Part Five - Xander
"This is hopeless!," cried Giles.
"Giles, keep your voice down. You'll wake up Tucker in the next room. What's wrong? Can't find anything new on our flavor of the week?," asked Cordelia.
"Pardon?"
"You know, the latest bad boy. Last week it was a demon, this week it's a vampire, next week, who knows? Haven't had a mummy in a while."
"Oh, no. Nothing new. Our latest nemesis just wasn't interesting enough to have much written about him. Though I've come to the conclusion that he is, to use an American expression, nuts," said Giles.
"Why do you say that?," asked Oz, putting down the book he was reading.
"Well, at first I thought he was just superstitious. But from reading what little is known about Sven, I'd say that he actually believes verbatim the old Norse myths and sagas."
"Great! Just find a really scary legend, read it to him and maybe he'll run away. Of course, I find all this Viking stuff scary. I mean, it's bad enough they all dressed alike but they had absolutely no taste in clothes. And what's with the horns?," added Cordelia.
"Yes, that insight will help us greatly," replied Giles.
"Actually, Giles, she might be on to something. If we could scare him a little, it might be enough of a distraction for him to make a mistake," said Oz.
"Perhaps you're right. Let's see, a scary myth. Well, Odin himself feared death. The Norse gods were not immortal. One time he withdrew his favor from a chieftain during battle just as he was about to win a great victory. When asked why he did this, Odin reply was ‘the wolf is always waiting'." The wolf symbolized the mortality of the gods and he knew it would kill him someday no matter how many of the einherjar, his chosen warriors, he surrounded himself with. So what good did it do to win battles or have his followers worship him if it was in vain?"
"So he fears his own death. We could threaten to kill him," suggested Cordelia.
"What else?," asked Oz.
"Uh...the valkyries. If you saw a valkyrie, that meant it was letting you see it because you were about to die or were already dead," said Giles.
"Sven already is dead," commented Cordelia.
"True," agreed Giles.
"You really think the valkyries were vampires?," asked Oz.
"Yes. There is a carved ivory box from the seventh century called the Franks Casket. On it is a human figure with the head of an animal and it represents one of the valkyries. That, and all the stories of them feeding on dead bodies after battle first led me to believe they were vampires. All legends have some truth in them."
"What's up with this goose the fox game?," asked Cordelia.
"Fox and geese," corrected Giles, rolling his eyes. "The Halatafl, first mentioned in the Grettis Saga. Not unlike Chinese checkers in some respects. There is one fox and usually thirteen geese. The playing board varies in design but very often is in the shape of a cross. You move the pieces along marked lines. Only the fox can jump over a piece and then that goose is removed. The geese win by surrounding the fox so that he cannot move. The fox wins by killing off all the geese or at least enough of them so that he cannot be captured."
"And Sven challenged Buffy to a game of this? There must be some hidden message in choosing that game," said Oz.
"But what?," asked Cordelia.
"I just can't sit here anymore while he has Willow! I need to do something!," yelled Oz, in an uncharacteristic display of emotion.
"He's right, Giles. We need a break. It's time for the fat lady to sing," said Cordelia.
"That's it! Cordelia, what is your hat size?," asked Giles.
"Huh? Like I'd wear a hat and flatten my hair!"
"And Oz, look up a good taxidermist in the yellow pages. I think I'm on to something."
Cordelia and Oz exchanged a worried look.
* * *
Just after sunset Angel came, standing at Buffy's side on the pier. Occasionally a seagull would cry out. The moon, almost full, was rising on the harbor skyline.
"You missed a great sunset. Wished you could have seen it," said Buffy sadly, touching Angel's arm but still looking off in the direction of the where the sun had set.
"I know. Me too," replied Angel, giving Buffy a hug. "Have you figured out which building Sven could be in?"
"It was easy. He left this note nailed to that post," said Buffy, handing Angel the paper.
"It's the blue one. Don't be early," read Angel.
"That's the only warehouse painted blue, over there," pointed Buffy. "I respected his warning and didn't go in, but I've walked around it. Only three ways out, doors to the front and either side. The back overhangs the water. Let's go."
The front door wasn't locked. Angel held Buffy back and went in first. Sven was not hiding but in fact was plainly visible, standing at the back of the building. He wore brown leather pants and a vest, his chest and arms bare. He had a patch over his right eye, pirate-like, and was holding a spear in his left hand. With his long, red hair and standing at about six feet tall, he was an imposing figure. Willow stood at his side, surprising not tied and seemingly unafraid.
