10:42 P.M, Diego and the two men were at a dead stop on the interstate behind a severe accidents scene. Diego sat impatient in the backseat. The first man was driving and the second man was in the front passenger seat. Nichole and Cat as a painting were in the trunk.
The first undamaged vehicle behind the accident scene was a limousine. Inside the limousine were the driver, three United States senators, a foreign leader and his diplomats.
At the Summer's home, Sam, Mat and Nash were carrying the painting towards the house. When they and Jocelyn reached a certain distance from the front door the mystical alarm sounded.
Jocelyn looked around in a confused manner while uttering, "What is that sound."
"It's a mystical alarm and it is working," Mat was the first to say. "So why didn't it work with Diego?"
"A mystical alarm?" Jocelyn questioned.
"One of our friends, who is currently away and unavailable, had cast a spell that would sound an alarm when witches, warlocks and demons come near," Sam explained. "Oh and Willow, our friend who cast the spell, is also a witch."
Jocelyn grinned while saying, "I figured as much… that a witch did this."
"Can you shut this down?" Sam asked.
"Ye… well, I would need to see the incantation that Willow had used to cast her spell," Jocelyn said.
"Okay, well, Willow's 'Book of Shadows' is in the house," Sam said before continuing towards the door. "Let's go."
As everyone followed Sam, Jocelyn questioned, "Book of Shadows?"
"Well, that's what I call it," Sam said as they were reaching the stoop. "The phrase 'Book of Shadow' is actually from a hit TV show."
As Sam was opening the front door, Jocelyn said, "And the only thing that I actually understood is that it is what you call it."
"I'll explain later," Sam said with a grin before entering the house.
Jocelyn attempted to enter, but was mystically stopped at the outside edge of the symbols that voided the anteroom of all magic. Nash and Mat stopped quickly to keep from bumping into her. Sam turned to see her touching an invisible wall.
When Jocelyn saw Sam staring curiously at her, she said, "Something invisible… or mystical is blocking my way. I can't enter."
Sam noticed that she was stopped at the imaginary line that would connect the symbols as Mat suggested, "You're a vampire."
Jocelyn slightly laughed before saying, "I can see why you think that, but no. I'm just a witch… who apparently can't enter this house."
"You're not just a witch," Sam said.
"I am; I swear," Jocelyn said while trying to convincingly assure him.
"No; I mean, you are a witch who… as you put it, 'steals the age from the Earth and her plant life', so therefore magic must flow through you at all times," Sam said.
"Okay," Jocelyn said in a confused tone as the answer dawned on Mat. "So why can't I enter?"
"Because this anteroom is a magic-free zone," Mat supplied the answer.
Jocelyn slowly mocked, "A magic-free zone?"
"Willow and Valerie… oh Valerie is Willow's student and she happens to be one of the paintings," Sam said as he pointed to the painting that Nash held. Jocelyn just grinned and nodded to acknowledge what was said. Sam then motioned all over the anteroom. "Anyway, those two had cast a spell that would void or cancel all magic within this room. And since magic continuously flows through you…"
"I can't enter this room," Jocelyn finished the sentence as she looked to see where the symbols where, which where covering the walls and ceiling. "So is there another way into the house."
"Mat, lead Jocelyn to the back door," Sam said.
Mat leaned the painting that he held against the anteroom wall before turning towards Jocelyn and saying, "Follow me."
After Mat and Jocelyn left, Sam noticed the symbols on the ceiling above the basement door. Nash noticed as to what Sam was looking at and said, "She can't get into the basement."
"Well, there's a door from the basement to the backyard, but it's locked up tight," Sam said before he leaned the painting that he held against the anteroom wall next to the one that Mat had put down. Nash put the painting that he held down also. "Instead of going through the hassle of opening that door though, I'll bring Willow's book up. While I'm doing that, Nash, you can let Mat and Jocelyn in from the back door in the kitchen."
"On it," Nash said before the two went their respective ways.
Nash went into the kitchen and opened the back door. Once Mat and Jocelyn got to the back door, Jocelyn attempted to feel any invisible walls with her hand as she slowly entered the kitchen.
Once Jocelyn walked four steps passed the door, she put her hand down while saying, "I'm in." She then gestured towards the backyard. "But I probably should free your friends outside where there's plenty of room."
