As his teeth sank in she felt her body spasm against his. Her arms twined around his head pulling him in tightly. She couldn’t get close enough. Her nipples were instantly hard and brushing against the hard planes of his chest. Her head was tossed back. Her mouth open and gasping for air. A low moan poured out. The first sting of his teeth tearing into her flesh had faded and waves of pleasure were pulsing through her. She ground her hips against the hard bulge in his pants. It had never felt so good. Her hands slipped into his platinum hair pulling it slightly in her need. Out of nowhere it hit her like a ton of bricks. She came so hard. She felt like she was going to pass out. There was ringing in her ears and her heart was beating furiously as she writhed against him.
Spike he felt her hands buried in his hair holding on tight. His mouth closed over the wound and he felt his fangs descend into her neck. His body was a whirlwind of sensation. The pain in his side was throbbing and aching while the pleasure from the blood was swirling down his throat and flowing out to the rest of his body. It was like his whole world began and ended at the touch of his lips on her. He was reeling from the combined effect of her sudden appearance and the heady draught of her blood. His arms wrapped around her moving up and down over the expanse of her back. He could smell her arousal. He was drowning in it. He began murmuring endearments against her neck, “I missed you, luv... can’t stay away... forever... I will love you... forever...” He knew that she was close. He slipped his hands down to grab her ass and pulled her up tighter against him. The combined pressure of her thrusts and his own grinding brought them both over the edge.
She heard him growl out his satisfaction burying his teeth deeper for a second. The second onslaught of his teeth sent jolts of pleasure pain through her body and she moaned softly as she came again.She ran her hand along his cheek just reassuring herself that he was really here... with her. The sound of his voice broke through her contented state of mind.
“Buffy, luv, are you alright?”
She glanced up at him still dazed. Damn, I forgot how quick his recovery time is. Just to reinforce her point she felt him harden against her hip. Her eye widened and she felt her body aching for him. Then she noticed all of these strange people looking at her. ‘Hello bucket of cold water. My name is Buffy!’
He felt her stiffen up and tried to make her feel more at ease. In her ear he whispered, “They never even noticed, pet. Too busy with the watcher-boy over there.” He lied easily.
Everyone was studiously not looking their way. She glanced around so embarrassed. She had publically just very vocally announced that they were together Her body still tingled from the after effects of his bite. She knew that everyone had seen but the funny thing was that she didn’t care. She was so happy that she was here in his arms. It didn’t matter what they thought... Well maybe it was more than a little bit embarrassing but it was worth it. She wasn’t going to deny the relationship or what he meant to her any longer. She knew what she wanted. Him.
She realized that one way or another it had always been about him. Such strong feelings were so hard to deny. But denial was her middle name. Almost losing him had been the worst and best thing that had happened to her. It made her realize with clarity how much he really meant to her. He was her everything. Her best friend and lover all wrapped up in one. Her soulmate.
Thinking about souls always made her feel wistful. She had wasted so much time.Her stubborn belief that he couldn’t love her without one was brought on by the whole Angel/Angelus period of her life. If she had never been with him she would have never thought that Spike couldn’t love her without having a soul. Angel had shown her how much of a difference having a soul could make on him. Admitting to herself that Spike had been basically the same as he had been without one had been one of the more difficult things that she had ever done. It showed her the fact that the relationship that she had with Angel was based on a lie. True love just didn’t disappear. It was always there and sometimes it burned.
She looked up into Spike eyes and felt tears well up in her own. “Spike,” her breath hitched. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. “Why didn’t you call me? Tell me that you were alive?”
This was the last thing that he expected her to do. A soft question asked with hope (and love?) shining in her eyes. He felt ashamed. Confused. “Buffy, luv, I wanted to ring you. Believe me it was always on my mind. When I came back... Well, I came back as a ghost. I was surrounded by the great poof and his friends. The first thing that I thought about was you.” He paused waiting to gauge her reaction. She nodded her head encouraging him to go on.
“And to try and figure out how to get my bloody body back. I was stuck here for a while with no way to contact you... Angel wouldn’t fill me in on your recent whereabouts and that made me worry that you might need me. Then I figured that no matter what a stupid git Angel could be at times... he wouldn’t let anything happen to you if he could help it. Then it happened. The phones went all wonky and I got my body back. No explanation... I don’t right know who to thank and all but I was so happy. I had figured out where you were at and started off when all this rumblin’ happened. The building was about to come down on us. It seems there is a clause about two vampires with souls fightin’ the good fight. The scales were tipped and were trying to right themselves. So I was stuck here again. I couldn’t leave until this was all sussed out...”
He continued in a low whisper, “To tell you the truth, Buffy, I was terrified to call you. Now that I had my body back and I could physically do it...too much time had gone by and I started to wonder if ringing you would remind you of things that were better left buried. That maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. I desperately wanted to and I stopped myself a dozen times a day... I’m such a wanker!” He ran his hand through his hair and averted his gaze.
She reached up and stroked his cheek to get him to continue. “No you aren’t... I just wished you would have called...”
He took an unnecessary breath and paused for a moment. When he spoke his voice was so low she strained to hear it. “Peaches and I went to Italy to take care of some business. I saw you there... with him.” No name was needed to explain who he was. “You had made a better life for yourself. You were so happy. I couldn’t... You have a chance now. A clean slate. You can be free. You can do what you want with your life. I didn’t want to muck it up with mine. I want you to be happy, luv...”
He saw a storm brewing in her eyes. She was breathing hard another sign that she was all worked up. She exploded. “I am going to kill myself! No I am going to kill you and then I am going to kill myself! You are making me crazy! What were the last words that came out of my mouth in the cavern? Hello! I love you! Doesn’t that mean anything to you? I know I am not the best at saying things like that... But I don’t think that I can get much clearer.” She started to jab him in the chest with each word. I..” (jab) “love...” (jab) “YOU!” (with a double jab for emphasis).She let out an inarticulate noise and stamped her foot. “This isn’t how I wanted to tell you AGAIN that I love you.” She stared at him with her heart in her eyes pleading that he would believe her this time.
He wasn’t a fool. He didn’t have to be told twice... Well actually he did. He wasn’t about to waste anymore time. “Buffy you know it was always you, right?” His head tilted at an angle as he searched her eyes once more. Both of them had been through so much and wanted this so bad to rush it this time. He tried to warn her off one more time, “I just couldn’t assume that you would want me waltzing back into your life again. I am never going to be an easy fit, luv. I want you to have it all. Things that I can’t give you. Sunshine... and picnics.. and all that bleedin’ stuff...”
“Ohhh... Spike. I have had all of that. What I want is you.”
That was all it took. He crushed her to him.His mouth fastened on hers. In between kisses he whispered, “Buffy... I’ll never leave you... I love you.” He felt her return his embrace. They were nearly crushing each other with the intensity of their need.
