TITLE: Power Of The Slayer (Chapter 4) – Familiar Surroundings
AUTHOR: Dark Spectre
DISCLAIMER: This is the Buffy Verse solely owned by the ol' mighty Joss Whedon, I do not claim to own any of these characters yada yada yada
DISTRIBUTION: ask for at total_insanity@hotmail.com
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: Everything up to 'Spiral' The rest is pure fanfic.
NOTE: My mate Kira helped me out with the Wicca spell
Faith gripping Buffy's throat tightly released a wave of energy making her body convulse. Buffy's eyes became covered with a coat of dark energy, which flickered rapidly. The slayers mind was a dark and tricky place that didn't seem all too welcoming but it held a magnificence that could never be matched by an ordinary human. Deeply scanning into the depths of Buffy's mind Faith had become occupied oblivious to the actions taking place in the normal world.
Willows eyes slowly opened her mind not fully aware of what had taken place. She sat upright scanning the now almost demolished Magic Box. 'Woah Big Boom' turning to Anya she smiled with an inquisitive look. 'What I miss?' Willow now realising the pain held a hand to her face shakily, she wiped the blood from her forehead being careful not too touch the wound as it hurt like hell. Brushing herself off she finally began to take in her surroundings, looking over at Buffy and Faith that were locked together in silence while a vortex of energy swirled around them. Willow approached slowly unsure of what to do, reaching out her hand an energy spark flew from the vortex pushing her back. Willow took that as a sign to stay clear.
'Ohh Willow you looked dead, so I decided to help Xander' Anya not really doing much of anything hovered over Xander's body as he looked up wearily as she began to nudge him with her hand. A million years as a demon and she'd never picked up any basic first aid, she guessed giving out pain she didn't really need to know how to fix it. 'Xander!' she exclaimed filled with joy. 'I helped, I shouted things at Faith. I make a good diversion don't you think? Didn't help much though' Anya pointed her hand towards the swirling vortex as she helped Xander too his feet.
'Bloody hell people what's a guy gotta do to get some help around here' A mass of books, paper and wood erupted into the air as Spikes figure quickly arose from under a pile of rubble. Rubbing his head he quickly turned his focus to the swirling vortex containing Buffy. Not thinking he ran it 'Spike I wouldn't…' not listening to the warnings of the others his body was sent sailing through the air as an energy surge connected with his body.
Willow laughed slightly at Spikes clumsy self, she then looked around the room a little worried. 'Where's Giles' She turned to the others who shrugged and Spike who seemed to grumble under his breath. Looking around the room she couldn't see much of anything, spotting a huge pile of debris she quickly ran over. 'Oh My God I think he's under here!' Quickly starting to push the debris of with her hands she was joined by the others, Spike singly pushing the bookcase off shoved it back against the wall. 'I hope you got insurance, if not your screwed' getting angry glares from Willow and Xander he backed off. After several minutes they finally caught a glimpse of Giles limp body, Willow leaning down lay two fingers on the side of his neck. 'He's still alive' she sighed with relief as Xander and Spike continued to remove the rest of the debris. Just as Xander was about to discard a book Willow quickly snatched it from him.
**********
Buffy's mind still held and intruder, though it tried hard to keep it out she was failing miserably. A black energy now coursing through her veins she could feel her body been taken from her own grasp. 'Your minds an interesting place slayer' Buffy's mind had made visualisations of both herself and Faith in what seemed to be a dreamland, it was vivid colours running into each other. A cold sense of nothing ran between them as two entities fought it out for control of one body. 'I can feel you slipping away as we speak'
'You forget' Buffy stood firm with a confident look over her face. 'My mind…my rules' Her voice echoed throughout the dreamscape, their surrounding suddenly changed to a place Buffy felt more comfortable and familiar, her own home. Faith looked mystified as Buffy turned into a white mist then disappeared. Suddenly she got a right boot to the face, shifting her weight onto the other half of her body she span hoping to retaliate only to be pushed of balance as Buffy pushed her too the floor. 'This is one place you can't best me' A knife suddenly appeared in Buffy's hand from nowhere, dropping to the floor she embedded the knife into the ground by faiths head. 'Think you can take me' Buffy was gone again.
Not expecting this sort of retaliation from Buffy, Faith stood up and looked around at their ever-changing location. Now in the graveyard Faith walked forward cautiously preparing herself for a sneak attack. Buffy materialised above her, planting both feet on Faiths shoulders she forced her to the ground. 'Your pathetic, I can feel you weakening as we speak' Faiths body shot up, flipping backwards she moved out of Buffys reach. She couldn't anticipate it was nothing like she'd ever seen. 'Surprise!' Faith spun only to feel a sharp stabbing pain in her chest as Buffy plunged a stake down deep into her body.
The Magic Box crackled with energy as Buffy and Faith separated suddenly, Buffy gazing with a wide smile knew she had bested whatever it was inside Faiths body but she didn't know for how long. The vortex around them collapsed. Faith rose quickly not seeing Willow approach from the corner.
'Buffy move, now!' Buffy flipped backwards as fast as she could hastily trying to get away from Faith. She stopped several meters away and watched as Willow moved in.
'Goddess Hecate, heed my will
My victim's time, it must stand still
Goddess Hecate, here my call
Bind my victim behind thine wall'
An invisible barrier had been erected all the way around Faiths body limiting her movement. She banged on it continuously with her fists but nothing happening. Hissing at Willow, Faiths body dropped through the barrier as a Dark void of energy left it. The dark body of light still contained in the barrier flew at the walls, sparks flying with several bright flashes the wall dispersed. A gust of wind swept through the magic box as the energy disappeared leaving behind a few choice words. 'The slayer is ready, the test shall begin'
Buffy a little wigged by the passing sentence approached Willow with a triumphant smile. 'Good work' Willow closed the book she was holding and smiled back at her friend. Glancing around the shop she realised how bad things were. 'I'm guessing that wall thingy didn't kill it?' Willow shook her head once and sighed.
'What should we do now?' Willow and Buffy approached the others, realising she had told Dawn to go to Spikes crypt she headed for the door when a familiar voice sounded from the entrance. 'I tink I deserve a more fitting welcome then this, don't ya tink?' Kendra's silhouette stood in the doorway as she looked at the shocked exclamations of the Scooby gang.
