Children of the Earth
by WillowX
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Chapter 7
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Sometimes problems start out really small...like the size of a snowball. Little things here and there start to happen ...nobody really notices...they just think its part of the story. But slowly these little things, that were once the size of snowballs, start escalating, gaining momentum while hurdling down a mountain, and before you know it the avalanche is upon you. My life right now is quickly approaching Emergency Avalanche DEFCON 1.
Willow and I had our first fight tonight since we became lovers. It was kind of heated and could have been much worse if we had been given the proper time to continue. But, as always, every time I try to move on with my life I get smacked in the back of the head by a snowball.
"Buffy this is Hope. Remember I told you about her? She's the one who helped me with the Resurrection Spell." Willow explained referring the strange looking old woman standing at our door. The woman looked frightened and her hands were shacking. She was nothing like how I had pictured her. I couldn't believe this was the Great Sorceress.
"Hello little one." Hope said with an anxious smile as she bowed her head at me while she spoke ....what a F R E A K!
"Yeah...Hello. Please come in...make yourself at home." I said sarcastically motioning to the living room and holding back my overwhelming joy at her presence. Yes, come in Mrs. Snowball, you and all your little snowball friends are welcome too...let's have a nice little avalanche party!
Hope turned to me with an amused smirk. "This one is a strange one." She mentioned to Willow signaling in my direction. Willow nodded in a "tell me about it" sort of way and I got pissed! What the f?
"What is wrong Hope? Why are we in danger?" Willow asked concerned, returning to the purpose of her visit.
"Can't you feel it my child?" Hope asked in a strange tone. She sounded almost concerned that Willow hadn't sensed it herself.
"I feel something...danger...but I don't know what it is and can't even tell where it's coming from..." She said all flustered and exasperated. "I'm not very good at this." She finished with a pout.
"Yes...you're not!" Hope said in a harsh matter-of-fact tone. "That's usually what happens when you deny your true self." She finished disappointed. Hey!!! Who the hell does she think she is??? Showing up in the middle of the night and insulting my Willow?? Keep talking you old hag....cause you're cruising for a bruising.
Hope turned and smirked at me again. Shaking her head she whispered to herself "Very strange indeed."
"Do you girls have anything to drink?" She asked.
"Tea?" Willow offered.
"No...Scotch." Hope requested.
My eyes are wide with shock. This lady is real piece of work and she's beginning to get on my nerves. Is the word "Bar" stamped on my forehead? What gives her the right to walk in here in the middle of a...
"Buffy!" Willow interrupted my thoughts.
"What?" I ask coldly.
"Can I see you in the kitchen a second...please?" She asked making some sort of facial gesture I couldn't understand. I think she has to go to the bathroom.
I followed her out of the living room and into the kitchen. The minute we were there she waved her hand in the air and muttered "Silencio". A green light appeared engulfing both our bodies and continued to spread until the doors and windows were covered by the dim glow.
"Willow?? Whatthehellwasthat?" I asked astounded.
"It's a barrier...so that she can't hear our thoughts. Something I cooked up after my first visit with her. She's been reading your thoughts Buffy...the snowball, the cruising for a bruising comment....all of it. You have to be mindful of what you think when you're around her." Willow warned.
"The snowball??? The cruising for a bruising comment??? Well well well ...your trip to Superpower Ville just keeps getting better and better, huh??? How long have YOU been reading MY thoughts???" I barked at her appalled.
"I have never invaded your mind like that before." She said sternly in her defense. "I've been able to read thoughts for months now. That wasn't a secret. I did it with Xander and the rest of the gang during your battle with Glory and I did it all summer while you were dead. It just so happens that you weren't around all those times. I stopped doing it right after you came back. The only reason I did it now was because of Hope...I'm trying to protect you Buffy." She finished a little pissed at what I had implied.
"Well...you know what Will?? I'm sick and tired of this idea that you have wherein protecting me means keeping me in the dark. I'm really sick of the lies, Will, had about as much of them as I can take." I barked at her and stormed through the kitchen heading for the back door.
"Buffy...wait...where are you going??" She screamed.
"Outside. I need some fresh air." I say right before the door slams behind me.
Ugggghhhh....Witches!
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Tonight is turning out to be such a sucky night. Really really sucky! Buffy stormed out of here pissed. I can't remember the last time she was so mad at me. She called me a liar, accused me of reading her thoughts without permission, AND...to top it all off...I got loads of dirt up my butt from when that vamp slammed me against the floor. Note to self...regardless how intriguing going commando sounds, underwear free on patrol is definitely NOT the way to go.
I grabbed a glass and the bottle of single malt scotch that Joyce used to keep under the sink for when Giles would come over. When I walked back into the living room Hope had a pensive expression on her face.
