The End Of Days ~ Finale
By Maquis Leader
“This has to tell us the time.” Giles sat back on his heels, frustrated at not being able to find the answer. “I’m beginning to agree with Angel. This is gibberish – the ‘scribblings of a madman’ as he said.”
“Hey, watch it with the madman remarks.” Lorne protested. “That stuff came out of my head, you know.”
“Well then, perhaps you could translate for us.” Giles moved to the paper he and Wes believed to be the beginning of the pattern.
“No can do, muffin.” Lorne shook his head. “Before they
suctioned it outta me – and I mean that literally by the way – it made sense.
But now it looks like alphabet soup. If
“The first symbol…” Giles frowned at the papers. “Wes, wasn’t this where we found the first symbol?”
“Umm…” Wes looked up from where he was working. “I believe so, yes. I made a notation next to it.”
“I see the notation, but the symbol – “ He shook his head. “It just isn’t here.”
Moving next to Giles, Wes looked over the paper. “Right here, the blood may have smeared it.” He pointed to the spot. “I tried to blot it up carefully, but… it… may… bring another lamp! I need more light!”
“What is it?” Giles grabbed a nearby lantern and handed it to him. “What do you see?”
“It’s changed! The symbol has changed!” He swung the lantern over the papers. “Here as well! And here!”
“It changed?” Fred looked up from where she was trying to calculate the moment the Beast would return with what little information they had. “But, how would it change? It’s paper and ink.”
“Look, Rupert! Here!” Wes pointed excitedly at the spots on the pages. “This is where Connor’s blood was!”
“His blood – there’s something in his blood?”
“Oh, no!” Cordelia put down the fashion magazine she’d been trying to read by candlelight. “He didn’t do anything, he didn’t even touch your papers!”
“Cordelia, when Connor’s blood soaked into the paper, the symbols changed.” Wes explained. “We’re not accusing the boy of anything.”
“I’m not a boy.” Connor scowled.
No, you’re a sullen little brat. “Perhaps if we experimented?” Giles turned to Wes.
“At this point, I’m willing to try chanting Vlk’n poetry.” The other man got to his feet and straightened his aching back.
“Fred, do get us a bowl or something and spare us the sight.” Giles smiled.
“I think Wes has a nice voice.” Fred blew dust out of an old sugar bowl sitting on one of the tables. “Soft and real easy on the ears.”
“I’m sure he does.” Getting to his feet, Giles took the bowl from her. “Vlk’n chants are traditionally done in the nude, however.”
“Oh.” She looked at Wes and quickly retreated back to her chair. “Oh my.”
“You’re not going to hurt him.” Cordelia jumped up to stand between Wes and Connor.
“We only need a small sample of his blood.” Wes opened his pocketknife. “Unless Connor’s afraid?”
“I’m not afraid.” Predictably, Connor pulled his shirtsleeve up as he stepped out from behind Cordelia. “Cut me.”
“No, Connor – “ She reached for his
arm, but
“We’re not going to hurt him.” She laid a hand on Cordelia’s shoulder. There was an audible snap and she jerked her hand back as if burned. Cordelia jumped back and rubbed her shoulder. “Um… sorry, Cordy. Static electricity… sorry.”
“I’ll be fine, Cordelia.” Connor smiled at her. “Don’t worry.”
Holding Connor’s arm over the bowl Giles held, Wes carefully made a small cut along the boy’s forearm. Blood trickled freely from the cut. When the bowl was almost half full, he nodded. “This will do for now.”
“For now?” Cordelia pressed a clean cloth to the cut. “Hello? This isn’t the blood bank, there’s a one bowl limit.”
Connor smiled at Cordelia once again. “I’m strong, I’ve lost more blood than this before.”
“There’s nothing worse than a pubescent boy trying to impress a girl.” Giles muttered to Wes as they knelt again next to the papers spread on the floor.
“Demented Slayer tying you to a chair and torturing you.”
“Ah, yes…” Giles dipped his fingers into the bowl. “You win.” Smearing his fingers over the paper, he watched in amazement as the symbols began to writhe and change.
“Dear Lord.” Wes breathed.
“Yowsa.”
Angelus woke at the tingle of approaching power. Lifting his head, he flared his nostrils and caught the scent of earth and spice. Laying his head back down against Buffy's soft hair, he closed his eyes and waited.
The door opened and closed again with almost no sound, and
quiet footsteps approached the bed. A whisper of movement in the air and
Angelus shot a hand up to catch
Ignoring the tingle of power, he raised her fingers to his mouth. “Shh… she needs her rest.”
Her wrist and fingers burned where he touched her, and
“Tell
Carefully, she sat down next to him. “Connor’s blood, when you cut him, it changed the symbols on the pages.”
