Chapter Five-
+Sorrow's End+
"Oh my God."
The occupants of the tiny Magic Shop looked out the window in fear. Their friend, their savior, was standing outside in the storm, looking in like a ghost. The look on her face was one of implacable rage and sorrow.
Anya looked at Tara. She was the one who had let out the three whimpered words. She pitied the blonde witch. She knew that God could do nothing to help them now. They were all at the wrath of the Slayer. Goddess, save them if they survived this.
"God can't help us now." She whispered as the Slayer lifted her arm.
Buffy threw her dagger through the window, straight at them. Anya screamed and fell to the ground, covering herself. Glass shattered everywhere. Winds and rain blew in, chilling everything. Tara tried a protection spell, but Giles stopped her.
"Do not make yourself the object of her rage." He warned.
The knife stuck into the cabinet, mere inches away from Warren's head. He whimpered in fear.
"Do not run from me!" Buffy screamed, her voice booming and deadening at the same time. "Do you hear me?! She didn't get to run! She didn't get to escape, and neither do you." She threatened as she calmly walked into the building.
"No, please…" Warren whimpered, trying to scramble away.
"Shut up!" Giles hissed. "Buffy, what are you doing?" He asked, his voice softening.
Buffy met his eyes and her own seemed to break. "Giles, he shot her. She's gone, and she's cold, and he has to pay!" Her whimper turned into a scream.
Her eyes turned cold again and a small, dead smile spread across her lips. "He will pay." She grabbed her knife and yanked it out of the wood. She lunged at him, grabbing him by the lapels. She held the machete inches from his heart, grinning madly. She breathed hard, her eyes wild.
"You can't run from me, you can't hide. I can smell your fear." She licked her lips and went on. "You made a mistake when you came to my home. When you shot my sister! Why wasn't it me? Why her? WHY?!" She screamed, her emotion truly showing.
"I-I-I-I'm s-sorry!" Warren cried, fear taking over.
Buffy snarled and buried the dagger to the hilt into his ribs. She then turned the knife, feeling the bone separate. Her smile was sickly and her eyes full of glee. He screamed and she laughed. This wasn't enough to kill him. A mere flesh wound as far as she was concerned. But, then, she wanted his death to be slow and painful.,
She would make him pay.
His eyes rolled back into his head as he fell unconscious. She dropped him to the floor and kicked him in the stomach.
"GET UP!" She screamed, her voice demanding.
His eyes fluttered, but he didn't move. Buffy reared her foot back again, fully intent on making him wake.
Giles grabbed her and held her tight.
"Buffy! Buffy, this is not the way!" He cried into her ear.
She turned around, with fear and panic in her eyes.
"He has to pay, Giles! He has too! For Dawn!" She shrieked.
"Yes, but not this way! Not by death!" Giles said.
"It has to be this way!" She growled.
"STOP!" Tara screamed, throwing her arm in Buffy's direction.
Buffy was torn from Giles' arms and into the opposite wall. She was bound by magical restraints and she screamed, a horrible, shrill sound.
"Get out!": Tara yelled to the boys, her voice thick with power.
"No!" Buffy shrieked. "What are you doing?!"
Lightening flashed and the power went out. Tara was momentarily startled and she let her guard down for only an instant. But, that was all it took for Buffy to get free and throw Tara into the wall. Tara's head smashed through the glass showcase and she fell silent, blood dripping from various cuts and gashes.
Her eyes were closed.
She wasn't moving.
*
Angel paced the lobby, his mind feeling heavy and muddled. He was tried. More tired than he ever remembered being. His body felt slow and muted. His eyes wanted to close. But, it was only his corporal body that felt the weariness. His soul was wide away. His demon was howling inside of him. Everything in his entire being was screaming at the unfairness of what was now taking place. He so desperately wanted to believe it was all a horrible dream. A nightmare.
But, the thing was, that it wasn't even close to being a dream. This was real. Extremely real. And, there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop it.
