Willow gave a small groan as she shifted another box in the houses attic. It thumped loudly as she dropped it on the ground, sending up years of collective dust into the air.
She absently blew her hair out of her face as she checked the box.
"Got an.... Encyclopedia set."
"Box of records" Xander replied absently as he leafed through the assorted music atrocities.
"Man this guy was into the classics... Bach, Beethoven, Meatloaf" He said to himself absently before pulling out a moody blues album.
"Who would have thought someone would of had so much junk in their attic?" Willow asked as she looked around the attic.
The attic was full of old furniture, a couple of headless manikins and a birdcage. One entire corner was filled with boxes and another had paintings staked up against the wall.
Sunlight was filtering into the room through the hole in the roof. Normally, Xander had the hole covered with a piece of tarp but they needed the light, since the wiring was faulty and not a single globe would work.
"They probably didn't believe in throwing anything out, my grandpa was like that.... Hello, what do we have here?" Xander exclaimed as he pulled out a frame. Willow looked over curiously to see several, distinct military medals in the frame. Xander also pulled out a couple of framed black and white pictures of several soldiers. They were laughing and smoking in what looked to be a ruined building.
"I wonder which one he was?" She asked sadly as she was reminded of the reality that the house they were currently... well not occupying, but owning, belonged to a war vet. Someone who survived war just to be made a meal back home.
"Not sure" Xander replied as he pulled an old pair of fatigues out of the bottom of the box and stared at them solemnly. He put them back in after a moment and scanned the piled boxes before idly flipping a couple away. On clanged as it hit the floor, and a few tarnished knives and forks popped out.
Xander finally found what he was looking for and pulled a long wooden box out from under the pile. It was about 4ft long and 1 wide and made out of a scared, stained pine.
Xander found a couple of clasps on the side and popped it open. A rifle and pistol sat in neat recesses.
"Woah" Willow exclaimed softly as she peered at the almost antique weapons.
"No kiddin" Xander replied, carefully pulling the pistol out of it's recess and examining it. It smelt of metal and oil.
"I wonder what kind they are?" he asked absently as he looked it over.
Willows watched started beeping suddenly, and she almost swore as she looked at the time.
"We'll find out later Xan. I gotta go." She exclaimed as she rushed over and grabbed her books and bag from against the wall.
"Hey, it's cool. Hair dressers right? Ring you tonight?" He asked as she made for the stairs.
"Sure" She gave him a quick kiss "See ya"
Xander smiled as he watched her go before returning to the guns. He looked at them for a short while before pulling them up and handling them slightly. Boyishly he pretended to shoot the broken lights out with them before he placed them carefully back in the case. He popped the case up on a rafter out of sight.
"Might as well go for a run" He said absently to himself as he put the tarp back up and dusted himself off. He started for the stairs before stopping and heading back to the boxes. He reached down and pulled the pictures of soldiers out of the box.
He just stared at them for a moment. Trying to imagine what it had been like, who they had been.
He popped the picture up on the desk before leaving.
******
The next day. 10:45 am
Willow groaned as she and Cordelia arrived at Sunnydale high. Again.
They were just returning from the bronze after meeting up this morning. Returning because Cordelias' boyfriend had forgotten to take the gear over to the bronze yesterday afternoon.
Normally she wouldn't be too annoyed. She knew Kevin was kind of lax and had probably forgotten. No biggy. But what was grating on her nerves was Cordelia. On and on she went, and it was either Kevin is so sweet or Kevin is such a moron. Couldn't the girl make up her mind ?
She was seriously starting to think that being ignored by Cordelia was better than being noticed.
Heck, it was better.
" Oh, Kevin said he'd bring everything to the bronze last night. He promised! We'll never get everything ready on time now"
" Dont worry Cordy. He probably just forgot. It's really not that big a deal." Willow explained, trying to get her to calm down.
"Uh, you dont understand...." Cordelia told her giving her a dumb look " I'm not mad. He totally flaked on me. On me! And I dont even care. God help me, I think it's cute"
Willow should have noticed something was wrong when Crytex dropped of a couple of steps back. She should have noticed from the faint smell that she had slowly begun to recognize as death over the previous months.
But she was human. She wasn't on watch 24/7. So it shocked her.
"There they are!" Cordelia explained as they walked up to the av room. "They're watching cartoons. Thats so cu.... That's not cute. That's annoying. I'm annoyed"
Willow noticed the bloody handprint on the TV and slowly she focused on the room. An icy chill ran through her as she realized what had happened. She grabbed Cordy by the arm.
"Come on, I uh..... need to show you something Cordy" The shock had entered Willows voice and it was obviously a lie. Cordy looked at her strangely, before snatching her arm back from Willows surprisingly strong grip.
"Geez, cling much?! You can show me later. I need to 'council' my boyfriend on his conduct" Cordelia told her cattily as she strode on. Willow darted on ahead of her and put her self between Cordy and the door way.
"Cordy no, You dont want to...." Willow knew her efforts to save the girl from the sight had failed as Cordelia's mouth slowly opened with shock and a hand went up to her mouth. She silently stared onward, staring at the carnage.
Willow herself turned and looked fully at the scene. She felt a scream rise in her throat but all it came out as was a whimper. She had seen the dead before when her and Xander arrived too late. Seen the victims of a vampires draining.
She had begun to feel she was tough enough to look upon them and not toss her cookies, not lose her cool, not scream and run.
She had yet to see though, Vampires play with their food. And she found herself dearly lacking. For right now she wanted to do all of those things
Cordelias scream broke the silence.
*******
Xander looked at the cut in the timber he had just made and smiled. He was currently in the houses garage cutting some lengths of timber to repair a window frame. Since he wasn't going running with Willow today, on account of the dance and her helping Cordelia, he had decided to come up to the house and do some more work.
He made a small mark on the panel and placed it in the bench vice before picking up a plane. He was just about to start when he sensed Crytex approaching. He smiled, maybe he and Willow would be able to spend the morning together after all.
* Xander! Willow needs you * Crytex spouted out as she rushed through the garage door.
Xanders face quickly changed to concern as he hastily dropped his tool on the bench and headed out the garage, almost braking the garage door as he slammed it in his haste to get to Willow.
"Where is she? What happened?" He asked as he started bolting down the drive. Glyndaf and Crytex kept pace easily.
* She's at the school. Vampires broke into the school last night and killed a group of students.... They mutilated the corpses. Willow and Cordelia found the bodies *
"Shit!" Xanders worry doubled and he put on another burst of speed and urged himself to go faster.
