~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 11~
Buffy paces in front of Giles' apartment waiting for Xanader. Fuck! Her mother wasn't the distraction for Giles. Her mother and Giles were the distraction for the killing of Ms. Calendar. Why? Why Ms. Calendar? She had been important to Giles but why would Angel care?
She looks up when Xander pulls up but his car is empty. Rushing to meet him she throws open his door, "Where's Giles?"
"I don't know. The police said he had already left when I got there."
Dammit. She had wasted precious time waiting. She went to where Giles keeps his extra key and opened the door. Yellow crime scene tape was draped around the downstairs. Buffy glances down at the coffee table and sees a pencil drawing.
Cautiously lifting it up to get a better look she sees it is of Jenny laying dead on a bed. There is an 'A' in the corner of the drawing. Xander looks over Buffy's shoulder and a muscle ticks in the corner of his jaw. Here's yet another reason to kill the bastard.
"Giles?" Buffy yells up the staircase hoping that he's up there passed out.
Xander follows Buffy up the stairs. As they reach the landing they notice his weapon cabinet open.
"Oh man, he's gone after them."
Buffy's jaw tightens, "He'll only get himself killed. Let's go."
~~~~
Giles stared down at Willy who was lying on the floor. "Where is Angelus?"
Willy looked up at the Watcher through swollen eyes. This one would be as bad as Angel and the others. Willy could see in his eyes that he would not hesitate to kill or torture. He had definitely underestimated the bookish man.
"They've moved to a mansion."
"Where?"
"That old place on Crawford."
Giles just looked at Willy trying to determine if he was telling the truth. He leaned down and pulled Willy's head up by his hair. "If you're lying I'll be back. Do you understand me?"
Willy looked into Giles' eyes and saw that he really didn't want to be here if Angel wasn't at the mansion.
"I swear, that's where they moved to."
Giles let Willy's head drop and stood up. He didn't look back as he grabbed his weapons' bag and left the demon bar.
~~~~
Buffy and Xander looked around the empty factory warehouse. All traces of vampire inhabitation were gone.
"Now what? Where'd they go?"
Buffy looked helplessly around trying to think where Angel, Willow and Spike had moved. Giles' voice played in her mind, 'Willy called.'
"Willy's."
"What?"
"Willy's Bar. Earlier Willy called Giles and told him that Angel and Spike were there. Giles said it was a trap."
"Well then, let's go beat some information out of him."
"We better not be too late." Buffy mumbled as she followed Xander out of the warehouse.
~~~~
Angel looked up from his sketching of Willow and Spike when he heard a noise behind him. A crossbow bolt narrowly missed his shoulder and embedded itself in the table.
Willow jumps off of Spike's lap as they turn to see who fired it from the shadows.
A determined Giles fires another bolt as he walks into the light.
Spike laughs, "Well, it looks like we've got a very brassed off Watcher. What's the matter? Didn't get enough the first time? Come for another beating?"
Giles didn't answer just takes out a lighter and lights the end of another bolt before firing it. The bolt hits some curtains causing them to go up in flames.
Willow rushes to a fire extinguisher and quickly puts out the flames. She turns to Spike with a smirk, "And you laughed at me when I insisted we get some of these. See, I told you they'd come in handy."
Giles has taken out a bat and swung at Angel's head. Angel ducks and punches Giles in the stomach.
Willow leans against Spike's shoulder, "I don't think Giles liked our present." Giles hits Angel on the back and causes him to stagger. "Should we help?"
Spike watches as Angel and Giles struggle. "Nah, wouldn't be fair. We should wait until he tags one of us."
Angel stands back up after Giles has knocked him down again. Giles prepares to hit him again when Angel blocks the blow and grabs Giles by the neck.
He lifts him off the floor which causes Giles to drop the bat.
"Okay, you've had your fun. Now it's my turn."
No one sees the blonde blur until she kicks Angel in the back and he drops Giles.
"Oi, that's not fair. Giles didn't tag you." Spike yells at Buffy.
Willow looks around the courtyard. Wherever there's Buffy so goes Xander. He's always there to help even if it means his own death. Willow smiles when she sees him lurking in the shadows creeping his way closer to Giles.
Willow nudges Spike's foot with her own to get his attention. Spike looks away from the fight and looks over at Willow with a raised eyebrow. She nods her head in the direction of Xander and Giles.
"Looks like someone's trying to be a hero. Shall we, pet?"
Xander grabs Giles under the shoulder and keeps an eye out for Willow and Spike. As he begins to drag Giles out he sees Willow approach. He takes a cross out and holds in front of him. Willow stops when she sees it.
"Stay back! I know you're not really Willow and I will kill you."
"Of course you will. You killed me the first time so why not now."
Xander looks at her in confusion. "What are you talking about? Angel kidnapped you and turned you."
Willow looks up at Xander with a mock sad expression, "Maybe. But who drove poor Willow from the library in the first place? Who caused her to be taken by Angel? If I hadn't seen you and Cordelia I would have still been in the library researching instead of in the hallway where Spike got me."
