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Date Posted: 22:08:23 08/08/02 Thu
Author: WillowX
Author Host/IP: AC9DEEA4.ipt.aol.com / 172.157.238.164
Subject: Children of the Earth (8/10) Part 1

Title: Children of the Earth, Chapter 8 of 10
Author: WillowX
Feedback: Ok...its confession time. I'm a ...a...feedback JUNKIE!!! Please let me know what you think, email at willowxbvsb@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17
Classification/Pairing: B/W romance
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox. The only thing that I own is my laptop and remote control.
Summary: This story picks up precisely where chapter 7 ended. This chapter contains spoilers for all Buffy episodes that have aired.

Chapter 8
A Great Sorceress in Training

The air was hot and the room was dimly lit by candlelight. The shadows of our bodies danced on the walls as the low whispering of her tears filled the air. A few feet away from me she sat in a chair with her hands tied behind her back and her head bowed forward in exhaustion, her long blonde hair covering her face. Strands of golden hair swaying back and forth with each of her labored breaths. She was muttering under her voice softly.

God I hate her�.

�W-why are y-you doing this to m-me?� She asked as she lifted her head slowly, revealing her torn lip and black eye.

�Cause I hate fucking gullible people!� I say through gritted teeth. She looks at me in anguish and I raise my hand over my head. In a downward scratching motion I rip my fingernails through the empty air. Brand new bloody scratches appear on her face. Ain�t magic cool?

�Ahhhhhh�� She bellows.

�Take it easy there Baby Doll. We don�t want to kill the bitch �well � not yet at least.� Rack called over my shoulder. I turned to look at him sprawled out on his sofa. His eyes crackling with magic.

�Don�t steal my thunder Hun�.I�m on a roll here.� I moan back at him.

�Oh�I�d never steal your thunder Baby Doll. I just don�t want big daddy mad at us again.� He explained with a lazy grin. Ok�so he had a point. Methos is not someone to toy with.

I shrug my shoulders and turn to look at the pathetic excuse for a Witch that�s crying before me. �Hey�girlie girl�why so many tears? I thought dikes were tough!�

�W-why did you trick me? Y-you could have just t-taken me�w-why did you s-show me those false visions?� She asked softly between tears. I walk up to her and take her chin into my right hand. Bringing her face up, I lift her eyes to my level and lean in closely to whisper into her mouth.

�Because the look of pain and anguish on your face was priceless! The hurt�.was un-fucking-believable. I loved it!� I finished with an evil grin. �Besides,� I drop her face again with disgust, turn, and walk away from her �it wasn�t a false vision, more of an alternate reality. You see little dumpling, reality is a tricky thing. Our form of reality is built on the decisions and actions that are taken on a daily basis. It�s the little details that set the course of our existence. Somewhere along the line someone did something to royally fuck everything up. What I showed you�.that was just what reality would have been had you remained in Willow�s life.� I watched in ecstasy as her expression stiffened.

�Yes�that�s right�isn�t it nice to know you inspire evil? Isn�t nice to know you bring out the worse in people?� The look on her face was fantastic. Such fear. Such sadness. Such hurt.

�That�s n-not true. W-willow would never do that.� She cries.

�Oh�but it is. In case you haven�t noticed Sunshine, Willow is one bad ass Witch. She�s got mad power but refuses to use it. You�ve been holding her back. It�s because of you that I sat in cage for 3 years. But everything is going to change now. When she finds out you�re here and comes to get you, we will be ready.� I pause for a moment and smile. I love that everything is going as planned. Soon Willow will be evil and with her help the Hellmouth will be opened.

�Your death is just a sacrifice for the cause. You should consider yourself a martyr. Be proud�the World will end and you�re the catalyst.�

�W-Willow won�t let that happen.� She said softly. Hmph�who is she kidding? I walk towards her slowly and crouch in front of her.

�Willow is powerful�but not nearly powerful enough to defeat the three of us.� Her eyes widened in curiosity. �You didn�t think I�d do this on my own did ya? I got mad power backing me up too. Why is it everybody always underestimates me?� I ask sarcastically, pleased at the outcome of our conversation. I�m gonna work on her so hard she�s gonna wanna kill herself.

