Chapter 40 – It Can’t Rain All the Time
We walked the narrow path,
Beneath the smoking skies.
Sometimes you can barely tell the difference
Between darkness and light.
Do you have faith?
In what we believe?
The truest test is when we cannot see.
Jane Siberry
Dylan didn’t want to acknowledge it. In a way it was admitting he was wrong about his future with Spike, but it couldn’t be. Not this time. Not when Marguerite was so sure, too. He watched with disbelieving eyes as the vampire moved in synchronicity with his mate. Almost as if they were one being and not two. He shook his head to dispel the foolish notion as he picked up his pace to keep up with his companions.
Jake was leading them deep into Lancaster woods. The woods surrounded the small town and ranching community of Taylor, California who in the last few months had been beset by mysterious happenings. At first only grazing livestock had disappeared then they started to vanish from their stalls within the barns. Finally, there were several break-ins in the small downtown area. The citizens were in fear of their homes being vandalized or for the own personal safety. The sheriff was unable to find the culprit or culprits creating the problems.
Coupled with the fact that several eyewitnesses reported seeing large human-like creatures just on the edge of the trees the sheriff had contacted The Matrix for help. Research indicated that there weren’t any demons that called this area home. The morning had been spent in going over aerial views of the town and surrounding territory. An abandoned gold mine had been spotted on property that was now part of a government land preservation deal. Surrounding the mine were several buildings that demons could be using as a temporary hideout.
In the lead was Jake, followed by Ted, then Buffy and Spike with Dylan behind them and Bob at the end. Jake was taking them to the mine by a long overgrown road in hopes of not being seen before they were ready to attack. The steep climb was getting to them all, and especially to Bob. He kept complaining that he preferred to catch his marks on a bar stool deep in the heart of Los Angeles. It was okay though, because his constant joking kept them all in good spirits as they walked into an unknown situation. Buffy had wanted to bring in a few Slayers, but she was vetoed. If they found the nest, they would check it out first and if they found themselves really outnumbered they would call for reinforcements before launching an attack.
Suddenly, Jake slowed, putting his arm out for the others to follow suit. He pointed to several bushes that were crushed as if something large had been drug over them.
“It seems we may be going the right way,” Jake commented in a hushed tone. “Keep your eyes and ears open,” and with that admonishment, he started forward again.
Spike stepped in front of Buffy, leading the way. One hand held tightly to his battle axe and the other to his wife’s hand. Dylan thought it was a bit dangerous, but it also looked like at any moment they’d be ready to jump in the fray. Never before in his life had he’d seen two people so totally committed to one another. Could fidelity and forever really exist? Where he’d grown up it was a miracle if a couple even managed to get married long enough to have a child much less stay together for a decade.
“Hey, Dylan, pick up the pace,” Bob teased, poking the younger man in the back. “You’re letting this old fart catch up to you and that ain’t making you look too good.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dylan responded, glancing over his shoulder. “I’m just trying to make you look better that’s all.”
Bob’s jab at the youngest member was just what everyone needed to break the tension filled atmosphere around them. They all laughed which also alienated any chance of them suspecting why Dylan had been lagging. Relieved at not being reprimanded for not paying attention, he hurried ahead. The mountain grew steeper taking away any chance for conversation. The group returned to concentrating on the path before them and trying to find any clues to the demons they were searching for.
Their footsteps were slow as they forged through an old overgrown trail. Several times someone slipped, rode the grass and leaves backward until they could regain their hold on the steep terrain. No one spoke as they concentrated on the way. It was a mistake because just as Jake reached the next plateau a gun blast broke through the silence. Those in back ducked as a bullet flew just above Ted’s head and imbedded itself in a tree not far from them.
“Holy shit,” Ted yelped, grabbing his head and squatting down. He raised the hand holding his sword, ready to do battle as the group moved closer to one another. Weapons drawn, they formed a circle, crouching close to the ground as they visually searched the woods for the shooter.
A rustle not far from them had them turning to the left of the path, but then there was one to the right of them. They were surrounded. Everyone tensed ready to do battle as the first demon broke through the trees.
There wasn’t time for anyone to think much less figure out who they were fighting. Dylan pulled his knife from its sheath on his ankle and went toward the closest demon. They were pouring out of the bushes. He lost count as they became embroiled in the fight.
“I recognize these ugly mugs,” Spike bit out, as he buried his axe in one of the demon’s chests. “Their little friends tried to take over Sunnydale once a long time ago.”
“Oh, yeah,” one demon said. “I recognize your bitch, too. She’s a robot…”
“No, I’m not,” Buffy declared placing a well aimed foot into the Hellion’s groin. “Believe me I’m all woman.” She followed it with a punch to his jaw, driving his chain into the sensitive gum area above his teeth. Blood poured from his mouth as Buffy jumped back to avoid being splattered with it.
“Woohoo, go Buffy,” Jake called out over his shoulder. “She’s a real live, honest to God, Slayer, boys,” he said, throwing his weight into a round house kick at a demon that wouldn’t give up the fight despite the blood pouring from a head wound.
The humans were severely outmatched by the strength of the demons. It was only their well perfected battle strategies that prevented them from being killed. Buffy and Spike were quickly going for the kill instead of toying with their opponents. There were too many of them and they were afraid that one of their companions wouldn’t survive if they dallied.
Dylan raged at the demons that surrounded him. He didn’t want help from the Slayer to stay alive. It would be something that he would never live down either to himself or the men that he worked for. He fought with everything he had using both his knife and his martial arts training. These demons, though, were twice his size and as strong as a vampire.
The one in front of him swung making him turn to avoid the meaty fist aimed his way. It only gave the one beside him the opportunity to pick him up by his shirt front.
“Why would you think a puny thing like you could even hurt one of us?” the demon asked, turning to his companions for affirmation. He laughed loudly but was surprised by Dylan planting one foot on his chest and aiming the other right for his mid-section.
“Because I can,” Dylan bit out, as he brought his knee up into the demon’s face, then using the leverage from his other foot he flipped backwards to land on his feet. He watched in satisfaction as the demon fell to the ground. His jubilance didn’t last long as he caught a demon preparing to throw an axe into the Slayer’s back. For some reason he didn’t understand he shouted, “Watch out, Buffy,” before he threw his own knife straight into the heart of the Hellion. With Buffy’s quick reaction to his forewarning, she managed to escape the weapon unscathed.
Time seemed to freeze around him as he stared into emerald eyes that returned his stare with curiosity and gratitude. Something changed in that moment. Something he didn’t want to understand. It pissed him off that there was a chance that he might care about her just because he cared whether Spike was happy or not. The whole emotion bit didn’t fit into his plans and he threw himself back into the fight hoping to eradicate any weakness inside of him.
