Freedom Fighter
CHAPTER 6
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Anya sat down on the couch and stared at a shocked Xander. "It's no big deal. He's cute, and furry, and he makes cute noises and plays with little squeaky toys. Watch!" She tossed the plastic ball over the puppy's head and giggled when he brought it back. "See. That was cute, right?"
Xander dropped the grocery bag on the kitchen counter of his apartment and sighed. "Anya, sweetie, we agreed we'd get a puppy later. What about when it grows up? Big dog, little apartment, it doesn't work."
"Well, he's already gotten used to our bed—he can sleep there at night."
Xander dropped the bananas on the counter. "No way. Slobbering, furry dog in OUR bed? Uh uh. He cannot sleep in our bed…" His voice trailed off as Anya held the puppy in front of his face.
"Cute, cute, cute little doggy, Xander. He needed a home, and now he has one." She peeped around the dog. "And I won't give him up."
Xander melted as the puppy gave a short bark and licked his nose. "Fine. But he has to be house trained. I won't have him doing his little doggy- duty all over the carpet. The landlord would kill me, and probably kick us out."
Anya beamed and set the puppy down to play with him. The phone rang and Xander assumed Anya would get it, but two rings later, she was still playing with their new addition.
"Anya, honey, could you get it?"
Anya tossed the ball to the puppy. "No. I'm playing with Sparky, you get it."
Xander rolled his eyes and moved to answer the phone. "Sparky?" He heard Buffy's voice on the other end. "No, not you, Buffy….yeah, okay……" His eyes grew large upon hearing Buffy's suspicions. "Man, and I was getting to like them, and now they're all evil!….Fine, yeah, we'll be there in a few." His shoulders sagged as he hung the phone up. "Anya, we have to go."
"Now? I'm still playing with Sparky!"
Xander took the ball from her hands. "First of all, we're not naming him Sparky. He needs a manlier name, like Duke or…just not Sparky. There's a problem with Geia and Jamal."
She stood up and accepted her coat from him. "What?"
He flung the door open. "Let's just say they're not who we thought they were. I'll tell you on the way there."
Anya halted in the doorway. "But what about Spa-our puppy?"
"Go get him. We're going to Buffy's, so Dawn and Buffy's mom can watch him."
Anya happily scooped up the energetic puppy. "Daddy Xander's not happy, so you better be good."
"ANYA! Let's go!"
Buffy palmed a crossbow while she waited for everyone to get settled in the living room. Her friends were used to getting bad news frequently, one of their best friends being the Slayer, but this news was shocking even for them. Their faces wore the emotion heavily.
Giles looked anxiously at Buffy. "We need a plan. Spike and Angel are in danger while they're with Geia and Jamal."
Xander murmured something under his breath about all of them being Geia and Jamal's but-monkeys, but a withering glare from Anya shut him up.
"Is there anything we can do?"
Buffy looked behind her friends to see her mom and sister. "No. These two are dangerous, even more than vampires and most demons." A very slight smile tugged on the corners of her mouth when she saw Dawn cuddling the infamous Sparky. "You two just stay here and watch the puppy." She turned her attention back to the gang. "We'll all go armed. I don't want to take any chances, seeing as how we don't know how to kill these….things."
Weapons were given out, and the plan was to split up into two groups in an attempt to go in both the front and back doors of Geia's home. Buffy and Giles would charge in the front with Anya, Xander, and Willow to support from the back and cut the two spies off. As Buffy headed out the door, she couldn't help but worry about this battle's outcome. For all she knew, Geia and Jamal had pumped Angel and Spike for information on her, her family and friends and Sunnydale, then killed them.
Willow followed Xander and Anya reluctantly as they snuck around the back of Geia's house. The witch was always ready to back Buffy up, but there was something about this situation that didn't feel right. Her powers allowed her to sense any disturbances in some of the supernatural worlds, and as soon as they had stepped on the lawn, Willow had felt that something was out of order, that something was now tainted. She perceived a strong sense of unbalance between the mortal realm and the undead, but couldn't tell whether that signaled evil or not. There were no vampires or demons to be seen, as how the only undead around were in the house.
A strong wind picked up and Anya wrapped her coat tightly around her. "Xander, it's cold. Why can't we go back to the car?"
Her boyfriend brushed his hair out of his face and sighed impatiently. "Anya, we have to back Buffy and Giles up. We can't let these two get away, because they'll go and tell those big bad Zalkana thingys what they found out. I personally would like to die of old age or….Twinkie overload, but not by some demon warriors."
Willow contemplated Xander's words then shrugged. " Well, I'm all ready to go into another scary, life threatening situation as long as we get food afterward, but not Twinkies. Twinkies bad, Xander."
