Pawns of Prophecy

Part One

Reconciliation, Retribution & Redemption

Chapter Nine

Buffy sat on one end of the long row of seating in the college common area. She watched students pass her by. Teachers would occasionally thread their way through them, attempting to negotiate their way to class before their pupils beat them to it. She looked up at the clock. Five minutes had passed since she had last looked. She returned her attention to nothing and no one, looking straight ahead. It took her several seconds to notice that Willow was standing in her line of sight. She stood a few feet away as though waiting to be called in. Buffy started as though brought out of a trance and blessed her friend with a smile. Willow took the reaction as an excuse to join her. She sat next to Buffy, but a couple of feet away.

"Hi, Willow. How's Tara?" Buffy asked.

"Fine. They've got her on a protein drip. The spell drained her energy."

"I'm glad…that's she's fine, I mean." She laid her head back on the chair and shut her eyes as though sunbathing beneath the large fluorescent lights.

"Are you OK?" Willow asked after some seconds.

"I'm comfortably numb," Buffy quoted in reply glancing over at her friend. "This seems awkward, don't you think?" She added.

"Like walking on eggshells, yes."

"The last year has seen so many changes to all of us," Buffy commented. "Even so, how did we come to the state where we feel awkward to be alone together ? I remember that afternoon under the tree where you said you were stopping in Sunnydale as if it were yesterday. Where did it go wrong in between?"

Willow sat up and turned towards Buffy. "It's been a busy year, Buffy and it's not just us. Xander has been walking round with nothing to do like…..like a person with nothing to do."

"And, Giles," Buffy added. "Poor Giles has seen his life change completely; no library, no Watcher tie."

"He even took up singing."

"I know! Did you see that one coming?" Buffy asked, the memory of seeing Giles that night, guitar in hand, still fresh.

"No," Willow laughed. "It's probably a mid-life crisis thing. It'll blow over."

"Yea, but couldn't he have got a tattoo or something instead."

"Or took up parascending."

"Yea, something…less weird."

Willow edged closer to Buffy. They both passed a couple more comments about Giles' choice of hobby. "Giles and Xander are out there living real life," Willow added. "College is unreal; a limbo between school and the real world. What do you plan on doing after college….during the day that is?" She asked taking Buffy by surprise.

"After college? I'm concentrating on surviving through it. At the moment it's like a tunnel with no light at the end to see where it comes out."

"Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes."

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

It was a sunny, dry day. Buffy stood by the graveside with her father alongside her. She looked over to the other side at her friends; Giles, Willow and Xander. Anya stood by her boyfriend, an expression on her face that, for once, did not show boredom or restlessness. Perhaps, Buffy thought, she had memories of other such occasions. She had probably attended countless funerals in the millennia she had lived. Riley stood awkwardly, his broken leg in plaster; coping with physical helplessness was not his strong point. He glanced over at his lover and smiled weakly. Buffy returned the gesture. Faith was there as well. She seemed to be taking it quite hard. Buffy guessed she was adding her mother's death to the list of people she had gotten to know and then lost again just as quickly. Or, perhaps she mourned for the relationship she never really had with her own mother.

Angel, Wesley and Cordelia had sent wreaths and their apologies for not attending. They were apparently knee-deep in problems. Angel would not elaborate, but Cordelia had let slip that his apartment and offices had been destroyed. Buffy judged it was all part of the Event that Faith had indicated was coming; the main event that was waiting for her when this sideshow had been dealt with. The tunnel just went on, she thought.

The clergyman finished his set piece, which was the cue for Buffy to throw some earth into the hole that lay before her. Hank followed afterwards. They both stood back. Buffy put her arm in her father's and looked up at him. "I'm sorry," she said simply.

"What for, dear ?"

"For being mean and angry. For not phoning you for months. For …."

"Don't be silly. You've had a horrific shock and….I've been talking to Mr Giles. He has put me in the picture; he told me what has been happening the last few years."

