Chapter 2 On the Third Day He Rises

A/N: It's a two-part chapter/episode so here's the other part now you'll have to wait for chapter 3 until next week. Enjoy.

You are my angel

Come from way above

To bring me love

Her eyes

She's on the dark side

Neutralize

Every man in sight

Love you, love you, love you ...

You are my angel

Come from way above

Love you, love you, love you ...

Angel kicked the big vampire off him and then the vampire started to back off seeing the cross and the medal hanging from Angel. Not only that this boy was strong, stronger than the average human. Angel heard a scream and took off running to save his friends. He kicked a vampire off Willow as it nearly got her. Angel took seeing a vampire dragging Xander off.

Angel jumped into the air and flipped and kicked the vampire off him. Angel swooped to the ground and kicked the legs out from under him. Angel looked up and saw a small tree branch and he reached for it and broke it off and staked the vampire and it was dust. Angel turned around as Willow was helping Xander up but one person was missing.

"Where's Jesse?" Angel asked as he helped Willow.

"I don't, I don't know," Xander answered in pain as they got him to his feet. Angel looked around trying to sense anything but he got nothing. The best thing to do was to get these two to safety.

The next day in the library Angel sat at the huge table and while he did not want Willow and Xander here they were at the table too. They did deserve to know what almost happened to them last night and possibly why. Angel's seen vampires isolate a person to feed but they usually don't feed to together. It can create fights but if there is a feeding orgy type thing then it's more for a ritual not just out of hunger.

"The world is older than you all know," Giles began also not really wanting Willow and Xander here but they weren't going to leave because Jesse was still out there. Angel knew better, Jesse was dead by now. If he got away the blood loss would be too great for him to survive. "For eons demons walked this earth they're known as the Old Ones. Of course they killed each other off leaving the smaller lesser demons."

"I already knew that." Angel added but this lesson wasn't for Angel.

"The Old Ones can no longer be found except in tombs in the Greater Well. But here on earth the demons still reside in certain relics, magics," Giles went on.

"Vampires," Angel added onto the list.

"Ok," Xander jumped in. "This is where I have a problem. We're talking about vampires. We're having a talk with vampires in it."

"Isn't that what we saw last night?" Willow asked Xander as she was a little annoyed with him. Angel and Giles didn't say anything so it meant yes.

"So vampires are demons?" Xander asked Angel and he shrugged.

"He's the Watcher I just kill them." Angel answered him as he sat in the chair with his feet on the table. It felt kind of good that more than just two people knew about the world of demons and vampires but it could mean their death too.

"The books say the last demon of this world fed off a human, mixed their blood with his. He was in human form possessed, infected by the demon." Giles elaborated to the group. "He bit another and then that one bit another thus vampires." That was about some odd thousand years of history summed up. "They've run ramped now, thousands of them and they just keep coming. They're waiting for the Old Ones to return."

"Great," Xander deadpanned.

"To counter the evil a slayer was born. It was a girl given the powers of the demons. Knowing the life of a slayer would be short lived the wizards then broke the powers up. From then on in each generation a slayer comes. One dies another is called." Giles tried to give them some good news. Then Xander looked to Angel. "Angel is the first male since the line has started."

"That's…cool right?" Willow asked and looked to Angel as he sat there.

"It's never happened and the Council is trying to understand why but for now he is the slayer." Giles stated. "And you two will do well not tell anyone. You can be in danger for doing so."

"As opposed to the danger we're already in?" Xander asked.

"A slayer's identity is to remain a secret as much as possible." Giles added but a male slayer will cause a buzz in the demon underworld soon, it was only a matter of time. "Well that's enough vampire history for one day."

"Sure except how do you kill them?" Xander asked and Angel looked up to him.

"You don't, I do." Angel was clear on that. Just yesterday he wanted out of the business but now it looks like he was back in.

"Well Jesse is my," Xander began.

"He's my responsibility I let him get taken." Angel spoke up wanting Xander and Willow out of this.

"That's not true," Xander tried to defend Angel a little and wanted to help him.

"Guys, if Angel hadn't shone up we could have been taken too. Anybody mind if I pass out?" Willow asked realizing that she could have died last night.

