Chapter Two: Something You Don't See Every Day. Unless You're Us.
Twenty minutes or so later, the group of four were wandering through the graveyard in a random pattern. Walking quietly, they kept their voices low out of habit.
"It was getting stupid, see," explained Cordelia quietly, twirling her short sword adeptly. "Big Bads were trashing the hotel, like, fifty times a day. And here was me, bravely running away from them. I just got sick of it, so I bugged Angel until he said he'd train me."
She did a mock-feint towards a low-set headstone and grinned.
"Behold the oddness," said Xander, shaking his head. "She has visions and wields things of sharpness. Is there any of LA left standing?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Xander. It's not like I'm Wonder Woman, or … Buffy, or anything. I just didn't want to be helpless bait girl any more."
Buffy nodded. "This I understand. Can't say I'm not surprised, because, hello? But I think it's … cool."
"*Thank* you," Cordelia said pointedly, shooting a look in Angel's direction. "See, Broodmaster? You didn't need to go overprotective guy after all. Approval from the original ass-kicker."
"You bet," said Buffy lightly, trying to ignore the implications of the 'overprotective' comment. "Death to all."
"In great shoes," added Cordelia with a grin.
"Let's see what you've learned, then, Cordelia," Buffy continued casually, voice still low but her eyes flicking past the Seer and into the darkness. "Wanna give that sword a workout? I see three ways you could do it, 'bout a hundred feet behind you and closing."
"Sure," Cordelia answered, tensing slightly, but taking her cue. "Can't do three, though. Tag team, anyone?"
"I gotcha," Angel said quickly.
Buffy looked at him oddly and he shrugged apologetically. "We don't get many good old-fashioned vamps in LA any more. You mind?"
"No," Buffy said slowly. "Be my guest."
She tossed her stake to Angel and she and Xander hung back slightly as Cordelia and the vampire took the lead, silently splitting up left and right with an ease that spoke of long practice. The three vampires approached with grins, one still shaking fresh earth from his dapper suit.
"Looky here, Gus," crowed one. "Fast food. Home delivered."
Angel grinned crookedly. "Sorry, too fast for you, pal." He ducked the clumsy swing of the first vamp and struck him devastatingly hard in the side. "Plus, I'm told I taste kinda floury." The bloodsucker went down, growling in pain.
Buffy watched with wide eyes as Cordelia neatly sidestepped a charge and spun, kicking a stumpy vampire hard in the lower back as he stumbled past. He groaned, staggered and went down on his face. The third, seeing her momentarily off-balance, took a chance and waded in.
"Behind you!" shouted Angel, as he lunged for his Seer, panic on his face.
Cordelia pivoted smoothly and planted the sword tip in the ground, dropping to one knee. As the vampire ran at her, she leapt sideways and straightened the blade, taking his legs out from under him. He dropped heavily to the ground, and would have gotten up again - if his head hadn't been suddenly and neatly severed from his shoulders.
"My God," muttered Buffy in sheer disbelief as the vamp exploded into powder. If she hadn't just seen that happen, she would have laughed hysterically at the thought.
"Go, Cordy!" shouted Xander enthusiastically. Buffy shot him a look. "What? That was cool! I'm wishing I brought popcorn!"
Cordelia straightened, panting, and her eyes immediately sought Angel, who was trading blows with the first vamp. She ran heedlessly up to them, ignoring Angel's 'no' gesture.
The first vampire turned quickly and slugged her heavily across the jaw. She reeled back with a sharp cry, hand to her face. The stumpy vamp slowly got to his feet a few headstones away.
Xander jumped forward, only to be restrained by Buffy's hand on his arm. "Wait and see," the Slayer told him quietly. "I won't let it get bad."
"Cordy!" called Angel, trying to look everywhere at once. "Are you okay?"
"Peachy," she answered breathlessly, "but that guy's gonna wish he didn't do that."
"Oh yeah?" snarled the first vamp, swinging wildly at Angel. "Gonna squeal me to death, little girl?"
"No," snapped Cordy. "I'm gonna do *this*. Angel, duck!"
