The four of them chatted as they walked towards their first class. English Lit, not the most exciting class but it was interesting enough. Mrs Green, their teacher, was late AGAIN but no one really cared. Here was another opportunity to chat about what had happened to whom.
"I don't believe you." Gemma D said.
"I'm telling the truth." Joanne sighed.
"She wouldn't! Right in the playground?!"
"Yes!" Gemma F grinned.
"Typical of her!" Annie laughed. They were of course talking about the way John's new 'girlfriend' had dumped him. She had waited till he was with all of his friends, charged right up to him, slapped him and told him he was dumped then proceeded to walk off leaving a dumbstruck John and a group of amused friends.
"Poor John!" Gemma D said.
"You know Jam Jar," Annie said using one of Gemma D’s nicknames, "his girlfriend really wasn't that nice he should be glad he's rid of her."
"Oh he must be, but in front of his friends?!" She laughed.
"You know guys, Mrs. G should be here by now. I mean the lesson started half an hour ago!" Joanne looked at her watch frowning.
"Perhaps she just decided to take the day off?" Cheryl supplied from behind them.
"Nah, I think we'd have a substitute if that was the case." Gemma F said then looked at Annie. Annie had that dreamy far away look on her face again. Flashes of strange images invaded Annie’s thoughts, vampires, demons and foxes. This was a sort of premonition, as later events would prove. "Annie...Annie...ANNIE!!" Gemma F yelled.
"Huh?" She asked startled by Gemma. "Sorry I was thinking that's all."
"'Bout what?" Joanne asked slightly worried. OK so Annie was a little out of it most days but nothing major like this.
"Stuff." She replied. This was her answer to everything, Joanne didn't get the chance to probe for more info.
The substitute teacher hurried over to the English room and seemed a little flushed, as she looked at the students all sitting down chatting. They were all in the sixth form and were studying English Lit. The four friends looked up at the teacher and Annie frowned. She didn't like her at all. Joanne shared this opinion her senses were screaming that the new teacher was weird. The two Gemma's were oblivious as usual but they would find out their friend’s suspicions later.
"Class will you all please settle down!" The teacher demanded. "Thank you, I am Ms du Morte and I'll be your teacher for the rest of this week." Joanne and Annie looked at each other and exchanged a knowing look.
Annie wrote on a piece of paper:
Can you believe our luck! You know what Du Morte means don't you?
To which Joanne replied:
I think so. It means "Of death" right?
Annie wrote quickly as she was sure Ms Du Morte was staring over their way.
Exactly lets just worry if her first name is Angel! Uh oh now we're in trouble!
The teacher walked over to them and frowned. Her grey eyes seem to flash and although Annie's face was expressionless a flash of fear was seen in her blue eyes.
"I would appreciate if you'd put that away please." The teachers sickly sweet voice said softly. Annie almost seemed to growl at her, which amused Ms Du Morte to no end.
"Sure whatever you like Miss." Joanne smiled sweetly not wanting to get on the wrong side of this teacher because she seemed a little more weird than some of the other teachers they had.
"Whatever." Annie muttered. Joanne kicked her and motioned for her to keep quiet, Annie grinned and did as she was told.
The lesson was over quickly and so were the other two before lunch. Joanne decided that she had to speak with Annie over what had happened in English Lit so she cornered her and made her talk.
"What happened Annie?"
"I don't know. Her eyes..." Annie shuddered. "I don't like this Jo it's creepy!"
"I know the feeling." Joanne smirked. "Are you sure it's not just too much BtVS?" They had started to us the initials cause they were too lazy to say the whole title.
"We could never watch too much BtVS!" Annie laughed.
"Guys, what you talking about?" Gemma F asked walking over with the other Gemma.
"That freaky teacher!" Annie muttered, straight to the point as usual.
"Ah, she seemed a little weird." Gemma D agreed.
"Look there's Mr Feche." Joanne motioned over to where the Headmaster stood. "OK that's weird." There was Ms Du Morte flirting with the headmaster!
"Oh my God!" Annie shook her head. "All those who think there is something really weird going on raise their hands." All four raised their hands in agreement.
"Something’s gotta be done." Gemma F said seriously, well as seriously as could be expected with a huge grin on her face.
"Does that mean we get to pry into a teachers personal life?" The other Gemma said.
"Yes. All those in favour?" Joanne asked.
"ME!" Came the united reply.
"What are you guys up to?" Faye asked. Annie told her and together they all went over to a teacher they could all count on: Mr Booth.
Mr Booth sat there and listened to their story grinning. He disliked the new teacher and had been waiting for a chance to expose her for anything that she might have done to get her fired.
"So you're asking me to go through her private files?" He said.
"No, just give Annie and Jo access to the computer." Gemma D replied.
"Done." Mr Booth looked at the sixth formers gathered around his desk.
"Wow, that was easy." Annie smiled.
"No prob, hate that woman anyway." Mr Booth replied. "Joanne you can take the PC, Annie you can use my lap top if you like."
"Umm sure." Annie had always disliked Mr Booth, well not exactly disliked but he had hardly been her favourite teacher and she hadn't exactly expected this to be as easy as it was. "Thanks." She smiled sweetly, booted up the laptop then got to work on hacking in to the schools private teacher files. Ms Du Morte had some interesting criminal offences in her file and really shouldn't have been allowed to come to work at Whitby. ^^How the heck did she manage to get to work here and why? ^^ Annie mused.
"And you just stumbled onto this?" Mr Booth asked Annie interrupting her thoughts.
"Yeah well, when I accidentally decrypted the password." She shrugged and printed out a copy. Right before the whole system crashed. "Damn! Someone must have found out I was on this. I'm guessing it's our favourite new teacher." Annie muttered.
"Annie!" Joanne grinned. "You'll never guess what I've found!" She said excitedly.
"Spill now!" Annie walked over to her the others not far behind. On the screen were the evaluations from Ms Du Morte’s trips to the psychiatrists. "She's wacko then?"
"Wacko?" Mr Booth looked a little puzzled.
