Part 25

In the main hall at the Mansion, Angelus and Drusilla walked in across the marble floor, where they had placed the statue. Spike rolled in behind them in his wheelchair. "It's big rock." He said, sarcastically. "I can't wait to tell my friends, they don't have a rock this big."

Angelus popped him upside the head. "Spike you never did learn your history." He strolled over to the statue, running his hand over it. "Acathla the demon came forth to swallow the world. He was killed by a virtuous knight who pierced his heart, Acathla turned to stone, and was buried." Angelus turned to his minions. "Do it."

Two vampires standing in the corner ran up to the tomb with crowbars, and pried it open. The lid crashed to the floor, when the dust cleared, inside the tomb was a tall, horned stone demon with a sword protruding from it's chest.

Drusilla closed her eyes and moaned in pleasure. She raised her hands to the side of her head. "He fills my head. With such naughty things."

Annoyed Spike turned to Angelus. "Let me guess. Someone pulls out the sword."

"Someone worthy" Angelus replied proudly

Drusilla slowly lowered her arms. "He will swallow the world."

"And every creature living on this planet will go to Hell."

At the library, Giles walked out of his office, to join the others. "I've been on the phone to the museum, the statue is gone, and the curator is dead."

"Are you sure this was the tomb of Alfalfa?"

"Acathla." Giles corrected. "And yes, the information from Kendra's watcher seems conclusive."

Angel plopped a book down on the table. "He's gonna suck the whole world into hell."

"I think we should try the curse." Buffy suggested.

Xander raised his cold eyes toward her. "I think we should kill him."

Kendra nodded. "I agree, Angelus should be eliminated."

"We'll kill him if we have too." Buffy said, when she noticed the look Xander was giving her, she glared right back. "I'll kill him if I have too, but if I don't get there in time, or I lose, then this curse will be our only hope." Her tone was hard, and Xander didn't even bother with a comment.

"I'm not gonna let you go alone." Angel proclaimed. He didn't even let Buffy reply, the tone of his voice was more serious than he'd ever been. "I'm going with you."

Kendra cleared her throat. "If all else fails, we have this." She reached into her bag, and pulled out a sword. "Blessed by the knight, who first slew him. It should stop Acathla, I tink."

"Good, now were prepared." Angel said. "He has a ritual to perform as well, so that should take time, enough time for us."

***************************

Angelus stood before Acathla, and looked down to where a young man was tied up on the floor. "I will drink, the blood will cleanse me, and I shall be worthy to free Acathla." Angelus grabbed the young man and drank his blood, he smeared his hand on the wound, letting the blood coat his palm.

"Everything that I am, everything that I have done, has led me here." Angelus walked up to the statue. "With this act, we will be free." He grabbed the hilt of the sword, a blinding light surrounded him, and emanates the room. The statue began to shake from it's power, Angelus tugged on the sword, trying to draw it out of Acathla. A flame of red flashed, and Angelus was thrown to the floor by the force.

Spike let out a laugh. "Someone wasn't worthy." He teased.

"Damn it!" Angelus yelled frustrated.

Angelus' rage was barely contained. "We will have Armageddon!!" He stormed out of the room, knocking furniture out of his way.

The next day, Buffy, Willow and Xander were in class, taking their final exam. Everyone was concentrating hard, except for Buffy, she got that tingling feeling that told her a vampire was near. She looked up from her test and looked around the classroom, her eyes focused on the door, and someone comes in.

"Tonight....In the graveyard." A vampire stood in front of the classroom.

Startled everyone moves away from the figure, when smoke forms around it.

"You will come to him or more will die!" The vampire pointed at Buffy, as it's body bursts into flames. "Tonight!!"

Buffy glared at the vampire, as it turned to dust.

The teacher was baffled by what happened, and dismissed everyone. Buffy, Willow, and Xander took off to the library. Giles came out of his office, with Kendra behind him when he heard them come in. "What's going on??"

"Angelus sent us a message." Buffy said, she went to the weapons locker, and pulled out a notebook, and a bag. "Willow, start getting ready."

Willow took the bag and the book. She set them down on the table and took out the supplies that she needed to curse Angelus with a soul.

While Willow gathered everything she needed, Buffy eagerly awaited sunset. She had no choice, she had to confront him tonight. Sunset came all too sudden, and Buffy prepared to leave. "Will, everything set?"

"Yeah." Willow answered nervously.

Giles stopped Buffy. "You're not going to wait for Angel?"

