CIRCLES
CHAPTER TWO: HIGH UP
I know it's not even close to over, but I do feel like I can do this. Wolfram & Hart, whatever's coming, I feel like we can beat it.
I know.
-Angel & Cordelia, You're Welcome, Season Five
Cordelia looked around nervously, trying not to appear like she was. She knew she shouldn't feel guilty about all this, because she needed to do it. She needed to. The fate of the world might depend on this. Thinking about it now - she didn't really feel all that guilty about it, which was maybe causing her to feel guilty because she didn't feel guilty. This all made her head hurt. What was important was that she wasn't doing anything wrong on a grand scale. The world wasn't going to save itself; she had been sent back from death to do this stuff, and The Powers had sent her here to get this book, so she had to get it. As simple as that.
Cordelia pushed her chin up. She was built for doing stuff like this. This was part of what she was back for, this was her destiny.
She took a few ragged breaths and swayed on the spot. Then, as suddenly as though a giant hand had smacked her backwards, Cordelia fainted.
A great rush of people were hurrying down the corridor towards some sort of commotion. A few people were shouting. This was the signal, and Willow, Kennedy and Eleanor who were standing next the glass encased pedestal, turned around to try and appear to look concerned and interested as people rushed past them towards Cordelia's distraction. Willow knelt down onto the ground, and with the appearance of tying her shoelace, took a bottle out of her pocket and tipped a drop of liquid onto the floor. She spoke, and her voice was not quiet, "Tres ambire involvere!" A big flash went off around them, and Willow moved over to the cabinet. "Ok," she whispered. "We've got about seven minutes." She turned around, making sure that everything around them appeared frozen in time. It did. A man rushing over towards the commotion Cordelia had perfectly set up had his eyes wide and bulging and his tongue poking out between his lips. He was stuck in a very unflattering position; people always looked awful when you still-framed them. The sound was creepy too. Everything had suddenly gone incredibly quiet, and the only noises that could be heard were coming from Willow, Kennedy and Eleanor themselves. There was no background noise, no hum of insects or machines, no distant rumble of traffic, no people whispering or shoes scraping along the floor. There was nothing. Kennedy looked down at the glass. "And you're sure this won't set off some sort of alarm?" she asked Willow, her hand hovering next to the case, ready to do her part. Willow smiled at her, stepping around to the back of the pedestal and beginning to tinker with the wires that were set up to alert security if the glass was removed. The other two women waited for a few moments, until Willow stepped back, finished. Eleanor pulled a book out of her bag. They had made up a fake version of the real book, Eleanor using her exceptional artistic skills to copy the cover. The two weren't identical, but they simply needed to fool people long enough to get the hell away from the building. They had been careful to avoid getting their faces caught on the surveillance cameras, had used fake ID's to get inside, and Willow had set up an disillusion spell so that people would for the most part ignore them. Cordelia was their bait, waiting until it was time to cause a distraction so that there were very few people around where the felony was about to take place. The whole thing had taken five days to set up, which considering the place they were stealing from, was a pretty good achievement. Willow had not wanted to steal The Book itself at first, preferring to try and make some kind of record of it, but Cordelia convinced her that they might need the original. There were much bigger things at stake here than the disappearance of some mystical book from an art gallery.
Kennedy put both hands on either side of the cabinet, and pulled. The cabinet made a creaking noise then the lid pulled clean off. She smiled and said, "Sometimes it's good to be a Slayer." Willow gave her a quick grin and then moved forward to inspect The Book. After a short time she drew back. "Huh!" she said, looking a little bit like she had been robbed of a treat, "There isn't even a secondary trigger. I guess because it's a new item.." she shrugged, and gestured for Eleanor to swap the books over.
Eleanor picked up The Book, and put down her fake copy. It felt old in her hands. Very old. The cover was rough and splintering, and all of a sudden Eleanor felt happier than she had in a long time. Years, maybe. Perhaps it was the sense of accomplishment of finally getting hold of The Book. The thing felt positively ancient, and Eleanor worried she might break or damage it if she held it too long, so she put it carefully into her bag, covering it with a woollen jumper to keep it safe and concealed. Kennedy placed the lid of the cabinet back onto the pedestal, and they all stood back to admire the effect. There was a thin line around the glass where a knowing eye could see it had been broken, but unless you were looking for it you could hardly see anything had been disturbed. Willow moved back and rewired the cables.
After she had finished, the three moved back into the positions they were in before they had set up the glamour. They waited.
The sudden burst of noise alerted them to the collapse of the glamour. Willow stood up from "tying her shoe", and Kennedy and Eleanor moved away from the glass and over towards the mass of people. The three of them had planned to do a quick curious glance, and then to leave as soon as possible. They were going to rendezvous with Cordelia back at their hotel later on.
So far no security guards had come swooping down on them, but they weren't about to linger.
Cordelia lay on the floor, as still as a death itself, a circle of people surrounding her. Her hair was strewn out across the floor and all over her face and her hands lay limply at her sides. A trickle of blood escaped her lips and flowed down the side of her cheek.
A woman beside Cordelia was checking her pulse. She turned to a man next to her and said something in French. He moved forward and lifted her head upwards slightly. Cordelia stirred.
There was a hushed murmur of reassurance that passed through the surrounding spectators, as they saw she wasn't dead. Cordelia groaned, and her eyelids flickered open.
Willow and Kennedy exchanged a quick look. Kennedy took Eleanor by the hand and the two of them moved off. Willow, however, moved forward towards Cordelia.
"Uhh..?" Cordelia said in a barely audible voice, as she tried to sit up properly. Willow squatted down beside her and took hold of one of her hands. "She's my friend," said Willow, looking over at the French woman that had checked her pulse before. "What happened?" she asked, hoping the woman spoke English.
"She fell. She.. fainted," said the woman after a moment. Cordelia held up a shaky hand and wiped her mouth. The blood came off on her hand and when she looked at it her eyes widened. Cordelia tried to speak again. "Something.. hit me." she croaked. Willow looked over at the woman, asking for confirmation. She woman shook her head, "There was.. nothing there. She was simply standing and then she fell."
Cordelia spoke again and they fell silent, "Like.. took.. wind out of me." Willow squeezed Cordelia's hand. The French woman said quietly, "Does she have any medical conditions? Any recent trauma or health problems?"
Willow thought, Aside from being dead for five days and being in a coma for six months? But instead said, "Not that I know of. Do you think we should take her to a hospital?"
Cordelia tried to move her head, "No.. I'll be ok.. I just.." Her breath suddenly became more rapid and then her eyes rolled up.. turning white.. she began to shake, clearly having a fit.
The French woman grabbed her around the arms and started shouting in French, the people surrounding them backed away. Cordelia stopped convulsing and slipped back into unconsciousness.
Kennedy and Eleanor exited the building. Cordelia had not been supposed to take it this far, she was simply supposed to have started a distraction. Something had gone wrong.
The two women stepped out through the exit to the gallery and onto the paved courtyard. They had barely taken a few steps when they were suddenly confronted by four large muscular men in suits. A fifth man, who was much shorter and thinner than the other men, was standing in the centre of the group. He was very well dressed in a blue suit and matching tie; his blonde hair parted evenly to one side. He wore a pair of square framed glasses pressed right up to his eyes and had a rather poncy looking well kept beard. He smiled at the two of them.
"Well," he said in a very mild and well spoken French accent, "I was expecting something a little more impressive. The first successful burglary of The Louvre in.. well.. quite a while now! But instead I find two young women, who.." he peered at Eleanor, "are probably amateur witches."
Neither of the girls spoke, Eleanor obviously not being able to, and Kennedy deciding this to be a moment for listening.
The blonde man's expression was calm, and he clapped his hands together. "But where are my manners? My name is Antonin Vasser, and I am a representative of an agency here in Paris known as Wolfram & Hart. Perhaps you've heard of us?" he smiled again, a smile lacking any warmth or sincerity, and full of deception and self-superiority.
"We monitored your glamour spell," he said pleasantly. "Yes, The Louvre are clients of ours, and you probably ought to have considered that we would have implemented some sort of detection spell, or spells as is the case here, in order to prevent robberies such as this one." He held up a finger, "And don't bother trying anything now – we've got a series of anti-magic devices in place. So you two witches aren't getting away."
