Twist of Fate: Chapter 16
by Lisette
Legalese: See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and ratings.
Impatiently Miss Parker tapped a hard nail against her thigh, her gaze ticking back and forth between the quickly scrolling information on the computer monitor and the man that sat before it. "Any day now, Broots," she hissed, her eyes jumping back to the empty room behind them. "You said that you had something for me."
"I do," Broots murmured, his eyes never leaving the computer screen. "The decryption is heavy but I think I-"
"Well stop thinking and get moving," she murmured, her eyes once more darting behind them, ensuring that they were still alone. Angelo's visit to her office that morning have left her with a deep feeling of unease that she had been unable to shake all day. The guy always managed to creep her out with his empty eyes and mumbled words, but today had been worse then normal. Despite many threats to his livelihood, he refused to leave until Parker had heard him out. And so she had.
"Warrior hurt."
"Warrior?" Miss Parker murmured, her skepticism evident as she arched a perfectly rounded eyebrow at his rumpled appearance. "What in the hell are you on about now? What Warrior?"
"Warrior hurt," Angelo repeated insistently, his hands shaking as they ran through his wild, unkempt hair. "Need Daughter's help. Need Friend."
Stilling, Miss Parker turned away from the file that she had been perusing, her eyes narrowing on the man. "Who needs help, Angelo? Who needs my help?" she asked again, slowly walking forward until her eyes bore down into his own. Despite his ramblings, she knew by now that she was known to him as Daughter... and that Jarod was Friend. "Who needs our help?"
But whatever clarity Angelo had gained that had brought him to her, begging for help, had obviously fled in that minute. As his eyes dulled, the man slowly turned and began stumbling away. "Bad man hurt Warrior... hurt her," he muttered before shuffling from her office. And it was those final words.. the last two, that stuck with her more than anything. Hurt her. Her.
"Broots, I want to know what my brother dearest has been up to, and I wanted to know yesterday," she muttered, her eyes assuring once more that the computer room remained empty.
"I know, I know, I... got it!" Broots quickly cried out, shifting forward into his chair as the computer issued a soft beep before information began pouring down his screen, so quickly that she was unable to follow. "According to this, Lyle has been working on a project by the codename of Aradia-"
"Aradia," Miss Parker interrupted, a slim finger tapping against her chin. "In Italian myth, Aradia was an earth goddess - the daughter of Diana and Lucifer," she murmured, her eyes focusing beyond anything in the room. "She was given the mission of teaching witches their craft and how to strike back against their persecutors..." she murmured, her voice trailing away into silence.
"Sounds vicious," Broots murmured, "but witches?" he asked, his confusion evident.
"Yes, Wiccan lore," Miss Parker confirmed, the faraway look slowly fading from her eyes as she took in Broots' skepticism. "I learned much more in my boarding school than reading, writing, and arithmetic," she said by way of explanation before slowly turning back to the information on the screen. "But why Lyle would choose this as his project name..."
"I don't pretend to understand why Mr. Lyle does the things that he does," Broots countered, his eyes returning to the computer screen before him, "but this Aradia project has been keeping him busy for quite some time."
"Well what is it?" Miss Parker demanded, forcing away the ghosts of memories that plagued her.
"I'm not sure," Broots admitted, his eyes scanning the vague information. "But there does seem to be some footage attached-" he began, his voice cutting off as the video filled the screen. Instantly both became captivated by the black and white image of the young woman who was fighting a massive grizzly bear for her life. And what was more astounding was the fact that the girl was winning.
"I know her," Miss Parker murmured, an image of the girl's determined face filling the monitor's screen as Broots paused the film. "I've seen her before," she added, trying to place the girl's face to some nagging memory that refused to come to light. Biting her lip, Miss Parker slowly leaned forward, a small finger tracing the curve of the girl's chin. "When was this taken?" she asked, her voice soft as she slowly abandoned the thought, knowing that it would come to her in time.
"Three weeks ago," Broots supplied as the video came to an end.
"Is there more?"
"Y.. yes, but they're still heavily decoded. It's going to take some-"
"Then do it," Miss Parker interrupted, her lips a thin and uncompromising line as she turned and stalked from the room - the girl's haunted eyes never leaving her vision as she hurried across the vast lobby of the Centre. So much so that she was taken by surprise by the person who seized her elbow in a merciless hold, painfully pulling her to a dark corner of the lobby. Wincing, Miss Parker angrily pulled her arm towards her, her eyes glittering dangerously... until they locked on her brother's furious countenance.
"I know what you're doing," he hissed, surprising her with his vehemence.
Startled, Miss Parker allowed her fear to show for the briefest of moments before she quickly crossed her arms across her chest, her eyes meeting his glare for glare. "Walking to my office? Astute observation," she bit back, her voice carrying a bit louder than she had intended.
Quickly sending any curious observers a harsh glare, Lyle leaned in closer, bending until their faces were inches apart. "Did you really think that Broots could get into those files without me knowing? Without tripping any alarms?"
