Buffy got to her feet and glanced at the weak sunlight coming through the window before weaving through the bodies on the living room floor. It had been a long time since they'd had a slumber party, but they'd all agreed it was the safest option last night. Giles was already up and fixing pancakes when she walked into the kitchen, and she grabbed a plate off the table before putting a couple of pancakes on it and going to get some milk. A few seconds later, she was taking her first bite.
"Are they sending me back to Los Angeles?"
"I'm not sure, but I don't think so." He reached for the coffee cup sitting next to him before taking a sip.
"What about Kendra?"
"I think they're going to let her stay here for a few more weeks before sending her to meet her new watcher."
"Walsh?" she asked sharply.
He sighed and flipped a pancake. "You didn't get along with her, but Kendra's been around watchers just like her for years. I doubt she'll have the same problems you did."
"I still don't like it."
Silence fell, and they looked up as Oz came in and grabbed a plate. "So what's on the agenda for today?" the werewolf asked.
"I'm not sure," Giles answered. He looked up when several more teenagers entered the kitchen and picked up plates.
Buffy ran a hand through her hair. She didn't like Kendra's situation, but right now she had her own problems. She glanced at Giles. "Joseph... and the clans," she added, "are busing in humans. The buses are black and marked 'Wicked Pleasures', and as far as I know a bus comes in every few days."
Giles turned to look at her thoughtfully. "I suppose they want to have a steady supply without having to hunt locals."
Buffy nodded. "You know I watched the humans being unloaded a couple of times. They looked like they were in a trance."
All of them turned to look at her, and she looked back innocently.
"You mean like they might have physical or physiological problems?" her watcher asked slowly.
Buffy grinned and met his eyes. "I'm sure they're under a spell, but it might pass for a disease."
"And you're thinking maybe they should be put in quarantine?" Xander asked with a smile.
"Perhaps the authorities should be alerted," Giles stated.
Sunnydale had one highway running through it, and the Sunnydale police force blocked it at both ends of town.
"Wilson."
"Yeah?" The deputy looked at his partner who had just stopped motioning cars through the roadblock.
"We've got another one."
Wilson looked over the line of traffic they'd stopped before walking toward the bus that had been headed into town. A moment later, he knocked on the door and looked up expectantly. It opened."We're just checking for licenses, registration, that kind of thing," he stated.
The driver didn't answer, and he climbed up the stairs and glanced over the passengers. None of them acted like they saw him, and he walked over to a woman in the front seat and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay miss?" he asked.
She didn't respond, and he thoughtfully looked back at the driver. "Where are you headed?"
He didn't answer, and Jim turned to his partner when he climbed onto the bus. "Is it like the others?" Pat asked.
"Yeah. Does the temp agency have more drivers lined up?"
The older man nodded. "I'll call and have them send a guy over." He hesitated before turning to exit the bus. "I hope the L.A. quarantine unit can handle all of these folks."
"Yeah," Jim agreed before giving a shake of his head as he started to follow. "I know Sunnydale can be a little strange, but this is weird even for us."
Every table was full, and Willy looked over the crowd with a smile. He'd had to call for more kegs of blood to be delivered. It would cost him for the special delivery, but he was still making a killing.
He glanced up at the vampires that had just walked into the bar. "What can I get for you?" he asked cheerfully.
"Blood," Tector stated. "Two glasses."
"I take it your bus didn't come through?" Spike asked from where he'd walked up behind them.
"None of the buses are making it through," Lyle answered.
"Well ours didn't," Angelus almost growled from his place beside Spike, "and the mage doesn't seem to know why."
"It's the slayer," Harmony answered darkly as she turned to them from her place at the bar. "I don't know how her group always comes out ahead, but they always do." She shook her head. "And I was really hoping someone would *kill* her while the clans were in town."
Angel looked at her with narrowed eyes. "You know if I ever got my hands on her, I'm not sure killing her would be my first instinct, bedding her on the other hand..." he broke off and looked at his twin, "now that would be fun."
Angelus's eyes gleamed as he looked at his brother. "That does sound like fun doesn't it?"
"You can't be serious," Harmony broke in as she turned to them with annoyance. "There's a lot of lovers you could have that *wouldn't* try to kill you. And *why* would you want that bitch anywhere near you anyway? She screws everything up." She ran a hand through her hair. "I mean, look what she's done to the clan games. And Joseph... Just this afternoon he ordered us on low rations and locked himself in his rooms."
"I can't believe how dead town is," Xander murmured as he looked over the dark quiet street.
"Well, the last vampire we dusted said they were all waiting for us to show up at the arena." Cordelia smoothed a hand over her tie dyed t-shirt.
"Maybe we should," Kendra threw in as she looked over the empty street with annoyance.
Oz shot her a look. "That would be what? About five hundred vampires waiting for us to make an appearance?"
"Yeah," Xander agreed with a shake of his head. "It's one thing to take them by surprise and another to have them *looking* for you."
Silence fell for several long minutes as they continued to walk before Buffy stopped and glanced at the seedy bar across the street. "Want to find out what's going on?" she asked as she turned back to the 'vampires' she was with.
They followed her gaze. "Yeah," Xander agreed.
"I hate that place," Cordy grumbled as she followed them.
Buffy paused at the door, unsure what they'd be walking into. "Ready?"
"We're with you," Oz stated as he reached out to take Willow's hand.
Buffy nodded before pulling the door open and walking into Willy's bar.
There was a group of about 15 vampires watching something off to the side of the room while the rest of the bar was empty, and Buffy watched them with a frown before looking up as a drunk vampire headed toward them.
"Is there any blood out there?" he asked before taking a pull from his glass.
"It's dead," Oz answered.
He nodded. "Everyone's at the arena." He rolled his eyes. "They're waiting for the slayer, and fighting clan games." He shook his head. "Way too many chances of getting dusted if you ask me." He eyed them and took another drink before smirking. "It's going to be a different story tomorrow night though. Kline has a plan that's going to bring the humans running."
Buffy studied him. "What..."
"Oh my god," Kendra breathed before pulling her sword.
Buffy followed her gaze to the group of vampires and saw a Kendra duplicate in her underwear grinding against a grinning brunette before her eyes narrowed when she saw her own duplicate doing a striptease.
