Chapter One
***
"Good. You know who I am. You're Lialah, right?" She didn't wait for a response, knowing herself to be correct in her assumptions. "Good. I hear you do ressurections. Well, I have a job for you." Buffy lifted her shoulder bag from her arm and placed it gently on the table. Slowly unzipping the bag she carefully retrieved her precious cargo, placing it softly on the wood.
Lialah regarded the glass jar and her smile warmed somewhat, "I see." With a subtle flick of her wrist she sent the guards back where they came from.
"You can do it?" It was less a question, more a demand.
"Yes." Came the sucinct reply and the slayer visibly relaxed.
***
Buffy sighed and rubbed her red eyes, sore from the tears she's shed over the past week. The last seven days had been the most horrific of her life. And concidering in her life-time she'd averted eight apocolypses, killed her lover, watched her mother go through a brain tumor and found her boyfriend being bitten by living corpses that was saying alot.
She attempted not to think of what had happened, but like a nightmare that refuses to cease visiting a scared child at night, the memories flooded her.
---
"Why. Won't. You. Just. Stay. STILL?!!" Buffy screamed as she continued to chase the vampire through the deserted cemetary. Over and around gravestones it jumped, dodged...pretty much ran for its unlife.
With a cry of frustration she suddenly pounced, her slayer speed and strength sending her flying on to the vampires' back. With a satisfied grunt she slammed her stake into it's heart from behind.
Unfortunatly, being supported by said dusting vampire meant that as he exploded Buffy lost her balance and slammed stake first on to Spike who happened to be lounging near by.
Buffy haistly jumped up, ready to scream at him for being in her way. When he didn't speak she frowned, realising something was wrong. With a gasp she realised she no longer held her stake. Her gaze shot to his chest and her eyes widened at the wood sticking out of it.
"Spike?" Her eyes locked on his, waiting for him to make some sarcastic comment about her worry, but all she saw was shock and pain.
"Buffy..." He whispered as he dusted, his ashes dissapating over the soft grass behind the headstone that they were both next to.
Her eyes widened even more, her throat constricted painfully. Tears spilled over and she heaved up what little dinner she'd eaten that night. Suddenly, a huge sob ripped from her throat and she collased to her knees as she cried.
She must have been there for forty-five minutes before Xander found her. He tried to get her to move, asked her what was wrong. But she wouldn't answer him, using her strength to stay rooted firmly to the ground.
In his desperation he rang Willow on his mobile, before he could hang up Buffy spoke, "Tell her to bring a jar."
"What?"
"Tell her to bring a jar."
"I don't underst..."
"Just DO IT!" She screamed at him, her red orbs flashing angrily.
On the other end of the phone, Willow spoke, "Don't worry Xander, I hear her, I'll bring it and be there in a minute."
---
In the cold, dead office tears poured from the slayer's cold, dead orbs. Her memories fast forwarded, a few days later.
---
"She's not moved in two days." Willow whispered worriedly to Giles as they stood outside the slayer's open bedroom door.
"I take it she's not eaten." Giles asked, indicating the untouched tray of Buffy's favorite foods.
"No." Willow whispered back. After a few minutes they left, needing to talk some more and deal with Dawn.
Buffy simply continued to lay on her side, facing her bedside table. Her eyes dead; emotionless, secured on the glass jar that sat atop her table, filled with dust particles.
---
Chapter Two ==
***
"Good. You know who I am. You're Lialah, right?" She didn't wait for a response, knowing herself to be correct in her assumptions. "Good. I hear you do ressurections. Well, I have a job for you." Buffy lifted her shoulder bag from her arm and placed it gently on the table. Slowly unzipping the bag she carefully retrieved her precious cargo, placing it softly on the wood.
Lialah regarded the glass jar and her smile warmed somewhat, "I see." With a subtle flick of her wrist she sent the guards back where they came from.
"You can do it?" It was less a question, more a demand.
"Yes." Came the sucinct reply and the slayer visibly relaxed.
***
Buffy sighed and rubbed her red eyes, sore from the tears she's shed over the past week. The last seven days had been the most horrific of her life. And concidering in her life-time she'd averted eight apocolypses, killed her lover, watched her mother go through a brain tumor and found her boyfriend being bitten by living corpses that was saying alot.
She attempted not to think of what had happened, but like a nightmare that refuses to cease visiting a scared child at night, the memories flooded her.
---
"Why. Won't. You. Just. Stay. STILL?!!" Buffy screamed as she continued to chase the vampire through the deserted cemetary. Over and around gravestones it jumped, dodged...pretty much ran for its unlife.
With a cry of frustration she suddenly pounced, her slayer speed and strength sending her flying on to the vampires' back. With a satisfied grunt she slammed her stake into it's heart from behind.
Unfortunatly, being supported by said dusting vampire meant that as he exploded Buffy lost her balance and slammed stake first on to Spike who happened to be lounging near by.
Buffy haistly jumped up, ready to scream at him for being in her way. When he didn't speak she frowned, realising something was wrong. With a gasp she realised she no longer held her stake. Her gaze shot to his chest and her eyes widened at the wood sticking out of it.
"Spike?" Her eyes locked on his, waiting for him to make some sarcastic comment about her worry, but all she saw was shock and pain.
"Buffy..." He whispered as he dusted, his ashes dissapating over the soft grass behind the headstone that they were both next to.
Her eyes widened even more, her throat constricted painfully. Tears spilled over and she heaved up what little dinner she'd eaten that night. Suddenly, a huge sob ripped from her throat and she collased to her knees as she cried.
She must have been there for forty-five minutes before Xander found her. He tried to get her to move, asked her what was wrong. But she wouldn't answer him, using her strength to stay rooted firmly to the ground.
In his desperation he rang Willow on his mobile, before he could hang up Buffy spoke, "Tell her to bring a jar."
"What?"
"Tell her to bring a jar."
"I don't underst..."
"Just DO IT!" She screamed at him, her red orbs flashing angrily.
On the other end of the phone, Willow spoke, "Don't worry Xander, I hear her, I'll bring it and be there in a minute."
---
In the cold, dead office tears poured from the slayer's cold, dead orbs. Her memories fast forwarded, a few days later.
---
"She's not moved in two days." Willow whispered worriedly to Giles as they stood outside the slayer's open bedroom door.
"I take it she's not eaten." Giles asked, indicating the untouched tray of Buffy's favorite foods.
"No." Willow whispered back. After a few minutes they left, needing to talk some more and deal with Dawn.
Buffy simply continued to lay on her side, facing her bedside table. Her eyes dead; emotionless, secured on the glass jar that sat atop her table, filled with dust particles.
---
Chapter Two ==