Chapter 11

"You see, I've known about you lot for quite some time now and for the past few months I've been searching for your exact whereabouts to come and seek your help." Shy said.

"That still doesn't answer our question." Buffy said.

"Which one?"

"The one where you explain to us who you are and why you've come here."

"As I've said my name is…."

"We know you're name."

"Then I am most confused as to what you are asking."

"Let's try: What are you?"

"I am…. How shall I put this?…. I am a human, mostly, only I've been enhanced."

"Enhanced how?"

"Well, I'm like you in a way: more than human. I'm part demon."

"First of all, Shy, we're sort of wary about anybody that comes through that door that we don't know. Second of all, we don't trust random demons, even if they are half human."

"Don't get me wrong, please. I am not evil. I am truly on your side."

"Then you won't mind singing for us." Angel said.

"Excuse me?"

"Sing."

"It's so Lorne here can read you." Xander said, clapping Lorne on the shoulder. "You sing, he reads, then we decide whether or not to unleash our resident Slayers on you or we let you continue with your story."

"Very well." Shy began to hum.

Buffy stared at Lorne expectantly. "He's clean, but I don't like what he's here to tell us." Lorne said. "Or rather, what he's here to tell you."

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Well…. You gonna tell them why that thing is after you?"

They all stared at Shy. "I'm the balance." He said.

"You're the what?" Faith asked.

"The balance."

"You're going to have to do better than that." Spike said.

"I've been on this world since the Old Ones."

"The first demons." Buffy said.

"Yes. I was the warrior that shoved the last demon out of this dimension. Unfortunately, its essence merged with mine and I became inhuman. I wandered the Earth, unsure of my place. I had all of this power inside of me and no idea how to wield it. I went to every witch doctor, witch, and warlock I could find, but they all turned me away. All of them said the power I harbored inside of me was pure, unmanifested evil. I knew that much, but I also knew that I wasn't evil. After being turned away from everyone I went to, I decided to hide away in a remote location and learn everything I could about the powers inside of me." Shy paused.

"Then what?"

"I found myself in what is now called Africa, bearing witness to the most vile of acts." Shy looked directly at Buffy and Faith. "The making of the first Slayer."

"Hey, dude, we're not vile." Faith said.

"I didn't mean you, yourselves. I meant the way they had this poor girl tied down and a demon's essence was being forced upon her in an act of rape by three men."

"The shadow men." Dawn said.

"I felt this…. Rage build within me and something snapped. When I woke up, the three men were dead and the girl was helping me to my feet. She thanked me over and over and I remember wondering how it was that I understood her when I didn't speak her language. I asked her what had happened and she explained that something had shot out of my hands and engulfed the three men, then they were dead and I had collapsed to the ground." Shy sighed. "The girl took me back to her village and explained to her people what had happened. They took me in and thanked me, welcoming me to their tribe. I studied with their witches and wise men, learning all I could about how they wielded their powers. I also found myself watching over the girl and over the course of the next year, the girl discovered her immense strength and agility. Vampires and minor demons now roamed the Earth and started to terrorize the people of the surrounding villages. The girl found a reason to use the powers that had been given to her. She became the protector. The Slayer. One night, I went out to take a walk and discovered the girl fighting for her life against a vampire. The vampire bit into her neck and drained her blood before my very eyes and then ran. I went to the girl just as the demon's essence came spilling out of her. I felt myself raging again and I swore that all vampires would pay for what they had done to this girl. I swore that she would live on and have her vengeance on vampires and demons alike."

"You created the Slayer line?" Buffy asked.

"Unintentionally, yes. I didn't know it though. I found myself running away again, this time heading into the deepest jungle to escape all humans and demons alike. I learned to utilize my powers and when I finally had them under control, learned everything I could about them and how to use them at will, I went back out into the world."

"But the world wasn't what it used to be, was it?" Spike asked.

"No. People had changed. The world had evolved."

"How long were you gone?" Willow asked.

