Chapter 26
"You got to be joking," Angel said with mirth, the left side of his mouth curling up into a snarl as he took a defensive stance in front of the slayer.
"Sadly not," Spike choked out, the muscle in his jaw twitching as he spoke. "But right now you need us more than we need you….with the slayer nearly out of commission its gonna be hell to keep this hell hole quit…no pun intended."
"What the hell are you talking about? Buffy demanded as she stepped around Angel.
"I'm talking about striking a deal. Shantou's coming love." Spike quipped, his eyes quickly flicking to catch Angel's. "I'm talking about putting everyone of his servants in the bloody ground before they do it to us. Then me and the bird here grab a one way ticket and get the bloody hell out of here before he shows up."
"Buffy!" Came the melancholic call of Giles as he swiftly swung open the front door. In open rapid movement he took two swift strides down the porch steps, a small handheld crossbow held firmly in his right hand, raising it to point squarely at Spike's un-beating heart.
"Giles, wait," she called out as she held up her hand to warn off her Watchers kill shot, her gaze on the bleach blonde demon never wavering. "Keep talking."
"Right." Spike said distractedly, his left eyebrow raised high as he cautiously kept an eye on the Watcher. "I told you. I want to stop Shantou." With a bemused smile and a over dramatic gesture of his hands he continued on. "I wanna save the world."
"Okay." She drawled out, he left hand coming up to circle roughly at her temple. "You do remember that
you're a vampire, right?" Dropping her hand, she started gesturing widely herself. "I thought you would be giddy with psychopathic pride."
"We like to talk big, vampires do." Spike stated with a roll of his eyes before letting them land on his grandsire. "I'm gonna destroy the world," - just tough guy talk, strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood." As he continues to speak he starts to aimlessly walk around, the cigarette that was previously just dangling between two of his digits now stuck back between his overly chapped lips. "Truth is, I like this world. You got off-course betting, De Wallen, "Jersey Shore," and most of all you got people." As he said the last word he leisurely ran his fingers through his childes shoulder length red hair. "Billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here. But then someone comes along with a vision. With a real passion for destruction. Shantou could pull it off if he has the right tools." He looked up from where he was standing behind Willow, all traces of mirth having long left his face. "Goodbye Piccadilly, farewell Time bloody Square, you see what I'm saying?
"Uh, sort of?" Buffy retorted honestly.
"Why don't you put that bloody bow down?" Spike snarled, swiping his head towards Giles. "Before somebody gets hurt."
'"Because of the whole 'not believing you' issue." Giles said calmly, the crossbow unwavering in his grasp as he held it up at chest level.
"You might not be down with Shih Tzu, but why would you ever come to me? Buffy asked defensively, the idea of a world renown serial killer seeking her out for help was a little unsettling.
Knowing there was no way around this answer he grinded out his cigarette on the bark of the closes tree before answering. "Like I said he's going to end the world. But he wants Red first. Willow's … well she's mine." He finished with a snarl.
"Oh, you're pathetic!" Instinctively, he launched across the well manicured lawn and punched her in the face. Rebounding quickly from the surprised attach she punched him equally as hard before continuing on talking as if neither of them had moved.
"You know how many people you've killed! My best friend for starters!" She nearly screeched, pointing to the redhead for added emphasis.
"Didn't know love," he said flippantly.
"- and I may lose more of them." She continued on. "The whole world could be sucked into Hell or worse and you need my help 'cause your boss has the hots for Will? Let me take this opportunity to not care."
"I can't fight them all alone and neither can you!"
With a final outburst of energy, she punched the cocky Brit in the mouth once more. "You're a killer. Both of you," she said, looking forlornly at her deceased best friend.
"And we're all you lot got." he said shortly as he rubbed his jaw.
A agonizingly long second passed between the group before Buffy spoke up again. "Alright."
"Buffy," Xander nearly hissed from his position crumpled up against a tree trunk, his legs very near to giving out.
Ignoring her friend calling her name. "You help us. And I mean help. And I'll let you two walk when this is all over."
Cocking his head to the right to look at his childe, she just smiled back with childlike innocence, before turning his head back to the Slayer. "Deal." He said dryly as he stuck out his right hand.
Ignoring the hand jutted out towards her she turned her attention to her friends surrounding her. "Angel, help Xander get inside. Giles, keep that crossbow at the ready." Returning her full attention back to the two killers standing perfectly content on her lawn, she took in a deep breath before saying. "Spike. Willow … come inside."