It looked like everyone was about to get another eyeful.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy heard a low whistle of appreciation. Faith was standing to her side a couple feet away from the two of them. Waving her hand back and forth fanning herself off, she lazily drawled, “Man you two are HOT. But I just thought I would give you the heads up the the old man is heading this way and something pissed him off..”
Buffy smiled sheepishly, “Thanks Faith...”
“No problem. Uh, good to see you in the land of the living blondie. Us reformed villains have to be keepin’ it real for the slayerettes. I better go check up on Xander. The twerp is missing. He never checked in with Xander. I figured that Xander and Dawn might need some backup.”
At the mention of Dawn’s name Spike could feel Buffy tense up. He shot a questioning look at Faith to see if they were needed.
Faith caught the glance and waved her hands dismissively. “Don’t worry B. I got this covered! You two figure out what the hell we are going to do from here.” She saw Giles coming and made her getaway before he could drag her into one of his long winded discussions of the best possible plan of action they could take.
Buffy almost groaned aloud. She had to admire Faith’s sense of timing. That girl always knew the best time to quit and run. Watching Giles come closer she realized that there was something different about him. The same feeling that she had whenever Willow was around was evincing itself. She had thought that Giles was working on borrowed powers like he had before when he came to help Willow get off of the dark magicks. Now she had a sneaking suspicion that Giles had some ‘splaining to do.
Giles stormed up to them. Then did a quick double take. He was doubly grateful that Spike was alive and apparently getting a second chance with his Slayer. Feeling uncomfortable because of their past he managed to grind out a stilted, “Spike... I am so happy to see that you are alive...” At the raised eyebrow from Spike he continued, “Truly I am... I have realized what a dreadful mistake I made in Sunnydale. I can only offer you my sincerest apology and my word that nothing so completely stupid, on my part, will happen ever again.”
Giles stuck out his hand in a gesture of friendship. At Spike’s reluctance on accepting it he appealed once more, “You do realize that I was only doing what I thought was necessary for her. Another dreadful mistake, but, one that I hope I am rectifying as of right here and now...” He trailed off at a loss to convey his deep felt regret for his past actions.
He felt a cool hand reach up and return his firm handshake, “What’s an attempt on your life between friends. How can I hold it against you when you have forgiven me on MY attempts on all of your lives before the chip?” Giles acknowledged the dig at the Scoobies characters with a slight nod of his head. “And look at Red, Angel, Faith, oh yeah, even poncey Andrew, everyone in the line up has had some kind of shady past. I couldn’t bloody well fit in without my checkered past...”
“Yes, well, I am obviously not without one of my own. I really can’t apologize enough. I would also like to formally thank you for averting the Sunnydale apocalypse. Without you there we might not have have made it...”
Giles’ speech was interrupted by Buffy barreling into him and giving him a great big hug. “Oh Giles, I am so glad that the two of you have kissed and made up. Well not literally...” Her face scrunched up in a yuck look. “Now that Spike is back I need you, and everyone else, to make him feel welcome because he is not going anywhere without me.”
The look of wonder and complete joy that crossed over Spike’s face at Buffy’s speech was not missed by Giles. He felt that this might just be the thing that would make his Buffy happy at last. He cleared his throat. “Right then, Where was I? Oh... yes... The proper plan for an evacuation of this size is something of a logistical nightmare. I have thought it over and I really think that the best possible course of action is to have Willow and I preform another teleportation spell along with a cloaking and misdirection spell for this area. I have also thought about the possible resting space that we can use until we figure out if this is the major battle or just the beginning...”
Buffy sighed softly. She just knew that Giles would have that big brain in overdrive and have everything all planned out. She tried to pay attention but all of her thought seemed to be focused on the vampire next to her. She leaned closer to him and grabbed his hand. He had been paying attention to Giles and looked at her with a warm smile and gently squeezed her hand. She felt goosebumps break out all over her skin in reaction to his touch. She tamped down on where her thought were leading her. Must pay attention.
She heard the tail end of Giles question and looked to Spike for help. He smile evilly at her and asked, “Yeah Buffy do you agree?”
Nonplussed Buffy tried to skirt around whatever the issue was, “Ummm... Whatever Giles thinks.”
Giles sighed. “It seems that Buffy agrees it is way too dangerous to stay in the States. We will return to the Coven. There will have plenty of room and it is one of the safest areas that we could retreat to. At least until we have analyzed the extent of this new debacle that we have thrown ourselves into. Angel and his friends will just have to come with us to be on the safe side.”
Buffy was amazed that for once what she blindly agreed with Giles on what was actually sounding like the choice that she might like. She perked up. Looking at Spike she asked, “How does that sound to you? A place where we can... talk.”
The heat coming from Spikes eyes should have set her on fire. The looks that she was sending him made him want to shag her senseless. Growling low in his throat he snatched her close and began kissing her with all of his pent up passion. He could hardly believe that this was the same Buffy. She was kissing him in public. Bloody hell, he had even bit her in front of everyone. He felt like he was in a dream. He wasn’t about to waste a single precious moment with her.
Giles realized that there was going to be no more talking to either of them took off muttering something about Willow making him blind again. Now that their game plan was all sorted out he was getting everyone ready to pull out of the area. He managed to put some of the healing poultices on the more serious wounds but with their slayer healing factor most of the girls didn’t need it. They had come through this fight with only one casualty. The thought of Rona made him choke up. He could remember the day when she had shown up on Buffy’s doorstep. So brash and full of life. Seeing her on the cold pavement almost cleaved in two had brought this to reality for many of the girls.
So far they had thought their slayer powers were fantastic. That they could beat anything. For the most part they could. They only patrolled in groups of three. Most of the time they came back grumbling that they hadn’t had any fun tonight. That there wasn’t enough evil for them to kill to go around. Tonight they were introduced to the world that Buffy and Faith had lived through. A world where you were the only thing standing between evil and humanity. And evil could win. It wasn’t fun and games it was life or death.
He felt their pain after Sunnydale he had thought that maybe things would get easier for all of them. Things only became more complicated. He heard a groan to his right. He thought that he had tended everyone. He saw Wesley lying on the ground his chest soaked in red. A strange woman was cradling him in her lap. Angel was kneeling next to him arguing with him about something. Giles made his way over and caught what Angel had been saying.
“...just let me fix this for you. It will only take a second.”
“It’s only a minor flesh wound. No need to bother, Angel.” Wesley struggled to sit up and black spots swam across his eyes. He wobbled and finally lay back down.
“Look at you! You need me to help you with this.” Angel leaned over and ripped open Wesley’s shirt. As he started to lean over the wound a tiny little hand came up on his forehead and stopped him from going any lower.
“Do you wish this creature to touch you? I can hold you and pretend if you would prefer that.”
