Family Ties II
Chapter 11
Secret Weapon
The two Jct'ars approached the Scoobies slowly, their purple eyes glowing with malicious intent. Though their instructions had been clear, they weren't prohibited from a little roughhousing of the four people before them. Their mouths turned in what could be loosely referred to as smiles, though the four Scoobies would have said otherwise.
"Uh, G-man," Xander whispered, as they backed away from the approaching demons, "don't mean to put the pressure on you, but a weapon would be nice right about now."
"I understand that, Xander," Giles responded, clearly agitated, "but until we can reach my bag, we are quite defenseless."
"What about Tara?" Xander asked, his heart hammering in his chest as the two Jct'ars mumbled to one another before bursting into hideous grunts that he construed as chuckles. "So, Tara, any hidden spells or what not hidden under your sleeves that you could maybe, you know, whip out?"
The young witch nodded her agreement and a second later, her brow creased in concentration as she muttered several Latin words before aiming for the chest of the closest Jct'ar. A blue streak of energy shot from her palm and into the chest of the demon.
"Okay," she drawled as the demon brushed off the spot where the beam had hit it.
"I'm thinking that's not the effect you had intended," Xander quipped and risked a glance behind him, his spirits lifted when he noticed the bag was only a few feet away, the handle of an axe visible.
"What's wrong, Tara?" Willow asked, slightly panicked at the magical backfire.
"I…I don't know," she stuttered, "it was like…like something was blocking it."
"They may have a magical ward similar to ours cast around them," Giles answered, stepping in front of the two Wiccas.
"No, no, that's not it," Tara refuted. "It's like something—or someone—is interfering with my energies. Like…like…"
"Like Rack," Willow spat, her senses finally prickling at the familiar aura clouding the Bronze. "He's here."
***
"Buffy, luv," Spike threw back as the three blondes circled the grinning Seth. "Hate to bring you bad news but…"
"We're not alone," the slayer finished, her eyes intent on Seth though she extended her other senses in all directions. "I don't know how many, but it looks like Mr. Wannabe Big Bad has some friends backing him up." Spike smiled at her comment though he quickly sobered. He would have to remember to tease her about sticking up for him later. Right now, though, he was more concerned about the new demons and the fact that he couldn't pinpoint them.
"There's some bloody fantastic mojo working here," Faith said, expressing her father's unspoken thoughts, "cuz I can't tell where those bloody reinforcements are." She scanned the frantic crowd in front of them, amazed that a big throng of people watched the four combatants as if it were a staged event. They were blissfully unaware, or too stupid, to know that everything going on was real.
"Bitlet's right, Slayer," Spike assented, "something in here's making my senses go all wonky. It's as if…" But Spike never finished the sentence as a powerful fist connected with his chest.
"Okay," Seth quipped, following up the punch with a roundhouse to Spike's ribs, knocking the vamp to the floor. "Tired of talking. Can we fight now?"
Buffy and Faith looked at one another, a silent assurance passing between the two before they turned to Seth; their faces alit with similar smiles.
"Gladly," they said simultaneously before jumping over the dazed Spike and charging the tattooed vampire.
***
"Got it!" Xander cheered as he hefted the axe from the bag and tossed it to an awaiting Giles.
"Now," the Watcher said, addressing the two demons, "the odds are a bit more even, are they not," he smiled wickedly at the two Jct'ars who noticed the change in demeanor of the former librarian. They stopped, their purple eyes scanning the deadly swagger of Giles as he tossed the axe from hand to hand and bounced on the balls of his feet, awaiting the attack.
Giles noticed the stiffening posture of the two Jct'ars and knew they had seen his transformation into the battle-hardened Ripper. He watched as their knees bent slightly and their heads lowered minutely and knew it was about to go down.
"Xander," he called, his voice clipped with anxiety, "I advise you to be ready as in ten seconds ago." He swept his left arm out to ensure that Willow and Tara had taken refuge behind he and Xander.
"I'm here, ready as I'll ever be," the brunette replied, his voice devoid of its usual joviality. He held a bronze handled scimitar tightly with both hands, waving the sword back and forth, his body calm despite the fear raging within him.