His mouth dropped. "Twinkies bad? How? Twinkies are…yummy yellow pastries with a cream filling. Twinkies good!"
Anya moved beside Xander, who was against the back wall of the house. "We're about to get ourselves killed and you're thinking about junk food?"
"Twinkies," Willow corrected as she slid beside Anya. "I swore off them a long time ago. Especially after seeing Xander eat an entire box of them in ten minutes. Whole Twinkies, I might add. Gross." She let her head fall against the wall and closed her eyes. They were to wait for Buffy's signal—hearing a loud crash, meaning the Slayer had kicked the front door in. Willow still felt uncertain about what was to go down. Something just wasn't right, and moreover, she was getting the feeling that they were wrong about something. Too many somethings, in her opinion, but she trusted the judgement of her friends.
"Never be too trusting. It can destroy you."
Willow tried to open her eyes at the sound of the voice, but found she couldn't. There was only darkness, and then a glimmering blue light, like a small orb floated about in the black.
"You know that there is an intangible that makes you hesitate to go into that house."
Willow couldn't feel her body, or even her lips forming the words, but she heard what she said. "Yes. Something's not right."
"You're right. You think certain inhabitants of the house are Evil, but you are mistaken."
"How? They're spies for the Zalkana warriors. And they've got two of our friends trapped inside."
The blue light burned more intensely, and Willow thought she had made it angry. "All the inhabitants of that house, including the two vampires, are both Evil and Good. They wear masks, hiding their true identities. But what matters is that they are your allies and not your enemies."
The blue light began to fade, and Willow felt herself reaching out to stop it from leaving. "Wait. I don't understand. I don't even know what or who you are."
"Do not worry. I am a simple messenger, but the being whose message I carry is not aware that I am talking to you. Look beyond the masks of others and seek those who are of Pure Good yet yield a Face of Evil. They are the ones who have the power to stop what is coming. And tell the Slayer that she must not wield the sword. Her own hand will be her death if she does." The light faded to a sparkle, then melted into the dirty blackness.
Willow's eyes shot open to a very worried Xander and an onlooking Anya. "Wow," she breathed.
"Uh, Willow, what happened?"
She giggled at Xander's bewilderment. "Some blue light told me that we're wrong about Geia and Jamal. And that we have to find 'those who are of Pure Good yet yield a Face of Evil''. And that Buffy can't wield the sword because it will kill her." The seriousness of the message sunk in, and Willow sobered. "We need to stop Buffy and Giles. They can't kill Geia and Jamal."
Anya's voice was incredulous. "And you say a blue light told you this? Might as well say Twinkies think the end of the world is coming in the form of cupcakes." She received a nudge from Xander for her snappy tone.
Willow stood up hastily and started to the front of the house. "It wasn't just some blue light. I could feel it—I mean, I think it was someone's soul speaking to me. And it sounded very serious." She halted on the front porch. "We need to talk to Geia and Jamal. The voice told me they aren't what we suspect, but that they're both Good and Evil."
"And we're just smart dumb people," Xander retorted. "We should wait on Buffy and Giles." He glanced at his watch. "Who were supposed to be here ten minutes ago." The wind picked up again, and the clouds parted to reveal a full moon. All three looked up, and then at each other with worry. "Maybe we'd be safer inside."
Without hesitating, Xander knocked on the door and waited. A few moments later, heavy footsteps could be heard, and then Jamal opened the door.
He saw the worried looks and waved them inside. "Something wrong?"
Willow blew her hair out of her face and then sat down at Jamal's invitation. "Um…it's a long story." She grew aware of another presence, and saw Spike stomping down the stairs in only a pair of sweatpants.
The blonde vampire saw the Scooby-gang members, and couldn't help but allow his British accent to take on a dangerously sarcastic tone. "And what is it our little Buffy sidekicks got into tonight? A slimy horned demon, or perhaps a group of big bad vampires?" He leaned against the wall, not even noticing that he was getting stares from the three guests. "Oh, wait a bloody minute. I know! You three can't find Buffy or Rupert, so you came here." Spike saw the worried glances and grew serious. "Where were they supposed to be?"
Anya started to speak, but caught Xander's warning look. "It's a long story," Jamal retorted. "Which they haven't told yet."
Spike plopped down on the couch beside a very embarrassed Willow. He sensed her embarrassment and huffed. "Bloody hell, red. You can't tell me you haven't seen a man half naked. You had a werewolf for a lover."
Jamal cleared his throat and motioned to the stairs. "I'd have you guys start your story, but I think Angel's the best one for this situation. He's still upstairs, sleeping. I don't think I want a grouchy vampire on our hands, so maybe we'll wait a few minutes, and if he hasn't heard the noise and doesn't come down, we'll go get him."
