Pawns of Prophecy
Part One
Reconciliation, Retribution & Redemption
Chapter three
"So, this party is like….. a hippy thing?" Xander asked.
"Yeah. It's supposed to be," Tara confirmed.
"That's cool."
"No it's not," Anya disagreed. "I was at Woodstock. Do you know how smelly several thousand unwashed hippies can get? And the mud was disgusting."
"You were at Woodstock." Willow bounced in front of Anya. "What was it like? That's so cool."
"Woodstock," Buffy repeated, a curious expression on her face.
"Please don't ask her why," Xander pleaded.
"Why Woodstock ?"
"A woman wanted revenge on her unfaithful boyfriend."
"What did you do?" Buffy asked ignoring Xander's entreaties.
The ex-vengeance demon noticed her lover's expression. "Let's just say," she replied, "that he didn't get any free love after that."
"Ouch," Xander said, his imagination painting a vivid picture. "Ouch ouch ouch," he repeated walking ahead of the girls. "You had to ask."
Buffy, Willow and Tara laughed. Anya just raised her eyebrows innocently.
The party was interesting but not Woodstock.
"So, everyone's a witch here then." Buffy commented.
"No. Just Tara and me."
"But, it's organised by your coven group in college."
"Oh, I know, but by calling themselves a coven they're making a feminist statement… or something. Tara and me once suggested making a spell….do you remember, Tara?" Willow asked her partner.
"Yes. We have a whole corner to ourselves in meetings now."
"Then why do you still attend?"
"They make us laugh." Both girls answered in unison.
"And they get invited to the coolest parties, don't forget that," Xander added.
They all looked round the room for a few moments and found themselves a corner to stand in. After a few minutes a girl broke away from the festivities and approached them. "Oh no, damn," Willow whispered.
Tara turned her back to the girl as she approached. "I would suggest that you don't ask what her name is," she said to the others.
The girl walked up to the gang. "Hi, Willow, Tara. I'm glad you could come. Would you introduce your friends?"
"….um…..this is Buffy, Anya and Xander," Willow offered.
"And you are ?" Buffy asked.
"Moonshine, please to meet you," the host replied, a friendly smile on her face. Willow turned round to face the wall. "I really must mingle with the other guests," The girl said and rejoined the party.
Buffy nodded her head as though judging a contest. "Seemed like a nice girl. Willow, stop it."
Willow was laughing so hard tears were falling.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Buffy entered the courtyard in front of Giles' home. His living room light was on and she could make out the hum of two voices. Giles had a guest. She had left the party early to be able to drop in on her Watcher before going on patrol that night. She contemplated not disturbing them, but being inquisitive by nature, she knocked on the door. Giles opened it and stood back to let her enter. She saw his visitor and gave Giles a sharp look.
"Uh….Buffy…this…this is Reginald. He's from the…"
"The Council," Buffy finished for him.
"Very observant, young lady," the stranger said and approached her, his hand out stretched.
"Don't patronise me. It's so obvious you might as well wear a badge."
"Buffy," said Giles trying to avoid a confrontation, "Reginald is here to offer us the opportunity to rejoin the Watcher's Council. Or, rather he's inviting me back and you to resume to…..to receive its guidance," he finished not concealing his own doubts very successfully.
"A peace offering, if you will," Reginald added.
"Why, are we at war ? Look, Reg? I've never been a person for joining clubs. The rules and regulations tend to be limiting. So, thank you but no thank you."
"I find it hard to understand your stance on this. The Council has existed for centuries as a guide and a….."
"Why ? I'll tell you why…."
"Buffy…." Giles tried to step in between the protagonists. Buffy pushed him aside.
"I'll tell you why," she repeated, "when I turned eighteen you robbed me of my strength, kidnapped my mother and locked us both in a house with a homicidal vampire," she paused for few seconds. "Is there such a thing as a homicidal vamp…..never mind? You did it and both of us nearly got killed. Then, when my boyfriend was dying, another of your colleagues refused to provide the help he required. Now, I've forgiven Giles for the former and…well Wesley is on everyone's Christmas card list, but I will not be part of an organisation that does not differentiate between good and bad and …..I'm labouring the point here," she ended and walked to the far corner of the room to cool down.
