Chapter 13
Final Call
"We need to find out what happened to B G-man."
"And we will." Looking over at Tara, "Tara, you and Willow check upstairs and in her bedroom, see if anything is missing. Xander, go down to the basement and see if you see any signs of a break in there or Buffy." Giles looked at Faith, "Faith, make a check around the house and the block for any signs of a struggle...or anything else."
"What about Mrs. Summers?" Willow asked.
"First we need to see if we can find anything that may help tell us where Buffy went or what happened to her."
Faith kicked a rock in the street. There'd been no signs of anything or anyone who'd seen anything weird. Damnit B! What happened to you! Faith thought worriedly and stuffed her hands in her jacket pocket to keep them warm when Faith noticed something was in her jacket. Pulling her hand out Faith found a round wooden disk. Looking at it closer Faith could see it was intricately carved and painted silver and black. "What the hell is this? Maybe Giles'll know what this is."
Faith saw Anya by the front door as she was just coming off the sidewalk into the yard. Willow opened the door and Faith called out, "Hey Red, I found something!"
Willow heard Faith and waited for her to walk over. "Did you find Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Nope, but I did find this in my pocket." Faith held up the disk in between her thumb and forefinger. "Hopefully G-man can tell me what it is."
Willow's eyes shot open wide as she recognized the symbol Faith was holding. As she heard Giles Willow snatched it from Faith and closed her hand around it.
"Uhhhhm, Giles!" Willow answered with a nervous smile, "yes?"
"I heard Faith say she found something." Giles said as he looked over at Faith. "Did you find any sign of Buffy?"
Before Faith could reply Xander tapped Giles on the shoulder, "Giles, Mrs. S knows something is up and she's not buying the 'It's a Slayer thing' line anymore."
Sighing, "Very well. Faith why don't you tell me what you found later." With that Giles turned to go to the kitchen.
Willow saw Faith about to say something and kicked her hard on the shins.
"Owowowow!" Faith cried out, holding one leg and glaring and Willow.
Willow grabbed Faith by the arm and pulled her outside. "Where did you get this Faith?" Willow asked intensely.
"I found it in my pocket, why?" Faith's eyes narrowed as she felt suspicious over Red's attitude. Faith's eyes narrowed in suspicion over how Willow had been acting the last few minutes.
"Stay. Here!" With that Willow ran back into the house leaving Faith on the porch. A minute later Willow walked outside, this time accompanied by Anya.
"You found this," Anya asked holding the wooden disk, "in your pocket? Did anyone else see this? Did GILES see this?" Anya asked, upset.
Shaking her head, not understanding. "No! Only Red saw it and G-man never saw it since 'Red' here," Faith glared at Willow, "snatched it out of my hand and kicked me. Now what's going on? What does this have to do with B?"
"It means we have to find Buffy and soon." Anya looked at Willow. "Willow can you do a tracking spell with this to find Buffy?"
"Yes. I can get the ingredients together by this afternoon..."
"NO! That's not soon enough, we have to find Buffy tonight!" Anya said angrily
"Uhmm, I guess I can do that..."
"Stop right there Willow. What's with the whole rush on all this suddenly? What's this disk thingie that's so important and how's it got anything to do with B?"
"I can't tell you right now, it'll take too long. First we find Buffy and then I'll explain it to you later." Anya said and turned away from Faith, guiding Willow back into the house.
Faith felt her temper snap at the casual dismissal by Anya, grabbing her by the shoulder Faith grabbed Anya by her front of her shirt and picked her up. "Okay, that's IT! I want to know what this has to do with Buffy and I want to know right NOW!"
"Anya if you don't tell me what I want to know I'll introduce you to an old friend of mine." With that Faith pulled back her left fist to hit Anya. "Anya, meet my old friend, Mr. Fist!"
Anya threw her hands up in front of her, "Wait! But I don't have time to explain everything so this will have to be the short version. Okay?"
"Fine. Talk." Faith said as she put Anya back down on the porch.
"The symbol belongs to Xena, who's very, very old and powerful and doesn't like the Council and Buffy got that from her. But I don't know why!"
"Is this Xena a vamp?" Faith asked itching to dust the vamp that put her hands on Buffy.
"Sort of, but not really, mostly. It's pretty much a Point of View thing, you know?" Anya rambled nervously.
Before Faith could hit Anya Willow spoke up, putting her hand on Faith's fist. "Faith, give me a chance to track Buffy down and I'll explain it. But Xena's sorta not a vamp though."
"What?" Faith asked confused between the two of them.