Spike smiled in the shadows behind Xander. She was great. Twisting the truth for her own purpose and to hurt Xander the most. Spike raised the bat and hit Xander with it. He and Giles both fell into a heap on the floor.
Willow got some rope and tied them up while Angel kept Buffy occupied. Spike glanced up occasionally and saw Angel sparring with Buffy. He wasn't really fighting her just keeping her distracted while they tied up Xander and Giles.
Angel looked over to where Willow and Spike were standing and smirked at Buffy. "You just going to leave your friends like that?"
Buffy looked quickly over her shoulder at what Angel was talking about. Giles and Xander were sitting in two chairs tied back to back. Willow had a match and Spike had a can of gasoline.
Buffy gave a sweeping kick to the back of Angel's knees causing him to stumble. Buffy quickly ran towards her friends as Willow dropped the match on the trail of gasoline.
Spike and Willow went to join Angelus and they watched as Buffy broke the ropes and lifted Xander up. Buffy lightly slapped Giles to bring him around. There was no way she could carry them both to safety before the flames reached them. Giles groggily blinked a few times before feeling the heat.
"Come on. We've got to get out of here. We'll come back to fight another time."
Giles looks at the smirking faces of the vampires before turning back to Buffy and Xander. He grabs Xander's other shoulder and helps Buffy carry him through the flames.
As they reach the courtyard entrance Giles looks back over his shoulder to see Willow putting out the fire. He sadly shakes his head. She was truly lost to them now.
~Part: 12~
Willow disturbs her lovers when she suddenly sits up in bed.
"Hey, watch it." Spike yells when his head smacks into the headboard in the abrupt movement.
Angelus looked into Willow's shining eyes and knew something was up. "What is it?"
Willow turns the front page around. 'Mysterious Obelisk Unearthed.'
Spike looks at it blearily, "Yeah, so?"
Angelus smiles as an idea begins to form in his mind. "We've been looking for something big that would bring all the Scoobies together against us. Round them up so to speak."
"Now that Giles, Xander and Buffy FINALLY realize that poor Willow is lost to them there will be no more rescue attempts. But there will be revenge/kill them all attacks and we should have them on our terms. Get them all at once."
"I repeat . . .yeah so? What does this obelisk thing have to do with it?"
"Who is the expert around here on ancient unearthed stuff? They'll ask Giles to look at it. Who is the expert hacker around here that can manufacture information that Giles will find on the dread machine?"
Spike smiles as he sees where this is going. "So, Angelus plays the big bad using the obelisk, Scoobies rush in to stop the apocalypse from happening. Boom no apocalypse just three vampires killing three humans."
"In a nut shell."
Spike leans in and nuzzles Willow's neck, "I like the way you think, pet." Angelus begins to pace and put the plan together in his mind.
~~~~
Giles, Buffy and Xander are in the library sitting on the stairs looking defeated.
"She's really gone." Xander whispers.
"I'm afraid so. The Willow and Angel we knew are gone forever."
Buffy twists a stake around in her fingers and looking into space. "I can do it, Giles. I couldn't before and it almost cost you and Xander your lives." She takes a pained breath, "And it cost Jenny hers."
Giles lays a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"So we kill him."
Buffy looks sadly up at Xander, "Yeah, we kill them."
Xander knows Buffy thought he meant them and he doesn't correct her. When he found out about Jenny's death and saw the broken glass shards in the classroom he knew they had broken the Orb. He had placed an order to get another Orb and was determined to find a way for Willow to get her soul back. He still hadn't told the others about Jenny's work. He would have to start from scratch since all the computers were destroyed but he would do it. Even if it takes him years.
~~~
Angelus smiles in the darkness as he watches Willow drain the researcher. He motions for two minions to grab the rock, "Take it back to the mansion."
Willow drops the scientist and steps over his body to stand beside Angelus. He pulls her into his embrace and kisses her roughly. "Mmm, my favorite taste. Willow and blood."
Willow stands in Angelus' embrace and watches the minions work, "Think this is anything?"
"Who cares? As long as it gets the job done."
The minions tie a rope around the rock and place it carefully on a dolly before they wheel it out of the museum.
Willow reaches up to kiss Angelus, "I love it when you play mind games."
Angel walks Willow back until she bumps into the researcher's desk. He reaches behind and sweeps all the notes off the top before he lifts her up so she's sitting on the cleared desk. Standing between her legs he pulls her closer, "Then you'll really love it when this starts to work."
Willow brings his head down, "Can't wait."
~~~~
Buffy meets Xander in the hallway the following morning. "Are you okay with this? Can you handle killing Willow?"
Xander just smiles, "You handle Angel and I'll deal with Willow."
Buffy nods and holds open the library door for him. "Giles?"
Giles and Kendra exit his office. Giles smiles awkwardly at Buffy who looks at Kendra in confusion, "Seems Kendra's watcher told her that there is a dark power rising in Sunnydale."
"He didn't happen to tell you what the dark power was did he?"
"I've just been on the phone with the curator. The obelisk that I was asked to research is missing and the researcher is dead. Vampires."
"Angel?"
"I think so."
"So what is this thing that they found?"
