"But," she pouted, "not for two days."
Then she leaned towards him grinning, "Besides, I failed math."
He wet his lips looking her over. "Wills. Danger. Impending. Sex later," he stressed each word pointing to the books.
"Nice to know you two are working," Giles said letting his presence be known, "Have you found anything?"
"G-man, don't sneak up on us like that," Xander grinned.
Giles sighed and shook his head, "I take it you two have found nothing. While Willow's life is threatened all you two can do is flirt! We need to know how to kill it. Do we cut out an eye? Do we gouge out its heart? You two are suppose to be finding this out! The demon may very well attack if it feels threatened."
"Oh, and exactly how does it feel threatened?" Xander threw back.
Giles sighed rubbing his nose, "Xander, please, we need to focus."
"Found something," Anya offered brightly, "If the demon feels threatened it'll attack early."
"Anya, we already know that," Xander quipped.
She glared at him before looking back at the book. "It feels threatened if, Giles..." she broke off shoving the book to him and pointing at the paragraph she'd just been reading.
Giles voice was low, grave, "We need to contact Buffy, the demon may very well attack tonight."
"Would someone care to fill in the lost guy?" Xander questioned looking confused.
"We have the sword, it has to know this. It'll go after her tonight," Anya stated glaring at him.
"Then I say we get over there."
"Xander, you and Giles go. I'll call Buffy."
The doorbell rang just as Riley was walking back down the stairs. He set the tray down wondering where Buffy and Angel were. He hoped they weren't still alone in the dim room. The doorbell rang again. Forcing away the anguish he was feeling, not just over the kiss, but everything Willow had told them he went to the door.
"Hi," Tara managed shyly trying to hide behind her hair.
He smiled reassuringly to the insecure girl as he led her inside, "They're upstairs."
"M..m-my supplies?" she questioned as she stared at the floor her shoulders hunching, as if she were trying to make herself disappear.
As he got the supplies for her Buffy and Angel came in from the other room.
"Angel this is Tara, Tara Angel. She's a Wicca friend of Willow's." Buffy introduced.
Angel smiled warmly at her, "Hi."
"Hi." she answered back softly as Riley returned carrying the supplies they had purchased for her.
As soon as she had her things they all followed the nervous girl upstairs. As she reached the top of the stairs she froze, a look of horror coming over her face. Her bag fell to the floor as she gasp in fright. Her eyes widened as she stepped off the staircase frantically searching every corner with her eyes. "It's here," she whispered harshly.
"Are you sure?" Buffy asked looking around.
"I-I-I can feel it."
Tara continued to search with her eyes and froze as her faze fell on a corner near the bed. She stumbled back falling to the floor as the air in the corner began to shimmer.
Booming, haunting laughter filled the room as the large scale covered demon came into the light. Somewhere in the distance the phone began to ring. The beast's laughter soon drowned it out.
Willow opened her eyes sleepily, took in the demon and whimpered.
"Angel?" she asked fearfully for she couldn't see him and he was the only one who could kill the beast. Beside her Oz and Spike both stared at the beast. It grinned at the three maliciously raising a glittering dagger.
"I feed off your fear, soon I shall have the innocence's blood," it boomed showing its fangs.
"Not bloodly likely," Spike growled as he leapt toward the creature. At the same time Oz grabbed Willow, pulling her under him, using his own body as a shield.
Angel leapt into the fray, helping Spike drive back the demon. The beast threw Spike against the nearest wall with on of its clawed paws, then turned its attention to Angel.
"You cannot defeat me," it boomed raising the knife and slicing at him.
"The girl is mine. You shall parish."
"Big words considering you'll be dead in a few moments," Buffy spat as she delivered a kick to the creature.
Riley returned from a short excursion downstairs bearing weapons. "Buffy ax," he called as he tossed her the weapon. Spike grabbed a sword, leaving him with a dagger. The four of them managed to beat the creature back into a corner, yet it wouldn't die.
Finally Angel drove his sword into the creature's heart and they were all suddenly thrown back. Its skin began to creak with beams of light as it howled in agony. Then it exploded in a shower of light.
Breathing heavily they started to pick themselves off the floor.
Note:
Jo-e: Thanx for being my first reviewer. I wasn't sure if anyone was going to like this, I wrote it so long ago.
Dalpal: Thanx. This is more, hope you like it as well. As to what Dru was saying to Spike it will mostly be revealed in the last chapter.