"She's not a normal vamp Faith, but the more time I stand here the longer it'll take me to find Buffy."
"Fine, whatever!" Faith pinned Willow with an angry look, "Just find Buffy!" with that Faith headed towards the street in a fast run.
Willow sat with a map of Sunnydale in front of her and across from her Willow could sense Tara. Chanting softly, Willow and Tara sprinkled a handful green dust over the map that glittered as it fell. Several moments later Willow and Tara could see the location of all the demons in Sunnydale.
"There!" Tara pointed to 2 strong glows and a dimmer third one a distance away from the town. "That's where they have to be."
"It looks like it to me too. Let's see if I can take a walk and look there. Anchor me?" Willow asked.
"Always." Tara replied warmly. Moving the map out of the way a pillow was setup behind Willow and a lit candle now rested in between Willow & Tara. Both women sat closer, as Willow concentrated on the candle flame before her eyes rolled back and she fell backwards onto the pillow.
Willow felt light and airless as she floated towards the old Cromarty house where they'd seen the three demon glows on the map. As Willow got close to the house she felt herself run into something and get thrown backwards. Hovering Willow thought about it, Aha, wards! And not very powerful ones at that. They look like they were meant for privacy, not protection.
Summoning a knife to her hand Willow cut a hole in the shimmering air created by the Wards. That's me, the bad ass Wiccan! Willow thought smugly as she slipped by the wards. Quickly, Willow headed towards the house where she felt a large build up of energy. Distracted Willow never saw the blow that threw her backwards, bouncing several times Willow finally came to a stop and looked for what hit her.
Willow could see a red dome had sprung to life around the entire house and on the top of the tome Willow could make out someone sitting on it, looking down. A feeling of anger came over Willow from the person on the dome above her.
Gabrielle sensed the tug on her outer wards, hmmmm. and then she felt the ward cut open and someone slipped inside. Raising an eyebrow Gabrielle decided to watch and see how the intruder reacted to her real Wards and smiled grimly.
Gabrielle could feel the power building inside the house and pushed down her demon's desire to destroy the intruder. She wanted to play with this one first and work off a little steam before she killed them. Gabrielle smiled thinly as she saw the intruder move back towards the house. As the intruder, It looks like a girl. moved to the house Gabrielle dropped down stopping just in front of her and waggled her finger, 'no'. "You came to the wrong house tonight whoever you are." With that a bolt of blue-white lightning shot out from Gabrielle 's hand towards the intruder. But in a blink the girl had summoned a shield and blocked the lightning.
Willow leapt at the girl and the fight began in earnest between both women...
Breaking off Willow moved back, every part of her body ached from the strain the magickal combat had put on her, Willow had found herself using every magick trick and skill she had ever read or thought of to stay par with this woman. Goddess, she's tough! But I have to get past her, Buffy's life depends on it!
An idea popped into Willow's head, Well it always works for Buffy with the dumber vamps, I don't see why it can't work here. Let's just keep our fingers crossed 'cause otherwise... Willow moved back and as a red ball flew at her Willow let her shield 'falter' and the ball hit her in the chest knocking her back. Willow let herself just float in the air, waiting for her prey to come take a look at the spoils...
Gabrielle saw the Witch's shield fail as her energy ball hit her, "Finally, damn little girl was a pain. But at least she was good for a workout, got rid of some of that extra energy at least." Gliding closer Gabrielle saw the Witch was just floating and not moving.
Almost, almost! Just a little closer and... Willow sensed her attacker was just in range when she cast her spell and wall of knives of all shapes and sizes suddenly appeared and flew at her attacker. Smiling grimly, Willow saw most of them hit the other witch-demon and fall to the ground. "Bitch! Screw with me will you? I don't think so!" Willow sneered and brushed a lock of dark black hair out of her onyx-coloured eyes.
Willow floated towards her fallen opponent and just as she passed over her, Willow heard a snarl behind her too late. As something ripped her back open and Willow screamed, black bolts flying wildly from her hands. A hand grabbed her head and violently pushed it sideways, baring her neck and a pair of fangs sank into her throat and began to drink her magick and life-energy. As Willow felt herself weaken, her last thought was Buffy!
A sudden slap to her face and Willow opened her eyes to a terrified Tara above her. "Tar?" Willow asked weakly and felt something wet fall on her cheeks. Too tired to lift her hands, " 'mmm tird Tar, nee' slep' " Willow mumbled barely coherent. "Oh, baby..." Were the last words Willow heard before her mind and body, exhausted beyond endurance, dragged her into a deep sleep.
