Freedom Fighter
Author's Note: a big thanks to my lone reviewer on Fanfiction.net who took some time to read my story and let me know what they thought.
CHAPTER 5
…And they will come to the Hellmouth in search of what they were sent to destroy. They know nothing of mercy or sympathy, only to complete the task they were given. The Zalkana are neither mortal nor immortal, a breed of demon with the power of a vampire and the appearance of a man. Zalkana warriors are called upon only in times of emergency, and can only be controlled by a great source of Evil, and are cold-blooded and relentless killers. They will be sent to the Hellmouth in search of Good's mythical weapon, the Tainted Ones. These warriors of the Lord are supposedly immortal to all mortal and demonic forces, and can only be killed by a great source of Evil, but no force has ever been found. They appear as mortals to everyone, nothing unusual about them to the human and demonic eye. But these creatures are in disguise-their true form they take only when a great Evil is near or if need be. In their true form they are human in appearance, but are the most beautiful and graceful beings anything could ever be so fortunate to look upon. But their beauty must not be taken as weakness, for they are the champions of right, saviours of Mankind and Humanity; they are the Freedom Fighters.
Giles closed the book and looked at the four young people scattered about his living room. "That's all he wrote, and it gives us absolutely nothing to go on about our protestor vampires or these…Zalkana warriors."
Willow slouched in her chair. "Well, maybe there's a spell that would help us in finding these vampires or those Zalkana warriors."
Xander's look was skeptical. "Yeah, but we don't even know if these big bad warriors even exist. I say we concentrate on the vampires so that no one else gets killed."
Buffy had been quiet since the five left The Magic Box and went to Giles' place, instead of going home like he had insisted. Buffy knew she wouldn't sleep well with this problem still unresolved, and Willow, Anya and Xander were always there to back her up. "I think Xander's right, Giles. We're going on a seer's beliefs written centuries ago about these warriors, when we have a real problem with these vampires. I can't slay a myth."
Anya piped up from the couch. "She's right, Giles. Plus if the warriors do come, Spike and Angel will be able to tell us, since they're with Geia and her friend."
Giles knew they were right, but couldn't help but worry. "I think Angel is the one we're going to be relying on, seeing as how Spike doesn't know the meaning of the word serious. I bet he's lying on the couch, watching the television and drinking beer while Angel is busy watching over the graveyard."
Spike's eyes, despite having his game face on, grew larger at the sight of the thirty Zalkana warriors on Geia's front lawn. "This is bloody serious!" he yelled. His eyes focused on Angel and his fanged grin grew at the thought of a good spot of violence. "You ready to go, Peaches?"
Angel was carefully watching the man at the front of the group of warriors. His costume was slightly fancier than the rest, and he bore a beautiful sword that gleamed in the moonlight. Kill the leader and maybe weaken the group, he thought. He turned to whisper his idea to Geia, but she shook her head.
"I know." Her whisper was like a soft breeze against silk. "The best- dressed is always the leader. And killing the leader only knocks the fight out of them for a moment, and then another one will step up." She glanced at the warriors, still standing like statues on the grass. "This isn't your fight, Angelus, nor is it Spike's. If you want, you can leave here. I was wrong to just include you in this without asking."
Angel's face contorted back to normal. "But Geia, I-"
She placed a finger against his cold lips to silence him, and he got caught in her penetrating gaze. "They're after me and Jamal. You already know we're not normal, and I will tell you and Spike why later." She backed away from the vampire and nodded at Jamal. "Let's get this done. But try not to get too dirty-the last time we fought a group of bad guys this large, we wound up in a mud puddle, and it didn't come out of my clothes."
Jamal allowed himself a small smile and mockingly saluted Geia. "Aye, aye captain." He saw Geia's eyes darken to a hunter green and knew his master was ready for this, despite the fact she wasn't up to full strength…yet. "Just say the word, boss."
Geia saw that Angel and Spike were still to her side, and Angel nodded to her as if he was saying they weren't leaving. Geia stepped down off the front porch and approached the leader of the group, with the others a few paces behind. Rain clouds had begun to form overhead, and a few light drops were falling. She stopped within six feet of the leader and pointed her sword at him.
