It wouldn't be long until the sun would be up, and who knew what that would bring after the previous day's events.
Angelus sat down in the closest chair he could find and let out a large sigh, his hands coming up to his face and he rubbed his eyes. He'd hardly slept between the trip home and having to get up for this, the town on high alert, his mind refusing to shut up. He still had next to zero answers for anything, and that was not a good sign.
Angelus watched as this Tara girl moved around the room, gathering items she needed and setting them down on the large table as she saw fit. The other one, Willow, was by her side, helping though looking utterly confused at times. Wesley and Rupert were here as well, throwing out their own theories, still researching, asking questions to each of the girls and to each other, themselves, and to just the air around them.
There seemed to be a change in the Tara girl as she moved around, the crazy seemed to fade away and determination take over. Just another question to the list he supposed. It wasn't too long before the girls announced they were ready and called him closer.
He sighed again as he got up, walking over to them, unsure of what he expected from all of this. After all, she could just be making a whole lot of nonsense up for all he knew.
Tara positioned him in view of the large mirror and explained quickly what would happen. She then began mixing, chanting, and performing magicks. Which he'd never much a fan of, good or bad, witchcraft always had a way of making him feel pretty antsy, given the history here.
Giles knew this more than anyone and shot him an assuring look and nod, helping his nerves calm a little.
He watched as the mirror started clouding up, blurry at first but soon coming into focus just in time to show flashes of the day before. There were feet hitting the ground all of a sudden, light hitting them in the same instant was what showed up first. The timeline continued... though never really showing the girl featured. Instead, it always seemed to focus on a certain close up of her, follow her from behind or above, or it would show the sky's progress. Not being able to see the rest of her made his nerves even more shot for some reason. He growled out a complaint about it, but he was only told he needed to wait.
It showed when nightfall came, the glow fading from the town, and then finally the girl.
Darkened images played of her going through the woods, climbing up a tree, finding a place to stay until morning played.
He could hear the others talking... Tara and Willow's soft whispers, speaking in a language he knew only what he needed from it, Wesley's out loud wonderings, Giles' comments... but he seemed to be in his own world as the mirror started transitioning into real time.
The light appeared in the sky, starting in one spot before spreading, the path from yesterday lighting up before the focus started turning downward, following a path to the girl. Her face tilted upward, instantly stealing his breath away.
She seemed annoyed with the sun following her, her face scrunching up before looking down to her supplies and began gathering them up. Angelus could feel his throat tightening up as they watched. She was gorgeous. From one look at her alone you knew she wasn't from their land, no one here looked anything like her, that was for sure. She couldn't be more than a teenager to maybe in her early twenties, but she sure seemed to be handling herself quite nicely as she continued on her way. Her skin was a peachy tint he'd never seen before, and seemed to almost shimmer… her hair was the color of honey, tossed up in a messy ponytail.
Everything about her seemed to nearly glow.
"Are we sure she's not one of us?"
"Yes," Tara said and he softly breathed at the same time.
"Well then, where the hell is she from? And how did she wind up here?"
"I don't know," Tara replied, almost sounding annoyed. "I don't know who she is, how she got here... I just knew she was coming and when she arrived. I don't know how on that either," she admitted, her voice softer. "But I do know she needs our help. We need to find her."
"Help with what exactly?"
"Right now, I'd say with not getting caught. Some folks here, if they find her to be the source..." she trailed off, letting everyone's imagination run with that.
Angelus' fists clenched at his sides. If she fell into the wrong hands... No, he wasn't going to let that happen. "Where is she going?" he asked.
Tara walked around the table to him. "Your guess is as good as mine. I can follow her here.. but I'd guess she's looking for somewhere to hide." After a moment, "I can tell you where she is right now. I recognize that area."
At least that was a start.
OoOoO
"Where are you going?" Wesley asked, following him around.
"To go find the girl."
"And do what?"
"I don't know! Ask her for answers of what the hell is going on?"
"This could all just be a trap, Angelus."
He sighed. "You think I don't know that?" he asked. In his core he didn't believe it for some reason, but there was that small doubt in his head. "Do you have a better plan?" he asked after a moment.
Wesley looked annoyed. "I don't like any of this."
"Have you found anything in the archives that mentioned anything like this going to happen?"
"No, but we are still looking."
He nodded. He wanted to say more, but what was on the tip of his tongue already sounded ridiculous in his head.
