"Remember class, I need those permission slips first thing tomorrow morning or you won't be allowed to go with us on the field trip," Mrs. Morales yelled over the ringing of the school bell. With a sigh, she rubbed her temples and sank her plump body back into her chair.
"So what do you think of this trip?" Buffy asked Willow.
"Aruthian Manor? It's one of the oldest and largest buildings in the area," Willow replied as they left the classroom. "Maybe it won't be so bad."
"Willow, wait up," a voice came from behind them. They turned to see a broad shouldered young man wearing jeans and a white tee shirt jog down the hall towards them.
"Hi Tom," Willow said, hugging her books to her chest. The barrel chested youth flashed his teeth at her as he approached.
"Do you think you could help me with the History homework again tonight?" Tom asked. Willow's smile reflected in his blue eyes. Buffy turned away from the pair to hide her own smile.
"Hey, Xander," Buffy called down the hall. Xander strolled towards them with his usual smirking grin, then suddenly doubled over and sneezed.
"Watch it, Germ Boy," Cordelia said, jumping away from him as she passed by.
"Gee, Cordelia, I feel fine, thanks for asking," Xander replied.
"Tom, what are you doing here?" Cordelia asked, blinking her eyes and promptly pushing her way in front of him.
"I was talking to Willow," Tom said, craning his neck to see around the brown haired cheerleader. Cordelia stepped once again into his line of vision.
"Well, since you're not doing anything important, why don't you walk me to class?" she suggested.
"Sorry, Cordelia, I've got wrestling practice," he replied and turned to go. "See you tonight Willow?"
Willow managed to gulp a breath and nod in reply. Tom waved and walked down the hall.
"There should be a law," Cordelia said, giving Willow a once over then strutting away.
"You've been seeing an awful lot of Tom, haven't you?" Xander asked, squinting down the hall after him. Xander stood a little taller and squared his shoulders back.
"He's a nice guy," Willow said, blushing slightly and looking away from Xander. "Besides, I've only tutored him twice. Are you ready for tomorrow's trip?"
"Sure am, and guess who else is going?" Xander replied. "My teacher caught the flu and Giles volunteered to watch our class during the field trip."
"Giles volunteered to spend a day with teenagers?" Buffy asked incredulously.
"He mentioned something about the manor having a strange history," Xander shrugged, then sneezed again.
"Are you going to be okay?" Buffy asked, holding out a tissue for Xander.
"Just fine," Xander nodded and waved his hand, then proceeded to blow his nose loudly. "All I need is some rest and I'll be all set for tomorrow."
******
Rain slashed against the windshield of the school bus as it wound its way up through the evergreen trees. The bus bounced and swayed its way up the hillside, causing Xander to hold his stomach.
"I don't understand why Tom went to the mall last night," Cordelia was saying in the seat behind him. "I mean, I wasn't there, so why bother?"
Xander groaned and sank lower in his seat as the spicy perfume mixture from Cordelia and her friends stung his nostrils and made his eyes tear.
"Maybe you should have stayed home," Willow said from beside him.
"I hate being sick," Xander swallowed hard and pulled his grey jacket tighter about him, "but I hate getting left back even more. I’ve missed too many days of school since we started helping Buffy with the S-l-a-y-i-n-g. Hey, is that a new necklace?"
"Actually, yes it is," Willow said, her facing turning nearly as red as her hair. She cupped the long and slender pink crystal pendant in her hands.
"Where’d you get it?" Xander asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Tom gave it to me last night," Willow smiled shyly.
"So you two are getting serious, eh?" Xander smirked, elbowing her in the ribs.
"No! Xander, I could never --" Willow burst out, her eyes blazing.
"Never what?" Xander asked, startled by the sudden change in her personality.
"Nothing," she sighed and stared straight ahead. "Tom just appreciates that I’m helping with his studies, that’s all," she nodded. "Not that it matters to you."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Xander asked, baffled.
"Better grab a hold of something kids," the bus driver yelled from up front, "the last leg of this road might get a little bumpy."
Xander’s face turned green as the bus shuddered over numerous potholes. Willow watched him out of the corner of her eyes, then sighed morosely and held her pendant in between her thumb and forefinger.
