Giles gaped at Cordelia.

Cordelia smiled patiently.

No-one spoke for a minute or two.

“Well, is it?” asked Cordy.

Buffy spluttered. “You’re…you’re…”

“In a coma? Technically, no,” finished the higher being. “See, and I’m gonna have to explain this to everyone else now, aren’t I……anyway. When I went all crazy and gave birth to a Power That Was after raising a nearly indestructible demon which went on a killer rampage, did several questionable things like slaughtering a family and making fire rain from the sky? That wasn’t me. Well, you knew that, but see, I wasn’t anywhere in there. That was my body, but…oh, screw it. I’ll just show you.”

She closed her eyes, and after a moment insisted anyone who wanted to see close theirs too. Buffy obliged.

**********

She saw Cordelia walk towards a house.

And Cordelia standing in front of the first, screaming for her to stop. The first Cordelia walked straight through the other.

“It’s tough, isn’t it, kitten.”

The second Cordy whirled to see an enormous, armour-clad demon standing behind her. She looked startled, then relaxed.

“You seriously need to stop doing that.”

“It’s part of my job description, I have to,” smiled the demon.

“Whatever. So am I dead this time?”

“No. Not this time. Something much worse.”

The first Cordelia had rang the doorbell.

“Cordelia, as your spirit guide, or whatever, I have certain duties. Now though, I don’t technically have to help you. You screwed up, you have to pay the price.”

“I know, I know…I can’t mess around with this dimension any more…”

“Yeah, but…there’s been a mix-up somewhere down the line. Your body has been possessed by an entity from another dimension and Lorne accidentally woke it up with that memory spell he got a hold of. Now, I have to get straight to the point here. You can either try to stop it by staying here, locked in an endless struggle for possession of your own body – which you’ll lose, by the way – or come back with me and I’ll try to convince the Powers to take you back.”

“Take me back?” The other Cordelia impatiently tapped her foot as she rang the doorbell again. “What for? All I ever did was sit around – or the bodiless equivalent – until you came once and a while and gave me some crappy errand to run that sometimes didn’t even exist! I thought I’d be fighting evil but I’m doing the Higher Power version of making coffee for the higher ups except I never saw any higher ups! And I never made any coffee!”

“I know, Cordy, I know…” The demon was looking edgy as he regarded the original Cordelia at the door to the house. “But…okay, I’m gonna level with you. The entity in possession of your body is going to go into that house and slaughter an entire family and after it does so I won’t be able to come back for you.”

Cordelia blinked in surprise. “Then get off your armour-plated ass, get over there and bitch slap that thing out of my freakin’ body, mister!”

“I can’t. Same reason you got kicked out of upstairs.”

“Dammit! So it’s now or never?”

“Pretty much.”

She sighed. “Well, it’s not like you’ve given me much of a choice….”

Skip smiled. “You won’t regret it.” He extended his hand and Cordelia reluctantly took it as the first Cordy smiled at the woman who had just opened the door and tightened her grip on the butcher knife in her right hand.

**********

“I did regret it,” completed Cordy as everyone opened their eyes. “Turns out Skip – that demon – was working for the big nasty living in my skin and it was all a ruse to get me out of my body so the thing could start using magic, or something. Basically I made its job easier by taking myself out of the picture. Team Angel got more than even when the Lone Ranger over there put a bullet in his brain. Shame you didn’t do that infinite agony spell on him, Fred. Anywho, I’m back because the Powers did take me back in end after I wandered around an alternate dimension for God-knows how long and after this whole thing started up I guess I was the perfect choice for the job and they uber-charged me with some pretty powerful power.”

“But she can’t become corporeal,” added Willow. “We can see her as Cordy because she interfacing with my brain and projecting herself into your thoughts. Really she’s that big ball of light we saw back at the raging inferno.”

“It’s good to have you back, Cordelia,” said Wesley with true warmth.

“Great to be here,” she smiled back.

