Disclaimer: I own nothing but ideas. The rights to all universes belong either to Haim Saban, JK Rowling, or Joss Whedon.

Whispers in the Dark - Chapter 11

*Angel's Mansion*

"Look, no offense, but I don't think they want my help," Angel said, refusing to cooperate with Buffy.

"Angel," Buffy sighed. She had spent the last hour trying to convince Angel to help them, both with their research and with their fight with Lucius and the Mayor. "Look... you are the only one who has actually seen this trickster guy, and you're another able-bodied fighter. We need you with us."

"Somehow, I doubt Giles or Xander needs me," Angel shot back.

"I need you with me," Buffy confessed. "Look... I know what we had... well, we probably won't have that again. But Angel, I need your help, and not just to fight. You... you make me feel secure... safe... like nothing bad is going to happen."

"The last time we fought together, I lost my soul and then tried to kill you," Angel pointed out.

"Ok... so I didn't realize that if I slept with you, you would become Angelus. The point is, I could use your expertise, your fighting ability, and your security."

Angel thought for a moment, considering what Buffy was asking. "Look... I'll come on one condition," he said.

"What's that?"

"You let me go," Angel said.

"What?" She asked, her tone mixed with shock and hurt.

"Look... I can't trust myself with you. Buffy, I haven't stopped loving you, but I can't do anything about it. Unless you want to go over that whole episode of me losing my soul again, and I can't let that happen. Not again."

"I'm not agreeing with that," Buffy said.

"You don't have a choice. Otherwise, you don't get to have me on the team."

"Fine... but don't expect me to drop this," Buffy said defiantly. Angel gathered a few things, including a couple of weapons, and then they left the mansion for the library. They spoke very few words as they went, Buffy clearly frustrated by her ex-boyfriend's decision. They finally made it to the library, where they opened it to find the scoobies and the rangers. "Angel, this is Tommy, Kim, Jason, Kat, and Rocky," she said, successfully naming the other three rangers that she had only met a couple hours prior.

"Nice to meet you," Angel said.

"Likewise," Tommy said, extending his hand. "I hear you might be able to help us."

"Is that what they say?" Angel asked in a surprised tone. "Hopefully you won't be disappointed."

"Angel," a voice, undoubtedly belonging to Giles, said from the behind the checkout desk.

"Giles," he replied. Though Angel could tell there was an edge to Giles' voice, he could tell that there was at least an understanding of him being there. Xander nodded his head out of respect, but there was not much else in terms of welcome.

"Ok, so quick recap," Buffy started. "Any word on the ascension?"

"Not completely, but we have a few notes on it," Willow said. "Apparently it has something to do with a deal made with a demon. In exchange for immortality, it sounds like a demon will take root in someone's body each generation."

"Our guess is that Mayor Wilkins will then get to rule the town, or just bring armageddon," Oz finished his girlfriend's thought.

"Armageddon?" Rocky asked.

"Oh... I saw that movie," Xander said. This garnered looks from most people in the room. "What? It was really good... I cried when Bruce Willis died at the end."

"Xander," Oz replied. "Armageddon, as in the demon will cause it... not that we'll watch it."

"Oh... right," he said sheepishly. "Carry on."

"Might cause it, not will," Willow interjected. "Other than that, we don't have much."

"What about the other fellow you had mentioned?" Kat asked.

"Yeah, what about this guy named the Trickster?" Jason followed.

"He's bad news," Angel quickly spoke.

"Oh really?" Cordelia asked sarcastically. "I thought we were only following leads on semi-bad people."

"Cordelia, either do something productive, or leave," Buffy snapped. "I don't have time for your sarcasm."

"It's ok," Angel said, putting a hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Cordelia, I should probably provide a bit more clarity." Cordelia looked like she wanted to leave, but refused once she saw everyone begin to listen up to the vampire with a soul. "Look... I experienced him... he was the one who tortured me when I went through the portal that Acathla opened up."

"Who is he?" Giles asked curiously.

"I don't know his real name. What I do know is that he wore green robes, had slicked back black hair, snake-like eyes. He tortured me, using..."

"Green beams of energy?" To everyone's surprise, it was Kim who finished his statement.

"For part of it... yes. How did you know?"

"He... I had a nightmare about a month ago," Kim confessed. "It was of our wedding," she said, pointing to Tommy. "He had vaporized Tommy, and then transformed me, only to use me to destroy all of you," she said pointing to the rest of her friends. "It felt so real..."

"Do you think maybe it's demon, something that guards the hellmouth?" Willow asked.

"Definitely not... this guy is not from there," Angel answered. "He was from somewhere else. But what you describe... him being able to control you... being able to watch."

"Kim... you were right," Kat said. "You are being watched."

"Hold on," Tommy said. "Before we jump to conclusions, what if this is just a set up from Lucius. He could be using Legimens, a mind control technique. Maybe he was behind all of this from the start."

"You think that he could engineer something like this?" Jason asked.

"Well, you mentioned he's a death eater, correct?" Giles asked.

"Yeah," Tommy and Jason replied simultaneously.

"He could have the power to do so," he said. "If that's the case, my question is what does the ascension have to do with all of this. It almost seems as if the ascension is only a ploy."

"Then why enlist Faith?" Xander asked. "I mean, if this Lucius guy is so powerful, why does he need the help of some second-rate slayer?"

"Guys, I don't think this Lucius guy is your man," Angel interjected. "This guy... the trickster, he has big plans. I don't know what they are, but he was trying to brainwash me for some purpose."

"What's he after?" Rocky asked.

