Chapter Six

'You say

Love is a temple

Love a higher law

Love is a temple

Love the higher law

You ask me to enter

But then you make me crawl

And I can't be holding on

To what you got

When all you got is hurt'

U2, 'One'

The Master stretched out in satisfaction in one of the reclining office chairs next to Jessica. His meal had been especially sweet, it wasn't often that you could find a virgin anymore. He licked at his pale lips and waited contentedly as the timers on Jessica's computers slowly and deliberately counted down to zero, ticking a sharpened fingernail against the metal table in time with the steady countdown. He considered the amazingly comfortable chair he was relaxing in and made a mental note to have a new one installed in his chambers. This one was so much more comfortable than his high backed wooden throne.

His childe swept her delicate fingers over the keyboard with precision and grace, and the Master felt a swell of pride in creating her, even if he had no idea what she was doing. Whatever she was doing, she was obviously doing it well. The clocks counting down on the monitors finally reached zero and the monitors changed immediately into frames of the battle just previously fought above, from several different angles. James looked over from his seat on the other side of Jessica, and smiled wickedly. "Surprise, Master."

He smiled and clapped. "Wonderful, my dear. But what is it?"

She laughed, a gentle tinkling that belied her demonic visage. "It's-"

"A three-dimensional representation of the fight with the Herald, Master." James interrupted her, a wicked gleam in his yellowed eye.

"The Herald?" The Master exclaimed. "The Herald of the End Times?!" A slow sinister grin spread across his features. Oh, the possibilities he could only begin to imagine with the Herald by his side! "Are you certain?"

James studied the images for a long moment, before he turned to his sire and nodded. "I have been searching for this boy," He spat the word, making his opinion of the Herald well known. "He is the Chosen One. I am certain of it." His facial structure morphed to reflect his demonic nature. "And I will have his head."

The Master considered that for a moment, but felt the rise of greater ambition stir within him. The Herald, by his side, would all but ensure the world at his fingertips. He glanced over to his children, engrossed in studying the images, searching for weaknesses in the young man's form. Weaknesses to exploit, for the purpose of destroying him. A cold fear roiled in the pit of the Master's belly! No, he could not permit this! The Herald must be his, to shape into his most trusted ally and lieutenant… and his heir. He would be his greatest childe! He stared long and hard at his children, then glancing at the pale warrior on the screen cleaving his way through a wall of minions, and a thought came to him. 'And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it, his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.'

He studied the images with a near-obsessive intent now, marvelling at his grace, his cunning and his power, so curious yet so apparent for one so young. The numbers seemed overwhelming, and yet he endured with grim determination. And the Master felt a swell of pride in his enemy, so soon to be friend. Two other humans quickly fell into line alongside the Herald, fighting with an intensity that again piqued the curiosity of the venerable Master. He pointed with a clawed finger to the new additions, and questioned James and Jessica. "And those two are?"

James frowned at the screen, considering how much he dared reveal. "Well, my Lord, it is possible they are the Four."

"The Four? I count only three, James."

A bolt shot from the darkness and a vampire erupted into a shower of fine gray ash. The Master held up a hand to stay any further remark, noting the amused smile on Jessica's face. 'And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.'

A lithe redhead stood back-to-back with the Herald, waving her sword with a great deal less proficiency and elegance, but with no less fervor. A minion, foolish enough to dare test her tenacity, came away missing several fingers as the third, a dark haired youth, held his assailant at bay with a flaming torch. 'Another came forth, a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword.'

"The Four." The Master breathed, with no doubt in his mind or heart. "The Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse. Bring them to me, my children. Find them, and bring them here." Oh, what fearsome servants they would make, indeed! 'The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They told the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?"'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cordelia sat down heavily in the dining room chair, looking at the History book, but not really seeing it. In fact, she had read the same paragraph six times before she finally gave up with an exasperated sigh. She looked up to see Brian with a similar expression on his face. "You love her, don't you?" She asked quietly. It came out as a question, but she already knew the answer.

Brian looked up sharply, "I barely know her."

Cordy shrugged and waved his excuse away. "Doesn't matter. I've seen the way you look at her, and it's the same way she looks at you. She'll be back."

It brought a small smile to his lips. "You think so?"

