To Thine Own Self Be True
by mike
A long night.
[reviews]
Chapter 16
A long night.
We had just finished our homework and heard mom's call that dinner was ready. The sun was setting, just a yellow and orange sliver on the horizon shedding it's last beams of daylight through the window. My breath caught as Willow lifted and turned her head into the light. Her hair shone brightly from the sun and the sparkle in her eyes mesmerized me. She notices the adoring expression on my face. Her cheeks turn that rosy color I love so much then her mouth slides into that impish smile with the slight tilting of her head that totally undoes me. I reached my hand out and gently stroked my fingers across her cheek, the tips coming to rest on her soft, delicate lips. Her eyes slowly darkened as she raises her hand up to carefully grasp mine, opening her mouth to kiss my palm, then she languidly sucks on the ends of my fingers. My skin tingles and heat flashes up my spine. I lean in to replace my fingers with my lips. Our kiss was slow as we sample each others lips, gently sucking and nibbling with long slow sweeps of our soft moist tongues. Sighing heavily, we draw back slowly, the passion in our eyes almost too much to bear.
"The hors d'ourve was great, what's for dinner." Willow spoke low and huskily.
"I don't care, as long as you're dessert." I replied earnestly.
"Buffy! Willow! Dinner now!" Mom's voice reverberated through the house causing us to jump slightly.
Willow giggled as we clasped hands and headed down for what we hoped would be a quick and not too filling meal.
After getting settled in with dinner, mom set her water back on the table after taking a drink. She had her 'It's time to tell me everything look'. Glancing at Willow, [are you ready for this?]
[Sure, and even though we don't have everything worked out her input has always been helpful. Maybe she can help us fill in the gaps.] Willow raised her eyebrows as she conveyed this thought to me.
[Hope so 'cause I'm feeling the grand canyon right now] I responded with pursed lips.
I felt a soft touch on my cheek and felt it deepen. Eliciting enticing feelings as Willow's gentle extension caressed my face with the care and gentleness of her love. Almost immediately I was much calmer. I had become much more comfortable discussing things with mom but the recent years of her not having time to listen were very difficult to overcome. Fortunately Willow had no such history and actually relished sharing things with her.
[Thanks will. You make everything better.] I looked at her and smiled my contentment.
Willow returned my smile with a soft combination of sexy down turned head with eyes peeking out through falling hair and a smile that would melt the largest iceberg.
"Do I need to remind you two that you're at the dinner table and not alone?" Mom's stern voice snapped both our heads around.
Expecting to see a stern look of disapproval we were instead greeted to a mom smirk that immediately brought giggles of relief to both of us.
"OK mom, where would you like us to start?" I snickered out as I tried to get my tension induced relief under control.
"How about we start with what happened at school today. Anything happen there that I need to know about?" Mom's tone while calm and non-threatening also was able to convey the thought 'tell me everything and I'll decide what I need to know'.
"Well, there was no evil goings on. Classes went fine. And nothing unusual happened except for Amy and Jesse possibly getting together." I spoke while absentmindedly pushing my food across my plate.
Mom then looked to Willow for the non Cliff notes version and Willow happily obliged. I sat back and watched my green eyed beauty gesture with her hands, toss her head for effect and punctuate all her words with facial expressions that made the words almost unnecessary.
"So Amy seemed OK going with her father?" Mom's concern was evident with the scrunch of her eyebrows.
"Oh more than OK, she was totally jazzed." I added my own endorsement wrapped around a mouthful of food.
"Good. Now when do I get to meet Mr. Giles? She annunciated the question with a couple taps of her dinner fork.
"Hopefully we can get you guys together tomorrow evening. We haven't discussed it with him yet but after checking out the new training facility, we're hoping he will come in when he drops us off and explain the college extension program he's setting up for us." I kept my voice even and steady to belie my actual nervousness over their impending meeting.
"That would be great. I've found someone to help out and this would be a perfect opportunity for Kim to close up. I can leave at five so she'll only be by herself until eight." Mom paused a moment, then pointedly asked, "So you get to see the training facility tomorrow? Will you get keys so you can go there on your own, meaning you can show your mother around?"
