Luckily for him, he decided on
neither. Having two pissed off Slayers and their friends, gunning
for him, not to mention his Sire, wasn't his idea of a good time,
his idea of a good time would be what got him into the situation
in the first place.
"So," he asked quietly,
"what happens now?"
Fliq sighed, "You stay out of
my way, I won't stake you."
"I can't kill anyone."
"No."
"No, I mean I can't kill anyone."
Fliq frowned, "What?"
Spike sighed and began to explain.
"So you're impotent?"
"I wish people would stop
bloody saying that!" Fliq smiled at him, the first he'd seen
her smile in a long time, in either body, and he couldn't help
but smile back, "So, what about the great poof? What does he
know?"
"Everything."
"Are you mad?"
"Look, Spike, he has a soul and
he's not likely to go telling anyone."
"I'm surprised he hasn't staked
me yet."
"Me, too, actually." Spike's
eyebrows shot up, "Don't worry, he won't." She closed
her eyes and paused for a moment, "Just stay out of my way,
William."
"Luv, if nothing else, I saved
your life."
Fliq's eyes opened in rage. "You
ruined my life!" she spat out.
Spike sighed, "Can't we..."
"What? Can't we what? Ignore it?
Pretend it didn't happen? Well you might be able to do that but I
can't."
"Fliq?" They both turned
to face Buffy as she turned the corner, "What's up?"
"Nothing." Fliq glared
once more at Spike and left walked to the bathroom. Spike sighed
and leaned back into the wall.
"Spike? What's going on?"
"Like she said, pet, nothing." Spike gave her a tight
smile and wandered back into the main room, leaving Buffy
standing in the hallway in confusion.
~~~~~*****~~~~~
There was a gentle murmur of
conversation throughout the house. Both Tara and Anya had gone to
the magick shop to collect some ingredients they might need and
Cordelia and Gunn were in the kitchen. The rest of the group was
discussing possible ways to switch the Slayers back as Spike sat
on the stairs watching.
"Buffy?" Spike looked up
the stairs at Dawn, who stood in shock, staring at the people in
the room, "What's going on?"
"'S okay, little bit."
Spike said, standing up as Dawn walked down the stairs.
"Is... Is that Fliq?" she
asked tentatively, her eyes never leaving her sister's face.
"Yes, I'm Fliq." The girl
said, stepping forward, "You must be Dawn." Dawn shrank
back a little as the girl reached out to her, but Spike placed a
hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. Reaching
out to touch Fliq, she smiled a little.
Suddenly, Fliq collapsed on the
floor, clutching her head. Spike crouched down, trying to see
whether or not she was unconscious while Angel, Wesley and Willow
crossed the room.
"What happened?" Angel
asked, brushing her hair from her face. He frowned as he followed
Fliq's gaze and his eyes rested on Dawn.
"Energy." Fliq said softly
and Dawn fell back onto the stairs, her eyes widened in shock.
"You...you can see me?"
Dawn whispered as tears filled her eyes.
"Yes." Fliq pulled herself
up, holding onto Angel and Spike, "You must be the key."
"Fliq, how did you know that?"
Spike asked as Buffy and the others surrounded Dawn.
"The Watchers. They were in a
big fuss about what the key could be, but they had no idea it had
been made human." She stepped towards Dawn, glad that no one
tried to stop her, but noting the looks on everyone's faces,
"You are very powerful, Dawn. But you have to take care that
no one finds out what you are. If the Council gets wind of this,
your life will never be your own ever again. Take it from someone
who knows."
Dawn nodded and stood up, accepting
Fliq's offered hand. The group dispersed as everyone took their
seats again, this time Spike and Dawn joining them in the center
of the room.
Cordelia entered from the hallway,
closely followed by Gunn. She looked around the room, "Well,
as glad as I am to have witnessed the Slayer family reunion, I
think it might interest you to know something."
"What?" Angel turned to
look at Cordelia, confused.
"Ahh!"
Angel, Gunn and Wesley were at
Cordelia's side in an instant. Fliq peered closer and everyone
exchanged glances as the former cheerleader collapsed into Angel's
arms.
"Was that what you were trying
to tell us?" Fliq asked as soon as Cordelia seemed to have
regained her senses.
"Yes!"
Angel helped Cordelia to a chair and
everyone crowded round, "What did you see?"
"I told you before! A big bad
ass vampire!"
Angel sighed, "I didn't think
those vampires quite fitted that description."
"Well, I knew they didn't but
Psycho Bitch here wouldn't listen."
Fliq pulled back a little, "Maybe
if you could describe the vampire, we might get somewhere. Just
because..."
"I think you should try to calm
down, short stuff," Fliq turned to look at Spike, who
stepped back a little at the look in her eye, but he raised his
eyebrows and she relented.
Fliq turned back to face the group
as Buffy frowned, "Short stuff?"
"Don't ask."
"Hello?" Cordelia
interrupted, "Huge migraine with pictures here."
"What else did you see,
Cordelia?" Angel asked, absentmindedly rubbing her shoulder
as the girl struggled with her pounding head.
"It was underground, in the
sewers I think. There was a girl, and she was opening a giant
swirly thing..."
"A giant swirly thing?"
"Is that like a technical term?"
Cordelia looked from Fliq to Buffy,
"I think I liked it better when you two didn't know each
other."
"Well, what do we think?"
Gunn asked, looking at her, "Should we go looking now, or is
this a 'we have enough time to research' flash, like the others
have been lately?"
