"Oh, right, the battle. Well, last Convergence The Guardian was still pretty young, and very immature. He started talking about what how he was going to focus the Convergence waaaaay before it happened. He thought he could just run around sucking up all the demon energy years before the Convergence. He was such a... such a..." Anya struggled for the right word.
"Boy?" Willow and Tara both suggested at the same time. They turned to each other and grinned, pleased they had thought the same thing.
"Right! Such a boy!" Anya said enthusiastically.
"Hey!" Xander and Giles both complained at the same time. They turned to each other and glared, somewhat annoyed they had thought the same thing.
"Before we get into a full-fledged battle of the sexes," Buffy said, "can we please hear the rest of the story?"
Anya went on. "So he went around draining all these demons, but he'd get full, and he couldn't hold it all in. So he'd have to release it, and then instead of realizing he needed to wait, he'd just start all over again. Overconfident, that one, with nothing to back it up. So he just kept up this cycle of sucking in all this power and then letting it go, for years," Anya said disgustedly. There was nothing she hated more than an overeager demon.
"Premature evil-u-ation. You see it all the time. A guy shoots his wad before it's time," Xander giggled.
"Alexander Harris! Young ears in the room!" Buffy reprimanded.
"Oh, sorry," Xander said sheepishly, looking at Dawn. She grinned.
"So his timing was all off when the convergence started," Anya continued. "Plus all that draining and expelling weakened him. He was vulnerable."
"Vulnerable to what?" Buffy asked. She liked vulnerability in a demon.
"Well, word got out that he was draining all these demons, over and over, and the other demons got pissed. So they got a bunch of humans together to go in against him," Anya said.
"Because if the demons had gone in, The Guardian would have drained them, too," Willow said, starting to understand.
"Exactly. Of course, what the demons didn't tell the humans was that there was no way they could beat him," Anya said grimly.
"Why not? He was weak, right? Weak from all the draining and filling?" Buffy asked.
"Well, yes," Anya explained, "but he was still extremely powerful compared to them. He killed them easily. But it worked just as the other demons had wanted. It distracted him long enough that they could go in and kick his ass."
"Okay, all those in favor of going and raising a demon army, say aye," Xander said, raising his hand. Of course, no one followed his lead, except Dawn, but Dawn just wanted to be supportive.
"A big no on the demon army," Buffy said. Then she asked Anya, "But you said they just kicked his ass. Why not kill him?"
"Oh, they tried. Believe me, they tried. But just as they were about to, he made them all explode. From the inside out," Anya said, a touch of disgust mixed with a touch of awe in her voice. It really was rather impressive, albeit totally disgusting. "The blast took out about a square mile, and no one saw him again after that. Which is why I thought he was dead."
"How'd he do that?" Willow asked, sensing the answer that was coming.
"Magic," Anya said simply.
"Of course. Had to be magic. On top of everything else, there's magic!" Willow shouted, her frustration bubbling over as she paced the room.
"There has to be a way," Giles said, getting up to start going through his books. There had to be something they could do.
"I don't think you're getting it. This guy is pure evil, capital E. He is a force like no other. Light magic wouldn't cut it. You'd have to use the most powerful dark magics in the known universe to just put a dent into him. And last time I checked, we didn't have access to anything like that, let alone anyone who could wield it," Anya said, looking at Willow before she could stop herself.
Willow saw Anya looking at her and stopped pacing, her hands balling up into fists as she glared at the ex-demon. She knew what Anya was thinking. Willow was about to start shouting at Anya when Tara stepped in front of her.
"Willow's not doing that kind of magic anymore. You know that, Anya, and you know why. Besides that, as powerful as Willow was, there's no way she could handle that kind of power," Tara said calmly but forcefully. Then she narrowed her eyes. "And if you ever dare suggest anything to the contrary ever again you'll be dealing with me. I may not have a thousand years of torture under my belt, but I can still give you plenty of pain."
Anya had the sense to look apologetic, then she looked away and walked over to Xander. When Tara turned to Willow, the anger was completely gone, having disappeared as quickly as it had come. Willow started to say thank you to Tara, but the blond just hook her head and smiled. My knight in shining armor, Willow thought as she clasped Tara's hand.
