CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
1 Shadowlands
The next evening, Xander parked his car right outside of the Magic Box so they could make a quick exit to their meeting with the Shadows. All the Scoobies were inside when Jonathan drove the van belonging to the Triad (minus one) up on the other side of the street.
"That's where they usually hang out," Warren said, snapping the Diamond of Gunab into place on the power transference ray gun. He'd been carrying it in his pocket before that. He hated having it too far away. "We just sit here and wait. Get the motor running as soon as you see the Slayer. I'm hoping we can soak up her power quickly, before her friends try and attack. But if they start coming at us, we've got to be able to move fast. I don't know if this gun can zap all of them at once."
"Uh . . . Okay." Jonathan said nervously. He kept tapping his left foot against the side of the van.
"Will you quit that! You're making Andrew all edgy."
"Uh . . . Okay. Sorry, Andrew." Jonathan couldn't believe he'd actually said that. How could he be talking to Andrew? Andrew wasn't here. He was dead. Maybe he was part of Warren's brain somewhere. But basically all Jonathan saw was Warren going mad."
"Patience, patience, Andrew!" Warren remonstrated with the unseen personality of his dead friend. "You're just as impatient now as you ever were. Being dead sure hasn't improved you any. . . . . I told you, shut up! I need both you and Jonathan to be quiet so I can concentrate on zapping her as soon as she comes out."
Jonathan strangled the cry that was trying to break out from his throat. He didn't want to be here. Not at all! The more Warren talked to himself . . . to Andrew, the more frightened he became."
Inside the Magic Box, Buffy was giving last minute instructions. She ended with, "If anyone senses trouble in there, please feel free to say so. Any questions?" Buffy paused for a second and Willow raised her hand. "Willow?"
"I've got some handouts for you and Xander and Tara, so you know what the Shadows and Nazari demons look like. That way you won't be surprised." Willow stood up and shoved the print-out pictures from her laptop into her friend's hands.
"These Shadows are creepy looking," Xander said.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed. "But the Nazari are kinda cute. Sorta little teddy bears with sharp teeth and claws."
"Well, at least the Shadows don't seem to have any teeth," Xander continued.
"No," Anya said. "Their mouths are like suckers. It makes their voices sound all moany. They also have the ability to change their molecular structure temporarily so they can glide through walls and things. So most humans who run across them think they're ghosts."
"Are they violent?" Buffy asked.
"Not at all. But they can extinguish a Fire demon fireball by breaking their bodies apart and absorbing the energy into themselves. That's why the two demons are usually pretty equal in a fight. The fireball would have to be abnormally large to hurt a Shadow. Too much light hurts them. Fights between the two are usually about posturing more then anything else. The side that postures best wins."
"Why do they have suckery mouths," Xander asked.
"Because they eat lichen and mold," Anya explained. "They have scratchy little tongues too. They might be difficult to understand when they talk."
"Well, if they are," Spike said, "Get the Nazari to talk. He's supposed to be there and he's quite easy to understand."
"Right," Buffy said. "Sounds like fun. How about weapons? What works against the Shadows in case they attack."
"Oh, most weapons won't work on them," Anya continued. "Because they can break apart like I said. But light, a large amount of light maybe in a spell would stun them and hold them back for a bit."
"We can do that," Willow said.
Tara didn't like the eagerness in Willow's voice, but she said nothing.
"Anything else?" Buffy asked.
"No," Anya said. "But when you talk to them be as serious as you can. The Shadows are a very serious people."
"OK. So, we'll try not to joke," Xander quipped.
"And try not to make any sudden moves. They sort of float when they walk and sudden movement scares them."
"Fine. Then if the demon lecture is over, we're ready to hit the pavement," Buffy said.
Since Spike happened to be nearest the door, he was the first one to exit. Xander came right behind him and headed for the driver side of the car. Buffy came next but she and Spike did this little shuffle with him opening the door for her and her trying to push him out of the way. Anya ended up getting in the car next to Xander with Buffy after her. Tara, Willow, and Spike ended up in the back seat.
"Can't even be gentlemen," Spike complained under his breath.
Across the street Warren couldn't get a clear shot at the Slayer. Once again he had the muzzle of his gun slipped discreetly out the door of the van. "She keeps moving around," he complained. "One second I think I've got her and then that Spike guy gets in the way. . . . . . Yes, I know, Andrew! The gun only works on humans, so it's pointless to shoot it at a vampire. You think I wasn't there when we tried it out before Christmas? Sheesh!"