Tara reached down and picked Willow up, carrying her into their bedroom and putting Willow down on the bed. Tara looked at the bruised and cuts that were visible on Willow's arms and face. But what kept her attention was Willow's hair, it had turned almost completely black and Willow's eyes had turned a deep black with white speckles. Goddess Willow! What did you call on to fight? I can sense the dark magick running through your Aura. Shaking her head, Tara pulled the blanket over Willow and left the room, turning out the lights as she left.
Tara had just sat down when there was a loud banging on the front door, getting up from the couch Tara opened the door to a very agitated Faith pacing in the hallway.
Tara had just sat down when there was a loud banging on the front door, getting up from the couch Tara opened the door to a very agitated Faith pacing in the hallway.
"Faith? What are..."
" 'bout damn time you got that door Tara. I was gonna break it down in a minute. Now what did you find out about B or where she's at?"
With that Faith pushed her way past Tara and into the dorm room. Looking around Faith saw a map, some candles and pillows on the floor, but no Willow. Turning angrily on Tara. "What the hell have you been doing Tara? Playing footsies with Willow?" Faith yelled, furious.
"Stop right there Faith! You want to see what we've been doing? Come with me!" Tara yelled back just as angry.
Tara walked towards the bedroom and held the door open for Faith to look inside.
Seeing Tara holding the bedroom door open, Faith looked inside and saw Willow lying on the bed. Walking in Faith moved silently next to the bed and saw Willow clearly. Hissing softly at the injuries she could see on Willow Faith backed out of the room and closed the door. "I'm sorry T. I-I'm just ready to burst inside about B. But I shouldn't have snapped at you like that, you two are trying just as hard to find B." Faith said repentantly. "Where you able to find anything out though?"
"Some, but nothing that could tell us where Buffy was or is...The only thing we found was what we thought was Xena's lair. That's what Willow went to check out in Astral Realm when she was attacked, so I don't know what she may have found though."
"Lair?" Faith said, her eyes glittering in anticipation. "Can you show me on a map?"
"Sure." Tara grabbed the map on the floor and spread it out in front of her and Faith. "It was...riight...Here!"
Faith looked down at where Tara's finger was. "Hey, that's over where old man Cromarty used to live." Her eyes narrowing in concentration, Faith looked up a minute later at Tara, her eyes were cold and hard. "Good." With that Faith turned and ran out of the dorm, leaving Tara standing by the map wondering if she should have told Faith 'anything.'
Stopping, Faith shifted the double bladed axe on her back and double-checked the shotgun was loaded. Starting forward Faith could see dawn just breaking on the horizon and the Cromarty house was about 50 meters away. Perfect! Just as the 'nice little vamps' are settling down for their bedtime.
15 minutes later…
Rage flooded Faith's veins, "Nothing! Not a damn thing!" Faith raged. "Not a coffin, clue or anything else other than a few candy wrappers and lots of candles! What the hell was going on here!"
As Faith was heading out, something shiny caught her eye and she stopped dead in her tracks. Looking closer Faith saw the reflection off 'something' again. Getting down on her hands and knees Faith crawled slowly over to where she saw the reflection and moved her hand gently over the surface of the carpeted floor when her hand brushed something metal.
Grabbing it Faith pulled it back and saw it was a silver chain with a stylized cross, inlaid with Onyx. "This is B's! I was there when she bought this from that old gypsy lady at a bazaar last year!" Standing up Faith took the cross and chain and put it around her neck. The cross was still warm to the touch against her skin. I swear B, whatever it takes! I will find you! Stalking out of the farmhouse Faith walked into the sunlight and back towards town
"Hahahaha! Anything eh?" came a voice from the air itself. There was a blue flash of lightning and a black cloaked figure now stood on the porch that Faith had just vacated. "Gods Xena, these mortals make it just too easy sometimes. Now that I have the cheese, all I have to do is set and bait the trap and drop a few crumbs and you'll have to come to me for help from your little play toy." The figure rubbed his chin, "Although after all this time, I'd think you'd want something other than a blonde!"
"No matter what happens I win. If you fight and kill the Slayer you've Claimed, I win. I know it'll tear you up, and I'll be right there for you to turn to. Someone who has an understanding shoulder to cry on . If you let her go, she'll come to me for help controlling her dual natures and I'll have 2 for 1. Both her and the dark one. I FINALLY HAVE YOU XENA!" The figure roared into the hills. "HAHHAHAHAHAHA!" With that there was another blue flash and the figure was gone, leaving only the echoes of his laughter.
End Chapter 14 and Book 1
To be Continued in Book 2 – Storm Warnings