Author: Tui
Parts: 1-3
E-Mail: BritGirl72@aol.com
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel & Co. belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN and the WB Network. Song lyric excerpts taken from Future Legend on the album Diamond Dogs by David Bowie, Ryko Disks (c)1974,1990 Jones Music. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Buffy comes back to Sunnydale in the jeep of an immortal who just happens to be cruising for a fledgeling. Things get confusing when Angel gets his ass back from hell and *knows* said immortal. Well, from there, things just get weird.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Seacover
"You want me to WHAT?" Kali asked Joe, incredulous.
"There's a girl there, she might be immortal. There have been whisperings that we have picked up on that she might have died and come back. However, there is no way for the watchers to check this out. The others are busy. So I was wondering if you could go, check her out and see if she is immortal."
"So, you want me to go up to her say, 'Hey, heard you died. Feel anything strange coming off me?' Are you nuts? Why don't you send Methos. He's still a watcher right?"
"He..umm...can't go" Joe said, his eyes drifting.
"What is it Joe. What aren't you telling me" Kali queried. She had never seen Joe like this. He always met her eye, and he never felt uncomfortable around her. At least not that she had noticed before.
"Well, she is a 17 year old girl, and he thought that it might be better if a woman went." Joe said.
"Really..." she said dryly.
"That's what he told me..however, he did set up an ID for you."
"An ID? Cocky little shit ain't he? So sure that I would take this little quest."
"Well, he was sure that you wouldn't want a 17 year old girl running around not knowing she was immortal until she met up with a head hunter."
"Hmmph. Fine, what's the ID?"
"Kali Johnson, History and Computer Science teacher at Sunnydale High."
"Teacher??? You want me to be a teacher?"
"Methos said that you have taught before."
"That was college students not little delinquent underage ......"Kali paused "Oh lord, my age is showing isn't it?" She finished with a sheepish grin on her face.
Joe smiled indulgently "Just a bit. So, will you do it?"
"Yes, you know I will." she said, reaching over the bar to grab one of her bottle of Scotch. "Join me?" _________________________________________________________________________________
{The next morning outside Kali's apartment}
Kali packed up her Jeep Cherokee and got ready for her trip to Sunnydale.
"Richie, here's my cel phone number and my email addresses. If you need to talk, or anything happens call or email me. Please?" She had become close to Richie and Joe, she might even miss MacLeod, not that she would ever mention that to him.
"Yes, I will email you everyday, just to say hi." Richie said sarcastically.
"Brat." 'God, whole classrooms full of smartass kids just like him.' She thought to herself.
"Ok, I know, you CAN survive without me here to babysit you." She smiled to let him know that she was kidding. "Alright, come here" she said, pulling him into a hug. "Watch your head," she whispered into his ear, nipping on his neck.
"Hey, watch the fangs" he said quietly into her ear, grinning.
She turned to Joe next "All right. You also have my numbers and addresses. Call me if an emergency arises and I will be here. " She pulled him into a hug.
"Here, this is the girl's name and address." He said, giving her an envelope.
"Thanks Joe."
"Oh, and I also made your reservations at one of the hotels. Under the name Kali Johnson. The directions are also in the envelope," he said.
"Ok...where is he?" Kali asked, not mentioning his name, but Joe knew who she was talking about. "He is out of town with Mac." he answered. "Probably didn't have the balls to face her," he muttered under his breath.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Kali took 121 south through redwood country and past San Francisco. And took one of the rural roads from LA to Sunnydale.
There was no traffic on the road when she noticed the young woman walking along. Upon hearing the car's engine, she turned around and lifted her arm in the classic hitchiker pose. Kali pulled over to give her a lift. The blonde girl jumped into the Jeep.
"Thanks for the ride" she said quietly. As the Jeep pulled back onto the road, the CD that Kali had put in started playing.
And in the death as the last few corspses lay rotting in the slimy thoroughfare the shutters lifted an inch and temples built high on poachers hill red mutant eyes gazed down on the hunger city, no more big wheels fleas the size of rats sucked on rats the size of cats
"Morbid much?" the blonde said under her breath.
"Yes...it is about the destruction of the world" Kali replied. "At least one person's perception of it in 1975."
"1975, I hadn't even been born yet."
Kali shifted her eyes towards her. Oh, Methos owed her for this one.
"Anyway, I can give you a lift as far as Sunnydale. That is as far as I am going" Kali said
"You're going to Sunnydale? That's fine. That's where I am heading also. Why are you going there? It is a small town, not much of a night life." she said.
"Well, it might be a small town but they do need a history and comp. sci. teacher there."
"You're a teacher?!" she nearly shouted, Kali just turned her head to look at her, eyebrow quirked. "I mean, you just seem awfully young to be a teacher."
"Nice save," Kali grinned."Yeah, well that is the good thing about skipping grades, you get to go into the real world at a younger, more tender age."
"By the way, my name's Kali."
"Buffy."
Buffy? "So Buffy, what is in Sunnydale for you if it is such a small town."
"My mom," was all she said.
Just then the phone rang. Kali grabbed it. "'alo?" She hadn't been gone that long. Was there an emergency already?
"Kali?" came the familiar accented voice over the phone.
"Adam, how nice of you to call. I see you have gathered the juevos to speak to me."
"Adam? You're not alone I take it?"
"Yep."
"Well, good, watch your answers then. Check your email when you get to the hotel. The girl that you are really there to check out isn't the one that Joe gave you the file on."
"Really? Then what the hell is going on?" Kali asked, a little pissed, if this was one of Methos' jokes, she was personally going to rip him to shreds, wait for him to heal, and then do it over again.
"Look, I couldn't really tell Joe what was going on, this concerns certain beliefs that we share, that you don't want Joe aware of."
"What the hell are you going on about?"
"What kind of pendant do you wear, and what is on your left hand, ring finger."
Kali looked at her hand. She saw the ring that she had had for years. It was a silver pentacle. Used to ward off evil and to center herself in the convergence of energy around her.
"What have you done to me now, dear?" she asked tightly.
"Well, you know what the mexicans called Sunnydale...El Boca del Inferno...Hellmouth"
"El Boca...." Kali trailed off, realizing that she wasn't alone. She looked behind her and saw that there were no cars. She pulled over to the side of the road. "Just a minute" she said into the phone. "I'll be right back" she said to Buffy.
Kali got out of the Jeep and walked behind it.
"Your sending me to a hellmouth. WHY??? What the hell is so important that you are sending me, ME, to a center of Evil. Do you really hate me that much?" Kali ranted, pacing back and forth behind the car. Buffy was watching her gesturing wildly into the air with her one free hand. "....hell.....center......evil..." were the only words that drifted forwarded to her as Kali's pacing took her from side to side.
"There's a girl there. She's been hitting the web sites and chat rooms for wiccan and other magiks trying to gather information on powerful stuff. The questions that she has been asking have raised some flags in my mind. If she is true blood, then she needs to be trained. She needs to be careful, especially considering where she lives. I thought that you would be the better one to go, because you are better at it than me." Methos finished, waiting to see if there was going to be an explosion. Or if his heart would stop. Or if he would be set on fire.
"Fine...send the file with the information. I'll do what I can." Kali pushed the Off button on her phone before he could start gloating. She really didn't want to have to hurt him, especially when she wasn't there to enjoy it. She walked back to the driver side door. When she opened the door, she was cursing in Sumerian. Buffy looked at her with a shocked expression.
"Are you ok?"
Kali took a deep breath and stopped cursing. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Just some irritating news from a friend."
"You get that upset talking to a friend?"
"That? Oh that was nothing, you should hear me when he really pisses me off" she said with a laugh.
Buffy smiled. "It sounded like you were angry."
"Oh no, that wasn't me angry. I only get angry when I can vent and punch. That's why its good that a friend of mine owns a dojo. Great for getting frustrations out. Hey, do you know if there are any workout places in Sunnydale?" Kali asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
"You know, I don't know if there is a gym in the town."
