Chosen One: Part Nineteen
by KM
Kathlin awoke with a start. Looking around her, she noticed that she was laying in bed again.

"I always seem to wake up in bed.” she thought with a rueful smile. As she glanced around again, she noticed that everything seemed different, yet the same. She felt her teeth. They felt the same, but her stomach was growling. She hadn’t eaten anything for a day or two. A slight noise made her look about. A smile came softly to her lips as she spied Spike, asleep beside her. He looked so innocent. As she watched him sleep, she thought of all that had happened in the past few days. Another thought struck her like lightning. He loved her, and she knew she couldn’t deny that. But the shocking thing was that she realized she loved him. After all that he’d told her, she was glad. Now that she was a full vampire, they could stay together forever. She leaned over and gently kissed his lips. He awoke with a start, as she expected, but when he realized who was there, he smiled and pulled her into a deep kiss. A strange noise caused them to break. Seeing the alarm in her eyes, Spike calmed her.

"I’ll check it out, pet. Don’t worry!” Kathlin watched him stand up and reach for a black leather coat, like Angel’s but longer. He put it over his black jeans and red shirt and walked out of the room. After a few minutes, she heard a crash and ran out to see what was happening. What she saw shocked her. There was Angel, laying on the floor in front of a dented wall and Buffy and Spike were fighting furiously. As Kathlin watched, Buffy pulled out a stake and aimed it towards his heart. Something angry rose up in Kathlin, a power she never knew of. She concentrated hard on the stake in Buffy’s hand and jerked her head. The stake flew harmlessly into the shadows. Now Spike took advantage of Buffy’s sudden handicap. He lifted her and was about to throw her into Angel, when he heard a soft voice.

"No.” Kathlin walked towards the fighting pair and by her will, separated them. Buffy found herself standing beside Angel, but unable to move. Kathlin moved closer to Spike, then slid under his arm, hugging against him.

"Buffy, no one asked you to come here. I didn’t ask to try to save me. I told you I was fine.” Buffy looked at her like she’d just lost her mind.

"If you promise not to attack us, I’ll let you go.” She nodded. Kathlin waved her hand, and Buffy felt a sudden release on her body.

"Why are you protecting him?” she asked imploringly. Kathlin was almost startled by the question.

"I wouldn’t talk.”, she replied with raised eyebrows, “I finally found a place where I fit in, where someone wants and loves me.” Spike looked directly at Buffy as he hugged Kathlin tightly, challenging her to do something. Buffy ignored him.

"What are you talking about?” Kathlin sighed.

"I know you think that I’m crazy, choosing a vampire over people, especially one who you think is totally evil. But would most people believe the truth about Angel? So I guess we are both the same, in some ways. But I ask one thing of you: go with Angel, leave me here where I belong and where I’m happy, and don’t follow. I am touched that you tried, but I don’t need you now.” Buffy watched the girl as she spoke. This was definitely not the same Kathlin that she knew. This person was poised, confident, and had extreme mental strength. Her power radiated out so strong that Angel started to grow worried. What could happen if she got really angry and used this power on them? Suddenly, words seemed to form in his mind.

"Angel, take her away and tell her thank you.” He looked around to see who said them, but then realized that Kathlin had spoken them only to him. They formed again.

"She won’t leave without your help. Please take her and go.” they said to him pleadingly. Angel thought hard to her, “We aren’t leaving without you and you know it!” Kathlin knew this, but she knew that they had to leave, or Spike would kill them. She wasn’t sure how much power she had left, but she closed her eyes and pictured the library, with Buffy and Angel inside. Her head started to hurt, but she ignored it. She continued to concentrate on the library. As Buffy watched in horror, Kathlin fell to her knees, holding her head. A bright light started to glow around Angel and Buffy. The light started to grow stronger and brighter until it was almost blinding. Angel looked down at himself and saw he was growing transparent.

"Kathlin stop.” he called desperately.

"I can’t.” she cried. More words formed in his head.

"I’m truly sorry, Angel. But I need you both to go.”


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