ntl2


	Not Too Late Parts 7-12



Part Seven "So, what do you think happened to Buffy?" asked Cordelia. The other two occupants in the van simply looked at each other, and then at her."Think that she's still alive." "We don't know, honey, that's why we're going down the pier to see if anyone saw anything," said Xander with exaggerated paitentce. Cordelia gave her man an annoyed look."Any more questions, just not the same one rephrased differently?" "Yeah, since when was your head so small?" "Now, you two, hush up. We're at the pier where they found the faux Buffy," said Oz. Xander looked at Willow's fiancee with frown. "Faux-Buffy?" "Well, yeah, I mean the real one is out here somewhere, while there's a look-a-like in the morgue, so that's Faux-Buffy,"explained Oz as he got out of the car."Well, what do we do now?" "Let's go to where the body of the faux-Buff was found,"said Xander. As they walked toward the policed taped area, mixed emotions ran through the group. Their faces grew even more somber as they looked at the chalk outline of the faux-Buffy's body. "I wonder who she was."mused Cordelia."Harsh that she was killed to replace Buffy." "Buffy'll kick whoever's ass that did this,"said Xander with certainty. Oz nodded in agreement. "Definitely,"Oz agreed. He looked around them, there was nothing but a few warehouses draped in shadows and water. He saw nothing that anyone could see. "Where do we start?" "Well, Buffy's mom said that she made a call, so I'm assuming that Buffy used the phone there,"Xander pointed to the phone about fifteen feet away. As they walked there, they heard a noise from one of the warehouses. After nothing else was heard, they continued on their way to the pay phone. "Why was Buffy here last night? I mean, like, this place is so creepy!" Cordelia excalimed. "There's nothing here!" "But there had to be," said Oz."And whatever was here took Buffy and left that body. So it's not like there wasn't anything here. So now what do we do?" "We see if there was any one out here that saw something last night, but, personally, I think it's gonna be little hard to find someone,"said Xander."Maybe we should just walk around and ask people. Should we split up?" "I'm not going anywhere alone," said Cordelia adamantly."It stinks here, and this sea breeze is doing nothing for my hair." Rolling his eyes, Xander took Cordelia's hand and started walking separately from Oz."Let's meet back at the van in about an hour." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oz looked up at the clear sky and started thinking about his favorite day dream, Willow. [I hope that Buffy's alive, I don't think that I could stand Willow cry anymore. God, who and what could have done this? I mean, Buff's a great friend, tried not to kill me when she first found that I was a werewolf, and that other time when the chains weren't strong enough...but Jezz, fairly freaksome that someone would murder just to get Buffy and us out of the way. Way too freaksome, man.] A noise startled Oz out of his revelry. As he went closer to investigate, a body fell out from the shadows. Oz let out a holler of surprise.

"Don't hurt me! Don't hurt me!"a hoarse voice said as he curled itself into a fetal position. "Hey,man. I ain't gonna hurt you, you o.k.?" asked Oz as he crouched over to the body. It was an elderly man who looked at Oz in puzzlement. He stared long at Oz's face. "You ain't one of them? You ain't one of them monsters?" Oz managed to look puzzled while his heart was beating faster.[Oh, God...please let this man see something...]"What monsters?" "The ones that were here last night!" the old man exclaimed. His eyes looked around him making sure that none was hearing him. Oz brought his face closer to the old guy's. His breath was filled with alchohol, but he was the best shot there was at this moment."They came from the dark an' took her!" "Took who?" "The girl! They took the pretty girl, and left that dead one there!" the old man said indignantly. From his tattered jacket, the old man pulled out a bottle and took a healthy swig from it. He shuddered."The walking octopus had her! Lifted her up to the moon, and her men, they went poof over the dead one's body!" "One of the men went poof?" "Yeah! then the octopus stared at one of her men and he shot thunder into the dead girl! Then bang! Bang! It was all dark!"the wino said as he shuddered. His eyes shifted around.”Then all gone. Nothing left but the dead one.” "Did you see anything else? Uhh..Like where the... octopus woman went?" asked Oz carefully. [Is this guy looney?] The man said fearfully,"Saw no more! Didn't wanna see more! Octopus said she'd eat him if he did anything!" Oz tried another tactic."Hear anything? A name? Did the men call the octopus woman anything? " The old man's eyes glazed over,"Lili, called herself Liliy, like the flower." The old man grabbed Oz's shirt. "She's gonna come back. That thing from the water, she gonna come and take us all. It ain't safe here! Gotta go!" The old man's face filled with horror as he looked over Oz's shoulder. "They're here!" As Oz looked over his shoulder, the old man let him go and started running back into the alley. "Oz! What happened? We heard a shout!" exclaimed Xander. Cordelia came running behind with a tall and beautiful woman beside her. Her raven locks framed an exotic face while her hazel eyes studied the scene behind him. "That was an old drunk who had an interesting story about what happened last night. It's quite a weird story," said Oz."So, who's your lady friend?" "This is-"started Xander. "I am a Guardian, werewolf,"she said in a rich voice."And I must know what has happened to the Slayer." "So what's going on?" asked Oz. Xander nodded his head towards the van,"Let's get into the car and talk to Giles. Something is not kosher in Sunnydale." "Right,"said Oz. As the foursome started hurrying towards the van. "And fast, my hair is getting all frizzy in this salty air,"complained Cordelia. Xander simply sighed.