*******
Xander arrived just as the first ambulance did. He didn't stop running though. He crunched through the front doors without slowing down as he sped towards Willow. Close enough now to feel the cold shock of her thoughts.
She was sitting on the cold grey chairs that were spaced between lockers. Eye's wide, face emotionless, she stared into nothing. Cordy was laying down next to her. Crying. Willow was cradling her head in her lap. Autonomously stroking the taller girls hair. Cordys eye liner had smeared.
Willow looked up at hearing his pounding footfalls. She stared at him blankly as he got closer. Her emotionless mask fell away from her as he reached her. Her thin drawn lips quivering open, her eye's frowning as tears rushed to the fore. She reached out like a helpless toddler and he reached back and hugged her to his chest. Her heavy sobs wracking both their bodies. He felt Cordelia's arm snake around his shoulders and he spared and arm to wrap around her shoulders as her tears came anew.
He linked into their minds though they didn't know in their sadness. He shared it with them, the sadness. And with the sharing he lessened it.
The first paramedics rushed past.
*******
"They're all dead" Xander just nodded.
"They're gone. People we grew up with... People we talked to... They're just gone... I talked to them yesterday. I'll never be able to... to do that ever again...."
Xander nodded. There wasn't much he could say. So he just nodded
"They took them away from us Xan... Just like Jesse. It shouldn't have happened... not again. Not to people we know. Thats why we have our powers, so this wouldn't happen... It's our..." Willows voice slid between grief and anger as she tried to decide what she felt. When it turned on herself ...
"Dont say that! Don't you ever say that..." Xander gripped her tightly by the arms and stared into her eye's. "Will... Do you honestly believe we can save them all? Our powers aren't here so we can save them. We have our powers because of who we save, because of the fighting we do that saves people. We do everything we can, but we cant do everything. People die everyday, everywhere. Lifes unfair... It isn't our job to save lives Willow. But we do it anyway. We just have to think of the ones we do save."
Willow stared back at him.
"Who are you trying to convince?" Willow told him before breaking down into tears and hugging herself to him again. Xander put his arms around her again and gently rubbed her hair and back.
Willow was right. He did feel responsible, he did feel it was his fault. No matter how much he shrouded it with common sense, he felt at fault. He finally understood how Buffy felt.
The power to save yet not save them all.
"We do everything we can Will, thats why we fight"
*******
Buffy came later on that day. Xander let her and Willow talk in private, but he kept close. Never severing the link he kept with Willow. It kept her from feeling most of the grief and stopped Xander from killing one of the paramedics that kept asking if he was ok. It balanced them both out.
He couldn't believe this had happened. He knew these people. They shouldn't have died. It stirred something within him. Twisted in him like a wound. And scared him.
By god it scared him. What he was feeling.
He was scared by what he was feeling. Sure he felt grief over his dead friends. What scared him wasn't that, or fear for other friends. It was the fact that it wasn't his overriding feeling. Wasn't what was affecting him the most.
He was scared because he was feeling disappointment and anger. Because he hadn't been here for the fight.
Because he hadn't been here to make offerings to Him.
*******
Later that night
Xander pounded the bag in his garage hard, trying to leave everything behind. He didn't want to think about today. So he was losing himself in some violence. Not the healthiest thing to do but it worked.
Thump. Thump thump thump.
He and Willow had decided not to go to the dance tonight. Neither really feeling up to interacting with others. Instead he was going to meet up with her later so they could release some pent up emotion on some unlucky vampires.
Thump. THUMP!. Thump thump thump thump. Ring......... ring.
'Stupid phone' Xander thought wiping himself off and going inside to grab the phone.
"Hello?"
*******
The library
"Okay, so this master guy tried to open the Hellmouth. But he got stuck in it, and now all the signs are reading that he's gonna get out, which opens the Hellmouth, which brings the demons, which ends the world" Ms Calendar repeated to make sure she had it right.
"Yes, that uh about sums it up" Giles replied as he bundled together a bunch of weapons.
"The part that gets me though is where Buffy is the vampire slayer. She's so little." Jenny said some what disbelievingly.
"Do you know how to get in touch with this, uh, Brother Luca chap?"
"Hmmm. as far as I can tell, no one can. He's disappeared. Did send out one last global though. A short one."
"What did it say?" Giles asked quickly, eager for any information they could gather.
"Isaiah 11:6 which I dutifully looked up"
" ' The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf, the lion and the fatling together, and the little child to lead them'" Giles rattled off easily.
"So Luca thinks the annointeds a kid?" Jenny asked incredulously
"If the vampire that Buffy killed was in fact not the anointed, than it may well be" Giles said thoughtfully as he thought the implications through.
"Well than we need to warn her" Jenny said quickly
"I dont intend involving her at all" Giles told her resolutely.
"What do you mean?" Came the confused reply.
"If Buffy faces the master tonight than she will die" Giles explained
"Than who's going to face the master? It has to be Buffy surely"
"Buffys not going to face the master. They are." With that Giles pointed at Xander and Willow as they emerged from the stacks. Both seemed to be exuding an air of grief and anger but bore surprisingly passive faces.
"Giles you cant be serious! They're just students!"
"We are slightly more than just students Ms Calendar" Jenny ignored what Xander had just said, taking it as just false bravado. A reply to un intended insult.
"Giles...These are your friends...." Giles interrupted her, anger blazing in his eye's.
"And I would sacrifice a thousand friends to give her a chance..... She WILL not die tonight!"
"He's not lying you know" Willow pointed out. Ms Calendar shot her a helpless look before turning back to Giles.
"The master will kill them. What makes you believe they will stand any chance at all?" She asked him desperately.
"They...I...Uh....I cant tell you!" He shot a short glare at Xander. "But the fact is, they will face the Master. Even if it is just forestalling the inevitable. But if it gives Buffy just minutes more, than it is worth it!"
"Shit!" Xanders loud curse made them both look up in confusion. They found him staring across the room towards the library doors. Through the doors they caught a fleeting glimpse of Buffy running.
"Will, stay here. I'll try and catch her" He said out loud as he bolted out the door.
The squeak of the library doors swinging on their hinges was only broken by Giles fist hitting heavily on the desk.
"Damn!"
*******
Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing. It filled her with a deep anger yet a great love for the man that was going to sacrifice his and her two friends so that she could survive, but by his own omission, perhaps only minutes more. And she couldn't believe her friends were willing to go through that for her.
She wouldn't let them. She cared for them too much. She was destined to die this night. She let them die as well.
She'd miss them.