Fifteen or twenty feet to Sven's right sat Xander. A rope was wrapped around his chest and his arms were behind his back. He had duct tape over his mouth and there was an ugly bruise over his left eye. Sitting in the corner to Sven's left and much closer to him sat Lisa. A chain went around her chest, pinning her arms behind her back as well. A large cross was nailed to the floor in front of her. Her mouth was not taped over but, in full vamp face, it was obvious that she was in pain because of the cross. Lisa's face was sweaty and she stared at Buffy.
"Welcome, slayer. So we meet at last!"
"You're fight is with me, coward! Why do you hide behind hostages?," snapped Buffy.
"Oh, our fight will come. But first, I offer you a challenge."
"There's no time. You wanted me, here I am!," said Buffy, taking a step forward.
"Hold!," commanded Sven, placing the spear point against Willow's neck. Astonishingly, she still showed no fear. Buffy stopped.
"Good. Now hear me out. I asked you if you knew the game that would be known to you as fox and geese. I like games. My challenge is simple. Beat me and you may ask of me one question and chose to release one of your friends, either Xander or Julie. If I win, you answer me one question and we fight, one on one."
"Buffy, don't listen to him! His words mean nothing. Mind games, remember?," said Angel, looking around the warehouse for Sven's men. But they seemed to be alone.
"Slayer, silence your boyfriend before I withdraw my offer and kill someone. Do you accept my offer?"
"Why not? Either way, you lose."
"Excellent. We shall see who loses. To your left on that barrel is the Halatafl board. I will be the fox, you the geese, and Angel will move the pieces as we call out our moves. You may go first."
After a few moves it became apparent that either Sven was a horrible player or that he was letting Buffy win. She began to suspect a trap. The contest was finished in minutes. The fox was trapped.
"Very good, slayer! My promise, as you shall see, will not be broken. You may make your choice. Will it be Xander, or Julie, who goes free?"
"Willow. I choose Willow." Willow looked at Buffy, confused.
"That was not one of your choices. Do not try my patience," said Sven, placing the tip of his spear against Lisa's heart. Lisa closed her eyes. "Need I remind you that this spear is made of wood?"
"Don't you have to answer my question first?," asked Buffy.
"If you wish."
"Okay, does Julie have her soul or did you hypnotize her into believing she still has it?"
"A fair question, but perhaps I should let you ask of me another."
"No. Answer it," demanded Buffy.
"I don't know, and that is the truth. She was to be with me, but something went wrong. Now make your choice."
Buffy looked at Xander. He was far enough away from Sven that Buffy knew she could reach him before he could harm him.
"Remove your weapon. I choose Julie."
Julie opened her eyes but Buffy couldn't decipher what emotion lay behind them. Xander's eyes, however, grew wide in disbelief and fear. He tried to yell something but couldn't. Sven stepped back and banged his spear twice on the floor. Behind him a trap door opened and Willow began to descend a ladder that led down into darkness.
"Willow! No!," warned Buffy.
"Interesting choice, slayer. I hope you can live with it."
Sven banged his spear two more times on the floor. A trap door opened up under Xander and he vanished. A second or two later came the sound of a large splash. Xander was in the water! Sven smiled at Buffy and then followed Willow down the ladder. He slammed the door shut above him just as Buffy got there.
"Angel, try to follow him!," yelled Buffy as she kicked the cross by Lisa across the room. Just as she jumped into the opening where Xander had been, Buffy caught a glimpse of Sven's men running in through the front door. It was too late to stop her fall to help Angel and Xander needed her anyway.
The water was cold and it was very dark under the pier. She called Xander's name but didn't hear a reply. Buffy dove under the water, holding her breath as long as she could. It wasn't very deep here but she couldn't find Xander! She surfaced and looked around. Nothing! Diving under again she almost immediately bumped into Xander. She grabbed hold and surfaced.
Close by was a floating walkway which rose and fell with the tide, used to unload boats. Buffy rolled Xander on this and slid up next to him, ripping the tape off his mouth. She wasn't sure if he was breathing and started mouth to mouth breathing for him. After the fourth try he coughed and threw up water. Buffy snapped the rope that held him.
"Xander, are you okay? Are you hurt?," asked Buffy nervously. He nodded and hugged her. They both started crying.
"Xander, can you stand up? It's not safe to stay here."
"Yeah, I'm okay. Let's go. And Buffy, thank you for..."
"I know."
* * *
They hadn't walked far when they found Lisa with Willow.
"Lisa! Willow, you're alright!," cried Buffy, running ahead of Xander to meet them. Buffy hugged Willow but Willow didn't return her greeting. Still, Buffy was too excited to notice.
