Chapter Twenty-Six

An Ironic Twist of Fate

The car slowly pulled up the long and winding driveway of the mansion, coming to rest at the top. The doors opened and six weary occupants stepped out.

Angel took a deep breath and smelled the approaching sun. He looked to his left and to the hill that sat behind the mansion. He felt pulled to it and he started to walk without even glancing at anybody. “I’ll be back.”

Buffy watched him walk to the back of the mansion instinctively knowing where he was going. She looked up at the night sky then back at Spike who nodded, “He’s got some time,” was all he said as he followed Cordy and Giles inside the house.

“Is Angel okay Buffy?” Dawn asked as she watched the vampire disappear into the shadows that surrounded the house.

Buffy put her arm around Dawn’s shoulders and steered her inside the house. “Yeah. Come on let’s get you to bed.”

“I’ll go see how Wesley’s coming along with the prophecy,” Giles said as he headed to the study.

Buffy didn’t answer as she watched him walk away her eyes darkening with repressed anger. Wesley. She had forgotten that he was here. She really didn’t want to see him. In fact, she could have gone the rest of her life without ever seeing him again.

Thinking of the rogue watcher irked the hell out of her. It reminded her of his betrayal. It reminded her of Faith. It reminded her of a time in her life when her world began to spiral out of control.

The urge to wrap her hands around his neck was strong and exceedingly appealing. Her hand unconsciously flexed into Dawn’s shoulder, squeezing it just a little bit.

“Ouch, Buffy you’re hurting me.” Dawn cried.

“Sorry.”

She relaxed her hand, her voice was soft and apologetic but the darkness inside of her was boiling to the surface the more she thought about him.

God she seriously wanted to kill him. She stopped herself for one moment, wondering at the bloodlust that was running through her and if she should be concerned about how easily she let it consume her these days. But in the next second that thought was gone and she didn’t feel bad as she once again imagined her hands tightening around Wesley’s throat.

She sighed with disappointment, knowing that Angel would not appreciate that. For whatever reason, he and Wesley had become close since their time together. Personally she didn’t understand how Angel could trust him. She knew she didn’t.

She knew she was probably being a little bratty, as Angel would say. After all if it weren’t for Wesley’s betrayal she wouldn’t have forced Angel to drink from her that fateful day. And if Angel hadn’t drank from her he wouldn’t be here now.

She understood all of that and yet her anger toward the ex-watcher was still strong. It felt like there was someone else inside of her, someone telling her to go ahead and let all of her frustrations out on him. She found it very hard to resist, but she knew she had to. She was trying really hard to be the good little slayer now and since she wasn’t sure if she trusted herself around him she figured she was better off staying away from him, at least for now.

“You do that Ripper, I’m going to take a little nap.” Spike said as he headed up the stairs not waiting for anyone to reply.

Cordy watched him go, her own eyes falling slowly. “I think I’m going to go to sleep too.”

Buffy nodded then she, Dawn and Cordy walked up the winding staircase and to the second floor of the mansion. It occurred to Buffy that she had never actually been on the upper levels of this house. And as she walked down the corridor she looked at everything with an inquisitive eye and a little bit of trepidation.

“It’s so…dark.” She commented, feeling as if she were a damsel in a really bad B horror movie.

“It’s down right dreary, that’s what it is.” Cordy commented just as Buffy reached for the candle that she assumed Spike had lit and left on the table for them.

“I like it. It’s comforting.” Dawn said on a yawn.

“Well I suppose for your average vamp, its home sweet home.” Cordy said and Buffy silently agreed.

They heard a door creaking and peered down the darkened hallway to see Spike just closing a door. Their bodies jerked and their hands clasped together hearing the unexpected clamor the door made as it echoed off the barren walls.

Cordy swallowed, this floor was freaking her out. She didn’t know if she wanted to sleep up here. It was creepy. From the eerie glow of the candle on the torn wallpapered walls, to the strange old portraits that hung on the wall, everything about it was straight out of an old Vincent Price movie.

Nearing the end of the hallway there were three doors: The one that Spike went into, then there was one next to his, and then there was one across the hall.

Cordy reached for the doorknob next to Spike’s room as Dawn reached for the one across the hall, simultaneously they opened them.

