Destini Comuni

Disclaimer: See first section
Author’s notes: See first section

Chapter Five: To Feast or to Fester

Two Years Prior: 1997

Amy threw a bolt of energy into the nearest vampire causing dust to fly everywhere. The sorceress spun around, launching another bolt. Another dusted vampire. Her indigo eyes glowed brightly with her power and the air around her body seemed to pulse.
A vampire roared to her right and then a scream. Both Amy and the newly arrived Buffy turned to see Willow on the ground, a vampire on top of her. Buffy kicked the vampire off of Willow and Amy dusted him quickly.
“Xander!” Willow screamed. Two vampires entertained themselves by dragging the boy away. Buffy dashed after them, tackling one to the ground. She picked up a dead branch on the ground and shoved it into him. He turned to ash.
The other vampire ran off leaving the group standing there alone. “Xander, are you okay?” Willow asked him, concerned. She knelt by him and hugged him tightly.
“Man, something hit me.” He replied, groaning.
Buffy looked around and counted the people. Buffy? Check. Amy? Check. Willow? Check. Xander? Check. Jesse? No check… “Where’s Jesse?” Buffy asked, nervous that they took him.
“I don’t know! They surrounded us.” Willow replied, checking Xander for injuries.
Amy started rotating herself slowly, scanning the cemetery.
“That girl grabbed him and took off.” Xander replied, struggling to stand up.
“Which way?” Amy asked, still looking, trying to get a feel for where she went, but coming up empty.
“I don’t know…” Xander replied.
“Damnit, Jesse…” Amy said under her breath, going to her knees. “Goddamnit!” She yelled, punching the ground hard enough to dent the cool grass.
“Let’s get back to the library so we can get our wits about us. We need to find them…” Willow suggested, taking Amy’s hand in hers. The rest nodded and they headed back to the school.

Amy stared at the table angrily, pissed off at herself for letting the vampires take Jesse away. If she remained more focused in protecting everyone, everyone would be here. She didn’t even pay attention to Giles while he lectured on the existence of demons and the like. She knew it all, of course. Research was a past time for her.
“And vampires.” Buffy said, causing Amy to snap out of her self-loathing. She glanced up at the Slayer and their eyes met. Buffy’s eyes saying that she shouldn’t be beating herself up over it. Amy’s eyes told a different story, hers said that it was all her fault, full of self-depreciation.
“Okay, this is where I have a problem. See, because we’re talking about vampires. We’re having a talk with vampires in it.” Xander pointed out as if it was the most illogical and ridiculous topic of discussion.
“Xander, which is what we were fighting last night.” Willow explained. She looked at him sympathetically since she knew how much of a shock the news was.
“No. No, th-those weren’t vampires, those were just guys in thundering need of a facial. Or maybe they had rabies. It could have been rabies. A-and those guys turning to dust? Just a trick of light. Also, what Amy was doing, we were just imagining it.” Buffy said semi-sarcastically. Amy and Xander glared at her. “That’s exactly what I said the first time I saw a vampire. Well, after I was done with the screaming part.”
“Oh…I,I need to sit down…” Xander said, stunned.
“You are sitting down.” Willow responded, taking his hand in hers for comfort.
“Oh. Good for me.” He glanced at Willow, a small, appreciative smile on his face. “So vampires are demons?” He asked, his wits catching up with him.
“The books tell the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed, infected by the demon’s soul. He bit another, and another, and so they walk the Earth, feeding… Killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out and the old ones to return.” Giles explained, cleaning his glasses on his tie.
“That’s a pretty picture.” Amy stated sarcastically. Giles glared at her.
“So what’s this Slayer chick you’ve been talking about?” Xander asked, a bit more at ease with the whole demon thing.
“For as long as there have been vampires, there’s been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One.” Giles started.
Buffy grinned and sat back in her chair. “He loves doing this part.”
Giles looked at her indignantly before straightening up his posture. “Alright. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is the Slayer, don’t tell anyone. Well, I think that’s all the vampire information you need.”
“Except for one thing: how do you kill them?” Xander asked.
Buffy rolled her eyes and sat up straight. “You don’t. I do.”
“Well, Jesse’s my—“ Xander started.
“—Jesse is my responsibility. I let him get taken.” Amy said, cutting him off.
“That’s not true.” Willow said. She shifted to be closer to Amy, as comfort. That seemed to be her calling as of late. The Comforter. One girl in every group of friends. A Chosen One. “If you hadn’t shown up they would have taken us, too.” Willow put an arm around Amy’s shoulders.
Amy sighed and leaned into the hug, still angry, but not just upset that she failed her friend. She zoned out for a bit, not paying attention to what they were saying. She just couldn’t figure out how that female vampire got away. Amy knew that cemetery, that mausoleum even.
“You have no idea where they took Jesse?” Giles asked.
“Amy and I looked around, but soon’s they got clear of the graveyard, they could of just…voom!” Buffy explained.
“They can fly?” Asked Xander, stunned.
Amy rolled her eyes and smirked at him. “They can drive.” She said dryly.
“Oh…” He said, embarrassed.
“I don’t remember hearing a car.” Willow mentioned, still holding Amy close to her, something the both of them enjoyed.
“Let’s take an enormous intuitive leap, shall we, and say they went underground.” Giles pointed out, his patience running thin.
“Vampires really jam on sewer systems. You can get anywhere in the entire town without catching any rays. But I didn’t see any access around there.” Buffy noted.
“Well, there’s an electrical tunnel that runs under the whole town.” Xander pointed out.
“If we had a diagnostic of the tunnel system it might indicate a, a meeting place, it would, uh… I suppose we could go to the building commission.” Giles said.
Buffy groaned and leaned back in her chair. “We so don’t have the time.”
“Uh, guys? There may be another way.” Willow said.