Wesley was grateful that Illyria had stopped Angel from what he had been about to do. He had made it clear to him that he wasn’t comfortable with him “tending” his wounds but Angel hadn’t even listened. He was always aware of what Angel truly was. His training as a watcher pretty much made that a given. But he had come to also think of him as a friend. Angel’s disregard of his wishes made him experience a different kind of hurt than the wound in his chest. He was in no shape to do anything but give Angel a fierce tongue lashing so Illyria’s intervention seemed at the moment to be the best course of action. Wesley managed a weak, “Yes Illyria please continue to hold me that should be enough for now.”
Gunn had stayed strangely quiet throughout this whole exchange. Deep in thought.
Giles was horrified by what he had just witnessed Angel try to do. Pent up hatred for Angel blazed through his system. Remembering his misguided attempt on Spike’s life he barely managed to contain it. Moving around Angel’s bulky form he reached the other side of Wesley. Looking down at him he said fondly, “Hello Wesley. I see that you have a nasty looking wound there. I can’t imagine why you would object to some of the Coven’s healing salve being used.”
Wesley smiled weakly glad for Giles help. “I would like that very much...” Giles looked at Illyria for permission. Correctly assuming he needed to. She nodded her head regally.
Giles placed a generous amount of the healing balm on the open wound, infusing it with some of his own magic, the wound stopped bleeding and closed over on itself. Wesley looked down amazed. Two close calls in one day. Thank God for magick.
Giles happened to look up after the wound healed and caught Angel staring at him in a strange manner. He could have sworn that his eyes had flashed gold. Then it was gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The teleportation spell went smoothly. It seemed like Giles added a much needed element to Willow’s spells. Namely focus. The two of them were able to place a misdirection and cloaking spell over the area and bring everyone over to the Coven without digging too deep into their energy levels. Giles and Willow preformed the spells and while the power flowed through the two of them they had melded together as one again. After the spells were complete they felt an awkwardness come over them. Willow’s words hung in the air around them.
Willow had no idea of what to do to get them back on track again. This felt much worse than the time he had called her a rank, arrogant, amateur.
Giles stubbornly refused to comment to her about the remarks she made earlier. The words still stung him and he hated feeling this way. All open and vulnerable. He tried to close himself off but as soon as their hands had met again he had felt them blending into each other again. She had made herself pretty clear in stating that the only thing that was important between them was the magic. So magic would be the only thing that they would share. He dropped her hand as soon as the portal deposited them at the Coven.
Willow looked at him with wide eyes unable to say anything that she felt since she was all jumbled up inside.
The demon carcasses that they left would soon dissolve into goo and be washed away without any regular joe being any the wiser. Special care was taken with Rona’s remains and they planned on having her buried just outside the Coven grounds.
Everyone was worried about Andrew. Xander and Dawn had found him unconscious laying in a pool of blood. They had brought him back to the Coven and he was resting in bed. They had tried to heal him with various herbs and unguents but it only cleaned up the very nasty bruise on the side of his head. Margaret, the Coven’s seer, had told them that he was going to have to come out of it on his own and that he just needed to rest.
Buffy sat next to Andrew’s side stroking his forehead. “Spike... You know if it wasn’t for Andrew... No. Actually, if it wasn’t for Wesley I would have never known that you were alive. Wesley called me in Rome and left a message on the answering machine. He was crocked.” Buffy’s face split into a grin trying to envision the stuffy Wesley that she had known drinking.
Spike thought about it for a moment and then started laughing, “He must have called you when Angel and I were in a tussle. I can’t believe that he went against Angel strict orders of no contact with the Slayers... He surprises me more and more.” He started laughing again at the look of anger on Buffy’s face. Angel was going to get an earful from her. But not now. He swooped down on her before she could get a word in. His arms wrapping around her chest and his body protectively embracing her. Whispering low in her ear he said, “It looks like we are going to have to thank our ex-watcher then pet. I can’t imagine Angel would be too happy with this information. Maybe we should do Wes a favor and keep this little tidbit to ourselves.”
Buffy thought for a second and slowly nodded her head. It might have been because Spike had taken advantage of their situation and had started to place kisses all up and down her neck. Buffy thought that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea for a Slayer to be so turned on by a vampire kissing her neck. But it was this vampire. Her vampire and she snuggled against him letting out a small moan. Spike smiled against her neck and pulled her even closer.
~~~~~~~~~~
Angel leaned against the wall outside the door. He had heard everything that had been said. That information and the noises that the two were emitting was enough to drive him into another murderous rage. He should have known that Wesley would have snuck away and gone against him. Why not? The Judas had done it once before. He knew exactly when he had told her. The night at Wesley’s apartment he had taken his cell phone. The only place that he kept her number. The phone that had conveniently been dropped in the toilet after he had called her. He had acted all innocent when he had asked him what had happened to the phone. Wesley deliberately destroyed it and the record of the calls that had gone out. He added it to the growing list of things that they would all pay for.
He had even offered to seal Wesley’s wound earlier. Giles had stopped him from getting even a speck of the blood.
Giles had always been a huge pain in the ass for him. He had interfered in his relationship with Buffy and now apparently felt all chummy with Spike. The hypocrite! Some of the guilt that Angel had for Jenny Calendar’s death melted away. He felt that Giles had been moving against him even back then. Angelus’ spree of violence had evened the score up. Giles wasn’t the innocent victim he always liked to portray. He knew what he was doing.
The noises from inside the bedroom became a little louder and more incessant. It sickened him. He had to get away from there quick before he did something he wasn’t ready to do quite yet. Buffy the Vampire’s Slut was going to pay along with her little lap-dog, Spike.
He crossed the corridor and went outside into the cool night air.
~~~~~~~~~~
Giles sat in Margaret’s personal salon and watched her as she poured him a cup of tea. The familiarity of the act calmed his nerves somewhat. He had asked to be given an audience on the excuse of trying to find out what Wolfram and Hart was planning to do. He planned on discussing that but his true reason for seeking Margaret out was to find out what she knew about the bond Willow and him had experienced.
He was at a loss on how to control himself whenever he was around her. He was infatuated with her and couldn’t stop thinking about for more than a moment. He wanted to make sure that he was not going to embarrass himself in front of her. He was acting like he was a bloody schoolboy and she was his first kiss.
Margaret smiled at him and he knew in that moment that she had an inkling on why he had shown up at her door. They had been friends for so long that sometime they could tell what the other was thinking just by a glance. He hoped that he wasn’t that obvious to everyone else. Or that maybe there was an off chance that she had a vision about his situation with Willow. Highly unlikely but worth a shot. It would do him good just to hash out his feelings and get her honest reaction. Her advice was always sound.
Giles was warming up to his topic when he heard a timid knock on the door. Willow was standing there all cleaned up and fairly sparkling. She stood in the doorway apologizing for disturbing Margaret at such a late hour but she had something she wanted to ask her about the spell that had been performed on Giles and her. If maybe there was some after affect that she knew about... She trailed off as she noticed Giles sitting there with his tea cup halfway to his mouth. Margaret smiled and motioned Willow into the room and brought up a chair for her to sit in next to Giles.
