What Is To Be

-Thirtieth-

By Annie

2004-01-24

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤

The quiet which followed the deafening cry did anything but calm the two warriors, now left with nothing but waiting. Their gazes were transfixed on the opening, and the shadow they could swear they saw shifting just beyond it.

Buffy felt the adrenaline spread throughout her body, and every limb was tense with anticipation. She swallowed, seeing Spike's face before her eyes and then Dawn's. She broke the line of familiarity quickly. This was not that moment before her demise. She would live to see them both again; to see all of them again.

Then there was the subtle scrape of something against the rock just by the opening and her heart slowed down its pace as all her senses were immediately reaching out for more information.

She could scent something earthy, like wet clay; but she could hear and see nothing but blackness.

Angel's grip on his sword tightened, his eyes not blinking.

And then everything which seemed to be put on pause was suddenly pushed into fast-forward and out of the dark came a creature unlike any either one of them had ever seen. It had the height of at least eighteen feet and its body seemed made out of dirt and stone and twig. Its eyes were black as charcoal and they gleamed with an evil Buffy hadn't faced in what felt like eons. The smell of earth she had previously scented was now accompanied by one of slowly molding apples and its sourness filled the cave as the beast came to stand before its opponents.

"Wonder if he's allergic to water," she now murmured and Angel had one corner of his mouth curl into an agreement before he raised his sword in front of him, holding it with both hands.

"Too bad we don't have some," he then replied and she glanced at her stake, thinking she truly should have brought something a bit heavier, and then he added: "I would've liked to test that theory."

She nodded, throwing her weapon aside and beginning to look around the cave for something which wouldn't seem as though it could have been made from the monster before them. From every part of it that would have a joint - had it been of a more normal form - there was a thick piece of branch sticking out. They didn't exactly look as though their purpose there was for mere decoration.

Suddenly the thing went down on all fours, having its head still be in line with Angel's, and the vampire frowned slightly.

"What's it...?" he began, and then the creature drew a breath before opening its mouth and letting out a roar of pure fire.

Angel threw himself to the side, rolling on the ground and then getting to his feet.

"Never mind," he filled in, sharing a rather panicked look with Buffy before they got themselves moving; running toward the opening of the cave.

***

"Willow?" Spike tried again. "Willow!"

She finally looked at him, her eyes still covered by their black shield. She smiled a little.

"Don't worry," she said, and then spread her arms, her feet leaving the floor.

The next instant she was gone and Spike blinked, his heart thumping fierce beats against his ribcage and his eyes filling with the overwhelming fear he felt at the thought of what the Wicca had seen.

Buffy...

*** Angel was just behind Buffy as she reached to gaping mouth which would lead them into the unknown shadows, and then he heard the intake of breath right behind them. He saw Buffy turn her head to look over her shoulder, and how her eyes grew wide with surprise. And then he felt the heat wave which announced the oncoming storm of fire, and before he knew what he was doing he turned around, dropped the sword to the ground, and raised both hands before him.

The flames licked around him, but his hands held them away from his body as though creating a power-field. He felt how his palms were burning with pain, how his forehead was beading perspiration he shouldn't be able to produce, and how he was just about to reach the place where his strength would leave him.

Buffy stared at the scene, wanting to do something to help, but knowing that there was nothing she could do. She could see that Angel was nearly falling on his knees, practically leaning against the stream of glowing warmth which kept coming at him.

"Step back."

The voice sounded so unreal that Buffy didn't pick up on it at first, and then she felt a hand gently place itself on her upper-arm, making her move aside; and she turned her head, with widening eyes, to Willow.

"Step back," the Wicca repeated and Buffy blinked, then did as the former asked.

Willow closed her eyes, her hands growing into tight fists. Then she opened them up, slowly raising her arms and having bolts of electricity begin to form between her fingers. When she opened her eyes again they met the even blacker ones of the creature before her and it seized its breathing, staring at the small frame of the one in front of him.

Angel staggered to the ground, falling onto his stomach. Buffy didn't dare to move.

The creature hesitated for but a moment, and then it once again drew a breath.

Willow seemed to have been waiting for this. She directed her fingers at it and released the electricity she had collected into its rightful form, as powerful bolts of lightening going straight into the being. It rose on its legs again, throwing its head back and letting hear another of its loud cries. This time it was laced with pain.

At the sound of it Buffy got herself moving, running up to the fallen vamp and turning him over onto his back. She looked down at his hands and made a face of sympathy as the skin had been completely melted away. She pulled her thick jacket off and then ripped off the arms of the shirt she had on under it, which had been large enough to cover the other two sweaters beneath it. Wrapping the pieces of cloth around his hands she then turned her head back to the scene of Willow and the creature.

It was a sight the Slayer knew she wouldn't soon forget, as the heat which the former was sending into the latter was making its countenance dry up and begin to fall apart.

Angel stirred, moaning silently, and Buffy looked down at him.

"You'll be alright," she assured when he opened his eyes and looked mildly disoriented. "It's okay."

And then there was a crashing noise which had her once again turn her eyes on the creature, which had tumbled over on the side and was trying to move, but couldn't, as the dirt was beginning to wither away even more rapidly. After another ten seconds was all that was left of the formerly so mighty combatant a skeleton made entirely out of wood. It looked like a crossbreed between a human and a wolf, as the body had the look of a human - while the skull had the markings of a canine of some sort.

