Forever Anne: 4: Altera
by Timan
Buffy didn’t sleep that well through the night. She spent a good portion of it lightly flicking through the book Gwendolyn had handed her. There were so many things she had to collect she didn’t know where to start. In the back of her mind there was this driving question of whether or not she should give up the power but she shook this thought out of her head. Buffy looked up at the clock stunned. It was nine in the morning. Where did all the time go?
There was a light knock at the door. Buffy got up and slipped on a robe. She opened the door to discover Danny smiling at her while holding a large brown paper bag and two cups of coffee. Buffy looked at this scene curiously.
“Breakfast,” Danny announced happily, “hope you like bagels.”
Danny handed her the bag. Buffy opened it and was welcomed by the aroma of freshly baked bread. She smiled up at the boy.
“You didn’t have to do this Danny.” She replied
Danny shoots her a mock annoyed look.
“Great, now you tell me,” he replied, “its okay I figured you’d need your strength for fighting . . . what are you fighting again?”
“Demons.”
“Right, demons, that was my second guess.”
Buffy smirked at Danny.
“What was your first?”
“Cowboys.” Danny replied shrugging
Buffy laughed
“I don’t think L.A. is ready for Anne the Cowboy slayer.”
“Hey, don’t underestimate this city missy. Throw on the hat and a set of chaps and you can put the fear of god into anybody.”
Buffy roll her eyes as she bit down into her breakfast. Danny sat across from her on the bed and tried to hide his anxiousness.
“So Anne . . . What he hunting first?” he asked
Buffy picked up the book and flicked through the pages until she found the one she was looking for. She handed it to Danny who scanned the page thoroughly. He twisted his face up in confusion.
“Korglir demon?” he asked, “That doesn’t sound friendly.”
“Most of them aren’t,” Buffy replied, “I think it’s all the hacking and slashing. Gives people the wrong impression. Anyway the book says that I need the horn of a Korglir demon and this place isn’t far from here so I figure we find it and I buy what I need.”
“Sounds sold. What’s the going rate for demon horns?”
“Depends what you’re using it for.”
Danny laughed.
“What could you use a horn for, I mean, it’s not like they could end the world using it right?”
Danny noticed Buffy’s serious expression and the smile dropped from his face.
“Oh god you’re serious aren’t you? They can end the world with this type of stuff?”
Buffy walked over and stared to usher Danny out the door
“I’ll meet you outside Danny,” she said
Giles waited impatiently on the Sunnydale city border under his arm he held an ornate wooden box which he held protectively. Ethan was already half an hour late for the time they agreed upon but Giles figured this was for effect. Just then he sensed a presence walking up behind him. Giles swung around sharply to see Ethan Rayne smiling at him smugly.
“Hello again Ripper,” Ethan said, “Prompt as usually I see.”
“Spare me the pleasantries Ethan.” Giles growled, “I want to know where Buffy is now.”
“Easy Rupert or you might get on may bad side. Is that what I asked for?”
Ethan pointed to the box under Giles arm. Giles glared at him and griped it tightly
“Not until you tell me where Buffy is.”
“For an educated man you certainly don’t learn do you? what makes you think I’ll tell you anything if you don’t give me what I want?”
“I think a few hits to the face might help.” Giles retorted
Ethan folded his arms.
“You care for this girl right?” he asked seriously
“What’s that got to do with . . ?”
“Just answer the question Ripper.”
Giles took a moment to try and figure out Ethan’s motives.
“Yes.” He replied softly
“Do anything for her?”
Giles rolled his eyes.
“Yes.”
A small smile crossed Ethan’s face face.
“Do anything to make sure she’s safe?”
“Yes I would,” Giles replied curiously, “What are you getting at?”
“What I’m getting at ripper is that I can’t guarantee her safety unless you help me.”
“so you’re saying she’s in danger?”
“I think we’ve done enough sharing for one day. Now is that what I asked for?”
Giles stared Ethan down. Ethan rolled his eyes impatiently.
“Oh bloody hell it’s only the Sphere of Altera for god’s sake. It’s not like I’m asking for a nuclear weapon.”
Ethan had a point. The Sphere of Altera had no real inherent danger on its own. But the fact that Ethan asked for it specifically worried Giles immensely. Hesitantly Giles handed over the box. Ethan opened it and pulled out the glowing red ball. He smiled victoriously.