“Well it seems that I am not going to have to explain this twice.” She made a motion towards the teapot to see if Willow would like a cup. After Willow’s nod she started to pour explaining all the while. “The spell that you two were placed under was very straightforward. It gave you both the extra power that you would need for the upcoming fight. Anything else that came from it was your own doing.”
After dropping that bombshell she dipped her finger into her cup of tea and proclaimed that the tea was entirely too cold. Scooping up the various tea cups she announced that she was off to the kitchen to heat up some more water. She would only be a minute and for them to wait till she returned. Hiding her smile she left the two of them in the room together.
~~~~~~~~~~
He had to fight off the urge to go back in there and tear the head off of his childe. He wanted to brutally tear into Buffy’s neck and claim her like Spike had earlier this evening. She had no thought on how this was affecting him. She was oblivious to the pain that she inflicted on him.
Or maybe she enjoyed it. He had seen her toy with Spike before in the past. She had like to lord it over him. To inflict pain with her word as well as her little fists. The Slayer knew a few things about torture.
Angel had to get a grip on himself. The shock of what had happened in such a short time. The painful decisions that he had made was destroying all of his much lauded self control. The fact that he was here now right in the middle of the enemy camp was rich. The fact that he had been brought here by the borrowed magic of the Coven only sweetened the pot. He had to calm down. The only thing that he needed to do right now was to figure out what to do next.
Kennedy was patrolling in hopes that something had slipped by the Coven’s defenses. She was so mad that she could spit. Willow must take her as some kind of idiot! There was no way that she was buying that ‘Oh... There’s nothing going on’ routine. She wanted to punch something right then so bad she could taste it. Her slayer sense’s flared up and whirling around she felt a vampire signature. Bingo! Not taking any chances she dove at the tall figure in front of her. Wrestling him to the ground she threw punch after punch until some part of her recognized the form underneath her. Oh shit! Angel.
She leaned over him and placed her hands on his shoulder’s shaking him non too gently. “Angel... Angel... I didn’t know it was you...” His swollen eyes popped open.
In a flash her position was reversed and she felt his fangs sink deep in her neck. There had been no warning. He had just torn out her windpipe. Kennedy felt searing pain. It was like nothing she had ever felt before.The blood leaving her body in great torrents with Angel’s body grotesquely hovering above her. Swallowing over and over.
Her hand trailed down Angel’s arm till it lay in the grass beside her. Her eyes wide open and staring.
~~~~~~~~~~
He felt a moment of panic as he looked down at Kennedy’s prone form. How the hell was he going to hide her body? He picked her up off the ground easily carrying her into the woods that surrounded the crumbling manor home. Tall oak trees shielded the view from the house one thing that Angel had to be grateful for. He moved silently deeper into the dense forest. Finding a area covered in thick bushes he laid Kennedy down in the brush carefully arranging her body so that she mimicked the pose that he left Jenny in. Perhaps Giles would be the one to find her. He felt something akin to glee at that thought.
Moving carefully he drifted back out of the forest he caught a glimpse of a red ember fiercely glowing. The scent of tobacco hung heavy in the air. A low husky voice called out, “Yo Angel whatcha doin’?”
Angel felt himself relax a little, the sound of Faith’s voice held no trace of awareness of what he had been up to. She seemed relaxed and even a little bored. He was grateful that he normally didn’t talk much so he settled with a noncommittal grunt.
“C’mon I know that you are feeling low. What with Buffy and all. You need an ear I am right here... We’re buds.” Her low husky voice was filled with concern. He felt like tearing her head right off her shoulders. What did she think? That they were soul mates just because she had killed one man? Comparing herself to him like that was like comparing vinegar to wine. And he had aged well.
“Faith if I needed someone to talk to I would be talking to Gunn or...” He almost choked on the word. “Wesley. I mean this isn’t the kind of thing you would understand...”
“Try me...” She put a wealth of feeling behind those words. He could see her eyes flashing at him with his enhanced night vision. He could tell that he had hit a nerve by dismissing her. That he had hurt her by rejecting her offer. This was going to be easy.
“Faith to tell you the truth I really don’t want to be sharing anything this personal with you...” He sighed acting all exasperated. “You and I have some sort of a history but I was just helping you out of pity. Pity and the need to work of some of my own guilt. By saving you I was saving myself... Do you get it? I don’t need you to help me...” He gauged her reaction. Needing just a little more pain he added. “You can’t even help yourself...”
Every word that Angel said drove itself home. Her heart ached and her eyes burned with unshed tears. Blinking them back she felt her defenses snap up. Iron doors that had been broken down over the past year slammed closed around her once again. What he had told her was confirmation of every thought that she had about herself. Reaffirming her self loathing and guilt. Anger kicked itself in gear. Her favorite defense.
“Y’know Angel... Everyone here told me what an asshole you can be but, I really didn’t believe them. You live. You learn.” She shook her head disapprovingly. “No wonder Buffy kicked you to the curb.” At that parting shot she stubbed out her cigarette and headed back into the manor.
Angel held himself back from tearing into her when she had the nerve to even mention the fact that Buffy hadn’t chose him. It took every fibre of his being to stop the demon inside him from coming out to destroy her. She was too strong for him now. A fight with her would only alert every other Slayer by the intensity of their battle. He needed to be stronger. The blood that he had imbued from Kennedy sang throughout his body. He was stronger already. The blood making him more powerful by the mouthful. Slayer blood it seemed had that effect. Why hadn’t Spike told him? A grin spread across his face. Chilling in its intensity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A clock ticked on the mantle. The fire burned cheerily on the hearth crackling and popping sporadically.The two people in the room looked around aimlessly trying to think of something to say to fill the silence between them. Giles cleared his throat. That was all it took for Willow’s already thinly stretched nerves.
“I’m sorry Giles. I didn’t mean to say those things back in L.A. Can you understand how this is really confusing to me?” Her words all came out in a rush blending together in a fast stream. “I... I... don’t know what is exactly going on between us but Kennedy and I are really done. I told her that it was over and that it didn’t have anything to do with you. We were... not right. Tara was right. Oz was right. Do you know what I am saying?”
Giles felt a surge of elation come over him when she told him that she was through with Kennedy. He had always thought that girl was a prissy bitch. Her presence had always been something of a thorn in his side. She had added a nasty element to the house in Sunnydale. When he had started to see Willow in a different light she had become loathsome to him.
On the thoughts about them, he knew exactly how Willow felt. He was amazed that there might be some kind of future for them. Realizing that now wasn’t the time to push he reviewed what he was going to say to her in return before he just blurted out his feeling for her.
