Children of the Earth Chapter 10 Part 2 -- **The Buffyverse Fanfic Board**

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Date Posted: 20:58:10 11/19/02 Tue
Author: WillowX
Author Host/IP: adsl-34-192-186.bct.bellsouth.net / 67.34.192.186
Subject: Children of the Earth Chapter 10 Part 2

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

The sound of tires screeching made my whole body goose bump. Ugghh�I really really really hated that sound. My eyes were sealed tightly in fear as I felt the gusts of wind coming through the windows blowing my long blonde hair around the car. My fingernails were gripping the seat as I opened my left eye slowly and cautiously�afraid of what I would see. What in the world possessed Willow to send me somewhere in a CAR with ANYA driving?

�I thought you said you�ve driven before.� I asked frightened.

�Yes. I have�� Anya said with a nervous smile �once!� She finished.

My eyes bugged out of my head!

�Don�t look so afraid Tara� I already know that the left pedal makes it stop abruptly.� She said as she slammed her foot on the floor of the car to demonstrate. The engine revved thunderously and we accelerated with a jump.

�Your left!! YOUR left Anya!! Not the pedal�s left!!� I added with a scream.

�Oh. Right. Of course.� She said as she smiled broadly. She had a sort of maniacal suicidal look on her face.

�Anya, close the windows I can�t read the book with the pages all blowy.� I instructed trying my best to hide the fear in my voice. Anya nodded at my request and flipped a switch on the driver�s side door � all the car doors unlocked at once!

�Ok. Forget the reading. I can read when we get home.� If we get home! �IF we get home� would be a more accurate statement.

I found the books that Willow wanted from the Magic Box. We would have been home sooner except that Anya made me fill out an IOU card seeing as how I didn�t have any money on me. She actually keeps a shoebox full of IOUs from all of us�sometimes I just wonder about her.

�Would you like to hear �?� Anya began to ask but I couldn�t make out the ending of the question over the sound of the wind roaring.

�WHAT?� I screamed.

�Music! As in a melody, rhythm, tune, song�you know, for your auditory pleasure.� She finished with a crazy smile and head bob.

�What are you a book of synonyms often including related, contrasting words, and antonyms?� I asked with a pinch of sarcasm. Hey�I can too be sarcastic. I was making fun of her literal matter of speech. You get it? Sheesh ... that was a bigger bomb than my insect refection joke.

Anya blinked at me blankly for a few minutes. I shook my head and turned to face the road again. Suddenly I got a glimpse of someone. A woman�running towards us on the road and Anya was swerving the car in that direction.

�ANYA WATCH IT!!!� I screamed pointing in the direction of the pedestrian.

Anya hit the break pedal, the correct one this time, and gripped the steering wheel with both hands as if preparing for the impact. I flinched again at the sound of the tires screeching against the pavement. We were too close. There was no way we wouldn�t hit her. Just as I had mentally concluded this� the woman jumped, ran over the hood of the car, onto the roof, and down the back. I turned to watch her land safely on the ground. Once the car had stopped completely, Anya and I hurried out to check on her. She was kneeling behind the car on the exact same spot where she had landed. It looked like�

�Buffy?� I asked softly. Buffy stood and turned around. Her eyes were filled with rage and she was panting fiercely with her chest expanding and contracting at an exaggerated rate.

�You nearly ran me over you idiot!� She screamed at Anya.

�And you nearly put a Slayer size dent in my boyfriend�s car!� Anya said defending herself.

�Buffy...� I began to say.

�Where�s Willow?� She barked harshly cutting me off.

�We left her at the house.� Anya responded.

�You left her alone? What were you thinking?� Buffy barked at her.

�After you left, Hope disappeared, and Willow became suspicious of her. She sent us to the Magic Box to get some books about Methos she had seen there.� I explained.

�Where�s Xander?� Anya asked afraid.

�He�s with Faith.� Buffy responded.

�FAITH! Ah! You were supposed to be with them. You�re the lesbian chaperone! I can�t believe you left my Xander with that hussy! I�� Anya was about to keep going but the look on Buffy�s eyes stopped her. Something wasn�t right.

