Author's Note: I am SO FREAKING SORRY about how long this update took! I had it half written and then I came home from Wales and my summer has actually been really hectic since and I really haven't had a lot of time to write or anything. I've been everywhere this summer and I've had very little time to fully sit down and write. Not to mention that my muse kept running off whenever I tried to actually write but I've finally got this chapter out and it's pretty long too! I hope you all enjoy it and thank you for all the favourites, follows and reviews! Each one means the world and I never thought, when I first started this story, how successful it would be so thank you all so much!

Deathstroke Terminator: Thank you so much for your kind words, I'm so glad you liked it! You have no idea how much your words mean and I hope you enjoy this chapter! I'm sorry about how long this update took!

Lacey Solane: I'm so glad you enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy this chapter too! It will be a long while before there is truly anything romantic between Spike and Rebecca and so there will certainly be time to look into Becky's bisexuality! And I'm glad that you like how I've included that!

Grapejuice101: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and I'm sorry this one took so long to get out. I hope you like it!

PrettyPrincess2013: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy it and I hope you like this chapter!

Guest: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy this story, sorry this update took so long! I hope you like this chapter!

Chapter Twenty-One:
School Hard: Part One.

The Book seemed to be a little slow on the uptake this time; it had a drawing of the vampire Spike when I got home, the words 'William the Bloody' scrawled next to it.

"Shame it didn't have any other information." I murmured and Xander scoffed.

"Yeah. Like what his ideal date is." He muttered and I glared at him.

"I didn't know he was a vampire! How could I?" I argued and he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, sure."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded.

"You flirted with a bloodsucker! And now, he's taken an interest in you Becks! This isn't a game, you know!" He shouted and I realised what he was trying to say.

"You think I'm not up to it?" Xander gritted his teeth, looking away. "No, that's what you think, isn't it? You don't think I can do it, that I can take care of myself?"

"That's not what I'm saying. I just want you to be careful." Xander murmured and I sighed, smiling softly at him.

"I always am, Xander." I promised and he frowned, pointing to my arms, where there were still white scars from the Anointed One.

"Sometimes, not careful enough."

~8~8~

The library the next day was packed, with Xander, Willow and Miss Calendar sat at the table, looking through books as Buffy and I sparred in the main section. Giles and Wesley were stood by the stairs, each looking through different volumes.

"Spike. That's what the other vampire called him? That's a little unorthodox, isn't it?" Giles commented.

"Maybe he's reformed." Buffy grunted, as she blocked a punch, lashing out with a roundhouse kick instead.

"Perhaps he went by another name in times past." Giles suggested.

"Cross reference it with William the Bloody." I shouted over, groaning as Buffy punched me in the stomach, glaring at the blonde Slayer, who grinned.

"Well, whoever he is, we'll need all the help we can get come this Saturday." Miss Calendar murmured.

"So this night of St Vigeous deal. If they're gonna attack in force, aren't we thinking vacation?" Xander suggested and I rolled my eyes, blocking a kick from the Slayer and striking out with a punch.

"We can't run, that would be wrong. Could we hide?" Willow asked, her voice hopeful and I smirked. "I mean, if that Spike guy is leading the attack," she shuddered, making a noise of disgust.

"Well, the pair of you have faced the Master and the Anointed One." Wesley pointed out. "He surely can't be any worse than either of them."

"He's worse." We all spun round to see Angel stood by the doors of the library. Buffy stopped sparring with me, her gaze softening as she saw him. "Once he starts something he doesn't stop until everything in his path is dead."

"Hmm. So, he's thorough, goal-oriented." Xander commented. "And has taken an interest in my sister."

"He's what?" Angel questioned, looking over at me and I gave a small shrug.

"I may have flirted with him at the bar. But it was before I knew he was a vampire!" I tried to defend.

"Yes and then he threatened to kill you. Isn't young love these days just fantastic?" Xander muttered sarcastically and I glared at him.

"He has a fascination with Slayers. If he's taken an extra interest in you, then be careful." Angel warned and I nodded in acknowledgement at the vampire.

