Buffy couldn't feel anything other than admiration for the young stranger that had so abruptly entered her life- and saved it in one fell swoop.
His face was puffy and swollen from the fracas in the caves. He limped with every step, and every breath was obviously painful to him. He had earlier torn of the sleeves of the sweatshirt, leaving his arms bare, complaining that they chafed. Buffy could see the skin was raw and red, barely healed. A band of white cloth was wrapped tightly around his head, a long tail hanging down his back. A small portion of a deep wound peeked from under the headband. Slayer or no, no one could suffer that many injuries and stay on his feet, much less joke about.
She herself had taken wounds, though none as serious. The belly wounds she had received from the gigantic shadow had already healed, thanks to Willow and Tara's magical intervention. The small but numerous scrapes she suffered in the caves were almost all closed up and disappearing, without even leaving scars. She felt much more stronger than yesterday, thanks to Slayer healing and resiliency.
But she had broken no bones, didn't suffer head wounds, or lose enough skin to create a twin sister. She wondered how he did it.
She wondered how she- or anyone else, for that matter- did it. Riley was hurt, so was Xander and Faith. But they would all leap into the fray at the drop of a pin, without hesitation. Despite the fact that the enemy had superior numbers, a barrage of demon minions and a lich for a leader. Not to mention a Knight or the Round Table as a general. That was dedication. That was courage. She suddenly felt proud.
" Hey," Kaine said, through a mouthful of salami and chicken salad sandwich. She looked up and saw him swallow, looking at her with his piercing gray eyes. " Why the goofy grin?"
She shrugged. " Just thinking,"
Kaine nodded and returned his attention to the sandwich, and the five others set in front of him. " I mean, look at us, all of us," Buffy suddenly continued, without prompting. " Sure, we're Slayers. But some of us, Riley, Xander, Gunn- they're all normal Joes. They don't have Slayer strength or speed. But they still fight, and why? Because they can,"
" And you feel…?"
" Proud. I feel proud,"
" Gee, thanks mom," Kaine said, grinning. Buffy grinned back.
Then a rocking explosion shook the apartment, and Buffy knew they were going to have to fight again. Make me proud, guys.
++++++
" Dannielle, wait up!"
She didn't listen, walking briskly towards the cemetery entrance. Gunn had to run to catch up to her, and he pulled her arm to make her slow down while he tried to catch his breath.
" Go away," she ordered, brushing him away.
" No can do, girl. You and I, we need to talk,"
" No we don't. Now go away,"
" Dannielle, I know you're pissed. And you're jealous. Hey, I think Faith's gotta lighten up a bit too, y'know?"
" Aren't you Mr. Sensitive," Dannielle shot back, stalking forward into the cemetery.
" What's your beef, girl? I told you those two had feelings for each other. They're best friends for fuck's sake. You just can't expect to barge in and sweep Xand-man from his feet!"
" Can you please keep quiet? You'll alert every vampire for miles," she hissed, getting into a low crouch. Gunn resigned himself to following her lead, as she crept through the tombstones, expertly making no trace of her passing.
Four vampires came out from behind a clump of trees, game faces on. They didn't seem aware of the two of them hiding behind a tombstone, but then again, appearances could be deceiving. Dannielle waited until they passed her, then leapt out at the one on the rear. She made no sound as she fell on its back and the vampire could make no sound before the stake pierced its heart.
Dannielle was already up and moving before the dust even settled. She staked the second vampire, then socked the other one full in the face, making it stagger back a step. Then Gunn was there, grabbing it in a chokehold, stake poised to drive home.
Dannielle blocked the clumsy punch the last vampire threw at her, then ducked, spun and rammed her elbow hard into its chest. It flew back with a whoosh of breath, stunned momentarily. An eye blink later there was nothing left but dust.
Gunn didn't know which was more unnerving. The Slayer's complete efficiency or the fact that she uttered not a sound as she fought. He shook his head, marveling at how someone could be so good at one thing, yet so completely inept at another.
His eyes widened as a fifth vampire appeared from nowhere, leaping down at Dannielle's back from above. " Get down!" he yelled, even as he threw his stake at the vampire's exposed body.
But Dannielle didn't follow his advice. Instead of getting flat on the floor, she pivoted on her heel, her hand whipping out. Gunn's stake pierced the vampire's heart a split second before Dannielle's did. She turned back to him, her expression one of controlled rage.
