Buffy stood near the gates to the arena and did her best to ignore the attention she was getting. It wasn't easy, she could *feel* the eyes on her. It made her itch for a stake... she broke the thought and rubbed at her forehead, took a deep breath before glancing down at her unchained wrists. At least they hadn't cuffed her tonight. It was something, but not much... She frowned and stared sightlessly at her tennis shoes before looking up when Joseph announced the games were about to begin. It was what she'd been waiting for, and she started toward the open gate without waiting to hear the terms of the fight.
Angel caught her, pulled her back even as Joseph looked down from his hosting platform and laughed. "It looks like we're in for a treat tonight," he informed. "We've got a non-vampire contestant that's interested in our games, and who's already pledged her allegiance to the Aurelius clan." A low murmur ran through the crowd, and he held up his hands for silence. "Tonight we'll have the same rules as always. The winner will be the last clan standing... with the exception of non-vampire contestants. Any non-vampire in the arena whose teammates are dusted will either have to dust their opponents to win, or can be subdued by the other team and claimed."
At the end of the terms, Buffy shook Angel off and entered the arena, and the twins followed on her heels. Interested murmurs ran through the crowd along with some laughter, and a couple of minutes later, 40 vampires from different clans walked in to face them.
"Are you all fighting together?" Joseph asked. They answered they were, and Angel's eyes narrowed when he realized Joseph wasn't going to dispute the difference in numbers or the number of clans involved. He glanced at Buffy and noticed she had her sword out before he angrily pulled his. Shifting off to her side, he gave himself plenty of room before noticing Angelus was on her other side doing the same.
Buffy waited as the horde moved toward her, but frowned in confusion when they stopped about 15 feet away and started to look her over with interest. Her eyes narrowed after a few seconds, and she carefully lowered her sword.
One of the larger ones blew a kiss, and she gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes as she motioned him forward. A moment later, she picked out two more to stand beside him. And a second later, her sword slid in an easy arc as she separated their heads from their bodies. The crowd went wild, and the fighting vampires on the left and right of her paused as the combatants looked over the field. Buffy didn't have time to notice though as the now angry horde in front of her attacked.
She didn't have the luxury of enjoying the dust that settled over her at irregular intervals or even the luxury of thought. All of her moves were pure instinct, and they flowed in a seamless graceful whirlwind as she ducked and dodged blows that were meant to do her serious damage if not kill her. She lost her sword, and in the process of getting it back took a painful cut to her arm that she did her best to ignore as she went into a standoff against the last two vampires she was facing. Angel's sword took care of one of them, and her attention shifted to the one that was left as both of the twins sheathed their blades and turned to watch her fight.
She motioned for him to make the first move, and he came warily. Sparks flew off swords when he got close enough to lunge, and it didn't take long before they were circling each other. He swung, and seeing her chance, Buffy fell to the ground as his blade swung over her before twisting to ram a foot into his crotch. He fell with a groan of pain as she stood and threw a stake into his heart. Vampires cheered, and she glanced up with a scowl before walking over to pick up her stake and slide it into her waistband. Forty down, she thought grimly, and a *lot* more to go.
Her sword was laying a couple of feet away, and she reached for it as she shot Joseph a hard look before noticing Angel and Angelus were watching.
Angel motioned toward the gate, and she snorted. She didn't have any intention of leaving. As a matter of fact, she glanced back up to where Joseph was standing thoughtfully. She couldn't dust him outside of the arena, but she was in the arena, and he was... almost.
She sheathed her sword and moved over to pick up another of her lost stakes before starting toward him. Her thoughts broke when Angelus pulled her sword out of its sheath, and she found herself thrown over Angel's shoulder. "Put me down," she hissed.
He didn't. Not until they were a few feet outside of the arena, and Buffy instantly tried to walk back into it. Angel blocked her angrily. "No."
Angelus's hand brushed with a calculated caress over her back, and she looked at Angel with a frown before reaching up to run a hand into his hair. Frustrated, and needing to feel that she had some kind of control, she tugged his head down and kissed him deeply before breaking away to nip at his throat. She stepped away when he made a low helpless sound and started back toward the arena before Angelus picked her up to the delight of the crowd and started toward the house. Angel gave a low angry growl and caught up with them.
"And you told Kakistos she wasn't trained," Angelus needled. "I think you neglected to tell him she didn't acknowledge you as her master at all."
"That's because I don't have one." Buffy struggled against him before he tightened his arms, and she stilled and dropped her head to nuzzle into his chest. He glanced down at her with narrowed eyes.
"How bad's your arm Buff?" he asked as he tried to glance at it with interest.
"It's fine," she answered.
Angel snorted before swinging in front of them and reaching for it. "Now this looks like it might take," he hesitated thoughtfully as he looked at the six-inch-long cut that was gaping in the middle, "maybe half an hour to stop bleeding." She tried to draw her arm away, and he held it solid before leaning down to experimentally lap at her blood. His gold eyes shot to her sickened green at the first taste. A moment later, he ran a finger through it and lifted it to Angelus's lips. His brother licked it clean with a low snarl of appreciation, and Buffy started to struggle hard before relaxing against him when his arms tightened around her.
"Love your blood," Angelus murmured as he stared down at her before looking at Angel. "Do you think it improves with age? Because that's the best I've ever had."
"Tastes like it might," Angel agreed before sighing as he looked at her. "Put her down. I think she'll walk with us won't you Brawnwyn?"
She glanced up cautiously before nodding, and Angelus set her on her feet. A moment later, she'd moved a few feet away and was looking at them appraisingly. Angel was angry, and she didn't know why. Angelus looked like he wanted to... she broke the thought. "So, if I decided I wanted to, oh I don't know, maybe go to the Bronze," Buffy started, "what besides you two would stop me?"
Angelus smirked. "You can only walk in a fairly straight line between the house and the arena Buff. Everything else is off limits."
"Then you wouldn't mind if I checked that out?" she asked as she started to walk away from them. She scowled when she hit a barrier that was about 20 feet away. "Fine," she almost snapped without turning. "I'm going back to my room, and I don't need an escort."
"It's not a problem," Angelus told her. "In fact, we insist."
She shot him a nervous glance before starting to head for the house.
"I'm tired," she stated after walking into her room. "Would you mind leaving?"
"It's only 10:30," Angelus informed.
"Yes," she agreed as she looked uncomfortably at the blood dripping from her arm. "And I'm tired," she repeated as she headed for the bathroom. Angel blocked her.
"I've already told you I can help with things like that," he stated as he reached for her arm. She shifted out of reach before going still at the sudden firm pressure of Angelus's arms encircling her waist. Angel's eyes glinted before he dropped to his knees and began to clean her arm. "Gods," he breathed when he was done. "She's so good." He leaned in and nuzzled into her stomach.
"Angel..." Buffy started uneasily. "What's wrong with you?"
He opened his eyes before getting to his feet. "Well, let's see... We're getting unfair fights in the arena, and you don't seem to care. You also don't seem to know that I'm attracted to you Buffy, and turning you into a siren is more than a little on the painful side." He snorted before looking away and running a hand through his hair. "Bringing you here wasn't exactly one of my better ideas."
"I don't know," Angelus gave a wicked smile followed by a shrug. "I have to admit I'm not unhappy with how things are turning out."
Buffy scowled before trying to shake him off, and he reluctantly let her go. She turned to look at Angel a moment later. "I've already told you, I'm not going to be a blood toy. That's sick. *They're* sick." She looked at him with hard eyes. "And this is my town. You can't expect me to walk away from a fight because it's not fair." She hesitated before scrunching her nose, "Well not walk anyway... There have been a few times I've had to *run*." She thought about that statement and who she was making it in front of with a frown before locking eyes with Angel. "But that's so not the point. It's my call to make." She looked him over and hesitated before giving a slow shake of her head. "I know I owe you, and I'm not crazy about the idea of dusting you, but this," she motioned between them, "isn't going to happen."
Silence fell before Angelus broke it, "Well Buff, you've put my brother in his place. Do you care to try to do the same with me?" She turned to him, and he looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"You're psychotic," she hissed, "and if I could, I'd put a stake in you right now."
