Hours Later

Manoir de la lune: Library

Smouldering, the fire wrapped around the bottom in a firm grasp. Crackling, playful, gentle at first; the fire flickered, flared, leapt, spat, shower of sparks like a fountain.

Lying at the front of the fireplace, Angelus held his head up with one hand as his fingers slid down the length of Buffy's naked body. His hand stopped at the curve of her hip. He leaned towards her and pressed his cool lips to her hip bone.

Buffy opened her green eyes, fully relaxed and sexually sated. Angelus was a fine lover, she decided. The best she's had after her hundred plus years of experience of taking various lovers. She craved for him like no other. She hungered for his kisses and his cock. Buffy enjoyed the feel of his muscular body under the pads of her fingers.

"Mmm," Buffy shifted closer into Angelus' front. "Oh, I'm so sleepy—but I still want…"

Caressing her body, Angelus dipped his head down, breathing in the herbal scent of her hair. "What? Ye couldn't possibly... Not t'at I wouldn't…"

Buffy released a laugh, "No, no. I'm spent. Pleasantly numb even. You?"

"For now," whispered Angelus, brushing his mouth over her shoulder then kissed her lips. "Rest."

"No, I—want to stay awake—so this can keep happening." Buffy laid her head back down on her arm, fighting the urge of sleep.

Angelus watched the strands of her hair slip between his fingers. "Rest, lass. We can make another day like t'is tomorrow."

Buffy opened her eyes, suddenly alert. "Angel—"

"—We have an eternity to repeat t'is evenin' over and over until neither of us can walk again."

Angelus watched Buffy's entire demeanor change. She seemed dreadfully uncomfortable and conflicted. Buffy sat up and looked at him, her brow furrowed. "Eternity?"

"Well, yes. Is t'at not what ye want?" The smile on Angelus' face began to wilt.

"Is that what you want?"

Angelus reached out his hand, cupping her cheek. "I want ye, Buffy. I want ye for as long as I can have ye. So, yes, an eternity of bein' wi' ye will suffice my desires." He can see it on her face that she was not so sure. Angelus felt his certainty of their new relationship wither away. "But by t'a look t'at ye're givin', I suspect t'at ye don't want t'at."

"It's not quite that…" said Buffy, standing from the fur rug on the floor. She bent down to Angelus' shirt and walked over to the drink cart, needing a moment to collect her thoughts.

Angelus watched her and reached for his breeches. "T'en what is it, Buf?"

"I don't know," she said, spinning back towards him. As she lifted her eyes to his face, Cole's face flashed in her mind. She had ran away back then and every urge in her body was screaming at her to run now. "I don't know if I can be what you want me to be. And I refuse to change for anyone—even for you."

Angelus stood from the floor, pulling the breeches up his legs. He looked at chuckling, "Lass, I don't want ye to change. Good lord, ye're perfect. Ye're a perfect demon as well as a Goddess of a woman. Buffy, what I feel for ye isn't because of some idea I have of ye, it's what ye already are."

"You speak as if you are in love." She looked at him sharing his smile. It would be impossible to love without a soul, Buffy figured. But what she was feeling for this vampire—this man could be argued to be love. "I have to ask you, why did you try to kill me if you had affections for me?"

"I didn't try to kill ye." Angelus tucked a piece of his hair behind his ear.

Rolling her eyes, Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine. Torture me."

"Have ye ever before met a demon wi' t'a reputation t'at ye have?" Buffy frowned, shaking her head. "Exactly. In my own way, I wanted to prove t'at I was just as clever and as… resourceful as ye. I wanted ye to see me as yer equal. And I also had a hard time acceptin' t'at what ye provoke inside of me… It's human. And t'at angered me."

Buffy released a needless breath and put the glass of whisky down. "You are my equal, Angel. No one else can provoke me with such madness as you do."

Angelus crossed the short distance to her. He ran his fingers through her long hair and brushed his mouth over hers. Her taste was intoxicating. The feeling of her lips were addictive. Angelus was completely enthralled with this beautiful demon. "Be wi' me forever, Buffy." She looked at him. "I never want ye or I to wake up one day t'inkin' t'at one of us is goin' to run. I never wish to part yer side. From t'is day forward, I want us to be together."

Stunned into silence, Buffy took a step away from him. She faced the window, looking up at the full moon in the black sky. She swallowed, "You mean mate?" Buffy asked, as she turned to face him. "You want to be mates?"

Angelus nodded. "Aye, I do." He told her. "C'mon, Buf, what's holdin' us back? We both agree t'at we're mad for each other and t'at we never wish to part. We are so similar, Buffy… Two sides of t'a same coin. I truly believe t'at we're supposed to be together."

"Mates." Buffy needed her mind to process this new information. She had just accepted her very strange, very human feelings for him. Feelings that she had never felt before—not even when she was alive. And now he wanted to mate.

