Willow looked wistfully at Xander as he walked down the hall, waiting for him to reach her.
“What’s up Will?” Xander asked, pulling on her braids.
“We’d better go meet up with Buffy,” Willow murmured, trying to hide her blush.
“I wonder how the Buffster is doing. She didn’t look to good this morning,” Xander commented, holding open the door for Willow. They headed out to where Buffy was sitting. Her eyes had a cast away look.
“Do you know a guy named Ryan Neely, Xander?” Buffy asked the two before they could get a word in edgewise. Xander shook his head slowly and looked at her strangely.
“No why?” Buffy sighed, “Cause he knows you.”
“Do you think that’s it?” Gile’s asked, his disbelief clearly showing. Mrs. Calendar nodded.
“You said that you didn’t think to look up reincarnation and what it had to do with dreams. It’s got to be it, Rupert,” Jenny sighed.
“You may be right it seems the only explanation abou . . .”
“What’s the explanation Giles?” Buffy asked as Xander helped her to sit down in one of the chairs inside the library.
“Buffy?” Giles exclaimed, rushing over to her. “I think I know why you’re having these dreams.”
“Good,” Buffy said quickly, “Because I think I know who’s causing them.”
Part Eleven
“Okay,” Xander said. “Explain this to me one more time. Buffy’s meeting some one from her past in her dreams?”
“Not this past Xander,” Mrs. Calendar said shaking her head.
“Huh?” Xander asked. Giles came over to him.
“Buffy has been reincarnated many times. Her soul is very old,” Giles started. “It seems that in her dreams she is having memories of her past lives. Perhaps a past love that's been drawn to her through out the centuries.”
“But,” Willow interrupted, “I thought that Buffy was the reincarnated slayer. I mean doesn’t she have dreams about being them too?” Giles nodded.
“Yes. She dreams about the last slayers lives because she shares a great bond with them. But that doesn’t mean she was them.” Willow nodded, understanding.
“Okay.” Xander said, “This dude from Buffy’s past has come a-calling. And Buffy knows who he is. So who is he Buffy?”
Buffy sighed, “Ryan Neely.”
“How do you know this Buffy?” Giles asked. Buffy shrugged, “I just do okay?” There’s something weird about that guy. I mean one minute he’s sweet, and the next minute he’s all whacked out and weird.”
“So you’ve met him?” Willow asked, gesturing toward the flowers Buffy was still holding in her hands. Buffy looked down and dropped the flowers on the table. She was so confused about the whole situation.
“Yeah,” she murmured, “You can say that.
“How do we stop this Giles?” Buffy asked looking back up. Giles took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes.
“There’s the problem, Buffy I’m not sure.”
“But she’s not endanger is she?” Willow asked worried.
“Not at all, Will,” Xander said cynically. “Unless you count that little pushing down the stairs incident.”
“Do you think that was connected?” Mrs. Calendar asked. Giles nodded.
“If this is a past love he could have been jealous over the relationship between Xander and Buffy.” Buffy looked up startled, “Ryan did ask me if you were my boyfriend Xander. But, could he really have been that great wind?”
“No,” Giles shook his head, “But he could have caused it.”
Part Twelve
Angel smiled as he headed to Buffy’s house with dozen roses in his hand. He was hoping to cheer her up. His smiled darkened as he saw a man hanging around Buffy’s house.
The man was sitting on the porch, rocking in the Summer’s porch swing. Angel frowned, a feeling of recognition washed over him.
“I guess Buffy isn’t home,” he offered, looking morosely at the young man.
“No she isn’t,” the man said with a growl, “I’m waiting for her. And I prefer to wait alone.”
“Well,” Angel said with a small smile, “We don’t always get want we want. Do I know you?” The young man smiled darkly.
“You never know.”
Angel turned quickly away from the man as he felt Buffy’s presence. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the man stand up.
“Buffy,” the young man called, rushing forward. He ran to Buffy quickly, reaching out to her before Xander could shove him away. Xander and Willow had walked the slayer home from the library after school, hoping to protect her.
“Leave me alone Ryan,” Buffy said shaken.
“Nope, sorry Buffy,” Ryan said. “You and I belong together. Throughout eternity. Together.”
Angel reached and grabbed Ryan’s shoulder, surprised at the force it took to pull Ryan away. “I think the lady said go away,” Angel snarled, ready to rip the guy’s throat out. Ryan stared at Angel, running his eye’s over him, as if in challenge. After a few seconds, he turned and walked away, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll see you tonight Buffy!”