"Well Kendra's Watcher found something on the Internet that corroborates what I found regarding the Runes. It seems that Acathala will create a vortex that will pull everything on Earth into that dimension."
"So we all get sucked into hell?"
"In a nutshell."
"How do we stop it?"
"Well Angel has a ritual that he must perform first. We must get to him before he can perform the ritual."
~~~~
Spike is laughing at Willow, "Tell me again what you planted."
Willow pouts at Spike "Hey, it was hard to come up with a good demon name and a legend that isn't already used but also sounds ancient."
"I'm sorry, luv. I just think it's funny. Tell it again."
Willow rolls her eyes at him, "Acathla the demon comes forth to swallow the world. He was killed by a virtuous knight who pierced the demon's heart before he could draw a breath to perform the act. Acathla turned to stone, as demons sometimes do, and was buried where neither man nor demon would want to look."
"Let me finish it . . . Someone pulls out the sword...The demon wakes up, and wackiness ensues. Think they'll fall for it?"
Willow turns laughing eyes to Spike, "Oh they'll definitely fall for it. And as a bonus I planted some information for the other Slayer's watcher to find. With any luck Kendra will come to Sunnydale, too."
Angel beamed with pride, "That's my girl."
~Part: 13~
"Think Angel will do the ritual at the mansion or someplace else?" Buffy asked Giles as they sat in the library before school started.
"I think Angel probably has Acathala at the mansion." Giles looks down at the letter that Kendra's Watcher sent with her. "Is this everything Sam knows?"
"Yes, sir."
"It says that the ritual must be done on the new moon which is in two days time so we need to stop him soon."
"So . . . we still got that rocket launcher, Buffy?" Xander asks half jokingly.
Buffy gives a little half smile, "Sorry, Xan. Rocket launcher went back home to the military."
Kendra looked at them in confusion. Buffy noticing her looks smiled, "We took out the Judge with a rocket launcher." She turns back to Giles, "Okay, all kidding aside. What about the ritual that Angel must perform? Does he need anything that maybe we can stop him from getting?"
"Y-yes, according to Kendra's Watcher Angel needs the Sword of Anktuth."
"Do you know where it is?"
Giles gave a little half smile, "Here."
"Here in Sunnydale?"
"Here in the library in the weapons cabinet."
"So they'll probably make a hit against the library tonight. We need to be prepared." The bell interrupts Buffy. "Gather as many weapons as you can and we'll meet back here."
Buffy and Xander just make it to their class before it starts. A cloaked figure enters the class and stands at the front. She tosses off her covering and looks around. Her eyes lock with Buffy's.
The teacher looks over at the strange woman with a ridged face, "Excuse me..."
"You will come tonight, at sundown to the graveyard." The vampire begins to smoke. "You will come to him or more will die."
The students scream and jump up but Buffy and Xander calmly watch the vampire who suddenly ignites.
"His hour is at hand!" The vampire says before turning to dust.
~~~~
"Let's go over the plan again. Buffy meets you in the graveyard while Spike and I hit the library and take Giles and Xander."
"And if the other Slayer shows up?" Spike asks.
Willow looked thoughtful, "If Kendra's here Buffy will make her stay at the library to protect Xander and Giles. Buffy wants the big show down with Angelus herself. She wouldn't send Kendra even though Kendra almost destroyed Angelus before and has no emotional link that would distract her. Buffy always runs on emotion and it's worked but this time we use it to our advantage."
Angelus smiles over at Spike and Willow, "I love it when a plan comes together. Divide and conquer. The oldest strategy in the world but it works so good."
Spike signals the other vampires, "Come on boys. It's show time." Spike wraps his arm around Willow's shoulder, "Ready, luv?"
"Can't wait."
Spike smirks and with his small army of minions they head toward the library.
~~~~
"Buffy it's probably a trap. You can't go alone."
"Xander, I need you here in case they still come here for the sword."
"Den, I'll go wit you."
"Kendra, you need to stay here to protect Xander and Giles. I'll be fine. I'll do what I have to do, I can take care of Angel."
Buffy looks determinedly at Giles. "The plan is still in place. It's just that there are two battlefields instead of one. Whichever one shows up here, you'll have to take care of. Do you think you'll be able to kill the demon with Willow's face?"
Giles remembered the smile on both Spike and Willow's face when they taunted him about Jenny's death. "Yes." He said tersely.
"Xan?"
With resolve he looked into Buffy's eyes and answered without really answering. "I'll do whatever I have to when it comes to Willow."
Buffy nodded and turned to leave, "You guys be careful. This may be a way to lure me out of the library and they'll be no one at the cemetery but I can't take that chance."
"You be careful, too."
Buffy just smiled and left.
The vampire waits until the blonde Slayer leaves and then he quietly exits the stacks and attacks Xander from behind. Vampires come in through the main door as Kendra whirls to defend. Xander and Giles are fighting off vampires as more enter. A vampire jumps over the table and tackles Giles to the floor. They struggle and Giles grabs a nearby book and smashes it against his attacker's head. Giles takes advantage of the vampire's momentary loss of concentration and is able to get away.
