Power; Part 9
"What was it about Buffy?"
"Uh, I don't remember."
"Yes you do, you're just saying that so we leave you alone."
"Damn, Cordy. You got me. Okay, I do remember most of it."
"Well? What happened?"
"Uh, I was in the high school, running from Angelus, I ran into Rouge Faith, ran away from her, ran into Spike, Willow came and told him that I was making her sad. He chased me and in all the rooms, the rest of you were vamps eating another me. Then I ran into Dawn and she fed from me and poured her blood down my throat and then I woke up. Nothing big really."
"Unless it's one of those prophetic dreams, then it could be telling us what's going to happen."
"You don't really think that could happen do you?"
"Hello? We live on the Hellmouth, where anything's possible, remember?"
"Sorry Will, I just forgot."
"So, Buff, when's this guy coming for there, uh, bodies?"
"Around noon I think Giles said."
"How much longer? Cause' the dead bodies are really creeping me out."
"Gunn, you're such a wimp."
"Shut up Harris"
---
"Is that him?"
"Yeah, Dawn, go and keep the girls up there please."
"Sure."
Buffy opened the door and saw a young man with a clipboard.
"You Ms. Summers?"
"Yes. Are you the guy Giles sent to collect the bodies?"
"That would be me. Come in guys." He signaled to some men behind him and they walked in with stretchers.
"They're over there." Buffy pointed them in the right direction and they were moving past her.
"Sign here please, so we have proof the bodies were collected."
"Oh, sure." Buffy signed the paper quickly and handed him back the clipboard.
"Thanks, Sorry for your loses." He condoled Buffy as the six men carried out the body shaped stretchers.
"Thank you." She shut the door on the man when the other men had left.
"Buffy? Are you okay?'
"I'm fine Dawnie. Just a little scared."
"Okay." Dawn gave her sister a reassuring smile and went back into the room with Madison and Bailey.
---
"Is it time? Can I go now?"
"Be patient. Give me a few more minutes."
"What for?"
"To sharpen these stakes for you."
"But I had a stake last night and it was fine and what happened to that?"
"I used it as firewood."
"Well that was smart."
"Don't get cheeky with me. I'm the one who decides what time you have to be home."
Paige quieted down and sat, fidgeting, on the couch while April sharpened the last stake.
"There, now you have three stakes, an axe, a crossbow and a cross. You ready?"
"Ooh yes. I wanna go!"
"Bag." April chucked her the bag from beside the fire and Paige caught it.
"Got everything?"
"Uh huh."
"Be back before eleven."
"Got it. See you later."
Paige closed her eyes and gripped the bag straps tightly, while she spun into the not so dark, darkness.
There was a thud and some scampering and Paige opened her eyes and looked at where she had landed.
"Uh, do you mind? Kind of crushed here."
"Huh?"
"I'm under you. Get off me please."
"Oh, god. I'm so sorry. I haven't fully learnt how to land, Tyler? Well, this just gets more and more awkward." Paige blushed as she stepped off Tyler and gave him her hand to stand up.
"Well, at least I don't have to worry about you standing me up. You can do magic?"
"You know about magic?"
"Yeah. I've tried a bit, didn't work great, and I have a friend whose pretty good with it. How come you just appeared on top of me?"
"It wasn't supposed to happen. I guess you sort of popped into my thoughts while I was coming here and it decided to drop me on top of you. And this is really awkward." Paige blushed again and looked at her shoes.
"Nah, forget it. So you're a witch?"
"Uh, no. Just pretty good at transporting myself places."
"Don't you live in England?"
"Yes."
"And now you're in LA?"
"Yes. You think I'm totally mad, don't you?"
"No. I know there are things that are, um, out of this world, in this world. Me being a pretty big part of them."
"How so?"
"Come on. Let's get something to eat and I'll tell you some more."
"Okay sure." Paige followed Tyler out of the alley and onto a crowed street. He took her hand and led her through the crowds of people to a little takeaway joint.
"What do you want? I'm buying."
"Tyler, I couldn't."
"Do you have any American money on you?"
"Well, uh no."
"Then I'm buying. Order."
Paige ordered a cheeseburger and coke and Tyler ordered the same.
The waitress returned with their food and they chewed it in silence for a few minutes.
"You are human right?"
"Yes. Normal human girl, aside from being able to transport myself from place to place. You are right?"
"Yes. But I fight un-human things."
"Like a demon hunter?"