Reginald straightened his waistcoat and tie to present as unruffled an appearance as possible. "I'm sorry that you feel in such a way. I'll convey your… reply to my colleagues in England." He walked to the door. "Our offer to you, Mr Giles still stands."
"Thank you but no thank you."
"So be it. As a friendly warning, remember that what has been done once can be done so again," he offered cryptically and left the house.
Giles shut the door and looked at Buffy. "Well, that went well, I thought."
"Poor Reggie," Buffy said with a smile, "I suppose I shouldn't really have shot the messenger," she added approaching Giles. "I only popped round to say that I'm going on patrol again tonight."
"Be careful."
"Oh, I'll be OK. I'm certainly in the right mood to kill something." She stopped at the door. "Giles, if you want to re enlist I wont take offence."
"Thank you but…..I'm a bit disillusioned with the whole thing. Besides, the original slayer didn't have a Watcher."
"True. But, Giles I…..I couldn't carry on without you. The Council is a dinosaur. Dinosaurs are so yesterday…..I mean don't they realise that Spielberg is making serious films these days."
Giles looked puzzled. Buffy's expression lit up with a genuine smile of affection. She stood up on her toes and gave Giles as kiss on his cheek. "See you later," she said and left for her nightly patrol.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-
The college student bounced the ball in front of him looking around to see which of his team-mates he should pass it to. An opponent ran to him and tried to retrieve it. The former held on to it, and seeing an opportunity open up, passed it to his partner who negotiated his way round the basketball court. There were twelve players in total. They had all been drinking in an impromptu dorm party and had decided to challenge each other to a game.
An eight-foot high fence to prevent balls escaping on to the nearby road. Despite the late hour, the players had no trouble seeing the game as two large banks of floodlights lighted the court.
One half of the party cheered as a friend skilfully deposited the ball in the net. He turned round when he heard hand clapping from off the court. He saw a small group of figures standing outside the fencing. Others were joining them. "Wow, lads. We've got an audience," he said and passed the ball to the centre to resume play. It was intercepted by one of the newcomers as he entered the court. He walked with the ball, bouncing it slowly. The rhythm of the noise it made as leather hit concrete was chilling. The other members of the crowd joined their colleague. Soon the players were outnumbered. The last one to enter closed the eight-foot high gate completing the barrier.
The first visitor smiled at the students. "Thanks for coming, everyone."
-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Buffy had seen horrors in her life. She had lost friends and had to commit acts that the word traumatic could never do justice to. The scene before her, however, left her numb with shock. For a few seconds she even felt her vision go cloudy as though she was going to faint. She had seen more deaths on Graduation Day, but they had been inflicted on a force on the attack. Victims of a battle against an opposing army. This, however, was a massacre of innocents trying to do nothing but escape.
One victim stood upright against the fence. Buffy could make out blood a few feet above him where he had tried to climb out of the court. The wound already inflicted on him, however, had weakened him and he had slid down to a standing position. Blood pooled in puddles over the grey concrete. None flowed off the court as though out of respect for the bodies it once inhabited.
Buffy caught sight of a note attached to the fence. It was held in place by being pierced through the fingers of the victim that stood staring at her through lifeless eyes. She walked up to it and read out the short message. "Because the night belongs to vampires."
"Strange," came a voice from behind causing Buffy to curse her inattention for a second time that week. "I always thought the night belonged to lovers."
"Faith," Buffy said simply, not able to pass any other comment.
"Hello, B," Faith said. She walked up to the fence, a few feet from where Buffy stood.
"How did you get out of jail ?"
"They let me go. Insufficient evidence," she volunteered and faced the court again. "No witnesses. As usual in this town."
"Why did you come here ?" Buffy asked ungraciously.
"There was nowhere else for me to go," Faith replied with a faint note of despair. "I tend to burn bridges," she added
back under control.
"Then the same question applies?"
"I thought I could….never mind. Are you going back to Giles ?"
"No. He'll insist on coming down here and taking pictures for clues. Besides, it'll be on the morning news." She turned to Faith. "Don't bother me and I'll not bother you, agreed ?….understood ?"
"Perhaps. I would have thought you'd be grateful for some help here. This is a declaration of war," Faith added pointing to the note.
Buffy pocketed it and walked away with no reply. Faith sighed and went in the opposite direction.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-
"Faith is probably right," Giles said. It was late afternoon the following day. He and Buffy and the rest of gang, except Riley, were assembled again in his home. "The attack was very public and the message.….it all spells a challenge to the Slayer."
