Chapter 3: The Harvest Part 1
March 10, 1997 – Monday
Restfield Cemetery
The wolf launched itself at Luke with a ferocious burst of energy, its powerful form slamming into him and sending him staggering backward. The impact was so forceful that it knocked him away from Buffy and Faith, creating a precious moment of respite for the sisters.
'Go,' came a resonant voice inside both Faith and Buffy's heads, its tone firm and commanding. 'I'll be right behind you once I deal with this vampire.' The voice carried an unmistakable urgency, and though it was a strange and disembodied presence, it was clear and unmistakably authoritative.
Faith quickly helped Buffy to her feet, her movements hurried but steady. The shock of the sudden intervention was still fresh, but there was no time to question the mysterious voice. The sisters exchanged a brief, resolute glance before they made their way out of the mausoleum. With Faith leading the way, they moved swiftly through the dim, oppressive air of the crypt, their hearts pounding in sync with their footsteps.
Meanwhile, inside the mausoleum, Marie, the wolf, was locked in a brutal confrontation with Luke. Her eyes, gleaming with primal ferocity, were fixed on her opponent. She leapt at him once more, her powerful jaws closing around his throat with a bone-crushing force. The sensation of her fangs piercing his flesh was immediate and visceral, a stark contrast to the smooth, clinical precision of her earlier movements.
Luke let out a guttural, gurgling sound, his voice a mix of shock and pain as Marie's jaws tightened. With a final, savage twist, Marie wrenched his head violently from his shoulders, her strength and speed combining in a single, decisive motion. The decapitation was swift and clean, and Luke's body crumbled into a cloud of dust, the remains of his once formidable presence dissolving into nothingness.
Marie, her task completed, stood amidst the swirling dust, her form silhouetted against the dim light filtering through the mausoleum's entrance. Her breathing was heavy, a mix of exertion and relief. As she turned to follow Buffy and Faith
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Rei had observed Buffy and Faith darting from the mausoleum, their hurried escape underscored by the urgency of their situation. She had slipped through the shadows with practiced stealth, making her way to the entrance of the crypt. As she peered inside, she saw the wolf in the midst of a fierce, primal struggle with Luke. The wolf's movements were swift and lethal, a blur of fur and strength. Rei's eyes widened in acknowledgment as she watched the wolf decimate the vampire with a raw, savage efficiency that left no room for doubt. "Seems she is definitely on the good side," Rei mused quietly to herself.
A voice, calm and resonant, spoke in Rei's mind. 'You would be correct.'
Rei's gaze darted around the dim surroundings, searching for the source of the telepathic communication. The wolf, now emerging from the mausoleum, stood poised and alert. The voice continued, emanating from the creature's very presence. 'Greetings, Rei Mori. My name is Marie Danvers; I am a werewolf and a witch. That is how you are hearing my thoughts. I'm utilizing a telepathic spell,' the wolf conveyed, her mental voice calm and measured.
Recognition dawned on Rei as she absorbed the information. Her eyes widened with realization. "You are the one that was named the Green Witch," she said, her tone filled with awe and respect, "by the Navajo."
'Yes,' Marie confirmed, her mental presence brimming with a sense of purpose. 'We must find Buffy, Faith, Willow, Xander, Jesse, and my niece.'
Rei nodded, her agreement and resolve evident in her swift, decisive movements. She observed as Marie, with an expert's precision, sniffed the air, her heightened senses attuned to tracking. Without hesitation, Marie set off into the woods, her powerful form cutting through the underbrush with impressive speed.
Rei followed closely; her own senses sharpened by the urgency of their mission. "You can smell them, can't you?" Rei asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and admiration as she matched Marie's pace.
'Yes,' Marie replied telepathically, her focus unwavering. 'Amongst my Pack, myself and my sister are the best trackers.'
Suddenly, a chilling scream pierced through the night air, emanating from Willow. "No! No! Get—off—"
Marie and Rei rushed forward; their senses heightened by the urgency of Willow's distress. As they burst into the clearing just behind Buffy and Faith, the scene before them was chaotic. Willow was on the ground, grappling with a vampire, her struggle desperate and frantic. Nearby, Savannah was engaged with two other vampires, her movements fierce and determined.
Buffy and Faith, oblivious to the presence of Savannah, charged toward Willow and the vampire attacking her. Their focus was unwavering, driven by the need to protect their friend.
Marie's sharp eyes caught sight of her niece amidst the fray. With a powerful, fluid motion, she leapt toward one of the vampires grappling with Savannah. Her jaws closed around the vampire's head with a forceful snap, and in one swift movement, she tore it off, her strength and agility evident in the brutal efficiency of the act. Savannah, quick on the uptake, brandished a stake and dusted the second vampire with a precise thrust.
Rei's eyes widened in astonishment at the sight. The display of raw power and speed made her question if Savannah was somehow a third Slayer. The notion seemed impossible, given that Whistler had only mentioned Buffy and Faith as the active Slayers. Rei's mind raced, grappling with the implications of what she had just witnessed.
Meanwhile, Faith delivered a decisive kick to the vampire wrestling with Willow, sending it sprawling across the ground. The vampire emitted a grunt of pain before staggering to its feet, clutching its nose and attempting to retreat. As it turned, it found Buffy waiting, her expression steely and resolute. She thrust a stake into the vampire's heart with practiced precision, dispatching the creature in a burst of dust.
With the immediate threat neutralized, Buffy and Faith scanned their surroundings, searching for Jesse and Xander. The sound of cracking and scuffling drew their attention, prompting them to move swiftly in the direction of the noise, leaving Willow on the ground. Willow's eyes were wide with fear, her body trembling uncontrollably as she remained seated, her mind reeling from the shock.
Marie, observing the situation, noticed that Rei had vanished from view. Concerned, she turned and loped over to her niece and Willow, her powerful limbs moving with effortless grace. She initiated a telepathic connection, reaching out to Willow with a calming presence. 'Are you alright, Willow?' Marie's mental voice was soothing and reassuring.
Willow looked around, startled by the sudden voice in her head. Her gaze fell upon the wolf approaching her, and recognition sparked in her eyes.
