PART 24
The young woman sat with her legs crossed, her hands resting on her knees, her eyes were closed in deep concentration and she was mumbling softly.
After a few minutes she cupped her hands together and gradually raised them above her head. She continued to mumble softly and ever so slowly a small light appeared in her hands and grew brighter until the area surrounding her was lit up similar to a pre-dawn light.
The unusual light caught the attention of several of the cave dwellers and they moved closer to investigate.
The young woman felt the light emerge from her palms and she opened her eyes. When she saw the dim light she inwardly cursed the lethargy she awoke with. She sighed knowing that she wasn't going to be able to do any better with taxing her already depleted energy reserves so the young woman squinted and peered into the surrounding darkness.
A noise to her left pulled her attention in that direction. She squinted hard into the darkness trying to get a glimpse of what was making the noise because whatever it was – it was moving closer.
The young woman felt herself begin to sweat despite the cool temperature and she was sure that her heart was going to pound its way right out of her chest.
The creature moved closer still and she gasped when the vampire moved close enough to the circle of light for her to make out the bumpy head and the fangs protruding from its lips.
"Uh oh."
Buffy looked up at the group, "Tara's coffin … it was empty."
"What do you mean empty?" asked Xander.
"So she's alive?" Willow asked with hope.
"Wait a minute," interrupted the slayer, "Clem said it was empty but he also said that it didn't look like anybody had been around for a few days."
"What does that mean?"
"There were no footprints and there was a thin layer of dust on the coffin. It looked like it hadn't been touched for days."
"So where is she?" asked Willow.
"I don't know," Buffy answered sadly. The slayer stepped towards her friend, "I'm sorry Will."
"What about the house?" asked Dawn. "Maybe she's at the house," the teen shrugged, "it's where I'd be."
"Buffy, tell Clem to check the house and UC Sunnydale, Oh, and have him get all the friendly demons to hit the streets and look for her," said Willow.
"No," Spike said quickly, "Tell Clem to go alone."
"Why?" asked Xander. "Shouldn't we have a search team of more then just Clem?"
"Next stop rocket science," the platinum haired vamp muttered underneath his breath.
"No, we don't to spread the word that a friend of the slayer is alone and possibly vulnerable," clarified the watcher.
"How much longer until we can get on the plane?" Anya asked.
"Just a few more minutes," answered Willow as she dropped down heavily into a chair.
Dawn walked up behind the witch and wrapped her arms around Willow's shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "She's okay, I know she is."
Willow reached up and squeezed the teens arm, "Me too. But I need to see her."
Dawn hugged her again and smiled, "Soon."
"Enter onto the plane," came the accented voice of the pilot in broken English.
"Why do I know that there isn't going to be a movie on this flight," sighed Anya as she made her way towards the small airplane.
The small group started to make their way to the plane except for Spike who held back and called out to the slayer.
"Spike? What's going on?" asked Buffy as she looked up at the vamp.
"I woke up from my ordeal in the desert. I'm going to check and see if maybe red's bird ended up in the same way."
"Tara might be here?"
"She might. She might also be in Hollywood at Ellen's pool party," retorted Spike. "She could be anywhere. Resurrection isn't exactly a science luv. I'm only sticking around – just in case - and to see if I can maybe get something from the locals."
The slayer studied Spike for a long, hard moment before speaking, "You're never coming back, are you?"
Spike blinked, "Are you daft slayer? Of course I'm coming back. I just have a few things here I have to take care of."
Buffy looked Spike in his eyes and tried to determine if he was telling the truth or not. She may not have loved him – but she wasn't quite sure if she was ready to say goodbye.
The slayer finally broke off the look and nodded, "I'll see you in Sunnydale then. Bye Spike."
Spike just dipped his head and watched as the blonde jogged over to the plane and climbed up the stairs. Buffy turned and gave him one last look before disappearing into the plane.
"Bye luv."
"Okay, st-stay calm," she told herself, "it's o-only one vamp. Just b-be calm."
