Pawns of Prophecy

Part One

Reconciliation, Retribution & Redemption

Chapter five

Later that night Buffy and Riley returned to her room in the university. Riley made them both a cup of cocoa and they sat on the two beds facing each other. "You look tired," Riley stated.

"Two days without sleep will do that to a person," Buffy countered staring in to her cup. She looked up at him. "Will you still love me if I had dark rings and age lines round my eyes?" she asked with a weak smile.

"Of course I would. It would only add to your beauty."

"Ah, that's so sweet," Buffy, laughed. "Sickly sweet with extra sugar."

"A bit over the top?"

"So way over it's untrue."

"Well then, you'd better get some sleep or I may change my mind."

"Yessir," she replied with a salute. They both got undressed. Riley went for Willow's bed. "What're you doing?" Buffy asked as she settled under her own covers.

"I thought….well." He walked over and got in with Buffy and pulled the covers over them both. Buffy turned over and turned out the light and remained facing the wall, away from Riley. He laid still facing up at the ceiling which remained temporarily invisible until his eyes adjusted to the darkness. A couple of minutes passed before Buffy turned over and laid her head on his chest and wrapped her arms round him for reassurance. She fell asleep shortly afterwards.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Three hours later Riley awoke with a start to loud hammering on the door from the hall outside. He got out of bed. Buffy sat up concern written on her face. "Be careful," she said as her partner opened the door. Willow almost fell into the room, fear and grief etched into her face. Buffy leapt out of bed and held her friend's shoulders. She looked her in the eyes and, as a mother might ask her child, enquired what was wrong.

"It's Tara," Willow was able to utter eventually. "She wont wake up….she…wont wake up. I've tried everything, but…."

"Take us to her," Riley took command. Buffy put on her robe and the three of them walked the short distance between rooms. "Is…..is she decent," Riley asked hesitantly before entering.

Buffy gave him an exasperating look. "Sickly sweet," she whispered to him as they both followed Willow into Tara's room. They found her lying on her bed. The room showed evidence of a spell having been tried; extinguished candles and a chalk image were arranged on the floor.

"Willow, what were you both trying to do?" Buffy asked, closing the door behind her. Riley was checking on Tara and Willow stood still, her arms wrapped around her watching him. "Willow!" Buffy shouted to attract her friend's attention.

She looked over at Buffy as though she had just realised she was there. "We…..she was trying a search spell….to find where Joy….your mother was being kept. I was there to ensure the candles didn't go out. Riley, is she OK ?"

Riley sat back on his legs, his brow showing perspiration. "She's alive and breathing normally," he replied. "Did she faint or collapse? … I can't see a mark where she might have hit her head." He added looking back at Tara.

"She was recounting where the spell was taking her….she was flying, I think…..then she got excited, saying she was close and then…..she screamed." Willow put her hand over her mouth. "She didn't make a sound but she was screaming as loud as she could inside…I heard her, Buffy. In my head. I heard her scream…."

"It's OK," Buffy hugged Willow as she cried on her shoulder. She looked over her at Riley "Call 911. Then," she added as an after thought, "call Giles and ask him to meet us at the hospital. He may be able to offer some advice and…..we'd better clean the floor or there'll be questions we can't answer."

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

"Did you keep the candles alight?" Giles asked when they were all gathered in Tara's hospital room. She had not regained consciousness and dawn was beginning to break.

"Yes," Willow said, her eyes transfixed on her partner as she lay in bed. She held her hand tight as though willing her pulse to wake Tara. "Everything seemed to be going fine until she screamed. Giles, what went wrong?"

"I don't know for definite. If the candles stayed lit it should have worked unless…."

"Unless what ?"

Giles looked uneasy and wished he had chosen his words more carefully. "If someone had seen her watching….they could have broken the link or lashed out at her."

"Are you saying she may never wake up?" Buffy asked. She knew it was what Willow wanted to ask but was too frightened to.

"No, I'm not saying that. Tara is alive and well. She is just healing herself, I suspect. But, if the link was broken it was probably not pleasant."

Willow was relieved at Giles' words and took them on total trust as always.

