The Ghosts that Haunt Me: Chapter One
Sunnydale
The next day Sydney walked down the main street of Sunnydale looking for the Magic Box. On the surface Sunnydale did not look too different from any other town. However, if there was one thing Sydney's life had taught her it was that looks could be deceiving. She had to look no further than her own mother, Irena Derevko, for proof of that.
"Hell," she thought, "All I have to do is take a look at a mirror." She could tell there was something not right about the town. A walk past the overly large cemetery was proof enough of that. The combination of that sight, plus warnings from Sloane and Vaughn had Sydney a little on edge.
As she wandered down the street she let her mind drift back to the previous night's meeting with Vaughn, her CIA handler. She had found him waiting for her at the Santa Monica Pier and she quickly went over her SD-6 Mission orders.
Vaughn had nodded as he looked at a copy of the picture of the artifact. "Ok, it goes without saying that SD-6 cannot get their hands on this," he told her. "I'll get the boys in Sci-Tech to make a fake amulet based on these specifications. You retrieve the real one and perform the swap before you report back to SD-6."
Sydney nodded; it was almost run of the mill to her by now. But she knew that did not mean she could relax. It was when you relaxed when you made mistakes and for Sydney any mistake meant a painful death. "What about this Chosen One stuff?" She asked her handler.
Vaughn hesitated for a moment, "It's probably nothing, just tell Sloane that you couldn't find her."
Sydney frowned; she could tell that Vaughn was holding something back. "Vaughn, is there something you aren't telling me?"
He looked uncomfortable for a moment then sighed. "When you first called and said that Sloane was sending you to Sunnydale I punched it into the computer."
"What did you find?"
"Nothing."
"So there's nothing remarkable about the town."
"That's not what I mean. I hit more security blocks than I've ever seen. Every shred of information about Sunnydale is so highly classified I don't think God Himself has clearance. There's some serious stuff going on in that town Sydney so keep a close eye on your back."
A near miss with a fellow pedestrian brought Sydney back to the present, but she couldn't shake the haunted look in Vaughn's eyes when he was cautioning her.
"He saw something about this place that really spooked him," Sydney though to herself. So far Sunnydale had refused to yield whatever terrible secrets it was hiding, but Sydney was determined to find them.
She was so lost in thought that she nearly walked past the storefront with the words "Magic Box" emblazoned on it. Sydney paused to adjust her suit, one of the benefits of her current cover was that she could leave her wigs and skin-tight costumes at home. She reviewed her cover one more time, and walked into the shop.
The bell above the door tinkled as she entered the store causing Sydney to wince slightly. The store appeared to be deserted save for a young red-haired woman sitting at a table in the middle of the room. The woman was intently reading an old book, and did not even notice Sydney's arrival.
"Must be a student," Sydney thought to herself as she walked towards the table. Along the way she took in the large collection of potions, trinkets, and other assorted pieces of bric-a-brac that filled the store. She paused to examine a particularly odd-looking glass orb. It seemed to radiate light from some internal source. Sydney reached out to pick the orb up.
"I wouldn't touch that if I were you," a woman's voice said from across the store. Sydney jerked her hand back and turned to face the voice. "Orbs of Astartak are very...delicate, and very valuable."
"And if I break it I buy it?" Sydney asked with as much joviality as she could manage.
"Precisely," the woman replied as she walked behind the checkout counter.
"What does it do?" Sydney asked. She took the opportunity to examine the woman. She appeared to be about Sydney's age and height with short, dark blonde hair. "Is this the person I'm supposed to meet?" Sydney wondered. Her beefing had not included a physical description, just a name.
"Well supposedly the orb acts as a focus for astral projection spells," the woman replied.
"But you don't believe in any of that, do you?" Sydney asked. She had a hard time believing in any supernatural occurrences; thought her dealings with Rambaldi's legacy gave her pause. Sydney walked over to the counter the woman was standing behind.