Buffy smiled. "That must have been a long night."

"Made worse by the fact that I needed a large part of it explained twice. I just wish you had told me. I could have helped you all this time."

"It started when I was sixteen. If you'd known then you wouldn't have let me out of the house. Mum only found out by default two years ago."

There followed a brief silence as the others scattered earth over the coffin.

"Now that I know, Buffy," her father continued, "I want to play a part."

"I know." Buffy did not object. She had tried to protect her mother from the shock waves that rippled off her life to no avail. "I have a lot of things to do before this is over. You must promise not to try and stop me or protect me, and don't put yourself at risk. I need to be free of worries for what lies ahead."

Hank looked down at his daughter. A lock of her hair fell across her eyes in the warm breeze and he gently pushed it back in a gesture that spoke his love. Buffy put her arms round her father and quietly cried for the years she could remember before she turned sixteen, for the unknown future and for the wasted years in between.

Chapter ten

The wake was held at what was now Buffy's house. It was a sombre affair, but there was also a note of determination in the gang: not to admit defeat or be resigned to what pessimists called fate. Buffy approached Giles, Willow and Xander who were standing apart from the others.

"Hi, Buffy," Willow acknowledged. "How are you bearing up?"

"Fine…..listen, I want to say something and hear me out before you comment….."

"Of course, Buffy," Giles said. He put his plate of sandwiches down to give her his full attention. Xander and Willow leant their weight against the bookcase behind them.

Buffy shuffled her feet nervously. She looked down as though doubtful of her own determination. "I was wondering…this house is big…too big for just me. There are three bedrooms." She paused and pushed back a lock of hair on impulse. "I thought perhaps the two of you," she looked at Willow and Xander, "could move in with Tara and Anya. Xander, you could finally move out of the basement."

There followed silence. Xander and Willow looked at each other.

"Buffy, I…." Xander hesitated.

"I'd love to," Willow responded with a smile and hugged Buffy.

"Sounds cool," Xander said eventually.

"Good, then that's settled. Giles," Buffy turned to him.

"Buffy….I already have my own place….."

Her face broke into a wide smile that lit her whole face. "Oh, Giles thank you. That was priceless. No, what I was going to say is that Mum had some stocks and shares….there is a vacant shop in town and…well I was thinking on the lines of a book shop."

"Buffy…."

"Wait, hear me out. All of this will be practical and legal: Willow and Xander will pay me rent and you would be joint owner and manager of the shop and…..and perhaps we could sell magic stuff," she looked at Willow. "It would be a place we could all meet up…there's a flat above the shop….." She looked at her friends.

"You've given this a lot of thought, haven't you?" Giles offered.

"I was going to leave Sunnydale all together, but…well that's never going to happen. This seems the next best thing….at least until you all start doing your own things."

"Buffy, you know that if you stay I stay," Giles said. She smiled in recognition of the fact. "OK," he said finally, "It's a good offer and I accept."

Buffy hugged him and made an excuse to speak to the other guests before they left. Giles looked to Willow and Xander. "Are you both happy with the arrangement?" he asked.

"You kidding," Xander replied. "It sounds great. I finally get to move out of that damn basement and….well we need to bond again after the last year. But…"

"Go on."

"Well, it had a last-will-and-testament feel to it."

"I agree," said Giles. "We better keep close to Buffy."

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

Buffy said goodbye to the last of her relations and closed the door. She leant her back against it and sighed, her eyes shut. She then opened them and took a determined deep breath. She walked into the living room where the gang, Riley, Anya, Faith and her father still sat. They turned to her as she entered. Buffy felt they were all on hold waiting for her to turn off a pause button. "That went smoothly," she said nonchalantly. "Thank you all for coming," she added eventually.

"We should be going as well," Giles offered.

"Yes," Willow added. "I want to pay Tara a visit before it gets dark."

Anya turned to Xander. "We want to go as well, don't we?" she said. Xander put on a pained expression that made Buffy stifle a laugh.