"That's a great idea. That way Buffy and I can train on things we don't want Giles to see yet." Willow chimed in helpfully.
"Yea mom that is a good idea. We hadn't thought that far ahead yet." I added my own suck up.
"That's not like you two. Your planning so far while not perfect has not missed the obvious details. Is something bothering you?" Mom's concerns were clearly defined in her voice and her face.
I glanced at Will and she gave me a little nod and smile for encouragement. "Yea, Giles is supposed to be receiving something today or tomorrow that may reveal the origins of the Watcher's council and how they came to oversee the Slayers. We are torn whether or not to spy on his reading or wait for him to tell us. We're starting to like him and feel we should start trusting him. He has done some things to earn our trust and we feel a bit guilty spying on him." I gave a slight shrug of my shoulders and looked down at my plate as I spoke.
Mom was thoughtful for a few moments and then fixed us both with her most understanding and supportive expression. "I'm very proud of you both for wanting to extend your trust to Mr. Giles. And I agree that his actions are heading in a trustworthy direction. But this could mean your lives."
Mom paused momentarily while she made certain we both understood where her priorities were. "And while I don't believe Mr. Giles would willingly hurt either of you, there are still too many unknowns and potential for deceit and disaster to throw caution to the winds. I know this won't make it any easier for you but I'm going to have to insist that you continue to monitor Mr. Giles for the time being. At least until we know this Council's agenda and how much control they are able to exert over Mr. Giles. Good people with good intentions often perform heinous acts merely because their natures lend them to be loyal, even when the agency they are being loyal to does not deserve it."
Mom's words washed over us like being splashed in the face with ice water. She was right and wrong. It would still bother us to monitor a person we felt we should be trusting, but what she said eased our doubts and reservations against doing so.
"Thanks mom, that helps a lot." I thanked her accompanied with a small smile.
"Yea, me too. Thanks mom. I'm no longer all yucky guilt girl about spying on Giles, just uncomfortable that we aren't able to fully trust him yet." Willow expressed her feelings on the matter with an exhalation of resigned relief and just a slight pout to her mouth.
"Remember girls, only martyrs can afford to never leave the moral high ground. For the rest of us, there will always be compromises. Keep your intentions focused and you're unlikely to make a compromise that will harm you." Mom's gaze had slowly traveled from me to Willow and back as she spoke.
"Now for some news of my own, I spoke with your parents this afternoon Willow. They expect to arrive home around eight tomorrow evening. I suggested that you spend tomorrow night with us and we all get together for lunch on Saturday. They said that would be wonderful. They are looking forward to seeing you and meeting Buffy and I. They said they would be here at noon on Saturday, after which they would take you home with them." Mom finished speaking and watched carefully for our reactions.
"They're going to take me home?" Willow's words were gasped as she stared at mom with growing horror and then her face turned towards me. I got out of my chair at Slayer speed and immediately wrapped my arms around her as we both were confronted with our imminent separation. The thought of being apart for even a single night was as if some cold pit of icy darkness had opened within us and was slowly eating us from the inside out.
"I love you." Willow spoke in a pained voice. With those three words, I felt warmth in the center of my chest dispelling the internal cold that had a moment before nearly engulfed me. I became calm and opened myself to the love I felt from this incredible woman.
"I love you." I spoke also and began to caress her with waves of my love. Pouring out from the depths of my being the certainty of our being together forever no matter what obstacles we encountered in our lives.
I felt her body calm as her arms more tightly squeezed me. She relaxed and the rigid ness slowly left her. With a soft sigh, "Oh Buffy, the thought of sleeping without you scares me so much but I guess it's something we'll have to get used to."
"Yea, I guess it's something we should learn to at least tolerate without falling apart. If your parents don't have any objections to sleepovers, there's no reason that sleeping apart has to be the norm. Maybe it can just be the annoying exception." I pulled my head back and smiled at her. I gently stroked her cheek and she did the same for me. We then leaned in and kissed gently our deep love for each other.
"I can see that you girls will be just fine. And if the Rosenberg's have no objections, I don't see why you can't have your first sleepover at Willow's on Saturday. It's the school nights that will be the problem." Mom had waited until we had finished our little joint melt down and recovery before tossing us the small but appreciated bone.
