Story: The Catalyst: When We Meet

["Femvamp " <femvamp000@xxxxxxxxx>]

TITLE: The Catalyst: When We Meet
AUTHOR: Femvamp
E-MAIL: femvamp000@xxxxxxxxx
FEEDBACK: Please don't. Oh wait. I'm addicted to feedback. Just 
can't say no.
DISTRIBUTION: You want it? It's yours. Just tell me where it's 
going.
SPOILERS: Lover's Walk
DISCLAIMER: Joss Wheadon and many others own the characters of BtVS 
(lucky bastards). 


When We Meet

A man stood in the shadows watching a scene unfold. He looked 
inconspicuous to the people around him. Just another man in another 
town. Then again, that was always his way. No one seemed to notice 
him. This time however it would work to his advantage. 

"This is a nightmare. This is... My world is spinning." A young girl 
with red hair said to the boy who was walking with her.

"It's not that bad, Willow, really." 

Willow? The man had heard that name before. This was the girl who 
was going to get him the slayer. This was the girl he was told
about. 
The man smiled. And continued to watch.

"740? Verbal?! I'm-I'm... pathetic! Illiterate! I'm Cletus, the 
slack-jawed yokel." 

The man laughed. He had been told this Willow was smart. He just 
didn't realize how true that statement was. This one would have to
be 
dealt with.......subtly.

" That's right. And the fact that your 740 verbally closely resembles 
my combined scores in no way compromises your position as the village 
idiot."

The man was lost in thought for a moment until he saw a young man and 
woman walk up to the pair. He once again watched and listens about 
the group talk about some test they had taken. Finally the girl he 
had been waiting for walked up to the group.

" Buffy! Hey! Did you get your SAT scores?" Willow said happily

The girl, Buffy, didn't look too happy. The man smiled. Then again, 
slayers weren't known for their intelligence. Then again, this
Slayer 
was different. The man knew that. That is why he wanted her so bad.

" By the look on your face, I'm guessing you and I are gonna be 
manning the drive-through window side by side." The first young man 
said.

"They're just test scores, right?" The slayer handed a piece of
paper 
to Willow, "What do they really mean, anyway?"

"1430! Buffy, you kicked ass!"

The man watched as the group congratulated Buffy then he walked away.

He had seen enough. The slayer definitely exceeded her limitations. 
He would make her his. Now all he needed was a plan. He was in no 
hurry though. Everything would happen in good time. Like it was 
meant to.

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----------------------

That Night

Cordelia and Kate had been wandering through the town for a good part 
of the night. They were hunting. Not for food, but for information, 
and for him. They were looking for the person or people who had 
destroyed their lives. It was time to put an end to it.

Cordelia knew that the person was in Sunnydale. She "felt" him. She 
needed to find him. Before the catalyst happened. She need to find 
him, before.......

Cordelia and Kate were heading back to Angel's mansion when they saw 
someone they never thought they'd see again.

"Spike." Cordelia whispered.

"Spikey. Spikey. On a bikey." Kate sung.

"Shhh." Cordelia whispered, "I want to hear this."

Spike was looking through the window of Angel's mansion. Cordelia 
knew almost instantly that he was drunk. Real drunk. It made her 
think of Doyle. Doyle had often come into the office with a
hangover. 
Cordelia really did miss the half-demon.

" Yeah, you. You think I'm afraid of you?" Spike slurred.

Spike began to swing at the wind. Almost losing his balance.

" We were happy! You brainwashed her. I could just..."

Cordelia watched as Spike took a drink from an empty bottle and then 
throwed it to the ground.

"Yeah, I'll show you who's a cool guy." Spike turned to leave "You're

goin' down."

Cordelia watched as Spike tripped over a flowerbed and passed out. A 
part of her wanted to help the vampire but she knew she couldn't. 
Besides in he was still dangerous. No chip in his head. Then she 
thought about it. If she could just..... 

"No. I can't." Cordelia looked down at the ground.

"What can't?" Kate asked.

"I can't hurt Spike to stop it."

"Stop what?"

"The catalyst."

"Oh." Kate said finally.

Cordelia and Kate entered Angel's mansion. It was getting close to 
daylight.

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--------------------------

The next afternoon.

Cordelia snuck out of Angel's mansion. It was still daylight so she 
knew that Kate would be safe. Cordelia had some things to work out 
and she didn't want Kate to be around when she worked them out. 

As Cordelia continued to walk she began to have a strange sense of 
foreboding. She could almost attribute it to one of Doyle's prophecy 
headaches. Something inside of her told her where to go. 

She walked on and on until she came to a clearing and she heard a man 
in the distance. Cordelia walked closer and closer, keeping out of 
sight. Finally she saw the man hiding behind a bush.

"Can I help you, sir." Cordelia asked.

The man stumbled and fell into the bush. Cordelia tried not to
laugh. 
In the old days she knew she would have. And she would have enjoyed 
it. 

As the man got up, Cordelia froze. There was something about him. 
She didn't know what but she sensed danger. Cordelia looked into his 
eyes. Even through the glasses she saw.....madness.

"My God. It's you." Cordelia gasped.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, young lady." The man 
smiled.

"Don't lie to me." Cordelia said angrily. "I know you are here to 
destroy the slayer."

The man's face turned white. At that moment Cordelia wished, for the 
first time in her life, that she wasn't so damn blunt.

"Ahh, I recognize you too, my dear." The man smiled, "You are Miss 
Cordelia Chase."

"And you are?" Cordelia tried to not look scared out of her mind.

The man grinned ferrally, "Where are my manners." He held out his 
hand, "The name is Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."


TBC