"You have grown strong my child...but not nearly as strong as you should be by now. What happened?" She asked.
"Umm... I couldn't handle it...it was too much...I had to quit." I say dryly.
"Quit?? Hmph... you can never quit my child! This is no longer a hobby that you picked up along the way. That's the thing about being an adult...the decisions you make affect the rest of your life. I warned you that you'd change and you did it anyways...now you must live up to the consequences. You will never be able to quit the magic...this is not some silly addiction ... it's a part of you now...it's who you are. Just like Buffy is the Slayer...you are now the Sorceress." She poured herself a glass of scotch and drank it in one gulp.
"Is that what my new powers are all about...the Spell?"
"Not the Spell necessarily...you're powers are a result of something else...but I'm getting ahead of myself. You're in great danger and startling unprepared to deal with it." My eyes widened in shock.....
"Buffy has new powers too." I stammer out surprised at the realization. How didn't I see that before? How could I have been so blind?
"Yes...that's right...you're lover is going through changes too. You are both different now and will be forever." Hope explained. "I told you this would happen. You really have to start listening when I speak." She was right. She had warned me and I blindly accepted the challenge. I didn't care about myself but I never thought it would affect Buffy.
"Why are you so afraid of this danger? I thought you were supposed to be the most powerful Sorceress this side of the world."
"Hmph...it is so typical of you to be so short sighted. Yes... I am the most powerful Sorceress this side of the world...but...you forget my child...the world has a whole other side too." She poured herself another glass and drank it all in one gulp. The smell of liquor on her breath was making me queasy and her eyes were beginning to glaze over.
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The night air was chilly and I felt a soft breeze blow across my face as the threat of tears burned in my eyes. There's nothing like a good fight with someone you love to make you really hate yourself. Sitting on the bench in my yard I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees and held my head. Her scent was still strong on my hands and my mind wondered back to the events of night. How did this happen?
As I am sitting here reflecting on what went wrong I felt the presence of someone watching me. I looked up suddenly and gasped at the sight of her.
"You're alive." Faith said as she looked at me in astonishment. There stood my arch enemy. As usual she was all decked out in leather and her long black curls were casually blowing in the breeze. I stood instantly.
"You're free." I countered positioning myself in my traditional battle stance...ready to fight. But... she didn't even move. Not even after I took the offensive. She just stood there in awe with her mouth gapping open.
"Oh my God B. Oh my God. I can't believe it. I can't believe the dreams were true." She stated as she approached me slowly. I instantly stiffened my stand and she stopped and backed away again.
"It's cool B. I'm not here to kill you. Really. I swear." She said softly as she raised her hands up in a neutral fashion. What... do I look stupid too?
"Yeah...I'm sure...look Faith, I've had a bitch of a day and don't feel like doing this dance with you again. So let's get this over with already." I bent down and grabbed the knife that I carried on patrol tied to my ankle. Nobody knew about that knife...it was my secret defense. But even after the shinny blade of the knife appeared in my hands she didn't move. She stood still watching me closely.
"Honestly Buffy. I'm not here to hurt you." She stated again. There was something strange in her expression. Something I hadn't seen in her eyes for a long time...truth.
"Why are you here then?" I asked cautiously but still not moving.
"I had a dream. You know those freaky ones people like you and me have. I saw you alive and the Hellmouth open." She explained. Big whoop. I have those all the time. Ohh Ahhh the Hellmouth...what fear what fear...I'm sick of this crap already.
"I still don't see what you're doing here." I say bluntly.
"You don't understand...you weren't just alive...you were the only one alive!" She said. Those words scared me. The first image that came to mind was Willow's face and a chill ran through my heart. I lowered my arms, took a step backwards, and sat on the bench storing my weapon again. Sensing the absence of danger Faith approached the bench and sat on the other end. We both sat in silence for a few seconds until she finally spoke.
"So...what's new?" The question brought a smirk to my face. Was Faith actually trying to have a civil conversation?
"Much badness...I was dead for three months." I state humorously.
"Oh I can beat that!" She smiles.
"I don't think so Faith." I say shacking my head at her.
"I've been in England for the last six months being re-trained by the Council on their estate." She said in one long breath.
"Ugghh...YOU WON! Hand's down!!" I burst out instantly. The look of utter disgust on my face must have been amusing because she exploded into a fit of laughter. The sound of her laughter was somehow soothing and I burst out laughing too. It was good to let go of all the tensions of the night in a hearty laugh.
"So...did they send you here to stop the Hellmouth from opening?" I asked still recovering from the giggles.
"Nope!! They wiped their ass with me. I snuck out yesterday and hopped on the first plane to Sunny D." She explained. I couldn't believe I was actually having a conversation with Faith...Faith... umm...what's her last name anyway?
