CROSS ROADS
Part 13
Lenox dropped down into the cavern and turned his head about, letting the light from his hard hat search through the darkness. He discovered a workstation, but there was no sign of Willow or Xander any where.
"C'mon down," he said as he looked above him.
He saw Stacy's legs coming out of the hole above and he helped her down. Then, Buffy came down next, but she landed on her feet and she didn't require any assistance. Stacy looked at the only tunnel branching out from the workstation and she thought she saw Jeremiah standing there. She blinked and he was gone. She turned to her husband.
"Michael, we're going the right way," she said.
Lenox looked into the tunnel. "What did you see?"
"I saw him. I saw Jeremiah."
Buffy looked as well. She shook her head. "I...don't see anyone."
"He's there," Stacy said softly as she moved into the tunnel. "He's there and he's leading us to Xander and Willow."
Lenox and Buffy began to follow.
Buffy tried to keep up with Stacy. "So...this Jeremiah is going to lead us right to them?"
Stacy nodded. "Yes."
"Then Xander is really down here with Willow? How do you know all of this?"
"Jeremiah told me."
Buffy frowned. "But who is this Jeremiah? Why can't we see him?"
"Jeremiah is an angel, Buffy. He is an angel of the Lord."
She stared at her as she tried to comprehend this. "You mean...an angel, angel? Of the Lord? As in, God has sent an angel name Jeremiah to lead us to Xander and Willow?" She paused. "That kind of angel?"
Stacy glanced at her. "Yes. That kind of angel."
Buffy paused in thought. "Like a guardian angel."
"Yes. You could say that."
Lenox followed behind them, listening to their conversation as well as keeping a look out for any trouble.
Buffy regarded Stacy as they walked. "You know, I couldn't help but notice that you don't carry any type of weapon around with you. Not a gun, or a sword. And yet here you are, leading us weapon-toting warriors onward without so much as a worry." She hesitated, "Well, you don't look worried anyway. Are you?"
"No," Stacy replied with a reassuring smile. "I'm not worried. I know that Jeremiah is leading us for a purpose. I can admit to you that I am scared because I don't know what the outcome will be...but this is about a battle against evil. It has to be fought."
"What evil?"
"I...I don't know. But I'm afraid we will find out."
"Yet you still carry no weapon. Why?"
She smiled. "I don't need a weapon, Buffy. My faith is all I need."
They continued on into the darkness with what light they had to lead the way. A few times when they came along intersections, Stacy would clearly see Jeremiah and head for him. Then he would disappear and they would walk along the tunnel. They soon came to a four-way intersection and they were almost overwhelmed by a strong odor.
Lenox brought his hand up to his mouth and nose. "Had to happen sooner or later. The sewers."
"Wait!" Buffy grabbed Stacy's arm and halted their movement. She was peering intently ahead of them. "There's something up ahead of us."
Lenox stood beside Buffy and peered ahead into the darkness. There was something up there all right. It was moving under the dim lights above the sewers. He caught sight of three dark figures moving toward them.
They were standing right in the intersection and Buffy began to notice that there was movement coming from all of the tunnels. She heard the telltale hissing and knew that they were surrounded by vampires.
"Stacy..." Lenox began as he looked from one tunnel to the next, his katana sword gripped in his hands, "where did you see Jeremiah? Which one of these tunnels did he take?"
Stacy pointed at the one before them. "He went down there."
"Then clear a path for us so we can move on." Lenox was preparing for a charge any second now. "We'll watch your back."
Buffy frowned. "Look, I can clear us a path. Just stay behind me."
But Stacy moved ahead of them both and she faced the vampires that were blocking their path. Buffy was about to intervene but Lenox grabbed her arm. "Give her a chance. Then do your thing if she fails."
Buffy looked at his face.
His expression told her that whatever it was that Stacy was preparing to do, he didn't believe it was going to fail.
Stacy was standing still as she watched the vampires approach. She kept her hands to her sides as she gathered her courage and her faith. It was as if day arrived for her in the tunnel. All darkness evaporated and a bright circle of light engulfed her.
Buffy blinked in surprise and covered her eyes. Lenox was not surprised but he covered his eyes as well.
The four vampires that had been advancing toward Stacy abruptly stopped and they, too, shielded their eyes, crying out in pain.
Buffy tried to look at Stacy, amazed. The woman carried no cross, or no crossbow. She had no weapons of any kind.
Stacy raised her hand toward the vampires and simply said, "BE GONE!"
Her voice literally echoed through the tunnels.