Willow stumbled backwards, leaning against the wall she finally reached and then sinking to a seated position against it. Her eyes grew into her own and the silent crackling of the power circling between her fingertips slowly died out.

"You okay?" Buffy asked, the question echoing through the cave and Willow raised her head, meeting the Slayer's gaze and then nodding tiredly.

"I'll be fine," she replied. "Just need a minute."

Angel sat up, with some difficulty, and Buffy stared at him for a moment before she asked:

"How did you do that?"

He shrugged a little.

"The same way I melted snow," he answered and she smiled a small smile before helping him to his feet.

"You saved my life," she said and he smirked.

"So, what else is new?" he shot and she smiled again, then turned to Willow; who was also rising. "There's the hero," he added and Buffy's smile broadened. "Or heroine," he corrected as the latter left his side and rushed over to her friend.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Buffy wondered and Willow waved a hand.

"We just need to get outta here," she stated. "I don't think I can handle anymore surprises."

"Right. Any ideas? I don't exactly feel like hiking through the Hellmouth to try and find a way out," Buffy replied and Willow frowned.

"Why not go the way you came?" she asked and Buffy pointed to the ceiling. Willow tilted her head back and looked up. "What?" she then asked and Buffy raised her eyebrows.

"Unless we use the bones of that dead thing over there in some very creative way I can't see how we're ever gonna reach," she said and Willow smiled.

"Oh, ye of little faith," she replied, walking up to the well and stepping up to the edge of it, once again directing her gaze on the ceiling before she simply stepped out and where Buffy would have thought she would sink into the depths of the blood, she began to gently hover above it; to then slowly start ascending toward the blessed light of day - visible around the edge of the hole.

Buffy glanced at Angel, who shrugged his shoulders again and then they both walked up to the place where the Wicca a few moments earlier had stood.

"You got the bottle?" Buffy inquired and Angel felt in his left pocket, to make sure.

"Yeah," he answered and she nodded, growing tentative for a second before she did as her friend before her and stepped out, onto the blood.

***

Spike had been pacing the foyer for nearly twenty minutes; and this after nearly enough wearing a hole in the conference room floor - as well as Wesley's ear, the former being inapt to keep his worries neither silent, nor to himself. When the knob of the front door began to turn he stopped and then bolted for it.

Buffy was accidentally the first one through it and before she had time to react he had hoisted her up in his arms in a tight embrace. Pulling back he then joined their lips in a deep kiss and when he finally allowed them both to come up for air she had a wide grin grow on her mouth.

"I was so scared," he mumbled. "I knew you were okay, but I was still so bloody scared!"

She looked up at him, the smile still on, and then she said:

"Good?"

He smirked at that, pulling her to him again.

Cordelia came out through the door of the conference room and her expression was radiant relief and happiness as she set eye on the returning three. She crossed the foyer with a bit more self-control than Spike, but her gaze didn't leave Angel's for a second and she stopped before him with the clear need to hug him. She contained it, trying hard not to clench her jaws together too tight in the process, and merely offered him a bright smile.

"So, you did it?" she asked and he returned her smile before bringing the bottle out and showing it to her demonstratively.

Her joy suddenly faded as she looked at it. Then her eyes grew.

"My God, your hands..." she began, but he interrupted her with a calming:

"Don't worry. They'll heal in no time... Remember?"

She grew quiet, looking away and seeming uncertain of what to do next. The seriousness didn't leave her and it was as though she was retracting, moving out of reach for him. He was just about to say something when she glanced at him and then said:

"I'm glad you're back."

He could hear how she wanted to add something along the lines of "for now" to that sentiment, but as she merely turned from him and walked back down the steps he felt his heart grow heavy. He squeezed the bottle still held in his right hand, then he followed her.

Willow watched them both as first Cordelia disappeared toward the kitchen, and Angel walked after her. The Wicca turned her head to the still embracing blondes and had a smile on her face before she too proceeded down the steps and headed for the conference room.

Wesley looked up when she entered. He had an expression of concerned curiosity on his features as she came up to the table and had a seat on one of the chairs with a sigh.

"You look..."

"Ah-ah," Willow shook her head, putting one hand up. "Please, I really don't want to know if I look how I feel."

Wesley smiled, shaking his head a little as well.

"I was going to say that you look surprisingly... pert," he said and she smiled back at that. "So, it went...?"

"It went," she shrugged. "We're all here, all in one piece. Though Angel's a bit roughed up..."

"What was it?" Wesley wondered.

"Oh, just the Hellmouth's very own version of a Balrok, I'd say," she replied and then she rose again. "I need to go see Susannah... And I think we should have a meeting, talk things over. Soon."

"Ten minutes?"

"Make it fifteen," she said and he gave a nod to that.

***

"Nowadays all we do is have meetings," Faith complained, throwing herself down on one of the vacant chairs and tilting it back carelessly as she put her feet up on the table. "When are we gonna see some action? Isn't today the big day? Are we really gonna have another talk-it-over? What's there to talk about anyway? I tell you, I haven't seen this much calm since I climbed the Himalayas."

"You never climbed the Himalayas," Gunn remarked and she smirked.

"I could have," she replied. "Besides, I wanted to make a statement to underline just how frickin' bored I am with this drought! I wanna kick this demon's ass back to whatever hell it came from, save the day and hopefully have time to build an igloo or a giant snowman or..."

