Phase 18
Sunnydale (The Bronze)
The Slayer and her vampire mate entered the seemingly empty hall. The dark cavernous room
echoed the footsteps.
"Can't you smell anything? My vamp radar seems to be malfunctioning?"she asked
"Yes, but there might just be leftover scents though. I don't think that there is anyone here"
Spike whispered back.
At that moment all hell broke loose as a melee of vamps descended from the club's second level
and set to surrounding their prey.
"Spoke too soon" the vampire conceded and readied his body for the incoming attack
They turned their backs to each other and combed over their approaching enemies. There were
twenty-five or so vampires which seemed to Spike like overkill. He felt Buffy tense and knew
that she'd never taken down this many demons at the same time. Lucky for her she had him.
"Glad you could make it" a disembodied voice emerged from the dark Bronze stage. Buffy and
Spike turned towards it without losing sight of the vampires around them.
The leather-clad figure seemed to rise from the shadows. It was male, not too tall but with a
walk that resembled that of a stalking panther. His dark eyes skimmed over Spike and came to
rest on Buffy. A malicious grin settled over his features and the Slayer felt an uncomfortable
chill run through her spine.
"Xander, I presume" she managed to keep her voice steady
The vampire mimicked a humble bow.
"Glad to be recognized especially by such as celebrity as you"
"I make it a point of keeping tabs on all the Big Bads... and the wannabe's" she retorted with a
smirk.
The vampire's features darkened considerably but he managed to hold to his temper. "I guess
I'm gonna have to prove that I'm the real thing. Betcha it'll be a blast. How's this for the first
act?"
He nodded and the first wave of vampires attacked the Slayer and her partner. Buffy's agility
easily deflected all attacks while Spike went for the jugular like a seasoned brawler. Within
minutes the vampire numbers began to thin in clouds of shimmery dust as the couple's stakes
made quick work of their enemies.
Xander did not join the fray. Instead he held back and studied the Slayer's moves. Even as she
kicked and punched her adversaries, she kept her much of her focus on her ally's progress and
when the bleached blond vampire was side swept she immediately pounced on the assailant. It
was obvious that there was something going on between those two. It was quite the Achilles'
heel, Willow had been right.
The second wave was ready to take the places of their fallen brethren. Xander had strategically
saved his strongest vamps for the second round since the Slayer and her 'friend' were bound to
be tired then. A quick look at the balustrade confirmed that Willow was in position.
There were only a couple of vampires left from the original group. Xander motioned to the next
and they poised for action. He watched calmly as Buffy and her companion dispatched their last
vampire together.
"Bravo! really, truly impressive" the vampire applauded.
"Is... that all you have?" the Slayer uttered while catching her breath
"Hardly" he said with a wave and the second team descended on the pair.
##############################
Ten minutes later Spike realized that they were in trouble. The Slayer was breathing heavily and
favoring her left side. He himself had gotten a good kick in the head that made him see
everything double. As hard as it was to admit, they were dangerously over their heads. It was
best to retreat before they had to count their losses. He made his way to Buffy who was fighting
five vampires at the same time.
"Pet, I think that we better pull back"
"Agreed, but the exit is being obstructed by them. I'm gonna try to fight my way there so
follow me and watch my back"
Spike nodded and set to do just that. Xander watched them make their way towards the exit and
sent a mental signal to his lover. Willow aimed the gun at a few paces before the door.
A while later Buffy reached the exit and kicked the heavy door ajar. A brawny vampire grabbed
her arms from behind and swung her around so that she lost sight of Spike. A female vampire
kicked her in the stomach and she doubled over in pain but the large vampire grabbed her by the
hair and sunk his teeth into her throat.
She didn't see modified dart hit Spike in the back of the neck as he tried to help her. She didn't
see him loose his footing and sag to the floor as a half a dozen vampires descended on him.
Buffy barely noticed as Oz and Giles used their crosses and water guns filled with holy water to
dissipate the vampires from her. The watcher carried her crumpled form away from the Bronze
while Oz, Larry and Nancy kept the demons at bay. The team regrouped in the van.
"What about Spike?" Nancy asked as they worked fervently to revive the Slayer and get to
safety.
"I didn't see him. There were too many vampires... it was impossible to try and get him back"
Oz answered shakily.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Larry pointed towards the now unconscious Buffy.
"We can only hope so" the watcher's tone betrayed his anxiety
####################
The losses had been heavy and the Slayer had escaped but Xander was pleased. He knew that he
now had the upper hand.
The peroxide-blond vampire was being divested of his shirt and shoes and the chains were being
fitted across his wrists, ankles, waist and neck. He was still asleep.
Willow was giddy. They had informed the Master of their prowess and he'd been satisfied
knowing that the Slayer was all but theirs. Until then they had her lover.
Xander looked at his prisoner, he almost felt sorry for the guy. When Will got through with him
he would not even remember himself, much less the Slayer and even if he did he would not be
able to do much about it. Such a waste of a good fighter but every war had their casualties.
And this war was just beginning
TBC.
Author's note: I'm finally getting this story in gear but I don't have a clear vision of where I'm
going so I will appreciate all suggestions. Don't forget to R/R and I promise to post the next part
soon enough.