"The vamp said more will die tonight, I can't wait for him."

Kendra stepped to her. "Den I should go with you."

"No. I need you here just in case." She heads for the door. "As long as Angelus is fighting me, then he can't do this end-of-the-world ritual thingy."

Kendra nodded, she reached over into her bag and grabbed a stake. "Here." She handed it over to Buffy, enclosing her palm over it. "Dis is my lucky stake, I have killed many vampires with it." Kendra smiled a bit. "I call it Mr. Pointy."

Buffy smiled back at her. "Remind me to get you a stuffed animal." She held the stake up, examining the sharp tip. "Thank you." Buffy took one last look at all of them and headed out the door.

Xander got up from his chair. "Be careful." He shouted to her. When Buffy turned around and smiled at him, acknowledging him, it made him feel good. No matter what hard feelings they had, neither one wanted the other to die.

Buffy took a deep breath, as she walked into the cemetery. This was the moment she had been waiting for, and she was ready to face him. She walked passed a few headstones.

"Hello lover, I wasn't sure you'd come."

She paused in her steps and turned around. "Sorry to disappoint. Shouldn't you be out destroying the world right now?"

Chuckling. "Oh, there's plenty of time for that live." Sighing, Angelus skimmed over her body with his eyes. "You are the one thing in this dimension that I am going to miss."

Annoyed. "This is a beautiful moment we're having. Can we please fight?"

"I didn't come here to fight".

Buffy looked at him confused. "No?"

Angelus walked closer to her. "I was hoping we could get back together. What do you think? Do we have a shot?" Seeing the confused look on her face, he dropped his smile. "Alright. We'll fight." He rushed at her.

Buffy moved to the side, grabbing him by the arm and twisting it behind his back. Angelus used his other arm to elbow her in the jaw, Buffy ducks and punches him in the jaw instead. He spinned around, and landed a kick to her midsection.

"Is it me or is your heart just not into it." Angelus taunts. "Grabbing her by the front of her coat, and throwing her into a headstone.

Buffy rolled onto her feet shakingly. "Come on Willow." Her mind whispered.

Back at the library, Kendra paced in front of the door, ready for any kind of attack, while Willow continued to get ready. Kendra pulled a stake from her pocket, and waited; she lowered it, when she saw Angel walk in.

He saw the display before him, and knew something was wrong, Angel definitely didn't miss the fact that Buffy wasn't there. "She went after him." He said, angrily

Giles cleared his throat. "She had no choice, Angelus sent a message, and she went to fight him."

He glanced over at Willow. "Do it."

Willow nodded and sat on a table, holding the orb of thessula. Xander and Cordelia, stood to the side, waving herbs and incense around her as she began to chant.

"Not dead nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum I call..."

Willow never got to finish the sentence, vampires burst in from all over, the sky light, the stacks, and the front entrance. Angel grabbed a vampire off of Giles' back, he looked at the others. "Get out, now!!!"

Xander grabbed Willow and Cordelia and headed toward the stacks, there were only two vampires their, and he figured they could get past them. While Angel fought the vampires blocking their way, he didn't notice Giles' being knocked unconscious.

Kendra held her own with the 5 vampires surrounding her, she attacked them all at once, and eventually shoving her stake into their dead hearts. A scream vibrated the room, Angel and Kendra turned to the source, and saw a bookcase falling on a helpless Willow. Xander was grabbed by a vampire and was thrown over the railing, Cordelia was no where to be found. Angel ran toward the stacks to help, and did not see the chair that was aimed at his head.

Kendra was on her own now.

The library doors burst open and Drusilla walked in, smiling. She stood in front of a cautious Kendra. "Come on dearie."

Kendra began a series of attacks, all were blocked by Drusilla, soon her body began to tire. Drusilla had enough fun, playing with her, she blocked one more punch, and grabbed Kendra by the throat. "Be in me. Be in my eyes." She said, in a hypnotic tone, waving two fingers in Kendra's eyes.

Kendra swayed on her feet. Drusilla smiled, and swung her hand, slicing Kendra's neck with her sharp nails. Blood spilled, as Kendra collapsed to the floor.

Drusilla blew a kiss at her dead body. "Night-Night." She turned to the remaining vampires. "Let's get what we came for."

Her minions grabbed an unconscious Giles and dragged him out of the library.

**************************************

Buffy pushed Angelus to the ground, and pulled out Mr. Pointy. She gained the upper hand in the fight, and was ready to end it. "Let's finish this. You and me."