As Willow entered she grew quiet and since everybody were gathered now that the Wicca took her seat they focused their gazes on her. She smiled a little, looking slightly insecure before she said:

"I think we should begin the exorcism." Everybody grew a tad more rigid at hearing that, but Willow continued undiscouraged: "We'll bring Susannah down here. We'll have to have some way of tying her down without her hurting herself. I think the process should be quick, once it's started, and so we need to get everything straight before we take the first step."

"Okay. You get Satoch out of Susannah," Angel spoke up. "I'll have a drink. Demons fight and then we'll see if there's still a world."

"When you put it like that it sounds pretty simple," Cordelia murmured, having Angel's eyes lock in hers as she added: "Doesn't it?"

The tension between the two of them was palpable and Buffy, sitting next to the lady of the context, had to wonder what had been said between them before. It seemed as though Cordelia was shutting him out completely and the Slayer wished she could have a minute or so with the brunette to tell her what a huge mistake she was making.

"Why can't we just let it all be?" Faith now broke the silence. "I mean, if this Satoch character needs to be 'exorcised' to be set free, why can't we just let him be trapped in Susannah until tomorrow. Hey, maybe that'll kill him?"

Wesley smiled a half smile before he answered:

"No, it wouldn't. He's been changing hosts for three thousand years, waiting for this date. He'll simply do it again, and wait for three thousand more - if that's what it takes. Only this time it's a bit more complicated for him since he'll have to change bloodline, and not just body. However, he will be able to and there's not a damn thing we can do to stop him. He'll pick the strongest one of us to enter."

Buffy furrowed her brow as he turned his gaze in hers, and then she raised her eyebrows.

"Great," she muttered. "Here we go. It's all falling into place now."

"No," Wesley disagreed. "It's not directed AT you, Buffy. But you're the strongest being here 'cause you're strength lies with your heritage."

"Right," she said, voice low.

"What'd happen to Susie?" Cordelia wondered.

"She'd die," Wesley answered.

"I'm here to make sure we don't have to even consider this as an option," Willow picked up at that. "I've talked it through with Susannah, and she's ready. She wants to do this now; I can see it on her. We'll start this circus up in half an hour... Until then all we can do is..."

"Pray?" Fred asked with a trying smile and Willow returned it.

"At the least," she nodded.

***

Cordelia closed the door to her bedroom behind her, but after only two steps into the room it opened again and she turned around. Angel stepped through it and then closed it behind him, seemingly trying to muster all of his patience as he caught her gaze and held it steadily with his own.

"Cordelia," he said and she crossed her arms over her chest, taking a step back.

"What?" she wondered and he frowned.

"'What'?" he asked back and she tried to keep the nonchalance in her manner, though it failed her and she took another step back as she unwrapped her arms.

"What do you want now?" she elaborated. "I think we pretty much concluded that we've said our good-byes."

"YOU concluded," he disagreed. "And it seems you decided on concluding this while I wasn't even present. Why are you doing this, Cor?"

"I don't know wha-..."

"Yes, you do!" he interrupted, his patience eluding him as he couldn't take her treating him like this anymore. "You're wasting it!"

She swallowed, but couldn't keep tears from rising and so she turned from him.

"What? Our last precious moments?" she asked, voice strained and then his hands gently placed themselves on her shoulders.

"Yes," he said and she let him turn her back to face him without putting up an ounce of a fight. "I don't know why I haven't gotten the chance to tell you sooner. Why something always gets in the way... But you know - don't you?"

She stared up at him, her testament of emotion running over and sliding down her cheeks; then she nodded.

"I love you, Cordelia," he stated gently and a smile began to tentatively form on her mouth. "I've been in love with you for a long time..."

He trailed off. Looking down at her beautiful face now glowing with the very feeling he harbored. It made him feel lightheaded, floating.

"I love you too," she mumbled, her face so close to his that he could feel the cold radiating against his skin.

Then her arms slipped up and around his neck and he held her to him, closing his eyes and wishing that one half hour could have been enough. It never would be. He would never be able to tell her all the things he wanted to tell her, ask her all the questions he wanted answers to, or hear her thoughts on everything around them.

He knew her, but her deepest and darkest fear or her most well-kept secret - those were things he would have to leave with her.

"Our timing really sucks," she suddenly grumbled and he had to smile, turning his head to look down at her again.

"But maybe we'll appreciate each other more in this half hour than most people do in a lifetime," he offered and she smiled a little as well, then said:

"Maybe we'd appreciate a lifetime more then most people do in a half hour."

He smiled, then frowned again.

"That made no sense," he pointed out and she smirked.

"To me, neither did your little attempt at philosophy," she replied and he had a wider smile on his lips at that.

***

Susannah was leaning against Willow as the latter helped her to carefully make her way down the stairs to the foyer.

"Slowly now," Willow encouraged, Susannah's breathing heavy and forced into a calm Willow knew the other wasn't anywhere close to feeling.

Spike met them at the last step and Susannah looked up at him with a grateful expression as he took his place on her other side, helping to support her.

"My feet can barely carry me, my legs are shaking so bad," she whispered and he hushed her gently.

"Don't think about it," he murmured and she smiled meekly.

"How can I not?" she wondered.

"You're stronger than you think," he said firmly.

"Another dash of your incorrigible stubbornness?" she asked, still bearing the traces of a smile and he had the same occur on his mouth as a reply.

"Here's good," Willow said, stopping and Susannah moved the arm she had around the Wicca's shoulders to let the other leave in order to get Gunn.

Susannah hesitated, and then turned so that she faced Spike, leaning into him as she had no choice. If she didn't, she was sure to fall. He looked down at her and she saw a haunting worry in those eyes she loved so.