"So they've been retraining you huh? What?? On how to act lady like?" I say sarcastically.
"Ahhhh...a world of no. Actually some pretty cool stuff. Kung Fu, Jujitso, Tae Kwon Do...I bet I could win now if you and I had to fight again." She said with a devilish smile.
"Is that a challenge I hear?" I replied with a grin. She doesn't know about the new and improved Buffy Summers...maybe kicking her ass will put me in a better mood.
"I believe it was." She states.
We both stood and walked away from the bench. Taking our respective fighting stance we looked at each other. Looking at her expression I couldn't help but smile. Something about her was making me trust her. Her eyes were different and I didn't feel danger anymore. I've always wanted this. I always wanted Faith to be my friend. Being the Slayer is not easy and having someone who knows exactly what you are going through is priceless.
"Whenever you're ready B. I know it takes you old timers a while to mentally prepare." She said edging me on. Ohhh is she in for an ass kicking.
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Things couldn't possibly get worse than what they already are. I'm serious. If I were to sit and think of something worse to happen now I'd draw a blank. First of all, I can't seem to shake this feeling that something horrible is coming. Hope seems to confirm that what's coming is indeed very horrible but that's all she's said as of yet. It turns out that my careless actions seem to be the cause of mine and Buffy's changes...whether they are good or not I'm not sure yet. Why you ask? Simple....cause even the Greatest Sorceress of the Western Hemisphere gets drunk after drinking a whole bottle of single malt scotch.
"W-i-l-l-o-w.... I've always liked your name you know...Willow...do you know that there is a tree named after you?" She said all groggy and smiley.
"Umm...actually I think I was named after the tree." I state annoyed. She smiles and looks at the empty bottle quizzically.
"You drank all the scotch." She accused. That's it! I'm taking a shower now.
"Look Hope...I'm gonna go upstairs for a while. I'll be down in a bit. Feel free to take a nap or go through the fridge if you get the munchies or whatever drunks usually do." I get up and walk to the stair case. Once there I turn to look at her. She lift's her hand in the air and waves haphazardly without coordination "See you later little tree!!!" She bellows.... Ohhh brother...
My thoughts are centered around the events of the night. Buffy hurt me so much with those words. What did she mean by 'she's had as much of it as she can take'? Was she talking about me or the lies? Ugghhh...I hate that she thinks I lie to her, I hate that she stormed out of here, and I hate that I'm the ultimate cause of all of this pain.
I walk into my bedroom, which in the last three months has become our bedroom, to look for a fresh change of clothes. Maybe what I need is a warm bath to wash away my fears. I can't help wondering were Buffy could have gone. What if something happens to her? I'll never forgive myself if she gets hurt. The more I think of it the more concerned I become.
Deciding that she's probably just sitting outside, like she usually does when she wants to be alone, I walk over to the window to make sure. What I saw next made my heart stop. Buffy was engaged in a battle...in our yard!!! At first I couldn't make out who it was...my first thought was a vamp. But when I looked closely and recognized the face I felt my skin burn.....FAITH!!! Faith is back and trying to kill Buffy. I mentally chastise myself for tempting the gods...things had officially gotten way worse.
There was no time to waste and Buffy was in danger. I closed my eyes and when I opened them again I was standing between the two of them. Faith's expression was that of surprise. Yeah... that's right... it's ME!
I snap my head back and begin chanting words in Latin. Instantly I feel power course through my body like a wild river. The sound of a thousand voices chanting was dancing in my head as gusts of wind circled me creating a vortex. Standing at the center of mini tornado, with one swift hand gesture Faith's body was blown clear across the yard into the wooden fence. I smiled slowly admiring my handy work when I felt Buffy's hand on my shoulder as she turned me harshly.
"Where did you come from?" She asked upset.
"I was upstairs and saw Faith attacking you so I uh...I...teleported?" I finished cautiously, realizing that was a whole other thing Buffy didn't know I could do.
"I don't want to even hear the rest." She said sternly.
"Faith!! Are you ok?" Buffy was said as she headed in the direction of the fallen fence. Faith's head popped up from behind some bushes. She had her hand on her head and was rubbing it roughly.
"What the fuck was that for Red?" She asked pissed.
"You have no idea who you are messing with." I say in a threatening tone three times deeper than my regular voice. The winds began circling again as I built the strength to strike her down once more.
"WILL!!! STOP IT!!!" Buffy screamed. Instantly everything stopped.
"What is going on here?" I ask confused.
Buffy was helping Faith get up. She flung Faith's arm over her shoulder and was escorting her to the house...OUR house!! What the hell?