Angelus chuckled, rising to his feet. "You never learn do you? This wasn't about you. This was never about you."

A look of horror flashed on Buffy's face. She backed away from him slowly, and then broke into a fierce run.

"And you fall for it every single time!!"

Buffy used all her strength to get to the library, in her mind she prayed to anyone that would listen, praying that her friends were OK. Buffy got to the school, an and crashed into the library. She gasped at the damage the room was in, her eyes widened when she saw Kendra lying on the floor. Buffy slid to her knees, next to Kendra's dead body, held her hand. She reached with her other hand and stroked her cheek, still feeling warm as if she was still alive.

A moan could be heard across the library, Buffy looked up from Kendra and saw Angel rise slowly to his feet. "Angel" She sobbed, unable to hold her emotions. He held his bloody head up and wobbled over to her, he observed the carnage and closed his eyes in pain.

Buffy opened her mouth to speak, when a light flashed down on both of them.

"Freeze!!!"

Part 28

Xander stayed by Willow's side, she was still unconscious. He sat in a chair watching her, Cordelia had just left to get some coffee, and he took this time to express his deep thought.

"Come on Will, you gotta wake up." Xander pleaded. "I know lately that I've been horrible to you and Buffy; but I can't lose you two, especially you." He stopped to for a moment, struggling with his emotions as he pleaded with his best friend. "You've always..... I love you."

Xander's eyes widened with hope, Willow's hand tightened around his. "Willow?"

She took a few deep breaths. "Oz?" She whispered, trying to open her eyes. "Oz?"

Oz heard her as he walked into the room. "I'm here."

Xander scooted away to let him get near her. Oz took her hand, and smiled when she opened her eyes. "Hey baby."

"Hi." She said weakly. "My head ... it feels big. Is it big?"

Oz smiled. "No, it's head size." He leaned over and gently kissed her forehead, careful not to touch her bandage.

She smiled when he started to stroke her hair. "Is everybody okay?" She whispered.

"Not really," He told her, Oz could never lie to her.

She sat up slowly, letting Oz adjust her pillows to make sure she was comfortable. "Where's Buffy?"

"We don't know, the police are after her."

Willow sighed in disbelief, and reached for the phone on her bedside table. Oz stopped her and grabbed the phone himself, he didn't want her to over exert herself. She smiled, and dialed Buffy's home, hoping she would be there.

The phone rang and Buffy answered it cautiously. "Hello."

"Buffy?"

"Willow! Are you okay?" Relief spread through her system when Buffy heard her voice, just knowing that she was conscious made her feel so much better.

"I'm okay, Buffy, really." She assured her friend. "I mean, I don't feel good, but... I'm awake, and I know my name and who's President and how many fingers, so I don't think my brain got mushed at all."

Buffy sighed. "Thank God. I'm so sorry I can't be there."

"Don't be, just talking to you is enough." Willow said excitingly.

"I know the feeling."

Willow laughed a little, but got serious. "Any luck finding Giles?"

"Yeah, I know where he is, I think he's still alive." Buffy hoped. "Angel and I are gonna head out soon."

"Good luck, and be careful; the both of you."

"We will." Buffy assured her and hung up the phone, she walked into the living room, where Angel, Spike, and her mother were waiting.

"How's Willow?" Angel asked, he heard Buffy shout Willow's name.

"She's fine, she wished us luck." Buffy said, glaring at Spike. "Okay, what's the deal?"

Spike stood up to her. "Simple. Dru and I leave, you get what you want."

Buffy shook her head. "Forget it, she doesn't walk."

Joyce listened to both conversations. "Who's Dru?" She asked, clutching the glass she held in her hand, alcohol seemed like a good thing right now.

Everyone tuned her out. "There's no deal without her."

Angel pushed him. "She killed Kendra." He growled.

Spike chuckled. "Pet killed a slayer, good for her." He stopped his ranting, when he saw the deadly looks her he received.

Joyce sighed in relief. "You didn't kill that girl?"

"Of course not!" Buffy yelled, upset that her own mother thought she was a murderer. "She was a slayer."

"Like you." Joyce realized, and sat back down; taking a sip of her drink.

"I'll take her out of the country and you'll never see us again."

"I don't believe you." Angel stated.

"Well, I'm all you got, so we got a deal?"

Buffy reluctantly nodded. "Get back to the mansion, so you won't be noticed."

Spike agreed and headed to the door.

"If Giles dies, she dies." Buffy threatened. Her reply was the door slamming.

"We need to get ready." Angel exclaimed.

