BtVS Fanfiction by Phoenix0879

Welcome to A Childe Awakens, the first story in the ongoing Legacy Series. It introduces a  new male original character as a love interest for Xander.

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series, any of the characters from these shows. They are the property of Joss Whedon, FOX and UPN. I am merely playing in this fantastic sandbox created by Joss. These stories are written purely for my pleasure and hopefully the pleasure of you, the reader. I make no profit from these stories, other than the joy of writing.

Prologue


Silently, Buffy moved through the park, her Slayer senses on full alert, a gang of vampires had been causing trouble here recently. A little boy, not even ten, had been attacked the previous night. Despite everything going on with The First, she’d taken time out to come and clear out the vampires, she felt she owed it to the boys’ family. Through the night a muffled scream reached her ears. Breaking into a run, she slipped through the trees like they weren’t even there. As she neared the edge of the trees something crashed into the ground at her feet. She looked down and a feral face glared up at her, yellow eyes glinting in the moonlight.

On instinct her foot lashed out, catching the vampire under her chin and flipping it through the air. With a dull thud it landed and flipped itself back onto its feet. In a blur of speed, she charged out of the trees and punched the vamp in the face. Again it reeled back and she followed through with a sharp kick to the head that knocked it back to the ground. She rolled forward, drawing a stake from her jacket as she did so. As the roll finished the stake plunged home and she was rewarded with a cloud of dust. Turning around, towards the sounds of combat she stared in disbelief, stopping for a moment.

A lone man, dressed all in black, was fighting three vampires. And he was winning. She watched him and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. He wasn’t a vampire that much she knew. No vampire moved like that, not even Spike or Angel. There was an…aliveness to him, was all she could put it down to. Then it dawned on her where she’d seen people move like that. Kendra and Faith. Slayers. But it wasn’t possible. All the slayers were women. Well, she thought, little more than girls actually.

“Hate to be a pain, but could you give a guy a hand please?” His voice cut through her racing thoughts, snapping her back to reality. Another two vampires had appeared and joined in attacking him, leaving him heavily outnumbered. Even she would be struggling with those odds. Rushing forward, her hand twisted into a shirt collar and pulled. The vamp arced over her head and she moved on, stake driving into another vamps back, turning her to dust. In less than thirty seconds, all five of the creatures were dust. The young man stepped into the light of the full moon and Buffy got her first proper look at him.

He stood about 6' 1”, well muscled, hair a bark brown, almost black in this light and hanging loose to his shoulders. But it was his eyes that caught her attention. They were a beautiful, vibrant blue and shone, even in the middle of the night, like two pools of luminous water. They were eyes you could sink into and never, ever, want to come back out of.

She looked down and saw his hand held out before her. She took it and looked back at his face as he smiled and spoke again, “Hi, I’m Sebastian. I’ve got a message for Giles.”

6 months earlier, Nottingham, England.

“I’m telling you Liz, that guy’s bad news!” Sebastian was sat on the sofa, the TV chattering away in the corner, totally ignored. A lava lamp sat on a shelf, casting dancing shadows throughout the room. A cat, coat a mottled ginger and white, strolled across the carpet and wrapped itself around his legs, purring softly. His sister, Elizabeth, was in the bathroom of their flat getting ready.

“‘Bastian, will you please calm down, I can look after myself. I’m a big girl now; I don’t need you looking over my shoulder all night and day.”

Sebastian sighed and walked over to the bathroom door. Leaning against the frame, he crossed his arms over his chest. “Liz, I’m not been paranoid, there’s something creepy about him. Jen’s heard….”

“Jen!” Liz snorted as she brushed past him and entered her room “is a two faced gossip. I don’t know why you hang around with her.”

“Liz! I know Jen likes to talk, but even Steve’s been saying things, and you know how he hates getting involved.” He followed Liz to her room and caught the damp towel thrown at his head. He bunched it up in his hands. “Look, Liz, please, just be careful. I’m not saying don’t go, just watch your back. I don’t want to see my little sis get hurt.” He stepped up behind her and laid his chin on her shoulder, staring at their reflection in the dresser mirror. Liz’s eyes, identical to his own, stared back at him from amidst the fiery red hair, the frustration boiling under the electric blue like a great sea creature trying to surface. Finally, after a minute of him staring at her reflection, she sighed and her face softened.

She took a deep breath and looked into Sebastian’s eyes in the mirror. “I’ll be careful. Promise.” Then she smiled and brushed him off her shoulder. “Besides, I’m older and wiser and you know it!”

Sebastian smiled. “Only by four minutes. And you certainly don’t act it.”

The next morning, 2am.

Sebastian stirred. Then the doorbell sounded again. He struggled out of bed and made his way to the door. He slid the bolt back and opened it a crack, peeking out. He woke up immediately. There was a police officer and a man in a suit on his doorstep. “Um, yeah? What’s up?” He asked, his voice still muffled and his eyes sleep filled. He ran a hand through his long hair, trying to tame it.

“I’m sorry to disturb you sir, but are you Sebastian Childe?”

Sebastian looked at the man for a minute, then answered “Yeah, why?”

“I’m DC Llyod, this is PC Williamson, can we come in? I don’t think we should discuss this on the doorstep.”

“Um, sure. Come in” Sebastian held the door wide for the two, then shut it behind them. “The living rooms just through there.” He said, waving a hand. “Make yourselves at home.” He followed them through and sat on the sofa. He looked up at DC Llyod. “What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Childe, do you have any family?”

“Yeah, my twin, Li….I mean, Elizabeth.”

The detective looked at Bastian, his face soft and caring. “I’m sorry sir, but Elizabeth was attacked last night. She’s in intensive care. If you’ll come with me?”


The same time, a prison near Los Angeles

“Hey, bitch!” The brunette ignored the voice and carried on walking, her tray in hand. She spotted an empty table and steered her way towards it. “Bitch, I’m talking to you. Bitch!” She carried on walking. She had to behave, or she’d never get out of this stinking hole. To late, her senses realized what was happening. The table corner rushed up to meet her and then blackness.

Silence. Blissful silence. Then a beep. Silence. Beep. Silence. Beep. Silence. Beep. What the hell was that noise? Then a voice, hushed. “She was lucky. If the guards had been any slower, we’d never have brought her back. Her heart stopped twice as it is. She’s lucky she didn’t stay dead.”

Her mind raced as the words sank in. Dead? She’d died? No way! She was five by five, no way had she died!

Intensive care, Nottingham

“Clear!” The body on the table jerked as electric currents coursed through it. With a soft thump it stopped. The wailing, constant alarm never faltered. “Again!” The voice cried and again body jerked. Still the constant tone. “Again!” The body jerked, but the shrill alarm remained constant.
She sighed. “It’s no good, call it.” With a snap a glove came off and she rubbed her eyes. She headed to the door. On the other side an orderly was coming towards her. He stepped up to her and, in a hushed voice, spoke. “The brother is here.”

The Liquid swirled in the little plastic cup. Slowly the swirling stopped. He gently swirled the cup and watched as the liquid spiraled around. It slowed and again he swirled the cup. The liquid splashed over his hand.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” a soft voice asked. He looked up. “Not really, not after....”. With a scrape a chair was drawn back. The detective sat down. “I know how you feel.”

“I’m sure you do.” Sebastian replied, the sarcasm dripping from his voice. “I wonder, if my whole family had been killed, would you know how I feel? Probably.”

“I should have expected that.” He sipped from the cup he had brought to the table with him. “Ugh. This stuff gets worse. But I do know. My sister was murdered, when I was nine. That’s why I’m here.”

“I’m sure it hurt, but not like this. We are....were, twins. We had a bond.” A tear fell into the cup. “Why?!” He slammed his fist down on to the table. Only it didn’t stop. It went through the table. He sat there for a moment, staring blankly at his arm. Then he pulled, but it was snagged.

He looked at the detective. “Um, I seem to be stuck. Help me?” He was rewarded with a smile.

“Sure.” He stood and helped Sebastian free his arm. “You shouldn’t have done that. More to the point, how did you do that?”

Sebastian stared at his hand. There wasn’t a scratch on it. “I haven’t any idea.” He looked up. “I’ll pay for any damage.”

The detective smiled, softly. “Don’t worry, we’ll deal with that later. If you feel up to it, I’d like to ask you a few questions.” Sebastian nodded and gently the detective led Sebastian from the room.

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

Chapter 1

The tea steamed on the breakfast bar. Giles reached out and took his cup, sipping thoughtfully. He replaced his cup on the counter, removed his glasses and gently cleaned them for a minute or two. Finally he replaced them and turned to look at the young man standing in the Summers kitchen.

“So you were twins?” he asked. Sebastian only nodded slightly, his face remaining neutral.

“The council seem to think that, through some bizarre twist of fate, Liz and the current slayer must have died at the same time. There’s never been a case of a slayer having a twin before, but because we are...were... twins, they believe that’s why I gained the power. Liz wasn’t ‘available’, so the power jumped to me. I’m only four minutes younger, so it kind of makes sense.”

“Not really,” Giles replied “our whole understanding of the slayer line is that only women can be chosen.” He put his glasses back on and stared at the young man sat before him, then looked at Buffy.

“Don’t ask me, I only work here” she said, raising her hands slightly in surrender. “But whatever the reason Giles, he has the power. He moves like Kendra and Faith and...”

“Yourself.” The former Watcher finished for her, smiling at the woman he still regarded as his ward and so much more.

“Yeah.”

“I’ve spoken at length with Wesley in LA,” he began.
“How is the little snob anyway?” Buffy interrupted. Giles had to smile. Not matter how much he insisted the little twit had changed, Buffy never believed him. She would forever hold the view that Wesley was duller than an episode of Eastenders.

“He’s fine. He did some checking for me and apparently Faith was attacked six months ago. Her heart stopped twice.” Buffy’s eyes widened in a questioning look. “It appears she didn’t even fight back, her attacker was unharmed.”

“Wow, shame they didn’t finish the job they started.”

“Buffy!” he said sharply, staring with a mixture of horror and disgust at her outburst. She returned his stare of disapproval with a look that would have even a thousand year old vampire running for cover.

“Giles, she shot my boyfriend, slept with Riley, held my mother hostage AND stole my body. The girl does not need any slack.”

“Be that as it may Buffy, Faith has been behaving herself. She didn’t even try to defend herself. The other inmate in question has gained another 6 months to their sentence.”

“Okay, so Faith died and activated Captain Courageous over there.” She jabbed a finger in the general direction of Sebastian. The young man looked up at the cutting tone of Buffy’s voice. Glancing round, she saw his face and spoke again, her voice softer this time, “Sorry. I didn’t mean it personally.” He smiled his understanding and acceptance of her apology as Giles spoke.

“So it would appear.”

Sebastian drained his cup and set it down with just enough force to cause the others to look at him. “It’s all very well sitting here debating just why I was chosen, but in the end, it doesn’t matter. I was, I am. That’s that.”

“Very practical” Buffy noted, then glanced at Giles, her eyes glinting mischievously. “You must be so proud.”

Sebastian ignored her, got up and walked to the stairs, where his coat was hanging over the banister. The tiniest hint of metal showed beneath it. He shoved a hand into an inside pocket, drawing a small item from it and returned to the kitchen, presenting a piece of old, tattered parchment to Giles.

“The survivors of the Watchers Council asked me to bring you this, no idea what it is, but given that they sent it with me rather than some average message runner can’t be a good sign.” Giles simply nodded in reply, taking the offered item. His attention was soon riveted by the parchment that he had unfolded before him. He made some small noises then looked up at the two Slayers before him. He looked at Bastian and gestured to the parchment.

“Did they say what this was?”

“Nope, just that it was potentially important to what was happening and that I had to get it to you as soon as I could. They also gave me this.” He pulled a small manila envelope from his back pocket and handed it to Giles.

Buffy snorted in contempt. Off of their looks she answered their silent question. “Once again, the council comes through with another amazing piece of non-information.” Giles pushed his glasses back up and looked her in the eye.

“Buffy, we have no way of knowing yet what the council has sent us. It may very well be critical to both your survival and that of the slayers in training.”

“Yeah, I get that Giles. But come on, other than assigning you as my Watcher can you tell me one useful thing that they’ve actually done?”

He sighed. “Well, they helped us identify Glory. They.....” He stopped abruptly as Buffy cut him off

“Giles, they told us she was a god, something that I’m sure more than one of us would have figured out sooner or later, even without their amazing assistance.”

Sighing, Giles abandoned the conversation, knowing from experience that he wouldn’t win this debate. He tore the envelope open and unfolded the small piece of paper it had contained. The message was short and he folded the letter back up before placing it on the table and turning to Sebastian.

“They’ve requested that you remain here for the discernable future and that I act as your temporary Watcher while you are here in Sunnydale. They go on to say that a more permanent solution will be found when you return to Britain.”


Across town.

With a soft clatter the small stone skittered across the asphalt of the path and with a gentle rustle disappeared into the underbrush. Momentarily another one followed it. A third stone vanished into the plants. A soft curse floated over the air. In the dark, Amy Maddison sat on the bench, looking around her for a stone to kick. She was all out. She swore again, frustrated. Ever since Willow had gone back on the straight and narrow, she’d had no one to play with, no one to let her hair down with and the magick was only so much fun on your own. Even Rack was dead, drained by Willow of all energy. She sat there in silence, thinking. She pulled herself up from the bench onto the picnic table and sat there, her legs swaying slightly.

Slowly her swinging legs stopped and a thoughtful look passed over her face, turning slowly into a small smile. She hopped down and headed for home, a plan forming in her head. Swiftly, she moved through the streets, undisturbed. She encountered a couple of vampires, but they didn’t slow her down, she was on a mission.

       
An hour later she sat cross legged in the circle, the components for the spell gathered before her. Leaning forward, she lit a black candle. Tipping some blue powder into her hand from a small pouch, she sprinkled it into the flame. The flame flared for a moment, turning purple. She took a pinch of the powder from pouch and sprinkled it over a crystal, speaking softly as she did so.

“Bring to me to me the Willow I desire, to romp and play with, to share my power and to worship the gods together.”

The crystal glowed, there was a flash and..... nothing. She sat there, looking around. It had worked, she had felt the power pass through her. She closed the circle, clearing away the remnants of her spell, then stood. She’d find Willow yet, she’d do another spell, one to locate the person she had summoned.

In an abandoned factory there was a crash and a small female form hit the ground. A head of red hair and pale skin lifted up.

“Not again....”

She stood and headed for the exit. She’d had enough of this, the Slayer, the Witch, the Wolf, they would all suffer. And oh, how she’d enjoy that.


Elsewhere in Sunnydale

Buffy and Sebastian were on patrol, talking very little. Finally Sebastian turned to her.

“You’re freaked, aren’t you? The council briefed me, the Slayer is always a young woman and here I am, a guy, with the same gift.”

Buffy laughed “A little. And ‘freaked’, I’ve never heard Giles say that, sounds odd coming from a British guy.” Sebastian smiled.

“Don’t judge us all. The watchers are the first people I’ve ever met who talk like that. Must be something in the training.” He snorted in amusement. Then his head cocked slightly to one side. “Do you here that? Ten O’clock. Vampires. Two, maybe more.”

“Ten O’clock? You in the army?”

“Nah, motorcycle lessons, easier to give directions like that. ‘Watch for the cyclist at 11 O’clock’.”

“Oh.”

“I’ll go left, you go right.”

“Hang on...” Buffy began, but it was too late, he was gone, vanishing into the shadows. Quickly she headed off. Skirting around a small copse of trees and then ahead, in the moonlight, she saw them. Three, no four vampires and young man on the floor. She thought he was dead until his arm moved slightly. Not dead, yet. But hurt. Her eyes searched the shadows for Sebastian, but she couldn’t see him. Suddenly the vampire furthest from her crumbled to dust, decapitated. In a swirl of coat, Sebastian stepped forward, a long oriental looking sword in his hand glinting harshly in the pale moonlight. The remaining vampires turned to face their attacker. She took her chance, swiftly and silently moving forward. Her stake struck home and another vampire crumbled to ash. In confusion the two remaining vampires’ whirled. In seconds, both were dust. With a short movement Sebastian’s sword disappeared and he bent over the prone man.

“He’s hurt, probably lost a lot of blood. We should get him to A&E.” Buffy stared blankly at him. “A&E. Accident and Emergency. The hospital.” Comprehension dawned on Buffy’s face.

“You mean the emergency room?” Sebastian nodded “Damn Brits, why don’t you guys speak English?”

He chuckled “We do, it’s you lot who bastardised it.” As he spoke, he gently lifted the young man in his arms and started walking back towards the car.

They passed through the trees and approached the hire car. Buffy held the door open as Sebastian laid the young man on the back seat. Buffy couldn’t help but notice that her fellow ‘slayer’s’ - she was really struggling with that thought - gaze lingered on the young man they had just saved for a moment longer than she’d have expected. They clambered into the front and set off for the hospital.

Elsewhere

Amy followed the soft green light of her guide, letting it lead her through the streets of Sunnydale. She passed two vampires, but simply rendered herself invisible to them, she didn’t have time to bother with them. What they were doing here, she had no idea, their kind hardly ever ventured this close to the slayers home, only three blocks away, it was suicide. She carried on walking. Finally her guide vanished round a corner. She followed and saw it circling a girl, about a foot and a half above her head. They were in front of the reconstructed high school.

“It looks so different.” Willows’ soft voice drifted through the night air, airy and distant. “There’s no flames or bodies.”

‘Oh crap, I’ve brought her from too far back, from Graduation. They told me it had got bad.’ Amy thought. She stepped a little closer, watching Willow’s red hair glint in the harsh glare of the streetlight.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring you here.” She spoke softly, apologetically, as she stepped closer. Her mind paused for a moment, but her body carried on walking. What the hell was Willow wearing? It looked almost like leather.

“I can send you back.” She said softly, almost within touching distance now.

“No,” Willow said, her voice low, steady and cold. “I’ll be fine, I just need friends to help me adjust.”

Amy smiled. This Willow might not be as powerful as the one she had spent nights on the town with, but the raw power was there, she could teach her. There would be none of that moral crap in the way, they could turn this town upside down, slayer or no slayer. “I’d like to be your friend, Willow.”

Willow turned, her skin pale and eyes a feral yellow, a menacing smile showing her fangs, glistening in the moonlight. With lightning speed, she grabbed Amy by the arms. “Oh good, I was hoping you’d say that.” Before Amy could respond, before she could even think of a spell, Willow struck and her victim let out a strangled cry as razor sharp fangs pierced her neck.

The following night, Amy awoke to find Willow sat beside her, waiting silently with a patient look on her face. She smiled and reached down beside the bed. With a tug, she pulled a young boy, only thirteen or fourteen, bound and gagged, into view. Effortlessly, she threw him onto the bed and Amy pounced, her yellow eyes containing no intelligence, just a raw bloodlust. Willow heard the boy die, heard his heart slow and stop. Shaking her hair, Amy raised her head, her features returning to human and she smiled at Willow. Together they left the apartment, stepping over the bodies of the young boys parents. Willow smiled, they had been so kind, so helpful when she had knocked, tearful, saying her friend was hurt and asking if she could use their phone.