Jonathan took another deep breath and started up the van. "Maybe we should follow them?"
"Are you asking me?" Warren said angrily. "Of course we should follow them. Come on, there they go." He shut the van door and braced himself as they took off after Xander's car.
"Where do you think they're going?" Jonathan asked.
"Who knows? All we can be sure of is that the Slayer is not coming back. Me and Andrew are gonna have some female company tonight. Right, Andrew?" And he chuckled in reaction to whatever Andrew was supposed to have said.
Xander's car entered the unpaved area of the abandoned railroad yards just outside of town, kicking up dust at it went. It came to a stop next to the entrance to an old mining shaft. Jonathan followed, but not too closely. He came to stop just behind an old building a good distance away from the shaft.
"What are you doing?" Warren asked. "Go up to them so I can get her coming out of the car."
"I . . . I don't think so," Jonathan said, his voice trembling. "We don't know why they're here. Could be something horrible nearby, something demonic that we couldn't fight. I think we're safer getting closer to their car while they're inside and then getting them as they come out."
Warren smiled with appreciation at his friend. "Now THAT's a good idea, Jonathan. Andrew's been saying how you haven't come been coming up with any good ideas lately. But I think that was one. Don't you Andrew? . . . . . Yeah, Andrew says he thinks so too. It won't do us any good to get involved in a battle with demons. Keep the motor running in case the Slayer loses and we have to make a dash for it."
"Okay."
Near the mine shaft, Buffy and her compatriots were preparing to go in. "You think this place is safe?" Buffy said, throwing her question back in Spike's direction.
"Yeah. The Nazari said that his people and the Shadows have made sure it's secure. Evidently a lot of their kind have taken to living in it lately."
"I'm gonna hold you responsible if the roof caves in," Buffy said.
"Don't worry. I'm not so eager to be buried," Spike said. "Been there, done that."
"Ditto," Buffy agreed. She led the way inside with Anya just behind her and the rest of the troop following in the agreed on formation. "Hello?" she said tentatively.
"Hello," a voice answered.
"It's the Nazari," Spike whispered.
From one of the side tunnels the little Nazari appeared bearing a torch. With him was the tall thin figure of a Shadow demon. In the light of the flames the sucker mouth of the Shadow looked like a big round O. His long limbs and torso were a deep furless gray. His head was as round as his mouth, with only the slightest indentation where his ears should have been. His eyes were pure black and didn't shine.
"This is Ohanzee," the little Nazari said, nipping forward into the middle of the taller beings. "He's the leader of the Shadows."
"And I am Buffy, the Vampire Slayer."
"Yes, of course," the Nazari said. "We know you by sight. You have been seen many times by both of our peoples while in battle. We didn't show ourselves then because we are naturally shy. And we believed that you were the enemy of all demons. But I told Ohanzee what Mr. Spike and his friend did for some of us. And he thought we might ask you for help."
"So talk."
"Ohanzee's voice may be difficult for you to understand. But he's going to try and explain what's been happening. I'm here to explain more if it's needed."
"OK. Fine."
"My people have lived here for over a hundred years," Ohanzee began. His voice was moany and singsongy. Like wind blowing through a crack in a wall. He would have been impossible to understand if he'd spoken quickly. But his words tended to be slow and separated from one another. And that made it easier. "We live in the towers of the town for less time. We have met the Fires in battle often. But never have they been so strong. Now it is changed. Their fire weapons are great, too great for us. And there are more Fire demons then we have ever seen before. Tower after tower, they have fought with us. And we have lost. Many have died."
"Died?" Anya asked cutting in. "Oh . . . sorry, Ohanzee, I'm Anya. I'm a former vengeance demon. I've lived over a thousand years, so I've met many of your kind. You say many of your people have died? Usually your people are able to disassemble harmlessly around the fireballs of the Fire demons."
"That is true," Ohanzee said with a slow nod of his round gray head. "But these are not balls. They are jets of flame. We can absorb fireballs because they fade quickly. Fire blasts we have no power against for they continue and we are absorbed in the flame."
"Wow," Anya said.
"But you should see yourself, the towers. They will tell you."
"Right. So we'll take a look at the burnt towers like you say," Buffy said.