She nodded, letting a happy smile light her face. "I know so. I've known Willow all my life. I know she's had this thing for Xander, following him around like a little puppy dog ever since they were in kindergarten. But that's all it is, puppy love." Seeing how comforting it wasn't, she hastened to continue. "Xander doesn't think of her that way. If he did, I think he would have acted on it by now."

That brought out a real smile from Brian. "How long have you been in love with Xander?"

Cordelia blushed, and lowered her head. "Is it that obvious?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe the others are too close to see it. But when you saw Xander this morning in the hallway, I noticed you focused on him, even when you were talking to Willow." She leaned in close enough to smell her perfume. "But, if it helps, I think the feelings are mutual."

The look she gave him was priceless. Her eyes sparkled with joy and it seemed as if her face took on a more radiant glow. And her smile seemed to light up the room they were in, not to mention the kitchen and living room. "Really? You think so?"

Brian smiled widely and nodded. "I know so."

Cordelia realized just how much she let slip, and blushed fiercly. "You won't tell anyone, will you?"

His smile faltered. "Huh? I don't understand."

She shrugged her shoulders, all traces of happiness erased in a moment of clarity. "It can never happen, Brian. Xander and I are just from two different worlds. My friends… my father would never accept us."

Brian shook his head in confusion. "I'm still not understanding you."

She sighed and piched at the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Xander is a loser, Brian. With a capital 'L.' If I tried to show him off to my friends or to my daddy, well… let's just say it wouldn't be pretty."

"What difference does it make who you date?" Brian asked honestly. "I would think your friends and your family would be happy that you were happy, right?"

The brunette looked at him wide-eyed for a moment before bursting out in laughter. "You obviously don't know Harmony Kendall. I'd be ostracized before the Homeroom bell rang."

Brian didn't share in the amusement. "If that's how she treats her friends, I don't think I would want to know her. Sounds like she is materialistic and self-absorbed."

"Oh, you have no idea." Cordelia responded, trying to recover from her giggling fit. "If it isn't currently 'to die for,' she doesn't want it."

"Then why do you want it?" Brian questioned.

The giggling died immediately like it was shut off with a switch. "You sound like Willow."

"You didn't answer my question." Brian commented off-handedly.

She blew out an agitated breath. This conversation was getting out of hand, she had to put a stop it, before too many things were revealed. "Why do you want to know so bad?"

The Herald shrugged. "Because I think you're dying to tell someone how you really feel without worrying about whether or not they'll judge you or mock you. You're my friend, Cordelia. Or, at least I'd like you to be, if you'll let me."

"You sound like my therapist," Cordelia mumbled, sotto voce. She looked up at him. "The truth is… I've been in love with him for as long as I can remember, Brian. All my life, I think sometimes. I know he dresses like an idiot and acts like a spaz, but I love him anyway. I love him because of it, maybe."

"And that's why you argue with him?" Brian asked. At her look, he continued. "I think they call it the 'thin line between love and hate.' When you love someone, but you can't be with 'em, you eventually start to hate 'em. Right?"

Her jaw dropped a fraction in astonishment. It took her a moment to regain her before she could nod. "How did you know?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Willow looked up in time to see Xander huffing and puffing as he sprinted across the lawn to catch her. She tried her best to slip the key into the lock before he could close the distance between them, but the tears in her eyes made her vision blurry. She fumbled with the key for a moment, then gave up with a sigh and fell to the doorstep and resumed her crying. In a fit of frustration, she hurled her housekeys into the front lawn, watching as they skittered along the dewy surface, kicking up water splashes in its wake.

Xander tracked the flat arc of the skipping keys for a moment, and allowed himself a few seconds to recover his breath. "Hey, Wills. Just heard the craziest rumor." When his childhood friend made no response other than to sob even harder into her hands, he sat down on the cool stone steps, and wrapped his arms around her shivering and shaking form.

"Xander," Willow began brokenly. "I am so sorry. I never meant for you to know." She hiccupped a few times as she struggled to regain her composure. God, she'd never be able to face Brian or Cordelia after this! "This wasn't supposed to happen this way. It wasn't supposed to happen at all!"

