Disclaimer: Still don't own anything to do with BtVS. But, if the rights were to be given to me, I wouldn't turn them down... ((Guess that's obvious, though, huh?))
Chapter 8
"Are you sure?" Buffy demanded. "On the school dance?"
"Positive. These calculations can't be wrong." Giles looked up from his book. "Buffy, it is important that we know. Is your family made up of vampires?"
Buffy bit her lip, glancing at the curious faces of Willow and Xander. It would be so easy to tell them. 'Yeah,' she wanted to say. 'In fact, they're the scourge of Europe. I'm gonna join them someday!' Somehow, she felt that she shouldn't. Maybe it was because Angelus had threatened her, and she knew better than to anger him. There were punishments a lot worse than no chocolate. She shivered, managing to pass it off with a false, exaggerated yawn. "Nah. They're just eccentric." She hadn't convinced them, she knew, but at least she hadn't confirmed any suspicions.
"So, we're going to get with the escaping, right?" asked Xander. "Because this whole the-slayer-dies thing doesn't sound of the good."
"I... I agree," said Willow, hesitantly, "but we leave, and the entire town will fall to The Master. And that would just be the start."
Buffy sighed. "I can't run." Weaklings weren't accepted into a family of vampires, after all.
"The school dance?" asked Spike. "Ten's wrong. It was a conch shell that kept order, not Piggy's glasses. The glasses just created disorder and carnage."
"Oh, thanks." Buffy wondered when he had read her book. Just yesterday he had had no clue to the answers. "Yeah, the school dance. Pretty sucky, right? I had been hoping we could go together."
"I'll go with you to stop the Master," said Spike. "Jack was all supported by the choir, not the band. Did you even read the book?"
"Yes, I did. Just really quickly. And no, you won't go with me. I won't have you die in some heroic attempt to save me."
"Course I'm bloody well coming with you!"
Buffy raised a brow. "We'll see. So, who was possibly a psychopath before going to the island?"
"Roger. Are you sure you read the thing?"
Buffy looked at the ceiling. "Maybe... I might have just skimmed through it real fast..."
Spike sighed. "Did a right bad job of it, too. If you'd read it, you'd know that Simon was the one who was torn apart. Best part of the book, I say. Bunch of boys ripping apart their best chance at survival."
"Ew, that's sick," said Buffy, making a face.
"Thought you like violence."
"Yeah. Not ripping a person to pieces, giving them a slow, painful, horrible death, with flesh being torn and ripped off from all directions. That's just sick."
"Is pretty grotesque," Spike agreed, nonetheless uncaring. "I myself prefer keeping the skin on the person. Gives me more blood to drain."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Who gave Ralph's hiding spot away?"
"Samneric. Next time you better read it. I'm not gonna be your answer book every time."
Buffy suppressed a snicker. Spike could never resist reading her books.
"How... how could this happen?" Willow stared at the F- on her page. She glanced at Buffy's paper. An A+! "Can I see you paper?" Where had she gone wrong? She placed her paper beside Buffy's. The answers were all the same, just worded differently. Willow got to the bottom, finding a note...
'You're a terrible student.'
Buffy was staring at the door, oblivious to the worst trick of the Hellmouth yet. How had Willow failed? It just wasn't possible.
"Did you see that boy?" asked Buffy.
"What? Boy? Buffy, this is serious! Look!"
"I mean, it's a high school. What's up with little kids wandering the halls? And what was he sorry about?"
"I don't know, but, Buffy, you've gotta check this out."
Willow waited anxiously as Buffy looked over the paper. "See? I have the same answers as you, and I failed! I have to be dreaming!" She winced after she got a slayer-packed pinch, a bruise forming on the back of her right hand. "Ouch. Not dreaming."
A yell filled the air, filled with horror and fright. Willow went to glare at the boy, anger halted at the sight of tarantulas climbing out of his textbook. No wonder other kids were starting to scream. She climbed onto her desk, avoiding the spiders on the floor. Buffy squashed one under a flip flop. One climbed on her foot. How was she not freaking out? If anything, she appeared mesmerized.