She looked up into my eyes again and held my gaze. Her eyes still. �Amy?� She asked softly.

�What?� I growl.

�You�re not the only one who�s underestimated.� She said in a cold tone. Just then her body was engulfed in a swirl of mystical energy and she disappeared.

�WHERE THE FUCK DID SHE GO?� I screamed appalled. Rack is chuckling hysterically behind me.

�Ohhh you�re in wicked trouble now. You just lost our wild card.� He said between chuckles.

�Did she disappear? That bitch can teleport?� I ask astounded and infuriated.

�Yep�and she didn�t even stutter before she left!� Rack said still giggling. I felt the anger consume me. His laid back attitude towards everything was beginning to get old. I felt my expression change as the power took over. With one swift move I blew his body across the room. He crashed against the walls shaking their very foundation. Seconds later he stood with his own eyes black with magic ready to attack.

�Don�t forget what your place is Rack.� I warned. He stood before me with threatening eyes taking deep vicious breaths. We stared at each other fiercely. After a few minutes he backed down and returned with an angry growl to the sofa. I turned again to look at the empty chair. The only sign of her presence were the ropes that had bound her hands.

�Run Sunshine. Run�.cause when I find you �you�ll learn what pain really is.� I called out into the empty air.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My body re-appeared in a cloud of crackling magic. I felt the sensation of weightlessness as I plummeted through the air and landed on my back hard on the pavement. The fall was perhaps 10 or 15 feet and I landed with a crushing bang. My nose was bloody and my head spinning with agony. My throat instantly filled with blood and it was impossible for me to breathe. I rolled over on my stomach throwing up blood. My blood. My lungs screaming for air� I thought I was going to choke�drown in a pool of my own blood� die alone as a person that inspires evil should.

Yeah I definitely need to work the kinks out of this whole teleporting thing.

I opened my eyes examining my surroundings carefully. It was dark and cold. In the distance I could see the faint glow of the Sunnydale City lights. I had teleported clear out of Sunnydale in the middle of the desert. I have to get back. I have to warn Willow. I have to warn Buffy. Amy is evil. Rack is helping her. They�re going to open the Hellmouth.

I felt my eyes glaze over as the exhaustion took over and my body reluctantly gave in. The pain was to great and the fatigue to powerful. Maybe if I just close my eyes for a minute I can gather the strength to get up. Oh Goddess�please give me the strength to get up. Please�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My heart is aching. I can�t bear to watch any longer. The pain in my chest is overwhelming. I can�t breath. I can�t think. I can�t watch.

�Anya!� Xander said interrupting my thoughts.

�What?� I yelped nearly falling off the chair from fright.

�Look sweetheart. If you don�t want to watch the movie we can take it off. Dawn and I have seen �Aliens� a thousand times already.� He explained with his big concerned puppy dog eyes. I loved his eyes. Oh and his muscular body. I loved that too. I loved when he wore his cute construction person hat and walked around ordering workers around. It was moments like that I pictured him naked with�.

�Anya!� He interrupted again. �You�re getting that look that scares me.� He finished.

�It�s this movie it�s disgusting!!!! I was a vengeance demon for over eleven hundred years and never ONCE did I do something as revolting as this! Creepy, slimy, yucki, parasite infesting, chest busting, bunny wannabes!� Ughhh�just uggghhhh.

�For the last time�.IT�S A MOVIE!!!� Xander said. Dawn fell on the floor laughing waiving her arms and legs around in a swimming like motion. Ohhh she�s gonna get it now.

�Are you laughing at me again Missy?� I ask in a threatening yet humorous tone. I am trying to be playful.

�Bunny Wannabes!!!� Dawn screamed between giggle attacks. I walk over to where she is, stomping and swinging my arms like a monster.

�Arrrghh Arrrgghhh !!! Now you shall be tickled to death by the Tickle Demon.� I screamed playfully.

