Chapter Six
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"Bloody hell" Buffy mumbled as they neared the construction site in Spike's DeSoto and the creature came into view.
Spike let a small grin come to his face while he wondered if Buffy picked that up from him or the watcher. He quickly pulled the car over before the beast noticed them. The Illuyankas demon was huge. In size it dwarfed the large steamroller it was resting its head on. Its body was covered in bluish green scales that looked somewhat like a suite of armor. It's wings hung limply at its sides. It seemed to be sleeping at the moment but there was a small trickle of smoke emanating from its nostrils as it exhaled.
"So what's the game plan my dear Lady Guinevere?" Spike turned to ask Buffy.
"Who?" Buffy looked at Spike confused.
"Lady Guinevere is you" Xander interrupted "Remember we started using code names"
"Oh yeah, I forgot" Buffy said sheepishly "Ok game plan is, Willow and Tara cast their mega rain spell and hopefully that will put out the flames and I will commence with the slaying"
"What about us?" Xander asked indicating himself and Spike.
"You guys wait here and don't get flamey and dead" Buffy said as she started to exit the vehicle. Spike sighed audibly but knew it would do no good to argue with the determined slayer. Buffy gave Spike a sincere sweet smile knowing that not being in on the action was probably killing him but she just couldn't take the chance on losing him now.
All the members exited the vehicle. Spike and Xander hopped up on the hood of the car both visible upset that they were not in on the action. Meanwhile the girls made their way towards the construction site, which was still several blocks away.
As soon as the girls were out of earshot Xander asked Spike "You're not really going to let her do this by herself are you?"
"Not a blood chance in hell I just didn't want to spend all evening arguing 'bout it" Spike said shrugging. "There's no soddin' way that a little rain is going to stop dragon fire, slow it down maybe but not stop it."
"So what's the plan Captain Fang?" Xander asked hopping off the car.
"Give me a second" Spike said crossing his arms over his chest in thinking position. Suddenly Spike hopped off the car snapping his fingers "I've got it! We're going to need some things"
"Whatcha need me to get?" Xander asked.
"Well first of all . . . . . .
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"I can't believe Spike didn't argue about coming along" Willow said to the other two girls.
"Me neither, I thought for sure there'd be a fight" Tara agreed.
"Spike and I have an understanding now, he knows that I have to do my job" Buffy said confidently.
"Yeah but Buffy, he's been the one doing that job since you were gone" Willow added "and the entire time he was looking for way to get you back he said that when he did he was personally going to make sure you stayed alive this time"
"He said that?" Buffy asked.
"On almost a daily basis" Tara affirmed.
"Oh" Buffy said her brow furrowing inwardly disappointed that Spike didn't argue about coming along. "Well I guess he must have changed his mind. Enough about Spike, where do you guys need to be for this spell?"
"We just need to be able to see the target" Willow answered.
"Ok why don't you guys set up there" Buffy said pointing to the area of the fence where jumper cables were attached electrifying it. "I'll head over to the gate, you guys unhook the electricity and then make with the hocus pocus and I'll slay and we'll be home in time for dinner." Willow and Tara just nodded and headed towards their spot.
Buffy jogged on towards the gate her eyes never leaving the immense sleeping beast wishing that Spike had come with her. As she reached the gate she got a good look at the Illuyankas. It was a big as at least three steam rollers not counting it's long tail and it's wings which spanned at least 30 feet on either side of it's body. It thankfully was still sleeping and if Buffy didn't know better she would have sworn the beast had a smile on its face.
"Lady Guinevere " Willow said through her com device.
Buffy started looking around to figure out where Willow's voice was coming from then remembered the hands free com device she was wearing "Willow?" Buffy said "I mean Morgan, sorry."
"We're all set here," Willow said "Once we start the spell it will take about two minutes for the rain to start"
"Ok" Buffy said as she approached the gate to enter the site. She tried to open the gate silently but failed miserable. As she slowly opened the gate it slowly made a horribly loud creaking noise that instantly roused the Illuyankas from its slumber with a thundering roar.
"Great" Buffy mumbled to herself as she readied her sword and started to get into fighting position and locking eyes with the beast. No sooner had Buffy got into position than a large burst of fire headed straight for her. She quickly leapt up into the air flying to the left behind a large concrete block wall she fell into a somersault and popped up quickly and ran to the edge of the wall looking around the edge to see if the creature had moved hoping to be able to hold it off until the rain started. The Illuyankas was crawling towards the gate slowly its legs and wings still not fully functional but she could tell they were starting to loosen up with each step. "Come one rain," she said as she started to circle around behind the monster for a rear attack.
