The Night Remembers - Part 37
Fire and debris shot out of the hellmouth when Angel, Buffy, Giles and Dawn
arrived there, but to their surprise there was no multi-headed snake, nor
were there any masters trying to surface and also the flow of vampires had
stopped.
"What's happening?" Buffy panted, coming to a halt beside Faith. She was
glad to see her sister slayer well and kicking. Or rather, not kicking.
There wasn't anything to kick for the moment.
"Don't ask me," the brunette said. "We just got here," she informed the
other slayer.
"Just?" the blond raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. They had some nice surprises for us in the other tunnel. When we came
here they were all staring at the hellmouth, the soldier-guys, Gunn, the
whole bunch, because nothing happened - well, besides spitting fire and
stuff." She nodded towards the hole that was wide open and at closer
inspection they could see vampires down there trying to get to the surface,
but somehow being blocked by some invisible barrier.
"Magick," Angel came up behind Buffy, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It
must be Willow's and Tara's doing."
"That's what I thought," Wesley glanced at Riley and his friends who were
staring down the hole, eyes wide in shock. And the former watcher had to
admit that the view they had from the outskirts of hell wasn't too pleasant.
The vampires looked desperate, the masters angry, the demons were roaring -
and although they were all evil creatures the whole picture of torture
wasn't inviting. "So I think it's safe to assume they are alright."
"I truly hope so," Buffy replied, her eyes never leaving the hellmouth.
"Hey, they're witches, if danger comes up they just freeze it or burn it
or... whatever," Xander gave the slayer a smile.
"How long is this spell going to work?" Dawn asked finally what the others
were thinking. "I mean they can't hold it forever, can they?"
"No, I suppose not," Giles, agreed, "we have to do something to make this
final, to close it up - again."
"You feel that, Peaches?" Spike came to stand beside his grand-sire.
"Yeah," the dark-haired vampire nodded. "It's strong."
"What? What's happening?" Buffy looked confused from one vampire to the
other.
"The energy is still increasing," Angel, explained, "something's happening
down there. Willow and Tara's spell might block them from the surface, but
that doesn't mean they aren't working down there."
"Oh look," Spike suddenly pointed towards a certain vampire, "that's the guy
we met before. Bloody hell, the guy actually climbed down there."
"Guys!"
They all whirled around at the sound of the well-known voice. "Willow!"
Buffy raced towards her friend, embracing her. "Are you alright? How did you
get here?"
She made a dismissive gesture, "Oh, that. Just a little spell. Made the
boulders disappear. Anyways. We need to do something," her eyes searched for
Angel, then for Giles, "Tara's holding the barrier at the moment. We took
turns with it, but she's going to be exhausted soon. We need to think about
something more... final."
"Yes, yes," Wesley looked at Giles, "we-"
He couldn't finish the sentence when the whole scene suddenly began to shake
- as it had before, as if there was an earthquake. The two vampires
doubled over in pain, falling to the ground, clutching their heads.
"ANGEL," Buffy screamed the same time Faith shouted, "SPIKE." Both kneeling
down beside their lovers.
"Angel what is it? Angel!" Buffy cried with panic in her voice. Pleading
eyes looked up at Giles, "What's happening to him? Please, help."
"Buffy," Angel choked, grabbing her hand. "I - I'm okay, ahhh." He closed
his eyes again, fought the pain and nausea that seemed to consume him. "It's
the hellmouth," he pressed out, "they... they're try- trying to open the
Gate."
"Good God," Giles kneeled down beside him as well. "Are you sure?"
"Sure, he's bleeding hell sure," Spike shouted, sitting up, seemingly not as
affected by whatever was happening as his grand-sire. "They're using magick
on us."
"Magick?" Buffy's eyes widened in horror. "They... they..."
"Yes," Angel took a deep breath, the pain slowly lessening, "They tried to
remove my soul, they were working magick from down there."
"But they couldn't," Willow said proudly. "Our spell's too good for them."
She smiled at the dark-haired vampire on the ground.
"But why was Spike affected by the spell then? He's got no soul," Anya
asked, looking at the blond vampire very oddly.
"Of course I don't have a soul," he shouted indignantly. "And I don't want
one."
"You said they were trying to open the Gate," Giles interrupted them,
ignoring them completely, "How can you know?," he asked.
"I just know," Angel replied, standing up. "I can't explain how, but I'm
sure."
