Serina Brennan looked around the small Sunnydale airport. She’d only seen Rupert Giles once before, and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to pick him out of a crowd. Serina suppressed a startled gasp when a young woman appeared out of nowhere beside her.
“You’re the witch that Rupert is waiting for,” the woman said. “I’m Anyanka, patron saint of scorned women.”
“Uh, hello,” Serina replied. “If Rupert is Rupert Giles, then yes, I am the witch. I’m Serina Brennan.”
“Just so you know, Rupert’s my man. You’ll have to find your own.”
Serina wasn’t sure what to say to that little tidbit. “Honestly, I have no interest in Rupert. We’re only friends.”
“It better stay that way.” Anyanka turned and waved at Giles. “Over here, Rupert.”
“Serina,” Giles said when he arrived by Anyanka’s side. “It seems the years have been treating you well.”
Serina blushed. “Thank you, Rupert. Now down to business. You were vague when you rang me up. What’s going on?”
“We’ll explain on the way,” Giles replied. He glanced at Serina’s overnight bag. “Do you have more luggage?”
“No.” Serina shook her head. “I figured if I needed anything I could just purchase it here.”
With a nod, Giles turned to Anyanka. “Could you tell the others to meet up with us at Kingman’s Bluff?”
“Of course,” Anyanka chirped. She gave Serina a narrow-eyed look. “Remember what I said.”
Serina stepped back in astonishment when Anyanka disappeared right before her eyes. “She’s quite powerful, isn’t she? Possessive too.”
“She’s a vengeance demon,” Giles explained. “So, yes, powerful, and vampires aren’t the only possessive creatures in the demonic world.” He took Serina’s bag, and he deftly led her towards the door. “Now to explain about the various persons you’ll be working with.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
“What are you doing, Dru?” Angelus watched his insane Childe pack her belongings. He had no idea why she’d be packing.
“I’m leaving.” Drusilla picked up Miss Edith. “You’ve gone crazy. You want to bring Hell to me, and I don’t like it. All the pretty maids will wither away. My tummy will grow rumbly.”
Angelus shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Drusilla, stop this damned nonsense at once.”
“It’s only nonsense to you because it’s not your idea.” Drusilla picked up her suitcase in her other hand.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Angelus gripped the bridge of his nose. He was a vampire. He shouldn’t be getting a headache. “Just put your stuff away, Dru. Stop being an idiot.”
“You should give me three good reasons to stay.” Drusilla turned to look at her Sire.
Angelus gave a feral grin. “Okay, here goes. One, we’re going to kill the Slayer. Two, we’re going to get Spikey back.” Although he wasn’t going to tell Drusilla exactly how he planned on getting Spike back. “Three, we’re gonna rule the world.”
Drusilla shook her head. “None of those reasons are because you love me.” She turned to leave. “Not like he loves her. He understands her with perfect clarity. He loves what she is, what she does, and how she tries. He will someday see the best and the worst of her. He thinks she’s a hell of a woman. She’s the one.” She marched out of the room without a backward look. Brazil was beautiful this time of year, she reasoned. It was time to spend some time to find herself.
Angelus scratched his head in astonishment. He hadn’t a clue what just happened. Drusilla was supposed to be too emotionally dependent on him to ever leave him, and yet, she was walking out the door with ease. Besides, since when did Drusilla give a damn about love? “What he is she talking about?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
“What are you doing for blood?”
Spike very carefully chose his next words. “I won’t drink that swill the ensouled ponce did, Slayer. I’ve been playing catch and release.”
“You can do that?”
Spike scoffed. “Of course. I’m not some stupid fledge you know, Slayer.”
Buffy had no idea what to say at that point. While she was glad Spike wasn’t killing anyone, she wasn’t sure she liked the idea of him taking bites out of the populace. Before she could comment, Anyanka appeared in the bench seat across from Spike and Buffy.
“Meet Rupert and that witch at Kingman’s Bluff to do the spell,” Anyanka said without ceremony.
Buffy looked towards the kitchen. “Can we get our food first? I’m starved.”
Anyanka let out an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose. Don’t be late.” She disappeared with a snap of her fingers. She didn’t want to leave Serina alone with Rupert for too long.
Buffy stared at the empty spot where Anyanka had just been sitting. “So, catch and release. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
Spike sneaked a peek at Buffy from beneath his lashes. “I have to have blood, Slayer. There’s no getting’ around it. I’m still a vampire, no matter how much I’m enjoyin’ our time together.”