"But we both know you can't," he answered coolly. "So let's stop with the theatrics shall we?" He paused before taking a step toward her. "And just so you know, you're going to be right back in my lair when the games are over Buff. If I were you, I'd start thinking less about how you're going to save other people's lives and more about how you're going to save your own."
"Angelus," Angel broke in warningly. "Knock it off. We both know she'll be in *my* lair, and what I say goes there."
"As long as you're not starving it does," Angelus shot back.
Angel shook his head. "I want my donors back, or I'll do my best to dust Darla before I leave."
"Fine," Angelus answered, "I'll give you 2 weeks a month of donors, but you'll have to *sleep* with our sire before we leave the games, *and* I wasn't lying when I said Buff has the best blood I've ever tasted." He turned to look at her. "You don't want to feed my brother?" he asked with a snarl. "Then you shouldn't have any trouble giving me a wine decanter a week of blood." She looked at him with sick eyes, and he smiled. "Don't worry lover," he murmured. "I won't bite you... I'll just cut you open and drain some out of various areas. You might not have a lot of strength afterward, but I'll tuck you into bed after every draining, and I'm sure Angel won't mind spoon feeding you until you get your strength back."
"If she agrees to that," Angel started firmly, "you can use the mage to get your blood. You're not going to 'cut her open' Angelus."
Buffy looked at them uneasily before going into the bathroom and locking the door.
Angelus dropped onto the sofa with a quiet laugh.
"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," Angel snapped.
Angelus smiled before rolling his eyes. "She's not going to agree to that, but now she's got a choice. It'll be her decision to feed you."
Angel lifted an eyebrow. "And if she agrees? How does that make you better off?"
"You're letting me play..." he answered. "You're just going to continue to allow it."
"What makes you think so?"
Angelus chuckled. "Because by the time we take the spell off of her, she's going to be used to *both* of our touches."
Angel sighed. "I won't let you hurt her."
"I know, and I won't. She's yours... But I've never lied to you Angel, manipulated yes, but lied, no, and I'm telling you I don't want her dead any more than you do."
"This isn't the way I wanted to do it," he murmured as he took a seat.
"I know, but as long as we get what we want, I'm not going to be picky," Angelus answered.
Buffy stared at the cut on her arm, it had sealed, and she took a breath before pulling open the bathroom door. She scowled when she saw the twins were still in the room.
The door to the hallway opened, and she looked up as the master entered. He took a deep breath before smiling at his grandsons. "She might look like a siren, but her blood is pure slayer. There's no comparison between the two." Buffy shifted uneasily and had to fight the urge to lock herself back in the bathroom. It might make her feel better, but it wouldn't do any good, not if any of them wanted in.
"How are you feeling my dear?" he asked as he moved to stand in front of her. Not good, she thought grimly, but she didn't want to tell him that, and before she could come up with an answer, he started to reach for her arm. She took a step back. Silence fell, and he turned to move away. "I have to tell you Brawnwyn, that first kill you made was pure poetry in motion. One stroke of your sword took out 3 of the opposition."
"They thought it was a game," she answered.
"Yes," he smiled. "Their interest in you was quite obvious, but we can't judge them too harshly. They thought they were facing something very different than they actually were." He looked at her with yellow eyes before clasping his hands behind his back and glancing toward the open shutter pointedly. "Unfortunately, your lack of respect for your... masters has raised some eyebrows in the clans. I can well understand Angel's difficulties in that regard, but it does seem to be something I will have to deal with in the future."
She looked at him uneasily as Angel slowly got to his feet and stepped between them. "Grandsire," he started, "I haven't disciplined her because she's done nothing to anger me."
"Oh Angel," Nest chuckled. "You are such a delight my boy. And despite Darla's frustration with your soul, I believe she's also starting to enjoy your tormented nobility." Angel frowned, and Nest gave a wicked smile. "In fact, she's asked for your presence in her chambers."
Angelus got to his feet, looked at his grandsire. "She just wants Angel?" he asked slowly.
"No. Both of you," Nest answered. "And I wouldn't keep her waiting. I believe she's still a bit miffed about what happened last night."
Angel rubbed roughly at his forehead before moving toward the door with Angelus on his heels, and Nest turned back to Buffy when the door closed behind them. "Your behavior has caused a stir my dear, and I'm afraid I must do some damage control." He looked at her neutrally before his lips twitched up. "You have a choice, Bronwyn. You can either be obedient without magic or with it."
Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Obedience wasn't part of the deal."
"It was when you became a siren," he answered. "Now answer the question... with, or without magic?"
"No," she stated.
He looked at her with a faint smile. "I take it we'll need the mage?" He went to the door and spoke to Luke quietly before walking back in to study her. A moment later, the mage appeared, and Nest looked at him. "I want her to be... obedient."
The mage waved a hand, and Buffy looked at Nest before giving a shake of her head. "Well, that was a failure."
"Come here Brawnwyn." Buffy walked over, and Nest smiled as he dropped an arm across her shoulders. Be a good girl, don't be too bothered by any touches that are not mine, and stay close to me," he breathed before he led her out of the room.
Buffy glanced at her watch before noticing Nest was moving. A moment later, she followed him. Hands reached for her, glided over her arms, and she ignored them before pressing against the ancient vampire when he stopped. His arm slid around her a moment later as he pulled her against him.
"Well," Joseph murmured as he walked up to them. "It looks like she knows how to be civilized after all."
Nest's eyes flashed with amusement. "Ares is perhaps a little lax in his discipline."
Joseph nodded. "Or perhaps she's simply too strong for him." He looked at Buffy thoughtfully. "I believe she took out more vampires tonight than Ares and Angelus did." He gave a shake of his head. "I had no idea they were such good fighters."
"Most aren't," Kakistos answered as he watched her with the same thoughtful expression. "At least not after they're broken in properly."
Buffy glanced at the vampire that didn't appear human anymore. She could feel his strength, it rivaled Nest's. She knew if she was fighting him she'd be worried, but they weren't fighting, and she looked at him coolly before turning her attention to Joseph. One step toward him was all she got before there was a painful pressure on her wrist that was strong enough to break human bones. She whined as her knees buckled, the only thing that mattered to her was a white-hot need to *touch*, to *be* touched, and she turned back to nuzzle into the master's thigh before nipping at the fabric of his pants as she did.
Nest's eyes glinted as he looked down at her. Her reactions and discipline had been perfect tonight, but she was still untried, and that was about to change. If it helped his poor souled grandson, so much the better. He watched her bury her face into his thigh with a dark smile before looking at Kakistos. "The boys always did enjoy breaking their toys, but only on their schedules."
"Yes, I got that impression myself." Kakistos smiled at the other master before looking down to watch Buffy. His smile widened when Nest freed his erection before sliding a hand into her hair as she continued to nip at his jeans. His hand knotted before he slowly drug her toward his cock, and Buffy dropped her head down to nuzzle against him without thought. She needed more, she decided as she pressed into him harder and gave him a nip, the only thing mattering to her was a burning need to get closer.
Kakistos frowned at the unexpected bite. "Mine's never done that," he hissed before looking up to see Nest was also watching with narrowed eyes. She nipped again, and Nest growled warningly before tightening the hand in her hair and pulling her away just far enough to place the tip of his erection to her lips. She willingly opened her mouth, and he forced himself to the back of her throat, the quiet distressed sounds she made easily heard in the suddenly quiet room. The slayer didn't notice anything wrong or think of fighting as he jerked against her... and she swallowed without thought when he came. A moment later, he pulled her head back and refastened his pants as she knelt at his feet.
Kakistos laughed. "I don't think she'll be fighting again anytime soon."
Buffy nuzzled into Nest again before slowly getting to her feet and turning to look at Kakistos, her earlier actions forgotten as nothing unusual. A moment later, she took the two steps necessary to stand in front of Joseph. "I'd hoped to see you in the arena," she murmured as she looked at him challengingly.
