The Key

Downstairs Spike had rounded up Willow and asked her for her help. When Layla walked in Spike and Willow were hunched over a computer. They looked up when she came over to them. "Find anything?" Layla asked. Willow turned the computer around and showed it to Layla. It was an old newspaper article.

"Local woman killed Daughter kidnaped:

The police are searching for the killers of 22 year old Mary Parker. She was found this morning by park officials. Her body had been drained of all blood and torn to shreds. The police have no evidence. Her husband, Seth Parker, came home from his job around 10pm. He called the police when he couldn't find his wife or his 1 year old daughter. He believes whoever did this to his wife also kidnapped their child. He is begging for her safe return."

Layla put her hand on her mouth. There was a picture of Seth, Mary, and their child. "Can you find anything on him after this article?" she asked Willow. "No. There is nothing else about him or the kidnapped child. Why are you interested in this couple?" Willow asked. "She saw the beautiful statue in the graveyard and wanted to know more about the person," Spike said. Layla sent him a silent thank you. "Does it have the child's name by any chance?" she asked. Willow looked all the way down. "Yes. The little girl was named Olivia Parker," she said. "Thank you Willow," Layla said as she left the room. Spike went after her. They went outside and sat on the porch.

"My name is Olivia," she said. "Olivia is a beautiful name," Spike mentioned as he sat down beside her on the steps. "So I guess this means you are not Buffy's cousin," he said. "Your right. I have no family," she said. "I didn't mean it like that," he said. "I know. This is all too much to take in," she said. "Sorry about what I did upstairs. I don't know what got into me," she said apologizing about the shirt thing. Spike looked at Layla and pictured her upstairs. He turned his face away so she couldn't see his reaction."That's alright," he said looking up at the stars. "Being here has taught me one thing," she said. "What's that?" he asked. She pulled his face to meet hers. "Life is just too short to be proper," she said kissing him. He let himself kiss her back but only for a minute. He pulled back. "We can't do this," he said immediately hating himself. Usually if a girl was to kiss him the way she just did he wouldn't hesitate to take her to his place but this girl is different. "What? Why?"she asked looking crushed. "Because, luv, you do not know everything about me either," he said. "Well tell me. I can handle just about anything these days," she said. He thought about it. She does seem strong enough but will she love him the same after he tells her he is a vampire. "That's okay Spike," she said smiling. "I will be ready to listen when you are ready to tell me." Spike went to tell her when Willow came outside. "There you are. I have been looking for you everywhere. I found an address for a Seth Parker. It's here in Sunnydale. On the out skirts of town," Willow said excited. "That's great. You have got to give me the address," she said following Willow to the computer. Spike sat there motionless. She had kissed him and then said she would wait for him. He smiled. He looked inside at her. He definitely decided he would tell her no matter what reaction she gave him the truth would be out. He looked at his watch. The truth would have to wait for tomorrow night. Sunrise was coming soon and he had to get home. He took one last look at Layla and got up to leave. "Wait. Spike," she called after him. He turned around to see her going to him. "You're leaving," she asked. "I need to get home," he said. "Okay. Know this Spike. I have deep feelings for you that I would love to explore if only you would let me," she said. "Tomorrow we talk. And promise me one thing. You will not go see Seth Parker tomorrow until I get here to go with you. You understand?," he said. "Okay. I will wait for you," she said heading back into the house. He headed back to his apartment not looking forward to tomorrow. He liked her having the illusion that he was a regular human but that is all it is, an illusion. She is bound to find the truth out about him sooner or later and he wanted to be the one to tell her.

Layla went inside the house and shut the door. She had every intention on waiting for Spike tomorrow but she didn't think she would wait. This could be her only chance to get the truth about her past and maybe even reunite with her father. She went into the kitchen. Giles was just coming in. He put down the bag that has the stakes in it. "Giles you said Mary Parker was killed by a vampire. Do you know whatever happened to the vampire?" Layla asked him. Giles walked in and sat at the table. "He is still alive. There weren't any slayers in Sunnydale at that time. As soon as the handlers found out that an invasion was occurring in Sunnydale that particular vampire had left and went to another city," he said. "What was his name?" she asked. "I can't remember. Why all the interest in Mary Parker all of a sudden?" he asked. "I have just been doing some thinking lately. That's all," Layla told him. Layla was going to leave the room when she asked, "Did they ever find Olivia?" she asked. Giles looked at her. 'Can she be?' he thought. He quickly shoved that thought from his mind. The council of handlers would have known if the child called Olivia was still alive. They had been hunting for her for 2 decades with no luck. "After she had disappeared we searched for her with no luck. There was no trace of her anywhere," he said maybe telling her a little too much. "Why would the handlers be interested in a child?" she asked sitting down at the table. "Well, we thought that the vampire may have taken her so he could feed on her. We didn't want to see an innocent child suffer like that," he said lying to her. He kept the real truth to himself. "Oh. That would have been a shame," she said getting up. "Thanks Giles," she said. "Layla?" he said stopping her before she left the room. "Drop all of this stuff about Mary Parker please. That is one hard road to go down and some things are better left in the past," he said. "Okay," was all she said as she left the room. 'What was that about?' she thought as she went up to her room. Of course she wouldn't drop this not now since Mary Parker had called her daughter.

