Thanks everyone for reading and for the reviews. Now, there is an approach to the mystical, magical side of things in Sunnydale and it's affects on Clark that I use in the coming chapters. I've actually had discussions on it with some people, and the approach I take is logical I think.Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 7

Clark sat back against the couch, having just listened to Willow's thoughts on his situation. "So, you're telling me that the demon that inhabits a body after it is… sired?... that demon is held in place by mystical forces. So, all vampires technically have a magical edge to them, so that's why I can feel them when I can't feel anyone else hitting me."

Willow smiled. "Yup, that's about it. But still, from what Spike and Buffy said, you barely moved when he punched you, so you're still much better off than the rest of us, even more so than Buffy and Faith."

"At least now I know what's going on." Clark laid his hand on top of Chloe's, absentmindedly stroking her skin.

Xander spoke up from his spot on the floor. "Buff, any word on Wood and Andrew?"

"The last I heard from them they were scoping out the school, trying to make sure there weren't any open access areas for the uber-vamps to get out into the sewers or surrounding buildings."

Faith sat up from her reclining position against Xander. "And Wood hasn't tried to kill him yet?"

Buffy shrugged. "Closet sci-fi geek. Who knew? I think he even said he had the original comic book that Batman appears in or something."

Xander bolted upright, Faith sprawling back onto the couch. "DETECTIVE COMICS #27!" Everyone shot him strange looks, making him shrink back against the sofa cushions. "I mean… I think. Just saying, that's kinda historical… oh look, juice!" Grabbing his glass, he took a long exaggerated gulp, trying to hide behind the glass.

Giles sat up. "Have we had any more thought on how we are planning to fight this battle? If we keep waiting here, the First will just keep picking away at our forces until we have no one left."

Buffy sat up, fingertip on one end of the scythe, twirling it in slow circles. "We have all the resources we need, we have an army here… forty girls, all with the ability to be stronger, faster…"

"But not until you and me kick the bucket." Faith interjected.

Nodding, Buffy sat back. "If only we could get them juiced up, like charge a battery, kinda like Clark."

Clark blushed again, noticing everyone looking over at him.

"Do that a lot, do you Farmer?" Spike asked, chuckling.

Chloe hugged his arm tighter. "Hey, don't make fun of him, I think it's cute." She snuggled into his side, lacing her fingers through his.

Buffy watched them, feeling a wellspring of emotions kick up inside her. She wanted that, that feeling, that security. Her eyes drifted to Spike, noticing him watching the teens as well. After this was done, when it was all over… she'd make things right.

Clark stood. "I'm gonna get something to drink, anyone else thirsty?"

After a round of negatives, he walked through the doorway into the kitchen, grabbing a juice carton out of the fridge. He was about to take a sip when he heard his mom's voice inside his head. Laughing to himself, he grabbed a glass from the cupboard.

"I've been gone less than a year and you're already making out with the first girl you see?"

Clark turned at the voice, knowing it couldn't be who it sounded like. His eyes settled on a bright haired girl, her arms crossed, standing in the doorway.

Juice splattered everywhere, the carton exploding when it hit the floor.

"Alicia."

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Spike sat up. "Anyone else hear something break?"

Buffy sighed. "There's gonna be nothing left of my house when these girls are done with it."

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"What… how… you died, I found you, I held you when you died!" Clark was backing around the counter, trying to stay away from… that couldn't be Alicia.

She smirked. "Yeah. You know why I died? Because of you Clark. You're supposed to be this great guy, small town hero, trying to save everyone, and you couldn't even save your own girlfriend," she said, almost spitting the last part at him.

"No. I tried. I tried to save you, I ran as fast as I could once I found out…"

"IF YOU HAD TRUSTED ME I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALONE WHEN THAT FREAK GOT TO ME!"

Clark stepped back, the hate seething from the girl. "I tried to help…" His voice cracked as his emotions burst through.

"And you failed." Alicia pulled here turtleneck down, showing the bruises from the rope, the broken skin and dried blood.

"No…" he wailed, hitting his knees.

"I died because of you." Alicia stepped closer, kneeling down. "And so will she. You'll lose her too Clark. You won't be able to save her."

Clark stood slowly, choking back his sobs. "No. I won't. I won't let someone else I love die without doing everything I can to save them!"

"They will all die Clark. Because you don't have what it takes. You hide behind your powers, using them as an excuse not to try. And for that reason, everyone you love will die, painfully. Until you're all that's left."

Clark moved to hold her, wrap his arms around her, stumbling as he went right through her. He looked up from the floor, seeing her snarl. "They will all die. Just like me." And with that, she disappeared.

Clark broke down, everything coming up. Sobbing, he drew painful breaths, his heart constricting. "NOOOOOOOOO!"

Chloe was the first into the kitchen. Everyone else piled in to find Clark on his knees, crying uncontrollably, screaming at the floor. She knelt down, arms around him. "Clark? Clark! What's wrong, what is it?"

"Alicia!" He choked out. "She said you're all gonna die, everyone I care about." The rest was lost in choked sobs.

Kneeling, Buffy reached out, touching Clark's knee. "Clark, who is Alicia?"

Chloe spoke up. "Alicia was his girlfriend."

"But why is she threatening him? Was the bird evil?" Spike asked, stepping towards the group on the floor.

"She was at one point, but she changed. But then, someone back in our town tried to frame her for some attacks, and then… Clark found her, hanging in a barn. The guy murdered her." Chloe stroked his hair gently, thankful when the sobs quieted down slightly.

"She's dead!" Buffy asked, standing quickly.

"Yeah. She's dead because of me." Clark moved over leaning back against the kitchen island.

"That's not true Clark, you tried."

There was murmuring between the Scoobies. Clark finally stood up, heading to the door.

"It wasn't Alicia, Clark." Buffy reached out, grabbing his arm.

He stared at her. "I know what she looks like, what she sounds like. It was her."

"We need to have another talk son." Giles put his arm around Clark, leading him back to the living room.

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Pacing nervously, Clark was wringing his hands together. "So this first evil thing? It's the essence of all evil, the oldest known to man, and even before that? Responsible for all the pain and death in the world? And it takes on dead people's appearances? And it uses them to get into people's heads?"

Giles nodded. "Yes, that is the basic explanation."

"So, it's using my emotions, my memories to try and weaken me?" Giles nodded again.

Clark cracked his hands, his body almost shaking… then he kicked out, sending a chair across the room, leaving a dent in the opposite wall. "All my life I've felt like a freak! I couldn't get close to people, I couldn't play sports, I couldn't do anything that regular kids do. And now, I finally have something normal in my life, and I'm happy!" He looked over at Chloe as he spoke, her infectious smile making one break out on his own face. "And now this thing decides to use all the pain in my life to try and turn me against some of the strongest people I know. I only need to know one thing." He plopped down onto the sofa next to Chloe, his hand seeking hers automatically. "How do I kill it?"

Spike smiled. "Knew I liked the Farm boy for some reason."

End Chapter 7