Xander quickly moved in front of them and held up his hands. "Now just wait a minute," he murmured. "There's no need to overreact."
"Are you kidding me," Cordelia suddenly hissed angrily as she saw herself on her hands and knees with a skinny vampire blanketing her back.
"You guys didn't know about that?" the vampire in front of them gave a wicked grin. "They've been making the rounds since the slayer's group showed up at the games."
Kendra decapitated him as Buffy pulled her sword. Dust settled, and the older slayer stared at the ashes before turning when she heard a shout.
"He's human," Buffy called as she watched Kendra move toward Willy with her sword in her hand. "At least he was last time I checked," she muttered with a scowl. Noise from the men's bathroom had her turning to see Xander's duplicate walk out in a speedo.
He looked over the almost empty bar curiously before scratching himself and beginning to do some obscene thrusts.
"I don't do that," Xander quickly spoke up as he watched in horror.
"Let's hope not," Cordelia breathed as she crossed her arms and watched.
"This is beyond disturb..." Oz started before breaking off when he and Willow's copies walked out of the men's restroom and joined in.
"That is *so* wrong," Willow breathed as her face turned bright red.
Giles's double came out, and Buffy dusted them all in record time. Silence fell as they stared at the dust, the floor, the walls. "Let's um... call it a night," Buffy suggested.
"Yes," Kendra quickly agreed as everyone else uneasily nodded.
Next Morning:
Buffy slapped a poster on the kitchen table and did her best to avoid looking at the man that was her watcher and guardian. She'd barely been able to look at him since last night.
"Uh..." He looked down at it. "A... carnival is in town tonight?"
"They're plastered all over town Giles. I mean, they're on car windows and telephone poles."
Kendra looked at the poster. "Midnight Madness," she read. "Free rides after nine pm."
"Yeah," Buffy agreed, "and the rides are running until two am."
Silence fell, and the blonde took a seat as she stared at the paper uneasily. "It's going to be a blood bath."
Giles glanced at the address with a frown. "That's near the hellmouth isn't it?"
"Looks like it," Buffy answered before looking up when Giles got to his feet and picked up the car keys.
Twenty minutes later they were looking at the rides, tents, and concession stands that were being set up almost in the vampire's yards.
Kendra cursed, and Buffy glanced uneasily at the large well kept clan mansions that sat near the hellmouth. "There's no way..." the older slayer started before breaking off and rubbing at her forehead. "I mean," she broke off and a silence fell.
"Can we burn them out?" Kendra asked.
"No. Their mansions are protected," Giles answered with a faint frown.
"What if we make the rides invisible?" Buffy murmured. "I mean, if there are no rides, people will go home right?"
"There will still be carloads of people come out here Buffy, and even if they only drive by, the vampires may find a way to take advantage of the situation.
She glanced back at the mansions. "There's too many of them to fight, but... " the blonde broke off thoughtfully before forcing herself to look at Giles. "If we did a spell, what would be the best way to protect it from being broken?"
"Talismans," he answered. "If they were holding spell energy, they would need to be found and dealt with in order to break it."
"Can we do that by tonight?"
"Yes."
"Then I have an idea," she murmured.
It was almost dark when Oz stopped his van on the road outside of the mansions. "Ready?" he asked.
"For some payback?" Xander asked grimly as doors opened and the van emptied. "Oh yeah."
"What we are doing is childish," Kendra grumbled as she crossed her arms and watched as Oz opened the back doors of the van.
"There's too many of them to fight," Buffy answered, "but we can try to stop them from killing people." She hesitated. "And the game's just so we can keep an eye on things without getting bored."
Speaking of that, do we have the prizes?" Xander asked as he helped Oz pull out the tent.
"Yes," Giles answered as he reached for the folding table before following the two high schoolers toward the well manicured lawns.
"This one is Joseph's?" Kendra turned to look at the large mansion.
"Yeah," Willow answered as she picked up a couple of folding chairs. "We've known about it for years, but their mage is really good with protection spells."
Buffy snorted. "I've got first hand experience with his spells," she murmured darkly before scowling and turning to look at the mansion. "I guess we all do," she amended with some unease as she thought about the doubles they'd run into at Willy's. Her eyes narrowed. "He's good at them."
Willow looked at her knowingly before glancing up at the sky as a few drops of rain began to fall. "He is," she agreed, "but... speaking of spells..." the redhead trailed off.
"Yeah..." Buffy agreed as she held out her hand, felt the first few drops of rain, looked back at Willow. "Time for some payback," she repeated Xander's words.
"Oh yeah," Willow agreed.
Angel crossed his arms as he stared out into the growing darkness. He didn't look up when Spike walked up to his side. "There's a lot of cars out there," the bleached blonde murmured. "The carnival must be packed."
Angel shot his grandchilde a look, and Luke studied his souled sire before turning with amusement to the one standing a few feet away. "I take it you two won't be hunting tonight?" he asked.
"Oh I'm all for hunting," Angel broke in as he continued to stare out the window. "As long as it's blonde, not quite human, and we *don't* kill it."
Luke cast another look at Angelus, he was watching his twin thoughtfully, and the younger vampire turned back to the window with a smile. "Looks like it's starting to rain," he murmured.
"Hope that doesn't drive the happy meals away." Spike watched the ferris wheel turn, listened to the laughter, the music.
"It's just sprinkling," Luke answered before opening the door and stepping onto the porch, looking up when Spike joined him.
"Slayers," the shout came from a few houses down, and Luke and Spike turned that way as Angel and Angelus joined them. Pain filled shouts followed, and the twins started off the porch only to almost bolt back onto it a few seconds later as they stared at the tiny wounds the drops of rain had caused.
"Holy water?" Luke asked incredulously as he looked at his irritated sires before turning back to watch the light rain that was falling.
Angelus gave a low warning growl as he stared into the darkness. "Ripper."
Angel nodded, his eyes glinting with gold as he listened to more surprised shouts as the clans tried to leave their mansions. He turned to his brother as more calls of 'slayers' rang out. "Want to head over to Joseph's and find out what's going on?"
Angelus glanced at his twin before abruptly turning to lead the way back into the house, and into the basement where the maze of tunnels linked them to the other mansions.