"Someone is aiding the Fire demons. Giving them power they never had before."
"If that's true, we'll try and find out who," Buffy promised.
"Thank you," Ohanzee said with a stiff bow. "It is all we ask."
"Well, at least the Fire demons don't seem to want this lovely place," the little Nazari said.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed wryly, eyeing the dark damp walls around her. She hated to think what was hiding up on the ceiling and crawling past her boots. "We've got to be going now. I'll have Sp . . ., uh, Mr. Spike get back to you."
"Of course," the little Nazari said eagerly. "I will look out for him at Willy's."
Willy's! The last thing Buffy wanted was for Spike to hang out some more at Willy's. But unfortunately it couldn't be helped.
As they walked out of the mine, Buffy led the way. Tara was right behind her with Spike coming third. As soon as they were out in the open, a blue light shot out at Buffy. It engulfed her and held steadily. "What the . . ." she said. She held her hand up in front of her and gazed at the blue that reflected around her. Everyone stopped behind her in surprise.
"It's not working!" Warren screamed in the van. "Why isn't it working? It's supposed to work!"
"Maybe something's wrong with it," Jonathan offered.
"No, it's supposed to work on humans." In aggravation, Warren turned the blue light on to the person immediately next to Buffy. That was Tara. This time something happened.
Tara's face started to contort in pain and she gasped as if she couldn't get any air. Her hands shot out in front of her, scratching, trying to push back the blue glow. Then her body stiffened and she let out a cry.
"Tara!" Willow called.
Spike was right next to the young witch. He stepped into the blue light to shield her from it. It immediately engulfed him instead, without incident. As soon as the connection with Tara was broken she fell to the ground. Willow was with her in an instant, cradling her in her arms.
"Tara! Are you all right," Willow asked. But all Tara could do was wheeze.
Meanwhile, Spike started running along the band of blue light to its source. Xander was close behind. Spike was able to reach the Nerd van and grab the nose of he ray gun just as Jonathan hit the gas pedal. As the van tore away, Warren lost his grip on his precious gun and it flew out of the partially opened door into Spike's hands. A loud cry of "Noooo!" sounded from inside the van, but Spike was unable to recognize the voice because of the speed the van was moving.
The momentum of the departing van separated the Diamond of Gunab from the gun. It rolled a couple of feet and stopped just in front of Xander.
"What's this?" Xander asked, instinctively reaching for the large diamond. It was glowing a light shade of blue.
"Don't touch it!" Spike yelled. "That looks like that diamond Red told us about. The big one they stole from the museum last year."
"You think so?"
"And if it is, there's a curse on it, remember? It drives humans mad, but doesn't have any effect on non-human types like me." Spike scooped it up and held it so Xander could get a better look. It wasn't glowing as much now.
"So who was driving the van?" Xander asked. "Did you get a look?"
"No. They took off too fast."
Spike and Xander joined the others back at the mouth of the mining shaft.
"Didn't see who did it," Spike announced. "But we found a nice little bauble and a gun of some kind." He held up his prizes.
"That's the Diamond of Gunab," Willow said. She was sitting on the ground with Tara in her lap. Tara was breathing regularly now. But she was still very weak.
"I wonder what they were trying to do with it," Anya said.
"Looked like they were trying to attack Buffy," Spike said. "And then decided to switch to Tara."
"Yeah. But it didn't hurt Buffy . . . Or you, for that matter," Anya continued. "Why did it hurt Tara?"
"My guess is that the diamond is supposed to fit in here." Spike held up the gun and slipped the diamond into place. "Then it's supposed to direct some kind of power from the big rock."
"I felt like my whole life force . . . And my mind were being pulled out of me," Tara said, clinging to Willow.
"Power transference," Willow said. "That's supposed to be one of the powers of the diamond."
"If Spike hadn't stepped in front of me . . ." Tara said weakly.
"It couldn't hurt him because he's not human," Willow said.
Suddenly silence fell across the group as they considered. The diamond hadn't hurt Spike or Buffy. Only Tara.
Spike looked down pointedly bracing himself for the realization that the Scoobies were about to come to. Buffy shifted her booted feet uncomfortably.
Of course it was Anya who asked the question. "Why didn't the blue light hurt Buffy?"
Again there was a moment of silence. Buffy continued kicking dirt at her feet.
"Buffy . . ." Spike urged.
