Chapter 17
The Scoobies were gathered at
the mausoleum entrance ready to return to Sunnydale. They had decided to
do a mini patrol on their way back to Revello drive. Anya was
accompanying them in case they needed to contact Midian urgently, otherwise
they would return the following evening and spend a few Midian days training as
they had just done.
Buffy kept casting Giles
worried glances; he had been acting strangely all afternoon. As they
stepped through the door into the mausoleum Buffy could feel the drop in
temperature immediately, although she had known that time was working differently
while they were in Midian she had still been unprepared for the reality of
it.
They stepped out into
the Sunnydale night and headed for
Giles seemed deep in thought
“Just family concerns.”
“Family concerns? Ok
what does that mean?” Buffy gripped his arm “Giles tell me what’s wrong” she
implored.
Giles pulled his borrowed
glasses from his face and stared at them for a moment “You know that I come
from a long line of watchers?”
Buffy nodded
“Well my great grandmother
Katherine had three children that all became watchers” Giles waited a moment
before continuing “We were always told that Samuel and Richard were twins.”
Buffy waited patiently for him to continue wondering where the conversation was headed.
Giles sighed and rested
against a headstone “It seems that Samuel was in fact Rupert and Sarah Hoston’s
son. Katherine took him in when the war began and told everyone that he
was Richard’s twin brother.”
“So what does that mean Giles?”
“Buffy Samuel is…” Giles was
cut short when they heard a scream in the distance.
Buffy began to run in the
direction of the noise, as did Spike and Rebecca, as the trio rounded a corner
they came across a dozen vampires trying to break into a car parked on the side
of the road, a man lay nearby. The vamps were so intent on gaining entry
to the car that they didn’t notice the trio approaching.
“You know you really shouldn’t
play with your food” quipped Buffy pulling out the stake she always seemed to
have tucked away someplace. She slid a glance across at Spike and Rebecca
and noted that they both were now wielding stakes as well.
“Slayer” hissed one of the
vamps as he stepped forward “prepare to die”
Buffy rolled her eyes “How
original.”
Rebecca gave a small laugh
“Are they still using that line?”
The vamp growled in annoyance
before leaping forward to attack, Buffy casually stepped to one side staking
him in the back as he flew past.
She watched the dust fall to
the ground “Wow that was easy” she turned back to the others “So who’s next?”
she motioned towards Spike and Rebecca “You can even take your pick of
opponent.”
The vamps stood still watching the trio carefully, none of them moving to attack or flee.
Spike began to fidget as he
waited for the fight to begin, eventually frustration got the better of him “Oh
come on!” He flew forward into the middle of the vamps and began to throw
punches. He quickly staked two more vamps before they realised that they were
supposed to fight back.
“Hey no fair” Buffy pouted as
she and Rebecca joined the fray.
“Wha?”
Buffy flung Spike a grin “No
starting without us.”
The Scoobies stood back
watching as the three warriors gradually moved the fight away from the road and
back into the cemetery.
“He’s still alive”
Dawn rushed towards the car
and saw two terrified children huddled in the back “It’s ok now, helps coming”
she turned back in time to see Xander finishing a call to 911. “Not long now,
everything is going to be ok.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Spike had just dusted his
third vamp when he felt it; a small tug in the pit of his stomach and a
tingling sensation where Rebecca’s claim mark was. It wasn’t the first
time he had felt a sensation like this, it happened whenever Buffy and Rebecca
were close to each other. This time, however the feeling was much more
intense, he took a moment to check on the girls before heading off to find
Giles.
Giles started in surprise when
Spike charged out of the darkness “Oi watcher, there’s something wrong.”
Giles didn’t question, merely
started after Spike who was once again sprinting back to the two slayers.
He stopped by Spike’s side drawing in ragged breathes as they watched the girls
fight the remaining two vamps. “What’s wrong Spike?”
“I don’t know!” Spike began to
pace “I just know something’s happening.” Spike’s agitation seemed to increase
with every passing moment. He started back towards the slayers, his eyes
frantically switching from one to the other.
