Chapter 3

Buffy, Angel, and Spike followed Ork and his robed friend around the hallways. "So, you said that something or someone's killing the mages here.... Do you know who or what?" Buffy asked.

"That's what we have brought you three here for." Ork replied. "We don't know. This whatever is hidden by powerful, intricate magicks. Very complicated to break through."

"Have you tried my friend...." Just as Buffy started, the robed friend pulled down the hood. "Willow!"

"Hey Buffy!" Willow said with a big smile.

"Oh my God! Giles said you were on a different plane. I never imagined you were off doing this."

"Yeah."

"You're the one that recommended us." Angel said.

"Nice to see you too Angel."

"Hi Willow."

"Hey Red." Spike said.

"Did you know about Spike?" Buffy asked.

"No. Actually, I think he was a mix up. I told them to go after the vampire with a soul because I thought there was only one again, but I guess I was wrong." Willow said.

"Buffy came to me." Angel said.

"Yeah. I figured she would." Willow winked at Buffy and the Slayer just rolled her eyes. "So, Ork and I have figured out a way to incorporate you two into this place because a lot of people here don't know you're here. You're kinda supposed to be a major magick kind of person to be here."

"Us two? What about Spike?" Buffy asked.

"We weren't planning on him. He was a big surprise, so I have to figure out something to do with him since it's kind of my fault he's here."

"So, what are your plans to sneak us through this place?"

Willow looked at Ork. "Can you take Spike back to my room and I'll be with him shortly. I have to work on Buffy and Angel."

"Certainly." Ork looked at Spike. "Follow me."

"When I come back, you two better not be shagging on my cot." Spike said to Buffy and Angel.

"Oh, you won't be staying with them." Willow said.

"What? So I'm going to sleep in the hallway?"

Willow sighed. "I guess I'll have to let you sleep in my room."

"Joy. I look forward to the pajama parties and popcorn throwing."

"And I just can't wait to braid your hair and gossip about what happened on 'Passions'!" The witch said sarcastically. She turned to Buffy and Angel. "Shall we?" The three of them walked back to Buffy and Angel's room. "So how've you been Angel?"

"Not as great as I'd like to be." Angel said. "But I think it can only get better from here."

"Positive thinking. When did you get that?"

"Hey!"

"I'm kidding. You look good."

"Thanks."

Willow opened the door to their room and groaned. "I thought I told them to fix this room up for you."

"It's ok Will...." Buffy said, but Willow was already working her magicks. The room seemed to grow in size and change in décor. The cold, gray stones turned into oak-paneled walls and a large fireplace with a nice roaring fire appeared on the wall opposite them. The two cots on the sides turned into a big luxurious four post beds with sheer curtains and the third cot turned into an oak dining table with two chairs. A large Persian rug appeared in the middle of the floor in front of the fire place. "Wow!"

"Much better. Is this ok with you guys?"

"More than! Where'd you learn to do this?"

"Here. I've been studying with Ork and the coven back in England. My powers are a lot more in check."

"I can tell. And I noticed your eyes didn't go black."

"Yeah. Ever since that spell with the Slayers, they've turned white."

"Freaky."

Willow smiled. "Ok, now with the magicks on you two." The red head closed her eyes and opened her palms. A glowing red sphere appeared in each hand and grew in size until she opened her eyes again. "Your turn. Close your eyes."

Buffy and Angel closed their eyes and Willow threw a sphere at each of them. The things connected and they were doused in a red, crackling energy. Buffy felt a surge go through her. It was almost like the spell Willow had cast to make the other Slayers. There had been major surgage then too. When she opened her eyes again, her fingertips were still crackling slightly, but after a minute, they faded. Buffy looked over at Angel and his hair seemed to be standing up more. Since it was longer than she was used to, it looked a little funny.

"What did you to us?" Angel asked.

"I gave you the power to alter reality and to control the earth elements: water, earth, and air." Willow looked at Buffy. "I gave you the power to control time and fire."

"Control time?" Buffy asked.

