Purplegrrl | It was shortly before midnight. A car pulled in near the stop sign at the intersection, and the driver cut the engine. Marcus was out first, helping Willow climb out of the backseat, and taking one of the boxes from Tara. Willow's ankle was better, but she walked closely with Tara for the mutual reassurance. Giles took the other box and followed. Xander, Anya, Spike, and Buffy were waiting for them in the center of the street. "That was your high school?" Marcus asked Buffy in an awed voice as he approached and set down the box. Buffy nodded absent-mindedly as she watched the two witches explain the protection wards to Giles and Anya. Marcus gaped at Sunnydale High, the burnt shell of a monument to the Class of 1999. Buffy shuddered, and Marcus noticed, though he wasn't sure of the reason. He momentarily placed his hand over hers, and she smiled at him. He's comforting me, yet he's the one who might not be walking out of this circle, she thought, surprised, and touched. "You know, a crossroads is a traditional place to bury a vampire you want to be rid of," Anya said brightly to no one in particular. Spike scowled at her. He was leery enough of the ritual as it was. "At least it's stopped raining," Willow said to Tara as they stopped at the edge of the circle. "I brought little hats for the candles, just in case," Tara whispered, and Willow kissed her quickly on the nose. The two witches then joined Giles and Anya, already setting protection spells on the four street corners in preparation for the ritual. When that was complete, Tara opened the boxes and removed the ritual objects, handing the appropriate item to each participant. Meanwhile, Willow took the container of sea salt and described a large circle in the middle of the intersection, the white salt in stark contrast to the black asphalt. Going behind her, Giles placed five fist-sized rounded stones equidistant around the circle. Each of the stones was painted with the alchemical symbol for earth, air, fire, water, or spirit. Tara lit one of the thick white candles and handed it to Anya. "Stand within the circle at the place of spirit and the energy of transformation." She handed a second candle to Giles. "Light your candle from Anya's and stand at the corner of fire and male energy." Handing out the other three candles, Tara finished her instructions. "Xander, light your candle from Giles' and stand in the spot for air and the energy of life. Willow, light your candle from Xander's and stand over at water and female energy. Spike, light your candle from Willow's and stand at the place of earth and the energy of death." Spike did as he was instructed, but made a point of glowering darkly. He shrugged his shoulders, the movement causing his candle flame to flicker. If the ritual puts everything right again, I'll put up with it. It's for Buffy, he reminded himself. He carefully put his candle on the ground like everyone else. Picking up the ceremonial dagger and the velvet bag containing the sphere of Elämä, Tara walked to the center of the ritual space. Taking a piece of thick white chalk from her pocket, she drew a six-rayed star within a circle, the symbol for spirit, on the wet pavement. The chalk glowed in the half-light, and Xander blinked, wondering if the ritual had already begun. Tara motioned for Buffy and Marcus to join her. They each wore a piece of onyx, to focus their spiritual strength, on a leather cord around their necks. Buffy carried Giles' cell phone in her hand. "You ready for this?" Buffy asked Marcus. He nodded, his mouth in a grim line. Then he leaned over, gently kissing her on the cheek, and holding it there for a heartbeat's length. His touch was gentle, but still electric, and his mood was one of calm determination. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Spike bristle as the kiss ended. "What was that for," Buffy whispered, surprised. "Luck," he said, and smiled. "Ready?" Buffy asked Tara, and flashed Marcus a quick smile. The blonde witch nodded. Buffy pulled a slip of paper from her pocket and dialed the number written on it. The phone had rung only once when someone on the other end answered it. "Angel? We're ready." She listened for a moment, then nodded to Tara. Buffy had a fleeting image of Angel and Wesley, posing as lawyers, sitting on the other side of a table from Faith. She was pretty sure she didn't want to know how they'd convinced the warden that Faith needed a visit from her lawyers at midnight, but it was the best they could manage short of a jailbreak. A tenuous connection across the darkness was better than none at all. |