“Who was that guy?” Angel asked once the trio had gotten Buffy safely inside of her house. Buffy sighed, pushing her hair behind her ears with one hand.
“He’s . . . um, his name is Ryan Neely and it’s a really long story,” Buffy said. Angel kissed her softly on the lips.
“I have time.”
Part Thirteen
"You know," Angel started, "I think I know who that guy was." The slayer and the slayerettes were sitting in Buffy's living room. They had just told Angel all about problem with Ryan.
"What do you mean?" Willow asked. "You've seen him around?" Angel nodded.
"If you count a hundred fifty years ago around. I could have sworn that I knew him in the 1840's. He wasn't such a nice guy. Drove people crazy for the fun of it. Tourtured them. Back then, those were the only kind of guys I hung around with. Went by the name of George Depoux. The guy lived with this really pretty woman, and he treated her like a princess. Was real jealous. I got this feeling that she didn't like him all that much but she didn't have a choice. He was rich and powerful. Deep in Black Magic. But He was mortal." Angel paused as he let this sink in. He caught a glimpse of fear in Buffy's eyes and shot her a reasuring glance.
"I've only seen Ryan once or twice," Willow said slowly, "But he doesn't look like he's a hundred and fifty years old." She looked at Angel's piercing eyes. "Or I could be wrong," she mumbled.
"Or it could be black magic. Maybe thats whats keeping him young," Xander offered. Every one in the room looked at him surprised. He shrugged, "Research boy."
"What happened to the girl?" Buffy hesitated. "The one Ryan was involved with while you knew him?" Angel sighed.
"I have no idea. I think she ran away from him." Angel said.
"The woman never returned his love. She didn't want to be with him and she ran away. So he's been looking for her ever since? Willow asked. Buffy shrugged in response.
"Maybe he's finally found her."
"Okay," Buffy said, finally taking control of the situation. "Wilow. Xander. Go find Giles. Tell him what's happening. Get him to find a spell that will bar Ryan, or bind him, or somrthing. Just get Giles to do something. I'll stay here with Angel. Ryan will try to find me and I don't want to be around you guys if he tries anything. And I definately don't want to spend anouther night as the object of Ryan's obsession. "
The slayerettes nodded there agreement. Xander was the last to leave. He shot a backwards glance at Buffy and Angel.
"Whatch out for her, man," Xander said. Angel knodded. "I will"
Part Fourteen
The wind rattled the windows on Buffy's house. She snuggled closer to Angel on her couch. He was starting to worry about the storm outside. It wasn't natural and it was making the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Suddenly the front door was blown open causing the pictures on the wall to slam around the room. Apparently Ryan could come in uninvited when vampire's couldn't. Angel grabbed a hold of Buffy. He shoved his body in front of hers as vase came hurling from the direction of the kitchen.
It shattered against his head, a piece embedding in his right shoulder. Angel fell down, dizy from the shock. The wind pushed Buffy away from him as she reached out to help Angel up. The wind picked up pace. Buffy screamed as her mother's china chest was pulled from the wall and tumbled on top of Angel's body pinning him to the ground. Suddenly the wind stopped.
Angel groaned in pain, trying to push the offending piece of furniture off himself. Buffy rushed to him, tears in her eyes. She was so engrossed in soothing Angel that she didn't notice a figure walk up behind her. Buffy didn't notice it untill a blinding pain exploded in the back of her head and she was knocked into black oblivion.
"What's up?" Jenny asked.
"Ryan made a play for Buff after school today," Xander explained.
"Yeah," Willow continued for him, "Angel remembers him from a long time ago. We think that its black magic keeping him young. Buffy's the reincarnated woman that he was involved with a long time ago. The woman ran away from Ryan and now he thinks he can get her back by having Buffy."
Giles took his glasses of so he could look at the children closer. "You may be right," he said.
"Okay," Jenny began, "That's a start. But what are you going to do about it."
"What about finding a spell that will bind his powers so that he'll grow old. You stopped Amy, so you can stop Ryan. I figure once the spell is reverced he'll grow old real quick. Crumble and turn to dust. Sorta like the master." Xander offered.
Giles slapped himself on the forhead. "Of course," he shouted.
"Wow," Willow beamed at Xander, "Two for two today." Xander grinned. "Research boy."
Part Fifteen
Buffy shivred as she finally woke up. Her whole body was cold.
"Glad to see that you've finally woken up my love," Ryan whispered, caressing Buffy's cheek. Still in pain, Buffy was too tired to pull away from him.
