Mary and Joseph stared down at the manger, which was positioned precisely at center stage. A twenty-five watt light bulb gave a masterful performance as the baby Jesus. The shepherds were arranged stage right. The choir was arrayed on risers behind the tableau. A spot flicked on stage left and the magi entered. As they crossed toward the stable set the choir began to sing 'We Three Kings of Orient Are.' Cordelia stood in the second row, third from the right.
Josie sat on the next-to-last pew in the darkened sanctuary and swayed in time with the music.
***
Cordelia zipped the garment bag over her choir robe and hung it in the closet. She slung her bag over her shoulder and opened the door to the church foyer. Josie stood in the opposite corner, leaning against the wall. Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"I didn't think you'd still be here," she said.
Josie pushed away from the corner. "I just wanted to wait around and tell you how good I thought it was."
If the compliment was an attempt at being ingratiating it sailed wide of the mark. Cordelia's voice was cool as she said, "Thanks."
Josie gave a small wave. "See ya."
"Wait. Are you going back to Oz's?"
Josie nodded. "Uh-huh. Gotta pick up my stuff and then be on my way."
"Do you have a ride?"
Josie shook her head. "Thought I'd walk."
Cordelia's hand went into her coat pocket, searching for the keys to the Sebring. "That's not a good idea. Let me give you a ride."
"Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but I'll be walking out of town. A ride back to Oz's isn't going to save that much shoe leather."
"What you do after you leave Oz's house is your business. I'm giving you a ride." Cordelia pushed past her toward the church door.
Josie followed. "You sure? I mean, I wouldn't want people to talk."
Cordelia turned and pointed with her keys. "Don't get ideas. It's just that if something happened to you, I'd never hear the end of it. The last thing I need is disapproval from Buffy and her little gang."
"Aren't you part of 'the gang'?"
Cordelia hesitated in mid-turn, then waved a hand in front of her face. "Look, don't ask confusing questions." She pushed the door open. The night was cold and clear; stars pricked the black sky with almost painful light. Cordelia's Sebring was parked at the edge of the lot. There was a distinct lack of security lighting and large portions of the area were swathed in shadow.
"Anything wrong?" Josie asked.
Cordelia looked around. "I don't know... Let's get--" The rest of her words disappeared into a shrill scream as she saw the figures moving across the parking lot. She'd seen that line before-at Sunnydale High, right before the Master rose. "Shit!" she exclaimed as she grabbed Josie's arm. "C'mon. Back to the church." They turned, but a handful of vampires were already between them and the building. Cordy grabbed Josie by the wrist and jerked her toward the car.
As they sprinted toward the Sebring, Cordelia thought they might make it. She pressed the button on the keychain and saw the Sebring's lights flash; doors unlocked. She heard running feet, vampires close behind.
They reached the car. Cordelia grabbed Josie by the coat as she yanked open the driver's door. A hard shove propelled Josie into the vehicle and across the seat. Cordelia put her foot on the sill.
She was yanked backward, away from the car. She had enough presence of mind to slam the door; maybe the prohibition against vampires entering without invitation would work for the Chrysler. As the door closed with a loud thunk, Cordelia was spun around and slammed against the metal. A strong, cold hand grabbed her throat. She gasped in pain.
"Hello, Cordelia," said Mr. Trick. "I know we've never actually met, but I feel I know so much about you." His hand began to tighten around her throat. Her vision began to blur at the edges. "Say goodnight," he said. She clawed at his hand to no avail. Soft, velvety blackness surrounded Trick's face; his features floated in a bottomless void.
One of the last functioning synapses in Cordelia's brain fired. She realized that she was still holding her car keys in her right hand. She stopped struggling, moving the key chain in her hand until the keys stuck out between her fingers.
"You're cute when you're scared," Trick said. She whipped her hand up, gouging the keys into his face, trying to poke out an eye. He snarled and twisted away, then slapped the keys out of Cordelia's hand. He brought his free hand to his face. He hissed when he saw it come away bloody. He tightened his grip on Cordy's throat, lifting her off her feet.
"That," he said, "was a stupid, stupid thing to do. But then, you're a stupid, stupid girl, aren't you?" He began to squeeze. As the oxygen to her brain was shut off, Cordelia knew that she was going to die. She was going to die, and it would take a long time, and it would hurt so very, very much, and she would beg for death many times, but it wouldn't come. She could read all of this in Trick's face.
She heard a door slam. "Hey, let her go," Josie said. Trick lowered Cordelia to the ground, keeping his grip on her throat, but lessening the pressure.
"What'd you say?" he said.
Josie's voice was clear and firm. " You know you don't want her."
Trick let forth a dry chuckle. " Oh, that's where you're wrong. I do want her. I want them all."
"Hey, I'm offering to come with you, with no struggle. But you've got to let her go."
Trick looked at Cordelia. She could feel tears sliding down her cheeks. He shrugged. "That's a bad trade, you stupid bitch," he said to Josie. He released his grasp on Cordelia's throat and turned toward Josie. "But it's one I'll make." He looked around at the other vamps. "No one touches either of them without my say-so."
Cordelia slid down the side of the Sebring until she was sitting on the ground. Josie watched Trick walk up to her, looking him in the eye as he stopped.