The Illuyankas saw Buffy's movements and quickly swished his tail knocking her back. She flew backwards several feet and into the wall that she had been hiding behind just moments ago. She managed to get a grip on her sword but the air was momentarily knocked out of her as she scrambled back behind the wall away from the demons fiery breath. Just as she got to relative safety there was a loud thunderclap and the sky opened up dousing the entire construction site with a deluge of rainwater.
"Ha!" Buffy yelled in the general direction of the beast. "Let's see you make with the flames now," she said as she charged towards her enemy full of confidence.
Buffy crossed half the distance between the wall and the Illuyankas before it twisted its long neck around to see the approaching slayer. The creature opened its mouth again but all that came out was giant puff of smoke that encumbered the area causing a total white out. Buffy slammed on the brakes waiting for the smoke to clear. She could hear the Illuyankas coughing and hacking and could smell the fire rekindling in its belly. She had to act quickly but she couldn't see through the thick smoke. She dove to the left hoping to get herself a clear view.
Buffy's vision problems were soon cleared up as the worm like creature regained its fire and sent another blast through the smoked area that Buffy had been standing in only seconds ago. Buffy once again retreated to the safety of the wall just as the rain stopped. Buffy's back was pressed against the wall as she quickly began to think of contingency plans. She decided to retreat to gather reinforcements. Just as she looking around for an alternative exit she saw Spike flying towards her his duster flapping in the wind.
"I must have hit my head harder than I thought" Buffy said aloud as she rubbed her eyes with her forearm. As Spike approached through the air Buffy could finally see that he was not flying but was attached to a cable that was being swung by a large crane and he was holding two fire extinguishers and he was waving at her. Buffy frowned her brow furrowing as she wiped her rain-plastered bangs off her forehead. Why didn't I think of that? She thought as she ran to cause a diversion so that Spike could get a good shot.
Spike sailed silently through the air keeping an eye on the creature as well as Buffy who just narrowly missed being flame broiled by the beast. He casually waved at her and grinned at the look on her face. She was either really confused or really mad, he'd have to figure it out later. He was just glad she was catching on to the plan and had just started a diversion. "Arthur hurry this contraption up" Spike relayed.
"I'm working on it Lancelot" Xander answered back.
"I need for you to make me circle around it's head"
"Will do"
Buffy ran at the beast who was still wheezing slightly from the rain. As the beast noticed her Buffy jumped up into the air flipping landing briefly before starting another set of intricate flips that brought her in front of the demon. The demon was slightly confused in the slayer's change in tactics and was completely not prepared for when she jumped up and did a spinning kick that landed right below the horn on his nose causing him tremendous pain. The Illuyankas head flung up and its huge mouth opened as it roared in pain.
Spike quickly swung into firing distance and he pulled the triggers on the extinguishers filling the demons mouth with white foam. The beast started coughing and sputtering but no flames were coming from its mouth. Spike emptied the extinguishers and he swung in a lazy circle around the head of the beast. When the extinguishers were emptied he threw them aside and unhooked his sword from his duster quickly cutting the cords holding him to the cable. Spike did a flip and landed lightly on his feet a few feet from where Buffy was watching her wet arms crossed across her chest.
"Do you want the honors or shall I?" he asked as he spun the sword in his hands.
"I thought you were going to wait by the car?" Buffy asked ignoring his question and patting her foot. "And why aren't you wet?"
"Nah, I lied. I am evil you know," he said waggling his eyebrows at her in a silly manner that made Buffy laugh inspite of herself. "And it only rained inside the fence, I waited until it was done before I entered""
"By all means you do the honors and you can be the one trying to get the demon goo out of your clothes later instead of me." Buffy said making a sweeping gesture with her arm towards the sputtering demon.
"Are you sure pet? I wouldn't want to ruin you're fun" Spike asked.
"Just get it over with Spike, I'd like to get home and into some dry clothes" Buffy said impatiently just as the Illuyankas made another hacking noise and coughed a mouth full of foam onto Spike which coated him from head to toe.
"Bloody hell" Spike yelled as Buffy burst out laughing. "It's not bloody funny," Spike said as he began to wipe the white substance from his face.
