Buffy opened her eyes and stretched lazily on her new bed. She had the most wonderful dream that night; she had gotten out of hell, killed Mya, and then made passionate love to Angel. She smiled at the thought of all three then looked at her surroundings. She was in a dark gray room with black and red furnishings. It was a very nice looking place that she stayed in, and if it weren’t for the screams of torture victims, she almost could’ve believed she wasn’t in hell. But she was, and because of Mya, it had been for almost three hundred years. And to top it off, she was with Angelus. Buffy rolled her eyes at the thought of the annoying demon and thought back to when she first arrived.
*****
Buffy fell through the vortex. Patches of color surrounded her. One moment, she was in pitch black and then next was surrounded by bright orange and green. She closed her eyes and then hit the ground in a painful thud. Taking in a deep breath, she lay still with her eyes still closed. She stayed like that for a moment until a familiar voice rang through the air.
"Okay, I know this is hell and all, but this, this is too mean," Angelus muttered. Buffy looked up at him in all of his leather panted glory.
"Oh, shit," Buffy hissed. "I’m so going to kill that bitch."
"Nice language, Slayer," Angelus commented. "And by the way, welcome to hell."
"Hell?" Buffy repeated. "How did I get here?"
"I’m guessing it had something to do with Kelvac there," Angelus said and gestured towards the demon’s carcass. Buffy looked with a raised eyebrow. "He wasn’t the smartest demon, but he did know a little magic. Which is very surprising for a giant worm."
"He knew magic?" Buffy repeated. Angelus nodded and extended a hand to help Buffy up. Warily, she looked at him, then took his hand and pulled herself onto her feet.
"Yeah," Angelus replied, then looked Buffy over. "Like the outfit, but the way." Buffy looked down at her white tank-top, black leather pants, and tall boots.
"Well, you inspired it," she tossed at him.
"Hmmm, I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not," he said as if talking to himself. "Well, Kelvac had it so if he died, two vortex’s would open. I’m not exactly sure how you managed to sucked in the second one."
"Mya pushed me, the stupid little bitch," Buffy hissed.
"Mya?" Angelus asked.
"Why the hell do you care?" Buffy asked all of a sudden. He chuckled and began to walk down what seemed to be a sidewalk. After noticing Buffy wasn’t following him, he stopped and motioned for her to follow. She started to walk and was soon at his side.
"When Angel was down here, and we were still one body, there was a demon named Schlep. He had been the gatekeeper for many decades and was getting bored. So he arranged for Angel to be released and separate the two of us. I’m not sure why, but he chose me to replace him."
"Okay, you kinda lost me with the whole gatekeeper thing," Buffy said.
"Um, the gatekeeper is the demon in charge of all who enter hell. I decide where they go, how much their tortured, and for how long. Schlep was the gatekeeper before me. He separated Angel and me and then passed it down to me." They stopped in front of a door and Angelus knocked. "You entered through magic, and you’re a Slayer. What I’m supposed to do with you is beyond me."
"Don’t you hate me or something?" Buffy asked. He shrugged and the door opened. A female vampire looked at him then at Buffy.
"Gatekeeper. Nice to see you. It’s been a while," she said.
"Yes it has, Asja," Angelus replied. "Is Crenshaw in?"
"Don’t know what to do with this one?" Asja asked, mocking him.
"She entered through a magic vortex," Angelus replied.
"So, hasn’t stopped you before."
"She’s a Slayer," Angelus said. Asja’s eyes widened and she looked at Buffy.
"I’ll inform Crenshaw of your arrival. Please, enter," Asja said and opened the door. Angelus entered followed by Buffy and Asja then closed the door. She bustled off to a room and went in.
"Funny, doesn’t fit my vision of hell," Buffy said. A series of pitiful, painful screams erupted from down the street.
"Okay, now it does."
"He’s ready," Asja said, suddenly coming out of the room. "He said to leave the Slayer in here and go in alone."
Buffy sat down in a chair and crossed her legs, waiting for Angelus to reappear and to figure out what she was going to do. After about ten or so minutes, Angelus exited with a scowl plastered on his face.
"He wants to see you, Buffy," Angelus muttered unhappily and sat down in a chair by Buffy’s. Buffy stood up and walked into the office. A young looking man with pale blue skin and bright blue eyes sat at a desk in a black suit. His short white hair was clean and he had a friendly smile.
"Hello Buffy," the man said. "I’m Cryack Crenshaw. You can call me Crenshaw." He stood and extended a long fingered hand. Buffy stood tall and eyed him carefully, in full Slayer mode. "Do not be afraid Slayer. Please, sit, relax." He sat back down and gestured to a comfortable looking chair.
"I’ll sit, but I won’t relax. This place is making my Slayer sense go off the charts," she muttered and sat down.
"If you were any other person, mortal person, you would have a reason to be afraid. But you did not come here because of your own actions," Crenshaw started. "We’re working on getting you out as we speak."
"How long?" Buffy asked.
"Six months," Crenshaw said. "There, in your world. Here, well, it’ll be a little longer."
"Why not earlier?" she asked.
"Your people need to find the right spell. It’s been misplace and will take some time to locate." Buffy thought for a moment.
"Why not just let me out?" she asked.
"Not possible. Unless we want to disturb the balance between good and evil, we cannot open a vortex out of hell. That would not only release you, but half of the population of hell." Buffy frowned. "That wouldn’t be a good thing," she said slowly.
"No, it wouldn’t," Crenshaw agreed. "Which brings us to your current situation."
"Yeah, and why my mortal enemy is acting really, really…odd," Buffy said.
"You mean Angelus? That one’s easy. When we released Angel, we separated the two. But Schlep wanted him to have a little good in him, so we left some of Angel’s humanity in him. Still evil, but he has a good side two. It helps him think more rationally."
"When you released Angel," Buffy repeated.
"When we did that, your Watcher and that redhead were performing a spell to bring him back. All we had to do was do the second part of it and separate the two," Crenshaw explained. "It was, unfortunately, a totally different spell than the one needed to retrieve you."
"Oh, joy," Buffy muttered dryly.
"So, you can either a, be Angelus’s assistant of sorts. Help keep demons in line, learn some magic, that sort of stuff. Or we can find something else for you."
"Be his…as in work with him?" Buffy asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"Do I have to?" Buffy whined.
"Well, no, but what do you want to do?"
"Go home."
"Precisely. You do this, you’ll keep up with training, learn new techniques. And hey, how many Slayer’s can say they went to hell and made friends?"
"How many want to?"
"Fine, but please Buffy, give it a try. It’ll help pass the days. And you might be here for a while." Buffy thought for a moment and then sighed.
"Fine, I’ll do it."
"Great. Tell Angelus you agreed and he’ll set you up with a place and anything else you may need. Oh, some general information. You won’t age, so don’t worry. And that whole being female time, won’t happen. You’re body has basically stopped like that. It can be damaged, but you will not be able to die. So don’t worry." Crenshaw smiled and Buffy rose out of her seat. Feeling somewhat sick, she made her way out into the lobby where Angelus was waiting and looked at him.
"Okay, yup, this is defiantly hell," she muttered. "Well Dead-Boy, let’s go." Angelus glared at her for using Xander’s nickname.
"Don’t call me Dead-Boy," he muttered.
"Well then, what should I call you? The Really Annoying Person? No, that wouldn’t work, not a person." Buffy smirked up at Angelus, which he matched with one of his own.
"Angelus will work fine," he replied. "C’mon, let’s get you situated, then I’ll give you a tour."
*****
Buffy rolled out of bed and got dressed, smiling as she remembered the rest of that day. Now, it had been nearly three hundred years and Crenshaw was right. She had made friends. And in hell. Go figure. She walked out of her room and into the living room of the apartment she shared with Angelus.
"Good morning," she said. Angelus looked up from where he sat with his arms folded across his chest. "Keep that up, and I’ll swear they sent Angelus to earth and left Angel here. What’s up, Brood Boy?"
"They want to retire me. Send me somewhere else," he blurted out. Buffy sat down next to him and raised her eyebrow.
"What do you mean? Fire you?"
"Something like that."
"Must be your stunning personality," Buffy muttered and stood up. She was friends with him, she’d admit that. But like him? Not really. She could barely stand him. And as three or four scars to his chest from staking said, he just wouldn’t die.
"This is serious Buffy. Oh, by the way, Crenshaw said they may have found your spell." Buffy stopped and looked at him. "The only way I can keep my job is if I go with you, help you save the world or some bullshit like that. I don’t want to save the world. I want to stay here and torture people. It’s fun."
"Well, look at the bright side. You can kill Mya for me."
"No, I can’t kill her. Those are the rules. I have to be like Soul-Boy, or I get to be dust." Buffy glared down at him then let out a long breath.
"When?" she asked.
"Tonight," he replied. Buffy turned away from him and went to look out the window. It wasn’t much of a view; there were a few other dwellings for other officials of hell, then row after row of cages and chained victims. At first, it had really bothered her. But then she realized that they weren’t people who deserved pity. Murderers, rapists, demons, vampires. None of them she felt sorry for, and some she helped think of punishments for. The way her humanity was slipping from her scared her, but somehow didn’t bother her.
"Well, is there a way to contact Whistler?" she asked.
"Already done. He knows when to perform the ritual, and he has a place set up. He’s working with Spike and Dru and the watcher’s council. None of them want to release me, but I have no choice. I want to keep my job."
"I don’t think anyone will believe it," she muttered quietly.
"What?"
"A Buffy-whipped Angelus," she smirked at him. Angrily, Angelus got up and stood towering over Buffy.
"I am not your damned lap dog. Not like him. I’m only doing my job," he hissed, his vampire visage melting into his handsome features.
"Yeah, taking orders," Buffy hissed. "See ya later, Angelus. I got rounds to make." She blew him a mock kiss and left the apartment. Angrily, Angelus sunk down and muttered obscene comments about Buffy.
*****
Angel sat up in bed. He shook his head, confused. This was the fifth time in three days that he had, had dreams about Buffy in hell. But that was impossible. She was dead. Mya had told him so and she didn’t have any reason to lie to him. Did she?"
Angel paced back and forth in his house. The dream he had the previous night had thoughts going through his mind a mile a minute. And what bothered him the most, is that it made more sense to think Buffy had been sucked into hell than that she had died. He shook his head. No. She was dead and it had been six months. He had finally started acting normal again. Everyone was glad. Well, everyone but Whistler. He had left right away after Buffy died. That was something that puzzled him too, but it wasn’t unusual that Whistler disappeared for a while. He’d done it before. But then Drusilla had shown up and told him not to get over Buffy, not to forget her. And specifically, not to trust Mya. And after that, nobody had seen the two vampires again. He remembered it clearly.
*****
It had been a week since Buffy’s death and Angel hadn’t left his house at all in that time. A few people, namely Joyce, Giles, and Mya had shown up to comfort him, but he didn’t respond to them much. When Mya had last visited, she said she’d be over that night, so when he heard the knock on the door, he thought it was her.
"Come in," he called out lifelessly. Drusilla opened the door and walked in with a painful smirk on her face.
"You should be careful who you invite in Angel. I would think you’d know that the best," she whispered. "How have you been?"
"How the hell do you think?" he shot at her angrily. She raised an eyebrow.
"Well, with how much Mya’s been dropping by…" she said slowly. Angel glared at her and sunk lower into his chair.
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"What do you think?" Dru asked. He huffed out an exasperated breath. Dru was playing head games and he wasn’t interested.
"Do you have a reason to be here in specific?" he growled out.
"Yes. As a matter of fact, I do. Whistler left for England. I’m not sure when he’ll be back. In fact, he’s requested that Spike and I join him." Angel looked up confused.
"And I care because?" he asked annoyed.
"Don’t get over her," Dru said suddenly. Angel blinked as if he didn’t hear right.
"What?"
"Buffy. Don’t get over her. I can’t go into details, I just can’t. I don’t even know them myself. But don’t get over her. And if you ever cared about her at all, don’t forget that she loves you."
"Loved. She’s dead," Angel said bitterly.
"Loves," Drusilla repeated. "Loves."
"Mya said she died. Buffy is unable to love anymore. She’s dead."
"Well, that’s your problem. Don’t trust Mya. All she’s doing with any of you is screwing with your minds. Don’t trust her, because if you do, well, it’ll turn around and bite you in the ass." With that, Drusilla got up and left, leaving Angel extremely confused and deep in thought.
*****
Angel sat down in his chair in an angry huff. *What the hell did she mean?* he thought. *But maybe that’s just it. Hell.* Angel stood up and went over to his closet as fast as he could. He pulled on his boots and then his leather trench coat. He had a watcher to see.
*****
"Are you sure?" Giles asked. He looked at Whistler, who had disappeared months ago, hopefully. The little demon nodded his head.
"As sure as she’s not a natural blonde," Whistler said. "Buffy’s alive."
"But if she’s alive, then Mya lied to us," Giles said slowly.
"Yup. As a matter of fact, Mya is responsible for Buffy’s death." Giles’s eyes opened wide and he sat, slowly, in a nearby chair.
"What?" he asked softly.
"I’m sorry Watcher, but I have proof. I knew something was up as soon as Dru called me and told me she was having visions about Mya killing Buffy. Add Buffy’s dream that Mya pushed her into a vortex into hell, well, I decided to do something. I got a video camera, a small one, from a demon who owed me big. I gave it to Spike, ‘cause he’s good at hiding things, and they set it up."
"They?" Giles asked, barely staying focused. Buffy, she was alive.
"Spike and Dru. They set it up and I got it right after the battle." Giles looked up confused.
"How?"
"Well, as soon as Mya came out and told us that Buffy died, I forgot about the camera. But then everyone started crying and Angel looked like…"
*****
Whistler felt sorry for Angel. He looked down on the poor guy who looked like his heart was just dug out of his chest with a spoon. *With a spoon?* Whistler thought. *I’ve been spending way too much time with Buffy.*
"Uh, well, I’ll stick around and clean up. You guys should probably go, get some rest," Whistler said quietly.
"Spike, get Dru home. I’ll see you two in a while." They nodded and Spike led Drusilla down the hall. Oz slowly guided the sobbing Willow after them, followed by Xander and Cordelia. Giles and Whistler stared down at Angel for a moment.
"Maybe you ought to bring him with you," Whistler suggested. "You never know what he might try to do." Giles nodded and knelt down by Angel.
"Angel?" Giles asked quietly. "Come on, Angel, it’s time to leave." Angel barely heard him, but stood and continued to stare into space. Giles walked down the hall, Angel following silently behind him.
"I’ll help clean up," Mya said cheerfully.
"For someone who just watched her sister in battle die you seem awfully cheerful," Whistler said slowly.
*****
"That was my first clue that Mya had lied through her teeth," Whistler said. Giles nodded, he remembered that night clearly. He remembered the unsettling feeling that had twisted around in his stomach when he saw Mya come out with a barely contained look of glee on her face. He had just thought she was happy that she had managed to save the world.
"Yes, she did seem a bit…off," Giles said slowly.
"That was only the beginning…" Whistler said, continuing his story.
*****
Whistler walked in and looked around the place. He saw, at the base of each stair case, smoky remains of a vortex into hell. Puzzled, he took a step closer to the one on the left to investigate. Yellow slime and bits of green flesh were on the ground by that one. The only thing that was by the other vortex was a hair clip with bits of blonde hair in it. Buffy’s hair clip. He remembered his conversation with Spike while they waited for the battle to be over.
"I hid it up in the stacks. In the second row, there’s a shelf of blue books. It’s the only brown one. The title is I Spy With My Little Eye," Spike had said.
Whistler walked up the right stair case and looked closely at the bookshelf that had a great view of the library. Just as Spike had said, there was a shelf with all blue books. All except the small brown book in the middle with the title I Spy With My Little Eye. He peered closely at it and saw the small lens protruding a bit from the word Spy. He pulled it out and opened the book, revealing a small camera and a small screen to play the tape on. He hit a button to rewind the tape and watched as his figure walked around then Mya’s re-entered and then, out of nowhere, the battle scene erupted onto the screen. He pushed another button and looked closely at the screen with wide eyes as the demon was slain by Buffy, as the two vortex’s opened, as one swallowed the demon, and as Buffy stood in front of the other. He found himself willing with all of his might, that what he saw next, he hadn’t. Mya stepped behind Buffy and raised her hands to push the petite blonde. At the last possible second, Buffy whirled around, only to be shoved into hell. Whistler watched, dumbfounded as Mya smirked victoriously and as she walked out of the library.
He continued to stare as his own image walked across the screen then as it faded into black. Mya had broken one of the most cherished rules of being a Slayer. Not to abuse your powers for anything other than the good of the world. She had just done it. She had just pushed the world’s only hope for survival into hell. Detached, he hurried around the library and cleaned it with unnatural speed. He had to get to the council as soon as possible, and didn’t need to be waiting around there forever cleaning up after a battle.
*****
Giles took in everything that Whistler had just said to him. Buffy was alive. Mya had pushed her into hell. The Council knew about it.
"Why didn’t you tell us?" Giles asked after a while when he found his voice.
"I couldn’t. My orders were direct from the Council. I had gotten a hold of them when I had first suspected Mya may have been up to something. They told me that if my fears were realized, to get to England as soon as possible. It wasn’t until after I had gotten there had I even thought about Spike or Drusilla. We’ve been working for a while, looking for the spell to get Buffy out of hell. We finally found it about a week ago. We know she isn’t in any danger, we’ve gotten a hold of a demon named Crenshaw. He’s in charge of the section Buffy had gotten pulled into. He said she’s gotten adjusted pretty well, trains every day, has been learning magic –"
"This is all very nice, but I don’t care what she’s doing there. What I do care about, sir, is why the hell she isn’t here!" Giles exploded. Whistler smiled.