"Something like that."
"Explain."
"I fight demons and vampires and darkness, because my other younger sister was killed by a law firm, Wolfram and Hart. She was part of some ritual and that ritual involved killing her. There's this guy, Wesley, he helped me find her body after she was killed and told me about vampires and demons. He helps me out now and then and I store most of his weapons for him."
"Wolf-fram and-d Hart?" Paige stuttered and looked scared.
"Yeah, heard of them?"
"Sounds, uh familiar. Wesley, is that Wesley Wydnam-Pryce?"
"Yeah, know him too?"
"He was the guy I saw last night."
"Cool. So you going to find your brother again tonight?"
"Yeah, new address to check out."
"Cool. Want some company?"
"Sure, that'd be, nice." She smiled weakly at him and took a sip of the flat coke.
They finished their meal, Paige tried to make conversation but it was awkward.
Tyler paid and they walked out into the now not so busy street.
"Show me the address."
"Sure." Paige fumbled for the address and showed it to him.
"Oh, I know where that is. Come on." She followed him down roads and through people until he stopped in front of a huge hotel.
"That's it?"
"Yeah. Want me to come inside with you?"
"No, I'll be okay. Wait here though." Tyler nodded and leaned against the gate.
Paige followed the path and pushed open the glass door.
"Hello? Anyone home? Brandon? Anyone?"
She entered further and saw couches thrown around and glass smashed all over the floor.
She stepped over the glass and winced at the noise it made beneath her feet.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
"What do you want?" The voice was gruff and scratchy and made Paige jump.
"I, uh, I'm looking for my brother, Brandon Hart. I was given this address as his last known address in LA."
"Yeah, well he doesn't live here any more sweetheart, so why don't you just clear off."
"Jeez, you LA people are so rude. Do you know where he's gone now?"
"Who?"
Paige sighed loudly. "My brother, Brandon Hart."
"Sunnydale, sweetie. Where else would he want to go."
"Okay, that's a start. Where about's in Sunnydale?"
"Don't know. Somewhere with his Fathie and the broody vamp and seer and broody's son. Find them yourself."
"Well, thank you. You've been such a big help." Paige left the smashed up room and pushed open the door to leave. "Not." She muttered it so quietly it was almost silent and she was sure he hadn't heard.
"Bad things are coming sweetie. Help stop them. Please." His voice was pleading and Paige quickly walked out the glass door, hearing it slam behind her.
"Any luck?"
"He's in Sunnydale apparently."
"You don't want to go to Sunnydale. That's the Hellmouth."
"Yeah, I know."
"So, still want to go?"
"Yeah. Tonight. How do I get there? Oh, duh."
"Are you sure you're strong enough? Magic of that kind can wipe you out if you aren't strong enough."
"Don't worry, I've been learning. I can handle the power now."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Okay, see you tomorrow night?"
"Sure, I'll try and land near you. If I don't by 8, meet me outside here, okay? Oh, wait. Better idea. You come with me."
"Can you do that?"
"There's a time for everything. Ready?"
"Paige, I don't think.,.."
She reached out and gripped his arm tightly. "I don't know exactly how this works, so please hold on and focus on Sunnydale."
"Okay."
They were silent and both trying to see Sunnydale in their mind's eye. Tyler felt himself spinning and saw lots of darkness.
Paige felt herself spinning very fast and the darkness was stronger than it had been on the trip here.
They spun and Paige felt Tyler grip her hand so tight she could have screamed.
A loud thud echoed in Paige's ears and she felt concrete underneath her.
"Tyler?"
"Right here. Or I think I am. Might have lost my stomach somewhere on the trip."
"Are you okay? All in one piece?"
"Yeah. How are you?"
"Little drained, but I'll be fine." Paige eased herself off the cold ground and looked around. "Where are we?"
"Sunnydale. Look" He pointed to the large 'Welcome To Sunndydale' sign that stood in front of them.
"Guess we'll have to walk the rest of the way into town."
"Paige, are you sure you're okay?"
"Happens' when I transport. It'll wear off. Let's get going. We don't know how long it is till town."
They walked off into the direction of Sunnydale on the side of the road.
---
Starbucks, Sunnydale
Willow's eyes glazed over white and then she blinked back to normal.
"Red, what is it? Why did your eyes go all white?"
"It's her. Her power. It's in town; close I can feel her. Her power's strong and she's hurting."
"Taylor?"
"Yes."