Chapter 12: All Torn Up

The two vampires in the alley kept their eyes directed on Buffy.

”Doesn’t she look tasty?” one of the vamps said to the other.

”Ya…” the other vamp laughed, “I love it when they’re all helpless and seem to walk right to me…sort of like they want to die.”

Buffy coughed a couple more times. She covered her hand over her mouth as she coughed, and when she drew her hand back she saw that she had coughed up blood. Her eyes widened at the sight of her own blood stained on her hands.

“What’s the matter? Sick?” one of the vampires yelled down to Buffy.

Buffy looked up and down the dark alley and saw two vampires advancing to her.

”Ya….” The other vampire laughed, “You need a Kleenex? Some medicine? ”

Both of the vampires laughed. Buffy leaned up against the brick alley wall and slide down it to the ground.

One of the vamps crouched down to Buffy and ran his hand through her hair, “I know what you need…just the right antidote.” The vampire tucked Buffy’s hair behind her shoulder and let Buffy’s bare neck be revealed. He leaned forward, “Just let me help you…” he said softly.

”I think you are going to be the one that will be needing the help.” Angel’s voice came out of no where.

The vampire jumped up and turned around to be faced with Spike and Angel. The vamp looked to the side and saw his vampire partner backing away slowly. Spike, out of no where, pulled a crossbow from behind his back and aimed it at the drifting vampire and fired. Once the vamp was dust, Spike turned back to the other vampire that was about to bite Buffy. Spike slowly raised the crossbow at the vamp.

“Step away from her.” Spike’s words were like pure evil.

The vamp snickered, “Why? You guys are vamps too…she’s just a worthless—“ the vampire didn’t get another word in. Spike fired the crossbow and the vamp was dust in seconds.

Spike’s face changed to compassion when he saw Buffy. He kneeled down next to her and took her hand, “Here, let me help—“

”No…” she said. Her breathing was heavy and rather horsy. “I-I can do it myself.” Buffy grabbed the wall behind her to support herself and got up. It took her some time, but she managed to get up on her own. Angel and Spike watched her with a frown.

“I-I can’t be like this.” Buffy said, “I-I need to kill what did this to me.” She started to go down the alley but Spike stopped her before she could take a step.

“Buffy you need rest.” Spike said with begging eyes.

“No I need to slay. That’s what I do….that is how I fix problems…” Buffy said.

“Whatever is happening to you, we will a way to stop it. I swear.” Angel said and looked at Buffy.

”I need to work the problem Angel.” Buffy said while looking Angel straight in the eye. After a moment she started to cough and get shaky.

”Buffy you need to lie down.” Spike said.

Buffy stopped cough and cleared her throat, “No!” she burst, “I am not going to be the victim in this. I am not the case! I am not going to be cut down by some flu. I am better than this! I fought through seven apocalypses and somehow I’m still standing!”

Buffy’s shouts turned to cries. She looked up at Angel and Spike and whispered, “In all my years of fighting…I’ve never been so scared.” A few tears fell down her cheek.

After a few moments Buffy’s legs gave out and she started to collapse to the ground. Spike caught her and shifted her in his arms and looked to see if she was conscious. She wasn’t.

Spike turned to Angel, “She’s starting to feel cold.”

Angel peeked in the hospital room and saw that Buffy was laying safely in one of the beds. Spike was also in the room, sitting in a chair near the bed.

“Angel!” Wesley called out.

Angel turned around and saw Wesley coming towards Angel with a book in his hand.

“I found more information on the Deeper Well.” Wesley started.

”Tell me.” Angel stated.

”Seems it’s a burial ground for the old ones. It’s located in England, in the Cotswolds. When Spike said Buffy’s body temperature was cold….well that’s to be expected. Her body will stay cold so it can harden and become…well like a shell.” Wesley glanced up at Angel and noticed no emotion, so he continued, “She is being hollowed out so this thing…Illyria…can use Buffy to claw its way into the world. Once that happens…Buffy will—Angel, she’s going to die.”

There was a moment’s pause between them. Angel glanced back into Buffy’s room and saw Spike at Buffy’s side, looking as if he would never leave her side.

“Not today.” Angel mumbled while looking at Buffy in the bed. Angel turned back to Wesley, “Not to them.” Wesley was surprised that Angel was referring the ‘them’ part to Buffy and Spike.

Chapter 13: A Hole in the World

Gunn tightened the knots that were made around Knox, who was tied to a chair in the lab.

Fred and Lorne stood across the lab room observing from a distance.

Lorne glanced away for a moment and turned to see Fred’s sad face, “You okay?” he asked with concern.

“It was supposed to be me.” Fred answered with a sigh. She kept her eyes looked on Knox.

Lorne frowned and looked down at his colorful shoes, “I know.” He let out a deep breath.

Fred continued, “Everything that is happening to Buffy was meant for me…I-I just can’t seem to grasp that.” She whispered as tears started to roll down her cheek.