"Hold it!" Joyce yelled. "What are you two gonna do?"

"We have to go Mom." Buffy explained.

"No! Buffy you aren't going anywhere til I get some answers." Joyce demanded, she looked over at Angel. "And you stay the hell away from my daughter, all these things started to happen when you two started dating."

Angel was about to protest, and she cut him off with her deadly tone, he now knew where Buffy got it. "This stops now, the slaying, everything!!"

Buffy took a deep breath, and walked over to Angel, not wanting to deal. "Mom, there is nothing you can do, so just have another drink, and calm down." She headed to the door and Angel followed, not wanting to get in the middle of this confrontation.

The glass Joyce was holding exploded on the floor near the door, stopping Buffy and Angel from leaving.

"Don't you ever talk to me like that!! Joyce fumed. "You don't get to just dump this on me, and pretend it's nothing!!"

Trying to remain calm, "Mom, I don't have time for this."

Her eyes widened. "You better make time, and explain yourself."

"I told you, I'm a vampire slayer."

Joyce shook her head no, not wanting to believe it.

Buffy walked toward her mother, leaving Angel in the doorway. "Open your eyes, Mom. What do you think has been going on for the past two years? The fights, the weird occurrences. How many times have you washed blood out of my clothing, and you still haven't figured it out?"

Angry, "Well, it stops now!!"

"No" Buffy yelled. "It never stops, I'm the slayer, I was chosen to do this, and it's who I am. I would love to be the innocent, naive girl you want me to be." She sighed. "But I'm not, I'm the slayer, and I have to save the world . again." Joyce was expecting more, but nothing else could be said. Buffy turned around and headed to the door, where Angel was waiting.

Joyce glared daggers at her daughter. "You are not leaving this house with him, I want you upstairs in your room, where you're safe." She pointed.

"You can't stop me." Buffy muttered, she was almost out the door, until her mother screamed her last demand.

"If you leave this house, don't ever think about coming back."

Buffy paused in her stride, pain flashed in her eyes, she looked back and forth from her mother to Angel. He grabbed her hand, giving her reassurance. Buffy breathed a sigh and followed Angel out of the house, and into battle.

***********************************

"So the big battle's coming huh?" Cordelia asked, settling into a chair by Willow's bed.

"Yeah, and let's hope the world doesn't get sucked into hell." Xander replied, slumping into a chair

"I have faith in Buffy and Angel, they'll do great. I just hope they know how the use the sword." Willow said, eating a bowl of red Jell-O.

"What do you mean." Oz asked.

"If Angelus opens Acathla, only the sword can close it, and Angel can't be anywhere near it."

"Why?" Xander asked curiously.

"Because Angelus' blood can open the portal and close it; and he and Angel share the same blood, so they'll both be sucked into the portal."

Cordelia turned to her worriedly. "Does Buffy and Angel know that?"

Willow stopped for a second. "I think so, but I don't know."

Cordelia got edgy. "Maybe we should warn them, just in case."

"Good idea." Xander said unexpectedly. He quickly got up from his chair and grabbed his jacket. "I'll go warn them." Xander stalked out of the room, before anyone could say anything. He ran toward Crawford Street, that's where Buffy said the battle was going to be. Xander saw Buffy and Angel heading towards the building, she had a sword in her hand, the sword that would save the world, and make life easier; for some.

"Buffy, hey."

They stopped. "Xander what are you doing here?"

"I'm at your service."

Angel shook his head. "You're gonna get yourself killed."

"Yeah, well while you two fighting deadboy 2, whose going to get Giles out?" Xander questioned.

Buffy handed him a stake. "All right, you get Giles out, that's it."

"Got it." He saw the way she was handling the blade. "Nice sword, looks good on you."

"A nice present for Angelus."

"Willow." Xander stopped for a moment, but only for a moment, and he felt not guilt for what he was about to do. Angel was the cause of all this, and Xander made a choice. "She said kick his ass."

"No problem." She responded. "If Acathla opens his big mouth, I send him and Angelus straight to hell."

Angel looked in her eyes, silently saying this was it, and the three walked to the mansion in determined pace.

***********************************

"Just tell me, what I wanna know." Angelus asked Giles. He was bleeding more from new wounds and old ones that were reopened.

"Please." Giles whispered, panting and shaking in pain.

"I can make the pain stop, just tell me."

Giles raised his eyes weakly. "To be worthy, you must perform the ritual ...in a tutu."

Angel growled. "All right.. Someone get me a chainsaw!!"

