CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Allies
After the meeting at the Bronze, Buffy and Spike parted, he for the cemetery to patrol, her to Willy's. He wanted to pull her into his arms for a kiss, but she was in feisty mood, still a bit put out at his planning their evening. "Don't be too late. I don't want you waking me up when you come in," was the only thing she said by way of goodbye.
He was frustrated at her to say the least, but figured it was no good objecting. At least he was thoroughly in the mood for patrolling. A good fight was just what he needed.
Buffy, in contrast, wasn't in the mood for fighting. She was actually in the mood to be alone. With Spike sleeping in her bed and with most everyone else she knew living in her house, she was hardly ever by herself anymore. Going to Willy's demon bar wasn't her idea of fun. But at least she got to be alone on the way there and back. It was nice not thinking about anyone else, just letting the cool darkness envelope her. No Dawn to watch over, no Scoobies to shepherd, no Spike coming up with ideas and disagreeing with her.
She felt sort of good walking into Willy's. The bartender recognized her and looked a little nervous. But she didn't let her gaze linger on him. Instead she went to the back room where the little Nazari was once again playing poker. She wondered if he played there all the time now.
As soon as the Nazari saw her enter the room, he asked to be dealt out. She stood by the door and waited patiently. Then he escorted her out to the alleyway.
"Slayer," the little Nazari said, his voice and furry visage full of respect. "What can I do for you?"
"Speaker, right?"
"Yes, Slayer. At your service." He gave a little bow.
"I was wondering if you could set up another visit for me with the head of the Shadows. I looked into those burned out buildings like he said and even ran into a few of the Fire demons. My experts tell me that the fire tricks they're using aren't natural. And I found a building at 666 Lindemann that has a special tunnel leading up to it, guarded by an optical illusion of some kind. Probably magic. So, my first thought is that whoever is helping these Fire demons is magical. And that they're gradually burning all the buildings down around 666 Lindemann. I wonder if it's just the center of their operations for the moment or if they plan to use the building for something special. We ran into one of your, uh, people down there in the sewer. And he's the one who told us about the illusion."
"Yes. I know who you mean." Speaker scratched his furry chin. "I don't remember his name. But his mate is very big with twins. Their little one from two seasons ago died. He was worried about trying to move his mate to the mines because she has been ill and he's worried for her and the little ones. It's a long way. But it is also very dangerous for them down there."
"His name is Swimmer."
"Excuse me, Slayer?"
"The Nazari's name is Swimmer."
"Ah, yes. I will try and remember."
"I don't know what his mate's name is. Anyway, I thought all the Shadows had evacuated that area."
"Oh, no, Slayer. The Shadows are a proud people. They will fight for their homes till they have no choice but to leave. The Nazari, however . . . well, my people are not so proud. We have already gone."
"No," Buffy said, with a gentleness that surprised her. "That's not true. Swimmer is very brave to stay. And the Shadows can pass through walls while your people can't."
"True. But still, I admire the Shadows for what they're doing."
"Yeah. I just thought if there's anything we can do to try and help them protect the remaining buildings . . . there aren't many left anymore, but . . ."
"I'm sure Ohanzee will thank you. I will tell him."
Buffy scraped her sneaker along the ground. "Well, I guess that's all I needed to tell you."
"When would you like to meet with Ohanzee?"
"Tomorrow, early evening, before I go on stake-out to the area."
Speaker bowed low. "Yes, Slayer. I'll go at once." He started away.
"Uh, wait a minute."
"Yes, Slayer."
"I was just wondering . . . have you seen Mr. Spike around here lately?"
Concern came into the little Nazari's eyes. "Is he missing?"
"No, no. I've got him on this other assignment. I just wondered if he'd been here recently . . . in-between times."
"No. He hasn't been here. I haven't seen him since we all met in the mines. If I see him, do you want me to give him a message?"
"That's all right. I'll talk to him later."
