Buffy moved forward in front of Anya's door. She raised her hand to knock on the door, but hesitated. "You know," Buffy began, "We don't really need Anya's help. She'd just get in the way and. . ."
"But she could help with magic and. . ."Willow tried to defend her choice. Buffy glared at her. "Or maybe not."
"Can we just go find Xander?" Elisa begged, voice edging on irritation. She wasn't used to working with others, so she didn't care if they got this Anya to help or not. She preferred not. The more people involved just gave her brother more people to kill. Elisa felt tremendous rage building up at the thought of William using Xander to get to her. To him, Xander was just a pawn he could use to get what he wanted. But to her. . . Elisa took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"Let's just go," Buffy decided, turning on her heel. But Elisa grabbed her arm to stop her. Buffy shot the other girl a questioning glance. Elisa responded by holding a finger to her lips.
"Do you hear that?" Elisa asked the other Slayer. Buffy strained to hear anything out of the ordinary. Closing her eyes, she finally heard it. There was the faint sound of a struggle, almost like flesh hitting flesh. Then there was a feminine cry.
"Please stop," Anya's voice was muffled through the closed door. Buffy didn't need any more indication that something was wrong. She brought her foot up and slammed it into the front door. The wood splintered, but did not break completely. Buffy kicked it a second time and this time it snapped open, giving the group access to the apartment. They rushed inside.
Elisa shot a quick look around, getting a feel for her surroundings. Her gaze fell on Xander's still form and she felt her breath catch. His face was bruised and bloody. His left eye was swollen shut and there was a giant gash above the right eye. Elisa felt like crying. What had this boy suffered because of her?
Buffy also noticed her injured friend and rushed forward to help him.
"I wouldn't do that, Blondie," a voice stopped Buffy in her tracks. Spike stepped into the room and smiled at its occupants. He walked over to Buffy and licked his lips. He smiled again, a cruel smile, this time fully exposing his sharp fangs.
"Honey, I'm home," he said. Leaning closer to her ear, he whispered, "Did ya miss me?"
Buffy's arm shot up quick, but Spike was ready for her. He grabbed her arm and responded with a punch of his own. The Slayer stumbled back a few steps.
Spike's face changed into the familiar ridges of a vampire. He closed his yellow eyes and grinned," I've been wanting to do that for a year."
"Where's Anya?" Willow asked, looking around for any sign of the ex-demon. "If you hurt her. . ."
Spike laughed at the witch's unspoken threat. "I'd like to see you try, Red." He smiled. "But you don't need to worry about poor helpless little Anya. She's a big girl now."
"Where is she, Spike?" Buffy's voice was dangerously low.
"Come on out, pet," Spike ordered his girlfriend. Anya entered the room and moved to stand behind Spike. Elisa was surprised to see it was the girl from Xander's picture. She stood facing the ground, but it was obvious she had been crying. Anya rubbed her upper arms.
"Anya, how could you?" Giles reprimanded their former ally.
Anya looked at the group with tears in her eyes. She looked at those she had once considered to be her friends. Then she looked at Xander lying on the floor. Her eyes fell on Spike before falling on Buffy once more. "I'm sorry," and with a final glance at Spike, Anya's conflicting emotions got the best of her and she rushed from the apartment.
"Well, isn't that swell?" Spike mumbled, disgusted at Anya's cowardice. He would have to teach her to be braver. Or maybe he would simply drain that stinking humanity from her beautiful body. She was his and he wouldn't allow cowardice.
"Well Spike," Buffy said. "Looks like you're outnumbered."
Spike glared at the four humans. He knew he couldn't win this battle, but he wasn't going to leave without a fight. Before anyone could react, Spike picked up an urn from the table next to him and threw it at the Watcher's head. The object struck Giles, rendering him unconscious once more.
"One down," Spike said, "three to go."
Surprising everyone, Elisa was the first to attack. She launched herself across the room, striking Spike in his midsection. Spike slapped her and Elisa retaliated. She kicked her brother in the head. Then she brought her foot back, reversing direction and kicked him again, with her heel this time. Spike growled and grabbed her foot. With a quick twist, he spun Elisa around. Elisa turned her body horizontally to avoid a broken ankle.