"A thousand years, give or take a few. When I came out of hiding, I found myself wandering through a civilized world. I traveled all over, searching for someone I had once known, but there was no one. I stopped wandering in France and discovered the year was 1826. I was astonished. The demon's essence had made me immortal."

"When did you find out about the Slayer line?" Dawn asked.

"That very same year. There was a Slayer in France at that time. To make a long story short, I discovered that my vow of vengeance had merged itself with my immortal essence and the Slayer line was created."

"Look ducks, it's your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great, well you get the point, granddaddy." Spike said. "Metaphorically."

"So, why are the Powers after you again?" Angel asked.

"Because as long as I am alive, the Slayer line is alive." Shy said. "It's connected to me."

"And you're indestructible?" Willow asked.

"Supposed to be. I haven't met a demon or man-made invention that has been able to kill me yet."

"That's why this demon is so powerful." Buffy said. "That's why it's taken 53 years to unleash it."

"Yes."

"And you came here looking for protection?"

"I came here to help you learn about who you are and help you stop this demon. You are the only one who can do it. You are the Slayer."

"What about Faith?" Spike asked.

"Yeah, what about Faith?" Faith asked. "And the other Slayers for that matter?"

"Because Buffy is THE Slayer. Without her, none of you would be here. She has the power inside of her." Shy turned and looked at Buffy. "She just needs to learn how to use it."

"I know how to use it." Buffy said.

"Not against this demon. You're powers…. They are equal to mine, but without me, you're only able to tap into part of them. With me here, and the scythe, I can help you finish the war between good and evil. I can bring you the peace you have so long desired."

"So, do you believe him?" Angel asked. He and Buffy were out patrolling the streets of LA looking for the fail safe demon. Shy had taken up residence in one of the extra rooms they had set up for Slayers and Lorne was talking to the Furies to see about getting a stronger protection spell when Buffy and Angel had left.

"Yeah. No. Maybe. I don't know." Buffy said.

"Well, you can either believe him, or you can send him packing. I vote the latter because it just seems so logical to me."

"Well, it's not up to you, is it?" Angel looked at her, hurt apparent in his eyes. "Look, Angel, there's something about him. Something that I can't explain."

"Yeah, it's called being a damn good liar."

"No. When he's in the same room, it's like…. It's like when I hold the scythe and I feel the essence, the power that it carries…. I think he's telling the truth."

"You need to talk to Lorne. See what he saw."

"I've already talked to him."

"When?"

"While everyone was going about their business, I pulled him aside. He told me what he saw."

"What?"

"He saw everything that Shy said. And he saw a world full of peace."

"This world will never be peaceful."

"Stop being so cynical."

"Well, can you blame me? Some handsome guy comes swooping in telling these stories about being merged and creating the Slayer line and….."

"You think he's handsome?" Angel just looked at her, slowing his pace slightly. Buffy stopped and walked back to him, placing her hand on his cheek. "Angel, you're the one I have eyes for. The only thing I feel for Shy is perplexed…. And possibly some nausea."

"Why nausea?"

"I don't know. Maybe his cologne was on too thick." Buffy started walking again and Angel dropped into step with her.

After a moment of silence, Angel stopped again and looked at Buffy. "Do you think….." He stopped, not sure if he should go any further.

Buffy turned and looked at him. "I generally try not to think cause it can get you killed, but just this once."

"Do you think that if it's true…. That this Shy person can really bring peace…. Do you think that…."

"I think anything is possible." Buffy said, not letting him finish. She knew what he was asking. "Just because you signed an ancient scroll in blood, your blood for that matter, doesn't always mean that it's not going to come true."

"But….."

"The Powers couldn't have created that prophecy."

"Why do you think that?"

"Again with the thinking." Buffy smiled. "Angel, I know they didn't because they wouldn't give us that much of hope. That much hope is too dangerous because it puts the power right into our hands."

"How do you know that?"