(starting from when Xander, Willow and Anya showed up at the house)
Sleeping was the last thing Angel had on his mind. He had gone to bed with Geia and Jamal's story still churning through his mind, and he had woke up not long later. Now, he still couldn't sleep, and he had paced the length of his bedroom too many times to count. His feet led him into the hallway, and strangely, into Geia's bedroom.
With all the stealth and quiet of a vampire, he crept in her room, still not knowing why. His sharp eyes made out her sleeping form, and he sucked in an unneeded breath. She truly looked like an angel; her hair was spread all around her, and her hands were clasped together on her pillow. His eyes ran down the length of her body and back up, focusing on her innocent face. Or so it looked. He had seen the ferocity her eyes could hold, the fire that could burn right through a person. And yet he still couldn't help but see the gentleness, the beauty.
He cautiously sat down on the edge of her bed. Angel felt as if he had not a single bit of control over his own body, as his hand moved painfully, slowly, to reach out to her. His cold fingertips brushed her cheek like a rustle of silk, and he shuddered at how warm she felt. The hand moved up to ever so slightly stroke a few strands of hair that fallen dangerously close to her face. He smoothed back the offending strands, and as he did, the color of those strands changed from honey blonde to raven black. The black spread to the rest of her hair, and Angel could only look on, shocked. But he couldn't move, as surprised as he was.
Geia's eyes opened slowly. What used to be two green orbs were now a slate blue, and a smile crept across her face at Angel's bewilderment, and at his obvious enchantment with her. "See anything interesting?" she teased.
Angel sat transfixed, but forced himself to answer. "Your hair….it-"
Geia glanced down at the long black strands and sighed. "It's the first thing to change." She leaned close to him, her eyes fixed on his. "Tell me, Angelus, have my eyes changed color as well?"
He swallowed hard and nodded. She giggled like a child with a secret. "Good. It usually takes a while for the transformation to occur, but if my eyes have already changed color, that's a good sign." She leaned back, and focused her eyes on the wall, releasing Angel from his rapture. She turned back to him with a questioning look. "There are people downstairs, aren't there?"
He shrugged. "I don't know." He hesitated, wondering if he should ask the one question that had been bothering him. She felt his hesitation, and his imposing question, and urged him on with a nod. "Are you, I mean, is the change taking place now?"
Her lips drew up in a smile, and he noticed that a deep, full burgundy had taken place of the pale pink of her lips. "Yeah, I can't stop it, but it only happens when I need it to, because it allots me my full power, or when my true form feels the urge to emerge." She grimaced. "That was really corny sounding, but it's true."
She slid out of the tall canopy bed, grazing by him. His eyes followed her across the room, where she stopped at the door. She was taller than he had remembered, and her body more lithe and cat-like, more powerful. Her slip nightgown allowed him to see that her tattoo was slowing gaining color: the angel's hair was black, her eyes charcoal blue, and her lips a rich burgundy.
She knew he was watching her transform before his eyes, and knew how shocking it was. It had been for her the first time. She had woke up, and found a completely different person in the mirror. It had been scary, surprising, and exhilarating all at the same time. She turned and motioned him to follow her downstairs.
Five heads turned at the sound of a single set of footsteps, and four people stared in shock at the TWO figures who had emerged. Especially because of Geia's new yet not completed look.
Xander picked his jaw up off the floor enough to choke out a sentence. "Uh….Geia, what happened to you?"
She floated across the room and sat down on the arm of Jamal's chair. "I suppose the beauty experiment gone bad excuse won't work, huh?"
Willow saw the look of pure amazement on everyone's face but Angel's and Jamal's, and grew suspicious. They knew what was going on, and hadn't told them. "You're probably wondering why we're-" Geia bent over, as if in pain, and Willow, despite her suspicions, hurried to her aid. "What's wrong?"
Geia held her hand up and whispered, "Get away from me, Willow. Not right now."
Willow backed up in fear, and watched as Jamal picked his master up and gently put her on the couch. Doubled over in pain, Geia felt the final phase of transformation take place.
Moments later, she burst into dust.
Jamal was the only one not in pure shock at what had happened, and almost smiled at the horror painted on everyone's faces. "Guys, it's okay. She'll be back in a minute." He realized his nonchalant tone was not even close to being convincing. "Don't worry. This happens every now and then." He looked pointedly at Angel and Spike. "That's how the final phase of transformation takes place."
The dusty remains of Geia started to gather and take shape, and out of thin air, Geia reappeared, but not looking even remotely like the Geia everyone was accustomed to.
Spike's eyes grew huge at the raven-haired beauty before him. "What the bleedin' hell….oh." Realization dawned on him. "This is what you really look like?"
