Chapter 8 - The Warrior
The night was so cold. No matter how had he tried, he couldn't escape from it.
He sat at the window in his hotel room and stared into the darkness. He looked down at the crossbow in his arms and ran his hands slowly up and down the cold metal.
This wasn't how it was supposed to end... he thought to himself. Not like this. He could feel the tears falling as he closed his eyes and held the crossbow close to his chest.
But then, how was it to end? He lost his chance at claiming her soul when he betrayed her. Now it belonged to him - a soulless demon. And gone was any chance for her, for them.
He sat as his head swam with visions that would burn inside his memory forever - the picture of her in the arms of a demon. Her empty, lonely grave. The heartbroken looks of her friends, her sister, her mother. He hadn't been there... to hold her, to love her, to save her. he hadn't been there because he was too much of a coward.
"They want me back, Buffy ... the military." he could see the look nof shock on her face, " It's deep undercover, no contact with civilians. Transport's leaving tonight."
"Tonight?", anger flashed in her eyes, "When were you gonna tell me about this?"
"I'm telling you now.
"Are you going?", she asked incredulously.
He shook his head, " I don't know. If we can't work this out..."
"Then what? This is goodbye?" she asked.
He shrugged and looked away.
Her eyes flashed with renewed anger, "You are unbelievable. You're giving me an ultimatum?"
"No, I'm not.", he said flatly.
"Yes you are! You expect me to get over it now or you're gone!", her face became flushed .
"I don't, Buffy, that's not what I meant.", he answered.
"Well, I have heard enough. I will not take the blame for this.", she turned and began walking away from him.
"I'm not asking you to.", he said as he grabbed her arm again.
"Let go of me!", she spat at him as she pulled her from his grasp.
"Or what? You'll hit me?" he spread his arms out, "Go ahead. Come on, do it."
She stood there for a moment and met his eyes with hers, "Get out of my way."
"I'm serious, Buffy, hit me. Hit me." he sounded desperate, and he knew she could feel it.
He walked up to her. She walked around him, took her jacket off the hook
He stood there feeling everything slipping away from him., " I'm leaving, Buffy."
She hesitated at the door for a second .
He turned to face her back, "Unless you give me a reason to stay...I'm leaving tonight."
Without a word, she opened the door, walked out and closed it behind her. Leaving him lost, alone and brokenhearted.
Lost, alone and brokenhearted... knowing she belonged to someone who would teach her to kill, maim and brutalize... Everything she fought against, everything she dedicated her life to fighting against. Now it was her destiny.
His eyes went to the large suitcase on the bed. He stood and slowly walked over to it. He opened the suitcase and sighed. Inside were his weapons... The weapons he would have to use against the only woman he had ever loved.
Tears flooded his eyes and streamed down his face as he made his preparations for the battle that loomed ahead. There would be no rest, no closing his eyes and remembering the sweetness of her kisses, the feel of her body next to his, the gentleness of her touch, the beating of her heart. There would only be the truth, all the mistakes that led him to where he was now.. Every disappointment, every accusation, every impossible demand... No, here there would be only the truth confronting him. Screaming out to him from every cold and dark corner of his room. : If only I would have stayed and fought for her heart... then I wouldn't have come back to fight for her soul...