A/N: I still own nothing. Thanks for all of your reviews!
We were all sitting around a table in Willie's bar joking and having a good time. We were mostly making Buffy's first act of her servitude a living nightmare. I wasn't kidding when I said I would make her regret her way of thinking. I decided that her first job would be to serve the demons that she detested and refused to respect. There were rules of course they couldn't actually hurt her physically (It wouldn't do me any good to have a damaged slave) and she couldn't do anything to them. She has to be polite and courteous no matter what they say or do.
It's funny to watcher her get madder and madder because she is being bossed around by the demons she would normally be trying to kill. Chris had already purposely spilled her drink on the floor which caused Buffy to slip and spill everything she was carrying. The whole bar had a laughing fit. It felt good to be surrounded by my friends. This will be the last night we can do this for awhile, because tomorrow the Mayor dies.
After tomorrow I can bring my family home and start setting up order here on the Hellmouth. I can't wait to have my baby girl back home. It's been so long since I have seen her. "Are you excited?" I looked over at Chris who was watching the Slayer in complete boredom. "That depends," I stated. "Yeah, on what exactly?" she turned back to face me. Normally I would be worried about talking about something like this in public, but everyone in the bar is on my side except for Buffy of course, but she doesn't count. "Well that depends on whether or not we can take full control and take it fast. Defeating the Mayor is only the top of the iceberg. This town is overrun with chaos. I just want to be able to make sure that nothing can go wrong".
"You're paranoid. The real question is; are you going to let your vampire meet his daughter?" Marcus…even though I have already told Angel about Jesse he won't stop harping on me. "First it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you and second…I don't know". He glared at me. "You already told him about her. I don't see why you won't let him see her". What part of I don't know did he not understand?
"Marcus it's just…I don't know ok! Part of me is worried that he is going to leave again and then she will feel the same pain I felt only worse. It's one thing for a lover to abandon you, but it's completely different when it's a parent". An awkward silence covered the table. "Alexander is right. I know what it feels like to have a father turn his back on me for some gold digging tramp. It is very painful. However, do you really think that he would do something like that after what he went through to get you back? I know there is always a chance, but you know him better than most. If you cannot trust your heart or your instincts then trust in your mind. Use what you know to make a decision instead of your feelings".
What I know? I know that what happened wasn't his fault. I know he loves me. I know that if I don't let him see her he will be pissed. I know that it's just not fair for me to keep her from him anymore. I know that he has a right to see her, to help raise her, and to care for her. I know all of this, but I feel completely different.
"In the end I am probably going to let him see her no matter how much that thought terrifies me. I want her to be happy and I think that having both of her parents around will make her happier than if it was just me. At least I think so anyway". That right there is something hard to admit. "It's for the best. Besides if he messes up we can kill him". Marcus flagged down Buffy as he was speaking. "That's a given Marcus. Now what are we going to do about your vampire?" I gave him a look as if I was daring him to lie to me. He opened his mouth to answer when Buffy finally made it to our table.
"I will have another Cherry Pepsi" Chris said.
"I want another Beer" Marcus said.
"Get me some more nachos slave" naturally I wasn't going to be civil.
"You don't have to be so rude about it there is a word called please you know". I stared at her for a moment. "Don't question me. A slave has no business questioning its master. Now do as you told before I think of something a lot worse for you to be doing then serving demons their alcohol". She got red in the face and stormed off. You know what's funny I always thought that slavery was wrong (and I still do), but bossing Buffy around and watching her get pissed because she can't do anything about it is just so rewarding.
"Where were we…oh yes 'my vampire' is not an issue. I like him that's all". Chris and I shared a look before we started laughing at him. "Oh yeah! What about Chris and her werewolf?" Chris stopped laughing and glared at Marcus even though now I was laughing at both of them. "I do not have the faintest idea of what you are talking about". Marcus glared back just as hard. "Of course you don't. That's why you are blushing". I look at Chris and realized that it was true.
Chris face fell from angry to lost. Which put an end to my laughing and Marcus glaring. "I do not understand what is happening to me. This is…it is umm…it is hard to explain. I have never felt this way before. Part of me wants so badly to bash his face in for even looking at me and another part of me gets this warm fuzzy feeling every time I catch him looking at me". She said all of this while blushing and looking confused…she looks totally cute right now. Although I would never tell her that for fear of castration.