Willow realized, with a hysterical amusement, that Xander was on his desk as well. The classroom had been next-to-full when they had got there, so he had had to sit a few rows back. Technically, he could have sat beside one of-
A hint of a tickle dusted across Willow's hand. She screamed, waving her arm around, but the furry little thing refused to let go. "Buffy! Buffy, get it!"
Buffy turned, plucked the thing up from Willow, and dropped it on the ground. Then she stepped on it. "These things are hard to kill. I mean, I step on them, and they're still twitching. And the guts? You should-"
"Stop! No more descriptions!"
"Giles!" Buffy waited impatiently for her watcher to show up. She could hear him runnning into bookshelves. How long did it take for him to get to her in the small school library?
Her feet felt icky from the spider guts. Willow refused to be within a foot of her, even as she denied it. Buffy didn't know what was wrong with the eight-legged creatures. Drusilla had always been quite fond of holding them, and then stomping on them, all the while giggling away. She had never screamed.
Giles stumbled out from behind a shelf. "Buffy. There you are. It seems I had gotten lost..."
"Amongst the shelves?" asked Xander. "That takes talent."
"Spiders came out of nowhere and attacked!" Willow said, abruptly.
Buffy raised a brow at the girl. "They came out of that guy's book. Wendell, I think he's called. And then they crawled all over, and everyone freaked out. And maybe they had the right idea. Just look at what squishing them did to my shoes!"
"Oh, my... Those are all from the spiders?"
Buffy nodded. "And there were at least a dozen more."
"I'll be sure to look into this..."
"I'm gonna go home and change my shoes," said Buffy. Normally her clothes being gross wasn't reason enough to go home, but people were following Willow's lead and refusing to be near her. Plus, it felt gross. "You guys go talk to Wendell."
BAM BAM BAM
Angelus growled, finally giving up and opening his eyes. He barely got sleep as it was, and now he had to deal with some stupid human knocking at the door. He tossed off the blanket, uncaring that he had almost ripped it in half. Darla was gone with The Master again. Maybe, if she was angry enough, she would stay more than five minutes.
After pulling on the first things he found- a black shirt and jeans, good for blending in- he made his way to the front door. He was already imagining the ways he'd torture this person. He took a breath in preparation for a seductive, tricking comment...
...and smelled Buffy. He scowled at the door, and the continuing bangs. He had given her a house key. He didn't think she was stupid enough to lose it, or leave it at home. Making sure to stay out of the way of the sunlight, he opened the door. He had to jump back about an inch, misjudging the sun. Buffy was on the other side of the door, as he had expected. What he hadn't expected were the beasts that were fast-approaching. She practically dived into the house. "Shut the door!"
Angelus did just that. About seven feet tall, with scaly blue skin, bug eyes, sharp teeth, and claws filled with poison that could put a vampire in a coma, the things were not to be taken lightly. What were they called? Lynchles, he thought.
Buffy was taking off her shoes, which were covered in caking goo. Angelus didn't remember Lynchles secreting goo, but demons were Spike's expertise. Spike, who once more proved that he could sleep through anything. It was bad for survival. How am I going to train that out of him?
He had more important things to worry about at the moment, however. Like the fact that his door was creaking as those monsters pressed on it. A hole in his wall during daylight, plus Lynchles, was not a situation he wanted to be in. "Go get Spike." As an after thought, he added, "And Drusilla."
It wasn't long before he heard Spike, Drusilla, and Buffy were making their way downstairs.
"What's going on?" asked Spike, eyes focussing on the bulging door.
"I couldn't fight them," said Buffy. Angelus couldn't remember her ever sounding more despairing than she did then. "I... I mean, I can beat practically anything! And they just started chasing me! And then my key was gone, and they were catching up..."
"I think they're Lynchle demons," said Angelus, to Spike. "Weaknesses?"
"Lanchle demons," Spike corrected. "Right dangerous, those. Gotta cut off the head. Or light it on fire."