OoOoO
Elizabeth was calm and focused as she watched her prey, waiting for the right moment to release her bow and finally have a start to a new food stash. Her tongue came out to wet her lips, then the bow went flying. She smiled as it hit its target, feeling her troubles fade away, if only for a second.
Gathering up her pack, taking out what supplies she needed, she started for the animal.
"Nice shot," came a male voice from behind her.
She stilled, her stomach dropping. In her head, she reminded herself not to panic. Not yet. This could just be a friendly encounter, nothing to lose it over yet. She did curse herself for not realizing someone else was nearby however.
Spinning around, she put a smile on her face. "Thank you," she said to the stranger.
He stepped out of the trees some, giving her a better view. And the way he was looking at her started making her more than a little nervous.
He nodded, leaned against a tree. "Where'd you learn to shoot like that?"
"My father," she told him, her fingers gripping the wood in them. "Before he passed away."
"Sorry to hear of your loss..."
She knew he was pressing for a name, but she ignored it. "Thank you."
There was a silence between them. It made her uncomfortable, as did the look that remained in his dark eyes as he stood there. It was like he knew something about her and she didn't like it one bit.
"Well, I should be going now," she finally said and turned away.
OoOoO
Angelus felt like he could barely breathe being here. Like the first real glimpse of her had put some deep pressure in the middle of his chest. In person, she was even more of a wonder, a beauty, and it made him feel something he couldn't even begin to describe. He'd watched her for probably twenty minutes before she made the shot, entirely enchanted.
He was right in the fact that this girl seemed to glow somehow. He didn't think it was so noticeable unless you were looking for it, but it was there. Something about her... Hell, everything about her...
He felt warmth spread through him like liquid fire, replacing the ice cold that ran through his veins.
"Wait," he called out as she took the first step away.
Angelus watched as she stopped, her body tense. She spun around, fingers still gripping her bow. "Yes?"
"What is your name?"
She looked almost annoyed again, her nose crinkling up for a second. "You seemed to be getting a little too interested," she told him.
He held out his hands. "I apologize if I am making you uncomfortable," he told her, "I just don't recall seeing you before."
Her head tilted a little to the side, her green eyes sparkling with the way the light hit them. "You remember everyone you've come across in your lifetime?" she countered. "Or believe you've actually even met everyone in the kingdom so far at that?"
He smiled a little. "Probably not," he told her.
"Well then..." she said again.
"Craziest thing about the sun, isn't it?" he asked as she went to turn.
Her jaw clenched. "Yep."
"Sun comes out, the rain stops... out of nowhere like that... any ideas or theories on that?"
OoOoO
Buffy didn't know if it was instinct, the way he said that, how he was looking at her, all of it combined or what but in that moment she had no doubt in her mind that this guy knew she was playing a part in what was going on and that she had been found out.
Her eyes looked around and her mind cursed. All the walls doming this place in were much too far off at the moment. She had to actually be at one to use the dust if she were going to escape the way she came in. If that even worked.
She put on a smile, trying to hide her emotions. "Nope, not a clue," she told him. "Maybe the curse was broken? Maybe the sky ran out of rain? No telling."
"You seem nervous."
Maybe she wasn't doing such a good job of putting on a front. She shrugged. "Well, young girl out in the woods with some guy she doesn't know and all... who wouldn't be a little on edge right?"
"Too true, and forgive me for my lack of manners," he said then took a step closer. "I am Angelus Hart."
With that, her face fell. She knew the name from books in her land, he was the goddamn king.
OoOoO
Angelus let out a huff of laughter as the girl all but disappeared. One second she was staring at him, green eyes going large and bright in shock, her mouth just slightly agape and then the next she was a whisper dashing away from him as fast as she could go. He had to imagine the look on his face in this moment was quite amusing. He looked up at the sky, watching the light follow this girl, seeming brighter as he stood here somehow, before looking behind him.
It was a mere moment later when Adam, his driver today, stepped out of the trees. He cleared his throat. "Do you want me to catch her?"
He let out another sound that was close to laughter and shook his head. "No, I have it under control," he told him then went after the pretty blonde guest in his kingdom.
He had to admit she was very fast, and seemed to be very good at handling herself in strange woods. He'd nearly lost her entirely a handful of times. He was thankful she hadn't shot at him at least.
"Hey!" he shouted, finding himself as close to her as he'd managed so far. "You!" he continued, his voice faltering a bit.
Again, he watched as she zipped away and let the chase continue on.
OoOoO
Angelus cursed, spinning around, unable to find her or her trail. He bent slightly, breathing hard, this girl was giving him a workout. He'd just straightened himself back up when he heard her let out a yelp. Stilling, his ears and eyes searching until he finally saw movement in the distance and he dashed off in that direction.