"I'll let Sam know," Nash said just as Sam was walking into the kitchen.
"Let me know what?" Sam asked.
"I should free your friends outside… where there's plenty of room," Jocelyn repeated as she again gestured towards the backyard.
Sam nodded as he flipped to the correct page of Willow's book. He then held it out for Jocelyn to take while saying, "It was this incantation that Willow used to create the alarm."
Jocelyn took the book and silently read the page. After reading it, she closed her eye and rattled off an incantation. Once the mystical alarm went silent, Jocelyn said, "Done."
"Why didn't the alarm go off when Diego entered the house?" Mat asked.
"Diego isn't a demon or a warlock," Jocelyn said.
"But didn't he use magic to capture everyone?" Mat asked.
"The magic was from his paintbrush," Jocelyn began. "And this incantation doesn't cover magical items… I can modify it to where it would though."
"Let's free the others first," Sam said. Jocelyn just nodded. "Mat; Nash, we should take the paintings into the backyard."
Before Sam had a chance to leave the kitchen, Jocelyn asked, "Does Willow have her supplies here?"
"Her supplies are downstairs," Sam said. "I'll go get them."
"Thank you," Jocelyn said. Sam nodded before he, Mat and Nash entered the anteroom from the kitchen.
Todd was awake in his bedroom and noticed movement at the Summer's home. He stared out the window and watched as Sam, Mat and Nash were leaning the paintings against the wall of the house in the backyard. His focused was then drawn to the woman in the old western style dress as she was creating a fifteen-foot in diameter circle in the middle of the yard with twelve candles.
Once Jocelyn created the circle, she picked out a knife from Willow's box and examined it. When Jocelyn saw symbols on the knife she put the knife back. She then stepped up to Sam and held out her hand with her palm up while saying, "I need your knife."
"You just had a knife in your hand," Sam pointed out.
"Yeah, well, if that was my knife and Willow used it without my consent, I would be upset," Jocelyn said as she continued to hold out her hand for his knife.
"All right," Sam said before reaching into his pocket for his knife. Sam pulled out and opened the knife before putting the handle of the knife in Jocelyn's hand.
Once Jocelyn took the knife, she stepped into the circle and carved a symbol directly in the center of the circle within the grass and dirt. She then began carving twelve more symbols. Each of the twelve symbols was being carved out on the inside of the circle and next to each of the twelve candles.
"Are you creating a decorative sundial?" Mat asked.
"No," Jocelyn simply answered as she continued to carve out her symbols.
"You're not going to explain to us what you're doing?" Mat asked.
"Would you understand if I did?" Jocelyn asked.
"Okay, good point," Mat said. Jocelyn just gave him a smile as she continued to carve out her symbols.
Within a short time, Jocelyn finished carving out the last symbol. She then told the others, "Bring me the paintings."
"Okay," all three answered as they went to move the paintings.
Once the three carried the paintings into the circle, Jocelyn had the paintings propped up against each other on top of the center symbol. Jocelyn then went to light the twelve candles. Once the last candle was lit, Jocelyn stood on the outside of the circle and recited an eight-line incantation that rhymed.
Once the incantation was done, the candles blew out and the images on the paintings separated from the canvas while breaking up into millions of swirling pieces. Within seconds the swirling pieces reassembled into their respective individuals.
Once they were all whole again, they vigorously looked in all direction. Kennedy was the first to uttered out, "What the hell!"
The others were either grumbling or repeating what Kennedy had said, but not as loud. Amber attempted to calm her karate students while Teresa was doing the same with the potentials.
"Can I have everyone's attention please," Sam uttered out. Everyone hushed and turned towards him. Next-door Todd had opened his window while trying to hear. "Obviously everyone is confused as to what had happened." Jocelyn's attention was drawn to Mat as he found Valerie within the crowd and gave her a passionate kiss. "You were all approached by an artist named…"
"Named Diego Hernando," Buffy interrupted with in an angry tone as she stepped up to Sam.
When the kiss ended between Mat and Valerie, Jocelyn noticed Valerie acting as if she was sensing something disturbing about her. Jocelyn then watched as Valerie turned towards Todd while he was peaking from his bedroom widow. Todd didn't see Valerie catching sight of him.