"We need your help with the spell. We’re getting out two bodies, and we need your knowledge of the occult." Giles nodded a small nod.
"What does the Council plan to do about Mya?" he asked carefully. Whistler sighed and looked away for a moment.
"All they are going to do, is take away her powers," Whistler said. "Well, that, and then give Buffy full options on what to do. Half of them wouldn’t mind if Buffy killed her. They’ve already done the spell. It should be going into effect soon." Giles nodded.
"When do we do the spell?" he asked.
"Sunset," Whistler said. "Here’s the stuff we need you to take care of." Whistler handed him a sheet of paper and got up to walk out the doors. "Oh, and Watcher?" Giles looked up at him. "Don’t tell anybody, not even Angel. That’s not up to us. That’s up to her." Giles nodded and the demon once again disappeared into the crowded halls of Sunnydale High.
Angel walked nervously into the school. The sun was setting and he had run into the Slayerettes on his way down the street. They had told him that Giles said not to disturb him tonight, he had research to do or something. Angel moved down the hall and stopped at the library doors. Quietly, he pushed them open and walked into the library.
"Ah, you’re here," Giles said then turned around. "Angel? What are you doing here?" he asked startled. Quickly, he pushed something behind a stack of books and Angel frowned.
"I needed to talk to you," Angel said. "About my dreams that I’ve been having about Buffy." He stopped talking, his voice catching on the ‘dead’ Slayer’s name.
"Can they wait until tomorrow?" Giles asked hurriedly and glanced out the window at the darkened sky. "I’m expecting someone very important."
"But –" Angel started.
"And, I have something to tell you about Mya. Something that I’m not at liberty to explain right now," Giles said quietly. Angel opened his mouth to speak. "And it’s about Buffy." Angel paled and stood frozen to his spot.
"Is Mya responsible for Buffy’s…death?" Angel asked slowly. Giles didn’t respond. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and sighed.
"I’m not at liberty to discuss it," he repeated.
"Giles!" Angel said. "Tell me! What happened? What really happened to Buffy? Please, I need to know."
"Mya…she…Buffy’s not dead. Not like we were told," Giles said.
"Then where the hell is she?" Angel asked.
"That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Hell."
"No," Angel said. Giles nodded.
"Do not tell anyone what we spoke of," Giles said. "I’m expecting some people who will help bring Mya what she deserves. All will reveal itself in due time." Angel blinked then, with his head lowered, he started for the door.
"I can’t believe it," Angel murmured.
"I have proof, and soon, I will have Buffy," Giles said. "Come back tomorrow, Angel, perhaps we can discuss this more then. But now, I need you to leave me in peace." Angel nodded, and still in shock, left the library.
He had intended finding out what his dreams meant, but this, this was too much! Buffy was alive and the one person he allowed himself grow close to was the one responsible for her death. He got to the door then stopped. No, he wouldn’t leave. He’d stick around and see exactly who was so important that Giles couldn’t tell his closest friends about. Slowly, Angel found an unlocked room and hid away in the dark. After about an hour, he heard voices go past the room and down the hall towards the library. Quietly, he crept out of the room and followed.
*****
Giles paced throughout the library. It was almost an hour after sunset and the others were getting suspicious as to why they couldn’t be in the library. He had told them there wasn’t anything to be worried about, but they saw right through him. Maybe if he had just left and kept the doors locked…
"Watcher?" a hesitant female voice asked.
"Sorry, Giles isn’t home right now. Please leave your name, number, and brief message after the tone and he’ll get back to you as soon as he can," Spike muttered.
"What? Oh, uh, hello," Giles said as he turned, startled, and faced Spike, Drusilla, and Whistler. "How long have you three been here?"
"Not very," Whistler said casually. "We needed to pick up something that Spike here…destroyed."
"It was an accident!" Spike exclaimed. "I couldn’t help the fact you put it in a tube that resembled my hair dye!"
"Calm down, Spike," Drusilla murmured. "We know it was an accident. It wasn’t your fault." Giles suppressed a grin and looked at the others.
"Well, we have all of the supplies. Let’s get started, shall we?" Spike and Dru nodded and both Giles and Whistler got out a bag of sand. It was dark green mixed in with some shimmering white bits. They drew a circle around the area where Buffy had been shoved into hell and Drusilla lit some candles. Spike silently took a bottle of a strange oil and poured it into two wooden bowls.
"Spike, when I say, you need to light those, okay?" Whistler asked. Spike got out his lighter and nodded.
"We’re almost ready," Giles said.
*****
"Ready?" Crenshaw asked. Buffy strengthened up and nodded. Crenshaw handed her a long black velvet robe and she slipped it on over her clothes. Next to her, Angelus paced in the confined area that they had to be in and also put on a robe. Buffy rubbed the velvet against her cheek then pulled up the hood.
"I can’t believe it," he muttered. "I have to act like the Slayer’s damned lap dog!" Buffy sighed and then looked at him through narrowed eyes.
"Don’t even start," she hissed. "I don’t like this any more than you do."
"Ha!" Angelus said. "You’re going to love this! Not only do you get to order me around, but you’re going to have two Angel’s around to do your bidding!"
"If you’re thinking what I think you are…" Buffy threatened.
"Face it Slayer. The thought of both Angel and I in bed with you makes you all hot and bothered," Angelus said. "It’s a good thing that Angel gave you a bit more experience though, because I don’t want to repeat that night of your seventeenth birthday."
"I’m sick of fighting with you," Buffy said slowly. "Take it back, or I swear on my mother’s grave you will never live long enough to leave hell."
"Oh that’s right, one of my creations killed that annoying little twit," Angelus said cruelly. Around them, two bowls of oil were lighted and two demons in robes started to chant.
"And I’m going to hunt him down and make him wish I’d kill him," Buffy growled. "And I’m going to practice on you." Angelus laughed and Buffy pulled out a stake.
"Oh come on Slayer, you couldn’t kill me before, what makes you think you can now?" he asked, mockingly.
"Well, if you think I’m not going to be able to kill you, let’s do this. Stay in the weird green sand, and we’ll fight," Buffy said.
"We aren’t even out of hell and already you’re ordering me around!" Angelus growled. His face morphed into it’s vampiric visage and Buffy kicked at him. Bright blue light surrounded them and Angelus looked at it, mesmerized. Buffy took the advantage and raised the stake to plunge it into his chest. White light burst through the circle and Buffy, blinded, jammed her stake down into the vampires chest. He howled in pain and then the light died. Buffy looked around and was semi-startled to stare into the face of Giles.
"Hi Giles," she said perkily then glanced down at the vampire who she had jammed her stake into. He was lying on the ground, the stake deep in his stomach. She bent down to check if he was conscious and then stood up. "Damn, I missed," she muttered, her hood still covering her face.
*****
Angel crept to the library doors and he peered into one of the circular windows. His eyes widened as a small black figure crouched over a larger one, then straightened up.
"Damn, I missed," it muttered. The larger black figure from the floor stood and pulled a sharp wooden stake from his stomach. Some light fell onto his face and Angel stood in the doorway, reflecting the black-clad figure holding the bloody stake. *My god,* Angel thought. *Angelus.* The short feminine figure walked into the lighted part of the library, but Angel didn’t even look at it until his demon counterpart talked to it.
"Dammit Slayer, why’d you have to go and go that?" Angelus hissed.
"Why’d you have to go after my friends after my seventeenth birthday?" Buffy asked.
"No matter what I do, you always come back to that," Angelus grumbled. Angel slowly looked at the blonde Slayer who hopped up onto the counter and did a double take. Giles said he’d get Buffy soon, but…*Buffy.*
"You okay?" Buffy asked. "I’m still not sure why I’m asking, but are you?" Angelus nodded and tossed the bloody stake to Buffy.
"You have bad aim," he muttered. Slowly, Angelus looked around his surroundings and sighed when Buffy looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
"I could’ve killed you and you’re scolding my aim?" she asked incredulously.
"Sorry Slayer, but right now, dying would probably be better than being here and acting like soul boy," he grumbled.
"Yes, well, that was you’re arrangement," Giles said coldly. It unnerved him to be so close to the one responsible for destroying his life.
"I know, I know," Angelus muttered. "I’ll be good. I can’t believe I just said that."
"Well, get used to it, ‘cause it’s gonna be a while," Buffy said. She looked around and let her eyes settle on all of the occupants of the room.
"How much do you hate Mya?" Whistler asked. Buffy raised an eyebrow and bent back, opening a drawer behind the counter and removing a knife.
"There are no words to describe how much I hate that little whore," Buffy hissed.
"Well, good. ‘Cause the Council’s letting you have full say in her…punishment. You can kill her if you want," Whistler told her.
"Then I’d be just like her," Buffy said quietly.
"How’ve you been Buffy?" Drusilla asked after a moment.
"I’ve been in hell for three hundred with the demon responsible for destroying my and my friend’s lives," Buffy replied.
"That bad, huh?" Spike asked. She shrugged.
"I’ve learned some cool magic and stuff…" Buffy said, letting her voice trail off. "It’s weird. I haven’t been here for so long, but it’s only been six months. I’m so different…"
"And everyone here’s still the same," Giles said.
"What about you?" Buffy asked suddenly. "What’s your opinion of Mya?" Giles raised his eyebrows in surprise and then thought for a moment as he poured some holy water onto the flame that was emitted from the bowls of oil.
"Well, she sent you to hell and lied to all of us," Giles said. "I don’t think anyone will be all that happy with her actions."
"But you don’t hate her, do you? You don’t feel that what she did was unfair and she should be punished, do you?" Buffy asked.
"I never said that, Buffy. I’m still getting adjusted to what she’s done. I do not know what should be done about her," Giles said, his voice raising at the end of his sentence.
"I never asked what you thought should be done about her," Buffy said, her tone flat. "I just asked who’s side you’re on. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful for you getting me out of there…I just want to know who my friends are."
"I’m sorry Buffy, but she’s my Slayer. I have to stick by her actions," Giles said. Buffy stared at him, no emotions showing on her face.
"And where was that…that loyalty when I was your Slayer?" she asked. "I did everything I could to be the Slayer and still have a life and when that backfired on me, you weren’t like this. You were cold and distant and the only reason you stuck by me was because of your duty."
"That’s not true," Giles protested. "I was hurt that you kept things from me, that you didn’t trust me enough to come home."
"Giles, Buffy, stop it you two," Drusilla said. "I’m not going to stand here and watch the two of you fight." Buffy took in a shaky breath and looked at Giles.
"I’m sorry about that Giles, I really am," Buffy said. "But I need to know. When the time comes, Mya’s going to be punished. And I want to know exactly who I’m going up against."
"Well, sure as hell not me," Spike said. "I can’t stand the little twit. She’s so irritating."
"Same goes with me. Something’s not right in her. I get such an evil vibe from her," Drusilla said. She moved closer to Buffy and looked at her, frowning. "I told you something was wrong. I knew she couldn’t be trusted."
"I know," Buffy said. "I should’ve listened to you." She slid off the counter-top and gave Drusilla a hug.
"Welcome home, Buffy," the brunette vampire whispered.
"Hey, don’t I get one too?" Spike asked. Buffy smiled and let go of Dru. She took a step to him and laughed when he gave her a welcoming hug, almost picking her up off her feet.
"Well, Buffy, I’m on your side too," Whistler said. "Mainly ‘cause that’s who’s side the Council is on and I have to listen to them, but also ‘cause I like you more."
"Buffy," Giles started. Buffy’s smile disintegrated from her face and she looked at him. "I’m not choosing sides, not yet. But remember what I told you. You don’t forgive someone because they deserve it, but because they need it." Buffy nodded.
"I tried to understand why she did it, but there isn’t anything I can think of," Buffy said. "The vortex wasn’t growing, we could’ve easily caught a vampire and threw him into hell."
"I know," Giles said. "And we’ll find out why she did, I promise." Buffy smiled at Giles and moved to sit at the table.
"I suppose you might want to hear what goes on in hell, huh?" Buffy asked.
"Well, actually, yes," Giles said. He picked up a book and a pen. "Would you mind if I wrote it down?"
"No, not at all," Buffy said. "Have a seat, Dead-Boy, we’re going to be here for a while." Grumbling, Angelus sat down next to Buffy. Spike sat next to him and Dru across from Buffy. Whistler hopped up on the spot where Buffy had sat on the counter and Giles sat down next to Buffy.
"Do you want to start, or should I?" Angelus asked Buffy.
"I will," she said and looked at Giles. "Well, they guy who runs the area is Crenshaw and for every Hellmouth, there’s an area of hell. The leaders of the areas are determined by…"
*****
Angel stood there, stunned. He had just watched Buffy have what seemed to be a normal conversation with Angelus, watched her have a heated debate with Giles, and then sit down to describe hell. From what he could hear her say, it was pretty much the same thing as he had experienced. Slowly, Angel walked to the wall and leaned against it. The words Buffy had said ran through his head at a mile a minute. Mya had sent her to hell. His dreams were true. How could he have been so…
"Angel!" a voice called out, disrupting his thoughts. He looked up and saw Xander running down the hall, Oz right behind him.
"Xander? What’ wrong?" Angel asked, getting to his feet. Xander took in a deep breath, but fear was still written all over his face.
"Vampires…Bronze…Cordy…" Xander gasped.
"Huh?" Angel asked.
"There are vamps at the Bronze, lots of them. They’ve got Mya, Willow, and Cordelia along with all of the other people in there. Man, Mya tried to fight them, but she was powerless. Something’s wrong," Oz explained. Angel nodded and took in a deep breath.
"We need to get Giles and supplies," Xander said, catching his breath.
"A Slayer would help too," Angel muttered.
"But Mya’s…" Oz said.
"Not Mya," Angel said. He walked to the doors and pushed them open. "Buffy." Oz and Xander quickly followed Angel inside the library. They stopped when they saw Buffy sitting at a table, talking to Giles with Angelus at her side.
"Angel? What’s wrong?" Giles asked. "I thought I told you to come back later."
"Buffy?" Xander asked. "But…she’s dead." He stared at Buffy who sat frozen. She looked at them then took in a deep breath.
"Um, not really," she said quietly. "I’m pretty much alive."
"Okay, I’m really freaked here, especially since there’s an Angel clone sitting next to you, but Willow’s in trouble so I’m going to put it aside," Oz said.
"Willow’s in trouble?" Buffy repeated. She got to her feet and the others followed. "Where?"
"The Bronze," Oz told her.
"Don’t they ever get sick of attacking there?" Buffy asked.
"I guess not," Angel said. He looked cautiously at Angelus who said nothing but stared back. Buffy walked over to the cage and looked inside.
"Game plan, and quick," Buffy said.
"How about, we go there and kill the vampires," Angelus muttered.
"Well, obviously," Buffy said. "But we can’t just go there, yell ‘Charge!’ and get ourselves killed in the process. That’s generally why a plan is a good idea."
"I’m not stupid," Angelus hissed.
"Could’ve fooled me," Buffy said under her breath. Angelus glared at her.
"Well, if we could somehow get inside and attack from there, we might have more of an advantage," Angelus said. "Going from the outside risks lives of the hostages."
"Have they started attacking yet?" Buffy asked.
"No, that’s the weird thing," Xander said. "No. It’s like they’re waiting for someone." Xander paused and then continued. "There’s something else. There was this guy that didn’t look like he was there, but he was." Buffy looked at Xander.
"What’d he look like?" she asked.
"He’s about my height, with long dark hair and really dark eyes. He was wearing a robe a lot like that one," Xander said and gestured the one Buffy was wearing. "Only it was…"
"Blue," Buffy said finishing his sentence. "Dark blue." Xander nodded. "Shit."
"Are you sure?" Angelus asked. Xander nodded again and Angelus looked at Buffy. "I’m gonna have to agree with you. Shit. This is bad Buffy. How’d he manage to get to the Bronze?"
"Xander said it didn’t look like he was there. Astral projecting, maybe?" Buffy asked. "But I wasn’t able to do it, why would he?"
"He’s a lot older than you." Angelus said. "And…"
"And what?" Buffy demanded.
"That’s who they left in place of me," Angelus said.
"What! Are they nuts? That guy is way evil! He’ll probably suck the entire…"
"Who?" Giles asked, interupting her wild banter. Buffy stopped.
"Kelvin. Lord Kelvin. He’s an evil son of a bitch and knows a whole lotta magic. This is probably the last guy you want in charge of the Hellmouth," Buffy explained.
"But he can’t open it without Crenshaw’s permission," Angelus said. Buffy nodded.
"Which is why we need to get to the Bronze and find out exactly what he’s up to," Buffy said. She pulled off the black robe and grabbed a few stakes from the cage, placing them in her clothing. She tossed a few to Angelus and then handed the rest to Drusilla. "We need to be there, now."
Buffy made her way, silently, to the Bronze. Taking in a deep breath, she reminded herself that there were others following and that she needed to slow down for them to catch up. Buffy slowed to a stop in an alley by the Bronze and glanced behind her as Xander, Oz, Giles, and Angel all struggled to catch up. The three vampires, Angelus, Drusilla, and Spike had kept up fine and Whistler was a few feet ahead of them.
"Well," Giles said as he neared Buffy. "I think it’s safe to say you’ve kept in shape." Buffy only gave him a small nod then started off for the Bronze, her senses on full.