"Yep, crazy, warped, flipped, nutcase that sort of thing. And yes she is." Joanne explained.
"Jo..." Annie suddenly stumbled back as a wave of dizziness hit her.
"Annie! Sheesh, what's happening?" Joanne stood and walked over to her.
"I really have no idea..." Annie mumbled then passed out. Her body became a silvery blue colour and then changed into several different animals before going back to her normal form.
Joanne, the two Gemma's, Faye and Mr Booth were 'gob-smacked' for lack of a better word. Mr Booth knelt beside Annie and gently helped her up when she regained consciousness.
"That was just the first." Came a soft American accent from the door.
"The first what?" Joanne demanded.
"The first change. You are next." A tall red haired man entered. He was dressed in a casual grey suit and had the most startling blue eyes you had ever seen.
"Hey you're cute..." The words were out of Annie's mouth before she could think. "Sorry still feeling a little woo-hoo." She smiled weakly.
"No problems. I'm Scott Fox by the way but most call me Fox. In every generation four are chosen to protect mankind against the forces of darkness. Special abilities are bestowed unto the four and each will receive detailed knowledge of all the martial arts to protect them when in battle against demons, vampires and other minions of the evil one. Two will become more powerful than the others but they need to work together to provide such a force that all demons will tremble in their presence. " He smiled particularly at Annie and Joanne. "You will each be visited by your watcher wh-"
"Wait a minute!" Annie interrupted blunt as usual. "'Watcher'?! This isn’t Buffy you know. We don't need Watcher's."
"You have no choice. Your Watcher’s will come and you will obey them." He replied just as bluntly as Annie had. He liked this girl she had fire, so many girls these days were afraid to speak out.
"Like bloody hell I will..." She muttered darkly.
"So what exactly will you be doing and are you her Watcher?" Joanne asked silently gesturing for Annie to be quiet. Annie told her to fuck off then became quiet.
"Yes I am her Watcher and I'm gonna train her." He replied simply.
Mr Booth frowned slightly. This man oozed authority and the others seemed to respond to him, well all except Annie but she could be difficult sometimes.
"Just what is my part in this?" He asked.
"You are to make sure no one finds out about this. Ms Du Morte is gonna be going over to the States soon so you will need to make sure these lot get over there safely." Fox said.
"OK what's the catch?" Mr Booth asked.
"You have to kill the demoness who calls herself 'Ms Du Morte'. Any problems?"
"Yes." Annie looked at him.
"How did I know you would?" Fox grinned.
"Because that's just me. Will we all receive the same abilities? And when can we kill this demoness?" Already the killer instinct was forming inside her and Fox grinned again. ^^Damn him, for being so cute! So annoyingly cute! ^^ Annie thought. She could now understand what Buffy had gone through.
"Not all of you. You two." He pointed at the two Gemma’s.
"It's rude to point." Annie smiled sweetly.
"Hmm." Fox looked at Annie. "As I was saying those two will become water and earth demons. You." He pointed at Joanne. "Your Witch craft will become stronger and you will be able to assume various different forms. And you." He pointed at Annie.
"It's rude to point." She repeated. "Will you take a hint?"
"Oh be quiet. You will become a powerful shape-shifter and have demonic abilities." Fox grinned at Annie's annoyed expression.
"Here's a thought but what about Faye and Mr Booth?" Annie asked. "And don't you need to learn our names?"
"Yes I do. But about the others, although they will not have any special abilities they will be of use to us." Fox looked at Annie who was glaring at him. Annoyed about being caught she looked out of the window. "And your names?"
"I'm Joanne or Sumo girl." Joanne smiled.
"Gemma F or Jim Bob"
"'Jim Bob' and ‘Sumo girl’?" Fox looked at them strangely.
"Don't ask. I'm Gemma D or Jam Jar."
"I'm not gonna ask about that either."
"This is Annie." Joanne looked at her friend who was staring out of the window.
"Yeah I know her name. Comes with being her watcher. Can't she speak for herself?" He asked hoping to elicit a response from Annie.
"Yes I bloody well can I just choose not to talk to annoying sods like you!" She replied angrily.
She closed her eyes as another wave of dizziness passed over her then she yelped softly as this was followed by a wave of pain. Fox rushed over and caught her as her knees gave way.
"Take it easy Annie."
"Sod off Fox." She muttered but was unable to do much as his arms were wrapped tightly around her. "Oh lets get going. I take it you want to train right away?" She asked standing and pushing his arms away.
"Yes but how did you know?" Fox asked slightly startled.
"Call it an educated guess. Let's go. All of us." She insisted. So they all went back to the large house Fox had rented and began to train.
Chapter two
"I'm bored, I’m tired and I need food, and what the heck are you doing with that large pointy thing?" Joanne asked Annie, who was at that present second messing about with a stake. Joanne shuddered, this was like a bad nightmare coming true. The whole Buffy thing was real and she for one was not happy about it, though it could have it's advantages if you looked hard enough.
"Arghhhhhhhhh," Annie went running, stake in hand at a dummy that had just come down from the rafters of the house. She managed to stake it and then jumped back in shock as it exploded, falling on her bum. "Shit!!! What the hell just happened?!" She asked standing and glaring at Fox.
"Just a little training exercise." He grinned.
"Right. Now for a little training of my own!" She growled and leapt at him, driving him to the floor and punching him in the face.
"ANNIE!!" Joanne and Faye ran over hauling her off the surprised watcher.
"I supposed I deserved that." He muttered rubbing his jaw where she had hit him.
"Yes you did!" Annie replied struggling against Joanne and Faye.
"Take it easy." Faye muttered glaring at Fox.
"You could have warned her!" Joanne almost yelled.
"Yes but I wouldn't have been able to test her reflexes." Fox stood frowning. "Good reflexes by the way."
"Bite me." She muttered darkly.
"Careful who you use those words to." He smiled. "Sunnydale has been chosen to twin with Ellesmere Port, so your class and a few from the lower sixth have been chosen to go over there."
