Looove this one. 3
Can you believe I had already written ch 32, but just finished shaping 29-30 up and am still working on 31? Oh, and 32 might just become 33... it's crazy I tell you, crazy, crazy.
Anyway, enjoy
I apologize beforehand if the contents of this chapter are not accurate with the actual meaning of runes. I only checked a couple of web pages and decided to just take the info out of one so... *coughs* deal with it *coughs* xD
Oh, yesterday -24- was my birthday, so.. congratulate me! it's an order! kidding, you don't have too.
Chapter 29
Willow took her book up the stairs and to the Magic Box's other section, while Faith moved wordlessly towards the basement.
"That was…uncalled for." Dawn spoke somewhat afraid. And kinda… cool.She thought.
"Feisty is what it was pet."
Everybody turned to look at Spike who had sneaked in the middle of the verbal brawl between the witch and dark slayer and had gone unnoticed by the others. Needless to say, Giles, Xander and Buffy groaned at the sight of him and sound of his voice.
"Spike!" Dawn beamed. "What are you doing here? It's just one o'clock."
"Figured I might give you a hand with research." When everybody stared at him dubiously, he rolled his eyes. "A'ight. My tv broke and I got bored."
"So you decided to risk becoming a vampire flame and consequently turning into a pile of ash so you could bore us with your presence?" Xander asked. "How nice of you."
Spike narrowed his eyes at him smirking sardonically. "Gotta say, the rogue slayer really knows how to get the dark side out of Red. I give her props for that."
Xander rolled his eyes. "Shut up and help."
Spike walked to where the Summers girls sat. "So what am I looking for?"
Buffy groaned and started flipping through some books while an excited Dawn explained to Spike what they needed to research.
"Spike, what do you know about Mark?"
"The warlock wannabe? Not much. To be honest I've never heard of him. Well, there was this one time about... ten years ago where I think a nest got wiped off by one warlock or something but nobody knew who he was or anything so it might or might not, be him."
"I see... any information on the gems?"
"I tracked the demon that mentioned them."
"And?" Buffy exasperatedly asked.
"Let's just say that it wasn't because of my tracking abilities and more for my sense of smell. The poor bloke had his throat sliced and tongue pulled out. The place was full of guts and bugs."
"You just had to check what smelled so putrid, didn't you?" Xander asked. "That's so like you."
Spike just mimicked him with exaggerated expressions. "That's so like you."
"Did you see anything that might've indicated as to who did it."
"There was a stone embedded in his chest with a few runes."
"What runes?"
"Couldn't take a good look. As soon as I touched it, it disintegrated along with the demon. It singed my fingers." He said showing him his healing skin. The burning red giving color to his pale complexion.
"Hmm... and you are sure it was a rock and not a gem? Or a talisman?"
"I'm sure. It looked like a rock and when I touched it, it felt like a rock. The thing is, I think I recognized the Thurisas rune."
"Thurisaz? Are you sure? Was it reversed?"
"Er… I guess it depends on the angle…"
"So you don't know."
"What does it mean?" Dawn asked.
"Well it means a lot of things, depends on the context and the use of other runes but basically is a symbol for change, disturbance and conflict. Danger and misfortune. Defense."
"Well that can't be good." Buffy sighed resigned.
"Whatever the use is, it mostly thrives for destruction and malice. It also stands for male sexuality and fertilization. As well as purging and cleansing fire."
"As I said, that can't be good."
"Anything else?" Giles asked.
"No, no signs of anything else. I'll ask today about them." He turned to look at Buffy. "You coming with?"
"We can cover ground much faster if we go our separate ways."
"Okay then. I'll ask doe-eyes to hunt with me. Get to know her and see if all the stories you tell me about her are true."
"I don't think she would like to go with you."
"Why not? I'm a nice vamp."
"Faith is… trigger, er…stake happy. Trust me she won't stop dusting you just because you are helping us."
"Better yet. A little bit of a thrill right there. I've fought with you, wanna see how she fights."
"Trust me, you don't wanna be in the receiving end."
"She's all dark and fierce. I like her attitude." Spiked said taken.
Buffy glared at him. "I'm sure that's not all you like."
"She would be an awesome vampire." He said almost wistfully.
"Stay away from her."
"Why? Afraid she might like it? You jealous Slayer?"