”Listen…sweetie…maybe you shouldn’t think too much about—“ Lorne started.

”Buffy means so much to so many people.” She interrupted, “And for some reason… I feel as if I’m the one that should be lying in that bed.”

“Don’t say that.” Lorne said and put his hand on her shoulder.

“I should get back to work.” She said quickly and turned away and walked into her office.

As soon as Fred exited into her office to be alone, Wesley walked into the lab.

Gunn turned his eyes from Knox to Wesley, “Hey, how is it going upstairs? Did they—“

”They found Buffy.” Wesley answered.

”Good…how is she doing?” Gunn’s face cringed, he was expecting bad news.

“Bad…I’m thinking if Buffy was a normal girl she would be dead by now.” Wesley said.

“So you thinking her being a Slayer is helping her stay alive?” Lorne asked.

”That’s my theory…however…on the downside this means she is going through a slow and painful…end…” Wesley said. He didn’t want to say the word “death”. He couldn’t say it.

Lorne and Gunn exchanged a look and then turned back to Wes.

“How are Spike and Angel taking it?” Gunn asked.

Buffy opened her eyes and squinted at the semi-bright lights that were coming from a small table lamp in the room.

”Buffy?” Spike whispered when he saw awake.

“The light…”she squinted and seemed to be in pain from the lights.

Spike reached to the table and turned off the lamp next to him. The only light in the room was coming from the hallway.

”Where am I?” Buffy whispered in a weak small voice.

“Back in the Wolfram and Hart medical room.” Spike answered.

“Wolfram and Hart?” she questioned “Why are we here…what about Sunnydale?” she seemed to be half awake. However, she was still serious about her question about Sunnydale.

Spike seemed confused, “Love, you know Sunnydale is gone.” Spike whispered and rubbed her hand.

Buffy looked at Spike and paused, seeming like she was collecting her thoughts, “Oh…right…” Buffy then closed her eyes and went back into a deep sleep again.

Spike hung his head in exhaustion and frustration when he saw her close her eyes. ‘She must be delusional if she can’t remember where she is…her memory is slipping.’ Spike thought to himself. He glanced back up at her sleeping form, hoping the next she wakes that she won’t forget who he is.

Angel sat in the Wolfram and Hart jet plane clinging to the arms of his seat. He never had been up so high in the air. He glanced down at his watch and noted that he should be landing soon. He felt bad that he didn’t tell everyone he was leaving but he trusted that Wesley would pass the message around that he was going to the Deeper Well.

’Trust.’ Angel shook his head at his own thought.

‘Trusting people is what got me into this mess in the first place.’ Angel noted to himself, ‘You really can’t trust anyone anymore it seems.’

Spike entered the lab in an anxious manner.

“Spike.” Wesley announced his presents first, he was sort of surprised to see the bleached vampire away from Buffy’s side.

Spike didn’t give a single glance at the gang. He just went straight to Knox and punched him in the chair, making it tumble over with Knox still strapped in.

“Spike!” Gunn shouted and quickly run in front of Spike.

”You don’t deserve to breath.” Spike growled over Gunn’s shoulder at Knox.

“I’m sensing Illyria is almost here.” Knox said while still on the floor.

Wesley, a few feet away, walked over to Knox and kicked the chair,” Shut your mouth.” Wesley sternly said.

Knox laughed, “She’s coming isn’t she? She’s almost dead isn’t she?”

“And so are you.” A voice came from behind the gang.

Everyone looked up and saw Fred pointing a gun at Knox.

Knox wiggled around in his chair, trying to see Fred aiming the gun at him. He didn’t seem to be afraid. All he did was smile.

“Fred…what are you doing?” Knox smiled, “You know you can’t kill me…you’re a good girl.”

”Fred don’t do anything you are going to regret.” Gunn said.

”What’s to regret Charles!” tears were streaming down Fred’s face. Fred looked up at Gunn, “He’s a murderer!”

“Fred, give me the gun.” Wesley said.

“No!” Fred yelled, “He deserves this. He doesn’t care! He does care what is happening to Buffy!”

”We know Fred…but just give me the gun alright.” Wesley said softly, trying to reason with her.

Fred looked at each member of the gang and then last at Knox, “You have no soul.” She whispered and then lowered the gun.

Wesley walked over to her and took the gun. Fred partially collapsed into his arms. Wesley just hugged her tight.

“I knew she couldn’t do it.” Knox laughed.

Wesley turned around and raised the gun to Knox and fired. Everyone was startled at the loud noise that filled the room. They all looked down at Knox and saw that he was just as shocked as the rest of them. Knox watched his blood come pouring out of his chest and onto his shirt. Knox looked back up at Wesley.

”Maybe she couldn’t….but I can.” Wesley said.

Knox and Wesley stared at each other.

“She still can't be saved.” Knox uttered the words out and took one last breath and died.