Part Eight ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The night was still as the salty breeze went gently through Cordelia's black hair. "Ugh! My hair's going to be all stcky with all this sea air!" she said in an annoyed tone. Xander paid no attention to her as he scanned the pier with narrowed eyes. "Xander! Are you paying attention to me?"she complained. Xander gave her a cursory glance before his eyes started to look around the pier again. "Sure! You hate the sea air because it does things to your hair, but right now we've got more important things to worry about, like looking for clues,"he replied paitently, betraying none of his impaitence."So why don't we do that, honey?" Cordelia stuck her arm around his."I reallydon't see why we have to do this..." She ignored the annoyed glance that he gave her."I mean, it's not like we can find clues in the dark here or if we could find someone that saw what happened last night. I think that we should come back in the morning, when it's light so we could see and so that I could wear a hat." "Besides,"Cordelia added more gently,"I'm sure that Buffy's alive. She's the super chick that can beat up any demon that thinks he's a bad ass. We'll find her." "But what if we're too late?"Xander said worriedly as he looked at her. Though he had only begun to realize that he deeply loved her, he could not help but feel not a little protective of Buffy. Since high school she had evolved form a potential girlfriend to something different and just as vital to his life. Buffy was his friend, buddy, and sister, just like Willow was. After so many years and so many demons, he had become convinced that she was invincible, especially after the defeat of the first Master. He was not too late to save Buffy then, but he was deeply afraid that he was too late this time."What if she's dead? What if-" Cordelia held two fingers against his lips to calm him."Shh..we won't be too late. We're never too late to help our Slayer, we're the Scooby gang, remember? The Slayerettes-extraordinaire!" "You hate those names,"he said smiling into her fingers. Cordelia simply shrugged."After so many years, the names finally grew on me." Xander looked over the edge of the pier, and then at her. Though he hated to give up, he knew that she was right. For the past half hour, there was no one at the pier, it was all dark and empty. < Not even a wino to offer me a hair shampoo. > he thought wryly. "Let's take a closer look at the warehouses, where Oz is. Maybe he found something." "What are you looking for, Slayerette?" said a low voice from behind him. Startled, Xander spun around into a fighting stance while Cordelia ran behind him. There was a woman with the long black hair in a black-silver catsuit that seemed to be painted on her. She seemed to be amused. "I'm not here to fight you. I came to help you." Still wary, Xander looked at her with distrust."Who the hell are you?" "You may call me Hlin or Guardian, whichever you prefer. I have come to help you, Xander," she repeated."You and the others need help now that the Slayer is dead. There going to be a great deal of danger surrounding this Hellmouth." "What a surprise,"said Cordelia wryly as she slowly came around from Xander."In Sunnydale, danger around the Hellmouth. Love the cat suit." "It has its purposes, Cordelia,"she shrugged nonchalantly. Xander gave both of them a look.

"Can we save the clothes admiration for later? Buffy's not dead, there was a dead girl that was pretending to be her that's dead. But enough of that, who the hell are you?" Surprised, Hlin looked at him."She is not dead? Then where-" A shout was heard from the farside of the pier. Near the warehouses. Where Oz was. The three looked at each other and then started running towards that shout. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Who are you?" asked Oz to the woman with the long black hair. "I am Guardian,werewolf,"she said,"and I think that I had better see the Watcher of the Slayer before I say any more. Come, let us go." "Sure,Bossy the cow,"murmured Cordelia as they started towards Oz's van. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part Nine ------------------------------------------------------------------------ It was a dark night as Spike headed down to the tunnels that would lead him to the other vampires, and Drucilla. He hated this town with a fiery passion. The Slayer lived here along with her friends that always spoiled life for him. The only happy spot was that Mum was here. If he could risk it, he was going to see her, when the Slayer was not around. He stopped as he heard voices. "You see,Slayer, I am going to kill all the vampires with your help, and the rest of humanity with them..." He stood where he was to listen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Angel walked slowly into his basement apartment in Sunnydale. It was nearly nine months since he was last there, and he wasn't entirely sure why he was there. He had made up an excuse to Buffy's mother that he needed something from the apartment, but what he really wanted was even unknown to him. He just knew that he had to be there. As his eyes looked deep into the shadows, he saw nothing out of the ordinary, but he felt something. "Angel?"Joyce whispered as she entered the apartment a few seconds after him."What's wrong?" Angel looked at Buffy's mother for a minute as she stood in the door way."Nothing."he whispered back. "Then why are we whispering?" Angel frowned before he said in a normal voice."I don't know." "Then can we turn on the lights? It's dark in here." Angel complied with the request, and when the lights came on, he was greeted with an unsettling shock of pleasure mixed with dismay. His apartment had been rearranged by Buffy. Gone was his very stark and extremely male surroundings, and in its place was something of a mixture between male and female. His bare wall had pictures hanging and there were plants near the window. A comfortable sofa was across from the television, with several books on the coffee table. And all over were articles of clothing that were draped over the bar chairs near the small kitchenette. Frowning as she looked around, Joyce then sighed."She never kept her room clean, and now she's never going to keep her place clean. I have got to talk to that girl when she gets back." Angel nodded absently as he headed towards the sleeping area. It was a shock to find it exactly as he had left it. The rich marroon covering over the oak bed was still there with the white satin sheets. < I guess that she didn't want to sleep here. >he thought. Disapointment went through him, until he noticed something pink sticking out from the covers. Reaching for it, he pulled out a familiar fluffy figure. It was Mr.Gordo.

