Previously: But Dru wasn't here, so Ally once again slid down the wall, curled herself into a ball and cried.

Her tears mixed with the blood on her broken lip, and it burned, but she didn't care. She just sat there and cried, not caring who was there to hear it.

From the other room, Angelus could hear sobs. He smiled; must've really gotten to the girl this time.

He closed his eyes and let sleep take over him.

Chapter 43

One again we all met at Willow's apartment. Not quite sure why, we just did.

There were a few questions about how did everyone sleep, did everyone get home ok, did they see anything strange, etc. then we got down to business.

'We patrol tonight, expecting the worst' Buffy instructed.

'And if it's not 'the worst' yet?' Anya asked.

'Then we finish our patrolling, still expecting the worst and if nothing happens, we do it all again tomorrow' Faith added. Her and Buffy shared a look; one where Faith was happy she'd followed the conversation, and where Buffy was slightly annoyed that Faith had.

'All right then. I dibs the sword!' I called from the couch, which I was sharing with Willow and the whelp.

Xander huffed and pulled a face. Seems like he had wanted the sword too. God knows why, he couldn't lift the thing, let alone swing it. I smirked at the thought.

'So its all sorted? After this we don't have to hide?' Willow put forth.

'Hopefully not…' Giles stated. 'But before we all leave, I have something to tell you all'

Buffy looked confused, actually everyone did. It wasn't until Giles started explaining that Buffy's expression turned to one of understanding.

'The other night Buffy and I came across a legend. It is one that has been told since before the gypsy's cursed Angelus the first time. It spoke of a child being able to manipulate demon venom, etc. to their advantage.' Giles looked around and saw blank looks. He sighed.

'For example. Say Buffy is this 'child'. If she was drained by Spike…' Giles shot a look at me. I would never drain Buffy! I was about to butt in, when he continued. 'And Buffy drank Spike's blood, instead of her becoming a vampire without a soul, she would be able to choose.'

'So your saying this 'child' is a super being who can be swayed to either the good or bad side?' Xander was piecing it together.

'Precisely' Giles stated.

'The only thing is, the 'child' isn't a child anymore. Their roughly our age, and we have no clue where to start.' Buffy informed.

'So why are you telling us this pet?'

'Can you imagine why Angelus hasn't struck yet?' Anya wore a shocked expression.

'So he's trying to find this 'child' to create a weapon of mass destruction?' Robin asked.

'Sounds up his alley' Faith admitted. She had seen Angelus before, she would know.

'But we have no way of finding this person? No clues?' Willow asked.

'Well actually we have something' Giles admitted. 'I called the council. It turns out that Veronica Marsden has gypsy relations. The story or legend if you will, has been passed down to each generation. She told it to me while I wrote it down.' He said as he pulled out a piece of paper.

Everyone was silent as Xander read it out:

'It has been foreseen by great seers that three hundred years after the cursing a child shall be born. She shall not be of pure human blood, but it is unclear of what type the other half shall be…'

'So it's a girl' Faith stated.

Xander nodded and continued. 'Upon her twenty first birthday, she shall be blessed with the sight, and see the need to travel, to get away from past or present and upon reaching her new destination shall be dealt a new set of cards.'

'She plays poker?' Willow guessed.

'Don't think so Will. New set of cards could mean new future?' Buffy spoke.

'Hey listen to this' Xander said and then read on. 'The cards shall be dealt in three. Her fate shall be left in the hands of an unlikely alliance and together, along with a dozen others shall face the ultimate evil.'

'Three cards?' Buffy turned to Giles. 'Explain please?'

'I think I can' Robin looked a little uncertain but continued anyway.

'She's early twenties, sees the future, has just moved here or about to move away, has made unlikely alliances and/or friends, will have to face evil and could possibly play poker'

'Right. Now who do we know that could fit that?' I asked.

All I got at the time were blank looks upon faces.

~**~

Dawn yawned as she quietly made her way to the bathroom, hoping she wouldn't wake Lorne who was fast asleep in bed. Where was Angelina?

Dawn just shrugged. She could go for morning walks or jogs for all Dawn knew. It was eight in the morning. It was a likely excuse. Buffy was mostly up early. Any time past nine thirty wasn't usual for Buffy.

Dawn tiptoed past the bed where Lorne slept. She stubbed her toe on something and she started to shriek, and then remembered where she was and cut it off before she woke him. All you heard was a 'SH!' Dawn shot a panicked look at the sleeping demon. He only sighed and rolled over in his sleep. Dawn breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't woken him.