The rest of dinner went smoothly with some really comical banter as mom regaled us about some eccentric customers. We were just completing clean up when a demon made its presence known.
I looked to Willow for confirmation about the location and she replied, "It's at the docks." She confirmed.
"Call Giles, I'll get the bag." I called back over my shoulder as I leaped up the stairs. We had decided to keep these conversations audible for moms' sake and so as not to have to repeat ourselves.
With experienced precision, we quickly gathered ourselves at the corner in wait of Giles. Giles appeared in his decrepit car within minutes of our arrival, obviously pushing his natural inclination for speed limits. With barely a glance we both jumped in the back seat and we took off for the docks per Willow's instructions.
Keeping the demon under observation, we took the time during the drive to get a visual, and what a visual we got. It was a giant bug, like something out of a 1950's horror movie. It had just entered an alley leading through the warehouse district and we gave Giles directions for heading it off. As we pulled into the alley the headlights fully illuminated the thing in all its ugliness.
"Jeezus, is that thing ugly. You sure you want to go up against it with just a sword Buffy?" Willow asked as she gripped my arm.
Before I could reply, Giles interrupted. "Girls, are you sure of what you are seeing?"
"Yep, big ugly bug with really long pincher thingies. How about you Will?" I leaned over the car seat to stare at Giles not believing he didn't see the thing.
"That's right, big ugly bug." Willow leaned over my shoulder to get a closer look at Giles whose face was a portrait of serenity as it gazed upon this Vincent Price nightmare as it approached the car.
[Buffy, look at what's coming from the bug. It's like a grayish wave that's washing over Giles. I think it's affecting what he's seeing.] Willow's desperation came across in waves as she tuned me into the vision.
[I see it will, can we block it some how?] I gasped as I watched this sickening emanation penetrated everything except for our own natural shields.
[Will, I'm such a dummy, our shields are blocking it. Let's just extend a shield to Giles.] I said while slapping my forehead.
Quickly extending a shield around Giles, it was amazing to see the transformation his face under went as his sight was no longer being fooled.
"Oh lord, where did that come from and why didn't I see it before?" His voice raised an octave and his eyes shot wide open.
"We'll explain later, now we kill it." I exclaimed as I clamber out of the car with a nice heavy battle axe in my hand.
[Be careful and I got your back.] Willow let me know and as I approached the creature, I felt Willow creating shields to cover me if necessary.
The thing had an incredible reach I quickly discovered and was a lot faster than it looked. I barely ducked under a snapping pincer but was now close enough to swing my axe into its lower abdomen. The blade bit with a nice crunching thunk eliciting a high pitched squeal. But before I could wrench the blade free, it was able to hit me with one of its arms sending me tumbling. I rolled and quickly came to my feet to see my axe still imbedded in the things body with lots of yellow fluid leaking onto the ground. As it attacked, I got under its guard and grabbed the axe, ripping it free with all my might. The damage this caused sent the creature stumbling. I quickly followed up by swinging at one of its flailing arms as it tried to keep its balance. I took the appendage off half way to its shoulder but at the same time it tried to blind side me with its other arm which was stopped about a foot from my head by a quickly interjected shield from my lovely protector. It screeched in pain and frustration as I then followed up by cutting its leg off and as it lurched forward I finished the task with a satisfying decapitation.
Swinging the axe to my shoulder, I turned and walked over to my gorgeous counterpart. With an anticipatory smile, Willow leaned forward and captured my lips. Our mouths melded and became one symbiotic organism that gave and received soft, moist affection. With gentle sighs of contentment we slowly pulled back from our mutual appreciation of each others mouths.
I turned to see what Giles was doing and beheld him vigorously wiping his glasses while his gaze was focused on the sky.
Just then we became aware of a new demon presence, and not in a cemetery like normal. This one was downtown, a few blocks from the Bronze.
"Wow, where'd he come from?" Willow's gasp and look of befuddlement was precious, and probably mirrored my own.
"No idea Will, but we better motor quick." I replied while waving at Giles.