But still Buffy remained silent. She had wanted so badly to keep this secret of hers hidden for a bit longer.
"She's not human anymore," Spike blurted out.
"What?" Xander said.
"We found out accidentally . . . because we got into this fight and I hit her and my bleedin' chip didn't go off."
"WHAT?" Xander said louder.
"So, she went out into the desert and talked to the Guide and she told Buffy she's immortal now. She can die, but not quite as easily as before. And she won't change any. She's gonna stay like this till she dies in battle or some such bloody thing."
"Is there anything ELSE you two haven't told us about?" Xander asked angrily.
"No. It's just she was scared to tell you."
"We're her friends."
"I know. But she really cares what you think about her. Me? She couldn't care less what I think about her."
"Buffy?" Xander said.
"I couldn't tell you," she answered. "I just couldn't. I was going to wait."
"Until when?" Xander demanded.
"Until I got used to the idea. The knife wound I got from Eric the Ugly's henchman? It was a whole lot worse then I told you it was. It should have killed me. It would have . . . in the old days, before I came back."
"She was scared," Spike put in.
"Will you just be quiet, I'm talking to Buffy now," Xander said, waving at Spike. "You should have told us."
"I couldn't."
"We're your friends. You should be able to tell us things."
"I know."
"Buffy," Willow said, "I'm so sorry."
"S'okay. It's just gonna take some getting used to."
"On top of everything else," Willow said.
"Maybe we should get Tara to a doctor," Anya suggested.
"No. I'm feeling better," Tara said. "Just a little whoozy."
"We'll take you home," Xander said.
"No! We'll take her to Buffy's," Willow insisted. "I'll take care of her."
"You don't have to," Tara said.
"Of course I do," Willow said. "I love you."
Carefully Willow and Buffy helped Tara to her feet. Then Xander lifted her up and put her in the car.
"Dawn's gonna be so worried when she sees me like this," Tara said.
"She'll just be glad that you're all right," Buffy said.
Nobody talked much on the way to Buffy's. And their goodbyes after they arrived were very subdued. Spike handed off the ray gun and diamond to Buffy. Then he carried Tara into Willow's room. Luckily Dawn was already in bed and asleep, so they wouldn't have to make any explanations about what happened until the next morning.
All of Willow's attention was on Tara of course. She got her some food and some special herb tea that was supposed to have healing properties. Then she hovered over her with worried eyes. They didn't say much to each other. But words weren't necessary. Each pretty much knew what the other was thinking.
Buffy hid the ray gun and the diamond in the furthest part of her closet so no one could come upon it accidentally. She and Spike said nary a word to each other till they were both in bed. He gave her the physical space he sensed she wanted, letting her stay on her spot near the outside of the bed without touching. But he knew he had to make her talk. Of course, that was never easy.
"You're going to have to tell Dawn tomorrow," he whispered.
"I know," she said, looking up at the darkened ceiling.
"They had to find out sooner or later."
"I know."
"At least Tara is all right."
"Yes."
"It's good to see the witches together again. At least for the moment. We really have to find out who had the diamond. If they're human they're probably halfway to buggersville by now."
"You think they're human?"
"Oh, yeah. They were obviously trying to transfer your slayer powers over to themselves. Less likely a demon with powers of his own would do that. Also, most demons don't go driving around in a van with sci-fi pictures painted on it."
"Sci-fi pictures?"
"Yeah, you know. Didn't get a good look at 'em. But they looked other- worldly, you know? Maybe you could get Red on the old computer and see if she can learn anything about the van. Then you and Anya should check out those burnt buildings on Lindemann. But do it in the daytime so you're less likely to meet any ill-tempered Fire demons. They don't like the sun anymore then the Shadows or my lot do."
"Nice to see you have my whole day planned out for me. What are you going to be doing tomorrow?"
"While you were hiding the gun and the diamond, Willow asked me to keep an eye on Tara while she's at school."
"Fine. You can be here to greet Dawn and her new boyfriend after school."
"Sounds like fun," Spike said with a wicked laugh.
"You be nice to that boy or I'll have to hurt you. This is important to Dawn . . . for Dawn. To have a nice normal teenage boyfriend."
"I know," Spike said, reaching over to rub her stomach. The scars from the knife wound she'd received just before New Year's were completely gone by then.
At his touch, Buffy turned into him and buried her face in his chest.
