They walked, trying their best to ignore the desolate landscape that had been their only company for the past hour. Their pace was a snail's crawl, the heat and the aftereffects of combat fatiguing the three to the point beyond caring. Kaine and Xander walked shirtless, their clothes tied around their waists. Tristan discarded his duster and draped it over his shoulder. Of all three, the heat seemed to disturb him the least.
Kaine stumbled over a piece of rock, his legs weak and his mind blurry. His coordination was gone, his grace disappearing along with Soveliss. He fell to his knees and swore foully, pounding a gloved fist into the ground.
Xander stopped and Tristan did likewise, a few steps after. " Something's not right here," Kaine muttered. " Something is just really fucked up,"
The half-elf rarely swore and but when he did, he did so with feeling. But this time, the obscenity came out loaded with so much venom Xander felt as if the skin on his face was burning away from the acid.
" Hey, chill out. We're in hell, of course something ain't right," Xander said, trying to calm his companion down. In all his years as a Marine sergeant- even if those years were caused by a magic spell- he knew one thing for sure. Keeping your cool was everything. Losing your calm often meant losing your life.
" Like you said Xander, we're in hell. How the fuck do we chill out in this heat?" Kaine retorted bitterly, anguished by the loss of his sword and the invisible friend that had resided within it. Add that to the pain of having a mental bond severed so abruptly, a body weakened by the ravages of battle, and a place that could boil eggs by placing them on the ground, made for one primed hand grenade.
" Use lotsa ice," the young man replied.
" You're so full of shit your eyes are brown," Kaine said.
" If it wasn't for all the shit, I would be an albino. And where would my roguish good looks be then?"
Tristan stopped the exchange, clearing his throat. " Shouldn't we continue on? Or at least find some place else to rest that's more secure?"
Kaine nodded and rose to his feet. " We should press on. Carcerus was built for one thing, exists for one thing only," he said, taking a few tentative steps forward.
" What's that? To fry you to a crisp?" Xander quipped.
" Sometimes. Carcerus was made as the ultimate testing ground for men, warriors most usually. If you survived, you came out stronger, tougher, fuelled by the fact that you got through Carcerus,"
" What if you don't?" Tristan asked, in his low, quiet voice.
Kaine jerked his chin at the flowing river of lava, at its occasional gouts of flame and magma, at the hapless men and women drowning and burning in its boiling depths. " You become food,"
There was a silence, and the three continued on for a while more. " The thing is, you go through Carcerus alone, with no one to accompany you and nothing to help you but what you already carry. The three of us, being together, that's what wrong with this scene," Kaine explained his earlier outburst.
" Maybe there's a point to all this," Xander suggested. " Maybe we have to work together, to get outta here and get back home,"
Kaine looked at Tristan, then let his gaze slide past to Xander. " I'm not so sure I can do that,"
++++++
Am I being selfish? Am I letting my emotions, my anger and pain at losing my friend, influence my better judgement? Soveliss always said that to be the best warrior you could be was to push all feelings and prejudices aside, letting your mind worked unclouded and unhindered.
But Soveliss isn't here to correct me now. Soveliss would never be here again, to praise me, to criticize me, with his endless sarcasm and dry humor, with his unpredictability and his centuries of wisdom. All that was left was Kaine, the half-elf. Outcast, shunned, never belonging anywhere. Trapped between two worlds, never a part of either. Never fully human, never fully elven. Incomplete.
Kaine, the headstrong, brash, surly half-elf. Kaine, who hid himself beneath a veneer of cheerfulness and fake witticism. Kaine, whom no one really knew. Kaine, whom no one really bothered to know.
Except for Soveliss. Only he had known Kaine, even if only because of the mental link they shared. It had taken Kaine the better part of a year to allow Soveliss to finish the bond, surrendering his treasured privacy to the sentient. Till then Kaine had always clutched it to his breast like some dirty blanket, finding security and shelter in his aloofness. Kaine had built a prison around himself, locked himself inside a cage, never to be let out.
Soveliss had changed that, and Kaine had gotten a cellmate. Now that cellmate had died, been ripped away from Kaine, leaving a wound, raw, open, bleeding still. And salt was prepared, to be rubbed into it, in the shape of one Sir Tristan, formerly a Knight of King Arthur's Round Table (whoever that was).