"Not scared, huh?" he asked. A vicious backhand smacked her across the right cheek. She staggered. Trick drove a right uppercut into her stomach. The air gushed from her lungs and she dropped to one knee. Trick hauled her to her feet and clubbed her across the face. As he lifted her up again, her looked into her face. "Scared now?" he asked, just before he slung her against the side of the car. Josie slid down the sheet metal and lay in a heap on the asphalt. Trick stepped forward, wiggling his foot. "These shoes do need breaking in," he murmured, an evil grin on his face.
Cordelia toppled over onto her side, drawing herself into a fetal position. Her hands covered her ears, but the wet, crunching sounds of the beating continued, and she wept. She wept with fear, and with rage, and with shame over the small voice deep in her brain that kept repeating, Thank God it's not me. Thank God it's not me.
***
Buffy tried to hold her arm very still as she walked. Her ribs had stiffened and any extraneous movement brought sharp jabs of pain. Gee, it seemed that kick-ass street fighting wasn't the best therapy for torn cartilage and bruised bone. Who knew? She had walked for what seemed like hours. She wasn't up to any more patrolling after another up-in-flames encounter with Faith and the hardest part, the part that really sucked, was that she had been this close to getting through. She had seen it on Faith's face. There was hurt there and vulnerability, at least a flash of it before she closed up like Mike Tyson's fist. Buffy shook her head. What had life done to that girl?
Buffy realized that she was walking down Whittier. The church where Cordelia was playing an angel was on this street. In spite of the evening's setbacks, that thought brought a smile to the Slayer's face. Cordelia as an angel. Sometimes you just couldn't beat irony. She could see the church ahead of her. She turned into the parking lot and stopped. Cordelia's Sebring sat there, passenger door open. A single body lay on the pavement. Heart in her throat, Buffy raced across the lot. She could hear sounds coming from the figure; she realized they were sobs.
She dropped to her knees. It was Cordelia; she could tell from the hair. "Are you all right?" she said, hands hovering over the other girl.
Cordelia pulled herself up into a sitting position. Her face was shiny with tears and other fluids, her voice hoarse from crying.
"What did Josie do to you?" Buffy asked.
Cordy shook her head. "N-Nothing. I-I-it was Trick. H-H-He t-t-took her. Away."
"I knew it," Buffy said. "She's working with him."
Cordelia shook her head, a gesture that turned into a violent shiver. "No. No. She traded herself for me. Trick had me, but she got out of the car and he let me go. Buffy, he... he almost beat her to death. It was awful."
Buffy was unimpressed. "That's his SOP."
"No." Cordelia was adamant. "This wasn't like anything I've ever seen before." She shuddered again and looked at Buffy with haunted eyes. "This was personal. This was hate."
Buffy sat back on her haunches. "Was he alone?"
"No. Maybe ten with him."
Buffy chewed her lower lip. "Listen, are you okay? I mean, can you go get help?"
Cordelia nodded, sniffling. "Yeah, I think so."
"Then do it. Try and find Giles. Tell him I'll need backup. Can you do that?" Buffy asked. Cordelia nodded again. Buffy turned and sprinted away. Cordelia took a deep breath and started looking for the car keys.
***
The Sebring's brakes squealed in protest as Cordelia stopped short in front of Giles' apartment. She ran up the sidewalk and began ringing the bell with one hand and pounding on the door with the flat of the other. Five minutes of this virtuosity brought no response. She stepped back and saw that the apartment was dark. She pressed her hands to her head, trying to concentrate. Where else could he be? Her head snapped up. That play, or one-man show or whatever it was that he was doing. She headed toward the car. A dark shape stepped out of the shadows and reached for her. Cordelia shrieked.
"Cordelia, it's me." Angel leaned forward, bringing his face out of the shadows.
She put one hand over her heart, which was pounding like a Chemical Brothers track. "Wh-What are you doing here?" she gasped.
Angel made an open-handed gesture toward the apartment. "I wanted to see Giles, but he isn't home. Why are you here?"
Cordelia regarded him through wary eyes. "Sorry, but the last time I saw you you were using my boyfriend's arm for kindling. I'm not really in the 'trusting you' camp just yet."
Angel glanced away. "That wasn't me."
"Oh, right, technically it was one of your minions. Okay, the last time I actually saw you was when you were threatening to tear out Xander's throat on your way to kill Buffy in her hospital bed."
"No, I meant... it wasn't me. It was... him. Angelus."
Cordelia held up a hand. "See, here's the problem. You look alike."
Angel stared at her. "If I was still Angelus, would I be standing here talking to you or would I be eating your still-beating heart?"
Cordelia grimaced in disgust. "There's no need to get graphic. Yuck."
"So why were you looking for Giles?"
Cordelia looked at him for a long second. "Buffy needs help. Trick got that girl, Josie. Buffy went after him."
Angel stiffened. "That's bad. Any idea where they were going?"
Cordelia shook her head. "None."
Angel nodded to himself. "I might have an idea. Can you drive me?"
Cordelia pulled away. "I'm not inviting you into my car again."
"Okay, then give me the keys."
Cordelia's eyes widened. "Oh, sure. No way." She stepped around him and spoke over her shoulder. "Come on. Just get this straight. This is not an invitation. The minute you step out of the car again, you are not welcome. Get it?"
***
It was too easy. Buffy knew that. The trail had been too visible, the path to this old factory too straight. Either they wanted her to find them or they weren't thinking about her. Didn't matter. If someone was in danger, she had to help.
Now she stood in front of a steel door, the door to what was once a supply room. She took a deep breath and pushed it open, stepping back quickly. No vampires rushed out at her. Good sign. She counted to three, then lunged through the door, going in low and rolling, then popping up. She caught her breath as her battered ribs protested.
