Buffy headed to the back of the Bronze where the bathrooms were located, looking for Willow. She snapped a chair leg off of a stack of chairs and silently moved down the hall. Suddenly a door opened and Buffy jumped to action.
"What the hell are you doing?" Cordelia shouted as best as she could around Buffy's death grip.
Buffy's eyes widened as she let go of Cordelia and she lowered the stake she had pressed against Cordelia's chest. Cordelia held her throat and glared at Buffy.
"What is your damage?"
Buffy ignored her and shook her head.
"Have you seen Willow?"
"Why would I see that freak?" Cordelia scoffed, walking away.
Buffy sighed and walked away back into the main area of the Bronze. Giles walked up next to her.
"That was quick."
"I didn't find them." Buffy said, scanning the area.
"The vampire is not dead?"
"No, but my social life is on the line." Buffy commented dryly.
"So what do we do?" Giles asked.
"I'll handle it." Buffy said, walking away.
Jesse stood next to the blonde he had spotted earlier.
"So, what's your name?"
The girl grinned coyly.
"Darla."
"So, are you from around here?" Jesse asked.
"No, but I've got family here." Darla replied, her grin wider.
"Have I met them?"
"You probably will."
Luke kneeled in front of the pool of blood where he had been chanting earlier. Suddenly, the air shifted, the pool of blood shimmered, and a figure rose. Luke bowed his head and smiled.
The figure offered his hand to Luke and smiled. Luke took the offered hand and stood.
"Master!"
"I am weak." the Master responded.
"In the Harvest he will be restored." Luke quoted.
"Ah, the Harvest." the Master responded, smiling.
"We're almost there. Soon you'll be free!"
The Master reached out his arm and tested the magical barrier in front of him.
"I must be ready. I need my strength."
"I've sent your servants to bring you some food." Luke told him.
"Good. Luke?"
"Yes?"
"Bring me something...young", the Master asked.
Willow followed Thomas through the dark cemetery, warily watchful of her surroundings.
"Sure is dark out here." Willow commented.
"It's night." Thomas answered, not looking at her.
"Well, that's a dark time, night. Traditionally." Willow said rolling her eyes her lameness. "I can't believe I've never seen you at school. Do you have Mr. Chomsky for history?"
Thomas ignores her and continues heading deeper into the cemetery.
"Uh, I still don't think this is the way to the ice cream shop." Willow said, nervously.
"I told you this is the shortcut." Thomas answered, grabbing her hand.
Buffy walked out the Bronze and spotted Xander.
"Xander, have you seen Willow?"
"Not in the past half hour, why?" Xander questioned.
"She left with a guy." Buffy told him.
"Whoa, Willow left with a guy. Go Willow." Xander replied, smiling.
"I need to find her. Where would he take her?" Buffy asked, and then turned to walk away.
"Why? Oh, hey, I hope he's not a vampire cause then you'd have to stake him." Xander said, dryly.
Buffy stopped dead in her tracks.
"Was there a school bulletin? Does everyone know that I'm the slayer?"
"No. I only know that you think you are the Slayer and the reason why I know that..."
Buffy cut him off.
"Well, whatever, it doesn't matter. Where would Willow go?"
"You're serious?" Xander asked.
"If we don't find Willow, there's gonna be another dead body in the morning." Buffy answered.
Thomas and Willow reached an old mausoleum. Thomas threw Willow inside.
"That wasn't funny!" Willow yelled.
Thomas walked down the steps toward Willow. Willow backed herself against the wall.
"I think I'm gonna go." Willow said, starting to get up.
"Is that what you think?" Thomas asked.
Willow moved by Thomas and headed toward the stairs, watching him. She bumped into something and turned around to see Darla. Darla rolled her eyes.
"Is this the best you can do?" she asked.
Thomas shrugged.
"She's fresh."
"Hardly enough to share."
"Why didn't you bring your own?" Thomas countered.
"I did." Darla replied, as Jesse stumbled down the steps.
"Oh my god, Jesse!" Willow yelled, running toward him.
Jesse clutched his neck and grinned.
"I think you gave me a hickey."
Thomas glared at Darla.
"I got hungry on the way." she shrugged.
"Jesse, let's get out of here!" Willow said, trying to haul Jesse up.
"Oh you're not going anywhere." Darla said.
Willow leaves Jesse to stand in front of Darla.
