The next few moments were a blur. Later on, Elizabeth wouldn't be able to recall exactly what had happened; Dawn would have to do it for her. She was aware of someone screaming, and Spike falling, his form slowly diminishing to ash in front of her, almost in slow motion. She didn't think; she just reacted. She struck the demon that had stabbed him with a telekinetic blast so huge it plowed him straight through a tree behind him. The other one dropped Dawn and ran to its companion, urging it to get up. Dawn stood there, paralyzed.
Elizabeth saw none of this. She said one word, and pushed all her power and drive into it.
"Revertium!"
She felt a hard tug, as if the power was trying to drag her down into the soil. She sank to her knees, but kept her arm outstretched, concentrating. Slowly, the free floating dust began to come together, condensing, solidifying. She could feel her power draining from her, worse than anything she had ever felt before, but she hung onto the spell. In what seemed like hours (although in truth it was only a few seconds), and newly reformed Spike collapsed on the ground heavily, drenched in sweat and shaking, dazed. Shaking herself, Elizabeth tried to get up; Dawn ran over and helped her. Balancing herself by leaning on the younger girl, Liz was able to make the cemetery stop spinning. Her head clearer, she grabbed Spike's hand and hoisted him up with the strength a girl of her size shouldn't have.
Spike tried to steady himself, having much more trouble than Elizabeth had. Liz had Dawn support him while he righted himself.
"What" he said, panting heavily "What the hell did you do?"
She looked back at the two demons, the one struggling to get to its feet.
"We'll discuss that later" she said hurriedly. She thrust Dawn's hand into Spike's.
"Run." She said. Spike tried to protest, but she waved him off.
"Run", she repeated. "Run as fast as you can. Get Buffy. And make him sit down when you get there" she told the younger Summers.
Dawn looked at Spike and at Liz, unsure of what to do. Finally, after an agonizing minute, she tugged his hand, and got him moving. The two of them ran, disappearing along the headstones.
Elizabeth rounded on the approaching demons. Breathing heavily, she reached down behind her jacket and pulled out a gun. Taught to fight when she was younger during her stay with the Watcher's Council, living in L.A. for years, and being constantly on the run from various enemies had caused her to be cautious. And caution meant carrying weapons with you wherever you went.
She hadn't wanted to let Spike know just how well she could fight the last time they had been attacked. This time, however, she didn't have that hindrance.
She took aim with the gun. The demon closest to her laughed loudly.
"You cannot kill us with that" he said, advancing on her, chuckling.
"No" she conceded. "I can't." The demon chuckled louder.
"But", she continued, "I CAN shoot you in the neck and paralyze you. That's where your spinal center is, right?"
The demon stopped smiling. Snarling, he ran straight at her, dodging the bullet fired from the gun in her left hand.
He didn't even notice when she whipped the second gun out from the right and shot him clean through the center of his throat. Tearing at the spot, he dropped like a stone. His companion, giving the two one last frightened look, took off. Elizabeth was too exhausted to chase him for long; besides, she didn't need to look at her watch to know her time was almost up.
She walked up and stood over the now immobile demon. Replacing the guns, she leaned down and whispered into the demon's ear.
"I also forgot to mention; I have really good aim." She looked at him, and then kicked him savagely.
"Now" she said, reaching inside her sleeve, "Who sent you?"
The demon's eyes froze at the dagger that she drew, but was unable to say anything. Elizabeth, in her anger and confusion, had forgotten this. Sighing, she kneeled down towards the creature, in what he mistakenly took as a merciful gesture. However, she instead pressed her hand against the creature's head, and what happened next sent the demon howling in pain; however, in his condition his howls turned into feeble gurgles as blood bubbled up past his lips.
Elizabeth had long ago figured out that if she was in public she could hear the surface thoughts of the people around her. However, she had also come to realize that at the very touch of a person; a handshake, a hug; she was privy to all their thoughts, their emotions, everything they kept locked in their heads, able to access them at will. She could do it painlessly, or make it the most painful experience anyone ever had. She chose to do that now, not feeling particularly kind or compassionate. Extracting the information she needed, she stood slowly, a loud rushing in her ears. She thought she would faint.
