p data-p-id="aa8fa497aabc3ccb8680673c9b926ba7"In the darkness of the night, Buffy scoured the cemetery for supernatural activity. The tingle inside her stomach told her not to give up - possibly the hunger from skipping dinner to go out on patrol earlier - but just as equally possible to be the inborn sense of the slayer telling her that a dusting or two was on its way. Against the cold of the breeze, her grip on the crossbow tightened. Withdrawing now could leave the moonlight hours open to the dark plan Giles had suggested would take place./p
p data-p-id="5deab126978f556d0f7aca3a8f97b7be"Scouring tombstone to tombstone, a back and forth of sly voices broke the silence./p
p data-p-id="69be3ff477988aa5cb48ff00f480b66c"Three shadowed bodies were up to mischief in the gloom, two of which inverting the soil of a grave marked 'Lucinda Wake' with rusted shovels. From the bones of the long deceased, the gaunt-faced man demanding the pace to be hurried, pulled away an azure crystal necklace and held it on its spindle. The most marvellous glint danced inside./p
p data-p-id="a8560fb94a4b789e68283acca4fe42f7" "strongFinally/strong," he seethed in a guttural impatience. "strongWe've found it. Preparations for the ceremony must start at daylight/strong."/p
p data-p-id="c46ab146d515b1abec47dfc9a4d506e5" "strongOoh, a party/strong," Buffy taunted, stepping from the shadows. A narrow look focused on the items pilfered from the ground. "strongCan I come/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="c4787999f775ddda9af13daac949bc19"Throwing down their shovels, the lackeys on either side of the villain shifted into their game faces. They ran towards her, one immediately exploding against the aimed arrow. With the side of the weapon, she whipped the remaining vampire and watched it tumble. It came back, fangs bared, only to receive a close up treatment of a second arrow. The slayer loaded her crossbow, ready to fire for the final time./p
p data-p-id="03f6c5fdef577b05433de3e18f52ab87" "strongImpressive/strong," the man commended, to no discouragement of his own. "strongMy turn/strong."/p
p data-p-id="df06a4af899a6d735d4e2eabbf71e086"With a quick and unexpected movement, a ball of flames hurtled through the air. Crackling with a fiery creation, it exploded above the ducked position Buffy had taken. The tombstone there, half destroyed, smoked only a foot behind her./p
p data-p-id="a3721c7ab2b3c52ea531813ad726a974" "strongFireballs/strong?" Buffy exclaimed, taken back by the assault. "strongI didn't order a cremation/strong."/p
p data-p-id="2d040c35b9226243c5d82c39311e5547" "strongYou must be the vampire slayer/strong," the assailant mocked, bringing flames into a clear display climbing up his fingers as he walked calmly towards her. "strongI heard this town had one. I've got what I came for, I suggest you go home/strong."/p
p data-p-id="e6c480f37393e14dcb81489e6a6507e7" "strongYou see/strong," Buffy said. "strongIt's my responsibility to stop bad things from happening. I can't leave until you're dead or you've handed over whatever is in your pocket/strong."/p
p data-p-id="6d1da0bec36a88886f46f6619f42d96c"The man stretched his arm out and the blaze of his hand grew against the whistle of the wind. It was clear that he was no vampire. Buffy had fought all kinds of evil incarnations since her discovery of being The Chosen One. Nightmares. The Des Kindestod. The sleepwalker, Eyghon. Most recently, The Judge, who after being reassembled, could incinerate those with the slightest of humanity - but none of her enemies had been able to summon a flame, which even a fair distance away, could be felt cooking against her face./p
p data-p-id="c0a0e4fba21dea7309ba948d93bbe435"The slayer hesitated for longer than a moment, knowing that if she made the wrong next she would be a burning corpse./p
p data-p-id="1bc87fab50702e8c6070a1bc9f9175fa" "strongThis town is a cooking pot/strong," the man plotted darkly, smiling in an uneasy way. "strongSave your strength, slayer. Sunnydale is on a simmer/strong. strongThere will be a time to fight for your life/strong."/p
p data-p-id="6f0a0e198fd21114c9d2e4d31544c84d"Despite facing imminent death by fire, Buffy knew she couldn't let the stranger leave. His vocabulary had confirmed all her watcher had warned her about, and she wasn't ready to avert another Armageddon so soon. After she had pierced her vampire lover, pinning him to the demon Acathla, sending them both to a hell dimension, it was too soon. Disguised under her middle name, "Anne", she had fled to Los Angeles, but there was no escaping her destiny. Whether it was a couple of vampires, or some other beasty, she was the only one powerful enough to stop them. Or powerful enough to try./p