“You’re the one that told me that I wasn’t prepared enough. Understatement!” Buffy said, exasperated. “I thought I was on top of everything, and then that monster, Luke, came out of nowhere…”
“They made a sewer access tunnel in the mausoleum!” Amy exclaimed. “The girl must have doubled back with Jesse during the fight! God! I am so mentally challenged!”
“So, what’s the plan? We saddle up, right?” Xander anxiously asked.
“There’s no ‘we’ besides the ‘Amy and I’ ‘we’, okay? I’m the Slayer, she’s the Sorceress, and you’re not.” Buffy said, a bit harshly.
“I knew you’d throw that back in my face.” Xander said dejectedly.
“Xan…this is doubleplus-dangerous…” She said pleadingly.
A brief smile flickered across his face. “I’m inadequate. That’s fine. I’m less that a man…”
“Buffy, I’m not anxious to go into a dark place full of monsters. But I do want to help. I need to.” Willow said.
“Well, then help me. I’ve been researching this Harvest affair. It seems to be some sort of preordained massacre. Rivers of blood, Hell on Earth, quite charmless. I’m a bit fuzzy, however, on the details. It may be that you can wrest some information from that dread machine.” Giles said to her.
Everyone stared at him, gawking slightly. He looked back at them all a bit sheepishly. “That was a bit, um, British, wasn’t it?” He said, cleaning his glasses.
Amy and Buffy grinned at him. “Welcome to the New World.” Buffy said cheekily.
“We promise you’ll enjoy the Colonies.” Amy added.

Amy stepped into the dank mausoleum first, a bright white fireball in her hand illuminating the entire building. Tall pillars and sarcophagi casting long shadows against the walls. Buffy followed her, looking around, unable to find anyone. She looked around, feeling against the wall until she found a large, locked metal gate. A sound came from behind the pair and Amy flung the fireball at it, incinerating the rat.
“Oops?” She said sheepishly, lighting another. Buffy rolled her eyes, picking up the lock.
Amy spun around when she noticed the presence of someone behind them. Her jaw dropped slightly. “Y-you…” she said softly. The man nodded at her.
“Yeah, me. Long time no chat.” he replied.
Amy nodded dumbly.
Buffy sighed in annoyance. “I don’t suppose you’ve got a key on you?” She asked him.
“They really don’t like me dropping in.” He replied.
Buffy finally turned around to face him. “Why not?”
“They really don’t like me.”
“How could that possibly be?” She asked sarcastically.
“I knew you’d figure out this entryway sooner or later. Actually, I thought it was gonna be a little sooner.” He said, his own brand of scathing humor dripping in.
“Sorry you had to wait.” She exhaled, trying to calm down. “Okay. Look, if you’re gonna be popping up with this Cryptic Wise Man act on a regular basis, can you at least tell me your name?” Buffy asked.
“Angel.” He replied.
“Angel. It’s a pretty name.” Amy said softly.

