Stepping into Darkness
Part 6
~~~~~*****~~~~~
The shadows danced dangerously around them as the fight erupted. The gang of vampires was foolish enough to think that they stood a chance against their would-be prey, a conceit that cost them their undead lives. The flurry of action lasted barely a few seconds before the air was thick with dust.
"What are you doing here?"
Angel frowned turning to look at the group, his focus resting on the small girl who had spoken. He looked at her in shock. He knew who should be in that body, but he also knew that she wasn't, leaving no doubt in his mind as to who was.
"Buffy?"
"How, how did you know?" She smiled.
"Cordelia had a vision," he replied, simply.
"Yeah, Cordy. That was some bad ass vampire."
The small group turned to face the girl that Buffy and Xander had earlier mistaken for a vampire. She was wearing tight leather trousers and a top that made Willow shudder in its resemblance to the one her doppleganger had worn. The black makeup simply added to her deadly stare but no one could mistake who they were looking at.
"Why don't we swap and then you can see what the visions are like! Maybe then you see how diffic..."
"Bloody hell, will you two shut up." Everyone turned to watch Spike as he walked towards the two arguing girls, "Haven't changed a bit, have you, pet?"
Cordelia put her hands on her hips and stared at Spike indignantly, "Hey! She started it!"
"I wasn't bloody talking to you." Spike turned his gaze onto Fliq, whose eyes had narrowed considerably. He had to stop himself from smirking at the look that Fliq was making on Buffy's face.
"Spike."
"Very perceptive, luv. Now why don't we try to expand the vocabulary."
"Sure. How about stake and dust?" she raised her stake and with a speed no one could have imagined possible, she had him pinned against the nearest wall.
Angel smirked, "This should be fun."
"Some father you are!" Spike cried, as Fliq held onto his collar, crushing him into the wall. She glared at him, the stake placed barely a centimeter from his heart, "Will you get this crazy chit away from me!"
Buffy frowned in confusion, "Would someone please tell me what the hell's going on? You're wearing my body!"
Fliq turned to face her, still keeping a tight hold on Spike's collar, "For a dead Slayer, you have amazing observational skills."
Buffy eyed the girl, "What the hell am I wearing?"
"I was just about to ask."
"I mean, my God I look like an extra for Batman. What's with all the leather?"
"Eh, Buffy," Willow stepped forward, "Maybe we should be focusing on the fact that she's wearing you."
"Uh, yeah." Buffy shivered as a feeling of deja vu sweeping through her as memories of being in Faith's body resurfaced.
"Fliq." The girl turned to Angel and reluctantly let go of Spike. Walking over to Buffy she looked at her own body.
"So, any ideas about how we switch?"
~~~~~*****~~~~~
He sighed contentedly as, for a change, he was reading a book. But there was something special about this book. From the outside, it looked like any regular book. It had a spine, a front cover, a back cover, a title; but to Giles this book was extraordinary. He sighed in contentment, and again reflected in the glory of his new book.
This book was so amazing simply because it wasn't for research...there were no monsters (real ones at least), no prophecies and no mentions of the Hellmouth.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Giles groaned and began to mutter to himself as he walked toward it, his copy of "Harry Potter" left lying on his couch.
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Giles opened the door and spotted the Scooby gang, "Come in." he said aimlessly before doing a double take at the scene before him.
"Fliq?" he asked the group, never removing his eyes from the girl before him. The girl shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the watcher.
"Yup." Willow smiled a little, "Now all we need to do is switch 'em back."
"Of course," Giles nodded, "Come in."
~~~~~*****~~~~~
"So any ideas as to how you got my body."
The girl rolled her eyes and Angel smiled at her, an action that did not go unnoticed by either Spike, Buffy or Willow, "I was about to ask you the same question."
"I think you'd better start at the beginning Fliq." Angel said with a grin.
Fliq raised her eyebrows at the obviousness of his statement. Angel simply continued to smile and after a moment, Fliq returned it with a small smile of her own.
"My name's Fliq..."
"Well duh!" Angel shot Cordelia a glance and she smiled at him, "Sorry?" Angel smiled at her, shaking his head.
Fliq sent Cordelia her customary glare and continued, "I was born and raised in Scotland by my father who was a Watcher on the Council..."
"Was?" Buffy asked, wondering just how many people got fired annually.
"He's dead."
"Oh. Sorry" Buffy shifted in her seat. Everyone looked around uncomfortably except Spike who stared directly at Fliq, whispering so quietly that only those with extra sensitive hearing picked up on it, "Sorry, I didn't know."
Fliq looked at Spike and nodded before continuing, "For a while now I haven't exactly been on the best of terms with the Council," She sent Spike a pointed glare and he looked away uncomfortably, "I used to sneak in and out of the building, and that's when I heard." Fliq finished staring at Buffy who, again, shifted awkwardly in her seat.
"Heard what?" Buffy asked glancing at Giles before looking back at Fliq.
"There's something coming. Something you won't expect. I'm not sure what, but they were pretty rattled about it. So I came here to warn you, found out you were dead."
"So what, you decided to steal my body?"
Fliq glared at her, "I was astral projecting, I felt myself being pulled away and I woke up in a coffin. Not exactly something you'd want to experience."
Everyone looked around uncomfortably as Spike stared at her through narrow eyes. Giles cleared his throat, trying to dispel the silence, "What was this prophecy about? Do you know what book it was in?"
"I haven't got a clue. I just know that you'll all end up dead."
"Oh the joy of living in Sunnydale."
"How were you called?" Buffy asked frowning, completely ignoring Xander, "Your powers are active but from what I hear, Faith's still alive." She looked at Angel who stared right back.
"But, she was in a coma for a long time, the hospital might have had to revive when she was first brought in."
There was another silence and after a few moments Wesley sighed, "I think we should start looking for this prophecy. It might even shed some light onto our other problem."
"Yes, agreed." Giles stood and went to the bookshelf, removing a large row of books and placed them on the table allowing everyone to take one.
"See, the main problem I have with all this is the prophecies." Xander pulled a large brown volume from the pile, "If people didn't make them in the first place, then they might never happen. I mean what guy sat down and said, 'the year 2000 looks pretty dull, Oh I know lets have everyone killed, should add a little spice to things'."
"Probably the same pillock that decided to give you vocal chords. Now bloody shut up."
Gunn glanced around the room, "And these people save the world?"
~~~~~*****~~~~~
END OF PART 6