“Makes sense, he’s connected to the Beast.” Angelus patted Buffy's back as she stirred in her sleep. “I keep saying the runt’s not my get.”
“Why, Cinnamon, if I didn’t know better…” One corner of his mouth curled up in a smile. “I might think you want to join us.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No – no – no joining of any kind.”
“So the symbols changed? I suppose the brain boys are having a spot of tea to celebrate?”
“We took some more of his blood – “
“All of it?” He asked hopefully.
“No.” She frowned at him and shook her head.
“Too bad. I’d have been happy to help.” Dipping his head down, he kissed Buffy's forehead.
How sweet.
“I’m going to kill you, you know.” Sliding a hand down Buffy's back, he snuggled her pelvis tighter against him. “No hard feelings, Cinnamon. You understand.”
The evil in the chocolate eyes chilled her to the bone.
Angelus hadn’t mellowed at all. He was merely biding his time. The patient
predator waiting for his prey to make a mistake.
“I’ll make it quick. A snap of the neck.” He smiled again. “Like it was for Jenny.”
She shivered involuntarily and flinched as he raised his head and sniffed at the air. He could smell her fear.
“Pity, I’d love to suck down that power of yours.” His tongue licked across his lips suggestively. “But we can’t risk you bringing Soul Boy back, now can we?”
“I’m not the only one – “
“They’ll die too.”
“Behave.” Buffy pushed herself up on his chest. “We’ve got a deal, remember?”
“Only until the Beast is dead.” He brushed back a strand of honey blond hair from her face. “After that, lover –“
“Yeah, I know.” She pulled away from the cool touch. “You want to do the you suck my blood and I suck your blood whole blood sucking thing. And can I just say eww?”
“After that, there’s something else we may have to worry
about.”
“Oh my God!” Buffy laid her head back down on Angelus’ chest and covered her eyes. “How many evil-bad-end-the-world monsters are there? And why don’t they give me a schedule?”
“This is sorta the same one.” The redhead twisted her fingers together. “I touched Cordy – and she’s pregnant.”
“She’s – “ Buffy rose up once again and glared at Angelus.
“Oh, no! Don’t look at me!” He held his hands up. “Vampire, remember? Dead seed equals no babies.”
“Connor – “
“I’m not taking the fall for that brat.” Rising up on his elbows, he shook his head vigorously. “Those fucking Powers That Be did that, I betcha.”
“He’s right.”
“Seconding your eww and raising you an ick.” Buffy frowned. She’d never thought of it that way. It had always been part of Angel and therefore okay. “So who’s the daddy then?”
“Well, uh, the Beast kinda.”
“Kinda?” Angelus snickered. “He kinda fucked her? You ain’t seen him, Cinnamon sweetie, if that thing had fucked her – she’d be dead.”
“No, he – it – didn’t.” She hesitated. “Connor did.”
Angelus and Buffy both gaped at her.
“I mean, I don’t know that they – you know – “ She wrinkled her nose up. “But it’s connected to him.”
“Didn’t she like change his diapers and stuff?” The thought sickened Buffy. “Isn’t that like incest?”
Angelus howled with laughter. “I knew she was a selfish bitch! But this!” Still laughing, he fell back on the bed.
“This is – “Buffy couldn’t find a word strong enough to express her disgust. “Beyond eww.”
“And it’s evil. Buffy, we have to kill this thing.”
“You’re sure it’s Connor’s? No more magical turkey baster stuff?” Buffy asked her. “He’s not very nice, but I don’t think he’s evil.”
“She was banging the hell out of Groo before she suddenly decided to be in love with me.” Angelus was still chortling. “And who knows how many since then? Better check and see if the Fleet’s in.”
“It – I don’t know – I felt Connor’s blood and – “
“But he and the Beast are connected somehow, right?” Buffy
asked. At
“It could be magical!”
“Not so skanky?” Angelus offered helpfully.
“But it’s still evil.”
“Great. Now I can add baby killer to my name.” Buffy rolled off the bed and stood up. “Hi! I’m Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Oh, and I kill babies too! But only if they’re really evil and conceived in some freaky-magical-incesty way!”
“I’ll kill her for you, lover.” Angelus slid out of bed and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Right now if you want.”
“God, I hate my life.”
“Don’t worry.” He nipped at the back of her neck. “It’ll be over soon.”
“He’s right.”
“Some of us will, anyway.” He grinned at her. “Not you.”
“Enough.” Buffy slammed her elbow back into his stomach, making him grunt. “Let’s go see what new crisis we’re dealing with.”
“Wait!”
“They’ll wig.” Buffy nodded. “No baby talk. Okay, got it.”
“We’ll get Giles and Wes alone and tell them.”
“Who cares?” Angelus shrugged. “She’s on my list anyway.”
“Charming as always.” Buffy rolled her eyes.
In the ballroom, Angelus perked up at the scent of blood. “Dinner time?”