There were no vampires, but a simple wooden chair sat at the far end of the room. A figure was chained to the chair. The head hung down, hair over the face. Buffy took a quick look around, then raced toward it. She knelt by the chair and touched an arm. Josie raised her head. Buffy gasped.
Josie's left eye was swollen shut, or gone, Buffy couldn't tell which. It was impossible to see where all the blood was coming from, but her nose had contributed its fair share when it was broken. Her face was the color of liver and eggplant. Her lips were split, and it looked like she was bleeding from the ears. A wet wheezing came from her lungs; one was either punctured or collapsed. Three fingers on the hand Buffy could see were broken.
"Josie?" Buffy whispered. The other girl raised her head, blinking her one functioning, albeit blood-filled, eye and trying to focus on Buffy. An indistinct groan escaped her; Buffy realized she was trying to say something.
"Shhh," the Slayer said, looking at the chains, trying to figure out a way to undo them. "We've got to get you out of here."
Josie tried to speak again, and this time Buffy could understand her slurred mumble. "You shouldn't have come."
"Now that's what I call a Christmas sale-two for the price of one." Buffy whirled. Trick stood inside the door, smirking. Buffy noticed the souvenirs Cordelia had given him; a couple of fairly deep gouges over his left eye. The other vampires filed in behind him and began to fan out. Trick shook his head. "You lost your head, and came to save her without the help of any of your little friends. Now, it's going to cost you."
Buffy stepped away from the chair, taking out a stake. "I think you really deserve a piece of coal." She twirled the stake. "Or maybe you'll get wood."
Trick grinned. "Oh, I've got wood already."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Brilliant single entendre."
Trick bounced up on his toes, amused. "Oh, that's good. You've decided to be defiant. I'm glad. Begging would be so beneath you."
Buffy lifted her chin. "I can kill anyone you throw at me, Trick."
He looked delighted. "What's the matter? Odds a little long?"
"Stop." Josie's voice was a painful croak.
Trick ignored her. "I'm sure you can beat anyone, Slayer, but can you beat everyone?" He motioned, and the vamps began to advance on all sides. Buffy gripped her stake. Where was Angel? The vampires closed in. Buffy shifted her weight, getting ready to fight. That's when the iron cap slammed down on her skull. She moved her eyes, looking at Trick. His face was stone; all his attention focused on her. She felt her hand moving. She realized that it was opening, the fingers unfolding to drop the stake. She summoned all her will to resist, but it was fruitless. Horrified, Buffy watched the stake fall from her hand and bounce across the concrete floor.
"That's enough. Stop it." Josie again, but her voice sounded different. Buffy felt the iron cap shift.
Trick lifted his gaze over Buffy's head. "Will you kindly shut the f--" His voice died. The other vamps faltered. The iron cap lifted. Buffy staggered, caught herself, and risked a glance behind her.
Josie stood up. She didn't unlock the chains. She didn't break them. She just stood up, and the chains stayed on the chair. Josie raised her hand to point at the vampires, a hand with all its fingers intact. Buffy noticed the swelling in her left eye was diminishing, and her nose had lost it smashed and pulpy look. Looking through a curtain of hair, Josie pointed at Trick "Go... away... now," she said. "I'll let you walk."
Trick looked at them the way a botanist might look at two very interesting plants. Josie took two halting steps forward, stopping just behind Buffy. The vamps formed a large half-circle around them. One of the vamps, a hungry look on his face, began to edge toward them.
"Last chance," Josie said. "Keep him back."
Trick ran his tongue over his teeth. "Oh, I don't think I'm able to do that."
The vampire charged. Buffy went to a knee, grabbing for the stake. Josie raised her hand, palm out in a 'stop' gesture. The vamp froze in mid-stride, hanging in the air. Josie flicked her wrist, almost like a backhand slap. The vampire shimmered, then disappeared. It was like watching a filmed explosion in reverse. The demon was sucked into himself and then there was nothing where he had been.
The rest of the vampires froze. Josie's eyes swept over them. "Anybody else want a taste?" she asked. "I'll do it again if any of you are here in five seconds." The undead bolted for the door. In the span of a few heartbeats, the room was empty, except for Trick, Buffy, and Josie. He looked at the two girls, surveying them with a cool expression. They looked back. Buffy felt numb.
"Well," Trick said, "discretion being the better part of stupidity..." He took a quick step backward and disappeared through the door.
Josie blew out a long, steady breath. Buffy lowered her stake and turned toward the other girl. They both heard the sound of running feet and whirled toward the door. Angel raced into the room, skidding to a confused stop. Josie raised her arms. Buffy grabbed her around the torso, putting her own body between Josie and Angel.
"Whoa!" she yelled. "He's the cavalry." She looked over her shoulder at him. "A little late, but still the cavalry." She felt Josie relax; Buffy released her and stepped back.
Josie's injuries were gone. The dried blood still stained her clothing. She raked a hand through her hair, pushing it off her face. "I know who he is," she said.
"What happened?" Angel said.
"That's what I'd like to know," Buffy growled as she grabbed a double handful of Josie's coat. "What the hell was that?"
Josie said nothing, just gave a little shake of her head. Buffy spun twice, building momentum, and slammed Josie into the wall. Angel started forward, hand raised. "Buffy," he said. It sounded like a warning.
