Buffy looked around, and saw nothing but wispy clouds. This wasn't what she had expected when she jumped through Glory's portal. She'd hoped for Heaven, although she was ready for another Hell dimension. If this was Heaven, it certainly didn't live up to its reputation.
"Hello," she called out, hoping that someone would answer. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a booming voice did exactly that.
"Why are you here, Slayer? The Key was to return to its place. You were not part of our plans."
The words seemed to come at her from all sides, practically knocking her off her feet. She felt anger rush through her, heating her blood until she felt it burning her from the inside out. "Your plan? You planned to kill my sister. What kind of angels are you?"
The clouds parted, revealing a group of beings sitting on elaborate thrones. They glared at Buffy, and she returned it with equal measure. She stomped forward, anger echoing with each step she took. Stopping when she stood close enough to make out their faces, she saw four - creatures, was the only word that came to mind. Each one was a different color - brown, white, red and blue. Their faces were classically beautiful, resembling Greek statues, but they had huge, fathomless holes for eyes, which gave them a soulless appearance. Upon each one's head, rather than hair, elements quivered with life; long grasses wavered on the brown creature's head, billowing clouds created a halo for the white one, living flames surrounded the red head, while water flowed from a beautiful blue face.
"What are you guys, a scary Crayola box?" She frowned at them, trying to figure out who they were and where, the heck, had she landed this time.
"Silence!" They spoke simultaneously. Their voices blared loudly, forcing her to hold her hands over her ears. "You will show us respect. We are the Powers and we guide the destiny for all warriors such as you. Your arrogance led you to our domain. The Key should have returned to us, its keepers. Your interference has ruined plans that took many years to devise. The Key would have been returned to its proper place, if you hadn't interfered."
Buffy tilted her head to the side as she watched these omnipotent creatures, taking in their words, then threw back her head and laughed. The Powers sat there, stunned. This lower being, this Slayer, had not only ruined their carefully crafted plans, but here she stood before them laughing. They turned to look at each other, unsure what to do with her. There was no way to send her back. It would tear a hole in her world's reality. They were simply stuck with her.
"You're the big cheeses that decided to put 'your' key into a sister, so that I'd protect it from Glory. But, and that's a big but in case you missed it, you expected me to just let her sacrifice herself, after you made her from me. No wonder Slayers die young, with you guys running the show. I bet you're the ones that decided that we shouldn't have friends and that stuffy men dressed in tweed should tell us what to do." She crossed her arms, not caring that they could zap her into infinity. She had had it with people screwing with her life. These Starburst wannabes had messed with her family, even if they had created Dawn from a green, glowy blob of energy. When they used Summers blood then filled her mind full of memories, they had blown it big time.
The Air Power bellowed, "Remove her from our presence."
A blue-skinned man and woman appeared from thin air, wearing white Grecian robes with elaborate golden sandals that matched their hair. Except for their gender, they were identical. Before Buffy knew what was happening, they each grabbed an arm and disappeared. She pulled away, stepping back to take in her surroundings and the twins.
"Okay, who are you and where am I at?"
The male looked down his nose at her as if she were a bug that needed smashing. She took a step forward, ready to wipe the smug look right off his blue face. His female counterpart quickly interceded by putting herself between them and smiling softly at the small Slayer.
"Forgive my brother, Slayer, he does not understand the great sacrifice you made for your world. We are the Oracles, seers for the Powers. Champions come to us for guidance." An elegant hand swept outward to encompass a seemingly endless room. "This is the archive."
Buffy tilted her head up, but found no ceiling above her; for that matter, she was still walking on clouds. She walked further into the archive. Large shelves containing books and other strange objects created a maze of walkways that ended in small, comfy alcoves. Her curiosity got the better of her and she forgot her anger and bewilderment as she continued down the maze.
A soft smile graced her lips when she inhaled, breathing in the familiar scent of ancient books. She pulled a slender volume off a shelf and scanned it. A strange language that she had never seen before filled the page. What freaked her out was that she could read it. She had barely passed high school French, and that had been with Willow's help. This place got weirder with each passing minute. Sliding the book back into its place, she stared at the object that lay on the adjacent shelf. She put her hands in her pockets to keep them to herself as she stared at what looked like, well, a gold crown. What self-respecting woman, Slayer or not, could resist playing princess? She glanced around to see if her blue bodyguards were nearby. Ensuring that the coast was clear, she gave into temptation. The gold felt warm to the touch as she slipped on the round circlet.
