Part Twenty-One-

Well, the beginning of the end, as I so uniquely put it, couldn't come soon enough. We still had a week to go until the lunar eclipse, and I still had so much to do. I had to get everything ready. Which, believe me, is a lot of work. The demons seem to want to do what they see fit, which consists of killing with no preparation whatsoever. And, that pisses me off! I have a certain way I want to proceed with things. I want to surprise Angel with Connor, I want to see the look of horror and betrayal on his face and remember it for years to come. I want to see my little Scooby Gang hate what I've become, cursing me as I kill them. I want them to have the satisfaction of them seeing what I truly am, what I've become, and ever shall be. I want my ex-lovers son to walk beside me, wreaking havoc on those who love us.

And, it will work. It will go my way. If it doesn't there'll be some serious hell to pay. I stood up, looking around me. Hundreds of demons, all kinds but mostly Morahs', stood in military line, their bodies ramrod straight.

"Well, well, well." I say, a smirk on my face, "This is interesting. The Slayer leading the demons, well that's on helluva twist of fate, isn't it?" I ask.

"I don't trust you!" One demon yells, stepping out of line, "You are the enemy! This is trickery!"

Glaring, I walk over to him, "You think that I, your leader, is going to betray you?" I ask quietly.

He nods defiantly.

I snap both hands forward and snap his arm in one quick motion. He screams and falls to him knees, "See, SEE?! She would turn on her own army!" He yells.

I throw my head back and laugh, "How little you know." I murmur, an evil smile widening on my face. I grab his neck and a loud crack fills the room.

Heh, another one bites the dust.

I turn back to the others and glare at them all, "Anyone else care to voice their opinions?" I boom, then chuckled when no one stepped forward, "Thought so."

I stood before the all, looking at them, "I want revenge. You want victory. Together, we can work towards the same goal. Instead of killing you, I fight with you. Think of how resourceful that is. I know their weaknesses, their fears, what to play on, and I'll show you. If you'll help me." I finish firmly, then smile, "But of course, if you don't believe this will work, I'll just introduce you to my friends. Connor and The Beast." I say and the two of them step forward.

No one dares defy me and I smile, think how sweet revenge is.

*

Thinking outside of the bow was harder than it seemed. How could they stop an army led by a hybrid Slayer, more importantly, their friend. Dawn kept fidgeting, rubbing her hand, and itching it. It was red and looked irritated.

"Dawn, let me see." Spike said, picking up her hand gently and examining it. He could see dried blood under the fingernails. He gave a quiet sniff and smelled that it wasn't hers. It was Buffy's. A plan started to formulate in his mind.

*It's always about the blood.*

But, before he could dwell on it too much, the door opened and in walked a leather clad brunette. She had dark eyes and a pale hesitant face. It was Faith.

"Hey all." She drawled, "Heard you needed some assistance in the Slayer department."

"Faith." Angel smiled, walking over to hug the girl.

She looked uncomfortable in her clothes and in the attention of every person in the room. Some glared at her, others just stared. Spike walked over and gave a smirk, "How d'ya do?" He asked, to make her feel better.

"Peachy." She answered, "So, ya'll need help or what?"

"That would be…terrific, Faith, really." Giles said, a small smile on his face at the changed girl.

She nodded, "So, I heard B's gone a little over the edge, kind of an end of the world power trip." She said.

"Gee, sounds like someone we know." Willow muttered, anger darkening her eyes.

"You're right. Just like me and just like you, what does that say about B?" She retorted her eyes sad.

Willow gasped, "How dare you…"

"How dare I? I come to help and you attack me. Hope ya don't act like this when B comes back." She sighs and sits down, "So, what's the what? How's she changed? How do I stop her?"

"It's along story, cliff notes is that Buffy is part vampire, human, and slayer. She's extremely strong and extremely angry." Dawn sighed, itched her hand again.

Spike was reminded about his forming plan…blood.

"Hold on there, mates, I think I got it."

