By Shattered Faith Rating:: PG
Disclaimer:: I do not own any Buffy or Angel charactures, they belong to Joss Whedon and the WB.
Buffy carefully lowered her blade and wiped the faint sweat off of her forehead. She looked over at the worn out Slayer-in-training in front of her. “That was good Bailey, but try to improvise a bit. You never know what cheap tricks the enemy will pull to get you down.” Bailey smiled and nodded politely.
Suddenly, Angel rushed up behind Buffy and pretended to grab her from behind in a sleepers hold. Faster than lightening, she gathered all of her strength and flung Angel over her shoulders and unto the mat in front of her. He grunted, and Buffy turned back to Bailey. “See what I mean? You have to be ready for anything.”
Bailey nodded and sighed heavily. So much was going to rest on her shoulders, she was going to be the Slayer. She was going to be the Chosen One, the one girl in all the world with the strength and skill to hunt the vampires. She was really trying to be a trooper about the whole thing, but the raw truth of the matter was that she wouldn’t have had to worry about being the Slayer if Buffy hadn’t let Angel turn her.
“Can I take a rest?” Bailey pleaded.
“Well we haven’t gone over-“ Angel silenced Buffy with a brooding look
“Buffy, let her rest, she’s worked hard enough.” Buffy gave Angel a confused look, but reluctantly nodded.
“Okay.” She said quickly. “Why don’t you go get a drink or something, and meet us back here in a half hour or so.” Bailey nodded, and quickly bolted out of the room. Buffy looked up at Angel and bit her bottom lip. He encircled her with his arms.
“She’s still nervous around us.” Buffy said softly. Angel sighed.
“Well, she is a Slayer-in-training, and we are vampires. We contradict what we are training her to do.” Buffy closed her eyes briefly, fighting against the ache of her growling tummy. She knew what she was thirsty for. A horror in itself, yet a small price to pay for what she got in return. She gazed into Angel’s eyes. Her dream, her love. He was what she changed for. She became a monster to keep his love.
Willow Rosenberg parted her lips slightly and concentrated on the crystal in front of her. Between her shaking palms she held an Orb of Thesula, a crystal ball which is made to hold a person’s soul. She tried to keep her breathing even, but her heart was pounding straight through her chest like a rabid animal, demanding and screaming out for the near future to recede. Angel softly entered the dank room, and Willow slightly raised her eyes up, meeting with his darkness.
“Angel,” She began, her hands shaking. He looked away.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked her softly. There was nothing Willow wanted more than to scream out, to yell ‘NO!’ and to push Angel away. But she couldn’t. As much as she didn’t want to help turn her best friend into a vampire, she knew it was the only way for her and her true love to be together.
“Yeah.” She forced herself to say. “I’m sure.” Angel nervously twiddled his fingers and took a seat. Willow regarded him, eyes wide and confused. “Angel?” she asked softly. He looked up at her. “What will she be like?”
“She won’t be any different. She’ll be the same Buffy you and I know and love.” Willow briefly closed her eyes. She was hoping that Angel wasn’t just saying that to make her feel better. She didn’t want to loose her best friend.
“Okay.” She responded. The door opened again, and soft footsteps slid along the pavement of Angel’s mansion. Willow and Angel both instinctively rose to their feet. Neither one of them greeted her. What were they supposed to say? ‘Hi, Buffy. Nice day for a change, don’t you think?’
Angel forced himself to look into Buffy’s eyes, and savor the light and love and hope that rested in there. This was his Buffy; this was his Slayer. She would always be his Slayer. He had to remind himself of that. This wasn’t going to change things between them. It would only make them closer. Buffy pursed her lips in determination.
“Hi.” She said softly. Willow looked guiltily at the Orb of Thesula. What if she failed? What if she wasn’t able to catch Buffy’s soul when Angel turned her? Then Buffy would die, and a demon would set up shop in the Slayer’s body. And it would be all Willow’s fault.
As if Buffy knew what Willow was thinking, she laid a gentle hand upon her friend’s shoulder. “You can do it, Will.” She reassured her. “I know you can.” Willow forced herself to look at her friend and faintly smile.
“I hope so.” She said. “I don’t want to kill you.” Buffy sat down quietly and sighed.
“You won’t kill me, Will. Everything will work out fine. Willow, you’re my best friend, and I love you. This isn’t going to change anything between us, okay?” Willow sighed. She really hoped that was true.