Kennedy looked darkly him, her eyes glinting menacingly in the sun, "You see, that's where you've messed up your information."
Vasser raised his eyebrows, his expression still as serene as ever, "Oh. How so?"
Kennedy moved forward, "I'm not a witch," she said with a grin - and punched him in the face. The four other men moved towards her, but Kennedy was too fast for them, swirling around and sending her boot into the jaw of the first man. He stumbled and crashed into one of his compatriots. Kennedy ducked a blow from one of the others and then kneed him in the chest. He got back up and she swung at his head. This time she missed, and the man she had kicked in the face had the opportunity to recover and come at her from behind, punching her in the back. She fell to the ground. The one she had kneed in the chest prepared to kick her, but she grabbed his foot and lifted him backwards, tipping him over. He crashed to the ground, allowing Kennedy time to get to her feet and then spring over him. Vasser was struggling to his feet and rubbing his jaw. He looked around in disgust, as Kennedy engaged in combat with another of his guards, then pulled a gun out of his jacket. He aimed it at Eleanor and fired.
It all happened in a blur, Eleanor had been trying to avoid being in some way involved in the fight, and then suddenly she was lying on the ground. Kennedy had pushed her over just in time, and the bullet had gone whizzing past. Vasser aimed at the two of them again, but Kennedy rolled off of Eleanor and kicked his legs out from under him, sending him and his gun to the floor once more.
Kennedy yelled at Eleanor to run, and the two of them took off through the courtyard. After a moment the men from Wolfram & Hart were on their tail. Kennedy took a glance back as they reached the street out the front of the museum, and caught a glimpse of their pursuers, as well as a very disgruntled looking Vasser punching buttons on his mobile phone. Soon, they were going to have a lot more company; they needed to get away, and fast.
Kennedy taking the lead they ran across the street, almost crashing into three cars and a taxi before they hit the footpath on the opposite side of the road. They raced down it, the men halting the traffic as they tried to follow. Not sure how long Eleanor would be able to sustain their pace, Kennedy decided she needed a quick solution to their problem. There was a large shopping complex just ahead, and Kennedy signalled for Eleanor to follow her in. They entered, hoping to lose themselves in a crowd of people.
Unfortunately there were not many people in the mall, and those who were there all stopped to look as the two girls ran in through the front doors. So much for that plan, thought Kennedy, not stopping to consider another one, and continuing down through the lines of shops. They followed the main corridor, but there were many other aisles of shops branching out on either side. Eleanor was beginning to tire but she continued on running, only a few lengths behind the Slayer.
The two dark haired women passed a security guard, who attempted to halt them, saying something in French and holding up his hand, but they kept on running. He yelled louder, and then joined in their pursuit.
Eleanor and Kennedy saw the other exit to the shopping centre, and headed for it. Kennedy glanced back over her shoulder, but she couldn't spot the four men from Wolfram & Hart, and could only see the security guard, his moustache jiggling away and loud French commands spewing from his lips. Kennedy didn't like not being able to see the men, suddenly having a bad feeling about leaving through the far exit. She made up her mind and skidded to a halt, Eleanor pulling up behind her puffing with exhaustion. The security guard didn't have time to yell any more French at them, as Kennedy punched him in the face as soon as he'd caught up to them. He fell down onto the ground, and a couple of onlookers screamed. Kennedy didn't have time to be discreet or feel sorry for him; he'd be more or less alright in a few hours.
Kennedy grabbed Eleanor's arm and pulled her towards the left, passing a confectionary shop, then a liquor store, then breaking into another run as they started down a different corridor. Kennedy could hear the distant thud of bass and music, and turned down another line of shops following the sound. There were more people down here, and the music grew louder as they got further along the corridor. Suddenly the hall openined up into an atrium. There was a very large group of people clustered around a great stage in the middle of the room, screaming and jumping up and down as a French pop band performed for them. Kennedy and Eleanor slowed down and moved in to blend with the fans. The music was truly awful, but the mass of people who had turned out to watch them were clearly entertained. Kennedy took Eleanor by the hand again and began the arduous task of weaving through the crowd towards the other end of the mall. Looking back, Kennedy finally spotted their four giant pursuers, who were all looking around into the crowd in vain. Kennedy took off her jacket and let it drop to the floor. She tried to talk to Eleanor through the noise to suggest to her to change her appearance in some way, but the whining of the singers and the thump of the instruments, coupled with the screaming and chanting of the supporters made it almost impossible for her to be heard. Eleanor somehow got the message though, and took the jumper she had wrapped the book up in out and put it on.
After a few more minutes of pushing and shoving through the crowd, the two women emerged on the other side of the stage. Despite an overwhelming urge to keep running, they forced themselves to walk at a sedate pace back through the shops to find an exit. They had successfully lost the Wolfram & Hart lackeys, and now simply had to make it back to their hotel, where they would rendezvous with Willow and Cordelia later on.
Willow sat by Cordelia's bedside in the American Hospital of Paris. They had been there for about four hours; Willow had tried calling the hotel to check in with Kennedy and Eleanor, but had as of yet got no reply. Cordelia was not in a coma, as Willow had initially feared, and the doctors had only just let Willow in to see her, after assuring her that she would be alright. Willow held Cordelia's hand as she sat in silence.
Cordy looked pale and uncomfortable, her brow constantly twitching and her mouth moving wordlessly in her sleep. Willow sat with her for a full half an hour until suddenly Cordelia jerked awake. She sat up, gasping. Willow leaned over to her, taking both of Cordy's hands in her own, as they shook in confusion and panic. Cordelia's eyes focused on Willow's face. "Willow.." she said.. giving the red headed witch an exhausted smile, "Oh.. I thought.. I was.. falling.."
"You're alright Cordy, I'm here. We're.. we're in a hospital. And everything's OK."
Cordelia suddenly sat bolt upright, all sign of tiredness and fatigue instantly gone. "Someone attacked me, Willow. Or.. something."
Willow looked confused, and asked "What was it?"
Cordelia's eyes searched the room, as though trying to remember, "I.. I don't know. I was getting ready to make the distraction and it hit me. It was.. it was like – on a different level of reality. Magic or something."
Willow nodded slowly, "I thought it might've been, the way you reacted. How do you feel?" she asked.
Cordelia put her left hand over her eyes, "Like I've just eaten a bucket of very cold ice cream."
Willow laughed, and then she looked around, "Well.. if you're feeling alright, we probably need to get back to the hotel."
Cordelia listened to that statement and smiled, her mind thinking of another hotel, far away from here. Then, her hand falling from her face and her eyes snapping open, she suddenly remembered, "The book? What happened? Did we get it?" she demanded.
Willow made a face, "I don't know," she said, then seeing Cordelia's horror, quickly continued with, "I think so, but Kennedy and Eleanor have it, we got separated because I came with you to the hospital, and I can't get through to them on the phone.. but I've left messages."
They looked at each other, sharing concern, and then, making them both jump - the phone rang. Willow reached over and grabbed it, pulling it up to her ear. "Yes?" she said, then Cordelia watched her body visibly relax, obviously receiving news that the other two were OK.
Willow was nodding as she listened to the other person through the phone (No doubt Kennedy, thought Cordelia), forgetting that they couldn't see her. She finished with an "I love you too," confirming Cordelia's assumption, and put the phone down. "They said that they're fine and they'll see us back at the hotel. They got held up, which is why I couldn't get through to them earlier," she looked around, "I'll call a doctor and see if we can get out of here."
Cordelia nodded, "That would be very nice," she said, giving Willow a wan smile, "I think I've had enough of lying in hospital beds for one life time."
It was late evening by the time they got back to the hotel. Cordelia stood next to Willow in the corridor, leaning on one wall, as the witch turned the key in the door and pushed it open. The lights were all on, and when Willow called out, Kennedy came rushing out of the kitchen and flung her arms around her. After a short embrace with her girlfriend, she turned to Cordelia, "You OK?" she asked, and when Cordelia nodded, she gestured for them to come into the other room. They all moved in there, and gathered around the kitchen table, where Eleanor was pouring over The Book. She looked up and gave Cordelia a very concerned look, which was returned by a warm smile as Cordy sat down. "Find out anything?" she said, indicating the ancient text. Eleanor gave her a disappointed look and shook her head. Kennedy moved over and sat down next to her, "We only just got back as well, I called you from a pay phone after checking the messages," she said, directing the last part at Willow.
