What Is To Be

-Twenty-First-

By Annie

2003-10-30

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤

Forte Incorporated's headquarter building shot up out of the asphalt of downtown Los Angeles as though it had manifested itself through some wonder of nature; bringing together steel and wire, bolts and mirrored glass as if wanting to create the eighth world wonder. It stretched nearly ninety stories into the sky and was one of the top ten highest structures in the world. It was also one of the more beautiful ones as the architect had used not only his sense of space and mathematics as he drew up the blue prints, but also his love of timeless attributes which had lived through the ages ever since the first brick was placed upon the second.

Magnificent the building glittered in the sunlight reflected off of thousands of windows and Buffy kept herself from gaping only by her own willpower.

The lobby was large and friendly. More like that of a hotel than that of a major international cooperation. It went in a lush peach color and the deep leather armchairs and sofas were colored a darkening burgundy. Low chatter of the people inhabiting them was mixed with soft tunes of music. Classical.

At a large wooden counter to the left of the entrance stood a pretty, middle-aged woman and when the three visitors entered she raised her head; a pleasant smile taking its rightful place on her mouth as she greeted them.

"How may I help you?" she asked politely and Buffy returned her smile before she replied:

"We have an appointment with Mr. Forte."

"Okay..." the woman said, looking down onto what obviously was a list and then she turned her eyes on the blonde again as she asked: "Half past ten?" Buffy nodded. The woman smiled warmly once again and then pointed to her left, making the other three take notice of the four old-fashioned elevators located there. "Take the one furthest to the right up to the ninety-first floor," she said and Buffy thanked her before she headed toward the coppery doors of the contraption.

It had an outer door of metal bars which she had to grab and pull aside before they could step into the actual elevator. She couldn't help but feel skeptical.

"Are we gonna go up ninety stories in THIS?" she grumbled to Spike as he stepped in after her.

He smirked and she rolled her eyes at him.

Angel followed them and he let the outer door slide back in place, gazing out into the lobby through the bars and feeling just a bit insecure himself.

"It seems a bit..." he began and then his eyes fell on the single button to indicate which floor they wanted to go to. "Wasn't there ninety-one floors?" he asked and Buffy looked where he was, then raised her eyebrows before she replied:

"That button IS for the ninety-first floor."

"Where are all the rest of them?" Angel muttered, feeling how the unease he had first suffered now began to find a path to intensity within him.

"Maybe Forte doesn't want us to stray from the course," Spike offered. "Perhaps he's scared we'll take a personal sight-seeing of his grand empire."

"I have a feeling Gary Forte isn't scared of anything," Buffy stated, trying to keep the flutters she was feeling somewhere not far from her gut at bay as she took a small step forward and reached out her index finger to press the button.

She hesitated for one more second, and then she let her index finger grace it.

It lighted up when she touched it and for a moment nothing seemed to be happening. Then two brass doors slipped shut before them, blocking out the lobby right before there was the sense of quickly moving upwards.

"That wasn't so bad," Buffy said with a small smile.

"It's not done yet," Angel gritted and Buffy's smile widened slightly.

"YOU'RE not scared, are you, Angie?" she asked and he gave her a dark look which had her stifle a giggle before she turned her eyes in Spike's.

He smiled as well, then moved one hand into hers and she squeezed his.

There was the very slight notion of slowing down and then the doors opened again, the outer door this time being pulled back by the hand of someone they couldn't see - as the someone took a step to stand to the right of the elevator. They looked at each other, then proceeded forward cautiously. Turning their heads to the mystery man they saw that it obviously was an employee of Forte's. He was wearing a dark-green outfit so typical of what bell-boys used to be decked out in, that it seemed impossible that he was anything BUT an employee.

"Thank you," Buffy said and he gave a quick nod before letting the handle of the door go, having it slide shut before the other doors closed as well.

There, it seemed, went their only means of escape.

The hallway which they were in was not longer than five or six yards, but it was just as wide and on the walls to both their left and their right hung incredibly beautiful artwork. Buffy didn't have much of the artsy personality, but even she recognized some of the paintings; and she had the feeling that who they were dealing with being a man of real power strengthen further within her.

At the end of the hall was two high, oak doors; both looking as though they literally weighed a ton. Buffy tilted her head back to have a better look at the incredible craftsmanship which had carved a pretty pattern to frame the different settings of the doors.

Then they were both suddenly opened and before them appeared none other than the man himself, wearing a sunny smile and looking from one to the next before he said:

"You look as though you weren't expecting to see ME here."

Buffy felt a little foolish and so she immediately returned his smile as she shook her head a little.

"Our apologies," she replied. "You've just made it so that there's a lot to take in, merely from the ride up here," she added and he smiled.

"Yes, how did you like my elevator? I had it specially designed, of course. On paper - this floor doesn't even exist. Actually... to everyone who does not have any need to know of it - it really doesn't," he answered and she furrowed her brow slightly, which had him laughing before making a gesture for them to step passed him and into his office.

However, it wasn't an office. Not of the likes Buffy had ever seen, anyway.

It was as large as one entire floor of the building. No walls to create any sort of rooms, simply an incredibly vast landscape of gentle white tones, as it was the only color in any of the furniture. They looked very comfortable and much too inviting; groups of armchairs and sofas stood placed about the room and the light of day flooded half of it as the only walls were made of the mirrored glass windows making up the façade of Forte Incorporated. The floor was softened by a thick white carpet.

"Would you like anything to drink? Coffee, tea, water... a cup of blood, perhaps?" Forte now asked, the last being directed at Angel who shook his head no.

Buffy took a step forward, her eyes going to where she was putting her feet and she halted, staring at what was depicted in the fabric of the carpet before her.

There was a silvery diamond as backdrop, and in front of it was a large, black bird about to spread its wings.

"It is a Seonix," Forte said right next to her and she blinked, unable to look away from the animal. "Distant relative of the Phoenix. Where the Phoenix is golden, the Seonix is black as night. Where the Phoenix dies and rises again in a never ending cycle, the Seonix struggles for all eternity to reach the evening sky and the last star which lights it... You may think it a sad story," he added and she turned her gaze in his, a gentle smile now on his lips as he finished: "but really, should the Seonix ever reach that star, then he would of course die."