"Listen, I'll find Jesse but he might not be who he was and I don't want you guys to see that." Angel stated as he sat up straight. "If anything you walk out the door and forget about me and go on with your lives." Willow looked to Angel concerned for him. Giles knew Angel was making the right choice but he knew it wasn't always the best. "This Harvest thing that I was told about we need to know what's going on." Giles nodded in agreement.

"Well where do we start?" Xander asked.

"I searched the place and they were gone." Angel answered.

"Vampires can they fly?" Xander asked.

"Drive," Angel answered and Xander nodded.

"I didn't hear any cars." Willow added.

"We're going to take an intuitive leap and say they went underground." Giles stepped in but if Jesse was taken why bother finding him, he was dead by now.

"Sewers, no sunlight and they have easy access." Angel added and Xander nodded. "But I didn't see any access last night not nearby."

"Well there's a whole electrical tunnel that runs through the whole town." Xander jumped in and Giles nodded.

"If we have a diagnostic of the whole system we might be able to find a meeting place." Giles was saying but he was getting frustrated. "We could go to the building commission,"

"We don't have time." Angel added and it sounded like that was it. Angel sighed knowing someone was dying or already dead because of him.

"Uh guys, there's another way." Willow spoke up smiling knowing what they could use.

Willow was on the computer with the grid of the whole town as Xander sat next to her. Angel paced waiting to see if they might find something and Giles was impressed at the knowledge but he pushed that out. After today it would go back to Angel fighting alone.

"Here's the whole grid of the city and in twenty clicks we'll find it." Xander explained as Angel stood over them.

"What are we looking for?" Angel asked not knowing too much about town and city grids.

"Well," Willow started as she searched. "There's like the intersections that each line crosses so we're looking for one that could be big enough for holding people and for vampires and other undead things to hang out in." Willow finished and Angel nodded as he looked at the screen but all he could see were lines. Angel began to pace again knowing every second that passed meant the closer Jesse was to dying or dead and maybe rise again.

"Found it!" Xander called out and both Angel and Giles came over and looked as Willow pointed.

"Runs right under the graveyard." Willow added which explains why there were more vampires around than your typical graveyard vampires.

"I don't see an access though, not one close at least." Xander added looking. There had to be an access if the vampires disappeared that quickly and it had be close.

"So, all the city plans are just opened to the public?" Giles asked a little confused and Willow shrugged.

"Uh, well, in a way," She explained as Angel and Xander searched for an access close by. "I sort of stumbled on them when I accidently tripped the city council's security system." She said like it was no big deal.

"That's impressive," Angel commented and then sighed. "But it's useless right now."

"We'll find something," Giles assured the slayer but Angel was getting impatient about it. Then it hit Angel.

"The access is in the mausoleum somewhere that's why the two vampires took Willow and Jesse there." It made sense now to Angel and he knew where to go. "Giles what are packing?"

"Packing?" Giles asked not understanding what he meant.

"Weapons, what kind of weapons do you have here?" Angel restated the question and now it made sense to the Watcher. Giles walked to his office as Angel followed along with Willow and Xander. Giles opened a locked door and looked around.

"Standard crossbows, broadswords, axes," Giles said and Angel looked around. Ok so maybe being the slayer wasn't going to be so bad with this kind of arsenal around.

"Ok, so let's saddle up." Xander was ready but Angel looked to him.

"You're not going anywhere." Angel was firm on that. "One person might be dead not risking another." Angel then reached for a crossbow looking at it liking it.

"But," Xander was about to protest but he didn't know Angel well enough to know how stubborn he was.

"Not repeating myself." Angel pointed to Xander with an arrow and then placed it on the crossbow as Giles grabbed a bag of arrows for him.

"We need to help some how." Willow sounded defeated. They couldn't help physically and a friend might be dead because of it.

"This Harvest, I need help on the research." Giles offered a way and Willow smiled a little knowing what he was trying to do. "I'll escort you off the grounds." Giles needed to get Angel out without getting him in trouble.

Angel and Giles went to Angel's car. Angel opened up the trunk that held spare stakes and holy water as he put the crossbow in and shut it.

"Angel whatever this Harvest means or is it's connected to what's down in those sewers. You maybe coming up against stronger and older vampires." Giles warned the young man as Angel opened the door.

