OF THEIR PAST
Disclaimer- Oh so not mine. I just like playing with them, even if Joss and all the other real owners scold me. Guess I just won't learn, /Grin/.
Note- Sorry about the delay on update-age. There was some life stuff, a entry in a short story comp, then some creative block and I have an exam on Monday. But my muse and I were at the negotiating table for a while and have come to a tentative agreement, therefore allowing me to write this chapter. Hopefully the length will make up for the wait.
Reviewer Responses:
Catlimere- I'm glad you love my Wesley, isn't he cute? I'm on a big Wesley kick at the moment because I've got an Angel calendar and this month's picture is Wesley, sigh so happy. Again with the spot on spookiness, it was my intent to have Angel's nod be his blessing. I'm delighted that you like my Cordelia, I'm a big Cordy fan and it's good to know that I make other people like her, even if it is just for this fic. Oh, hey finally the event you've been waiting for, the ritual. Hope you enjoy.
RainDancer2- /blushes/ Wow, thanks. Hope you're hanging in there (sorry couldn't resist).
Story Time:
&&&
Chapter 9
Buffy absent-mindedly played with the buttons on Wesley's shirt as she watched Connor play with his toys. Angel, ignoring his injuries, had joined Connor on the floor and the two were currently playing some game that reminded her of the monster truck shows. She had never really thought about children before, she hadn't been lying to Angel when she had told him she killed her gold fish. Now, for some reason, she could picture her children perfectly, they would have sandy blonde hair and be athletic like their mother, but they would also be smart and have brilliant blue eyes like their father.
Buffy jerked her head up, her eyes wide with shock. What hell?
Wesley looked down at her, concern written across his face. "Buffy, is anything wrong?"
Numbly Buffy shook her head and she attempted to smile. "No, no. Nothing else anyway."
She settled back against him and groaned mentally. No, she was just trying to figure out when stuffy watcherman had become her ideal man and why she was imaging having children with him, nothing wrong with that at all.
The front door opened with a bang. Buffy jumped to her feet, anticipating a fight but glad for the interruption. She sighed with relief as Xander and Willow entered. They stopped beside the table holding the ingredients for the ritual. Willow surveyed the contents of the table before looking at the others, her eyes hard and determined.
"Good, you've got everything ready. We do this right now. I'm sick of being controlled." Willow glared at the others, daring them to object.
Buffy let out a sigh of relief. "You and me both. Well then, lets get this show on the road."
&&&&&&&&&&&
Angel carefully supported Cordelia as they entered the incomplete circle. She gritted her teeth, her anger and frustration showing in her expressive eyes. Angel looked down at her, concerned by her tense form.
"Hey, you alright?" He asked softly.
"No. I'm not alright. I'm about as far from alright as you can get." She snapped. Looking up into his wounded expression she sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. It's just… I'm so sick of this. If I ever see Anya again there's going to major pain. I swore I would never be victimized again and now look at me; I can't even walk by myself."
Angel tightened his grip slightly, not wanting to hurt her. "I know. It'll be okay, when has Wesley let us down?" He paused. "Lately anyway?"
Cordelia smiled wearily at him. "Thank you, always gotta be my big fat hero huh?"
Angel dropped a kiss on her forehead. "Always."
Wesley coughed discreetly as he approached them. He smiled gently at them and anointed their foreheads with a mixture of Thestral blood and holy water. Angel hissed as the water began to burn him.
"Does Angel have to have that stuff on him?" Buffy asked from behind Wesley. She had chosen to stay with Wesley, just resting a hand on his shoulder as he assisted in the preparations. He was keeping her grounded and she didn't think that now would be a good time to go psycho.
Wesley glanced at her. "Unfortunately yes. It is meant to purify the physical bodies so any negative energies that may be resending on the occupants won't corrupt the circle."
Angel gritted his teeth. "It's fine. Don't worry, I've had worse."
Wesley nodded and moved on to anoint Willow and Xander. He stopped and turned to face Buffy. "Are you going to be alright?" he asked, staring intently into her eyes.
Buffy took a deep breath. She smiled up at him. "Yep, now anoint me and start the ritual already."
Wesley gently placed the mixture on her forehead and stepped backwards. Grabbing a container of sand he finished the circle and called for it to be blessed. He nodded at Giles, who rolled open the scroll as Wesley finished the second circle. The second circle encompassed not only the first circle but also the casters, protecting from any form of magical backlash. His eyes focused on Buffy, he reached out blindly joining hands with Daniel and Sam.
Giles began to chant, his voice smooth and melodic with the familiar Latin.
Cordelia found herself watching Connor, who was on the other side of the room, buffered by the couch. He sat quietly and played with Jack and that large guy Xander called Murray, or something like that. Both had declined being involved, claiming distrust of magic. She felt Angel squeeze her shoulder; she moved her hand up to cover his. She focused on Connor, the ritual was going to work she knew it. It had to, for Connor's sake. She relaxed and let the wave of magic sweep through her.
Buffy stood firm, focusing on her breathing, focusing on fighting her inner demon. She silently chanted her mantra; 'I am the Slayer, I can control it, I am stronger.'
She gasped as the wave of magic swept through her, images springing up behind her eyelids. She growled and began her mantra over.
Imagines of the alternate dimension flowed through all of them, the magic unleashing the memories. It delved into their souls, searching for the hurt, the damage that haunted them. The magic swirled visibly in the inner circle, whipping up a fierce wind.
Cordelia cried out, her puncture wounds bleeding freely. Angel growled loudly, his face sliding into his vampire visage and back. Blood soaked through his shirt, wounds appearing on his body at an alarming rate.
Giles chanted faster, his volume increasing on every word. Sam and Daniel gripped Wesley hands tightly as they watched wide-eyed. Wesley tensed as he watched his friends suffer, an overwhelming feeling of helplessness filling him.
Buffy gritted her teeth as the darkness reared in her. Her head snapped up, her eyes gleaming with a predatory light. She whipped her head around to look at Willow and Xander. "You!" She hissed, filled with rage.
She launched herself at them, determined to kill the vampires. Willow and Xander dived out of the way, rolling to their feet and turning to smirk at the slayer. Buffy darted forward, catching Willow in the mouth with a vicious backhand. Willow raised a hand to her mouth and wiped off the blood, she stared at her hand for a second before licking it off and grinning at Buffy. Willow kicked out at Buffy, catching her in the stomach and forcing her back into Xander. Xander snarled as Buffy kicked high over her head, breaking his nose. She jumped away from him, lashing out with her hands and feet.
Giles's chanting was harsh, the words ripped from his throat the second he formed them.
Willow sighed. "Bored now." She said, her voice lilting. She kicked Buffy behind the knees, forcing her down. Moving quickly Willow grabbed Buffy's arm, and placing her foot on Buffy's shoulder blade, pulled her arm back. Lovingly Willow ran her fingers along Buffy's hand. She wrapped her hand along the base of a finger preparing to yank it backwards, causing a painful break.
Giles was screaming now, determined to finish the spell.
Xander grinned wickedly. "Do it Wills. Do it."
Willow grinned back and tensed, just about to start playing with the Slayer-
Then there was silence. The wind stopped, time stopped for a second, there in the apartment. Suddenly there was bright flash as the magic divided itself, plunging into their bodies.
The five collapsed inside the circle.
Wesley quickly untangled himself and opened the circles, his panic overcoming the drain of energy the spell had caused.
Giles slumped against a nearby desk. His voice was hoarse, "Are they alive? Did it work? Did the spell work?"