She quietly limped the rest of the way, looking out for anything that she may hurt herself on and when she finally reached the bathroom door, thought she might jump for joy. She had manoeuvred her way through the landmines of clothing and shoes and weaponry that had lain the on the floor. Dawn twisted the door handle and quickly slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a gentle 'click'.

She turned and instead of seeing an empty bathroom, she found Angelina lying on the floor unconscious.

'Oh god!' Dawn muttered and she ran to the slayer's side.

Dawn reached out to hold Angelina's arm, so she could check for a pulse. Luckily Buffy and Spike had taught her how to do this, just in case. It came in handy today. Angelina had a pulse so Dawn was glad she wouldn't have to break the news to Lorne.

'Ange?' Dawn gently shook her shoulder, while checking for anything out of the ordinary. Pills, shards of glass, blood, anything that could give her a clue as to what happened.

'Angelina? It's me. Dawn' Dawn sat by the slayer's side, gently shaking her, willing her to become conscious. She heard an alarm clock go off in the bedroom and Lorne beginning to stir.

'Ange, if you don't want Lorne to find you, you gotta wake up' Dawn urged, shaking just a little harder this time. Still no response.

Dawn could hear a shuffling of footsteps, as Lorne got out of bed and shuffled over to the other side, to turn off the alarm clock. The alarm went off and then Dawn could hear footsteps drawing closer to the bathroom.

Dawn felt the urge to lock the bathroom door, but knew it could mean life or death for Angelina. So instead she sat there holding the slayer's hand and waited.

Lorne opened the bathroom door with a yawn. He had been rudely awoken by an alarm clock, which Angelina had set for herself, to remind them that they were needed at the Scoobies' meeting. He hadn't been against the idea; he actually thought it was a good one, except he didn't know how loud the bloody thing was going to be. And how it never went off.

Lorne expected an empty bathroom too, only when he saw Dawn and Angelina on the floor, he thought it was still a dream; twisted, but a dream none the less.

He rubbed his eyes, getting rid of whatever sleep was there and looked again. Dawn and Angelina were still there.

'Morning' Dawn smiled weakly. Lorne could pick up the distressed vibes instantly. They were rolling off of her in waves. This was no dream.

In his peach coloured pyjamas, he knelt next to the slayer and opposite Dawn as he asked 'what happened?'

Dawn began her morning story.

~**~

The phone rang and Willow hurried away to answer it. We were all still sitting in the lounge room, trying to decipher what the legend/story meant.

So far, all we had to go by was Robin's theory. No one else could think of anything that made sense.

I had tried, but all I could see in my mind's eye was some twenty one year old bird growing horns and a tail. It wasn't helpful. Even Rupert was stuck.

We were all throwing ideas around, but none of them worked. Especially Anya's 'it must be bunnies' theory. Woman was mad.

Red made an appearance. She looked a little worried.

'Buffy?' Buffy turned to face her friend from the window seat.

'What's up?'

'Buffy it's Angelina. Lorne says Dawn found her unconscious in the bathroom this morning. He says that she's only just come round' Willow explained to the whole room as well as Buffy.

'Explains why she didn't show' Faith stated.

'He also says that Dawn's really worried. And I quote 'If she doesn't stop stressing I'm going to hit her over the head with a fry pan'. I think we should head over' Willow said.

Buffy thought, then slowly nodded, 'ok. We'll go see her'

'Maybe she might have some ideas about this 'child'?' Giles said.

'Maybe' Xander breathed. He had had enough of this 'child' and Angelus crap. He just wanted to be able to live for a few days without weird things happening. But he lived on another Hellmouth, so not much chance there.

'Well you guys can go see her' Faith stood from the seat she had made out of Robin's lap. 'I don't think she would want all of us to barge into her home'

Robin stood too 'I agree. Call us if you need anything ok?'

Buffy nodded and both Faith and Robin said their goodbyes and exited the building.

So that left Rupert, Xander, Anya, Red, Buffy and I.

'Ok, well we'll go see her then. See if she knows anything' Xander chirped.

'Yes. Quite' Giles stood and took his glasses off to clean.

Buffy looked at me 'See you later ok?'

'You bloody will not!'

Buffy was taken aback 'What?'

'You're not leaving me out of this one love'

'You know it's daylight right?'

'So? I'll hide under a blanket like I used to'

Buffy was about to open her mouth to argue but I cut her off.

'I don't care what you say, I'm coming. She's an alliance and a slayer and I'm coming'

Buffy was shocked but moved out of the doorway to allow me through.

I smirked. This time, I had won an argument.

~**~

What do you think so far?

I will probably be writing a sequel, so if there are any requests just ask.