Days Later: Sunset
Sunnydale Town Hall: Mayor's Office
With a face of utter disgust, Angelus sat in the chair in front of the Mayor's desk watching the goonish politician eat large hard shell spiders from the Box of Gavrok.
Angelus had collected the mystical box from an anonymous connection. From what the Mayor has told him about the Box of Gavrok, they are demonic creatures that must be eaten. The spiders would contort and shift the Mayor's organs for the Ascension, which was only days away.
"So," the Mayor began as he chewed the crunchy spider leg, "the Ritual of Gavrok. I have to ingest several of the inhabitants of this box," he stuck another piece of the demon into his mouth.
Angelus eyed the strange man with uncertainty.
"Mmm." He wiped his face with the napkin tucked into his collared shirt. "My god, what a feeling. The power of these creatures. It suffusses my being." His stomach rumbled. "I can feel the changes begin. My organs are shifting, changing, making ready for the Ascension. Plus these babies are high in fiber," he laughed.
Angelus' frown did not change.
"And what's the fun in becoming an immortal demon if you're not regular, am I right? Tell me, Angelus," his smile widened, "what of our favourite feisty souled vampire?"
Shifting in the chair, Angelus did not want to talk about Buffy. "I haven't seen her."
Wilkins frowned. "That's a shame. I wish you kids the best, I really do. But if you don't mind a bit of fatherly advice, I, uh, I-I just don't see much of a future for you two." He said to the master vampire. "I don't sense a lasting relationship." The Mayor held his hands together. "You two have a bumpy road ahead."
"I don't think we need to talk about this," Angelus frowned with mild annoyance.
"God, kids, you know. You don't like to think about the future. You don't like to make plans. Unless you want me to find your honey and gut her like a sea bass, show a little respect for your elders."
Angelus cocked a high brow, thoroughly over the Mayor. He only stuck around for this long so he could use the ascended demons magic to retract Buffy's soul. "You're not my elder. I've got a lotta years on you."
"You're right," Wilkins smiled, holding up his hands in defense. "But I tell you, when I married my Edna May in aught-three and I was with her right until the end. Not a pretty picture. Wrinkled and senile and cursing me for my youth. Wasn't our happiest time." He chewed another piece of the spider. "I have a mission for you," he said between his bites.
Angelus' lip curled with annoyance.
"Your wifey and her new pals have something of mine. Came in from Thebes. The Books of Ascension. It seems despite Buffy's soul, she still keeps quite the reputation. The demon that collected my books gave them right to her and she brought them to the Slayer and gang. I need you to get them back."
Standing from the chair, Angelus headed to the door when Wilkins' voice turned his attention back to the desk.
"Get them before Graduation Day," the Mayor said.
Walking out of the office, the Mayor sat back in the chair and smiled as he chewed on another spider.
Angelus continued down the hallway and paused. He stood back against the wall unsure if he could face his estranged mate. The hurt of their separation still struck him deeply. Not a day went by that he didn't think of her.
Sunnydale High School: Library: Main Area
As Buffy entered the library, she swung her arms with a little bit of a pep in her step.
Faith looked up from the research table with a frown. As perusal, she tried to hide her lustful gaze as her eyes ran down Buffy's petite frame. She wore a brown lace embroidered halter top with a matching brown skirt and a pair of open-toed heeled mule sandals. Her golden coloured hair was long and flowing over her shoulders and tucked behind her ears, showing off the large golden hooped earrings.
Masking her desire for the ensouled vampire, Faith asked with a bit more aggression than intended. "Why the hell are you so peppy?"
"What's not to be peppy about?" Buffy asked, not letting the cranky Slayer rain of her good mood parade.
"Let's see... we've got an apocalypse approaching with a Mayor that wants to 'ascend' into a wicked evil demon and we don't know how to kill it or when he will actually 'ascend' into this evil demon."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Well, when you say it like that..." she took a seat down at the table beside Willow and across from Faith and Cordelia.
