~*The Sunnydale Revamped Series*~

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The next day, everyone met once again at the library. Only everyone was a little anxious and the stress was high. Giles was no exception. He’d come in early and had turned the library upside down in attempts to *figure* out what may have happened, or at least that was the reason he gave them.

When Brody entered the library he saw the scene unfolding in front of him. Izzie and Ellie were seated on the stairs looking like they’d lost their best friend. Brody stepped over the books that had littered the floor and walked over to his friends. “What’s up?”

“Giles is freakin’” Izzie explained.

“I see that,” Brody said,” why?”

“You know, I am standing right here,” Giles muttered from the counter. “I came in to find the passage Lyla read but I can’t seem to find the translation of it. It seems to have disappeared from the book and I cannot find anything pertaining to it.

“And no one has heard from Lyla,” Izzie added. “Anything happen when you took her home last night?”

Ellie frowned at that remark. Sure Lyla had been...not herself, but the image of Brody and Lyla alone together...at her home, made her stomach hurt.

Brody shook his head. “No, she was out of it.”

Giles sank heavily into his chair as he tossed his glasses onto the table. He rubbed his temples with his fingertips to alleviate the stress.

“How about a cup o’ tea?” Brody said in his best English accent.

Giles grimaced at the *butchering* of his accent. “A strong cup of coffee would be better.”

“Coffee? Isn’t tea your guys’ cup of...tea?” Brody said, smiling at his own little joke.

Giles looked up at Brody with a very ticked off expression on his face. “Us? You mean the English. That’s a stereotype, I drink bloody coffee all the time!”

“Whoa, someone must have overdue library books.”

Everyone turned towards the speaker. Lyla. She stopped midstride. “What’s everyone staring at?” She asked, before looking down at her outfit. True, she gone casual with jeans and a lacy peasant top, but surely this hadn’t warranted stares of confusion.

“You’re....normal. Or, ok I mean!” Izzie said in amazement. She figured after last night Lyla would lay low or at least not be so...normal.

“Ok,” Lyla said slowly.” I give up, what are you guys on?”

“You mean you don’t remember what you did!” Giles snapped.


Lyla jumped at his harsh tone. “What?”

Drew walked over to her scanning her to see for any traces from possessed Lyla. Lyla smiled. “You erased most of my books!” Giles snapped. “What possessed you to do that?” He grimaced at his own pun, but continued to glare at Lyla.

Lyla was growing increasingly confused and upset. Drew noticed the change as well and stepped in. “Giles, she doesn’t remember.”

“Did I just step into bizarro world?” Lyla exclaimed looking at everyone in turn.

“Something happened...of the possessing kind last night,” Ellie explained.

Giles inhaled deeply trying to contain some of his anger. His knowledge came from these books and slowly they were disappearing...a number of things could be released.... and it would be out of his control. Lyla, meanwhile, was becoming frustrated. She rubbed her fingertips over her temples. “Are you ok?” Drew said gently.

Lyla smiled at his concern. The only amount of kindness she’d had from anyone today. “I’ve had a headache since I woke up this morning.”

Drew looked to Giles. “Side effects from last night probably. Possession can do that.”

“Possession?!” Lyla exclaimed. “ME?!?!”

Drew reached out as Lyla paled visibly and her knees dipped. “Last night you were separated from the group,” he said gently.

“I know,” lyla said almost excited at having remembered anything.” A vampire chased me into a clearing, but...I guess I chased him off.”

Brody snorted. “You couldn’t have scared him.”

“Yes I did.” Suddenly she remembered. “He was afraid of something and he said that ‘it has began’ and then he left.”

Giles picked up his glasses and put them back on. Izzie remained quiet, something had been weighing on her mind lately and she just couldn’t figure it out. Everyone was talking about Lyla and last night and not once did Giles ask her anything. Out of the loop again. Finally she got to her feet. “I’ll patrol tonight.”

Giles looked at her as though he’d just noticed she was there and gave her a quick nod. “Good idea.”

She noticed he didn’t offer her a “good luck” or any help so she excused herself and left early for class.

