Hard times are fallin' on you
Even when you smile I see the hurt come through
And I know it feels like it's never gonna end
You say nothin's been right for a long time
And every step you take is an uphill climb
I see you're reachin' out
So let me tell you friend that
Better days are comin' around
I know you feel like
The whole world's gone and let you down but
Better days they're comin' for you
I know they will
Chapter 3: Forgotten Myths
The lull of the bus came to a stop, effectively pulling Liz out of her thoughts as she shouldered her bag, and stood up to get off the bus. It had been a long bus ride, but she was finally here, here to the one person who would understand with no questions asked. Stepping off the bus, she looked around, somewhat timidly, having never even been to this little town before. Heck, she didn't even know if her cousin was still even here.
Grasping her bag tightly, Liz looked around, not really knowing what or who she was looking for, but she looked around nonetheless. She probably wouldn't be able to find a room so late. Great. I should have called Cordy before I came out here. But she had wanted to surprise her cousin for some odd reason. Well, that wasn't such a great idea on her part, but to her defense, she hadn't exactly been all that sane lately, not since...well let's not go there, best to leave it buried. Liz sighed before exiting the bus station, and she began to wonder around in hopes of finding a motel or something.
Liz sighed, and ran a hand through her already messy hair. Spotting a Customer Service Booth, Liz practically ran to it, relief pouring from her. She approached the counter and sighed. Closed. That was perfect. How could a Customer Service Booth be closed? OK, so it was 2 in the morning, but weren't buses running 24/7. Liz mumbled something incoherent and sat down in an unattractive orange waiting chair. She put her head in her hands and pushed herself not to cry. If worse came to worse she would just sleep on the chair until the bus station opened again. Seeing how completely disgusting the place was Liz was praying for a miracle.
"Hi." Liz turned to look at the voice, hoping it wasn't some sicko. Seeing at who the voice was, Liz smiled back. "Um...hi."
"You look like crap and that you could use a ride." It was the bus driver that Liz had been riding with since Roswell. Liz offered a small laugh, as fake as it sounded, the bus driver smiled. "C'mon, you don't want to be stranded in this town during the night."
"Why's that?" Liz asked, grabbing her bag. She had to run to keep up with the robust woman, leading her to a Silver Sedan. "Nice wheels."
"I'm renting it. I don't live here, but I was staying for a couple weeks until I drove out to Roswell. I know of a motel around here unless you have a certain place you were going?" Liz shook her head. "The motel would be perfect, thanks."
"No problem. I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for. I'm Geri by the way." Liz looked at Geri, confused. "Looking for?"
"I saw the way you boarded my bus. You looked like you had lost something and were looking for it. I hope you find it here."
"Thanks Geri, but I think I left it in Roswell." Liz stopped talking and turned to look our the window, not really paying attention to the sights that Sunnydale had to offer.
"Want to talk about it honey?" Geri asked, causing Liz to smile bitterly and shake her head sadly, "Not really."
"Are you sure? Sometimes it's best to let things out. It can't be good to keep anything in, especially if it's hurting you. Negative energy isn't good for karma." Geri said gently, her eyes glancing over at Liz who was smiling sardonically. "What?"
Liz shook her head in amusement, a different feeling from the negative ones she had been feeling before, "It's nothing. You just sound like Kyle. He's a newly converted Buddhist."
The woman smiled at the younger girl, "So this Kyle...is he the reason you left?"
The question caught Liz off guard, but she recovered, her face becoming an emotionless mask and admitted softly, "He's part of the reason, but no, he's not the reason I left."
Geri nodded, understanding that the petite brunette did not want to talk. The rest of the drive to the motel was made in silence, and every so often, Geri would look over at Liz to see her staring at the night sky, a sort of wistful expression on her face, and she fiddled with something in her bag. On closer inspection, she saw it to be a beautiful knife. Liz was now staring at it, a sorrowful expression on her face, and her eyes had seemed to dim and lighten slightly with tears. It was obvious the girl was hurting, and even more obvious that her heart had been broken. She was suppressing, something that wasn't good for anyone. She understood it herself because she had gone through it when her husband had died. One day she snapped, and ever since then she had been with a support group, trying to get her life back together. Looking at Liz, she knew that Liz was at her last thread and it was snapping pretty quickly. She only hoped that before it happened that Liz would find whatever she had lost and began to mend her broken heart. Driving into the parking lot of the hotel, Geri parked the car and looked over at Liz who seemed to not notice that they had stopped.