As the first vamp turned to see what his opponent was supposed to duck from, he came face-to-face with a bruised yet grinning Cordelia.
"Hi. You guys always fall for that one," she told him with amusement.
The vampire arched with a scream as Angel's stake penetrated his back and burst through to the front of his chest. Angel blinked in a cloud of dust. The stumpy vamp, left suddenly alone facing a sword-wielding brunette with a wicked grin and a tall, decidedly stony-faced vampire, found himself re- thinking his options.
He started stumbling backwards and away from them. "I'll be-" he shouted wildly, before tripping over a headstone. He jumped to his feet again, embarrassed. "Back! And I'm bringing my friend!"
He turned and disappeared swiftly into the darkness. Cordelia made to follow him, but Buffy spoke up.
"Let him go. He didn't look very smart. We wait here a few minutes and he probably *will* be back." She looked over at Cordelia. Praise where praise was due, however funny it felt. "You did good," the Slayer said, marvelling at the strangeness of the whole situation. "Really good, actually."
Still breathing a little heavily, Cordelia pushed her hair out of her eyes. "Thanks," she said, colouring slightly.
Angel descended swiftly upon the Seer and gently turned her to face him, one hand on her cheek, the other on her shoulder. "Did he hurt you?" he asked softly.
"Not really," she replied, smiling, leaning into his hand a little. "No worse than one of your weird-ass gymnastic twirly kicking things, anyway. I gotta learn not to run in without thinking, huh?"
"If you did that, you wouldn't be you," Angel told her. "How would I know what to expect but the exact opposite of whatever common sense is?" The warmth of his voice and expression laid him bare. Unfortunately for the vampire, not to the one who counted.
Buffy swallowed heavily and dropped her eyes. Xander glanced at her quickly. So he wasn't imagining things. Surreptitiously, he rested his hand briefly on the small of Buffy's back. She shot him a quick smile and straightened.
"But that's all the action I need for the night, if you don't mind," continued Cordelia airily, stepping away from Angel. "Next ones are all yours, Buffy. I'll be on cheer duty."
"Uh…" said Buffy suddenly. "Might have to call up the reserves, Cordelia."
"Holy crap," said Xander, his face pale. "*That's* a new kid. In a scary non-kid way."
"What?" asked Cordelia, turning around. Her jaw dropped. "Oh."
Coming toward them was the stumpy vampire. He looked proud. And rightly so. Trailing slightly behind him, a mountain of shadow and black scales towered into the air, easily double Angel's height. Its arms scraped the ground as it lumbered, and a spiny tail lashed behind.
Angel pulled Cordelia quickly to his side and the four of them re-grouped, backing slowly away.
"Meet my friend!" the vamp called out to them. "This is Frank."
"Frank?" muttered Xander in disbelief. "FRANK?"
"Gotta problem with that?" boomed a deep gravely voice.
"No, but I'm sure the City Council would," snorted Buffy. 'Where's he been keeping you? The football stadium?"
"I'm a creature of darkness," thundered the demon. "Pure evil. Fear upon fear. I am terror made flesh."
"Yeah, okay," said Cordelia. "But your name's Frank."
"Your taunts can not touch me," rumbled the demon. "All will die."
Buffy sighed. "You guys all keep *saying* that…" she grumbled, and headed into the fray.
A few minutes and one dusted stumpy vamp later, it became obvious that Frank was a lot more serious than their banter had indicated. Buffy was bleeding on one cheek, Xander's had been knocked down so many times it was a wonder he kept getting up, Cordelia sported a nasty-looking bruise on her right shoulder, and Angel had three deep tail-induced gashes in his stomach.
Frank hadn't worked up a sweat.
"Okay," grunted Buffy, lunging at the demon again, "this time it's-" She flew twenty feet and crashed into a headstone. "-painful. Ow."
Angel leapt forward with a growl, game face in place. He managed to duck the first tail swipe, but was caught by the back-swing and crashed to the ground. Frank loomed over him, one claw stabbing downward. Cordelia blocked the trajectory with her sword long enough for Angel to roll away, before being smacked to the earth herself.
