Buffy stood up, helping Lucille to her feet.
"Thankyou. For helping me to understand. I'll get you out."
"He is powerful...Jameson and I couldn't defeat him…"
"And that's why another Dragon Slayer hasn't been called properly."
"Your premonitions…led you here. You aren't the Dragon Slayer yet. Be careful."
There was a sudden chorus of screams. The Slayer's eyes widened.
"Trouble. It sounds like…but it can't be…"
"Can't be who?"
"My friends.."
Lucille shook her head again in amazement. She clasped Buffy's hands with her
own.
"You have more to loose than most…I'm sorry."
Buffy tried to smile. She pictured her friend's faces, and instinct kicked in. She
had to save them. See them one last time.
"I'm sorry too."
*****
"I'm the Slayer? The bloody Slayer?"
"Not the Slayer. A Slayer. And a Dragon Slayer at that."
"And I have to spend the rest of my unlife helping the Slayer?"
"She's not the Slayer. She's a Slayer too."
"Of course she's a Slayer. So the Slayer and I…"
"Are both Slayers."
"The Slayer's really going to hate that…"
There was a sudden chorus of screams. Spike looked up.
"I'd recognise that girlish squeal anywhere."
"The Slayer?"
"Xander."
Jameson looked puzzled, and Spike sighed.
"Suppose I'd better go and help. For the last time…"
"Be careful. The dragon that imprisoned me here is very strong…you haven't yet
acquired your full powers.."
Spike turned to go, then stopped.
"One more thing. What the hell happened to your Slayer?"
Jameson looked sad. "She's dead, I suppose. When Darius captured me, she
tried to fight…he struck her down."
Spike shrugged, and left. Jameson looked down the tunnel after him and sighed.
"This is the last time I do this. Insolent young idiot…"
And followed the bleached blonde.
*****
Willow stirred. She felt groggy, and realised that she couldn't move.
Oh no. I'm paralysed. I'll have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, and
some old nurse will have to bathe me, and I'll wither away into nothing…I'll never
run again…
She then realised that Giles was lying unconscious on her arm, with Anya and
Xander covering the rest of her body. There was no sign of Tara, which
immediately worried her.
"Guys. Guys! Wake up, please wake up, I can't do this by myself…"
Funny. I don't know how the dragon got us here…I don't remember anything
except the bit where it flew at us…
Something moved in the corner of her vision. She turned her head and stared at
it.
It was Tara.
"Tara! Thank God…I thought t had eaten you or something…"
"Where are the Slayers?"
Willow's eyes widened at the voice Tara spoke with. It was dry and
hissing…almost… reptilian. Her lover's eyes glowed, burning blue
orbs…burning…
"You're…am I talking to…the dragon?"
"I am Darius. Older than the mountains, stronger than the wind. Where are the
Slayers, girl?"
"You mean Buffy and…Faith?"
"One more time…"
"Okay! Buffy's here, somewhere, and Faith's…Faith's in prison."
"You lie. You dare to lie to me, child?"
Willow could feel the nervous tears roll down her face as Tara dragged her from
underneath the bodies of her friends with unnatural grace and strength.
Supernatural.
"Please…you don't know what you're doing…Tara! Tara…if you're
there...please!" Her voice broke and she started to sob as the blonde girl's hands
closed about Willow's throat.
"Again. Where are the Slayers?"
"Tara…please…"
The hands tightened their grip. Willow's breath caught in her throat, and she tried
to scream, cry out. In the deepest shadows she thought she saw a dragging tail
and the faintest breath of smoke.
"I….love…you…"
"Where. Are. They."
"I don't know about all this they stuff, but I'm right here."
Tara dropped the red head to the floor. She rubbed at the bruises on her neck,
and looked up through tearstained eyes. Buffy stood before the normally shy
blonde. Tara just stood there, glaring at the Slayer. Then a satisfied smile
crossed her face. She walked closer.