"Why?" she wondered and his smile broadened ever so slightly.

"Because what would he have to live for if the meaning of his quest was to be fulfilled? We all battle every day, Ms. Summers, in a world which is ripe with deceit and greed. Truly you can see if the stars which keep us struggling were to ever be fully reached, we would have nothing left to fight for?"

She thought about this for a moment and then she merely gave him a small smile back.

"That is why the Seonix is the crest of my life's work. To remind me," he now stated.

Buffy nodded, turning her head to Angel and Spike who had both begun to wander off into the white jungle of the room; Angel naturally keeping to the shadowed part of it.

'Look out for the big, black bird.'

'It's watching you.'

Spike's voice clear in her mind and she followed Forte with her eyes as he walked in the steps of Angel, going up to one of the large windows to have a look at the breathtaking view of the city below and beyond. She knew she needed to be on alert, no matter how friendly the man... demon... may seem.

She joined Spike as he sauntered around amongst the furniture. Every group was of a new style; though all of them went in ivory, cream and pearl.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Buffy asked and Spike smiled his agreement.

"Quite the opposite to his flat," he then remarked and she nodded.

"Well, he IS a Changer... maybe with that there comes a hint of being schizo? Every new personality craves its own space," she murmured and Spike smirked.

"Do you have any idea of what you're gonna ask him?" he then wondered and she was about to answer him when Forte and Angel joined them.

"Shall we?" Forte asked, holding a hand out to the group of extravagant seventeenth century furniture to which they were standing closest.

They all had a seat; Angel on one of the chairs, forte in an odd armchair and Buffy and Spike beside each other on the sofa.

"Now, what is it that I can do for you?" Forte asked and it was in that moment that Buffy understood that neither Angel nor Spike would take the lead on this, that it was her show completely; and she really didn't know what to say next.

"I think you know," she finally stated, collecting herself as she met the gaze of Forte.

He didn't respond at first, merely eyed her for a few long moments. His smile had been replaced by cool professionalism and an almost sharp self- assurance. He was truly a handsome man, fitting but too well with the atmosphere of success and intelligence which surrounded him.

"You have questions," he finally replied matter-of-factly and she didn't move one muscle in her face as she observed him back. "Why don't you ask them, Ms. Summers?"

"Because I'm not convinced I should just yet," she replied without any hesitation and a smile placed itself on his mouth again.

"'Khalom tikit davar, athom dirit maray'," he said. "It's an old saying," he explained at the questioning looks he was receiving. "Roughly it translates 'Those who show no fear shall prosper in the garden of danger'."

"Which is supposed to mean...?" she asked and Forte smiled a little wider.

"A garden of nothing but danger bears not only fruit of nectar but also fruit of poison, wouldn't you say? What's important is to have the knowledge of which is which."

"Or the guts to follow your intuition," Buffy cut in and Forte nodded to that.

"For certain... I believe you possess both," he commented and she raised her eyebrows slightly. "You entered the study of my flat two nights ago... in search of something which you couldn't take with you."

Buffy stared at him. He was speaking of the bottle, she knew he was. She could either be honest with him, or lie to him and hope he didn't see right through it. She didn't want to risk the latter, though the former option seemed just as unsettling. Being honest with a being whose intentions she had not even the slightest clue of wasn't exactly something that appealed to her.

"We didn't know of the item that you're talking about until yesterday," she now stated, feeling like there really was no turning back and so she continued: "We heard that you have a love for what's to come in the future... Prophecies seem to be a slight hobby of yours."

"I have read a few," he agreed and she gave a trying smile at that before she said:

"You also own a few. We came here looking for..." Angel cleared his throat and stopped her mid-sentence, giving her a questioning look saying are-you- really-going-this-far? She gave him a meaningful look back and then she finished: "We have a problem. A prophecy which is torn in two... We came here looking for the completing part."

Forte cocked an eyebrow.

"And what item was I talking of?" he inquired, making her pause as she suddenly felt insecure.

"Well, I thought..." she began, then shook her head. "Never mind. What I wanted to ask you, Mr. Forte..."

"Gary, please," he interrupted.

"Gary," she repeated his request. "What I wanted to ask you was if you have any idea where the second part could be?"

Forte leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he grew thoughtful.

"This prophecy... It isn't the Coming, is it?"

Buffy turned her head to Angel, who looked slightly stunned.

"Well, we have our... suspicions," he then answered the question and Forte's eyes grew round.

"Are you positive?" he wondered.

"There's no way of telling without the second part," Angel lied coolly. "And it's gone missing."

"If it IS the Coming you are dealing with, then that second part has been missing for hundreds of years. There's no telling of where it may be," Forte stated.

"So you have no idea?" Buffy asked, glancing at Angel who looked calmer than a rock.

"No," Forte replied.

"Oh," she said.

Forte watched her face for a few moments and then he stood.

"I'm sorry I could be of no more help," he apologized. "But I am a man with a rather tight schedule and I'm afraid it beckons me now. So, it was nice seeing you all again and I hope you find what you seek."

Buffy rose as well, and not late to follow her movement were the other two. When she reached out to shake Forte's hand she felt compelled to say:

"There was something else." They let go and he looked as though awaiting her continuance on the statement. She swallowed. "We have a... friend. She's not well. You may have the antidote to her... disease."

Forte cocked an eyebrow to that.

"Disease?" he then wondered.

"She's possessed."

"Possessed?" he repeated thoughtfully, his eyes wandering to Angel for a moment and then they were back in Buffy's as he added: "I practice no form of exorcism, I doubt I would have the antidote..."

"It's in the form of a bottle," Buffy interrupted. "And... Well, I know you have it. I saw it among your collectables in the study."

"'Collectables'?" Forte now laughed. "What a delightful choice of words."

Buffy smiled, not able to hide the irony in her voice as she answered:

"Glad you like it."