His best friend was upstairs, crying her heart out, because of what The Powers had shown her. Of what The Powers had allowed to happen. Angel knew that They had the power to stop anything. Why hadn't they stopped this? Why had they allowed this to happen? Why weren't they protecting her?
But, the real question was, why hadn't Angel protected her?
Not his friend, not Cordelia. This was her job. Nothing could have stopped it. But, Buffy. She was suffering. Burying herself deeper within her mind and letting all hell break loose. At her own hands. He knew exactly what she was doing now. He knew what she was feeling. He could feel her emotions as if they were his own. She was fighting, bleeding, dying within herself.
And he could do NOTHING to stop it.
Nothing at all.
Angel stopped at the French doors and stared out, his vision blurring with tears. Damn this world. Damn everything that tainted it. Himself included. He leaned against the cold glass, his knees buckling. He shook violently as he slid to the ground. His heart hurt.
It bled for the broken women he loved. The broken women he would have to face, to fight, to stop. She would come, and soon, vengeance tainting her every move. Harsh sobs caught in his throat and he couldn't breathe.
He would kill him! Murder him, teach what hell really was! How had Angel let this happen? How had he left the door open for Spike to just strut into Buffy's life? Ruining her? Breaking her? She didn't deserve that! She deserved love. Care. Truth. And, trust.
Spike didn't know the meaning of those words.
He only knew one thing.
The kill.
And, whom had he learned that from?
Angelus himself.
'Do not blame it on me, you pansy-ass. I loved her just as much as you did! It wasn't my fucking decision to leave her! That was yours, soul-boy.' Angelus hissed inside of Angel's mind.
His words rang true.
It was Angels' fault.
But, that would be fixed.
She would be here soon.
He needed rest to be able to save her.
To bring her back.
Again.
*
Thunder rolled through the sky and Willow looked up. Something was wrong. Deadly wrong. As much as Willow hadn't wanted to leave, Xander had forced her to get into the car with him and go to the Magic Shop.
"There is nothing we can do for Dawn, Willow. She's gone." He told her, his voice emotionless.
He was being strong for her.
Willow said nothing and pressed her forehead against the cool windowpane. Her head hurt. Her stomach twisted with anxiety. She watched the clouds roll through the sky.
She looked at the low moon and whispered. "Where is Buffy?"
Her eyes grew black as reality faded for her. She was looking into the Magic Shop. Buffy was screaming, but she couldn't hear the words. Warren was against the wall with a knife in his side. Anya was cowering on the ground. And Tara, oh God…Tara! She was laying so very still in the middle of the broken glass case. She was bleeding.
Willow gasped and panted for air. Xander swerved the car.
"What the hell are you doing?" He demanded.
"Drive faster!" She screamed.
*
Dead.
Gone.
Cold.
Still.
Images of Dawn flashed in Buffy confused mind. She fell to her knees and screamed.
'Make it stop! I don't want to see this!' She screamed in her own mind.
She could hear the gun going off. She could smell the sickening stench of blood and gun powder. Her body shook and once again, she saw Dawn fall limp, to the ground.
"No!" She screamed. "No, no, no, NO!"
Thunder boomed and broke Buffy out of her mental hell. Her eyes cleared and she saw she was alone. Warren and the other boys were gone. Tara lay on the floor bleeding. Anya was on the floor, quivering in fear. Giles was no where to be found.
Buffy stood up, her knees shaking weakly. She staggered to the blood stained floor and picked up her dagger. She sniffed the blood staining the gleaming silver. She could smell the fear and agony of the boy. She smiled and licked the blade, tasting the terror he had felt when she had come at him. Buffy laughed this time, the look on her face purely maniacal. Her hair hung in her face, her features pale and emotionless. Her eyes were blank except for the rage that swam in their depths. Her clothes were blood stained, her own, Warren's, and Dawn's covering it all. Her own cheek had been cut by glass, her own blood mingling in her senses.
It egged her on. Whispered to her. Told her to kill.
Rain fell harder and Buffy staggered out the door, the heavens flashing their warning by lightening. Hell itself was quaking in dread, demons hiding in the shadows, not daring to show its face with this girl walking around, her intentions to anyone…
Deadly.