She lent the tiniest bit against the library doors. It barely mad a sound yet Xander seemed to hear. He looked straight at her in his uncanny way, with the a stare that said he knew exactly what she was thinking. She saw the alarm blossom on his face and knew she had to go now.
She ran.
*******
Xander burst forth from the school into the cool night air and searched around frantically. Not a single sign of her. He may be pretty fast, but he was no where near slayer speed.
"Fuck!"
*******
Buffys short heels made a sharp clack as she dropped herself into the sewers. She quickly pulled a stake and cross from her small bag before she hurled it away. She could sense vampires very near.
Her eye sight adjusted quickly to the dim light. A small boy was waiting for her. He looked kind of surprised.
"Help me?" He asked quietly. An actor, he aint.
"It's ok, I now who your are". The anointed held out a hand. Buffy felt a deep desire to swat the hand away and torture the small being with her cross for hours. She culled the desire quickly and gave the demon her hand.
She had resigned herself to her fate.
*******
"She's gone" Xander said dejectedly as he returned to the library.
Giles glared at him vehemently.
"You were supposed to stop this" He almost yelled through clenched teeth.
"We were meant to do nothing! We are here because we chose to be. Because we chose to help buffy, and we still will. This doesn't change a thing."
"Ahh I think I'm missing something here!" Jenny spoke up.
"No your not!" Xander told her stiffly.
"No I'm not" Jenny said calmly before sitting down again although she seemed surprised by her own words. Giles stared at her before swiftly shifting his baleful glare at Xander.
"You bloody pillock!..."
"Anything to stop us from getting found out Giles. Now sit down and shut up!" Giles legs buckled of their own accord, putting him in his chair.
"Good now I'll go and try and stop her from doing something stupid. You try and find a way to stop this. Something very big is going down Giles and we do not have time to argue." He turned to Willow, she was giving him a disapproving stare. He ignored it. "Do you think you can keep an eye on these two?"
She gave a short nod.
"Yeah but how do you intend to find buffy, or the masters lair for that matter?"
"I wont but I know some one who can. Angel." He moved over to the weapons pen and grabbed a short blade and sheath. "I'm borrowing this" He told Giles. He gave Willow a long look before sprinting out the door.
*******
Xander jogged quickly towards the bad side of town, towards Angels place. He had belted the short sword on upside down around his waist so the most of the blade was covered by his jumper, only the handle poking out the bottom. The sheath had a couple of clips to hold the sword in so no worries about it falling out. Unfortunately it chaffed like a bitch. But that wasn't what he was worried about right now. He was more worried about the glare Willow had given him. He was in the crap now. He hadn't meant to be that harsh with Giles and Jenny, he hadn't even meant to use the skill on them. The anger at the situation, the death of the students was still with him though, it had just happened. He'd have to be more careful in future.
* You're just getting more powerful is all * Glyndaf filled in as he kind of floated alongside him.
"Yeah I guess" He said quietly as he came to the small complex he had followed Angel to one night. He had done it around the time his presence had been made known to him and Willow. A precaution for buffys sake.
The place was a couple of storys high but had a level partially underground . No
doubt to tend to some of Sunnydales seedier types. The front door was one of those
buzz in types but was broken and looked to have been for some time. Xander headed
automatically to the lower section of the building and started to sniff slightly for
Angels stench. The Hyena collar gave him slightly higher senses but it wasn't a huge
increase. Luckily vampires had a smell of death about them that was easy to pick up. It
pulled him down the dark grey corridors about halfway. He lost the scent there and
had to back track a couple of doors before he was sure.
He knocked. Waited a few moments. Knocked again. Nothing.
'Oh well' he thought evilly as he shouldered the door. It swung open jerkily to reveal
a trashed apartment. The smell was almost overpowering. He forced himself to take
a couple of steps in and look around.
"Damn" In the next room, a pale white body lay sprawled on the couch. The young
women's body was unnaturally thin and flies landed on her without reaction. A needle
dangled from her arms.
"Junkies" Xander shook his head and closed the door behind him. He than headed
over to the next likely door in the hall. More cautiously this time he searched the room
for minds before hand. Yep this was Angels place alright. The quiet vampires mind
was present. Xander knocked hard. He faintly heard a couch creak and soft footsteps through the door.
"Oh it's you. What do you want?" Xander tried to remain civil, he really did.
"You covering old antiques, but hey, we dont always get what we wished for. Now come on. I need you to show me to the masters lair."
Angel scoffed at him.
"The master would kill you before you could breath..."
"I dont really care. But I think that buffy would appreciate the back up."
"What? Buffys gone to the masters lair?" Angel slumped down on to his couch sadly. "She'll be dead before we could reach her" Xander had had enough, anyone would think he didn't want to help. He reached down and grabbed Angels shirt in one hand and hauled him to his feet and against pushed him gainst the wall while he pulled his sword out from behind his back and held it pointed at Angels gut.
"Dont you even care for her?! She's out there dying and your here moping. Show me the fucking way or your dust where you stand!" Xander rethought his words for a second. "Better yet, how about I hack off you arms and legs and you can spend the rest of your unlife as stumpy?"
"Do you really think you could do it boy?" Angels asked as he brought his hands about and yanked himself out of Xanders grip. The sword never faltered though, and Xander just smiled at him and looked him squarely in the eyes, letting Angel see his fully.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure....Mr hesitant" Xander wasn't happy about revealing his secret to Angel. But it was either this or skill demand him to, and it took a hell of a lot of power to do that to a vampire as old as Angel, more than he was willing to expend right now. But Angel wouldn't tell, he had damned himself by hesitating to help Buffy. Now Xander new something that Angel didn't want told.
That made Angels eye's widen and he nodded slowly.
"Good now get going, we dont have all night"
*******
The library
Willow Giles and Ms. Calendar are huddled over books all trying to find out more info on what was happening. Suddenly in frustration Giles throws his book down.
"Calm down Giles" Willow told him shortly. "We just have to think about this objectively."
"Yeah" Jenny piped in " We got to think about what we know..... So what do we know?"
Giles sighed and stared at them both before deciding to play along.
"Well we know that the master will rise and uh...The other vampires know he's coming, they will be his army..."
"Do you think they'll gather at the Hellmouth?" Jenny interrupted causing Giles eyebrows to lift in realization.
"Well, the last time the Master tried to rise he sent a bunch of vamps to get him fresh blood" Willow continued with the line of thought.
"Well, where did that go down?"
"The Bronze" Giles said quickly.
"The dance!" Willow pointed out
"We have to warn them" Giles said with growing dread. They may already be too late.