"We’re close," she said. They came up behind the Bronze and she looked up to the roof. "Do they still have that skylight?"
"Most of it’s boarded up after the last time there was an attack," Angel told her. "They didn’t want to shell out the cash to fix the glass after we broke it."
"But there’s still a way to get in?" she asked.
"Well, yeah."
"So, what’s the problem. We do like we did before, split up. There’s nine of us, so three groups of three." Buffy looked around at the others for preferences.
"Slayer," Spike said. She looked at him and he stepped closer. "Dru, Whistler and I haven’t been here in a while. The three of us are more used to working with you and Angelus there."
"Good point," Buffy said. "But, we need firepower. No offence, but having just one really good fighter in the group and two okay is the perfect way to get everyone killed. We need to balance the groups."
"Okay, so Xander, Oz, and Angel each in a separate group," Giles said. "I’ll go with Xander and we can take Whistler."
"Okay, that’s good," Buffy said.
"Then we can split up the rest of you. Spike and Dru can go with Oz," Giles said. "Which leaves you two with Angel."
"Fun," Angelus muttered.
"Shut up," Buffy hissed. "You’re gonna have to get used to this, like it or not."
"Not," he told her. Buffy closed her hands into tight fists and closed her eyes as an attempt to control her anger.
"Please, just cooperate. Just this once," she asked quietly with her eyes still closed. She opened them and saw him nodding. Her face hardened. "Okay. My group gets the roof. Spike, you take you and yours around front. The rest go in through here." Without another word, she pulled herself up onto some boxes and then jumped up to the roof. Angelus followed and Angel started up the boxes.
"You know," he said. The others on the ground looked up at him. "I thought being an ex-vampire was weird. Now I get to go fight with my…well, I’m not sure what title Buffy has, but I get to go fight with her and my evil alter ego. Who, by the way, has some sort of relationship with Buffy."
"Yup, just another day on the Hellmouth," Xander said. Angel pulled himself up onto the roof and felt a small twinge of jealousy rush through him when he saw how Angelus stood over Buffy. She looked down the hole in the boards and then smirked up at Angelus and he chuckled. They were obviously friends and Angel didn’t know how to react.
"You gonna stand there all night?" Buffy asked quietly. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, he could’ve sworn he saw love reflecting in them. Then it was gone. Angel tried, but he couldn’t find any flicker of emotion in her face.
"No, I was just…" Angel stopped at a loss for words.
"Thinking about how utterly bizarre this is?" Angelus asked.
"I’m having a conversation with my evil twin," Angel said bluntly. "No, I don’t think bizarre covers this."
"Well, you two can plan the family reunion after we do this," Buffy said. She pulled up one of the boards and then glanced down. "I’ll go first, you two follow." She dropped her legs into the hole and sat on the edge. "One more thing."
"What’s that?" both Angel and Angelus asked at the same time. Buffy raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off.
"Don’t kill each other," she told them.
"Hey, you know me," Angelus told her.
"That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Touch him, and I’ll make you wish you were still in hell," Buffy said.
"I already do," Angelus shot back. "Anything’s better than having to help you save the world. Including hell." Buffy rolled her eyes then dropped down into the Bronze. She grabbed onto some ropes and climbed down them against the wall un-noticed. Angelus followed behind her, and Angel behind him. They glanced around and Buffy’s eyes settled on Kelvin.
"Hey, over there," she muttered. Angelus and Angel looked over.
"Dammit," Angelus cursed.
"The girls are over there," Angel said and gestured towards a nearby table. Buffy nodded and then sighed.
"Let’s get this done," she murmured and took a few steps forward. "Kelvin!" The demon in the dark blue robe turned and his image flickered with the movement.
"Well, well, well, look who decided to show," Kelvin muttered. Angel moved behind her and out of the corner of her eye, Buffy saw Angelus move along the wall. "And look, you’re pet Angelus is with you too."
"Well, actually," Angelus said from the other side of Buffy. "That one’s Angel."
"How interesting," Kelvin said snidely then turned his attention to Buffy. "I was waiting for you to show up. I have something to tell you."
"And what’s that?" Buffy asked coldly.
"The world…it’s gonna end," Kelvin told her. "And it’s your fault." Buffy froze for a moment, her face a picture of confusion. "We knew, Crenshaw and I, that we needed the other part to the spell. But the Watcher’s Council had it and we knew they wouldn’t give it to us. Unless, of coarse, we had something they valued." Buffy’s eyes widened.
"Like me," she whispered.
"I knew you weren’t as stupid as you looked," Kelvin said victoriously. "We told them that the most powerful Slayer was in our custody and that we needed the other part to the spell to release her. They needed some time to track it down, but eventually, we got the spell and they got their Slayer."
"More powerful that before," Buffy said. "I’m stronger, you know that."
"Doesn’t matter. The world’s gonna end and there’s nothing you can do about it."
"So why all the vamps here holding these people hostage?" Angelus asked. "If all you wanted to do was give her a message?"
"I needed to get her somewhere where I could talk with her. Somewhere where she wouldn’t do anything rash to threaten the lives of these people she’s so passionate about protecting." Kelvin waved his hand through the air, gesturing the frightened and some unconscious people about the room. "My deal was, they hold the people and keep them from leaving, and as soon as I’m done here, they have fun."
"Why?" Buffy asked.
"Because, I’m evil, it’s what I do," Kelvin muttered. "Be seeing you, Slayer." His form flickered again and then was gone. Spike and Dru rushed in the front entrance, shaking a bit of dust off of them, and Giles and Whistler busted down the rear entrance. The others filed in. The vampires looked warily at their old masters, Spike and Dru, and of coarse, Angelus, then at the two slayers, Mya and Buffy. Buffy let out an angry breath and then started to chuckle.
"Okay boys, you want a fight? I’ll give you one," she challenged. With a toss of her hair, Buffy pulled out a stake and then looked out at the others. "Get these people outta here," she commanded. Nobody needed to be told twice to leave and suddenly the Bronze was empty, not including the slayers, vampires, and Slayerettes.
"Slayer," one vampire started.
"Bored now," Buffy hissed and chucked the stake at him. The stake landed in his heart and he disintegrated. "Who’s next?"
The vampires were frightened. They weren’t sure why, but they were. A few of them had gone up against Buffy before and knew that she was powerful. But she had never acted that way during a battle. Never. Even more confusing was the fact that she had Angelus on her side. The vampires knew for sure that he didn’t have a soul, they could read it in his eyes, but then why would he work with Buffy?
After getting no reply other than the vampire’s confused stares, she dove at the nearest one. Nobody moved as he dropped into a fighting stance and Buffy stopped a few feet away from him. He swung at her, she ducked, he kicked, and Buffy caught the blow in her stomach.
"Buffy!" Angel and Angelus called out at the same time. They glared for a moment at each other then rushed to help Buffy. She ignored both of them and released several furious blows to the vampire. He received all of them; the ones to his face, stomach, and chest, were all taken in, his body absorbed them all. But it was hurting him. Buffy could see this. Other than the sounds of the fighting, the Bronze was silent. She suddenly stopped and turned, the bloody vampire falling unconsciously behind her. A few vampires moved on the other side of the Bronze towards the table where Willow, Cordelia, and Mya were sitting.
"Slayer!" a brave vampire called out to her. Buffy’s eyes met his with a defiant glare. He brought a knife up to Mya’s neck. "Surrender or this one dies."
"So?" Buffy asked, shrugging.
"Buffy," Angelus hissed. Buffy rolled her eyes then looked at him with a smirk on her face.
"You don’t stand a chance against us," Buffy said to the vampires behind her, still keeping eye contact with Angelus.
"Then we’ll take these ones with us," the same vampire replied.
"Then I have only one thing to say," Buffy said and an evil grin fell upon her face.
"What’s that?" Buffy turned and looked at him.
"I have a lovely bunch of coconuts, deedley, deedley, dee," she sang out.
"Spike, Dru! Down!" Angelus called out. Unsure of what was going on, the vampires all looked startled as Spike and Dru did what Angelus did, dove for cover. Then they saw a bright light spread from Buffy’s palm to her fingers. She raised her hands out in front of her, then in a flash to everything that was chest level to Buffy was incased in the light. The vampires screamed while all of the humans in the room felt a warmth rush through them. Then, it stopped. Buffy’s arms dropped and she sunk to the ground. Angelus was up in a flash and at her side. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Buffy replied. "It just takes a lot out of me. Are they dead?"
"Yeah."
"How did you know?"
"That you were doing that spell?" Buffy nodded. "Practice." Buffy smiled a bit and then, with Angelus’s help, raised to her feet. "Are you sure you’re –"
"I’m fine," Buffy said. "If you keep asking me that, you’ll end up like that vamp over there."
"Okay, anyone care to explain?" Willow asked suddenly. "Buffy’s over there with an Angel clone. How did that happen? She’s supposed to be dead. And what was that blue light?"
"I’m not dead. You were…" Buffy stopped and looked pointedly at Mya. "Misinformed. As to who this moron is, don’t worry, he doesn’t bite. And if he does, he’ll answer to me –" she looked sideways at Angelus "– and my grapefruit spoon."
"Hey, you keep that thing away from me. That is just…evil," Angelus said and glared down at the petite blonde Slayer.
"You would know," Buffy shot back.
"I have never, in all of my…lives, done anything that extreme," Angelus protested. "What is it with you and sharpened utensils? I’m just glad they don’t have sandpaper in hell."
"No, they have sandstone, which is better. It’s easier to get a chunk of sandstone on the inside of a melon-baller…I haven’t told you about that one, have I?"
"I don’t want to know. I don’t want to know," Angelus kept chanting. Buffy rolled her eyes and smiled a wicked smile at him.
"Chicken," she muttered.
"Well you know what they say, everything this side of the sun tastes like chicken," he said slyly. Angel’s eyes nearly popped out of his head and Buffy just raised an eyebrow.
"Keep wishing, *Peaches*, keep wishing," Buffy said to Angelus. They stood there, eyes met and deadly expressions playing on their faces. Slowly, Buffy’s emotionless face transformed into a smirk.
"I’m going to take a wild guess here and say he’s Angelus," Cordelia said.
"Well, at least she’s not as stupid as I thought," Angelus muttered lowly as Buffy turned to face her. Hearing this, the Slayer jabbed her elbow back and caught him in the stomach.
"Unfortunately," Buffy muttered. The Bronze once again fell silent and Buffy let her gaze wander around the room until it settled on Mya. Angelus smirked at the room and then silently bent over Buffy’s shoulder, pretending to move in to bite her. She stomped backwards on his foot then brought her fist up to crush his nose with her strength.
"Ow!" he muttered.
"Well stop leaning over my shoulders. Gives me the wiggens just having you around, just stay out of my personal bubble or I’ll shove my stake where the sun don’t shine," Buffy threatened.
"The sun doesn’t shine anywhere on me," Angelus replied.
"If you don’t shut up I’m going to take this stake," she pulled a stake from her boot. "And shove it so far up your ass, you’ll have to throw it up to get it out." Angelus’s eyes went wide for a moment then he frowned.
"Is that even physically possible?" he asked. Buffy growled, shook her head, then walked towards Mya.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here," she muttered. Slowly, Buffy circled around Mya like a bird of prey circling in on a mouse.
"Buffy. You look…good," Mya stammered.
"Take a good look, because if I get my way, you won’t have any eyes left when I’m through with you. In fact, you won’t really anything left at all. I’m going to rip your body –"
"As much as I like the visual, Buffy, why do you want to kill her so much?" Xander asked quietly. Buffy looked up at him and gave him a sad smile.
"I’m not the one to tell you." Buffy looked at Mya with venom in her eyes. "She is." Mya opened her mouth and Angel, Xander, Oz, Willow, and Cordelia looked at her for her answer. The others just watched sadly, already knowing what Buffy was talking about. "Well?"
"I can’t," Mya said. "I can’t."
"Well, I hope you’re happy. Not only did you get rid of me…temporarily, but you’ve also managed to succeed in signing the world’s death wish. Kelvin was wrong, it’s not my fault that they have the spell. It’s yours. And I hope he kills you. Because what I’m going to do to you will be much, much worse."
"Great, now I’m hungry," Angelus muttered. "I’m going to take a wild guess and say I’m going to be bag fed, huh?"
"Yup," Buffy answered.
"Damn," Angelus growled.
"C’mon. We’ve got patrol to do and then get you situated for the night," Buffy whispered. She looked one last time around the Bronze and then walked silently out the front entrance.
"Oooh, not good. The last time I saw Buffy this pissed was…" Angelus frowned, trying to remember the details. "I’ve seen her a lot less angry and it’s been death for every one of her opponents. Sorry Mya, but you’ve signed your own death certificate yourself. She’ll kill you." He looked directly into her eyes then smiled as he morphed into his vampiric visage. "If she doesn’t, I will. Three hundred years. Hell has been redefined." Mya’s body shook and tears streamed down her face. Angelus did nothing but smirk at her then leave to catch up with Buffy. Giles walked over to Mya and glared down at her.
"It is my honor to announce that you have been officially fired by the Watcher’s Council. You’re powers will be taken away, and you’re life left in Buffy’s hands," Giles told her.
"No, please," Mya pleaded. One by one, everyone in the Bronze left. The only ones who remained were Angel and Mya.
"I can’t believe it," Angel said, his tone harsh. "All this time and you’ve been lying to me."
"I’m so sorry," Mya told him.
"Why?"
"Because…she can’t make you happy," Mya said shamefully. "I can."
"You’re too late," Angel said. "She made me happy long before I even heard your name. Long before the two slayers before you died." Angel shook his head. "The only thing I feel for you is pity." He turned and left the Bronze, in search of Buffy. *I only hope I’m not too late,* Angel thought as he moved through the darkness. *I only hope.*
Buffy and Angelus walked down the street, side by side. Buffy played with a stake and Angelus just looked at the sky.
"It’s been so long since I’ve seen the stars," he said quietly.
"They’re beautiful," Buffy said. *Almost as much as you,* Angelus thought. He sighed and then watched as Buffy idly played with her stake.
"Are you sure you’re up for patrol?" he asked. "That spell took a lot out of you."
"Since when do you care whether or not I’m tired?" Buffy asked.
"For a long time," Angelus muttered with a shrug. "You do that."
"Do what?"
"Weasel your way into someone’s heart and hold on so tight, that as soon as you start to let go, that person feels like their going to die," Angelus replied. "Only I’m not a person. And I’m already dead." "I don’t know what to do," she muttered, suddenly serious. "I mean, here we are, back on earth. And the last time both of us were here together, we tried to kill each other."
"Correction. I tried to kill you; you just sat there." Buffy stopped in her tracks and looked at him, shocked.
"I did not!"
"You did too." Buffy glared at Angelus then he continued. "We had something special…but that was then and this is now. And in hell, but that’s a given."
"I love Angel. Still, after all this time, I love him." A silence swam through them and they continued to walk.
"You love him. So why are you telling me and not him?" Angelus asked, suddenly quiet.
"Because I care about you too. Ever since we…" She stopped and looked down at the ground. "What we had can never be. Simply because of where we are and who we are."
"I agree," Angelus said. "Doesn’t mean I like it, but I agree." They looked at each other for a moment, then looked away. The hairs on the back of Buffy’s neck raised and she felt the presence of other vampires. She whipped around, stake up and ready to strike, then stopped. It was Spike and Dru.
"Sheesh Slayer!" Spike muttered. "Bloody hell, you almost killed me!"
"Sorry," Buffy said. "But you know better than to sneak up on me."
"I warned him," Dru said. "But did he listen? Nooo. He had to sneak up like some little bug and nearly get himself killed."
"Did not!" Spike muttered. Drusilla and Buffy looked at each other for a moment and then smiled at Spike, shaking their heads.
"Do you two have somewhere to stay for tonight?" Drusilla asked.
"Um, not really," Buffy said.
"Well, we still have your keys," Dru said. "Your still welcome with us." Buffy smiled and nodded.
"That would be nice," she told them. Drusilla took out a key ring and handed it to Buffy.
"So, you two find any vamps?" Spike asked.
"None, other than you, Sit N’ Spin," Angelus muttered. The two vampires glared at each other, low growls being emitted from each. Buffy and Dru only rolled their eyes and then gave each other small smiles.
"Well, we wanted to find you two, let you know that you could stay with us," Dru said. "See you later, Buffy. Angelus."
"Drusilla," Angelus said with a small nod. The female vampire latched her hand to Spike’s wrist and dragged him away from Buffy and Angelus. "That was…interesting."
"Promise me you’ll be nice to them," Buffy said. Angelus emitted a small whining noise and looked pitifully at Buffy. "Promise," Buffy said a little more sternly.
"Fine," Angelus grumbled. They continued down the street and turned to go into the cemetery. The earlier uncomfortable feeling had dissipated with the arrival of Spike and Dru. They moved in the darkness, hidden by the shadows, and turned around a mausoleum. Getting another strange feeling that they were being followed, Buffy motioned for Angelus not to move. She raised her stake again and turned to strike. Then she stopped.
"What is it with you people sneaking up on me?!" she exploded when she saw Angel. "First Spike and Dru, now you. Didn’t I tell you to yodel?"
"Yeah. I just wanted…I wanted to talk with you," Angel said. Shifting uncomfortably, Angelus leaned against the stone wall of the tomb.
"I’m gonna say that means you want me to leave, huh?" Angelus asked. Angel started to nod but Buffy interrupted.
"No," Buffy said. "I don’t trust you to be good." Angelus placed his hand over his heart in mock hurt.