"Hey Giles, got a new one. Get your butt in gear and let's go." I called to him then turned and followed Willow to the car.
I heard Giles quickly move to the car and entered as we settled ourselves in the backseat.
"Where to?" Giles asked as he started the engine.
"Couple blocks this side of the Bronze. Head up Main and we'll let you know when to turn left." Willow advised him with a bit of excitement in her voice.
[You're getting excited, aren't you?] I asked teasingly.
[After the fight, then the kiss I was already excited!] She told me as she squeezed my thigh and bumped shoulders. I didn't have to look but I did anyway just to see that sexy grin on her face.
[Hope this is quick, 'cause I need more willow kissage.] I grinned back and gently scraped my short finger nails up her inner thigh.
Willow started to grin then turned all serious. [No rushing things and you need to keep your mind on the slayage or their might not be any kissage.]
[Ok will, slayer mode now but you better be ready for some serious lip lockage after the dust settles.] I settled back in the seat and grabbed a rag out of the bag to wipe my axe clean.
[That's my good slayer.] She responded softly.
"Turn left at the next street, then there's a parking lot next to what looks like a bar a block and a half on the right." Willow instructed Giles as she leaned over the seat and pointed with her right arm.
Giles swung into the parking lot which was mostly empty except for a very large demon that was trying to corner a small cat next to a garbage bin.
As Giles came to a stop, I jumped out the left side with a sword that I had swapped for my axe. Willow was right behind me. The demon turned and I beheld a really ugly greenish grey body looking something like the creature from the black lagoon.
"Buffy, it's a Polgara demon. It has long spikes that come out of its wrists. Beheading it should kill it." I took in Giles information and slowed my approach a bit watching his movements carefully. With a roar, he suddenly charged and as it swung its right arm at me, a long spike sprung from his arm aimed right at my chest. I leapt above his strike throwing a flying kick into his face knocking the creature onto his back. As he rolled to his left to get back up, I swung my sword as hard as I could right at his neck. His head came cleanly off, rolling across the pavement with a soft bumping sound.
"Well, that was disappointing." I quipped as I turned back towards Willow and Giles.
"Buffy, this place isn't right. I can't see inside. There's some kind of shield around it." Willow's concern was evident in her voice as she met me and took my free hand in hers.
We looked over at Giles' to see him take a few steps towards the dark building with a single light over a solid steel door. A sign was on the wall beside the door saying simply 'Willy's Place'.
Giles turned back to us and with a thoughtful expression asked us earnestly. "You say it has a shield on it Willow? Can you do anything with it?"
I looked at Willow to see her adorable face as she slowly smiled and her eyes light up.
"We can take care of it together." She assured Giles while looking at me.
"I trust you." I answered in response to the question on her face.
[Think we should load up on a little extra juice first?] I asked her quietly.
[Absolutely.] She replied as she took my hand in hers.
We quickly slipped off to our wondrous fountain until we felt fully powered and returned, the time elapsed was only a few minutes.
Still holding hands, we turned and faced the decrepit building.
[We need to create a blanket that we bring in contact with it all at once. Since we can't surround it from both sides, I'm not sure what will happen so I want to put a thick shield between us and the building in case the thing implodes.]
"Giles, stand behind us and don't move. Willow thinks it might implode so we're putting up a shield in front of us." I told Giles without looking at him. I heard him move behind us as we erected a shield in front of us with wings on each side bent back towards us. We anchored the shield into the ground and then began preparing the blanket Willow wanted to use to cancel the dark shield around the bar.
It took us about five minutes before Willow was satisfied with the shape of the blanket. I felt her squeeze my hand then she spoke out loud for Giles' sake.
"Now!" And with that we brought the blanket into contact with the magical shield covering the bar.
An unearthly groan sent chills down our spines turning quickly into a loud screeching noise like a train slamming on its breaks. Then a hellish rainbow of light spread everywhere. Purple, red, dark sickly greens quickly turned to bright yellow and red of a giant fireball as we were simultaneously hit with a giant roar and pieces of the building flying at us. The heat wave from the explosion rolled over our shield and over our heads baking us with its intensity. We instinctively ducked to our knees and I covered Willow's body with my own. Debris rained down upon us but Will quickly raised another shield above us. As the last sound of falling building parts passed, we looked up to survey our handiwork.
