FATE’S CHOICE

CHAPTER 7: A Call for Help

“Guys…Guys I think I found something”, Willow said as she held out a few torn pages for the others to see. Everyone looked up from what they where looking at and rushed over to her. Giles carefully studied the pages as the others stood waiting for any type of response from him.

“Well”, Buffy finally asked tired of waiting.

“A…yes well it’s not quite. The language…it’s very, my goodness this must predate anything we have ever come across and I doubt the former council even had any knowledge to what”.

“Giles”, Buffy yelled, stopping his babbling, causing him to look up at her.

“Sorry I’ve only seen this once before when. Willow where did you find this”, Giles questioned her.

“It was inside this book”, she said holding it up.

“Hey that looks like Faith’s book. I forgot I had that”, Kennedy said. “I borrowed it from her and I never got a chance to look at it”.

“Why would Faith have a book of poetry”, Xander asked.

“That’s not the question that’s important at the moment. However the question is why would Faith have these and where did she get them”, Giles said rubbing the back of his neck.

“Well this isn’t good”, Andrew said jumping into the conversation, causing everyone to glare at him.

“I hate to admit it but he’s right”, Xander said shaking his head.

“Well whatever Fai….Faith was planning I doubt she is anymore cause we have the text”, Buffy tried to say, having trouble with her name. No one had mentioned Faith or even spoken of her since that night three years ago.

“These aren’t the original texts”, Giles said handing them to Willow.

“He’s right, they look like they’re copies of some kind. It looks like a copy spell of some sort”, Willow stated taking them and looking them over.

“Frankly I don’t care why she had it. All I care about is what it says and if it can help us save Gage’s mom”, Buffy said annoyed with who the conversation was about.

“Buffy I think we should consider the possibility that maybe Faith is in some way connected”, Giles tried to reason with her.

“You did say you had the book they were in”, Xander stated. “Maybe she found them. I mean if she knew what they were do you think she’d just leave them”. The room grew quiet as everyone contemplated on what Xander had just said.

“Right now we need to figure out how to save Gage’s mom and at the moment that’s all I care about. Giles, Willow can you make out anything”, Buffy asked.

“I can honestly say I have no clue”, Willow responded truthfully. Everyone looked at Giles awaiting his answer.

“I…well it’s like I said before it going to take some time. And I’m not even sure I will be able to translate this”, he said taking off his glasses to rub his eyes.

“Well is there anything you can do like a spell”, Buffy asked hopeful.

“Not really. We’ve been working for quite a while why don’t you all take a break and in the mean time I’ll see what I can do”, Giles said walking off towards the bookshelves.

“But I…” Buffy started.

“Buffy he’s right. Plus Gage should be up soon. Don’t worry I’ll stay here and try and help. Go take a break, eat”, Willow motioned towards the doorway.

“Thanks Will” the blonde said leaving the room to follow the others who had already left.

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“Watchya guys doin”, Gage asked walking to Willow who was sitting at the table engrossed in a book.

“Mm…what…oh nothing just looking at some new information that we hope is gonna help us find your mom”, Willow answered glancing at him.

“Really”, the small boy asked.

“Gage…Gage…Guys have you see”, Dawn started to ask walking into the library before spotting the boy. “Oh hey, there you are. What are you doing in here? There about to watch cartoons”.

“Really”, he asked smiling big.

”Yep! You better hurry”, Dawn said smiling just as big as Gage took off running. “So have you guys found anything yet?”

“Yes, I do believe we have. If you could go get the others”, Giles said looking up.

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“Okay what did you find”, Buffy asked walking in with Dawn.

“Where are Kennedy, Xander, and Angel”, Willow asked.

“We decided to have the girls do some training at least since they can’t continue with their other studies for the time being. Plus they need to be ready if we have to fight. Xander is watching Gage. It’s crazy the two of them and cartoons. And Angel said he’d be back later”, Buffy answered walking over to Giles.

“Well then…..I haven’t able to decipher much; however I was able to find out a few things to some degree at least. You should be happy to know that it is in fact what we have been looking for”.

“Giles just get to the point”, Buffy interrupted.

“Aw yes it mentions the Key of Luminati, meaning ‘light’. It also says that darkness will encompass the earth and He shall walk again”, Giles replied.

“Who’s he”, Dawn asked.

“If I’m correct Zodeqor, his name meaning ‘the first’. He was the very first vampire to ever exist. He also was said to have made the master as you recall Buffy”, her face went white at his words of the master. The thought of him still made her sick at times.

“Buffy are you alright”, Willow asked noticing her friends face.

“I…A…yeah I just need to sit down”, she said walking to the couch.

“Is there any way to kill him”, Dawn asked concerned for her sister.

“Well it says along the lines that ‘the Key of Luminati shall make the way for the chosen one to walk and light the earth once more’”, Giles answered. “I’m sorry. Other than that it’s not much clearer”.

“So you’re saying this key. Hold on wait do you think this key is like me, human”, Dawn asked.

“Actually Dawn I don’t think so. I think it’s an orb of some kind or maybe could be a medallion”, the Wicca replied.

“So all we have to do is find the Key of Luminati”, Buffy asked.

“It’s not that simple. We don’t have a clue where the key is located or where to even find it”, Giles answered. “I’m afraid it’s going to take a little more time to find a location”.

“That’s just it we don’t have time”, Buffy started to say.

“Who is the chosen one”, Dawn interrupted as they all looked at her. “You said the Key of Luminati shall make the way for the chosen one”.

“The slayer I suppose”, Giles stated matter of fact.

“But there are hundreds of slayers now how are we going to know which one”, Willow asked.

“That I’m not sure. I’m guessing the chosen would probably be stronger than most and show some signs of power the other may not”, Giles said whipping off his glasses.

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