"What held you up?" asked Willow as she boiled the kettle and went about making them some hot drinks. Kennedy let out a big breath, "Well I didn't want to say anything on the phone, but we were caught. Outside the museum."
"What?" said Cordelia, this surprising news jerking her attention away from gazing at The Book.
Kennedy nodded, "Yep - by your good friends at Wolfram & Hart. Seems they look after mystical security as far as the Louvre is concerned." She tilted her head to the side and smiled, "Unfortunately for them they assumed we were just amateur witches, and didn't count on the fact that I could beat the crap out of them."
Willow looked over, "Which I'm sure you did." she said proudly and smiled.
Kennedy tried to look modest, "Well I did for a little while, but mostly we ran for it. Not very brave I suppose, but I didn't want to hang around for the police, or worse - a platoon of evil lawyers - to show up. We lost them after a while, but I wanted to make sure we stayed lost, so we've been spending the last couple of hours hiding."
Eleanor snorted.
Kennedy looked over at her then sighed, "In a sewer.." she admitted with a grimace.
Cordelia raised her eyebrows, then noticed that both of them had damp hair, and must have just taken showers. Kennedy looked back at Cordelia as Willow set down their drinks on the table and took her seat. "So what happened to you?" the slayer asked, taking a sip of the coffee Willow had passed her.
Cordelia pursed her lips, cradling one of her hands around her own drink. "I'm not sure. I think something attacked me. I think.." she paused and then looked around at them, "I think something knows what we're up to. Someone didn't want us to get that Book, and tried to take me down. I'm really not sure how I survived.. maybe The Powers didn't want to waste another effort bringing me back again." She shrugged, "I really don't know. But in any case, we should get started on deciphering The Book. If that holds the key to kicking some seriously evil butt, we need to know what it says, and we need to know as soon as possible."
Eleanor delicately handed it over to her. Cordelia opened up the first page. A strange mixture of tiny strokes and dots which almost resembled script covered the page. It didn't mean anything to her, and neither did any of the other pages, which were all done like this. There were no pictures. She felt different holding it however; like she was separated from the rest of them and if she just focused harder she would be able to see something. She felt cold, empty and.. helpless. She didn't like it, and after she'd held it for a few moments with nothing else happening she put the book back on the table. She shook her head and said, "That's pretty.. well.. weird feeling.. but I didn't get anything from it."
Willow picked it up. She looked down at the writing. She felt something rising within her, a feeling of utter power and darkness that she didn't like at all. She put the book back down and shuddered. "It makes me feel.. different. Like I'm remembering things.. I don't want to.. I don't.. I don't recognize the writing," she finished and closed her eyes, taking slow breaths. Kennedy looked at her in concern. "You OK?" she asked, putting her hand on Willow's shoulder. Willow nodded, but didn't open her eyes. "You try.." she said.
Kennedy picked up the book, opening the first page and glancing at it. She gasped. "I recognize this!" she said. The others looked at her in astonishment. "You do?" Cordelia asked incredulously, "From where? What does it say?"
Kennedy shook her head, "I.. I don't know – it's like.. it's not me that remembers it.. I.." she squinted and looked confused, "I think I've dreamt about it. Before.. I.." she stopped, as though at a loss to explain it.
"Like you're not yourself? Like you.. change.." said Willow, looking over at her. Kennedy nodded.
"I got that feeling too. And.. it's like I'm apart from myself.. looking back at us from.. somewhere away.." Cordelia added.
Kennedy was still holding the book, and she had closed her eyes in concentration, "It's.. it's.. I'm in.. in.. Tibet! Again!" Her eyes snapped back open and she put the book down on the table.
Willow said, "You've never been to Tibet!"
Kennedy shook her head. "I know."
It suddenly dawned on Cordelia. "You're a Slayer!" she said, looking at Kennedy.
Kennedy gave her a dead-pan look. "Really?" she said sarcastically, mimicking the same look Cordy had given her the day they had met.
"No I mean – don't Slayers have memories from past Slayers? Get dreams and thingies?"
Kennedy nodded slowly, and Willow said, "Of course, maybe – maybe Kennedy remembers a past Slayer who went to Tibet with.. with this book?"
Kennedy shook her head, "I don't know. It just felt like a really long time ago. I don't remember anything else.. sorry.."
"Don't be sorry," Cordelia said, "In my vision I saw something.. mountains.. I've been dreaming about them. Maybe it's the same place."
Willow sat up, "I've got an idea!" She said and got up from the table. "I have to make a call, hold on."
She left the room and came back in with the phone, leaning against the kitchen sink. She dialled a number and waited.
"Giles? Hey! .. Yes, it's Willow. How've you been? Oh? Oh. We'll that's not so nice. What? Oh yeah - Kennedy got him. Yep! He sure did. Uh? No – I didn't get my stuff back. I've just restocked again though, so no real harm done. I know. Mm.. Yes. No. Uh-huh. Rome? Oh – no – I'm in Paris. Yes, I know I said we were going to Rome, no, we're.. no. It's complicated. What? You – oooh.. Where's that? And they're the best in town? Yes she does like seafood.. Wait! No I rang up because I needed to ask you something."
She paused and sat down in her chair again, "Was there ever a Slayer that went to Tibet? .. Why do I ask?" She looked over at the others, "Just.. interested." She said in a seemingly-causal voice. She waited for a few moments, and then sat up straight, "There was? What did she do there? You – what? They, really? In Tibet? No kidding! ..Where was the temple? Right.. is it still there? Where is it? Yes I've got a pen.
"Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Mm.. ok got it. So what happened? Yeah.. oh.. oh.. mm.. yes. Really? They did? Well that sucks. What? No I didn't.. That's.. aha.. ok. Thanks Giles! What? Am I going to go there?" She looked around at the others again, Cordelia giving her a sort of half shrug, half nod.
"To the Himalayas? Yes. As soon as possible. Tomorrow probably. I.. It's just really important Giles. No – I'll be alright. I just need to go to that temple. What? Why? Another dimension? Why didn't you say that before? Ehh- what? No I still need to go! It's very important!
"Yes, I'm serious! No – don't tell Buffy. Don't tell any- Just, if anyone calls or tries to look for us tell them we're unavailable. We'll be out of.. what? Astral projection? You mean I wouldn't have to.. but.. what about Kennedy? She.. ok. I'll need to go there first then? Ok. Yes, she'll be coming with me. Is.. look Giles - even if it's an emergency. I have to go. No I can't tell you why. Not yet. Just trust me. Is that, uh, everything you know? .. Ok, well thanks. No - don't get worried, I think we've proved often enough we can handle ourselves. I know you're just concerned, and I appreciate that. I'll talk to you later.. thank you. What? No, Giles. No. I have to go now. Thanks again, bye." She hung up and put down the phone. She looked at the others, who were eagerly awaiting an explanation for the sudden travel plans.
"Giles says there used to be a watcher's council in Tibet. A long time ago. They didn't manage to stay there long though, because some sort of "great evil" descended on the place and killed everybody." They all looked at her. She waved it off with a hand, "Oh, I don't think it'd still be there, we'll be fine. The elders on the council were doing some sort of spell or something that went wrong and the temple got stuck half way between our dimension and another one."
"Kind of like The Master did when he tried to free himself back in Sunnydale?" asked Cordelia, remembering Giles saying something about that, so many years before.
Willow nodded, "Just like that," she said, and then continued on, "Giles said I could get into the other dimension through astral projection, but - the rest of you wouldn't be able to do that, and somehow I think this requires a group effort."
"So – just like that we're all going to Tibet?" Kennedy asked, her eyebrows raised, and one arm resting on the table. "What about the Chinese government? All that communism stuff?"
Willow said, "They have tourists up there all the time." Then she shrugged, "We'd be alright I guess."
Eleanor, who had remained in silence (not that she had any other option, really) throughout this discussion, reached over and picked up The Book. She smiled as she held it. Unlike the others, whose reverse images of themselves were all long painful trips down memory lane, Eleanor's opposite was a positive one. As she held the book, she felt swarms of great happiness flowing through her body. She felt as though she could almost speak, almost sing; almost regain all that which she had lost. It was very strange. After a moment she put The Book down, and noticed everyone looking at her.