"I’m hurt, Slayer," he said. "I thought you trusted me."
"I trust you, just not around other people," she said. "I can take you, they can’t. Simple as that." He smirked at her.
"I know you can take me," he said and suppressed a chuckle. Buffy raised an eyebrow as a warning then looked at Angel.
"You’ll have to forgive him. I didn’t give him his medication today," she muttered. "Look, Angel, it’s been a really long day. Very odd. I’m tired and gonna book. No vamps are out tonight. I guess I killed them all. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?" Angel blinked, not really sure how to say what he needed to talk with her about was very important, and then nodded.
"Okay," Angel said. Buffy smiled at him then continued past the mausoleum.
"Sorry soul-boy, looks like I’m going home with her instead," Angelus muttered. A large stone flew and hit him in the hip. "Hey!"
"Move it, Peaches, or I’ll hit where I was really aiming!" Buffy called out. Angelus raised an eyebrow then followed after Buffy, leaving Angel with one last smirk. Angel’s shoulders sunk in a defeated manner and he looked after Buffy. Angelus was jogging after her and she turned to give Angelus a half-smile, half-smirk.
"Oh boy," Angel muttered. "Oh boy."
*****
Buffy slowly led the way to the place where she had stayed the last time she was in Sunnydale. Angelus followed after her and they walked in a peaceful silence. They got to the door and Buffy took out her keys and unlocked the door. She walked in and looked around.
"Uh, Slayer?" Angelus asked. Buffy turned and looked at him. He pressed his hand to the invisible barrier in the doorway.
"Oh, uh, come in," Buffy said. Angelus walked in and shut the door behind them, then flicked on a light. Buffy yawned and walked down the hall, Angelus following. "The entire place used to be sunproof, but I’m not sure about now."
"So what should I do?" Angelus asked. Buffy opened a door and walked into her room.
"Get a lot of blankets, you’re sleeping on the floor," Buffy muttered. Angelus raised an eyebrow.
"Why can’t I sleep in the bed?" he asked.
"Because I am," she told him.
"So," Angelus said, shrugging. "Not like we haven’t been there before." Buffy looked at him, frowning, and sighed.
"I don’t want our relationship to be anything more than friends. I don’t ever want it to be like it was in Hell ever again. Understand?" Angelus looked at her and nodded. It wasn’t like he had any choice.
"Yeah. Soul-boy’s better for you anyway. You need a sap to follow you around like a lost puppy, not someone who’s what you kill for a living," Angelus muttered. Buffy smiled and then tossed a blanket to him.
"Here’s some stuff for your bed," she said and then walked over to the closet. Her clothes were still hanging up. They were dusty, but they were still there. Buffy pulled out a long t-shirt and left the room to change.
"Damned sun," Angelus muttered while laying out some blankets. "I liked it better in Hell."
*****
Dark figures watched as Buffy walked down an aisle. When she got to the end, Angel stood to her left and Angelus to her right.
"Come with me," they both said and took an arm. They each went their own separate ways, pulling one of Buffy’s arms with them.
"Stop!" she called out. They only pulled harder. "Stop it! You’re hurting me!" They still did not stop. Buffy began to feel her skin ripping and tearing with the pulling. The only thing she could do was scream.
"You cannot trust him," Angel said.
"No, you cannot trust *him*," Angelus said from her other side. Bloody began to drip down onto the ground under Buffy. "Someone that he trusts will betray you…again."
"You cannot even trust anyone he trusts!" Angel protested and pulled harder. As he pulled harder, Buffy screamed even louder as her flesh began to peal off of her skin. A pair of strong hands grabbed her shoulders and began to shake her. Angelus let go of her arm, as did Angel, and they vanished. Now on guard, Buffy swung wildly and caught her shaker in the jaw.
"Ouch," Angelus muttered. Buffy opened her eyes. "Good morning to you, too, sunshine." Buffy frowned, no longer in the strange room of her dream, but in her home that she had lived in before she had been sent to hell. Drusilla and Spike were asleep in the room next to hers. Angelus was sleeping on the floor. Well, he used to be. Now he was angrily rubbing his jaw.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You started to scream, so I woke you up," Angelus said. "Then you hit me."
"Sorry," Buffy murmured.
"No, you’re not." Buffy shrugged.
"Okay, I’m not," she replied. Grumbling something about Buffy having a bug up her butt, Angelus went back over to all of his blankets that were piled on the floor. With one more glare at Buffy, he rolled over and went back to sleep. Now wide awake, Buffy, laid back down and stared at the ceiling. She looked over at her clock. 11:54 a.m. blared in bright red and Buffy groaned. Quietly, she got up and picked up some clothes from her closet. She gave one more glance at Angelus then went into the bathroom to change.
Angelus rolled over and pulled the blankets over his head as he heard water running in the bathroom.
"Damn, what a weird dream," he heard Buffy mutter. Then came a soft, "Oh. My. God." Angelus got up and rushed into the bathroom. His eyes widened as he stared at the same thing Buffy stared at in the mirror: the flesh around her neck and shoulders were stretched and bleeding. Their eyes met and Angelus moved forward as Buffy’s eyes rolled back into her head and she passed out.
"Oh shit," Angelus muttered and gazed down at Buffy’s unconscious body in his arms. "Oh shit."
Angel walked into the library and looked around. Willow and Oz were at the computer, Cordelia and Xander were on the stairs near the stacks, Giles was in his office; you could barely tell that it was Saturday, Buffy and his evil twin had returned to earth the night before, or that they had found out that Mya lied to them all. Angel shook his head; it seemed as if the density of the townspeople of Sunnydale were rubbing off on the Slayerettes.
"Hey guys," Angel said quietly. He received his usual greetings: a ‘hey’ from Xander and Oz, a ‘hello’ from Willow, a ‘hi Angel’ from Cordelia, and a ‘please do not sneak up like that!’ from Giles. He suppressed a smirk for his smirk was far to close to Angelus’s. "What’s up?"
"We’re researching," Xander replied as if it were obvious. And if Angel had taken the time to look around more, he would’ve realized that was right. There were soda cans, empty and full, everywhere along with stack after stack of books and a few boxes of Twinkies and ho-hoes for Xander.
"Researching what, exactly?" Angel pressed.
"You were there last night," Cordelia said. "We’re looking for a way to see when and where the gateway to hell’s gonna open up and swallow us whole." Angel frowned.
"Thanks for the visual. You’re almost as good as Buffy," he muttered. He jumped slightly at the sound of the phone ringing, and from Giles’s cursing about his nerves, Angel knew it had startled Giles too. The British man leaned over and picked up the receiver in his office.
"Hello?" Giles answered. "Sunnydale High School Library, Rupert Giles speaking." Giles was quiet for a moment.
"What?" His voice was so shaken that all the heads in the library turned to look at Giles as one. "Are you sure?" A frown then a ‘hmmm’. "Yes, yes, I suppose you’re right. They would ask too many questions. I’m still not clear on how it happened." *Three, two, one,* Angel counted in his head. As if on cue, Giles pulled of his glasses and wiped them with his handkerchief. "He what?" Not even the obvious concern Giles had for the person the phone call was about, he couldn’t hide the amusement in his voice. "Yes, I know this is serious. I shall be right over…yes, with supplies." He grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen.
"Can you give me some directions from the school?" Giles scribbled down whatever the person on the other line said then gave a grim nod. "I shall be there shortly." Giles hung up the receiver and then slid his glasses back on, looking around at all the faces in the room.
"What?"
"Who was that?" Angel asked.
"It was Drusilla," Giles answered. "It seems that when Buffy awoke this morning, she was having a terrible nightmare. It scared Angelus so much that he woke her up. But I guess, because he was so groggy, he didn’t notice that she was bleeding."
"That does tend to happen," Cordelia said. "Especially to females." Giles blinked then raised an eyebrow.
"That’s not what I mean. What I mean is, when she got into the bathroom and saw her reflection, she saw that she was bleeding around her neck," Giles explained.
"She was sleeping in a room with Angelus," Xander said. "Why was she so surprised?"
"Because," Giles said, his voice stern. "It seemed as if her flesh itself had been pulled so hard from each side until it began to split." Nobody said anything. "Buffy passed out and Angelus caught her before she fell to the ground. The next details I were told are a bit fuzzy. Angelus put Buffy back in bed, panicked, then called for Drusilla. Just as she got in there and he explained what he knew, he fainted also."
"Angelus isn’t easily shaken," Angel murmured. "It must have been bad." Giles nodded.
"Drusilla said she called for me as soon she stopped the bleeding," Giles said and looked up at the clock above the cage. "Buffy woke around noon, and it’s now almost 1:30. There must have been a lot of blood."
"We need to get her to a hospital," Willow said.
"But how are we going to explain that Buffy woke up with her flesh ripped in half?" Giles asked. Nobody answered. "I promised I’d be there as soon as I could and I fear I’ve wasted too much time already."
"I’m going with," Angel said.
"Me too," Willow said.
"So am I," Xander announced.
"And I go where Willow goes," Oz told the room quietly.
"I’ll go just ‘cause I’m worried about Buffy," Cordelia said. Everyone looked at her. "What? I’m not aloud to be human once and a while?" Not saying another word, Giles began to pack his supplies and then they left.
*****
"Where is he?" Drusilla demanded. "He said he’d be here. What are we going to do? What if she’s not okay?" Dru stopped in her tracks in the living room and looked at the covered window. Spike and Angelus sat on the couch watching her.
"Ducks," Spike started. "The Slayer’s lost more blood that this before. Whistler’s in there making her more comfortable. I’m sure the watcher’s going to be here any minute." He gave a glance to Angelus from the corner of his eye. "Any more pacing and *I’m* going to go stark raving mad," he whispered.
"I know the feeling," Angelus said. "Dru, why don’t you sit down for a moment. That much momentum can’t be good for you."
"I don’t want to sit down," Drusilla protested. "I want –" A loud knock at the door stopped her in the middle of her sentence and Dru raced for the door.
"Ducks! Wait!" Spike yelled. She stopped. "The sun." Blinking once, then nodding, Drusilla carefully opened the door and stood out of the way of the sun. Giles walked in, followed by Angel, Willow, Oz, Xander, and Cordelia. The group stood and looked at the three vampires.
"Okay, this is too weird," Xander said. "Three vampires sitting around, worried about the Slayer." Angel nodded in agreement then looked at Angelus.
"Although I hear sitting is good when you faint," Angel said with a smirk.
"I’m just really tired," Angelus explained with a sly grin. "With how late Buffy kept me up and all." All eyes in the room but Angelus’s went wide and he just sat there, smirking. Mission accomplished for him. Whistler walked into the room carrying a towel soaked with water and blood.
"Is that all from Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Yeah," Whistler said.
"I thought you said you stopped the bleeding!" Giles accused Drusilla.
"She did," Whistler explained. "While I was in there looking at the wounds, she started calling out in her sleep. I sat there and right before my eyes her skin ripped more. It’s like because of her dreams, her body’s being pulled in half."
"Yeah, but by what?" Willow asked quietly. Whistler shrugged.
"I don’t know, kid, I don’t know. All I know is we need to get her up and keep her up if we’re going to save her. She’s loosing more blood than she can afford to." Whistler looked sadly at the room then went to the kitchen to throw away the once white towel.
"No!" a loud voice yelled. All heads turned towards Buffy’s room as her voice rang out again. "Stop it! You’re hurting me! Let go you two! Angel! Let me GO!" Everyone’s gaze turned from the room and to Angel who was as wide eyed as the rest. Giles shook his head to clear his thoughts and pulled something out of his bag.
"This should wake her up," he said and held up a small vile of liquid. Giles went towards Buffy’s room, followed by Angel and Angelus. He froze when he saw the petite figure on the bed with blood oozing from her chest.
"My god," Angel whispered.
"I thought you would’ve learned by now," Angelus muttered absently. "Even if there is a god, he doesn’t care about her. Everything terrible that could happen to her has and as far as I can see, it’s gonna take nothing short of a miracle to get it to stop." The two looked at each other and Giles walked over to Buffy.
"What is that stuff?" Angel asked as he finally stopped looking at his live reflection.
"A potion, not too difficult to put together. It’ll help keep her up," Giles told them then opened Buffy’s mouth, emptying the contents of the vile down her throat. "C’mon, work, damnit," Giles prayed. Buffy opened one eye then the other.
"Giles? What are you doing here?" Buffy asked weakly. Her eyes settled on the two twin figures standing in the door. "Tell them to stop pulling on me."
"What?" Giles asked. Then his lightning quick brain put two and two together. "Buffy, do they pull on you in your dreams? One on each arm?"
"Yes," Buffy said. "But it’s just a dream. Although, in some, it’s my mom and my dad or Willow and Xander, or you and Whistler. Always, someone pulling. It hurts."
"Buffy, I don’t want to scare you, but for some reason your body thinks it’s real," Giles said softly.
"Huh?" Buffy asked. Giles gestured her chest and she looked down with wide eyes.
"Your skin is indeed ripping, Buffy. Just like in your dreams," Giles explained. "I’m not sure why. It could be your need to choose one over the other."
"Or it could be magic," Buffy said. "Do you think Kelvin is doing this to me so I can’t fight him?" Buffy asked. Giles could only nod. "What am I going to do? Not sleep?"
"We might be able to do a protection spell, one that seals her mind from anyone else," Angelus suggested. Giles looked up at him then nodded.
"That might work, but we would need a lot of magic power," Giles said.
"Well, we’ve got Whistler, Drusilla, Willow, you, me, Angel, Buffy…" Angelus said. "Okay, not Buffy. She’s too weak."
"What do you mean ‘too weak’?" Buffy demanded.
"Sorry Slayer, but you couldn’t go three rounds with a fruit fly," Angelus said. "Guess you’ll have to sit this one out."
"Fine," Buffy muttered defeatedly.
"Good," Giles said. He picked up another clean towel from the floor and pressed against the bleeding wounds to Buffy’s chest. "This might work."
*****
Giles knocked again on the door to where Buffy was staying. It had taken two hours to do it, but Giles finally found the book that he was looking for. After hearing many shouts warning about the sun, Giles smiled as Willow opened the door. He walked in and held up the book.
"Found it," he said.
"Took you long enough," Spike snapped. "It took us everything we had to keep her awake!"
"Yes, well, I needed to make sure to get the correct supplies," Giles said and then handed the book to Whistler. "There’s just one glitch in the spell."
"What’s that?" the little demon asked.
"We need someone to bind their life to Buffy," Giles said. Before Angel could say anything, Angelus was already volunteering.
"I’ll do it," Angelus said.
"There’s more to it than that," Giles said.
"Like what?" he asked. Giles blinked.
"Well…there’s…and there’s…" Giles sighed. "The one bound to her must be someone she agrees to have bound. Also, if she dies, the one bound to her dies, but not the other way around." Angelus shrugged.
"I’ve already made a pact with her," he said. "She dies I die, I die she goes on with her life. At least this will be to save her life." With a defeated sigh similar to the one Buffy made earlier, Giles nodded.
"Fine," Giles agreed. "We’ll set up then do the ritual."
"Oh, fun," Angelus muttered beneath his breath. "Another ritual."
Chapter Seven:
"Buffy?" Drusilla asked. Buffy’s eyes glazed over as a side effect of the spell that had been done on her and she looked almost through Drusilla. "Buffy, you need to stay awake."
"I’m awake," she mumbled. Angel walked in the room and sat down on the edge of her bed. "Hi Angel," Buffy greeted.
"How did you know it was me?" Angel asked. Buffy smiled.
"Spend three hundred years with someone, and you’ll know every detail of them," she muttered. "Besides, you know what they say. The eyes are the window to the soul." Angel moved closer to Buffy then motioned for Drusilla to leave the room.
"Buffy," he started and took her hand. "They’ve figured out a way to take away the spell. But, it means…they’re going to…what I’m trying to say is…"
"Angel, spit it out," Buffy said with a raised eyebrow. The sweatshirt that Dru gave her to wear covered her chest and hid the split skin. With a lot of patience, Buffy was able to keep herself awake and help stop the bleeding. She still felt a bit woozy though.
"The ritual is going to bind Angelus to you for as long as he lives," Angel murmured. At Buffy’s questioning look, he continued. "If you die, which you won’t, he dies. If he dies, you go on with your life."
"We’ve already made a pact like that, in hell," Buffy told him quietly. Angel suppressed the urge to question how close Buffy was with his alter ego. Something told him he didn’t want to know. It wasn’t like Buffy to sleep with someone else after proclaiming her love to him, but it was like Angelus. "Angel?"
"I know," Angel said, withdrawing from his thoughts. "But this will just help to keep your mind free of these types of spells…in the future."
"I know it will, but I’m so tired," Buffy said. "We need to get this done now, because we don’t know when Kelvin will strike. I don’t want to be in bed when that happens." Her eyes met his and all he could do was nod. "Angel, I’m scared. What if I’m not better by then? What if…they should’ve left me there in hell."
"No, don’t say that," Angel protested. "You’ll be better by then. I know it. And we’ll win, we always do. I mean, look at our team. Three vampires, a human with the strength of a vampire, the strongest Slayer in history, a Watcher, a witch, a werewolf, and two humans who are good with crossbows. Of all of us, six know magic. And two are psychic. We are going to win."
"And on the other hand, Mya’s betrayed me before, what if she does it again?" Buffy asked. "What if we’re not enough?"
"Then we’ll know we did everything we could do," Angel said.
