The obligation to tell real tales amidst tragedy.

[storyteller_one]

Amanda had skipped out on us. Giles, Xander, Willow and all of the slayers of the vamPIRES had gone to Los Angeles to help fight Angel's monstrous, battlestar gallactica battle, leaving me behind in case everyone was to die there, which I couldn't bare to think about, but behind I was left with Dawn and two slayers, to let the Council live on

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[dawnxsummersx]

"Dawn, Spike vowed me to secrecy, and said that he would show up when he was ready. The law firm and that amulet had something to do with him being brought back. As for Fangdan and his legion. Rory is his oldest friend, and may be stronger then Fangdan himself. He could have been the one to kill Bethany, or maybe they all did it together? Katrina is his lover. Fangdan's lover. She's like Selene from 'Underworld' hot and all, by all accounts, but that doesn't matter. They killed a slayer, they killed a friend and we need to get Amanda and some holy water and automatic weapons right now, and worry about talking about them or Spike until after we get her out of that building and off of that wall, and maybe kill some of these old and evil ones responsible."

I was still upset that Spike didn't tell us he was alive. But, he told Andrew? And, Andrew kept it from me?! I looked over at him. "I-I just thought you would tell me. We've gotten closer these past couple of months. You could have told me."

Truth was, I wasn't sure if I could keep it a secret from Buffy. Buffy had every right to know. She's been missing him. Buffy thinks I don't know a thing, but I know when she thinks about him. She stares off into space at the weirdest moments. Then, she shakes herself out of her thoughts. I think I pay attention too much. I need to get some kind of a life.

Now, that I know this information, I don't know what to do with it. I need to tell Buffy. If she finds out, then she'll know that I knew and didn't tell her. I can already see that argument.

Andrew was rambling on about Fangdan and his lover Katrina. He described her as Selene from 'Underworld'. "Who's hotter than Kate Beckinsale?" He looked at me. "Anyway, we can't keep this a secret much longer. We need to tell Buffy. The longer we keep this a secret the worse it will become."

I pulled up to our driveway and parked. We both got out of the car. Arguing back and forth, we didn't notice the living room light on until we walked through the front door. "Amanda." She turned toward us and smiled. "It's Bethany. She's dead." Her smiled, quickly, faded.

[amanda_beckham]

A couple of hours went by and I decided to head home. I had some patrolling to do with Bethany. Besides, the guys at that club were lame. Lame pick up lines, lame clothes. The music was good, but I had to get out of there. My life as a slayer was difficult. Sometimes it's hard to jug what you want to do and what you must do. I was a firm believer in taking a step back and having some fun. There's thousands of slayers out there, now. Why should all of the burden be on me in Buffy's absence? Frankly, I thought they should have taken me with them.

I arrived at the house thirty minutes later. No one was home. Good. I'll have a little peace and quiet before they come back. They probably went out to eat. I went upstairs and changed into a more suitable slaying outfit. Then, I went downstairs and switched on the TV. Another half an hour passed and the front door opened.

"Amanda."

I looked toward them and smiled. Before I could say anything, Dawn interrupted me.

It's Bethany. She's dead."

My smile went away and I stood up. "What do you mean she's dead?" Dawn had tears in her eyes and Andrew wasn't far behind. "What happened? You didn't let her go patrolling alone, did you?" I walked closer to Andrew. "Tell me what happened." I gritted the sentence from my teeth. Bethany didn't deserve this. She was still new to being a slayer and the fact that she left this house to patrol without me, made me angry. I was supposed to look out for her, and this happens.

[storyteller_one]

"Anyway, we can't keep this a secret much longer. We need to tell Buffy. The longer we keep this a secret the worse it will become."

"Hopefully Buffy will find out on her own soon enough."

We arrived at the estate. It seemed so large when in reality, it was as empty as my stomach was right now, only it probably wasn't going to growl.

Growl like vampires growl. I was so squeamish. For as long as I lived, I would never ecover from seeing Bethany's body like that at the lair of Fangdan, Rory and Katrina.

I tried to be strong as we looked at Amanda. She was the force now, the one who had to deftly use the light saber and we had to get back there and get Bethany down from that mantelpiece. It was my duty as watcher to make sure that Amanda was prepared and informed.

"What happened? You didn't let her go patrolling alone, did you?"

"Tell me what happened."

I could already tell that Amanda was going to take the same attitude that Bethany had taken, and bless her soul, it didn't work out very well for her.

