Rupert Giles looked over the assembled group, everyone currently looking through books, trying to find information. Despite the diligent effort that he was seeing, he had the fear that it wouldn t be enough. That he simply wouldn t have the right books, or might never have had the right books. Closing the book that he d been looking at, more a summary of the organizational structure of the early Druidic Watchers than anything about the dangers that they d faced, he laced his fingers together, turning his hands so that the palms were away before pushing outward, his knuckles crackling and popping from the motion. Much as I hate to admit this We might not have enough information here. I think we need to try to consult with other sources.

When you say other sources , just who do you mean? Buffy s question sounded unhappy.

Rupert tried to brace himself for the near inevitable protests that he expected would follow his words. I mean anyone, or anything that might have any chance of possessing information to help us. I intend to call Wesley and see if they can find anything, and to also try to speak with some of my former colleagues among the Council of Watchers. I suggest that either you or Spike check at Willie s, and if Spike still has any potentially useful contacts among the demon world, consult them. Tara, if you know any witches I ll have to see if I can find Willow and ask her to check online

Xander looked at him, blinking in dismay. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but closed it again. After a pause, accompanied by little motions of his fingers, perhaps a count to ten effort to reign in his temper? Xander spoke. We don t like or trust the Council of Watchers. Are you sure that it s bad enough to talk to them again?

We are facing the possibility of the end of the world. Not simply another apocalypse, or someone trying to open a portal to a horrible dimension, but something that will come along and suck the life out of every thing on this planet. Every human, animal, plant, fish, demon everything. Including Watchers, even those away in London where they are safe from the Hellmouth. He sighed, running one hand through his hair. It isn t a matter of trusting them. It s a matter of, to use Spike s analogy, they won t want to be eaten either.

And how long will it take them to get back to us? Amy s soft question was filled with worry.

Looking at her, he felt something inside give a little sigh. Amy was a sweet seeming girl, and her life had been disrupted badly already. She shouldn t have to be dragged into this. But Amy hadn t had a choice in her involvement, none of them had, really. I don t know. That is one reason why we will be consulting other sources.

Spike opened another book, a low growl emerging from him. Another reason being that the Council s a bunch of bloody twits.

Shaking his head, he sipped at his now cold tea. Much as I would love to be able to dispute that claim, I must admit that Spike has a point. There are a remarkable number of hidebound twits among the Council s ranks. Possibly other sources will be more forthcoming with information.

Buffy looked up, her eyes troubled. So this is something that even worst enemies would fight side by side to get rid of? Will they even work with a Slayer?

Once they realize the danger if they know what it is. I would assume that most minions vampires or the unintelligent demons would have no idea what is at stake, and would therefore remain on their normal behavior. But those demons with a tradition of history and knowledge should be most unwilling for this danger to escape. Hopefully, they will be willing to help keep it away, rather than killing themselves. He looked at his Slayer, noticing the way that the sparkle had faded from her eyes, and how her hair lacked the vibrancy and shine of the year before.

So, I start asking questions before staking? Buffy leaned back, running her own hand through her hair.

Something along those lines. And I fear things will only get worse before they get better if they get better. There were days when he hated the knowledge that he d gathered over the years. If the danger was strong enough that they could all feel it, that demons were killing themselves rather than face it, it would get worse. If they survived this, he had a very good chance of developing an ulcer.

Way to make with the comforting, Giles. Buffy s dry comment summed things up. Unfortunately, it was rather bleakly accurate.

This isn t a particularly comforting situation. He resisted the urge to clean his glasses, partly because he half expected the fragile glue holding them together to break at any moment anyhow. I am hoping that we can muddle through.

End part 34.

Willow knew that she was dreaming. Everything looked different, the air smelled different. Not exactly clean, but it wasn t the air of Sunnydale. There was the salty scent of the ocean, but it was subtly different, and it was joined by the scent of fish. The air held no taint of smog, although there was definitely smoke, and something rotting, and was that beer? She was walking down the street, whistling a jaunty tune, but the movement wasn t at all like her own

Oh, that explained everything, she wasn t herself in the dream. She was a man, dressed in good quality clothing, fairly expensive. His hair had been pulled pack into a ponytail, held, she somehow knew, by a length of ribbon. There was a pub, and he paused by the door, checking his reflection in the glass. Angel s reflection, grinning with an expression of arrogance, confidence, and what Willow could most easily describe as the urge to go forth and party, was there, a bit more tanned than she was used to, but still undeniably

Liam! Liam, my lad, come in, have a drink! Tonight is a cause for celebration. Thomas called to him, his broad smile and slightly glazed eyes hinting that he d already been celebrating for a while now.