" I don't need anyone's help. I can take care of myself,"
At about that instant, four Ravager's stepped out from the misty darkness, advancing towards their position. Gunn swallowed thickly, shooting the Slayer a nervous glance.
" You were saying?"
++++++
The wall of the kitchen burst apart, debris and mortar flying towards the pair. Buffy ducked underneath the counter, having the advantage of shelter. Kaine wasn't so lucky though, and could only protect his face and chest as the flying pieces of stone peppered him.
Buffy vaulted over the counter even as the new demons barged in, grabbing a large kitchen knife from the drawer. Kaine was slowly rising to his feet- too slow, Buffy realized.
The first demon- big, green and ugly- charged at her, lumbering and stumbling over the wall's remains. Buffy saw the huge axe swinging for her head and quickly decided that the kitchen knife was not enough. Ducking underneath the first wild swing, Buffy drove the knife upwards into the demon's belly, then drew it higher into its chest. Even with the knife's hilt jutting out of its stomach, the demon continued on attacking, this time with a diagonal cut from above.
Buffy leaped out of the way, rolling on the sharp rock. Her eyes took a quick head count of the demons, though it was difficult with all the smoke in the air. She counted about seven, but knew there were more outside.
The demon came at her again, so Buffy had to quickly dive out of the way again. She saw Kaine leaping over the counter, tucking his legs to his chest to avoid a scything cut from another demon's axe.
Then Xander, Faith and Riley ran in, Giles close behind. Faith had one of her huge waraxes in her hand and she launched it on its way towards the demon that was attacking Buffy. The axe blade buried itself in the back of the demon's head and it grunted before dropping. Buffy scrambled forward to retrieve the weapon, tugging it out of the demon's thick skull.
" What a way to bury the hatchet, huh, B?" Faith quipped, over the noise of the battle. She was fending off one of the demon's axe with her other waraxe, while her free hand wielded a short sword. Buffy took on another demon, deflecting the deadly path of the gigantic greataxe it held. She felt the shock of the blow all the way up to her shoulders and nearly dropped the axe. Instead, she gripped it with both hands and backslashed, drawing a long cut in the demon's thick chest.
It growled and raised its axe high for a straight, downward slash meant to cleave her in half. It also left its midsection exposed, a fact Buffy used to her advantage. Her axe moved in a quick blur, despite its great weight. The demon fell, its guts spilling out from the hole in its belly.
Meanwhile, Faith drove her axe into one demon's neck, nearly shearing its head clean off, while her sword buried itself in its chest. Pulling both weapons out with a grunt, she swiveled quickly to block another, bigger axe. She was forced back a step from the mere strength of the blow and her left shoulder nearly popped out of its socket. With a loud battle cry, she charged the demon, even as it charged at her, weapons glinting.
She ducked low abruptly, letting the demon's axe blade slice the air above her head. Her sword sliced the muscles of its thigh, her axe cutting away the tendons in its knee. The demon stumbled to the floor, still swinging its axe. Faith jumped high to avoid the low-swinging blade, but landed badly, tripping over a rock. The demon, despite the ruined muscles in its legs, rose to its feet, raising the axe high above its head.
Faith watched in horror as the weapon came down towards her head. Even if she brought her own weapons up in time to block, the force and weight of the demon would still drive the blade into her skull.
Then a crossbow bolt whistled and pierced the demon's left eye. A second later, the right eye also suffered the same. Blinded, the demon roared and flailed about, giving Faith enough time to scramble to her feet. She looked over her shoulder and saw Tara and Willow reloading their crossbows.
Near the hole in the wall, Xander and Riley engaged one single demon, not having the enhanced abilities of the Slayers to hold their own in a one-on-one. Still, the demon was hard-pressed to bypass the defense of either man, despite its greater strength and stamina.
Riley and Xander worked like a natural duo- though most of it was because of Xander's natural ability to fit in with others' fighting styles. His sword had already created several shallow cuts on the demon's arms, while the stronger Riley tried his best to fend off the demon's axe blows.
Xander knew it was a futile attempt. The demon was a lot stronger than them; a lot stronger than the Slayers even. To block or parry the demon's axe would be useless, as most of its blows would get through anyway. Their only chance was to avoid and duck away from its swings, lunging in for a quick slash before jumping back out.
He knew that Giles was behind them, waiting for the right time to use his crossbow. But with both Xander and Riley were leaping around like jackrabbits, he would have a hard time. Xander pushed the thought away and concentrated.