"Yeah, me too," Spike agreed, glaring at Anya. Why did they make demons
anyway, he wondered? Then instantly regretted the thought. Sure he was a
vampire, but he was a demon as well in the strictest sense.
"Whatever you're planning," Willow said, her voice urgent, "it has to happen
soon. I can feel Tara weakening. She won't be able to hold this any longer."
Giles stared at the vampires and slayers, dread tightening his guts, then
exchanged a look with Wesley to find his expression mirrored in him. The two
watchers had discussed this possible situation before. They hadn't liked
what they found out and now in the face of danger Giles liked it even less.
"There's only one way," his eyes searching for and finding Angel.
The dark-haired vampire looked at him for what seemed a long moment but what
was only seconds then nodded, "Alright, I'm going."
"You're going?" Buffy asked confused. "Where are you going?"
He put a hand on her shoulder, locking his eyes with hers, "Buffy, there is
only one way to close the Gate."
"Only one... NO! No way. You're not going down there."
"Buffy, I-"
"NO!" her voice was sharp and tinged with panic. "Giles, tell me, he doesn't
have to."
The watcher shook his head sadly, "Sorry, Buffy. And," he turned to look at
Angel again, "and sorry, Angel. Because you all need to go. One person won't
make it. You, Buffy, Spike and Faith have to go."
"WHAT?" Spike shouted, staring at Giles, "No bleedin' way I'm going down
there, it's hot. It looks hot and really... unpleasant."
"Wimp," Anya and Faith snorted at the same time.
"HEY," he yelped indignantly, "I'm a bad ass vampire, what do I care for the
world?"
"Maybe you should consider what they're going to do to you the moment they
realize you're sort of, well, neutered," Angel smirked at his reluctant
grand-childe.
The blond vampire frowned, "If you put it that way," he grumbled. "Alright,
I'm going. Tell us what we have to do."
"I'm going to cast a disguising spell on you," Willow explained, then pulled
something from her pocket, handing it to Angel. "You'll need that as soon as
you're down there. It's the spell to close the Gate. I... hope it'll work."
"You hope?" Spike yelped again. "Oh this is so bloody great, we're going to
dive into fire and the chamber of torture and all you can do is hope. Oh
Jesus bleeding Christ, what did I ever do to end up here?"
"Okay," Angel took the spell from Willow.
"You can used this only if you're near enough," she told him. "You need to
be at least 10 feet close. Then you have to recite the spell three times.
That will - in theory - close the gate."
"Understood," Buffy nodded. "Faith?"
"Check," the brunette slayer replied, her face all business she was
clutching a stake in her fist.
"Then cast the spell," Buffy said, looking at Willow.
"Okay," the witch nodded, "this spell will make you invisible for the
vampires in the outer dimension for exactly one hour. After that," she took
a deep breath," Well, I suppose you get the picture."
"Yeah, yeah, after that they're going to slaughter us," Spike shook his
head, wishing he was anywhere but here. His eyes darted to Faith. No, not
even the greatest sex was worth this. He looked at her again. Her chin was
lifted in determination, her eyes burning with something close to fever -
battle spirit, Spike recognized - her whole body radiating power and
strength. But Hell, she was beautiful and the idea of her dying without
him caused a feeling he hadn't had for a long time. Spike recognized it and
instantly hated it. This was really the worst time to realize you cared for
somebody. Even more so for a soulless vampire with a chip.
Willow gulped, "Uh... yeah, kind of."
"We hope it will all be over in an hour. Everything that's behind the Gate
won't be fooled by the disguise spell," Wesley explained. "Those will be
your real enemies, the real danger."
"Okay," Angel replied, stuffing the spell into the pocket of his trousers.
"Alright, let's do the spell."
"Be careful," Giles stepped forward, laid a hand on Buffy's shoulder, the
girl who was his daughter in every way but the physical. Emotions were
choking him, turning his guts into a big, painful knot. This was one of the
situations when a watcher should be a guide, a helper, detached from the
slayer-duty, with a cool head, but instead Giles felt as if he was consumed
by fear. "All of you," he choked out.
"We will," Buffy replied, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Promise," Dawn said, reaching out for her. "We lost mom. I need you Buffy."
"I know," her sister gave her a quick smile. "And Angel's with me. Together
we're strong."
The dark-haired vampire flashed her a smile, then looked back at Willow. "Do
it now," he ordered.
The witch nodded, then closed her eyes and began to chant.