"What, me believe in magic? Oh hell no, I'm just in the business for the profit. You should see the return on investment for newt eyes," the woman answered. She acted like what Sydney suggested was the silliest thing in the world. Sydney also noticed that she was a terrible liar. "Like you could actually turn someone into a troll, or summon a rainstorm of bunnies, please." The redhead sitting at the table chuckled, but did not say anything. "So, what can I sell you today?" The saleswoman asked perkily.
Sydney was a little taken aback by the woman's forthright attitude towards salesmanship. "Actually I'm looking for some information. Are you Anya Jenkins?"
"Yep, that's me, Anya Jenkins. Plain old boring and perfectly human Anya Jenkins," Anya paused. "Who are you?"
"Stephanie Branch," Sydney replied. "I'm a collector of rare artifacts." She held her hand out to Anya.
Anya gingerly shook the outstretched hand. "Ah, you're a treasure hunter. We've got this really neat compass that always points towards the largest source of gold."
"No thanks, I was just looking for some information regarding an object a client hired me to find." Sydney reached into her bag and withdrew a picture of the Rambaldi artifact.
"Hold on, you expect me to do all the world for you and then you go and get all the money? I don't think so." Anya folded her arms across her chest.
"I'd be more than willing to pay you," Sydney replied. The conversation was making her feel more and more frazzled and all she wanted to do was get the information and leave as quickly as possible.
"Oh, money, I have no objection to exchanging information for money. What do you want to know?"
"What can you tell me about this?" Sydney placed the picture down on the counter-top.
Anya took a look at the picture then stepped back, her face pale. "Uh, err, nothing, I don't know anything about it."
Sydney was unconvinced, "Are you sure?"
"Oh I'm...I'm positive. Never seen that in my life. Like I said, I'm not into any of this occult stuff. I'm a businesswoman. You should ask the guy who used to own this place."
"And where can I find him?"
"England," Anya answered, "He moved to England."
Sydney started to slide the photo into her bag. As she did she noticed that the redhead at the table had closed her book and was watching the exchange between Anya and Sydney. "How about you?" Sydney asked the woman. "Have you ever seen this?" She held up the photo.
"Oh Willow wouldn't know," Anya said before the woman had a chance to reply. "She's just a college student I hired to work part time. She fancies herself a Wiccan. You know the type, runs around talking about the Goddess and has henna in her spice rack. She's in it totally for the fashion statement. Isn't that right Willow?"
"Uh yeah, that's it exactly," Willow stammered. "Anya lets me use the store's library for research projects. I'm a medieval studies major."
Sydney once again returned the photo to her bag. "Ok. I have one more question, what does the phrase 'Chosen One' mean, and who does it refer to?"
"First of all that's two questions, and secondly, I haven't the faintest..." Anya stuttered. "How about you Willow?"
"Me? No, nothing...I mean, it's just a myth."
"What's just a myth?" Sydney demanded. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Anya staring balefully at Willow.
"The Chosen One, it's a myth I came across in a heretical church text.
"What did it say?" Sydney demanded; too forcefully she realized.
"I don't know, it was in a form of Latin I didn't understand, and I was working on something else so I didn't have time to translate it."
Sydney stared at Willow for a long moment. She could tell that both women were lying to her. She knew that Sloane would torture the pair to get the information he wanted. However she was not Sloane and there were other ways to extract information. "Ok, well if either of you happen across, or remember anything about this artifact or the Chosen One give me a call. Here's my card." She placed a fake business card on the counter-top. "Have a nice day." Sydney walked out of the store.
Anya and Willow waited a few minutes before speaking. "We have to call Buffy," Anya declared.
"Why, what was that amulet?" Willow asked.
"It's very bad news," Anya replied. "In a fiery, end of the world sort of way."
"Ok right, we call Buffy."
Buffy sat at her desk in the guidance counselor's office twirling a pencil around in her fingers as she waited for a student seeking guidance when the phone started to ring. The unexpected ringing startled Buffy and made her lose her grip on the pencil, which flew through the air and embedded itself in the door.
