Part 7....
" You've been a very naughty girl, bad Buffy *grr*"
" Drusilla! I would say it's nice to see you again but we both know that's a big lie"
Buffy was finally over the surprise of seeing Spike's old partner in crime, not to mention Angelus.
She watched as Dru's hypnotic eyes followed her every movement. In a strange way, Buffy felt relieved that at last the assassin was out in the open, so to speak.
Drusilla swept around the crypt casually picking through Spike's belongings, as if she owned the place. Her long crimson dress swirled around her delicate ankles.
" I like your dress Dru, then again, I bet people have been saying that for the last hundred years" Buffy smirked sarcastically. Drusilla had never been one of her favourite vamps and she was quite looking forward to dusting her sorry, insane ass.
" You were the reason it all fell apart, you frightened the stars and made the moon shiver "
Dru's sing song voice grated on Buffy's nerves. **The trouble with dealing with this insane bitch was that she was so unpredictable** Buffy warned herself and watched as the vampire circled closer, sliding into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
" Can we just cut to the chase?" Buffy asked slowly sliding her hand into her jacket pocket hoping to find Mr. Pointy.
" You took my poor daddy far away from me, you made him all soft with your humanity" Dru pouted her bottom lip. " Now you've done the same to my poor Spike" The dark haired vampire turned suddenly and moved closer to the Slayer. Her bright yellow eyes illuminating in the candle lit room.
" Spike! Humanity! Are you crazy? Of course you are, stupid question". At that moment Buffy's eyes caught sight of the blonde vampire laying unconscious in the corner of the room, a large red stain coloured his platinum head.
Drusilla picked up a stray piece of wood and snapped it between her strong fingers. She then turned towards Spike.
"Don't worry pet, mummy's here." Dru moved dangerously close to the fallen figure.
"He needs to be put out of his pain" she sighed and raised her arm.
Buffy had no doubt that Drusilla intend to dust her former lover. In her crazy head she believed she was doing him a favour.
** I'm gonna regret this so much** she thought as she tried her best to distract her.
" So, you came all the way to Sunnydale to dust a loser like Spike?"
Drusilla immediately turned back to the Slayer.
" The dark lord is calling for you, he sees all, he knows all" her attention was now back on the Slayer and thoughts of executing Spike were forgotten for the time being.
" There are names for people like that, I think weirdo is one of them" Buffy quipped and faked a small smile. The smile was more to cover her growing nervousness then anything else.
" He wants your soul"
"Sorry, not going to happen"
" You're wrong" Dru dropped the jagged piece of wood and reached into a concealed pocket in her dress, she then pulled out a large black crystal. Her eyes changed colour from yellow to red as she started chanting a language lost on Buffy.
Immediately Buffy felt a strong force enter her body and start to pull on her soul, her own eyes closed and she fought with all her might. She drew on the powers of her protection spell and prayed it was strong enough to fight this evil.
Drusilla continued to chant, her hypnotic voice wound it's way inside Buffy's head turning and twisting her mind. Buffy clenched her fist so tight her fingernails sliced into the palms of her hands. Her mind reached out to the circle of four for help, slowly she felt the affection of Tara and Willow wrap itself around her and then came the strength of the two vampires.
Dru ended her chanting with what sounded like a curse; a burst of black lightning shot through the crystal and danced around the crypt. Buffy watched with hypnotised eyes as the lightning bounced off the wall and passed right through her chest.
When the last of the light had faded from the room, Drusilla walked right up to the Slayer and pressed the crystal against her heart, Buffy didn't move she just stared ahead unfocused.
" And now your soul belongs to him" Dru laughed wildly, it really had been too easy.
" Buffy moved so quickly she caught Drusilla completely off guard, her fist knocking the surprised vampire clean across the crypt.
" You didn't do your homework, now did you Dru? The master couldn't pull that crap on me and neither can you. As for my soul, it's not going anywhere. Sorry, but once a psycho loser always a psycho loser" Buffy grinned, she felt so relieved that the protection spell had given her the strength she needed to hold on to her soul. She then pulled Mr. Pointy from her jacket pocket and stalked towards her prey
" I'm so going to enjoy this" Buffy approached the vampire. Drusilla had pulled herself to her feet and was now standing on the other side of the crypt.