1 Shadowlands
The next evening, Xander parked his car right outside of the Magic Box so they could make a quick exit to their meeting with the Shadows. All the Scoobies were inside when Jonathan drove the van belonging to the Triad (minus one) up on the other side of the street.
"That's where they usually hang out," Warren said, snapping the Diamond of Gunab into place on the power transference ray gun. He'd been carrying it in his pocket before that. He hated having it too far away. "We just sit here and wait. Get the motor running as soon as you see the Slayer. I'm hoping we can soak up her power quickly, before her friends try and attack. But if they start coming at us, we've got to be able to move fast. I don't know if this gun can zap all of them at once."
"Uh . . . Okay." Jonathan said nervously. He kept tapping his left foot against the side of the van.
"Will you quit that! You're making Andrew all edgy."
"Uh . . . Okay. Sorry, Andrew." Jonathan couldn't believe he'd actually said that. How could he be talking to Andrew? Andrew wasn't here. He was dead. Maybe he was part of Warren's brain somewhere. But basically all Jonathan saw was Warren going mad."
"Patience, patience, Andrew!" Warren remonstrated with the unseen personality of his dead friend. "You're just as impatient now as you ever were. Being dead sure hasn't improved you any. . . . . I told you, shut up! I need both you and Jonathan to be quiet so I can concentrate on zapping her as soon as she comes out."
Jonathan strangled the cry that was trying to break out from his throat. He didn't want to be here. Not at all! The more Warren talked to himself . . . to Andrew, the more frightened he became."
Inside the Magic Box, Buffy was giving last minute instructions. She ended with, "If anyone senses trouble in there, please feel free to say so. Any questions?" Buffy paused for a second and Willow raised her hand. "Willow?"
"I've got some handouts for you and Xander and Tara, so you know what the Shadows and Nazari demons look like. That way you won't be surprised." Willow stood up and shoved the print-out pictures from her laptop into her friend's hands.
"These Shadows are creepy looking," Xander said.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed. "But the Nazari are kinda cute. Sorta little teddy bears with sharp teeth and claws."
"Well, at least the Shadows don't seem to have any teeth," Xander continued.
"No," Anya said. "Their mouths are like suckers. It makes their voices sound all moany. They also have the ability to change their molecular structure temporarily so they can glide through walls and things. So most humans who run across them think they're ghosts."
"Are they violent?" Buffy asked.
"Not at all. But they can extinguish a Fire demon fireball by breaking their bodies apart and absorbing the energy into themselves. That's why the two demons are usually pretty equal in a fight. The fireball would have to be abnormally large to hurt a Shadow. Too much light hurts them. Fights between the two are usually about posturing more then anything else. The side that postures best wins."
"Why do they have suckery mouths," Xander asked.
"Because they eat lichen and mold," Anya explained. "They have scratchy little tongues too. They might be difficult to understand when they talk."
"Well, if they are," Spike said, "Get the Nazari to talk. He's supposed to be there and he's quite easy to understand."
"Right," Buffy said. "Sounds like fun. How about weapons? What works against the Shadows in case they attack."
"Oh, most weapons won't work on them," Anya continued. "Because they can break apart like I said. But light, a large amount of light maybe in a spell would stun them and hold them back for a bit."
"We can do that," Willow said.
Tara didn't like the eagerness in Willow's voice, but she said nothing.
"Anything else?" Buffy asked.
"No," Anya said. "But when you talk to them be as serious as you can. The Shadows are a very serious people."
"OK. So, we'll try not to joke," Xander quipped.
"And try not to make any sudden moves. They sort of float when they walk and sudden movement scares them."
"Fine. Then if the demon lecture is over, we're ready to hit the pavement," Buffy said.
Since Spike happened to be nearest the door, he was the first one to exit. Xander came right behind him and headed for the driver side of the car. Buffy came next but she and Spike did this little shuffle with him opening the door for her and her trying to push him out of the way. Anya ended up getting in the car next to Xander with Buffy after her. Tara, Willow, and Spike ended up in the back seat.
"Can't even be gentlemen," Spike complained under his breath.
Across the street Warren couldn't get a clear shot at the Slayer. Once again he had the muzzle of his gun slipped discreetly out the door of the van. "She keeps moving around," he complained. "One second I think I've got her and then that Spike guy gets in the way. . . . . . Yes, I know, Andrew! The gun only works on humans, so it's pointless to shoot it at a vampire. You think I wasn't there when we tried it out before Christmas? Sheesh!"