"Like Piper on 'Charmed.'"

"Very cool!"

"Be careful with the fire, Buffy. It's a dangerous power. I gave it to you because I thought you could handle it."

"I will try my best."

"How will this incorporate us into this place? Doesn't everyone have a job to do?" Angel asked.

"Yes, they do. And so do you guys. Ork will show you where your places are. I need to get some rest. That took a lot out of me."

"Ok." Buffy hugged Willow tightly. "I miss you."

"I miss you too." Willow started to leave, but turned back. "I almost forgot.... You guys need clothes. There's a dress code." She waved her hands at the beds and then turned and walked out the door.

Angel looked at the clothes on his bed. There was a pair of black leather pants, a white tunic, and a belt with a scabbard and a sword attached. "Nice."

"I'm not wearing this." Buffy said behind him.

"What's wrong?" Angel asked.

"There's nothing to it!"

Angel walked over to find a barely there black suede outfit. The top was just a tank top that scooped low and the bottom was a mini skirt. There was a pair of matching knee high boots with two and a half inch heels sitting next to a long black velvet robe. "Well, look on the bright side. You have a robe to cover it."

"Did you see the slits in that thing? It's like they want me to sell sex to every creature that sees me. At least there aren't kids in this place."

***

"I really should just stop talking." Buffy said, staring at the classroom that Ork had brought them too. Apparently the last mage that had been killed had been a teacher. And not just any teacher at that, he had taught a group of rowdy, know-it-all teenagers that had too much power for their own good. "So where are your words of wisdom on this?"

"Sorry. I can't see a bright side to this." Angel replied.

There were about nine students in the class: four girls and five guys. One of the guys stood on top of the table with the others crowded around him. He was deep into a tale and he had the other students trapped. Except for one. He sat alone on the other side of the circle of desks doodling in a notebook. When he realized they were there, he sat up straight and put the notebook on a different page. Buffy felt awful for him. It was also apparent that the other eight students in the room hadn't taken notice of the new teachers.

"Hey guys!" The lonely boy called.

The guy talking to the crowd stopped and looked over at the lonely boy. "Shut up Elliot. No one here cares what you think."

"I think I do." Buffy said to Angel. "Thanks for letting me practice my powers on you." She flicked her hand at the guy talking and he froze. Everyone in the room stared at him and then at Elliot. Elliot cleared his throat and motioned over to Buffy and Angel. The students quickly took their seats and bowed their heads. Buffy unfroze the guy and stared at him. "Anything else you'd like to add before you take your seat?"

"The power to stop time." The guy said. "I'm impressed. A lot more power than the last guy."

"I'm not just any a GAL."

"I can see that."

"Oh gross. Shut up and sit down. No one here cares what you think." Buffy made sure the last sentence was heard by all present. She looked at Angel as the kid sat down. "You ready?"

"Do I look ready?" Angel asked.

"Not really, but we'll have to plunge ahead anyway."

Angel looked at the students. "Let's start with names. We'll start with loud mouth over here."

Buffy looked over at the loud mouth and saw he was talking again to the person next to him. She slammed her hand on his desk. "I don't know what your other teacher was like, but I don't take crap from people lesser than me. Now I believe that my partner over here asked what your name is."

"Toby." The guy said. "And yours is?"

"None of your business at the moment." Buffy looked at the girl sitting next to Toby. "Next up."

***

Buffy and Angel walked through the courtyard later that night talking about whatever came to their minds. They were also patrolling to see if they got any action from whatever or whoever was killing mages. Angel had just finished telling Buffy about a recent case that had hit his heart. A kid with super powers had come to see him because he hadn't known that he had had superpowers and someone had informed them about Wolfram and Hart's darker side. But something about the story and Angel's eyes raised up some questions in Buffy.

"Angel.... Can I ask you a question?" Buffy asked, slipping her arm through Angel's to make sure she had his attention.

"Anything." Angel said, tightening his arm.