"So this is the human. Passionate, fiery, a perfect candidate…shall we?"
"Shall we what?"
"Dance."
Tara planted a hand on Buffy's chest and pushed her. She stumbled and fell to
the floor. The taller girl moved with amazing speed to grab the Slayer's arm. It
was almost as if she flew…Tara twisted Buffy's arm behind her back. A grim
smile flashed across the Slayer's face. She flipped Tara over her head, then
delivered a series of kicks to the girl's midriff.
"Looks like someone's got two left feet. Oh whoops. It's me."
Buffy punched Tara hard in the face, twice.
"Got two left hooks as well."
The other girl slumped to the floor. Her mouth opened and a burst of flame shot
out. Willow's eyes widened as charcoal surrounded Tara's mouth. She crawled
over to her and held her tightly.
"Thanks Buffy...the others.."
"Are now fully conscious." Giles looked groggily into the darkness. "I don't think
it's over yet."
A low rumbling filled the cavern. Anya clung to Xander, and the Scoobies all
turned their heads to the far corner of the cavern. The sound died away, and
Buffy saw something approaching in the darkness.
"Here we go…Spike?"
"Alright Slayer…and now you can say that to me…"
"Spike!"
Buffy screamed as a large black shape plucked him from the ground.
It…flew…with alarming speed to where the Slayerettes were standing, and
dropped Spike on to the floor. He didn't move. Buffy looked up, and saw the
black shape slowly descend.
Heavy claws touched rocky ground.
Darius was magnificent. Flame red claws with wicked sharp points. Smooth black
scales with jet black wings. Eyes like obsidian and teeth like icicles. A slender
body, covered in muscle and catlike grace.
She had not been prepared for this. And she was not prepared to fight alone.
Spike didn't want to open his eyes. He wanted to lie there on the floor and wait
until the Slayer had done her job. This was one fight he didn't want.
Listen to yourself. That bloody chips done more than neuter you…it's made you
loose your edge! Spike always wants a fight…and I can't let the Slayer do her
job. Now it's my job too."
The bloody holes in his back had started to close, but he felt stiff and awkward.
With a loud groan he staggered to his feet and glared at Buffy.
Her fault. If she wasn't so damn delectable…none of this would've happened. I
wouldn't be chipped. I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be in love with her.
Buffy glared back.
His fault. If he wasn't so persistent…none of this would've happened. He
wouldn't have come back to kill me. I wouldn't have to talk to him. Spend the rest
of my life with him…
"Howdy pardner."
"Shut up Spike."
"Shut up yourself. What is it you say? Let's…kill."
"I normally say let's slay…but that works for me."
The two blondes assumed fighting stances. Both poised and powerful. Darius
stared. His pointed snout leaned closer to inspect these two. They weren't
Dragon Slayers. Just two lesser beings.
Buffy gave an almost imperceptible nod of the head at the same time as Spike.
She stopped and tried again. He did the same. Infuriated, she hissed at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Showing you it's time to go."
"I was doing that!"
"Who said you got to do it?"
"Me! I'm the Slayer!"
"I'm a Slayer too now, Slayer."
Darius cocked his head to one side. The two creatures continued to argue. He
snorted and a small fireball exploded above their heads. They looked up.
"What?"
"What?"
"Youssss are ssstupid. I willssss eassssily killssssss youssss. Ssssslayers are a
teamssss."
"Sssssss to you too."
"Hey Sssssspike. Are you ready to kill the ssssstupid dragon now?"
"Ready Sssssslayer."
Buffy nearly laughed, before she realised that she and Spike had just done
something.
We made up an in-joke. Our first Dragon Slayer in-joke…this is like a big
thing…
She fell to the floor as Darius' tail hit her hard in the side.
Spike flipped over the swinging tail and changed into vamp face. Buffy looked up
from the ground.
"Let the games…sssssss…begin."
*****
Jameson stopped at the end of the tunnel. He had never managed to get past
Darius before. He hadn't tried very hard.
