Chapter 30

"Knock, knock," A chipper, familiar voice said as the mayor opened the door.

"Come in," Buffy answered dryly, as Mayor Wilkins was already inside the board room, smiling brightly.

"So, have you kids made a decision?" The mayor asked.

"We agree to your terms. We will do your errands for one year. But at that time we want to know for certain that we'll go free," Spike said.

"Of course," The mayor agreed. "One year and then this partnership ends. Mr. Giles goes free, as do you two. Now, before we begin, I just want to say that I think we may have gotten off on the wrong foot. I don't want you to think of this as forced labor, think of it more as an apprenticeship. You help me, I help you."

The petite slayer cocked an eyebrow at Mayor Wilkins, obviously not excited by the idea of being his apprentice. However, the mayor took no notice of this, and instead, kept talking.

"Now I suppose that you kids want to see Mr. Giles, so I'll let you do that this afternoon. Now, Miss Summers should go to school. I expect you and William here as soon as school lets out though," Mayor Wilkins told the slayer. Buffy nodded and then took Spike's hand and the pair made their way to the door. "Oh, and Buffy," The mayor called, stopping both the slayer and the vampire in their tracks, "You tell no one about our little deal. Not your friends, not your mother. The only people that know about this are me, you, William, and Principal Snyder."

"Principal Snyder!" The slayer screamed in surprise. The petite blonde had assumed that Principal Snyder was clueless, merely following orders. Now, however, it seemed that he was a source of information for the mayor.

"Yes, Principal Snyder also knows that you're the Slayer."

"Well…I better get to school. Spike, you want to go home and fill mom in on why we had to go the mayor's office and then meet me here when school's over?" Buffy asked her boyfriend.

"What should I tell your mom?" The vampire asked.

"I'll take care of it. I'll tell Joyce that you two kids are helping me out on a top secret assignment. Just doing your part to help our fine town," Mayor Wilkins said in response to Spike's question. The vampire nodded his consent and he and Buffy headed out, Spike to the mansion, to rest up and Buffy to school. One thing was for certain an apocalypse was most definitely on the way.

Other men said they have seen angels,
But I have seen thee
And thou art enough.
~ by G. Moore ~