Gladiatrix

A/N: I know its short but wanted to post so I could begin next chapter of the story. ++++++BtVS++++++ Buffy watched, feeling helpless, as Faith and Tara were sucked into the vortex. She looked at Giles her delicate facial features distorted in despair. "Do something!" She yelled. Giles didn't look up, desperately seeking a spell strong enough to close the gateway. He flipped through the Darkest Magick book, the strong winds hampering his search as the pages of the book blew in both directions. Terrified, Buffy pulled her gaze away from Giles and looked out the balcony doors Her breath caught in her throat. She watched Faith pull Tara into a full body embrace. Somehow the dark slayer managed to spin them around, in mid-air, so her back was to the fire. Just as the two women entered the vortex Buffy's hazel eyes met Faith's dark brown. "I'm sorry," Buffy mouthed not knowing if Faith could see her but hoping one day for the chance to say it again face to face. IF not in this lifetime, then the next. The vortex swallowed them up. Orange and gold flames shooting high into the sky. The flash was so bright Buffy was momentarily blinded. When she opened her eyes the vortex was gone and so were Faith and Tara. The sound of the wind slowly dissipated. After a few moments it was silent. Giles's muttering drew her attention. "I know it's in here. I just have to find it," He stated. Buffy listened to his frantic searching before finally speaking. "They're gone, Giles." She whispered. He continued to turn pages. "Yes, but we must find a way to get them back. Willow will be devastated. Angel should know about Faith." Giles looked across the room to the silent figure sitting in a corner. "Anya may attempt retribution." Giles glanced at Buffy. "We'll need to keep a close eye on her to make sure she doesn't go after Glory." Xander was huddled, knees up to his chest, rocking back and forth. Buffy pulled a sheet off the bed. Xander cringed in fear as she walked towards him. Buffy kneeled down in front of her friend. "I'm not gonna hurt you," she told him. Xander seemed to look through her, focusing on something only he could see. "You're shiny," he said. "Like gold. It's pretty. Pretty," he repeated to himself. Buffy placed the sheet around his naked body. She could feel him trembling as she wrapped it around him. "I won't be bad anymore. Please don't hurt me." Buffy placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. She held him against her chest. "We have to go Buffy." Giles stated. For the first time in five years, he sounded old. His voice weary. "I used a displacement spell to send Glory away. She'll be back. I don't know if we can defeat her. We need to consider leaving Sunnydale." Buffy shook her head. The slayer's heart hardened. "I won't run. You take Xander and the others." Buffy helped Xander to his feet. "I"ll stay here and fight Glory. She held up a hand to stop his protest. "The slayer line runs through Faith now, right?" Buffy asked. Giles seemed hesitant to answer. "I believe so." Buffy nodded. "Okay, so if Faith is dead another slayer should be called. If no new slayer is called that means Faith and Tara are still alive. You, Willow, and Anya can possibly bring them back." Buffy explained. "I'm no good with magic. I'm a fighter, a killer. I'll either kill Glory or die trying." Giles stared intently at Buffy. He decided now wasn't the time to tell her his suspicions. "I found a spell to track Sobek before he finds Dawn. After we've found him, I'll call Angel and let him know we're sending Willow, Dawn, Xander, and Anya to him for safe keeping." He looked at his slayer with renewed determination. "You and I will stay here and fight Glory. We will defeat her together." Buffy opened her mouth. Giles quickly cut her off. "You are my slayer; after you there will be no other for me. If this is to be our last battle, we will fight it together." Buffy could feel tears threatening. She looked away from Giles. The blonde took Xander by the hand, leading him out of the room. (tbc)