Jonathan took another deep breath and started up the van. "Maybe we should follow them?"
"Are you asking me?" Warren said angrily. "Of course we should follow them. Come on, there they go." He shut the van door and braced himself as they took off after Xander's car.
"Where do you think they're going?" Jonathan asked.
"Who knows? All we can be sure of is that the Slayer is not coming back. Me and Andrew are gonna have some female company tonight. Right, Andrew?" And he chuckled in reaction to whatever Andrew was supposed to have said.
Xander's car entered the unpaved area of the abandoned railroad yards just outside of town, kicking up dust at it went. It came to a stop next to the entrance to an old mining shaft. Jonathan followed, but not too closely. He came to stop just behind an old building a good distance away from the shaft.
"What are you doing?" Warren asked. "Go up to them so I can get her coming out of the car."
"I . . . I don't think so," Jonathan said, his voice trembling. "We don't know why they're here. Could be something horrible nearby, something demonic that we couldn't fight. I think we're safer getting closer to their car while they're inside and then getting them as they come out."
Warren smiled with appreciation at his friend. "Now THAT's a good idea, Jonathan. Andrew's been saying how you haven't come been coming up with any good ideas lately. But I think that was one. Don't you Andrew? . . . . . Yeah, Andrew says he thinks so too. It won't do us any good to get involved in a battle with demons. Keep the motor running in case the Slayer loses and we have to make a dash for it."
"Okay."
Near the mine shaft, Buffy and her compatriots were preparing to go in. "You think this place is safe?" Buffy said, throwing her question back in Spike's direction.
"Yeah. The Nazari said that his people and the Shadows have made sure it's secure. Evidently a lot of their kind have taken to living in it lately."
"I'm gonna hold you responsible if the roof caves in," Buffy said.
"Don't worry. I'm not so eager to be buried," Spike said. "Been there, done that."
"Ditto," Buffy agreed. She led the way inside with Anya just behind her and the rest of the troop following in the agreed on formation. "Hello?" she said tentatively.
"Hello," a voice answered.
"It's the Nazari," Spike whispered.
From one of the side tunnels the little Nazari appeared bearing a torch. With him was the tall thin figure of a Shadow demon. In the light of the flames the sucker mouth of the Shadow looked like a big round O. His long limbs and torso were a deep furless gray. His head was as round as his mouth, with only the slightest indentation where his ears should have been. His eyes were pure black and didn't shine.
"This is Ohanzee," the little Nazari said, nipping forward into the middle of the taller beings. "He's the leader of the Shadows."
"And I am Buffy, the Vampire Slayer."
"Yes, of course," the Nazari said. "We know you by sight. You have been seen many times by both of our peoples while in battle. We didn't show ourselves then because we are naturally shy. And we believed that you were the enemy of all demons. But I told Ohanzee what Mr. Spike and his friend did for some of us. And he thought we might ask you for help."
"So talk."
"Ohanzee's voice may be difficult for you to understand. But he's going to try and explain what's been happening. I'm here to explain more if it's needed."
"OK. Fine."
"My people have lived here for over a hundred years," Ohanzee began. His voice was moany and singsongy. Like wind blowing through a crack in a wall. He would have been impossible to understand if he'd spoken quickly. But his words tended to be slow and separated from one another. And that made it easier. "We live in the towers of the town for less time. We have met the Fires in battle often. But never have they been so strong. Now it is changed. Their fire weapons are great, too great for us. And there are more Fire demons then we have ever seen before. Tower after tower, they have fought with us. And we have lost. Many have died."
"Died?" Anya asked cutting in. "Oh . . . sorry, Ohanzee, I'm Anya. I'm a former vengeance demon. I've lived over a thousand years, so I've met many of your kind. You say many of your people have died? Usually your people are able to disassemble harmlessly around the fireballs of the Fire demons."
"That is true," Ohanzee said with a slow nod of his round gray head. "But these are not balls. They are jets of flame. We can absorb fireballs because they fade quickly. Fire blasts we have no power against for they continue and we are absorbed in the flame."
"Wow," Anya said.
"But you should see yourself, the towers. They will tell you."
"Right. So we'll take a look at the burnt towers like you say," Buffy said.