"Ow!" she cried out. "Son of a bitch," was muttered a little softer.
Angelus found her on the ground, her hands tugging on a thick vine that was wrapped around one of her ankles. These vile creatures of the forest were pretty rare, he had never had the pleasure of being in direct contact himself. With a sigh, he stepped over to her and leaned down. "Stop pulling at it," he told her. She was about to say something but he cut her off, taking her much smaller hands in his and removed them from the yellow and purple vines. She had a number of needles and thorns in her from touching it so he had her palms facing upward as he laid them to the side. "Can I see your bags?" he asked.
"Why?" she asked cautiously.
"To see if you have anything that could help get these things off of you," he told her.
She hesitated for a moment before nodding an 'okay' his way.
Stepping around her, he reached for one of the bags and started going through her supplies. He spotted a knife near where she sat and knew she probably tried using it, and finding out that only upset these things more. He heard her let out a small whimper and felt himself wince at the sound. "It's okay," he told her softly.
"That's easy for you to say," she pouted.
He chose not to reply, just went through her supplies until he found something worth trying on the vines.
OoOoO
The girl's ankle was finally let free, the vine slowly unwrapping itself from her before slithering away. He watched her hands start going to it on instinct but he pushed them back down and took her leg in her hands. The creature had burned a hole through her pants where it had latched on and he found himself wincing at the sight.
"Oh God, is my leg going to fall off now or something isn't it?"
"No. You do need it doctored up and some medicine for it though." He nodded to her hands. "I can't take those out here."
The girl swallowed and looked at him. "I'll be fine."
He saw her eyes darting around, knowing she was trying to figure out how to flee again.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he promised.
Her eyes met his and she swallowed again. "Thank you for your help with... whatever that was," she said after a moment.
"No trouble at all," he replied. "Are you alright, you know, besides the obvious?," he asked, nodding at her leg and hands.
She held out her hands, studying them. Her nose crinkled at the sight of the bloody mess, the needles and thorns still sticking out of them that the vines had launched into her when she touched it.
Angelus took one hand in his again, looking it over after doing his best to bandage her leg with what they had out here, then looked the other one over. He was careful not to touch the shrapnel, knowing it would only make things worse. He explained that to her and repeated he wouldn't be able to take them out here.
She didn't look happy, grumbling softly to herself for a moment. Then, the fool of a girl actually started trying to gather up her things and to get up. She yelped loudly as one bag she was trying to get over her hands and to slide to her arms hit her palms.
"Would you stop?" he asked. Pulling out his phone, he kept one eye on the girl and told Adam where they were so he could bring the car closer.
The two of them sat in silence until his phone went off and he spoke into it for a moment before coming over to the girl again. He bent down and began picking her things up, putting them away, zipping the bags and then throwing them over his shoulder. Next, he bent over her and lifted her into his arms.
She didn't fight him as he expected she would, instead she remained silent and a little stiff in his arms. They were both wet and covered in mud from the still-wet ground. She felt cold to him and he made a mental note to get the blanket out of storage in the car when they got closer.
The area they had been in was heavily covered in trees but as they continued moving the light grew brighter, falling in beams through open spaces more and more. But he was very unprepared for when they reached the clearing... The light hurt his eyes, unused to direct sunlight or any sort of brightness at all, the previous day not even coming close to preparing him for this. The sky was no longer a small trail in the sky that followed the girl, but suddenly while they were in the deep of the woods it had spread out, wider. And still seemed to be connected to her, following her... and him?
"Sir?"
Angelus looked at a weary Adam, then spun around with the girl in his arms, looking backwards for what he knew to be the trail of where they'd come from. From the sky he could see it a little more clearly. It seemed as if the massive spreading didn't start long ago, probably only where they had met up in the woods where she was stuck.
Another mystery it seemed.
Angelus looked down at the girl. "You ready to tell me your name yet?"
She swallowed. "B-" she started, then sighed. "Elizabeth. My name is Elizabeth."
"And where are you from?"
"I think I'll keep that to myself if you don't mind," she answered after a moment.
"And why is that?" he asked but received no answer as the girl suddenly fell unconscious from the vine attack finally catching up with her. Angelus sighed, getting help from Adam to get her in the back seat of the large vehicle and head back to the mansion.
OoOoO
Buffy semi came back to her senses before they got there, but remained mostly out of it.
