Act Four

"Where are we?" Miranda asked as she gazed out at the large industrial building with teenagers walking in and out.

"The Bronze," Cordelia answered. "This is the place to hang, and where Andromeda the acolyte will be. With my friends. And my ex-boyfriend."

"Sounds like you're a little envious of her," commented Miranda.

"She's trying to take what's mine."

"You're ex-boyfriend?"

"My status."

"Go on and get her," Miranda told Cordelia. "We don't have time to debate the rights and wrongs of the adolescent caste system."

Without missing a beat, Cordelia replied, "Now I know that neither you nor Wesley were popular in high school." Before giving Miranda the chance to reply, Cordelia stepped out of the car with her purse and headed into the club.

The band was playing a slow song, and couples were all over the dance floor. Cordelia saw Aura and Harmony dancing. Harmony gave her a smile and a wave. Cordelia returned it and kept moving around the club, looking for Andromeda. She wasn't on the ground level, so Cordelia began moving upstairs. That's where she saw Mitch sitting on a couch, talking to an unseen person. Someone blocked her view, so she moved closer and saw that it was Andromeda engrossing him in conversation. They were so involved; they never noticed Cordelia walking up to them.

"Hi, guys," Cordelia offered casually.

They broke their conversation and turned their faces in amazement toward Cordelia. Mitch was the first to speak.

"Cordelia, what are you wearing?"

"I, uh, was getting ready to meet my personal trainer," Cordelia lied, crossing her arms over her chest in embarrassment.

"Then, why are you here?" Andromeda inquired.

"The Bronze is on my way, and I wanted to talk to you both."

Mitch's brow creased in worry. "You're not going to do to us what you did to Jared, are you?"

Cordelia laughed. "Of course not. I just came by to have a friendly chat."

"You've never had a friendly chat with anyone," observed Mitch.

"I'm turning over a new leaf. So to you both, I say good luck. It's obvious that you two are in heavy like, so, you know, go with that." She punctuated her sentence with the most humble and friendly smile she could muster.

Mitch and Andromeda sat in stunned silence.

"What? I can't be nice? I do have layers."

Mitch nodded. "Okay," he said slowly.

Cordelia turned to Andromeda. "Do you think we could have a quick chat?"

Andromeda smiled. "Sure."

The girls made their way through the crowd, people staring in amazement at Cordelia.

"Why is everyone looking at you strangely?" Andromeda asked, her curiosity taking over.

"Because they've never seen me in jeans and a t-shirt."

"Oh," Andromeda replied, still shocked from Cordelia's earlier announcement.

Passing the dance floor, they caught Aura's eye. She broke free from her dancing partner and tapped Harmony on the shoulder.

"No, you may not break in," Harmony said instantly.

"This is important, Harm," said Aura.

"Owen is totally mine," Harmony answered, squeezing her date tight.

Owen pulled away. "If your friend needs you, feel free. You don't have to stick around on my account."

Harmony pouted, dropped her hands off of Owen, and followed Aura. "This better be good," she muttered as Owen breathed a sigh of relief, watching them walk away.

"It is," Aura replied. "I just saw Cordy and Andy walk out together."

"That's great!" exclaimed Harmony. "Maybe they're starting to get along."

"I doubt it. Cordelia was wearing jeans."

"Cordy owns jeans? What's with her lately?"

"That's what I've been saying,' chimed Aura as they stepped outside. "Whoa, Harmony. Look." Aura pointed to a car and watched Cordelia push Andromeda into the back seat.

"What's Cordy doing?" Harmony asked, shocked.

"I don't know, but we've got to find out." Aura grabbed Harmony by the arms and dragged her to the parking lot.

Meanwhile, in Wesley's car, Cordelia drove quickly through the streets of Sunnydale while Miranda continued to read from the Watcher's Diary. Andromeda began frantically asking questions.

"Where are we going?"

Miranda ignored her question, but Cordelia could not. She leaned in and whispered, "Where are we going?"

Turning the back speakers on high, so Andromeda could not hear, Miranda whispered back, "It says here that Sagamon's worshippers like to congregate in large clearings."

"To the east side it is, then," Cordelia replied, turning the speakers down to normal, and pressing her foot down on the accelerator.

"This is kidnapping!" exclaimed Andromeda.

"No different than what you did to me, invading my head," Cordelia snapped, looking at her captive through the rear-view mirror.

"What are you talking about? I never did that!"