�Oh No!! Not the Tickle Demon!!!� Xander squealed playing along. The mere thought made Dawn run for the bedroom. Ha! I got her! I knew I could still scare children. Nice to know I still got what it takes.

She returned, however, armed with two pillows. Yikes!

�PILLOW FIGHT!!!!!� She screamed at the top of her lungs. Oh boy�I hated those. I always managed to get my butt pillowed to death.

The first swing hit Xander in the back of the head just as he was eating a handful of popcorn. His face turned into a popcorn spray! Projectile popcorning! A piece stuck on my forehead. THAT�S IT! I have spit on my face! She�s going down!

I sprinted in her direction to which she responded with a high pitched screech. Sort of like the sound of eels mating. Xander got up to grab his own artillery�. Sofa cushions! An all out war was sprung as the sounds of soft pillows slicing through the air, Dawn�s giggles, and Xander�s huffing and puffing were the only things heard�.until the loud knock at the door that is.

We froze�.the neighbors�they probably heard us struggling. I walked over to the door quickly trying to catch my breath. When I opened the door there stood Spike. Awesome�more pillows to go around.

�Spike! Hey�you�re just in time�.we�re having a pillow fight. Please come in, you can help us get Dawnie.� I said cheerfully. His eyes had a strange gleam in them.

�With pleasure luv.� He growled as he walked in past the doors. The next thing I felt was his strong hand grip the back of my neck. He picked me right off the floor and threw me across the room. I felt my body hit the wall and fall hard on the floor. I looked up as Xander and Dawn�s expressions changed from happy carefree fun to horrified betrayal.

Xander quickly took the offensive, running towards Spike to through a punch. With one dismissive swing Xander�s body was sent catapulting into the air. I watched in horror and unable to move as his head banged against the edge of the nearby table. Xander was out cold.

Dawn stood in the corner shaking from fear. She was covering her face with the same pillow she so predominantly swung as a mighty weapon a few seconds ago. Spike walked right up to her and ripped the pillow from her hands throwing it aside.

�Guess what little bint? I�m here to bore you to death with my meaningless threats.� He said to her sarcastically. Just then he reached out and grabbed a hand full of her hair, yanked upward really hard, and lifted Dawns body off the ground completely. Once she was dangling at eye level he growled into her face �I wonder if you taste like she does. Are you a screamer too Nibblette?� He asked. Dawn was crying hysterically, her face contorted in pain. Just as easily as he had lifted her, he let his arm drop and Dawn�s body crash against the floor. He dragged her behind him as he walked through the apartment. Dawn�s body convulsing in tears and pain. He paused a few steps away from me.

�Tell the Slayer if she wants to get the little bint back to meet me tomorrow at midnight at our love nest.� He chuckled evilly right before he walked out, banging Dawn�s body against the doorways as he made his exit.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My life is like a soup opera. Just when you think the story is nearing its end�.it begins again�.and always with a new twist. Hope just told us that we are descendants of a race of super humans�.I�m unclear as to the details. Not sure if I�m a descendant or a reincarnation. Either way�this is why Buffy and I are becoming stronger.

The great danger that Hope came to warn us about is a man by the name of Methos. The minute I heard that name I recognized it instantly. I spent endless nights reading of him�infinite hours on the web researching his name�countless days wishing I could travel through time to find him to ask for his help.

�I know that name.� I reply to Hope a little bemused.

�Yes. You do.� She conceded.

�Did I miss something here?� Buffy asked.

�Methos is the name of the last Sorcerer to have performed the resurrection spell. But I don�t understand�that was centuries ago.� I explained to Buffy.

�That is correct my child. Methos performed that spell centuries ago �� She looked at me with a steady gaze as if expecting me to figure it out any minute. �He used it to resurrect me! I am of the Children of the Moon�and Methos is my other half.� She finished with distinct sadness in her eyes.

Buffy and I were dumbfounded. My mouth was gapping open as a myriad of questions flooded my brain. So this is the source of Hopes powers. Methos is her other half. But why are we in danger? Why would Methos want to hurt us? Why was Hope afraid of him?