Buffy was only moments behind her sister Slayer. She jumped in with a flurry of punches. She bent to the left, just barely missing the heel of Spike's boot as he attempted to kick her. Remaining bent over, she swept her foot along the ground. Spike anticipated her move and jumped over her leg.
"Stay down!" Elisa hollered at Buffy as she threw a decorative plate at her brother. Spike had only a few moments to shake off his surprise as Elisa ripped more plates off the wall and tossed them like Frisbees in his direction. Spike threw up his arms to shield his face and neck from the onslaught of broken glass.
Spike was so intent on his fight with the two Slayers, he did not notice Willow slip behind him and make her way over to Xander.
Xander was beginning to stir. His head throbbed and his face was tender. Xander gingerly opened his fists and pushed himself to a sitting position. He carefully opened his good eye and saw Willow crouched in front of him. She motioned for him to remain quiet. Xander nodded and held his arms out to his friend. Willow swiftly untied his hands and moved to his feet. Xander pulled the tape off his mouth and clenched his teeth together in an effort not to scream. He didn't even remember when the tape had been put over his mouth.
All of the sudden, Spike fell backwards and landed mere inches from Xander's body. Xander inched further away from the fight, trying his best to see what was going on through his one eye. Buffy and Elisa were beating on Spike, one right after the other. Both Slayers wore a matching look of rage. Spike had no break from the oncoming hits, no chance to defend himself. Oh, he tried. He would kick out his foot only to have it slapped back down. A thrown punch ended with Buffy holding onto his arm while giving Elisa an open invitation to his face. Spike tried to fight back, but it was no use.
Spike's mind raced as he defended himself. He knew he couldn't win; he now just wanted to get out alive. Or at least, get out without being turned into a huge pile of dust. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xander and Willow trying to slide around him, toward the exit. In one fluid motion, Spike bent down to grab a shard of broken plate, grabbed Xander, and swung the boy around so his body was between the vampire and the Slayers.
"I advise you to stop now," Spike growled, holding the glass against Xander's throat. "I would hate to waste all of this warm, beautiful blood, but I'll do it."
Xander looked at the girls, terror in his eyes. Buffy quickly dropped her arms. This is what she hated the most, having those she loved used against her. They were her one true weakness. Elisa turned away for a moment. "Let him go," she commanded her brother.
"Not bloody likely," Spike replied, but his face softened, turning human once more. "You know what I want, El."
Elisa closed her eyes; trying to gather her courage, "Then take me instead."
"What?" Xander cried. "Elisa, no!" Spike smiled and motioned for his sister to come closer to him. She obeyed, eyes to the floor. Spike grabbed for his sister and pushed Xander out of the way. He never saw the vase flying at his head. As the vase cracked against the vampire's skull, he lost his grip on Elisa. He stumbled forward, dazed. Elisa rushed over to Xander, protecting him from her brother.
"Sorry Spike," Buffy smiled sweetly at her enemy. He released a scream full of rage and headed for the front door.
Spike turned back and looked at Elisa. "You know me," he told her. "I won't give up." With that promise, the vampire rushed out into the night, coat billowing behind him.
Buffy sighed and surveyed the room. Shattered glass littered the floor and furniture was overturned. 'Oh well, serves Anya right' she thought. "Everyone okay?" She asked her friends, while focusing all of her attention on Xander.
"For once, I'd like to remain conscious," Giles muttered as Willow helped him up. Everyone just nodded in agreement.
"Guys, could we recon tomorrow?" Xander asked. "I'm really tired and just want to go home."
"Sure Xan," Buffy agreed. "Tomorrow, 10 Am, Magic Box. That work for everyone?" More nods. "Do you need some help getting home?" Buffy asked, hoping for a chance to talk to him.
"No, that's okay," Xander said, oblivious to Buffy's true intentions. "You coming Elisa?" he asked, moving towards the door.
"Yeah," Elisa agreed, following Xander to the exit. "See you all tomorrow." Willow nudged Buffy and smiled as Elisa reached for Xander's hand. Buffy felt like her heart was breaking in two. 'Why?' she wondered. She wanted to cry because she knew she had lost her chance to be with Xander, the one man who could truly love her like she wanted to be loved.
Buffy glanced once more at the room. "Let's get out of here," she said. "I'm feeling a bit tired myself." The three followed Xander's lead and left the room, turning off the light and shutting the door behind them.