The sun was just setting when Dahle strode into the vacant lobby of the motel. He went downstairs to Drusilla's bedroom, where Spike was still chained to the wall. Drusilla was teasing Spike with a live cat. She was holding it just out of his reach.
"Where's Angelus?" Dahle demanded impatiently.
"Right here," came a voice from behind. Dahle turned around. "Did you do it? Is the Slayer dead?"
"You lied to me." Dahle accused.
"About what? I said that the Slayer had to perish for the plan to proceed, and that anyone with her meant nothing to me."
"You didn't tell me that Keth was there."
"Keth? - Oh, Bryn. Well, you didn't ask." Angel shrugged.
"The Code states that you have to tell me everyone involved in a job before I set out to do it. You said the Slayer and the boy, you didn't say anything about another girl, Keth - or Bryn - why Bryn? Anyway - whatever. Technically, I don't have to go through with the job."
"Oh, Dahle, please don't tell me that after all these years you still have feelings for her." Angel spat. Dahle crossed his arms, not saying anything. Angel sighed. "Dahle, you're the best assassin I know. Spike's tried everything to get rid of that damned Slayer, and I've racked my brain more than once, and the only possible way to get rid of her is to hire a professional." Angel paused, searching for the word. Dahle waited silently. "What can I offer you, to convince you to go through with it?"
"I'll kill the Slayer, but that's the end of it."
"No, no. Her friends, too. Her watcher is in the hospital. He should be an easy target." Angel said.
"I won't harm Keth." Dahle stated.
"Fine," Angel agreed. "The Slayer must die. You can take your time with the others."
Dahle nodded silently, then left.
Drusilla came over to stand beside Angel. "Do you think he'll do it? Do you think he can?" she asked.
"He will do it, and if he can't, then we'll just have to send someone else." Angel explained. "And if he does succeed, then so shall we."
"What about Spike's Pet? She'll know."
"In all likelihood, she already does." Angel turned to Dru and put his arms around her. "Now, how do you kill an Immortal?"
Drusilla pondered a moment, before answering, "Cut off their head?"
"Exactly my sweet. Cut off her head," Angel repeated, tapping Dru's nose lightly. "And since our dear assassin won't do it, we'll have to find someone else. And then we'll kill him."
"Kill Dahle?" Dru echoed. Angel nodded slyly. "I never liked him anyway." she whispered. "But how can we kill Spike's Pet without her seeing?" Dru asked, tapping the side of her head.
Angel looked at Spike, who was eyeing the cat that sat on Dru's bed hungrily. "I have a plan," Angel told her. "Now let the poor vamp have a snack, Dru darling."
"But I don't want to. I like the pained look in my Spike's eyes." she argued.
"It's just a little cat, Dru. Let him have it," Angel told her.
"Oh, alright," she sighed. "But only because you said so."
Angel smiled, then kissed her. "I have to go call some friends from out of town." he said, then went upstairs.
Drusilla grabbed the cat off the bed, and carried it to Spike. The cat hissed as they got closer to the starved, beaten vampire.
"Here," Drusilla held the cat out to Spike. "Drink up then." So, he did.
Drusilla held the now-dead cat in her arms, telling it not to worry, and that everything was alright.
"Why are you doing this?" Spike coughed weakly.
"Because my Angel told me to." she replied.
"What happened to us, Dru? Was it me? You? Angel?"
"I had Angel long before I had you." she reminded him.
Spike closed his eyes. "I loved you, Dru. Angel's just using you to get to me. Why can't you see that?"
Drusilla dropped the cat, strode up to Spike, and knelt in front of him. "Don't ever say that again!" she roared, staring angrily into his eyes.
"It's the truth," Spike insisted.
Drusilla lost control. She slapped Spike across the face. Then, she got up, kicked the dead cat, and climbed the stairs.
Spike watched her go, tears rolling down his cheeks, but not because of the slap across the face.
"Bryn?" Xander asked me. I closed my hand around the Eye, but said nothing. "Willow's here," he told me. I nodded silently, not wanting him to see me crying. He wouldn't understand, anyway. "Are you alright?" he asked, coming closer.
"Yeah," I lied, trying to keep my voice under control.
But he figured it out. "I'd say that you shouldn't worry about Spike, but that would be pretty dumb." he said, trying to figure out in his head what to say.