"Really? How do you stay in shape? You basically radiate power." The words popped out of her mouth before she could stop it. She shook her head and closed her eyes.
Buffy shot her a look. "What do you mean?" Most people didn't know that there was something different about her. Before now, the only people that noticed were her friends, her watcher and the demons that she had fought.
"Well, you have an um aura about you that says that you can take care of yourself."
"You read auras?" Buffy asked.
"Well, it's just something that I pick up on sometimes...I know it sounds weird. 80's mystical crap and all that. It's not something that everyone believes in. I'm not a flake. Believing well, ok, I'm just the kind of person that doesn't discount anything." Kali was talking quikly, trying to dig herself out.
"Don't worry. I don't think that you are a flake. You are not the only one that doesn't discount anything," Buffy responded. She had seen to much to be skeptical of anything anymore.
"Wow....aren't you a little young to be so cynical?"
"I'm not all the much younger than you are."
Kali opened her mouth to say something but snapped it close when she realized that she was talking with a mortal. "Right, sorry about that. I'm used to dealing with people much, much younger than myself" she said with a small smile on her lips. "I didn't mean to offend you."
"That's ok. I used to hang out with people older than me. They were always saying that I was too young to understand. I guess I'm just a little oversensitive to it."
"So, are you a student at Sunnydale High?"
"Uhm, not at the moment"
"Oh, suspension or expulsion?" Kali asked with a smile.
"Expulsion" she said quietly.
"Wow, what happened?"
"The weasel of a principal decided I was too much of a trouble maker to keep me in school."
"Great. Is he still principal?" Kali asked, rolling her eyes. One thing that she didn't need was a 'weasel' of a principal that she had to work with.
"Probably, I don't know. I haven't been in town for a couple of months."
Kali noticed the sad look on her face, that and the fact that she didn't have any baggage other than one tote. 'Hmm, runaway?' She thought to herself.
There was a gas station coming up and she pulled in to get gas and some drinks. "Hey, do you want anything to drink?" Kali asked.
"Sure I'll get them.What do you want?" Buffy asked, jumping out of the car so that she could stretch her legs.
"Umm, Dr. Pepper. Here." She handed over some money to pay for the gas and the sodas. "It's pump 3. Thanx"
While Buffy went inside, Kali grabbed the envelope to see what hotel she was to be staying at. However, what she saw surprised her. The photo of the possible immortal shocked her. It was a picture of Buffy. However, since She had just spent that last hour or so with her, Kali knew that Buffy wasn't immortal. 'What made Joe think that she was?' Kali wondered to herself. She pulled out the paperwork, throwing a glance towards the door to make sure that she wasn't coming. In the report there was a comment made that she may have died one night about two years ago. Since then she was admitted to the hospital with a broken arm but there was a notation on the chart that it was healed by morning, with nothing more than a sprain. A police report stated that she had been hit, but there was no bruise.
'That's weird. She's not immortal, that much was obvious, but she had increased healing.' Kali looked up, Buffy was coming out of the shop. She grabbed the hotel information out of the envelope and put the rest back in her pack.
They both got back into the car and started driving. Kali handed her the paper with the hotel reservation on it. "Do you know where this hotel is in Sunnydale?" she asked.
Buffy looked at the paper and noticed the hotel. "Woah...the Regency...Yeah. That's downtown."
"So, can you direct me there."
"Yeah, not a problem."
"Great...speaking of destinations, where can I drop you off."
"Uhh my mom's....I guess. If you don't mind."
"Not a problem....just need directions there, and then to the hotel."
"Great." Buffy said quietly.
"So, how long has it been since you've been home."
"A while."
As they were talking, Buffy was navigating Kali through the streets of Sunnydale. As they went by the cemetary, Buffy became really quiet, staring out the window. Thinking about the hours that she spent there patrolling, and killing vampires.
"Here's my mom's house." she finally said quietly.
Kali pulled up to the curb and glanced at Buffy. "Look...I'll wait here, to make sure that there is somebody home. OK?"
Buffy was staring at the door. Not totally eager to have it slammed close in her face.
"Buffy? Buffy...What is it?"
"Wha'...." she whipped her head around.."Its just that...well...ummm."
"Things weren't exactly copescetic when you left?"
"That's putting it mildly" she said bitterly.
"Tell you what. You go, see if there is anyone home. If there is, I'll bring up your bag and you can give me directions. If not, then you can stay with me in the hotel. That way, you will have a place to sleep, and your mom will know that you are alive. If things don't go well, we bail. OK?"
"Ok. All right. I'm going." Buffy said, still staring out the window.
Kali cleared her throat.
"I'm going! Sheesh!" Buffy opened up the door and walked up the driveway. Kali got out of the Jeep and walked around to lean on the passengers side. Buffy made it to the door and rang the bell. She was gnawing on her thumb when the door flew open. "Buffy" the woman shouted. "Thank God you're ok. I've missed you so much. I am so sorry for the things that I said." She blurted out in a single breath, before Buffy even had a chance to say 'hi mom'. Kali smiled and opened up the door to grab Buffy's bag and take it up to the door.
Buffy was busy hugging her mom and crying. Joyce was crying and hugging her daughter. Buffy turned around and saw Kali standing there. "Oh, sorry."
"That's ok, you had more important things to take care of" Kali said with a smile.
"Oh, mom this is Kali. She was kind enough to stop for me on the road and give me a ride. She's a new teacher at the high school. Kali, this is my mom, Joyce Summers."
"Mrs. Summers, it's a pleasure to met you." Kali said extending her hand.
"Thanks for bringing my little girl home." Joyce said shaking her hand.
"Mo-om" Buffy said in response to the little girl remark.
"I'm glad that I could help. Buffy, here's your bag. If you can just let me know how to get to the hotel...I'll let you two get to your reunion."
They went inside to grab a pencil and paper, and Kali got the instructions and was on her way to the hotel.
Buffy and her mom stood in the kitchen after Kali left.
"I wasn't sure how happy you would be to see me." Buffy said quietly.
"I know that we didn't exactly end things right before you left that night. But Buffy, you always have a home here. I know that I wasn't understanding. It was just that it was a shock to me to find that there are vampires, and that my baby girl is the one that is supposed to slay them and keep humans safe. While you were gone I spent a lot of time talking with Mr. Giles. He explained what you have been doing all these years. The girl that was killed, Kendra, that she was another slayer. Everything that has happened to you. He helped me to understand what you have been going through. I know that you felt that you couldn't tell me, for my own good. I'm just glad that you are back."
"I'm glad that you're glad" Buffy said pulling her mom into a hug, tears pouring down both of their faces.
___________________________________
{At the hotel}
Kali made it up to her suite and pulled out her laptop and plugged it into the phone jack. She needed to check the email that Methos sent her. While the pc was booting up she went over to the mini bar and grabbed a bottle of water. 'Thanx Joe' she thought to herself.
She looked over the file that Methos had sent for the details on the person that she was really here to take a look at. From the phone conversation that she had with Methos, she knew that it wasn't Buffy.
She pulled up the attachment that Methos sent with the email. It was a picture of a young girl, probably about 17 with red hair and startling green eyes. Kali started reading over the file that he sent. Questions about soul restoration, Acathla and pulling a person's body and soul out of hell. 'Hmm, the childe is playing with major mojo, she's definately going to need some guidance.'
"Let's see, what's her name? Ahh, here it is Willow Rosenburg, age 17. Senior at Sunnydale High. Oh and look, class schedule, Ancient European History and Advanced Computer Science, isn't that just a coincidence."
Now she just had to come up with a plausible reason for Joe. She had to let him know that Buffy wasn't immortal and since she knew that, why she was going to be staying in Sunnydale.
End Part 1
6:00am The Regency
::BEEP BEEP BEEP::
"Ugh," :Thwack: Kali's head peeked from underneath the covers, her eye cracked open, glaring at the offending clock. "Gods, 6am, who the hell is up this bloody early?" She muttered under her breath. "Why is it going off? Argh, right, teaching." She looked around the room, spotting the doorway leading towards the bathroom, she tossed back the covers, trying to motivate herself to get up. "Shower, need shower." She mumbled. On the way to the shower she noticed the coffee maker and switched it on. She was going to need the caffeine boost this morning.