"There must be a weakness," Giles muttered as he pored through the most powerful magic books he had.
"There is," Anya said suddenly. "I mean, focusing all that energy into the Hellmouth has got to be draining, right? Way more draining than just sucking the energy out of demons, or else he wouldn't need to build up his power before the Convergence? So if we can get to him during the Convergence, when he's weak... maybe that's our chance?"
Giles thought about it. It was very risky, but if they could somehow weaken him further, they might be able to kill him.
"It might work. But we need to know more. And we have to search for a way to get to him before the Convergence starts," Giles said.
"That's what we've got a prisoner for, right?" Buffy asked, standing. "So, let's go know more."
Everyone followed Buffy back into the training room.
"So, you finally decided to come join 'ole Spike, huh?" Spike said, leering at the Slayer. "I knew you couldn't stay away for long."
"Spike..." Buffy said warningly. She was really in no mood, and Spike knew it.
"Whatever," Spike said rolling his eyes. It was as close to a complete drop of the subject as Buffy was going to get, and Buffy gave a little smile in thanks. If it had possible, Spike would have been blushing a bit.
"Has he been any trouble?" Giles asked, looking at the man tied to the chair, his head slumped forward.
"No, not really. He is awake though," Spike said walking over to the man. Spike bent down next to the man and lifted his head by his hair, being careful not to hurt him so as not to set off his chip. Spike bent down close to the man's ear, but still made sure everyone else in the room could hear him, and said, "You thought I didn't notice that, did you? Well, someone should have told you that vampires can hear the difference in your breathing between when you're asleep and when you're awake."
The man's eyes flew open to look at Spike, who's face had morphed. "I can smell your fear, you know," Spike growled, baring his fangs.
The man shivered, but quickly regained his composure. "You're impotent!" he spat into the vampire's face.
Sensing where things were headed, Buffy stepped in and put a hand on Spike's shoulder. "Easy there, dead boy," she said, her voice soothing despite the slight insult to her words. Spike let go of the man's head, and stood up, looking down at the Slayer. He was about to say something, but thought better of it, and stalked off. Spike grumbled quietly as he walked over to the corner, but Buffy's Slayer hearing picked up each and every word. She smiled. Despite all his false bravado, it was obvious he still cared for her.
Buffy turned her attention to the now awake man glaring up at her from his chair. She crossed her arms in front of her and jutted out her hip, and began to tap her foot impatiently on the floor.
"The Guardian takes care of his children," the man said defiantly.
"So I've heard," Buffy said. "But he doesn't seem to be here to take care of you right now, does he?"
The man looked like he was about to say something, but stopped himself. Buffy figured he was just going to re-issue his little motto, but was surprised when he said, "You have no idea how close to the end you really are." The man's voice was mocking, and full of venom.
Buffy started to reply, but Willow put a hand on her arm, stopping her. Buffy looked at her friend questioningly, but Willow just shook her head and looked back to their prisoner. After a moment, the man started speaking again.
"You think you're so smart. You think you can win. But you can't win. He's already won. They're all coming. He's drawing them in. Haven't you seen it? Can't you feel it? You're so stupid. He's putting it out there, and they're drawn to it. They're all here, just waiting. They don't even know it. He has them, and they don't even know it. And they'll stay here until he drains them," the man rambled his train of thought.
Giles studied the man. They already knew The Guardian was drawing demons in. What they needed to know was why, since The Guardian should have had enough power to be able to drain demons from anywhere in the world. "So The Guardian is drawing them towards the Hellmouth?" Giles asked, trying to lead the man along.
The man snickered and shook his head. "Just how stupid are you? Of course he is. He can't drain them unless-" The man shut up, realizing what he was about to say.
"What? 'Can't drain them unless what'?" Buffy demanded, inching closer to the man. But the man just stared at her, refusing to say anymore. Buffy grabbed him by his robe, lifting him high in the air, chair and all. She shook him, demanding that he tell them more, but he remained silent.