“Class doesn’t start for 20 mins,” Ellie said.

Izzie gave her a sad smile. “Doesn’t look like I am needed here.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Izzie found herself back in the cemetery that night. By focusing at the task at hand she was able to put her problems on the back burner. She crunched over the wet grass, kicking at loose pieces of dirt as she went.

“Oooh, the slayer looks upset.” A voice said from behind her. Cursing herself at being caught unaware, she turned towards the speaker.

“Would you like to sit and talk about my feelings then?” she asked sarcastically.

“Let’s just jump to me killing you,” he snarled as he began to circle around her.

She cocked her hip to the side as she dangled the stake from her hand that rested there. “How?” she asked,” by making me dizzy?”

More vampires appeared from behind the tall oaks. “And you’ve bought friends....”she mumbled. Izzie counted about five of them. Already fighting tactics were going through her head.

“We want the ring,” the leader said coming to a stop a few feet in front of her.

“And I want world peace,” Izzie stated. Bringing the stake up she charged the vampire. The leader dodged her first attack, but she popped up from behind him and staked him from behind. The other four began to move in. One ran forward and she fought him while keeping the other three off. She staked another, but another of them got hold of her and threw her into a tall tombstone. She hit it hard, breaking off the top.

Izzie landed in a heap, presumed unconscious by the other three. One vamp made the mistake of standing over her and she took that opportunity to bring up the stake and dust him. Jumping to her feet she faced the last two. A gash above her eyes was the only serious injury thus far, but the blood was running down her face and blinded her momentarily.

Thunder boomed in the sky and moments later lightening lit up the sky giving her a good view of the vamp that had just charged at her. She swung out her hand widely but hit her mark. Izzie wiped the blood from her face with the back of her hand. The fifth, and last vamp, was running in the opposite direction.

Izzie, now in full-fledged fighting mood, ran after him. He was fast, but she was faster and caught him within seconds. He cried out in frustration as she grasped him by the arm and pulled him to a halt. He spun around to hit her but she ducked easily. Izzie grasped him by the collar and hoisted him back against a tree. “Hey! Watch the coat!” he cried.

Izzie let go of the coat and stepped back. “What’s this about a ring”

“I’m not telling you anything,” he insisted with his macho guy attitude. Izzie brought out her stake and smiled as she saw the fear in his face. He remained confident however. Izzie held the tip of the stake against his chest and repeated the question. Still, he refused to speak. Izzie applied pressure and the tip of the stake began to penetrate his chest. The vampire grunted in pain. “OK, OK!”

“What’s this about a ring?” Izzie said between clenched teeth.

“Alythe’s ring. She needs it.”

“What is she planning on doing?”

The vampire looked down at the stake, which Izzie then move forward. “She...she wants to open the hell mouth maybe...she wants to get to the real world it’s this big secret or something...you gonna let me go now man?” the vampire said stammering. Izzie pushed the stake into his heart and watched as he disappeared into dust. “No,” she said simply.

The thunder rumbled against the sky and the rain began to fall. Something caught her attention and as she turned she saw a huge group of vampires coming her way. There were too many of them and with a bitter disappointment, she turned and fled.

~*~ ~*~` ~*~

It was pouring down. So hard in fact, you could see the raindrops bouncing off the pavement. Only Izzie hardly noticed the rain, her mind was focused only on what was said. A secret? Pretty cryptic but still intriguing- especially for her. The real world? Where was this place he had spoken of?

Without thinking, she found herself in Giles’ neighborhood. Izzie wasn’t sure if Giles would be awake, but somehow she didn’t care.

Giles didn’t open the door until several knocks later, and when he did he must have been surprised to find the slayer at his door. He stared at her in surprise taking in the soaked hair, matted to her forehead and a cut above her eye.

“Izzie, are you ok?” It was supposed to be concern, Izzie knew that much, but it lacked something.

Izzie touched the cut gingerly. “Don’t worry about that. I have something important to say.” Izzie pushed past Giles without even waiting for an invitation.

“Come in,” Giles muttered, after the fact.