"Lisa, where's Angel?," asked Buffy, looking around but not seeing him.
"We both jumped through a window to get away and we split up to look for Sven. I found her standing all alone on the pier. Sven wanted us to find her. He must've taken a boat to get away. I haven't seen Angel," said Lisa, closing her eyes and suddenly bending over and grabbing her sides.
"Lisa, what's wrong?," asked Xander. Then he noticed that Lisa's face had changed.
"You know what's wrong. Buffy, I have to get away. Fast."
"Lisa, Angel will be here soon. He'll help you," said Buffy, pleading.
"You don't understand. There's no time. I'm losing control. I'm sorry about Willow... it's my fault," said Lisa, looking at Buffy with tears in her eyes. "Talk to her, you'll see," she said, then turned and ran away.
"Lisa, no! Come Back! Please!," yelled Buffy, but Lisa was gone.
"Do you want me to follow her?," asked Xander.
"No. She's too dangerous now. Let's get back to Giles. We can't wait for Angel because I can't protect you both. Not here. If he doesn't show I'll come back."
"Willow, are you okay?," asked Xander.
"Why do you call me that?," asked Willow, looking at Xander. "My name is Lisa. And who are you?"
* * *
Tucker had told Buffy that he would stay behind with Giles to rest. He even admitted that he wasn't up to a fight just yet. But the waiting was too much. He had to do something and so he slipped away from the library unseen.
Tucker knew where the harbor was but didn't know exactly where Buffy would be. He walked slowly, staying close to buildings staying in the shadows, listening. He thought he heard muffled footsteps from the dark alley he had just passed and doubled back, sneaking a look around the corner. A garbage can fell over and a cat ran past him, scaring the breath out of him.
Before he could recover a girl screamed from the other end of the alley. Tucker drew a stake from his coat and ran blindly through the dark, knocking over another garbage can. Speed was more important now than stealth. He came to another alley that ran left and right. The silhouette of a girl was running away from him to his left. Hearing the sounds of a struggle to his right, Tucker ignored her and ran in that direction.
The light was better here. To someone else the couple ahead of him could have been mistaken for two people in an intimate embrace. Tucker knew better. He got within ten feet of the vampire when she dropped the boy to the ground. Blood covered her mouth and she growled at Tucker.
Tucker froze. He couldn't take another step. The stake dropped from his hand, the sound of it echoing down the alley. The vampire walked towards him. He took two steps back and hit the brick wall behind him. Then the vampire stopped.
"Tucker?," it said, very softly.
Tucker couldn't move, couldn't speak. Lisa's face changed back to human form.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry that you had to see me like this," said Lisa. She turned and walked away. She did not look back. She did not run.
Tucker slid down the cold brick wall until he was sitting. He drew his knees up into his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs, rocking back and forth.
"Embrace the pain, become one with it...embrace the pain, become one with it..."
* * *
Buffy and Xander had changed into sweat pants and sweat shirts. Everyone in the Scooby gang had discovered that it made sense to keep a change of clothes in their lockers. Cordelia had shown a rare example of compassion by not commenting on what they were wearing and by offering to get the coffee and doughnuts so that Xander wouldn't have to. Oz, not being able to deal with Willow not recognizing him, went for a walk. Giles was talking to Willow in his office.
"Xander, are you okay? You haven't said much."
"A lot on my mind, I guess," he replied, staring at a book that was open on the table in front of him.
"Research?," pressed Buffy.
"Yeah, maybe I'll be...I mean, maybe I'll find something useful."
"Xander, not only have you not made eye contact with me since we got back, but that book is upside down."
"Oh."
Buffy picked up the book, closed it and read the title.
"Hannibal Crossing The Alps. Think Sven is going to attack us with elephants?"
Xander didn't reply, but instead looked down at the table.
"Xander, talk to me! What's up?"
"You mean besides being worried about Willow?," said Xander, finally looking at Buffy.
"Yes."
"Okay, first, there's Lisa. When Sven had us both and I was doing my impression of a snickers bar..."
"Huh?"
"You know, not going anywhere?"
"Right. Sorry."
"Well, Lisa tried to escape. Now I've seen vampires fight. I've seen demons fight. I've even seen vampires fight demons! But what I saw Lisa do...she scared the hell out of me. She bit, she clawed, she...she was an animal. Buffy, I danced with her just hours ago. I don't know how much of the human is in her anymore. And you saw her tonight. She's like Oz when the moon is full. It just takes over."
