Chapter Eleven - Counterattack
The Scooby Gang were sat and stood around the Summers front room. Present were Buffy, Dawn, Xander, Giles, Anya and Amy plus all the potentials: Annabelle, Molly, Vi, Rona, Sophie and two more newly arrived, Caridad and Colleen. Also present was Robin Wood.
"We've got to close that seal and we've got to do it tonight," said Buffy. "Any ideas about how we go about it?"
"A seal like that is opened with blood," said Anya. "You'll probably need blood, the right sort of blood, to close it."
Giles was sat in one of the armchairs engrossed in research. He looked up and spoke to Buffy. "Is this it?" he asked pointing to an illustration in his book.
Buffy moved to look over Giles' shoulder at the book. Wood took the opportunity to do the same. "That's it," she confirmed and Wood nodded. "What does it say about it?
"It's the Seal of Danzalthar," said Giles reading from the book. "Mystic seal...doorway to other dimensions...created by dark magic...very dangerous...That's it. Nothing here about how to close it or get rid of it."
"Danzalthar!" said Dawn who was already flipping through another book. "I saw something...Ah yes, Danzalthar: Dark magician of the eighth century. Thought to be responsible for introducing a demon plague into the Byzantine Empire. Caused many cases of insanity and demon worship. The plague was ended when he died after being cursed by Saint Nicophorus of Chalcedon."
"So that's it," said Xander. "All we need is to find a saint, and a curse. Trouble is we're a little short of saints these days. Perhaps I should call New Orleans?"
"He might have been thought a saint because he got rid of this magician," said Wood. "We probably just need a suitable curse. I don't suppose it's in that book?" Dawn shook her head.
"Knowing the curse might not be enough anyway. The magician in our case is probably The First itself," said Giles. "A curse to banish a human magician might not be enough to get rid of The First Evil."
"Any ideas Amy?" asked Buffy wishing Willow was there but not saying so.
"I'm thinking along the same lines as Anya," said Amy. "Blood. I'm thinking it's like a disease, a plague like it says in that book. We need to kill those infected, those Bringers, and use their blood to close the seal."
"Those are pupils and other innocent victims," said Wood. "There must be some way we can do this without killing them, some way to heal them."
"Slayers blood has worked in the past," said Buffy thinking of Glory's portal. "Slayer's blood has closed a portal..."
"No!" said Dawn. "You're not doing that again. I won't let you. Anyway we need you."
There was a chorus of agreement from Giles, Xander and Anya and questioning looks from the potentials and Wood.
"I'm not going to kill myself Dawn," said Buffy. "It might only take a few drops. I won't bleed myself to death, I promise."
"And if it doesn't work?" asked Xander.
"Then we start killing Bringers," said Buffy. "And if that doesn't work we try to contact Willow. For now grab your weapons. We're off to the Hellmouth."
"Not me," said Anya. "I'd better stay here. I'm still a demon. If I get too close to the Hellmouth you'll find me fighting on the other side."
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Faith and Kennedy got out of the car immediately it stopped to find that Caleb had already exited his car and was stood waiting for them.
"The witch and the slayer, but which is the witch?" he asked with a smirk on his face. "Not that it matters. You'll all come to your punishment in time." Abruptly Kennedy attacked, moving fast and striking out with both fists followed by a high kick. "Although some will come sooner than others," continued Caleb moving quickly back and to the side to avoid the blows.
Suddenly Caleb stepped inside Kennedy's guard and hit her a savage blow which propelled her ten feet backwards and into some bushes. He turned towards Faith. "So you must be the witch," he said. "Have you got some of those wicked spells, the ones you like to use against your friends?"
Faith had been surprised by the seriousness of Kennedy's attack against what had seemed to be an ordinary human being. Kennedy however had been attacking the person who claimed to be in charge of the Bringers. She knew that Bringers had killed her watcher and was glad to be able to take on the person to blame for it.
Faith had been even more surprised by how easily Caleb had dealt with Kennedy. She now knew that she had to be careful with this character, who was very much not what he seemed. From his chattering he thought he was faced with a slayer and Willow, not with two slayers.