p data-p-id="535d3a2248aa8893e961214534bf6a02"The crossbow fired, matched by the budding fire. Dropping her weapon, she rolled to the side in one sudden movement, eyes confined to their target. Before another flame could be summoned, she dashed at the man, leaping over the upturned grave with an overhead kick./p
p data-p-id="3bb2ffa1ebd0de8df0e2a179ac4f85d2"Matched equally, blow to blow, a heat enchanted backhand sent Buffy flying. Like a ton of bricks, she hurtled into the hole, the bones of the skeleton shattering beneath her./p
p data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p data-p-id="8db8f0580c333d5d8fdc2233dbadbdd0"The next day gloomed under a dark sky and foreboding rain, marking the dismal feeling that the usually peppy fighter felt. She walked into the library, hair frizzed from the dash from the car to the school entrance. Giles, as per usual, was already there and questioning of the previous nights activity. He creased at the sight of her face, where a burn had been smacked./p
p data-p-id="ecb0758ab09c42f7ef89096d9f54b4f1" "strongWhat happened/strong?" he worried./p
p data-p-id="48e03356d5fa6987b6389cc6801ee15a" "strongStraighteners/strong," Buffy said, recollecting aloud. "strongOr that's what I told my mother. You were right, Giles. There's something potentially big going on. I came across some grave robbers last night. A couple of vampires, led by a man who could throw fire. He got away with whatever it was that was dug up/strong."/p
p data-p-id="17c74da7685fbcd1f7bb96eb54585332" "strongThis could be the group I was warned about/strong."/p
p data-p-id="643438f5be0d6c47ebc5edef4ac8ac9c" "strongI know, I know/strong." Looking guilty, Buffy leant against the desk. "strongI should've taken you more seriously. But we need to focus on finding out what exactly this object does. I doubt the glowing rock is just a fashion accessory, after going to the trouble of digging someone up/strong."/p
p data-p-id="2aa1ae3d52593ceee7509ce67c3ec0b6"The librarian scurried from where he stood, stammering, "strongQuite right. It's likely this is a magical artefact. Did you see what it looked like? Its colour, it's shape. Anything that can help narrow it down/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="617c3a228cc5a5cd91e065cf5ffb426d" "strongIt could have been a crystal/strong," Buffy answered, trying to remember what she had seen. She followed closely behind him. "strongBig, shiny, on a chain. He looked pretty pleased to have it. Kept on talking like it was only a piece of what's on its way. He mentioned a ceremony that is meant to take place today/strong."/p
p data-p-id="869d742765dcddeca12d0ddf8b0e1748" "strongIt could grant immortality, or power. I've read about gems which when activated with a sacrifice, can accelerate or decelerate the aging process. They were buried a long time ago, but there's no way of telling what it is with so little information. It's probably best if everyone spends the day in the library. The more minds on this, the better/strong."/p
p data-p-id="dd07f5956788a983fd146a75ff973e33"The attention of all five slayerettes and their demon-hunting leader, were quickly put to research in all corners of the library. The unlikely pair of Willow and Cordelia had been left in the stacks, where the mood had started to become as musty as the books. It was only possible to guess, never fully knowing. The hours had swallowed pages upon pages of seemingly unhelpful information, from books such as Incarnations of Fire, Agarax's Bibliography, and A Guide To Witches Crystals. Finishing each caused a feeling of disappointment./p
p data-p-id="f8d7a7164422bcdfca3d0d706718aa45"Willow slotted a leather grimoire back into its eye level row. "strongUnless we're looking to change the colour of our eyes, or summon fat-eating parasites, these books aren't going to help. I think this is the self absorbed section/strong."/p
p data-p-id="005d12167d3b698cead6da244352d291" "strongOh/strong," Cordelia said with an unrestrained excitement, looking up to the frustrated face of the red-head with a furrowed expression. "strongCheck if there's anything in there about magically opening up pores or removing stains from one of a kind dresses/strong."/p
