Flesh Wounds

Part Eight

Seven hours later, Xander, Athena, and Giles were gathered around a large table, empty cups scattered amongst massive volumes. "Here's something…" Xander started, but neither of the others glanced up. They had all said that at least a dozen times in the past hours. "The Zerads eat the flesh of their enemies three days of their…nevermind, they have twelve-day weeks. We're looking for seven, right?"

"That, and the Zerads have been extinct for about a thousand years," Athena absently replied, leaning her head against her thumb and index finger. "Okay, y'know what? I'm blowing this joint. I'm going to go patrol." Dropping a kiss o the tops of their heads, she picked up her jacket, slinging it over her shoulder as she walked out, her Witchblade glinting at them.

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The bar's interior was smoky and dim, not much different than the night outside. All conversation stopped as the girl entered, and she arched a slender brow. "It's going to be one of those nights, isn't it?"

A particularly slimy chaos demon stood. "What do you want, Princess?"

"Information, what else?" Nodding to the scaly bartender, she pushed past the demon.

He grabbed her shoulder; she whirled, her bracelet transforming into a gauntlet with a sword protruding. The antlered head fell to the floor, followed by the body, and Athena glanced around. "Now, I want to know everything you know about these murders." She held up her metal-encased fist. "And I want to know now."

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"Pez, where are you going?" Danny called to his partner.

"A drive. Gonna clear my mind a bit," she replied. "Be back soon."

"Be careful," he said to empty air.

The brunette detective hopped on her bike, but did not get very far before the silver bracelet on her wrist began to hum. "What?" She asked it irritably through her helmet, stopping the motorcycle, and was surrounded by visions of Athena fighting an entire room of…demons? "Peachy," Sara muttered. "Where?"

Directions flashed into her head, and she roared to the nearby bar. However, she was a bit late. Athena was comfortably sitting on a barstool, sipping a drink as she waited for one of the unconscious demons to wake, and tapping her still-gauntleted fingers against the bar's surface. "Hullo, Sara," she greeted the detective. "Sorry you missed the fun. Next time, I'll save a few for you."

"Don't do me any favors. What the hell are you doing?"

"Getting information---" Athena flashed Sara a chilling smile. "---My way. Oh, look, someone's awake." Hopping off the stool, she grabbed a vampire by his shirt, hoisting him up. "Now, are you going to speak, or shall I do my sacred duty?"

"I don't know anything, I swear!"

"Pity," she murmured, and ripped his head off. Shaking the dust off her hands, she picked up a Ferargo demon. "How about you?"

"None of us know anything," he blubbered. "Truly, Princess, we know nothing!"

"Then tell me who does. Or am I going to have to convince you all again?"

"Wait," a Chura demon growled, painfully getting to his four feet. "Go to the Roses."

"I would not go to the Roses unless it was my last choice. Give me another option."

"If there is an answer, they will know. We do not."

"When do they bloom?"

"Twelve days from now."

"I don't have twelve days."

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"Hang on, I think I've got something," Xander muttered.

Giles glanced up from the Watcher Diaries. "Do tell."

"'The completeness of the death, hunger for the living. Bodies will crumble, spirits will reign.' Any ideas?"

"What is that?"

"Uh, the Asara Chronicles, Volume Five," the teen answered.

"Your pizza and doughnuts have arrived," Diane interrupted.

"Great," Xander said in relief.

"Are there any jellies?" Giles asked absently.

"Yeah, we got you jellies," Xander replied. "Hmm…Athena said these documents she found in a hilt said something about spirits…or invisible somethings…what do you think?"

"I think she should come back. Where did she go again?"

"To patrol, but probably to beat information out of the local demon populace."

"Oh. Where are those jellies?"

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Gabriel Bowman stared hard at his screen, re-reading the text for the third time. "No way in hell," he said forcefully. "That can't be true."

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The Chura demon grinned balefully. "Maybe you can make them bloom before, Princess, but that's all I know."

She brushed past him, Sara following. "Now where are you going?"

"I've got some gardening to do," the girl replied. "Tell Giles and Xander I'll be back by morning."

"No way. I'm going with you."

The girl stopped and stared into Sara's green eyes for a long, hard moment. "Fine. Call Danny, tell him we'll be back by morning."

The detective pulled out her cell as Athena went into an alley behind the bar, wheeling out a Harley. "Nice," she muttered, dialing Danny's phone.

"Thanks." She waited while Sara talked to her partner and got her own motorcycle.

"Where are we going?"

"Rockefeller Center," the girl replied, kicking her bike into gear.

"Why am I the only one wearing a helmet?" Sara asked, strapping it on.

"Because I can simply get up and see if there's any limbs missing, and go on. You, on the other hand, are not afforded that luxury, I would imagine. Let's go."

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"What's this? 'The Roses bloom once a month, giving answers to those who seek.' What are the Roses?"

Giles glanced up. "They're…well, roses, but sentient roses. They answer questions that cannot be answered elsewhere."

"Where are they?"

"I believe Athena said they were under Rockefeller Center."

Xander looked up. "You don't think…?"

"Go after her!"

"Why?"

"The Roses demand a price for each answer. The more powerful the asker, the higher the price."

Xander's eyes widened, and he shot out the door.

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"Where are we going again?" Sara asked as they pulled over a few blocks from Rockefeller Center.

"C'mon," was all the girl replied with, crouching by a man-hole. "This is the only way to them."

"To what, exactly?"

"The Roses." Not waiting for a reply, she dropped down into the sewer. Sara glanced around, cursed, and followed.

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"Hey, Danny, is Athena around?" Gabriel asked after dialing the Asian's cell.

"Uh, no, she's out with Pez. Sara said they'd be in around morning."

"Morning? Why would they…" Gabriel trailed off, his eyes widening. "Uh, thanks, Danny. I've got to go," he hurriedly added before hanging up.

"Gabriel?" Danny asked, but was answered only by silence.

The antiques dealer was already out the door, slinging his jacket over his shoulders.

EAN: ::mysterious music plays:: What are the Roses, you ask? Read on, and find out. ::cackles evilly:: Seriously, though, stay tuned…