With an earsplitting war cry, the two Jct'ars charged. Both men were surprised at the quickness of the two demons in relation to their size but fighting vampires on a nightly basis had quickened their reflexes, enabling both men to dodge the initial rush.
The Jct'ar closest to Giles bellowed and whipped around with a backhand that the Watcher narrowly avoided. In retaliation, Giles slammed the blunt tip of the axe into the demon's midsection, doubling it over. He raised the axe over his head for the killing blow but the Jct'ar recovered quicker than expected and sent an elbow into Giles' sternum, knocking the wind out of the Watcher and he dropped the axe. The demon rose to its full height and grabbed the stunned Watcher by the lapels of his jacket and slammed him into the wall.
"Giles!" Willow shouted. She wanted to get over to the man that had been as a father to all of them for the past six years but they were divided by the second demon that was now fighting Xander.
Xander's frustration was building as he swung the scimitar for the third time, swiping at nothing but air as the Jct'ar let out its guttural laugh, circling the human amusedly.
"Leave it to me to get the fastest of the two," the brunette muttered while searching for an opening to strike. He had seen Giles get in the first blow seconds earlier before the second Jct'ar had attacked him. He assumed that the Watcher was fairing better than he was at the moment.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, the Jct'ar charged again, catching Xander off guard. Its shoulder rammed the young man in the midsection and it tackled him to the ground. Miraculously, Xander held onto the sword, although it was pinned under the iron grip of the Jct'ar.
"Vouhu luhose," it mumbled, eliciting a toothy, and decidedly hideous, grin. Xander's breath caught in his throat as the demon lowered its mouth dangerously close to his neck and he could do nothing but turn away, unwilling to face the jaws that would be the end of him.
***
"Shit," Seth swore as he dodged a kick to the head from Buffy only to be caught with a vicious uppercut by Faith causing him to fly into the wall. He wiped the blood from his lip, spitting out a mouthful of the life-giving substance. He watched as the two slayers approached from both side and the rising form of a very pissed off Spike.
"Well, Seth, buddy," he said to himself, "guess a vamp's gotta know when to ask for help." Lifting his head slightly, he whistled shrilly and, almost immediately the two Jct'ars jumped into the fray.
Seth had seen them when they had appeared a few minutes before though he had waved them off with a slight nod of the head, confident that sooner or later, he would get the upper hand and, while he still believed that, time was of the essence.
"Bloody hell," Spike cursed as he narrowly escaped beheading as the Jct'ar on the right swung a razor gauntlet through the air.
"Say hello to my little friends," Seth joked.
"Daddy," Faith called, her attention diverted from Seth when she heard Spike grunt as a knee connected with his chin, sending him into the awaiting arms of the other Jct'ar who then clasped the vampire into a full-nelson.
"Go!" Buffy shouted and Faith hesitated for an instant before leaping onto the back of the first Jct'ar before it could skewer her father.
"Well," Seth's voice floated through all the chaos and into Buffy's ears, the silkiness of it not lost on Buffy. "Looks like it's just me and you, Girlie. Sure you're up to the challenge?" Buffy smiled, answering him with a cartwheel that led into a back flip over the vampire's head. Landing behind him, Buffy caught him with a roundhouse kick to the jaw, sending the vampire spinning though he kept his balance.
"Does that answer your question?" She asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Oh yeah," he smiled broadly, "oh yeah."
***
The impact that Faith hit the Jct'ar with was enough to jar the gauntlet off its left hand and scattering across the floor. It quickly recovered and ripped the slayer from its back, hoisting her over its head.
"Uh, Dad," she said to the struggling Spike, "a little help here."
"Quite busy myself, Bitlet," the platinum blonde replied. He knew the Jct'ar was stronger than him, so brute force was not going to do the trick. Whatever you're gonna do, mate, you better hurry he thought as the pressure at the back of his neck intensified. He knew that the Jct'ar was intent on snapping his head right off his shoulders and that it would succeed very shortly if he didn't get himself loose.