Angel walked through a grove of trees in the Cotswold of England. The place was foggy and looked like something out of scary children’s fairytale. Angel came upon a tree that seemed to be unusual; there was a door in the center of the tree. A man came out with long hair and dressed in warrior clothing came out.

“Hello Angel.” The man stated.

Angel squinted his eyes and looked through the fog to see whoever it was, “Drogyn?”

”Long time.” Drogyn said.

“You are the keeper of the well.” Angel stated.

“Been for years.” Drogyn said, “I’m guessing you are here because of Illyria.”

”Yes.” Angel said.

”Come.” Drogyn said and started walking to the door of the tree.

Angel followed beside Drogyn.

“I don’t have to remind you about my rules, right?” Drogyn asked as he held the door open for Angel.

”No question. I remember.” Angel said and stepped inside the tree. Drogyn looked around outside before closing the door and following Angel.

After the incident down in the lab Wesley called a few employees to deposit Knox’s body somewhere else. Lorne tried to keep Fred occupied by helping her research through some books. Spike traveled back upstairs and sat with Buffy. And Gunn decided to make a few calls in his office.

”… you're not hearing me. I know you've got healers working for you. I don't care if the Old Ones scare them. I don't care if the Old Ones kill them. Get their asses down here, or you're gonna be in a world of hurt. No, I am not talking about a law suit. I'm talking about bones that go crunch, and if you think—“ Gunn was interrupted on the phone by sudden sound of the dial tone, “Damn!” he mumbled to himself.

A man in a suit and a tie walked into Gunn’s office carrying a file folder.

“Charles?” the man asked nervously.

”What!” Gunn looked up from his desk at the man. You could tell from the sound of his voice he was aggravated.

“I got those deliver papers that you wanted.” The man said and set the folder on Gunn’s desk.

Gunn opened the folder and started flipping through papers until he got to the one paper he wanted. The employee just stood from a distance and watched.

On top of the delivery sheet was another order form. Gunn read word by word and realized that the other order form was for his upgrade of laws in his mind.

”What the…” Gunn whispered to himself.

He flipped back and forth between the two order forms and tried to figure out why they were both tied together. Then, he found the connection. Gunn’s heart started to race and his stomach dropped. He found his signature on the bottom of the page of the sarcophagus order form.

“Sir is there something wrong?” the employee asked Gunn.

Gunn slowly brought his eyes up to meet the employee.

”No…you can go.” Gunn stated in a daze.

The employee was hesitant to leave but he obeyed.

Gunn turned around and looked out his office window and into the city of L.A. He felt a number of things at the moment, especially guilt. ‘How could this happen…’ he thought to himself.

‘I’m not the only one involved in this…I just play a part’

The voice of Knox echoed inside Gunn’s head. ‘Did he know?’ Gunn thought to himself. ‘Did Knox know?’

Gunn’s thoughts switched over to Angel and Spike. ‘Oh god…what if they find out?’ He remember how Spike with Knox. ‘How is everyone else going to react if they find out?’ he thought about Wesley and Fred. ‘Oh my god…Fred…it could have been her…and oh god…Buffy’

Gunn hanged his head down in shame and tears started to form behind his eyes.

“Charles?” Fred’s voice came behind Gunn.

Gunn gasped and turned around. Fred was standing at the opening of his door.

”Fred…” Gunn spoke softly.

”Are you alright?” Fred spoke with concern.

“Uhh…” Gunn stuttered, “Yeah…yeah…just…just a little stressed with all the commotion.”

“Yeah I think we all are.” Fred said sadden, “Well…did you find any information?”

“Uh…no.” Gunn said and moved behind his desk. “I think I’m going to keep looking.”

”Do you need help?” Fred stepped forward.

”No!” Gunn said a little too quickly and a little too strong. Fred seemed startled by his tone. “I mean…no…no thanks…you should get back to the lab. I’ll keep an eye on things here…maybe Angel will call with some news…hopefully good.”

”Alright…” Fred said and turned around and left Gunn alone.

Gunn looked back down at the order form sitting on his desk. It was funny how just a simple few sheets of paper can cause so much trouble for him. Gunn picked the papers up and placed them in the shredder and pressed the start button and watched as the evidence became bits and pieces. Then once they went through the shedder Gunn took his scissors and cut up the papers even more.

‘No one can know.’ Gunn thought as he kept cut up the papers into smaller and smaller pieces.

Angel and Drogyn walked through the tunnels of the Deeper Well. Drogyn lead the way while holding a torch.

“I would have never guessed you’d end up here, Angel.” Drogyn spoke up.

“I could say the same.” Angel said quietly.

“Well…I'll tell you as much as I can. The old ones were demons pure. They warred as we would breathe—endlessly. The greater ones were interred, for death was not always their end. Illyria was feared and beloved as few are. It was laid to death in the very depths of the well... until it disappeared a month ago.” Drogyn went on and explained as they walked.

“We know that…one of my…one of my employees was part of the plan to bring the sarcophagus to Wolfram and Hart.” Angel said.