I put my arms around his neck, still holding the Eye. "It's the thought that counts." I assured him.
He held me tightly, and rubbed my back.
"Xander?" Willow called up the stairs.
"Coming!" he called back.
"Go ahead. I'll be down in a minute." I told him.
"Are you sure?" he asked, putting his hand on my cheek. I nodded. "Okay," he sighed, turning to leave.
I watched him go, and heard Willow's happy exclamation when she saw him. Then I felt a slight ping from the Eye - its way of saying that it has something to show for the feelings running through me, but instead of looking at it, I put it back in my pocket. I wiped the tears from my eyes, and then I went downstairs.
Xander introduced me, "Bryn, this is Willow."
"Hi," she said.
"Hello."
"Xander says you know, like, the future and stuff." Willow sounded skeptical.
I nodded. "I'm also one thousand seven hundred sixty-four years old." I shrugged.
"But you're - "
"Not a vampire, no." I shook my head.
"Well, that's good because - "
I held up my hand. I knew what she was going to say before she'd said it. "Don't start, please," I said. "I've heard enough about Spike and how awful he is."
Buffy was going to reply, but decided against it. She knew that there was no point in arguing with me.
"So, what did you want to tell me?" Willow asked Buffy.
After a long explanation of what had happened, and will happen if Angel has his way, we discussed what we could do to stop him. They kept asking me how their plans would work out, but I gave them the same answer each time: I didn't know. Of course, I was lying, but I couldn't tell them the truth. If they knew the real outcomes, they'd probably start to admit defeat, and I couldn't allow that either.
"For an Immortal that can tell the future, you're not being very helpful." Buffy retorted.
I closed my eyes, before answering, "There's not much for me to say. You have to choose your own path. I'm already changing everything just by sitting here listening to you."
"What about that rock? Couldn't it help us? Doen't it have magical powers?" Willow asked me.
"If we knew how it worked it could be helpful." Buffy answered her. "So far all it's done is show us that we're doomed."
"Oh," she said. "Well, maybe - "
"Ow!" I exclaimed suddenly, taking the Eye out of my pocket. It had stung me again.
"What?" Xander demanded.
"It likes me," I muttered, staring into the Eye. The clouded swirls were beginning to form a scene.
"What's it doing?" Buffy asked, as Xander came and sat beside me. Willow came over to watch over my shoulder as she had never seen the Eye 'do its thing' before.
I didn't answer Buffy.
The Eye showed Dahle sitting on a rock beside the river. He was talking to someone I didn't know.
"I can't do it, Sven." Dahle told the other.
"Why not?" the one he had called Sven asked.
"If Keth is hanging with the Slayer, then there has to be a reason." Dahle answered. "This bites, man."
"So, don't. Tell Angelus to find someone else." Sven shrugged.
"I can't do that, either." Dahle shook his head.
"Why not? It's not like another Slayer isn't going to pop up anyway."
"I know, and that has nothing to do with me, anyway. But Keth wouldn't have been in the Slayer's house for no reason - and she wasn't there to hang out and go to a party or something." Dahle paused, thinking hard. "Damn, I wish I knew what she knows. That would make this a whole lot easier."
"I don't know what I can say, Dahl. Just remember that if you decide not to do it, you could be executed."
"Thanks a lot," Dahle muttered sarcastically, watching Sven walk away. Dahle leaned over, grabbed a rock, then threw it into the calm waters before him.
I closed my eyes. "My God. He's not going to - " I cut myself off. "He's going to end up getting himself killed." I said, opening my eyes.
"Excuse me?" Xander asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Not you," I said, putting my shoes on.
"Where - "
"I'll be back in awhile." I cut him off, opening the door. "Don't follow me - stay here until I get back. If you leave, don't worry, I'll find you." and with that, I left.
Buffy and Willow exchanged confused glances, while Xander watched me go. He sighed, and closed the door. "Well?"
"I think we should visit Giles." Buffy replied.
Xander nodded silently.
"I think Xander should call Cordelia, and tell her he's okay." Willow suggested.
"Good idea," Xander agreed. "Why don't you two go see Giles, and I'll stay here and wait for Bryn to come back."
Buffy nodded, then looked at Willow. "Let's go," she said.