Cordelia & the Shadow
Cordelia could feel the blinding pain rack the back of her head as she landed.
"You have got to be kidding me?" She muttered. Why would she be the one chosen to go next? She had been sure it would be Willow or Giles. That was why she had fallen into an easy sleep. It back fired.
Lifting her hand to the pounding spot, she touched it and looked at her fingers. Watery blood dripped down her hand and onto her forearm. It was watery because she had landed in a damp and dim environment. Cracks of light shown above her, giving off enough glimmer to see where she anchored.
It was a long tube that encompased her. The water beneath her was shallow but flowing in a steady stream.
"Ahhhh!" A rat ran across her new pumps. "Great. Buffy gets to walk on clouds and I'm stuck with sewer rats. How is that even fair...or logical?"
The stench around her was so real.
Cordelia wrinkled her nose in disgust and ran fingers vigorously through her damp hair. She looked like a drowned rat...no pun intended.
"Do you not have bigger problems to focus on other than your appearance?" The voice was coming from infront of her, though she couldn't make out the form. She was given so little light.
"I do make it a priority. How else would I be so popular?"
Cordelia searched her brain for what Buffy had said in the long drawn out speech. She wasn't one to usually listen to 'little miss, listen to me, or you'll die' but this really was a matter of importance.
Buffy had said things along the lines of: Check your surroundings, use your brain, and look for an unlikely place to get out. But she had to drag the damn demon with her.
"How do you plan to defeat me? I do love a good laugh every now and then."
Cordelia knew that she was pretty good at cat fights and pulling hair. "I'm great at scratching and hair pulling."
It laughed at her. "Poor, poor, immature child. Your friend had a good day, but I'm afraid that you...will not be as lucky."
"First of all," Cordelia said as she followed the entity that became visible as it walked back and forth underneath the stream of light. "Buffy...not my friend. And second, you don't know who you are dealing with, demon boy. I am leader of the Cordettes and am the one in charge...most of the time." She was wagging her finger in the shadows face as she gave it the attitude she was known for.
"The Cordettes?"
"Ya," she said like it was obvious who they were. "My posse."
"If the Slayer is not your friend, then why are you always with her."
"Because we live on the Hellmouth and there are some seriously scary things walking around. I find it useful to have her around when I'm being chased by vampires and drippy disgusting things."
He chuckled deep within his throat. "I find it odd that you have any friends at all. You are most unpleasant."
"I'm unpleasant?" Cordelia said exasperated. "Pretty sure you're not going to win Homecoming King any time soon. You're just a sad and pathetic loser who is unpopular and takes it out on innocent people to make yourself feel better about the disaster that...is...you."
"Errrr," the demon growled. She could feel his breath on her face. His features were not clear but the darkness within him was apparent. "I'll give you a head start. I'm going to enjoy the chase."
While he talked, Cordelia removed the pink pumps on her feet, preparing to flee. She backed up several feet from the oppressed presence, and ran through the maze.
Giles' Place
Everyone centered their gazed on Cordelia. Her expressions were sour like they always were. Spike had already informed Buffy of what had transpired when she was inside her mind. She figured that the prissy girl was giving the demon a peice of her mind.
Xander was resting near the moving body, watching with intent. It was obvious to everyone that their was some serious crushing going on between the two, even if they denied it themselves. Cordelia and Xander were on 'different levels' when it came to popularity. The dark haired girl refused to even be seen with any of them, despite the fact the they save her butt all the time. Just like they were willing to do if the need arose tonight.
Everyone stayed silent, crowding around her form. Spike hunched down low and whispered in Buffy's ear so he didn't disturb the spectacle before them. "I'm going to go out for a little while. I'll be back before sunrise."
Buffy whipped her gaze to look at him. He already placed his long duster onto his body, prepared to go. "Where are you going?" she asked, already knowing the answer. He dipped his head low and gave her a smile, knowing that she could never be mad when he looked at her that way. He was manipulating her into forgiving him before he even left.
"I'll be back," he repeated. Rising from his crouch, he walked to the door and opened it. Buffy ran after him, not something she would normally do.
"Why are you so worried about her? She left you because she didn't want you anymore. Why bother going after her?"
Spike simply looked at her and came to stand two feet away. "She needs me."
"Are you sure about that? It looks to me like she's been playing you this whole time. I don't think she needs you at all. You need her."
Spike's form stilled. He looked at her with contempt. She flinched slightly but held her ground. His walk was slow as he approached the rest of the way and put his face inches within her own.
"She left me because of...you," he ground out. "If I had just left like she asked me, I wouldn't be going through this hell right now."
"An apocalypse would still be brewing whether you were part of it or not."
"Not the apocalypse. The hell of being caught between a crazy nut case and a freaky strong teenager who needs to mind her own business."
"You were the one that wanted to stay by my side. I was fully prepared to fight you back in Los Angeles." Her statement was in hushed tones.
"You're right," Spike tossed his hands up in the air as he spoke. "I could have killed you that night and you know it. Dru would be happy and I wouldn't be doubting every feeling I have ever felt since becoming what I am."
"What are the feelings you doubt?"
He just shook his blond head and breathed deep. "I need to find, Dru." He avoided her question.
"Then go! I don't need you here anymore to make me feel like I'm the reason you're miserable. I'm not going to be the one to hold you back," she was speaking between her clenched teeth.
His expression was full of sadness but he walked away. Walked away from the moment they just shared shortly before.
Buffy was in a daze as she walked back into the house, the door clicked behind her. And then she refocused her blurred gaze. Cordelia's body was beginning to thrash about, her battle taking off.
Cordelia & the Shadow
She was running away from the demon that wanted to entrap her within this hell. Her lungs were burning from the exertion she was putting into escaping.
Why was this thing not attacking? Surly she was running for no reason. He could easily overpower her, but there was still a way out. Buffy made sure to let them each know they had a chance.
She scanned her surroundings as her bare feet began to bleed from the rough concrete beneath her. She had to keep her mind on the prize and focus.
Another path came into view and she turned into it, the long stretch being nothing more than another tunnel of filth. Still she continued.
"Are you finished trying to get away?" She paused. Panic was rising within her. Every where she went, it looked the same. How would she be able to gain the advantage and be released, bringing the demon with her?
"I...I'll nev...er be finished," she breath out as she tried to catch her breath.
It tisked at her, punishing like she was a child. "You are impertinent, arn't you?"
She thought for a second "I'm not sure what that means but I must be if you say I am."
Again the villian was beside her. "Are you ready for this?"
Cordelia refused to answer him; refused to give the satisfaction of answering. She braced herself for the assault.
A solid force struck her in the abdomen and she was thrust upward, bursting threw the surface and out of the dark hole that had held her captive. She continued floating upwards, the blinding light making her squint against its invasion. And then she was falling. The Shadow was clearly visible below her. It was waiting on her to descend upon it. The patience it shown was almost laughable considering the fight that he wanted so badly.
It was inevitable. As she got closer, he rose his fist and waiting. What was he going to do with an already extended fist?
The light no longer hurt her eyes. She looked away from her assailer and noticed a tower in the distance. A high vantage point that she would need to climb in order to defeat the creature. Deep within, she knew that that was her way out. A gut feeling that she was relying on.
But as she looked down, it's fist still raised in the air, it dawned on her what it intended to do.
The tower continued to taunt her. It was right before her eyes and she would never reach it.
She was moments away now.
The blazing pain caused her to shake as it's fist impailed her body. It was shoulder deep, making a whole in her stomach. Blood poured from her mouth as she took one last breath and sank into oblivion.