Together they prowled the streets and sewers, keeping themselves out of sight at Amy’s behest. One by one they coerced other vampires to join them, to follow their leadership. They needed a good, strong power base before they confronted the slayer, something they’d never develop if she got even a whiff of them. Amy could see it was driving Willow insane. She sauntered over and let her hand trail through the red hair and down Willows’ spine.

“I’ve had a thought. I brought you here, I could bring others.”

Willow snorted. “You got me because you screwed up, remember?” Amy bristled and stepped back.

“Yeah well, who knew there were SO many of you? If I had known, I could have tailored the spell to suit. Anyway, what I propose is easier. We tail the slayer, and when she kills someone, I bring them back. A temporal fold of only a few minutes is a piece of cake.” She smiled wickedly. “What faster and easier way of recruiting people is there? We tell them they work for us or they can go back to the slayer.”

At this Willow turned and smiled, her hands playing over her body. “Oh, I like that. I like that a lot.” She stepped a little closer, circling Amy. She ran her fingers down the spine of the lithe young witch and vampire before her, then stepped in close, pressing their bodies close, and spoke softly in her ear. “I bet I can make you like it a lot as well.”

Amy stretched her neck back, rubbing her head against Willows’ cheek. “You’ve already got me convinced.” Willow grabbed her and flung her onto the floor and straddled her, a knife appearing in her hand. Amy always wondered where the hell she kept them in that costume, hers was similar. A figure hugging black latex catsuit, kinda like Trinity in the Matrix had been her thought behind it, only not so unhealthily thin and with a much more impressive chest. The knife traced down her cheek and she felt a tiny trickle of blood, then Willow bent down to lick it off. She shuddered. Oh, this was going to be fun.           


Chapter 2

Four days had passed since Sebastian’s abrupt arrival in Sunnydale and he had already started slipping into life in the town with remarkable ease. On top of all the slayers in training camped out in the house, Buffy had offered to let him stay, but he had turned her down, he’d found a decent enough motel not far away. Already, he was on the way to making friends with the Scoobies, entertaining them with tales of his exploits in England, of the vampires and demons he had battled. In return, they told him stories, of The Mayor, Adam and Glory, of Dracula and many more.
                                   
Her fist slammed into the punch bag and it rocked. Giles stepped forward and grabbed it, holding it steady. She punched it again and the ceiling mount groaned slightly.

“I’m telling you, something strange is going on, this is the seventh time it’s happened to me. Bastian says it’s happened to him a couple of times as well.”

The bag shook violently in his hands as she laid into it with a renewed vigour, delivering blow after blow. He looked at her for a moment before speaking. “It would help, Buffy, if I knew what these strange events were.”

Again she struck out, the bag rocking even harder in his grip. “At first, I thought I was just imagining it, that maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, but now Bastian’s said the same, I don’t think so.” She stepped back fluidly and delivered a roundhouse kick. The bag jolted from his grip and as Giles grabbed it again to steady it, she carried on. “When we’ve been out on patrol, something strange has happened to the vamps we’ve dusted. There wasn’t any dust. Just as the stake struck, they vanished. Like I said, I thought it was just my mind playing tricks.”

“That is odd, Buffy. Have you any theories?”

“I haven’t got a clue, really. My best is that it has something to do with The First, so it probably won’t be good. I think for now the best we can do is carry on as we have been, I’m sure it’s nothing we can’t handle.” He nodded his agreement. “So, what do you think about Bastian?” She asked, abruptly changing the subject.

“I must admit, it’s all rather strange,” Giles commented as they carried on training, “it took me a lot longer than this to settle in to American culture.” Buffy delivered a three punch combo followed by a sharp kick. Giles steadied the punch bag.

“Yeah, well,” she began between punches, “he’s younger and more funky than you, what do you expect? He’s of the MTV generation Giles, what did you think would happen?”

“Yes, well, be that as it may....what do you mean, he’s more funky than me? I’ll have you know...” They were interrupted by sounds from the garden. Buffy looked up. “Huh, Kennedy’s started them early. She’s dedicated, alright.”

“Yes,” He mused “She’s got a lot of potential, if you’ll pardon the pun. Easily the most skilled of them all. And she’s a born leader.”

“Please Giles, she questions me every chance she can.”

“As, I recall, a certain blonde sophomore Slayer did with her Watcher in the beginning.”

She glanced down at her feet, shuffling them before looking up into his eyes and smiling warmly, “Yeah well, you were stuffy and old, what did you expect?”

“Dedication, loyalty, care. I got them all, Buffy. I couldn’t have asked for a better Slayer.” His voice was warm with affection and he smiled at her. “I’ve done some checking. You might be interested to know that you are the longest active slayer in history, and also the one with the most deaths.”

“Really?” she smiled “I’m special amongst all the special people? Do I get a little umbrella for this?”

He smiled and opened his mouth to respond when the door to the basement opened. Sebastian stood framed in the doorway. “Damn,” Buffy whispered under her breath “He likes the dramatics almost as much as Angel.” Giles chuckled softly.

“He does have a flare for making his presence known, yes.”

Sebastian took a step forward. “Kennedy asked me to ask you to go out in the garden and help her train the others.”

“Kennedy asked?” Buffy said, starting up the stairs. Sebastian backed up and waved her through the door, smiling a little.

“Actually, no, she told me to tell you to go to the garden.”

“That’s the Kennedy I know.” Buffy answered, her voice dry while returning his smile, walking through the kitchen and heading for the back door. Just then, she heard the front door open and Xanders’ voice filtered through to them.

“Hey, Buffy! I need to take some measurements for that extra training equipment you wanted making for the basement.” Sebastian pushed her gently towards the door.

“Go. Show them which way to hold a stake, I’ll look after him. I make a good host.”

She smiled “Thanks, they need it.”

He walked into the living room. “Hi Xander, she’s out back, showing the girls the tricks of the trade. I said I’d play the gracious host.”

Xander bristled slightly as Bastian entered the room. He wasn’t sure why, but whenever that guy entered a room, he felt like he was under a microscope. And it wasn’t a comfy microscope at that.

But there was something about him, Xander had to admit. The guy had something. Charm? Wit? Britishness? He snorted a laugh, Bastian looked taken aback.

“So, mocking my hosting skills, are we? Well, we’ll see about that.”  He turned to head back to the kitchen when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Xander very close. He could see every nuance of the face, every line, every little, almost invisible scar. He took a breath. ‘Oh boy, you so don’t have time for this.’ he thought.

“Woah, no mocking.” said Xander, “No mocking, just teasing. Honest.” he raised his hand in a boy scout salute. Their eyes met for a few moments and Xander couldn’t help but notice them, feeling himself drawn to the blue pools, he wanted to stare at them forever. With a start he shook his head and stepped back, raising his hands slightly, as if to protect himself. “Oh, woah. I’m gonna go check out that basement, take some measurements. Can I have a coffee?” He said, his voice shaky, uncertain. Swiftly he opened the door and headed down into the basement, hearing Bastian’s distant “Sure” as he descended the stairs.

‘Nice one Bastian, what would Liz say if she could see you now?’ Sebastian thought to himself. ‘Can’t even make first contact without sending him scurrying for cover.’ With dark thoughts flitting through his mind, he finished making the coffee.

That night

“So, who’s your boss?” the seductive voice asked. The vampire looked up from where he lay on the ground, cradling his hand and broken fingers. The petite red head stood over him, hands on her hips and looking down at him like he was something she had stepped on.

“Y-you are.” He stammered. The red head smiled thinly and he shuddered, his kind were evil, yes, but this girl was something else. And it scared even him, a vampire. She bent down, grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to his feet. Lightly brushing some dirt from his shirt, she adjusted the collar and smiled at him.

“That’s better.” she said and walked away, her companion joining her. Their army was growing fast, the slayer and her new male friend had been busy. They had slain almost two dozen vampires in three nights and they had managed to perform the temporal fold on ten of them. Of those, every single one had agreed to work for her, when faced with the other option. Of course, she didn’t always tell them about that to start with, she had to have some fun, didn’t she? With the other vampires, such as this latest one, they had almost thirty followers now. She laid a hand on Amy, who turned to face her as they walked. Willow smiled and spoke in Amy’s ear,

“Take him to the lair, I’m hungry. Gonna go eat a puppy.”

Amy smiled in response. “Have fun, and watch out for her. If you see her, disappear, we aren’t ready yet.”
Willows smile dropped a little. “You’re no fun.”

Amy laughed. “Maybe, but soon, soon, we’ll change all that and you’ll have carnage and flames and puppies in chains,” At this Willow grinned, her plans were maturing rapidly and soon they would be ready to strike. Amy continued, oblivious to the thoughts racing through her partners brain, “and that’s worth the wait.”

Willow turned and disappeared into the darkness, the shadows swallowing her. She stalked through the darkness, then she spotted her, a young brunette, maybe seventeen. She licked her lips. Silently she moved through the graveyard. What this girl was doing here at this time, she had no idea. It didn’t really matter. Her spies had told her that the slayer and her friends were currently on the other side of town, so at least it wasn’t a trap. Before the girl had any clue what was happening, Willow had grabbed her and sunk her fangs in deep. As the body fell limp to floor, a voice cut through the darkness.

“My favourite childe....how pleasant to see you here.”

She turned, the blood glistening on her lips. He stood before her, dressed in leather, his head shining slightly in the moonlight. Her face slipped back to it’s human form and she dropped to her knees, head bowed in submission.

“Master, I had no idea you were here. They said you were....gone.”

The Master waved his hand majestically “Rise, rise my child.” He stepped a little closer. “I am here, aren’t I? Together we can reap carnage and destruction on a scale never seen before. Work with me, draw your forces together, let us bleed this world and listen to it’s cries.” A thin smile spread across his pale face and an answering smile spread over her features.

She turned and stared out at the small town around them, silent in the night save for the occasional cry of animals. “Yes, Master” she answered, turning to face him, but he was gone.


Chapter 3

At the edge of Sunnydale a bright yellow sign welcomed visitors to the town. With a crash, a car slammed into the sign and smashed it apart before skidding to a halt. Bright pink, with blacked out windows it looked more than a little conspicuous in a quiet neighbourhood like this. The door opened and one long leg swung into view, then another. The driver stood up, took a drag on a cigarette and coughed before she realised she didn’t need to breath. She shook her head, feeling the soft breeze in her hair and looked at the town spread out before her in the darkness, street lamps twinkling in the distance.

“Oh, I’ve so missed Sunnydale! This is going to be so much fun! My blondiebear is just going to be beside himself!”

Elsewhere

Buffy and Willow wandered the streets of Sunnydale, patrolling and chatting. Since Sebastian’s arrival they had been able to talk more often, leaving him to watch over the girls. That Buffy trusted him so implicitly was a good sign, Willow thought. If she could share this responsibility, than maybe she would finally begin to get herself back. She had been different, ever since her return. Maybe this would help, sharing the burden.

“We’re lucky, Bastian’s proving really helpful. He’s amazingly domesticated. I’ve never seen anyone, even your mom, who can clean as thoroughly as he does and not look like he’s cleaning.” Willow smiled helpfully.

“Yeah.” Buffy replied, “He’s certainly earning his way. But, have you noticed, Xander seems really uncomfortable around him. I’ve never seen him scurry from a room as quickly as he does when Bastian is around.”

Willow laughed and Buffy looked at her friend, mild confusion showing on her face “What?”

“Haven’t you noticed?” Buffy shook her head. “Oh Buffy! Sometimes your so....naive. Bastian has the hots for Xander, that’s what’s making him uncomfortable.”

“Oh. He does? It is?” The surprise was evident in her voice.
“Hu-huh” Willow nodded, chuckling softly. “You did know Bastian’s gay, right?”

“I well, yeah, I guess, but I never really paid any attention. Wow. No wonder Xander’s acting so wiggy. Hey, how did you? Did you ask him?”

Willow laughed again and shook her head. “Nope, just....knew. It’s one of those things. Like I knew about Kennedy before she even started moving on me. Not that she gave me much time.”

“Oh.”

“I just don’t think Xander’s used to that kind of attention, at least, not from a guy.”

“Well, at least he’s not getting all testosterone-poisoned over it, I don’t think I could handle it if he did. A strutting Xander, showing off his masculinity and interest in women, not good at the moment.”

Willow laughed quietly “Yeah, Xander has two methods of coping - run away and strut like the manly-man. Run away seems the better option, given all that’s happening. Hey, what’s that?” she pointed. A vampire was flitting across the graveyard, headed for a crypt that housed a sewer entrance. In fact, it was the same one she had used all those years ago when she tried to rescue Jesse.

“Huh, very stealthy of him. Hey, he’s one of those vamps who I staked without dust.”

“Ummm, I dunno Buffy. You stake a vamp and usually it’s just poof and gone.”

“Yeah, but the clothes Will. How many vamps, hell how many anyone’s do we meet that wear a luminous green tank top?”

Silently they stole across the graveyard, cutting across the vampires path without him realising. They reached the crypt almost a minute before him and proceeded inside, Willow slipping into the shadows and Buffy stepping to one side of the door. A shadow passed through the doorway followed by the vampire. Buffy’s leg shot out and he stumbled forward, his head cracking against the side of one of the tombs. She stepped forward and grabbed his hair, pulling him to his feet then cracked his head down again before hurling him to one side. He skidded across the floor and stopped near Willow. Slowly she stepped forward, moving to edge away from him. The vamps eyes locked onto the legs moving across his vision. He looked up and saw the face, cast in shadows. Suddenly he scurried backwards, backing up against the nearest tomb and trying to flatten himself against it as much as he could. Panic and fear swept over his face.

“I - I’m sorry mistress. I didn’t mean to lead the slayer here. P-please forgive me.” His head was lowered in submission and he didn’t even glance again at Willow. Buffy stepped forward and grabbed him round the throat, dragging him to his feet. She swirled around and slammed him up against a wall, his feet dangling in mid-air. Willow stepped up behind Buffy and the vampire seemed to cheer a little as he saw her. Finally she spoke.

“Why did you call me mistress?” She asked. Confusion passed over the vampires face. Whoever he had been had never been in the science club. Or any lessons at all, by the look of it.

“Y-you a-are the mistress.” he said.

“Yes, I am.” came a voice from the darkness. Buffy whirled and sent the vampire flying in the direction from which the voice had come from. A strangled cry and the gentle ‘whump’ of a vampire turning to dust filled the confined space.

The shadows parted and Willow stepped into the light. Buffy and Willow stared in shock. She looked her doppelganger up and down. “Well, look at me, I’m not fuzzy anymore. Shame, it would’ve been fun to see the change I could bring out in you.”

Buffy and Willow continued to stare, Willow finally breaking the silence. “I’ve not been ‘fluffy’ for a long time. I don’t know why you came here, but you should go home now.”

“Yeah,” Buffy spoke up at last, overcoming her shock, “You should go now, or there won’t be a later.”

The doppelganger smiled. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that, Slayer.” Her fist sped out and connected solidly with Buffy’s nose, who reeled backwards. She turned to Willow. “She said not to mess with you, that it’d end bad. I didn’t believe her, but now,” she sniffed the air “now I do. You reek of power.” A wicked smile slid over her face “And a.....woman. I’ll rip her heart out and make you wear it on your sleeve.”

With a flash of light, she was gone. Buffy staggered back to Willow’s side. “Will? Did you do that? Send her away?” Willow looked to Buffy, the shock and disgust evident on her face.

“I? No, no I. I didn’t do this, o-or that. N-no magic for Willow, remember?” she waved her hand to where her doppelganger had stood only moments before. “What’s going on Buffy?”

“I have no idea. We’d better let Giles know about this, he isn’t gonna like it.” 

Twenty minutes later they were sat in the Summers living room, hands wrapped around steaming coffee cups whilst Giles paced the living room, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

“And you’re absolutely sure it was vampire Willow.” they both nodded their heads in agreement, “Well, whatever it is she’s planning, it can’t be good. And you say you fought one of the vampires that you had battled and defeated before?” Again, Buffy nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. “How strange.” He took a seat beside Buffy, who looked at him.

“You haven’t a clue, have you?”

“Not at the minute, no. But I’m sure that, as they do more, things will become evident.”

“Giles, we can’t wait. We all remember what she did last time she was here. I don’t think we’ve got much time.” Sebastian cleared his throat.

“Err, I don’t. In fact, this is all making about as much sense as, well, it’s not making any sense at all. There’s two Willows? And one’s a sadomasochistic vampire?” They all looked at him and nodded, even Xander standing in the doorway. “Oh. So, were you twins?”

Willow shook her head. “No. I cast a spell, years ago, that pulled her through from another dimension. She decided to have bondage and massacre fun at the Bronze. But we sent her back. It’s kinda odd that she’s keeping quiet. I mean, I’d have expected her to do something like that again straightaway. I think she’s working with someone.”

“Me?” asked Xander “I mean, vampire me?”

“I don’t know.”

“Wait, there’s a vampire Xander too?”

Willow nodded “Yup.”

“Oh. Say, you aren’t a vampire too, are you?” he asked, looking at Buffy. She shook her head, then smiled wistfully.

“Only in waking nightmares.” she saw his puzzled look “Never mind, long story.”

“Few years back, all our nightmares came true. Willow ended up on stage, I got chased by a clown and Buffy was a vampire.” Xander filled in from the doorway.

“Not that long a story after all.” Buffy stated wryly.

“Oh.” Sebastian managed. “You guys ever thought of moving someplace quiet? My aunt lives in Cleveland, says it’s real nice.” The gang looked at one another, “What?”

Giles cleared his throat. “Cleveland is situated on top of a hellmouth as well.”

“Oh, it is? Well, Aunt Pat always was a bit of a battleaxe. Not literally.” he added at the end, catching their looks.


Sunnydale park

The blond vampire walked through the park, occasionally shouting out. “Spike-y! Spike-y! You’re little Hum is back!” She moved through a copse of trees and saw Willow standing near a swing, not paying attention to her surroundings. She seemed to be waiting for someone. Harmony smiled. The Witch was weak. She’d eat her and leave her as a present for the Slayer. As silently as she could she stole around the edge of the play park and inched towards Willow from behind. She was stopped short by the icy tones of Willow’s voice.

“You either show yourself or I rip your head off and play soccer with your head.”

“Willow?” Harmony asked. In the twilight it was hard to make out what the red head was wearing, but it didn’t look like her normal ensemble. “Willow?” she tried again, her voice uncertain. With lightning speed Willow turned and grabbed Harmony by the throat, yellow eyes staring deep into the other vampires eyes.

“I remember you. I think I eat you when you were in school. And here you are, a vampire.” She threw the blond vampire to the ground. “So, you know the Slayer and her Witch friend?”

Harmony sat on the ground, her jaw slack with shock. It worked up and down twice, but no sound came out.

“I think I may have a use for you.” murmured Willow.


