Buffy scaned every shadow as she and Xander walked around the empty alleys of the Bronze. At least, anyone passing by would assume they were empty. Xander and Buffy knew better. Willow had wanted to come patrolling, but she was helping Giles with research. A sacrafice was going to be made soon, maybe tonight, and to Buffy, that wasn't good. The sacrafice would bring forth yet another big bad to this world and Buffy wanted to stop that before it could rise. She really didn't want to fight some all-mighty demon right now, she had a book report to present tomorrow. As Xander and Buffy crept ever closer to the now-closed Bronze, Buffy's spider sense began to tingle.
"I'm feeling something," she told Xander.
"Is it coming from the Bronze?"
"Yah, I think so. Let's go check it out."
Xander followed Buffy to a manhole cover a few yards from behind the bronze, and waited for her to lift it. Once Buffy was underground, Xander followed, climbing down after her. They walked until they reached a dusty dead end. The feeling in Buffy stomach was getting stronger. With Xander behind her, she reached up and felt for the small trap door. She gave a little push and slid it to the side. Then Buffy grabed either side of the opening with her hands and pulled herself up. Once Buffy was up she gazed around the empty, falling apart back room, and then back down to Xander, who was having a bit of trouble.
"Give me your hand," she whispered.
"Thanks, Buff." he said once he was up.
Buffy motioned for him to keep quiet and he mouthed a "sorry". Then they started toward the door that lead out to the private hallway. Buffy opened the door silently and Xander followed her through, making sure to close the door behind him. They looked around, and Xander pointed out a small line of flickering light at the end of the hall. Buffy moved cautiously towards the slightly ajar door with Xander close behind and peeked through the crack. The room was probly a former storage room, but was now lit only with a torch on each wall. The room was empty, except for two burly vamps playing cards. They were obviously supposedly guarding the guy tied to a chair off in a corner. The sacrifice. They probly didn't have very much time, and would have to do this now. Buffy would go for the vamps, and Xander would go help the guy. Buffy turned to Xander, who nodded. She removed the stake from her jacket and with lightning speed kicked down the door, which wasn't really nescesary but helped to relieve some tension. The vamps were up in a flash, well, except for them being kinda slow and not very bright. Buffy got lucky and staked the closest one right away. She loved when her surprises had an effect on people. Buffy raised her stake, preparing to off the other one, but he moved more quickly this time. She didn't expect that and was caught off guard for a second when he managed to hit her in the nose. It stung a little. There was no blood, but it was enough of a distraction for the vamp to move again. Instead of running away, he grabbed her and held tight with a bear hug from behind. He might not be bright, but he was strong. He was also completely focused on the Slayer, and didn't notice when her companion, Slayerette if you will, came up behind him with his own stake and shoved it as hard and as fast as he could to where he hoped the heart was more or less positioned. Xander's stake hit home, for, within seconds, Buffy was covered in dust.
"Thanks," Buffy coughed.
Xander started to help brush her off and replied, "No prob," with a big grin on his face. Then he noticed how Buffy was looking at him and turned to see the guy over in the corner, bound and gaged, staring terrified at them.
"Oops," he gave Buffy a small grin and started towards the stranger.