"Xander!" she yelled, as the claw rose again.
"That's it!" shouted Xander, before jumping up and catching the huge arm. He wrapped his legs around the demon's midsection and began to pummel with all his might. "I … know … I'm … not … hurting … you … at … all…" he gasped, each word punctuated by a punch, "but … at … least … I … feel … USEFUL!"
Frank flicked at him, almost lazily, and Xander howled as he hit the bushes.
Buffy and Angel tried a double attack. Buffy slipped in under its left arm as Angel distracted it from the front with furious blows.
"Cordelia!" yelled Buffy. "The sword!"
Cordelia rolled to the right and grasped the sword hilt. As she used it to push herself to her feet, she suddenly shuddered. A strange expression crossed her face.
"Angel…" she managed. "Angel … it's…"
The vampire was at her side instantly, Frank all but forgotten.
"Angel!" screamed Buffy, just managing to avoid a crushing blow to her skull. It glanced off her shoulder instead and she staggered.
Cordelia swayed. Angel reached out as she lurched sideways. Frank's tail pistoned, and the vampire screamed as it punctured his shoulder.
"Angel!" yelled Cordelia.
He staggered to his feet. "Cordy, I'm okay-"
"No, Angel, get away! All of you! Get back! I think-"
She was cut off as a glowing white light enveloped her, increasing in intensity every second. A rushing wind appeared from nowhere, tearing across the graveyard, whipping Cordelia's hair into snarls. Her sword hit the ground with a dull ringing sound, and Xander crawled away, shielding his eyes.
Buffy jumped forward, squinting against the brilliant radiance. "Cordelia!"
Angel, his own head turned to avoid the now-blinding light emanating from the Seer, intercepted her. "It's okay!" he yelled to Buffy, catching her arm. "Just let it happen!"
"What's happening to her?" shouted Xander, arms across his face.
"Wait!" Angel called back.
Cordelia was frozen, raised on her toes, arms outstretched and head thrown back. Light poured from her fingertips, her skin, her eyes, her open mouth, covering her completely until the only trace of the Seer beneath was a vague outline in the glare.
The demon screeched, stumbling backwards. Smoke began to rise from its skin, and it clawed at its eyes, a terrible keening noise coming from its throat. Scales tore off and scattered in the wind. It began to shake. Its tail pounded the ground, sending dirt flying.
Cordelia swayed a little, arched back and impossibly, the light increased in intensity. The graveyard looked light broad daylight.
And suddenly, Frank exploded into nothing. Buffy gasped in shock as the massive creature dissipated into dust, ashes and charred bone.
As swiftly as it had appeared, the blinding light vanished. The wind died away and Cordelia let out a huge, rattling breath, drooping forward, her knees buckling. Angel raced to her side and caught her in his arms before she fell. Buffy watched in silent amazement as he sank slowly to the ground, cradling Cordelia gently and muttering something so softly that even her Slayer hearing couldn't catch it.
Xander stared, his face pale. "Oookay. Does anybody else think maybe we missed a couple of bulk mails from LA?"
"A holiday card, even," muttered Buffy.
"Glow-in-the-dark Cordy," said Xander blankly. "Comes with its own line of spring accessories and a recharge pack."
"Available wherever good whatinthehell is sold," added the Slayer, equally stunned.
"Did I get it?" mumbled Cordy against the vampire's shoulder. "Did I get it?"
"You got it, Cordy," reassured Angel. "Dead-o-rama. Nobody's hurt. Much."
The Seer leant back on her elbows and sighed. "Good. Ack. Angel, I wish those dumbass Powers'd send a warning signal or something. Vision of Skip, maybe?"
"A what?" interjected Buffy. She wasn't heard.
The vampire smiled. "Or chipmunk robots on ice?"
Cordy smiled right back.
"That's it!" exploded Buffy. "You're both INSANE!" She turned to her dumbstruck friend. "Xander? Am I wrong? Cause this is all making sense in that way where it's, y'know, not. At all."