Geia stretched as if she had just woke up and nodded at the blonde vampire. "This is my true form." She smiled at the startled members of the Scooby gang. "And I know you have no idea what's going on, but will you allow me the chance to explain, perhaps later today. Buffy and Giles are still missing."
Willow found her voice and wanted to know more. "How did you know they were missing? Did you hear us tell Jamal and Spike that?"
Geia grinned and tapped the side of her head with one finger. "I can read your thoughts, or in the words of Yoda, 'See through you I can'." She cast a glance at Jamal. "Told you I watched the Star Wars movies. You're awfully doubting for an apprentice."
"I'm also not 2000 years old," Jamal retorted. "We better get moving. I can feel the danger they're about to be in."
Buffy took a defensive stance, standing back-to-back with her Watcher. "Uh, Giles, we have a little problem."
Giles looked from one snarling vampire to the next and grimaced. "Buffy, I'm afraid our situation requires a higher classification than 'little'." He drew two small vials of holy water out of his coat pocket, and nodded at Buffy, letting her know he'd cause a distraction so they could get away. The holy water hit the first two vampires in his sight, and he grabbed his Slayer's hand to make sure the other vampires didn't try to jump her as they ran. Not running in fear, but to a more open space that allowed the room needed to fight.
After several turns down dark alleys, Slayer and Watcher ran aground when faced with a dead end. "Gotta give 'em a good fight, Giles. We still stand a chance." But she was filled with doubt. Two mortals, ten vampires. Not exactly a fair fight.
"And I thought Zalkana warriors were lame, but your kind just makes them look SO much better." Ten angry, hungry vampires turned to see a dark- haired, beautiful warrior with a dangerous yet gorgeous sword.
Geia winked at the two trapped mortals. "I need some easy, less messy action, and your vampires buddies look like just my type." She waved her sword mockingly. "Here vampire, vampire, vampire. Come to me, my darlings."
It didn't say much for vampire intelligence when all ten forgot their captives and rushed Geia. Jamal stepped out from the corner of the alley, with a menacing-looking battle axe. He grinned cheekily at Buffy and Giles. "If you want, you're more than welcome to join our little brawl." He turned and decapitated the nearest vamp.
As stunned as they were, Buffy and Giles were galvanized into action when two vampires at the back of the steadily diminishing pack remembered the mortals. Buffy delivered a one-two punch/kick attack, then staked the helpless vampire. "Who the hell is she? And why is she with Jamal?" she yelled to her Watcher.
Giles knocked his vampire upside the head with his elbow, then staked him as he fell to the ground. "I haven't the slightest, Buffy." He watched as the attractive warrior chopped the last vampire in two, his dust floating on the wind. "But she obviously knows Jamal."
Geia settled her sword point on the ground and nudged Jamal when she saw the suspicious yet curious looks from Buffy and Giles. "I just love it when I get that look. Boosts my confidence."
Her apprentice snorted. "More like boosts your ego…." He paused for effect. "…Geia."
"Ha, ha, ha. You're also a smartass." Geia saw the jaws drop, and couldn't help but like the reaction.
The grin came back. "I have to put up with you. Gotta be one to survive around an overconfident, sarcastic, tight-lipped, hard-headed, playgirl like yourself."
Her eyebrows raised, and she smiled slightly at the two mortals, who had cautiously moved closer. "Cheeky fellow, isn't he?"
Giles cleared his throat and moved closer. "Geia? Impossible…you aren't the-"
"Same person?" she finished. "Actually, I am. Just look a bit different. And I'm up to my full power, so my apprentice here is watching my back." She motioned for Buffy and Giles to a car across the street. "You're not the only ones I have some serious explaining to do to."
Buffy didn't move and her grip on her stake tightened. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm not even close to being convinced the two of you don't have some connection with those Zalkana warriors."
Jamal snorted. "Of course we have a connection with them—we never said otherwise." He grinned like a Cheshire cat. "We kill them. Self- explanatory."
Giles was racking his brain to make a connection, to figure out what exactly Geia and Jamal were, but a glimmer of an idea had formed. There was a fairy tale, story of pure lore about an ancient tribe of Good warriors who disguised themselves to avoid detection….
"You're right." Geia slid her sword into its scabbard strapped across her left shoulder. "You're absolutely right, Giles. We are a myth."
Giles wasn't surprised at her words. "So your kind truly exists. Amazing." He ran a hand through his hair then turned to his baffled Slayer. "She can read our minds at will. That's how she completed my thoughts out loud." He put a hand on her shoulder for reassurance. "We're in very good hands, Buffy. Very Good ones."
(Geia and Jamal's whole story will be the second part of this chapter. It will explain the entire story behind their existence.)