The little Nazari nodded and quickly ran off down the alley, away from Willy's.
- - - - - - - - - -
The first part of Anya and Xander's stake-out was uneventful. Xander had brought a couple of sandwiches for them to eat. And that occupied them for the first forty-five minutes or so. After that, Anya began to become impatient.
"This is kinda boring," she said. "I wish I'd brought my account book. I could've caught up on my accounts."
"But how could you see them in the dark?"
"I could have brought a flashlight."
"But it might attract attention."
"Well, I suppose." She glanced out the passenger window across the street.
Xander looked at her appreciatively. "You know," he said in a soft voice, "I've been kinda proud of you lately. The way you've been giving us all that information on the Fire demons and the Shadows. You've really kind of taken Giles's place as the resident demon expert."
Anya turned and gave her fiancé a glowing smile. "You think so? Like Giles, huh? Well, I have been around for a thousand years. I guess I should know the demon biz by now."
Xander smoothed her hair lovingly. It was a dark brunette today, very straight. "I like this look. Course I liked all the others too," he said trying to be diplomatic.
"Thanks. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to wear for the wedding yet." A figure outside the car caught her eye. "What's that," she asked, pointing out Xander's window.
Xander looked, but whatever had been there was already gone. "What was it?"
"It looked like a little man, kinda oldish maybe. Couldn't tell much. By the time I really looked, he was gone."
"Probably nothing. As long as it wasn't a Fire demon."
"No. It definitely wasn't one of them."
They fell into a long spell of quiet again, watching the warehouse across the street. Suddenly several figures stepped out of the burned out building that they were parked in front of. Anya and Xander didn't see them at first because their attention was centered on the warehouse. But when two jets of fire hit the left side of the car, they immediately took notice.
"Fire demons!" Anya yelled. "They've found us. Drive away! Drive away!"
Xander struggled to turn the keys in the ignition as a third Fire demon stepped in front of the car and began shooting another jet of fire. Anya screamed. But Xander kept his cool and managed to get the car started. He raced the motor and knocked the Fire demon in the front of the car out of the way.
"Go, go, go!" Anya yelled.
"I'm going, I'm going," Xander returned. The windshield was blackened a bit and he was doing his damnest to get away, running over sidewalks in his eagerness to turn corners.
"They're not following."
"Good."
"Where are we going now?"
"Where do you think? To Buffy's."
When Xander and Anya came running into Buffy's livingroom they found Willow and Tara and Buffy gathered around the sofa. Dawn was already in bed. Spike was still out on patrol. Buffy had just been giving Willow and Tara a rundown on what had happened the night before.
"They tried to burn us!" Xander said, puffing.
Buffy got up from the floor where she'd been sitting cross-legged. "Who? The Fire demons?"
"Anya saw this figure of a little man and then a few minutes later there were three or four Fire demons that came and tried to set us on fire. Luckily I've got this really old car. They don't make `em as sturdy as that anymore."
"A little man?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. He was very slight," Anya said, "and I got the impression he was kinda oldish. I didn't see him real well. Just for a second."
"What would a little old man be doing down there so late?"
"I don't know. I had the impression he was looking at us."
"Sounds like they saw you two there and tried to scare you away," Buffy said.
"Well, it certainly worked," Xander said.
"Buffy said that these Fire demons might have increased their fire power by magic." Willow said.
"Well, it makes sense," Anya said. "I've never seen a Fire demon do anything like this before. And they certainly looked like ordinary Fire demons."
Willow turned to Tara. "If it's magic, it would have to be somebody pretty powerful. To give a whole group of demons additional powers and all."
"It would," Tara agreed.
"Well, this changes tomorrow's plans," Buffy said. "I think we'd better stop with these kinds of stake-outs. They're too dangerous. Maybe I can rig something up with the leader of the Shadows. I'm supposed to meet him tomorrow night."
"You can borrow my car if you don't mind it being singed a little," Xander said. "I'll be at the Magic Box as usual after work."