Along the ride, the sky's new trick continued. He knew there wouldn't be much hiding that. Behind them, the sky continued to blossom, chasing after them. There would be a whole lot of new questions and concerns... he could already see the looks of his people's faces as they made their way to the house.
Eyes widened as they pulled into the mansion and some of his team were out waiting, ready to help with the girl. He told them her name and what little he knew and thought would help in her treatment. There was a bed brought out for her but he ignored it, picking her back up and carrying her inside.
More surprises came as they walked. The house lights brightened as he moved with her, rooms that were always dim, no matter what you did, suddenly were shining. As they passed through one it lit up, bulbs burning a thousand times brighter than before they stepped inside.
The girl seemed to notice a little, her eyes watching, looking utterly confused and for a moment he wondered if she actually knew anything more than the rest of them.
Finally getting to Wes, Angelus laid her down where he was told and began going over what had happened and what he knew. Wes got the medical part down first before he began asking more questions about her, what he had found out, what was going on.
Sad to say, he was still at a loss.
He told him about the sky, how it opened even more when they were in the woods together and how it had followed him. Wes told him he needed to go upstairs and begin working on a quick statement and face time with the public. He argued, not wanting to leave her side but finally was convinced.
"I'll take care of her," Wesley promised.
OoOoO
"Elizabeth?"
She tried opening her eyes, but they seemed too heavy. She tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"Elizabeth?" came again.
Buffy could imagine the handsome leader of The Dark Realm. Her mouth twisted in a soft smile.
"Elizabeth?"
She tried to open her eyes again, this time getting them to flutter.
"That's it, just keep trying."
She groaned as she did as instructed, blinking hard a number of times. Her vision was blurry at first so she rubbed her eyes and slowly let the black and swirling dots fade and the focus coming back.
"Hi again."
The King was the only person she recognized. There were a few others in the room as well who she gave a one over to.
"How are you feeling?" came a different male voice, an accent to it that sounded somewhat familiar but she couldn't place. She'd been to so many places, there seemed to be a hint of everything everywhere.
"A little groggy," she finally said after clearing her voice a little.
"That's to be expected," the young guy with the glasses said.
She looked down at her hands, remembering the state they were in before and found them good as new. Her leg was looked over next, it was a little red still but other than that she seemed fine.
"Wesley here did a good job with fixing you up, huh?"
She nodded. "Yes, thank you. I feel much better."
This Wesley guy smiled. "I'm going to just do a few tests, if you don't mind?"
She felt like stuffing herself into a corner but Angelus seemed to notice and came closer, sitting beside her. "He just wants to make sure you're alright," he said softly.
She nodded, and the man flashed a light in her eyes, had her follow his finger, tested her reflexes and other normal doctor-like stuff. He then gave her some cream and a bottle of pills and explained what they were, what they did, and how often she needed to take them. She was weary of taking anything from these people though. Even after everything... It didn't exactly mean much in the end.
"Thank you," she repeated.
OoOoO
"Are you hungry?"
Buffy nodded and soon had a tray delivered to her. Given how much was there she decided she really didn't care if it was poisoned or a trap or whatever else, she just wanted to dig into it all.
After she ate, she asked if it were alright to go lay down somewhere. She'd meant to start figuring out a way to get out of here but found herself taken over by tiredness and exhaustion.
She passed out easily and didn't wake until morning.
OoOoO
"How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you."
A silence fell over them again and she could feel him watching her. It made her nervous, and not for the reasons it should.
He had a smirk on his face when she glanced his way. "Thinking of making a break for it?"
She made herself give a slow smile his way. "That obvious?"
He shrugged. "Anywhere in particular you're trying to get to?"
That was a good question. She didn't have an answer herself. How could she stay here now, but where would she go? Would she just be running forever? Would she even be able to get back on the other side?
When she didn't answer, he sighed. "Where are you from Elizabeth? How did you get here?" came after a long bout of silence.
She looked down at the table in front of her. "I would rather not answer that, if you don't mind."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want you to send me back," she answered honestly.
He gave a breathy type of a quick laugh. "Sweetheart, even if I wanted to, I couldn't. No one gets in or out of here. Not until you apparently anyway."
She knew that, she'd heard the stories. It was why she wasn't sure her plan to get in would even work. But that didn't mean there wasn't a way, she had found one after all. And if they found out what she still had with her they might use it to get rid of her even.
"What are you running from?" he asked, his voice going back to a more serious tone.
"Who says I'm running from anything?"
"Every single thing about you screams it, Elizabeth."