Xander shook his head softly and placed a finger to her lips. Seeing her like this made all his feelings for her bubble to the surface. Loyalty, friendship, trust… and love. Until this moment, Xander never considered Willow as anything but his 'bud.' But now, as he looked at her, despite the mascara creating blackened tears tracking down her pale cheeks, she was beautiful. Did he love her? Hell, yes! Without question. Loving her was as easy for him as breathing. He would die for her in a heartbeat, but he had to be honest with her, with himself. As much as he wanted to, he did not feel the same way about her. "Willow, I… don't… er… quite know how to react to this. You love me? Are you sure?"

Willow moaned desperately into her palms. "No, I'm not sure, Xander! I don't know what I want!" She looked up at him, her eyes red and wild from her crying jag. "I mean, I was in love with you for years, you big jerk! But did you ever notice? No! Of course not! Your hormones tracked any girl in a skirt… except me! Then Buffy came to town, and then of course you nearly trip over your own tongue trying to get her to go out with you. When, all along, I was right here waiting for you to notice me. Me!"

She pounded her balled up fists against his chest, surprising Xander with the strength behind them. In self-defense, he grabbed at her wrists, pinning them to him. "You think I didn't know you were there? What, you think I'm really that stupid?" He roared, causing the redhead to flinch involuntarily.

"No," Willow whisped, and hung her head. "I think you must think I'm ugly."

His jaw dropped. "What?! Is that what you think? You really think so little of me?"

Willow shrugged imperceptibly and whispered. "No, I think you think that little of me."

"Jesus, Willow! You know, for someone so smart… you really can act stupid." He spat angrily, watching as her eyes narrowed to slits. "Have you seen my track record with relationships? Hmmm, let's count back: you and me, lasted about one day. Then there was a rebound period that lasted about eleven years before I dated an older woman who wasn't really a woman at all. And she wanted to eat me after having sex."

"We broke up because you killed my Barbie." Willow replied, feeling a touch of a smile at that distant memory.

"I destroy everything I touch, Willow. Pure and simple. And I won't risk losing you." He held her face in his hands. "I can't. Willow, you are the only thing in this stupid, pathetic life of mine that has any meaning to me. If I lost that..." He trailed off, allowing her to let her imagination fill in the blanks. "I could lose Buffy. Or Giles. It would hurt, but I'd survive. But not if I lost you, Willow. You are my best friend, my sister, and my soul mate. I can't afford to risk anything else with you. I love you that much."

"All this time, you always knew how I felt. Why didn't you ever say anything?" She sighed, feeling a little better, having lifted an immense weight off her chest. She finally told him, and it felt really good. And she knew now what her heart was telling her.

He shrugged. "Would it have helped? Really? I never wanted to hurt you, Willow. I never wanted to lead you on, or make you think there could ever be anthing other than this."

"But doing that is exactly what hurt me, Xander," she cried. "Do you have any idea how it hurt me when you asked me to rehearse you asking Buffy out? Or how ugly and worthless it made me feel? Do you?"

Xander swallowed audibly. "Willow… God, I am so sorry. I never meant… it's just… God, Willow! I have never thought you were ugly or worthless! Never. God, you're so beautiful and smart… and funny. Brian is so lucky to be with you. I could never be good enough to deserve you." He felt a familiar fire building inside him, trying with all he had to clamp it down before he made a mistake he could never undo.

"Don't talk like that! You're plenty good! You're smart - even if you don't think so, you're brave and loyal and funny and you have the sweetest smile I have ever seen." She reached up and touched at his pale pink lips with her fingertips, feeling a turbulent swell of forbidden passion churning within her belly. She leaned forward, closing her eyes, letting herself fall into the moment. She knew it was wrong, but the feelings were so powerful and she wasn't sure she could stop herself.

"This is wrong, Will. I don't want to hurt you." Xander breathed, his eyelids getting heavier.

She nodded, but her head dipped further nonetheless. "Yes, so wrong."

"Oh, well isn't this just precious." A cold voice declared from behind them, just before their lips made contact.

The two would-be lovers sprung back as if stuck by an electrical wire, blushing furiously and certain in was Brian and Cordelia come to find them. The turned as one, meeting the feral red-amber eyes of a vampire. Before they could cry out, his minions appeared from behind him and pinned Willow's and Xander's arms behind them. Xander fought against his captors as they grabbed at his wrists, squirming against kicking a chunk of loose packed earth at Horton's charcoal gray Armani suit.