Frustrated, Buffy half-dropped, half-threw the man to the floor, the chair splintering beneath him. Buffy stalked towards Giles, not knowing how far she could go with the man. She didn't like the idea of torturing a human, but she was quickly considering it.
But Anya beat her to it. With a nod towards Spike, the vampire closed in on the man with just a few steps, hauling him up onto his feet. The broken chair fell away beneath him, and the ropes dangled loosely around his body before falling to the floor. Anya faced the man, grinning evilly.
"Do you know what a Vengeance Demon is?" she asked in a frighteningly sweet voice, while stroking an index finger down the man's cheek.
The man gulped, then nodded. "Good," Anya continued. "Then you know that Vengeance Demons like torture. We delight in it, actually. It makes us feel alive. Special. And I was a Vengeance Demon for a thousand years." Anya let the words sink in, and went on. "Evicerations were my specialty. I was very, very good at it. Some said I was the best. Ever."
Buffy and Giles watched Anya, horrified and yet somewhat impressed at the way she worked. She hadn't laid more than a finger on the guy, and he was obviously terrified. All Xander could think of was how he would never, ever upset Anya again. Willow too was impressed, although she felt a little guilty about it. Tara, however, was gripping Willow's arm tightly. She knew to some extent Anya's tactics were necessary, but Tara hated to see anyone that afraid. Plus, Tara wasn't all too sure how far Anya was willing to go with this.
"So imagine how I must feel, now, not being allowed to do that anymore. I've been human for nearly three years now, and in that time, I haven't been able to do one single eviceration. Not one. They wouldn't let me," Anya indicated the Scoobies with her thumb. "But see, these are desperate times. And you know where desperate times go, desperate measures follow."
Anya walked over to the weapons closet and came back brandishing a knife with a five-inch blade. She turned it over in her hands, getting a feel for its weight and size, then making a couple of slices in the air. "Good. Nice blade. Not too long, not too short. Just right for slicing a deep line across the belly, but without nicking the organs too badly."
Anya approached the man as she talked, using the knife as an extension of her hands as she talked. "See, I was a Vengeance Demon for far to long to ever be able to forget what it feels like. The warm blood sliding over my fingers as I cut into the abdomen, the stench of bowels and intestines as I reach on my hands and pull them out, letting them dangle to the floor. You know, the large intestine makes a very nice jump rope when it's cut out," Anya said, smiling at an apparent memory.
The man was shaking in Spike's grip, convinced he was about to die horribly. Anya held the knife up to his stomach, just a hairs breath from touching his skin. Tara was about to shout at Anya, scream at her to stop. But the man finally broke.
"He can't drain them unless they're within the borders of Sunnydale!" the man shouted.
Anya let the blade fall away from the man slightly. "Go on," she said, her voice still dripping with malice.
The man sighed and hung his head. He knew he was betraying his master, but... "The Hellmouth has a mystical border. The Guardian is strong, but he can't drain demons outside the border during the twenty-four hour period."
"What twenty-four hour period?" Giles asked, stepping closer to the man.
"I don't know, exactly. All I know is that he will be draining the demons of their energy for twenty-four hours, right before some big energy starts pouring into Sunnydale," the man said.
"The Convergence," Willow stated, understanding. Giles looked to her and nodded in agreement. It had to be the Convergence.
"What else?" Anya said sharply, raising the knife again to the man's belly.
"Anya!" Tara shouted. Tara couldn't take this much longer.
Anya ignored her. "What. Else?" she said again dangerously.
"Okay, okay... just don't kill me, please. I'm begging you," the man said, sobbing.
"Well that really depends on you. Tell us what you aren't telling us," she said.
"While The Guardian is draining the demons, the demons will be... incapacitated. They can't hurt anyone. They'll be too weak," the man said.
"So that would be our best shot then, right? To kill him? When the demons can't protect him?" Buffy asked Giles hopefully.
"You just don't get it, do you?" the man said, shaking his head. "You can't kill him. Especially not when he's draining the demons. He'll be a hundred times more powerful than he is right now. He'd kill you with just a thought."