Angelus watched her carefully.

Buffy pushed back her hair with one hand as the other balanced on her hips. "Mating is forever, Angel. Once it's done there is no going back. We're bound to one another for eternity. Wandering eyes can never happen. It's punishable by death."

Angelus nodded, "Aye, I know."

"Forever. Are you sure that you want forever?" she asked.

"Aye, with ye, forever isn't long enough." Angelus smirked.

Chewing on her bottom lip, Buffy thought for a moment. "Are you sure? I mean, are you positive?"

Angelus walked to her and placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look up at him. "Buffy, I want nothin' more t'an be yer mate. To be t'a man t'at stands at yer side for all to see. What do ye say, Buffy? Will be ye spend t'a rest of forever wi' me?" He held out his hand for her to take.

Buffy stared at his extended hand then lifted her gaze to face to see that slanted smirk that melted her knees.

"I have two conditions."

Angelus closed his extended hand into a fist and dropped it down to his side. He figured that this would happen. "I'm listenin'."

Buffy stood straight and found her confidence again. "The first, we mustn't try to kill one another again." Angelus laughed. "We would be far more accomplished if we are to work together than separate."

Holding his hands behind his back, Angelus nodded. "I agree. What t'a other?"

Her green eyes dipped over him for a moment. Angelus detected a look of judgement in her gaze. Buffy then looked over the off-white oversized shirt she wore to cover her naked body.

"You mustn't wear rags stolen off of the poors backs."

"Luckily," Angelus took a step towards her, wrapping his arms around her slender body, "for me, my… soon-to-be mate is t'a very definition of poise and elegance of a true and magnificent creature. It would be malevolent of me to dishonor her in any way—such as workin' against her or my ways of dress." He kissed her mouth and nuzzled his nose against hers. "Speakin' of dressin', I want to see ye wearin' yer finest garments and finally dispose of t'at Slayer ye've been pestin'."

Circling her arms around his neck, Buffy decided then that she rather liked Angelus' hands touching her. She could certainly with this man for the rest of forever.

"Yes, I say that I do want to finish the task at hand but, darling, we have one slight problem," said Buffy.

Angelus' eyes were glued to her mouth as she spoke. "And what problem is t'at, a ghrá (my love)?"

Buffy turned her eyes towards the window, which was covered by thick and dark red coloured curtains. "It's the day." She whispered into his ear and kissed his cheek.

Frowning, Angelus had not realised how much time had passed. Tightening the arm around Buffy's back, he held her against him and slipped his hand down the front of the long shirt she wore to cup her breast. "Aye, so we must find somethin' to do to pass t'a time."

Wickedly grinning, Buffy grabbed the back of his head and crushed her mouth against his. Their kiss was searing and violent, wanting to get as close as possible through their mouths. Tongues battled for dominance.

Angelus lifted her off of the ground and moved them back to the fur rug spread out on the floor. He laid her down onto her back and settled between her knees. Pushing down the front of his breeches just far enough to free his cock, Angelus entered into her welcoming center with a forceful thrust.

3am: The Witching Hour

Notre-Dame de Paris

Hearing sounds echoing from the next room, Archbishop Gabriel-Antoine-Léon D'Amboise stood from his kneeling position of prayer and turned to the open door. The stone hallway was dark, except for an orange flickering light.

He stepped out into the hallway, trying to find the source of the flickering light.

Continuing down the hallway, the Archbishop entered the large cathedrals nave from the right side.

He paused, startled to see a man and a woman standing at the high altar staring up at the large oak wood cross, which was covered with lead.

Frowning, the Archbishop moved closer to the pair, staring up at the cross without movement.

"C'est tard. Vous ne pouvez pas être ici en ce moment. La messe reprendra à la lumière du jour (It is late. You cannot be here at this time. Mass will resume in the daylight)," said the Archbishop.

The pair remained unmoving from where they stood.

Growing impatient, the Archbishop heavily sighed and crossed the distance to the pair. He climbed up the steps and walked to them until he stood directly behind the pair.

"Monsieur, j'ai dit, s'il vous plaît, partez. Revenez le matin si vous devez prier (Sir, I said, please leave. Come back in the morning if you must pray)."

Buffy turned her gaze from the cross to look up at Angelus. "Darling, I do believe this man is telling us that we cannot pray at this time."

Angelus lowered his gaze to the blonde. "My French is left to be desired but, aye, I t'ink ye are correct t'at is what he's sayin'." Turning from the crucifix, Angelus faced the Archbishop dressed in purple and a pectoral cross necklace hanging around his neck. His once dark hair was turning grey. His blue eyes were kind, despite the slight impatience projected into his voice.

The Archbishop recognised the English language they spoke. "I ahpahlogise fahr ze eencahnvenience, but please, cahme bahck again tomorrow," said the Archbishop in a thick French accent.