Drogyn stopped and turned to look at Angel.

”Your employee?” Drogyn questioned.

Angel avoided eye contact with Drogyn, so he looked to the side. “Yeah…” Angel answered.

Drogyn studied Angel and saw that there was more than betrayal of an employee that had Angel so upset. Drogyn decided to avoid asking Angel about personal matters. They both started walking again.

“Well your…employee…he didn’t really steal the tomb. It disappeared. My assumption was that this was pre-destined to be apart of Illyria’s escape plan.” Drogyn explained, “And for me not noticing….” Drogyn extinguishes the torch and walked into a chamber where a bridge is placed over a large hole.

Angel followed Drogyn in and looked over the edge of the bridge to see thousands of coffins placed in the pit. They were all stacked one by one on top of each other.

“…it’s pretty hard to notice one missing from this pile.” Drogyn said.

“How far does this go down?” Angel asked without turning his away from the pit.

”All the way down.” Drogyn said. “All the way through the Earth.”

TBC...

Chapter 14: Tears Forever

“Buffy?” Spike whispered by Buffy’s bedside. “Buffy?” For the last hour she has been asleep and just sitting dead still on her bed.

Slowly Buffy’s eyes opened and she turned to her head to look at Spike. While looking into his eyes, Spike could see that she looked weaker than before and drained out.

”What time is it?” she whispered.

”About eleven o’clock at night.” Spike said, “You slept for about an hour.”

”That’s an hour I don’t have now.” Buffy said softly. There was silence between them for a moment and then Buffy started to cough violently and then cringed in pain.

“What? What is it!” Spike began to panic.

“Something hurts inside.” She said when the pain started to ease.

”I’ll get a doctor, I’ll go get someone.” Spike said and started to get up.

“No.” Buffy said quickly and grabbed his hand to make him from leaving. “Don’t leave…the pain has passed.”

Spike settled back into his chair and continued to hold her hand.

”It shouldn’t be long…” Buffy said and closed her eyes.

”Buffy?” Spike spoke up.

Buffy opened her eyes and looked back at him to reassure him that she was still with him.

”You know I love you right?” she whispered.

Spike leaned forward and kissed her forehead and whispered, “Yes…I know.”

“Angel?” Drogyn asked from behind Angel, who was still looking over the edge of the bridge of the Deeper Well.

”If this goes all the way down then…that means someone on the other side is looking back at me.” Angel said quietly.

”Whoever has been possessed by Illyria is going to die Angel….if you try to save…her….” Drogyn took a guess that whoever was ill was someone Angel held very dear to his heart, someone he loved, “Illyria will be drawn out of your friend and-and…every single person between here and there. It will become the mystical equivalent of airborne. It will claw into every soul in its path to keep from being trapped. Entire cities—tens maybe hundreds of thousands will die in agony if you save her.” Angel didn’t reply, “Angel?”

Angel turned slowly around and faced Drogyn, “The hell with them.”

Drogyn was a bit startled by Angel’s response.

”For seven years those hundreds of thousands are alive because of what she has done for them. She has died twice for this god awful world and you are telling her to do it again! No! This can’t keep happening to her, she deserves to live her life…” Angel said.

“She’s a hero.” Drogyn said.

”She is.” Angel said.

”Well…being a hero isn’t an easy thing to do and she knows it. So you think she would want those people to die, that she would want those people to die?” Drogyn asked.

Angel bowed his head down, ‘He’s right…Buffy wouldn’t want those people to die.’ Angel turned back around and stared down the Deeper Well again. A few tears fell down his cheeks and fell into the Well, traveling for what seemed like forever.

It was a little past midnight and Spike was outside Buffy’s room lighting a cigarette near her door. He couldn’t take it any longer, he needed something to calm his nerves so he decided to try and relax with a smoke. However, the cigarette wasn’t helping.

Spike glanced back at Buffy’s sleeping form and saw she was no longer in her bed but on the ground leaning up against the wall in the corner of the room. Spike dropped his cigarette and raced back into the room.

“Luv?” he crouched next to her small form. Buffy’s knees were raised and her forehead was resting on them.

She raised her head and tears were streaming down her face, “I felt too hot in the bed…and now I’m just cold again. I can’t—I can’t…” she cried, “Why can’t I move my legs?”

Spike glanced down at her bent knees and placed his hand on her right leg and felt her cold skin.

“I-I can’t feel them.” Buffy said softly and let more tears fall down her face.

Spike glanced from Buffy’s legs to her face, “It’s alright.” He said quietly. He began to lift her off the floor and balanced her in his arms. He stood up and walked with her to the door, “We need some help!” he shouted down the empty hallway.

“They…they can’t help.” Buffy said.

“We need help!” Spike shouted again and began to travel down the hallway in search of someone.

”William…” Buffy said so she could get his attention.

Spike turned his head to look down at her.

”It’s over…” she said softly while looking into his eyes.