�Six thousand years ago I died.� She began to explain slowly, �Methos resurrected me using the soul joining spell. Back then there was no one to explain to us what had happened. To explain to us what we had become. We spent years piecing together the history of our making from our visions. Who we were�what our purpose was�why our powers grew every day. The answers to all these questions took decades to reveal themselves. Slowly we learned of our unique bond and the advantages that were afforded to us because of it. Separate we were powerful�together we were unstoppable. For decades we aided in the battle against evil. Setting right what was once wrong. Making the world a better place.�

�What happened to him?� Buffy asked afraid. I knew what she was thinking. I knew what she was fearing. I was fearing it myself.

�Oh little one.� Hope said near tears, �Like I said�with great power comes great corruption and chaos. Methos grew accustomed to the control. He yearned for it�.desired it more than anything else. The more power he possessed the more he wanted. With the years he grew fearless�.we were the strongest beings on Earth. Our powers were unmatched. That�s when we discovered the truth�. The truth about the Slayers and their true origin as Children of the Earth. Methos grew fearful. He knew that the joining of a Child of the Earth would dethrone him. He had foreseen his fall from power at the hands of the Children of the Earth. Intent on preventing this from happening he formed an organization to oversee and monitor the activities of the current Slayer.�

�The Council!� Buffy growled.

�That is correct. With the pretence of assisting the Slayer�s in their battles against evil he convinced himself that what he was doing was not wrong. I allowed it because I couldn�t bear to live without him and we were still fighting evil.� She said sadly.

�But three centuries ago in England, the Slayer at the time fell in love with a peasant girl. The girl was powerful and I saw their connection right away. Methos noticed it too and had them both assassinated. I confronted him and we battled. It was a long struggle that lasted weeks. But alas�we were each others match. Unable to overpower him or his Council I disappeared�cloaked myself from him�shielded my thoughts permanently. Vanished.� Hope paused for a moment and closed her eyes. A light blue tint covered her body and her appearance began to change. Almost instantly her form shifted and altered. Pudgy wrinkly fingers morphed into youthful sensual hands. Her heavy exterior shrunk forming a new lean beautiful body. Her gray streaked hair turned crimson red and grew in volume. When the transformation was complete she looked absolutely amazing. Her skin was milky white and her eyes were a beautiful shade of green. She turned to Buffy slowly and said, �Not such an old hag anymore, huh little one?�

Her appearance had changed, her voice had changed, but her eyes were the same, filled with knowledge and fright. She reminded me of that actress�Julianne Moore. I was unable to stop the words before they trickled out of my mouth �You�re beautiful.� I said softly. Buffy�s eyes widened in hurt as the words reached her ears. I couldn�t understand why. Surely she wasn�t jealous of Hope.

�The haggard appearance was part of my disguise. More for me than for him. I couldn�t stand to look at myself. I had been so weak.� She said disgusted with herself. She paused holding back tears. Buffy and I were still speechless, waiting patiently for Hope to continue her story.

�For centuries I hid quietly in the shadows, praying to the Gods for the day someone powerful enough to stop him came along, praying for my torment to finally end� until the day my prayers were answered. The power emanating from you was unbelievable my child. I had been sensing you for years. Fearing that he would sense you too I shielded your aura from him. About a year ago, right before you died little one, Willow�s powers had grown so strong that I could sense her every feeling. Her pain when you died was overwhelming and all consuming. I knew then she was the one and my shield would no longer be able to hide her. Mind you�this display of power was still before your souls had even joined.� She finished pointedly.

�You hear that baby? You are one mega Witch!� Buffy said looking at me amused.

�She is not a Witch!� Hope interrupted harshly. Buffy turned to her suddenly.

�It is important that you both understand. I�ve heard this term used to refer to all people who posses mystical powers�it is not so. A Witch, by definition, is a person whose power derives from evil sources. Black magic! You�re powers, my child, were bestowed upon you by the Gods themselves. It is not the power that is bad� it�s what you decide to do with it that is the determining factor. Methos was good�but he used his power for evil. You are good my child and you must decide what your powers stand for. Who you are. But if you deny yourself�.you will be doomed.�

Just then the kitchen door burst open suddenly. We looked at each other startled and a split second later Faith runs into the dinning room. She looked afraid and short of breath, as if she�d been running forever.