CHAPTER 6
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Anya sat down on the couch and stared at a shocked Xander. "It's no big deal. He's cute, and furry, and he makes cute noises and plays with little squeaky toys. Watch!" She tossed the plastic ball over the puppy's head and giggled when he brought it back. "See. That was cute, right?"
Xander dropped the grocery bag on the kitchen counter of his apartment and sighed. "Anya, sweetie, we agreed we'd get a puppy later. What about when it grows up? Big dog, little apartment, it doesn't work."
"Well, he's already gotten used to our bed—he can sleep there at night."
Xander dropped the bananas on the counter. "No way. Slobbering, furry dog in OUR bed? Uh uh. He cannot sleep in our bed…" His voice trailed off as Anya held the puppy in front of his face.
"Cute, cute, cute little doggy, Xander. He needed a home, and now he has one." She peeped around the dog. "And I won't give him up."
Xander melted as the puppy gave a short bark and licked his nose. "Fine. But he has to be house trained. I won't have him doing his little doggy- duty all over the carpet. The landlord would kill me, and probably kick us out."
Anya beamed and set the puppy down to play with him. The phone rang and Xander assumed Anya would get it, but two rings later, she was still playing with their new addition.
"Anya, honey, could you get it?"
Anya tossed the ball to the puppy. "No. I'm playing with Sparky, you get it."
Xander rolled his eyes and moved to answer the phone. "Sparky?" He heard Buffy's voice on the other end. "No, not you, Buffy….yeah, okay……" His eyes grew large upon hearing Buffy's suspicions. "Man, and I was getting to like them, and now they're all evil!….Fine, yeah, we'll be there in a few." His shoulders sagged as he hung the phone up. "Anya, we have to go."
"Now? I'm still playing with Sparky!"
Xander took the ball from her hands. "First of all, we're not naming him Sparky. He needs a manlier name, like Duke or…just not Sparky. There's a problem with Geia and Jamal."
She stood up and accepted her coat from him. "What?"
He flung the door open. "Let's just say they're not who we thought they were. I'll tell you on the way there."
Anya halted in the doorway. "But what about Spa-our puppy?"
"Go get him. We're going to Buffy's, so Dawn and Buffy's mom can watch him."
Anya happily scooped up the energetic puppy. "Daddy Xander's not happy, so you better be good."
"ANYA! Let's go!"
Buffy palmed a crossbow while she waited for everyone to get settled in the living room. Her friends were used to getting bad news frequently, one of their best friends being the Slayer, but this news was shocking even for them. Their faces wore the emotion heavily.
Giles looked anxiously at Buffy. "We need a plan. Spike and Angel are in danger while they're with Geia and Jamal."
Xander murmured something under his breath about all of them being Geia and Jamal's but-monkeys, but a withering glare from Anya shut him up.
"Is there anything we can do?"
Buffy looked behind her friends to see her mom and sister. "No. These two are dangerous, even more than vampires and most demons." A very slight smile tugged on the corners of her mouth when she saw Dawn cuddling the infamous Sparky. "You two just stay here and watch the puppy." She turned her attention back to the gang. "We'll all go armed. I don't want to take any chances, seeing as how we don't know how to kill these….things."
Weapons were given out, and the plan was to split up into two groups in an attempt to go in both the front and back doors of Geia's home. Buffy and Giles would charge in the front with Anya, Xander, and Willow to support from the back and cut the two spies off. As Buffy headed out the door, she couldn't help but worry about this battle's outcome. For all she knew, Geia and Jamal had pumped Angel and Spike for information on her, her family and friends and Sunnydale, then killed them.
Willow followed Xander and Anya reluctantly as they snuck around the back of Geia's house. The witch was always ready to back Buffy up, but there was something about this situation that didn't feel right. Her powers allowed her to sense any disturbances in some of the supernatural worlds, and as soon as they had stepped on the lawn, Willow had felt that something was out of order, that something was now tainted. She perceived a strong sense of unbalance between the mortal realm and the undead, but couldn't tell whether that signaled evil or not. There were no vampires or demons to be seen, as how the only undead around were in the house.
A strong wind picked up and Anya wrapped her coat tightly around her. "Xander, it's cold. Why can't we go back to the car?"
Her boyfriend brushed his hair out of his face and sighed impatiently. "Anya, we have to back Buffy and Giles up. We can't let these two get away, because they'll go and tell those big bad Zalkana thingys what they found out. I personally would like to die of old age or….Twinkie overload, but not by some demon warriors."
Willow contemplated Xander's words then shrugged. " Well, I'm all ready to go into another scary, life threatening situation as long as we get food afterward, but not Twinkies. Twinkies bad, Xander."