"Shut up. I'll never be jealous of you."
Various heads cocked at that.
Spike frowned. "You mean, her, you'll never be never of her."
Buffy coughed. "Whatever. Now, shut up and help. Giles I'll be in the workout room." He looked at her expectantly. She rolled her eyes. "I'll be researching, don't worry. See? I'm taking these books with me."
After she was gone. Spike turned to look at Dawn. "Your sister is very weird, pet."
Dawn spaced out a little bit before answering. "Yeah… weird." She said narrowing her eyes at the entrance to the workout room.
Several hours later, found Xander precariously on the verge of falling asleep and drooling all over Giles' new, precious acquisitions. Not that he minded but the librarian might bewitch him or something. Although that scary and awfully hairy demon he was currently looking at, seemed to be beaconing him into starting a drooling match and drifting into a deep slumber.
"Xander!"
Unfortunately, that glorious and deeply desired slumber was never meant to be; for Xander had been awakened by the non too gently push and slamming of a book to his head by his precious fiancé.
"Ow! An! I would have expected you had been able to find gentler ways to wake me up." He said rubbing his aching head.
"Well, you've told me that talking about and having sex in front of your friends is rude. I don't see what the problem is! A little bit of voyeurism never hurt anybody! In fact it aids people."
"An! We had a talk about this remember?"
"Yeah, yeah. I should not bring sex up when we are in the company of such boring and prude people. And Dawn."
Dawn glared at her.
"Those are not my words." He told everybody. "Now, what is it you need that you have woken me up ever so sweetly, hun?"
"Well, I was bored. If I'm not allowed to fall asleep, you aren't either. Besides you were close to ruining Giles' book and he might have made you pay it and trust me, you don't have the money to pay for it."
"Yes, remind me how poor I am."
"I was only looking out for you."
"Thanks."
"You are very welcome." Anya said very pleased at herself for her unselfish and protective behavior.
"Uhm, guys? I think I found something." Dawn said scooting closer to Giles to show him. "Here, it says 'Those of the Ghrig'kl dimension are gifted with the ability to channel and capture energy at the precious core their heart and essence is.'"
Giles gave her a smile. "Good work Dawn." He scanned the page, eyeing it rapidly before continuing where Dawn left off. "It also says 'As uncommon as these creatures are outside the Ghrig'kl realm, it is known that Kghirk'l once were the responsible, in one of their few the multi-dimensional journeys, for the rupture in the ancient Jeela dimension, home to Jekz demons and pacifist N'urvk, causing it to be swallowed by darkness.'" Giles sighed and rubbed his chin. "Well at least now we know I was right about my theory."
"I'll go get Faith." Dawn said before bellowing her sister's name and waking towards the basement. "Buffy! I found something! Come here!"
A second later, Buffy came out of the workout room with a disheveled look. She had obviously been sleeping.
"What's going on?" She asked y'awing. "Where's Dawn going?"
"To the basement to get Faith."
"Faith? Why would she get faith in the basement? Do you have a church there?"
Anya rolled her eyes. "He means Faith. Your dark and sexy counterpart. Yunno, the one you ogle all day long? Your better half?" Buffy opened and closed her mouth; she didn't know whether to be offended or embarrassed. "The cool one?"
"Okay enough! I got it. Faith." Buffy glared at her. "And I do not ogle her all day long." She narrowed her eyes. "I don't ogle her at all, period."
Anya snorted rolling her eyes with and expression that said; sure, keep telling that to yourself. I know what I'm talking about; to which Buffy just narrowed her eyes and continued glaring at her.
"Buffy, did you find anything?" Giles asked with somewhat impish expression.
"I- uh, no."
"Tell me something, how nice of a pillow those books were?"
Buffy smiled sheepishly. "Hey, it's not my fault those books are so boring. I had all the intention, and I read some it's just they are so… boring; and dull; and demon-y."
"Faith?" Dawn asked opening the door to the basement.
"Yeah?" Faith asked looking up from a book.
The dark slayer had actually found the book interesting and had been flipping through it for a good two hours.
"We need you upstairs." Dawn walked the few steps down to the basement's floor.
"Sure." Faith stood up and put away a few books inside the trunk but keeping the one she held in her hands. "Did Giles found something?"
"I found something." Dawn announced with pride.
"Well good job lil' D." Dawn looked sharply at her at that. "What is it?"