Buffy ignored the vampires lined up on porches as she intensely studied the numbers in front of her.
"B4" Giles called.
"Bingo," Cordelia answered as she held her card up before allowing Giles to take it.
"Yes," he murmured as he looked it over. "It appears we have a winner. He walked back over and gave her a twinkie, before handing her card back.
Kendra stared at the vampires on Joseph's porch before getting up and moving toward them only to stop when she was a few feet away. "You are all cowards... and perverts," she hissed before looking over the other nearby mansions and the vampires packed onto the porches.
Giles glanced up. "Kendra," he called. "Maybe you should stop agitating them."
She stared at the angry hissing vampires before walking back under the tent and sitting in her chair.
"Now then, if we're ready," Giles turned the little cage with balls in it before calling out the next number.
Joseph threw a glass across the room before turning to face Thomas. "Do you have any idea how bad all of this makes me look?" he breathed angrily. "We're having to serve *kegged* blood while there are a few hundred humans within easy reach of the mansions... and it's raining holy water while the slayer is playing bingo in our yard..." he broke off with irritation before giving a shake of his head. "It will take decades to live this down."
"Rayne called," Thomas stated as he watched the older vampire intently. "He says the stones are fully charged. He picked them up half an hour ago."
Joseph turned to him with sudden interest. In theory, the stones would make it possible to combine the two hellmouth's energies. And the rumor was if that would happen it could sicken humans to the point they would be even more helpless than they were. "Is he bringing them by?"
"I mentioned our problem, and he agreed to have the crystals here as soon as he could. If we can get them in place tonight, and direct the hellmouth's energies toward the slayer's little group of six, she might be easier to work with."
Joseph nodded as his eyes gleamed with the possibilities. "And there are four more nights of games."
"Yes. Three of which we could have the slayer fighting for our entertainment."
Joseph threaded his fingers together thoughtfully. "Of course, we'd need to... convince her of that."
"A phone call, sire... with a prediction that her friends will become sick. Possibly even letting her know we might be willing to make a deal?" he asked slyly with sparks in his eyes.
Joseph laughed. "She wants to play," he murmured with a smile of delight. "We'll play with her... play with her until she's dead."
"Giles?" Buffy called as she took cereal out of the cabinet. He didn't respond, and she set the box on the table and stared at it uneasily. The phone call she'd received from Joseph last night had surprised her and worried her until Giles had done a protection spell to stop magic from affecting any of their group. She didn't have a reason to think his spell hadn't worked, except for the sick feeling building in her stomach.
She looked up a couple of minutes later when Kendra walked into the kitchen with her arms wrapped around her stomach before doubling over when she sat in a chair. "The spell didn't work," she breathed. "Giles is in bad shape."
The sickness churning in her turned to panic, and Buffy almost ran to check on him. He wasn't moving, and she called 911 before trying to call Willow. Her mother picked up the phone, and Buffy's legs gave out as she listened to what she had to say.
An hour later, she was standing in front of Joseph's mansion. She took a breath when she started for the door. It opened faster than she expected, and she shifted into the sun as she looked at the two vampires watching her.
"Do come in," Joseph invited with a dark smile.
"Not until I know you'll hold up your end of the bargain," she answered warily.
"Mage," Joseph called as he looked back into the room. "We're going to need a contract."
"Of course." Alton stepped up beside Joseph and looked at Buffy with a shuttered expression. "What is it you want slayer?"
"The deal is I turn myself over to Joseph, and my friends are healthy again." She looked at the Sunnydale ruler before looking back at the mage. "I want him to leave them alone."
Joseph watched with a smile. "They will be left alone unless they attack me or my clan." His eyes suddenly narrowed. "Are those bite marks on your throat?" he hissed.
"Yes," the mage answered with a smile. "To leave marks like that, they must have been reopened several times."
Joseph cursed before turning to her. "Who bit you?"
"No one important." She turned to the mage and restated her demands. "I want my friends to be healthy again and Joseph to drop his vendetta."
"And I want her to fight for my clan and pledge her loyalty to it. I also want to block any magic in the arena that is not yours." He turned to Buffy. Your friends will be safe as long as they do not attack us."
The mage nodded and looked at the Sunnydale ruler. "You do realize she's been marked?" he asked. "To bite her is a trespass." Joseph growled, and the mage looked at Buffy. "Unless of course, you want him to bite you?"
Buffy shook her head. "No biting... or sex," she added uneasily.
The mage looked at Joseph. "Is that acceptable?"
"Yes," he growled as he looked at her with gold sparks in his eyes. "As long as the vampire that marked her is still alive."
The contract appeared, and Buffy looked it over with a sick feeling before signing it. Joseph signed it and smiled as he opened the door wider. "Come now slayer... don't be shy," he murmured as he waited for her to enter. She slowly did. There was a flash of light as the contract was sealed, and Joseph looked at her arrogantly and held out his hand. Buffy slowly dropped to a knee and kissed it.
A little over 12 hours later, she stood in the arena and did her best not to notice the vampires that were gathering to watch the fights. She took a breath as she felt the short skirt she was wearing cling tightly to her hips and thighs, the thick leather belt hanging slightly loose, the long-sleeved translucent black shirt covered a black bra before being tightly tied at her waist. Her black leather boots were almost to her knees. It wasn't a hideous outfit but was more revealing than she liked, especially since she'd be fighting in it while surrounded by vampires.
She rolled her eyes before glancing at the platform Joseph was on when he started talking. There was a good chance she wouldn't live through the night. What she needed to concentrate on now was taking as many demons as she could down with her.
Six matches later, the demon she was fighting went down in a heap... it's decapitated body three times as large as hers. She glanced at it before looking up when Joseph jumped into the arena before he walked over and held out his hand. She dropped to a knee and kissed it before slowly getting to her feet when he walked away. She ignored the vampires watching as she waited for her next fight, but did go over when she noticed the mage standing near the arena barrier. "Are they healed?" she asked as she looked at him. He nodded, and she turned her attention back to the next demon that was making its way toward her.
She missed a step on her 12th fight and it cost her a cut to her thigh. Joseph walked into the arena again and they locked eyes, his hand reaching to slide through the blood before he licked it off his fingers. "I may decide to bleed you," he hissed. "Would you like that?"