"Liz."
Liz's head snapped up, and her expression cleared as she smiled weakly at the woman. "We're here."
Liz nodded in understanding and opened the side door, stepping out. Walking in, they both rented their rooms, and before they departed, Geri grabbed Liz's arm. Looking at her intently, Geri spoke softly, urgently, "Don't let the pain consume you Liz. It will be your end if you allow it to. You seem like a good person, and I don't want to see anything happen to you."
Liz lowered her head and nodded mutely, before Geri continued, "I hope you find whatever you're looking for. Follow your heart, and it will lead you there, I'm sure of it."
Liz froze and watched as Geri walk away, her words ringing in her ear.
Follow your heart.
Liz laughed hollowly, and turned away, walking in the opposite direction to her own room. She had followed her heart, and look where it had led her. To some old and rusty motel room with not only a broken heart, but also a broken will. Before settling in to sleep, Liz thought about what Geri had said. What had she been looking for? Was she looking for something? She had all she wanted, and she had left it all in Roswell, what could she possibly be looking for? As she fell asleep, a place in the back of her heart whispered the answer softly, and it was so simple. Peace. It was all she wanted. Peace.
----
"Hello? Yes. This is Liz Parker, is Cordelia there?" Liz asked politely into the phone, not recognizing the voice on the other end. She had been pretty sure she had dialed the right number. "No, not Delilah, Cor-de-lia Chase. No, not Delilah, Cordelia! Do you speak English?"
Liz sighed frustrated until a new voice came over the phone.
"I'm sorry miss, he doesn't speak much English. I'm Delilah." A woman's voice broke over the line with a thick French accent.
"Yes, I'm looking for a Cordelia Chase. Does she still live there?"
Liz listened become more and more glum as Delilah continued, "Yes....thank you so much for your help."
Hanging up the phone, Liz sighed frustrated. The woman did not know of a Cordelia. Sighing again, Liz grabbed her bags and returned the motel key at the front desk before she walked out into a strange and unfamiliar town in search of her cousin's whereabouts.
"Please tell me that says coffee." Liz pleaded, as she looked towards a cafe. Her feet hurt her like crazy, she had a headache, and felt like total and utter crap. Every place she went no one had heard of Cordelia Chase. How could they not have heard of her when she lived there her entire life? Liz thanked them politely, and said sorry for wasting any of the time she had taken up. One man had been rude enough to slam the door in Liz's face.
Liz walked into the cafe looking around. It seemed like a lot of people were there, maybe she would get lucky and one of them would know Cordelia. All thoughts of finding her cousin left her as she smelled the familiar smell of homemade coffee. "Black please." The attendant smiled at Liz flirtatiously. "New to town?"
"Actually, I'm really new...just visiting to find my cousin. I just got out of a really bad relationship with my girlfriend and I can't decided what to do..." Liz looked like she was ready to cry, and the guy quickly backed off. He handed her coffee as if she were a germ, and asked what the next person wanted. Liz rolled her eyes and continued to walk, the very last thing she needed was another guy on her hands, when she was already trying to wash them clean. She sat gloomily down next to a table of college kids, talking about the latest frat party. Growing sick of their talk she moved to a table in a small corner.
Should she call her parents and let them know that she was OK? Or maybe she should call Alex and Maria and try to explain why she left ... and she could casually ask if Max made it back from New York or not-NO! Thoughts like these were what made Liz start to fall apart. No contact with people from Roswell. They'd only want her to come back to them, which was something Liz didn't plan on doing...ever. Tess was supposed to be with Max now...it was their destiny.
Flashback
"If you are seeing me now, it means that you are alive and well. I take this form because it will be familiar to you, and it will help you to understand what I am about to say. You have lived before. You perished in the conflict that enslaves our planet but your essence was duplicated, cloned, and mixed with human genetic materials so that you might be recreated into human beings. My son, you were the beloved leader of our people. I have sent with you your young bride. My daughter, the man you were betrothed to, and your brother's second-in-command."
"Oh my God, Max. Our mother." Isabel whispered, looking at the holographic image of her alien mother. Her mouth dropped open slightly and she took a sharp intake of breath.