"N-nothing." She doesn't remember. *sigh* It's just her being her nickname-y self. Nickname-y? "And it's Dawn." She narrowed her eyes.
"Okay, Dawn it is then. Sorry."
"Whatever." She said rolling her eyes.
"You are too much like your sister."
"That can't be good now can it?"
"It depends."
"I guess… So anyway let's go."
"Wanna tell me what you found?" Faith asked tentatively.
Yes! "Not really." She said glaring at Faith who just shrugged in response. "Ugh, fine. Okay so I found that these… Kghirk'l demons are from a place called… Ghirk'lk or something like that and that the gem, which in the book it's called the 'core', it's sort of like a conductor of energy. It can store –capture- and channel energy. And that's pretty much it. Oh, and they are like, totally responsible for the destruction of a dimension, or city or something." Dawn explained with glee.
"Huh… you are like a little watcher you know that?" Faith said frowning a little bit.
"You think?" Dawn started walking up the steps.
"Yep. Just don't wear tweed or any other form of it."
"No tweed; got it. How about some glasses?"
"I think you'd look good. Good but dorky. So… as long as you don't polish them as much as Giles does, I think it would be okay."
"Or do that clucking sound with his tongue he does when he is mad."
"Yeah, if you're mad just say it."
"I will." Dawn gave her a small smile before standing next to Spike.
"Jeez B, was the book that entertaining?"
Buffy narrowed her eyes. "I researched."
"Of course you did B." She flashed her dimples. "That's why you have the imprint of a demon marked on your cheek."
Buffy raised her hand to her red cheek and rubbed at it.
"We meant to tell you." Xander said.
"But you looked funny." Anya supplied.
"Hence, the silence." Tara corroborated.
"Gee thanks, I know I can count on you guys when I go out wearing mismatched clothes and my shirt backwards."
"Of course you can, that's why we are here." The slayer's sister replied.
"Okay, so Squirt- sorry, Dawn here told me what she found on those books. Anything else?"
"Well, Spike found the body of the demon that might have held information about the gems, slaughtered in a crypt with a rock in his chest and some runes carved on in."
"What do they mean?"
"I couldn't take a good look. Just recognized one."
"The Thurizas rune. It could mean conflict, destruction and-" Giles started relating his knowledge on the aforementioned rune.
"Which basically means doom. Same old song." Buffy interrupted.
"Aha…" Faith furrowed her brow. "Hold on a sec." She said opening the book in her hands. "Hmm… here, 'Rune Carving. Embedment of a rune on a body, dead or alive, is used as means of protection or warning. If the bones of the Mother are used as vessels for the rune, a shift in the balance of forces might disrupt the energy in the dimensional planes causing ruptures and openings between worlds.'" Faith paused and flipped the page. "Also mmm… here, 'Raidho, Uruz and Gebo; Chariot, Auroch, and Gift; are the most commonly used runes to open and close portals. Beware of any rune carved in blood and on Gaia's bones, for the doors to hell dimensions are soon to be open and all hell shall rise upon you.'" Faith closed the book and looked around finding the shocked stares of most the scoobies. "What?"
"Did you, actually research?" Xander asked clearly shocked opening his eye wide.
Faith shrugged. "Well… yeah, didn't you?"
"Kind of. I just didn't expect you to. I think none of us did."
"Oh Faithy, you are all responsible now." Buffy teased.
"Ha ha ha. Whatever. I just found it interesting, that's all. And don't get used to it. Me and books don't go together."
"In any case, good work Faith. It will not be necessary now to research about these runes, since you have already found the meaning of it. Now, we should focus and whoever is carving these runes, whether is Mark or somebody else. Willow did you find anything on the gems?"
"It is known that these gems or talismans are used for or as energy portals, so I'm guessing, whoever called the demons is wanting to open something, which I'm sure it has to be the hellmouth."
"Okay, so what do we do now?"
"We need to find the other gem and whoever wants it. Also, there has to be a way the demons got here. They were either summoned or were here in this dimension for a while and for some reason came to Sunnydale. You three keep patrolling and stay alert for any mention of runes, Mark and gems. The rest of us are going to do more research and try to inform ourselves better. We could perform a spell that could trace the energy of any journey the demon had in the gem to see where they were before. Also, the gem could be of help tracing its companion with a locator spell or an essence locator one."