�B the shit just hit the fan.� Faith said in between gasps.

�What happened Faith?� Buffy responded getting up from the table suddenly.

�I just witnessed an undead pep rally. The leader of the group, a thin blonde vampire with a British accent, was hell bent on swimming in your blood.�

�Spike!� I growl. But Buffy shook her head at me.

�Spike can�t hurt anything remember?� She said doubtfully.

�I don�t know the dudes name but I dipped out of there when he started talking about getting nibblettes.� Faith said afraid. The word hung in the air like a threat. I sensed Buffy�s body tense. She turned slowly and looked at Faith.

�Nibblette? What about a Nibblette? What were his words exactly?� She asked carefully.

�He said something about settling for a nibblette until he could have you.� Faith explained confused.

�Dawn!� Buffy groaned underneath her breath. She ran to the kitchen to get the phone. Faith looked puzzled to say the least.

�What�s up? What�s wrong?� She asked me confused.

�That�s what Spike calls Dawn.� I explain.

�Dawn??? Who the hell�s Dawn?� She asked again. The question surprised me. How could Faith not know who Dawn is?

�Dawn, Faith�.. Buffy�s sister.� I responded annoyed.

�Sister? What? What I�d I do miss a season or something? Since when does B have a sister? And while we�re at it, who the hell are you?� She asked even more confused looking at Hope. I couldn�t believe what I was hearing. Is it possible that Faith not know who Dawn is? What�s going on here?

�Master Yoda, remember?� Hope responded with a slow smile.

�Yeah�. right�.I forgot how fucked up this place was.� Faith said as she sat down shaking her head.

Buffy walked back into the dinning room with a look of anguish on her face. �Willow our phone is off the hook. I�m going upstairs.� She turned and took off.

Faith, Hope and I sat quietly at the dinning room table waiting for Buffy. My brain was overwhelmed with questions. So many things happened all at once. Why was Faith here? Why didn�t she know who Dawn was? I mean, theoretically, the monks should have rebuilt Dawn into everyone�s memory, right?

�What are you looking at?� Faith asked Hope in a threatening tone. Apparently, Hope had been staring at Faith for a while. Hope chuckled a little at the tone of the question.

�You. I�m looking at you. You are conflicted. The evil in you is great and you are at a constant struggle against it.� Hope said to Faith. Immediately Faith�s eyes softened. For once in her life someone recognized her battle. Her true battle. The one that tore her apart inside day after day. Sensing the loss of animosity, Hope leaned forward and whispered, �Continue fighting hard and you will receive your compensation.� She assured her.

Buffy re-appeared with a tormented face. She was wearing her favorite pair of jeans and one of my t-shirts. A burgundy colored one with the number eleven on it. It was my new favorite shirt. I wore it all the time. �There�s no answer at Xander�s place. This could be bad. Faith, you come with me. Willow, I need you and Hope to set up a de-invite on the house. If it�s really Spike we don�t want him popping over unexpected.� She said in full Slayer mode. Noticing that I was looking at her outfit she walked up to me, leaned down, kissed my cheek lightly, and whispered �Just wanted to take a piece of you with me. Is that ok?�

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I watched her eyes as she heard the question come out of my mouth. It touched her. The mere thought touched her. But I needed it. I needed to smell her on me�to help me get through this. I needed to feel her with me at all times. She nodded slowly and I heard Faith tapping her foot impatiently behind me.

�I love you Will.� I whispered to her before I turned. �Let�s go.�

I took the lead down the hall. Tonight is turning out to be the longest night ever but I was awake. Wait�I wasn�t awake�.I was afraid. It was fear that kept my eyes open and my blood pumping. When I opened the door to walk out, there stood Xander and Anya. Anya was holding Xander up. His face was bloody and he had a sling tied around his arm.

�We�ve been trying to call you for the last 30 minutes.� Xander said weakly.

�What happened? Where�s Dawn?� I say shuddering in shock.