Faith saw the trouble that her father was in as the Jct'ar held her high above its head as if contemplating its next course of action. Finally the demon made up its mind and hurled her to the ground with lethal force. Faith, however, was ready and grabbed onto the demon's upper arm and twisted in the air, landing on her feet. The action was not without consequences for the Jct'ar as it bellowed in pain when Faith's body twist caused its arm to be ripped from the socket.
"Oops," Faith said in mock sincerity, "did I do that? Here," she continued and drove her forearm into the creatures elbow twice and the sound of the broken bone lanced through the air. "Let me help you with that," she quipped before sending the demon to its knees with a kick to the back of the leg. She maneuvered behind it and wrapped her arms tightly around its neck before giving a vicious tug. She released her grip on hearing the satisfying crack of bone and dropped the lifeless body to the floor.
Through his struggle, Spike smirked at the killer instinct of the woman he would raise as his own. As their eyes met, he allowed himself one moment to appreciate the similarities between Faith and her mother. Both slayers held the same power and unbridled passion for their calling, going to any lengths to save an innocent or the world—in that they were fearless. But he saw something else in her swirling orbs that was so akin to Buffy that his throat tightened. Despite all the death and carnage both slayers had faced, the pain of losing loved ones and one's self, there was an innocence about them that had gone untouched by the calamities around them. He knew that Buffy was unaware of it and surmised that Faith, too, was ignorant of the little girl that was still within her. Seeing it in Faith only reminded him why he loved this girl, no matter who her father was.
Breaking himself from his reverie, Spike took advantage of the Jct'ar's momentary hesitance at seeing its comrade killed. He lifted his leg to his chest and with all his preternatural strength, kicked back into the knee of the demon.
The Jct'ar howled in pain, immediately relinquishing its grip on the vampire in favor of clutching its injured limb. Spike to advantage of this, spinning on his heels and landing two hard left hands to the demon's head, driving it to the ground before smashing his knee into its face. The Jct'ar fell to the ground, dazed as Spike cursed at the gash the demon's facial protrusions had torn in his thigh.
"Soddin' Jct'ar and their bloody horns," he muttered before jumping onto the demon's chest, pinning it to the ground. The vampire rained punch after punch into the demon's jaw, oblivious to the cuts the powerful blows slashed across his knuckles. All he could do was smile insanely as the dark blood of the Jct'ar coated his fists.
"Uh, Dad," Faith said, only inches behind him, "I don't think he's got any fight left in him and, considering my Mum is going one on one with a bad ass vamp that's stronger than the two of us, I think you need to refocus your priorities just a bit."
Spike looked up at Faith and gave her a sheepish smile before returning to the demon and snapping its neck. On her annoyed look, he shrugged.
"He might not 'ave been dead," he defended himself.
"Whatever," she said lifting her eyes to the ceiling, "Can we just…Oh my God! Dawn!"
Spike leapt up on Faith's exclamation, concern etched on his face. "The Nibblet? Where?"
"Up on the scaffolding," she nodded and Spike followed her gaze. His handsome features evaporated when he saw the limp body of Dawn draped over the shoulder at an even larger Jct'ar that stood next to a very familiar figure.
"Rack," he growled, his body tense with anger. "I'll tear them limb from limb." He strode towards the steps purposefully before stopping, his eyes falling towards the corner where two other Jct'ars were fighting Giles and Xander and had gotten the upper hand. "Bloody hell, Bitlet," he swore and pointed towards the corner.
"Balls," she replied, "Giles and the whelp are in some serious trouble." She remained silent for a minute before turning back to her father. "Dad, you go take care of Dawn and I'll bail our two boys out of trouble." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before running towards the fray.
"Love you too, Bitlet," he whispered to her unspoken words. Spike stole a gaze towards Buffy and was relieved that she was holding her own with Seth. Taking an unneeded breath, the vampire regained control over his emotions and realized, however reluctantly, that the plan to let the Enjoining occur required the presence of Dawn plus the performers of the ritual, Rack quite possibly being said performer.
Sneaking up the back way with vampiric silence, Spike smiled maliciously at the backs of the two figures.
