Sorry about the abrupt end to the last chapter, but my writing speed had slowed down to a crawl thinking about what to do when Xander leaves. I've got it now.
On we go. I've just started writing. Thanks for the great reviews. Makes me want to continue. On the grammar sucks note: I need a beta reader. Want to volunteer? E-mail me: paradigmshifter2001@yahoo.com
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*
Xander could hear the screams of the vampires below as he lowered a rope and rappelled down it. Landing lightly on his feet, Xander dropped into a crouch and readied his MP5. A few of the vampires had been blown to bits by the fragmentation grenade. The five remaining were congregated around a few gathered victims at one end of the room, and rolling around on the floor trying to clear their eyes. Xander never gave them the chance to see him. Aiming carefully, Xander flicked the selector switch on the MP5 to 3 round burst and fired at each vamps head. Half a clip later, 5 vamps were dust on the ground, and it left Xander thinking, damn. And people say bullets don't work on undead. The whole thing took all of fifteen seconds.
Xander headed for the door and the rest of Angelus' warehouse.
*
Nurse Roe was alerted to the awakening of the new patient in the coma unit by a scream coming from her room. Jumping up from her seat, she ran to room 13A, and peaked inside. The patient was sitting up with wide eyes babbling quietly to herself. To Nurse Roe, it did not sound like the patient had her mind in one piece. She quietly approached the bed to try to settle the patient down. She made a mental note to herself: I must ask this patient her name! Referring to her as 'the patient' is annoying.
Willow was freaked. The conversation she had with the 'spirits' was way beyond any experience the young Wicca had. It had left her confused, disorientated and angry. Confused about the reasons the 'spirits' had for getting her to support Xander instead of Buffy. After all, Xander's just an ordinary guy, right? What can he do? Willow asked herself. Disorientated by the place that they had been in. As much as I hate to admit it, that total nothing was very scary. Angry that the 'spirits' had such control over her to push her back to her body when she was trying her hardest to remain and ask more questions. But if they were right about the possession thing then she could only thank her lucky stars that they did. And, on reflection, Willow was also glad that if they were that powerful, that they were on her side.
As Willow tried to stand up, she noticed the Nurse standing in the doorway, looking at her, not fearfully, not quite, but very nearly. Willow smiled at her and started to swing her legs over the side of the bed to stand. Her feet touched the floor, and as she levered off the bed her legs collapsed on her and she fell on the floor on hands and knees. The nurse rushed forward to help her and as she reached Willow, the first voice sounded again in her mind. Little one. The talk with us in our own plane has tired your body more that I wish to explain. To get your strength back, eat and rest. Xander does not need you yet, but when he does, he will need you at your strongest.
"OK." Said Willow, blinking and trying not to loose the sparse contents of her stomach. As the nurse helped her up, with an "are you alright? Can you remember your name? You have been in a coma for a few hours. It was so deep; the doctors doubted that you would ever come out of it. Lie down on the bed. I'll get the doctor. I won't be long." With that the nurse left.
Willow fell into a deep sleep.
*
Stalking through the shadows of the warehouse, and doubting that they would make a difference as to whether the vamps saw him or not, Xander was getting increasingly paranoid. After the feeding room, he had not found a single vamp anywhere, and he had covered half the building. The soldier personality whispered to his mind that the vampires were setting an ambush ahead, which he took careful note of, while the Hyena mind was repeating the same words over and over again.
Hunt.
Kill.
Feed.
I am the Alpha competitors must be vanquished.
Hunt.
Kill.
Kill.
Feed.
It was starting to override conscious thought. He was loosing his mind in the other two. Peeking round a corner, Xander saw Oz, in full vamp mode, turn and enter a room.
Suddenly, from that room, came snarls, and howls as if someone or something was getting torn apart.
Silently moving up to the door, Xander quickly looked in.
And recoiled from what he saw.
Oh. My. God. Oz, in full werewolf mode was tearing about ten vamps apart so violently it was as if he had a personal grudge against them. Xander heard the quiet 'poof' as a vamp exploded into dust, and then three more so quickly it sounded like they were standing next to each other in a line.
About a minute later, the sound of fighting stopped, and Xander risked a peep into the room.