Izzie looked around the place. “Don’t you find it weird that I’ve never been here?”

Giles paused. “Pardon?”

“Here. In your house,” Izzie said, “No slayer meetings or what not?”

Giles was beginning to become more and more confused. “Is this why you came to my house?”

Izzie sighed. “No.” She sunk down into the couch. “I had an incident tonight.”

“So I noticed.” he said, wincing at the fact his couch was now as soaked through as his slayer.

“Listen...one of the vampires said that a women was looking for a ring to unleash the hell mouth and get back to the real world.” Izzie didn’t miss the fleeting look of worry in his face that he quickly tried to pass off as confusement.

“Do you know anything about this?” she asked. “Des this have to do with Lyla?”

Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “No and I’m not sure. I’ll have to look it up.” His typical answer to everything.

Izzie wasn’t convinced. “Are you hiding something?”

Giles clearly wasn’t thrilled with his accusing tone. “No!”

He answered too quickly and for Izzie that just removed any credibility he had. Something was up and Izzie wasn’t in the loop. She figured she’d just have to find another way.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“You want me to what?!?!”

“It’s not so crazy,” Izzie insisted.

Lyla hopped off of the bathroom counter and smoothed out her skirt. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think so.”

Izzie wasn’t about to let this go. Granted, she felt weird about discussing this in the women’s bathroom, but she knew Lyla would be here, fixing up her makeup at lunch.

“Listen,” Izzie began again,” We’ve never really been friends....”

“True,” Lyla said firmly.

Izzie rolled her eyes, but forced herself to be “nice.” “Lyla please just listen for a moment. Something is very wrong here.” The tone in Izzie’s voice was pleading and very, very serious. Lyla paused with her compact in hand, and turned to look at Izzie.

Izzie knew she had her attention now. “I know,” Lyla said simply.

“I had this dream,” Lyla explained,” I didn’t tell Giles or Drew because I didn’t think it mattered. I had a dream that night where women told me that she knew a secret and that I didn’t belong. She told me that everything is not as it seems.”

“And?” Izzie pressed.

Lyla shrugged. “And then suddenly I was playing bow and arrows with Legolas in the forest.” Izzie stifled a laugh.

“Well, that’s interesting and....different. However you were possessed and I think you unleashed something.”

“Hey,” Lyla said, pointing her mascara wand at Izzie, “that was an accident. I was...well, possessed. And...I didn’t mean to.”

“That’s not the point,” Izzie said,” Giles knows something and he’s being very...”

“British?” Lyla suggested.

“About it,” Izzie finished. “And I think he’s told Drew about it so...”

“You want me to get it out of Drew,” Lyla asked.

“Yes. Using your...err.... charms.” Izzie spit out.

Lyla smiled at the forced compliment. “I’m still not doing it-it’s demeaning!”

Izzie was growing frustrated. She’d thought she was getting somewhere. “You have to! I cant...”

“Why not?”

“I’m not all flirty and stuff...”Izzie said lamely.

“Well, that is true,” Lyla, said airily.

Izzie gritted her teeth. With her strength she could break her neck with just a simple.....”You’re flirtatious with him, he wouldn’t be suspicious,” Izzie pointed out.

“You’re asking me to prostitute myself.”

Izzie blanched. “I’m not asking you to sleep with him.”

Lyla actually appeared disappointed at the suggestion for a moment. “Prostitute my dignity.”

“That’s silly,” Izzie said with a wave of her hand, “Prostitutes receive money, I’m not paying you.”

Lyla frowned. “Come on, don’t make me beg,” Izzie pleaded.

“But it’s so fun,” Lyla insisted.

“Listen,” Izzie said, growing tired and impatient. “All I’m asking is for you to use what comes naturally and find out what could possibly save our lives. This isn’t a little problem Lyla this is serious. You’ve already experienced it; we don’t know what could happen. Please do this.”