~~~~~~~~
Back at the cabin several hours later Buffy was forcing herself to face the truth. The little rat had saved her life. No matter what she did wouldn’t change that fact. Out there on that mountain the only two things she wanted was to show Dylan how much of a couple, she and Spike were, and how much stronger she was than he could ever hope to be. And because he decided to be a hero, things were changed between them. She was indebted to him whether she wanted to be or not. Spike used the moment to back up his belief that she was all wrong about the young man. It didn’t matter how she felt, because Dylan changed the playing field making her the bad guy again.
“Bloody hell,” Buffy whispered, staring at her hands dangling between her knees. “What am I going to do?”
This weekend was supposed to have been an intimate reunion between husband and wife, but due to circumstances beyond her control things had turned to Dylan’s advantage. Once again Buffy was faced with how unfair life could be. She knew if she didn’t play this just right then it would cause problems between her and Spike. Problems they didn’t need to deal with along with everything else going on in their lives and just when things seemed to be looking up between them. The time apart had given them a new appreciation for the love they shared.
Damn it, it was she that had stood beside her husband for all these years and she wasn’t going to let him go. Even if that meant she had to play humble to the little twit that wanted her husband. Whoever said life was a game was right, but it was one she didn’t plan on losing. Never had before and she certainly wasn’t going to this time.
Buffy stood, tossing her hair, and straightening her shoulders before making her way into the hallway. Thankfully Spike was still in the shower so he wouldn’t be a witness to her performance. She never could fool him no matter how hard she tried. She glanced into the living room; Dylan wasn’t there, so she headed down to the kitchen. He was there, making a sandwich for himself.
“Hi, Dylan,” Buffy said.
“Hey,” he said, freezing as he looked up at her.
He was giving her a classic deer in the headlights look. It took him a second to slide his mask of indifference back into place. He turned away to continue to slather mustard across a slice of rye bread. The tension floated between them making Buffy unsure of continuing. She slid her hand down the hip of her jeans before realizing the nervousness the gesture revealed. There was no way she wanted this weasel to know that he in any way intimidated her.
“Look,” she said. “I just wanted to say thanks for helping me out there today.”
It took a moment for him to respond. He finished putting the thick slices of ham on the bread before he looked back at her.
“No problem,” he said, cutting his sandwich in half. “Part of the team and all that rot.”
“Well, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate it.”
It was over. She had made the appropriate gestures of good will and gratitude. There wasn’t anything else that was needed so she gave a small nod before turning to leave the room.
“I’d rather have you alive to defeat you myself, than to have some demon rob me of that pleasure. Don’t care to compete against your memory as a martyr,” he said, “this way is much more fun.”
This time it took her a moment to accept that Dylan had actually said what he did. It was a clear challenge that she could either ignore or accept. If she ignored it, though, he would think her too weak to fight him. So, she faced him, crossing her arms in front of her with her legs at shoulder width apart. It was her bitch stance, perfected from a lifetime of using it for intimidation.
“Defeat me?” Buffy asked, with one brow arched. “You know I could squash you like the little roach that you are.”
“Oh, not like that,” Dylan said. Then to further demonstrate his power of her insecurity in the love of her husband, he took a bite of his sandwich, chewed and swallowed before he said anything else. “You really don’t have any concept of who your husband even is, do you? He really is worth so much more than you’ll ever let him be.”
“You’re right about one thing,” Buffy replied. “Spike is my husband and my mate. I know exactly who he is as he knows who I am. There is nothing you can do to break us apart.”
The turd had the audacity to laugh at her statement. “You really are too arrogant about your relationship with him. It’s blinded you to what is going on inside of him. Eventually, he’ll come to me because I can give him what you can’t.”
“What? A dick?” Buffy laughed, shaking her head. “It doesn’t interest him that much. I have given him something that you never will, his children, and we’re trying to have another baby. I know that nothing will ever come before his family. So, you don’t threaten me at all.”
She didn’t wait to hear Dylan’s retort to her statement. There was nothing he could say to refute it, because if there was one thing in her life to believe in, that was it. As she walked away, she was comforted by the anger that was returning to replace the unfamiliar feelings of peace toward Dylan. Anger was a good thing.
~~~~~~
“Hello,” Buffy whispered, sliding back the shower curtain. “You’ve been taking too long.”
Spike froze where he was, staring at the beauty climbing into the stall with him. The small square room was barely big enough for both of them, but he didn’t care. Not when she was caressing his chest with fingertips barely touching his skin.
“Hello, yourself,” he responded, pulling her against his body with hands that almost spanned her tiny waist. “I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you, too,” Buffy said, shifting onto her toes so she could nuzzle his neck. “I love you, William.”
“Love you, too,” he said, putting his head back so she could have better access to him. Her hands roamed to his back as she nibbled on his earlobe. Her joining him was a surprise because he’d assumed that she wouldn’t want to make love in this situation. But he wasn’t going to argue with her. He took a step forward, pressing her back against the shower wall. Buffy leaned back looking up at him as she hooked a leg over his hip.
She was slippery as satin, he decided, his hands stroking her torso. The heat of the water was turning her skin a rosy pink, almost as pink as the beaded nipples grazing against his chest. He growled deep in his throat, lifting her so she could wrap her legs around him. No place else on earth was as welcoming as the heat between his woman’s thighs. Spike looked deep into Buffy’s eyes that stared back at him with such love in them. This was where he belonged. He slid his cock into her, loving the slow slick slide into a pussy that was still as tight as the day he’d first taken her. She groaned, bucking forward to let him slip further inside.
“Fuck me,” Buffy whispered.
There wasn’t any answer except to give her what she wanted. Spike pulled almost completely out of her before slamming back into her. He loved the moan Buffy uttered as he filled her again. Adjusting his hands on her ass to make sure he was balanced, he set out to make her scream. Suddenly needing for the others to understand the depth of loving possession he and his mate shared. Spike didn’t hold back as he thrust repeatedly into her. He hit every spot that he knew would drive her crazy and the escalating begging fed his desire even more. They moved together, losing all sense and reason, until she was screaming his name with each inward stroke.
“Now, now, now,” Buffy begged, digging her nails into his back. She threw her head back in an open invitation for the ultimate invasion of his body. Unable to refuse, Spike roared with the power she gave before plunging his fangs into her throat. It drove her over the edge and she screamed out her orgasm. He drank the blood flowing from her throat until his body gave in to the bloodlust and shot his seed deep within her.
to be continued…
Chapter 41 – Born to Run
Let me in
I wanna be your friend
I want to guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs round these velvet rims
And strap your hands across my engines
Together we could break this trap
Baby, we were born to run
Bruce Springsteen
There were advantages to coming home, Spike decided as they pulled into their driveway. He didn’t even have a chance to turn off the motorcycle before his little girl was bounding out of the house to greet them. By the time Buffy and he had taken their helmets off, their daughter was dancing around their feet. A wide smile graced her face as she held her arms up for one of them to pick her up. He laughed, reaching down to scoop her up into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck while she placed a loud kiss on his cheek.