Xander elbows the vampire that is on his back but the vampire holds tight and soon Xander slumps to the floor from lack of oxygen. His attacker picks him up and slings him over his shoulder. With a final look at the others fighting he leaves to return to the mansion.
Kendra gives a vampire a roundhouse kick knocking him back over the desk. Another vampire attacks her but she blocks several swings and stakes it in the chest.
As Giles backs away from the now enraged vampire another comes up behind him and holds him tight. The vampire that Giles hit with a book punches him in the face. Giles' head snaps back from the force of the punch. The vampire holding him drops Giles to the floor.
Kendra sees two vampires standing over Giles and quickly goes to rescue him. She grabs one and pushes him to the floor and kicks the other one. Turning to attack the one that fell to the floor she is tackled from the side. She quickly regains her footing and is hit by a roundhouse kick.
As Kendra falls, Willow and Spike enter the library.
Spike looks around and smiles at the destruction that their small army has caused.
Kendra gets back up and sees three vampires approaching. She crouches down into battle stance but Spike yells, "She's mine."
Kendra whirls to face her new opponent. Spike smirks, "So we meet again, Slayer."
Kendra kicks Spike, which he easily blocks as well as two other swings. Spike hits Kendra and she falls to the floor. Kendra rolls to her feet in one fluid motion and punches Spike. He doubles for a moment but stands back up. Spike rushes Kendra and grabs her by the arms forcing her back against the counter.
Spike forcefully jerks her head to one side exposing her neck. He sinks his fangs in to her and begins to drink.
Willow comes to stand next to him. "Not too much. Remember we want her alive."
Spike stops feeding when he feels her heart slow. He drops the unconscious Kendra on the floor and steps over her. Willow smiles as Spike pulls her into an embrace. Willow licks the blood off of Spike's lips before kissing him.
Spike yells to a minion, "Bring her in."
A vampire enters the library with a young frightened girl and hands her over to Willow. The girl whimpers as Willow moves her hair out of the way exposing her throat. Willow leans down and smells her neck and looks over at Spike, "Not as good as Slayer blood but the fear's intoxicating." Willow turns back to the girl and sinks her fangs into her neck.
Spike watches as Willow drains the girl and drops her to the floor. Willow looks over at Kendra and back at the girl she just drained. She closes her eyes and mumbles and incantation. Soon there are two Kendra's lying on the floor.
Pointing to the Slayer and Giles Willow turns to a couple of vampires, "Grab them and lets go."
"How long will that Glamour spell last?" Spike asks Willow as she grabs the sword and they leave the library.
"Until I take it off."
"Bloody brilliant!"
~~~~
Buffy enters the cemetery and Angel steps out from behind a mausoleum.
"Hello, lover."
"Shouldn't you be out destroying the world now?"
"I wanted to say goodbye to you first and to personally thank you."
"Thank me, for what?" Buffy asked dreading that he was going to bring up the night she and Angel slept together.
"I wanted to thank you for Willow. She's a magnificent childe." Angel leans in close like he is going to confide something to Buffy, "And the sex . . .Best I've EVER had."
Angel smiles as Buffy winces in pain.
Buffy throws a punch but Angel easily grabs her arms and holds one. She swings the other and he holds that one, too and then pushes her away.
"Jeez, Buffy why don't you just phone in the fight. This is too easy, it's kind of a let down. I thought our fight would be harder than this."
Buffy pulls out her stake, "Come on, let's finish this. You and me."
Angel begins to chuckle, "You never learn, do you? This wasn't about you. This was never about you."
Buffy suddenly realizes this was another distraction like her mother was. She turns and heads back toward the library.
"And you fall for it every time!" Angel yells after her retreating body.
Sirens begin to pierce the night air. Buffy runs harder and faster hoping to get to the library before the police do. Buffy runs across the schoolyard and through the halls of Sunnydale High.
She throws open the library doors and looks around at the carnage that is the library. She sees Kendra lying on the floor and rushes to her side. Buffy lifts Kendra's head and gently lays it on her lap. She notices the bite barks and realizes that she's dead. Buffy gently strokes Kendra's face.
An officer rushes in to the library and sees a small blonde holding a victim. She raises her gun and yells, "Freeze!"
Buffy looks up and sees a gun pointing at her.
"Stand up and place your hands behind your head."
Buffy slowly stands, "I didn't do anything."
Another officer joins the first and walks past Buffy to the body on the ground. He reaches down and checks for a pulse but doesn't find one, "This one's dead."
The first officer grabs Buffy and leads her into the hallway.
"Wait what about the others?"
The first officer spins Buffy around as he reaches for his handcuffs, "You have the right . . ."
Buffy suddenly backhands him and sends him into the lockers. The second officer runs out of the library to see the first officer down and Buffy running down the hallway. He draws his gun and fires but hits a door window.
The officer grabs for his mic, "All units, we have a fugitive on foot at the high school. Homicide suspect, female, blonde, approximately sixteen years of age. She is considered very dangerous.
~Part: 14~
Xander slowly wakes and finds himself chained to a wall. Turning his head he sees he's in a cell. "Giles?" It comes out little more than a whisper. Xander licks his dry lips and tries again.