Chapter 4

Willow stood on a small platform in the centre of the great hall, The Master beside her. He was talking quietly to her as the room filled with their acolytes.

“It’s perfect Master.” Willow smiled, a smile full of malice and the urge for wanton destruction.

“Yes my childe, the totem will make my children, the children of Aurelius, and those we bless, stronger than any vampire has ever been. Together we will rid this world of the plague of humanity.”

The Master turned to the assembled vampires, stepped forward to centre stage and raised his arms into the air. Before him the crowd let out a small cheer. With a flick of his hands, The Master turned the cheers to silence, three dozen demonic faces watching him intently “My children, I have returned to you, to lead you to darkness and a world of blood!” His audience cheered again, but fell silent as he continued to speak. “The totem will gift us with the strength and speed of Slayers, we will be equal. No longer will we need to scurry through the shadows in case she catches us. Her superior strength and speed is her only advantage, take it away and we are equal, we will spread a new order on the flesh of her rotting corpse.” At this the gathered crowd erupted. Willow stepped forward, taking her place at The Masters side. She raised her arms and the crowd fell silent.

“Go. Fetch the pieces and let us assemble the Totem of Tilock.” The crowd cheered again and left the great hall of the mansion, where once the demon Acathla had almost sucked the world into hell. They split into twos and threes, slipping off on their individual assignments. They had all been told before that they were searching for a blessed artifact and where they were to go, but the speech was the first time they had heard the plan. Willow turned to the form of The Master.

“What if the Slayer intervenes? She is powerful here, her friends make her strong.”

“If she interferes she will only die sooner.” Willow smiled again at her masters words. “Go my childe.” He urged. Willow jumped down from the small platform from where she and The Master had addressed the others. She turned back to face him once more but he was gone. Swiftly she left the mansion and vanished into the darkness.

In the darkness, Spike stalked through Sunnydale Park. He hadn’t seen Buffy in days now, but strangely it didn’t bother him as much as it used too. They were comfortable now. He didn’t need to see her face every day to be reassured she remembered him. Then he saw something. A figure walking through the park, alone. He recognised that hair.

“Hey, Willow!” he called out, breaking into a trot to catch up with her. “Hey, Red, hold up. You shouldn’t be out here alone, it’s dangerous in the dark, remember.” He caught a whiff of her “Hey, you changed your perfume?” He made the statement a question.

Without turning, Willow answered him softly, “I remember. And yeah, I did.”

“Then what the bloody hell are you doing out here alone? There could be any number of nasties lurk...” He broke off in mid sentence and looked around. “Willow, get behind me, there’s vampires nearby, I can smell them.” Slowly Willow turned to face him, her feral, yellow eyes assessing him like a piece of meat.

“I know.”

“Willow?” Suddenly a half dozen vampires rushed Spike, Willow stepped back, musing quietly to herself,

“So many people in this town fall for the same trick. Are they all stupid?” Amidst the throng of bodies, Spike struggled like a man possessed. He reached over his head to grab the vampire at his back by the throat. With a grunt of effort, he hauled the creature over his head, sending it careening into a compatriot, knocking them both to the ground. He dropped down, his leg lashing out in a sweeping kick that brought down another three of his assailants. Jumping to his feet, he tried to run, but the remaining vampire and the first two, having leapt to their feet, jumped him, bringing him down again. As they fell, one of the vampires exploded into dust, swirling away on the wind. Another vampire grabbed for the stake in Spikes’ hand, trying to wrestle it from his grasp. Bellowing, he head-butted the vampire and slammed the stake deep into it’s heart, losing his grip on the stake as the vampire staggered back before disintegrating into ashes. Something heavy struck the back of his head and he slumped to the ground, stunned.

He lay flat on his chest, the remaining vampires sitting on him. Shaking his head, he strained to look up and watched as Willow, dressed in a figure hugging black leather ensemble, stalk towards him, a predatory sway in her slim hips. As she approached he was dragged to his knees and his hands bound behind his back. She stopped in front of him and crouched down, looking him in the eyes.

“This world? It’s missing so much. No ponies in chains, no public hunts and I don’t have my puppy. He’s gone to the big city. But then a little tinkerbell tells me that William the Bloody has a soul too.” She stood as the vampires dragged Spike to his feet and she laughed, a soft, gentle laugh. "Looks like I’ve got a new puppy now."

Elsewhere

Sebastian was on patrol. Ever since Buffy had encountered vampire Willow the night before the whole gang had spent the better part of the day researching, trying to come up with some theory as to what she might be planning, but to no avail. After hours with his nose stuck in smelly book after smelly book, he had made his excuses and left. Besides, he needed to breath and to clear his head. He couldn’t believe it. He had a crush. Like some bloody hormonal teenager. He had to shake it from his head.

He had already done a sweep of two of the towns cemeteries, whilst Buffy took the others, and was now headed for the UC Sunnydale campus where they would meet up. He moved through the deserted grounds until he reached their usual meeting place, a bench in front of Stephenson Hall. He sat and waited, then in the distance he saw blond hair, obscured among the trees and moving fast. On instinct he was on his feet and running, coat billowing behind him, before his brain had even made the choice.

Swiftly he moved across the clearing, following the rapidly retreating flash of blond. He put on a burst of speed, slipping through the trees and branches seemingly without touching them. He made no sound. Broke no twig, brushed no branch. Finally he approached a clearing and slowed. Three vampires were gathered there, including the flash of blond he had been following. She stood there, hands on hips.

“Well, it has to be here. This is the spot.” One of the male vampires looked up at her,

“If you’re so sure, you get down here and dig.”
The blond wrinkled her nose, “Eww no, do these nails look like they dig? It can’t be far, keep digging. I’m going to look for the Slayer again.” She turned and started to head back into the woods when Sebastian heard Buffy’s voice.

“Harmony, I honestly thought not even you would be stupid enough to come back here.” The other vampires stopped what they were doing, slowly getting to their feet and inching towards Buffy as the blond Slayer emerged from the woods opposite him. Silently Sebastian slipped from his shadowy cover, coming up behind the vampires. Buffy paid no attention to him whatsoever. He was a non-entity at that moment in time, which suited him just fine.

Petulantly the blond vampire placed her hands on her hips again. “I am not stupid! I came here to talk to you Buffy, then I heard what you’d been up to...”

The slayer cut her off in mid-sentence, “Harmony, when we were at school, you were annoying. Now that you’re dead, you’re more annoying, if that’s possible. Go now and I won’t stake you.”

“Gee, you make it sound so generous, like I’m indebted to you or something. Its ‘cos of you I’m like this! You and you’re ‘lets fight a big snake’ thing. But you wait! We’ll get the Totem of Tilock and then I’ll...”

One of the other vampires roared in frustration, “You fucking moron! Why don’t you tell her where were based as well!”

Harmony clasped a hand over her mouth and cringed. “Oops.”

With a second roar, the vampire who had cursed Harmony charged the Slayer. Buffy let the charging vampire get within grabbing distance of her before she leapt into a three-hundred and sixty degree kick that sent him sprawling. The second vamp started forwards but stopped as a stake appeared through his chest. He looked down in shock, hands reaching for the offending item but they never touched it, crumbling to ash.

Slowly Buffy approached Harmony, stalking towards her, as the blond vampire backed away. Then Buffy laughed.

“You know, I should probably let you live, I’ve never met another vamp who gives up so much information so easily. I thought you were dumb in highschool, Harmony and being dead definitely hasn’t improved things, has it?”

The vampire bristled “I am not dumb!” With that she charged at Buffy, who smashed her backhanded across the jaw, sending her reeling. Buffy marched over to the doubled over figure, grabbed her by the hair and drove a knee into her face. Harmony staggered a few feet back from Buffy, wiping blood from her face, shaking with fear. Silently she turned and started to run. She got a few steps before she stopped and looked back at Buffy, her hands reaching for the stake in her back. She crumbled to ash.
       
“Yes Harmony, you are.” She turned in time to see Sebastian stake the last vamp. Buffy walked over to the small hole they had started. Something glinted in the darkness. Slowly she bent down and brushed the dirt away. She pulled it from the earth, a metallic cylinder twelve inches long with various holes and grooves in the sides. She turned it over in her hands.

“What is it?” Sebastian asked, studying the artifact in Buffy’s hands.

“I have no idea, but we should show the others.” The object reflected the soft moonlight, little ridges and patterns becoming more visible as Buffy moved it around. “Come on, lets go.” Silently, they turned and disappeared into the night.


Chapter 5

“The Totem of Tilock? Are you sure?” Giles asked, studying the artifact standing on the coffee table.

“Absolutely. Harmony blurted it out right before I staked her and the others seemed wicked pissed at her for mentioning it.”               

“You staked Harmony?” Xander interrupted, his voice suddenly cheerful..

“Way to go!” Willow cheered, smiling broadly. “The tramp had it coming!”

Buffy had to smile, “Yeah, but now I’ve cut off a handy supply of information. I tell you, her mouth just keeps on moving. She’s a bigger snitch than Willie, but it just got put down to her stu...”

“Buffy!” Giles cut her off, his voice stern. “Are you absolutely certain about the totem?”

Sebastian stepped forward from the corner where he’d been cleaning his sword, a long Katana which rested idly in his hand as he stood next to Xander, who shuffled about nervously in his seat. “Yes. Harmony, was it?” At Buffy’s nod he continued, “Harmony was clear when she said that. And Buffy was right, one of the others was bloody pissed off with her for saying that. Why do you not looked convinced?”

“Well, the totem was said to have been lost centuries ago. The few watchers diaries from that time and local legends all say that the slayer seized it before it’s power could be activated. They tried everything they could think of, but they couldn’t destroy it. Finally it was broken apart and thrown into a volcano blessed by the old gods so as to prevent it’s retrieval. It was cast away from man and demon for all eternity. If that’s incorrect then we have a problem Buffy.”

“Why?”

“Because the totem is a focus. From what we have here, it appears to have been broken down into many pieces. When assembled it will act as a focal point for power. Every vampire ‘consecrated’ with the mark of the totem will have greater strength and speed.”
               
Buffy looked at him, “Giles, they’re vampires, they already have superior strength and speed.”

“Over humans, yes, but not over slayers. Buffy, the totem will give every vampire who bears its mark the same strength and speed as a slayer. You would lose your one advantage and face an army of equals.”

Buffy looked shocked and stood quiet for a minute. “Oh.” she said, her voice soft with shock as the true impact of his words sunk in. Her face betrayed the shock she tried so hard to hide. Then, her face set in stone, she turned to face the gathered crowd, all of them, the scoobies and the slayers in training.

“Then we stop them. We know what they want and what it will do. We scour this town from top to bottom, and then we destroy it once and for all.”

“Buffy, I’m not sure it can be destroyed. We may have to send someone away to dispose of it again, throw it into another volcano perhaps.” Giles spoke, his voice soft

“Giles, we can’t. We don’t have the people. Hell, we barely have the people to deal with everything that’s happening right now, without sending folks away on errands. We destroy it. Besides, we have one advantage they didn’t have back then,” her gaze drifted to Willow, “the single most powerful Witch the world has seen in a century.”

Willow blanched. “Buffy, I can’t. To destroy that, would take more power than I can channel at the moment. When I was all vein-y and black haired, I touched on a lot of knowledge and I can tell you, without doubt, that there’s no way I can destroy that thing.”

Kennedy laid a hand on the witch’s shoulder, “I’ll be with you, I’ll be your rock. You can do it, I know.”

Willow smiled wistfully, “I wish I could, but I can’t.” she looked up at Buffy, “Honestly Buffy, I can’t do it.”

“Can’t or won’t Will? This is too serious for you to put your self-doubts first! We’re your friends, we’ll help you...” Buffy’s voice was high, filled with anger and frustration.

“Like you did last year, Buffy? Only Giles, a coven and Xander stopped me from ending the world. We were lucky!” The red headed Witch countered, her own voice rising. Several of the Slayers in Training backed away as Willow seemed to grow before them, filling the room. The hairs on their arms and the back of their necks stood on end.

“This isn’t the time to be scared Will! Everything will be fine, we’ll keep...” The Slayer carried on, ignoring the power throbbing through the room, growing more intense as Willow became more upset.

“NO!” Kennedy’s voice, hard and cold, cut Buffy off in mid-sentence, “She said she’s not ready, hasn’t got the control to do it, then she doesn’t do it!” The Slayer glared at the young wiccans’ lover, the anger and hatred in that moment almost palpable. As the young woman rushed to her aid, Willow calmed herself, the power she had been emitting faded away.

“See!” She cried, “Didn’t you feel that? I barely held it in Buffy, just talking about your spell! And you want me to go further?”

“Kennedy’s right.” Giles’ voice was soft, almost apologetic amidst the soaring emotions in the room.. “Buffy, we cannot push Willow into this, it would likely destroy her and us.”
“Giles! What else can we do?”

With a soft chink, Sebastian laid his sword on the table. The blade was engraved with intricate symbols, strange axes, repeating over and over. A serpent ran the length of it, wrapping around the axes. “My Watcher, before the explosion, gave me this. He said the engravings were mystical, that if suffused with energy, would make the blade unbreakable and give the sword the ability to destroy anything.”

Giles’ hand reached for the Katana. “May I?” Sebastian nodded and he picked the weapon up, twisting it slowly in the light. “I recognise this now. It’s from the Watchers’ armoury, isn’t it? The Sword of...”

“Exvirillion. Yes.” Sebastian nodded.

“Well, this is most fortuitous. To have this now. I wonder, how did your Watcher...”

“Mr Winseldon.”

“Ah, Gregory. How is he?” Sebastian looked to the floor momentarily, then looked Giles in the eye.

“He was at the council, checking one of the prophetic tomes. Technically, he was on assignment with me, so wasn’t listed as being there. But we had received word that I was actually mentioned in one of the volumes, but it had always been assumed to be a mistake and so ignored. He was investigating that, when....”

“When the council was destroyed.” Giles said softly. “I’m sorry. Anyway, I wonder how he had got this released. The council normally hoards such treasures, afraid they’ll be lost for eternity if allowed to be used by a Slayer. I tried a few times myself, but to no avail.”

Sebastian reached out and turned the sword over in Giles’ hand and pointed to a small patch of engraved writing, “It says ‘In the hands of a childe, the darkness will part.’. Mr Winseldon convinced them that it had been intended for my sister and so now, rightfully, was intended for me. With everything that has been building back home, the council relented. They needed someone ready to defend Queen and country. That was four months ago now, I’ve been training ever since in it’s use. Then the explosion happened and almost everything was lost. The remnants of the council handed me that parchment which I brought here.”

“Fascinating. Willow, could you empower these runes? If I understand the markings correctly, it’s not so much a spell as a transference of power from yourself to the sword.”

Willow still looked uneasy, “I’m not sure. Maybe. Can I?” she held out her hands and Giles laid the sword in them. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them and bobbed her head slowly in agreement. “It’s not a spell. This sword is like a sponge. All I would have to do is open my barriers for a moment and it would do the work, taking the power it needs from me.” 
“Can we do it now then?” Buffy asked, “Destroy it now, before they assemble it.”

“I’m afraid not Buffy. I translated that parchment Sebastian brought over. It’s actually an excerpt from a watchers diary, over seven hundred years old. Most of it didn’t mean much to me, in fact none of it made any sense until now. It says that ‘the equalizer may only be destroyed once whole’. Until you discovered this,” he indicated the artifact on the coffee table, “I had no idea it referred to the totem.”

“You’re saying we have to let them put this thing together before we can stop it?”

“I’m afraid so.” he removed his glasses and cleaned them softly.

“Are you crazy?” Anya’s voice cut through the room like an knife through a gut. “Vampires, strong and nasty, we don’t need to be making them stronger. It’s suicide!”

“Yeah!” A number of the Slayers in Training exclaimed.

“It’s the only solution Anya.” Giles cut in.

“Its lunacy is what it is! I’m going to go home, lock myself up safe and sound where no super vampires can munch on my moist flesh!” With that she up and left the room, then the building.

Buffy looked to Xander, “You can go with her, if you want. Make sure she’s okay.” Xander merely shook his head, a wry smile playing across his features.

“Nah, it’s okay. She can look after herself. Besides, I’m sensing a plan brewing, and I’m kinda hoping I get to be key guy again.”

Buffy smiled, but shook her head. “Afraid not this time. We’re all key guys this time around. Here’s what we’re gonna do....”


Chapter 6

The chains rattled as Spike fought in vain to free himself. His shirt was in tatters, hanging from his body in bloody rags. Scars covered his once smooth chest. The pits from where matches had been thrown on him, little valleys where holy water had been poured down him glistened slightly in the half light, the scars still fresh, only just starting to heal. He pulled again, rattling the chains, but to no avail.

“Now, now, puppy. Behave or we’ll have to take you to be neutered. Maybe that’ll take your bite out.” Spike looked up as the soft voice filtered through the bars of his cage. Willow stood there, Amy draped over her shoulder, both looking at him like he was some toy, a piece of meat to be tossed to the dogs for their pleasure. Amy reached down and took a key from Willows’ hip. She opened the door and Willow sauntered in, a box of matches in her hand.

“Now then, lets see if you’ve found your tongue yet.” She lit a match and held it to Spikes’ cheek, the tiny flame licking up his skin. He jerked his head away, but a hand grabbed his hair and pulled him closer to the flame.

The Summer’s house
Buffy moved quietly in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of juice.

“Buffy, can we talk?” she turned and Xander was leaning against the counter.

“Sure.” She hopped up onto the counter, watching as Xander paced in front of her before settling, leaning against the counter opposite, staring at her. “What’s on your mind? You look, I dunno, upset? Worried?”

Xander picked up the juice carton, turning it over in his hands, then set it down. “Sebastian. Do I have to...”

“Xander,” her voice sounded tired, “I know you’re...uncomfortable around him, but I need someone with him who really, really knows this town, all the dark corners.”

“Willow could...”

“I want Willow with Dawn, watching her.”

“You don’t trust me to protect Dawn?” He countered, his voice full of pain and hurt.

She looked pained, “God, no Xander, of course I do. I’d trust you with Dawn’s life without thinking twice. It’s just, Kennedy goes where Willow goes and I don’t want Bastian thinking we don’t trust him.”

“Do we?” he asked, then, his voice bitter. “Never mind, silly question. He dresses in black, has a British accent and is wicked talented at killing things, of course we trust him. Say, he isn’t dead is he?”

“Xander...” Buffy began.

“Sorry Buff. He just, he makes me uneasy.”

She smiled a little. “Well there you go, you two can bond while you hunt the nasties. Do the guy thing, get rid of the unease.”

Xander looked less than impressed, sighing. “Fine, fine, I’ll go Buffy.” He relented. In silence he turned and left the kitchen.

The Mansion

“Puppy’s all tongue tied.” Willow said petulantly, throwing the keys onto The Masters table, “He doesn’t want to talk.” Amy lounged against the doorframe, the only way in or out of the room, her arms crossed. The Master sighed.