"Well, actually his real name is Vincent Hernando Diego," Sam said as Giles, Xander, Kennedy, Teresa and Nick moved closer.
"Vincent Hernando Diego?" Giles mocked as he stepped up. "The Watcher's Council had been hearing rumors of that guy for close to a century. Rumor has it that he turns people into paintings and after he recites a ritual, the images of the paintings age while Vincent Hernando Diego remains forever young."
Giles saw Buffy looking at him in an inquisitive manner just before she asked, "Now? You think of this now?"
"Well, it… it has been almost two decades since I even heard that name, Buffy," Giles said. "And what we heard were thought to be only rumors."
"So we were turned into paintings?" Xander questioned.
"You were," Sam answered.
Before anything else got said, Valerie stepped up and said, "Buffy, we have a couple of problems." Mat strolled in behind Valerie. Sheila also stepped closer to hear while trying to make sense of the situation.
"Are you meaning beyond as to what had happened already?" Buffy questioned.
"Yes," Valerie said as she saw Jocelyn stepping closer. "We're being watched by the teenaged boy next-door is the first thing."
"Super," Buffy sarcastically said. "Let's hope he's like the people in Sunnydale and live in denial world."
"I doubt it will be that simple with him," Sam said. "The teenager who's watching is most likely Todd, and Todd had watched you and the others being turned into a painting earlier."
"How?" Buffy asked. "We were inside."
"He was getting his ball from the front yard and happened to peek into the window as you and the others were being turned into a painting," Sam said.
"Ah," Buffy uttered. "Well, I'll talk with him tomorrow and try to smooth things over. Anyway, Val, what else?"
Valerie stared at Jocelyn while saying, "This strange woman here has my hairs standing on end and the only time that happens is when a person is drenched in magic."
"Easy," Sam quickly said in Jocelyn's behalf. "She's with me and her name is…"
"Jocelyn Jewel," Giles said. "At least I'm guessing."
"Good guess," Jocelyn said.
"And you guessed that why?" Buffy asked.
"According to the rumors, Jocelyn is the only one who can free Vincent Hernando Diego's victims," Giles said. "Well, besides Vincent Hernando Diego of course." He then told Jocelyn, "You're also the witch who gave him his ability."
Jocelyn slightly bowed her head in shame before saying, "And I regret that."
"Well, where is this Vincent Hernando Diego now?" Buffy demanded to know from Jocelyn.
"I have no idea," Jocelyn said.
"Buff!" Sam quickly uttered in Jocelyn's behalf. "Jocelyn was turned into a painting just like you. Mat, Nash and I set her free several minutes ago."
"How were you able to set her free?" Buffy asked.
"Jocelyn can't remain in a painting form unless Diego traps her within a magical shroud," Sam said before catching Buffy's full interest. "As Cat and Nichole led Diego away, Mat, Nash and I broke into the art gallery, found Jocelyn and broke the magical shroud. After we freed Jocelyn, we came back here and freed all of you."
"Rewind back to Cat and Nichole," Buffy said. Jocelyn gave Buffy a confused look. "Where are they now?"
"If I would have to guess, I would say prisoners of Diego," Sam confessed.
Buffy sighed before saying, "Giles, explained to the confused civilians at to what had happened and it don't have to be the truth."
"Right," Giles said.
"We so need one of those 'Men in Black' light flashing gadgets," Xander said. He then saw Buffy looking at him in an unpleasant manner. "Okay, not the right time for that. Check."
Buffy slightly rolled her eyes before shouting out, "The people who are with me, and you know who you are, let's move. We have people to save and a gallery owner to severely hurt."
"Buffy, shouldn't we come up with a plan before charging back in?" Sam asked.
"I have a plan," Buffy said before turning towards the house and walking away in a swift manner.
"Buffy!" Jocelyn called out before Buffy was able to get too far.
Buffy turned towards her while saying, "Yes, you can come."
"Thanks… and I will, but I was just going to say that breaking his paintbrush will end Diego's ability to capture people," Jocelyn said.
Buffy nodded before saying, "Thanks. That's helpful." Jocelyn just nodded. "Oh and since you're coming bring magic supplies." Again Jocelyn just nodded.