"A'ight. I'm gonna get something to eat. Meet you in two hours at your place?" Faith asked Buffy.
"Actually, I was wondering if you would like to patrol with me." Spike said.
Faith frowned before shrugging. "Sure, whatever. Meet you by the docks in two hours." She turned to Giles. "Is there something you need from the trunk? Should I leave it open?"
"Mmm… no, I don't think I do. Perhaps is best to leave it open, if you don't mind dear."
"Sure, whatever." Faith went to the trunk and left it open before coming up the stairs. "Well, see ya later."
"Wait! You should stay. Who's up for some pizza?" Buffy said and everybody, except for Giles raised their hands. "Okay, then let's order some." She said already dialing the restaurant's number.
"Uhm, I can go get it… I need some air. I can get you something else to eat Giles." Faith offered.
"Anything healthy should be fine dear." He said passing her some bills. "This should cover it."
"Did you order already?" She asked Buffy who was on just hanging up.
"Yep. Just say is for the Magic Box."
"'kay, be right back."
"Wait, we'll go with you." Dawn said putting jacket on and ushering Tara..
"Sure, let's go."
Once they were gone, Buffy sighed resigned.
"What about me?" The blonde slayer pouted.
"So what are we getting Giles?" Dawn asked.
"Mmm… I was thinking Greek or something; think he'll like it?"
"Yes."
"Then Greek it is. I know this great place. Let's go."
"So Faith, Buffy told me you got a place."
"Yeah, a loft. It's awesome. Doesn't have anything yet but, whatever I don't mind. All I need is a comfy bed and a tv."
"Oh, you bought a tv?" Tara asked.
"Nah, not yet. I bought the bed and pretty much that's all it's gonna have for a while."
"So, it's bare?" Dawn asked. "Empty?"
"I bought it with some furniture but, I wanna get my own yunno? Good thing is, that I don't have to worry about getting a freezer. I should probably get a microwave and cutlery...and cookware." She added as an afterthought. "Oh, when I get a tv and some DVD I can invite you guys over and have a movie night or whatever."
"That'd be nice." Dawn said smiling a little. "But you definitely need to get a microwave for the pop-corn."
"There are other ways to get some pop-corn, yunno?" Tara teased.
"I know, but microwaving it is so much faster and easier." Dawn rolled her eyes. "Oh, and if you invite Buffy over, don't let her get anywhere near the kitchen. Can you believe she burnt pop-corn in the microwave? I mean, it has instructions and a button that says 'pop-corn' and she still managed to burn it."
"Your sister and cooking don't go together kiddo. It is only when she eats that they add up."
"She's such a pig. What is it with you slayers and food? You're always hungry!"
And horny. "Your sister doesn't 'crave' just a non-fat yogurt after slaying, does she?"
Dawn and Tara snorted. "Try to find something to eat after Buffy comes home from slaying." The younger Summers retorted. "I'd say that non-fat yogurt is the last thing on her mind."
"I think she devolves." Tara said nodding seriously.
"She actually growled at me once when I tried to eat some of the food she was having!" Dawn said laughing. "She is such a Neanderthal."
"I try not go downstairs to get something to eat after she gets home." Tara added.
Faith chuckled. "Figured. It's the slaying it, makes us hungry and-"
"Horny." Dawn finished her sentence for her and received raised eyebrows from the others. "What? I overheard you talking about the 'double H's' back then." She said defensively. "Plus, it explains why she eats like she's never been fed. And the other… well I rather not to think about it." She said shuddering.
"It's not like she humps everything she sees, is it?"
"Faith!" Tara said scandalized yet she was smirking.
"Ugh! You are still as gross and pervert as ever!"
Faith paid no attention to the horrified teenager. "That would be worrisome. I mean, imagine coming into the living room and finding your sister humping the shit-" Dawn covered her ears singing very loud. "out of the arm chair?"
Tara chuckled blushing slightly. "You're evil."
"I do try to be my best." Faith said winking and laughing at the still singing Dawn.
"Is it over?" Dawn asked Tara, who nodded. "Good." She turned and punched Faith in the arm.
"Ow!"
"Pervert."
"Prude."
"Psycho."
"Monster."
"Pig."
"Brat."
They smiled at each other before walking into the Greek restaurant with a smiling Tara following them in.