“I know that, but…” Buffy bit her lip. “I think I’m jealous.”
Spike blinked in surprise. “Jealous?”
Buffy grabbed a paper napkin which she started to shred into little pieces. “Well, yeah. I can’t see you catchin’ guys like you can girls. Not that there aren’t gay guys in Sunnydale, because I’m sure there are. You know … I think that you’re catching girls, and I don’t like that. You’re my boyfriend.”
“So, it’s not just a game we’re playin’ to brass off your little friends and Angelus?”
“What?” Buffy’s head jerked up to stare at Spike. “No! No, I’m not playing to brass anyone off.”
“Well, then, what do you suggest, Slayer?” Spike licked his lips. “Are you offerin’ your services?”
“I… Can I think about it?” Buffy said hesitantly.
Spike nodded his acceptance just as the waitress walked up with two take out boxes, plastic silverware, and napkins inside a plastic bag.
“I saw your friend pop in and out.” The waitress leaned down. “I figured it was something pressing if the Slayer’s involved. I’m Emmaline Hassib, by the way. My husband owns Donut Heaven.”
“Wow, thanks,” Buffy said. Then, a curious look crossed her face. “How did you know I was the Slayer?”
Emmaline flushed bright red. “Not all demons are evil and trying to open the Hellmouth,” she said in a quiet voice. “Some of us just want to live a normal life. Besides, my husband and I have noticed the weirdness that’s been happening the last week or so.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Buffy muttered. “Things have been weird lately. We’re on our way to fix things right now.”
Emmaline brightened. “Oh, I won’t keep you then. Good luck to both of you.” She handed Buffy the ticket to pay for the meal. “Don’t worry about paying. I’ve already settled with the cashier. It’s my good deed for the day.”
“Thanks.” Buffy took the plastic bag. She grabbed Spike’s hand. “We better get going before Giles gets all grumpy.”
“Sure thing, Slayer.” Spike tipped his head to Emmaline. He’d realized she was a demon of some sort when she first approached the table, but she hadn’t been threatening.
Buffy gave Emmaline a wave as Spike and she left the hotel restaurant. She made a silent promise that she’d come talk to the other girl very soon. She wanted to know more about these peaceful demons that Emmaline had mentioned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
“Sorry we’re late, Giles,” Buffy called out when Spike and she finally arrived at Kingman’s Bluff. They held hands with their fingers linked together. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating. We had to stop for more food.”
Serina suppressed a gasp when she glanced at the two blond newcomers. The clasped hands between Buffy and Spike glowed with a bright, orange supernatural flame. She glanced around at the others, but she soon realized that they couldn’t see what she could. Serina wondered if the glow could possibly mean some future event now changed. Was there some future event that had linked the Slayer and the vampire together forever?
Amy looked up from where she was talking to Serina. “We just got here too, Buffy. Oz had some weird vibes on the way over. We ended up taking a detour by the mansion.”
Buffy looked worried, but she gave Amy a gesture to continue.
“Oz said that he could feel werewolves at the mansion. We really, really need to get this chaos crap taken care of,” Amy continued.
Spike nodded an agreement. “We need to take Angelus down.”
“The arse is more trouble than he’s worth,” Giles agreed. He watched Buffy’s face for any conflict of emotion, but the Slayer’s face only held resolve and sadness. “We must eliminate the danger, Buffy. No one is safe with Angelus running loose.”
“He was pretty mad,” Oz commented. “It seems Drusilla left him.”
Spike’s eyebrows rose when he heard that news. He felt Buffy tense beside him, and he knew she thought he might leave her to go after Drusilla. He tightened his fingers around Buffy’s hand. “Well, I suppose we should get this show on the road then.”
“Everyone gather around.” Serina gestured towards the circle that Amy and she had drawn in the dirt. “Hold hands, and, please, alternate male/female. I will stand in the middle.” When everyone was in place, Serina started the spell, pulling power from each supernatural being surrounding her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Xander shuddered when the wave of magic flowed through him. With great shame, he realized that he had alienated himself from all of his friends because of his actions. He had no idea if they’d ever forgive him though. Maybe they would forgive him eventually if he threw himself on their mercy. Until then, he’d just lay low.
Willow clutched the stuffed animal to her stomach while she let the tears flow. Now, more than before, she realized exactly how she’d lost Oz’s affections. She just hoped he’d forgiver her eventually. Buffy too, for that matter. Willow felt so stupid now because of the spell she’d let Xander talk her into performing.