Not Too Late
Parts 16-17
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Part Sixteen
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"BUFFY! BUFFY!" Joyce screamed into the phone, clutching on to it for dear life. "BUFFY!"
"Oh, God! Buffy! Please be there...BUFFY!"she sobbed into the phone. Willow started towards Buffy's mother, but Giles and Spike were closer to her.
Giles grabbed onto Joyce's shoulders and pulled her gently against his frame, cradling her like a child. Spike came around her, and placed his hand gently onto the cordless phone, his hand over hers. For a moment, the Watcher's eyes met Spike's in perfect understanding.
"Let go, Mum. We'll find her,"Spike said gently, soothingly. Joyce looked at Liam with blank eyes as she clutched at the phone harder. It was her only link to her daughter. The daughter that she might be too late to save.
"Liam..it was Buffy. It was Buffy,"she said hoarsely as she reluctantly let go of the phone. She turned immediately into Rupert's arms and clutched his shirt."Rupert, it was Buffy! It was Buffy on the phone!"
"I know, Joyce,"he said soothingly as he gently rubbed her shoulders."It was Buffy, and we'll find her. We will get her back, and we will make sure that she is safe."
Joyce nodded silently. She moved closer to him, in his arms. She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
"We'll get Buffy back, safe."she echoed. Shuddering, Joyce forced the thoughts of finding her daughter dead away from her mind.
Feeling her shake, Rupert nodded as he put his arms around her more tightly. Spike watched as his Mum was embraced more closely into the circle of the Watcher's arms. He clutched on to the phone tightly. [Be a long day in Hell and Sunlight if I'm to call the bloody bloke Da.]”What have we got?”
Angel looked at Hlin impaitently."Well, did you get anything?"
"Yeah, anything yet?"Xander echoed. Willow hit Xander in the arm, and then Angel. He looked down at the small red head in mild surprise as she glared at him.
"Shut up, Angel. She's trying her best,"she said through her teeth. Then Willow looked at Buffy's mother who was in the haven of Giles' arms. [Weird. Ms. Summers and Giles together. At least we know that he's not a psychopathic robot.]
Willow asked softly,"Mrs.Summers? Was-was there anything that Buffy said that could help us?"
Joyce lifted her head from Rupert's shoulder. She frowned in concentration. "She-she said that Lilith was going to get rid of the vampires and the world all in one shot."
"Anything on where she might be?"Oz asked just as gently. He had never seen Buffy's mom freak like she did just now. [Wonder if that'll happen if Willow and I have kids?]
"Only that there's mountains, woods and she said she was near a beach,"she said slowly.
"Great, then we're looking at a beach area,"Xander said as he clapped his hands together enthusiastically.”Surrounded by mountains.”
"Anything yet, Elemental?" Angel growled. Hlin looked at the vampire with cold eyes and then hung up the phone.
"The phone was traced to a remote place on the California coast, to a small highway along the coast. It is not near anywhere here,"Hlin informed the group. Her mouth was hard as she looked at vampires. "It also seems that there is no human life near that area either. The nearest town is fifty miles away from the phone that the Slayer had called from. And it is empty."
"What the hell do you mean by that?"Angel growled. Hlin narrowed her eyes.
"It means that the town is nearest to the Slayer, from what the Elders could see, was either deserted or the inhabitants are all inside the town buildings because no signs of life could be seen. Take your pick,vampire,"Hlin said coldly.
Xander looked at her amazed.”And how would you know about this? I mean, that’s one hell of a phone trace.”
“Amazing what a little magic mixed with satellite technology can do,”Hlin said blandly.”As I was informed, there is no sign of human life near the phone the Slayer used.”
"Liam, is it possible that vampires could have killed all the inhabitants in that town?"Joyce asked hesitantly. Spike looked away from her as he thought about his answer. In front of the others he would relish telling of the towns he and Drucilla decimated, gloat with pride over the places he and his mates destroyed. But in front of her, the one human that was ignorant of his vampiric activities, the one he called ‘Mum’, all he felt was a tug of shame as she looked at him with trusting eyes.
"It's possible, Mum,"he whispered, his face red. Louder, he looked up at her."But that hasn't happened in centuries past, Mum. I certainly haven't heard of a town being run over by vampires in this day and age. It causes too much... trouble."
“And here I thought trouble was your middle name,”Xander quipped.”Ow!”
As Xander glared at Angel as he rubbed his head, Angel looked at Joyce. ”Spike’s right. These days, vampires like to work in the dark. To feed off a whole town would cause speculation that we’d rather much avoid.”