Forte returned her smile, and even though his was a touch warmer she didn't appreciate the appraising look that came with it.

"I have a few bottles in my 'collection'," he then admonished. "Rare treasures of which I am tremendously fond."

"She will die," Spike spoke up and Forte turned his eyes on him with a slight cocking of one eyebrow.

"Death is a natural part of life," the demon then replied and Spike frowned dislikingly.

"Please," Buffy said, having Forte's gaze back in hers. "You're her last hope. She's described the bottle to us, I've seen it at your flat... Please, help us."

Forte observed her for a long moment.

"I get the feeling, Ms. Summers, that you're not used to asking politely... There's a small strain at the back of your vocal cords which points to a need of self-control... If you lost it, what would you do, I wonder? Break down my door in search of what you're so inclined to beg for? Take down my guards one by one, override security, kick me over the head and then simply take what it is you need - IF I don't comply, of course?" Buffy stared at him and his face slowly split into a knowing smile. "That is precisely what you would do, isn't it? That is the extent of how far you will go for another. For someone in need. For someone not as strong as you. Well, I applaud that. However, I smell violence running through your veins. Some warped need of destruction in the name of doing good. Killing is part of you, isn't it? Murders, slaughters... Your hands covered in blood..."

As Buffy's arm moved to deliver the blow, his hand caught it, stopping it mid-strike and she clenched her jaws together. She hadn't even realized she was feeling an itch to hit him.

"Yes," Forte nodded, lowering her arm. "But all of it is the blood of evil. Never that of the innocent. You are the protector... This is what makes me trust you. And this is why I'll help you."

***

Twenty minutes later they entered Forte's study. He didn't hesitate for a second as he strode up to the curtain covered glass which held the bottle Buffy kept referring to. Bringing the curtain aside and placing it behind a wooden hook he proceeded to bring out a set of keys. The locks were barely visible in the wood to the right of the glass.

Angel, Spike and Buffy formed a semicircle behind him, watching him work with hands used to the task. Buffy felt her heart take a small leap as she fixed her gaze on the bottle. Forte twisted the key in the last lock and was about to open the glass door when he stopped himself and turned his head to the other three.

"I am going to need this back," he said with a small smile and the others returned it in the same fashion, Buffy nodding her acknowledgement.

He opened the door, mumbling a few words which had Angel and Buffy exchange a look - there had been more than mere electricity guarding Forte's more prized possessions after all. Then the latter reached in and brought the small bottle out of its safekeeping.

He held it up, clearly admiring it, before he turned to Buffy.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked and she glanced at the bottle, her gaze getting caught in the way light gently seemed to stroke along its etchings.

"Yes," she mumbled and Forte reached out his hands to her.

She blinked herself out of the momentary hypnosis and then took the bottle carefully, clasping it in a tight grip as she felt a wash of relief come over her.

"Thank you," she said and Forte nodded, smiling again.

"I want something in return," he then stated and Buffy raised her eyebrows a little, some of the anxiousness willingly pouring itself back into her spine.

"Naturally," Angel was the one to reply and Forte smirked.

"I want to read the prophecy you're dealing with. It seems utterly... fascinating. Was it to be the Coming I could assure you it is the one item for which I have searched my entire existence... I would so very much like to have a look at it," he finished and Angel looked at Spike, who gave a small shrug as conscent.

"Here," Angel said, taking out a card and handing it to the other. "Come here tomorrow, around noon. We'll show you what we have found so far."

Forte looked at the card, then up at the vampire.

"'Investigations'? Are you a private detective?" Angel gave a look which confirmed the answer to be positive and Forte smiled. "Aren't we the LXG?"

Buffy smirked at that, and then Forte escorted them back down the stairs, showing them to the front door.

"We'll see you tomorrow then?" Buffy asked.

"Tomorrow," Forte agreed.

They said their good-byes and the three headed for the elevator. Buffy pressed the button and they all tilted their heads slightly back to watch the number of the floor on which it currently was. It seemed to be approaching quickly enough. After a few seconds of silence Spike muttered:

"Too easy."

"Hush," Buffy merely replied; slipping the hand not holding their borrowing into his.

The elevator arrived with a lacking of sound as the doors effortlessly slid open and the three stepped inside. Buffy once again being the one to push the button and the doors slid shut with as little noise as before. The descent began with a soft jerk.

"I'm only saying there's something about that man that gives me the willies," Spike now stated.

"We have what we came for, let's just leave it at that for the time being. I'm sure we'll have to deal with that other stuff tomorrow, anyways," Buffy replied, looking up at him and having a sudden smile on her face before she stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek.

"What now?" he asked, though a smile was placing itself on his lips as well.

"You're adorable when you worry, know that?" she asked back and he laughed softly.

"I thought you wanted me all a pillar-of-strength-and-power," he shot and her smile widened.

"You're always my pillar-of-strength, honey," she assured, then had a naughty glint in her eyes as she added: "And you're sexy as hell when you bring on that power."

"Vampire still on the premises," Angel murmured casually. "The very tight, enclosed premises."

Buffy and Spike both smirked, turning to him.

"Sorry," they then apologized in unison and he had to return their rather sheepish smiles.

***

Cordelia's coughs reached the vamp's sensitive ears the moment they stepped inside the Hyperion and he looked up the stairs before turning to Buffy, about to explain where he was going and seeing that she had heard it too. She gave a nod and he turned, going up the stairs and continuing down the hallway to Cordelia's room.

The door was open and he stepped inside without bothering to knock.

"Cordy," he mumbled at the sight of her curled up form lying on her bed, countless blankets wrapped around her and white, fluffy, scrunged-up paper towels in a sea about her.

"Angel," she sniffled. "You shouldn't come near me, you'll catch your death of cold."

He smiled, approaching the bed and sitting down beside her.

"Glad to see you haven't lost that sense of humor," he said gently and she smiled before coughing again.

She was shivering, even with all the covers she had on her, and he felt a surge of sympathy.