“It is of no consequence. Despite last nights setback, we have almost all of the totem. Now you will see us gather the remaining piece and then this world will tremble before us!” Willow smiled, stepping towards The Master and reaching for him. He backed away slightly, “Now, now. We don’t want to make your witch angry, do we?”
In the doorway, Amy smiled then addressed Willow, “Come on, lets get out of here. I want to burn this world.” The Master smiled again and laughed, a laugh that would cool the very fires of hell.

“Such anger and hatred for the mortals in one so young, you made a wise choice with her. Now go, stoke the embers of evil so that the flames of destruction will engulf them all!” Willow headed for Amy, grabbing her round the waist. Together they turned to leave. Willow cast a glance over her shoulder at The Master, but he was gone. A frown passed over her pale features, how was he doing that? She would have to ask him, but later. He was The Master, that’s all that mattered. Together they left the mansion and headed towards the university campus, where the missing team from the night before had been sent.

As they moved swiftly through the tree’s, across parks and through alleys they talked.

“We lost at least eight last night. Arteus said that the Slayer had someone new with her, a man and a strong fighter. Whoever this man is, he appears to be skilled at dispatching our kind.” Amy’s voice, almost a whisper, drifted through the tree’s to Willow.

“Haven’t you found out who he is yet?” Willow answered.

“No, but some of my sources did tell me something else, the demons are saying that Buffy’s return from the dead last year has disrupted the Slayer line.”

“That’s all?” the red head frowned, “Some use your powers are turning out to be. Maybe I shouldn’t torture you later.” she smiled and Amy blanched.

“Don’t say that. Anyway, you enjoy it as much as I do.”

Willow laughed, “I have a puppy now, remember.”

“Besides,” Amy said, her voice neutral, trying to hide the panic that Willow wouldn’t play with her later.  “I’ve been thinking. Buffy died before, but was brought back by her friends, that’s why we have two Slayers.” It was Willows turn to blanche slightly, this was news to her.

“Two Slayers?” She asked and Amy nodded before carrying on.


“But what you, I mean, Willow, did went beyond that. I think she reinserted Buffy into the Slayer line. Up until her second death, she had existed outside of the line. I think Willow put her back, meaning that when she or Faith dies, a Slayer will activate. Meaning there will always be two Slayers from now on and that’s causing an imbalance, on the mystical level. The scales are shifting.” She paused and grinned as she carried on. “It’s going to get very interesting round here.”

“Faith is such a dirty name.” Willow said quietly, “So...christian sounding. Have faith...” Amy grinned at her partner in the darkness.

“You’d love her. So dark, when I saw her, always treading the line between good and evil. Heard she went bad.”
“An evil Slayer...” Willow mused, her mind racing at the prospect.
“Sorry to disappoint, but she reformed.”

“She’ll change her mind again, with the right persuasion.” Willow licked her lips, tingling inside at the prospect of taking a Slayer, of making the girl hers, her childe. Amy’s face was cast in stone. ‘You won’t replace me that easily’ she thought to herself.

They entered a clearing and looked around. Branches were broken, the underbrush crushed and flattened where bodies had landed. There was a small hole in the ground, quite shallow. Amy sighed and placed her hands on her hips.

“Looks like the Slayer took them out as they were digging. Guess she has the last piece. The Master will not be happy.” She looked at Willow.

“Then we’ll have to get it back from the Slayer, won’t we?” Willow stated, her voice cold. “Contact the others, and tell them to return home. We’ve got to prepare to storm a fort.” Amy closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them, they were pure black.

“They’re on their way now.”

Willow smiled and ran a dead hand over Amy’s cheek, “Good. Very good. Lets go, we have to prepare.” Amy returned the smile and laid a hand over her lovers.

“First we call in and see Willie, every demon in this town talks to him, he’ll know for sure if she has it or not.” Willow’s smile broadened and together they blended into the darkness of the night.


Chapter 7

Buffy and Giles walked slowly down Main Street. Almost every thing was closed now. A few people were leaving the Sun Cinema, heading home or for the late night coffee shop. They’d been on patrol for nearly two hours and had not seen a single vampire. In fact, they’d seen nothing. No vampires, no demons and, aside from those who were leaving the cinema,  no people. Even in Sunnydale, where the majority of the populace had learnt, through no conscious decision, to stay indoors after dark, that was unusual. There was always someone who decided to “go for a stroll” or “check on aunt Bette.” and ended up hostage or worse.

“Something’s not right here. We should have seen or heard something by now.” Buffy said, looking a little restless.

“Yes, Buffy, I gathered that from the oh, two dozen times you’ve mentioned it.” Buffy gave him a sharp look.
             
“Sarcasm does not become you Giles.”

He smiled wistfully, “Be that as it may, you look agitated Buffy. Is everything okay?”

“I just don’t like this, it’s far to quite. Something’s up.”

“Up?”

“Yeah, you know, wrong, bad, sour, off-kilte...” Giles sighed.
“I know what you meant Buffy, I was asking what you thought was up.”

“Oh. I knew that. Just testing you.”

“Of course. Thousands would doubt you, but not me.” He smiled at her and Buffy had to smile back. She missed this Giles. With all his brooding recently, it was a pleasant change.

“Again with the sarcasm. But something’s definitely not right here,  I think they’re planning something big Giles. I think they know we have a piece of the totem and they’re gonna want it. And that’s bad. I wanted us to take it to them, on our terms. But if they know and come for it...” She trailed off. Giles stopped and laid a hand on her shoulder.

“Buffy, everything will be fine. With the totem in your house, there’s no way they can get it. No one will be stupid enough to invite them in. Well, maybe Andrew, but we can keep him tied and gagged in the basement.”

Buffy had to smile at his comment, “I’m liking this plan already.” They resumed walking. “We should head back, there’s nothing out here.” They carried on down Main Street, then disappeared down a side street and made their way home.



The Mansion

The remainder of the night passed swiftly and already dawn approached, their agents bringing them the items they would need for the coming battle. From another room came a metallic click as some of the least skilled fighters received tuition in the new weapons.

It had taken many hours of research, but finally she was ready. Amy sat cross legged in the main hall of the mansion, within a circle, white candles at five points, a small bowl of incense and a small purple cushion with a key upon it. She spoke softly under her breath, her hair moving in an intangible wind that blowed within the circle, yet affected nothing else their, the candle flames were steady, unmoving. She held her hands over the key and black light flowed from her fingers, seeping like oil towards the key, wrapping around and flowing over it.
After a few moments, the key could no longer be seen, covered as it was entirely by the seething black mass. But as Willow watched, the blackness began to shrink, exposing more and more of the key. At first, she had thought it was simply evaporating, but now she could see that the key was absorbing it. With a tiny black flash, the last of the oil was gone, leaving a shining silver key on the cushion.

Amy closed her circle, snuffed out the incense and candles, then stood, picked up the cushion and key and approached Willow, a twisted smile on her face. She held the cushion out in front of her, “Behold, a universal key.”

Willow reached out and picked up the key, glinting in the half light of the wall mounted candles. The mansion had electricity, but both she and Amy liked the candle light, the shadows and tricks it played were fascinating. She smiled and beckoned the sentry from the door over.

“Pass the word. We attack at midnight, while they sleep.”
The sentry nodded and left the room. Willow dropped the key into her cleavage then stepped forward and turned back to face Amy, her demonic visage distorting her face. She punched the vampire witch on the nose, splashing blood across the floor. Amy dropped onto her back on the floor, cradling her nose, blood seeping through her fingers. She moved her hand down a bit and licked the blood from her fingers, smiling. Willow dropped down, straddling the younger vampire and smiled, a smile so chilling it would make even The Master blanche. She trailed a finger around and over one of Amy’s breasts, the black latex shining softly in the candlelight.

“Now, about that torture...”

Westfield Cemetery

Xander picked his way through the headstones, Sebastian a few feet ahead of him. They’d been out on patrol for over an hour now and hadn’t seen a single demon or vampire. They also had barely spoken. Sebastian had tried, but to no avail. The young man was just not in a talkative mood. But he was nothing if not persistent.

“Hey, Xander.” Silence. This was frustrating. Then he smiled, an idea forming, “Alexander?”

Xanders’ voice came back, distant, “It’s Xander.” Sebastian turned, a smile on his face and ready with a quick-fire crack to raise a smile when he saw that Xander was crouched in front of a gravestone about twenty metres back. As Sebastian watched, he reached out and gently laid a hand on the gravestone. Quietly he stepped up behind Xander and looked at the gravestone. It was simple, not one of those modern, over the top monstrosities. It read, ‘Tara Maclay. Oct 16, 1980 ~ May 7, 2002'. A personal message below the dates was obscured behind flowers. A pair of small stones sat atop the gravestone. He crouched beside Xander, his head bowed in respect. He glanced sideways at Xander. When he spoke, his voice was hushed, almost a whisper.

“Friend?”

Xander looked at him, a single crystal tear in his eye.
“Girlfriend?” He asked again, his voice soft, respectful.

Xander shook his head. “Family.” His hand caressed the T. “Tara, Willows girlfriend. She was shot.”

Sebastian was silent for a while, then he spoke, voice still subdued, “Did they catch the killer?”

Xander shook his head, “No need, he’s dead.”

“Oh. How? No, don’t answer. I’ll leave you alone, I’ll be over there.” He pointed to a crypt 30 metres away and slowly stood, head still bowed. He walked slowly away, but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“No, it’s okay. You should know, you deserve to. I know that you and Willow are becoming friends and I don’t know what she’s told you, but...”

Sebastian paled a little, “Willow killed him?” Xander nodded. “How?” His voice was even quieter than before.
“You might not know it, but Willow is one of the most powerful witches ever.”

Sebastian nodded, “Yeah, I remember Buffy’s speech. And that Willow was reluctant to..” his voice trailed off as realisation dawned on him. “She lost control, didn’t she? Killed him with magic?” Xander only nodded. Sebastian turned back to the grave. “I had no idea. I don’t know what I’d do in that situation.” He paused, “No, I do. When it finally sunk home about Liz, I was back in the flat, surrounded by her, her things, her smell. Some bloody teenage thugs were outside, trashing a neighbours car. I lost it. Put all seven of them in hospital.” He lowered his head in shame, “I didn’t even know what I was at that point. I put them all in intensive care without breaking a sweat. Fortunately, no one saw me, it was dark, the kids couldn’t identify me. Still, I can guess what Willow feels now, at that moment, if it had been the guy responsible for Liz’s death, I’d have torn him apart.”

He crouched down in front of the grave. “Tara? You don’t know me, but I know Willow. I will watch out for her, as if she were family.”

“As you watched out for me?” A familiar voice drifted across the graveyard. Sebastian whirled around and Liz stood amidst the graves, perhaps ten metres away. Shock spread over his face, his skin paling.

“Liz?” His voice was strangled, barely audible. Xander looked in the direction Sebastian was staring and talking, but saw nothing. Sebastian stood and took a step forward. “Liz? Is that you?” He dropped to his knees and began to sob, great racking sobs, “Liz. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

Xander stared at Sebastian then hurried over, crouching behind the slayer. “It’s not her, it’s the First. It can manifest itself as any dead person.” As soon as Sebastian turned to him, the anger on his face painfully apparent, Xander knew that had been the wrong thing to say. Sebastian’s open hand caught him in the chest and he sailed backwards, slamming into a gravestone and slumping to the ground. Sebastian turned back to the visage of his sister, the tears streaming down his face.
“How can you watch out for that witch,” Liz said, her voice dripping with disdain as she uttered the word witch, “When you couldn’t even look after your own twin sister.”

“Because he has the strength of his friends love.” A soft but firm voice floated towards them. Sebastian looked back and a pale, translucent figure hovered about a foot above the gravestone behind him.

Xander pushed himself upright. “Tara?” his voice came out soft, a reverent whisper. The spirit looked to him.

“Xander. Thank you.” She smiled, the same beautiful smile that had turned the dullest day into sunshine.

“Thank you?” His face was puzzled.

“For saving her.” Tara turned back to Sebastian and, Xander presumed, The First Evil. “He has friends and family now. No matter what you say or do, that will not change. Go now!” She raised her arms and a mist trailed from them. In that instant, The First became visible to Xander. He knew immediately that this form was that of Sebastian’s sister. The similarities between them were striking, yet each was an individual. The mist trailed towards The First, wrapping around it, smothering it.

“You won’t save him, spirit!” It’s voice was ice, then it vanished, the mist from Tara dissipating.

Xander stepped forwards, tears rolling down his cheeks freely. “Tara. It’s....it’s...” The spirit smiled and nodded.

“Strange. I know. I came because of the love he feels for you all. You may not know it, but you’ve all found a new brother.” She turned to Sebastian, “And you’ve found a new family. Look after them, because like all families, if you grow complacent, it will fall apart. You cannot afford to be divided, not now.”

Sebastian wiped tears from his eyes and looked at the spirit, “Why?”

“A great battle is coming. Only your love and trust for one another will see you through.” Tara’s form swirled slightly, as though someone had twirled a finger in her. “I must go, it’s hard to exist here.” She turned to Xander. “Tell Willow I will always, always, love her, but that she must live her life. And tell her, I like Kennedy.” She smiled and faded away, becoming a white mist that vanished on the soft night breeze.

Xander reached down and helped Sebastian to his feet. “Come on, we should go. Nothings happening here. Lets check in with the others.”

Together they walked from the cemetery, talking quietly. The bonding had begun, over tears and not violence, Xander thought to himself, no matter what Buffy says.



Chapter 8

Sebastian grunted as his fist slammed into the punch bag. Blow after blow slammed into it, rocking it hard and causing it’s mount to groan under the pressure. He had been down here for over an hour and the sweat glistened on his bare chest. 
 
 The door to the Summer’s basement opened, casting a sliver of light down on him. Footsteps sounded and he looked up. Xander came down the stairs, some wood over one shoulder and his toolkit in his free hand. He paused halfway as he caught sight of the shirtless Sebastian, then carried on down the stairs. He set the wood and tools down in a corner and turned to Sebastian,

“Buffy asked me to knock up a training frame, human sized. It’d be easier with some help.” he smiled. Since their adventure in the graveyard earlier that evening, they were getting along well. They had talked non stop for the twenty minutes it had taken to get home

“Sure, why not.” Sebastian said, grabbing a towel and draping it around his neck. The two set to work, chatting amiably. Xander had become a great deal more comfortable around Bastian. He was just a guy after all. A sweaty guy, Xander thought. Where did that thought come from? He asked himself. They worked swiftly, Bastian was a great deal more help than Xander had expected. As they worked, they talked. And through it all, Xander’s mind raced. He knew these feelings, he had had them often enough in high school. But they were even more confusing now. He didn’t know what to do and that scared him more than any beast or demon he had fought.

A little over an hour later and they had finished. Xander stood back and admired their work. A wooden post, standing six foot tall, with a solid base and support legs to the back to keep it upright and, about a foot from the top, ‘arms’ spread out to left and right, then reached forwards in an ‘embrace’ that could be stood within. The whole thing had padded areas which matched critical or sensitive areas on a regular human or vampire.

“It looks good.” Bastian observed and stepped a little closer to Xander.

“Thanks. Got the idea at school, Giles had one for Buffy to train with.” He turned and was face to face with Bastian.

“You’re welcome.” the slayer said, his voice almost a whisper. Xander opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. Their eyes met and something sparked between them. The air was thick with unspoken emotions and more. Slowly, Bastian leaned in a little closer.

The basement door opened and Buffy’s voice drifted down to them, “Bastian, can you come up here? Giles has a few questions about what happened earlier.”

“Sure! Be right there.” he shouted back. Xander backed off quickly, grabbed his toolkit and headed up the stairs. He paused when he reached Buffy.

“Your training frames ready.”

“Really?”

He smiled. “I didn’t get my job by being pretty, Buffy. Amazingly, even to me, I’m actually skilled.”

Buffy smiled back, “Yeah, you are that.”

Bastian’s footsteps sounded on the stairs and Xander moved away, “See you later Buffy, I need to talk with Willow.”



Willow sat at the desk in her room, searching for anything she could find on the totem. Kennedy and the rest of the Slayers in Training were downstairs with Giles and the others. There was a soft knock on her door and she turned in time to see Xander closing the door gently behind him. Walking over to the bed he laid his toolkit at the base of it and sat down, sighing deeply.

“Hey Will, can we talk?” She shut her laptop and joined him on the edge of the bed.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Sebastian.” He laughed softly, “You know, when I said ‘gay me up’, I was joking.” Despite the joke, his voice was shaky, uncertain. Willow knew that voice. He was scared, worried and upset.

She smiled gently at him, her face comforting. “I thought there was something in you. Especially today.” She held her hands up a little and smiled, “Hey, don’t blame me, I didn’t do this.”

He sighed again and rubbed his eyes. “I know Will. It’s just so confusing.” His voice was almost inaudible, a whisper. He was a boy lost. She reached out and took his hand in hers and looked him in the eyes.                                   
“Look, I know it must be weird, but it’s nothing bad. It’s not a choice or a spell, it just is.”

“Yeah, well, I wish it would be is to someone else. I mean geez, I don’t need this now.”

“Do you mean that, you don’t want anything?” Willow asked, stroking his hand gently.

“Yes. No. Oh, I don’t know Will. It’s all so strange. I mean, for years, women.”

Willow smiled warmly, “And rather obviously.”

A wry smile spread over his lips, “Yeah. Heck, Larry made a couple of passes at me. I think. Nothing, nada. Now, and especially after tonight, Bastian just has to look at me and I start channelling some schoolgirl with a crush.”

Willow squeezed his hand and stared hard into his eyes and he stared right back, enraptured by the warmth, the passion and the love he saw there. She really was his family, Tara was right. “Hey. You know, before Tara, I didn’t know. I was for the guys.” She said, her voice soft and warm, reassuring.
“I remember.”

“Well, I didn’t just get up one day and go ‘right, that’s it, I’m gay’. It was Tara. I fell in love with her. Not the woman, the person. She was and from what you said, still is, sweet and kind and she stole my heart. That she was a she,” Willow shook her head gently, “not important.”

She withdrew her hands from around his and stroked a cheek, “You want my advice? Stop hiding. If part of you wants to, then let him in.” They sat in silence for a minute, then he smiled and patted her knee softly. He stood up and kissed her gently on the forehead.

“Cheers Will. You’re right, I think. I might.” He slipped out of her room, deep in thought and didn’t notice as Kennedy slid in past him.

“What was all that?”

“Xander needed some advice.” Kennedy looked down the empty hall where Xander had just passed her.

“Sebastian?” Willow nodded as Kennedy sat beside her and rested a head on her shoulder.

“I hope it works out.”

“Me too.” Willow said, running a hand through Kennedy’s hair, “Me too.”

The Mansion, eleven pm.

In the great hall, Willow and Amy surveyed the forces before them. Twenty eight vampires and themselves. Some had swords, knives and daggers. A couple hefted assault rifles in the air. But over half simply wore their demonic visage. Willow had more she could have called on now, but this should be more than enough and she had purposefully picked the strongest and meanest fighters. On this hunt, they couldn’t afford any dead weight. She stepped away from Amy and silence rippled through the crowd.