The vampire childe brushed at the muddy remains on his jacket and pants fuming that that miserable wretch ruined his finely tailored suit. He bent down and caressed the boy by his chin, barely repressing the urge to sink his fangs into Xander's tender flesh and rip his throat out. "Consider yourself fortunate the Master wants you alive. So quit fidgeting, boy, before I snap the little girl's neck. Understand?"

Xander's eyes widened, and he immediately ceased his struggle and went slack in the arms of his captors. "You hurt even one hair on her, and I swear I will kill you!" The dark-haired young man threatened.

"Yes, yes. You were quite frightening there, boy." Horton replied contemptuously and rolled his eyes, using a hand to cover his mouth to stifle a yawn. "Unfortunately for you, time is of the essence." He nodded once to the minions, and they responded quickly with punches to the backs of their prisoner's heads, knocking them instantly unconscious.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cordy smiled to herself, as Brian busied himself with the clean-up of tonight's spur-of-the-moment study session. They only talked for a few minutes, though it felt infinitely longer. It infinitely more personal than she would have liked. What surprised her most was Brian's reaction. Or, more accurately, his lack of reaction. The icy ball of anxiety that was growing within her belly at the thought of revealing her true feelings was overwhelming. She barely knew him, what made her think she could trust him. She didn't trust anyone with that knowledge, she barely trusted herself with it. But he just smiled and told her he already knew. He knew?!? Was she that transparent? Did this mean Xander and Willow knew, and were just toying with her emotions? 'No,' she shook her head quickly. 'They wouldn't do that. They aren't the kind of people that would do that. They're my… friends.' Her smile faded as the truth hit her. Hard. 'They're my friends. They are my friends. They. Are. My. Friends.'

"Oh, my God." Cordy breathed in realization. But rather than shocking her, it gave her a warm feeling of contentment.

"What?" Brian appeared from the other room.

She smiled shyly and shrugged. "I think it's all just hitting me now. I wasted a lot of time in my life thinking being beautiful and popular would lead to happiness, when it was right under my nose all along." Brian said nothing. He just smiled at her warmly, and returned to his chores in the kitchen.

A few minutes passed, before Brian heard Cordelia call out for him. He wiped his wet hands off with a dishrag and left the few remaining dishes in the sink. "Yes, Cordy?" He noticed she was staring out the living room window, and occasionally noting the time on the wall clock.

"They've been gone for a long time." She commented idly.

Brian paused. "Well, I'm sure they had a lot to discuss. She had feelings for him for years. It's not something you can just get over in a five minute discussion, you know."

She turned to face him, pinning the Herald with her stare. "Believe me, I know."

"Right. Sorry."

She glanced again at the wall clock, then compared it with the time on her wristwatch. "The only thing is: it hasn't been five minutes, it's been thirty-five. And they're not on Willow's front steps anymore."

"You were spying on them?" Brian asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Well, yeah." Cordelia replied sarcastically. "In case you've forgotten, this is Sunnydale! Home of the Boogeyman and all the other Things That Go Bump In The Night. And, in case it slipped your mind, there were about two dozen of those Bumps trying to burn down the neighborhood only a couple of hours ago. Call me paranoid, but I think in this case, my voyeurism may be justified!"

Brian took a step back, holding up his hands placatingly. "You're right, Cordelia. I was just surprised, that's all."

Cordy blew out an agitated breath. "The problem is that they left the porch, but the lights aren't on."

That piqued his curiousity. There were a two reasons Willow's lights weren't on: they weren't there anymore, or they were there, but didn't want to be disturbed. Brian frowned, knowing the latter was incredibly unlikely. "How long have they been 'gone?'"

"About ten minutes, maybe?"

Not good. If they were on their way back, they certainly would have been here by now. Brian scooped up his leather jacket and his sword, then handed Cordelia the crossbow. "It's probably nothing." Brian tried to assure her, but he could tell she wasn't buying. Truth was, neither was he. Warning sirens were sounding off in his brain, urging him to move faster. "But we should check it out. Better safe than sorry. And, like you said, this is Sunnydale."