"Please," she said, voice lowered as it seemed any attempt at speaking above a loud whisper was instantly broken off. "Don't look at me like that."

"I'm sorry," he replied. "But I'm afraid for you. Can't I be?"

"Sure you can, I want you to be," she mumbled. "Just don't let me know it. I have to believe that Willow can do this."

"She can," he stated. "I know it."

"So don't be afraid," Susannah said, moving one hand to place it softly against his cheek.

"Sannah..."

A wider smile cut him off and then she said:

"I've always liked that nickname... It sounds so personal. Like a secret."

"I'm sorry if I hurt you..."

"You're happy now... You're eyes they... they're finally full of... life..."

"Susannah?"

Her eyes began to close and then she suddenly slumped in his arms, making him have to go down on one knee to keep her from hitting the floor as she began to slip out of his grip.

"Susannah?!" he said her name again, her hand previously on his cheek now on his shoulder and her fingers gripped the fabric of the thick sweater he was in.

"What happened?!" Cordelia demanded, coming rushing down the stairs with Angel not far behind her. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," Spike replied. "Get Willow."

"I'm here," the Wicca said, coming back out of the conference room, accompanied by Gunn. "I thought this might happen. We have to hurry and tie her up... Satoch's taking back control again."

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

What Is To Be

-Thirty-First-

By Annie

2004-01-26

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤

Gunn secured the ropes tying Susannah's arms behind her back, making sure they were fastened tightly before stepping away from her. She was now placed on a chair brought out from the conference room, and she didn't exactly look as if she was comfortable; but Cordelia's concerned remark about this went by with only one short reply from the Wicca:

"She will get a lot more uncomfortable before this is over."

And so the brunette dropped the attempt.

Now there was yet again stillness filling the Hyperion. A tense anticipation seemed the trigger for it as they all had their eyes locked on the form before them. And then a slow breath was taken by her.

"I thought I told you to get away from me, witch," a deep voice sounded; one they hadn't heard since the night Susannah attacked Buffy.

The tension merely heightened at this, but Willow seemed unchallenged by it; her gaze rested firmly in the demon's. It looked out through eyes which wasn't its own, and tainted them with an expression filled with wicked, sardonic expectance. An amusement the Wicca didn't share, but she wasn't set back by it. In fact she met it with the hint of a smile - in no way kind. It was an overseeing smile, one that she might have used with a child that had been naughty and knew it, but was trying to cover it up.

Then she calmly offered her reply to the demon's previous statement.

"You use that word as if it was a bad name... I'm sure you know it's not, to me."

The demon smiled, distorting Susannah's beautiful face into a mask of madness as it straightened her back and leaned against the back of the chair. Tresses of auburn hair hung before its sight, but it didn't seem to mind it as it kept its gaze in the redhead before it.

"I do offer my deepest apologies," it then said, mockingly. "I thought I told you to get away from me... Narlat."

Willow squinted at the sound of that word, then she cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, I guess it's my mistake for correcting you, but here I thought you had spent so much time cooped up in a wretched human body that you had completely forgotten all need of education; and yet you managed to pick up one of the few words which actually are offensive in regard to who I am."

"There are a lot more than you even know, Watrolk," the demon smirked and she smiled the small smile again - unimpressed.

"And I bet you know all of them," she nodded.

"What do you think you could possibly accomplish?" it spat and she raised her eyebrows in faked innocence. "Why are you here?" it murmured.

"To help put a stop to you," she answered without hesitation and for a moment it merely stared at her before it threw the head of its host back and let hear a roaring laugh.

When it finally calmed down it looked at Willow once more, and then slowly turned its piercing gaze on every last person present in the room; ending with the Wicca and pausing before saying:

"But you forget one thing."

Willow didn't even blink, waiting for it to continue on its own. She didn't have to wait long. Another smile formed, this one in close proximity to triumphant as it brought its arms forward - showing that they were now untied - and held its hands out, wiggling the slim fingers of Susannah tauntingly before finishing with:

"I am... a god!"

Everyone seemed frozen to the spot as they stared at the being, but then it stood hastily and was about to move forward, only as it hadn't noticed that Susannah's ankles were also tied to the chair it had a momentary lapse of focus and Gunn noticed it. He was running in the next instant and before the demon could react he had thrown himself over it. The chair tilted backwards as the two rumbled to the floor and Willow closed her eyes, beginning to recite the words her coven had made her burn into her brainstem - or nothing far from it.

When the body beneath him made no sign of movement, Gunn rolled off it and to the side. Sitting up his gaze fell on Willow as she opened her eyes and slowly got herself around to the side of the fallen young woman. Gunn watched the Wicca for a second, then moved onto his knees and untied Susannah's ankles before carefully removing the chair from under her - Angel walking up to help him.

"She said this should be pretty quick, right?" Faith asked.

"Yeah," Buffy nodded. "But... does anyone know how quick 'pretty' is supposed to be?"

***

There was a loud, scraping noise as the coppery bottle of Ritha slowed its journey on the conference table, where it had been performing a beautiful spin for the amusement of the Slayer. When her hand reached out to grab the object and have it do it all again, Wesley's hand cut her to it; grabbing the bottle and moving it out of reach from her.

She gave him a look of dislike before straightening her posture from where she had been stretched out with her upper body resting on the table, her head on one arm.

It seemed that "pretty" was turning out to be a word none of them would choose to put anywhere near "quick" at any given time. Willow had been completely focused for nearly an hour, but there seemed to be no results from her efforts thus far.