++++++
" Kaine, I don't like the idea much too. This guy tried to kill us all more than a few times, not too mention trying to kidnap Faith. Needless to say I would be much happier without him here," Xander was saying, snapping Kaine out of his meandering thought process. " But we got not much choice, man. This place looks more hostile by the minute and every man would come in useful,"
++++++
Speaking of Faith, I hope she's alright. She must be worried sick right now, wondering where I've gone.
Waitaminit, what am I talking about? Faith, worried? Yeah, right.
But then again, she really did seem kinda flustered when I got myself in hospital for that tussle with the Keslac demons a few months back. And when I was kidnapped by the Ravagers? She burst in on them like a force of nature. I'd never seen anything like it.
Okay, point made, Faith is most likely worried about me. Which only serves to make me work twice as hard to get outta here, Tristan or no. I can't really say I hate the guy, since he was kinda misled into making that whole vow thingie. Unless he was lying to me, in which case I'm gonna gut the fucker as soon as we get back.
But he does seem like a nice guy, if you looked where it mattered. And its kinda dark down there, so bring a flashlight. Still, I know Kaine's an ally for sure, though he does seem volatile right now. Either way, I'm convinced the three of us gotta stick together to get out of this. It's this gut thing I sorta picked up over the years and I'm trusting it fully today.
But when we get back, all gloves are off, Tristan ol' buddy.
++++++
" What do you think about all this?" Kaine turned to Tristan, looking him straight on since the first time they'd landed here. The man shrugged diffidently, uncaring.
" Not my decision," he said.
++++++
I keep thinking this is all my fault, which it probably is. If I hadn't made that oath with Faustus, all this would never have happened. If I hadn't been so stupid to fall for that love potion, to be so mad for Isolde, maybe all this wouldn't have turned out so tragic. Kaine looks strange, as if he hurts inside, like he's lost something very close to him. I now that look, saw it on enough faces to recognize him.
It had something to do with his sword, which I'm convinced is much more than a simple sword. It glowed, and some of the blocks he made came from the blade, not him. That sword was no magical sword, nothing as mundane as that. There's something else about it, but I cant' figure out what.
Whatever it is, Kaine is looking at me like I just killed his mother. I have no idea where he came from, no idea who he is, just that he appeared out of the blue to help the Slayers and ruin my plans at every turn. I like him, I really do. It's not everyday I find someone as smart as him. But I'm afraid I've done something that has damaged him irrevocably and I can't repair it, no matter what I do.
++++++
" I say we stick together. Any arguments?" Xander said, looking at Kaine in particular. The half-elf waved a negative and walked on silently, eyes roaming the unchanging landscape. " Good,"
The three walked on in silence, the only sound the tramping of their boots on the rocky ground. Kaine's sharp eyes spotted something in the distance and he frowned, squinting to make out the details.
" You see something, man?" Xander asked, noticing the way Kaine leaned forward slightly in an attempt to see better. Kaine nodded, then lowered his body into a crouch, the knuckles of one fist resting on the floor like a third leg. " What is it?"
" Trouble," was all he said.
++++++
Trouble came in the form of a winged demon, swooping down at them, claws outstretched. It was humanoid, with scaly, reptilian green skin. Two bat-like wings sprouted from its back and it was currently unfurled to its full span, a whopping six feet long. It had a T-rex like snout, though its teeth were definitely a lot sharper. Two small horns protruded from its head, somewhere above its eyes.
" I like your description of trouble," Xander commented, just as the demon launched itself at Kaine, its long tail snapping and whipping about like a crazed snake. Xander felt the gust of wind from the beating of the demon's wings and was thrown off his feet by the force of it. A flurry of red dust obscured his vision, intruding into his nose and mouth, stinging his eyes. A small, sharp pebble bounced off his cheek, drawing a line of blood.
Tristan leapt out of the way with adroit grace, tumbling to a crouch some five feet away. The demon's wing clipped him in the shoulder just as he came to land, sending him spinning to the ground. The thing was incredibly strong and Tristan felt a bruise forming on his arm.
Kaine shifted his feet, spreading his legs wide for more balance. The demon came swooping predictably down at him and Kaine knew enough about avians to know how they hunted and attacked. What he planned to do was to leap back at the last instant, shooting his hands out to wrap themselves around the demon's thick wrists, locking a grip onto them. Then, as he landed on his back, his feet would come up, plant themselves in the demon's chest while his arms pulled it closer to him. with a single thrust, he would send the creature over his head, possibly out of balance.
It didn't work.