A window opened inside her mind. The knowledge that Giles had tried to instill in her for years flooded into her brain. It was as if the knowledge was there waiting for her to let it inside. She walked over and shakily sat down on a small settee. Glancing over, she saw a round crystal that was about the size of a baby's fist. No sooner had she thought that it looked interesting than the object in question floated across the open space, landing in her lap. "Whoa!" She jerked the crown off her head and sat it on the couch beside her.
"It was King Atlas' crown. The Atlantians learned how to use their entire mind, with the proper focal point," the female Oracle explained as she appeared in the chair across from Buffy.
She rubbed her forehead, wrinkling her brow. "How come my mind is still doing the whole busy bee thing? I took off the honking crown already."
Bell-like laughter chimed from the Oracle's blue throat. "You're very amusing, for a champion."
"Gee thanks, you're a barrel of laughs, too. Exactly what is it that you do around here when you aren't guiding warriors?" She saw a sadness fill the other woman's eyes, and wondered what she had said wrong.
The female Oracle stood up, placing her hands behind her, then she slowly started pacing. Choosing her words carefully, she finally answered, "We once lived on your Earth, accessing other worlds through portals. The Powers wanted us to help a particular champion remain on his path. His enemy killed us and they brought us here as punishment. They felt that we should have prevented what happened."
"What about me? Am I being punished? Can't they just send me back?"
The golden head gave a negative shake. "No, your return would cause an imbalance in your world. I don't know what they have planned for you. Perhaps, they will send you to another world." She watched the hope enter Buffy's eyes, and quickly added. "If it happened, it would be on their terms, young Slayer. Do not fool yourself into thinking that the Powers wouldn't expect you to return." She watched a strange emotion that she couldn't define play over Buffy's face.
The Powers cringed as they heard another crash from the archive. They turned to stare at one another in desperation. The Slayer was destroying their beautiful home. If they didn't get rid of her soon, there wouldn't be any treasures left. She had shattered the Crystal Skull and broken Poseidon's Trident, and then she released Zeus' thunderbolts, burning the priceless books from the Libraries of Alexandria and Atlantis, and that was within the first few days, relatively speaking of course, since time moved differently within the upper regions.
"What are we to do with this Slayer? She is destroying the archive. If she remains, we won't have any treasures left," the Fire Power spoke with a flame-laden voice.
"An eldest Son of Ipswich will soon come into his power," the Water Power said.
"The lost line threatens the balance. He hungers for revenge and will use this time to obtain power that isn't rightfully his," the Earth Power supplied.
A heavy silence reigned in the Powers' chamber as well-satisfied smiles crossed their otherworldly faces. They sent their will toward their servants. The Oracles appeared and respectfully bowed their golden heads as they waited to hear what their masters wanted.
"It has been decided that the Slayer is to go to another dimension where the balance is in jeopardy." The male Oracle practically danced in place. His sister's expression filled with worry, unsure whether the Power would punish her for delivering bad news. "Why are you still here? Go and retrieve the troublesome girl so that we may tell her what is expected from her," the Air Power demanded.
The female knew that she had no choice but to speak. "Forgive me, but I'm not sure that she will do what you want."
Wind blasted the room, flames licked the air, the ground shook and water started to rise as the Powers' anger filled the space. It bore down on the Oracles. A united echoing voice boomed out their rage. "We are the Powers. She is a warrior and will do what we require of her. We created each world's warriors to ensure that the balance remained intact; they do not get to choose whether or not to obey."
"Sister, what are you talking about? The lower being will happily do the Powers bidding. She is a Slayer; after all; that is what they are bred for," the male Oracle explained to his twin, wondering why she was trying to upset the Powers.
Slender, blue shoulders sagged, as if they carried the weight of the world. "This Slayer is different. She proved that when she sacrificed herself for the Key. I've spent time with her, listened to her. I have even, though I find it strange, come to admire her."
"Admire her? She's a lower being, even though she has landed here. That doesn't change what she is, sister," the male Oracle said snobbishly.
"Doesn't it, brother? She has lived longer than any other Slayer on record by always doing the unexpected at every turn. The first day here she tried on Atlas' crown, and since then has wandered the length and breadth of the archive while peering through the Stygian Eye."
Using her entire mind and with the Stygian Eye's help, she found the archive's hidden resources. She had uncovered the Powers' secrets. They weren't the benevolent overseers that provided for their champions. Before the beginning of time, the Powers utilized an almost gleeful manipulation as they drove their champions to perform accordingly. The Slayer had learned that they enjoyed watching their champion's failures as much as their successes. They used the standard line about balance, but a champion's choice still came down to free will. The Powers played at a huge game, and Buffy had decided to draw up a hand.
