[Note:Vamped Buffy will be referred to as V-Buffy]


Chapter 18: Buffy of Liberty



Once Xander pushed his way through the library doors and saw Giles on the floor he knew that he shouldn't look up, but he did. He knew who's eyes he would be staring at.

Her eyes.

The same eyes he had fallen for.

The same eyes he would die for.

Except these weren't the same eyes that he loved, because when he used to look in these eyes he could see the soul beneath, but now nothing.

"No." was all could he could manage as he stared at her.

"What's wrong? Do I have something on my face." V-Buffy said smiling.

Xander just stood there, not wanting to believe Buffy could do something like this...even without her soul.

V-Buffy's expression went from a smile to an expression of vengeance as she spoke, "I told you nothing will stop me from having what I want. If that means having to kill everyone you love." she said as she looked down at Giles, then back up with a smile as she continued, "Then, so be it."

The whole time V-Buffy spoke, Buffy just stood in front of Xander as she stared down at Giles' body. Her anger slowly was getting the best of her. Usually that was bad for her opponent, but this wasn't like any opponent she'd ever faced. As she ran at V-Buffy she would soon find that out.

V-Buffy was waiting for her moment and she pounced.

She pounced on it like a cat would a mouse, playing with it, tossing it up in the air and then going in for the kill. Just as Buffy charged her V-Buffy blew the powder she had in her hand out at Buffy. Buffy stopped dead in her tracks as if she were in cement unable to move, but the only problem was that it wasn't only her legs that couldn't move, it was her whole body. She was like a statue as she stared at V-Buffy, helpless.

V-Buffy smiled as she looked at the paralyzed Buffy before looking at Xander, "Wow, the Magic shop owner was right about the powder, maybe she will come in handy."

Xander watched as the events unfolded in front of him and just when things seemed like they couldn't get worse...they did.

"Come with me quietly or I kill her." V-Buffy said looking at him.
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Scene:Outside the Magic shop


"Thank you and come again." the shop owner said as she handed Willow a bag and followed Willow out of the Magic shop with her fangs showing as she licked at them, but when Willow turned around she transformed back into her human face.

"Bye." Willow said in her usually chipper mood as she met up with her boyfriend down the street.


"Hey." Oz said as he came up to her with a nod towards the shop owner, who nodded, turned around and muttled, "Damn!" under her breath as she locked the shop up and decided to go find someone who might be alone, making them a easier kill.

"What's in the sack? Oz asked.

"Well, I was thinking maybe I could help Buffy you know maybe..." Oz finished for her, "A spell." he said getting a look from Willow that looked like a don't get mad look.

She was buckling under his concerned look and knew she had to ease his concerns, "Its just...I've been dabbling."

When she saw Oz start to say something she panicked, "Not dabble, more like a tap or a wave, like Hi Magic! Bye Magic!" she said with a wave. Then she took a much needed breath, "Are you mad?"

Despite Oz's concern for Willow he smiled. He couldn't help but smile at her every time she started to babble. He brought her to him and kissed her on the forehead, "No, just a worrying boyfriend."

"I like a worrying boyfriend. Well, maybe not all the..." before Willow could finish she felt a big gust of wind that dropped her straight into the arms of Oz, who also seemed to be a little off balance.

Before Willow or Oz could even say a thing a man seemed to appear out of nowhere, "You're friends of the slayer." he stated simply.

"Where is she?" he asked looking at them both.

They didn't answer, mainly because they were still a little caught off guard.

He could see their apprehension and didn't feel like waiting for them to snap out of it, so he continued on his mission as he walked down the street.

Willow and Oz looked at each other and then towards the man who was moving down the street, almost as fast as he appeared.

"This is bad." Willow said as she turned to Oz.

"Maybe we should follow him." he said.

Just as they started to fall in step behind him the man simply threw his left hand up into the air in a dismissive way, not missing a beat as continued down the street. This action sent both Willow and Oz flying backwards onto the ground.

"Maybe not." Willow said as they both got up.
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