The night dweller moved closer, almost stalking, and he snarled at the woman holding the dim light.
"Shoo! Go a-away!"
The vamp snarled again, only this time with delight. No rats for supper tonight.
"I d-don't want to hurt you."
"Don't worry," the vamp moved closer still, "you won't."
"I'm friends with the slayer."
The approaching vamp stopped his advance and looked around quickly.
Seeing her opportunity the woman seized it, "You don't want to m-mess with a friend of the slayer, believe me."
The vamp stepped even further away and shrunk down while looking around nervously, "The slayer is here?" he asked in whisper.
The young woman nodded vigorously, "She is. You don't think she'd let me come here by myself do you?"
The vampire looked like he was going to wet himself, "She shouldn't have left you here alone there are hundreds of vamps down here."
Hundreds!?! "Um, s-she said she w-won't be long. In fact, she should be back a-any minute now. Maybe you should j-just go on and… shoo."
The vamp cautiously stepped closer, "How about we make a deal? I keep you safe while you wait for the slayer and in return – you tell her not to, " he swallowed hard, "you know."
The young woman stood up slowly, careful to keep the light going. "You know, I think you were right – I shouldn't be down here. How about, you escort me out of here and I'll tell Buffy not to dust you? Deal?"
The vamp looked at her suspiciously, "But you said that she was going to meet you here. If you leave and the slayer comes back – she might think I did something. No, we wait right here."
The young woman smiled reassuringly, "No need to worry about that. I'll contact her and tell her the new plan. So, we should … come on, lead the way."
"How will you contact her?"
The young woman held up the glowing orb in her hand, "Does this look like a flashlight to you?"
The vamp frowned, "I see your point, follow me."
"So, where exactly are you leading me to… exactly?" asked the young woman as she followed the vamp and her eyes roamed the darkness of the cave.
"Me first," said the vamp as he navigated their way through the tunnels of the cave, "I ask a question and then you ask one."
"Okay."
"Why is the slayer roaming around in the old high school?"
"Rumor has it that the vampire that attacked a friend of hers the other night was hiding down here. She's only here looking for him. She takes attacks on her friends very personally."
The vampire nodded, "Your turn."
"How old were you?"
"What?!" the vamp stopped and spun around to face the woman.
"How old were you when you were turned?" she asked undaunted.
The vamp looked at her curiously for a moment before turning around and resuming their exit. "I was 21."
"I'm so sorry."
"Me too, let's go."
"Can't you do a spell or something?" Dawn asked the redheaded wiccan.
"Yeah, do that yoga lesbian light thing," added Anya from her seat beside Willow.
"The what now?" Xander asked while Willow just shrugged.
Anya rolled her eyes at her former fiancé and looked at Willow like she was somewhat slow, "Can't you do that thing with the little light? The thing that Tara did the night we brought Buffy back and then those Harley Davidson demons chased us through the woods."
"Oh, the Tinkerbell light thing?"
"No," interrupted Giles, "no magic or spells."
Willow dropped her head and her gaze fell to her lap, "Giles is right. No more magic."
Anya looked thoughtful, "Yeah, that's probably a good idea."
"Well, this is uncomfortable," said Xander. "Hey, watch me juggle these parachutes."
"Xander, get away from the parachutes and go sit next to Buffy," ordered Anya. "There's too much weight on this side of the plane. What, are you trying to kill us or something."
"Oh, this is going to be a fun trip home," mumbled Buffy.
"Buffy, did you try Clem again? Any luck?" Dawn asked trying to redirect the attention away from Willow and onto something else.
"No such. We'll have to wait until we land or until we get on a real plane," the slayer answered.
"We'll be landing soon," the co-pilot yelled back from the cockpit, "but there is a storm below us so make sure that your seatbelts are secure."
"And the fun just keeps on coming," grumbled Xander as he tightened his seatbelt and reached for a parachute.
TBC...
PEACE ... Dix