“The good thing about this whole situation is that we pretty much get a First of our own – Cordelia being the anti-First, so to speak. She’s basically a similar opposite to the Erus Veneficus. While he has all of the physical power Cordy’s just brimming with mental energy,” said Willow. “But she can fight him like they normally would, it’s just beings of this dimension she can’t interact with.”

Buffy positively beamed at Cordy. “Well it’s about time – some super powerful reinforcements of our own.”

Lorne cleared his throat from somewhere in the room.

“Some more super reinforcements,” amended Buffy.

Fred smiled at the Slayer.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here,” said Cordelia. “I can deal with the Erus Veneficus but you’ll still have to handle the First pretty much on your own. I’m just here to keep Lord Voldemort off your backs. I might be able to steer some extra help your way in time, though. Some of that manipulation the First likes to work on others? It’s obviously never seen me in full Boracchi I-got-these-home-and-the-next-day-the-seams-split refund mode.”

“More help?” asked Buffy.

Cordelia just nodded.

“Great. Listen, you see about rounding that up. While you’re there, see if you run into Faith and Gunn, they’re out looking for Dawn…I know you probably couldn’t…”

“Dawn’s missing?” snapped Cordy.

Buffy nodded, numbed.

“I’m on it. Help’ll be a little while longer. I’ll bring her back, Buffy,” she promised the Slayer, and with that vanished.

Buffy felt a little bit of hope creep back her heart.

“Buffy…” started Wesley. Buffy felt the hope cower away at the sound of his voice. “I’m afraid there’s something else.”

“…What?”

Wesley glanced sideways at Willow whose face had also fallen.

“What is it?”

“Uhm...when Dawn took off…she took something with her.”

A terrible feeling rose into Buffy’s gut.

“The scythe.” The bearers of bad news nodded slowly. “Where is it?”

“That’s kind of the bad part…” said Willow, but couldn’t quite bring herself to say it.

Wesley finished the sentence for her. “The Erus Veneficus has it.”

**********

The Erus Veneficus sat cross legged, hand raised over the elegantly smooth curves of the deadliest weapon known to humanity. At least, deadliest to creatures of evil.

He sensed another presence suddenly.

“So, I finally found you, eh?”

It was as the vampire. “It matters not. You could not harm me if you tried.”

“I beg to differ, mate.”

“I care not about your ramblings. You have no influence over me.”

“What about if I put my fist through your skull?”

“You would be dead before the thought crossed your mind.”

“I see…”

Silence stretched between the two.

“I came here to make sure our little deal was still in action.”

“It is. At least, until the deal still holds the same objectives I hold.”

“The complete eradication of - ”

“Enough. Leave me.”

“Fair enough, mate.” The presence was gone. He focused his mind towards the scythe once more, keen to break its will and possess the awesome power within.

**********

“Spike?” called Faith as they stumbled out of the darkened house. “Spike?”

There was no answer.

Gunn huffed. “Man, I’m sick of him already.”

“Me too. Look, pissed off Slayer or no, I say we head back to the house and explain the whole thing to Buffy…she can’t be that mad about it…can she…?”

Gunn stared at her for a few moments. “Alright, alright, but…there’s somethin’ up out here, man…I dunno. It just ain’t right.”

“Well, we can agree on that…”

“Must be the Hellmouth actin’ up again. Everyone got out of town just in time, I guess.”

A furred body catapulted into Faith’s torso and she flew to the ground, Gunn managing to blink in surprise before another pinned him on the ground.

A creature padded up to the pair on the ground and snarled at them both. It snorted at the others and they were gone.

Faith sat up quickly, ready to kill something.

“That is it, I am so out of here.”

She went to run down the street but Gunn clamped a hand on her leg. Puzzled, she glanced back and saw something flicker at the edge of her vision. A body, stirring in the road.

She smiled in relief and went to assist the rousing figure.

**********

Buffy sat by Angel’s side as Willow brought back into consciousness. He was the last of the formerly missing team and after nearly squeezing the life out of Xander in a bear hug went to be with Angel as he woke up.

