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Chapter 8

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By the time Friday arrived Buffy had nearly forgotten about her duty as the Slayer. No one had fetched her to train and no one had mentioned when she would. Giles had evaded her questions by unconvincingly explaining that they were all simply too busy. Not even when she had pointed out that not much could be more important than training the girl who was supposed to protect the world had she gotten a straight answer.

Nevertheless, her schooling continued without a hitch. Her Slayer studies were interesting despite having heard it all before. Her teacher, Miss Kirly, was a sweet, warm middle aged woman whose grandmother had been the Slayer. She knew a great deal about the life a Slayer lived, and a great deal about how they died. Buffy was surprised to learn that Faith was a potential, but then noticed that she certainly did fit the description of what a Slayer should be. Rough, passionate and strong, although she was lacking in the obediate department.

The self-defense classes were a hit with the students and Gunn made a great teacher. Fred taught Science and Buffy was amazed at how much the intelligent young girl knew. Her passion and excitement for her students learning was blinding; she obviously loved it.

Willow came to dinner every night with many stories about her progress in magic. She idolized her mentor- a gentle, shy woman whom she called Tara- and claimed that it was her favourite class. She spent her nights finishing her homework and then helping her friends as they struggled with their own. She didn't complain once, and Buffy privately thought she loved it.

Cordelia was still as tactless and as aggravating as their first meeting. She had stopped her nasty comments to the others; however, she didn't cease in her constant nagging to Buffy. Since she'd had no clothes, Buffy was forced to borrow what she could, and more often than not it was Cordelia's clothes the blonde borrowed. Despite this, the brunette seer was enjoying her seer classes, albeit the lack of visions.

Oz went from day to day smoothly. His easygoing nature made him a favourite among the students and they often forced him into playing his guitar. He hadn't transformed yet, and his werewolf classes were focused on teaching him to control his inner-wolf. He hoped one day to be able to change when he wanted to, or at least be able to control himself when he transformed. He was a smart teenager, and didn't see the need to speak unless there was something worth saying. Buffy thought he saw everything that went on around him, and admitted to herself that there wasn't much she would be able to keep a secret from him.

Buffy had been shocked when Xander had first shown his gift. She had slipped on the grand staircase, and despite being more than ten steps above her, had managed to catch her and prevent her from tumbling down and most probably breaking her neck. He was extremely fast and his gift was one of the most unique in the school. Although he was not what you would call an intelligent teenager, Xander tried hard and he didn't even know the meaning of giving up.

The highlight of Buffy's unusual- if not exciting- week came on Friday afternoon, the last class of the week. Unusual Demons was a lecture that was only held once a week, and Buffy was curious to see what the lesson would involve.

Since all the first years were taking the same class, it was held in a small amphitheater beside the hall. The high ceiling augmented the tumultuous racket from the students. However, that racket was silence as soon as the lecturer appeared.

Tall, broad and wearing a vivid purple suit, the U.D teacher made his entrance. And as if the suit wasn't enough to startle the students, his two horns and green skin definitely did the job. He strode to the desk at the front of the room with a large smile plastered on his face. Angel followed him slowly, allowing the students to focus entirely on the demon standing in front of them.

Suddenly, a sharp shriek pierced the air and a small girl near the front fainted into the arms of her neighbor. This was the catalyst for a frightened and confused uproar, in which students screamed, yelled and protested their objections.

Angel merely held his hand high, and the ruckus began to die down.

"Silence," he demanded and the room became deathly silent again, "This is the Host, Krevlornswath, or as I doubt any of you could pronounce it, Lorne. He will be your Unusual Demons teacher. Any questions?" he asked, searching the room for someone brave enough to speak up. When no answer came he murmured into Lorne's ear then strode from the room.

"Good afternoon cupcakes!" Lorne greeted, "Angel has asked me to give you a few details of myself so I don't scare any more students. Although it's good to see I can still make the girls swoon..." A ripple of laughter surged through the room, and the students visibly relaxed.

It was the weirdest but most intriguing lesson Buffy had ever attended. The students sat quietly; compelled into silence by the Host's extraordinary talent for storytelling. He began by describing his life as the soul-searching Host and owner of Caritas, a demon bar. Once he saw that he held his audience in a captive thrall, he continued to describe his powers and abilities, and eventually his adventures with Angel's Investigations.

The students overlooked, or forgot, his rather unusual appearance and Buffy found it easy to see the good within his demon form. As she listened to the entertaining account of his life in Pylea, her thoughts started to wander.

Obviously, Angel trusted Lorne to be a 'good' demon, or he wouldn't have hired him in the first place. But if Lorne was indeed a 'humane' demon, didn't that mean that there could be others? Buffy's theory of human equals good, demon equal bad flew straight out the window as she realized that the world wasn't made in black and white. Shades of gray were hidden in the most unlikely disguises, Lorne being a suitable example.