"You came all this way for a battle and it would be awful if you were disappointed, so let's skip the formalities and get to the fighting."
The leader waved his sword in the direction of the two vampires. "They have nothing to do with this. They will leave."
Geia's shoulders dropped, and she rested the sword point on the ground. "You Zalkana guys are so bossy. Sorry, they're staying. Wouldn't hurt for them to have a good fight."
The leader pointed his sword to the dark sky. "Then they die with you. You have signed their death warrants."
Jamal leaned over and whispered to Geia. "Do you think they've been watching too many Westerns or something? Next thing he's gonna say is that this Hellmouth isn't big enough for the both of you, and if you don't chop off his head, I will."
Geia dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "Let's just do this, and save the sarcasm and witty comments for later." Rain began to pour down, and Geia discretely drew a small dagger from the waist of her jeans. With deadly aim, the dagger flew straight into the heart of the warrior to the left of the leader, who staggered then fell over in death.
With a wild yell, the first line of warriors charged toward the four, with the leader stepping back within the second and third lines of ten warriors to observe the battle. His time with the girl would come.
Geia and Spike took five and Jamal and Angel the other five warriors as they engaged in hand-to-hand combat. As she had been taught many years ago, Geia's sword cut a deadly path through the warriors. Slice, swipe, cleave, chop. The sword beheaded two warriors at one time, and Geia turned to see Spike handling one, having shot the other one with his crossbow. The remaining warrior stepped into her sight, and Geia couldn't help but smile. "Well, aren't you a big fella? Bet you think you're gonna kill me."
With a roar, the warrior charged and took a clean thrust from Geia's expert swordsmanship to the abdomen. Enraged, the warrior thrust once, twice with his sword, but missed both times as Geia ducked his blade. The last thing he saw glistening metal as her sword drove through his heart.
Jamal and Angel had finished off their five when another rank was sent in, and ten more fell to the four. As the leader sent in his last ten warriors, he joined in the fight, hoping to get to Geia. These last ten warriors were the strongest of the small army, and despite their efforts, the four immortals found themselves surrounded by seven warriors and their leader.
The leader smiled smugly. "And now you will die."
Geia stuck her sword into the earth and sighed. "And again you use the worst comebacks. Don't villains have any good gloating lines?"
Spike, who was back to back with Geia, whispered over his shoulder. "Uh, love, this might be a good time to prevent us from getting bloody massacred."
Geia pushed a wet strand of hair out of her eyes and whispered back. "Like I said before, you can't die while I'm around. The only ones coming alive out of this are the four of us."
Angel's voice was slightly anxious. "Well, if you're going to pull something fancy, I suggest it be now." The leader came with sword pointed, straight at Geia. She looked up to the sky, and as if on command, a clap of thunder shook the ground and lightening blinded all.
"Tell the Devil I said hello," she said to the leader before she drew out a small, blue glass ball and threw it onto the ground.
A blinding white light shot out of the ornament, and when it touched the remaining warriors, they burst into maroon and orange flame, their screams thick on the night air as their souls were sent back to their Evil Maker. The ring of flame died, and all that was left were the charred skeletons of the eight warriors. The glass ball closed up, and the white light faded.
Geia's eyes turned back to normal, and she began walking back to house without a word to the others. Jamal grabbed the now clear glass ball and followed his master, knowing the other two would come after they realized what had happened. It was always a shock to the unlearned or inexperienced, especially when it came to Geia. She had a way of surprising even the undead, who thought they had seen everything.
Once inside, Geia directed Spike and Angel to sit down. "Trust me, it's a long story."
Jamal came in the room with towels and a small, black velvet box. "So how do you think we should start this, Geia?"
"The way we started the last time we had to explain ourselves." She stared hard at the two vampires. "You're not to tell anyone what you are told, not even Buffy, Giles, their friends, or anyone else. They would be in serious danger if you did. If need be, I will tell them, not the two of you." She reached for a book on the coffee table. "There is a myth about the Zalkana warriors and who they seek out. But this myth was written to disguise the truth about our existence….."