Xander saw Oz, standing in the middle of the room, now human rather than wolf, and he couldn't resist a low whistle at the piles of dust that decorated the room. Of course, at that, Oz whirled around and vamped out when he saw another opponent. Xander raised his MP5 as a precaution. After all, this vamp just killed ten others in less time than it takes Willow to babble 'hi'.
Oz just tilted his head and looked at him. "Hey, man" he said in his usual voice, "what's the popgun for?" "Killing Angelus" replied Xander, "although if you care to volunteer, I'll let you be a trial run." "No thanks, man," snapped back Oz "I want to hurt you for hurting Willow, but with me like this, I have to expect you'll look after her. I don't want her hurt more. Thanks to the wolf, I have a semblance of control over the demon in me. I'm more Oz than Demon. That is the only thing saving you. I'm out of here." With that, Oz ran past Xander and back the way Xander had come. At least he won't warn Angelus thought Xander. But I'll have to get him if he becomes a danger to my friends.
Xander changed the clip in the MP5 to a fresh one, and started on his way again.
*
Willow opened her eyes to an alien landscape.
"Where am I?" Willow asked out loud. An apparition appeared in front of her, alabaster white, with the same colour robes and hair which floated as if there was wind, while there was none. It spoke into her mind: young one, do not speak out loud. It attracts those you wish to avoid. Do you see those mountains in the distance?
Yes. Replied Willow.
Go there for answers. Continued the spirit, while starting to fade.
Wait! Called Willow, where am I?
That I may tell you, this is the Dream, the End of our race, our greatest sorrow. Complete the tasks given you, and you shall have power to help that whom you love. Save us. Free us. For the tests, seek answers in your heart.
It faded totally, leaving Willow wandering what to do. Well, it did say answers were in the Mountains. I'll head there. With that thought, Willow headed into the distance.
*
Xander came to the last room in the warehouse. Here be Angelus. His Hyena mind said. Kill. Do not feed. Dead meat is bad meat.
Xander stepped into the first room, and, seeing nothing of import, headed for the later rooms, MP5 ready at all times. Poking his head round the bedchamber entrance, Xander saw his greatest shock of the night.
Angelus. In bed. Naked. With a blonde vamp riding him hard.
"Buffy" said Xander.
At the interruption, the blonde vamp turned violently toward the door and snarled. Her face told Xander that he was wrong it wasn't Buffy. However, Xander could tell that Angelus picked her as his 'partner' for the likeness.
"What's wrong, pet?" asked Angelus "what's got your attention?" with this Angelus sat up and seeing Xander decked out in full military gear, quickly had to school his face away from shock and to an angered snarl.
"This is it Angel, I've had enough of your terrorising Buffy and my friends." Spat Xander with venom in his voice. "You're going to hell on a one way express ticket."
"Not likely." Replied Angelus, flinging his flavour of the hour at Xander, he spun up out of the bed, grabbed his pants and coat and fled out the second door.
Xander missed most of the escape, seeing only which door Angelus went through as he had a hundred pounds of pissed vamp heading toward him. Without thinking, he dropped to a crouch and fired at her head while she was in mid air. The speed of the shot meant that two of the rounds missed her head, one missing wide and burying itself in the wall, the other hitting in the shoulder. The third, however, was a perfect shot, and hit square in the forehead, turning her to dust. Xander coughed and looked around. I wonder if vamp dust is as bad for your health as smoking? 'Cause I just got a lungful. With that thought, he began hunting Angelus. "Here Angelus, here boy, nice juicy hu-man." Xander sing-songed as he walked along. Probably not the brightest idea to advertise your position, kid. Whispered that soldier in his mind. Which promptly made Xander shut up.
*
Sorry about the short chapter this time, but the next chapter will have Willow continuing her trek, and Xander having the showdown fight with Angelus. May be a while however. Lots of work to do. We might even have a quick look at how Buffy's doing. But I can't guarantee it. I need someone to bounce ideas off of about the other fic I'm working on. Say if interested. Finally, thanks to all my reviewers. Ideas for Xander/Angelus fight welcomed. I don't think the action scenes are all that.