The vampiress' eyes followed Giles as he walked out of the office and ran up the small stairs to where Xander was standing with one of the Books of Ascension.
"Giles," Xander looked up from the book, "listen to this…"
The room turned their attention to Xander standing up at the platform with the large ancient book. "Local villagers near a volcano site made reference to the legend of O-O-O-ll-vi-ka-." Xander frowned butchering the demon's pronunciation.
Glancing over the teengers shoulder, Giles corrected, "Olvikan."
"Right," Xander frowned and pulled the book closer into his chest. "What's an O-O-ll-vi-kan?"
Giles removed his glasses and thought aloud, "It might be a bastardization of Olvikan. Buffy?"
Looking up from inspecting her nails, Buffy rolled her glance towards the Watcher and teen. "What's up?"
"Have you heard of a demon called, Olvikan?"
Tilting her head back, Buffy racked her brain. "Uh… oh, yeah, I met him at a demon's mixer at the convention centre in the fifth circle of Hell."
"There's a convention centre in the fifth circle of Hell?" Xander raised a brow.
"No," Buffy rolled her eyes. "I've never heard of that demon. It's probably an Old One. I guess it's the kind of demon that the Mayor wants to turn into."
Giles read further into the text and said, "Oh, there's a picture."
"Boy, it's a good thing no one ever wanted to check any of these books out, huh?" Xander tried to ease frightening tension with a bit of sense of humour.
"Yes, very convenient," Giles said as he flipped through the pages and began to unfold a page twice like a magazine centerfold.
Xander gulped, "We're gonna need a bigger boat."
Closing the large book, Giles felt the pressures of the approaching apocalypse.
The library sat quietly in the thick silence.
"Okay," Cordelia clapped her hands together, gaining the room's attention. The dark haired teen stood from the chair. "All in favour of stopping the Mayor before the Ascension?" She raised her hand. "Suggestions, ideas?" She snapped her fingers impatiently. "Time's a-wastin'." Cordelia turned her eyes to the redhead sitting beside Buffy. "Willow. I bet you've got some dark spell a-brewin'. There are no crazy plans here."
"We attack the Mayor with hummus," Oz said.
Cordelia frowned. "I stand corrected."
"Just trying to keep things in perspective." Oz retorted.
"Thank you," Cordelia sarcastically replied.
Willow thought for a moment before saying, "We just have to stop the Mayor from doing the ritual. I mean, there's only the one time he can ascend, right?"
"Okay, but still not enough ideas," Cordelia interjected. "Let's think outside the box."
Faith glared at the popular cheerleader, "Why don't you think outside fuckin' box, Cordy."
Giles slipped his glasses back up his nose and said, "Yes, Cordelia, apart from your incredibly infectious enthusiasm, have you anything to contribute?"
Cordelia frowned for a moment and pointed at Buffy. "Buffy!"
Tossing her eyes around the room awkwardly, Buffy wanted to sink low into the chair. "Wha-what about me?"
"You're a creative former evil demon," Cordelia said, offending the vampiress. "You must have some wild ideas up those sleeves of yours."
Buffy frowned. "I'm not wearing sleeves."
Faith snorted a chuckle and moved her hand in front of her face to hide her amusement.
"What we need is a witness," Giles said, stepping down the stairs and crossing over to the table. "Someone who's actually been to an Ascension."
The eyes of the library turned to Buffy.
Buffy's gaze widened, she stood from the chair suddenly feeling very exposed. "I've never been to an Ascension. I don't know anyone who has—"
"—Sure you do."
A familiar deep English accented voice made Buffy whirl around.
She appeared stunned into shock when she saw Lucifer standing at the library entrance. He fixed the button of his cuff then stuffed his hands into his black trouser pockets. He looked sinfully handsome in his slim fitted all black suit and buttoned down shirt. He wore a devilish smirk across his bristle bearded face.