Slowly rising to his feet, Thomas blinked away the blood that was clouding his few due to his nieces brutal assault during his fight with his Sire. Once his sight started to clear up he scanned the street for any signs of his Sire or the childe only to let out a huffed of disbelief as he looked up at the group of Hemlock demons surrounding him. "Well your big bloody blokes aren't yeah."
"Thomas," the biggest Hemlock grouched out. "We are not here to fight you."
"Oh no?" He asked skeptically as he stood on wobbly legs. "Then what are you here for?"
"Me," came a melodic voice from behind the Hemlock. Slowly the visage of the person came into view.
"Elizabeth?" Thomas asked with a hint of suspicion, not believing his Master would have already summon the fierce warrior. "What are you doing here?"
"What you're failing to do." She said evenly as she took as step closer to her Sire. "Master Shantou wants this wrapped up know. And I am her to close the deal."
"I have everything under control," Thomas said sternly, a snarl crossing his face.
"Oh yes, I can see that." She mocked as she looked at his bruised and blood spattered body then to the street that was littered with pools of blood, dust, and various appendages.
"Just a minor mishap," Thomas said feebly, brushing off the incident that left nearly all of his disciples dead as if it were nothing. "Kind of like I hope your clothing choice is. Polyester? In this heat? Really?"
She looked down at her new stolen navy blue police uniform that was clinging to her lifeless body. The weight of the gun holster tugging heavily against the belt that was wrapped tightly around her waist. Raising her gaze slowly from her own clothing to look at those that Thomas was wearing, she took in his black Frye Martin Mid Lace boots and gore covered blue jeans all the way up to his bruise battered covered bare chest.
"Well, I see you outgrew your priest phase." She said with a mocking smile.
"Eh, it was a thing." Thomas said nonchalantly as he rolled his shoulders upwards.
"Hmm … well, speaking of priests." She snapped her fingers indicating she wanted one of her followers to do something. "I think you lost this."
From behind her Darrel was pushed forward, the young boy still held tightly against his chest. One hand clamped firmly over the crying boys mouth while the other hand dug dangerously sharp nails into his stomach.
"Geez, he looks strangely familiar." Elizabeth teased as she motioned for Darrel to loosen his hold on the teen. "Now what could it be? The hair? Eyes?"
"Fuck off Elizabeth," Thomas seethed as he stomped past his childe towards his minion.
"Shantou wants him dead you know."
"I know." Thomas breathed out slowly, stopping his movement towards the shaking boy.
"Can you do it?" Elizabeth asked unwaveringly, her left eyebrow quirked up questioningly.
Turning around, a look of somber plastered across his face. "Where are you all staying? My lot where shaking it out at some magic store. The Slayers bound to come by sooner or later."
"Follow me." She said with a wry smile.
"Home sweet home," Willow smirked as she entered the threshold of the house, the blonde still cradled in her arms, making them both look much like a newly married couple.
"Put her on the couch," Buffy ordered, stepping in behind the redhead followed by Spike. The sharpened point of the crossbow's wooden bolt pushed directly into his back as Giles followed his every move.
"Yes madam," Willow said dryly as she sauntered over to the couch, plopping the semi conscious witch rather unceremoniously onto the over stuffed couch cushions.
"Easy with the stake mate," Spike snapped as he took a long stride forward to get away from the prodding weapon. "You're bruising the leather."
"You two," Giles ordered, waving the bow slightly. "Get over by the fireplace." Gingerly, he walked over to the young women laying on the couch and checked her pulse.
"She's fine Rupert," Willow said snidely. "For now."
"Buffy, what now?" Angel asked as he leaned heavily against the doorframe leading from the foyer into the living room, Xander standing close behind him with a large packet of frozen peas clutched to his forehead.
"I'm not quite sure," Buffy admitted dejectedly as she looked around the room, her eyes scanning over her badly injured friends. "I need time to think."
"Well if I might interject," Spike quipped as he took a step forward, towards the Slayer.
"Shut up Spike," both Giles and Angel said simultaneously.
"The basement," Buffy exclaimed. "Get them downstairs. We can restrain them with the chains that are down there."
"Now I'm all for kink Slayer," Willow sneered as she too stepped away from the fireplace "but that hardly seems fair."
"I'm not trying to be fair," argued the blonde as she stared down her once best friend, "I'm trying to keep everyone safe."
"You heard her," Giles said as he raised his crossbow once more, aiming it at the duo, "start moving."
Begrudgingly, Spike and Willow started walking towards the kitchen, but not before the redhead cased one more, sideways glance, at the unconscious blonde on the couch. Her eyes scanning over the ample chested woman clad in her leather coat as a sinister smile etched its way across her lips.