"It's alright," Savannah said, her voice steady as she introduced Marie. "This is my Aunt Marie. You met her today in history class; she's the new teacher."
Marie's telepathic voice continued to explain. 'I'm a werewolf and a witch. Come on, we better go make sure Buffy and Faith are alright.'
Willow nodded, her fear giving way to a sense of determination. She stood up, brushing herself off as she, Marie, and Savannah followed the path that Buffy and Faith had taken, moving swiftly through the darkened woods in pursuit of their friends.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
It didn't take long for Buffy and Faith to locate Xander. They spotted him being dragged away by two more vampires, their grip on him unyielding as they pulled him through the darkened forest.
As they closed in, a telepathic message echoed in their minds, piercing through the chaos. 'Buffy, Faith, I am Marie Danvers, the new history teacher. I am also a werewolf as well as a witch. That's how you are hearing my thoughts. I will give you the distraction you need to dust the vampires.'
Without hesitation, the night was pierced by a feral, haunting howl that seemed to echo through the trees. The sound was so primal and fierce that it made the vampires momentarily falter. They turned, their eyes widening in alarm as they scanned the woods for the source of the howl. Their momentary distraction provided the opening Buffy and Faith needed.
The sisters seized the opportunity. With a burst of coordinated agility, they blocked the vampires' escape routes, their expressions fierce and determined. The confrontation was swift. Buffy and Faith, moving as one, delivered precise and powerful strikes that sent the vampires sprawling to the ground. The creatures scrambled in their attempts to regain their footing, but their efforts were futile against the seasoned Slayers.
Buffy, spotting a sturdy branch nearby, grabbed it with a determined grip. She snapped it off from the tree with a sharp crack, then broke it into two pieces, handing one to Faith. The sisters charged forward, their movements fluid and practiced. With unerring accuracy, they drove the wooden stakes into the vampires' chests. The vampires' eyes widened in shock before they disintegrated into dust, leaving nothing behind but a faint, acrid scent.
As the immediate threat was neutralized, Willow and Savannah rushed to Xander. Willow knelt beside him, her hands trembling slightly as she cradled his head in her arms. Relief washed over her as she noticed he was beginning to regain consciousness. Xander blinked several times, his brow furrowed in confusion as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
"Xander … are you okay?" Willow's voice was soft, filled with concern.
Xander, still disoriented, looked up at her with a dazed expression. "Man …" he murmured. "Something hit me …"
Buffy and Faith, their eyes scanning the perimeter with urgency, searched for any sign of Jesse. The silence that followed seemed to press heavily upon them.
"Where's Jesse?" Faith's voice was edged with worry.
For the first time, Willow's eyes widened with realization. She shook her head slowly, her face etched with growing fear. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice trembling. "They surrounded us—he was really weak…"
"That girl grabbed him," Xander mumbled, his voice weak and unfocused as he struggled to piece together his fragmented memories. "Took off."
A telepathic voice intruded into his thoughts, calm and steady. 'Do you remember which way?' Marie's voice resonated in his mind.
Xander's gaze shifted to the wolf, his eyes widening with a mixture of awe and fear. He hadn't fully grasped the implications of Marie's dual nature, but now it was undeniable. The realization struck him with a jolt.
Savannah, standing nearby, let out a weary sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly in frustration. "My Aunt Marie is both a werewolf and a witch," she explained, as if to reassure both Xander and herself. Her eyes conveyed a mix of exasperation and relief.
"Oh," Xander said, his understanding dawning slowly. "And I don't know."
Marie's voice returned, clear and purposeful, cutting through the confusion. 'We'll find him. Right now, we need to focus on Willow and Xander,' she said telepathically, her tone firm and resolute. 'I think you should take Willow and Xander to Giles. They will have questions.'
Sunnyhaven
"We're back," Savannah called out as she and Marie walked through the front door, their footsteps echoing off the polished floor. The sound was a welcome relief after the chaos of the night, a signal of normalcy restored, if only for a moment.
"Well?" Buffi asked, her tone laced with impatience as she and Clay emerged from the living room, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.
Marie stepped forward, her posture exuding a calm authority despite the gravity of the situation. "Introduced myself," she said. "Literally. Your past self as well as Willow and Xander know I'm a wolf and a witch."
"What!" Clay exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Their humans. And you let them know you're a wolf?"
Buffi turned on Clay with a sharp growl, her irritation palpable. "We have Jeremy's permission to tell Willow, Xander, and Giles. They know about the supernatural. Willow is Dawn's granddaughter, several generations removed. She's a witch and will be coming into her powers next year. Giles is my watcher. And Dawn, Faith, and my surrogate father. Or have you forgotten where Logan's middle name came from?"
Clay's expression softened as he absorbed the information. "No, I haven't forgotten. Though I didn't know Jeremy had given permission to tell them," he said, his voice tinged with concern but also with a grudging respect.
Marie nodded, acknowledging Clay's apprehension. "He gave us permission," she said, her voice steady. "Because he knew they would have to be told eventually. You have to remember, as far as Giles is concerned, Buffy is a Slayer. Once Willow and I activate the Slayers in seven years, he will be sending them to us and Faith to be trained. They have to be told. It would have been preferable to hold off until Buffy and I return to the year that we left. But that wasn't an option."
Clay's nod was slow but resolute. His face reflected his unease, knowing that humans learning about the Pack was a violation of Pack Law. Yet, he also recognized that Buffy was set to change Pack Law once she assumed her position. He understood that questioning the decisions of the Alpha, Alpha-elect, and Beta-elect was not a matter of simple discontent but one of protocol and respect.
"There is another thing," Savannah interjected, her voice carrying a note of concern. "They may know there is something different about me if they saw me fighting two vampires at once."
Buffi sighed, a mix of exasperation and maternal worry coloring her expression as she turned to her daughter. Savannah, the first-ever hereditary Slayer/witch hybrid, was a source of both pride and concern. "We'll cross that bridge if or when we come to it," Buffi said, her tone firm yet soothing. "Till then, don't lead on that you are a Slayer."