No, she thought, but didn't comment, didn't say it out loud. He held out his hand, and she knelt and kissed it.
She sprained an ankle on her 16th fight. The demon she was fighting landed on her when she went down, and she killed it with a stake to the heart. He collapsed, and she slowly rolled him off before getting to her feet and waiting. Relief ran through her when Joseph said the games were over for the night.
If she'd thought being taken out of the arena meant her night was over, she found out how wrong she was when Joseph had the mage 'clean her up' and fix her ripped outfit before chaining her onto a raised platform in his main room.
Buffy shifted, and the chain on her collar clanked softly as she knelt, her wrists secured to the floor. She wasn't sure how long she'd been there, but she *ached*. She didn't look up as she listened to the laughs, the taunts. A hand knotted into her hair, and she slowly lifted her head to see Harmony looking at her with hate filled eyes, and the slayer gave a savage smile back. "Tell me Harm... why did you let him turn you?"
The honey blonde's lips twitched up. "I wanted to be beautiful forever."
Buffy gave a slow shake of her head. "And here we thought it was because you couldn't stand to play second fiddle to Cordy."
Harmony slapped her, and Buffy's head swung to the side before she watched Harmony walk away as she licked at the blood on her lip. A moment later, the chain clanked again when she looked up to see the twins in front of her. Angel reached out and placed a cool hand on her reddening cheek. "Why?" he asked quietly as they locked eyes.
"Slayers die," she stated just as quietly, "and it's my turn." She looked at Angelus with a hint of annoyance. "And honestly you need to stop killing us before we're even a year old." She rolled her eyes. "Gwendolyn Post is enough punishment for any slayer in Los Angeles... they don't need you piling it on."
"Pity party Buff?" he asked with irritation before leaning closer and staring at her with blazing eyes. "What the hell are you doing pledging allegiance to him? Are you insane?" he hissed angrily.
"It's none of your business," she hissed back.
"Excuse me." Joseph walked over to the platform. "I feel the need to feed." He smiled at the two brunettes before moving to release Buffy from her chains. A moment later, the blonde tried to get to her feet only to fall back on the platform, her numb aching legs unable to hold her up. She massaged them for several long moments before slowly sliding down to the floor and carefully following Joseph to a few humans chained against the far wall. He drained one before holding out his hand, and she dropped to a knee and kissed it. She lifted her head and saw Angel and Angelus watching from a few feet away before getting to her feet as he led her back to the platform and chained her back on it.
She kept her head down and didn't notice the mage talking to the twins a few minutes later.
Buffy walked into the arena with Joseph at her side the next night. She knew she wouldn't live through it. They hadn't fed her, and she could walk on her ankle, but it still twinged. She knelt and kissed his hand when he held it out before getting to her feet when he got back on the platform and announced the first fight. The gate opened, a tall red demon entered, and Buffy pulled her blade and waited before scowling and backing away when her vision seemed to blur and several more people appeared. It sent her into a tailspin as already frayed nerves frayed further.
"Buff," Xander called as he waved.
Her eyes narrowed as sickness filled her, and she shot a hard look at Joseph before turning back to the combatants that had just entered the arena. "Come near me, and I'll kill you," she threatened loudly even as she advanced on the demon. A crossbow bolt from Giles took it out, and she turned her attention to the people lined up across from her. Cordy, Xander, Giles, Willow, Oz, Kendra, and two she didn't know.
"They came here," Joseph exclaimed as he looked at the mage. "According to our deal, I can attack them."
"Shut up," Buffy almost screamed before giving a hard smile. "Still playing games, Joseph?" A moment later, she looked at her friends suspiciously. "I'm going to ask some questions," she stated. "If you don't give me the right answers, we're going to start fighting."
The tip of her sword rested against the ground as they waited, the slayer's unhinged response causing them to shift away from her. "Xander... what did you ask me about Oz?"
"I asked what kind of demon he was," the brunette answered quietly.
Her gaze went to Willow. "Will... I need to know where the cage is at."
"Library Buffy."
"Oz... what's the name of your band?"
"Dingoes, Buff."
She took a breath before looking at the two she didn't know. "Who are you?"
"Friends," the boy on the right stated slowly... "from Los Angeles." Buffy studied them with narrowed eyes before walking over to Giles. "You shouldn't be here. Magic doesn't work in the arena, and we're all as good as dead."
"You can trust us, Buffy," her watcher stated quietly before giving a shake of his head. "And it looks like we're in this together."
"And our friends from Los Angeles?"
Giles glanced at them. "They filled us in on what's happening. I think they're safe."
She nodded before putting distance between them and looking at Joseph. "Let's do this then."
Joseph smiled and called the next fight. The demon entered, and the eight new fighters never let it get close to Buffy.
By the eighth fight, Giles ran out of crossbow bolts when Joseph asked the mage to clear the arena of bodies and the bolts disappeared with them.
On the tenth fight, Buffy watched as Xander took a cuff to the head that sent him to the ground, and Cordy followed when she took a kick to the side. A moment later, the slayer lunged forward and sank her sword through the demon's neck before lunging away as it fell.
Willow was limping by the twelfth, and Oz was bleeding from a gash on his head.
Giles had a broken rib by the end of the thirteenth.
Buffy gripped her sword with both hands as she waited for the 14th with Kendra on one side and the two from L.A. on the other. The demon hissed as it entered.
"Its fangs and claws are poisonous," Giles called as it advanced.
"Yes they are," the boy on Buffy's right slowly agreed before shooting her a pointed look. "Maybe slayers should sit this one out?"
"Is it poisonous to you?" she asked as she watched it advance.
"No."
She nodded and tiredly tugged Kendra over to where the others were watching. The demon screamed a few minutes later and fell. The body disappeared.
On the sixteenth fight, Kendra was knocked out, and three swords slid into the demon that hit her in unison, one to the throat, heart, and abdomen.
It was the last game of the day, and Joseph informed them the games would start again tomorrow night before walking away and leaving them in the arena. Buffy watched with a frown before noticing the two new guys were talking to the mage through the barrier. A moment later, they turned back to look over the group they were penned in with, and Buffy headed toward them, watched as they turned to her.
