The Wrath of the Annointed

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Season Two- Take Two

A/N: I do not own BTVS or any characters involved.

Buffy's Dads, L.A.

(Buffy)

I sat on my bed and stared out the window. Shopping bags cluttered my room from a long day at the mall. Dad had spent the entire week parading me around buying me everything that caught my fancy. I knew that once Mom saw my new wardrobe, her jaw would tighten and she would smile at Dad and say nothing about it. Their relationship was strange now. I didn't mind, as long as they weren't fighting.

The warm air flooded through the window and, instantly, I could sense him.

"Angel?" I whispered into the dark. For a moment, I figured I was imagining it all, but then he stepped into view.

"May I come in?" He asked. His deep husky voice filled the room and my finger moved to my mouth to quiet him.

"Come in Angel."

He bowed through the window and stood beside my bed, staring at the floor.

"So... what's the danger?" I asked.

"What's that?"

"Why are you here?"

"I'm not sure." He admitted. "I was in town."

"And you knew I was here?"

"I can smell you... sense you." Angel's voice was quiet as if he was embarrassed.

"Oh."

"How was your summer?" He asked.

I shrugged. "Eh. It's been ok."

Of course, it was a lie. How was I supposed to tell Angel how the last couple months had haunted me. The Master, the main guest star of my dreams, invaded my nights and the memory of my death, the last minutes before I had died, crowded my thoughts and built something dark inside of me. I knew it was there, but something told me not to care. It burned inside; it burned cold.

"How was yours?" I asked.

"I've been traveling. I have been trying to collect old relics and books, things that would be useful to the team. Giles and I have been researching and working together. We have built a good collection."

I rose my eyebrows. "How is Giles?"

"He seems fine. I've noticed his very thorough. He's vigilant in his work and it has been a... a good summer working with him, which is something I never thought possible."

"Why not? Because he is human?" I asked.

"I was human once?"

"Because he is old?"

"I am much older." I waited for his answer. "He works for the Council, a group of people I dislike greatly. We don't get along much."

We sat in silence for a moment before Angel tossed a small box onto the bed next to me.

"I got this for you from an old cave."

"Why?"

"Just open it."

I picked up the box and popped off the lid. It was a necklace. It was silver chain but on the end was a long crystal, a light lavender in color. My mouth came open as a shiver ran down my spine.

"It's call the Passio stone, The passion crystal."

"What language is that?"

"Catalan."

"It is beautiful."

"I knew you would like it." Angel's smile appeared on his face as he stared at me.

"Thank you."

Angel got up and went to the window. "I better go. It's getting late and you should probably get some sleep."

I laughed. "Yeah, who knows what Dad has planned for tomorrow."

"Are you having fun here?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. This was my last week here and Dad's been going wild; dragging me around the mall and buying me things."

"You don't like it?"

"I do. I'm just... restless, I guess."

Angel turned to face me and tilted my chin up to his face. With the softest pressure, he kissed me and disappeared into the night.

"Hello, Sweetheart. I missed you."

Mom threw her arms around me and kissed my forehead as soon as I stepped out of the car. Dad immediately went to the back to unload my bags.

"Hey Mom." I said as I went inside. My room was untouched. As I sat on the bed, I opened the drawer to my desk and looked through the supplies there. When Mom entered, I closed the drawer and helped her carry in some bags.

"Honey, your father and I got this, why don't you go out and find your friends?"

"Really?" I asked, a real smile appearing for the first time in days.

"Sure, go on."

A few minutes later I entered The Bronze and looked around. As I thought, Xander and Willow were at a table in the back. By the look on their face, they were not having the time of their lives.

"Hey guys." I said nonchalantly. Both of them jumped to a standing position and wrapped their hands around me before I could even take a breath.

"Buffy?!" They cried in unison.

"What are you guys doing in the back of the club by yourselves? Where's the fun at?"

Xander laughed. "Well, actually, the summer's been sort of... boring. Not much has happened in the last 2 1/2 months."

Willow frowned. "I thought it was a pretty ok summer."

I laughed. "You guys..."

I sat down and looked at the dancing people around us. Many of them went to school with us. Some of them didn't. I scanned the crowd, spotting many cute boys, though none of them were the one I was looking for.

"Did you have a good time with your dad?" Willow asked.

"Yeah."

"But..."

"But what?"

"Oh, I thought you were gonna say but." Willow shrugged and pecked at a biscuit.

"I met a couple cute guys, but that kind of ended when I found out they both had girlfriends."

"Cute boys?" Xander asked, pausing in motion.

I laughed. "It's ok, Xander. They were... are of the past. No cute boys."

He gave me a goofish grin and jumped to his feet. "You're back. Let's celebrate. Come on guys, let's dance."

"Ok."

