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“Buffy.”
The Slayer jerked her eyes open and sat up. “Xander? Xander, is that you?” She called out in the darkness. When she heard no response above her, Buffy kicked her foot up into the mattress above her in a panic. She felt his weight above her and relaxed a little. Then she heard a thump on the floor next to her.
“Ow,” a voice mumbled from the ground.
“Xander? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m great. I didn’t need that part of my leg, anyway,” he grumbled sarcastically. < Yup, it’s Xander. > “Why did you kick me off the bed?” he asked, still groaning in pain.
Buffy cringed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but I heard someone saying my name and I thought it was you.” She paused, “It wasn’t you?”
“Well, gee, Buffy. If it was me, don’t you think I would have answered back?” he asked rhetorically, sarcasm evident in his tone of voice.
Buffy nodded to herself. Then confusion swept over her. “If it wasn’t you, Xander, then who was it?” Agitation took over as she sat in silence waiting for an answer. Then she heard it.
“It was me,” a man’s voice said into the darkness. Buffy froze. < That wasn’t Xander. >
“Who’s there?” she called out. < What I wouldn’t give for a stake right now. >
In the darkness, a torch lit up to reveal the man in next cell. The man wore a blue robe not very different from the ones worn by the mages earlier. He removed his hood to reveal himself. He looked a little older than Buffy, with short black hair and the most amazing eyes she had ever seen. They were deep blue, and sparkled with intelligence and life. Buffy was mesmerized by his gaze until he spoke, “You don’t know me, Slayer, but I know you.”
That was definitely a line she heard before. “What, am I wearing a sign or something?” she muttered irritably.
He responded, “You need not wear a sign. I can feel the power coming from within.”
Finally, Xander spoke up. “Um, since we’re on the subject of you, how ‘bout an introduction?”
“Of course,” he agreed, nodding. He stepped closer. The dim lighting enhanced his cheekbones and made his eyes appear hollow. But she could still see their bright color. “I am King Ariak.”
“Um, no offense ‘cause you’re like a ‘majesty’ and all that, but don’t most Kings live outside the dungeon?” Buffy asked.
Ariak looked them over calmly before he told them his story. “I was overthrown by the demon that is holding you prisoner. He has banished my most loyal followers and threatened those who would not take his side. They were forced to do so.”
“But we haven’t seen anyone else here but your guys,” Buffy pointed out.
The mage shrugged and said, “He wasn’t very liked. But he had power.”
“Well, why didn’t you just destroy him and his little people?” Xander asked.
“That I could not do. He is… my brother,” the king responded, then looked down in shame. To Buffy, it seemed like he ashamed by the inability to defeat his loved one. < I know the feeling. >
She took a breath and said slowly, “It may be hard for you to think of fighting someone who means so much. But sometimes those are the fights that need fighting. No one said they’d be easy, but they need to be done. It’s not about you or him; it’s about what’s right and wrong. Trust me. I had to learn that the hard way.”
Buffy thought back to her battle with Angel. When he had reverted to his evil self, she had many opportunities to kill him. Every time, she would find a reason not to. In the end, all she did was avoid the inevitable. The moment came when the fate of the world rested on her shoulder, and it was no longer between her and her beloved. The choice was taken away from her and she sent the love of her life to hell. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter what you want or hope.” She looked at the shadow she presumed was Xander and smiled weakly. He reached over and grabbed her hand for support, indicating that he knew what she was referring to.
“I understand that the time will come when he will be fought. That time is not now,” Ariak replied. “He is capable of much greatness as well as great evil. I will show him the door to goodness and the door to evil, but I cannot push him through either. It is he who shall decide.”
Buffy frowned. “What happens if he chooses door number two?”
The king smiled wanly. He answered quietly but firmly, “I know my duty. If he does not choose wisely, I shall have to destroy him.” His tone was matter-of-fact. He had already accepted this, and it was obvious he was prepared to follow through with this if he must.
The Slayer stared at him in awe. Most of her life was spent wrestling with duty and desire. She often had to choose to protect her loved ones or rid the world of evil. ‘The Chosen One’ is such a lonely title that she never thought anyone else would have to face her challenges. Never once did she think of how many others would face the same types of decisions. She had to decide between Angel and the world, and the man before her had to choose his brother or his kingdom.
Buffy sighed. < Irony. What a bitch. >
Amy Madison glanced at her watch before pulling open the doors to the school. < Nine a.m., I can’t believe I slept in so late! > She told Giles she would be in the library by seven so she could help research. “So much for that,” the blond mumbled under her breath.
Summer School classes had already started. All the students were safely tucked in their classrooms, with the exception of a few stragglers. Amy silently hoped that Principal Snyder would not see her running down the hallway towards the library. As a graduate, she was told never to step foot inside the building again. She didn’t really want to see what the punishment would be.
Letting go of breath she didn’t know she was holding, Amy walked up to the library’s entrance doors and pulled one of them open. “I’m so sorry, I totally slept--” she began, but cut her apology short when she saw who was in the library with Giles and Oz. She racked her brain, trying to remember the name of their ghostly visitor. “Drusilla?”
The librarian nodded. “Yes, this is her. She is here asking for our help, strangely enough.”
“Huh? I don’t understand. Why would she want our help? What can we do?” Amy asked. Giles stood up and walked over to one of the numerous bookshelves.
“I want to be with my Mummy and Daddy,” Drusilla replied with her typical pouty accent.