"For all I know, he's after mass chaos. But I think we need to realize that this guy isn't just a figment of Kim's or my imagination. This guy is the mastermind, whether Lucius or the Mayor realizes it."

"Wait... what did you just say?" Buffy asked.

"Which part? The fact that he's the mastermind, or that I don't know if Lucius or the Mayor realize it?"

"The latter... I think you might have hit something," Buffy said.

"Wait... I don't understand," Tommy said.

"Neither do the rest of us," Xander echoed.

"Look... last week Lucius and the Mayor both started to set things in motion," Buffy explained. "They're both fully convinced that they are in control of this situation, and that we are the only obstacle in their way. And yet, someone who's been observing us this entire time, has somehow gotten all of us in the same location all at the same time. The ascension, nor kidnapping Kim, are just ploys. But they are diversions to something bigger."

"What do you suggest this man could be doing?" Giles asked.

"I don't know, that's where my theory starts to run dry," Buffy shared.

"Right now, it seems like our best option is to head off the ascension and protect Kim," Tommy said.

"And let the big bad have no attention?" Buffy asked.

"No, I think we give him the utmost attention," Tommy said, confusing everyone in the room. "But I agree with you in that I don't think the ascension and kidnapping Kimberly are ploys." At this point, Kim wrapped her arms around Tommy's waist, and he slid his arm around her shoulder. "What if we head these things off to help expose our main threat?"

"One problem with that, bro," Jason interrupted. "Lucius is too powerful for us to take down. We need Harry before we can track him down."

"Not necessarily," Kim said. "Don't you and Giles know a smattering of magic?" She pointed to Willow and then to Giles.

"Well, I know a little... but not enough to take down a full-blown wizard," Willow said. Giles nodded his head in agreement.

"We don't need you to take him down," Tommy said. "We need you to restrict him, keep him at bay until Harry and the others get here. Then, maybe we can find a way to use the magic to strip the Mayor of his connection with whatever is ascending through him."

"What about Faith?" Xander asked. "Think you can bring her back to her senses, Buffy?"

"I don't know... to do that would be to convince her to turn herself in for killing Finch after this is all over," Buffy explained.

"What if I went and talked to her?" Tommy asked. "I know she doesn't know me well, but maybe if it's someone she doesn't know too well."

"Tommy, are you crazy?" Kim asked. "That girl wanted to... well." Both Tommy and Buffy knew what Kim was referring to, particularly the comments Faith made about 'having her way with him.'

"Look, I'm crazy about you," Tommy said. "She's not going to seduce me, and I can hold my own against her in a fight."

"You sure about that?" Buffy asked. "You're a good fighter and all, but she's a slayer."

"What if Rocky and I went with him?" Jason asked. "The three of us could take her down if she get's out of control."

"No... if I show up with you two, she'll think we're going to try and hurt her," Tommy said. "Maybe you can follow at a distance, but she can't know you're close by."

"I could use a tracing spell?" Willow half-asked. "This way if anything happens, we can track you down."

"Are you sure Willow?" Giles asked.

"Look... maybe I'm not full blown wizard, but I can give it my best. At worst, this type of spell will only give me a headache... and not work."

"Either way, I think it's our only way of winning Faith back to us," Tommy said. "Otherwise, from the sound of it, the Mayor could have his own slayer for hire."

"So, Tommy's going to get Faith," Rocky started. "Jason and I are going with him, but keeping our distance. And Willow is doing a tracing thingy." The former rangers grinned at Rocky's lack of proper terminology. "How do we get Lucius and the Mayor?"

"Willow's going to work on some spells," Buffy said. "Angel and I will start working on a battle plan, in case if the Mayor does end up succeeding in ascending."

"The rest of us can wait on the aurors," Giles said. "And we can focus on research and protecting Kimberly."

"Then it's settled," Tommy said. "When do we start?"

*Downtown Sunnydale*

Faith, Mr. Trick and Mayor Wilkins walked through one of the few high-rise apartments in downtown Sunnydale. It was fully furnished with furniture, an entertainment center, and top of the line appliances, carpeting, fixtures, and more. It was a dream. "All of this is for you, Faith," Wilkins said to her.

"Nice pad," she said with a small grin.

"Oh... and you might like the closet over there," Wilkins said, pointing to double sliding doors close to them. She opened them to find state-of-the-art weaponry, including a section of poisons, another of projectile weapons, and then stakes, swords, knives. "Also... as an early birthday present." As Faith turned back towards him, she saw him holding a clean, shiny, twisted knife.

"This will be nice to use... particularly on that blonde-haired whore," Faith said. Wilkins, who was normally not the one to tolerate such language, grinned at her growing hatred for Buffy.

"Now now, Faith," Wilkins said. "Remember the plan, and stick to it."

"Will do, boss," Faith said. As they were about to leave, they suddenly heard a loud pop. They turned to find Lucius standing there.

"We must hurry our plans, I've received word that the rangers have returned to Sunnydale," Lucius said. "And, they are bringing others. Friends of my ilk."

"I thought that was taken care of?" Wilkins asked.

"It was a mistake on my part... one that I will rectify shortly," Lucius replied.

"A mistake?" Mr. Trick asked. "I told you this wizard was not to be trusted, Mr. Mayor."

"You can stand here and question my power, or we can jump to action," Lucius said.

"Actually," Mayor Wilkins interjected. "This could work out to our favor. Mr. Trick, if you could accompany Faith with a group of your vampires back to her old motel room."

"What do you have in mind?" Faith asked.

"I'm playing a hunch," Wilkins said. "They'll want to gain you back... instead, we can force their new strength in numbers down a bit."

To be continued...

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- Googz333