"So what’s the deal Giles," Buffy asked, sneaking down the bus aisle and taking a seat across from the librarian. Through the windshield she say the trees fall away and an old building come into view.
"Aruthian manor is not a typical household," Giles replied from across the aisle. He removed a handkerchief from his tan jacket and began cleaning his wire-framed glasses. "Notice the architecture."
Buffy squinted through the squeaking wiper blades. The building seemed to stick from the top of the grass covered hilltop like a needle. She realized it was three stories high, with seemingly randomly placed balconies and turrets. As the bus drew closer, she spotted a wide marble staircase that swept up to a pair of heavy wooden doors on the first floor.
"It is kind of creepy looking," Buffy said quietly. "Almost like a tomb."
"Funny you should say that," Giles said with a penetrating look at her. "It was founded during the 1860s gold rush by an eccentric named Charles Aruthian. Charles was in the habit of throwing rather wild parties at this estate. Until, that is, one evening when he and all his guests were found dead inside. The mansion was in shambles and by all accounts, it appears that the guests murdered one another."
"Definitely creepy, but I still don’t see your interest in the place," Buffy said.
"Charles was also a great collector of rare literature," Giles continued. "I’m hoping to use this trip as an opportunity to sample his library collection. He may even have obtained some of the Slaying prophecies."
The brakes squealed as the bus slowed to a halt in front of the mansion.
"I guess we’ll find out soon enough," Buffy said.
"It's too bad Xander doesn't feel well enough to come inside," Buffy said in a hushed voice as the class filed into the main hallway of the manor. "This place is incredible."
The students were silent as they crowded together in the center of the room. A crystal chandelier as long as Buffy was tall sent sparkling reflections down into the chamber. The polished black and white checkered marble floor reflected the students images back to them. Giles ran an admiring hand over an antique oak table as he entered the room.
"Welcome, friends, to Aruthian manor," a voice cut through the silence. Directly in front of the class, a lone figure dressed in black descended down a wooden spiral staircase. "My name is Mr. Hemley and I am the caretaker of these fine grounds."
His shining black boots clicked on the marble as he stepped off the red carpeting of the stairs. Buffy looked closely at the man. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with distinguishing lines already forming around his mouth and eyes. Despite the chill of the room from the damp weather outside, Buffy was surprised to see that his forehead glistened with sweat.
Mr. Hemley regarded the class a moment. "Due to the cooperation of the Sunnydale Historic Society and my own personal renovations, Aruthian manor has only recently become available for public viewing. You should thank your teacher Mrs. Morales for her efforts to ensure your class a visit here."
Mrs. Morales smiled and patted her white frosted hair.
"I believe the estate should be enjoyed in its entirety," Mr. Hemley continued. "As such, I will not bore you with a long winded tour about the history of this place."
There were murmurs of approval from the group, and scattered applause from a few football players in the back. Giles exchanged confused glances with Mrs. Morales.
"Rather," Mr. Hemley said, "consider this a hands on museum. Feel free to wander the grounds and explore the mansion in its entirety. Should you have any questions about the place, I will be happy to answer them on an ongoing basis. I assure you, your stay here will be memorable."
Turning sharply on his heel, Mr. Hemely climbed the spiral staircase and disappeared from sight.
"So now what?" Willow asked. A few students were already drifting down the wood paneled corridors that led in either direction from the room. Willow wiped a hand across her brow. "Is it me, or is it hot in here?"
Before Buffy could answer Giles appeared next to them.
"I must find the library," he said and glanced around the room.
"What about us?" Buffy asked in surprise.
"If either of you find it, come and tell me," Giles said quickly then jogged away.
"The man practically lives in a library as it is," Buffy mused as she watched him leave. "You'd think he'd take a vacation from books occasionally."
"Willow, would you like to go exploring with me?" Tom asked as he strode up to her through the thinning crowd.
"Me?" Willow stammered. "What about Mrs. Morales?"
"She's already wandered off. Besides, I'd rather spend time with you," Tom smiled at her. "By the way, that red sweater you're wearing really brings out the color of your eyes."
Willow's face melted into a wide smile.