Wesley now placed the bottle next to the one of Angel with a rather reprimanding glance at the blonde; as if she had even IMPLIED that she was going to try and take it again.

She rose to her feet, glaring at the watcher as she headed out the door. He seemed to barely notice, his nose too far stuffed into whatever old book he had it shoved into this time. So like him.

Buffy crossed the foyer.

"William. William. William. William," she mumbled to herself, trying to make the name sound estranged when spoken over and over, but failing, and when she nearly walked right into the man himself as she reached the doorway of the kitchen she exclaimed: "Spike!"

Receiving a wide smirk at that she felt as though she was practically blushing and then she smiled back. He gave her a kiss on the cheek before moving passed her and she grabbed his arm, making him stop and turn back to her. The small frown and clear pout that she had on made his smile broaden and then he leaned into her, catching her mouth with his and giving her a deep kiss. She looked mildly satisfied when he broke it, her eyes telling him that he shouldn't be leaving the room she was just entering. He had to agree to that, but then he held up the books he was taking to Wesley and she rolled her eyes for him to go ahead then.

He smiled again before giving her another quick kiss, proceeding out through the door while Buffy walked up to the table in the kitchen where Faith, Fred, Cordelia and Gunn were sharing a pint of ice-cream. The Slayer grabbed a spoon and took a seat as Angel re-entered the room - he had been called to the phone some ten minutes earlier. He sat as well, declining the offer of joining in their gorging, and being content at simply watching them eat. After a short while he said:

"I just talked with Lorne."

Cordelia raised her eyebrows.

"Really? How is he?"

"Oh, fine... You know, the usual worry about being slapped in the middle of what looks like the Third World War, but I assured him that we were putting our asses on the line as always and after that he seemed a lot calmer."

Gunn smirked, scooping some ice-cream into his mouth and looking as though he thoroughly enjoyed it. Cordelia watched Angel for another few seconds, and then she asked:

"Did you tell him?"

Angel met her gaze before he shook his head a little.

"No, I didn't. It didn't feel like the right time... like it's something you tell someone over the phone... No, I didn't tell him."

Quiet seemed content to lodge itself between the six after this revelation.

Buffy wondered who this Lorne was, but didn't feel like breaking the spell and asking. She looked at Cordelia, and then at Angel, who was watching the brunette with eyes that told everything anyone could ever need to know and the Slayer had to wonder what the hell they were doing sitting there with people around them. They should be alone. They should be talking about... The thought died there, as she realized that with the familiarity of others came the postponing of this thought that they were to be separated.

Buffy got to her feet, throwing her spoon in the sink on her way to the door and walking through it, again crossing the foyer before reentering the conference room. Spike looked up as she came through the doorway, a welcoming smile immediately on his face and she returned it as she walked around the table and came up to him.

She easily jiggled herself in between the edge of the table and his stomach, curling herself contentedly on his lap and placing one arm around his shoulders, the other on the table as she looked at the thick volume placed before him.

"So," she said. "What're we reading?"

To that she received a pleased smirk.

***

Faith sat quietly watching the Wicca at work. The former had been seated on the same spot for the past twenty minutes, while the concentration of the latter hadn't faltered for nearly three hours. Her eyes, though, were beginning to look tired and the strain evident on her features due to her set jaw didn't exactly help the matter.

Fred came up to join at Faith's side and the two kept silent for another minute, then Faith said:

"I wish there was something I could do to help her."

"I'm sure we all do," Fred replied. "Has there been any change at all?"

Faith shook her head.

In the conference room Buffy shifted on her chair, trying not to grow sleepy as she watched Spike turn the page of the book for the hundredth time. After being comfortably placed on his lap for close to an hour, she had had to move, since his legs were falling asleep. Now she drew a small breath, letting it out as yet another sigh and Spike glanced at her. At the small recognition she lit up. He gave her a smile back and she sat straight from where she once again had been splayed out across the table.

"You're a quick reader," she remarked and his smile turned to a smirk.

"Only when I have to be," he replied and she cocked an eyebrow, scooting a bit closer to have a look at what he was occupying himself with.

She observed the drawing of a mighty building, and then read the text below it. She couldn't make out much of it, except for the building being the temple of Karnack, and that it was - or had been - situated in Egypt's ancient capitol of Thebes.

Her eyes fell on a depicting below the drawing, showing some sort of pattern and she frowned.

"What's this?" she asked and Spike looked at what she was referring to before answering:

"It's the symbol for the order of Amon."

"Amon...?" she asked and he nodded.

"Yeah, you know - the high-and-mighty back in the day. One of the most worshipped gods. His priests kept order in Egypt. Remember?" She looked as though she wasn't connecting the dots yet and he smiled a little. "The priests - who evidently founded this particular order - were the guardians of the god - Amon, and had been for generations until the day Nefertiti and Akhenaton decided to break with custom. They invented their own religion which revolved around Aton."

"And Aton is the same as Satoch," Buffy nodded. "And Amon... is Aatoch?"

"Right," Spike said. "So you did pay attention?" he added teasingly and she gave him a smile before directing her gaze back on the sketch in the book.

It was extremely familiar to her. She furrowed her brow for a second time, trying not to concentrate too hard, knowing that the information was most likely to escape her if she did. Placing one hand on the book she tentatively moved her fingers across the symbol and then she drew a breath in realization.

A wooden doorframe. Her fingers brushing over something carved into it.

