Part 8

Willow and Tara were pouring over some volumes of magic when Xander walked through the door. The girls looked up briefly then returned to the books, mumbling and pointing to one another as they made their battle plans.  Buffy walked out from behind the counter. "Giles says that from what he can find, which is very little, is that we are basicly doomed without the destined one."

"We have you though right? The chosen one……that's like the destined one, right?" Willow asked.

"Apparently not." Buffy shrugged, then turned towards Xander, "Where's Anya."

"Bathroom. I don't think she's coming out."

Just then, the bell over the door tinkled again, and as the party looked up they all frowned as they saw no one standing there. All, that is, except for Buffy. 

"What are they doing here?" Buffy demanded, walking towards them.

"Who?" Xander and the two witches questioned.

"Alright, who are you and what do you have to do with all this?" Buffy placed her hands on her hips and waited for their answer.

"Where is the Destined One?" The first man spoke.

"The Destined One? What do you know about this? Who are you!?"

The slayers three friends exchanged worried looks as they heard Buffy talking to the air. "Um…Buffy..?" Willow started, but stopped as Tara touched her arm.

"Will, do you feel it?"

"The sense of impending doom? Or you mean the strange energy that's suddenly building up in here?"  The red head looked into Tara's eyes, then back at her friend.

"The Destined One must be here, or all will perish." The second mystery man spoke up, peering around as he searched for the one he sought.

"Tell me who the Destined One is…and I'll get him here. We could use the help. What can you tell us about these Warrior Rabbits? Is there some special …thing…to kill them?" Buffy continued.

The two men looked at each other ignoring the Slayer. "This isn't right. We must hurry." "Yes, Brother. Time is running out."  The two men turned and left the Magic Box with another tinkle of the door bell.

Buffy turned to face her friends. "They just left. Don't tell me you didn't see them. Hear them?" When she got only negative shakes of the head she put a hand to her forehead. "Now is not the time to go mental, Buffy."

"we're all a little stressed, Buffy…" Willow stated.

"You think I'm crazy?"

"No!" Willow retracted quickly.

"We should hurry, we don't have much time." Tara interrupted.

"You're right. Lets gather our stuff. We have less than two hours to get across town and wait for the door to open." Buffy grabbed a duffel bag packed with weapons and waited for the others to follow suit before heading for the door.

****

The two men walked quickly now. They could sense the alignment was nearly complete and the Destined One was not where she was supposed to be.  The streets were clear of the people. Everyone, including looters and the usual trouble makers had elected to either barricade themselves in their homes or had left town.  The two men stopped outside a building and looked at each other as they both felt a surging pressure, guiding them. They turned and walked up the steps and entered the building.

****

Anya cringed in the bathtub. She couldn't help being a coward. Well, not so much a coward as just being scared to death. She already knew what would happen and she couldn't bare to watch. Her thoughts lunged to Xander and tears welled in her eyes. She loved him so much, but she couldn't make herself get up and walk out of the house. The Magic Box was usually the first thing she thought of in the morning (well, second really) but the was terrified to head there now.

Suddenly the door to the bathroom opened, causing her to jump. Two men stared at her as she stared at them. "Who the hell are you?" She demanded, unable to help herself from feeling relieved that they weren't rabbits.

"We are the High Priests of Llwyrr. You are the Destined One, you must come with us." The taller one spoke, staring blankly into the ex-demons eyes.

Anya's eyes narrowed. This didn't sound good. "Destined………for what?"

TBC…