"Our enemies have come to the Earth. You will know them only by the evil within. Learn enough to use your skills, your knowledge, your leadership to combat the enemy so that you can come back and free us. And that I may once again hold you both in my arms. I live for that moment. Help us. I love you." The holographic image disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving a deep silence in the room. Liz couldn't breathe. Nasedo had told her Max and Tess were destined, and this just proved it. Liz tried her best to hold back her tears as she looked up at the four aliens.
"Things will never be the same, but whatever happens, we have to stay together. It's the four of us now." Max stated, looking at Isabel, both of them silently communicating with their eyes. Isabel nodded and looked away, towards Michael. She frowned and shook her head.
"I knew this was meant to be." Tess said, smiling happily. She moved towards Max quickly, standing by his side.
"No," Max said, shaking his head at Tess. He stepped away from her and stepped towards Liz,"Look, everything I told you before is still true."
"Max, you do have a destiny. You just heard it. I can't stand in the way of it." Liz said, shaking her head slightly.
"But you mean everything to me." Max said, leaning down to capture Liz's lips in his own. Liz fought off tears and she took a shaky breath. She fought her hardest battle in the next few minutes and offered him a weak attempt at a smile. "Good-bye, Max."
End Flashback
For a fragment of a second Liz wondered what her destiny was supposed to be, if she was even supposed to have a destiny or not. Not even realizing it, Liz had tears running down her cheeks. Finally, someone sitting at a different table plopped a wad of napkins down, and walked away. Liz wiped away at her cheeks embarrassed. Here she was, trying to find some serenity and peace and all she can do is think about Max.
After gathering herself up as best as she could, Liz looked for the girl who had given her the napkins. She could at least say thank you to her. Liz spotted the blonde by a group her friends. Liz stood up and threw the untouched coffee away. As she neared the group Liz froze hearing one word, "Cordy."
Shock and elation filled her as her head whipped around. Finally! She was getting closer to finding her cousin! However, her joy was short-lived when she saw that the table they had been occupying was now empty. Just her luck. Liz was seriously considering screaming right then and there. Strange town be damned, she wasn't ever going to see any of these people again. She could do whatever she wanted. Besides she had saved them all. Turning her head back to the streets, her eyes widened when she saw the blonde female who had given her the napkins!
She quickly ran after the blonde, but as it seemed, destiny really wasn't on her side that day as people continued to get in her way. She pushed passed people muttering quick apologies as she ran. It was a fruitless attempt because a second later, she followed the blonde across the street, not noticing that a car was heading her way. Liz froze when she heard the horn honk and she turned around just in time to see a car coming towards her, screeching to a quick halt. The driver glared at her and she mumbled a quick apology, trying to calm her raging heart. Looking around, she saw no signs of the blonde or her friends. And with that, Liz Parker turned her head upward and let out a loud frustrated scream, right in the middle of the street.
Around the corner, a blonde and her friends turned at the scream curiously. The redhead looked at the blonde and asked, "Vamp?"
"No, it's sunny out. Probably just some psycho." With that, the group continued on their way to the old Magic Box located just a block away.
---
"Heya Giles." Buffy called, shutting the Magic Box door behind her.
"Oh..uh..hello." Giles called, glancing up from his book. Dawn groaned and glared at her sister, "I've been stuck with him for an hour and a half and all he's done is read about some knife or something."
"That's our Giles!" Xander replied, taking a bite out of the cookie in his hand. Anya came up from the basement carrying a heavy box. She placed it carefully on a nearby table and sighed. "I don't like Sundays."
"Why?" Willow asked. "It's part of the weekend. I love the weekend."
"Giles insists on closing the store on Sundays. Less money." Xander explained. Buffy grinned at her friends and stretched. "So...what about this knife we're hearing about?"
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed it with his shirt, almost absently as he spoke, "Yes, yes. The knife. Well it seems that there is a whole legend behind this knife."
Xander looked at the picture that Cordelia had sent them, "It doesn't look so special. It's beautiful, but doesn't look different from any other ordinary crafted knife."
"Yes, yes. But this blade is like no other. This came from the original light. This knife brought light to the world. Before only darkness prevailed." Giles explained before he flipped to a certain page with a words written in Latin.
"Ex umbris ei imaginibus in veritatem
Caelum videre iussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus
Sub secreto, sub silentio, suo jure
Vide et credere."
"Can I be the first to say, huh?" Xander quipped as Giles finished reading the lines.
"It translates to:
From shadows and images to the truth
He bid them look at the sky and lift their faces to the stars
In secret, in silence, in one's rightful place
See and believe."