“Willow, it hurt what you said in L.A. but I understand why you said it. I am just as confused as you are. There IS something there, so it seems, and we can just take things slow and figure out just what that means to the both of us.” Giles resisted the urge to go to her and smooth out the worry lines that had formed on her forehead with kisses.
Taking in what he said she visibly relaxed. A huge grin transformed her face lighting her from within. “Does that mean that we can start meditating again. And that you can help me with my control. Or that we can go to their library and go through their spell book on harnessing sunlight. It looks really tricky...”
Giles smiled back at her entranced. She was made for him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dawn came running into Andrew’s room. Seeing Spike and Buffy passionately kissing made her pause for two seconds. Didn’t Buffy ever come up for air? She had heard that there had been no change in Andrew’s condition and had come here for the sole purpose of seeing Spike. She knew that they weren’t on speaking terms when had had “died” but she now had the chance to be forgiven. And she wasn’t going to wait even a second longer.
Launching herself at them she attempted to pry them apart. Only to find her hands wedged in between their bodies. Oh gross! She let out a yelp! Spike realized what was going on first and broke off from kissing Buffy. His eyes glazed over for a second. Then looking into Dawn’s with such fondness that she dug her elbow into Buffy’s side to gain her attention.
Buffy’s snort of annoyance was anything but lady like. She knew how much Dawn had wanted to make up with Spike. How much she had regretted the things that she said. She excused herself under the lame pretense that she was going to the bathroom. While she was there she might as well splash some cold water on herself. Hoping that everything was going to be fixed Buffy sailed out of the room. She was going to give her ten minutes. She looked at her watch. Willing it to move faster.
Dawn looked at Spike for a second. She had known that he was alive. Seeing him here though was an entirely different story. She was flooded with memories. How he had treated her as a person, grown-up like, valuing her opinions. Listening to her. He had been her first real friend. The only one that hadn’t been influenced by the monks to like her. To protect her. She remembered the time that he had been tortured by Glory so he would give up her name. How he had cared for her after her mom died. After Buffy died. Tears well up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. There wasn’t anything that she could say that would let him know just how much he meant to her.
“Aw bit...” He opened up his arms to her and she flew into his embrace. Sobbing she told him how sorry she was. That she was so happy that he was alive. He quieted her as best he could. Shushing her and patting her on the back. He was humbled by the fact that he had somehow been forgiven by Dawn. He had loved her from the moment he had set eyes on her. The bond that they shared had been forged in mutual loss and the easy friendship that had sprung up between them. He was so grateful that she wanted him back in her life. All had been forgiven.
Buffy stood in the doorway smiling at the two of them...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The courtyard was deserted. Xander stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air. Sometimes being outnumbered about ten to one was very unnerving. Oh. He forgot to factor in the lovely ladies of the Coven so make that about twenty-five to one. Good luck getting a bathroom... He walked toward the bench near the herb garden he saw earlier. He sat down trying to relax some of the annoyance out of him.
He heard a soft sound. Stifled.He located the noise and moved towards it. Sitting in the back of the garden on the grass, with her knees bent up and her arms circled around them was Faith. At his approach she frantically dashed at her eyes and tried to look all tough.
He sat down next to her making sure that he had full view of her face. “What’s wrong Faith...” He reached out and placed his arm around her shoulder.
Faith felt the familiar warmth that he always aroused creep up on her. She ducked her head and muttered, “Nothin’. I just got something in my eye... No really...”
Xander tilted up her face and looked at her. In that moment Faith could see everything that he wanted to tell her in his face. She didn’t deserve anyone as good as him. She would only ruin it anyways. That’s what she did. Buffy was the Slayer and she was the... Destroyer. She wanted to be worthy of him so bad that it made her heart ache.
“No questions. Just hold me...” Xander’s strong arms encircled her and pulled her tight against him. Trying to give her comfort in any way that she would accept it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Claire was coming in from her turn in patrolling. Even though they were in friendly territory Giles had thought that it would be prudent to keep sweeping the area for signs of Wolfram & Hart trying to get back at them. Kennedy had never showed where she was supposed to meet her to patrol. It wasn’t surprising considering everyone had heard that her and Willow were broken up. She was secretly glad. Patrolling with Kennedy tonight would have been a living hell. Her slayer senses had picked up a vampire in the area she felt like she had been punched in the gut it was so strong. She had pulled the stake out of its holster when he stepped out of the shadows.
Damn! It was that hottie vampire guy Buffy used to date. What was his name? Oh yeah... Angel. “Umm... hi.” God she sounded like such a dork.
Angel had been surprised that she had sensed him.And she had managed to pull a stake. He looked down at it and she shuffled a little bit and looked at it embarrassed before tucking it back into her holster. Shrugging an apology. This one was going to be a bit more difficult than the last slayer. Good he needed a challenge.
“Hi. Have you seen Gunn out here? I have been looking for him and I can’t seem to find him.”
Uhh... He is talking to me. C’mon brain work! Her brain kept saying, “Danger,” while her eyes and various other parts of her kept saying “Very Hot”. Focusing on the tiny part of her brain that was working she unscrambled the message that he had been trying to tell her. “Gunn? Umm... No. I haven’t run into anyone else out here. Just walking around... patrolling by myself.”
Angel smiled sweetly at her. “Do you want me to go with you patrolling?” He put on his best puppy dog face.
She looked at him and melted. “Sure...” It came out all breathy. She was wondering if this was such a great idea. What if Buffy got mad at her for going with him. They weren’t going out anymore but... It was just patrolling she reminded herself sternly. No problem with that. Inner debate solved she turned to him gesturing to the woods. “That’s the only place I have left to patrol.”
“After you...”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wesley’s mind raced with the possibility that many of the things that they had taken for truths while working at Wolfram and Hart were anything but. They had the arrogance and audacity to believe that they had been one step ahead of the Senior Partners. He realized that they had been led down a certain path by none other than Angel. The same vampire that had sold all their memories up to the wizard he had been sent to kill, Vail. Signing his name on the dotted line of his contract has essentially been signing away his soul. At least his right to it. He knew how Wolfram and Hart worked. Lilah had been in their employ and he saw how well that had ended. Her soul eternally in their grasp. A pawn piece to do only God knows what. So what did that mean for Angel?
Then there had been that weird licking thing that Angel had done to Gunn. He had tried to do to him. If it hadn’t been for Illyria and Giles who knew what would have happened. He felt uneasy whenever he thought about that vampiric ability. It had probably saved Gunn’s life but it was so dangerous letting the demon out for a taste and trying to reign it back in. What had Angel been thinking to try a stunt like that? He made a mental note to talk it over with Giles in the morning.
He sat in the kitchen staring down at a glass of scotch that he had just poured for himself. Gunn was sitting opposite from him chowing down on some bread and honey.
“What is it about surviving an apocalyptic battle that make you so damned hungry?” He mused.
