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Chapter 13
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Slithering silently through the undergrowth, the shadow moved quickly, eyes never leaving its target. Weaving through the trees, the shadow gained speed, moving faster but still making no sound. Reaching an arm from the shade of the trees, the small, bony hand latched onto its prey and opened its mouth...
"Hey!"
Xander shrieked and threw himself to the ground, a look of pure terror flashing on his face. He raised his head slowly, reluctant to face his attacker and his eyes locked onto...
"Buffy!"
She doubled over in laughter as he tried to calm his racing heart. Once she had seen Xander leaning against the tree alone, she just couldn't resist.
"Hey Xander," she chuckled.
"God, are you crazy? I could have...done some serious damage you know," he mumbled.
"Sure you would have," Buffy shook her head knowingly. With a smile she folded herself into Xander's hug, happy to be back among friends. "Where are the others..." She didn't get to finish because the others in question suddenly appeared out of thin air. "What the hell..."
"Buffy!" Willow squealed, wrapping her arms around the stunned Slayer. "You're back!"
"Uh, yeah," she said disentangling herself from the brunette and redhead. "And obviously I missed the popping out of thin air lessons, haven't I?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes, "No, it's just Anya."
"Anya?" she asked confused. It was only then that Buffy noticed the slim blonde standing nervously behind the pretty seer.
"Hi," she mumbled, and gave a little wave. "I'm Anya."
Buffy shot her a friendly smile, "I'm Buffy."
"I know. So you're the Slayer, huh?"
Buffy turned on her friend with a furious glare, "You told her? Do you people know the meaning of a secret?"
Xander shrugged sheepishly, "Sorry Buff, but we forgot she didn't know..."
"You guys are hopeless!" she cried in irritation, but upon seeing Anya's abashed expression added hastily, "Oh, don't worry Anya, doesn't really make a difference, but I just don't want Giles having my head. So what are you?
"I'm a Vengeance demon's daughter," she replied with a grin. "I inherited her ability to teleport from place to place, and I can also grant small wishes. Nothing like what my mother does- only small stuff."
"Sound's pretty useful," Buffy said with admiration, "Now who wants to help me?"
"Always willing to lend a hand, Buff," Xander crooned.
"Great, because I've got four suitcases that need unpacking," Buffy grinned as Xander's face fell.
"Open mouth, insert foot," he mumbled, following the others as they made their way to the garden's exit.
"So what have I missed?" Buffy asked, breathing in the familiar smell of the corridors.
"Nothing really," Willow said, "But I've copied all my notes for you, so all you need to do is read over them and you'll be pretty much caught up."
"Great," she muttered dryly.
"Have you guys noticed how weird the teachers are acting?" Cordelia asked as she opened the door to their room.
"Yeah, it's freaking me out," Xander sprawled uninvited on Cordelia's bed and received a threatening glare. He hastily removed his feet from the sheets and perched on the end.
Buffy dropped her suitcases onto her bed and opened them. "What do you mean? Weird as in how?"
"Well they seem distracted in class," Willow replied as she helped Buffy fold her clothes in her drawer. "And have you seen how they hurry everywhere? They look all nervous and anxious like there's something following them."
"Not to mention the ridiculous amount of staff meetings," Anya added, "I mean, every morning, lunch and night they meet. What's the deal?"
Buffy listened to them talk and felt her frown deepen. She wondered what it could possibly mean. The staff dealt with demons and horror every day and if they were becoming worried then it could only mean that something terrible was coming.
Caught in the middle of a war...Spike's words came back to her and she remembered the conversation they had held about Kendra and the Council. If they were becoming increasingly worried, it could only mean that things were getting worse. But how?
"Anyway, enough about the teachers," Willow interrupted, "What about you Buffy, how did things go with your mom and dad?"
"It went...good," she replied, determined not to talk about her father and keep her pain from showing in her voice. "Great actually."
"That's good," Cordelia breezed as she brushed her hair, "But that crazy Faith girl said she saw you in the city. What were you doing in LA?"
"I, uh," she stammered, thinking quickly to produce a lie, "Mom...and dad decided to move to LA after I disappeared, and when I returned they still thought it would be for the best if we moved." Well, it was nearly the truth.
"That's kinda fast, don't you think?" Anya asked. "How'd you buy a house so quick?"
"Well we were staying with my grandmother until we found a house," she answered and resumed packing, effectively eluding more questions.
The conversation moved from topic to topic and after thirty minutes, Buffy shoved her weapon bag behind the head on her bed and finished unpacking. She slid her empty suitcases under the bed and stood up, dusting her hands on her faded jeans.
"All done," she declared, "Hey, where's Oz?" she asked, finally noticing the werewolf's absence. Willow turned a bright shade of red.
"He's practicing his guitar with the band," she answered.
Buffy smiled and said, "Oh, okay. Well I'm going to check in with Giles and maybe do some training. I'll see you guys later?"
They all sent her a lazy goodbye and she left them lounging in her room. Strolling down the stairs, she had almost made it to the bottom floor when she saw a familiar figure lurking at the base of the staircase. He flinched, as though sensing her presence and disappeared into the corridor. She hastened down the last steps but by the time she flew around the corner, all sign of the platinum blonde was gone.