"Buff, there are four police officers unconscious within art gallery," Sam said. "Probably even more by now who's not unconscious. That's why I think we need to come up with a better plan than charging in."
"My plan is still viable." Buffy then uttered out for everyone to hear. "So who all are coming with me, need to keep up or I'm leaving you behind."
When Buffy turned and walked away again, Xander, Kennedy, Sam, Valerie, Amber, Wendy and Carrie quickly followed. Jocelyn went to quickly gather the magic supplies from the yard.
Giles got to noticing that one of the younger trees around the backyard appeared to be taller with a thicker trunk. As he looked around at the other trees he questioned, "How long have we been imprisoned?"
"Just a few hours," Mat said.
"Are you sure?" Giles asked as he continued to look at the surrounding trees.
"I positive," Mat said.
"What is it?" Teresa asked.
Giles gestured towards the tree that got his attention before saying, "That tree was much smaller than that this morning."
"Mat and I have the explanation for its unusual growth spurt," Nash said before going into the explanation.
Inside, Buffy went directly to her weapon's chest and got out her crossbows. When Sam saw what she was getting out, he said, "You can't just go in there and fire those at cops."
"Well, if everything goes as plan, these won't be fired at cops." Buffy then uttered out, "I need a cell phone."
Xander took his cell phone off of his belt. As he held it out for Buffy to take he said, "Here you go."
Buffy took the phone and called Booth. Booth was at home and was in a romantic setting with a date.
When Booth answered, Buffy rattled off, "I'm after a Big Bad at 'The Immortalized Art Gallery'. There are cops there now so you should tell them to back off before they get hurt."
"Buffy…" Booth was only able to get out before he heard a click. Booth stood up while uttering, "Crap!"
"What's wrong, Honey," the woman asked.
"I have to go," Booth said. "Duty calls."
"What about our date?" the woman quickly questioned.
"I would really like a rain check," Booth said. "If not, I understand. But right now you'll have to go."
"Fine," the woman unpleasantly said as she stood up. "Call me when you can finish a date."
"This was only the second time that we were interrupted," Booth said as the woman walked angrily to the door.
"Third," the woman said as she opened the door. Booth was about to respond when the woman left out the door.
"Great," Booth sarcastically uttered.
At the Summer's home, Buffy, Xander, Kennedy, Sam, Valerie, Amber, Wendy, Carrie and Jocelyn were piling into a van. Xander took the driver's seat while Buffy took the front passenger seat. Xander started the van while the others were piling into the back. Jocelyn just happened to get the seat directly behind Xander and she placed the box of magic supplies under her seat.
Once everyone was seated inside the van, Buffy looked back at Jocelyn and said, "So, Jocelyn. We know nothing about you."
"What is it you want to know?" Jocelyn asked.
"Whose side you're on to start with," Buffy said as Xander drove away. "We can build from there."
"I see you go straight to the point," Jocelyn said.
"With situations like this, yes," Buffy said. "So whose side are you on?"
"Before I was imprisoned by Diego I was living in a wooded area outside a small town in reclusion," Jocelyn began. "My contact with people was very little and once Diego is stopped I would like to return to that life."
"Why did you give Diego his ability to turn people into paintings?" Valerie asked.
"When I was nineteen, I stumbled across an incantation that made me an immortal," Jocelyn began. Most everyone in the van gave Jocelyn an astonished look. "I don't age… and I can't even die no matter what you do to me. I can feel mind-blinding pain though or be magically imprisoned. Diego found me… and he tortured me until I agreed to give him what he wanted."
"And that was immortality like you," Buffy surmised.
When Jocelyn nodded, Valerie asked, "How old are you?"
Jocelyn took a troubling breath before saying, "I was born in the year 1634 in Northern Ireland." Buffy pondered Jocelyn's words as she continued to say, "I was imprisoned by Diego in 1895."
"Well, that explains the style of your dress," Valerie said. Jocelyn just grinned. "So when did you start learning magic?"
Jocelyn slightly laughed before saying, "Magic has always been a part of my life since I was born. All of my female ancestors before me were the same way… all the way back to Merlin."
"Merlin?" Buffy quickly questioned.
"Surely there are still stories of him today," Jocelyn said. "Stories of how he helped King Arthur."
