Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not BTVS and Not Highlander
A/N1: This is the final chapter of the story. It will be followed by an epilogue
A/N2: Thanks to all my readers and reviewers. I had a great time writing this fic. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
CHAPTER TWENTY - Closing the Hell Mouth
Sunnydale High – Seal of Danthazar
Bella and Spike stood over the seal. She took a jeweled dagger out of her boot and cut a gash in both hands. She passed the dagger to Spike and he repeated the action. Both then held their hands dripping blood onto the seal.
As their blood dripped onto the seal it began to glow with a swirling white and green light and slowly opened revealing a set of steps cut into the rock leading downward.
Bella turned to the group standing behind her. With a nod of her head half of the potentials led by Robin, Anya, Giles and surprisingly Andrew went to take position within the school. Their task was to prevent any Turok Han that got out of the cavern from getting out of the school and into the sewers.
The rest of the group – Faith, Duncan, Amanda, Methos, Angel and the remaining potentials – followed Bella and Spike into the cavern below the seal.
As they entered the cavern Bella walked toward the precipice. Below she saw hundreds of Turok Han snarling – waiting to be unleashed.
She turned to Spike. "Stay with me," and then leapt into the midst of the Turok Han with her sword flashing.
"Bloody hell, woman!" he yelled jumping after her.
The two champions seemed to be everywhere at once. They had fallen into a killing dance that despite its deadliness was beautiful to behold.
The remaining warriors concentrated on the ancient vampires that attempted to slip by Bella and Spike.
The air was thick with vampire dust but still the Turok Han keep coming.
Suddenly the cavern became eerily silent as Bella's body was surrounded by a green light. She screamed out, "Spike!"
The master vampire turned at the sound of her voice and ran to her side. They joined hands and a white light began to emanate from the amulet around Spike's neck. Where their hands met the white and green light entwined and it expanded throughout the cavern.
The light felt as if it was judging all those present in the cavern. The Turok Han were found wanting and burst into flames.
Angel collapsed to the ground screaming.
The light seemed to tenderly caress Faith, Duncan, Amanda, Methos and the potentials and then released them.
Slowly the light receded until it faded back into Bella and Spike and the two fell to their knees, exhausted.
Bella turned to Spike feeling something unexpected come from him. "Spike?"
"Yeah, luv?"
"How exactly do you have a heartbeat and when the hell did you become an immortal?" she asked in surprise.
"Well, damn – don' rightly know. 'Spect it's a side effect of this do-dad, luv."
"Probably. We need to get out of here. There's one thing we still have to do."
"Wha's that?"
"Permanently close the seal. It's one thing I saw in Caleb's memories. Something the First wanted to avoid at all costs."
The two champions – now both immortal – turned towards their friends. Bella walked toward Angel who was still crouched on the ground with Methos next to him tending his wounds.
"Angel – it sounds like you got a little toy surprise as well – a heartbeat."
Angel looked up at Bella. "When the light hit me – I felt like I was being judged – and when it released me – my heart began to beat again. I'm human."
Bella smiled at him. "I'm glad. You've got your shan-shu at last." She didn't see the sad look that crossed his face. He had his humanity but he didn't have the one thing he thought would make it worthwhile.
She kept walking toward Duncan and pulled him down into a toe-curling kiss. "I love you."
He kissed her with equal fervor and whispered into her ear, "I love you, too."
"Okay, people we need to get out of here and close the seal."
The group of weary warriors walked up the rock cut stairs and back into the room that housed the seal.
Bella again took the jeweled dagger from her boot and cut her hands and Spike repeated the gesture as well. They dropped their blood into the hole and again their blood glowed green and white. The seal began to close and as the last piece dropped into place Bella took the amulet from Spike and laid it on the very center of the seal. She then took the sword gifted to her by the Guardians and stabbed it through the center of the amulet into the seal.
The room filled with a blinding white light and as it faded the occupants of the room saw only a bare earthen floor with no evidence that the sword, amulet or Seal of Danthazar ever existed.