"Because the Archduke Sebassis was right. There's only one thing more powerful than loyalty and greed and all of that good stuff….. And that's hope. Hope for something better, something more…. That's the reason we're still alive and, most of the time, kicking. We hope for a better future." Angel smiled at her as she turned back around and started walking again. She was right. Maybe, just maybe, he could still shanshu. "Well, it's two in the morning. I say we pack it in for the night. This demon's not coming out of it's hiding place anytime soon."

"Are you sure?"

"No, but I'm tired and I want to get some sleep."

"All right. We'll talk to Shy in the morning. See what we can come up with."

"Good plan. Let's go."

Angel grabbed her arm as she started to walk by and she stared at him in confusion. He leaned down and kissed her softly, loving the feel of her lips against his. Slipping his arm around her waist, they made their way back to the Hyperion.

"So, you guys didn't find anything last night?" Faith asked, biting down on the banana she was eating for breakfast. They were all gathered at a table brought into the lobby from the old ballroom for a nice breakfast. Shy was apparently still in his room asleep.

"Nothing. Not even the slightest peep from a vampire." Buffy said.

"That's unusual." Spike said.

"Tell me about it. Angel and I hunted until four this morning."

"Still don't see how you two are awake." Dawn said. "You've got to be dragging."

"Nah. You know us, light sleepers."

"Well, maybe something will turn up on the news." Connor said.

"I don't think so." Angel said. "Something would have turned up by now."

"Other than the ransacking of the airport security?" Lorne asked.

"Has anybody watched the news this morning?" Willow asked. When no one answered, she stood up and headed behind the reception counter.

"What're you doing?" Buffy asked.

Willow set the little TV set on the counter and plugged it in. "Watching the morning news." She turned on the TV and changed it to the news station.

"Three people are dead and one is in critical condition this morning due to a fatal car crash in downtown Hollywood. Eyewitnesses report that a….." The newsman looked down at his paper and shook his head. "That a 'very tall, black, horned, hooved thing' slammed its fist down on the car, sending the car and its passengers 'flipping over the thing's head and slamming to the ground upside down behind it.' The survivor of the crash is currently at the Cedars Sinai ICU. The police are still at the investigating at the crime scene this morning. In other news…." Willow shut the TV off.

"See, Will, you've gotta learn to let the TiVO get it." Xander said. "Cause now our breakfast is ruined."

"Sorry." Willow said.

"No, it's ok. We were gonna find out sooner or later. Better sooner than later, right?" Buffy said, setting her napkin down. "I guess it's time for us to head into action."

"Isn't it a little early for that?" Xander asked.

"Not for us. We're the band of superheroes that continually saves the world."

"Yeah. Forgot about that. You know, Mr. Incredible was right. Why can't the world just stay saved for ten minutes? We just saved it!" They all stared at him. "You know, the movie…. The Incredibles? The Disney movie about the…. Never mind. Go on and save the world. I'll stay here at the bat cave and play poker with Spike."

"Hey, you still owe me money." Spike said.

"All right, Faith, Willow, and Connor, you're with me and Angel." Buffy said. "Dawn, I know you hate it, but…."

"I'll stay here and play poker with these two." Dawn said.

"Make that three." Lorne said.

"Ok. We're set." Buffy started to walk out, but stopped. "Uh…. Illyria and Shy…."

"Old Blue can play poker with us." Spike said. "She's getting pretty good at it."

"I owe her money too." Xander said.

"What about Shy?" Dawn asked.

"What about him?" They all turned to see Shy standing at the top of the stairs. "You're not planning on going out and fighting that thing without me, are you?"

"Actually, we were." Buffy said. "He's after you, so…."

"All the more reason I should go out there with you. He was created for me, and I shall be the one to destroy him."

"No, I shall be…. I'll be the one to take him out. You came to us for help, so we're helping."

"I came to you to help you too. The Powers aren't just out to destroy you. They've got a vendetta against anything that can help you out. The more we band together, the less likely they are to win."

Buffy sighed. "Fine. But you stay back and let us super-beings do the fighting. Willow can cover us with magick."

"As can I."

"As long as you stay back." Buffy opened the doors and they headed out.