Part 8

Stepping into Darkness

Part 8

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

Willow tilted her head as they watched her, paralyzed with shock. Slowly she approached the two Slayers, her fingers playing at her neckline. She rolled her head to the other side, took an unneeded breath and smiled.

"Buffy."

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

Cordelia suddenly collapsed in pain as the world around her disappeared. The disjointed images scrambled through her head as her body went limp.

...a congregation of demons...

...swirls of smoke...

...fear...

...a sewer...

...vampires...

...a witch...

...danger...

...Anya...

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

He sighed as he read the book. There was nothing special about this book. From the outside, it looked like a musty old book. It had a cracking spine, a dusty front cover, a mouldy back cover, a long-winded title; but to Giles this book was nothing out of the ordinary. He sighed, and again reflected in the dullness of his book.

This book was so normal to Giles simply because it was for research...there were monsters (real ones), prophecies, mentions of the Hellmouth…but nothing about a giant swirly thing…yet

Suddenly, there was a bang at the door. Giles groaned and began to mutter to himself as he walked toward it, his copy of "Mystical Anomalies and Unbelievable Occurrences" left lying on his couch.

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

Giles opened the door to a badly beaten Spike, Angel, and Xander. He quickly let them in and rushed to collect all the medical supplies he could find as well some blood for the injured vampires.

"What happened?" he asked Angel as the vampire lowered himself into a chair.

"Vampires. There were a whole gang of them."

"And they were bloody strong too," Spike added as he lay on the couch.

"Did you recognize any of them?" Giles asked, returning from the kitchen. "I mean, would you say they were new to Sunnydale?"

"Yeah, I'd say so. I've heard rumor of a new master in town."

Giles looked at Spike in astonishment, "And you've only just decided to share that with us now?"

Spike sat up, "Oh I'm sorry, I guess I forgot in between all the beatings and burning down of my crypt that I'm supposed to bloody tell you everything! Just because we're not exactly fighting to the death anymore, doesn't mean I want to come round for regular tea parties to share the local gossip."

"Well, thank God for that."

"Uh hello?" they all turned to look at Xander. "Bleeding not getting any better."

Just as Spike opened his mouth to make his usual sarcastic comment, the doors flew open and the two Slayers entered. They were out of breath and looked somewhat shell-shocked. Both were injured, but seemed more stunned than badly beaten. Buffy looked close to tears as she opened her mouth to speak. No sound came out.

"Buffy?" Giles walked to her and placed his hands on her arms, steadying her.

"What is it? What's happened?"

"Wi...Will..."

Fliq closed her eyes, as if some distant memory was resurfacing. She took a deep breath and faced everyone as they looked at Buffy questioningly, "Willow's a vampire."

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

"No... NO! Not again!" Xander yelled fiercely, "NO. I won't go through this again. Last time it wasn't her..."

"Xander, what are the chances of that happening again?" Buffy said quietly.

"No," this time, the anger had left his voice, and he sat down on the chair again, his head hanging low, his mind replaying all his childhood memories…all their childhood memories.

"NO." Everyone looked up again, more shocked than ever as Spike leapt to his feet.

"Why should you care?" Buffy spat at him and at the look of pain on his face, instantly regretted it.

"Maybe because she was the only one who ever gave a damn about me!" Spike growled, "Maybe because she was there for me after you died."

No one spoke. Time seemed to slow as the occupants of the room attempted to come to terms with what had happened. Suddenly, Spike broke the silence again, "She…she's alive."

"Stop it, Spike, please!" the tears started to fall as Giles pulled Buffy into a hug, soothingly stroking her hair.

"Eh, guys, I think he means, she's actually alive."

Everyone in the room turned to face the door as Willow and Cordelia came running in full speed.

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

"What the hell's going on?"

"I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that this time," Buffy said as she stared at the door.

"Even if it is Spike you're sharing the thought with." Xander continued absentmindedly as he stared at Willow.

"Evil...bad...Anya...trouble..." Both Willow and Cordelia were out of breath, but no one seemed to be listening, they were simply staring.

"Will...you're alive?" Buffy pulled her into a hug as Xander came running towards her

"Will," he sighed, wrapping his arms around them both, "Wait a minute, what about Anya?"

"I think she's in trouble," Cordelia replied quickly.

"You had a vision?" Angel asked, stepping to her side instantly, checking that she was okay.

"Yeah. I felt fear. I saw a group of demons and then I sensed danger…" she looked at Xander, "…and then I saw Anya." She rubbed her aching head, "I'll stay here with Dawn."

Buffy nodded as the group exchanged a few glances before following Xander out the door. There was no talking until suddenly Buffy's voice rang out, "Wait a minute, Cordelia has visions?"

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

END OF PART EIGHT

Just to clear this up (cuz ppl keep asking!), yes Buffy is just being 'a dumb blonde' at the end as someone so nicely put it…being blonde myself, however, I find myself insulted by this!!!

I put that there, cuz I don't remember Buffy ever being told how Cordy got the visions, so it's not just her being stupid, this is her finally realizing that she doesn't ever remember being told about it!