Chapter Thirty
Ripples of Destiny
Giles sat quietly as Cordy drove back to the mansion from the hospital. He appeared to be calm and in control but inside his heart was breaking and his mind was ravaged with worry for his slayer.
A tear cascaded down his cheek and he angrily wiped it away.
Joyce was a beautiful woman, she deserved so much more than dying alone in a cold hospital. He wished he could have been there to hold her hand and reassure her that everything would be alright, that he would always be there to watch over her girls and to tell her that he loved her. But he never got that chance and now he never would.
It was so unfair. It was the worst possible time for something like this to happen. So much heartache and trauma, how much could one girl take before breaking?
The doctor said that Buffy did not react well to the news and while he pounded on the bathroom door for her he had been worried about her mental state. When she came out she had surprised him with how composed she was. Although he wasn’t too happy with Angel, he knew that it was the bond they shared that kept her cool and he was thankful for it in that moment.
After Buffy, Xander and Willow left he stayed behind to deal with Joyce. He had arranged for the hospital to send her body to the funeral parlor, where she would wait until Glory was dealt with. They would have a proper burial for her and they would do it when the time was right and they could mourn, and that time was not now.
Like Buffy did Giles had to put his own sadness aside and deal with the present, which was talking to Angel.
The car pulled up the driveway and stopped.
“I’ll be back Giles I just have to go find Wes.”
He nodded at the former cheerleader but didn’t answer as he stepped out and closed the door to the car. Cordy drove away and he turned around and walked inside the mansion.
Inside Spike was sitting on the couch his head in his hands; he stood up when he heard the door closing.
“Where’s Angel?”
Spike looked at him and Giles was surprised to see his normally cold blue eyes brimming with unshed tears.
“Is it true? Is Joyce…gone?”
Giles nodded at him.
“I…I can’t believe it. Angel told me but I…”
“Where is Angel Spike?”
He pointed to the bedroom and Giles left the upset vampire and headed down the hall.
“Angel, I need to speak with you.”
The persistent clipped British voice that was shouting through his bedroom door woke him.
Snarling angrily he jumped up from the bed and ripped open the door startling Giles. “Why did you leave her alone?”
Giles was taken aback by the quick and angry question. “Excuse me but there were more pressing matters at hand. Joyce is dead Angel and Buffy was and still is completely unable to handle what must be done. I did what I thought was the best thing at the moment.”
Angel sighed, running a hand through his hair. He was frustrated that he was literally trapped inside the house unable to go after his mate and he took it out on Giles. “I know I’m sorry for snapping at you.”
Giles nodded at him. “Yes well I needed to be there to make the arrangements. Besides,” he looked at Angel with probing eyes, “I knew she would be okay because of your…bond.”
Angel heard the anger in his voice, the anger that he was expecting.
“Giles I know what you’re going to say but now really isn’t the time.”
Giles frowned menacingly then pushed past him and walked inside the room. “No I think now is the perfect time and you sir are going to sit down and listen to me!”
He was shouting and Angel held back his smirk of respect. You had to hand it to Ripper when it came to protecting the people that he loved he was one tough little English bulldog.
Angel shut the door and sat down on the edge of the bed. While he admired Giles’ tenaciousness he hoped that he had enough strength to remain calm. He was thankful that he had gotten at least an hour of sleep in before Cordy called. In that small amount of time he was able to go into a deep restorative sleep where all his energy and senses rested. For his mate, it would be like a deep trance had settled over her giving her all the stability she needed. But his time was up now and as he kept Buffy and the lingering tranquility of sleep ever present in his mind he focused another part of himself on Giles.
“I must know and you will be honest with me, did you take advantage of her?”
It took Angel a second to realize what he was asking but when he did, he was shocked and hurt. “What? Giles, do you really think that I would do that to her?”
Giles’s anger lessened as he read the genuine hurt in the vampire’s eyes. He sighed and his body relaxed a little. “No. I had hoped not of course, but I had to ask.”
“Giles I know you want to talk about this and you deserve answers that I want to give. But do we really have to do this now?”
“Yes Angel we do. My slayer is out there, her mother is dead, her mystically enhanced sister is out there missing, and personally I don’t think Buffy knows what the bloody hell she’s doing. She’s walking on a very, very thin line here Angel one that could easily snap, and then what? What happens when she losses it again and the wrong person is in the wrong spot and gets hurt?”
“Rupert I understand your point but you have to trust me that’s not going to happen. She’s okay, I can feel her.”