"You arranged this didn't you?" Annie sighed. Just great, not only had she become...OK so she didn't know what she had become but she'd also be dragged over to America.
"Yes. In a way." He looked at Annie who had now moved over to the window. "It's necessary Annie."
"Sure, whatever."
"Ms Du Morte has gone over there."
"Oh lets all rush over to our impending doom then." She said softly and picked up her stuff. "When do we leave?" Joanne looked over at her friend wishing she could read her thoughts. No sooner said then done Jo could hear her thoughts.
^^I'm scared, I have all these powers and I'm scared, typical of me. OK that feels weird. JOANNE!!^^ Annie looked at her and grinned. Her friend had read her thoughts. Instead of feeling strange or angered she was relieved her feelings had been shared.
^^I feel the same way Annie, just close your eyes and go with the flow. Works for me. ^^ Joanne laughed.
"Tomorrow." Replied a VERY familiar voice to Annie’s earlier question.
"Andy!" Joanne exclaimed. "And you’re here because?"
"I’m your Watcher as well as the other two." He smiled at Gem and Gemma.
"Whoa, weird!" Joanne smiled. "Well at least I know you!"
"Yep. You lot should return home and get some sleep we leave tomorrow afternoon." And with that he walked over to Fox.
Fox frowned at Joanne and Annie; something had obviously passed between them. He felt weird, almost jealous. Whoa! This was his ward, his demon and he was her watcher nothing more. And yet as he watched Annie move away from his house and heard her laughter he felt more. Much more than a watcher should ever feel for their watched.
Chapter 3
So they got themselves ready in various different ways. Joanne, Gemma F (Gem) and Gemma D (Gemma) all went on a shopping trip. Annie was invited but she had already shopped and was not especially looking to be dragged around Chester with her friends. So she remained at her home chatting to those she knew over the Internet. This bored her after a while so she walked into her back yard and practised Tai Chi for a while. Her Mom looked at her frowning. Annie was never usually this quiet. A knock on the door startled her and she went to answer it leaving Annie to practise.
Scott Fox stood there smiling. He was around 19 years old and had reddish brown hair with startling blue eyes. Annie's Mom smiled back at him. Obviously a visitor for Annie, or if not her sister was in BIG trouble.
"Hi, is Annie in?" Fox said.
"Yep sure. Follow me." Her Mom walked through the house and pointed him towards Annie who was still practising.
"Annie?" Fox asked stepping towards her but keeping his distance. He didn't want another replay of his earlier treatment.
"It's ok, I'm in a better mood." She smiled and straightened. "So what's happenin'?" She glanced over at her Mom who got the hint and went.
"Just the end of the world." He smirked. "Are you ready?"
"About as ready as the others."
"So that's pretty ready then?"
"Mmm-hmm." She picked up her stuff.
"Tomorrow then?"
"Yes." She grinned.
"We're to meet up with the slayer."
"Woah. Way too much Buffy there." She frowned.
"I have a confession to make. Buffy and the others are real. That program was to prepare you lot for action." He kinda blurted out.
"WHAT?!" Annie calmed herself her temper was becoming a rather huge problem. ^^Breathe, just breathe. ^^ She told her self. "OK, always liked Spike. He's cute." She said smiling somewhat mischievously.
"You're there to work Annie." He reminded her, something resembling jealousy rising in him.
"Yeah, yeah I know. Tomorrow then?" She loved teasing him, simply because he got so annoyed.
"Tomorrow, be late and I'll drag you there myself." He smiled lowering his head slightly almost kissing her.
"In that case, I'll be late..." She raised her head meeting his lips. The two responded fiercely towards each other then jumped apart.
"That shouldn't have happened." Fox muttered. Although he knew it was wrong his eyes still glittered with desire.
"No...You ought to go. Tomorrow." She blushed and turned away. He wanted to turn her back, to kiss her but refrained and left.
"Oh man...And my life isn't complicated." She frowned. Her body racked with familiar pain. Tears fell silently down her face with the agony she felt. Her changes hadn't been completed as yet. There was only one more day left, would she be ready?
Chapter 4
Buffy glared at Giles. she really couldn't believe what he was saying! A group of Brits and their 'Watchers' were to come over here and do her job!
"Buffy, it really isn't that bad!" Giles paced around the library after her.
"Yeah, just think ducks, you'll be able to spend more time with us!" Spike grinned from the seat in which he sat.
"Oh the joy." Buffy said sarcastically. So this was the reason the show had been put on air. Typical of the Watcher's Council. "So we're gonna have some stuck up Brits coming in here and giving us their stuck up attitudes and beliefs?"
"Can I just remind you that I'm from Britain?" Giles frowned.
"And me ducks." Spike replied amused by the Slayer's attitude.
"Yes I know but you're different." Buffy said.
"The typical blonde American." Came a soft British voice.
"How dare you!" Buffy shot back. Fox, Andy, Joanne, Annie, Gem, Gemma and Faye came into the library. Mr Booth had gone off on his own somewhere.
"Aww did I hurt the poor little Slayer's feelings?" Annie purred.
"Careful..." Buffy growled, not usually rash but her temper was blazing due to all the news she had received today then leapt at Annie. Annie laughed and stepped to the side, laughing as the Slayer went sprawling onto the floor.
"Next time Buffy." She smirked and walked over to the library table.
Joanne and Faye laughed. Poor Buffy, she had been upstaged by Annie.
"Excuse Annie, the flight has made her a little grouchy." Gem smiled.
"No, I'm always like this." Annie laughed. All of them introduced themselves and started chatting. Xander, Oz, Willow and Cordelia walked in and stopped seeing the new Brits.
"I want that one!" Xander pointed at Gemma and grinned.
"Sorry babe, I'm taken." Gemma said thinking of her boyfriend back home. Or at least she thought he was back home…
"Damn, any other offers?" Xander looked around and noticed that Annie and Spike had moved into a far corner chatting quietly and seemed a little to close for comfort. "What's dead boy doin’ with that girl?" Oz was staring at Faye smiling dreamily. Willow noticed this and couldn’t help a painful sigh.
