ELEVEN

Karakos walked slowly towards them as if he were a jungle cat stalking his
prey. He held his hands behind his back in an insincere attempt at
innocence. His long white hair seemed even more prominent as he approached
them. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting."

"We're fine, thanks," said Buffy as she tightened her grip around her
stake.

"It was nice of you to wait, anyhow," said Karakos, his rough, steady voice
cutting through the night like a sharp blade. "If I were in your place, I
wouldn't have been so patient."

"Enough with the chit-chat," said Jared, drawing out his sword. "Let's get
on with it."

"Must everything be solved with violence?" Karakos asked, with a trace of
sarcasm tingling through his speech. "What happened to love, peace, and all
that Gandhi stuff?"

"I don't believe in that," answered Jared.

Karakos gave a sigh. "I guess I should have known better than to expect
such… refinement from Marcus Harrington's protégés."

"Well, we didn't exactly come here for tea and crackers," said Buffy. "And
I'm guessing neither did you."

"I was hoping for a snack, but I guess you'll have to do." He vamped out
and bared his fangs, snarling ferociously. "Reveal yourselves, my children."

A coterie of vampires emerged from the shadows and stood behind Karakos,
licking their lips and flashing their fangs. Within an instant, they charged
and attacked. In contrast, their leader took a step back and watched.

Four vampires flew towards Buffy and Xander with blinding speed. Buffy
reflexively dodged their attacks, as well as managed to land a few of her
own. She round housed a vampire and sent him crashing to the ground, and
turned around only to find herself face to face with another one. A third
vampire approached from her side and swung his claws wildly at her. Buffy
took a step backwards and tumbled over the first fallen vampire. In her
fall, her stake fell out of her hand and rolled a few feet away. She
struggled to get up but was pinned to the ground by a vampire. She tried to
push him off, but was relieved from the burden when he disintegrated to
dust, thanks to Xander, who managed to stake him.

Their victory was short-lived, as Xander was picked up by another vampire
who then proceeded to slam him against a tree. Buffy managed to get up in
time and grabbed the vampire by the collar of his shirt.
The vampire instinctively dropped Xander, who crawled out of the way as
Buffy pummeled the undead vampire before impaling him on the branch of the
tree.
Jared swung his sword and decapitated the oncoming vampire, but was charged
by several others. He was bowled to the ground, but managed to kick them
off. He got up and reached for his sword, but was struck by one of the
vampires. His head swung back and he stumbled backwards, falling once again.
The vampires prepared to descend on him, but were warded off by Willow, who
bravely held the crucifix in front of her as she approached the flock. Jared
used this distraction to pick up his sword, and thrust it through the heart
of the nearest vampire. Giles approached from behind and dealt with another.

Karakos watched with disappointment as his coterie was slowly slayed by the
mortals. He shook his head and narrowed his eyes, scanning the battlefield.
A small grin crept unto his weathered face.

Xander crawled out of danger and leaned against a tree. The attack had
shaken him, but he would survive. He put his hand against his forehead and
realized his was bleeding. He glanced to his right and discovered that Buffy
was still fending off another vampire. He slowly got up and headed towards
her, but was pulled backwards by a hand that tightly gripped his shoulder.

"Hello, boy," Karakos turned Xander roughly around and gave him an
unpleasant smile. "You look like you could use some company."

Although inwardly petrified with fear, Xander managed to reply. "Nah. You…
don't have to."

"Oh, no, believe me, it's my pleasure." Karakos shifted his grip from
Xander's shoulder to his neck. With just one hand, he lifted Xander a few
feet above the ground. Xander tried to cry for help but he found himself
unable to make any sound, except a pathetic choking noise.

"Look here boy," Karakos commanded. Xander found himself complying and he
stared into the vampire's eyes, which seemed to be pupil-less. The color of
his eyes shifted from black to red to black again in a swift and almost
endless manner. The words that escaped from Karakos' lips were icy cold. "I
want to get to know you better."