"Come on, let's go someplace quiet," Tom said as he herded Willow toward the hallway on the left, an arm casually draped around her shoulder. Willow glanced back and gave Buffy a worried look.
Buffy smiled at her reassuringly and nodded. She felt a tug at her elbow.
"Cordelia?" Buffy asked startled.
"Buffy, this is really important," Cordelia said, fixing a stern gaze on Buffy's face. "Do you like me?'
"Is this a trick question?" Buffy asked.
"Please, just answer me," Cordelia pleaded, wringing her hands together.
"Well, you were nice to me for a whole day when I first moved here," Buffy smirked. Cordelia, however, looked on the verge of tears. "Sure, I like you," Buffy said, giving her a perplexed look.
"Oh thank you!" Cordelia gasped and threw her arms around Buffy's neck. Buffy staggered backwards. Suddenly Cordelia grabbed Buffy by the shoulders. "What about Tom and Willow. I mean, do you think they like me?"
"Cordelia, are you feeling okay?" Buffy asked, trying to slip herself away from the cheerleader's grip.
"Tell me! Do you think they like me?" Cordelia yelled. Sweat broke out on her brow as she gripped Buffy tighter.
"Yes, I'm sure they like you, Cordelia," Buffy said, finally shaking off Cordelia's hold.
"I'd better go find them and ask them myself," Cordelia said to herself, stepping away from Buffy. She quickly hurried down the all in the direction Tom and Willow had left.
Buffy stood frozen for a moment in the strangely quiet entrance hall.
"What was that all about?" she wondered aloud. Her own words echoed eerily around the empty chamber. Grimacing, Buffy turned and ran down the hall after Cordelia.
"You know Willow, I've been watching you for a while now," Tom said as the pair wandered down another hallway. Wall mounted candles, encased in glass lit the corridor. Willow searched Tom's eyes, watching with fascination as the candlelight danced in the reflection of his pupils.
"Let's go in here," Tom coaxed, pulling Willow towards a wooden door.
"I don't know if we should," Willow said as she glanced at the fluted squares carved into the door.
Smiling, Tom turned the brass handle and pushed the door open.
"It's awfully dark in there," Willow said, leaning inside for a better look. Tom yanked her arm and threw her in front of him into the darkness. Willow stumbled as she fell into the room, then spun around.
"That wasn't funny, Tom," she said, glaring at the silhouette that blocked the doorway. Through the dim light that filtered past Tom, she realized they were in some sort of cloak room. A horizontal steel bar for hanging up coats lined either side of the alcove.
"Stop acting so coy," Tom said, an edge to his voice. He took a step into the room, rubbing away the sweat that dripped into his eyes. "Little Willow, always acting so pure and innocent," he mocked in a whining voice. "Dressing in those jeans and baggy sweaters so no one will notice you. But I noticed, and now I'm going to give you what you've always wanted."
"I want to go back to the others," Willow said, her voice cracking. She tried to squeeze around him, but he grabbed her sweater and dragged her in front of him.
"No you don't," Tom whispered fiercely.
Willow's ribs seemed to squeeze all the air from her body as paralyzing fear flowed like a chill down to her toes. She watched as beads of sweat traced miniature rivers over Tom's face. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her face to his, pressing his lips down on top of her. Willow pulled instinctively at his hands and tried to squirm away, but Tom forced her deeper into the closet.
Suddenly Tom screamed and clutched his lip, pushing Willow away from him. Willow sobbed and ran to the far corner of the closet, pressing back against the old plaster wall for support.
"You bit me, you bitch!" Tom shrieked, rubbing his mouth.
"Hi guys, sorry to interrupt but I have a really important question to ask you two," a voice called from the doorway.
Tom's eyes narrowed as he turned to look over his shoulder at Cordelia.
"Go away," he drawled in a low voice.
"This will only take a minute," Cordelia continued. "Do you guys like me? I mean, I know it seems silly. After all, why wouldn't anyone like me?" Cordelia asked rhetorically, her damp forehead wrinkling in thought.