"Leave her alone Xander." Joanne muttered knowing that Annie was easily annoyed. Spike laughed and gently kissed Annie's neck. Joanne looked at Fox who had also noticed Spike and Annie's behaviour. ^^Annie! You know you're making Fox jealous! ^^
^^Hmmm? I hadn't noticed. ^^
^^Liar. ^^ Joanne sent, although she knew Annie was telling the truth.
^^I'm not. Besides Spike is more fun then dear old Foxy. ^^
"Umm Annie..." Fox walked over, much to Spike's annoyance. The vampire glared at Fox almost shifting to his vampiric visage.
"Yep?" Annie smiled sweetly.
"You have to patrol with Buffy."
"I DO NOT!" She hissed. "If anything Joanne and I will patrol not Buffy and I." Joanne grinned at Annie's ‘little’ outburst.
"Come on then Annie!" Jo laughed and took her arm. Spike tagged along with the Gem's not far behind.
"You'll get lost!" Buffy looked at them.
"We have Spike I'm sure we won't get lost." Annie smiled sweetly.
"Uh..." Buffy was lost for words at Annie's response. So quickly had she came and took over that Buffy was really annoyed. Spike as well! Hmph!
Ms Du Morte had tracked the Brits and organised an ambush. Vampires surrounded them and closed them growling viciously.
"Show time huh guys?" Gem asked.
"You guys have never fought vampires have you?" Spike asked.
"No but there's a first time for everything." Annie replied then began to fight. They got separated. When the vampires were no more, none of the Gemma's were to be seen.
"No! Damn, Damn, DAMN!!!!!!!!!" Annie raged, she of course blamed herself. ^^I should have paid more attention to where they were. I could have helped them! ^^ She thought then took off in a run, shifting into a Black Panther heading towards the library.
"This isn't fair!" Joanne complained to Spike. "They are our best friends! That woman took them!!"
"We'll get them back pet." Spike reassured her. "I'll not let anything hurt Annie. Or her friends." He smiled. This smile disappeared as he heard something. "Joanne, go back to the library now!" He pushed her roughly in the direction of the school. He growled then picked her up and ran. Behind them buildings exploded and Spike held Joanne tighter as he bolted towards the library hoping to find Annie there. She wasn't.
Chapter 5
"So basically you're telling me she messed up, two of her friends went missing and now she's gone AWOL?" Buffy couldn't help the huge grin that spread across her face. Willow and Xander were doing some research that Giles had asked them to do and Cordelia and Oz had gone out for food. Xander and Willow looked up at Buffy and both felt this was a little unnecessary.
"Shut up!" Joanne snapped. "That is quite enough. At least us Brits seemed to have heard of manners. No if you wouldn't mind Slayer, keep your gob shut and leave us alone."
"Well excuse me!" Buffy scowled.
"Jo why don’t you try a spell?" Faye suggested.
"Sure, anything’s worth a try." Jo replied and turned towards the middle of the room and began to chant. The spell should cause Annie to return to the library and it did. Annie felt inexplicably drawn to the library and burst through the doors growling. She grabbed the nearest person to her, which was Faye. Faye struggled but she was no match for the shape-shifting demon. Annie sunk her fangs into her neck. Annie came to her senses but the damage had been done. Because of the bite Faye was now a fire demon.
"Oh God! Faye I'm so sorry!!" Annie looked near to tears.
"Annie! Chill for a moment I'm a demon right?"
"Yes."
"Whoopee!!" Faye grinned and began to run around yelling "I’m a DEMON Ha, ha, ha!"
"That went wrong! All my spells go wrong!!" Joanne muttered.
"That's not true Jo." Annie replied.
"Yes it is. What I’m saying is that it is your fault!" She said pointing at Fox her voice rising dangerously.
"Take it easy Jo." Annie walked towards her.
"Stop!! I HATE YOU ALL!!" She turned and fled back to her hotel room.
Once there she sobbed into her pillow. Then after getting rid of her frustration she grabbed a huge bucket of Mint Choc Chip ice cream and settled down to watch an old romantic movie. After a while she calmed down and began to search for spells to find the two Gemma's. Annie walked up to Joanne's room and tapped on the door.
"Yeah come in!" Jo called.
"Hey Jo. Feeling better?" Motioning to the ice cream tub.
"Yeah much. Got your laptop?" Joanne asked. When Annie nodded she pointed to a chair. "Get searching for info!" Annie did as she was told and between the two of them they formed a plan. They fell asleep soon after, Annie on the table she was working at and Joanne on her bed. It was sunset the next day, before they woke up. A tapping on the door woke Joanne, and seeing Annie was still asleep she opened the door. It was Spike. She stepped back so he could enter.
"Umm pet, you kinda need to invite me." He grinned.
"Oh sorry! Come in." Joanne smiled as she saw the obvious concern in his eyes for Annie. "She's fine. Just a little tired."
"Can I wake her?" Spike asked walking over to her.
"If you want a slap..." Murmured a sleepy voice. Annie sat up and looked at him.
"Hey there." He smiled down at her. "You’re wanted at the library."
"We better get changed then and meet you there." Joanne said somewhat sleepily.
"I’ll wait downstairs. I have my car with me so I’ll give you a lift." Spike said before gently kissing Annie and walking out.
"You heard the man, Jo." Annie said and walked back to her room.
Chapter 6
This wasn't fair. Annie had lost two of her friends and blamed herself. Buffy however loved the fact that she blamed herself and had also bitten another of her friends and made her a demon. Although Faye didn't seem that bothered and was running around the library shouting: "I'm a DEMON!" and laughing. Joanne sat and talked with Giles and Andy, about Annie’s and her plan about what was to be done about the two Gemma's.
"So Buffy want's to run in there and try violence?" Andy asked frowning.
"It's worked in the past." Was Buffy's reply to that.
"I think a different approach is needed if we want to get them out alive. What do you think Fox?" Joanne asked looking at Fox. "Umm Fox?"
"Huh? Sorry I wasn't listening." It was true he hadn't been listening he had been staring at Annie. Joanne got up and looked around the books for some insight as to what this demons weaknesses were.