"Oh, no? Then explain the dreams I've been having—all starring you," accused Cordelia.

"Obviously, it's because you're obsessed with me. Hence the kidnapping."

"I think you're confused. You're the one obsessed with me," Cordelia charged, "You sit at my lunch table with my friends, take my spot on the cheerleading squad, and steal my boyfriend."

"You are deranged, Cordelia. Seriously."

The car sped on until there were more trees than houses. Cordelia parked at the side of the road and pulled Andromeda out of the back seat."

"Miranda, get the stuff out of the trunk."

Miranda did as she was instructed, and when the trunk was opened, Andromeda's eyes grew large with fear. Miranda pulled out two large swords and rope.

"Ready?" she asked Cordelia.

Cordelia nodded, and began to lead Andromeda along. "Let's go."

"Where are you taking me? What's going to happen?" Andromeda started to cry.

"Tears now? I'm sure that'll just bring your boss Sagamon down to his wonderfully slashable knees. Cause guess what, sweetie? He's killed his last Slayer." Cordelia pushed Andromeda against a tree and Miranda began tying her up.

Tears spilling down her face, Andromeda pleaded with Cordelia. "Who is Sagamon? What's a Slayer? Please—don't hurt me! Let me go!"

Miranda stepped back from the crying girl. "I think she's telling the truth."

"No. It's got to be her. There's no one else new in my life—like Wesley said," Cordelia said, frenzied and near shaking.

A voice from behind them spoke. "No, but there's someone new in her life."

Cordelia turned and saw her longtime friend standing behind them. Harmony looked on in amazement. "Aura? You're the acolyte?"

Aura laughed. "Yep. And you just did all my dirty work for me. Now my lord can feast upon the new Slayer."

"What's a Slayer?" Harmony and Andromeda asked in unison.

Harmony giggled and pointed at Andromeda. "Jinx!"

Aura rolled her eyes. Shut up, Harmony. A Slayer is the one girl in all the world chosen to hunt and kill the vampires, demons, and forces of darkness," Aura said devilishly.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Aura, you are the most incompetent person alive, you know that?"

Aura glared at Cordelia. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm the Slayer, you boob," Cordelia stated, her hands on her hips. "Not Andromeda."

A light bulb went off in Aura's head, and she smirked as she walked toward Cordelia. "Even better. Could it be more perfect? Cordelia Chase, one of my best friends, and the prettiest and most popular person in Sunnydale, is the Slayer. And all this time, we thought it was Andromeda."

"How did this happen? When did you become one of Sagamon's followers?"

"Cordy, you're not the only one keeping secrets. I found him on the Internet—we both value power and status. And when he kills and eats you—I'll have both."

"Still delusional, Aura? Big Blue is coming down tonight, and so are you," challenged Cordelia.

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Miranda interrupted. "If the Cult believed this girl to be the Slayer, why is Cordelia having the dreams?"

Aura sighed. "Who are you? Are you her Watcher? Were we wrong about that, too?"

"Wesley is my Watcher. Miranda is on the Council, and yeah! How come I'm the one having the dreams? Why isn't blondie over here having them?"

"And you call me incompetent? Obviously, we've had physical contact since I became an acolyte and you became the Slayer. I mean, who lifted you to the top of the pyramid? You're the Slayer, so of course you're going to have the dreams. Duh!" Aura sighed a heavy sigh. "It's time to finish this."

Aura pulled a heavy brown robe out her bag and put it on. She placed her arms out in front of her, palms up, and began to chant. "The Slayer shall now be slain!"

"That is so lame," commented Cordelia. Just then, blue light began to stream out of Aura's fingertips and spread throughout the woods. Within seconds, figures wearing brown robes emerged and began forming a circle around them, chanting, "Slayer."

"Cordelia, catch!" called Miranda. When Cordelia looked around, Miranda was throwing her a sword. She caught it without hesitation.

"Get Harmony and Andromeda out of here!" commanded Cordelia.

"But no one will be here to help you!"

"I'll be fine—now go!"

Miranda cut Andromeda free and grabbed a dazed Harmony from Aura's side. The three of them ran through the clearing. Cordelia was now surrounded by hooded figures reaching out for her.

"Get off of me!" yelled Cordelia, kicking and punching, sending the followers flying. They were relentless, though, and kept coming back, grabbing her hair, her arms, and her legs. "Ewww! Don't touch my hair!" Cordelia fought the urge to use her sword on them, knowing that they were human.

