Paper Doll |BTVS| Book One ✔️

Order Of Taranta

I yawned as I sat next to Buffy on the table in the library after a long and late night of research Buffy had woken me up early practically dragging me to school so she could tell Giles about the big guy that her and Angel had been attacked by.

I watched as Giles studies the ring, comparing it to an etching in a book, Buffy sighed as she held an ice pack on her knee looking shaky and worse for the wear after her encounter.

Willow and Xander looked at Buffy with sympathy when she groaned in pain "This guy was hardcore Giles, and Angel was power-freaked by the ring" I looked at Buffy shocked this dude must have been something else.

"I'm afraid he was not overreacting. The ring is worn only by members of the Order Of Taranta. They are a society of demon assassins dating back to King Solomon..." Giles says looking up from his book with a worried look.

"And didn't they beat the Elks last year in the Sunnydale Adult Bowling League Championship?" Xander says with a laugh though no one joined him "Their credo is to sow discord and kill the unwary" Giles explains ignoring Xander who was still smiling.

"Bowling is a vicious game -" Xander starts to joke before Giles cuts him off "That's enough, Xander -" Willow, Xander, Buffy and I glance at each other reacting to Giles' sharp tone, you know to worry when Giles snaps.

"I'm sorry but this is no time for jokes. I need to think" Giles says taking off his glasses and pinches his nose "These assassins. Why would they be after me?" Buffy asks looking at us "Cause you're the scourge of the underworld?" Willow says softly looking upset.

"Yeah, but I haven't been that scourgy lately" Buffy pouts looking down before she looks up at me alarmed "If they're after me because I'm a slayer..." I sighed when all eyes turned to me I gave Buffy a small smile and squeezed her hand.

"Don't worry I'm a tough kick ass girl" I say with a laugh but Buffy just shakes her head looking conflicted "I think the best thing to do is to find a secure location. Someplace out of the way where you two can go until we decide on the best course of action" Giles stutters looking between Buffy and I.

Buffy stands with a little difficulty looking freaked out "Okay. You and Angel have both told me to head for the hills. What's the deal?" Giles looks at us with a troubled look "I - this is an I extraordinary circumstance..."

I looked at Buffy and her eyes were widened in fear I clenched my jaw trying to be strong and looked at Giles "When do we have a usual circumstance Giles? I mean mummy girls and snake guys and... But you've never told us to hide before. I mean you're saying we can't handle this? These guys are that bad?" I asked but I already knew the truth it's written all over his face.

Giles sighed sadly and stared at us his eyes unwavering "You might, they're... they're a breed apart, girls. Unlike vampires they have no earthly desire except to collect their bounty. To find their target and eliminate it"

We all sat listening to Giles knowing the situation was very serious and called for our best attention "and you are the target. You can kill as many of them as you like but it won't make any difference because where there is one, there will be another and another. They won't stop coming until the job is done".

Looking down at my hands I breathed heavily when I realized that someone was out there trying to kill Buffy and I other than the usual vampires "The worst of it is, they are masters of deceit. Vampires are bound by the Night, but these predators can be anywhere, anytime. They can appear as normal as the next person. Just another face in the crowd. You might not ever know when one of them is near - not until the moment of your death"

Getting up I ran out of the library with Buffy shouting my name I was not ready to die, they can come all they like but only I won't be the one dying, walking down the hall I pushed passed the mass of student whom were looking at me weirdly.

My eyes bounced around from face to face as I looked around, the faces of students, teachers seem innocent but are they could they be getting ready to kill me and my twin, I closed my eyes as the noise and voices began melt into an echoing white noise.

"Nikki" Opening my eyes to my sisters voice I gasp in shock as a guy runs towards me fast reacting on instinct I grab the guy by the collar and throw him against the wall harshly "Try it!" I growl in his face ready to attack if need be.

Buffy appears by my side as I hold the guy tight in my grip "Try what?" he asks as Buffy puts a hand on my shoulder "Nikki it's only Oz" she whispers gently to me, the haze in my vision begins to move and I see Oz another student at our school.

Seeing the terrified looking on his face I let him go as I let out a shaky breath "Sorry" I mumbled as my sister grabs my arms knowing what happens when my emotions get the best of me "I'm still not clear on what I'm supposed to try" Oz says confused as he looks between me and Buffy.

Looking around I see people staring and whispering "Nothing" Buffy snaps as him as she grabs my hand but I took my hands away from her as the room began to get smaller, the walls felt like they were caving in.

I knew I had to get out of here before people started asking questions "Nikki?" Buffy's voice called to me but I couldn't breathe so I did the best thing I could, I ran.

Giles and Willow sit at the library table looking over volume upon volume of Giles' books "I wish there was more we could do" Willow whispers sadly looking over at the man who had become a father to them all, Giles looks up at Willow his eyes reflecting fatigue and concern.

"We're doing all we can. The only course of action is to decipher the contents of the stolen book" Giles says trying to smile at the small red headed girl to ease her worries "I've never seen Buffy or Nikki like that. They just took off and there's talk of Nikki attacking Oz in the hall" Willow says with a pout not believing her best friend would attack Oz.

"They're not home" Xander announces as has enters the library "I let the phone ring a few hundred times before I remembered their mom's out of town" Xander sighs as he sits down next to Willow worried about his two best friends.

"Maybe they unplugged the phone..." Giles retorts as he tries to make himself feel better but Willow and Xander look over at him with a look "It's a statistical impossibility for sixteen year old girls to unplug a telephone" Xander tells Giles' with a frown as Willow nods in a reluctant agreement.

"Perhaps my words of caution were a bit too alarming, I know how Nikki can get with her power and Buffy is uhh very sensitive" Giles says rubbing the bridge of his nose "You think?" Xander says looking at the older man with a sarcastic tone.

Willow hits Xander's arm before looking at Giles with a gentle look "It's good that they took you seriously, Giles. I just wish we knew where they were" the three of them nod at the thought and each sigh in worry for the twin Slayers.