Chapter 21

“I’m afraid we may be facing the end of the world.”

Buffy jumped up from the couch. “I knew it; things were getting way too quiet around here. Of course there would be another Apocalypse around the corner. Where’s the Slayer when you need one?”

Spike pulled her back down to his side. “What are you on about, Rupert?”

Giles cleaned his glasses before placing them back on his face. “I spoke to an old acquaintance of mine recently. He worked at the Sunnydale Museum of Natural History. A discovery was made outside of town and brought to the museum in the guise of a large rock. He called me in hoping that I would be able to identify it, but at the time I had no idea what we were dealing with. I have just been notified of his sudden death and the rock has disappeared.”

Buffy let out a sigh. “I bet anything I know who’s behind that. What would Angelus and the others want with a big rock?”

Spike had a feeling he wouldn’t like where this was going, and he was right at the Watcher’s next words.

“I believe they were after what was inside the rock. I did some research and I’m lead to believe it holds Acathla, a demon that came forth to swallow the world. He was killed by a virtuous knight, who pierced the demon's heart before he could draw a breath to perform the act. Acathla turned to stone, and was buried where neither man nor demon would want to look.”

Buffy’s eyes widened. “Okay, that doesn’t sound good.”

Spike stood up and began to pace. “Bloody wankers, trying to suck the world into Hell. Don’t they realize they would just go right along with it? This has to be the worse sodding plan Angelus has ever come up with.”

Giles agreed. “They would need a key in order to open the tomb; it’s probably only a matter of time until Angelus realizes what that is.”

“Then we have to find a way to stop him before he gets that far. Do you think they went back to the mansion?” she asked Spike, who shook his head.

“Not unless they plan on us crashing their party. There’s a factory not too far from here, been abandoned for years. That would be my first guess.”

Buffy plopped back down on the couch. “So, what’s the plan?”

“It’s getting rather late. I think right now it would be best for us all to turn in, we’ll think about a strategy tomorrow,” Giles explained.

Buffy liked that plan. She stood and headed over to Spike, concerned by the look in his eyes. “Hey, we’ll find them. The world isn’t going to Hell on my watch,” she said with a smile.

Spike gave a small smile in return, but her confidence wasn’t enough to stop the worried feeling he had.


* * * * *


Buffy hated having to go to school when the end of the world was near, especially when she felt that all eyes were on her. She found Willow by her locker, hurrying over to the red head.

“Do I have something on my face? I get the impression that everyone is staring at me.”

Willow shook her head. “Well, you do look really nice today.”

Now Buffy knew something was wrong. “All right, what do you know?”

Willow had a feeling her friend would see right through that. “I’ve heard a rumor going around about you. They’re saying that you’re easy and pay guys for sex.”

Buffy’s jaw dropped. “Who the hell is saying that?”

“I got it from some guy on the chess team. I think Harmony started it.”

Buffy clenched her fists at her side. “I should have known. She saw me and Spike making out in the library, figures she would think I paid him. As if I can’t get a guy any other way, right? I’ve had enough of that bitch to last me a lifetime. This ends now.”


* * * * *


She found Harmony outside of the girl’s locker room later that day, marching over to the cheerleader with a look that could kill.

“Are you really so jealous of the fact Spike chose me over you that you would resort to spreading lies about me?”

Harmony turned around to glare at her. “I know what I saw, Betty. It makes perfect sense now. So, how much do you charge?”

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. “Why, you interested?”

Harmony scoffed. “Please, even if I did swing that way, I wouldn’t choose a pathetic loser.”

“Is that right? How’s Warren doing?”

The cheerleader’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about? I don’t have anything to do with that geek.”

Buffy grinned. “Come on, Harm. Don’t deny it; I know how close you guys are. It pains me to do this, but you leave me with no choice.” She pulled out her cell phone, browsing through the photos on it. “Here’s a lovely picture of the two of you in the locker room when you thought it was empty. I’m just going to skip ahead, these involve a lot of kissing and it’s frankly making me nauseous. Oh, here’s a favorite of mine.” Buffy held the phone up for Harmony to see. “Warren with his head between your thighs. I suppose you’re going to tell me he was just looking for loose change?”

She gasped. “That was a mistake! I was lonely and it was only one time. I don’t want anything to do with that freak. I swear, if you tell anyone about this…”

“You tell everyone that the rumor about me isn’t true, and no one will ever see these pictures. Do we have a deal?”

Harmony scowled at her. “Fine, but I seriously hate you.”

Buffy’s grin became even wider. “The feeling is very mutual. Just one more thing, though. You’re to stay away from me for the remainder of the school year. I don’t want to hear you, see you, matter of fact as far as I’m concerned, you don’t even exist. You try to put any moves on my boyfriend again, and we will be having another confrontation. Have a nice day,” she finished cheerily, then headed over to her locker to see that Spike was waiting for her, a smirk plastered on his face.

“I have never been so fucking turned on in my entire existence.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “It’s really not fair that you heard me from all the way over here.”

He tapped his ear. “The beauty of vamp hearing, so, I take it she’ll finally leave you alone now.”

Buffy nodded. “If she knows what’s good for her. Let’s go, I’m suddenly very eager to stop an Apocalypse.”

Spike took her hand in his as they both made their way out of the school.