"Buffy, go get us weapons," Angelus ordered, "and stay out of the way."
Drusilla was stepping up to the door, making Angelus regret having her woken up as well. She had terrible self-preservation skills. "I smell fear," she said. "They come from within. Naughty beasts!" She threw open the door. Before Angelus could scold her for stupidity, she was screaming and jumping out of the daylight, monsters rushing into the room.
"Catch!"
Angelus managed to grab the axe before it sliced him in half, Spike falling to his side. As stupid as Spike might be, he had never failed Angelus in battle. The monsters charged, the two of them fighting back to back. Heads went flying, blue blood spraying out like a cheap horror film and coating the both of them. Movements became sluggish, poison-coated claws coming close, closer, closer...
The monster screamed as a knife was shoved into its eye, head flailing to and fro. Buffy picked up the axe, swinging with all her might. The ancient, sturdy blade broke in half, the end of it clattering as it hit the floor. Blood dripped down the demon's neck. It switched directions, going for Buffy. She shoved the handle- all that was left- of the axe into its remaining eye, taking Spike's weapon from his immobile hands. With a quick swing, head and body fell separately.
Angelus found that killing the creature wasn't enough to get rid of the goo's effect.
For the first time in fifty years, he was vulnerable. If he ever had a nightmare, this just might be it.
"I'll go get help," Buffy announced. "My watcher has to know something!"
And she left two vampires, incapable of movement, alone with an open door streaming in sunlight. With only an insane vampiress for protection.
Buffy gasped for breath as she entered the library. Her way over had been interrupted by screams of help, and all-about confusion.
"Giles! I need your help!"
"Buffy, there you are," he said, his tone of relief enough to halt her. "A girl has been put in the hospital. She was found in the school basement with bruises and shattered bones. I dare say we should pay her a visit."
"My family-"
Willow and Xander entered the room, Xander pulling a P.E shirt over his head.
"What's with you?" asked Buffy.
"Xander's clothes disappeared in front of the class," said Willow, clearly suppressing giggles.
"Oh. That sucks." Why had she come here again? She couldn't get the disturbing mental image of a naked Xander out of her head...
Spike couldn't see the door, but he was hoping the sun wouldn't reach him. If he was lucky, it would burn Angelus. His idiot of a sire had jabbed the thing in the abdomen, the only place that caused the demon to emit a sluggish-movement causing goo.
His hand had moved a centimeter, but that wasn't really noteworthy. It had taken the last ten minutes and a lot of will power.
"Naughty demon hurt Daddy and Spike."
Fortunately, Spike could move his eyes. He watched Drusilla as far as he could without turning his head. Unfortunately, he couldn't speak to tell her the antidote. All it took was being drenched in a liquid.
"Yes, she wasn't the first victim," the doctor repeated. "Billy was. Poor kid's stuck in a coma."
"Billy?" asked Buffy. "Can we see him?"
They were led down the hall, into a room like any other. Aside from the familiar child on the bed. "That's... Billy?"
"Terrible, isn't it?" asked the doctor.
"Well, yeah," said Buffy. "I saw him just the other day!"
"He's all over the news paper!" Giles added in, quickly. "Come on, Buffy. Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate this." Buffy felt offended at the rushing, but Giles wasn't usually rude to her for the sake of being mean. So, she resolved to follow him. If he was just being mean, she wouldn't follow him next time. Satisfied, she followed her watcher out of the hospital.
"Giles, he's the boy I've been seeing around school!"
"Why haven't you said anything before? And not in the hospital. They might consider you insane."
"...oh. Yeah." Buffy frowned, before coming back to herself. "It can't be Billy, though, because he's in a coma."
"Yes, but it could be his astral projection. Many believe one can leave their body during sleep. However, I don't see what we can do about it. I'm afraid we're at a stand still."
"Stand still... Oh! Dad! Spike! They can't move! And I left the door open!" At Giles' expression, she explained, "On my way home, demons started attacking. I couldn't fight them, so I ran home. But then I couldn't find my key, and Dad was there, and I got Spike to help fight..."