... to be continued
Fire and debris shot out of the hellmouth when Angel, Buffy, Giles and Dawn
arrived there, but to their surprise there was no multi-headed snake, nor
were there any masters trying to surface and also the flow of vampires had
stopped.
"What's happening?" Buffy panted, coming to a halt beside Faith. She was
glad to see her sister slayer well and kicking. Or rather, not kicking.
There wasn't anything to kick for the moment.
"Don't ask me," the brunette said. "We just got here," she informed the
other slayer.
"Just?" the blond raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. They had some nice surprises for us in the other tunnel. When we came
here they were all staring at the hellmouth, the soldier-guys, Gunn, the
whole bunch, because nothing happened - well, besides spitting fire and
stuff." She nodded towards the hole that was wide open and at closer
inspection they could see vampires down there trying to get to the surface,
but somehow being blocked by some invisible barrier.
"Magick," Angel came up behind Buffy, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It
must be Willow's and Tara's doing."
"That's what I thought," Wesley glanced at Riley and his friends who were
staring down the hole, eyes wide in shock. And the former watcher had to
admit that the view they had from the outskirts of hell wasn't too pleasant.
The vampires looked desperate, the masters angry, the demons were roaring -
and although they were all evil creatures the whole picture of torture
wasn't inviting. "So I think it's safe to assume they are alright."
"I truly hope so," Buffy replied, her eyes never leaving the hellmouth.
"Hey, they're witches, if danger comes up they just freeze it or burn it
or... whatever," Xander gave the slayer a smile.
"How long is this spell going to work?" Dawn asked finally what the others
were thinking. "I mean they can't hold it forever, can they?"
"No, I suppose not," Giles, agreed, "we have to do something to make this
final, to close it up - again."
"You feel that, Peaches?" Spike came to stand beside his grand-sire.
"Yeah," the dark-haired vampire nodded. "It's strong."
"What? What's happening?" Buffy looked confused from one vampire to the
other.
"The energy is still increasing," Angel, explained, "something's happening
down there. Willow and Tara's spell might block them from the surface, but
that doesn't mean they aren't working down there."
"Oh look," Spike suddenly pointed towards a certain vampire, "that's the guy
we met before. Bloody hell, the guy actually climbed down there."
"Guys!"
They all whirled around at the sound of the well-known voice. "Willow!"
Buffy raced towards her friend, embracing her. "Are you alright? How did you
get here?"
She made a dismissive gesture, "Oh, that. Just a little spell. Made the
boulders disappear. Anyways. We need to do something," her eyes searched for
Angel, then for Giles, "Tara's holding the barrier at the moment. We took
turns with it, but she's going to be exhausted soon. We need to think about
something more... final."
"Yes, yes," Wesley looked at Giles, "we-"
He couldn't finish the sentence when the whole scene suddenly began to shake
- as it had before, as if there was an earthquake. The two vampires
doubled over in pain, falling to the ground, clutching their heads.
"ANGEL," Buffy screamed the same time Faith shouted, "SPIKE." Both kneeling
down beside their lovers.
"Angel what is it? Angel!" Buffy cried with panic in her voice. Pleading
eyes looked up at Giles, "What's happening to him? Please, help."
"Buffy," Angel choked, grabbing her hand. "I - I'm okay, ahhh." He closed
his eyes again, fought the pain and nausea that seemed to consume him. "It's
the hellmouth," he pressed out, "they... they're try- trying to open the
Gate."
"Good God," Giles kneeled down beside him as well. "Are you sure?"
"Sure, he's bleeding hell sure," Spike shouted, sitting up, seemingly not as
affected by whatever was happening as his grand-sire. "They're using magick
on us."
"Magick?" Buffy's eyes widened in horror. "They... they..."
"Yes," Angel took a deep breath, the pain slowly lessening, "They tried to
remove my soul, they were working magick from down there."
"But they couldn't," Willow said proudly. "Our spell's too good for them."
She smiled at the dark-haired vampire on the ground.
"But why was Spike affected by the spell then? He's got no soul," Anya
asked, looking at the blond vampire very oddly.
"Of course I don't have a soul," he shouted indignantly. "And I don't want
one."
"You said they were trying to open the Gate," Giles interrupted them,
ignoring them completely, "How can you know?," he asked.
"I just know," Angel replied, standing up. "I can't explain how, but I'm
sure."
