Bad Tidings
Part 2


Seattle.


Her senses were ablaze. There was sweat in the air, fear, mingled with pain. Then she smelt the dust on the wind. A demon had been here, but gone now. Why was she here if the demon was already gone?

“Buffy, hi. I thought you were in England with Giles.” The male spoke, to someone. Was it her? He seems familiar to her. A memory of a past life and friends long gone. The memories made her uncomfortable, she snarled them away.

“That’s some growl you’ve got there Buff. I’ve seen your hair look better too.” One of the strong ones approached her. Three girls, all strong. One reeked of magyks, the other two; another sense of familiarity, then it was gone. The elder warrior woman got closer, too close. She struck, fast and brutal, aiming, not for a killing blow. Just enough to knock her back, stop the advance until she knew where she was.

“Whoa, Buff. You’re finally learnin’ how to throw a punch.” The sudden blow took faith aback. “We’re just wondering if you’re OK. I’d say it’s not.”

Willow stood up, “she’s not listening. Can she even her you? I’m going to try and reach her telepathically.”

“Buffy? Can you understand me? It’s Willow. I’m here with Xander, Kennedy and Faith. What’s wrong with you?”

“F. F, Faith?” The word stumbled over itself as it came from her mouth. So filled was she with rage. The memory crystallised in her mind, “Faith!” and she struck. Harder than before, because this time she did want to kill this phantom, wipe it from her mind. She knew Faith, and she knew Faith was evil.


England

“Cordy?” Angel was stunned; he stepped back to take in what he was seeing.

“Hi there hero.” Cordelia stepped towards Angel and patted his cheek. Despite the pain of the contact Angel didn’t flinch. “I’m back.”

“Cordy? But aren’t you…? You know? Dead?” Buffy was instantly on the defensive. Memories of The First, already flashing into her mind.

“Hi Buffy, before you say another word. Angel, tell her that you felt me touch you there.” Angel could only nod in Buffy’s direction. “I just wanted to prove that I’m not the First Evil come back to haunt you, again. It really is me. Cordelia Chase, back from the dead for one night only. I know that the last time I did this Angel; I said then that it was a one time only deal. Well it was, but this is different, the P.T.B. want you to know something. They thought it would be best coming from me. Can you believe it? All-powerful, all knowing creatures and they haven’t got your cell phone number. Sheesh, they really do run a two bit operation up there.”

“Cordelia, not to sound too intrusive, but what are you doing here?” Giles was regaining his composure slowly but surely. The shock of seeing someone whose funeral he attended mere months ago was almost enough to stun him. But then, he was a watcher; he had to be prepared for anything. But this was beyond him.

“Oh yeah, hi to you too Giles. Don’t feel happy to see an old friend or anything.” Cordelia smiled as Giles started to look guilty. “I may as well tell you now. Something is coming. Something big, something bad. Something that you might not be able to stop.”

“What is it?” Buffy asked, still a little perturbed by her old friends apparent resurrection.

“Pain.”

“Pain? Pain is coming? What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what it says. Back, before there was good, before there was evil, there was pain. And now, it’s coming back with a hankering for revenge.”

“Ow!” Buffy staggered back slightly.

“Are you alright Buffy?” Giles was at his slayers side.

“Yeah, I think. Willow is shouting in my head. Telling me to stop. But I’m not doing anything. Am I?”

“Not here you’re not.” Came Cordelia’s cryptic response.


Seattle.


“Buffy, stop this. Faith isn’t your enemy any more. What’s wrong with you.” Willows telepathic cry went unanswered as Buffy continued her anger filled attack on Faith. There was no control to her movements; it was as if she had given herself over purely to instinct. “I’m going to probe her mind, it might stop her. It might not.” She looked at Kennedy, who despite the fight, mere feet away from her, had not budged from her lover’s side.

Willow stared at Buffy, and probed her mind, her memories, and her soul. What she found there made her weep for her friend. Pain, grief, anger and power. “My God. She did it. She really did it.”


To be continued

This is great Jamie :thumbsup:

Can we have some more please?

Flattery will get you everywhere :lol:

I'm off for the weekend, so I should be able to have the next part ready for Sunday.

Glad you're enjoying it. :blush:

Enjoyable reading so far and your characterisations (is that a word?) are good. :)

Spike surviving was a bit of a disappointment though. ;)

I'm still trying to decide whether I want to leave him that way though :ph43r:

You could just ignore him and kill him when you get round to it.