"I know," Buffy agreed. "It seems that our spring is over just when I thought we had achieved liberty… of sorts anyway."
"Was it really as bad as the news reports suggest ?" Willow asked.
"I haven't listened to them, but worse comes to mind."
"What about Faith's offer of help ?" Tara ventured. She had received all there was to know of the other slayer from Willow, but felt the need for the question to be asked. Buffy cast a dangerous glance in her direction.
"It's a good point, Buffy," Xander added, "Goodness knows I'm not keen to renew my relationship with her, but two slayers are better than one."
Before a reaction could be registered Giles' phone rang. He went to the table and answered the call.
"Hello…hello, Faith. What are you doing at Joyce's ?"
Buffy shot him a glance. "She's with my mother ! What, is she on tour or something ?" She spat out incredulously.
Giles passed her the phone. "She wants to speak to you." Buffy snatched the receiver from his hand.
"What are you….." she paused from shouting at Faith when the latter shouted her down from the other end of the line. Buffy went silent and suddenly held on to the edge of the table, the colour draining from her face.
"Buffy ?" Willow was by her side in an instance. Buffy looked at her friend in a desperate hope for reassurance.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-
They pulled up outside Buffy's house and piled out of the car. Buffy was first to the door and was met by Riley. "How did…?"
"Xander called me."
Buffy went into the house to find Faith standing by the mantle piece. She handed her a note that had been left behind. She took it and read the contents. Her hands shaking, she passed it to Giles.
"You know what is required. Your actions will dictate our response," Giles read out loud.
Buffy stepped away and stood apart from the others. "What have I done?" She cried, her face in her hands. She felt alone and isolated. Enemies on all sides. Riley took her in his arms.
"Don't' worry, Buffy," he reassured, "We'll find her. All of us."
Buffy looked up and realised she was not alone. Not this time. Xander and Anya, Willow and Tara, Giles and her Riley were there. All would move Hell itself to aid her. She turned round and faced Faith. "If you are still willing," she said quietly "I would welcome your support."
Faith nodded.
"Are the kidnappers the same people we were talking about earlier?" Xander asked.
"No," Giles replied, "these are more close to home."
"What has been done once can be done so again," Buffy quoted from the night before.
Chapter four
"What can the council hope to achieve by holding Buffy's mother as hostage ?" Willow asked. "It handicaps their only warrior, Faith excepting of course. They can't be oblivious to the trouble that has erupted here."
"They're thinking ahead," Faith said. "There's something coming, something big, and they want to be ready, in charge of the forces for good." Giles looked at her curiously. "There's something coming," she repeated. "I sensed the anticipation whilst in LA, when I was being recruited by Wolfram and Heart. Read your books, Giles. I'm sure you'll find something because I don't think this is all to do with a few escaped lab rats trying to take over a small town."
"Where does Buffy or her mother fit into this ?" Riley asked keen to keep everyone's mind on the present.
"Buffy is the Slayer. The weapon against whatever is coming. The council want to wield it and to do so they must control it," Xander offered with an insight that impressed Giles.
"Angel has something to do with it as well, I'm sure," Faith added. Everyone looked to Buffy on impulse. She did not seem to respond. "The lynch pin perhaps, I don't know," Faith continued, "but he's a player in the game, all be it probably an unwilling one."
"And this conflict we're going through?" Willow asked.
"Is just a side issue. Irrelevant. If we lose, the Council will call another slayer, all be it reluctantly as they would prefer to have Buffy. If we win…they still have Joyce."
"All this is irrelevant," Buffy spoke up. "Today's problem is the gang of demons butchering at will."
"And your mother?" Willow asked.
"If what Faith says is true she'll be safe until I make my decision."
"I'll look in my books," Giles said, "and see if I can find anything about an event large enough to bother the Council. We don't want it occurring in the middle of a pitched battle." He looked at Buffy to try and fathom her thoughts.
She met his gaze, determination holding a few seconds before she had to look away afraid of revealing her anguish. "Right," she said taking control, "Riley and me will make enquiries at Willy's place then we'll patrol. Faith, you can patrol as well. By splitting the two of us up more area is covered. The rest of you help Giles and….. be careful. If they want a quick reply from me they may decide to kidnap one of you for good measure."