Eleanor looked slightly embarrassed. Cordelia squinted at her, "It doesn't have the same harrowing effect on you does it?" she asked. Eleanor shook her head. "I think you should look after it." she said, and Willow nodded in agreement. "I certainly don't want to keep it." Kennedy shuddered, "Me either." Eleanor shrugged and put the book back in her bag and covered it with her jumper like she had earlier.
Cordelia stood up, and then looking around at the three of them, spoke. "So, are we agreed? We're going to Tibet?" Willow nodded, half-smiling in anticipation, and kinking one eyebrow up slightly; Kennedy said, "That's where we're needed isn't it?"; and Eleanor looked up at her, the expression on her face saying the words she could not.
Let's go.
Cordelia pulled her hood closer around her face, the furs on the collar whipping around in the blisteringly cold wind. The trail was steep and rocky, and as they progressed higher and higher up it, a feeling of discontent and uneasiness grew within her. It also became hard to breathe as the air around them thinned. They were almost at the end of their journey, after over three weeks trying to get here since they'd left Paris. Cordelia felt as though time was running out, and she was beginning to dread what might happen if it did. This, coupled with an unsettling feeling that she was being hollowed out from the inside, had left her feeling a little unstable. Trying to keep her thoughts on making it up to the next landing and on keeping her mind together, she watched the back of their local trail guide.
They had found it very difficult to find a guide willing to take them the full way, as every person they had talked to was convinced that the temple they were headed for was cursed. Stories abounded of all the people that had ventured forth and never returned, earning the temple the unofficial name of "Sco'chi Ba" or Gateway of Death. The temple's real name, that none of the locals ever used, was the Temple of Dawa Dorje. This name translated to be something about diamonds and light conquering darkness, which sounded a lot more promising, and back in the 80's had lead to an influx of tourist treasure hunters.
None of these tourists had ever returned from Sco'chi Ba, and the rumours all agreed that after crossing the threshold of the temple they had been sucked into hell. These tales had not fazed the girls to any great extent, apart from the fact that it had become increasingly difficult to find someone to take them there. Finally they had found an elderly guide in an isolated village in south eastern Tibet, who refused to tell them his name, but promised to take them most of the way. They had had to pay him quite a large fee in order for him to accept, though.
The four of them trudged on behind their unnamed guide, through ice, rock and snow as they continued upwards through the range of mountains. The trek had taken five days, and Cordelia was beginning to think they would never stop climbing, until their guide pulled them up short and told them he would go no further. He explained, in broken English, that all they had to do was follow the path up and around the mountain until the temple came into view. He set up camp and said he would wait for them to come back for three nights, and if they did not return after that, he would leave.
"Hopefully this won't take too long then," said Kennedy as the four of them moved on up the freezing, ice covered slope. After around two hours of winding higher up the mountain, the trail opened up to a flat landing, where, nestled in the shadow of the mountain, was the temple.
The four women stopped for a moment, the wind biting at their clothes and exposed faces and took in the view. The temple was enormous, its beautiful ornate Asian design and crumbling front entrance making it seem like something out of a tale or story. It looked incredibly old. In a way it blended into the mountain, but in another way it seemed to stand out like a beacon - so strange and disconnected from the rest of this natural landscape. The view was spectacular, as they were part way up a rather large mountain, and could clearly see the other peaks and mountains stretched out before them.
As Cordelia looked at the temple, the alien feelings of separation and emptiness that had been gently nagging at her throughout the trek increased. She could definitely understand why this place freaked the locals out. "Well," she said under her breath as they started towards the building, "Gateway of Death.. here we come."
They stood out the front of the Dawa Dorje, looking through the crumbled entrance into the rooms within. It looked old, quiet and creepy, but not like a portal into another dimension.
All four of them felt different, however. There was an echo, a whisper of what had affected them back in their hotel room in Paris when they had held The Book that haunted this whole mountain range. It swum around them, travelling with the wind, and entering their bodies through the very air. It made them all feel.. different. Every step they had taken towards the temple had made the feelings stronger, and now they waited.
Cordelia spoke to the others, "I don't like this.." she said, peering in through the entrance, but all within was dark and she could not see further than the crumbling doors, "I've got a bad feeling that the moment we go through-"
"These horrible feelings will get a lot more horrible?" Kennedy interrupted her, masking her emotions, her face impossible to read. Willow said nothing; she was hugging her shoulders and had her eyes closed. "Willow?" Kennedy asked, touching her arm. Willows eyes found Kennedy's, and she exchanged a terrified look with her girlfriend, "It's so.. dark."
"Well, we've got torches, hopefully it won't be too bad.." said Cordelia, but even as she spoke these words she knew that Willow was not talking about the lack of illumination. Willow said nothing more, but the others exchanged looks. They were here, finally, after almost a month of searching, plane tickets, crappy little hotels and bundles of impatience, and nobody wanted to go inside.
"Let's be smart about this," Kennedy said, steering them away from the temple to talk, "We go in there, we don't know what to expect. But we've all got these strange.. feelings that are related to this ancient book that we stole from a museum in Paris."
"Right." said Cordy, looking at the others, "So – the temple and The Book are very likely connected."
Kennedy nodded, and then continued, explaining, "When I hold the book, I get images and pictures and memories of an old slayer.. or I think maybe lots of slayers.. all.. of them. I've got all these thoughts.." she put her hand up to her head, and closed her eyes, as though trying to block them out, "..that aren't my thoughts."
She looked back at them, "Usually I'd only get these sorts of visions vaguely in my dreams.. but since we got to this mountain, they're coming to me more often, even when I'm not holding that book."
Cordelia nodded and said, "When I held it.. and just being here.. I feel like I'm empty, and I'm watching myself from really far away. I've got no control over things.. Like when that higher power thingy took over my body last year, I could see everything happening, and I was powerless to do anything. But they're not really connected feelings are they?"
Kennedy frowned, and looked at Willow. She looked confused, and after a moment spoke of her own feelings, "I.. I feel evil. Angry. Powerful and.. and.. dark. Like.. like I used to be.." she looked down at her boots, "I thought it was something I could sense from the temple.. but now I realise it's coming from me.."
She looked worried, "I really don't think that's a good thing at all."
Cordelia's eyes widened, "And.. if we went in there.. and these.. emotions overwhelmed us.." She looked at Willow, her question not needing to be asked.
Willow's chin trembled, "I.. I don't know if I'd be able to control it."
Kennedy put an arm around her, giving her a comforting squeeze, "What do you think this means?"
Cordelia pursed her lips, thinking. She paused and then ventured, "I think.. these feelings are sort of like.. what we used to be.." she looked at Willow again, "You said yourself that this place is half in our dimensions and half in another one.. what if in the other one.. we're not who we are now.. but who we used to be.. how we used to feel.. the opposite of what we feel now.."
Kennedy raised her eyebrows, "So we all have split personalities, and they're manifesting in some ancient Tibetan temple on another plane of existence?"
Cordelia shrugged, "Well.. it's just a theory."
Kennedy sighed, "So what do we do now? We can't just give up."
"No we can't," Cordelia said, "We've come this far. Let's think about this.. what do we hope to find out by going in there?"
"Uh.. everything." Kennedy said sarcastically.
Willow, however, looked thoughtful, "Um.. what the book says? Why.. we're here? What we're supposed to do about the apocalypse or whatever that you think is coming?"
Cordelia nodded and Kennedy said, "Sounds about right."
Eleanor thought about her own feelings when she held the book, which were not at all dark or horrible - they were happy. She didn't have the horrors or the experiences in her past like the others, she was living the nightmare now. Her depressed state of mind was being replaced by the positive happy one she used to have. She swallowed, and looked at the others. She pointed to herself, then gestured she should go inside.
Cordelia regarded her for a moment, then shook her head, "I know you don't feel as awful as we do, but I don't think it's a good idea to just go wandering in there alone. What if you can't get back? I mean, this place has sucked up loads of tourists, and it's in another dimension. Plus there was an entire Watcher's Council here that got eaten by some sort of terrible dark evil.. you know.. that's never a good sign."
Eleanor sighed, and gave a half shrug.