She didn't try to escape as Buffy had expected; she just stood her ground as a large evil smile covered her beautiful features.
" Well, Buffy. if your soul won't leave without you" She leaped, and grabbed the Slayer by the wrist that was holding the stake. Using her other hand, Drusilla smashed the black crystal to the floor.
The room started shaking violently as a whirlpool in the floor appeared opening the vortex to hell.
Buffy struggled with all her might but was unable to shake off Drusilla's grip; her eyes then widened in horror as the vortex moved closer.
" You'll just have to come along too" Dru pushed the Slayer toward the hole and gravity did the rest.
Spike groaned in pain and opened his eyes just in time to see a very blurred Buffy disappear through the vortex, followed by his ex.
" Drusilla" he shouted as he dived for the hole, but the vortex closed in front of him leaving him totally alone..
Spike sat down on the floor of the crypt holding his blood soaked head in his hands. As he ran his hands over his wet hair he felt something prick into his finger. Pulling back his hand, Spike discovered part of a computer chip
" Bloody hell"
*****
Angel walked the deserted streets of Sunnydale in brooding overdrive, cursing his stupidity. He should have known better, after all this time of course Buffy would have moved on with her life, he had no right complicating matters when there was still no possibility of a happy ending.
** Shanshu ** the word whispered in his mind, but Angel quickly shut it out. That could be years if not decades away. No, Buffy had found the closest thing to normality she was ever likely to have.
** You should be happy for her, its what you wanted** he tried to convince himself. **Then why do I feel so empty** his soul replied.
Angel shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his duster, the cold night's breeze whistled through him as he carried on walking. The smell of dawn on the horizon brought him back to reality and Angel reluctantly returned to the mansion to face the consequences.
" You took your time, where the hell is Buffy?" Riley demanded as soon as Angel walked through the door.
Angel scanned the other worried faces realising that the Slayer had needed time to reflect as well.
" We got separated" Angel slipped into a necessary lie " Buffy's fine, she's with Spike"
" No, she's not"
Spike staggered into the room still bleeding from the gash to his head.
" Where's Buffy. What have you done to her" Riley grabbed hold of the wounded vampire and pulled him off his feet.
Angel was right behind the boy and, once again, came to Spike's rescue by ripping the boy's arms away.
" I can't believe she did it" Spike seemed to be more in shock than pain.
" For god's sake man, Where's Buffy?" Giles demanded impatiently.
" She's gone" Spike looked up at the horror on Riley's face and swore the boy was about to stake him.
**That would be interesting** Spike thought and wondered just how much of the chip was still left in his head. He hadn't had the opportunity to try it out yet but, as he looked into the hate filled face of the Slayer's boyfriend, Spike promised himself that Riley Finn was first on his hit list.
" Oh my head" he groaned. Spike raised his hand and felt an enormous swelling on the top of his skull.
" SPIKE!" Willow's voice pleaded for information regarding their friend's welfare.
" She caught me off guard, one minute I was listening to......" his eyes looked towards Angel and decided now was not the time to continue with that line.
"And the next she hit me, knocked me out cold"
"Buffy hit you?" Giles asked in astonishment.
" No, not the Slayer, you fool...." Spike rolled his eyes and carried on
" Drusilla, my beautiful black goddess........She hit me. The lying, cheating bitch knocked me out cold" Spike was still slightly traumatised over the whole situation. It was hard enough seeing his ex love after all this time but to find out that she was the devil's assassin, he was still trying to swallow that one. Not to mention the possibility that he was now de chipped.
" And Buffy?" Angel was finding this news as difficult to believe as Spike.
" By the time I woke up the vortex was closing, Dru couldn't detach the Slayer's soul, so..."
Angel's eyes widened in realisation as Spike continued
" I guess the Slayer's well and truly in the depths of hell"
"How will we get her back?" Riley was almost frantic with worry. His eyes pleaded with Giles and Wesley for answers that neither man held.
" Then how do we get in?" the boy continued to beg for an answer.
" Are you crazy? We're talking about *Hell* here, not bleeding Disney land, you can't just buy a day pass." The stupidity of these humans never failed to surprise Spike.