Giles translated the words carefully as the others took in the beauty of the words, "It is the story of the messenger of the Gods. He was named the Revelator, Ioannes. Or John according to Biblical text."
"Wasn't John an apostle?" Willow asked, leaning over Gile's shoulder.
"In Biblical terms, yes. John was the chosen one, the one who saw what was to come. Armageddon. He was the leader. In this myth, he was the one who revealed another world to his people. He brought the light to mankind. It's all the same in a sense. However, there is more. Ioannes became the protector of the knife, the chosen of the Gods to protect the world from the darkness. However, he was not immortal. This blade you see," Giles pointed to the picture, "Is the key between good and evil."
"Sort of like me!" Dawn quipped excitedly. Giles nodded, "It is more so though. This key takes unleashes the ultimate power source from the Light, or Council of Gods if you will. Whomever claims this knife and unleashes the power will have access to all the Gods' strengths. In the wrong hands, the power of darkness also."
"So how did it end up with that girl in Cordelia's vision. Unless this Iowa or whatever guy happens to be a ghost who decided to come back in the form of a girl then we're pretty much screwed there." Xander said as he thought about Cordelia's description of the knife's beholder. "Whoever it is also wants to kill Buff, so can we figure this out sometime soon? I like my Buffy breathing and preferably alive you know?"
"Can we please not talk about my sister's death." Dawn begged, having not recovered from her mom's death much less the thought that she could be killed if Glory got to her, and now with Buffy being threatened...she didn't know what to do. Fate must really not like Summers women. Buffy comforted Dawn by wrapping her arms around the younger girl, and glaring at Xander.
"No one is going to die. If someone would just wait, I was getting to that point." Giles glared pointedly at Xander.
"Ioannes protected this knife until his last breath. From there on, his daughter, Caelia a child born from the light was given the responsibility of the knife. She was just a young child, no defense nor powers, and tragically she was killed by a darkness. An essense demon who wanted her soul, hers was a strong and powerful soul, Ezekielis. His plan backfired because her spirit, with its last strength pulled him into the knife. No one knows where Ezekielis ended up, but some say that he was trapped somewhere near the power source. He was no threat because his power was taken from him before he entered. He died and has no way of recovering the power source. Legends say he knew nothing of the power source, only the strength of young Caelia's soul."
"Wait, there's more written in Latin." Willow pointed to the text beneath the story of John and Caelia.
Giles read over the text and looked up at thier expectant faces when he finished, "It is the last words her spirit spoke. The last words the Gods spoke through her body. With her death, they left the world to its own evil."
"Non omnis moriar
Frangar non flectar
Vivos voco, mortuos plango
Quam terribilis est haec hora
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat
Gemini, unitas mirabile vinculum
Evinvere malum bono
Ex nihilo, filia Ioannes
Rara avis, Custos morum
Intrinsicus sunt cavi
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Sub secreto, sub silentio, suo jure
Vide et credere."
"Again, meaning what?" Xander asked exasparated.
"It is a prophecy of sorts but its translates easily to..."
"I shall not completely die
I am broken, I am not deflected
I call the living, I mourn the dead
How fearful is this hour
All wound, the last kills
Gemini, the wonderful bond of unity
To prevail over evil with good
From nothing, daughter of John
Rare, keeper of morals
They are hollow inside
Who shall keep watch over the guardians?
In secret, in silence, in one's right mind
See and Believe."
"Whoa. Deep." Xander remarked, earning a slap from Anya. "Be quiet."
"And do we know when this bad guy is supposed to strike?" Tara asked, speaking for the first time since their arrival. Giles took his glasses off, and started to clean them. "From what my readings tell me," He put his glasses back on and looked at Buffy, "Tonight."
"Then we have no time to figure out these riddles. We have to find this baddie, whoever it is." Dawn said immediately. The thought of someone or something trying to hurt Buffy that night, and they had no idea who it could be, scared her...a lot.
"She's right. I'm going to patrol the local demon bars and see if they've heard anything." Buffy stated. "Xander, Willow, I want you and Giles to find out everything else you can about that knife...any clues to who might have it. Anya, watch Dawn for me. Tara, go to Spike and see if he knows anything." The others nodded at her words, but Dawn shook her head.
"Please, Buffy...let me come with you!" She begged, holding Buffy in a hug. Buffy sighed. "It'll be safer for you here. I have to go now." She left the Magic Box in a hurry. The sun would set soon...she didn't have much time.