Lyla hesitated. The dreams had been intense and since the possession she’d felt this impending doom feeling. She was trying to make light of it for her own sake, but with other people feeling it too she couldn’t really let herself believe everything was ok. Maybe Drew was the answer; maybe he knew something even if it was only to say that nothing was happening. She drew in a deep breath and smoothed out her hair. In a very business like matter she turned to Izzie. “I’ll do it.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Drew was in the library alone, just as Izzie had said. As she left the bathroom Izzie had stopped her. “Wait,” she said, and then began to undo the top buttons of Lyla’s shirt.

“Woah!” Lyla said, swatting away her hands,” that’s not the essence of my flirtation there Izzie. I’m not giving’ away the farm here.”

Izzie shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Lyla waved her away. “ I can’t concentrate with you spying on me. Shoo...shoo...”

Izzie laughed. “Ok...thanks...”

“Lets get one thing straight I am doing this for me...I haven’t had a good dream in a long time.”

“Legolas” Izzie asked, a small smile on her face.

Lyla sighed. “ It was lacking...”

Izzie turned away and headed down the hall, leaving Lyla alone. She was standing just outside the library doors and she could see Drew inside. He appeared to be alone...she got that from the fact that no one was in the immediate area around him. *Haha* Flirting on her own terms was fine, but on someone else’s was a different matter. She checked her outfit and undid the top couple of buttons just as Izzie had tried to do.... she figured it couldn’t hurt.

She threw open the doors attracting his attention to her instantly. Lyla smiled as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, folding her arms she leaned across the counter giving Drew an ample view.

“Whatcha doin” she asked.

Drew sifted under her stare. “Just trying to find some info on this ring.”

“Vampires who want jewelry huh?” she asked, playing stupid, “well it’s better than blood I guess.”

Drew smiled “We think that the vampires are just lackeys. We think it might be a witch they’re working for.”

“A witch? Like spells and stuff?” she asked. Drew nodded before returning to his book. Lyla frowned; this wasn’t going her way at all. “Just between you and me, ”she said leaning closer. “I think Giles knows more than he is letting on. I think something else is happening.”

If Lyla wasn’t mistaken, Drew looked afraid. The look passed quickly. “You think the same don’t you?” Lyla asked. Good god, it was true, she thought.

Drew opened his mouth to say something but closed it again. Lyla was suddenly understanding Izzie’s concern and her own. Drew shook his head. “Nothing is being kept from you. We’re just trying to figure out about this ring.”

“Yes, but....”

“Nothing Lyla. But nothing. Sometimes you should just mind your own business.” Drew’s tone was harsh and not at all pleasant. Lyla stepped back, crossing her arms. “There’s no reason to be a prick about it.”

Drew’s face softened. “Sorry. I am just stressed out,” he said. Lyla shrugged her indifference. “I have class,” she said, turning. She tossed her hair once more before leaving Drew behind. Izzie was waiting outside. “Well?”

Lyla paused with her back to Izzie.” Something in going on. And I think Giles knows something.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The vampires gathered around the small fire in the middle of the woods, surrounding the Sunnydale cemetery. The women stepped forward before them. Her long dark hair glistened in the firelight. She extended one arm, her sleeve dropped back to reveal a creamy hand adorned with many rings. The crowd quieted and waited for her to speak.

“I am Alythe,” she began.

“And I am here to kick your ass.” Everyone turned towards the person who dares insult their master. Izzie stepped into the light. “Maybe I should introduce myself. The name is Izzie.”

The vampires surrounded their master to protect her. Alythe smiled and stepped down from her platform. The vampires separated, making room for her to walk. Alythe stepped in front of Izzie. She looked over her with critical eyes. “ You’re Izzie?”

“That would be me.”

Alythe laughed. “You poor girl you have no clue.”

“You are the one without a clue. I mean a lackey of vampires to protect you how...common.” Izzie retorted.

Alythe glanced over her shoulder at the vampires ready to attack at her word. She shrugged, amused with the comment. “Oh that,” she said, lifting one hand between them. She snapped her fingers. “That’s just for show.” At the snap of her fingers the vampires disappeared.

“You really have no clue as to what is going on do you?” Alythe asked.

Izzie, still stunned from the spectacle, forced herself to remain indifferent. “You want a ring of some sort. Big deal.”