�Spike�. He took her.� Anya responded slowly. I felt the world spin out of control. My greatest fear had just been realized.

I stepped out quickly and helped them back in. Xander was all bloody and he was moaning softly in pain. Anya walked with a limp and her eyes were swollen from tears. We made our way into the living room. Willow, Hope, and Faith walked in afterwards. The minute Faith walked in�.chaos ensued again.

�Buffy watch out it�s Faith!� Xander screamed as he pushed me aside to protect me. Why he thought he needed to protect me I�ll never understand. I just loved him for it.

�It�s ok Xand. She�s here to help.� I explain.

�Faith�.what Faith? Faith �I slept with her once� Faith? Faith �She was my first time� Faith? That Faith?� Anya blurted out nervously.

�Umm�yes Anya. That Faith.� Xander conceded slowly.

�As amusing as this exchange can become, there are more important things at hand. What happened with Dawn and Spike?� Willow interrupted before Anya went off on one of her jealous tangents.

�He pulled her out of our apartment by her hair, as if she was some sort of rag doll. Banging her body against furniture and walls along the way. Before he left he said that if you wanted to see her again you had to meet him tomorrow at midnight at your love nest.� Anya explained using a little too much detail. She had a way of doing that sometimes. Foregoing everyone�s feelings and going straight for the detail over-kill.

�Love nest?� Faith questioned. She wasn�t the sharpest knife in the kitchen but she never missed any comment with sexual innuendo in it.

I turned to Willow concerned. Her eyes were full of fright as well. This was the last thing we needed now. Things were bad enough as it is.

�The abandoned building�the one with the falling walls.� I explained to Willow answering her mental question. It was the only detail I had given her of that night. I knew what she was thinking and I saw how her eyes hid the pain at the sound of the words �love nest� hanging in the air.

�Love Nest? Why would he call an abandoned building your love nest?� Xander asked, the realization of the question still hadn�t hit him. I paused and looked at him steady. The look was enough. He saw the answer in my eyes and I saw the response in his.

Pain.

Lots of it.

�WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?� He screamed at the top of his lungs. �Am I the only one here with an ounce of common sense? The vampires are the bad guys. This is what happens when you forget who the bad guys are!!� He screamed. All his frustrations leaked out unexpectedly and his words cut through me like a hot knife. This WAS all my fault. Me. I had forgotten who the bad guys were.

�Xander. It�s time you back off.� Willow warned.

�Did you know about this Will? Did you?� He asked Willow hurt. She nodded affirmatively.

�Of course you did. I�m the one that is always left out of the loop. Xander doesn�t need to know. Xander is not important. Xander can�t help. I�M SICK OF IT!� He screamed at Willow at the top of his lungs. He turned to me again, �You and me�we talked for hours on your birthday. I told you about everything. I thought we were friends again. But you kept this from me. Like you keep everything. That�s what I am to this group�nothing.� He said between pants. The blood from the cut on his forehead was bleeding again. It ran a trail over his eye down the side of his face. Each drop a reminder of the attack from earlier that night.

�B�. you bagged yourself another vamp??? Alright!!! High five!� Faith interrupted. With that Xander turned and decked her with his good arm. Faith didn�t move right away. But when she did Xander must have wished that Spike had killed him. With one swift move she kicked him in the crotch. I saw as Xander doubled over in pain. Moaning and groaning at the same time. Just then a flash of blonde hair darted over him as I saw Anya lunge at Faith. Scratching and pulling hair. I don�t know what the hell it is about Faith, but chaos and confusion always follow her around.

Willow turned to the scene before her with a stern expression �Enough. Separate.� She said in a deep tone as her eyes crackled with magic. Anya and Faith flew back in opposite directions.

�Everyone be quiet. What is wrong with you? Dawn is in danger! And we�re here fighting amongst ourselves??? Pull it together people�or you leave NOW!� Willow said sternly. Her voice echoing through the house.

