Spike was still chained to the wall, but two vampires had gone down, and were now unlocking the chains. I knew that Spike was too weak to fight, and then make his escape. The vampires then dragged him upstairs.
"He's alive," I sighed.
Dahle nodded again. "Alright, so what do we wanna do in the meantime?"
"Ah, Spike, welcome to the upstairs." Angel grinned.
Spike swallowed, then forced himself to speak. "W-what do you want now?" he tried to sound indignant.
"Oh, Spike, annoying to the last." Angel chuckled.
Spike tried to smile. "I'd tell you to bite me, but you've already done that, haven't you?"
Angel gestured to the other vampires, and they let go of, and moved away from, Spike. Since he was weak, he dropped to all fours. Angel took this as an opportunity to let Spike in on his secret. He grabbed Spike's hair, and yanked his head up, while kneeling beside him. "Honestly, I brought you up here because I have something to tell you, Spike. I've seen the future, and it looks good from my standpoint - actually," Angel chuckled, "it looks great. My ex dies, your would-be ex dies, all of their friends die, the world goes to hell, I get Dru, and, best of all, you die." Angel looked Spike in the eye. "Now don't you feel special?"
Spike narrowed his gaze, and matched Angel's. "You will fail. If I have to take you down with me, you'll fail. I promise you that."
Angel smiled, then laughed, getting up. "Whatever helps you sleep during the day, Spike."
"Alright, I'm here," Buffy proclaimed.
"It's about time," Dahle muttered.
"I'm not doing this entirely of my own free will, so don't complain, Dolly."
"You know, Angel was going to pay me for killing you. I wonder if the offer still stands?"
I elbowed him in the stomach. That's not going to earn her trust.
Smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, smirk, was his telepathic reply.
"Are we going?" Willow asked. "Like, now?"
"Yeah. Wait - where's that other guy? Stem, wasn't it?"
"Sven." Dahle corrected her. "And he doesn't want to be connected to this incident, just in case it goes badly on our part."
"He thinks we'll fail?" Cordelia demanded. "Yeah, that looks really good for us."
"That's not what I said." Dahle shook his head.
"It doesn't matter. Let's go," Buffy replied.
"Is everyone ready?" Angel demanded, starting to get impatient.
"Yes. Everything is - "
"I don't care." Angel cut her off. "We can't fail this time. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I - "
"Why can't you just use one word answers?"
"Sorry, I'll - "
"Stop. Just stop. Where's Dru?"
"She's downstairs, talking to Spike." another answered.
"Why? I said not to let her see him!" Angel roared, running toward the stairs. "Dru! Dru! Dru, where are you?" he was trying to sound sweet, despite his anger.
"I'm here," she replied, coming up the stairs to him.
"What were you doing down there?" he demanded, trying not to lose his cool.
"Just saying goodbye to my Spike."
"Saying Goodbye? What for? He doesn't care about you anymore, Dru."
"Of course he does." she said to assure herself.
"Is that what he said?" Drusilla nodded. "He lied to you, Baby. He's just trying to turn you against me. Come on," Angel held out his hand.
Drusilla looked back at Spike, an angry look on her face, then she took Angel's hand. "Why did he lie to me?" she asked Angel.
"I'm not lying, Dru. I love you, and - "
"Ignore him, Baby, the pressure is starting to get to him." Angel smiled.
"No, Dru, listen to me, please? Just for five seconds, listen to me. I love you. I still love you. Angel can't erase that by torturing me."
"Stop it, Spike. You're giving me a headache. "Angel scoffed. "Come on, Dru. Let's go join the party."
"No, wait. I want to hear more." Drusilla hissed, letting go of Angel's hand.
Angel grabbed her wrist. "I don't want to hurt you my Sweet, but I will if I have to."
"Let me go!" Dru shrieked. "Spike, help me!"
"Come on, Dru, calm down." Angel spoke soothingly. "I'm not hurting you now. Let's just go upstairs. I have a surprise for you."
Drusilla tried to pull away from Angel, and he let go. She fell backwards down the last few stairs.
"Dru!" Spike yelled.
She glanced over at him. "I'm alright," she assured him.
Angel broke a piece of the railing, forming the equivalent of a slightly dull stake. He played with it in his hands. "Dru, does this mean that you're going soft on me?" he knelt beside her. "Do you still love Spike over there? Or do you love me? You have to choose, and now is as good a time as any."
"Choose? Why?"
"Because I need to know if I'm right to love you."
"Don't listen to him, Dru. He's - "
"Lying." Angel finished Spike's sentence. "You can't believe him, my Love. He cannot be trusted."
Angel allowed Drusilla to get up. She walked toward Spike, a puzzled look on her face. She knelt before him, and looked him in the eye. "Do you love me?"
Angel waited silently, waiting for his answer.
"You know I do. And that I never stopped." Spike answered quietly.
Drusilla stood up, and walked up to Angel. "Do you love me, Angel?"
"More than words can say."
Dru shook her head, and backed away. "You're the one that's lying to me. You have never loved me. You just wanted to make Spike cry, didn't you? You're a very evil creature."
Angel took a step towards her. "Alright, Dru, you got me." he shrugged. "I've been using you from the beginning, yes, to make Spike 'cry', as you put it. And hey! If you ask me, it worked. Look at him, Dru. He's pathetic."
Dru turned back to Spike. "He'll be okay. I'll make him better." she smiled, not noticing Angel slowly advancing on her.
Spike, however, did. "Dru, look out!"
"What?"
But Angel grabbed her from behind. "Say goodbye, you two crazy lovebirds." Angel drove the stake into her heart.
"No!" Spike screamed, as the most precious thing to him disintegrated into a pile of dust.
Angel's laughter seemed to echo through the entire motel.
"Oh, God, no." I stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong?" Xander asked.
"I - " I glanced at Buffy. "It's Spike...Come on, we have to hurry."
"We're almost there." Dahle replied.
"What's wrong?" Xander repeated in a whisper.
I looked him in the eye when I answered, "Angel killed Drusilla."
"What? Are you sure?"
I nodded.
"It's too quiet." Dahle murmured.
"Angel's using the other Eye." I observed, looking around us cautiously.
"So?" Buffy retorted.
"So, they're expecting us." Dahle answered.
"Did you hear that?" Willow asked us.
"Hear what?" Xander asked.
"I thought I heard someone say 'help'."
"I heard it, too," Buffy agreed, stake in hand.
"There it is again." Willow told us.
"I think it came from over - oh, God." Xander broke into a run. "Cordy?!"