"I killed Lothos," Angel stated reminding Giles. "I can handle myself." Giles nodded as Angel sat in his seat and turned the car on. "You just tell me how to stop this Harvest." Was Angel's order and he closed the door, backed out and was off.

Angel made it to the cemetery and grabbed the crossbow and bag of arrows and slung it over his shoulder so he could carry it on his back. Angel locked his car and headed to the mausoleum and went inside. While it was daylight it was dark enough in here for a vampire to hang out. So once he was inside Angel held the crossbow ready. He went to the back of the place and found a door and kicked it opened and went in. But then he turned around quickly and saw the woman from last night standing behind him.

"Morning," She greeted him with a smile. "Shouldn't you be in class?" She asked as he lowered the crossbow.

"I'm looking for someone." Angel answered and he wasn't going to lie to himself he liked seeing her. Now that it was brighter out he could see her even more and she was very beautiful. "Want to help?"

"They don't like me dropping in." The woman answered him still holding a small smile.

"Why not?" Angel asked her.

"They just don't like me." Was the only answer she was going to give him at this point.

"Find that hard to believe." Angel was a little sarcastic on that one and she let out a small giggle. "If you're going to be popping up everywhere at least give me a name." Angel asked her and she smiled walking up to him just a little.

"Buffy," She answered and he nodded.

"Interesting name," Angel then turned to the door and she stepped forwards a little more.

"Don't go down there," Buffy sounded concerned and Angel turned back to her. "Don't put yourself in that kind of danger it's not worth it." Her stands changed as she was serious now.

"I have a friend down there." Angel explained and she nodded.

"You and I both know he's dead by now and it's just trap." Buffy stated and Angel knew it but he still had to go. If Jesse was turned then he needed to put him down.

"Still going." Angel was set on the mission.

"Some one's got White Knight Syndrome." Buffy added with a little smile. "Besides the Harvest is tonight and unless you can stop it the Master walks."

"Well if this Harvest is a suck-fest you stop it." Angel offered and she smiled.

"Can't, I won't fight the Master." She gave her reason and Angel nodded and turned away. "Head east," Buffy called to him and he looked at her. "Head east to the school, that's where you'll most likely find him." Angel didn't say anything but his body language said thank you as he headed off. Buffy stood there worried for him. She wanted to go in after him, this friend who was probably dead was not worth his life. "Damn him for being cute." She muttered to herself and went in.

Angel headed down the stairs checking the corners with the crossbow and kept going. It was a vampire's dream, dark and gloomy. He hated the sewers but this is where they were. Then he turned around and it was Buffy. He didn't say anything because there was another noise that caught their attention and they walked together. Angel could feel it, something was down here alright. Buffy had no idea why she was doing this but she had to help him.

They followed the tunnel until up ahead there was a vampire standing there guarding. Angel took out a stake and came up behind the vampire and staked him and he was dust before he could make a peep.

"That supposed to impress me?" Buffy asked him and he looked to her as he put his stake away and grabbed his crossbow and they kept walking until they saw a flickering light. Buffy stopped walking and Angel noticed, she was afraid of something. He made a promise that he wasn't going to let anything happen to her as he stood there waiting for her and she stepped forward. She stayed close to him almost on top of him. He rounded a corner holding the crossbow ready to fire but nothing.

But the light was brighter as the descended further. Angel knew they were close, no rats. Just then as he saw it, it hit him. The dreams he had been having were of this place. Buffy looked to the basically the crack in the world and didn't want to go any further but followed. Angel crouched down as did Buffy as they looked to some vampires walking around. To the human eye they looked like normal people.

Buffy still literally remained on top of Angel as they looked to all the vampires lighting candles. Angel wouldn't be able to take them all on not with just this crossbow and one stake. He scanned the area for Jesse hoping he was alive but knew better. Then Angel saw a huge vampire walking with a candle.

"That's Luke," Buffy whispered pointing to a huge vampire and it was the vampire that attacked Angel last night. "High priest to the Master," She explained and Angel knew to keep that information in the back of his mind.

"Who's the Master?" Angel asked but his question was answered when he saw a tall vampire, he had a white face and a baldhead. That was the white face he's been dreaming of, the face his gut was telling him to fear.

