Part 14

Stepping into Darkness

Part 14

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RATING: I can't remember what it was, but it definitely needs to be upped for this part!!! I'd think I probably need to make it 18 (sorry to the Canadians/Americans but I don't really understand your rating system!)

NOTE: To avoid confusion, I'll refer to Willow's Doppelganger as Vampire Willow.

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Anya rocked back and forth on a chair, mumbling as everyone was looked through the countless volumes of books, reading up on what spell could have been used to make Angel disappear. Cordelia, however, couldn't sit still.

*We should be out doing something, not sitting here reading books* she thought angrily. *Why can't they see that the longer we sit here doing nothing, the longer he's out there with God only knows what?*

There was a loud banging at the door as Willow, Spike and Fliq entered under a blanket, followed by a bemused Amy. Willow shrugged the blanket off her shoulders and shifted under the others gazes, "What? Fliq thought it'd look better if we were all under the blanket."

"I refused," Amy offered before anyone could ask.

Buffy smiled and embraced the girl, "It's nice to have you back, Amy."

"It's nice to be back," She replied moving to Xander, who also hugged her.

"Yeah, things've been weird while you've been gone," he grinned at her impishly.

"Oh well," Amy shrugged, "it's nice to know that some things don't change." They smiled at each other while Fliq and Willow began to move furniture out of the way and Giles began to pack away the books.

"So we're getting straight down to business I see," Amy gave Buffy a small smile. "Willow filled me in. Don't worry, we'll get him back."

Buffy tried to return the smile, but it came out as more of a grimace, "Thanks."

"It's too late," Everyone turned to Anya as she continued to rock back and forth.

"It's never too late," Fliq replied stonily, "Now get up and come over here so we can perform this spell."

"I have another you can perform as well," Giles said, handing Fliq a piece of paper, "Anya and I have been working on a way to switch you back. This should do it."

Fliq glanced through the spell, nodding as she reached the end, "Yeah, this'll be great. If you want to turn us into a freikish being joined at the hip, literally." She glanced at Giles, who cleared his throat in embarrassment, before reaching down to the table and grabbing a pen. After making a few adjustments, she turned to the others, "Ready. Buffy, get Dawn out of here, take her someplace safe and hurry back before we switch bodies." Buffy nodded and went up the stairs to fetch her sister as Fliq nodded towards her fellow spell casters as the search for Angel began.

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Buffy quickened her step as the hairs on the back of her neck began to prickle. An eerie glow began to shine through the thick mists before her and she shivered. The light began to wander, dancing through the night air as she forced herself to keep breathing, an irrational sense of fear shimmering through her.

Suddenly she gasped as the light pierced through her heart, starting an irregular beat as she felt her soul being ripped apart, twisting and turning, breaching reality and then she fell. Groaning, she opened her eyes and winced at the light as her vision came to focus.

"Buffy?"

Turning her head, she made out Willow's blurred form, "How did I get here?" she asked, rubbing her aching head.

"It worked!" Willow gasped, kneeling beside her, "You're you again."

"Ugh, what is that taste in my mouth?" she asked, running her tongue along the roof of her mouth. The door slammed shut behind her and she turned to see Fliq entering the house.

"You call this underwear? Where's the rest of it and how do I get this out of my ass?"

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"Are you sure this is where you saw him?" Buffy asked anxiously as they walked through the city of gravestones, rolling her head around appreciatively in her own body. The entire town was now surrounded by a darkness that seemed to be sucking any semblance of light and life, and the shadows played with their senses, threatening nightmares.

"Positive," Fliq replied as she continued to march ahead.

Suddenly Spike stiffened and growled, "Over there." He pointed to a large tomb. The group moved quickly towards them and the Slayers stiffened as they sensed two vampires and Tara. Suddenly, the door burst open as a body came flying out and landed unceremoniously on the ground.

"Angel!" Buffy and Cordelia made a move to run to him but Spike grabbed them before they got very far.

"Think about it," he growled, his eyes not leaving his sire. "It could be Angelus."

Angel groaned and looked up at them, "Cordelia?" he gritted his teeth as he pulled himself to his feet. "Where am I?"

Buffy continued to stare at him, a little hurt that he hadn't asked for her as Cordelia smiled at him, "We're in the cemetery, what happened?"

Angel grimaced, holding his back, as he moved slightly towards them, "I...I don't know..."

"Hey Angel," Fliq stepped in front of the group, holding a stake. Angel looked at her and Fliq stared into his eyes. He shifted under her scrutiny.

"Or should I say, hello Angelus?" she pushed Buffy back as the other Slayer tried to walk to him.

Angel looked at her, frowning, then suddenly, he laughed, "Oh hell, Fliq. You really know how to spoil a guy's fun, doesn't she, Spike?" The group cowered back, except Fliq and Spike, who stood their ground, and Buffy and Cordelia, who were too shocked to move.

"No... No, not again." Cordelia whispered, closing her eyes.

"Did you miss me, Lover?" Angel grinned at her, then inhaled deeply. "God I've missed this," he laughed. "It's amazing how much of a downer having a soul is."

