Protected
Chapter Fourteen
Her End
Buffy was waiting. The vineyard was up in flames, flickers all across the grass. She'd watched Spike for a brief moment, and he was fighting ferociously. She loved him for it. Most of the monsters had been killed, but so had most of the fighters. She had surveyed the area and found that she, Spike, Connor, Wesley, and Dawn were the only ones left standing. She hoped the high school had fared better than they had. Then, it happened. Spike was over several hills, and he could only see flashes of blond hair. It was about 4:30 A.M. and the sun would be rising soon. Sunnydale would be awakening to find the streets red with blood, littered with bodies. She adjusted Spike's duster. The duster made her feel safe. It was a piece of Spike. She felt the wind swoosh, causing the fires to spread. She turned to find her mother staring back at her. The First could not be doing this. Of all people, the First chose to come back as was her mother.
"Mommy."
Buffy froze for a few seconds, and that was all it took. With a stake into her heart, Buffy let out a cry in shock.
"I told you, Buffy. You would die. The First will win. I will win."
Buffy crawled towards it with the scythe, praying that Willow's spell was already in effect. She hacked at Joyce, but it only slightly nicked Joyce Summers. The First was starting to solidify. Buffy could feel the life draining out of her, as did the First. It was ironic that she would die by a stake in her heart. Joyce transformed into the Master, the Judge, the Mayor, Adam, Glory, then Faith.
"Get up, B."
"No."
"Just let us have you."
"No."
She could tell the Turok-han were closing in on her.
"This is your last chance, B. Please. We'll make it quick."
"Go to Hell."
"It's not all it's cracked up to be."
Faith disappeared as Buffy gasped in pain. Sharp teeth hovered over her. She felt the bite and she couldn't even react.
Willow's eyes turned black. Mercy was a little frightened. After all, Willow had been evil once. All the same, Mercy held her own. The room was spinning and the power surged through the Wicca's bodies.
"Prenez-le dans l'arme
Son essence disparaissant
Faites-lui la chute
Equilibrant les balances une fais de plus." (Take him into the weapon, his essence disappearing, make him fall, balancing the scales once more.)
Mercy immediately sent out the message to Buffy that the scythe should work now. Somehow it was blocked. So she tried Spike.
*It's ready.*
*Bully for us.*
*I can't seem to break into Buffy's mind.*
*Go on to the high school. We'll meet ya there.*
*Great.*
Willow had tuned into the conversation, so she added that bit. They called to Fred, Xander, and Lorne as they trucked to the high school.
"Spike! I got him!"
Spike turned to face Buffy. "That's great, Luv! How did you know the scythe would work?"
He started to walk to her, but stopped in his tracks. He cursed under his breath.
"You're not her." His eyes narrowed. She smiled beautifully, covering him like a warm ray of sun that didn't burn him. But it wasn't her. He ran as quickly as he could, trying to find Buffy, the scythe. The sky seemed to be singing to him.
He stared up at the clouds, the stars, and the fading moon.
"Early one mornin' just as the sun was risin'..."
As if on cue, the sun peeked over the hills. Spike cursed again as he found Buffy's limp, lifeless body. She had bite marks on her neck.
"No. Oh, Luv, please, Ducks, wake up."
But he knew nothing he could say would bring back his Slayer. He kissed her softly and picked the scmiter up. It smoked, as the handle was blessed, but he could hardly feel the pain. He scanned the area, trying to find the First. Then, he felt her presence. He turned around. Buffy stood before him, her blond hair flapping in the wind. Her forehead was wrinkled and her eyes were black and yellow. Spike felt teardrops falling onto his face. He squinted and growled. The First had possessed Buffy. A vampire Buffy. He swallowed hard and circled her. He shot his arm out and she ducked. He kicked her leg, but she jumped over her. A Slayer Vampire First. This was not looking good for Spike. He side stepped her punch and spun behind her. She flipped, kicking him in the face. He fell back, but he didn't stay down. He jumped to his feet, swinging the scythe around. He finally connected with her abdomen and she screamed. She turned into a greenish grayish dust that was sucked into the blade. He felt Dawn put a hand on his shoulder, Connor and Wesley walking up quietly behind him.
"We gotta get this to the school."
He broke into a newly energized run, a fight to beat the sun and the First.
