At Silverlock Castle, Part 5
I am sure we have all had that daze-like feeling where your body is doing one thing, and your brain only later realises what.
This is what happened to the Scooby Gang. One minute, they were in the apartment, reading aloud from Buffy's note. Next, they were back at Silverlock Castle. They vaguely remember that Dumbledore had met them, greeted them, and taken Al. They also recalled that something was said about Count Bleck's followers, though no one could quite recall whether they were being taken home or taken to prison. It seemed unimportant, and the events of seconds ago seemed like decade-old memories, only half-remembered.
Finally, Xander asked, "Where's Buffy?" And the sudden possibility of new information, important information, made everyone more aware.
"I could not see her," responded Square. "I suspect that she has left that world already."
"How could she do that?" said Giles.
"That, I cannot tell you yet," responded Square. "But if you wish, I could find out."
"You can do that?" said Xander.
"I can. All I need to do is watch Buffy as she enters the world, then follow her through the fourth dimension until she has left it."
Then Square rotated and slipped out from that dimension. He returned minutes later.
"As I suspected, Buffy has left," said Square. "But she is not alone. She has went with two allies—one human, the other not. I do not know who they are, though Buffy seemed to know them, and though she did not appear overly fond of her new companions, she clearly saw them as allies."
"So these others can travel between dimensions?" said Giles.
"I do not know what they can or cannot do on their own. However, they had an automobile that allowed them to leave that plane."
"Automobile?" said Giles. "Who could that… oh, no!"
"Oh no what?" said Spike. "Who is it?"
"Trust me, you'll be happier not knowing," said Giles.
Everyone became very quite. Barring Spike and Faith, they all eventually realised who Buffy was with, and they had mixed feelings. She was probably safer with Jessie and Meowth—assuming they were her new partners—than she would be alone. But those two would not have been anyone's first choice for adventuring companions.
Everyone was in deep thought, reflecting on the past and considering the future, and though they were not in a daze as before, their surroundings had slipped towards the back of their brains. So, when Angel flung the door open, and the physical present was brought to the forefront of consciousness, everyone was startled into giving him full attention.
He looked over the group twice, but it seemed smaller than before. He looked over it a third time to see who was missing.
"Where're Buffy and Joyce?" he asked.
"Not here," said Giles. "Buffy went to do other stuff."
"Oh," said Angel. He could tell from Giles' voice that something was wrong. "What about Joyce?"
Without words, both parties headed into their respective rooms, leaving Angel alone.
He knew that Angelus had done something.
And they all knew that, even Buffyless, they had one more Bearer to find.