"That's good to hear," Buffy said breaking the silence. "Willow, I must go back to the college and get some sleep or I'll be unable to patrol tonight and…. thank you for trying tonight, but please don't put yourselves in danger again…I couldn't stand to lose you."

"And Spike told us where we can find someone who may know where Joyce is being kept," Riley revealed.

"But, Buffy I know where she is. Tara found her before she blacked out…." Willow said.

Buffy was shocked into silence and Riley spoke for her. "She actually found the location. Are you sure, Willow?" he asked.

"Yes, it was the last thing she said."

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

The house was old and detached from the rest of town by a long driveway. The gang drove up to the front of the building in two cars. Buffy Giles and Riley in one, Xander, Anya and Faith in the other. The latter two having been picked up on the way. Buffy was first out. She ran up the steps to the front door and jumped kicked it open. It swung back, broken on one hinge. She looked down the long hallway. Several doors led off it and a steep flight of stairs disappeared into darkness at the end. The others caught up with her during her pause at the entrance. "Riley and me will search down here. The rest of you try upstairs." Buffy's commands echoed eerily through the house.

"I don't think anyone's here, Buffy," said Giles.

"Let's make sure."

Giles searched each room he came to on the second floor whilst the others split up. He came to an open door leading into what was the start of a suite of rooms. He entered the first room. The door to the adjoining room was also opened. He surveyed the former and was rooted to the spot by what he saw.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Tara awoke with a scream. This time it was vocal. Willow was scared out of her doze and it took several moments for her to recover. However, she hugged Tara hard as though doing so would prevent her from being dragged away by some unseen threat. "Oh, Tara. I'm so glad your back…..I…..I was so worried I had lost you…..," she added coming to her wits.

"Willow?" Tara uttered her partner's name in a frail voice as though the scream had affected her ability to speak.

"Are you OK?.…..I'll call the doctor…"

"No, that's OK…..where's Buffy?"

"She's gone to the address you mentioned last night before…."

"Willow, you must go to her. You must …she'll need you…."

"Why? What are you…oh no…Tara, don't say…"

"I saw them….I was there when they…" Tara broke down in tears, but regained control. "Please, Willow I'm fine. Go to Buffy," she repeated.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Giles stood in the doorway to the adjoining room, briefly too shocked to say or do anything else. Despite seeing worst horrors in his career, he was floored by the scene before him and, ashamedly, by the repercussions that were bound to result. Suddenly, he was dragged out of his inaction. "Buffy!" She was standing only a few feet behind him having just entered the first room with Riley. The others were already there, having followed Giles in. "Don't come in…..Riley, hold her, don't let her forward"

"Giles, what's going on?" Buffy asked confused. Realisation hit her. Her face morphed into fear and horror. "Giles, what…..no, please no," she said in a quiet almost controlled voice. "Let me go!" She shouted at Riley and pulled away from his grip. She ran past Giles, who still stood in the doorway. Taking no care to avoid him, she pushed him to one side. He reacted quickly, however, and grabbed Buffy's arms from behind as she caught the horror of the room. He held her, all his strength needed as Buffy screamed in anguish. A long, agonising keening sound, that would stay forever in everyone's memory, escaped her.

The draining effect of the instant grief left her too weak to release herself from Giles' hold. Realising she could not break free, she collapsed to her knees screaming and shouting, her head lifted up as though she were damning Heaven itself. Everyone else standing outside the room remained rooted to the spot.

Minutes later, with Buffy's grief reduced to sobs due to exhaustion, Willow made her way through her friends. She found Buffy still kneeling with Giles' arms wrapped round her. She took one clinical look at Joyce's body and at Giles' worried glance at her. Willow knew what he was thinking; they had to get away. Too much depended on them being able to defeat the demons and their sponsors. The kidnapping had been a side issue. Willow felt bile rise at the clinical way her mind was working. She would make a fine watcher, she thought. No wonder Giles had a low opinion of himself. She knelt down to Buffy's level and let herself drown in her friend's tears when she hugged her. Giles stood up, relief written on his face at being able to share his burden.