His hair was much shorter than the last time Buffy had seen him.
Unable to pick up her slacked jaw, Buffy shook her head.
"Samael?" The surprise was evident in her voice.
Stepping further into the library, the Devil stood in front of Buffy and bowed his head. He took her hand at her side and brushed his lips over her knuckles. "Lady Elizabeth."
Drawing her hand back, Buffy flirtatiously looked up at him from under her long lashes. "It's been a long time."
Lucifer's smile widened. "Three hundred and six years but who's counting?" His dark, almost blackened eyes rolled over with appreciation to her figure. "You're still as ravishing as ever. I did hear about your soul. How unfortunate."
Buffy shrugged. "Meh, I try not to dwell."
"Of course not, you were never a dweller. Always looking ahead and never over your shoulder."
The mutual feeling of happiness in seeing one another again lingered with a comfortable silence as they took each other in.
Breaking the moment, the Devil noticed their audience and turned his gaze back to Buffy. "Now, what do I hear about an Ascension that troubles you?"
"The Mayor has plans to ascend to be a higher being—there's really no story there…"
Eying the two vacant seats at the long research table, Lucifer stepped closer to the blonde vampire and held out his arm, gesturing to the table. "Shall we discuss this over a match?"
"I'm a bit out of practice." Buffy replied and read Satan's disapproving gaze. "What?" Rolling her eyes, she scoffed. "I'm sorry, I've been pretty preoccupied for the last… three centuries. You know between my acts of satanic evil and my human soul shoved down my throat, I didn't make any time to work on my chess game."
Humoured with amusement, Buffy always brought him entertainment. "Come," he led them to the two chairs.
In a gentlemen fashion, Lucifer helped Buffy sit down and tucked in her chair. He snapped his fingers together, a chessboard appeared on the table.
The Scoobies watched the demonic pair in total fascination. It seemed they were all long forgotten about and all that existed was Buffy and the strange tall, dark, and sinfully gorgeous man.
"You make the first move." The Devil gently commanded.
Releasing an unneeded breath, Buffy moved a pawn to square 'e4'.
Lucifer chuckled. "Always opening with the Sicilian Defense." Lucifer moved his pawn to square 'c5'. "When your Mayor Wilkins ascends, he will become a pure demon. The kind of demon that walked the earth before man and hybrids like yourself. The demon Olvikan are quite indestructible and impossible to manage." Lucifer knocked Buffy's pawn off of the board with one of his pieces. "But he will ascend for me in order to be considered in my court—The court which still has a seat for you," he looked up to Buffy's contrived expression, "but I digress."
Buffy felt a sort of kinship towards the Devil. She knew she was always considered 'special' to him. And no matter how many years past or the fact she is mated to another, there will always be an attraction and a tension of desire between them.
"Samael…" Though Buffy felt attracted to him, she was faithful to Angelus—no matter how complex and estranged their relationship has become.
"I know, I know…" he smirked, holding his hands up. "I must admit, I've tried on more than one occasion to blacken your soul." He tossed her a light smile with a shrug. "I've seen it. It's white—pure of vanity… pure of sin… You're not capable of what you think." Buffy frowned, eyeing him with curiosity. "My first attempt was sending an army to the Heavens, but my Father was prepared. He kept your soul out of my reach. Even He understood its importance. The second attempt… Well, you are much stronger-willed then I originally perceived. 'Hell will choke on me', is what I think you said." Buffy raised her brows up her forehead with amusement. "I failed to lure you back to my own aviel."
Sitting back in the chair, Buffy tapped her nails on the table and asked, "The ghosts of Christmas past were of your doing?"
"Guilty." The corners of Lucifer's mouth tugged into a smile.
Thinking more about that strange and confronting night, Buffy's mind flashed to the wild and passionate sex dream she had, in which Lucifer was a major featured star. Pursing her lips together, Buffy slowly nodded, "Explains a lot."