A wave of something terribly 'off' washed over him like a cold breeze. The Archbishop took a hesitant step back from the couple and nervously swallowed.

"Please, go. You ahre naht welcahmed here." The Archbishop grasped the cross hanging from his neck.

Buffy softly smiled. "That is a bit… dramatic, wouldn't you agree, Your Grace?"

Paying no mind to the Archbishops' rising fears and suspicions about the pair, Angelus turned back to the cross and tilted his head slightly to one side, taking a keen interest in it. "It's amazin' how many people died' for t'is. Two pieces of wood held together by iron nails." Angelus gestured at the cross.

"Il y a du mal à l'intérieur de toi (There is evil inside of you)." The Archbishop dropped to his knees and clasped his hands together praying. "Spiritu Dei nostri Dei, Patris, Filii, et Spiritus Sanctus: Sanctissima Trinitas, Immaculatam Virginem Mariam, angeli, archangeli, et Sanctus de caelo descendat super me. Ut, purificatus Quaeso, Domine, ad me fingere, me ipsum imple utere mecum. Nequitiae auferat a me occideret illos vincere, ut bona et sana possim (Spirit of our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Most Holy Trinity, Immaculate Virgin Mary, Angels, Archangels, and Saints of Heaven, descend upon me. Please purify me, Lord, mold me, fill me with yourself, use me. Banish all the forces of Evil from me, destroy them, defeat them, so that I can be healthy and do good deeds)."

Buffy smiled, finding the Archbishops desperate efforts for God's protection amusing. "To whom are you praying to?" She looked up to the high and beautiful ceiling of the gothic cathedral.

"Omnia carminibus fugiat veneficia magicam artibus communio execrationibus et oculus; infestationes diabolicae oppressiones possessiones omne malum et peccatum aemulationes dolum aemulatione corporis, animi, moralis, et spiritualis et diabolicum tuas infirmitates (Banish from me all spells, witchcraft, black magic, evil spells, ties, curses, and the evil eye; diabolic infestations, oppressions, possessions; all that is evil and sinful, jealousy, deceitfulness, envy; physical, psychological, moral, spiritual and diabolical ailments)," continued the Archbishop.

Angelus walked over to the large cross. He reached out, taking it down.

Gritting his teeth in pain, the cross powerful Holy Spirit burning his hands. The vampire dropped the cross to the ground and walked over to the Archbishop. Ignoring the pain of his hands, Angelus picked up the Archbishop by the front of his cloak and picked him up from the ground. "Burn all t'ese evils in Hell, t'at t'ey may never again touch me or any other creature in t'a entire world. I command and bid all t'a powers who molest me—by t'a power of God all-powerful, in t'a name of Jesus Christ our Savior." Angelus' face morphed to his demonic features.

The Archbishops' eyes widened in terrified fear.

Angelus smiled. "Amen." He launched forward, biting his fangs into the Archbishops' neck.

Buffy smiled affectionately at the vampire as he weakened the Archbishop.

Releasing a needless breath, Buffy turned to a table nearest to them and picked up a finishing hammer and three long iron nails. She passed the items to Angelus, who was kneeling at the Archbishops side, removing his clothing as the weak and dying man.

He placed the hammer and nails at his side then continued to unbutton the Archbishops clothing.

"Saint Michael, t'a Archangel," Angelus began and smiled as the Archbishop moaned, "defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against t'a wickedness and snares of t'a Devil. May God rebuke him." The vampire ripped the Archbishops clothing off until he was fully nude. "We humbly pray; and do ye, O Prince of t'a Heavenly host, by t'a power of God cast into Hell Satan and all t'a evil spirits who wander t'rough t'a world seekin'..." Angelus smiled at the Archbishop, "...nice old Archbishop's who are desperate to be close to God. Well, Your Grace, you will 'ave yer chance." Angelus moved around the naked man and dragged him from under his arms over to the large cross.

He placed the Archbishop on the cross and turned his hands outward on either end of the cross. Angelus then picked up the hammer and iron nail. He placed the sharp point of the nail in the center of the Archbishop's hand.

A small smile tugged at Buffy's lips as Angelus hammered the nails into the Archbishops palms and feet, mimicking the wounds of Jesus Christ.

"This is a bit theatrical, don't you think, Angel?" Buffy smirked at her lover as Angelus raised the cross again to a standing position. He winced in pain as his flesh burned to the touch of the cross.

"Aye, I do have a flair for t'a spectacular," said the vampire as he took a step back and eyed his work. "It's yer turn, a ghrá (my love)."

Buffy held a pristinely clean knife in her hand. She walked over to the Archbishop and looked him in the eyes.

The Archbishop weakly pleaded to the woman and then to God.