"I'm sorry," he murmured and she drew a breath, clearing her throat before frowning and looking at him again.

"It's not your fault," she replied.

"I feel responsible," he admitted and she shook her head.

"Don't. Let me do the wallowing, 'kay?"

"Cordelia..."

"Did you get it?" she asked, interrupting him and he rested his gaze in hers for a short while before he nodded.

"We got it."

"You don't seem too happy about it," she pointed out.

"I'm not sure it's anything to be happy about. We don't know anything about Forte, we don't know if this bottle holds any kind of antidote or if it just might as well end up killing Susannah. We still don't know anything at all about what the hell is going on and in two days..."

"Hey," Cordelia once again cut him off, struggling herself into a seated position. "Focus on the moment, okay?"

He held her eyes in his steadily, then he had a warm smile spread over his lips.

"You know, even when you're a complete mess," he said softly and she blinked, but his expression calmed her and he finished: "you're still the most beautiful creature I've ever seen."

She looked at him, feeling how her body was slowly being relieved of its shakes and chills, how something warm and relaxing was flowing with her blood instead of bits of scraping ice. She smiled timidly at his compliment, at the way he was looking back at her. Then he rose, eyes still in hers.

"Are you okay to get out of bed? I'd feel better if you're there when we give the cure to Susannah; and I think she'll want every familiar face possible around her."

"Of course," Cordelia answered, scooting to the edge of the bed and cautiously standing. "I'm fine," she assured to the watchful eye Angel now was focusing on her.

"You sure?" he wondered and she put on a stern face.

"Let's go," she said, walking ahead of him toward the door.

He slowly followed, ready to move in an instant to catch her, was she to even LOOK as though about to stumble.

***

As Angel went upstairs, Buffy and Spike walked down the few steps leading them to the foyer floor. From the hallway connected to the kitchen Susannah appeared.

"Well, look at this," Spike smiled. "She's up."

"Waiting for good news, she hopes," Susannah smiled back, approaching them though her movements were deliberate and slow.

"The waiting's over," Buffy said as they faced each other, then she brought out the bottle from one jacket pocket and Susannah's eyes grew.

"It's smaller than I thought," she mumbled, reaching out a hand to touch it, but Buffy retracted her own hand and retrieved the bottle to its previous residence.

"I'm going to call Darren," Spike said and Buffy gave a nod to that, watching him as he walked away before having her gaze back in Susannah's.

"We still don't know if this will help you," Buffy remarked at the latters questioning expression. "We're not taking any unnecesary risks, okay?"

Susannah eyed her for a few more moments, then she sighed.

"You're right. I guess I've simply put all of my energy into this being the answer, and for it to not be... It's unthinkable to me," she mumbled and Buffy reached out a hand to take one of hers in a comforting grip.

"It most probably IS the answer," she stated. "But Forte gave it up so easily... It makes me wonder."

Susannah was about to say something when Spike came out of Angel's office and made her close her mouth again.

"Darren's on his way. Ten minutes and he'll be here," the blonde stated, coming up to join at Buffy's side.

"Want some tea while we wait?" Susannah asked. "Fred just made a fresh pot."

The other two both nodded and followed her as she turned, walking back through the hallway and into the kitchen.

Fifteen minutes later Angel poked his head in through the doorway, looking at the six people seated around the table with a cup each.

"Darren's here," he then said and they all turned their heads to him before beginning to rise.

Fred supported Susannah gently as all of them headed out into the foyer. Buffy walked directly up to the doctor, bringing the bottle out and showing it to him. He observed it keenly, then shook his head a little.

"I've never seen anything like it," he said. "But then, I usually deal with herbs and weeds which - more than often - come delivered in very boring glass containers. This looks very old and it has an enormous amount of force within it... Can't you feel that small pulse?"

Buffy furrowed her brow, growing concentrated. And then she could feel it. She was very surprised she hadn't picked up on it before.

"What will it do to her?" she asked and Darren shook his head again.

"I'm afraid your guess is as good as mine," he replied. "Are you positive this potion isn't meant to further ail you?" he added, looking at Susannah.

"No, how could I be?" she replied. "But I want to try. Anything is better than this. Please." She said the last word with her eyes in Buffy's and the Slayer hesitated. "Buffy, it's taking me over. Soon I will be gone. If I am to die, I might as well die fighting this thing."

"You won't die," Spike stated with conviction and Susannah gave him a weak smile before she turned back to Buffy.

"Hear that? No arguing with him, is there? I won't die," she said and Buffy smiled a small smile as well.

Susannah pushed away from Fred, against whom she had been leaning, and took a step forward; reaching out a hand.

"Give it to me. It's all right," she urged and Buffy felt the bottle tremble slightly against her palm as she moved her hand to meet that of Susannah's.

Then the latter suddenly had a mask of pain draw itself harshly onto her features before her legs gave way beneath her and she fell to the floor.

"Susie!" Cordelia exclaimed as Angel fell on his knees and pulled the fatigued woman up to rest her head in his arms.

"Quickly," Susannah whispered, her eyes growing wide as another gush tore through her.

Buffy kneeled down as well, turning the small top of the bottle and taking it off before putting one hand at the nape of Susannah's neck. The latters eyes stared at the bottle as it drew nearer to her mouth and Buffy thought she could see both triumph and panic in their icy blue.

Suddenly Susannah's right hand flew up and grabbed the wrist of Buffy's hand holding the bottle.

"No!" the former then cried, pushing Buffy's arm away before she had any chance to react and making her drop the bottle.

It flew through the air, hit the far wall and fell clinking to the floor.

"She's having another seizure!" Gunn exclaimed. "Hold her down!"

Susannah tried to get loose, her eyes wide with such terror that it made Buffy release her grip and sit back.

"No, stop," she said. "Stop!" she repeated, making Angel ease up his hold as well.

Susannah was breathing heavily, the fear in her expression too clear to miss as her gaze darted from one to the next of the people surrounding her.

"It'll set... him free," she then said, voice shaking. "That's all he's ever wanted. To be free again."