Leaning over the chessboard and lowering his voice, the Devil smiled teasingly at her. "I enjoyed it as much as you." The look on his face was smug but Buffy couldn't help still having the desire to kiss him.
Sensing her attraction towards him, which was a mutual feeling, the Devil reached his arm out towards her and placed a hand over hers on the table.
Their fingers slowly moved together to a tanglement.
Before their clasped hands could settle together, Buffy retracted her hand and moved another pawn over the board. "How were the demons killed?" She continued the conversation and kept her eyes lowered, not trusting herself to look at him.
Lucifer smirked, "How were the dinosaurs killed?"
"A meteor? Volcanoes? Ice?... Hummus?" Buffy said with a bit of impatience.
"Volcanoes are fascinating are they not?" Lucifer ran a hand over his bristled chin and flicked his gaze up to Giles standing at the platform with Xander and the Books of Ascension. "But alas my demons—or what's left of my demons are not killed but contained… for now… Your move, Elizabeth."
Buffy moved a rook only for the Devil to jump her chess piece.
Smirking at her frown, Lucifer continued to play.
Keeping his dark eyes on the chessboard, an echoey voice spoke telepathically to Buffy, "I have information that may interest you."
Buffy moved a pawn and replied, "What could you possibly say that could be considered interesting?." She snarkily teased him.
Telepathically chuckling, Lucifer raised his gaze to her face and said, "Your soul… there's a clause. It's a wonder how they did not know…"
Cocking a high brow, Buffy looked unamused. "You tease me with all of this mystery. Either tell me or don't."
"Having a soul has certainly made you less patient." Lucifer tossed her a seductive teasing smile that would've made Buffy's knees jello if she were standing.
"Oh, Samael, you've mistaken me as someone who has always been blessed with patience. That disappointment is your own self-fabricated doing."
Always an admirer of the quickness of her mind, Satan thoroughly enjoyed her wit. "Touché." His eyes moved around her beautiful face. "Perfect Happiness is your soul's clause—if you wish to get rid of that... inconvenience."
To everyone on the outside, Buffy's remained neutral, but the sarcasm was thick with her telepathic words. "That's it?—Perfect happiness?"
"That's it." He told her. "You need to be transcendently filled with happiness. It cannot be fleeting nor a simple feeling. It must consume you." Lucifer took her hand again and ran the pad of his thumb over the knuckles of her fingers, "While I can bring you immense pleasure, I do not give you the happiness you seek. But, how I wish I can be that demon for you. It's a desire I don't think I'll ever stop having."
"Why do that to yourself?"
"I'm a glutton for punishment." Buffy noticed the strange look on his face. There was a sadness in his eyes but it was quickly washed away with a smug narcissism. "Check mate. You are an absolutely pitiful chess player." He said, teasing her in his normal tone of voice.
Raising a brow, Buffy smirked, "And you are incredibly arrogant. Some things will never change."
"Indeed, it's quite tiresome."
"Tragically overrated," Buffy agreed.
"We should never converse again."
"It's probably for the best since—well, I'm one of the Good guys now." Buffy failed to hide the smile tugging wider at her lips.
It was a rare occasion when the Devil forgot himself as he looked into her eyes and with a tinge of plea, he said, "Be my Queen, Elizabeth. With you as my partner in irreverence, we'd be unstoppable. A power couple for the ages."
Her half smile fell from her face. "Samael…" Lucifer released a breath of disappointment. "I can't do that. You know that." She told him gently.
"It's because of your mate." He felt a pang of jealousy towards the master vampire.
"Yes," Buffy told him truthfully.
"What is it about him?"
"Angel is…" Buffy wasn't sure how to describe her mate to the other man wanting her affections. "He's…" she thought about it carefully. "He's my Pacey. And you're my Dawson."
Lucifer stared at Buffy with furrowed brow confusion. "Who's Dawson? What are you talking about?"