Off her guard once again, Miss Parker hesitated only briefly before jumping on the offensive. "Who is she?" she demanded, her voice a soft hiss.
"You don't recognize her?" Lyle countered, a small smile lifting his lips. "After that little girl managed to allow your precious Pretender to escape, I thought hers would be a face that you would never forget."
In an instant, the memory snapped into place and Miss Parker felt herself flounder in confusion. "What's she doing here?" she demanded, stalking forward so that Lyle had to back away. "Is this what you've been so wrapped up in these last few months?"
"Stay out of it," Lyle muttered, his eyes warning her not to argue. "This is none of your concern. You need to focus on finding Jarod, and on Jarod alone. And that's an order," he added, his voice carrying the obvious threat. But as the glitter in his sister's eyes only intensified, Lyle knew that his warning had done the very opposite effect that he had wanted. Now, she was only encouraged to meddle more. Sighing, he quickly changed tactics as his sneer melted into a charming smile. "Listen, the girl plays a purpose."
"What purpose?" Miss Parker demanded, not fooled for an instant by her brother's act.
"You'll find out soon enough," Lyle countered, his smile broadening. "And besides, if you promise to keep your nose where it belongs... well, there might be something in it for you.
"What could you possibly have to offer me?" Parker scoffed, her eyebrows disappearing under her perfectly styled hair. "Besides, perhaps, your permanent exit from my life?"
"How about your freedom?" Lyle murmured, his voice so soft that his sister unconsciously bent forward to hear him better. And as her eyes widened slightly, he knew that she understood. "I know about your deal with our Father," he continued, his voice low, "and in his absence, I'm willing to honor it. You get Jarod back and you're free from the Centre. Free to leave and go wherever the hell you want as long as it's far away from here."
"And what does this have to do with the girl?" Parker asked, her mind spinning from his words.
"She's going to be the one to get him back and set you free... now do we have a deal? Will you stop your digging?"
For another second the sight of the girl's haunted eyes swam before her vision before Miss Parker quickly pushed it down to someplace deep inside, instead being replaced by the vision of Tommy's smiling face. He had wanted for her to be free. She wanted to be free. To be free of this place and the horrors that it filled her with. And with this small little deal, she could finally have her freedom.
"Do we have a deal?" Lyle repeated, his tone insistent.
"We have a deal," Miss Parker murmured, her voice low as she turned away and walked towards her office on stiff legs. As a deep coldness invaded her body, she tried to fight the feeling that she had just sold her soul to the Devil himself.
"Be right back," Oz murmured, leaning in to kiss Willow lightly on the cheek before hurrying into the club. Sighing, Willow slowly crossed her arms, hoping to ward off the chill as she leaned back against the open back doors of the van. It had been a long night, and uncharacteristically as of late, a slow one. In a hope to save his suffering club, the owner of the Bronze booked the Dingoes that night in a failed attempt to draw in some business.. a very failed attempt. In the months since the Slayer had disappeared and the town had become a haven for those undead and decidedly evil, the citizens of Sunnydale had finally wised to the fact that the night was not a good place to be roaming - even while in the midst of large groups of people. And tonight, in honor of their first gig in ages, the Scoobies had put off their ever-necessary patrol to support their friend. An act that Willow was sure her boyfriend appreciated, even if he had a strange and noncommittal way of showing it.
"Willow, is that you?"
Surprised, Willow straightened and quickly stuck her hand in her large coat pocket, instinctively tightening her hold on the cross she always kept with her... at least always since... since then. Turning, she peered in the darkened alley, eyes searching for the face that went with the strangely familiar voice. And as the person finally stepped into the weak light of a nearby streetlamp, Willow felt her tension only heighten. "Harmony?" she asked, her voice betraying her confusion as she hesitantly took a step away from the other girl.
"It is you!" Harmony quickly gushed, hurrying into the light, her blonde hair glinting in the fluorescent lighting. "God, it's been ages! How've you been?"
"Uh... busy," Willow murmured, her eyes quickly raking past the girl, searching desperately for a sign of Oz or her friends. "And you?" she asked automatically, biting her lip as she realized that she was utterly and completely alone with the other girl. Giles would have her head if he knew that they had unwittingly broken the Scooby gang cardinal rule: never be left alone. And of course, the one time that the rule was forgotten would be the one time that she would be cornered by a bubbly, ex-cheerleader and decidedly undead blonde bimbo.
"Oh, you know.. dead," Harmony responded nonchalantly as her face shifted and she darted forward, swatting away Willow's cross before she even had it pulled from her pocket.
Crying out, Willow felt a cold hand squeeze her throat as she was shoved painfully until her back collided with the hard brick wall of the Bronze. Gasping, she could do nothing as Harmony leaned forward and sunk her teeth into Willow's unyielding flesh, a muffled scream of pain escaping her lips. As her vision became clouded and pain radiated from the wound, Willow became lost in the sensation of her life essence being drained away - only to blink stupidly as Harmony quickly stumbled away, freeing her from her painful hold.
"Willow, are you alright?"