“Okay, we go in  three teams, ten to a team. Amy and myself will lead the primary team. The second team will go around the back in case they try to escape and the third will wait at the end of the road in case they are needed.” A grumble of dissent spread through the crowd, but Willow raised her voice, “Silence! We do it this way because I say so! It is our best chance of success! Now Go!”

The vampires broke up and headed for side door, where three vans waited for them. The vans pulled forwards, the doors slamming shut. Kicking up clouds of dust, the three vans raced off into the inky darkness.


The Summer’s home.       

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do.” The living room was crowded, Slayers in Training and the Scooby gang gathered around, listening to Buffy’s plan. It was almost midnight and, although they were all tired, there was still much to discussed. “Myself and Sebastian will go on patrol, find one of...” She paused for a moment, “Willow’s vampires and find out where she’s based. Then we attack, get the pieces of the totem off of them, assemble it and then destroy it once and for all.”

One of the Slayers in Training, Rhona, stepped forwards, “Wait, this thing that’s gonna make the vampires even stronger, you want to put it together? Anya was right, this is crazy!”

Buffy looked at her, “Maybe, but if you can show me another way to do it, I’m open to suggestions.” Rhona stepped back, a sullen look on her face.

“Okay, Giles, Xander, Willow, Robin, stay here and watch the others, we’re going to go find us a vampire, I want to get this information now, so we can act tomorrow night. While we’re gone I want you to...”

“Err, Buffy.” A soft, quiet voice cut her off. It was Kennedy, standing by one of the windows, “I don’t think you’ll have far to look.” She pulled the drape back and they saw a black van out on the street. As they watched, the doors opened and Willow and Amy stepped out. A number of the Slayers in Training gasped in shock, they’d heard about Willow’s vampiric double, but never really believed it.

Willow’s doubles voice filtered in to them, “Slayer! Pass me the totem and I’ll let you live!” As they watched, the vampires fanned out in front of the house. One of them was carrying an assault rifle.


Chapter 9

“Slayer! Pass me the totem and I’ll let you live!”

The gathered crowd in the Summer’s living room looked around nervously, then Buffy stepped forward, opened the window and shouted back,

“Look, super skank, you know you can’t get in here. Leave it and we’ll bring it to you on our terms!”
The vampire laughed, “Now Slayer, I can’t do that,” Buffy raised an arm, out of sight of the window, pointed at a few of the Slayers in Training and waved them upstairs, gesturing for them to grab some weapons. Quickly they slipped away as Vampire Willow continued talking, “My master wants the totem tonight.” As Buffy looked out the window, Sebastian slipped up the stairs, grabbing a crossbow from the weapons cache they had been assembling and dragging Dawn with him.

“Well then, you can come and get it.” Buffy shouted back then laughed, “Oh, wait, you can’t, can you, because you haven’t been invited in. Just get out of our face vampy.”

Again the vampire laughed, “How wrong you are Slayer. I will prise the totem from your cold dead fingers!” She signalled and the vampire with the assault rifle prepared to fire.

“Everyone down!” Buffy cried, diving over the sofa. With a sound like thunder the rifle opened fire, the window’s shattering, glass showering down on the occupants. Bullet holes ripped across the wall, a lamp shattered, padding from the sofa filled the air like confetti. One of the Slayers in Training fell to the floor, screaming and clutching her shoulder. Another slumped to the floor on her knees, a hole in her forehead, eyes glazed over. Almost in slow motion she fell face forward onto the carpet. A few muffled cries filled the room. The back of her head was a gaping hole. Blood and other things began to pool on the carpet.  Robin slumped against the far wall, blood pouring from a bullet wound in his shoulder and another in his thigh. Slowly he slid down the wall, his blood leaving a glistening red trail above him.

From upstairs, barely audible over the gunfire, Buffy heard the breaking of glass and the gunfire ceased. She looked up just in time to see the vampire with the rifle explode into cinder and ash. Another staggered back, clutching at the crossbow bolt in his chest. Moments later he too was swirling away on the wind. Buffy turned to Giles, “Get upstairs, find Dawn if you can and protect her!”. He slipped up the stairs, keeping low.

In the lull, Kennedy grabbed a fellow Slayer in Training and dragged her to the kitchen. They opened the backdoor and stopped. Ten vampires stood in the backyard, all wearing their game faces. One was carrying an assault rifle. Slamming the door shut, Kennedy shouted back to Buffy,

“There’s more out back! And they’ve got a rifle too!”

“Everyone, arm yourselves but stay calm! They can’t get in without an invitation and ....” Buffy paused as she heard the sound of a key turning in the front door lock. “What the?” The door swung wide, vampire Willow, a silver key in her hand, and a vampire stood on the doorstep, the others running forwards. Another crumbled to ash as a crossbow bolt pierced his chest. The vampire next to Willow smiled and stepped forward, into the Summer’s hall. He laughed. Buffy stared.

“How?” She asked, her voice almost inaudible due to shock. Willow smiled and waved the key at her, then signalled and the vampires rushed in, Amy stopping at her partners side. Willow touched the witch’s hand and Amy snapped her fingers. Overhead, but unseen to those within the house, a green flash of light lit up the sky for a moment. Instantly, more gunfire echoed from the back of the house, the kitchen window exploding in a shower of glass. One of the girls screamed and staggered into the living room, clutching her side and bleeding from dozens of cuts all over her body. She collapsed in the doorway between kitchen and living room. With a crash the backdoor was kicked off it’s hinges and more vampires stormed in. Buffy grabbed a sword and charged the ones coming from the kitchen as Sebastian came running down the stairs. Halfway, he stopped and leapt over the bannister, grabbing at his sword as he fell. He landed in a crouch, and swept his leg round, sending the nearest vampire crashing to the floor. He stood and drew the sword from it’s sheath, flinging it off to one side. With a cry, he swept forward, the sword swinging wide and decapitating two vampires in one blow. A stake in his other hand, he spun with the movement of the blade and backhanded a third vampire, who exploded into cinder and ash.

Xander charged at a vampire, a stake in one hand and a short sword in another. He lunged and the blade pierced the vampires side. She howled in pain and slammed him with a backhander that sent him flying and crashing into the bannister of the stairs. He slumped down, unconscious.

Sebastian looked around and spotted Willow, crouched behind a chair, bleeding from a graze on her head, “Willow!” She looked up, “Do it!” the sword arced through the air. 

In the kitchen, Buffy let fly a snap kick to the side of one vamp, who staggered and knocked one of her friends over, dragging the draining rack from the sink. A dozen kitchen knives slammed into her chest and throat. Buffy whirled, punching another, swinging her sword and decapitating a third. She heard a click and turned to see the vamp with the assault rifle raising it in her direction. Time slowed down. She could see his finger tightening on the trigger. Buffy leapt into a somersault just as the bullets ripped into the cabinets behind her. She landed on the breakfast bar as the vampire stopped firing and tried to adjust his aim. Her foot caught him on the chin and he reeled backwards. She dropped down, her sword swinging. With a thunk, the rifle fell to the floor and the vampire screamed, clutching at the stump which had been his hand.

“That’ll teach you to pla...” Buffy staggered back as a vampire punched her in the face. Around her, her charges fought with axes, swords and stakes, but even with their training, they were just girls. Normal girls, no different than she had been at their age. Just girls, girls against vampires. But, to Buffy’s astonishment, they were fighting well. One of them cried out and swung at the vampire that had punched Buffy, hacking into him again and again with a battleaxe. Blood pooled on the floor as she seperated body part after body part, until she finally decapitated him. Another of the girls gave a strangled cry as a blond vampire sank her fangs into the girls neck. As she went limp in his arms, he looked up at the Slayer, his grinning visage stained with the girls blood.

“No!” Buffy cried and took a step forward, preparing to strike when the vampire collapsed into dust. Kennedy caught the girl as she collapsed, then both went flying into the work top as a vampire punched Kennedy in the face. With a roar, the vampire who had been carrying the rifle lunged at Buffy. She stepped into his charge, grabbed his jacket and used his momentum to send him sailing through the doorway. She grabbed a wooden spoon from the work top and slammed it with all her force into the back of the vampire that had punched Kennedy. He erupted in a fountain of ash. Her short sword swung in a glittering arc and decapitated another vampire, blood spraying across the kitchen, splattering her face and covering the others before the vampire crumbled to nothing.

She looked around as a hand grabbed the counter and the female vampire hauled herself to her feet, knives protruding from her chest. She snarled, pulling one of the blades free from her chest, blood oozing from the wound and crouched, preparing to strike out. On instinct, Buffy moved, dropping backwards as the vampire attacked. The blade passed over her as Buffys’ hands made contact with the ground. With a slight kick, she lifted her feet from the ground, putting all her weight onto her hands. Her legs wrapped around those of her opponent and she twisted, throwing the vampire to the ground. As she spun the vampire, she released her grip and pushed off with her hands, flipping in a tight arc and landing in a crouch. Silently, she slammed what was left of the spoon into the creatures chest. She staggered forwards as a vampire jumped on her back, dropping the sword and standing, trying to shake the vampire loose. Her head was pushed forward as the creature prepared to strike. The hairs on the back of her neck tingled as the creature drew nearer and she slammed her head back, shattering the nose of her assailant. The vampire dropped down, howling in pain. Swiftly, one of the girls stepped in and staked the vampire.

A strangled cry and Buffy looked up to see another girl in the clutches of a vampire. Despair washed over her, there was just too many. She heard screeching brakes from outside and doors slamming, but no sirens. ‘It has to be more vampires’ she thought. They were doomed. Through all this, one thought stayed in her mind. How had they gotten in?

The sword sailed through the air. Willow leapt to her feet and caught it, but even as she did, a vampire barrelled into her, sending them tumbling and smashing the coffee table. She cried out as a piece of wood pierced her side. She struggled in the vampires grip, but it was too strong and Willow just wasn’t that proficient in hand to hand fighting. She was a crossbow girl. Suddenly, the pressure on her disappeared and she was covered in a layer of ash. One of the youngest Slayers in Training stood grinning down at her, but the grin vanished as a vampire slammed into her, sending the pair tumbling away from Willow.

She crawled back behind the chair and drew a breath, steadying herself and blocking out the pain. She laid her fingertips on the blade and closed her eyes, calming herself. She dropped her barriers. A great wind rushed from her and through the living room, sending girls, vampires, furniture and Sebastian flying. The chair Willow was crouched behind vanished through the window, carried on the wind. Those who could, turned to stare. A bright white light flowed down her arms, becoming blinding white at her finger tips. After a second, the light reduced to a dull glow and the wind stopped. Then a new light filled the room. Starting at the hilt, a red fire traced along the engravings of the sword, until it reached the mouth of the serpent. With a roar of energy a fiery red serpents head burst forth from the blade tip and surged through the room, before slamming into Sebastian’s chest and disappearing within him. Willow slumped backwards, restoring her barriers on instinct more than thought. Her eyes flashed open, she grabbed the sword and hurled it towards Sebastian while the vampires were still stunned.

The wind rushed through the kitchen, although it was less intense than in the living room. Buffy had no idea what it was, but the vampires paused. It was their final mistake. She kicked the sword into her hand, bringing it up in an arc with such force that she cut one girl, who couldn’t have been much older than Dawn when she died, clean in half from waist to shoulder. Her heart cleaved in two, the vampire crumbled to ash. Buffy’s swing continued and decapitated another. Kennedy grabbed a battleaxe and decapitated the handless rifleman who was rushing back in the door. The vampires paused. The odds were turning. Then they turned and fled into the night, as if on some invisible signal, some pushing past Kennedy and the others jumping through the window.

Sebastian reached a single hand outwards, fingers closing around the hilt. He swung the sword in a great arc, trailing flickers of red energy. Four vampires exploded into cinder and ash immediately. The last vampire paused, looking around. Amy and Willow were nowhere to be seen. And the totem was gone. He turned to run when ten more vampires appeared in the doorway and window.

Sebastian smiled, his sword hanging loose in his hand at his side, red arcs of energy tracing up his wrist. He took a step forward, raising the sword, “Let’s dance.” Suddenly, the vampires paused, then turned and vanished into the night. The sounds of vans retreating into the darkness could be heard. 

Buffy staggered into the living room, followed by Kennedy and other survivors from the kitchen. She looked around at the destruction. On the stairs, Xander began to stir, coming round.

“What happened, where did they go?” She asked.

Sebastian looked at her, “They got the totem. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay, you did your best. Against those numbers, we were lucky to survive.”
Sebastian started for the door, “We have to get it back, are you coming?”

“No, Bastian, we have to clear up here first. Besides, if I know my dark rituals, and I should, I’ve lived through enough, it’s not gonna be a simple case of insert tab A into slot B, they’re gonna have rituals to perform.”

“You’re sure?”

“Well, no, but we don’t have any choice. We have to get these people seen to, first and foremost. If they get it together, we’ll deal with that if it happens.” Sebastian sighed, then laid his sword on the remains of the sofa.

“You’re right. Let’s get these folks seen to.” He moved over to where Xander lay unconscious and gently shook the young man.

Stirring, Xander looked around blurry eyed. “W-What happened? Did I get her?” Bastian offered a hand and pulled Xander to his feet. An exhausted Buffy appeared beside her brother Slayer and smiled at her friend.

“Absolutely Xan, you kicked her ass.”

In the distance, sirens could be heard approaching, a neighbour must have called nine-one-one. It sounded like half of the towns emergency services were headed their way. She looked around. The living room and kitchen were littered with swords, knives, stakes and a wide variety of other very dangerous looking implements. She grabbed a pair of Slayers in Training by the arms.

“Quick, help me clear these away. Just take them downstairs, there’s some blankets down there you can throw over them.” Swiftly they gathered up the weapons, others helping them. Just as the last girl disappeared down the stairs to the basement, the first police car arrived, blue and red lights casting eery shadows through the living room. In the silence they heard car doors slam shut and the sound of two guns been cocked. From outside a firm, commanding voice could be heard,

“Throw down your weapons and come out with your hands up!”

Immediately, Buffy stepped towards the doorway, shouting to the officers, “It’s okay! They’ve gone! I’m coming out now.” She called. Slowly, cautiously, she stepped into the doorway, her arms raised high. She was bleeding from cuts to her face and arms, hair a tangled mass and her blouse torn across the left shoulder, hanging loose. On seeing her, the two police officers raised their guns skyward and started forwards.

“Are you okay Miss?” one asked. It was the same voice that had made the demand moments earlier. His partner seemed very young to Buffy, definitely a little green around the edges. In Sunnydale, he’d either lose that greenness fast or he’d be in a body-bag. Buffy nodded and stepped back as the officers entered the house. They stopped and took in the carnage. The living room was a disaster area. The younger officer took one look at the dead girl, her brains and other fluids leaking onto the carpet. The air was thick with the charnal house smell of death. Already, the muscles of the body were relaxing, leaking urine and other waste. The smell was almost unbearable, but no one had noticed in the rush of battle. The young cop clasped a hand to his mouth and bolted out the door. Retching could be heard. It was as if someone had flipped a switch. A half dozen girls rushed out the door and soon the rancid smell of vomit was drifting inside. More police cars arrived, as well as the first of two ambulances.

The first officer took off his jacket and laid it over the dead girl, then turned to Buffy. “What happened here, Miss ...?” He paused, looking at Buffy.
“Summers, Buffy Summers.”

“Miss Summers, what happened?” He asked again.

“We, we were having a get together.” Buffy started hesitantly. “When we heard someone pull up sharp outside. One of my friends looked out the window and said a gang was out there. Then they started shooting. We tried to escape out back, but there were more. They forced their way in.”

“Why did they attack you, Miss Summers?”

“I, I have no idea.” she looked around her living room. Or what had been her living room. She walked over to the wreckage of the coffee table, rummaging around. She looked up. “We brought an antique home earlier today, but it’s gone.”

“I see, this antique, was it valuable?”

“Not that I’m aware, just sentimental really. It belonged to my mother.”

“Strange. Well, if you’d take a seat, we’ll be taking full statement’s from you and your friends shortly.”

Two hours later, the last police car pulled away. The girls body, Hannah, had been taken away by the coroner. A lone police car remained, on watch in case the ‘gang’ returned. Yellow crime scene tape surrounded the house. Xander had rushed out to the construction sight, along with Giles and was just finishing boarding up the windows and kitchen door.

Willow was lying on what was left of the sofa, her side bandaged up. The wood hadn’t pierced very deep. The wound had already pretty much closed by the time the paramedics reached her, so they had just cleaned her up. Robin and a couple of the girls had been taken to hospital and would be in overnight at the very least. In the meantime, the survivors were packing up and preparing to stay over at Xanders’ apartment for a few days, while the police forensics teams went over the house. Buffy wished they would just go away, they wouldn’t find anything useful. Fingerprints from unknown assailants and some dust. They were just getting in her way. But, there was nothing to be done about it now. There had been a brutal killing in her home and it had to be investigated. Along with the others, she carried “weekend bags” out to Xanders’ car. The officer on watch got out of the car and approached her.

“Need a hand, miss?”

Buffy smiled and shook her head, “It’s okay, just girly stuff.” The officer smiled, nodded and returned to the patrol car. Xander opened the trunk for her and she dropped the bag she was carrying. The girly stuff made a few clangs and clanks that sounded an awful lot like swords and axes rattling against each other. She smiled at Xander, “See, just like I told the officer. Girly stuff.”
Xander shook his head, “You know Buff, I sincerely doubt that axes and short swords would fit Barbies’ idea of girly stuff.”

“What? They all match the ensemble. I’m the first slayer to be clothing and weapon fashion conscious.” A few more bags were loaded into the trunk, then it was shut. As many people as possible piled into Xanders’ car, Giles’ and Sebastian’s hire cars. Buffy looked around. There were still a few girls stood in the doorway, they would have to make another trip. Willow and Kennedy stayed behind to watch over those who were left. Willow stood at the door and waved as they pulled away.

Half an hour later, the second trip was complete and they were all gathered in Xanders’ apartment. Xander had called Anya, but she hadn’t been in. He turned back to the main conversation as it turned from how and why to grief and blame at Hannah’s death. Rhona was off on one again, bemoaning Buffy’s leadership. He went into the little kitchenette, grabbed a cold one from the fridge and slammed the door shut with so much force that everyone stopped bickering and looked at him. He walked back into their midst, looking around, the contempt on his face pure and undiluted.

“How dare you attack her.” He said, his voice cold, “She made the only call possible in the situation, with the information at hand. And you attack her? What would make you happy? If she’d been killed instead of Hannah? If so, you’d all be dead too. We were lucky. The number of vampires that attacked us tonight, we’re lucky there was only one death. Now sit down and shut up unless you have something productive to add.”

Rhonas’ mouth worked a couple of times, then she slumped back down onto the floor, looking despondent. Buffy reached up as Xander passed her, stroking his hand lightly and smiled, “Thanks Xand.” he smiled back and nodded slightly. He sat down on the sofa, Willow and Kennedy shuffling a little closer together to make room for him. Kennedy picked the conversation up,

“I just don’t get it. How did they get in? I didn’t see anyone stood at the door offering out individual invitations.”