Giles removed his glasses, and as was often his habit when he was irritated, he started to clean them.
“Angel it’s true that most watchers do not believe in the myth of the true meaning of a mates bond but I am not one of those ignorant fools.”
Placing his glasses back on, he looked him straight in the eye.
“My mentor believed it existed and he taught me about it. Now granted I am a little rusty on the specifics but its all here in this book. “
He held up the book and waved it in front of Angel’s astonished face.
“There’s a book?”
“Yes. Well no it’s not a published book it’s my mentor’s diary, his notes on his own personal experience with the bonding of mates.”
His eyes crossed as he chided Angel, “Don’t change the subject. My point is that her state of mind is only stable because she is relying on you for that stability. What happens when you get riled? What happens when your demon takes control and she’s out there by herself unable to control her own darkness? Innocent people could get hurt!“
“I know that Rupert, that’s why I was hoping we could postpone this little argument until later.” He snarled at him.
“Well I’m sorry Angel but we can’t do that. I need to know exactly what’s going to happen to my Slayer. We have a hell goddess in town incase you have forgotten and I need to know that Buffy will be ready to do whatever needs to be done!”
Angel grumbled under his breath as he felt his demon get rankled with the Watcher’s high handedness. God he was so stubborn.
“Fine, but please sit down and lower your voice. I need to remain calm. You shouting at me is not helping.”
Giles nodded and then sat down. When Angel didn’t respond he sharply said, “I’m waiting.”
Angel sighed.
“Honestly Rupert, I don’t know much about what’s going on okay. I’ve never experienced it before and quiet frankly, I was one of those ignorant fools that didn’t believe in it. I’m going on pure instinct right now and nothing more. I don’t know how this is actually affecting Buffy and I don’t know what’s going to happen in the end.”
“What do you mean in the end?”
He stood up and started to pace. After a few silent seconds he turned and looked Giles right in the eye. “This is going to be really hard for you to hear but she bit me, okay. I had nothing to do with it. If it was up to me it never ever would have happened. I need for you to believe that.”
Giles stood up and faced him, he could hear the regret in Angel’s voice and he believed him. “I do but I don’t understand why would she do that?”
“Because she’s a smart kid that’s why.”
They both turned around to the voice that spoke.
“Whistler.” Angel exclaimed.
Giles looked at the demon and then around the room. “How did you get in here?”
Whistler smiled as he casually sat down in the seat that Giles had vacated. “Just one of my little demon tricks Watcher. I would love to tell you more about my many talents but I think you two want to discuss something else.”
Angel walked over to him a deep scowl of betrayal on his face. “You knew this was going to happen and you didn’t tell me!”
Whistler had the nerve to chuckle at him, “Gees Angel don’t you know me by now. I don’t tell you anything that you don’t need to know.”
“I needed to know this. Damn it Whistler you should have told me before you sent me here.”
“Why so you could chicken out and not come back. Don’t try to deny it that’s what you would have done. You and those damn morals, you’d think after being one of the most vicious vampires in history that you would have gotten over those pesky human emotions by now.”
Angel’s anger rose with the demon’s flippancy and he took a step forward. He could feel Angelus wanting to come out but he held him back, needing to stay in control.
“Whistler no more games, no more half-truths or lies I need to know everything NOW!”
Giles stepped up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, “Angel calm down, think of Buffy.”
Angel took a deep breath and Giles felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. He turned away from Whistler to collect himself but instead of peace he felt…lust…hot and fast running through his soul, pulling out from his bond with Buffy. He growled at the ill-timed passion that was quickly warming his cold body. What the hell was she doing?
“Are you alright Angel?” Giles asked.
Whistler chuckled knowing full well what was going on, “don’t worry about him Watcher his mate’s just discovered some of her newfound abilities.”
Giles looked back at Whistler, “Newfound abilities? What are you talking about?”
“Look I don’t have much time do you really want to waste it?” Whistler asked him.
“I…No…yes, well um…see here Whistler I regret that we have not met before and I’d love to take the time and talk with you in length about, well many things but as we don’t have the time…why did Buffy bite him, did she know the consequences?”
“Technically no but inside her darkness, the part of her that was already connected to Angel through the drinking of her blood, knew. Look guys its simple really. She did what she knew had to be done, she completed her destiny. Everything is as it should be.”
Frustrated with his answer Angel turned around to face him again. “You know Whistler you keep saying that and in the moment it makes sense, but then something else happens and then nothing makes sense!”
“Angel, remember I told you that you two were destined to be together, that there were great things in store for you two?”