Streaming from the building was as mixed a bunch of demons and vampires as I had ever seen. Our demon scape had gone bonkers just seconds after the shield collapsed so we knew to expect twenty-two demons. There were seven vamps on fire that quickly turned to dust so the count was quickly down to fifteen.
[I can't let any of them escape.] I told Willow as I clenched my sword tight and released Willow's hand so that I could replace it with a stake.
[We can't Buffy, and we won't. I'll keep them separated into small groups. Work with me Buffy and we can do this.] Willow corrected my thinking with a mental resolve that hit me like a bucket of ice water. I looked back at her and winked.
[You got my back and I won't do anything stupid. Is that pretty much what you wanted to say?]
[Yea, pretty much. Now that you've got the right idea, what are you waiting for?] She asked while tilting her head.
With that I headed towards the first group of demons who finding that they couldn't escape to the back left or right were charging right towards us. The others were boxed in three groups. As the closest demon came within reach with his arms stretched out in front of him I went low and cut his right leg off just above the knee. This positioned my sword to run the next demon right through the chest. I kicked out knocking the next demon back as I yanked my sword free swinging it around to decapitate the third and last demon in this group. I then went back to the one legged demon who was howling bloody murder and removed his head.
[Ready for the next?] I asked Willow as I bounced lightly on my toes.
[Yea, but can I try something first?] She asked almost timidly.
[Sure will, what did you have in mind?] I asked wondering about why she was so timid in asking.
[Well, you know those horror movies where the walls move in on you with the spikes?] She asked with anticipation in her thoughts and on her face.
[Ah, taking all my fun away.] I now knew why she was timid with her request. She was afraid that I would be disappointed about missing out on the personal combat. And I would, but there were still twelve big mean ugly suckers that wanted nothing more than to rip us limb from limb. Hey, I might be an adrenalin junkie but I'm not stupid. Well not as a rule at least or not while Willow was watching is more like it.
[Sure will, lets do it together.] I put my stake away and took her hand. I heard her sigh of relief and we quickly restructured the first cell with spike on two of the opposing walls and then slammed them together. As they pierced the first demons, the walls broke down, leaving two demons mostly unscathed. I quickly released Willow's hand and attacked the closest demon just as we heard sirens approaching.
"Buffy, Willow, the authorities are approaching. We can't be discovered here. We must go quickly." Giles spoke quickly with only a hint of panic in his voice.
"We can't leave these demons alive with the police. They'd be slaughtered." Willow hissed angrily at him.
I let Willow handle Giles as I finished ugly number 1 and ducked under number two's clumsy swat at my head. With a back swing I removed the offending arm and then split his chest wide open with a powerful swing that almost cut him in half.
[Will, do the spike wall on the rest quick. I'll take care of the ones that survive.] I felt Willow focus on the remaining two cells and watched three get taken out in the first but only two in the second before they realized they were free and quickly rushed towards me just as I heard the squeal of tires into the parking lot.
"Everybody on the ground now. This is the police." Was heard very clearly over their loudspeaker.
[Buffy, he has a gun.] I could almost hear Willow squeak in her thought.
[Just keep a shield between me and the cops so they can't shoot me and don't forget to shield Giles and yourself.] I told her quickly as two of the demons converged on me at once.
These guys were a lot more agile than the previous ones and I was dodging, jumping and swinging for all I was worth allowing bad guy number three to get by me. As I critically wounded one of the demons facing me, the one that got by decided to for the police.
"Stop or I'll fire." Was immediately followed by gunfire and raging howls from the demon. I finished up my demons and turned to see a demon just about to grab a policeman who was desperately trying to reload his gun. I flung my arm back and threw my sword with every once of strength I had. I was rewarded with the gurgling groan of the demon as my sword pierced his back all the way to the hilt.
I ran towards the officer who had been dropped and fortunately moved out of the way of the collapsing demon. I reached him in moments and bent down slowly, placing my hand on his shoulder.
"It's OK, its dead. You're going to be alright." I assured him in the most soothing tone I could manage.