"Let's take this inside Willow. I need to see if Faith has any injuries." She explained. Since when do we care about Faith? This is really not sitting well with me. I don't want her in our house and I definitely don't want Buffy checking her body for injuries.
I stormed into the house pissed as hell. Buffy and Faith followed. Faith wasn't hurt at all. I'm sure she just liked having her arm around Buffy. I wanted to blow her across the house all over again.
They followed me all the way to the living room where Hope was sprawled out on the couch. She was awake and humming the itsy bitsy spider song while doing the whole finger thing. I stood in the middle of the living room panting fiercely.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" Buffy asked pointing at Hope.
"She's drunk. What the hell is she doing here?" I asked motioning to Faith.
"Hey ...Red...I'm standing right here. Show a little fucking respect." Faith barked back. I roll my eyes at her language. She's always been such a street hussy. I never understood why Buffy found her friendship appealing.
Intent on not letting her push my buttons I turn to face Buffy. "Baby...what's going on?"
"Baby???" Faith interrupts. "Jeez B you didn't tell me you stopped driving stick. What is it with this town? Every time I come back there is a new one." Faith said in her sarcastic humor.
"Butt out!" I bark at her.
"Is that what living too long on the Hellmouth does to ya? Is this a center of homosexual convergence?" She jabbed at me.
"SHUT UP!!!" I scream completely loosing my temper.
"Quick...someone crack open a window...the smell of testosterone is making me nauseous." Faith countered. I glared at her with pure hate.
"FAITH!" Buffy said. "Back off... I don't want any problems." She finished.
"I sense anger." Hope interrupted with a groggy voice and crazed look. The room froze as we assessed the true clarity of that comment. THAT was the understatement of the century. Instantly Faith burst out laughing again...her maniacal sarcastic laugh...
"Who the fuck is she ...Master Yoda?" Faith said pointing at Hope giggling hysterically. Hope grinned lazily at the reference.
"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" Buffy screamed at the top of her lungs. Faith's giggles instantly stopped. In fact her whole face changed completely. The room fell silent once again as we all scrutinized each other's expressions. Everyone was furious...well...except for Hope who seemed to be drunkenly amused.
"I don't want her here Buffy!" I stated slowly, sounding off each syllable in a threatening tone. My eyes fixed on Faith the whole time.
"Willow...let me explain.." Buffy tried.
"NO! She's tried to kill you and me in the past. I don't trust her as far as you can throw her. I don't want her anywhere near me...or you for that matter." I state harshly leaving no room for discussion.
"It's cool B. I can take a hint." Faith stated as she turned and walked in the direction of the door.
"Faith wait...." Buffy followed her to the door but it was too late. The door shut behind her.
"What is wrong with you today?" She asked turning to me suddenly.
"What's wrong with me??? What's wrong with YOU??? Buffy...that was Faith! She tried to kill me. She tried to ruin your life. What? Now you're buddies? Is there anything I should know about?" I shrieked out sounding a lot more jealous than I intended.
"Ohhhhh....is that what this is all about? I'm not the one having visions with other naked women in them!!!" She said sarcastically.
"OH THAT'S IT!" I scream as I storm by her and up the stairs. As if I have any control over the visions. I'm done arguing with her.
"Hey!!! Where are do you think you're going?" Buffy asked offended at my sudden exit.
"To take a shower... I HAVE DIRT UP MY ASS!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
Ugggghhhh.... Slayers!!!
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I heard the sound of the shower running while Willow was in the bathroom. My whole body ached from our last fight. How can two people who love each other so much say such hurtful things? I don't think it's possible to hate myself more than I do right now.
I walk into our room and lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. The room is cold and empty....oh so empty without her by my side. I turn on my side and notice a package on her nightstand. I grab it to see what it is and it's full of pictures...pictures from that picnic with Xander so many years ago. I guess Willow got them from Xander today like she planned. I get up and walk over to her dresser opening a drawer to put them away. Inside the drawer I find this cute looking plaque. It's made of wood and has sparkles on it and everything, with the words "Willow Rosenberg Boss of Us" written in gold lettering.
"Going through my drawers now?" I heard her voice from behind me. I turn to look at her. Her expression was serious. Well....that's an improvement...at least it wasn't mad anymore. She was covering her body with her towel and I think she actually ducked back into the bathroom so that I wouldn't see her as she changed. Wow....that really hurt.
"Huh? Uhh No! No. I was just putting these pictures away so they wouldn't get lost...Willow...what's this?" I ask holding up the wooden plaque for her to see.
"Oh. Xander made that for me when you were ...um...not around. Yeah...the Scooby gang elected me temporary Boss. Giles was soooo pissed." She said softly with a small smile.
"I had never seen this before." I say.