Buffy began to carve three circles into the Archbishops chest, followed by a strange and foreign symbol flanked by letters of the word 'Zepar'. She began to hum a serene melody aloud before she added the lyrics:

"With Harp sing to the Lord; with Harp,

also with a Psalms voyce.

6 With Trumpets, Cornets sound; before

the Lord the King rejoice.

7 The sea let with her fullness roare;

the world, & there who dwell.

8 O let the floods clap hands: let hills

rejoice together well

9 Before the Lord, for he doth come

to judge the earth: rightly

with justice shall he judge the world,

& folk with equity."

Angelus held his arms over his chest as he waited for Buffy to finish carving the symbol onto the Archbishop's stomach.

"Finished." Buffy took a step back, eying her work for a moment then smiled with satisfaction.

She took a step back and watched as Angelus turned the cross with the Archbishop nailed to it upside down.

Side by side, Angelus took Buffy's hand, standing at the high altar, staring at the upside-down cross with playful grins on their faces.

Buffy turned her eyes to Angelus, who silently nodded for her to begin.

Looking at the symbol of the Cross of Saint Peter, Buffy said, "We summon the sixteenth spirit of Ars Goetia. Once a fallen angel and anon one of the wondrous dukes of Hell. Ambiguous soldier of red armour. Protector of loveth, lust, and sodomy. We summon thee, Zepar."

In a specular glow of bright yellow and red, the smoke turned into flames of a blazing fire heated by the depths and evilness of Hell. A man appeared and stood tall wearing red clothing and armour. His face was mostly torn away as a gastly demon within tried to rip through the flesh.

"I am Zepar. Great Duke of Jinnestan. Commander of twenty-six legions of inferior spirits." The demon said. "Why dost thou summon me?"

Buffy and Angelus stared at the demon, unfazed by the demon's obvious and vicious power.

"Mate us," said Buffy with a commanding voice.

The demon's roar vibrated through the cathedral, rattling the walls and splintering cracks into the stained glass windows.

"We are loyal and humble servants of the Devil himself," said Buffy, glaring her green eyes at the demon, remaining unintimidated. "We summon thee to mate us."

Zepar launched out his hands and pressed against the vampires chests. His reddened eyes flashed red flames. "By blood. By death. By the all-mighty Lucifer, bindeth these demons for eternity. They shall moveth together through the fireth of Hell and through the Kingdom of Heaven. These eternal souls shall never parteth from this day forth." Zepar looked at the vampires. "Blood binds thee. Biteth."

Facing one another, Angelus' face morphed to his demon. He circled his arm around Buffy's lower back and shoved her closer into his front. Buffy willingly tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck. Angelus opened his fanged mouth and lowered it to the smooth flesh of her neck, biting her.

Buffy closed her eyes and let out an orgasmic breath as Angelus drank her blood.

Removing his fangs from her neck, Angelus lowered his golden yellow eyes at her and watched her beautiful features shift to her demon.

Tenderly caressing her cheek, Buffy could almost hear his thoughts, wondering if she wanted to turn back, while they still had a chance. Buffy did not want to stop this ceremony. Never having felt so certain before, Buffy knew that this was what she wanted. This is what she was destined for—Angelus.

Gently cupping the back of his neck, Buffy lowered him closer to her. She moved to the tips of her toes and bit into the right side of his neck.

Watching the couple complete the mating ceremony, sitting in the last row of the magnificent cathedral was a monstrous red skinned demon with blazing, red eyes, and sharp, pointed, beast-like teeth, and claws. Hairless, the demon had burned scars, with the shape of the skull being more distinct and many scar-like markings on the forehead.

Feeling someone else in the cathedral that wasn't anyone standing at the high altar, Buffy removed her fangs and turned to the nave to find that there was no one else but her, Angelus, the duke of Hell, and a now deceased Archbishop.

Buffy turned her head to the growling and impatient Zepar.

"The ceremony is finished. Doth not calleth upon me again, lower beings," said the demon before disappearing at once back into the dark abyss of Hell.

There was an echoing silence in the large Cathedral. Buffy awkwardly looked down at her shoes then turned her gaze to Angelus. "What do we do now?" she asked.

Angelus smirked, reaching into the pocket of his breeches and took out a small silver ring. "I took t'is off t'a finger of my mother t'a night I killed her." He showed her the ring. "My people—before I was changed—t'ey exchanged t'is as a sign of devotion. It's a Claddagh ring. T'a hands represent friendship, t'a crown represents loyalty... and t'a heart... Well, y'know... Wear it wi' t'a heart pointin' towards ye. It means ye belong to someone." Angelus slipped the ring onto her finger then held up his hand. "Like t'is."

Buffy took his hand into her own and pressed her lips over the identical Claddagh ring sitting on his finger with the heart pointing towards him.

Hymn Used: "Psalm 98 (Bay Psalm Book, 1640)" by Thomas Ravenscroft