Chapter 10
Buffy was on her way to take a bubble bath when Giles had called and even though his call was the one she had been dreading since she had arrived in London, she was determined to get her bath anyway.
She thought it would be the last time, for a while at least, that she would be able to relax and just soak away the doomed thoughts plaguing her mind recently.
She stripped down and slowly slid into the hot water. It was nice and she had been looking forward to it all day. As she leaned back and tried to enjoy the soothing warmth of the water and luscious smell of the bath salts as her mind traveled back to her conversation with Giles.
He called to inform her of Faith's news. Things had progressed and Giles was sure that the fight that was predicted was about to begin.
As Giles briefed Buffy her mind began to wander to thoughts of the friend she was missing, Xander. He had been absent from their reunion and Buffy began to miss his interruptions and barbs that usually lightened the mood when things got scary.
"Is Xander going to meet us in LA?" Buffy stopped his barrage of instructions trying to get a word in before her mind exploded from all the information his was spitting at her.
"I'm afraid not Buffy. His mission is vital to the upcoming battle. He must continue his trek in Africa….. It's crucial that we collect this weapon before the next battle begins." Buffy could hear Giles' agitation when she interrupted his instructions and it brought a sly grin to her face.
"I don't get it Giles, what is this mystery weapon anyway. I already have the scythe; I don't think they could have made anything better."
"Indeed, it is a formidable weapon Buffy but I don't believe this weapon was forged for you; I believe it may be for…..Angel." Giles spoke hesitantly and Buffy understood why.
"Ok, I think I'm lacking back story here. Did we discuss this before because if we did I'm drawing a zero?"
"Unfortunately I did not have time to tell you about this before but since time has run short……." Giles hesitated yet again before he continued.
"The information we've acquired from the old council building contained several documents that I had never before laid eyes on. There were journals from seers that had been employed by the council several hundred years ago. It seems the scarcely reported knowledge of the first Slayer was grossly exaggerated by the council. They had vast amounts of information that they decided was not privy to the rest of us. After reading several documents I discovered why. We know that the first Slayer worked alone, no family or friends to speak of, but she did have a……… mate."
Giles paused again waiting to see if Buffy had anything to add but her silence was clear; he had her full attention and he continued.
"Her mate was reported to be--well for lack of a better phrase……a half breed, which I can only assume means he was part demon. I don't know what kind of demon but we do know he wasn't liked by the Shadow Men. There were several accounts of the Shadow Men trying to rid themselves of the male but he seemed quit elusive. It is reported that her mate fought by her side with a weapon that was constructed by the Slayer herself. The journal said that she buried the weapon with him when he was killed in battle; she was reported killed not long after. That weapon is what Xander has been searching for."
Giles started to clear his throat and Buffy thought she could hear him cleaning his glasses.
"I see what you're saying Giles but what does this have to do with Angel?"
"Please Buffy, with all the portents and the prophecy you know this weapon was meant for Angel to wield. The apocalypse we are facing now; I think we need all the help we can get. I just hope we arrive in time to stop the first attack before Angel and his people are killed."
Buffy now lay in the tub with her eyes closed trying to clear her mind. It was hard after talking with Giles but she managed to focus on the park across from her apartment in Rome. It was a beautiful spot with trees and flowers and she longed to be there with her shoes off feeling the soft grass beneath her feet, and once again she thought of Xander and his game of 'anywhere but here'. She giggled and let out a long sigh finally relaxing her body.
Those thoughts only lasted for a few moments before Angel's form appeared in her mind. She couldn't stop thinking about him lately. She pictured his tall muscular body, his thick black hair, and those deep chocolate eyes that she could loose herself in. She was dreaming of him more now than ever. Every night when she drifted off he would appear to her.
It was the only place where she could be with him the way she wanted. Every night they made passionate love, and every morning she awoke with him not by her side. It made her sad to think she could only have him in her dreams, well, that was until Willow told her about his soul being bound.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan and Buffy stood with Giles and Willow waiting for everyone to board the plane. Buffy was expressing her concern about having to keep Dawn with her and bring her to yet another battle.
Dawn was blossoming in Rome, going to school, getting good grades, making new friends, and just growing up normal; it was a shame that she had to once again put her life on hold because her sister was the Slayer.
The problem was she couldn't allow Dawn to go back to Rome. Not with the Immortal out for vengeance. There had not been another attack on her since she first arrived in London but Buffy knew that wouldn't last long.