Giles' Apartment
"Mr. Giles," said Quentin Travers from the other end of the phone, his voice carrying a weight of authority and detached concern. Giles had left the Bronze earlier, his mind racing with unanswered questions. He had returned home, a sense of urgency propelling him to call the Watcher's Council to uncover why Rei Mori's cryptic message had failed to reach its intended recipients. The silence on the other end was filled with the soft hum of an old-fashioned office phone, adding an eerie undertone to the gravity of the conversation.
"Rei Mori is dead," Travers continued, his tone matter-of-fact and devoid of emotion.
"She is an immortal," Giles replied, his voice steady despite the frustration bubbling beneath the surface. His mind struggled to reconcile the news with the known facts about Rei Mori's immortality.
"True, but as far as this branch of the Council is concerned, she is dead and no longer a Slayer," Travers clarified with a note of finality that implied the matter was closed from their perspective.
"Understood," Giles said, his voice carrying a trace of reluctant acceptance. "Still, what she had relayed to the council may be beneficial," he argued, his mind racing through the potential implications of Mori's message.
"Very well," Travers conceded, though his tone remained noncommittal. "And I am not saying it is, but Rei Mori found out that Joseph Heinrich Nest is still alive."
"Nest," Giles said, taking a moment to place the name amidst his growing sense of urgency. The name echoed in his mind, pulling from the recesses of his memory. "He and his followers call themselves the Master."
"Correct," Travers confirmed. "How this information pertains to your Slayers, though, I have no idea, and that is why the Council decided not to pass on the information. They could see no relevance."
March 11, 1997 – Tuesday
Sunnydale High School
The next morning, as the sun began its ascent over Sunnydale High, casting long shadows across the campus, Buffy made her way to the library. The quiet buzz of students and the murmur of lockers opening and closing filled the air. She was still processing the events of the previous night, her thoughts a jumble of adrenaline and confusion. Faith had already taken Xander and Willow to the library, and Buffy felt a sense of purpose as she headed there to join them.
Principal Flutie approached her with an air of cordial efficiency, his suit neatly pressed and his face framed by a pleasant smile. Beside him stood a girl who appeared to be about Buffy's age, her presence striking amidst the morning bustle. "Buffy," Flutie said, his voice carrying the professional warmth of someone who managed a school with gentle authority. "This is Rei Mori, she's a new student. Since you have had a day to get acquainted with the campus, I felt you would be able to help her get acquainted with it as well."
Buffy's gaze shifted to the girl, her eyebrows arched in surprise. The name Rei Mori echoed in her mind with a startling clarity. How could this seemingly ordinary student be the same Rei Mori they had encountered the night before? Her shock was palpable as she took in the girl's appearance. Rei had an aura of quiet confidence, her eyes reflecting a depth of understanding that belied her age.
"How?" Buffy asked as Flutie walked away, his attention already shifting to other administrative matters. She turned to Rei, her voice laced with curiosity and confusion.
Rei offered a serene smile, her demeanor calm and collected. "It's a glamour spell," she explained with a gentle nod. "I'm not a witch, but one did teach me this spell. It's a simple but effective way to blend in." Her words carried a reassuring tone, as if she was accustomed to fielding such questions. "I'm here to help you and Faith."
Buffy's thoughts raced as she processed this new piece of information. "Did you talk to your Watcher?" Rei's question brought her back to the present, focusing her on the urgency of their situation.
Buffy sighed, the weight of her responsibilities settling on her shoulders. "He knew of you, yes," she replied, her voice tinged with the fatigue of recent events. "In fact, he's talking to Willow and Xander right now, explaining what happened last night."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"This world is older than any of you know," Giles intoned solemnly, his voice carrying a weight of ancient wisdom as he spun a globe with deliberate precision. The globe seemed to symbolize the vast history that Giles was about to unravel. "And contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as a paradise."
The room was heavy with anticipation, the faint hum of the heating system the only sound breaking the silence. Giles's eyes, behind his glasses, conveyed the gravity of the secrets he was about to reveal. He paused for a moment, allowing the enormity of his statement to sink in.
"For untold eons, demons walked the earth," Marie interjected, her voice a smooth complement to Giles's grave tone. She stood by the window, the light from outside casting an ethereal glow on her face, as if she were a bridge between the past and present. "Made it their home... their hell." Her words painted a vivid picture of a time long forgotten, a time when dark forces ruled the land.
Willow and Xander sat side by side, their eyes wide with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. They absorbed the information, their minds racing to reconcile this new reality with their understanding of the world.
"Yes," Giles continued, carrying an armful of old, leather-bound books down the wooden stairs with a practiced ease. The musty smell of ancient texts filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of dust. "In time, they lost their purchase on this reality," he explained, gesturing broadly with his free hand, "and the way was made for the mortal animals. For man." He placed the books on the table with a soft thud, their spines cracked and pages yellowed with age. "What remains of the Old Ones are vestiges. Certain magics, certain creatures..."
"And vampires," Faith interjected, her tone carrying a mix of exasperation and matter-of-factness. She leaned against the wall; her posture relaxed but her expression serious.
Xander stood up abruptly, his agitation palpable. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, and he paced back and forth, unable to keep still. "Okay, this is where I have a problem," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "See, because we're now talking about vampires." His face was flushed with a mix of anger and disbelief. "We're having a talk with vampires in it."
Willow looked up from her seat, her face pale as the enormity of the situation began to take hold. "Isn't that what we saw last night?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No, those weren't vampires," Savannah quipped, her tone light and almost dismissive. She leaned back casually, as if discussing the weather rather than the supernatural. "Those were just some guys in thundering need of a facial. Or maybe they had rabies—coulda been rabies." She waved a hand nonchalantly, ignoring the incredulous look Xander gave her. "And that guy turning to dust... just a trick of the light." Savannah's demeanor was almost teasing, a stark contrast to the gravity of the conversation.
Willow's eyes widened, and she murmured, "Ooh... I need to sit down." Her voice was shaky, and she looked around as if trying to find something solid to ground herself.
Savannah's voice cut through Willow's daze with a gentle reminder. "You are sitting down," she said, her tone kind but firm.
"Oh," Willow replied, her response tinged with a vacant nod as she tried to regain her bearings. "Good for me." She attempted a weak smile, her mind still reeling from the revelations.