p data-p-id="5194f095dcb7fede1245c4ba1e0de6f3" "strongI stand corrected/strong."/p
p data-p-id="ce01c80279f5f8f296e78a3f2a1e4e67" "strongWe've been looking through books for hours/strong," Coredelia complained. "strongIf we can't find anything about the latest nasty, we might as well solve some real problems. We can always search for a mystical nose job for Buffy in the process/strong."/p
p data-p-id="1696180d6594d3dfee78f23fd4851ef5" "strongLets go. The others might have found something more useful/strong," Willow said. Even for the bookworm, not finding anything that could help had its downwards pull. The vanishing hope made small talk unbearable./p
p data-p-id="a9c66b7c1a13cacb31bcb1755c41817f"In a blanket of uncomfortable silence, neither Xander, Oz, Giles or Buffy had any better luck. Time felt wasted, reading pile after pile of books. Listening to the rain only getting heavier outside, it was as if the idea of sun and positivity had been sucked away./p
p data-p-id="c9070a55473b06c4da355dccb8294198"Buffy's eyes rolled back. "strongThis is pointless! An apocalypse starting ritual is probably happening as we speak, and we're about as helpless as Lucinda/strong."/p
p data-p-id="a5a94536f93be3f5cab007a46ca8097a" "strongLucinda/strong?" Giles questioned./p
p data-p-id="ed6b2f10327df0c78c818ee588d1b7e2" "strongThat's who's grave they dug up/strong," Buffy said with a yawn. She had stood up, slamming the book she had been scanning. "strongLucinda Wake/strong."/p
p data-p-id="fd90e9edaf94d3e1d5eecb4a7471c921" "strongThat name sounds awfully familiar... Lucinda Wake./strong" An eagerness flourished in Giles's eyes, as he moved into his office and came back with an old handbook. "strongI knew it. The Diary of Lucinda Wake. It was found by a watcher in the early nineteen-twenties. It's been cluttering my desk for god knows how long, I just hadn't got around to reading it."/strong/p
p data-p-id="087ae930a78ae494d73823d4870c198b"strong /strong "strongIf only you had figured that out a couple of hours ago/strong," Xander said, looking both annoyed and relieved. At this moment, a face appeared in one of the circle windows of the library doors. Its brown, British eyes fleeted quicker than they had appeared. As the one who had noticed, looking in that direction by coincidence, Buffy's senses told her that something wasn't right. After what had happened the day before, it was clear the student was panicky about her. August had walked away at such a pace, from once glance, that she had to run to catch up./p
p data-p-id="7c151d90c51a815ab4027d2bc450b7e5" "strongAugust/strong!" she shouted. Finally catching up to the boy who either didn't hear her or was purposely ignoring her calls, she grabbed his shoulder./p
p data-p-id="3f1a35e4f145a15f045d506f14c9494b" "strongAh/strong," he said, turning. "strongBuffy, right/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="d0f40c46438699834295a7c48759052f" "strongIs something wrong? You seem... uneasy around me/strong."/p
p data-p-id="3cf25ce10dde58253a87b4ef4a2da70e"The accusation hardened on the boys face, tightening like concrete in his silver eyes. The charm which so easily floated of his spy-like façade, seemed to crack once more. A rich accent and swanky dress code gave his confidence a lure which most would believe, but the boy couldn't disguise a lie around her./p
p data-p-id="8d4be295a41c8e02c25628dfed32f3c7"He swallowed hard./p
p data-p-id="15bccdd16a56f51a9f71cc5072f022a6" "strongI find it hard to be around you/strong," he admitted. His stubborn tongue slowly loosened. "strongYou haven't done anything wrong. I know your secret. I can't tell you how, but I know what you do/strong."/p
p data-p-id="828793670eaded8f39203b28130e34f4" "strongMy secret/strong?" Buffy said slowly. He couldn't possibly be talking about her life of danger and darkness, could he?/p
p data-p-id="7da0121ce3e7701ca4223698cb2069c4" "strongI'm sorry, I have to go."/strong/p
p data-p-id="e9d8ab0be67cca94b5fcc8a59265f7ad" "strongAugust, wait/strong -"/p
p data-p-id="941834d4dfbfaefd391c7db5808e71c7" "strongSorry/strong," August repeated, turning away from the conversation. The telling look on his face had become supine, only regained once down the corridor and out of her view. He had left Buffy bewildered, unsure exactly of what he knew. It wasn't the first time someone had discovered who she was, but it made her wonder, what if the new boy wasn't as innocent as everyone thought? She returned to the library deep in thought. His words relished in her head, like a tape caught on loop./p
