Chapter 8
Looking around for something to deter Spike, Buffy spotted several bottles of Holy Water wearing string scarves with price tags from the magic shop attached. Buffy had a vague memory that the shop had been burgled just over a week ago, and assumed the bottles were part of the loot. The shopkeeper, of course, was dead. Spike obviously hadn't noticed the bottles, though, and Buffy could use that to her advantage. She didn't really care how they'd gotten there.
Noticing Spike getting too close for comfort, Buffy grabbed one of the bottles and smashed it over his head. He yelled and fell backwards, hitting the ground hard.
Glancing up to see how the others were doing, she noticed swarms of vampires streaming into the cave. Spike's followers attacked her friends venomously, but the Slayerettes gave as good as they got. Buffy realised, however, that they could not possibly win if the number of vampires kept increasing at this rate. Grabbing a handful of bottles of Holy Water, she yelled Angel's name and held one up for him to see. At his nod, she hurled the bottles she held into the fight.
Angel withdrew from the battle, avoiding the liquid splaying from bottles smashing upon connection with walls or bodies. Over half the vampires were burning, screaming in agony, and more bottles were flying into the fight. Willow was drenched, but continued to fight as well as she could. Angel admired her determination to help her best friend.
The vampires were disappearing. Some were being staked; others were fleeing from the Holy Water. Buffy didn't seem to be throwing any more bottles, so Angel rejoined the fight, helping the others dust the last few vampires.
Meanwhile, Spike was chasing some of those that had run away from the battle. Buffy tentatively eased herself over the ledge and half-scrambled, half-fell down the rock face. Angel was beside her in an instant.
Seeing her boyfriend's concerned face, Buffy smiled weakly up at him to reassure him. Angel brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes and held her steady. The Slayer felt reality dissolve around her as she relaxed, finally feeling safe in the comforting arms of a loving embrace. Grey dots swirled in front of her eyes and everything went black in steady progression from her peripheral vision.
* * * * * *
Drusilla dropped Amelia's limp body to the ground, wondering briefly what crazy new explanation Sunnydale PD would find for the murder, before leaving to meet a new acquaintance of hers; one Spike wouldn't like.
* * * * * * Angel held Buffy tightly to him. When he noticed her grip on him weaken, he murmured gently against her ear;
"Are you okay?" He felt her body go limp, so he swept her deftly into his arms.
Giles glanced over, concerned about Buffy, and saw the question in Angel's eyes. He nodded. They were done here.
* * * * * *
Kevin realised they were about to leave and spoke up, terrified they'd tell him to find his own way out.
"'Scuse me? Um, I'm sorry to ask, but, erm, do you know how to get out of here?"
The starchy-looking guy in the tweed jacket smiled, his brown eyes crinkling.
"I don't see why we shouldn't show you out. The usual occupants appear otherwise detained."
Kevin took that as a yes and squeezed between the bars that had previously held him captive to follow the strange group that had come to rescue the blonde girl, this 'Slayer', through the gap in the cave. He only wished she didn't have a boyfriend.
* * * * * * Joyce jerked awake to a frantic banging on the door and leaped out of the cosy green armchair she'd been snoozing in. Her heart soared as she prayed silently that it would be Buffy, home and free of theses mysterious pains. She was disappointed when she opened the door to reveal a girl with jet- black hair and rich brown eyes standing on the concrete step, shifting from one foot to the other and staring at the doorframe.
Suddenly, the girl seemed to notice the door had been opened and pealed her eyes nervously form the doorframe to Joyce's face. She smiled apprehensively.
"I'm terribly sorry to bother you. I'm Crystal Arom - I need to talk to you. You don't know who I am, but.it's about your daughter."
Looking around for something to deter Spike, Buffy spotted several bottles of Holy Water wearing string scarves with price tags from the magic shop attached. Buffy had a vague memory that the shop had been burgled just over a week ago, and assumed the bottles were part of the loot. The shopkeeper, of course, was dead. Spike obviously hadn't noticed the bottles, though, and Buffy could use that to her advantage. She didn't really care how they'd gotten there.
Noticing Spike getting too close for comfort, Buffy grabbed one of the bottles and smashed it over his head. He yelled and fell backwards, hitting the ground hard.
Glancing up to see how the others were doing, she noticed swarms of vampires streaming into the cave. Spike's followers attacked her friends venomously, but the Slayerettes gave as good as they got. Buffy realised, however, that they could not possibly win if the number of vampires kept increasing at this rate. Grabbing a handful of bottles of Holy Water, she yelled Angel's name and held one up for him to see. At his nod, she hurled the bottles she held into the fight.
Angel withdrew from the battle, avoiding the liquid splaying from bottles smashing upon connection with walls or bodies. Over half the vampires were burning, screaming in agony, and more bottles were flying into the fight. Willow was drenched, but continued to fight as well as she could. Angel admired her determination to help her best friend.
The vampires were disappearing. Some were being staked; others were fleeing from the Holy Water. Buffy didn't seem to be throwing any more bottles, so Angel rejoined the fight, helping the others dust the last few vampires.
Meanwhile, Spike was chasing some of those that had run away from the battle. Buffy tentatively eased herself over the ledge and half-scrambled, half-fell down the rock face. Angel was beside her in an instant.
Seeing her boyfriend's concerned face, Buffy smiled weakly up at him to reassure him. Angel brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes and held her steady. The Slayer felt reality dissolve around her as she relaxed, finally feeling safe in the comforting arms of a loving embrace. Grey dots swirled in front of her eyes and everything went black in steady progression from her peripheral vision.
* * * * * *
Drusilla dropped Amelia's limp body to the ground, wondering briefly what crazy new explanation Sunnydale PD would find for the murder, before leaving to meet a new acquaintance of hers; one Spike wouldn't like.
* * * * * * Angel held Buffy tightly to him. When he noticed her grip on him weaken, he murmured gently against her ear;
"Are you okay?" He felt her body go limp, so he swept her deftly into his arms.
Giles glanced over, concerned about Buffy, and saw the question in Angel's eyes. He nodded. They were done here.
* * * * * *
Kevin realised they were about to leave and spoke up, terrified they'd tell him to find his own way out.
"'Scuse me? Um, I'm sorry to ask, but, erm, do you know how to get out of here?"
The starchy-looking guy in the tweed jacket smiled, his brown eyes crinkling.
"I don't see why we shouldn't show you out. The usual occupants appear otherwise detained."
Kevin took that as a yes and squeezed between the bars that had previously held him captive to follow the strange group that had come to rescue the blonde girl, this 'Slayer', through the gap in the cave. He only wished she didn't have a boyfriend.
* * * * * * Joyce jerked awake to a frantic banging on the door and leaped out of the cosy green armchair she'd been snoozing in. Her heart soared as she prayed silently that it would be Buffy, home and free of theses mysterious pains. She was disappointed when she opened the door to reveal a girl with jet- black hair and rich brown eyes standing on the concrete step, shifting from one foot to the other and staring at the doorframe.
Suddenly, the girl seemed to notice the door had been opened and pealed her eyes nervously form the doorframe to Joyce's face. She smiled apprehensively.
"I'm terribly sorry to bother you. I'm Crystal Arom - I need to talk to you. You don't know who I am, but.it's about your daughter."