Joyce watched as Buffy stared at the small television in her bedroom. At first, she had been so excited that Buffy was coming home for spring break, so that she and Dawn could spend some time with her, but Buffy was so distant anymore. She acted like a robot, mechanical and obedient. Joyce had hoped that after all that had happened with Glory and Buffy coming back, her oldest daughter could find some peace. It had taken Buffy a while to adjust to the fact that she had been ripped out of heaven and put back on earth to fight evil, the thing that had killed her, but after a while, it was if nothing had happened. Everyone went back to their normal way of life, as normal as you can get on the Hellmouth. And just when she had thought Buffy was happy with her life, she was getting to be distant, cold, and she looked so much older than she was. Joyce wished with all her heart that Buffy could have just been a normal girl, that someone else's daughter was the Slayer, but Buffy had been chosen. And all she could do was pray that someday her daughter found her normal life and could be happy.
"Hey mom," Dawn called from downstairs. "Can I stay up to watch this movie? It's spring break, and I'm not tired yet. Please?"
Joyce hesitantly pulled away from Buffy's door and went downstairs. She settled beside Dawn on the couch. "Only if I get to watch it with you."
Dawn snuggled up beside her mom. "Okay." She paused, not sure if she should ask. "Is Buffy okay? She's been acting kinda strange the past couple of days. I thought she was over the whole mood-swing thing."
"Honestly Dawn, I do think something's wrong, but if Buffy wants to tell us, she will. Better not to bother her about it. It's probably just some demon or vampire she hasn't caught yet."
A knock on the door startled both. Joyce looked out the window before opening the door to find a very distraught Giles.
Joyce saw the large bag Giles had slung over his arm and instantly grew worried. "Is there something wrong, Mr. Giles?"
Giles nodded toward the staircase. "Is Buffy upstairs? It is absolutely necessary I speak with her."
"She's upstairs in her room. Do you need anything?"
Giles smiled slightly, so as to not worry her too much. "No. I just need to see Buffy."
Buffy heard Giles downstairs and turned the TV off. She motioned Giles into her room, and saw the worried look on his face. "What's up?"
He opened his bag and pulled out a large, old book. "This," he said, pointing to a paragraph.
Buffy read over the page and then shrugged. "It's more about those Zalkana guys. We agreed that the protestor vamps were the first priority."
Giles took the book back. "Not anymore. According to this legend, the Zalkana warriors send spies, and often times they come disguised as normal human beings, so that they can gather information on what they're looking for and then the warriors strike."
Buffy was still lost. "Those Tainted thingys the book talked about said they also don't appear in their true form. I'm still not getting it."
"Spies for the Zalkana warriors appear only days before the real warriors attack, and try to become associated with the most powerful being in the area. These spies are warriors-in-training, and by spying, they earn the right to become a Zalkana warrior. They work alone, or in pairs, and then gain the trust of the people around whom the warriors are after, and of the actual target. Then, they make themselves out to be helpless, perhaps attacked by a demon or vampire, so that no one suspects them. And when everyone's guard is down, they attack."
The lightbulb went off for Buffy. "Oh, no way. Geia and Jamal are normal…it's not possible."
Giles' voice took on a reprimanding tone. "For as long as you've been on the Hellmouth and as much as you've seen, Buffy, I would think this wouldn't be a surprise. Although we have no solid evidence Geia and Jamal are Zalkana spies, the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming. They fit the description perfectly: Geia moved here a few days ago, gained our trust and was making friends, was attacked by a vampire, and now Jamal shows up from nowhere."
Buffy's eyes widened. "And they're with Angel and Spike—what if they try to kill them?"
Giles shook his head. "Although we are going by a myth, why would Geia and Jamal, if they're spies, kill two people close to us and expect us to not find out? Again, we're going on very sketchy evidence. All of this may just be a coincidence."
Now Buffy was the one to be skeptical. "And do you really believe in coincidence, Giles? Didn't think so. We know better than that. I say we don't let Geia and Jamal know we're onto them…that is if they're really spies, but be prepared for an attack. Even though Angel said in his dream these warriors weren't after me, it was just a dream. Not all of my dreams have been prophecies, and I don't think Angel's was completely right." She reached for her weapons bag and pulled out a crossbow. "If they want the most powerful being around, they'll get it. And find out what a Slayer is made of."