Holding the candle high, they peered into Dawn’s room first. The soft glow of the candle revealed the room to be of a decent size but unfortunately the warm light did nothing to improve the aesthetics of the room, which were dreadful.

It had a worn shaggy carpet that looked grey but at one time was most likely pink. The walls were semi-covered with a hideous pink floral wallpaper which was faded and tearing, revealing the rotting plaster that was underneath it .The curtains were torn and ragged, and completely covered the windows protecting the room from the sun. Topping off the dank atmosphere of the room there were old ragged dolls sitting on every piece of furniture making Buffy wonder if this had been Drusilla’s old room. In essence, it was the most wretched and unwelcoming room they had ever stepped into.

“Thank God the bed looks clean.” Cordy commented and Buffy smiled.

“Compliments of Angel, I’m sure.”

They turned and all three poked their heads into the room next to Spike’s. It was pretty much the same thing as Dawn’s room except this room was a deep blue, and much to Cordy’s relieve there were no dolls and the bed looked clean too.

Inside the room there was a table next to the door which had a candelabrum sitting on it. Picking it up, Cordy lit it off of Buffy’s candle.

“Well I guess I’ll take this one.” She said as she stepped inside the room.

“Cordy, wait a second,” Buffy said stopping her from closing the door.

Turning to Dawn she steered her toward the other room. “Dawn, take this candle and go inside, I’ll be right in okay?”” Dawn just nodded and took the candle. Walking inside the room she closed the door.

Buffy turned to the cheerleader who leaned against the door looking at her. She looked down at her hands as she shifted hesitantly on her feet. Cordy watched her with one perk eyebrow raised and a small hidden smirk on her lips. She had never seen the slayer look so unsure and she found it very comforting.

Taking a deep breath Buffy lifted her gaze to the cheerleader.

“Cordy, I just want to say…thank you. You’ve been very nice and helpful, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I don’t think I would have been able to get through that scene at the hospital if it weren’t for you. So thank you.”

Her words came out on a rush as she swallowed her pride. She never would have thought that she would be standing in a darkened hallway of the mansion saying thank you to someone who in the past she would have rather staked herself then say thanks to. But here she was.

Cordy knew how hard it was for Buffy to say that to her and her respect for the slayer grew even more. She also knew that it was time to take responsibility for her own past actions.

“Buffy you don’t have to thank me.” She sighed, “I think I should be thanking you. I was never very nice to you in the past and I’m sorry for that. I know I’ve said a lot of hurtful things to you but I want you to know that I’ve always respected you. I’m truly sorry and I hope you’ll believe me when I say that I genuinely want everything to workout for you, and for Angel.”

Buffy looked back at her with wide shocked eyes. That she was not expecting. Rude snide remarks about how it took her long enough to say thanks was what she was expecting. This was the complete opposite and she seriously had no idea how to respond. “Ah…thanks Cordy.” She turned to walk away but was stopped.

“Buffy, at the risk of getting my head chopped off, I just wanted to say that I think you need to cut Willow and Xander some slack. I know they can be extremely dense at times, but they always believed they were doing what was best for you. They’re still your friends you know. They love you. Don’t be too hard on them.”

Her friends, her eyes lowered as she was inundated with guilt. She hadn’t treated them very nice lately. In fact she just left them at the hospital without even saying a word. But like Wesley, her emotions ran very deep and very long when it came to her friends. She knew they loved her and she knew that she loved them. But for some reason she resented them and she was holding on to that resentment like a starved animal and she wasn’t quite ready to let it go.

“I know. It’s just really hard right now, you know?”

Cordy nodded her understanding, “Try to get some rest okay?”

Buffy smiled at her, “Sure you too.”

Cordy quietly closed the door.

Buffy stood there for a second and stared at the door. It was very odd this new budding relationship she was starting with Cordelia. The funniest thing about it was that she was actually enjoying it. She had always respected Cordy’s honesty and no-holds bar attitude she just never liked her much as a person. But she did now, and she wondered if she had been able to spend the last year and half with Angel if she too would be a better person.

She snorted to herself, of course she would, that was just what he did to people he made them better. That’s why she was such a mess now.

Sighing she turned away from the door and her thoughts, and walked over to Dawn’s room. Opening the door she stepped inside to see Dawn on the bed and holding one of Drusilla’s dolls in her hands. Her nose crinkled distastefully, “You sure you want to hold thing? It might have fleas or something.”