-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Faith negotiated her way round packing crates and boxes piled high in the warehouse. This was the fourth building her and Xander had searched for any sign of vampire occupation. She had calmed down finally and accepted Xander's company. She could have broken a bone forcing him to retire, but that would not have endeared her to the others. Xander had insisted on joining her. He had said it was to keep an eye on her but she knew he just wanted to be useful.
"Why should I stay behind with the girls ?" he had said.
"Someone's got to look after you," she had replied.
She was suddenly pushed forward. So unexpected was the act she stumbled ungainly several feet. Before she could react she watched as seemingly in slow motion three large crates crashed down from the darkness above and landed messily on the spot she had been standing earlier. She stood up and made herself ready for an attack. Instead Xander clambered over the debris.
"Are you alright ?" he asked desperately. "I had no time to shout a warning so thought a shove more appropriate and…" he stopped suddenly and screamed as a sharp object approached his head. He ducked just in time and found himself drenched in dust as a vampire behind him disintegrated.
"Sorry, Xander. I had no time to shout a warning so thought….."
"Yeah yeah, OK, touché," he said and they both carried on down the aisle of crates to make sure their victim was just a lone hunter.
"Thank you, by the way," Faith said.
"You're welcome. Quick reaction by the way," Xander returned.
"I thought so."
-/-/-/-/-/-/-
The following night found Buffy and Riley in Willy's Bar. Buffy strode in as though the place was her regular haunt. Riley followed more cautiously. He was still amazed that such an establishment existed and that the Initiative had never found out. Willy let out an undignified and poorly concealed sigh as two of his most unwanted acquaintances approached the bar.
"I kinda guessed you would visit eventually, but hoped I had a few days grace. Why is it that you always pick on me?" he uttered.
"Because you wear self pity so well."
"Yeah, well I know nothing about your mother's whereabouts." He said defiantly.
Buffy was momentarily shocked and failed to conceal it. Willy jumped at the chance. "You didn't come here for that information, did you ? You didn't think I would even know about her kidnapping." He relished Buffy's discomfort for a few seconds but was cut short by Riley's hand around his throat.
"All right then," Riley offered. "I'm impressed. Now tell us what you know about it. Tell us!"
"He'd be able to talk a lot better, mate if you released your hold on his voice box."
Riley dropped Willy and turned towards the new voice. A lone figure appeared from the darkness of the room. Tall and threatening against the other denizens of the bar, who sat hunched over as though trying to hide in their drinks, his pale features and the colour of his hair were almost luminous.
"Spike," Buffy said simply. "You're a sore for sighted eyes."
"I've missed you too. It would seem we're living in interesting times…..again."
"Do you have anything to tell us or are you hiding from your friends again ?" Riley asked contemptuously.
"I know enough to say that you are asking in the wrong places about Joyce's kidnapping. The wrong people as well….in more ways than one."
"You mean that demons kidnapped her?" Riley uttered in disbelief.
Spike laughed. "Well done, soldier boy, that's just what she needed; to have it spelt out loud for her."
Riley turned to Buffy. She was holding her hand over her mouth to stifle a cry at Spike's revelation. He cursed himself for not thinking before speaking and went to put his arm around his partner's shoulders. Buffy broke away, though. "Are you saying vampires kidnapped my mother?" She demanded.
"No!" Spike responded in disgust. "What would we want with a hostage? No, it was a mutual enemy what did the deed, but they were just mercenaries, employed by the Watcher Council no less."
"Do you know where we can find them ?" Riley asked.
"Not the kidnappers, no, or their employers. But I can point you in the direction of some of the former's colleagues."
"Why would you want to do that ?" Buffy asked suspiciously.
"Because it would give me great pleasure to see you whip them into submission. They're an old enemy. Besides, I kinda like Joyce. She's been very pleasant to me, the instance with the axe notwithstanding." Spike laughed, "The look on your face," he said at Buffy's expression of shock. "What's wrong ? You didn't think old Spike could have a soft side. I don't know, if I get any more nancy I'll be like Hair Gel Boy"
Buffy giggled and then stopped herself in horror at the act. "You know, Spike, part of me will be sorry to stake you. I actually hope you never get that chip out of your head."
"What a rotten thing to say."
to be continued