Layla woke up the next day around dinner. She showered and got dresses in her casual sun dress. She had the best feeling in her stomach. She knew something great was going to happen today. She didn't know if it would involve meeting her real father or Spike finally letting himself love her. She knew it had to be good. She put on the necklace and saw it begin to churn. She opened her palm and saw tiny sparks. She closed her palm and they were gone. The necklace was helping her focus on controlling her powers. Maybe that is why it called to her from that shop window. Mary, her mom, knew it would help her one day.

Downstairs Layla picked up a picture frame of her and Buffy when they were 9. "Those were simpler times," Buffy said walking up to Layla. Layla put the frame back down. "Yes. I just wish we could go back to those days," she said. "But we can't. We have to deal with what we are now," Buffy said. "Buffy if you had a chance to be someone else, would you take it?" Layla asked. Buffy didn't even hesitate. "Yes I would. I mean I love helping people but I don't want to do this anymore. I want a normal life. I want a boyfriend. I want a life," she said venting. Layla's heart went out to her friend. Layla lived a pretty normal childhood thanks to her supposed parents, Ada and Grant Simpson. Buffy grew up in death and destruction. Layla put her arm around Buffy's shoulders. She had wanted to tell Buffy that they were not really cousins but she changed her mind. She has always loved Buffy and to Layla Buffy is her only family. "Buffster if I could give you that normal existence I would," Layla said. Buffy smiled at Layla. "Thanks," she said. "So what do you have planned for today? No more field trips to the cemetery right?" Buffy asked. "No. No more of those for now. I think I am off to go into town. You know have a look around," she said. "Okay but be back before sundown," Buffy said. "I sure will," Layla said heading for the front door.

As Layla walked into town she thought of Spike. He might be angry when he finds out she has went on her own but then again going now will give them more time together later. And that is what she wanted was time with Spike. She looked at the sidewalk more cracks had shown up. She stopped. 'Now I know these were not here yesterday,' she thought. She bent down above one of the cracks. Weeds had started to grow out of it. She reached down and run her fingers along the crack. Immediately she had this feeling of dread and evil. Images rushed through her mind.

*People were running. Screaming. They were all afraid of something. Pure evil was chasing the townspeople. Leaving nothing behind it swept through the entire village.*

Layla gasped as she pulled her hand away. Something this evil headed to Sunnydale could not be good. So instead of going to see Seth Parker she headed back to warn the others. She had to tell them what she knows. Even if they believed her or not. She ran all the way back to Buffy's house. Inside everyone was sitting in the living room. They all looked at her as she entered. "There is something extremely evil headed for us and I think it gets closer everyday," Layla said. "What are you talking about?" Xander asked. "Every since I came to Sunnydale I have walked the same road downtown. Today I noticed cracks in the concrete sidewalk that hasn't been there before. I have also noticed the same cracks in a few others spots also," she mentioned. "Okay they are just cracks in the sidewalk. Nothing evil in that," Anya said. "Normally I would think something like that but not now. You see when I touched the concrete I got a vision of the thing that is headed this way. It is pure evil and it leaves nothing of the towns it goes through," Layla said. "A vision?" Giles asked. "Yes, I have a gift. I can see some things when I touch certain objects," she said. Giles rubbed his chin. "How long have you had this gift?" he asked. "Not long. A few days," she said. "What does this thing sound like to you Giles?" Buffy asked. "It sounds like the wake demon. There are only two of them in the world. They slipped through a portal in Egypt a few hundred years ago. Every five years they resurface to kill the slayer. Now if Layla is correct both of them are headed here for you Buffy," he said. Everone turned and looked at Buffy. Layla's heart dropped. If these demons were after Buffy there was no way any of them could stop it. From Layla's vision this thing was unstoppable. "How do we stop these demons?" Willow asked. "You can't. So far the council of handlers have never been able to get close enough to one to find out what makes these things weak. The slayer is usually killed before the handler gets to her," Giles said. Buffy showed no signs of fear. Layla admired that in Buffy. "Okay Willow, please find all of the research that you can on the demons. Xander get to work on fixing this house. Make it strong enough to with stand anything. Dawn and Anya gather wood and anything else that would make good weapons. Andrew go hide in the basement," Buffy said taking charge of everything. "And me?" Layla asked. "Why didn't you tell me of this new gift?" Buffy asked. "I didn't think it was that important at the time," Layla said. "Thank you for telling us," Buffy said as she left the room. Giles came up to Layla. "New gift? You have others?" he asked. She didn't like him asking questions about her so she kept her answers short. "Yes, I do," she said. "What kind?" he asked more curious. "You know just a little something," she said. "Where did you get that necklace?" Giles asked mentioning the necklace he just now noticed her wearing. "From a shop in town. I gotta go," she told him leaving the room. Giles stood there. He went to make a few phone calls.