Suddenly, the four vampires were one second standing there with their arms shielding their eyes from the brightness, and the next second, some invisible force literally picked each one of them up and hurled them down the tunnel. What Buffy and Lenox couldn't see were the large angels picking the vampires up and flying away with them down the tunnel. The angels slammed the vampires into the walls, ripped their hearts out, and turned them to dust.
Buffy stared in astonishment. "What the hell just happened?!"
Lenox prodded her onward. "Just move it! Run!"
The two caught up to Stacy and they ran. The light around Stacy was gone and behind them, vampires came out of the other tunnels to watch them run. They stayed at the intersection, however, and did not follow. They could sense a power they did not want to deal with. They turned and went back the way they had come from.
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Xander and Willow had followed Spike and Angel without an incident. They made it to the factory and were led to the large open area where Spike's table took up space in the center of the room. Spike was frowning as he walked up to the table.
Angel didn't like the way his old enemy was frowning. "What is it, Spike?"
Xander and Willow looked at each other. Willow was frightened and Xander kept his arm protectively around her. He still held onto the lantern with his other hand and he was willing to start a fire if there was going to be trouble.
"Dru is supposed to be right here," Spike said as he pointed at the head of the table where the chair remained empty. In fact, no one was at the table. "Right here! Where the bloody hell is she? She was supposed to wait for me here, just as she always waits!"
Angel glanced at Xander and Willow. He shrugged. "So Dru's not here. So what, Spike?"
Spike glared at him. "Do you think this is bloody funny, Angel? She's a sick girl, Dru is. She's not herself, as you well know. I'm supposed to take care of her but I CAN"T DO THAT IF SHE KEEPS BLOODY TAKING OFF LIKE THIS!!" He looked around the large room, his nostrils were flaring in anger. "Where could she have possibly gotten off to now?!"
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not far. If you don't mind, I'm going to take Xander and Willow to the door so I can get them out of here."
"That's the best idea I've heard all day," Xander replied as he and Willow moved toward Angel. "Lead on, walking-dead-guy."
Spike waved his hand impatiently into the air. "By all means, go!" He turned to look at Angel. "You come right back, Angel! We still have to look for that bleeding maniac who calls himself the Speaker. It'll be dark in a few hours. Then it will be hunting time and...what the bloody hell is this?" He was looking past Angel.
Angel looked at him with concern. "What's wrong now?"
"I may have misspoken."
"Misspoken? About what?"
Spike paused. "I don't think you'll be taking Xander and Willow anywhere."
Xander glared at him. "I just knew it! I just knew you wouldn't let us walk out of here without trying to pick your teethe with our bones!"
Spike looked insulted. "What the bloody hell do you take me for? A cannibal? Besides, I do have my honor."
"From what? A Crackerjack box?"
"I said that I would keep you and Willow safe, and I still mean to!" He pointed at something behind them. "I just don't believe that they mean to keep you safe."
Angel, Xander, and Willow turned their heads and standing there in front of the only way out were seven vampires. The vampires were looking at them and grinning hungrily. They were especially looking at Xander and Willow.
"Spike..." Angel began carefully, "I don't recognize any of these guys." He turned to look at Spike. "Who the hell are they?"
Spike was looking at the group of vampires before them. "Well...I'll be damned."
"Too late for that, Spike," Xander replied. "You're already damned."
Spike tried hard to ignore them. To Angel, he said, "I don't bloody recognize them either." He regarded the new vampires with anger. "Who the hell invited you blokes here? You certainly didn't get an invitation from me!"
Xander snorted. "Maybe your girlfriend invited them, Spike."
Spike glared at him. "YOU are starting to piss me off!"
"Wouldn't you like to know where she is?" Xander pressed him as he moved to stand beside Angel and Spike. Willow kept herself behind them.
Spike shot him a look. But then he turned to face the new arrivals. "Who the blazes are you people and what are you doing in my home?! Speak up! Were you invited by Dru?"
One of them stepped forward. "We were invited, but not by you."
"That much is obvious! Who invited you?"
He pointed. "She did."
Spike turned around and he froze. "Oh, shit."
Angel and Xander turned around as well. They stared in horror and Willow did not like the way they were looking at her. That's when she realized that they weren't looking at her. They were looking at someone who was standing right behind her.
Slowly, Willow turned her head.
Dru smiled at her and she looked at Willow with such fondness. Her eyes never left Willow as she spoke to Spike. "Aw, luv..." she said dreamily, and she smiled seductively, "you've brought me a snack!"
Before anyone could stop her, she opened her mouth and she went for Willow's exposed throat.
