Family Ties II
Chapter 10
Battle Lines
Spike watched with hooded eyes the pathetic wanker that was a second rate makeover of the Big Bad himself saunter out into the middle of the dance floor. So far, Anya and Xander had done an admirable job in clearing out those closest to the exits and around the bar, though there was still an adequate throng of party-goers enjoying the rhythmic beats pouring through the sound system, unaware of the danger sifting through their gyrating bodies.
"What are you up to, you wanker," the vampire whispered to himself as he watched Seth's body join a crowd of college girls in sexual ministrations to a particularly upbeat song. If it had been any other time, Spike would have figured Seth for nothing but a horny guy trying to get one of the women to go home with him. As it was, Spike had the sneaking suspicion of what this whole scene was about. With that in mind, he deftly weaved through the crowd towards the other vampire.
Seth knew that all eyes were on him even before he had jumped up from the table. Though everything had to be taken care of, and soon, he had wanted to have a little fun with this group of people. Of course, the distraction that he was about to cause would give Jennifer enough time to begin the pre-ritual (whatever the hell that was) as well as contact Rack.
He spotted a group of three women dancing together and targeted them as his prey. He was anticipating the attack to start when the slayer and her friends figured out what he was going to do. Even if they didn't, the vampire would surely understand. With that in mind, Seth had strolled over to the women and grabbed the smaller one by the hips from behind. She gasped when he pressed himself against her although, almost immediately, the scent of her arousal wafted into his nostrils. Seth smiled as the blond leaned into him, her hands running up and down his legs and he returned the favor though his own hands traveled further up, groping her breasts ever so slightly. She gasped in surprise at his forwardness but did nothing to prevent his hands from further exploration though her two friends stared at the pair incredulously.
Seth smiled to himself when a petite hand gravitated between his thighs, cupping his aroused member. The woman's head lolled to the side as if inviting him to feed and the vampire smirked at the woman's innocent gesture. He bent down to her neck, his cool lips barely caressing her flesh over the jugular and she shivered with delight.
"What's your name, beautiful?" He whispered in her ear.
"Vicki," she replied breathlessly.
"Well, Vicki," he returned, his eyes locking on the hazel eyes of Buffy on the far side of the club, " You are a pretty thing, aren't you? I wish things could be different, but they can't." He ground his hips into her and she jumped at the pressure though she didn't pull away.
"I don't," she responded and cupped his groin tighter, eliciting a feral growl from the vamp as his canines elongated into deadly weapons.
"Now that you mention it, neither do I." He could feel the slayer near but knew she would never make it in time and neither would her vampire. And with that sadistic thought in mind, Seth's fangs descended towards the woman's bare neck.
***
Buffy had been eyeing the couple closely, her slayer instincts firing on all cylinders. There was something about the whole setup that screamed--well, setup. She scanned the crowd, thankful to Xander and Anya for getting as many people out as they had. Still, until everyone was out of the way, Buffy wouldn't feel safe taking the fight to Seth but when he locked eyes with her, his powerful arms around the waist of a blonde woman, she knew that playing it safe wasn't an option.
Hastily making her way through the crowd, she caught the glint of fangs as he dipped his head towards the unsuspecting woman's neck.
There was no way she would make it in time and the thought of failing another person was like a stained knife in her belly.
It's never enough, she thought dejectedly as she dodged the patrons still oblivious to the exodus of many of their fellow Bronzers.
Resigned to the fact that she wouldn't get there in time, Buffy swore to herself and to the unknown girl that revenge would be had.
But as a purple and black blur flew from the rafters and into the vampire, Buffy's promise for revenge didn't seem quite as necessary.
***
The supernatural impact had jarred the woman from Seth's grasp and sent them both careening to the floor. The vampire swore as his head thumped against the hardwood and his saw stars as blood trickled into his right eye from a giant gash on his forehead.
"Who the fuck?" he growled, getting to his feet, oblivious to the panic that had now set in with the crowd. Seth's eyes glistened red as the anger at the person that had blindsided him and his own carelessness got the better of him.