He went low, ducking underneath the swing. Riley deflected its path enough so that the axe went up into empty air instead of Riley's flesh. Xander found himself suddenly behind the demon's defenses, and his reacted, plunging his blade deep into the demon's chest.
It was like trying to pierce stone, but he did it anyway. The demon grunted, then coughed up a mouthful of blood. Xander relaxed slightly thinking the demon was done. He was wrong.
The demon suddenly growled and batted him away, sending him flying into Riley. The two of them fell in a heap of entangled limbs, landing hard on the rough floor. Then Giles fired, sending a bolt straight into the demon's throat. Xander breathed a sigh, as did Riley.
Then another demon stepped into view, axe at the ready. Giles fumbled with his crossbow, but was batted away by the demon. Xander tried to get up, but his hand slipped and he fell again, hard. The demon grinned, then raised its axe.
They were fucked.
Proper fucked.
++++++
Dannielle met Gunn's gaze, but hers spoke of confidence and steel. Gunn was almost pissing his pants. The Ravagers came closer, menacing in their armor and swords. Then Dannielle attacked first, to everyone's surprise.
She leapt at the first Ravager, high in the air. She grabbed his head in her hands, then twisted about, landing behind him. There was sharp crack and the Ravager fell to the ground, neck broken. The other three stared at the cold rage of the Slayer and smiled, advancing. Dannielle bent to pick up the fallen Ravager's sword, then beckoned at the other three.
Gunn shook himself from his stupor, realizing that Dannielle could not handle all three Ravagers by herself, Slayer or no. he ran forward, then launched himself at the left most Ravager, diving low at his knees. Caught off-guard, the Ravager's knee's buckled and the two men tumbled to the grass. Gunn rolled away quickly to avoid the spikes and got to his feet first.
His boot slammed into the Ravager's face, twice. Instead of moving away, the Ravager merely grabbed his foot the third time and threw Gunn off balance and onto his ass. The Ravager was on his feet in a single, fluid movement and his sword was flashing down. Gunn desperately threw himself out of the way, but the blade still nicked his arm, drawing a shallow cut.
He got to his feet, then scrambled over a tombstone, putting the obstacle between them. The Ravager advanced, smiling wolfishly. As he closed, Gunn planted one foot on the tombstone and once more threw himself at the Ravager, fist first. His right caught the Ravager in the face, the other slamming into his throat. The Ravager gave out a choked grunt and fell back, Gunn on top of him.
The young black man hopped to his feet and stepped on the Ravager's sword arm. His other foot swung again and again into the Ravager's unprotected side and face, the rough sole of his footwear making lacerating cuts on the Ravager's face. Convulsively, the Ravager released his blade and Gunn was on it in a flash.
The sword in his hand, he once more dived forward at the Ravager, sword whistling as it cleared the air before it. Impossibly, the Ravager brought both hands up and slapped them together, trapping the blade in between, stopping it. With a savage wrench, he tore the sword out of Gunn's surprised grasp and slowly rose to his feet.
Dannielle fended off the blows with a ridiculous ease, finding strength and skill in her fury. Her face was impassive and cold, emotionless except for the fire in her eyes. The Ravagers came at her from both sides, but she whirled and spun, her sword everywhere at the right time to block or parry. She still hadn't attacked, having not yet found the right time.
The Ravager on the left swung low, the other swinging high, for her neck. It might have worked if she was an amateur, but she was not. Her foot was raised to avoid the low blow, then was stepping on the sword, forcing it to the ground. Her sword blocked the beheading cut, then lanced out to flick across the Ravager's cheek, drawing blood.
With his sword trapped on the ground, the Ravager was helpless when Dannielle's foot flew into his face. Flying backwards, he collapsed on the ground noisily, breath blasted out of his lungs.
Alone, the Ravager suddenly found himself frantically defending himself from a furious barrage, made with such energy and speed that he found himself hard-pressed to keep up, despite all his considerable skill. Then he slipped, made on fatal mistake.
He failed to lock his wrist in time and the Slayer's sword slapped his far and wide. The sword flew out of his grasp and he felt the point of the Slayer's blade at his throat. He glared at her defiantly, then saw his fallen comrade rise to his feet and rush the Slayer. His face gave no indication, he was sure of it. Yet the Slayer spun around, sword slashing out and cleaving the other Ravager in half.