"We wanted her to go with you, Amanda, but when you weren't here, I told her to wait before assaulting Fangdan's lair. She didn't listen to me. Now she's a trophy hanging on a mantel for every vampire that passes through there to see. We so have to get her out of there, but we can't charge in. Three of the most powerful vamPIRES in the world are possibly there, laying in wait for a second return from us. We need a plan."

[dawnxsummersx]

I knew Amanda was going to take the news, badly. Not that I thought she was going to take it any easier. She was really mad. I think she felt guilty. I couldn't look at her.

"We did everything we could. She just left. What were we supposed to do? She would have did anything to leave. Bethany thought she could handle this on her own. Besides, we tried to call you, but you weren't answering your phone. You should be on stand by at all times. Not just when it's convenient for you." Wow, I just told her off. I didn't mean to, but she was coming down on Andrew like it was all his fault. I couldn't stand by and let her make him feel guilty for Bethany's death.

Amanda glared at me. I crossed my arms over my chest, and didn't let my guard down. I stared at her in the eyes, this time. I wasn't going to let her intimidate me. "If you want to blame someone, you need to blame everyone in this room, including you."

We didn't have time to sit here and argue. "As much as I like to stand here and argue, we need to go back to Fangdan's house and get Bethany's body." Poor Andrew. He didn't know what to do. I moved closer to him. Hopefully, he got the hint that I was comforting him. Or, at least trying to do the best that I could.

[amanda_beckham]

"We did everything we could. She just left. What were we supposed to do? She would have did anything to leave. Bethany thought she could handle this on her own. Besides, we tried to call you, but you weren't answering your phone. You should be on stand by at all times. Not just when it's convenient for you."

I didn't have to stand here and listen to this. "I was out. I'm not the only slayer around here. I deserve to have a life." Dawn and Andrew looked at me. It was a selfish comment, but it was true. "The point is, you shouldn't have let her go alone. You can't expect me to be there at every moment. So, don't try to play the noble one. You're not your sister. Get over it."

"We wanted her to go with you, Amanda, but when you weren't here, I told her to wait before assaulting Fangdan's lair. She didn't listen to me. Now she's a trophy hanging on a mantel for every vampire that passes through there to see. We so have to get her out of there, but we can't charge in. Three of the most powerful vamPIRES in the world are possibly there, laying in wait for a second return from us. We need a plan."

I started to pace. "How could she be so stupid and leave by herself? What made her think that she could take Fangdan?"

As much as I like to stand here and argue, we need to go back to Fangdan's house and get Bethany's body."

"You're right. We can't leave her body there. If there are any vampires left, I'll take care of them. You worry about getting Bethany out of the house and into the car. When we get back, we're going to have to tell Giles and Buffy what happened."

[storyteller_one]

"We did everything we could. She just left. What were we supposed to do? She would have did anything to leave. Bethany thought she could handle this on her own. Besides, we tried to call you, but you weren't answering your phone. You should be on stand by at all times. Not just when it's convenient for you."

I would have gotten hit for that one. It was so unfair. A guy wouldn't have hit Dawn for saying that, but would hit a guy like me, and the same went for a slayer.

"If you want to blame someone, you need to blame everyone in this room, including you."

Again, Dawn was a better watcher then I was. Maybe it was just that I was so rattled? No...not it at all. I wouldn't talk to Amanda like that....ever.

"As much as I like to stand here and argue, we need to go back to Fangdan's house and get Bethany's body."

Amanda seemed ready to explode, but then chilled and still held her ground. She told us that she was entitled to a life.

"Amanda, you know the situation. You and Bethany were left behind in case tragedy fell in Los Angeles, and it may have. We still don't know that. You could have stayed close for a few days..."

I had spoken the truth, but I knew the reason. Amanda knew that she could walk all over me, but not Giles or Xander with Faith, or Buffy around here.

"How could she be so stupid and leave by herself? What made her think that she could take Fangdan?"

"Or Rory or Katrina, by herself and on their turf. The truth is, even if you had been with her, you two might not have had success. Not on their terms in their home. This was a mass attack strategy, not something for Bethany alone."

That was occurring to me now.

"You're right. We can't leave her body there. If there are any vampires left, I'll take care of them. You worry about getting Bethany out of the house and into the car. When we get back, we're going to have to tell Giles and Buffy what happened."

"And if I might, I say we get the flame throwers, for protection..."

Or to just torch the place after we got Bethany anyway...