Cordelia squinted at her, "I'll go with you. I've been brought back from the dead to come here, I have to figure out why and I have to know soon or the suspense and frustration is going to kill me.. er.. again."
She turned and looked at Willow, "I think.. maybe you shouldn't go in with us, Willow. At least until we've checked it out; found out what it does to us. I don't want you turning into the ultimate evil witch again.. that could be.. uh.. bad."
Willow looked upset and then a little angry, but after a moment she simply nodded silently.
Kennedy squeezed her shoulder again, turning her face to Cordelia's and lifting her chin proudly, "As much as I don't want to leave Willow out here alone, I think I need to go in too. I've sort of been here before, and I might be able to protect us from.. whatever might be in there."
Willow looked around at them and sighed, nodding. "I'll.. set up tents.. over there, " she pointed back at the cliff wall, "Might be shaded from the wind a bit better.."
Willow looked back at Kennedy, "And.. you guys think you'll be able to handle it ok? I mean.. all those people that came here are never returned.. you got a plan?"
Kennedy shrugged, "We go in, we look around, read the book if we can, we leave."
"And.. what if you can't leave?" Willow asked.
Kennedy looked at Eleanor, "Do you know how to pass between dimensions?"
Eleanor made a face and shrugged, more or less.
Willow looked a little worried, and turned and rummaged around in her bag, "It's just a matter of will power really, but take these anyway.." she said, and handed Eleanor a range of magical supplies. Eleanor took them and put them in her own bag, nodding in thanks.
"Weapons?" Kennedy asked, looking around at them.
Eleanor took out her knife. It was a bit small, and she basically only used it for magical rituals, but it might not be too bad in a fight.
Cordelia nodded at Kennedy, indicating her bag, "I've got a scythe and that axe you gave to me back in Nepal."
Kennedy said, "OK then, I think we're ready."
"If you don't come back within three hours I'm coming in after you," said Willow, her face set.
Kennedy and Willow looked at each other, and after a moment Kennedy nodded and the two embraced. Willow turned to the others, "Good luck."
Eleanor smiled at her and Cordelia said, "Thanks."
Kennedy turned away from Willow and walked towards the temple, Cordelia and Eleanor just behind her. Kennedy looked back as she passed through the entrance to the temple seeing Willow as though she were a painting. She stood with her hair blowing out from under her coat, the mountain scenery framed beautifully behind her, tears falling down her face, defeated and alone. Kennedy swallowed hard and entered the building.
Instantly the three of them felt different. The feelings that were only just noticeable on the outside of the temple now hit them with insane force and power, and they became different people.
The emotions were intense. Confusing. Like they were in a mixed up reality, where the world couldn't decide what was up or down, or where it wanted to be. Cordelia turned to the others, "You guys.. ok?" she asked, flicking her torch over and highlighting their faces, as she tried to contain her past self from consuming her. She felt very weak. Eleanor nodded at her, a smile evident on her face as she moved forward into the gloom. Kennedy tried to nod, but she was clearly having difficulty doing it. As each of them struggled with the new (or perhaps old) feelings, Cordelia tried to focus by looking around and finding out what the temple was like on the inside.
They moved their flash lights around, illuminating parts of the darkness that surrounded them. They seemed to be in a large hallway or corridor, with a really high ceiling that was crumbling in parts. The design was plain, almost the reverse of the opulent and beautiful exterior of the building. Everything seemed sort of blurry and distorted, but maybe that was just Cordelia's swimming headache or the lack of proper lighting. There were doors and passages on either side of the hall but there were no visible objects like bookshelves, tables or chairs lining this main entrance. The floor was covered in a thick layer of grey dust, and when they walked on it their shoes stirred up little clouds of powder which swirled around their ankles.
As they moved forward the three of them struggled to cope with the past images of themselves that now tried to conquer them.
Eleanor felt happy. Happy and.. powerful. As though all of the things that caused her pain were no longer important and she was living the life she used to live – full of freedom, happiness and excitement. It was like she had stepped back in time to when she had once felt like this. It was a wonderful feeling, after all that time being so alone and so unhappy. There was a part of her, somewhere deep inside that knew that this feeling was not real. It was not her. Not anymore.
Her battle to master it, to let her true feelings stay dominant, was not a whole hearted one however. She felt too attached to her old self to care if she felt that way again. She smiled, giving herself over to the past. But something else was different. She could feel something had changed.. she could almost.. she could..
She stepped forward and took her knife out of her bag, and knelt down onto the ground. She put the tip of the knife onto the floor and dragged it down in a swirling motion, forming an indent in the floor – just like a child would draw in the sand at the beach.
She looked down at the mark she had made. She had done it. She had written a letter.
The "S" stood out clearly on the floor and Eleanor gaped at it, surprise, happiness and confusion flowing through her body. Eleanor put the knife tip back in the dust and wrote more letters, until a whole word shone at her from the Temple's floor. She realised instantly what this meant, although she could hardly believe it, and turned around to look at the others. Cordelia looked very afraid, horrified even. Kennedy was breathing heavily and had one of her hands up on her forehead, as though she had a particularly painful headache. Eleanor opened her mouth.
"I.." she said, and the sound came bubbling up from her throat for the first time in three and a half years. "I.. can.." she swallowed, and tears appeared in her eyes. Cordelia stared at her, shock now adding to the haunted expression on her face.
"I can.. speak.. again," Eleanor said incredulously, and clutched her neck – as though daring to believe it was true. Her face broke out in a broad smile, and she got up off the floor, tucking the knife into the back of her pants. She laughed and jumped up in the air, "I can speak! Oh god I can speak I can-" she grinned and looked at the others, "I can speak!"
Cordelia shook her head slowly, struggling to talk herself, "How.. is.. this possible?"
Eleanor grinned at her, "I have no idea! Maybe, maybe.. the curse doesn't apply here – in this dimension! Or it's got something to do with this reversal personality thing!" she laughed and hugged herself, spinning around, never feeling so happy in her life.
Cordelia looked confused, "Curse?" she said.
Eleanor nodded, "I'm cursed. My sister, she cursed me. Right before she died." Somewhere deep inside her, saying these words hurt - memories and emotions that she usually kept bottled tightly were burning; but these true feelings barely registered on the outside, the strange universe they were in preventing her from accessing them. She remained elated, giving herself over to what she once was, what she had so wanted back.
For the other two women things could not have been more opposite. Both experiencing horrors and confusion from their pasts and both finding it extremely difficult to cope with.
Cordelia was finding it strenuous to even stand, to walk, to breathe, to speak – everything took tremendous effort. It seemed to her that there was a giant hand preventing her from connecting with her own body, and only the sliver of her true self, buried deep within her opposite, gave her a glimmer of control. She felt helpless, weak, and frightened. She had lost everything.. she was being overcome.. she would not be able to help.. to affect.. to make a difference. It pained her, and she wanted to collapse with the weight of her own body.. the strength it cost her to keep standing was almost impossible to maintain. At the moment, her will persevered, but she wasn't sure how long she would be able to keep it up.
Cordelia tried to focus on Eleanor, who was standing in front of her with a distant expression of great joy on her face. Cordelia's vision blurred – her head hurt dreadfully and she was scared and confused. She felt horribly alone and utterly helpless. Eleanor looked at her, breaking out of her gaze-into-nothingness. She moved forward and took Cordelia's hand.
"It's alright Cordy. I'm here," she smiled blankly.
Cordy closed her eyes, things were becoming very weird about now. Eleanor put her arm under Cordelia's, and she felt some of the terrible weight lift slightly. She would've thanked the younger girl but she was too damn tired. In amongst her confusion she had a vague thought that it was a very good idea not to have brought Willow in with them.
Kennedy was overwhelmed. Emotions, voices and images flashed through her mind; memories that were not her own floated around her head; people she did not recognize now suddenly drew her thoughts; enemies she had never faced were everywhere; feelings that did not fit her situation surged through her body, and the walls were getting closer and closer towards her.
She couldn't handle this! She was a strong person, a leader, a warrior! Now she felt like a weak, helpless little girl. Her emotions were going crazy; she had insane urges to hit people, to cry, to run away, to be scared, to feel betrayed, to laugh, to yell in pain, to feel angry at herself for leaving Willow all alone. She felt so crowded and confused. She tried to focus, but the thoughts kept attacking her like a bad nightmare. She wasn't alone in her own body. She wanted it all to stop. She took ragged, painful gasps for air and tried desperately to remember who she really was.
