Things That Go Bump in the Night

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Chapter Sixteen
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"I swear," Xander exclaimed, pulling away from Cordelia who was trying to find the wounds beneath all the blood, "for a while there I thought I was dead."

"Xander," Cordelia interrupted. "Is any of this blood actually yours?"

"All of it," he admitted reluctantly. "I don't think I managed to do any real damage to any of them."

"Then where did it come from?" she demanded, almost as if she'd been insulted. "I can't find any wounds."

"Probably got hit in the nose," Richie offered. "It's amazing how much a nose can bleed."

Xander frowned up at her. "When did you learn first aid, anyway?" he asked, baffled by her attentiveness. She'd never been this . . . caring when they'd been going out.

She shrugged. "It's one of the things I've gotten a lot of experience in since I started working with Angel and Doyle."

He started to respond when Giles cut him off.

"We can deal with that later. Xander please tell us exactly what happened."

"I was jumped by a couple of demons. They were big," Xander replied using his hands to show them. "They had horns and their faces were all bumpy."

"Were they slimy?" Cordelia asked.

"No, just big . . . and strong," he frowned. "I don't think they wanted to kill me though," he continued thoughtfully, "at least, not right then. I think they wanted to take me somewhere."

"Why?" Giles asked.

"The first couple of times they hit me," he explained, pointing to his stomach, "I nearly retched from the pain. God! I thought my insides were gonna explode each time they hit. After that though, it was almost like they were pulling their blows. *Not* that it didn't still hurt like hell!"

"How did you get away?" Buffy asked.

Xander shook his head. "That's the really weird part. I shouldn't have. They had me down on the ground and one was pulling out some rope, when two *other*, completely different, demons showed up. I just *knew* I was dead then. But the freakiest stuff started happening. One of the first demons stalked over to the new ones and started yelling."

"Yelling what?"

"I have no idea, Giles. It's not like I speak demon."

"Right, forgot who I was talking to for a moment."

Xander smirked. "That's okay, G-Man. They say memory's the second thing to go."

Xander grinned at Giles' eye roll, and at the chuckles that spread around the room. He didn't usually get laughs for his nervous jokes. But then he shook his head. What had happened tonight was just too strange for him to ignore for long. "It really looked like they were arguing over me."

"Oh, come on Xander!" Cordelia protested.

"No, I'm serious. The two groups got into a fight, and they kept gesturing toward me. I passed out just as the actual fighting started. By the time I came to, two of them were dead, well at least down, and the last two were still fighting. I got away then, while they were distracted."

"You were saved from demons *by* demons?" Buffy asked incredulously.

"Weird, huh?" Xander nodded, then shook his head. "I don't think they were actually trying to save me though. I think they wanted me for themselves."

"But why?" Cordelia asked, "I mean, no offense, but there's nothing special about you."

"None taken . . . I think, but only because I agree. I don't understand it either."

"Angel," Adam asked, interrupting the byplay, "do all demons have as good a sense of smell as vampires?"

"No," Angel replied, "not all, but many do have senses far better than humans. Why?"

Xander wanted the answer to that, too. What did a demons sense of smell have to do with anything? "Hey!" he exclaimed as a sudden thought occurred to him. "Are you saying I smell bad . . . or something?"

"Or something," Adam replied. "I'm new to this extra senses thing, obviously, so bear with me a moment. Before tonight, Angel, did you sense anything different about Xander?"

"There's something different about me?"

Looking startled, Angel nodded. "I couldn't figure out what it was, but then, I didn't hang around him much. We don't exactly get along."

"That's an understatement!" Xander laughed bitterly. "But, again, I ask. There's something different about me?" His voice rose slightly. "Something that vampires can sense?"

Angel gave him a distracted nod before turning immediately back to Adam. "Honestly, I put it off as a demon heritage from several generations back. You know, far enough that there's just enough left to make him seem . . . a little off."

"Me? A demon?!"

"I've sensed it before, in others, but was never interested enough to explore it very far."

"I'm not evil! I fight evil!"

"Not all demons are evil, Xander," Cordelia stated, frowning. "I haven't met one yet that had any kind of fashion sense, but they're not all evil."

"They're not?" Buffy and Xander exclaimed together, staring at Cordelia. "Since when?"

"No, of course not," Angel answered. "Buffy, you do remember Whistler, don't you?"

"Whistler? Who, or what, is Whistler?" Xander asked, confused.

"A demon," Angel said shortly.

"Well, yeah, but--"

"He wasn't just an exception to the rule, Buffy."

"He's right," Giles intervened. "Each species of demon has its own society and rules, and not all of them are evil, in fact, even many of the violent ones aren't, strictly speaking, evil."

"Then why are all the ones I've met evil?"