Even when you smile I see the hurt come through
And I know it feels like it's never gonna end
You say nothin's been right for a long time
And every step you take is an uphill climb
I see you're reachin' out
So let me tell you friend that
Better days are comin' around
I know you feel like
The whole world's gone and let you down but
Better days they're comin' for you
I know they will
Chapter 3: Forgotten Myths
The lull of the bus came to a stop, effectively pulling Liz out of her thoughts as she shouldered her bag, and stood up to get off the bus. It had been a long bus ride, but she was finally here, here to the one person who would understand with no questions asked. Stepping off the bus, she looked around, somewhat timidly, having never even been to this little town before. Heck, she didn't even know if her cousin was still even here.
Grasping her bag tightly, Liz looked around, not really knowing what or who she was looking for, but she looked around nonetheless. She probably wouldn't be able to find a room so late. Great. I should have called Cordy before I came out here. But she had wanted to surprise her cousin for some odd reason. Well, that wasn't such a great idea on her part, but to her defense, she hadn't exactly been all that sane lately, not since...well let's not go there, best to leave it buried. Liz sighed before exiting the bus station, and she began to wonder around in hopes of finding a motel or something.
Liz sighed, and ran a hand through her already messy hair. Spotting a Customer Service Booth, Liz practically ran to it, relief pouring from her. She approached the counter and sighed. Closed. That was perfect. How could a Customer Service Booth be closed? OK, so it was 2 in the morning, but weren't buses running 24/7. Liz mumbled something incoherent and sat down in an unattractive orange waiting chair. She put her head in her hands and pushed herself not to cry. If worse came to worse she would just sleep on the chair until the bus station opened again. Seeing how completely disgusting the place was Liz was praying for a miracle.
"Hi." Liz turned to look at the voice, hoping it wasn't some sicko. Seeing at who the voice was, Liz smiled back. "Um...hi."
"You look like crap and that you could use a ride." It was the bus driver that Liz had been riding with since Roswell. Liz offered a small laugh, as fake as it sounded, the bus driver smiled. "C'mon, you don't want to be stranded in this town during the night."
"Why's that?" Liz asked, grabbing her bag. She had to run to keep up with the robust woman, leading her to a Silver Sedan. "Nice wheels."
"I'm renting it. I don't live here, but I was staying for a couple weeks until I drove out to Roswell. I know of a motel around here unless you have a certain place you were going?" Liz shook her head. "The motel would be perfect, thanks."
"No problem. I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for. I'm Geri by the way." Liz looked at Geri, confused. "Looking for?"
"I saw the way you boarded my bus. You looked like you had lost something and were looking for it. I hope you find it here."
"Thanks Geri, but I think I left it in Roswell." Liz stopped talking and turned to look our the window, not really paying attention to the sights that Sunnydale had to offer.
"Want to talk about it honey?" Geri asked, causing Liz to smile bitterly and shake her head sadly, "Not really."
"Are you sure? Sometimes it's best to let things out. It can't be good to keep anything in, especially if it's hurting you. Negative energy isn't good for karma." Geri said gently, her eyes glancing over at Liz who was smiling sardonically. "What?"
Liz shook her head in amusement, a different feeling from the negative ones she had been feeling before, "It's nothing. You just sound like Kyle. He's a newly converted Buddhist."
The woman smiled at the younger girl, "So this Kyle...is he the reason you left?"
The question caught Liz off guard, but she recovered, her face becoming an emotionless mask and admitted softly, "He's part of the reason, but no, he's not the reason I left."
Geri nodded, understanding that the petite brunette did not want to talk. The rest of the drive to the motel was made in silence, and every so often, Geri would look over at Liz to see her staring at the night sky, a sort of wistful expression on her face, and she fiddled with something in her bag. On closer inspection, she saw it to be a beautiful knife. Liz was now staring at it, a sorrowful expression on her face, and her eyes had seemed to dim and lighten slightly with tears. It was obvious the girl was hurting, and even more obvious that her heart had been broken. She was suppressing, something that wasn't good for anyone. She understood it herself because she had gone through it when her husband had died. One day she snapped, and ever since then she had been with a support group, trying to get her life back together. Looking at Liz, she knew that Liz was at her last thread and it was snapping pretty quickly. She only hoped that before it happened that Liz would find whatever she had lost and began to mend her broken heart. Driving into the parking lot of the hotel, Geri parked the car and looked over at Liz who seemed to not notice that they had stopped.
