Bring Forth The Night
The Finale
The phone woke him. Angelus blinked sleepily and waited for it to stop. Beside him, Buffy lay cold and still. It was daylight, midmorning if he was any judge of time, and he was.
“I’ll be back, lover.” He kissed her lips softly and gently, then slid out of bed.
Tucking the covers back around her, he padded downstairs. The light on the answering machine was blinking. He tapped the button.
“Buffy? Willow?” Giles’ voice came from the small speaker. “I suppose you’re still sleeping. I’m going to shower and change, and then I’ll be over. If you need me to pick up anything on my way over, just call.” There was a tinny laugh. “And I won’t forget your mocha lattes.”
There was a click and then the machine dutifully reported the time the call had been recorded.
“Let’s see… the average English gentleman’s shower… boring clothes… driving the speed limit… “ Angelus rubbed a hand over his chest and belly. “Plenty of time to freshen up. Want to look my best.”
Giles knocked on the door. He waited several moments before knocking again. Thinking the girls must still be asleep, he let himself in. Angel’s books needed to be sorted, and he could get started on that.
Closing the door, he took the hot coffees and set them on the dining room table. He shrugged out of his coat and hung it on the back of one of the chairs.
The boxes on the table were filled with books, and Giles reached for the closest one. He hesitated. There was a feeling – a feeling that something malevolent and evil was watching him. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. There’s something wrong.
A strong arm wrapped around his throat, cutting off his air. Before he could react, he found himself trapped between the table and a strong body. Cool breath whispered along his cheek.
“Relax, Ripper, now you’ll know how your gypsy witch felt when she died.”
Angelus? He had to warn Buffy. “Buffy!”
Angelus laughed as Giles struggled futilely. The Watcher couldn’t take him on any given night, but with Buffy's blood fueling him, it came down to not in any lifetime. “Jenny was terrified – begged for her life – then snap!”
He let Giles’ body fall at his feet. “Actually, Giles, old boy, I lied.” Angelus shrugged. “Oh, well, too late now. Maybe you’ll meet up in hell and you can talk about it.”
Lifting the dead body, he carried it to the basement. He opened the door, tossing Giles’ body down the stairs. “Wouldn’t want a peeping Tom to spoil my fun.”
Back upstairs, Angelus picked up the things he’d prepared earlier and left in the bathroom, before Giles had dropped by to play.
Sitting on the bed next to Buffy, he took a washcloth and dipped it into the still warm water. “Nothing to worry about, baby. The bad man is dead now. He’ll never hurt you.”
After Angelus had washed the traces of dried blood from her throat and mouth, he rinsed the cloth out and gently cleansed the remains of their lovemaking from her inner thighs. He dropped a kiss on the damp golden curls.
He patted her body dry, tsking at the marks on her wrists. Despite the padding inside the cuffs, Buffy had still managed to hurt herself. “We’ll be getting our money back if I have to kill somebody.”
Kissing her bruised wrists, he laid them at her sides again and pulled the covers back up over her. Angelus picked up a notepad from her dresser, sat down, and began sketching.
A soft whimper. Angelus looked up from his work. Another whimper, louder. Tossing the notepad on the dresser, he went to her. He sat on the bed, smiling as her body jerked and she sucked in a sudden spasmodic breath. Her face changed, morphing into that of a vampire.
Golden eyes opened and blinked. She struggled to sit up. “Angel?”
“Right here, baby.” He helped her to sit up.
“Where am I?” Buffy sat up and looked around the room. “Everything looks so strange, so bright.”
“You’ll get used to it. Everything will be so much better.” He had only turned on the one small lamp, knowing that her eyes would be sensitive. Gently Angelus helped her to her feet, steadying her as she wobbled.
“Angel?” She clung to him, trying to sort out all the strange sights and sounds and scents. Buffy snuffled at his chest and throat. “You smell good – better than before.”
“So do you, baby.” He kissed her forehead. Her scent was basically the same, but now there was a sharper tang to it.
“Wait.” She lifted her head, sniffing delicately at the air. “What is that? It smells so good. So sweet…”
“That’s fear.” He laughed softly. Willow had been awake for some time. He’d checked her bonds occasionally to make sure she wouldn’t get loose, but he wanted her awake. And frightened. “Actually, baby, that’s dinner.”
“Dinner?” Buffy clutched at him. “I – I hurt, Angel. Inside – ”
“I know, baby.” Angelus guided her toward the door. “Come on, let’s go show Willow the new you. She’s just going to be so – excited.”