After Lucille died…there was no point.
He saw a small flare of fire. It briefly lit up the centre of the cavern, and allowed
him to see three things. Spike was standing next to a small blonde girl.
The other Slayer.
They had an audience of five other people.
They must be the Slayer's friends.
Spike and the Slayer had started to fight Darius. And they were losing. As he
knew they would.
*****
Lucille felt a strong urge to run after the girl, but the shackles stopped her. She
strained with all her might, but she was old and the bonds were magick.
"Stupid, stupid…the old must die before the next is called…"
Suddenly the shackles dropped to the floor. Lucille moaned.
He isn't concentrating on me anymore. Something else has got his full
attention…the Slayers.
She ran on unreliable legs, hoping that she wouldn't be too late.
*****
Spike saw Buffy fall victim to Darius' claws, and leapt on to the dragon's head. It
roared in anger as his hit it repeatedly, then easily shook him off. He glanced at
Buffy.
"Is it…supposed…to...go as well as…this?"
She looked puzzled. "I don't feel…any stronger. And there's no connection."
They both leapt to their feet and Giles waved for their attention. While Buffy
dodged Darius, Giles threw Spike two swords.
"Where the hell did they come from?"
Giles indicated the bag. "I came…er...prepared."
Spike looked at the man appreciatively. "Thanks. Hey, Slayer…"
She caught the sword and in one graceful move sliced one of the dragon's toes
off. This time the roar was one of pain, and he flew high into the air. All was
silent. The Slayers unknowingly moved closer to one another. Buffy felt faint, her
leg still hurt and the sword was heavy. Spike had stopped bleeding but was
swaying ever so slightly on his feet. When he felt her eyes on him, he continued
to look skywards.
"We…we're going to die, aren't we?"
"I wanted to dance with you again. One last time."
"Shall we?"
Spike looked at Buffy, eyebrows raised. Then the familiar grin crossed his face.
"I'd love too."
And they faced each other, squaring off. Darius swooped down low, but they
ducked. Concentrated solely on each other. He wondered what they were doing.
And stayed to watch.
*****
Jameson was paralysed. The Slayers were fighting magnificently. Passionate
blows, great swordmanship, full of grace and beauty. However, they were fighting
each other.
He hurried across the ground and called out.
"Spike! Slayer! Stop!"
Then another voice joined with his.
"Buffy! Wait! Stop!"
A voice, cracked and distorted with age that he would always know anywhere.
"Lucille?"
"Jameson?"
The old woman turned to face the older vampire. He didn't wear his human ace,
not anymore. The five friends of the Slayer didn't know which pair to watch. Their
duelling companions or the older couple.
He looked into her eyes. The only thing that hadn't changed.
She sighed. "You know…what we have to do?"
He held her hands. "I know."
One crystalline tear rolled down her lined face. "I shouldn't be so…scared. I'm
old. I should heave died when I was 24. Before all this…"
"I'm glad we lived through it all. Or I would never have met you."
The tears flowed fast and free. Jameson turned to the five onlookers.
"Please. May I have a stake?"
The oldest man looked uncertain, but the younger one quickly obliged. Jameson
caught it. He pulled Lucille close to him, and gave her the stake. She pressed it
against his chest. With one last look at the new Slayers, he tilted her head back.
Sank his fangs into her neck.
It hurt. Those two sharp teeth cutting into her flesh and through the vein. Lucille
felt her own hot blood pumping out, away from her. With her dying breath she
whispered to Jameson.
"Good…bye. It wasn't such…a bad thing…"
He turned to ash, and she slumped to the floor. The Scoobies crowded round the
bodies, before they heard Buffy gasp and Spike growl.
*****
"We…we're going to die, aren't we?"
"I wanted to dance with you. One last time."
"Shall we?"
He looked at her, surprised. Then the familiar wicked grin crossed his face.
"I'd love to."