Gasping, Willow weakly lifted a hand to her blood-smeared neck, wincing against the pain as she turned her stunned eyes away from Harmony's hissing countenance and focusing on Oz's worried face, a large cross brandished before him and holding the vampire at bay.
"Willow, are you alright?" he repeated, the worry more than evident in his voice as he quickly moved to her side, gently wrapping one arm around her slim waist as the other continued to hold the cross in the demon's face.
"Y.. yes," she stammered, leaning heavily against his shoulder. But whatever else she was to say was forgotten as the alley was suddenly swarmed with large, bulky men in green camos and large guns. Unable to stop her small yelp of surprise, she quickly drew back with Oz as the guys surrounded Harmony, their guns unwavering.
It wasn't the first time that the Scooby gang had encountered the commandos, but seeing as how they seemed to be just as eager to stop the flood of evil in the town, neither group bothered with the other. Without their intervention, they all knew that by now the town surely would have been lost. Nothing seemed to scare the evil that flooded the Hellmouth since the Slayer had disappeared. Nothing and no one.
"Sir," one of the men spoke, his hooded face nodding back at Willow and Oz. "The girl's been bitten. She needs to be taken into quarantine - she might be infected," he continued as several of the men broke from the group and began advancing on the two. Crying out again, Willow struggled back as Oz placed himself protectively before her, dropping his cross and eyes desperately searching for a weapon of some sort.
"Infected?" Xander's voice asked, ringing out in the dark alleyway as he and Giles melted out from the shadows, quickly flanking Oz and standing protectively in front of Willow. Snorting derisively, Xander raised his crossbow and aimed it at the advancing men, causing them to quickly raise their weapons and aim in turn. "Not that I'm not grateful for the help, but don't you even have the slightest idea of what it is that you guys hunt each night?"
"Xander," Giles murmured, his voice carrying a warning as he eyed the many guns that were trained in their direction.
"No Giles, they should know," Willow countered, her eyes locking on the brown eyes of the leader - his face hidden behind his mask. "They should know that they're capturing vampires."
"And vampires can't infect people and make them vampires unless, after drinking from the victim until that person is near death, that person then drinks the vampire's blood. Goodbye soul, hello demon replacement," Xander continued, a weary grin lifting his lips. "So as you can see, my friend here is not infected and is very much of the living variety."
Sighing, Giles slowly lowered his weapon, his gaze sweeping over the many guns that remained trained on their position. Nodding slightly, he waited for Xander to mimic his movements before turning his tired eyes to the evident leader of this squad. "We know that without your aid the town would have been lost months ago - we fight on the same side. Don't change that."
The man contemplated Giles' words for many minutes before he nodded his head, almost imperceptibly, before turning back to their captive. "Take the Hostile and move out," he ordered, his tone brooking no room for argument. And with that, the small group of men were gone, melting back into the shadows until the leader remained. "We, too, are aware of your efforts and actions. If you stay out of our way, then we will continue to do likewise," he said softly before turning and jogging after his men, leaving the Scoobies alone once again.
"Hey, Oz - whoa!" Devon whispered as he came to an abrupt halt, his departure from the Bronze having gone unnoticed as his eyes locked on the deadly-looking weapons being held by Xander and Giles - and vainly attempting to be hidden soon after. "What'd I miss?" he asked, his eyes darting away from the weapons to lock on his bassist's eyes.
"Groupies," Oz replied, shrugging his shoulders absently as he turned away from his band member and pulled Willow's hand away from her neck, inspecting the bloody wound.
"Nasty," Devon commented, eyeing the mess with wide eyes.
"Truly," Oz agreed as Devon shrugged in reply and opened the door to the Bronze.
"That's everything. Later," he called before disappearing into the club once again.
Sighing, Giles slowly moved forward and took Willow gently by the arm. "Let's get you back to my apartment and checked out. I think this has been enough action for one night," he added, his eyes wearily taking in the dark night. Nodding, the group did as directed, Oz gently helping Willow into the van... all save one. Seeing this, Giles turned back and quietly stood beside the young man, taking in his small frown and the strange glint in his eyes. "Xander?" he asked, waiting for the boy's eyes to turn to him.
"You know," Xander began, his gaze never straying from the shadowed corners of the alley, "I haven't seen Harmony since she attacked that guy at the beginning of this summer."
"The man from the hospital? Who was running from... his friends?" Giles asked, remembering that night all too well.
"Yeah... I guess I never really forgot it. It was right before I left for my road trip... one of the last night's that I went on patrol with Buffy," he murmured, his voice trailing away as he slowly shook his head and began moving towards the van.
Sighing, Giles wearily lifted a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose. Now he recognized the strange glint in the young man's dark eyes - a look that he recognized in his eyes all too often. It was a glint of resignation and loss - of acceptance of what they had lost so many months ago. What, unwillingly, they were all beginning to believe was lost to them forever. The one thing, and only thing, that would once again make their tiny, broken little group whole. Not the Slayer. Just Buffy. Just their Buffy.