"The demon?" Buffy asked and Susannah looked at her before nodding.

"Satoch," she stated and it was as though everybody collectively held their breath, staring down at her in incredulity. "I wanted to tell you..." she mumbled, voice filled with sorrow. "I tried, but he was too strong..."

"I don't believe it," Cordelia grumbled.

"Believe it," a well-known voice sounded from the doorway, and when everybody turned their heads that way Faith held up a parcel made of linen which looked quite heavy, her gaze in Angel's as she added: "Hey, bossman. I found it."

**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************

-Twenty-second-

By Annie

03-11-20

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤

"Hey."

The sound of Buffy's voice made Faith turn around to face her. The latter had been out in the garden for the past half hour as Susannah was taken back to her bed, Darren having himself another look at her as the others quietly spoke in the hallway about what had happened.

"You didn't feel like joining in?" Buffy now added to her greeting and Faith shrugged.

"Need to de-acclimatize myself first," she then replied and Buffy smiled tryingly.

Faith returned it a bit stiffly before picking up her strolling again. Buffy watched her for half a minute and then said:

"I'm sorry that I didn't..."

"I didn't either," Faith interrupted, stopping to face the other slayer again. "So, we're cool."

"Right," Buffy said, not very convinced. "I just don't want you to think that I forgot about you or anything, 'cause I didn't. I even missed your kick-ass 'tude sometimes..."

"Yeah?" Faith asked, smirking, then she grew serious as she added: "I thought maybe you were mad at me, for not writing and telling you... about Will."

Buffy shook her head, smiling reassuringly.

"Resentment didn't even cross my mind," she replied and Faith finally returned the smile whole-heartedly.

There was a small pause as they observed each other and then Faith picked up the drifting thread of conversation as she said:

"It sure has been a while."

Buffy smiled again, then nodded a little.

"Sure has," she agreed.

"So, what about William?" Faith wondered and Buffy cocked an eyebrow.

"What about him?" she then asked nonchalantly and Faith suddenly looked the most hesitant Buffy had ever seen her as she stared at the blonde.

"Well... You know he's...?" the former tried.

"Yeah, I know," Buffy nodded. "Felt his pulse, even. Just to make sure. And it's... great. Really. To have him back and everything." Faith raised her eyebrows questioningly. "What?" Buffy asked.

"Well... When he died you were all... And now you seem sorta..." Buffy looked uncomprehending and Faith sighed. "Shouldn't you be happier? I mean, I know you dealt with it way back when; but, I could see what it did to you, B. I wasn't blind. None of us were... You loved him, didn't you?"

Buffy kept her smile back, holding a straight and serious expression as she nodded slowly.

"Well, then...!" Faith began, being cut off by the topic himself stepping through the glass doors and walking up to join Buffy, who turned her eyes in his with a warm smile.

"Hey," she said and he smirked.

"Hey," he replied, kissing her temple gently before adding: "Emergency meeting in the conference room, Angel's orders."

"Yeah, when DID we have that vote for making him the boss of us again?" Buffy asked and Spike chuckled his agreement before giving a nod toward the doors.

"Coming?" he asked and she smiled once more.

"Just one more sec, 'kay?"

He returned her smile, then had his gaze in Faith's, who were turning her eyes from one to the other with a clear look of dawning realization on her face.

"Good to have you back, Belle," he said and at that her mouth put on a wide grin.

He smirked again before turning and walking back into the foyer. Buffy watched him go, and then she looked back at Faith, who seemed mildly amused by the Slayer's little joke.

"That was pretty dark," Faith muttered as she got herself moving, coming up to stand in front of Buffy.

"Couldn't resist," the latter apologized, then embraced the former in a hard hug and the brunette hugged her back before they pulled apart.

"Should probably," Faith remarked with a gesture to the spot Spike had disappeared a few moments earlier.

The two young women both started walking at the same time, entering the hotel and crossing the foyer floor. As they were about to enter the conference room Buffy had to ask:

"Belle?"

Faith smiled.

"His nick for me. Short for 'belief'. You know, faith - belief," she then explained and Buffy had to smile as well.

"So typically him," she mumbled and Faith laughed as they walked into the room, joining the rest of the gang.

***

"Wait, Forte's coming here tomorrow?" Cordelia inquired, pulling on the blanket around her shoulders to wrap it a little tighter.

"Yes," Angel answered her question, giving her a sympathetic look as she sniffled.

"Great; celebrity guests on the one occasion I'm in no shape to greet them," she muttered and he smiled.

"There's just the one," he offered as consolation and she gave him a friendly glare at that.

"And the bottle?" Fred spoke up. "I suppose he'll be wanting it back."

"We'll see," Buffy replied. "Hopefully he'll let us hang on to it for just a few more days."

"In a few more days he might not be ABLE to want it back," Gunn huffed and Buffy smiled a small smile before she locked her gaze on the artifact placed in the middle of the table.

Not one single drop of its contents had been spilt on its journey through the air earlier. When she had turned it upside down there had been no inclination of whatever liquid it contained wanting to be relieved of its prison. It truly was as much of an enigma as the rest of this prophecy. Not that she was surprised.

"Remember the 'black bird' deal from my dream?" she asked, looking around the table and all of them nodded, apart from Faith. Buffy met her gaze. "I'll explain later," the blonde promised, moving on with: "At Forte's I saw the bird. It's in the form of the Forte Incorporated's crest. In the dream Spike warned me that it's 'watching me'."

"In other words, Forte is," Wesley said.

"We already knew that, though," Spike chimed in and Buffy nodded.

"True; but I dreamt the dream before we knew."

"Okay, so Forte clearly has some part in this, but we're neglecting the real reason why we're all sitting here, aren't we?" Cordelia asked, having everybody's eyes on her. "That!" she exclaimed, pointing to the still wrapped in linen object which Faith had brought with her.

Faith smiled, then rose to her feet after exchanging a look with Angel. She proceeded to reach out and pull the improvised parcel to her. Beginning to remove the fabric they could all finally rest their eyes upon the missing part of the prophecy.