He just gazed at me all shocked, then shook his head and tried to regain his feet. I grabbed his forearm and pulled him the rest of the way up.
"Damn, I'd heard about these damn things but they said they left us cops alone." He said while running his hand over his short dark hair.
"And who and what are you?" He regained his composure and now focused on me.
"Well, I'm Buffy." I felt Willow join me with Giles a step behind. "And this is Willow and the guy behind me is Giles. Willow and I are students at Sunnydale High School and Giles is our extension course counselor. And we also kill demons."
He looked at me incredulously for a moment then I could see him replay the events he witnessed through his mind. "You saved my life." He said softly.
"Well that goes with the demon killing, just part of the job." I assured him.
"Well thank you anyway." He was now smiling a little. "I'm officer Stanwyck, Brett Stanwyck"
Giles took this moment to make his presence felt. "Officer Stanwyck, we'd prefer not to be here when the rest of the authorities appear. If you have any questions you can reach us at the school. May we go now?
"Yea, don't know how I'm going to explain this, but something tells me that once they see the bodies, my bosses aren't going to want to know." He grimaced, and then raised his hand in a shooing motion.
"Go, get out of here. Things will actually be easier for me if you're not here. And thanks again Buffy." He waved as we quickly made our way to the car waving and saying our goodbyes.
"It's been a long night, I better get you and Willow home." Giles said glancing over his shoulder at me as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Home sounds really nice right now." Willow sighed and slumped back into her seat.
[Uh will, remember who's waiting for us at home.] I asked trying to figure out how we were going to tell mom about this night.
[Yea, you're mom. oh you're mom! Well you'll just talk to her while I run upstairs quickly to take a shower.] She answered nervously knowing how she opens up to mom.
[I think mom's shown us the best thing is to just tell her everything, holding nothing back. Besides she'll know if we do. And look at the bright side, no one got hurt this time.] I told her in a way that I hoped would assure her.
[Ok, but be ready when she asks me for my version, you know how I get.] Willow sounded so meek and adorable I just melted and put my arms around her kissing her cheek.
[I love you and mom loves you. You've got nothing to worry about. I've got your back this time.] I sent her waves of love and comfort and felt her immediately relax.
As Giles came to the corner, Mom stepped out into the light and leaned her head into the car. "Mr. Giles, please pull your car into the driveway. It's time we talked." Mom withdrew her head before Gile's could sputter a response.
"You better do as she says. Pissing mom off is never a good idea." I said as I could see his indecision.
"It's just that I have no idea what I'm going to say to her. I can't imagine what she thinks what with an older man out at night with two teenage girls. How can I explain nothing inappropriate is going on when I can't tell her the truth?" He sputtered out haltingly as drove the car into our driveway with mom standing on the front porch watching our arrival.
"My only suggestion is don't lie. If you lie, well you don't want to know and neither do I so just don't." I said quickly as Willow exited the back of the car and I quickly followed.
Giles cut the engine and we could hear him following us slowly. As we walked up the steps, I smiled at mom.
"Hi mom, home safe and sound. How was your evening?" I asked her as walked up the steps.
"It was going fine until an explosion rattled every plate and window in the house. I don't suppose you know anything about that, do you." She asked pointedly. She then pulled us both into a big hug. "I'm so relieved that you're both alright. I was so worried. Now I want you both to go upstairs and get cleaned up and stay there until I call you. I'm going to have a talk with your Mr. Giles. Feel free to listen in." She whispered softly while her head was between both of ours.
"Come in Mr. Giles." As she released us from her arms we quickly went inside and up the stairs, grateful that we didn't have to explain to mom what went down tonight.
Willow and I immediately tuned into the conversation downstairs as we started to get undressed for our shower.
["Make yourself comfortable, could I get you something to drink? I imagine some tea would be nice."
"Well I really need to be going. I don't really have time for tea but thank you for offering."
"Mr. Giles, you're going to be here for as long as it takes to come to an understanding. I prepared a whole pot of water so it's no problem. I have Early Grey or would you prefer an herbal?"
"Uh, yes, the Early Grey would be nice. Thank you very much."