Buffy appeared taken aback with surprise. "You've never watched Dawson's Creek?" The Devil shook his head. Scoffing, Buffy explained, "Dawson is the friend—and sometimes... more than a friend…"
Lucifer smiled, wagging his brows. "So you say there's a chance for me yet?" He chuckled, loving to watch her squirm uncomfortably. Satan stood from the chair and adjusted his suit coat. "I truly must be going, my vampires and werewolves of the Underworld are on the verge of another war." He rolled his eyes. "It's very good that you and your mate stayed out of it for so long."
"Lucian's interest in vengeous is tired. Besides, I'd rather literally do anything else than be ordered around by that spineless Kraven," she said toying with a pawn on the chessboard then stood from the chair to follow him out.
Nearing the door, Lucifer turned and stood tall over her. "If it weren't for Angelus, you think we'd finally have our chance?"
"We'll never know," Buffy replied.
A small half smile tugged at his lips. "Until next time, Lady Elizabeth." He bowed then turned away from her when her voice made him look back.
"It would be a long time coming—If ever…"
He took her hand at her side and brought it to his lips. "I'm not getting any older…" Smiling at her he said with a cheeky wink. "I'll be seeing you down the creek, Potter."
Buffy's jaw slacked with surprise and hurt that he lied to her. "You said, you've never seen the show before."
Lucifer shrugged, "I lied… Devil." He gestured to himself wearing a curved smile. "Lady Elizabeth…" Unable to turn away from her again just yet, the Devil decided to make her off balance when she wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her into his chest. His mouth covered hers.
Not pushing him away, Buffy let the kiss deepen and their tongues gently caressed. But the kiss could not last.
Breaking the kiss, Lucifer used every ounce of his power to remove himself from his favourite blonde vampiress and lifted his dark eyes from her gently parted lips to meet her gaze. "That might've been my only chance." He whispered then took a step back, distancing himself from the beautiful vampiress. "Goodbye."
Buffy watched him turn away and disappear in black smoke. She inhaled a deep unneeded breath and whispered, "Goodbye, Samael."
Standing quietly, still reeling from the swirl of feelings she felt when he kissed her. Buffy had almost completely forgotten about the Scoobies standing behind her. They had watched the entire interaction between Lucifer and Buffy with utter fascination and shock.
Pushing her unexplored feelings for the Dark Lord away, Buffy faced the group and cleared her throat. "So lava…"
Xander was the first to break the shocked silence. His dark eyes were wide flabbergasted. "Whoa! Was that who I think it was?"
Giles scratched the top of his head feeling a strange mixture of confusion, fascination, and excitement. "Samael… the fallen angel… Lucifer?" He took off his glasses and let his brain process what had just happened. "That was Lucifer?"
"The Devil?—Like The Devil?" Xander looked at the Watcher.
"Buffy's on a first-name basis with The Devil." Oz pointedly added.
Willow stared wide eyed at the vampiress. She had a million and one questions, desperately wanting to know all of the gritty details. "When did you guys meet? How did you guys meet? What's he like? Have you ever been to," she pointed to the ground indicating Hell. Buffy looked at the redhead, overwhelmed by her enthusiasm. "Does Angelus know about him? Have they met? Are they friends? He wants you to be his Queen—How romantic!" She held her clasped hands over her heart.
Xander ran a hand through his dark hair, unable to get over Buffy's apparent intimate relationship with Satan. "The Devil asked you to be his Queen!" Xander stared at the vampire in disbelief.
Sitting down in the chair, Cordelia eyed the blonde with peeking interest, also wanting the full gossip. "Did you guys have like a thing before… 'Cause the sexual tension could be cut with a knife."
"Who the fuck cares?" Faith huffed with jealousy. She would never admit it aloud, but seeing yet another person fall to Buffy's feet made her angry inside. It was just another reminder that Buffy would probably never look in her direction. Faith hated the feelings Buffy provoked inside of her—especially jealousy.