Faith began muttering and waving her hands around to deceive Caleb into believing she was trying to cast a spell. "None of that," he said moving forward very quickly to hit Faith. Or he would have hit Faith but she was ready for him and moved quickly aside and caught him totally by surprise with a combination right and left which knocked him clean over the hood of his car into the road.
Faith darted around the car to follow up before Caleb recovered but was surprised to find that he had recovered inhumanly quickly and found herself dodging his blows and moving backwards as fast as she could.
Now it was Caleb's turn to be surprised again because Kennedy, as a slayer, had recovered almost immediately and now rejoined the fight. She did not close with Caleb however but threw two heavy rocks at him in quick succession causing him to back away from Faith in order to avoid them.
For the first time Caleb realised he was facing two slayers. The thought both exhilarated and worried him but for the first time he thought of retreat. As he backed away another car pulled in tight up against the rear of his car preventing any possibility of it being reversed away. The glance to his rear was nearly fatal for Caleb as he was now faced with both slayers coming at him at once.
Kennedy now used a tree branch as a club, while Faith circled to her left and attacked from the other side. Caleb managed to dodge the blows but found it impossible to launch an attack of his own as he retreated. Suddenly he was struck by a prolonged flow of electricity sent into his back by Gwen and he fell to his knees. Defenceless he lost consciousness as Kennedy hit him a stunning blow with her club.
Faith and Kennedy stood back from the fallen preacher but Gwen walked forward for a closer look. "Stay back," said Faith to Gwen who stopped and moved back. "Whatever he is he's not human. He might not be out for long."
"He's linked to the First," said Tara walking up to stand beside Gwen. "I can feel the evil. We need to break the link, now." She turned to Willow and they clasped hands. "Follow my lead," she continued and began chanting. After a few moments Willow joined in.
As Willow and Tara continued to chant Caleb began recovering consciousness and rolled up onto his knees. Faith was now armed with an axe from the car and Kennedy still had the tree branch. The two slayers together with Gwen stood in a circle around Caleb ready to deal with any further attack.
Caleb appeared to be completely unharmed "You know you could have killed me," he said. "That's just not very friendly. But never mind I'll..."
Suddenly Caleb put his hands to his head and screamed, turning to the two witches.
"What have you done? What have you done? It's gone! Bring it back. You must..." Suddenly he screamed and collapsed on the ground. He shook violently as smoke began to pour from his body. Finally the body was still but it continued to disintegrate before their eyes until it was no more.
Cordelia, Fred and Shannon were witnesses to the final rites, Shannon standing with a grim smile as Caleb was destroyed. "My watcher said I'd know evil when I saw it and she was right. That was pure evil," she said.
"That's a pretty powerful spell," said Willow to Tara. "Where did you learn that?"
"It wasn't the spell that destroyed him," explained Tara. "The spell took away the link to the First Evil. He was so totally consumed by it there was practically nothing else left, not enough to stay alive anyway."
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Buffy, the Scooby Gang and the Potentials arrived at the school. The first attack came from three crazed students just inside the hallway. Buffy took the first out with a punch. Xander found himself wrestling with a tall slim young man wielding a baseball bat. The man was strong, obviously an athlete and it was all Xander could do to hang onto the bat to prevent it being used on him.
A girl student jumped at Wood but he was able to avoid her rush and push her into the group of potentials following. Rona took her out with a punch to the jaw, in imitation of Buffy but then yelled and shook her hand in pain. Meanwhile Buffy picked up the man wrestling with Xander and tossed him up against the wall of the corridor from which he recoiled unconscious.
"OK," said Buffy. "Giles, Amy, Robin, you're with me. Xander, Dawn, you and the potentials keep this area clear."
Xander posted himself at the entrance doors with Molly and Caridad. Vi and Annabelle went to the top of the stairs whilst the other potentials fanned out down the corridor to the door leading to the basement.
Buffy's team reached the door of the basement with Dawn. "We'll keep the door open," said Dawn, "if you need help yell."
"And if you need help you yell," replied Buffy.
Buffy's team now entered the basement, went down the stairs and walked towards the seal. As they approached they could see that the basement was occupied. There seemed to be a couple of dozen Bringers between them and the seal. Buffy stopped. "More behind," said Giles who turned with Wood to face a group of five Bringers coming behind them.