"So, vampires are demons?" Xander asked, his voice tinged with disbelief as he tried to grasp the enormity of what he was being told. The question hung in the air, its weight adding to the already heavy atmosphere of the library.
Giles, with his usual patience and authority, took a deep breath before continuing. "The books tell that the last demon to leave this reality," he began, his fingers tracing the edges of one of the many ancient volumes scattered around the library, "fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed—infected—by the demon's soul." Giles handed Xander one of the heavy, leather-bound tomes. Its cover was embossed with intricate, faded gold patterns, and the pages inside were filled with cryptic illustrations and archaic script. "He bit another, and another… and so they walk the earth feeding. Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out and the—"
"—Old Ones to return," Marie completed the thought just as Buffy and Rei walked through the library doors. Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her gaze was sharp and knowing, adding to the gravity of the discussion. The sound of the door creaking open and the shuffling of feet seemed to punctuate the seriousness of her statement.
Giles, catching sight of Buffy and Rei, paused momentarily. His eyes flicked from Buffy to Rei and back again, silently seeking clarification on the new arrival.
"Rei Mori," Buffy said, filling the unspoken question with a straightforward answer. Her voice was firm, signaling both recognition and respect.
"And that would be a what?" Xander asked, turning to Giles with a look of exasperation. His confusion was palpable, and he seemed to be trying to reconcile the fantastical elements of the conversation with the mundane reality he had known until now.
"One girl in all the world—" Giles began, his tone reciting the familiar lines of the ancient prophecy, but his sentence was cut short by Faith's interjection.
"Well actually two now," Faith added with a shrug. "They also don't need the whole spiel." Her nonchalance was at odds with the intensity of the conversation, but her words made it clear that the situation was more complicated than the standard explanations might suggest.
"All right," Giles conceded, his voice taking on a slightly faster pace. "They hunt vampires. When one Slayer dies, the next is called. Buffy and Faith are Slayers, the only fraternal twins to ever be called simultaneously, don't tell anyone." He paused, catching his breath, his eyes flicking over to Buffy and Faith with an unspoken warning about discretion. "I think that's all the vampire information you need."
"Except for one thing," Xander interjected, his voice breaking through the dense fog of information. "How do you kill them?" His eyes darted between Buffy, Giles, and the new arrivals. "And who are you two?" he directed his question at Dawn and Savannah.
"You don't," Buffy corrected him firmly, her expression serious. "Faith and I do." Her statement carried the weight of responsibility and the burden of their shared duty. The room seemed to pulse with the gravity of their roles, as if the very air was aware of the stakes.
Marie took a deep breath, her gaze steady as she addressed the group. "I am a witch, a very old witch. Older than I look." She paused for a moment, letting the information sink in. "I drank from the fountain of youth over 200 years ago," she continued, her voice carrying a hint of ancient wisdom and the weight of long-held secrets. "I am also a werewolf. I was bitten 16 years ago." Her admission seemed to fill the room with a sense of awe and trepidation, as if the shadows themselves were listening in.
Giles, his brow furrowed with concern, looked at Marie with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity. Marie noticed his gaze and quickly added, "There is no need to worry. I am safe when Changed. I am in control of the wolf." Her words were meant to reassure, and her calm demeanor suggested that she had faced this scrutiny many times before. "It's a benefit of being part of the Pack. We learn how to change when we want and even how we want. We are not relegated to the full moon like mutts are," she said with a touch of disdain for those less disciplined. "We remain in control."
Savannah, standing beside her aunt, took her turn to speak. "I too am a witch," she said, her voice carrying a note of pride mixed with humility. She hesitated briefly, carefully omitting the detail of her being a hereditary Slayer. "But I am not immortal like my aunt nor am I a werewolf." Her words were measured, yet they added another layer to the complex web of identities and abilities in the room.
Xander, his face a portrait of concern, opened his mouth to speak. "Jesse—" he began, but Faith's interruption cut him off.
"Jesse's our responsibility," Faith said, indicating herself and Buffy with a nod. Her tone was regretful but resolute. "We let him get taken." Her words were tinged with a sense of guilt, underscoring the weight of their failures and the seriousness of their mission.
Xander's frown deepened. "That's not true," he protested, his voice filled with frustration and a desire to share the burden of their mistakes.
Willow, her voice trembling with fear and exhaustion, added, "If you guys hadn't shown up—" She paused, swallowing hard. "—they would have ... taken us, too." Her words hung heavy in the air, underscoring the danger they had all narrowly escaped. "Does anybody mind if I pass out?" she asked, her eyes wide and glassy.
"Breathe . . ." Savannah ordered; her voice firm yet soothing. Her command was more than a simple instruction; it was a lifeline amidst the chaos.
Willow nodded, taking a shaky breath. "Breathe."
"Breathe," Savannah echoed, her tone steady and comforting.
Faith looked to Giles, her eyes intense with worry and determination. "This big guy, Luke, he talked about an offering to the Master. I don't know who or what that was."
Rei, standing quietly in the corner, finally spoke up, drawing all eyes to her. "Joseph Heinrich Nest," she said, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. "I'm a Slayer who died during the latter half of the seventeenth century and became immortal. Nest is called by himself and his followers, The Master. I was chasing him in nineteen thirty-seven when he disappeared. A source that appears to be reliable with the right motivation said he is trapped within the Hellmouth."
"Hellmouth?" Buffy asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"A mystical convergence centered in Sunnydale," Rei explained, her tone solemn and authoritative.
Faith's expression shifted from confusion to determination. "Then it's possible," she said, "that this Master guy wasn't just feeding, which means Jesse may still be alive. Buffy and I are going to find him." Her voice was resolute, a spark of hope igniting in her eyes.
Calmer now, Willow offered a tentative suggestion. "This is probably a dumb question, but shouldn't we call the police?" Her voice was small, almost pleading.
Marie responded gently but firmly. "Do you think they'd believe us?"
Willow hesitated, her face scrunching up in thought. "We don't have to say vampires," she stammered. "We could say there was . . . a bad man." Her suggestion hung in the air, a fragile attempt at finding a solution.
Buffy shook her head consolingly, a soft, understanding smile on her face. "They couldn't handle it if they did come. They'd only show up with guns."