Kali jumped into the shower and stood there letting the warm water soak her through, relaxing her muscles, allowing her to shake off the vestiges of sleep. She was a night owl, spending time a Joe's and hanging out with Methos, Richie and Joe. Sometimes even Mac. This getting up at dawn crap was going to wear thin, quickly.
{Sunnydale High}
Kali walked up the steps to the school. She needed to get to Principal Snyder's office to get started. She noticed a few students standing around. "Excuse me," she said to the small red-head "Can you direct me to the principal's office?"
The girl turned around. The first thing that Kali noticed was her green eyes. They absolutely snapped.
The first thing Willow noticed when she turned around was her grey eyes. They almost glowed.
"Ummm," she said quietly.
"Earth to Willow. Sorry, she's just learning how to speak again." The dark-haired boy said. "You just have to go straight down the hallway, and it's on the right."
Kali's eyes flicked over to him "Thanks." She glanced back at Willow and then started walking. 'Woah,' she thought to herself. 'The girl definitely has power.' Thinking about what was going to be a wonderful interview with the school principal, Kali walked down the hall.
"Geez Willow, what's up with that?" Xander asked.
"Hmm? Oh, I don't know, there was just something about her...." she drifted off. Thinking about the feeling she got when she looked into the woman's eyes.
{Principal Snyder's Office}
"I expect you to keep tight discipline in your classrooms. There are trouble makers in this school, and you are too keep them in line. You are young. You might start to believe that you are just one of the gang, hanging around with the students. However, you are a teacher, a role model. You are expected to act as such. Here's your schedule of classes. The materials that you need are in the room. Good Day."
Kali stared at him, grabbed the paperwork and found herself being ushered out the door.
"What a prick." She muttered to herself.
"Meeting with Principal Snyder, huh?" Came the reply from behind her.
She spun around and saw the same group of kids that were out front earlier.
"Uh, how much did you hear?" She asked, not needing to get ousted her first day.
"Oh, not much, just your conclusion on the general respect for our esteemed leader." Xander replied.
"Lovable guy, isn't he?" Oz said.
"Yeah, real sweetheart. Look, evidently Rules 101 doesn't come with a tour, can one of you tell me where these two classrooms are?" She asked.
Willow took a look at the sheet. "You're a teacher?"
"Yes. I've been...hired...as the new European History and Comp. Sci. teacher." She said.
"Computer Science....why didn't they tell me they hired someone, I mean, they could of at least told me." Willow said, flustered. This was the first that she heard of that she wasn't going to be teaching again.
"I'm sorry, is there already a computer teacher?" Kali asked, perplexed.
The group looked at each other. "Willow's been teaching since the last teacher was off'd." Cordelia said in her oh, so subtle way.
"They've had a student teaching the class? Well, that's cool. If you wanna help out that would be fine by me." She had to come up with a way to draw the child out. If it was to be computers, then computers it would be.
"Um..sure" she said quietly. Switching subjects "Your first class is history, which we all have, so we can show you the way to the room." Willow continued. She was starting to talk more, which for her was amazing.
They were the first ones to arrive in the classroom. Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordy all took their seats, while Kali made her way to the front of the room. Going through the drawers, she found the text book, the grade book and the lesson plan. Looking up the date, she got the lesson plan and opened up the text to the correct chapters. She tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. The Scotland Highlands, The Battle of Culloden, 'Great, nice light subject matter to be teachin'.' She thought to herself. She idly flipped through the pages to see what was written about the battle.
'Hmm, not really a lot of subject matter here.' She thought sadly to herself. She had been in the Highlands during the second uprising. It was depressing to see that history had only given a few pages to the brave souls that gave their lives for a cause that they believed in. She had seen the devastation rendered the land and the people by the loss. Now, everywhere except Scotland, it was only a minor historical skirmish.
While Kali was studying the materials she was to be teaching, the others were discussing their adventures of the previous night.
"Wow, Will, I can't believe you dusted two vamps last night," Xander said, incredulous. In his mind's eye he could see his best friend throwing her stake and it impaling the vamp...and turning to dust.
Willow wasn't sure if she should tell them that she was aiming for the other vamp when she dusted the one. It had been luck that the stake hit anything.
"That's my girl." Oz said, leaning over to give Willow a peck on the cheek. Willow blushed from all the attention. She glanced towards the new teacher. Even though Kali was looking at the books in front of her, she couldn't help but wonder if Kali was really listening to what they were talking about. Willow had the impression that the lady didn't miss much. Willow noticed a sad look cross her face, and wondered what she was thinking.
Feeling somebody staring at her, Kali looked up. Just as she thought, she met the emerald green eyes of Willow. With a quick smile, she looked back down to her books.
'Hmm, she could feel me watching her.' Willow thought to herself. She didn't know what was going on, but there was something about this woman that was drawing herself to the woman.
The day whirled by for both Kali and Willow. Neither of them really had their minds on school.
{After Nightfall}
Kali needed to get out of her hotel room, so she decided to go for a walk. Making sure that she had her cell phone and her sword she left to check out the town.
'Geez, for such a small town, there's a big graveyard,' Kali thought to herself, wandering up and down the tombstones. 'Must be from living over a hellmouth."
Suddenly, she stopped. There was something in the graveyard with her. Vampire. "Myrdroch." She spat out. The lowliest of creatures. The tainted ones.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Came the mocking voice from the darkness. "Seems somebody is lost."
Kali waited calmly for the demon to show itself. They had no patience, and were easily angered.
The disembodied voice kept talking, getting closer to the edge of the trees. "It seems that I'm in luck, just in time for a snack."
The demon came into view. "Well, boys, what do you think we should do with her first?"
Kali whipped her head around, four more came into view. 'Oh crap' she thought to herself.
"Sorry to disappoint gentlemen as charming as yourselves, but I am no ones snack." Kali responded moving to the center of the circle that they were creating.
The leader had been listening to her heartbeat, it hadn't changed except for the initial jump when he spoke. There was something different about this one. Deciding to see what she would do, he signaled the others to attack.
Kali watched as the first vampire came towards her. He came clumsily and she backhanded him across the face. He spun around and fell. The next came towards her, quicker. With a roundhouse kick to the head, that one landed on the ground also. The third wasn't about to get his ass kicked so he ran. The others picked themselves up, and ran after him.
Kali stood, facing the leader, not even breathing hard.
"Well, little girl, you are going to pay for that." He snarled. Launching himself towards her, his fingers curled into claws. His arms flailed. "Ow...You little shit," Kali yelled when one of his claws ripped into her side. She punched him in the face. When he fell back, she reached into her coat and grabbed her sword. "Your ass is mine." Her eyes were steel grey, she swung the sword and it connected cleanly with his neck, cleaving his head from his body. Suddenly, Kali was covered in vampire dust. "Cool." She muttered, dropping to her knees. 'Ouch, claw wounds, not good.' She thought to herself, remembering that she had walked from the hotel. "I'll just sit here for a minute" she said aloud, propping herself against a tombstone.
{Elsewhere in the cemetery}
The slayerettes were out on the patrol. Through the quiet the they could hear a snarl, and what sounded like fighting. Without thinking, they all broke into a run, hoping they could get there in time to help whoever was being attacked. However, when they got there, they saw their new teacher beheading a vampire. "What the..." Xander muttered. They all glanced at each other, but then they heard the thud of Kali falling to the ground. Willow raced over to her. "Ms. Johnson?" She asked. Kali opened her eyes. "What are you kids doing here, this is no place for you."
"We could say the same for you." Xander quipped. Meanwhile Willow was looking her over, wondering why she was sitting so still on the ground. Her eyes widened "You've been hurt." She said. "Xander, Oz, help her up, we have to get her to the hospital."