"Have you thought that maybe you might like this guy". She shook her head no at Marcus' idea. "I do not know him so how could I possibly like him". Well she's got us there. "Ok so maybe you don't like him but you could be attracted to him. That is normally where relationships start right? If you're attracted to him then that's your starting point" I said as I looked around for Buffy. Where the hell is she with my nachos?
"But I did not even consider looks when I made my list. Ok yeah I decided that he had to be taller than me but that was it". List? What List? "What list Chris? What are you talking about?" She looked like she had just got caught lying. "It is not important. What is important is the fact that I have no idea how to deal with this". I understand this is difficult for her. "How about this; Why don't you just shove this aside for now and as soon as the Mayor is gone then I will help you try and understand what you are going through?" she nodded her head just as Buffy was finally bringing us our order.
That was last night and now we are ready to get rid of the Mayor for good. Marcus had set everything up in my basement. The circle, the candles, the charms, the Crystal Fire, the book that held the spell and, the ingredients needed to cast it. As soon as the sun goes down completely we can begin. After the spell is complete we are going hunting. The spell will only take out the Mayor and those who are magically connected to him, but I know that there are others out there that are loyal to him, but they are not connected to him magically and they need to be eliminated as soon as possible.
We watched as the sun started to set (Marcus, Angel, Chris, and of course me). There was nothing romantic or special about it. Today is the day that all of our lives change forever. Nothing will ever be the same again. There is no going back. I am taking over the California Hellmouth tonight. My entire body is burning with the anticipation. I have waited so long for this day and it has finally come. This is my chance to prove that I am better then the Scoobies and that I don't need them.
We waited and we watched in silence as the darkness shadowed the town. Once the sun finally set we headed to the basement. Marcus and Chris placed their power along with the power behind the Crystal Fire to channel the spell. I followed along as they chanted the ancient spell adding the ingredients to the silver mixing bowl as needed. A blinding red and orange light spread across the room. The Crystal glowed and the charms cracked. Once the Crystal stopped glowing we knew that it was complete. The Mayor should now be dead. At least according to the book anyway.
"I am going to head over to the Mayor's office to make sure that he is dead". I picked up the bowl that had the ingredients in it and took it upstairs to the kitchen so I could clean it later. "Do you want us to head out and start eliminating the others?" I shook my head no, "stay here just in case. I don't want guys out there offing his minions if it didn't work and he is still alive".
"When are you going to have faith in our abilities?" I looked at him "Marcus magic has always went wrong around me. I just…you can't be too careful. Once I find out if the Mayor is dead I will send a text message that says OKAY then you can go out and off everyone whose name is on that list I gave you". I put the bowl in the sink and checked my pocket for my car keys.
"Do you want me to come with you?" I turned around and faced Angel. "No it would be too suspicious. If anyone who is loyal to the Mayor sees me with you they will know that I had something to do with his death if he is dead. Right now we can't take that risk". I kissed him quickly and left out the back door. As far as anyone outside my group knows Angel and I are still on the outs. Even the Scoobies are unaware of our mending relationship. It would raise a lot of questions if I was seen in public with Angel.
It was a quick drive to the Mayor's office not that I needed to get close to it. The office was surrounded by police. I got out of my car and walked over to the receptionist that works in the front lobby. "What's going on? I have a meeting with the Mayor in ten minutes. What are all of these police doing here?" She turned to face me "Oh sweetie Mayor Wilkins died in his office". It controlled my face and looked shocked. "How…I mean what happened?" she is one of the few people who worked for the Mayor and was still completely oblivious to what Sunnydale really was.
"I think it was faulty wiring. He died in a fire that was started in his office. The fire department is closing down the building until the city can have it fixed. Why don't you go home Alexander there is nothing you can do here". I nodded as if I was in a daze and slowly walked off. When I got into my car I pulled out my cell phone and sent the text OKAY to Chris and Marcus. Then I sent a text telling them to meet me at the Alibi Room.
Mayor Richard Wilkins the third is dead. That is one of the last few steps I have to take to become the Master of the Hellmouth. And now…it looks like I am going hunting.