p data-p-id="6e7f2dd0007855ba6f846b1841bf3104" "strongWillow/strong," she said rather vacantly. "strongWhat do you really know about your new friend/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="e2bb96449c0dca9fdc57a29c59f0134e" "strongWell, we haven't exactly shared a biography about ourselves with each other/strong," Willow replied. She looked bashful, but confident in what she knew. "strongHis parents are archaeologists, and he wanted to experience public school, so he left London and came to Sunnydale. That's all I know/strong."/p
p data-p-id="e5655094c38a6db62c1b3af898f55da2" "strongWhere does he live? Why move all the way from England to a place like this? Doesn't London have schools? Something doesn't add up/strong."/p
p data-p-id="621ce4faa57508c0b4c83b603f1f8a8c" "strongYou think he's playing for the other side/strong?" Xander questioned. You could tell he was hoping the talk of the high school was evil./p
p data-p-id="a434ea70ab17f004c43a869e13d21bc8" "strongJust because a guy dresses like a model/strong," Cordelia laughed, "strongDoesn't mean that he's gay. Some people just have class./strong"/p
p data-p-id="aca258082dcafa9604b6ee671255fe9d" "strongI meant the team that tries to take off our heads every day/strong," Xander corrected bluntly. "strongAnd hey! I have class./strong"/p
p data-p-id="4e2d1a94213fae12ba636ac85c63dacc" "strongI don't know/strong." Buffy shifted her weight onto the other foot. "strongHe said he knows my secret/strong."/p
p data-p-id="2ff0fa62618eeedd1a9da787a141a9a7" "strongYou should keep an eye on this boy/strong," Giles said, not lifting his eyes from Lucinda's diary. He held it one hand. Clearly nothing of interest had been discovered yet, but it was likely to hold the information they needed. It was too much of a coincidence not to./p
p data-p-id="59aa27d12e8204df874f116b99752eef"Buffy craned her neck. It was a typical day on the hellmouth, worried about who would keep their guts and who wouldn't. For nothing was ever as it seemed in the California town. There would be days where she would feel like a normal teenage girl - rare times, where fun and normality seemed very real - dissolved by the fact she could never have a "normal" life./p
p data-p-id="f470c4604414b0e00bcc8c35609fe0a3" "strongWhat are the chances he's just your everyday American, and I'm being overly paranoid/strong?" Buffy asked the room. The faces looking back at her, with everything they had been through, including her own, knew the answer to the question./p
p data-p-id="5deab126978f556d0f7aca3a8f97b7be"Scouring tombstone to tombstone, a back and forth of sly voices broke the silence./p
p data-p-id="69be3ff477988aa5cb48ff00f480b66c"Three shadowed bodies were up to mischief in the gloom, two of which inverting the soil of a grave marked 'Lucinda Wake' with rusted shovels. From the bones of the long deceased, the gaunt-faced man demanding the pace to be hurried, pulled away an azure crystal necklace and held it on its spindle. The most marvellous glint danced inside./p
p data-p-id="a8560fb94a4b789e68283acca4fe42f7" "strongFinally/strong," he seethed in a guttural impatience. "strongWe've found it. Preparations for the ceremony must start at daylight/strong."/p
p data-p-id="c46ab146d515b1abec47dfc9a4d506e5" "strongOoh, a party/strong," Buffy taunted, stepping from the shadows. A narrow look focused on the items pilfered from the ground. "strongCan I come/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="c4787999f775ddda9af13daac949bc19"Throwing down their shovels, the lackeys on either side of the villain shifted into their game faces. They ran towards her, one immediately exploding against the aimed arrow. With the side of the weapon, she whipped the remaining vampire and watched it tumble. It came back, fangs bared, only to receive a close up treatment of a second arrow. The slayer loaded her crossbow, ready to fire for the final time./p
p data-p-id="03f6c5fdef577b05433de3e18f52ab87" "strongImpressive/strong," the man commended, to no discouragement of his own. "strongMy turn/strong."/p
p data-p-id="df06a4af899a6d735d4e2eabbf71e086"With a quick and unexpected movement, a ball of flames hurtled through the air. Crackling with a fiery creation, it exploded above the ducked position Buffy had taken. The tombstone there, half destroyed, smoked only a foot behind her./p
p data-p-id="a3721c7ab2b3c52ea531813ad726a974" "strongFireballs/strong?" Buffy exclaimed, taken back by the assault. "strongI didn't order a cremation/strong."/p