"Leave us alone!"
"You're not going anywhere," Darla said, moving toward Willow, "until we've fed.", she finished, vamping out.
Willow backed away and screamed.
Spike stalked through the cemetery searching for Willow. He just hoped the slayer would come. He could take on one or two vampires, but he couldn't take on a group. And from what he could tell, the vampire who Willow had left with was part of the Master's group. And that was never good.
Suddenly, he heard a scream. He took off running and ran right into Buffy, who was coming from the other direction.
"Buffy!"
"Spike!"
They yelled simultaneously.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked.
"Questions later, pet, if you want Red to live."
Buffy stared at him for a moment and nodded. Xander ran up next to them, panting.
"I heard her scream. She's this way." Spike said.
Willow screamed again as Thomas came toward her. Darla stood in the doorway and yawned, her fangs gleaming in the little moonlight that came in a small window.
Buffy and Spike came in behind her.
"Well, this is nice. It's a little bare, but with a few coats of paint and a couple of throw pillows...call it home."
Darla whirled around.
"Who the hell are you?"
"You don't know? You mean there's actually a person in this town that doesn't know I'm the Slayer?" Buffy mocked.
"Buffy, we bail now, right?" Xander asked, staring at the girl's face.
"Not yet!" Thomas growled.
"Right. Let's have a little chat, eh?" Spike asked, smirking.
Buffy smiled at Spike.
"Well, we can do this the hard way or...well, there's just the hard way."
"And it's not going to be pretty. A few broken bones, strong language, adult content..." Spike drawled.
"That's fine with me." Darla said, as Thomas roared and attacked Buffy from behind.
Buffy pulled the chair leg from her side and staked him. Darla stared at Thomas's remains, shocked.
"See what happens when you roughhouse?" Spike asked.
"He was young and stupid!" Darla yelled, recovered from her shock.
"Xander go!" Buffy yelled.
"Don't go far!" Darla called after them, attacking Buffy.
Darla punches high, but Buffy blocks, allowing Spike to kick Darla from behind. Darla throws a backhand, but Buffy blocks, giving her a high kick, sending Darla flying toward Spike. Spike grabbed Darla's arms as she went by and slammed her into the wall. Darla slumped down the wall, winded, giving Buffy and Spike time to move to stand next to each other.
Buffy went to move toward Darla, but was grabbed from behind and hoisted in the air. In the corner of her eye, she could see Spike slumped against the wall, trying to get his bearings.
Luke chuckled and threw Buffy against the wall. Then he grabbed Darla by the throat.
"You were supposed to be bringing the Master an offering. We're almost at the Harvest and instead you are dallying with this child!"
"We had someone. She killed Thomas. Luke, she's strong." Darla sputtered.
Spike tackled Luke to the ground, causing Darla to fly into the wall again.
"Go! I'll handle the little girl and her boyfriend!" Luke yelled.
Darla ran out the door, leaving Luke, Buffy and Spike. Buffy and Spike had Luke surrounded, and they watched for his next move. Luke backhands Buffy, but she blocks and sends a high kick at him. Luke twitches a little, barely fazed.
"You're strong." he commented, then grabbed her by the throat. "But I'm stronger." he finished throwing her across the room into an open coffin.
Willow and Xander dragged a limp Jesse across the cemetery.
"We'll get the police; it's just a few blocks up." Willow panted.
Suddenly, she stopped walking, causing Xander to glance up. They were surrounded by a group of vampires.
"I don't think the police can help us Will."
Luke moved toward the coffin Buffy was lying in.
"You forgot about something, mate." Spike said, tackling Luke again.
Luke caught Spike by the throat and tossed him onto the steps. Spike groaned and tried to stand, but collapsed.
Buffy lay inside the coffin, listening for Luke.
"Do you think you can stop me? Stop us?" Luke asked, circling the coffin. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."
Buffy closed her eyes and held her breath.
"And like a plague of boils, the race of man covered the Earth." Luke quoted, coming closer to the coffin. "But on the third day of the newest light would come the Harvest. And the blood of men will flow as wine. When the Master will walk among them once more! The earth will belong to the Old Ones, and Hell itself will come to town."
Buffy opened her eyes at the sudden silence. She moved to sit up, when Luke roared and jumped on top of her.
"Amen!" he yelled, as he descended on Buffy.