“Back off!” Cordelia grabbed the crossbow off of the table next to her.
“Relax, Cordelia.” Buffy took Angelus’ arm and led him to where she’d left her other duffel bag earlier. “I brought blood for him.”
“You did?” He watched as she unzipped the bag to reveal blood bags packed in melting ice.
“Something you should have thought of.” She handed him a bag.
“How do you know I didn’t? Like he ever listens to me?” He shrugged and took the bag. “I told him years ago to kill Cordy – “
“Shut up and drink your dinner.” Buffy warned. Before I tell you how much I agree with you.
“It’s cold.” He whined.
“Here.”
Her hands glowed, and when she handed the bag back it was warm. “Very handy. Too bad I have to kill you.”
“Just for that – “ She walked over to where Wes and Giles were deciphering the newly uncovered symbols. “You drink the next one cold.”
“Bitch.” He growled as he punched his fangs through the plastic. Draining the bag, he tossed it aside. “Killing plastic bodies just makes my day.”
“Deal.” Buffy walked over to Giles. He was scribbling notes on a small notepad. “So, what time is the party?”
“Soon. Perhaps in just a few hours.” He pushed his glasses up. “Fred is working on the calculations. We think there may be a clue here as to how to kill the Beast as well.”
“Yea. Go clues.” Buffy shook imaginary pom-poms.
“Kill Willow first… then Giles, Wes – no… Wes actually might be more trouble…”
Everyone turned to look at where Angelus slouched in one of the booths, a drained blood bag dangling from his fingers.
“Maybe I should turn Giles… nah, too smart…then Fred…” Angelus looked up. “What?” He laughed. “You think you’re the only one with plans?”
“I say we kill him now.” Cordelia got to her feet and pointed the crossbow at him.
Angelus yawned. “Getting a little pudgy there, Queen C.”
When Cordelia looked down at her figure, Buffy snatched the crossbow away. “Get over it, Cordelia.”
“Get over it?” The other woman turned on her. “That’s rich coming from you. You couldn’t just let him go, could you? You had to keep your claws in him.”
“You’re right, Cordelia.” Buffy pulled the bolt out of the crossbow and laid it on the table. “I do voodoo every night to make sure Angel never loves anyone but me.”
“Cordelia, please sit down.” Wes looked down at the papers and then back up. Cordelia’s figure was different; her stomach did seem to be protruding.
Buffy sat down in the booth next to Angelus, slapping his hand away from her thigh.
“We need Angelus to kill the Beast, remember?” Giles frowned at Cordelia. “And afterwards, we will return Angel’s soul to his body.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Angelus smirked at him.
“Something that is decidedly easier to do if the body in question isn’t dust.” Giles ignored the vampire’s comment.
“Why do we need him?” Connor fingered the edge of his dagger. “If I’m the one the Beast wants then I should be the one to fight it.”
“It’s really quite simple, Connor.” Giles said slowly and carefully. Across the room, Buffy couldn’t hide her smile at his ‘you’re a brainless idiot’ tone. “Angelus is the champion come from the dark, and Buffy is the champion come from the light. It was in all the prophecies.”
Angelus snickered. “See what happens when you get the Reader’s Digest abridged versions?”
Connor turned to look at Buffy and Angelus. “I don’t think we need the whore or her pet demon.”
Angelus had flipped the table over out of his way and was on his feet before Connor had finished speaking. Fangs bared in a snarl, he leaped across the space separating them. His fingers were closing on Connor’s throat, and he could feel the flesh beneath his fingers when he was forced back by an unseen hand. Growling, he struggled against it.
“Stop it!”
“Fucking witch!” Snarling, Angelus turned and stalked across the room. “I’m nobody’s fucking pet!”
“Let’s go… outside
and talk about this.”
“If we’re going to fight this thing – let’s go!” Angelus upended another table. “I’m tired of talking!”
“We really need to
talk about this.”
Buffy frowned.
“Yes! With Giles and Wes!”
Giles knew from long association with
Shrugging, Wes picked up a lantern and followed the other man out of the ballroom.
Remembering their conversation in Angel’s room, Buffy jumped up and grabbed Angelus’ arm. “Outside, come on.”
“Hands off!” Growling, he jerked his arm away from her.
“Please?” She held out her hand. “Please come talk to me? I’m scared.”
“Scared?” He tilted his head to one side and studied her. “You?” Angelus made a show of ignoring Buffy's hand and stalked out the door without her.
At the end of the hall, Wes and Giles waited until he others caught up to them. Angelus lounged against one wall, pointedly ignoring the rest of them.
“There’s a new… uh… complication.”
“And?” Wes arched an eyebrow.
“And it’s – “ She made a face. “Connor’s – or the Beast’s – I can’t tell. But it’s evil.”