Dawn shrugged, “I like it.”

Buffy sighed then sat down on the bed. As she looked at Dawn flashes of the way she had treated her swam inside her head and her face reddened. She had failed her sister, she had failed everyone. She had been selfish, wallowing away in her own heartbreak, and in doing so she had forgotten her duty to protect her family and friends. She had let her emotions and hang-ups control her and she was ashamed.

“I’m sorry Dawn.” Her softly spoken entreaty got Dawn’s attention and she looked up at her with a question in her eye.

“For what?”

“For what? Oh gee I don’t know, for not being there when you needed me. For being a bitch. For trying to kill you.”

Dawn leaned back, waving her hand in the air. “You don’t have to apologize to me Buffy. You’re under a lot of pressure, I understand. Besides, it’s not like I’m real or anything.”

Buffy scowled at her forlorn expression and she took her hands in her grasp. “Don’t say that Dawn, don’t ever say that! You are real.” She squeezed her hands and Dawn looked up at her.

Love filled her heart for her sister. Contrary to what Buffy thought, Dawn knew that she had always been there for her. She didn’t count the last year and half because she knew that her sister had not been herself. How could she be when her other half was miles away? Dawn didn’t hold her responsible for anything.

Buffy didn’t see it that way and Dawn knew that. Her older sister had some issues when it came to responsibility, meaning that she thought she was responsible for everyone. And while that might have been true in the past it wasn’t now. There were some things that Buffy couldn’t, and that Dawn wouldn’t let her take care of.

She heard Spike talking to Angel in the Hospital, she heard that Buffy planned on giving herself to Glory instead of her, and Dawn was adamant not to let that happen. There was no way she was going to let her sister sacrifice herself for someone that wasn’t even really her sister. It made her sad to think of herself that way, but over the last couple of days she had come to grips with it. She would of course miss her mom and Buffy but she knew that Angel would take care of both of them, and she was thankful for that.

She smiled at Buffy and squeezed her hand back. “I love you Buffy.” She quietly said, tears welling up in her big brown eyes.

Buffy smiled and pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly, her own eyes tearing. “I love you too Dawn. Don’t worry we’ll get through this just fine.”

Pulling back, Buffy stood up. “Now you get some sleep it’s been a busy day. We’ll go see mom tomorrow okay?”

“Okay.”

She pulled the covers up to her chin and then tucked the covers in around her body. She left the candle on the table as she headed out the door, leaving the room in a soft glow. “Good night Dawnie.”

“Good night Buffy.”

*******************

Bypassing the living room, Buffy walked out of the kitchen door and into the waning night air to reach the hill.

After her conversation with Dawn she was feeling sad and the more she remembered the ultimatum she had given Angel the sadder she got. She didn’t want him to leave; she didn’t want to ever be without him again. In her heart she believed every word she told him but there was no way she was going to leave that decision up to him. She told him she wasn’t a kid anymore and it was time for her to prove that, to him and to her. She wanted him in her life and she was going to talk to him like an adult and get him to spill his beans. And if that didn’t work, then she’d just have to knock him around a bit.

She reached the top of the hill to find him much as she did two years ago. His arms were still at his side, his black jacket flapped in the cool night’s breeze and his gaze was pensive as he stared out across the lights of a sleeping Sunnydale.

“This is one my favorite spots you know.” He quietly said and Buffy smiled as she walked up next to him. She slid her hand down his back and around his side, leaning against him. His arm lifted and pulled her in, hugging her closely.

“Mine too. I come here a lot to think. Actually that’s not entirely true, most of the time I cry and curse the Powers that Be.” She said as light laughter spilled from her lips and her body gently shook as Angel chuckled too.

But his laughter faded as the wind blew and his thoughts were once more centered on the petite form that was nestled close against his side. He had spent the last half hour standing up here brooding, thinking the unthinkable, the almost damning imagery of her not being right where she was for the rest of her life. It scared the hell out of him. There was no doubt in his ever weary mind that if that were to happen he would not survive.

“Buffy I don’t want to lose you again.” He quietly said.

“You’re not going to lose me Angel.”

“Buffy the prophecy…”

“Yeah I know another Buffy’s-going-to-die prophecy, Angel I’ve heard that one so many times before it’s like a broken record.”