"At last," Wesley mumbled.

"Took some time to track it down," Faith said, "but I always deliver."

"That, my girl, is an understatement," Wesley remarked and she smirked; pleased.

"Those IQ infected germs in your head itching for some dinner?" she asked and he smiled widely in acknowledgement. "Well," she added, putting her hands on the book before pushing it to slide across the table, where he caught it. "Let 'em have it," she finished.

The phone rang in the other room and Fred rose to go and get it. Angel leaned closer to Wesley, who was carefully fingering the first page of the book. Cordelia observed the two of them, though not inclined to join in the exploration. Gunn rose and moved around the table to look over the shoulders of the other two men. Buffy turned to Spike.

"How's Susannah?" she asked and he sighed.

"Considering the bleeding circumstances," he grumbled, then smiled a little as his eyes locked in her green. "She'll get through it. I know it."

Buffy smiled back, reaching out a hand and entwining their fingers.

"I would've bet twenty bucks on you two never seeing eye-to-eye on anything," Faith's voice reached them and they both turned their heads to her where she was sitting, her arms crossed over her chest as she tilted her chair back slightly and a rather amused smirk appearing on her face. "And here you are," she added, her voice now tainted with her mirth as she finished: "holding hands."

Both Slayer and mortal smiled as well, though theirs were merely warm at the picture the other's words painted.

"Only twenty bucks?" Spike then asked in faked shock and both slayers laughed at that.

"Buffy," Fred said from the doorway and the namesake looked up, wondering. "It's Giles for you," the former explained and Buffy raised her eyebrows before getting to her feet, giving Spike's hand a squeeze and him another smile before she walked out of the room.

Picking up the receiver of the phone placed on the counter of the foyer she said:

"Giles. Any news? Anything good? Please, don't give me anything bad 'cause I really don't wanna hear it right now, okay?"

"Yes, I'm quite fine, thank you. It's good to hear your voice as well," he replied sarcastically.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I'm a bit caught up in the whole need-usable- information-NOW."

"I understand," Giles assured. "I would appreciate a 'hello' before the labeling as Most Probable Bringer of Bad News."

"You sound grumpy. The books giving you a hard time?" she retorted and he huffed, but his voice got softer as he answered:

"Forte is as impossible to trace as - and pardon the worn metaphor - a needle in a haystack. There are the common details about him, but I've already given you those. The word on the street..." He paused as there was a small intake of breath from Buffy. "Are you by any chance suppressing giggles?" he asked.

"Well, it's just hearing you talk about 'word on the street' like that's something so typical of you to say... I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she stopped herself. "Do continue."

"Well, our INFORMANTS tell me that none of the things said about Forte has ever been verified."

"Such as?"

"Such as him being extremely eccentric, very interested in the history of the world, obsessed with ancient art and memorabilia..."

"Well, that last I can vouch for," Buffy cut in. "Even YOU would've had to make big eyes at his treasures."

"Really? What sort of things did he...?"

"Giles."

"Okay, to the rather good news. I believe I have found some things out about your bottle."

***

"It's called the bottle of Ritha."

Everyone looked up as Buffy reentered the room with a rather triumphant look on her face.

"Pardon?" Wesley asked, watching her as she walked up to the shelf and began looking at the backs of the books, selecting one she turned and walked up to the table.

"Our bottle is named after its creator, an ancient holy woman named Ritha," Buffy replied, putting the book down and opening it up as she began to search for the page she needed. "Giles said the information we need is in this book, only its not described the way a mortal eye would understand it and... Aha, see," she added, pointing to a picture in the book and nodding to herself. "There it is."

All those not close enough to see got to their feet and came around to have a look as well. Spike stopped behind her and leaned into her as he gazed over her shoulder and she smiled a little, then she noticed the frown on his face.

"What?" she asked.

He exchanged a glance with Angel, who seemed to have noticed it as well, and then he slowly replied:

"This is the book I used for my research on Satoch, and this picture..."

The people in the drawing knelt and crawled and lay on the ground before two human figures standing at the top of a long set of stairs -the front of a grand palace. In the sky was a fire painted black with flames dancing around it. But what caught his attention now, and which hadn't done so before, was the image of a young woman standing to the side and a few steps behind the royal couple. Attached to her garments, hanging by her hip, was unmistakably their bottle.

"That's Ritha," Buffy stated, putting one index finger on the young woman. "She created a key in case Satoch ever found himself confounded without the power to break free on his own. Why that would ever happen, I have no idea. Or more like Giles had no idea and so I don't either."

"Good old Giles," Wesley mumbled, his eyes still on the drawing though.

"Yeah, he came up with the foundation," Buffy nodded with a small smile. "You'll have to build us something pretty."

Wesley smirked at that, then nodded.

"Yes, I believe I should get started straight away. After all, the longer we simply sit here the more time we waste... I'll begin my interpretation of the second part of the prophecy as well."

"Giles said you can call him at any hour if you get stuck or have any questions," Buffy said.

"Quite the 'good old' all around, isn't it?" he replied and recieved a smile from the Slayer.

"I'll order us some food," Fred stated, getting to her feet. "I'm starving."

Gunn smiled and rose as well.

"Well, then," Angel said, also rising. "Let's leave the man to his work."

Buffy stepped to the side, taking another step forward when she felt the warmth of Spike's chest leave her back and she turned around, questioningly.

"Not coming?" she asked and he smiled a little sheepishly before he shrugged.

"You forget I'm pretty good at this stuff, Slayer," he replied and she smiled widely back before she stepped closer again, giving him a long kiss and then pulling out of his arms slowly.

"I'll be around," she murmured and he smiled a little, watching her as she left the room.

***

An hour later Buffy and Spike climbed the stairs taking them to the second floor and Susannah's bedroom. She had been sleeping since they brought her up there; they had all been checking in on her from time to time. Now, however, it was time for her to wake.

The two entered the room silently and walked up to the bed, Buffy taking a seat on the edge of it and Spike standing at her side.