He slowly opened his eyes and blinked groggily.

“Buffy…?”

“Yeah,” she smiled.

“Am I…?”

“Yeah.”

He smiled. “Good.”

She squeezed his hand.

“I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.”

“Close. You were hit by the rubble of two exploding buildings,” said Wesley.

“Oh, yeah.”

“There’s a lot we have to catch up on,” said Buffy.

“There is?” groaned Angel.

She nodded.

“Before you do, though, there’s a matter I’d like to discuss with you,” said Wesley to Angel. The vampire frowned at the British man’s formal tone. “Alone.”

Buffy frowned and then nodded, slightly puzzled, stood up and after giving Angel’s hand another squeeze left the two alone, Wesley with a deepening frown on his face.

**********

“Angel…” started Wesley.

“What is it, Wes?”

“There are some things I have to say to you.”

“Wes, you’re starting to worry me here.”

“I’m worrying myself. But this has happened once before, and last time I didn’t share it with anyone and ended up with my throat cut and I effectively ended your son’s life.”

“Wes…”

“Please, let me speak. You mightn’t like some of the things I’m about to say, but I’ll also bring you up to speed on what’s happened while you’re unconscious. And believe me, a lot has happened.”

“Okay.”

Angel didn’t speak again for a while.

**********

Faith hammered on the door for the second time that night and barged in past whoever opened it. She saw Buffy and stood holding the other Slayer’s gaze for a moment, then grinned wildly. Buffy looked like a weight had dropped from her shoulders and ran forward to help Gunn carry the unconscious Dawn upstairs to a bed.

**********

Buffy sat at the head of the table with Giles, Angel, Wesley, Fred, Willow, Xander, Robin, Faith and Gunn. Anya and Lorne were organising the Potentials and Andrew was probably harassing them. Dawn was resting upstairs, as was Connor who hadn’t recovered as well as the others from the Erus Veneficus’ attack. Willow had to beat into Angel’s head that all he had was a bit of a headache and he’d be able to sleep and after Connor insisted Angel leave him alone – good naturedly, for probably the first time in his life – his father did so.

Buffy looked around at the assembled people. There was no chance of an interruption, unless Cordy or some uninvited guests dropped in but there was no chance she could plan ahead for that. There was a large pile of food and drink to one side, and also some bags of blood for Angel.

Piles of paper, bits of notes, books and the file Angel brought with him from Wolfram and Hart lay on the side of the table.

Willow snapped open her laptop.

Buffy regarded each of the people sat around the table. “Alright guys, let’s get started.”

“On what, exactly?” asked Xander.

“We’re gonna figure this thing out. We’re gonna make a full inventory of everything in this house. That includes food, water, sources of light, weapons – both sharp and explosive. We’re gonna put everything we know about the First, the Turok-Han, those demons we fought, the Erus Veneficus, this Hierarchy Wes has unearthed, everything – all into a database on that computer. Willow and Fred are gonna throw together a program which will allow us to access any information we need in a couple of seconds. Then we’re gonna make a paper copy, and make a back-up on another computer. And we aren’t leaving this room until we’re finished.”

“Sounds good,” said Faith. “I’m sick of stumbling around in the dark all the time.”

“I hear that,” mumbled Gunn, which got a smile from Faith.

“And we’re gonna make a database of assets we can acquire easily. Remember the scythe that was in town for millennia and we’ve only just found out about it? Well there’s bound to be more. We’ll make a list of spells Willow can use. Xander, we’ll need your soldier-boy days back too, so you can train a few of our people up on the art of lead induced death.”

“Roger.”

“Faith, me you and Angel along with Giles and maybe Wes will throw together a training program for our soon-to-be-Slayers.”

Everyone had been brought up to speed regarding Buffy’s plan and they nodded.

“Well, I guess the only thing left to do is to get started.”

“Where should we begin?” asked Xander.

“Not the inventory, that’d involve us splitting up. I think we should start on what we know about our enemies and making a bestiary,” commented Giles.