"…so do you see why we keep ourselves a secret?"
Angel palmed one of the colored glass balls and then put it back in its velvet box. Hours had gone by since Geia and Jamal had started telling their story, and now it seemed almost impossible. But he knew it wasn't. "Yes, but I still think we should tell Buffy and the others."
Spike snorted. "Yeah, and then Buffy and her buggerin' Slayer instinct says to try and kill them, just to make sure they're not evil, and then wackiness ensues. Not you're best idea, Peaches." He pointed to one of the glass balls. "So we get to keep one of those fancy things?" He received a nod from Geia. "Supposed to protect us, right?" Another nod. He smirked at Angel. "And I bet my grandsire, big tough guy, doesn't want one, right? Can take of his bloody self?"
Jamal saw to stop the argument before it went farther. "Please. We don't mean to cause problems amongst you and your friends. But making sure this Evil does not settle in Sunnydale is essential. Once here, it will feed off the demonic power and gain its full strength. After that, desperate measure would have to be taken to destroy the Evil. We don't want it going that far."
Geia glanced out the window and saw that the sun was getting ready to come up. "We'll go on as normal for as long as we can, but until then, Buffy and the others must not know. If they do, I cannot assure their safety. We can only protect so many at one time." She saw Angel nursing a large cut on his arm he had gotten in the fight. "Here, let me take care of that." Geia sat down beside him and placed her hand over the wound. A few seconds later, she removed her hand and Angel saw that the gash was completely healed. She smiled at the astounded vampire. "Told you I could do that, but I can only completely heal small wounds. Larger ones are harder to do, but I can usually at least stop the bleeding and prevent more injury."
Jamal saw how concerned his master was, and knew it was because of this unknown Evil. For all her power, she could not see what was coming, at least not right now. And God willing, no innocent person would fall victim to the Evil. But then again, if the Evil didn't know about his master's full powers, it gave them the advantage. And if the advantage was lost, then the sacrifice would be only one, and its affects wouldn't last long.
Author's Note: a big thanks to my lone reviewer on Fanfiction.net who took some time to read my story and let me know what they thought.
CHAPTER 5
…And they will come to the Hellmouth in search of what they were sent to destroy. They know nothing of mercy or sympathy, only to complete the task they were given. The Zalkana are neither mortal nor immortal, a breed of demon with the power of a vampire and the appearance of a man. Zalkana warriors are called upon only in times of emergency, and can only be controlled by a great source of Evil, and are cold-blooded and relentless killers. They will be sent to the Hellmouth in search of Good's mythical weapon, the Tainted Ones. These warriors of the Lord are supposedly immortal to all mortal and demonic forces, and can only be killed by a great source of Evil, but no force has ever been found. They appear as mortals to everyone, nothing unusual about them to the human and demonic eye. But these creatures are in disguise-their true form they take only when a great Evil is near or if need be. In their true form they are human in appearance, but are the most beautiful and graceful beings anything could ever be so fortunate to look upon. But their beauty must not be taken as weakness, for they are the champions of right, saviours of Mankind and Humanity; they are the Freedom Fighters.
Giles closed the book and looked at the four young people scattered about his living room. "That's all he wrote, and it gives us absolutely nothing to go on about our protestor vampires or these…Zalkana warriors."
Willow slouched in her chair. "Well, maybe there's a spell that would help us in finding these vampires or those Zalkana warriors."
Xander's look was skeptical. "Yeah, but we don't even know if these big bad warriors even exist. I say we concentrate on the vampires so that no one else gets killed."
Buffy had been quiet since the five left The Magic Box and went to Giles' place, instead of going home like he had insisted. Buffy knew she wouldn't sleep well with this problem still unresolved, and Willow, Anya and Xander were always there to back her up. "I think Xander's right, Giles. We're going on a seer's beliefs written centuries ago about these warriors, when we have a real problem with these vampires. I can't slay a myth."
Anya piped up from the couch. "She's right, Giles. Plus if the warriors do come, Spike and Angel will be able to tell us, since they're with Geia and her friend."
