A/N: See chapter one for disclaimer, rating, and notes.

A/N+1: Sorry for what's about to happen but, trust me, it's for the best. I've already caught some flak for this chapter, but I have plans. Lots of plans.

Title: From Nine Inch Nails, "Into the Void"

*****

Xander's tapping on the hood was the only signal they needed; Willow's foot slammed on the brake even as she cut the wheel, hard. The pickup's rear end swung to the left, giving Xander a clear field of fire at the gate to the construction site. The demons, humans, vampires, and walking dead were suddenly exposed to the crippling fire of the fifty-caliber machine gun, which Xander directed with a practiced eye. The rounds tore through flesh and bone, reducing the mass to moaning and screaming lumps of still flesh.

Buffy's door opened even as the Mustang pulled up behind the truck. Michael and Spike sprinted through the opening to the site as the Slayers and the wiccan walked purposefully past Xander, who held his M-16 at the ready, guarding their escape route.

The two men, neither fully human, broke for the only things guarding the elevator. The remaining two skeletal knights stood, swords at the ready, as Michael and Spike drove them back with a flurry of flashing steel propelled by otherworldly strength. Destroying strikes failed to land against either creature, because of the dark magics cast upon them by their master a few hours ago.

Blonde, brunette and redhead walked with even strides to the elevator, speaking no words and sparing no glances to the carnage they past. The steady rattle of the elevator bore them away from their lovers as they ascended to Dawn.

Spike ducked a wicked slash from his opponent and lashed out with booted foot, sending the creature down. His next three swings tore arms and head from the creature just before his senses warned him of a new threat. Ducking even as something large and sharp whistled overhead, he almost fell over from shock when he saw what he faced.

Michael quickly disarmed his opponent, his blessed steel rapidly disenchanting the risen bones. His final cut removed the skull as he turned to face the creature that now dominated the site.

It stood over seven feet tall, composed of dead flesh sewn together in a parody of human form. It wielded a huge axe of fused human bones, sharpened far beyond what was naturally possible. The blade moved with amazing speed as the creature alternated attacks at both Michael and Spike, who ducked and dodged with speed born of desperation.

*****

The elevator came to a stop at the highest point of the construction, and the three women saw Dawn instantly. Chained and apparently unharmed, they rushed to her even as they realized the threat inherent in the cloaked figure to her left and the shimmering red portal opening just out of reach.

"I knew you would come," the figure said, his voice powerful and deep. "Bait the hook, and the fish will bite. I'm surprised at this catch. Two Slayers," with his last words, he raised his left hand.

Faith and Buffy gasped as the dark magics took hold, lifting them off their feet by inches. Neither could move, or speak, as they hovered closer to the cloaked man.

"In case you are wondering," he said, "I am the Necromancer. I am your death."

He ignored Willow, which cost him dearly. Her form suddenly hummed with power as she raised her arms and chanted, her voice quick and sure. Buffy was the first to be freed from the spell, and her roundhouse caught the Necromancer even as Faith's feet touched the steel girders.

"How the...?" shock was evident on his voice as he reeled back, his hands working in intricate gestures as he tried to regain the advantage. Willow's hands continued their strange dance as she worked against him, and the Slayer's advanced, weapons drawn.

*****

"Any ideas?" Spike said, rolling from a wicked downward slash.

"Nope," Michael replied, dancing back from his counterattack. The thing had been nicked and cut a dozen times already, but seemed immune to the steel.

"They're in trouble up there," Spike replied as he dashed in, seeing an opening as the thing attacked Michael. His blade bit deep, but caused no damage even as the creature spun to attack him.

Of the three, only Spike saw Xander's entrance. The M-16 blazed in his hands, bullets tearing through the knees and elbows of the creature. It fell as the young man dropped his spent magazine and slapped a new one home. Barely a second and the gun was blazing again.

"Go!" Xander yelled above the gunfire. Spike and Michael sheathed their blades and began scaling the construction at inhuman speed. Glancing back, they saw Xander pull the pin of a grenade with his teeth and throw it at the creature's feet.

"Whelp's learned some new tricks," Spike chuckled as the creature was torn to pieces by the grenade's shrapnel

*****

Willow's magic, though powerful, was new to her. Against the Necromancer's seven centuries of practice, she stood no chance. The Slayers, strong and skilled, had no chance against him, because they could not hurt a being that felt no pain.

Spitting blood, Buffy pushed herself upright as the Necromancer approached. His hood had fallen during the brief fight, revealing the grinning skull of a long dead corpse. Too late they noticed the blazing red lights where his eyes should have been; too late they realized the power and death promised by those lights.

"Entertaining," he said, his voice again dry and cracking. "But now I'll have what I need. Two slayers. And, as a delightful bonus, the Key."

"Fuck you," Faith spat as she staggered to her feet. Cut by mystical blades conjured by the lich, she fought against the darkness that threatened to drag her down. "Fight's not over."

"I beg to differ," he said, turning to the portal. "The first of my true minions is stepping through this portal now. You're witch is dead, and the two of you are in no shape to fight me."

"But we are, mate," Spike's voice was like the answer to a pray for both Faith and Buffy. The blonde vampire held his blade low as he sauntered towards the lich in his cocky manner. The Necromancer's raised arm apparently didn't have the desired effect, as he stepped back from the three wounded women.

"I have dominion over the undead," the lich said. "Why do you not heed my commands?"

"Don't really bloody care," he said, "But I 'ave a feeling he's got something to do with it."

The lich turned to Michael, who was approaching with a purpose. The katana in the man's hand gave off a golden radiance that caused the lich to flinch.

"I know I can hurt you," Michael growled as he launched an attack. Thought is faster than even angelic speed, and the lich faded into nothing even as the blade clove the mist that hung where the Necromancer once stood.

"Get them down from here," Spike said softly as he worked the chains holding Dawn. "I'll get 'bit down."

Willow shook her head and stood as Michael lifted the now unconscious Faith into his arms. Buffy, waved away help as well, rising unsteadily to her feet. They moved to the elevator, only to be stopped by Dawn's scream.

The construction shook as two cloven feet stepped from the now open portal. The demon stood a good twelve feet tall, with red skin, wickedly clawed hands, and eyes that were blacker than the darkest night. In it's right hand it carried a many-lashed whip, which undulated with a life of its own.

"A pit fiend," Michael gasped, stumbling back even as Spike freed Dawn.

"The portal," she whispered between her tears. "Only my blood can close it. He said..." Sobs racked her body as Spike gathered her close.

Looking at the demon, Spike knew in his heart what he had to do.

"Sorry 'bit," he said as he bit her, gently, and tasted her blood. Her gasp of surprise barely registered as he pushed her towards her sister. The look of shock on Buffy's face was burned into his mind, and he steeled himself for what had to be done. It was fitting, that look of shock on the face of the woman he loved. With a growl, he turned and crouched.

In that split second before Spike entered the portal, he knew he'd been an amateur at torture, because that look caused him more pain than anything else in the world could. He knew that her face would haunt him in whatever afterlife awaited him.

Leaping with all the strength his vampiric form could muster, William dove through the portal.