Buffy nodded before saying, "I'm familiar with the stories of King Arthur and his wizard Merlin."
"King Arthur and Merlin are believed to be a myth," Jocelyn said. "But they're real… were real anyway. And one of my ancestors was Merlin's student. The incantation of immortality that I cast on myself was actually a tailored version of one of his incantations."
"If I understand correctly, Diego stays young by feeding off of his victims," Buffy said.
"Well, he steals the youth from his victims," Jocelyn corrected. "The images on the paintings age and die as Diego doesn't and his health doesn't degrade any further."
Buffy gave Jocelyn a curious look before saying, "He was in poor health. That's why he came to you in the first place."
"He was dying when he came to me… and desperate not to," Jocelyn said. "And he learned just enough magic to severely hurt me when I first refused to help him."
Buffy nodded before asking, "So how does your immortality work? Do you steal the youth from… anything?"
Jocelyn slightly bowed her head in shame before saying, "From the earth and her plant life. The fewer trees there are means that the trees, grass and flowers in the area will age more rapidly. That's why I choose to live in a wooded area. I would love to undo that spell though."
"Why can't you?" Valerie asked.
"That spell can't be reversed," Jocelyn said. Valerie then heard Jocelyn's thoughts. 'It can be lessened though.'
"How can it be lessened?" Valerie asked. Jocelyn gave Valerie a disturbing look. "I'm empathic. I'm able to sense people's emotions and sometimes I can hear people's thoughts. Oh and my name in Valerie by the way."
Jocelyn grinned before catching Sam's attention with, "Okay to answer your question and Sam's earlier 'Or what?' question, there's an incantation to where another witch or other witches can share my burden."
"Sharing your burden means?" When Jocelyn gave Buffy a confused look, Buffy continued with, "Okay this is the part where you continue at the point where I left off."
"Oh, uh, that means that I steals less from the Earth while the other witch or witches steal the rest from the Earth," Jocelyn said. "And I would slowly age."
"At what rate?" Buffy asked.
"That depends on how much of the burden the other witch or witches take on," Jocelyn said. "If only one witch takes on half, then we both would age one year for every hundred years. More importantly though, if another witch shares half my burden then I can be killed."
"You want to die?" Sam asked.
"I gave in to Diego because he could do whatever he wanted to do to me as means of torture without me dying," Jocelyn said.
"Even cutting off your head won't kill you?" Carrie asked.
"Cutting off my head would cause my body to painfully explode into dust, immediately followed by me being put back together whole again next to where I was decapitated," Jocelyn said. "Diego decapitated me over and over again. And if I could've died from his torture, I would've never given in."
"Well, I really don't want to live forever, but I'll take on a part of your burden," Valerie said. Jocelyn gave her a curious look. "I'm a witch... well an amateur witch. Another witch named Willow is teaching me magic."
Jocelyn grinned before saying, "Thanks for your offer, Valerie, but you're not powerful enough of a witch to share my burden."
"What would happen if we tried?" Valerie asked.
"Performing that incantation with you would cause you to instantly explode into dust without you being put back together again," Jocelyn said.
"Oh!" Valerie uttered.
"Spell of that type sounds like dark magic," Kennedy said.
Jocelyn gave Kennedy a curious look before questioning, "Dark magic?"
"Magic… or evil magic that can turn a good person evil when being performed," Kennedy said.
Jocelyn grinned before saying, "Yes, well, performing powerful magic continuously can corrupt one's sense of right and wrong. So it's not really the magic that is dark or evil… at least I don't believe so. I believe it's more of who is in control; the magic or the person performing the magic."
"So who is in control in your case?" Kennedy asked.
"At one time I would have to say that the magic was," Jocelyn began. "I definitely did things that shame me. The incantation that made me immortal was the worse. But before Diego found me I believe I was in control of the magic… unless my sense of right and wrong is so corrupt that I was only deluding myself."
"You fear that you don't have control over the magic," Valerie said. "That was why you had very little contact with people." Jocelyn slightly hesitated before nodding.
"You and Willow have much in common," Buffy said. Jocelyn gave Buffy an inquisitive look. "She too was taken over by the magic for a time. She then regained control of it and stays in control of it by not performing the magic that she considers to be dark magic. And if she does perform dark magic, she performs it with other witches."