"Could you try to stay focussed?" Giles told him slightly annoyed. "Your Slayer...Ahem I mean demon will stand a better chance if you do."
"I have a name you know." Annie replied standing. "And would appreciate it if you used it." Joanne looked at her and frowned. Normally Annie was blunt like this but there was a dangerous undertone to her words as if her temper might flair up at any second. Spike had gone out to feed with Angel and would be back soon. Hopefully he'd talk some sense into her or at least calm her down. Joanne smiled to herself, the relationship between the demon and the vampire was becoming stronger by the day or night in this case.
"So it's decided then. As soon as Spike and Angel get here we move out?" Andy asked.
"Yes." Giles replied simply. "Although perhaps it would be better if we kept to a small group? Say you, Buffy, Annie, Joanne and I will accompany Spike and Angel, but the rest stay here."
"No." Annie spoke up. "Joanne, Faye and I will go with Buffy and the vampires. You and the others stay here. It will be pointless all of us getting killed."
"For once I agree with Annie." Buffy said. So it was decided, all disagreeing parties were ignored, as it was pointless to argue. Finally Annie couldn't stand any more of this waiting and left.
Spike walked with Angel towards the school, and tried to find the words to ask him for advice. ^^I can’t believe I have to ask him for advice. Oh well he's got more experience on this sort of thing. ^^ He thought to himself.
"Spill it Spike." Angel's voice interrupted his thoughts. "What's up?"
"Guess." He replied, not exactly wanting to tell him.
"Annie? Why don't you and that girl get together? She likes you and you like her. I see no problem, no curses anyway." He replied somewhat bitterly.
"She can't stand Buffy. And I have to help her now and again."
"Typical Brit." He chuckled.
"Hey, watch it pal." Spike growled playfully. Angel was about to reply when Annie walked straight into him.
"Annie! What, you didn't see me?" Angel grinned.
"Sorry Angel." She smiled. "You guy's took your time."
"I was hungry!" Spike smirked and pulled her into his arms.
"You could have ran back here." She replied before he kissed her.
"Next time I will." He laughed.
"When you two have finished." The Slayer spat.
"When you get some manners." Annie returned viciously.
"Oz is coming as well. We can use his strong sense of smell to find them." Joanne told them trying to ease the tension.
The easygoing were-wolf looked at the two. ^^They could be friends if they got past the fact that they were so similar they could have been twins. ^^ He thought to himself.
"I'm Oz," he smiled at Annie. "And you are?"
"They didn't tell you?" Annie returned the smile. "I'm Annie. We should get going."
"Can you guys keep up with us?" Buffy asked.
"That all depends on whether you can keep up with us." Joanne replied, starting to dislike the Slayer as much as Annie did. Annie grinned and shifted into a Black Panther. Faye chose to shift into a bird and Joanne chose a panther like Annie. They bolted following the scent of the demoness.
"Well I'll be damned..." Angel was surprised by the sudden change.
"Still need me?" Oz asked.
"Yes, to follow them!" Spike replied and with that they took off after the others.
Chapter 7
Inside Ms Du Morte's castle Gemma and Gem were chained up in two separate rooms. Each knew that they probably wouldn't make it out alive but they still hoped that Joanne and Annie would come and save them. They froze when they heard voices they distinctly recognised them to be Nikki and Colin. Perhaps they were to be saved by the twins! No such luck unfortunately.
"Please Ms Du Morte can I kill them? He always gets all the fun!" Nikki was saying.
"Fine, fine. Kill the blonde one then Nikki." Ms Du Morte reluctantly agreed.
"And the other?" Colin asked.
"You can kill her later but I have something planned for her." Ms Du Morte smiled evilly.
"Cool. Off ya go Nikki." Colin grinned at his sister.
"Don't need to tell me twice." Nikki walked into the room where Gem was being held.
Annie, Faye and Joanne arrived outside of the castle and began to search for a way to get in before the Slayer and the others arrived.
"They're just gonna come along and kick a few things down aren't they?" Faye asked.
"Yeah I guess." Annie replied not really listening. "Read an interesting thing the other day Jo."
"Oh yeah?" Joanne replied testing one of the windows to see if it would open.
"Yes. We're all linked."
"I don't get you."
"I mean one dies the other's feel it. Our souls are linked together." Annie said and opened a window.
"So we'll feel it then if one of them dies?" Faye said looking at the other two, not noticing that Buffy, Spike and Angel had arrived.
"Yes, nice of our Watcher's to mention that wasn't it?" Annie frowned then acknowledged the others. "Oz you stay out here." The were wolf didn’t argue.
"Let's party." Jo muttered and followed Annie through the window.
Chapter 8
"Nikki!" Gem was relieved to see one of her old friends there. "I thought you'd all forgotten us!" She smiled, but this smile soon disappeared when she realised that Nikki was staring at her neck.
"Now how could I forget about you?" Replied Nikki moving towards her.
"Nikki…" Gem watched horrified as Nikki's face changed and her fangs appeared. "NO!!!" Gem screamed as Nikki grabbed her and sunk her fangs into Gem's neck draining the life giving blood from her. Nikki left Gem's limp form hanging on the wall and smirked.
"Such a nice person, almost made me feel guilty." She turned and walked out of the room back over to Colin and Ms Du Morte.
A wave of severe pain passed over the three. Annie and Jo more because they were the original ones chosen but Faye felt it as well.
"Oh God, no!" Joanne slid down the wall onto the floor and put her head in her hands.
"Joanne?" Buffy didn't know what was going on.
"They've killed Gem." Annie muttered silent tears falling down her face.
"I'm so sorry Annie." Buffy replied, actually meaning it.
"Save 'Sorry' for when we break their necks." Annie growled.
"Ducks?" Spike walked over to Annie. "You ok?"
"I will be." Annie said and helped Joanne up. "Now it's personal."
"Damn straight it is. Faye lets go." Joanne walked off intent on killing whatever it was that killed Gem.
"We should follow them." Buffy said and they did.