"Giles?"
He hears movement to his left and sees Giles is chained up in an identical cell.
There is a feminine yell to his right and he sees Kendra struggling with her chains.
"Won't do you any good, Slayer but keep trying. It's fun to watch you struggle." Willow leans back into Spike as they watch Kendra trying to pull the chains from the wall.
"You won't be laughing when Buffy comes and rescues us."
Spike leans down and places a kiss on Willow's neck but keeps his eyes on Kendra, "Oh, I think we'll be laughing harder when Buffy comes. And she might be coming to rescue Giles and Xander but sadly I don't think she'll come for you."
Willow nodded her head sadly, "Yeah, poor Kendra killed in the fight at the library."
"W-what do you mean?"
Willow smiled over at Giles who had finally come awake. "You know, Giles. Since I've become a vampire I've been able to tap into a lot more magick. It's really amazing how much dark magick is available to those that seek it out. Don't worry I didn't do much. Just a little glamour spell on a dead body."
Angel joined them out of the shadows and placed his head on top of Willow's but looked over at Giles.
Giles watched in disgust as Angel embraced both vampires.
"Isn't she something, Giles? And to think I wouldn't have known about her potential if it hadn't been for Dru seeing the darkness in her. I already thanked Buffy so I'll thank you and Xander as well. So thanks for not paying attention to Willow."
"We paid attention to her."
"Did you? Did you even notice when Willow went running out of the library after seeing Xander and Cordelia?"
Kendra continued to struggle with the chains hoping to break free but they weren't moving at all.
Willow rolled her eyes and turned her head back to Kendra, "Okay, this is getting boring. Will you quite struggling? I magically enhanced them so they would be immune to Slayer strength." Willow turned back to Giles and Xander. "Same goes for yours. See aren't you proud of me, Giles? I've learned all sorts of magick now."
"Why not kill us?" Xander asked.
Willow broke away from her two lovers and walked over to Xander's cell. She caressed the bars while talking to him. "Now where's the fun in that? That would have been a quick death this way we can play for years with you."
"Years? But I thought you were going to suck the world into hell?"
Angel and Spike laughed as they came over to join Willow. "Well watcher, hoisted on your own petard, eh?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
"I mean there is no Acathala, there is no ceremony, there is no end of the world."
With dawning horror Giles sees how much he seriously underestimated Angel, Spike and Willow.
Willow began to giggle, "Didn't you even suspect anything when NOTHING was in your precious books about Acathala?"
"But my Watcher found some things."
Willow turned back to Kendra. "Yes he did. But did he find them in books? Nope! On the computer, which is easy to hack into and plant all kinds of information."
"Buffy has stopped apocalypses before and she'll stop you."
"Yes she has. BUT she's always had the help of her Watcher and the Scoobies. Sadly neither are available to her now."
Spike looked down at his watch. "Showtime. And you guys owe me BIG for this. I have to make nice with the Slayer."
Willow pulled Spike's head down for a kiss while Angel caressed him from behind and whispered in his ear. "Don't worry, boy. We'll make it up to you."
Spike reluctantly stepped away from Angel and Willow and went to bring Buffy to them. Angel pulled Willow into a kiss before turning to Giles,
"Time to torture the Watcher. Have to make Buffy think I need information from you."
~~~~
Buffy runs through the streets of Sunnydale keeping to the shadows and dodging the police cars. She had called the hospital but there had been no signs of either Giles or Xander and she was getting seriously worried.
Buffy cuts through the park and sees a patrol car coming up behind her. She hopes it won't notice her and she ducks her head. The police officer gives a short burst of the siren before pulling over and getting out. Buffy ignores him and keeps walking.
"Hold it right there!"
Buffy spins around.
"Put your hands on your head."
Buffy begins to raise her hands when the officer is suddenly tackled from the side. Spike punches the man and then slowly stands and turns to Buffy.
"Hello, cutie."
Buffy hits Spike and his head twists to the side and then back. He smiles down at her. She does a kick to his gut and he doubles over for a second and then shoves her back. Buffy pulls a stake out of her coat and steps toward Spike.
Spike takes a step back and holds up his hands, "Hold on a minute. White flag here."
"Let me clear this up for you. We're mortal enemies, there is no white flag."
Spike just lifts an eyebrow at her, "You want to go a round? FINE. I just thought you might want my help in stopping Angel."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "That has got to be the lamest trick you have ever thought up." She starts to walk away.
Spike yells after her, "He's got your Watcher. Probably torturing him even now."
"What do you want?" Buffy asks exasperated.
"Told you. Want to stop Angel."
"Yeah, right. You want to save the world."
"Hell no. I want Red for myself."
"You're pathetic." Buffy hits Spike and he hits her back. "I lost a friend tonight. Maybe two."
Spike holds up his hands, "Hey, I wasn't in on that raid."
"I may lose more, the world's gonna be sucked into hell and you want my help because you got a crush on Willow?!? Well, let me take the opportunity to show you how much I don't care."
"I can't fight them both alone and neither can you." Spike looks back at the police officer who is starting to wake up. "And I'm all you've got."