In the background, Aura began to laugh maniacally as the earth began to shake. Cordelia whipped her head around and saw a big blue hand with long and sharp black fingernails push back several trees. Next, she saw long black hair and large, pointed ears emerging from between the trees. He stood at full length once he was in the clearing, and his followers backed away from Cordelia, bowing to him.

"All hail Lord Sagamon!" They said in unison.

"Very good, my children. I am well pleased," Sagamon said, his voice deep and booming. He turned and looked at Cordelia, who was standing all alone in the clearing, petrified, her sword still in hand. "Slayer," he said gently before picking her up with both hands. He removed the sword from her hand and threw it aside. When he was eye to eye with her, he sniffed her. Cordelia looked reviled, even through her fear, making him smile enthusiastically. "You smell fresh. I like new Slayers best. Maybe I'll keep you as a pet before I make you my dinner."

Cordelia's eyes brimmed with tears as she sniffed her again. His mouth opened, revealing a thick black tongue. The tears spilled down her face as his tongue distended from his mouth, trying to lick her. She wiggled and tried to get away, but his grip was too tight. Suddenly, an arrow came flying by, bouncing off of Sagamon's shoulders. He turned his gaze away from Cordelia, and focused on his attacker.

"Who dares touch me?" he demanded.

"Me, you big ugly bully!" Miranda shouted. She was carrying a crossbow and had stashed the sword she had been carrying in a sheath attached to her pants. She began to reload her weapon as she spoke.

"I do not worry myself with mere mortals," he said, turning his attention back to Cordelia, a horrible smile on his distorted face.

"Oh, really? What about this mere mortal?" Miranda grabbed Aura, and held the crossbow to her throat.

Aura screamed, causing Sagamon to divert his attention once again.

"You foolish mortal! Do not disturb one hair on my precious child's head!"

"Really? What will you do if I do this?" Miranda jerked Aura away from the group and began to run through the woods. Sagamon dropped Cordelia to the ground.

"Do not let her get away with my precious one!" Sagamon ordered, and his subjects quickly rose from their prostrated positions and chased after Miranda and her hostage. Cordelia began to quickly search for her sword. She saw it in a nearby bush, and crawled toward it, unseen by her captor. Just as she had a grasp on it, Sagamon picked her up by a leg, dangling Cordelia upside down. "Not so fast, my delectable treat."

"Not so fast yourself, Big Blue," jibed Cordelia, striking the back of his left knee, sinking the sword in deep. He screamed in pain and dropped Cordelia.

"You foolish girl! What have you done?"

"I'm finishing you off. You've killed your last Slayer." She stood up and charged the demon on his right side, and plunged her sword into his other knee. Sagamon fell with a great thud, blood flowing everywhere.

"You could have been my pet. You would have been worshipped by my acolytes," he groaned.

"Sure, right before I became a midnight snack. No thanks. I get worshipped enough at school." With a swift and decisive sweep, she came down cleanly with the sword over his neck. The blue light that had spread through the woods was now streaming back into Sagamon, his mutilated body glowing. His followers began to trickle back into the clearing, forming a circle around him and sobbing. Cordelia stepped back from the crowd. Suddenly, the light disappeared, as well as the followers. Cordelia was alone in the clearing. Again.

She heard a rustling, and turned to see Miranda making her way through the trees toward Cordelia.

"What happened? The girl just disappeared."

"So did everyone else," Cordelia said with a nod. "So, um, thanks for all your help. I wouldn't have been able to defeat him without you."

Miranda smiled modestly.

"Listen, I'm sorry about all the means things I said to—and about—you. You really came through for me, and Wesley. I can't wait to tell him how you helped me."

Miranda nodded and continued to smile. "You're welcome."

"So, what did you do with Harmony and Andromeda?"

"The keys were still in the car, so I told Harmony to drive back into Sunnydale to your house."

Cordelia dropped her jaw. "You did what? Harmony doesn't have her driver's license yet."

"Oops?" Miranda offered.

Cordelia shrugged. "Guess we're walking, then."

They began to walk out of the clearing towards the highway. "Wesley's going to be very upset if that girl wrecks his car," Miranda said.

"Probably. But when we tell him that we defeated Sagamon, he'll be happy."

"Yes, but then he'll start thinking about the gigantic knot on his head that you gave him."

"That's true. I'll just have to tell him to get over it. Have you noticed how much of a woman he can be sometimes?"

Miranda laughed. "Oh, I thought I was the only one!"

End