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"Hello?" he asked, his deep voice hesitant. "This is Marcus," he explained, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground as if forcing himself to believe that the conversation could be private if he didn't acknowledge the people gathered around him. "Yes, please." There was a pause, and Buffy noticed Marcus' free hand was clenched into a fist. She reached out and took it in her hand, squeezing it slightly to remind him. He glanced sideways at her, abashed, and slowly let out the breath he'd been holding. "Yes," he suddenly said. Tara jumped a little, startled. "Are you - ? ...Same here." A wintry smile flashed across his face, and he closed his eyes, his voice barely above a whisper. "If you want, I'd... Yes. They're ready on this end, are..." He smiled shyly at nothing in particular. Buffy saw that mischievous glint in his eyes when he spoke again. "Perhaps when there's not an audience," he said, and chuckled softly. "Do take - yes. You too." With a nod to Tara, he handed the phone back to Buffy, looking her straight in the eyes. When he said, "We're ready now," she realized he wasn't including her in that announcement, but was instead informing her of his joint readiness with Faith. The giver and the taker are ready, she thought. Faith, the taker. Yeah. She squashed the thought as she raised the phone to her ear. Angel's voice greeted her on the other end. |
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Tara glanced from Buffy to Marcus, then spoke directly to Marcus. "Hold out your right hand. T-This is going to h-hurt," she warned him. Quickly Tara cut him across the palm with the dagger. Even though he knew it was coming, Marcus hissed quietly through his teeth. Spike's nostrils flared slightly at the scent of blood and Anya craned her neck for a better view. Xander and Willow paled a little, while Giles' face was stoic. Tara took the phone from Buffy and placed it on the ground while she dug in the box for a velvet bag containing an oval object about the size of an ostrich egg. Marcus flinched when he recognized the object, and gritted his teeth. "Clasp hands so Marcus' blood is on your hands," Tara told Buffy as she removed the crystalline sphere from its protective bag and waited until Buffy's palms were coated. As she pressed her hands against his palm, Buffy felt that familiar electrical charge shoot through her system. "Now, hold this," Tara said, placing the sphere in Marcus' bloody palm. "Buffy, place your hand on top of the sphere." Tara picked up the cell phone from the ground. "A-Angel?" she said hesitantly. "This is Tara. Tell Faith to cut her palm now and dab some of the blood on the phone. It will strengthen the spiritual connection." She nodded when Angel confirmed that Faith had done as instructed. "Good." As she placed the phone in Buffy's bloody hand, the sphere of Elämä began to glow with an intense white light. Marcus jerked slightly in surprise, and Buffy's eyes widened. She tightened her grip on the cell phone as her fingers began to tingle where they touched Marcus' wrist. Beginning at the position of water, then on to earth, spirit, fire, air and back to water, Tara drew a pentagram around Buffy, Marcus and the cell phone with the chalk. Then she gave each of the persons at the five positions on the circle a length of knotted rope. Pulling Charles Siefer's pages from her pocket, Tara double-checked that everything was ready for the ritual. Satisfied, she took her position beside Buffy and Marcus at the center of the circle. As the bells of the Catholic church in the middle of town started to toll midnight, she began reciting the incantation. The sphere glowed brighter. Strands of light shot out, connecting the center of the ritual space to each point on the pentagram, and then around the circle. Other rays connected Buffy and Marcus.