“Yes but I thought you were talking about Glory, about defeating this prophecy.”
Whistler chuckled, “defeating the prophecy, no, no, no. You have it all wrong. The prophecy is about you two. It’s not about Glory.”
Angel and Giles looked at each other confused and Whistler sighed. “Why would a prophecy about a hell Goddess be on an ancient prophecy about a vampire’s Shanshu?”
Giles had been wondering that exact same thing.
“I don’t know I never thought about it.” Angel answered.
“Because my friend it’s always been about you two. Your prophesied joining is older then me for god’s sake.”
Giles was mad and he stepped forward not afraid to show his displeasure. “I don’t understand, what is so important about them bonding this way. Buffy would stand and fight by Angel’s side no matter what. She doesn’t need a mental leash. And for that matter she’s not even a vampire. She’s a human girl! She cannot be expected to be tied this way for eternity to, no offense Angel…”
Angel smirked, “none taken.”
“…to a vampire!”
Whistler smiled and looked at Angel. “I knew I’d like him. He’s just full of righteous anger and not afraid to show it. I love that!”
Angel sat down and smiled back at him. “Somehow I just knew you would.”
Whistler nodded then turned to Giles. “What makes you think she’s human?”
Angel’s eyebrow rose with dawning understanding as Giles expression turned red with anger. “What kind of question is that? Of course she’s human!”
“You know Rupert you are a very astute man, very intelligent. You were chosen you know to be her watcher. In fact there is even a prophecy about it. You must realize by now, by everything that you have seen in your lifetime as a student and a watcher that Slayer’s are not human, well at least not entirely.”
Giles sat down in shock right next to Angel on the bed. Firstly the knowledge that he was chosen to be Buffy’s watcher was staggering and then to find out that she wasn’t human was doubly hard to accept.
“No. I…never once considered that possibility. I mean I just assumed that when one slayer died the next was magically gifted with the power of a slayer.”
“I can see that Angel’s pretty much figured things out and seeing that you seem to be in some sort of stupor I’ll tell it to you straight. Slayers are all born human but they are not one hundred percent human. There is another side of them that lies dormant. If and when the need arises for them, that side becomes alive and they are gifted with the power of being a slayer. If it doesn’t, then that side remains dormant. They never know and they live normal lives.”
“Yes I know that.” Giles answered.
“I’m sure you do. But do you know where the dormant part comes from? Do you truly understand just what the power of a slayer is?”
Giles numbly shook his head. He felt like a child back in school and the feeling reminded him of all those years ago when he had asked the same question to his professors. Their answers had been ambiguous at best and prompted him to do his own research. When he did he found nothing and he remembered at the time that he thought it was very strange. But he had been young and eager to impress his mentor and the professors so when he asked again and was quickly reprimanded on how he was wasting his time that was better spent learning actual events, he relented. Now he felt stupid for not continuing his research privately.
“Gees don’t they teach you anything at Watcher’s school? It’s demon Watcher, one hundred percent demon.”
Angel stared into space feeling a little stupid himself. It was the simplest of answers, it was the hand in front of your face that you never saw, and it made all the sense in the world. But Giles didn’t see it that way, the demon’s quick answer angered him with mistrust and his face blotched with redness as he stood up.
“No! I don’t believe that. You’re lying!”
Whistler looked at Angel, “you wanna help me out here?”
“Giles, he’s not lying think about it. Slayers were made to fight and destroy vampires, a demon. What better way to destroy a demon but another demon.”
“Ask her yourself watcher, she knows.” Whistler said and that got both Angel and Giles’ attention.
“What do you mean she knows?” Angel asked and Whistler looked at Giles.
“She went on a vision quest last year didn’t she?”
Giles nodded.
“What, when, why?” Angel asked.
“It was summer, after we defeated Adam and The Initiative. She was questioning her abilities, she wanted to learn more about them and where her powers were taking her. So I sent her on a vision quest.”
“Even then she knew something was changing inside of her. From the moment you drank from her Angel the changes began. She recognized something going on and sought answers. And she found them on her vision quest.
“What did she find?” Giles asked. He had always been curious but he never wanted to ask and she never offered the information.
“That the first slayer was possessed by demons. It was what gave her the strength to defeat them. It’s what every slayer is made off. If they walk the right path then they never see or feel the darkness, they remain on the path of good. But if they choose the wrong path, the darkness, the demon side of them grows stronger; it thrives on it and pushes them down that path more.”