“Ok, now that was worth coming out here for.” Angelus snickered at the shocked looks on the two former Watchers’ faces.
“You’re sure?” Giles asked after a few moments.
“When I touched her – “
“It’s always something.” Wes rubbed at his temples. “I should have been an accountant.”
“How do we kill it?” Giles held up a hand as Angelus started to speak. “Without killing Cordelia as well?”
“Gosh, Dad, you never let me have any fun.” The vampire pouted.
“I think I can remove it.”
“
“I have to.” She hugged Buffy, grateful for her friend’s strength.
“
“If
Buffy looked up to see Angelus smirking. Killing Cordy wasn’t going to be an issue. Saving her was.
“Okay, so where is this thing?” Buffy sat down on one of the few remaining chairs in the Sky Temple Club. Grimly, she ignored the dead bodies still forming the gruesome square on the dance floor.
“Our arrival in conjunction with the alignment of the stars of the – “
“Jesus! Did you guys call your psychic friends for this crap?” Angelus laughed. “How do you guys win all the time? I don’t get it.”
“The good guys always win.” Connor told him.
“And what reality are you from?” Snickering, Angelus laid his sword over his shoulders and kicked at one of the dead bodies.
“’The good guys always win.’” Gunn mimicked. “I’m with the vampire – the kid’s a moron.”
“I beg to differ.” Wes looked up from where he was stringing the detonator cord out around the gateway. “He was raised to believe that everything is black and white. Good guys always win and bad guys always lose.”
“So he’s just delusional?” Gunn sat down on a large chunk of debris. “Maybe not just stupid?”
“I am a champion.” Connor said arrogantly. “Raised to fight evil.”
Giles carefully handed a small block of C4 explosive to Wes.
The smirk on the boy’s lips reminded him entirely too much of Angelus. A child born of evil and raised by evil.
“Hi, honey! I’m home!” Angelus wrapped a hand around a pole on the edge of the ruined dance floor and swung around. “Oh, Lucy! Honey! What’cho been doin’?”
Buffy bit her lip, almost laughing in spite of the situation. Angelus was many things, but boring wasn’t one of them. “Will you sit down?”
“This is boring.” He huffed as he walked over to what was left of the bar. “Can’t I just kill one of them now? The green one?”
“Hey!” Lorne protested.
“No.” Buffy said sternly.
Leaning over the bar, Angelus lifted a bottle from behind it and held it up. “Rum – no.” He tossed it away. “Tequila – no.” It was tossed away as well.
Connor had been looking out a broken window at the rooftop
of the building across the street. The darkness had become so thick that his
keen eyesight could barely pick out Cordelia standing with
“Vodka – no.” Angelus frowned at the bottle.
“Oh, I’ll take that.” Lorne held out his hands.
Tossing the bottle to Lorne, Angelus lifted up another bottle filled with an amber liquid. “Here we go! Whiskey!”
Watching Angelus take a long drink, Connor shook his head, his lip curling in disgust. “I couldn’t possibly have been fathered by such a creature.”
“You weren’t, dumbass.” Angelus snorted. “I keep trying to tell everybody that.” Sliding down, he sat on the floor with his back to the bar.
“Angel.” Buffy caught her slip of the tongue. “Angelus, I don’t think drinking is a good idea right now.”
“Let’s see…” He took another swig. “We’re about to fight a big evil fucking monster and we’ll probably all die. So… is there a better time to drink?”
Not really, no. She thought. “Please?”
“You gotta give me something.” He grinned at her and licked his lips.
“No way – not here!”
“Why, Buff!” Angelus laid a hand over his heart. “What a dirty mind you have!” He laughed as her cheeks pinkened. “Gimme a kiss.”
“One kiss.” She held up a hand. “And no groping.”
“Well, that takes half the fun out of it.” He sat the bottle down. “A good kiss – not some virginal schoolgirl kiss.”
“A good kiss.” She agreed. Watching him as he crawled to her on his hands and knees, she felt a flash of desire. There was a raw, animal sensuality that she’d only seen small glimpses of with Angel.
When Angelus reached her side, he laid his head on her knee and looked up at her. The dark eyes reminded her of a big puppy. A big evil puppy. She ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair as he kissed her knee and her thigh before moving up to kiss her belly.
“Whoa, boy.” She tugged his head away from her breasts.
He grinned. “You want it. I can smell it.”
Before she could deny the truth, his cool lips covered hers. One hand slid into her hair to cup her head while the other stroked her cheek.
The kiss burned his lips and Angelus growled softly into her mouth. Her warm tongue twisted and played with his as they dueled for dominance. One small hand slid down his chest and over his hip, and under cover of his duster, cupped his ass. Startled, he let her win, her tongue thrusting past his lips and fucking his mouth until he growled again.
Placing the last of the explosives, Giles looked up to see Angelus clutch Buffy closer, and a deep growl rumbled through the room. “Here now – no time for that!” Bad enough to ally himself with Angelus – the demon could bloody well keep his hands off Buffy.
Pushing Angelus back, Buffy licked her lips. “I never had whiskey before.”
“There are so many things you’ve never had that I’ll show you.” The chocolate eyes glittered with lust, and he caught her hand as she pulled away, cupping it over the hard bulge between his thighs. “So many things…”
A rumble shook the building. “Let’s go!” Wes waved them toward the doorways leading back downstairs. He backed to one of the doorways, letting the detonator cord play out as he went.
Kneeling a few steps down, Wes quickly wired the cord to the detonator. The building shook and plaster fell from the ceiling, raining a fine powder down on them.
Buffy checked the shotgun Wes had given her. Guns were something she was not overly familiar with, and the thing made her uncomfortable. According to Wes, gunfire had been the only thing that had gotten the Beast’s attention the first time they had fought it.
She’d prefer a crossbow, but they couldn’t risk the arrows being deflected and hitting Angel as they had the last time. She’d seen the freshly healed marks on his chest and stomach, and the arrows had come much too close to his heart for comfort.
Next to her, Angelus had shifted to game face and was growling softly, amber eyes glowing in anticipation. His body rubbed against hers as he shifted restlessly, and he dipped his head down and nipped at her shoulder before rubbing his cool cheek against hers.
Looking across the dance floor, Buffy caught Giles’ eye as he crouched in the other doorway. He smiled as he tucked his glasses into his pocket.
The portal began to glow and shimmer, and a shaft of fire pierced down from the sky. Within the column of flame, a large shape formed.
“Back to play?” The Beast grunted as his head swung toward Connor. “This time you die.”
“Maybe.” Connor smirked.
Wes twisted the crank on the detonator. There was a series of crackles and pops. The Beast frowned at the sparks racing across the floor towards him.
Ducking her head down, Buffy flattened herself along the wall. There was a thunderous series of explosions. Sound and heat blew through the doorway, spraying debris down the hallway.
Knocked off her feet by the shockwaves, Buffy winced as chunks of plaster and concrete hit her. Next to her, Angelus fell to his knees and clapped his hands over his sensitive ears.
“Oh, wow.” Fred clasped her hands to her ears as the explosions echoed off the neighboring buildings. “That was a lot bigger than I thought it’d be.”
“And it’s only going to get bigger.”
“I still don’t see why we had to come along.” Cordelia rubbed her swollen belly. “It’s not as if we can help. Am I gaining weight? Because I swear I’m retaining water.”
Ignoring her,
“Did we kill it?” Gunn coughed and wiped dust from his face.
“Hardly.” Wes threw the detonator aside. “If we’re lucky, we weakened it.”
“And if we’re not?”
Lifting the M16 to his shoulder as he stepped into the doorway, Wes smiled slightly. “Then we’ll die.”
The Beast was on his knees, rubble and debris surrounding him. Wes, Giles, and Gunn began firing their M16s into him. Bullets chipped at the rocky hide and ricocheted off in crazy directions. Buffy brought the shotgun up and pulled both triggers. The gunpowder burned her eyes and nose.
The Beast howled in rage and struggled to his feet. The red eyes searched for and found Connor standing off to one side. “Come, boy!”
Both Connor and Angelus stayed back, waiting impatiently for the others to weaken the Beast with gunfire.
“Oh, shit.” Gunn backpedaled, forcing a new clip into his rifle as the Beast moved toward him. “Oh, shit!”
Wes stepped closer, firing round after round into the Beast’s face. It ignored him and swung a rock fist at Gunn.
Ducking under the huge fist, Gunn heard a click as the cartridge snapped into place. Holding the trigger down, he sprayed the hideous face with bullets.
Snatching the weapon away from Gunn, the Beast used it to swat him backwards. He collided with a broken concrete column and collapsed.
Giles continued to fire, moving back beside Wes and Buffy. “This isn’t working!” He shouted over the gunfire.
“On to plan B!” Wes shouted back.
The gunfire stopped, allowing Angelus and Connor to enter the battle for the first time. The Beast laughed as Angelus’ sword skittered along his neck, sparks flying. Connor’s sword struck the other side, also drawing sparks but doing little damage.
The Beast backhanded Connor to one side and turned to grab Angelus. The vampire danced back out of reach, his sword taking a chunk from the large hand reaching for him.
Buffy waited until Angelus was clear before charging forward and launching herself at the Beast’s face. She was down to her last two shells and wanted them to count. Pulling the triggers on the double-barreled shotgun, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye.
Connor threw himself at the Beast, sword raised. The edge of the shotgun blast caught him along his left arm and side, knocking him to his knees. The Beast staggered and stepped back as Connor fell to the floor. Blood leaked from small wounds along his left side.
Buffy snapped a kick into the Beast’s face. The impact sent pain shooting up her ankle to her knee. A cold hand closed around her throat and she was jerked off of the ground.
“Slayer.” The Beast shook her. “I will suck the marrow from your bones.”
“Paws off, ugly!” Angelus chopped at the back of the Beast’s knees. “I already called sucking rights!”
Giles pushed the muzzle of his rifle into one of the holes in the Beast’s side and pulled the trigger.
Jerking and twisting, the Beast threw Buffy aside and turned toward this newest threat. “You should have stayed back and watched.”
Raising the rifle, Giles jammed it into the Beast’s gaping mouth. “Watching is highly overrated.” He pulled the trigger and held it down as a massive hand reached for him.
Buffy gasped for air and rose shakily to her feet. Gunn lay nearby, and she went to him. He was unconscious and bleeding, but breathing. Limping to the doorway, she picked up the battleaxe she’d left there earlier.
Bullets ricocheted off the Beast’s face as he lifted Giles up from the floor. Contemptuously, he flung the former Watcher away.
Lorne had watched the battle from the doorway he’d crouched in to avoid the blast. “I’m not a hero. I’m a singer. I’m a good singer. I’m a lousy fighter.” Lifting the war hammer he’d brought with him, he charged screaming into the battle.
Angelus flinched as a stray bullet creased his cheek. Bringing his sword around, he hacked at the back of the Beast's neck.
Getting up from the floor, Connor jabbed his sword into the Beast's wounded side. Pain flared from his own wounds in response.
The Beast spun around with surprising speed and brought his fist crashing into Angelus’ face. The vampire stumbled and his blade swung wide, catching Connor on the arm.
Buffy watched grimly as Lorne was picked up and tossed carelessly away. Circling around, she came in low, swinging the axe at the Beast's leg, trying to hamstring him.
Roaring, the Beast slapped at Connor, knocking him back. Turning, he grabbed Buffy by the hair before she could move away. She couldn’t hold back a scream of pain as the Beast lifted her off the ground by her hair. Her scalp felt as if it were being ripped loose.
Angelus hacked desperately at the Beast's arms as it held Buffy up and drove its fingers into her chest.
The Beast leered into her face. “I will eat your heart, Slayer.” A fresh scream tore from her throat as the cold fingers speared into her skin.
Connor leaped onto the Beast's back and stabbed his dagger into a wound on its neck. The blade snapped. The Beast turned his head and snarled at Connor. “You I will keep in eternal torment.”
Stepping back, Angelus shifted his grip on the sword and swung the blade toward Buffy's head. The silver blade whistled past her face and the tearing pressure on her scalp was gone. Before she could register that she was falling, strong arms had caught her. Abandoning the battle, Angelus carried Buffy out into the safety of the hallway.
“Oh, God.” Touching a hand to her chest, she pulled it back covered in blood.
“Shh…” Laying her down, he pulled her shirt up. Blood trickled from the punctures over her heart. Pressing his ear to her chest, he listened intently for a moment. Her heart pounded steadily, and her blood rushed through her veins. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”
“Just give me a minute.” She gasped.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Pulling her shirt back down, he shook his head. “He’ll kill you.”
Creeping back to the doorway, Angelus watched as Wes – somehow still on his feet – hit the Beast squarely between the eyes with an axe. The Beast grabbed the axe handle and jerked the weapon from Wes’ hands. Using it as a club, he knocked Wes aside.
“Come on! Don’t you want me?” Connor picked up a piece of concrete from the floor and threw it at the Beast. It bounced harmlessly off the massive skull.
Settling back on his heels, Angelus watched as Connor and the Beast circled each other. The boy was able to keep out of its grasp while making the occasional ineffectual strike.
He could see that the Beast was wounded. There were bloody holes along the left side as well as a slice across one arm. “What does it take to kill this thing?” Wiping the blood off his face, Angelus considered taking Buffy and running away. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to go.
Connor and the Beast turned, looking like bizarre mirror images. Angelus stiffened. “Mirror… opposites… they’re connected. How?”
He studied them more carefully. Both were wounded along the left side and the right arm. “I’m thinking that’s more than a coincidence.”
Lifting his sword, he trotted over to the Beast and took a wild swing. Predictably, it bounced and skidded along the crusted skin, throwing sparks as it went. Twisting his wrist, Angelus guided the blade at an angle that nicked Connor’s left shoulder as it bounced off the Beast's hide. The boy cried out and flinched away.
Dancing out of the way of the Beast's fists, Angelus retreated to the doorway once again. Looking back, he noticed the new wound on the left shoulder. “Gotcha.”
Buffy was sitting up and trying to get to her feet when he came back to her. “Relax, baby, I’ve got things under control.”
“Good.” She pressed her hand to the wound in her chest. “This hurts like a bitch.”
“You’re tough, baby.” He checked the wounds and saw that the bleeding had slowed and almost stopped.
“You cut my hair.” She rubbed at her aching scalp. “Guess I should be happy I still have hair. Or a head.”
“I know why Angel couldn’t do this.” Sitting next to her, he pulled her into his arms. “He’s not as strong as you think he is, you know?” Nuzzling her cheek and neck, he shifted to his true face and buried her fangs in her throat.
Buffy cried out and clutched at his shoulders. Intense sexual pleasure gripped her body, and she slid a hand through his hair to hold him closer.
Angelus allowed himself just a few sweet swallows before he slid his fangs from her body. Kissing and licking the wound for a moment, he savored the taste and smell of her climax.
“I need your strength, lover.” He brushed the honey blond hair back from her face as her head lolled back on his shoulder.
“Are you – “ She lifted a hand to his lips. Part of her was only too willing to be with Angelus forever. “Are you – “
“No. I may get dusted yet. I don’t want you spending
eternity without
“I forgot your grand plan.” She said sarcastically.
“I do love you.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I shouldn’t – I don’t have a soul.” Raising his head, he looked into her eyes. “Darla said his soul poisoned me – maybe it did.”
“In a good way.” An impish grin crossed her face. “Except for the wanting to kill me and make me a vamp part.”
“I’ll be back, lover.” He kissed her, his tongue caressing hers for a long moment. “Keep the bed warm for me.”
Getting up, he picked up his sword and walked back into the club. Buffy's blood burned and sang through him, and he let it fuel him and add a swagger to his step.
Connor shot a glance at him as he approached before turning back to the Beast. Grabbing the boy by the hair, Angelus jerked him back against him, baring his throat.
Punching his fangs viciously through the jugular and carotid artery, he gulped down Connor’s blood. The boy tried to break free, but the intense rush of pleasure that came with a vampire’s bite rendered him helpless.
The Beast laughed as the sight of his enemies turning on each other. Then the weakness hit him, and he staggered. “No! What are you doing?”
Angelus backed away pulling Connor along with him as the Beast staggered toward him. Sucking down the boy’s blood, he waited until the Beast fell to his knees to pull his fangs free.
Dropping Connor at his feet, Angelus walked over to the Beast. Lifting the sword, he brought it down on its neck. He chopped at it again and again with no effect.
Lowering his sword, he turned to look at Connor. The boy was on his knees, hand pressed to the wound in his throat. “Well, kid, looks like Wes was right after all.”
Walking back to him, Angelus plunged the broadsword through Connor’s heart.
Connor’s eyes went wide and a strangled cry came from him. Behind Angelus the Beast screamed in agony.
Across the street, Cordelia clutched at her now bulging belly and cried out. “What’s happening? What’s happening to me?”
Fred looked away as
The Beast screamed, throwing his head back and clutching his chest. Cracks appeared throughout his body, and red and blue lightning leaked out and danced over his writhing form.
“Okay… this can’t be good.” Angelus jerked his sword free from Connor’s dying body and backed toward the doorway. “Not good at all.” The explosion lifted him up and threw him across the room.
Buffy had limped to the doorway in time to see Angelus put his sword through Connor’s heart. “No! Oh, no!” The wash of energy from the explosion threw her back into the hallway, her head striking the wall with a thud.
His face scraping across the floor woke Giles. Blue and red energy swirled around the room, pulling everything toward the gateway. Grabbing onto one of the poles lining the dance floor, he stopped his slide.
“Come on.” Wes caught Giles' arm and pulled him to his feet. Together they struggled through the howling energy storm to where Gunn was trying to crawl to his feet.
Linking arms with him, they hauled him to the safety of the hallway. Lorne was kneeling next to Buffy, holding a torn tablecloth to her head.
“Where’s Angel?” She wiped at the blood running down her forehead.
“I didn’t see him.” Wes shook his head.
“We have to find him!” She tried to stand up, but the hallway seemed to tip and sway and she was forced to sit back down. “He could be hurt, we can’t just leave him!”
Giles went to the doorway, hanging on to the frame so he wouldn’t be sucked into the room. Debris swirled and swept into the gaping hole in the center of the room. Streaks of darkness from the sky were being pulled in as well, allowing the sunlight to come through.
Leaning in as far as he dared, Giles searched for Angel. The screaming energy tugged at him, pulling him into the room. Scrabbling at the doorframe, he lost his grip and fell.
He slid along the floor for a horrifying moment, his fingers digging into the carpet in a vain attempt to anchor himself. Then a hand clamped on his ankle and tugged him backwards.
In the hallway, Wes and Lorne pulled Giles back to safety. “We have to move!” Wes shouted over the noise. “It’s not safe here!”
“We can’t leave Angel!” Buffy struggled as they pulled her to her feet.
“It’s too dangerous!” Giles picked her up and carried her down the hallway to the stairs. “He’s holding on or he’s gone already! We can’t risk losing anyone else!”
Buffy knew he was right, but it didn’t hurt any less. Burying her face in his shirtfront, she began to cry.
The sun was once again shining brightly as they left the battered building. Around them, demons scurried for cover, vampires and other sun sensitive types burning and smoking as they ran.
Buffy hid her face in Giles’ shirt as they walked back to
the hotel, looking up only briefly as they met
“No, he was with you guys.” She looked at Giles, and he shook his head. “Oh, Buffy. I’m sorry.”
“He’s still up there!” Tears ran down her face. “The sun’s coming out – if he’s unconscious – he’ll burn!”
“I’ll go look for him.” Looking up,
“You shouldn’t go alone.” Wes told her. “There are still demons about.”
“Be careful.” Fred threw her arms around Wes in a quick hug.
“You too, Winifred.” He hugged her tightly, savoring the feel of her slim body against his own. He released her reluctantly, aware of Gunn’s angry glare.
Buffy watched over Giles’ shoulder as
Her head ached and throbbed, and the wounds on her chest
itched as they healed. Buffy prowled Angel’s suite restlessly; waiting for word
from
She had washed and put on clean clothes after Giles had bandaged her wounds. Then she had picked up the clothes from the drawer she had dumped out the day before, neatly folding Angel’s sweaters and putting them back.
Now all she had to do was pace and wait. A knock on the door made her spin from where she’d been staring into Angel’s closet at his clothes. “Come in!”
The door opened and
“Did you find him?” Buffy took the big sword from
“We didn’t find anything but his sword. Buffy – “ Placing a
hand on Buffy's arm,
“Somewhere? Like sucked into hell with the First Evil?” Buffy pulled away from her. “Or burned alive? Nothing but dust?”
“We don’t know that – “
“Here’s your reward for saving the world!” Buffy laughed hysterically. “Here you go! One way ticket to hell! Again!” Collapsing on the bed, she sobbed into her hands.
Carefully taking the sword,
“And that makes it okay?” Buffy wiped at her eyes.
“Angelus was a demon.”
“I know.” She turned away. “I want to be alone for a while.”
“Sure, I understand.”
Lorne waited until
“Like I want to be alone.”
“Sure, I know. I’m just here to deliver this.” He held out an envelope with her name on it. “Angel left this with me. Just in case. And it looks like this is case.”
Taking the envelope, she ran her fingertips over the bold handwriting.
“He loved you, honey.” Kissing her cheek, Lorne left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Buffy,
I
guess this is the clichéd ‘If you’re reading this, I’m dead’ letter. I’m giving
this to Lorne in case
Please
give my books on demons and the arcane to Wesley – the rogue demon hunter. The
rest of my things are yours, as I was always yours. You look better in my
leather coats than I do. And there is this one black silk shirt I’ve always
imagined you being naked in…
I’m
not going to tell you not to cry. I want you to cry. Cry, yell, scream – get it
out. Don’t let it fester within you. I know you, Buffy. You bottle up your
feelings as if they don’t matter. They do – you do.
I
am telling you not to be sad. Don’t mourn for what we never had, because
we did have it. We had it all. For one day. And in that one day, Buffy, we
loved enough for a lifetime.
You
don’t remember. No one does. No one but me.
In
the trunk in the closet, there is a journal with a blue cover. I wrote down
everything with the hope that I could share it with you someday. I tried to
capture everything – every sound and scent and taste of that day.
It
was real, Buffy, and I hoped that when I became human I would share it
with you. I hoped that we would be together and love as we did that day.
Loving you now and
forever,
Angel
Folding the letter, she put it carefully back in the envelope and laid it on the bedside table. Walking to the closet, she pushed Angel’s clothes to one side to reveal several boxes and a large, ironbound wooden chest. It was padlocked shut.
“Lovely.” Buffy sighed. “Okay, if I were Angel, what would I use for a combination?” Spinning the lock, she pulled at it. It didn’t open. “Not my birthday. Too obvious. Think, Buffy.”
She frowned at the lock, reluctant to break it. “What would – oh!” She spun the lock and pulled again. It popped open. “Only you would remember the day I became the Slayer.”
Inside the chest were several journals and sketchbooks. The top one was bound in blue and silver. Lifting the thick book out, Buffy opened it and read the inscription in Angel’s bold handwriting.
I will always remember.
Carrying the book to the bed, Buffy began to read of the day that never was. After a moment, her hand covered her mouth, and she settled back onto the black satin sheets, tears streaming down her cheeks.
And the alternate sequel: Bring Forth The Night
Back to the main page for more B/A fic.
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