"We need to find out all what we can about this town and the area around it, fast,"Giles decided.
"Before tomorrow night,"added Joyce as she roused herself from Rupert's arms. She looked at everyone."Buffy said that it's all going to happen tomorrow night, at the full moon. Or else we're all too late."
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Buffy looked at Lilith defiantly.”They’ll find me. My mom, friends. They’ll find me and stop this party of yours.”
Lady Lilith looked up from the yellow rose bud she was holding.”Yes, they will find you, Slayer.”
“And they’ll stop you,”Buffy said defiantly as she struggled against the hold the vampires had on her. Lady Lilith shook her head gently.
Still silent, Lady Lilith looked down at the yellow rose bud again. Frustrated that she was not getting a response, Buffy snarled at the demon.”Well?”
Lady Lilith lifted the rose as she saw the Slayer look at her with angry eyes.”Well what, Slayer? I told you when I captured you, it was too late. Now, be good child and stay in the atrium. Do not escape again. Or else I will have to take measures.”
Buffy stared as she saw a small tentacle of Lilith’s hair snake to touch the rose and turn it into dust. Lady Lilith looked at Buffy again.”Extreme measures that would not harm you. But they will incapacitate you.”
Buffy looked at Lilith as she was seated down in front of her. Lilith shook her head and gave her a little sad smile.
"What? I escaped, and now everyone knows I'm alive. So your plans are all going to be spoiled,"Buffy said defiantly. Lilith shook her head silently at her again.
"You did us a big favor, here Slayer,"Lyle Gorch snarled as he walked up to the Slayer."Lady Lilith here planned that you escaped and called yer friends. Nows they'll be comin' here for the big party that we got for them."
"What?"Buffy whispered. She looked at Lilith with dawning horror."Oh, my God. No..."
"I see no reason that you should call God,Slayer. There is none,"said Lady Lilith softly."And if He does exist, then He doesn't care about us one bit."
"You planned all this! You planned that I could escape and that they would die!"Buffy screamed."It was all a ploy. The clothes, the food, the atrium! It was all a damn trick, and I fell for it all! Every damn hook, line and sinker!"
Lilith shook her head."No, Slayer, I told you from the beginning that it was kinder if you would let them think that you are dead. I gave you that choice: to allow yourself to call them and let them come and rescue you or to let only yourself be sacrificed. You made that choice, and now they are coming to rescue you. To join in your death."
"We're going to have a party!"sang Drucilla as she danced around the chamber with Miss Edith."And all the Slayer's friends are going to be coming and everyone's going to burn! A pretty fire and dance!"
"I told you, Slayer. There is no hope should your friends know that you are alive. You have sealed their fate and yours,"Lilith said as one tentacle of hair reached to stroke Buffy's cheek. Buffy pulled her face away from the curl. "The world shall die tomorrow night."
"You planned this,"Buffy said stubbornly as she struggled to get free from under Lyle Gorch's beefy hand."I'll kill you."
Lyle growled and smack Buffy to the ground. The second that he did so, he let out a blood-curdling scream. When Buffy opened her eyes, she saw that Lilith's hair had wrapped around him and was glowing. Lyle choking while Drucilla looked at Lady Lilith in wide-eyed horror. Sobbing, she flung herself at Lilith's feet.
"I *told* you, there is *no* harm to come to the Slayer until the full moon tomorrow,"Lilith hissed, her eyes glowing. She looked down at the mad vampire at her feet."There is no mercy for him, insane one. He knew the rules. He was told to not harm the Slayer."
"But, my lady,"Drucilla sobbed pleadingly,"He can guard the Slayer better than anyone here! He has fought the Slayer and knows her! My lady, please! He can guard her!"
Drucilla looked at Buffy with wild eyes."Slayer, tell her! Tell my lady that Lyle has fought you! And that he won! Tell her!"
"Why should I help you? You killed Kendra! And he killed a Mexican village before he was a vamp! If Lilith kills him now or later, that's justice for me!" Buffy snarled. She looked up to see Lyle turning into a figure of ashes and then looked at the vampires that were around her. Looking at Lilith with horrified fascination. Desperately, she raised her voice. "You're all going to die! She plans on it! This ritual will not only kill me, but all of you as well."
Lilith's hair settled down by her side. Lyle Gorch, the vampire and once mass murderer was no more."Of course, they'll die,"she said nonchalantly to Buffy."If they disobey me, they will all die. Like delicious little Lyle here."