"Who says you're even aware of all the demons you've met," Spike asked. "Unlike vampires, they don't exactly set off any internal alarms in a slayer."

"Demons, in general, stay away from the slayer," Doyle said quietly, cutting off what appeared to be the coming heated protest from Buffy, "more especially the ones who aren't evil. Slayers are notorious for a 'slay first, ask questions later' mentality."

"Hey, I hate to be the one to say it," Xander said, wondering how the hell this conversation had gotten so far afield, "but I'm with the Buffster on this one. Until I meet a demon that *doesn't* try to eat, maim, or just out and out kill me, I don't think I'm gonna be buying the whole 'good demon' theory."

"Xander," Cordelia began again, "it isn't just a--"

Holding up a hand, Xander cut off her attempt. He just wasn't buying it. "No, Cordy. Show me a good demon, then maybe I'll believe."

Cordelia frowned at him oddly, and he wondered why she was so adamant. He wanted to ask, but now wasn't the time. "For now, however, how about this; I think we've had enough demonology 101. I know I've had enough, and we kinda need to get back on track here."

"Quite," Giles agreed. "Since we're dealing with demons who have actually attacked."

Xander smiled. It wasn't often Giles sided with him, but frowned when he was suddenly the focus of Angel's undivided attention. "What?!"

"He's different now. It's more," Angel said to Adam after several unnerving moments. "More like--"

"Richie," Adam cut in.

Angel's eyes widened. "Yes," he replied. "That's it exactly."

"I'm in the room, guys!" Xander protested, his words falling on deaf ears.

"Annoying, isn't it," the redhead he still didn't know asked sympathetically.

He nodded emphatically. "It most certainly is!" he replied loudly.

Everyone else stopped speaking to stare at the two of them.

"You're Immortal."

"Am not!" Xander denied, pulling away from the stranger.

Adam chuckled, and Xander glared resentfully at him. He didn't like being laughed at.

"Yes, you are," Adam said.

"Oh dear!" Giles muttered hurrying away.

The room fell silent as everyone blinked at Giles' sudden exclamation and hasty departure.

"Why don't I like the sound of that?" Xander asked mournfully.

"Maybe because every time he says it, it means gut wrenching horror, misery and pain?" Cordelia quipped, her fear evident despite the levity of her words.

The entire room sat expectantly as Giles returned, book in hand, paging quickly through it.

"Ah, here it is," he said then began reading.

"Magics cast and gone awry,
and while the many seek to unwind its twisted stain,
another's death rides nigh.

"And the lonely hour,
when demons hunt the one to source their gain,
one of the chosen's inner circle will become quick with power.

"Steal from those who seek to feed in chaos.
Keep safe the mist of light and rain,
or all still living will feel the loss."

Giles' voice trailed off as he glanced up from the prophesy he was reading. "There's more here," he said, waving vaguely toward the book he held, "dealing with magic, timing, and the actual ritual that applies to this prophecy, but--" Giles sighed, his eyes narrowing in speculation as he stared at Xander.

Xander shifted uncomfortably. He *really* didn't like being the focus of the attention of everyone in the room. It was even worse than having just Angel stare at him. "Can't say as I'm lovin' the sounds of that," Xander quipped, sporting a sickly smile. "But since I can't see how that applies, can we get this Immortal business straightened out please?"

"It's all tied together . . . evidently," Adam said gently.

"How?" Xander threw back at him. "None of that sounded like me. And Immortal? I *so* think not."

"You died tonight," Adam insisted.

"Did not!" Xander exclaimed hotly, jumping up from his seat. "Am standing here very much alive, thank you very much!"

"And hence the term Immortal," Adam retorted drily.

"I'm afraid it's true," Richie said at the same time, glaring at Adam.

Growing more and more uncomfortable with their insistence, Xander rounded on the person closest to him. "And just who are you?" he demanded defensively. "I don't know you. Why should I believe you?" He turned toward Adam. "And I just met you last night. Why should I believe you, either?"

"Richie Ryan. I'm Immortal. That's how I know you are, too."

Xander shook his head. **No way!** Backing away from Richie, Xander wildly glanced around at his friends, looking for proof these two were putting him on. He found shocked, wide-eyed expressions, but no one telling him it was all right. That he really was 'just Xander'.

Panic building inside he scrambled toward the door -- and freedom. As he neared it, however, an image of the demons from earlier popped into his mind and he froze. Shoulders slumping, he reluctantly headed back toward the others. He took one look at the couch, and instantly vetoed sitting back down.

Looking toward Richie, the more sympathetic of his two 'accusers', he shrugged helplessly. "I'm just an ordinary human. I'm nothing special. How can I be Immortal?"

Cordelia and Willow's strangled, "Xander?" went uncommented on as Spike stood suddenly.

Xander yelped, then glared at him.