Ms Du Morte led Gemma's boyfriend through to the cell in which Gemma was being held. Gemma lifted her head to see who had entered. Seeing her boyfriend she smiled, hope appearing in her eyes. This was soon erased when she saw who else had also entered with him. The girl who she had fought so hard against to keep her boyfriend held him possessively. It was then that Gemma realised what her torture was to be.
"Hey Gemma." He murmured softly smiling almost insanely.
"Get away from me." Gemma spat.
"Oh I don't want you." He laughed at the thought. This hurt Gemma more than any physical pain could do. "I have someone else." And so Gemma was forced to watch her 'boyfriend' kissing another girl.
"Kill me now…" She muttered, wishing she could cry but being to stubborn to allow them the pleasure of seeing her break down.
"That could be arranged." Colin said smiling as he stepped out of the shadows.
"You wouldn't dare." Gemma said, her voice trembling slightly.
"Oh that I would." He grinned and Gemma watched, much the same way as Gem had, as Colin's face changed into his vampire form. "Goodnight little girl." He grabbed and bit her draining her blood.
Annie froze outside Ms Du Morte's main room. A horrible, agonising pain shot through her. Her best friend was dead, she dimly realised. She couldn't think straight because of the burning rage that consumed her.
"Annie…ANNIE!" Joanne yelled as Mr. Booth appeared from the shadows and grabbed her holding a knife to her neck.
"Let her go." Annie said her voice was deadly calm.
"Hmm let me think…Um nope." He pressed the knife closer causing blood to trickle down Joanne's neck. The vampire's saw blood and couldn't help their transformations into their vampire forms. This time though, their blood lust would be directed onto Mr. Booth as soon as Joanne was safe.
"Oh well that was a pity. Now I have to kill you." Annie stood there her body changing to her demon form. She now was a silvery blue colour, her eyes were now silver and flashing with anger.
"Ooh I'm scared demon, what are you gonna do?" Mr. Booth looked at her.
"Hmm…" Annie lifted her hand and threw an energy blast just to the right of him. It exploded and although didn't actually hit Mr. Booth, it shocked him enough to make him let go of Joanne. He fell to the floor from the force of the blast and instantly tried to get up. He was starting to regret ever joining the dark side. Joanne cast a ‘Freeze Spell’ on him; he wasn’t actually frozen but stuck crouching down on the floor unable to move.
"Dinner time boys." Joanne said cleaning the blood off her neck. The fear was clearly seen in Mr. Booth's eyes as the vampires savagely gripped him and fed.
"Now for some real fun guys." Faye said then kicked the door in front of her down.
"We could have just used the handle." Angel said standing and wiping the blood from his jaw.
"Hardly as much fun." Joanne said and looked at Annie. She was still in her demonic form and her temper burned fiercely. "Ready Annie?"
"I was born ready." Came the emotionless answer. Nothing could be detected in her tone, but then again nothing ever could when Annie was in one of her moods.
Chapter 9
"We've been expecting you." A soft female voice said. Annie looked up and saw the demoness sitting on a throne made of gold and red velvet. Jo recognised Nikki and Colin who stood either side of the demoness.
"Annie, I guess we were too late again." Jo muttered sadly as Nikki and Colin reverted to their vampire forms. More vampires came from the side entrances of the room and growled threateningly.
"Perhaps. But now it's time to make amends." Annie replied. "Spike, Angel, Buffy you go and play with the nice vampires." She told them. "Thank god they don't make smart vampires anymore." Annie smirked and vaulted over to where the demoness sat, Faye and Joanne followed suit.
"And we're to follow her orders?" Buffy asked annoyed.
"If you value your life." Angel growled then he and Spike vamped out and began to fight. Buffy reluctantly followed.
Ms Du Morte stood and walked down to the floor and stood facing them.
"You took your time." She said softly.
"You killed our friends!" Faye said her voice rising dangerously.
"Yes. Now it's your turn." Ms Du Morte replied then without warning threw a cold blast at Faye. Being a fire demon it hurt her considerably and knocked her to the floor unconscious. Ms Du Morte went to grab her but all she found was Annie's boot in her face. She went sprawling over the floor and leapt up growling.
"Let me play Annie." Joanne grinned.
"The floor's all yours Jo." Annie stepped back as Joanne cast a potent spell to make Ms Du Morte incapable of anything save fighting. This spell worked perfectly and the demoness stood there dumbstruck.
"Why you aggravating little Witch!" She screeched and charged at Jo.
"Now, Now Ms Du Morte name calling is punishable by detention." Annie purred sweetly and drove her fist into the demoness' stomach.
" I'll kill you." Ms Du Morte turned and punched Annie in the face. The punch connected and Annie stumbled back momentarily before commanding another one of her demonic abilities, making the floor turn to a bubbling vat of quick sand underneath Ms Du Morte. The demoness leapt at Joanne surprising Annie who had thought she'd go for her. Joanne was unprepared and fell to the floor.
"Joanne!" Annie called out but it was too late. Joanne was down and struggling against the demon. "NO! You've taken my other friends but no more!" Shifting into a large black dragon she grabbed the demoness crushing her in her powerful claws. She lifted her head up and howled in triumph over the demoness, then collapsed her form returning to her natural form. The vampires had been taken care of and the battle was won but not without costs. She thought of the song "Turn back the Hands of time" by R Kelly and smiled bitterly about how apt the words were.
**How did I ever let you go away,
Never knowing I'd be singing this song someday,
Now I'm sinking,
Sinking to rise no more,
Ever since you closed the door. **
She had lost her friends and was now weaker than she had ever been. Faye was still unconscious and Joanne had sustained various bruises and scratches.
**If I could turn, turn the hands of time,
Then my darling you'd still be mine**
If only she could turn back the hands of time. Her friends and herself would be enjoying college life in the UK now.
**Funny, funny how life goes by,
In the wink of an eye,
Why oh Why oh Why,
Should one go on suffering,
When every day I plead,
Please come back to me. **
She lifted herself off the floor not feeling anything save guilt because of the heavy cloud that had settled over her heart. Angel had picked up Faye and walked over with Buffy and Joanne who was limping slightly and had to lean on Spike.