“I missed you, Daddy,” Joy announced, followed by another kiss.
“I’ve missed you, too, princess,” Spike responded with a laugh. He hugged her tight before turning to grab one of the backpacks that Buffy was holding. She flashed a smile at him, seemingly undisturbed by their daughter’s lack of welcome for her. “Didn’t you miss, Mummy?”
“Mummy always comes back,” Journey said. “You go away too much so I missed you lots.”
Her simple, honest answer hit him in the gut with the force of a sledgehammer. Did his daughter fear that one day he wouldn’t come home at all? Had he been blinded to his family’s need for him? He stopped in his short walk to the house to really look at his home. This was the place that he, Xander, and Buffy had rebuilt with a lot of time, sweat and love. Here Buffy became his in every way possible, and here their family came together. It truly was a home.
His home. A strange conclusion to a lifetime spent more in evil than in good.
“Hello, Dad,” Elijah said, breaking through his thoughts. He didn’t rush to them like his sister, but instead stood waiting on the top of the front porch steps. His solemn appearance made Spike’s heart lurch in love for the boy who carried too much on his small shoulders. Spike finished walking over to Eli, then pulled him closer.
“Hello, son,” Spike said, clasping his hand around his son’s neck. “You doing okay?”
“Pretty well,” Elijah answered, giving him a half smile as he raised his arms to be picked up also.
“Enough of a handful there?” Buffy asked, darting around them to open the front door for them. She was on the verge of giggling which only made Journey want to join her. The two females shared a look before Joy clamped her tiny hands over her mouth, trying to hold back the laughter. “I think Daddy is getting old,” Buffy teased. “Maybe he can’t hold both of you anymore?”
The playfulness was contagious as Elijah laughed and held tighter to his father as if he was afraid of being dropped. It was one of those moments where it seemed like nothing could touch his family. Spike played along, pretending to stagger under the weight of his children and the backpack still slung over his shoulder.
“Watch it,” he said. “Careful Daddy’s falling,” he joked as they moved into the house. “Here we go,” he yelled, running into the living room and dropping the children onto the couch. “Didn’t think I could take much more of that,” he said, laughing. “You two have gained a lot of weight since Mummy and I left.”
“We have not,” Elijah said, leaning over the back of the sofa to watch his parents. “You’re just getting old like Mum said.”
“Am not,” Spike quibbled, picking his son up again and tickling him unmercifully. “Take that back.”
~~~~~~~
Buffy rolled her eyes at the sight of the big bad vampire playing with his son. Having children had brought out a side to Spike that she didn’t even know existed. The man who once wouldn’t dance because he was afraid people would make fun of him had no qualms about everyone seeing him being silly with his children. Family life was good for them both especially in a world that had little innocence left in it. She turned to Journey and held out her arms.
“Hey, baby,” she said, settling her daughter on her hip. “Let’s leave the boys to play,” she nodded to the two males who were still rough housing it. “And let’s go find Del. Is she in the kitchen?”
“She was a minute ago,” Journey informed her. “Max and Faith went home already.”
“Yeah, I know,” Buffy said, heading for the back of the house. “They needed to do things at the Hyperion.”
Their friends had waited until they knew for sure the couple was back in town before they headed back to Los Angeles. Emotions were still taut with the Slayers since the incident with Raven. Giles felt more comfortable with everyone on duty so Max and Faith left immediately to help the Watcher out.
Journey gave her a solemn nod then thrust her bandaged arm under Buffy’s nose. “I got hurt.”
“So, I heard,” Buffy said, pushing open the door to the kitchen. It was just as she suspected Del was already preparing dinner for the family. She hurried over to give the older woman a kiss on the cheek. “Hey there, everything going okay?”
“They’ve been perfect angels,” Del said, smiling at Journey. “Of course, Max and Spike put the fear of God into them after the tunnel incident. I don’t think either one of them will be breaking any rules for awhile.”
“Let’s hope not,” Buffy replied, setting Journey down on the counter. “Can Mummy look at your boo-boo?”
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her friends to take care of her children properly, or even just motherly concern. There was still the feeling of guilt for the choices that she made while pregnant with her youngest that compelled her to be a bit protective. In Buffy’s mind everything that went wrong in Journey’s life could be linked back to that unfortunate time in her life. And everything right was because Spike and she had fought it out so that they could still be a family. Mistrust tore them apart and love somehow healed them.
Buffy smiled at her daughter who held her arm out trustingly for her mother to inspect her injury. “I have to pull the bandages off,” Buffy said. “I’ll make it quick so it won’t hurt too much. You ready?”
“Yep,” Journey said, nodding her head. “I look the other way so it will be a surprise.”
“Okay.”
After taking a deep breath for both of them, Buffy yanked the tape off on one side of the bandages. She froze when she saw Journey’s arm though. Something wasn’t right as she ran her hand along her daughter’s forearm.
“What’s wrong, Mummy?” Joy asked, peeking over the gauze to look at her arm. “It’s all gone.”
Buffy could only nod. She looked toward Del, perplexed as to what exactly had happened. If the injury had only occurred the previous night, why was Joy’s arm almost completely healed. Only a little pink remained where there should have been a large scab.
“What’s wrong, Buffy?” Del asked, scurrying over to see what was wrong. “Oh, my…”
~~~~~~
“Hey, everybody just left us behind,” Spike said, sauntering into the kitchen with Elijah slung over his shoulder. “What’s going on?” he asked, seeing the worried expressions of the two women. Something was wrong with his little girl. Stuck in the slow motion of wanting to be somewhere else where nothing bad happened, he slid Elijah down to the ground before taking a tentative step to the small cluster of females. “What’s wrong?” He was afraid to breath, to think, to hope, in case his world was going to go crashing in on itself.
“Spike,” Buffy said, taking his hand and pulling him closer. “She’s almost completely healed.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Journey protested, shaking her head as fat teardrops slid down her face. “Don’t be mad.”
“We’re not mad,” Spike soothed, reaching over to take the rest of the bandage off that had been left dangling. “It just makes you a very special little girl, that’s all.” He kissed Joy’s forehead, before pulling Buffy close to him.
“You sure, Daddy?” Joy asked with a sniffle while running her hand over her arm. “Why did it get all better?”
“It’s like your father said,” Buffy said, picking her daughter up to nestle her close to them. “You’re a very special little girl.”