"What about after the twenty-four hours? When he's focusing the big energy?" Anya asked the man, already suspecting the answer.
The man paled, but said nothing. The man's non-response confirmed her earlier theory about The Guardian's weakness. Everyone else caught it, too, and knew this was their only real chance.
"Well, then," Giles said. "I suppose we better figure out what to do with this one," Giles indicated the man.
"I say we kill him," Anya said gleefully.
"Anya, while I was willing to allow you to pretend you were going to kill him in order to get the information we needed, as dubious a concept as that was, I am not going to let you kill him," Giles said disapprovingly.
"Who was pretending," Anya said, confused by Giles' statement. "If he didn't talk, I was going to kill him. And I still think we should."
"Anya..." Xander warned.
"What? If we let him go, he's going to go running back to The Guardian and tell him all about us, about how much we know, and The Guardian will make us go poof. We can't keep him tied up for the next week while we're trying to take The Guardian out. So what do you want to do with him? I realize he's human, and you people get squirmy about your stupid 'no killing humans' code, but..." Anya trailed off, letting her suggestion hang in the air.
Giles hated to admit it, but Anya was making a certain amount of sense. The Watcher abhorred the idea of killing a human, but sometimes, it really was the lesser of two evils. Killing Ben had proved that. It had been necessary to prevent Glory's return and to prevent her from killing them all. Killing this man would largely work toward the same end - saving their own lives. But this man was no God trapped in a human body. He was human, and an underling, at that.
Before Giles could come to a decision, Tara moved assertively past Willow and marched up to Spike. "Let him go," Tara said, her eyes narrowed in anger. She had had enough.
Anya put her hand on Tara's shoulder, trying to turn the blond to face her. Tara whipped her head around and glared at the ex-demon.
"I have defended you Anya. Many times. I've said you're no longer a demon, that you're finding your humanity. But this," Tara gestured to the man still held up by Spike, "this is wrong. And if you can't see that, then you're not human."
Anya stared at Tara, letting her words sink in. Tara was the only one who had always supported Anya. She didn't make fun of Anya, or criticize her, and Tara always quietly encouraged the ex-demon. Anya realized that if Tara was this disappointed and angry with her, then she must have really messed up.
Tears formed in Anya's eyes, and she nodded sadly before moving away. She walked over to Xander, who enveloped her in a silent hug. Tara turned back to Spike, challenging him with her eyes. Spike knew better than to piss off the witch any further, and had the good sense to release the man into Tara's hands.
Tara walked the man over to a nearby bench, and had him sit so she could check him over. He really wasn't injured, just scared, and his breathing was hiccuped by broken sobs.
The rest of the group was watching Tara. She turned back to them and said, "We can't do this. We can't kill a man for no good reason. It would be murder, and we don't commit murder. We're better than that," she said sincerely.
They all knew she was right, and they all felt guilty about it. Tara looked into Willow's eyes, and saw Willow's guilt. Tara knew that for at least a few moments, Willow had been thinking that killing the man might be necessary. Tara knew, because she knew how Willow's mind worked. It was her logical nature, and she didn't fault Willow for it, because Tara also knew that Willow never would have actually gone along with murdering the man.
Tara smiled at Willow, letting her love know it was okay. Willow smiled a relieved smile back, but then her eyes grew wide in terror.
"Tara!" Willow screamed.
Suddenly Tara felt a strong arm around her waist and an equally strong arm around her neck. Tara felt her breath being cut off by the pressure of the man's arm at her neck, but when she saw the metal blade gleaming in his hand, she didn't think she could have breathed properly, anyway.
Willow was paralyzed momentarily, unwilling to move for fear of the man's response. Buffy, however, had no such fear, and moved towards them.
"Stop!" the man shouted. "Come any closer, and I'll slit her throat."
That stopped Buffy in her tracks, along with everyone else. Except Spike. Spike was in the shadows, where he had walked to when he had given the man to Tara. The blond vampire slipped slowly and quietly around the room, keeping to the shadows and keeping his movements small so as not to attract the man's attention.