Buffy shook her head, the confusion evident on her face, “I have no idea.”

“I do.” Buffy looked up at the sound of Willows’ voice.

“Will?”

“Remember what I said earlier? About touching and remembering a lot of dark magick?” Buffy nodded, “It was that key Buffy, the one I, her, ummm, you know what I mean, had. Amy must have made it. It’s a ‘universal key’ for lack of a better term. It unlocks a house, magickally speaking. All those wards me and Tara cast, they’re useless. And it acts like an open invitation for vampires. The barriers that stop them from entering unless invited have been unlocked.”

Giles looked at her, shock on his face, “A Demastas key? I thought they were myth, a legend.” Willow shook her head. “They’re hard to make, they require a lot of concentration.”

“The kind of concentration only a vampire can muster.” Giles added, Willow nodding in agreement. Buffy looked between them.

“Is there any spell we can do, make the house secure?”

“Buffy, I don’t think you understand.” Giles answered, “That key will unlock any home. As long as it exists, every single man, woman and child in Sunnydale is in terrible danger.”
“Besides,” Willow added, “no spell will lock the house again. We need the key to do it. Only the key that unlocked a house can lock it up again.”

“I don’t believe this.” Buffy said, shaking her head, “I’m about to face an army of slayer strength vampires, I’ve got to destroy a totem and now I’ve got to get a key off Willow’s skanky double before I dust her.”

“I don’t know, sounds like a challenge to me.” Sebastian smiled, “Besides, I have a cunning plan.” He looked around at their faces, “I don’t believe it. You’ve never seen Blackadder?”

“Uncultured heathen.” Giles muttered, smiling.




Chapter 10

“Slayer!” Willie smiled, a smile about as genuine as the singing talents of the ‘stars’ of American Idol, “It’s the Slayer, here! And with a friend! What can I do for you Slayer? A drink? Complimentary peanuts?” He spoke quickly, loudly, gushing false enthusiasm as he pushed a small, grimy bowl towards Buffy as she approached the bar, Bastian by her side. Behind them, several demons silently left their seats and slipped through the door, vanishing into the night.

Buffy shook her head, “No thanks, Willie. Here’s the thing. A whole gang of vampires, lead by Amy, just attacked my house. People are dead.”

“That’s terrible, Slayer.”

“Where are they?” Her voice was cold, low and threatening.

“Honestly Slayer, I haven’t a clue.” Willie said, raising his hands upwards in a placating manner, a grimy bar towel in one. Suddenly an arm flashed out, grabbing him by the collar of his rather loud shirt. Sebastian pulled him close, their faces almost touching.

“Where...is...she?” He spoke slowly, each word filled with a cold menace.

Willie looked slightly panicked. “Hey Slayer, who’s your new friend? I don’t talk to anybody now, got a new image to keep, makes the customers happy. And you know what they say, the customer is always right.”

“Who I am doesn’t matter. Your image doesn’t matter. Your customers don’t matter. The fact that I have you in my hands does.” Sebastian yanked hard and Willie’s face slammed into the bar. He grabbed a handful of hair and pulled Willie’s face back up so that their eyes met. “Now where is she. Because if anyone else dies, I might just break the whole ‘don’t kill humans’ rule.”

Panic in his eyes, Willie flicked his gaze to Buffy, “She’s camped out at the mansion, the one your old beau had.”

“Angel’s mansion?” Buffy asked, Willie nodding in eager agreement. “Okay Bastian, lets get out of here.” Bastian pulled Willie a little higher, then let go, the barman dropping down and his face slamming into the bar again. The bowl of peanuts jumped, scattering it’s contents across the bar. As they walked away a look of disgust passed over his face and he wiped his hand on his black jeans.

“Ugh, that guy can’t have washed his hair in a fortnight, gives new meaning to ‘slimy’. I have so got to shower before we attack. I can’t face bad guys with this on my hands.”

“You kind of enjoyed that, didn’t you? Giving Willie grief?” Buffy said with a sidelong glance, the barest ghost of a smile on her lips.

“A little. People like that, harbouring some rather vicious looking demons and vampires - well, dangerous ones - willingly, make me mad. It’d be different if they ruled the town and he was intimidated, but they don’t. He could get out, run a bar elsewhere. Guys like that, I sometimes wonder if they’re human.”

“They’re human. And we have to protect them. Unfortunately.”

“Yeah. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” His voice was low.

“I know what you mean. But that’s why we’re the good guys.”

The Mansion

Draped in a blood red cloak, Amy stepped forward, her arms held out in front of her, the final piece of the totem, a crown with spokes running inside it and a central spike three inches high, in her hands. Behind her, seven naked bodies hung, suspended upside down from the ceiling. Blood still dripped slowly from their slashed necks, the majority having been caught and used to dye her cloak for the ritual. One of the bodies was that of her father. An eighth victim, one of the boys who had teased Amy at school, was chained to the wall, his naked chest covered in whip marks. His genitals were purple, Amy had taken a lot of pleasure in torturing him. She had cut his manhood repeatedly, not to deep, she was going to need almost all his blood. But what had made her pleasure complete had been that, even through his screams, he had gotten excited. She and Willow had savoured every minute, every taste of his excitement. The smell of fear on him had been intoxicating, especially after the previous evenings events at the Slayers home.

Amy dipped the crown into the same bowl of blood that had been used to stain her cloak, intoning a chant under her breath in a language long forgotten by man. She lifted the crown, dripping blood, from the bowl and held it high. Her chanting increased in volume and purple lightning erupted from the very air itself, caressing the crown with energy. The blood ignited, becoming bright purple flames almost a foot high. Despite their size, the flames ignored Amy, not even blistering her skin. Within seconds, the flames had died out, leaving the crown a deep blood red colour. Amy stepped forward, towards the totem, lowering her arms and holding the crown in front of her chest. Gently she placed the crown in it’s place atop the totem. Small bolts of lightning arced down from it, caressing every inch of the totem. She turned and gestured towards the boy.

“Bring him.” Two vampires, blond twins, stepped forward, grabbing the boys wrists and unchaining him. They dragged him, struggling despite his discomfort, towards a large stone alter in the centre of the room. They lifted him with ease and flung him down, snapping ankle and wrist restraints shut, their hands trailing over his bruised and cut chest, caressing his naked figure. Amy smiled.
“Now boys, don’t get too attached to him. Soon he’ll be forgotten and we will savour the sweet taste of slayer blood, as one after the next falls to us.” The twins melted back into the shadows, identical ghosts of smiles playing across their faces. Amy turned and picked up the totem, small traces of the purple energy flickered across her fingers. In a swirl of blood soaked cloth, she returned her attention to the bloodied and bruised boy on the alter.

Xanders apartment

“It’s suicide.”

Bastian sighed and turned to face the potential. “Rhona, do you ever stop moaning, ‘cause it’s getting on my bloody nerves. If you aren’t going to be constructive, shut up.” Xander had to smile, the look on Rhona’s face was priceless. He wondered why no one had said it in such blunt terms sooner.

Buffy stepped up next to Sebastian, “Yes, it’s dangerous. If they get this totem working, then we’re all dead.” She held up her hands to stop any arguments. “That’s it. Discussion over. Everyone who’s coming, get yourself ready.” She turned and entered Xanders bedroom, which had been requisitioned for the makeshift armoury.

A short while later, his room all but emptied of weapons, Xander was looking over his shirts, deciding which one he wouldn’t mind getting ruined. Normally, it wouldn’t bother him, but since Anya, his tastes had changed a little and not even with his job did he fancy losing an eighty dollar shirt. “I’ve gotta do a Buff.” he mused to himself.

“What’s that, go blonde? I think Spike has patented the peroxide look, you might have to pay him royalities.” Xander whirled at the voice to see Bastian leaning against the doorway. Bastian pushed himself up and stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. Xander smiled.

“You might have a point there. I wonder how he does it, not having a reflection and all.” He pondered. Bastian smiled and nodded slightly. “I meant get a slaying wardrobe.”

“Ah.” Bastian nodded.

“I’d borrow Buffy’s, but somehow I can’t see her clothes fitting me.” Xander turned back and spotted a work worn shirt. He grabbed it and slung it over his shoulders, “This’ll do. It’s withstood cement, paint thinner and builders-sweat, blood’s not gonna bother it.”

Bastian smiled, “Looks good.” He stepped a little closer, his eyes trailing over Xanders still bare chest. A little distracted he said it again, “Looks good.”

Xander laughed softly. “Sidetracked much?”

Bastian had the grace to look bashful. “Sorry. You should finish getting ready.”
Xander took a deep breath and looked in Bastian’s eyes. When he spoke, his voice was soft, barely a whisper. “I...I am ready.”

Bastian looked him up and down, “No offence, but you go fighting the forces of darkness like that, you’ll catch a cold or...” He trailed off as Xanders lips brushed against his own, a brief, chaste kiss. “Oh.”
Xander backed off, suddenly very intent on fastening his shirt, before slinging a crossbow over a shoulder and picking up a sword. He opened the door and gestured Bastian through, “Lets go, don’t wanna keep the ooglies waiting. Besides, I hear Buffys’ got us all treats for afterwards if we pull this off”

“She has? Well then, we don’t want the lady of the manor to get impatient.” Bastian grinned and left the room, followed by Xander.



Chapter 11

Willow watched, entranced by Amy’s magic. In the centre of the room, the totem sat atop the boy’s chest, slowly draining the life from him. For the first two hours he hadn’t stopped screaming, but now his body was drying up, shrivelling away to nothing but a mummified shell and he could no longer scream, but his eyes still held a flicker of life. The terror that filled them and still emanated from him in waves was intoxicating, the smell filling Willow’s nostrils.

Amy sat cross-legged in the main hall of the mansion, meditating. She had been unable to bring back any of the vampires lost during the battle, she needed all her energy to complete the activation of the totem. They still had almost thirty minions left though and each was preparing themselves, marking themselves as she had shown them.

Spike looked up as he heard a door open and close. Willow stopped in front of his cage, setting a tray on a small table beside the door, her eyes taking in every detail, the scars on his face and chest that were slowly healing, the weary, listless look in his eyes. With a click, the cage door was unlocked and he saw her slip a bunch of keys into her cleavage. Silently she picked up the tray and walked in, then made a disapproving sound.

“You’ve healed too much. What a shame. If the wounds were a little fresher, this would be so much more fun.” she placed the tray down and with a flourish whipped the cloth that had been draped over it’s contents away. A small bowl, half filled with water, was in the centre, surrounded by numerous tools. Spike stared at them for a moment, not comprehending. Willow lifted one for him to see. It was a branding iron, shaped like a ‘W’. But where normally a branding iron would be just metal, the tips of these brands had a small layer of sponge.

With great care, Willow dipped the brand in the water, lifting it gently and tapping off any lose droplets. She turned to Spike, holding the brand out for him to see. “I think it’s time we labelled you. After all, all puppies needed to be marked, so that if they’re lost, they can be returned to their owner.”

She leaned in, pressing the sponge to his cheek. The skin beneath began to smoke and burn. Spike screamed, a sound that had not left his mouth in over a century, a blood-curdling scream. He tried to turn away, but it was no good, Willow grabbed his hair and held him in place, his skin sizzling under the brand. Then the pain stopped, the brand taken away. He slumped back, the pain washing over him. Suddenly, the hand grabbed his hair again and another scream tore from his lips as the brand was pressed onto his left cheek.

Willow stood up, placing the brand on the tray. She took a step back and admired her handy-work. The air was still thick with the smoke from Spike’s burnt skin. Then she bent down and picked up a fresh brand, this one in the shape of a ‘P’.

As the brand seared his flesh, the pain washed over him, Spike looked out through eyes slitted in pain and was staring down Willow’s chest. He could see the glinting of a key. He screamed again as another brand pressed into his chest. He had to get out of here, to tell Buffy what had happened to Red. He knew she would want to be the one to kill her. Then the pain engulfed him again as a brand was pressed against his chest.
Through it all he struggled to keep his mind clear, to think and plan, to find a way out of this hell. With great effort and fighting back the pain that threatened to engulf him, he brought a hand up and rested it on Willows thigh, she was crouched in front of him now. She didn’t remove it, so he took it as a good sign. His hand trailed over her leg, moving up until his hand was on her waist, moving further up her body, then his arm jerked away as a fresh brand was pressed into his flesh. His hand dropped back onto Willows leg and she smiled.

“Does puppy want to play?” she asked, her voice dripping sex in a way he had never heard in Willows’ voice. He had never even thought she could talk like that. Through his pain, Spike didn’t dare to speak, he simply let his hand trail over her body, as far as his chains would let him reach. He cried out as again a brand pressed into his flesh with a hiss. Vaguely, he heard a clattering sound. He opened his eyes and saw the brand lying near the far wall, where she had thrown it. His vision still clouded by pain, he saw her reach into her cleavage and remove something that glinted in the twilight of the dungeon.

Willow was leaning over him and suddenly the pressure on his right wrist went away. Distantly he heard the click of the lock being released. With another click, his other wrist was free. As he sat slumped against the wall, Willow dropped the keys back down her top and straddled him, rubbing herself up close to him, pressing her cleavage into his face. She smiled seductively at him, her hands caressing his bare chest, fingers tracing the scars that she had created. He shivered, her touch was almost intoxicating. He could feel his demon, circling beneath the surface of his soul, crying out for her. She was a creature of darkness and his demon wanted her. He blinked, struggling to suppress his demon, to maintain what little control he could.

“Okay puppy, lets play.”


Outside

Buffy sat beside Bastian, staring up the drive at the sprawling mansion that had once belonged to Angel. In a way, she was kinda surprised that no bad guys had moved in yet. To the East, the sky was starting to grow light, dawn would be on them again. It was the perfect time to assault a nest of vampires, usually the younger ones would flee, their sense of the coming dawn not as precise as that of older vamps, and be caught in the first rays of daylight.

“You sure about this plan? Will they follow you?” She asked him. Bastian looked at her,

“It’s our best chance and you said yourself, you know the layout of that place a lot better than anyone else here. Plus, it was you who came up with details, not me.”

Buffy sighed. “I know,” she answered, “I just hate putting my responsibility onto somebody else.”

Bastian placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled gently in the rapidly retreating darkness, “Buffy, it’s not your responsibility, it’s the responsibility of the Slayer. That means me now as well..”

“Yeah,” Buffy nodded, “doesn’t mean I like it.” Bastian sighed and whacked her gently on the shoulder.

“Just get going, or we’re going to lose our opportunity.”

Buffy gave him a mock glare, “Yes dad.” She opened the door and vanished into the twilight. A few moments later, Bastian got out and approached where the others were gathering in the shadows. Silently he led them up the path. As they approached the mansion, he raised a hand and stopped them, two vampires were on guard. He turned and signalled Giles and Xander to join him.
As they crouched by his sides, he pointed out the sentries. They nodded. In silence they raised their crossbows and fired at the same time, twin twangs barely audible in the darkness. The two vampires exploded into ash. Swiftly, the group stole up to the mansion’s front doors, standing flat against the wall. Sebastian glanced at his watch. Buffy should be ready.

He moved away from the wall and stepped up to the door. Gently, he tried the handle and the door moved a little. He grinned. It wasn’t locked. He was about to open the door wide when a hand appeared on his wrist. He looked up and saw Giles shaking his head. The Watcher gave him a stern glare, mouthing the word “Trap”. Bastian nodded and moved to one side, leaning his back against the second door. He slid down into a crouch and reached up for the handle again.

He pulled the handle and shoved. The door swung inwards and the explosion of a gunshot filled the night air. Giles leaned round the doorframe and fired his crossbow. No more shots sounded. Bastian stood and stepped into the mansion, his coat swirling around him as he drew his sword. The others poured in after him, some raising and firing crossbows, others brandishing swords, axes and crucifixes. Together they stormed down the short hallway into the main hall and stopped.

Thirty vampires stood in the room, all holding weapons. Willow let out a gasp, seeing the altar and Amy’s work table before it. She recognised those spell components immediately, she had used them herself, well she and Anya had.

“A temporal fold! That’s why Buffy’s been slaying the same vampire more than once.”

“You’re slow Rosenberg.” Amy stepped from the shadows, her blood stained cloak swirling around her. “I’d have thought you would have figured it out before now. Still, better late than never and you’re just in time.”

“Time for what?” Bastian asked.

“Well, to use a classic cliche, time to die of course.” Amy answered, a grim smile on her face. On cue, the vampires rushed them.

Spike’s cell.

Willow continued to press herself against Spike, running her hands and tongue over his chest, her tongue tracing the scars on his chest. Against his will, a small moan of pleasure left his mouth. He wasn’t enjoying himself, he kept saying in his head, again and again, he was just playing. He needed her off guard before he made his move. Unfortunately, his body wasn’t cooperating with that thought.

A distant sound filtered down to them, a gunshot. Willow stopped and sat upright, looking around. “Damn,” she muttered, “they couldn’t wait anoth...” Her sentence broke off as Spike slammed the shackle that had held his wrist against her skull. She slumped over him and he thrust a hand down her top, pulling out the keys. Three of them. He shoved her prone form away, scattering her torture tools everywhere. He struggled with the keys, taking two tries until he found the right one. The ankle shackles fell away with a clatter.
He staggered to his feet and headed for the door when he heard a groaning and turned to see Willow getting to her feet. He turned and ran, still clutching the keys in his hand. He didn’t bother to lock the door, he didn’t have time. Buffy might need him.

Behind him, Willow staggered from the cage, shaking her head. “Uh oh, puppies escaped,” She grinned and grabbed a sword from the wall, “time to put him down.”


Chapter 12

The vampires charged towards Bastian, Giles and the others, Amy slipping around the edge of the room, heading for the alter. Bastian and the others stepped forward to meet the charge, the rest of the group parting, spreading out to give him a wide berth, freedom to let loose. Crossbow bolts flicked past him and two vampires exploded into dust and a third collapsed, clutching at the bolt in his genitals. Bastian broke into a run and jumped high in the air, twisting as he came down, landing behind and facing the vampires now running away from him. They skidded and turned to face him. His sword swung in a glittering arc, decapitating one of the vampires and severing another’s arm. He ran forward, grabbing the armless one by the collar and hurling her to one side. He stepped forward and spun, his sword passing through two necks. Dust erupted around him. The vampires charge faltered, assaulted now from both sides.

Giles stepped forward, his axe swinging wide and low, taking one vampires legs away. Screaming in agony, the girl crashed to the floor. He prepared for the death blow when another vampire slammed into him, sending him sprawling. The girls rushed in, short swords, axes and stakes flying. In the melee, another three vampires erupted into dust and ash.

At the doorway, Dawn, Robin and three more Potentials stepped into the mansion, but didn’t advance, spreading out to cover the doorway in case any vampires tried to escape before the sun rose.