Joseph stiffened before forcing a smile. "I always leave the games to the underlings." A woman somewhere behind him gave a quiet laugh, and he eyed the girl in front of him with a burst of anger before reaching out to grab her bruised wrist in a punishing grip. He found himself on the floor seconds later, his legs knocked out from under him as Buffy blanketed his body and nuzzled his throat.
Kakistos laughed before looking at Nest. "I... envy your grandsons."
Nest gave an evil smile before walking over to pull Buffy off the Sunnydale Hellmouth ruler. "Yes. It appears they have something quite unusual," he agreed as she easily shifted away from Joseph to press against him. She gave a quiet sound of irritation when he started to walk away from her. A moment later, she quickly caught up and followed him back to her room.
It wasn't long after that before the mage broke the 'obedience' spell, and cast another one that filled the coffee table with food. A moment later, they left Buffy alone in the room.
The slayer watched them go before running a hand through her hair as she thought back over her night. The threats Angelus had made came back to her, and she sucked in a breath. Once the games were over she'd be right back in Los Angeles, locked in Angel's rooms. She had to find a way out before then. She frowned thoughtfully before glancing over the items on the table, a large bag of potato chips, a few slices of cheese, a large bowl of chili. She was hungry. She picked up the chili and thoughtfully sat down to eat it.
It was almost 8 in the morning when Angel got off the bed and studied his sire. She was laying in a heap of silk, her nude pale body the same as he remembered from years ago. He was grateful she was claiming him, but it didn't change that he wanted to check on Buffy. "I need to go," he murmured before starting to dress.
She watched with interest even as Angelus nuzzled into her throat. "Ares." He quickly finished fastening his jeans and turned to her. "Come here," she ordered, and he slid back onto the bed and kissed her deeply when she pulled his head down. After a few long seconds, he pulled back. "I have to go, sire," he restated quietly.
She snorted. "Just like Nest," she breathed with annoyance as she sat up, and watched him pull on a shirt. "Where did you get that... thing anyway?"
"The siren?" Angelus asked.
"Yes," she hissed as she looked at him. "I thought you had him under lock and key. How did he manage to find one?"
Angelus smirked as he watched Angel glance at Darla before beginning to work with the buttons on his shirt. "She walked into the lair." He got up and reached for his leather pants. "Luke thought the best place for her was with Ares since I wasn't there."
Darla scowled as she watched Angel slide into his shoes before lowering his head respectfully. "Sire," he offered before heading out the door.
She turned to Angelus. "You're too easy on him."
The brunette gave a shake of his head. "Having a soul almost broke him. I won't ask him to kill, but if he feeds, and tolerates deaths, comes back to the family, I'll be beyond grateful." He slid into his shoes before throwing on his shirt. "Sire," he lowered his head before leaving the room, his unbuttoned shirt fluttering behind him.
She smiled as she watched before frowning at the thought of the siren. Hopefully, Angelus would kill it soon.
Luke glanced up and smiled as he watched Angel walk down the hall before he elbowed Spike. The bleached blonde smirked, and Angel eyed them suspiciously before stopping in front of them. "What?"
"Nothing," Spike answered as he looked down the hallway to see Angelus before turning back to Angel. "Did you have a good time last night?"
Angel looked at him with narrowed eyes. "I'm touched, Spike. I didn't know you cared."
"From what I hear master Nest had a good time," Luke threw in before shrugging when Angel and Angelus both shot him looks. "It might just be a rumor," he finally stated before he glanced at Spike.
"Riiight," the bleached blonde agreed. "Because she wouldn't..."
"No," Luke cut in with a shake of his head. "I don't think so either." He looked back at his sires with amusement. "I'm sure it's nothing."
Angel snorted before pushing open the door to his room and entering. The window was open, and he scowled when he didn't see Buffy. "Bronwyn?" he called.
"What?" she answered.
"Are you going to come in?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "No."
Angelus snorted as he walked up beside his brother. "You had to let her go through the window," he breathed with irritation.
"Seemed like a good idea at the time."
Angelus shot him a look before dropping onto the sofa and staring at the ceiling. "We're going to have to keep an eye on Darla. I don't think she likes sirens."
"I got that idea too," Angel murmured before shaking his head as he remembered the odd conversation Luke and Spike were having. A moment later, he rolled his eyes and looked at his twin. "I hear master Nest had a good time last night. Do you think Kakistos loaned him his siren?"
Angelus snorted. "If he did, you can bet Darla's going to be pissed." Silence fell, and Angelus got to his feet. "I could use some blood. Want to find some?"
"Yeah," Angel agreed with a glance at the window before turning to follow.
Buffy turned off the shower before dressing in jeans and a dark green baby doll t-shirt. She put her hair in a ponytail before pulling the door open and looking at the twins. "I want to go back to the games," she stated before moving over to the large bag of potato chips and picking up a couple to munch on.
"They're fighting for humans tonight," Angel answered. "Is that really something you want to see?"
She rubbed at her forehead before looking up with hard eyes. "No, but I'm tired of being locked up, and I don't want to... socialize tonight."
The souled vampire frowned with confusion and looked her over curiously. "Okay," he answered slowly. "We can go to the games if you want."
She nodded before walking over to strap a sword onto her back.
Angelus watched with an unreadable expression and only shrugged at the look his brother was giving him before they moved into the hallway, through the living room. There was some laughter as they made their way to the mansion door, Buffy ignored it, but the twins shot hard glances at the few vampires they ran into.
"We can leave," Angel murmured a few minutes later as he walked up beside her, watched as she looked over the humans chained behind the bleachers.
She took a breath and tightly closed her eyes before looking back at the humans. "Are they blood donors?"
"Yes," Angelus answered before giving a wicked smile at the look his brother was giving him.
Buffy didn't notice it though and she rubbed at the back of her neck and headed toward the arena with resignation before stopping abruptly when she spotted Xander. "They're blood donors right Angelus?" she asked as she shot him a hard look.
He smirked and shrugged. "Will be," he answered.
She turned back to the brunette she'd danced with at the Bronze last week. "How do you claim one?"
Angel frowned. "You fight Buff..."
"Vampires?" she asked.
"No. Other things tonight."
"How do you know which one you're fighting for?"
"They're numbered. The first fight is for the first one."
Xander was number 9, and Buffy quickly glanced over the other humans before heading around to the front of the bleachers and watching the current fight with some interest. It was to the death. The vampire cut through the red demon's neck and held up his hands in victory when it fell.
The next fight was number 8, and she watched the easy battle with narrowed eyes.
Joseph called the winner before announcing the next fight was 9, and Buffy ran toward the gate with inhuman speed before stopping behind the girl already standing in front of it. The redhead turned to her with a hiss, and the slayer met her eyes before looking at the platform Joseph was on. "I'm fighting for this one Joe," she stated loudly.
"No, you're not," Angel growled.
Her eyes flared, but she didn't even look at him, just watched Joseph give her an unreadable look before smiling and looking over the crowd. "It looks like master Nest's siren is interested in a human," he told the crowd, "and under the circumstances will need his permission to fight."
Angel looked at him threateningly, but all heads turned when Nest stood from his spot on the bleachers. "She has it," he answered loudly before sitting back down.
Joseph nodded before looking at the redhead. "Do you want to fight her for him?"
She scowled and looked at Buffy. She'd seen her fight. "No," she finally answered before walking away from the gate.
Joseph turned to Buffy. "Do stingers suit you?"
She shrugged, nodded.
He laughed and looked over to where Nest was sitting. "Master Nest, do you mind if I put a boundary spell on your grandsons? They do not appear to share your decision."
Nest stood back up. "Certainly. A boundary is fine."
Joseph turned to shoot the twins a triumphant smile as the mage performed a spell that would lock them into a 7 foot area. The gate opened, and Buffy entered the arena. A couple of minutes later, two caged stingers were brought in and turned loose before the gate was shut.