Tom whirled around, saliva dripping from his lips and shoved Cordelia with both hands. Cordelia slammed against the opposite wall of the hallway and slid to the floor. Tom stepped over her and raised his fist to strike her again when a petite hand closed around his fist.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not polite to hit a girl?" Buffy asked as she held Tom's arm in check.
Twisting like a snake, Tom swung his other arm at Buffy's head. Buffy ducked underneath the punch, then pushed Tom back into the cloak room with a quick shove.
Tom ran at her the moment she stepped into the room after him. Redirecting his wild punch with one hand, she grabbed the back of his head with the other. Stepping sideways, she slammed his head into one of the bars that ran along the side of the room. A loud clang echoed around the closet as the bar bent, and Tom fell limply to the ground. Blood trickled from a gash on his forehead.
"Is he...?" Willow whimpered and crept forward.
"No, he just unconscious," Buffy said, kneeling to check his pulse and breathing. "Are you okay?"
"No," Willow whispered, her lip quivering. "I'm not okay at all."
Buffy rushed over to the girl and held her as Willow started sobbing. She gently stroked Willow's hair and patted her back until the girl calmed down. Willow stepped back away from Buffy, still weeping slightly. Her pendant got tangled with Buffy's cross. There was a shrill ringing noise as the chain of the pendant broke and it fell to the floor.
"I don't understand, he was so nice to me," Willow said, staring at the fallen
necklace. At a loss for words, Buffy looked down at the unconscious wrestler. Then she bent down and picked up the pendant and chain.
"Xander," Willow said suddenly.
"What?" Buffy asked, looking back at Willow. Willow's eyes seemed to glaze over and a vacant look crossed her face.
"I have to find Xander," Willow said, looking around the room as if for the first time.
"Willow, I don't think--" Buffy began. With surprising strength, Willow shoved Buffy aside and began calling Xander's name. Buffy watched in amazement as beads of sweat broke out on Willow's face.
"Xander!" Willow cried, and ran from the closet.
Buffy began to follow when she heard a low moan from the hallway. Reaching out a hand, she helped Cordelia to her feet.
"Are you all right, Cordelia?" Buffy asked, regarding the girl warily.
"Tom doesn't like me, do you think I'm all right?" Cordelia screamed, then burst into tears and fled down the hallway in the opposite direction Willow had taken. Buffy bit her lip and looked between hysterical Cordelia's retreating form, Tom's unmoving body, and the direction she had last seen Willow take. Realizing she still held Willow's pendant in her hand, she let the pink crystal dangle in the air in front of her. She regarded the stone thoughtfully for a second, then dashed down the hall in the same direction Willow had taken.
Buffy found her wandering aimlessly around the entrance hallway.
"Xander," Willow chanted repeatedly. Buffy laid a hand on the girl's shoulder.
With an inhuman snarl, Willow jumped away from Buffy and crouched low
to the marble floor. Her eyes were unfocused and her damp hair lay matted against her
face.
"Willow, it's me. Buffy," the Slayer said in a soothing voice. "Don't you
remember? Xander is out on the bus."
Buffy moved carefully to the front doors and swung one of the pair open behind her.
"Xander?" Willow asked, the glaze disappearing from her eyes. She rushed past Buffy out into the pouring rain. As the drops of water streamed, over her face she swayed on her feet and clutched her head.
Buffy quickly ran outside and grabbed Willow before she fell.
"What's happening to me?" Willow whispered as Buffy caught and supported her.
"Let's just get you out of the rain and on to the bus," Buffy replied. "Then we'll talk."
Throwing Willow's arm over her shoulder, she dragged the girl to the parked vehicle.
"I'm going to kill Tom," Xander fumed, pacing up and down the aisle of the bus.
"I think Buffy already did," Willow said weakly, pulling Xander's jacket tighter around her.
"He'll be fine," Buffy said. "I hope," she amended under her breath.
"Not for long," Xander said, then sank into a bus seat as a fit of coughing wracked his body.
"Xander, I don't think Tom is responsible for his actions," Buffy said.
"You're going to defend him?" Xander asked incredulously between coughs.
"No, I think Buffy's right," Willow chimed in. "He was never like this, even when we were studying alone in his room. It was just all of a sudden...."
"When were you were alone in his room with him?" Xander asked, suddenly curious.