p data-p-id="2d040c35b9226243c5d82c39311e5547" "strongYou must be the vampire slayer/strong," the assailant mocked, bringing flames into a clear display climbing up his fingers as he walked calmly towards her. "strongI heard this town had one. I've got what I came for, I suggest you go home/strong."/p
p data-p-id="e6c480f37393e14dcb81489e6a6507e7" "strongYou see/strong," Buffy said. "strongIt's my responsibility to stop bad things from happening. I can't leave until you're dead or you've handed over whatever is in your pocket/strong."/p
p data-p-id="6d1da0bec36a88886f46f6619f42d96c"The man stretched his arm out and the blaze of his hand grew against the whistle of the wind. It was clear that he was no vampire. Buffy had fought all kinds of evil incarnations since her discovery of being The Chosen One. Nightmares. The Des Kindestod. The sleepwalker, Eyghon. Most recently, The Judge, who after being reassembled, could incinerate those with the slightest of humanity - but none of her enemies had been able to summon a flame, which even a fair distance away, could be felt cooking against her face./p
p data-p-id="c0a0e4fba21dea7309ba948d93bbe435"The slayer hesitated for longer than a moment, knowing that if she made the wrong next she would be a burning corpse./p
p data-p-id="1bc87fab50702e8c6070a1bc9f9175fa" "strongThis town is a cooking pot/strong," the man plotted darkly, smiling in an uneasy way. "strongSave your strength, slayer. Sunnydale is on a simmer/strong. strongThere will be a time to fight for your life/strong."/p
p data-p-id="6f0a0e198fd21114c9d2e4d31544c84d"Despite facing imminent death by fire, Buffy knew she couldn't let the stranger leave. His vocabulary had confirmed all her watcher had warned her about, and she wasn't ready to avert another Armageddon so soon. After she had pierced her vampire lover, pinning him to the demon Acathla, sending them both to a hell dimension, it was too soon. Disguised under her middle name, "Anne", she had fled to Los Angeles, but there was no escaping her destiny. Whether it was a couple of vampires, or some other beasty, she was the only one powerful enough to stop them. Or powerful enough to try./p
p data-p-id="535d3a2248aa8893e961214534bf6a02"The crossbow fired, matched by the budding fire. Dropping her weapon, she rolled to the side in one sudden movement, eyes confined to their target. Before another flame could be summoned, she dashed at the man, leaping over the upturned grave with an overhead kick./p
p data-p-id="3bb2ffa1ebd0de8df0e2a179ac4f85d2"Matched equally, blow to blow, a heat enchanted backhand sent Buffy flying. Like a ton of bricks, she hurtled into the hole, the bones of the skeleton shattering beneath her./p
p data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p data-p-id="8db8f0580c333d5d8fdc2233dbadbdd0"The next day gloomed under a dark sky and foreboding rain, marking the dismal feeling that the usually peppy fighter felt. She walked into the library, hair frizzed from the dash from the car to the school entrance. Giles, as per usual, was already there and questioning of the previous nights activity. He creased at the sight of her face, where a burn had been smacked./p
p data-p-id="ecb0758ab09c42f7ef89096d9f54b4f1" "strongWhat happened/strong?" he worried./p
p data-p-id="48e03356d5fa6987b6389cc6801ee15a" "strongStraighteners/strong," Buffy said, recollecting aloud. "strongOr that's what I told my mother. You were right, Giles. There's something potentially big going on. I came across some grave robbers last night. A couple of vampires, led by a man who could throw fire. He got away with whatever it was that was dug up/strong."/p
p data-p-id="17c74da7685fbcd1f7bb96eb54585332" "strongThis could be the group I was warned about/strong."/p
p data-p-id="643438f5be0d6c47ebc5edef4ac8ac9c" "strongI know, I know/strong." Looking guilty, Buffy leant against the desk. "strongI should've taken you more seriously. But we need to focus on finding out what exactly this object does. I doubt the glowing rock is just a fashion accessory, after going to the trouble of digging someone up/strong."/p