His mouth dropped. "Twinkies bad? How? Twinkies are…yummy yellow pastries with a cream filling. Twinkies good!"
Anya moved beside Xander, who was against the back wall of the house. "We're about to get ourselves killed and you're thinking about junk food?"
"Twinkies," Willow corrected as she slid beside Anya. "I swore off them a long time ago. Especially after seeing Xander eat an entire box of them in ten minutes. Whole Twinkies, I might add. Gross." She let her head fall against the wall and closed her eyes. They were to wait for Buffy's signal—hearing a loud crash, meaning the Slayer had kicked the front door in. Willow still felt uncertain about what was to go down. Something just wasn't right, and moreover, she was getting the feeling that they were wrong about something. Too many somethings, in her opinion, but she trusted the judgement of her friends.
"Never be too trusting. It can destroy you."
Willow tried to open her eyes at the sound of the voice, but found she couldn't. There was only darkness, and then a glimmering blue light, like a small orb floated about in the black.
"You know that there is an intangible that makes you hesitate to go into that house."
Willow couldn't feel her body, or even her lips forming the words, but she heard what she said. "Yes. Something's not right."
"You're right. You think certain inhabitants of the house are Evil, but you are mistaken."
"How? They're spies for the Zalkana warriors. And they've got two of our friends trapped inside."
The blue light burned more intensely, and Willow thought she had made it angry. "All the inhabitants of that house, including the two vampires, are both Evil and Good. They wear masks, hiding their true identities. But what matters is that they are your allies and not your enemies."
The blue light began to fade, and Willow felt herself reaching out to stop it from leaving. "Wait. I don't understand. I don't even know what or who you are."
"Do not worry. I am a simple messenger, but the being whose message I carry is not aware that I am talking to you. Look beyond the masks of others and seek those who are of Pure Good yet yield a Face of Evil. They are the ones who have the power to stop what is coming. And tell the Slayer that she must not wield the sword. Her own hand will be her death if she does." The light faded to a sparkle, then melted into the dirty blackness.
Willow's eyes shot open to a very worried Xander and an onlooking Anya. "Wow," she breathed.
"Uh, Willow, what happened?"
She giggled at Xander's bewilderment. "Some blue light told me that we're wrong about Geia and Jamal. And that we have to find 'those who are of Pure Good yet yield a Face of Evil''. And that Buffy can't wield the sword because it will kill her." The seriousness of the message sunk in, and Willow sobered. "We need to stop Buffy and Giles. They can't kill Geia and Jamal."
Anya's voice was incredulous. "And you say a blue light told you this? Might as well say Twinkies think the end of the world is coming in the form of cupcakes." She received a nudge from Xander for her snappy tone.
Willow stood up hastily and started to the front of the house. "It wasn't just some blue light. I could feel it—I mean, I think it was someone's soul speaking to me. And it sounded very serious." She halted on the front porch. "We need to talk to Geia and Jamal. The voice told me they aren't what we suspect, but that they're both Good and Evil."
"And we're just smart dumb people," Xander retorted. "We should wait on Buffy and Giles." He glanced at his watch. "Who were supposed to be here ten minutes ago." The wind picked up again, and the clouds parted to reveal a full moon. All three looked up, and then at each other with worry. "Maybe we'd be safer inside."
Without hesitating, Xander knocked on the door and waited. A few moments later, heavy footsteps could be heard, and then Jamal opened the door.
He saw the worried looks and waved them inside. "Something wrong?"
Willow blew her hair out of her face and then sat down at Jamal's invitation. "Um…it's a long story." She grew aware of another presence, and saw Spike stomping down the stairs in only a pair of sweatpants.
The blonde vampire saw the Scooby-gang members, and couldn't help but allow his British accent to take on a dangerously sarcastic tone. "And what is it our little Buffy sidekicks got into tonight? A slimy horned demon, or perhaps a group of big bad vampires?" He leaned against the wall, not even noticing that he was getting stares from the three guests. "Oh, wait a bloody minute. I know! You three can't find Buffy or Rupert, so you came here." Spike saw the worried glances and grew serious. "Where were they supposed to be?"
Anya started to speak, but caught Xander's warning look. "It's a long story," Jamal retorted. "Which they haven't told yet."
Spike plopped down on the couch beside a very embarrassed Willow. He sensed her embarrassment and huffed. "Bloody hell, red. You can't tell me you haven't seen a man half naked. You had a werewolf for a lover."
Jamal cleared his throat and motioned to the stairs. "I'd have you guys start your story, but I think Angel's the best one for this situation. He's still upstairs, sleeping. I don't think I want a grouchy vampire on our hands, so maybe we'll wait a few minutes, and if he hasn't heard the noise and doesn't come down, we'll go get him."
