A/N: Thanks very much to all who have been reading and reviewing. I know the chapters have been a long time coming. I really appreciate your patience and feedback!
Armed in the only way they could manage, the small group stood in the mouth of the cave, thoughts of charging in hanging dead in the air. Everyone was expecting a crowd, but the scene that greeted them from the mouth of the cave was something none of them could have imagined. From cave wall to cave wall, every inch was filled. Demons stood in more vastness than any of them had seen before. Demons of all kinds stood armed, ready for a war of extermination at the side of their savior. The demon savior Malkhan also did not escape the notice of the minimally armed crew. The demon was just as it had appeared to Buffy. If anything it seemed bigger now that they saw it standing fully flesh in front of them. The resolve that had pervaded the team earlier in the day seemed to evaporate now in the dark of the demon-infested night.
"Buffy, you'll never get through!" Willow cried.
"I know. I know." Buffy said. She looked around the cave at the image before them. "OK. Plan B."
"Did we have one of those?" Xander asked. In truth they didn't, but Buffy plunged ahead with the only option she saw left to them.
"OK. We'll sneak around the side and try to get as close as we can before we fight. Then Spike and I will…" Buffy stopped in horror as Spike began to shout.
"Hey! Demons! What? Just going to stand there? Got some tasty little niblets here for you." Buffy punched Spike in the face.
"Spike!" She hissed. "Shut up!" It was too late, the demon army turned towards the small party at the mouth of the cave and screamed.
It was a horrible sound, filled with hate and anger and passion. The demons surged forward with one purpose—to kill the intruders. Spike grinned.
"OK, Slayer." He said, "Showtime. You'll thank me for this later." Spike grabbed Buffy by the hand and began to pull her forward. "You know, except for the part where you'll be dead." They pushed through the demon throng, stopping to fight only when it was unavoidable. As plans go it was…well, it was all they had, Buffy thought. So here we are back to the Buffy dies plan. Yippee!
The others were feeling even less well about their future as they stood to face the onslaught with the weapons from Spike's crypt.
"Bad plan. Bad plan." Was all Xander could manage to articulate. He raised his axe and fought the urge to close his eyes.
"Guys!" Willow shrieked about the din. "We need to help Buffy."
"We're doing all we can for Buffy." Giles replied.
"No, I have an idea. " Willow said. "What if the blood didn't have to be from a willing sacrifice?" The others looked at her confused. "What if it could be from willing sacrifices?" The group exchanged a look.
"It's better than standing here like demon bait." Cordelia said. The others had no argument.
"Right." Willow said. The small group charged forward into the oncoming mass. They pushed and hacked with a fury born of the desperate need to survive. Xander felt a warmth on his left arm and glanced over to see blood drenching his shirt from a deep gash in his rm. Guess I'm getting a head start, he thought. Then the pain set in and he cried out. Buffy fought to keep focus as she heard her friend cry out. If she stopped now, if she even slowed down for an instant, she would never make it to the pentagram. She had Spike were only a few feet from it now. So close. She couldn't waver now. Then something happened that made her stop dead in her tracks. The demons stopped their attack. They stood still as a deep, gravely, hissing voice echoed off the cavern walls.
"I am Malkhan!" It boomed. "I have come to rid this world of your filth and you shall not stop me. Kneel before me, human filth!" The air was thick with tension as the demon Malkhan raised to his full height before Buffy and Spike. The Scoobies froze in place along with demons, ready to spring back into action should the demons move, but afraid to make the first move, lest Malkhan strike at Buffy. Spike broke the silence.
"Um, yeah. Not a human here and not really into the whole kneeling thing, so I think I'll pass." He said.
"Silence, half-breed! You are less than demon and even less than human."
"Hey!" Spike said indignantly. "There's no need to be insulting." Buffy smirked in spite of the situation. Malkhan let out a roar that echoed off ever surface in the small cave.
"I tire of this." He said. "You, Slayer, shall be my first kill. You should be honored." He swiped a clawed hand at Buffy but she rolled out of the way and into the center of the pentagram.
"I don't think so." She said. With that she drew a knife from her belt and prepared to plunge it into her stomach.