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Chapter 28

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Spike was certain that if he breathed he would have stopped breathing; if his heart beat, it would have stopped beating; if his body was pervious to changes in temperature it would have gone cold when Buffy spoke those words. It couldn't be true…

She will swallow darkness…

He didn't know what had been in the vile, but he was sure it couldn't have been good if it was powerful enough to destroy the world. And now she had swallowed it, and the horrible contents were swirling down her throat and into her stomach. Spike struggled to control his anger and fear, only barely preventing his face from shifting into game face. It couldn't turn out like this…

What is seen will pass…

The thought of that…thing in her was enough to make him want to torture the Watcher bitch for giving her no other choice. No other choice than to begin to fulfil what he had been told. The foretold events leading up to this moment had passed, and the sordid feeling in the pit of his gut told him that things were about to be set in motion. Things he couldn't stop, even if he knew they were coming.

"You stupid bint!" he hissed, grabbing her forcefully by the shoulders. "What'd you think you were doing?"

"Doing what a Slayer's supposed to do," she replied softly. "Aren't Slayers supposed to save the world? Give their life so others can keep living?"

A sacrifice imperative…

"N…no!" Xander whispered from the wall.

"Not anymore." Spike searched her eyes imploringly. "You have people like us who can help you, who will do it for you."

She shook her head sadly. "I can't let that happen."   

"Yes you can!" he all but shouted, the futility of what he was doing sinking in. Buffy had already consumed the substance. The effects would soon ravage her body, her mind, and destroy the woman he loved. He had been told this would happen, but he had stupidly refused to accept that he loved her. If he had only figured it out sooner, put a name to these feelings he had for the little blonde Slayer, then maybe he could have somehow warned her. Somehow saved her. 

You will be too late…

The silence was thick, and Buffy's admission had evidently shocked Kirly so much that she was gaping like a fish out of water.  

"Do you have any idea of what you have done?" she said, her voice steely and low.

"Swallowed some disgusting, century-old, probably evil liquid?"

"That was the last ingredient." Kirly paused, and then shrugged. "Well, this does change things. But the show must go on."

Before Buffy knew what was happening, she had appeared by her side, and Kirly slid the knife into her stomach. Buffy gasped as the sharp metal pierced her skin then muscle and tendons. The burning pain shot through her body like fire, and when the Watcher slid the knife back out again the pain doubled in intensity. She cried out, clutching at the wound in a futile attempt to stop the blood from seeping through her fingers. She vaguely noticed Spike throw the woman away and wrap his arms around her waist, holding her upright. The world was slowly changing, the colours gradually becoming duller and the sounds merging together.

She was hit with the realization of what the Watcher was doing; she was raising him, and not into a crow's dead body as the original plan intended. Buffy had the contents of the vile inside her… She was going to be the vessel. He was going to rise inside her.

The very thought made her queasy and she grabbed her head, willing herself to ignore the affects of her wound and remain standing. Somewhere in the back of her mind she comprehended that Kirly was screaming in some long forgotten language, and Buffy remembered the words from her vision. It was going to happen any time now. She could feel it, a darkness swirling at the centre of her, waiting to be freed into the world. She struggled against it, pushing it further back, but it resisted. Her strength was wanning.

Spike watched with desperation as the Slayer fell into shock. He wouldn't allow himself to believe it, wouldn't allow himself to dwell on it for more than a second. It had been so long ago, and so many years had passed that he had convinced himself that it was false. That she was just a lonely old beggar searching for a way to get a few pounds. That her insistent pleas for him to listen were just an act. That she was wrong.

You shall watch the one you love die. And the only way to save her is to kill her.

He did not realize he had spoken aloud. And as Buffy finally fell limp in his arms, he realized that his stupidity may come with a price- her life. And the thought of this girl, the one he loved, dead, almost made his snap. But he couldn't- he needed to be here for the end, even if the end was today. He listened with detached attention as her heart beat slowly, and her breathing stopped. And when the blood finally ceased rushing through her veins, he knew what he had to do.

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Back in the hall, Faith watched with restless unease as Angel tried to hold the influx of soldiers from following Buffy and Xander. He was doing alright, but she knew she could be of some help to him. Her training sessions with Buffy had done wonders for her abilities in fighting, and she considered herself capable of defending herself, even helping if she needed to. And so she did so now. Quickly jumping away from the circle of students, she watched as the barrier reasserted itself around them, cutting her off from the safety within. On her own with the soldiers coming towards her and with only one preoccupied vampire as her backup, Faith was suddenly at home. As she swung her fist at the first of her opponents, she had a content feeling of being at home. This was what she was meant to be doing- fighting for those who couldn't fight for themselves. Protecting those who needed it.