"Awww," came the sarcastic reply, "did the widdle vampire get a boo-boo on his widdle head?" Seth snarled at the defiant stance of Faith in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest, smirking at him in a way he had never seen before.
"You bitch," he chuckled, wiping the blood from his face. He fixed Faith with a pointed gaze before sliding his tongue over his palm. "Sweet," he said to her before his eyes raped her taut body, "but not as sweet as your blood…or other things of yours, if I remember correctly." His demon reveled in the visible shiver that coursed through Faith though her eyes never wavered in their determination.
"Well, Seth," she drawled, her bored tone masking her nervousness, "you better hold on to those memories because they're all you'll have when I send you to hell."
The vampire laughed heartily his hands coming to his stomach. "You? Send me to hell?" He asked in amusement. "You and what army?" His question was answered a kick that snapped his head back and sent him back to the floor. When he looked up, another blond that looked very similar to Faith stood over him, her arms prepped in a fighting stance in front of her.
"Us," Buffy replied, her voice hard.
"I see," Seth said as he pushed himself to his feet. He brushed whatever dirt had clung to his black pants as if it were just another day. His gaze traveled from Faith to Buffy and back again. "So, Faith honey, this is the legendary Buffy Summers. Your dear old Mum." He sauntered over to the two women, pleased when Buffy backed just far enough out of his reach. For now, at least, he thought. His hands rested casually on his hips as he again regarded the legendary slayer and daughter, amazed at the similarities between the two. In his time, he had never been allowed to see Buffy, at Emerald's request to Gabriel, and only had holo-files with which to compare the two. Now that they were together, the resemblance was uncanny, though he noticed the variance of their facial structure. But it really didn't matter since he planned to kill both of them before the night was over.
"I don't know, Faith," he said bringing a finger to tap against his lips as he eyed Buffy. "She's a little smaller than you in the hip area." He lowered his voice sensuously though his words were anything but. "Think she can take it like you couldn't?" His smile widened at the look of outrage that crossed Buffy's face and the panic that filtered into Faith's eyes. "Come on, girlie," he chided, "I've said things a lot worse than that to you. Hell, I've done things ten times worse." He turned back to Buffy. "Your little girl sure can take it, you know? Took her all of twenty minutes the first time I had her before she cried. Course every time afterwards, she'd cry and cry, begging me to stop. You know that just made me fuck harder." He saw Buffy's eyes flee towards her daughter and knew his chance to attack was coming.
The confidence that Faith had had not two minutes before had all but evaporated at Seth's proximity and the images his words had drawn up in her. Her arms dropped to the sides and her stomach tightened in that familiar knot that Seth's presence exuded from her. No matter what, he always made her feel like a helpless child--a helpless child he could take advantage of and she hated it.
"Faith," Buffy called and the slayer forced herself out of thoughts of the past and turned eyes toward her mother. Hazel eyes gazed back at her with a love and compassion she remembered from her childhood with her parents. She offered Buffy a tight smile, knowing that she had to pull it together if they wanted to defeat Seth and the First.
Though he rarely used weapons, taking enjoyment in ripping his enemies limb from limb, Seth's hand slid inconspicuously under the leather jacket he wore before gripping the obsidian handle of the silver blade sheathed against the small of his back. Buffy and Faith were lost in some sort of silent communication with their eyes and temporarily oblivious to him. Though he couldn't kill them, he could do a little cutting here and there the same way he had done to Faith on several occasions.
With a preternatural swiftness, the vampire unsheathed the eight-inch blade and took a step towards the two women, his intent broadcast from the maniacal gleam of his eyes. But before he could bring the weapon from behind his back, an iron grip clamped over his wrist, trapping it into place before a steel-like arm wrapped around his neck in a vice grip.
"Now, now," drawled Spike, "were you gonna play dirty while my girls are otherwise occupied?" Seth couldn't answer as Spike's arm tightened even more and he had to admit his surprise at the British vampire's strength. Strong, but not strong enough, he mused and clamped his free hand over Spike's wrist, forcing the vampire's arm away from his neck. But a swift kick to the sternum halted his actions and the blade clanged against the dance floor. He doubled over, his hands automatically coming to his chest before his feet were swept out from under him and he was on his back for the third time in as many minutes.