Sunnydale (The Bronze)
The Slayer and her vampire mate entered the seemingly empty hall. The dark cavernous room
echoed the footsteps.
"Can't you smell anything? My vamp radar seems to be malfunctioning?"she asked
"Yes, but there might just be leftover scents though. I don't think that there is anyone here"
Spike whispered back.
At that moment all hell broke loose as a melee of vamps descended from the club's second level
and set to surrounding their prey.
"Spoke too soon" the vampire conceded and readied his body for the incoming attack
They turned their backs to each other and combed over their approaching enemies. There were
twenty-five or so vampires which seemed to Spike like overkill. He felt Buffy tense and knew
that she'd never taken down this many demons at the same time. Lucky for her she had him.
"Glad you could make it" a disembodied voice emerged from the dark Bronze stage. Buffy and
Spike turned towards it without losing sight of the vampires around them.
The leather-clad figure seemed to rise from the shadows. It was male, not too tall but with a
walk that resembled that of a stalking panther. His dark eyes skimmed over Spike and came to
rest on Buffy. A malicious grin settled over his features and the Slayer felt an uncomfortable
chill run through her spine.
"Xander, I presume" she managed to keep her voice steady
The vampire mimicked a humble bow.
"Glad to be recognized especially by such as celebrity as you"
"I make it a point of keeping tabs on all the Big Bads... and the wannabe's" she retorted with a
smirk.
The vampire's features darkened considerably but he managed to hold to his temper. "I guess
I'm gonna have to prove that I'm the real thing. Betcha it'll be a blast. How's this for the first
act?"
He nodded and the first wave of vampires attacked the Slayer and her partner. Buffy's agility
easily deflected all attacks while Spike went for the jugular like a seasoned brawler. Within
minutes the vampire numbers began to thin in clouds of shimmery dust as the couple's stakes
made quick work of their enemies.
Xander did not join the fray. Instead he held back and studied the Slayer's moves. Even as she
kicked and punched her adversaries, she kept her much of her focus on her ally's progress and
when the bleached blond vampire was side swept she immediately pounced on the assailant. It
was obvious that there was something going on between those two. It was quite the Achilles'
heel, Willow had been right.
The second wave was ready to take the places of their fallen brethren. Xander had strategically
saved his strongest vamps for the second round since the Slayer and her 'friend' were bound to
be tired then. A quick look at the balustrade confirmed that Willow was in position.
There were only a couple of vampires left from the original group. Xander motioned to the next
and they poised for action. He watched calmly as Buffy and her companion dispatched their last
vampire together.
"Bravo! really, truly impressive" the vampire applauded.
"Is... that all you have?" the Slayer uttered while catching her breath
"Hardly" he said with a wave and the second team descended on the pair.
##############################
Ten minutes later Spike realized that they were in trouble. The Slayer was breathing heavily and
favoring her left side. He himself had gotten a good kick in the head that made him see
everything double. As hard as it was to admit, they were dangerously over their heads. It was
best to retreat before they had to count their losses. He made his way to Buffy who was fighting
five vampires at the same time.
"Pet, I think that we better pull back"
"Agreed, but the exit is being obstructed by them. I'm gonna try to fight my way there so
follow me and watch my back"
Spike nodded and set to do just that. Xander watched them make their way towards the exit and
sent a mental signal to his lover. Willow aimed the gun at a few paces before the door.
A while later Buffy reached the exit and kicked the heavy door ajar. A brawny vampire grabbed
her arms from behind and swung her around so that she lost sight of Spike. A female vampire
kicked her in the stomach and she doubled over in pain but the large vampire grabbed her by the
hair and sunk his teeth into her throat.
She didn't see modified dart hit Spike in the back of the neck as he tried to help her. She didn't
see him loose his footing and sag to the floor as a half a dozen vampires descended on him.
Buffy barely noticed as Oz and Giles used their crosses and water guns filled with holy water to
dissipate the vampires from her. The watcher carried her crumpled form away from the Bronze
while Oz, Larry and Nancy kept the demons at bay. The team regrouped in the van.
"What about Spike?" Nancy asked as they worked fervently to revive the Slayer and get to
safety.
"I didn't see him. There were too many vampires... it was impossible to try and get him back"
Oz answered shakily.
"Is she gonna be alright?" Larry pointed towards the now unconscious Buffy.
"We can only hope so" the watcher's tone betrayed his anxiety
####################
The losses had been heavy and the Slayer had escaped but Xander was pleased. He knew that he
now had the upper hand.
The peroxide-blond vampire was being divested of his shirt and shoes and the chains were being
fitted across his wrists, ankles, waist and neck. He was still asleep.
Willow was giddy. They had informed the Master of their prowess and he'd been satisfied
knowing that the Slayer was all but theirs. Until then they had her lover.
Xander looked at his prisoner, he almost felt sorry for the guy. When Will got through with him
he would not even remember himself, much less the Slayer and even if he did he would not be
able to do much about it. Such a waste of a good fighter but every war had their casualties.
And this war was just beginning
TBC.
Author's note: I'm finally getting this story in gear but I don't have a clear vision of where I'm
going so I will appreciate all suggestions. Don't forget to R/R and I promise to post the next part
soon enough.