(starting from when Xander, Willow and Anya showed up at the house)
Sleeping was the last thing Angel had on his mind. He had gone to bed with Geia and Jamal's story still churning through his mind, and he had woke up not long later. Now, he still couldn't sleep, and he had paced the length of his bedroom too many times to count. His feet led him into the hallway, and strangely, into Geia's bedroom.
With all the stealth and quiet of a vampire, he crept in her room, still not knowing why. His sharp eyes made out her sleeping form, and he sucked in an unneeded breath. She truly looked like an angel; her hair was spread all around her, and her hands were clasped together on her pillow. His eyes ran down the length of her body and back up, focusing on her innocent face. Or so it looked. He had seen the ferocity her eyes could hold, the fire that could burn right through a person. And yet he still couldn't help but see the gentleness, the beauty.
He cautiously sat down on the edge of her bed. Angel felt as if he had not a single bit of control over his own body, as his hand moved painfully, slowly, to reach out to her. His cold fingertips brushed her cheek like a rustle of silk, and he shuddered at how warm she felt. The hand moved up to ever so slightly stroke a few strands of hair that fallen dangerously close to her face. He smoothed back the offending strands, and as he did, the color of those strands changed from honey blonde to raven black. The black spread to the rest of her hair, and Angel could only look on, shocked. But he couldn't move, as surprised as he was.
Geia's eyes opened slowly. What used to be two green orbs were now a slate blue, and a smile crept across her face at Angel's bewilderment, and at his obvious enchantment with her. "See anything interesting?" she teased.
Angel sat transfixed, but forced himself to answer. "Your hair….it-"
Geia glanced down at the long black strands and sighed. "It's the first thing to change." She leaned close to him, her eyes fixed on his. "Tell me, Angelus, have my eyes changed color as well?"
He swallowed hard and nodded. She giggled like a child with a secret. "Good. It usually takes a while for the transformation to occur, but if my eyes have already changed color, that's a good sign." She leaned back, and focused her eyes on the wall, releasing Angel from his rapture. She turned back to him with a questioning look. "There are people downstairs, aren't there?"
He shrugged. "I don't know." He hesitated, wondering if he should ask the one question that had been bothering him. She felt his hesitation, and his imposing question, and urged him on with a nod. "Are you, I mean, is the change taking place now?"
Her lips drew up in a smile, and he noticed that a deep, full burgundy had taken place of the pale pink of her lips. "Yeah, I can't stop it, but it only happens when I need it to, because it allots me my full power, or when my true form feels the urge to emerge." She grimaced. "That was really corny sounding, but it's true."
She slid out of the tall canopy bed, grazing by him. His eyes followed her across the room, where she stopped at the door. She was taller than he had remembered, and her body more lithe and cat-like, more powerful. Her slip nightgown allowed him to see that her tattoo was slowing gaining color: the angel's hair was black, her eyes charcoal blue, and her lips a rich burgundy.
She knew he was watching her transform before his eyes, and knew how shocking it was. It had been for her the first time. She had woke up, and found a completely different person in the mirror. It had been scary, surprising, and exhilarating all at the same time. She turned and motioned him to follow her downstairs.
Five heads turned at the sound of a single set of footsteps, and four people stared in shock at the TWO figures who had emerged. Especially because of Geia's new yet not completed look.
Xander picked his jaw up off the floor enough to choke out a sentence. "Uh….Geia, what happened to you?"
She floated across the room and sat down on the arm of Jamal's chair. "I suppose the beauty experiment gone bad excuse won't work, huh?"
Willow saw the look of pure amazement on everyone's face but Angel's and Jamal's, and grew suspicious. They knew what was going on, and hadn't told them. "You're probably wondering why we're-" Geia bent over, as if in pain, and Willow, despite her suspicions, hurried to her aid. "What's wrong?"
Geia held her hand up and whispered, "Get away from me, Willow. Not right now."
Willow backed up in fear, and watched as Jamal picked his master up and gently put her on the couch. Doubled over in pain, Geia felt the final phase of transformation take place.
Moments later, she burst into dust.
Jamal was the only one not in pure shock at what had happened, and almost smiled at the horror painted on everyone's faces. "Guys, it's okay. She'll be back in a minute." He realized his nonchalant tone was not even close to being convincing. "Don't worry. This happens every now and then." He looked pointedly at Angel and Spike. "That's how the final phase of transformation takes place."
The dusty remains of Geia started to gather and take shape, and out of thin air, Geia reappeared, but not looking even remotely like the Geia everyone was accustomed to.
Spike's eyes grew huge at the raven-haired beauty before him. "What the bleedin' hell….oh." Realization dawned on him. "This is what you really look like?"