Giles knew they were right, but couldn't help but worry. "I think Angel is the one we're going to be relying on, seeing as how Spike doesn't know the meaning of the word serious. I bet he's lying on the couch, watching the television and drinking beer while Angel is busy watching over the graveyard."
Spike's eyes, despite having his game face on, grew larger at the sight of the thirty Zalkana warriors on Geia's front lawn. "This is bloody serious!" he yelled. His eyes focused on Angel and his fanged grin grew at the thought of a good spot of violence. "You ready to go, Peaches?"
Angel was carefully watching the man at the front of the group of warriors. His costume was slightly fancier than the rest, and he bore a beautiful sword that gleamed in the moonlight. Kill the leader and maybe weaken the group, he thought. He turned to whisper his idea to Geia, but she shook her head.
"I know." Her whisper was like a soft breeze against silk. "The best- dressed is always the leader. And killing the leader only knocks the fight out of them for a moment, and then another one will step up." She glanced at the warriors, still standing like statues on the grass. "This isn't your fight, Angelus, nor is it Spike's. If you want, you can leave here. I was wrong to just include you in this without asking."
Angel's face contorted back to normal. "But Geia, I-"
She placed a finger against his cold lips to silence him, and he got caught in her penetrating gaze. "They're after me and Jamal. You already know we're not normal, and I will tell you and Spike why later." She backed away from the vampire and nodded at Jamal. "Let's get this done. But try not to get too dirty-the last time we fought a group of bad guys this large, we wound up in a mud puddle, and it didn't come out of my clothes."
Jamal allowed himself a small smile and mockingly saluted Geia. "Aye, aye captain." He saw Geia's eyes darken to a hunter green and knew his master was ready for this, despite the fact she wasn't up to full strength…yet. "Just say the word, boss."
Geia saw that Angel and Spike were still to her side, and Angel nodded to her as if he was saying they weren't leaving. Geia stepped down off the front porch and approached the leader of the group, with the others a few paces behind. Rain clouds had begun to form overhead, and a few light drops were falling. She stopped within six feet of the leader and pointed her sword at him.
"You came all this way for a battle and it would be awful if you were disappointed, so let's skip the formalities and get to the fighting."
The leader waved his sword in the direction of the two vampires. "They have nothing to do with this. They will leave."
Geia's shoulders dropped, and she rested the sword point on the ground. "You Zalkana guys are so bossy. Sorry, they're staying. Wouldn't hurt for them to have a good fight."
The leader pointed his sword to the dark sky. "Then they die with you. You have signed their death warrants."
Jamal leaned over and whispered to Geia. "Do you think they've been watching too many Westerns or something? Next thing he's gonna say is that this Hellmouth isn't big enough for the both of you, and if you don't chop off his head, I will."
Geia dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "Let's just do this, and save the sarcasm and witty comments for later." Rain began to pour down, and Geia discretely drew a small dagger from the waist of her jeans. With deadly aim, the dagger flew straight into the heart of the warrior to the left of the leader, who staggered then fell over in death.
With a wild yell, the first line of warriors charged toward the four, with the leader stepping back within the second and third lines of ten warriors to observe the battle. His time with the girl would come.
Geia and Spike took five and Jamal and Angel the other five warriors as they engaged in hand-to-hand combat. As she had been taught many years ago, Geia's sword cut a deadly path through the warriors. Slice, swipe, cleave, chop. The sword beheaded two warriors at one time, and Geia turned to see Spike handling one, having shot the other one with his crossbow. The remaining warrior stepped into her sight, and Geia couldn't help but smile. "Well, aren't you a big fella? Bet you think you're gonna kill me."
With a roar, the warrior charged and took a clean thrust from Geia's expert swordsmanship to the abdomen. Enraged, the warrior thrust once, twice with his sword, but missed both times as Geia ducked his blade. The last thing he saw glistening metal as her sword drove through his heart.
Jamal and Angel had finished off their five when another rank was sent in, and ten more fell to the four. As the leader sent in his last ten warriors, he joined in the fight, hoping to get to Geia. These last ten warriors were the strongest of the small army, and despite their efforts, the four immortals found themselves surrounded by seven warriors and their leader.
