The night was quiet, but the small group was alert. The two Slayers took the lead as they made their way through the cemetery.
"There hasn't been much demon activity lately," Buffy explained to Elisa. "But this is the Hellmouth. Anything goes." Elisa nodded.
"Yeah, we're the party town for all of the big uglies," Xander commented.
"Umm, guys," Willow interrupted. "Speaking of big uglies." Willow pointed toward a group of demons slowly walking toward the Slayerettes. Once the demons realized that they had been spotted, they charged forward.
"See what I mean?" Buffy yelled, falling into a fighting stance.
"Oh joy," Elisa mumbled, mimicking Buffy's position. Xander stood behind the two with Willow not far behind.
Glavok led his group toward the two Slayers. He held a sword in his left hand, fully intending to use it. Spike had told him about one of Buffy's greatest weaknesses and he wanted to use that knowledge to his advantage.
Elisa watched as Buffy walked toward the demon group slowly, sizing up the enemy. The younger girl looked for any detail to use against the demons. She saw Glavok raise his sword in a challenge and rolled her eyes. "Distract him, would you please?" she ordered Buffy.
Buffy glanced over at her fellow Slayer, wondering what the girl had up her sleeve. Figuring she had nothing to lose, Buffy quickly closed the remaining distance and attacked her foe with a vengeance.
The demon narrowed his eyes, momentarily surprised by Buffy's sudden attack. With a snarl, he raised his sword once more. Buffy flew at him with a flurry of kicks and punches. Elisa took advantage of Glavok's surprise. Swinging her foot upward, she brought her heel down hard on the top of the demon's arm, causing the sword to fall from his hand.
Enraged, Glavok knocked Elisa to the ground with a fierce backhand. He then picked up Buffy and tossed her out of his way. She crashed without grace into a headstone a few feet away. Momentarily dazed, she stumbled as she got to her feet.
"Stupid demon," Elisa muttered as she grabbed the sword, which lay inches from her hand. He paid no attention to her, focusing only on Buffy. That was the only distraction Elisa needed. With a warrior's cry, she drove the sword deep into Glavok's heart.
"One down and. . ." Xander started, looking around him at the now-empty graveyard.
"Where'd they all go?" Willow asked. Buffy looked confused, glancing about with suspicious eyes.
"Oh, they were all the same demon," Elisa explained. "It was Garthinian demon. They are the type of demon who only fight if it is pretty sure it is going to win."
"Well, he thought wrong," Buffy commented. "But how did you know which one to go for?"
"First, he was the leader. Then he lifted the sword and all the rest followed. It was the exact same movement," Elisa said. "See, these guys are good with mind games. They can make you see what they want you to see. In this case, he wanted us to believe we were up against many demons, instead of just one. That demon can be dangerous because he can do almost anything with his mind, if he concentrates hard enough. That focus is its weakness, though. It focuses so hard on one thing; it leaves it vulnerable everywhere else. Plus, they aren't the smartest creatures in the world."
"Can they conjure things?" Willow asked, fascinated with the idea.
"Sure, they can bring things into existence or take them out, if they concentrate hard enough," Elisa replied.
"What about humans?" Xander asked.
"Not that I know of," Elisa said. "Only items, but I guess it could be possible. I don't know much about them, just enough."
Buffy glanced at their surroundings once more. "Well guys, I'm gonna head to Giles' and call it a night."
"Sounds good," Willow agreed. "You coming?" she asked Xander and Elisa.
"Nah, we'll just go back to my place," Xander said. He turned to Elisa, "That is, if it's ok with you." Elisa nodded her head in agreement.
"Suit yourself," Buffy commented, hiding her disappointment and heading in the opposite direction they had come from. Willow hurried to catch up. Buffy stopped abruptly, causing Willow to run into her, "See you tomorrow?"
Elisa smiled, "Yeah, tomorrow." She began to follow the path Buffy and Willow had just taken.
Xander grabbed her arm, turning her around while glancing one last time at Buffy's retreating figure, "Whoa, oh misguided youth of yesterday. We're going this way."
"Oops! Sorry!" Elisa apologized, following his lead. They had gone a few feet when she asked, "So, did you find anything out? About why I'm here, that is?"
Xander glanced at his companion. "Not really," he admitted. "So far, it just looks like you're meant to be here." Elisa nodded and kept walking. "Can't say I'm disappointed," Xander continued.
Elisa smiled and shyly grabbed his hand. "Can't say I'm too upset either," she said quietly, keeping her eyes on a patch of ground, not far in front of the pair. Xander looked at her profile and grinned. He pulled her a little closer and they continued walking toward his building.
"How touching," a voice interrupted the serene silence. Spike stepped out from behind a tree, blocking the path leading up to the apartment building.
"Spike, err, William," Xander said. "What do you want, oh-impotent-one?"
"I've come to take my sister. She belongs with me," Spike growled.
"She's not going anywhere with you," Xander said, positioning himself between the two siblings.
"We'll see about that," Spike returned, moving as if to retreat. Then, with lightening speed, he punched Xander and the boy fell to the ground.
Xander waited for Spike's howl of pain, but it never came. 'What the…' he thought. Realizing what that meant, he yelled, "Elisa, run! Get out of here!"
Spike was fast, but Elisa was faster. She ran off into the night, once more escaping her brother's clutches. "Bloody hell!" Spike cried, turning back to Xander. He shrugged, "I guess you'll have to do. I'm sure she'll come for you eventually, though I'm not sure why."
Xander gingerly touched his nose. "Please, like I'd go anywhere with you" he started, just as the heavy object struck his skull and his world fell into darkness.