Suddenly there were people all around her. All around her. Who were they? Why were they here? She could see a little boy that she didn't know rushing towards her smiling and calling her "mother".. an angry old woman was berating her for not coming home on time.. a young girl in flowing gowns held a flower up to her nose and threw her a gloating look.. a demon with blood dripping down its face came running at her with an axe held high..
Kennedy yelled and put her hands up over her head. A part of her knew this wasn't reality, this was all in her mind, but she was so overwhelmed she couldn't differentiate the two! She wasn't sure who she was, or which thoughts were hers and which thoughts belonged to the other slayers. She felt pressure like she had never known and it threatened to beat her down and consume her. She was Kennedy! She was Kennedy! She fell down onto the ground, gasping for air.
The pain had lessoned, and the thoughts, although they were still there, were not as loud – not as strong - as they had been. She remembered why they were here. She thought about the temple, and about the fate of the world. She looked up. All the other figures had gone except for a young Asian girl with a long plait down her back. She wore ornate furs and had large tattoos on each of her cheeks. She looked at Kennedy, and beckoned towards her with one of her hands. Kennedy struggled up and walked towards the girl, who backed away and turned around, still gesturing for Kennedy to come with her. Kennedy moved after her, following her down into another room and away from the others.
They heard Kennedy yell, and turned around. The slayer was waving her hands above her head, and then dropped to her knees, breathing heavily. Eleanor called out to her, but Kennedy didn't appear to have noticed. The two made slow progress towards her, Kennedy finally looking up from the floor at something directly in front of her. Her eyes widened. She got to her feet, and started off through another doorway.
"Kennedy!" yelled Eleanor, pulling Cordy around to call after her, "Kennedy where are you going?"
But Kennedy could not hear her.
Supporting Cordelia, Eleanor set off down the corridor after her, Cordelia managing to say, "Hope she knows more than we do.."
As the two shined their torches down corridors, trying to keep up with Kennedy, Eleanor told Cordy of her past, the urge the talk about things that she'd never been able to before was impossible to resist.
"My sister and me.. we were both witches.. pretty good ones too, considering our age. We buggerized around a lot really, but we had a great time. We were always together," she smiled fondly, "Always."
Cordelia shook her head, "Why did she curse you then?"
A brief flash of Eleanor's real emotions flickered in her eyes, but she told Cordelia regardless, "We had a fight. We never fought. Never. I guess.." she sighed, "It was a stupid fight. Over a little thing. I had.. told her boyfriend something she didn't want me to.. something Sandra really hadn't wanted me to tell him.. and she was very angry at me. It was a stupid thing.." she laughed wryly, but there was no humour in it, "It was all.. all spur of the moment. I know deep down she didn't mean the stuff she said.. but.. well.. she told me I shouldn't poke my nose in things that didn't concern me, and I was always opening my big mouth and telling people things that weren't any of their business."
Cordelia watched her, her expressions going haywire as she told of the reason she was usually so depressed. Eleanor continued, "And I told her that she should be more open about things, and honesty was the only way she would ever know if she was truly happy. She said happiness wasn't reality, and I shouldn't be so happy, because I didn't deserve it. Then she cursed me so that I could never speak in any language or write anything down. To punish me, and so I wouldn't be so open."
She sighed again. "Of course I was furious at her. I was too angry to feel guilty about what I'd done, so I never got the chance to apologize or make things up with her. I remember throwing things at her, wanting to scream and swear.. not being able to.. I suppose I didn't take it too seriously really, I thought we'd calm down and she'd lift the curse and we'd forgive each other. But then.. she died in a car accident.. the next day.. and I.."
She paused, and the two of them looked up, both noticing a source of light ahead. Kennedy was standing in a doorway, holding her torch shining towards them, and leaning on the doorframe for support. She looked exhausted and pained. Cordelia could definitely relate to that sort of a feeling.
Eleanor guided Cordy over to the door, saying, "Kennedy, what's-"
Kennedy interrupted her with an exhausted shake of her head, and said in a quiet voice laced with pain, "..Book.."
"Oh.." Eleanor said, reaching into her bag and extracting it. She handed it over to Kennedy, who took it and moved into the room. She shined her torch on the opposite wall, revealing a large ornate mirror. Kennedy open-ended the first page of the book and held it up to the mirror, the other girls watching silently over her shoulder. The writing had changed. Back in the hotel in Paris the writing had appeared incomplete somehow. Now the letters were fully formed – revealing what was clearly Tibetan script. Kennedy leaned toward the mirror. She nodded, and said something in Tibetan as though talking to herself. She turned the next page, her eyes reading it in the mirror. Already her expression of forced control was beginning to weaken. She flicked through the book, reading as fast as she could. Eleanor pulled Cordelia over to her other side, holding up Kennedy as well as she began to wilt under the strain of the hundreds, possibly thousands of voices in her mind.
After a few minutes Kennedy shuddered and dropped the book, the others looking at her, Cordelia asking, "What did it say?"
Kennedy shook her head, incapable of explaining now, the role of group mute seemed to have been passed on to her from Eleanor in this strange upside down universe.
Eleanor pulled her around, Cordelia saying, "I think it's time to get out of here then," but feeling, despite her pain and helplessness, that she had not done all they needed to do here, and that they were giving up. She had not had her questions answered, and was beginning to think she never would. She prayed that Kennedy would be able to tell them something when they got out.
Guided by Eleanor the three of them made their way slowly back to the main entrance. The rooms and passages twisted and turned, and Kennedy got weaker every step they took. When they finally reached the main corridor, she collapsed onto the ground.
"Kennedy!" Eleanor yelled, detaching herself from Cordelia, who leaned against the nearest wall, almost falling down herself. Eleanor leaned over Kennedy, who was shaking and twisting, but appeared unconscious. "Kennedy!" she said again, and shook the slayer. Kennedy struggled, but did not wake. Cordelia started to sink down the wall, Eleanor noticing this, and feeling as though she was running out of time, slapped Kennedy in the face. Kennedy reeled back and let out a yell, struggling stronger, but still not waking. Eleanor slapped her again.
Kennedy's eyes opened, and she saw Eleanor. She let out a cry and jumped on her, slamming the English girl back to the ground. Eleanor gasped as Kennedy started yelling at her in some strange dialect and then punched her hard in the face. Eleanor tried to pull away, struggling under the weight of the much stronger woman. Kennedy hit her again, and Eleanor felt her consciousness slipping. With all the strength she had left she tried to push Kennedy off of her. Kennedy fell backwards, weak from all the confusion, and lay exhausted on the floor. She put her hands up to her face and groaned. Eleanor rolled over, her face sore all over and an overwhelming sense of dizziness clouding her mind. She sensed blood trickling down from her nose onto her lips. She moved towards the slayer. "Kennedy.." she said, coughing up dust and bringing her hand up to her probably broken nose.
Cordelia was sitting on the floor now, gasping, feeling even more helpless - not being able to help the two of them. Frustrated and empowered with emotion, she put all her will into staying awake and trying to get up.
Kennedy turned and looked at Eleanor, her expression becoming even more confused. A glimmer of recognition flashed in her beautiful face as she looked at the witch, but then her eyes widened and she looked up at the ceiling, staring at it in horror. Eleanor looked up too, but saw nothing there. Kennedy started yelling in another language, and closed her eyes and tried to wave off an invisible enemy.
Eleanor coughed and tried to get up – her head spinning with the physical pain of Kennedy's blows. Cordelia had managed to crawl over to them, and leaned over, a strange fire in her eyes, and grabbed Kennedy's arm, "We have to leave Kennedy! You're going mad, we have to go. We have to go now. Get up Kennedy."
Kennedy closed her eyes, and put her hands up to her head and clutched her hair, managing to croak out, "I can't.. I can't.. it's too much.. I can't.."
Cordelia put her hand on Kennedy's cheek, drawing her eyes open, "Don't you give up on me now girl, we need to get out of here, and you need to come with us."
She started to cry, rocking back and forward, "It's too hard.. I can't.. I'm not me.. I can't think.. I've.."