"Magic would be quite useful right now," said Buffy pointedly to Amy.
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Gwen listened to Willow's directions to Buffy's house as she drove through the streets of Sunnydale but she didn't really need them because she never lost sight of Kennedy and Faith up ahead. "Just keep on this way and we'll be there in a few minutes," said Willow.
Gwen became aware of Fred flashing her lights on and off behind them. Fred also began sounding her horn almost continuously. "Looks like Fred wants us to stop," she said.
"I'll find out what she wants," said Tara who then disappeared in a flash of light. Gwen, catching this in the corner of her mirror swerved briefly before regaining control of the car. "She does that a lot doesn't she?" she asked Willow.
"She does lately," said Willow smiling and feeling proud of her girl. Nobody else has a girlfriend who does that she thought. But then again, Tara always was special.
Tara appeared in the car behind, alongside Shannon on the back seat. Shannon nearly jumped through the roof of the car. Fred was so intent on driving, flashing her lights and sounding the horn that she didn't notice Tara's arrival until she spoke.
"So what's up," asked Tara.
"How do you do that?" asked Cordelia turning round. "Is it something to do with coming back from the dead?" This caused Shannon to stare at Tara all over again.
"In a way," said Tara not elaborating further. "What's going on?"
"Cordy had another vision," said Fred.
"This one's urgent," said Cordelia. "We've got to go to the school, the new High School. It's where the old school used to be. Tell the others to stop and I'll explain it to everybody." Tara disappeared.
"Are you OK," Cordelia asked Shannon. "This must be a lot to take in all at once."
"N, no," replied Shannon. "I'm fine. I'm just glad that some of the scary guys are on our side for a change."
Tara now did her appearing act in Kennedy's car up front. As she materialised she found a knife at her throat. Faith had reacted with slayer speed to the unexpected. As soon as she saw it was Tara she put her knife away.
After Tara's explanation Kennedy pulled in to the side of the road followed by Gwen and Fred. Everybody went over to Cordelia to hear what was happening.
"It's Buffy," said Cordelia, "well Buffy and the whole gang, and some more of these potential slayers. They're at the new school trying to shut the Hellmouth and they need our help."
"How are they going to do it?" asked Willow.
"Blood magic," replied Cordelia. "Amy's going to do a spell with some of Buffy's blood."
"They can't do that," cried Willow in alarm. "It'll break the Hellmouth wide open. Blood opens not closes. We've got to get there as quickly as we can."
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Dawn stood by the door to the basement listening intently. Suddenly she heard the noise of a fight from below. "Stay here," she said to Colleen and Rona. "Sophie, come with me!" Sophie was armed with a crossbow which Dawn thought might come in handy.
Over by the entrance doors Xander saw Dawn and Sophie go to into the basement and started off in that direction. "Xander," called Molly urgently. "Look!"
Xander turned back and looked through the glass doors to see a large group of students gathering outside and beginning to come towards the doors. There were maybe twenty or thirty people out there with more on the way and they had every appearance of turning into an aggressive mob.
"Xander!" called Vi running down the stairs with Annabelle right behind her. "Bringers up there, they're coming."
Xander knew they couldn't fight all the approaching enemies. They'd be overwhelmed, especially without Buffy to help. But he couldn't leave the school with Buffy, Dawn and the others still in the basement. He had to protect their rear.
Xander quickly made up his mind. "Come with me," he ordered and ran down the corridor towards the basement. He led all the remaining potentials into the basement and looked around for something to block the door.
"Use this," said Annabelle giving him her lightweight axe. Xander wedged this across the door handle making it impossible to enter the basement until the axe was removed or the door was broken down.
"Go down there and help," Xander said to the potentials. "This'll hold for a while. I'll shout if I want you to come back."
Wood and Giles tried to deal with the five Bringers coming from behind whilst Amy and Buffy dealt with the threat coming from in front. However five to two were poor odds. Wood knocked one enemy down quickly with a sudden kick and then swung his axe to keep two more at bay. Giles meanwhile had no time to aim his crossbow so he threw it at one Bringer and attacked another with his fists. He succeeded in downing one opponent temporarily but then staggered backwards with a knife in his ribs from the other Bringer.