"NO...no hospital...I'll be fine," she said.
"Yeah, right, from the amount of blood you've lost, I'm sure." Willow snorted.
"Get me back to my hotel, I'll be fine there." Kali said, but she was weak, she could barely keep her eyes open. 'What the hell is going on?' she thought to herself. 'A little wound like this shouldn't have this affect on me'.
"Guys, if she doesn't want the hospital, we have to take her to Giles. You know he stocks medical supplies in his office for emergencies."
"We can take her in my car," Cordelia offered. She left to get it, so that they wouldn't have to drag her so far.
{At the school}
"Geez, is this what they mean by dead weight?" Xander asked, as he and Oz maneuvered to get Kali out of the back seat.
"Xander!!" Both Cordy and Willow yelled. "Quit screwing around."
"Where are we?" Kali asked, coming out of her daze.
"We are at the library, Giles will help, he always knows what to do."
"Who's Giles?" As she was trying to figure out what was going on, she decided to help the guys out by trying to walk. It worked...sort of, her knees had a strange habit of buckling.
"Giles!!!!!" Willow yelled as soon as they burst through the doors. "Come here, quick."
Giles bounded out of the office. He saw that Willow and Cordy were unharmed and started to sigh with relief, until he saw the other two half dragging, half carrying a body into the library.
"Good Lord, what is this?" He asked.
"We came upon her in the cemetery, she had just dusted a vamp and then collapsed. She wouldn't let us take her to a hospital. Look, it looks like she was clawed." Willow lifted the side of Kali's shirt to show Giles. In the light, the wound was inflamed. "Ugh" Willow said, closing her eyes briefly.
Kali stirred and turned over so that she was on her back. "Holy water" she muttered, not having the strength to say anything else.
Giles looked down at her. "Sarah?" he whispered. Then it registered what she said. "Willow, holy water."
Willow reached into her junior slayer bag and grabbed a vial tossed it to him.
"What do you want me to do with it?" Giles queried. He wasn't sure if she wanted to drink it or not.
"Pour..over..wound." She panted.
Shrugging his shoulders, Giles did just that. He wasn't ready for the reaction Kali had.
Her scream pierced through the empty halls of the school. She flung her body off the table, trying to get away from the pain, but unfortunately, she couldn't. She curled into a ball, waiting for the pain to subside. Finally the holy water cleaned the demon's filth from her wounds. They stopped bleeding. The blue quickening could be seen as the wound started ot knit itself back together. Slowly, Kali uncurled her body. "Bloody Myrdrochs," she muttered. Using the table she pulled herself upright.
Realizing where she was, "You brought me to the school?" She asked.
"Well, yeah."
"Sarah?" She heard behind her, quietly.
Without thinking, she turned around. In doing so, she saw a face she hadn't seen in nearly twenty years. "Ripper?" She asked in awe. Thinking that it couldn't be he, after all, this man was in TWEED.
"I saw you die."
"ummm"
"Gods, you're immortal." He said, eyes full of wonder.
"What?!?!" Came the cry from the forgotten foursome.
"How the hell do you know that?" Kali demanded.
"I'm a watcher." He stated.
Kali leaned forward and grabbed his arm. Shoving up his cuffs she searched for a tattoo. "Where's your tatt, if you are a Watcher?" Kali asked.
"Different Branch...wait, how did you know about the tattoos?" He asked, indignant.
Kali looked around...in the corner of a cage {cage?!} she saw some quarter staffs, crossbows and swords. The kids weren't shocked over the disappearing vampire.
"Where's your slayer?" She asked quietly. She knew that neither of the girls were the slayer.
"What slayer?" Xander asked, trying to play it off. Giles threw him a look.
"She's . . . missing at the moment."
"You lost your slayer...wait...Buffy, she's your slayer." Kali now realized the power that she felt coming off the girl yesterday. Only the slayer could give off that much raw energy, plus it fits with the advanced healing capabilities that Joe mentioned in the report.
"How do you know Buffy?" "Have you seen her?" "Where is she?" "Is Angel with her?" All of these questions flew at her.
"Calm down, I gave Buffy a lift yesterday. I dropped her off at her mom's, if I'm right, they are still apologizing to each other, and gaining some trust back. She seems ok, little stressed...Who's Angel, she was alone." Kali said in one quick breath.
"What's an immortal?" Was the next question, it was from Willow.
"I have to call Buffy." Giles said at the same time.
"Hey, it's midnight, I doubt she is up, and even if she is, she's trying to set things straight with her mom. From what I gathered, things weren't kosher when she jetted."
Kali turned towards Willow. There was no fear in the girl's eyes. Just curiosity.
"Well, Willow, an immortal, like me, is someone who can't die by conventional methods. We die the first time and our body stops aging."
"So, you're not a vampire?" Cordy asked.
"Nope. Vampires are essentially dead, I am just the opposite, essentially alive." She said, pulling her Celtic cross from around her neck. "Besides, this would hurt like he..ck. If I were."
Kali looked over at Giles. He was staring at her.
"Ripper, are you ok?" She asked quietly.
"I thought you were dead." He said, he took a step forward and pulled her into an embrace. "I saw you die" he said into her neck, he was hugging tightly, but she didn't mind. "Gods, Sarah, I didn't think that I would ever see you again."
"Same here. Actually, Ripper, if we are having total honesty time here, it's Kali."
"Actually Kali, it's Giles." He said with a smirk
"Is that what's up with the tweed?" She asked, eyebrow quirked.
"Well, I am a respectable person now. I have to dress the part."
"And you thought that Stuffy Englisher was the way to go?" She asked incredulous. "Well, I do have to admit that those glasses make you look sexy as hell." She smiled.
The foursome just stared at each other. 'Giles Sexy?!?!?!' was running through each of their minds. Cordy mouthed 'EWWW' and the guys nodded.
Giles was staring at her, but then realized that the four slayerettes were watching them carefully.
"well, yes. Um.." Giles stuttered, flustered.
Kali took a step backwards. It wouldn't do to jump him in front of the youngsters. She was supposed to be a role model and all.
Looking around at the others, she realized that one of the questions hadn't been answered. "Who's Angel?"
Xander started to scowl. "Why did you have to bring up DeadBoy Will?"
"What? We never found out what happened. I know that the spell worked. I just wanted to know if Buffy and Angel went away to get things straightened out." Willow said, defensively.
Kali walked over to her. 'Looks like Methos was right.' "Willow, what kind of spell?" She asked. She needed to know what kind of magick the girl had been playing with.
"It was a restoration spell." Willow said, confused. "Why?"
"A restoration spell...you were raising the dead?"
"NO, of course not."
"Then what's with the dead boy crack? What have you been messing with?"
"It was a soul restoration spell." Willow said quietly.
'Soul restoration? Why would they be doing a soul restoration....Dead boy? No..it couldn't be...but...' "Was this Angel a vampire?"
No one answered her. "Ri..Giles...Answer me, it's important."
"Yes, he is a vampire. He was cursed by the Rom about 100 years ago, granting his soul control over the demon that controlled his body. One night the curse was broken and his soul was torn away, the demon once again in control." Giles stated matter-of-factly.
"Woah, a spell that gives the soul control over the demon....does it remove the demon from the body?"
"umm, I don't know. Willow?"
"I don't know, either."
"Willow, do you have a copy of the spell that you cast."
"Sure, I have the translation and the original." She went over to the library's pc and booted it up. Kali went over stand behind her. Giles walked over to her. He had a question in his eyes.
"Kali, what's wrong?"
"Huh...nothing..."
"Kali." He said sternly. His best librarian tone.
"What?!? It's just this is the first time I've heard of a case of one of the tainted line's offspring gaining control over the demon."
"Tainted Line?" Now it was Giles' turn to be confused.
"Yeah, the Myrdroch, they're a tainted line of the Kindred species. Somewhere a demon possessed a Kindred, and each of his offspring was similarly tainted. This line was the reason that the slayers were created." Kali said absently, she was staring intently at the screen.
