CHAPTER 7:
""

They all huddle into the bushes.
"Man, this is so cool," Xander says with excitement.
"Shhh." Willow puts a finger on her lips as she looks at Xander.
"Okay you guys, the key word here is covert. We move in quietly and."
Buffy stops and sees Spike turn from behind a booth and head for them.
"There you guys are, beginning to wonder if you'd show."
"We tried not to drive up to close. You know, the sneak attack? And it turns out there aren't many places open this late," Xander comments.
"Spike! We're trying to use the element of surprise here. Do you think you could be any less inconspicuous?" a perturbed Buffy exclaims.
"Oh, right then. You're all playing Secret Agent Man. Well, far be it for me to help."
Xander points the water gun at Spike and pretends to pull the trigger.
"Spike, unless you got something to add, we'd appreciate it if you would stop blowing are cover," says Giles.
"Right," puffs on a cigarette, "I guess it would be helpful that I am on watch tonight and everyone's asleep and that I know where they are sleeping."
Buffy stands up. Willow and Tara look at each other and stand up. Anya shoots up quickly and Giles eases up. Xander rises also and points his water gun at the ground.
"Take us to them," Buffy commands.
"Follow the Spike then."
As Spike comes about, he sees O'Malley standing about 30 feet away.
"That won't have to be, we've come to you," he says.
From the shadows the rest step out. Tommy has a pocketknife, Sven a pole with a hook used to reach higher prizes and Frederick has the strength- testing mallet.
O'Malley continues, "I think we can more than handle you."
"Spike, come join us!" asks Frederick.
Spike stands at a side angle and stares. He does not move. Frederick signals for him to come over.
"He's not coming lad. You see, the time many nights ago when you first encountered him, he was with the Slayer's friend. He's on their side," says O'Malley.
"That him?" asks Buffy.
"Yeah," replies Spike, "in the fat."
"I heard you were this big Irish git," she says impavidly.
O'Malley's face shifts and he grinds his teeth, "Slaughter them!"
Tommy, Frederick and Sven all run at the Scooby group. Buffy and Spike stand at opposite ends and Xander speaks up.
"Ready . aim . eat holy water you dicks!" he yells.
"Fall back! Fall back mates!" O'Malley commands his comrades.
Buffy makes her way to O'Malley.
"Tell them to get upside the tent there and they had better not move," she orders O'Malley.
"You guys! Do as she says."
They all start backing up.
"You too Lucky Charms," she says.
The gang form a half circle around the vampires and slowly forces them to the tent.
"What? You like this?" says Xander.
Tommy moves at Xander. Xander squirts him. Tommy groans in pain. O'Malley takes deep breaths and watches in anger.
"Now everybody drop your weapons."
"This isn't over lasse," says O'Malley.
"Quite frankly, after what you did to those children, it is going to be over and hopefully in the most painful way possible. I want you to suffer just as those kids had to. Slowly, powerless to do anything. Xander, give him a taste."
"10-4 squad leader."
Xander squirts O'Malley. Some gets in O'Malley's eyes and he covers them, crying bitterly.
"Again," says a apathetic Buffy.
Xander shoots him again and O'Malley falls to his knees. Crisp second degree burns letting smoke off O'Malley nearly bald head.
"Xander, again."
Xander lower his water gun and looks at O'Malley and then Buffy.
"Buffy . isn't this a little cruel and unusual?" asks Willow.
"Fine. Where's the cash you guys stole?"
"You must be whacked if you think we're going to tell you Slayer," Tommy comments off hand.
"You will. And then you will die and all that money will go back to the families."
"The trailer a few dozen feet to your immediate left, but you won't leave here with it," says O'Malley.
"We will, Giles, go collect the cash please."
"Yes," and he takes off quickly with a sashay bag.
"You all better start cooperating before I give you das boot," and Xander kicks one of his shoes up.
"You guys," says Tara.
Willow turns around. She speaks up, "Buffy, look."