How would she know if she was fighting against an evil demon, or if she was about to kill a demon with family or friends whom they loved? Slaying someone like Lorne, who was living peacefully among humans, made her stomach twist at the thought.

There was so much she had to learn, but how would she learn if they weren't helping her? Giles was ignoring her, Wesley was doing the same, and Gunn was plainly staying out of her way. Even Fred was acting weird around her. Angel was the only one who was treating her the same, but she caught the quick looks he sent her way; so fast that she may have imagined it. And Spike...he had always been weird, so nothing much had changed on that front.

Don't follow orders pet. 'Cause that's what will get you killed.

His sharp words came back to her and she frowned at the urgency in his tone. Wasn't that the duty of the Slayer? To follow her Watcher's orders? She'd never been one to obey the rules, so that had never been a problem. The meaning behind his remark was lost on her.

She shifted restlessly on her seat. The past week had been beyond strange, more unbelievable. It felt as though she'd been in a daydream; a daydream that she couldn't decide whether she wanted to awaken from or not.

She uncrossed her legs, then crossed them again. She had been restless since the day she'd come here. It felt as though she had a large ball of energy in her stomach, slowly releasing endorphins into her blood stream. Her fidgeting had increased and she'd noticed that a lot of her baby fat had disappeared- leaving her face thin and her body slim and toned.

She felt an unrelenting urge to move. She saw steps and she'd race up them; she saw a chair she'd jump over it; she saw a basketball match she'd join in. Buffy took great pains in hiding her strength from the other students, and she knew eventually that she would have to let it out. It was growing within her; a deep, forceful power that surged through her blood and her muscles, begging her to be released. It was beginning to hurt and drain her, and it wouldn't be long before she gave up and hit the first thing that came her way.

She was jerked from her reverie by the abrupt bell. Some students groaned as they collected the materials they hadn't used and the class reluctantly trudged from the amphitheater, already anticipating next week's lesson. As she walked down the aisle behind her four friends, Buffy wistfully recollected her first and only training session. Determination filled her and she decided if her Watcher wouldn't train her, she'd train herself.

Buoyed by the decision she had come to, Buffy bid leave from her friends and hastened to the library. She quickly glanced around her and finding no one to question her motives, pushed the heavy doors open. She was gratified to see the library empty, and strode to the far wall. She ran her hands over the various books, willing herself to remember which book was the lever. Blue, no, green, no, brown, no, black, no, red...yes! That was the one. She pulled it down and gave a satisfied smile when she heard a familiar 'click'. The wall retreated back and Buffy slid into the dark passage.

Trusting her Slayer enhanced vision Buffy advanced into the gloom. As she walked cautiously forward, her hands brushed against the wall for support and guidance. She frowned when she realized that she didn't know how to open the door, but the problem was soon put to rest when she turned the corner and found the door already wide open.

She stepped through the door slowly, and silently descended the stairs. Faint fraction of a conversation floated up the stairs and she only caught a few words.

"They know..."

"...is it?"

"The...that they need."

"...will it help?"

"She can't...won't work..."

She halted when she reached the door and recognized the voices. Angel was there, with Wesley and Giles. There was another voice that was familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Miss Kirly!

"We won't be able to keep her here," said a deep voice that she recognized as Gunn.

"He's right," Miss Kirly added, "Too many people are dying."

"I know." Angel said. Buffy stayed hidden behind the wall and in the shadows. "She'll need to be covered twenty-four seven, though. This is what they want us to do, send her out. They know we can't keep the Slayer from her duty forever."

Buffy stifled the gasp that threatened to pass her lips. They were talking about her.

"Did you find out about the vampire?" Giles asked.

"No," Angel replied bitterly, "Doyle came up empty. He knows that they got their hands on our sorcerer, and that he was killed afterward. But how they managed to find out about the spell in the first place is a mystery."

"And their next move?" Wesley inquired.

"He hasn't been told yet," Angel answered. "When they inform him, he'll be in contact. I'm afraid they might suspect a double agent in their midst. Doyle was asked to join the attack on Buffy and he had to stab himself to make it look like he was too injured to be involved."

"Tell him to be careful. The Council is known for luring out traitors," Giles said curtly. "By the way, we've been neglecting Buffy's training for too long. It will need to continue soon."

Angel sighed. "Rupert is right. How else will she be able to protect herself?"

Protect myself; Buffy thought angrily. You seem to be doing a fine job of that.. She shook her head in frustration and stepped from the darkness to confront them.

A cold callous hand firmly covered her mouth and a strong arm sneaked around her waist, dragging her silently back into the shadows.