*
In a realm of white cathedrals and marble floors, beings of another type raged and argued amongst themselves about the fate of the world. All sat in a gleaming room, set up much like a human courtroom. But, these beings were anything but human. Their status seemingly higher.
They were The Powers That Be.
Six beings sat at a long, crescent shaped table. They were dressed in golden clothes, their essence shining brilliantly. Their faces were oval shaped, their features perfect. Three men and three women sat, their eyes glowing silver.
"Please impede the quarrelling." One of the women, named Geneva, said tolerantly.
"This is unacceptable!" One of the lower beings raged. "She cannot be allowed to do this!"
"We have no control over what happens in the mortal realm. All we can do is warn and presage." Another woman, Celesta, stated.
"The Slayer is going to ruin the mortals! She cannot state the difference between good and evil. Not anymore." Another lower being said desperately.
"We need help. Admit it, Geneva." Another dared.
"I am not denying that this is a matter that we cannot handle by ourselves. But, there is no way to contain this girl. She was handed a duty. She is not able to fulfill it. This an imperious matter to be handled." She said gratingly.
"True." Celesta agreed, her eyes narrowing. "But, we cannot under any circumstances, kill her. That will prove nothing, solve nothing. We must contact the mortal world. We have to warn them."
"We have." Stated one of the men, Jean. "We've been sending messages to the mortal seer. She knows what is to come."
"But, she is not strong enough to handle the Slayer! No on is, can't any of you see that?" Aura, the last woman, declared. "The girl's mortal half has been shattered! She is gone, hiding behind the Slayer within her. She's letting the Slayer out. Without the girl to balance the whole affect, all could be lost in a matter of weeks, day even." Her voice was angry. "She needs help."
"You're correlation to the Slayer is touching." Jean said dryly. "Touching indeed. Do not let it faze your vision on this matter."
"This matter?" Aura raged. "This is more than a matter, Jean, and you, as well as I do, know it. With careful calculation, we chose this girl. She's outlived many of our other choices. Lost everything time and again, but still she fought. We owe her."
"We owe her nothing!" Jean scoffed. "She is a pawn in the fight against evil."
"She is upsetting the balance!" Geneva countered.
"And, how do you propose we help this girl?" Israfel, after listening to the arguments, asked softly.
"We must travel to the mortal realm. We have to converse with Angelus. He is the only one who might save her and the world."
"You want to make a deal with a vampire?" Jean laughed. "Impossible."
"Not as impossible as you might think, Jean." Celeste chuckled. "Put away your tribal arrogance and keep quiet." She commanded.
"My Lords?" Came a small cry as a smaller beings scurried into the conference.
"Yes?" Aura asked.
"Dimensional tracking indicates that the Malevolence has moved upwards." He said quickly. "Vara and Shiva have ordered their entourage to see Angelus."
"My God." Geneva sighed. "Then, we will go as well."
The six beings linked their hands with each other and were gone within seconds.
To the City of Angels they went.
*
The winds had begun to pick up in the city. Leaves and papers blew past, as if trying to get away from the inevitable. Cordelia watched with uncaring eyes. This was no surprise to he. It could only get worse from here on out. She turned away from the window and looked into the empty lobby. No one had come all night. It was as if they knew, everyone knew, what was going to happen.
"Cordelia, are you alright?" A voice asked, making her jump.
She whirled around, a glare set in her face, to see Wesley standing there.
"Don't do that." She berated, then sighed. "No. I am not alright."
He nodded and touched her shoulder comfortingly. She tried to smile, trying to be brave.
"You don't have to do that." He whispered, his eyes meeting hers. "You don't have to be brave."
"Yes I do." She countered gently. "Or else, I'll fall apart and I cannot do that. I have to be strong. I have to try and help her. I owe her that much."
Wesley nodded and smiled softly.
Something changed between them at that moment. Something subtle, though they both felt it.