Xander picked up the courage to walk into the room. "Shit," he eloquently uttered. He looked at Giles. "No holds barred now. They've crossed the line and we damn well better leap across and meet them."

Giles nodded in agreement. The resolve of Ripper wiped the years of librarian from his appearance. Xander bent down and lifted Buffy into his arms. He held her close as she held on tight. Then he left the room with Giles and Willow close behind. Riley, Anya and Faith stood reverently aside as the four original members of the crusade against the darkness that invaded Sunnydale filed pass them.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Chapter Six

Hours later they were all hold up in the ruins of Sunnydale High. Buffy went from quiet tears to short moments of crying out loud in anguish. Riley entered the broken library. He knew why they had chosen this particular room; it being the representation of a former stability in the lives of the others. The irony that the room was in ruins did not escape him either. He had been told that the world had nearly ended twice where he stood which reinforced his feelings that this was not the most appropriate place to be. Of course, he thought to himself, both threats had been prevented, so there was a kind of logic.

He had been to Buffy's room to fetch his medical case. All the Initiative had been given one. It was about all he had left of his tour of duty in the former organisation. He loaded a syringe with a strong sedative and approached his partner. Buffy was oblivious to his presence, lost in her grief. He knelt in front of her, affording a questioning glance at Willow, who held her. She returned his look, her eyes red from sharing her friend's sorrow. He took a gentle hold of Buffy's arm. She came alive to his touch and the realisation of his intentions.

"What're you doing?…No way!" She struggled away from Willow's embrace and Riley's hold and backed into a corner. "Giles, I don't need sedating. I don't want….you stick me with that needle," she snapped at Riley as he approached her, "and I'll break your arm." He stopped in his tracks and turned to Giles. "Giles," Buffy continued, a look of entreaty. "Please, I need to be fully awake and aware. I can't do what I have to if I'm drugged up to my eyeballs."

"I'm sorry, Buffy," Giles said quietly and gestured to Riley and Xander.

Buffy looked from Giles to her friends then back again. "If you…think it's wise," she said resignedly to her Watcher as though trusting him with her life. She kept her gaze on him as Riley applied the sedative. The formula was fast acting and it wasn't long before the combination of chemicals and fatigue allowed Buffy to relinquish hold on consciousness. The others gathered together to decide their next course of action.

"The police need to be told."

"And Buffy's father."

"We need to follow up on Spike's directions."

"We have to maintain patrols, to prevent any further massacres."

"To predict where the gang will strike again."

"I'll visit the place Spike spoke of tomorrow night," Faith offered. "Xander can come along with me," she added casting him a glance. Anya noticed and a daggered look was aimed at her.

"I'll come along as well….." said Riley.

"No," Giles interrupted. "I'll go with Faith and Xander. Buffy will need you when she has to deal with the police. You can stay with her until her father gets here." They looked at Buffy's sleeping form. "When he arrives," Giles continued, "you can start patrolling with Faith. Willow, how is Tara?"

"She's awake but…..she saw it happen, Giles…."

"Then she may be able to give us some leads," Giles interrupted. Willow was momentarily offended that he shrugged off Tara's distress so quickly, but realised that they needed to know as much as possible.

"Giles," Xander spoke up. "From what Spike told Buffy and Riley, it wasn't vampires who kidnapped Buffy's mother, but enemies of theirs. It means a war on two fronts."

Giles had nothing to add.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Giles, Faith and Xander stood spaced apart amidst the aftermath of a battle. A score of non-human forms lay in various twisted guises of death around them.

"OK, I'm confused," Xander commented. Faith knelt down and gripped a handful of fine powder. She let it sift through her fingers. "Vampires?" Xander questioned.

"It would seem we are not the only ones fighting on two fronts," said Giles.

"It's damn annoying," Faith uttered and stood up. "As much as they've saved us from getting our hands dirty, we needed them alive. Shit! We're back to square one," she said kicking at one of the corpses.

"Perhaps Willy knows where the rest went," said Xander hopefully. "I mean, there must be more of them.

"I doubt that he knows anything or he would have told Riley the other night."

"That may be so," Faith added enthusiastically. "But we can get him to spread the word. The message that we're mad as hell as we're not going to take any more," she quoted.