Buffy looks down at the police and then back at Spike. She realizes he's right. If Angel and Willow have Giles and hopefully Xander she can't fight them alone. Especially with the police after her as well. She needs Spike's help.
"Fine. Let's talk. But not here."
Spike smiles evilly as he follows Buffy.
~Part: 15~
Buffy keeps looking over at Spike sure that this is a trap of some kind but can't quite seem to make her mind work. She's lost Angel, Willow, Kendra and probably Xander and Giles. She's numb and has been since Angel turned to Angelus. "Xander? Is Xander at the mansion?" Buffy asks.
Spike had to work hard from grinning and laughing out loud. His grandsire Angel and Willow knew their Slayer. She is acting exactly how they both predicted. This a little too easy, like shooting fish in a barrel. Oh well, soon Sunnyhell will be there's and no Slayer to protect it. That mantra got him through playing nice with the Slayer. That and the thought of how Angel and Willow were going to make it up to him. "Sorry pet. Haven't seen him." Spike looks out of the corner of his eye to see Buffy's reaction to that.
Buffy sighs and hopes that Xander got away but fears he probably didn't. Buffy walked towards her house and saw her mother pull into the driveway.
Joyce rolls down her window when she sees Buffy, "Buffy? I've been looking all over for you. The police were here." She gets out of the car and hugs Buffy, "Are you okay?"
Buffy steps back out of her mom's embrace and looks at Spike and then back to her mother, "Let's go inside and I can explain."
Joyce looks over at Spike, "William? Aren't you Willow's friend? Buffy, terrible things have happened. Where were you?"
Spike smirked as he realized that this is too good an opportunity to pass up. "What? You're mother doesn't know?"
Buffy glared at Spike who was having a hard time keeping an innocent look on his face.
"Know what? What's going on?"
"I'm in a band ... with Spike."
Biting the inside of his lip Spike said, "Yeah, she plays the triangle."
Buffy glares at Spike, "Drums. I play the drums."
"And you? What do you do?"
"Oh, I sing."
"Hmm."
"You know what, mom? We should go inside."
Buffy doesn't wait for her mother to answer but starts toward the door. Before she can get there a vampire leaps out of the shadows and pushes Buffy out of the way. He makes a lunge for Joyce who screams and tries to back out of the way.
Spike grabs the minion by the shoulder and spins him to face him. He punches him, which sends him into Buffy. By this time, Buffy has her stake out and when the vampire turns her way she stakes him in the heart. He turns to dust in front of Joyce's shocked gaze.
Spike says a silent farewell to the minion that volunteered for this duty as he leans over the pile of dust. "Hmm, one of Angel's boys."
"Yeah, probably watching me . . . Or you."
"Yeah. He won't be able to report back to Angel now."
"Buffy! What...Is... Going...On?"
Buffy realizes she'll have to tell her mother the truth.
"Mom, I'm a Vampire Slayer."
Joyce just blinks and mumbles, "Uh, huh." She follows Buffy inside the house.
Buffy turns and looks at Spike. He just stands outside the invisible barrier and lifts an eyebrow at her. Buffy rolls her eyes, "Spike, come in."
Joyce and Spike sit in the living room. Buffy stands glaring at him with her arms crossed.
"Okay, what's the deal?"
"Simple, you let me and Willow leave and I help you with Angel."
"Willow? What does Willow have to do with your boyfriend Angel?"
Buffy starts counting to ten before turning to her mother. She really couldn't deal with all the questions she knew her mother had. Angel was going to suck the world into hell and was probably right now torturing Giles. Spike, her worst enemy, was offering a deal to take Willow away. Willow who probably was the one that killed Kendra and took Giles and probably Xander. She was being hunted by the police for a crime she didn't commit and her mother was asking stupid questions.
"Mom, Willow's changed lately." Buffy turned back to Spike. "She killed Kendra."
"Willow bagged a Slayer?" Spike beamed. "Not even a year old and bags a Slayer. She didn't tell me that."
Buffy glares, as Joyce looks confused "It was Willow that killed that girl? Not you? Is Willow a Vampire Slayer, too?"
"Of course I didn't kill her. No, Willow's not a Slayer."
"Did the girl at the library explode like that man out there?"
Buffy rolled her eyes and Spike had to look away so he wouldn't start laughing. "No mom. Kendra was a Slayer. Like me."
Spike had to hurry this along so he stood, "Look, this works for me only one way. Me and Willow for Angel."
Buffy just looks at him. It was going to be hard enough dealing with Angel she wasn't sure she up to killing the demon that had her best friend's face as well. She could always go after them later.
"Fine. Get back to the mansion and make sure Giles is all right. Be ready to back me up when I make my move."
Spike nods as he opens the door to leave.
Joyce hasn't been following their conversation at all, "Are you sure you're a Slayer, honey."
Spike couldn't contain himself any longer. He had to laugh.
"MOM!"
"Have you tried not being a Slayer?"
Buffy heard Spike's laughter getting louder as she shut the front door.
"It's just fate, mom. Accept it."
"Well we need to call the police. Tell them that you're innocent."