She had learned that the archive was a repository for the 'trophies' awarded from the small bets between themselves. Knowing that she didn't want to spend an eternity here, and that returning home wasn't an option, she set out to force the Powers to ask her to leave. What better way to force their hands than to destroy their pretty, little treasures, accidentally of course.
Shooting the Golden Apple of Eris with Shiva Dhanush, she then splintered Shiva's bow into a thousand pieces. She sprinkled pixie dust over countless books, sending them floating into the ether. The last remaining bowl of ambrosia, the food of the gods, fell, dripping down onto Freyja's Falcon Cloak. The sticky substance soaked into the delicate feathers and started eating them. That was only the beginning. She continued working her way through the treasure trove of Greek, Norse, Celtic, Hindu, Japanese and Chinese supernatural relics, not to mention the untold number of books and scrolls that she had burned, shot, sliced, diced or floated. Poor Giles; he would have a coronary if he ever found out, but there wasn't much chance of that.
Buffy frowned as her thoughts turned dark. She hefted Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, placing her weight on her back foot and started to spin. She was about to throw it at her newest target, the Yata No Kagami, the sacred mirror of Japan. The Oracles appeared mid-spin, grabbing her arms and disappearing with her, saving the mirror, and the hammer, as well. They reappeared before the Powers. Buffy crossed her arms, with Thor's hammer still in her hands, resembling an angry Valkyrie as she scowled at her 'hosts'. The Oracles stepped back, hoping to stay out of the line of fire.
"You wanted something?" she asked in a bored tone.
The Powers stared in shock at this small champion who continued to do the unexpected. Where was the respect that was their due, or even the healthy fear that a lower being should have for them?
"Is that Mjolnir in your hands?"
"Yeah, is that all you wanted to know? The Doublemint Twins didn't have to do the whole port key thing for that. You know, if you guys ever got off your collective asses and walked around, you might learn a few things." She smiled smugly when their living hair showed that she had made a direct hit.
"You are to go below and watch over someone. There is one that wishes to harm him when he comes into his powers on his.."
"No."
"What!"
She fought to keep her footing, but she didn't say another word. Let the negotiations begin; this was one battle that she had no intentions of losing.
Buffy smiled at her new roommate, Kate Tunney, who brought Kendra to mind, if she had been given a chance at a life outside of slaying. They stood next to a bonfire, waiting for Kate's boyfriend, Pogue Parry and his friends. She didn't tell her new friend that she already knew about Ipswich and the Sons, especially the eldest, Caleb Danvers. It was the only way that she would agree to come and help. That and a few other perks that the Powers hadn't liked, but had agreed to more to get rid of her than anything else. The only thing that they wouldn't reveal was the identity of the Big Bad. They assured her that she had everything that she needed to fight him if it came down to it. The stupid poopheads; it didn't really matter. She wasn't the one that had to fight. This was Caleb's gig. She was here for technical support, or something like that.
Her eyes peered through the darkness, glancing up to where four figures stood at the cliff's edge. Her enhanced sight allowed her to watch them drop down, first one, followed by the other three. She couldn't help but smile. It was something that she would do if she had their powers. They seemed to emerge from the darkness, giving substance to their reputation. Hazel eyes drank in the tall, well muscled, dark haired boy, no, man, he was definitely a man, coming her way. Beside him was a slightly taller boy with longish dirty blonde hair and a definite surfer boy appeal, and on his other side, a brown haired boy with a baby face. On the surfer boy's right, a slender, white haired boy strutted forward with a Spike worthy smirk. Dark and yummy was none other than Caleb, and her mission. She could work with that, uh huh. Surfer boy was Kate's one and only, Pogue. Spike Junior was Reid Garwin, and the baby of the group was Tyler Simms.
Why was it that guys involved in the supernatural were such babes? She thought that somewhere on the fair meter, it had been tipped toward the male side and no one had bothered to even the scales. They got the looks and most of the time ended up with the power. There weren't that many powerful females out there, not counting the Slayer. Even when looking at the Big Bads, the males seemed endless, what with the Master, the Anointed One, Angelus, Spike, the Judge, Kakistos, Mr. Trick, the Mayor, the Order of Taraka, Dracula and Adam, the list went on and on. The females were a much shorter list: Darla, Drusilla, Maggie Walsh and Glory. Oh, there were other females sure, but none of them were real powerhouses, not like the men.
"Here they come," Kate said, leaning closer to her. Her eyes went immediately to Pogue. She knew that most girls at Spencer Academy had a crush on Caleb, not her. He was a little too much like the society boys that her father wanted her to date. Pogue got her motor revving from the first time they met with that bad boy vibe that she loved. and her father hated.
