CHAPTER NINETEEN – What Dreams May Come
Crawford Street Mansion – Master Bedroom, Early Morning
Bella slept wrapped in Duncan's arms. Beneath the surface of her eyelids her eyes move rapidly indicating a deep dream state.
Dreamscape
As far as Bella could see in every direction there was sand. She turned slowly trying to get her bearings when she heard a voice that seemed to be coming from all around her, surrounding her in a beautiful almost musical quality.
"Slayer…Immortal…Woman…Lover…You think you know what you are – what is to come."
The voice faded and in the distance coming out of the rising sun came a woman wearing a diaphanous white gown.
Bella stood waiting for her. And as is the way with dreams the woman crossed the vast distance in a moment. When she was directly in front of her Bella realized it was the Guardian.
The woman spoke, "It is almost time – The Sword, The Amulet, The Key. You must use them. Are you ready?"
Bella looked to woman, "How will I know if I'm ready?"
The Guardian smiled gently, "You will feel it. Do not doubt yourself or let others dissuade you from your path."
The Guardian turned and began to walk away. As she approached the horizon she turned and her musical voice was heard once again, "Use the tools given wisely but remember there are other champions who may share the burden. You are not alone."
Master Bedroom
Bella woke from her dream just as dawn began to break over the horizon. Deep in her heart she knew this was the day they would face the First. Taking a deep breath she sat up and gently shook Duncan awake.
"Bella, is everything okay?" He asked in a sleep-roughened voice.
She looked down at him and softly stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. "Yes, but I had a slayer dream. I need to wake Giles up and talk with him about it."
She got out of bed still talking, "Can you wake everyone else? Let the potentials sleep a little longer but I need everyone else in the library."
As she walked into the bathroom to take a quick shower and dress she turned back, "I think today is the day."
Crawford Street Mansion – Library
Bella sat waiting with a cup of coffee in her hand carefully replaying the dream in her mind and also contemplating the memories she'd received from Caleb's quickening.
Slowly the rest of her team entered the room. She gestured to the coffee silently letting those entering know that they'd have to wait until everyone arrived before she'd tell them why they'd been summoned so early.
Once everyone was in the library Bella looked around the room making eye contact with each person as if assessing them.
"Early this morning I had a slayer dream. I've already discussed it with Giles and now I wanted to let the rest of you know what's about to happen."
Quickly she described the dream to the people sitting in the room. She could see fear and determination on the faces of those in front of her. She knew the look better than anyone. She'd like nothing better than to be somewhere – anywhere else – but she and the people in this house had been chosen to stop the First. God she hated being chosen but it seemed that no matter where her life took her or how many centuries passed she couldn't escape her original destiny and now neither could they.
"When I spoke with the Guardian and again when I saw her in the dream she told me I would know when the time was right. Well, as much as I would like to deny it – it's here. Today, we go to the hell mouth and open the seal. The Guardian said we had everything we need to banish the First. The Sword, The Amulet and The Key."
Giles looked as if he wanted to protest. Ask for more time to research but he repressed the urge. He was done doubting his slayer.
Faith looked at her sister slayer, "B, let's go kick ass and take names!"
Bella laughed. Faith always had a way of brining things down to the lowest common denominator. That was in fact her plan. Open the seal and with Spike wearing the amulet and the essence of the Key within her they'd defeat the First. It didn't matter to her that there were no definites – that this wasn't a sure thing. She knew – just like the Guardian had told her – that what she was planning was what needed to be done. It didn't hurt that she'd gotten a little sneak preview into the First's plans from the quickening she'd received from Caleb. She had to beat the First to the punch. Open the hell mouth and stop its army. Everything inside her screamed – NOW!
She just hoped to god they all made it out alive.