“You have a gift,” Elijah spoke up. “Like Raven and I do.”
It seemed to alleviate his daughter’s fears as her face lit up with a smile again.
“Oh,” Joy said. “Guess I’m not normal like Sean says. Can I tell him?”
“Not yet, baby,” Spike said, making eye contact with Buffy then Del. The truth, for now, couldn’t go any further than this house. Memories of the Council wanting to ‘research’ the offspring of a vampire and a slayer returned, along with the fight they went through to keep them away. Although they now had control of the Council, it was still filled with the old school Watchers who were less than compassionate with the girls. And as it was the way with them, it seemed they had one more secret to protect within their family.
~~~~~~~
He smiled as he easily entered the Hyperion despite the protection spell around it. They would never learn it seemed. At least a hundred, maybe double that, invitations was being called out to it. He lived in each one of them, waiting for that moment, that singular moment when he could gain control. Free will was something they should never have been given by their loving benefactor. It made them weak and so easily swayed by his truth.
Almost all of them were lost in that place where they were linked. The Watchers, meant to protect them, were blind fools too busy with preparing their bodies that they never bothered to study their collective soul. The demon that was a part of each Slayer lived in all of them, joining them, given to be passed on upon their death.
He just needed one. One weak link at this time of slumber and he could have them all. And she called to him so strongly. Damaged, her mind was already lost in that place that was truly his, Dana, slept with all her fears screaming for completion. He watched her for a moment before slipping into the guise of the one she missed.
“Dana, wake up child,” he called. “It’s your grandmother, come to take care of you.”
~~~~~~~~
It was late and finally everything was done for the night. Things were back in his control as Spike climbed the steps leading to the attic. He felt Buffy before he saw her, the hurt radiated off of her in heavy waves, and his stomach tightened in apprehension. It didn’t take him asking what was wrong. He could detect the scent of her menstrual blood in the air. She didn’t even look up at him as he made his way over to where she was making their bed. Without waiting to be asked he grabbed the sheet to help her tuck it in.
“You okay, pet?”
“Yeah,” Buffy said. She gave him a small smile. “I knew it wasn’t going to happen so quickly, but I was hoping.” She sighed as she grabbed the comforter off the chair.
“It’ll happen,” he reassured her. “Journey is proof of that.”
“I know,” Buffy said, sitting on the bed. She wrapped her arms around her knees. “Now, I’m wondering if we should even try. If the old farts left on the Council find out that Joy has special abilities, they’ll want to do research on her.”
“I’ll kill them first,” Spike promised, sitting beside her. “No one is going to do that to our child…any of them.” He brushed her hair over her shoulder. “You know that there are still other options in place if things get out of hand. We’ll disappear if we have, too.”
“Thank you,” Buffy whispered, turning to him. “I know you’ll always take care of us. I love you so much. You make me feel safe even when I know everything might not be.”
“That’s my job.”
Spike kissed her softly. It was his job, had been since the day he found Buffy living in his crypt. She was his responsibility as was their family was now. It was just the way things were and he accepted it. Nothing would hurt them if he had anything to do with it. He wrapped his hand around hers to tug her down onto the bed when the phone made them both stop.
“Hello,” Buffy said, after picking up the cordless on the nightstand. Spike leaned closer to his wife. It couldn’t be good news with the lateness of the hour.
“Buffy, it’s Faith. You been asleep yet?”
“No, why? What’s going on?”
“Don’t,” Faith said. “And get your asses down here as soon as possible. We’ve all had the same dream.”
“What are you talking about?” Spike asked, unable to keep out of the conversation.
“Every Slayer has had the same dream. A fucking nightmare and things are in chaos down here. Giles has already had Essie send some men up to get Raven and Connor to tell them to get home,” Faith paused. “It’s bad; B, if it’s prophetic then we’re fucked.”
to be continued…
Chapter 42 – You’re My First, My Last, My Everything
The first, the last, my everything
And the answer to all my dreams
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are
I know there's only, only one like you
There's no way they could have made two
You're all I'm living for
Your love I'll keep for evermore
You're the first, your the last, my everything
Barry White
“You okay?” Connor asked, nuzzling Raven’s hair while his hand covered hers that was resting on her stomach. She immediately entwined their fingers together, needing the security his touch brought her.
“Yeah,” Raven replied, snuggling closer to him. “Thank you,” she added, cupping his face with her free hand.
“For?” He asked with a grin.
She was certain he already knew what for; he just wanted to torture her a little bit longer. It was all right though, because he was right. He’d been right all along and she was very happy now that they hadn’t made love before tonight. The intimacy of being alone for almost a week only contributed to how good their first time was. He was her first love, best friend, and now her lover. The way it way should be.
“For being so impatient,” Raven teased. “You know I really wanted to wait until we were married, but you just had to get in my pants now.”
“How crass,” Connor replied, rubbing his nose against hers. “It’s a good thing I love you so much.”
“Not as much as I love you,” she whispered, rolling over on top of him. “You’ve given me the world.”
“Not yet,” he vowed. “But one day I will.”
Connor wrapped his hand around her neck so that he could pull her to him. Their lips met in a sweetness that could only be reached by true understanding between two people. His tongue swept through her mouth with a possessive note that sent shivers racing through her body. No matter what else happened in her life, Raven knew she would never forget this night. It was the pinnacle of their relationship thus far. She didn’t know that anything else could ever surpass the closeness they felt at this moment. He pulled her tighter when they broke apart, and she buried her face against his neck as she let sleep overtake her.
The scenery was familiar. Raven just couldn’t place it until she saw the ‘Welcome to Sunnydale’ sign, just before it toppled over into the biggest crater she’d ever seen. It was gone. Her home, her family, everything she’d come to know and love in the last few years since leaving Lankasha. Grief choked her and she had to turn away. Los Angeles was out there somewhere in the horizon, but her hope was short-lived. A raging fire was quickly approaching her. It was then she knew it was worse than she ever imagined. The world was ending. They had failed in their effort to keep everyone safe.
“Raven, over here,” Connor called out to her from the smoke. She ran toward his voice, taking his hand as he helped her through the back door of a school bus. Inside were a few Slayers, friends she knew and loved, while Giles drove the bus away from the rapidly deteriorating landscape. Pulling her jacket closer around her, she collapsed into a seat, and stared out the window.
“It’s really over, isn’t it?” She asked in a half whisper, not really expecting anyone to answer, but hoping that someone would tell her it was really all right.
“Everything is going to be better,” Connor whispered in her ear as he sat beside her. “All we have to do is give up.”
“No, we can’t,” she cried, turning to look at him. Except it wasn’t him. Not really. Connor was there, yet he shimmered from the evil that he’d accepted into his heart. He hadn’t had enough faith to see them through. “No, Connor, no, please you have to come back to me.”