If she knew her luck, in men that is, he would be plotting something soon. He would definitely try to use Dawn to get back at her and no way was she going to let that happen. So, once again little sis would play Watcher Jr.
Dawn was standing in the doorway of the plane franticly waving her arms at Buffy trying to get her attention. Buffy saw this and began to giggle nudging Willow and pointing in her direction. Willow looked at Dawn and smiled but got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach at the scared look on Dawn's face.
They thought she was getting impatient waiting for them but what she was trying to do was point out the group of black sedans speeding their way down the road towards the landing strip.
"I think we have company." Willow pointed towards the cars who by this time had almost reached them.
"Great, that's all we need. Hey Giles, I think my welcoming committee is back." Buffy shook her head and grabbed her favorite weapon.
"Dawn, tell the girls we might need some back up." Buffy yelled as she walked towards the first approaching car.
Kennedy grabbed Rona and they quickly left the plane to stand next to Buffy. "Hey B, you think these are the same guys from the airport?"
"Gees Ken, been hanging with Faith much?" Buffy shook her head and got in fighting stance.
The cars came to a screeching halt and a gang of thirty or so men filed out.
"Yep, definitely a Buffy party, look at all the vamps to dance with." Buffy commented to her fighting partners as they split up.
The fight started immediately and the three Slayers cut thru them like they were nothing. Buffy noticed one white car in the center of black cars. The windows were tinted dark and when the rest of the demons got out, no one seemed to exit that vehicle. She quickly disposed of the seven or eight vampires in her way as she walked to the white car.
She approached the drivers' side of the car and gently rapped on the window. When she tried the door it was locked. She shrugged her shoulders and swung hard with the scythe shattering the glass and pulling the driver out the window.
"You might as well have put a blinking red sign on the roof that says 'I'm in charge, come and get me' now who the hell are you and what do you want?"
"The Immortal says you owe him Slayer. He sent us to bring you back to Rome." Buffy punched the guy in the gut and he doubled over in pain.
"I owe him nothing. Tell your boss to leave me alone." Buffy picked the demon up off the ground by his neck. His feet were dangling and he was struggling to break free from her grip. "What is it with evil men, they can't use a phone. Tell him that I am tired of his games. I don't have time for this."
"He wants you back in Rome. He says to tell you that if you go to LA you will be sorry." She released the smelly demon and backed up.
"Was that supposed to be a threat? You go back and tell him that I don't do threats. Take your boys and get the hell out of here before my girls finish them off." Buffy stood over him as he rose up and signaled to the remaining crew to back off.
Figuring that they got the point Buffy turned and started to walk away. She only took a few steps before she felt the sharp pain in the back of her head.
When she had turned her back, two scaly demons emerged from the back of the white sedan and struck her hard on the back of the head. She felt the blow and turned sharply to see who hit her. She reached back to the spot they had hit and came back with a bloody hand just before she toppled over to the ground.
"BUFFY" Dawns scream was heard by all.
Willow scrambled to the side of the car and hit the demons with a blast of white energy causing them to drop Buffy and hurl in the other direction. The demon that had been driving turned and ran in the opposite direction.
Buffy came to and pulled herself up off the ground; cursing under her breath for not paying attention. She had gotten sloppy over the past few months living in Rome not training or keeping up with her Slayer duties had her off her game and she had just paid the price.
She walked over to the demons lying unconscious next to the car and kicked the closest one as hard as she could. They were going to pay for that little stunt and she meant to send the Immortal a message.
They were odd looking demons and Buffy didn't remember ever seeing anything like them before. They were brownish green with scaly looking skin with long fingers on stubby looking hands. They both wore the same outfit, black sheer robe with no sleeves.
Something shiny caught her attention and she reached down to take a closer look at one of the demons hands. He wore a ring and Buffy swore she had seen it before.
"Hey Giles, come take a look at this."
Giles saunter over and glanced down at what she was referring to. "Yes, it seems you friend the Immortal has hired the services of the Order of Teraka."
"I knew it; I knew I saw that ring before. Well, Morty must really be mad to hire these guys. He hired these thugs to have me brought back to Rome. If he thinks it's going to be that easy…." Buffy crossed her arms and stood back thinking.
"Let's just go. We're wasting time; if we stay much long more demons may come looking." Buffy turned and headed for the plane. She hefted her bag over her shoulder and boarded the plane. She winked at a wide eyed Dawn as she passed by stating, "The apocalypse waits for no one."
