Title: Of Magic and Machinations (14/?)

Author: Jeffrey Patrick

Type: B/X... duh!

Description: It's the 14th part. Get with the program!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but an empty Jones cola bottle and a nifty CD created by Bluerose. Thanks, dahling! Buffy and all related characters are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

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Buffy ran her fingers through her hair. She could feel a headache coming on.

"So there you have it," Sarah said. "I figured I should contact you. What with you being the veteran Slayer and all."

"How do you know that Buffy is really Buffy?" Willow asked. "She could be a shapeshifter who shifted shapes."

Oz raised an eyebrow.

"They smell," Sarah said. "I can tell them by their smell."

"Interesting," Oz said. "Buffy's never really displayed any heightened olfactory sense."

Sarah turned to Buffy. "What did he mean... about the old factory?"

Buffy smiled. "You need to meet my husband. It seems you have a lot in common. He means my sniffer isn't as sharp as yours. And you say these shapeshifters have infiltrated the Watcher's Council?"

"Well, to be fair," Sarah said, "I didn't really know there was a council. I just figured if I found you, I would either find the source of the badness, or someone who could help."

Buffy put her hand on Sarah's shoulder. "You found a friend. My Watcher, Giles, went to England to meet with the Council. I haven't been able to contact him. It all adds up to trouble."

"So pack a bag," Sarah said. "Slayer road trip."

"It's not that simple," Buffy said. "There is something big building here. I can feel it in my bones. There has to be a Slayer here."

Sarah paused a moment, trying to get a read on Buffy. She smiled. "I'll stay. Wolf-boy and Demon-gal can fill me in on your routine. You find the Watcher. He probably wouldn't trust me anyway. Not if he's already had a run-in with the baddies."

"Okay then. Willow and Oz can get you set up at my place. I'm gonna find Xander and get on the next plane to London."

"No need for the finding," Xander said, coming through the front door. "I stopped by the house and packed some of your stuff. We need to get to Giles now."

As Xander walked to Buffy, Sarah stopped him and gave him a sniff. "He's clean. But how did he know about your Watcher?"

"Good question," Buffy said, looking into his eyes with concern. "What's going on, Xander?"

"I'll explain on the way," he said. "The short version is... I had a vision of Giles in trouble and Angel gone bad. Not 'Angelus' bad, but still... I confronted Angel. He took off. We need to get to Giles. The new slay-gal needs to stay put. With Angel around, no one is really as safe as I would like."

Buffy took a moment to let that sink in. "But... how is he bad if he isn't Angelus?"

"I didn't say he was evil. But he's not on our side in this. He has his own agenda which my return probably prompted."

"Who's this Angel guy?" Sarah asked.

"Long story," Willow said.

"He's a vamp?"

"Not anymore," Oz said. "Kind of scrawny now. Shouldn't be much trouble."

"That's what you'd think," Xander said. "Let's not forget though, that Angel has lived for over two hundred years. He's crafty. Whatever he's up to, it isn't good."

"You didn't see what his plan was? In your vision, I mean?" Buffy asked.

"Um... no. I... have no idea what he's up to. I only know that it isn't good, and that he can't be trusted."

Buffy studied his brown eyes. "You're hiding something."

"Yeah," he said, taking her in his arms. "Because it's important that you don't know everything just yet. I just need you to trust me. Giles is in BIG trouble. We need to swing by so you can see Dawn, then we're gone."

She nodded, though her heart was suddenly unsure. He put his index finger under her chin, and raised her gaze to meet his. "Trust me?"

She kissed him. "Always."

"Are they always this disgustingly sweet?" Sarah asked.

"Nope," Willow said. "Sometimes there's groping."

"Ah."







"What is this place?" Giles asked.

"It is called 'Mortifera Civitas' by it's inhabitants," Ethan Rayne said softly as he sipped his wine.

"City of the Dead," Giles translated aloud. "Then I wasn't imagining..."

"The hundreds of vampires? No, Ripper. You were not imagining them. Of course, you and I know that this is only a small town outside London. But the vampires here have cleaned the place of it's... 'human blight' I believe they call it... and made it their own."

"Where did they come from? Why here?"

"They are the eldest vampires in creation. The 'why' I think you suspect."

"But... we destroyed the oldest." Giles rubbed his wrists where the ropes had recently cut off his circulation. He stood and began pacing.

"Did you, Ripper? Or was everything orchestrated to make you believe you had won a great victory? Did you feel safe, Ripper? After you survived the debacle with Wolfram and Hart?"

"Yes. Once Willow recovered... we..."

"Settled down," Ethan finished. "Grew comfortable. The demons and vampires of the Hellmouth seemed like less work."

"Yes. I suppose they did."

"I'm sorry, Ripper, but you of all people should know that things are seldom what they seem. The young attorney who caused you all so much pain truly believed what he was told. He thought his plan would succeed. Wolfram and Hart, however, had planned for it to fail."

"Arranging their pieces on the playing board. We were pawns."

"Well, don't take it so hard, Rupert. It was all for a purpose, a purpose which you now serve."

Giles sat back down and took a deep breath as he removed his glasses. "When this happens, she will never trust me again."

"I know, old man. But is there any other option?"

Giles put his face in his hands. "No. No there is not."






"So how do you feel about the new Slayer?" Xander asked as he and Buffy boarded their flight.

"She seems confident enough. Willow said she and Oz saw some pretty awesome moves." Buffy took her seat near the window. Xander sat next to her on the aisle.

"But?"

"But, we don't know her, and we're leaving her to help protect MY daughter... from Angel of all people."

"Sarah is on our side. There was a flash of her in my vision." He watched as Buffy looked away. "You knew that Cordy kissed me."

"Yeah," she said. "Just didn't know we were gonna have a constant reminder."

Xander took her hand. "I love you. Cordy knew that. She was upset. It was a comfort thing."

"I don't find it that comforting," she said, leaning on him and resting her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead.

"You know what, Mrs. Harris?" Xander whispered.

"What, Mr. Harris?"

"Whatever we find in London, you and I are going to be alright. And as soon as this big bad is dealt with, we're heading back down the aisle."

"Sounds nice."

She left her head resting on his shoulder. Xander looked away. He was afraid. If for even a second she saw the guilt in his eyes, or suspected his deception, it might cost them all dearly.






Angel cursed his frail body as he shivered in the cool night air. He dialed the number he had been given. Lilah Morgan answered.

"This better be an emergency," Lilah said flatly.

"Xander knows," Angel said. "He and Buffy are on their way to London even as we speak."

"We'll be ready."

"What if... she doesn't survive?"

"Then we will use the other one. Stay put, and keep an eye on her... and the children. If Harris warned them, you must keep your distance."

"I will. And Giles?"

"He's now willing to help us. Relax. It's almost over." Lilah hung up the phone.

"Right," Angel said to himself. "Almost over."


To Be Continued....