"And guns are no use against vampires," Savannah added, her voice clear and firm. "They will hurt, yes, but they won't kill." Her statement underscored the futility of relying on conventional methods against supernatural threats.
"You've no idea where they took Jesse?" Giles asked, looking at Marie, Savannah, Faith, and Buffy, his voice tinged with urgency.
"Marie, Faith, Savannah, and I looked around," Buffy said, her expression frustrated. "But ... soon as they got clear of the woods they could have just—" She made a quick motion with her hand. "—whoom."
"Can they fly?" Xander looked surprised, his eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and concern.
Marie shook her head, her expression serious. "They can drive."
"Oh," Xander said, his shoulders relaxing slightly as the tension eased from his face.
"Also, I tried smelling for him," Marie added, her voice softening with regret. "There were too many scents in the area, both human and vampire. I couldn't tell Jesse's scent from the others. It's possible they hightailed it either to the sewers or to a car."
Willow tried to think back, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I don't remember hearing a car."
"Well, let's take an enormous intuitive leap and say they went underground," Giles said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice, though his eyes remained serious.
"Vampires really jam on sewer systems," Buffy agreed, her tone matter-of-fact. "You can get anywhere in town without catching any rays. I didn't see any access around there, though."
"Neither did I," Savannah said, her voice thoughtful, as she glanced at Marie. "Aunt Marie?"
Marie shook her head, a mix of frustration and helplessness evident in her eyes.
Rei thought back, her brow furrowing in concentration, and then shook her head, her expression mirroring Marie's.
Xander shrugged, attempting to lighten the heavy mood. "Well, there are electrical tunnels. They run under the whole town."
For a moment Giles considered this, his mind racing through possibilities. "If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system, it might indicate a meeting place. I suppose we could go to the building commission—"
"We so don't have time," Buffy cut him off, her voice sharp with urgency.
"Uh, guys?" Willow said tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper. "There may be another way."
"While you are searching this other way," Giles said, turning his attention to another pressing matter, "Ms. Mori, can I see you privately?"
Rei nodded and followed Giles into his office, her steps measured and purposeful.
"The Council …" Giles began, his tone heavy with unspoken burdens.
"I know," Rei said, cutting him off gently but firmly. "Even though I'm alive, I'm dead to them; I've been dead to them since Jyoti gave me the poison that brought about my first death."
"For that reason, they did not pass on your information until I called them. They believed that Nest could not pertain in any way to Buffy and Faith," Giles said, his voice tinged with frustration at the Council's short-sightedness.
Rei sighed, a deep, weary sound that seemed to carry the weight of centuries. "I should have figured. Though it doesn't surprise me. When I started having the dreams …"
"Dreams?" Giles asked, his curiosity piqued, leaning forward slightly as if to capture every detail.
"I'm underground, lost," Rei said, her voice dropping to a somber tone. "Some underground chamber with a red pool. I also saw the Vampyr book."
"This book," Giles said, taking the old, weathered tome off the shelf and holding it up for her to see.
"Yes," Rei said with a nod, her eyes lingering on the book as if it held the answers to her mysterious visions. "I believe the dream may be somehow connected to Faith and Buffy. That I was seeing things through their eyes."
"That is plausible," Giles said thoughtfully. "Slayers do get prophetic dreams, and while the Council considers you dead, you are still a Slayer. You still have the abilities, correct?"
"Yes," Rei said, confirming that even after two hundred years she still had all the same abilities that Buffy and Faith did. Her voice held a quiet pride, the acknowledgment of her enduring strength and skill.
"If you have any more prophetic dreams, tell me. Consider me your Watcher," Giles said, his tone both reassuring and resolute.
"Which one?" Rei said with a laugh, her eyes twinkling with a rare moment of mirth.
Giles thought about Rei's question for a moment. The Council would never consider her an active Slayer again, even if she still was a Slayer. "I would have to get permission from the Chronicler branch of the Watcher's Council, of course. But consider me your Chronicler. Who is your current Watcher?"
"I don't have one," Rei said, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy. "Though Joe Dawson has been keeping an unofficial account."
"I know Joe," Giles said, his tone softening with a hint of a smile. "I'll call him for your chronicles."
"There it is," Buffy said eagerly from the other room, her voice carrying a note of triumph.
Rei and Giles walked back out into the library, their footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floor. They found Willow sitting at the computer, surrounded by the others who were peering intently at the screen. The room was filled with a palpable sense of anticipation and urgency.
Rei and Giles moved closer, their curiosity piqued. On the screen was a detailed map of the city's electrical tunnels, intricate lines crisscrossing the display.
"This runs under the graveyard," Willow explained, pointing to one particular tunnel, her finger tracing the path on the screen.
Xander shook his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't see any access," he said, his eyes scanning the map for any possible entry points.
Savannah leaned in closer, her gaze scrutinizing the details. "Neither do I," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "There must be another way in."
Giles looked impressed, though slightly concerned. "So, all the city plans are just open to the public?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Willow frowned a little sheepishly, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Uh, well, in a way," she admitted. "I sort of stumbled onto them when I accidentally... decrypted the city council's security system."
Xander's focus remained on the screen, but he couldn't resist a comment. "Someone's been naughty..." he said with a mischievous grin, his tone teasing.
"There's nothing here," Buffy sounded disappointed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "This is useless!"
"Wait," Faith said, her eyes lighting up with sudden realization. "Luke came from behind us when we were in the mausoleum. He didn't come through the front door. We would have seen him; besides, he would have had to pass by Marie."
"Savannah and I were just outside the door," Marie said firmly, her voice tinged with certainty. "He definitely did not pass by us."
"Which means the entrance to the tunnels is in the mausoleum," Buffy concluded, a determined look in her eyes.
"Are you sure?" Giles straightened, his posture rigid with concern.
"The girl must have doubled back with Jesse after we got out," Buffy said, piecing together the puzzle with growing clarity.
Xander stepped back, ready for action, his eyes shining with determination. "So, what's the plan? We saddle up, right?"
"There's no 'we,'" Buffy corrected him, her tone firm but gentle. "Faith, Rei, and I are Slayers and you're not."