“Sounds good,” said Buffy, obviously in charge of the meeting. “Pick a monster, any monster.”

Willow raised her hand. Buffy sighed good naturedly. “I was only joking,” said Buffy, referring to a previous conversation.

“Oh,” said Willow, lowering her hand. “Well, the First, I guess.”

“Okay, we know it’s walk through-able, it can appear as any dead person and it has a big ego so it needs to pretend it’s the big ultimate evil when really it is, but only of this dimension,” stated Xander, while Willow furiously typed into the laptop.

“Also, it appeared as Connor when he had his memory wiped but was still actually alive,” said Angel, “So if there’s one there’s always another exception to the rule.”

“It wants to corporealise itself so it can break the bonds of the curse the first Watchers put on it in creating the Slayer and lead an army of darkness to take over the world,” added Wesley. “Also, I got the impression from the Erus Veneficus that it’s considered to be one of the weakest - if not the weakest - dimension leaders of the Hierarchy by allowing itself to be cursed so early on in the development of humanity. In regaining dominance over this dimension I believe it hopes to redeem itself in the eyes of the upper echelons of the Hierarchy.”

“Woah, woah, woah,” said Xander. “Hang on a second. Giles remember all of those years ago and you told us all about how the greater demons left this dimension and the last one to leave mixed its blood with a human and that’s how we get vampires?” Giles nodded. “Well why did those demons leave? ‘Cause it’s sounding a lot like it’s got something to do with this curse the First has, and the creation of the Slayer.”

Giles pondered the point for a few moments. “It’s a viable explanation, but unfortunately we have no way of knowing if it’s true or not.”

“Unless Buffy goes through that portal again, but I’m pretty sure those old guys wouldn’t really approve of her dropping in again,” commented Willow.

“Besides, it’s an intriguing notion Xander but to be completely honest even if we did find out the truth I doubt it’d help us. However, as a historian I’m intrigued by your theory. Maybe after all of this is over we can look into it,” smiled Giles, and Xander returned it, nodding.

“Alright, I think that’s about all on the First, how about the Erus Veneficus?” asked Buffy.

**********

Several hours and a couple of dozen snacks later, they were just about finished on the computer database.

Which was about the time Cordelia showed up.

Angel beamed at her. “Cordy!”

“Hi Angel. Look, I’m kind of in the middle of something, but we’ll talk later I promise.”

Angel looked slightly crestfallen but could acknowledge there were more important things going on.

Cordy turned to Buffy. “Something’s up. The Erus Veneficus has disappeared. Oh, and I know about Dawn so I haven’t been wasting time looking for her while she’s here, so don’t feel guilty ahead of time or anything. Yeah, gone underground. No trace of him anywhere.”

“That’s bad,” said Willow.

“You’re telling me,” retorted Cordy. “It means he’s gone into full psycho killer mode, trying to hack into that scythe he got a hold of.”

“What’s so important about that scythe, anyway?” asked Xander.

“It’s concentrated magic in its purest form,” answered Cordy. “By pure I mean untouched by evil. If the Erus Veneficus manages to break into its reserve of power he’ll be able to overthrow the balance law that forces me to be here as long as he is and bring in the cavalry.”

“So the Erus Veneficus has a motive in this dimension?” asked Giles.

“Of course he does, the only things this dimension has left going for it are designer labels and ice cream,” retorted Cordy. “No offence guys but this plane of existence is like…so unpopular to the big bads. The only reason you’ve all survived this long is because there just isn’t any good reason for anyone to take the place over, it just wouldn’t be worth the effort. Plus, humans not the most durable slaves in comparison to residents of other dimensions.”

“Another great ego boost for the good guys,” commented Xander dryly. Cordelia glanced at him, looked as if she was going to fire another comment back at him but just smiled.

“I’ve missed you, Xander.” The comment caught him off guard and he floundered for a moment before Cordelia carried on.