“Let it go, baby,” he whispered, holding her hand in a vice grip. “He has,” he added with a nod out the window.
Dread flooded her heart at his words. She knew before she looked who he was talking about. The one person she thought she could count on no matter what besides Connor. No matter how much she didn’t want to, there was no way she couldn’t look out the window to see. Tears fell as she looked upon her father, with Dylan behind him on the motorcycle, traveling beside the bus.
“Stop, please stop,” Raven shouted, scrambling over the seat in front of her to get away from Connor. “I want to get off.” She ran down the aisle to the back exit door. The door was locked. “Please, I have to get off the bus.”
“Look,” Giles said, pointing to the other side of the bus. “You’re safer here.”
Raven crawled onto the seat to take a closer look. Her hands covered her face in horror as she saw the Hyperion being overtaken by ubervamps. Like a swarm of cockroaches they crawled through every opening in the building until it was covered in their blackness. The Slayers were hopelessly outnumbered despite their own power. Their screams echoed out into the street. At first loud and strong as they fought back then slowly quieted as they were defeated. The deafening silence was louder than any death knoll ever rung. There was no longer any hope for the human race if the Slayers couldn’t survive against this evil invasion.
“It’s not so bad,” Rona said, sitting beside her and patting her hand. “You’ll see,” she whispered right before she vamped out.
It was then Raven realized the Slayers weren’t murdered. They were all turned into vampires. A legion stronger than any clan before. Made to be rulers. The ultimate victory for evil.
She tried to get away, but it was no use. There were too many and they were too strong for her.
“No, no,” Raven cried. “It’s not supposed to be this way.
“Raven, wake up,” Connor called to her through the thick terror that kept her locked in the nightmare. She whimpered as he started to shake her. “Come on, baby, wake up.”
Gasping she fought her way through the vampires trying to attack her. Somewhere she knew there was a hand to pull her back from this hell. An explosion sounded off in the distance and she screamed as she gave way one last burst of adrenaline to escape. Sitting straight up, she flailed her arms, looking for protection. It was there. Strong arms held her, rocking her, as she rapidly blinked her eyes to make sure the cabin was where she really was.
“Connor, it was so bad,” Raven cried, once she knew he was real. Her arms wrapped around him. “It was so bad. I couldn’t…they won.”
“Not yet, not yet,” he whispered, turning to pull her onto his lap.
Raven started to relax in his arms. Everything was going to be okay. It was just a nightmare. She took a deep breath, turning to Connor when there was a banging on the door. Then she knew. It was really going to happen.
~~~~~~
A scream tore through the house just as Buffy put the phone back on the nightstand. It was Elijah. For a brief moment Spike and she stared at each other before they hurried from the room. Neither spoke as they both ran for the second floor of the house. Both were focused on getting to their son who seemed to be caught in the throes of a nightmare. Spike reached the bedroom first. He sat on the edge of the bed and scooped their cowering child into his arms.
“It was just a nightmare,” Spike cooed, holding Eli on his lap. “It’s all over.”
“No, it’s not,” Elijah argued. “It’s just starting.” He turned from his father to look at his mother. “Mummy, we have to tell him so that he won’t do the wrong thing.”
“Tell me what?” Spike asked in confusion as he looked from her to their son and back again. “What’s going on?”
“It’s nothing,” Buffy tried to reassure him even though she knew it was too late. “Elijah, it’s going to be all right,” she promised, kneeling next to the bed. She brushed her son’s curls away from his face. “Remember we have to have faith.”
“Is it started?” Journey asked in a small voice from the doorway. By her feet was Candy who was staring expectantly from one family member to the other. Her small pink tongue hung from the side of her mouth while her body shook with the force of her tail wagging. It was a stupid thing to be concentrating on, Buffy knew, but otherwise she would be able to hear her world crumbing around her.
“Has what started, Buffy?” Spike demanded. “What the hell is going on?”
“Come here, Joy,” Buffy called, holding her arms out to her daughter. She couldn’t tell Spike everything. All she knew were pieces of what was happening, just like her children did, and like Giles and Wesley were figuring out from the prophecy. One person wasn’t supposed to know everything. It was the way it was meant to be. She waited until Journey was beside her. She pulled the little girl close to her. “We all know something about what is going to be,” she explained, hoping he wouldn’t demand her to spell everything out. “But none of know everything. Elijah probably knows more than any of us.”
“What did he mean by telling me so that I don’t make the wrong choice?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Buffy said. “Please, let it go.”
“Like I did before so that you could endanger my children,” Spike bit out. “Why can’t you trust me?”
“It’s not that…”
“It’s exactly that,” Spike said, with a bitter laugh. “You don’t trust me, but yet I’m supposed to trust you when you play these games with our marriage and our children.”
“Not now,” Buffy retorted, standing with her daughter in her arms. “I’m going to take Joy back to bed.” She bent over to kiss Elijah’s cheek. “I’m sorry, sweetie, just stay strong a little longer, okay? It’s going to be all right.”
“Yes, Mummy,” Elijah said. “I’ll try.”
“I’ll see you upstairs,” Buffy said, glaring at her husband before turning to leave the room. She waited until Candy had followed them back into the hallway before closing the door. It wasn’t Spike’s fault. It was hers, but didn’t he understand that this wasn’t like before? The whole world rested on the choices that he would make and she trusted him not to let them down.
“Mummy, are you and Daddy going to get ‘vorced?” Joy asked, staring into her eyes. “I don’t want Daddy to go away for good. I want him to stay with us.”
“It’s going to be all right,” Buffy said. “He’ll never leave you. I promise.”
~~~~~~
Spike was infuriated. Buffy had made decisions, supposedly with his best interests at heart when in fact they were self-serving. He was tired of it. All he wanted to do was love his wife with complete honesty between them. Yet the lies never ended, no matter how hard he tried to make it work between them.
“Don’t be mad, Daddy,” Elijah said. “I shouldn’t have said anything, but I’m scared.”
“I know you are,” Spike said. “And Mummy shouldn’t encourage you to keep secrets from me.”
“It wasn’t just her,” Elijah said, with a shake of his head. “I knew before she did, and so did Raven, we weren’t supposed to tell.”
“Why weren’t you supposed to tell?” Spike asked. “Who told you not to say anything?”
“Him,” Elijah replied, turning to look out the window. “He’s there all the time, watching and waiting.” The little boy turned to stare at his hands. “Angels too. We can only know little pieces so we can do our part when the time comes.”
“If you tell me everything I can make him go away,” Spike said.
“He’ll never go away, Daddy. He’s The First, the first angel, the first cast out of heaven, and the first to rule on earth.”