He scowled as he turned and looked down at her, “I don’t think its funny Buffy.”

“You’re right it’s not funny.” She sighed as her hand lifted and lovingly caressed his smooth cheek. “Angel my point is that we’ve faced plenty of prophecies that said we would lose or that I was going to die. And you know what? We never lost and I’m still here.”

His hand rose and flitted through her silky locks, his eyes watching as the moon’s rays lit each strand with radiance. “You did once…die. Those five minutes were the worst five minutes in my life Buffy. I…I can’t go through that again, I won’t.”

She leaned up and kissed him softly on the lips. Their eyes closing as their love ran through them, healing their wounds and restoring their faiths in each other. When they pulled away Buffy stared deeply into his eyes.

“Angel, I know that my foretold death scares you believe me it doesn’t put a smile on my face either, but there has to be something else that’s bothering you that you’re not telling me. Please just tell me what it is. Don’t walk away from me again, please.”

Angel turned away from her and looked out on the quiet town again. He came here to think about everything and continue his argument with Angelus that got started the second she mentioned her plan.

Angelus was of course against it and while Angel was afraid for her life too, he knew that it might be their only plan. So he came up here to try and figure out why he just didn’t tell her. The second he reached the top of the hill he knew why. He never told her about the Shanshu Prophecy and he wasn’t sure he wanted to. To him, that prophecy was a false hope and nothing more. He didn’t want to dangle something in front of her that he knew was never going to happen. But she left him no choice. He wasn’t about to lose her again.

The second he turned away from her, her heart stopped beating and she waited to see if he would answer her. Her eyes closed with the immense relieve that consumed her as his soft deep voice began to speak.

“About a year ago, we learned about a prophecy. It’s called the Shanshu prophecy. It says the vampire with the soul, once he has fulfilled his destiny, will Shanshu…become…human.”

He turned to her, her mouth was slightly opened and her eyes were big with her shock. “It’s on this prophecy that Wesley discovered the other prophecy.”

He closed his eyes and he repeated what Wesley read to him. ‘His destiny entwines with that of the light, the light mingles with the darkness, the energy shall unravel all that’s become. Time will cease...the energy will dissipate, the light shall cease to exist, and he shall be left to begin anew. A new day will begin, what once was dead shall be again…the light shall overcome and He will once again be.”

Buffy watched his face as he repeated the prophecy until she couldn’t look any more. She turned away from him and looked out into the stars.

Human. A human Angel, she couldn’t believe it. It was what she always wanted. Well, what she always wanted was him anyway she could get him.

In the entire history of their relationship she never once cared that he was vampire. Of course it would make their relationship a lot easier if he was human but the fact that he wasn’t never deterred her from wanting to be with him.

She remembered the night they first met. She was so naïve back then so new to being a slayer, but she still recognized what the stomach cramps meant when she knocked him on the ground outside The Bronze. She knew he was a vampire and she didn’t care or rather she didn’t want to see. But the truth revealed itself the night they first kissed and his passion overpowered his control, causing his true face to show.

She had screamed. Not in fear, not in shock but in sorrow. The cold hard truth that their relationship was going to be a long and troubled road had slapped her in the face.

Of course at the time she thought he had tricked her, thought he was playing with her emotions. But later when he killed Darla to save her, when she saw the look of deep desirous affection in his eyes she knew that it didn’t matter what he was. He could have worn the face of the demon all the time and it still wouldn’t have mattered. The way her heart furiously pumped at the sight of him, the way her breath hitched when his hand touched hers was all that mattered to her. Vampire or not he was going to be her life. But she knew that Angel didn’t feel that way. She knew how important it was to him to redeem himself and she wanted that for him too. The fact was that he deserved it more than anyone else on the planet. It was why she felt so sad now.

She understood his fear and knew why he hesitated in telling her. He saw something that he wanted just washed away with the realization that she would have to die in order for him to get it.

Her eyes closed to fight the tears that threatened to fall. It was just an ironic twist of fate. It was simply put…the story of their relationship.

Opening his eyes he looked down at her. She hadn’t spoken, hadn’t said a word, she just kept staring out in the stars. “Buffy?”

“Why do they hate us so much? Why do they keep doing this to us? It’s just one cruel joke after another.”