Giles said as he walked down the steps. "Forgive us, Buffy, but this is just… fascinating."
Taking a deep long breath. "Okay, where to start..." Buffy knew how excited everyone was.
They all had an abundance of questions and they wanted answers and so she said in a single breath, "We met a long time ago in Salem, Massachusetts. Some witches needed my help and he was there." She looked at Willow. "What's he like? He's... I dunno… the Devil? Annoyingly Charming. No, I've never been to Hell. Yes, Angel is well aware of him. No, they're not friends nor have they met. I can guarantee you that they'd kill each other." Buffy shifted her gaze to Xander. "He's asked me to marry him a few times." Buffy glossed over that fact as she turned to Cordelia. "No, we've never had 'a thing'. It's always been very…" she released an unneeded breath with an air of disappointment. "The timing was never right. I'm as good of friends as you can be with Satan. Anything else?" Her eyes darted around the room for a moment.
Oz found that to be the interesting part of the Buffy and Lucifer dynamic. "Chess?
With a nonchalant shrug, Buffy replied, "It's a thing we do. We play chess. I give it my best. He wins. We exchange some witty banter. He tells me, I'm awful at the game. And then he leaves. But we've got the information that we'll need to stop the Mayor."
"Yes," Giles nodded in agreement, "well, live volcanoes might be hard to transport to Sunnydale."
"Okay," Buffy pursed her lips together. "We'll figure out an alternative. Magic or bombs or—"
"—Ebola virus," Cordelia suddenly added.
Frowning, Buffy nodded, eyeing the teen strangely. "Or the Bubonic Plague."
"The Mayor doesn't like germs," Cordelia continued. "We can attack him with germs."
Buffy stared at the teen, astounded. "Great, we'll corner him and then you can sneeze on him."
"No!" Cordelia threw her arms out in excitement, "we'll get a box with the Ebola virus and… and… Or it doesn't even have to be real, we can just get a box that says Ebola on it and… uhm," she snapped her fingers together, "chase him…" her eyes darted around the room, "... with the box."
Faith frowned. "I'm startin' to lean towards the hummus attack."
"He'll never see it coming." Oz added sarcastically.
The group split up to continue researching for a solution to stop the Mayor.
Buffy sat back down at the table beside Willow. She opened a book and tried to ignore the redheads grinning smile. Releasing a heavy sigh, Buffy looked at Willow.
"So what is the Devil like when he's 'grr'?" Willow asked curiously.
With a chuckle and head shake, Buffy eyed the teen with amusement.
Faith rolled her eyes unable to stop picturing Buffy in bed with Lucifer having passionate and wild sex. The way they moved together looked like a well-practiced dance. For some reason she was interjected into Buffy's subconscious, she wondered if Buffy even knew that it was really her in the dream. But if it was really her in the dream then it was probably really Lucifer in Buffy's dream too.
Faith had the sudden urge to go out on patrol.
Next Night
Sunnydale High School: Library
It's taken Angelus nearly 24-hours to work up enough courage to walk the library and extend the information to Buffy and let her do what she will with it. He didn't care for the Slayer and her friends, but his mate was not a part of this ragtag team, he wanted her safe.
He stood outside the doors in the hallway and looked through the small round window into the library when his dark eyes landed on Buffy.
His gaze moved over her, finding her breathtakingly beautiful. She wore a pastel green halter neck top with a long flowy leopard print skirt, and a pair of black Steven Madden chunky platform sandals. In her long flowing blonde hair, she wore a cute darker green headband.
She was gently smiling to whatever Willow was being said. Cordelia turned Buffy's attention as she began to converse with them.
Angelus was surprised to see that Faith was in the dynamic. For a moment he felt like he was standing in an alternate universe. It was more than jarring to see his Buffy in this element, talking and joking with the people that used to be their enemy—their game.
"What are you doing here?" Xander appeared from behind Angelus. He carried a backpack by the strap heading into the library.