Angel shot her a look as he gently lifted his Seer to her feet. Even distracted by the million questions in her brain, Buffy noted that his arm remained around her a little longer than strictly necessary.
Xander continued to stare silently at the dishevelled Cordelia.
Cordy put her hands on her hips. "What? It's a thing. So?"
"So…" said Xander, clearing his throat, "all of a sudden you're Night Light Cordy? Big flashlight of death?"
"Apparently."
"And that's it?"
Cordelia's eyebrows rose. "Yeah. Came with the demony goodness. And now I repeat: so?"
Xander blinked. "Excuse me. Back it up. The what-ony goodness?"
"Not much for the catching up tonight, are you Xander? You knew about this."
Buffy stepped forward, hands on her own hips. "Oh no, he didn't. *We* didn't. Anything you'd like to share? Like, oh, I don't know, what the HELL just happened here?"
Cordelia turned to Angel accusingly. "You didn't send them the bulk mail?"
"Oh. I-I forgot."
"Huh. Typical."
Buffy shook her head. "Scratch that. It's official. *I'm* the one who's insane."
"Why?" asked Angel.
"She uses swords and glows," said Buffy, pointing at Cordelia, "and you have email," she continued, pointing at her former boyfriend. "These things are not of the common."
"And you are?" Cordelia walked over to the Slayer and poked her in the arm. "Last time I checked, you were like, *dead*. Not to mention the strongest woman in the world."
"So? I can't do anything about that. That was destiny."
"So was this! Go ask the Powers!"
"The who now?" Xander interrupted.
"The Powers That Be," explained Angel. "Kind of the big guys of Good. Mysterious. Talk in riddles. You know the type."
"Ironically, yes," Xander said flatly. "So wait, let me get this very straight. You," - he indicated Cordelia - "are a demon?"
Cordelia nodded. "Part."
Xander looked her up and down. "Which part?"
Cordelia slapped him good-naturedly. "The part where the visions aren't killing me any more and I occasionally get to have fluorescent fun time." She paused, then shrugged. "Fun for me, anyway."
Xander indicated the dust pile formerly known as Frank. "But obviously for the evil stuff, not so much. Cordy, that's…"
He trailed off, and she waited expectantly.
"…kinda cool, actually," he finished. The two shared a smile.
Buffy just kept shaking her head. "I don't get this. I just don't get it."
"You don't have to," said Cordelia a little stiffly. "Amazingly, it doesn't concern you."
"Oh, yes it does!" Buffy shot back. "It sure as hell does!"
"How?" asked Angel, and Buffy flinched, staring at him wide-eyed. "I'm sorry, Buffy," he said gently, jarred by the brief look of betrayal that crept across her face, "but I don't see why you're so worried about this."
"You people are doing my job!" the Slayer burst out. She waved her arms wildly at Angel. "You with your, your, noble quest business and now her with the visions and the David Copperfield laser show! This is *my* work! Not yours!"
Cordelia's mouth opened in shock. Finally, she managed: "God, Buffy. Ungrateful much?"
"What?"
"I thought you'd be happy to have the big herd of nasties thinned a bit. Apparently not."
"That's not it," Buffy protested, her voice cracking.
Angel stepped forward and rested his hand on her arm. "What is it?"
"If … if you guys can do this … if you can take out the evil the same way I can … if it's that easy for you, you don't…"
"Need you," finished Cordy softly, understanding dawning on her face. "Buffy…"
Buffy just gazed from her to Angel and back again, slight tears beginning to form. She blinked them back furiously.
Cordelia stepped between Angel and the Slayer, taking Buffy's hand. "Come with me a second, okay?"
"Cordy-"
"It's okay, Angel. I just wanna talk with her for a minute."
The vampire subsided, and Buffy let herself be led out of earshot of the others.
Xander watched them go, then turned back to Angel. There was a short, uncomfortable silence.
"So," he said finally, "Cordy's a demon?"
"Yep," replied the vampire.
"Ah."
There was another silence, equally uncomfortable. Angel studied his feet and Xander fidgeted for a while. At last, Xander spoke.
"So how's that workin' out for ya?"