“They’re close.” Buffy said, glancing back at Xander and then Amy. The sorceress took the back to make sure no one snuck up on them. Buffy remained in front to make sure Xander was flanked and protected.
“How can you tell?” Xander asked.
“No more rats.” Amy pointed out. The sound of labored breathing met Amy’s and Buffy’s ears. Xander turned on his flashlight and with a bit of searching, found Jesse on the ground.
“Jesse!” Xander exclaimed. Buffy covered her mouth in shock but Amy took up a defense position. Something was wrong.
Amy pulled Buffy away a few steps. “Something’s not right here…Here’s the trap, the bait…but where’s the hook?” She said quietly.
Buffy nervously glanced around the area. “I have a bad feeling about this…”
“Thanks, Captain Solo…” Amy remarked dryly. They spotted shadows coming towards them. “Hook’s coming this way!” She said, taking off into a run, the rest following.
The four skidded to a halt outside a chamber. “Wait, wait. They brought me through here, there, there should be a way up. I hope!” He said, leading them in. Amy waited outside.
“Go, I have a little present for them.” She said, grinning. The door slammed closed, locking her out. Amy closed her eyes and extended her arms, palms out. Motes of white fire danced around her hands and wrists, collecting in front of her palms. The six vampires rounded the corner and froze, just as one large fireball rocketed towards them. Ash hit the ground.

Buffy stumbled into the library with Amy in her arms, Xander trailing right behind. Willow gasped and ran over, beckoning Buffy to lay her on the table. The blonde slayer did just that. Willow began to check Amy over for wounds and found none that needed first aid. She turned to Buffy. “Did you find Jesse?”
“Yeah.” Xander replied bitterly.
“Was he dead?”
“Worse.” Buffy sighed and sat at the end of the table near Amy’s head, waiting for her to wake up. If Buffy knew that the extreme magic use that Amy did down there would knock her out afterwards, she never would of let her do it. The blonde stroked the sorceress’ hair lightly. “I’m sorry, Willow. We were too late. And they were waiting for us,” she explained.
“At least you three are okay,” Willow said softly.
Xander violently kicked a trashcan across the room, causing everyone to jump. Amy even stirred and sat up slowly. Willow hugging her gently. “I don’t like vampires. I’m gonna take a stand and say they’re not good,” he said.
Amy nodded, the throbbing in her head not going away. Buffy turned to Giles. “So, Giles! Got anything that can make this day any worse?” She asked.
Giles walked over to the whiteboard they erected and put down his pen. “How about the end of the world?”
“Knew I could count on you.” Buffy replied.