"Never mind that now," Buffy said. "Willow, you're saying Tom seemed normal until today, right? Can you tell me what you felt when you went into that house?"
"I was feeling fine, right up until Tom...." her voice trailed off. "Then I just had this intense desire to find Xander --" she cut herself off and blushed.
"Exactly," Buffy said. "Cordelia is running around begging people to like her, and we all know her greatest desire is to be the most popular girl in school. Giles ditched us for the library and knowledge is his greatest desire."
Buffy handed Tom's chain and pendant back to Willow.
"Apparently, Tom's greatest desire today was you, Willow," Buffy said in a gentle voice. "Did he say anything about this necklace?"
"He said he wanted to thank me for tutoring him," Willow said, rolling the charm in her fingers, "and that it would protect me."
She sucked in a quick breath and her eyes widened.
"It did protect me! I was feeling fine right up until I lost the chain! That's when I started acting crazy," she said excitedly.
"So you guys are saying something in that house is driving people insane?" Xander asked, tilting his head to one side.
"Not just insane," Willow said. "Afraid and malicious, too."
"Okay, the chain protected Willow from the house," Xander said, then looked at Buffy. "Why isn't it affecting you?"
"I'm not sure," Buffy shrugged. "Where's the bus driver?"
"He went to go look for a drink of water a half hour ago," Xander said and looked at the mansion through the rain streaked windows.
"Looks like it's up to us, then," Buffy nodded.
"We should find Giles," Xander said. "I mean, he's the paranormal expert, maybe he can figure out how to stop whatever's going on."
"Buffy, I'm worried about Tom," Willow spoke up. "Couldn't he bleed to death or something?"
"Yeah, you're right, I shouldn't have left him," Buffy looked down for a second. "I'd better bring him back here to the bus. There's got to be a first aid kit around here somewhere."
"It's decided then," Xander said standing up. "Willow and I will find Giles while you go pick up Mr. Hyde."
"Out of the question," Buffy said. "Anyone that enters that house is in danger of succumbing to the insanity."
"Willow, let me see that necklace for a sec," Xander said, walking over to her. He wrapped the chain loosely around his left wrist, then pulled over Willow's right hand.
"Do you think this will really work?" Willow asked, glowing red as Xander gently gripped her hand with his.
"Only one way to find out," Xander said. With Willow's help he finished tying the chain around their wrists. Seeing Buffy's skeptical face he said, "Look, we don't have much time. Sooner or later the kids in there are going to start getting violent. Someone's going to get more than a bump on the head."
"Giles said this happened once before," Buffy said grimly. "Everyone in the house at the time murdered each other. Okay, whatever happens, we meet here in an hour. You guys be careful, okay? No unnecessary risks."
* * *
"Buuuffy...Bu uuuuuuuffy," Xander intoned, holding his free arm in front of him in his best zombie impression.
Willow glared at him and tried to stomp away down the mansion hallway. With her hand still clutched in his, however, she only managed to drag him along behind her.
"Whoa, slow up, Wil. If we drop the necklace, game over," Xander protested.
Willow was deeply conscious of the feel of Xander's warm fingertips pressing against the skin of her palm. She could smell a faint hint of shaving cream about him. She studied his freshly shaven smooth face. On any other day, she thought, she would have enjoyed walking like this with him, hand in hand.
"If I were a library, where would I be?" Xander asked aloud as they wandered into the dining hall. A long, narrow table in the center of the room immediately drew their attention. The gold inlaid silverware and plates that rested on the white tablecloth glowed in the light of numerous candelabras.
"A seat, milady?" Xander asked, pulling out one of the straight backed chairs that surrounded the table.
"Why, thank you milord," Willow giggled and curtseyed. "What's that noise?"
"It's coming from under the table," Xander whispered. The two exchanged a quick glance as Xander placed a hand on the tablecloth. He carefully lifted the edge and peeked under the table.
"It's Susan," Willow said, spying a girl in a white knit tank top and blue jeans sitting cross legged underneath the table. "She's in my History class."
"I'm invisible. I'm invisible. I'm invisible," the girl chanted. She rocked back and forth, hugging herself.