Her first steps were unsteady, and she hung onto him for support. Out in the hall, the scent sharpened, pulling her down the hall. The pain in her guts responded, sharpening and making her growl.
Opening the door, Angelus took her hand and led her inside. “Here you go, baby. Willow’s been nice enough to volunteer from our studio audience to be your first meal.”
Buffy stared curiously at Willow for a moment. She had memories of this stranger having been her friend. There was a spicy scent curling up to tease her. Willow, who had torn her from heaven. There was a pounding sound and a rushing that whispered to her. Willow, who had restored Angel’s soul and forced them apart. A growl rumbled from her.
Willow had looked up when the door opened, expecting to see Angelus again. He didn’t need to worry about her getting away; the knots in the scarves had tightened so much that she could no longer feel her fingers.
It took her a moment to recognize that the vamp next to him was Buffy. Oh my God! Until this moment – this second – she had held out hope that Buffy would somehow escape and they would be able to put Angel’s soul back once again.
The pain in Buffy’s guts twisted tighter as the sweetness of the scent filled her senses. She threw herself on Willow, her fangs tearing into the soft throat. Blood sprayed her face, making her blink as it got in her eyes, and Buffy lapped at the spurting artery. It was good – hot and sweet – she growled and shook her head, tearing Willow’s throat open wider.
Angelus felt tears come to his eyes at Buffy's ferocity. He had always believed she was more of a predator than she wanted to admit. “My baby, I’m so proud.”
The blood slowed its crazy spurts, and Buffy had to suckle at the wound to get the rest. It stopped completely after a moment. She whimpered. Her belly still ached with hunger.
A good deal of Willow’s blood had been wasted. The mattress and blankets were soaked with it. Buffy threw the lifeless body onto the floor with a growl. Jumping up, she went to Angelus. “More – I need more.”
“I know, baby.” He kissed her, licking Willow’s blood from her lips. “Hmm... no cinnamon? I’m disappointed.”
His blood was good. She remembered drinking the strong magical taste of him. “Hungry.” She nipped at his throat.
Laughing, he pushed her back. “You can’t eat me – well, you can – but ah – “ He kissed the pouty lips. “Let’s go get you someone young and tender to eat.”
“Let’s go kill Dawn!” She rubbed herself against him. “She’s young and tender.”
“And also dead.” Lifting her up, Angelus carried her to the bathroom.
“Oh.” She looked downcast for a moment. “What about Xander? Or Anya?”
"Both dead." He set her on her feet next to the sink.
"Ooh, you!" She tapped his chest. "Giles! That's who I need to kill! He didn't like us being together."
"Giles is dead, too. Tossed him in the basement." Taking a towel off the rack he tossed it into the sink before turning on the hot water. "You're a mess, let's get you cleaned up."
“Did you leave anyone for me to kill?” Pouting, she watched the water turn pink as he washed off her arms and rinsed the towel out. “This isn’t any fun.”
“Of course I left people for you to kill. Aren’t you my girl?” He chucked her gently under the chin, making her smile. “My vicious little mate.”
“Always.” She grinned impishly. “Like who?”
“Wes.” Angelus wiped the splatters of blood from her breasts, pinching a pink nipple gently as he did so.
“Hmmph.” Buffy pushed his hand away.
“Faith.”
“Hmm… might be fun.”
Angelus leaned in and stole a kiss. “Cordelia.”
“Cordy?” Her eyes took on a decidedly amber hue. “She tried to take you from me. I’m going to rip her heart out and eat it – do we eat hearts?”
“We can. And you’re getting me excited talking like that.” He laughed.
“My eyelashes are sticky.” Buffy closed her eyes as he washed her face and throat. “It tasted good. Can we get more?”
“In a minute, baby.” Chuckling at her eagerness, Angelus licked at a spot of blood on her collarbone that he’d missed. “You’ve got to be presentable to go out to meet the world.”
He picked Buffy up once again and carried her to her bedroom. Snuggling into his arms, she nibbled at his ear. “Are you going to carry me everywhere?”
“I may.” He set her on her feet again and patted her bare ass. “Get dressed, lover.”
While she dressed, Angelus lounged on the bed and watched. Buffy dressing wasn’t as nice as Buffy undressing, but it had its moments.
“We need to get Willow’s spell book.” Buffy pulled a red shirt on, marveling at the feel of it against her skin. “This is soft.”
“Figured she wrote the damn spell down.” He told her. “I know Wes did. We’ll get them – burn them – and we’re free.”
“Free.” She climbed onto the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him so fiercely her fangs cut his lips. “My Angel.”