Xander felt a sharp pain inside his head, and a feeling of nausea overcame
him. He felt his consciousness slipping away, and then suddenly he found
himself falling to the ground, and that Karakos' hand was no longer around
his neck. He looked up in time to see Buffy attacking Karakos, before he
fell unconscious.

"You're mine," said Buffy as she punched Karakos in the face.

Karakos staggered backwards and held his cheek where Buffy had punched him.
He stared at her and laughed wickedly. "You have no idea how wrong you are,
my dear."

"Whatever it is," said Buffy, "You're going down. Tonight."

"On the contrary," Karakos replied, "I'll be here for a long, long time."

Buffy ran towards him and lashed out her stake. Karakos parried her blows
and sidestepped her. With one swift movement he stepped behind Buffy and
pushed her to the ground.

"Do you honestly think you can destroy me?" Karakos asked menacingly as he
towered above her. "I am undead. I am eternal. I will watch the rise and
fall of thousands of civilizations, while you, my sweet child, will not live
to see another sunrise. "

"I don't think so." Buffy said as she rolled to the side and got up.
"You're going to be dust, and I'm going to be the one who makes sure that
happens."

"It's not that simple." Karakos leered at her.

Buffy stopped for a split second to look into his eyes, a swirling black and
red sea of madness and insanity. She shook her head and charged at Karakos.
She lashed out several punches which he blocked easily, but in a surprise
move, she raised her foot high and kicked his head with such force that he
crumpled to the ground. She fell on him and pressed the stake to his chest.

"I'm sorry. But it is." Before he could respond, she shoved the stake
straight down through his chest, and watched as he exploded into dust. She
stood up and dusted her clothes, and watched as Jared finished off the last
remaining vampire.

She shifted her gaze and realized that Xander was lying on the floor. She
rushed to him and knelt down beside him, putting his head on her lap. Giles
, Willow and Jared were soon by her side.

"Is he all right?" Willow asked, her voice quivering with concern.

"I don't know," replied Buffy honestly, "Karakos … must have hurt him pretty
bad."

As if to prove otherwise, Xander slowly opened his eyes and looked at them.
"H.. hey."

"Thank God you're all right," said Buffy. Willow and Giles sighed in relief.

"I'm fine," said Xander, slowly sitting up. He touched the wound on his
forehead and winced. "Just a little dizzy that's all. Nothing three hundred
aspirins can't cure."

"Are you sure you're fine?" asked Giles.

"Absolutely. Never felt better." Xander slowly stood up to demonstrate his
point. He wobbled a little, but after the first few minutes he regained his
balance. "See."

"That's great," said Jared unenthusiastically. "Guess my job's done. Be
heading back now."

He didn't wait for their reply, and just simply walked away.

"Now, * that's * love," said Xander bitterly.

"Xander, we really should get a look at that wound," said Giles as he stared
at Xander's forehead.

"Nah, it's okay," said Xander, taking a step back. "I'll just head home and
bandage it myself."

"We could…" Willow began.

"I'm not a baby," said Xander defensively, "I can take care of myself. Thank
you."

"Okay," said Willow uncomfortably.

"Thank you," repeated Xander. He looked over at them and then put his hands
in his pockets. "I guess I'm calling it a night. See you tomorrow." He gave
them a lame salute and walked off, leaving the three of them.

* * *

Xander cursed as the key didn't turn as it should. He kicked the door and
then withdrew the key. He took in a deep breath and jammed the key into the
lock again. This time it worked. He pushed open the door and stepped inside.

"Where have you been?" asked Spike. He noticed the gash on Xander's
forehead. "Don't tell me you got attacked by vampires after I left, because
I waited for bloody hours to get some bloody action."

"Stuff it , Spike," said Xander bluntly and brushed past the vampire.

"That was bloody rude," commented Spike, turning around to face Xander.

"Bite me." Xander snapped. "Oh , wait. You can't."

He turned around swiftly and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door
behind him.

Spike stared blankly after him.

- - -