Amy started forward chanting towards the large group of Bringers in front of them. The Bringers stopped and then slowly began to back away. Suddenly Giles fell to his knees holding his bleeding wound and Buffy decided she had to take a chance. She hoped Amy could keep the enemies in front at bay, at least for a while and turned to join the fight behind.
Buffy quickly took out the two Bringers in front of Giles. She didn't hold back. Whoever they used to be they were fighting for evil now and they'd hurt Giles. When the Slayer hit them they stayed hit. Although possessed by the First Evil they were still basically human and did not have the resilience or the strength of vampires or demons.
While Buffy was doing this Wood was in trouble. He had been able to keep his two opponents at bay with his axe but hadn't been able to damage them. However his third opponent was now back on his feet. All three Bringers had their knives out and were ready to launch a simultaneous attack.
One of the Bringers suddenly fell forward with a crossbow bolt in his back. The other two turned as Dawn screamed a battle cry and ran forward with her sword in her hand. Wood took the chance to take down one Bringer with his axe, thankful that it was nobody he recognised. Dawn closed with the other who dodged aside only to be felled by Sophie's second bolt.
Realising that the threat from behind was no more Buffy immediately turned back in the other direction to see...nobody. No Amy, no Bringers, nothing. She turned to Dawn as the other potentials arrived. Giles was now in a bad way and laid out on the ground. Buffy and Dawn knelt beside him.
"There's more up there," said Vi breathlessly, "lots of them and lots of crazy students as well. Xander's got the door barricaded."
Buffy mentally tried to sum up the situation. Amy, I've got to help Amy, but I can't leave Giles and Xander...
Glittering lights appeared in front of her in the direction that Amy had gone. They coalesced to reveal Willow and Tara standing in front of her.
"Willow...Tara?" said Dawn standing up and starting forward but Buffy jumped forward and grabbed her to hold her back.
"That may not be Willow and Tara," said Buffy.
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"No magic?" asked Phoebe. "Do you mean you can't do magic here or do you mean nobody can do magic here?"
"The arrangement was that I would be in a place with no magic," said Prue. "I suppose that means nobody can do magic but you'd better try yourselves."
The three younger sisters tried to use their powers, without success. Even Paige's orbing didn't work. They tried a Power of Three spell to take the four of them back home but that didn't work either.
"There must be some way out," said Paige. "We found our way in, it's logical that there's a way out."
"But it might be a one way door," said Phoebe. "It lets you in but it doesn't open the other way."
"Have you tried to leave here without magic," asked Piper. "I mean you're like a castaway. This is an island right? Have you tried building a raft?"
"For a long time I did nothing," explained Prue, "because I didn't want to upset the deal. I didn't know you guys and Paige would find each other and reform the Power of Three. I couldn't take the chance that me going back would allow the Source to remember Paige and kill her."
"Well, you don't have to worry about the Source anymore," said Piper. "He's dead and gone. We killed him."
"Several times," said Paige. She explained about the sisters' fights with the Source and how they had finally triumphed. Prue congratulated her sisters, particularly Paige. "I can see you're an asset to the team," she said smiling. "With your Whitelighter legacy you're probably stronger than me."
"Did you try a raft?" asked Phoebe.
"Eventually I got bored and started exploring to see what I could do," Prue continued. "This is an island but it's not anywhere in the world we know, or if it is, it's been changed. For one thing it's always midday here, for another the sun always shines and it never rains, but there's no shortage of water. I haven't got to the stage of thinking about a raft."
"Not in over two years?" said Piper. "I'd have thought you'd have built a fleet of rafts by now."
"Two years!" said Prue astonished. "Not two years. I could have sworn it's only been a few weeks."
"A problem with having no night time perhaps," suggested Paige.
"There's still my body clock," said Prue. I most definitely have not had near enough sleep periods for two years."
"It may be part of the way this place is set up," suggested Phoebe. "Time may go more slowly here than back home. What's one day here may be a week back there. It sounds more and more to me as if this place is run on magic, or has been set up by magic, powerful magic and it gives me an idea about how to get home."