Buffy turns around. The man with the medallion necklace from the booth Buffy and Ben played at and another circus man approach.
"Spike, hide their faces."
Buffy walks up to the two.
"You heard the nice lady. Get down on you haunches, put your hands on your heads and put your face between your sorry legs. That goes for you to baldy."
"Look at me you dirty son of a bitch. Does it look like I can?" O'Malley says while clearly infuriated.
"Then turn around and kiss the big top big red."
Buffy looks at the medallion and up at the man's face.
"Can we help you people? Circus hours are over at 10:00," says the medallion man.
"We were just . ah . I could swear I've seen that symbol somewhere before."
"This is the symbol Lucifer," his eyes turn black, " the price of darkness. He'll see you soon."
Out from behind rides and booths step out nearly 30 carnies. Giles comes back, struggling to carry the bag.
"I'm back everyone. This thing is extraordinarily heavy and .oh dear me."
"We are so screwed," Says Xander.
"Oh yeah, tell him to go ahead and come on up, I got something for him," an unfazed Buffy comments.
"You people aren't with them? They're vampires! The walking dead. They're all icky and disgusting," says Willow.
"Hello! Standing right here," Spike says pissed.
"Present vampire company excluded."
"Stand my friends," call the medallion man aloud
Tommy, Frederick, Sven and O'Malley get up. O'Malley walks to the front. He eyes Buffy from top to bottom. Buffy raises her chin and follows him with her eyes.
"Frederick, relieve then of these childish weapons," he says.
Frederick walks around and collects the Super Soakers. Tara closes her eyes, Willow gives Frederick a dirty look and Xander forces him to pry it out. Frederick walks off to the side.
"Why you would ask Miss Rosenberg?" says the necklace-adorned man.
"Oh, I figured that one out for myself. You see, its because you're a giant pile of scum sucking hurl. Though I could be wrong," says Xander.
"Yeah, I was wondering kind of. Just a little. Gosh your eyes are awfully black," replies Willow.
"Do you really think we could be so oblivious as to not know? It's a partnership. They work for free and provide us with money from their reapings. In return we give them room, board and a country wide field from which to harvest."
"God, you're not going to talk on and on are you? Cause we had a Mayor who did that and let me tell you - boring. Oh, I killed him too. He was evil."
"I hear old tale the blood of a Slayer is intoxicating. Gives one a slight hallucinogenic mental state. Let's see just how much of an old wives tale that really is," says O'Malley.
"Look, why don't you just kill us already? That way I can start kicking your asses," Buffy answers back.
Tommy claps his hands together in anticipation. O'Malley stops in front of Buffy.
"Nothing so kind. My lads' weapons were for defensive purposes only. We don't want to battle you and tear you all up. Every drop is precious. Drain you slowly. Little by little, every bit by wee bit. And leave you dead. Your body lying on the floor much like those poor lasses who wondered so helplessly about. Some of them begged and pleaded to their last breaths."
Tara turns to Spike.
"What are we going to do?"
"Don't worry your pretty little heads off," he looks at O'Malley, "some foolish prat has gone and called the police. And what's this - even planted evidence. You and all your circus blokes are going to jail. Of course for you I'd have to be the big house."
"You really think I have pretty eyes?" Tara replies.
"Yes! All right! Take that!" Willow exclaims in excitement.
Willow grabs Spike's right arm and bounces.
"Hey Sabrina, not in front of the baddies."
"Oh right . argh."
Police sirens sound in the distance. All the human carnies flee except two. - the one with the medallion and another.
"I think it's time for you to beg," Buffy swings her felt arm behind her, grabs the prize hook Sven is holding and smacks O'Malley upside the head. Everyone disperses and fights. The second human picks up the strength mallet and approaches Anya.
"Hey! I know you! You're that awful man who yelled at my poor Xander. Only I may yell at Xander!"
He swings it and she ducts.