A rage filled him, and he took action, lunging forward. The Slayer again managed to evade his attack, and he only managed to score a cut on her side, instead of impaling her. But serrated blades made wicked wounds, and the Slayer's side would be filled with a fiery pain, the skin flayed and the wound gaping. Add to that the strength of the poison the sword had been coated with…
Anyone but a Slayer would already be dead.
And even this one wouldn't last long.
++++++
Spike knew they were fucked.
It was him and Doyle against to Ravagers and there was no running this time.
He couldn't fight them, but Doyle could hold out a while, at least. Currently, the half-demon had his hands full of both Ravagers, his natural demon spikes against the Ravagers metal spikes. Too bad this Spike couldn't join in.
The blonde vampire looked around in the alleyway, looking for a weapon to use. He might not be able to fight, but he could help a bit. Then he saw the wooden crate and he splintered it with on hard kick. Picking a fair sized piece of wood, he waited for an opening, for the time he would be able to bury the impromptu weapon in one of their throats.
Doyle punched one of them in the face, his spikes drawing blood. The other one swung at him, but the half-demon ducked underneath, foot lashing out to catch the Ravager just under the knee. Then the other Ravager punched him in the face and he stumbled back, caught unawares.
Then Spike acted.
He dove forward, tackling one Ravager to the ground. The spikes on the armor pierced his skin, but he didn't quite care. The improvised stake was gripped hard in one hand, then forced into the throat of the Ravager. Then the vampire cried out in pain as the chip activated. He rolled off the Ravager, the spikes clearing his flesh with a sickening sucking sound.
Doyle stared at the vampire for a while, then his attention was snapped back to the Ravager when he punched Doyle in the nose. Again. Enraged, the half-demon retaliated, snapping out a quick one-two combination onto the Ravager's face. The third punch nearly tore the Ravager's nose off his face, and Doyle wasn't about to let up yet.
Another blow and yet another thundered into the Ravager's face and nose. The skin split and tore underneath the needle-like spikes that covered Doyle's fist, the cheekbones cracking and shattering underneath the demon-enhanced strength of Doyle's punches. His jaw was struck four times before the Ravager even realized the first blow had landed. His eye was gouged out, the other was nearly torn out. He couldn't see, but knew that the half-demon was in front of him.
A rage filled him, clouded his mind, washing away the pain. He snarled, then lunged forward, trapping the half-demon in a bear hug, the metal spikes impaling Doyle all the way through. The half-demon screamed aloud in pain, wrestling to get the Ravager to release his death grip. Doyle slammed his scarred and bloody knuckles into the Ravager's throat, tearing out the man's windpipe. With a final convulsion, the Ravager died, though his grip didn't lessen in the least.
With the great weight of an armor-clad man on top of him, Doyle toppled backwards, bringing the Ravager with him. He screamed again as the spikes were driven in further, screamed until he was hoarse. He slammed his fist into the Ravager's nose in anger. And he did it again.
His demon side took over completely and he didn't even register the bloody pulp underneath his hands. He just kept smashing his fists into the Ravager's face, again and again, until there was nothing but a bloody mess of skull bits and brains.
Spike rose to his feet, groggy. He winced at the sight of a berserk Doyle pinned under a Ravager's corpse, pummeling his knuckles into the dead man's unfeeling face. The pulled the Ravager off, the corpse coming free with a wet, sucking sound. Blood spurted, black and copious. Spike slapped Doyle, whose face was still contorted in a grim mask of fury. " What the bloody hell was that, mate?"
" Sorry. I get that way sometimes," Doyle mumbled in reply, incoherent and dazed from the pain. The wounds were bleeding non-stop and he was losing his grip on consciousness. He would die from blood loss in a matter of hours. Spike shook his head and lifted the Irishman into his arms.
" Well, next time let me know so I can find a place to hide,"
++++++
" Soveliss!" Kaine's voice boomed over the deafening clash of battle. He was on the kitchen countertop, avoiding as many axe swings as he was able. Buffy and Faith were busy, Xander, Riley and Giles were lost to him in the smoke of the newly-made entrance to the kitchen. He was weaponless, unless you counted a frying pan to be a weapon.
/You don't have to shout/ Soveliss amiably commented, as the blade soared point-first into the kitchen. It sped through the still-clearing dust and hectic, yet fluid, dance of battle like an arrow- straight and true. Kaine somersaulted over an axe-blade, landing in a low crouch. His left hand shot up, and grabbed the sword out of the air, and was already swinging for the orc even as the sword settled.