She walked by me and took it from my hands. "Yeah....I don't like to keep things around that remind me of those months." With that, she shoved it back in the drawer and closed it. I felt as if I was being stabbed through the heart.
"Go take a shower please...it's already 11:30 P.M. and Hope passed out, I want to get to sleep so we're fresh for when she wakes up." She instructed while avoiding my eyes. The harshness of her tone tore my heart out. I picked up my robe and walked into the bathroom wiping silent tears away.
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Sometimes you get so good at keeping secrets that you start living a lie. I think that's what happened to me. I tried keeping the details of Buffy's resurrection a secret and ended up lying to everyone. I tried keeping my new magical powers a secret and ending up lying to Buffy and myself. Yep...Buffy was right all along....secrets are definitely of the bad.
I listened to her movements as she collected her things for the shower and left the room. Two seconds later the sound of running water drowned out the sounds of her activities. How I hated laying here with my back turned to her a few minutes ago. But too many ugly words were exchanged between us. Too many feelings were hurt. I don't know if we will ever be the same again. The pain in my heart is so overwhelming that tears started streaming down my face unannounced. One after the other they remind me of my mistakes, of my short comings, of my great loss.
"Will...are you asleep?" I heard the soft sound of her voice behind me. She was finished already.
I take a breath to compose myself. "I can't sleep." I say in shaky voice.
"Why?" She asked concerned.
"Because... I miss the sound of your heartbeat too much." I let out with a small whimper.
"Oh Will! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She said before she dived into bed, raining a storm of kisses over my face. She pulled away and sat on top of me. I could feel the warmth of her sex against mine as my body shivered in response. I looked up at her face in the moonlight and her eyes were swollen too. She had been crying. My chest ached and I felt like someone was squeezing my heart.
"I'm sorry I lied to you...I...was...I was just scared. Scared of what I'd become and scared that I would disappoint you."
Her eyes glistened with tears and her expression softened "Oh Will...you had nothing to be afraid of...you'll never disappoint me. It's impossible." She leaned in again and kissed my lips passionately. I felt as if years had gone by since our last kiss when in reality it had been a mere few hours ago. We parted lips breathlessly as she continued to speak.
"And as for being afraid of you..." she teased with a small smile "there are a lot of feelings you inspire in me Will...love...lust...happiness...desire.... But the only thing that really scares me ...but I'm talking terrifies me beyond belief...is the thought of loosing you." With that said she closed the distance between our mouths. Her lips reclaimed mine as they found each other for their slow sexy dance again. She was running her hands up and down my body, caressing me softly with every touch. I pulled our mouths apart one last time and whispered sexily into hers "Make love to me Buffy."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The words echoed through my body like a cry for help. I looked into her eyes and saw everything...my past, my present, my future. In her eyes I saw ME...for the first time. I leaned in and kissed her again. One of those end all, be all, consuming kisses. I wanted it to last forever. I wanted our lips to merge and stay like that till the end of time.
Her hands were sneakily tugging at my panties. She didn't think herself a seductress...oh but she was...she really was. Her seemingly timid approach to sex got me every time. I loved how she blushed whenever she saw me naked as if it were the first time, only to later unleash the fury of 'Willow the Howler'. I loved how her eyes would wonder over my curves when she thought I wasn't looking...but I always was...and more importantly...I loved how she brought out the best in me. Every second with her was amazing and that was all Willow's doing.
I stop and pull the t-shirt I'm wearing over my head revealing my breasts to her. Slowly she runs her hands over my stomach, upwards, until she reaches my breasts. She grabs them both gently squeezing them with her hands.
"I think I owe someone a happy." She said with a sexy vixen smile. I leaned down and buried my face in her wet hair searching for her ear.
"How about I get a rain check on that and we do it together...like the first time you made love to me. I want to look into your eyes Will...I love your eyes." I whispered my plea.
She squirmed a little beneath me until I realized she was trying to flip us over. She wanted to be on top...it was her thing. I smiled internally...I liked looking at her over me. She ran her hands over my legs until she reached my panties. With one swift move she pulled them all the way down and removed them from my feet. She leaned in a buried her nosed in my curls, kissing my sex softly. My body trembled at her touch. Making her way back up she caressed my body with her cheeks until she made it back to my mouth. Our lips were captivated in yet another dance.
I slipped my hands underneath her shirt as we kissed. Caressing her breasts and reveling in how quickly her nipples hardened at my touch. Pushing her shirt up I begin removing it slowly until I reach her head. Our kiss has become a barrier to the undressing process. I impatiently tugged at her shirt again and she parts our lips with a giggle.
"I'm-a-gettin, I'm-a-gettin!!" She said in her Yosemite Sam imitation.