"Someone is aiding the Fire demons. Giving them power they never had before."
"If that's true, we'll try and find out who," Buffy promised.
"Thank you," Ohanzee said with a stiff bow. "It is all we ask."
"Well, at least the Fire demons don't seem to want this lovely place," the little Nazari said.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed wryly, eyeing the dark damp walls around her. She hated to think what was hiding up on the ceiling and crawling past her boots. "We've got to be going now. I'll have Sp . . ., uh, Mr. Spike get back to you."
"Of course," the little Nazari said eagerly. "I will look out for him at Willy's."
Willy's! The last thing Buffy wanted was for Spike to hang out some more at Willy's. But unfortunately it couldn't be helped.
As they walked out of the mine, Buffy led the way. Tara was right behind her with Spike coming third. As soon as they were out in the open, a blue light shot out at Buffy. It engulfed her and held steadily. "What the . . ." she said. She held her hand up in front of her and gazed at the blue that reflected around her. Everyone stopped behind her in surprise.
"It's not working!" Warren screamed in the van. "Why isn't it working? It's supposed to work!"
"Maybe something's wrong with it," Jonathan offered.
"No, it's supposed to work on humans." In aggravation, Warren turned the blue light on to the person immediately next to Buffy. That was Tara. This time something happened.
Tara's face started to contort in pain and she gasped as if she couldn't get any air. Her hands shot out in front of her, scratching, trying to push back the blue glow. Then her body stiffened and she let out a cry.
"Tara!" Willow called.
Spike was right next to the young witch. He stepped into the blue light to shield her from it. It immediately engulfed him instead, without incident. As soon as the connection with Tara was broken she fell to the ground. Willow was with her in an instant, cradling her in her arms.
"Tara! Are you all right," Willow asked. But all Tara could do was wheeze.
Meanwhile, Spike started running along the band of blue light to its source. Xander was close behind. Spike was able to reach the Nerd van and grab the nose of he ray gun just as Jonathan hit the gas pedal. As the van tore away, Warren lost his grip on his precious gun and it flew out of the partially opened door into Spike's hands. A loud cry of "Noooo!" sounded from inside the van, but Spike was unable to recognize the voice because of the speed the van was moving.
The momentum of the departing van separated the Diamond of Gunab from the gun. It rolled a couple of feet and stopped just in front of Xander.
"What's this?" Xander asked, instinctively reaching for the large diamond. It was glowing a light shade of blue.
"Don't touch it!" Spike yelled. "That looks like that diamond Red told us about. The big one they stole from the museum last year."
"You think so?"
"And if it is, there's a curse on it, remember? It drives humans mad, but doesn't have any effect on non-human types like me." Spike scooped it up and held it so Xander could get a better look. It wasn't glowing as much now.
"So who was driving the van?" Xander asked. "Did you get a look?"
"No. They took off too fast."
Spike and Xander joined the others back at the mouth of the mining shaft.
"Didn't see who did it," Spike announced. "But we found a nice little bauble and a gun of some kind." He held up his prizes.
"That's the Diamond of Gunab," Willow said. She was sitting on the ground with Tara in her lap. Tara was breathing regularly now. But she was still very weak.
"I wonder what they were trying to do with it," Anya said.
"Looked like they were trying to attack Buffy," Spike said. "And then decided to switch to Tara."
"Yeah. But it didn't hurt Buffy . . . Or you, for that matter," Anya continued. "Why did it hurt Tara?"
"My guess is that the diamond is supposed to fit in here." Spike held up the gun and slipped the diamond into place. "Then it's supposed to direct some kind of power from the big rock."
"I felt like my whole life force . . . And my mind were being pulled out of me," Tara said, clinging to Willow.
"Power transference," Willow said. "That's supposed to be one of the powers of the diamond."
"If Spike hadn't stepped in front of me . . ." Tara said weakly.
"It couldn't hurt him because he's not human," Willow said.
Suddenly silence fell across the group as they considered. The diamond hadn't hurt Spike or Buffy. Only Tara.
Spike looked down pointedly bracing himself for the realization that the Scoobies were about to come to. Buffy shifted her booted feet uncomfortably.
Of course it was Anya who asked the question. "Why didn't the blue light hurt Buffy?"
Again there was a moment of silence. Buffy continued kicking dirt at her feet.
"Buffy . . ." Spike urged.
