Chapter Six: Girl Talk

It didn't take the demon long to show her the cave at the edge of town. "There it is," he said, as he pointed with a gnarled finger. Then he turned and left Buffy standing alone in the early morning light.

With all stealth of the Slayer, Buffy entered the cave. She could hear weeping coming from up ahead. Was there someone in trouble? They sounded so sad. Did they think they would never be rescued? Well, today was there lucky day. They had a Slayer to save them.

Buffy was all ready to rescue some poor victim from the clutches of an evil demon. Only when she stepped into the cavern it was the demon who was crying.

Looking at the creature, she realized that not all demons were evil. Look at Clem, she thought. He was like a big floppy puppy. Always trying to make you happy and lift your spirits. Except for that first time they met over kitten poker. That still grossed her out. Buffy cleared her throat and asked, "Are you all right?"

Monllon hissed, "What do you want here?"

"I'm looking for a vampire. Have you seen any?" Buffy was staying close to the exit and as far away from the reptilian monster as she could.

Monllon rose up to her full height and hissed, again. "What do you want with a vampire?" Her sobs lessened as she continued. "Just who exactly are you?"

"The Slayer."

"What do you want with Spike?" Monllon hissed.

"Oh I don't know, maim him, torture him perhaps. Slay him?"

"You want to slay Spike! After all he's sacrificing for you?" Monllon began to sob even harder. "Why you ungrateful . . . human!"

"All he's sacrificing for me?" Buffy began to be outraged. "I need him here with me to fight The First and instead he leaves me? What kind of sacrifice is that? To just walk out? What kind of sacrifice is it when you desert the people that are counting on you?"

Monllon gave her a shocked look of horror. "You don't know! He didn't tell you?"

"Don't know what?" Buffy's anger and frustration were coming to the forefront. "He didn't tell me what?" All reason went out of her head as she stepped closer to the demon.

"He's going to sacrifice himself to save you from the heartbreak that he's caused you."

She already knew that from the letter, but what did it mean. "How?" Buffy had a strange feeling that Monllon knew his intentions.

The demon began to weep even harder. "It's so romantic. He's going to end his life as a vampire before it even has a chance to begin. I wish someone loved me that much. You're such a lucky girl."

Lucky? Lucky! She couldn't believe her ears. How was she lucky, to have Spike wanting to kill himself for her? To save her, from the pain and sorry he had caused her. That wasn't what she wanted. She wanted him! Here and now. By her side. Fighting the good fight. Just like always.

"Where is the Riglartra amulet!"

"I gave it to him, of course. How could I not after his heart-wrenching tale?"

"Well, where can I get one? I need to find him."

"It's one of a kind! I'm sorry! I don't know anyone who has anything you can use."

Buffy's shoulder's slumped as she turned and walked away from the reptilian demon and out of the cavern. What was she to do now? Think Buffy think, she kept repeating to herself as she ran from the cavern and headed home as quickly as her feet would go.

Buffy entered the house and was still panting from her sprint. Willow and Dawn were waiting for her. Buffy quickly explained what Willy had told her, and then her encounter with Monllon.

"If he went back to get rid of William, that would explain his cryptic note," Buffy said. Somehow she just knew that that had been his intention all along. She had to stop him before he rewrote history. "I need an amulet or spell. Find me something Will!"

Buffy gave Willow a look that both Willow and Dawn knew all too well.

"Buff, are you sure you want me to do this?"

"Yeah Buffy, look what he's done to you? He may be a great fighter, but . . . relationship wise? Buffy he tried to rape you. Wouldn't we all be better off if he had never come around in the first place?" Dawn's words were harsh, but true.

"I need him . . . to fight The First." Was all she'd admit to.

Both girls looked at Buffy as though she were crazy if she thought either one of them believed that was the only reason. Everyone it seemed, except Buffy and Spike, knew they were in love with each other. It hadn't all been one-sided on Spike's part, as Buffy wanted everyone to believe.

"I'll see what I can come up with," Willow said.

Willow woke Anya up to help. She knew a lot about demons - having once been one herself - and amulets.

The three girls searched through the books, while Buffy paced the length of the living room and back again.

"Here!" Anya said. "This should do it." She handed Willow the book.

Willow scanned it and then groused, "We don't want to send her to another universe!"

"Well you said find something for another time and place. What would you call that?"

Ignoring Anya, Willow and Dawn went back to their perusing.

"How about stopping for some ice cream?" Anya interjected.

Buffy stopped in her tracks and gave Anya a withering look.

"Well I'm hungry," she said, before going back to reading.

Two hours later Buffy thought it was hopeless. Spike would succeed in erasing himself from her life forever.

"Yippee!" Dawn screeched as she jumped up from her chair.

Willow took the book from her, and her face dropped. "Dawnie, this amulet can only be used once."

"So make it stronger," she said with glee in her eyes.

"It's not that easy Dawnie. This amulet takes a lot of magic."

"You're a powerful Wicca Will you can do anything."

There was no denying the hopefulness in Buffy's hazel eyes.

Willow knew she had to try, no matter how daunting it would be.