Geia stretched as if she had just woke up and nodded at the blonde vampire. "This is my true form." She smiled at the startled members of the Scooby gang. "And I know you have no idea what's going on, but will you allow me the chance to explain, perhaps later today. Buffy and Giles are still missing."
Willow found her voice and wanted to know more. "How did you know they were missing? Did you hear us tell Jamal and Spike that?"
Geia grinned and tapped the side of her head with one finger. "I can read your thoughts, or in the words of Yoda, 'See through you I can'." She cast a glance at Jamal. "Told you I watched the Star Wars movies. You're awfully doubting for an apprentice."
"I'm also not 2000 years old," Jamal retorted. "We better get moving. I can feel the danger they're about to be in."
Buffy took a defensive stance, standing back-to-back with her Watcher. "Uh, Giles, we have a little problem."
Giles looked from one snarling vampire to the next and grimaced. "Buffy, I'm afraid our situation requires a higher classification than 'little'." He drew two small vials of holy water out of his coat pocket, and nodded at Buffy, letting her know he'd cause a distraction so they could get away. The holy water hit the first two vampires in his sight, and he grabbed his Slayer's hand to make sure the other vampires didn't try to jump her as they ran. Not running in fear, but to a more open space that allowed the room needed to fight.
After several turns down dark alleys, Slayer and Watcher ran aground when faced with a dead end. "Gotta give 'em a good fight, Giles. We still stand a chance." But she was filled with doubt. Two mortals, ten vampires. Not exactly a fair fight.
"And I thought Zalkana warriors were lame, but your kind just makes them look SO much better." Ten angry, hungry vampires turned to see a dark- haired, beautiful warrior with a dangerous yet gorgeous sword.
Geia winked at the two trapped mortals. "I need some easy, less messy action, and your vampires buddies look like just my type." She waved her sword mockingly. "Here vampire, vampire, vampire. Come to me, my darlings."
It didn't say much for vampire intelligence when all ten forgot their captives and rushed Geia. Jamal stepped out from the corner of the alley, with a menacing-looking battle axe. He grinned cheekily at Buffy and Giles. "If you want, you're more than welcome to join our little brawl." He turned and decapitated the nearest vamp.
As stunned as they were, Buffy and Giles were galvanized into action when two vampires at the back of the steadily diminishing pack remembered the mortals. Buffy delivered a one-two punch/kick attack, then staked the helpless vampire. "Who the hell is she? And why is she with Jamal?" she yelled to her Watcher.
Giles knocked his vampire upside the head with his elbow, then staked him as he fell to the ground. "I haven't the slightest, Buffy." He watched as the attractive warrior chopped the last vampire in two, his dust floating on the wind. "But she obviously knows Jamal."
Geia settled her sword point on the ground and nudged Jamal when she saw the suspicious yet curious looks from Buffy and Giles. "I just love it when I get that look. Boosts my confidence."
Her apprentice snorted. "More like boosts your ego…." He paused for effect. "…Geia."
"Ha, ha, ha. You're also a smartass." Geia saw the jaws drop, and couldn't help but like the reaction.
The grin came back. "I have to put up with you. Gotta be one to survive around an overconfident, sarcastic, tight-lipped, hard-headed, playgirl like yourself."
Her eyebrows raised, and she smiled slightly at the two mortals, who had cautiously moved closer. "Cheeky fellow, isn't he?"
Giles cleared his throat and moved closer. "Geia? Impossible…you aren't the-"
"Same person?" she finished. "Actually, I am. Just look a bit different. And I'm up to my full power, so my apprentice here is watching my back." She motioned for Buffy and Giles to a car across the street. "You're not the only ones I have some serious explaining to do to."
Buffy didn't move and her grip on her stake tightened. "I don't know what's going on, but I'm not even close to being convinced the two of you don't have some connection with those Zalkana warriors."
Jamal snorted. "Of course we have a connection with them—we never said otherwise." He grinned like a Cheshire cat. "We kill them. Self- explanatory."
Giles was racking his brain to make a connection, to figure out what exactly Geia and Jamal were, but a glimmer of an idea had formed. There was a fairy tale, story of pure lore about an ancient tribe of Good warriors who disguised themselves to avoid detection….
"You're right." Geia slid her sword into its scabbard strapped across her left shoulder. "You're absolutely right, Giles. We are a myth."
Giles wasn't surprised at her words. "So your kind truly exists. Amazing." He ran a hand through his hair then turned to his baffled Slayer. "She can read our minds at will. That's how she completed my thoughts out loud." He put a hand on her shoulder for reassurance. "We're in very good hands, Buffy. Very Good ones."
(Geia and Jamal's whole story will be the second part of this chapter. It will explain the entire story behind their existence.)