"What are Kindrid...I've never heard of them?"
"Kindred." She corrected without thinking about it.
"Here's the spell...and here's the original text." Willow said, as the awaited file opened.
"Can you print that for me? I hate reading off a screen."
"The translation?"
"No, the original text."
There was a few clicks of the keyboard and then the printer started whirring. Kali snatched the pages up and began to read. The others were staring at her intently, when they weren't throwing glances at each other.
Kali started pacing, she was holding the pages in one hand and running her hand through her hair, muttering to herself as she translated.
"It can't be...is this it....sonofabitch...." Bits and pieces of her mutterings drifted to the others. "Orb? What the hell is the orb for?"
"Kali."
"KAli."
"KALI!!!" Giles finally yelled after not being able to get her attention.
"WHAT?!?!" She snapped at him. He just quirked an eyebrow. "Sorry," she said sheepishly.
"What is going on?" He asked
"Ok....well, to put it simply, it seems that this spell that Willow did removes the demon from Kindred blood. Reinstating the characteristics of a true Kindred."
"What's a Kindred?" This came from the ever curious Willow.
"Kindred are a different race of vampire. They are closer to human than regular vampires. One that which is Kindred is able to eat, breath, and go out in the Sun under the right circumstances. They don't kill to live. They feed, but with the willing, mostly. The rumors are that an ancient Kindred was possessed by a demon. This demon gained control over his body, he gave in to the blood lust. He began feeding indescriminately. This brought the knowledge of vampires into the mortal world. This Kindred began his own clan, his childer were similarly infected. They gloried in their blood lust. These Kindred are called Myrdroch. They are despised by all Kindred. Hence the slayer. The others knew that the Myrdrochs needed to be stopped."
"Wait...you're saying some vampires created the slayers?" Giles was incredulous. "I've never heard of these Kindred...There's no mention of them in the Watcher's chronicles."
"Chronicles don't always tell the whole story...Hell, there's no mention of me in the Watcher's database either, I've made sure of that."
"How have you made sure of it?"
"Well....it's amazing what you can pick up over the years....Isn't technology wonderful?" Kali said cryptically. 'Oops, hadn't meant to let that one slip.'
"Anyways," Kali said, not so subtley trying to change the subject. "It's late, and I have to get up too damn early in the morning. I have no car...who wants to drive me to my hotel?" She inquired innocently, letting her gaze fall on Giles.
"What about the spell? What about Buffy? What about Angel?" The questions came quickly.
"We can discuss all of this tomorrow...or today rather, in the daylight..besides...I want to take a look at this and ask a friend about it." Kali said, holding up the sheets of paper.
"What friend?" Willow asked.
"Well, online he's 2yng2bhdls."
"You know him?"
"Yeah, I've know him for years."
"I've talked with him in chatrooms."
"Really?" Kali tried to act surprised.
"What the heck does his screen name mean."
Kali glanced at Giles, trying not to laugh "To Young to be headless."
Giles snorted. "Sick."
"And twisted...just like me...I gave it to him."
"Figures."
"I don't get it." Willow said.
"Inside joke....you might eventually."
"So this friend of yours is pretty up on Magik?" Willow asked.
"Yep, trained him some myself." She said. Then closed her eyes, she hadn't really wanted to say that. But then again, she wasn't likely to be shunned by this group. Especially with Ripper, er, Giles leading the way.
"You're schooled in the way?" Willow asked quietly. Could it be, her mentor finally coming. She thought that it might have been Jenny, but since she was killed there had been no others skilled enough to train her. Giles was just too jumpy, but given his background, that was to be expected.
"Yes, I grew up leaning, and continued to learn with each culture that I came across."
"How old are you?" Xander asked, grunting when Cordy's elbow met his stomache.
"Now, Xander, even you must know that it is impolite to ask a girl her age." Kali responded with a smile on her face.
"Well, gang, it's late, you all need to get up for school in the morning. Kali, I would like to speak with you." Giles said, his tone very serious.
They waited until everyon had left, Kali took a seat on the table and looked expectantly towards him.
Giles watched the door swing close. "What are you doing here?" He asked, taking off his glasses, and using his handkerchief to clean them.
"Teaching." Kali quipped.
"You know what I mean."
"Fine, officially I am here to check on a possible new immortal, unofficially, I'm here to check on Willow."
"Willow??? Why Willow?" Giles asked, astounded, "And what possible new immortal."
"Well, the possible new immortal is someone who was rumoured to have died two years ago...gets checked into hospitals with a broken wrist and then its just a sprain, and reports to the police that she was smacked around, but there is no bruise."
"Buffy."
"Buffy, however, spending the day in the car yesterday with her, dispelled that notion. Then I get a call from my friend who tells me the real reason he had me sent here."
"Willow."
"Right again, seems she's been asking questions on line, Adam knew that sunnydale was on the hellmouth, so he wanted me to check her out. If she is Talent, then she needs to be trained."
"Does she have Talent?" Giles inquired, a little worried for his young charge. He had come to know all the slayerettes, and he felt responsible for them all.
"Oh YEAH, I'm pretty sure of it. She practically shouts power. I just have to figure out what Talent she does have. If she's natural or if she has been, um, fiddling."
"Oh Giles, why would she be interested in Acathla?" Kali asked, remembering a fact from the file that Methos had sent to her. "Especially about what needs to occur if he was awakened?"
"Acathla! She's been asking about Acathla?" Giles started to pace.
"Giles, talk to me."
"Where to begin?" He muttered, almost to himself.
End Part 2
{The Library}
"Acathla...She's been asking about Acaltha." Giles muttered to himself.
"Yes, the question is why, what dealings have you had with Acathla."
"Well...where to begin."
"Usually at the beginning is a good place to start."
"Quiet, or I won't share."
Kali made a show of closing her mouth and and sitting down at the table.
"Good girl," he said with a smirk. "Now to understand totally you have to know the players involved. First there is Angelus who is Angel, without control over his demon. He terrorized us all, especially Buffy. He found out about Acathla, a statue that contained a demon that once awakened would create a vortex that would suck the world into Hell, creating a Hell on Earth. We figured out what he was up to and Willow tried to restore his soul, giving it control over the demon in order to stop him from completing his task. The first attempt failed. It ended with Willow in the hospital and me in the control of Angelus. He used me to figure out how to activate the damn statue. Buffy showed up and they were fighting when Xander got me out. Willow tried the spell again. Buffy disappeared. And the world didn't end."
"Jesus, do you know if he activated Acathla?"
"Well, he was fighting Buffy with the sword that was stuck in the statue's chest."
"So that would be a yes. If I remember correctly, the blood that opens the statue is the blood that closes it. Meaning that Angel's or Angelus' blood was necessary. If Willow was successful the second time, Buffy sent Angel, with a soul, to Hell."
"Oh my dear lord."
"She and Angel were close?"
"Yes, they were together."
"Lovers? Even though she's a slayer?"
"Yeah, he was cursed, with a soul. He was repenting by helping us fight the vampires. And other lovely things that occur on the Hellmouth."
"So Willow's been trying to find out everything she can about Acathla, trying to figure out what happened, why Buffy left. And if she finds out where Angel went, she is most likely to try to find a way to get him out. Right?"
"Yes, she would. She would try anything to get him out of hell. If she knew that he was Angel was trapped there with his soul. She would do everything in her power to make sure that he didn't stay in there any longer than he had to."
"So, if she hasn't tried it already, I guess it's a good thing that I got here when I did." Kali said, 'Methos, how much of this did you know, you conniving, planning, little...' she thought to herself, cutting of the thought before something she regretted was thought.
Kali glanced at her watch, "Oh gods, I have to be up at the arse crack of dawn. I gotta get some sleep or I will be the one falling asleep in class tomorrow. Will you give me a ride to my hotel?" She looked up at him and batted her eyes at him.
He started laughing, "Sure. I'll give you a ride."
Kali quirked her eyebrow...'hmmmmm, maybe some other time.' "Thanks, luv."