�Buffy�Faith�both of you � go check out Spike�s haunts. Hope� you tend to Xander and Anya�s injuries. I�ll put up the protection spell.� She instructed firmly. Willow had taken control. She was right�now wasn�t the time for petty arguments. I smile a little internally� I liked control Willow.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Have you ever dreamt that you�re falling? Sitting on the ledge of a building and suddenly you get shoved off. Your body plummets through the sky, slicing a path through the air as you spiral down. Then suddenly you wake with a jolt, with your stomach in knots and your chest constricted� all caused by the sensation of falling.

That�s how I feel right now. Like I fell.

Buffy and Faith were out yesterday until 5:00 A.M. looking for Dawn. They didn�t find her or Spike. Willie told them that Spike had gotten his chip removed. Warren was the one who helped him do it. Willie says Spike broke Warren�s neck but not before he snacked on him. Then he rounded up a team of vampires to work for him. They�re sole purpose�.to kill the Slayer.

Buffy didn�t sleep at all last night. Even when she finally laid next to me she was tossing and turning. Her mind was clouded and her heart broken. I tried talking to her and she ignored me. I tried cuddling with her and she turned away. She�s been up for over 24 hours straight and tonight will be a tough fight. Exhaustion is a scary thing. She can�t afford to be distracted. But nothing I tried soothed her.

The house has turned into Scooby Central. Xander, Anya, Hope and Faith all slept over last night. Hope healed Xander and Anya�s injuries. And I�m not talking about disinfectant and bandaids�nope�she healed them with her powers. It was really amazing. Bruises disappeared and cuts sealed miraculously. This morning she was up by 7:30 A.M. calling me with her mind. She says it�s time I learn what being a Sorceress is�

�Close your eyes my child.� She said standing in the center of the yard. The sun was rising behind her and the morning was crisp.

�Ok�they are closed.� I said to her as the soft breeze of the morning air was blowing across my face.

�Open your mind to the world. Listen with your heart. What do you feel?� She asked.

�I can only feel you Hope�and � and � you�re frustrated.� I said with a pout, eyes still closed.

�Try again my child. Reach out with your heart. What do you feel?� Her voice strong and mellow at the same time.

�Ugghhh�now you�re disappointed.� I conceded playfully, eyes still closed. She did not answer but seconds later I felt a burst of energy hit me in the chest. I was knocked clear off my feet.

�What was that for?� I yelled.

�You�re not paying attention. Your life and the lives of the people you love will depend on the lessons you learn today. LISTEN.� She scolded.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There is nothing to eat in this house. Nothing at all. Jeez�you�d think there�d be something. For God�s sake, a Slayer lives here. Slayer�s can eat all they want.

�Looks like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all around.� I told Xander. He was sitting at the kitchen counter. The animosity from last night had died down but he was still being cautious. In walked Ms. Tact.

�Seven hundred and thirty times.� Was the first thing she said to me when she walked in. What?

�Huh?�

�Seven hundred and thirty times. We�ve had sex seven hundred and thirty times. You had sex with him only once. Me�seven hundred and thirty � you� one!� She finished proud at her calculations. Yeah�this bitch was nuts.

�Anya!� Xander interrupted, �Seven hundred and thirty times for real?� He finished intrigued. They were both idiots. Just then Buffy walked into the kitchen looking like death.

�How long have they been out there?� She asked Xander referring to Hope and Willow.

�A little over three hours.� Xander responded kind of dry. Buffy looked at him steady. I might have been gone for two years but I remember the way this group works. They need each other more than anything else. Regardless how helpless Xander felt�Buffy needed him just as much as he needed her. Even I could see that.

�Xander�� Buffy started to say.

�I know.� Was his response. She smiled and gave him a small hug.

�Hands�hands�I need to see hands?� Anya said interrupting the Kodak moment.

�Did the monks make you too?� I ask her annoyed. Buffy had explained the sibling situation to me yesterday. The moment the words came out of my mouth I regretted them. Buffy�s eyes changed. Pain engulfed her again. Me and my fucking big mouth.

�B�I�m sorry�� I tried to say but she cut me off harshly.

�It�s ok. I�m going upstairs for a while.� She responded. With that she was gone and I was left with dumb and dumber again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Continued in Part 2

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