened. “No! I really am sorry. I’m just so confused. I know you, but I don’t. I want to really know you, though. For real.” She swallowed. “Will you let me do that?”
He stared at the floor for a long time. She let go of his arm. He was going to turn her down. She’d ruined it.
“Under one condition,” he finally said.
“What?”
“Let me pick the date.”
A date. It made her feel giddy.
“Okay.”
She couldn’t help temptation and let her hand brush his. He grabbed a hold of it. They made it to Willow’s room too soon, reluctantly letting go of the other. There was still a warmth that connected them left over.
Buffy gently knocked. “Will?”
She heard rustling. Willow cracked the door.
“Buffy?” Willow eyed Spike. “Spike? Huh? What’s up?”
“Got trouble,” Spike said. “Illyria ran off. We need to locate her.”
“Let me get dressed.”
A moment later Willow was out. She seemed worried.
“Edea is gone,” she said.
“Xander saw her leave. Was she sleeping in your room? Where is Kennedy?” Buffy asked.
Willow shook her head. “I don’t want to get into that right now.”
“Oh. Okay.”
The triad traveled to the designated magic schoolroom. Buffy and Spike stood next to each other, occasionally sharing smiles, as they watched Willow set up. They quickly became concerned, however. Willow looked up.
“It’s not working,” she said.
“What?” Buffy and Spike asked in unison.
Willow got up from her position on the floor. She went over to the teacher desk. She opened the drawer, took out a pencil, and placed it on the desk. She concentrated hard upon it. Nothing happened.
“Uh, guys . . . “ Willow’s voice was shaky. “I think my power is gone.”
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Sorry it took so long. I promise to continue frequently. |