"You're teasing me Will. I want some 'Willow Boobie Action' NOW!" I say with a pout. She pulls her shirt over her head tossing it on the night stand. The weight of the garment knocked over the lamp and the whole table tipped over as well. Everything fell to the floor...the alarm clock...the vase...her jewelry chest...even the phone fell off the hook to the floor. She looked at me and said in a nasal voice, "Did I do that?" I smile at the array of TV characters that she can imitate to perfection. Xander has definitely been a bad influence on her.
She leans in, all too relaxed, to continue kissing me and I stop her. "Ummm...eventually I'm gonna want some 'Willow Cooshie Action' too, so why don't you get that out of the way as well? And watch were you throw it...we don't have a lot of stuff!" Her face burned instantly. That's it!! That's what I was waiting for!!! Wheeeww... I thought I had lost my touch.
"BUFFY!! You're such a potty mouth!" She exclaimed as she slapped my arm and her face continued to turn all sorts of nifty shades of red. Gotta say though...she sure did slip out of those panties pretty quick!
Settling back on top of me she leaned down and lazily rubbed our bodies together. Breasts to breasts, tummy to tummy, and sex to sex. My whole body cheered as I felt the pure energy course between the two of us. Every kiss, every lick, and every touch sent my body into pure waves of ecstasy. I had never felt anything so wonderful before. She was absolutely breathtaking. It was true...make up sex WAS great!!
After several luscious minutes spent teasing and caressing each other she positioned herself on top of me, pressing her sex firm on my thigh. I felt the warm throbbing of her nubbin against my skin as she eased her thigh between my legs in a similar position. My eyes were fixed on her face the whole time. Soaking up the myriad of expressions that fluttered through her eyes as she prepared to make love to me. I loved all of her faces. Her happy face... her pouty face...even her resolve face! But my favorite faces were the ones that were reserved only for me...her sexy face...her lustful face...and the face she made when making love...a look of ecstasy mingled with serious concentration. I loved Willow, all of her, and no one could take that away from me.
I watched intently waiting for her green eyes to meet mine. Almost as if she knew that's what I was waiting for she looked up. We held each others gaze as she began rocking back and forth on top of me. Her expression intensifying with each thrust.
"I love you Willow." I gasped between moans of pleasure.
"I love you Buffy." She replied through labored breaths.
Our momentum became faster and harder as Willow's moans became louder and louder. With every thrust she called my name. Her voice aching with need. I felt her body tense in my arms and watched as her eyes rolled closed and she collapsed on top of me. Simultaneously with her, my muscles contracted and my breathing stopped
*** The sky was raining fire and ash. I was standing by what looked like an ocean. Across from me stood a beautiful naked red head. Her face was covered with blood and she was looking at me with confused recognition rubbing her eyes with her hands. I look down to see my own body drenched in blood...so much blood. Instantly I felt a pain run down the center of me. I was lost...so lost. I look up to see the red head looking at me with tears in her eyes. The pain in her eyes was unbearable to watch. I extend my hand to her and just as our fingers were about to touch, she gets hit by a wave of water. I watched frozen in pained anguish as her body was taken out to sea.***
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Well my little trip to Sunnydale sure didn't come out as I planned. Buffy... seemed...different. She was stronger and faster than ever before and I get the feeling that she was holding back...a lot. And Red??? Well...I go through all this trouble to save that girl's life and she kicks me out of her house. Yes that's right...her's was the face I recognized on the dead. Willow. Everywhere I looked I saw Willow dead. Her face on every body. Yeah....that's some fucked up shit!
Out of the corner of my eye I see some definite vamp movement. I felt my legs become weak with excitement. I haven't had a good slaying in months. The Council is not big on live training. Everything was done within confinement and rules.
I followed the vamps, two to be precise, into what looked like an abandoned building. I stayed far behind, lurking stealthily, assessing the actual damage I could cause. They disappeared into what looked like a man hole and I followed in tow. The further into the sewer tunnels we walked the louder the sounds of voices became. There were so many that I couldn't even keep count of them all.
They reached a clearing in the tunnel where several other tunnels seemed to lead too. It was a large open space and it was crowded with vampires. So many vamps that I lost count after 25. In the center stood a tall lean blonde vampire. I didn't know his name but I'd definitely seen him somewhere before. He seemed to be the leader of the group.
"How did it go?" The blonde vampire asked the two that walked in. The rest of room sat in silence as the first one stepped up a little jittery and began to speak.
"We barely got away with our lives. She was unbelievable. She had a speed and strength I'd never seen before. If it hadn't been for the distraction of the attack on her girlfriend she would have surely killed us." He said.
"You were supposed to bring the Witch with you." The blonde vampire growled.
"The Slayer kicked Rocks head clear off. She defended the Witch with her life." The first vampire finished. The blonde vamp signaled for him to get closer to him.