Buffy didn't know what a stinger was, but she knew how to kill demons. She pulled her sword. First thing she had to do was win Xander, after that she was pretty sure she could find a way to get free. She'd need Nest's help though... and the glamour they'd put on her would be a plus. She gave a wicked smile to the demons she was facing before frowning when they started to grow tentacles. The tentacles moved toward her, and she cut one in half before smoothly pivoting to cut through a second. A moment later, she was backing away as more tentacles headed for her, and she started a smooth rhythm of cutting them off. It worked, but it didn't get her closer to her goal.
Another tentacle came at her, and she cut it off before going still as she quickly evaluated her options. There weren't many, and she looked up to study her opponents before almost reluctantly launching her sword toward them. It made an arc through the air before almost severing its target's throat.
The demon fell, and Buffy ducked a tentacle from the one remaining before feeling a sharp pain in her arm. It *hurt* and the slayer quickly put distance between them before taking a deep breath at what she had to do next. She needed her sword... and she ran for it, did her best to ignore the sharp sting she took to her thigh before going into a slide when she neared the body. Her hand closed over the hilt and she rolled to a knee with her sword held over her head. A tentacle flew toward her and was cut in two before she got to her feet and ended it. Her thrown blade smoothly decapitating the demon she was facing.
She ignored the cheers from the crowd as she limped to her sword and sheathed it. A moment later, she headed toward the gate and was grateful when she saw Nest waiting for her. He wanted her obedience, and tonight she would willingly give it. She didn't glance at the twins, but she *felt* their anger as she limped past the barrier they were being held in.
"Very nice my dear," he offered as he wrapped an arm around her and started to lead her off.
"Thank you," Buffy murmured as she tried to move her stung arm. It only moved a little, and she glanced down at it with a frown. Nest's arm tightened, and she leaned into him tiredly. "I won number nine," she stated.
"Yes, I know," he answered before shooting her a look. "Do you really think Angelus will let him live?"
"I'll fight Angelus for him."
He chuckled. "In your current condition, he wouldn't have to fight you." Silence fell. "I don't suppose you know the stings are poisonous to humans? Of course, to our dead bodies, they're merely an annoyance."
Buffy gave a grim smile. "Now you tell me." She looked up at him a moment later. "You'll be leaving the Hellmouth soon, and I'm only a threat to demons that are here. Let me go."
"So you didn't just walk into my grandson's lair in L.A.?" He asked pleasantly.
She snorted. "Okay... They might send me to Los Angeles, but other than that, I'm not a threat."
He smiled at Trick as the demon walked toward them. "She won 9."
"So I saw," Trick answered with a smile before walking over to free Xander from the post his cuffs were linked to.
"I have my hands full..." The ancient vampire looked at the younger one. "Would you mind bringing him along for me?"
"Of course." Trick grinned and looked at the twins that were standing several feet away before grabbing Xander's arm and leading him toward Aurelius's clan home.
Buffy was leaning heavily against Nest by the time they got to the mansion, the poison in her system making her feel heavy and clumsy. He helped her through the door, up the stairs, and into her room. She shook her head. "Not here. They're too mad."
He chuckled. "You noticed that too?" He helped her to the sofa and looked at her with amusement before taking Xander from Trick and cuffing his wrist to a three foot length of chain embedded in the wall. "I'll lock them out for 24 hours. That's how long you have to get back on your feet and figure out a way to protect your new toy." He started for the door before turning back to her. "Just think, by this time tomorrow, it might be *Angel* killing him."
Buffy looked at him uneasily, and he chuckled again before leaving. She closed her eyes tiredly before looking over to where Xander had been chained against the far wall. "I don't feel very good Xand," she breathed before taking a deep breath.
"Do I know you?" he asked cautiously.
"Yeah," she answered lightly before frowning. "But let's keep that a secret."
"Okay..." he breathed as he looked at her carefully.
She glanced down at her swollen arm and tried to move it. She couldn't, and she glanced back at him. "It's a glamour. I'm Buffy," she murmured. "And we're both in a lot of trouble," she stated quietly before passing out.
He looked at her worriedly. "Buff?" he asked quietly. She didn't answer, but his eyes flew to the door when he heard angry voices. Another voice cut in, and silence fell. He breathed a sigh of relief before looking back at the girl on the sofa. She didn't move, and he sat down a couple of seconds later and dropped his head back against the wall. If that was Buffy, he stood a chance of getting out of this alive, if it wasn't... he broke the thought.
Xander glanced at his watch. It was a little after 1. The girl on the sofa had passed out a little over 2 hours ago. He got to his feet when she started to stir.
"Buff?" he asked hopefully as he watched dark eyes open to look at him. She ran a hand through her hair before glancing at her swollen arm and flexing her fingers. A moment later, she got to her feet and took a step before stopping with a grimace.
"How long have I been out?"
"A little over 2 hours. It's about fifteen after one now." He hesitated. "Um... how do you feel?"
She snorted. "Like I've been poisoned, which I have been." She slowly hobbled over to where he stood before sliding down the wall to sit next to him, and he sat down and looked at her curiously.
"You disappeared. We thought you were dead."
"Post sent me into Angelus's lair.." she stared absently at the door that was opposite her, "and it turned out he wasn't there because he was *here*." She glanced at him tiredly. "It also turns out vampires have clan games every fifty years, and this year Joseph offered Sunnydale."
Xander scowled. "That explains the extra vampires the last few days." He gave a shake of his head, looked at her. "We've pretty much concluded it's a death sentence to try to patrol."
Silence fell. "How's Kendra doing?"
"She's... different."
"But she's okay?"
"Yeah. I mean she said she was caged for a while, but escaped."
Buffy nodded. "Angel let her go."
"Angel?"
Buffy sighed tiredly before dropping her head to nuzzle his shoulder. "I guess we've got a lot of catching up to do." A moment later, she glanced up at him. "Did anyone else get caught with you?"
"No. I was taking out the trash when I got jumped."
Buffy nodded into him tiredly before shifting to lay down, and Xander glanced at her worriedly before slowly moving to lay behind her. She pressed back against him, and he draped an arm over her waist. "I hope you've got a plan Buff because I don't."
"Can't do anything yet," she told him. "And I just want to sleep."
"Alright," he agreed before shifting to get more comfortable.
Twenty minutes later the door opened, and Xander lifted his head and looked at the ancient demon walking toward them with a pizza box before looking at the vampires watching from the doorway. He uneasily sat up before shaking the girl he was laying next to.
"What?" she asked before opening her eyes and looking at the smirk Nest was giving her. She saw the pizza box and sat up before leaning forward to nip at his knee. "I'm not sure I can eat."
"Try."
She glanced toward the door and frowned at Spike and Luke's interest before looking back at Nest. "Will you let him go?"
"No. But if it's any consolation, I'm looking forward to your next move. If nothing else, it's quite entertaining." He set the box down before turning back to the door... and stopped when he saw Darla standing in it with her arms crossed. "You're really doing this again?" she hissed.
"Would you prefer I left her to your boys?" he asked with amusement as he walked out of the room. "Especially now that you're just getting involved in their lives again."
"I would prefer her death," Darla answered coolly before the door shut.
Xander took in a breath. "What's with the knee nipping Buff?"
She frowned at him. "What are you talking about?"
"You..." he broke off and looked at her. "What kind of demon is Oz?"
"Werewolf," she answered before flipping open the pizza box and picking up a slice. She shifted the box closer to him, and he sighed as he picked up a piece.
"Last meal?" he asked.
"Maybe."
It was four am when Buffy opened her eyes again, experimentally stretched her arm, flexed her fingers, before slowly getting to her feet. She wasn't at a hundred percent, but... She glanced down at Xander, and he looked up.
"Hey," he murmured before stretching and getting to his feet. "Looks like you're doing better."
"If only it was that simple," she breathed absently before looking at him. "I'm starving for a plate of french fries. Is there anything you want?"
"Slayer metabolism Buff?" he asked with amusement. A moment later, he glanced away when she crossed her arms and scowled at him. He looked back and shook his head before watching as she walked over to open the door.