Illyria stood outlined by the roaring fire in the giant fireplace that was left over from ages past. Black metal hooks were still used to hang cauldrons over the fire. Wesley mused that there was something to the stereotype of the black cauldron and witches. Illyria had refused his offer to dress her wounds with a shake of her head, and had stood still as a statue in front of the fire for hours. At Gunn’s words her head cocked to the side and she found her voice, “Do you think that the witches have tacos?”
Both men were stunned. Wesley looked like she had given him a mortal blow. (Three mortal blows in one night was just one to many.) The hand that had been toying with his glass tightened around it. His knuckles straining and turning white.
Gunn carefully asked unable to stop himself, “Illyria how do you know about tacos?” Wesley winced but remained silent.
She looked down, her eyes reflective, as if consulting herself on how she should answer that. “The spark. It tells me many things.”
At those simple words both men exchanged glances, Gunn’s hopeful, and Wesley’s fearful that they had let Fred be trapped inside her own body with out realizing it. The fact that they had taken Knox’s word on the transformation was, in hindsight, ridiculous.
With a look of trepidation on his face, Wesley asked softly, “Illyria what else does the spark tell you?
Illyria turned around to face the fire. She was tired of this world. She needed to rest. It was time to let the spark take over. For a while. They were in no danger right now. She could feel herself fall back and the tiny, bright spark rushed to the fore... When she turned around again she was Fred. She ran to Wesley and threw herself in his arms. Crying. Sobbing. Wesley trembling returned the bone crushing embrace. Tears starting to form in his eyes.
“Wesley... Oh God, Wesley. I have missed you. I never thought I would be able to get back to you.” A huge sob tore through her tiny frame. “This thing... Illyria. It surrounded me.” She saw the look of horror on both of their faces. “It didn’t hurt. Well, just in the beginning when it first came to me.” Her voice became softer meant for Wesley. “When we thought I was dying. After that... After it became part of me it felt... strange.” She glanced around looking for the right words to describe it. “I was so strong and yet, I couldn’t control anything. I was there but couldn’t talk. Or move.”
There was a strangled noise from Gunn. Wesley stroked his hands down her back in a soothing manner. So grateful to have this time with her.
Fred continued on unable to stop herself from getting everything out. Her tears had all but stopped and her voice was much stronger. “When you guys diminished her power, I found that... Illyria became aware of me. It knew that I was there. Before... it was infinite. I was a mote inside of it. After it had been reduced by you guys I was what she called a spark. Maybe I was like a speck. Illyria began to listen to me. When my folks showed up I was able to coach her through every word that she said.” Wesley looked at her in surprise. She smiled tremulously.
“I think that it is tired. I guess that I am going to be let out what? Every six months or so?” She gave a small laugh. Both men looked at her with pained expressions. “Oh, I’m sorry. I am just so used to talking to myself. I have a history with that. This time I couldn’t even write on the walls...”
Wesley crushed her to him. The feeling of joy turning to one of dread. He didn’t know how long that he had with Fred but every moment wes precious.
Gunn sat there helpless. Unable to shake the terrible feeling of guilt. Having his heart ripped out day after day was still not enough justice for what he had done to her. To them. He stood quietly and snuck out the door trying to at least give them this time together. Without having to suffer his presence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wiping the blood from the lower part of his face Angel looked indifferently down at the tangled bodies of the slayers he had devoured. He had gorged himself tonight. Five. He had surpassed Spike’s tally. His skin was almost warm to the touch and it had a very faint tinge of pink to it. Slayer blood. There was no way he could ever go back to pig’s blood again. He was ruined for anything else. Hell, regular human blood paled against this stuff. Adding to the fact that killing these girls was like shooting fish in a barrel. His history with Buffy, and the child like awe they held him in, was making it a cake walk. They never suspected a thing. He was all soulful. He couldn’t hurt anyone because of that.
What a bunch of crap. These slayers were living in some fantasy world. All they had to do was look around them and they would see many examples of atrocities done by people who claimed that they were good. AND had souls. It didn’t stop them.
Why should it make a difference when you are a vampire? If anything he had constant urging to do evil things with no incentives to keep him in line. It wasn’t as if he would go to heaven or that he had to worry about any of that drivel. After signing the contract with Wolfram & Hart he had effectively bought Connor a new life. At the cost of his soul. The Circle of the Black Thorn had taken away his last hope of redemption when he had signed away the shanshu. Then add it to the fact that Cordelia was dead. And Buffy his one true, eternal love was being claimed in front of God and everyone by a vampire that he had always just tolerated. Barely. Now he hated him with all that he possessed. They were going to pay. The first part of his plan was in place. He had to move fast. Dawn would be in a couple hours.
He brought the bodies from where he stashed them taking care to avoid the patrolling slayers. He had to get this just right. The moon was obscured by clouds when he placed them in the circle of the sacred stones. He arranged the bodies in an intricate pentagram. Entwining limbs and weaving bindweed, nightshade and hemlock around the corpses to form a symbol of summoning. Placing five black candles at the points of the pentagram he enclosed the whole area with a thick ring of salt. Spreading sulphur over the dead slayers he stepped back to admire his handiwork. Everything was perfectly positioned. It was time to start. He lit the candles and started the incantation. There was no going back.
“Coorior, consurgio Cerebrus. Ferio meus carptum. Fidem praestare ad me. Accingo consumo abnocto. Coorior, consurgio Cerebrus”
As the last word left his lips the flames flickered and the burned brightly. He leaned over the perimeter of salt barrier and vomited blood all over the corpses. The smell of the sulphur and the rich blood mingling made Angel want to cover his mouth and nose. He watched expectantly as the earth shuddered and the candles tipped inward lighting the bodies on fire.
They burned brighter than a midsummer's eve bonfire. The magical flames consuming everything in its path. The smoke that swirled up solidified into snarling and snapping beast with two heads.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Margaret sat straight up in bed her mouth open in a silent scream. The wound in the earth that had hit her all of a sudden was enormous. She could hear the cries of rest of the Coven. She tried to get out of bed and fell to the floor weak and useless. She had felt so sick. The sacred stones. Something had happened. Something foul.
She opened her mouth to scream out a warning to her guests and a stream of black viscous blood shot forth. Terrified she tried to stop it. Gagging she crawled into the bathroom where she hastily lit a white candle of protection and held onto a large stone of hematite. Fighting back the onslaught of another round of nausea she tried to think what could have happened. There had been no attempt on the property walls. No attack. So it had to be from the inside.
Desperate to warn them she tried to move and was overcome with sickness. She retched up a thousand flies and they started to bite her wherever they landed. She huddled back under the meager protection of the candle and pulled down the shower curtain to wrap around herself. Fighting off another wave...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Willow bolted upright her eyes wide and staring. Her pupils dilated to shown nothing of the iris. Giles had been watching her sleep upon the pile of books in front of her and quickly reached down to steady her. He had felt it too. Whatever had happened had been big. Wolfram & Hart had finally made their move.