"Oh, my god," she said, looking up just as they heard the front door being thrown open.

They both got up and so did Wesley, moving quickly to the doorway and continuing out into the foyer; Buffy grabbing the two bottles off the table as she went.

She wasn't surprised at the sight which met them.

"Forte?" Spike asked, his expression quite the opposite.

And him it was. Dressed in long, deep-blue robes he - and eleven others - stood before them. He smiled disarmingly. It didn't take on the former vampire, who was still observing the strangers with clear suspicion.

"It's alright," Buffy was the one to speak up, just as the others came rushing from the kitchen to see what the racket was all about. "He's a priest," she added, not hiding the sarcasm and Forte's smile widened ever so slightly.

"What?" Cordelia wondered, confused.

"He has the symbol for the order of Amon carved into the doorway of his study," Buffy replied, still looking at Forte.

"But that's not possible," Wesley said, disbelieving, and Forte glanced at him before looking around at all of them.

"It is highly possible," he then stated, "or I wouldn't be standing here before you today. Of course, we have known the true origin of Amon for quite some time, unlike our ancestors."

Angel stared at the demon, then said:

"You wanted this to happen." Forte turned his gaze in the vampire's, his exterior that of pure calm. Angel continued: "That's why you gave us the bottles. That's why you didn't tell us more than you thought we needed to know... Why?"

Forte cocked an eyebrow and was about to answer when a loud thud was heard behind them and they all swirled around.

"Willow!" Fred exclaimed, running up to her where she had fallen and was struggling to get up.

Taking a firm hold around her waist the latter helped the Wicca to her feet.

"I'm sorry," Willow breathed, the exhaustion on her making her look smaller than she was. "I couldn't... I tried, but... He's too strong. I can't release her. I'm sorry."

Buffy felt the fury begin to boil within her and she turned back to Forte.

"What did you do, come here to act as a goddamn audience?!" she exclaimed, slamming the bottles down on the counter irritation before she approached the demon. "I bet your little cult thing-y you've got going here has waited and waited for this to happen! For history to repeat itself and for you to be able to bear witness this time! You had answers and you didn't give them to us, and now...?!"

"Buffy, take it easy," Gunn tried, but she wouldn't listen as she stopped before Forte.

Fred helped Willow over to the chair still left from when they tied up Susannah, asking if she wanted some water and Willow nodded feebly, her eyelids heavy and her body limp. Everybody were gathered facing Forte, listening to the words being exchanged. She tried to make them out, but they grew into a low murmur which didn't seem to matter.

She turned her head to where Susannah lay, and blinked tiredly.

Her mind was playing more tricks on her, because she could have sworn that the girl wasn't lying there anymore.

Fred came back, kneeling beside the chair and handing her a glass of cold water. Only, the thirst seemed to have left the Wicca's throat, and she forced herself to form the word she knew she had to get out.

"Susannah...?" she murmured and Fred furrowed her brow, then turned to the spot where the young woman had been only a minute or so before.

She wasn't there anymore.

Fred got to her feet and turned around.

"Did you know THIS would happen too? Did you know we'd fail with the exorcism?!" Buffy demanded on the opposite side of the room and Forte eyed her before replying:

"Yes, of course."

"What do you mean 'of course'?" she asked, agitatedly.

"'Four times four will open the door'," he answered matter-of-factly.

"Buffy!" Fred yelled. "Buffy!" she repeated, and at the urgency in her voice the Slayer stopped her arguing.

The stillness which followed was nearly frightening as they all turned to see the form of the formally fallen - now standing before the doorway of the conference room.

"Susannah?" Spike tried and she turned her head to him, her eyes burdened and sad.

"There are so many things to be said," she stated, her voice cracking and then her head suddenly drew back with a pained hiss.

"Susie," Cordelia mumbled, the tears in her tone soon settling in her eyes.

Susannah brought her face forward once more; looking at the people before her and having a small smile grow onto her mouth.

"I wish I could tell it all with one word, but I can't," she mumbled, looking down at something she had in her left hand and seemingly wavering for a moment before she moved her gaze in Spike's. "I don't have time."

His eyes widened as he came to understand what it was she was doing; he took a step forward, about to let out a protest, but she shook her head and stopped him.

"This is the only way," she said and the rest of them caught on to what Spike had deduced as they could glimpse what it was she was holding - the bottle of Ritha. "I have to let him win this one. You have to make sure he doesn't win the next."

She put her right hand on the small top of the bottle and removed it.

Buffy stared at her, her heart beating heavily with defeat and sorrow. Her hand being clasped by Spike's in a hard grip and she ached for him as well.

"I'll never forget you," Susannah whispered, then she brought the mouth of the bottle to her lips, closed her eyes and tilted her head back, swallowing the liquid down.

The bottle fell to the floor with a hollow clank. The form of the woman didn't move, but stood as it was for what felt like the longest time. Then it writhed, convulsed and was finally lifted into the air.

Cordelia turned her head to Angel, but he was already moving toward the counter where the second bottle still lay.

"Angel!" she called out and he turned to her as he grabbed the item.

He smiled a bright smile and her tears ran over as she tentatively returned it, and then she had to watch as he opened the top in the same manner Susannah had, knowing what was to come next.

Angel took a moment to look at all of the people he loved and cared for gathered in the same room. A small miracle in itself.

Having his eyes in Buffy's and then in Spike's he wished he could have told both of them how much they had truly meant to him, and still meant. How they had both, in some way, helped shape him into what and who he was. He guessed, to some extent, they already understood.