Giles stumbled back sitting once more on the bed, completely amazed by what he was hearing. “Well it makes sense I just…my god…Faith?”
Whistler sadly nodded. “They had high hopes for that one, it’s a shame she walked the wrong path.”
“She’s not like that anymore Whistler, she’s changed.” Angel sternly said, feeling the need to stick up for her. He had talked to her since she was in prison and he sensed a change in her.
But Whistler shook his head at him. “You should really listen to your mate more Angel. People don’t change, circumstances do.”
He said it with a twinkle in his eye which made Angel scowl. He was watching them, how else would he know that she said that.
“No, Faith’s future has not changed and sadly one day you’ll find that out.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on Angel you don’t really expect me to tell you everything do you?” He smiled at him.
“Of course not, why would you.” Angel smirked back.
“Then why tell us all of this now?” Giles asked.
“Let’s just say that I feel responsible?”
“In what way?”
Whistler shrugged, “well I don’t want to toot my own horn, but it was me that found Angel and led him to Buffy.”
Giles looked turned and looked at Angel. “Is that true?”
Angel nodded at him but put all of his attention on the wily demon. “There has to be another reason you’re here. It’s never that simple with you.”
Whistler laughed, “Still haven’t worked on those trust issues eh? Look I’m here because I like you two, that’s why and for no other reason. I want to help make the transition as easy as possible. They don’t even know I’m here. I’m risking a lot coming here and telling you this but my affection for you two crazy kids is just bottomless and I wanted to help.”
“Okay so start talking. What exactly is happening to Buffy?” Giles asked.
While Giles was still slightly clueless Angel wasn’t. After hearing what Whistler told them he knew exactly what was going on.
“Basically, her demon half is connecting with his demon half.” Whistler answered as he tilted his head toward Angel. Seeing that Giles looked confused he continued on a dramatic sigh.
“It’s like this. When Angel drank from Buffy he sealed his curse, combined both the soul and the demon to the light and love of the Slayer. They were connected in a small subtle way but Buffy’s demon side, the side that had already been given new life when Angel callously threw her away.” He looked over at a red-faced Angel, his eyes once more condemning him for his actions, and then he looked back at Giles as he continued. “It kept growing as the connection grew. It’s attracted to his darkness, to the demon. It see’s its soul mate and wants it. So she took it. She had no choice. She did what she knew had to be done to complete the bond.”
Giles started to pace as his mind quickly gathered all the information he just heard. “Are you saying that she’s now half demon, half vampire?”
“She’s always been half demon it was just never alive before. And as for being a vampire, no not physically but metaphysically yes. Through their connection their demons are joined. Just as she can feel every emotion Angel is feeling she can now tap into his demon’s powers of heightened senses, and…his penchant for blood.”
Angel’s eyes closed and he forlornly shook his head. Whistler watched him his own eyes showing a small sense of pity for the vampire. He had been watching him for so long that he couldn’t help but feel a sense of paternity and empathy for him now. Of course Angel had no idea about Whistler’s true feelings and he never planned on telling him.
“I know it’s not what you wanted for her Angel, but what you want is irrelevant it’s about what should happen. You couldn’t have stopped it even if you wanted to.” He softly said.
“I know, I tried but I couldn’t…I couldn’t step away. I couldn’t stop her.” His voice was full of anguish and guilt, and it lessened Giles’ own anger over his culpability.
“Does she need it to survive, blood?” Giles asked.
“No. As I said, she’s not a vampire, but inside the part of her that is connected to the demon…is. I know it’s very confusing and in all honestly I don’t think there are human words that can explain it very well. It always loses something in the translation.”
Angel turned around to face him, “so the slayer half of her is not fighting the demon, she’s…”
“Seeking him out, she’s hungry for her other half…struggling to get closer to him. Of course in the beginning she did fight but the moment she bite you the battle was lost.” Whistler finished.
“And in the end?”
“In the end you will have two perfect beings. By your joining you will both be good and evil. You will both have the strength and power that nothing, no demon nor human, nor…Goddess, has ever had before. At times, you will both struggle with your evil halves but in the end the goodness that is just as powerful will win.”
Giles wasn’t sure what to make of that. He knew he had more questions but he couldn’t think of them. His mind was still on the part where he was just told that his Slayer was half demon.
Whistler suddenly stood up. “My time is up. The bottom line is this. Everything…”
“Is exactly the ways it’s supposed to be.” Angel finished for him and Whistler smiled.
“See you do know me.”