"Liz."
Liz's head snapped up, and her expression cleared as she smiled weakly at the woman. "We're here."
Liz nodded in understanding and opened the side door, stepping out. Walking in, they both rented their rooms, and before they departed, Geri grabbed Liz's arm. Looking at her intently, Geri spoke softly, urgently, "Don't let the pain consume you Liz. It will be your end if you allow it to. You seem like a good person, and I don't want to see anything happen to you."
Liz lowered her head and nodded mutely, before Geri continued, "I hope you find whatever you're looking for. Follow your heart, and it will lead you there, I'm sure of it."
Liz froze and watched as Geri walk away, her words ringing in her ear.
Follow your heart.
Liz laughed hollowly, and turned away, walking in the opposite direction to her own room. She had followed her heart, and look where it had led her. To some old and rusty motel room with not only a broken heart, but also a broken will. Before settling in to sleep, Liz thought about what Geri had said. What had she been looking for? Was she looking for something? She had all she wanted, and she had left it all in Roswell, what could she possibly be looking for? As she fell asleep, a place in the back of her heart whispered the answer softly, and it was so simple. Peace. It was all she wanted. Peace.
----
"Hello? Yes. This is Liz Parker, is Cordelia there?" Liz asked politely into the phone, not recognizing the voice on the other end. She had been pretty sure she had dialed the right number. "No, not Delilah, Cor-de-lia Chase. No, not Delilah, Cordelia! Do you speak English?"
Liz sighed frustrated until a new voice came over the phone.
"I'm sorry miss, he doesn't speak much English. I'm Delilah." A woman's voice broke over the line with a thick French accent.
"Yes, I'm looking for a Cordelia Chase. Does she still live there?"
Liz listened become more and more glum as Delilah continued, "Yes....thank you so much for your help."
Hanging up the phone, Liz sighed frustrated. The woman did not know of a Cordelia. Sighing again, Liz grabbed her bags and returned the motel key at the front desk before she walked out into a strange and unfamiliar town in search of her cousin's whereabouts.
"Please tell me that says coffee." Liz pleaded, as she looked towards a cafe. Her feet hurt her like crazy, she had a headache, and felt like total and utter crap. Every place she went no one had heard of Cordelia Chase. How could they not have heard of her when she lived there her entire life? Liz thanked them politely, and said sorry for wasting any of the time she had taken up. One man had been rude enough to slam the door in Liz's face.
Liz walked into the cafe looking around. It seemed like a lot of people were there, maybe she would get lucky and one of them would know Cordelia. All thoughts of finding her cousin left her as she smelled the familiar smell of homemade coffee. "Black please." The attendant smiled at Liz flirtatiously. "New to town?"
"Actually, I'm really new...just visiting to find my cousin. I just got out of a really bad relationship with my girlfriend and I can't decided what to do..." Liz looked like she was ready to cry, and the guy quickly backed off. He handed her coffee as if she were a germ, and asked what the next person wanted. Liz rolled her eyes and continued to walk, the very last thing she needed was another guy on her hands, when she was already trying to wash them clean. She sat gloomily down next to a table of college kids, talking about the latest frat party. Growing sick of their talk she moved to a table in a small corner.
Should she call her parents and let them know that she was OK? Or maybe she should call Alex and Maria and try to explain why she left ... and she could casually ask if Max made it back from New York or not-NO! Thoughts like these were what made Liz start to fall apart. No contact with people from Roswell. They'd only want her to come back to them, which was something Liz didn't plan on doing...ever. Tess was supposed to be with Max now...it was their destiny.
Flashback
"If you are seeing me now, it means that you are alive and well. I take this form because it will be familiar to you, and it will help you to understand what I am about to say. You have lived before. You perished in the conflict that enslaves our planet but your essence was duplicated, cloned, and mixed with human genetic materials so that you might be recreated into human beings. My son, you were the beloved leader of our people. I have sent with you your young bride. My daughter, the man you were betrothed to, and your brother's second-in-command."
"Oh my God, Max. Our mother." Isabel whispered, looking at the holographic image of her alien mother. Her mouth dropped open slightly and she took a sharp intake of breath.
"Our enemies have come to the Earth. You will know them only by the evil within. Learn enough to use your skills, your knowledge, your leadership to combat the enemy so that you can come back and free us. And that I may once again hold you both in my arms. I live for that moment. Help us. I love you." The holographic image disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving a deep silence in the room. Liz couldn't breathe. Nasedo had told her Max and Tess were destined, and this just proved it. Liz tried her best to hold back her tears as she looked up at the four aliens.
