Part 7
A quarter of a mile from the tomb a scattering of trees was climbing up the hills into a thick copse. Millers Woods was a picturesque area that often played host to late night boozing parties. The students from the nearby University of Sunnydale would, on occasion, roll in with cars and jeeps crammed with boys, girls and crates of beer. They'd gather around a crackling bonfire underneath the bright moon and play loud music and dance. They'd throw shots on the fire and watch the flames roar their disapproval. Little did they realise that vampires often hid in the forest when they were caught to far out from town at sunrise. The trees in the forest grew so densely that they blocked out most of the sunlight within. It was only the student numbers that had ever kept the vampires at bay.
Angelus knew of this place. He had tracked a couple of vampires here before in his stomach churning fluffy Angel days. Then he was always weary of going into the darkness by himself. But Angelus had no choice. It was nearing sunrise. Another half-hour and he'd be kissing sunrays. He knew he didn't have time to get back to the factory and this was the safest place he could think of. Angelus was surprised that he escaped at all. He hadn't anticipated Buffy and the Slayerettes but he was perfectly willing to sacrifice his own henchman to ensure he got away with what he had come for. In fact he thought it quite clever of himself to set one on fire and kick him out of the tunnel.
Xander was unconscious and slumped over Angel's shoulder like a bag of cement. His limp head bobbed back and forth with every step. There was dried blood on the side of his face and a large gash on his forehead. When Angelus came out of the tunnels he was moving so fast he almost fell over Xander. Instead he moved instinctively and smashed him across the face with the back of his hand. The force was great enough to both break the skin and knock Xander unconscious.
At first he was going to leave him behind but his mind was working fiendishly quick. He had a plan in his head that he just couldn't resist putting into action. So he pulled Xander onto his shoulder and hauled him the quarter mile up to the woods. The woods ground, coated in dead leaves and twigs snapped as Xander landed with a thump. Angelus rubbed his shoulder and stretched his back. He made sure not to step into any of the rays of light now streaming through the canopy above. He cocked his head as he examined the pile of Xander. From the shallow breathing and blood spatterings he figured he had some hours before the zeppo would wake up.
Angelus delved into his deep jacket pocket and carefully pulled something out. He flipped it around in his fingers for a second and then let it rest. The silver ring glistened in the ambient light. It the shimmered as the hand that held slowly began to tremble with its power. It started to numb the hand from the centre out and the nightmares bound within its form seemed to coarse through Angelus' veins. He quickly dropped it back into the safety of his pocket, turned toward Xander, and smiled.