The leader smiled smugly. "And now you will die."
Geia stuck her sword into the earth and sighed. "And again you use the worst comebacks. Don't villains have any good gloating lines?"
Spike, who was back to back with Geia, whispered over his shoulder. "Uh, love, this might be a good time to prevent us from getting bloody massacred."
Geia pushed a wet strand of hair out of her eyes and whispered back. "Like I said before, you can't die while I'm around. The only ones coming alive out of this are the four of us."
Angel's voice was slightly anxious. "Well, if you're going to pull something fancy, I suggest it be now." The leader came with sword pointed, straight at Geia. She looked up to the sky, and as if on command, a clap of thunder shook the ground and lightening blinded all.
"Tell the Devil I said hello," she said to the leader before she drew out a small, blue glass ball and threw it onto the ground.
A blinding white light shot out of the ornament, and when it touched the remaining warriors, they burst into maroon and orange flame, their screams thick on the night air as their souls were sent back to their Evil Maker. The ring of flame died, and all that was left were the charred skeletons of the eight warriors. The glass ball closed up, and the white light faded.
Geia's eyes turned back to normal, and she began walking back to house without a word to the others. Jamal grabbed the now clear glass ball and followed his master, knowing the other two would come after they realized what had happened. It was always a shock to the unlearned or inexperienced, especially when it came to Geia. She had a way of surprising even the undead, who thought they had seen everything.
Once inside, Geia directed Spike and Angel to sit down. "Trust me, it's a long story."
Jamal came in the room with towels and a small, black velvet box. "So how do you think we should start this, Geia?"
"The way we started the last time we had to explain ourselves." She stared hard at the two vampires. "You're not to tell anyone what you are told, not even Buffy, Giles, their friends, or anyone else. They would be in serious danger if you did. If need be, I will tell them, not the two of you." She reached for a book on the coffee table. "There is a myth about the Zalkana warriors and who they seek out. But this myth was written to disguise the truth about our existence….."
Joyce watched as Buffy stared at the small television in her bedroom. At first, she had been so excited that Buffy was coming home for spring break, so that she and Dawn could spend some time with her, but Buffy was so distant anymore. She acted like a robot, mechanical and obedient. Joyce had hoped that after all that had happened with Glory and Buffy coming back, her oldest daughter could find some peace. It had taken Buffy a while to adjust to the fact that she had been ripped out of heaven and put back on earth to fight evil, the thing that had killed her, but after a while, it was if nothing had happened. Everyone went back to their normal way of life, as normal as you can get on the Hellmouth. And just when she had thought Buffy was happy with her life, she was getting to be distant, cold, and she looked so much older than she was. Joyce wished with all her heart that Buffy could have just been a normal girl, that someone else's daughter was the Slayer, but Buffy had been chosen. And all she could do was pray that someday her daughter found her normal life and could be happy.
"Hey mom," Dawn called from downstairs. "Can I stay up to watch this movie? It's spring break, and I'm not tired yet. Please?"
Joyce hesitantly pulled away from Buffy's door and went downstairs. She settled beside Dawn on the couch. "Only if I get to watch it with you."
Dawn snuggled up beside her mom. "Okay." She paused, not sure if she should ask. "Is Buffy okay? She's been acting kinda strange the past couple of days. I thought she was over the whole mood-swing thing."
"Honestly Dawn, I do think something's wrong, but if Buffy wants to tell us, she will. Better not to bother her about it. It's probably just some demon or vampire she hasn't caught yet."
A knock on the door startled both. Joyce looked out the window before opening the door to find a very distraught Giles.
Joyce saw the large bag Giles had slung over his arm and instantly grew worried. "Is there something wrong, Mr. Giles?"
Giles nodded toward the staircase. "Is Buffy upstairs? It is absolutely necessary I speak with her."
"She's upstairs in her room. Do you need anything?"
Giles smiled slightly, so as to not worry her too much. "No. I just need to see Buffy."
Buffy heard Giles downstairs and turned the TV off. She motioned Giles into her room, and saw the worried look on his face. "What's up?"
He opened his bag and pulled out a large, old book. "This," he said, pointing to a paragraph.