"Thanks."

"We were at the Bronze before. Thought you said you might show." Buffy murmured, walking closer towards the souled vampire.

"You said you weren't sure if you were going." Angel answered and I rolled my eyes.

"I was being cool. C'mon, you've been dating for, what, like, two hundred years? You don't know what a girl means when she says maybe she'll show?" Buffy questioned.

"Wow, two centuries of dating. If you only had two a year, that's still like, four hundred dates with four hundred different…" Willow finally caught onto why Buffy was looking at her so weirdly, trailing off and turning to the table, where there were a myriad of different weapons spread out. "Why do they call it a mace?" She murmured and I smirked at her attempt to change the subject.

"Uh, we do have slightly more urgent matters to discuss." Giles pointed out and we each turned back around to the group.

"Yeah, like keeping my mom away from Principal Snyder tomorrow night." Buffy muttered.

"And not dying Saturday." Miss Calendar added.

"Not to mention taking down the Anointed One too." I chimed in.

"Angel, is there anything you could tell us about the Order of Aurelius that you may have learned from Darla?" Wesley asked; we turned to the souled vampire, only to see the empty library, the doors swinging shut.

"Okay, that's it. I'm putting a collar with a little bell on that guy." Xander snapped and I rolled my eyes at him.

"I still don't understand how you can trust him." Wesley murmured.

"Oh don't worry, I don't." Xander declared and I wandered over to him, punching him in the arm, ignoring his cry of ow.

"We trust him because he has helped us a lot. We'd probably be dead if not for him." I argued.

"Not to mention he has a soul." Buffy pointed out and Wesley gave a shrug.

"Alright. Shall we return to researching?" Wesley asked and I gave a shrug, turning back to the Slayer.

"More training?" She gave a short nod and I struck out with a punch.

~8~8~

For all my brave faces, casual attitudes and one-liners, acting like I wasn't fazed by anything, being threatened by a vampire really wasn't all that fun. I would never admit to anyone except perhaps my brother, but I was scared. Terrified, in fact. The Anointed One may have made my skin crawl but that Spike character made my stomach twist itself in knots, caused my heart to race and my body to freeze up in fear. I was dreading Saturday, even more so after Angel's warning. I had planned to take down the Anointed One Saturday, but with that other vampire there, would I even get the chance? Not to mention that Angel's warning didn't just involve Buffy and myself.

'He doesn't stop until everything in his path is dead.' If Xander or Willow were in his path, then that includes them. He wouldn't just stop at killing Slayers. He would burn this town to the ground and dance in our ashes.

"Xander? Are you still awake?" I whispered as we lay in bed later that night.

"Yeah." He muttered, sounding half asleep.

"Do you think I'll survive Saturday?" I'd tried to make my voice as quiet as possible but it sounded like I was shouting in the silence of the room.

"Becks, I am not having this conversation with you." Xander snapped and I sat up, switching the light on.

"No, we are having this conversation. It's not nice, but this is a conversation we are having. If I don't survive Saturday or anything that comes after that, I want to have a discussion about if I don't survive." I demanded and Xander sighed, sitting up.

"Becks, I really don't want to have this conversation. Not ever, preferably, but certainly not now. We will sit down and discuss this, but please not now." Xander begged and I sighed before nodding.

"Okay. But we will soon." I warned and Xander nodded.

"Now goodnight. And don't worry too much, I know you. You'll beat this vampire's ass and then you'll finish off with the Anointed One and send all the other vampires running." Xander declared and I smiled at him.

"Thanks." I murmured before lying back down. "Goodnight Xand."

"Night Becks."

~8~8~

The library the next day was quiet, with Willow checking over the weapons, Cordelia and Xander making stakes, minus Xander's jaunty tune as Buffy prepared a vegetable tray, chopping a cucumber using a machete, and Miss Calendar placed sticks of wood on the table beside her. Giles and Wesley were stood by the stairs, each looking through dusty volumes. I was sat on the counter, nearer to the library doors, also looking through an old, dusty volume for information on the Anointed One.