“How do you know?” Spike asked, frightened of the answer he knew was coming. He’d always known the truth about his son. How special Elijah truly was in the scheme of things. Sometimes his own child made him nervous with the power that radiated from him. A once evil demon in the presence of such remarkable goodness was enough to drive him to his knees like he did when he was once a boy himself.
“Because he is always here,” Elijah said, turning serene gray eyes to his father.
It was there that Spike saw his own soul and the reflection of his sins. Yet he also saw the faith his child placed in him. It was humbling in a way that nothing else ever was. And for the first time he truly understood Buffy’s conviction to protect Dawn over the fate of the world when they fought Glory. He would do the same for his own children.
“And so am I,” Spike promised.
to be continued…
Chapter 43 – The Chain
Listen to the wind blow
Watch the sun rise
Run in the shadows
Damn your love
Damn your lies
And if
You don’t love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain
Fleetwood Mac
Shadows danced across the walls in a rhythmic pattern that followed the music of beeping machines and the shallows gasps of air keeping Cordelia alive. Angel stared almost unblinking at the flashes on the wall behind her. He couldn’t look at her without his heart shattering. If the PTB wanted to punish him for the years of evil that he’d done, they couldn’t have chosen anything more tortuous than this death watch for his wife.
Only yesterday she’d been in his arms. Sharing their love for each other, and saying soft words to each other in a language that no one else would understand. It was a memory he hoped he would never lose. Precious was the only word that came to mind now when he thought of it. Just like she was. How was he going to continue without her? He knew he didn’t want to.
Angel, always alert to every sound, every movement of her body, felt her returning to wakefulness and quickly moved to her side. “Cordy?”
“Angel,” Cordy managed to whisper between lips so dry that they were bleeding. “Water.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for the cup on the table. He soaked the sponge stick with water before holding it to her lips. A second passed as they stared at each other then his hand shook, and her eyes closed as he swabbed the inside of her mouth. She swallowed convulsively as he tried to relieve the thirst that was holding her hostage.
“Any better?” He asked, even though he knew it didn’t really. Not where she was now. Only death would bring her blessed relief now. He caressed her brow before letting his fingers drift across the sunken plain of her cheek.
“Yes,” Cordy said, barely managing a smile. “I love you, Angel.”
“Love you, too, baby,” he whispered, kissing her cheek. “What am I going to do without you?”
“There will be someone else for you.”
“No, never,” Angel vowed, even though there was a whisper in his heart that told him differently. It was a lie. It had to be he decided as he pushed the thought away. He would be alone.
“Someday,” she whispered. “Be open to what life will bring you.”
Bending his head, he buried it against her stomach, his hands wrapped around hers. Somehow she managed to squeeze his hands as sobs tore through him. It wasn’t time. He wasn’t ready.
“Listen to me,” She commanded, then waited until he pulled himself together. He didn’t bother to wipe away the tears from his face. Instead he concentrated every fiber of his being on Cordelia. “You have to believe…take care of them. They’ll need you…what you can teach them. Promise.”
They didn’t matter to him. Not really. Even though he knew they should. The young Slayers that carried on the mission were so vulnerable yet so eager to eradicate the evil of the world. They had no clue what they up against, that chances for victory were fleetingly slim. They were only disposable pawns in a game created eons ago by men who were too afraid to fight. Hopefully, his plan would succeed and he would help to even the odds a bit. Eradicate the Black Thorn, weaken the Senior Partner’s power, and maybe give the girls a chance to brighten the planet for a brief while.
He just hoped he wouldn’t make it through. A blaze of glory and it would be the end of him. Maybe he would be given the chance to be with Cordelia again, if not then all he wanted was to simply not exist anymore. Despite what she said his future would hold and his heart told him, he didn’t want it. Not without her beside him.
“Angel, it’s too important,” Cordelia said. “You have to promise me.”
“I promise,” he lied, kissing the back of her hand that was still joined with his.
Her eyes fluttered closed as exhaustion seemed to overwhelm her. Angel started to lean back, to return to his waiting when she turned to look at him again. There was fierceness to her stare that terrified him. Her breathing sped up as she held a hand out to him.
“It’s started,” she managed to force out before collapsing back into unconsciousness.
He froze as he waited for a heartbeat or another gasp of air to tell him that she was still alive. She was. Her heartbeat was faint and her breathing was shallow, but they were there. Angel relaxed as relief flooded his system. The nurse came bustling back into room to check Cordy’s vitals. Angel moved to the end of the bed, praying that Cordy was going to hang on just awhile longer. Without her strength, he didn’t know if he could do what he had to do.
“The poor thing wore herself out,” the nurse whispered, fixing the blankets around Cordelia. Reassuring them both that she was as comfortable as possible.
“She’s not in pain, is she?” Angel asked, turning to look at the IV drip that kept a steady stream of morphine going into her system.
“No, she’s not,” the nurse said. “If you’d like, I’ll sit with her a bit. Let you walk around, get some air.” She held a hand up. “I’ll call the moment something changes.”
“Thanks,” Angel said, nodding. “I’ll be back.”
Without thought he moved through the house toward the kitchen. He needed nourishment. Angelus was drumming his hunger through him. Not only for blood but to take out his frustrations, taunting him to succumb to their basic need to kill, to feed and to create pain. It was harder each day to hold onto his sanity, to his mission when evil was beckoning to him so sweetly. It was only the beauty of Cordelia’s face filled with love for him that kept the demon caged within him.
He didn’t even bother to heat up or even pour the thick, rich fluid into a glass. Instead he gulped it down in exaggerated swallows that quenched his hunger with ease. It hummed through his body, awakening his senses, reminding him that he still existed. And within that existence still needed this nourishment, sleep, his family and love. No matter how much he didn’t want it.
The phone rang and he reached for it without thought or reason. “Hello,” he said, putting down the carafe and wiping his mouth with his free hand.
“Dad,” Connor said. “Are you on your way to the Hyperion?”
“What’s going on?”
“The Slayers have all had the same dream,” Connor said. “Giles is saying it’s the First using the connection between them to try and bring them down.”
“Shit,” Angel mumbled. His hand went to his hip as he turned to stare out at the ocean crashing on the shore. Cordelia had known that the battles were coming. He would need to push his plan through soon. Otherwise he would be of no use in this fight. “Where are you?”
“Raven and I are on our way,” Connor explained. “Giles sent the helicopter for us and we just landed at Wolfram and Hart.”
“I’m on my way,” Angel replied, hanging up the phone. He headed for the front of the house. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number for Gunn.
It was time to set up the final meeting with the Black Thorn.
~~~~~
Dana knew the man with the glasses wasn’t the one. He had a heartbeat. The ones who hurt didn’t have one, no sound, no breathe came from their bodies. Those were the ones Slayers were supposed to kill. Heart and head. Then she’d be free. No more pain to wrap around her heart taking away her life slowly.