Buffy sent her vamp reeling
with a well placed kick to his chest at the exact same time as Rebecca neatly
flipped the second vamp over her shoulder. The girls passed a few inches
from each other flashing each other a smile as they did, neither noticed Spike
drop to his knees clutching his stomach.
The adrenaline was pumping
hard as Buffy plunged her stake down through the vamp’s chest; she glanced up
and saw Rebecca’s vamp turn to dust as well. “Damn we’re good”
Rebecca walked towards her
twirling her stake in her fingers “I must say that was quite invigorating.” As
she reached Buffy’s side they both noticed that Spike was being helped to his
feet by Giles. “William!”
“Spike!” Buffy grabbed for
Rebecca’s hand as they both started to rush forward; she fell to her knees as
what felt like a bolt of electricity shot through her body. Buffy heard
someone start to scream and looked around for the source ‘Oh it’s me.’
She turned her head to see Rebecca writhing in agony on the ground.
Buffy felt like her arm was
burning so she looked down to her hand that was still clutching Rebecca’s
tightly. Tendrils of orange light were twisting around their hands and coursing
up her arm, Buffy abruptly dropped Rebecca’s hand falling back to lay on the
ground beside her.
Spike felt like his whole body
was on fire, the claim mark on his neck was now red raw and blood was slowly
starting to bead on its surface. Ignoring the pain he stumbled forward towards
the women on the ground, the glowing orange light still arcing between the
two. He fell to his knees as he reached them “NO!” his own screams began
to merge with Buffy and Rebecca’s. The orange light seemed to reach out
for him encompassing him in its path; Spike’s eyes began to glow as the light
filled him.
Giles was watching the scene
in shocked silence, he jerked back in surprise when someone grabbed his arm.
“Giles what’s wrong?” Dawn
looked up him tearfully.
“I don’t know”
Blood was now pouring freely
from the mark on Spike’s neck; a stream of red light started pulsing from his
chest and mingling with the orange.
“Are their essences becoming
unstable Giles?”
“That’s it, that’s what’s
wrong.” Dawn grabbed the Wiccan’s hands and began to drag them forward “You
need to fix it. Please” In her haste Dawn stumbled and fell, pulling
Suddenly the now orange and
red light shot forward hitting each of the girls in the chest, it seemed to be
drawing different colored light from each of them. Pink from
“It’s drawing on all their
essences” Giles realised in horror.
“What do we do” Xander stared
at his friends feeling helpless “We have to do something!”
“Let me think for a minute
will you.” Giles tried to rack his brain to find a solution.
Anya patted him lightly on the
back “its ok Rupert, we’ll think of something.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The three remaining Scoobies
were so intent on trying to help their friends, and Spike, that they didn’t
notice two ghostly figures hovering slightly behind them.
“It isn’t enough” one of them
whispered “We need all of them.”
The other nodded in agreement
“Let’s give them a helping hand”
The two forms seemed to
solidify slightly before they rushed forward, slamming through the three and
propelling them into the midst of the group on the ground. They then
rushed upwards and hovered high above them.
As soon as Giles, Anya and
Xander had been inexplicably shoved into the middle of the group, light began
to pour out of them. Grey, amber and blue began to join the other colors,
pulsing and swirling above and around them. With the addition of the extra
three essences the drain on the others seemed to dissipate, the intense burning
sensation they felt was now only a slight warmth.
With the pain now receding the
others were able to take in their surroundings, Spike was the first to notice
the figures hovering high above. “And just what do you think a couple of
ghosties have to do with all this?”
The others looked up and tried
to make out the figures high above.
“You think this is their
doing?” Dawn squinted through the growing cloud of light “Why?”
“Because they like to meddle”
they all turned to stare at Rebecca as she whispered this statement.
“Do you know what is
happening?” Giles questioned
Rebecca shook her head slightly “No, but I do know them.” She gasped as a wave of heat passed through her body and then radiated out towards the others. “Guardians, they’re supposed to be guardians.”