"Him," Buffy answered and he can see why she didn't want to face him. "This Harvest has something to do with him. He needs to feed,"

"Let me guess he feeds, becomes strong enough and we're all screwed." Angel summed it up and Buffy nodded. Angel and Buffy looked to each other and then back to the vampires as they performed some sort of ritual.

"Jesse's dead, we need to leave." Buffy didn't want to stay but then Angel saw Jesse but he knew it only looked like Jesse, he was too late to save him. There was one thing to do and that was to put him out of his misery. "No, Angel," But it was too late Angel fired a clean shot right into Jesse's heart and he was dust. Angel pushed Buffy and they ran as the vampires there saw Jesse go down but had no idea where it came from.

Angel and Buffy ran down the hall hoping they could get out. Angel turned around and fired the crossbow at a vampire and he was dust and they kept running and found the way they came from. Angel made sure Buffy was out first and then he headed to the front door. Angel shut the door looking around trying to gather what he was going to be up against.

"Go back to the school and find a way to stop the Harvest." Buffy ordered but Angel didn't want to leave and walked up to her.

"What about you, where are you going?" He asked not wanting her to go anywhere alone now not after crashing a vampire ritual.

"Don't worry about me." She assured him and went another way. Angel ran out of the place and then ran to his car to give the information to Giles that he just heard.

Angel bust through the library doors as Xander, Giles and Willow were at the table.

"We've got issues people." Angel announced and that was an understatement as Angel set the crossbow on the table and the bag of arrows down.

"Jesse?" Xander asked and the look Angel gave him meant Jesse was dead.

"Something called the Master wants to rise and I don't like it." Angel stated. "Saw him too, ugly, he's needs to die." Giles nodded.

"The Harvest is tonight," Giles began. "A very old and powerful vampire came here which now we can assume he goes by the name Master. He came here to feed. The Spanish called this the Boca del Infierno or Mouth of Hell." Giles paused as he took his glasses off to clean them. "It's a portal between this reality and another. This vampire hopes to open it."

"He needs to feed in order to rise." Angel added and Giles nodded.

"How do you know that?" Giles asked.

"Doesn't matter right now." Angel didn't want to bring Buffy into this yet. He wasn't sure how much he could trust her right now. There was something about her and it wasn't the usual thing about the mysterious girl.

"The Master didn't succeed, an earthquake stopped him." Willow interjected.

"He's been trapped for years now and tonight is the crescent moon. This night that he can escape comes once in a century on this night." Giles sat down continuing on. "He can give one of his minions the power to feed to help him break free. Once he's free then he'll open the Hell Mouth."

"End of the world." Xander finished.

"I know who he'll use, he has a high priest type minion." Angel added.

"How do you know all this?" Giles asked again.

"Buffy," Angel answered. "A girl, she seems to know a lot." Angel finished and Giles nodded accepting the answer.

"Ok, so we know the who, the when but where?" Xander asked. "We need to stop this."

"What's with this 'we'?" Angel asked. "We aren't going to do anything, we as you two stay out of this. I as in me alone will stop this." Angel was grateful that they wanted to help but he wasn't going to risk it. Too many people for his liking were going to die tonight and he didn't want to add them if he could help it. A death that he couldn't stop weighed heavily on him.

"Angel," Willow protested but knew she wasn't going to win it.

"They'll be at the Bronze it's a Friday night the Bronze will be the busiest place." Angel stated as he went to Giles' weapons room to restock on arrows and grab a few stakes. Giles began to help him knowing time was against them. He had a feeling if they make it through this time would be against them. Angel grabbed the bag as they followed him out to the car. The sun was already setting. As a slayer the sun was both your friend and enemy.

Angel packed his car and turned to his well friends now.

"Stay inside, lock the doors, let no one in." He warned them and Willow and Xander nodded. Giles walked up to Angel and placed a hand on his shoulder and it was a way of saying good luck. Angel got in his car and was off to the Bronze.

He could feel it the vampires were already there as he got out and armed himself. Angel saw the fire latter and climbed it and snuck in through a window and was up in the rafters. He didn't have the best shot on Luke but some of his vampire friends he did. Angel set up as Luke was speaking to the crowds of people. Angel then aimed the crossbow as Luke brought up a person to the stage and fed off of him. Then another vampire brought Cordelia on stage.