p data-p-id="2aa1ae3d52593ceee7509ce67c3ec0b6"The librarian scurried from where he stood, stammering, "strongQuite right. It's likely this is a magical artefact. Did you see what it looked like? Its colour, it's shape. Anything that can help narrow it down/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="617c3a228cc5a5cd91e065cf5ffb426d" "strongIt could have been a crystal/strong," Buffy answered, trying to remember what she had seen. She followed closely behind him. "strongBig, shiny, on a chain. He looked pretty pleased to have it. Kept on talking like it was only a piece of what's on its way. He mentioned a ceremony that is meant to take place today/strong."/p
p data-p-id="869d742765dcddeca12d0ddf8b0e1748" "strongIt could grant immortality, or power. I've read about gems which when activated with a sacrifice, can accelerate or decelerate the aging process. They were buried a long time ago, but there's no way of telling what it is with so little information. It's probably best if everyone spends the day in the library. The more minds on this, the better/strong."/p
p data-p-id="dd07f5956788a983fd146a75ff973e33"The attention of all five slayerettes and their demon-hunting leader, were quickly put to research in all corners of the library. The unlikely pair of Willow and Cordelia had been left in the stacks, where the mood had started to become as musty as the books. It was only possible to guess, never fully knowing. The hours had swallowed pages upon pages of seemingly unhelpful information, from books such as Incarnations of Fire, Agarax's Bibliography, and A Guide To Witches Crystals. Finishing each caused a feeling of disappointment./p
p data-p-id="f8d7a7164422bcdfca3d0d706718aa45"Willow slotted a leather grimoire back into its eye level row. "strongUnless we're looking to change the colour of our eyes, or summon fat-eating parasites, these books aren't going to help. I think this is the self absorbed section/strong."/p
p data-p-id="005d12167d3b698cead6da244352d291" "strongOh/strong," Cordelia said with an unrestrained excitement, looking up to the frustrated face of the red-head with a furrowed expression. "strongCheck if there's anything in there about magically opening up pores or removing stains from one of a kind dresses/strong."/p
p data-p-id="5194f095dcb7fede1245c4ba1e0de6f3" "strongI stand corrected/strong."/p
p data-p-id="ce01c80279f5f8f296e78a3f2a1e4e67" "strongWe've been looking through books for hours/strong," Coredelia complained. "strongIf we can't find anything about the latest nasty, we might as well solve some real problems. We can always search for a mystical nose job for Buffy in the process/strong."/p
p data-p-id="1696180d6594d3dfee78f23fd4851ef5" "strongLets go. The others might have found something more useful/strong," Willow said. Even for the bookworm, not finding anything that could help had its downwards pull. The vanishing hope made small talk unbearable./p
p data-p-id="a9c66b7c1a13cacb31bcb1755c41817f"In a blanket of uncomfortable silence, neither Xander, Oz, Giles or Buffy had any better luck. Time felt wasted, reading pile after pile of books. Listening to the rain only getting heavier outside, it was as if the idea of sun and positivity had been sucked away./p
p data-p-id="c9070a55473b06c4da355dccb8294198"Buffy's eyes rolled back. "strongThis is pointless! An apocalypse starting ritual is probably happening as we speak, and we're about as helpless as Lucinda/strong."/p
p data-p-id="a5a94536f93be3f5cab007a46ca8097a" "strongLucinda/strong?" Giles questioned./p
p data-p-id="ed6b2f10327df0c78c818ee588d1b7e2" "strongThat's who's grave they dug up/strong," Buffy said with a yawn. She had stood up, slamming the book she had been scanning. "strongLucinda Wake/strong."/p
p data-p-id="fd90e9edaf94d3e1d5eecb4a7471c921" "strongThat name sounds awfully familiar... Lucinda Wake./strong" An eagerness flourished in Giles's eyes, as he moved into his office and came back with an old handbook. "strongI knew it. The Diary of Lucinda Wake. It was found by a watcher in the early nineteen-twenties. It's been cluttering my desk for god knows how long, I just hadn't got around to reading it."/strong/p
p data-p-id="087ae930a78ae494d73823d4870c198b"strong /strong "strongIf only you had figured that out a couple of hours ago/strong," Xander said, looking both annoyed and relieved. At this moment, a face appeared in one of the circle windows of the library doors. Its brown, British eyes fleeted quicker than they had appeared. As the one who had noticed, looking in that direction by coincidence, Buffy's senses told her that something wasn't right. After what had happened the day before, it was clear the student was panicky about her. August had walked away at such a pace, from once glance, that she had to run to catch up./p