She looked at Buffy's eyes."They cannot hurt me, Slayer. I am a first of their kind. That is the kind of monster that I am. The Life-drainer. Is that not right, Drucilla?"
Drucilla looked at the pile of ashes and started whimpering. Lilith looked pityingly at the insane vampire , then at the cowering minions surrounding her."Take Drucilla up to her chambers. The Slayer is to be returned to her atrium, unharmed. Since it is near night, guard her well, vampires, or you will know the price."
She looked at Buffy."I will bring you your food shortly, Slayer."
"I want nothing from you,"Buffy said defiantly.
"But you will eat,"Lilith said as she walked away."Or else I shall take measures to make you, Slayer."
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Part Seventeen
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"I still don't see why I have to be stuck with you,"grumbled Spike as he led the way through the tunnels."Or you."
"Life's a bitcha and then you die, Spikey boy,"Xander shrugged. He looked over to where Hlin was stealthily walking along the wall. He had tried to imitate her before, but all that he got for his imitation was a sore hip, dirty jacket and wet head. He'd rather face a passel of vampires before he would do that again.
Hlin spoke up."The air changes here. The scent of the dead is stronger here."She looked at Spike who simply nodded. He then pointed towards the end of the tunnel.
"There was where I last saw Lilith and the Slayer,"he spat. Xander looked at him consideringly.
"That really sticks in your craw. doesn't it? That the Slayer is 'Mum's" daughter?"Xander taunted. Spike glared at the boy."Sure, it does. But why the Hell are you still calling Buffy's mother "Mum'?"
Spike glared at him, then showed his game face."That's none of your business, boy. And she's not here to stop me from eating you."
When Spike neared Xander, Hlin merely stuck her arm out with a stake in hand. Even through the dark, Spike could feel the coldness of her smile at him.”You’re not supposed to kill me.”
“But there was nothing about not hurting you,”Hlin replied calmly.”Move away from the boy. Now.”
“Think that you can hurt me?”Spike snarled at her.
“I know I can. But I’d rather you explain to the Slayer’s Mother why it was necessary for me to hurt you,”Hlin said with cold sweetness. With hot glare and snarl at Hlin and the boy, Spike backed away from Xander, and then entered the cove at the tunnel's end.
"That's where the Slayer was,"he pointed, then shrugged."There isn't much here now."
Xander looked around. All he saw was nothing but the rusted pipes and water dripping from the concrete walls. He saw from the corner of his eye, Hlin kneeling down on the ground. Xander entered the cove more.
[God, Buffy was here...]he thought. Then he spied at a slight dab of color his flashlight reflected from. He went closer to it, and found something that made him smile. It was a pair of sneakers that were brand new.
"Hey! I found Buffy's sneakers!"Xander said happily as he picked them up. Spike looked at him in disdain.
"Yea! I can't wait to tell your friends that you found the Slayer's smelly shoes!"Spike taunted. Hlin joined the group.
"The vampires that were here had left hours ago. They are headed to the south,"she said."We must go to the surface and tell the others of this."
With that, Hlin turned heel, and went towards the tunnel entrance they had entered from.
"Doesn't she even smile?"muttered Xander as he followed her, then stopped. "After you, Spike."
"Don't tell me that you're afraid,"Spike taunted. Xander merely grinned and held out his stake in front of him, ready.
"Let's just say that I'd rather not have a vampire that I can't trust at the back of my neck,"Xander answered."Besides if one kills her, at least I'll have a chance of trying to stake you."
“You can try, boy,”Spike snarled at him, but lead the way.
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"Angel, look at this,"Giles said as he held the Tiberius Manifesto out towards him. Angel took the book and studied it. Giles pointed out to the passage that he was reading."It says here that for anything to happen on the Night of Gaia, there must be no mistake on whatever ritual is performed."
"But what does this all mean?"Angel frowned."What exactly *is* the Night of Gaia?"
Joyce looked at Rupert from her text."Rupert, it says here, in this small reference, that the Night of Gaia is only a means. There's a riddle here. It says that 'On Mother's Night, Please the Mother and there will be no tears. Anger the Mother and there will be fear. Have a wish, have a dream, the Mother sees all, and can scream.' What does this all mean?"
Giles took off his glasses as the information he gathered from the book was processed through his brain. "It seems that the Night of Gaia is the night where anything can and will happen, all depending upon the ritual that takes place."
"The ritual that is performed that night, will have to come true,"Angel said slowly."Especially on that night."
"You mean to tell us that it's sort of the mystical version of the wishing day," said Cordelia as she looked up from the stake that she was whittling."Like, everything will come true that day if you wish for it."