"Mr. Gordo,"Angel whispered with a smile. Joyce looked at him before she spoke. "You know Mr.Gordo?" Still looking at the pig, Angel smiled."Yeah, I know Mr.Gordo. We met in Buffy's room a couple of years ago. Just before we met Kendra. She loves this pig." "I see." Something in Joyce's tone caused Angel to look at her. Then they both began to talk at once. "Angel..." "Mrs.Summers..." Both stopped and looked at each other. Joyce started again. "Angel...I know that you love my daughter, and that she loves you. And I know that I haven't been entirely...open to this fact, and I think that you know why..." Angel nodded slowly as he looked into his love's mother."It's because of what I am. I'm a vampire." "No, it's not because of that,"she said as she shook her head. Angel looked at her sharply."It's because you have the power to hurt my little girl deeply. I know that you hurt her deeply when you... weren't yourself. And because you have the power to take her away from me, completely. I want my baby in my life, Angel. But if you ask, she would go to you at once. She would leave Sunnydale, me Willow, Rupert, everyone, if you asked her." "I would never ask her to leave..."Angel started."I love her and I know that she loves you..." Joyce nodded slowly."I think that I'm begining to realize that. What do you say that we start over by having a small dinner party when we get Buffy back?" Angel smiled."That would be nice." "Would I be invited too?"said a nasal voice. Growling Angel threw the owner of that voice up against the wall."Hey!" "I should have known that you would be here Whistler, this whole thing sticks of your involvement,"he growled. "Angel!"Joyce shouted as she came stand next to him."Who is this man? Does he know where Buffy is?" "Meet Whister, the badly dressed Immortal demon who likes to meddle with the affairs between good and evil,"he growled. "Put me down Angel, we've got work to do. We gotta stop an Immortal from killing the Slayer,"he gasped. Angel put him down hard. Joyce looked at the little man dressed in loud clothing with a bowler hat with hard eyes. "You know where my daughter is? Who has her?" Whistler brushed himself after he got up from the floor."I don't exactly know who has her or exactly where she is, but I do know that they will kill her and the world pretty soon if we don't do something." "What do you know?"demanded Angel. "Not much, so let's get talking with that snooty Watcher of hers and form a plan of some sort." Angel slowly nodded."Let's go." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "What was the name that the drunk said?" asked Hlin again to Oz. They were going over seventy on the road.