"Oops," she said to herself before answering the phone. "This is Buffy."
"Buffy, it's Anya, we have a problem."
"Anya? What is it?"
"A woman was just in here asking questions about the Amulet of Rambaldus."
"The Amulet of what?"
"Rambaldus, he was a demon, a nice enough guy if you overlook the fact that he wanted to bath the world in flames. Anyway, before he could a wizard trapped him in an amulet."
"Ok, Rambaldus bad, got it. Did this mystery person look like she wanted to release him?"
"She claimed she was looking for the amulet for someone else, but who knows. Right, I'm getting to that part," Anya said to someone on her end of the phone. "She also wanted to know what we knew about the 'Chosen One.' Buffy a person asking about the Amulet and you has to be bad news."
"Did you tell her anything?" Buffy asked. Her mind reeled as she processed this new information. Dawn had been right, life had been too quiet, and now that was going to change.
"Of course not."
"Ok, is Willow there?"
"Yeah, she's right here."
"Great, then why don't you two start researching this amulet; call Giles if you have to."
"Ok, what are you going to do?"
Buffy watched as a student walked into her office. "My job. Thanks for the heads up," she told Anya before hanging up the phone. "Now, what can I do for you?" She asked the student.
Los Angeles
Vaughn walked into his office and found a visitor waiting for him. "Oh, you're here, great. First of all thank-you for coming here on such short notice." He shook his visitor's hand and sat down behind his desk. "What I'm about to show you is code-word classified, only a select few know about this. I trust you will handle this information with the discretion it requires. Otherwise, well, you know the consequences." He handed his visitor a folder marked "SD-6." Vaughn waited for his visitor to read the folder. "So Agent Finn, what do you think?"
Riley Finn looked up from the folder, "I guess I have to ask what this has to do with me?"
"We have an operative inside SD-6, Sydney Bristow. Her latest mission for them has sent her to Sunnydale California."
"Did you tell her?"
"No, she wouldn't have believed me, to be I have a hard time believe that story. And it gets worse. Her orders are to find and capture, the Chosen One."
"When do you want me to go?"
"Who said anything about you going in the field," Vaughn innocently said.
"Mr. Vaughn if you agent tries to capture the Slayer there won't be enough left of her to fit in a shoebox, and that's assuming the local nightlife doesn't have her for dinner." Riley stood up and dropped the folder on Vaughn's desk.
"So you're willing to go to Sunnydale?" Vaughn asked.
"I'm the most qualified field agent you have for this mission, I have to go."
"Ok thank-you, but keep in mind that you cannot do anything that might jeopardize Sydney's cover with SD-6. If they realize that she's a double agent she's dead."
Riley nodded, "I understand and I'll be careful."
"Is there any special equipment that you'll need?"
Riley shrugged, "A car, a firearm or two, a crossbow, some white phosphorous."
Vaughn nodded, "They'll be waiting for you when you're ready to leave." He stood up and held out his hand. "Thanks again Agent Finn."
Riley shook the outstretched hand. "I'm just doing my duty Mr. Vaughn." Riley turned and walked out of Vaughn's office.
Sunnydale
That night Sydney walked into a local Sunnydale club called "The Bronze." She had asked around and found out that it was the most popular club in town. Sydney decided to go in part to see if anyone there knew anything that might be useful to her mission, and in part to work out some frustration over what had been a very a very unproductive day. She had found no information about the artifact or the mysterious Chosen One. She decided to stay at the Bronze for a few hours before returning to the Magic Box and planting a few bugs.
Sydney walked up to the bar and ordered a soda. As she sipped on her drink she surveyed the rest of the club. The room was filled with a fairly even mix of college and high school students. Sydney reflected on the fact that if her life had taken a different turn she might have been one of those girls out on the dance floor enjoying their lives. She allowed herself a moment to wonder what it would be like to have a real family, instead of a CIA agent for a father and a murderous KGB operative for a mother. She then remembered all the tragedy that had befallen the residents of this town over the years. "I guess no one has a normal life," she muttered into her cup.