“But all of that actually works against you in the long run. The First should’ve been snuffed out when it failed the higher ups but instead it got to exist here as a phantom of its former power, destroying people with its voice, cause that was the only thing left of it. So imagine how pissed it is, not only at you but also at its cruel masters at having to stay here for a millennia – this dimension must be like hell for it, to see humans thriving, completely ignorant of the First’s existence. And that’s what you have to take on.”

“How come it can keep on bringing demons through the Hellmouth though?” asked Fred.

“That’d be through the Seal. The Seal is the oldest thing in existence in this dimension. Well, in the material object stakes anyway. It leaks evil into this dimension. Oh, and before anyone asks me – the demons can come through because they’re basically mindless drones. Now in the eyes of magical law, the majority of the people on the planet are also mindless drones – they go to work, they pay their taxes, completely unaware of the world around them. This is what the First wants to tip the balance of. There’s only one Slayer – well, there used to be – and only one First. One of me, one of the Erus Veneficus. The champions of this world have to be limited somehow or you’d tear the place apart.” Suddenly she sighed. “I’m not explaining this very well, am I…” She thought for a moment. “Alright, basically this dimension’s physics want to maintain the equilibrium between good and evil because without good, there isn’t evil, and vice versa, yadda yadda yadda. The same way everything in nature has an equilibrium, good and evil have to respond the same way. Now, most people don’t even register on the importance-o-meter and so they can exist without a counterpart. But, you get important, like say Slayer important, nature tries to create an equal opposite to keep the balance.”

“So…if we defeat the First, another one is chosen?” asked Buffy, echoing the words of her heritage.

“No. Another Slayer is always called because of the energy that gives you your strength and the spell the first Watchers put onto the first Slayer. If the First is destroyed then…I don’t know. The Hierarchy might send a replacement, nature might find one for them. Then again, there’s always a chance the world would explode because the balance has been upset, but also that this’d become another completely – or at least, mostly – good dimension.”

“Now that’d be something worth seeing,” enthused Xander.

“Exactly. I’m guessing the world wouldn’t explode, because if the First is trying to destroy the Slayer line then surely it’d go when the world went. Or, it wouldn’t have anyone to rule over so it’d probably try to avoid that happening.”

“And the Erus Veneficus…?” Giles prompted after waiting patiently through the off course conversation.

“Oh, yeah,” said Cordy. She drew breath but someone beat her to it.

“Why don’t I explain that?” asked the Erus Veneficus.

Everyone, as one, jumped to their feet and away from the wizard. Cordy scowled darkly at him.

“I am here to bring about the end of things. I exist to cause the extinction of others. I am here to stamp out all life in this dimension. In the most horrifically painful ways imaginable.”

Cordy laughed. “So that’s what you’re telling all the older kids so they’ll buy you beer?”

She was regarded coldly. “Your lesser analogies are lost on me, weak one.”

“I don’t see why not. You used to live here.”

“I am beyond this dimension now. Just as you are.”

“Maybe so, but at least I’m not on the losing side,” retorted Cordelia.

The Erus Veneficus raised a hand and simultaneously Cordy whipped hers back. Willow soared through the air and landed with her neck resting in the wizard’s palm. At the same time, the scythe was torn from the Erus Veneficus’ grasp and came to a halt resting in the hands of Buffy.

The Erus Veneficus snarled in frustration. Cordy smirked cockily. “Wanted her to do the dirty work for you? She wouldn’t.”

“She will,” roared the wizard, squeezing Willow’s neck tighter. Buffy started forward when she heard the pitiful squeak of pain and terror coming from Willow’s throat but Cordy held out a hand to the Slayer.

“No.”

“But…!”

“No.”

Buffy cast a pained look at the Wiccan.

“Got any more clever magic tricks up your sleeve, Ven?” asked Cordy. “A simple building implosion isn’t gonna hack it this time, buddy.”

“Simple?” scoffed the Erus Veneficus. “A simple action for me is beyond your ability to even conceive.”