"That doesn't mean that I can't 'urt him a bit," he muttered, "and I seriously doubt that that Jct'ar has any purpose, so…" all thoughts ceased as he once more adorned his game face, the demon dancing at the prospects of violence close at hand.
***
"Not bad, Babelicious," Seth quipped, ducking a crescent kick. He retaliated with a punch to the gut, staggering Buffy but she recovered quickly, smashing an elbow across his nose. "Shit," he swore, wiping the blood off with the back of his hand.
"And just think," Buffy goaded, slamming her heel into his gut and following it up with another side kick to the chin. Seth stumbled to the ground and she stalked over to him, hoisting him up by the front of his shirt.
"I'm just getting warmed up," she finished and rammed her head several times into his face before hurling him through the air.
Seth's body crashed unceremoniously through a table and shards of wood imbedded into his flesh. He gingerly sat up, surveying the damage and pulled the larger pieces from his body. Lowering his head, the vampire swept his fingers through his hair before lifting his gaze towards Buffy.
Buffy watched as the vampire pulled several large pieces of wood from his body. Too bad one of those didn't impale that black heart, she thought and tensed when he lowered his head, expecting him to charge any minute. What she saw sent a jagged spike of fear through her body that settled in the pit of her stomach.
The unnaturally blue eyes were gone, replaced by a hideous blend of poisonous yellow and blood red, his pupils were like silent dots though they screamed of evil and suffering. His face had changed little, though she noticed the slightly more pronounced jut of his jaw and more severe angle of his nose. She forced her gaze to the rest of him, noting that his arms had taken on an almost scaled appearance, rigid bumps clearly identifiable under the tattooed flesh.
"What the hell?" she whispered in shock.
Seth smiled wickedly; his teeth now jagged edges were set for evisceration. He splayed his arms wide as if expecting her to run and hug him before asking haughtily, "Super Saiyen, level one," he quipped, "Like what you see, Baby?"
Buffy shook herself out of the daze, the crease in her forehead shouting her determination. Shrugging nonchalantly, she replied, "Can't say that it's not an improvement, you know. I mean, there's only so many guys that can get away with the Billy Idol look. Spike could. You, on the other hand, could not. So…"
Seth sighed, pinching his nose in annoyance. "Do you ever get tired of hearing yourself talk, girl? God damn it. And I thought I couldn't shut the fuck up."
"Well, if you have trouble keeping your mouth closed, I could break your jaw, knock your teeth down your throat and have it wired shut." Seth stared at her, his eyebrows furrowed as if in deep concentration. Finally, after a few seconds, he responded.
"Nope, that's okay. I'm gonna need it to rip a hole in your neck after Jennifer's done with you." His hand slid down his chest before coming to rest on the bulge in his pants. "Besides, how will I ever be able to pleasure that firecracker girl of yours if I can't open my mouth. She so loves hearing the dirty words, you know? Of course, that's after my tongue had trailed…" But he never finished as an enraged slayer charged him, her fists flying with a fury that even he was surprised at.
"Easy there, Tiger," he quipped as the blows rained down on him. "Don't wanna tire yourself out," he taunted when Buffy missed badly with a powerful hook. Regaining her balance, she followed through with a backhand intended to wipe the smirk from the vampire's bloodied lips. But that was when Seth showed his superior speed.
"Whoa, now," Seth teased as he caught Buffy's arm by the wrist and squeezed. "You were throwing that like you wanted to hurt me," he pouted, as Buffy winced in pain, yelping when he twisted her wrist, a sickening pop signifying the broken limb. He yanked her arm roughly, satisfied as she cried out as her shoulder was pulled from the socket. "Shit, that's gotta hurt," he smiled before wrenching Buffy's mangled arm behind her back, his other arm tightening around her neck. Through the haze of pain, Buffy managed to struggle, albeit meekly.
"Where's the bat signal when you need it?" he whispered into her ear and his forked tongue slithered across the nape of her neck, causing him to shiver in excitement at the taste of her fear. "So, Buffy," he said casually, as his free hand began to roam unbidden across the slumping body of the slayer. The pain was like nothing she had ever felt and it was becoming a struggle to maintain consciousness.