As Sydney scanned the crowd her eyes settled on one couple. It was an older man talking to a younger woman. Normally Sydney would not give the pair a second thought, but there was something about the man that made Sydney uneasy. She watched as they walked towards the rear exit. Sydney set her drink down on the bar and followed the pair out into the alley behind the club.
She let them get far enough ahead of her that they couldn't see her, but she could hear them. A short distance away from the club the pair came to a stop. Sydney crept up on them, using the trash that littered the alley as cover.
Sydney heard footsteps behind her and she crouched low behind a garbage can to avoid being seen. As the footsteps went past her she poked her head up and saw tow other men walk towards the pair she'd been following.
The girl saw the newcomers and her eyes opened wide. "Hey, what is this?" she demanded.
"Relax darling," her "date" said. "I told you we were going to a private party. It's just my friends here are also invited." The girl screamed and tried to run away, but the man laughed and held her tight. "Don't worry sugar, it will only hurt at first. Who knows you might even like it."
The three goons attention was focused on the struggling girl; allowing Sydney an opening. She reached down and picked up a piece of two by four. She was carrying a gun, but she did not want to risk hitting the girl. Also Sydney wanted to teach the threesome a lesson about picking on girls.
Sydney crept up behind the goons with the two by four held in front of her like a sword. She waited until she was right behind the tallest one before making her presence known. She reached out with the board and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hi there," she said with a smile, "let her go."
The large goon turned and smiled, "Oh look, seconds."
Sydney replied by swinging the board at the man, catching him square in the mouth. The man crashed into the alley wall and dropped to the ground. She struck the smaller of the two remaining goons with a quick kick to the abdomen followed with a baseball bat style swing to his head with her club. The board connected with a sickening crunch and the small goon fell down hard. Sydney twirled the board in her hands and drove it straight into the face of the man holding the girl. The force of the impact staggered the man, making him let go of the girl. Sydney pressed on her attack with a low, sweeping kick that knocked the man off of his feet. A quick jab with the board to the would-be rapists temple made sure he stayed down.
Sydney walked over to the girl, who had fallen to her knees. "Are you ok?" She asked.
The girl nodded, "I'm fine, thank-you so much."
Sydney smiled, "No problem, come on let's go get you out of here." Out of the corner of her eye she saw the men starting to stand up. "Quickly, run and don't look back. I'll hold them off." The nodded and sprinted down the alley. "So, you guys want some more?" Sydney taunted as she turned around. She was not overly concerned, there were only three of them and she had been trained to handle many more opponents at once.
"Lady, you just cost us our dinner," the man Sydney had seen in the club said. Sydney took that to mean he was their leader. "I guess that means you get to take her place." Suddenly the man's face shifted into something that wasn't human. A quick glance confirmed that theo ther two had undergone a similar transformation.
At that point Sydney decided that discretion was indeed the better part of valor. She flung her board at the men's legs, knocking them over like bowling pins. Seizing the opportunity Sydney sprinted down the alley in the same direction the girl had taken. As she ran she tugged her pistol out of its holster.
A quick glance behind her confirmed that the three things were hot on her heels. Sydney ran past the door to the Bronze; she did not want to get trapped in a confined space. Instead she headed for a park she remembered seeing not too far from her current location. She burst out of the alley and onto the street. She effortlessly threaded her way through the crowd of people wandering the street.
"With any luck," Sydney thought, "I'll be able to lose them in the park." She turned off of the street and entered the park. Another glance behind her showed that her pursuers were still following her. And much to Sydney's dismay they did not appear to be running out of breath.
Sydney saw a tree a short distance ahead and inspiration struck. She tucked her gun in her waistband and angled towards the tree. As she neared the tree she tensed and leapt for a low-hanging branch. Unfortunately for Sydney the branch was rotten and she feel crashing to the ground. "Ok," she thought, "I shoot it out." She pulled her gun out of her waistband and aimed it at the leader of the trio. "Don't come any closer, or I'll shoot you," she warned.