"Things will never be the same, but whatever happens, we have to stay together. It's the four of us now." Max stated, looking at Isabel, both of them silently communicating with their eyes. Isabel nodded and looked away, towards Michael. She frowned and shook her head.
"I knew this was meant to be." Tess said, smiling happily. She moved towards Max quickly, standing by his side.
"No," Max said, shaking his head at Tess. He stepped away from her and stepped towards Liz,"Look, everything I told you before is still true."
"Max, you do have a destiny. You just heard it. I can't stand in the way of it." Liz said, shaking her head slightly.
"But you mean everything to me." Max said, leaning down to capture Liz's lips in his own. Liz fought off tears and she took a shaky breath. She fought her hardest battle in the next few minutes and offered him a weak attempt at a smile. "Good-bye, Max."
End Flashback
For a fragment of a second Liz wondered what her destiny was supposed to be, if she was even supposed to have a destiny or not. Not even realizing it, Liz had tears running down her cheeks. Finally, someone sitting at a different table plopped a wad of napkins down, and walked away. Liz wiped away at her cheeks embarrassed. Here she was, trying to find some serenity and peace and all she can do is think about Max.
After gathering herself up as best as she could, Liz looked for the girl who had given her the napkins. She could at least say thank you to her. Liz spotted the blonde by a group her friends. Liz stood up and threw the untouched coffee away. As she neared the group Liz froze hearing one word, "Cordy."
Shock and elation filled her as her head whipped around. Finally! She was getting closer to finding her cousin! However, her joy was short-lived when she saw that the table they had been occupying was now empty. Just her luck. Liz was seriously considering screaming right then and there. Strange town be damned, she wasn't ever going to see any of these people again. She could do whatever she wanted. Besides she had saved them all. Turning her head back to the streets, her eyes widened when she saw the blonde female who had given her the napkins!
She quickly ran after the blonde, but as it seemed, destiny really wasn't on her side that day as people continued to get in her way. She pushed passed people muttering quick apologies as she ran. It was a fruitless attempt because a second later, she followed the blonde across the street, not noticing that a car was heading her way. Liz froze when she heard the horn honk and she turned around just in time to see a car coming towards her, screeching to a quick halt. The driver glared at her and she mumbled a quick apology, trying to calm her raging heart. Looking around, she saw no signs of the blonde or her friends. And with that, Liz Parker turned her head upward and let out a loud frustrated scream, right in the middle of the street.
Around the corner, a blonde and her friends turned at the scream curiously. The redhead looked at the blonde and asked, "Vamp?"
"No, it's sunny out. Probably just some psycho." With that, the group continued on their way to the old Magic Box located just a block away.
---
"Heya Giles." Buffy called, shutting the Magic Box door behind her.
"Oh..uh..hello." Giles called, glancing up from his book. Dawn groaned and glared at her sister, "I've been stuck with him for an hour and a half and all he's done is read about some knife or something."
"That's our Giles!" Xander replied, taking a bite out of the cookie in his hand. Anya came up from the basement carrying a heavy box. She placed it carefully on a nearby table and sighed. "I don't like Sundays."
"Why?" Willow asked. "It's part of the weekend. I love the weekend."
"Giles insists on closing the store on Sundays. Less money." Xander explained. Buffy grinned at her friends and stretched. "So...what about this knife we're hearing about?"
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed it with his shirt, almost absently as he spoke, "Yes, yes. The knife. Well it seems that there is a whole legend behind this knife."
Xander looked at the picture that Cordelia had sent them, "It doesn't look so special. It's beautiful, but doesn't look different from any other ordinary crafted knife."
"Yes, yes. But this blade is like no other. This came from the original light. This knife brought light to the world. Before only darkness prevailed." Giles explained before he flipped to a certain page with a words written in Latin.
"Ex umbris ei imaginibus in veritatem
Caelum videre iussit, et erectos ad sidera tollere vultus
Sub secreto, sub silentio, suo jure
Vide et credere."
"Can I be the first to say, huh?" Xander quipped as Giles finished reading the lines.
"It translates to:
From shadows and images to the truth
He bid them look at the sky and lift their faces to the stars
In secret, in silence, in one's rightful place
See and believe."