Gladly. So, who s buying the first round? Liam clapped his friend s shoulder, looking forward to a night of drinking, and maybe a bit of carousing. That new barmaid, for instance

Oh yes, a night of drinking, and shameless flirting with the pretty barmaid, a young woman named Bess, whose blouse exposed more than a hint of her cleavage. The part of Willow that was aware that this was a dream sighed, wondering exactly what was so significant about this night, or if it was just something else of his past.

Eventually, having drank a bit too much, and flirted with Bess, he staggered out of the pub, still feeling very good about things. There was a woman standing in the mouth of an alley, a beautiful blond in a corset and full length gown, her hair mostly pulled up, with golden ringlets falling in a cascade. She was lovely, and almost familiar.

So, I ask myself, what s a lady like you doing in a place like this? Liam s voice was almost entirely unslurred, and he was having very interesting thoughts about the mysterious blond, imagining unlacing her gown, finding out if her stockings were silk, if she would moan as he unlaced the corset underneath, if her skin would be as soft and smooth as silk.

She turned her head slightly, looking at him from the corner of her eye, a coy smile on her lips. This was no sheltered, innocent lady, not with a smile like that! I lost my way.

M Lady, you don t even look like you belong in the same world as this street. The same smile that had seemed to charm Bess had returned, offered for this elegant looking woman. He moved closer, fascinated.

I ve been to many places in this world. Traveled, seen the far away places Her voice almost seemed to beckon him, like the legends of the sirens that had drawn sailors into the rocks. Shouldn t that be a warning? Sirens were bad

Show me your world. The words slipped out of his lips.

Her smile was oddly triumphant, right before her features changed, her eyes turning to shimmering gold, her pearl like teeth becoming sharp fangs moments before they sank into his throat. It was agony, it was almost ecstasy; the feeling of her lips, the pull of his blood flowing into her mouth seemed to make every bit of him tingle and hum. It was wonderful, until the cold began, the feeling starting at his toes and fingers, working its way up, leaving prickling numbness. He began to feel too heavy, his breathing labored and his vision dimming, spinning.

Drink. There was something damp over the sweet curve of her breast, the soft flesh slightly perfumed As she held his face against her firm bosom, he licked at the fluid, a part of him screaming that this was wrong, this was something terrible

And Willow awoke, gasping for breath, her chest feeling tight, as if she couldn t breathe. The remembered taste of blood seemed to fill her mouth. Darla. She d remembered or dreamed Angel being turned by Darla and my goodness, was that a skanky, sexy sort of way to go about it! It would have been incredibly sensual and wonderful except for the fact that she d only just met Liam in the alley.

A firm arm was wrapped around her. Looking, Willow realized that Angel had fallen asleep beside her. He looked so peaceful, just stretched out there beside her, his hair much shorter than in the dream-memory. With a small sigh, Willow smiled, her eyes trying to memorize the sight of him. Angel, laying in her bed, sleeping peacefully.

She moved the covers slightly, and snuggled up against him, smiling at the way that she fit against his body. It seemed just about perfectly comfortable, and she felt dainty, protected. And having a sexy, charming person curled up against you was almost always good

Willow didn t want to think very much right now. Thinking would make certain that she woke up entirely, that she left the faint protective barriers of lingering dreams, and once more be immersed in the panic of the shadow thing that had been haunting her dreams. Once more need to worry about danger, and evil. She d rather just curl up against Angel and have impossible wistful dreams. Just curl up against him, and sleep, pretending that she could keep him with her always.

There would be time later for serious thoughts about scary evil. And if it turned out that there wasn t time later, wouldn t it be nicer to just die in your sleep, curled up with someone attractive than awake and screaming?

End part 35.
Amy stared at the book, almost regretting that she still remembered how to read. If she d forgotten that along with doorknobs and how to work the shower, then she wouldn t be here, turning thought pages and pages of book after book after book of scary, nasty things that killed people. She wouldn t be searching for the names of things so terrible that a group of ancient mages had altered reality to create Slayers.

If I was still a rat, I would just be running circles on my wheel, entirely unaware of this stuff. Her not so happy thought just slipped out, leaving startled silence.

You almost sound like you miss it. Xander was looking at her, his eyes wide.