She visibly deflated and continued down the corridor. A few students smiled cheerily at her as she passed, but none stop to chat. Pushing open the familiar, heavy doors, Buffy strolled uneasily into the library.
"Morning Giles," she greeted, causing the absorbed Watcher to jump in fright.
"Good Lord Buffy, don't you know never to sneak up on...Buffy?" he said, as thought just realizing her presence after her week away. "You're back I see. Have you settled in again?"
"Yep, all settled in and comfy," she replied, glancing over his shoulders at the books he had been studying intently. "I thought maybe we could do some training, then maybe go out on patrol tonight seeing that..."
"No!" he shouted, and then realizing where they were lowered his voice. "I mean, no, I can't, much too busy at the moment. Perhaps another time?"
"Yo English, have you found..." Gunn appeared from behind the bookcase and trailed off as he noticed Buffy. "Oh, Buffy, you're back..."
"Yeah, I am," she replied dryly, rolling her eyes at their pathetic attempts to avert her attention. "And Giles can't train me, so maybe you can..."
"Nah, sorry girl, but I got to...do some things at the moment," he answered nervously, "Maybe later okay?"
"Sure, maybe when I've been sucked dry by some vamps on patrol you can teach me how NOT to die," she muttered sarcastically.
"Buffy," Giles said sternly. "You most certainly will not be going on patrols at the moment..."
"Why not?" she asked angrily. "I'm the Slayer, Giles. You know, the one chosen to protect the world yada, yada, yada? While I'm sitting on my behind doing jack all, people are dying. So give me a good reason why not!"
Giles and Gunn stared at her in shame, and Giles cleared his throat. "You are not ready yet..."
However, Buffy had heard enough of their excuses, and turned furiously away from them. She purposely slammed the library door shut, smiling grimly when the loud boom echoed through the building. They were so infuriating with their pitiful excuses and obviously attempts to shelter her from the truth. Well screw them. She had patrolled before by herself and she could damn well do it again. Once night had fallen and the building was asleep she would sneak out. It couldn't be too hard; the place was full of shadows and possible escape routes. Her decision made, Buffy began to calm down.
Soon she would be but nothing but a silent, but deadly, shadow in the night, and she couldn't wait to surprise the hungry vampires stalking their prey.
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Once Willow's breathing had slowed and Cordelia's snoring became louder, Buffy silently slid from her bed and withdrew from the room. She had gone to bed fully dressed and her jeans, black top and Spike's duster made a perfect concealment in the dark. She rushed noiselessly onto the staircase and winced at the muffled sound of her sneakers cuffing the marble. With a stroke of genius, Buffy hopped onto the banister and slid the rest of the way down.
Slightly giddy, but otherwise fine, she crept down the first floor corridor until she came to the girl's bathroom. With a quick glance to either side, she pushed the door open and disappeared inside. Once inside, she counted to the fifth cubicle that she knew had a broken window. She grabbed the edge of the window and hauled herself through the tiny opening.
Dropping to the ground in a crouch, Buffy breathed in the chilly night air. Her blood was pumping in her veins and a wave of adrenaline overwhelmed her. God, she loved this feeling. Stealing onto the lamp-lit street, she began her favorite game of becoming one with the darkness and avoiding the light at all cost.
Ten minutes later she arrived at the closest cemetery and had already slain three vampires with surprising ease. Every night she grew stronger and more confident in her abilities. Moreover, every night the excitement and exhilaration didn't dim the smallest bit. If anything, the stimulation she felt seemed to grow with every slain vampire.
Grinning happily to herself, Buffy dropped to the ground as a large fist swung through the air where her head had been not a moment before. Sweeping her leg in an arc, the vampire's feet were swept from beneath him and he landed heavily on his back. Grunting in surprise, he blinked as she plunged the stake into his heart. Brushing the dust from her clothes, she turned and bumped straight into...
"Spike," she said startled.
"Slayer," he smirked. "English know you're out trying to kill yourself?"
"No," she replied curtly, "So don't tell him. And I'm not trying to kill myself, I'm more than capable of taking care of myself."
"So I see," he commented, looking pointedly at the stake in her hand. "Done this before, pet?"
She blushed and looked away, "Maybe." He raised his eyebrows deliberately, but his expression turned to one of shock as he took in her attire.
"What the hell...is that my bleedin' duster?"
Buffy glanced down at the black leather in surprise. It had unconsciously become like a second skin to her and she never went patrolling without it. "Oh, uh, yeah. I forgot to give it back after you dropped me home," she explained hastily.
"And you still wear it?" he asked with more amusement than surprise.
"Yeah, I, uh, kinda like it," she admitted, causing him to chuckle.
"Yeah, has the same effect on me," he said, and he took it when she shrugged it off and handed it to him. "You know you shouldn't be out here, love."
"I've only been told so five hundred times," she answered bitterly.
He smirked and opened his mouth to reply when he sensed something moving behind him. Spinning around quickly, he swept his gaze over the dark cemetery. He saw nothing, but the warning persisted. Slowly, he turned back to Buffy in time to see a fist strike her head. A solid object hit his own head and the last thing he saw before passing out was Buffy's unconscious body collapsing to the ground.