Chapter Fourteen
Her End
Buffy was waiting. The vineyard was up in flames, flickers all across the grass. She'd watched Spike for a brief moment, and he was fighting ferociously. She loved him for it. Most of the monsters had been killed, but so had most of the fighters. She had surveyed the area and found that she, Spike, Connor, Wesley, and Dawn were the only ones left standing. She hoped the high school had fared better than they had. Then, it happened. Spike was over several hills, and he could only see flashes of blond hair. It was about 4:30 A.M. and the sun would be rising soon. Sunnydale would be awakening to find the streets red with blood, littered with bodies. She adjusted Spike's duster. The duster made her feel safe. It was a piece of Spike. She felt the wind swoosh, causing the fires to spread. She turned to find her mother staring back at her. The First could not be doing this. Of all people, the First chose to come back as was her mother.
"Mommy."
Buffy froze for a few seconds, and that was all it took. With a stake into her heart, Buffy let out a cry in shock.
"I told you, Buffy. You would die. The First will win. I will win."
Buffy crawled towards it with the scythe, praying that Willow's spell was already in effect. She hacked at Joyce, but it only slightly nicked Joyce Summers. The First was starting to solidify. Buffy could feel the life draining out of her, as did the First. It was ironic that she would die by a stake in her heart. Joyce transformed into the Master, the Judge, the Mayor, Adam, Glory, then Faith.
"Get up, B."
"No."
"Just let us have you."
"No."
She could tell the Turok-han were closing in on her.
"This is your last chance, B. Please. We'll make it quick."
"Go to Hell."
"It's not all it's cracked up to be."
Faith disappeared as Buffy gasped in pain. Sharp teeth hovered over her. She felt the bite and she couldn't even react.
Willow's eyes turned black. Mercy was a little frightened. After all, Willow had been evil once. All the same, Mercy held her own. The room was spinning and the power surged through the Wicca's bodies.
"Prenez-le dans l'arme
Son essence disparaissant
Faites-lui la chute
Equilibrant les balances une fais de plus." (Take him into the weapon, his essence disappearing, make him fall, balancing the scales once more.)
Mercy immediately sent out the message to Buffy that the scythe should work now. Somehow it was blocked. So she tried Spike.
*It's ready.*
*Bully for us.*
*I can't seem to break into Buffy's mind.*
*Go on to the high school. We'll meet ya there.*
*Great.*
Willow had tuned into the conversation, so she added that bit. They called to Fred, Xander, and Lorne as they trucked to the high school.
"Spike! I got him!"
Spike turned to face Buffy. "That's great, Luv! How did you know the scythe would work?"
He started to walk to her, but stopped in his tracks. He cursed under his breath.
"You're not her." His eyes narrowed. She smiled beautifully, covering him like a warm ray of sun that didn't burn him. But it wasn't her. He ran as quickly as he could, trying to find Buffy, the scythe. The sky seemed to be singing to him.
He stared up at the clouds, the stars, and the fading moon.
"Early one mornin' just as the sun was risin'..."
As if on cue, the sun peeked over the hills. Spike cursed again as he found Buffy's limp, lifeless body. She had bite marks on her neck.
"No. Oh, Luv, please, Ducks, wake up."
But he knew nothing he could say would bring back his Slayer. He kissed her softly and picked the scmiter up. It smoked, as the handle was blessed, but he could hardly feel the pain. He scanned the area, trying to find the First. Then, he felt her presence. He turned around. Buffy stood before him, her blond hair flapping in the wind. Her forehead was wrinkled and her eyes were black and yellow. Spike felt teardrops falling onto his face. He squinted and growled. The First had possessed Buffy. A vampire Buffy. He swallowed hard and circled her. He shot his arm out and she ducked. He kicked her leg, but she jumped over her. A Slayer Vampire First. This was not looking good for Spike. He side stepped her punch and spun behind her. She flipped, kicking him in the face. He fell back, but he didn't stay down. He jumped to his feet, swinging the scythe around. He finally connected with her abdomen and she screamed. She turned into a greenish grayish dust that was sucked into the blade. He felt Dawn put a hand on his shoulder, Connor and Wesley walking up quietly behind him.
"We gotta get this to the school."
He broke into a newly energized run, a fight to beat the sun and the First.