As much as Angel couldn't stand Cordelia he had to do something to save her. Just then he had one minion and he pulled the trigger and had the perfect shot. Angel quickly reloaded as Luke looked around trying to find out who did that. Angel pulled the trigger again killing another minion and Luke looked up.

"Him! Get him!" Luke yelled and two vampire minions ran to the stairs to get to the rafters. Angel climbed the railing and jumped to the other side. "It's the boy slayer." Luke smiled, he could kill the boy slayer something that has never been done and will probably never happen again. Angel didn't land on the other side but kicked off from the railing and landed on a pool table.

"Sorry to interrupt," Angel didn't really mean it.

"So the it's true, the legend is true." Luke smiled and tossed Cordelia away. "You would be much better for the Master than any human. Bring him to me." Luke snapped his fingers and two more vampire minions raced for Angel. Angel quickly dropped to one knee and slung the crossbow behind him and took out two stakes and threw them. They embed perfectly into the two vampires' hearts and they were dust.

Angel stood there like it wasn't the hardest thing in the world. Angel then charged at Luke and jumped on stage and kicked him down. Everyone gasped but it distracted the other vampires enough that some people managed to open the door and run out. While people were fleeing Buffy came and saw some vampires ready to charge. She ran and kicked two of them down and staked them.

Angel held his ground as Luke paced back and forth wondering how to attack. Angel took his crossbow and bag of arrows off of him and tossed them away. They were weighing him down and now it was time to fight hand to hand. Luke charged and Angel dodged the punch and kicked him back. Angel roundhouse kicked him against the wall and he came back for more. Buffy kept the other vampires busy while the people escaped.

Luke threw a punch and Angel ducked and threw his own punch and Luke grabbed his fist and threw Angel against the wall. Luke bent down and grabbed Angel and threw him again and Angel skid across the ground but landed right next to his crossbow. He grabbed it and pointed it at Luke and then aimed a little higher and fired causing a sand bag to drop on him. Angel jumped up tossing the crossbow away and took out a stake as Luke got up. Angel jumped into the air and Luke went to punch him but Angel grabbed his fist and then drove the stake into his heart. Luke looked to Angel and was dust.

The other vampires stopped fighting Buffy looking up to Angel and ran away and Buffy turned to the stage as Angel was still standing there.

"Well, I'll be damned," Buffy started and Angel looked to him. "You did it." Angel smiled a little as he went to get his crossbow and then hopped off stage. No doubt he was keeping the crossbow and he met up with Buffy. "Apocalypse avoided…for now."

"Thanks to you." Angel gave her some credit and she smiled and shrugged.

"I needed some muscle and a strong back to help." She added and then started to head out and Angel went to follow. "I'll see you around Angel." Which meant don't follow but it won't be the last time he sees her.

The weekend was over and Monday came and on the local news a rival gang took over the Bronze and the people were on PCP. Angel was in the library listening to the news as was Giles, Willow and Xander.

"Idiots," Xander commented and Giles smiled.

"People have a tendency to rationalize what they can and forget the rest." Giles explained why the town acted like nothing happened. "But this Master Angel, this won't be the last of him."

"I know," Angel knew he met a new enemy. Lothos was hard and tough to kill but he knew the Master was going to be something else all together. Angel got up grabbing his backpack and putting it on his back. "In the mean I need to get to history." Angel got up with Xander and Willow following him out the doors.

"The earth is doomed." He said to himself but with a small smile. Angel should be doing this alone but with the help of Xander and Willow they managed to stop the end from happening. Now Giles needed to know who this Buffy was, she seemed to know a lot. While Angel headed to class he thought about Buffy. Half of him trusted her, the other half told him to not let his guard down. One thing was for sure he was going to have to accept his role as the slayer if the world was going to survive, if he was going to survive.

So we're in full slaying mode now. Bet you guys have questions about Angel and Buffy, Buffy mostly. But all in due time everyone. All but two chapters are done and this "book" will be eight chapters long and if it's a hit and you guys want me to go on Book 2 will get posted. So what do you guys think so far? Hope you're liking it. And yes there is a chapter review in the forum if you want a little bit more and maybe there's a sneak peak to the next chapter. Thanks for reading, comments and reviews are welcomed.

Song:

Angel by Massive Attack