"We should get out of here. And tell the authorities that Gem and Gemma have…" Jo paused unable to get the words out. She was feeling all the pain that Annie was going through, just taking it a little better.
"Yeah." Was Annie's only reply. She turned and left the others to follow. She was not seen at all over the following week.
Chapter 10
Buffy felt a unique bond form between her, Faye and Joanne. They became friends simply because she could confide in them. Buffy had seen a different side to Annie; she had shown feelings, even tenderness and proved she had valued her friendship between Gemma and Gem dearly. If only she would turn up and show everyone she was ok. Too much 'alone-time' was not good for a person, kinda made them depressed and snappy. Angel had told her to give Annie a break and to stop snapping at her. She had gone to tell him to shut up but he had stopped her and said that the only reason that they fought so much was that they were similar people and couldn't accept that. It was true; no one could understand her better than Annie probably could if they had become friends. She just hoped that Annie was ok.
Joanne followed Buffy and the others to the 'Bronze'. She hadn't really wanted to go out but if she sat in her hotel room for one more moment she was going to go insane. It had been a week since Annie was last seen so Faye and herself were now worried. Annie had a tendency to go off on her own sometimes but never for as long as this. Fox, she had noticed was becoming increasingly more worried as well. Andy had tried to calm him but this hadn't worked. Giles and Andy started talking about the chance that it may be useful for Annie, Joanne and Faye to remain in Sunnydale to help Buffy. Buffy had no objections to this but Joanne felt that she would have to consider this really hard. It would mean leaving her home and family behind and that was a huge decision to make. She noticed Fox hanging outside of the 'Bronze' and stopped to speak with him while the others went inside.
"Hey there." Joanne smiled.
"Hi, any news?" He asked looking at her. ^^You know she's pretty cute…^^ He thought to himself, Annie momentarily forgotten.
"No. How you holding up?" She looked at him feeling his gaze. ^^Wow, how could Annie pass this up? ^^
"Better now." He wanted to hold her, to kiss her but didn't know if that would be appropriate what with Annie still missing.
"Better? How better?"
"Better now I realise that Annie is just my watched."
"When did you realise that?" Joanne looked at him quizzically.
"When I saw you smile tonight."
"Uh…"
"Oh for God's sake kiss her." Came a familiar voice from behind them. "And get out of my way."
Annie had spent the past week getting over the grief she felt for her friend's deaths. Once she had driven down to the beach at midnight and just sat there listening to random Backstreet Boys tracks. Her guilt had reached an all time high so she just watched the waves crash over the sand thinking.
**Show me the meaning of being lonely.
So many words for the broken heart,
It's hard to see in a crimson love,
So hard to breathe,
So walk with me,
And maybe,
Nights of light so soon become,
Wild and free I could feel the sun,
Your every wish will be done,
They tell me. **
^^So this is what loneliness is. ^^ She thought bitterly. ^^My friends have had their lives taken from them and I'm to blame! If only I had been less preoccupied with killing those vampires and more concerned about the well fare of my friends! ^^
**Life goes on, as it never ends,
Eyes of stone observe the trends,
They never say, forever gaze,
Guilty roads to an endless love,
There's no control,
Are you with me now? **
Annie considered this verse for a while before being startled out of her reverie by two flashes of light, one green and the other blue. Slowly they began to take the form of her two lost friends. Gemma D looked down at her and smiled gently.
"You did all you could Annie. It's not your fault."
"She's right you know." Gemma F said softly. "Anyway, what good would moping around do?"
"None I suppose. So where exactly did you two go? " Annie asked turning off her Walkman.
"Upstairs." Gemma D smiled. "Are you gonna be ok?"
"I think so, I miss you guys though." Annie murmured.
"We miss you too." They replied together and faded away.
"I guess that's my official pardon then." She smiled and stood walking towards the Bronze.
Joanne turned startled by her friend’s voice. "ANNIE!" She hugged her friend. "Where have you been?"
"Trying to find my normal self." Annie replied.
"And did you succeed?" Fox asked.
"Nope. Still as abnormal as ever." Annie smiled and looked towards the 'Bronze'. "Is-"
"Yes he is." Joanne cut her off. "And yes you should go in there and talk to him!" She grinned and pushed her towards the door. "Go!" Annie laughed and did just that.
She watched Annie disappear into the ‘Bronze’ and looked back at Fox.
"I’m gonna do something now I should have done a long time ago." He smiled and kissed her deeply. Joanne was a little surprised but returned this with a fiery passion. Slowly he pulled away his eyes sparkling with joy.
"Wow," Joanne grinned. "We should go and find the others." Fox took hold of her hand and led her into the ‘Bronze’ not because he particularly wanted to go but because she did. Andy simply smiled and stepped out of the shadows. He was to return to the UK without them, Fox and Giles could handle the group. He was not needed anymore.
"Goodnight and adieu my friends." He murmured then left to catch his flight.
Chapter 11
Spike sat on the couch watching the teenagers wriggle and squirm against each other. ^^So this is how they dance these days. ^^ He thought with disgust. Usually it wouldn’t have bothered him terribly but he hadn’t heard from Annie and his dead heart felt as though it was breaking.
"What’s up Spike?" His Sire asked sitting beside him.
"You mean apart from the sky?" Spike returned sarcastically.
"Annie?" Angel asked.
"Who else?" Spike suddenly tensed. Annie’s unmistakable scent could be detected in the crowded ‘Bronze’. The soft jasmine perfume she wore was mixed with the fruity shampoo she used and was like a lifeline to him. Both his heart and his sanity were saved by this scent.
"You can smell her can’t you?" Angel grinned from beside him. "Well what the hell are you waiting for?!" He chuckled and pushed his Chylde off the couch. "Go on!"
"I…What if she doesn-"
"Go now Spike." Angel cut him off abruptly. He didn’t get Spike, there was the one he loved and he was still hesitating! He should be happy that there wasn’t anything standing in the way of them like his own curse that prevented him from being truly happy with Buffy.