Buffy went to the front door and opened it to bid them all goodnight. She was confronted by one of the non-humans they had met earlier that week. Buffy stood motionless and struck dumb. Giles entered the hallway and saw the visitor. He looked at Buffy and decided he should speak. "Do you have a message?"

"I have a location that you may wish to visit. All has been prepared for you." He passed Giles a slip of paper with an address on it and turned and left. Buffy looked up at Giles, her expression unreadable. He returned her attention. "I'll tell the others," he offered.

Five minutes later everyone except Buffy and Riley were standing by the cars. Buffy finally emerged from the house. She kissed Riley, who ungraciously had agreed to stay behind due to his injury. She walked to the cars. "Sorry I took so long…I had to get something from my room." She looked to her Father. "Dad…"

"I'm coming with you," he read her thoughts. Buffy nodded her head in sad resignation.

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

Buffy drove with Giles, Faith and her father in Giles' car. They got stuck at a level crossing as the other car went ahead. She hit the dashboard in frustration as the long train trundled pass. Giles raised his eyebrows at her and she apologised sheepishly. They arrived at the ruins of Sunnydale High twenty minutes later than the others.

"We just can't seem to get away from this place," Buffy commented.

"I'll park as close to the gym as I can," Giles offered. The note had said that was where they would find the four Watchers. The verbal message that all had been prepared played on his mind.

Buffy pushed the swing doors aside and looked to her left and right as she entered what was the office of the gym teacher. Willow, Xander, Anya and Oz sat around the desk on chairs that had miraculously survived the destruction of the school. "Where are they?" she demanded. Willow looked in the direction of the gym itself. "Stay here, father," Buffy ordered.

"Why? No, I want to see the bastards…"

"Faith," Buffy gestured to the other slayer. Faith took hold of Hank and prevented him from moving further forward.

"Buffy!" Hank looked to his daughter.

Buffy relented and gestured impatiently for Faith to release him and turned her back on him and walked into the gym. Four men stood against the far wall, their hands tied behind them and to the fixed climbing frames that lined the room. She approached them with an almost serene expression written on her face. Xander, Faith and her father followed her in. Giles stood at the doorway. Buffy stood facing her enemy. She rubbed her eyes and massaged her temples. "I am so tired," she said eventually. "The energy I've wasted catching up with you could have been better spent. So I do hope you are going to be cooperative."

"Go to Hell!" One of the captives spat.

Buffy pulled a revolver from out of her jeans pocket and shot him between the eyes. The others tried to edge themselves away despite being tied firmly to the frame. "Hell's come to town or had you not noticed?"

"Buffy!" Hank shouted from behind but was held back by Xander. "They must stand trial," he attempted to reason.

"They are on trial," she replied.

"But, don't you see? If you do this your mother's death will just be another unsolved murder and….remember they didn't actually do the killing."

"Irrelevant." She turned back to the remaining prisoners. "You know, seeing you here makes we so anti British. Perhaps we can sell the story to Hollywood. I'm pretty sure Mel Gibson would snap up the chance."

"We could not allow a rogue slayer to dictate to us," uttered one of the Watchers.

"Well you have two now. What is your next plan of action? Are you going to ally yourself with a Master and pay him to take us out, or hold us hostage until we cooperate?"

"The last arrangement was purely financial. The outcome was unfortunate."

Buffy screamed in rage and grabbed the speaker by his hair. She yanked his head down and held her gun under his chin. "Unfortunate!" She cried.

"Buffy, please don't," her father begged from behind, still held in Xander's grip. She did not respond. "How can you watch and let her do this?" he directed at Xander.

"You seem to forget that I saw the body," Xander replied.

Buffy released her hold of the watcher and stood back a couple of feet. She took several deep breaths. The others held their breaths in anticipation. The entrance of the non-human leader broke the tension. Buffy turned round. "Thank you," she said simply. "You have fulfilled our bargain. They are all yours to deal with." She walked out of the room without looking back at the prisoners.

