Title: Of Magic and Machinations (13/?)

Author: Jeffrey Patrick

Type: B/X... duh!

Description: It's the 13th part. I'm not saying a word except, "You've got some reading to do!"

Disclaimer: I own nothing but an empty powder keg and a shrine to Zus, athena, J.A.I.T. and the lovely Bluerose. Buffy and all related characters are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

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"Buffy?" Xander asked the darkness around him.

"Hmm?" Buffy slipped her arm around him. They were on a pallet in the back training room of Giles' shop.

"Nothing. You had just rolled over and I was missing the contact."

"Mmm," she said drifting back to sleep.

Xander held her close and closed his eyes. Everything seemed so right for a change. It was peaceful. But Xander knew Sunnydale well enough to know that happiness always signals that the other shoe is about to drop. He tried to sleep, but a million thoughts plagued him. He imagined playing with Dawn in her new sandbox. She was so cute. He worried about what her life would be like. She had two fathers and a mother who slays vampires. And then there was the joy of living on a Hellmouth. Poor kid.

He jerked suddenly causing Buffy to stir. A sharp pain had pierced his mind. It happened again, and he grunted.

"Xander, what is it?" Buffy asked.

"My head... throbbing... argh!" Xander jerked back. Buffy grabbed him just before his head struck the floor.

"Xander?"

Her lover couldn't answer. The pain was blinding. Images formed in his mind. Images of death. Deceptions were revealed. Hope was nearly smothered. When it was over, he felt the warmth of his tears running down his cheeks.

"Talk to me, Xander," Buffy pleaded. "What is it, baby?"

"I saw things," he said as he stood and began clothing himself.

"What things? Where are you going?"

"I'll be back. I just need you to trust me on this. I don't have time to answer questions right now."

"But..."

"I have to go. I'll be back tonight. I promise. Just trust me."

"You know I do."

He smiled. "And I know you're worried. I promise you... I won't be in any danger." He turned and left her standing there gathering her clothes.

"I just don't want to lose you again," she whispered.






"You're a werewolf," Sarah Potts said flatly.

Oz looked at Willow and raised an eyebrow. His wife just shrugged.

"I can sense it," Sarah said matter-of-factly. She pointed at Willow. "And you're a demon."

"Nope," Willow said with a grin. "Just your run-of-the-mill Wicca."

"Sure. Whatever you say. You know that I'm the Slayer... which means you know this Buffy." Sarah took a step closer to them.

"Easy," Oz said, raising a crossbow.

"We've dealt with rogue Slayers before," Willow explained. "We really need to know you're on our side before we let you get closer."

"And you think that will stop me?" Sarah asked from curiosity. Oz noticed that there was nothing menacing about her stance or the way she asked the question.

"Maybe not," Willow said. "But liquefying your entrails might slow you down."

Sarah smiled. "I like you, demon lady."

Oz lowered the crossbow. "Does the Watcher's Council know that you're here?"

"That's what they're called? I couldn't remember what he told me. Look, I have business with this Buffy chick. Why don't you guys take me to her so I only have to tell this story once?"

Willow looked to Oz. He nodded. "Okay then," Willow said. "Come with us."






Ethan Rayne had never performed the particular spell that he was attempting. It was old magic from the darkest of times. Lilah Morgan watched from the shadows. She wasn't certain what the spell was meant to do, but she had paid Rayne to insure that her plan would work as intended. So she listened to the spell and thought about how she would kill Ethan Rayne should he fail.

Rupert Giles struggled to loose the bonds that held him fast to his chair. It was hopeless. The spell that Ethan Rayne was chanting behind him was unfamiliar. He didn't like that at all. He was no stranger to dark sorcery. Whatever Ethan was up to, it likely didn't bode well for Giles or his younger charges. He had learned that whoever was controlling Ethan was really after the children. Dawn, Jenny and Alex were somehow valuable to them.

He had a hunch that Wolfram and Hart, or whatever guise they currently wore, were somehow involved. He had gone to the Council to check a prophecy concerning the Slayer, as well as the surveillance reports. When Wolfram and Hart's L.A. office had been destroyed, he had put the Watcher's Council back together. His first act was to have all surviving Wolfram and Hart VPs tracked. If they ever succeeded in reestablishing themselves, he wanted to know about it. Now he felt certain his fears were realized, which meant someone inside his organization... someone he had hand selected... was working for the enemy.

Suddenly, there was a tugging sensation at the back of his mind. Ethan's spell was working. Giles willed himself to not falter, but it was too late. The spell was a success.

"Well?" Lilah asked from the darkness.

"Ripper?" Ethan asked, kneeling before his old nemesis and staring him in the eye. "Are you seeing things more clearly?"

A single tear plunged from Rupert Giles' left eye as he nodded.

"Then you know what must be done?"

"Yes," Giles said, choking on the lump in his throat. "The children must be destroyed."





Angel was seated on a bench in Weatherly Park. The air was cool and he was shivering.

"Gonna take a while to get used to the lack of meat on those bones," Xander said, taking a seat next to him.

"Like you care," Angel said. "What are you doing here anyway? Feel like beating up the newly little guy?"

"You'd think I would, wouldn't you? But... no. That's not why I'm here."

"I'm not in the mood for games, Xander. Spit it out and leave me the hell alone."

Xander thought for a moment, debating whether or not he should tell the former vampire the truth. "I had a vision," he finally said. "I guess Cordy passed it to me."

Angel's eyes got big. "She kissed you?"

"Yeah. It was in an intense moment. Buffy knows about it."

"And you had a vision? From the Powers?"

"Yeah."

"What did you see?"

"I saw you... talking to Whistler. I saw someone taking the kids. I saw you talking to Lilah Morgan."

Angel didn't break eye contact. He knew there was more.

Xander took a deep breath and continued. "I also know who killed Whistler... as well as whose side you're REALLY on."







Buffy was just walking to the front of the store when she heard the lock turn. She assumed a fighting stance and waited there in the dark. The door creaked open. Someone flipped the light switch and the room was immediately bathed in light. Buffy's eyes focused on Oz. Willow was behind him in the doorway. They stepped into the shop, followed by a younger woman.

"Hey guys. Short time, no see. What's up?" Buffy asked.

"We have a new Slayer," Oz said. "Faith's replacement it would seem."

"She's good," Willow said. "She was looking for you. She's very... different."

"Thanks, demon lady," Sarah said. "I like you too."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Where's Xander?"

"Long story," Buffy said, "of which I know... not one single part."

"Should I look for him?" Oz offered.

"No. He said to trust him. That's what I'll do."

"I hate to interrupt share time," Sarah started, "but we're on the clock, people."

"On the clock?" Buffy repeated. "What do you mean?"

"I mean there's a lot going on you don't know about, Granny. There's some dark stuff closing in on us, and I have a hunch we're better off facing it together... assuming your advanced age hasn't slowed you down."

Buffy's punch was hard and fast. It stopped about an inch in front of Sarah's face. The younger Slayer had grabbed her wrist. Sarah smiled. "We can work on that, Granny. I'll help get you ready. In the meantime, you should know something about your little Watchers' club."

"What's that?" Buffy asked, jerking free of Sarah's grip.

"They've been replaced."

Buffy searched the girl's eyes. "Replaced?"

Sarah nodded. "By shapeshifters."



To Be Continued...