An hour later Spike and Buffy were lying in Buffy’s medical bed. He was holding her, comforting her and watching her very closely. She sometimes shut her eyes for long moments and then reopened them. Those few moments that she shut her eyes had Spike in distress, wondering if she would ever reopen them again.

“Spike?” she breathed out.

“Ya?”

“What was my purpose?” she asked.

Spike didn’t answer.

“Was I brought back for two years just to hang around…why-after actually wanting to be in this world…why would God want me to go like this again?” Buffy asked while staring off into a distance.

Spike gulped, “I don’t know.” Tears were forming behind his eyes.

Buffy turned her head and looked at him, “I don’t want to go….” She whispered.

”Then don’t. Fight. Just concentrate on fighting.” Spike told her

”I…I can’t.” she cried.

”Buffy—“

”Please just hold me.” She whispered. Spike tightened his grip on her around her.

”Tell Dawn and my friends that it was quick…” her breath was become short, like she was gasping out the words.

“No this isn’t it, luv…its not…” Spike let tears roll down his cheek, “Not after everything…you can get through this…just hold on.”

”I…I can’t….I’m-I’m sorry.” Buffy whispered and let out a gasp and her chest fell back down and didn’t come back up. Her limp body lied dead in Spike’s arms with her eyes fixed on him.

”No…Buffy?” he said softly, “Please….please…luv…” he closed his eyes and hugged her close to his body when he saw she wasn’t responding or breathing.

As Spike hugged Buffy’s body and cried, Buffy’s green eyes turned black. Buffy started to twitch in Spike’s arms and sent him flying across the room and onto the ground as well as Buffy’s body. Spike couldn’t see what was happening to Buffy from behind the bed.

“Buffy?” Spike whispered as he sat in the same spot that he was flung off to.

Buffy stood up from behind the bed so Spike could see her. He was shocked to Buffy’s transformation. Her eyes, her hair, her lips were all black, and her skin was a shade of silver.

Buffy, acting not like herself, looks down at her silver fingers and begins to flex and examine them.

”This will do…” an eerie voice came out of Buffy’s mouth.

TBC...

Chapter 15: Surfaced

The shady looking figure of Buffy startled Spike quit a bit. He glanced up and down her body and saw her unnatural features and frowned. Everything that he loved about Buffy seemed to be different now. He stared into her eyes and could no longer see Buffy. When he looked into them he saw nothing.

The creature inside Buffy’s body looked all around the room and observed things while Spike stared at her from his spot on the floor. He slowly and cautiously began to get up while keeping his eyes glued on the body that was once his love.

“Buffy?” Spike tried to ask the creature inside Buffy’s body. He was hoping that some part of Buffy was still inside her.

She didn’t respond.

Spike took a gulp and softly called her a different name, “Illyria?”

The dark eyes flashed to Spike quickly, “How dare you speak my name.” the voice of Illyria said. “Just because I am in a shell of a human form does not mean my greatest is any less.”

“Where is Buffy Summers?” Spike growled at Illyria. After hearing the voice come out of Buffy’s body he knew that this ‘thing’ had no connection to Buffy’s soul.

“I do not know nor care.” Illyria said.

Spike looked down at the ground in pain while Illyria studied him. “You’re a half breed…a warrior….is this what this world is made up of?”

Spike gathered up his emotions and looked back up at Illyria. It was like torture looking back at her every time to see no trace of Buffy inside but still see the outside shell of her.

“There is grief...I sense it all over you.” Illyria went on to saying. “You are suppose to be better than that….you act as if you were human…it’s like offal in my mouth.”

Spike started to get an idea, “Well…then that’s what you will be experiencing everyday if you stay. Humans rule the earth.”

Illyria stared at Spike with wide eyes, “That’s a lie.” She said in harsh threatening voice.

“Look around…they crawl around like ants and will suffocate you with their emotions everyday if you stay.” Spike said. “They are weak and stupid…they will kill each other off and then you can return to the world you deserve when the time comes….so leave…leave this body.”

”I could not leave if I wanted to…I’m bound to this plane of existence now and this…” Illyria glances down at Buffy’s body, “…shell. If you say the world is truly run by humans then I have work to do…” Illyria finished and moved closer to Spike.

Spike inhale a deep breath as the Illyria moved closer to him. They stared at one another.

“…I guess I better start with you then.” Illyria then drew her hand back and punched Spike on the side of the face. He traveled back in midair and hit the hospital room wall. He fell to the floor, still conscious but in agony.

Illyria turned to the opened door and mumbled to herself, “There is much to be done.” Then she walked out the door into the hallway.

After a few minutes have passed, Wesley and Fred walked into the hospital room. They looked around and saw an empty bed, a big crack in the wall, Spike trying to get up off the ground.

”Oh my god! Spike, are you alright? What happened?” Fred went over to Spike’s side and helped him up.

”Where’s Buffy?” Wesley asked.