Buffy and Spike circled one another. Her thoughts ran freely, and she moved on
instinct alone.
This is right. This feels right.
Steel met steel as the swords moved in a blur. She jumped and arched her body
like a cat, and he followed suit. It was a deadly dance, full of grace and evil. Men
and women had done this since the beginning of time, though none so well. He
invited and she accepted, bringing her sword to his neck. He trust and parried,
moving her back. She leapt over his head and caught him from behind. Again the
steel met, and they pushed against one another. Then the swords dropped to the
floor.
Buffy felt an enormous power flow through her veins. She felt more alive than
ever before.
Spike felt like he'd drunk from a Slayer. It was almost like breathing…pure
exhilaration.
Darius moved forward with sinuous style. He spoke again with slurred words.
"Nowssss…youssss…fight messss, yessssss? Dragon Ssssslayersss?"
The Slayers slowly bent to retrieve their weapons. And moved in a blur of speed.
Connection.
william…love and blood and poetry…fine thing to be love's
bitch…slayer…god…I'll kill the slayer….love the slayer…love the kill…love the
dance…the dance is everything…no-one else can compete…no-one accepts
me…I'm lonely…so lonely
buffy…love and death and feelings…sad…angry…hurt and betrayed…no-one
cares…no-one stays…they all leave…they all do….spike's the only one who
stayed…I want my family…my real family…I'm lonely…so lonely
And then they knew that they'd never be alone anymore.
She grabbed his hand. He looked at the dragon. They took a step back, balanced
the swords, and did a back flip.
Darius' eyes widened.
Their feet kicked out, slammed through the hard wall of his skin, into his chest.
The flashing swords cut into his wings, punctured them, made him less than
whole. He was a lesser being.
Blood filled the dragon's lungs and he couldn't breathe. The Dragon Slayers
landed on their feet. Spike held on to Buffy's hand for a moment longer then was
necessary, and then she let it go. Darius' body hit the floor.
"Wow."
"Shut up, Xander."
"Thankyou. For helping me to understand. I'll get you out."
"He is powerful...Jameson and I couldn't defeat him…"
"And that's why another Dragon Slayer hasn't been called properly."
"Your premonitions…led you here. You aren't the Dragon Slayer yet. Be careful."
There was a sudden chorus of screams. The Slayer's eyes widened.
"Trouble. It sounds like…but it can't be…"
"Can't be who?"
"My friends.."
Lucille shook her head again in amazement. She clasped Buffy's hands with her
own.
"You have more to loose than most…I'm sorry."
Buffy tried to smile. She pictured her friend's faces, and instinct kicked in. She
had to save them. See them one last time.
"I'm sorry too."
*****
"I'm the Slayer? The bloody Slayer?"
"Not the Slayer. A Slayer. And a Dragon Slayer at that."
"And I have to spend the rest of my unlife helping the Slayer?"
"She's not the Slayer. She's a Slayer too."
"Of course she's a Slayer. So the Slayer and I…"
"Are both Slayers."
"The Slayer's really going to hate that…"
There was a sudden chorus of screams. Spike looked up.
"I'd recognise that girlish squeal anywhere."
"The Slayer?"
"Xander."
Jameson looked puzzled, and Spike sighed.
"Suppose I'd better go and help. For the last time…"
"Be careful. The dragon that imprisoned me here is very strong…you haven't yet
acquired your full powers.."
Spike turned to go, then stopped.
"One more thing. What the hell happened to your Slayer?"
Jameson looked sad. "She's dead, I suppose. When Darius captured me, she
tried to fight…he struck her down."
Spike shrugged, and left. Jameson looked down the tunnel after him and sighed.
"This is the last time I do this. Insolent young idiot…"
And followed the bleached blonde.
*****
Willow stirred. She felt groggy, and realised that she couldn't move.