" Hell is a very complex place, it's built upon many layers. Buffy herself has visited one of the upper levels but the main anti chamber, that's an entirely different picture." Giles explained to the confused and worried faces around him as much as he understood himself
" There's only two ways you get to the see the top man, old Lucy invites you, like he did with me and sends the vortex or..." Spike made a movement with his hand to show the other way in was death. " And even then only the really evil get that honour."
" There's another way" Angel's quiet voice was almost missed. By now, everybody in the room was arguing.
" QUIET" Giles yelled above the noise.
"Angel, what did you say?" Giles turned towards the vampire, he had never seen Angel look so worried and he almost swore he saw real fear in those deep brown eyes
" I said there's a third way in, I know how to get into hell, I just don't know if I can get back out"
****
HELL.....
Buffy fell to her knees; her hands clenched at her throat as she gasped for breath.
" Oh, look at the pretty lights" Drusilla cooed and moved around the same cavern Spike had been summoned too earlier. Lost in her own little world, the insane vampire ignored the choking slayer and explored the hellish cavern as an excited child would explore Santa's grotto.
Buffy turned her head as her poor lungs found their first wisp of air. The pretty lights that had caught Drusilla attention turned out to be fissures spewing fire. The heat was so fierce it burnt Buffy's eyes, sending tears streamed down her cheeks. She slowly pulled herself to her feet and continued her fight for air. After a few minutes Buffy felt slightly stronger, her slayer powers seemed to compensate for the change in climate. Her first trip into hell had never felt like this, but then again, this was Satan's lair itself.
"Well, well ,well. This is an unexpected pleasure" A deep throaty voice startled Buffy spinning her in every direction. Once more the red mist materialised into human form. Buffy trembled and gripped her stake until her fingernails snapped.
"We don't get many slayers drop in, I'm honoured" the sound of sinister laughter made her blood run cold, Buffy stood her ground refusing to let the creature see her fear.
" Hey! Maybe you should think about brightening the place up a bit, the décor is slightly on the dank side and that smell is really offensive. Have you ever heard of pastels" Buffy felt her voice run away with her in an attempt to cover her nervousness, at the same time, her eyes were checking for any chance of escape.
" How quaint, a smart mouth kid. Just how I like them. I've been told all about you, Slayer. You sent me some of my best disciples. The master, the mayor, Darla...No wait, that was the traitorous Angelus. Oh yes, I know all about your demon lover, slayer. I made his last stay here very pleasant"
Buffy shivered despite the intense heat as she remembered sending Angel to this dreadful place, her heart started to ache for him and the pain he must have suffered. A small tear trickled down her hot cheek as she also remembered their last encounter.
** He'll never know how much I really love him now** Buffy cursed her stupidity. ** So much wasted time, that was the story of their lives** she turned her thoughts back to the evil presence in front of her.
" The next time we meet I'll not be so gracious " it's evil eyes flashed in fury.
At that point Drusilla wandered over.
" Her soul didn't want to come and play on it's own"
" You did a good job Drusilla, you can return to the world above whenever you're ready" the devil grinned causing Drusilla to giggle. Buffy watched in disgust as the vampire attempted to flirt with the devil, the sickening sight turning her stomach. Now she was more angry now then afraid.
" I've got a better idea" Buffy plunged the sharp end of Mr. pointy straight into the vampires back." Why don't you stay here" Drusilla had just enough time to give a startled cry before turning to dust. Buffy wiped her hands on her clothes and then defiantly raised her eyes to the devil.
His face darkened in fury and when he spoke the walls of the cavern shook.
You're going to be very sorry you did that" it growled
" Not as sorry as Drusillia " Buffy bravely shot back. She then noticed the cavern fill with an assortment of demons. They quickly surrounded the slayer with their hideous faces and soulless eyes. Buffy knew she was completely outnumbered but they wouldn't take her without a fight. ** That was a promise**
With only a stake for company, Buffy took up a fighting stance.
The devil almost looked impressed as his minions approaches the tiny wisp of a girl.
" You're a fool, girl. You can't possibly win"
For a split second, Buffy had a vision of Angel walking away from her in the cemetery, his shoulders stooped in rejection. ** That was the last mistake she was ever going to make** she sighed and then held her head up high.
" I've got nothing left to lose" she replied and attacked.