"Yes it is, Mr. I'm too cool for my duster just got covered with his own weapon" Buffy said between laughs.
"I said it's not funny," Spike said still trying to wipe himself clean.
"The lady has a point there wee man it was rather funny" a deep Scottish voice agreed.
"Who you calling a wee man you overgrown flame-thrower" Spike argued before realizing who it was that he was talking to.
Buffy and Spikes eyes got wide as they realized the Illuyankas was talking to them.
"No offense intended" the demon quickly answered. "Now shall we discuss this whole slaying issue? I for one am not for it. I've been wrongfully imprisoned down there for over a hundred years and I'm not looking to die on my first day of freedom"
"Uhh Morgan we have a situation here. Could you and your associates head this way please," Buffy said into the com unit.
"We're on our way" Willow replied.
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"So what you're telling us is that 100 years ago Whistler assigned you to help the slayer defeat a warlock from opening the hellmouth and that the warlock was destroyed but before that happened he trapped you in the sewers" Buffy asked. Her and the scoobies, except for Spike who was leaning against the concrete wall, were sitting on the ground listening to the Illuyankas tell his tale.
"Well that's the short version of events yes but I wasn't in the sewers I was in a small cavern. The sewers were built next to the cavern some years later. All the pounding and drilling drove me quite batty for a time actually"
"Well what do we do now?" Xander asked, "we can't just let a big dragon roam the streets of Sunnydale, can we?"
"I'm not a dragon, dragons are deplorable creatures with horrible hygiene and bad manners"
"Sorry"
"Well plan A is definitely out, we can't slay him" Buffy said.
"Here here for that" the Illuyankas said.
"Well what do you think we should do . . ." Buffy paused "What should we call you do you have a name?"
"My name is Maon, and if I just had a few days to recuperate I would be able to fly to my home land back in Scotland.
"You haven't been there in over 100 years how do you know your home is even there anymore?" Spike asked still a bit grumpy.
"It's an enchanted place, hidden from the eyes of man and beast. Only other's of my kind can enter." Maon said.
"Ok so now all we have to do is find some place to stash you until your wings are all flappy again" Willow chimed in.
"What about a cloaking spell?" Tara suggested.
"That might work but we still have to have someplace big enough so Maon to move around and not bump into anyone or anything"
"What about the football field at the old high school, that place has been abandoned since graduation" Xander suggested.
"Dang it!" Buffy exclaimed, "We forgot to call Anya and Dawn to tell them we're ok. Spike would you?"
"Sure thing," Spike said flipping open his cell phone and dialing the Magic Box.
"Anya" Spike said "Yes he's fine, we all are . . . .ha no he didn't this time . . . .we've got a few things to clean up here and then we'll be headed back . . . . if you could . . . . what?. . . . . . . Blood hell, yeah I'll tell her. See you in a bit" Spike finished and closed the phone.
"What's the what?" Buffy asked noting Spikes aggravation
"It seems you have a visitor waiting for you at the shop," Spike said "Angel".
Willow, Tara and Xander all looked at each other not knowing what to say.
"Well lets get you settled Maon" Buffy said, "Can you walk?"
"Yes my legs are feeling much better," Maon said.
"Good, good Willow Tara do you have what you need to do the cloaking spell?" Buffy asked.
"Yep, it's a simple one really. It just takes a few minutes," Willow said.
"Good, if you guys could do that and escort our new friend to the football field Spike and I still need to do a patrol" Buffy said. "If you guys beat us back to the shop would you do me a favor and take Dawn home and have Angel wait for me there. Tell him if he wants he can stay in Giles' room otherwise let me know where he's staying and I'll find him in the morning."
"Sure thing Buffster" Xander said.
"Here ya go" Spike said tossing the car keys to Xander as he and Buffy started to walk away.
"I'll come and check on you tomorrow Maon" Buffy said over her shoulder.
"It was lovely to have met your acquaintance" Maon said.
As they were exiting the construction site Spike said to Buffy "I can do the patrol by myself tonight if you'd rather go back with the others"
"No, no I should patrol, it's what I do" Buffy said as she tugged on Spikes sleeve to encourage him to walk faster.
"Yeah but tonight" Spike began.
"Tonight I need to think and there's no better place to think than a cemetery" Buffy said as she walked on.
TBC . . .
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