Buffy just looked at her mother, "What are you going to say, mom? My daughter's the Slayer, her best friend was turned into a vampire and killed the other Slayer. Oh we have no proof, can't you just take my word for it?" Buffy turned to go upstairs and gather weapons.
Joyce follows her upstairs. "Don't take that attitude with me young lady. I am still your mother and you will show me respect." Joyce paused, "Willow's a vampire?"
Buffy moves things out of the way to get to her weapon's box. Joyce stares in disbelief as she sees stakes, holy water and crosses. Buffy grabs some stakes and turns. She sees her mother's look.
"What do you think has been going on for the past two years? The fights? The weird occurrences? I mean how many times have you washed blood out of my clothes?"
"Well it stops now."
Buffy pushed passed her mother. "No it doesn't. It never stops. It's my destiny to fight the darkness and save the world . . . again."
Joyce looks at her pleadingly, "Buffy you need help."
"I'm not crazy mother. It's what I am. I have to go."
"You're not going anywhere." Joyce yells as she follows her down the stairs.
"You can't stop me."
Joyce grabs her shoulder. "Oh yes I can."
Buffy pushes her mother away and Joyce looks at her daughter as she opens the door. "If you go out that door don't come back."
Buffy looks at her mother for a long time before turning away and heading over to Giles house for a sword to fight Angel with. She's sure they took the sword of Anktuth from the library when they attacked.
~Part: 16~
"Rupert, I'm impressed. I thought we would have broken you by now. I must say you make an excellent teaching tool. Your body and iron will can withstand all sorts of torture." Angelus looks over at Willow. "You've been able to learn all kinds of different techniques on one individual. You should know this is very rare indeed. Usually they pass out long before now."
Willow gently wipes the blood and sweat off Giles' brow, "How you holdin' up Giles?"
"N-never better."
Angelus smiles evilly, "Glad to hear it. Now tell us when it hurts."
Willow smiles as she uses a knife to make shallow cuts along his arms. Giles bites the inside of his cheek to keep from giving them the satisfaction of yelling in pain.
"Look you cut him up." Spike says with pride on entering the atrium. "You've moved right along in the torture lessons."
Willow grins over her shoulder at him, "Angelus says I'm a natural."
Angel smiles at Spike, "She reminds me of you in that department. You picked it up quickly too."
Spike smiles in reminiscence. "Think I could have a go?"
"Maybe later. I want Willow to try mental torture with her magick next."
Spike perks up, "I used to love watching Dru do that."
Willow sets the knife down and gently runs her hands down the sides of Giles' face and lifts his chin to look at her.
Giles keeps his eyes lowered refusing to look into her eyes.
"Don't tell me you're afraid to look into my eyes, Giles? After all we put you through and all I've done to you, you're afraid to look into my eyes? How about I describe how Jenny screamed when Angelus snapped her neck?"
Giles raised his eyes to glare at Willow.
She smirked and began to silently chant. Giles continued to stare into the green depths of her eyes. The room began to fade and all that was left was he and Willow. Willow placed her hand over his eyes and whispered, "See with your heart."
As Willow lowered her hand Giles gasps and smiles, "Jenny?"
Willow/Jenny smiles, "That's right, Rupert. I'm here."
"I thought I lost you."
"Why? Because you didn't protect me? You hurt everything you touch. Haven't you realized that by now?"
Giles wrinkles his brow in confusion.
Like a teacher lecturing a student Willow/Jenny paced in front of Giles, "First it was the whole Eyghon thing. First with Ethan back in the day and then with my possession. Let's see . . .next we have Buffy. What's that you say? You haven't hurt Buffy? You encouraged her to be with Angel who is a vampire. She's a Slayer, Rupert. You knew they would be doomed from the start yet you didn't dissuade her." Willow/Jenny clicked her tongue. "Talk about your mental abuse. Set your Slayer up for heartache. Now we come to shy kindhearted little Willow. That was a big failure there, huh Rupert? Your little protégé turned into a vampire. One that hunted me down with her lover and killed me. Why look we're back where we started. You feeling like you didn't protect me."
Angel and Spike watch with pride, as Giles seems to wilt under the accusation of Willow/Jenny. "She doesn't have the technique that Dru had but I see potential in her." Spike leaned over to whisper to Angel.
"In a few years they'll be no stopping us. That's good, Willow. Buffy should be here soon."
Willow/Jenny nods at Angel and leans her forehead to touch Giles'. "Poor, Giles. You couldn't protect me, you couldn't protect Willow and you can't protect Buffy." Willow silently ends the spell and Giles watches as Jenny's face turns back into Willow's and he hangs his head in defeat.
"That was fun."
Spike pulls Willow into a quick kiss, "You were bloody brilliant, luv."
Willow looks over at her sire for approval. Angelus smiles and motions her over. Willow moves into Angel's arm and he lowers his head for a lingering kiss. "When this is over we'll all celebrate our victory. That was excellent, baby. You reminded me of William who was the best besides me at giving torture."
Willow cupped him and nipped at his lower lip, "That's because we had the best teacher."