�What�s wrong Buffy? What happened? Where�s Dawn?� I asked cautiously.

�I don�t know. Spike never showed up and I�ve lost contact with Willow.� She responded.

�Then there�s no time to waste. We should get to the house as soon as possible.� I concluded.

�I�m driving.� Anya chimed.

�Not a chance!� Buffy said as she took the keys from Anya. Anya stood still blinking blindly again. She was about to protest when I shook my head pointing at Buffy with my lips.

�Ok then. I got shotgun!� Anya announced instead.

The three of us got into the car again. I sat in the back seat and reached for the seat belt. This was going to be a bumpy ride.

�Anya?� Buffy asked with a scary look on her face and Anya looked at her attentively. �Maybe not today�maybe not tomorrow�but when this is all over, I�m gonna hide a bunny somewhere where you least expect it�I promise!�

Anya�s eyes bugged out of her head. Deciding that perhaps silence was the best way to go she turned slowly. Who says that threats don�t work?

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

We watched the Summer�s residence closely from across the street. Sometimes the accuracy of Methos� predictions astounded me. He foresaw that Willow would be alone and she was. He foresaw that Spike had turned evil again and he had. He foresaw that Spike would try to abduct Willow and he did. Finally, he foresaw that Willow will bring forth Armageddon and� well�that�s why we�re here � to stop that from happening.

When we arrived a few minutes ago he was already inside the house. I could see him through the windows.

�Mr. Giles?� Witherspoon asked with a slight jitter. I looked over at him annoyed. I�ve asked him to be quiet repeatedly. The last thing we need is to announce our presence.

�What?� I whispered back.

�There are two vampires. Two! And that is not including the vicious one inside...umm�Spear or Lance or whatever his name is.� He said nervously.

�Spike! His name is Spike.� I said correcting him. Spike�s name was not to be forgotten.

�Yes. Of course. Spike. Lovely. I should have known you�d be on a first name basis with all the killers of this wretched town.� Witherspoon said distastefully. I caught his inference of my personal relationship with Willow and shot him an angry glare.

�You�re skating on thin ice Witherspoon.� I warned.

�Yes well � regardless ... Three! There are three vampires! We must abort the extraction mission. Methos will understand.� He concluded.

�If you think I�m leaving without her your mad. Lord knows what he intends to do with her.� I muttered without taking my eyes off the house.

�Perhaps it�s for the best. If he takes care of her then we won�t have too.� He said.

I turned suddenly and gripped his neck. �Let�s get one thing straight Witherspoon. I don�t like you. Never have, actually. The only reason I agreed to this was to stop Willow before she did something she would regret. She hasn�t done anything wrong yet and if I hear you repeat what you just implied again I�ll deliver you to Spike myself.�

I released my grip around his neck and Witherspoon began coughing vigorously. �Be quiet!� I scolded again.

�No� by all means� make a lot of noise. I like it when they scream!� I heard the rough voice say from behind. I turned slowly to see one of Spike�s vampires standing behind us. The vampire snarled as he appreciated the expression of surprise on our faces.

�Oh. Oh� please don�t� don�t hurt us� we were just...� Witherspoon began to whine.

�Oh for God�s sake would you bloody shut up you blithering idiot!� I said cutting him off. Reaching into my jacket I pulled out a hand held crossbow. Aiming the weapon at the vampire�s heart I shot out a stake the size of a pencil. In a matter of seconds he was gone. Dust!

�Look Witherspoon now that there are only two you can stop soiling your knickers.� I whispered under my breath sarcastically while returning my attention to the home. A few seconds later Spike walked out carrying Willow over his shoulder. The other vampire was at his side. Willow seemed to lay lifeless over his shoulder. Like a rag doll with arms and legs fluttering all over� I feared the worse.

�Are you ready?� I asked Witherspoon. He nodded nervously in agreement. I handed him the crossbow and we proceeded with our plan.