"I can’t accept that. I cannot loose. If I do, we die. If I do, we instantly loose two members of the team, two of the strongest. No matter how skilled everyone else is, we need everyone at full strength."
"Buffy, try to be positive. You aren’t going to –"
"My dreams were prophetic."
"What?"
"What happened in them, I know it’s a prophecy," Buffy said.
"So you’re saying that me and someone else are going to pull you apart, literally?" Angel asked. She sighed and looked away from him.
"No, what I mean, is, someone I know is going to betray me. Again." They were silent for a moment and Angelus walked into the bedroom.
"Hey, how’s my favorite Slayer?" he asked.
"I’m the only Slayer who you haven’t killed, dumbass," Buffy retorted. Angel frowned as he saw her attitude change as soon as Angelus entered.
"Details, details," Angelus muttered with a dismissive wave of his hand. He held up a bowl like a priest would a sacrifice. "I bring you…" He sniffed and frowned. "Chicken noodle soup. Although, I’m not sure if is really chicken. Dru made it." Buffy raised an eyebrow as their eyes met. Angelus looked out the door. "Uh, Dru?"
"What?" the female vampire called out.
"Are you sure this is…chicken?" Angelus asked
. "Yes!"
"Okay then, I guess we take her word on it," Angelus said with a smirk and then set the bowl down on the nightstand. "Here you my lady," he said with a fake English accent.
"Thanks," Buffy said. She sniffed at the soup and then ate a bite of it. "Not bad."
"And it’s really chicken?" Angelus asked.
"What is your obsession with it being chicken or not?" Angel asked. Angelus looked at him with a smirk.
"Why do you want to know?" Angelus asked.
"Hey, stop doing whatever you two are doing," Buffy said.
"They’re competing," Willow said from the door. The trio looked up at her.
"For what?" Buffy asked.
"You," Willow told her. She blinked and then chewed on another piece of chicken. "Here, put some of this in it."
Willow walked over and held out a glass container of a clear liquid.
"What is it?" Buffy asked.
"Something that Giles and I put together. We’re hoping it’ll tell us exactly what kind of spell was put on you," Willow explained.
"And how’s it supposed to do that?" Angelus asked.
"Yeah, it’s not going to turn my skin colors or anything will it?" Buffy asked.
"I’m not sure. All I know is Giles said for you to somehow consume it. So, drink up," Willow said. Buffy frowned and sniffed the liquid.
"Smells minty," she said.
"Peppermint extract," Willow told her. Buffy took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and drank all of the liquid. After she swallowed it, she shuddered and made a face.
"Ick. That’s nasty," Buffy muttered. Then something occurred to her. Angel and Angelus were competing for her. *Just like in my dream,* she thought. "Oh my god."
"What?" the others in the room asked.
"Part of my dream, it just came true." Her eyes met Willow’s and then she sipped at the chicken broth distractedly.
"Oh boy," Willow said. "What was it?"
"It was…" Buffy stopped and looked between Angel and Angelus. "Just, go get Giles. He should know." Willow nodded.
"Is there anything in can get you?" Angel asked.
"No, that’s okay. Can you two go in the living room please?" Buffy asked.
"You can’t be left alone. If you loose any more blood…you might not live," Angelus told her. "We’ll leave as soon as Giles gets in here." They sat in silence and Buffy slurped up her soup. Giles walked in.
"Willow said part of your dream came true," Giles said. Buffy nodded and the ‘twins’ left the room.
"Giles, in my dream, Angel is on one side and Angelus on the other. They’re both competing with each other to see who can pull me over," Buffy said.
"I don’t see the connection," Giles stated.
"They were just doing that in here before Willow came in here," Buffy told him. "There’s more. In my dreams, someone warns me that I can’t trust someone I know."
"Well, it could simply be that the person who put the spell on you knows that you love Angel but have some sort of…relationship with Angelus, so they did that. Also, maybe in warning you about being betrayed, it might be that they are playing with your mind."
"Well how can we tell who did the spell? I mean, Willow said that when I drank that minty stuff that you’d be able to tell."
"No, that was only to see what type of spell. I needed to know so I did the right spell." Buffy nodded then sighed.
"Well, I drank it. Get on with the spell." Giles nodded and stood up, walking to the door.
"Uh, Drusilla?" he called out into the living room. "Could you bring that paste? She’s drunken the potion and I want to do this as soon as possible." Drusilla nodded, stood, and walked over to Giles carrying a bowl of blue sandy stuff.
"Oooh, smelly sand," Buffy commented with a raised eyebrow. "What does it do? You put in on my skin and it says what kind of spell has been put on me?"
"Well, basically, yes," Giles said. Buffy chuckled and pulled up her sleeve. He took a finger full of the paste and rubbed it on Buffy’s arm. Slowly, as they watched, it turned green then black. "Hmmm, looks like two spells were put on you."
"It says here that if it’s green then it’s a tracking spell. If it’s black then it’s a dream spell," Drusilla said. "If it turns two or more colors, then both have been put on."
"Well, then, we counter-act the spells and everything goes on all happy daisy, right?" Buffy asked.
"I’m not sure if it’s that simple," Giles said.
"Nothing’s every easy," Buffy complained.
"Well, no, it’s not that," Dru started. "Because it’s a dream spell, both you and the one you choose to bond to will have to be asleep. And that could be dangerous for you." Drusilla skimmed the page. "But…"
"I like buts. Buts are good, especially those spelled with two T’s," Buffy said. Giles didn’t laugh, instead he frowned at her then cleared his throat for Drusilla to continue.
"It says that if we do the spell right, the wounds from the original person are transferred to the person they bond with." Drusilla and Buffy both looked at Giles.
"Which means that my wounds will go POOF to Angelus," Buffy said. "And he can heal much faster than I can."
"That is, if the sleeping part doesn’t kill you first," Giles said.
"Well, I’m being optimistic and saying I’m gonna live," Buffy said. "C’mon, we’ll do this in the living room." She pushed back the blood stained covers and lowered her legs to the floor. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she frowned. "Boy do I look horrible. Oh well." They walked into the living room and Buffy situated herself between Oz and Spike. This was going to be a long night.
"Giles are you done yet?" Angelus whined. "I’m so tired I can barely keep my eyes open." He set down the mug that Drusilla had handed him about an hour earlier and looked at Buffy, who also looked like she was about to pass out.
"Almost," Giles said. He finished setting up the candles and Drusilla sprinkled some herbs around. "Okay, Spike, when I tell you to, I need you to light these candles. Drusilla, as he’s doing that, I need you to pour the mixed herbs onto the flames. Willow, Whistler, and I will do the speaking. Everyone else needs to be dead quiet or it’ll ruin the ritual." Everyone nodded.
"Okay, Buffy, you lie down over here." He gestured a spot where Angel had poured white sand around. "And Angelus, over there." They did as told. "Okay, now close your eyes and go to sleep." They nodded and within minutes were both in a deep sleep. Giles nodded to Willow.
"Consada debo paradum est. Unbar brazo cabaña uds. Nadir tocan la cuerpo," Willow said in a loud, deep voice. Buffy began to cry out in her sleep. Frowning, Whistler blew some herbs onto Buffy and Angelus then began to speak.
"Dormir pierno enfermo sien usted. Carabral manzana anaranhado raja," he said in an equally loud, deep voice. Giles nodded to Spike. He lit a candle and moved on. While he was lighting the next candle, Dru dropped a pinch of herbs onto the flame. They did that until all of the candles were lit in a circle around Buffy, Giles, and Angelus. Giles began to speak.
"Dark spirits, hear our call. We wish to bind these two bodies, minds, and souls. May the wounds from human move to demon, nightmares from human to demon, and may the curse be lifted off both. I demand you do as we ask!" Giles called out. Smoke began to swirl around the room and the power went out in the apartment. Flashes of light and color mixed in with the smoke then everything stopped. The candles burned out, the smoke dissipated, the power turned back on, and Buffy and Angelus woke up.
"Did it work?" Xander asked. Buffy pulled the upper collar of shirt from her neck and peered down. Then she looked over at Angelus.
"Yup, it worked," she said. Buffy climbed to her feet and yawned. "I feel like I haven’t slept in weeks."
"I feel the same way," Angelus replied and struggled to his feet. Buffy grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He winced slightly from the pulling then looked at the group. "Well, now we can concentrate on finding out when and where Kelvin will strike."
*****
Buffy opened her eyes and looked around. Frowning, she looked at the décor of her room and recognized it as her room in hell. Was her being in Sunnydale a dream? Quietly, she crawled out of bed and walked into the living room. Startled, she watched an exact replica of herself on the couch, Angelus massaging her shoulders.
"That’s feels nice," she heard herself say and watched as Angelus’s face lit up. Dipping one hand lower on her back, Angelus smiled.
"I’m glad," he said. "You’ve been so tense lately." Then he turned and looked directly at her, still rubbing her dream body. "Promise you’ll never forget me?"
"I promise," both Buffy’s said at the same time.
*****
Buffy again opened her eyes and looked around. She was in her room in Sunnydale and Angelus was asleep on the floor. The others had left earlier, despite their protests of her being alone. She ignored it with a wave of her hand and sent them on their way.
"I’m not going to be harmed anymore," she had said. "The spell worked and I need to get my sleep." They nodded in agreement and left. Buffy smiled at the memory of Angel leaning down and giving her a soft kiss on her cheek. Then she looked down at the floor and her mind continued the memory of her dream. The night she slept with Angelus. Well, one of the three or four or twelve nights she had slept with him.
"Oh boy," she murmured. Then the phone rang. Yawning, she picked it up. "Hello?"
"Oh, good, Buffy, you’re up," Giles said on the other line. Buffy smiled and stretched out her sleepy limbs.
"Yeah," she replied. "So, what’s the what?"
"We may have an idea of when Kelvin is attacking," Giles told her. Immediately, Buffy was alert and she nudged Angelus with her foot.
"Really? When?" she asked. Angelus looked up at her, and, with a protesting growl, sat up.
"Tomorrow night. The old burned down warehouse," Giles said.
"Tomorrow night at the old burned down warehouse. That’s when they’re attacking? Are you sure?" Buffy repeated. Angelus also perked up.
"Yes, quite sure," Giles replied. Buffy glanced at her clock.
"Well, it’s daylight, so I’ll get dressed and drop by to train. The other three can come after sunset and we can get ready," Buffy said.
"Yes, yes that’ll do quite well. See you soon, Buffy," Giles said and then the line went dead. Buffy hung up her phone.
"What’s up?" Angelus asked.
"I’m heading to the library. How do you feel?" Buffy looked down at him and he glanced at his chest.
"Well, I had a really weird dream that Angel and a clone of myself were trying to grab me, but I threw them off and killed them," Angelus replied. "And, vampiric healing is a blessing. No more tears and not even a scar to show that they were there."
"Thanks for doing that," Buffy said to him.
"Hey, no problem. Not anything out of the ordinary. My having my life bonded to my mortal enemy," Angelus replied with a shrug. She knelt down on the floor by him.
"C’mon, admit it. You like me. You would’ve done it anyway," Buffy teased.
"I’d have done a lot more, but we decided that we were just friends, well, if you could call it that," Angelus told her. She stood up and her face hardened.
"Yeah. Well, when the others get up, tell them to get their undead asses to the library. I expect you to be there too. And no feeding off of people, or I’ll experiment with my new torture," Buffy threatened.
"And what would that be, Slayer? Boring me to death?" Angelus asked with a smirk.
"No. You see, it involves candles, matches, and many, many barbed daggers," Buffy said. Angelus frowned with confusion. "You see, I use the matches to light the candles, use the candles to heat the daggers, and use the daggers to cut off the –"
"Okay, I get the point," Angelus said, cutting her off. Buffy smirked at him then stood up to get dressed. Angelus watched as she pulled out a pair of black pants and a light blue tank top from her closet, then settled down to go back to sleep as she went into the bathroom to change.
*****
THWACK! Buffy did another high kick and Giles flew across the room, landing on his butt. Buffy yawned at stretched from boredom and looked down at Giles pitifully.
"I still don’t see why I can’t practice my magic," she complained. Angel looked up from his books and then down at the floor where Giles was, amused that she was still whining about not being able to practice her magic.
"Because, Buffy, as you demonstrated the night you returned, your magic takes away too much of your energy," Giles wheezed.
"But I know other spells!" Buffy protested. "That was probably one of the newest ones I had learned!"
"No," Giles said. Grumbling, Buffy plopped down next to Angel and looked at his book.
"It’s in Gaelic," he said. She nodded.
" ‘And they will release the darkness of hell unto the Earth,’ " Buffy translated. Angel raised his eyebrows.
"You know this?" he asked. Buffy nodded.
"And Latin, Greek, Egyptian hieroglyphics…" She blushed from his astonished look. "I was bored."
"You must have been," Angel remarked.
"We bring snacks!" Xander announced from the doorway. He held up a twelve pack of Mountain Dew and a bag of Doritos.
"And for those of us who don’t want to have a lot of zits," Cordelia remarked and held her paper bag close to her. Buffy raised an eyebrow.
"I know a good way to get rid of zits," Buffy said. Cordelia looked at her flawless skin and then hurried over. "Well, actually, I know two."
"What? WHAT!" Cordelia demanded.
"Well, one way is to peel off all of one’s skin…" Buffy started but stopped at Cordelia’s horrified expression. "The other’s wash, rinse, repeat. Wait, no, that’s hair. Damn. Sorry Cordy, I don’t really worry about that stuff." Cordelia glared at Buffy then huffed over to her chair.
"Buffy, training," Giles reminded. She sighed.
"I don’t want to train with you. I like you. I want to train against something that pisses me off," Buffy mumbled.
"Hey, we’re here," Drusilla announced. She, Spike, and Angelus walked into the library. Buffy smiled.
"Like Dead-Boy," she said. Angelus glared at her.
"What about me?" he asked.
"You get to be my sparring partner," she said. "Think you can survive." He thought for a moment.
"Hide all sharp, wooden objects," he said. "And I’ll think about it."
"Well, if we do that, then we’ll have to get rid of ALL wooden objects. A table leg is what killed the Master," Buffy told him.
"Fine, fine, can we fight now?" he asked annoyed. Buffy grinned and walked over to him, dropping into a fighting stance.
"This should be interesting," Xander said. "Ten bucks on Dead-Boy."
"Twenty on Buffy," Angel said and pulled out his wallet.
"Same here," Oz said.
"Hey, this isn’t some cat fight," Willow protested. "This is our friend fighting a vampire. Who is also our friend…I think." That raised some eyebrows, especially Angelus’s.
"The only reason I’m here is ‘cause of little miss Slayer. If it weren’t for her, I’d still be happy and in hell," Angelus said.
"I never actually thought I’d meet someone who preferred hell to here," Giles muttered.
"Guys! Can we quit with the remarks from the peanut gallery?" Buffy asked. They shut up and watched intently as Angelus and Buffy began to circle one another as if it were a natural thing to do. "You’re going down."
"Not if I beat you first," Angelus shot back.
"When exactly have you beaten me?" Buffy asked.
"Well, there was that one match in the main room of the apartment…" Angelus said with a raised eyebrow.
"That was a draw," Buffy said quickly.
"Maybe to you, but not to me. That was more like a good f–" Angelus started but stopped as Buffy delivered a quick blow to his jaw.
"Training," she told him then looked at the others. "Research."
They all grabbed some books and some pop and began to page through some books. All except Xander, who carved stakes, and Willow, who refilled the containers of holy water. Angelus swung out a fist and barely missed Buffy’s face. She jumped back, then using her momentum, leaned up and delivered a high kick to Angelus’s chest. He absorbed her blows and ducked down to knock her legs out from under her. *I’ll show Giles I can use magic,* Buffy thought and latched onto Angelus’s shoulders, releasing a small electric charge. He jumped back, and the smell of burnt skin sunk into the air. Cordelia started to cough, and Xander gasped for air. The others just wrinkled their noses.
"Hey, no magic," Angelus protested.
"You never said that," Buffy said slyly. "It was a training session. I trained with my magic because I’ve spent the past two hours kicking Giles’s behind."
"Then why didn’t you do your magic stuff earlier?" Angelus asked.
"Giles wouldn’t let her," Angel told him.
"So you fry my skin?!" Angelus demanded of Buffy. She shrugged.
"I’m bored," she said. "Magic’s more fun than fighting." Angelus nodded.
"Yeah, except the part where I get my skin burned off!" he said, his voice raising towards the end of his comment. Buffy glared at him.
"Well if you hadn’t have mentioned that fight we had in the…" Buffy stopped herself, realizing that all eyes were upon her and then her cheeks began to redden. "So, Giles, can I patrol tonight?"
"Well, I’d rather you not, but somehow I have the feeling that you’re going to anyway," Giles said. Buffy nodded.
"If you take plenty of protection, Spike, Dru, and…Angelus, you may go. The rest of us will stay here and research."
"Thank you Giles," Buffy said and pulled on her jacket. She bounded out the door and the others followed.
"Nope, this is in no way weird," Angel muttered. Then he continued to read his book. *And one the Slayer is connected to shall betray her and she shall die.* Angel frowned and blinked. *Wait a sec. Buffy’s gonna die?* "Uh, Giles?"
"Yes Angel?" Giles asked. He looked up at the frowning ex-vampire.
"I think I found something…important." Giles walked over and read the paragraph Angel indicated.
"Oh dear," Giles said. The others looked up at him. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. This is not good."
"That’s what I was thinking," Angel muttered. *Oh Buffy.*
"Hey Slayer," Spike called out. "Fledglings at eight o’clock." Buffy looked to where Spike motioned and then pulled out a stake.