"Performing powerful magic within a coven is the best way to stay in control over the magic," Jocelyn said. "Although that too doesn't guarantee that a witch or even the coven won't be taken over by it."
"How were you able to regain control over the magic?" Kennedy asked.
"In 1803 I met a man… except he wasn't a man… or human as far as that matter," Jocelyn began. "He wouldn't talk… or couldn't talk. I don't know which. He just stared out as if he was in a trance of some kind. Anyway, when I met him, he was on the road near my home and I tried to get him to move along. I touched him and when I did, I was given visions; visions of myself. The first vision frightened me. I was a cruel person in it, much crueler than I could imagine myself ever being. People throughout the world either trembled in my presence or tried to kill me. When the vision ended I demanded for the man to tell me what magic he had used on me. I went to shake him and when I touched him again I was given another vision. The second vision was of me being a kinder and gentler person. I was beloved by the people in my village. Obviously from the two visions I preferred the second one. I don't know if I could ever achieve the second one, but I did decide that it was something that I wanted to strive for."
"Did this man age backwards?" Buffy asked.
"Age backwards?" Jocelyn questioned.
"Did he get younger; perhaps by a year every thirty minutes or so?" Buffy asked.
Jocelyn thought for a moment before saying, "I left the man alone on the road after the second vision, so if he aged backwards, I wasn't around to see it."
"Okay, well, I think what you encountered was a dying In-between," Buffy said.
"What's an In-between?" Jocelyn asked.
"Okay, first of all, you should know that different dimensions and alternate realities exist," Buffy said.
"Different what and alternate what? Jocelyn asked.
Buffy smiled before saying, "Let's start with realities. Those visions and the following dreams that you had were actual events."
"I never mentioned my dreams," Jocelyn said. "So how did you know about them?"
Buffy grinned before saying, "It's an aftereffect of touching an In-between."
"Okay, well, there was nothing from my visions or dreams that were real," Jocelyn said.
"Xander, help me out here," Buffy said.
"Jocelyn, there is something that is called 'crossroad event'," Xander began. "And a crossroad event is a pivotal moment to where the future of a person or a group of people is determined by the outcome of an event." Jocelyn gave Xander a confused look that Xander didn't see as he drove. "And for each crossroad event that occurs alternate realities are created that are separate and independent from our own. How many alternate realities will depend on how many possible outcomes there are. Are you following me so far?"
Before Jocelyn could respond, Wendy said, "I know what an alternate reality is, Xander, and I'm having trouble with that explanation."
"Okay, well, here's an example," Xander began again. "Jocelyn, you chose to cast that spell that has you stealing the youth from the Earth. The Earth ages twice as fast while you forever stay young. You could've chosen not to do it, so your choice by definition is a crossroad event. In this reality you cast the spell and you are forever young while in an alternate reality you didn't cast the spell. In that alternate reality you had aged like everyone else and most likely had died of old age before the age of hundred."
"I believe I understand," Jocelyn said. "Now what are dimensions?"
"Dimensions are separate worlds separated by some kind of force," Buffy said. "It takes magic or a mystical force to cross dimensions, so perhaps the force separating dimensions is an invisible-mystical-wall."
"Okay, what you are calling dimensions, I call hidden realms," Jocelyn said.
"Good to know," Buffy said.
"So what do alternate realities and different dimensions have to do with an In-between?" Jocelyn asked.
"An In-between's realm of existence is between realities and it lives outside time," Buffy said.
"It lives outside time?" Jocelyn questioned in a confused tone.
"Future, present and past is one and the same to an In-between," Buffy explained. Buffy then saw a confuse expression across Jocelyn's face. "To an In-between's perspective, its beginning, end and everything in the middle happens simultaneously while for us, an In-between's life span is two to three hundred years."
Jocelyn attempted to imagine a being living in such manner and when she couldn't she said, "Okay, that's hard to imagine living outside time."
"That is a hard concept to grasp," Buffy agreed.
Jocelyn slightly grinned before asking, "And you said that the In-between was dying when I encounter him?"
"Once an In-between reaches the end of its life span it takes on an adult form of its choosing and then it will age backwards as it gets closer to death," Buffy said. "It becomes an infant just before it dies and when it does die, it will erupt into a flame and disappear in a quick puff."