Staggering out onto Spike�s path I began mumbling, �Oh Spike!! Thank heavens. We�ve been looking for you. It�s Buffy. She needs your help. What? What happened to Willow?�

Spike smiled broadly. He looked like a child who just found another gift under the Christmas Tree. �Well well well. Been looking for me, have you? You�re going to wish you never found me.�

Before Spike knew what had hit him I pulled the stun riffle I�d been shielding from under my overcoat. I shocked Spike and he quickly dropped Willow. Simultaneously, Witherspoon shot the other vampire with the hand held crossbow. Once Willow was on the floor I continued shocking Spike until he lost consciousness. The vampire that Witherspoon was supposed to have killed was choking him. I pulled a spare stake from my coat and dusted him myself. Witherspoon lay on the floor holding his throat.

�Are you alright?� I asked moderately concerned. He started grunting as I walked away from him��he was fine. Willow was lying lifeless on the floor. I knelt over her body and felt her pulse. She was still alive but unconscious.

�Come on. We have to get her back to Methos before it�s too late.� I advised Witherspoon as I put Willow over my shoulder. I sigh relieved. We found her just in time to make everything right. Just in time to stop her.

�What do we do with the vampire?� Witherspoon asked. I thought about it for a moment. What did Spike deserve?

We dragged his body to a nearby tree� out of sight. I reached into my bag and found the metal shackles we brought along in case Willow resisted. I used the shackles to tie him securely to the tree.

�Tomorrow ... when the sun rises ... he will get what he deserves.� I concluded.

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

The drive home seemed to last forever. Every street corner, every house, every car was a reminder of how far away from her I was when she needed me. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have listened to Hope? Willow should have been with me. By my side� where I could have defended her � protected her � taken care of her.

When we finally arrived the front door of the house was wide open and all the lights were on. I don�t remember parking the car or getting out. The only thing I remember is standing at the door of the house. I heard a slight rustling coming from the kitchen and quickly made my way there. Once I got there my heart stopped. Literally stopped.

�You!� I said in disgust. Hope was kneeling over Dawn�s body on the floor � her eyes black with magic. Her hands were bloody and I could hear Dawn�s painful whimpers.

�Buffy�I�she...� Hope began to explain as I charged towards her. With one swift swing of my fist Hope�s body flung in the air and landed hard on the kitchen counter. Before she could recuperate I ran up to her and gripped her neck�lifting her body high over my head.

�This was all you! You�ve been planning this all along! Orchestrating it! Looking for a way to separate Willow from me!� I screamed at her with all my might. Suddenly gusts of wind began blowing through the kitchen doors and windows. Plates, glasses, and utensils began flying around the room in a circular motion around us.

�Let me go!� Hope muttered angrily through her teeth with her eyes consumed in darkness. I responded by tightening my grip around her neck. She reached down and placed her hand on my chest�in an instant I felt as if I�d been kicked in the heart by a force stronger than a hundred vampires. I flew weightlessly through the air like until I felt my body smash against the wall of the kitchen. Seconds later I landed on my knees a few feet away from Dawn. When I look up Hope was preparing for her second attack. A huge wind tunnel was forming in the palm of her right hand and I saw as she flung it at me. I closed my eyes and covered my head to prepare for the blow.

�ENOUGH!!!� The familiar voice screamed from the doorway that leads to the dinning room. Suddenly I was encased in a green shield and watched as the wind tunnel bounced off. I looked at the doorway and there stood Tara � her own eyes black with magic.

�That�s borrowed power!� Hope growled.

�But power nonetheless!� Tara countered.

I knelt helpless beneath the glowing green shield Tara protected me with. Tara and Hope were looking at each other angrily. Dawn was still breathing because I could see the expanding and contracting of her chest and there was someone lying on the floor just outside the kitchen door that I couldn�t quite make out. It wasn�t Willow though� the clothes were not familiar.

�What have you done?� Tara asked Hope in a forceful voice. The minute the question reached Hope�s ears her facial expression changed. Her eyes softened and returned to their olive green shade.

�I haven�t done anything. I got here a few minutes ago and found her on the floor. I was trying to heal her when Buffy walked in.� Hope turned to me and showed me her bloody hands, �I was healing her little one. Healing her!! I would never hurt her or Willow.�

Tara looked at me and I nodded at her. The green shield that had been protecting me disappeared and I crawled towards Dawn�s body as soon as possible.