After a few more minutes of discussion, they all decided to call it a night. Xander and Anya went home, still flustered from their experience. And Tara and Willow adjourned to their room. Buffy stayed up for a bit longer to see if Spike would come in. Then she too decided to go to bed. She'd told him she didn't want to stay up late. And he was a full grown vampire, after all. He didn't need her to sit up and wait for him.
It was the first time in a couple of weeks that Buffy went to bed by herself. She enjoyed it really. She had plenty of room in the bed and Spike wasn't spouting any annoying ideas about what they should do the following day. The room was quiet and all hers again. It was kinda neat. She fell asleep almost immediately.
When Spike finally came in, she was sleeping comfortably with just the hint of a snore. As silently as possible, he undressed and slipped in beside her. He was glad to see her sleeping so soundly, and on her right side too. It meant her wound from the night before was improving. He looked at her for a moment, fighting the urge to touch her. Then he settled down to sleep himself.
- - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, downtown at 666 Lindemann, the Fire demons had taken care of their fallen comrade and were reporting to the man that Anya had caught a glimpse of.
"They got away," one of the demons said. "We didn't have enough power to go after them."
"That's all right," the man said. "At least they got the message."
"Who were they?" Ledic asked. He hadn't been part of the actual attack. But he had helped to take care of the fallen demon. Now he wanted to know what kind of menace the man was afraid of. "Was it police?"
"No. I think even they've become afraid of this area. I recognized the young man in the car. He works with the Slayer."
"The Slayer?" the first demon asked.
"Yes. That was probably who tried to interfere with your work last night. She is my enemy. I have a score to settle with her. The next time you see anyone hanging around down here, you will destroy them as quickly as possible. Don't hesitate . . . Unless of course, you see a young woman with red hair. I don't want her harmed."
"We'll do as you say, Mr. Doc," the first Fire demon said.
"Good," the man said, with just the hint of a smile.
Allies
After the meeting at the Bronze, Buffy and Spike parted, he for the cemetery to patrol, her to Willy's. He wanted to pull her into his arms for a kiss, but she was in feisty mood, still a bit put out at his planning their evening. "Don't be too late. I don't want you waking me up when you come in," was the only thing she said by way of goodbye.
He was frustrated at her to say the least, but figured it was no good objecting. At least he was thoroughly in the mood for patrolling. A good fight was just what he needed.
Buffy, in contrast, wasn't in the mood for fighting. She was actually in the mood to be alone. With Spike sleeping in her bed and with most everyone else she knew living in her house, she was hardly ever by herself anymore. Going to Willy's demon bar wasn't her idea of fun. But at least she got to be alone on the way there and back. It was nice not thinking about anyone else, just letting the cool darkness envelope her. No Dawn to watch over, no Scoobies to shepherd, no Spike coming up with ideas and disagreeing with her.
She felt sort of good walking into Willy's. The bartender recognized her and looked a little nervous. But she didn't let her gaze linger on him. Instead she went to the back room where the little Nazari was once again playing poker. She wondered if he played there all the time now.
As soon as the Nazari saw her enter the room, he asked to be dealt out. She stood by the door and waited patiently. Then he escorted her out to the alleyway.
"Slayer," the little Nazari said, his voice and furry visage full of respect. "What can I do for you?"
"Speaker, right?"
"Yes, Slayer. At your service." He gave a little bow.
"I was wondering if you could set up another visit for me with the head of the Shadows. I looked into those burned out buildings like he said and even ran into a few of the Fire demons. My experts tell me that the fire tricks they're using aren't natural. And I found a building at 666 Lindemann that has a special tunnel leading up to it, guarded by an optical illusion of some kind. Probably magic. So, my first thought is that whoever is helping these Fire demons is magical. And that they're gradually burning all the buildings down around 666 Lindemann. I wonder if it's just the center of their operations for the moment or if they plan to use the building for something special. We ran into one of your, uh, people down there in the sewer. And he's the one who told us about the illusion."