"Finally, some fun," Buffy muttered while Angelus, Spike, and Dru all fell in line behind her. She stepped out of the shadows and into the cloudy moonlight. Startled, the two vampires stopped stalking their prey, a young couple out in the park, and looked at Buffy. "You know, with all the weird stuff that goes on here, you’d think that people’d know better than to go out at night." The couple turned to see the vampires in full game face, then took off running.
"You just spoiled our supper," the taller of the two vampires hissed.
"Yeah, it seems I have a habit of doing that," she replied. Growling, the two vampires leapt at her. Buffy ducked and swept her leg out, catching the tall one in the knees and dropping him to the ground. Quickly, she rolled over, staked him, and flung herself up onto her feet. The other vampire looked down at the dust at Buffy’s feet then slipped a knife out from his side. "Since when do vamps use weapons?"
"Since you and your little," he paused and looked at Angelus, who was leaning against a tree. "Your little lap dog have come back to town." Angelus growled and slipped into game face. He moved through the dark like a panther and circled the vampire.
"Mistake number one," Buffy said. "He’s not my lap dog."
"And what’s mistake number two?" the vampire asked. He tensed and then, screaming, dissolved into dust.
"Not running," Drusilla muttered, standing where the now dead vampire was, holding a stake. A cold chill ran through Buffy’s body and she looked behind her. Nothing. Just some bushes. But she couldn’t help but shake the feeling that someone…or something was watching her.
"What is it?" Angelus asked.
"I’m not sure. I just…I had a weird feeling someone was watching me," she murmured. "Probably my imagination running away with me again." Angelus looked to where she was staring and frowned.
"Probably, but maybe not," he said.
"Well, I’m not scared. I have to be the only Slayer on record to have her own little vampire guards," Buffy said smiling at him.
"Yeah," Spike announced. "C’mon ducks, let’s finish patrol." They continued through the park. Again and again the same feeling ran through Buffy’s spine. *Probably nothing, but may as well mention it to Giles.* she thought.
*****
"What’s wrong?" Willow asked. Angel and Giles looked at each other than at the Slayerettes, who were now very interested in what was written in the old book. "Well?"
"It seems Angel has found some rather…disturbing information," Giles started.
"Disturbing…like how?" Xander asked.
"You remember how Buffy freaked during Spring Fling when she found out she was gonna die?" Angel asked. As one, the room nodded. "Well, something to that degree. Well, something exactly like that."
"You mean…Buffy’s gonna die?" Willow asked. Not able to find his voice, Angel just nodded. "But, no, she can’t die. We just got her back. True, she’s changed…a lot, but hell will do that to you. She can’t die…she just can’t." Oz moved next to Willow and wrapped his arms around her.
"Shhh, it’ll be okay," he whispered. "She was supposed to die two years ago and she didn’t. She won’t die, she’s Buffy."
"I’m afraid there’s more to it," Giles said. "It says that one of her friends will betray her."
"We would never do anything like that!" Xander exclaimed.
"Not one of us," Oz said. "But what about Spike or Dru or…"
"My evil other half," Angel finished. "Angelus. Spike and Dru wouldn’t betray her, their too loyal. But Angelus, you’d have nightmares for the rest of your lives just to know a tiny part of some of the stuff he’s done."
"She trusts him," Willow said. "She doesn’t trust anyone without good reason."
"She’s too trusting. That’s her only fault," Angel said.
"We have to warn her," Giles said.
"And if she doesn’t believe us?" Xander asked.
"We kill him," Angel replied.
"Yeah, like she’ll really trust us after we kill off one of her ‘friends’," Cordelia said. "She’ll probably take off and let us deal with the end of the world ourselves."
"Cordelia may have a point," Giles said. "Buffy is loyal like that. If something happened to one of her friends by one of us, she’d never give us the time of day."
"He seems to care about her," Oz said. "Maybe if we show him the prophecy, he’ll help us convince her."
"That might not be that bad of a plan," Giles said. "Okay, we’ll do that. When the others get back from patrol, we’ll show them the prophecy and…see what we see I suppose."
*****
Yawning, Xander picked up a book titled Vortexes To And From Hell And Other Fun Activities. Frowning at the title, he leafed through it while Willow typed furiously next to him. Cordelia had fallen asleep in the stacks earlier and Xander had covered her with a blanked they used when Oz was in his wolfy state. The werewolf in human form had booked about an hour earlier because Dingoes had a late gig at the Bronze and Giles and Angel were pouring themselves over some foreign books in Giles’s office. Finding nothing useful in the book, Xander sighed and picked up his can of Mountain Dew. "Hey dork boy," Angelus said from next to him.
"Ahhh!" Xander shrieked and dropped his can of pop in his lap. He looked up with wide eyes while fumbling to pick up a cross that was five feet away. He relaxed when he saw Buffy looking at him with a concerned but amused look on her face.
"Are you alright Xander?" she asked.
"Sheesh Buffy, don’t let him do that!" Xander said and let his breathing go back to normal. Then he noticed the cold carbonated liquid slowly seeping into his pants. Turning a shade of red, Xander picked up his can of Mountain Dew and then stood up. "Uh, excuse me." Xander rushed out of the library and to the bathroom; Buffy stifled a laugh, but then she, Spike, Dru, Angelus, and even Willow burst into a fit of giggles.
"What’s going on out here?" Giles asked, walking into the main room of the library. He stopped once his eyes landed on Buffy. "Oh, Buffy, good, you’re back."
"Hi…Giles," Buffy said between giggles.
"What’s so funny?" Angel asked, stepping out from behind Giles.
"Nothing, just," Buffy started.
"That little wanker wet his pants," Spike muttered. The entire group started to laugh again while Angel and Giles could only raise their eyebrows.
"I walked up behind Xander and said hi and he dropped his pop in his lap," Angelus explained. Angel smiled a little.
"You know, you really ought to be ashamed of yourself," Buffy said with a mock scolding tone. Angelus just shrugged.
"That guy really bugs me. I couldn’t help myself," Angelus snickered.
"I know the feeling," Angel muttered. Angelus’s eyes widened.
"Okay, now I know I need help. I just agreed on something with soul boy. Ack," Angelus said as a shiver ran through him. "I’m forever scared." Buffy smacked him on the shoulder.
"Behave," she said. He bent down so he was ear-level to her.
"That’s not what you said before," he whispered. Buffy’s eyes widened and he just smirked at her. Buffy regained her composure and looked at Giles, still a little flushed.
"Patrol was good. We bagged five vamps," she said.
"Anything in particular happen?" Giles asked. Buffy shook her head.
"No. Found the vamps and killed them. Dru had some good puns though, does that count?" Buffy asked. Giles shook his head.
"Uh, no, I’m afraid not," he replied.
"Buffy kept getting this feeling we were being followed," Angelus said.
"Oh yeah, that," Buffy muttered. She continued after noticing the interested looks she was receiving from Angel and Giles. *God he seems to be better at the Watcher stuff than Giles,* Buffy thought about Angel. *Freaky.* "It was way weird. Like someone was following us, but wanted me to know. Or else they were just really bad at following people." Angel and Giles exchanged looks.
"Anything else?" Giles asked slowly.
"Yeah," Buffy said. Again they perked up. "You two are given me the wiggens real bad. What’s the what?"
"Uh, well, we’re just, nervous, because of the…uh, Hellmouth…situation," Giles stuttered. Buffy’s eyes narrowed and then focused on Willow who was nervously clacking away at her computer.
"Wills?" she asked. The hacker looked up, wide eyed, and her mouth dropped open.
"You wouldn’t believe me if I told you I didn’t know anything, would you?" Willow asked. Buffy shook her head. "Darn. It’s nothing Buffy, really, just…just a little prophecy."
"Like what?" Buffy asked.
"Maybe you ought to sit down," Angel suggested. Frowning, she looked at him.
"I’m fine the way I am," she replied evenly.
"Remember the prophecy at Spring Fling?" Angel asked. "Well, it’s sorta like that. Except it has a little more detail." All at once, the air came whooshing out of Buffy until she felt like she was going to collapse. And then a strange calm settled over her. *I’m in shock,* she realized. Buffy remembered how people always told her that people who go in shock don’t know what’s going on. *They’re wrong. They do, it just hurts too much.*
"So I’m gonna die?" she asked. Angel nodded. "Okay. I’ll see you guys tomorrow, right after sunset. We got a warehouse to attack." Without another word, Buffy turned and walked out of the library. It was only until she was alone did she rush through the halls, tears streaming down her face.
"What are the details?" Angelus asked quietly. Giles looked at him then at Angel, barely able to tell the two apart.
"It says a friend of hers is going to betray her," Angel said looking hardly at him.
"So of coarse you guys deciphered it as me," Angelus muttered. "Interesting." Then he looked into Angel’s eyes with a cruel look on his face. "Don’t you think?"
"I was the one to put your name to it," Angel said, standing taller.
"Oh really? I just wonder about one thing."
"What’s that?" Angel asked.
"How interesting do you think it’ll be when I’m the one holding Buffy, telling her everything will turn out fine, and you’ll…be here with the Watcher and your books. Think about that, why don’t you," Angelus hissed with a glare, barely able to keep his demonic face from exposing itself. Stunned, Angel just stood there as Angelus walked towards the doors. "Excuse me, I have a Slayer to find."
*****
Buffy curled up in her blankets and stared out the window. She barely even heard the doorknob to her bedroom open and Angelus slip in.
"Buffy?" he asked. She did nothing more than scoot over as a sign that she was awake and that he was welcome.
Swiftly, he dressed down to his boxers, his normal sleepwear, and climbed in beside Buffy. She curled up next to him and began to cry. "Shhhhh," Angelus soothed. "It’ll be okay."
"I don’t want to die," Buffy murmured into his shoulder.
"You won’t. I promise," Angelus said. "I’ll protect you. Hey, now you have two guardian angels." Angelus couldn’t tell if the sob she emitted after that had a small laugh or not, but he ignored it. "Just get some sleep. We have a long night tomorrow." Without another word, Buffy fell asleep next to Angelus, who had wrapped a protective arm around her.
*****
"Do we have to go there?" Buffy whined. She looked once again out the open window at the night as Angelus and Spike gathered all the weaponry in the house.
"Yes," Angelus muttered.
"But I don’t want to go back to the library. Why can’t we just call them and say meet us there?" Buffy asked.
"Because Slayer," Angelus started. "We need to show them that I didn’t off you in the night while you slept." Buffy glared at him and began to pace. She was still furious that everyone, especially Angel, had the audacity to accuse someone she trusted like that. Angelus glanced at her, feeling just a bit odd about telling her what Angel had said to him and not he to Angel. *Oh well,* he thought and shrugged the feeling away.
"Fine," she growled. "We go the library and then to the warehouse and kill all the vampires. Then we Bronze."
*****
Mya smiled as she listened in on the conversation going on inside of Buffy’s house. So, the Slayerettes, including her Angel thought that Angelus was going to kill Buffy? What a perfect way to complete her plan. Quietly, Mya hurried off into the night air. She had a vampire to track down and make a deal with.
Angelus paced in the library. Buffy was supposed to be there ten minutes ago and frankly, the people he was surrounded by were creeping him out.
"Could this be any more boring?" he muttered.
"Well, you could stand over there and we could use you for a dart board," Xander suggested and pointed by the doors.
"Or you could stand over here and I could break your neck," Angelus retorted.
"You wouldn’t touch me," Xander said confidently. "If you do, Buffy’ll kill you."
"Really? Would you care to make a wager on that?" Angelus asked. "I think that she could care less. But then again, spending three hundred years with someone really helps you forget all of the little people you used to know."
"So, were you and Buffy close?" Willow asked.
"If we weren’t, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be out helping Kelvin and you’d all be dead," he told her matter of factly.
"Where did Buffy say she had to go?" Giles asked.
"I’m not sure. She said her spidey sense was going off the charts and that she was going on a scouting mission. She took Spike and Dru with her and sent me here."
"So…what did you two do in hell?" Cordelia asked.
"Stuff."
"Like…" Cordelia said with a small movement of her hand.
"Well, whenever we saw each other we’d drop to the ground and fuck like bunnies," Angelus said in a serious tone.
Angel dropped a book and the library was silent, everyone looking at him. Xander coughed. "I’m lying. We’ve never done that…not that it wouldn’t be fun, but she’s not my type. She’s too arrogant and stuck-up, not to mention irritating. Everything she does it right. And everything I do is wrong. Well, that and the whole Slayer/vampire thing." He looked directly at Angel. "Not that that’s ever stopped her before."
"What’s never stopped me before?" Buffy asked as she, Dru, and Spike walked into the library. Angelus smirked at her. "What have you been telling them?"
"He said that you guys…slept with each other in hell," Cordelia supplied. Buffy raised an eyebrow.
"No, she’s got it all wrong," Angelus protested.
"Oh really?" Buffy asked, not able to keep the sarcastic tone from her voice.
"Yeah. I never said we slept with each other. I said that we dropped to the ground and fucked like bunnies," Angelus told her with a grin.
"Numerous times," Angel said.
"Lies, all lies," Buffy said. "The closest he’s ever gotten to me was when I kicked him between the legs after my 17th birthday." Angel and Angelus winced at the memory.
"Don’t remind me," Angelus muttered. Spike cleared his throat.
"Are we going to get on with this already? We’ve wasted enough time as it is," he grumbled. "I want to go and kill the bad guys. I don’t really fancy your mate sucking us into hell for all eternity. The fact he hates you is enough to get my bloody balls chopped off!"
"Okay, okay, we can go now," Buffy said with a bored tone.
"I find it very comforting that you think of this as a walk in the park," Giles commented.
"It’s not that…it’s just, when we were on our way here, my spidey sense was going off the charts. So we went on a little scouting mission, and, well, we saw what looked like Mya meeting with a group of vampires." Everyone looked at Buffy, and she continued. "So we went closer to see what was up, and saw it was our little friend Trick that was with her."
"But," Drusilla said. "We never got a good look at the girl he was meeting with. All we know is she’s about the same height and build."
"A lot of people have the same height and build," Angel pointed out. "You look a lot like Mya. Same height, same weight, same hair color."
"That’s the problem," Buffy said. "We can’t be sure. Just, be on the alert when she’s around. Something’s up and I intend on finding out what." Quickly, the group gathered their weapons and left the library.
*****
Buffy paced in the library. Her arm throbbed and her hair was dancing across her face; she ignored them both and glanced again from the clock to the doors. It had been almost ten minutes since they had escaped. She still couldn’t figure out how the vampires knew that they were coming. It was as if someone had told them. Buffy shook her head, she didn’t like the idea of a traitor in the group. She turned her back to the doors and peeled off her jacket. Fresh blood oozed down her arm and she noticed several bruises on the other arm. Her wrist was sore and she could barely use her right shoulder.
*I got hurt worse than I thought,* Buffy thought to herself. She knew she should probably bandage everything quickly before the others saw; they always went nuts when she hurt herself badly. Taking in a deep breath, pressed her left hand against her shoulder to see if it was broken. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes from the pain and she pulled out some bandages from the first aide kit on the counter. Since it wasn’t broken, she wrapped it carefully and then made it so her arm would sit against her side. Then she slipped her jacket onto her shoulders and began to pace again. The first to enter the library were Spike and Dru. Buffy went over to them and looked them over for any serious damage.
"You two okay?" she asked.
"Yeah. And you?" Dru asked. Buffy sighed and decided she shouldn’t hide anything from the two vampires.
"I’ve been better," Buffy said and let her jacket slip off of her shoulders.
"My god, are you alright?" Spike asked.
"Nothing’s broken, at least, I don’t think anything’s broken. My shoulder hurts like hell and I can barely move it, other than that, just a few cuts and bruises," Buffy told them. "Don’t tell the others."
"Then you’d better be putting on your coat, ducks," Spike told her. "They’re almost here." Buffy put on her jacket again and stood silently as her battered friends walked into the library. She looked over them and realized it was a miracle that they made it with their lives. She made a quick head count to see if everyone was there. *Okay, I’m here, so’s Spike, Dru, Whistler, Giles, Xander, Cordy, Willow, Oz, Angel, and…* Buffy frowned and looked counted again. *Me, Spike, Dru, Whistler, Giles, Cordy, Willow, Oz, Angel, and…*
"Has anyone seen Angelus?" Buffy asked quietly. Several heads shook no.
"We were talking Buffy," Giles said. "Nobody has seen him since earlier tonight. He wasn’t in battle with the rest of us."
"In fact, he disappeared right before we left," Angel said. She looked at them.
"What are you saying?" she asked.
"Buffy, they knew we were coming," Giles told her. "Someone told them." She looked at him and then at the faces who refused to meet her gaze.
"If you’re going to accuse my *friend* of something, come out and say it Giles," Buffy told him. Her voice lost the tenderness it held moments earlier when she was making sure Drusilla and Spike were safe.
"We think he warned them," Angel told her.
"He wouldn’t do that," Buffy protested.
"He’s a demon," Xander said.
"He’s my friend," Buffy said again. "He wouldn’t do that to me."
"I lived with him in my head for a hundred years Buffy," Angel said quietly. "You have no idea what he’s capable of."
"He’s changed."
"Obviously not enough," Angel said. Buffy lifted her face and stared him coldly in the eyes. She then let her gaze travel around the room and found nobody looking at her.
"Do you have any proof?" she asked.
"The prophecy," Oz responded.