/Sorry, I'm a little bit tense/
He blocked another axe-swing, the shock running all the way up to his shoulders. His arms shrieked out a protest, which he ignored. The orc recovered from the parry admirably, rolling its shoulders and executing a reverse, underhand swing usually meant to slice a man in half. Since Kaine was on higher ground, he would say that the orc was trying to get rid of his legs.
Kaine hopped up, bringing his legs to his chest. At that very moment, a crossbow bolt lanced into the orc's chest, while another embedded itself in the orc's shoulder a second later. Kaine didn't bother to acknowledge the presence of the shooters, but instead landed on the shiny steel of the axe-blade, forcing it onto the countertop. The orc was never one to let minuscule crossbow wounds faze it, and heaved its axe upwards, intent on making Kaine lose his footing.
The young half-elf leaped and tumbled over the orc, twisting in mid-air. He landed facing the orc's back. With a swift flowing strike, he chopped the orc's head from its shoulders. The demon toppled to the ground without a complaint.
Kaine looked around, and saw Xander and Riley in trouble, with an orc looming large above them. With a loud battle-cry, he charged forward at the orc, sword swinging like a farmer's sickle in the middle of a wheat field.
++++++
The orc looked about to bring his axe-blade right on top of Xander's head when a dark blue blur came from nowhere and rammed into the orc. The orc was driven back by the impact, out through the hole in the wall. Xander hurriedly pulled himself away from Riley, with some assistance and helped Giles to his feet, before quickly running out to the street beyond.
Giles looked about at his kitchen and wondered if the insurance companies would pay for this. He snorted and shook his head. Might as well hope for the Watcher's Council to reinstate me.
Xander ran outside, Riley by his side, then stopped dead in his tracks.
Kaine was deep in battle with a single demon, slowly dismantling the demon's defenses until he could deliver a single severing blow that separated the orc from its head. But that wasn't the sight that stopped him.
It was the vision of three hulking figures, demons bigger even that the ones that had just attacked them. They were of the same species, but these three were obviously the strongest of the lot. A look at the bulging muscles that rippled in the demon's arms was enough to make him start sweating.
Right beside the demons, was the long-haired man that had taken Buffy prisoner- and who looked intent on taking her again. He stood, calmly detached from the scene of the two combatants before him, dressed in a flowing trench coat and loose flowing pants. His right hand gripped a sword hilt, thumb playing with the snake's head pommel.
Then he heard footsteps behind him, and knew Buffy and Faith had dispatched their opponents and was running out. When they emerged through the hole, they didn't stop to take a gander at their situation. As he could have expected, both rushed headlong once more into the fight. This time with the center demon.
The one that was the biggest of the three, and the one that held a huge, huge double axe. A long, thick staff, with a double axe head at each end of it. And the demon held it in one hand, as easily as Xander held a pen. He swore, then ran forward to engage one of the demons by the side. He just hoped that Riley and the other Scoobies were going to help him.
A crossbow bolt whistled past his ear and stuck in the orc's chest.
Xander breathed a sigh of relief. He sneaked a glance and saw Kaine taking on he last demon out of the corner of his eye. Then the demon was swinging a decapitating cut at him and he had to duck out of the way, and try to lunge and spear his opponent.
It didn't work. The demon twisted the handle of its axe and deflected Xander's sword wide. His arm felt as if it was being torn away from his body, and the parry had left him open to the demon's follow up attacks. But there was another twang and whistle, and another crossbow bolt entered the demon's meaty chest, making it jerk to a halt.
Then Riley leapt in, jumping up and slicing down a diagonal cut for the demon's neck. This blow too, was blocked. Xander quickly regained his feet and struck for the demon again, and he was foiled once again. Then Riley attacked before the demon could take the offensive, allowing Xander to get his defenses up again.
The fight continued.
++++++
Gunn grunted as the armored fist pounded into his nose, drawing blood. He blocked the next punch with an upraised arm and uses his free hand to grip the back of the Ravager's neck, pulling him forward. Gunn's forehead slammed into the Ravager's nose, the same time his knee drove up into the Ravager's unprotected groin.
" You really should do something about that," he gasped out, only to have a fist thudding into his solar plexus as a reply. He took a staggering step back, trying to catch his breath. The Ravager gave no quarter, coming in so fast Gunn almost couldn't see him. A right haymaker impacted into his jaw, then an uppercut into his solar plexus, again.