"Come here mate I'll tell you a little secret about the Slayer." The blonde vamp said with a suggestive evil grin. The first vampire approached quickly eager to hear the vampire's tale. He stood in front of him as the blonde put his hand on his shoulder and turned him around to the rest of the crowd.
"You buggers see him. He fought the Slayer and survived..." Suddenly, there was a swift jab from behind the vamp where the blonde was standing. I heard the familiar sound of wood cutting through tough skin. In an instant the vamp burst into a cloud of dust. He didn't even know what had hit him. There stood the blonde vampire with a wooden stake in his hand.
"Let this be a lesson to you all...the next time someone comes within vamping distance of the Slayer and survives...I'll kill you myself." He finished with a growl.
"Vamping distance? Is that what you're going to do to her? Turn her?" One vamp asked.
"No you ninny! That's an expression. I want that Bitch dead. As in six feet under. I want to rip off her head and drink her blood. I want to bathe in it. Dive in it, like a pool, and do the bloody back stroke." He said with pure hate emanating from his eyes.
My eyes widened in fear. Bathe in the Slayer's blood?? Oh shit!!! Wait...he's probably just talking about Buffy...OH SHIT!!! He's talking about Buffy! I have to go tell Buffy. I have to warn her. I looked up for a moment to hear the rest of the vamps speech.
"But until then I'll just have to settle for a little Nibblette." He finished as his face changed to its evil state.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I woke to an empty bed. Buffy was no where in sight. This was really odd. She never left the bed before I woke up from a vision. She always liked to hear what I had seen. I look at the upside down clock on the floor. It's only 12:30 A.M. Where could she be?
Deciding to go looking for her, I get up and put on my robe. I could hear the sound of kitchen utensils coming from the kitchen...maybe she got hungry.
"Hey Baby....what are you doing up?" I asked warmly as I made my way into the kitchen.
"Hey Willow...sorry I didn't wait for you. The sound of my stomach growling woke me up and there is nothing to eat here but velveeta cheese and crackers." She said with a pout.
"There is a new jar of jelly and peanut butter in the covert behind you. Sit down, I'll make you a peanut butter jelly sandwhich...just the way you like it...minus the crust." I say with a small smile. She nodded slowly in agreement. She was either really really hungry or really really upset about something...but she had no reason to be upset anymore...did she?
I watched as she ate her sandwich silently. Not a drop of conversation exchanged between the two of us. I thought for sure half way through her sandwich her motor skills would kick in but they didn't. I ran my hand over her cheek pulling her face up a little to see her eyes.
"What's wrong Baby?" I ask concerned.
"It has already begun!" A familiar voice responded my question from the doorway. I looked up suddenly to see Hope standing tall with a proud grin on her face.
"Hope...you're awake and lucid." I say a little confused.
"I was always lucid my child. I was just stalling. You shielded her mind from me. I had no way of knowing what her true intentions were. Until you let your guard down that is." She finished with a suggestive grin and a wink. I felt my face flush.
"What do you mean 'my true intentions'?" Buffy asked confused.
"The good in you is strong little one. It will never let the evil in you prevail. That's what I needed to know." She said with a smile.
"What has already begun? You said something had begun....what is it?" I asked confused.
"You're vision...it was disturbing wasn't it." Hope asked Buffy.
"How do you know about the visions Hope?" I ask a little defensive. The last thing I needed was her pocking her big fat head into my sex life.
"Come ...join me in dinning room. This is a long story."
Buffy and I followed her into the dinning room and sat quietly at the table. She was sitting at the head and Buffy and I sat at either side of her. Once settled she began to speak.
"This world is older than any of you know and contrary to popular mythology, it did not begin as..."
"a paradise?" Buffy interrupted. "Yes yes we know ... for untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their Hell. Blah blah blah...this is not new stuff...we've heard all this before." Buffy finished a little less than politely.
"I was going to say Hell. The world did not begin as a Hell. The Watchers Council would like you to believe that existence began with the creation of evil...but it did not. Thousands of centuries ago, when the Earth was still flat and the clouds were made a fire, all the Gods got together and created a race of super humans." She paused for a minute to absorb our expressions. I was fascinated and anxious to hear the rest of the story and a little intrigued as to her reference to the Watchers Council....Buffy however...not so much. She never really was the book wormie type.
"These super humans were superior to today's race in every shape and form. They were double the size and walked upright on four legs with two heads and two sets of arms. Every single one complete in itself...perfect." I looked at Buffy and she had a grossed out expression on her face. Yep... that description did not send her to a happy visual place.