"Who are you?" Buffy hissed into Josie's face. No reply. "Okay. Your call." Buffy lifted Josie away from the wall, as easily as she might lift a bundle of sticks, and slammed her against the concrete blocks again. "Feel like talking now?"
"No," Josie said. "And that's enough." She grabbed Buffy's wrists. A pale silver-blue glow enveloped the area where their flesh touched. It looked like a static spark, but it felt like Buffy had grabbed a high-voltage line. It wasn't just physical pain, either. Horror, shame, and fear poured into her as she twitched and shook. It seemed like the world was ending; she was hanging there for all eternity. When Josie released her, the Slayer staggered back and dropped to her knees. Angel rushed forward; falling to the ground, he threw his arms around her. Buffy didn't look at him, but stared at Josie.
"What are you?" she whispered. Josie didn't reply, she just looked off to her right. With Angel's help, Buffy struggled to her feet. The emotional effects of whatever Josie had done were fading, and a towering rage was replacing them.
"What are you?" Buffy asked again, her voice harsh. "What the hell's going on?"
Josie shot her a rueful look. "Hell has nothing to do with it."
Buffy glared at the other girl through narrowed eyes. "Could you have killed them all?" Buffy demanded. "Could you?"
Something snapped in Josie. "Is that what you think I should do? Is it, Buffy? Eliminate all evil?"
Buffy rose to the bait. "Yeah, I think that would be a pretty good thing."
"Oh, gee, then, let's see, where do I start? How about..." Josie raised her hand toward Angel, and Angel's reaction scared Buffy more than any vampire or demon. He recoiled, his face a mask of terror, not just frightened, but mortally horrified of what was about to happen.
"No!" Buffy screamed.
"Oh, so not Angel. But isn't there evil in him?" Buffy didn't reply. Josie continued. "Then, how about your friend Giles? Didn't he once help unleash a terrible demon? How about Xander? Is he blameless?" She stepped closer to Buffy, locking eyes with her. "What about you, Slayer? Ready to face judgement?"
Their eyes locked for what seemed an eternity before Buffy looked away. Josie stepped back. "See, it's not that easy. Once you start down that road, you can't stop. You can't pick and choose. You eliminate it."
"So I'm as evil as Trick?"
"Of course not," Josie demurred. "But you're human. Your fate is still up in the air. Good and evil both exist in you."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, so the best you can do is another lame 'you can't have evil without good and vice versa' riff? Do better, 'cause I'm sick of that one."
Josie snorted. "Of course you can have good without evil, and evil without good. It just takes a long time to get them sorted out and as humans exist now, it's all mixed up so close together, like fudge ripple."
"Fudge ripple?"
"Sue me. First metaphor that came to mind. The point is, I can't grant pardons. It's not in my job description."
"Really?" Buffy raised her chin, defiance creeping back into her stance. "What is in your job description? That little magic trick you just showed us?"
Josie shrugged. "I'll probably be able to justify it under the 'extreme measures' clause, but I'll still be written up. As for my job, it's my job to observe. To wander the world and report."
"Report to who?" Buffy asked.
"To my superiors." Josie waved a hand. "Don't ask me to explain it all to you. I can't. I only know my little part."
"Any words of wisdom that don't involve ice cream?" Buffy's bitterness turned her voice into a snarl. "I've noticed that we fight and fight and fight, and it doesn't get any better. Then you, whatever you are, come down here to stand on the sidelines and watch." Josie shook her head at Buffy's pugnacious tone.
"You think you're fighting the whole war? Please." The dark-haired girl chuckled. "You're vital, but you couldn't begin to understand what I see, and I can only see a little bit of what's happening. Billions of people making choices every day, every choice affecting every other choice, across thousands of years."
"Big talk. I still don't see you getting your hands dirty fighting."
Josie raised her hands in frustration. "Should I take it on myself to impose order on the world? If I did that, what choice do you have?" She dropped her hands, shook her head. "Good must always be chosen freely. It can't be coerced. I've seen what happens when you try that."
Tears of anger and frustration welled up in Buffy's eyes. "Then what good are you?"
Josie looked down at the floor, then back up at Buffy. "How about this?" She moved forward and grabbed the Slayer in a quick, awkward embrace. Buffy felt that electric tingle again, but this time was different. She felt warm and loved and safe. Bone-deep fatigue was replaced by energy. Her aching ribs stopped protesting.
Josie released her and stepped back. "Oh, one other thing," she said. "Just so you don't quit. We'll win."
"Yeah, well, can you give me a date on that? I'd like to put it in the old cosmic Day-Runner."
Josie grimaced with regret. "Sorry. I don't know. It's not my job. Not in the loop on that decision. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to go."
"Wait," Buffy called. Josie stopped and turned. "What's your real name?" Buffy asked.
Josie shook her head. "You couldn't understand it, even if I told you."
"Try me. You owe me that much."
Josie grinned, a very warm, maternal smile, and opened her mouth, but no words came out. What poured forth wasn't like any music Buffy had heard on earth, but it was melodious and pure, sound without syllables, only pitch and tone and melody. It rang and sang and chimed in that concrete-block room, and Buffy felt her heart lift and swell until she thought she would choke.
And then it was over. Josie said, "That's my name." She walked over to Angel and placed a hand on his arm. He jumped slightly when she touched him. "Don't be so afraid. You're probably not here by accident." Her eyes twinkled. She jerked her head over her shoulder, indicating Buffy. "You guys do make a cute couple." She winked and was gone. Buffy stood there, tears running down her cheeks.