"Lili or Lilith, he wasn't sure,"said Oz. She had asked for the third time."What's up?" "If he's sure, then the Slayer is in grave danger, Hurry! She will die soon if we don't help her!" Oz pushed his van to go faster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Willow and Giles stayed in the make-shift library that was set up in the Summers' guest room. It was still unready, since everyone in the Scoby gang had yet to all pitch in at once to get it ready. But it still had the essentials, an ultra-fast computer that was set up by Willow, a large table and shelves for the old books that Rupert kept threre, a chest filled with weaponry for Buffy, a large mirror hung up by Cordelia, a small fridge and cot set up by Xander and Oz. Joyce added in the wall seascape art to prevent the room from becoming too dreary. Joyce was still trying to get a contracter to tear down the wall to make it join with the other guest room. "I can't seem to find anything on the net,"said Willow frustrated.She looked over at the man next to her, engrossed in an old book."Are you having any luck, Giles?" Giles looked at Willow, his eyes focusing at her."There are too many books to look at, and too many things to go through. There is so much Slayer lore and phrophecies that its hard to get the most relevent one. Hmph. I never thought that I would say that." Willow smiled slightly before she grew serious."Do you really think that Buffy's alive?" Giles took of his glasses slowly before answering the question. In his mind he was remembering all the time that he spent with Buffy and his young friends. After all the time and the dangers that they all had faced, it was hard to beleive that Buffy was gone. It was even harder to imagine a life without his Slayer, especially after all that has gone on in their short time together. When he thought of her, he felt a rush of fatherly pride as well as exasperation. < Joyce was right, there will be other Slayers, but there is only one Buffy. >"I hope, that for all our sakes, that Buffy's alive...I don't think that anyone can imagine a life without Buffy." Willow nodded as she turned her eyes back at the computer."I know that I can't. After the prophecy with the Master...it kinda felt that she was almost indefeatable, especially when we found that she was brought back to life by Xander. I can't imagine a life without her, Giles. I mean--what's wrong?" Giles had an odd look on his face before leaping out from his chair and rushing to the shelves."The Pergamon Codex!" "The Codex? Does it have something?"Willow asked excitedly. Giles quickly leafed through the pages. "I don't know, but it might have something...it did the last time..." < Please God, Oh, Please! Let it have something >prayed Willow frantically. She watched with impaitence as it seemed like forever to Giles read the book to a stop. Giles slowly read the pages."Here! Damn, the writing is barely discrenable...something....Two....Slayer...once...dead....one Immoral? No, one Immortal...no...fate...power..damn! the rest of it's gone. The writing is quite archaic and faded. Damn!" "Okay..."said Willow slowly as she paced around the room."We got so far, Two Slayer, once dead, one immortal, no fate and power. Well, that's more than what we have than before, and after what? Only six hours of research? Let me try on the net again." Giles's stomach growled. He looked at Willow sheepishly. "And I'll go see what Joyce has in the fridge." Willow nodded as Giles walked out and headed for the well-stocked kitchen.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part Ten ----------------------------------------------------------------------- As the restraints fell off of her, Buffy suspiciously looked at Lilith as she held out food from the familiar golden arches to her. Lilith rolled her eyes and sighed delicately. "It's not poisoned, Slayer. I need you alive until the full moon,"she said exasperated."And I still need you alive for the ritual that I'm going to perform." Buffy slowly reached for the food. She was famished."And when is that? Tomorrow? A week?" "Two more nights, Slayer. Here,"Lilith said as she handed a napkin to her and then a bag."something to wear." Buffy polished off the rest of her burger and drink before she looked at the bag suspiciously."You went to Yvette's? That's the most exsclusive store for miles! Cordelia can't even get through the front door there!" "Only the best for you, Slayer,"said Lilith calmly as she reached for a french fry with her hand. She watched with amusement as Buffy tore through the bag to reveal a beautiful shimmering pale ice blue satin-and-silk dress. She smiled gently as she heard Buffy squeal with obvious pleasure. "It's beautiful!"Buffy then looked at Lilith suspiciously."Why? If you're going to kill me, why the dress?" Lilith ignored the question and looked up at the ceiling. She looked who held a large mirrior, chair and a shoji screen in their hands. She motioned them to place it accross from Buffy. Her tentacle of hair reached to a near by brush. She motioned for the vampires to leave, and they did so quickly in the near by tunnels. Lilith then smiled at Buffy. "Why the dress and all this stuff? Answer me!" "You remind me of my daughter, Slayer,"Lilith smiled sadly. Buffy looked at her astonished. "You have a daughter?" "Had. She's dead now. By baby has been dead for the past ten thousand years,"Lilith said sadly. She motioned for Buffy to change her clothes."Change your clothes and let me brush your hair, and I will tell you a story." "And what this is all about?" Buffy demanded as she moved towards the shoji screen. Lilith smiled at her. "You, Slayer, will play the most important role in all this. I am going to kill all the vampires with your help, and the rest of humanity as well." "Like hell I will,"Buffy started she looked for a place to get through, but Lilith's hair spread out like a net, preventing her from moving from her corner. "You cannot escape, Slayer,so you might as well stay and listen to my story,"Lilith said calmly."We will soon move from this place, these tunnels, into somewhere else, where you can feel the sun. Now change your clothes or I will for you. A lady must always be careful of her appearences, especially amongst her enemies." "What's that bull? Where are we going?"Buffy said angrily. She refused to move behind the screen, but Lilith soon moved the screen with her hair in front of her. < Damn, Medusa! > Buffy grumbled. "We are going to a place near by, where the vampires will gather, and where you will have access to a garden and the sun. These tunnels are quite musty, dark, drafty and no good for sun creatures such as us,"Lilith said as Buffy finally emerged from behind the screen. She smiled at the vision that Buffy made."I see that I picked right. Now sit here in front of the mirror, and I will tell you my story."
Buffy sat like a statute in front of Lilith. < Maybe this story will give me an idea of how to forgive her. >"So why are you going to kill all the vampires? Aren't you buddies with them ?" "No, I am not. I despise them with all my heart and I will destroy them all, if it's the last thing that I ever do on this misbegotten world,"said Lilith coldly. "Now let me tell you my story, ten thousand years ago, I had a daughter. Her name was Hawweh." "Whee? You named your kid after a sound like 'buzz'? " "No, it's pronounced like whee with a 'v' at the end,"said Lilith impaitently."Her name was Hawweh, and she was beautiful. My beloved husband and I loved her so very much, she was...the best of both of us, Slayer, and infinitely precious. In the mornings she would smile at the sun and wake up with a laugh. At night, she would sleep with a smile while clutching to her father." Lilith smiled absently. Buffy saw the love that shone on Lilith's face through the mirror, and had to turn away. Lilith's smile of love faded to a face that was one of sorrow."She was only four when she was murdered, Slayer. Four. Hardly more than a baby." "What happened?" "A vile couple made a deal with the vampires. Adan and Lith joined with the vampires to bring back the Old Ones, the demons that once ruled this world before the coming of man,"Lilith said harshly. Lilith continued to brush Buffy's hair once more."It is hard to say, but Adan was once a good man, but after he had married Lith, he changed. To something evil. Promises were made for an eternal life for him and his wife, at the expense of me and my child. Promises that were never delivered." "What happened?" "The ritual that was performed was botched. They killed my child before the killed me. I stood there...chained...as the vampires slit the belly of my daughter...and drank her blood,"Lilith said in a monotone. Buffy's eyes met Lilith's in the mirror in horror."Oh, God! Where-where was your husband?" Lilith smiled sadly."He was chained next to me, slowly being tortured by the vampires. When they released me, I fought against them, and my beloved broke free...The ritual, because it was performed wrong, had devastating effects upon me...and my home..." "What-what effects?" Lilith smiled sadly as her eyes again met Buffy's in the mirror."I became the monster that you see now. A creature that drains the life force of anything that her hair touches. I can see the sun, but only for a few hours, I miss the sun..." "And your home?" "It is at the bottom of the ocean, the energy from the ritual destroyed my land, so Atlantis is now at the bottom of the sea, eaten by ugly and strange fishes, that thrive in its murky depth,"spat Lilith."my husband, and I escaped on a ship, but the force of the waves caused him to go overboard. He is lost to me as well because of the damn vampires." "So, why kill humanity?"Buffy asked hesitantly. Lilith smiled slightly again as she resumed to brush the knots out of Buffy's hair."I mean it was the vampires that killed your daughter." "Yes, but as the ten thousand years passed. I discovered one thing about humanity. And it is this, destruction seems to be their purpose. Adults destroy this world, parents kill children and people kill people, so all that I will do, is help them kill themselves, all in one shot,"said Lilith pleasently.She looked at Buffy in the mirror."I only wish that you were not needed for this ritual, I do like you,Slayer."