Willow noticed Spike's movements, though she didn't let on, and a plan quickly formed in her head.
"So, have you been planning this all along?" Willow asked, trying to keep the man's attention focused on her.
The man laughed, then sneered. "I saw this one grab your arm when that thing," he nodded toward Anya with his head, "was threatening to slice me open. I knew the blonde here wouldn't let you people hurt me." He ginned wickedly.
"And, what? You think we're just going to let you walk out of here? You think I'm going to let you leave with her?" Willow said calmly, taking a step closer to the man holding Tara.
"Willow," Tara gasped in warning, not wanting the redhead to put herself in danger.
"Willow, is it? So what, is she your sister or something?" the man asked Willow.
"She's my everything," Willow said simply, taking yet another step closer.
The man snorted. "Too bad. Waste of good flesh," he said. Then he reached out his tongue and licked the side of Tara's face, and leered at Willow, challenging her.
Willow's hands balled into fists and her eyes flashed with anger. Tara pleaded with her eyes, silently begging Willow not to give into the darkness Tara could sense was welling up within Willow. Willow returned Tara's gaze, her decision made.
"Remember that little discussion we had earlier?" Willow asked dangerously, her eyes darkening and narrowed. "The discussion about me taking on a Hell God?"
Willow could see that her words were having the desired effect on the man, as he began to sweat and look around the room nervously. Willow went on, slowly walking towards the man and her lover.
"Wanna know how I did it? Better yet, how about a demonstration?" Willow asked coldly.
"Willow, don't do it!" Buffy yelled. She was fighting the urge to run up and grab Willow, but Buffy remembered exactly what Willow had done to Glory in revenge of Tara. Buffy was honestly afraid of what Willow was capable of now, with Tara still in danger. More than that, Buffy was scared of what Willow could do to her if she tried to interfere.
Willow was only two feet away now, staring directly into the man's eyes. She lifted an eyebrow. "Well? Which would you prefer? The hard way, or the harder way?"
The man gulped and released his grip ever so slightly. It was just the opening Spike needed. Spike leapt at the man from behind, grabbing the arm that held the knife to Tara's throat and yanking it sideways. Tara spun away from the man as Spike slammed the man's hand onto his knee, intent on knocking the knife out of the man's hand, but the move caused Spike's chip to go off, doubling him over in pain.
It all happened so fast. The man turned, wanting to run out the door, but ended up running straight into Tara's back. Willow saw it all in slow motion... Tara's eyes flinging wide... Tara stumbling forward... the man pulling back in shock... his bloody hand, with the knife still in it... Willow rushed forward and grabbed Tara, lowering her gently to the floor.
Willow fell to her knees, holding Tara. Willow looked up at the man through tear-blurred eyes. The man was stumbling backwards, looking back and forth from Tara and Willow to everyone else in the room.
"You son of a bitch!" Anya screamed.
"You're gonna pay!" Buffy snarled, running at the man.
He was backed into a corner, with no way out. Before Buffy could reach him, before anyone even realized what was happening, the man raised the knife in his hand and plunged it deep into his chest, into his heart.
Buffy stopped short of the man, completely shocked. The man's eyes rolled up into his head, and he fell to the ground. With a few gasps, he was dead on the floor.
Giles was at Tara and Willow's side, trying to get Willow to let go of the blond so he could check the wound. Willow was hysterical, and she just kept crying Tara's name over and over. Willow shut her eyes against the flood of tears. It's all my fault... all my fault... I should have just blasted him... I should have... should have... Tara...
Tara's voice sliced through the fog of Willow's babbling mind. Willow's eyes flew open to meet Tara's. Tara was smiling weakly, her eyes remarkably bright for someone who had just been stabbed. Willow looked down at Tara in confusion, and then up at Giles.
"Why is she smiling? She was just stabbed! Is she bleeding to death? She's in shock... is she in shock? Oh my God, oh my God-"
Tara cut Willow off. "Willow, honey, breath."
Willow had a million thoughts running through her head, all at the same time and in different directions, but she couldn't get a single one of them to her mouth. She stared down at Tara, her mouth hanging wide open.