"No...." Jennies words stopped him "If the master does rise you have to find a way to stop him. Stay here and concentrate on demon killing. Me and Willow will warn them."
"But..."
"Face it Giles, you just drive to slow" Willow shot at him as they left.
*******
The sewers
"Stop looking at my neck dead boy"
"I was not looking at your neck!"
"I can read your mind Dipshit"
"That was you?! Get out of my head!"
"Only if you stop looking at my neck. Now which way?"
*******
School Car park
"What if they get to the Bronze before we do?" Willow asked anxiously casting a look behind them as Ms. Calendar fished around in her bag for her keys.
"Ahh I dont think that will be a problem" Jenny said as she looked about, stopping to a halt.
"There behind us too" Willow said excitedly with just a bit of worry. She hadn't seen this many vampires ever. She hadn't thought Sunnydale had this many.
The hoard of vampires were slowly closing but were still a few hundred feet away. It gave Willow just enough time to summon all her power.
"Ms Calendar, when I say so... run back to the library"
"What?" Jenny asked worriedly as the vampires got closer.
"Dont argue, just do it!" Willow told her loudly turning to face her.
Jenny could feel the waves of power emanating off Willow. And even if she couldn't, the way Willows hair suddenly started to rise and spread out, even as it moved about as if in an unseen breeze.
"Ready?" Jenny could only nod as they both started to back away towards the library.
"Alright....................Go! Now!" Jenny started to run as Willow started to move her arms and follow at a bit slower pace behind her. The vampires started to move to cut off their path of escape almost immediately.
Willow was drawing everything she could into her to do this, she hoped it was going to work. More importantly she hoped she'd be able to make the door before she collapsed.
Finishing up her silent spell, she flung her hands out. Iridescent bolt of electricity flowed around her hands for a moment before shooting out in straight lines from her palms. The bright bolts curved and struck the ground about ten feet in front of Willow but seemed to bounce almost immediately. It forked as it 'bounced', both her beams splitting into two as they continued on to bounce and fork again and again, on an on until it seemed to fence in a safe path for her an Ms. Calendar to reach the school doors. Iridescent lightning fences.
Unfortunately Willows pace slowed almost immediately as the magic drained from her. She tried to ignore the instant fatigue she felt as she shoved her hands behind her to seel of the path. Bolts now leaping around her and down the path.
She really hoped she'd make the door.
*******
The sewers
Xander stopped suddenly and looked up at the ceiling. He could feel Willow up there. Feel her waning. He knew what she was doing and wanted to go to her, to fight with her. But he knew he'd never make it and he was needed elsewhere now. He hardened his heart and did the only thing he could do. He sent her support and courage through their link and hoped it was enough.
A sudden flare of light from an adjoining tunnel though interrupted him.
"Shit!"
"He's already on his way up" Angel expanded.
They both rushed down the side tunnel into what looked like a natural flood chamber. The broken barrier cast glittering lights through the chamber, adding to the light from the candles.
And Buffy Summers lay face down in a pool of water.
Motionless.
insert dramatic pause
Both men ran down to her, Angel quickly pulling her out of the water and rolling her onto her back. He pressed a hopeful ear against her chest hoping to hear breathing, or a heart beat.
Nothing.
"She's dead."
*******
A vamp threw itself against Willows barrier as she passed but was quickly reduced to dust in a fiery light show as the other vamps growled at their impotence. Though it all still might have been in vain.
Willow was only barely half way to the doors and already she was stumbling. Blood had started dripping from her nose as she struggled to channel more power from the winds that carried it into the spell, but it was getting increasingly difficult. The main reason was that the spell was not meant to do it's current job. It was an attack spell meant to be released not held and supported this way.
Willow stumbled a few more steps. She was almost there. She could see Jenny and now Giles at the door, calling her forth even as they assaulted the vamps closest to the door with crossbows. Smartly most vamps steered clear of that area.
Just a few more feet now, but willow could tell she wasn't going to make it. Already the spell was flickering as she stumbled to her knees. With a final sputter, it fell apart. And she was left staring, bloody faced, arms hanging weakly her sides, at a horrified Giles and Jenny as the vamps took a moment to gloat and smile with their deformed faces.
*******
Xander swallowed. He hadn't wanted to hear those words. But there was still hope.
"Maybe not. If she drowned we could resuscitate her. CPR!"
"You'd have to do it though. No breath"
"Bullshit. You dont know how to do it." Angel had the honor to look sheepish but Xander wasn't paying attention. He had already started. One breath. Push push push.
Yet even as he continued on, hope was fleeting. He couldn't sense any life in her. Nothing. Her mind wasn't there to feel. But he kept trying. Until SHE disappeared. Willow vanished from their link. Willow never vanished. Not even when they were sleeping.
"no...NO..NOOOOOOO!" Xander completely forgot about Buffy and flung his mind towards Willow. He saw her, kneeling, staring, tears and blood running down her face. He saw the vampires closing in, Jenny and Giles staring with impotent fear.
He reached out and touched Willows mind, sharing himself with her. She looked up slightly at his touching of minds and such a hope blossomed in her that Xander did not dare disappoint her.
He flung himself from his body and into the river that was the skill magic. He felt his being start to be tugged apart by the magics rushing currents as he pulled more of it to him than mortally possible. He felt a euphoric feeling as he became one with the world, his being spreading out along his magics currents and channels. He almost completely forgot about his role in the sheer high of it. Yet he still held to Willows mind if not his own.
Back in the cave Xanders body gave an idiotic grin and collapsed bonelessly to the floor, drool sliding from the corner of his mouth. Mindless. Buffy lay next to him.
And yet he continued to pull the magic to him. More and more until he gained what he needed. A point where he was so imbued he became god like for a single moment. He touched every single mind in a mile radius of his body.
Every vampire he touched felt their mind sucked from them and into the skill as their bodies fell to the ground motionless.
He buffeted against the Masters mind yet even his god like status could not break through the mental wards and walls of one so ancient.
He swept through Jenny, Angel and Giles mind, and with a thought removed any evidence of his or Willows abilities.
And finally his being focused on Buffy. With every fibre of his being he forced it to work. This was not the gentle healing he often did with Willow. This was a healing of brute force. He gripped Buffys heart in his mental hands and pumped it forcefully. He pushed her lungs to inhale and exhale, and with a touch of the skill, he jump started her mind.
And finally he settled on Willow and showed her exactly how much he loved her.
And as his mind finally dispersed like foam at the beach in the river of magic that was the skill. He let out one last thought.