"So then let me go." Lilith shook her head."I need you, Slayer. You have, because of your revival, the energy that I need to perform the Dance of Shiva. I have waited ten thousand years to avenge my daughter, and when the full moon comes on the Night of Gaia, I will wait no longer." Lilith looked at Buffy."Sleep well, Slayer. The vampires will not harm you, but you will not escape." "My friends will find me." "I think not, Slayer. Even if they do, it will not matter,not one bit. We will all die, soon. After ten thousand years, I am begining to crave it." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ < Damn! This is one big mess! I gotta get Mum, she'll know what to do...Dru will have to wait. > thought Spike as he merged with the shadows again. In the dark, he started to plan. Part Eleven ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Damn it!" gritted Giles in frustration as he threw down the book that he was reading. Willow, startled by his minor scene of violence, looked at the Watcher with some concern. Giles had always been the calm one when something unusual was going on. It was not usual to see him this frustrated, but then, Buffy's disappearence was not a normal unusual event. It was part of a formula for a down-right unusual catastrophe. "Damn it!"Giles cursed again.He looked at Willow with hope in his eyes. "Willow, tell me that you found something." Willow shook her head."Nothing's come up so far...I've tried every word that I know to find out more, but..." "Damn, I wish to God that I knew what was going on,"Giles cursed. He looked at the ceiling, as if he could discern a message from the patterns of the tiles. Willow started to speak when she heard a car pull into the drive way. "Maybe the others have found something,"she said as she bolted to the door with Giles right behind her. She flung open the door to greet Xander, Cordelia and Oz, to whom she gave a great hug. Then a beautiful and delicate-looking woman with black hair entered behind them. Willow looked at Oz, questioningly."Who's this?" Xander made the introductions."Giles, Willow, this is Hlin or Guardian. We met her on the pier, where the girl's body was found. Hlin, this is Willow and Giles-" "You are the Slayer's Watcher,"Hlin interrupted, her voice accusing. Startled, Giles nodded. "I am,"Giles started. He stopped when Hlin took a menacing step towards him.”Who are-” "You failed in your duty to the Slayer, Watcher,"she stated flatly."It is your fault that the Slayer is gone." As Giles and Xander sputtered in outrage, Willow rallied to Giles's defense. "Giles knew nothing that was going on! None of us knew! It was supposed to be a slow night! We didn't know that Buffy was going to be taken! It wasn’t his fault!" Hlin looked at Willow, then at the others coldly before she settled her hard gaze at Giles once more."And you take into your confidence these civilians. You are most unusual, Watcher. They should have been kept away from the Slayer, just as her mother should have been." "Hey! We're in this because Buffy's our friend!"Xander objected."And furthermore, lady-"

