A Trio Of Four: Part 9
by R A S
I don't own anything but the story. Joss and the WB own everything else.
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Part Nine
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Buffy, Angel, and Willow made it safely to Buffy's house. Just like Buffy had said, there was no one home. Outside, the wind began to literally howl, and the dim glow of the streetlights began to flicker. Buffy helped Willow to the couch and sat her down on it. Angel just stood there, unsure but listening intently to the sounds around him. Buffy picked up the phone and quickly dialed the number for the library.
"C'mon," she pleaded. "Someone answer." Frowning, she put the object back in its cradle and sat beside Willow, her head in her hands.
"Buffy. What's going on?" The other girl asked.
"You set a demon free. It was in the lamp you purchased. Now, all of us are in danger," Angel clarrified.
"How do we defeat it?"
"I'm not sure. There was some kind of spell.....how you set it free is the more important thing though," he told her.
"I...I...don't remember. I mean, I heard it talking, telling me it could grant wishes.......the inscription!!!!" She suddenly recalled. "Part of the message on the lamp.....had been erased!!!"
"Where is the lamp now?" Buffy finally put in.
"In my room," she said. "By my computer."
"Okay. I'm going to go and get it. You guys stay here-"
"Buffy," Angel said hoarsely. "I'm not letting you go out there by yourself. It might get you killed." He walked up to her, concern printed upon his face.
"I have to," she insisted. "It's the only way we're ever going to beat this thing."
"It's called a jinn. A wandering spirit of Mohammedan mythology, supposedly able to assume the form of man, also that of animals," he said quietly.
"You've been hanging around with Giles way too much," Buffy claimed.
"I've encountered one before. They don't play an easy mode of operation. They mean business."
"So it's kind of like a bad genie then," Willow guessed. "Only the kind who manipulate, instead of granting wishes to gather forces or people."
"Oh. They grant wishes. But in the literal sense. They take horror, your worst nightmares, and expand upon them-"
"And you can find these things at 'Untold Treasures'?" Buffy quipped. "Wow. They make a fortune there, but the same person sure never shows up twice."
"We'll go together to get the lamp then-" Willow started.
"Willow-" Buffy wanted to say, when they heard a knock near the front door.
"Buffy!!!! Willow!!!! Are you in there!!!" It was Xander's voice.
Buffy pulled open the door. Cordelia stood there with him, an annoyed look possessing her.
"Thank God you're okay," she said. "Xander here would've had a heart attack or possibly an ulcer if something had happened. Hi Angel."
The good vampire just stared at her, and offered a half smile.
"No," Xander corrected. "I think that was from your driving. Which I can poudly say...almost got me killed before I turned twenty."
Buffy laughed and invited them in, then told them what they had discovered. Willow kept looking at Xander, as he continued to see past her love for him. He'd probably even pick Cordelia before me, she thought to herself. Anyone but Willow Rosenberg computer hacker.
"So Giles is heading to my house?" She put forth.
"Yeah. With Ms. Calendar," Cordelia told her. "I wanted to go of course....but Angel is here, so...I'm okay with it now."
"I'll bet you are," Buffy commented and cleared her throat.
Angel looked at them. "This is serious. We have to take all precautions."
"Like for starters," Buffy added. "We have to try to track down Giles, before it gets to him first. With it taking in his knowledge, we'll never stand a chance."
All, however, were oblivious at the moment to the shape that waited calmly and quietly in the darkness, catching every word and phrase that had been said...
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