"Luke," Buffy started before breaking off with a frown when she saw the twins leaning against the wall across from her. She turned back to the smirking brunette sitting outside of her room. "I badly want a plate of french fries with salt and ketchup." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Can you talk to the mage?" His eyes glinted with amusement, but he nodded. She ran a hand through her hair and glanced at the bleached blonde who was leering at her before turning back to the brunette. "And I'd like to talk to Nest."
Angelus snorted and looked at his childe. "*One* word to him, and I'll lock you in a cell for a year." He glanced darkly at the bleached blonde. "Same for you Spike," he growled.
"Why do you want to talk to Nest *Brawnwyn*?" Angel asked. Silence fell, and he cocked his head. "And I've heard a little more about your *socializing* with vampires last night," he stated angrily.
She looked at him with confusion before rolling her eyes. "It was boring. Not to mention the company was bad."
Luke laughed. "I wouldn't call it boring siren. From what I hear, you can give Darla a run for her money in that department."
Buffy gave him an odd look. A moment later, she shifted back on her stiff leg to close the door and unintentionally gave them a better view of Xander.
Angelus's eyes narrowed as he studied the brunette before he glanced at Buffy. "Enjoy him while you can. In a few hours, he's going to be back on the 'donors' list." He looked at Spike a moment later. "As a matter of fact, he looks like something Dru might like."
Spike glanced at his grandsire with a smile. "He does," he agreed before he looked at the slayer with gold in his eyes. "And I'm sure he won't be hurt at all."
Buffy's eyes narrowed before she nodded and leaned toward him challengingly. "I think that's a safe bet." A moment later, she closed the door.
A knock came after a couple of minutes, and she was thoughtfully eating french fries soon after that.
At daylight, Buffy broke the cuff chaining Xander to the wall before leading him onto the roof. She tied the bed sheets together with large knots before looking at him. "Tell Giles I need a transportation spell, and..." she broke off. "I've got a lot of spells on me. A glamour, one stopping me from fighting, boundary spells, and one making me act like a demon."
"That might explain the *nipping*," he muttered.
She looked at him with confusion. "I still don't have a clue what you're talking about."
He snorted and ran a hand through his hair. "Won't Giles need a link to you if he's going to try a spell?"
She rubbed at her forehead in frustration. "I don't know."
He sighed before taking a hold of his shirt and trying to tear it. It didn't rip, and Buffy looked at him with a frown before catching on and reaching over to tear a strip out of it. Xander tied it around her wrist and looked back at her with concern. "Giles won't be back from L.A. until sometime tonight or tomorrow morning. Are you sure you can't come with me?"
She walked to the edge of the roof and ran a hand over the barrier before giving a shake of her head. "Can't."
He nodded before hugging her. She nipped at his ear before nipping at his jaw, and he slowly shifted back to look at her curiously. She'd already turned away from him though, and he took a breath as he watched her check the knots in the sheets again. He sighed. "Do you think you can get out of the house tonight?"
"I don't know, but I doubt it," she answered quietly. "I was hoping Nest would be able to get me out, but they're not going to let me talk to him."
He nodded with a frown. The Sunnydale vampire lairs had spells on them that were strengthened by their proximity to the hellmouth. It was the reason they couldn't attack Joseph on his home ground, and it might make it harder for Giles to get Buffy out. He sighed before looking at her. "Stay safe."
"You too." She made sure the sheets were anchored before dropping them off the roof and watching as he started to climb down them. When she couldn't see him anymore, she sat down and felt the sun soak into her with a thoughtful frown.
It was almost 10 pm, and Buffy paced around the room nervously. She wasn't sure what time Nest would let the twins in, but it wouldn't be much longer. She took a breath and turned when the door opened and closed a few minutes later.
They were watching her grimly. "Where's the boy Buff?" Angelus asked as he pointedly eyed the broken cuff before looking back at her.
She didn't say anything, and the twins quickly checked the bathroom, closet, under the bed, stepped onto the roof. She waited for them to get done, and when they were, they watched her warily from a few feet away.
"Looks like he's going to be safe after all," Angel stated as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.
Angelus glanced at the tangle of bed sheets. The knots were out of them, but... he glanced back at her and gave a slow nod. "You know if the cuffs had been stronger than human, or we'd thought about the open windows we'd have him by now, don't you *Brawnwyn*?"
"Yeah," she answered, "but the cuffs weren't, and you didn't." Silence fell before Buffy thumped a fist against her leg. "So... we're going to the arena again tonight?"
"No," Angel pushed away from the wall. "I kind of thought we could socialize."
"We can," Buffy agreed, "at the arena."
"At the arena." Angelus looked at his brother before looking back at her. "Well it probably wouldn't get any more attention than what happened with our *grandsire*," he stated with irritation before looking at her mockingly. "And here we thought you were too shy and inexperienced for us. Of course according to... almost everyone in the house," he hissed, "you're more than willing to prove you're not."
She looked at him uneasily before giving a shake of her head. "I'm pretty sure you mean something by that, but I don't know what it is." She glanced at Angel. "So can we socialize at the arena?"
"No," he answered before starting to unbutton his shirt. She shifted uneasily as she watched before noticing Angelus was doing the same.
"Angel," she started. He looked up. "Um... I still don't feel the best. My arm itches, and it doesn't work right. Can we... socialize tomorrow?"
He scowled before running a hand through his hair. "Buffy," he breathed quietly.
"You've got to be kidding me," Angelus stated as he dropped his shirt on the floor and turned to look at his brother.
"She's under a spell."
"Yeah, she is, and that's why she won't mind." Angelus turned to look her over before suddenly moving to press her against the wall. They locked eyes, and he smiled. "I can do it just like he did," he murmured in a low voice. His hand closed hard on her wrist, and she instantly pressed against him before nipping lightly at his chest.
Angelus smiled triumphantly when he noticed his brother drop his shirt on the floor before beginning to take off his shoes and socks. A moment later, Angel walked over and checked her arm. It was red and swollen, hot to the touch, and he nuzzled his face into it before experimentally scratching a fang across it. Buffy shuddered and went still before tugging Angelus's head down and into a deep kiss. She pushed him away a few seconds later and walking over to Nest when the door opened and he entered.
"Is the boy dead?" the ancient vampire asked as he took in the situation with amusement before wrapping an arm around Buffy when she pressed against him.
"No," Angelus growled.
"Where is he?"
Angel frowned, rubbed at his forehead. "He escaped."
Nest looked down at the girl nuzzling his chest. "You've been a very naughty girl Brawnwyn," he hissed with a hint of malice. "You might have to be punished for that."
She snorted, nipped at his shoulder before walking over to pick up a couple of potato chips. "I was wondering if I could go to the games tonight." She ran a hand through her hair, turned to look at him. "Can I?"
"And the boy? What happened to him?" Nest asked.
Buffy met his eyes for a moment before her lips twitched into a smile. "You said you were looking forward to my next move." She popped a chip into her mouth. "I didn't want to disappoint."
He studied her with his own smile. "Oh, you haven't yet my dear. But be warned, I am not my grandsons. There's only so much insubordination I will allow. And no, you will not be going to the arena tonight."
She frowned before grabbing a few more chips and stepping out onto the roof. Nest watched her with a chuckle before looking at the twins. "It's all about pressure boys. Act like she's human, and you want to break her bones."
The brunettes watched him leave before following her out onto the roof and sitting on either side of her. She looked toward the games. "Are you sure we can't go?"
"You could have been killed last night. And no, we're not going to the games," Angel answered before he ran a hand through his hair, rubbed at the back of his neck.
Silence fell. "The boy," Angelus started as he gave her a hard look. "Why did you want him?"
She was silent. She still didn't think it was a good idea to tell them he was one of her best friends. She shook her head. "No reason."
Angelus tugged her against him, and she leaned her head into his arm before munching on her last potato chip. A moment later, she nipped him.
Angel watched before looking over the roof. "Let's take her inside," he stated quietly. Angelus got to his feet, and Angel tugged her to her feet, picked her up, started toward the bed. She protested when she realized where they were going before shuddering and giving a needy yelp when the grip on her wrist would have *shattered* human bones.
