Angelus held his broadsword at the ready as he led the group into the darkened cave. He took a moment to look back at his companions. Buffy held her stake at her side looking for all the world as though she was out for a stroll. Spike loped along behind her, an axe thrown casually over his shoulder. Angelus could see that the vampire was on full alert no matter how casual he looked. Connor had a short sword in hand, his eyes scanning over the cave, searching for the vampires he knew were within. Dawn stood close to him, a stake in her hand and fear coming off of her in waves. He smirked as the smell washed past him. It looked like they had their vamp bait right there. Behind her, Booth took up the rear, sharp knives at the ready. The man was unreadable as his gaze moved around as alert as Connor.
Angelus held up a hand, halting their progress as he paused to smell the air. Scents lingered in the air, but he could detect at least twenty different vampires. He motioned to Spike to cover his back before they turned down a near pitch black tunnel.
He heard them before he saw them, closing off their escape even as they blocked the way ahead.
"Angelus, you dare return to Galway? You sealed your fate coming back here."
"Eamon, I'm sorry to see you're still around. Tell me, how is the old goat?" Angelus smirked as the other vampire snarled at him.
"Do not speak of the great Lunaris with such disrespect."
"I'm only speaking from one master about another. Lunaris is just like the Master was. He lacks vision and won't go after threats on his own. He's weak and you know it."
"You're the weak one, Angelus. You consort with humans, and not just humans but a slayer. You're an abomination."
"You think I'm so weak? Come and prove it." Angelus grinned, an evil glint in his eye as Eamon let out a cry and charged him. Metal clashed against metal and the White Hats closed into a circle, protecting their backs as the vampires charged. Spike shifted his features and laughed, glad to have a fight on his hands.
"Now this is more like it," he growled, swinging his axe with precision straight into the neck of his opponent. As the vampire turned to dust, Spike shook his head in mock dismay. "You might bloody well try fighting mate."
Booth glanced at Spike as he ducked a blow from his own opponent. What in the hell was it with these guys and witty banter? One second they're lopping off a head and the next making some snarky comment. He returned his focus to his opponent, dodging a blow to his head. Booth grabbed the vampire by the arm, swung his leg out and knocked his opponent's feet from under him. The surprised vamp looked up at him just as a knife plunged through his heart, reducing him to a pile of dust.
Connor had to admit that he was impressed with the expediency with which Booth took out his opponent. The man had skills without the strength usually needed to fight vampires. He knew of course that humans did face their undead stalkers quite often, but they usually had to work much harder to make a kill. Booth was methodical and skilled. Shaking out of his musings, he round housed his opponent before pulling Dawn out of the way of what was sure to be a fatal blow. Connor's stomach tightened when she graced him with the smile and he couldn't help but smile at how the young woman made him feel. He began attacking with gusto, the less powerful vampire not standing a chance against him.
Buffy didn't like the way that Connor looked at her sister. Getting involved with anyone who lived the kind of lifestyle they did was just asking for trouble. Who did Connor think he was that he was flirting with her sister? Angrily, she grabbed hold of her opponent and flipped him over her shoulder and onto the ground. She eyed him with disdain as she held Mr. Pointy aloft.
"You vamps really need to do something about your sense of fashion." She whipped around, blocking a kick before pinning him down on the ground.
"What are you talking about," he snarled. Buffy cocked her head to the side and looked down at him.
"I'm talking about your shirt. It's a killer." With that, she plunged her stake right into his heart. She hopped and held herself at the ready to face her next opponent.
Angelus clashed with Eamon, trading blows with the vampire while remaining aware of what was going on around them. Angelus frowned, blocked a swing with his sword and punched Eamon in the face.
"What the hell is going on here? Did you think fledglings would be enough to hold us off? You insult me."
"Please. If I wanted to insult you I'd say that you're easy pickings. I thought you'd be alone. I brought them along in case you weren't as easy to kill as I think you are." Eamon took a swing at Angelus, but the master vampire ducked it easily.
"That's just like you, taking the coward's way out."
"And you don't? You're an abomination to be keeping company with a slayer." Angelus grinned before he slashed at Eamon, contacting skin and putting a gash in the other vampire's arm.
"Yes, but what a lay." Eamon looked shocked and realized his mistake as the sword drove through his gut. He backed away from Angelus with a hiss, calling his minions to him.
"You're a marked man Angelus. Watch your back because you don't have long to live." Eamon took off, holding the wound to his gut. Buffy took off to pursue him, but Angelus stopped her with a hand to her chest.
"No, let them go. He wants us to chase him down."
"And we're not going to why?" She looked at him incredulously. What the hell is wrong with him not wanting to finish off a nest like that?
"Because love, there are about a hundred more of them waiting for us. We follow him, we're done for." Spike leaned against the wall of the cave and looked at her. He could tell she wasn't happy with the decision one bit.
"How can you be so sure about their numbers?" Dawn asked as she watched the war of wills going on.