'For Him'
*******
She absently blew her hair out of her face as she checked the box.
"Got an.... Encyclopedia set."
"Box of records" Xander replied absently as he leafed through the assorted music atrocities.
"Man this guy was into the classics... Bach, Beethoven, Meatloaf" He said to himself absently before pulling out a moody blues album.
"Who would have thought someone would of had so much junk in their attic?" Willow asked as she looked around the attic.
The attic was full of old furniture, a couple of headless manikins and a birdcage. One entire corner was filled with boxes and another had paintings staked up against the wall.
Sunlight was filtering into the room through the hole in the roof. Normally, Xander had the hole covered with a piece of tarp but they needed the light, since the wiring was faulty and not a single globe would work.
"They probably didn't believe in throwing anything out, my grandpa was like that.... Hello, what do we have here?" Xander exclaimed as he pulled out a frame. Willow looked over curiously to see several, distinct military medals in the frame. Xander also pulled out a couple of framed black and white pictures of several soldiers. They were laughing and smoking in what looked to be a ruined building.
"I wonder which one he was?" She asked sadly as she was reminded of the reality that the house they were currently... well not occupying, but owning, belonged to a war vet. Someone who survived war just to be made a meal back home.
"Not sure" Xander replied as he pulled an old pair of fatigues out of the bottom of the box and stared at them solemnly. He put them back in after a moment and scanned the piled boxes before idly flipping a couple away. On clanged as it hit the floor, and a few tarnished knives and forks popped out.
Xander finally found what he was looking for and pulled a long wooden box out from under the pile. It was about 4ft long and 1 wide and made out of a scared, stained pine.
Xander found a couple of clasps on the side and popped it open. A rifle and pistol sat in neat recesses.
"Woah" Willow exclaimed softly as she peered at the almost antique weapons.
"No kiddin" Xander replied, carefully pulling the pistol out of it's recess and examining it. It smelt of metal and oil.
"I wonder what kind they are?" he asked absently as he looked it over.
Willows watched started beeping suddenly, and she almost swore as she looked at the time.
"We'll find out later Xan. I gotta go." She exclaimed as she rushed over and grabbed her books and bag from against the wall.
"Hey, it's cool. Hair dressers right? Ring you tonight?" He asked as she made for the stairs.
"Sure" She gave him a quick kiss "See ya"
Xander smiled as he watched her go before returning to the guns. He looked at them for a short while before pulling them up and handling them slightly. Boyishly he pretended to shoot the broken lights out with them before he placed them carefully back in the case. He popped the case up on a rafter out of sight.
"Might as well go for a run" He said absently to himself as he put the tarp back up and dusted himself off. He started for the stairs before stopping and heading back to the boxes. He reached down and pulled the pictures of soldiers out of the box.
He just stared at them for a moment. Trying to imagine what it had been like, who they had been.
He popped the picture up on the desk before leaving.
******
The next day. 10:45 am
Willow groaned as she and Cordelia arrived at Sunnydale high. Again.
They were just returning from the bronze after meeting up this morning. Returning because Cordelias' boyfriend had forgotten to take the gear over to the bronze yesterday afternoon.
Normally she wouldn't be too annoyed. She knew Kevin was kind of lax and had probably forgotten. No biggy. But what was grating on her nerves was Cordelia. On and on she went, and it was either Kevin is so sweet or Kevin is such a moron. Couldn't the girl make up her mind ?
She was seriously starting to think that being ignored by Cordelia was better than being noticed.
Heck, it was better.
" Oh, Kevin said he'd bring everything to the bronze last night. He promised! We'll never get everything ready on time now"
" Dont worry Cordy. He probably just forgot. It's really not that big a deal." Willow explained, trying to get her to calm down.
"Uh, you dont understand...." Cordelia told her giving her a dumb look " I'm not mad. He totally flaked on me. On me! And I dont even care. God help me, I think it's cute"
Willow should have noticed something was wrong when Crytex dropped of a couple of steps back. She should have noticed from the faint smell that she had slowly begun to recognize as death over the previous months.
But she was human. She wasn't on watch 24/7. So it shocked her.
"There they are!" Cordelia explained as they walked up to the av room. "They're watching cartoons. Thats so cu.... That's not cute. That's annoying. I'm annoyed"
Willow noticed the bloody handprint on the TV and slowly she focused on the room. An icy chill ran through her as she realized what had happened. She grabbed Cordy by the arm.
"Come on, I uh..... need to show you something Cordy" The shock had entered Willows voice and it was obviously a lie. Cordy looked at her strangely, before snatching her arm back from Willows surprisingly strong grip.
"Geez, cling much?! You can show me later. I need to 'council' my boyfriend on his conduct" Cordelia told her cattily as she strode on. Willow darted on ahead of her and put her self between Cordy and the door way.
"Cordy no, You dont want to...." Willow knew her efforts to save the girl from the sight had failed as Cordelia's mouth slowly opened with shock and a hand went up to her mouth. She silently stared onward, staring at the carnage.
Willow herself turned and looked fully at the scene. She felt a scream rise in her throat but all it came out as was a whimper. She had seen the dead before when her and Xander arrived too late. Seen the victims of a vampires draining.
She had begun to feel she was tough enough to look upon them and not toss her cookies, not lose her cool, not scream and run.
She had yet to see though, Vampires play with their food. And she found herself dearly lacking. For right now she wanted to do all of those things
Cordelias scream broke the silence.
*******
Xander looked at the cut in the timber he had just made and smiled. He was currently in the houses garage cutting some lengths of timber to repair a window frame. Since he wasn't going running with Willow today, on account of the dance and her helping Cordelia, he had decided to come up to the house and do some more work.
He made a small mark on the panel and placed it in the bench vice before picking up a plane. He was just about to start when he sensed Crytex approaching. He smiled, maybe he and Willow would be able to spend the morning together after all.
* Xander! Willow needs you * Crytex spouted out as she rushed through the garage door.
Xanders face quickly changed to concern as he hastily dropped his tool on the bench and headed out the garage, almost braking the garage door as he slammed it in his haste to get to Willow.
"Where is she? What happened?" He asked as he started bolting down the drive. Glyndaf and Crytex kept pace easily.
* She's at the school. Vampires broke into the school last night and killed a group of students.... They mutilated the corpses. Willow and Cordelia found the bodies *
"Shit!" Xanders worry doubled and he put on another burst of speed and urged himself to go faster.