"What was that?" she asked Angel.
"That," he said, voice catching, "was the music of the spheres."
Josie sat on the next-to-last pew in the darkened sanctuary and swayed in time with the music.
***
Cordelia zipped the garment bag over her choir robe and hung it in the closet. She slung her bag over her shoulder and opened the door to the church foyer. Josie stood in the opposite corner, leaning against the wall. Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"I didn't think you'd still be here," she said.
Josie pushed away from the corner. "I just wanted to wait around and tell you how good I thought it was."
If the compliment was an attempt at being ingratiating it sailed wide of the mark. Cordelia's voice was cool as she said, "Thanks."
Josie gave a small wave. "See ya."
"Wait. Are you going back to Oz's?"
Josie nodded. "Uh-huh. Gotta pick up my stuff and then be on my way."
"Do you have a ride?"
Josie shook her head. "Thought I'd walk."
Cordelia's hand went into her coat pocket, searching for the keys to the Sebring. "That's not a good idea. Let me give you a ride."
"Hey, I don't know if you noticed, but I'll be walking out of town. A ride back to Oz's isn't going to save that much shoe leather."
"What you do after you leave Oz's house is your business. I'm giving you a ride." Cordelia pushed past her toward the church door.
Josie followed. "You sure? I mean, I wouldn't want people to talk."
Cordelia turned and pointed with her keys. "Don't get ideas. It's just that if something happened to you, I'd never hear the end of it. The last thing I need is disapproval from Buffy and her little gang."
"Aren't you part of 'the gang'?"
Cordelia hesitated in mid-turn, then waved a hand in front of her face. "Look, don't ask confusing questions." She pushed the door open. The night was cold and clear; stars pricked the black sky with almost painful light. Cordelia's Sebring was parked at the edge of the lot. There was a distinct lack of security lighting and large portions of the area were swathed in shadow.
"Anything wrong?" Josie asked.
Cordelia looked around. "I don't know... Let's get--" The rest of her words disappeared into a shrill scream as she saw the figures moving across the parking lot. She'd seen that line before-at Sunnydale High, right before the Master rose. "Shit!" she exclaimed as she grabbed Josie's arm. "C'mon. Back to the church." They turned, but a handful of vampires were already between them and the building. Cordy grabbed Josie by the wrist and jerked her toward the car.
As they sprinted toward the Sebring, Cordelia thought they might make it. She pressed the button on the keychain and saw the Sebring's lights flash; doors unlocked. She heard running feet, vampires close behind.
They reached the car. Cordelia grabbed Josie by the coat as she yanked open the driver's door. A hard shove propelled Josie into the vehicle and across the seat. Cordelia put her foot on the sill.
She was yanked backward, away from the car. She had enough presence of mind to slam the door; maybe the prohibition against vampires entering without invitation would work for the Chrysler. As the door closed with a loud thunk, Cordelia was spun around and slammed against the metal. A strong, cold hand grabbed her throat. She gasped in pain.
"Hello, Cordelia," said Mr. Trick. "I know we've never actually met, but I feel I know so much about you." His hand began to tighten around her throat. Her vision began to blur at the edges. "Say goodnight," he said. She clawed at his hand to no avail. Soft, velvety blackness surrounded Trick's face; his features floated in a bottomless void.
One of the last functioning synapses in Cordelia's brain fired. She realized that she was still holding her car keys in her right hand. She stopped struggling, moving the key chain in her hand until the keys stuck out between her fingers.
"You're cute when you're scared," Trick said. She whipped her hand up, gouging the keys into his face, trying to poke out an eye. He snarled and twisted away, then slapped the keys out of Cordelia's hand. He brought his free hand to his face. He hissed when he saw it come away bloody. He tightened his grip on Cordy's throat, lifting her off her feet.
"That," he said, "was a stupid, stupid thing to do. But then, you're a stupid, stupid girl, aren't you?" He began to squeeze. As the oxygen to her brain was shut off, Cordelia knew that she was going to die. She was going to die, and it would take a long time, and it would hurt so very, very much, and she would beg for death many times, but it wouldn't come. She could read all of this in Trick's face.
She heard a door slam. "Hey, let her go," Josie said. Trick lowered Cordelia to the ground, keeping his grip on her throat, but lessening the pressure.
"What'd you say?" he said.
Josie's voice was clear and firm. " You know you don't want her."
Trick let forth a dry chuckle. " Oh, that's where you're wrong. I do want her. I want them all."
"Hey, I'm offering to come with you, with no struggle. But you've got to let her go."
Trick looked at Cordelia. She could feel tears sliding down her cheeks. He shrugged. "That's a bad trade, you stupid bitch," he said to Josie. He released his grasp on Cordelia's throat and turned toward Josie. "But it's one I'll make." He looked around at the other vamps. "No one touches either of them without my say-so."
Cordelia slid down the side of the Sebring until she was sitting on the ground. Josie watched Trick walk up to her, looking him in the eye as he stopped.
"Not scared, huh?" he asked. A vicious backhand smacked her across the right cheek. She staggered. Trick drove a right uppercut into her stomach. The air gushed from her lungs and she dropped to one knee. Trick hauled her to her feet and clubbed her across the face. As he lifted her up again, her looked into her face. "Scared now?" he asked, just before he slung her against the side of the car. Josie slid down the sheet metal and lay in a heap on the asphalt. Trick stepped forward, wiggling his foot. "These shoes do need breaking in," he murmured, an evil grin on his face.