*

I let the body hit the floor with a dull thud. I had been feeding more and more, we were getting closer to the fight, and I needed all the strength I could get. The body count was up to 53, in two weeks. I was in a relatively good mood. Everything was going the way I had planned. And, I was loving it. I had a bit of time to myself so I decided to just take a walk. My cheek still burned where my darling sister had clawed me. I knew it would scar. It had scabbed over now, but it itched like hell. I could feel the light power settling restlessly in my skin, smoldering slowly. I had looked at it in the mirror earlier, angry that it was there. It looked like a damn cat had tried to claw my eyes out, three think, red lines, all between an inch and an inch and a half long. I thought they made me look…chic, in a wicked sort of way.

I rubbed my cheek absently and came upon a hill. I remembered this hill. It was the hill Angel had tried to end his sorry life on, years ago. I stood on the edge and gazed upon the small town. I saw my Mom's house, Angel's Mansion, The Magic Shoppe, the new school… This was my home.

*Her* home. The sorry excuse for a Slayer, the girl who wouldn't tune into her dark side. The girl who *had* to be good, who *worked* to be good. Who wouldn't just let up and stop, to take a look at her life, to see what it was dwindling down too; absolutely nothing. And, so she had a breakdown, went insane in her own mind.

I froze when I felt a presence behind me, but calmed when I felt it was Angel. He wouldn't hurt me. Not while I wore *her* face. I inwardly laughed.

"Though I'd find you here." He murmured, coming up behind me.

I smelled something. Was he…drunk?

"Gee, you've got me all figured out." I drawled, turning to face him.

He was wearing leather pants, ugh, wonderful leather pants.

"You're drunk." I said, smirking.

"You're evil." He shot back.

"Touché." I smirked.

"Love is forever." He said, wrapping his arms around me.

I tensed, "Forever's overrated."

"We're forever." He pushed.

"Forever's a dream, a silly little dream school girls have. When, in reality, people destroy forever and people die, so forever's not really an option." I ranted.

He then turned me around and kissed me. I was shocked, my eyes wide open. He whispered my name and weaved his fingers through my hair. His lips brushing against my face, eyes, cheeks, and neck.

"Buffy, I love you…" He murmured.

"No!" I screamed, vamping out and pushing him away from me. My eyes were an angry golden and my lips were snarling, showing my deadly teeth. His eyes seemed to clear and widened.

"Buffy…?" He sounded so confused.

"No!" I scream, "I'm not her, I'll never be her again. She's dead, Angel-baby, never to be seen again. Hope you're happy, cause it's your fault too."

I push past him, snarling, "Stay *out* of my way, Angel, and maybe I'll spare you for what's to come." I snapped, breaking out into a full speed run.

I needed to feel the adrenaline pulsing through my system. I needed to feel something other than this. This feeling of…affection. No matter how hard I try, I can't get rid of this. Of him. I want to hate him, and a part of me does, so very much. But, that hate I have for Angel, it just makes me love him that much more. And…I wonder, is this how Angelus felt? You hate this person to the point of killing them, and you would, but there's this feeling stopping you. Love. I still love him, oh god, how sick is this?

"I hate this!" I shriek, my voice echoing and being carried away by the wind.

I slump to my knees on the sidewalk and start to scream in anger and frustration. I hate this, I *hate* this, I HATE THIS! Change of plans. Instead of my dear Angel, I'll keep him alive, let him suffer as *every* one of those goddamned Scooby's dies, in front of him. Then, I'll let the cat out of the bag and show him my ultimate weapon.

His son.

And, then I'll turn him, make my Angelus again.

Oh, what fun we'll have.

*

"You think that will work?" Dawn asked, her eyes wide.

Faith sat back, her lips pursed and her brow furrowed in deep thought.

"I'm thinkin' it will. I mean, it makes sense. It has to work. I mean, what other choice d'ya got?" A new voice said.

Everyone turned to the door. There stood someone some knew, and others didn't.

"Doyle?" Cordelia whispered, her eyes shining with tears.

He avoided her eyes and smiled at everyone else, "How ya'll doin? Names Doyle."

After all the other introductions were made, the conversation continued.

Spike had thought about his plan, over and over. It had to work. They had Buffy's blood, the most powerful blood in this world. Willow would scrap it from Dawn's fingers and mix it with a spell-bound serum. They would then inject it into Faith, how would carry Buffy's power and strength for six hours. It was the only reasonable plan they had so far. Faith would then beat Buffy at her own game and Willow would try and re-curse her. Everyone had agreed to it. This was the plan, now all they needed was an army…