Bastian whirled, a vampire on his back. Another punched him in the face, blood spraying from his nose. The vampire smiled at him as it licked his blood from its knuckles. He continued to spin, trying to shake the vampire on him loose. Another snap kicked him in the stomach and he fell to his knees’. The vampire on his back lost her grip slightly. His hand flashed out, grabbing her hair. With all his strength he pulled and she sailed over him, slamming into two of her friends and sending all three sprawling. As she passed in front of him, something registered, there was a mark on her forehead, an inverted T with arrows either side, each pointing in their corresponding directions, the one on the left pointing left and the same on the right.

Bastian leapt high into the air, somersaulting, his sword flashing out as he did, carving a vampire in two across his waist. As he landed a foot connected with his back, sending him staggering and his sword clattered across the floor.

Amy stepped towards the alter, drawing a knife from under her cloak. Swiftly, she drew it across her palm, blood welling up into her hand. She reached out and smeared it over the boys forehead and then onto the totem. Purple lightning arced over it again, caressing the boys body. With a rasping sound, he drew his last breath. The lightning stopped, but a soft purple glow began to grow within the heart of the totem. Amy stepped back, it was done.

Suddenly, high above, the blacked out skylight shattered, glass falling in a deadly shower to the ground below. As Buffy dropped with it, glass cascading around her, she raised two miniature crossbows and let the bolts fly. She dropped the crossbows and landed in a crouch. Two vampires vanished, lost to the winds.

Her arrival had caught the vampires off guard. She was amongst them before they could react. Her foot connected with a vampire who had pinned Bastian to the ground, sending the creature sprawling. She grabbed a stake from within her jacket and slammed it into the chest of another vampire.
Across the room, Xander swung his sword, slicing open the stomach of a vampire. Howling in pain, the woman collapsed, trying desperately to hold her intestines in and failing. Beside him, Kennedy was whirling an axe like a woman possessed, sending arms and fingers flying. She wasn’t trying to kill the vampires, just to cause as much pain and damage as possible, so that they wouldn’t threaten them. And yet, her unorthodox approach seemed to be working. With a cry, Xander stepped forward, hacking at the nearest vampire. As that one staggered away, he kept on swinging. Bellows of pain filled the air.

Bastian looked up as the vampire on him went flying. Buffy was above him, staking vampires and snapping out punches and kicks. A vampire grasped his nose and staggered back, Buffy kicking him in the chest, then spinning into a roundhouse kick that sent him flying. Bastian looked around and spotted his sword, lying a good twelve feet away. He leapt to his feet, punching a vampire who appeared in front of him so hard that he knocked the creature backwards. He snapped a kick to it’s face, then spun into it, slamming a stake through it’s heart. He tucked into a roll and passed under a kick that had been aimed for his chest. As he rolled, he reached out and plucked his sword from the floor.

Spike was racing up the stairs from the basement when the sound of glass shattering reached his ears. He’d known a fight was going on, but it sounded big. He charged up the stairs ever faster. Behind him, he could hear Willow taking slow, deliberate steps up the staircase after him. He reached the door and with all his strength pushed. The door swung wide onto a scene of chaos. A huge battle was raging in...he looked around. They were in the mansion. Suddenly, a blast of purple light washed over them all. As it cleared, lightning arced from something atop an alter, reaching out and slamming into every vampire in the room. He ducked to one side as a bolt arced past him.

“Buffy!” he cried out.

Across the room, Buffy looked over on hearing her name. “Spike!” Around her, the vampires stood immobile, each one pierced by a line of energy. As she watched, Spike stepped from the shadows of the doorway he was in. She drew in a breath. He was a mess. His chest was covered in scars and burns, as was his face. But her eyes were transfixed on his chest. A word had been burnt there. “PUPPY”. The skin around it was blistered and red. Buffy knew what did that. Holy Water.

“Everyone! Get together now!” Bastian’s voice cut into her thoughts. They gathered together in a circle, unable to approach the totem because of the energy flowing from it. Spike staggered over to them, some of the girls taking breaths at what they saw on him. With a flash, the totem sent out a pulse of energy, then the glow vanished. The vampires staggered slightly, free of the magickal reigns that had held them. Gradually, one by one, they turned to face Buffy’s group, their eyes glowing with purple light.

“Now!” Buffy cried.

Amidst those at the rear of the circle, facing back the way they had come and the vampires who had cut off their escape, two of the potentials flung back their jackets to reveal, strangely, water guns. Buffy smiled, this had been Bastian’s plan. The priest had been quite perplexed when they had turned up asking to have the water blessed, but had relented when Buffy had spoken quietly to him about what was happening. Like many of the clergy in Sunnydale, he actually knew of vampires, so had been almost eager upon hearing what the water was needed for. Such blasphemies to God must be stopped, he had said. Buffy had smiled. Why she’d never thought of this before, she had no idea, it was so simple. She heard the cries and screams as holy water met vampiric flesh behind her. Beside her and Bastian, Xander and Giles let fly crossbow bolts.

As two more vampires exploded into cinder and ash, the others moved. She’d never seen vampires move like that, they were so swift. Wordlessly, she and Bastian met the charge, barrelling into the vampires at a crouched run, sending vampires sailing over their shoulders. With a grunt, Bastian stumbled as a foot connected with his left side. His sword swung in a glittering arc, but he only got one of his opponents, the others dodging the blow. Buffy staggered as a vampire punched her in the face, then kicked her in the chest. Another jumped on her back, trying to wrestle her to the floor. Another swept his leg low, knocking Buffy’s feet from under her. With a heavy thump, she fell to the floor, vampires rushing her.

“Buffy!” Spike and Willow cried out at the same time, rushing to help her. Spike paused as he saw Willow here, in shock. His eyes widened as he smelled her, she was human. He shook his head, utterly confused. There would be time for that later. Willow only got two steps before a vampire punched her in the chest and she went sailing through the air, tumbling to the ground clear of the fight. Dazed, she looked up as a shadow fell over her. Leather. Lots of black leather. Her gaze moved up and up, until finally she was looking into mirrors of her own eyes.

“Oh no.” She whispered. Her double smiled and crouched down, looking Willow in the face.

“I think two me’s would be fun. Imagine all the...exploring we could do.” Her eyes held a gleam that promised things Willow really didn’t want to consider. Not with herself anyway.

“N-No thanks,” she looked her double in the eyes, “Besides, I don’t think my girlfriend would want a vampire in her bed.”

Her double smiled, “We wouldn’t be in her bed.” Suddenly her eyes widened in shock as Willows’ foot connected with her stomach. Off balance, she staggered back and stumbled into a crowd of her flunkies, sending them sprawling.

Buffy was struggling like a woman possessed, two vampires pinning her down, another grabbing at her hair and trying to move her head into a biting position. They were so fast and strong, she thought. Suddenly the weight on her lessened as someone crashed into one of the vampires, sending her tumbling across the floor. Her upper body free, she grabbed the head of the vampire leaning over her for the strike and pulled him over her head. Off balance, he carried on and crashed into the vampire pinning her legs. Gathering herself, Buffy did a little flip, landing on her feet. Her arm flashed backwards, her elbow shattering the nose of an assailant rushing up behind her. She crashed sideways as another vampire slammed into her. As she fell, she caught a glimpse of the others backing away, reluctant to face too many of the slayer powered creatures. The two girls with the water guns were being more cautious now, careful not to waste what water they had and aiming mainly for the eyes. At least a half dozen vampires were staggering around blind, hands clawing at their eyes. Around the room, Buffy saw the bodies of at least four of the potentials, dead or wounded she didn’t know. And there were probably more she couldn’t see, as well, she thought.

Bastian struggled to reach the totem, but there were too many vampires. And his sword didn’t seem to be as powerful. He wasn’t sure, but the rush effect of the empowering seemed to be wearing off. Instinctively, he knew they’d have to do it soon. He redoubled his efforts, sword decapitating another vampire, foot lashing out to kick one in the chest, but the woman, who from her stance looked like she’d been a professional martial artist in life, dodged the kick and grabbed his leg, pulling him off balance and sending the sword sailing up in the air. She watched it and smiled at him.

“Death by your own weapon. How poetic.” The vampire said, grabbing the sword as it fell back to earth. With a rush of energy, the fiery serpent rushed from the blade, wrapping around her arm, travelling up it before coiling itself around her body. She screamed as the serpent burnt into her flesh. In seconds she vanished in a cloud of fiery ash, her screams disappearing amidst the sounds of battle. Taken aback by this sudden development, the vampires paused. Bastian’s feet shot out, shattering the kneecaps of one vamp, who fell to the floor howling in agony. He’d heal in time, Bastian knew, but for now he was out of the fight. He did as Buffy had done, a little flip, grabbing his sword as he did so. As he landed upright, he stepped forward and spun, the sword stretched out at arms length. Taken off guard, he cut two vampires clean in half and dropping back down to his knees, took the legs off a third. With all his energy, he leapt into the air, trying to clear the throng of vampires. In mid air the wind was knocked from him as somebody collided with him. Again his sword sailed through the air. He crashed to the ground in a tangle of arms and legs and looked into the face of Willow.

Buffy jumped to her feet, dust from the vampire who had rushed her falling from her clothes, the stake still clutched in her hand. With a clatter Bastian’s sword slid to a stop at her feet and she grabbed it up. Instantly she felt warm energy rush up her arm. She smiled, this sword was a rush. Inexperienced with such a weapon, she went for the tried and tested approach, swinging for the head. She was rewarded with a cloud of dust. She took in the sight before her, an almost clear path to the totem. She broke into a sprint and leapt high in the air, spinning over the heads of the warriors battling beneath her. The totem loomed closer and she brought the sword up above her head. Amy stepped forward, hand raised towards Buffy.

“Nooo!” she screamed. 


Chapter 13

With a flash, the sword sliced through the totem. A blast of energy knocked Buffy to the ground and flashed through the mansion. The vampires faltered, the purple glow leaving their eyes in a tiny flash. The others seized their opportunity, rushing forwards with stakes and swords. In their moment of disorientation, another seven vampires were dusted. Bastian leapt up from Willow’s doppelganger, drawing a stake from a little pouch at the small of his back, ready to strike, when her leg swept out and slammed him to the ground. She pushed herself up from the floor and rushed over to Amy, who, like Buffy, had been knocked off her feet by the blast. She bundled the other vampire up in her arms. Amy looked into Willow’s eyes, who simply nodded. Amy raised her arm, twirled her fingers clockwise and dropped a small stone. As soon as it hit the floor, they vanished.

The remaining vampires rushed for the doorway, but stopped as Dawn, Robin and the Potentials advanced on them, swords, axes and a water gun ready. Trapped, the vampires retreating together towards a corner of the room. Buffy and Bastian quickly slipped behind them, cutting off their retreat. The vampires stopped, surrounded by the two slayers and a great many potentials. One wrung his hands nervously. Buffy looked to Willow and flicked her gaze to the drapes covering the entrance to the garden where she had battled Angelus all those years earlier.

Willow moved beside Spike and laid a hand on his arm. “You might want to seek cover.” She said softly. He nodded and slipped to one side, sliding in between two pillars. Willow grabbed the drape and pulled it back. Sunlight flooded in and with screams of pain, the vampires erupted into a giant cloud of dust and ash. Willow let the drape fall back over the window and Spike stepped from safety.

“Is that it then? You have me guarding the door and Bam! It all happens in here! You’re treating me like a child again!” Buffy turned and saw Dawn stood in the hallway. “I don’t see why we had to stay there after dawn anyway, not like they were gonna take a morning stroll or anything.”

“Well niblet,” Spike answered, cutting Buffy’s response off, “It’s not unheard of or anything, you know. Speaking of which, the sun’s up now, how am I getting out of here?”

Dawn let out a sigh and turned, strolling out into the light. “Typical. One minute I’m okay to fight alongside in an earthy grave, the next she’s protecting me again.” Buffy rolled her eyes and started after her, but Spike laid a hand on her arm, stopping her.

“Let her go love, she’ll be okay.” Buffy looked at him skeptically. “Look,” he continued, “she’s just mad ‘cos you left her out of the action is all. She’ll get over it.”

Buffy let out a small sigh, then turned back to Bastian, handing the sword back to him. “Thanks, it’s a great weapon. Not sure if it’s ‘me’ though.” Bastian smiled and took the weapon from Buffy.

As he sheathed his weapon, Buffy turned and started looking around. “We should get Spike out of here before the sun gets any higher, someone help me find a blanket or something for him.”

The dust of battle settling, the survivors gathered up their fallen comrades and weapons, heading for the exit, Spike draped in a large blanket apparently left over from the days when Angel had occupied the mansion.


.
Elsewhere

Amy and Willow appeared in a heap on the floor in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of Sunnydale. Willow stood and started pacing, her brain already working on a plan of revenge for the Slayer. She turned to Amy. “Can you bring back the others? We will keep on attacking her, time is on our side.” She smiled at her own small joke.

Wearily Amy stood. “I’ll try, but I’m exhausted. The totem drained me.”

“Try.” Willow said, turning away.

Amy sat cross-legged on the ground and began to once again recite the temporal fold spell. The air thickened and Willow turned, ready to greet the first of her returning warriors. She stopped at the sight before her. Amy was surrounded by a swirling red mist. With a roar the mist rushed inwards and entered Amy. Her eyes shot open, glowing red.

“You dare use that spell again, after you have failed so miserably in your duties to me?” A deep voice roared from Amy’s mouth, a voice that almost physically oozed pain and suffering. “No more! Never again will you use this sorcery!”

The mist poured from Amy and she collapsed. The mist coalesced into a huge spectral demon that opened it’s arms wide, roared and swept towards Willow. Then it vanished and The Master stood before her.

“You have failed me, child. You held such promise, but now the Slayer is stronger from her experiences and has a new ally. You have failed me.” Her face contorted in anger, Willow stepped forward and swung a fist at The Master. She stumbled forward, caught off balance as her fist passed through his face like it wasn’t there. Recovering, she whirled on him.

“What are you?”

The Master laughed, the sound full of scorn. “Foolish child, have you not figured it out yet? I am The First. It is a shame you failed in your task, had you succeeded, my birth into and domination of this world would have been assured.”

Hatred suffusing her features, Willow stared at the creature that had revealed itself to her. She had heard of the First from the Master in her home. “You used me!” she bellowed. The First laughed.

“Of course I used you, had I told you the truth, that you were merely a pawn in my scheme, you would never have aided me.”
                                       
“I will see you destroyed for this.” Willow said, her voice low and menacing. Again the First laughed at her.

“I am eternal, young one. Without me, there would be no vampires or demons. I will exist long after the Slayer has disposed of you.”

Willow shook her head, “I swear, I will see you destroyed for what you have done to me.” Her voice was raising, the rage and anger rolling off her in almost palpable waves. “No one plays me!” The First shook it’s head and vanished, it’s laughter audible even after it had gone. Willow moved over to Amy and pulled her upright. The younger vampire opened her eyes and looked in Willow’s, fear filling her eyes.

“It’s done something, I can’t use the temporal fold spell. It’s blocked it somehow. The others are gone.”                   

Willow sighed. “I will see this Slayer dead and the First destroyed if it is the last thing I do.”

Midday

With Spike settled in the basement of the building, the others were gathered in Xanders’ apartment, going over recent events when Willow, stood by the kitchenette table, staggered slightly. Immediately, Kennedy was by her side, with the others gathering around.

“Is everything okay?” Kennedy asked, holding Willow steady by the elbow. Willow nodded. “I-it was a message, from the First. It says we may have stopped my double but we will not stop it. There was something else, I felt something. I think it’s done something, something to Amy.”

“It told you all that?” Dawn asked.

Willow shook her head, “No, the last part I more sensed. I think it did it at the same time it was talking to me. I think it’s stopped Amy from doing anymore temporal folds.”
                   
“Are you sure?” Bastian asked.

Willow sighed. “Not one hundred percent, but I’m pretty certain.”

“That’s good enough for me.” Buffy said. There were nods of agreement around the room. Bastian laid a hand on Willow’s other arm.

“You sure you’re okay?” Willow nodded in reply. Bastian turned and walked over to the couch, sitting back down next to Xander, tentatively laying a hand on the other man’s thigh. Almost imperceptibly, Xander tensed slightly. Gently Bastian began to remove his hand when another hand stopped his and Xander seemed to relax against his touch. Slowly he looked down and saw Xander’s hand lying on top of his own. A soft smile slid over his face. 

Willow looked to Buffy, tilting her head slightly in the direction of the two boys. Buffy nodded almost imperceptibly and stood up, picking up the three keys that Spike had ‘liberated’ from Willows’ doppelganger. She tossed them to Willow.

“Hey, Will, any of these the key we need to lock up my house?”

Grabbing the keys from the air, Willow turned each over in her palm, before settling on one and discarding the others, placing them back on the coffee table. She held out the chosen key to Buffy, who took it and turned it over in her hand, examining it closely.

“You sure, Will?”

“Positive.” Willow answered, nodding her head for emphasis.

“Okay,” Buffy began, pocketing the key, “I spoke to the police and they say we’re okay to return home, so if you guys will help me sort out the weapons.” She pointed to a number of the potentials. “You guys head on down to the basement with Willow. Me and the others will sort out the stuff we put in the bedroom.” Quietly, she and Willow shepherded the girls away, leaving Bastian and Xander alone.

Bastian and Xander sat, quietly, for what felt like an eternity, Bastians’ hand on Xanders’ thigh and Xanders’ hand resting atop it. After what seemed like an eternity of comfort, simply sitting there in each others presence, Bastian sighed and stood up, turning to face Xander.

“Are you sure of this?” he asked, worry on his face, “I don’t want you to feel like I’m rushing you or anything. I don’t want to scare you off or...” He faltered as Xander stood up and placed his hands on Bastians’ shoulders.

“Look, I’d be lying if I said this was easy for me. It’s strange. It’s new. It’s kinda frightening. But I do know that I’ve faced countless demons, vampires, even best friends intent on killing me and destroying the world. There’s no way a little bit of fear of the unknown is going to stop me. Besides, you know how the saying goes,” he smiled “I’m a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread.”

Bastian smiled, relief flooding his features, when a scowl spread over them. “Wait a minute, I can’t believe you’re using a line from Captain Kirk to seduce me. That’s just.....weird!” The scowl became a grin and he punched Xander lightly on the arm.

“Ow!” Xander said, holding his arm in mock pain, “Bully! Wait til I tell Buff you hurt me! She’s so gonna kick your ass.”

Bastian held up his hands, “Wait, wait, what if I...” he paused for a moment, uncertain, then continued, “What if I kiss it better?”

Xander smiled and took step forward, smiling. “I think I might reconsider the tattling.” Their lips met in a soft kiss. Bastian pulled back, looking into Xanders’ eyes, but for only a moment as Xander returned the kiss, deep and passionately this time. Bastian stepped closer, pressing their bodies together and wrapping his arms around the young man who had captured him so totally, as no demon ever had or could hope. Already, he could feel his heat rising and, much to his surprise and pleasure, an answering rise in...

“XANDER!”

The two boys almost fell down, so quickly did they jump away from each other. Xander looked to the doorway, Anya standing there.