"Willow, you and Tara go get the car. With the police here were going to have to make a hasty exit. Go!" commands Buffy.
Tara and Willow run off.

"That wouldn't by any chance be a butter knife would it?" says Xander to Tommy.
Tommy trusts the blade forward.
"I wouldn't know. Let's see how easily it slices through you bro."

Giles stands there with the moneybag helpless. The medallion man reaches out for Buffy. She punches him in the stock.
"Must hurt like hell."
O'Malley punches her upside her head while she is not looking.
"Ones medicine can be such a bitter thing," he replies.
The medallion man rushes at her and wraps his arms around her. Before she can pry loose, O'Malley takes a hard jab to her belly. Again, again and again he punches.

Sven, having picked up his prize rod, circles Spike.
"William the bloody." and twirls the rod around.

Anya leaps at the guy and rides his back. She starts punching him on the head with her free hand. He drops the mallet and attempts to stop her.
"Um! How do you like this?! Strong enough for you?!" she calls out.

Tommy slashes to the right, tearing Xander's shirt. He feels it and pulls his hand out. Small dabs of blood appear.
"Were you going to shoot me with that water pistol? H20 my ass?"
"That," he jumps back to avoid another slash, "was the general idea. Anytime you're ready to fight fair and like a man, you just let me know."
"I'm not a man," he shifts his face, "I'm an eternal creature."
"Great, now the walking dead have an extended vocabulary."
Tommy does a roundhouse kick and his right shoe slams into Xander's head, sending him to the ground.

Buffy struggles with the men as O'Malley approaches. He has picked up the strength mallet and is getting ready to swing. As soon as he is close enough, Buffy bends her legs and pushes herself up. Her feet catch O'Malley's stomach and she pushes hard. O'Malley stumbles backwards and finally falls to the ground. With the extra weight, the man holding Buffy staggers a few steps back and falls down. Buffy runs over to Xander. Tommy is hovering over him ready to plunge the knife into him.
"Do not be afraid my brother, for an honorable death is better than one of a scared coward."
He trusts the knife down and just as he does so, Buffy rams into him. He drops downward and gathers himself as he looks up at her.
"Slayer! I'm gonna make you my bitch."
She punches him and reaches into her pocket to pull out a stake.
"I hope you like it rough," she replies.
Just then she is grabbed and held high up. O'Malley has her over his head.
"Xander! Take this!"
She tosses the stake to Xander. It hits him in the head.
"Sorry."
"How do you like that weather Slayer? I bench press 250. I don't know how strong you are, but I get the feeling that may present you a challenge. Mavek! Get up!"
The medallion man gets up.
"I think if I throw you upon a knife, that just may kill you," says O'Malley.
Mavek pulls out a short elbow to hand sized knife that comes to a sharp point. He runs it across a finger and his finger bleeds.
"Giles!" Buffy yells.
"Oh, right," he lifts the heavy bag of money over his head and clocks him hard. Mavek falls to the ground unconscious. The other chases Anya. She runs around him and back to the mallet. As he is almost upon her, she grabs the long handle with both hands and comes around with it flung like a baseball bat. It impacts on the guy's head, sending him to the ground cold. It leaves a red mark.
"Oww, sorry," Anya says.
"Anya! Come and help me tie him up," Giles calls out for assistance.
Anya and Giles both pull rope off game booths to tie the two human folks up.
Tommy rolls to his side and sees Xander. Xander gets up and Tommy quickly locates his pocketknife. As soon as he finds it, he yells and charges Xander with one arm extended out holding the weapon. Xander drops down to his knees and trusts out the stake. He backs off quickly to see it stuck in Tommy's chest. Tommy looks down.
"Dawg." and he vaporizes. The knife falls onto the ground.

Sven continues to twirl the prize hook.
"On black horse back by the moon's light did you arrive. With a legion of terror that did burn horror into my fellow villagers hearts."
Xander goes and helps Giles.
"Dismounted upon our humble innocent land. A shirt of mesh armor, a sword at your side and a bo. I fought back," he thrusts a bo edge at Spike. Spike backs up, "I watched and did learn as you twirled it round and round, passing it from one hand to the next," he does as he recalls, "I attempted to avenge my village. Smacked me down you did."
Sven twirls it around very fast. He spins around himself and swoops down low for Spike's legs. Spike jumps up. He swoops again at Spike's mid section. Just as Spike jumps back, Sven makes another quick try for his legs. Spike jumps again and before he realizes it, Sven swoops high and sends Spike to the dirt. Spike grabs his head.
"You got a twinkle in your eye. Like that of the very stars in tonight's sky. A mere child you are, but one with vigor. Tonight I let you live . you said. I lay there, rather than tempt fate, as you and your men decimated my home. As I did say, it was the best night of my life, but now I surpass my master."