"There were three different sexes then. The first looked like two men glued up back to back...they were called the Children of the Sun. The second sex, known as the Children of the Earth, looked like two girls rolled up in one and the last sex was a mixture of both...part Sun and part Earth... half female and half male...these were called the Children of the Moon. Created in the Gods own images these creatures were of exceptional intelligence and abilities. The Children of the Sun were endowed with special strength. The Children of the Moon were endowed with special mystical powers and the Children of the Earth, the favorite among the Gods, were endowed with both....strength and mystical power."
"What happened to these creatures?" I asked urging her to continue.
"As always my child, with great power comes great chaos and corruption. The Children of the Sun and the Moon were jealous of the Earths superior strengths. The sexes began battling against each other for control and the Gods watched in terror as their priced creations fought and destroyed each other. They grew scared of their collective strengths and abilities and decided they should be punished for their defiance. Every God was given a task to complete. Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, thought the entire race should be destroyed and a new race formed in it's place. But Zeus, the Greek God, decided that the best punishment would be to end their peace forever. He rained a storm of fiery thunderbolts on their unsuspecting creations. Each thunderbolt painfully cutting them in half, creating two where before there was only one. The cries of pain and anguish bellowed all over the planet and blood ran like a violent ocean. It was both a physical and an emotional pain. Deciding that splitting them in half wasn't nearly a severe enough punishment, Osiris and the other Gods of Nile gathered a big storm of water, wind, and hail to blow a hurricane to separate each creature from their other halves. In a flood of wind and rain and in a sea of tidal waves, what remained of the Children of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth were scattered around the planet...alone...separated from their other halves." She paused for a second as tears glistened in her eyes. This was obviously very personal to her but why I didn't know.
"That was the last vision I had!!!" Buffy exclaimed in awe.
"Yes...that's right little one. The Slayers come from a long line of Children of the Earth. It was only fitting. They were the God's favorites. Choosing one of them, generation after generation, and returning her powers with the purpose of defending the Earth against evil, made sense." She explained...now that got Buffy's attention.
"But you said the Children of the Earth had both strength and mystical powers." I state.
"Good...you were listening." She said with a smile. "That is correct my child. You too are of a long line of Children of the Earth. You see...the spell you performed was not really a resurrection spell...but more of a soul joining spell. It just so happens that one of the requirements was that one of the parties had to have died a physical death by mystical forces. When you die, your soul remains in a state of peaceful suspension, in a place that is warm and loving. There you wait for the death of your soul mate so that you can both be re-born again in the same cycle of life and time. You called on Osiris to return her soul to you...the very God that separated you both in the first place." She finished with another smile.
"Is this why our powers have been changing?" Buffy asked. She had caught on already.
"Yes little one. You enhance each other... make each other stronger... complete!" She stated.
"What about the visions?" I asked.
"Ahhh yes...definitely one of the perks. The human body evolved for hundreds of centuries and it is obviously impossible for you both merge again physically. Emotionally, however, you merge every time you make love. Making the connection between your souls stronger. You see what...memories?" She asked as Buffy and I nodded slowly in awe.
"That will soon change as well. But I'm getting ahead of myself again. You are both in great danger and the fate of the world lies in your hands." She said her expression becoming deftly serious again.
"From who...I don't understand." I said frustrated.
"His name is Methos." She said with a disgusted growl. My eyes widen. I knew that name. I knew who he was and suddenly everything...Hope...her powers...her knowledge... everything was beginning to fall into place like a jigsaw puzzle.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
There is nothing like a nice cup of tea and a few scones early in the morning to get the day started off right. Yes...tea and scones...nice indeed. Oh dear God...I've never been so bored before in my life....
Just then the phone rang and I picked up instantly.
"Rupert Giles here." I said into the receiver.
"Mr. Giles. Very nice to hear you're voice again. Do you know who this is?" The deep voice at the other end of the phone said. Of course I know who it is.
"Of course I do. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call Methos?" I asked pleased.
"I need your help Mr. Giles. The Council had been re-training the Slayer known as Faith."
"Oh dear lord." I let out annoyed.
"Yes indeed. She was quite the firecracker. But things have taken a dire turn. She murdered her maid two days ago and escaped. We believe she's heading to Sunnydale."
"She'll probably go after Buffy." I say in shock.
"Yes. I need your help Mr. Giles. I cannot complete the final part of my plan without your presence."
"Of course. You can count with 100% of my cooperation."
"Excellent. Just as I thought. A car will be around in an hour to pick you up. We must leave right away."
I hang up the phone with fear in my heart. Buffy is in danger. I must call her right away. With the time difference it's about midnight in Sunnydale. I dial the number and all I get is a busy signal. Blasted Dawn! What could she possibly be talking about at this hour?
To be continued in Chapter 8 "A Great Sorceress in Training"