"I knew you were going to throw that in my face," Xander grumbled, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"Xander, this is dangerous," Rei said, her voice filled with concern.
"I'm inadequate. That's fine. I'm less than a man," Xander retorted bitterly, turning his back on her and walking off, his footsteps echoing in the room.
With a sympathetic glance in Xander's direction, Willow stepped forward, her eyes pleading. "I'm not anxious to go into a dark place full of monsters, but I do want to help. I need to." Her voice was steady, but her hands trembled slightly, revealing her inner turmoil.
"Then help me," Giles replied without hesitation, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "I've been researching this Harvest affair. It seems to be some sort of preordained massacre—rivers of blood, hell on earth... quite charmless. I am fuzzy on the details, however, and it may be that you can wrest some information from that dread machine." He paused, glancing around at the uncomprehending looks on their faces. "That was a bit British, wasn't it?" he admitted, embarrassed.
Buffy smiled, a light laugh escaping her lips. "Welcome to the new world."
"I want you to go on the Net," Giles translated, his expression becoming more earnest.
"Oh!" Willow brightened, her eyes lighting up with understanding. "Yeah. Sure. I can do that."
"I'll help you," Savannah told Willow, stepping closer and giving her a supportive nod.
"Then Faith, Rei, and I are out of here," Buffy announced, her voice resolute. "If Jesse's alive, we'll bring him back."
Giles stepped forward, his grave expression softening as he looked at Faith and Buffy. "Do I have to tell you two, to be careful? Unlike Rei, you two are not immortal."
Faith and Buffy met his eyes for a long moment, the weight of his words settling on them. The room was filled with an unspoken understanding of the dangers they faced.
Finally, with a shared look of determination, Faith, Buffy, and Rei turned and headed towards the door. Their steps were confident, but the gravity of their mission was clear in their eyes.
"Marie, can I see you for a moment?" Giles said as he led Marie into his office, closing the door behind them. He turned to her, his expression serious. "You said you and Savannah were at the door. That means..."
"That we already knew that the vampires had gone to that mausoleum for a reason," Marie interjected, her voice calm and measured. "And that Luke had not passed us before Faith mentioned he came up behind them. You are correct. The thing is, Savannah and I were sent to protect Buffy and Faith from a potential threat that may not even come after them. In that regard, we are given information from a reliable source on what is to come and we're not allowed to alter those events. Which means Buffy and Faith have to make the decisions they were originally meant to make without mine or Savannah's interference."
Giles nodded, processing her words. "I see. So, if you know something that can change an outcome, you can't reveal what it is until Buffy or Faith discover it for themselves. So, for example, if Buffy or Faith were potentially to die, you would not say anything until it is too late."
"That is true," Marie confirmed, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "You know, I wish I could change how things go. By the time Buffy and Faith are done, they will deserve the rest they so crave. Everything must happen as it has been foreseen. There are reasons for it, reasons that will only be revealed at the appropriate time. Such as tonight; the sisters had to discover for themselves where the entrance to the tunnels was. For them, it was a revelation. They are now on the path to embracing their destiny, with Rei at their side."
"With Rei?" Giles asked, intrigued. "You knew who she was too?"
Marie nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "I met her about fifty years after her first death. She is one of the reasons I have cast a glamour spell on myself. This is not how I really look."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Savannah, Willow, and Xander emerged from the confines of the library and stepped into the bustling school hallway. The sharp clang of the bell had already ushered students into their respective classrooms, and the corridors were alive with the shuffling of feet and low murmur of conversations. Lockers clanged open and shut, creating a symphony of metallic echoes.
Willow, her face partially hidden by a cascade of auburn curls, hunched over her notebook, scribbling furiously as she murmured to herself, "Murder, death, disaster." The rhythm of her pen against the page was almost meditative amidst the chaos of the hallway. She paused briefly to think, her brows knitting together in concentration. "What else?"
Xander, with his usual nonchalant demeanor, pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Paranormal, unexplained." His voice, though casual, carried a hint of curiosity. After a brief pause, he added, "You got natural disasters?"
Willow gave a decisive nod, her eyes bright with determination. "Earthquake, flood . . ."
"Rain of toads," Xander interjected, his suggestion tinged with playful skepticism. Savannah, walking beside him, rolled her eyes in response, her exasperation barely concealed.
"Right," Willow said, not missing a beat.
"Rain of toads." Xander's tone took on a note of incredulity, his skepticism evident as he questioned the plausibility of such an event being documented. "Are they really going to have anything like that in the paper?"
"We'll put it on the search," Savannah assured him, her tone resolute and confident. "I doubt it will turn up though. Still, anything that'll lead us to the Master and his vampires."
Xander's expression darkened with a touch of frustration, his shoulders slumping slightly. "And I, meanwhile, will help by standing around like an idiot."
"Not like an idiot," Savannah said soothingly, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just standing. Buffy and Faith don't want you getting hurt. The only reason Rei is going is because she is an immortal Slayer. If it weren't for the fact that Aunt Marie has classes to teach, I would have suspected they would have taken her along as well since she is not just a witch but a werewolf. Aunt Marie is stronger and faster than your average human."
They'd arrived at the entrance to Savannah and Willow's classroom, the faded wooden door adorned with a small brass plaque bearing the room number. The corridor here was less frenetic, the noise of shuffling students and locker slams a distant murmur. The three of them stood side by side, framed by the muted colors of the hallway and the occasional flicker of fluorescent lighting.
Xander sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping in a gesture of exaggerated weariness. "This is just too much," he said, his voice laced with a blend of frustration and resignation. "Yesterday my life is like, 'Oh, no. Pop quiz.' Today—rain of toads."
Willow, her gaze drifting across the sea of students moving purposefully towards their own classrooms, nodded in agreement. The normalcy of their surroundings felt starkly at odds with their own turbulent reality. "I know," she said, her eyes scanning the crowd, noting how everyone else appeared to be wrapped in the mundane concerns of the school day. "And everyone else thinks it's just a normal day."
"Nobody knows," Xander said, his tone reflecting a mix of awe and dismay. "It's like we've got this big secret."