�Dawn! Dawnie, honey, are you ok? Dawn please open your eyes.� I pleaded with her. A few seconds later her eyes opened. She smiled softly glad to see me, but her smile quickly disappeared as her eyes swelled with tears.

�He took her.� She whispered.

�I know.� I responded.

�Is the �Wicked Wicca Fest� over?� Anya screamed from behind Tara. Tara was still in battle stance and her eyes were black, fixed on Hope.

�Buffy� it�s Janice.� Dawn whispered as she turned over slowly pointing towards the back porch. Hope quickly moved outside and placed her hands on Janice. A yellow light began to shine brightly. I leaned over Dawn to cover her eyes from the glow and felt as her heart weakly beat against mine. My eyes swelled with tears.

�I was so worried about you Dawnie. I was so worried.� I whispered softly and she moaned lightly in response.

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

We did it. We beat Glory. Buffy stumped her to near death a few minutes ago and now she is with Dawn on the tower. Tara was with me. Everything was ok. Everyone was safe.

Suddenly the sky exploded with a bright light. Tara and I crouched on the ground holding each other ... covering our eyes. The earth started shacking and cracking all around us. A few seconds later a huge electric current charged out of the center of the light in the sky and a demon appeared...then another...then another...something had gone desperately wrong. The gates of hell were opening.

The gates of hell were opening!

Looking up at the platform I covered my face and squinted my eyes trying my best to make out what was going on. Buffy and Dawn were together. I couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. Then right before my eyes it happened. My life changed forever. My heart broke.

I saw Buffy run down the span of the platform and...... jump. Such a graceful jump. Such beauty. Her body sliced through the air as bright lights began appearing all around her. In a matter of seconds everything stopped. The world was silent. The gates of hell were closed....and Buffy's body lay lifeless on a pile of rubble.

She was dead...and I never got to tell her how much I loved her. How much I really loved her.

"BUFFY!!!!!!"

"Sheesh....talk about homoerotic obsession. You scream her name even while unconscious." The sound of that voice made my blood boil. I opened my eyes and, at first, was unable to focus. My hands and feet were bound to the chair I was sitting on and my neck and head were sore. I blinked repeatedly but the light was making it hard for me to see. Once my eyes had adjusted to the brightness, I saw her ... Amy ... standing before me with her arms crossed and a smug look on her face.

"I should have given you rat poison when I had a chance." I muttered. The smugness in Amy's expression quickly morphed into rage as she raised her hand up in the air to slap me.

"Amy." A deep voice warned from behind her. Her hand stopped mid air and she glared at me intensely. The feeling of hatred was overwhelming...unnatural hatred. Unhappy that she could not strike me, she leaned in closer and spat on my face.

"That's quite enough Amy." The deep voice warned again. "Step away so I can see her."

Amy stepped aside reluctantly and I got my first look of the room I was in. It was an office or study or something. There were shelves filled with books on the wall and a grandiose mahogany desk. Sitting at the desk was a dark man.

"Methos." I concluded.

"Very good Ms. Rosenberg." He replied.

"How did you...?" I began to ask but Amy interrupted harshly.

"Thanks to our friendly neighborhood librarian." She said.

"Giles?" I asked confused.

"Yep! The best part was that it didn't even take a lot of coaxing to get him to stab you in the back.... and of course...the look on his face when he realized what he had done." She chimed pleased at herself.

"Amy...leave us...I need to speak to Ms. Rosenberg alone." Methos instructed. Amy hesitantly obeyed his instructions and left the room. As soon as the door closed behind her Methos began to speak.

"Willow Rosenberg. It is an honor to finally make your acquaintance. I've been waiting for you for centuries...."

"What did you do to Buffy?" I interrupted harshly.

"Nothing." He responded nonchalantly.

"Why can't I feel her? Why can't I feel her?" I asked angrily.

"Ahhh...yes...well...your getting ahead of me."

"Is she dead? Did you kill her?" I demanded to know. He smiled and chuckled a bit at my question.

"You have no idea, have you?" He asked amused at my apparent ignorance.

"What?"