*******
Xander arrived just as the first ambulance did. He didn't stop running though. He crunched through the front doors without slowing down as he sped towards Willow. Close enough now to feel the cold shock of her thoughts.
She was sitting on the cold grey chairs that were spaced between lockers. Eye's wide, face emotionless, she stared into nothing. Cordy was laying down next to her. Crying. Willow was cradling her head in her lap. Autonomously stroking the taller girls hair. Cordys eye liner had smeared.
Willow looked up at hearing his pounding footfalls. She stared at him blankly as he got closer. Her emotionless mask fell away from her as he reached her. Her thin drawn lips quivering open, her eye's frowning as tears rushed to the fore. She reached out like a helpless toddler and he reached back and hugged her to his chest. Her heavy sobs wracking both their bodies. He felt Cordelia's arm snake around his shoulders and he spared and arm to wrap around her shoulders as her tears came anew.
He linked into their minds though they didn't know in their sadness. He shared it with them, the sadness. And with the sharing he lessened it.
The first paramedics rushed past.
*******
"They're all dead" Xander just nodded.
"They're gone. People we grew up with... People we talked to... They're just gone... I talked to them yesterday. I'll never be able to... to do that ever again...."
Xander nodded. There wasn't much he could say. So he just nodded
"They took them away from us Xan... Just like Jesse. It shouldn't have happened... not again. Not to people we know. Thats why we have our powers, so this wouldn't happen... It's our..." Willows voice slid between grief and anger as she tried to decide what she felt. When it turned on herself ...
"Dont say that! Don't you ever say that..." Xander gripped her tightly by the arms and stared into her eye's. "Will... Do you honestly believe we can save them all? Our powers aren't here so we can save them. We have our powers because of who we save, because of the fighting we do that saves people. We do everything we can, but we cant do everything. People die everyday, everywhere. Lifes unfair... It isn't our job to save lives Willow. But we do it anyway. We just have to think of the ones we do save."
Willow stared back at him.
"Who are you trying to convince?" Willow told him before breaking down into tears and hugging herself to him again. Xander put his arms around her again and gently rubbed her hair and back.
Willow was right. He did feel responsible, he did feel it was his fault. No matter how much he shrouded it with common sense, he felt at fault. He finally understood how Buffy felt.
The power to save yet not save them all.
"We do everything we can Will, thats why we fight"
*******
Buffy came later on that day. Xander let her and Willow talk in private, but he kept close. Never severing the link he kept with Willow. It kept her from feeling most of the grief and stopped Xander from killing one of the paramedics that kept asking if he was ok. It balanced them both out.
He couldn't believe this had happened. He knew these people. They shouldn't have died. It stirred something within him. Twisted in him like a wound. And scared him.
By god it scared him. What he was feeling.
He was scared by what he was feeling. Sure he felt grief over his dead friends. What scared him wasn't that, or fear for other friends. It was the fact that it wasn't his overriding feeling. Wasn't what was affecting him the most.
He was scared because he was feeling disappointment and anger. Because he hadn't been here for the fight.
Because he hadn't been here to make offerings to Him.
*******
Later that night
Xander pounded the bag in his garage hard, trying to leave everything behind. He didn't want to think about today. So he was losing himself in some violence. Not the healthiest thing to do but it worked.
Thump. Thump thump thump.
He and Willow had decided not to go to the dance tonight. Neither really feeling up to interacting with others. Instead he was going to meet up with her later so they could release some pent up emotion on some unlucky vampires.
Thump. THUMP!. Thump thump thump thump. Ring......... ring.
'Stupid phone' Xander thought wiping himself off and going inside to grab the phone.
"Hello?"
*******
The library
"Okay, so this master guy tried to open the Hellmouth. But he got stuck in it, and now all the signs are reading that he's gonna get out, which opens the Hellmouth, which brings the demons, which ends the world" Ms Calendar repeated to make sure she had it right.
"Yes, that uh about sums it up" Giles replied as he bundled together a bunch of weapons.
"The part that gets me though is where Buffy is the vampire slayer. She's so little." Jenny said some what disbelievingly.
"Do you know how to get in touch with this, uh, Brother Luca chap?"
"Hmmm. as far as I can tell, no one can. He's disappeared. Did send out one last global though. A short one."
"What did it say?" Giles asked quickly, eager for any information they could gather.
"Isaiah 11:6 which I dutifully looked up"
" ' The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf, the lion and the fatling together, and the little child to lead them'" Giles rattled off easily.
"So Luca thinks the annointeds a kid?" Jenny asked incredulously
"If the vampire that Buffy killed was in fact not the anointed, than it may well be" Giles said thoughtfully as he thought the implications through.
"Well than we need to warn her" Jenny said quickly
"I dont intend involving her at all" Giles told her resolutely.
"What do you mean?" Came the confused reply.
"If Buffy faces the master tonight than she will die" Giles explained
"Than who's going to face the master? It has to be Buffy surely"
"Buffys not going to face the master. They are." With that Giles pointed at Xander and Willow as they emerged from the stacks. Both seemed to be exuding an air of grief and anger but bore surprisingly passive faces.
"Giles you cant be serious! They're just students!"
"We are slightly more than just students Ms Calendar" Jenny ignored what Xander had just said, taking it as just false bravado. A reply to un intended insult.
"Giles...These are your friends...." Giles interrupted her, anger blazing in his eye's.
"And I would sacrifice a thousand friends to give her a chance..... She WILL not die tonight!"
"He's not lying you know" Willow pointed out. Ms Calendar shot her a helpless look before turning back to Giles.
"The master will kill them. What makes you believe they will stand any chance at all?" She asked him desperately.
"They...I...Uh....I cant tell you!" He shot a short glare at Xander. "But the fact is, they will face the Master. Even if it is just forestalling the inevitable. But if it gives Buffy just minutes more, than it is worth it!"
"Shit!" Xanders loud curse made them both look up in confusion. They found him staring across the room towards the library doors. Through the doors they caught a fleeting glimpse of Buffy running.
"Will, stay here. I'll try and catch her" He said out loud as he bolted out the door.
The squeak of the library doors swinging on their hinges was only broken by Giles fist hitting heavily on the desk.
"Damn!"
*******
Buffy couldn't believe what she was hearing. It filled her with a deep anger yet a great love for the man that was going to sacrifice his and her two friends so that she could survive, but by his own omission, perhaps only minutes more. And she couldn't believe her friends were willing to go through that for her.
She wouldn't let them. She cared for them too much. She was destined to die this night. She let them die as well.
She'd miss them.