After a moment pause Spike uttered out, “Gone…”

Downstairs in the lobby Illyria was walking around the quarters and looking at everything she passed. From behind the front desk Harmony had to take a second look at the body that was once Buffy. Harmony got up from her chair and approach Illyria, who was now studying the flowers displayed on the side of the lobby.

“Buffy?” Harmony questioned. Illyria did not respond so Harmony put her hand on Illyria’s shoulder. In an instant Illyria whipped around and threw Harmony across the room. Everyone standing around the room stopped and looked at Illyria, including Lorne and Gunn who had just arrived.

“Oh my god…” Lorne mumbled while looking at Buffy’s new body features.

Lorne started to walk slowly towards Illyria while Gunn stayed back and watched from where he stood.

“Uh…hi…” Lorne started by acting friendly towards Illyria, “I’m Lorne…and you might be?”

Illyria just stared at him.

“Lorne don’t…” Gunn came up and stood next to Lorne, and started pushing back and away. “She’s not Buffy.”

”A human.” Illyria muttered out.

“Uh…that’s right…I am.” Gunn said a little bit hesitant.

”The warrior was right…” Illyria turned and looked at a few employees around the room, “Humanity is drenching this world….”

A few seconds later Fred, Wesley, and Spike entered the room.

“Oh my…” came from Fred. She covered her mouth when she saw how different Buffy looked like now.

Illyria glanced back at Spike, “You don’t know when to give up do you?”

“I won’t give in till you bring her back.” Spike snarled.

”I already told you I can’t.” Illyria raised her voice. She waved her hand across Fred, Wesley, and Spike and in an instant all of them were throw back on the ground.

Lorne and Gunn rushed behind Illyria, trying to sneak up on her but she sensed them. She turned around and did the same thing to them---sending them flying across the floor. Illyria glanced around at them before walking off.

As everyone started to get up off the ground the elevator door dinged and the doors slide open to reveal Dawn, Willow, and Giles.

TBC...

Chapter 16: There Are No Words

The three visitors standing in the elevator were bewildered by the image of everyone in on the floor in the lobby.

Willow stepped out first and helped the nearest person up, which was Wesley, “Are you guys alright? What happened?”

Everyone started to get up on their feet and groaned in pain.

”Willow?” Wesley looked up at her as she helped him up. He turned and saw Dawn and Giles step out the elevator as well. “Dawn…Giles…”

”Wesley…” Giles stated.

“…Spike?” Dawn looked over at the bleached vampire that was sort of distracted and upset. Spike turned and faced the smiling Dawn. “Oh my god…” she laughed and walked over to him and hugged him. It took him a minute to comprehend that she was hugging him, and then he put his arms around her and hugged her.

”I can’t believe you’re here…” she said while still hugging him. “When Buffy first told me about Andrew seeing you I couldn’t believe it…” Spike closed his eyes tight at the mention Buffy’s name. “…I guess she right.” She pulled back and saw that Spike was close to tears.

Giles and Willow as well saw the sad look on most of the groups face.

After taking a look at the group, Dawn faced Spike again. “What’s wrong?”

No one answered.

”Where’s Buffy?” Dawn asked Spike.

Illyria stood in the science lab hovering over her sarcophagus. She ran her finger tips over some of the jewels that were welded in; she started to admire them in awe.

Then she glances around the lab, “This world is not how it was…” she says softly.

A wind came out of no where and papers and test tubes crash around. Illyria slapped her palm on one of the crystals and a weird thin substance begins to cover her body. Eventually, the whole substance has covered her body in a type of body suit.

“But it will…I’m ready.” Illyria said.

Angel’s office was too quiet for nine people sitting around. Giles, Willow, and Dawn all sat on one big couch. Giles was leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees and his glasses dangling from his hand. Dawn had tears streaming down her face. Willow had her arm around Dawn as she cried a little along with her.

Angel had arrived back from London a little while ago and told Willow, Giles, and Dawn everything about what was happening. Wesley had to filled in the rest of the situations that happened in Angel’s absents.

”It’s like a bad dream…” Giles said softly to himself but everyone else heard him.

Spike stood away from the group and stared out into the city of L.A through the windows and noted that it was almost sunrise. He had his arms crossed against his chest.

“When were you going to tell us?” Dawn sniffed and threw her angry eyes to Angel.

Angel hung his head down and looked at the ground as he spoke, “It just happened Dawn…we, we didn’t know this would actually happen.” Angel explained.

”Didn’t think it would happen!” Dawn’s anger was showing brightly towards Angel. She got up off the couch and walked closer to him, “What kind of world do you think we live in! Bad things always are heading our way and when one serious incident like this happens you go into what? Denial!”

Angel let out a sigh and started, “Dawnie—“

Dawn slapped Angel across the face. In an instant he shut up. Many of Angel’s friends were surprised that the teenager had the guts to do that.

”Don’t call me Dawnie…” she threatened. “Buffy should have never come here…all you do is bring her pain….”

