Chapter 13

 

 

 

They were already deep within the forest before she noticed anything amiss. They’d made one brief stop prior to the last leg of their journey, and she supposed that she could blame not noticing anything on the mass amounts of chocolate that she had consumed.

 

The minuscule gas station, with its variety of chocolate bars maxing out at 4 had seen the Slayer grumbling as he pumped gas for the vehicle he hadn’t even gotten to drive, while she and bit had bought bags of chips and bars of chocolate to stave off the severe attack of the munchies that had overtaken them all.

 

By the time the William had returned to the car after paying she had already been once more ensconced within the drivers’ seat and barring the rolled eyes and slight puff of air that he hadn’t managed to contain he’d settled in the front passenger seat with nary a complaint.

 

It had been the sense of utter calm that had first alarmed her.

 

Because besides the point that she was sitting right next to the Slayer and that alone got her blood pumping. The fact that they were being chased by Watchers that were hell bent on using her for some nefarious purpose should have had her agitated as hell.

 

And prior to entering the vast forest at dusk she had been. Although she had never voiced her worries that the group would be returning to Sunnydale without her to anyone.

 

Not even William.

 

A glance over at William’s averted profile showed him frowning out the passenger door, his brow furrowed as he gnawed on his bottom lip.

 

“Pet…” she began slowly. Rolling her shoulders she squirmed in the seat. This sense of calm and peace was driving her nuts.

 

Any minute now she was sure that she was going to stop the car and start frolicking with deer or something.

 

“It’s strange isn’t it,” he murmured softly turning to face her. His hand rose slowly and from the corner of her eye she could seem him staring at it quizzically. As if he didn’t understand why it was moving.

 

And then his fingers were lightly tracing the contours of her face and a quick glance in the rear view mirror showed Dawn’s eyes staring fixedly at them her eyes dancing with amusement.

 

Clearing her throat when the words she wanted to speak didn’t emerge.

 

“Is red playing with the magick again?” she asked hoarsely.

 

“Magick? Willow’s not using magick anymore.”

 

“Uh-uh… you’re touchin’ me pet,” she pointed out.

 

“I know…” cocking his head to one side he studied her intently, Buffy fighting back the squirm at his actions. “We’re dating aren’t we? Isn’t that what we decided last night?”

 

“Wha…?”

 

“We’re dating…” he murmured leaning closer to her. Buffy’s eyes flickered to the mirror once more to see Dawn watching the proceedings avidly.

 

“I’m so goin’ to kick myself in the bum for this later,” she muttered then suddenly reached out a hand and smacked William upside the head with it. Wincing slightly with the awkward twist that she had to do in order to accomplish it.

 

But William moved away, frowning at her as he touched his head lightly. “What’d you do that for?”

 

“Didn’t want you doin’ somethin’ you’d regret later.”

 

“What are you talking about?” William grumbled his expression filled with hurt, his voice sounding slightly petulant in a whine she’d never before heard from his mouth. “I wanted you last night, I wanted you even before that and you keep turning me away.”

 

“Don’t doubt that there’s want there Slayer… but it’s the forest here that’s makin’ you so free with your touches and your sweet words.”

 

“I don’t understand,” he crossed his arms over his chest, eyes focusing on Giles’ car before them.

 

“You don’t feel it? Course you don’t, if you did…” she shook her head as if to clear it.

 

“Still not understanding what you’re talking about.”

 

“There’s a spell on the forest… Red said it was a sanctuary of some sort for the wolves…”

 

“Yeah, so?”

 

“Well there’s probably a protection spell, as well as an anti-violence one… probably one that’s promotin’ serenity… peace… felt it the minute we passed the threshold. Just didn’t realize that’s what it was till you tried the pretty words…”

 

“Not pretty words, they’re the truth…” he grumbled under his breath. “Not my fault you don’t believe me.”

 

Buffy sighed as she cast a quick glance over at him, “William…”

 

“We’re here,” he said abruptly as the two vehicles pulled into a clearing. From the looks of those gathered she assumed they had been expected… although she wasn’t sure who would have told them they were coming.