"Please make yourself comfortable, I'll be back in a flash."]
Willow and I had taken this opportunity to finish undressing and get in the shower. Our interest in the conversation downstairs took most of our focus leaving getting clean to just getting clean.
"Mom's back." Willow whispered and we focused again on the happenings in the living room.
["Please help yourself Mr. Giles."
"Thank you. It appears you have something of importance to discuss. Would you like to begin?"
"I think I'll just cut to the chase. Buffy's the Slayer and your her Watcher. Buffy has convinced me that she can't stop being the Slayer. And as much as it frightens me, I do realize the importance of her calling. I plan on supporting her in this cause but my primary goal is probably different than yours. Your goal is to use Buffy to destroy Vampires and demons. My goal is to see that Buffy lives a long happy life. I believe that our two goals can coexist if we work together. What do you think?"
"Errr, the Slayer is the instrument of the Council for battling the demonic evils in the world. A long and happy life for the Slayer has never been the council's objective. Frankly, while I applaud your determination to support Buffy, I don't see how the two objectives can coexist."
"No, I don't suppose you can, considering that your knowledge of dealing with Slayers is thousands of years old and probably hasn't changed much since the beginning. Tell me how the first Slayer came to be and how the council came about."
"The origins of the Slayer and Council have been hidden, but with Buffy's prodding I was compelled to call in a few favors and received today a manuscript that describes their origins. I've only had a chance to scan it but the gist is that three sorcerers, concerned with the rising tide of vampires decided to chain a young girl to a rock that was a powerful conduit. They performed a ceremony that imbued the girl with dark power, making her supernaturally strong and fast. This girl was to be their instrument to fight the vampires."]
As Giles completed this description, Willow and I had a shared vision, obviously another of the Goddess' time delayed messages. We hovered over a dark cave, dimly lit with flickering torches. A young girl was chained to an oily black rock in the center of the cave. Three men with staffs stood around chanting as a dark smoky thing undulated its way towards the helpless girl. The darkness began to enter the girl and there was a bright flash of light that blinded the three men. If they could have seen, they would have witnessed a blue and gold light wrap itself around the darkness trying to enter the girl and seen it destroyed, and replaced by the light which merged itself with the body and spirit of the girl. As it did so, another light split off and traveled far away to enter another girl but not merge. Merely to lie dormant until called.
Our minds were again back home again after receiving this newest fragment from our visit with the Goddess. I looked at Willow in amazement over this incredible revelation.
"The Goddess intervened. And only we know the real truth." Willow gasped. "They think the Slayer is imbued with darkness, but you're not. You were given your power by the pure light and power of the Goddess."
"But what does this mean? Would the council even care? They just want a Slayer. What difference does it make where she gets her power from?" I asked Willow feeling my head spinning while I tried to understand the implications.
"I don't know Buffy, let's finish listening. Maybe Giles has more information." Willow whispered while slowly shaking her head.
["...everything to do with how the Council treats the Slayer. Its long been the belief of the Council that since the Slayer derives her power from darkness that eventually it will consume her, making her more dangerous than the evil she battles. That is their reasoning for making certain that Slayer's do not have a long life."
"That is preposterous; there is no evil or darkness in Buffy! Their arrogance and fear and need to control prevent them from discovering the truth."
"Two weeks ago, I would have just treated what you just said as the typical response from a loving mother. But now, after having observed repeatedly Buffy and Willow's handling of pure positive energy and the way it reacts to dark magic's I too must conclude that the Councils beliefs are based on faulty information. But I still don't know how to give Buffy a long and happy life. At some point, the Council will step in and attempt to end her life for fear of her becoming consumed by the darkness they believe is the source of her power."
"I'll tell you how. We do it slowly and by keeping the Council in the dark as to what's really going on. All they need to know is that Buffy is a dedicated and reliable Slayer. I'm guessing they'll keep their distance until her 18th birthday as long as they don't suspect anything unusual."
"I believe you to be correct in that assumption. With minimal support, Slayers tend to expire earlier rather than later, just they way they like it."
"Good, then we have almost two years to prepare for their coming. If we do this right, they'll never know what hit them."]