"Do you care to elaborate or are you just gonna leave it at that?" Buffy asked sarcastically. "‘And one the Slayer is connected to shall betray her and she shall die,’" Angel said, quoting the old book. She raised an eyebrow.
"‘And one the Slayer is connected to,’" she said. "And in rough translation, it means someone I know who knows that I’m the Slayer."
"It could mean that," Giles murmured after a few moments.
"‘But prophecies are tricky creatures. They don't tell you everything,’" Buffy whispered. "The Master told me that before he killed me. If I hadn’t gone down there, he wouldn’t have been able to leave. Now you are accusing my friend of doing something that anyone could have done. We barely got away with our lives. I suggest that you read more thoroughly about this prophecy, then get back to me. That is, if I’m still talking to you."
"You can’t just do that," Giles protested.
"Watch me," Buffy said and pushed her way through Giles and Angel. Angel reached out to stop her and grabbed her right shoulder. Buffy cried out in pain and whipped her body away from Angel. He recoiled, shocked that his touch could cause her so much pain. Unsure if her tears were from pain or betrayal, Buffy ran from the room. Angel took a few steps to follow her, but Giles stopped him by placing his hand on Angel’s shoulder.
"No Angel, let her go," he told him.
"But Giles, what if we’re wrong," Angel protested. "What if he’s not responsible. She’ll never trust us again."
"All the facts point to it," Giles said. "Soon, she’ll see it also." Angel let his gaze flow out the library doors and sighed.
"I hope so," he whispered quietly. "I hope so."
*****
Angelus slowly regained consciousness and the memories of what happened flooded back to him. He had heard a strange noise and pulled away from the group to investigate. Then he was surrounded by vampires and hit over the head…repeatedly. Growling, he stood only to find he was chained to a wall. *Oh this is just great,* he thought. Mya stalked in front of him, holding a bottle of holy water.
"Why hello sleepyhead," she greeted. "How are you?"
"If you’re going to threaten me with that holy water…I’ve had worse," Angelus spat. She glared at him and threw the bottle at his feet. It shattered into the wall and slashed up his legs. Angelus clenched his teeth together.
"You see, if you’d been nice, I would’ve just staked you and got it over with. But now, now I’m gonna have to make you scream," she said.
"Good luck, not even the Slayer could do that," Angelus replied.
"I’M THE SLAYER!" she yelled. "Not that *BITCH* Buffy. Me."
"No, actually, you’re not. You seem to forget that small thing where you sent her to hell for three hundred years and had your powers revoked. *You* are helpless," Angelus replied calmly. "There’s nothing you can do to me." Mya just grinned wickedly.
"Already done," she said and sauntered over to two vampires Angelus hadn’t noticed. She handed him a set of keys. "Wait five minutes then let him go."
"But – " one started.
"DO IT!" she screamed then stalked out of the room where he was being held. After five minutes, the vampire who had the keys walked over to where Angelus was chained.
"Now I’m just following orders," he said. "You aren’t going to kill me, are you?"
"Nah, just let me out of here and I’ll forget I ever saw you. If you cross me a second time though, or the blonde Slayer, you won’t live to cross us again," Angelus threatened as his chains were unlocked. As soon as they dropped from his body, Angelus jumped forward at the two vampires; they flinched. Shaking his head in disgust, the angry vampire stalked from the mausoleum and off towards the abandoned warehouse where the others were supposed to be.
Chapter Eleven:
Whistler pulled away from the mausoleum just as Mya stalked inside. He pressed his ear, curiously against the door and listened to the exact words that were exchanged.
"DO IT!" Mya screamed from inside and then stormed out of the room, just as Whistler dove for cover. *Thank the gods she doesn’t have her powers,* he thought. He hurried off into the night, in search of Buffy.
*****
"Where the hell are they?" Angelus asked himself angrily after discovering the warehouse was full of vampires. There had obviously been a small battle there and he could see small trails of blood leading off into the night. So, he did the last thing he could think of and made his way towards the library.
*****
Mya padded into the library, her hair tousled and bloody, and several bruises on her face and arms. Everyone in the room looked up at her and gasped.
"Oh my god," Angel said and rushed over to her. "What happened?" The second he touched her shoulder, she flinched and scrambled as far away from him as she could.
"Don’t…I won’t let you hurt me again," she mumbled. Then she looked at the others. "Please, don’t let him…I know you don’t…like me much, but don’t let him do this."
"Do what?" Giles asked. "Angel has been with us all day." Mya frowned and looked at Angel, as if something was clearing up for her.
"Angel?" she asked.
"Yeah, it’s me. I won’t hurt you," he said gently. Mya broke down with tears.
"He…he beat me," she whispered. "Angelus, he, he caught me before you went to the warehouse. I heard him talking with Trick and was trying to get away…and he caught me. He beat me…and…" Her voice dropped down to a whisper. "He raped me." The room was silent with shock and nobody could take their eyes off of Mya.
"Mya, I’m so sorry," Giles said.
"I’ll kill him," Angel growled. "I will rip his fucking head off. With my bare hands."
"No!" Mya said. "Then he’ll know I talked to you and he’ll just come after me again." She backed into the doors then turned, and fled the library. Angel looked at Giles.
"What should we do?" he asked.
"I’m not sure, but we cannot allow him near Buffy. Who knows what he’ll do to her," Giles said as the doors flew open and Buffy stalked in.
"Damned vampires," she hissed. "Broke my…what’s up?"
"Angelus attacked Mya," Angel said. Buffy looked up into his chocolate eyes and cocked her head to the side.
"Did anyone here witness it?" she asked.
"No, but she said that – " Xander started.
"What she said means absolutely nothing. Doesn’t anyone remember the small little white lie she told last summer? You know, the one about me dying? Am I ringing any bells?" Buffy looked expectantly at them.
"This looked like something he’d do," Angel muttered.
"Oh really?" Buffy replied. Once again the door was pushed open and Angelus moved silently into the room.
"Oh, good, I’ve found you," he said to Buffy. Ignoring the rest of the room, he turned his back to them and pulled Buffy aside. "Buff, there’s something you need to know."
"Yeah, that you’re a lousy son of a bitch," Spike growled. Before Buffy’s eyes, Angelus’s form melted away into dust. She looked wide eyed at Spike, who was holding a stake and standing right behind where Angelus was standing.
"You killed him," she whispered. Then she glared back up at him, a stake in her hands in a flash. "You stupid son of a – "
"Woah, there is a lot of tension in this room," Whistler said from the doorway. "What’s going on?" He looked from Buffy, who was holding a stake ready to kill Spike, then at Spike, who was also holding a stake. Then his gaze settled at the pile of dust that was between them. "And who’s that?"
"Angelus," Buffy growled. "Spike killed him." Whistler looked at him with a frown.
"You did?" Spike nodded. "Why?"
"He attacked and raped Mya," Spike spat. "I wasn’t going to let him near Buffy."
"Wait a sec, attacked and raped *Mya*? That’s not possible. I saw them both about ten minutes ago. Angelus was chained up in a mausoleum by Mya’s vampire groupies, and Mya was stalking off to do whatever. They were both fine, just a little pissed," Whistler said.
"He could have done it in the past ten minutes," Angel pointed out. Whistler shook his head.
"No, he was only released about five minutes after Mya took off," Whistler told him. Buffy stared down at what used to be Angelus.
"I don’t believe it," she whispered. "I’ve been around him so long…he can’t be dead."
"Well, technically, a vampire is never alive," Giles pointed out. Buffy closed her eyes, her fingers gripping her stake so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"You do the research," she hissed. "Call me with an exact time and date of when and where I have to be to kill of Kelvin. If I see Mya, she’s dead. If I see Spike, he’s dead. Hell, if I see any of you and it’s like you’ve been tailing me, there’ll be a lot less Slayerettes around. Got it?" Without waiting for a response, Buffy turned on her heels and walked out of the library.
Chapter Twelve:
Buffy’s eyes opened wide as she woke up from her dream. It had been so vivid in her mind, that she could still smell the oil that Angelus had poured onto her back. Then she did something she had never done, she collapsed in tears from grief for the death of a demon.
*****
The next night…
*****
Buffy walked through the streets of Sunnydale, her mind focused on one thing, vampires. Slowly, she made her way through the park and found a vampire skulking through the shadows. As quiet as possible, Buffy stealthily moved behind him.
"Hello stupid," she muttered. As the vampire turned, she slammed down her stake and it entered his heart. The vampire crumbled to dust. "Where’s the challenge? I mean, c’mon, give me something harder to fight."
The ground shook in what seemed like protest and Buffy looked around wildly. The entire area around her shook in the earthquake, car alarms going off all over in the distance and Buffy could hear the glass from the stores nearby shattering. *What a time for an earthquake,* she thought. *Right at the threat of…* Buffy’s eyes grew wide. *Right at the threat of the Hellmouth opening.* Without another thought, Buffy raced off into the night towards Sunnydale High School, or more importantly the school’s library where the Hellmouth was located.
*****
Willow looked up at Giles with wide eyes as soon as the ground started to shake. He nodded a small encouragement and she continued with the spell as several stacks of books fell and the cage collapsed.
"Yo hablo el demones de inferno, releasan el gemelo!" she yelled. As suddenly as it started, the shaking stopped.
"Did it work?" Spike asked. They looked up at the rubble in the stacks as a shadow stood.
"Yeah, it worked," the shadow replied.
*****
Buffy raced up the street towards the school when the feeling she was being watched fell over her again. *Okay, stalker-person is out again,* Buffy thought. She paused in front of the doors, hearing a small rustle to her side, then reached out her hand to grasp the handle.
"Buffy," a voice said behind her. Buffy spun around, stake in hand, ready to kill. "Hey, wait, it’s just me!" Buffy’s mind registered the figure in front of her. Mya. Buffy’s eyes narrowed.
"What the hell do you want," she demanded. "And get out with it before I kill you." Mya’s eyes opened widely.
"I just, I know you probably don’t believe me about Angelus, just, be careful around him," Mya said with a pleading voice. *Hmmm, almost sounds sincere.*
"He’s dead," Buffy ground out. A look of victory passed through Mya’s face, then got covered by fake sorrow.
"Oh, Buffy, I’m sorry," she said.
"Why? According to you, he raped you," Buffy shot at her. Then, before another word could be spoken, Buffy stalked into the school.
*****
Everyone stared as Angelus removed himself from the rubble and stalk threateningly towards Willow and Giles.
"You know, I’m not really too sure on what the hell you people are on," he said. Oz moved closer to Willow, protectively.
"What do you mean?" the red haired hacker asked nervously.
"I mean, first you’re all rooting for my death, then that wanker there kills me off and banishes me to hell, and now you guys perform a resurrecting spell," Angelus said. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that thing is?"
"Well, not really," Willow replied.
"If you had pronounced one *syllable* wrong, you could’ve opened the Hellmouth yourself!" His face shifted angrily into his vampiric visage. "Which might have been the better alternative to what I’m going to do to some of you." Willow backed away a few steps.
"You’re going to kill us?" she squeaked.
"No, I never said anything about death," Angelus corrected. "And you don’t have to worry, Red, you pulled me out of there, so you’re safe."
"What happened to the Mr. Happy Angelus?" Angel asked. "You’re – "
"Back to how you remember?" Angelus finished. Angel nodded. "Well, you see, when Spiky-Boy offed me, he released the little shred of your soul that was in me. It feels nice, being a free man again." The library doors were pushed open and Buffy stalked in, taking in the damage that had been done to the room. Angelus’s face visibly lightened. "Buffy." The petite blonde looked up at him, then at Angel, then back at him.
"Um, I think I missed something here," she said.
"You’re *friends* decided they’d like to pull me outta hell," Angelus explained. "Don’t really see why, but they did."
"He said he was going to kill us," Xander announced.
"He’d have wait in line," Buffy growled.
"Now I feel like I missed something," Angelus muttered.
"She threatened to kill any of us if she saw us any time soon," Willow said.
"I thought the Hellmouth was opening, ‘cause of the quake and everything," Buffy said. Giles looked up at her, eyes wide.
"You felt that outside?"
"Yeah, I was patrolling. Um, right after I killed off a vamp, the ground started to shake. I put two and two together and here I am." Buffy looked at the room. "And since there’s no problem I’m going to–"
"Buffy," Mya said from the door. Angelus sunk into the shadows behind him. Buffy turned to glare at the brunette.
"What do you want!" she demanded.
"I wanted to warn you. When…when it happened, he was talking with Trick about attacking the old factory on Stinson at midnight," Mya said. Buffy cocked her head to the side.
"Thanks for the tip Mya," she said. Then some things connected in her brain. "Mya, go home. If this happens, you won’t be safe here." Mya nodded and slowly left the library. "Why that lying little bitch. I’m going to rip her fucking head off."
"Huh?" Angel asked.
"Think about it," Buffy said. "In order for this to happen, they need the library. This is where the Hellmouth will open."
"I did hear some things while I was back in hell," Angelus said. "Buffy, with astral projection, you can do minor spells, that’s it. They won’t be able to do this without someone here."
"And what better way to get our defenses down, to make it so nobody’s thinking straight than to create a diversion," Giles said. "Or to make it so some of the group doesn’t trust anyone else." Buffy looked up at the clock.
"They’ll probably have a whole lot of vamps hiding out," Angelus remarked.
"We have four hours ‘till midnight," she said. "Spike, how long did it take to make that bomb that we used in Kansas with Kekistoes?"
"‘Bout an hour," Spike said. She smiled up at him. "I’ll get right on it."
"Also, where can we find a whole lot of kerosene and gasoline?" Buffy asked.
"I can get some," Spike said.
"Get to it," she said. Spike and Drusilla quickly slipped out of the library and Buffy looked at Giles. "I have a plan."
"Oh great, the blonde one has a plan. This is gonna be interesting," Angelus muttered. Buffy glared at him. "Okay, what’s this plan?"
"You gave me a small idea for it," Buffy started. "Astral projection. We set up everything at the factory two hours before midnight, then set up some traps here. ‘Bout twenty minutes before midnight, we do the astral projection thing here and get to the factory. Once there, we surround the bomb and when the vamps get there, we run like hell, set it off by remote, and light the kerosene and gas that we’ve poured around it." Giles raised a shocked eyebrow.
"Not that bad of a plan," he remarked. Buffy grinned at him.
"I know."
"Are you sure they bought it?" Trick asked once again. Mya sighed in irritation and stalked across the small room.
"They bought it all right? Angelus is dead," Mya growled. "And I believe I get my reward right about now?"
"Oh yes. You want your strength back. You want to be as strong as Buffy."
"Stronger. I want to be stronger than that little slut," Mya said.
"It’ll take a while for the process to take effect," Trick told her.
"So make it work faster! Do it now, damnit! We don’t have time." Trick smiled a toothy grin, his long, sharp fangs glistening in the dim light.
"I think we work something out," he said with a savage tone, and yanked Mya towards him. With an animalistic growl, he sunk his fangs into her neck. An hour later, Mya’s dead body stirred and then she sat up with wild yellow eyes and unnaturally long incisors. "Good morning sleepy head. You’ve woken just in time…for the end of the world." Mya smiled at Trick, her sire, then stood with lethal gracefulness.
"Mmmm, my kind of welcoming," she said with a smirk.
*****
Two hours and forty minutes later…
*****
Buffy drew in a deep breath as the others looked at their physical bodies, which were positioned in a heap on the floor, hidden by some desks. Everyone was there but Whistler. *He always shows up whenever,* Buffy thought. *If this is really going to be tough for us, he’ll show.*
"Whoa, this is…well, I think the only word to describe this is weird," Xander said. Buffy shrugged and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Yeah. Okay, there are a few things you need to know. You can touch physical objects but can’t die. If you want, you can pass through physical things. Only, the longer you’re like this, the harder it is for you to get back into your body," she explained. "Questions? Comments?" Nobody said anything.
"Okay, let’s get going," Angelus said. "We want to be back in time for the fun."
"Oh yeah, saving the world from a sick freak who reminds me of you is going to be loads of fun," Buffy muttered.
"Well, I was talking more of torturing Mya," Angelus explained.
"You aren’t going to hurt her," Angel said. "She just trying to get attention."
"What the fuck are you on?" Angelus demanded. "Give me a break, Soul-Boy, Mya is a sick fuck and she needs to be put down."
"Language," Buffy reminded. Then she sighed. "We’ll deal with Mya later."
"You were so much more fun in hell," Angelus grumbled. "Now it’s work, work, work. You never have any fun anymore."
"I have fun!" Buffy paused then thought. "Okay, so I don’t."
"I can think of a few ways to change that," Angelus said with a smirk. Buffy cocked her head to one side.
"Hmm, so can I. Sandpaper, kitchen utensil, and you," she said perkily. Angelus’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth with a comeback.
"Will you two stop it?" Drusilla demanded. "You two are worse than children! We have stuff we have to do. Saving the world kind of stuff?"
"You always spoil my fun," Buffy pouted. Then she sighed. "Okay, let’s get to work. We need to get to the factory. Spike, you set everything up, right?"
"Yeah luv, I did. Kerosene, gasoline, and a nice little bomb in the bloody center of the factory," Spike said. "I feel like I’m talking about making some bleeding soufflé or something."
"Oooh, cherry soufflé. Cryack used to make that," Buffy said.
"Yeah, except they weren’t cherries," Angelus said. Buffy paled.
"What were they?" He looked up at her and then walked over to her side.
"You don’t want to know. Trust me." Several different possibilities ran through Buffy’s mind before deciding she would take his advice.