"For three nights the unholy ones scourge themselves into a fury, culminating in a savage attack on the night of St Vigeous." Giles recited.

"Does anybody remember when Saturday night meant date night?" Xander questioned and I smirked.

"You sure don't." Cordelia retorted and I sniggered, ignoring the glare Xander sent my way.

"Ooh! Parents start arriving in an hour. Okay, so, um, banners are in place, the lounge is comfy… What am I forgetting?" Buffy asked.

"Punch?" Willow suggested and the Slayer agreed readily.

"Punch. I need, I need punch!"

"My fingers are cramping. How long have I been doing this?" Cordelia whined and my brother looked at his watch.

"Three minutes." Xander commented, giving a pointed look at me and I sighed, making a rather vulgar motion with my finger. We'd made a bet earlier, to see how long Cordelia had lasted; I had some faith in the girl and said five minutes. My brother said three. I owed him five dollars now.

"So can I go now? They don't need this many stakes. I mean, if this guy Spike is as mean as you all said, it should be over pretty quickly." Buffy and I gave her an astonished look.

"Thanks Cordelia." I stated sarcastically.

"We're all still rooting for you both on Saturday. I'd be there for you myself if I didn't have a leg wax." I rolled my eyes at the brunette.

"Sure, make sure you have your priorities in the right place." I teased and she threw a stake at me, causing me to giggle as I deflected it, the other Slayer catching it.

Buffy rolled her eyes, throwing the stake back onto the table. "You guys hold down the fort. I'm punch bound." She sauntered out of the library, hair swishing as she went. She'd only been gone a few seconds before Xander and Cordelia reached for the food on the platter. They'd barely even taken anything off the platter before the blonde Slayer popped her head back around the door. "No." She ordered and the two teens frowned, leaving the food on the platter and she smirked before leaving again.

"So, Cordelia, how are you?" I asked. "You know, after the whole Darryl situation?"

The brunette gave a small shrug, putting the stakes down and turning back to me. "I'm okay. It was rather scary, seeing Darryl, especially in the state he was in and knowing what they were going to do. But it seems that my life being in danger is becoming a weekly occurrence now." Cordelia stated with a rather pointed look at me and I gave a shrug.

"Don't look at me. We live on a Hellmouth, Cordy." I pointed out and she rolled her eyes at me.

"That is not an adequate argument." The girl complained and I smirked, before turning back to the book I was reading.

"Wesley, do you know anything about vampire duels?" The Watcher paused in what he was reading, hurrying over to where I was sat atop the counter. "It's mentioned briefly here, in regards to the Order of Aurelius but it doesn't say much else."

"Vampire duels were quite popular in the Order of Aurelius. They were originally used to try and decide a new leader. I suppose with the Master gone, they will be doing something of that nature." Wesley murmured and I frowned.

"You said they were originally used for that… Do they have any other uses?" I asked and Wesley frowned.

"There isn't much information on vampire duels. But they can be used to exact vengeance or to end a feud and though the name does suggest that only vampires can use them, there are instances where they have been used by other demons." Giles explained and I nodded.

"So, I could challenge the Anointed One to a vampire duel?" I questioned and Giles nodded.

"Yes. And as leader of his clan, he would be forced to accept." Wesley added and I smirked.

"Awesome."

"You really think you can take on the Anointed One?" Cordelia questioned. "The little vampire child who beat the crap out of you?" Everyone glared at the brunette whilst I stared back calmly.

"Yeah. I do." I answered and the brunette shrugged.

"Alright then. Good luck." She smiled and I grinned back at the brunette. Cordelia and I were slowly becoming friends, and it was a nice change from the constant bickering. She was becoming nicer to all of us, despite still lacking tact and being rather harsh to everyone but that was just the person she was. I doubted that would ever change.

Willow rolled her eyes at Cordelia's attitude before standing up. "I'm gonna go check on Buffy. Parents should be arriving soon." She murmured and we all bid the red-head goodbye as she left the library.