"Who?" Buffy asked, playing her part.
"The Sons of Ipswich," Kate answered, with pride heavy in her voice. "They're the shit around here, the reigning princes. Don't worry, I'll introduce you; they're cool."
"Kate, calm down. Just turn around and meet your honey." Buffy grinned when the other girl's eyes widened as arms circled her waist. She watched her spin around, her arms automatically reaching up to encircle a strong neck. Sweeping past the young lovers, hazel eyes ran straight into dark chocolate ones. A pale, blonde brow rose when a slow, sexy smile aimed its way toward her. This one was dangerous in more ways than one.
Reid, never wanting to lose more than he had to Caleb, stepped forward and bowed gallantly. "Reid Garwin at your service, ready to provide assistance at a moment's notice, fair lady."
Kate pulled away from Pogue, turning back around to face the group. "Oh, Buffy, I'm sorry, well not really, but you know what I mean." She blushed prettily as she squeezed Pogue's arm. "Guys, this is my new roommate, Buffy Summers. Buffy, this is Pogue Parry." She bumped the body behind her with her head. "You've already met Reid. The other two are Caleb Danvers and Tyler Simms."
"Hey, guys." She smiled at them, giving a small wave.
"Where are you from, Buffy?" Caleb asked. He hadn't taken his eyes off the petite blonde and his best friends weren't the only ones to notice.
Several pairs of eyes narrowed, shifting from the resident golden boy to the new girl. Two people decided to do something about it. A girl with red curly hair sauntered over to the group, forcing her way between Caleb and Tyler.
"Hi, Caleb, haven't seen you around much this summer." She gave him a big, toothy smile. "Who's your little friend?" Her voice turned spiteful as she leveled a condescending glare at Buffy.
"The name's Buffy and I never said that I was his friend," she supplied. "Course, I never said that I wasn't either. Don't figure that it's any of your business, Hermione." She gave the girl an evil smile when the boys tried to swallow their laughter.
"Why you little bitch! Just who do you think you are? Do you know who I am?" The girl's back went ramrod straight.
"Bored now." She yawned into her hand in a perfect imitation of Vamp Willow.
Before the argument went any further, another boy joined them. He had clean all-American good looks, with sandy brown hair and blue eyes, but he immediately set off Buffy's spidey-sense. Even if her senses weren't screaming at her, there was something about him that just wasn't right. His wide smile, perfect hair and smooth answers were just too Eddie Haskell for her taste. He introduced himself as Chase Collins.
Caleb gave him an easy smile and started making small talk. While taking a step backward, he accidentally bumped into his nemesis, Aaron Abbot. It jarred the other boy, causing him to spill his beer and he immediately tried to pick a fight. No one noticed Chase's eyes flash black. Suddenly, they heard the sound of someone retching, and Aaron's cohort tossed his cookies in the boy's general direction. Everyone laughed, watching him stomp off in disgust.
"That was awesome. Did you see his face? It was almost as great as seeing you pound on him, Caleb," Reid crowed.
Out of the blue, a shout rang out. "Everybody run, the police are on the way." Fires went out as bodies scattered. Motors revved, followed by the squealing of tires as everyone made a hasty escape.
The boys jumped into Tyler's truck, ready to head out, when they noticed that the girls hadn't left. Buffy's car wouldn't start; she pounded on the steering wheel, cursing loudly. Reid got out and raced over. He popped the hood, glancing back at his friends. His eyes flared red as he smirked at them, before turning back to the car, an energy spark leapt from his finger into the motor.
"Try it now."
She turned the key and this time the engine started. Rolling down the window, she shouted, "You're my hero, thanks."
He closed the hood, then walked over to lean into the window, bringing his face close to hers. "Told you that I'd provide any service you needed, fair lady." He took her hand where it lay on the windowsill and gave it kiss.
She gave him a hard stare that had him giving her space. "Thanks for the assist. Guess I'll see you back at the ole homestead, ta." She smashed down on the gas, leaving him standing staring after her car.
Kate pumped her for her impression of the boys, especially Caleb. She had tried to play it cool. It was weird being seventeen again. She wondered if she would have better luck this time around. Still too wired up to sleep, she had decided to take a shower. Her lips fell into their famous pout when she had to gather her things to take the trek down the hall to the girl's showers. Private school was nice, but it did have its drawbacks, and this was defiantly one of them. Hadn't they ever heard of en suite accommodations? Come on, people, come into the twenty-first century. What was this, one of those teen movies where you always have to have to a community shower scene or what? Sheesh.