Pulling her into his embrace he hugged her tightly. “This is why I didn’t tell you. It doesn’t matter Buffy. What’s important is you and nothing else.”

She pulled away her anger rising with his frivolity, “No Angel this is important. This is your reward. This is what you deserve!” she frantically exclaimed.

“I know baby, but at what expense? Your life? I can’t accept that. I won’t accept that.” His was voice was uncompromising and his arms tightened around her with his strong response.

She exhaled slowly in an attempt to quiet her inner disgust. Leaning into him she buried her head against his strong chest. “I don’t want to be the reason why you don’t get your reward Angel.”

He held her tightly, “Buffy up until a few days ago I gave up on that reward. Without you in my life I didn’t care if I turned human or not. And now that I have you back there is nothing more important to me then keeping you by my side. “

He pulled her away, “Buffy we’re going to beat Glory and whether or not I Shanshu doesn’t matter, as long as we’re still together.”

She fleetingly smiled at him, her heart soaring with his words at the same time as guilt grew in her soul. “I’m so sorry Angel. It’s so unfair.”

He kissed her gently on the lips as his hands caressed her back. “There’s nothing to be sorry about. One day if it’s meant to be it’ll happen and I’m okay with that.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

He smiled running his hand through her hair. “As long as you’re still with me I don’t care.”

He drew her into his arms, his mouth seeking hers, his hands stroking her tense shoulders. As their lips touched and she opened her mouth for him, giving him the taste of perfection, he knew what he said to be true.

At one time all he wanted was to be human and he had even begun to think of himself worthy of a gift that large. He didn’t feel that way anymore. Whether it was from the guilt that he felt from what he had done over the last year and half or the fact that his demon was thriving inside of him, he didn’t know. All he did know was that he was not worthy of that gift anymore. He had spat in the face of chance and he knew that even if she did die he would not be granted that gift, and it was no one’s fault but his own.

Pulling away he looked at her earnestly. “You see why I can’t agree with your plan now right?”

Buffy’s eyebrow rose and Angel scowled, intuitively knowing that she wasn’t going to agree.

“No Angel. I don’t see.”

He released her and took a step back, his eyes closed and when they opened again they were a mix of brown and bright red. Buffy watched mesmerized as his fact shifted to the demon and then back to his human form then back to the demon. She knew they were fighting for control. And she waited with baited breath to see who would win out.

When his hands callously gripped her arms and he jerked her forward, she knew who won.

“Buff, why are trying my patience. I’ve been pretty patient with you so far, don’t you think? I shut up and let the soul explain to you the reasons why your plan was stupid but did you listen? NO! I don’t think you understand the measures I’m willing to take to keep this prophecy from coming true!”

Before she could respond he released her and he stepped back. His face shifted back to his human form and he started talking to himself.

Buffy watched him with something akin to awe. If she hadn’t understood his current situation before she did now. They were melding into each other; demon and soul were becoming one. She wondered what would be left in the end. When this great merger was finally completed, who would be in charge? It was a little scary but instead of looking at it with fear in her heart she looked at it with a soul binding passion to stand by his side no matter what happened.

“Angel?” She called out but he wasn’t listening to her he was pacing angrily back and forth arguing with the demon in a language she had never heard before.

She called out to him again and when he didn’t respond she grabbed him by his coat and turned him toward her. She was surprised to see his big fist coming around with him. He punched her in the chin and she went down staggered by the blow.

Angel stopped muttering and looked down at her with distress at what he did. Immediately he leaned down to her and grabbed her by the shoulders hauling her up to her feet.

“Wow, deju vu.” She absently said as Angel’s hands moved over her face.

“Oh my god Buffy I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was I doing.”

She smiled at him as she took his hands in his bringing his frantic eyes to hers. “Angel its okay, you were obviously arguing with Angelus and I got in the middle of that.” She touched her chin, God he had a powerful punch. “Note to Buffy, never get in the middle of that argument again.”

Angel scowled darkly at her, “No it’s not alright. God it seems that no matter how hard I try not to I always end up hurting you.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, “Angel relax, it was one punch no biggy.”