I got to my feet and followed them to the dance floor. Around me couples moved to the music and laughed. There was something else... A vampire?

I glanced around, using every sense that I had, until I found him.

"Do either of you have a stake?" I asked.

"No, why?"

"I'll be right back."

I ran off, knowing they were following. When I reached the door, I knew he hadn't left. I turned and saw a man smiling at me.

"Leaving? I was going to ask you to dance." He said in a charming voice.

I smiled. "I would... but I usually don't dance with vampires."

"Not from what I hear." He answered, taking my arm and throwing me outside.

I landed on my side but was on my feet in an instant. The vamp threw a punch and knocked me to the ground.

"Is it me... or is the Slayer a bit out of shape."

"Why don't we try this again, then?"

This time I attacked him. Once he was on the ground, my feet went to work, kicking and keeping him down. Soon, Willow and Xander appeared, a broken chair leg in place of a stake. With one toss and a swing, the vamp dusted to the ground and I stood over him, smiling.

"Boy, now I know I'm home."

"No vamps in L.A.?" Xander asked.

"Not that I ran in to." I shrugged. "I spent a lot of time partying and shopping."

"So, did you get a lot of new clothes for school?" Willow asked as we began to walk down the street.

"I did. Let's just say, Junior Buffy is going to be a dish." I laughed.

"Call me old fashioned, but I kinda liked the Sophomore Buffy." Xander joked.

"What do you mean old fashioned. I was very in."

"So... school tomorrow." Willow sighed.

"Juniors... we're so old."

"Xander, what is it with you and old?" I asked.

"I just mean it was like yesterday when Willow and I had been fighting over the yellow crayon in kindergarten... now we are in our 11th grade. We are so close to being adults."

"Yeah, I guess. I just don't know if I am ready to be an adult." I admitted. "Being the slayer is enough. Now I have to be an adult too. It seems unfair."

"Way unfair..." Willow agree with a smile.

"So, have you guys seen Giles a lot this summer."

"Not since we buried the Master." Xander said.

"I have." Willow chirped. "I go up to the library every week and help him go through and set up the new ordered books. I help catagorize and sort through the new stuff while he goes through and sorts the old stuff. Our new collection is neat. Giles said even the Council would be jealous."

"Sounds good. At least now we have the material we need to beat down the big evils and save the world." Xander dripped a bit too much sarcasm into the phrase and I couldn't help but laugh.

"I thought our old collection was nice."

Willow nodded. "It was, but the new books are in way better shape and have so many different subjects."

"You seem excited." Xander tickled her side, adding to the fun, but cleared his throat as we came up on his house. "Well, this is my stop. I will see you ladies at school."

"Bye." We said in unison as Willow and I walked away, leaving Xander to enter the house of screaming drunkards.

"So... meet any cute guys in L.A.?" Willow asked.

"Yes, but..."

"Mmm. None of them caught your fancy?"

"They just seemed so... preppy. Oh, look at my nice car, look at my money, look at how good I look." My mocking tone echoed through the clear night.

"Doesn't sound too bad to me." Willow said in a low voice.

"It doesn't but they just didn't seem too... I don't know."

"It was Angel, wasn't it?"

I sighed with a smile. "He came to see me."

Her face lit up with a huge grin. "He did. Aw, Buffy... that's so sweet."

"I know. It was last night. He came by after dark, said he was doing business in town and wanted to see me."

"See... you did meet up with a cute guy in L.A.."

We turned onto the street that Willow lived on and I walked her up to her gate. "Well, I guess I will see you in the morning." I said.

"Yeah, also, I went over to your Mom's and compared out schedule's. We have 4 classes together this year."

I smiled. "Very cool. What about Xander?"

"He has 3 with each of us."

Willow smiled and waved and disappeared inside. I continued down the street and headed toward the cemetery. Willow and Xander had said something about no summery action, but why. What was going on in the vampire world that required the absence of feeding above ground?

Underground...

Master's Lair, featuring the Annointed and his servants

"The Slayer is strong." Said the child. "I have watched her pick us off one by one leaving few left. Now, we are stranded underground with fear and loathing hanging over our heads. This is not what our Master had in store."

"You must let us go above and kill her. I, myself, will bring her head to you on a silver platter."

"You say you can... but how can I know for sure? I have seen many make such claims, and yet all I have been given is much disappointment and anger. Our Master had taught me much. He has shown me of our ways. He has brought such spirits together inside of me; given me knowledge and strength. Yet, I am but a child."

"You are the annointed... But I can make you strong."

The child looked up, setting eyes on a vamp wearing glasses. The stare between the two lasted a few minutes before the explanation was given.

"I am wise, Young One, and I am willing to serve you completely. I can give you what you want. I can give you the strength and speed to take down your enemies and raise up your army. Let me serve you, Lord. Make me thine servant!"