Giles had managed to turn Tara onto her side so he could check her injury. He smiled gratefully. The wound was not deep, just a shallow cut. Plus it was near Tara's side, and the bleeding had already slowed considerably. It was really just a flesh wound.
Tara looked up at Giles, who confirmed her own diagnosis. "It's just a flesh wound, right?" Giles nodded.
"Baby, I'm fine," Tara said.
Willow was relieved, but reality was starting to settle in. An inch to the side or a little bit deeper, and she could have lost Tara.
"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry... I should have done something... I should hav-"
"No, Willow. You did the right thing," Tara said, trying to soothe Willow's distress.
"What do you mean she 'did the right thing'?" Buffy asked incredulously. "She got all dark magic-y with the guy! She could have killed him! Or us!"
"No, Buffy, she didn't," Tara said. Tara smiled at Willow, her heart bursting with pride. Tara had seen the magic welling up inside Willow, but Tara had looked deep into her lover's eyes, pleading with Willow not to give in. And Willow had answered that plea. It was such a small change, no one had noticed it. But Willow's hands had unclenched, just slightly, and Willow had flashed Tara a look that told her the redhead had heard her, and wouldn't give in.
"Huh?" Buffy said, completely confused. "But she was all 'how about a demonstration of how I kicked a God's ass!'"
Willow had calmed down enough to blush slightly at the Slayer's words, remembering how much false bravado she had leveled at the man.
Tara giggled, then winced slightly. Giles was pressing some gauze Anya had handed him into Tara's back, controlling the trickle of blood still seeping form the wound.
"Buffy, I watched her eyes the entire time. They never changed," Tara said.
"But... okay, I don't get it," Buffy said lamely. "When I yelled at you to stop, you just ignored me," she told Willow.
Willow looked at her best friend. "I'm sorry, Buffy. I wanted him to think I was really going to do something. I couldn't let you know I was okay, or he would have realized I was faking it."
Buffy suddenly felt very guilty for assuming the worst, and it showed on her face.
"Buffy, it's okay. You had every reason to think I was going to use magic. In fact, that's what I wanted you to think. I'm sorry I scared you," Willow said sincerely. She wasn't angry at Buffy. How could she be? After everything she had done... it was only natural.
"No, Wil, I'm sorry. I should have had more faith in you. You've proven yourself over and over again, and I just keep assuming the worst. I'm so sorry," Buffy said, her voice choked with emotion. Buffy knew how hard Willow had worked to get the magic under control, and how hard she had to work to keep it in check when they, and especially Tara, was in danger.
"S'okay," Willow said quietly. Then her voice grew stronger and she said, "Really."
Buffy smiled gratefully, and the Willow turned back to Tara. "I guess I got all large with the butch, huh?" Willow said sheepishly.
Tara grinned and said, "Yeah. You were very convincing." Then Tara reached up her hand and pulled Willow down to her and whispered, "And it was pretty darn sexy." Willow began a blush that only intensified when Tara brushed their lips together.
"Hey, no molesting the wounded!" Xander joked. Willow sat back like she had been burned, and Tara just giggled, then winced again.
"Okay, how about a little road trip to the hospital?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, quite right," Giles stood, and he and Xander helped Tara up. As soon as Tara was standing, Willow pushed Xander out of the way and put an arm around her lover.
Willow started to walk Tara out the door, but then turned to Spike. The blond vampire had been standing in a corner out of the way ever since Tara had been stabbed and the man killed himself.
"Spike," Tara called, reaching out her hand to him. Spike looked at her questioningly, and then walked to her side to put another arm around her. Willow looked at Tara, who just shook her head and smiled. No one else might have noticed, but Tara's empathic abilities, along with her semi-understanding of the vampire, told her that Spike felt guilty. Tara could feel it. Spike thought it was his fault that she had gotten stabbed.
His heart may not be beating, but he definitely still has a heart, despite himself, Tara thought. She would not make a big deal out of it in front of the others, because she knew Spike wouldn't like it. So Tara had called him specifically over to help her, knowing that it was as much thanks as Spike would accept for the time being.