”No…” the quiet voice came from the corner of the room.

Everyone in the room directed their attention on Spike now.

”I do…” Spike turned from the window to everyone else, “You may as well hit me too Niblet.”

Dawn just stared at Spike with tears in her eyes.

”She came here for me…and now I wish she hadn’t even given me a second thought. If she didn’t then she would be…” his sentence drifted out but he continued, “So…pin the blame on me. I don’t care. There is nothing inside me that can be broken anymore.” Spike whispered.

“Spike we know how you feel…” Angel started but was once again cut off.

”No!” Spike shouted and turned quickly towards his grandsire. “Nobody knows an ounce of what I feel. Not even you Angel…” It has been a while since Spike had used the name ‘Angel’ and when he did he meant business. “You weren’t here to see her struggle. You didn’t see her gasp for breath till the end. You didn’t look into her eyes and see that she was scared. You don’t know! You didn’t feel her die…” by the end of Spike’s speech he was in tears.

“But I did…” the voice of Illyria came from the doorway.

Everyone was started by Illyria’s surprise appearance. She was wearing her new body suit and looking for some violence. Giles, Willow, Dawn, and Angel couldn’t believe what they saw. It was the first time they had seen Buffy look like a creature. They noted that some parts of her were still recognizable but the features of Illyria were demanding. Just like Spike, when they looked into Illyria’s eyes they didn’t see a single trace of Buffy.

“It’s starting to come back to me now…I remember this Buffy as you spoke so fondly of…I remember brief parts of her…memories that she gave me.” Illyria stated. “Thoughts…feelings that are hers up until she took her last breath.”

Illyria glanced over at Willow for the first time and saw her sad grieving face. “You are of much power…pure power…”

Hearing Illyria speak directly to her made Willow a little shook up.

“There is a lot of power in this room Illyria.” Angel spoke up.

Illyria turned to Angel and focused on him. Angel gulped when he saw her; it was a bit too much for him to take.

“Another warrior…” she glanced back over to Spike and then back to Angel, “Two half breeds and a powerful woman…this is your power? This is how you challenge me?”

”Stand down and I promise you won’t you taking back something is precious to us.” Angel said.

”I decline.” She said.

Angel was going to say something but didn’t get a word in. He was knocked to the ground. Everyone was a little surprised and confused of what happened. They glanced back to where Illyria stood and found her gone.

”Where’d she go?” Fred asked.

Everyone looked all over the office and into the halls and found no site of Illyria.

“She was standing right there and then…gone.” Lorne said.

”She’s a teleporter.” Angel groaned and got to his feet.

”Or she altered time.” Wesley said.

There was no one on duty down in the Wolfram and Hart morgue when Illyria walked inside. She looked and saw only one body with a sheet covering it. Illyria walked over to the body and ripped the sheet off and uncovered dead Knox.

”The Qwa'ha Xahn…” she said softly.

She looked at his face for a moment and then put her hand on his chest and closed her eyes. After a few moments Knox’s eyes opened wide and he started to cough.

Illyria took her hand off of him and stared down at him.

Knox looked around the morgue and then up at Illyria. He was confused look on a first but then he started to grin.

”I knew you would come for me…” Knox said.

“Take me to the gateway.” Illyria demanded.

TBC…….

Chapter 17: Hard to Kill

A/N: Now I know that all you want Buffy back badly and all but I can only say that she won’t be around… for a while. I want to throw a little twist in the next few chapters to make things juicy. I know you Spuffy people are anxious but good things come to those who wait.

Illyria and Knox exited out of Wolfram and Hart morgue and walked down the hallway.

”I didn’t know you could…you know…bring me back to life.” Knox said.

“I do as I please.” Illyria said while walking forward, “I need my Qwa'ha Xahn to bring me to the gateway.”

“Don’t worry about that, I have everything mapped out…” Knox smiled, “I have been waiting for this day my whole life.”

Illyria and Knox kept walking down the hallway and went into the elevator.

”That couldn’t be Buffy…” Dawn shook her head, “She wouldn’t do that.”

”It’s not her Dawn…its Illyria.” Angel said.

“Do we have any idea where she is heading?” Lorne asked.

Wesley walked over to Angel’s desk and brought out a book, “This volume is the most useful book that Wolfram and Hart as possession of.”

Wesley opens up the book and sits it on the desk. Angel, Wesley, Spike, Giles, Dawn, and Willow hover around the book looking at a picture in the book.

“It’s her temple.” Wesley stated, “I can’t pronounce the name of the temple. She was supposed to be resurrected here.”

”What is that?” Willow asked softly and her face cringed as she pointed to body of a snake-like creature coiled around a torso, having dozens of snake-tails where feet should be. The statue is holding two bladed weapons.

“That is Illyria…” Wesley said. Willow looked up in confusion. “It’s her native form.”

”What are those?” Angel pointed behind the statue to thousands of little dots.

”Her army of doom.” Wesley said.