*Chapter Three coming tomorrow…*
Twenty minutes or so later, the group of four were wandering through the graveyard in a random pattern. Walking quietly, they kept their voices low out of habit.
"It was getting stupid, see," explained Cordelia quietly, twirling her short sword adeptly. "Big Bads were trashing the hotel, like, fifty times a day. And here was me, bravely running away from them. I just got sick of it, so I bugged Angel until he said he'd train me."
She did a mock-feint towards a low-set headstone and grinned.
"Behold the oddness," said Xander, shaking his head. "She has visions and wields things of sharpness. Is there any of LA left standing?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Xander. It's not like I'm Wonder Woman, or … Buffy, or anything. I just didn't want to be helpless bait girl any more."
Buffy nodded. "This I understand. Can't say I'm not surprised, because, hello? But I think it's … cool."
"*Thank* you," Cordelia said pointedly, shooting a look in Angel's direction. "See, Broodmaster? You didn't need to go overprotective guy after all. Approval from the original ass-kicker."
"You bet," said Buffy lightly, trying to ignore the implications of the 'overprotective' comment. "Death to all."
"In great shoes," added Cordelia with a grin.
"Let's see what you've learned, then, Cordelia," Buffy continued casually, voice still low but her eyes flicking past the Seer and into the darkness. "Wanna give that sword a workout? I see three ways you could do it, 'bout a hundred feet behind you and closing."
"Sure," Cordelia answered, tensing slightly, but taking her cue. "Can't do three, though. Tag team, anyone?"
"I gotcha," Angel said quickly.
Buffy looked at him oddly and he shrugged apologetically. "We don't get many good old-fashioned vamps in LA any more. You mind?"
"No," Buffy said slowly. "Be my guest."
She tossed her stake to Angel and she and Xander hung back slightly as Cordelia and the vampire took the lead, silently splitting up left and right with an ease that spoke of long practice. The three vampires approached with grins, one still shaking fresh earth from his dapper suit.
"Looky here, Gus," crowed one. "Fast food. Home delivered."
Angel grinned crookedly. "Sorry, too fast for you, pal." He ducked the clumsy swing of the first vamp and struck him devastatingly hard in the side. "Plus, I'm told I taste kinda floury." The bloodsucker went down, growling in pain.
Buffy watched with wide eyes as Cordelia neatly sidestepped a charge and spun, kicking a stumpy vampire hard in the lower back as he stumbled past. He groaned, staggered and went down on his face. The third, seeing her momentarily off-balance, took a chance and waded in.
"Behind you!" shouted Angel, as he lunged for his Seer, panic on his face.
Cordelia pivoted smoothly and planted the sword tip in the ground, dropping to one knee. As the vampire ran at her, she leapt sideways and straightened the blade, taking his legs out from under him. He dropped heavily to the ground, and would have gotten up again - if his head hadn't been suddenly and neatly severed from his shoulders.
"My God," muttered Buffy in sheer disbelief as the vamp exploded into powder. If she hadn't just seen that happen, she would have laughed hysterically at the thought.
"Go, Cordy!" shouted Xander enthusiastically. Buffy shot him a look. "What? That was cool! I'm wishing I brought popcorn!"
Cordelia straightened, panting, and her eyes immediately sought Angel, who was trading blows with the first vamp. She ran heedlessly up to them, ignoring Angel's 'no' gesture.
The first vampire turned quickly and slugged her heavily across the jaw. She reeled back with a sharp cry, hand to her face. The stumpy vamp slowly got to his feet a few headstones away.
Xander jumped forward, only to be restrained by Buffy's hand on his arm. "Wait and see," the Slayer told him quietly. "I won't let it get bad."
"Cordy!" called Angel, trying to look everywhere at once. "Are you okay?"
"Peachy," she answered breathlessly, "but that guy's gonna wish he didn't do that."
"Oh yeah?" snarled the first vamp, swinging wildly at Angel. "Gonna squeal me to death, little girl?"
"No," snapped Cordy. "I'm gonna do *this*. Angel, duck!"