TBC
" You've been a very naughty girl, bad Buffy *grr*"
" Drusilla! I would say it's nice to see you again but we both know that's a big lie"
Buffy was finally over the surprise of seeing Spike's old partner in crime, not to mention Angelus.
She watched as Dru's hypnotic eyes followed her every movement. In a strange way, Buffy felt relieved that at last the assassin was out in the open, so to speak.
Drusilla swept around the crypt casually picking through Spike's belongings, as if she owned the place. Her long crimson dress swirled around her delicate ankles.
" I like your dress Dru, then again, I bet people have been saying that for the last hundred years" Buffy smirked sarcastically. Drusilla had never been one of her favourite vamps and she was quite looking forward to dusting her sorry, insane ass.
" You were the reason it all fell apart, you frightened the stars and made the moon shiver "
Dru's sing song voice grated on Buffy's nerves. **The trouble with dealing with this insane bitch was that she was so unpredictable** Buffy warned herself and watched as the vampire circled closer, sliding into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
" Can we just cut to the chase?" Buffy asked slowly sliding her hand into her jacket pocket hoping to find Mr. Pointy.
" You took my poor daddy far away from me, you made him all soft with your humanity" Dru pouted her bottom lip. " Now you've done the same to my poor Spike" The dark haired vampire turned suddenly and moved closer to the Slayer. Her bright yellow eyes illuminating in the candle lit room.
" Spike! Humanity! Are you crazy? Of course you are, stupid question". At that moment Buffy's eyes caught sight of the blonde vampire laying unconscious in the corner of the room, a large red stain coloured his platinum head.
Drusilla picked up a stray piece of wood and snapped it between her strong fingers. She then turned towards Spike.
"Don't worry pet, mummy's here." Dru moved dangerously close to the fallen figure.
"He needs to be put out of his pain" she sighed and raised her arm.
Buffy had no doubt that Drusilla intend to dust her former lover. In her crazy head she believed she was doing him a favour.
** I'm gonna regret this so much** she thought as she tried her best to distract her.
" So, you came all the way to Sunnydale to dust a loser like Spike?"
Drusilla immediately turned back to the Slayer.
" The dark lord is calling for you, he sees all, he knows all" her attention was now back on the Slayer and thoughts of executing Spike were forgotten for the time being.
" There are names for people like that, I think weirdo is one of them" Buffy quipped and faked a small smile. The smile was more to cover her growing nervousness then anything else.
" He wants your soul"
"Sorry, not going to happen"
" You're wrong" Dru dropped the jagged piece of wood and reached into a concealed pocket in her dress, she then pulled out a large black crystal. Her eyes changed colour from yellow to red as she started chanting a language lost on Buffy.
Immediately Buffy felt a strong force enter her body and start to pull on her soul, her own eyes closed and she fought with all her might. She drew on the powers of her protection spell and prayed it was strong enough to fight this evil.
Drusilla continued to chant, her hypnotic voice wound it's way inside Buffy's head turning and twisting her mind. Buffy clenched her fist so tight her fingernails sliced into the palms of her hands. Her mind reached out to the circle of four for help, slowly she felt the affection of Tara and Willow wrap itself around her and then came the strength of the two vampires.
Dru ended her chanting with what sounded like a curse; a burst of black lightning shot through the crystal and danced around the crypt. Buffy watched with hypnotised eyes as the lightning bounced off the wall and passed right through her chest.
When the last of the light had faded from the room, Drusilla walked right up to the Slayer and pressed the crystal against her heart, Buffy didn't move she just stared ahead unfocused.
" And now your soul belongs to him" Dru laughed wildly, it really had been too easy.
" Buffy moved so quickly she caught Drusilla completely off guard, her fist knocking the surprised vampire clean across the crypt.
" You didn't do your homework, now did you Dru? The master couldn't pull that crap on me and neither can you. As for my soul, it's not going anywhere. Sorry, but once a psycho loser always a psycho loser" Buffy grinned, she felt so relieved that the protection spell had given her the strength she needed to hold on to her soul. She then pulled Mr. Pointy from her jacket pocket and stalked towards her prey
" I'm so going to enjoy this" Buffy approached the vampire. Drusilla had pulled herself to her feet and was now standing on the other side of the crypt.