"Ooh, I'm so scared," the trio's leader sneered. "I dare you, take your best shot." He held open the front of his jacket, egging Sydney on.
Sydney did not reply. Instead she lined up her shot and quickly fired off three rounds. Each bullet found its mark and the threesome fell to the ground, blood blossoming from their heads. Sydney remained stock still with her gun trained at the trio.
To her amazement the leader picked himself up off the ground. "Do you have any idea how much that hurts?" The leader demanded. "I was planning on just feeding on you. Now you're going to beg for death before I'm done with you." He walked towards Sydney, a gaping red hole between his eyes oozed blood. The other two goons started to pick themselves up off the ground as well. The taller one had an eye shot out and the shorter one had a small hole in his forehead..
Sydney fired again, this time she aimed for the kneecaps. "You bitch!" The leader shrieked. "You're going to regret that!" One of the goons threw a large rock at Sydney. She was able to dodge the projectile, but it gave the other two time to advance on Sydney and engage her in hand to hand combat.
Buffy had been on her usual patrol through the park when she heard the sound of gunfire. Concerned Buffy headed towards the source of the noise. She ran until she came to a clearing and what she saw there made her stop and take notice. A woman with long brown hair who looked to be about Buffy's age was fighting with three vampires.
"And not doing too bad a job," Buffy thought to herself as the woman tripped up two of her attackers. "Wow, she's good. Too bad it takes more than just good Kung-fu to take d own three vamps at once." Almost on cue the largest of the three managed his way through Sydney's defenses and knocked her to the ground.
"Hey, did anyone tell you it's not polite to play with your food?" Buffy called out. "For that matter it's not polite to eat people," she added as she walked closer to the group.
"Oh great, another one, what is it with my luck tonight?" the leader whined.
"It just got real lousy cause Miss Manners is here to teach you boys a lesson." Buffy removed a stake from its hiding place and drove it into the chest of the largest vampire. Before it had even turned to dust Buffy had a second stake in her hand and speared the smaller goon.
That was all the lead vampire had to see. He turned and ran away from Buffy. Buffy shrugged and picked up a branch lying on the ground. She hurled it like a javelin at the fleeing vampire. Her makeshift spear skewered the vampire and it disintegrated.
Buffy gathered up her stakes and then went to check on the woman. "Hey, easy there, you took quite a shot to the head." Buffy cautioned the woman as she tried to stand up.
"What happened?" The woman asked Buffy as she rubbed her head.
"You were fighting off a bunch of gang members and one of them got in a lucky punch." Buffy explained, using the old lie to explain the vampires.
"Those weren't gangsters. I emptied a full clip into them," the woman protested.
"They were on PCP, people do weird things on PCP."
"The woman shook her head, "You don't shrug off a headshot." She stared at Buffy. "Who are you?"
"Buffy, Buffy Summers," she held out her hand, "And you are?"
"Sydney Bristow," Sydney replied without thinking. She winced as soon as the words were out of her mouth. "I guess that blow to the head was more severe than I thought," she thought to herself as she shook Buffy's hand. "Your face isn't going to freak out and get all ridgey is it?" she asked Buffy.
Buffy laughed nervously, "Uh no, it's not. Why do you ask?"
"Because that's what those other three did."
"Wow, they really must have cranked you if you're imagining things like that. Why don't we head back to my house so we can put some ice on that bump."
Sydney nodded, the ground did seem to be swaying at a rather unsettling rate. "Yeah, that might not be a bad idea." She tried to take a step, tripped over her own feet, and fell into Buffy's arms.
"Whoa there," Buffy told Sydney, "We'd better get you inside where it's safe." Buffy put and arm around the Sydney's waist and carried the taller woman out of the park. "Somebody needs to cut back on the cheeseburgers," Buffy told the unconscious woman.