But, the spell was broken when the doors crashed open. Cordelia jumped and Wesley stood in front of her. The lobby grew chilled and six lone figures stood in the middle of the room. Three men, three women. They wore black and red, each resembling each other, but looking nothing alike. They all had hair of a dark raven color, their eyes a gleaming red. They walked into the room, their smiles full of bad intentions.
A women stepped forward, truly a beauty. But, there was an air about her that reeked with death and horror.
"Please excuse us for coming unannounced into your facility with no warning nor invite." She apologized, seeming sincere. "But, what we are about to explain to you is of dire importance. There was no time for consultation. It would be best to call everybody down here, if you do not mind." She said, her eyes serious, her tone foreboding.
Wesley nodded and went up the stairs hurriedly.
Cordelia watched them all with a critical eye. They talked amongst themselves mutedly. She could feel her hair rising on the back of her neck in warning. These were not good people.
The woman who had spoken looked at her and smiled gently.
"Do not fear, dear girl. We don't come to hurt you or your friends. We want to aide you." She said to her.
"For what purpose, I wonder?" A new voice said.
Cordelia looked to the door and saw a new groups of people. Once again, there were three men and three women. They were golden haired with cerulean eyes. They wore Roman-like robes of white material, silk maybe.
"Geneva." The black-haired woman spoke.
"Vara." Geneva said, with a smile. "How good to see you again."
Cordelia just blinked at the strange exchange.
"What are you doing up here?" Geneva asked Vara.
"I might ask you the same. You've finally come down from your heavenly mountain." Vara retorted.
"And, you've come up from your hellish pit." Another girl bit out.
"Enough!" A voice boomed.
Cordelia turned and saw Angel coming down the stairs.
"What is going on?" He asked.
"I don't know." Cordelia shrugged wearily.
"Calm down, my sweet." Vara smiled. "First, let me introduce ourselves before we get into any discussions. I am Vara, one of the six members of the Malevolence. This," she said, gesturing to another man. "Is Shiva. Raven, Dinah, Julian, and Golan." She said, going from the other two women to the other two men.
"And I am Geneva. This is Israfel. This is Aura and Jean and Celeste and Tyros." She said pointing them out. "We are the Powers That Be."
No one said anything.
And, then Gunn spoke. "You've got to be shitting me."
Vara broke out into a smile, but said nothing.
"I get it." Fred spoke up. "You are the 'bad' PTB and you are the 'good' PTB." She said, pointing from Vara and her entourage to Geneva and hers.
"Perceptive little thing, aren't you?" Dinah smirked.
Fred frowned and said nothing.
"Hey." Angel warned. "What I'd like to know is why, of all of the times we've had problem, are you here now?"
"This is more than a mere problem!" Celeste cried. "This is a catastrophe waiting to happen!"
"If we do not stop your little Slayer, then all will be lost. For everyone." Jean scoffed.
"We're handling it." Angel said firmly.
"And, what a great job you're doing of that. Do you want to see first hand what is going on? What that girl is doing. She's killing everything and anything in her path! Good and evil!" Jean yelled.
He waved his hands and a sphere like screen appeared in the middle of the room.
"Jean, no." Aura pleaded.
He muttered to himself and everything could see the blonde Slayer ripping off the arms of a human with her bare hands. She laughed as she did it, her eyes wild and her clothes bloodstained.
"Buffy…" Angel whispered.
"You can't run!" She screamed to no one. "I will find you and you will PAY!"
Geneva got rid the screen with a wave of her hand.
"Do you see of what dire importance controlling her is? She will destroy the world in a matter of weeks at this rate." She said gravely.
"You talk of controlling her, like she's nothing but cattle!" Cordelia exploded. "She is a human being! No matter if the Slayer's inside of her! She is a girl, a girl who was violated in the most hurtful way! And, to ice the fucking cake, she watched her sister die! You can't control her!" She screamed.
Cordelia swayed on her feet and crumpled to the floor, her eyes open and moving around wildly.
She was having a vision.
Vara just looked at her.
"Well. Shall we move on?"
TBC