 

Dawn bounced out of the car as soon as it stopped and William grabbed Buffy’s arm as she made to do the same.

 

“Later… we’re talking about this.”

 

“I’m sure you’ll change your mind about it before then,” she smiled sweetly turning away she pushed the door open and climbed out. “You normally do.”

 

 

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Oz peered into the darkened room. The heavy smell of incense hung in the air and he stood near the door as he waited for admittance to enter.

 

“They’re here,” a tired voice came from a dark corner.

 

“They just got here,” he confirmed squinting his eyes as he sought to make out where she was hiding herself.

 

“Good, good…”

 

“Naya?” he queried softly.

 

“The male first I think my young wolf, then the girl… I think I’ll need to spend more time with this new female Slayer then with the male.”

 

“You don’t think they’ll want to sleep? It’s almost…”

 

“The girl will sleep… but not for long… they both seek answers… for themselves… and for each other… neither will rest fully until they get them.”

 

 

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Buffy followed along behind Dawn and the young teen, werewolf, her brand-spanking new Slayer sense was telling her. She idly wondered if William could tell the difference between the various species of demons and other nasties that walked this Earth they all inhabited. She knew that he could sense vampires both young and old, but sometimes when they’d been hunting together, when she’d been allowed to hunt with him there had been a few times that a demon would be almost upon them before he even realized it was there.

 

Vaguely she could recall the Watcher scolding the younger male whenever that happened. Complaining that he wasn’t concentrating enough, wasn’t utilizing his powers to their fullest extent.

 

Or maybe she just had more practice. Possibly having been a vampire for over a hundred years would come in handy… she’d gotten quite good at identifying the fight or free demons… not that there were many of the latter.

 

As the teen opened the door to a small cottage smiling at them both she suddenly felt exhausted… as if she hadn’t slept in days… or weeks.

 

“The four cabins are all connected,” the boy grinned as he ushered them in.

 

“Connected?” Dawn asked glancing around the room as she set her duffel bag down. Eyeing the room with a measure of distaste… there was a fine layer of dust over most of the wood furnishings, although the couch when she sat down seemed to have been cleaned recently.

 

“There’s a common room through that there door,” he pointed to a closed one on the other side of the room. “You can lock it from this side if you want privacy.”

 

“Great,” Buffy murmured, eyes drooping slightly as she ran fingers through her hair she wondered if they could see her swaying.

 

“Naya said that she’d send someone when she was ready to talk to you.”

 

“Wonderful.”

 

“Buffy are you okay?” Dawn peered at her with wide eyes. “You look like you’re about to keel over.”

 

“Just tired bit…” the former Vampire smiled wanly at her. “I think I’ll just lie down for a few minutes until…” she waved a hand at the wolf standing before them.

 

“Let me show you where the bedrooms are then…” the teen rushed forward; taking her by one arm he led her towards the stairs.

 

“Oh… stairs…” Eyes following the circle of steps that led to the second level Buffy sighed. “Maybe I’ll just nap on the couch.”

 

 

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While the others were getting settled into their cabins and their beds and grumbling William trailed along behind Oz. The Wolf had met them almost within moments of their vehicles entering the clearing… and from the size of the reception that had been waiting in the clearing they had been expected.

 

Although he had no clue how anyone had known they were coming. Willow had only called Oz to mention that they might stop in and see them. Somehow it appeared that had translated into ‘we’ll be there in a few days’.

 

“I told Naya that I’d bring you to her as soon as I could…”

 

“Naya?”

 

“She’s the packs wise woman… or seer for lack of a better word.”

 

“And she wanted to see me for what?”

 

“Actually she wants to see both you and Buffy… separately of course, probably afraid that you’ll kill each other.”

 

“Buffy and I don’t try to that to each other anymore besides…”

 

“She’s human… yeah noticed that when she got out of the car and didn’t go up in flames.”

 

“Right… guess that would be kind of noticeable.” William took a quick glance around the empty hallway finally allowing his eyes to settle back on Oz.