"I have information about the Mayor and Graduation day." His eyes were glued to his mate. "I need to talk to Buffy." Angelus ran his eyes over the scruffy looking teen.
Xander stood tall feeling protective of the blonde. "About what?"
Glaring his eyes on the teenager, Angelus replied, "That's private." His eyes went back to the window to look at his estranged mate.
Taking a step beside the master vampire, Xander looked into the window and said, "I take it you're not a Lucifer fan either?"
Angelus frowned but did not respond wanting to hear everything the boy had to say.
"I can't blame you… Well, it's not like I hate the guy. Just, you know… the guts part of him. And the way he just appeared…" Xander scoffed with jealous annoyance. "He had his evil Satan eyes all over Buffy and the tension…" he whistled, "... you can cut it with a knife. But man, that guy has a lot of nerve asking to be his Queen and all."
Angelus' frown deepened as raging anger rolled off of him in waves.
Xander was oblivious to the anger as he continued, "They had this whole back and forth thing… It wasn't right, I tell you…" He continued to talk on and on about Lucifer's surprise visit.
Snapping from his rage, Angelus looked at Xander and narrowed his eyes over him, "What did you say?"
Looking at the vampire, Xander repeated, "I said, she didn't push him away when he kissed her. Strange..."
Suddenly, it had dawned on Xander the mess he was creating when Angelus' dark brown eyes flashed a golden colour.
Angelus pushed through the doors, gaining the room's attention.
Willow and Cordelia took a step back away from Buffy as Angelus stomped towards her with an expression to kill.
Protectively, Faith stepped slightly in front of Buffy.
Buffy laid a gentle hand over Faith's arm, silently telling her to step aside.
Folding her arms across her chest, Buffy pursed her lips together and nodded into Giles' private office. She closed the door behind them.
Angelus whirled around, fuming with anger. "Lucifer was here?"
"Who told you that?" She looked out the window and spotted Xander rubbing the back of his neck wearing a guilty look on his face. "Xander..." she shook her head, "... that figures…" Buffy looked at her mate and felt his jealousy radiating off of him. "Angel, it was nothing—Really… Samael appeared, told us about the Ascension and left."
Glaring at her suspiciously, Angelus said, "I was told there was tension and kissing involved. It also came to my attention that Lucifer asked you to marry him?"
Rolling her eyes, already exhausted from this approaching argument. "He's asked a few times—you knew that. And again, like all the times before that, I said 'no'." She took a step towards him and held a tender hand to his face. "Angel, together or not, I'm your girl and I'm gonna stay that way."
Angelus tore away from her gentle hand and took a step back, creating a distance between them. He eyed her closely, almost able to read her inner thoughts. He knew her connection with the Dark Lord. Buffy never let it be known that it was flirtatious or would at any moment lead to anything but demons loved to talk. He's heard the rumours about Quod Spiritus Sanctus (The Beautiful Demon) and Satan for nearly two hundred and fifty years. It was well known that Buffy was a favourite to the Devil.
"But you thought about it?" He glared at her accusatory. "You did, didn't you?" Buffy shamefully lowered her gaze from his face. Angelus felt his dead heart break. "You want him." He swallowed letting that knowledge settle for a moment before he asked a question that could potentially destroy him. "Do you love him? Or do you just want to sleep with him?"
Buffy felt like she was being backhanded across the face. "What? Angel, what the hell are you talking about?"
"Tell me, Buffy, because I just don't get it. You keep telling me that you wanted to go 'find yourself'. You have a soul now and you want to figure out what that means, right? Is this what you've been looking for?—Lucifer?" He argued, raising his voice.
"Angel, this is ridiculous." She shook her head in frustration. "Are you hearing yourself?"
"No," Angelus clenched his jaw tightly, "don't do that. Don't spin this around and make me look like a paranoid fool."
She stepped closer to him. Her eyes were wide and pleading to believe her. "There is nothing going on."