"Well, if the situation with the Anointed One is solved and I know what to do in terms of him, I can join in research on Spike." I shut the book I was using, hopping down off the counter and taking a seat at the table, Wesley handing me another volume.

~8~8~

It was silent throughout the library, Cordelia leaving the library just before nine, most of the stakes complete. Xander was finishing the last few and Wesley, Giles, Miss Calendar and I were still all researching.

"Oh, there you are." Giles murmured, breaking the comfortable silence.

"There who is?" Miss Calendar questioned, looking up from her book.

"Our new friend Spike. Becky was right, he was known as William the Bloody. Earned his nickname by torturing his victims with railroad spikes. Very pleasant." The Watcher muttered sarcastically. "Well here's some good news: he's barely two hundred. He's not even as old as Angel is." He frowned. "Oh."

"That's a bad look right?" Xander asked as I frowned at the Watcher.

"I think your suggestion of running away this Saturday might've been a good one. Spike has fought two Slayers in the last century and he's killed them both." Giles confessed and I nodded.

"So he wants to make Buffy and I Slayer three and four?" I guessed. "Well then. He's taken down two Slayers already. Xander, I think it's time we had that conversation now." I stated bluntly.

"What conversation?" Wesley questioned, looking from me to my brother, who had slammed the stakes down onto the table, hands clenched tightly into fists.

"About if anything happens to me, you know, funeral arrangements and the like." I gave a shrug and the adults looked at me in surprise.

"Becky, I'm sure it won't come to that." Giles murmured but I turned to the Watcher, pointing at my neck, where I still had the marks from when the Anointed One bit me.

"Are you sure? Because this says otherwise! I almost died because of that prophecy and look!" I lifted my top up slightly, where the scars on my lower stomach were still clearly visible, taking slightly longer to heal than the ones on my arms. "It could have already come to that so many times! I put my life on the line every night and goddamn if I'm gonna go without making some arrangements!"

There was a crash and the sounds of shouting and screaming, and the five of us exchanged worried looks, before darting out of the library only to pause in shock as Buffy, followed by her mother and Snyder amongst others running down the corridor, closely chased by a group of vampires.

"Spike and an army! Look out!" The Slayer yelled and I turned around, hastily pushing the others back into the library as the Slayer went past. Our group managed to get into the library, managing to hold the door shut as one of the vampires slammed into it.

"Barricade the door." I ordered, Xander and I holding it shut as the Watchers and Miss Calendar pushed a number of objects in front of the door. Giles was just pushing the last item when the lights went out, the emergency lights coming on, barely illuminating the large library.

"They must've cut the power." Xander murmured and I rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to give a sarcastic response. Now was probably not the time.

"Did Buffy say it was Spike?" Wesley murmured and I nodded.

"Yep. I guess his obsession with Slayers couldn't wait until Saturday."

"They've cut the phones." Giles snapped, throwing the phone back onto the counter. He paused. "Wait a minute. There's an old boarded up cellar behind the stacks. You can get out that way." He turned to Xander. "Find Angel. He knows about Spike. We need him."

"No, I'm not going anywhere until I know that Buffy and Willow are alright." Xander protested and I slapped him on the arm.

"For fuck's sake Xander, just go! We need all the help we can get!" I snapped and he glared but nodded, heading towards the back of the library. "Be careful!" I shouted but he didn't look back and I sighed.

"He'll be alright." Giles murmured, placing a hand on my shoulder but I shrugged the Watcher off, moving to the table and grabbing a stake, sliding the weapon into my boot and a stake in my hand.

"What are you doing?" Wesley asked as I moved towards the door, shrugging off my heavy jacket and throwing it onto the counter.

"I'm a Slayer. What do you think?" I snapped. Giles grabbed my arm, stopping me from getting to the barricade.

"There are at least three vampires in that hall, god knows how many others are in the building!" Miss Calendar shouted and I pulled my arm out of the elder Watcher's grip.

"I am the Slayer, there are vampires trying to kill people and Buffy, Willow and Cordelia are still out there! I have to go help them!" I stressed and the adults paused, Giles looking to Wesley, giving him permission to make the decision.