"To force them to come out and confront us." Giles pondered her suggestion. "Yes, it might just work."

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Chapter seven

Two days after the death of Buffy's mother her father arrived. He turned up at Giles' apartment and was led to his daughter. Buffy sat on the sofa prepared for his arrival.

"Buffy, I'm so sorry. How are you ?"

"Hello, father." Buffy stood up to greet him. He hugged her. Buffy paused briefly before wrapping her arms around him. "I'm OK. Did you have a good flight?" She asked breaking the hold.

"Yes, yes. Fine. I booked 1st class to avoid too much disturbance. The cab ride was a test of endurance…let's sit down." They both sat alongside each other. He took hold of Buffy's hands. "What do the police say ?" he asked awkwardly, trying to think of something to spark a conversation. It had been a long time since they had last seen each other and he felt distanced from his only child.

"A kidnapping gone wrong, a homicidal maniac…they don't really know much and have less hope of catching anyone."

"I'll organise the funeral arrangements…."

"No worries. Giles has found a nice cemetery in the next town. The inquest should be done in time."

"You don't want her buried in Sunnydale?"

"No," Buffy replied with more heat than she intended. "Away from here. That way I won't have a reason to return again." She looked to the window. "This town can fend for itself when all this is over."

Hank regarded her curiously. "Is there something I should know, Buffy ? Your mother said once that you had a secret that was…she didn't say what, but I got the feeling that things had changed between you. She didn't get to see you so much."

Buffy gave him a quick look at the last comment. She looked away just as quick. Guilt playing with grief. "We've all been absent the last couple of years to some extent," she said by way of a not so subtle jibe at her father, hoping but not succeeding in blocking her self-reproaching thoughts.

"I'm just saying I've learnt a few things, believe it or not, in my life. If you need to confide in me or ask me some advice."

Just then, Giles walked in with a tray of tea. Buffy looked up at him affectionately. He was about to leave again when there was a knock on the door. He opened it to discover Spike standing in the doorway hugging the shade like a lover. He pushed pass Giles and threw off the heavy leather coat he had been holding over his head. He stood up straight and stretched his arms out wide. "That's better. If I had stayed bent over any longer I could have auditioned for Quasimodo in that flaming musical. Hello folks," he grinned his pure white teeth which caused his cheekbones to rise to their razor like intensity. Buffy briefly wondered how he could remain immaculate despite being dead and all.

"This is not an appropriate time," Giles offered.

"I beg to differ, I feel it very appropriate. Who's the guy in the wool suit? He's not another damn Watcher is he?"

Buffy took the opportunity to stand up. "This is my father, Hank. Dad, this is….William,"

"Pleased to meet you…Hank," Spike accentuated the H. "Call me Spike."

Hank raised his eyebrows.

"Best not to ask," Giles advised.

"Why are you here?" Buffy asked.

"To offer you my help in killing the killers." This produced another questioning look from her father.

"Why?" Buffy asked again.

"As I said before, Joyce was alright. I had a lot of respect for her." There was silence. Spike looked from Giles to Buffy and Hank feeling as though he should say something more. "She made good cookies."

Buffy smiled despite the situation. "Tell me one thing though; if you didn't have that pacifying chip in your head you'd be out there with the gang that's rampaging through the town at night, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would. I'd be bloody well leading them. Don't get me wrong, Slayer," Giles made a pained expression at the title. Spike saw and also noticed Hank's confused look. "Best not to ask," he directed to the latter. "Don't get me wrong…Buffy, whilst I have no love for my fellow kind, after all they're mostly ignorant Philistines, ultimately it's what I am…. not the ignorant philistine bit. You ask Xander's little demon what she would most like in the world and I guarantee she'll say the return of her pendant."

"As long as we're clear…under no illusions. I accept your offer….with the same graciousness." Buffy approached Spike and held out her hand. He hesitated for a few moments, feeling awkward, before he linked his hand.

"Agreed, no illusions. If I lose the chip it's back to the bad old days."

"Mr Giles, what is all this about. I feel I've stumbled into a secret society with code and secret handshakes," Hank asked feeling increasingly out of the loop.