Oh no. I'm paralysed. I'll have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, and
some old nurse will have to bathe me, and I'll wither away into nothing…I'll never
run again…
She then realised that Giles was lying unconscious on her arm, with Anya and
Xander covering the rest of her body. There was no sign of Tara, which
immediately worried her.
"Guys. Guys! Wake up, please wake up, I can't do this by myself…"
Funny. I don't know how the dragon got us here…I don't remember anything
except the bit where it flew at us…
Something moved in the corner of her vision. She turned her head and stared at
it.
It was Tara.
"Tara! Thank God…I thought t had eaten you or something…"
"Where are the Slayers?"
Willow's eyes widened at the voice Tara spoke with. It was dry and
hissing…almost… reptilian. Her lover's eyes glowed, burning blue
orbs…burning…
"You're…am I talking to…the dragon?"
"I am Darius. Older than the mountains, stronger than the wind. Where are the
Slayers, girl?"
"You mean Buffy and…Faith?"
"One more time…"
"Okay! Buffy's here, somewhere, and Faith's…Faith's in prison."
"You lie. You dare to lie to me, child?"
Willow could feel the nervous tears roll down her face as Tara dragged her from
underneath the bodies of her friends with unnatural grace and strength.
Supernatural.
"Please…you don't know what you're doing…Tara! Tara…if you're
there...please!" Her voice broke and she started to sob as the blonde girl's hands
closed about Willow's throat.
"Again. Where are the Slayers?"
"Tara…please…"
The hands tightened their grip. Willow's breath caught in her throat, and she tried
to scream, cry out. In the deepest shadows she thought she saw a dragging tail
and the faintest breath of smoke.
"I….love…you…"
"Where. Are. They."
"I don't know about all this they stuff, but I'm right here."
Tara dropped the red head to the floor. She rubbed at the bruises on her neck,
and looked up through tearstained eyes. Buffy stood before the normally shy
blonde. Tara just stood there, glaring at the Slayer. Then a satisfied smile
crossed her face. She walked closer.
"So this is the human. Passionate, fiery, a perfect candidate…shall we?"
"Shall we what?"
"Dance."
Tara planted a hand on Buffy's chest and pushed her. She stumbled and fell to
the floor. The taller girl moved with amazing speed to grab the Slayer's arm. It
was almost as if she flew…Tara twisted Buffy's arm behind her back. A grim
smile flashed across the Slayer's face. She flipped Tara over her head, then
delivered a series of kicks to the girl's midriff.
"Looks like someone's got two left feet. Oh whoops. It's me."
Buffy punched Tara hard in the face, twice.
"Got two left hooks as well."
The other girl slumped to the floor. Her mouth opened and a burst of flame shot
out. Willow's eyes widened as charcoal surrounded Tara's mouth. She crawled
over to her and held her tightly.
"Thanks Buffy...the others.."
"Are now fully conscious." Giles looked groggily into the darkness. "I don't think
it's over yet."
A low rumbling filled the cavern. Anya clung to Xander, and the Scoobies all
turned their heads to the far corner of the cavern. The sound died away, and
Buffy saw something approaching in the darkness.
"Here we go…Spike?"
"Alright Slayer…and now you can say that to me…"
"Spike!"
Buffy screamed as a large black shape plucked him from the ground.
It…flew…with alarming speed to where the Slayerettes were standing, and
dropped Spike on to the floor. He didn't move. Buffy looked up, and saw the
black shape slowly descend.
Heavy claws touched rocky ground.
Darius was magnificent. Flame red claws with wicked sharp points. Smooth black
scales with jet black wings. Eyes like obsidian and teeth like icicles. A slender
body, covered in muscle and catlike grace.
She had not been prepared for this. And she was not prepared to fight alone.
Spike didn't want to open his eyes. He wanted to lie there on the floor and wait
until the Slayer had done her job. This was one fight he didn't want.
Listen to yourself. That bloody chips done more than neuter you…it's made you
loose your edge! Spike always wants a fight…and I can't let the Slayer do her
job. Now it's my job too."