Realisation hit the captives. "You can't leave us with them….please." But their desperation was ignored. Buffy walked without stopping until she reached the cars outside. The others followed her. Hank approached his daughter. "I'm glad you didn't go ahead with it," he said as she took his hand.

They all heard a chilling scream from the direction of the gym. Buffy smiled triumphantly. "So am I. And I thought no one could hear you scream in Sunnydale."

Hank shivered at the thoughts his imagination played out. "At least it's all over," he said weakly.

Buffy looked into her father's eyes, her own eyes sad. "Oh, father. It's just begun."

Chapter 11

They were walking through the third cemetery of the evening. Buffy looked up at her father. Hank had insisted on accompanying his daughter; to see that she got home safely after her nightly hunt, afraid yet fascinated by the life she had been living for the last four years. After three hours, however, he was becoming a bit jaded.

"Is it always this uneventful?" He asked failing to conceal his fatigue.

"You're keen. A couple of days ago you didn't even know vampires existed and now you can't wait to fight them. I'm impressed," Buffy said with a tone of humorous sarcasm. Her father gave her a withering look that only made her smile, but she thought better of playing him further. "One night out of three is the norm for activity. With potentially large numbers of vampires in town we should strike gold soon."

They continued their patrol. Hank jumped at sounds several times which made Buffy smile at first until she started to jump when he jumped. It became annoying after a while. "You haven't asked me about the other day…..in the gym," Buffy ventured. Her father's reaction had played on her mind and she found it important to know what he thought.

"I've tried to forget," he said quietly.

Buffy pressed further. "It happened."

"I know, and when I think about it I feel horror and disbelief that my daughter could cold bloodily kill someone…someone mortal…" he trailed off. Buffy looked at her feet, afraid to look her father in the eye. "But," he continued, "When I heard that scream…..when I heard that scream I wanted so much to watch, perhaps even to assist in the torture."

Buffy gaped at him, at the compassion for the world her father had lost that day. "Welcome to my life."

"You've been doing this thing for four years, Buffy. How do you stay sane? How do you look at the world in the light of day?"

"Through rose coloured glasses," she replied. "I see the friends I have and know that I am not alone. I greet the sunrise every morning as though it's the first one I have ever seen and savour it as though it's my last one. I love with the same intensity…." She murmured.

"Why don't you just stop? Let someone else do the slaying. Let someone else save the world."

"Did Giles not tell you? There can only be one slayer, father. When one dies a new one takes her place."

Hank stepped back in shock at the revelation. He searched in his mind for something to grasp hold of. "What about Faith?" He asked eventually, a look of hope on his face. "She's a slayer as well. That makes two."

Buffy shrugged. "Sometimes there are exceptions. Sort of I before E except after C," she disclosed weakly. Hank forehead bunched in puzzlement. "Faith replaced another slayer…Kendra, who was killed two years ago."

Hank seemed satisfied by the explanation until the obvious came to mind. "But, how did Kendra come about? Who died for her?"

"Me," Buffy answered simply. Before he could react she pushed him to one side. "Keep back!" she ordered. In the same moment she rammed into the approaching vampire sending the demon toppling backwards. It lost it's footing and fell on its back. Buffy drove her stake through its rib cage, which offered no protection. She withdrew the weapon with a flick of her wrist and stood up quickly to avoid getting dust in her eyes. With the quick reaction that was part instinct and part experience she spun round and high kicked a second demon in the face. This sent him several feet back allowing her to deal with a third who had been able to get right up to her. She drove her stake into to it where he stood. The second demon made to return but was thrown back by the force of a crossbow bolt rammed into its chest. It turned to dust not truly knowing what had hit him. Buffy turned round to face her father who stood holding the crossbow. The whole fight that had just occurred transfixed him. Barely two minutes had elapsed from start to finish.

"Are you OK?" Buffy asked worriedly.