“Where is this temple?” Giles asked while examining the picture still.

”In L.A…her temple was here millions of years ago and I would guess she’d be on her way to opening the gateway by now.” Wesley explained.

”But what about Buffy?” Dawn spoke up. She was sick of the history lesson of a snake like creature that possessed her sister. “Aren’t we going to do something to get her back?”

“One thing at a time Dawn.” Angel said.

Dawn threw Angel a dirty look.

“Besides, if we go up against her it’s going to be hard to get around her time altering ability.” Angel said.

Fred stepped up and handed Angel one of the crystals in from the sarcophagus, “Not anymore.”

Angel looked at the crystal and then back at Fred.

”Its time to get Buffy back.” Fred said.

Illyria and Knox stood inside the lobby of an L.A bank. Knox was a fewsteps away from Illyria, holding a bag. Illyria holds her hands up in front of her face, wiggles her fingers, causing a gust of wind to blow past her, but no portal gateway opening.

”My gateway is blocked!” Illyria shouts and turns to Knox. She is very upset.

“Uh…yeah…I was afraid that might happen.” Knox said, “Wolfram and Hart probably threw a lock on it.”

Illyria just gives him a confused look. Knox started to search through his bag and pulls out something.

”No worries…I brought my skeleton key just in case.” Knox smiles.

”You’re a strange Qwa'ha Xahn.” Illyria says.

Knox frowns and looks down at his feet.

“I’ll just perform the spell.” Knox said and started to set up.

Knox started to chant and the bones soon disappear. He smiles to himself.

“Doesn’t a man stay dead when ya kill him?” Spike’s voice came from the opposite side of the room.

Knox and Illyria turned around and looked to find Wesley, Angel, and Spike.

Knox rose to his feet, “My king needed me…she brought me back…I was—“

Angel lifted the gun and fired at Knox’s head and he instantly fell to the ground.

”I would like to see you resurrect him now.” Angel said to Illyria as he lowered his gun.

”I no longer need him…” Illyria said. “My gateway is open.”

”I’ll die before you turn this world into what you want it.” Angel growled.

Illyria cocked her head to the side, “Why?”

”We’ll give you the short version…let’s start with you walking around and looking like the woman you murdered.” Spike stepped forward.

Illyria paused and looked at his face, “You’re lover…this shell was your lover...that is why you seek for vengeance.”

While Illyria speaks, Spike had his eyes focused downward.

”You’re actions cannot bring her soul back…it is shattered…” Illyria clarified.

Spike looked up at Illyria with narrow eyes, “Enough!” he growled and launched at her.

She punched Spike in the chest, knocking him into the opposite wall. Wesley, who was carrying a sword, swings at Illyria but she ducks and throws him into another wall. Angel starts shooting at her; she kicks Knox’s body at him, knocking the gun out of his hand and the crystal jewel out of his pocket.

Spikegot up off the ground and sees Illyria walking with her hand out in front of her and making a portal opening. Spike rushes up behind her and grabs Angel’s gun and crystal and dives into the portal just as it was about to close.

Spike landed belly up inside Illyria’s temple, and the gun in his hand slipped out of his grasp on impact with the floor. He looked up and watched Illyria walk away.

”You are too late. My army will rise and this world will be—“ Illyria says, but then stops when she sees the reins of her temple. “No…” she whispers to herself.

Illyria looks around and sees that the place is silent and deserted.

“It…it can’t be.” Illyria says devastated. “It’s gone.”

She falls to her knees and runs her hands threw the sand.

“My world is gone.” She whispers.

The shadowy figure stands above Illyria. She looks up and sees Spike pointing the gun at her. “Now you know how I feel.” He says.

Illyria looks up at Spike, wide-eyed. They stare at one another. Then a low sound reverberates nearby, and Spike turns to see a portal has opened up behind him. He looks back at where Illyria was kneeling and sees she's gone. He looks at her toppled statue and walks out of the portal.

Spike stood inside Angel’s office alone, looking out the window into the city of L.A. Angel walked and instantly spotted him.

”Everyone was looking for you.” Angel said.

”Where’s Giles, Dawn, and Willow?” Spike asked.

”I set them up in a hotel…they wanted one far far away from here…” Angel sighed.

“Do you blame them?” Spike asked while still keeping his eyes on the window.

Angel sighed again, “No...” He walked over to his desk chair and collapsed into it.

“I couldn’t do it…” Spike said softly.

Angel looked up at Spike and waited for him to continue.

”I couldn’t kill her.” Spike said, “Even though she isn’t…Buffy…” It took him a hard time saying her name. “Even though she isn’t her I couldn’t do it.”

Angel got up out of his chair and walked over and stood next to Spike. “I don’t think I could either.” Angel confessed.

Both souled vampires stood looking out the window. Angel glanced over at Spike one time and then put his hand on his shoulder, giving him comfort. And this time Spike didn’t give Angel a grim look or a punch, he just accepted it.

TBC...