"Yeah, me too," Spike agreed, glaring at Anya. Why did they make demons
anyway, he wondered? Then instantly regretted the thought. Sure he was a
vampire, but he was a demon as well in the strictest sense.
"Whatever you're planning," Willow said, her voice urgent, "it has to happen
soon. I can feel Tara weakening. She won't be able to hold this any longer."
Giles stared at the vampires and slayers, dread tightening his guts, then
exchanged a look with Wesley to find his expression mirrored in him. The two
watchers had discussed this possible situation before. They hadn't liked
what they found out and now in the face of danger Giles liked it even less.
"There's only one way," his eyes searching for and finding Angel.
The dark-haired vampire looked at him for what seemed a long moment but what
was only seconds then nodded, "Alright, I'm going."
"You're going?" Buffy asked confused. "Where are you going?"
He put a hand on her shoulder, locking his eyes with hers, "Buffy, there is
only one way to close the Gate."
"Only one... NO! No way. You're not going down there."
"Buffy, I-"
"NO!" her voice was sharp and tinged with panic. "Giles, tell me, he doesn't
have to."
The watcher shook his head sadly, "Sorry, Buffy. And," he turned to look at
Angel again, "and sorry, Angel. Because you all need to go. One person won't
make it. You, Buffy, Spike and Faith have to go."
"WHAT?" Spike shouted, staring at Giles, "No bleedin' way I'm going down
there, it's hot. It looks hot and really... unpleasant."
"Wimp," Anya and Faith snorted at the same time.
"HEY," he yelped indignantly, "I'm a bad ass vampire, what do I care for the
world?"
"Maybe you should consider what they're going to do to you the moment they
realize you're sort of, well, neutered," Angel smirked at his reluctant
grand-childe.
The blond vampire frowned, "If you put it that way," he grumbled. "Alright,
I'm going. Tell us what we have to do."
"I'm going to cast a disguising spell on you," Willow explained, then pulled
something from her pocket, handing it to Angel. "You'll need that as soon as
you're down there. It's the spell to close the Gate. I... hope it'll work."
"You hope?" Spike yelped again. "Oh this is so bloody great, we're going to
dive into fire and the chamber of torture and all you can do is hope. Oh
Jesus bleeding Christ, what did I ever do to end up here?"
"Okay," Angel took the spell from Willow.
"You can used this only if you're near enough," she told him. "You need to
be at least 10 feet close. Then you have to recite the spell three times.
That will - in theory - close the gate."
"Understood," Buffy nodded. "Faith?"
"Check," the brunette slayer replied, her face all business she was
clutching a stake in her fist.
"Then cast the spell," Buffy said, looking at Willow.
"Okay," the witch nodded, "this spell will make you invisible for the
vampires in the outer dimension for exactly one hour. After that," she took
a deep breath," Well, I suppose you get the picture."
"Yeah, yeah, after that they're going to slaughter us," Spike shook his
head, wishing he was anywhere but here. His eyes darted to Faith. No, not
even the greatest sex was worth this. He looked at her again. Her chin was
lifted in determination, her eyes burning with something close to fever -
battle spirit, Spike recognized - her whole body radiating power and
strength. But Hell, she was beautiful and the idea of her dying without
him caused a feeling he hadn't had for a long time. Spike recognized it and
instantly hated it. This was really the worst time to realize you cared for
somebody. Even more so for a soulless vampire with a chip.
Willow gulped, "Uh... yeah, kind of."
"We hope it will all be over in an hour. Everything that's behind the Gate
won't be fooled by the disguise spell," Wesley explained. "Those will be
your real enemies, the real danger."
"Okay," Angel replied, stuffing the spell into the pocket of his trousers.
"Alright, let's do the spell."
"Be careful," Giles stepped forward, laid a hand on Buffy's shoulder, the
girl who was his daughter in every way but the physical. Emotions were
choking him, turning his guts into a big, painful knot. This was one of the
situations when a watcher should be a guide, a helper, detached from the
slayer-duty, with a cool head, but instead Giles felt as if he was consumed
by fear. "All of you," he choked out.
"We will," Buffy replied, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Promise," Dawn said, reaching out for her. "We lost mom. I need you Buffy."
"I know," her sister gave her a quick smile. "And Angel's with me. Together
we're strong."
The dark-haired vampire flashed her a smile, then looked back at Willow. "Do
it now," he ordered.
The witch nodded, then closed her eyes and began to chant.
... to be continued