She crouched in the corner watching the others like her as they tried to get over the nightmare. They were weak. Had no clue what real pain was. She shook her head at them. They couldn’t handle what was coming. She could.
Heart and head. Then she could go home.
“They’ll be here soon,” her grandmother whispered to her. “Be prepared, child. You have to make them pay for the murders of your family. The vampires must be destroyed.”
“Yes,” Dana murmured, patting her leg to make sure the stake was still there. It was. “It doesn’t hurt if you hold still.”
Her eyes were glued to the door, waiting for the monsters that had fooled everyone. They didn’t fool her. She would destroy them and free them all.
~~~~~
The sound of the floorboards creaking in the attic was plainly heard in Joy’s room. Spike was pacing while he waited for her. The knowledge only irritated Buffy. She knew there was going to be an argument. Something she couldn’t really deal with or even want to while everything was falling apart. Sometimes he could be such a man and that pissed her off. She needed her partner, her hero, and he wanted to get fucking petty.
“Night, mummy,” Joy whispered, already half asleep.
“Night, baby,” Buffy said, pulling a smile from somewhere inside to comfort her daughter. She kissed the little girl on the cheek, tucked the blankets a little tighter around her then she slipped from the room.
At the bottom of the stairs leading to the attic, she took a deep breath, reassured herself that she’d done the only thing she could before taking the steps at a jog. Ignoring Spike’s indignant halting of his pacing and immediate switch to his predatory stance, Buffy headed for the closet. Already, mentally, she was packing the things she would need in Los Angeles.
“Are you going to say anything?” Spike asked.
“Nope,” Buffy said, suddenly tired of it. “You’ve already made up your mind that I don’t trust you, that I’m a manipulative bitch, and once again you are the injured person, so keep believing it if you want. I’m not fighting with you.”
“Oh, just throw it all back on me,” Spike sputtered, walking over to the bed where she had the suitcase opened. “Make it my fault because you can’t tell me everything.”
“You don’t need to know everything,” Buffy said, grabbing jeans from the dresser. “I trusted you enough to do the right thing when it was needed instead of telling you everything and trying to force our hand.”
“Buffy,” he grabbed her arm to hold her still for a moment. “What the bloody hell is going on?”
“It’s the fucking end of the world again,” Buffy said, wrenching away. “What did you think was going on? I just wanted to let you go out and play around with that little whore who’s hot on your ass.”
“Leave Dylan out of this,” Spike snapped. His demon flickering as he fought for control of his emotions. “This is between you and me.”
“And so is he,” Buffy said, zipping up the suitcase. She picked it up off the bed before turning to look her husband in the eye. “I’m here, I love you, and I’d die for you. Would you do the same for me?”
“Already made that choice, babe, or have you forgotten?”
“I haven’t forgotten a damn thing,” Buffy retorted. “I’m heading for Los Angeles. Bring the kids with you in the morning,” she sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I’ll feel better if they are there instead of here.”
“So, that’s it?” Spike asked. His tone was bitter and angry. He was still itching for a fight for some reason. “You make all the decisions while I just follow the great Buffy.”
Buffy sighed, throwing her head back as she tried to contain herself. It wasn’t the time or place, but then something snapped as she realized that maybe he was trying to find a reason to make trouble for them. If she walked away then he’d be free to pursue Dylan. She dropped her suitcase on the floor before turning to walk back to him. Ten years of frustration and wondering exploded out of her as she stood toe to toe with him.
“You fucking whoring bastard,” Buffy snarled. “Don’t force this on me. If you want to be with that piece of trash then go fuck him. Fuck him all you want but if you do, I’ll never touch you again. You’ll never see your kids again, and you’ll never step in this house again.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll be the vindictive bitch you say I am and I’ll dog you every step of the way for the rest of your miserable life. Because you’ll never get it as good as it is right now.”
Spike leaned toward her. His hands curling into fists as his eyes flashed with anger. “Damn your hide, bitch.” His head tilted as he seemed to want to kiss her, but instead his own angry words came pouring out. “You never wanted me. I was second choice if I remember right. No one else could put up with you except me, so you figured it was me or no one. Isn’t that right?”
“Go to hell,” Buffy spit out. “You’re the one who can’t keep it in his pants.”
“At least I didn’t let someone else into my head and take off with your kids.”
“God, I hate you,” Buffy said, a sob choking her. “You’ll just never let it be. You get scared and you have to run.” She waved a hand around. “You have to do this to us. Why? I can’t…not anymore.”
Ignoring anything else he might have to say, she grabbed her suitcase and ran. Down the stairs, heading for the front door and sweet freedom as fast as she could. Laughter echoed inside her head, mocking her for never being enough to hold onto a man. They all left sooner or later and the metaphorical jeering began to build in crescendo sounding almost as loud as the sound of her marriage ripping apart.
to be continued…
Chapter 44 – All These Things That I’ve Done
When there's nowhere else
to run
Is there room for one more son
If you can hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection,
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
The Killers
Buffy clicked off her cell phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat. Her action was accentuated with a long sigh and without realizing it, she rubbed her fingers over her forehead in a gesture of frustration. Her life was complicated enough without having to deal with the evil of the world. But yet she had to. It was demanding her attention whether she wanted it to or not.
The shared nightmare brought on by the First was just detailed to her by Raven. Evil was giving its war cry as it advanced on what it perceived as their weak link. The Slayers, too young and too inexperienced, made easy targets for its malicious claws. Yet, she admitted to herself with a laugh that the First didn’t need to come to her or Spike because they were fucking things up very well without his help.
And all of it combined, the prophecy, the Slayers, Spike, Dylan, her children and her own fears were fighting for attention within her mind. She wanted to throw a tantrum and indulge in a huge bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. It wouldn’t happen though. Any self-pity would have to wait as she did her duty once again.
Grateful that that long drive was over, Buffy pulled into a parking spot across from the Hyperion. It didn’t take her long to grab her overnight bag, lock up the minivan and dash across the street. As soon as she stepped onto the sidewalk leading into the hotel, an ominous feeling washed over her that made her gasp. It reminded her of waking up in her coffin on that night long ago. Dizzy with confusion, fear, and hopelessness she stopped while she tried to regain her equilibrium. Tears hovered on her lashes as she fought back the terror that was threatening to paralyze her. It took her a few minutes but finally she pushed it aside as she concentrated on the closest thing to heaven she’d found on earth; her children.
“The Slayers have been bad little girls,” Buffy muttered, staring up at the outside of the Hyperion. “They need to be taken to task for being so weak.”