Buffy tries to free herself, but her legs are not long enough to kick O'Malley and her ars can't bend back enough to grab hold of him.
"And to think, all this time we avoided Slayers. If I had known it would be this easy, I would have."
Buffy squirms until she slips out of her shirt. She jams her fingers into his eyes until he loosens his grip and drops her. He winces in pain and grabs her shirt with both hand and tears it in half.
"Oh my," Giles turns around, "let me know when it's safe."
"All we need it some jello and." Xander wise cracks.
Anya covers his eyes.
"What? She's wearing a bra Ann."
"Xander Harris, you know good and well what. If you want to see cleavage, you can see mine. Buffy's cleavage is off limits."
Buffy gets up. Unfazed by being shirtless. Blood runs from O'Malley's eyes. The police sirens almost upon them.
"Lasse, time to say goodnight."
Sven jabs the rod's pointed end at Spike. Spike avoids it, jerks it from Sven's hands instantly and hits Sven. He catches himself with one leg moved back and looks at Spike. Spike twirls it around.
"It's not the display of power." he starts. He spins once and whacks Sven's feet from under him. Sven falls down. He pushes himself up onto his knees.
"Or the ability to out tango your opponent."
He rotates it slowly handing it from one hand to the next making a almost tangible figure eight appears. He stops and catching it from both ends, uses the middle and rams it into Sven's head. Sven falls on his back.
"Or show of dominating force over your adversary that makes you more."
Sven takes his arms and folds them like and X over is heart.
"You make yourself more. And that fire from which belly wards up that stirs your mind and drives your actions, is your guide and teacher."
He switches hands while the pole is spinning and holds it over his head. He stops it with the sharp point facing downwards.
"And even with all that, you forget one thing," he runs Sven through and Sven dissolves. His dust blows away, "I'm Williams the Bloody I am."
He turns around to see Buffy and O'Malley. O'Malley reaches into a pocket and pulls out a small hand sized revolver.
"Buffy!" yells Spike.
O'Malley shoots and Spike grabs his arm and twists him around. The bullet grazes her left shoulder. She grabs it quickly, feeling the burn from the bullet's heat.
"I can take the both of you!" and infuriated O'Malley exclaims.
He screams. The police cars come to a screeching holt and they can hear the officers finding and searching for the circus people.
O'Malley points the gun at Spike and right before he fires. Buffy runs at him and forces him back until he stops. She let's go.
He seems to suspend in mid air at an angle. Then slowly the prize rod breaks through his chest and the pole slides through him as he continues to fall backwards. He explodes in a big pile of dust and dirt. The particles fill the air.
"All right Buff! And might I add what a lovely ensemble you are wearing," says Xander.
"Here pet," Spike takes off his long black coat, "don't get it all torn to hell."
Willow and Tara pull up from the opposite side of the circus entrance into the opening where everyone is. The car jerks back.
Tara gets out.
"Whoa! That was fun! I got to drive the getaway car more often," says Willow.
"Okay, ease up there with the Xander-mobile Will."
Anya rings one of the tied up guy's neck.
"What do you suppose they'll do with this circus now? Since there's no one to run it."
"Well, I imagine they will re-staff it and keep it going as a city attraction. What with all the strange occurrences that happen here. So that unfortunately tends to bring a lot of tourists," Giles comments.
"So," Xander claps his hands, "you can guess what's on the menu."
"You guys, we better get going. The police will be here any second."
"Four," says Spike, " there were four of the."
"Yeah, those three we wasted and Mavek and the other guy. Wait - that's five. And what is it with these guys names? Mavek? Why can't they have normal names like Brian, or Jake?" Xander says.
"No you daft git. Frederick. He was the fourth vampire. He gathered the water pistols, remember?" Spike reminds Xander.
"Oh yeah! With all the excitement and nearly becoming a carved piece of meat, handsome meat non the less, I must have forgot."
"You guys get out of here now. Go home, I'll take care of him," Buffy commands them.
"Buffy, are you sure?" asks Willow.
"Yes! Go! It's just one guy, I can handle him. I will meet you guys later."
Everyone pills. Xander takes the driver's seat. Before he closes the door he says, "Good luck Buffy." "Thanks," she replies. "Spike! Hurry up, or we're leaving you," Xander yells out to him. "Shove off Romeo. I'll walk home." Xander shakes his head and tries to maneuver backwards out of the circus. "Well I wasn't going to just leave you here, now was I?" "Spike, if I did know any better I'd say you like us." "Like you? Right . don't fill that head with delusions Slayer, I just want my coat back. I'm staying here to make sure nothing happens to it." "There!" Buffy points. Frederick takes off. Spike and Buffy give chase. They eventually stop. "Now where did he go?" Spike says.
Buffy scans the area. Police searchlights fill the night. She catches a ride door shutting.
"There!" she voices to Spike.
They both run over. Spike looks up at the name.