The one on the left smiled. "Love the outfit."
Buffy snorted before rolling her eyes. "Can you get out?" she asked quietly.
"We don't want out," the one on the right answered.
She scowled and looked up at the clear sky above them. "And how are you going to keep from turning to dust?"
"The mage said he'd take care of it," Angel answered.
"Do you trust him?"
"Yes," Angelus answered.
She shook her head and motioned to her friends. "Do they know who you are?"
"Not... really."
"She looked at him. "Angelus?"
He grinned and nodded. Buffy glanced at the sandy haired blonde before looking at the brunette next to him. "At least you're easier to tell apart now," she stated tiredly before walking over to sit next to her friends.
Silence fell, and Xander reached for his backpack and pulled a couple of boxed pizzas out of it before flipping open a lid and picking up a slice. "We weren't expecting to have our spells blocked, so we've got a little problem with that," he glanced up at Buffy, "but we've got food."
She reached for a piece of pizza. "I haven't eaten since I had a bowl of cereal a day and a half ago." She hungrily took a bite before looking at Giles. "Why didn't your spell work?"
He sighed. "I thought they'd try to sicken us with a spell... and I guess to a certain extent they did, but the spell only directed..." he broke off with an irritated shake of his head. "Rayne gathered the energy from the L.A. hellmouth and added it to the energy of our own. Joseph then had it directed at us, which," he stated with frustration, "put us in the hospital, and sent you pledging your allegiance to Joseph."
"Ethan?" she asked before shaking her head. "Why am I not surprised?" She ran a hand through her hair, took a bite of pizza before sighing. "Any ideas on how we're going to get out of here?"
"Not at the moment," Giles answered as he shifted with a grimace, his broken rib making it hard to move.
Buffy nodded before glancing at the twins. "Um... do you guys want some pizza?"
"No," Angel answered.
She studied them before centering her attention on Angelus. "We're all going to be on short rations. How long can you go?"
"Longer than you can," he answered.
She nodded and took a bite before slowly getting up and walking toward Joseph's platform. She reached up and scowled when she hit an invisible barrier. A moment later, she slowly made her way back to her friends before sitting down and picking up another slice of pizza.
"Buffy," Cordelia started. "Your outfit... Harmony didn't pick it out did she?"
Buffy chewed on a bite and glanced down over her tight crimson shirt with short laces at the top before looking at her clinging black mini skirt. "No. I'm pretty sure it was Joseph."
Cordy rolled her eyes. "It figures. Even that cretin has better taste than she does."
"Again with the fashion," Kendra stated before rubbing at her aching head.
"Did you guys get the stones off the hellmouth?" Buffy asked.
"Yes." Willow looked at the two boys sitting on the other side of Buffy. "Liam and Connor gave the stones to Giles, and he destroyed them. "I guess they're rare, so we're hoping they won't find anymore.
Buffy stared at the ground, rubbed thoughtfully at the back of her neck even as Xander scowled at his pizza. "I hope they don't come up with more of them," he stated with a grimace. "I was pretty sure I was a goner for a while."
The others nodded in agreement and went back to eating. "I really wish we had some shade," Willow stated a couple of minutes later as she looked at the wide open arena. "If it's sunny tomorrow we're going to be burned to a crisp."
"Yeah," Buffy agreed as she glanced at the twins. They were sitting quietly off to her right, and Angel met her eyes.
"I'm pretty sure it's going to be cloudy," he stated.
"Heavy clouds," Angelus agreed.
Buffy nodded. "Hope so," she answered before picking up another piece of pizza.
"So you guys don't eat," Oz spoke up. "What kind of demons are you?"
Buffy's head came up, and she frowned at him before looking at the twins. They were looking back with some amusement, and she sighed. "They're... vampires."
A sudden silence fell, and Kendra got to her feet. Buffy followed. "This fight isn't going to happen," the blonde stated firmly, "not right now." A moment later, she shook her head with irritation. "And if it does happen, I'll deal with them."
Xander looked at her curiously before looking at the two guys she was standing in front of. A moment later, he gave a slow tired shake of his head before wincing when he turned his neck too far. "That's good enough for me."
"Yes," Giles started slowly as he watched Buffy carefully. "We do appear to owe them a lot."
Oz looked back at the twins. "I'm a werewolf," he told them. "Probably would be more helpful if I could control it, but haven't got the hang of it yet."
"Not many werewolves can," Angel answered.
Oz nodded. "Full moon in a week. If we're still here, it could be a problem."
Buffy ran a hand through her hair. "Pretty sure it won't be unless we can find something to drink."
"We have drinks, Buffy," Giles stated. "Half of the backpacks have food in them, and the other half have water."
The older slayer glanced at the backpacks thoughtfully. It would probably be enough for two or three days. A moment later, she looked back at Kendra. "We can fight, or you can drop it," she gave a slow shake of her head, "and I don't want to have to fight you."
Kendra scowled and glanced at the two boys behind Buffy before looking at the blonde. "Fine," she stated with frustration. "As long as they keep their fangs to themselves." A moment later, she sat down and continued to look at the twins suspiciously.
Buffy tiredly sat back down. "Anyone have water?"
Xander handed her a bottle, and she took a long drink before capping it and setting it off to the side. A moment later, she slowly laid down and looked up at the stars. Joseph had kept her strapped to the platform last night. She'd caught what little bit of sleep she could, but she was worn out. She frowned before slowly curling into a ball and trying to get some sleep.
The others slowly followed suit, and when Kendra finally fell asleep a couple of hours later, Angel got up and stretched before looking over the arena with a shake of his head. "We damn near lost her. I don't think she'd have lasted through the night without help."
Angelus stood and stretched as well before nodding and licking at teeth that had grown into fangs. "Joseph's incredibly lucky she's still alive." He watched his brother carefully. "Of course, someday we might have to remedy that."
Angel shot him a dark look. "Turn her Angelus?"
He shrugged. "She said it herself, slayers die."
Angel shook his head. "If anything we should bind her life to ours."
Angelus smiled. His eyes glinting with satisfaction his brother didn't notice.