But still Buffy remained silent. She had wanted so badly to keep this secret of hers hidden for a bit longer.
"She's not human anymore," Spike blurted out.
"What?" Xander said.
"We found out accidentally . . . because we got into this fight and I hit her and my bleedin' chip didn't go off."
"WHAT?" Xander said louder.
"So, she went out into the desert and talked to the Guide and she told Buffy she's immortal now. She can die, but not quite as easily as before. And she won't change any. She's gonna stay like this till she dies in battle or some such bloody thing."
"Is there anything ELSE you two haven't told us about?" Xander asked angrily.
"No. It's just she was scared to tell you."
"We're her friends."
"I know. But she really cares what you think about her. Me? She couldn't care less what I think about her."
"Buffy?" Xander said.
"I couldn't tell you," she answered. "I just couldn't. I was going to wait."
"Until when?" Xander demanded.
"Until I got used to the idea. The knife wound I got from Eric the Ugly's henchman? It was a whole lot worse then I told you it was. It should have killed me. It would have . . . in the old days, before I came back."
"She was scared," Spike put in.
"Will you just be quiet, I'm talking to Buffy now," Xander said, waving at Spike. "You should have told us."
"I couldn't."
"We're your friends. You should be able to tell us things."
"I know."
"Buffy," Willow said, "I'm so sorry."
"S'okay. It's just gonna take some getting used to."
"On top of everything else," Willow said.
"Maybe we should get Tara to a doctor," Anya suggested.
"No. I'm feeling better," Tara said. "Just a little whoozy."
"We'll take you home," Xander said.
"No! We'll take her to Buffy's," Willow insisted. "I'll take care of her."
"You don't have to," Tara said.
"Of course I do," Willow said. "I love you."
Carefully Willow and Buffy helped Tara to her feet. Then Xander lifted her up and put her in the car.
"Dawn's gonna be so worried when she sees me like this," Tara said.
"She'll just be glad that you're all right," Buffy said.
Nobody talked much on the way to Buffy's. And their goodbyes after they arrived were very subdued. Spike handed off the ray gun and diamond to Buffy. Then he carried Tara into Willow's room. Luckily Dawn was already in bed and asleep, so they wouldn't have to make any explanations about what happened until the next morning.
All of Willow's attention was on Tara of course. She got her some food and some special herb tea that was supposed to have healing properties. Then she hovered over her with worried eyes. They didn't say much to each other. But words weren't necessary. Each pretty much knew what the other was thinking.
Buffy hid the ray gun and the diamond in the furthest part of her closet so no one could come upon it accidentally. She and Spike said nary a word to each other till they were both in bed. He gave her the physical space he sensed she wanted, letting her stay on her spot near the outside of the bed without touching. But he knew he had to make her talk. Of course, that was never easy.
"You're going to have to tell Dawn tomorrow," he whispered.
"I know," she said, looking up at the darkened ceiling.
"They had to find out sooner or later."
"I know."
"At least Tara is all right."
"Yes."
"It's good to see the witches together again. At least for the moment. We really have to find out who had the diamond. If they're human they're probably halfway to buggersville by now."
"You think they're human?"
"Oh, yeah. They were obviously trying to transfer your slayer powers over to themselves. Less likely a demon with powers of his own would do that. Also, most demons don't go driving around in a van with sci-fi pictures painted on it."
"Sci-fi pictures?"
"Yeah, you know. Didn't get a good look at 'em. But they looked other- worldly, you know? Maybe you could get Red on the old computer and see if she can learn anything about the van. Then you and Anya should check out those burnt buildings on Lindemann. But do it in the daytime so you're less likely to meet any ill-tempered Fire demons. They don't like the sun anymore then the Shadows or my lot do."
"Nice to see you have my whole day planned out for me. What are you going to be doing tomorrow?"
"While you were hiding the gun and the diamond, Willow asked me to keep an eye on Tara while she's at school."
"Fine. You can be here to greet Dawn and her new boyfriend after school."
"Sounds like fun," Spike said with a wicked laugh.
"You be nice to that boy or I'll have to hurt you. This is important to Dawn . . . for Dawn. To have a nice normal teenage boyfriend."
"I know," Spike said, reaching over to rub her stomach. The scars from the knife wound she'd received just before New Year's were completely gone by then.
At his touch, Buffy turned into him and buried her face in his chest.