"Because he can smell them," Connor answered as he looked around the cave. "This little fight was a test." He glanced over at Angelus and received a nod in silent answer to the question.
"Yeah it was a test, otherwise he wouldn't have come with so many fledglings." With that, Angelus turned and headed for the entrance of the cave. Eamon came to him with a warning. He was a marked man, and his association with a slayer was confirmed which meant that no one who traveled under his protection was safe.
XxXxX
Cordelia paced the floor of the pub as she waited for Angelus and the others to return from their training session. She and Temperance stayed behind making sure that everyone's belongings were packed and ready to go. She was very worried however. Something had to have occured if they were running late.
At the sound of the door opening, both women turned, their shoulders dropping in disappointment when Giles walked in with Angela and Willow.
"Wow, it's good to see you too, Sweetie," Angela said when she noticed the lack of enthusiasm. She glanced around the room and frowned. "They aren't back yet?"
"No," Temperance said, "they've yet to return and I have to confess I'm beginning to worry."
"I think something happened, but I can't leave to go check on them," Cordelia said, crossing her arms over her chest in a huff.
"Your reluctance to leave is a little ridiculous. I told you that I'm perfectly able to take care of myself and watch a child." She glanced over to where Liam was toddling around the room.
"I'm sure you are, but you're still a target and as such need the additional protection," Giles responded before turning to Angela and Willow.
"Miss Montenegro, I trust you can keep Temperance company while Cordelia and I look into the group's late return. Willow can provide adequate support for you in case of trouble."
"Trouble? Did something happen while we were out?" All heads turned to the doorway and both Temperance and Cordelia let out a breath of relief. Temperance jumped up from her chair and flung herself into Booth's arms. He wrapped his arms around her and raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Hey, are you okay?"
"I was worried about you. You were gone longer than expected."
"We ran into some trouble, but it's taken care of now."
"What happened," Cordelia asked Angelus when he followed Booth inside. He looked at her, surprised at the relief he felt that she was here and okay.
"We ran into an old 'friend'. He decided to relay a message to me, that's all."
"Like hell that's all," Spike snorted, watching as Buffy hurried across the room for her son. "That message came with twenty fledglings."
"Fledglings? Do you mean baby birds?" Temperance looked over at the blond vampire, somewhat confused.
"No, they're newly created vampires, vampires that are created less than a year out. If they survive past that year, they'll grow much stronger."
"How does age effect the strenght of a vampire? Wouldn't the human's physical restraints have something to do with their abilities?" Brennan looked between Spike and Angelus as she waited for the answer. Giles was the one to answer her however.
"The physical prowess of a human has little to do with the strength of the demon residing within. A vampire's lineage also has a lot to do with the strength. For example, some of the strongest and long lived vampires are in the House of Aurelius. The Master would only surround himself with the strongest and most cunning of his line. It says quite a bit about our companions that the Master and his court of vampires is destroyed."
"And the age?" She asked, her original question still not answered.
"The older a vampire is, the stronger it becomes. Vampires the age of Angelus are rare, and the original Masters are ancient. They become twisted, looking more and more demonlike the older they get."
"So to counteract this strength and power there are slayers?"
"Yes, exactly. Normally there is only one slayer at a time. When one dies, the next one takes her place. Buffy however changed that system."
"How so?"
"I died," Buffy answered the anthropologist. "I died and came back. When that happened a second slayer was activated. Eventually we figured out how to activate all of the potentials. Now we actually have a chance to rid the world of vampires."
"But wouldn't that be as bad as eradicating any species? It seems to me that vampires are in place as a predator to help control the human population. Have there ever been so many of them in one place that they've killed off the population?"
Angelus smirked at the question. He'd killed off the entire population of the town he lived in before the area was swallowed by Galway. That was the difference between vampires and other predators. They had intent to do harm. It wasn't just about feeding. His expression darkened just a bit as he thought back to his own experience without feeding. Vampires could go into a form of hybernation and stay that way indefinitely.
Cordelia noticed the darkening expression on her mate's face and knew that a change in subject was in order. She glanced around at everyone, practically feeling the tension radiating off of the group.
"Well, I think it's time we head out. We're all here, we're all packed and I'm sure we're all ready to go." With that, she grabbed her bag and headed from the pub. The others really had no choice but to follow.
XxXxX
Buffy was happy to be back in London after the plane ride from Ireland. She was home, even if it was only for a few days. There were loose ends to tie up before training and preparation began in Washington D.C. She just wanted the chance to sleep in her own bed. It would also give her an opportunity to talk to Dawn about Connor. Something had to be done about her sister's interest in Angel's son. It's not that she begrudged Dawn any happiness, but it didn't hurt to be cautious when it came to relationships. She'd been burned enough to know that.