"It's…complicated."

Spike put his coat back over his head. "Come on then," he said simply.

"Where?" Giles asked.

"To find the killers or at least some of their friends. Sorry, didn't I say? I know their hiding place."

"Damn you , Spike. We're only five minutes into our pact and you're already pissing me off. How do we get there?"

"I bought my car."

"The banger with blacked-out windows?"

"Would you rather Giles' Citroen?"

"Your car will do fine…..sorry, Giles," Buffy glanced over at her Watcher guiltily.

Giles put on his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Hank demanded.

Buffy had forgotten he was there and was sufficiently ashamed at neglecting him. "Dad, we've got to…..follow up a lead. Stay here…"

"Like hell I will and what about the police…?"

"No! I mean, they're of no use in this situation, believe me. Please stay here," she almost pleaded.

"Buffy, I'm coming like it or not. There's something going on here, and if you're not going to explain then I'm going to stick by you until you do tell me or I find out by default."

Buffy rubbed her eyes wearily whilst looking as though she were weighing up her options or the lack of them. She discarded knocking her father out and tying him up in favour of conceding his wishes. "OK, dad, but I want your promise here and now that you will not jump in front of me when you think I'm in danger and…don't question my actions."

"Whatever."

"Ah, folks," Spike said impatiently from the doorway. "All this family bonding is really sweet, but can we get going. It's a long run to the car and the sun has gone behind a cloud."

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Chapter Eight

They pulled up outside a farm on the edge of Sunnydale. Riley arrived shortly afterwards with Faith and Xander as passengers. Buffy had called them up on her new cell phone during the journey. Spike had been surprised when Buffy had produced the device from her inside pocket. "What's wrong?" She had asked when noticing his expression. "You never seen one before? You talk into this end and listen from the other."

"Sod off. It just doesn't seem right. I mean I can't imagine you with a stake in one hand and that in the other. What do you need it for?"

"Slaying's hungry work. It means I can order pizza when I've finished."

"You got here quick," Riley commented. "I thought we'd beat you to it."

"I phoned on the way."

"She used a mobile," Spike added.

"A slayer with a cell phone. That doesn't click," Faith said. She walked up to the entrance to the farm and leant on the low wall that ran round the perimeter.

"She says she gets hungry after a kill."

"Funny, I get horny."

"And homicidal," Xander added, "If I remember rightly."

Faith walked up to him and stroked his cheek, resting a finger on his lips. "But, it's more fun that way; will she or wont she strangle me."

"Touché."

"Shall we?" Buffy butted in impatient at the banter.

They walked through the gate and up to the door of the main farm building; a large converted barn. Buffy kicked the door in unceremoniously.

"Cool," said Faith. "I've never liked the subtle approach." She walked up to Buffy and stood next to her in the doorway. "This'll be the first time we've patrolled together for a long while."

"Nostalgia, Faith. That's not like you."

"I must be getting old."

The others followed the slayers into the house. It comprised one large open room with a gallery running for most of the way round where rooms led off. They split into pairs, Hank kept close to Buffy and Riley. The search was thorough but quick; there was no sign of any life.

"Damn it, Spike," Faith uttered in annoyance, "Your informant sucks. I'm fed up with finding places empty or full of dead things. Has that chip in your head turned you soft or are you just incapable of getting information out of someone?"

"I do just fine, little girl."

"Yea, right."

"You're just sore you haven't been able to kill something today. Why don't you pop over to County Hall? I here the new Mayor's assistant is a pushover."

Faith lunged at Spike, a scream of rage coming from her. Giles stood between them. "Stop it, both of you! Faith, save your anger for when we need it most…. and, Spike," he said turning to the vampire. "Your informant does suck."

"OK, so I'll beat the crap out of him when we next meet."

There followed a brief silence. Every one congregated in the downstairs room and looked to Buffy for what she wanted to do next. She stood silent, staring into the air in front of her. Hank could not stay quiet any longer. "What were you all hoping to find here? Buffy, what are we doing raiding houses with a gang of misfits ? Damn it, your mother was murdered barely hours ago…"

Buffy spun round. She grabbed her father by the throat and quickly released him when she realised what she was doing. "Do you want to know my secret, father?" She said eventually, facing him. Hank stood still, a questioning look on his face. She moved up close to him and whispered "I see dead people," she quoted.