 

Daniel Osbourne hadn’t changed much at all since the last time that the Slayer had seen him.

 

In fact the only thing, besides the muscles that the werewolf had put on, that had changed was his hair color, which wasn’t actually all the surprising considering the amount of times during school when it would change. Right now it was a very staid shade of blondish brown.

 

 “So you never said why she wants to talk to me… to us.”

 

“She doesn’t tell us that stuff, she asked me to bring you so I am… Probably nothing bad, she didn’t have anybody stock up on alcohol or smelling salts so you should be okay,” Oz shrugged as he tapped once on the door they had stopped in front of.

 

“Its open Daniel,” a voice that sounded weak and tiny called out. Pushing the door open, Oz gestured for William to enter than stood in the door, his hand clenching the doorknob tightly. “You can go Daniel, I’ll call when we’re finished.”

 

Oz nodded once, casting one last glance at William before closing the door behind him.

 

“So you are the vampire Slayer,” William’s eyes searched the darkened room, frustrated when he wasn’t able to pinpoint the voice’s owner within the room.

 

“One of them yeah,” he shrugged with forced nonchalance. “There’s three of us now I guess.”

 

“Yes the Slayer that’s fallen out of grace, Franklin is still serving time yes?” Not waiting for an answer the voice continued as William finally saw movement from the back right corner of the room, focusing on that spot he watched as the woman speaking to him came into view. “Then there’s you, you’ve had your own struggle with the light and dark this year, haven’t you?” William forced himself to not be surprised by the body that the voice speaking to him inhabited. For it wasn’t an old woman, but a fairly young one, maybe only a few years older than him.

 

Smiling up at him she walked in a circle around him, her fingers reaching out to touch his skin slightly.

 

Stopping in front of him the smile faded as she stared into his eyes, reading what there he wasn’t sure. He flinched slightly when a hand reached out to touch his cheek her expression gentling.

 

“And there’s the vampire…”

“Former vampire,” William corrected thinly.

 

Cocking her head to one side the expression on her face was suddenly inscrutable. “She frustrates you.”

 

“So?”

 

“She frustrates you because she doesn’t believe in you anymore, doesn’t believe the words of endearment that fall from your lips. She believes the falsehoods that you’ve so repeatedly spat at her, believes them so totally that it allows for no truth to filter through.”

 

William stared at her, unable to believe that someone who didn’t know him from Adam was so capable of pinpointing the exact dilemma he faced with Buffy.

 

He knew that if had voiced any of what Naya had just said to his friends that they would have been less than supportive. Quite possibly everyone but Anya and Dawn wanted to see William’s pursuit of Buffy fail.

 

“So how do I make her see the truth…? I mean I start talking about love and she shuts me totally out.”

 

“Her wounds run deep, much deeper than just you.”

 

“Oz says that you’re a seer,” at Naya’s nod William’s frown eased slightly. “So you could tell me if Buffy will ever believe anything I say or if I should just give up and save myself the added stress.”

 

“And you don’t have enough stress now William? You’re being chased by men that will do anything to get their hands on the woman that your Elizabeth has become. They’ve been planning and waiting for a long time for the exact right moment to launch their plans. They don’t realize that when they succeed that instead of bolstering the side of good they’ll be weakening it.”

 

“What? Wait… Are you saying that Travers is going to take Buffy? They don’t even know where we are!” William snarled his expression darkening at the thought of Quentin Travers getting his slimy hands on Buffy.

 

She was weak and tired and that bastard still wouldn’t leave her alone.

 

“You underestimate the power that Mr. Travers believes he will gain by having a Slayer once more under his control. He won’t understand, none of them will until it’s too late.”

 

“He won’t take her, I won’t allow it.”

 

“Poor William,” Naya smiled sadly at him. “You don’t have a choice in the matter, it will all be taken out of your hands… because he won’t take her, he won’t have to. She’ll offer herself to him… a trade… in order to save the life of another… of someone whose life is worth more to you than hers.”