Gunn was driven backwards, dazed and stunned, but he was able to block the right hook the Ravager threw at him. He slammed his forearm into the Ravager's throat, then the stiffened fingers of his other hand jabbed into the Ravager's eyes. His adversary yelled in pain, stepping back to cover his temporarily useless eyes.
Gunn moved quickly, using every dirty trick the streets- and Xander- had taught him. His foot went up into the Ravager's groin, then he crushed the man's nose underneath his fist. His foot came up again, catching the Ravager just under the knee cap, almost breaking it. The limb buckled underneath the pressure, presenting Gunn with the perfect opportunity to drive home an uppercut into the Ravager's chin.
As his opponent actually flew up into the air, Gunn scrambled for the discarded sword. As his fingers closed around the hilt, the Ravager's shoulder piled into his side, sending them both into the ground. Gunn stubbornly kept his grip on the sword, even as he tried to free himself from the Ravager's deadly grasp.
The spikes pricked his skin, but none pierced his flesh. He got to his knees the same time the Ravager did. They faced each other, him gasping for breath, the Ravager grinning a twisted, sick smile. Gunn gripped the hilt on both hands then brought the blade up in a wide, diagonal arc. The serrated edge entered the flesh just under the arm, exiting through the Ravager's neck.
The two halves fell in separate directions and Gunn clambered to his feet, then saw Dannielle and the last Ravager standing not an inch apart. The blade she held was firmly buried in the Ravager's gut, about two feet of steel emerging from his back. She seemed to be supporting her weight on her dead opponent, and only then did Gunn see the bleeding wound in her side.
He rushed to her side, catching her in his arms as she collapsed.
" Jeez, girl! C'mon, lets get you outta here!" he hoisted her into his arms but she raised a still strong hand to stop him.
" No…" she coughed out a mouthful of blood with the word. " Poison. Won't do any good, Gunn,"
" Still gotta try. I ain't gonna let you die out here," he insisted, getting to his feet.
" No choice, Pistol. Vampire on the premises," she mumbled, voice weakening. " Strong, old,"
" Fuck!"
He set her down on the ground, gently as he could, then drew he stake out of his pocket. Then, a cold hand clamped onto the back of his neck, painfully.
" How sweet. A rather touching moment, I have to say," the vampire whispered into his ear, mockingly. " But Death comes for us all, and its advocate is here for you tonight,"
++++++
Lucifer and Sophiel lay in their chambers, naked once more, wrapped in a sweaty embrace. Ariel entered the chamber, her boots making a sharp staccato clicking as she walked. Lucifer raised his head and stared balefully at her, angry for her daring to interrupt his peace.
" What do you want?"
" Nothing from you, Lucifer. Not anymore," she replied, voice straining to keep flat and emotionless. But her excitement betrayed herself and Lucifer narrowed his eyes at her sudden, smirking grin.
" What are you talking about, bitch?" Sophiel demanded, pouting. Ariel glared at the blonde, then smiled, the way a shark smiles at its food.
" I'm talking about this, you fucking slut,"
Suddenly the room exploded in a flurry of movement and several dozen vampires leaped down from above, circling the vampire couple in the center. They all carried stakes in their hands, and didn't look hesitant to use them.
" Meet my children. All of them. Say hello, boys," Ariel said, indicating at the vampires. The vampires growled and snarled in reply, some even slobbering and foaming at the mouth. Lucifer scrambled to a sitting position, while Sophiel merely clung to her sire. " Look at that, they don't seem to like auntie Sophie and grandpa… too bad,"
The vampires converge, leaping on the pair. Lucifer threw one punch, before his arm was torn out of his socket. Then his cheeks were flayed wide open, his eyes gouged out of their sockets. His belly was ripped and his innards passed and thrown around like a baseball. Sophiel was grabbed by several vampire hands, forced and held to the floor and raped a countless number of times before her head was ripped off her shoulders.
Ariel watched until both of them were piles of settling dust. She gave one final smirk at the two ex-vampires and turned on her heel, marching out of the room.
++++++
Azhael was reading from a large, leather bound tome when Ariel swaggered in, smiling wide. His back was to the entrance. He didn't look up at her, engrossed in the words etched onto the crackled surface of the book.
" It's done, baby," Ariel said, eyes glinting in anticipation. " Are you done with the nerd stuff already?"
Azhael shook his head and turned the page, his head moving as he read. Ariel resisted from pouting, though she really wanted to celebrate with Azhael. So she moved over to him, wrapping her arms around his chest, resting her chin on his shoulder. She took a look at the page he was at and frowned at the unfamiliar lettering.