The demon stopped no more than two feet away, coming to a dead halt in mid-air. Kaine rocked back in surprise to see the demon hovering in mid-air before him, wings beating slowly. Then, it grinned, though Kaine couldn't tell for sure with its bestial mouth. The demon's two wings came together in a clapping motion, intent on slamming Kaine in between them, crushing him into pulp. But the wiry half-elf dropped, rolled forward and dove under the demon's feet.
As he came up to a stop behind the demon and turned, Tristan launched himself at it in a rugby tackle, his head ducked. The demon showed surprising agility for a creature of its immense size, turning and a grabbing Tristan by the arm, then continuing its turn, swinging Tristan one full circle before releasing him- straight into Kaine.
The two were thrown onto the dusty rock, sprawled on the ground. Then Xander made his move.
As the demon turned to him, he got up on one knee and threw a fistful of sand into its eyes. Its arms and wings instantly came up to block the harassment, leaving its lower torso open for attack. And attack Xander did, by grabbing one of its legs and slamming it into the ground.
It roared in his face and its other foot thundered into his chest, sending him flying spread-eagled into the ground. He landed badly and he arched his back in reflexive pain, groaning. Kaine dragged himself clear of Tristan and rose smoothly to his feet, dust and sand clinging to his sweaty, bare chest. As the demon rose up to its feet and began hovering again, he exploded into motion.
He leapt straight at the demon's face and he was predictably caught in the demon's one handed grasp. Held up by the throat, he remained motionless, staring into the demon's eyes. Then his feet rose, his boots slammed firmly into the thing's chest. His right heel came up, kicking the beast's chin, followed by the toe of his left boot into the demon's exposed throat.
Giving out a strangled cry, the demon released its captor and one hand groped at its bruised windpipe, trying to find relief from the pain. Tristan moved in with a dropkick to the side of its knee, crumpling the limb and dropping the demon to one knee. Xander came from behind, wrapped his hands around its chin and forehead and twisted sharply to the left.
The bone gave way with a dry snap, and the demon slumped forward, falling only when Xander let it go. Breathing hard, the ex-Marine sergeant wiped the back of his hand over his forehead, studying his two companions.
" See? Working together wasn't so hard,"
Kaine snorted and turned away, obviously not in the mood for a pep talk. Tristan followed without a single word. Xander sighed and trudged ahead, hoping that the issue would resolve itself in time.
Behind them, the demon stirred and rose to its feet once again. Straightening its neck and raising its head to a more natural tilt, it looked at the retreating backs of the three humans and growled.
++++++
Kaine wasn't sure what alerted him. Maybe it was the growl he heard, or the sudden, gentle quickening of the wind. Whatever it was, he turned, much on instinct as anything else, to see the same demon they'd 'killed' moments earlier go in for a killing blow, aimed at Tristan's head. If the blow landed, it would take the man's head clean off, ending his life in less than a heartbeat.
If Kaine had been thinking- if he had the time to think his actions over- he would never have leapt to push Tristan out of the way. He would've allowed the demon to decapitate the man who had destroyed his dearest friend and been none the worse about it.
But the problem was that he had leapt and shoved Tristan to the ground, at the same time receiving a shallow gash on his back. He had practically sacrificed himself for the man he'd thought he'd hated.
" What the—" Xander managed, just before the swooping demon clipped him with lash of its tail and knocked him to the ground. Xander rolled backwards, climbing to his feet, watching dumbly as the demon circled about and dove at them again.
Xander started running, knowing that he would never reach Kaine or Tristan before the demon did. So he improvised.
As the demon lowered, skimming off the ground- so close it could've touched the rocky surface with an outstretched arm, Xander landed on its back.
The demon was caught off-guard by the unexpected move and the two spiraled about in the air before coming down in a crash, raising red dust. Kaine was on his feet in an instant, followed an eye blink later by Tristan.
Xander was desperately clinging to the demon's back, arm wrapped around its burly chest. One of its wings was trapped between its back and his chest; he could feel the powerful muscles throbbing against his skin.
One handed, the demon pushed itself off the floor, the other latching onto the back of his neck. With a heave of its great muscles, the demon hurled Xander away and rose majestically to its feet, casting an ominous shadow over the much smaller man.
Suddenly Tristan grabbed onto the demon from behind and did a German suplex, made easier by the fact that the demon was beginning to rise off the floor. With its wings unable to move, the demon couldn't halt the move and the back of its head crashed down onto the rock.
