Part 17: Graduation

The morning after the prom found everyone at the mansion, in various states of after-prom funks -- all of the unconscious kind.

Mid-morning Angel and Buffy stepped out of their bedroom, and gazed at the mess their home had become.

With disgust and horror, Angel stated, "I am not cleaning this mess up!"

"Agreed," Buffy said, her expression slightly ill with disbelief. "Why don't you start breakfast, and I'll get everyone awake...somehow."

By noon, all were awake, and the mansion spotless...when the Beacons activated.

"What's the emergency, Giles," Buffy asked as she walked into the library, Angel and the others following.

Silently, the Slayer's Watcher held up a copy of the local newspaper. The headline read: SLASHER KILLS TEN ON PROM NIGHT.

"The harpy," Angel stated, his voice flat.

"She grows restless," Darkmoon said from where he sat on the check-out counter, "and hungry."

"Hungry?" Willow asked, and shivered. "Why don't I like the sound of that?"

"Because of how and what the harpy feeds on," Darkmoon said grimly. "This particular harpy isn't just a harpy...but a half-breed. Half harpy...and half siren."

Angel shuddered, and whispered, "That's why I was so drawn to her!"

"Indeed. The harpy draws in her victims by luring them in with her song, then attacks...and devours their souls."

"WHAT!"

Everyone gazed stunned at Angel, as said vampire shook with fear, the echo of his shout just starting to fade. With tenderness, Buffy reached out to her husband, and drew him into her embrace.

Into the silence, Darkmoon said, "You will want to hunt down the harpy. I will give you this advice: Don't. She will not be found unless she wants to be found. All we can do is wait.

"How can we wait, Darkmoon," Buffy asked anxiously. "People are dying out there!"

Angel moved away from Buffy, and leaned heavily against a table. He said in a ragged and harsh voice, "Damn that harpy!" He then turned a determined face to Darkmoon. "I will not see innocents destroyed because of her!"

"That's suicide, Angel!" Buffy cried out in panic. "I will not see you destroyed!"

"What better options do we have," Angel said in frustration. "I'm the only one capable of withstanding the pain from the damage she will cause in order to do what needs to be done!"

With tears in her eyes, Buffy whispered, "I can't stand to see you hurt again, Angel."

"And you won't," said Darkmoon quietly. "Master, you cannot do what you suggest. It is too dangerous. Not just to you...but to me and your wife. Remember: our souls are connected to yours. If one of our souls is harmed, then so are the others'."

"The Familiar speaks truth, Lord Kells," said a druid quietly.

Angel looked at the ground, his posture like one who has the burden of the world upon him.

"Alright," he whispered, weary defeat in his voice. "Alright."

"According to what we've been able to find out," Giles said as he stood at the head of one of the library tables, "There will be a solar eclipse just before the Mayor turns into a demon. This means that any vampires working for him will be able to attack."

"That's where all you guys come in," Buffy said from where she sat. "While Angel and I deal with the Mayor, we're going to need you to make sure that we wont be distracted."

"And how are we supposed to do that," asked Xander. "We'll be in the middle of graduation!"

Buffy rolled her eyes as she said in exasperation, "Once the Mayor Ascends there won't be!"

Buffy looked ill as she whispered to Willow, "Please, tell me that he's not giving the whole speech!"

"Looks like it," Willow said grimly in reply.

"That's beyond evil!" Buffy hissed through gritted teeth.

Just then, the solar eclipse started, causing pandemonium, as the Mayor began to change. As planned, the Scooby Gang began herding everyone away from the demonic Mayor.

"Come on people," Xander shouted, then winced and shuddered as he saw Snyder being eaten. "Follow us and get away from the huge snake trying to eat you!"

"There might be a slight problem with that, Xander!" Willow shouted as she pointed to the line of vampires blocking the way out of the auditorium.

"Buffy's counting on us," Oz said as he ran up beside them. "We'll have to force our way through."

"Maybe not," said Xander suddenly calm, as a war cry in the Gaelic tongue pierced the air.

The line of vampires suddenly shifted, as screams of pain and agony were suddenly heard, followed by the pounding of hooves. As the Scooby Gang watched, an arrow of light from Buffy's direction suddenly flew from behind them, and landed in a brilliant flash of light in front of the vampires, causing many to disappear into a massive cloud of dust. Through that same cloud Angel came into view, riding the night-stallion, Excalibur in hand.

In a deadpan voice, Xander said, "Calvary's here."

As Angel reached and passed by the three Scooby Gang members, he shouted, "What are you doing just standing there! Get these people out of here!"

"Right," Willow said to the others. "You heard him. Let's get to work!"

As Willow, Xander, and Oz ran towards the remaining vampires keeping them from escaping, Angel rode towards Buffy as she mounted her steed, the bow she had used moments before slung across her back. With a quick nod to Angel, Buffy guided the pegasus into the air.

The two paladins reached the demonic Mayor within a moment. As one, Buffy and Angel attacked. With a cry in his native tongue of Gaelic, Angel struck the demon from below, as Buffy let fly an arrow of light from her bow.

The true demon roared in pain, as the paladins began to chant. Flames as black as the sky surrounded the demon. Screams and howls of agony and pain could be heard within the black flames.

"...Go back to that place from whence you came, Hell-demon, and be forbidden access to this world ever again!" Angel and Buffy shouted in conclusion, their chant done.

The flames rose higher into the air, completely consuming the demonic Mayor, as his roar went from pain to rage. The ground began to shake heavily as the flames started shrinking slowly.

Minutes passed, before the flames became a swirling vortex. Buffy -- gazing down from directly above the portal to Hell -- saw as the demon fell, seemingly forever. When she could no longer see the demon, the portal closed. In its place, a perfectly round circle could be seen...of charred grass.