"Oh come on, the bleeding house of mirrors."
"You going to follow me, or not?" she dashes in. He catches the door.
"To the end," he replies.
They walk carefully through the maze. Spike looks in a mirror at the blank reflection and runs back a lose piece of hair, "Gosh, I didn't know it until now, but I'm quite the looker."
"That was a good thing you did, calling the police."
"Don't get all bubbly on me Slayer. They would have horned in on my action. I just stopped it at the root before it grew."
Buffy stops, almost walking into a mirror. She looks for the next way and suddenly sees the reflection of something in the mirror. Frederick runs at Spike and whacks him upside the head with something. Spike falls down and slumps up against a mirror. It cracks. Buffy kicks Frederick back. She checks Spike.
"You all right?"
"I'll be all right, just a slight case of the dizzies. I'll catch up. Just give me a minute."
She turns around. Frederick is gone.
"Did you see." she starts to ask.
"Only spots," he replies.
She looks at all the mirrors. The one Frederick hit cracked and because of that all the mirrors reflected that image, so Buffy went to the one without a crack. She looks around seeing only her reflection.
"I know you're here. I can feel it. Now we can play cat and mouse all night long, I don't care."
She runs her fingers over a mirror. She can sense him, but yet not see him.
"Your pals are gone. O'Malley bit the dust, big time. It's only a matter of time."
She hears a noise from behind and jolts around. Nothing. One of the mirrors opens up and knocks her into another. Frederick hurries over and smacks her over the head too. She falls down. A little trickle of blood runs down her forehead from where a suitcase lock scraped her scalp.
With only the suitcases reflection in all the mirrors Frederick angrily responds, "O'Malley was a good man. He took care of us."
She gets up.
"He was a murderer. A cowardly killer who sent out his half witted, half dead low life lackeys to do his evil bidding."
"So, I'm a low life lackey half wit?"
"No, you're a half witted, low life lackey trainee. You got to climb the demon corporate ladder first."
He pulls out a switchblade.
"He struggles hard through oppression. I was a wondering man who had nothing, Tommy was so drugged up he had almost forgotten he was even a vampire. He got us through. Colin had climbed up a small hill and lay there waiting for sunrise. O'Malley happened to be taking a small walk when he stumbled upon him," tears roll down Frederick's wrinkled vampire face, "he was like a Sire to us all."
"So what you're trying to say is, you dead, manslaughtering fat Irish leader, was the world's greatest dad? Hello! He was a vampire! Plain and simple. I'd totally dust him again if I had the chance. And another thing, as far as bad breath goes when being dead, his takes the cake. Don't get me started on his cholesterol. The man was a walking heart attack and."
Frederick throws the suitcase at her. She blocks with an elbow and when she raises it he lunges at her with the blade. She catches his arm and forces him back.
"He was more than you could hope to be."
She forces him into a mirror. It shatters.
"What? Dead? I've already been there and done that."
He takes his right leg, moves it to the left and kicks both Buffy's legs out from under her. Still holding onto him, she drags him down. Her face buries into his chest. He curls up a leg and kicks her back.
"Respectful and giving. What have you ever given?"
She gets up and he approaches with the switchblade in his right hand. She jolts forward reaching for the knife. He cups it with both hands and holds tight. She pushes him back forcefully again. His head hits another mirror leaving an impact mark and crack lines from the point. Small fragments fall and shatter upon the floor. They struggle and she pushes his coupled hands over his head. His knees give and he lets them loose. They bend and eventually he collapses on his butt. She starts pushing him back and he moves his arms in front to get better leverage. She has him lying down, the long black coat swoops to her sides, covering him like a blanket of death. She speaks again.
"Death."
"What?"
"Death. It's what I give," she pushes hard until the knife is now near his forehead, in his hands, "a gift. From me to you."
"There will always be more. You can't stop us."
"Bring it on."
And with one swift push she stabs him in the head and for a moment, time seems to stop. A small drop of blood forms around the wound. She catches her reflection in the mirror to her right side. He vaporizes and she closes her eyes. The force of his explosion sends the ends of Spike's coat up. Her hands fall to the ground. The knife sticks into the wooden floor.
Spike comes staggering in. He leans upside a wall and feels his head.
"Well, my noggin still hurts, but at least the bloody spots have stopped. We best shove off Slayer, the coppers are closer than my comfort would allow."
She doesn't move.
"Are you all right Slayer?"
Her hands on the floor and the dust still in the air, she looks at herself again in the mirror.
"It's my gift. To kill. I'll never be normal . no matter what smoke and mirrors I use."
Her eyes tear up as she looks through her tangled and loose hair hanging over her face, into the dark mirror.

-FIN-