“Beautiful isn’t it?” He said softly
“Alright Ethan you got what you want now tell me where Buffy is!”
“What about the rest of what I asked for?” Ethan asked
“That’s going to take more time,” Giles snapped, “Some of the items are quite literally impossible to get hold of. Especially the on locked in the central vault of the Council of Watchers.”
“Well then it looks like you got some work ahead of you.”
“Where’s Buffy?!”
Ethan went back to looking at the sphere.
“In time Ripper in time.” He replied
Danny’s car drove slowly down the street.
“Dow close are we now?” Danny asked
Buffy consulted the address.
“Not far,” she replied, “should be a couple of buildings down . . . here.”
Danny pulled over. They both looked out the window at where the book told them to head to curiously.
“You sure the book said to come here?” Danny asked uncertain.
“Yeah.” Buffy replied equally uncertain.
“Did it say anything about it being a giant hole in the ground?”
“No,” Buffy replied rummaging around in the large sports bag she brought with her, “Stay here I’m gonna go check it out.”
Danny shot a surprised look at her.
“Whoa there missy. I’ve seen horror films noting good ever comes out of a hole that size.” He exclaimed
“I’ll be fine. Beside’s I’ve got this.”
Buffy pulled out the sword and held it carefully. Danny’s surprise became more intense.
“Where did you get that?”
Buffy shrugged.
“Gal’s gotta protect herself in the big city.”
“Man I gotta start going to self defense classes.”
Buffy smiled at him as she opened the door and got out of the car. The decent into the tunnel was a lot more shallow then Buffy had predicted. She gripped the sword cautiously as her eyes darted left and right looking for the demon that made it. A few meters down Buffy sensed movement. She stopped and tried to get the bearings on where it was coming from. Taking a deep breath buff swung and raised her blade. Danny stumbled back and collapsed onto the ground in shock. Buffy lowered her sword and looked at him annoyed.
“I though I told you to stay in the car.” She said
“You did,” Danny replied, “Then you decided to go all Indiana Jone on me. I couldn’t just let you come down here alone.”
Buffy offered her hand and she pulled Danny back up onto his feet. Danny was surprised at how easy she did this but decided not to lose his resolve.
“That’s a sweet thought Danny but it’s gonna get you killed.”
“But I can help.”
Buffy tilted her head curiously.
“How?”
“I don’t know . . . taunt it from the side lines.”
“Danny just go back to the car I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”
Danny knew he wasn’t going to win this argument so he turned to leave. He was about to walk off when something caught his attention.
“Ah . . . Anne that might be a problem.” he said
Buffy looked in Danny’s direction a few meters away from them down the tunnel was a ten foot long worm demon almost the size of the tunnel they were standing in. It had heard the talking and made it’s way back to the main tunnel from one of the side ones. It growled at them softly as it readied the horn on the top of it’s head. Buffy quickly put herself between the demon and Danny.
“Stay back Danny.” She ordered as she readied her weapon.
A moment later the demon charged at them. With no time to react the both of them where knocked backwards onto the ground. Buffy quickly rolled back onto her feet before the demon could make another and pounced. She swung out with her blade slashing the demons head multiple times. The demon swung it’s huge head around catching the slayer off balance knocking the weapon out of her hand. Before Buffy had time to recover she was slammed against the wall hard as the Korglir demon tried to devour her.
Danny winced in pain as he slowly shifted his position to a sitting position. Buffy looked over to see the sword lying near him.
“Danny!” she screamed as she desperately tried to push the demon off her.
Danny looked over in shock. He noticed Buffy pointing frantically at the weapon and moved as quickly as he could. Danny threw the sword at Buffy who caught it efficiently. Spinning the blade around she plunged it deep into the creatures head. The Korglir cried out in pain before collapsing to the ground. Buffy awkwardly slid out from between the demon and the wall and with one quick swipe with the blade she severed the demons horn. Danny joined her.
“Is it too late to go wait in the car?” he asked painfully
“A little yeah.” Buffy replied
“You have to do this every day?”
Buffy nodded studying the horn.
“Every day until I die.” She replied sadly
Danny considered this.
“Wow that sucks,” he replied, “Don’t blame you for wanting to give it up.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t need anything else here let’s move on.” Buffy said in a commanding tone.
“No argument from me.” Danny replied, “Where to next?”
Buffy opened the book and read the next thing they needed to get. A look of annoyed surprise crossed her face.
“Oh I don’t believe this.” she remarked
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