She undressed and stepped under the pulsing jets, allowing the hot water to relax her tight muscles. She turned around to wet her hair before administering a healthy amount of shampoo. Turning back, she allowed the water to slide over her shoulders. Golden skin shone through the pulsing waterfall, and there, branded at the base of her spine, was a Cinnabar Medallion. It wasn't the standard reproduction. Buffy's name and title had replaced the constellations that should surround the center 'C'. The outermost band, which normally showed the Zodiac symbols held a detailed agreement between her and the Powers. Even the Powers couldn't renege on a signed agreement. Buffy had gone one better, and forced them to tattoo the contract on her body - permanently. No worries of losing a piece of paper, or it suddenly disappearing. She even glamoured its appearance. Anyone that didn't have the proper key would simply see a standard Cinnabar Medallion.
She had started to wash her hair when she felt someone watching her. Slowly setting the shampoo down, she turned the shower off, then looked around the bathroom. No one was there. The feeling hadn't gone away, so she reached out with her senses and felt another presence. It was a familiar feeling; someone that she had already met. She tried to go deeper to see exactly where they were at, when an overhead bulb exploded. It startled her and she lost the connection.
"Damn it."
She grabbed a towel and walked over to check where the bulb had exploded, hoping to get something off it. Bending down, she careful picked up a large piece of broken bulb. She closed her eyes and released her breath, clearing her mind. Buffy saw Caleb tossing in bed as if in terrible pain, her taking a shower, pure black eyes, then the entire group at the beach, including Chase and Aaron. Great lot of help that was, showing everybody there at the end. Chase already set off her spidey senses, but she couldn't strike off Aaron. He could be deep into the dark art, just an asshole, or the two could be working together. Willow was a great example that a person didn't have to come from some particular bloodline to be powerful. Still, she was betting on Chase; the guy gave her the willies. Plus, he didn't seem like he'd play well with others.
Standing back up, she went to quickly finish her shower and gather her things. Okay, Buffy, showtime. Whoever had pulled this crap was probably watching. He'd expect to see a scared girl, so here goes. She pulled her towel around her, padding down the hall and looking over her shoulder every few seconds. Hearing footsteps coming her way, Buffy turned away and ran into whoever was out roaming the halls. She peered up, keeping a frightened look in her eyes. Her shoulders sagged when she saw Reid.
"Oh, it's you," she said, with a slight tremor in her voice. Wow, if I already didn't have a mission in life, I might try being an actress. She had to work hard not to smile at her own internal joke.
Reid enjoyed holding the attractive blonde in his arms. Eat your heart out, Caleb. "What are you doing out here, Buffy?" His normally mischievous features turned concerned when he felt her shiver. He started rubbing his hand against her arms, trying to warm her. His face must have shown how much he was enjoying it because she stepped away.
"I was taking a shower, couldn't sleep. New place, still kinda wired, ya know?" She faltered, swallowing as she tried to pull herself together. "You're going to think that I'm crazy or something, but I felt someone watching me. I stepped out, and the lights flickered, then one exploded and whoever was there was gone. I got spooked and left." Hazel eyes searched his face for any signs of recognition. She knew that this one liked to play jokes and didn't take the mandates about using their powers seriously, not like Caleb. He might think that it was funny to watch her shower, using enough to hurt Caleb; she didn't think so, but people got weird when it came to power.
He walked by her, stopping when she didn't follow. "Well, are you coming?"
"Where?"
"To check it out, of course. Can't have some perv running around the school peeking into the girl's showers. They'll go crazy, start writing home to parents, who might actually take an interest in what we do here. Can't have that now, can we?" He gave her a lop-sided smirk and started walking toward the showers.
She followed him, deciding that she liked him, even if he was a smart ass. They walked in and found it exactly the way that she had left it. She showed him the broken bulb, which he examined before looking under the stalls and in the empty showers. No one was there.
"I'll be happy to stand here and watch, if you'd like to finish your shower," he offered, with a naughty twinkle in his eyes.
She secured her towel tighter around her body. "That's okay, Reid; one perv a night is my quota. Turn out the lights when you leave. Feel free to stay here and fantasize till your heart's content though. Thanks."
She started toward the door, and he followed. They walked back to her dorm room in comfortable silence. Turning back to smile at him, she said, "Thanks for the assist, Reid. You're not so bad when you don't try so hard."
"Hey," he said, "don't say that; you'll ruin my reputation." He watched her enter her room and went down the hall to his own.
Caleb drove along the highway, speaking on the phone with Pogue. His powerful car easily took the curves as he pushed it to go faster.