"Okay, I think I missed something here, cause I’m drawing this huge blank," Xander announced. Angelus tried not to laugh.
"Like that’s something new," he whispered. Buffy elbowed him. "What?"
"Be nice," she warned.
"But I don’t to," Angelus argued. "It’s so much more fun being evil. I mean, you get to torture people, get anything you want, have power and control…"
"And get your head chopped off by me," Buffy said. Then she gave him an evil grin. "It is fun once and a while." He rolled his eyes.
"Back on topic now, please?" Giles asked. "There is something important we are dealing with right now, commonly known as the end of the bloody world!"
"Oooh, Giles, language. Naughty, naughty," Buffy said teasingly. Then she put on a serious face. "Sorry, had to get that out of my system. I had three vanilla frappuccinos before I got here. They ought to put warning labels on those things."
"Slayer, pet, we best be getting to the factory," Spike reminded her. Buffy nodded.
"Okay. When we get there, everyone get inside and surround the bomb. As soon as the vampires show, we run and light the stuff around the building. When it reached the bomb, well, let’s be far from there by that time." The others nodded and as one, the group left the small classroom.
*****
Buffy knew as soon as they got to the factory that there were vampires already inside. She cautiously led them through the main entrance and then made her way to the small box that Spike had left on a table in the middle of the large room inside.
"Okay," she said a little loudly. "We’ll just stand around that strange box and wait for the vampires to show up and end the world. I just hope it’s not a trap." The others looked at her oddly, then realized what she was doing.
"Yeah," Cordelia agreed, in the same overly loud voice. "I just had my nails done. And do you know how much it would cost to have this dry-cleaned?"
"Cordy, hon," Xander said, catching on. "I think we need to worry about being out numbered as opposed to your cleaning bill."
"Well, the little lady won’t have to worry about her cleaning bill ‘cause she’ll be dead," a vampire announced from the shadows. Several dozen more stepped out of the shadows, surrounding them.
"Okay, we’re clearly outnumbered," Angel said. "Let’s get out of here." The others nodded and ran towards the entrance. The vampires blocking them, braced themselves to hold them back when they passed straight through them.
"What the hell?" a vampire asked. Buffy smirked at him and pulled out a match.
"Is it just me, or does it smell like gasoline in here?" she asked. "A lot of it." Everyone ran far from the building as Buffy lit it then dropped it at her feet. Flames shot up around her and shot around the room, surrounding the vampires. "Bye. Have fun in hell. Oh, and tell Crenshaw he can go fuck a tree." Buffy glanced behind her and saw her friends far in the distance, then said the spell that would reunite her with her body.
"No!" the leader vampire yelled as the bomb exploded and Buffy disappeared.
*****
It was weird for him, being on the same side as the demon who destroyed everything he had. Angel looked over at Angelus, who stooped down to help Willow up after she tripped. She smiled a thanks at him then looked over at Angel. He met her gaze for a moment then turned away from her gaze. Now he had a lot more than he ever did, and yet, he didn’t have what mattered most to him. Buffy. She was almost Angelus’s possession. They smiled, teased, lobbed insults at each other…they seemed to be the closest of friends. It frightened Angel to think of Angelus’s attitude when they had first pulled him from hell earlier in the night as compared to what it was after Buffy showed up. He saw the way Buffy looked at Angelus, as if he was the only person she could trust, as if he was the only one who was there for her, as if he was –
"What took you guys so long?" Buffy’s voice snapped him back out of his thoughts with a savage interruption. She was leaning against the wall in a patented Angelus stance.
"How did you get here so fast?" Angelus asked her. As usual, he was the first one to talk with her, getting out his thoughts before everyone else.
"I know the reversal spell. Come to think of it, so do you Peaches," she tossed at him. Angelus blinked.
"I know that. I just…I wanted to make sure they got here safely," Angelus said. Buffy snorted then looked at Angel with a bemused smile.
"Whatever. Well, let’s get everyone back in their bodies. We have a party to crash," she announced.
"We don’t have any weapons," Giles suddenly realized. A wicked grin spread over the Slayer’s lips. "Did I mention that I picked up a few toys to bring to the party?" she asked then held up a large bag. "Two swords, two crossbows, a couple of daggers, some spell books, holy water, crosses, stakes…did I forget anything?" Giles shook his head. "What can I say, you’ve taught me well."
"Have I mentioned how nice it is to have you back Buffy?" Giles asked. Buffy’s features softened and she looked at the floor, trying to avoid her friends’ gazes.
"Actually, not really. You all just sorta went, ‘Hey, she’s not dead. Cool,’ and went on your ways." The room grew silent and Buffy straightened. "You guys can gush over me later. Right now, we have a world to save."
"Yeah, and being in our physical bodies might help out a bit," Oz pointed out.
"Just might," Buffy agreed.
"Okay, so, what do we do?" Xander asked.
"Hold hands," Angelus instructed. Willow grasped onto Xander’s and Oz’s hands, Xander grabbed Cordelia’s, who had held onto Angel’s hand. Angel held out his hand for Angelus to grab onto, which he did and then held onto Drusilla’s hand. Dru grabbed Spike’s, who held Giles’s. Giles and Xander completed the circle and they surrounded their bodies. Buffy stood in the middle.
"I’ll do the spell," she said. Swiftly, the words flew from her mouth and soon the circle disappeared and the heap of bodies shifted and sat up.
"Okay, I take it back," Xander announced. "Looking at our bodies while not being in them is not weird. Being put back in them is." Buffy smiled.
"It’s a lot to get used to," she agreed. "Now imagine doing it surrounded by demons and someone who tried to make you go insane."
"How many times do I have to apologize!" Angelus demanded. "I bent over backwards to make you happy in hell." Buffy frowned and scratched her temple, resisting the urge to say, ‘Yeah, you bent over backwards as well as many *other* directions.’
"I just like to tease you about it," Buffy said instead. "It’s fun for me."
"Well I’m glad one of us enjoys it," Angelus muttered. "Can we go kill things now?" Angel nodded.
"As much as I hate to agree with him, we probably get to the library before they figure out we aren’t dead or still at the factory," he said. "A few vamps are bound to have lived." The others nodded.
"Okay," Buffy agreed. Angelus moved next to her and pulled out a sword. Buffy picked up the other one and let Giles take the bag to distribute the other things she had grabbed. Her eyes met with Angelus’s as the both held up their swords in a position similar to one they used while fighting after Angelus had released Acathla.
"Déjà vu," Angelus whispered. Buffy shivered.
"Let’s do this," she announced and stalked out the door. Angel fell into step next to her, handing her a dagger and a stake.
"I’m really glad you’re back, Buffy," he whispered. "I missed you, I just didn’t know how to say it in front of him. When he…when we shared a body, he’d belittle me for loving you." Buffy looked up at him.
"I missed you too," she admitted. "If we, no, when we win this, we’ll go somewhere and have a nice long chat, okay?"
"Okay," Angel replied. They stopped in front of the library and peeked in the windows. Buffy turned to talk to the rest of the group.
"Mya’s in there, so’s Trick and about a dozen vamps," she whispered.
"What are they doing?" Willow asked.
"It looks like they’re trying to end the world."
*****
"Hablo el inferno. Hablo el inferno pero distruciones el globo," Mya chanted as she glanced down at the old book Trick held out for her. The vampires around her stood still, staring at the spot where a small vortex had begun to grow.
"And the thing I can’t get over is that this is our library and we weren’t even invited," Buffy said. Mya turned, wide eyed to stare at the new arrivals. *This is not good,* she thought.
"No!" Trick urged. "Keep going or you’ll destroy the equilibrium!"
"I don’t think so," Buffy hissed. Angel and Giles shot their crossbows, each taking down two of the fourteen vampires. Buffy and Angelus charged into the crowd as Trick’s minions attacked them. Mya struggled to finish the spell.
"Uh, I call upon you, leader’s of hell, open this gate and swallow the world I call you from!" Mya yelled. "I ask you, oh mighty leaders, spread your evil across this gate and oomph!" Buffy tackled Mya, her arms around Mya’s waist, bringing her down the ground in a heavy thud. Mya’s head slammed on the stone floor and a trickle of blood seeped from the place of impact as she passed out. Buffy leaped up and began to go one on one with Trick.
"Well, well, Slayer, we meet again," Trick sneered. "I didn’t think you had it in you to outsmart me."
"Did it before, I’ll do it again," Buffy hissed as she caught Trick’s fist. She pushed it back at him and shoved him into Angel’s waiting stake.
"NOOO!!" Trick screamed then his ashes fell to the ground.
"Thanks," Buffy said.
"No problem," Angel replied. Taking in a deep breath, Buffy looked around the room. Her friends looked back at her, dust covering them and the library.
"Hey Slayer!" a deep voice called out. Startled, the Slayerettes, vampires, and Slayer turned as one to look at the vortex. Buffy smiled.
"Cryack," she greeted. "How are things?"
"Well, Kelvin and Crenshaw are in…custody," the large demon said with the closest thing to a smirk his mouth could make. He was about nine feet tall, covered from head to toe in blades. "What is that?" Xander whispered.
"The most educated Hork-Bajir you will ever meet," Angelus said.
"I’m hoping the nicest too," Xander said.
"No, most are like him," Angelus explained. "His kind was created to help keep hell in order. The blades are really for cutting down trees and stuff."
"Hey, no telling our secrets," Cryack said with a grin.
"So, Crenshaw and Kelvin are taken care of?" Buffy asked. Mya moaned and rolled over. She slowly sat up, then her memory snapped back and her eyes opened wide. Buffy smiled a dangerous grin. "How would you like a new addition?"
"What’s going on?" Mya demanded. "Who are you? Why’s the world still here?"
"We saved it you ninny," Spike growled.
"I see that you arrogant worthless excuse for a vampire," Mya snapped. Buffy walked over to Mya and leaned up to whisper in her ear.
"We won," she said. "That means you’re not in a position to threaten or to make rude comments." Mya’s eyes widened.
"Oh, yeah," she stuttered. "I don’t suppose you’d be really nice and decide to forgive me, would you?"
"Not really," Buffy replied. "But I’d be willing to introduce you to my friend, Cryack." Mya looked up at the tall demon and her eyes grew even larger.
"Hi," Cryack said.
"I’m sure he’ll take real good care of you," Buffy said then latched onto Mya’s arm. "In hell." With a hard yank, Buffy flung Mya towards Cryack. He caught her arm then smiled at Buffy.
"Be seeing you Slayer," he said. "C’mon Mya, I’ll introduce you to my friends." They disappeared into the vortex and Buffy’s smile disintegrated.
"That was interesting," she muttered. "Anyone else want to go home and sleep for about a year?" Xander walked over to her and flung an arm over her shoulders.
"Nah, then you’d miss all the fun that is the Boca de Inferno," he said.
"Oh, yeah," Buffy muttered.
"But we can go home and sleep for at least twelve hours," Xander said.
"Oh at least," Buffy said with a chuckle. Three pairs of Slayerettes, Xander and Cordelia, Willow and Oz, and Spike and Drusilla left the library, carrying on their own conversations, all promising to drop by the next night. Buffy stood between Angel and Angelus, Giles kneeling on the floor, leafing through some of the books that were discarded on the floor. Buffy put her arms around both Angel’s and Angelus’s shoulders.
"Well, I probably should get home," she said. "Which one of you want to walk me?"
"I will," Angel said quickly. Buffy smiled.
"Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow night, Angelus."
"I can’t believe it," Willow murmured as she and Oz walked down the street. They had split from Xander and Cordelia about four blocks ago and were enjoying the fact that the world was still there.
"Can’t believe that we won or that Mya betrayed us?" Oz asked.
"Neither," Willow clarified. "But that Buffy has both Angel and his demon other half wrapped around her little finger and that she has to actually make herself choose one of them."
"Oh," Oz replied. "Well, if you think about it, it makes perfect sense."
"How?"
"Well, she loves Angel, that one’s a given. You can see it when she looks at him. But she spent a lot of time with Angelus. I guess they became good friends. Buffy feels safe with them both. And they both love her."
"But Angelus wants to kill us," Willow pointed out.
"Yeah, but as long as Buffy likes us, we’re pretty much on the safe side."
"But which one does she love?" Willow asked. Oz fell silent for a moment then looked up at his girlfriend.
"Both I guess. It’s either that or she doesn’t love at all. But I don’t really like the idea of an emotionless Slayer running around with powerful spells and connections in all places, high and low. So, I guess she has to choose which one will suit her life the best."
"And which one do you think?" Oz avoided Willow’s gaze and looked up at the stars.
"Babe, I really don’t know. On one side of the coin, she has life and children and houses with a white picket fence."
"And on the other?" Willow prodded.
"On the other, she has someone who she’s spent three hundred years with, who she can fight with, physically, who she doesn’t have to worry about children and where she can bring work home with her. Someone who’ll always watch her back and who’ll always be there for her, for however long she may live," Oz said.
"They’re both as strong as she is," Willow said.
"Physically, yes, emotionally, no," Oz explained. "It would be better for us for her to choose Angel, but for her, I’m not sure. I guess, it’s her hearts decision."
"You’re forgetting one thing," a deep voice spoke from the shadows. The couple looked behind them at a group of dark trees and could barely make out the outline of Angelus’s face.
"You followed us?" Willow demanded.
"Spike and Dru followed Cordelia and Xander. Just to make sure you guys got home safe. I promised Buffy that much," Angelus explained.
"You said we forgot one thing," Oz said. "What was it?"
"Which one belongs in this world?" Angelus asked. "Fate keeps bringing Buffy and Soul Boy back together. I may love Buffy in my own twisted little way, but I belong in hell. I have my duty as she does hers."
"So you’re leaving?" Willow asked. Angelus chuckled from the trees and then stepped out into the moonlight.
"Buffy’s heart never belonged to me, nor will it ever. My duty is to my best friend, and for me to do that duty, I can’t be here. I have to go back and restore the balance," Angelus said. "But I won’t leave for a while yet. Not ‘till I’m sure she’s safe."
"What if she chooses you?" Oz asked.
"She won’t," Angelus said. "And if she does, there are ways around that."
"Buffy’s stubborn, if she chooses you, nothing short of the end of the world will stop her," Willow said. An evil smirk grew on Angelus’s lips and Willow stumbled back a step.
"Like I said, there are things one can do to get around it," he whispered then turned his back. "Goodnight Willow, Oz." Before they could reply, he sunk back into the shadows and was gone.
"You don’t think he would…try to destroy the world again, do you?" Willow asked.
"Wills, we live on the Hellmouth," Oz stated. "Anything is possible."
*****
"Anything is possible," Oz said. Angelus listened from the trees and thought about what Oz had said. It was true, he’d do anything for Buffy, but what about making sure she was with Angel? What would he do then? Shaking his head, Angelus kept his focus as Oz left the Willow’s house and continued on towards his own. *I’ll just have to do something about it before she does anything stupid,* Angelus decided.
*****
"I’m not sure what my feelings are for you anymore," Buffy blurted out. She had been sitting in Angel’s living room drinking coffee for about fifteen minutes and couldn’t keep it in any longer. Nothing registered on Angel’s face.
"I know," he said quietly. "Sometimes I keep thinking I’ll wake up and this’ll all be a dream, that you’re either dead for real, or just asleep next to me. I won’t lie to you Buffy, I love you more than I think you can imagine. But it’s your choice."
"Yeah. You or him," Buffy said quietly. "It’s funny, you know. I never thought I’d choose you or you evil twin. He caused me so much pain Angel, but then again, so have you. I don’t know what to do."
"What does your heart say?"
"I don’t know," Buffy replied. She stood up and turned her back to Angel. "I closed myself off for so long down there, and when I did finally start to open up, it wasn’t totally. How easily I can just tell you things frightens me, Angel. I don’t like that. I don’t want you knowing my every thought and feeling. I want to be able to keep things to myself. But I don’t." She turned to look at Angel with a frown heavy on her features. "Do you know what I mean?"
"Yeah," Angel whispered. "You make me feel the same way."
"I always felt like my heart would be safe with you, Angel, but it has so many cuts and bruises that I don’t want to give it to anyone right now. Not even you."
"So what do we do?" Angel asked.
"I guess, we try the whole ‘let’s just be friends’ thing," Buffy said. "It might help us to see what our true feelings are."
"Okay," Angel agreed. "Friends."
"Yeah." Buffy glanced at the clock. "Well, I’d better get going." Angel nodded and Buffy walked to the door. Then she paused and looked at Angel. "They say that absence makes the heart grow stronger. Well, it’s not true. It just makes it numb." Angel looked at her, unable to say just how much he understood, and watched as she opened the door and walked out of his apartment. Or possibly, his life.
Angelus stood in front of the open portal, Rupert Giles just behind him. With one last glance back into the library, Angelus looked into the watcher’s eyes.
"You promise you’ll tell her?" Angelus pleaded.
"I promise," Giles said. "And I’ll give her the letter."
"Thanks watcher. I never did anything to deserve this, but thank you so much," Angelus said. Giles smiled.
"You took care of my Slayer, and you’re making the right choice," Giles replied. "That’s thanks enough." Angelus nodded, then turned and walked into the portal. It fluctuated around him, then closed, melting his form in with it. Giles stood still for a moment then walked to the phone and dialed a familiar number.
"Buffy," he said once she answered. "Can you come to the library, I’m afraid I have something rather important to tell you. No, it’s not good news. Yes, I’ll see you then." Rupert Giles dropped the phone back into place and prepared himself for the reaction of his Slayer. "Good show Angelus. But not good-bye."
The End