" What language is that?"
" Sanskrit," Azhael replied in a quiet voice. Ariel's frown got deeper and she started to sway, rocking Azhael's upper torso in a gentle side to side motion. " Stop that," he snapped, still using that quiet voice.
" What?"
" I'm trying to concentrate. Go away,"
" Fuck you," she retorted letting go of him and stepping back. Azhael smiled thinly, though she couldn't see.
" Some other time, babe,"
++++++
This was the scene, from the vantage point of an outsider, detached, emotionless.
An orc, peppered with crossbow bolts, lying dead on the ground. Its throat has been cut, a second, wide mouth in its neck. A pool of blood widens underneath its inert body. Standing above it, two young men, holding swords. A distance away, a rather older man and two young women stand, crossbows held limp in their hands.
One of the men moves to assist two other young women, fighting the biggest orc of the trio. One is dark-haired, the other blonde. Both hold waraxes. The orc wields a large double axe, and swings it with a deadly efficiency, using much more finesse than one would expect. The two women hardly seem in need of the assistance. The orc has yet to score a solid hit; not with the women jumping and ducking the telegraphed hits as easily as one breathes. But on the other hand, the orc is covered with numerous small cuts. Cuts that are singly inconsequential to an orc's powerful metabolism, but when put together in large numbers…
The other man, slimmer and darker-haired, moves to assist the young warrior with the magical sword. The gem affixed to the sword's crosspiece glows, the light bright and strong. Their opponent; a huge orc, hefting a large greataxe that seemed as heavy as the orc's opponent.
They move in a fluid tandem, an almost unnatural grace, feline and smooth. Their beauty and economy of movement almost matches the two young women. But the orc seems unable to keep up with their speed and agility, their skill and finesse. The warrior sweeps aside the orc's axe, then follows up with a powerful backhand that leaves the orc's head hanging by a flap of skin. At the same time, the young man pushes aside the orc's impeding arm and lunges forward, slashing; the orc is eviscerated, its guts spilling out onto the street.
The outsider decides that the time had come for him to enter and be a part of the scene, no more a mere onlooker. Tristan Cole drew his sword, blade engraved with the words 'Sir Tristan of Cornwall' in ancient Celtic. He spared a glance at the older man and the two young women in the distance. They would be of no consequence and of no danger, having no more ammunition left to use.
He faced the warrior and the young man. Kaine and Xander. Proud warriors, both of them, honorable and worthy of the title of warrior. Tristan briefly wished that he had once been able to fight alongside them, not against them. Then he shook the thought out of his head and raised his sword, saluting.
They both did the same, though Kaine's salute was foreign to Tristan. It didn't matter. In a matter of minutes, one of them was going to be dead.
++++++
Xander and Kaine exchanged glances, then nodded. They saw the impenetrable calm and the untouchable cool of the man Tristan. As they slowly advanced, so did he, step by step, closing in on each other.
Then Kaine sidestepped to the left, Xander to the right, aiming to flank Tristan and render him defenseless to one man, while the other engaged him. Tristan was no fool though, and kept his eye on Kaine, the better swordsman. Then he attacked, a swift blur of movement that Kaine barely caught, much less parried away.
Tristan was relentless in his attack, and he steadily drove Kaine back. Xander, surprised by the man's sudden approach, only attacked several seconds later. Xander rushed the man's back and his sword sang as it went on a deadly path towards the man's neck. But somehow, Tristan whirled around, blade raised to catch Xander's, halting it.
Xander's eyes widened in surprise, but Kaine didn't take the liberty. He quickly launched a counterattack, using his faster speed and more supple wrists to his advantage. But his arms were tired, hurt and exhausted. The skin had barely healed, still raw and red. Already the bleeding had started again.
It made his attack slower, just enough that Tristan could parry or evade most of the cuts well enough. Xander advanced then, even as Kaine got into the height of his attack. But Tristan somehow turned so he faced both of them, then somehow forced them to stand side by side. The positioning impeded their sword arms, made their movements restricted and stunted.
Tristan was the best swordsman Kaine had ever seen, and had the privilege to fight against. The man's sword acted like a true extension of his arm, snapping cuts and changing directions with a speed that defied all natural laws of human ability. Tristan forced Xander and him to stand shoulder to shoulder, working with a forced tandem- all swings were checked, all movement had to be thought and planned out before execution for fear of tripping each other up. For one of the few times in the young warrior's life, Kaine felt scared.