"Think she'll be terribly disappointed if I tell her she's not?" Xander asked. He dropped the cloth quickly as a crash sounded from a dark corridor to their right. Together he and Willow circled around the table and headed down the hallway.
"Looks like we found the library," Xander said as the hallway opened into a large circular room. The pale light that streamed from the domed glass ceiling high above illuminated shelf after shelf of books. A heavy looking table was placed in the center of the room.
"Giles!" Willow exclaimed, rushing to the table with Xander. Books lay strewn on the floor across the room. Giles sat at the table and ignored the two teenagers while he traced a finger down the page of an open book.
"Information, I must have more information," he muttered to himself.
"Uh, Giles?" Xander asked, placing a hand on the wooden tabletop.
"Leave me alone!" Giles screamed, leaping from his seat. Xander backed away from the table and tripped over an open book on the floor. He caught Willow in his arms as she was dragged down to the floor with him.
Giles laughed haltingly for a moment, then ran to one of the bookshelves and began tearing books off from the wall. He threw each haphazardly over his shoulder. Stopping suddenly, he grabbed a thick blue tome and rushed back to the table. Sweeping the other books in front of him to the floor, he opened the new volume and began reading.
"Great," Xander winced. Willow sat across his legs, her hair tickling his nose. "Um, Willow, you'll have to get off me if I'm going to stand."
"Oh, right," Willow laughed weakly, releasing her grip from around Xander's neck. "Standing is good."
"How are we going to get him out of here?" Xander asked in despair.
"I have an idea," Willow said, inching forward. "When I tell you to run, head straight for the main entrance hall." She slid a foot towards Giles, testing his reaction. Giles murmured to himself, apparently lost in reading. Willow took a deep breath and swallowed once as she came to a stop directly in front of the librarian.
"Run!" Willow yelled and grabbed Giles’ book from the table. Giles threw his head back and howled, knocking over his chair as he sprang to his feet.
Xander sprinted back down the hallway, half pulling and half dragging Willow behind him. She had the stolen tome tucked close underneath her arm like a football. In between incoherent screams, they could both hear Giles' heavy footfalls as he pounded the ground behind them.
Xander overturned furniture and tore paintings off the walls as they raced through the mansion, throwing anything behind them in a desperate attempt to slow Giles down.
With a burst of speed, Giles dashed forward and tackled Willow at the waist just as they entered the entrance hall. Willow slammed against the floor, the pendant chain slipping off her wrist as she fell. The thick book she had carried slid on the marble floor past Xander as he himself skidded to a stop.
"Willow!" Xander yelled. Giles stood and pumped his arms as he raced directly at Xander. Xander grabbed the fallen book with one hand while flinging open one of the double doors with the other.
"You want this?" Xander screamed. "Then go get it!" Twisting his body he hurled the book out on to the front steps.
Giles snarled and shoved Xander out of the way. Xander sprawled to the floor. He winced and rubbed his elbows as he sat up, giving a quick glance outside. Giles stood in the rain, casting a baffled expression between the blue tome he held in his hands and the mansion.
"Just stay there," Xander commanded, holding up both hands as Giles took a step towards the house. Xander then rushed over to where Willow pulled herself from the floor.
Willow's glazed eyes locked on Xander and a crazy smile lit her face. She threw both her arms around Xander's neck, squeezing the air out of his lungs.
"I love you Xander. Do you love me?" she sighed. Xander managed to drape the protective charm around her arm. He felt her grip loosen.
"Xander?" she asked hesitantly, still clinging to him. Xander could feel her heartbeat pounding against his chest.
"Sure I love you," Xander laughed. "Why do you think we've been best buds for so long? By the way, that was a nice play, coach. We got Giles outside."
"Best buds," Willow repeated flatly and stepped back away from him. Her hair fell in front of her face, hiding her expression from view.
"We'd better go get Giles out of the rain before he catches pneumonia," Xander said. He slipped his fingers through hers and clumsily retied the pendant to their wrists. Willow looked at their intertwined hands and nodded.
"Right. Best buds. Giles," she said and let Xander lead her out into the pouring rain that was indistinguishable from her tears.
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