Buffy woke up and studied the heavy clouds that almost made it look like it was twilight before glancing at her watch. It was 9 am, and she sat up and noticed the twins were sleeping before turning to look at Giles. He was watching her, and she moved over to sit beside him. "The uh... vampires... Are they the ones that bit you?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"It's odd that they would offer to help."
"One of them doesn't kill," she stated quietly. "The other one... is dangerous."
He took a breath that hurt his rib before grimacing. "It doesn't seem likely they would be friends."
"They're brothers," she answered.
"I see."
Buffy ran a hand through her hair and looked over the arena before thoughtfully picking up a stake and getting to her feet. "I know we can't get through the wall, but do you think there's a boundary over the top?"
He frowned before giving a faint smile. "Maybe we could find out."
She threw the stake straight up. It went several feet into the air before crashing into a barrier, and Buffy gave a quiet curse. "I guess that answers that question."
"What about digging under it?" Xander asked as he tiredly sat up.
A couple of minutes later, they were using the stake to dig at the ground. She cursed again when it didn't work.
Angel glanced over the group a few hours later. Giles could hardly move, Willow was limping, Xander had a hurt neck, and Cordy had a large black bruise on her side that she'd shown everyone a couple of hours ago. That left Oz, Kendra, Buffy, and them.
He walked over to Buffy. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," she answered without looking up. "But I don't know how we're going to get out of here."
"Can we talk to you, Buff?" Angelus asked.
"I thought we were."
He smiled and looked at her friends before looking at her pointedly. "I mean in private."
She walked a few feet away, and Angelus studied her carefully. "There are no guarantees, but what would you give us if we could get your friends out of this alive?"
"You've got to be kidding me," she breathed with a roll of her eyes before turning to face him with a scowl. "What do you want?"
"You want me to stop killing young slayers and to leave Los Angeles. You want to keep your friends safe, get rid of Joseph, and patrol the hellmouth. If we can give you that, to the best of our ability, would you be willing to move into the Sunnydale lair with us?"
"Not... yet," she stated with a frown.
"You made a deal with Joseph," he reminded her.
"They were going to die."
"And they're not now?" he asked incredulously.
Buffy looked at him before giving a shake of her head. "*Why* would you possibly want me to live with you?"
Silence fell, and Angelus shrugged. "Angel's been locked up for a hundred years Buff... You're good for him."
The blonde stared at the ground before looking up with a scowl. "I'm not sure I want to be."
"We'll help you patrol," Angel offered. "And I promise you won't have to fill up wine decanters of blood." He paused. "You're seventeen right?" She nodded. "Your friends will probably want to move on in a few years, get jobs, get married, have kids."
Silence fell.
"What if we give you your own room?" Angelus asked.
She shot him a hard look before turning back to her friends. "Not yet," she repeated.
They formed a line when the games started again. Kendra, Oz, Buffy, Angel, and Angelus. Giles, Willow, Xander, and Cordy behind them.
The game was announced, and the demon walked in.
"Buffy," Xander called. "Giles says you can't touch it, it'll burn you." He hesitated. "*None* of you can touch it."
She frowned before looking at the twins. They were falling back, and she took a breath. "I take it it can dust you?" she asked.
"With a touch," Angel answered. "You have to cut the head off to kill it."
She nodded and turned back to the demon before moving several feet forward to face it. "Come on," she encouraged with a wicked smile. It lunged, and her blade opened a long cut to its arm.
"Don't do that," Xander called. "Its blood's poison."
She scowled before ramming her sword into its knee. When it went down with a yell of pain, she smoothly decapitated it. A moment later, she looked at Joseph. "Next," she called as they locked eyes.
The fifth fight Oz broke his arm.
The seventh fight, the demon managed to break through the line and go after Cordelia. Angel decapitated it.
A talon punctured Kendra's side on the tenth fight, and she moved to sit with Giles.
Buffy went down on the eleventh. The fist caught her across the face and sent her spinning to the ground. Angelus killed it with prejudice.
She got to her feet slowly, her nose bleeding, her eye swelling shut. Angel and Angelus both took a few moments to look at her. "I'll move in with you," she told them as she wiped at her bloody nose.
The twins didn't comment, just turned to watch the next demon enter.
On the nineteenth fight, they ran out of demons, and Joseph told anyone interested to get in line. The gate opened before closing again and left Nest and Kakistos standing in the arena.
The twins sheathed their swords before moving forward. When they got to within fifteen feet of the ancient vampires, the mage broke the glamour, and both of them dropped to a knee in front of their grandsire. He hissed as he stared at them before taking a few steps closer and holding out his hand. The twins kissed it before getting to their feet. They turned to look at Buffy a moment later.
"Oh my god," Cordelia exclaimed as she looked at the brunettes. "They're as gorgeous as I remember."
Xander scowled and ran a hand through his hair before walking over to where Buffy had gotten to her feet. "Are they still on our side?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," she answered before sheathing her sword and starting to walk toward the group waiting for her. Angel held out a hand, and Buffy dropped to a knee before kissing it. Angelus moved forward, and she repeated the action before getting to her feet.
Nest studied the twins before looking at the slayer. "Do you speak for your friends?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered quietly.
"They have pledged to my clan," he stated to Kakistos, and I accept their allegiance."
Kakistos nodded before moving to get a closer look at Buffy. A cloven hoof touched her face, and she looked up at him with her good eye. "I can see why they went to so much trouble for her," he murmured before studying her neck with narrowed eyes, "but she has been marked."
Nest looked at her throat. "Joseph?" he asked with a hiss.
"No," Angelus answered. "The marks are ours."
"When?" Nest asked angrily.
"A few days ago," Angel answered.
"Before Joseph fought her?" Kakistos asked.
"Yes."
Nest abruptly turned. "You've insulted my clan, Joseph. And that is the height of idiocy."
"She agreed," he answered heatedly. "Her loyalty is worthless if she can not be trusted." He gave her a dark look. "And I offer my services in killing her."
"Her allegiance was given to us tonight," Angel spoke up angrily.
"Than her pledge to me was first, and she's mine to do with as I please."
"There seems to be a problem here." Kakistos turned to Nest. "Perhaps we should let them fight for her."
"Yes," Nest breathed angrily as he looked at Joseph. "Choose the one you want to fight."
"I'll fight the girl," he answered.