"Yes. I know who you mean." Speaker scratched his furry chin. "I don't remember his name. But his mate is very big with twins. Their little one from two seasons ago died. He was worried about trying to move his mate to the mines because she has been ill and he's worried for her and the little ones. It's a long way. But it is also very dangerous for them down there."
"His name is Swimmer."
"Excuse me, Slayer?"
"The Nazari's name is Swimmer."
"Ah, yes. I will try and remember."
"I don't know what his mate's name is. Anyway, I thought all the Shadows had evacuated that area."
"Oh, no, Slayer. The Shadows are a proud people. They will fight for their homes till they have no choice but to leave. The Nazari, however . . . well, my people are not so proud. We have already gone."
"No," Buffy said, with a gentleness that surprised her. "That's not true. Swimmer is very brave to stay. And the Shadows can pass through walls while your people can't."
"True. But still, I admire the Shadows for what they're doing."
"Yeah. I just thought if there's anything we can do to try and help them protect the remaining buildings . . . there aren't many left anymore, but . . ."
"I'm sure Ohanzee will thank you. I will tell him."
Buffy scraped her sneaker along the ground. "Well, I guess that's all I needed to tell you."
"When would you like to meet with Ohanzee?"
"Tomorrow, early evening, before I go on stake-out to the area."
Speaker bowed low. "Yes, Slayer. I'll go at once." He started away.
"Uh, wait a minute."
"Yes, Slayer."
"I was just wondering . . . have you seen Mr. Spike around here lately?"
Concern came into the little Nazari's eyes. "Is he missing?"
"No, no. I've got him on this other assignment. I just wondered if he'd been here recently . . . in-between times."
"No. He hasn't been here. I haven't seen him since we all met in the mines. If I see him, do you want me to give him a message?"
"That's all right. I'll talk to him later."
The little Nazari nodded and quickly ran off down the alley, away from Willy's.
- - - - - - - - - -
The first part of Anya and Xander's stake-out was uneventful. Xander had brought a couple of sandwiches for them to eat. And that occupied them for the first forty-five minutes or so. After that, Anya began to become impatient.
"This is kinda boring," she said. "I wish I'd brought my account book. I could've caught up on my accounts."
"But how could you see them in the dark?"
"I could have brought a flashlight."
"But it might attract attention."
"Well, I suppose." She glanced out the passenger window across the street.
Xander looked at her appreciatively. "You know," he said in a soft voice, "I've been kinda proud of you lately. The way you've been giving us all that information on the Fire demons and the Shadows. You've really kind of taken Giles's place as the resident demon expert."
Anya turned and gave her fiancé a glowing smile. "You think so? Like Giles, huh? Well, I have been around for a thousand years. I guess I should know the demon biz by now."
Xander smoothed her hair lovingly. It was a dark brunette today, very straight. "I like this look. Course I liked all the others too," he said trying to be diplomatic.
"Thanks. I haven't quite decided what I'm going to wear for the wedding yet." A figure outside the car caught her eye. "What's that," she asked, pointing out Xander's window.
Xander looked, but whatever had been there was already gone. "What was it?"
"It looked like a little man, kinda oldish maybe. Couldn't tell much. By the time I really looked, he was gone."
"Probably nothing. As long as it wasn't a Fire demon."
"No. It definitely wasn't one of them."
They fell into a long spell of quiet again, watching the warehouse across the street. Suddenly several figures stepped out of the burned out building that they were parked in front of. Anya and Xander didn't see them at first because their attention was centered on the warehouse. But when two jets of fire hit the left side of the car, they immediately took notice.
"Fire demons!" Anya yelled. "They've found us. Drive away! Drive away!"
Xander struggled to turn the keys in the ignition as a third Fire demon stepped in front of the car and began shooting another jet of fire. Anya screamed. But Xander kept his cool and managed to get the car started. He raced the motor and knocked the Fire demon in the front of the car out of the way.