As the first vamp turned to see what his opponent was supposed to duck from, he came face-to-face with a bruised yet grinning Cordelia.
"Hi. You guys always fall for that one," she told him with amusement.
The vampire arched with a scream as Angel's stake penetrated his back and burst through to the front of his chest. Angel blinked in a cloud of dust. The stumpy vamp, left suddenly alone facing a sword-wielding brunette with a wicked grin and a tall, decidedly stony-faced vampire, found himself re- thinking his options.
He started stumbling backwards and away from them. "I'll be-" he shouted wildly, before tripping over a headstone. He jumped to his feet again, embarrassed. "Back! And I'm bringing my friend!"
He turned and disappeared swiftly into the darkness. Cordelia made to follow him, but Buffy spoke up.
"Let him go. He didn't look very smart. We wait here a few minutes and he probably *will* be back." She looked over at Cordelia. Praise where praise was due, however funny it felt. "You did good," the Slayer said, marvelling at the strangeness of the whole situation. "Really good, actually."
Still breathing a little heavily, Cordelia pushed her hair out of her eyes. "Thanks," she said, colouring slightly.
Angel descended swiftly upon the Seer and gently turned her to face him, one hand on her cheek, the other on her shoulder. "Did he hurt you?" he asked softly.
"Not really," she replied, smiling, leaning into his hand a little. "No worse than one of your weird-ass gymnastic twirly kicking things, anyway. I gotta learn not to run in without thinking, huh?"
"If you did that, you wouldn't be you," Angel told her. "How would I know what to expect but the exact opposite of whatever common sense is?" The warmth of his voice and expression laid him bare. Unfortunately for the vampire, not to the one who counted.
Buffy swallowed heavily and dropped her eyes. Xander glanced at her quickly. So he wasn't imagining things. Surreptitiously, he rested his hand briefly on the small of Buffy's back. She shot him a quick smile and straightened.
"But that's all the action I need for the night, if you don't mind," continued Cordelia airily, stepping away from Angel. "Next ones are all yours, Buffy. I'll be on cheer duty."
"Uh…" said Buffy suddenly. "Might have to call up the reserves, Cordelia."
"Holy crap," said Xander, his face pale. "*That's* a new kid. In a scary non-kid way."
"What?" asked Cordelia, turning around. Her jaw dropped. "Oh."
Coming toward them was the stumpy vampire. He looked proud. And rightly so. Trailing slightly behind him, a mountain of shadow and black scales towered into the air, easily double Angel's height. Its arms scraped the ground as it lumbered, and a spiny tail lashed behind.
Angel pulled Cordelia quickly to his side and the four of them re-grouped, backing slowly away.
"Meet my friend!" the vamp called out to them. "This is Frank."
"Frank?" muttered Xander in disbelief. "FRANK?"
"Gotta problem with that?" boomed a deep gravely voice.
"No, but I'm sure the City Council would," snorted Buffy. 'Where's he been keeping you? The football stadium?"
"I'm a creature of darkness," thundered the demon. "Pure evil. Fear upon fear. I am terror made flesh."
"Yeah, okay," said Cordelia. "But your name's Frank."
"Your taunts can not touch me," rumbled the demon. "All will die."
Buffy sighed. "You guys all keep *saying* that…" she grumbled, and headed into the fray.
A few minutes and one dusted stumpy vamp later, it became obvious that Frank was a lot more serious than their banter had indicated. Buffy was bleeding on one cheek, Xander's had been knocked down so many times it was a wonder he kept getting up, Cordelia sported a nasty-looking bruise on her right shoulder, and Angel had three deep tail-induced gashes in his stomach.
Frank hadn't worked up a sweat.
"Okay," grunted Buffy, lunging at the demon again, "this time it's-" She flew twenty feet and crashed into a headstone. "-painful. Ow."
Angel leapt forward with a growl, game face in place. He managed to duck the first tail swipe, but was caught by the back-swing and crashed to the ground. Frank loomed over him, one claw stabbing downward. Cordelia blocked the trajectory with her sword long enough for Angel to roll away, before being smacked to the earth herself.