"Then explain it to me, Buf. And don't lie to me. I deserve the truth. Is there something going on between you and Lucifer?"
Buffy released a heavy sigh as an effort to keep calm. "No," she firmly replied.
Angelus wasn't a bit convinced. "But you do want him?" He pushed for her to answer.
Annoyed and growing angry but his allegations against her, she answered losing her patience. "Yes! Is that what you want to hear?" She held out her arms out wide in frustration. "Tell me what you want me to say? What do you want to hear? That I've been mooning over him for the last three hundred years? That when we're together a piece of me wishes I were with him instead? Then fine. Yes, there will always be a small part of me that will want him. I can't explain it… Everything between us, Angel is so complicated."
"If things got complicated between us, it's because you made them that way. Do you think whatever was wrong between us is gonna magically get better when you're with him?" Angelus argued.
"I don't know!" Buffy shouted, no longer defending her innocence if he wasn't going to listen to her.
Angelus' dark eyes flashed golden, furious. "He's the Devil, Buffy! There is nothing inside of that demon that will ever feel what I feel for you! You will never feel safe or cared for by him!" He towered over her, yelling into her face. "I may be no expert in the art of love but I know how I feel about you. You'll be his 'Queen' until he tires of you. But just know Buffy, when he hurts you—and I guarantee you that he will, don't come running back to me and expect me to pick up the pieces when it all falls apart."
Pursing her lips together, holding her hands on her hips, Buffy's nostrils angrily flared. "Are you finished?"
Livid, Angelus replied, "I'm just getting started."
"Well, you can save it. Then you can go to hell." She angrily threw open the office door and stormed out of the office.
The Scoobies stopped what they had been pretending to do while eavesdropping on the argument.
Angelus took in a sharp breath and swallowed. He felt the heat of rage in his dead body. At this every moment, he hated Buffy. He wanted to kill something, anything. He wanted to get his revenge on her disloyalty to him.
Instead, Angelus stomped out of the office and headed out of the library doors, turning his back on his mate of two hundred and eight years. With this soul inside of her, she was no longer someone he could recognise.
Book Stacks
Hiding in the book stacks, Buffy sat on the floor with her back against the shelves of books. Her knees were to her chest and her face buried in her hands.
Willow sat down beside Buffy.
Lifting up her head, Buffy tilted her head back and rested it against the edge of a book shelf.
The pair sat in a long silence for what felt like hours.
"Are you going to try talking to him again?" Willow quietly asked, creating an open and non-judgemental space for her friend to talk.
"What's the point?" Buffy let out a heavy sigh of defeat. "He doesn't believe me."
Willow looked at the vampiress. "What if you explain it again? Tell him that you absolutely don't want Lucifer." Buffy gave her a subtle sideways glance which spoke to Willow in volumes. There was a bit of truth to Angelus' accusations, she did want Lucifer. "Oh,"
Picking up her head, Buffy explained, "There's always been this... thing between Samael and I—this cat and mouse chase. It's exciting and simple. With Samael… he's always been a possibility, you know? I enjoy our banter and that tension between us… and the only time we've ever… I dreamt it—which I now think was pretty real since he can interject himself into dreams." Buffy frowned and thoughtfully chewed on her bottom lip. "But Angel is what I want." She said with total self-assurance. "He's always been. He's my first love, my eternal mate. But he's built something up in his head and no matter what I say, he's not gonna believe me." She limply shrugged, "I think he wanted a way out. He's been looking for it."
Willow frowned. "For what?"
"A way to break the chain," Buffy replied plainly. "This soul… it's changing a lot. And I can't blame him for wanting an out. Makes it easier I guess…"
"Makes it easier...?" Willow slowly repeated with not quite understanding Buffy.
Buffy replied, "To break up for good…" She turned her gaze away and began to toy with the silver Claddagh ring sitting on her right hand ring-finger. "Hating me makes it easier to leave me."