She lent the tiniest bit against the library doors. It barely mad a sound yet Xander seemed to hear. He looked straight at her in his uncanny way, with the a stare that said he knew exactly what she was thinking. She saw the alarm blossom on his face and knew she had to go now.
She ran.
*******
Xander burst forth from the school into the cool night air and searched around frantically. Not a single sign of her. He may be pretty fast, but he was no where near slayer speed.
"Fuck!"
*******
Buffys short heels made a sharp clack as she dropped herself into the sewers. She quickly pulled a stake and cross from her small bag before she hurled it away. She could sense vampires very near.
Her eye sight adjusted quickly to the dim light. A small boy was waiting for her. He looked kind of surprised.
"Help me?" He asked quietly. An actor, he aint.
"It's ok, I now who your are". The anointed held out a hand. Buffy felt a deep desire to swat the hand away and torture the small being with her cross for hours. She culled the desire quickly and gave the demon her hand.
She had resigned herself to her fate.
*******
"She's gone" Xander said dejectedly as he returned to the library.
Giles glared at him vehemently.
"You were supposed to stop this" He almost yelled through clenched teeth.
"We were meant to do nothing! We are here because we chose to be. Because we chose to help buffy, and we still will. This doesn't change a thing."
"Ahh I think I'm missing something here!" Jenny spoke up.
"No your not!" Xander told her stiffly.
"No I'm not" Jenny said calmly before sitting down again although she seemed surprised by her own words. Giles stared at her before swiftly shifting his baleful glare at Xander.
"You bloody pillock!..."
"Anything to stop us from getting found out Giles. Now sit down and shut up!" Giles legs buckled of their own accord, putting him in his chair.
"Good now I'll go and try and stop her from doing something stupid. You try and find a way to stop this. Something very big is going down Giles and we do not have time to argue." He turned to Willow, she was giving him a disapproving stare. He ignored it. "Do you think you can keep an eye on these two?"
She gave a short nod.
"Yeah but how do you intend to find buffy, or the masters lair for that matter?"
"I wont but I know some one who can. Angel." He moved over to the weapons pen and grabbed a short blade and sheath. "I'm borrowing this" He told Giles. He gave Willow a long look before sprinting out the door.
*******
Xander jogged quickly towards the bad side of town, towards Angels place. He had belted the short sword on upside down around his waist so the most of the blade was covered by his jumper, only the handle poking out the bottom. The sheath had a couple of clips to hold the sword in so no worries about it falling out. Unfortunately it chaffed like a bitch. But that wasn't what he was worried about right now. He was more worried about the glare Willow had given him. He was in the crap now. He hadn't meant to be that harsh with Giles and Jenny, he hadn't even meant to use the skill on them. The anger at the situation, the death of the students was still with him though, it had just happened. He'd have to be more careful in future.
* You're just getting more powerful is all * Glyndaf filled in as he kind of floated alongside him.
"Yeah I guess" He said quietly as he came to the small complex he had followed Angel to one night. He had done it around the time his presence had been made known to him and Willow. A precaution for buffys sake.
The place was a couple of storys high but had a level partially underground . No
doubt to tend to some of Sunnydales seedier types. The front door was one of those
buzz in types but was broken and looked to have been for some time. Xander headed
automatically to the lower section of the building and started to sniff slightly for
Angels stench. The Hyena collar gave him slightly higher senses but it wasn't a huge
increase. Luckily vampires had a smell of death about them that was easy to pick up. It
pulled him down the dark grey corridors about halfway. He lost the scent there and
had to back track a couple of doors before he was sure.
He knocked. Waited a few moments. Knocked again. Nothing.
'Oh well' he thought evilly as he shouldered the door. It swung open jerkily to reveal
a trashed apartment. The smell was almost overpowering. He forced himself to take
a couple of steps in and look around.
"Damn" In the next room, a pale white body lay sprawled on the couch. The young
women's body was unnaturally thin and flies landed on her without reaction. A needle
dangled from her arms.
"Junkies" Xander shook his head and closed the door behind him. He than headed
over to the next likely door in the hall. More cautiously this time he searched the room
for minds before hand. Yep this was Angels place alright. The quiet vampires mind
was present. Xander knocked hard. He faintly heard a couch creak and soft footsteps through the door.
"Oh it's you. What do you want?" Xander tried to remain civil, he really did.
"You covering old antiques, but hey, we dont always get what we wished for. Now come on. I need you to show me to the masters lair."
Angel scoffed at him.
"The master would kill you before you could breath..."
"I dont really care. But I think that buffy would appreciate the back up."
"What? Buffys gone to the masters lair?" Angel slumped down on to his couch sadly. "She'll be dead before we could reach her" Xander had had enough, anyone would think he didn't want to help. He reached down and grabbed Angels shirt in one hand and hauled him to his feet and against pushed him gainst the wall while he pulled his sword out from behind his back and held it pointed at Angels gut.
"Dont you even care for her?! She's out there dying and your here moping. Show me the fucking way or your dust where you stand!" Xander rethought his words for a second. "Better yet, how about I hack off you arms and legs and you can spend the rest of your unlife as stumpy?"
"Do you really think you could do it boy?" Angels asked as he brought his hands about and yanked himself out of Xanders grip. The sword never faltered though, and Xander just smiled at him and looked him squarely in the eyes, letting Angel see his fully.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure....Mr hesitant" Xander wasn't happy about revealing his secret to Angel. But it was either this or skill demand him to, and it took a hell of a lot of power to do that to a vampire as old as Angel, more than he was willing to expend right now. But Angel wouldn't tell, he had damned himself by hesitating to help Buffy. Now Xander new something that Angel didn't want told.
That made Angels eye's widen and he nodded slowly.
"Good now get going, we dont have all night"
*******
The library
Willow Giles and Ms. Calendar are huddled over books all trying to find out more info on what was happening. Suddenly in frustration Giles throws his book down.
"Calm down Giles" Willow told him shortly. "We just have to think about this objectively."
"Yeah" Jenny piped in " We got to think about what we know..... So what do we know?"
Giles sighed and stared at them both before deciding to play along.
"Well we know that the master will rise and uh...The other vampires know he's coming, they will be his army..."
"Do you think they'll gather at the Hellmouth?" Jenny interrupted causing Giles eyebrows to lift in realization.
"Well, the last time the Master tried to rise he sent a bunch of vamps to get him fresh blood" Willow continued with the line of thought.
"Well, where did that go down?"
"The Bronze" Giles said quickly.
"The dance!" Willow pointed out
"We have to warn them" Giles said with growing dread. They may already be too late.