Buffy lifted her head before pulling her sword, and Angel turned to her with a snort. "This isn't your fight anymore."
"No, it's not," Angelus agreed as he stared at Joseph.
"They can have her," he sneered. "I have no need for a used whore."
The two ancient vampires turned to look at him with distaste. "The clans were willing to overlook your cowardice," Kakistos stated slowly, "but this time I will not."
Silence fell, and Kakistos drew his sword. "I challenge you for your hellmouth.
Buffy looked up uneasily, not at all sure that was an exchange she wanted... and Nest shot her a knowing look before turning to the other master. "He insulted my family. The challenge will come from me."
Kakistos nodded, and everyone looked at Joseph. "You want this hellmouth?" Joseph breathed. "Take it." A moment later, Thomas and Joseph jumped off the platform and walked away from the arena. Taunts followed from the large group that had witnessed the exchange.
Buffy took a breath before turning to walk back to her friends.
"Buffy?" Giles asked quietly as she rejoined their group.
"I think they're going to let us walk out of here," she stated quietly, "as long as I agree to live with them."
"No," Xander answered firmly.
She slowly shook her head. "I don't know what will happen to us without that deal, but whatever it is, we won't have any control over it."
Silence fell as they looked at her. Her eye was swollen shut, there was dried blood around her nose, spots of it on her torn dirty shirt, large dark bruises on her arms and legs. She took an audible breath. "We always make decisions together," she stated quietly. "If you guys want to fight, we will."
Xander studied her with a sinking feeling. "What do you want Buff?" he asked quietly.
"I want to sleep in a bed, eat... and have a *day* where I don't have to worry about the thing that I'm fighting killing us."
Giles took a breath. "Do you trust them?"
She swallowed. "Yes."
"She has no reason not to," Angelus spoke up.
"Yes," Giles answered dryly as he looked at the identical twins that had walked over. "I must admit I'm somewhat surprised to see *two* of you. From what I understand, Ares disappeared years ago."
Angelus gave a slow smirk. "My brother went through a rough patch, but I'm thrilled that he's doing much better the last few days."
Angel glanced at him before looking over the group. "This hellmouth belongs to us now. We're offering to help patrol it and keep Buffy safe... at least as much as we can."
Giles shot him a hard look. "All you want is for her to move in with you."
Silence fell, and Angelus shrugged. "We're asking for that. It would be an alliance between our clan and your group, although I must admit it might be best if the watcher's council didn't come knocking on our door."
"And why would that be?" Xander asked with a hint of a threat.
"For one thing they would want us dead, and for another, they might well want her dead. We're not interested in working with the council... we're interested in working with you." Angel answered. "This hellmouth will never have been safer."
"And you're blackmailing her for it," Giles stated bitterly.
"Yes," Angelus agreed. He looked at Buffy a moment later. "It's up to you Buff... if you want to withdraw from our agreement, you can. You won't be hurt, but you'll go back to L.A. with us. Nest or Darla will take over this hellmouth, and your friends will be allowed to leave the arena... either now when they can take their chances, or they can stay protected in it until daylight."
Buffy shook her head and winced at the pain it caused. "I'll hold to the agreement," she answered before turning to her friends, "unless you guys want to fight," she offered again.
Giles closed his eyes before opening them. "We trust you, Buffy. This is your decision."
Kendra stood, her hand pressed against the puncture to her side. "We should fight."
Angelus gave a slow shake of his head as he looked at her. "Death before dishonor is admirable, but in this case, there is no dishonor. There would only be death."
Buffy glanced across the arena where Nest was still standing before running a hand through her dirty hair and turning to the twins. "I'll walk them home," she stated, "and meet you at your house when I'm done."
Angelus snorted. "There are vampires in town Buff... We'll go with you."
4 pm the next day:
Buffy cautiously stretched sore muscles before opening her eyes and looking over the room she was in. A moment later, she glanced at her watch and took a few moments to process that she's slept for around 15 hours. At least her eye wasn't swollen shut anymore she thought grimly before getting out of bed and throwing open the shutters of all three windows. Light flooded the room, and she experimentally opened a window and climbed onto the roof. The barrier at the edge of it was gone, and she looked over the quiet tree-lined area thoughtfully before going back inside and into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face.
The small mirror the mage had put in her bag was still on the vanity, and she picked it up. Her eye looked better... and she cautiously twisted her neck to the side. It didn't hurt, and she headed back into the room and dug through her gym bag before quickly getting dressed. Her weapons chest was sitting against the wall, and she flipped it open and took mental inventory of the contents, crosses, stakes, holy water, a crossbow... bolts. She closed it before reaching for one of the swords hanging on the wall. A moment later, she cautiously opened the door leading into the hallway. There wasn't anyone there, and she stepped out of the room before heading for the stairs. The house looked empty, and after she'd reached the living room she warily began walking toward the front door.
"How do you feel?"
She hesitated, turned to see Angel starting down the stairs, watched as he stopped a few feet away. "Better," she acknowledged, "but hungry."
"We had the mage put a spell on the house. All you have to do is ask for whatever you want to eat, and it'll appear. We thought it would be easier than trying to keep the place stocked." He walked closer, and her sword went up, a lazy movement that left the blade laying on his shoulder, about six inches from his throat. "There's a spell on you that won't let you kill us... or a few of our friends," he stated quietly, "but you can hurt us, Buffy." Her sword moved forward, lightly pressing into his throat before she drew it back and left a tiny cut. A silence fell before she looked up to see Angelus walking down the stairs.
"The place is almost deserted," she stated as she watched him. "Where is everyone?"
Angelus smirked as he walked over to stand beside his brother. "The games are over Buff. The clans are starting to leave."
Her blade moved to press against his chest before slowly traveling to his ear. "Angel says I can't kill you," she locked eyes with him, "but what if I decide I want to cut off your ear?"
"I suppose the mage would have to reattach it." He didn't move a muscle.
She nodded before her blade slid down to his leather pants and she looked at him pointedly. "You're not getting my blood, and we're," her face flushed as she removed her sword, "*not* sleeping together." She looked at Angel. "*None* of us are sleeping together." Silence fell, and she did her best to ignore Angelus' smirk before offering her sword to Angel. He took it, and she ran a hand through her hair. "I'm going to check on them." She turned to go before stopping when Angelus grabbed her wrist. She swallowed at the light pressure before turning back to him. "What?"