The bloody holes in his back had started to close, but he felt stiff and awkward.
With a loud groan he staggered to his feet and glared at Buffy.
Her fault. If she wasn't so damn delectable…none of this would've happened. I
wouldn't be chipped. I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be in love with her.
Buffy glared back.
His fault. If he wasn't so persistent…none of this would've happened. He
wouldn't have come back to kill me. I wouldn't have to talk to him. Spend the rest
of my life with him…
"Howdy pardner."
"Shut up Spike."
"Shut up yourself. What is it you say? Let's…kill."
"I normally say let's slay…but that works for me."
The two blondes assumed fighting stances. Both poised and powerful. Darius
stared. His pointed snout leaned closer to inspect these two. They weren't
Dragon Slayers. Just two lesser beings.
Buffy gave an almost imperceptible nod of the head at the same time as Spike.
She stopped and tried again. He did the same. Infuriated, she hissed at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Showing you it's time to go."
"I was doing that!"
"Who said you got to do it?"
"Me! I'm the Slayer!"
"I'm a Slayer too now, Slayer."
Darius cocked his head to one side. The two creatures continued to argue. He
snorted and a small fireball exploded above their heads. They looked up.
"What?"
"What?"
"Youssss are ssstupid. I willssss eassssily killssssss youssss. Ssssslayers are a
teamssss."
"Sssssss to you too."
"Hey Sssssspike. Are you ready to kill the ssssstupid dragon now?"
"Ready Sssssslayer."
Buffy nearly laughed, before she realised that she and Spike had just done
something.
We made up an in-joke. Our first Dragon Slayer in-joke…this is like a big
thing…
She fell to the floor as Darius' tail hit her hard in the side.
Spike flipped over the swinging tail and changed into vamp face. Buffy looked up
from the ground.
"Let the games…sssssss…begin."
*****
Jameson stopped at the end of the tunnel. He had never managed to get past
Darius before. He hadn't tried very hard.
After Lucille died…there was no point.
He saw a small flare of fire. It briefly lit up the centre of the cavern, and allowed
him to see three things. Spike was standing next to a small blonde girl.
The other Slayer.
They had an audience of five other people.
They must be the Slayer's friends.
Spike and the Slayer had started to fight Darius. And they were losing. As he
knew they would.
*****
Lucille felt a strong urge to run after the girl, but the shackles stopped her. She
strained with all her might, but she was old and the bonds were magick.
"Stupid, stupid…the old must die before the next is called…"
Suddenly the shackles dropped to the floor. Lucille moaned.
He isn't concentrating on me anymore. Something else has got his full
attention…the Slayers.
She ran on unreliable legs, hoping that she wouldn't be too late.
*****
Spike saw Buffy fall victim to Darius' claws, and leapt on to the dragon's head. It
roared in anger as his hit it repeatedly, then easily shook him off. He glanced at
Buffy.
"Is it…supposed…to...go as well as…this?"
She looked puzzled. "I don't feel…any stronger. And there's no connection."
They both leapt to their feet and Giles waved for their attention. While Buffy
dodged Darius, Giles threw Spike two swords.
"Where the hell did they come from?"
Giles indicated the bag. "I came…er...prepared."
Spike looked at the man appreciatively. "Thanks. Hey, Slayer…"
She caught the sword and in one graceful move sliced one of the dragon's toes
off. This time the roar was one of pain, and he flew high into the air. All was
silent. The Slayers unknowingly moved closer to one another. Buffy felt faint, her
leg still hurt and the sword was heavy. Spike had stopped bleeding but was
swaying ever so slightly on his feet. When he felt her eyes on him, he continued
to look skywards.
"We…we're going to die, aren't we?"
"I wanted to dance with you again. One last time."
"Shall we?"
Spike looked at Buffy, eyebrows raised. Then the familiar grin crossed his face.
"I'd love too."
