"Hey!" Buffy placed her hands on her hips. "If I knew there was going to be a party, I'd have brought dip."

The vampire stared at the Slayer, unsure of how to react to the blonde's comment. Glancing around at his followers, Buffy noticed the light bulb go on.

"We've been waiting for you," he told her.

"Well, I'm here," Buffy replied. "So, are we gonna fight or what? I mean, small talk is nice and all, but I've kinda got plans."

The demon laughed as his face changed back to his human mask. "We're not here to fight you."

It was Buffy's turn to be confused. "Then why are you here?"

"I already told you. We're here to welcome you," he replied. "And to ensure that you are ready."

"Ready for what?"

"For the change," he smiled, an evil twist of his lips. "You will be our greatest warrior."

"Your warrior?" Buffy scoffed. "Sorry, but I'm not joining the ranks of local bloodsuckers any time soon. Actually, try never."

The vampire cackled and Buffy's blood ran cold at the sound. But even worse, her senses were telling her that there was something else in the cemetery. Something felt, but not seen. A darkness, an evil, that pervaded her senses and made the Slayer tremble in fear. Then Buffy heard it, a voice that seemed to surround her, invading her mind from all directions. "You will not be a lowly vampire, silly mortal. You are destined for something greater." Buffy turned her head around, trying to find the source of the voice. "Yes, you are ready. In fact, the change has already begun."

The vampires all grinned and began to back away, disappearing in the darkness. The leader took one last look at Buffy. "Soon, Slayer," he said. "Soon." Then he, too, faded into the night's oblivion.

Buffy remained standing there in the middle of the graveyard in stunned silence. What did that mean? Something greater? Their warrior? With a frustrated cry, the Slayer raced out of the cemetery and took off down the street, back to her father's apartment.



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

(three hours later)



"Hello?" Willow's voice was groggy from being woke up.

"Willow? Please tell me Xander's there!" Buffy's voice was tinged with desperation.

"Um, okay. Xander's here," Willow replied, double-checking the floor next to her bed. "Yup, he's here."

"Let me talk to him," Buffy sounded urgent.

"Hang on." Buffy heard Willow set the phone down. There were a couple of soft thwacks followed by deeper groans. "Xander?" Willow's voice was muffled in the background. "Buffy's on the phone."

There was a loud crash as Xander scrambled to the phone and then his warm voice answered. "Buffy! Well, the clubs must not have been hopping because, well, it's not even 1 and you're already back and…" Xander stopped talking when he heard Buffy's soft sobs. "Buff, what's wrong?"

Buffy sighed. "I had a fight with this vampire today," she started.

"So, what's new about that?" he asked, perplexed.

"Xander," Buffy admonished.

"Sorry," Xander offered a sheepish grin, but realized that Buffy couldn't see it. "Shutting up now."

"It wasn't the vampire that creeped me out," Buffy explained. "It was the voice I heard."

"The vampire's voice?" Xander had no clue what Buffy was talking about.

"No, not the vampire's voice, another voice," The Slayer was getting frustrated. "Why don't I start over?"

"Okay, if you insist," Xander replied.

His girlfriend took a deep breath and started from the beginning. She told him about the first vampire and then the gang of demons. Last, she told him about the voice she heard. "It was really creepy," she admitted. "It felt like this…whatever…could see right through me. I get the chills just thinking about it."

"What were you doing out walking by yourself?" Xander asked.

"Kym's car is in the shop," Buffy replied, aggravated with her boyfriend's train of thought. "Besides, I walk alone all of the time."

"But this is Sunnydale," Xander reminded her. "You're in LA right now."

"And I can still take care of myself," Buffy grumbled.

Xander sighed, "I know you can, Buff. I just worry about you." Buffy couldn't help but smile a bit at his comment. "So, you said the vampires just backed away?"

That made Buffy feel a little better. "They disappeared without throwing so much as a punch. It was kinda annoying."

"How many were there?" Xander asked.

"I don't know exactly," she paused, recalling the face-off. "I'd say there were probably ten or fifteen." There was silence on the other end. "Xander?"

"Sorry," Xander apologized. "Just taking notes for Giles. And what did this voice say? I'm gonna get you and your little dog, too?"

Buffy laughed. "Not exactly, but close. Insert boyfriend for dog."

"I'm gonna get…hey!" the boy objected. "I am not little!"

"Oh really?" Buffy commented, trying to sound innocent.

"Yeah, far from it," he lowered his voice seductively. "Want me to prove it."

"Yeah, I do," Buffy sighed. "I miss you Xand."

She heard him echo her sigh with one of his own. "I miss you, too, Buff."

"It said that I was going to be their greatest warrior, but not a vampire," Buffy recalled, moving the conversation back on track. Her voice dropped to a whisper, "Xand? It said I was already changing."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know," Buffy admitted, fear of the unknown creeping into her voice. It didn't escape Xander's notice.

"Buffy, I know what Giles would say, so I'm just gonna say it," Xander told her. "It is your sworn duty to fight the demons, so you should train. Train, train, and train some more. Then worry."

Buffy laughed. "Sounds like Giles. Except he would be all British and he likes to use big words."

"Yeah," her boyfriend agreed.

"So, what would you say?"

"Honestly?" Without waiting for a response, he continued, "I don't like you being in LA. Not only because you're not with me, but also because you don't have anyone to help you. I want you to come home."

"I can't" Buffy cried. "No matter how much I want to, I have to stay at my dad's."

"Fine," he grumbled. "Then I'm coming to you. One way or another, I'll get there."

"I hope you can," Buffy replied, meaning every word. She always felt better with Xander around.

"Just give me a week," he promised her.

"I'm going to hold you to that," and with that, Buffy hung up the phone.