"I can't believe the garbage you're spewing," he said hotly. "Ordinary human, sure. *That* I'll buy. Nothing special? That doesn't wash, pet."

Xander just stared at him. He couldn't believe Spike, of *all* people was saying these things.

Rolling his eyes, Spike strode toward him anger lacing every movement. "How many 'normal, average' people would jump into fighting evil?"

"Not many," Cordelia scoffed, snorting. "Believe me."

Spike nodded. "Exactly, most would run cow cower under their beds. But not you and the bimbo here--"

"Hey!"

"You two have had nothing extra going for you, yet for the last several years you've been hanging around Miss Supernatural Strength and Little Miss Witch, and jumping right into the middle of the fights. And actually saving lives, if I'm not mistaken. If that's not 'special', I don't know what is!"

Xander blinked in shock as Spike sat back down, having said his piece. Everyone around him seemed just as surprised at Spike's outburst.

"Yes, quite well put, Spike," Giles finally said, "but--"

"Yes, BUT," Xander cut in, "Immortals? Immortal *people*. Come on, what do you take me for?"

Adam rolled his eyes, but Xander ignored the man as Richie took off out of the room.

"Where are you going?"

"The kitchen."

"Why?"

"Xander," Adam said, calling his attention away from Richie, "You're telling me you can believe in demons and vampires, but not Immortals?"

"Come on! No one lives forever."

"Vampire's do," Angel commented.

Xander spun around angrily. "Well I'm *not* a vampire."

"No," Richie said, stepping back out of the hall, "you're not. You're *an* Immortal. Most of us *don't* start out life as anything out of the ordinary." He held up a knife and Xander jumped backward, eyes narrowing warily.

Xander could hear several protests rise from his friends, but an equal number of his so-called friends shushing them. **Oh, thanks loads, guys!**

"What is that for?"

"I'm going to prove something to you. Don't worry it's not for you."

Xander nodded, relieved to hear it, but still eyeing the man cautiously. He watched in horrified fascination as Richie held out his own arm, slashing the knife across it.

As time seemed to slow and Xander's focus narrowed dangerously, he noted Cordelia jump up, but Adam grab her arm, stopping her. Some part of him watched as Doyle stepped between them.

Then he noticed nothing but the cut on Richie's arm. Blue, electrical sparks danced across it, and as he watched the cut slowly grew smaller. Feeling like he was moving in slow motion, Xander stepped forward and reached out a hand. Richie didn't flinch as he ran his hand along the out-held arm, clearing the blood away to reveal completely unmarked skin.

Xander looked up suddenly. "Giles?" he asked. Giles would know. He could trust Giles. He held that as the one bedrock of his foundations.

"While I cannot attest to their claims of *your* Immortality, Xander, I can assure you they do exist. What you just saw was an example of Immortal healing. I've only seen it one other time."

Xander jerked his head back to look at Richie. "You don't expect *me* to do that, do you?"

"No," Richie replied, setting the knife on the bar, "that won't be necessary. Think back to when you came in, did you feel funny at first?"

"You mean other than the fact that I'd been beaten to a pulp and felt like hell?"

"Yes, other than that."

Xander hesitantly nodded, thinking back to when he'd stumbled into Giles' apartment. "Yeah, I remember thinking maybe I'd gotten a concussion or something. My head felt weird."

"That was you, sensing the presence of another Immortal."

Xander sank down to sit on the floor, his legs not wanting to support him any longer. "It's real?" The nods that greeted his question sealed it for him. There was only so much denial he could muster. Too much of his life had been spent facing truths that would send sane people running to stop now.

"How?" he asked finally, gesturing vaguely. "I mean, why didn't I know . . . before?"

"Before Immortals experience first death we are completely indistinguishable from other mortals. In fact we *are* ordinary mortals. Violent death is what brings the Immortality into play. No one knows how or why. It just is," Adam explained patiently.

Xander nodded slowly. That made sense . . . kind of. He noticed, however, that Giles threw a surprised look Adam's way and mentally reran what the man had said. Frowning, it took him a moment to kick his brain in gear.

"We?" he asked.

"Oh!" Cordelia exclaimed. "You're Immortal too!"
How How many Immortals are there?"

"I don't know," Richie replied with a shrug, then glanced around at everyone before suggesting to Xander, "maybe we should speak privately?"

"Yes, perhaps that is a wise idea," Giles concurred. "The rest of us can begin research on the demons that attacked you. If you would describe them in more detail before you go?"

Xander nodded, standing quickly. He was all for anything that got him out of research -- not that he didn't like helping, he just didn't think he'd be much help tonight. Too much had happened.

With Richie waiting patiently, he quickly described the demons as best he could, fielding questions from the gang when he wasn't sure. When they finally seemed satisfied, he turned to the Immortal. "So, I guess I'm ready to hear the downside of this."