Buffy read over the page and then shrugged. "It's more about those Zalkana guys. We agreed that the protestor vamps were the first priority."
Giles took the book back. "Not anymore. According to this legend, the Zalkana warriors send spies, and often times they come disguised as normal human beings, so that they can gather information on what they're looking for and then the warriors strike."
Buffy was still lost. "Those Tainted thingys the book talked about said they also don't appear in their true form. I'm still not getting it."
"Spies for the Zalkana warriors appear only days before the real warriors attack, and try to become associated with the most powerful being in the area. These spies are warriors-in-training, and by spying, they earn the right to become a Zalkana warrior. They work alone, or in pairs, and then gain the trust of the people around whom the warriors are after, and of the actual target. Then, they make themselves out to be helpless, perhaps attacked by a demon or vampire, so that no one suspects them. And when everyone's guard is down, they attack."
The lightbulb went off for Buffy. "Oh, no way. Geia and Jamal are normal…it's not possible."
Giles' voice took on a reprimanding tone. "For as long as you've been on the Hellmouth and as much as you've seen, Buffy, I would think this wouldn't be a surprise. Although we have no solid evidence Geia and Jamal are Zalkana spies, the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming. They fit the description perfectly: Geia moved here a few days ago, gained our trust and was making friends, was attacked by a vampire, and now Jamal shows up from nowhere."
Buffy's eyes widened. "And they're with Angel and Spike—what if they try to kill them?"
Giles shook his head. "Although we are going by a myth, why would Geia and Jamal, if they're spies, kill two people close to us and expect us to not find out? Again, we're going on very sketchy evidence. All of this may just be a coincidence."
Now Buffy was the one to be skeptical. "And do you really believe in coincidence, Giles? Didn't think so. We know better than that. I say we don't let Geia and Jamal know we're onto them…that is if they're really spies, but be prepared for an attack. Even though Angel said in his dream these warriors weren't after me, it was just a dream. Not all of my dreams have been prophecies, and I don't think Angel's was completely right." She reached for her weapons bag and pulled out a crossbow. "If they want the most powerful being around, they'll get it. And find out what a Slayer is made of."
"…so do you see why we keep ourselves a secret?"
Angel palmed one of the colored glass balls and then put it back in its velvet box. Hours had gone by since Geia and Jamal had started telling their story, and now it seemed almost impossible. But he knew it wasn't. "Yes, but I still think we should tell Buffy and the others."
Spike snorted. "Yeah, and then Buffy and her buggerin' Slayer instinct says to try and kill them, just to make sure they're not evil, and then wackiness ensues. Not you're best idea, Peaches." He pointed to one of the glass balls. "So we get to keep one of those fancy things?" He received a nod from Geia. "Supposed to protect us, right?" Another nod. He smirked at Angel. "And I bet my grandsire, big tough guy, doesn't want one, right? Can take of his bloody self?"
Jamal saw to stop the argument before it went farther. "Please. We don't mean to cause problems amongst you and your friends. But making sure this Evil does not settle in Sunnydale is essential. Once here, it will feed off the demonic power and gain its full strength. After that, desperate measure would have to be taken to destroy the Evil. We don't want it going that far."
Geia glanced out the window and saw that the sun was getting ready to come up. "We'll go on as normal for as long as we can, but until then, Buffy and the others must not know. If they do, I cannot assure their safety. We can only protect so many at one time." She saw Angel nursing a large cut on his arm he had gotten in the fight. "Here, let me take care of that." Geia sat down beside him and placed her hand over the wound. A few seconds later, she removed her hand and Angel saw that the gash was completely healed. She smiled at the astounded vampire. "Told you I could do that, but I can only completely heal small wounds. Larger ones are harder to do, but I can usually at least stop the bleeding and prevent more injury."
Jamal saw how concerned his master was, and knew it was because of this unknown Evil. For all her power, she could not see what was coming, at least not right now. And God willing, no innocent person would fall victim to the Evil. But then again, if the Evil didn't know about his master's full powers, it gave them the advantage. And if the advantage was lost, then the sacrifice would be only one, and its affects wouldn't last long.