He was about to respond but she shushed him with her finger over his lips. “Angel listen to me okay, you too Angelus, we have thwarted prophecies before and we will do it again. But I have a duty to uphold and that duty is to my sister. I cannot and will not let anything happen to her. Now I don’t want to die but me giving myself to Glory makes sense. It’s a solid plan Angel. “

Angel sighed, his eyes closing as he once more closed the distance in between them and brought her flush against his body. “Buffy I understand that you have a duty to the world, to protect Dawn, and I want to do that to but if something goes wrong…”

She smiled at him, “What could go wrong? I have you and your demon to make sure that nothing happens. And believe it or not Angel…I trust you.”

Angel stared back at her in a stupor, did he hear her correctly? She trusted him? After everything that he had done to her she trusted him?

Warmth seeped into his weary body and her love and trust eclipsed every other thought that he had in his mind. She was right. They would see this through together, and in the end, nothing would happen to her because he and Angelus wouldn’t allow it.

He smiled at her, and his hands unable to resist, wandered down to her ass and squeezed her cheeks as he moved against her. She smiled back at the impish smirk on his lips and her own hands wandered up around his neck.

“You trust me?”

“I do Angel, wholeheartedly.”

“Thank you.”

He didn’t realize how much hearing those words would mean to him. How calming and restorative they would be. But as he stood with her wrapped in his arms, her eyes shining up at him brightly he was filled with such optimism that he almost didn’t recognize himself. Even the demon was quiet and contented.

She shifted on her feet and her breasts rubbed against his chest, all thoughts of death and duty disappeared. The need to show her how much he cherished her besieged him. He leaned down and kissed her waiting lips, hungrily tasting every inch of her. When he pulled back he wiggled his eyebrows at her feeling like a replenished man. “Ever make love on a hill?”

She smiled at him, “Um, no…” she looked up at the ever lightening sky then back at him, “and if we don’t get you inside soon you’ll never be able to show me how wonderful if could be.”

*******************

Dawn watched them from the window in her bedroom one single tear rolling down her cheek. She was so happy for them, they belonged together and she was glad that she was able to see them back together again. Everything was as it should be.

She turned away from the window and looked at the room, there was nothing here of hers. All she had was the clothes on her back, and if everything went the way it was supposed to go, she wouldn’t need those too much longer.

She knew what she had to do. She had to give herself to Glory. She didn’t care what happened to her, and she was convinced that Buffy and Angel with the rest of their family would be able to stop Glory once the portal was opened. It was the right thing to do. Just as Buffy had her destiny to fulfill Dawn knew that this was hers.

She opened the door and peeked out in the hallway. It was dark and quiet a lone candle was lit in the hallway. She stepped out and quietly walked down the hall and down the stairs.

When she reached the bottom she saw that the study door was still closed. She heard voices coming in from the kitchen and she quickly dashed out the front door before anyone saw her.

She ran all the way down the driveway and then down the block heading toward the hospital. She couldn’t go without seeing mom one more time; she had to tell her how much she loved her. She would make just one quick stop and then go find Glory. She didn’t know how she was going to do that, but she figured since she was the key if she just put herself out there that eventually Glory would find her.

She rounded the block and was just passing a deserted building when she walked into someone. “Oh excuse me.”

Strong hands gripped her arms steadying her and a familiar voice spoke her name. “Dawn?”

“Riley, what are you doing here?”

Riley couldn’t believe his good luck. He was just getting back from spying on them at the mansion, he had hoped to take Dawn from there but he was disturbed to learn that he couldn’t enter the house. He figured that since a Vampire owned the house he would be able to get in with no problem, but the invisible shield would not allow him to enter.

He dejectedly headed back to the deserted building, just making it back before the sun rose when she walked right into his plan.

“I was just going to inspect this old building, I’d heard some rumors that vampires were living in there.”

Dawn watched him with a question in her eye. He looked rushed, impatient; his eyes kept flitting up to the sky and to the sun that was just starting to rise. Something was not right with him.

“Oh, well why don’t you call Buffy? I’m sure she could help you out with that.”

Riley smiled at her as his grip tightened. “Good idea, that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”

His face suddenly shifted and Dawn took a step back, her eyes bulging with shock.

“Riley!”

Riley held her tight laughing cruelly at the expression on her face. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, running toward the door.

Dawn screamed at the top of her lungs. Terror filled her as she saw smoke and smelled burning flesh as the sun hit Riley’s back.

But no one heard her as the door slammed shut on her screams and the streets of Sunnydale were quiet once more.

Chapter Twenty-Seven