"Do you think she already knows?" Buffy asked in a hushed voice and Spike shook his head, then answered:

"I'm not sure."

Buffy looked up at him, then bent forward and reached out a hand, shaking Susannah gently and soon she stirred, opening her eyes and locking them in the Slayer's.

"Buffy?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Susannah, we have something important to tell you," Buffy replied and Susannah furrowed her brow as she tried to blink the last remains of sleep from her eyes.

"What... is it?" she asked, pulling herself up slightly and then looking up at Spike. "Hi," she added with a trying smile and he immediately returned it, to calm her.

"Hey, you," he then answered and her smile got more confident at the sight of his.

"Susannah," Buffy again spoke, trying to find the right words as she once more had the other woman's eyes in her own. "How much do you know about your past?"

"Well, I remember all of it, apart from when the demon took over..."

"Sorry, rephrase," Buffy interrupted. "How much do you know about your family? Its history?"

Susannah looked perplexed at the question for a few moments, then answered:

"Nothing. I mean, I never thought there was anything to know... My grandparents died when I was very young."

"Your dad's parents, or your mom's?" Buffy inquired and Susannah frowned again.

"My dad's," she replied. "My mother's parents died when she was little."

Buffy looked up at Spike again and he nodded for her to go on.

"We have found something out about your past which might be a little hard to get your head around, but we think you should know about it. You have a right to know."

"Okay..." Susannah said hesitantly, looking from one to the other.

"Aria isn't only a word, or name, we humans use..." Buffy began. "There's a branch of ancient demons called Theros. They have ties to Egypt, and are great worshippers of the old gods... They use the name Aria in their religion."

"For Satoch?" Susannah asked after a short pause and Buffy shook her head.

"No," she answered. "For Nefertiti."

**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************

-Twenty-Third-

By Annie

2003-12-11

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤ Susannah looked even more uncomprehending at that.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"According to one branch of the legend, one that you've actually verified," Spike spoke up, "Nefertiti nicknamed her firstborn daughter into what we would translate as 'Aria', 'cause that was the nickname she had gone by herself when she was young. And that name stuck with the daughter; and so it did with all the firstborn daughters of her bloodline. When it grew into a first name isn't recorded."

"What are you saying?" Susannah wondered, incredulous.

"You're the last living descendant of the queen Nefertiti," Buffy stated.

"How is that possible...? ...I can't be..." Susannah grumbled, looking away from them and trailing off as she stared down at her hands.

"There's more," Spike said. "Satoch runs in your blood. That's the only way he could ensure that when the day come for him to once again rule, he would be there to see it. From generation to generation he has been there, in your family, dormant - until now."

"So this explains it...?" Susannah wondered, and both of the others nodded. "How does he take possession?"

"He can only enter at a young age. And he can only leave one host for another if the first host..."

This time it was Spike who trailed off, Susannah staring at him until her eyes suddenly gleamed with tears of realization.

"I killed my mother," she murmured and Buffy shook her head, reaching out a hand to place it on Susannah's arm, but the other didn't even seem to notice. "I killed my mother," she repeated. "She was the host before me, and he..."

"HE killed your parents," Buffy tried soothingly. "You had nothing to do with it. How could you have known. And how could you have stopped it?"

The growing shock on the young woman seemed to stretch out the minute they were in, and then she was the one to break through it as she suddenly exclaimed:

"I want him OUT of me! Get him OUT!"

She was struggling to get out of bed, but Buffy grabbed her and pulled her close in a tight embrace and after a minute of fighting it Susannah slowly relaxed, all that was heard in the sudden stillness of the room was her weeping.

"I'm so sorry, honey," Buffy mumbled. "I'm so sorry."

"We'll make it right," Spike promised gently. "We'll find a way to kill him."

Buffy turned her gaze in his and he nodded, turning around and going where he was most needed - research.

***

Buffy massaged her neck.

She was tired. Her head cramped with much too many thoughts trying to have audience at the same time. It truly was exasperating. She glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall and noticed that it had stopped. It showed five past three, and they had passed that hour a long time ago. In fact, the sun was setting.

Walking from where she had resided for the past half hour she continued into the foyer and found herself stopping in the doorway of the glass doors leading outside, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. She thought of Dawn. Hoping that she was alright, and happy. In case something went wrong...

Can't think like that, she reprimanded herself.

Squaring her shoulders she turned and this time crossed the foyer, proceeding into the conference room where her lover sat hunched over a thick volume, as did his fellow companion. She had to smile at the sight, wondering how good a watcher Spike would make.

He would be fierce, she concluded. He would take extreme measures to ensure the survival of his prodigy. He would train her something awful, and yet, she had a feeling that that Slayer would be one of the most powerful tools the world had ever beheld.

Look at me, she thought. I was fed hatred for so long that I didn't even taste his love, and still it made me stronger. What would actually loving him all the way not have done with my power?

Then she smiled and walked around the table to lean down and put her arms around him.

Now she knew the answer to that last question.

"Unbeatable," she mumbled and he smiled questioningly as she pulled away a little. "Never mind," she offered as a simple explanation, then kissed him on the lips before turning her gaze on the book placed in front of him. "Find anything good and juicy?"

"No," Wesley was the one to reply as he drew a breath and then released it over the page he was reading, having the old dust on top of it fly in scurrying clouds about in the air. "Only things old and very dry," he added, coughing.

She smirked, standing straight again.

"I was wondering what today is," she said and they both looked quizzical, so she elaborated: "You know, the countdown thing-y. What's supposed to hit us where we least want it to, today?"

"I quote," Wesley replied, continuing: "'And as the stars align with the god of fire there shall be no sound but the beating of one heart and that heart shall be true and pure and it shall know its purpose as the third day subdues to darkness.'"

Buffy blinked.

"It's almost dark out," she remarked.

"Well, we can't take it too literal," Wesley answered. "It also says 'And as the year closes there shall be a great tremor felt in the earth...' and so on and so forth and since this whole thing is either over or defeated in less than three days I believe we can safely say that's not meant to be taken word for word."