It was this thought she clung to as she punched and kicked and ducked and twisted her way through her enemies, letting it pour strength into her body and determination into her mind. She was not as strong as Buffy, and so was forced to rely on skill and speed. And the knowledge that if she didn't beat them they would not hesitate to kill her. And Faith didn't feel like dying yet. She had too much to live for. But even that knowledge was not enough, because as strong as she may be as a potential Slayer, she was no match for so many soldiers. She was tiring quickly, faster then what she would have liked, and was no closer to Angel than she had been.

She heard a deafening roar, and turned to see Oz leading a group of werewolves into battle. She watched, mesmerized, as they tore through the pack surrounding Angel, picking out and killing the vampires while only disabling the humans. Faith was impressed by the self control. According to Angel, learning to control the wolf inside and make it do your will was one of the hardest tasks attempted at the school by students. Faith glanced at Willow, still helping Tara uphold the barrier, and saw her mixed expression of pride and fear.

It was at that moment she felt a sharp bolt of pain shoot through her chest. It was not extremely painful; rather, it was exhilarating and pleasurable experience. Warmth spread from her chest to her arms and lower body, sparking the weary muscles and limbs. A strength unlike anything she had ever felt before filled her, and she was suddenly full of energy, itching for something to hit.  She ignored the blows raining down on her small frame and reciprocated with all she had, watching with amazement as fully grown-men flew through the air at the slightest touch of her fist.  

She could not understand what was happening to her, but Faith saw Angel slowing and worked her way towards the brunette vampire. He glanced up in surprise as his opponent was suddenly struck down in front of him, and his expression turned to one of stunned disbelief when he saw her.

"Faith…" he began.

"Later," she replied, ducking quickly and narrowly missing a decapitation. Dropping to the ground, she kicked out her leg, catching the man in his knee. She heard the snap of bone and rose to her feet before he fell. She finally noticed that Buffy and Xander were no where in sight and pointed it out to Angel. He nodded towards the protective barrier and the two sprinted across the hall, dispatching whoever tried to obstruct their path. Tara saw them coming and she and Willow lowered the barrier for an instant, allowing the two fighters to rejoin the huddle of students.

Willow, Cordelia and Oz ran towards them with Tara not far behind.

Angel ignored them and grabbed Faith roughly by the shoulders. "What the hell just happened out there?"

Faith shook her head. "I-I don't know. But one minute I was about to cark it, the next I felt…amazing. Like nothing could stop me. Like I was invincible."

Angel stared at her hard, and then stood back. "Hit me."

"What?"

"Hit me, Faith."

Faith stared back at him as though he were crazy. "Why the hell…?"

"Just do it!"

She shrugged and drew back her arm, throwing a punch at his chin. Her fist connected with his head and he flew back, slamming into the wall of the barrier. Faiths eyes widened in surprise and she gazed at her fist. The others were shocked at this display; how had Faith, a teenage girl, hit the strongest vampire they knew and actually hurt him?

"Wh-what the…?"

Angel rose to his feet, watching her intently, his eyes darkening with every second that passed. His body stiffened, and he clenched his fists by his side, shaking with anger. But then he hung his head, and all fury left him. He lifted his head, and they could all see the grief shining in his brown eyes.

"Buffy," he whispered.

It took a moment for them to understand, and when it did Willow jumped forward. "No way! Buffy can't have…She couldn't have…It's not that!"

Faith stilled, her mind whirling when comprehension dawned. She had been Called. She was the Slayer. Which meant that the previous Slayer had…

No.

Willow collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, and Oz knelt beside her, cradling her frail body in his arms. Cordelia stood where she was, tears falling down her cheeks, and Tara cried softly into her hands. Kendra's death was still raw; she couldn't deal with losing another one so quickly.

Faith looked towards Angel, pleading him with her eyes to make it not so. She had always wanted to be the Slayer, but not at the expense of Buffy's life. That was a price she was not willing to pay. But it seemed that whether or not she was willing it had happened: she had been Called.

Which meant Buffy was dead.