"Who are you?" Giles interrupted Xander's tirade. He had finally found his tounge after the woman's attack."Who are you to judge me on how I perform my duties?" Hlin smiled coldly."I am Hlin, a Guardian, of the Ceres. Born of a Second daughter of the Mana-kai. That is what gives me the right to judge you, Watcher." "What?"Giles whispered, stunned. Xander and Willow exchanged glances at the look on Gile's pale face. "What? You're a cereal? And you're mom's what?"Cordelia interjected, confused. Hlin looked at her, annoyed. When Giles cleared his throat she looked at him. "The Mana-kai are only legends,"Giles said firmly,"Dead myths from the past and wistful dreams in Slayer lore." "So is the Slayer and Watchers,but you seem very much alive,"Hlin said wryly.”And vampires and werewolves are supposed to be a part of fiction.” "I'm way bit into the confused,"Oz interjected."So can you start again and tell us, who or what are you?" "She's a Mana-kai. An Elemental. In whispered legends about the Slayer, the Mana-kai were the ones who guarded the the earth's realm. But most importantly, they were to obey and guard the Slayer with their very lives. The Watchers were supposed to guide the Slayer, until something happened to make the Elementals disappear. It was all thought to be wishful thinking of a past Slayer and Watcher. No references of the Elementals were found anywhere, so they were deemed to be nothing, but legends,"Giles answered as he kept looking at Hlin. She inclined her head at him. "Until today,"she said. Giles agreed. Xander scowled at Hlin."Until today. If you existed, where have you been? Why haven’t you been performing your duty of protecting the Slayer? Sweel job yo’ve done so far." "We have been. We have always protected the Slayer,"Hlin said calmly. Willow narrowed her eyes. "Bull-dinky!"she exclaimed."For the last few years, there has been none of you Elementals around!" Hlin cocked a fine eyebrow at her."For every Slayer, there has always been more than two members of the Elementals that have died protecting her." "Yeah, when?"challenged Cordelia."I mean, I've had my nails ripped and clothes torn more times than I care to count helping Buffy deafeat the baddies of the night. So where were you guys when Buffy was saving the world?" "Dying for her,"Hlin said quietly. She looked at the dubious faces around her, and gave them a sad smile."Eight of the family perished as the protected the vampires from approaching the school when the Master was free. They had caused the fog that was deadly to them. Seven died trying to prevent the Harvest from releasing the Master by focusing their energy to strengthen the weakened mystical barrier of the Hellmouth from collapsing. Two died when Spike had performed that attack at the school. Shall I go on?" "Those deaths,"Giles began slowly as he removed his glasses."I remember them, they were odd because the bodies were found..." "As if they were by vampire attacks or cult suicide-pacts,"Hlin finished for him."But now you know better." "What I'm not getting is why now? I mean, not that now is not a bad time for you Elementals to show yourselves, but why?"Willow asked. "I mean, what happened to you that you guys couldn't help the Slayer? And that you were made into legends?"
Hlin answered slowly."It is all very confusing. One that only the Children of the Mana-kai sons know what happened. I am only a child of the Second Daughter and we are all instructed to not contact the Slayer or the Watcher, on the pain of death. I am risking much to talk to you directly, Watcher. But there is no choice." Giles nodded."Understood." "So, what does this all mean?"Xander asked."I mean, this means that you're here for a reason.Right? To help us find Buffy? To know who this Liliy the octopus character is that took Buffy?" Giles looked at Xander in confusion."Liliy the octopus? What is that?" "The werewolf had found the name of the demon that had taken the Slayer. Lilith, or that was the name supposedly heard by the homeless man that the werewolf found,"Hlin explained. Willow's mouth opened like a wide fish. "But she can't! Buffy's not a baby!" Everyone looked at Willow in mild confusion. "What?" "You know the name, Willow?"asked Giles. Willow nodded her head. Willow started to talk eagerly. Her fast tounge tripping over her words. "Lilith is a demon in Jewish legends. She was the first wife of Adam before Eve. It's said that she refused to submit to him on the basis that since she was made of the same earth as him, as well as the same time, so they were, in her mind, equal. She was punished by God at Adam's request and became a demon. Since she couldn't have any children, she got her revenge by taking babies and sucking the life from them. Some say that she was the first vampire on earth. But that was only a legend..." "Until now..."Hlin finished for her.”She is also, through legends, the mother of all the monsters of the night. Including vampires. And, according to legends, she has many forms.” “There seems to be a lot of legends coming to life in here,”Xander quipped. After giving Xander a quick and annoyed look, Hlin looked at the Watcher."I do not know of the description of the Lilith that was described to the werewolf, but this does not seem to be the same demon. Also, as I was returning to Sunnydale, I noted that there is a great influx of vampires that are coming into Sunnydale. The reason is yet uncertain, but if this Lilith is the cause of it..." "Then Buffy will be where the vampires are gathering,"Giles finished. "But why?"Cordelia asked."Why would the vamps want Buffy? Why go through the charade that Buffy's dead? Wouldn't they just rather kill her outright? With a slash at her throat? What?" Hlin looked at the Watcher."Does this one always talk so..." "Tactless? Yes,"Giles finished."Wait the prophecy! We found a prophecy in the Pergamon Codex. Faded but there. Where is it?" "Here,"Willow said as she gave it to Hlin."It says, as far as we can make it out. 'Slayer once dead. Once a Slayer. Immortal. No set fate. and Destiny. That's all that we can make out.' Can you read any more, Hlin?" "No, but I can try to get more information,"she said as she whipped out a cellular phone from her pocket. She looked at the surprised faces around her."What? You think that I would call help through mystical means?" “It had occurred to us,”said Xander as he gave a sheepish grin. Hlin looked at the windows as she made her call. "Elder? Hlin. I need the Tiberius Manifesto, as well as the Neith Inscriptions. Hurry, the Slayer has disappeared, and there is trouble on the Sunnydale Hellmouth. Vampires are increasing, and there is a demon called Lilith here as well." Hlin paused."I am with the Slayer's Watcher."