"Yeah, well don't get too used to it. You've been cursed twice," Spike smiled, "And you've had your arse sent all the way to hell, so I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you."

"Ahh, Spike, Spike, Spike," Angel clasped his hands together. "You just don't get it, do you?" he grinned. "No I guess you don't. You see, I've seen the error of my ways."

"That right?" Spike said sarcastically, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes. You see, before there was you and Dru. Well, lets face it," he grinned, "we both know she was a fruitcake, and well, there was you." He laughed, "All I really needed was someone who was, well, smart and evil." There was a lighthearted laugh from behind them as a red headed vampire emerged from the tomb followed by Tara.

"And you should see the way she wiggles in those leather pants," he grinned, falling back to stand at her left-hand side.

Vampire Willow growled sexily at him, and then smiled and walked towards the group. She eyed Willow, who had moved forward slightly and was standing between Buffy and Spike.

"Well, look at me," the vampire smiled, tilting her head to the side, "I'm not so fluffy anymore." She made to move closer to the group, but growled and went back to Angelus' side as Willow flashed a cross in front of her.

"Let's get out of here," Buffy said, her voice devoid of emotion.

Angelus laughed. "Oh don't leave," he grinned, gesturing with his arms. "You'll miss all the party games."

"And I just love to play," Vampire Willow grinned innocently as the group were surrounded by vampires. Willow looked around them and then turned to look at the trio by the tomb. Angelus and Willow were smiling at each other, growling, Tara was between them, grinning up at them.

"Tara! You don't have to do this. Help us...please." Willow pleaded with the girl. Tara turned her head and looked at her. She gave Willow a lop sided smile and walked a little closer.

"Oh, Willow, don't worryit'll be quick, I promise," With a grin, Tara moved back to the laughing vampires who snarled at her throat and received a shock for their efforts, "Masochists," she said looking at them in turn.

Vampire Willow turned to face her human double. "My little witch wouldn't leave us. Would you little witch?"

"Like he said," she turned to Angelus, "You should see the way she wiggles in those leather pants,"

The vampires surrounding the Slayers and their group began to close in. Spike, Fliq, and Buffy pushed the others to the centre and they quickly collected weapons from Giles as the Slayers and the vampire prepared to fight.

Suddenly the two Slayers and Spike struck out simultaneously. They made quick work of their first opponents and quickly moved onto the next vampire sent their way. Buffy moved fluently from vampire from vampire, as she was accustomed to doing from her years on the Hellmouth. Fliq and Spike, however, worked close to each other, neither helping the other, but their actions flawlessly working together as they moved simultaneously.

Suddenly, Spike whipped his head round and grabbed a stake two inches from its impact into Fliq's body. She spun round, her eyes wide, and muttered a thank you as Spike ducked, allowing her to kick the vampire behind him to the ground. Spike stood up and dispatched the stake into Fliq's next would be opponent. They quickly turned back to the group of vampires, which seemed to be multiplying, as more appeared from all directions.

Suddenly there was a scream and everyone turned to the tomb and watched in horror as Angelus held Anya above his head.

"Angel, don't!" Cordelia stepped forward.

"Oh, hi Cordelia," he smiled at the brunette. "How are you? Don't worry, I'll get to you later." He turned back to look into Anya's fearful eyes, "Believe me I'll get to you later," he turned and wagged his eyebrows at her, "You know, I remember you saying you'd stake mebut you can't, can you?" he laughed, "Don't worry Cordy, the secret's safe. You know," he turned to Buffy, "You had to fuck the soul right out of me, her," he nodded to Cordelia, "All she had to do was smile and it nearly had the same effect. I'm gonna have so much fun with you Cordy. I promise." He winked at her again before turning back to Anya, who was still wriggling and gasping for breath.

"Please...stop. You're hurting me."

"Oh really?" Angelus' yellow eyes glowed yellow. "Sorry," he squeezed tighter as Vampire Willow and Tara began to circle them. On her next pass, Vampire Willow ripped Anya's top and licked her chest, ignoring the tears that were falling onto the top of her head.

Tara smiled, "My turn," she reached out a finger and scratched the nail along Anya's chest causing the girl to gasp in pain. Smiling, she looked back at the deep red mark that scarred the length of the girl's chest and reached out a finger, as purple lightning streaked from the tip all the way to Anya's chest, skewering straight into the girl as her blood and intestines began to fall to the ground below.

Xander wretched, tearing his eyes from the horrifying scene, but when he was done, some morbid part of his being couldn't stop his eyes from travelling back. He looked into Anya's bloodshot eyes, stared deep into her and whispered, "I love you,"

Despite her pain, Anya returned the sentiment as what was left of the group of vampires ran towards her gutted body as Angelus fed her to the wolves.

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END OF PART 14

Well I'm getting less bored now! All the necessary, boring stuff is out of the way! Prepare yourself for evil, fighting, magick...and more surprises...which I suppose could lead to more necessary boring stuff...oh well, on with the fun!

I'd just like to point out that I do actually like Anya, I just can't write her and I needed a victimsorry to all the Anya lovers out there!!!!