Kaine's boot slammed into its temple as soon as its head touched the ground. Roaring in pain, the demon was once again lifted into the air and slammed back down by the man stubbornly holding onto its waist. Finally, when Tristan rose for the third time, the demon decided instead to fall over backwards, thus pinning Tristan to the ground beneath its huge body.
It rose to its feet, but was instantly attacked by Kaine. First his boot sole flew into the demon's chest, driving it backwards. Still in mid-air, the half-elf spun like a ballerina, his other foot lashing out, catching the demon right in the jaw. It was cannoned off its feet and landed hard on the ground, where Xander lay in wait.
Battered and bruised, the young man had joined in the fight once again, refusing to give up. The demon actually bounced slightly off the floor when it first landed, and it was in that short split-second that Xander acted.
He dove forward, grabbing the demon's outstretched wing in both hands. His momentum carried him forward, while Kaine's lightning quick maneuver had driven the demon back. Moving in opposite ways, the forces acting on the demon's wing breaking the bone holding the membrane.
It roared in pain, a dreadful, deafening sound that made Xander's insides quiver. Still it staggered to its feet, a stupid move by all means, for Kaine and Tristan were waiting. They both launched themselves, feet forward, all four feet slamming into the demon's chest with the force of a piston.
The demon flew off its feet, soaring into the air. Tristan landed on the floor on his feet, but Kaine somehow stayed in the air to thunder two more kicks into the demon's torso. The demon was thrown further into the air and it fell off the cliff- into the fiery chasm below.
++++++
The three companions staggered over to the lip of the cliff and looked down at the flailing body of the demon, getting rapidly smaller as it fell. As one, they turned away, all clutching at various bruises on their bodies.
" Let's get outta here before some of its bigger friends decide to show up," Xander murmured, taking a few steps forward. Kaine nodded, his innate sense of direction allowing him to return to the path they had been taking before they were attacked.
In the bleak, burning landscape, one side looked as similar as any other. Getting lost was too easy in Carcerus, and more than one man had found his doom in the unchanging scenery of the place. Using the lava river as a guide, Kaine had vaguely discerned north and was heading that way, because that was where he knew salvation lay.
" Kaine,"
It was Tristan. Kaine conflicting emotions tore at him from the inside, but he settled for turning to look at the man. " You saved my life. Thank you,"
Kaine could only nod, because the words that had remained unspoken were acknowledged by both. Kaine could just as easily have ignored the demon's attack on Tristan and allowed it to kill him- but he hadn't. And that was what mattered.
" Where are we headed?" Xander asked, if only to counteract the uncomfortable silence hanging in the air.
" North," Kaine answered.
" Why north?"
" Portal lies there. Maybe we can open it somehow," Kaine's answer was brief. Tired and hungry, he had to spare all energy he had on walking. The fight with the demon hadn't helped them any.
" How'd you know that?"
Kaine fixed the brown-haired man with a flat stare, as if to ask 'Isn't it obvious?'. He finally turned away, his lips fixed in a thin line. " I've been here before,"
" Really? How'd you get out the first time?" Xander persisted, fuelled by curiosity. Kaine sighed, then decided it was best for him to answer, rather than have the man keep nagging him for answers.
" Soveliss helped me open the portal. I don't know how to do it without him,"
" Soveliss? Who's that?"
" His sword," Tristan replied, realization dawning on him. Kaine's eyes narrowed in suspicion and he stared at the man angrily. Tristan locked gazes with him, neither able to turn away. Xander diffused the situation by stepping in between them, breaking their deadlock.
" What's that?" he asked, having seen something in the distance. It looked like a hoop or circle of some sort, though he couldn't tell for sure. Kaine slowly turned away from Tristan and studied the object Xander was pointing out, finally nodding in satisfaction.
" The portal,"
++++++
They slowly made their way to the hoop, not a single word passing between them. The hoop was a perfect circle, made of gold or something like it, shining unnaturally in the dimension's unnatural light.
They stopped before it, not knowing what to do. " What now?" Tristan's deep voice was raspy from lack of moisture. Xander had no doubt that his voice would sound no different. Kaine shrugged. He placed a hand on the hoop, then jerked it back hurriedly when a bolt of electricity seared through his palm.
" Whoa…" he muttered. Xander frowned and passed a hand through the hoop, watching it go through without resistance and appear on the other side. He ducked his head through it, then pulled back suddenly, tumbling to heap on the floor.