She started to make her way towards the car; however, she stopped in mid-step halfway there was what she had seen caught up with her. Turning around, she ran back, cutting the demon's head off.
Then she ran like hell for the car.
I've got to get there before they do, she thought, fumbling with the keys.
She pulled out of the parking lot, tires squealing.
Or we're all dead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Spike was aware of a strange sensation; looking down, he had seen the stake as it was plunged into his chest, had seen Dawn and Elizabeth's looks of terror.
It had hurt like hell; he felt himself disappearing, almost felt himself turning to ash. He felt a momentary lapse of calmness and peace. Then, the most agonizing torture imaginable.
He writhed with pain, wherever he was, and emitted soundless screams. Suddenly, just as quickly, he felt himself coming together, rushed forward as if something was pulling him as a great speed. Then, all too swiftly, he landed hard on the ground, shaking from the ordeal that he had been put through in the space of a few minutes.
He had been dust, he thought. He had been dusted, he had been killed, he had ceased to be. Those were the only thoughts which could penetrate his mind; he was too disoriented to focus on anything else. He felt someone grab his arm and hoist him to his feet; a few minutes later another person had him leaning against her. Nibblet. Only half being able to focus, he tried to find out what had happened. He didn't hear any answer; he only heard Elizabeth tell them to run. It was at that point that things cleared slightly for him; her words of reassurance and the sight of the two demons together were enough to send him and Dawn speeding as quickly as they could through the graveyard. Spike ran unsteadily, and he kept Dawn ahead of him, fearing that if his legs were to give out, she would still be able to get to safety.
They were almost to the house when Liz's car came screaming down the road. Stopping in front of them, she magicked the doors open.
"Get in", she said, and they practically flung themselves into the vehicle. She drove straight past Elizabeth's house, slowing long enough to see that the door was almost wide open and the front window smashed. She felt Spike and Dawn shift behind her as they tried to figure out what was going on; only after she heard Dawn's stifled cry did she know that they had seen what she had seen.
"Where are we going?" Dawn asked, timidly. Liz shook her head. "I don't know. We'll try your house; if it's the same as mine we're going to have to get out of town, at least to rest." Seeing the look Dawn gave her, she lowered her head.
"I'm not abandoning them, Dawn" she said. "But Spike and I can't take them on like this." At least, she thought to herself, I don't think I can. She glanced at her watch. Surprisingly, she saw that she still had about five hours left. She must have had a longer amount of time than usual this morning; in the rush, she hadn't bothered to check.
Elizabeth cautiously pulled into the Summers' driveway, and only after checking to see if similar damage was done in their front yard. Seeing nothing, the three of them got out of the car and made their way to the door.
The inside was a wreck. Furniture was smashed everywhere. Spike looked around, wondering how the Slayer had managed to keep the fight indoors. He didn't have to wonder long; the back door was torn off it's hinges, and the windows looked as if the Whelp had driven his wrecking crane through them. Elizabeth walked up to him, and keeping her voice low so that Dawn couldn't hear, said quietly, "They attacked from the back for a reason." Spike nodded, and strained to hear any sound that was out of place. "I'm going to check upstairs; watch Dawn, okay?" He nodded again and indicated silently for the girl to join him. Elizabeth made her way up the stairs. The bedrooms had barely been touched; however, coming upon Buffy's room, she was aware of a small piece of paper on the bedspread.
It only had two words on it.
She turned to run downstairs, then stopped, listening. She smiled grimly at the scrap of paper in her hand. She knew at that moment that this was a trap, that the destruction of her house had been a decoy to lure them here. She also knew if she were to go downstairs at that moment she would be met with nothing except the broken bits around her. They had already taken Spike and Dawn.