She could feel herself blushing a bit. Well, life was simple. Eat, drink, and run in circles. No hassles, no worries of scary things trying to eat me, and no worries about does this outfit look okay? Now, everything is complicated, there s the whole clothing thing, and doorknobs, and scary things trying to devour the world.

Well, there s no need to bother with clothing on my account. Spike had this flirtatious smile, and a gleam in his eye that hinted at interesting images playing through his mind.

Ack! Just... don t! Xander was looking at Spike, his expression one of extreme dismay.

Right, like Xander said. Just don t, Spike. Buffy s words sounded sharp, almost biting, like little sharp teeth.

Don t Spike? Is that what you were saying to him before? Before you decided that you didn t want to keep him as your dirty little secret? What happened, did he want you to actually show some hint of consideration for him, maybe consider treating him like a person when you weren t boffing him? She glared at Buffy, wondering exactly when the blonde girl had gone from being the sort of almost popular but caring type that she remembered from school to this cold-hearted bitch. She hadn t been like this when they d nearly been burned at those stakes.

Xander just let himself collapse face first into a book, muffled noises emerging that sounded unhappy as his hands flew over his ears. Bad words bad, bad words. Bad images. Nnngghhhh.

Giles made this odd noise, partly a clucking, partly a gasp. It ended up sounding like he was trying to swallow his tongue, and he turned this funny color of purple. Finally, just as she was starting to think that he was really choking, the words came out, to shocked and appalled to be a question. Buffy and Spike?

Spike just edged back a bit, his eyes watching Buffy carefully. Not the eyes of someone eyeing their beloved or belusted whatever, but the look of someone watching the monster to make sure it doesn t bite. Bloody hell, she didn t have to go bring that up

Now listen here, Amy Madison. You have no right to accuse me of treating him wrong, no right to butt into my life! It s none of your business what I think of Spike, or how I treat him! Buffy was shouting, her eyes cold and angry.

Wrong. Any s answer was soft, her eyes focused on Buffy. You decided that I was having an affair with Willow, and decided to treat her like some sort of jezebel, and me along with her. You butted into our lives. And no, I really don t suppose that it matters what you think about anything, but you didn t want Spike, so just back the hell away! Stop stabbing at him with your words. Bet the whole reason you assumed that Willow was having some secret affair was because you were.

You don t know anything about it! Buffy was glaring at Amy, her whole posture threatening.

About why you d treat a fine looking hunk of man-flesh like dirt? Nope, not a clue. About why you re screaming like a harpy? No clue there either. Amy s lips curved into a small smile. I do know that if you try anything against me, I can turn you into a rat. Again. Maybe in another three years, Willow could fix you. Ahh, girls, I m not quite certain that this is the time or place Giles efforts to calm them went unheeded.

And what happens with your nasty shadow dream monster if I m a mouse? Buffy was still glaring, one hand clenched around a dagger.

If it doesn t have a body, what are you supposed to do? Talk it to death? Explain that basic black is out this year? Amy glared at the Slayer, feeling her frustrations at this person swell. It would be so easy to just blast her.

We don t know how to stop it yet, Amy. Giles sounded tired, and for some reason, he was in the doorway.

Amy stopped, taking a moment to think about how she was reacting. She sounded like well, she sounded like a jealous soap opera bitch-queen. And really, there was no need to blast Buffy with her magic. Not only would that be very bad, and wrong, and all sorts of terrible karma, didn t Slayers normally get killed fairly quickly anyhow? Willow probably wouldn t be able to bring her back a second time We sound like a pair of rabid cats. Just add in a few hisses and growls.

Close enough. Xander had moved as well, taking cover under the table.

Amy tilted her head, sort of glancing at Giles and Spike without entirely taking her eyes off of Buffy. Do you think there s something in the air making everyone cranky, paranoid, and violent? It s just this is a lot more hostility than I should be feeling.

Giles nodded slightly, a look of concentration on his face. There are numerous circumstances that would cause either emotional enhancement or adding strength to the darker emotions, which would include fear. Perhaps if Buffy and Xander would go to the other room, they could look for emotion altering demons or ritual, while you and Spike remain here looking for information on these early barriers or the Most Ancient of Hungers?

Amy sighed, leaning against the wall. Separate the fighting kids, yeah. I suppose that would work. And meanwhile, you can start calling people to ask if they know anything about a something that scares demons and wants to eat the world.

Giles sighed, his voice only slightly sarcastic as he nodded. Now that we have everything cleared up, go back to researching. Buffy, Xander, to the front room, by the cash register. I ll just go make some phone calls about the end of the world.

End part 36.