"That's interesting… and it also explains the scorch mark on the grass the morning after I encountered him," Jocelyn said. Buffy just grinned. "Buffy, Sam tells me that you people are demon hunters. I don't have, Valerie's empathic ability, but I do sense that you're more than a demon hunter."
"I'm a slayer actually," Buffy said.
Jocelyn gave Buffy a skeptical look before saying, "I heard of slayers… I even met one once. And what I learned is that slayers don't survive for more than four years after being chosen and that they are chosen before the age of twenty."
Buffy grinned before saying, "That was true up until seventeen years ago."
"What happened seventeen years ago to change that?" Jocelyn asked.
"I was chosen as the slayer," Buffy said. "But to be honest I did die twice."
"You died? Twice?" Jocelyn questioned.
Buffy nodded before saying, "I drowned at the age of sixteen by the hands of a master vampire known as the Master." Valerie sensed that the Master was familiar to Jocelyn. "I was legally dead for two minutes before Xander found me and revived me. My second death was at the age of twenty and I was killed by a mystical energy. Willow knew an incantation… or found one after my death that would resurrect anyone who had died by mystical forces, and so she resurrected me three months later."
"I don't know the name of that incantation, but I heard of it," Jocelyn said. "That's a very powerful incantation and there are very few witches who are powerful enough to pull it off."
"Oh, Willow's a very powerful witch," Kennedy bragged.
"Obviously," Jocelyn said. "Where is she now?"
"She's in another dimension on a mission to find a cure to a poison," Buffy said before facing Sam. "In fact, Sam should be with her this very moment."
"Oh, right," Sam began. "Willow sent me back so I can inform you that, that it can take up to a week or longer to get the cure ingredients."
"Gotcha," Buffy said.
"Which happened to be a good thing considering what had happened to you," Sam added.
Buffy grinned before saying, "True." She then turned back towards Jocelyn. "Anyway, Jocelyn, getting back to the slayer who you met. Was she after you?"
"No," Jocelyn said. "I doubt that she even knew that I was a witch. We crossed paths while she was slaying three vampires in the year 1753 in Longford, Ireland."
"Longford," Buffy mocked. "That's not too far from Galway."
"It's not, and the vampire population was on the rise between Longford and Galway during 1753," Jocelyn said. "You spoke of the Master earlier. Well, I actually cast a few powerful incantations for him back then. Of course now, I wish I hadn't." She then bowed her head while saying barely loud enough to be heard, "There are a lot of things I wish I hadn't."
Buffy slightly startled Jocelyn when she leaned over from the front seat and covered Jocelyn's hand with hers in a consoling manner. When Jocelyn looked up, Buffy said, "It's okay. I don't care what you did in your past. It's what you do in the present and the future that I care about."
Jocelyn slightly grinned before asking, "Why are you so forgiving?"
"Ooh, that can take hours to explain," Buffy began. "But to give you the short answer, my and my friends' past is not all that spotless."
Jocelyn grinned before saying, "Do tell."
"Okay, to rapidly list them," Buffy began. "My first serious boyfriend was a vampire. Xander was possessed by a…"
"Stop there," Jocelyn quickly interrupted with. "Your first serious relationship with a man was with a vampire?"
"Yeah, but you need to know that Angel was curse with a soul by gypsies in the year 1898," Buffy explained.
"Angel?" Jocelyn questioned. "Angelus?"
"Did you two meet… while you were in Longford?" Buffy asked.
"Our paths had crossed briefly; soon after he was sired in fact," Jocelyn said. "And now he is cursed with a soul?"
"He is," Buffy said. "Now he fights evil in Los Angeles, California."
"Wow!" Jocelyn uttered. "That's a big change from the stories that I heard."
"I'm actually familiar with Angelus' killing spree and vicious behavior before being cursed," Buffy said.
"Of course," Jocelyn quickly said. "I wasn't implying anything."
"Oh, I know," Buffy said. "But you can see now where my forgiveness had stemmed from." When Jocelyn nodded with a polite grin Buffy continued with her list of when and how she and the Scoobies became temporarily evil at one point while starting with Xander and how a spirit of a hyena had possessed him.
TBC