Cordelia gripped her arm harder, forcing Kennedy to look back at her, anger and then fear and confusion flashing in her dark eyes. "What would Willow want you to do Kennedy? Would she want you to give up?"
Kennedy's mouth opened, and she stared, tears streaking down her face, "Willow?"
Cordelia nodded slowly, fighting back her own pain, "Willow. Remember Willow?"
Kennedy, "Of course.. I.. Willow.. Willow I need you.. Willow.." she looked up at the ceiling again, her eyes misted.
Cordelia moved her hand down to Kennedy's elbow, preparing to lift her. Eleanor had managed to sit up, and was trying to stand. They were all weak now, three blind mice trying to guide each other in the darkness. Eleanor moved around to Cordelia, wiping the blood from her face. Cordelia looked at Kennedy, "You need to do this, for Willow."
Kennedy nodded, "For.. Willow.. dga'po.. Willow.. zug dga'po Willow.." she tried to get up. Cordelia lifted her, and Eleanor tried to support the two of them.
The three cripples somehow managed to stand, and stagger towards the exit, the light from outside drawing them like a siren. They pressed forward, the entrance only metres from them.. but suddenly they were hit by an invisible wall that slammed them backwards onto the stone floor.
Eleanor got to her feet first, the other two lying unconscious on the floor. "No!" she yelled, moving forward and putting her hands over the barrier. This prevention of escape made her suddenly feel very trapped and shut in. Panic coursed through her unnaturally happy body, giving her emotions a confused crazy sort of feeling. They couldn't stay here, Cordelia and Kennedy would go mad before long, Kennedy already well on the way there. This was why all those people had never come back from this temple, they could enter through the doorway, but it was a one way ticket. Eleanor took a big breath. None of those people had been witches. She looked through the things that Willow had given her in her bag, and after a moment took out a bottle of bright orange powder and shook the contents all over the barrier in front of her. She took her knife out of her pants and ran the blade along each of her palms, opening up wounds from earlier spells. Blood had been her only connection to magic when she couldn't speak, and it was going to get them out of this horrible inverted hell. She flicked her left hand at the barrier, drops of blood flying through the air and smacking into the dimensional wall. Eleanor stepped backward and grabbed the two older women, neither of whom had managed to move yet, her blood touching their skin – binding them together, and dragged them towards the invisible blockade. She turned to face the barrier, and gathering all the power and strength within herself that she could, she pushed forward. The wall resisted, trying to throw her backwards, but Eleanor would not yield. Her eyes changed colour, glowing in intensity as she drew all the power she could from her surroundings, away from the barrier, and into herself. "Let.. me.. leave!" she yelled, and suddenly the wall gave way and like a stream of cold water passed over her. She stumbled forward, pulling Cordelia and Kennedy along with her. She hit the other side and fell forward onto the icy, rock covered floor. She struggled to get up, her arms still holding tight on Kennedy and Cordelia. She yelled for Willow, but no sound escaped her lips. She tried again, then the realisation that she could no longer speak hit her. Her happiness was gone too, yanked away from her so suddenly and violently she had barely even noticed. A whole new flood of depression coursed over her and she stopped moving. Her voice was gone. She was alone again. Tears sprinkled down her face and she had an insane urge to go back inside the temple. Back to where she had power. Where she had strength, where she could speak, where she was happy.But it wasn't real. It wasn't true. That wasn't her anymore, and she knew it. Bitterly, she knew it. Life had changed her. She was different now. For better or worse she was different, and artificial happiness was not what she really wanted. A part of her had remembered, back inside the temple that those feelings and her speech would be temporary, but it still burned her deeply now she no longer had either. She gathered what little energy she had left and trudged forward into the wind. She saw Willow running towards her. Willow took in the scene as she sped over towards them. Eleanor's tears streaming down her face, along with the blood that came running from her broken nose. More blood on the arms of Cordelia and.. Kennedy, who appeared so still and.. Kennedy's eyes opened, and she rolled over onto her stomach, her arm slipping from Eleanor's grip as the witch broke down onto the ground, overcome with emotions and exhaustion. Willow felt a wave of relief, seeing that Kennedy was OK. She squashed an urge to fling her arms around her, instead helping the three of them make it back to the tents she had just finished setting up.
Cordelia woke up. She was herself. She was alive, she was in control. She breathed a big sigh of relief, and looked around. Willow was in the middle of the tent patching up Eleanor's bloody nose and Kennedy sat in a corner looking off at nothing. She looked haunted.
"What happened?" asked Cordelia, pulling herself up into a sitting position.
Kennedy looked over at her. "We left the temple." she said in a hollow voice.
Cordelia put her hands up and palmed her eyes, "What a horrible place." she said slowly, trying to remember everything.
Willow finished putting the tape across Eleanor's nose. They would need to get it set at a hospital later, but for now this would stop the bleeding.
"What happened?" Cordelia asked again, lowering her hands and looking back at Kennedy.
"I.. I read The Book.." she said slowly.
"You did. I remember. How was that possible.. actually nevermind - what did it say?" Cordelia asked, moving over to her.
Kennedy took a deep breath. "It's a prophecy. Written thousands of years ago, back when the temple was built. I.. a.. a slayer was there, with the watcher's council. They all died. Were killed.. by.. some sort of evil when they accidentally got the temple stuck in between two dimensions."
"That's what Giles said, right Willow? Do you know what killed them?" Cordelia asked, moving over to her.
"Yes. It was.. some sort of.. great evil force.. that had made a rift in the diamond.."
"Diamond? What's the diamond?" Cordelia asked, lost.
"It's a metaphor for the universe. Dimensions and things.. we're here on earth, and this other force.. I think used to be here, but it got banished away into another dimension. But it was such a powerful evil that even banished as it was, it could still affect things here."
"Damn." Cordy said.
"Yeah – anyway.. this great evil over time managed to increase its influence.. make its way slowly back into our dimension," Kennedy explained "..To do this they used their influence here to set things in motion that would allow them to return.. They're trying to weaken the barriers of the diamond.. the dimensions.. causing them to break apart.. which would mean chaos in the universe. There would be no definition. No finality, no barriers between worlds. We'd all be.. one."
There was a silence following this statement.
"That's not good." Cordy said finally.
"No.. no it's not."
There was another pause, and then Cordelia asked, "You said they were banished? Who banished them before?"
"The Powers That Be. They were the only ones with the power to, and it cost them their control over earth. They moved onto another plane of existence. Another dimension as well," Kennedy said.
"Too many dimensions.. ugh.." Cordelia said, shaking her head, and then trying to put things together, "And.. and you say that this big bad evil thing is weakening the barriers.. coming back? From.. hell?"
"Yes. It's done it before too, that's why The Watcher's council here was destroyed.. they were beginning to understand what was happening and were trying to do something about it.. this.. thing.. managed to stop them before they were able to undergo the ritual."
"Ritual? What ritual?" Cordelia asked, her eyebrows flicking up into her hair line.
Kennedy explained, "They needed two vessels of power. One light, one dark. They would have to fight each other in this alternate dimension.. this would create enough force to banish the.. evil.. back to hell."
"Why would they need to fight against each other? Wouldn't one of them win out or something?"
Kennedy shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe they don't have a choice.. anyway.. the watcher's council didn't get to complete the ritual anyway.."
"Because I guess the evil stopped them?" Cordelia confirmed, "And they managed to get the temple stuck between dimensions?"
"Yes," Kennedy replied.
"Well that bodes well for us. If an entire watcher's council couldn't defeat this thing, what hope to we have?" Cordelia said sourly.
Willow interrupted her, "What is this evil thing anyway? I mean – it's evil sure.. but what is it really? There are lots of big bad evils out there. I mean we've defeated a few in the past, which one are we dealing with now?"
Kennedy shrugged, "Book didn't say."
"Wait," Cordelia said, sitting up, "This bad evil.. you said.. it has influence on earth.. and for all the time since it got banished it's been getting things in position so that it could return.. basically they've been working on an apocalypse for.. ages.."
"I guess so. Yes. Why?" Kennedy asked.
"Because all that sounds strangely familiar. I just figured out what it must be. The big evil. And.. who they are. All this time.. I can't believe I didn't see it before! It all makes sense now!"
"No it doesn't! What are you talking about?" Kennedy said loudly.