Tara nodded to the group, and the five around the circle untied the knot in each length of rope. The connection of light between Buffy and Marcus glowed brighter, and a single tendril of light darted across Buffy into the cell phone. Buffy noticed Marcus' pendant was glowing blue through his shirt, as if echoing the energy dancing around them. Images flashed through Buffy's mind: a Chinese girl in silk brocade pajama-like pants and jacket, a young black woman with an Afro and a long black leather coat, a peasant girl in a brown homespun skirt and bare feet, a tall young woman bareback on a squat pony, her legs bent as she galloped. The faces flashed by Buffy so rapidly she soon lost count. These are Slayers. These are my true ancestors, Buffy thought. Distantly, she could hear someone whispering to her. Buffy shook her head, unable to focus. The energy was coursing through her, and every cell in her body was beginning to scream with the intensity. It was pleasurable, and powerful, but at the same time, too much. The voice came again, this time with more urgency. "Buffy," Tara was saying. "Let go of it, you can't hold it, you've got to give it to Faith." Buffy opened her eyes enough to see Marcus, lines etched on his face by the dancing light, unbearable pain reflected in his wide, unfocused eyes. She glanced at Tara's frightened face as the witch spoke again. "Buffy, please, open to Faith, send it where it belongs." Buffy swallowed hard as she looked at Marcus' eyes closing slowly, his mouth a thin line, his free hand caught in a tight fist as he fought to hold on. Glancing at the phone in her other hand, she focused. Faith. Almost instantly the energy within her streaked across her body to enter the phone in her hand. There was a barely audible gasp from the other end of the line as the intense white light emerged from Angel's cell phone at the other end of the connection. Buffy bit back a scream as the energy rushed faster, and she clutched the Sphere and the cell phone as if they were her last holds in swollen river. Tara began the last part of the incantation. Hold on, just hold on, she implored them silently. Nearby, Willow's eyes were wide, watching her lover and her best friend. Desperately, she echoed Tara's words in her head, trying to rush the incantation towards its goal. What was once one became two The rays of connecting light were abruptly drawn back into the sphere of Elämä - and then it went dark. Marcus' hand dropped as he staggered, and Tara was ready with the bag to catch the sphere. Buffy dropped the phone, her body tingling as if she'd put her hands on live voltage, and lunged forward to catch Marcus as he fell to his knees. Instantly Giles was on Marcus' other side, helping her guide the young man gently to the ground. Buffy stood up, feeling full and empty at the same time. Giles glanced up at Buffy. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion. "All systems go," Buffy reassured him, giving Giles a small smile. "Of course she's fine. She's the one still standing, ain't she?" Spike commented, his sarcasm covering the concern he felt. Buffy rolled her eyes. Shaking his head, Giles bent to retrieve his cell phone. "Wesley? Angel?" Giles listened for a moment. "Yes. Faith?" He paused, watching as Tara and Willow hovered over Marcus' still form. "I don't know. Yes, we'll let you know as soon as we do." He disconnected the call, lowering the phone to whisper quietly to Buffy as he stood up. "Wesley is busy explaining already to the guards. Apparently there was also a sudden flash at their end. Faith's coming to, and verging on hysteria that Marcus is in danger." |
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"Buffy!" The Slayer turned, as Dawn came running down the street, barely stopping at the edge of the circle. Before Buffy could question her, she blurted out, "They took Simon. They tried to take me, but he distracted them and I got away. They're gonna hurt him, I know it. We've got to help him!" Willow looked up from where she knelt on the ground beside Marcus. She called out to Dawn, beckoning her closer. "It's okay, you can come in through the wards, you're not..." "Like me," Marcus finished her statement softly. When Willow glanced his way in surprise, his eyes were open, but his expression was still dazed. Tara was helping him sit up. Buffy steeled herself as Dawn picked her way around the salt lines and chalk symbols on the street. It's just one thing after another. What I wouldn't give to be bored. "Ok, we re-group at Giles'. Then we go after Simon." "But-" The Slayer wheeled on her sister. "Look. We can't just rush in from here. I'm not leaving Marcus in the middle of the street!" She softened her voice, a little. "I know you're worried about Simon. We'll get to him in time, I promise." Buffy looked up as Xander tapped on the Watcher's shoulder. "Giles, we've got company." Giles followed Xander's nod, and saw three figures standing in the middle of the street. They were twenty or thirty yards away. He kept his voice pitched low, so as not to carry outside the circle. The rest followed his example. "The wards are holding," Tara whispered as she caught sight of them. "That gives us a little time," Buffy replied, measuring the distance. "Um, children." Spike's voice was tense but steady. "We've got more of these wankers coming in the opposite direction, too." "Marcus?" Buffy didn't look behind her as she spoke, casting her eyes carefully around the circle as more wolven shapes appeared, morphing at the edge of the wards into human shapes. "I'm all right," said Marcus as he got to his feet. He stretched a little, trying to work the stiffness out of his joints. "Damn," she said softly, almost to herself, "they make Oz look like a cuddly puppy, don't they?" Behind her, Willow giggled slightly, despite herself. Buffy glanced back over her shoulder at Marcus. "You sure you're ok?" "Doesn't look like I have much choice, does it?" He forced a smile. "Got a plan, oh-mighty-general?" |