_______________________________
TO BE CONTINUED --
Part 13
Lenox dropped down into the cavern and turned his head about, letting the light from his hard hat search through the darkness. He discovered a workstation, but there was no sign of Willow or Xander any where.
"C'mon down," he said as he looked above him.
He saw Stacy's legs coming out of the hole above and he helped her down. Then, Buffy came down next, but she landed on her feet and she didn't require any assistance. Stacy looked at the only tunnel branching out from the workstation and she thought she saw Jeremiah standing there. She blinked and he was gone. She turned to her husband.
"Michael, we're going the right way," she said.
Lenox looked into the tunnel. "What did you see?"
"I saw him. I saw Jeremiah."
Buffy looked as well. She shook her head. "I...don't see anyone."
"He's there," Stacy said softly as she moved into the tunnel. "He's there and he's leading us to Xander and Willow."
Lenox and Buffy began to follow.
Buffy tried to keep up with Stacy. "So...this Jeremiah is going to lead us right to them?"
Stacy nodded. "Yes."
"Then Xander is really down here with Willow? How do you know all of this?"
"Jeremiah told me."
Buffy frowned. "But who is this Jeremiah? Why can't we see him?"
"Jeremiah is an angel, Buffy. He is an angel of the Lord."
She stared at her as she tried to comprehend this. "You mean...an angel, angel? Of the Lord? As in, God has sent an angel name Jeremiah to lead us to Xander and Willow?" She paused. "That kind of angel?"
Stacy glanced at her. "Yes. That kind of angel."
Buffy paused in thought. "Like a guardian angel."
"Yes. You could say that."
Lenox followed behind them, listening to their conversation as well as keeping a look out for any trouble.
Buffy regarded Stacy as they walked. "You know, I couldn't help but notice that you don't carry any type of weapon around with you. Not a gun, or a sword. And yet here you are, leading us weapon-toting warriors onward without so much as a worry." She hesitated, "Well, you don't look worried anyway. Are you?"
"No," Stacy replied with a reassuring smile. "I'm not worried. I know that Jeremiah is leading us for a purpose. I can admit to you that I am scared because I don't know what the outcome will be...but this is about a battle against evil. It has to be fought."
"What evil?"
"I...I don't know. But I'm afraid we will find out."
"Yet you still carry no weapon. Why?"
She smiled. "I don't need a weapon, Buffy. My faith is all I need."
They continued on into the darkness with what light they had to lead the way. A few times when they came along intersections, Stacy would clearly see Jeremiah and head for him. Then he would disappear and they would walk along the tunnel. They soon came to a four-way intersection and they were almost overwhelmed by a strong odor.
Lenox brought his hand up to his mouth and nose. "Had to happen sooner or later. The sewers."
"Wait!" Buffy grabbed Stacy's arm and halted their movement. She was peering intently ahead of them. "There's something up ahead of us."
Lenox stood beside Buffy and peered ahead into the darkness. There was something up there all right. It was moving under the dim lights above the sewers. He caught sight of three dark figures moving toward them.
They were standing right in the intersection and Buffy began to notice that there was movement coming from all of the tunnels. She heard the telltale hissing and knew that they were surrounded by vampires.
"Stacy..." Lenox began as he looked from one tunnel to the next, his katana sword gripped in his hands, "where did you see Jeremiah? Which one of these tunnels did he take?"
Stacy pointed at the one before them. "He went down there."
"Then clear a path for us so we can move on." Lenox was preparing for a charge any second now. "We'll watch your back."
Buffy frowned. "Look, I can clear us a path. Just stay behind me."
But Stacy moved ahead of them both and she faced the vampires that were blocking their path. Buffy was about to intervene but Lenox grabbed her arm. "Give her a chance. Then do your thing if she fails."
Buffy looked at his face.
His expression told her that whatever it was that Stacy was preparing to do, he didn't believe it was going to fail.
Stacy was standing still as she watched the vampires approach. She kept her hands to her sides as she gathered her courage and her faith. It was as if day arrived for her in the tunnel. All darkness evaporated and a bright circle of light engulfed her.
Buffy blinked in surprise and covered her eyes. Lenox was not surprised but he covered his eyes as well.
The four vampires that had been advancing toward Stacy abruptly stopped and they, too, shielded their eyes, crying out in pain.
Buffy tried to look at Stacy, amazed. The woman carried no cross, or no crossbow. She had no weapons of any kind.
Stacy raised her hand toward the vampires and simply said, "BE GONE!"
Her voice literally echoed through the tunnels.