She didn't try to escape as Buffy had expected; she just stood her ground as a large evil smile covered her beautiful features.
" Well, Buffy. if your soul won't leave without you" She leaped, and grabbed the Slayer by the wrist that was holding the stake. Using her other hand, Drusilla smashed the black crystal to the floor.
The room started shaking violently as a whirlpool in the floor appeared opening the vortex to hell.
Buffy struggled with all her might but was unable to shake off Drusilla's grip; her eyes then widened in horror as the vortex moved closer.
" You'll just have to come along too" Dru pushed the Slayer toward the hole and gravity did the rest.
Spike groaned in pain and opened his eyes just in time to see a very blurred Buffy disappear through the vortex, followed by his ex.
" Drusilla" he shouted as he dived for the hole, but the vortex closed in front of him leaving him totally alone..
Spike sat down on the floor of the crypt holding his blood soaked head in his hands. As he ran his hands over his wet hair he felt something prick into his finger. Pulling back his hand, Spike discovered part of a computer chip
" Bloody hell"
*****
Angel walked the deserted streets of Sunnydale in brooding overdrive, cursing his stupidity. He should have known better, after all this time of course Buffy would have moved on with her life, he had no right complicating matters when there was still no possibility of a happy ending.
** Shanshu ** the word whispered in his mind, but Angel quickly shut it out. That could be years if not decades away. No, Buffy had found the closest thing to normality she was ever likely to have.
** You should be happy for her, its what you wanted** he tried to convince himself. **Then why do I feel so empty** his soul replied.
Angel shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his duster, the cold night's breeze whistled through him as he carried on walking. The smell of dawn on the horizon brought him back to reality and Angel reluctantly returned to the mansion to face the consequences.
" You took your time, where the hell is Buffy?" Riley demanded as soon as Angel walked through the door.
Angel scanned the other worried faces realising that the Slayer had needed time to reflect as well.
" We got separated" Angel slipped into a necessary lie " Buffy's fine, she's with Spike"
" No, she's not"
Spike staggered into the room still bleeding from the gash to his head.
" Where's Buffy. What have you done to her" Riley grabbed hold of the wounded vampire and pulled him off his feet.
Angel was right behind the boy and, once again, came to Spike's rescue by ripping the boy's arms away.
" I can't believe she did it" Spike seemed to be more in shock than pain.
" For god's sake man, Where's Buffy?" Giles demanded impatiently.
" She's gone" Spike looked up at the horror on Riley's face and swore the boy was about to stake him.
**That would be interesting** Spike thought and wondered just how much of the chip was still left in his head. He hadn't had the opportunity to try it out yet but, as he looked into the hate filled face of the Slayer's boyfriend, Spike promised himself that Riley Finn was first on his hit list.
" Oh my head" he groaned. Spike raised his hand and felt an enormous swelling on the top of his skull.
" SPIKE!" Willow's voice pleaded for information regarding their friend's welfare.
" She caught me off guard, one minute I was listening to......" his eyes looked towards Angel and decided now was not the time to continue with that line.
"And the next she hit me, knocked me out cold"
"Buffy hit you?" Giles asked in astonishment.
" No, not the Slayer, you fool...." Spike rolled his eyes and carried on
" Drusilla, my beautiful black goddess........She hit me. The lying, cheating bitch knocked me out cold" Spike was still slightly traumatised over the whole situation. It was hard enough seeing his ex love after all this time but to find out that she was the devil's assassin, he was still trying to swallow that one. Not to mention the possibility that he was now de chipped.
" And Buffy?" Angel was finding this news as difficult to believe as Spike.
" By the time I woke up the vortex was closing, Dru couldn't detach the Slayer's soul, so..."
Angel's eyes widened in realisation as Spike continued
" I guess the Slayer's well and truly in the depths of hell"
"How will we get her back?" Riley was almost frantic with worry. His eyes pleaded with Giles and Wesley for answers that neither man held.
" Then how do we get in?" the boy continued to beg for an answer.
" Are you crazy? We're talking about *Hell* here, not bleeding Disney land, you can't just buy a day pass." The stupidity of these humans never failed to surprise Spike.