Hank came out of his trance and contemplated his daughter. "I…..yes. Yes, I'm fine…I think," he smiled weakly.

Buffy put her arm through his. "Come on, let's go home."

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

Xander reached the top of the steps that lead to the monument of some long forgotten Sunnydale hero. He was out of breath. Faith stood waiting for him, a smile written mockingly on her face. "You're breathing hard," she cruelly observed.

"It helps me stay conscious," Xander countered.

Faith's grin widened. She turned towards the inscription on the plinth of the monument. "So, who was Jeremiah Wadsworth then ?"

"No idea. He probably did something brave and courageous."

"Well, he died for his troubles, it looks like. Jeremiah Wadsworth fearlessly faced his death. His courage is a lesson to us all," she read from the engraving. "Fat lot of good it did him. Stuck on a hill no one climbs and remembered by no-one."

"Courage is the acceptance of fear and dealing with it with intelligence," Xander added. "I read that somewhere."

"There's a fine line between bravery and stupidity and he crossed it."

"Why, Faith you inspire me. I take it you don't want a statue erected when you die."

"I plan to live forever. If Death comes knocking I'll show her a such a good time she wont want to see me go."

"Death is a she?"

"Of course. A Goth chick with an ankh hanging from a chain round her neck. You've not read the comic I take it. There!" Faith pointed suddenly to a group loitering at the base of the hill.

Xander followed her line of sight and saw five badly dressed figures standing by a copse of trees.

"We would have missed them if we weren't up here," Faith said. "See, there's always method in my madness. What do you want to do, charge or walk casually down and beat the dust out of them?"

"I think I prefer the subtle approach," Xander replied.

"Yeah, so do I. If we charge they may get scared and scatter."

Xander rethought his choice. "Perhaps a charge would be better after all."

"Why, Xander, what's up, nervous?"

"Yes, but that's only because I'm scared."

"And I had you pegged for the heroic type," Faith teased as she begun to descend.

"Me? No. I'm so misunderstood."

"What, like Dr Pepper?"

"Yeah, him and me both. Besides, I don't fancy being a statue on top of a hill forgotten by everyone except pigeons."

They both got within ten metres of the figures at the base of the hill and Faith charged them, a stake in each hand. The vampires all turned round at her battle cry. Three were shocked to see the other two of their comrades disintegrate into the night breeze on the out stretched arms of the slayer. Faith broke her charge by sliding in the grass made damp by the night dew. A third demon ran into one of her stakes as she turned to meet his onslaught. The remaining two circled their foe, taking more care than their friends. One tried to lunge but jumped back when Faith countered with a thrust of her arm. Like a gladiator fending off two opponents the jousting went on for several moments; lunge and counter thrust until Faith picked an opening and high kicked in a ballet movement that caused one assailant to lift off the ground and land on its back. Xander took the opportunity to pounce on him and drive a his stake home. Faith toyed with the last remaining demon; kicking with one leg then the other then the first again until the vampire was dazed and teetering on his feet. She walked up to him and drove her fist into his face. He fell on his back half unconscious. Faith sat on top of him. She rested her stake on his shirt above his heart. With the flat of her hand she nailed the point through fabric and flesh. The vampire exploded whilst she watched.

Faith jumped up and flung her arms out wide. "Yes!" She shouted and spun round. "Yes! That felt so good." She faced Xander. "I'm so psyched. B doesn't get it. She would get so much more out of slaying if she let herself go! Don't you feel it?" She addressed Xander. He looked at her enigmatically. "What?" She asked.

"It's great to see someone enjoy her work so much," he explained.

"Relish life, Xander. Grab it by the throat and…." She grabbed Xander and kissed him. A long passionate kiss. He still felt her contact for seconds after she broke off. "Mmm, minty fresh," she said.

Xander blushed a wonderful shade of red. "Let's go back," he suggested finally.

