Chapter Twenty

Faith waited in the morning sun for Wesley to return. She wiped at the tears falling down her cheek. Faith stood and moved to the tree as Wesley's SUV came over the hill.

Wesley stopped the car and got out. "We have to go quickly." He shouted.

Faith rushed into the car. "What happened?" She asked.

-

Connor ran into the house carrying Buffy over his shoulder. "Wesley!" He shouted as loud as he could. Connor gently placed Buffy on the floor in the living room as Wesley and Giles bolted into the room.

"What happened?" Giles asked falling to his knees next to his slayer.

"Big, scaly, long tail with a sharp point on the end." Connor said, showing the gash on his arm to Wesley. "It was shooting something out of its mouth."

"It hit her and she just stopped." Vi said, picking up Connor's story. "Like she was frozen."

"Then it attacked." Rona said. "Stuck its tail right into her stomach."

"We couldn't stop it." Molly said, watching out the front window. "I don't know if it followed us or what."

"What happened?" Angel said in a panic as he entered the living room.

Connor relayed the story and the fact that they didn't kill the demon.

Giles hovered over Buffy as he and Wesley tried to stop the bleeding.

"She needs a doctor." Wesley said.

"Oz, get the van." Giles commanded. Oz jumped at the tone in Giles's voice and grabbed his keys. "Girls, set up a patrol unit around the house in case you were followed. Connor, you and Angel stay here."

"I'm coming to the hospital." Angel said forcefully.

"No." Giles said. "We need you here."

"He's right Angel." Wesley added.

Angel knew they were right, but he didn't want to leave his love's side.

Wesley and Giles carried Buffy to the van and left for the hospital.

Angel and Connor circled the house as the potentials lined the surrounded streets and driveways. The demon jumped at Connor the minute his back was turned.

Connor barely had a chance to breath as the demon hit him hard, knocking him to the ground. Using the paralyzing agent, he immobilized Connor before he could attack. Connor stayed pinned to the ground, eyes wide open as the demon walked off.

The demon stepped in and one by one took out every person patrolling the outskirts of the house. Vi, Molly, Rona, Kennedy, even Angel, all lost in the battle against this demon. Spike entered the house. The demon stopped everyone who got in his way, but didn't kill any of them. Spike walked slowly through the house until he reached the sleeping girl. The demon followed Spike into the room; with a swift lash of his tail, he pierced the girl's heart. Mission accomplished, he returned to The First Evil for instructions.

Oz pulled up the street with Wesley in the back of the van. "I would have stayed at the hospital," Wes said, "but I promised Faith I'd return at day break."

Oz slowed the van as he noticed the first body on the road. "Wesley!" He called, slamming on the breaks and diving out of the van. Oz and Wes started picking the girls up off of the road.

"Something's not right." Wesley said. "Why would they be left alive?"

"To keep us from rushing right to the house." Oz said suddenly. He forced himself down and changed into the wolf. Leaving behind only shredded clothes he dashed up the street and into the house. Oz threw himself up the stairs and began sniffing everyone he saw. He smelled death and began tracking it.

Wesley entered the house as he heard Oz's howl. The pain encompassed in the scream sent chills down Wesley's spine. Wes ran up the steps, taking them two at a time and rushed into the bedroom. Oz rested his head on the little girl's body and whimpered. Wesley moved to the girl and took her pulse. He shook his head and closed the girl's eyes.

-

Faith's eyes filled with tears as Wesley relayed the story to her. Her mind couldn't even form a thought.

"I'm sorry." Wesley said. "To have to tell you like this."

Faith nodded and choked back a sob. "Everyone else?" She squeaked.

"Buffy will be home from the hospital today." Wesley said. "She's weak and a little beaten up, but she'll survive. The others are fine. Once the demon's power wore off." Wesley paused. "Morale is low. If the girl really was the key-."

"She isn't." Faith interrupted. "I know what needs to be done now."

Wesley looked to Faith. "What?"

"I need to talk to Buffy first." Faith said, looking out the window. "I need her help."