"What else?," said Buffy, putting her hand on Xander's arm and thinking that tomorrow night Oz would have to be locked up again.
"I...I don't know how to say this without sounding childish or selfish. No, you don't need any more distractions right now. You need to focus. I'll deal."
"Is it about saving your life? Because we aren't keeping score. You've saved mine more than once."
"No, it's not that. Look, I know what you do is hard. You have to make decisions instantly, based on instinct, sometimes with no time to think. But..."
"But...," encouraged Buffy. Then she realized where Xander was going with this. "But I chose Lisa over you."
"Buffy, you chose someone who is dead over me. Again! Was it based on need? I know she's better in a fight. I mean, what can Xander do, hurl insults and jokes and maybe the bad guy will get distracted? Throw doughnuts at him and maybe he'll trip?"
"Xander, you were far enough away from Sven that I knew I could get to you before he did. I knew I could protect you. I thought that if he was stupid enough to release Lisa we might've been able to fight him, right then. I didn't know about the trap door. I'm sorry. But you know what you mean to me, all of you. I can't do this alone. You know that."
Buffy hugged Xander before he could see the tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I did what I thought was right. It doesn't always work out that way." Buffy pulled away and looked at Xander but couldn't say anything.
"No, I'm sorry. I told you it would sound stupid," said Xander.
"This is what Sven wanted. Angel was right, he's good at mind games. It's important that you understand that."
They didn't realize that Giles was standing there until he cleared his throat.
"How is she?," asked Xander before Buffy could.
"Sleeping. I gave her a sedative. But this is worse than I feared. It's more than hypnosis. Sven must also be using some spell on her as well."
"Maybe she'll be like Lisa and get her memory back," suggested Xander. "With time, I mean."
"Yes, perhaps," agreed Giles, but with little enthusiasm.
"Better yet, if I kill Sven, the spell should be broken," said Buffy.
"What? Oh, yes. I think you're right. I just wish we could talk to Lisa, to see what she has remembered."
"I hate to bring this up, but what if both Lisa and Tucker come back here tonight? At the same time?," asked Xander.
"I know. I have to tell him," agreed Buffy.
Just then Angel walked through the library doors. He had his arm around Tucker.
"Angel, you're okay! Where were you?," asked Buffy, giving him a hug. "Buffy, I found him behind a building down by the docks. He hasn't been bitten, but I think he's in shock."
Buffy looked at Tucker. He did seem very pale.
"Tucker? Hey, it's me, Buffy. What's wrong?," she asked, putting both hands on his shoulders.
"I saw her. Buffy, I saw her. She's dead now. Julie. She's one of them."
Buffy took a deep breath.
"Tucker, sit down. Tell me what happened."
"I went to look for you," he said, letting Buffy guide him to a chair. "I wanted to help. She was feeding on this guy. Killed him. She saw me, knew who I was. Said she was sorry I had to see her that way. Then she walked away. She cried. But she walked away. Buffy, vampires don't cry."
"Not unless they have a soul," said Buffy, softly, and looking at Angel.
"Angel found me. Buffy, I can't feel anything. I'm numb."
"Tucker, listen to me. I knew about Julie. I didn't know that you knew her. Not until the other night, when you called out her name and I saw that pendant around your neck. Tucker, Julie still wears hers."
"What? You knew?"
"She came to me, looking for the slayer. She wanted me to kill her. Julie couldn't bear what happened to her. She could only feel that way if she still had her soul. A demon wouldn't care. I don't understand how it happened, but it's true."
"What I saw didn't have a soul. Angel doesn't feed anymore, he said so himself!," said Tucker, getting angry.
"She does! She just loses control. When she gets hungry the demon has more power. Sven did this do her, made her think her name was Lisa, like his dead wife."
"Sven."
"Something's gone wrong. He doesn't want Julie anymore, now he wants Willow. It must be the red hair, like his wife had. Willow thinks her name is Lisa now!"
"Buffy, I can't do this anymore. Everyone I've loved is dead! I can't fight him. I can't."
"Yes you can. We can. I have a plan."
"And so do I," added Giles. "Listen to her, Tucker. I know Sven's weaknesses. We need you."
The phone rang. Only Buffy moved to get it.
"Hello?"
Buffy only listened for a moment before she hung up.
"It was him. He wants Willow back. Tomorrow night, at the Morgan warehouse."
"Like that's going to happen," said Xander, sarcastically.
"He has Oz," said Buffy.
"Oz? But...oh," said Xander, understanding.
"It's okay. My plan will still work. Even better, I'd say. But it just got more dangerous for all of us," said Giles.
End of Part Five.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