He locked his gaze with Cordelia's and knew that she knew what he felt, and how much he did love her. She would always remember that.

He gave another smile and then brought the bottle up, opening his mouth he let the blood slip down his throat and then he couldn't think anymore, only feel.

The taste was the sweetest he had ever had on his tongue, but as it continued down it began to burn him. He was on his knees the next instant, and then he felt as though he was slowly lifting off the floor. Flying above everything. Suddenly the heat was coursing through him, it took him completely off guard and he screamed a scream he couldn't hear. The warmth was more intense than ever before and it ripped at him, made him feel as though he was being eaten away - particle by particle.

And then teeth scraped his neck, from the inside. Claws scratched down his back and it was as though there was a being inside of him fighting to be let out.

Demon.

"You will never be rid of me," it whispered and taunted and shouted and cried and then...

Silence.

***

"Do something!" Cordelia yelled, but no one had anything to say in neither comfort nor reply as they had their undivided attention at the two forms hovering twenty feet apart.

Susannah was hanging in rigid stillness, while Angel seemed to be suffering something close to a seizure.

Forte gave his comrades a sign and they moved quietly to the place where Willow had been struggling for so long with Satoch. Once there they all bowed their heads.

Cordelia stared at the scene before her in growing terror, and when Angel suddenly dropped to the floor with a harsh thud, her heart nearly stopped. What happened then was, however, enough to break through her worries and have her immobile. There was a shift in the air above them. It looked as though stirring smoke, only there was no smoke to be stirred - only air. It was surreal to watch.

In the next instant Susannah fell from her suspended state as well, hitting the floor with something not far from a crack and Buffy averted her gaze with a wave of nausea attacking her at the strange angle the formers body had landed in.

Something red was moving with the see-through now and all fixed their concentration on the battle about to ensue. As the two entities crashed together their true forms were revealed. Angelus being black; his head bald and his eyes glowing yellow. His fingers were long and pointy, as though really growing into claws; and his wrath was clear. Satoch was still red. He looked three times bigger than Angelus and his eyes were piercing green. They both looked more like ghosts than anything else, except from when one of them hit the other. Then a flash of them, in what would have been the closest they could get to an actual hard form, could be seen.

"Holy crap," Buffy murmured. "He's getting slaughtered."

And it was true. Angelus was already loosing.

"This can't be happening!" Faith exclaimed.

"But it is," Buffy murmured.

The next moment Satoch delivered a blow to the other demon's throat and the shape burned for a second, then it was gone.

"Oh, my god..." Fred whispered.

Satoch looked down at the mortals, his eyes glittering with glee.

"Did you think that sending such an inferior being to conquer one of the mightiest this world has ever seen... would actually work?" he asked. "You cannot have believed that that puny imp would even put a dent in my skin!"

"Didn't know you HAD skin," Buffy grumbled, searching her mind for some way of defeating the demongod, but she kept coming up empty-handed.

"I will," he answered her mockery and she glared up at him, beginning to grow mighty pissed at the fact that there wasn't a single thing she could do to stop him.

"So, what's the plan now then, oh-mighty-one?" she asked. "Eat up the whole of existence as we know it? You're pretty big, but will all of that REALLY fit into that stomach of yours? And have you ever heard of the saying 'less is better'? Do you HAVE to eat up all of it? Can't you just swallow... the North Pole or... one of those tiny islands we don't need anyway or... half of Cleveland? I mean, isn't there someway to work around this?"

"I am this world, and this world is in me," was the reply she got and she cocked an eyebrow.

"Sarcasm is completely wasted on that one," she grumbled to Spike, who smiled a rather weak smile.

At the sound of murmuring she frowned and looked over her shoulder at the circle-placed Amon priests. She blinked, letting go of Spike's hand and taking a step closer.

"What in the world...?"

In the middle of the circle there was a slowly moving swirl of blue. She was hypnotized by it as it began to grow. Suddenly there was the furious roar of Satoch as he seemed to notice what was happening, but before he could move in to put an end to it a stream of blue light shot out of the swirl and hit him with full force -pushing him to stay where he was.

"No!" he screamed, the anger he produced making the walls of the Hyperion shake.

The priests moved their arms out from their sides and up over their heads, placing their hands palm-to-palm before bringing them down to their chests. Once there they said a sentence in a language none of the others could make out, and then they moved their hands forward, splitting them up in a welcoming gesture with their palms up toward the ceiling. In one voice they then said one word.

"Aatoch."

The blue twirl grew into a spiral which stretched all the way to the ceiling. It didn't slow down, merely picked up its pace; and moved out of the circle, between two of the priests, looking like a small tornado.

Satoch stared at his nemesis as the latter stepped out of his shelter and in the moment he did, it vanished.

"Curula tatem urig lat," Satoch said, his deep voice filling all of their ears and they put their hands up to try and shut it out.

"Teh," Aatoch replied. "Itoch sadigur lorith talh."

In the next instant the two beings attacked each other with a fierceness none of the mortals had ever witnessed before. The two demons flew up against one wall, creating a deep crack in it. Satoch grabbed Aatoch and threw him across the room, which meant a crack in the other wall. The ceiling and the floor shook with each new impact and plaster fell from above.

"Should we be standing here?" Gunn asked and after a moment's contemplation they began to move away from the exposed spot they were in.

Buffy helped get Willow to her feet and they all got themselves moving toward the front doors.