“Buffy?” Angel said, interrupting the moment of friends. She turned around. “I- Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked one last time.
“Yeah. I’m way sure.” She said, and she really was. She tried the thing without Angel, and it didn’t work. All it caused her was a waste of time and a lot of heartache. She needed him. She needed to be with him. Forever.
Willow’s eyes darted around the room. She wanted to get this over with, now before the butterflies in her stomach overtook her senses. Buffy put a hand on Angel’s shoulder.
“I’m ready.” She told him. Angel looked up at the Slayer with uncertain determination.
“Alright.” They both looked over at Willow, who absentmindedly straightened her herbs again. She took a deep breath.
“I’m ready.” She told them, and tried to focus on the task in front of her. She had to think of it as just another spell. If she didn’t let her mind drift off to think about what the spell was actually for, she would be able to stay focused. The success of her friend rested on her shoulders now. It was up to her.
Buffy walked over to the chains and looked up at Angel. “I really don’t want to restrain you.” He said to her.
“Angel, we don’t know if the spell will work by the time I’m changed or not. It’s the only way to be safe.” Angel nodded in grim agreement, and reluctantly chained her arms and legs.
“I love you, Buffy.”
“I know you do. I love you too.” Angel leaned forward and swept up his true love in a kiss. They both closed their eyes, savoring the sweet taste of each other’s lips. Angel reluctantly pulled away from her and their eyes opened, bringing them both back into reality. Willow closed her eyes, refusing to look at them. She began to chant.
“Spirits of the interregnum, I call.” She chanted, opening up the doors of housed souls. Angel vamped out. It was time.
He hesitated for the merest second, then leaned forward and tenderly sunk his fangs into Buffy’s tender neck, again. Her eyes bulged, but she forced herself to remain silent as her warm, pulsating blood was sucked out into a hungry vampire’s tummy. Angel tried not to drink too much, but Slayers blood was so sweet, so thick, that it made him go wild for it, made him crave it. He couldn’t tear his greedy fangs away from Buffy’s neck, but he reached over and grabbed the ready blade. He slid the sharp end over his wrist, and held the fresh slice over Buffy’s mouth. Angel finally tore his fangs away from her, then looked upon the fading Slayer with terror. He prayed to god that she was still conscious enough to drink. She Had to drink. That was the only way this would work.
Buffy was barely conscious, but she forced her last bits of energy unto sucking the blood in front of her mouth. It didn’t taste, and she felt herself slowly fading.
“Acume! Acume!” Willow yelled. Just as Buffy finally fell into total unconsciousness, the Orb of Thesula glowed. She had done it. She had caught Buffy’s soul.
Buffy lightly brushed a finger over the diamond rock on her index, a visual reminder that she was forever bound to Her Angel. But there was one marriage vow that wasn’t accurate. Till Death due them part. Not even death brought them apart.
The door opened again, and Bailey reluctantly entered. “Hi.” She sheepishly said. Buffy looked over at Angel with concern on her face. She stepped forward.
“Bailey, I know you know what Angel and I are, but we don’t want you to fear us. It’s our job to train you, but we can’t do our job if we don’t keep a professional relationship.” Buffy didn’t mean to be hard on the kid, but all the same Bailey needed to get used to her fate. She had a chance to ease into it, which was more than Buffy ever had. Buffy had been thrown blindly into a world of vampires and demons with no one to keep her afloat. Bailey at least had a chance to practice before the fate of the world was thrown upon her shoulders.
Bailey looked up at her trainer with defiance and determination. “Yeah, I know. And it’s not you. It’s,” She hesitated. “It’s the whole thing. I just, I don’t think I’ll be able to do it.” Buffy sighed, and put a cold hand upon Bailey’s shoulder.
“It’s hard, I won’t lie about that. But I couldn’t fight my fate when I was the Chosen One, and after a while I gave up trying. You just have to do your duty and know that you’re doing the best you can.” Bailey somberly nodded.
“I know. I hope I don’t disappoint everyone.”
“You won’t.” Buffy assured her. She wanted to hug the slayer-in-training, but she was too afraid that Bailey would find that very uncomfortable.
“She’s right. Buffy did her duty, and so will you.” Angel said, walking up to the two girls. Bailey smiled politely at him. “We should do some more training. How about watching two of the best fighters out there go up against each other?” Bailey giggled softly at that one.