“You know what? You’re all talk. I’ve never seen you actually do anything. Right, you and me, outside, right now,” confronted Cordelia.

The Erus Veneficus’ face contorted into a twisted smile, and extending Willow to the side, dropped her to the ground.

Cordy started forward and leaped at the wizard, and as she did she they dissolved.

Buffy started into action towards Willow.

“Are you alright?”

Willow nodded, a bit uncertainly but otherwise unharmed.

“We have to do it now.”

A large explosion detonated outside the house.

“We have to help take out that thing.”

Willow stared at Buffy in horror. “Buffy…I…”

“You can. I know you can. You’re just afraid. But, Will, we’re all afraid. Remember when I gave that lecture on facing our fears? I think it’s time for us to start doing that. And unfortunately you have to be the first.”

Faith unexpectedly came and knelt next to Willow.

“Red…”

Then Xander was there, completing Faith’s sentence. “We’re all here.”

Angel approached the group. “We’re all together.”

Wesley smiled at the witch. “We just have to realise it.”

Willow looked at each of them, then strength appeared in her and she stood up and nodded at Buffy as another explosion rocked the house.

Connor stumbled into the room, looking bewildered. Angel took him to one side and spoke softly to his son.

Willow looked both terrified and elated at the same time. “Alright.”

She drew in a steadying breath then set her jaw. She extended her hand and the scythe leaped forward into her palm. She closed her eyes.

Buffy shook her head at Xander who had gone to touch Willow’s arm in reassurance.

Flames lit up the otherwise darkened room.

Angel leaned forward to Buffy. “It’ll be sunrise soon.”

“Stay as long as you can,” confirmed Buffy, and the vampire nodded.

Willow gasped.

And again.

Her eyes twitched in pain or concentration.

She opened her eyes, but it was as if she wasn’t there anymore. Her line of vision darted around the room and she gasped again.

Her eyes clamped shut.

Everyone’s face was a picture of concern and worry.

Kennedy stumbled in with the rest of the Potentials, Anya and Lorne but stayed silent when Buffy signalled for silence.

The witch drew breath sharply and snapped her eyes open.

Light flashed from arcing electricity outside.

“I…” managed Willow.

Buffy’s heart ached for her friend.

“I…”

Flames licked the outside of the window.

“I…can’t do it…” said Willow, and her eyes locked with Buffy’s.

“I…I’m so sorry…” said the witch.

Shadows swirled unseen around the Wiccan’s feet.

Buffy took a step forward towards her.

Willow’s face was an expression of the highest torture – tears seeped from her eyes and her features were twisted in grief and exertion.

She gasped once more.

Buffy went to touch Willow’s arm.

A shockwave emanating from the witch sent everyone tumbling onto the ground.

“Are you ready to finish this, bitch?” roared Willow at Buffy, whose face fell.

“No…”

Her eyes were chasms of darkness and her red hair was tainted with jet black.

“If you destroy my minions, do I not raise more? If you try to defeat me, do I not laugh? If you grow more powerful, am I not more mighty still? And if you wrong me, do I not revenge?” Willow wagged her finger at Buffy. “Naughty Buffy. Did you think I’d just let you get away with all that you’ve done to me? No, no, no, you’ve really pissed me off young lady. And now I’m going to tear you all limb from limb to show my intense displeasure.”

Buffy cowered on the floor, truly afraid of the First-possessed Willow. She saw Angel back away and hit the wall. Wind still swirled in the room and Willow now floated several inches off of the floor.

She feared for Dawn.

She feared for the others.

Then she feared for herself.

Then her heart stopped as Willow advanced on her.

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

I can’t actually believe I take weeks to put up chapter 9 and then 10 is done within a few days of 9 being put up. Oh well, good continuity for you I guess! ANY comments, criticisms, flaws, or heaven forbid, compliments (!) write a review or send me an email! Anyone put off by the new Willow-monster, the absence of Spike, the secretive-ness of Wesley or just the general strangeness of these past few chapters then please bear with me, I really am going somewhere with this.