Cordelia paused, and then turned to look at them all, "Wolfram and Hart. The senior partners. That's the big bad evil. It explains why I've come back, why I had to do all that stuff to help Angel in order for him to take down the Circle of the Black Thorn – the senior partners connection to earth must be growing – they're getting ready to take back what they used to have. Earth. That's what's coming through the diamond.. or through from hell or whatever. They're coming through. Now."
Willow raised an eyebrow, "Look Cordy, I know lawyers are evil and everything, but.."
Cordelia shook her head, "No it's not just the law firm, I mean – Wolfram and Hart is the partners connection on earth.. their key to an apocalypse. The Black Thorn work on getting them back in the game because they can't do it themselves.. because they're in another dimension and they can't get back yet. The law firm is like their.. influence you called it. They set up a business – evil incorporate – access to all the most evil players in our dimension, and wheedle their way back through dimensions over the eons. It's brilliant."
"It is? Sounds pretty confusing to me." Kennedy said tartly.
"No, you see - they wanted Angel out of the way – the Powers champion, the one person capable of putting a fork in all their plans.. so they give him one of their offices.. they keep him busy while they bring down reality around him," she gave a small satisfied smile, "Except that that's not going to happen."
"It isn't?" Willow asked, confused.
"Oh no. While Angel takes out the Circle, we're going to close up their influence as much as we can. Banish them again. That's why we're here."
"Oh yeah, cuz banishing the baddest evil ever is going to be a piece of cake. How are we supposed to accomplish something that only the higher powers could do before?" Willow said doubtfully.
This time it was Kennedy who answered, "The vessels. The ritual. That's what we have to do."
It was Cordy's turned to be confused, "What? Those people that were supposed to fight each other?"
"Mm-hm. Vessels of light and dark. Two powerful humans fighting against each other within the temple – creating such a great amount of raw magic and energy that they can force the partners out of our dimension before they even get here. Put some strength back in the diamond. Stop the universe from breaking."
"I still don't see how two powerful humans would be enough," Cordelia said. "I mean.. two humans against the baddest evil that hell can throw at us? Don't you think the odds would be a little against them?"
Kennedy looked away, "We're not as weak as we like to think. Humans have power. This is our world, we're the ones who should be defending it. Two vessels of light and dark. Magical humans, not demons or ancient powers. Like.."
"Witches." Willow interrupted her, finally understanding.
Kennedy nodded again, still not looking back at them.
"What?" Cordelia asked, looking back and forward between them, "Who?"
Willow put her arm around Eleanor, "Us."
Eleanor was drinking some water at the time, and in her shock managed to spit it everywhere, looking up in horror. Willow sighed and patted her arm, "I'm the dark one. I have to be. Eleanor must be the light one. The temple reverses our feelings.. makes us the opposite of what we are now. Eleanor reverts to her happy self, and I revert to my evil one. We fight, we save the world."
Cordelia gaped at her.
Eleanor shook her head violently. She touched her chest and then pointed at Willow, trying to convey that Willow was a hell of a lot more powerful than she was.
Willow looked resigned, "It has to be you Eleanor. That's why you're with us. You're stronger than you think you are. I felt the power it took you to break through the dimensional barrier.. The temple didn't affect you like it affected the others, that's got to be a sign of some sort."
Cordy looked incredulous, "You.. you think?"
Kennedy sighed and looked back at them, Cordelia noticing her face was wet, "That's what the prophecy says."
Another loud silence filled the tent, until Cordelia finally asked, "So.. what happens to you then? If you go in.. and.. fight.."
Willow raised her eyebrows and smiled whimsically, "Well hopefully we won't kill each other."
"Or get killed," Cordy said softly, "I mean.. this evil power.. the senior partners.. managed to take down a whole temple full of good guys when someone tried to stop them last time.. they've been working on this for thousands and thousands of years.. doing that evil plotting and planning thing.. what makes you think you'll be able to stop them now – without them blasting you into thousands of itty bitty pieces?"
Kennedy said quietly, "Because this is when it's supposed to happen.. this is the apocalypse – I think the rules will be a little different. The prophecy says if they succeed the partners get banished again. That's thousands and thousands of years before they can have another try at coming back. I mean, they will still have some influence, but not enough to matter that much."
"Of course.." Cordelia said, sitting up onto her knees, "When.. Angel takes down the Circle.. that's when we're going to have to do it. The partners will rein all hell down on him.. throwing everything they have at him.. they're influence will be weak, they'll be looking the wrong way.. it's perfect.. gives you enough time to blast them back to hell."
Willow looked up at Cordelia after she said this - fear in her eyes, "You have to go," she said.
"What?" Cordelia said, confused again.
"You have to go back to Los Angeles! You have to get them out of there! You just said that the senior partners will rein all they can down on them! Angel, Wesley, Fred, Gunn.. they'll be killed!" Willow said urgently.
Cordelia swallowed. She's been trying so hard not to think of Angel that she'd forgotten about this. She sighed and after a small pause, said sadly, "They knew what they were signing up for."
Willow shook her head, "No way. No way are we just leaving them to die. You just said it – Wolfram and Hart will throw everything they can back at them, which would be like – a whole lot of bad! Yes, it's necessary as it gives us enough time to stop them – but we can't just let them kill Angel and the others!
"We take the senior partners down - at which time they won't be able to send anything else bad after Angel because we will have stuffed them so far back into hell that they won't be able to crawl their way back for at least a million more years or whatever.. but what if they already get him? What if they take him down, and then two seconds later we defeat them? That would be really really bad, and we can't let that happen!"
Cordelia shook her head, "I don't see how we can stop it!" She felt tears brimming to her eyes. Why was she resisting going and helping them, even if it was hopeless? She wanted nothing more than to get back to America.. to save Angel.. to help the others.. but she didn't want to abandon the others here. She looked back up at Willow, "Why me? I mean, what can I do to save them against a horde of evil?"
"You are the only one who understands everything that's going on Cordy! That gives you at least some kind of advantage!"
Cordelia sniffed, "Wouldn't be a very big one. But.. I think you're right.. even if it is hopeless I should go anyway. It just.. it doesn't seem right to leave you here.."
Kennedy pursed her lips, "Some choices are already made for us, we've got no control over them, but we make our own ones too. If you feel this is right, then you have to follow your heart."
Cordelia nodded and smiled at her. Then after a moment said, "We're going to need a plan. Work out the times and things. Exactly when everything's going to happen.."
Kennedy paused and then said, almost guiltily, "The prophecy.. it says everything's going to happen tonight."
"Tonight! Oh good! We've got lots of time then! How the hell am I going to get to L.A. in the space of.. ooh a couple of hours? We're in the middle of the Himalayas! I don't see a magic carpet anywhere near here, do you?" Cordelia said in desperation.
Willow smiled slightly at her and said, "Hello? You're talking to the witch that almost destroyed the world, you really think I can't send one little person halfway across the planet so they can rescue the people they love?"
AUTHOR NOTES: Thanks for the reviews last chap! Just note that I don't intend to go AU at all with this fic. Cordy coming back to life isn't changing anything that happened during AtS, it's just something that I've added. In CIRCLES the Fang Gang didn't know about Cordy coming back to life, because they don't know in canon. Just wanted to make that clear!
Apologies for this chapter not being up sooner, (and for it being kinda crap, not alot of action in this one, sorry) I really didn't like the second half and re-wrote it three times, so yeah.. I'm moderately happy with it now. Chapter three will be a lot better though, as it's got everybody in it (yay!) and hopefully it shouldn't take as long to write, as I've already written quite a bit of it. Speaking of which:
NEXT CHAPTER We've caught up to "Not Fade Away" (everything has been running parallel between Your Welcome and Not Fade Away if you haven't picked up on that yet..) and Cordy gets back to L.A. to try and help Angel and the gang. Someone falls thirty feet through the air and lands on concrete, more than one building falls down, it rains a lot, Willow + Eleanor and Kennedy prepare to save the universe, Willow turns evil again, there are a few explosions, lots of demons die, everyone has aneurisms when they see Cordy's alive.. and hmm.. the final alley-way battle gets relocated indoors. Stay tuned :)
Liked it? Hated it? Want to rip my spleen out with a fork? Any other thoughts? Please review!