"Go. But be careful." He ordered and I nodded, beginning to move a few of the objects out of the way when there was a crash, a blonde Slayer falling through the ceiling, looking dishevelled and barely missing Wesley.

"Buffy! You're alright!" Giles cried and the Slayer nodded at her Watcher, shrugging off her sweater.

"How are the others?" Miss Calendar asked.

"Principal Snyder, my mother and two others are locked in the science room across the hall. Willow and Cordelia ran the other way. I don't know if they're-"

"They'll be alright." I assured the girl. "They're smart, they'll have found a classroom or closet to hide in."

"Right. Where's Xander?" She asked, looking around.

"Getting Angel." I answered, moving to help her load crosses and stakes into the bag she'd grabbed, which I suddenly recognised as my brother's.

"Good. Okay I'm gonna take out the vampires in the hall. After that, you get my mother and the others out the same way Xander did." Buffy ordered, looking at the two Watchers and Wesley nodded.

"Let me help you." Giles murmured but Buffy gave him a harsh stare.

"Giles, my mother's in that room. If I don't make it out of here, I know you'll make sure she does."

"Bloody right, I will. Fair enough, what's your plan?" Giles asked.

"Well, they split up to hold us here, so I'm gonna take 'em one on one. Set 'em up and knock 'em down." She vowed and I grabbed her arm.

"Buffy, focus on your getting your mom out. I'll take care of Spike and the rest." I told the Slayer and she paused, before nodding. She stood on a stool pulling herself into the ceiling, Giles and I wishing the Slayer good luck and to be careful. I moved away from the hole in the ceiling to the door, pushing the barricade back, Wesley and Giles helping me.

"Be careful." Wesley ordered. "Spike has killed two Slayers. Don't make you his third."

I nodded, before removing the last item and slipping out of the door, into the hallway. The door snapped shut behind me and I winced, the vampire at the end of the hall whirled around, snarling. I smirked, moving into a fighting stance as the vampire rushed at me and I sidestepped, avoiding a punch and grabbing the vampire's arm, twisting it behind her back as she growled at me. I kicked the back of her knees, sending her to the floor but she turned around, her other fist connecting harshly with my stomach and I doubled over in pain, letting go of the vampire's arm. She got to her feet, sending a roundhouse kick to my side and I stumbled to the ground, groaning in pain. The vampire leaned over me, grinning and I kicked my leg up, hitting her in the face before I swung myself around back to my feet, stake clutched so tightly that my knuckles had turned white. She was just regaining her balance when I kicked her in the stomach, sending her toppling to the ground and plunging my stake into her heart, the vampire exploding into dust.

I looked up and down the hallway before making my way towards the student lounge, pausing when I saw Angel and Spike, the souled vampire holding my brother by the neck, exposed before them.

"Wanna bite before we kill 'em?" Angel asked, his vampiric guise in place and I tightened my grip on the stake, preparing to jump out at them when Angel caught my eye and I paused, realising what he was trying to tell me: 'play along.'

I listened to their conversation curiously, staying hidden in the shadows as Spike asked about Buffy and I, Angel attempting to explain why he hadn't slayed either of us yet. I was about to leap out at them when they leant in to bite my brother but then Spike drew back and punched the souled vampire in the face, causing him to stagger backwards. Xander moved to stand behind Angel hastily as Spike glared at the vampire, ranting about sires and their identity as demons. I stiffened when he grabbed a pole, as though going to attack the pair, when my brother sprinted out of the room. Angel paused for a split second to look at me and I nodded towards the door. The souled vampire followed Xander, the other vampires chasing after him but Spike didn't move.

"Fe, fi, fo fum. I smell the blood of a nice ripe," he turned to face me. "Slayer."

I held my chin high, grip tightening on my stake. "How long did you know I was there?"

"Long enough. You let two vampires threaten a civilian. That's not very Slayer-like." Spike berated, a sarcastic lilt to his voice and I glared.