“Yes, but the question of why, is a big deal, is it not?”

“So why then?” Izzie asked.

Alythe opened her mouth to answer, but as she spoke Izzie realized that no sound was coming out. That somehow she could only hear a loud beeping of some sort drowning out Alythe.

“I can’t hear you!!!” Izzie shouted, trying to be heard over the sound. The noise stopped and Alythe smiled sadly. “Wake up,” she said simply.

And she did.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Over the next few days’ things became weirder. Izzie’s vivid dream was only the beginning. Ellie, Izzie and Lyla were thrown together in a whirlwind of weird occurrences. First it was the strange dreams and than it began to get stranger.

One day during just another meeting- a simple meeting- Lyla passed out. Later when she was alone with Izzie, she explained that the room had changed and it was dark and grave like, as though they were underground and there was no one there except for the three of them. The scenes had flashed between the real and the illusion until she had passed out.

The search for Alythe never stopped, but she managed to get away every time. However Izzie knew that Alythe was only the beginning, she was linked to something bigger, as Lyla had said that day outside the library, she felt that Giles knew something more than he was letting on. Lyla had told her that Drew had looked scared; maybe he felt the same way. Giles had found out about Izzie’s dreams and meetings with her and went on a rampage about how she wasn’t supposed to listen...she was only supposed to kill.

And finally, she had her chance.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~


When Izzie awoke that night from yet another strange dream, she felt as though she was being lead somewhere. Dressing quickly she followed the strange feeling until she found herself in the cemetery...in the woods surrounding it. Izzie found herself at the large rock where Lyla had been possessed. As she ran her hand over the cool rock, and as she did so she noticed a small hole she hadn’t noticed before and reached inside. She felt something cool and metal like and as she pulled it out into the light she realized that she was holding the ring.

“Took you long enough to find this place.” a voice said from behind her.

Izzie spun around hiding the ring behind her back. “Am I dreaming?” she asked lamely. There was no way the ring could just appear like that. How could she have just found it so easily and right by the place that Alythe has lead Lyla. It all seemed just a little too easy for her.

“No, this is quite real,” Alythe said.

Izzie glanced behind her. “So why here? I was lead here right?”

Alythe smiled as she nodded. Izzie watched her walk around her slowly, always on guard incase Alythe decided to try something. Alythe was not worried as she ran her hand over the rock face. “Lyla freed me here.”

“And you possessed her? So that was you...”

“Who else would it be?”

Izzie shrugged. “Never really cared. Just figured that is the way it was.”

“By the way I never possessed her, I simply tapped into something she already had.”

That amused Izzie who thought of Lyla as being shallow as they come. “Oh, and what was that?”

“You find it funny,” Alythe said, smiling a knowing smile. “If only you knew the power she possessed.”

“Well for now I would like to know why you want the ring for opening the hellmouth,” Izzie said, quickly changing the topic to one that might answer some of her questions.

Alythe tilted her head back and laughed as though Izzie had said something very amusing. Izzie frowned. “I’m not opening the hell mouth, that is a terribly nasty place you know.”

“Color me confused.” Izzie said.

“What is it you want to know,” Alythe said, now serious.

“For one, those words Lyla read, freed you right? And that’s all it did?” Izzie asked.

“Yes. But it also took more than the reading.”

“Like what?”

“Something that holds the answers, something they don’t want you to know.”

Izzie rubbed her temples, suddenly feeling very tired with all the cryptic messages. “Why are you so cryptic?”

“Because I’m not about to tell you outright. You must trust your instincts. We both want the same thing you and I. To be free.”

Izzie threw her hands in the air. “Why am I even listening to you? You’re evil and looking for the ring to open the hell mouth!”

Alythe shook her head. “If I wanted the ring, I would have just taken it from you.”

She pointed at Izzie’s hand, and as if on command Izzie’s arm lifted and her fingers straightened to reveal the ring that lay on her palm. “The ring is not for you,” Alythe said, ”Nor for me. Don’t tell who you cannot trust and you know who that is.”

Izzie nodded sadly. “Giles.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~