“Ok so if they’re good guys”
Xander interrupted “Why are our essences still pouring out of us?”
They all looked down and
realised that color was still poring forth from them; Spike waved his hand
through his “Huh doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Your bleedings slowed as
well”
High above them the two ghostly figures watched anxiously.
“Is it enough yet?”
“Almost, are you ready for the
next part?”
“Yes. Do you think she
will forgive us for meddling?”
“She’ll forgive
us…eventually. They all will”
The figures began to float
down towards the group in preparation for the next step in their plan.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
“Umm guys something’s
happening” Dawn pointed to the ghostly figures above.
The group watched as the
figures moved closer and closer, before seemingly transforming into a bright
white mist. The mist floated down and surrounded the light, as soon as it
did the flow of color abruptly stopped.
“Ok, that felt weird” Xander
rubbed his chest lightly
“Does anyone else feel
hung-over?” asked
“I think perhaps we should be
more interested in what those ghosts want with our essences” interjected Anya
They looked back up and
noticed that the mist now held the swirling mass of color within itself.
The mist slowly began to contract forming into a ball shape as it did,
eventually stopping when it was about the size of a tennis ball.
Slowly the ball of light began
to move to hover above Rebecca; Spike moved forward protectively trying to
gather Rebecca out of its reach. The ball followed his every move; a
small wisp of the mist moved forward and touched his face. Spike
immediately relaxed as he felt that it meant no harm.
Suddenly the mass
propelled itself downwards and into Rebecca’s stomach, both Spike and Rebecca
gasped as it struck, no one noticed that Buffy had gasped at the sensation as well.
As soon as the mist had touched Rebecca’s skin it had spread out to surround
her as the ball of essences burrowed inside of her.
Spike leant forward as he
heard softly whispered words emanating from the mist. There was a
familiarity about them that he couldn’t quite put his finger on, he didn’t have
time to think about it though, because the mist suddenly shot back upwards,
disappearing into the night sky.
The Scoobies sat in silence as
they pondered what they had just witnessed. “I think we better head back”
Giles got to his feet shakily “We’re vulnerable sitting out here in this
state.”
The others nodded mutely and
began to stand, Spike helped Rebecca then Buffy to their feet. “You ok?”
he asked each in turn, before pulling each of them to his side and heading
towards
Ten minutes later the group
stumbled through the door and made their way into the living room. Spike
moved over to
“Check her aura?”
Spike nodded silently
“I wanted to check everyone
anyway.”
Spike smiled his thanks before
returning to sit between Rebecca and Buffy on the sofa.
About half an hour passed
before
She settled down in the middle
of the room, legs crossed and took a bracing breathe.
*Aperio penitus lumen*
The room began to glow with
the colors emanating from each of them “Oh pretty” gasped Dawn.
Each of them began to scan the
other searching for signs of changes. Buffy was fussing over Dawn, laughing
as she looked in her ears “Nope all clear in here” she leant forward and swept
up Dawns hair “all clear back there as well.” She pulled back when she heard
Dawn gasp “what’s wrong?”
“Your neck” Dawn reached up to
touch Buffy’s neck tentatively.
Buffy frowned as she tried to look at her neck “What about it?”
Dawn swept her fingers lightly
over Buffy’s skin “Your scars are gone.”
You’re looking on the wrong side Dawnie” Xander moved over and began to inspect Buffy’s neck “Hang on…Huh”
“Your scars are gone Buffy.”
Dawn gave her a wide smile
“O…k… but other then that?”
Buffy didn’t know what to make of her disappearing scars.
“Other then that you’re good
Buff” reassured Xander.
“How’s Rebecca?”
“Glinda what is that?” Spike
was pointing to the swirling mass of color that was held within Rebecca’s
stomach.
The others crowded around and stared at Rebecca in amazement.
“So that’s what the ghosts
were up to”
“What?” Spike looked into the
tearful face of his wife before gathering to him “They resurrected our baby.”
“And it seems that they
used all of our essences to do it” Giles added.