Chapter 4

Slipping

Buffy span through the air, legs crashing down onto Jasper's surprised face, sending him into the snow covered dirt for the third time with such force the metallic sound rang out through the winter trees.

The gathered vampires watched in awe, and in fear. Few had seen a Slayer. But not a one had seen a Slayer like this, because Buffy was like no other of her kind, forged like none before her into a living weapon by the very woman who was coming to kill us all. The Volturi mad ordered her perfected. And now that sin stood before us, impossibly fast, impossibly strong.

"Can we talk?" Veronica said. Her eyes flicked over to Edward and back to mine. I nodded and we withdrew to a safe distance from my brother's gift.

Another sickening crunch rang out, and a sharp intake of breath from the audience. I glanced up to see both Santiago and Heidi spiralling away from a seemingly motionless Buffy. They landed hard.

"Okay." I said. She shifted awkwardly, wrestling with whatever was on her mind. "Just say it, V. I am a big girl now."

"No, it's not about that". She meant about Buffy and the wolf bitch. She knew things about everyone, could follow the threads, that was her gift. "It's Willow. She is hiding something."

I huffed out frustratedly. Our world is ending and still these childish games. I glanced back the the red head, sitting at the edge of the gathering. Not Volturi, not yet Cullen, (not really) she hovered at the edge of our world.

"Aren't we all?"

"No. Something important. Something definitely not of the good."

"Well then, a mystery for you to solve. I am happy for you."

"Oh, come on. It's me, Alice. I already solved it. I know what she is hiding, I just need you to know that she is hiding it." Veronica said. I eyed her cautiously. "Remember that prophecy Buffy asked her to track down? The "three who see" thing? Well, she found it. A few days ago by the looks of things. She translated it too."

"What did it say?"

"Well, that's where my whole "Willow is hiding something" comes in. She dumped the whole damn project in a hole up on the north ridge and torched it."

"Did she tell Buffy?"

"I kept tabs. Willow hasn't been near Buffy. Nor Jane, Esme or anyone else." Veronica taps her skull "She has just kinda shut up shop here."

"Edward hasn't read her?"

"Maybe. Does he keep secrets?"

He can read everyone's thoughts. Of course he keeps secrets.

"So why tell me?" I said. I wondered what Veronica was up to now, and was determined not to be a cog in her machinations again.

"Well, I… just needed to talk. I kinda count you as on my side. We go way back, right?"

I felt awful, and closed my eyes, what was wrong with me? Veronica was my friend, and had been since 1920s. Why was I feeling so defensive around her? Around everyone?

Another metallic crunch, and I looked over to where Buffy stood victorious over the fallen Volturi Guard.

"Here endeth the lesson" she said.

…

I never imagined when I heard tales of the succubi that I would actually one day be on first name terms with them. Let alone helping them shop for an outfit for my brother's wedding.

But that isn't now. That was a future, and that future has slid to the side, perhaps never to return. Perhaps.

I am getting time lost again.

The now? Now, it is the winter of 1994, and I am standing in the drive of our home in Forks, waiting to greet The Denali Clan. The three sisters who spawned the legends of the succubi.

Lovers, seducers, devourers of men.

Oh, they have a new Volvo. It's nice.

No. I am wrong. The world slides again.

I am sitting in the office listening to Carlisle talking to The Denali clan on speaker phone. Buffy is scowling across from me, unhappy with what she is hearing.

"With all due respect, again, they are not werewolves. I know, I met one. And you know what? He is brave enough to help his friends, which puts that werewolf head and shoulders above you all." She slams her fist on the table, stands and storms out of the room. I have no interest in following her.

"Kate, Buffy has left the room." Carlisle says, rubbing his brow.

"Fine, maybe we can talk like adults now." Tanya's voice comes through the speakers.

"Maybe." Carlilse lets slip, but then he straightens up and is back to the patriarch once more. "I think we should all take a break. Please, think on it."

Esme is at my side as soon as the phone goes down. She has my hand.

"You saw something? Are you okay?"

I shook my head and waved a finger in the air.

"It's nothing, just a little out of sych s'all." I said.

"Should I go up there? Talk to them in person?" Edward says.

Edward was there too, I hadn't noticed him. Wow, my brain was scrambled. Time, Alice. Breathe. Find where you are right now.

"No." Carlisle sighed "Not while the power struggle within Jane's ranks is going on. We need you here."

"So Buffy's little display didn't work?" I said.

"Jasper's not the only troublemaker. They feel abandoned by The Volturi. Angry, lost, insulted." Esme said. I stood on wobbly feet with her assistance.

"I think I need to hunt" I said, and left the room.

…

Buffy was destroying a tree when I passed her, her claw hands tearing apart the wood with little resistance. She was burning all her rage out upon it, but as it fell and shattered she blazed still.

She didn't notice me slip past.

She didn't notice me at all.