Pogue sat on his motorcycle, and asked, "What's up with you, man? You sound stressed as shit."
"Thanks, I love you, too." He raked a hand through his dark hair before responding. "I had a bad night. Someone was using last night - heavy. Do you think it was Reid? I could feel them. It was intense. Pogue, I've never felt anything like that before in my life."
The party boy's intense green eyes narrowed, marring his normally smooth brow. "Reid's wild sometimes, but he wouldn't do something like that. You know he likes to play around with his powers. He knows his boundaries, though. Hey, did you see the morning paper? They found some kid's body in his car."
Glancing over at the passenger seat, he noticed a boy's picture on the front page. Suddenly the boy was sitting in the seat. He turned to stare at Caleb, with deathly white skin and solid black eyes. The shock caused him to lose control of the car, veering into the oncoming traffic. A semi-truck was heading straight at him, and he couldn't do anything to stop it. He tried to slam on the brakes and veer away, but it was too late. Closing his eyes, he braced for impact. The semi hit the car, tearing it into a million pieces. Before a single piece could hit the ground, or a nerve ending could impart the synapses that pain had occurred, both Caleb and the car knitted back together again, without a scratch showing. His defensive motions continued, taking him to the roadside where he pulled to a stop and turned off the engine.
Pogue's voice came screaming through the phone and he hastily picked it up. "I'm here, calm down. Pogue, I just saw a darkling. It was that student that they found dead. Someone's messing with me. I don't need this crap, not with…"
"Your birthday just around the corner." His friend completed the sentence for him.
"Look, I'll talk to you later; just keep your eyes and ears open. And Pogue, be careful."
"You know me, Caleb, I'm always careful."
He heard a motorcycle revving in the background as he hung up the phone. "Yeah, real careful."
Buffy and Kate had decided to walk around Ipswich on their last day before school started. They went window-shopping, then purchased a few things that they needed back at their dorm. They were in the local drug store when Caleb entered one door and Chase walked in the other. Kate gravitated toward the handsome new boy, doing a little friendly flirting. Buffy stayed by the cards, watching them from beneath her lashes. She noticed that he smiled when appropriate and said all the right things, but that his eyes kept straying toward the back where Caleb had gone. She wandered around the card section, meandering over to the aisle that lined up with the pharmacy. Turning around when she heard soft footsteps coming her way, she bent down to pick out a card on a lower level. She stood up and turned around to come face to face with Caleb Danvers.
"Oh, hi," she said, blushing prettily. "Caleb, right?"
Caleb smiled, showing deep dimples that only made his face more handsome. "Right, and you're Buffy. How do you like Ipswich?"
She returned his smile. "It's nice, a little cooler than California, but I'll adjust. What brings you to town?"
He shook the medicine in the white bag that he was he holding. "Family errand."
Kate and Chase walked up laughing. "Buffy, want to join us for a movie? Chase's buying." Kate had her hands wrapped around her escort's arm. Caleb's eyebrow went up, and her hands hastily fell to her sides. She gave him an innocent look that he returned with a fatherly scowl that smoothed out when Buffy cleared her throat.
"Nah, it's too nice a day to be cooped up. You two go ahead, eat some popcorn for me. I'll take the bus back to school."
"If you don't mind running an errand with me first, I'll give you a ride," Caleb offered. His warm, deep, chocolate eyes held hers as he waited for her answer.
"Are you sure it's no trouble?" They smiled at each other, ignoring the other couple as they stared into each others' eyes.
"I'm sure."
They walked away without saying good-bye. Caleb placed his hand at Buffy's lower back as they talked in soft whispers. Kate and Chase turned to each other.
"Well, I'm not sure whether I should feel insulted or happy for them. I've never felt redundant before; what about you Chase?" She smiled up at the handsome young man.
His eyes darkened as he stared after the young couple climbing into the silver sports car. "What, oh, silly, you could never be redundant. We are both unique; don't ever doubt it."
She smiled, as she got ready for the evening. She had a wonderful afternoon with Caleb. They got to know each better. He had showed her the old Putnam Barn and his family's homestead. The caretaker was creepy, but that was okay. He had a right, caring for someone that was withered away from abusing his powers. She wished that she could tell Caleb that she knew about him and his family, about the others as well. According to the stupid Powers, champions had to learn on their own about the choices that determined their fate. Yeah right, they just liked to watch people flounder around as they either sank or swam.