Spike pushed through the crowd eager to get to Annie. So eager was he that he completely missed her. Annie saw him and gently tapped him on the shoulder.
"Spike?" She asked tentatively.
"Annie!" He took a glance at what she was wearing a black sleeveless top with an oriental style dragon on and simple black trousers with her trademark boots. "I’ve missed you so much!" He murmured pulling her close to him. "So much…" He then kissed her almost savagely.
"Spike…" She pulled back gently stroking his hair affectionately. "I’ve missed you to!" She closed her eyes as a favourite song of hers was played.
"Wanna dance ducks?" He had noticed the dreamy look on her face.
"Yep." She smiled as Spike led her onto the dance floor.
"I’ll show you how to really dance!" Spike grinned and pulled her close to him once more.
"Oh I’m sure you’ll show me much more…" She smiled mischievously. Spike noticed this and couldn’t help a huge grin spreading over his face.
"Much more…" He murmured as she laid her head on his shoulder. He kissed her bare neck and shifted into his vampire form. He bit her marking her for his own for all eternity.
"Spike…" She murmured.
"It’s ok ducks…" He kissed where he had bitten her softly. They listened to the lyrics of the song remaining in companionable silence.
**It’s not that I can’t live without you,
It’s just that I don’t even want to try,
Every night I dream about you,
Ever since the day we said goodbye,
If I wasn’t such a fool,
Right now I’d be holding you,
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do,
Baby if I only knew,
The Words to say,
The road to take,
To find a way back to your heart,
What can I do,
To get to you,
To find a way back to your heart. **
Spike smiled thoughtfully, he never wanted to say goodbye to her. He loved her too much and although he was too scared to admit it he knew she was the one for him. Annie shivered slightly as his cold hands held her tightly. But it wasn’t the coldness that made her shiver it was excitement. She loved being near him and couldn’t think of a better place then here in his arms. Spike began to purr contentedly on her shoulder and she smiled stroking the back of his neck affectionately.
**I don’t know how it got so crazy,
But I’ll do anything to set things right,
‘Cause your love is so amazing,
Baby you’re the best thing in my life,
Let me prove my love is real,
And made you feel the way I feel,
I promise I would give the world,
If only you would tell me girl
The Words to say,
The road to take,
To find a way back to your heart,
What can I do,
To get to you,
To find a way back to your heart. **
Fox led Joanne onto the dance floor and gently moved her to the beat of the song. She cast a glance over to Annie and Spike and felt immediately, because of the link between their souls, that she was at peace with him. She should know, she felt the same with Fox. She had to speak to Annie shortly about a spell she would need help on, or to be more exact a spell she would need a demon’s help on. But for now that was the furthest thought from her mind.
**Give me one more chance, to give my love to you,
‘Cause no one on this earth loves you like I do,
The Words to say,
The road to take,
To find a way back to your heart,
What can I do,
To get to you,
To find a way back to your heart. **
Faye sighed. She was sitting next to Angel who was moping about Buffy. Annie had gone off with Spike and even Joanne had left her and gone off with Fox! ^^Typical, ^^ she thought, ^^I get left with Angel while they go off and enjoy themselves! ^^
"Excuse me, Faye isn’t it?" A voce interrupted her thoughts. Not Angel’s as she had previously thought but Oz’s. The kind-hearted were wolf looked down at her and smiled.
"Yeah, hey Oz."
"Erm wanna dance?" He asked as if unsure of her answer.
"Sure I’d love to." Faye replied and stood smiling. Angel was still brooding over his relationship with Buffy so he didn’t notice her leave and begin to dance with Oz.
**I turn back time,
To make you mine,
And find a way back to your heart,
I beg and plead,
Fall to my knees,
To find a way back to your heart.
The Words to say,
The road to take,
To find a way back to your heart,
What can I do,
To get to you,
To find a way back to your heart. **
Willow, Buffy, Cordy and Xander sat glaring at the dancing couples. It wasn’t fair! Their relationship problems had just been getting bigger and bigger recently. Although that was no reason to blame the Brits they still did. The song soon ended and instead of returning to where the glaring Slayer and Slayerettes sat, the Brit’s decided to return to their hotel rooms all except Annie who returned to Spike’s home.
Chapter 12
Joanne fell into a restless slumber. Several dreams plagued her mind though one was particularly vivid.
◊◊◊ Joanne saw herself in a field of blood red roses, the scent of them being as coppery as blood itself. She could see Annie and Spike holding each other close in the centre of the field. The scene was oddly disturbing, not because of the bloody roses but because of the strange soft thumping that could be heard.
Annie pushed Spikes arms down from around her waist and smiled up at him. **BOOM! **
The floor began to shake violently and tear in half. Spike was left on one half and Annie and Joanne on the other.
"ANNIE!" Spike yelled. He frantically searched for some way to get over to her.
"Oh no my darling," Dru’s voice purred softly. "You’re mine now…"
"NO!! Spike!!" Annie watched helplessly as Dru dragged Spike away from her. "No……"◊◊◊
Joanne woke up suddenly knowing instinctively, because of the soul link, that Annie had had the same dream. She was with Spike as well, this could get difficult. "I hope Dru’s not alive…And I hope to God Annie doesn’t do something stupid." She murmured to herself and settled down to try and get some sleep.
Annie sat bolt upright in bed. Her surroundings were somewhat unfamiliar and a cold, hard object was beside her. She looked down to see Spike sleeping peacefully beside her. Before now her dreams had been prophetic and she could only pray that this one wasn’t. ^^What if Dru was alive? ^^ She shuddered at her own thoughts. ^^No, that insane vamp had been dusted…I hope to God she was anyway. ^^ Beside her Spike woke up and looked at her worriedly.
"Ducks?" He sat up and looked into her eyes. "What’s wrong?"
"A stupid dream." She murmured softly.
"About what pet?" He pulled her into his arms.
"Dru…"
"DRU?!" He thought he had heard wrong, no he