The almost painful shift from a hard body to a soft bed was jarring, and Buffy quickly rolled on top of Angel when he laid down beside her. His arms circled her, ran over her with firm hard caresses that both built her need and sated it. Angelus joined them, pulled her into his arms as Angel quickly undressed. Several minutes later, Angel took a deep breath when he felt her hymen. "Virgin," he breathed.
"We'll be careful," Angelus stated before locking human teeth onto her neck.
Buffy froze when she woke and realized she was laying between two identical male bodies. They were both sleeping, and she carefully climbed to the foot of the bed on her hands and knees before quickly dressing. She took a breath and turned back to stare at the rumpled covers she'd just crawled out of, the spots of dried blood she could see on the sheets. Her period... She swallowed thickly before backing away. The coffee table made a noise when she bumped into it, and she stopped nervously before turning away from the bed as she took deep even breaths. A quiet movement had her uneasily turning back.
"Good morning," Angel murmured as he looked at her with eyes that were wide awake. A moment later, he stretched before getting out of bed. She was relieved he was wearing jeans but dropped her eyes to the floor when he walked over to her.
"Uh... hi," she greeted as her face turned red.
He studied her before tugging her toward him and felt satisfaction when she slowly settled against him, her nose brushing his chest before she went still. The bed creaked, and he glanced over as Angelus walked toward them with gold sparks in his eyes. A moment later, he shifted to blanket her back. Her breathing hitched nervously, but she didn't pull away.
"Good morning lover," Angelus murmured as he slid arms around her, his hands sliding over her stomach, her hips... She started to sink to her knees when he began to press her to the floor.
"Knock it off," Angel growled quietly as he locked eyes with his twin. Angelus grinned and released her, and Buffy nervously shifted out from between them before walking over to pick up a potato chip.
"I know... um... I know that we..." she broke off and took a breath. "We," she closed her eyes and wrinkled her nose before staring sightlessly at the floor, "slept together," she finished thickly, "but I um... I don't think we should do that anymore. It's sick... and it's... None of us should do that," she finished awkwardly before she ate her chip, tried to look at them before looking away when she couldn't. "Can... um... can we go to the arena tonight?"
Angelus watched with gleaming gold eyes. "Would you sleep with us if we took you?"
Silence fell, and she glanced at him uneasily before looking away as her face burned with embarrassment. "You have Darla. Why would you..." she broke off uneasily, and Angelus pulled her against him and smiled when she pressed her face into his chest and took a shaky breath.
"You're not going to the games," Angel broke in as he watched. "I think we can surely find something better to do."
She pulled away with a frown before walking out the window and into the sun.
Angelus waited for a minute before he called to her, asked her to come back into the room, and after a few seconds, she walked in and nuzzled against him.
Angel's eyes glinted before he walked over to his brother's side. "She needs to heal," he stated quietly. "Maybe we should go find some blood?"
Angelus grinned wickedly before stepping away from Buffy. She stumbled a couple of steps forward when he pulled away, and both twins watched with dark interested eyes before leaving.
Nest was waiting for them when they entered the main room of the house, and he glanced up knowingly as they came down the stairs. "That my boys is how you treat a siren."
Angelus laughed. "No wonder Darla wants to kill her."
"Yes. I was able to keep mine alive for a year," he stated proudly. "But you always want to go further, give them, and yourself more. It eventually kills them. "
Silence fell, and Angel shot a look at his brother. "We won't," he stated firmly.
"Possibly," Nest agreed.
Angel frowned before heading into the basement to feed. He settled on a panicking brunette and sank fangs into her throat seconds after he'd walked to her side before taking a few mouthfuls of blood and moving away. "You guys aren't eating?" he asked as he glanced over to where Nest and Angelus were watching.
Nest chuckled before walking over to the girl Angel had drunk from and sinking his fangs in. A few long moments later, he'd drained her, and he turned to watch the souled vampire's reaction carefully. Angel ran a hand through his hair. "You know I'm thinking about going back to L.A. early." He glanced at Angelus. "I mean, there's not really a reason for me to stay."
"Darla would miss you my boy," Nest stated.
He glanced at his grandsire. "She'd still have Angelus."
"Perhaps," Nest answered before he walked over to run a hand through his grandchilde's hair, and the brunette instantly offered his throat. "You should eat more."
Angel slowly shifted his attention back to the humans, and picked out a blonde before sinking his teeth in and taking a few more mouthfuls of blood. He turned back to them seconds later with a shake of his head. "I understand now why everyone thought she should obey me."
"Yes." Nest agreed as he clasped his hands behind his back.
Angelus watched his brother curiously before walking over to drain the blonde he had just left. She fell limply in her chains, and Angel turned to him. "Is there a bar we can get to during the day? It's been ages since I've been to one."
"Yes," Angelus answered slowly.
"But if you're not back in the house by two, I'll give your siren to Darla," Nest warned.
Angel snorted. "I'll be back." He rolled his eyes when he noticed the satisfied smiles they were giving him.
They'd already been to one bar, had spent a couple of hours there before moving on to the next. When they climbed the sewer entrance to Willy's, they ordered blood before looking the room over and heading to Spike's table.
"So," the bleached blonde started as he glanced at Angel before looking with amusement at Angelus, "you two are out on the town again?"
Angelus's lips twitched up as his eyes sparkled with gold. "It appears so," he answered.
Angel took a sip of warm blood before scowling when he saw the girl heading toward them.
"Hi," Harmony greeted as she put a hand on Angelus's shoulder before taking a seat at the table. "I wasn't sure I wanted to go out today, but I'm really glad I did." She glanced at Angel. "And it's nice to finally meet you, Ares. It seems like every time I've seen you you've been surrounded by clan. I mean, you'd think they'd back off a little and give a girl a chance."
Angel glanced at her before nodding. "I haven't been around much the last few years," he answered vaguely.
"I've heard you've been in Europe."
"Yes," he answered with a nod.
"And you?" Spike asked. "Have you ever been there?"
"Me? No." She ran a hand through her hair. "I was turned here, but one of these days I hope to leave." She scowled. "Of course in order to do that you have to stay away from the slayer's merry band of misfits," she muttered.
"Really?" Angelus asked.
She snorted and shook her head. "You'd think Joseph would kill them, but no... he just lets them wipe out the weaker vampires so he doesn't have to deal with them." She glanced over and waved at the redheaded girl that had just climbed out of the sewer. "Oh my gosh, that reminds me." She turned back to Angel. "Your siren stepped on some toes when she fought the stingers. We had plans for him you know?"
Spike looked at her curiously. "The boy she won?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "His name's Xander." She shook her head before turning back to Angel. "If he's still alive, we'd like to buy him from you."
Angel looked at her with disbelief. "Why?"
"He's just something we'd like to turn," she answered grimly.
Silence fell before Trick walked over. "You're talking about the boy the siren won?" Harmony nodded, and Trick looked at the three clueless vampires with amusement. "You mean you guys don't know?"
"Know what?" Spike asked.
Trick rolled his eyes. "Thomas and Joseph are practically crowing about it." A moment later, he sat down at their table. "It turns out all of the humans awarded that night were from outside of town, but he wasn't." His grin turned wicked. "It also turns out he's one of the slayer's inner circle. If anything's going to bring her out of hiding, he would be it."
Angel's head came up, and he locked eyes with Angelus before turning to Trick. "She released him."
"She released him?" Trick asked with a scowl. "That's a waste."
"Oh my god," Harmony breathed. "Do you have any idea how many vampires they've dusted?" She covered her face with her hands before shaking her head. "Joseph's going to be pissed."
Angel slowly got to his feet. "I didn't realize it was so late," he murmured. "If you'll excuse me I'll be heading back now." A moment later, he headed for the entrance to the sewers with Spike and Angelus on his heels.
Giles glanced over the objects on his basement floor. An intricate pattern of salt, a red candle, Buffy's hairbrush, Xander's torn shirt, a map highlighting the area she was in. Everything was accounted for, and he began a quiet chant. The candle flared brightly as energy whipped through the room. There was a blinding flash of light, and Buffy appeared, her knees drawn up to her chin before her head lifted in surprise at the sudden change in location. She sighed as both relief and dull nausea ran through her. "I hate transportation spells," she stated as she rubbed at her forehead, "but not this particular one," she added quickly.