"Shit," he swore before being Spike greeted him with a punch to the side of the head. He instinctively rolled with it, flipping to his left and away from the three opponents. He was to his feet almost instantly, an excited grin etching his face as he eyed the three blondes that sized him up.
"Looksie what we have here," he quipped as he removed his leather jacket and tossed it away. The black tank top bared his tattooed arms that flexed in anticipation of the fight.
Crunching his knuckles, the vampire circled his opponents, his eyes taking in every part of the situation at hand. "Well, you know what they say…the family that slays together, dies together."
"We don't fancy too much the dyin', mate," Spike said as he bounced on the balls of his feet.
"Don't really think you have much of a choice, buddy-boy." Seth smiled once more before he charged into the fray.
***
"Guess the fighting's started, if the slight disturbance on the dance floor is any indication," Xander said to his wife. They had evacuated as many people as they could in the time allowed and was thankful that the Bronze was only half as full as it usually was at this time. Still, there were far too many civilians in the way for what was appearing to be an all-out battle royal and someone was going to get caught up in the crossfire.
Frustrated, Xander searched the crowd for Willow, Tara and Giles and spotted them in an unpopulated corner of the Bronze. Turning towards Anya, he said "Stay here, Ahn, I'm gonna see if the others have finished the spell yet cuz we're gonna need a few helping hands getting these people outta here."
"Don't get smushed," she said before planting a deep kiss on her fiancé's lips.
"Will do," he smiled before hustling over to the others.
"You better," Anya whispered as she watched Xander retreat, "I don't want to be a widow before I'm even married."
Neither saw the lithe woman strolling casually up to the three Scoobies.
***
"That's it, I think," Willow smiled in relief. The spell had taken a lot more adjustment than she had previously thought and even though she had only anchored Tara and Giles, she still felt drained--no doubt because of her abstinence from magic the past few months.
"I believe you are correct," Giles asserted, his eyes scanning the remaining crowd for Jennifer. The disbelief that had seized him when he first saw her had taken a back seat to his determination of getting the barrier spell completed. But now, he allowed himself a brief reprieve and the grief that had slithered into his heart now weighed heavily on his consciousness. He brought a shaky hand to his lips as his mind frantically attempted to grasp how it had been possible that Jenny had been there. Even as a man with more than his fair shares of knowledge of the supernatural, his mind refused to fathom how or why his once love was now working with the First.
"It's not her," Tara's uncharacteristically confident voice said as her delicate fingers squeezed his shoulders firmly.
Broken from his thoughts, Giles turned toward the Wicca, offering her a weary smile. "I know," he conceded.
"I know your mind does, Giles," Willow added, "but your heart is a different matter. Believe me, I know. You have to remember that inside it's like the uber-Evil thing that just so happens to be wearing Ms. Calendar's body. It will have no problem in dishing all sorts of bad things to us, so when have to treat it just like we would any other enemy."
"She's right, you know," came a melodious and familiar voice from the side. All three turned their heads and stared at the seductive form of Jennifer. She was dressed in a long leather skirt that stopped just above her ankles, showcasing her black ankle boots. She wore a white camisole that hugged her chest, giving the observer an unobstructed view of her inviting breasts.
Giles and Willow were stunned at the figure before them, her physical characteristics no different from their own Jennifer Calendar though her obsidian eyes contained an evil and malice no human could ever possess. The gleam of evil that radiated from her pupils caused the three to back up, their gaze never wavering from Jennifer.
"Ruppie," she asked, her face contorted in a mask of hurt, "what's wrong? You don't love me anymore?"
Giles was taken aback at her pleading tone and only by sheer force of will was he able to resist going to her.
"What the hell do you want?" He asked through clenched teeth, regaining his wits.
"Now, now, Ruppie," she sing-songed while taking measured steps toward the group, "is that the way to treat your dear old Jennifer?"
