I don't own anything but the story. Joss and the WB own everything else.
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Part Twelve
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When nightfall came, each of the slayerettes, including Cordelia, split up heading their separate ways. Giles informed them that the jinn should come to surface at around the same time for each. He himself wasn't going to make a wish, but rather read off the cure to their present nightmares, as the villain took advantage.
Buffy walked calmly down a deserted allyway, a stake in one hand. She was extremely tired, and wasn't exactly having one of the best hair days. All of Giles's lecturing really got to her. She stopped immediately, when she heard soft, but insistent footsteps following in tune with her own. She raised the stake and turned around, nearly bumping straight into Willow.
"What are you doing here?! Giles said-"
"I know," the hacker pleaded. "But I didn't want to have to face this alone. I'm not like you, Buffy. I can think smart...but...I can't fight smart. Now I know why Xander likes you so much."
"Oh, Will-"
"I tryed telling him last night," she interrupted. "But it's no use. He didn't buy it. And...and he called me his study buddy."
"But that's-"
"Not cute," Willow added. "I want him to care for me in that special way. Like you and Angel."
"Maybe Xander isn't the right one. Maybe you have yet to find your Prince Charming."
"But...I want him to be the right one. We've been friends forever, Buffy."
"Oh, did I spoil something nice?" asked a deep voice, as it snarled at them hideously.
"You know, you have saved me the trouble of killing a lot of vampires. I'm really gonna miss having you around."
The jinn bared its fang-like teeth at the slayer. "Mutual. But you will never conquer. However, as a peace between you and me, I will give you a choice, slayer. You can choose to join me and my people-"
"Your people? Don't you mean your walking zombies?"
"Or...you can make your wish and save me the trouble of ever having run into you."
"I sadly prefer choice B. Isn't that ironic?"
"Your wish," it sneered.
Buffy closed her eyes. She envisioned her word choice carefully, reviewing it, thinking of the consequences. "I wish..."
"Yes?"
"Buffy don't," Willow squeeked.
"I wish...I was never the slayer," she said quietly.
"Very well. You were...really easy. What's in a duty I ask? No matter. I guess this is goodbye. Nice doing business with you. See you in another life."
Willow saw Buffy vanish, and felt tears escape from her large eyes. Where did she go? What had just happened? Would she ever see her best friend again?
Buffy opened her eyes and stared ahead. Nothing but redness and large, sharp rocks engulfed her. Thunder rattled in the black sky above her. Skeletons with minds of their own, danced off into the distance, bones clanging. A figure to her far left, sat in a high-back chair, glaring roughly into the disarray. He was a bright red, with two large horns sticking out of his head. Sharp claws fit onto his thin, long fingers perfectly. His eyes were filled with a true nothingness. A meaningless black hole. Then, she realized it...
I'm dead, she thought weakly. From when the master bit me before...I'm dead. An obvious what-if.
Willow backed away from the jinn, her heart racing. Her reaction only caused the monster to relish in victory. "I'm sorry abut your friend. Really I am. But you are the one to thank for it all. So...I have decided to repay you. Why walk away empty handed?"
"Repay...me?"
"Of course. My wish...is your command."
Willow struggled to think of what she wanted most. What she could handle...
"I wish...I wish...that Xander and I...were together...forever."
"I have to admit. I didn't see that one coming. Very clever, Willow. There's only one thing you're forgetting."
"What's that?"
The figure only shrugged and she felt herself being lifted...carried into a fantasy world. Something that could have only existed in a dream. Beautiful flowers grew around her. Light, weightless clouds floated above. Birds began to sing a lovely chorus. Xander Harris lingered nearby, his hand outstretched. "Willow. Come here."
"Xander?"
"You look very beautiful," he said softly. "I don't know why I never saw if before."
"I tried to-"
"I know. And I understand perfectly."
"You do?"
"I will be with you forever, Willow. Nothing can keep us apart. Ever."
"How-"
Smiling, his face took on a grotesque appearance, his form stretching and melting to the ground. It slid to her. And then...it slowly made them one. She screamed, everything in her eyes became distorted, and she crumbled to the ground....
Cordelia sat near a local bus stop, her legs crossed in front of her. Examining her whereabouts, she pulled out her make-up bag. Smiling, she began re-applying the mascara to her long lashes.
"Miss Chase. How can a woman who has everything ask for more?"
"What?" She looked up...then literally jumped back about two feet, her bag cluttering to the floor. "What do...you want?"
"Isn't there anything you've dreamed about? Something you wished you'd had? I'm sure there's something."
"No...I...it's good to be me."
"Is that right?"
"A wish?" she brought forth.
"Mmmhmm. Free of charge. C'mon. Isn't there something you'd just give up your life to own?"
"Angel."
"The vampire?" Its smile grew wider.
"Yes. But he's Buffy's. And...Buffy and me don't mix as friends, so that kind of leaves me...well...nowhere."
"I see."
"I wish he was mine. Not forever. Just for a couple of hours. Then, Aura and Harmony would be so jealous."
"Then you have it. Three in one night. This can be fun, but sadly has its limits also."
Cordelia was taken back into the waves of time, back to the late 1700's. her attire suddenly was that of an 18th century girl, just like Buffy had been for Halloween, not too long ago. A man stood a safe distance away from her. He watched eagerly. His hair was long, tied back with a thick black ribbon. His clothes too were old to match the era. She recognized his grin.
"Angel?" she called out, and immediately caught wind of her new accent. All was black and darkness filtered around them.
"Cordelia. How are you?"
"Wow. You look different. What's with the pants and the shirt? What's going on? Is this a joke? Because it's way past laughing time for me."
"Come closer," he urged.
"Can't you just come out from those shadows?"
"I want you to see something."
Picking up her long dress, she headed over to him. Still, his smile remained while all else chose to remain out of sight.
Then...she saw him. His face. The sharp fangs, the vampiric form it took on. He grabbed her roughly, as she tried to squirm out of his grasp. Tilting her head to one side, he expertly sunk his teeth into her neck.....
It was in that moment of horror, that she realized she had gotten Angelus, instead of Angel the totured vampire with a soul. This was cleary just another monster. How could it feel or experience anything but violence and hate? Her screams became muffled as life was slowly taken from her......
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