{Next day, 7:00am}
Kali strolled into the library, she knew that Giles would be there. Ripper wouldn't have been, but the new and improved Giles seemed dedicated to his work. Now that he knew that his slayer was back in town, he had work to do.
"Hi Honey, I'm home," she called out, thinking that Giles was in the office. She walked that way when she heard his voice, he was talking to someone. She glanced inside the door. 'Ahh, Buffy stopped by. Good.'
The two people sitting in the office glanced up at the uncharacteristic greeting. Giles grinned when he realized who it was, Buffy had a puzzled look on her face.
"We're in here." Giles called out.
Kali hopped onto the counter and swung over it.
"Hi!" She said, to perky for her.
"Kali? What's wrong." Giles asked concerned.
Kali just smiled at him. "Nothin'. So, the prodigal daughter returneth, huh? Told you she would stop by. Hey, any tea? Coffee, Dr. Pepper(tm)?" 'ooohh, gotta luv caffeine,' she thought to herself.{author's note:that's for you, Ang:>}
"I think that you have had enough caffeine. That explains your...perkyness..You used to hate mornings."
"Oh, don't worry, I still hate mornings. There are just wonderful things like chocolate covered coffee beans, or ice cold cans of Dr. Pepper(tm) to make them at least durable." Kali said with a smile. Giles just shook his head at her.
"How do you two know each other?" A very confused Buffy asked. She knew that this woman had only arrived in Sunnydale two days ago, but she and Giles were talking like they have known each other for years.
Giles looked at Kali, "It's up to you, but I think you can agree that she knows how to keep a secret."
"Right, how do you explain the 'slayerettes' then?"
Giles just looked at her. Kali rolled her eyes.
"I went to college with young Mr. Giles over there," Kali said.
"College? You're, like, 30 years younger than he is. How did you go to school with him?" Buffy asked.
Kali had to laugh at the look on Giles face when Buffy said that. She had to look away to keep from laughing out loud. She knew if she looked at him, she would lose it.
"Um, I age well?"
"Try again. What are you?"
"What am I, how pleasant. Well if you must know, I am an immortal. Just not the sort you are used to dealing with, hence me being out in the sun."
"So how old are you?" Buffy asked next.
"Older than I look." Was the only response that Kali was willing to give.
'Oh, goody, another cryptic one. What is it with old people, they just have to be cryptic.' Buffy thought to herself.
"Why don't you want to us to know how old you are?" Buffy asked.
"Well, your little watcher over there is so bloody by the book now, he would inform the other branch of the watchers that deal with my kind of immortals, and I would have other immortals hunting for me head. And that is something that I can do without. Anonymity has its benefits."
Giles shot her a dirty look at Kali for her watcher cracks.
"Yeah, he is kinda straight and narrow isn't he?" Buffy asked with a smile.
"Tell me about it, I barely recognized him when I saw him last night."
"Well, how do you think that I felt when I saw a woman I thought was dead being dragged into my library in the middle of the night. "
"Wait a minute, one why did you think she was dead, and two why was she being dragged into the library?" Buffy was totally confused now.
"Well, the last time I saw Ri...er...Giles we were saying 'see ya later' and I was heading off to class when I got ran down by a car. He watched it." With this statement out in the open, Kali reached over and grabbed Giles' hand.
"And last night, she got clawed by a vampire and refused to go the hospital so Willow and the others brought her here." Giles said.
"You got attacked by a vampire?"
"Yeah, I went for a walk, not knowing that there were vampires here and met up with one, well five, in the cemetery. I beat the crap outta four, they took off, but it pissed the leader off and he attacked. The damn thing managed to claw me in the side, before I decapitated him. Then poof, dust. Which, by the way, is way cool, much easier than having to get rid of the body." Kali finished with a smile. And a shudder, remembering the way the injury had affected her.
"So, Slayer, have you come back to fulfill your duties?" She asked, changing the subject.
"What's a slayer?" Buffy tried to ask innocently.
Kali looked over to Giles, quirked an eyebrow in a 'is she serious?' way.
"Umm. Buffy, it's all right, um, Kali already knows about slayers and vampires and hellmouths."
"You do?? How?"
"Well, over the years, I have helped train a few with weapons training. So Giles, if you ever get sick of getting your as..butt kicked by a girl, let me know and I will be happy to fill in." Kali said with a smirk.
"She doesn't kick my arse....we practice her techniques." He said, trying to sound snooty, but he ruined it by busting out laughing. Kali joined him. Buffy just stared in amazement. 'Woah, Giles laughing, who'd a thunk it?' She thought to herself.
Kali glanced at the watch on her wrist. "Egh, I have to get to class, before the troll decides I'm not a good enough teacher for his little minions. See ya later." She said, walking out the door.
" So...what's up between the two of you?" Buffy asked.
"Hmm, er, nothing." Giles mumbled, pulling his eyes off the retreating teacher. "So, your mother is meeting with Principal Snyder? Is she going to be able to get you back in school?"
"Subject change much?" Buffy asked with a smile.
"Knock it off Buffy." Giles said, more forceful than usual. Buffy quirked her eyebrow, but didn't say anything.
Kali was walking down the hallway when her cell phone rang. "Hello?" She listened to the other person speaking. It was her realtor. "Yes, I can meet you after school, hold on, let me get something to write the address down with." She walked into the classroom, and went to her desk to grab a pen and paper. "Ok, I can be there after classes. Um about 4:30?" She listened to the voice on the phone. "All right, see you then. Good bye." She clicked off the power button so that the phone wouldn't ring during class. 'ugh, apartment hunting,' she thought to herself. Not one of her personal favorite past times. She looked up and noticed Willow watching her and smiled. Willow smiled back and got up to work towards her.
"What's up Willow?" Kali asked.
"I was just wondering how you were doing, after last night I mean?" She asked quietly.
"I'm fine, thank you for asking." Kali responded with a smile in her voice. "Hey, Willow, how long have you lived in Sunnydale?"
"Oh, all of my life. Why?"
"Well, I am being shown apartments after school today and I was just thinking that I could use some help. I mean I don't know this town at all. And I could use an expert opinion on the good and bad parts of town. And if I am being ripped off. You know, that sort of thing. Um, would you be interested in helping?"
Willow was taken back by this, she wasn't used to 'adults' asking her for help. Unless it was with computers or research.
"Um, sure, I guess. When are you looking?"
"Well, today after school, about 4:30."
"Hmm, well, right now I don't have anything planned. You know, no prophecies to research and the like."
"No monster of the week?" Kali asked with a grin.
"Not Yet, but the day is still young."
They both started laughing.
{After School}
Willow and Kali walked up to the apartment building where they were to meet the realtor. They were right on time for the appointment.
"So, how is this part of town?" Kali asked, mostly to break the silence. She wanted to get this young woman to open up to her, she needed to be able to get Willow to open up to her.
"This is not a bad area. It's an older part of town, so the spaces are bigger. More Rooms. Higher ceilings and that kind of thing.
They were walking up the stairs to the front door of the building when Kali pulled something out of her pocket. "Hey Willow, can you wear this for me?" There was a light green stone hanging from a black cord.
"What is it?" Willow asked, taking it in her hand.
"It's, well, it's a protection stone."
"And why do I need a protection stone going into this building?" Willow asked, as far as she knew this was just a regular building, no access tunnel to the hellmouth, no possession, no demons shacked up there.
"Well, as you said, it's an old building, you never know what is hanging around. Plus living here on the hellmouth, you never know what is going to come your way. This stone has been blessed to protect the bearer from evil cast against her."
"Who blessed the stone?"
"Um, I did, last night. You wear it around your neck, under your shirt so that it is contact with your skin."
"Do you have one?" Willow asked, curious.
"I have different ones, for different purposes." But as she was talking, she held up her wrist. Willow could see a similar green stone dangling from the black cord wrapped around her wrist.
"I thought you were supposed to wear it around your neck?"
