“Sure
lady, I’m immortal. Do I look like a vampire to you?” Buffy retorted, not
knowing of another kind of immortal.
“I
didn’t say vampire, I said immortal. As in unable to die, can’t be killed,
eternal. Is any of this sinking in?” Amanda asked, forgetting to ask how
this young looking girl knew of vampires.
“Let’s see if this is sinking in. I’m
going to call the police so I suggest that you leave now.” Buffy said
backing towards the office, never taking her eyes off the beautiful, sword
carrying blonde.
“Don’t!” the thief said hurriedly. “We
need to talk.”
“I
don’t talk to thieves. I have them arrested.” Buffy said, her irerising
at being told what to do by a stranger.
“Do
you remember that weird feeling in your head, the one that drew you out of
the office?” Buffy nodded, suddenly thinking that maybe she should hear
the woman out. “That’s how immortals recognize one another, how we
prepare.”
“Prepare for what?” Buffy asked her mind
focused on Willow, and the way that feeling had become just another thing
in their lives that they couldn’t explain.
“Combat. We fight to the death.” The
black clad stranger said.
“I
thought you said we were immortal.” Buffy said her confusion evident. “If
we’re immortals how do we fight to the death.”
“The
only way to kill one of us is to remove the head from the neck.” Amanda said, expecting some
comment about how gross that idea was.
“So
that’d explain the sword. So are you here to kill me?” Buffy asked, no
fear evident in her voice.
“Actually I came here tonight cause I
could use a new painting for my condo.” Amanda said smiling “But I suppose
I could do my shopping somewhere else.”
“That’d be my suggestion, now leave.”
Buffy said, having decided that the conversation was
over.
“You’re going to need someone to teach
you how to use a sword.” Amanda said.
Buffy
had backed up until she was right beside the door to the office, where one
of the first things she’d done after taking over for her mother wasstash
some weapons. Including a sword Giles had given to her. She reached around
the wall, and found it’s hilt, swinging it to the en garde position.
“I
know how to use a sword.” Buffy said swinging her sword smoothly through
the air.
“I
can see that my question is why?” Amanda asked, puzzled.
“Job
requirement.” Came the terse reply.
“For
a gallery owner?” Amanda asked a laugh in her voice. “We still need to
talk. There are things you need to know.”
“Yeah
and my girlfriend need to hear them too, cause she gives off the same
vibes as you do.”
“You’re girlfriend gives off the same
vibes as I do?” Buffy nodded. “Ok, I guess I need to talk to her
too.”
“We
can get together for lunch tomorrow, there’s a nice diner down the street.
We’ll meet you there at 12:30. We have class in the morning.” With that
Buffy indicated that Amanda should proceed her to the door, then she let
them both out. “12:30! And when I come in, in the morning there’dbetter
be nothing missing or I’ll know who to send the police to see.” With that
parting statement Buffy ran off.
Amanda let her get ten seconds head
start, then followed, but when she got to the turn Buffy’d taken there was
no sign of the girl.
*****
Buffy
usually tried not to wake Willow when she got into bed after being out
late, but this time she needed to talk to the witch.
“Willow!” She said, while gently
caressing her lover’s cheek. “Willow!”
The
redhead’s eyes blinked open a couple of times. “Buffy?” She groaned still
half asleep. “Are you alright?”
“I’m
fine but I need to talk to you.”
With
these words from her beloved Willow finally decided to join the worldof
the waking. “About what, Honey?” the wiccan asked as she pulled the blonde
down to sit beside her.
Comfortable in the loving embrace of her
girlfriend Buffy took her time before answering. “Someone broke into the
gallery tonight.”
“Oh
Goddess, are you hurt?” Buffy shook her head “Was anything stolen?” again
Buffy shook her head. “was anything damaged.” Again Buffy shook her head.
“Ok, so what’s up?”
“Will
you know that weird feeling that we get whenever we’re around each other?
That sorta buzzing in our heads?” Now it was Willow’s turn for non verbal
replies so she nodded. “I felt it tonight in the gallery, and when I want
looking for the source thinking it was you, I found the thief. She was the
source.” Buffy then told the tale of her encounter with Amanda. “So will
you come with me to meet her for lunch tomorrow?”
“Of
course I will.” Willow said kissing Buffy, and for the first time Buffy
noticed the passion smouldering in her lover’s eyes.