" Hell is a very complex place, it's built upon many layers. Buffy herself has visited one of the upper levels but the main anti chamber, that's an entirely different picture." Giles explained to the confused and worried faces around him as much as he understood himself
" There's only two ways you get to the see the top man, old Lucy invites you, like he did with me and sends the vortex or..." Spike made a movement with his hand to show the other way in was death. " And even then only the really evil get that honour."
" There's another way" Angel's quiet voice was almost missed. By now, everybody in the room was arguing.
" QUIET" Giles yelled above the noise.
"Angel, what did you say?" Giles turned towards the vampire, he had never seen Angel look so worried and he almost swore he saw real fear in those deep brown eyes
" I said there's a third way in, I know how to get into hell, I just don't know if I can get back out"
****
HELL.....
Buffy fell to her knees; her hands clenched at her throat as she gasped for breath.
" Oh, look at the pretty lights" Drusilla cooed and moved around the same cavern Spike had been summoned too earlier. Lost in her own little world, the insane vampire ignored the choking slayer and explored the hellish cavern as an excited child would explore Santa's grotto.
Buffy turned her head as her poor lungs found their first wisp of air. The pretty lights that had caught Drusilla attention turned out to be fissures spewing fire. The heat was so fierce it burnt Buffy's eyes, sending tears streamed down her cheeks. She slowly pulled herself to her feet and continued her fight for air. After a few minutes Buffy felt slightly stronger, her slayer powers seemed to compensate for the change in climate. Her first trip into hell had never felt like this, but then again, this was Satan's lair itself.
"Well, well ,well. This is an unexpected pleasure" A deep throaty voice startled Buffy spinning her in every direction. Once more the red mist materialised into human form. Buffy trembled and gripped her stake until her fingernails snapped.
"We don't get many slayers drop in, I'm honoured" the sound of sinister laughter made her blood run cold, Buffy stood her ground refusing to let the creature see her fear.
" Hey! Maybe you should think about brightening the place up a bit, the décor is slightly on the dank side and that smell is really offensive. Have you ever heard of pastels" Buffy felt her voice run away with her in an attempt to cover her nervousness, at the same time, her eyes were checking for any chance of escape.
" How quaint, a smart mouth kid. Just how I like them. I've been told all about you, Slayer. You sent me some of my best disciples. The master, the mayor, Darla...No wait, that was the traitorous Angelus. Oh yes, I know all about your demon lover, slayer. I made his last stay here very pleasant"
Buffy shivered despite the intense heat as she remembered sending Angel to this dreadful place, her heart started to ache for him and the pain he must have suffered. A small tear trickled down her hot cheek as she also remembered their last encounter.
** He'll never know how much I really love him now** Buffy cursed her stupidity. ** So much wasted time, that was the story of their lives** she turned her thoughts back to the evil presence in front of her.
" The next time we meet I'll not be so gracious " it's evil eyes flashed in fury.
At that point Drusilla wandered over.
" Her soul didn't want to come and play on it's own"
" You did a good job Drusilla, you can return to the world above whenever you're ready" the devil grinned causing Drusilla to giggle. Buffy watched in disgust as the vampire attempted to flirt with the devil, the sickening sight turning her stomach. Now she was more angry now then afraid.
" I've got a better idea" Buffy plunged the sharp end of Mr. pointy straight into the vampires back." Why don't you stay here" Drusilla had just enough time to give a startled cry before turning to dust. Buffy wiped her hands on her clothes and then defiantly raised her eyes to the devil.
His face darkened in fury and when he spoke the walls of the cavern shook.
You're going to be very sorry you did that" it growled
" Not as sorry as Drusillia " Buffy bravely shot back. She then noticed the cavern fill with an assortment of demons. They quickly surrounded the slayer with their hideous faces and soulless eyes. Buffy knew she was completely outnumbered but they wouldn't take her without a fight. ** That was a promise**
With only a stake for company, Buffy took up a fighting stance.
The devil almost looked impressed as his minions approaches the tiny wisp of a girl.
" You're a fool, girl. You can't possibly win"
For a split second, Buffy had a vision of Angel walking away from her in the cemetery, his shoulders stooped in rejection. ** That was the last mistake she was ever going to make** she sighed and then held her head up high.
" I've got nothing left to lose" she replied and attacked.
TBC