"What did the demons look like?" asked Giles.
"Big, and really tall. Blue scales, and bulging eyes. Shark teeth. Claws dripping some weird liquid. They were really intimidating, and I couldn't even leave a mark!"
"Oh, I know this one. They're Lanchls. You can only kill them by beheading them or lighting them on fire. I can't remember exactly what, but a certain act will cause it to cover a person in its immobilizing innards. Soaking in water gets rid of the effect."
"Water?" Buffy repeated, disbelievingly. "I can do that."
"We should go with," said Giles. "It is very likely that a nightmare may stop you."
Buffy didn't think it was a bright idea, but he was right. The four of them ran down the hall-
"Where's Xander?" Willow's head was swivelling as she gazed down either side of the hall, even glancing at the ceiling as if Xander could float.
"I believe he went that way," said Giles, pointing to the left. He hesitated, before pulling a stake from his pocket and handing it to Willow. "I'll find him. Stick together."
Willow gasped for breath, not quite keeping up with Buffy's run. A hand wrapped around her throat, and she screamed for Buffy's help. Why were they in a cemetery? Why was it night? Buffy tossed the vampire away. Ten more rose.
"Get out of here!" Buffy ordered. Willow didn't need to be told twice. Personal safety was the main reason, but so was her mission: helping save Buffy's family.
She finally reached Buffy's house after what felt like hours of running, unnerved by the wide-open doorway. Within, she could see Angelus and Spike, frozen back to back. "Hang on, I'll go fill a bathtub or something!"
A sing song voice filled the air. "The witch has come to help."
Willow looked up, finding the long-haired, seemingly-insane vampire gazing at her. Drusilla, Buffy's sister, if Willow wasn't mistaken. "Um... no, not a witch, but I am helping, because Buffy got held up at the graveyard, which really sucked, but I got away alright, so I guess it's fine, and I'm here to help. So where's the bathroom?"
Buffy scowled at the boy. "Come on already! Just face him! He's a stupid, horrible monster who's about to kill us!"
Billy fidgeted. But then, he glanced at Buffy, and seemed to see something there. He ran at the hideous monster that represented a coach who had beat him into his coma, ripping off its face. Light shined out. The heart monitors went up. Billy was awakening.
Spike listened as Drusilla helped out that red haired girl. Willow? He hoped his sire had enough sense not to kill the girl.
Small hands were gripping him awkwardly. "S-sorry about this, but I need to soak you in water, and that means getting you in the bathtub, which I can't do without dragging you there." Drusilla was carrying Angelus, if her words were anything to go by.
Wet. Spike got a breath-full of water, instantly coughing into the bath. Those same human hands dragged him up and helped get the rest of him soaked, until he could move everything again.
Something large and heavy abruptly fell on him. It was Angelus. Spike spluttered as he was pushed under once more. Big hands- Angelus'- gripped him this time, pulling him up. He glared into golden eyes. "This was all your fault, you know. Cutting it open? You're a bloody fool!"
"You're the fool, William. You just happened to leave out the fact that its insides could freeze us!"
Spike growled, and reached for Angelus. It was a stupid plan, and Spike had known it even as he acted it out. Over the last hundred years, he found himself becoming more in Angelus' control, by some sick twist of fate. Or maybe it was his own fault for wanting to belong so badly. Whatever the case, Angelus never lost a fight, and tended to win very quickly. So, when Spike found himself pinned on the opposite side of the tub, incapable of doing more than squirming, he wasn't surprised. He did feel stupid, though...
"Let's see if you still hate being punished."
Spike swallowed, shaking his head. "Not... not fair." But Angelus was already guiding Spike to the basement, barely allowing the smaller vampire to walk on his own.
So wrapped up, neither realized Willow had seen their demon faces. Nor did they realize she had left with a head spinning with shocking knowledge.
A.N: So... was it entertaining? Or just strange?