Giles translated the words carefully as the others took in the beauty of the words, "It is the story of the messenger of the Gods. He was named the Revelator, Ioannes. Or John according to Biblical text."
"Wasn't John an apostle?" Willow asked, leaning over Gile's shoulder.
"In Biblical terms, yes. John was the chosen one, the one who saw what was to come. Armageddon. He was the leader. In this myth, he was the one who revealed another world to his people. He brought the light to mankind. It's all the same in a sense. However, there is more. Ioannes became the protector of the knife, the chosen of the Gods to protect the world from the darkness. However, he was not immortal. This blade you see," Giles pointed to the picture, "Is the key between good and evil."
"Sort of like me!" Dawn quipped excitedly. Giles nodded, "It is more so though. This key takes unleashes the ultimate power source from the Light, or Council of Gods if you will. Whomever claims this knife and unleashes the power will have access to all the Gods' strengths. In the wrong hands, the power of darkness also."
"So how did it end up with that girl in Cordelia's vision. Unless this Iowa or whatever guy happens to be a ghost who decided to come back in the form of a girl then we're pretty much screwed there." Xander said as he thought about Cordelia's description of the knife's beholder. "Whoever it is also wants to kill Buff, so can we figure this out sometime soon? I like my Buffy breathing and preferably alive you know?"
"Can we please not talk about my sister's death." Dawn begged, having not recovered from her mom's death much less the thought that she could be killed if Glory got to her, and now with Buffy being threatened...she didn't know what to do. Fate must really not like Summers women. Buffy comforted Dawn by wrapping her arms around the younger girl, and glaring at Xander.
"No one is going to die. If someone would just wait, I was getting to that point." Giles glared pointedly at Xander.
"Ioannes protected this knife until his last breath. From there on, his daughter, Caelia a child born from the light was given the responsibility of the knife. She was just a young child, no defense nor powers, and tragically she was killed by a darkness. An essense demon who wanted her soul, hers was a strong and powerful soul, Ezekielis. His plan backfired because her spirit, with its last strength pulled him into the knife. No one knows where Ezekielis ended up, but some say that he was trapped somewhere near the power source. He was no threat because his power was taken from him before he entered. He died and has no way of recovering the power source. Legends say he knew nothing of the power source, only the strength of young Caelia's soul."
"Wait, there's more written in Latin." Willow pointed to the text beneath the story of John and Caelia.
Giles read over the text and looked up at thier expectant faces when he finished, "It is the last words her spirit spoke. The last words the Gods spoke through her body. With her death, they left the world to its own evil."
"Non omnis moriar
Frangar non flectar
Vivos voco, mortuos plango
Quam terribilis est haec hora
Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat
Gemini, unitas mirabile vinculum
Evinvere malum bono
Ex nihilo, filia Ioannes
Rara avis, Custos morum
Intrinsicus sunt cavi
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Sub secreto, sub silentio, suo jure
Vide et credere."
"Again, meaning what?" Xander asked exasparated.
"It is a prophecy of sorts but its translates easily to..."
"I shall not completely die
I am broken, I am not deflected
I call the living, I mourn the dead
How fearful is this hour
All wound, the last kills
Gemini, the wonderful bond of unity
To prevail over evil with good
From nothing, daughter of John
Rare, keeper of morals
They are hollow inside
Who shall keep watch over the guardians?
In secret, in silence, in one's right mind
See and Believe."
"Whoa. Deep." Xander remarked, earning a slap from Anya. "Be quiet."
"And do we know when this bad guy is supposed to strike?" Tara asked, speaking for the first time since their arrival. Giles took his glasses off, and started to clean them. "From what my readings tell me," He put his glasses back on and looked at Buffy, "Tonight."
"Then we have no time to figure out these riddles. We have to find this baddie, whoever it is." Dawn said immediately. The thought of someone or something trying to hurt Buffy that night, and they had no idea who it could be, scared her...a lot.
"She's right. I'm going to patrol the local demon bars and see if they've heard anything." Buffy stated. "Xander, Willow, I want you and Giles to find out everything else you can about that knife...any clues to who might have it. Anya, watch Dawn for me. Tara, go to Spike and see if he knows anything." The others nodded at her words, but Dawn shook her head.
"Please, Buffy...let me come with you!" She begged, holding Buffy in a hug. Buffy sighed. "It'll be safer for you here. I have to go now." She left the Magic Box in a hurry. The sun would set soon...she didn't have much time.