 

 

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Buffy peered nervously into the dark room. She could hear movement within its confines, knew from the young girl that had left her at the door that Naya, the pack’s seer waited for her on the other side.

 

But while part of her was anxious to end this charade once and for all. To have someone tell her what the hell was going on. Why out of all the people in the world she had been the one to wield this power.

 

She’d heard both the Watchers, Giles and Seti as well as the thoughts that William had on the subject. They all thought that she’d been meant to be called before Angelus had turned her. But what little she knew of the tiny line of female Slayers… well normally the female called was the wife or at the very least loved one of the current Slayer.

 

She could honestly say that when she’d died that she’d neither known or been in love with a Slayer… regardless of the secrecy that followed the male line.

 

“Come in Elizabeth,” the quiet voice called out from a darkened corner. Frowning as she entered she let the door close behind her. A small form moving into the light her frown deepened when she realized that the voice didn’t really seem to match the body in which it presided.

 

“Yes, yes I know already, your William and I had a long discussion on the fact that I sound older than I look,” Naya grinned impishly at the other female as she settled into a comfortable looking couch. Patting the cushion next to her she waited. “Now come sit and tell me all about yourself… I’ve been waiting a long time for the opportunity to meet you.”

 

 

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“That’s all she said?” Giles removed his glasses, brow furrowed as he rubbed at the middle of his forehead watching his Slayer pace in agitation. “That Buffy would offer herself to Quentin… because I find that hard to believe after what she’s gone through at his hands.”

 

“She sounded pretty damn sure of herself… she said that Travers would get his hands on Buffy… that she’d give herself up to him… voluntarily.” William waved his hands, starting a new path as he fumed. He’d almost refused to allow Buffy to go see Naya after the seer had dropped that little bombshell on him.

 

He would not give Buffy up. Especially not after just getting her back.

 

“Well if Naya’s right…” Willow began casting a look at Oz.

 

“She’s seldom wrong.”

 

“Well it sounds like Travers is going to get his hands on one of us then. And most likely offer a trade, whoever he gets for Buffy,” Xander shrugged. “That’s easily solved, we all stay together, no one gets grabbed, no need to trade Buffy for nobody.”

 

“If Naya says…” Oz started.

 

“We’re going to prove her wrong,” William muttered. “We’ve beaten prophecies and crap before…” he glanced around the room. Everyone within its walls was important to him. Although…

 

“Where’s Dawn?” he asked suddenly.

 

“I think a couple of the others took her down to the lake to go swimming… they were bored. Why?” Giles shoved his glasses back on his face, eyes widening in alarm as they met Williams… just before the Slayer darted out the door, the others on his heels.

 

 

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“Kyle, Sarah?” Dawn called out as she pushed aside another branch. “You know how I said I didn’t need that map?”

 

With no response forthcoming she sighed, turning in a circle she eyed the tress around her. The two teens had invited her to journey to the lake with them when they’d seen her nervousness at waiting for Buffy and William to return.

 

Part of her wanted to know what they’d been told, the other part warned that ignorance was bliss.

 

Walking slowly she tried to find some tree or bush that was even semi-recognizable to her. When that didn’t work she turned her eyes to the ground, kicking a stone as she tried to decide if screaming for help would be more trouble than it was worth.

 

William tended to get upset if she screamed and wasn’t being attacked by some vicious horrible monster.

 

“Ms. Summers…” the voice caused a chill to go down her spine and as she stopped her eyes slowly rose to meet the owner of that voice.

 

“Oh my god,” she breathed, every muscle in her body tensing as she prepared to turn on her heel and run. A strong hand on her shoulder halted her and with wide eyes she watched Quentin Travers slowly walk towards her.

 

“Oh my dear don’t worry,” he smiled thinly as he stopped in front of her. Staring down at her Dawn fought to contain the trembling before he noticed her fear. “It’s not you that I’m after… you’re just the bait for the trap… Let’s go…” he snapped his fingers and the heavy hand on her shoulder pushed her forward.

 

Perhaps screaming for help would have been the lesser of two evils.

 

 

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TBC