" What is it?" Kaine asked, bending and peering through. His question was answered by the sight before him. A huge, muscular demon, with smooth red skin and great leathery wings stood on the other side, arms folded across its burly chest. In one hand, it held the hilt of a sword, the blade jagged and ornate-looking.
Kaine straightened and looked at the other side of the hoop, over it's rim. Nothing. He walked over to the other side, waving his arms around. Still nothing. Tristan, on the other hand, had decided to find out the matter and was currently squinting curiously at the demon before him.
The demon bent and stared into Tristan's eyes. " Yes?" it rumbled, a deep booming voice that made the earth tremble beneath his feet. Tristan frowned, lips pursing. The demon's face was slightly human, though it had no hair of any sort. It's eyebrow- at least Tristan thought it was the eyebrow- rose in an arch look of query.
" I can't help you if you don't say anything," the demon continued.
" Why would you want to help us?" was Tristan's immediate reply. Years of looking over his shoulder and honing his instincts had instilled in him a feeling of distrust towards everything inhuman.
" It's what I'm supposed to do. I suppose you would like to ask me where I am now," the demon continued. Only now did Tristan realize that it had an almost Oxford accent, sounding ridiculous coming from the demon's huge bulk.
" Actually we would like to ask for directions out of here," Xander interrupted, regaining enough nerve to peer into the hoop. He was careful not to stick any body parts out though.
" You'll have to come here first," the demon replied, side stepping. Xander and Tristan could now see a shimmering doorway, the light emanating from it blindingly white. " That is your way home,"
" Okay, so where are you? How do we get there?" Xander relented. The demon smiled thinly, then nodded.
" Answer me this: It is more powerful than God. It is what all beggars have, but it is what the rich do not need. And if you were to eat it, you will surely die. What is it?"
" A riddle? We have to answer a riddle?" Xander exploded in disbelief. The demon inclined his head and folded its arms over its chest once more. The young man sat back, defeated. " I don't know. Do any of you know?"
" Demons," Kaine said suddenly. The demon frowned.
" I'm sorry, that is wrong,"
Kaine shook his head and pointed over Xander's shoulder. Turning, Xander saw another winged demon circling the air some seventy feet away. It was joined by another, and then they suddenly started flying towards the hoop. Xander swore foully. " Dammit, answer the riddle someone!"
" Nothing. It is nothing," Kaine suddenly spoke up, appearing at Tristan's elbow. The demon smiled, revealing a mouthful of long white canines.
" Very good. You may enter," the demon announced, indicating Kaine. " The two of you, must remain here and answer another riddle before you will be allowed to pass through unharmed,"
Kaine frowned at his two companions, but Xander and Tristan waved him on. " Don't worry. We'll see you there,"
The half-elf nodded, reluctantly, and stepped through the hoop. There was a flash of bright light and he disappeared from view. Seconds later, the light subsided and Kaine was standing behind the demon. Their view of him was blocked as the demon came to the hoop once more, bending down to stare at them.
" Next. I am at the beginning of eternity and at the end of time and space. I am the beginning of the end but at the end of every middle. I am at the beginning of everything and the end of every race. What am I?" the demon posed.
Xander and Tristan stared at each other for. It was obvious both of them knew the answer. " You answer the riddle. I'll hold them off," Tristan said, standing and taking off towards the two flyers.
" Dammit, Tristan!" Xander shouted. But it was too late, as the long haired knight leapt on the first demon, pulling it towards the ground. The second swept by and raked its claws across his back, making him cry out in pain. But he never loosed his hold on the demon and brought the thing spiraling down into the lava river, the other demon swooping down after them. Xander turned back towards the waiting demon, tears forming in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Xander said, " The letter 'E',"
The demon smiled again. " Well done. Step through,"
Xander glanced at Tristan's fading form and saluted him, stepping through the hoop. The same bright flash and then Xander was standing beside Kaine. The demon turned to look outside, face expressionless.
"Foolish man. He didn't have to do that," it said.
" No, he didn't. But he needed to," Xander replied, still watching as the demons and Tristan fell out of sight.. He turned to the demon, fury etched across his features.
" I don't know what sick game you're playing, freak, but it's gonna end right now," he snarled, fists clenching. Kaine's firm hand was suddenly planted on his chest, holding him back.
" No, not yet. There's more to this," the half-elf whispered hoarsely in his ear. Xander stilled, but his jaw remained clenched in anger.