Screw them; well, as much as she could get away with anyways. While she had wandered around their archive, she hadn't simply tried to destroy as many trophies as she could. She went through the books, searching for information that might help her when she ultimately landed on a world of their choosing. She had no way of knowing whether she would need her Slayer powers, or another type. So, she researched which powers might come in handy for fighting on different worlds, then went about determining how best to request them from the Powers. She knew that she had to ask for them in a very specific manner, or they could turn their backs on her.
Then came the real kicker; how to get the best deal for the champion she was going to help. She didn't want them to end up with a sucky deal like the one that Slayers had on her world. She figured in for a penny in for a pound. A big grin spread across her face, remembering their anger when she had started the negotiations. She had to say she absolutely loved Atlas' crown. Accidentally wearing that crown had been the best thing to happen to her, well other than leaving. One of their few negotiating points was that she couldn't tell Caleb anything unless it became necessary.
"What's that smile about? You wouldn't happen to be thinking about Caleb, would you?" Kate asked from the bathroom doorway as she fluffed her long black hair. "You two looked awfully chummy today. Gotta say, girlfriend, you sure do work fast. The biatches in this school are going to want to scratch your eyes out."
Buffy put up her fists, playfully punching the air. "Bring it on. They don't know who they're messing with. I may not look too tough, but my old school makes Spencer look like pre-school. Besides, it's up to Caleb who he likes, and if he wants to ask me out, then what can I say?" She stepped away from the mirror, pirouetting to show off her form fitting black dress. "Who am I to break his gorgeous heart?"
Pogue walked into Nicky's. Female heads turned as he gave them a sexy smile as he passed by, heading toward where he had spied his girl. The smile slipped when he noticed that she sat beside the new guy who had his arm on the back of her chair. He leaned forward, pushing his body between them. His lips grazed Kate's ear as a whispered his hello. She immediately turned in her seat. Her face lit up when she saw Pogue, ignoring Chase practically launching herself into her lover's arms.
Chase frowned at the way she had so easily dismissed him. He glanced away, forcing his eyes to remain blue and turned back with a huge smile. It happened quickly and he hoped that no one had noticed.
No one had, except for Buffy. She smiled brightly at Caleb, while she kept Chase in her peripheral vision. They had agreed to meet here, and he would see her home afterward. Caleb included Chase into their conversation as Pogue and Kate's greeting grew more physical. They talked about everything, from school starting to different sports. Chase tried to flirt with Buffy when Caleb got up to start the jukebox. She played the dumb blonde and ignored the blatant attempts that he sent her way. Seeing that he wasn't getting anywhere, he challenged Caleb to a game of foosball the second he got back to the table. The lovers had finally come up for air. She noticed that Pogue didn't particularly care for Chase either. Whether it was because of Kate or the vibes he gave off, she'd have to ask him later.
Pogue went to get some food, and she turned to Kate and asked, "What is it with guys? Whenever there are games around they always have to flex and proves whose is bigger."
Kate snorted, spewing coke over the table, then grabbed some napkins to mop up the mess. "I can't believe you said that." She eyed Pogue as he headed back with his food. He proceeded to set it down then go straight over to the game table. She glared at her boyfriend. "Not that it isn't true, though. What are we supposed to do, sit here all night?" She saw Pogue take Chase's place for another game and frowned.
Buffy grabbed her purse and dug around for some loose change. "Don't know about you, but I came here to have some fun."
She jumped up from the table, heading straight for the jukebox and loaded in her money. Her fingers walked across the selections, pushing buttons for the music that fit her mood. She moved over to the small dance floor and started to move, motioning for her friend to join her. The two girls danced with each other, getting everyone's attention.
"Wow, look at that."
Caleb and Pogue turned around to see what was happening. There, swaying to the music looking like any man's wet dream, were their dates. The girls only had eyes for their guys; when they saw them watching, they motioned them over. They didn't need to be told twice. Buffy met Caleb halfway. She danced around him, then placed her back to his front. Her arms went up in the air as her hips swayed to the music. He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her close as their bodies rocked to the heavy beat.
Kate and Pogue had barely started dancing when she felt him stop. She saw him watching the pool tables. A soft sigh escaped her lips when she recognized Reid. That Ipswich Son was always getting into trouble and the others had to come to his rescue. Oh, well, it was part of the package. She had known that when she had started dating Pogue. She nodded her head and went back to the table. She hoped that Buffy was as understanding.
The couple in question were lost in each other and the music, with their eyes closed, their dancing had gotten closer to mating with clothes on. Pogue interrupted without saying a word. He simply pointed to the pool tables where Aaron had just shoved Reid. Tyler stood to the side, looking ready to jump in any minute.
Caleb gave Buffy a sad smile then said, "I have to go break this up, but I'll be back as soon as I can."