Sydney groaned as consciousness stole back to her. She felt something cold pressed against her head. She reached up to see what the source of the cold was and instead touched an arm. Her eyes snapped open and she jerked back in surprise.
She found herself lying on a couch in a pleasantly appointed living room. Sitting on a coffee table next to the sofa was a petite blonde holding an ice pack. Sydney tried to sit up but a sudden wave of nausea prevented her from doing so.
"Easy there," the blonde told Sydney. "You took a pretty bad knock to the head."
Sydney stared at the blonde, she seemed familiar, but Sydney could not quite place the face. "Who are you, where am I?"
The blonde rested a hand on Sydney's chest. "Relax, I'm Buffy, remember, we met in the park."
Sydney thought back and recalled saving the girl in the alley, and then being chased by those whatever they were. She also remembered the mysterious woman who arrived and chase them away. The mysterious woman who was sitting in front of her. "Oh right, Buffy. Thank-you."
"For what?" Buffy asked.
"Saving my life of course. If you ahdn't shown up I don't think I'd be alive right now."
"Oh I didn't do anything, a police car came by and that scared them off. By the time I got to you they were long gone."
Sydney was unconvinced. She had not been knocked out by the goon's blow and she vaguely remembered seeing someone fight off her attackers. She also remembered seeing those attackers turn to dust. Something was not right, and this Buffy knew what was going on. "That's funny," Sydney said, "I don't remember any police sirens."
"You were pretty well out of it when I found you," Buffy assured Sydney. "What I want to know is what were you doing out there? Sunnydale is a dangerous town at night."
"So I've noticed," Sydney quipped. "I'm a grad student at UCLA and I needed to do some research at UC Sunnydale. I was bored so I went to this club called the Bronze, do you know it?"
Buffy nodded, "Yeah I do."
"Well while I was there I saw this guy taking a girl out back where his buddies were waiting. I followed them and broke up their attempted gang rape. Then they changed...and chased me. I tried to lose them in the park, but they caught up with me, and you know the rest."
Buffy was impressed, and troubled, "So what's a grad student doing with such a nice gun?" She held up Sydney's Glock, "And where did you learn to fight so well?" Buffy had only seen on other "grad student" fight so well and that was Riley Finn.
Sydney shrugged, "Have you ever been to LA?" she asked. "The gun was a gift from my dad, and I picked up the martial arts through self-defense classes."
"Really?" Buffy asked as she stared Sydney straight in the eyes.
"Really," Sydney replied as she met Buffy's gaze.
Buffy remained unconvinced but did not see anyway to force the issue. She handed Sydney the gun; the clip was empty so it didn't matter much either way. "I guess this is your then."
"Thanks," Sydney said as she took the gun from Buffy. "And thanks for all your help. Which way to the door?" She asked as she stood up.
"Whoa, where do you think you're going?" Buffy asked.
"Back to my motel," Sydney replied.
"Oh I so don't think so. It's far too dangerous for you to be out there. You can spend the night here."
"And you're sure that won't be a problem?"
"Nah, you can sleep on the couch, it's very comfy."
"Thanks a lot," Sydney was touched by this simple act of generosity. It was something she rarely saw in her line of work.
"Like I said, no problem. WE can sit around in our PJ's and talk about boys," Buffy was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. "Hold that thought." Buffy walked into the hallway to greet the new arrivals.
Sydney took the opportunity to slide a fresh clip into her gun. She might have appreciated Buffy's help, but that did not mean she trusted Buffy.
"Hey guys," Sydney heard Buffy say. "I want you all to meet someone." Buffy walked into the living room leading three other people. Two of whom Sydney had spoken to earlier that day in the magic store.
"I live a cursed life," Sydney thought to herself as Anya and Willow stared at her. She discretely reached her foot out and hook the leg of the table with her ankle.
"Guys this is Sydney. Sydney these are the guys. I found her in the park, she had a run in with some...you know, gang members."
