Where Darkness Leads

Chapter 17

Buffy and Michael walked along the beach at sunset. The waves crashed against the shore throwing up salty sprays of water.

As he listened to Buffy about how she escaped the pool of ice he couldn't help but feeling tired of living a lie and the secrets he were keeping.

"That was the second time I've almost died from drowning." she said. "The first time my heart had actually stopped but I came back."

Michael looked out at the setting sun like he was deep in thought.

"Michael, what is going on?"

"Buffy," he said turning to her. "I am not the guy you think I am. I think there is a something you need to know. You see..."

From down the beach a loud neigh came from a horse that was black as night. The horse let out billows of smoke from his nostrils. It's rider sat high and upright in a black cloak holding a sword by his side.

"End game Slayer." Joshua yelled from his steed.

"Oh great." Buffy said.

Joshua rode up the beach pounding through the surf and sand.

"Michael get out of here quickly." Buffy said beside Michael.

Michael ran down part of the length of the beach as Buffy ran sideways towards a group of rocks that rose up into a path. She quickly jumped ahead when Joshua as Joshua swung his sword missing her above her head. The path became higher until it led to a ledge high up enough to see the beach expanse. Joshua rode to a stop in front of Buffy.

"You have caused me more trouble than you are worth."

"You're not getting the book back."

"I will not be cheated this time."

Buffy slipped when the ledge behind her gave way spilling rumble on the cliff. She started slipping quickly grabbing the side of the face of rocks. Joshua looked down grinning proudly. He approached the edge looking down on her.

"Looks like I have the advantage."

"Hey!" Michael said from behind him. "Why don't you go bother someone else and leave her alone?"

"Another impertinent boy." Joshua said turning his horse. "I will take care of you as well."

From one look at Michael Joshua turned back seeing up on another hillside the same man from the roof of the school giving his indication to back off. Michael slowly walked around reaching for Buffy pulling her up.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

They both turned to Joshua see him stampeding away on the beach fading away in the distance.

"I must of have done something to scare him off." Michael said.
"Yeah." Buffy said looking back at Michael curiously.

Joshua rode past Catherine standing on a rock looking on mockingly.

"Looks like you lost again." she called ahead.

Joshua stopped his horse short turning to see the grin on her face.

"Your faith is misplaced, Slayer."

"Your time is almost up or have you forgotten that."

"Oh, I haven't forgotten. Soon the new order will arise and the old one will fall away and all of you will go down with it."

"Pretty big words for a dead man."

"You won't have to wait too long to see my great plan occur." he said. Just wait and watch."

"I'll be there." she said watching him ride off.

Giles has been focusing all of his attention in his office going over his old books including the private ones that he normally doesn't let anyone read let alone Willow. Jenny walked in finding him asleep at his desk. She thought he looked so peaceful when he was resting but needed to wake him.

"Rupert." she announced.

"What?" he said. "What's going on?"

Giles turned to see Jenny standing by his door.

"Oh it's you."

Giles reached up rubbing his hands on face.

"Not having any luck?"

"I have looked and looked and found nothing that explains what's been happening."

"It's a demon."

"A demon?" Giles said looking more alert.

"I met him in the cemetery or at least the face he was wearing, Ethan Rayne's." she said. "And he sounds liked like pretty bad news."

"You saw Ethan?"

"Yes."

A demon that has the power to be seen as anyone it chooses. Ethan, Darla, the Master, Angelus, Giles thought carefully.

"What else she he say?" Giles asked.

"Something big is coming soon and we're probably talking something cataclysmic." Jenny replied. "We're seriously going to need to be ready for anything."

"We promised to help that witch and we still don't have the Slayer yet." Matthew's second said. "You're not much the leader as we thought you were, Matthew."

"I understand but he promised we would have our due."

"I am tired of promises." he said. "I want results."

"You want results because I can give them to you." a voice spoke from the darkness.

"Who goes there?" Matthew questioned.

Angelus stepped from the shadows revealing himself to everyone with a smile on his lips.

"You!"

"No, hold on Matthew. I know that face. It's old Angelus." another vampire said.

"Okay, if you aren't pretending what you think you can do for us?"

"Much more than you can accomplish I can see."

"Let's get rid of this guy." Mathew's second said. "Spike always hated him."

"I would strongly advise that unless you don't want to see the Slayer dead."

"Alright, we'll listen." Matthew said holding up his hand to his second. "What did you have in mind?"

Buffy walked downstairs of her house towards the front door and opened it. When she stepped outside she looked down feeling the dirt and grass at her feet. She turned around seeing the house was replaced by a view of ocean under a cloudy sky.

The white waves crashed far below the high cliffs from viewing out at the great expanse. From the distance she heard the hoof beats and the shape of a woman riding a horse fast. Buffy saw the field empty except for a single wooden thatched building with a matching roof. As the ride rode more fiercely towards the building Buffy could see it was Catherine. The wind has wisped back her blonde hair. She jumped off her horse running and threw open the door.

Buffy walked to the building just as a young girl rain past her down the trail. It started to rain while thunder rolled past the area lighting up the sky. Buffy stepped inside seeing Catherine struggle over a sword with a dark cloaked man. He landed her down on a stone slab and stabbed her with the sword. Her blood came pouring slowly from her abdomen.

Buffy looked up from her towards the man who pulled back his cloak. Buffy's face grew cold seeing Angel's face behind the hood. Not Angel but Angelus, she thought. He gave her a small evil grin. Buffy heard a loud boom from outside which made her turn around. She woke up in the school lounge.