Willow and Spike walked Tara slowly through the Magic Box and towards the front door.
"Uh, what about... him?" Xander asked, pointing at the body on the floor.
"Oh, right," Giles said. In his concern for Tara, he had almost forgotten about the dead man.
"We'll take care of it," Anya said definitively. She punched Xander in the shoulder. "Come on. You're helping me. Give Giles your car keys." Then she turned to Giles. "We'll meet you at the hospital when we get done."
Giles, Buffy, and Xander stared in amazement at the ex-demon. They had no idea why she, of all people, would volunteer to take care of the body, let alone for manual labor.
"I'm human," she said simply, as if it explained everything. And in fact, it really did.
**************************
"Sir," the man in the black robe said from bended knee. The man knew his master would not be pleased that the vampire had seen them, let alone captured Michael. At least, Thomas was assuming Michael had been captured, since he had not returned to the caverns with him.
When Thomas had sliced the vampire with his dagger, he had assumed that Michael would follow his lead and use his own dagger. Then Thomas had just started running. He had assumed Michael would be on his heals. Apparently, he was wrong.
"What do you have to report to me, Thomas?"
"We did as you asked, sir. We followed the vampire and set the Tremorg loose on him. He performed as you expected," Thomas said humbly.
"The vampire fought off the Tremorg?"
"Yes, sir. He defended the two witches and the other one," Thomas said.
"Good. And I presume the vampire defeated the Tremorg?"
"Yes, sir," Thomas answered.
"Excellent. And where is Michael?"
Thomas paused before answering. "I'm sorry, sir. The vampire discovered us and captured us. I escaped, but Michael... I don't know what happened to him. I presume he was taken prisoner."
"How did the vampire capture you? He shouldn't have been able to hurt you."
Thomas paused again, not wanting to explain how they had been scared by a couple of witches. "It was the witches, sir."
"What do you mean, the witches?"
"Well, sir," Thomas explained, "they threatened us. The red-haired one said she had faced Hell Gods. Could she have been referring to Glorificus?"
"It doesn't matter. What else?"
Thomas was confused by the statement that it didn't matter, but tried not to show it. It wasn't his place to question anything, he knew. "Well, sir, it may be nothing. But I noticed the vampire was especially protective of the other one."
"Which other one? The Slayer?"
"No, sir. It was the youngest, the one with dark hair," Thomas said, unsure of how else to describe her. "He was very gentle with her. Like an older brother. She doesn't seem to have any powers of her own, sir."
"You are wrong, Thomas. She has the greatest power imaginable. Anything else?"
Thomas was even more confused now, but he hid it. "Nothing, sir. I cut the vampire and escaped, and came immediately back here," Thomas said. "Sir, shall I tell the master what happened?"
A tall man stepped from the shadows from where he had been speaking. "No, Thomas, I will take care of it. You did well. The Guardian will be pleased. Stand up, Thomas."
Thomas rose to his feet, happy that Dakin thought the master would be pleased. His happiness faded, however, as his blood poured from his neck. Thomas fell to the floor, dead. Dakin smiled, wiping his blade off on the hem of his robe. Two other men entered the room and dragged away Thomas' body. Dakin turned and went to The Guardian's chamber.
"How are things progressing, Dakin?" The Guardian asked his second-in-command. The Guardian did not especially like humans, but he needed human followers. He had to have someone helping him who wouldn't go insane before the Convergence. Plus, humans were much easier to control than demons.
"All is going as planned, master," Dakin answered, bowing his head. "The demons are all flocking to Sunnydale. You should have all the power you require for The Draining."
The Guardian smacked Dakin across the face, hard, knocking the human back, but not to the ground.
"I better, Dakin. I will not fail again," The Guardian snarled.
"Yes, master," Dakin said reverently.
"Is there anything else I should know about, Dakin?" the Guardian asked.
"No, master," Dakin lied.
******************
"You are safe, she says. Inherent in you is a truth no artificial world can fade." - The Journey
WOLFLORD 
at: 4/25/02 6:00:05 pm