"We do," Savannah said, her voice carrying a blend of resigned amusement and earnestness. "That's what a secret is. When you know something, other guys don't." Her gentle sarcasm hung in the air, a nuance of her tone that Xander seemed oblivious to.
"Right," Xander said, his focus shifting to the classroom door. "Well, you two better get to class."
"You mean 'we.' 'We' should get to class," Willow corrected him with a small, wry smile.
"Yeah," Xander agreed, nodding absently.
Savannah placed a comforting hand on Xander's arm, her touch both reassuring and firm. "Faith and Buffy will be okay," she said, her voice steady with confidence. "Whatever's down there, I know they can handle. Besides, with Rei, an immortal Slayer from the sixteen hundreds, they won't have much to worry about."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
In the library, a sanctum of ancient knowledge and dusty tomes, Giles was deeply engrossed in his quest for answers. The room was illuminated by the soft, flickering light of a single desk lamp, casting long shadows across the array of ancient texts sprawled across the table before him. His fingers, stained with the grime of countless pages, flipped through the brittle, yellowed pages of several volumes, each one a vessel of forgotten lore.
The air was thick with the musty scent of old paper and the faint hint of ink, mingling with the subtle hum of an old radiator struggling to keep the chill at bay. Giles's brow was furrowed in concentration, his expression a mix of weariness and determination as he pored over the passages. The deep lines etched into his face spoke of hours spent in pursuit of elusive knowledge.
He carefully picked up another tome, its cover worn and creased from years of use. His eyes scanned the text with a practiced gaze, and suddenly, something within the Latin script caught his attention. A spark of intrigue lit up his weary eyes as he leaned closer to the book.
Unaware of Marie's quiet entrance into the library, Giles was absorbed in his discovery. His voice, though soft, carried a note of excitement as he began to translate the passage aloud. "'For they will gather, and be gathered. All that is theirs shall be his… From the Vessel pours life.'" He paused, the phrase echoing in the dimly lit room. "Pours life . . ."
Marie, having approached silently, observed Giles's focused expression and the text before him. "It has to do with the Harvest," she interjected, her voice a gentle disruption to his concentration. As Giles looked up at her, the weariness in his eyes was momentarily replaced by a spark of recognition and curiosity. "Not entirely sure what though."
Giles nodded in acknowledgment as Marie settled beside him, her presence a comforting anchor in the whirlwind of their research. Together, they examined the engraving on the facing page of the book. The illustration depicted a grotesque man-beast, its form a nightmarish amalgamation of human and animal traits. The creature's hand was outstretched in a commanding gesture, directing a group of villagers who were depicted in various states of torment and bloodshed. Beneath them, in a shadowy, infernal realm, a demon radiated a menacing, almost palpable aura of dark energy.
On the bestial figure's forehead, a crude, ominous symbol was etched: a star with three points, its significance cloaked in foreboding mystery.
Giles, his glasses perched precariously on the bridge of his nose, squinted as he focused on yet another passage. His voice took on a tone of increasing urgency as he read aloud. "On the night of the crescent moon, the first past the solstice, it will come." As he straightened up, realization dawned on his face. His eyes met Marie's with a mixture of understanding and concern. "Of course," he mumbled, his voice tinged with both relief and apprehension. "Rei's source was correct. Tonight."
Marie nodded in agreement, her face reflecting a blend of resignation and acknowledgment. "Yeah," she said. "By the looks of it. I've been feeling an increase of mystical energies today. But I didn't know for exactly what."
Giles, still processing the gravity of the revelation, turned to Marie with a probing question. "So, your source doesn't tell you everything?"
Marie shook her head. "No," she replied. "It's kind of a security precaution so that Savannah and I can make sure things continue as they should but at the same time, we can't influence those same things more than needed."
Giles's expression softened with understanding as he absorbed her explanation. "Inadvertently causing you and your niece to walk a fine line," he said thoughtfully. "Help too much and you can change things from what the Seer tells you. Which could change the outcome of events even further down the road. Help too little and the same result can be had."
"Exactly," Marie affirmed; her tone resolute.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Are we going to the Bronze tonight?" Harmony asked Cordelia, her voice tinged with casual curiosity as she tapped away at her keyboard.
Savannah and Willow, seated a few rows away in their computer class, were absorbed in finishing up their assignments. The rhythmic clacking of their keyboards provided a steady backdrop to the conversation.
Cordelia, seated beside Harmony, erupted with frustration. "No!" she burst out, her voice sharp and exasperated. "It's supposed to find the syntax and match it. Or, wait ..." Her irritation was palpable, her gaze darting between her computer screen and the assignment sheet in her hand.
Harmony continued to type slowly, her concentration evident as she tried to make sense of the code before her. "Are we going to the Bronze tonight?" she asked again, her tone a mixture of persistence and curiosity.
"No," Cordelia retorted, her voice brimming with annoyance. "We're going to the other cool place in Sunnydale." Her response was tinged with a hint of sarcasm, as if the answer should have been obvious.
Harmony, her expression one of complete bewilderment, stared blankly at Cordelia. The confusion was clear on her face, prompting Cordelia to sigh in exasperation.
"Of course, we're going to the Bronze!" Cordelia said, her frustration giving way to a more matter-of-fact tone. "Tuesday night, no cover. But you should have been there last night."
Harmony frowned at the programming exercise on her screen, her attention diverted from the conversation. "I think we did this part wrong," she muttered, her frustration evident in her voice.
"Why do we have to devise these programs?" Cordelia asked irritably, her tone carrying a hint of disdain. "Isn't that what nerds are for?" She glanced over at the desk beside them, where Savannah and Willow were immersed in their own work, their focus intense as they pored over their assignment. "What did they do?" Cordelia mumbled; her curiosity piqued despite her annoyance.
Harmony craned her neck to glance at Savannah and Willow, who were busy researching the Harvest. Their screens were filled with text and images related to their investigation, a stark contrast to the coding chaos on Harmony's own screen. Having completed their computer class assignment, they seemed wholly absorbed in their task. Harmony shrugged, turning back to Cordelia with a look of resignation. "Uh, they're doing something else," she said, her tone carrying a note of disinterest.