Amy skidded to a stop right in front of the door to the Bronze. She killed the power on the sports car she lifted from the dealership parking lot. A spark of electricity passed between her fingers and she grinned. The team climbed out of the car headed towards the door. Willow hung back with Amy. “I can’t believe you stole a car!” She whispered urgently.
Amy grinned again. “Cool, huh?”
Willow rolled her eyes and smacked her on the shoulder. “Yes, but still! What if they find it?” She asked. Amy’s eyes flashed iridescent.
“Find what?” She asked sweetly of Willow.
Willow exhaled exasperatedly and started turning towards the car. “The…what the hell?” The car was gone.
“Find what?” Amy asked again. “I got a conscience and decided not to steal the car, left it at the dealership and we walked here, remember?”
Amy grinned again. Willow smirked. “Smart ass…” She said lightly.
“Yeah, but you love me for it,” she replied. Willow smiled at her.
“It’s locked!” Buffy exclaimed.
“We’re too late!” said Giles.
“I didn’t know I was gonna get grounded!”
“Can you break it down?” Xander asked her.
“No, not that thing. Amy can though. Um…You guys try the back entrance, and I’ll find my own way.”
“Right. Come on.” Giles said.
“Uh, wait! Guys! Here!” Buffy said, handing Willow her bag of tricks. Amy stepped up to the door, clenching and unclenching her fists. “You get the exit cleared and the people out. That’s all! Don’t go Wild Bunch on me.” She said.
“Uh, see you inside, then.” Giles replied.
“Okay. Amy.” Buffy said. The sorceress shot her a glance out of the corner of her eye, her irises glowing. “Wait for my voice, then blow this door open in the most violent manner possible. Give it flair.”
Amy gave a feral grin. “My pleasure.”

‘Be right down!’ Amy heard Buffy say loudly from inside. She grinned again, eyes flashing dangerously. “Three…” Her hands pulsed violet. “Two…” The door pulsed violet. “One…” The door exploded inward with a rush of purple fire. “Showtime.”
Amy stepped into the Bronze surrounded by chaos and she loved it. People screaming and running out the back exit with help of her friends. Buffy fighting the Vessel and Xander fighting Jesse. Amy couldn’t bear to look at Jesse as a vampire so she turned away to see a fledgling looking at her hungrily. Amy rolled her eyes as he approached. Her eyes flashed and he incinerated. The sorceress had to lean against the wall, all her magic use wearing her out quickly. The explosion draining her the most.
Xander yelped, causing Amy to look over there at two vampires holding him. She pushed off the wall and walked over there menacingly. “Now, now, boys…” She reached out for Xander. “Give him to me,” she said lightly, her face mimicking a vampire’s visage. He looked scared to death and entirely crushed.
The vampires pushed him at her roughly and she caught him. She held him against her and extended her arm to them, lightning arcing out of her hand and catching them both. Ashes hit the floor. Xander pulled away from her quickly.
Amy’s face returned to normal. “I’m not a vampire, Xander. I made it look like it so I could get you away from them safely. I’m still me, alive,” she said softly, spreading her arms wide in a gesture of ‘it’s me.’
He hugged her tightly. “Thank god, I couldn’t lose you, too. Not another one of the gang…” he said, still hugging her, glad to hear a heartbeat. Amy smiled softly at him and hugged him back. Glass shattered behind them but neither moved.
“It’s in about nine hours, moron!” They heard Buffy quip.
Angel walked over to Amy and Xander as soon as they released each other. “She did it. I’ll be damned,” he said to Amy. She grinned as he handed her twenty bucks.
“Told you so.” She quipped.

Amy, Xander, and Buffy walked through the hall arm in arm in arm, Xander in the middle. “What exactly were you expecting?” Buffy asked him.
“I don’t know, something. I mean, the dead rose. We should at least have an assembly,” he said ruefully.
The trio met up with Willow and Giles. “People have a tendency to rationalize what they can and forget what they can’t.” Giles explained.
“Believe me, I’ve seen it happen.” Buffy said.
“I’ve done it,” both Willow and Amy said in unison.
“Well, I’ll never forget it, none of it,” Xander said.
“Good! Next time you’ll be prepared,” said Giles.
“Next time is why?” Xander asked.
“We’ve prevent the Master from freeing himself and opening the Mouth of Hell. That’s not to say he’s going to stop trying. I’d say the fun is just beginning.”
“Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school!” Buffy said, grinning. Giles stopped walking but the four teens kept going.
“Oh, yeah, that’s a plan. ‘Cause lots of schools aren’t on Hellmouths.” Xander quipped.
“Maybe you could blow something up. They’re really strict about that,” Willow added.
“I got away with it,” Amy countered.
“True…”
“I was thinking of a more subtle approach, y’know, like excessive not studying.” Buffy said.
“The Earth is doomed!” Giles said, loud enough for the Chosen Two to hear.