"Natulat dorigh!" Satoch screamed and Aatoch threw himself over him yelling back:

"Othar igh dunn!"

"I wish I spoke demon," Willow whispered to Buffy, who granted her a smile at that. "I'm... sorry," the Wicca added and Buffy shook her head.

"You did good," she assured. "You did great," she then corrected herself. "And you had the powers of cosmos working against you."

Willow smiled meekly as well, then an earth shattering noise was heard as the two demons broke through the wall on the opposite side of the foyer, and the shake which followed had them all loose their balance.

The twelve priests stood on a line at the same place they had performed the ritual of waking Aatoch. They all looked calm as statues and seemed to be waiting for the two in battle to return. Buffy looked out over the destruction of the room and her eyes fell on Angel. She wouldn't cry now. She couldn't loose focus. But the sight of him hurt her badly and she closed her eyes for a moment.

"Help me get him over here," Cordelia mumbled in her ear and she opened her eyes again, meeting the others and then giving a nod.

Making sure that Willow was okay leaning against Fred, the Slayer then followed Cordelia and they quickly made their way up to the body. They both kneeled, and Buffy bit back her tears as she looked at the well-known face. Cordelia was crying, she didn't have the strength left in her to pretend to have a brave face. She blinked at the liquid and it slid down her cheeks, freezing on her skin and making pretty patterns of ice.

As it did, the cold, which had been forgotten, was suddenly making itself reminded and she put her arms up as a chill tore through her. The frost wasn't only there this time, it was painful and it seemed to be covering the very bones of her body, tearing through her with an astonishing pace.

She leaned forward, fighting for air.

"Cor?" Buffy asked. "Are you okay?"

Cordelia nodded, fearing the return of the two in battle and feeling that the rest of them didn't have time for her weakness now, of all times. Then she turned her gaze on Angel, and felt a very strange tranquility come over her as she looked into his open eyes.

"It's okay," she mumbled, reaching up a hand and carefully closing them.

"Good," Buffy said, her voice coming from far, far away. "Then you take that arm and... Ouch! God, he's burning up!"

Cordelia nodded.

"It's okay," she repeated.

There was a rumbling noise and the two demons reentered through the way they had disappeared. Satoch seemed nearly deranged, still screaming foreign words at the other.

"Come on," Gunn murmured, following the action as well as keeping a watchful eye at the three forms below it. "Come on. Finish it!"

There was a pause as the two combatants faced each other. There seemed to be a challenge in that pause.

Kill or be killed.

Then they once again started towards each other. They moved so quickly now that they grew into a purple blur as they collided. They seemed to be delivering swift blows to each others frames and then there was a dark cry of pain.

Time stood still, as well as the onlooker's hearts.

The purple haze slowly dispursed and they saw what was hidden behind it.

Aatoch had his right arm stretched out and it was piercing Satoch's chest. The latter seemed stunned, staring into the green eyes of the other, reflecting the shade of his perfectly.

"Anone tukara dor, limukeh," Aatoch grumbled. "Sirah delde sukh."

"Afolh tukara dor, limukeh," Satoch replied. "Sukh sirah ath."

And then he dissolved, almost gently, until there was nothing left of him.

Everybody stood astounded and quiet until Wesley let hear a cry of triumph. He cleared his throat, looking around at them, but it didn't take many seconds for the others to join in and soon they were cheering.

Aatoch looked at them all, his countenance serious, but friendly. Then he turned and moved back to the twelve priests. Forte bowed in clear awe, as did the others, and Aatoch said something to which Forte nodded. Then he held up one hand, containing an item of some sort. They couldn't make out what it was, but it reflected the light in bright blue, and as the flare was taken out of their eyes, Aatoch was gone.

Buffy was standing now, disbelieving that it was actually over, and then she turned her head to Cordelia just as the latter slowly leaned forward, joining her lips with Angel's.

Buffy blinked, rather abhorred.

Cordelia closed her eyes at the gentle beginning of the kiss, and then the pain she was under grew in power, something that she had anticipated this time, and it began to pulsate through her. She felt the heat from his body pour into her veins and nerves; wrap around her muscles and thaw her whole being up. At the same time she felt the cold be drained from her body, seeking its way into his.

Once the process was over she fell to the side. She had never been more tired in her whole life.

Buffy took a small step forward, looking down at Cordelia who seemed to have gotten the color back in her cheeks. And then the hand of Angel closest to the Slayer moved, and she jumped back in startled surprise.

"What the...?" she mumbled, her eyes widening even further as Angel opened his.

It took a while for his gaze to adjust, and then he could have sworn that he was looking up at the ceiling of the Hyperion. Very strange.

"Angel...?" Buffy's voice said from somewhere to his left and he frowned.

"Buffy...?" he murmured, moving his head and yes, there she was.

Very, very strange.

And then he remembered the sense of cooling down, the feel of a pair of lips against his own and how the chill from them had hurt him at first, but how they then had helped remove the ache within him as the heat began to leave him.

"Cordelia..." he whispered and suddenly he felt a warm hand in his, its fingers entwining with his and then how the body it belonged to moved so that it was placed alongside his own.

And then - that heavenly face.

"I'm here," she whispered with a small smile, her eyes glistening with tears and he stared at her, taken.

"What happened?" he asked.

"We won," she answered him softly.

And then he could feel it. It was the most compelling sensation. The strangest and most exhilarating thing he had been under for quite some time, because this time he instantly knew everything about it was different.

He was breathing.

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