Giles looked on in disgust while Spike looked on with lust. Would the stupid bint of a Slayer ever get here so they can get this over with and get to the shagging?
Angel suddenly stood and gently left Willow's arms, "Slayer's here. Let's begin."
"Right." Spike says right before he hits Giles in the back of the head.
Giles slumps forward unconscious.
"Can't have him blabbing that this is a trap. Ready?"
Willow nods and moves over to get the sword that will supposedly bring Acathla forth.
Angel takes the sword from Willow and turns to the obelisk.
"Acathla... Mundatus sum... pro te necavi. Sanguinem meum... pro te effundam... quo me dignum... esse demonstrem."
He draws the sword across his palm and draws blood. "Now Acathla, you will be free. And so will we all."
Willow sees Buffy out of the corner of her eye and touches Spike's hand to get his attention. Spike glances over and sees Buffy decapitate a minion before entering the atrium.
"Hello, lover."
Angel gives a little smile before schooling his features and turning to Buffy. "I don't have time for you now. Do you really think you can take us all on?"
Buffy looks over at Spike who is standing next to Willow. He gives a small nod.
"No, I don't."
Spike pushes Willow out of the way and goes to stand behind Angelus. He hits Angel who stumbles and grabs the sword all at once. Willow gives a cry of outrage and launches herself at Spike and they fall to the floor. Willow whispers in Spike's ear, "you okay?"
He squeezes her ass in acknowledgement. "Okay was that a yes or just copping a feel?"
Spike chuckles softly into her hair and cops another feel.
Buffy thrusts her sword at Angel who parries and swings around to thrust his sword at her.
They parry back and forth and Buffy dodging a wide arcing swing jumps onto a low table. She swings her sword at Angel who easily deflects it. He swings toward her legs and she jumps over his blade and lands on the floor. Angel tries to kick her legs out from underneath her but she evades his kick.
They thrust and parry a few more times before Angelus superficially cuts Buffy. Taking advantage of her distraction he brings his sword down but Buffy drops to the floor and rolls out of the way. She immediately returns to battle stance and kicks Angel's legs out from under him. On his knees he swings his sword a few times and Buffy knocks his sword into the table and pins it there.
Angel backhands Buffy in the face and grabs his sword. She staggers but maintains her balance. Angel kicks Buffy in her sword arm and she stumbles back. Angel advances while Buffy parries and retreats. Their battle is moving toward the back wall. Buffy swings at him but is blocked by Angelus. Her blade bounces off his and falls. Angel steps on it so Buffy can't pick it up. He spins around and elbows her in the face knocking her back.
Buffy begins to back up against the wall and that's when she notices Spike and Willow smiling watching the battle. Angel idly plays with the sword pointing it at Buffy.
"No weapons, no friends, no hope."
Buffy closes her eyes.
"Take that all away and what's left?"
Angel thrusts directly into her face but with Slayer reflexes she catches the sword between the palms of her hands. She opens her eyes and stares at Angel.
"Me."
"Well not quite." Willow says and before Buffy can react, "Irretite."
The vines against the wall spread out and move to ensnare Buffy.
"Nice trick, luv."
Willow smiles back at Spike. "Thanks!"
Buffy struggles against the greenery but the harder she struggles the tighter the vines become. She looks up at the three smiling vampires, "It was all a trap wasn't it?"
Angel slips his arms around Willow and Spike. "Yep, Willow here came up with the Acathla legend, Spike came up with the raid on the library and I came up with the idea of Spike going against me and helping you."
"Giles and Xander?"
"Oh, you'll be seeing them shortly."
Buffy noticed he didn't really answer her question.
Willow read Buffy's expression correctly and began to chuckle, "Don't worry, Buff. They're alive and we have no plans on killing you."
"You don't want to earn your reputation by killing two Slayers?"
Willow smirked. "Now why would I want to do that? It took me forever to convince Spike and Angel not to kill Kendra or you."
That had Buffy's full attention. "Kendra's alive? Then who was in the library?"
"Magick, it's a wonderful thing. I used a glamour spell on just a random happy meal."
"Why go to all that trouble? Why not kill her or me?"
Angel answered for Willow, "See that's where Willow's intelligence and fresh view is going to propel the demon community into a new era. She wondered why kill Slayers when another one would just come and take their place. BUT if you keep them alive to a ripe old age you can rule without interference."
Angel grabs Willow for a quick, hard kiss. "Isn't she the greatest?"
"Enough talking, let's get to shagging."
Angel nods and hits Buffy who slumps forward. Spike lifts Rupert while Angelus follows with Buffy.
Willow opens the two doors and the vampires deposit their burdens in their respective cells. Xander and Kendra fight against their shackles when they see Buffy and Giles dumped in their cells.
"Don't strain yourselves you'll have a long time to be together." Willow smiled evilly as Angelus and Spike locked Giles and Buffy in their shackles and locked the cell doors. "A very long time."
Angelus and Spike wrapped their arms around Willow as they left the basement. Xander licked his dry lips and turned to Kendra. "Well, your watcher was right about one thing."
"What's dat?"
"A very dark power has risen in Sunnydale."
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