Cordelia toppled over onto her side, drawing herself into a fetal position. Her hands covered her ears, but the wet, crunching sounds of the beating continued, and she wept. She wept with fear, and with rage, and with shame over the small voice deep in her brain that kept repeating, Thank God it's not me. Thank God it's not me.
***
Buffy tried to hold her arm very still as she walked. Her ribs had stiffened and any extraneous movement brought sharp jabs of pain. Gee, it seemed that kick-ass street fighting wasn't the best therapy for torn cartilage and bruised bone. Who knew? She had walked for what seemed like hours. She wasn't up to any more patrolling after another up-in-flames encounter with Faith and the hardest part, the part that really sucked, was that she had been this close to getting through. She had seen it on Faith's face. There was hurt there and vulnerability, at least a flash of it before she closed up like Mike Tyson's fist. Buffy shook her head. What had life done to that girl?
Buffy realized that she was walking down Whittier. The church where Cordelia was playing an angel was on this street. In spite of the evening's setbacks, that thought brought a smile to the Slayer's face. Cordelia as an angel. Sometimes you just couldn't beat irony. She could see the church ahead of her. She turned into the parking lot and stopped. Cordelia's Sebring sat there, passenger door open. A single body lay on the pavement. Heart in her throat, Buffy raced across the lot. She could hear sounds coming from the figure; she realized they were sobs.
She dropped to her knees. It was Cordelia; she could tell from the hair. "Are you all right?" she said, hands hovering over the other girl.
Cordelia pulled herself up into a sitting position. Her face was shiny with tears and other fluids, her voice hoarse from crying.
"What did Josie do to you?" Buffy asked.
Cordy shook her head. "N-Nothing. I-I-it was Trick. H-H-He t-t-took her. Away."
"I knew it," Buffy said. "She's working with him."
Cordelia shook her head, a gesture that turned into a violent shiver. "No. No. She traded herself for me. Trick had me, but she got out of the car and he let me go. Buffy, he... he almost beat her to death. It was awful."
Buffy was unimpressed. "That's his SOP."
"No." Cordelia was adamant. "This wasn't like anything I've ever seen before." She shuddered again and looked at Buffy with haunted eyes. "This was personal. This was hate."
Buffy sat back on her haunches. "Was he alone?"
"No. Maybe ten with him."
Buffy chewed her lower lip. "Listen, are you okay? I mean, can you go get help?"
Cordelia nodded, sniffling. "Yeah, I think so."
"Then do it. Try and find Giles. Tell him I'll need backup. Can you do that?" Buffy asked. Cordelia nodded again. Buffy turned and sprinted away. Cordelia took a deep breath and started looking for the car keys.
***
The Sebring's brakes squealed in protest as Cordelia stopped short in front of Giles' apartment. She ran up the sidewalk and began ringing the bell with one hand and pounding on the door with the flat of the other. Five minutes of this virtuosity brought no response. She stepped back and saw that the apartment was dark. She pressed her hands to her head, trying to concentrate. Where else could he be? Her head snapped up. That play, or one-man show or whatever it was that he was doing. She headed toward the car. A dark shape stepped out of the shadows and reached for her. Cordelia shrieked.
"Cordelia, it's me." Angel leaned forward, bringing his face out of the shadows.
She put one hand over her heart, which was pounding like a Chemical Brothers track. "Wh-What are you doing here?" she gasped.
Angel made an open-handed gesture toward the apartment. "I wanted to see Giles, but he isn't home. Why are you here?"
Cordelia regarded him through wary eyes. "Sorry, but the last time I saw you you were using my boyfriend's arm for kindling. I'm not really in the 'trusting you' camp just yet."
Angel glanced away. "That wasn't me."
"Oh, right, technically it was one of your minions. Okay, the last time I actually saw you was when you were threatening to tear out Xander's throat on your way to kill Buffy in her hospital bed."
"No, I meant... it wasn't me. It was... him. Angelus."
Cordelia held up a hand. "See, here's the problem. You look alike."
Angel stared at her. "If I was still Angelus, would I be standing here talking to you or would I be eating your still-beating heart?"
Cordelia grimaced in disgust. "There's no need to get graphic. Yuck."
"So why were you looking for Giles?"
Cordelia looked at him for a long second. "Buffy needs help. Trick got that girl, Josie. Buffy went after him."
Angel stiffened. "That's bad. Any idea where they were going?"
Cordelia shook her head. "None."
Angel nodded to himself. "I might have an idea. Can you drive me?"
Cordelia pulled away. "I'm not inviting you into my car again."
"Okay, then give me the keys."
Cordelia's eyes widened. "Oh, sure. No way." She stepped around him and spoke over her shoulder. "Come on. Just get this straight. This is not an invitation. The minute you step out of the car again, you are not welcome. Get it?"
***
It was too easy. Buffy knew that. The trail had been too visible, the path to this old factory too straight. Either they wanted her to find them or they weren't thinking about her. Didn't matter. If someone was in danger, she had to help.
Now she stood in front of a steel door, the door to what was once a supply room. She took a deep breath and pushed it open, stepping back quickly. No vampires rushed out at her. Good sign. She counted to three, then lunged through the door, going in low and rolling, then popping up. She caught her breath as her battered ribs protested.