Amy’s eyes were pinned to her as millions of childhood ghost stories flashed in her mind. “You want to pass on,” she presumed quietly. Eagerly, Dru nodded. She looked more like a little girl than the menacing vampire she was known as. Still, Amy was cautious. “What can we do about it?”
Finally, Oz spoke up from his seat at the head research table. “What do we always do at times of crisis?” he asked rhetorically.
The witch smiled at the werewolf and they both answered in cheerful unison, “We research.”
“Slow down, Speedy. What’s your rush?” Cordelia called out. Angel turned his head to see Cordelia and Willow lagging behind him. Willow had stopped and put her hands on her knees. Both were breathless. Spike stopped walking when he reached Angel. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked up at the blazing sun.
“Now I know why I didn’t miss that bloody thing,” the blond mumbled.
Angel ignored him. “I told you I want to get there as soon as possible,” he said to Cordelia, glancing back towards the castle. The answer to their problems, the way home, was in those stone walls. Angel tried to convince himself that was why he was in such a hurry, but he knew it was a lie. < Buffy is there. She’s in danger. > Shaking his head, Angel pushed the thoughts to the back of his head.
“Can’t you risk losing a few minutes and save our lives?” Willow said between breaths.
“What’s wrong, love? Can’t handle the mission?” Spike asked as he threw Willow a smirk.
She smiled innocently and replied, “It’s just so hard to play ‘007’ when I don’t have that cool accent.”
Spike grinned and opened his mouth to reply when Angel cut in. “I’ll try to slow down,” he said. He glanced back and forth between Willow and Spike. Willow raised an eyebrow, as if daring Spike to proceed with his retort. Once again, the vampire opened his mouth to speak and was interrupted.
“Well, you try as much as you want. We’ll set our own pace,” Cordy replied. She linked her arm through Willow’s and smiled. “Besides, we have a few things we need to discuss.” All was forgotten as a look of horror crossed Willow’s face. Angel bit back laughter. < What could Cordelia possibly have to discuss with Willow? > He gave Willow a questioning look, but she just shrugged weakly. Angel glanced back at Spike.
“Ready to continue?”
Spike gave him a curt nod and walked past him on the path. Angel watched him go for a moment. As a human his memory faded, but he could still recall the times he spent around Spike and Drusilla. He would never forget the lives he took or the legacy he left behind. The guilt and shame that resulted from his acts as Angelus would forever hound his soul. Seeing Spike as a human did not make him feel much better. Sighing, Angel turned his attention back to the path and the brightly-lit castle before him. His thoughts were dark.
Willow shifted uncomfortably, but couldn’t break free from Cordelia’s death grip on her arm. “Uh, Cordelia? I’m kind of losing circulation.” The brunette ignored her remark and seemed to hold on tighter.
“So, when did you first realize that you liked him? Was it love at first sight, or more of a danger thing?” she asked finally.
Willow’s eyes widened. < Gee, Cordy, cut to the chase already. > “No, it wasn’t anything like that. It-it just sort of happened. And it’s not like I’m in love with him or anything. I just think he’s sweet and cute and I can’t believe I am actually having this conversation with you.” She took in Cordy’s stare and frowned. < Is it really that weird of a concept? > “Don’t give me that look. Weirder things have happened. I mean, look at you and Xander.”
“Don’t try to change to subject. Xander and I are irrelevant. This is about you and bleach boy.”
Willow grimaced as her cheeks flushed, “I really don’t want to talk about this.”
Cordelia frowned. “Carpe Diem, Will. This is your chance to attack.” Willow saw a gleam in Cordy’s eye and began to grow nervous. < Why did Cordelia have to be the one to figure it out? >
“I don’t want to hurt him. I kind of just want him to not wish me dead.” With her free arm, she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear thoughtfully. “You know, the last time someone told me to ‘seize the day’ I almost got killed by a vampire.” She winced when Cordelia pulled her to a halt. “What?”
The Slayerette let go of Willow’s arm and turned to face her. She crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow. “You don’t plan on doing anything about this, do you?” Willow shook her head slowly. “Well, then I will.” Cordelia began to walk towards the guys, but Willow grabbed her arm in a panic.
“NO!” Willow cried out. She glanced over to see that both Angel and Spike had stopped walking and were giving them questioning glances. Luckily, Cordelia just motioned for them to continue walking. As soon as they were far enough away, Willow began her explanation. “It’s… complicated.” Cordelia raised her eyebrow again, causing Willow to continue, “Well, for one, I still don’t know what’s going on with Oz. Sure, he’s a werewolf a few days out of the month, but I really like him. I might even love him, and I don’t want to ruin things with him again. It’s just that he keeps throwing me through all these loops. Oh, then there’s that other thing.”
“What other thing?” Cordelia demanded.
“Oh, you know, the thing being that Spike’s a blood-sucking vampire. A bad one. And to top it all off his skanky, dead, invisible girlfriend is haunting him and telling him to do bad things. I can’t help but ask myself if I need that in my life.”
Cordelia tilted her head to the side, considering Willow’s words. After about two seconds of careful consideration, she said, “I still think you should tell him.”
Willow groaned in exasperation. “I still think you’re insane, but that doesn’t seem to matter. Does it?” she pointed out, surprised again by her actions.
Cordelia glared at her, then sighed. “Fine. I won’t say anything. I really think you should consider doing something though.”
Willow relaxed and followed Cordelia on the path. < Not in this lifetime. >