“Sure.” She said. Angel walked over to the weapons and picked up two swords. He handed one to Buffy. She smiled.
“Be careful.” She told him mockingly, and raised her weapon. Bailey stepped back to give them room. Angel took his stance, waiting for Buffy to make the first move. She leaned forward eagerly, and swung with her sword. The battle was on!
Both vampires struck away with their swords, seemingly barely missing each other’s limbs. Clever fighters, they anticipated each other’s every move, ducking and swerving like raptors spatting over a piece of fresh meat. Finally, Angel allowed Buffy to pin him down. She smiled in triumph, then backed off.
“That’s what a good fighter does, Bailey. Not only do we have to perfect our own natural moves, but we have to learn to anticipate our fighter, know when he’s getting tired, weak or frustrated. We have to know what moves he is known for.” Bailey nodded, and Angel got back up to his feet.
“When can I try some other old fashioned weapons?” Bailey inquired bravely. Buffy grinned, and went to get the crossbow.
“This may not be the most recent techno-invention there is, but it sure gets the job done.” She handed it carefully to Bailey. “Now, try and shoot something.” Bailey looked up at Buffy with gratitude. This vampire, once a Slayer, must really trust her to let her try this. If she wanted, she could easily shoot Buffy in the heart and turn her into dust. But she wouldn’t do that.
Bailey took a shot at an old-looking spot in the wall. Okay, not exactly right on the mark, but pretty close!
“Good job!” Buffy told her, and she beamed. Buffy glanced out the window. It would be sunrise in about an hour. “You should go get some sleep, kid.” She told Bailey.
“I’ll leave in a few minutes, I just want to rest for a sec?” Bailey said, phrasing more as a question. Buffy nodded, and hurried with Angel to the bedroom. She kicked off her shoes and slipped on her pink bunny slippers. Angel chuckled.
“Oh, my beautiful creature of the night still has her vices.” Buffy playfully shoved him.
“Hey, don’t be dissing my slippers.” He smiled at her.
A knock sounded at the front door. Bailey turned her head to see if Angel or Buffy had heard it, but neither one of them called out to her. “Who is it?” She asked.
"It’s Willow.” A voice sounded on the other side of the door. Oh, it was just Buffy’s old friend Willow. Buffy would surely be glad to see her.
“Come in.” Bailey said, and the door opened. Bailey expected to see an older woman with tangled red hair, but instead in front of her stood a young looking blonde girl. She smiled at Bailey devilishly, and vamped out.
Bailey froze in terror. She was only in training, not a Slayer yet. She’d never faced a real vamp on her very own. The vampire anticipated what Bailey intended to do.
“Call for them, and you’re dead before they even have a chance.” Bailey’s mouth closed, and her heart raced in fear. She didn’t know what to do. The vampire took a cautious step towards her. “So, you’re going to be a Slayer, eh?”
“Y- yeah. I am.” Bailey choked out. The vampire snickered.
“Well, you were, that is. I’ve always wanted to taste Slayersblood ..” Just then, Angel and Buffy walked into the room. Faster than lightening, the vampire rushed forward and grabbed Bailey by the neck harshly. “Make one move, and the girl dies.” Buffy and Angel froze.
“Don’t hurt her. You have no right.” Buffy said behind clenched teeth. The vamp laughed.
“Oh, I have more than a right. I have the privilege.”
Bailey desperately looked around her. This vampire was holding her close to a wall, and there was a golf club leaning up against it. Her mind raced, and she remembered what Buffy had told her. When you are caught unprepared, use your imagination. A good Slayer has to improvise.
Bailey took a mighty lunge and grasped the golf club with her stretched out hand. The vampire staggered back, not expecting this outburst from the little girl. Bailey didn’t waste any time. She swung the club, and hit the vamp hard on her skull. The vamp staggered backwards, and Bailey grabbed the stake on the floor. She lunged for the vamp’s heart and let the wood sink in. The vamp exploded into dust.
Bailey stood up, breathing hard and trying to process what she had just did. Buffy and Angel stared at the girl, stunned. Buffy slowly walked over to her. “Wow. Good job. You did everything right.” Bailey grinned from ear to ear, ecstatically pleased at Buffy’s praise. “You are a Slayer now.” Buffy told her. Bailey shook off her earlier feelings and leaned forward, hugging Buffy.
“Thank you.” She said. “For everything.”
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