"Xander!" she yelled, as the claw rose again.
"That's it!" shouted Xander, before jumping up and catching the huge arm. He wrapped his legs around the demon's midsection and began to pummel with all his might. "I … know … I'm … not … hurting … you … at … all…" he gasped, each word punctuated by a punch, "but … at … least … I … feel … USEFUL!"
Frank flicked at him, almost lazily, and Xander howled as he hit the bushes.
Buffy and Angel tried a double attack. Buffy slipped in under its left arm as Angel distracted it from the front with furious blows.
"Cordelia!" yelled Buffy. "The sword!"
Cordelia rolled to the right and grasped the sword hilt. As she used it to push herself to her feet, she suddenly shuddered. A strange expression crossed her face.
"Angel…" she managed. "Angel … it's…"
The vampire was at her side instantly, Frank all but forgotten.
"Angel!" screamed Buffy, just managing to avoid a crushing blow to her skull. It glanced off her shoulder instead and she staggered.
Cordelia swayed. Angel reached out as she lurched sideways. Frank's tail pistoned, and the vampire screamed as it punctured his shoulder.
"Angel!" yelled Cordelia.
He staggered to his feet. "Cordy, I'm okay-"
"No, Angel, get away! All of you! Get back! I think-"
She was cut off as a glowing white light enveloped her, increasing in intensity every second. A rushing wind appeared from nowhere, tearing across the graveyard, whipping Cordelia's hair into snarls. Her sword hit the ground with a dull ringing sound, and Xander crawled away, shielding his eyes.
Buffy jumped forward, squinting against the brilliant radiance. "Cordelia!"
Angel, his own head turned to avoid the now-blinding light emanating from the Seer, intercepted her. "It's okay!" he yelled to Buffy, catching her arm. "Just let it happen!"
"What's happening to her?" shouted Xander, arms across his face.
"Wait!" Angel called back.
Cordelia was frozen, raised on her toes, arms outstretched and head thrown back. Light poured from her fingertips, her skin, her eyes, her open mouth, covering her completely until the only trace of the Seer beneath was a vague outline in the glare.
The demon screeched, stumbling backwards. Smoke began to rise from its skin, and it clawed at its eyes, a terrible keening noise coming from its throat. Scales tore off and scattered in the wind. It began to shake. Its tail pounded the ground, sending dirt flying.
Cordelia swayed a little, arched back and impossibly, the light increased in intensity. The graveyard looked light broad daylight.
And suddenly, Frank exploded into nothing. Buffy gasped in shock as the massive creature dissipated into dust, ashes and charred bone.
As swiftly as it had appeared, the blinding light vanished. The wind died away and Cordelia let out a huge, rattling breath, drooping forward, her knees buckling. Angel raced to her side and caught her in his arms before she fell. Buffy watched in silent amazement as he sank slowly to the ground, cradling Cordelia gently and muttering something so softly that even her Slayer hearing couldn't catch it.
Xander stared, his face pale. "Oookay. Does anybody else think maybe we missed a couple of bulk mails from LA?"
"A holiday card, even," muttered Buffy.
"Glow-in-the-dark Cordy," said Xander blankly. "Comes with its own line of spring accessories and a recharge pack."
"Available wherever good whatinthehell is sold," added the Slayer, equally stunned.
"Did I get it?" mumbled Cordy against the vampire's shoulder. "Did I get it?"
"You got it, Cordy," reassured Angel. "Dead-o-rama. Nobody's hurt. Much."
The Seer leant back on her elbows and sighed. "Good. Ack. Angel, I wish those dumbass Powers'd send a warning signal or something. Vision of Skip, maybe?"
"A what?" interjected Buffy. She wasn't heard.
The vampire smiled. "Or chipmunk robots on ice?"
Cordy smiled right back.
"That's it!" exploded Buffy. "You're both INSANE!" She turned to her dumbstruck friend. "Xander? Am I wrong? Cause this is all making sense in that way where it's, y'know, not. At all."
Angel shot her a look as he gently lifted his Seer to her feet. Even distracted by the million questions in her brain, Buffy noted that his arm remained around her a little longer than strictly necessary.