Hlin listen for a moment."I know the price, Elder. But there is something going on here, Elder. Blessings with thee." She looked at the people surrounding her."The Tiberius Manifesto will be here in the morning, as well as the Neith Inscriptions." "Neith Inscriptions? What are they?"Giles asked curiously. "Writings about the Slayer, written by a dead prophet from the lost island of Atlantis,"Hlin said slowly as she looked at Giles."That is why you could not read some of the rest of the worn prophecy of the Codex. It was written in Atlanian." Giles was about to say something when a car was heard pulling into the drive way. Imperceptibly, Hlin tensed when she heard the tires pulling into the driveway of the Slayer’s home. "That's Ms. Summer's car!"Willow exclaimed excitedly."maybe they know some more things!" "I hope so,"Xander said feverently as he went to open the door."This is turning to be confusing. Like a bad Woody Allen-Speilburg flick." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part Twelve ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From the shadows of the trees, Spike looked at the innocuous looking house with intense concentration. It was still hard for him to beleive that this ordinary looking house was the home of the present Slayer. He had never really thought about it because it never really mattered to him if a Slayer had a home or not, or family and friends. To him, the Slayers were the Enemy that had to be killed, one way or another. But this Slayer was different, she had a home, friends and a family. And right now, he needed help to inform his favorite human that the Slayer was in bloody danger of getting herself sacrificed. Then, pass the warning to the others so that they would help him. It grated on his bloody nerves, but he needed help from the visting humans inside the Slayer's that he would rather like to eat. But if he was going to save himself and every other vampire from extinction, he needed them to save the Slayer from Lilith. Spike concentrated again to see if he could see her from where he was, but there was no suck luck. [Damn, I'm gonna have to knock on the door. What a bloody reception that's going to be!] Spike thought viciously. Spike started to step forward when he noticed a white land rover was pulling into the drive way. He immediately stepped back into the shadows, and watched as three familiar figures started to go into the house. [Ah, who have we here that's coming in?....What the--Bloody Hell! There's that bloody traitor! Criminey, shoulda known that he was gonna be here.] Spike narrowed his eyes even more. As Spike started to cross the dark street, he kept his eyes looking at the window. He saw some black haired woman start an attack on Whistler, then suddenly she was barely restrained by Angel. Spike's eyes narrowed when he saw the same girl raise her free arm at Joyce, but she had Joyce's finger pointing to her. From where he was standing, she was lighting into the old girl at full throttle. [Ouch! Wouldn't like to be at the end of that finger!] Spike grinned widely. [Definitely know what it's like to be on that end!] Then he saw Joyce speak to Angel and Whistler, and saw them disappear. The girl he saw went into the next room. He waited for a moment, then whistled through the opened window and went towards the back. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Good! We're finally here!"exclaimed Whistler as he crawled out from the land rover."Angel boy, you coulda given me some more leg room back there!"

"Deal with your being short, Whistler,"Angel shot back."You're not here for a social call." Joyce said nothing as she made a beeline to the door. Riding in the car with two demons was not a fun thing, in her estimation. Especially when they both were intent on making the other more miserable than the other. She was mildly surprised to find that Rupert had flung open the door, with Willow beside him. "Hello! Heard anything about Buffy yet?"Joyce asked hopefully as she stepped in, with Angel and Whistler right behind her. She stepped aside to close the door as Rupert shook his head reluctantly "No, but we may have something as to who took her. We're still working on the where and why,"Rupert said. He looked behind Joyce and saw Angel and Whistler."Hallo, Angel. Whistler. What are you doing here?" "He's here to annoy us,"Angel started when he heard a growl coming from behind Rupert."What the-" Hlin pushed the Watcher aside as she concentrated on the small and funny looking demon behind the vampire. She knew who he was, and she had to attack him."Demon!" she screamed. Angel's quick reflexes shoved him out of the black-haired girl's path, but Whistler wasn't so lucky. She made a grab at his neck when his hands shot up to stop her. He held her clawing hands away from his neck not without some difficulty. "Hey! I could use some help here!" Whistler shouted. His shout sprung everyone into action. Angel grabbed the girl from behind, and imprisioned one arm as he held her by the waist. But the other arm was still clawing towards Whistler. Giles made an effort to catch her arm, but it was of no use. Then that arm nearly slapped Joyce as she went around to try and help restrain the girl. Finally, Joyce had enough."Stop this right now!" she shouted. "I said stop this, NOW!" Surprised, everyone looked at her. [Uh-oh, it's the real angry mom mode.] Willow thought. Joyce raised her finger at the strange girl that started attacking Whistler without provocation. "I have no idea who you are missy, but let me tell you, you do NOT go around attacking people in MY house. If you cannot restrain yourself, then I will have to resort to desperate measures, and let me tell you that you will not like what I will do,"Joyce threatened as her hands went to her hips. She pointed her index finger to the black-haired woman’s face. "Now, who the hell are you?" "Uh...this is Hlin, Mrs.Summers,"started Xander."Hlin, this is Buffy's mom, that's Angel who's restraining you and that's Whistler, the guy that you were trying to attack." "I know who Whistler is,"Hlin snarled."He's a demon who has no values but his own. His survival is all that he cares for!" Her chest heaving with hatred, Hlin spat at him."He's nothing more than a trickster who places no value on anything that does not concern him!" "That's not true!"Whistler protested hotly."I've changed, Elemental. A lot has happened since ten thousand years ago. A lot." "Demons do not change,"she snarled."They grow old, but their thoughts and patterns are the basically the same. Created evil, made to do evil, stay evil. Even helpful ones like you. But not really helpful, are you, demon? After all, it's your fault that the Slayer is taken!" "What?"exclaimed Joyce as she looked from Hlin to Whistler, then back again.."What does he have to do with Buffy being kidnapped? What do you know?" "I will tell you, as soon as the vampire lets me go."