"I trust Angel. I doubted that he would let any harm come to the civilian." I answered coolly, keeping up the pretense that I didn't know who the "civilian" was. The less he knew about my friends and family, the better.

"Hmm. Would you thank him for protecting a civilian?" He asked and I curled my lip in disgust at the reminder of our conversation at the Bronze.

"Are we gonna fight or are you going to make me want to hurl?" I retorted and he smirked, walking closer towards me, dropping the pole and I dropped the stake, the two items clattering to the floor.

"The last Slayer I killed… She begged for her life." I began to circle the vampire, so that we were both stood in the middle of the student lounge, giving myself more room to fight. "You don't strike me as the begging kind." He gave a chuckle. "Well, not for her life anyway."

"You should have waited until Saturday, Spike." I warned.

"But I just got so bored. How about, as a personal favour from me to you, I'll make it quick. It won't hurt a bit." He smirked and I raised an eyebrow, shaking my head.

"No, William. It's gonna hurt like hell." His smirk turned into a snarl and I blocked his first punch, sending a kick to his side which he blocked. We stayed like that for a while, attempting blows but neither of us making a mark on the other, an endless dance of punches and kicks that never found their target. The tempo changed suddenly and the vampire managed to get a hit in, his leg connecting with my side sending me to the floor.

He leaned over me, and I swung my leg around to hit him in the face, flipping myself back to my feet. I threw out with a punch that sent the vampire slamming into the wall, kicking him in the neck, which sent his head slamming into the wall.

"Now that hurt!" He laughed, before kicking me in the side. I crashed to the floor, my hand slipping down to my boot and taking my dagger out. The vampire leant over me, snarling and I slashed out at his legs with my dagger. His reflexes were fast and he dodged the knife, giving me the chance to get back to my feet, dagger in hand.

The vampire smirked as we circled one another, before I lashed out with a punch but he blocked it, punching me straight in the face. I stumbled backwards, slightly dazed and the vampire took the opportunity to kick me in the stomach, sending me crashing to the floor. Spike was stood above me, fangs out but I couldn't move, feeling dizzy, unable to move to defend myself.

Then there was a loud clank and I scrambled to the side as the vampire went sprawling to the ground, my brother stood behind him, holding the huge metal pole that Spike had used to threaten Angel.

"You get the fuck away from my sister." Xander hissed and I got to my feet shakily, holding the dagger tightly in my hands, standing beside my brother.

"Bugger." Spike growled, scrambling to his feet. "This ain't finished Slayer!" He ran for the smashed window leaping through it, his trench coat billowing out behind him like the wings of a bat.

"Why would you do that? I had everything under control!" I yelled, glaring at my brother who rolled his eyes.

"You're welcome." He snapped and I slipped my dagger back into my boot, still glaring.

"You could've been seriously hurt, Xander." I warned him.

"You would've been if I wasn't here." He tried to point out but I shook my head.

"I would've recovered. You're lucky that Spike decided to leave and not just killed you. This isn't a game, Xander, you can't just run in here and come up with a snappy comeback and hope the bad guys run away. This is serious Xander and I can't fight if I'm worrying about you." I explained and my brother sighed, but nodded.

"Come on. We need to head back to the library, check the others are okay. Where's Angel?" I asked and my brother nodded behind me.

"I'm here. What happened?" I looked around to see the souled vampire walking over and the palm of my hand met his cheek, his head whipping to the side as a resounding SLAP echoed throughout the hall.

"My brother is not to be used as bait." I hissed, as the souled vampire winced, rubbing his cheek.

"Yes Ma'am." He muttered and I rolled my eyes at his surly attitude before gesturing down the hallway to the library and my brother nodded. The vampire trailed after us, grumbling about being slapped but I ignored him, simply rolling my eyes a second time.

"Wesley? Giles?" I asked, pushing open the library door to find the two Watchers and Miss Calendar stood around, looking relieved as the three of us entered.

"Becky, thank god." Giles murmured as I smiled at the group, looking around for the blonde.

"Has Buffy gone?"

"Yes, yes, she's with her mother." Giles answered and I smiled.