Xander continued to stare silently at the dishevelled Cordelia.
Cordy put her hands on her hips. "What? It's a thing. So?"
"So…" said Xander, clearing his throat, "all of a sudden you're Night Light Cordy? Big flashlight of death?"
"Apparently."
"And that's it?"
Cordelia's eyebrows rose. "Yeah. Came with the demony goodness. And now I repeat: so?"
Xander blinked. "Excuse me. Back it up. The what-ony goodness?"
"Not much for the catching up tonight, are you Xander? You knew about this."
Buffy stepped forward, hands on her own hips. "Oh no, he didn't. *We* didn't. Anything you'd like to share? Like, oh, I don't know, what the HELL just happened here?"
Cordelia turned to Angel accusingly. "You didn't send them the bulk mail?"
"Oh. I-I forgot."
"Huh. Typical."
Buffy shook her head. "Scratch that. It's official. *I'm* the one who's insane."
"Why?" asked Angel.
"She uses swords and glows," said Buffy, pointing at Cordelia, "and you have email," she continued, pointing at her former boyfriend. "These things are not of the common."
"And you are?" Cordelia walked over to the Slayer and poked her in the arm. "Last time I checked, you were like, *dead*. Not to mention the strongest woman in the world."
"So? I can't do anything about that. That was destiny."
"So was this! Go ask the Powers!"
"The who now?" Xander interrupted.
"The Powers That Be," explained Angel. "Kind of the big guys of Good. Mysterious. Talk in riddles. You know the type."
"Ironically, yes," Xander said flatly. "So wait, let me get this very straight. You," - he indicated Cordelia - "are a demon?"
Cordelia nodded. "Part."
Xander looked her up and down. "Which part?"
Cordelia slapped him good-naturedly. "The part where the visions aren't killing me any more and I occasionally get to have fluorescent fun time." She paused, then shrugged. "Fun for me, anyway."
Xander indicated the dust pile formerly known as Frank. "But obviously for the evil stuff, not so much. Cordy, that's…"
He trailed off, and she waited expectantly.
"…kinda cool, actually," he finished. The two shared a smile.
Buffy just kept shaking her head. "I don't get this. I just don't get it."
"You don't have to," said Cordelia a little stiffly. "Amazingly, it doesn't concern you."
"Oh, yes it does!" Buffy shot back. "It sure as hell does!"
"How?" asked Angel, and Buffy flinched, staring at him wide-eyed. "I'm sorry, Buffy," he said gently, jarred by the brief look of betrayal that crept across her face, "but I don't see why you're so worried about this."
"You people are doing my job!" the Slayer burst out. She waved her arms wildly at Angel. "You with your, your, noble quest business and now her with the visions and the David Copperfield laser show! This is *my* work! Not yours!"
Cordelia's mouth opened in shock. Finally, she managed: "God, Buffy. Ungrateful much?"
"What?"
"I thought you'd be happy to have the big herd of nasties thinned a bit. Apparently not."
"That's not it," Buffy protested, her voice cracking.
Angel stepped forward and rested his hand on her arm. "What is it?"
"If … if you guys can do this … if you can take out the evil the same way I can … if it's that easy for you, you don't…"
"Need you," finished Cordy softly, understanding dawning on her face. "Buffy…"
Buffy just gazed from her to Angel and back again, slight tears beginning to form. She blinked them back furiously.
Cordelia stepped between Angel and the Slayer, taking Buffy's hand. "Come with me a second, okay?"
"Cordy-"
"It's okay, Angel. I just wanna talk with her for a minute."
The vampire subsided, and Buffy let herself be led out of earshot of the others.
Xander watched them go, then turned back to Angel. There was a short, uncomfortable silence.
"So," he said finally, "Cordy's a demon?"
"Yep," replied the vampire.
"Ah."
There was another silence, equally uncomfortable. Angel studied his feet and Xander fidgeted for a while. At last, Xander spoke.
"So how's that workin' out for ya?"
*Chapter Three coming tomorrow…*