p data-p-id="7c151d90c51a815ab4027d2bc450b7e5" "strongAugust/strong!" she shouted. Finally catching up to the boy who either didn't hear her or was purposely ignoring her calls, she grabbed his shoulder./p
p data-p-id="3f1a35e4f145a15f045d506f14c9494b" "strongAh/strong," he said, turning. "strongBuffy, right/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="d0f40c46438699834295a7c48759052f" "strongIs something wrong? You seem... uneasy around me/strong."/p
p data-p-id="3cf25ce10dde58253a87b4ef4a2da70e"The accusation hardened on the boys face, tightening like concrete in his silver eyes. The charm which so easily floated of his spy-like façade, seemed to crack once more. A rich accent and swanky dress code gave his confidence a lure which most would believe, but the boy couldn't disguise a lie around her./p
p data-p-id="8d4be295a41c8e02c25628dfed32f3c7"He swallowed hard./p
p data-p-id="15bccdd16a56f51a9f71cc5072f022a6" "strongI find it hard to be around you/strong," he admitted. His stubborn tongue slowly loosened. "strongYou haven't done anything wrong. I know your secret. I can't tell you how, but I know what you do/strong."/p
p data-p-id="828793670eaded8f39203b28130e34f4" "strongMy secret/strong?" Buffy said slowly. He couldn't possibly be talking about her life of danger and darkness, could he?/p
p data-p-id="7da0121ce3e7701ca4223698cb2069c4" "strongI'm sorry, I have to go."/strong/p
p data-p-id="e9d8ab0be67cca94b5fcc8a59265f7ad" "strongAugust, wait/strong -"/p
p data-p-id="941834d4dfbfaefd391c7db5808e71c7" "strongSorry/strong," August repeated, turning away from the conversation. The telling look on his face had become supine, only regained once down the corridor and out of her view. He had left Buffy bewildered, unsure exactly of what he knew. It wasn't the first time someone had discovered who she was, but it made her wonder, what if the new boy wasn't as innocent as everyone thought? She returned to the library deep in thought. His words relished in her head, like a tape caught on loop./p
p data-p-id="6e7f2dd0007855ba6f846b1841bf3104" "strongWillow/strong," she said rather vacantly. "strongWhat do you really know about your new friend/strong?"/p
p data-p-id="e2bb96449c0dca9fdc57a29c59f0134e" "strongWell, we haven't exactly shared a biography about ourselves with each other/strong," Willow replied. She looked bashful, but confident in what she knew. "strongHis parents are archaeologists, and he wanted to experience public school, so he left London and came to Sunnydale. That's all I know/strong."/p
p data-p-id="e5655094c38a6db62c1b3af898f55da2" "strongWhere does he live? Why move all the way from England to a place like this? Doesn't London have schools? Something doesn't add up/strong."/p
p data-p-id="621ce4faa57508c0b4c83b603f1f8a8c" "strongYou think he's playing for the other side/strong?" Xander questioned. You could tell he was hoping the talk of the high school was evil./p
p data-p-id="a434ea70ab17f004c43a869e13d21bc8" "strongJust because a guy dresses like a model/strong," Cordelia laughed, "strongDoesn't mean that he's gay. Some people just have class./strong"/p
p data-p-id="aca258082dcafa9604b6ee671255fe9d" "strongI meant the team that tries to take off our heads every day/strong," Xander corrected bluntly. "strongAnd hey! I have class./strong"/p
p data-p-id="4e2d1a94213fae12ba636ac85c63dacc" "strongI don't know/strong." Buffy shifted her weight onto the other foot. "strongHe said he knows my secret/strong."/p
p data-p-id="2ff0fa62618eeedd1a9da787a141a9a7" "strongYou should keep an eye on this boy/strong," Giles said, not lifting his eyes from Lucinda's diary. He held it one hand. Clearly nothing of interest had been discovered yet, but it was likely to hold the information they needed. It was too much of a coincidence not to./p
p data-p-id="59aa27d12e8204df874f116b99752eef"Buffy craned her neck. It was a typical day on the hellmouth, worried about who would keep their guts and who wouldn't. For nothing was ever as it seemed in the California town. There would be days where she would feel like a normal teenage girl - rare times, where fun and normality seemed very real - dissolved by the fact she could never have a "normal" life./p
p data-p-id="f470c4604414b0e00bcc8c35609fe0a3" "strongWhat are the chances he's just your everyday American, and I'm being overly paranoid/strong?" Buffy asked the room. The faces looking back at her, with everything they had been through, including her own, knew the answer to the question./p