"True, for most people, but I only wear one pendant around my neck, it is only removed when I shower." Or when I am dead. she thought to herself wryly.
"Have you ever made one of these for anyone else?" Willow asked out of no where.
"Well, when we were in college, I made one for Giles when Ethan started hanging around. That guy was bad mojo."
"Yeah, no kidding." Willow muttered.
"You've met him? Fun guy huh?" Willow snorted slightly, at that.
"Well, you might notice that when he unbuttons his top button when he's training Buffy, there's a black cord. He still wears it." Kali said with a smile. "And well, since we live on the hellmouth, I did some up for the others, but I'm not too sure how they would react to it. I mean, I'm not that well known, and from what Giles says, there has been some, um, harrowing experiences with strangers around here. So I haven't brought them up yet. Plus I have only been here a couple of days. I don't want to encroach on anybody."
"Well, true, we have had some experiences with substitutes. But there are times when we have all needed all the help that we have available to us."
"Yeah, I just don't want to impose on anyone. So are we ready?" Kali asked, indicating the steps the building. It was eerily quiet inside. However the front door was open, awaiting their arrival. Willow nodded and they headed up the stairs.
They stood in front of the open door "Ms. Linders?" Kali called out.
"Come on in." The voice wafted out from the back of the loft.
They walked over the threshold into the loft. As Willow stepped into the loft, she shivered. Kali glanced her way, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm ok. I just got a chill."
"What are you feeling right now?"
"What do you mean?"
"When you felt the chill, did it frighten you or anything like that?"
"Oh, no, nothing like that. There was just a chill."
"Ok. Good." Kali said with a smile, she had been testing Willow's sensitivity. There was something in the air, but nothing malignant. Kali could tell that something had happened. But there was nothing left except the atmosphere. If the loft suited her purposes, she would have to do a cleansing ritual. "Come on, let's take a look around." Kali said, with a grin on her face. Willow threw her head back and laughed. Kali looked like a little kid with her eyes glowing...'glowing? err, nevermind, don't wanna know.' Willow thought. 'must have been the light.'
They walked towards the back. Off to the left there was a huge room. "Ohh, this would be a great workout room." Kali said.
"That huge?" Willow asked curious. The room itself was almost the size of a regular apartment.
"Yes, look at the high ceilings." Kali glanced over at Willow, she just looked confused. "You need a lot of room when swing a sword around so that you don't have to be worried about hitting anything." She whispered, leaning near Willow's ear.
Comprehension dawned and she glanced sheepishly at Kali, "Right, sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it." Just then Kali's phone rang. "Excuse me." She said before she answered it, "Hello?" She listened for a second to find out who was on the other end and then turned to the real estate agent. "I'm sorry, but could you excuse us for a minute?"
"Sure, I'll be out front. Just holler when you are ready." Ms. Linders replied walking away.
"Adam, did you do the translation yet?" Kali asked into the phone as soon as they were alone.
"What's he saying?" Willow asked excitedly, bouncing up and down.
"I don't know, I can't hear." Kali said, smiling at the girl.
"Oh, sorry."
"Adam. Have you gotten the translation done?" "You have. Well, was I right. Did it do what I thought. Did it remove the demon?" She started shooting questions at him. She paused to listen to his answers.
"Um, Kali?" Willow said quietly, touching her arm.
"What?" Kali asked, turning towards her. Noticing the look on her face, "Adam, can you hang on a sec. Willow?"
Willow, however, couldn't say anything. So she just pointed at the stone hanging from Kali's wrist. Kali glanced down, it was glowing. The green stone illuminating brightly, and getting brighter by the second. 'Crap' Kali thought to herself. "Meth, I'm going to have to call you back, no I can't explain now." She hung up, so flustered, she didn't realize that she had used her nickname for him. She glanced around quickly, concentrating, checking to make sure that the Realtor was still at the front of the loft.
"Willow, come here, stand next to me." Willow quickly went to her side. "Ok, now what?" She asked Kali quietly.
Kali however was busy digging in her backpack. Finding what she needed, she pulled a small leather pouch out.
"What ever you do, don't move." She said to Willow. She reached into the pouch and pulled out a handful of white powder. Murmuring quietly, she proceeded to draw a circle around herself and Willow. Once that was done, she spread the excess powder onto the floor in front of them. When the powder was totally out of her hand, her murmuring stopped.
"Who's here?" She asked.
Willow and Kali both stared at the dust, waiting to see what would happen.
Suddenly, lines started to be drawn. / \ - / \ / ( it went until it spelled out a name "Angel" Willow whispered.
Kali whipped her head towards Willow. "Angel, as in the vamp? As in the guy you restored the soul to? Or rather, ripped the demon outta?"
"Yeah, that Angel."
"We have to be sure" Kali said to Willow. "Why are you here?" She asked the unseen entity.
(protect Willow from you) Was what was written next.
Willow took an involuntary step away from Kali at that "Will, don't break the circle." Kali said urgently. Willow stopped moving.
"Have we met?" She asked, not remembering an Angel as a person that she had met, especially in the past two hundred years, which is how old Giles said he was.
The next words that were written were for Kali only. They were written in a language that Willow didn't even recognize. However she did understand that they meant something to Kali when she heard the woman took a sharp intake. "Gods protect us." She muttered quietly. "Cariahd, stick around. I'll get rid of the Realtor and make some preparations. And don't worry. Willow has nothing to fear from me. You have my word." She said aloud.
(i'll be ready, and i'll take your word)
Kali's mind was racing a mile a minute. 'What the hell was he doing with a demon. He had a helluva lota explaining to do' She thought to herself as she stretched out her arm. Willow watched amazed as the powder raised up into Kali's hand, in reverse order than that which it was poured. Muttering, Kali broke the circle and went to find the realtor.
"Ms. Linders," she started upon finding the her in the kitchen. "I'll take the building. Here's a cashier's check for the asking price. I hope you brought the papers like I asked."
"Um, yes, I did. Just like that, you want to buy the whole building?" The poor lady was in shock. This was the hugest commission that she would make.
"Yes. It's perfect for what I need. Just one quick question. Is there already access to the roof in place?" She asked, starting to look over the paperwork that Ms. Linders had pulled out of her briefcase.
"Yes. There's stairs off the main bedroom that go up the back all the way to the roof. Here's all the paperwork. Where you need to sign is marked with a 'x'."
Kali got all the paperwork signed, the keys and the realitor out of the place in approximately 20 minutes. Probably an all time record in such a sale. Once she was safely without the realitor she opened up her phone again and started making phone calls. "Giles, it's Kali. I need you to do me a favor...No, there is no room for argument. I need it done now....Good. Thanks. First of all, I need you to go to my hotel room and grab a black leather bag that is placed in the armmoire...Second, don't tell your slayer where you are going, here's the address to come to. It's my new place. Also, do you have a phone book there....Good, I need a phone number for a furniture store.....All right thanks again...And Giles, get her as soon as you can it's important....What....yeah, Willow's here also." Kali was busy making plans, she needed Giles help though, she couldn't go to her hotel room herself, she was pretty sure that Willow wasn't about to leave now, and she wasn't going to leave her there alone. Hanging up with Giles, she got on the phone with the furniture store. She had a feeling that she wouldn't be going back to the hotel anytime soon for any amount of time, so she needed a few necessities. After spending another 15 minutes arguing with the sales person, she had the promise of the manager that her new bed, and linens would be delivered ASAP that night.
"Oh Damn, Methos." She said, reaching for the phone again. "Hey hon...sorry I had to hang up so quickly, but something's happened. Do you remember Angelius? I thought you might. Well it seems he decided to pay a little visit unexpectedly. My protection stone started glowing and Willow freaked. I didn't know who it was. Any way, it seems he is the one that Willow performed the ritual on. What? No, I don't know how he became demonized. I'm making the preparations to ask him, in person so to speak. Seems he tried to use Acathla to pull the world into hell, but the slayer stopped him. And instead, he was sucked back in to the vortex, right after Willow performed the ritual, and according to Buffy it worked. So he's in Hell, with out his demon. If that spell was the right one....It was, I got the translation right? Ok, so now, what I need from you is to find a way to bring someone outta hell, that was sent there through Acathla. .... Yes, I know I'm asking alot, but I came to the Hellmouth for you." She said, listening to the silence, she knew that it was a low blow but she was desperate.