Cordelia's eyes narrowed into a piercing glare as she directed her frustration towards Willow and Savannah, who were still engrossed in their research. Her exasperation was palpable as she turned back to Harmony. "Okay," she said, her voice edged with impatience. "And then 'Pattern Run,' right? Or 'Go To End.' That's it." Her tone left no room for ambiguity, as if she were on the brink of giving up entirely.
Harmony looked at her computer screen, her expression a mix of confusion and uncertainty. "Maybe ... I think ..." she said, her voice trailing off. The labyrinth of programming terms and commands seemed to be swirling around her, making her more uncertain by the second.
"Well, what does the book say?" Cordelia snapped, her patience wearing thin. The irritation in her voice was a sharp contrast to the usual confident façade she wore. "So anyway," she continued, her frustration momentarily forgotten as she launched into a story, "I come out of the bathroom and she comes running at me with a stick, screaming, 'I'm gonna kill you! I'm going to kill you!' I swear." The dramatic recounting of her experience was punctuated with vivid gestures and an incredulous look, as though the mere memory of it was almost too outrageous to believe.
Jared, who had been half-listening while working on his own assignment, looked up with curiosity. "Who?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
With a satisfied smirk, Cordelia realized that her story had finally managed to capture the attention of her peers. The glint in her eyes was unmistakable—she had successfully hooked an audience.
"Buffy," she said, her voice dripping with a mix of scorn and amusement. The name was delivered with a flourish, as if she were revealing a particularly juicy tidbit.
"One of the new girls," Harmony echoed, her tone a blend of intrigue and shared disdain.
Jared's expression turned puzzled, his curiosity clearly piqued. "What's her deal?" he asked, genuinely trying to grasp the situation.
"She and her sister are both crazed!" Cordelia declared; her voice laden with dramatic emphasis. Her tone suggested a kind of theatrical exasperation, as if she were recounting a story that was both unbelievable and entertaining.
"Did you hear about their old school?" Harmony asked in a conspiratorial whisper, leaning closer as if to share a closely guarded secret. "Booted." The word was delivered with a sense of scandalous glee, as though the very idea of being expelled was a source of dark amusement.
"I exhibit no surprise," Cordelia declared with an air of exaggerated nonchalance, as if the revelations she was sharing were entirely predictable and beneath her notice.
Jared, intrigued and leaning in closer, tried to get more details. "Why were they kicked out?" he asked, his curiosity evident in his posture and tone.
"'Cause their psycholoony," Cordelia replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, her voice laced with disdain. Her choice of the term "psycholoony" was meant to belittle the seriousness of the situation, suggesting that the reason for their expulsion was rooted in a lack of mental stability.
"No, they're not," Savannah interjected, her voice firm and calm. She turned to face Cordelia and the others, her eyes steady and unyielding. The clarity and resolve in her voice contrasted sharply with the gossipy tone of Cordelia's remarks.
"What?" Cordelia said, her eyes narrowing into an icy glare. The sudden shift in her demeanor indicated that she was both surprised and affronted by Savannah's interruption.
"Neither Buffy or Faith are psycho," Savannah stated firmly. "You don't even know them." Her tone was one of measured authority, challenging Cordelia's superficial judgments and asserting the true nature of Buffy and Faith.
Cordelia's expression hardened, her voice rising in indignation. "Excuse me? Who gave you permission to exist?" she snapped, her words dripping with scorn. "Do I horn in on your private discussions? No. Why? Because you're boring." The hostility in her voice was palpable, reflecting her annoyance and resentment.
Savannah's glare was unwavering, her eyes shifting to an unnatural solid black as an aura of crackling magical energy began to manifest around her. The transformation was both startling and intense, signaling a dramatic escalation in the confrontation.
"Uh, Savannah," Willow said, her voice tinged with concern as she noticed the sudden change in Savannah's demeanor. "If you're done why don't we go to the library?" Her suggestion was a subtle attempt to defuse the tension and redirect their focus away from the escalating conflict.
Cordelia and the others, momentarily taken aback by the display of magical power, turned back to their projects, their attention refocused on their work as the atmosphere in the room shifted.
"There." Harmony's voice carried a note of relief as she looked at her screen. "I think the program's done."
Cordelia nodded with an air of finality. "Finally, the nightmare ends," she declared, a mix of relief and exhaustion coloring her voice. "Now how do we save it?"
Willow, leading Savannah towards the door, glanced back with a sense of urgency. "Deliver," she said, her tone carrying a note of certainty.
"Deliver." Cordelia repeated the word, her eyes glued to the screen as she tried to comprehend its significance. A sudden realization dawned on her, and she let out a small, surprised exclamation. "Oh!"
"Thanks," Savannah said, acknowledging Willow as her eyes returned to their normal color. The subtle shift in her gaze signaled the end of the magical disturbance that had briefly manifested.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked, her concern evident as she looked at Savannah, who seemed to be regaining her composure.
"Yeah," Savannah replied, her voice steady despite the lingering tension. "My magic tends to rear its ugly head when I get angry sometimes." She took a deep breath, her tone softening as she continued. "When I was younger, I was taught dark magick. I don't actively practice it, but it's in my system. It kind of runs in my family." She paused, reflecting on the weight of her words. "My cousin delved into the dark magicks and got addicted. It nearly destroyed her. I grew up hearing her story." The gravity of her family's history was evident in her voice, hinting at a legacy fraught with danger and consequence.
"Why were you taught dark magicks?" Willow asked, her curiosity tinged with concern. The question was both direct and compassionate, seeking to understand the root of Savannah's experiences.
"My mom and I were captured by these people and separated from each other," Savannah explained, her voice carrying a mixture of nostalgia and pain. "I was just coming into my powers and another witch taught me dark magicks in an attempt to help get me free from our captors." She recounted her past with a sense of detached reflection. The truth she shared was only partially accurate; the mother she referred to was her adoptive mother. The real story was more complex, involving her birth mother, Buffi.
"Is that where your mom…" Willow began, her voice trailing off as she searched for the right words.
"Died, yes," Savannah confirmed, her voice heavy with sorrow. The memory of Eve, her adoptive mother, who had been killed by their captors, lingered painfully in her mind.