"Now, now." Spike said, wheeling to the room. "Let's not lose our temper."

"Keep out of it, sit-n-spin!!"

"Look you cut him up, and you'll never get your answers." Spike rationalized.

"Well, genius what do you have in mind?"

Spike smiled. "Drusilla, darling."

She swayed into the room.

"Wanna play a game?"

"Oh yeah" She moaned. Drusilla kneeled in front of Giles, wiping his forehead with her hand. "Poor thing, let's see what's inside." She held her hand on his forehead, for a moment, and closed her eyes. "Ohh, so pretty." Drusilla held his head up, and stared into his eyes. "Look at me. Be in my eyes." She waved two fingers in his eyes, letting her hypnosis take hold of him.

Giles felt a calmness rush over him, he blinked and saw Jenny kneeling in front of him.

"Jenny." He stuttered, Giles managed to smile. "I thought I lost you."

Drusilla played along with her game. "I'll never leave you, darling."

"We have to get out of here." Giles muttered.

Drusilla caressed his cheek, he smiled a bit more, thinking it was his beloved Jenny embracing him.

Drusilla touched his lips. "Did you tell Angelus about the ritual?"

"No, but he'll figure it out." Giles began to struggle desperately. "We have to get Angelus way from Acathla."

"He's the key?"

Giles began to lose the little bit of strength he had left. "H--his blood, he must not." He stuttered.

Drusilla smiled. "Shh." She placed her lips on his, and stirred up a passionate kiss.

Angelus and Spike smiled as they watched, pleased with the result

"Blood of course, the blood on my hands must be my own." Angelus began to chuckles. "Okay, kill him."

"Uh, but what if he's lying?" Spike said quickly, trying to keep Giles alive for as long as possible.

"Yeah. Good point. Don't kill him."

They both look over at Drusilla, still locked in a deep passionate kiss with Giles.

Spike raised his eyebrow. "Uh Drusilla."

She kept on kissing him.

"Honey." Angelus called.

Annoyed,"We're finished Ducks."

Drusilla stopped and looked back at the Watcher, smiling evilly. "Sorry." She licked her lips sensually. "I was in the moment."

Part 29

All gathered into the main hall, to began the ritual. Angelus stood, poised before the demon that would bring pure hell on Earth. "Acathla..I am cleansed, my blood makes me worthy." He held out his hand to Drusilla, she placed a dagger in his palm. Angelus slid the blade across his hand.

"You will be free, and so will we all."

A scream interrupted the finale, Drusilla and Angelus turned to look at Buffy and Angel standing over a pile of dust.

"Hello brother." Angel mocked.

Bored, "I don't have time for you."

Whistler's words ran through his mind, Angel stepped forward, taking the sword from Buffy's hand. "You don't have much time." He understood now. His destiny, not only to protect Buffy, but to confront his demons.

Buffy understood, this was his personal battle and needed to do this, she didn't object to his challenge.

Angelus grinned, finally the moment he'd been waiting for. "Look at you, all dressed up in big brother's clothes." He glanced over his shoulder to look at Acathla, and back at them. "Do you really think you two can take us on?" His minions filled the room from every direction, surrounding the couple.

Buffy smiled. "No."

Angelus cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Spike out of his wheelcahir stood over him, continuously striking him with a led pipe.

Seeing their master taken down, the fledgings under Drusilla's command attacked. Buffy and Angel had at least 10 of their own, while Spike fought off a raving Drusilla.

Xander moved from his hiding spot, with everyone occupied, he could easily find Giles without distraction. He dashed into another room, finding Giles still bound to a chair. "Giles."

In his weakened state, Giles tilted his head back. "Xander." Recognizing the boy's voice.

"Come on." Xander untied the ropes, sliding his arm around Giles' frame, he helped him out of the chair. They went unnoticed out of the building.

Moaning in pain Angelus awoke, he stumbled to his feet reaching Acathla, he grabbed the hilt of the sword with his bloody hand.

A light emanated from the once dormant demon.

Angel looked up in time to witness Angelus pulling the sword out of Acathla's heart. He staked the vamp in front of him and grabbed the blessed sword. Angel made eye contact with Buffy, she nodded, understanding his request. Buffy moved slowly into another room, making sure the remaining vamps followed her, she motioned to Spike to do the same with Drusilla and he complied. Giving Angel the opportunity he needed, leaving him and his demon alone.

Angelus twirled his sword, admiring the blade. He looked at his twin and chuckled. "You know, she's the one thing I'm gonna miss."