"Fine I'll Do it." Came loudly over the phone.
"Thank You." She sing songed into the phone....listening the the cursing that was coming over the phone, Kali almost cringed. "HOney, I don't think that is physically possible...Yes, I love you to." She said, laughing quietly so that he wouldn't hear her and hung up the phone. Turning around, she came face to face with Willow.
"So, was that Giles?" Willow asked, wondering in the back of her mind why Angel would feel it necessary to protect her from this woman.
"Well, actually the last call was my friend Adam, he had the translation and now he is working on the Acathla mystery and how to pull Angeli....Angel's sorry ass out of the flames. Since Buffy confirmed that the ritual that you performed did indeed work, he is no longer with the demon. You didn't just put his soul in control of the demon. You removed the demon totally from his body."
"I did?" She asked astonished. "How do you know Angel?"
"Well, if it's who I think it is, however I don't see how it is since the person that I'm thinking of is over 500 years old, I ran into him when he was younger. Um, we didn't especially hit it off at first, but then we got to be friendly."
"So why would he feel the need to protect me from you?"
"Well, it might be that he thinks that I could possibly be a bad influence on you."
"Where's Ms. Linders?" She asked suddenly.
"Oh, she's gone to record her sale, and probably take a real long vacation."
"You bought this place? Just like that?"
"Yeah, why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Well, it could be people don't usually up and buy a loft like this after only looking at it for half an hour."
"Building"
"What?"
"I bought the building."
"You bought the whole building?" Willow asked. Amazed. This woman bought a whole building and it didn't phase her at all.
"Yes, and I called Giles, he's bringing over some things, and I called the furniture..."She trailed off as a buzzer sounded in the place. "Store." She took the elevator down to let them in. Giles was arriving also. She let him in, and signed for the delivery of the bed, letting the guys know that she was on the second floor and that the elevator was working, she walked Giles up to the loft.
"What is going on?" Giles demanded to know as soon as they entered the loft.
"I'll explain as soon as they are gone." She said cryptically, and went to show the delivery guys where she wanted the bed set up. They had the thing setup in 15 minutes flat. Kali thanked them, tipped them, and sent them on their way.
She went and found Giles and Willow huddled together in what would become her workout room. Kali tossed her coat to the floor, the 3 foot metal clanging softly as it hit the floor.
"I take it Willow let you in on what happened." Kali stated, her glance moving between the two.
"I got your bag...Now will you tell me what is going on. How do you know Angelus."
"Well, first, thank you. Second, that's a little hard to explain. I'm not sure. The message that he wrote was one that makes me think that I know who he is, but you told me that Angel was only about 240 years old. The person that I think it is is over 500. So I am not sure. However with the stuff in that bag, I think that I can figure it out." Kali said, walking over to take her own supply bag out of Giles' hands. Reaching in, she pulled out two long taper candles, a teal crystal and a bowl with a grinder.
"What is all that for?" Willow asked, intrigued.
"Well, Giles is going to watch over us and me and thee are going to try to get a hold of your friend Angel."
"Absolutely NOT." Giles nearly yelled.
"Ripper, shut up sit down. I know what I am doing."
"Don't call me that, and how the hell am I supposed to trust Willow to you in this?"
"Fine I wont and Gods, I have over 5000 years experience in this and I would do anything to keep Willow from harm, YOU should know that." Kali was pissed. She hadn't thought that Giles, her Ripper, wouldn't trust her.
"5000 years experience?" Was all that Giles could say.
"Wha?" Kali realized what she had said in the middle of her rant. "AAH, Bugger." She said.
"Are you Methos? I thought Methos was a man." Giles said, the awe tangible in his voice.
"No, I'm NOT Methos. Yes he is a man."
"Is, so you know who he is, he's not just a myth..." Giles was going to continue, however Willow was getting impatient.
"Hello, Guys, we have something more important to worry about. Can get this going...Who cares about this Methos guy, or how old she is, Angel is burning in hell right now." She was practically yelling by the time she was finished.
Kali and Giles quickly shut up and stared at her. Kali started smirking. "Curse of the fiery temper." She muttered under her breath, however Giles heard her and started smiling himself.
"Giles, this is not something that I have never tried before, I have done things like this before." Kali stated, calmly this time.
"Giles, I trust her." Willow said, walking over to Kali.
"Fine, I can see that I am outnumbered, what do you need me to do?"
"Well, we are going to ground ourselves here, but I need you here to make sure that things go good on this end. Make sure that we aren't interrupted."
They quickly went about setting up the preparations. Kali used the bowl and grinder and ground up the stone. She set up the candles in front of Willow and herself. She sprinkled the powder over the candles and got ready to light them.
"Willow, what I need you to do, is ground yourself. Do you know how to do that?"
"Yeah, Amy showed me." Willow stated briefly.
"Ok, good, do it." She said, she closed her eyes and placed her fingertip on the candle wick. The candle in front of Willow jumped to life, and she did the same to hers.
"Concentrate on Angel." Kali said quietly.
-----------------------
Gradually Kali and Willow found themselves in an empty space. A figure walked towards them. Willow recognized him.
"Angel." She cried, running to him and jumping into his arms.
"Willow," He said, laughing, spinning her around.
"Angelius" Kali said quietly.
Angel stopped spinning, putting Willow down. "Iris."
"It's Kali." She said with a smile. Suddenly she sniffed. "What the hell. Toreador and Ventrue. What the hell is going on with you?" She asked.
"Well...that's kind of a long story."
"Well...that's why we're here." Kali responded, dryly.
"Well...after you left I spent the years being the good Toreador, looking after my family and their descendants like we are supposed to. And then that went all to hell. Literally. Darla, the stupid Ventrue whore.."
"Hey." Kali interjected on the slam against Ventrue.
"Oh, right, sorry, anyways, she drained me and infected me with tainted blood. I lost control and slaughtered everyone." He trailed off quietly.."Remembering, again, the terror that he caused his lineage. Wiping them out.
"So, now you are both Toreador and Ventrue. Amazing." Kali said, almost to herself.
"I am Toreador, not some stinking Ventrue." Angel spat out. His hatred at Darla coming through.
Kali's fist shot out, striking him in the face. "I've warned you," was all she said.
"I'm sorry, it's nothing personal against you, its just, she knew that I was already Kindred, and she violated me anyway. And since I was already Kindred, I had to watch as the demon destroyed everyone that I cared about."
"Angel, we are working on a way to get you out of here." Willow said quietly, trying to give him some good news.
"Willow, I don't want you to do anything that could possibly put yourself in danger."
"Angel, do you remember Michale?" Kali asked.
"Yes."
"Well, he is working on a way to get you out of here, that isn't dangerous. I have a feeling that this is going to be the most difficult thing that I am ever going to ask you, but please, be patient. We'll get you outta here." Kali said quietly.
"Only if no one will get hurt. If there is any danger, I don't want you to try it." Angel was dead serious. Now that he was back in control, he didn't want any one else getting hurt because of him.
"You have my word." Kali said.
"Willow, say goodbye, we have to go, before you get to tired to concentrate."
Willow stepped forward. "Angel, I'm gonna get you outta here." She whispered quietly, hugging him.
--------------------------------------------
Giles watched as Kali and Willow started blinking. It had been eerie, watching them sit motionlessly for the past hour and a half.
Kali closed her eyes so that the moisture could get back in her eyes.
"Willow?" She whispered, glancing over at the young woman. She sat there with a smile on her face.
"Giles, it's really him. Our Angel, our friend." She said quietly. Giles just stared at her. He wasn't sure how he would react to ever seeing the monster that murdered Jenny.
End Part 3
next