“You mentioned she’d have more power then a Goddess. Does that mean that we’ll defeat Glory?” Giles said.
Whistler’s face crinkled with rising annoyance at the persistent Watcher. “I can’t tell you anything more. The rest is for you to learn on your own.”
“What a minute I still have
more questions?”
He ignored Giles and turned to look at Angel. “Together you are strong apart
you are nothing. Always remember that.”
He turned and walked over to the door. “Now I must go. I’ve told you all that I can. I wish you the best of luck against Glory. Though luck isn’t needed, is it?”
“What exactly does that mean?” Giles asked.
“You’ll find out.”
Angel and Giles turned to look at each other, when they looked back Whistler was gone.
***************
“I have wondrous news my exceptionally bodacious goddess.”
Glory stood at the window overlooking the drab little town she had been forced to stay in. And as every day went by and she remained, her agitation grew. Even Dreg’s ass kissing comments didn’t make her feel good anymore. “Well I hope so. This town is getting on my nerves.”
She turned around to face him. He was about to speak when she cut him off. Her face reflected anger at the change she felt inside. “No, no, no! Go away!”
Dreg watched has her hands came up to her head and she pushed against her skull. Her eyes closed and her face contorted distastefully as she shifted back and forth from Ben to her. She struggled with the change, desperately trying to hold on but it was no use. Right before his eyes, she disappeared and he was looking into the surprised and confused eyes of Ben.
Ben looked at the demon that stood before and then looked around at his surroundings. He wobbled slightly and looked down at his feet, scowling darkly. “What is her obsession with these stupid high heels!”
Dreg smiled, he couldn’t help it. There was just something very comical about seeing a grown man wearing a red silk nightgown with red stilettos. “She says they make her calves look good,” he commented and Ben scowled even more.
“Yeah, well all they do for me is advertise my hairy legs.” He walked over to the bed and sat down, kicking the shoes off.
Dreg approached him. “Ben may I ask you a question?”
“What?” he barked.
“Why do you fight her? Why not just let her take control? You can’t fight her forever you know, she’s too powerful.”
“Why? Have you forgotten Dreg that if I do that then I’m basically dead?”
“I mean no offense Ben, but aren’t you already?” He took a step closer his voice softening as he implored the mortal that shared the same space as his beloved mistress. “Without Glory you would not exist.”
Ben looked down. “That may be true but what about the life I’ve created for myself? What about my friends?”
“Friends? The life you created for yourself? Again Ben I mean no offense but you and I both know that there are no friends. And the life that you created, what kind of life is it when you disappear for days sometimes weeks in a row? It must be most unsettling to always find yourself in a strange place and wearing women’s clothes no less. I would imagine that living that way would be most difficult.”
He could see the look in the young man’s eyes, the look that said he had already been thinking the same thing. Inwardly he smiled, mortals were so easy to manipulate. If Glory had taken the time to speak to Ben on a friendlier level then she might have already gotten rid of him. “What kind of life is that? Wouldn’t you rather feel peace and contentment? She can give you those things. All you need to do is just…give in.”
“Give in? You make it sound so simple and maybe for you it is but not for me.” He stood up and faced him. “It’s still my life Dreg. It’s still who and what I am. How am I supposed to just give that up?”
Dreg’s eyes hardened, “Ben you either give up on your own free will or she will take it…all. I can assure you the later would be much more painful.”
“I…” He didn’t get to finish his sentence.
His face shifted to Glory and then back to his. He tried to stay in control but ever since they came to Sunnydale it became harder for him to hold on. She was growing in power, easily taking control and keeping it for long periods of time. He couldn’t stop her from coming now, and his last coherent thought before he vanished again was that maybe Dreg was right.
“God, why won’t he just go away!” Glory pouted her exclamation as her hands waved dramatically in the air.
Dreg’s eyes softened toward his mistress. “Perhaps next time you’ll find him more receptive to that idea.”
“Doubtful he is so stubborn.” Noticing that she wasn’t wearing any shoes she frowned then looked around the room. Spotting them on the other side she walked over to them. “What were you saying before we were so rudely interrupted?”
“I believe the vampire Riley has located the Key.”
She spun around her eyes lit with pure joy. “Now that is good news. So why is she not here at my feet begging me for mercy?”
“He has her in a deserted building across town. I believe he is waiting for the sun to set.”
Her eyes darkened as she quickly walked into the bedroom with a purposeful stride. “Vampires are so difficult to work with. Well I can’t wait till the sun sets. Come Dreg I’ll dress and then we’ll go collect my key.”