Buffy didn't look very convinced and as a terrible hunch settled in the middle of her ribcage she felt her mouth grow dry. Leaving the room she looked up and rested her eyes on a piece of the, mostly hidden, fiery sky. She walked slowly in her own footsteps, back to the glass doors and then she proceeded through them. She wasn't sure why, but she walked through the garden and out onto the sidewalk which ran along the side of the hotel. Looking both ways she could conclude that the streets were deserted.

She looked up at the sky again.

She had a feeling she needed to hurry. But where?

Turning she fell into a slow jog, then she suddenly felt a forceful push from that feeling inside and before she knew it she was running.

Her feet were taking her to the ocean. She could smell the salt.

She rounded the same corner of the same building which had taken her to the shore where Spike had been just a few nights before, and as she rushed onto the sand she looked up. And came to a roaring halt.

Her mouth fell open at the sight which met her.

In the sky were the four aligning stars, shining brightly against the husky blue of the sky, and in the horizon - in perfect unison with the line of the stars - was the setting sun. Merely a sliver was left and the heat of it was slowly being pulled into it as the color was drained from the heavens above.

Dusk was setting in quickly now and she knew it was merely a matter of minutes before darkness settled over the city.

The thought made her jerk and she turned her head toward from where she had come. A chill of eerie premonitions pulled ice-cold fingers down her back and in the next moment she was on the move again. This time running toward the Hyperion instead of from it, and her feet pounding the pavement beneath her as she had the most terrible notion of something about to go wrong.

She reached the front doors and pushed them open. Spike was standing outside the door of the conference room, having had his gaze in the papers he was holding, but now turning them in Buffy's.

She looked positively wild as she stared at him.

"Has it happened yet?" she asked and he was about to open his mouth and ask her what that was supposed to mean when there was a sudden scream of pain from upstairs. Buffy's eyes grew and then she breathed: "Angel."

The following second she was running up the stairs, taking it three steps at a time and hearing how Spike wasn't late to follow.

She continued down the hallway, pushed the vampire's door open without any ado and rushed up to him where he lay on his bed. Cordelia was standing beside him, but she still couldn't touch him and she was crying tears which kept forming thin lines of ice on her face.

"What's wrong?" she asked as Buffy leaned over the convulsing form.

"Buffy," he got out. "It hurts!"

Spike came into the room, stopping at the sight, not sure of what he should do.

"It's okay," Buffy tried, putting a hand on his brow and pulling it back with a yell as she burned her fingers on his skin. "Oh, my God," she mumbled. "Will!" she added, turning her eyes in Spike's. "Get some cold water, quickly!"

He nodded and dashed out of the room again.

"What's happening?" Buffy seemed to ask mostly herself, unable to answer. "Angel, can you hear me?" she then said, putting a knee on the edge of the bed and leaning forward to look down at him. "Angel?!"

His vamp face came on and the yellow eyes of Angelus leered up at her, making her draw a sharp breath and practically jump three feet away from the bed.

"You... can't... win," Angelus hissed and then Angel was back, letting out another growling scream of pain before vamping out again.

Suddenly all the noise began to be blocked out. Buffy got afraid that she was actually going deaf and Cordelia seemed to be thinking along those very lines as she looked at the Slayer. Then the former asked:

"What is this?"

And since they could both hear her voice loud and clear in the spreading silence of the room Buffy found it unnecessary to reflect on the query.

And then there it was. It started slow at first, the sound very far away, before it grew in intensity and both Buffy and Cordelia turned their stunned gazes at the form on the bed. He was back in his human appearance once more, his chest heaving with even breaths and the beating of his heart echoing through the room.

***

Everybody was quiet.

It wasn't a comforting quiet, it was a quiet edged with sharp questions demanding answers. Answers which could be sought from only one of those gathered, and he had been lost in his own thoughts ever since the attack he had suffered had subdued.

It was nearly half an hour later, and they were gathered in his room.

Sitting on the bed he looked strangely translucent and his countenance told of an age Buffy had never witnessed on him before. Not through hair that had gone white or skin that had wrinkled. He was still as strong and handsome as ever. But the lines of his face seemed deeper, the shadows just one shade darker, and his eyes... Buffy knew there was nothing she could do to ease what he had just gone through; in part because she didn't know exactly what that was, but also because the immense amount of agony which he had seemed to be under was something she hadn't ever seen on him.

And it had scared her.

His heart had slowly but surely stilled, and since then he hadn't uttered one word.

"Would someone just please say something," Cordelia was the one who finally spoke.

Her skin was white now, from frost. Her lips constantly blue and her hair seemed to be covered in fine patches of ice, making it resemble a bad set of dreadlocks. But she wasn't shaking as badly as before, and her cold had blown over as well. Her eyes were burdened though, and Buffy wondered if it was only for Angel's sake.

"What should we say?" Wesley muttered glumly.

"Well, for starters, what the hell is going on?!" she exclaimed. "So, it's part of the prophecy. I guess the fact that he's been burning for the past DAY didn't occur to the jackass who wrote the thing! He's already been handed a frickin' part in this, hasn't he?!"

"But we didn't know what it was," Angel said gently and all eyes were focused on him.

"But we..." Cordelia started, only he interrupted her by saying:

"I know what I'm supposed to do now. I don't know when, or how, but I know what I have to do."

Cordelia looked very doubting, as well as frightened at the calm exterior he had on.

"And what is that?" she finally asked.

Angel smiled a little, then turned his gaze in Wesley's, who grew slightly rigid and whose eyes seemed to try an objection. Only the vampire didn't seem to pay any heed, the smile staying on and then he said:

"Ask him. He's found the answer in the prophecy."

"He's WHAT?" Cordelia demanded, swirling around to face Wesley. "You could have stopped this the whole time?"

"There's no stopping it, and I only just translated it," Wesley replied tentatively, looking around at them all and then having his gaze back in Angel's.

"No, there's no stopping it," Angel agreed slowly, turning his eyes into Cordelia's as he finished: "I will die."

**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** ******************

Next