Angel ignored his demon's taunting. He got into his fight stance, and it began. Both charged each other and their swords clashed. Both anticipated every move the other made, and neither one faltered on an attack.

Angel did most of the attacking, trying to end this as quickly as possible, his anger increased every moment of this fight, and the force of his blows became more harder. Fueled by his determination, Angel knew he would come out the victor.

Behind them, the once dormant Acathla opened his mouth, and a portal began to rise.

Angelus blocked as much as he could, but he began to weaken, and Angel used that to his advantage. With one more blow, his sword flew to the side, Angelus dropped to his knees in front of Acathla. Angel took one last look at his tormentor his demon and thrust his sword into his chest. The demon roared in pain but only for a moment, he may have lost the fight, but Angelus knew he won the battle. His scream of pain turned to a maniacal laughter.

Angel's eyes widened, he looked down and saw the portal surround him. His intial shock remained for a second and realization set in. They truly were brothers; bound by blood, and fate. He looked out and saw Buffy run back into the room, she looked exhausted which made her look even more enchanting to him. Her hysterical scream brought tears to his eyes, it would be the last time he would hear her voice, and it pained him that her sweet voice was filled with such agony.

Angel held out his hand, hoping he could touch her one last time, let his fingers brush her outstretched hand. Angel closed his eyes and let his body go.

"I love you."

*********************

Buffy ducked from an attack from behind, she retaliated with a roundhouse kick and continued with the vamp in front of her, landing her stake home. The remaining vamp became dust in a matter of seconds. She turned to see Spike choke Drusilla unconscious, as much as she wanted to stake the both of them while she had the chance, a deal was a deal, and she wasn't the type to go back on a promise.

Without a word, Spike carried Drusilla out of the mansion through a sewer tunnel, not bothering to even look at Buffy.

Buffy stumbled as her adrenaline wore off, and the ache in her muscles set in. She ignored it and rushed into the main hall.

A gut wrenching scream startled her, even more because it belonged to her. Buffy watched the love of her life disappear before her eyes. She held out her hand to him, maybe he could grab it.

The light dimmed out, and Angel was gone.

Buffy shook her head in disbelief, her mind was blank, she couldn't speak. She didn't even hear her name being called.

"Buffy!!" Xander called, he got Giles to the hospital quickly and made his way back to the mansion. "Buffy!"

He stormed into the room and saw her standing alone, with her arm stretched out, in a comatose state. He watched Angel get sucked into the portal, and saw Buffy witness it herself. Xander knew that Angel was gone forever, and he felt no remorse.

He sighed and walked over to her, touching her shoulder. "Buffy come on."

She shook her head frantically, thoughts came to her mind, and she started to mumble. "No, no, no."

"Let's go." Xander persuaded, but she ignored his plea, and anger built. He didn't know where it came from, but it overcame him. "Buffy come on!!" He grabbed her by the arms, and shook her. "Angel's gone, he's gone, forever!!" he yelled, no real emotion coming from his voice.

Buffy looked into his eyes, like a frightened child. "Why was he taken from me?" She asked, calming down her hysterical sobbing

Xander sighed. He put Buffy's arm over his shoulder, pulling her to the door, she kept asking why, and Xander blurted out. "It was the sword Buffy."

His answer ran through her mind, she pushed him away, her face deathly white. "How did you know?" She choked out.

Xander tried to ignore the stare she gave him. "Buffy just come on, it's done."

Her fist clenched, she didn't want to believe what she was thinking, but she couldn't help it. "You knew?" She stuttered.

Xander rolled his eyes, uncaring. The look of betrayal he saw shine in her eyes didn't affect him at all. He knew what he did was right, and wasn't going to apologize for it. Angel was the source of all the death and pain, and getting rid of the him was a good idea.

"You knew what would happen if Angel used the sword and you didn't say a word." Without hesitating, Buffy grabbed Xander by the throat, using both hands, wanting to choke the life out of him.

Xander clawed at her hands, trying to get free. Frightened by the blackness in her eyes, he started twisting his body.

She dropped him to the floor, he laid there trying to regain his breath.

Buffyclenched her hands together trying to keep herself from killing him. "Get out." She demanded, her cold voice striking even more fear in Xander.

Without a word, Xander crawled to the door, leaving her there, alone.

And she was alone.

Tears continued to fall from her eyes, she began to sob even harder, and in the midst of her grief, Buffy collapsed, screaming injustice.

Go to Part 30