Suddenly, the four vampires were one second standing there with their arms shielding their eyes from the brightness, and the next second, some invisible force literally picked each one of them up and hurled them down the tunnel. What Buffy and Lenox couldn't see were the large angels picking the vampires up and flying away with them down the tunnel. The angels slammed the vampires into the walls, ripped their hearts out, and turned them to dust.
Buffy stared in astonishment. "What the hell just happened?!"
Lenox prodded her onward. "Just move it! Run!"
The two caught up to Stacy and they ran. The light around Stacy was gone and behind them, vampires came out of the other tunnels to watch them run. They stayed at the intersection, however, and did not follow. They could sense a power they did not want to deal with. They turned and went back the way they had come from.
xwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxwxw
Xander and Willow had followed Spike and Angel without an incident. They made it to the factory and were led to the large open area where Spike's table took up space in the center of the room. Spike was frowning as he walked up to the table.
Angel didn't like the way his old enemy was frowning. "What is it, Spike?"
Xander and Willow looked at each other. Willow was frightened and Xander kept his arm protectively around her. He still held onto the lantern with his other hand and he was willing to start a fire if there was going to be trouble.
"Dru is supposed to be right here," Spike said as he pointed at the head of the table where the chair remained empty. In fact, no one was at the table. "Right here! Where the bloody hell is she? She was supposed to wait for me here, just as she always waits!"
Angel glanced at Xander and Willow. He shrugged. "So Dru's not here. So what, Spike?"
Spike glared at him. "Do you think this is bloody funny, Angel? She's a sick girl, Dru is. She's not herself, as you well know. I'm supposed to take care of her but I CAN"T DO THAT IF SHE KEEPS BLOODY TAKING OFF LIKE THIS!!" He looked around the large room, his nostrils were flaring in anger. "Where could she have possibly gotten off to now?!"
"Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not far. If you don't mind, I'm going to take Xander and Willow to the door so I can get them out of here."
"That's the best idea I've heard all day," Xander replied as he and Willow moved toward Angel. "Lead on, walking-dead-guy."
Spike waved his hand impatiently into the air. "By all means, go!" He turned to look at Angel. "You come right back, Angel! We still have to look for that bleeding maniac who calls himself the Speaker. It'll be dark in a few hours. Then it will be hunting time and...what the bloody hell is this?" He was looking past Angel.
Angel looked at him with concern. "What's wrong now?"
"I may have misspoken."
"Misspoken? About what?"
Spike paused. "I don't think you'll be taking Xander and Willow anywhere."
Xander glared at him. "I just knew it! I just knew you wouldn't let us walk out of here without trying to pick your teethe with our bones!"
Spike looked insulted. "What the bloody hell do you take me for? A cannibal? Besides, I do have my honor."
"From what? A Crackerjack box?"
"I said that I would keep you and Willow safe, and I still mean to!" He pointed at something behind them. "I just don't believe that they mean to keep you safe."
Angel, Xander, and Willow turned their heads and standing there in front of the only way out were seven vampires. The vampires were looking at them and grinning hungrily. They were especially looking at Xander and Willow.
"Spike..." Angel began carefully, "I don't recognize any of these guys." He turned to look at Spike. "Who the hell are they?"
Spike was looking at the group of vampires before them. "Well...I'll be damned."
"Too late for that, Spike," Xander replied. "You're already damned."
Spike tried hard to ignore them. To Angel, he said, "I don't bloody recognize them either." He regarded the new vampires with anger. "Who the hell invited you blokes here? You certainly didn't get an invitation from me!"
Xander snorted. "Maybe your girlfriend invited them, Spike."
Spike glared at him. "YOU are starting to piss me off!"
"Wouldn't you like to know where she is?" Xander pressed him as he moved to stand beside Angel and Spike. Willow kept herself behind them.
Spike shot him a look. But then he turned to face the new arrivals. "Who the blazes are you people and what are you doing in my home?! Speak up! Were you invited by Dru?"
One of them stepped forward. "We were invited, but not by you."
"That much is obvious! Who invited you?"
He pointed. "She did."
Spike turned around and he froze. "Oh, shit."
Angel and Xander turned around as well. They stared in horror and Willow did not like the way they were looking at her. That's when she realized that they weren't looking at her. They were looking at someone who was standing right behind her.
Slowly, Willow turned her head.
Dru smiled at her and she looked at Willow with such fondness. Her eyes never left Willow as she spoke to Spike. "Aw, luv..." she said dreamily, and she smiled seductively, "you've brought me a snack!"
Before anyone could stop her, she opened her mouth and she went for Willow's exposed throat.
_______________________________
TO BE CONTINUED --