"Nevermind. The reason you can't sense the Slayer is sitting at the end of this desk." He explained as he motioned towards a glowing red paperweight.

"It's not a paperweight. Really, Ms. Rosenberg, you're disappointing me." He said reading my thoughts. "It's the Orb of Gehasi and the reason why you have yet to strike me down." Suddenly it made sense. The Orb of Gehasi...of course. The candidness of his comment, however, surprised me a bit. Did I really have the power to strike him down?

"Twice over." He responded. "Now if you only knew how to use it...then I'd really be in a pickle."

"What do you want?" I asked sourly. I was growing impatient.

"What everyone wants....POWER!!! We are sitting on the mouth of Hell. Do you have any idea what kind of power we can harness from here? We could control planets....dimensions...time and space....good and evil....we could control it all. Re-write history to our own liking.� He finished with an evil gleam in his eyes and I looked at him with such disgust.

�Hope was right... you are corrupt and evil,� I paused for a moment and then finished my statement �I�d rather die than help you!�

Methos sat quietly at his desk. His stare was piercing and I could see his jaws moving as he grinded his teeth. The longer he looked at me the harder my resolve face became. After a few minutes he nodded slowly in agreement �Yes. You would. I can see it. However, you will help me accomplish my goal...whether you�re a willing participant or not.� He finished in disdain. Just as the words had excited his mouth, the door opened and in walked Amy, Rack, Giles, and a man I didn�t recognize.

�Mr. Giles ... Mr. Witherspoon .... please escort Ms. Rosenberg to the gateway.� Methos instructed coldly.

�Giles! Giles it�s me! Willow! It�s me!� I pleaded with him.

�The Council fights evil...the Slayer is merely the instrument. The Council fights evil...the Slayer is merely the instrument. The Council fights evil...the Slayer is merely the instrument.� Giles chanted over and over again with a spaced out look on his face. I felt my face go pale. Giles? I heard Amy chuckle from behind me.

�Neat trick, huh?� Amy asked proud of herself. �Oh come on� it�s not the first time you see me do it.�

I couldn�t believe what was happening. Where is Buffy? Where is Buffy?

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

Life is filled with defining moments � instances that change the course of your existence forever. Time and circumstance can be very perplexing. Have you ever looked back at a point in your life and wondered what would have happened if you hadn�t been in that same exact spot at that same exact moment? What would have been of your life? I�ve done that a thousand times... wondered what would have happened had I not been called. What would have happened had we stayed in Los Angeles. What would have happened if Mom had chosen any other town in California other than Sunnydale.

The answer is always the same...I would have never met Willow. Or would I? She�s my soul mate...would I have met her eventually? Would we have crossed paths at one point or another?

�Where will they be taking her?� I asked Hope. It had been a while since the chaos that ensued earlier. Xander and Faith were already home, Dawn and Janice were resting, and it was time to concentrate on Willow.

�The Hellmouth. The ritual must be performed at the very entrance.� Hope explained and Xander shot me an awkward look.

�How do you know?� Tara interrupted. Hope looked at her silently for a few minutes. After a while she smiled broadly and nodded her head.

�I�m very proud of you. Willow gave you extraordinary power...but instead of using it against me...you used it to protect your friend. I was right about you all along.� Hope finished.

�Ummmm...is it just me or did she just not answer your question?� Faith asked Tara annoyed. Returning her attention to Hope she began to speak again. �Look lady I�m getting sick of your crypto �I�m helping you but I�m not� talk. I�m not big on chasing my own tail here. Now...answer the fucking question. HOW DO YOU KNOW?�

�How I know is not your concern. You may choose to use the knowledge or not. It�s up to you.� Hope explained emotionless. �I note, however, we do not have much time left. It has been foreseen. At 7:30 A.M. a great sorceress will die and the world as you know it will change forever.� Should I trust her? Should I trust her with my life....with all our lives? Hmmmm...the funny thing about defining moments is that the decisions are never easy.

�So tell me more about this red ball you were talking about earlier.� I responded. Faith and Tara were not satisfied but followed my lead. Is this a trap? Have I changed our lives forever? Am I positioning myself in right spot at the right time?

There is only one way to find out.

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