A loud thwack resounded through the room like a gunshot and everyone jumped. Xander looked up from the floor, his eyes wild and confused. "What the…"
Buffy's eyes danced as she realized what had happened. She looked at Willow, who snorted. Cordelia was rolling her eyes, and even broody Angel's lips were quirking upward. A tinkling laugh filled the air the Slayer let loose, laughing until her sides hurt at her prone friend. "Xand-Xander, you-you fell asleep with your ch-chair tipped back. Then you f-f-fell," she stuttered out, still laughing uproariously.
Xander's face turned red as he tried to smooth over his incredible un-suaveness. "Well, I was…testing you, Buffy. To see how alert you are. Since we've been sitting here watching Giles be a demon fan boy for hours," he said, shooting a glare at the Watcher.
"Xander, I have enumerated the reasons for this project several times already, most of them to you, and I will not explain again. It is important for future and current Watchers to know what beasts Buffy has eliminated or at least, defeated in battle. A profile of said monsters will help them know how to vanquish the ones 'that got away', as you called it. I cannot understand why you…"
"Giles, we're sixteen. Well, except Angel. We want to be out, getting our party on since the town's quieter than it's been the whole time I've lived here. We kicked Ethan's fanny, and even Spike and the whacko have to recognize," Buffy said matter-of-factly.
"Recognize? Buffy, sometimes I wonder if you even speak English. What on Earth are talking about?" he asked, taking off his glasses and cleaning them on his shirt in frustration.
The door the library swung open, and Oz sauntered in, a puzzled expression
on his face. "Hey, guys, there's something you should know about I think…"
*********************************************************
Spike looked at the man warily. He didn't often trust humans, but this one was
most definitely fighting for his side. A magick user with a grudge was always
a fun prospect: look out how the thing with Angelus turned out. It couldn't've
been any funnier if he'd arranged it himself. Turning his attention back to
the man, he considered his offer again. "So you're saying if we let you
send us to this house, you'll send the Slayer and her crew there, ripe for the
picking? Tell me why it is that I think there's a catch, mate."
Drusilla danced around the man, her dark eyes flashing as she plucked her fingers at his silk burgundy shirt. "The man has tricks…little April fools for the Slayer and Daddy…my Spike won't listen to them. I know the sugar and spice won't make him leave…," she sing-songed, moving away from the man to find Miss Edith.
"Right. So Drusilla said something about tricks. Which means," he vamped out and yanked the man forward to stare into his yellow eyes, "there's something you're not telling me."
"Easy. The only thing I neglected to mention was one that will help you defeat the Slayer," he replied, a slight devilish smile crossing his face.
"I don't want to beat her at bloody chess; I want to bathe in her blood!" Spike roared.
"My Spike is lying. Miss Edith hates when he lies; I shall have to close her ears," Drusilla murmured. She smiled to herself, then looked up at the roof of the factory, basking in the stars only she could see. She whispered, "But it doesn't matter if Spike is draped in white…the stars are whispering about my daddy. And Miss Edith and I like what they are saying."
The man's eyes perk up at the mad vampiress' words. The stakes have been upped, I see, he thought. "Spike, you can take it or leave it. I can find other demons who'd like a piece of the little Slayer and her pet vampire. The house will help you fight her by disorienting her and her friends with its magick. You and Drusilla will not be affected. Do you want this chance or shall I take my business elsewhere?"
"You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Rayne," he said, pushing his tongue against his teeth as he smiled. "But I think we'll jump on this one. It's time to bag us a Slayer, pet," he called to Drusilla.
The man smiled, shaking Spike's hand and a wisp of magick flew through the
air, sealing the bargain. Drusilla stood, clapping her hands in excitement.
"Grab Miss Edith, Drusilla, you and Spike are going on trip," he said,
raising his hands into the air, and chanting. The atmosphere ripped in front
of him, and he gestured for the vampires to step through the portal. "On
your way to Ethan's House of Horrors," he whispered. The portal closed,
and he laughed, delighted at the chaos he was about to cause for the Ripper
and his little charges.
******************************************************
The ethereal beings standing around the orb looked at each other. The sphere
had shown that events were set in motion, but the words of the seer disturbed
them. This was exactly the course of events they had conspired to prevent.
Antares turned to his colleagues. "My brethren, the seer tells the truth. We arranged the possibility of this compact between the dark ones to avoid the future events concerning the ensouled vampire. Apparently, a new threat is destined to change the course of our plan. What should we do?"
"Nothing. Let's watch closely, then when it is absolutely necessary…," Xerxes replied. "We have meddled enough thus far. Let the Slayer have her chance to make things right."
The other beings nodded and Antares sighed. "As you wish, brother."
***************************************************
The group in the library looked at Oz inquisitively. Buffy was the first to
speak. "So what's got you so wigged?"
The short blonde looked at her, calm as usual, before smiling briefly. "There's this house on the edge of town."
"You mean they built something on Crawford Street? Cool! Maybe Angel could move there, and get out of his tiny apartment," Willow said excitedly.
"Well, see that's the funny thing," Oz replied, scratching his head. 'The new house is exactly where the big mansion should be."
"But I just passed that place on my way here," Angel protested.
Buffy looked at Giles, who blinked. He raked his hand through his hair and studied the floor, then turned back to the group. "Are you saying it's taken the place of a building Angel claims to have seen not an hour ago?"
"Yeah. And it's totally different, all huge and Victorian."
"Okay, so how do I slay a house? I mean, I'm assuming nothing in Sunnyvale that just appears out of nowhere is of the good," she said impatiently.
"I think you and Angel should go investigate, then once you have obtained more information we'll decide what we should do."
"Got it. Go look, but don't touch. Angel, you game?"
The dark haired vampire nodded, his eyes softening as they lit on Buffy. She smiled, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the door. "And we can have some alone time," she whispered so only he could hear.
"Be careful," Willow called to their backs.
"Yeah, because if you don't get back soon, I'm sure we'll all be out traipsing around ruining our new expensive shoes looking for you," Cordelia muttered.