"Go, go, go!" Anya yelled.
"I'm going, I'm going," Xander returned. The windshield was blackened a bit and he was doing his damnest to get away, running over sidewalks in his eagerness to turn corners.
"They're not following."
"Good."
"Where are we going now?"
"Where do you think? To Buffy's."
When Xander and Anya came running into Buffy's livingroom they found Willow and Tara and Buffy gathered around the sofa. Dawn was already in bed. Spike was still out on patrol. Buffy had just been giving Willow and Tara a rundown on what had happened the night before.
"They tried to burn us!" Xander said, puffing.
Buffy got up from the floor where she'd been sitting cross-legged. "Who? The Fire demons?"
"Anya saw this figure of a little man and then a few minutes later there were three or four Fire demons that came and tried to set us on fire. Luckily I've got this really old car. They don't make `em as sturdy as that anymore."
"A little man?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. He was very slight," Anya said, "and I got the impression he was kinda oldish. I didn't see him real well. Just for a second."
"What would a little old man be doing down there so late?"
"I don't know. I had the impression he was looking at us."
"Sounds like they saw you two there and tried to scare you away," Buffy said.
"Well, it certainly worked," Xander said.
"Buffy said that these Fire demons might have increased their fire power by magic." Willow said.
"Well, it makes sense," Anya said. "I've never seen a Fire demon do anything like this before. And they certainly looked like ordinary Fire demons."
Willow turned to Tara. "If it's magic, it would have to be somebody pretty powerful. To give a whole group of demons additional powers and all."
"It would," Tara agreed.
"Well, this changes tomorrow's plans," Buffy said. "I think we'd better stop with these kinds of stake-outs. They're too dangerous. Maybe I can rig something up with the leader of the Shadows. I'm supposed to meet him tomorrow night."
"You can borrow my car if you don't mind it being singed a little," Xander said. "I'll be at the Magic Box as usual after work."
After a few more minutes of discussion, they all decided to call it a night. Xander and Anya went home, still flustered from their experience. And Tara and Willow adjourned to their room. Buffy stayed up for a bit longer to see if Spike would come in. Then she too decided to go to bed. She'd told him she didn't want to stay up late. And he was a full grown vampire, after all. He didn't need her to sit up and wait for him.
It was the first time in a couple of weeks that Buffy went to bed by herself. She enjoyed it really. She had plenty of room in the bed and Spike wasn't spouting any annoying ideas about what they should do the following day. The room was quiet and all hers again. It was kinda neat. She fell asleep almost immediately.
When Spike finally came in, she was sleeping comfortably with just the hint of a snore. As silently as possible, he undressed and slipped in beside her. He was glad to see her sleeping so soundly, and on her right side too. It meant her wound from the night before was improving. He looked at her for a moment, fighting the urge to touch her. Then he settled down to sleep himself.
- - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, downtown at 666 Lindemann, the Fire demons had taken care of their fallen comrade and were reporting to the man that Anya had caught a glimpse of.
"They got away," one of the demons said. "We didn't have enough power to go after them."
"That's all right," the man said. "At least they got the message."
"Who were they?" Ledic asked. He hadn't been part of the actual attack. But he had helped to take care of the fallen demon. Now he wanted to know what kind of menace the man was afraid of. "Was it police?"
"No. I think even they've become afraid of this area. I recognized the young man in the car. He works with the Slayer."
"The Slayer?" the first demon asked.
"Yes. That was probably who tried to interfere with your work last night. She is my enemy. I have a score to settle with her. The next time you see anyone hanging around down here, you will destroy them as quickly as possible. Don't hesitate . . . Unless of course, you see a young woman with red hair. I don't want her harmed."
"We'll do as you say, Mr. Doc," the first Fire demon said.
"Good," the man said, with just the hint of a smile.