"Good."

"So what happened?" Wesley asked and I gave a shrug.

"Spike got away. Thanks to someone." I glared pointedly at my brother, who avoided my glare, looking around innocently.

"You'll get him eventually. I wouldn't worry about it." Angel gave a shrug and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, well, you don't need to worry about it." I snapped before turning back to the Watchers. "Does this mean that Saturday night is called off?"

Wesley nodded. "They will have weaker numbers and so be unable to launch the attack that they would want to."

"So there goes my plan of slaying the Anointed One." I muttered and Wesley looked up at me, a look of realisation crossing his face.

"Do you have the Book on you at the moment?" He asked and I frowned, nodding.

"It's in my bag. I always keep it on me, why?" I questioned, taking the small, black book out of my bag.

"I was doing some reading on it and it mentioned that the Book can be asked questions. I completely forgot about it until now." Wesley explained and I looked down at the Book and at my Watcher.

"Well, that's handy. What should I ask it?"

Wesley paused, frowning. "Well that depends. How soon do you want to slay the Anointed One?"

"As soon as possible. But if Saturday night has been called off, then I don't even know where they are."

"So then ask that. Find out where they are." Xander pointed out and I sighed, opening the book to the page after Spike.

"Where is the Anointed One?" I murmured. There was a pause and the Book flashed, and when the light faded there was an outline of a warehouse, edge of town written beside it and a few other buildings to point out where it was.

"Okay. So that made things easier." I commented, looking up at the others.

"Now what?" Miss Calendar asked and I flipped the Book shut, slipping it back into my bag.

"Now. I go home, I get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow: I slay the Anointed One."

~8~8~

Xander and I got home at around eleven that night, after discussing the plan for the next morning. I was skipping school entirely tomorrow, going straight to the warehouse on the edge of town and challenging the Anointed One to a duel. Wesley and Giles had gone over any last minute fighting techniques with me and sent the pair of us home with stakes, crosses and holy water and a "good luck."

Whistler was waiting on our doorstep when we arrived home, which was a surprise. Xander was rather confused to see the demon but I just nodded at him.

"Whistler."

"Slayer. I assume this is your brother?" He guessed and I nodded.

"Xander, meet Whistler. This is the demon who gave me the Book, you know the one who works for the Powers." I explained and he nodded.

"Hey, nice to meet you! Quick question: why are you sitting on our doorstep?" Xander asked and the demon stood up, looking at me.

"The Powers sent me. They have information about the Anointed One." Whistler said and I raised an eyebrow.

"Let's hear it."

"He's small but he's strong, stronger than a normal vampire and he has experience with hypnosis. Don't let him catch you with that. He can be killed the same way as a normal vampire, so all the usual things will work." I nodded.

"Anything else? Seems like a long way to come just to tell us what we already knew." I murmured and Whistler hesitated a moment.

"Spike is at the warehouse. And he plans to kill the Anointed One. If you really want to do it, then you need to get there early, before Spike makes his move." Whistler murmured and I nodded.

"Noted. Thank you for telling me."

"Good luck, Slayer."

"Thanks." Whistler walked away from our door, heading down the street as Xander and I went into our house.

"Becks, are you sure this is a good idea? If Spike is there-"

"The rules of a vampire duel state that there can be no interference from other vampires or demons outside of the duel." I explained. "Besides, I can handle Spike. It'll be daytime so I can just run from the warehouse and they won't be able to follow." I gave a shrug and Xander sighed.

"If Spike is going to kill the Anointed One, why not just leave it to him?"

I gave him a hard look, before pointing to the bite on my neck and lifting up my top slightly to show the scars on my stomach. "Because the Anointed One did this to me. It's time to repay the damage."

"So do you still want that conversation about what happens if you don't make it?" Xander murmured and I shook my head.

"I have no plans to die tomorrow."

Author's Note: The next chapter will not be an episode, it will be an original chapter where Rebecca takes on the Anointed One. Please let me know what you think about this chapter and Rebecca's plans to take on the Anointed One!