"You know, I've always wondered if mother and daughter would taste alike. But, since I can't really bite you--yet--I may have to settle for," he pressed his groin roughly into her backside, "seeing if you two feel the same on the inside." He laughed heartily as his hands pushed up the slayer's shirt, uncaring about the violations he was orchestrating.
So lost in his own revelry, Seth didn't notice Buffy's slight stiffening. She waited until his hand slid down to her thighs and struck.
With all of her remaining strength, Buffy slammed her head into his face and simultaneously searched out his intimates with her free hand and squeezed.
"Fuuuuuuuuuuck!" Seth screamed, immediately dropping her arm, one hand holding his crushed nose and the other his severely damaged man parts.
"You bitch!" He screamed and despite the circumstances, Buffy laughed before she delivered a kick to his head. The impact jolted her injured arm and she screamed in pain before collapsing to her knees.
Seth shook the cobwebs from his head, the pain from his busted testicles clouding his vision. Glad I don't have to piss, he chuckled to himself and moaned as he was reintroduced to his mangled parts.
"I've lost count as to how many fights I've been in," he murmured, getting to his feet gingerly, "Had a lot of shit happen to me. But this," he motioned to his groin, "is definitely a first." He stopped a foot from Buffy kneeling form. "That was naughty. Looks like you're gonna have to pay the Pied Piper."
Buffy forced her head up and stared into the eyes that had now melted back into that unnatural blue. Her eyes raked across Seth's body in admiration before fixating on his groin.
"Well," she said in all seriousness, "I would but it looks like Mr. Piper won't need it, considering he won't be using his pipe anytime soon."
"Bitch," he swore and slapped her hard across the face. Buffy fell to her back and Seth pounced on her, his weight straddling her midriff. "You may be right," he said, hitting her with a backhand, "but you know what?" Smack. "You," smack, "and your tasty treat of a daughter," punch, "will be the first to find out just how," punch, "Pied my piper is."
***
"Xander!" Willow screamed as the Jct'ar's teeth leaned towards the brunette's exposed neck. Both her and Tara were frozen in fear, defenseless without the use of their magicks. Willow had wanted to get a weapon but was afraid that if she turned her back, the next thing she would see was her best friend gushing blood, his eyes dulling in silent accusation of her failure to help him.
"Stay away from my fiancé," the shrill war cry interrupted Willow's thoughts as a figure decked in red flew between the two Wiccas, a glass pitcher in her hand.
The Jct'ar glanced up in surprise at the approaching Anya, just in time for her to smash the pitcher over its head, an action that had all the effect of shooting it with a pellet gun. Laughing, the demon sliced into Anya's stomach with its sharp claws before pushing her away.
"Anya," three voices called together and the demon chuckled before returning its attention back to Xander. As it dipped its head again, a blur of purple and black flew through the air, dislodging it from the mount position on top of Xander.
"Hey guys," Faith called over her shoulder as she watched the Jct'ar rise to its feet, "miss me?"
The Jct'ar charged and Faith sidestepped it easily and sent it flying with a kick to its backside, knocking it into a table. She ran over to Giles, who's unconsciousness was evident by his lack of struggle. Faith dug a spinning heel kick into the demon's back, forcing it to drop the Watcher. It wasted no time in retraining its attention to her and Faith backed up, aware that the other Jct'ar had recovered and slowly prowled just out of her line of sight.
"Uhh, guys?" she shouted, "a weapon would be nice. The Jct'ar out of sight took the initiative and charged purposefully. Faith sensed it and ran towards the wall. She jumped into the air and with her right foot pushed off from the wall twisted her body, bringing the same foot around. The momentum of the Jct'ar only added to the blow as her foot crashed into its face, sending it to the floor, temporarily unconscious.
Seeing its brethren dispatched so quickly, the second Jct'ar hurriedly picked up the axe Giles had dropped earlier.