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

One more dark coloured Rover pulled up outside the house. The passenger pushed the car door open with force, not waiting for his chauffeur to assist. He strode up the pathway to the ornate oak entrance and into the hallway. The butler had just enough time to avoid being pushed to one side. The newcomer threw his cost into the servant's arms. "Are the others all here?" He demanded to know.

"Yes sir. They have been assembled for the last twenty minutes."

"Fine. Don't bother to announce me. Shut the door behind me and do not disturb us until one of us rings for you." He entered the wood-panelled dining room and closed the door unceremoniously. He afforded one glance at the carving on the ceiling before taking his place at the table with his colleagues.

"Welcome, Nigel. The Council is now in session. What do you have to report?"

"The worse: our operatives were correct. Three Watchers were slaughtered by devil spawn two days ago."

"What of the fourth?"

"Shot. Executed no less."

The attendees expressed their dismay and anger at the revelation.

"Friends!" the member at the head of the table called a halt to the behaviour of his fellow Watchers. "It is clear that we are in an unacceptable position: two rogue slayers and a traitor from our own ranks and the Event getting closer. If we are to stand any chance of being able to control future events it is clear we must rid ourselves of this nuisance. We must cleanse our own house."

"A new slayer must be called; one of the younger candidates in waiting as opposed to one of the older girls that have picked up rebellious habits waiting for the current slayers to die. We do not want to replace one uncontrollable element with another."

"That was the mistake we made when we sent Faith to replace the Summers girl."

"How do we rid ourselves of the two slayers?"

"Send an assassin."

"No, other parties have tried that before. No, I think we should use the weapons at hand. I understand that there is a large collection of vampires in Sunnydale at the moment."

"The leftovers of the Initiative, yes."

"What say we secretly supply them with a weapon that will tip the scales further in their favour."

"Ally ourselves with vampires!"

"No. Consider it more of a sale of arms by a neutral party. A business transaction. Hopefully both antagonists will destroy each other leaving us to reap the benefits of both their demises."

"I don't like it," said one dissenting voice. His colleagues out-voted him and the motion was approved.

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

Xander walked Faith to her motel room. She had come down from her adrenaline-high and they had ambled silently through the streets of the town until they reached their destination by the beach.

Faith opened her door and turned to face her companion. "What would you say if I asked you to stay the night?" She posed, fixing him a look that was curiously unreadable.

"I'd say you were feeling horny after a fight," Xander replied.

Faith's expression changed. "Goodnight, Xander," she uttered and closed the door behind her.

Xander stood confused. "Faith?" He said. "Faith, what was that all about?" He persisted.

She reopened the door. "What?" She asked impatiently.

"You were serious?"

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"I…..Anya will be waiting for me," he offered as an excuse.

"You have feelings for your little demon….beyond the sex, I mean?"

"The sex is good, I admit. Not to mention often….and varied." Faith gave him a scornful look. "But, it's more than that," he continued. "She is so open. Every thing is new to her and she gives herself completely because she has nothing to compare….." he trailed off unable to put into words what he felt.

"You're a hopeless romantic, Xander."

"Yea, I know. A white knight."

"Mmmm, yes. The title fits you well. Goodnight, Xander." She went to close the door. Xander held it with his hand.

"I could stay the night…if you wanted some company. We could watch a movie…"

"Go home, Xander," she smiled affectionately. "Your little demon will be waiting by the window."

Xander let her close the door this time and started on his walk home.

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

The bus was stationary by the side of the road. Its rear wheels rested on the tarmac whilst the front lay on the rough gravel that lay alongside. The steep incline caused the body of the driver to drape over the steering wheel and the front passenger to fall down the steps as the door opened and shut and opened and shut repeatedly. Fortunately it had not been a full bus, only a dozen or so passengers had been travelling that late at night when the driver had stopped to take on a small group standing by the edge of the road. Apart from the aforementioned person lying by the door, all the passengers obediently remained in their seats as though nothing had happened; hideous poses of death as though immortalised on film.

to be continued.