She let the paper drift from her hands and watched as it slowly settled on the floor. Then, with a wave of her hand and a few words, she restored the Summer's house to the way it was before the destruction that took place within its walls. Surveying her work, she suddenly turned and ran, never stopping, until she was safely inside her car and was making her way to where she had to be.
The paper lay upright on the ground, the writing staring up at the ceiling.
MAGIC BOX.
Elizabeth saw none of this. She said one word, and pushed all her power and drive into it.
"Revertium!"
She felt a hard tug, as if the power was trying to drag her down into the soil. She sank to her knees, but kept her arm outstretched, concentrating. Slowly, the free floating dust began to come together, condensing, solidifying. She could feel her power draining from her, worse than anything she had ever felt before, but she hung onto the spell. In what seemed like hours (although in truth it was only a few seconds), and newly reformed Spike collapsed on the ground heavily, drenched in sweat and shaking, dazed. Shaking herself, Elizabeth tried to get up; Dawn ran over and helped her. Balancing herself by leaning on the younger girl, Liz was able to make the cemetery stop spinning. Her head clearer, she grabbed Spike's hand and hoisted him up with the strength a girl of her size shouldn't have.
Spike tried to steady himself, having much more trouble than Elizabeth had. Liz had Dawn support him while he righted himself.
"What" he said, panting heavily "What the hell did you do?"
She looked back at the two demons, the one struggling to get to its feet.
"We'll discuss that later" she said hurriedly. She thrust Dawn's hand into Spike's.
"Run." She said. Spike tried to protest, but she waved him off.
"Run", she repeated. "Run as fast as you can. Get Buffy. And make him sit down when you get there" she told the younger Summers.
Dawn looked at Spike and at Liz, unsure of what to do. Finally, after an agonizing minute, she tugged his hand, and got him moving. The two of them ran, disappearing along the headstones.
Elizabeth rounded on the approaching demons. Breathing heavily, she reached down behind her jacket and pulled out a gun. Taught to fight when she was younger during her stay with the Watcher's Council, living in L.A. for years, and being constantly on the run from various enemies had caused her to be cautious. And caution meant carrying weapons with you wherever you went.
She hadn't wanted to let Spike know just how well she could fight the last time they had been attacked. This time, however, she didn't have that hindrance.
She took aim with the gun. The demon closest to her laughed loudly.
"You cannot kill us with that" he said, advancing on her, chuckling.
"No" she conceded. "I can't." The demon chuckled louder.
"But", she continued, "I CAN shoot you in the neck and paralyze you. That's where your spinal center is, right?"
The demon stopped smiling. Snarling, he ran straight at her, dodging the bullet fired from the gun in her left hand.
He didn't even notice when she whipped the second gun out from the right and shot him clean through the center of his throat. Tearing at the spot, he dropped like a stone. His companion, giving the two one last frightened look, took off. Elizabeth was too exhausted to chase him for long; besides, she didn't need to look at her watch to know her time was almost up.
She walked up and stood over the now immobile demon. Replacing the guns, she leaned down and whispered into the demon's ear.
"I also forgot to mention; I have really good aim." She looked at him, and then kicked him savagely.
"Now" she said, reaching inside her sleeve, "Who sent you?"
The demon's eyes froze at the dagger that she drew, but was unable to say anything. Elizabeth, in her anger and confusion, had forgotten this. Sighing, she kneeled down towards the creature, in what he mistakenly took as a merciful gesture. However, she instead pressed her hand against the creature's head, and what happened next sent the demon howling in pain; however, in his condition his howls turned into feeble gurgles as blood bubbled up past his lips.
Elizabeth had long ago figured out that if she was in public she could hear the surface thoughts of the people around her. However, she had also come to realize that at the very touch of a person; a handshake, a hug; she was privy to all their thoughts, their emotions, everything they kept locked in their heads, able to access them at will. She could do it painlessly, or make it the most painful experience anyone ever had. She chose to do that now, not feeling particularly kind or compassionate. Extracting the information she needed, she stood slowly, a loud rushing in her ears. She thought she would faint.