And they faced each other, squaring off. Darius swooped down low, but they
ducked. Concentrated solely on each other. He wondered what they were doing.
And stayed to watch.
*****
Jameson was paralysed. The Slayers were fighting magnificently. Passionate
blows, great swordmanship, full of grace and beauty. However, they were fighting
each other.
He hurried across the ground and called out.
"Spike! Slayer! Stop!"
Then another voice joined with his.
"Buffy! Wait! Stop!"
A voice, cracked and distorted with age that he would always know anywhere.
"Lucille?"
"Jameson?"
The old woman turned to face the older vampire. He didn't wear his human ace,
not anymore. The five friends of the Slayer didn't know which pair to watch. Their
duelling companions or the older couple.
He looked into her eyes. The only thing that hadn't changed.
She sighed. "You know…what we have to do?"
He held her hands. "I know."
One crystalline tear rolled down her lined face. "I shouldn't be so…scared. I'm
old. I should heave died when I was 24. Before all this…"
"I'm glad we lived through it all. Or I would never have met you."
The tears flowed fast and free. Jameson turned to the five onlookers.
"Please. May I have a stake?"
The oldest man looked uncertain, but the younger one quickly obliged. Jameson
caught it. He pulled Lucille close to him, and gave her the stake. She pressed it
against his chest. With one last look at the new Slayers, he tilted her head back.
Sank his fangs into her neck.
It hurt. Those two sharp teeth cutting into her flesh and through the vein. Lucille
felt her own hot blood pumping out, away from her. With her dying breath she
whispered to Jameson.
"Good…bye. It wasn't such…a bad thing…"
He turned to ash, and she slumped to the floor. The Scoobies crowded round the
bodies, before they heard Buffy gasp and Spike growl.
*****
"We…we're going to die, aren't we?"
"I wanted to dance with you. One last time."
"Shall we?"
He looked at her, surprised. Then the familiar wicked grin crossed his face.
"I'd love to."
Buffy and Spike circled one another. Her thoughts ran freely, and she moved on
instinct alone.
This is right. This feels right.
Steel met steel as the swords moved in a blur. She jumped and arched her body
like a cat, and he followed suit. It was a deadly dance, full of grace and evil. Men
and women had done this since the beginning of time, though none so well. He
invited and she accepted, bringing her sword to his neck. He trust and parried,
moving her back. She leapt over his head and caught him from behind. Again the
steel met, and they pushed against one another. Then the swords dropped to the
floor.
Buffy felt an enormous power flow through her veins. She felt more alive than
ever before.
Spike felt like he'd drunk from a Slayer. It was almost like breathing…pure
exhilaration.
Darius moved forward with sinuous style. He spoke again with slurred words.
"Nowssss…youssss…fight messss, yessssss? Dragon Ssssslayersss?"
The Slayers slowly bent to retrieve their weapons. And moved in a blur of speed.
Connection.
william…love and blood and poetry…fine thing to be love's
bitch…slayer…god…I'll kill the slayer….love the slayer…love the kill…love the
dance…the dance is everything…no-one else can compete…no-one accepts
me…I'm lonely…so lonely
buffy…love and death and feelings…sad…angry…hurt and betrayed…no-one
cares…no-one stays…they all leave…they all do….spike's the only one who
stayed…I want my family…my real family…I'm lonely…so lonely
And then they knew that they'd never be alone anymore.
She grabbed his hand. He looked at the dragon. They took a step back, balanced
the swords, and did a back flip.
Darius' eyes widened.
Their feet kicked out, slammed through the hard wall of his skin, into his chest.
The flashing swords cut into his wings, punctured them, made him less than
whole. He was a lesser being.
Blood filled the dragon's lungs and he couldn't breathe. The Dragon Slayers
landed on their feet. Spike held on to Buffy's hand for a moment longer then was
necessary, and then she let it go. Darius' body hit the floor.
"Wow."
"Shut up, Xander."