"No...." Jennies words stopped him "If the master does rise you have to find a way to stop him. Stay here and concentrate on demon killing. Me and Willow will warn them."
"But..."
"Face it Giles, you just drive to slow" Willow shot at him as they left.
*******
The sewers
"Stop looking at my neck dead boy"
"I was not looking at your neck!"
"I can read your mind Dipshit"
"That was you?! Get out of my head!"
"Only if you stop looking at my neck. Now which way?"
*******
School Car park
"What if they get to the Bronze before we do?" Willow asked anxiously casting a look behind them as Ms. Calendar fished around in her bag for her keys.
"Ahh I dont think that will be a problem" Jenny said as she looked about, stopping to a halt.
"There behind us too" Willow said excitedly with just a bit of worry. She hadn't seen this many vampires ever. She hadn't thought Sunnydale had this many.
The hoard of vampires were slowly closing but were still a few hundred feet away. It gave Willow just enough time to summon all her power.
"Ms Calendar, when I say so... run back to the library"
"What?" Jenny asked worriedly as the vampires got closer.
"Dont argue, just do it!" Willow told her loudly turning to face her.
Jenny could feel the waves of power emanating off Willow. And even if she couldn't, the way Willows hair suddenly started to rise and spread out, even as it moved about as if in an unseen breeze.
"Ready?" Jenny could only nod as they both started to back away towards the library.
"Alright....................Go! Now!" Jenny started to run as Willow started to move her arms and follow at a bit slower pace behind her. The vampires started to move to cut off their path of escape almost immediately.
Willow was drawing everything she could into her to do this, she hoped it was going to work. More importantly she hoped she'd be able to make the door before she collapsed.
Finishing up her silent spell, she flung her hands out. Iridescent bolt of electricity flowed around her hands for a moment before shooting out in straight lines from her palms. The bright bolts curved and struck the ground about ten feet in front of Willow but seemed to bounce almost immediately. It forked as it 'bounced', both her beams splitting into two as they continued on to bounce and fork again and again, on an on until it seemed to fence in a safe path for her an Ms. Calendar to reach the school doors. Iridescent lightning fences.
Unfortunately Willows pace slowed almost immediately as the magic drained from her. She tried to ignore the instant fatigue she felt as she shoved her hands behind her to seel of the path. Bolts now leaping around her and down the path.
She really hoped she'd make the door.
*******
The sewers
Xander stopped suddenly and looked up at the ceiling. He could feel Willow up there. Feel her waning. He knew what she was doing and wanted to go to her, to fight with her. But he knew he'd never make it and he was needed elsewhere now. He hardened his heart and did the only thing he could do. He sent her support and courage through their link and hoped it was enough.
A sudden flare of light from an adjoining tunnel though interrupted him.
"Shit!"
"He's already on his way up" Angel expanded.
They both rushed down the side tunnel into what looked like a natural flood chamber. The broken barrier cast glittering lights through the chamber, adding to the light from the candles.
And Buffy Summers lay face down in a pool of water.
Motionless.
insert dramatic pause
Both men ran down to her, Angel quickly pulling her out of the water and rolling her onto her back. He pressed a hopeful ear against her chest hoping to hear breathing, or a heart beat.
Nothing.
"She's dead."
*******
A vamp threw itself against Willows barrier as she passed but was quickly reduced to dust in a fiery light show as the other vamps growled at their impotence. Though it all still might have been in vain.
Willow was only barely half way to the doors and already she was stumbling. Blood had started dripping from her nose as she struggled to channel more power from the winds that carried it into the spell, but it was getting increasingly difficult. The main reason was that the spell was not meant to do it's current job. It was an attack spell meant to be released not held and supported this way.
Willow stumbled a few more steps. She was almost there. She could see Jenny and now Giles at the door, calling her forth even as they assaulted the vamps closest to the door with crossbows. Smartly most vamps steered clear of that area.
Just a few more feet now, but willow could tell she wasn't going to make it. Already the spell was flickering as she stumbled to her knees. With a final sputter, it fell apart. And she was left staring, bloody faced, arms hanging weakly her sides, at a horrified Giles and Jenny as the vamps took a moment to gloat and smile with their deformed faces.
*******
Xander swallowed. He hadn't wanted to hear those words. But there was still hope.
"Maybe not. If she drowned we could resuscitate her. CPR!"
"You'd have to do it though. No breath"
"Bullshit. You dont know how to do it." Angel had the honor to look sheepish but Xander wasn't paying attention. He had already started. One breath. Push push push.
Yet even as he continued on, hope was fleeting. He couldn't sense any life in her. Nothing. Her mind wasn't there to feel. But he kept trying. Until SHE disappeared. Willow vanished from their link. Willow never vanished. Not even when they were sleeping.
"no...NO..NOOOOOOO!" Xander completely forgot about Buffy and flung his mind towards Willow. He saw her, kneeling, staring, tears and blood running down her face. He saw the vampires closing in, Jenny and Giles staring with impotent fear.
He reached out and touched Willows mind, sharing himself with her. She looked up slightly at his touching of minds and such a hope blossomed in her that Xander did not dare disappoint her.
He flung himself from his body and into the river that was the skill magic. He felt his being start to be tugged apart by the magics rushing currents as he pulled more of it to him than mortally possible. He felt a euphoric feeling as he became one with the world, his being spreading out along his magics currents and channels. He almost completely forgot about his role in the sheer high of it. Yet he still held to Willows mind if not his own.
Back in the cave Xanders body gave an idiotic grin and collapsed bonelessly to the floor, drool sliding from the corner of his mouth. Mindless. Buffy lay next to him.
And yet he continued to pull the magic to him. More and more until he gained what he needed. A point where he was so imbued he became god like for a single moment. He touched every single mind in a mile radius of his body.
Every vampire he touched felt their mind sucked from them and into the skill as their bodies fell to the ground motionless.
He buffeted against the Masters mind yet even his god like status could not break through the mental wards and walls of one so ancient.
He swept through Jenny, Angel and Giles mind, and with a thought removed any evidence of his or Willows abilities.
And finally his being focused on Buffy. With every fibre of his being he forced it to work. This was not the gentle healing he often did with Willow. This was a healing of brute force. He gripped Buffys heart in his mental hands and pumped it forcefully. He pushed her lungs to inhale and exhale, and with a touch of the skill, he jump started her mind.
And finally he settled on Willow and showed her exactly how much he loved her.
And as his mind finally dispersed like foam at the beach in the river of magic that was the skill. He let out one last thought.
'For Him'
*******