" It wasn't fair,"
" Life isn't fair, human," the demon interrupted, calmly walking over to the shimmering doorway and imposing itself before it. " Now for the next step towards your freedom. I will pose you a question. The one who answers will be allowed to walk through this door, unharmed and untouched. The other will face me in single combat, to the death,"
" You sick bastard," Xander growled, taking a menacing step forward, but Kaine's hand held him back. Both of them were sweating from exertion and Kaine's breath was coming out in short gasps.
" Don't. Think Xander. Tristan let you go through. Don't waste that," he reasoned, gloved hand gripping the man's shoulder forcefully. " Answer the question. I can take the demon," he added, under his breath. Even so, Xander suspected the demon heard, by the way its eyes narrowed and its lips curled into a thin smile.
" This is the question. What can change the nature of a man?"
Xander turned towards Kaine, uncertain. The half-elf nodded assuredly, giving Xander a gentle push. Stumbling, Xander walked towards the demon and stared it straight in the eye. " The answer, you twisted fuck, is love. Love can change the nature of a man,"
" A romantic, I see. You may pass," the demon replied, waving a negligent hand towards the doorway. It stepped towards Kaine, hefting its large sword and lowering it to point straight at the half-elf's heart. " I offer you the easy way out, mortal," it said, indicating its proffered blade. " Take it,"
Kaine sneered and went into a low crouch, reaching into his boots tow produce two curved daggers. " A Slayer goes down fighting, balor. And he always takes his enemy with him,"
Xander stopped at the door, giving Kaine one last reassuring look. The half-elf didn't seem to notice, fixed on the demon. He held the daggers in reverse, their blades resting along his forearm. Crossing his arms so they covered the lower half of his face and most of his chest, Kaine beckoned the demon to attack first.
Xander stood at the doorway, hesitant to go through. The demon charged at Kaine and Xander's hand clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. But Kaine easily sidestepped the rush and whipped out one hand, burying the dagger into the demon's back, up to the hilt. Even as he slid the blade free, the demon was turning, sword arcing out in a deadly sweep.
Kaine ducked under it, but just barely, his spiky hair waving with the breeze that was created. Then the demon's fist slammed into the back of his head, throwing the half-elf onto the dusty ground. Obviously it could move a lot faster than its size indicated. Kaine rolled with the blow, coming to his feet and backflipping over the low cut the demon sent his way.
He came in low, daggers merely glittering point too fast for the eye to follow. He hamstrung the demon, then cut the tendons holding its ankle together. The demon tumbled to the rock, snarling in pain and fury. Even as Kaine rushed in for the follow up, the demon rose, ignoring the immense pain coursing through its legs.
Unable to stop his headlong momentum, Kaine ducked and tucked his head into his chest, trying to roll under the out thrust blade of the demon. Still he suffered a long cut on his bare back, shallow but bleeding profusely. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Kaine got to his feet just in time to see the blade coming down to cleave his skull. He jerked backwards, thrusting his daggers out to block or deflect the blow.
The impact sent shivers coursing through his arms. If the daggers were not of the finest dwarven make, they would have shattered under the force of the demon's anger-fuelled attack. Suddenly a form leapt onto the demon's back, stabbing its throat and eyes.
Xander.
" You never said anything about not helping, fuckwad," Xander snarled, ramming his butterfly knife into the demon's left eye. Blood sprayed, black and corrosive. The demon reared up, wings beating furiously in an attempt to shake Xander free. It rose off the floor, slowly, impeded by the weight on its back.
Pulled down by the unexpected direction of movement, Xander's forearm was pressed against the demon's chin, exposing its throat. In one swift motion, he drew a bloody line across it, hoping it would be able to do the trick. At the same time, Kaine surged forward, daggers flying outwards in a cross slash, making a smooth 'X' on the demon's belly, eviscerating it.
It fell to the floor, Xander still on its back. Kaine helped him to his feet, sweating profusely. " Thanks. You didn't have to do that,"
" Hey, what are friends for?" Xander returned. Kaine had no time to answer as his eyes registered on the doorway and the quickly shrinking portal within it.
" Move, the portal's closing!" he yelled, shoving Xander towards it. Reacting admirably for someone so exhausted and off-balance, Xander whirled and ran towards the shimmering doorway, head ducked and eyes closed against the glare.
Then the light enveloped him and he found himself back on a street. A paved, gravel street, smelling of burnt rubber and petrol and exhaust. Whooping he bent and kissed the ground, then jumped about, still whooping loudly.
Until, of course, he fell forward onto the floor in a dead faint.