Joyce nodded to Angel as he slowly released her. "Hey! What if she attacks me again?"Whistler protested. Joyce looked at the demon with an unfriendly look in her eye. "Then, if what she says is trure, you won't have to worry about her attacking you. Now what do you know about Whistler's appearence and Buffy's disappearence?" Hlin rubbed her wrists."Only that if he is here, then there is grave danger to the Slayer. Usually a danger that he has caused or could have prevented,"Hlin said."I am not sure on what, but his involvement means that the Slayer is near death." Giles looked at Whistler.His voice rising with every word."Is that true? Every danger that Buffy has faced since meeting you was a danger that you have caused? " Angel joined Giles."And everytime she was very close to death, you could have prevented it?" “I haven’t caused ANY danger in the past 700 years,”Whistler protested as his eyes flitted from the faces surrounding him.”All the troubles and demons that the Slayer fought was never caused by me. And some of the dangers were preventable, but others were not. I swear it!” “Like that’s true,”Xander snorted.’Think you beleive him, Dead Boy?” Angel’s game face apparent, he growled,”Not at this point particularly.” “Didn’t think so,”Xander said as he took a menacing step towards the small demon.”well, then let’s get the truth out of him.” “Sounds like an idea,”Angel said as he cracked his knuckles. Angel started towards Whistler until Joyce stepped in front of him. She spread her arms out."No violence in this house, Angel. I think we’ve had enough of violence.” When Angel finally met her gaze, Joyce stepped back. She looked at the people surrounding her, her arms still outstretched.“This is useless until we all get all our heads together. Angel, go to the basement and make sure that your bunk is ready, It'll be sunrise in three hours. Whistler, go upstairs into the bathroom and wash your face." "I don't have to wash my face." "You'll do whatever it takes to give us time to cool down,"Joyce commanded. She turned to Hlin."And you, young lady, go into the study and wait there until you can command your temper again." Joyce waited until Hlin looked at her defiantly for a second and then murmured,"Yes, my lady." "Uh, anywhere you'd like us to go?"Cordelia asked meekly. Joyce looked at her blankly, then smiled sheepishly. "Not that I know of. You can stay here while I get something from the kitchen,"said Joyce. She was about to speak some more when she heard a familiar whistle."But before that, I'm going to throw out the garbage." As Joyce walked briskly to the back kitchen door, she heard Oz talk. "Boy, I'm glad I'm not those three." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Joyce stepped out into the night, trying to see through the dark shadows of her back yard."Liam? Are you here? You know that it's dangerous for you to be here." "Here, Mum, I'm here,but I had to come, Mum,"Spike's rich baritone answered as he stepped out of the shadows to look at his Mum. Joyce looked at him, and her face recoiled in horror. "Oh God, Liam! What did she do to you?"Joyce cried out hoarsely as she reached for the scars that marked Spike's face."What did that bloodly bitch do to you?"

Spike winced as she called Drucilla that. He savored the feel of her hand on his face before he moved his head away from her warm touch."It's nothing,Mum. I've healed." "I've told you, she's not good for you, Liam. Find another girl to love, a nice girl vampire, one that won't hurt you,"Joyce said softly. "And one that preferably won't eat people,"Liam added as he looked at her. She winced, but said nothing. He shrugged."Anyway, that's not why I'm here, Mum." "I should have guessed,"she sighed. Joyce's eyes narrowed. "Drucilla's here in Sunnydale, isn't she? And she's the reason why Buffy's gone, isn't she?" Spike shook his head."Dru's not the reason why the Slayer's gone. But she is where the Slayer is, Mum. I know that this is going to be hard to believe,Mum, but, I need help. From the Slayer's friends." Joyce looked at him for the moment, stunned. < Bloody hell, she doesn't trust me. >Spike thought as a hard shaft of disappointment ran through him. After a few moments under her stare, Spike started to squirm. Finally she said something."Do you know what you're doing?" "Not really,"he admitted."But I can't help your daughter alone, Mum." Joyce nodded as she started to the kitchen door."Fine. Wait in the kitchen until I prepare everyone that you're here. And you know the rules, Liam." "Yes, Mum. Don't eat anyone, no matter how annoying they are," he recited as he walked in behind her.

		Continuation of Story

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