"Buffy," Giles exclaimed as he went to his slayer. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she answered as she got to her feet.
"And uh..." he broke off as he noticed the 2 bite marks on her throat. "You um... Your throat?" he asked.
Her expression turned grim and she couldn't meet his eyes. "I don't... really... know how it happened. I mean," she ran a hand through her hair. "It's not something that's going to... on a regular basis." She frowned.
He looked at her as he cleaned his glasses. "I... uh... That's... good," he finished.
Buffy glanced down at herself. "Giles... "Do you see me, or someone else?"
He frowned. "I see you, Buffy."
"I had a glamour on me."
"It appears to have broken."
She nodded. "That's good." She looked over the basement before sighing and looking back at him. "I guess we've got a lot of catching up to do."
He nodded, and Buffy followed him up the stairs with resignation. She was willing to tell him most of what happened, but not all.
It was dark a few hours later, and the slayer found herself walking toward the arena with determination. She slowed before stopping when she noticed that once again there were about 30 humans chained outside of it. It was something she'd wanted to know, and she glanced to her right when she felt an invisible hand touch her arm. "Willow and I will free them," Giles stated quietly.
"Alright," she agreed.
"Stay safe," he murmured as his hand tightened before he shifted away.
She took a breath at the pressure before nodding. "You too." A moment later, she was leading the way toward the arena with four others at her back, the glamour spells on all of them hiding their identities.
Joseph was at the microphone giving the agenda for the night. It would start in 25 minutes with clan games before moving on to fights for humans. Buffy listened before glancing over the large crowd and scowled when she noticed Parker.
"Why are we waiting?" Kendra asked.
"It's too dangerous to fight out here," Buffy answered quietly before turning to look at the empty arena. A moment later, her eyes gleamed with amusement as she realized the possibilities before turning back to her friends. They all had swords on their backs, although Oz and Xander had ball bats as well. "I think," she started quietly, "it would help pass the time if we got in some practice."
Xander grabbed her arm when she started toward the arena gate. "In there?" he asked with disbelief.
"Why not? It's not being used."
"And if they watch our techniques?" Kendra challenged.
"Do you think they'd do that?" Buffy asked before walking into the arena, listening as they all moved to follow. She didn't stop walking until she was in the center and easily seen from the rapidly filling bleachers before turning back to look at her friends thoughtfully. They were waiting for her lead, and she abruptly sat on the ground, slid her legs in front of her and reached for her toes. "This hurts," she breathed as she strained to touch the tips of her shoes.
"Bend your legs," Xander encouraged. "It'll make it easier."
Cordelia snorted before sitting on the ground and slowly bending forward to drop her head against her knees. "It's not that hard."
Buffy looked at her with a frown before trying again to reach her toes. "I think I'll stick with sit-ups," she murmured before struggling to do one. A moment later, she got to her feet with a frown. "Maybe it's time to move on." She adjusted her ponytail before doing thirty jumping jacks as she counted them out, turned to look at the stands as she wiped at her forehead when she was done. "Okay... I'm warmed up now," she murmured before reaching behind her back to pull her sword. It jammed at an awkward angle, and she struggled with it before dropping the blade back into its sheath and rubbing at her shoulder. "Ow," she breathed as she absently glanced toward the arena entrance and noticed Joseph was talking to a group of vampires near the gate. "Joseph!" she called loudly and waved when he turned to look at her.
A few snickers ran through the bleachers, and Buffy watched as he stared at her coolly before returning to his conversation. She glanced back at her friends. "Guess he doesn't like me," she stated before adjusting her hair again and then trying to pull her sword. The angle was bad, and she dropped it on the ground before picking it up and doing a half spin back toward her friends. Kendra's arms were crossed as she watched skeptically. Xander and Oz were watching with faint smiles. Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Anyone want to spar?" she asked.
"I'm game," Xander answered before he handed his ball bat to Oz and reached for his sword. It came out the same way hers had.
"Nice," Oz stated knowing Buffy had done it on purpose, and Xander hadn't.
Kendra frowned. "You're holding it wrong."
"What's wrong with it?" Buffy asked as she looked at him with a frown before looking back at Kendra.
The other slayer gave her a hard look before pulling her sword. "Do it like this," she ordered as she went into a fighting position. Xander tried to duplicate her, and she studied him with annoyance. "You're feet are too close together. You will lose your balance." Xander adjusted his stance and shifted his sword to block her swing. He frowned when her blade almost broke through his block. A moment later, he lowered his sword and backed away when she swung again.
"Hey," he breathed.
She rolled her eyes. "Try it again," she ordered.
"No," he answered firmly before trying several times to sheath his sword. Cordelia walked over to help him, and they all turned to watch the slayers.
"Hold it like this?" Buffy asked with a frown as she awkwardly held up her sword before giving an even more awkward swing.
Kendra scowled before rolling her eyes. "I will never understand your lax attitude," she stated with irritation before suddenly turning to swing her sword at Buffy. The blonde awkwardly deflected it.
"Did I do it right?"
"Looked like it to me," Xander answered encouragingly.
Kendra snorted before turning to Buffy and raising her sword. "Attack me."
Well aware they were the main source of entertainment, Buffy glanced up at her before holding her sword out in a beginner's move and lunging. Kendra knocked it to the side, and Buffy dropped it. There was laughter from the stands as she went to pick it up, and she took a moment to give them a mock frown. A moment later, she stood and looked at Kendra thoughtfully. "Want to try it left-handed?"
"No."
Buffy shifted her sword to her left hand and raised it. "I think it would be cool to be able to do that." She shifted her sword at an angle across her body and looked at Kendra expectantly. The slayer swung at her with a harder swing than Buffy had been expecting. Her sword swung back toward her under the weight of the blow, but it blocked it. She shifted it to her right hand. "Alright... it might be better in this hand."
"You are not dexterous," Kendra agreed before advancing with a series of swings that Buffy blocked with awkward jerky movements as she backed away. The older slayer lowered her sword before bringing it up to block the blow headed her way. It was a hard hit, her arm jarred, and Buffy dropped her sword. "Break," she called loudly as she held up her hands in surrender. Kendra kept coming, and the blonde started to back away again. "Uncle?" she asked when Kendra didn't stop. Her foot caught on a tuft of grass, and she fell on her butt before rolling awkwardly to her feet.
"You've got this," Xander called before picking up Buffy's lost sword and tossing it toward her. She jumped away from it as it sliced through the air before eyeing Kendra carefully when she went to pick it up. Her hand closed on the hilt seconds before she abruptly stood as Thomas walked over and pulled his sword, and she shifted in between him and Kendra.
"We're here for the clan games," the blonde stated as she studied the guy that was challenging her.
He smirked. "You won't live." He met her eyes before sheathing his sword and walking out of the arena.
Buffy watched with a shuttered expression, and Kendra snorted from behind her before sheathing her sword. "When can we start killing them?" she asked quietly.
"Soon," Buffy answered just as quietly before shifting her arm back to sheath her sword. She shook her head with irritation when she couldn't line it up. "Can I have some help?"
Kendra rolled her eyes and helped her sheath it before they went over to join the groups of vampires waiting at the arena gate. Five minutes later, twenty vampires announced their clan names and stepped into the arena.
"Is anyone else interested?" Joseph asked before glancing at his watch.
"Yup," Buffy answered loudly as the five of them walked into the arena and listened to the scattered laughter that came from the bleachers. The doors closed, and Joseph looked down at them with irritation at the lack of protocol. "And what clan do you represent?" he asked as he noticed the ball bats two of them were carrying with distaste. Buffy murmured the words that broke the glamour before looking up to see Joseph staring at her with surprise. "Slayer," he hissed. Silence fell before there was a buzz of conversation from the bleachers, and Buffy caught sight of the mage watching from a few feet away. He started chanting, and she gave a grim smile when Giles's protection spell canceled his magic.