"I'm sorry that I hurt you Darling," he offered, kissing her lips softly. "But I couldn't let you be with those men. And I had to have you with me. How do you feel?"
Buffy looked at him suspiciously, but decided to play nice for now. "My arms a little sore, and my head aches." Ryan looked down at her kindly. He brought his hand to rest softly on her face.
"I am truly sorry about that," he said sincerly. Buffy was confussed. First Ryan had beat her up, now he was carressing her? It didn't make any sense. He got up from the bed Buffy was laying and started to leave the room.
"Wait!," Buffy called. "Don't . . . . Don't leave me alone. I don't want to be alone in this strange room. Sir with me." Ryan smiled as he turned back to her. He sat back down on the bed and held Buffy's hand. She tried to smile at him sexily.
"Talk to me," she whispered. "Tell me a story . . . about you . . . about us." Ryan gazed at her cautiously, but relented to her demands.
"I've loved you since the moment that I set eyes on you. I was never so happy as when I found you again." He gripped her shoulders desperately. "Are you happy too?" Buffy knodded quickly, hoping that was the answer he was looking for.
Ryan bent his head down to kiss Buffy. She eagerly responding, alowing him to deepen the kiss. When Ryan had finally released her from the kiss, Buffy regained her breath and pulled him back into anouther kiss. When his gaurd was down, Buffy pulled back her arm and punched Ryan in the stomach as hard as possible. He doubled over in pain and shoved Buffy off of the bed. Buffy jumped up in a fighting stance.
Part Sixteen
Xander paced around in circles in Buffy's living room. He shot glances at his friends, all of them worried. Giles was sitting in a small corner of the room with a huge, dusty book on his lap. They had rushed back to Buffy's house once they had found the perfect spell to void Ryan's powers. It would only work for one night, but in that time Ryan would age one hundred and fifty years.
When they arived at the Summer's house, they found that Angel had just broken free from his confinement. They finally convinced Angel to tell them everything that happened. He explained that Ryan had taken Buffy right before his eyes after bashing her on the head, hard.
"A circle of power," Jenny agreed.
All of the slayeretted joined hands in Buffy's living room. Giles set the spell book in the center of the circle and started chanting:
"Ryan, we bind thee. We bind thee from the powers of black magic. We bind thee from the rituals of the earth. We bind thee from harming our sister. Ryan, we bind thee. . . ."
The book elevated. Out side the circle, debris swirled around and around.
Jenny was the first to join in, "Ryan, we bind thee. . . . "
Then Xander, "We bind thee from the powers of black magic. . . ."
Willow was next, "We bind thee from the rituals of the earth . . . ."
Finally Angel finished the circle, "We bind thee from harming our sister."
Together, "Ryan, we bind thee. . . . "
Part Seventeen
Buffy felt herself fly across the room as Ryan shoved her. He was much stronger than any mortal should be. He formed a small orb of light in his hands and hurled it at Buffy. She jumped out of the way. It exploded against the back wall of the room in a bursting white light. For the briefest moment all of the color vanished from the wall and it seemed to petrify.
"Stand still," Ryan screamed, "I told you that I didn't want to hurt you. This will calm you down Buffy. It won't hurt if you stay still!" Ryan hurled anouther orb at her. This time Buffy ducked and countered with a direct attack. She kicked him in the chest, and he stumbled back. Ryan growled and ran at Buffy, he punched her directly in the face, causing her to stumble back and trip on a wrinkle in one of the rugs lying on the floor. She fell with a thwack, uncerimoniously on her butt.
Ryan grinned, picking up a four-legged chair and setting it back down over the slayer's neck so that she couldn't move. He sat down and straddled it, breathing heavily.
"What's the matter Ryan?" Buffy taunted, "Not feeling too good?" Ryan loosened the collar on his shirt. He leaned down to look at Buffy.
"You thought you could run away from me," Ryan said. He was struggling to get the words out. Buffy knew something was wrong.
"They all thought they could run away from me," he continued. He reached down to lay a hand on Buffy's chest. "Not anymore."
Ryan's hand was heating up, glowing red hot, even as his face started to form wrinkles. Panicing, Buffy struggle to move away from his hand and the power in it. She looked into his eyes one last time and stopped. Buffy whatched in horror as the skin on Ryan's face stretched and aged right before her eyes. His whole body shirivled up and melted, covering her in a pile of ash.
Jenny and Giles looked up quickly when the two teenagers, Willow and Xander bounded into the library.
"We need to form a circle," Giles said.