At the touch of Giles’ hand on her shoulder. A warm glow spread through her that counteracted the black coldness that had woken her from her sleep. Her eyes slowly lost that look. “Giles,” she said tentatively, “what happened?”
“It seem as if we are under attack. Hurry we must get ready to defend ourselves.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dawn had finally left the room and went to her room to go to bed. She planned on sleeping in tomorrow. All day.
Buffy looked at Spike with all the pent up passion in her eyes. He was so beautiful inside. She wanted to kiss him and found herself in his arms in the next second. “Don’t I have any control around you?”
“Let’s hope not...” Spike said laughing. Lowering his lips to hers. Savoring the moment just before his lips touched hers. He couldn’t believe that she was here in his arms. He was overcome by his need for her. He had to get her out of this room and into his. He tugged her towards the hallway. She melted into his arms. Smiling sweetly.
Screams filled the air. Spike whirled crouching into a battle stance. Buffy standing at the ready next to him. Slayers poured out of their rooms in various states of dress. While witches crawled out of their rooms trying to escape the pulsating pain that was lancing through them. Several of them were vomiting blood.
Spike was revolted by the stench. The blood shooting out of their mouth was foul. Bitter black blood. Dead and congealed. “What the bloody hell is going on here Buffy?”
“I don’t know...” She motioned to some of her girls. “Stay with the coven and try to help them as best you can. I’m going to go get Giles. He’ll know what is going on.”
One of the witches gasped out, “Find Margaret. She’ll know...” Her shoulders heaved as she was racked by another round of heaving.
Buffy nodded to the girls and grabbed Spikes hand. “Let’s go...”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Angel stared into the circle four glowing red eyes stared back at him. Angel reached downs lit a rush in the glowing embers of the corpses. He deliberately brought the rush to the inside of his left wrist, taking elaborate care he branded the glyph of Cerebrus there. At the final stroke the snarling and snapping beast bowed low and both heads touched the ground in supplication. A whine came from one of the heads.
Angel looked at the hulking two headed dog in front of him and was more than satisfied. He was... effulgent.
A grim smile ghosted across his lips. “Adgredior Cerebrus. Addere nex necis.” Both heads snapped up and he saw the they were salivating. The glowing eyes looking rabid. Angels’ foot shot out and in one sweep he cleared a pathway in the protective ring of salt that had bound the beast. Letting out a gleeful howl the beast shot out through the clearing and headed toward the manor. Angel muttered, “Sic ‘em.”
Feeling how close it was to dawn Angel flew across the grass to get back inside before the first rays of light hit him. Halfway there he saw the beast muzzle deep in Slayer. It had torn out the throat of one of the girls that was patrolling. The other head lifted up and sniffed the air to seek out the next prey. It had begun. Angel made it to the manor and went around to the wing where they had placed him in, slipping into his room unnoticed.
The utter chaos he saw when he opened his door to his room sent his inner demon into throes of pleasure. Girls were lying prone on the floor weakly calling out for help. The slayerettes were desperately trying help them but they couldn’t figure out what to do.
Angel had known that his plan would have effected the Coven to some extent, but never in his wildest dreams, had he dared to think that they would be brought so low. Their power was rooted more deeply in the sacred stones than he had guessed. Summoning Cerebrus there had been a double attack on his enemies. First freeing Cerebrus from hell AND befouling the pure and untainted well of the Coven’s magic. This had just been his day. The thought almost brought a smile to his lips until he noticed one of the girls looking strangely at him.
Feigning a look of concern he asked, “What’s going on?”
The slayer looked at him for a second wondering if she had just imagined the smile that had been on his lips a moment ago. It must have been her imagination... Things have gotten so screwed up here. “I don’t know. One minute I was sleeping and the next all hell broke loose...”
Angel tried to keep his look sympathetic. “Where’s Buffy?” He had to know where the major players were. Assuming that Buffy would drag her boy-toy around with her he asked, “And Willow?”
The girl looked at him apologetically and answered, “Buffy and... uhh... Spike went off to find Mr. Giles... and I don’t know where Willow is.”
Angel figured that is where she would run off to. The slayer was nothing if not predictable. Now the other witch of power, “What about Margaret?”
“Oh, she is sick like the other girls. I don’t know what to do with them. Do you?” She looked at him hopefully.
Angel wanted to tear into her neck and drain her right then and there. She had nothing more to tell him. The slayer blood called to him but he controlled himself. Barely. Walking over one of the stricken girls he picked her up and placed her in her room. The slayerettes took note of his actions and having no one else around to follow started to do the same thing.
He heard the eerie sound of baying. Satisfaction flowed through him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy flew down the corridor searching for Giles. Spike ran right at her side. Halfway down she stopped and turned to Spike. “I don’t like the feeling of this. I hate to ask this again but could you watch out for Dawn? Something doesn’t feel right... on a big scale...”
Almost expecting her to ask this of him Spike readily agrees. He kissed her forehead and replied, “I won’t let you down this time, pet. She’s safe with me. You be careful and get word to me when you know what is going on.”
“You are the best. I love you.” The words flew out.
He reached forward and pulled her into a powerful embrace. “You have got to stop saying that in situations like this.” He smiled and kissed her passionately on the lips. “Now go find your watcher.” He backtracked down the hall and swooped into Dawn’s room bellowing her name.
She stood there for a second with her lips still tingling. She heard him yell for Dawnie. God she loved him. Doing a quick about face she ran toward the library. God knows that’s where Giles would be.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike was ready to pull his hair out. If the bit had been bloody annoying as a teen she was definitely upgraded to aggravating now. Trying for the fifteenth time he growled, “Dawn... Buffy put me in charge of you.” Wrong thing to say. Immediately the fire was blazing out of Dawn’s eyes.
“I am not a child anymore! I can hold my own.” At his doubtful look she changed tactics. “What I’m suggesting isn’t that dangerous. I just want to make sure that Andrew is okay. We’ll wait in his room just to make sure that he is fine through whatever ‘this’ is...” Adding her ultimate weapon she put her most pleading look in her eyes.
Knowing that this was a losing battle he nodded his head and turned around while Dawn quickly changed out of her PJ’s into the battle gear she had worn earlier. Grabbing up an axe she walked by Spike and headed to Andrew’s room. Happy that she would look out for him at least.
Spike took out a cigarette and trailed right behind her. How the hell had he lost that battle. Just like a Summer’s girl to get him all pissed off so he couldn’t see straight. He should have made her go down to the cellar where the stone walls might be more of a protection. It would be much darker down there for his comfort. Secretly he was proud of the bit. She had fire. She stuck to it and stayed loyal to her friends. He figured that he might as well get comfortable in Andrew’s room ‘til he got word from Buffy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy found Giles and Willow gathering up ingredients for a plethora of spells. Tucking them into a small pouch that they had attached to their belts.