"I think this is a future flash
again, I'm not sure."
Angel squeezed her shoulder, "It's
okay. We'll figure something out."
"Agreed. It's nearly morning
and it'd be best if we all get some sleep." Giles sighed,
"Return in the morning and we'll see if we can't figure out
what this...'giant swirly thing' is." There was a gentle
murmur of agreement as everyone moved to leave.
Cordelia pulled herself to her feet
with Angel's help, only to collapse in pain again. Everyone
exchanged worried glances as Angel, Gunn and Wesley tried to stop
the girl from clawing at her head. Her cry was agonizing, her
head, not yet clear of the previous vision, was now being flooded
with another.
Dawn was shaking as she stared at
the older girl. She felt Spike's hand tighten on her shoulder,
"She's gonna be okay, right? She'll be alright, won't she?"
"She'll be fine." Buffy
said squeezing her hand in reassurance before exchanging a
worried glance with Willow.
A few minutes later, Cordelia
stopped crying out as her senses returned to her. She turned into
Angel sobbing, clutching at his sleeve, her eyes still unfocused.
Fliq walked slowly towards her and crouched down, offering the
tablets she had rushed to collect from the kitchen.
"Thank you," Cordelia
whispered, taking them, "There's trouble in LA." she
said, looking towards Gunn and Wesley, "I think you two
should be able to handle it, though."
"We're as good as gone."
Wesley said giving her a small smile. He turned to Gunn and they
nodded, a silent agreement to leave as soon as they could. He
quickly exited the room.
"Hey, Cordy," Gunn smiled,
hiding the worry they were all feeling about her increased pain,
"You gonna give us anything to go on, or we just gonna blow
up LA?"
She smiled slightly, "Lindsay."
"Lawyer Lindsay?" Gunn
asked frowning.
"Yes, he's back in LA and
Wolfram and Heart are after him, but for some reason or other the
PTB seem to think we need him."
Angel snorted and Cordelia turned to
frown at him, "Sorry." he replied sheepishly.
"Okay." Wesley had
returned with their coats and Gunn stood as Angel helped Cordelia
to her feet, "You need us and we'll be here as soon as, and
to hell with the damn lawyer."
Cordelia smiled as the two quickly
said good bye and walked out of the door. After a few moments,
the group moved to leave again.
"Spike?"
Spike turned in surprise to face
Angel, "What?"
"Do you know anywhere we could
stay?"
"Well, your old apartment has
been ransacked."
"How do you know?"
"'Cause I ransacked the bloody
place."
Angel sighed as the others grinned,
"So, do you know of anywhere we could stay?"
"There should be enough room at
mine for everyone." Buffy said, "I think we should go
on a quick patrol first. If there really is danger about, it
might be a better idea."
"I'll take Cordelia back to my
place," Willow said taking hold of Cordelia's arm, "I
think I have a few things that might help your head."
"Oh, God, yes." Cordy
smiled as they turned to leave.
"You can take my car."
Angel offered, giving Cordy a small smile.
"Dawn, why don't you go back to
bed and someone will collect you in the morning."
"Okay." Dawn quickly said
good night and wandered up the stairs, giving Fliq another glance
before she disappeared.
"I think I'll keep researching.
Wesley seemed to think he was on to something, I'd like to
continue looking."
"Okay." Buffy smiled as
Giles walked back to the settee. She turned to the others and,
after making arrangements for the patrol, the group dispersed and
made their way into the night's silence.
"Where's my car?"
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Down in the dark sewers of Sunnydale,
there was an almighty scream. An eerie glow emanated from one of
the small chambers. The light danced upon the preying shadows as
a large swirl of color and magick opened. The girl grinned as she
pulled forth one of the key players that would spell the end of
the Slayer once and for all.
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Buffy and Fliq walked along the dark
roads. The light was threatening to come out as the morning
neared. Buffy shivered and pulled her coat tighter around her,
breathing deeply. Fliq turned to look at the girl.
"Cold?"
"Always." Buffy shivered
again, "I just can't get warm since, well, since I came back.
It's like it was when I was in Faith's body. I have to struggle
to breath and I feel like there's something pushing me out."
Fliq nodded, "I know what that
feels like."
Buffy looked at her own body and
smiled, "Yeah I guess you would."
Fliq took a deep breath and smiled,
before shaking her head and turning back to Buffy, "I wanted
to ask you a question."
"Sure. What's up?"
"That blonde witch that's
friends with Willow, how well do you know her?"
"Pretty well. Hey, how did you
know she was a witch?"
Fliq shrugged, "I sensed it. I'm
Wiccan, having a Slayer's perceptions just helps me identify
magick easier, can't you?"
Buffy squirmed a little, "Well,
not really..."
"It's probably because I'm not
used to dealing with the energies from the Hellmouth."
"Yeah, sure."
Suddenly they both stiffened,
sensing a presence. They turned, stakes ready. A moment later
Fliq's eyes widened, "Oh God," she whispered. "No."
"What, what is it?"
"Can't you feel it? Don't you
know who it is?" Buffy closed her eyes and reached out. A
strangled cry left her lips and, as she opened her eyes, a tear
began to fall. She looked straight ahead as a figure emerged from
the shadows. Buffy watched as it headed towards them. She stared
into the face as it slowly changed before her. She looked into
the yellow eyes and she felt her heart contract.
"Willow."
~~~~~*****~~~~~
END OF PART 7