She turned back to Joseph. "I'm a little offended... *master*. I mean, you're playing games in my town and didn't invite me?" she taunted. "How do you think that makes me feel?" She gave a mock pout before looking over the vampires watching from outside of the arena. A moment later, she turned back to him and waited.
"You want to play?" he asked angrily as he stared at her with blazing gold eyes. Buffy nodded, and he turned to the audience. "The slayer wants to play," he stated mockingly before he turned to look down at her. "I think in honor of our new contestant we should consider the first fight of the night a Slayerfest," he emphasized with a ruthless smile before noticing the group standing beside her. A moment later, he turned back to his audience. "We truly are in for a treat, but I would have thought Ripper and the redhead would be here as well." He looked back at her with narrowed eyes.
"They're busy," she stated before pulling her sword with a smooth easy motion.
He nodded. "Well, we'll get around to them soon enough." He turned to look down at the vampires in the ring with a smile. "Let the games begin," he ordered and watched as they all pulled swords and shifted for positions.
Buffy held her ground as Oz, Cordelia, and Xander moved to her right, and Kendra took up a spot on her left. Her lips twitched up as she watched the vampires look her group over curiously. One started toward Cordy, and the brunette squirted him with holy water. Smoke flew before he quickly moved back into the group facing them. "Come on, don't be like that," Xander called as he gripped his ball bat tighter.
Cordelia narrowed her eyes at the vampires in front of her before noticing the one watching from outside the arena, and she threw her hand in the air and waved it wildly. "Harmony," she called. The honey blonde looked at her, and Cordy pointed down to her boots, "I got them for half price. Eat your heart out skank."
Kendra rolled her eyes. "You and your fashion. You are not suited to fight vampires."
Cordy rolled her eyes. "I've been at it longer than you."
"Hey," Oz spoke up, and they both looked at him. "Focus."
Kendra turned back to the vampires and took a step toward them before watching as some shifted back. A moment later, she lunged, and Buffy moved with her. The blonde blocking blows and dealing them back out as Kendra attacked with less finesse than the older slayer liked. Still, though, vampire dust settled.
Spike watched incredulously from the large group he was standing with as Xander knocked down a vampire, and Cordelia calmly staked it. "You've got to be freaking kidding me," the bleached blonde muttered.
"What Spike? You don't like the technique? Luke asked almost absently as he continued to watch with interest.
Spike rolled his eyes before turning back in time to see Kendra lunge into a group of vampires who instantly surrounded her. Buffy followed, her blade taking out enough of them that the few remaining backed off.
"Cowards," the new slayer called loudly before she ran toward them. Dust flew when she reached the one closest to her, and Buffy stopped at her side and motioned the two that were left forward. They came cautiously as they stared at the slayers. A moment later, Xander hit one with a ball bat, and Oz staked it before Kendra dusted the last one with a swing of her sword.
Silence fell as the fighters looked at each other. Grins grew before the humans gave each other hi-fives, held ball bats over their heads in victory. Buffy watched with a smile before walking over to the platform Joseph was on. "And just think, your night's just getting started," she stated with amusement.
"It's almost like it hasn't even begun yet," Angelus spoke up from where he was standing in front of the gate.
Buffy glanced at him and felt her face flush before looking over the line waiting to get into the arena. Angel, Spike, Luke, Nest, Darla, Thomas, Elizabeth, Kakistos... a *lot* more she didn't know. It was a long line, and she swallowed uneasily when she realized the bleachers were almost empty.
"Buffy," Cordy called from where she was studying the twins. "Is there any way we can cage these two? I mean, *look* at them."
"I think she's on to something," Angel replied as he looked at Joseph. "Let's play for captives."
Kendra shook her head, "All vampires must be dusted." She turned back to Joseph. "I demand that you open this gate."
Buffy closed her eyes before opening them and walking over to stand in front of the twins. "You can either leave L.A. or change your lair, but I'd appreciate one or the other. The watchers want you dead, and I don't want to have to deal with it," she stated so softly they could barely hear her.
"You won't have to," Angelus answered. "In case you haven't noticed, you're in *our* arena. And the only way you'll be leaving it is in chains."
"No," she answered as she met his eyes before meeting Angel's. "Not tonight." A moment later, she quietly murmured a catchphrase. It activated the transportation spell, there was a flash of light, and the arena was empty.
A few minutes after that, Joseph found out all the humans were gone.
Trick looked over the group he was walking through town with before giving a shake of his head. "I just... I can't believe she showed up at the arena."
"Yeah," Collin answered. "And who was that girl with her? The one that kept *running* toward her opponents?"
Angelus looked at him with angry gold eyes. "I killed a slayer a few days ago. I'm pretty sure that was her replacement."
"Why would she be in Sunnydale?" Trick asked.
"Maybe to train?" Collin answered with a snort before shaking his head. "She could use it."
"Speaking of that," Tector spoke up. "I suppose you noticed the practice session she had in the arena before the main event?"
"It was hard to miss," Angel stated as he studied the darkness around them.
"Yeah, but wasn't it cute? She just couldn't keep a hold of her sword." Lyle answered with a shake of his head. "If we'd only known who she was," he suddenly growled.
Silence fell.
"Thomas went over to challenge her," Trick answered with a smile. "I'm not sure what she said to him, but he walked away."
"Probably something like, 'I'll kill you if you mess up my hair'," Tector stated with a snort. "I've got a healthy respect for slayers, but she was in our territory."
"Hard to catch someone with a transportation spell on them," Spike spoke up.
"Yeah," Collin answered. "But still, she wasn't interested in keeping a low profile. I mean, she went to our games and made out like she couldn't fight." He gave a shake of his head. "That's like blood in the water to a shark."
Silence fell. "Speaking about blood in the water, that brunette with the little pink squirt gun?" Lyle started. "I wouldn't mind going one on one with her."
Trick gave the twins a sly glance. "The one that wanted to cage Angelus and Ares?" he asked with a laugh before shaking his head. "Yeah, she's a cutie."
"Wonder what her blood tastes like?" Collin murmured.
"Young blood's always the best," Luke spoke up with a smile. "And their bodies aren't bad either."
"You got that right," Tector agreed. "They say there's another girl... a redhead that hangs out with them." He shook his head. "She didn't show tonight."
"The slayer said she was busy," Collin answered before scowling. "I suppose someone had to free the humans."
Trick's eyes glinted as they walked down the quiet street lined with houses. "And that's where she lives," he breathed before motioning across the street to the house they were opposite of.
Angel glanced over curiously. The curtains were pulled back, and he could easily see into the room where the friends were gathered. There was a burst of laughter, and he watched as Buffy stood up and pulled her sword before turning to Xander. "Does this look right?" she asked.
"Yes," Xander answered as he lifted his bat and held it up like a sword. Buffy crossed her sword against it.
"Is this right?" she asked again as she studied the bat and sword with concentration.
"No," Kendra answered with heavy annoyance before the other slayer got up to face her. Xander backed away as Kendra took his place. "I do not know why you insist on playing stupid games."
"I'm not," the slayer answered before lifting her sword and waiting. Kendra pulled hers and swung with slayer strength. Buffy's blade gave under the pressure and the blonde jumped away before dropping her sword. She moved back to pick it up and studied it with mock concentration before abruptly bringing it up to block Kendra's strike. Her sword wobbled, and she took a couple of unsteady steps back before dropping it.
There was more laughter from the room. "You did that?" Giles asked with a shake of his head.
"Did what?" Buffy picked up her sword and took an awkward practice swing with it.
Giles suddenly scowled. "Kendra's right." He got up and moved to the new slayer and held out his hand for her sword. "May I?" he asked. She handed it over, and he took it before sliding it into his left hand." Engarde," he called as Buffy's eyes glinted with humor, and she switched to her left hand. Blades went up, and when Buffy knocked the sword out of his hand a few seconds later, she made a show of trying to sheath hers. It fell on the floor, and there was more laughter.
"That's just wrong," Tector growled as he watched.
"She had a good night," Lyle answered before slapping his brother on the back. "It won't last. We always get them in the end."