Buffy couldn’t resist, “My what a nice hip sack you’ve got going on there Giles. How are my two favorite tourists?”
Giles glanced up not at all surprised to find Buffy there. Not having any of the answers for this one was killing him. Stopping her from asking the question he knew was burning on her lips “Thank goodness you’re here Buffy. I haven’t the faintest notion what is going on here. All that I have been able to determine is that it is a mystical attack. Both Willow and I felt it.” At Buffy’s confused look he held up his hand. “Don’t ask. We don’t have the time. You must get the slayers ready for action. I know that everyone is tired but this is going to be major. Willow and I are going to try to place a spell of protection and warding on the manor. For some reason the wards on the house have gone sour... Be ready for anything.”
He looked down at Buffy’s two-way that was still clipped to her belt. “Does that thing still work?”
Buffy glanced down at it. There was still two bars left. She nodded.
“Good. Willow can contact you to let you know when the spell is up. Go get the girls ready.” Giles had refused to ever handle one of the two-ways muttering that they were too distracting in battle. Everyone knew that he just didn’t know how to use one.
Willow smiled at Buffy. “Yeah Buf... We’ll take care of our end. Be safe.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the sound of howling Faith’s head snapped back from Xander’s shoulder. Giving him a wary look she quickly rolled to her feet. Xander hopped up much less gracefully. In the entrance to the enclosed garden was four glowing red eyes glaring at the two of them. Faith sized up the situation and pushed Xander towards the veranda doors. “Get the hell out of here. Go get me back up...”
In the past Xander might have put up a fight. Insisting that he would be able to help but, with his injured eye came the realization that he was just scraping by in a fight. He was much more useful if he used his head. For what it was worth. He turned and ran towards the manor. Fear for Faith’s safety making his strides longer. The helpless feeling that was going through his head was nothing new. He was going to make a difference this time and get Faith the back up that she needed.
The demon-wolf saw its prey trying to make an escape and correctly targeted it for the weaker of the two. It couldn’t resist the sight of fleeing prey. Xander’s legs churning as fast as he could was like waving a red flag to the beast. It focused all of it’s energy toward its victim. While trying to avoid the stronger of its enemies. Cull the weak was its instinct. Bounding across the well manicured lawn the hell hound closed the gap swiftly.
Faith felt fear choke her. She was used to it being in her emotions but it had always been covered up by the sheer power of her adrenaline kicking in. She loved to fight. She liked mixing it up. The thought of herself hurt didn’t phase her. But the image that had flashed in her head of Xander down and bleeding made her terrified. She tried to turn it off. Focusing on the enemy.
She had to time this just right. She set an intercept course for Lassie. Running at top speed she zeroed in on her target. There was a blur of fur flying past her... putting every ounce of her strength behind her she leapt forward. Catching the monster by surprise she buried her hands in its fur and let her momentum carry them to the ground. Snapping jaws and tearing claws everywhere. She spared a glance in Xander’s direction to make sure that he had got away. She saw him cross the threshold and felt a wave of relief the was palpable.
Her moment of inaction had been all the monstrosity atop her needed. It’s jaws reached for her throat. Some instinct made her throw up her forearm at the last possible second. The sound of cracking bone filled the night air. Faith’s face was suddenly covered with a mixture of her blood and the molten hot saliva of the beast. Desperate to free her arm and avoid the other set of lunging fangs she reached down to the outside of her thigh where she kept her hunting knife. It was a knife like no others. Rambo would have killed for this knife. She popped it out of its sheath and brought it down repeatedly in an overhand fashion.
The demon-dog went wild. It’s hind legs tearing into Faith’s taut belly digging deep. Faith let out an agonized scream. Reversing her grip on the knife she rammed it up through the throat of the the head that had ahold of her forearm. A high pitched yelp and whine was heard from that head and it released her from its grip. Scrambling backwards the behemoth tried to shake off the wound. Blood was pouring from the maw of the gigantic head. It walked a little unstable a few feet away. Faith took that opportunity to gingerly get to her feet. The limp, broken arm clutching at the wounds in her stomach. She was afraid to look down in case she saw her insides hanging out.
The demon whirled scenting her fear and decided to take another try at her. The one head was seriously wounded and lying half unconscious on its thick neck. It coiled back on its hind legs ready to attack Faith. At that moment Xander showed up with the other slayers that he could gather. Before the girls could even try to attack he raised up a crossbow that he had grabbed and fired. Secretly praying that for once his luck would be with him. They heard a meaty thwack as it landed in the left shoulder of Cerebrus.
That was all the threat that it was going to take. It could sense the power from the slayers. It whirls and slunk through the underbrush leaving gouts of great big splashes of blood to follow. The slayers unhappy with their quarry slinking away immediately tried to set out for it. Only to be stopped by Faith.
Weaving on her feet she told them that now that this thing was injured it was going to be even more difficult to put down. Being a cornered animal always made you fight harder.
Xander saw how the corner’s of her mouth twitched up at that... He rushed over to see how she was.
Xander’s face blanched as he took it all in. He took off his sweatshirt and tried to make a compress for the wound on her stomach. Waving the others away he told them to go find Buffy and to go after that thing. Half carrying Faith inside Xander prayed that she was going to make it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next two hours was complete chaos. No matter what they tried Willow and Giles couldn’t help the members of the Coven. The wards had been placed back on the house and it would repel any demon threat from the outside. Faith had been healed as much as could be done for her. She just needed rest and time to let her slayer healing to take over.
Feeling as secure as they could be in leaving them Buffy headed up Group B while Vi temporarily took over for Faith’s Group A. They were going on a hunt... The girl were ready to follow the trail of blood ready to repay it for what it had done to Faith. Buffy had the scythe on the sheath on her back. Her face grim.
Spike wished he could watch this one. He was sure that it wasn’t going to take his girl long. No one pissed her off this much and got away with it. He sighed. The bloody sunlight. It was always interrupting his good time. Well I guess it’s back to babysittin’ the bit. Maybe they had some cards around here for a nice game of poker. Dawn was old enough for it now...
The mountain of change in front of Dawn had steadily grew until he was sure that she was cheating. He wasn’t sure how but when he found out it was going to have to be added to his repertoire. Dawn just sat back and smiled innocently at him. Oh that was a sure sign. He growled. Dawn giggled.
There was a loud dramatic groan from the bed.
Dawn jumped up tipping the chair back in her hurry. “Andrew? Andrew are you alright?”
One eye cracked open. Followed by the other. “Oh God... Rona...” he paused and Dawn grabbed the water jug that was on his bedside table. Tears coming to her eyes.
A note of urgency entered Andrews voice. He gripped Dawn’s arm that was holding the pitcher. “Dawn listen to me it was Angel...”
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