13. Everything Starts Falling Apart
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Scotland
“Ma’am, we’ve got someone on the perimeter,” the Slayer called
The lead Slayer joined her by the computer screens, as the cameras gave them the feedback to the video screens, showing Buffy standing outside the door
“It’s Buffy,” the lead Slayer said, “Wonder why she’s here? Let her in”
Buffy smiled as the front doors opened and the lead Slayer greeted her
“Welcome, Buffy. What brings you here? Haven’t heard from you in ages”
“Thanks, Leah. Thought I might pop by and check on things”
“Sure, sure”
Leah smiled and turned her back, which was the mistake that cost her. Now, she was lying on the ground with a broken neck, as Buffy made her way towards command central, her vamp face on. Shoving open the doors, Buffy punched the nearest Slayer, knocking her down, then snapping her neck, as a few Slayers drew weapons and charged at her. At that moment, Twilight smashed through the windows, kicking two Slayers out through the opposite windows, sending them plunging to their deaths. A Slayer swung a sword at Buffy, but she dodged and elbowed the Slayer in the face, stunning her, then sank her fangs into her throat. Taking a deep drink, Buffy finished the Slayer off in time to kick another Slayer in the stomach
Twilight struck a Slayer so hard it broke her neck, as two Slayers slashed at him. Grabbing hold of their wrists, Twilight made them stab each other, then dumped their bodies aside, just as another Slayer slashed at him. Catching her arm, Twilight snapped the bone, leaving the Slayer crying in agony, as Buffy stabbed a Slayer through the throat with her own sword, then dusted her hands and looked around at the carnage, with dead Slayers lying all over the place
“Nice handiwork,” Twilight said, “Shall we go elsewhere?”
“Indeed,” Buffy agreed, “Tokyo?”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“So, tell me, Wes, why are we taking the plane when you can just use a portal?”
“Trying to limit my use of magic. Besides, nothing wrong with taking the plane”
Spike rolled his eyes, before gently guiding Elena towards the runway, Illyria close behind him carrying a suitcase, while Wesley followed them with Adrian. Faith was carrying young Jadyn in her arms, as Lindsey, Kate and Andrea joined them
“Endure one plane flight just to go on another one,” Lindsey muttered
“You’ll live, lawyer,” Faith said
The flight to London was long and boring. Spike didn’t bring any whiskey with him, nor could he order any, so the flight was particularly boring to him. Elena amused herself by hanging out with Andrea and Adrian, while Illyria was tending to Jadyn. Once they touched down in London, Spike and Wesley managed to hail down a few cabs, taking them to the Watcher’s Council
“Well, let’s see how this goes,” Spike said, “Should go quite well actually”
He knocked on the front door and was greeted by a young Slayer
“Can I help you?” she asked
“Here to see Rupert Giles,” Spike replied, “Any appointments, meetings or anything of that sort can be put on hold”
“Who should I say is asking for him?”
“An old friend”
The Slayer looked amongst the group, before finally heading off. The group were waiting around for about five minutes when the Slayer returned, this time with Giles
“Spike? What are you doing here?” Giles asked
“Nice to see you too, Rupert,” Spike said curtly, “We need to talk”
“What about? Can it wait until the morning?”
“Fraid not. It involves your Slayer. But first, where’s the whiskey?”
“Uh, come this way. I don’t think we’ve all been properly introduced”
“Well, we all know there’s no need,” Wesley said
“Wesley? Is that you? Dear God, you’ve changed so much”
“Died too. But I agree with Spike. Where’s the whiskey?”
Giles led the group to his large office, where Willow Rosenberg was waiting
“Spike? Faith? Wesley? Oh my God, it’s so good to see you guys”
“You too, Red,” Spike smiled, before sitting at the table
“We were having a meeting,” Giles said, pouring glasses of whiskey, “But we’re waiting for Andrew to arrive. Assuming he hasn’t perished”
“What do you mean?” Faith asked
“Someone’s been attacking Slayer strongholds around the world,” Willow explained, “Scotland’s base has been demolished and all the Slayers dead. Same with Tokyo”
“It’s Buffy,” Spike said, “She’s the one attacking them”
“Now that’s preposterous,” Giles huffed
“When was the last time you spoke to her?” Illyria asked coldly, “She’s now a half-breed”
“Who are you again?”
“I am Illyria, God-”
“Stop it right there, Blue,” Spike interrupted, “What she means is that Buffy is a vampire. She’s just like me, only soulless”
“That can’t be right,” Giles said, “You sure Buffy is a vampire? It’s not a spell?”
“I’m telling you, Rupert, it’s her. I know her scent. Someone sired her and now she’s trying to destroy the world, along with Angel”
“Again?” Willow asked, “That wasn’t fun last time”
“Somehow, Angel still has his soul, yet he’s evil,” Wesley explained, “He’s teamed up with Buffy in order to bring about the end of magic and maybe the world”
“End of magic?” Giles questioned, “But such a thing is impossible”
“According to Angel, it’s possible,” Spike said, “This is serious what we’re facing. Buffy and Angel are the best warriors out of all of us. And now they’re evil”
“So, what do you propose we do?” Giles asked
“We gather all the Slayers in the world and take out Angel and Buffy,” Illyria replied
“Bit drastic, don’t you think?” Willow asked
“Angel has vast superhuman strength and he can fly,” Wesley replied, “Buffy has the combined powers of a Slayer and vampire. Both are highly dangerous”
“Plus, if they can take two strongholds of Slayers,” Faith said, “Then that just shows exactly how dangerous they really are”
“Well, we just gotta work out when and where they’ll attack next,” Lindsey said
“Not easy, considering that they can cloak their location,” Wesley said
“So, they want to destroy magic, yet they use magic?” Willow asked confusingly
“I guess they’re using magic until the final battle begins?” Giles suggested
“There isn’t going to be a final battle,” Spike said, “I would rather try and prevent this from happening at all”
“What are you gonna do, reverse time?” Lindsey asked
“If I had my full powers, it would be possible,” Illyria replied, “But I don’t”
“Well, let’s just say we’re all screwed,” Faith said
“I think we should all retire to bed,” Giles suggested, “We’ll work on this in the morning”
“Sounds like a plan, Rupert,” Spike said, “Come on, Elena”
He got up from the chair and grabbed Elena’s hand, then wrapped his other arm around Illyria’s shoulders, before leaving the office
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Italy
“I never liked the little twerp,” Twilight said
He was holding Andrew by the front of his shirt, removing the sword from his chest. Andrew was already long dead, his eyes completely blank, while Buffy was finishing off the last of the Slayers, her face and chest covered in blood, her game face on
“Yeah, he sure was annoying,” Buffy growled, “How’d you know him?”
Twilight realized the small mistake he made and tried to cover it up
“I wish to end all magic, so it was important to know who the main magic-users were. Andrew was one of them. I used to watch him and he sure was annoying”
“Yeah and yet I could never kill him because he was human,” Buffy said, “And I did want to kill him, but I thought I might leave that up to you”
“Why thank you. So generous of you”
“So, what’s next?”
“Well, I know that Spike and his little group are in London. Tomorrow morning, they’re going to have a little surprise”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX