Announcement

**Mabus** · 14-10-07, 02:34 AM

She was one-quarter of the Scourge of Europe. She's killed hundreds, maybe thousands of people. She's insane and a vampire. And she's been both for a hell of a lot longer than I've been alive.

And she's crying on my shoulder?which is starting to go numb. She's nuzzled it a couple of times, too?or just gone rigid while she screamed for help. Sometimes she thinks she's in hell, and I've got to watch out for those fingernails while she bats at the flames only she can see. They're scary sharp, and even if for some reason I wanted to let her hurt me, I know what it'd do to her.

Scarier still, I think this is a good sign. I think she's got her soul back.

She's been slowly calming down while I talk to her. Jonathan's gone to tell Spike the ?good news', and to try and keep him away until she stops raving. I've explained to her a dozen times that, no, she's not evil, or doesn't have to be, at least. I've told her we're here to help her. I've pretended to be her "mummy", too. And someone named Edith, who apparently died in Prague. It'd take a lifetime or two and a whole hospital full of psychiatrists to sort her out-she's got that long, I guess, and more to spare-but I'm beginning to think that maybe at least she knows who and where she is, and at least halfway understands who we are and what's going on. But the shock...I haven't got a clue where her soul was. The easy answer, the obvious answer, would be ?heaven'. But I've never known a Drusilla who could have gone there, which makes it hard to picture.

"I'm not evil," Drucilla muttered, appearing quite mad.

This time she sounds disappointed, Amy reflected silently.

"I'm not evil," Drucilla murmured again, trying to convince herself.

This time, like a little kid in a candy store , Amy noted, trying to suppress the chilled that crept down her spine.

Nuzzling into the witch's shoulder, Drucilla babbled deliriously, "It's bleeding, mummy, it's bleeding, and it makes me so hungry."

I'm not bleeding anywhere that I know of, so I don't think there's any danger. Any more than usual, at least, Amy considered, trying to reassure herself.

Pushing Drucilla to arms length, Amy worked to capture the crazy vampire's attention. Finally finding it, she intoned in a firm voice, "You're not evil," shaking Dru slightly to hopefully increase her lucidity the witch repeated herself. Hesitating for a moment or two, she added, "And we'll get you something to eat. It may not taste good, but veggies are like that. You do want to grow up big and strong, don't you, Dru?" I figure I may as well play along with the "mummy" role; it can't hurt.

Drucilla made a sour face. "That's for the menfolk. Little girls are dainty and pretty and I don't want any veg-et-ables."

Foiled by ancient history and gender stereotypes? Sighing deeply, Amy guided Drucilla back to her seat, taking the one next to her. Wait...of course. "Well, then you won't get any. But in that case, all we've got for you is blood. Sorry, um?sweet little Dru," she offered, trying to coat the entire issue with sugar and spice and everything utterly useless unless you're baking, which needless to say made her want to barf.

"Blood?" Drucilla questioned, sounding disgusted. "I can't drink blood. That's...that's against the Will of God."

Noting the change in Drucilla's expression, Amy hoped she might be getting somewhere. Funny, that her eyes lit up like it's Christmastime. Or whatever they had when she was a girl. Way to the girl's heart is obviously through her stomach. Now that's just gross?

Drucilla's voice changed again, to something like eager awe. "Unless it's time for Mass? Is it?"

It's not possible, is it? Reverence from Drusilla?

"But we'll have to nick it from the cupboards. The priests don't give it to little girls," Drucilla revealed in a hushed tone like it might've been some huge secret.

And back to craftiness, just like that. So many layers, Amy reflected, appearing intrigued. So help me, I think I'm starting to see what Spike saw in her. If this is what she was like...every day must have been an adventure, even when they weren't running from townsfolk with torches. I'd get tired of it- I'm already tired of it now-but for a poet, for the dark knight she saw in him, maybe this really was glorious. That's the word he's always used about her.

"No worries, Drusilla. We've got it here already. The, um...the priests don't know," Amy offered patiently. I don't know how far I can run with this line of argument. My family's really seriously not Catholic. But the last thing we need is a crazy, starving vampire, even one with a soul, so we've got to work out something.

Poking his head in the door, Jonathan said in a subdued timbre, "Um...Spike's getting kinda impatient. How is she?"

Dru's head bobbed up to stare at the door, a dozen unreadable emotions flickering across her face.

Sighing softly to herself, Amy considered, Soulless Dru loved soulless Spike, and at least halfway hated him cursed. What she'll think of him now...hell, for all I know she'll have reverted to modest maiden and won't look twice at him unless he proposes. But she looks about as stable as I expect her to get.

"Bring him in, Jonathan. Tell him...tell him not to expect too much, but it looks hopeful," Amy offered bluntly. What I really want from her is information about what Buffy's planning, but Spike's told me she believed the Sight was evil. No way am I going to push her as much as I'd like. Unless the world is about to end, anyway?

"No need," Spike commented abrasively. Shoving past Jonathan, he forced his way into the room.

Cringing, Jonathan hastily took his leave.

Poor Jonathan, all that hero junk, and it turns out vampires make him queasy. Not sure we'll ever get him over that, Amy mused, withdrawing into a remote corner of the room to watch whatever drama might unfold.

"Dru, love...my beautiful ripe sweet," Spike offered lovingly, dropping to his knees, like a gentleman proposing.

Shaking her head, Amy stifled a snicker. When they said chivalry was dead, they didn't take vampires into account.

Meeting Drucilla's gaze, Spike asked delicately, "How are you, dearest?"

"It's all blood, Spike. All the stars are swollen red and they're falling," Drucilla intoned dreamily, peering up at the ceiling.

Cringing as she heard the answer; Amy cast a meaningful look at Spike, noting he seemed absolutely impassive. I guess he's used to this. Come to think of it, this is probably more like the Drusilla he used to know than she's been since we met.

Watching Dru carefully for a moment, Spike turned to glance thoughtfully at the witch. "I've seen worse," he remarked. Silence lingering for a moment he finally added in a subtle reflective tone, "Thing is, you can shatter any rock if you hit it hard enough. But you can't break sand...only shift it around a bit."

A pensive look washed over the witch's features as she silently reflected, Maybe the poet in him always understands her, now that I think of it. She's been broken so many times there's nothing left to break. Actually, kind of disturbing. Centuries of murder ought to leave a mark...but what can you do?

Gently taking Drucilla's hand, Spike deferentially kissed the back in the style of the gentleman of old. Gazing up hopefully, he requested in a delicate tone, "Dearest...I come humbly, hoping only to catch a glimpse of your...undying love for me. You are always in my heart and in my soul, beautiful Drusilla. Will you not tell me the same?"

It took all Amy's concentration not to roll her eyes. Sheesh?layin' it on thick aren't ya, Spike? And if it gets through to her, I'll kiss him myself. When she's not looking, that is.

Squinting as if to extricate herself from an unpleasant dream, Drucilla cast a bewildered look at her suitor, asking in a hushed voice, "You...you seem familiar...William? Is it you?"

Five seconds ago she was callin' him Spike, dammit. So much for crazy bein' romantic, Amy mused sardonically.

"Have you come to take me home?" Drucilla queried pensively.

Gritting his teeth Spike, offered sweetly, "It is I, William, and wherever we are together is home."

Taken with the emotion behind William's words, and the feeling that her prince had come to rescue her, Drucilla began shower him with kisses.

Averting her eyes, Amy started to edge toward the door . I've heard about these two lovebirds and what they're like together, more than I ever wanted him to tell me. About halfway across the room she heard Spike speak again.

"I love you so much, Drusilla. I thought...I thought you would never look at me this way again. With love in your eyes, and not hate," Spike reflected joyfully.

Drucilla sat silently observing her lover, noting the change in his expression.

Starting to say something, Spike reacted to the sudden sensation that his insides are trying to become his outsides. Releasing a long drawn-out moan like something was boring a hole into him; he rose to his feet, clutching the sides of his head.

The hell? Amy gazed at the scene not sure what to make of it.

Drucilla stood over Spike like an evil queen in a fairy tale while he writhed on the floor. Her eyes glinted like sun on the ice. "William, whatever is the matter?" she asked in a mock concerned tone, utterly devoid of compassion. Pausing to enjoy the pain she was inflicting, she questioned, "Does my love not make you happy?"

Fixed on the scene unfolding in front of her, Amy stopped to consider, I don't know what she's talking about, or what she did to Spike, but I know this much: there's no soul in there. All I did with that curse was hand her the rope to hang us.

Peering up at Amy, Spike's face was awash with emotions, fear, pain, grief? "Run!" he howled urgently.

Seeing Drucilla mirrored in Spike's visage, Amy resigned to the truth of the situation. I know it's already too late for that.

Regret? A kind of dark joy?

And hunger.

***********

I'm not a hero. I never will be.

Spike and Drusilla and Faith-they're the fighters-or were, anyway. Amy's the witch, the magic go-to girl?if she weren't all burned out from what looks like a failed spell. Warren's the inventor. He built most of the gizmos lying around the place, and the monitor cameras that let me know something's gone seriously wrong in Dru's room. And, see, that's bad. Because I'm pretty much all Amy's got.

I could call Faith or Warren. By the time either of them gets back, though, Amy's dead, and most likely I am too.

There ought to be something around here that would work. I say ?ought to be' because I'm not sure what it'd be. Amy had the failsafe syringe we always kept around; we figured if there was a problem, it'd be with Drusilla. Everybody always told me ?Spike's safe, he's harmless, he's got a soul'. So much for that? Syringe: out of reach. Freeze ray: probably effective on a temporary basis, but down for upgrades. Cerebral dampener: never finished the thing. We weren't sure it'd override Xander's magic jacket. Invisibility ray...

Y'know, maybe I've got something there. Invisible vampires, bad idea, yeah, but the reason we never actually used the thing was the side effect. Nobody really wanted to risk getting demolecularized into mush. If I were sure it'd kill a vampire, and do it in one shot, I'd waltz in like Neo with gun blazing. But if it doesn't take Spike out in one shot, I've got an angry invisible vampire on my hands, and once again: two corpses for Faith and Warren to find.

I'm running out of time. I'm running out of options. It looks like Spike's got ahold of Amy. I so need a plan. If only I'd ever managed to progress a little further with the mojo. I should've gone through with the freaking paragon spell, monster or no monster. We could've contained that. But I never got past the basics...levitation, a few simple glamors...hey, wait a second.

I've got it. I hope. I really don't wanna die.

One deep breath. The door's not quite shut so...big kick. Make it look like somebody impressive's coming in. Spike'll be busy, so Drusilla will come after me. She can't hurt me, but she can hold me till he's done, and I can't possibly break free. Yeah...here she comes; I guessed right, she's gonna grab. Time to play hero.

Time to grab first. She knows better than to fight too hard-she might hurt me, and then I'd have her for sure. And for once I judge it right. One arm around her waist. The other holding the invisibility ray to her chin. It may kill her or not-but he won't risk it. Can't stammer. Can't show any sign of weakness.

"Hey, Spike! D-drop Amy, or your girlfriend's mush!" Jonathan demanded doing his best to sound authoritative and failing miserably. Dammit, I stuttered! He's going to see right through me!

"Well, what do you know?" Spike remarked, giving the boy an amused glance. He dropped the witch, turning on Jonathan.

I don't believe it....he's pulling away! There're fang marks on her neck, though, and she's not moving. She might have fainted. I've got to hope she's fainted. She was pretty wiped out, and if she tried to use magic on him, maybe it was too much for her.

A delighted smirk infected Spike's features as he stood regarding the impetuous hero. "One of you prats grew some nadgers after all."

I don't think I've fooled him. It's hard to tell with the lumpies, but I think he's sneering at me. I'm an inconvenience. He may not even care if she dies. He's going to walk right over here, and he's going to kill me. I've failed. I've failed. I've...

Breathing deeply, Spike relished the smell of fear pouring off his would-be adversary, "Crying bloody shame it's not the Slayer? Bloke's got a reputation to uphold, which believe it or not, is all cocked-up after this rot about a soul. But you'll have to do?least for a taste," he reflected, surveying Jonathan, it was an effort not to just burst out laughing. Pausing, he drew a hand to his chin, stroking his jaw line in a gesture of reflection. "Gotta give it up I didn't see this coming."

With a look of deadly earnest settling over his features, Jonathan took another stab that the voice of authority thing. "Walk on outta here, Spike. Take Drusilla and leave. Nobody has to get hurt."

Starting to laugh, Spike sputtered, "Oh, please. You seriously believe for one bloody second..."

Watching the scene, trying his level best to stay focused. Jonathan grinned as Spike jerked forward. Just like he was stabbed?because he was? With the failsafe syringe that it took me three tries to float off the table behind him. Straight into the body-I wish straight into a vein, but nobody's that lucky-a big horse-needle syringe-full of holy water.

Spike shuddered, gasping for air he didn't need.

One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand, four one-thousand, five one-thousand? He's a tough old guy, Jonathan mused, watching as Spike dropped to his knees.

Suddenly Spike burst into flames, raining ash over the carpet.

I've just turned our second-best warrior into ash on the floor. We're doomed. We are so freaking doomed. Releasing Drusilla, Jonathan ran to Amy's side. I just saw how ?helpless' she is, but at least she can't physically attack me. Passing a hand over the witch's face, he felt her exhale. His next impulse, to check for a pulse cut short, he reflected, Thank God, she's breathing. I can't tell how much blood he took, but maybe she'll be all right.

Drusilla began wailing up a storm.

Jonathan resisted the urge to cover his ears and hide. As long as she's moaning and crying she's not attacking us. I think.

Amy's eyes fluttered open. "Faith? No...must be...Warren." Oh, for...

"You sure know how to bolster a guy's confidence, Amy." Jonathan remarked in a mock-snarky tone, watching as the witch squinted and blinked in an attempt to clear her eyes . I don't think she believes what she's seeing.

"Hell, no....I'm dead, right? Jonathan?" Amy mumbled.

Smiling down at the witch, Jonathan offered in a patient voice, "We're not dead, Amy. Spike is. Um...Drusilla's still alive, she's the one damaging our eardrums. I guess we'll have to kill her too. Er...if the rest of you think it's a good idea." I'm not sure what we're going to do with her. Obviously we can't trust her.

"You've got to be kidding me." Opening her eyes fully, Amy squinted and nearly shut them. "Ow. Damn lights. Are you seriously telling me you stood up to Spike? You killed Spike?" she queried, still not grasping what occurred.

"I'm sorry, Amy, I really am sorry, I know we needed him, I guess you'd have wanted to try cursing him again, I should've known, I'm such an idiot, so stupid..." Jonathan babbled, appearing ashamed. I've done more than kill Spike. I've killed all of us. We just haven't quit breathing yet.

Reaching up, Amy clamped a hand over Jonathan's mouth. Shaking her head at him, she commented, "You really are stupid, aren't you?"

Averting his eyes, Jonathan flushed. She hates me. Please let her just kill me and not turn me into a rat or something.

"You saved my life, Jonathan. You dumb, geeky little runt...you saved my life" Amy remarked, dropping her hand.

Jonathan's mouth fell open.

Glaring at the young man, Amy asked bluntly, "Oh, come on. Do I have to put this in a way a movie nerd can understand?" Putting on her most cheesy dramatic voice, she intoned, "My hero," drawing Jonathan into a proper ?thank you' kiss.

She's got to be delirious. That's it. She's delirious from blood loss.

But you know...it feels good anyway.

***********

This ain't how I wanted it to go down. Not much goes the way I want it to, though, so I'm about used to it. I wanted to bust in here, crack some skulls, dust some vamps, and then hit the town. Doesn't work so well on the big-league types, though. They have too many minions.

We knew the moment I showed up, Willow would pull the same crap with me she used on the bot. Almost wish we still had it, not that I liked it-just useful with this brand of crazy. Freaky, how it was a good copy of me one second and totally spacey the next. Where was I? Oh yeah?Little Miss Bad Mojo and her walkin' bag a dirty tricks. Figures she'd go for the bondage spells? So I came alone-sort of. Backup, such as it is, waited till the big guns brought me inside and hopefully they'll be showin' up any minute now.

Straining to look at Buffy, Faith queried curiously, "So?where's the kid? I thought you had a Slayer wanna-be on your hands." ?Course they've got me trussed up like a turkey on some kind of ritual altar-seriously bad news. I could break loose, given time, which they ain't gonna give me. Just hope they're not plannin' to slit my throat.

Raising a hand, Buffy smirked. "Right here? Didn't say she was alive..." Wondered when she'd actually catch up. Quick bunch?team white hat? Sorta makes me long for an actual challenge?but not?

Shit! Guess we walked into that one. Doesn't mean she wouldn't have found a way to catch me eventually, though, or make whatever-it-is work without me. She's just too damn smart, plus you get the extra bonus of her little pep squad.

Drifting up behind Buffy, Willow began to massage her shoulders.

Craning the take another peek, Faith couldn't help but snicker. And?so much for smart...at least when it comes to B, the witch is totally clueless.. .

"Hey, Buffy...Tara's finishing up the last of the chanting. Five more minutes and you're on. The two of you should get with the bodily fluids thing," Willow said in a low breathy voice, slipping a jagged little knife down into Buffy's collar.

Unable to resist the show, Faith tensed to chance another glance. Considering the scene, it occurs to her that Willow's going to start cutting off the shirt. She's mildly disappointed when the witch just drops the dagger and lets it hang. Well that coulda been funny?had promise? She noticed the dagger pulled the vampire's shirt down in the front. Might be she's coppin' a view.

Her formed blurred as Buffy turned around to face the witch. Seizing her hand, she began to squeeze until Willow started to wince and try to pull away. Shifting to her demonic countenance, she growled, "Last warning, Will? I'm sick of this. Touch me one more time - any part of me - and pull back a stump."

Still struggling to enjoy the show, Faith cursed her aching body. Bitch Queen's in game face, not that I think it'll help. Elphaba's one wickedly twisted chick? Probably thinks it looks cute. I'll give her this much?she's persistent?or maybe that should be ?obsessive'. Here's a clue?puppydog eyes not gonna cut it. At best, you'll just make her hungry.

"Um...right...last phase in four, then??" Willow commented dryly. Seeming much less affected than she should have, she massaged her hand to get the feeling back, shooting Buffy a hurt look.

Glaring back impatiently, Buffy dismissed the witch's display offhand.

A wicked grin passed over Willow's face as she taunted, "Kiss for luck?"

Snickering silently, Faith dropped her head to the altar. Geeez. I'm rooting for Buffy to kill her right now. Maybe it'll stop the ritual.

"What part of 'stump' didn't you get?" Buffy snarled, displaying her fangs in an exaggerated expression to illustrate the point.

Appearing genuinely hurt this time; Willow turned her back to the vampire and stalked off. Exchanging a look with the Tara as she took her seat by some diagrams painted on the floor.

Raised her eyebrows at the witch, Tara returned the gaze.

Glancing over at the couple who were easily in view from her current vantage, Faith began to puzzle. What the hell is going on? I'm reading a lot more dissension in the ranks than usual. Maybe Xander was more important to this bunch than we figured; so long as he was around, they all focused on him. If all we had to do was wait for them to break down, I'm gonna have to kill somebody.

Buffy rose from her seat, making her way to Faith. Sliding the point of the knife along the palm of her hand, she made a fist, and blood began to well out.

Peering anxiously up at Buffy, the slayer reflected, Vampires don't have circulation exactly, but they sure manage to make the blood flow when they want it to.

"Your turn, F," Buffy commented dryly, kneeling next to the slayer, she brandished the knife for effect.

Faith winced as the vampire drug the across her skin. I didn't think the bodily-fluids bit was going to be anything fun, but damn that thing is sharp. I think she got some of her blood in the cut. Can't turn me that way?but couple blood-sharing and vampire rituals there is no good here.

Collecting the scythe, Buffy held the weapon by the bladed end with her injured hand, allowing her blood to coat the shiny surface. Returning to Faith, she forced the slayer's injured hand free of its bindings.

Faith was absolutely certain she was going to die as she tried to watch over her shoulder. Dread building as she waited for the stake to penetrate her back. Instead the vampire simply forced the stake end of the scythe into her hand. The surface coated with the slayer's blood.

Withdrawing Buffy held the weapon out, allowing Faith to watch as the blood began to flow in thin lines toward the mid-point of the scythe.

Leaning down to whisper in Faith's ear, Buffy purred, "Welcome to my world, Slayer."

"Thought this wasn't about turning me, B?" Faith remarked, looking completely befuddled. It can't be?is that all she wanted? Why go to all this trouble just for that? Doesn't need any ritual?just the whole big sucking thing?

Casting the slayer a pitying glance, Buffy spoke in a low growl, "F, you have a majorly oversized ego, did I ever tell you that? Once again, not about you, though you do make a nice bonus. It's about what I got cheated out of. It's about power." Placing the scythe above the table, she watched as it floated an inch off the table. The weapon began to resonate, producing a low humming noise.

Rolling again to try and watch, Faith queried, "So all this is about you wanting to be the Slayer?" The slayer struggled with herself, unsure whether she was making laughing or choking sounds. A vampire wants to be the Slayer?and Buffy?? Only, hell, if she's both at once...this job had better start comin' with benefits?

"Think bigger, Faith. Think planet-sized for once. From now on, every girl who could be a Slayer...will be a vampire?and a Slayer. And best part here...totally under my control? I'm gonna wring the world so dry you could get more blood from a turnip afterwards. Oh, and Faith? You're included. My guess?? You're gonna love it." Buffy drawled, licking her lips, practically drooling.

Faith was straining herself so hard to watch that her body started to tremble. It's a damn crazy idea?and if it works won't be nothin' in the world that can stop it?stop us.

The blood trails on the Scythe trickled closer.

I'm so dead.

***********

Warren held up three fingers in plain view of his teammates. I'm looking forward to this. I finally get to throw down with her. Granted, she'll be using undead muscles and I'll be using a raygun, but hey, move with the times, right?

Raising two digits in the air, Warren made eye contact with Jonathan. I have to admit he's a pretty clever guy. Okay, I did have to talk him out of that ?calciem temporis' spell or whatever it's called, but even that was a good idea. There's just no guarantee that the whole fight would count as a single problem, or just the first vampire. We might even have run into a cop with a few brain cells left to wonder why we're packing big gun-looking things, and then we've wasted the magics.

Extending his index finger for the others to see, Warren clenched his hand into a fist, squeezing it tight.

Jonathan and Amy return the gesture, only with a little more oomph.

Propping himself casually against a tree, Warren relaxed and waited for phase one of the grand scheme they'd hatched to get underway. I won't pretend I don't understand magic; I know a fair amount about how it works. But actually getting it to work for me?that was the problem. I just don't seem to pack any punch. So I had to find other ways to fight evil. Guess that's life, right?

Warren watched in amusement as it began to rain on the minions. Odd, huh, when there's not a cloud in the sky, but they don't realize anything's wrong until they start to sizzle. Well, they spotted some busted pieces of water balloons, but it wasn't enough to clue them in.

The team watched the vampire minions writhed, clouds of vapor billowing from their undead flesh.

Warren dropped his hand, and Jonathan and Amy let loose the remaining balloons. Holy water splattered in every direction. Completely harmless to us, but for the vampires it's like they're fighting xenomorphs, and Ripley's hiding in the bunker giving orders. He observed in amusement as several of the vampires scattered, forgetting what they've been hired for. That's what happens when you're evil. It's every undead monster for himself. The smarter ones know Buffy'll hold them to account, though.

Watching as the savvier of the vampires retreated into the doorway looking for shelter, Warren motioned ?go' to Jonathan, tearing off across the lawn with the freeze ray in hand. Glancing over, he saw Jonathan keeping pace with the invisibility gun. I suppose we might as well call it a disintegrator gun now; it's not like we're using it for its intended purpose. From the test on Drusilla, vampires turn to dust, not mush, which I suppose makes a kind of sense, but it really doesn't matter. We amped up the basic power levels and whoomph! Instant death ray? The freeze gun's not as good, actually, though we did get around the whole icy arm bit. That last modification was the charm. I figured Short Round probably needs the better weapon. Levitating all those water balloons would've been enough to burn him out.

Leveling on the first vamp, Warren froze his target solid. Watching as Jonathan exploded the group next to him, the two made short work of the remaining vamps. Packed in together like that the minions don't stand a chance. That's the thing about vampires, I guess. They may be smart, but with a few exceptions they don't adapt very well. Punching and kicking and wooden stakes waving around?? They get that. They're used to it being a little dangerous. Start shooting something that can kill them, though and they're toast. Or icebergs and invisible dust, in this case.

Stopping at the door, Jonathan made sure the coast was clear and waved Amy forward.

Warren watched the display of gallantry with mixed interest. They seem a little...different since Spike lost his marbles, but I haven't figured out quite what's going on with them. It can't be what it looks like. The holding hands is just a magic-sharing thing, and no way would Amy ever fall for the dweeb when I'm around. Anyway, she's our big gun now and we've got to conserve her a little. Warren cautiously edged into the main building of the vineyard, noting that the main level was absolutely empty he gestured the others to follow. Either they didn't expect us to get this far, which is possible-we'd never have fought our way through the minions barehanded-or they've got something nasty waiting in the basement.

Scurrying for the trap door, Warren pulled out the pericam to take a look around. Lying on the floor to use the device, he peered through the lens. Damn, that's a lot of energy they're throwing around. The camera doesn't like magic, most kinds of technology don't, but it's too stupid to just shut down or burn out. It's hard to tell which energy flares are visible and which are interference, but really, it doesn't matter. Buffy's down there reading an incantation, the big red McGuffin is spinning around its long axis in mid-air, and Faith is tied so securely she might as well be frozen in carbonite.

"Amy, can you interfere with what she's doing? Whatever the hell that is?" Warren queried, glancing up from his spot on the floor . Pretty obviously, we're late for the party.

Gazing down at Warren, Amy described what she could sense in a pensive tone, "It's not just her, Warren. Not even mostly. I figure Willow's the real witch behind it, plus she's tied in to the Scythe and Tara's vengeance demon power. I couldn't even scratch that spell. We've got to get Faith loose before it's over."

"Crap! Well this is really no good," Warren reflected, continuing to try and get a less obscured view.

"Hey," Jonathan asked, sounding concerned, "where are Willow and her demon lover, anyw-?"

Warren heard Jonathan's voice waver and dropped the pericam down the stairs. Failing in his attempt to right himself, he lay on the floor, watching as Jonathan's feet dangled. Tara's got him by the throat in a Byrne hold. That's gotta smart. He saw the invisibility gun clattered to the floor. Searching for an option, he considered, Well, I'll just freeze her...

Aiming the freeze gun, Warren said, "Damn!" as made a rattling sigh. Glancing at the weapon, he saw that all its status lights were dark. Never mind that it doesn't take half as much energy as making things disintegrate into mush?

Amy mumbled a quick incantation, casting an energy bolt at the vengeance demon.

Cussing quietly, Warren frantically searched through his coat for a weapon. I've got way too many pockets in this trench coat, even if most of them do have something useful.

Spinning Jonathan around in front of her, Tara used the boy as a shield to block the blast, smiling wickedly at Amy as he twitched.

Warren looked up, responding to the sound of someone delicately clearing their throat. A figure from his worst nightmare was standing over to his left. Never have figured out why Darth Rosenberg scares me so much. She's out-and-out gothic with that black hair and pale veiny face, but truthfully, I think goth is hot. Except for her? Something deep down just insists she's going to be the death of me.

"Warren, you naughty boy," Willow chided, giving the young man a glare meant to inspire shame.

Pulling out the first weapon he located, Warren fired a maser pistol at the witch. "Crap! It's already dead," he spat as the piston made a little coughing noise. Tossing the gun aside, he resumed his search. The desperation of his actions building as the seconds ticked, he chanced a look up at Willow.

Tara glanced at Willow to smirk, casting the limp form of Jonathan aside. Charging Amy, she took the witch off her feet and began the beating.

Twitching her finger like a teacher lecturing a little boy, Willow smiled. "I know your secret, Warren. Hey, I get it; it's not like state of the art ever caught up with me either. All these nifty ideas and no components that can live up to them? So naturally you turn to magic. Your buddies find the quantum-mystical property stuff and you just slot it in like batteries. Very clever. No muss, no fuss, just smooth functioning hypertech. And I admit it was a smart idea, the sort of thing I might've come up with."

"You wish," Warren spat childishly.

Tara continued to methodically instruct Amy in the finer points of reason regarding the use of paltry magick tricks on vengeance demons.

Unable to restrain himself Warren chanced a look in Jonathan's direction, noting that Amy was in big trouble and Jonathan was lying unconscious on the floor. At least he hoped that was unconscious.

"You don't have the patience to think it through. If you'd actually tried to work with something people could use..." Willow snarled at Warren.

Warren clapped his mouth shut involuntarily; sweat was rising on his brow.

"No interrupting! Where was I? Trouble is, all that mystical energy? So easy to just take. And without it, your little gizmos aren't worth a shiny new nickel," Willow said, continuing her lecture.

There's got to be something. Fumbling madly from pocket to pocket, Warren searched for anything, anything that Willow might be wrong about, while she closed in. Beam weapons, energy grenades, and...what?

"No more robots, Warren. No more toys," Willow cooed, peering at Warren with sympathy in her eyes.

A strangled little croak issued from Jonathan.

Well, guess that's good?at least he's alive?for now , Warren reflected as he struggled against the rising panic.

Tilting her head slightly to one side, her expression washed with curiosity as Willow queried, "No more friends. Just what do you have left, anyway?"

In the bottom left pocket...not even time to take it out ...

"This," Warren noted, swinging the weapon up in the wrong-hand, he fired right through the leather. Sounds a little like thunder, this close, not like television at all. Reeling as the recoil knocked him off balance, Warren struggled to recover. Feels like my arm's about to tear off. I didn't even have time to brace. All there is?is this little black mark on her chest. Warren gaped in disbelief as it began to turning to red. Trembling as he watched her eyes go wide.

"Aw, f...." Willow gasped, collapsing on top of Warren.

All the color drained from Warren's face as he tried to hoist the body off of him. He could see the blood all over the back of Willow's shirt. Looking up, he noticed that it was splattered all over Tara and Amy, too. Not like with a vampire, where it's ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Not clean, not pretty...I killed her. I killed a person. Still trying to get out from under the body, he realized his legs weren't moving. It hardly matters.

Running over in nearly one deft move, Tara grabbed hold of Warren's coat, dragging him up to face her. This is it?it was a good run?

The bloodless flayed skin of her face was drawn in a violent sneer, but Tara's eyes spoke of pain. She didn't have to look to know that Willow was dead.

Warren was past panicking, he moved straight to completely numb as he looked into the demon's eyes. She knows. She's killed more people than I can count; she knows death when she sees it. Not like her power's all in the wishing, either. If she wants to rip my skin off, all she needs is her bare hands. The last thing you ever want to meet is a vengeance demon grieving.

"I had t-to," Warren tried to explain; falling all over himself, knowing it didn't matter. "She was about to...she was..." Noting that Amy was saying something, he found himself unable to focus on it well enough to hear. At least she's alive. Maybe she can still pull this off while Tara takes me apart.

"Shhhh," Tara whispered in a gentle soothing tone. "It doesn't matter why."

"All that matters is you killed her, and that means you have to pay. Karma's a bitch, Warren. And I'm karma," Tara uttered in the same subtle voice.

See you in hell, Willow. Counting down, three, two, one...

Trying to register what was happening; Warren fell to the floor, landing on his hands and knees. He watched as Tara's dress drifted down next to him, trying to figure out what universe this made sense in.

One of the dress sleeves twitched and a grey blur came streaking out. Unable to focus, Warren noted the movement and fell limp. Feels like, if the world ended now, I'm exhausted enough to miss it?or something like that.

Warren heard Amy's voice echo from some galaxy far, far away. "Hot damn! I actually made it work!"

***********

"...and heaven itself shall tremble, for the Beast shall be the Slayer and the Slayer shall be the Beast..." Buffy intoned, rushing through a handful of lines.

Bit of a hurry there B?? Think it's 'cause magic makes her queasy-sorta feel the same way-mostly ?cause of whatever's goin' down upstairs. The cavalry's here, only I'm kinda thinkin' it's a bit late. Somebody fired a shot-a real gun, not one of the Star Trek toys-same time the blood trails met in the middle of the Scythe. Cute timing?this is gonna suck?

Seizures racked Faith's slight form causing her to jerk violently at the ropes binding her. There mighta been some irony in that?bit busy to tell. Her body locked in an arched position, the pain was so intense she felt herself scream. The ropes snapped like thread as her body jerked again. Finally falling silent, she began to take stock of her condition. "Ow." Think I chipped a tooth. Maybe I'm dead or maybe not. Still wanna to rip Buffy a new one, so game's not over. Springing to her feet, she trembled. Whoa-kay?bit wobbly; it's still better'n I was hoping for.

Watching out of the corner of her eye, Faith saw the Scythe flare bright red. Whatever that means, it's not stopping me , she shrugged internally. Slamming her shoulder into Buffy's gut, she lifted her up and back and into the rock wall. Listening in mild satisfaction as the vampire's head made sharp crack, hitting the ceiling as they moved. Odds of that putting her down for the count are way low. Taking one step back to let her drop, the slayer drew back her fist to break a few of those ugly teeth.

Shaking her head, Buffy brought her knee up into the pit of the slayer's stomach.

Faith folded over. Shaking off the blow, she growled, "Bring it, then." Drawing back, she got in a right cross to the jaw. This time there's no joking, no quips. Not even a weak pun. Playtime's over; this one is for keeps. We've fought before. Hell, when have we not fought? I know her moves, and she knows mine. Your typical bloodsucker has all the discipline of a rabid dog. Not Buffy; every punch is tight, under control. Prob'ly looks like I'm the vampire; I tend to let myself flow. Can't really make wild swings, but someone just watchin' might think I was.

Shrugging off the punch, Buffy picked the slayer up, slamming her into the wall.

Payback, I guess. She's gettin' faster?stronger. I can see it, or could a second ago. Laboring to get her breath back, Faith noticed what a waste of time it was. I'm not breathing. Maybe haven't been for the last fifteen seconds and I couldn't even tell. Feeling her heart stutter, she pushed off the wall. I'm dying right here on my feet and not even slowin' down for it. Being turned, without the intermission? So how come I'm not getting stronger, the way she is? Flying into a spinning kick?

...the bat cracks, it's a late game with the spotlights shining down and Shelley takes off, not noticing the ball's way gone, faster than anything human ought to be, let alone a little girl playing softball...

Faith missed. ?Cause of-what the hell was that? At least it's in Buffy's head too.

Staggering, Buffy nearly stumbled into the altar. Recovering quickly, she shook her head and snarled, delivering a powerful left hook that the slayer only narrowly blocked.

Buffy's speeding up; I ought to see her blur, I think, only I can make out every twitch. I can see faster, think faster, but I can't make myself move. Mother?

?of all sunburns, spreading over her skin so fast she can see it grow, as Kennedy presses herself down against the horse's neck, urging more speed, more speed, and why did she have to be on vacation in England the one sunny morning of the year?

Damn. Those things are distracting. B's gettin' used to 'em, too, or getting over 'em faster. I'm not. If anything, I think I'm starting to slow down, and it doesn't make any damn sense! Trying to deliver a sweeping-kick to Buffy's legs, Faith cursed as she leapt out of the way. It feels like I'm holding back?or being held back.

Buffy seized the slayer by the shoulders, pulling back as she went for a head-butt, Faith slammed into the vampire's chin. Spinning the brunette hard, she delivered a knee to the slayer's kidney.

...into the wall. Ariel's been hit one too many times. This time she's fighting back. This time she sinks her teeth into Pop's neck, savoring his screams the way he always enjoyed hers.

Reeling from the blow and the vision, Faith had to work to stay on her feet. They're the others. We're all changing, all of us at once. Some of us are gonna die, caught in the sun somewhere on the other side of the world, and it doesn't even matter to B. A hundred would be enough, and the way it feels there're plenty more than that. Demons where the demon-fighters used to be?

And that's what's wrong with me? I'm not getting weaker. I'm freezing up 'cause I'm being taken over. The real Faith's fadin' out. Another couple minutes and I'm gone, nothing left but another monster out for blood and under her spell. Struggling to deliver another punch, Faith failed to connect. Fadin' like smoke, droppin' to my knees in front of her. Queen Buffy. She's got me. Watching as the Scythe shown blood-red behind the vampire, the slayer dropped to her knees.

Placing her hands on her hips, Buffy sneered down at the slayer. "Huh. Guess it's over. Always thought you had more fight in you, F. Hope you enjoy kneeling." Rapping the brunette hard on the head, she growled, "Still in there? Well, let this be your last human thought, Faith. Bet it just kills you that you're gonna spend eternity as my slave."

Click. It all slides into place, unnatural as hell, right as heaven, vampire, Slayer, and me, just me, all together, for that one instant. Faith? "Never!" she spat. Holding an impossible balance while thrusting upward with her legs, Faith grabbed Buffy and lifted, driving her up into the pointy end of the weapon behind her.

Kicking just a second too late, Buffy's eyes grew wide, then wider as they vanished, showing the sockets behind them.

Her dust settled over Faith as she staggered backward.

The Scythe dimmed and clattered to the floor.

Faith looked up to see Jonathan, Amy, Warren, all standing around her. Maybe I've blacked out for a few minutes. Maybe they made it down here during the fight; it's not like they could've done anything. I should get up, but for once I'm not hungry and I'm not horny. Just tired. Bone-tired. I beat her. She's gone. For good this time. I hope. And I'm still here, still me, so I guess the other girls must be too. I felt 'em when the Scythe fell, going back to sleep. The way they belong.

"You all right?" Jonathan asked, appearing worried.

Poor guy, always so concerned. One a' these days, somebody's gonna die and it's gonna kill him. Not today, though. Faith managed to look up. Was gonna say I'm fine, but the way they're lookin' at me...something's not just right.

"Faith?" Amy squeaked, "Your face..."

Something's way wrong. I manage to raise a hand to it. Not that I really have to check, from the looks in their eyes. No fuzz over my brows. Just lumpy ridges. And fangs. "Aw hell," Faith growled.

Coda

The look on her face...so awesome. Personally I wouldn't mind being a vampire. It'd be better than this. But if Faith hates it, great. She deserves every second she suffers for getting my sister killed. Again.

Okay, so Buffy and me weren't always on great terms. And she sort of dragged her feet on finding a way to change me back. But I understood that; she was afraid of losing me. I didn't really want to lose her either. We're sisters, even if we weren't always, and I love her.

If what Giles heard is right, Faith's having a rough time. I guess pig's blood doesn't exactly meet a slayer-vampire's recommended nightly allowance. She went around a couple of weeks looking like a famine victim before lifting a few bags from the hospital. Now she's signed on with one of those suck joints-which sounds sooo dirty-I bet that's driving her bananas. They have to watch her every second because she has trouble not taking too much. I love hearing it. Maybe she'll kill someone, someone human she'll actually care about. Stupid slayers. It's not vampires' fault they have to feed. Doubt this will clue Faith in, though. The enjoining spell didn't teach her anything either. Though that might have been stupid ghost-slayer's fault for killing Buffy afterwards?

Giles is talking about adopting me. I wish we could find my dad, but Buffy freaked him out a few years ago and he's been hiding in Europe somewhere ever since. It'll be cool to be the Mayor's daughter. And maybe even cooler, if Giles' new plan works out. He says he might be able to cut short the time to the next cosmic alignment by switching demons. All those tentacles look much better to me than not having any arms. Apparently this Illyria-demon was a king once. Big step up from Mayor, totally sweet.

I wasn't supposed to be at the vineyard. I'm glad I was, though, even if it did mean I had to find Willow's body and watch Buffy get dusted. See, I managed to find Tara before she scurried off. You'd think it would be hard to tell, but I guess the spell Amy used was meant for humans. Transformed people aren't supposed to be smart any more, but Tara is. She rearranged my cereal one day to spell out her name. That was kinda gross-yeah, she's Tara, but she's still a rat--so we've been using Scrabble tiles since then. It's awkward, but it's better than not being able to talk with her at all. It'd be so much easier if she could still grant wishes, but no luck.

We've been making plans of our own; I don't know if Giles would approve and I don't really care. We're both sure there's a way to bring Buffy back. We did it before, after all. But there's no way I could capture five vampires by myself, even if I knew someone to turn Buffy again afterward, and Tara and I were two of the five closest people when Buffy died, so that's out too. But there's something. There's got to be something. I just hope I don't have to ask Giles for help. Some of these rituals take someone with real power. If I could just be Glory again?

I'm thumbing through another book when Tara squeaks at me. She's finished spelling out a title and page number. It takes her forever to get anything across, and I just hate how exhausted she looks after long conversations. Poor thing. Weird, though...if I remember right the Taarn Grimoire is pretty basic stuff. Vengeance curses, mostly, but way below Tara and Willow's level. Even if the spell's something I can do, I don't see how it can possibly help.

It's a vengeance curse all right. About the suckiest kind on record. I don't get it- Tara always said basic penance maledictions were sloppy, stuff no one with any self-respect used. They always fit the crime, but there's no creativity involved; the perp's subconscious mind does all the work.

"Tara...do you think I suck this bad? I did help with bringing Buffy back last time. I'm not a total zero with magic. And what good is this anyway?"

Squeaking loudly in exasperation, Tara labored to spell out the name, Warren.

He's been depressed ever since killing Willow. Serves him right. I hate him. He's the one who should be dead, not her. She never did anything bad to him. I don't know what good putting this curse on him will do, though.

Scurrying around, desperate to make Dawn understand, Tara's struggled to spell out, Willow.

I'm still not seeing her point. Okay, they're connected, since he killed her, but...the only reason Tara ever said was good enough to use this sort of spell was that they can do things you don't have the power for. But since you can't control them, you have to hope what's on the person's mind is...related to what you want to happen. Oh. My. God. She can't be serious.

We know exactly what's on Warren's mind. He'll punish himself by bringing her back somehow. And...I dunno...maybe she'll kill him. But we'll have her back. And with Willow we'll be able to call Buffy back too, piece of cake. Tara may not like it, but I bet Will's still crushing on my sister, no matter how dumb she has to be not to see it won't ever work.

Snatching Tara up, Dawn chattered excitedly, "I love you guys! This is great!"

Giving Dawn a sick look, Tara bit her finger.

I must have been too fast. I forget she gets dizzy when I do that. We'll get them back. We'll get them both back. Not Xander, of course...and then we can change me back.

And-teehee-Glorify my name in all the Earth.

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