He dropped a soft kiss on her lips and hurried away. She sighed and walked back over to join Kate at the table. Looking around, she didn't see Chase. She couldn't stop the shiver that went down her spine at not knowing where he had gone. Kate saw this and patted her hand.
"Don't worry Caleb and Pogue will take care of this and be back before you know it. Reid's always pulling this kind of crap. Though, I have to say, it does usually involve Aaron."
"What's his deal anyway?" She wrinkled her nose, remembering the night of the bon fire.
"I'm not exactly sure. Pogue told me that he's always resented them, Caleb especially. I think he wants to be the crown prince and the title's taken. The families around here go way back and Aaron's family isn't any different. His just doesn't go back as far as the Sons. If they weren't around, the Abbots would reign supreme, either that or it's about a girl." She gave an elegant shrug before wolfing down a handful of fries.
Buffy noticed Nicky take a bat from behind the bar and head toward the back alley. She told Kate that she needed to go to the restroom and headed off in that direction. When she was sure that no one was looking, she took a detour, finding a perfect hiding place in the shadows next to the back door. She stood listening ready to interfere if it became necessary. Nicky broke up the fight before it even got started, sending Aaron and his crew on home. He came back inside, never even looking her way.
She overheard Caleb yelling at Reid for using his powers in a public place. The argument escalated when he didn't accept Caleb's reprimands or appreciate his doubts about not using the previous night. Ever willing to test his bounds, Reid challenged Caleb, confident that his powers had surpassed those of the group's leader. Caleb tried to get the younger boy to back down, but he wouldn't have it. He quickly learned a lesson in who had the superior power, and it wasn't him.
Buffy waited a few minutes to ensure that she wouldn't see anything that she shouldn't and stepped out the back door. "Caleb," she said softly. She took in his rigid stance and the anger still evident on his face. "Are you okay? You've been out here a long time. Do you want me to get a ride home with Kate?" She gave him a tentative smile, hoping to diffuse his anger.
He allowed his body to relax and plastered a smile on his face. The more he stared at Buffy, the more the smile became real. "No, we're finished here." He turned back to the others, glancing over at Reid who was still lying where he had landed. "Take him home." He started walking toward Buffy, then turned back to the other two. "Straight home." He stepped up next to her and put his arm around her shoulder, walking her back inside the club.
Pogue and Tyler walked over to Reid and helped him up off the ground. "Do you always have to push at him? You know he's worried about this Friday. Give the guy a break, would ya?" Tyler said in his states the obvious way.
"Yeah, yeah. Give him a break. When has he ever given me a break?"
"Tonight," Pogue said as he turned to walked off, leaving the other two to follow.
Caleb pulled his car up outside Spencer Academy and turned to look at Buffy. He smiled at her, taking her small hand into his much larger one. "I had a good time tonight, even with the interruptions."
"Yeah, I did too." She glanced down at their hands, thinking how right they seemed together. She hadn't much liked being a teenager the first time around. This time it wasn't too bad. Not so much angst; well, if you didn't count the whole proverbial showdown in the offing.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" He leaned in, bringing their faces closer.
She kept her eyes down, knowing that if she raised them that she would be lost. It was inevitable, damn the Powers. They had wanted this from the first; she just knew it. He was a great guy and didn't deserve the hard choices that were going to get thrown his way. She hoped that he would forgive her, but with her luck, he would probably hate her. Oh, well, she might as well enjoy it while she could.
"That I want to do this." She leaned forward, pressing her lips against his.
She had surprised him. It didn't take him long to get with the program. His hand wrapped around her neck, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. They broke apart when air became an issue. She slipped out of the car before he could stop her.
Buffy leaned back down, giving him a mega-watt smile. "I think I'm going to like it here a lot." She closed the door and rushed inside.
She lay in bed, almost asleep, when she felt it. Something brushed across her arm; she sat up in bed, pushing the covers away. Spiders covered the mattress. They crawled over her legs, up her body and into her hair. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes to keep from freaking out and released her breath. Opening her eyes, she stared at her uninvited guests, then allowed her eyes to flash amber and the spiders disappeared.
"That's better."
Her hand opened to reveal a lone spider. She brought it close to her face, staring at it. The spider walked across the palm, drawing closer. She watched it for several minutes, before leaning across her nightshade to let it go out her window.
"Hurry back to your master, little imp. Show me exactly who he is. Prove that I'm right." Hazel eyes flashed amber, sending the eight-legged creature scurrying into the night. "Bet you weren't counting on that." She closed and locked the window. Amber flashed in the room once more, when she secured the window from any more unexpected visitors.