"Faith!" Willow screamed and the young slayer ducked in time to keep her head attached to her body. She pivoted on her right leg and shot out her left in the spot that the Jct'ar was supposed to be. She was surprised when her foot hit nothing but air. The feeling didn't last as a jolt of pain took its place when the Jct'ar slammed the axe handle into the middle of her back.
"Uhh," she moaned and fell to her knees, temporarily stunned. It would take her only a second to recover, but a second was enough for the Jct'ar as it raised the axe over its head. The glint of steel was visible for only a moment before the demon let lose with a triumphant bellow before bringing the axe down for the killing blow…
***
By the time Spike had reached the scaffolding, he was only fifteen feet away from Rack and the demon. His golden eyes pierced the darkened expanse, studying the unconscious Dawn. There were no signs of injury on her and for that the vampire sighed in relief. Still, that did not exonerate the two from injury.
Despite his stealth, Spike knew there was no chance for him to sneak up on the pair. It was only because they were watching to the two Jct'ars in the corner that they had yet to sense him. He had no doubt that once he started his trek across the scaffolding, he would be found out.
Might as well announce myself. " Oy, mates," he drawled, his hands sliding across the railing. Rack and the Jct'ar jumped in surprise at the interruption before the former slid on his poker face. "You're all up here, where it's peaceful like." Spike cocked his head towards the demon. "What's wrong, mate? Don't fancy the rough and tumble?" He clicked his tongue. "And here I thought Jct'ars were all 'fight or die'. Guess that myth's disproved. You're nothing but a bunch of horn headed cowards."
The Jct'ar's body tensed and it took a step towards the vampire before a hand on its arm stopped it cold.
"No," Rack warned, "your job is to protect the girl. I will handle this." His arm dropped from the demon and he clasped his hands behind his back, strolling amicably towards Spike.
"Now correct me if I'm wrong," Rack said as he stopped a few feet in front of the vampire, "but you are a vampire, are you not?"
"Nothin' gets by you, mate," Spike deadpanned.
"Cute. From what I understand, vampires are evil and selfish things, bent on death and the satisfaction of their own bloodlust. Am I correct in that assumption?"
"In a general sort of way, mate."
"So what makes you so special? This isn't the first I have heard of you helping the slayer. Why is that?"
"Simple really, mate," Spike said, "Love." To say Rack was surprised was an understatement. He blinked several times as if to assure himself that he had heard correctly. When Spike did nothing to amend his statement, the warlock let lose with a deep, evil tinged laugh, balancing himself on the railing. But he didn't need the support long as Spike lifted him off the ground by the front of his shirt. He stared down into the now angled features of a very human looking Spike.
"I'm sorry, but I don't fancy that I said anything funny."
"I apologize," Rack sobered, "but I thought you said you were doing this for love."
"Heard right."
"Huh. A vampire in love with a slayer. Will wonders never cease."
"What can I say," Spike shrugged, "I'm love's bitch."
"That you are. But I still don't see why the slayer tolerates you."
To that, the platinum blonde smirked. "She fancies me, mate. And besides, she couldn't get it done without me."
"And why would that be?" Spike pulled Rack closer until their noses were millimeters apart.
"Cuz, mate, I'm her secret weapon."
"Well," Rack said jovially as he glanced over the edge of the railing, "I'd say you're right about that, because from my vantage point, the slayer's not doing too well without her 'secret weapon'."
Spike narrowed his eyes, noting the satisfied grin on the warlock's face. He risked a glance over the edge and his eyes widened at the scene that greeted him.
"Buffy!" he yelled and shoved Rack away from him. Without a second thought, Spike hopped over the railing to the rescue of Buffy, who was at Seth's mercy.
Straightening his shirt, Rack walked back over to the Jct'ar and patted the demon on the shoulder. "Looks like everything is working out just as we planned." Closing his eyes, the warlock inhaled deeply and extended his arms.
"He thinks he's the secret weapon," Rack's baritone voice muttered, "he's got another thing comin'. Wait til they get a load of me," he finished before archaic words began to spill from his lips.
***The action's really heating up. Next up, Spike and Seth, Mano y Mano. Plus, what's going to happen to Faith!?!??! And where did Jennifer go?
***Did you notice the movie quotes I used?