"When are you coming back?"
"Probably two or three hours." She closed her eyes and took an audible breath when his hand tightened before turning to press her forehead into his chest. A moment later, she pulled away and headed out the door.
"You put the spell back on her?" Angel hissed.
"No," Angelus answered as he stared after her with a thoughtful smile.
"Then Nest must have?"
"Let's ask." Angelus pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and made a quick call.
"The spell on her stops her from killing you," the mage explained a few seconds later. "There are no others."
"Then why does pressure still affect her?" Angel asked skeptically and watched as the mage turned to him.
"Sometimes when behavior spells are preformed and left in place for a few days they can have lasting effects, and even be used as a training method."
Angel looked away from Alton's dark smile before running a hand through his hair and rubbing at the back of his neck.
"It's only a training method if you make it one," the mage stated as he continued to study the souled vampire. "If you don't encourage her reactions, the effects should wear off in a few days."
"And if we do encourage them?" Angelus asked.
"It will, to some degree, become normal behavior that she will not question." Silence fell, and Alton studied the twins with dark amusement before throwing up his hand. A large black rectangle appeared on the wall and he watched as Angelus turned to look at him curiously. "I believe it's something you'll need," he murmured. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find master Nest."
A few hours later, Buffy walked into the mansion with her bruised friends in tow. "So this is your new place," Xander asked as he looked it over with a lot more curiosity than he had six days ago.
"I like it." Cordelia glanced over the large room before giving a wide smile when Angelus came out of the basement. "Hello salty goodness," she breathed before walking over to him. "Angelus or Ares?" she asked.
"Angelus," Buffy answered. "And Cordy, in case you've forgotten, he's a vampire."
"*Look* at him," the brunette stressed.
Angelus smirked, and Kendra crossed her arms. "Your interest in him is sickening," she growled as she looked at Cordelia before staring threateningly at Angelus.
"Hey," Angel greeted as he entered the room and walked over to cautiously wrap arms around Buffy. She stilled at the contact, frowned uncertainly before slowly leaning against him.
Xander watched with narrowed eyes. "Buffy."
"Huh?"
"Want to watch something?"
She shifted away before noticing the large screen tv on the wall. That was new, and she tucked hair behind her ear as she glanced over the chairs and coffee table. "Um... yeah. Anyone see the remote?"
"Remote?" Angel asked with a frown.
Buffy rolled her eyes and nodded. "It turns the tv on." She looked up with surprise when the screen made a tiny click and turned on.
"That works," Oz stated.
"Yeah it does," Xander agreed. "Want to watch Halloween?"
Agreements ran around the room, and the screen started to show the opening credits for the show.
"Nice," Xander stated as he watched.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed thoughtfully before turning to look at her friends. "What food do we want?"
"Pizza," Cordelia answered.
"With pepperoni, sausage, and ham," Willow added.
"Onions and mushrooms," Oz threw in.
"Thin crust?" Willow asked. No one objected, and she glanced back at the slayer. "And... Pepsi."
"Alright." Buffy looked at the table in front of the sofa. "We want a couple of pizzas loaded with pepperoni, sausage, ham, onions and mushrooms, some plates, and... five ice cold cans of Pepsi."
The food appeared on the coffee table. "Cool," Oz breathed as he took a seat on the sofa.
"Yeah," Xander agreed as he sat down and reached for a slice. Smiles went around the group as they settled in on the chairs, floor, and sofa.
Buffy was getting ready to join them when Angelus caught her arm, and she stilled before turning to him. "What?"
"Want to sit with us?" he asked before looking curiously at the tv.
She hesitated and looked over to where Angel was sitting against the back wall before shifting away from Angelus and putting a couple of pieces of pizza on a plate. She picked up a soda and walked over to sit beside him. Angelus grinned before walking over to sit on her other side.
"Yeah right," Xander breathed as he carefully turned around to stare at them before getting up and moving back to sit next to Angelus. They all turned, got up, picked up plates before settling in against the back wall.
"Someone left their soda?" Willow asked as she noticed the can still on the coffee table.
"I did," Oz answered with a frown before shrugging. "Arm's kind of in a cast."
Willow looked at her boyfriend before turning back to look at the Pepsi. "I'll get it," she offered with a smile as she threw out her hand and chanted a spell. The can moved slightly before beginning to spew soda. "Oh...oh..." she got to her feet and ran to grab it before looking sheepishly at the twins. "Sorry," she murmured. "I'm not very good at it yet."
"It's fine," Angel answered. "We'll have our mage clean it up."
Willow moved back to sit against the wall, and Buffy looked at Oz. "Oz needs a cold Pepsi," she stated, and the werewolf smiled when one appeared in front of him.
A little over an hour had passed, and Angelus scowled. "Does she ever die?" he asked as he watched the babysitter escape Micheal Myers again.
"You're rooting for the psycho?" Xander asked with a roll of his eyes.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Buffy gave a slow shake of her head before glancing down when Angelus started caressing her thigh, and she slapped his hand away and gave him a hard look before turning back to the tv.
"So..." Willow started several minutes later after the movie had ended. "Want to watch the next one?"
"Yes," Cordy answered as she glanced at the souled vampire she was sitting beside. "I mean if we can."
Buffy glanced at her before looking up at the tv. "We want to watch the next Halloween," she ordered. It started to run and she grinned and settled in to watch it.
"Michael Myers should be killed," Kendra stated.
Xander looked at her. "It's a *movie* he's not real."
She looked at him incredulously. "If it's not real, why are we watching it?"
"It's fun..." he answered before noticing the look she was giving him. He scowled as a silence fell before they all turned back to the movie.
Angelus snorted a few minutes later. "She's *still* alive in this one?"
Buffy shifted away from the wall to look around him and at Xander. "Psycho."
"Yeah," he agreed before they both turned back to the show.
Cordy glanced around Angel and Buffy to look at Angelus. "He kills her eventually."
"That's good to know," he answered with a smile that she returned before he noticed his twin watching. They locked eyes, and the souled vampire gave a slow shake of his head. Angelus's grin widened before he turned back to the television.
The End