"You're not Ms. Calendar," Willow spat, her green eyes sparkling with unkempt fury and pain at seeing this woman masquerading as her once teacher and friend.
"Oh, but I am, Willow," she informed the group. "I have all the memories, not to mention all the physical traits of your friend…"
"That doesn't make you her," Giles gritted out as he took a step towards her. Willow's tenuous grip on his arm was the only thing keeping him from charging at the imposter and ripping her head from her shoulders.
"Ruppie," she said and the Scoobies noticed the cold edge her voice had taken on, "I wouldn't try to do that if I were you," she informed, reading his thoughts. "It could get quite painful if you do. Now," she continued as if nothing had happened, "as I was saying, I am Jennifer Calendar of the Kalderash tribe. Unlike my last appearance here, I am not an apparition here to torment Angel. It was necessary for me to take a mortal host to complete what has been foretold since before time itself. I will unite my powers with that of the First Light and with that Enjoining, I will be more powerful than you can imagine."
"Hey guys," Xander said as he came up to the group, "are you all done with the…Ms. Calendar?" he whispered when his eyes landed on the rave haired woman.
"See," she said in mock glee, "at least Xander here remembers me. Now, if only the rest of you would see the light." As if on cue, a bright light flashed in front of the four Scoobies causing them to cover their eyes. When they looked back, their vision was filled with two very ugly, very large demons.
"Guys," Jennifer said to the Jct'ars as she walked between them, "take care of them. But make sure you don't kill them. Yet."
***
A bright flash of light appeared on the Bronze's balcony and when it dissipated, three figures, one unconscious, appeared.
"I see that everything is going as planned," Rack smirked as he watched the two Jct'ars cornering the four Scoobies while Seth was surrounded by the two slayers and the other vampire.
The Clan leader of the Jct'ar watched the events below, oblivious to the weight of an unconscious Dawn that hung limply over his shoulder. He watched as Rack whispered the same foreign words that had gotten them into the club and the remaining two Jct'ars appeared between the horrified onlookers, many of whom attempted to flee, only finding the exit blocked by an invisible barrier.
The leader smiled at his two Triumph members crept up on the three blondes fighting the demon Seth. As much as he wanted to participate in the bloodletting, Seth had informed them that the plan to kill the slayer had been amended. The Triumph did not question the orders, content in the chance to regain their honor and fight several worthy opponents.
"My strawberry thought her magic would be strong enough to keep me out," Rack chuckled to the Jct'ar, "after Jennifer is done with her, I'll have to show her to treat Daddy with a little more respect."
***
Spike felt his jaw pop as Seth's fist landed like a steel piston against his cheek.
"Bloody hell," he spat as his mouth filled with blood. He had enough time to dodge the kick aimed at his head, falling to the floor to do so. He stared up at Seth who regained his balance and was lifting his foot to stomp the Big Bad before two blond blurs crashed into the tattooed vampire.
The three bodies skidded to the floor and Seth rolled instinctively with the tackle, landing on top of Buffy. But before he could deliver a blow to her, his head rocked back from a powerful kick to the head, knocking him off the dazed slayer.
"That's not quite fair, Baby Doll," Seth mused, getting to his feet while he rubbed the side of his head. Not one second later a heel dug into his back, hurdling him into Faith's awaiting arms.
"We're not in the business of playin' fair, mate," Spike drawled.
"He's right," Faith said before slamming her forearm into Seth's face, causing him to stumble backwards where Buffy took his legs out with a textbook leg sweep. She followed it up with an elbow to his chest.
"We're in the business of winning," Buffy finished before jumping to her feet and away from the downed vampire.
Seth's eyes darted between the three blondes in a mild fascination. He had thought that this would be an interesting fight but it was turning out to be more than that. He had rarely been in a fight that he wasn't sure he could win--not for lack of trying, but because he was so much stronger than the majority of his opponents. Plus, there was the fact that he knew he couldn't die which put a damper on things.
But here, now, in a battle he thought that he would win without preamble, Seth knew that he was in trouble. No, he was in deep shit.
"Oh yeah," he said with an eager smile, "I'm gonna love every minute of this."