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"We'll have to separate," Xander replied. "I parked down there." He jerked his head in the direction of his car. Giles' car was parked on the other side of the intersection, on the opposite side of the street. Spike made a face. "Where's an RV when you need one..." Buffy glanced at him, exasperated. "No splitting up. Weapons?" "In the trunk of my car," Xander answered. |
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Buffy sized up the two cars parked at the curb, and turned to Spike, her eyes still fixed on the waiting figures. "Spike, you're closest." "There's a big one in the way. I'll need some interference." Marcus stepped forward. "I'll do it." "You're Regular Guy now, not Slayer." Buffy's voice was firm as she waved him back. "I'll do it." She nodded to Spike, and turned to her sister. "Stay in the middle." "But..." Dawn glanced at the wolves again. They were moving in as close as they could around the wards. "Don't argue with me. I won't have you getting hurt." "Guys," Willow broke in, "Once you cross the circle, the wards will go poof." "So we better hurry. Ready, Spike?" He grinned at her. "Born ready." "Go!" Buffy leapt out of the circle, feeling the static tingle of the wards collapsing as she passed through. She hit the ground rolling, and vaulted into a handspring, catching the nearest attacker square in the chest with both feet. Behind her, Spike dashed to Xander's car, ripping the trunk open and grabbing every weapon he could find. The others remained in a circle shoulder to shoulder. Step by step, they were edging closer to Xander's car. Spike shot a glance at Buffy, who was darting out of the way of a vicious slash at her belly. "Slayer!" At the sound of his voice, Buffy spun a kick at her opponent's face, letting the momentum carry her around. She plucked the axe Spike threw to her out of the air, and kept spinning, swiping the blade at the wolf's side. The wolf stepped back, out of range and her shot missed its mark. He darted in for another attack, only to catch the base of the axe handle under his chin as Buffy jabbed it forward. He staggered, and landed on his back. Damn, she thought, wrong end. Buffy retreated to re-join her friends. Spike was handing out weapons, including, she noted with displeasure, a pair of hand-held crossbows for Dawn. I wonder how long he's been waiting to give her those. She looked around, trying to get a bead on the wolves' strategy. The one she'd knocked down was already getting up. The rest of the pack approached the circle, and stared malevolently at them, as though waiting for a signal. Xander spoke to ease his own tension. "You know, I've seen good. It doesn't look like this." Somehow, it didn't help. "W-What are they waiting for?" Tara asked. "They're a pack," replied Marcus. "They'll all come at once." "Then we'd best attack first, hadn't we?" Spike shot Buffy a look, and, not waiting for a reply, charged into the woman directly in front of him. The Marcul closed in. One of them, in wolf-shape, snarled at Anya. "I owe you." He morphed into human shape and held up a crossbow bolt. "You left this in my side. Thought I'd give it back." He leapt for her, stabbing with the bolt as though it were a stake. Anya yelped and fired her crossbow at him. In her panic, her shot went wide, and he crashed into her, knocking her to the ground. "Anya," Xander cried, seeing her fall. He swung his broadsword at the wolf, knocking the bolt out of its claw more by luck than by anything else. Xander faced his enemy. "Come pick on somebody your own size," Xander snapped. The wolf rose to his feet, towering over Xander. "And that somebody is over in the next town, I think," he amended quickly.
Tara and Willow joined hands, and sent one Marcul flying into another. A third dodged around the snarling tangle of limbs, and punched Tara hard in the face. She fell back with a cry, her head hitting the pavement as she fell. She didn't move. Giles swung his baseball bat at the demon's knee, which gave with a satisfying pop. The Marcul, a pretty female, fell to one knee, but still managed to send the Watcher flying with a wild swipe. Dawn squealed as Giles sprawled at her feet. Clutching at her knee, the Marcul heard a voice behind her, cold as ice. "Why do you bitches always have to pick on my girlfriend?" The Marcul looked around, into a pair of eyes as black as her own. Uh-oh. She got no chance for further thought, as wild energy crackled from the redhead's fingertips and blasted into her. She began to howl.