There were no vampires, but a simple wooden chair sat at the far end of the room. A figure was chained to the chair. The head hung down, hair over the face. Buffy took a quick look around, then raced toward it. She knelt by the chair and touched an arm. Josie raised her head. Buffy gasped.
Josie's left eye was swollen shut, or gone, Buffy couldn't tell which. It was impossible to see where all the blood was coming from, but her nose had contributed its fair share when it was broken. Her face was the color of liver and eggplant. Her lips were split, and it looked like she was bleeding from the ears. A wet wheezing came from her lungs; one was either punctured or collapsed. Three fingers on the hand Buffy could see were broken.
"Josie?" Buffy whispered. The other girl raised her head, blinking her one functioning, albeit blood-filled, eye and trying to focus on Buffy. An indistinct groan escaped her; Buffy realized she was trying to say something.
"Shhh," the Slayer said, looking at the chains, trying to figure out a way to undo them. "We've got to get you out of here."
Josie tried to speak again, and this time Buffy could understand her slurred mumble. "You shouldn't have come."
"Now that's what I call a Christmas sale-two for the price of one." Buffy whirled. Trick stood inside the door, smirking. Buffy noticed the souvenirs Cordelia had given him; a couple of fairly deep gouges over his left eye. The other vampires filed in behind him and began to fan out. Trick shook his head. "You lost your head, and came to save her without the help of any of your little friends. Now, it's going to cost you."
Buffy stepped away from the chair, taking out a stake. "I think you really deserve a piece of coal." She twirled the stake. "Or maybe you'll get wood."
Trick grinned. "Oh, I've got wood already."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Brilliant single entendre."
Trick bounced up on his toes, amused. "Oh, that's good. You've decided to be defiant. I'm glad. Begging would be so beneath you."
Buffy lifted her chin. "I can kill anyone you throw at me, Trick."
He looked delighted. "What's the matter? Odds a little long?"
"Stop." Josie's voice was a painful croak.
Trick ignored her. "I'm sure you can beat anyone, Slayer, but can you beat everyone?" He motioned, and the vamps began to advance on all sides. Buffy gripped her stake. Where was Angel? The vampires closed in. Buffy shifted her weight, getting ready to fight. That's when the iron cap slammed down on her skull. She moved her eyes, looking at Trick. His face was stone; all his attention focused on her. She felt her hand moving. She realized that it was opening, the fingers unfolding to drop the stake. She summoned all her will to resist, but it was fruitless. Horrified, Buffy watched the stake fall from her hand and bounce across the concrete floor.
"That's enough. Stop it." Josie again, but her voice sounded different. Buffy felt the iron cap shift.
Trick lifted his gaze over Buffy's head. "Will you kindly shut the f--" His voice died. The other vamps faltered. The iron cap lifted. Buffy staggered, caught herself, and risked a glance behind her.
Josie stood up. She didn't unlock the chains. She didn't break them. She just stood up, and the chains stayed on the chair. Josie raised her hand to point at the vampires, a hand with all its fingers intact. Buffy noticed the swelling in her left eye was diminishing, and her nose had lost it smashed and pulpy look. Looking through a curtain of hair, Josie pointed at Trick "Go... away... now," she said. "I'll let you walk."
Trick looked at them the way a botanist might look at two very interesting plants. Josie took two halting steps forward, stopping just behind Buffy. The vamps formed a large half-circle around them. One of the vamps, a hungry look on his face, began to edge toward them.
"Last chance," Josie said. "Keep him back."
Trick ran his tongue over his teeth. "Oh, I don't think I'm able to do that."
The vampire charged. Buffy went to a knee, grabbing for the stake. Josie raised her hand, palm out in a 'stop' gesture. The vamp froze in mid-stride, hanging in the air. Josie flicked her wrist, almost like a backhand slap. The vampire shimmered, then disappeared. It was like watching a filmed explosion in reverse. The demon was sucked into himself and then there was nothing where he had been.
The rest of the vampires froze. Josie's eyes swept over them. "Anybody else want a taste?" she asked. "I'll do it again if any of you are here in five seconds." The undead bolted for the door. In the span of a few heartbeats, the room was empty, except for Trick, Buffy, and Josie. He looked at the two girls, surveying them with a cool expression. They looked back. Buffy felt numb.
"Well," Trick said, "discretion being the better part of stupidity..." He took a quick step backward and disappeared through the door.
Josie blew out a long, steady breath. Buffy lowered her stake and turned toward the other girl. They both heard the sound of running feet and whirled toward the door. Angel raced into the room, skidding to a confused stop. Josie raised her arms. Buffy grabbed her around the torso, putting her own body between Josie and Angel.
"Whoa!" she yelled. "He's the cavalry." She looked over her shoulder at him. "A little late, but still the cavalry." She felt Josie relax; Buffy released her and stepped back.
Josie's injuries were gone. The dried blood still stained her clothing. She raked a hand through her hair, pushing it off her face. "I know who he is," she said.
"What happened?" Angel said.
"That's what I'd like to know," Buffy growled as she grabbed a double handful of Josie's coat. "What the hell was that?"
Josie said nothing, just gave a little shake of her head. Buffy spun twice, building momentum, and slammed Josie into the wall. Angel started forward, hand raised. "Buffy," he said. It sounded like a warning.
"Who are you?" Buffy hissed into Josie's face. No reply. "Okay. Your call." Buffy lifted Josie away from the wall, as easily as she might lift a bundle of sticks, and slammed her against the concrete blocks again. "Feel like talking now?"