She started to make her way towards the car; however, she stopped in mid-step halfway there was what she had seen caught up with her. Turning around, she ran back, cutting the demon's head off.
Then she ran like hell for the car.
I've got to get there before they do, she thought, fumbling with the keys.
She pulled out of the parking lot, tires squealing.
Or we're all dead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Spike was aware of a strange sensation; looking down, he had seen the stake as it was plunged into his chest, had seen Dawn and Elizabeth's looks of terror.
It had hurt like hell; he felt himself disappearing, almost felt himself turning to ash. He felt a momentary lapse of calmness and peace. Then, the most agonizing torture imaginable.
He writhed with pain, wherever he was, and emitted soundless screams. Suddenly, just as quickly, he felt himself coming together, rushed forward as if something was pulling him as a great speed. Then, all too swiftly, he landed hard on the ground, shaking from the ordeal that he had been put through in the space of a few minutes.
He had been dust, he thought. He had been dusted, he had been killed, he had ceased to be. Those were the only thoughts which could penetrate his mind; he was too disoriented to focus on anything else. He felt someone grab his arm and hoist him to his feet; a few minutes later another person had him leaning against her. Nibblet. Only half being able to focus, he tried to find out what had happened. He didn't hear any answer; he only heard Elizabeth tell them to run. It was at that point that things cleared slightly for him; her words of reassurance and the sight of the two demons together were enough to send him and Dawn speeding as quickly as they could through the graveyard. Spike ran unsteadily, and he kept Dawn ahead of him, fearing that if his legs were to give out, she would still be able to get to safety.
They were almost to the house when Liz's car came screaming down the road. Stopping in front of them, she magicked the doors open.
"Get in", she said, and they practically flung themselves into the vehicle. She drove straight past Elizabeth's house, slowing long enough to see that the door was almost wide open and the front window smashed. She felt Spike and Dawn shift behind her as they tried to figure out what was going on; only after she heard Dawn's stifled cry did she know that they had seen what she had seen.
"Where are we going?" Dawn asked, timidly. Liz shook her head. "I don't know. We'll try your house; if it's the same as mine we're going to have to get out of town, at least to rest." Seeing the look Dawn gave her, she lowered her head.
"I'm not abandoning them, Dawn" she said. "But Spike and I can't take them on like this." At least, she thought to herself, I don't think I can. She glanced at her watch. Surprisingly, she saw that she still had about five hours left. She must have had a longer amount of time than usual this morning; in the rush, she hadn't bothered to check.
Elizabeth cautiously pulled into the Summers' driveway, and only after checking to see if similar damage was done in their front yard. Seeing nothing, the three of them got out of the car and made their way to the door.
The inside was a wreck. Furniture was smashed everywhere. Spike looked around, wondering how the Slayer had managed to keep the fight indoors. He didn't have to wonder long; the back door was torn off it's hinges, and the windows looked as if the Whelp had driven his wrecking crane through them. Elizabeth walked up to him, and keeping her voice low so that Dawn couldn't hear, said quietly, "They attacked from the back for a reason." Spike nodded, and strained to hear any sound that was out of place. "I'm going to check upstairs; watch Dawn, okay?" He nodded again and indicated silently for the girl to join him. Elizabeth made her way up the stairs. The bedrooms had barely been touched; however, coming upon Buffy's room, she was aware of a small piece of paper on the bedspread.
It only had two words on it.
She turned to run downstairs, then stopped, listening. She smiled grimly at the scrap of paper in her hand. She knew at that moment that this was a trap, that the destruction of her house had been a decoy to lure them here. She also knew if she were to go downstairs at that moment she would be met with nothing except the broken bits around her. They had already taken Spike and Dawn.
She let the paper drift from her hands and watched as it slowly settled on the floor. Then, with a wave of her hand and a few words, she restored the Summer's house to the way it was before the destruction that took place within its walls. Surveying her work, she suddenly turned and ran, never stopping, until she was safely inside her car and was making her way to where she had to be.
The paper lay upright on the ground, the writing staring up at the ceiling.
MAGIC BOX.