Anya was the first to find her voice. "Sydney my ass. That's the person who came into the store today asking about the amulet, and you. Except she called herself Stephanie then."
Sydney stared at Buffy, the impact of Anya's statement was not lost on her. She had come to Sunnydale in search of an amulet and someone called the "Chosen One," and now here she was, right in front of Sydney. If it wasn't for the fact that her cover was blown Sydney would have been overjoyed.
"Mind explaining yourself?" Buffy asked Sydney, the threat of violence heavy in her voice.
"This must look pretty bad doesn't it?" Sydney asked, trying to keep Buffy off guard.
"You have no idea. Now tell me who you are before I get really mad."
Sydney didn't see anyway out other than a fight. She snapped her leg up and in a powerful kick that sent the coffee table smashing into Buffy's face. The blonde fell backwards, staggered by the blow. Sydney leapt up from the couch and took out Anya with a quick punch. A sweeping kick to the midsection knocked Willow across the room. The redhead hit the wall and slid to the ground. The third person who had arrived was a man with slightly curly brown hair. Sydney pulled her gun from its holster and pointed at his forehead.
"Don't even try to follow me," she warned him.
"Believe me, I'll be too busy cleaning my soiled undergarments," the man stammered in reply.
"Let's just make sure you don't," Sydney said as she swung the pistol at his head. The weapon connected with the side of his head and he slumped to the ground.
"That was pretty good," Buffy said. Sydney spun around and saw that Buffy had picked herself up off the ground. "But now it's my turn." Sydney broke for the door but Buffy easily caught her. Buffy grabbed Sydney by the arm and pulled her close. Sydney was surprised by the strength Buffy possessed. "Nighty-night," Buffy told Sydney before head-butting her.
Buffy dragged the unconscious woman across the room and deposited her into a chair. While her friends regained their senses Buffy tied the stranger to the chair.
"What ws that all about?" Willow groaned as she stood up.
"I don't know, but I say we beat it out of her," Anya suggested.
"You meet the most fun people Buffy," Xander quipped as he rubbed his head.
Buffy finished tying Sydney down and took a step back. "Well anyone have any ideas beyond beatings?"
"Beatings are a perfectly valid option," Anya protested.
The front door banged open and Daw went running past. "Hi guys, have to do my homework, bye guys."
Willow watched as Dawn dashed upstairs, "Ah youth," she commented. "Well, we could brew a truth potion."
"Perfect, ho long would it take you to get it ready?" Buffy asked.
"About an hour, the potion takes a while to set," Willow replied.
"Ok, you get started on that. We'll keep an eye on the prisoner," Buffy ordered. Willow wlaked into the kitchen while Buffy, Anya and Xander sat down in front of Sydney.
"Who do you think she works for?" Xander asked. "The Council, the Initiative?"
Buffy shook her head, "No, she didn't know about vampires, and she obviously didn't know who I am. No, she's with somebody else."
The doorbell rang, causing Anya and Xander to jump in their seats, "Oh great, it's probably a door to door salesman and we're going to have a zany, screwball adventure to keep him from seeing her," Xander moaned.
"Anya, go answer the door and make whoever it is go away," Buffy instructed the former vengeance demon.
"Alright, but if it's a Polgara demon you're in big trouble," Anya said as she stood up and walked towards the door.
"What I want to know is this," Xander said, "Why would a person with no knowledge of vampires be looking for the Slayer?"
"I don't know," Buffy replied, "But I intend to find out."
Anya stuck her head into the living room. "Uhh Buffy, you're going to want to come out here."
"Why?" Buffy asked. She warily stood up.
"Trust me, you want to come out here."
"What is it?" Buffy asked as she walked into the front hallway.
"There's someone here to see you," Anya said before ducking into the living room.
Buffy faced the door and stared in surprise. "Oh, it's you."
Riley Finn stood in the doorway, "Buffy, we need to talk."
To be continued