The tension was broken by the front and back doors being flung open and two score extras walking in. Riley reacted immediately and took a misguided swing at the nearest to him. His reward was to be thrown backwards. The force of the response was such that he lifted off the ground and landed hard several feet from the group. He landed on his leg that made a sickening click on impact. He lost consciousness. The others formed together and backed up to the wall to afford a view of both entrances.

Buffy saw her lover lying motionless. Fear played across her face. Xander checked on him and gave a sign that he was fine although the leg was broken. Buffy shut her eyes for a few seconds before turning to one of the visitors who had detached himself from the gang and stood in a commanding position. "I know you," Buffy said facing the leader. "I saw you fighting a vampire a few nights ago…..did you win?"

"Yes, my dear."

"I'm glad….that someone lost, I mean. One less demon is a good thing especially if killed by another. Demons fighting amongst themselves is so poetic... and fun."

The leader walked over to an armchair and sat back in a relaxed pose. "I'm sorry about your friend there. It sounded like a clean break. I'm glad that you found us as I was going to suggest a meeting."

"That's very cooperative for a demon."

"That word again. Why is that Eskimos have so many ways of describing snow, but faced with something non human you stick to a one-word-fits-all stance?"

"Convenience. It's quicker than calling you all non human freaks that deserve death on the end of a sharp object."

"And I'd heard that the current Slayer was more enlightened. Such a disappointment since it looked so promising; I mean, you turn up with probably the second most notorious vampire of the modern age and have slept with the one that holds the title…."

"Does everyone know about that?" Buffy uttered with annoyance. "Do you all sit round camp-fires and tell the story of how the Slayer slept with the vampire and made him go bad?"

The leader laughed. "No, I assure you. Although Angelus was free with the facts before he joined the forces for good."

"So, if you're not demons," Faith said breaking away from the others, "you must be common murderers then…."

"We were not responsible for the death of that woman!…..Your mother," he added quietly to Buffy. "My kind are not murderers. If you want the killers I suggest you look closer to home….in more ways than one." He looked to Spike.

"Do you deny kidnapping Mrs Summers?" Giles asked.

"No. We are not saints, Watcher. Some of my kind agreed to hold her hostage for payment. The Council pays well. But when the house was raided by the bloodsuckers they fell defending her." He stood up and approached Giles. "They would have beaten off the attackers if the Watchers with them hadn't run away like cowards!" he spat out in disgust. "The Council had her taken and then left her to die." He turned to Buffy. "If you want retribution, slayer you've got the wrong people."

Buffy looked to Spike and Giles.

"So, we go hunting elsewhere," Spike, said shrugging his shoulders.

"There were no other bodies," Giles commented.

"We removed them so we could bury them."

"Have you told the police all this?" Hank demanded. "If you know the whereabouts….."

"Do you know where we can find them?" Buffy interrupted.

"Not yet. The Foe….the vampires will turn up eventually. They have an agenda that will bring them into the open. The Watchers, however….they'll be in hiding if they know what is good for them. We'll find them, though."

"When you do, give us a call."

"It's a deal, Slayer."

"We could do with your help in fighting the…..demons," she added.

"Sorry, but no deal there. We have fought vampires for centuries and have always come off worse. We are in danger of extinction if we continue."

"They'll turn on you when they're finished with us."

"But, you'll take a few down with you, though wont you. Maybe even the numbers for us."

"Isn't that kind of contemptible?" Giles said, failing to hide his disgust.

"Of course it is, Watcher," the leader replied with emphasis on Giles' title. "Don't think of us as allies. We lost more people to the Initiative in the last six months than we did to vampires in the two years preceding. It is only Mankind's ignorance of our existence that makes you less of an enemy to us."

"The deal stands," Buffy said finally and turned to leave. Xander helped Riley up. He was now conscious and used him as a crutch for his useless leg.

"Farewell, Slayer. I hope we do not meet again."

to be continued.