Licking at the blood, he smiled indulgently. It took time to learn how to handle your fangs properly. “Take anything you want to keep – we’re not coming back.”
“There’s not much here I’d want to come back for.” Buffy pulled the black leather coat of Angel’s from the closet. Slipping it on, she sighed at the feel of the leather on her arms. She picked up Mr. Gordo and stuffed him in one pocket. Rummaging through the jewelry box, she found the silver cross he’d given her. It burned her fingers, and she dropped it with a startled yelp.
Angelus scooped it up carefully by the chain. “You can’t wear this anymore.”
“But you gave it to me. When we first met.” Her bottom lip quivered. “I want it.”
“And it’ll burn a hole right through you.” He held it up in front of her and she blinked and backed away. If not for his age, the small cross would have repelled him as well.
“I’m taking it.” She opened up a small box, dumped out the earrings inside, and held it up so Angelus could put the necklace into it. “And my diary. And your journal. Oh and these pictures you drew! While I was sleeping, how sweet.”
Buffy picked up the blue journal, and Angelus gritted his teeth. Even when she tucked his new drawings into it, the anger didn’t abate.
“You were bad, drawing naked pictures of me. Promise you’ll do more?” Taking the diary from the bedside table, she laughed softly. “I was reading it earlier. Know what I read?”
“Something that made you cry.”
“Then – not now.” She took his hand and pulled him to the window. “Remember our first kiss? Right here.” She lifted her lips to his.
Putting his hands on her shoulders, he held her back. “That wasn’t me! That was him!” Would that weak, pathetic, rat eating loser always come between him and his mate?
“But – it’s you, too.” Buffy was confused. She held the diary up. “But I remember – I remember everything.”
“Buffy, Angel is gone!” He slapped the diary out of her hands. “Gone!”
Backing away, she picked it up and hugged it to her chest. “I was happy. Before we knew about the curse. Before he left me. Then I had him back – but only so he’d lose his soul – then you were with me – then you were gone, too.”
“Baby…” Her eyes had faded to a dull yellow and filled with tears. I’m jealous of myself. Buffy loved him, not as much as she loved Angel. Maybe. But he could work on that.
“You have on his ring.” She pointed at the Claddagh on his right hand. “And the heart is pointed the right way. Why?”
“I just – it’s – “ Why had he kept the damn thing? Because he remembered giving the ring to her, even if Angel had been the one to give it to her. “Buffy – “
“I have the memories, and you have them too.” Reaching up, she curled her fingers into his shirt. “Why can’t you share them with me?”
Why not? “Just so long as you understand I’m not him. I’m not Angel.”
“I know.” She stood on tiptoe, leaning against his chest to kiss him. More gently this time. His hands rubbed up and down her back as his tongue slid into her mouth to play with hers. A soft purr rumbled from her, and Buffy's eyes popped open. “Was that me?”
Angelus laughed and tangled his fingers into her hair, hauling her up for a passionate kiss. “Now you can purr for me, lover.”
“I know you’re not Angel.” She stroked her hands over his broad chest. “Angel wouldn’t have let me kill Willow.”
“He wouldn’t have killed Spike and Willy either. Well, not Willy.”
“Did you leave anyone for me?” She looked around, saw nothing else she wanted, and walked out of the room, beckoning for Angelus to follow.
“We still have friends in LA, remember?” He followed her into the hallway. And somewhere out there, GI Finn waited his turn to be prey.
“Cordy’s mine.” Stopping at Willow’s door, Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and plastered herself to his body. “The bitch thought she could steal my Angel.” She nipped at his lips. “My Angel.”
“Never. Not even Soul Boy believed that.” Okay so he believed it enough to try and fuck his soul loose – but that’s a moot point anyway. Unless I can use it to make Cordy suffer…
Rummaging through Willow’s dresser, Buffy found the spell book. “Bingo. And ooh, it tingles!”
“Magic. Did Giles have a copy?” He tucked the book into his inside jacket pocket. Later they’d have a proper book burning ceremony that would make Stalin proud.
“Nope, he said the Council would steal it and stuff souls in vampires all ‘willy nilly’. Whatever that means.”
Going downstairs, Angelus picked up his car keys from the table. “You ready, baby?”
“I’ve got everything I need.” She rubbed her stomach. “I’m still hungry.”
“We’ll get you a nice warm – wait – “ He turned. “You need to drop the game face.”
“Am I – am I ugly now?” Buffy tried to look at her face in the glass set in the door. There was no reflection. She ran her hands over her face, feeling the ridges.