She pulled out of her reverie at the sound of her son's squeal of pleasure. Lorne allowed them the use of his club in the hours before it opened, and it allowed plenty of room for Liam to run around. He giggled madly as Spike chased him, laughing when the vampire flashed his game face. She watched him, a smile gracing her face at the joy he showed.
"So tell me again why Spike's the wrong choice for you," Cordelia asked as she sat next to Buffy. The slayer sighed and looked at the brunette.
"You know, I find it odd that you're the only person who's been encouraging me to be in a relationship with a vampire."
"Well, have any of them been in love with one? I know I gave you a hard time about your relationship with Angel when we were in high school, but I understand what drew you to him."
"So because of your feelings for him, you're telling me to date Spike?" Buffy made a non committal noise and looked back at her son.
"Who said anything about dating? We're not in high school anymore. We're grown women and you've had a child. Spike is much more your equal than Angel ever was and you know it. Stop being stubborn and let yourself be happy. I realized too late that I was in love with Angel and I regret that I didn't give us a chance earlier." Both women were quiet for a moment before Buffy turned back to the seer.
"When did you realize you were in love with him?"
"Too late. We were on our way to meet and confess our feelings when I was called to be a higher power. I think I had feelings for him all the way back to when he saved me and I started to work for him. Suddenly there was someone who really cared whether or not I was alive."
"He was always like that. Now there's just Angelus..."
"Don't," Cordelia said and held up a hand. "The only difference between him having a soul and not is that he doesn't care if he hurts someone. Everything else is there; I just with that he would realize it."
"Fat chance of that happening," Buffy muttered and Cordelia glared at her. The seer stood up and put her hands on her hips.
"You know, I have tried to be nice to you since we've met back up, but you are determined to treat me like crap. Get over yourself."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You constantly have this 'poor me, I'm alone in the world' mentality, but look around you Buffy. Willow, Giles, Dawn and Spike are all your people. You've had the same support base since you moved to Sunnydale. I can't say that at all. Doyle, Wesley, Gunn, Fred... they're all gone."
"Hey, you have Connor..." Buffy stopped at the brunette's 'pfft'.
"I'll always consider him a son, but in the end he tried to kill me and several innocent people. He's not here for me or even Angelus. He works for Giles. If you even try to pull an attitude with me again, you'll find yourself flat on your ass. Get over yourself Buffy." With that, she turned and walked away. Buffy huffed and glanced over to find Spike watching her.
"What?"
"She's right you know. Sometimes I wonder if you are trying to make sure that you are alone." Spike picked up Liam and carried him over to his mother.
"I do not. Why would I want to be alone?"
"Because you're scared." Buffy and Spike turned to look at Brennan, surprised that she'd spoken. She'd fallen asleep when they boarded the plane and Booth had her in his arms even on the ride from the airport to Lorne's bar. Now they found her awake and watching them closely. "You feel as though loving someone will leave you open to hurt, so despite having close friends and family around you, you try to keep yourself separate so you won't get hurt later on."
"You know what? I don't have to listen to this." Buffy held up a hand and just like that the shields were up. Spike sighed and turned his attention back to Liam. Booth gave Brennan a quick squeeze and kissed her temple. She looked up at him curiously.
"That's really perceptive of you Temperance."
"I've had quite a bit of time recently to reflect on my views of relationships. When I thought I was going to die, my only thoughts were of you. Whether we enter a relationship of not, my feelings for you will be the same. I'm tired of being alone."
"I'll never leave you baby."
"I know, and that's why I'm asking you if you want to make this permanent." Temperance waited for Booth's response as he floundered for something to say.
"Temperance, are you asking me to marry you?"
"What? No, I still don't see myself getting married but I would like there to be an us."
"Of course I want to be with you." Booth pressed his lips to hers for a brief kiss and touched his forehead to hers. "I have to say though you have really odd timing when it comes to declarations."
She offered him a smile and kissed him again, her arms wrapping around his neck. Cordelia watched the couple with a sad heart. She didn't begrudge them any happiness because god knew they deserved some with everything that was going on. She turned to look at Angelus, watching as he sketched in a blank 'd been doing that since they'd arrived in Galway and she was curious about the contents. The notebook was his business however and she wasn't about to ask what he was doing. Even as Angel, he'd been artistic, and if the contents of the artwork was in any way disturbing then she didn't want to know about it.
Angelus glanced up at Cordelia and found her looking at him. He returned his gaze to his notebook, continuing his sketch. The drawing of his sister Kathy showed her in two different manners. One showed her as she was, happy and carefree. She'd always been such a joy to be around with her absolute trust in him and he'd loved her so much. It was odd how emotionless he'd felt when his fangs sank down into her neck. That was the second image on the page, the slumped over lifeless body of his beloved sister. Underneath he penned the words 'she thought I was an angel sent to her.'
He sat back in his seat and stared off into space. Something was different this time around. The last two times he was soulless, he'd been as emotionless as the day he was created. This time though, he felt different. With narrowed eyes, he looked up at his mate.
"What did you do to me?"