“Anya...” He started.

“Don’t bother!” She said, turning and fleeing from the building, tears streaming down her face.

“Oh man.” Xander muttered. He stood in the doorway, wondering what to do, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Come on, let’s go find her. There’s a lot to talk about, we should have spoken to her sooner.”

Xander sighed. “I know Bastian, I know.”


Chapter 14

Xander sat in the car, not speaking, his mind consumed by the dark thoughts flitting through it. How could he have let things with Anya reach this point? He should have talked to her long ago, but he’d always found an excuse, some reason to delay. Well, it had certainly turned round and bit him on the ass, hadn’t it? His thoughts were cut off as Bastian’s voice filtered through the veil of darkness that had been consuming his mind.

“You okay? You seem very distracted.”

“Yeah, I guess.” He took a breath, letting it out in a deep, rattling sigh. “I just can’t believe I let it reach this point. I should have talked to her long ago.”

Bastian glanced over at him, before returning his gaze to the road. “Yes, you should have.”

“Gee, thanks there Mr Moral Support.”
“You should have, you know it, I know it, she know’s it. Hell, everyone knows it. But you didn’t. You’re human. We’re all human. We all make mistakes. Maybe I should have spoken to Anya before whatever this is between us started. I knew you two had been involved, but I never thought of talking to her.”

“Why should you?” Xander asked.

“Because I should have realised she might still care for you. So you see, we’ve all made mistakes. So lets just find her and try and talk to her. After all, she’s human, so she’ll understand about mistakes. She’ll be hurt, but she’ll heal in time.” He stopped talking as Xander drew his breath in thought.

“She’s human.” He whispered, “But she used to be a demon. A demon that granted vengeance wishes. And she wasn’t the only one. If her grief has overtaken her feelings now, she’ll be a prime target for one of the others, they prey on people who are distraught. We have to find her and fast”

Still driving, the younger man turned his head to look at Xander. “How? I get the feeling this has gone from a we-need-to-talk thing to a life or death thing.”

“It might have. Whatever she wishes the demon will grant. I could have no head. Or two heads. Or be turned into a giant worm. Anything.” He stopped talking, his face wrinkling slightly in thought. “Willow! I’ll ask her to do a locator spell!”

He pulled his cell phone out and pressed two, quick dialling Willow’s number. After what seemed like an eternity, a breathless Willow answered. “What’s up?”

“Will, can you find Anya for us? Do that locator spell again”

“Sure, why?” Briefly he explained what had happened, of Anya walking in on him and Bastian. “Oh Xander.” She said when he had finished, her voice soft. “Make your way back to Buffy’s place, we just got here, I’ll get the spell ready.”  With that she hung up the phone.


He turned to Bastian, “Back to Buffys’ place, Willow is going to get the spell ready there.” The car slowed and Bastian turned them around. Xander merely sat and watched as the bare muscles of his arms flexed slightly. He couldn’t understand this, he was smitten! His gaze followed the arm upwards until it disappeared under a mane of hair. His eyes continued their journey, taking in the small scar barely visible on the right side of Bastians’ jaw before moving on. He was interrupted on his adventure by Bastians’ voice, soft and quiet in the car, silent aside from the sound of the engine and the distant, gentle rumble of wheels on tarmac.

“Enjoying yourself?”

Xander laughed once, an almost bitter sound. “Perversely, yes. I don’t know what it is about you Bastian. I’ve never had these feelings. And, the moment I do, we’re all in danger ‘cause we live in the one place where vengeance wishes, demons and vampires are common place.” He sighed before continuing with a hint of amusement in his voice. “Maybe I should have gone to Eunuch school, it’d make life so much easier.”

Bastian chuckled softly. “That it would, but it would be so much duller. I think a little bit of uncertainty and danger adds an element of excitement.”
“You do? Well, I don’t care, there are to be no weapons in the bedroo...”

He broke off, stunned by how comfortable Bastian made him. They’d only known each other a few days and already he could see them sharing a bedroom, a life. It was kind of frightening in a way, especially since they had done nothing more than kiss.
“What’s wrong?” Bastian asked, placing a comforting hand on the older man’s leg.

“Nothing. Just stunned is all.”

“Stunned? Stunned in a good way?”

Xander smiled. “Absolutely.”

They spent the rest of the journey in comfortable silence, neither saying a word but neither feeling the need to.

Ten minutes later, they were gathered in the Summers living room, Willow perched on the sofa. A crude map of Sunnydale was spread out on the floor in the centre of the room
                       


A short while later, the spell complete, they sat around the living room. Willow and Kennedy were curled together on one end of the couch, Buffy and Dawn sat next to them. Xander was sat in an armchair and Bastian stood behind him, one hand resting near Xanders’ shoulder, not quite touching, but close enough for Xander to feel his presence. Giles came down the stairs.

“The girls are kind of curious as to what’s happening. I told them not to worry about it. There was some protest about one of them being down here when the rest had to stay out of it, but I set Andrew on them. I mean, I asked Andrew to entertain them.” He grimaced at his Freudian slip.

Buffy looked over at him, grinning. “Giles, I asked you to keep them busy, not torture them. Okay Will, you ready?”

Willow looked up from the petting Kennedy and herself had been involved in, “Sorry Buffy, what’s up?”

Buffy had to smile at the redheads distraction, “I dunno Will, throw a pretty girl at you and you lose all ability to concentrate and form conscious thought. You’re becoming shallow in your old age.”

The red haired Wiccan blushed slightly, “I am not. And darn, I thought I’d got over the blushing thing.” Affectionately, Kennedy ran a hand through her girlfriends hair,

“I dunno, I think it makes you look cute....er.” She smiled at the redhead in her arms, then turned her head to Buffy, “You think I’m pretty?”

Buffy sat stunned, jaw working up and down for a moment. “I, uh, I um. Say, The Magic Box Will, what’s the what with that?”
Willow laughed gently as the blonde slayer blushed. “It’s okay Buff, I trust you. Yeah, The Magic Box. It kind of makes sense, it was the one place I guess, aside from Xanders’ apartment, where she was happy. It makes sense that she’d go there for comfort.”

“Yep.” Buffy replied, “Kind of obvious really. Okay, lets go.”

Bastian leant forwards and gently rubbed Xander’s shoulders. “You know, we’ll save her. Don’t worry.”

Xander sighed, “I know Bastian, I just can’t help but feel guilty about all this. If only I’d handled it better, done something different.”

Buffy wandered over from the sofa, kneeling down in front of Xander and placing her hands on his knees, looking up into his face. “Hey, don’t worry Xander, we’ll get her out before anything happens, I promise.”

“I hope so Buffy, I’ve caused her enough pain already, I don’t want to be the cause of even more.”
“You won’t be, I promise.” She turned to look back at Willow, “You two ready?”

Willow and Kennedy stood, their hands intertwined. Willow nodded, almost imperceptibly.

As the couple stepped forward, Dawn got up from the couch, picking up one of the swords from the earlier battle. Her face firm, she looked to the others. “Lets go then.”

Buffy stepped up to Dawn, placing a hand on the sword. “You are not going in there.”

Scowling, she pulled away from Buffy, “You kept me out of the way once today Buffy. Not again. Anya’s my friend too, I have to try and save her. Besides which, the only way you’ll stop me is by locking me up and we haven’t got time.”

Buffy sighed, “Okay okay, you win. Everyone grab a weapon and lets get started.”



With a thunderous crash the door of the Magic Box came loose from it’s hinges, shattering into dozens of pieces. Buffy stepped through the doorway, avoiding the larger pieces of debris from both the door and the battle between Willow and Giles that had occurred there the year before. The others followed her in, Xander rushing forward, stopping as he felt Buffys’ hand on his chest. Anya stood in the centre of the ruined shop, leaning against what was left of the counter. In front of her stood the demon D’Hoffryn. As one, their heads turned towards the sound of the new arrivals.

“Anya, stop! Please!” Xander shouted, Buffys’ hand still on his chest. “Don’t wish for anything, we can work this out!”
D’Hoffryn glared at the intruders, the anger on his features evident. “Leave now Slayer! This is non of your concern!”

Buffy took a step forward, hefting the battleaxe in her hand. “Not gonna happen. We came for our friend and we’re not leaving without her. You can let her go or we’ll take her, your choice.”

Through it all, Anya remained silent, not even looking at the group. D’Hoffryn stepped around her, approaching the group. “You dare to interfere? It is because of you she is here!”

“And we’re going to make amends for that.” Bastian said, stepping forward, facing down the towering demon, his sword hanging at his side in a loose yet firm grip. D’Hoffryn glared at him.

“Enough! Leave now or I will kill you all myself!”

“I doubt it.” Dawn added, taking a step forward also. “We don’t abandon friends, no matter what we’ve done, no matter how mad or upset they are.”

D’Hoffryn sighed and when he spoke, the anger was gone, replaced with boredom. “Very well, have it your way.” He raised a hand and a bolt of energy arced towards the group. Bastian lunged forwards, swinging his sword into the path of the blast. Energy ricocheted off in all directions. Dawn let out a cry and held a hand up to her scorched hair.

“Dammit, I’ll have to get a hair cut now!”

Buffy charged forwards, ducking under a blow from D’Hoffryn and swung her axe in for a swipe at his stomach. At the last moment, a hand came down and deflected the blow. He grunted in pain as he was struck from behind by Xander. He spun around and knocked Buffy to the ground before grabbing Xander by the neck and lifting him from the ground.

“It’s because of you she is here! Leave her to her decisions, you are no longer in her life!” Slowly Xander was turning blue as his fingers scrabbled at the hands holding him.

“Put him down and I’ll kill you quick.”

The demon slackened his grip on Xander a little and turned his head in the direction of the voice. The tip of a sword was held motionless, mere inches from the Demon lords face. He smiled, a thin menacing smile. He chuckled softly. “Well, if it isn’t the other man.” He looked up at Xander, “No wonder she’s in so much grief. Every demon in my menagerie heard her cries of anguish.”

Bastian took another step forward, the tip of his sword pressing into the demons skin. He spotted Buffy out of the corner of his eyes as she slowly circled behind D’Hoffryn. He put a little more pressure on his sword, a tiny rivulet of purple blood tracing a path down his opponents cheek. “I said put him down. Now.”

D’Hoffryn chuckled. “You really think that little toothpick will kill me? Slayer, move another inch and I break the boys neck.” Behind him, Buffy came to a halt, surprise on her features. “How did I know?” D’Hoffryn asked their question for them. “I am a Demon Lord, do you honestly think I am unaware of everything which happens around me? Well, enough chit chat, on with the killing.”

“D’Hoffryn, no.”
Slowly the demon turned to face the voice. “Anyanka, I’m disappointed, I honestly thought your grief would open your eyes to the pleasure and peace a simple wish would grant you.” He sighed, “Never mind, I’m tired of you changing your mind all the time, I’ll kill you as well.”
“N-no.” Xander managed to choke out.

D’Hoffryn looked at him. “You wish to save her now, after all the pain and suffering you have caused her, to let her live in this agony.” The demon smiled, “I think you might make a better demon than Anyank...” his sentence was cut off as Buffy lunged forwards, swinging the axe and taking his head clean off. Purple blood spurted from the stump that was his neck, coating Xander. He fell to the ground with the corpse, it’s hand still wrapped around his throat.

Bastian bent down and prised the fingers from around Xander’s neck. “That was bloody stupid, why did you do that? You know he could take you apart.”

Xander looked into his eyes, “I had to, you know that. After all I did, I had to give something back. To save her.” Bastian nodded, he understood.

Anya knelt beside him. “You came here to save me?” Xander only nodded. “Why? After all you’ve done, why?”

Xander sat up, aided by Bastian, catching his breath, “I had to Anya, after all I did to you. How could I not? I did some terrible things and I know sorry isn’t enough, but I had to do something. I couldn’t just let you go back to how you were, that would have been worse than if I’d married you. Things would have gone wrong and it would have been so, so much worse.” A tear rolled down Anya’s cheek as he continued. “But that is all gone and I can’t let you suffer because of me anymore.”

“I’ll always suffer Xander.”

He sighed gently, “I know and for that I truly, truly am sorry. But this pain, this horrible thing, is so much less than it could, would have been. I’m sorry.”

“So am I.” Anya looked to Bastian. “I should have stayed clear away from Xander, but it...” He trailed off before trying again, “We just clicked. I’m so sorry that I - we - hurt you, we didn’t mean to. I don’t really know what else I can say to you, except the pain will heal, you just have to give it time. Embracing the darkness never helps, as people here can attest to.” Behind him, Willow nodded in agreement.
                                   
The tears flowed freely down Anya’s face now, “It just hurts so much. After everything that happened and then we were getting along again and then I saw you two.”

“I know Anya, I’ve been there in the past. You just have to let it flow over you. If you give in, it’ll consume you. And you’re too sweet a person for that to happen to you.” Xander said as Bastian helped him to his feet. He reached down to help Anya stand, “Lets get out of here, it’s not really the place for chatting.”

Anya nodded, wiping the tears from her face. Silently Anya turned and left. Xander started after her, but stopped as he felt a hand on his arm. “Let her go.” Willow said, “She’s gonna need time to adjust.”               


Chapter 15

Two days had passed since the incident with D’Hoffryn and there had been little contact with Anya. Willow had seen her on the street that morning, she wasn’t exactly a ball of sunshine, but she appeared to be dealing, her grief an almost physical entity, but she was no longer vulnerable enough to be susceptible to one of D’Hoffryns’ followers.

“It’ll just take time, like you said.” Willow told Xander later that day as they sat in the living room. “Don’t let it eat you up. She’ll be fine.”

“I know Will.  I just feel so guilty.” Bastian came up behind Xander and lay his hands on Xanders’ shoulder. Gently he started rubbing them. Xander let out a soft sigh. “Thanks.”

Bastian smiled, “No trouble. I know it’s hard, but Anya’s dealing, now it’s your turn.”

“Yeah, I know, deal with it. It’s harder than it sounds, you know.”

“I know. And you know I do.” Bastian said softly. They were interrupted by the sharp ringing of the phone.

“I’ll get it.” Willow said, hopping up from her chair. Idly she grabbed the phone, “Hello, Summer’s residence.” She listened quietly as whoever was on the other end of the phone talked to her, “Yeah, he’s here.” Cupping her hand over the receiver she looked over, “Bastian, it’s for you. Someone from the UK. Called himself DC Llyod.”

Bastian pulled away from Xander and headed over to Willow to get the phone, talking as he went, “He’s the detective investigating Liz’s case.” Willow mouthed an ‘Oh’ and handed the receiver over. “Hello, DC Lloyd? Yes, yes. Staying with friends. Is there any news?” Bastian listened intently to the man over the phone. “That’s good news.” he said slowly. “Thank you, I’ll be there.”

As he turned back to Willow and Xander, Buffy came down the stairs, “Say, who was on the phone?”

“The police officer investigating my sisters’ case. They’ve arrested someone. The pre-trial hearing is being held in four days. I need to arrange a flight home right away.”

“Oh, that’s good.” Willow said smiling, then paused before continuing in a quick ramble. “Not that you’re going home of course, that they caught them.”

“Relax Will,” Buffy said, “we get you.” She turned to Bastian, “She’s right though, it is good news.”

Bastian nodded, his face a confusion of emotions. Anger, relief and sadness all battled for supremacy. “Willow, can I use your computer - and you?” He asked, turning to face her, “It’ll probably be easier and quicker to book online.”

Willow smiled and walked into the dining room, “Sure, lets get you flying home, see the scum in chains.”


A few hours later Bastian came back from his rented flat, a suitcase in one hand and a travel bag slung over one shouder. He was also carrying a long brown package marked ‘fragile - handle with care’.
“My sword. Packaging it up like that avoids too many questions. I would pack it in my suitcase, but it’s too big.” He behind the couch and tentatively placed a hand on the other mans shoulder. Xander was becoming more comfortable with his touching, but he knew it was hard on him, probably confusing too. So he had taken to being very careful, almost delicate with his caresses, so as not to scare him.

“Ah.” Buffy said, nodding her head in understanding. “Say, Willow, Dawn, Kennedy. Lets go sit in the sun.”

“But I don’t feel like sitting outside.” Dawn protested, but Willow grabbed an arm and dragged her in the direction of the backyard.

“Come on Dawny.”

Bastian had to laugh, “Far from subtle, aren’t they?”

Xander smiled, “Somehow, I doubt the word subtle is in Buffy’s vocabulary.” He paused and laughed softly “And Dawn’s really taking after her, no matter how much they both protest. But hey, quiet time now, no matter the lack of subtlety.” He smiled warmly and patted the couch beside him. “Take a seat.”

Bastian shook his head, “Nah, I’d never get it on the plane.”

Xander had to laugh at the terrible joke, even as Bastian sat down next to him. He gently punched the Slayer on the arm, “That was, most possibly, one of the worst jokes I’ve ever heard. And believe me, I’ve heard a few. Hell, I’ve probably told most of them.”

Beside him, Bastian grinned, “Somehow I find that very hard to believe.”

“Believe what you want, it’s the truth.”

“And they say the truth is Elvis is dead. I don’t buy that either.” Bastian said, shaking his head.

Xander groaned, holding up his hands in submission, “I surrender, I surrender. You are the king of bad jokes. I bow in awe and respectful worship. Now how do I get you to stop before you send me insane.”

Bastian grinned, “Ah, but you can’t, I have Slayer stamina, I can keep this up long after you’ve slipped into a coma. The joys of....” His words were cut off as Xander leaned in and kissed him, long and passionately, their lips seeming to melt together. After what seemed like an eternity of pleasure, they parted, each taking deep breaths. “Well, okay, there is one way of shutting me up after all.” He smiled and leaned back in, kissing Xander again, even more passionately this time. Long and hard they kissed, trying their best to climb inside one another, to be one in the short time they had left.

Finally they pulled apart again and Xander looked deep into Bastians’ eyes. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

Bastian took a deep breath and let it out in a rattling sigh, “You know, part of me, a huge part in fact, wants nothing more than to stay here and sweep you off your feet.”
“I think you already have.” Xander butted in, causing Bastian to grin.

“But I have to go.” he continued, “This, this bastard killed Liz and I will see their punishment through to the end. It’s the least I can do for her. I might not have been able to save her, but I can watch what happens and tell her.”
Xander looked at him, sympathy in his eyes, “I know Bastian, I do. I just, this is gonna sound selfish, but I’ve only just found you, hell myself as well and now you have to leave. Seems the hellmouth dating service’s track record of not one happily ever after is in no danger of been challenged just yet.”

Bastian brushed a hand softly over Xander’s cheek, caressing every inch of it, as if he were trying to memorize exactly how it felt. “Hey, who said anything about this being over. I will see you again, I just have to see this through. Besides,” he added, smiling, “I owe you those arguing with girls lessons. Can’t go back on my word, can I?”

Xander smiled, “What time’s your flight leave?”

“Eight thirty am. Why?”

“Just wanted to know.” Xander said, leaning in and kissing him again, then pulling back, “The basement’s more private, you know.”