“Buffy, baby, you’re not ugly.” If anything, Angelus found Buffy more beautiful than before. “We just need to look normal.”
“Are you sure?”
“Buffy – “ He let his true face show. “Do you think I’m ugly?”
“Oh – oh – “ She reached up to touch his face. To her newly heightened senses, Angelus was even more beautiful than before. “Oh – Angel – my beautiful Angel – “
Pulling her to him, he kissed her, careful of her sharp fangs. Later they’d have time to play those games.
It took a few tries before Buffy could keep her game face tucked away. Angelus rewarded her with a kiss and a pat on the ass.
“How the hell am I going to put on my makeup?” She pouted as they went outside. “This no reflection stuff sucks.”
“You’ll get the hang of it.” Chuckling, he remembered his own fledgling fascination with not being able to see himself in the mirror. “At least you don’t have to learn to shave by touch.”
“Good point.” Sliding into the car, she purred and ran her hands over the seats. “Oh my God, I love leather…”
As he backed the Plymouth out of the driveway, Buffy curved herself into his side. She nipped at his throat, reminding him that she was still hungry.
“We’ll get some takeout before we head back to LA.” Angelus slipped his arm around her and pulled her tighter against him.
“So… do we kill Cordy first? Or tie her up and make her watch?” Buffy grinned impishly. “Drag out the suspense?”
“Aren’t you the vicious little thing?” He hugged her and dropped a kiss on her nose. “That grin of yours is going to scare the hell out of people.”
“Good.” Rubbing a hand along his thigh, Buffy closed her eyes at the feel of the soft leather. “All that time I spent protecting their worthless lives – dying for their sorry asses – they better be scared of me.”
Angelus shuddered in pleasure at the viciousness. “As much as I’d love to let you torture Cordy – and believe me, baby, I would very much like to let you – we have to kill them off quick.” The Plymouth growled as he hit the gas. “One thing I’ve learned – they’re entirely too fucking resourceful. We can’t chance playing with them.”
“Will you let me kill her at least?” Her tone was wheedling, and she slid her hand up along his inner thigh. “Please?”
“Of course, baby.” Leaning back in the seat, Angelus guided the car down the street. “We go for Wes first – he’s the only one left who can put my soul – and yours – back.”
“He’s the dangerous one.” She agreed. “We’ll have to take him out quick – oooh – what if I go to see him and tell him I think you’re alive and stalking me?”
The plan had merits. “That should get you in the door.” Not bad strategizing for a fledgling. Angelus wondered if the Slayer part of her was still there. If so, she had a brain full of strategy.
“I’ll tell him to grab the book with the spell and then – “ Her face changed and she bared her fangs. “Grr!”
“Grr?” Laughing, he gave her a tight squeeze. All those memories and battle plans... A smile curved his lips. And Buffy was always smarter than they ever gave her credit for.
It was easier to hide her true face this time. “I want to dance with you.”
The quick change in Buffy conversation never failed to amuse him. “You do? Thought you were hungry.”
“I am and yes. In a club with lights and loud music.” She slid her hand inside his shirt to caress the cool skin. “Our bodies rubbing all over each other.”
“Mm… sounds fun…” Soul Boy had fantasized about dancing with Buffy like that, but he’d never let himself.
“I want to do all the things we weren’t allowed to do.” Laying her head back, she looked up at him. “Have fun.”
“Let’s go to the Bronze.” Slowing, he turned the car into a tight U-turn. Everyone in Sunnydale who could ID them was dead anyway.
“The Bronze?” Visions of all the hot clubs in LA burst.
“That’s where it all started, baby.” A smile curved his lips. “You can do that nasty dance for me like you did for Xander.”
“He wanted me.” She giggled. “He wanted me bad.”
“You were bad.” Sliding his arm down her side, he cupped a breast. “We’ll dance and we’ll get some takeout – oh lover, wait till you share a kill!”
The soft growl excited her even more than it had when she was alive. “Then we go to LA?”
“Then we go to LA and do everything you’ve ever wanted to do.”
“Everything?”
“Everything – with the exception of anything requiring the sun.”
“Because I have a list.” She smiled as he looked down at her. “Why do you think I wanted my diary?”
Laughing, Angelus pulled the Plymouth up in front of the Bronze and eased it into a parking spot. “I’ve got a little list of my own, baby.”
Buffy shivered in anticipation as Angelus – her lover, her sire, her mate – dipped his head down and purred softly in her ear.
Read the original sequel to The End Of Days: To Begin A New Day
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