"That kid.... He meant more to you, didn't he?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I've been getting these weird feelings.... You know, like something's missing.... And then you started talking about this kid and, I don't know, something clicked. But it wasn't a complete click. It was more like a half click."

"It's complicated."

"Isn't everything?" Angel looked down at Buffy. She had no clue about Connor. Only a slim few knew. He was now trying to decide if she should know that he had played with her mind when he had taken over Wolfram and Hart. She might be royally pissed at him for doing it. On the other hand, she might understand why he had done it. She had always understood him. "Angel?"

"Can we go back to our room?"

"Why?"

"It's more comfortable there."

After a second of staring into his eyes, Buffy decided it was for the best. "Yeah, ok. It's getting kinda chilly out here and there isn't any action that I can tell."

***

Buffy sat on her bed, knees curled under her, and stared at Angel. He was leaning against the bedpost opposite her and waiting for her reaction. "So, let me get this straight. You slept with Darla, not that I'm jealous, and nine months later she popped out a kid. Your kid. He was kidnapped by, first, Wesley, and then that Holtz guy. He came back three weeks later a full grown teenager with the full hate-the-parental-figure package. He sent you to the bottom of the ocean for three months where Wesley rescued you. The kid slept with Cordelia, had a demon child that turned out to be a Power That Was there to bring a beauty queen's dream, you and you're group stopped it and Wolfram and Hart gave you their offices, but you didn't want it. Then Connor tried to blow up Cordelia and a whole bunch of other people, but in exchange for taking over Wolfram and Hart, you played with everyone's minds to erase Connor from them and carry the guilt all by your lonesome until recently when Wesley found out everything too. Is that everything?"

"In a nutshell." Angel chuckled. "You've always had a way with words." He got serious and looked up at her. "I don't.... What are you feeling right now?"

Buffy stared back at him. "Honestly, I don't know. I mean, I know I should be mad at you. Seriously pissed with the works, but I understand why you did it."

"Really?"

"Can I ask you a question?" Angel nodded. "Do you think this Cyprus Hill guy had anything to do with making Dawn?"

"Why?"

"Well.... I mean.... I love Dawn more than anything. I do, but.... Sometimes I wonder. What it was like without her. Would mom still be alive? Would mom and dad have stayed together? Would I have done everything I did?"

"I don't the monks really changed much. Just added Dawn. But no, I don't think Vail had anything to do with that."

Buffy nodded. "Maybe it's better I don't know what it was like before."

"Maybe."

The door burst open and Spike walked in. "Would you please get this witch away from me?"

Willow followed Spike in. "I just want to do a magickal scan! It's weird how you came back."

"Slayer!"

"Slayer has a name." Buffy said.

"Buffy, please. Get her off."

"Will, chill ok? He's here and that's all that matters right?"

Willow looked at Spike. "I'm just curious." She sighed. "Fine, but don't think I'm not getting my paws on you later."

"Bloody hell woman!"

Willow looked at Buffy and Angel's cozy positions and then at Spike. "Goodnight. You know where the room is Spike." She walked out and shut the door behind her.

"Well, here we are in this fancy little boudoir. Nice get up you two've got. One bed I see."

"Problem Spike?" Angel asked.

"Just making a note. That's what I do. I make notes."

"Is there something you wanted Spike?" Buffy asked.

"Just to chat with you." Spike looked at Angel. "Alone."

Buffy noticed the flash of anger and jealousy on Angel's face. She didn't really want a fight between these two. "It's late Spike and I'm kinda beat."

"Please."

"Don't beg. You'll sound like Andrew."

Spike shuddered. "God forbid."

"Rain check?"

Spike stared at her for a long moment. Too long for Angel. He stood up. "Well, Spike, I think that Buffy said it. It's late and we're all tired from our little journey here and class today. Time to hit the hay. Goodnight."

"Back off Peaches." Spike snapped.

Angel shoved him towards the door. "Out!"

"I'm gettin'." Spike stopped and looked at Buffy. "Night luv."

"Goodnight Spike." Buffy said.