Where Darkness Leads

Chapter 14

Angel walked into the garden at the mansion seeing a light filter through the curtains. When he walked he saw someone standing by the blazing fireplace warming his hands. Angel's eyes grew wide in surprise and anger when he rose up seeing his own face looking back at him amid the glow from the flames.

"Surprised?" he questioned. "You shouldn't be but then again you can't see your own reflection."

"You're not me."

"Or am I? I mean, you may have your own soul and all, but deep down you still know who you are, Liam."

"You and I are nothing alike."

"That's what you like to believe, but you know you're just the same as me. You know why don't you and I meet instead on my turf?"

"Get out of here before I rip your head off."

"Of course. Come if you can."

He turned his head, seeing the smoke and embers die quickly out in the fireplace.

"Giles, we've got the book," Buffy said, parading into the library with Catherine. "What are we all doing?"

"I asked the others to help me research on what has been plaguing all of us," he said.

"Oh, by the way, this is Catherine," she said, motioning to her. "This is everybody. Xander, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, and Mr. Giles."

"Pleased to meet you all," she replied.

"Miller discovered out where the book was being kept," Buffy said.

"Good Lord," Giles said.

"We were lucky."

"I feel like I am mostly to blame for all of this," Catherine said. "I'm just sorry you've gotten yourselves in the middle of this."

"Was he dressed in a long black cloak?" Cordelia asked. "Because he came after us, too."

"What?"

"Yup, along with Spike and Drusilla right outside in the front," Xander said.

Jenny walked in with a cup of coffee from the office when Willow said, "And we'd probably be dead if Jenny hadn't shown up."

"Hi Buffy," Jenny said beside Buffy.

"Wha? Wha?" Buffy said, startled, and backed away from the table.

"Buffy, it's okay, it's me. I am not who you think I am. I am not the First Evil."

"She totally saved our lives, Buffy," Cordelia said.

"Okay, that clears things up a bit."

"The point is the sudden appearance of Spike and Drusilla could mean that Joshua and our person are working together," Giles said. "However, if we can keep the grimoire away from him, he won't be able to perform his spell on the night of the first full moon in two days' time."

"It would probably be better to keep the book here so it will be harder for him to get hold of it," Jenny said.

"Right," Buffy answered. "I think I'll go home and see my Mom. See that I am coming home in one piece."

After Buffy left the library she thought back to the pain of last year. The Judge. Jenny's betrayal and the curse. The phone call she got at home after Giles discovered her lying dead in his bed. It was Angelus signature calling card. Now she wondered how Giles was feeling with her back though not entirely.

Angel walked his way down into the tunnels underneath Sunnydale towards the high school. He couldn't forget the last time he was here with Xander heading to the Master's lair. Both of them found Buffy lying dead and the Master gone. He came to the opening that was surrounded inside with the remnants of the old church that had collapsed during the fateful earthquake locking the Master away.

He stepped down on the rocks, seeing Buffy again lying face down in her white dress in the muddy pool of blood and water. After a moment, her body faded away, leaving nothing behind.

"All your abilities and you couldn't save her," a mocking voice said coming from the Master's makeshift throne seat. Angel looked up, seeing Angelus sitting atop,

"She still killed the Master."

"Yes, you're right," he said. "Unfortunately, his lust for power and glory was the end of him."

Drusilla came from a darkened corner, fondly kissing him.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Don't you know already?"

He turned to Drusilla and said, "I suppose he's not as smart as I took him for. Oh well."

Angel saw the pool begin to boil. A ring of fire came to life around him, growing higher and higher. His arms began to blister as the fires became hotter.

"Looks Angel like your time is almost up," he said as Angel looked on in shock and agony.

Angel closed his eyes trying to center his mind when suddenly everything felt cold again. He opened his eyes to see everything as it was unkempt before. The Master's seat was empty. The blisters were gone from his arms and around the rest of his body.