Tristan began a pattern that drove their blades together, clashing in a shower of sparks. Kaine and Xander found themselves helpless, merely pawns in Tristan's superior game. Then he launched his final attack, his blade starting to glow a deep, blood-red. He trapped both their blades on the ground, then brought his sword up in a final, shearing slash that would behead them both.
But Kaine suddenly leapt in front of Xander, the half-elf's reflexes moving on automatic. Soveliss' blade glowed a bright blue, repeating an event that occurred no more than two nights ago. Soveliss and Tristan's sword clashed, the two colors meeting, clashing, repelling, attracting, mixing, separating.
Then there was a loud crash, and Xander watched in belated horror as Soveliss' blade snapped and shattered. So did Tristan's sword. So did his. Then there was a soul-wrenching scream from the young half-elf, and he clutched his head in pain and anguish. At the same time, a bright ball of light began to grow, right in between the three of them. It grew so rapidly, getting so bright Xander couldn't see, then the light engulfed them all.
Buffy, Faith, Riley, Giles, Willow and Tara looked on, shielding their eyes from the bright shimmering. When the light finally faded, after what seemed an eternity, Xander, Kaine and Tristan were gone.
All that was left was the remains of their weapons, in bits and pieces. Only Soveliss' hilt and crosspiece remained intact, though the gem had shattered.
++++++
" No. This is between you and me. You leave him alone," Dannielle some how managed to stagger to her feet and stare down the blonde vampire. He grinned and tossed Gunn away. The young man collided against a tree and slid to the floor, unconscious.
Dannielle clutched her side in pain, as the poison burned away her flesh and insides. But her legs were steady, her stance straight. Her face was pale and her lips a thin, bloodless line, but there was no mistaking the look of grim determination etched onto her features.
" This isn't going to be fun, Slayer," Azrael drawled, grinning. " But who cares, eh?"
Then he rushed the Slayer, his fists slamming into the jaw, then her chest. She flew back, landing hard against a tombstone. The vampire advanced, driving his shin into her gut. She gasped, her breath knocked out of her lungs. Azrael bent down, gripping her by her jaw, hauling her to her feet. He raised her higher, brought her face close to his. She was stunned and pain had clouded her mind. Her eyes barely registered the close proximity of the vampire.
Azrael licked her face.
Her eyes suddenly focussed and she rammed a knee into his groin, scrambling on all fours as he dropped her to clutch his tender parts. She launched herself like a bullet, slamming a shoulder into his midsection, wrapping her arms around his waist, piling them both to the ground. She scooted backwards, grabbing his legs at the knees. Lifting him bodily of the ground, she swung around and flung him away to bang hard against a crypt wall, cracking the stone surface.
Azrael shouted in pain, then clambered to his feet, his mind filled with rage. He rushed her again, only to be met by the heel of her hand, straight into his solar plexus. His feet were lifted off the ground and Dannielle other hand shot out, knuckles catching him in the cheek. The bone broke under the impact and Azrael screamed again.
He rose to his feet, weakened. Dannielle waited where she was, her condition not allowing her to take the all out offensive. Azrael moved in low, fists pumping for her injured side. His right hit, drawing a groan from the Slayer, while the left was barely deflected. His right hand attacked the injured side relentlessly, until Dannielle could barely keep her feet. Then his left hand came up, lightning fast, crashing into her chin.
She left the ground, and crashed back as gravity reasserted itself. She could barely lift an arm, the poison had once again taken over her body. As the deadly fluid rushed through her veins, Azrael stepped forward, sensing a victory. Her heartbeat was weak and she was a perfect victim.
He grinned and lifted her into his arms, then wrenched her head to the side.
" Time to see the other side, Slayer," he whispered into her ear, as he lowered his fangs into her neck. He drew blood from her, sweet, satisfying blood. Warm, life-giving, so arousing he felt the urge to throw her on the ground and take her right then. His mind was filled with a red haze of pleasure, and his eyes rolled up in their sockets. He moaned; so did she.
Then he jerked, eyes widening, in surprise, fear and betrayal. The he crumbled into dust, dropping Dannielle onto the grass.
Behind the settling ash, Gunn stood, favoring one leg. A stake was held limp in his hand, then it fell. He dropped to his knees looking down sadly at the still form of Dannielle on the grass before him. He wiped away a tear, sniffled.
" I got him for you, girl. I got him," he muttered, then lifted her into his arms.
Gunn began the long walk back.