Marcus heard the Marcul howling behind him, and glanced that way. "Gotta remember not to piss her off." Seeing his attention wander, another demon grabbed him, and sent him flying. He crashed into a second Marcul, who caught him, and held him tightly. "It's too late for you, little cousin," the female Marcul hissed in his ear. "Who the hell are you," he asked, struggling to no avail. The first Marcul approached, and smiled. "Distant family. You'd know us if you came to the reunions." "Really," Marcus replied, seeing Buffy move into position behind his attacker. "Should've checked my email." Marcus kicked out with both feet, knocking the Marcul backwards toward where Buffy awaited. She swung her axe, and sunk it deep into the man's back.
The Marcul swung at Xander's head, and he ducked, hearing the swing whistle over his head. Xander thrust upwards at the Marcul's belly, hoping to score a hit, but the demon blocked the attack with a powerful blow, knocking the sword from Xander's hand. A quick backhand swipe raked across Xander's face, sending him sprawling across the pavement. Leaping forward, the demon raked his claws across Xander's thigh. The demon's hand came back up, about to slit Xander's throat, when suddenly he stopped. A look of surprise came across his features and he slowly fell forward, a crossbow bolt protruding from his back. Xander looked up to see Anya standing there, crossbow in hand. "God, I love you," he said, and passed out, the Marcul's body lying on top of him.
As her victim crumpled to the ground, Buffy charged forward. Using the demon's body as a step, she leapt into the air, yelling at Marcus to duck. He did, as best he could, dropping his weight toward the ground and pulling his head to the side. His motion pulled his captor forward, and Buffy landed a solid kick right on the top of the Marcul's head, forcing her to let go of Marcus. Unfortunately, the kick also stopped most of Buffy's momentum, and she landed on top of Marcus. "Ooof." His breath left him in a rush. "Thanks, I think." "Hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time," she replied, picking herself up. Marcus came to his feet beside her as Spike crashed into the ground at her feet, thrown by a particularly large Marcul. "Bleedin' freaks," muttered the vampire as he got to his feet. "Can't they look where they're throwing a bloke?" He looked up, and fell silent. They were surrounded. The two groups stared at each other, illuminated by the streetlights, and by the energy still crackling over Willow's victim. A single Marcul stepped forward and swiped at Marcus' face. He threw up his arm, and the talon slashed his jacket and his forearm. Before Buffy could respond, the wolves had faded back into the night. "What the hell?" Spike's frustration was evident. "Where'd they go off to? Hunh." He looked at the Slayer. "I guess we scared them off." His nostrils twitched as the smell of charred flesh wafted over. "Or they didn't want to get microwaved by Red." "Um, Wil?" Buffy made her voice as gentle as she could under the circumstances. "I think that one's cooked." "Xander's out, too," came Dawn's voice. Buffy looked over, and was astonished to see her little sister standing back to back with Anya, one on either side of Xander's body, ready to shoot the first demon who came near. "What do we do now?" Willow dropped her hands, letting her rage die. "Tara?" She went to her lover's side. "C'mon honey..." Tara mumbled something, and opened her eyes. Willow tried to help Tara sit up, and looked up at Buffy. "Something's wrong." Willow's voice was dangerously near panic. "Spike, help Anya get that... thing off of Xander," Buffy ordered, crossing to Willow's side. "Willow, look at me. Look at me!" Her friend's eyes were full of tears, and a trickle of blood ran from her nose. "Tara's going to be ok. We're going to take her back to Giles'." Willow smiled forlornly, and she helped Buffy lift Tara to her feet. The blonde witch was dazed, and the back of her head was matted with blood where her head had struck the pavement. Nearby, Giles was groaning as Marcus helped him to stand up. "Let's get out of here," said Buffy. Spike lifted Xander, and looked at Buffy. "We're ready." Dawn and Anya gathered the rest of the ritual equipment. Anya took Xander's car, and Marcus drove Giles' sports car, with Giles in the back seat quietly insisting he could drive just fine. Steadfastly ignoring him, Marcus followed Anya back to Giles' apartment. |
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