"Yes, sort of,"Giles stammered. He looked at Angel."It seems that there must be two rituals to be done on that night. The first must be an exact ritual that must be observed so that it would prepare the start of the other ritual. The one that the ritualist truly wants to be done. And, it seems, that to achieve the second ritual, the first must be done exactly, or else there would be cataclysmic results."
“But what does it all mean?”Joyce repeated as she looked from Angel to Giles.”And how does this Dance of Shiva come into the mix?”
"I have no idea, but it sounds very ominous,"said Angel worriedly as he looked at everyone."And we only have a day to figure out how to stop Lilith from sacrificing Buffy."
"Let's hope that Whistler and Willow can figure out some more information,"Giles said hopefully.
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"Whoa, manacles, this looks like it's getting kinky,"said Whistler as he whistled low."First the drugs and now the chains. Can I watch you two play?"
Ignoring him, Willow locked the last manacle on Oz's wrist. He looked at her and smiled before he turned his head up for a kiss. Willow lowered her head to meet his and then smiled at him when she lifted her head up.
"I'll see you in the morning, sweetheart,"Oz said groggily."Wish I was able to help more, honey."
Willow stroked her fiancé’s now-dyed black hair gently."I know, Oz. But we'll be all right. Go to sleep now."
"Yeah, go to sleep now,wolf-man,"said Whistler as he picked dirt from under his fingernails."We'll try not to have fun without you."
"Go away, Whistler,"Oz said weakly as he nodded off. Willow stood and motioned for Whistler to follow her up the stairs. Without a word between either of them, Willow locked all the doors and started to go out of Oz's house.
"So, why do you drug him as well as manacle him?"Whistler asked as he went into the Oz's van. Willow turned to look at him from the driver's seat.
"Because somehow he once got free from the manacles, so now he tranqs himself to prevent it from happening again. He doesn't want to hurt anyone when he's in that state."
Whistler looked at Willow."And you're O.K. with this? Drugging your man? Being a girl to a guy that becomes a wolf at the full moon?"
Willow gave him a mildly annoyed look."I'd rather have Oz than any other 'normal' guy who doesn't change at the full moon. It's no big deal that he changes into a wolf for three nights of the month. He is everything to me, and he completes me, and that's something that I doubt you can understand."
Silently, Whistler looked at her through the darkness."No, strangely enough, I can understand that,"he said so softly that Willow had to strain to hear. In a louder voice, he asked,"So you want to go to Willie's and see what's up there?"
"You go there for information, too?"Willow asked curiously as she started the van. Whistler gave her a queer smile.
"I go there to see all the action and to grab something to eat, but I think that you had better stay in the car. It might get a little violent there in the bar. By the way, does Oz have something wrong with his hair? It's black now, last time I saw it, it was red."
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Whistler stepped out of the van in front of Willie's bar and looked around the shadows that surrounded the streets. [Man, the creep factor is going up here.]
"Willow,"he called into the van," You stay in the car and be ready to move when I say so."
"What? So now your spider-sense is tingling too?"
"It's going haywire, kid. Get ready to bolt on the drop of a pin,"he said as his eyes peered closer to the shadows outside the bar."Don't let anyone come near the van. If I'm down, leave me. Go get Angel. Got it,Red?"
Willow nodded. He stepped closer to the door when something struck him down. His bowler hat went flying into the street. Whistler rolled and quickly rose to his feet. He glared at the figures that came out from the shadows, and then his eyes grew wide. Willow screamed from inside the van.
"Very good recovery,demon,"a voice growled."Very good indeed. It has been a long time, very long indeed. But then what is time to Immortals demons like us?"
"Willow, GET OUT OF HERE, NOW!"hollered Whistler as he took a fighting stance."What do you want, Lith? Where's the Slayer?"
A male vampire stepped out of the shadows, and with him a female vampire with long black hair. She smiled at him coldly."Where's the Black Rapier, demon? I want the rapier!"
The demon called Lith looked at the van. directly at Willow's frantic eyes. "Stop that Jewess! She knows where the rapier is!"
"No! Leave her be!"shouted Whistler as he flung himself towards the vampire that started after the van."Willow, get out of here! Now!"
Willow started the van as Whistler was brought up by the neck by the vampire. By the time she raced down the street, Lilith had walked up to the caught Whistler and stroked his face gently, then slapped him so hard that his teeth rang.
"You will regret this, demon,"she hissed."Now, where is that rapier?"
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