The old building once cleared of evil spirits was once again crawling with a malevolence that made it shimmer against the night sky. She could swear she heard the First laughing at its easy conquest of the Slayers. It seemed that Raven’s nightmare was coming true after all. The hotel might not be filled with ubervamps, but it was bulging at the seams with something worse. An invitation by the girls to allow doubt and fear into their lives. It was all the First needed to invade their thoughts.
“Yeah, you may have won this battle, but I plan on winning this war,” Buffy stated out loud, knowing that he would be listening. She took a deep breath because it was time for the General to return. There was no room for her personal problems or desires. Tossing her head, she strode through the front doors and straight into the crowded lobby.
The girls were all gathered there along with their dorm leaders. Not stopping she continued toward Giles’s office where she could hear voices. They were all gathered there instead of doing anything so that the Slayers could regain their power. Angel stood to the side with a lost expression on his normally stoic face, Wesley and Giles were pouring over a text on the desk while Faith and Max waited patiently in chairs on the opposite side of it. Angel met her eyes; she gave him a quick reassuring smile then cleared her throat to gain everyone else’s attention.
“Buffy, thank god you’re here,” Giles exclaimed. “The girls are all scared out of their minds. Never before have they been assaulted as a collective whole.”
“They should be,” Buffy replied, looking around the room at the others. “If the First isn’t stopped they could all be rendered useless in any battle we need to wage. Have you figured anything out yet? What have you told them so far?”
“We’re trying to decipher the meaning of the dream first,” Wesley explained. “Circumstances dictate that we comprehend what we are dealing with before we take any form of action.”
Buffy snorted. Maybe if they would just open their eyes instead of retreating to their musty books someone would realize what was happening under their very noses. Rolling her eyes, she didn’t say another word; instead she turned to head back into the lobby. She could feel and hear the others scurrying to follow her.
The Slayers were still mulling around, or talking while they waited for someone else to handle their problem for them. Anything so they could go back to sleep without fear. She stuck her fingers in her mouth and gave a loud, long whistle. It had the proper effect. Everyone turned to look at her.
“Okay, everybody,” Buffy commanded, climbing up on top of a chair so she could see everyone. “From what I’ve been told, you’ve all had the same dream, right?”
There were murmurs, nods and other signs of agreement in response. There was fear in a lot of the girl’s eyes but there were a few that were staring back at her in defiance. Buffy met their eyes then turned her eyes outward to so no one would feel left out.
“I spoke to Raven on my trip down here,” Buffy continued. “Some of you may already know that she had the same dream as you and Faith. In it the ubervamps took over the hotel and turned all the Slayers. In her dream there were also some personal things concerning Connor and her father. So I’m going to assume that each of your dreams were also tailored to your own personal fears.” She paused, trying to decide how to tell them that what they most feared was already true. There didn’t seem to be any other way to say it except the direct way. “The first part of your dream has already come true. Not in exactly the same way, but metaphorically. I felt it when I got near the Hyperion. This place has already become a playground for the First because of your own doubts and fears. It’s what he feeds off of and you’re serving it to him on a silver platter.”
“What kind of bullshit is
that?” Rona retorted, working her way nearer to Buffy. “There isn’t any kind of
evil in this place. You’re just telling us that to try to make us behave the way
you want.”
“Rona, I don’t believe Buffy would do that,” Giles responded, stepping forward. “This is far too important to being playing any kind of games.”
“Oh, come on,” Kennedy shouted. “Raven goes and gets into trouble so we all get punished. Now, you’re trying to scare us into being the good little Slayers you want us to be.”
“Thank you, Giles,” Buffy said, trying to let him know that she would handle this. It wouldn’t do for the Slayers to mistrust all of their authority figures. Besides she was used to taking the heat when it came to giving orders. “You have two choices, you can either think I’m trying to control you or you can believe me. The First will feed off your insecurities, and anger. It’s all he needs to get a foothold inside your mind. Once there he’ll play with you until he gets what he wants.”
There was rustled murmurings amongst the girls as they discussed what Buffy had told them. The room bristled with their energy as it surged over her Slayer soul. There was a negativity among them that was overpowering the positive. It wasn’t going to be easy to turn the negative tide back. They were young and memories of the last battle with the First was fading from their minds. The more recently recruited Slayers had no first hand knowledge of the First or of dealing with an apopclypse. Buffy just hoped that there would be time to get them back into line.
The sudden silence among the nearly two hundred young women snapped Buffy back to attention. They were parting to allow Rona and Kennedy through. Knowing there was going to be a confrontation, Buffy hopped off the chair to meet them on their level. She felt someone joining her and was relieved when she realized it was Faith. The two of them being in sync would help them maintain control.
“What have you decided?” Buffy said, folding her arms across her middle.
“Where is this evil if its here?” Rona demanded. “Why can’t we see it?”
“Because you’ve blinded yourself with arrogance that you know more than the people who are trying to protect and teach you,” Buffy replied. “And with the doubts you’re having about who you are and what you are born to do.”
“Buffy,” Molly said, quietly. She looked around for reassurance before continuing. “What if we’re not sure we want to be Slayers?”
“You’re a Slayer,” Faith said, stepping forward. “Nothing will change that…”
“Yeah, thanks to Miss Queen Bee deciding for all of us,” Kennedy threw in. “It’s not like we were asked before we got our powers.” She looked behind her for support which she seemed to be getting. “So, why do we have to do things your way?”
“Because she’s been through it,” Angel answered. “She’s done what needed to be done, made the sacrifices and is still standing here. If anyone can get you through what’s coming or what’s already here, it would be her.”
Pride filled Buffy at Angel’s support. Usually it was Spike who gave her that kind of reinforcement but he was still at home in Sunnydale. Her chin lifted a few degrees as she stared back at Rona.
“I can’t force you to fight,” Buffy said. “But if you walk away from what you are then it’s another step forward for not only the First but for all kinds of evil. Is that what you want?”
“I don’t want to die,” Amanda said, looking down at her feet. “I’m only seventeen.”
“I know. I said that once and I was only sixteen,” Buffy told the young woman softly. “I still don’t want to die, but the possibility is part of the calling.”
Amanda nodded, looking up briefly to meet Buffy’s eyes. It seemed that she understood what Buffy was trying to tell her. The few Slayers with confrontational personalities proved to be predictable with their reactions. She tensed as she waited for the next round of accusations. It was inevitable, but she wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen.
Rona raised her hand as if she were about to strike Buffy. Without thinking Buffy stepped back and raised her hands to defend herself when Faith jumped between her and Rona.
“Don’t…you’ll hurt the ba...,” Faith started but stopped in mid-word. A stunned look crossed her face; she turned to look back at Buffy who could only stand there with her hand on her abdomen, frozen in shock.
to be continued…