"No," Josie said. "And that's enough." She grabbed Buffy's wrists. A pale silver-blue glow enveloped the area where their flesh touched. It looked like a static spark, but it felt like Buffy had grabbed a high-voltage line. It wasn't just physical pain, either. Horror, shame, and fear poured into her as she twitched and shook. It seemed like the world was ending; she was hanging there for all eternity. When Josie released her, the Slayer staggered back and dropped to her knees. Angel rushed forward; falling to the ground, he threw his arms around her. Buffy didn't look at him, but stared at Josie.
"What are you?" she whispered. Josie didn't reply, she just looked off to her right. With Angel's help, Buffy struggled to her feet. The emotional effects of whatever Josie had done were fading, and a towering rage was replacing them.
"What are you?" Buffy asked again, her voice harsh. "What the hell's going on?"
Josie shot her a rueful look. "Hell has nothing to do with it."
Buffy glared at the other girl through narrowed eyes. "Could you have killed them all?" Buffy demanded. "Could you?"
Something snapped in Josie. "Is that what you think I should do? Is it, Buffy? Eliminate all evil?"
Buffy rose to the bait. "Yeah, I think that would be a pretty good thing."
"Oh, gee, then, let's see, where do I start? How about..." Josie raised her hand toward Angel, and Angel's reaction scared Buffy more than any vampire or demon. He recoiled, his face a mask of terror, not just frightened, but mortally horrified of what was about to happen.
"No!" Buffy screamed.
"Oh, so not Angel. But isn't there evil in him?" Buffy didn't reply. Josie continued. "Then, how about your friend Giles? Didn't he once help unleash a terrible demon? How about Xander? Is he blameless?" She stepped closer to Buffy, locking eyes with her. "What about you, Slayer? Ready to face judgement?"
Their eyes locked for what seemed an eternity before Buffy looked away. Josie stepped back. "See, it's not that easy. Once you start down that road, you can't stop. You can't pick and choose. You eliminate it."
"So I'm as evil as Trick?"
"Of course not," Josie demurred. "But you're human. Your fate is still up in the air. Good and evil both exist in you."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, so the best you can do is another lame 'you can't have evil without good and vice versa' riff? Do better, 'cause I'm sick of that one."
Josie snorted. "Of course you can have good without evil, and evil without good. It just takes a long time to get them sorted out and as humans exist now, it's all mixed up so close together, like fudge ripple."
"Fudge ripple?"
"Sue me. First metaphor that came to mind. The point is, I can't grant pardons. It's not in my job description."
"Really?" Buffy raised her chin, defiance creeping back into her stance. "What is in your job description? That little magic trick you just showed us?"
Josie shrugged. "I'll probably be able to justify it under the 'extreme measures' clause, but I'll still be written up. As for my job, it's my job to observe. To wander the world and report."
"Report to who?" Buffy asked.
"To my superiors." Josie waved a hand. "Don't ask me to explain it all to you. I can't. I only know my little part."
"Any words of wisdom that don't involve ice cream?" Buffy's bitterness turned her voice into a snarl. "I've noticed that we fight and fight and fight, and it doesn't get any better. Then you, whatever you are, come down here to stand on the sidelines and watch." Josie shook her head at Buffy's pugnacious tone.
"You think you're fighting the whole war? Please." The dark-haired girl chuckled. "You're vital, but you couldn't begin to understand what I see, and I can only see a little bit of what's happening. Billions of people making choices every day, every choice affecting every other choice, across thousands of years."
"Big talk. I still don't see you getting your hands dirty fighting."
Josie raised her hands in frustration. "Should I take it on myself to impose order on the world? If I did that, what choice do you have?" She dropped her hands, shook her head. "Good must always be chosen freely. It can't be coerced. I've seen what happens when you try that."
Tears of anger and frustration welled up in Buffy's eyes. "Then what good are you?"
Josie looked down at the floor, then back up at Buffy. "How about this?" She moved forward and grabbed the Slayer in a quick, awkward embrace. Buffy felt that electric tingle again, but this time was different. She felt warm and loved and safe. Bone-deep fatigue was replaced by energy. Her aching ribs stopped protesting.
Josie released her and stepped back. "Oh, one other thing," she said. "Just so you don't quit. We'll win."
"Yeah, well, can you give me a date on that? I'd like to put it in the old cosmic Day-Runner."
Josie grimaced with regret. "Sorry. I don't know. It's not my job. Not in the loop on that decision. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for me to go."
"Wait," Buffy called. Josie stopped and turned. "What's your real name?" Buffy asked.
Josie shook her head. "You couldn't understand it, even if I told you."
"Try me. You owe me that much."
Josie grinned, a very warm, maternal smile, and opened her mouth, but no words came out. What poured forth wasn't like any music Buffy had heard on earth, but it was melodious and pure, sound without syllables, only pitch and tone and melody. It rang and sang and chimed in that concrete-block room, and Buffy felt her heart lift and swell until she thought she would choke.
And then it was over. Josie said, "That's my name." She walked over to Angel and placed a hand on his arm. He jumped slightly when she touched him. "Don't be so afraid. You're probably not here by accident." Her eyes twinkled. She jerked her head over her shoulder, indicating Buffy. "You guys do make a cute couple." She winked and was gone. Buffy stood there, tears running down her cheeks.
"What was that?" she asked Angel.
"That," he said, voice catching, "was the music of the spheres."