Chapter Four

'The Devil went down to Georgia.

He was looking for a soul to steal.

He was in a bind, he was way behind.

He was looking to make a deal…'

The Charlie Daniels Band, 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia'

A brand new black 7-series BMW rolled up to the curb, the tires crunching on loose gravel as it slowed to a halt. An impeccably-dressed man with a head of receding medium brown hair stepped out of the vehicle, looking around for a moment before lighting up a cigarette. He exhaled a blue-gray cloud of smoke, and his muscles began to relax from the nicotine. He walked a few steps over to the corner of the curb, fishing out a handful of change from his pocket to buy a newspaper. 'Three Killed In Latest Gang Attack' was the headline of the Sunnydale Times. The man rolled his eyes and stifled a laugh as he read to front page under the soft yellow-white glow of a street light. Gang attack. Yeah, right.

The snap of a broken twig from behind him alerted him to the presence of another. He turned around slowly, and was face-to-face with a greasy haired vampire wearing a powder blue leisure suit, white leather shoes and stinking of 'High Karate.' The man looked at his watch for a long moment, before his gaze returned to the vampire. "You're late." He growled at the vamp, then waved him back to his car.

The vampire shrugged, and his face morphed back to its human visage. "Sorry, my watch is slow."

The other man waved his excuse away disgustedly. "I don't care. Just get in the car. I don't have all night." He turned to look at the vampire once more. "And what is with that suit? Good Lord, you do know it's 1997, right?"

"I was going for a retro look." The vampire defended, as he sat down in the back seat. Next to him was a cadaverously thin man in a cheap brown tweed suit. In the front seat, a beautiful young brunette sat cross-legged, quietly typing notes into a lap-top computer. "What, you don't like it?"

The brown-haired man just glared at him as he keyed the ignition and gunned the BMW's engine. "You look like a reject from Saturday Night Fever."

The vampire chuckled. "Yeah, I loved that movie." The driver just rolled his eyes and remained silent for the rest of the trip.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"What!?!" Willow cried, certain she had not heard Giles correctly. Even Xander had unconsciously taken a step back away from Giles and moved towards Brian.

Giles slumped down in a chair opposite the slow-to-awaken Buffy. He took a deep breath, and shook his head slowly. "Brian, please have a seat. All of you, please sit down." He took off his glasses and began to wipe them with his handkerchief.

Brian and Willow shared a look, then reluctantly took their seats. Xander shrugged then took a seat near Buffy. "I belong to an ancient group called the Society of Watchers," Giles began carefully, absently fingering the bluish-black tattoo. "Among other things, we have protected, trained and guided Slayers for thousands of years…"

"One of the other things being me." Brian replied flatly.

Giles nodded. "Yes. When you were found, we sent you to an associate of ours."

"Darius." Brian answered.

Again, the librarian nodded and continued. "That's correct. He raised you and trained you. And prepared you for your destiny. But another…" Giles took a moment. "Another of our group, James Horton, he became jealous of your destiny. He used our group for his own ends. He took a handful of Watchers and went rogue."

"So this Watcher, Horton…" Brian started carefully, a cold pit of fear beginning to form in his belly. "He was really after me. He killed Darius to get to me."

"We think so, Brian. That's why you were sent here. It's my job to protect you now. You and Buffy." Giles told him with as much firmness as he could manage. "All of you are my responsibility."

"I have to go!" Brian stated immediately. He stood so abruptly that Willow was nearly thrown from her seat.

"Brian, wait!" Willow called to him, chasing him out of the library and into the school's main hallway. "Brian, wait!"

Brian spun around, tears streaming down his face. "I have to go, Willow. I have to."

"No!" Willow all but shouted at him. "We'll fix this, Brian. That's what we do. Giles will research and we'll find a way to stop this guy."

Brian tried to smile at her hopefulness, but it never quite made it to his lips. He shook his head sadly. "This isn't some ten-thousand year old prophecy of doom in some musty old book in some long dead language. This is just an everyday murdering psychopath. A psychopath that wants me dead. And I'm scared to death…"

"We'll protect you, Brian!" Willow cried out, hot trails of tears now tracing lines down her cheeks. "You don't have to be afraid."

"Not for me, damn it," Brian replied tiredly, running a hand across his face and rubbing at his bloodshot eyes. "I'm petrified that he'll hurt you! I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you. Any of you… Xander, Buffy, Giles, Cordelia… all of you, even that idiot Larry from the cafeteria. Darius said it is my job in this world to protect people, and the only way I can be sure of that is by leaving."

"But you're not really leaving," a voice echoed from down the hall. "You're running away." It was Xander, leaning against the open wooden door to the library. "I'll admit, at first I didn't like you." He continued in an offhand tone. "Still not sure I do, though Willow seems to like you, and she's a pretty darn good judge of character. I doubt she'd fall for a coward."

Brian stiffened in Willow's arms at the insult. 'That hit below the belt,' Brian thought. "Damn it, Xander. This isn't about courage, it's about keeping people alive. How would you feel if Willow got caught in the crossfire? Huh? Or Buffy? Or Cordelia?"

Xander crossed his arms over his chest, and pondered the thought. "Hmmm, if it's Cordy, then you'll have to let me sleep on it."

"This isn't funny, Xander. People's lives are at stake here!" Brian shot back.

"That's right." Xander countered hotly, all traces of mirth gone from his face. "And it's our choice to stay and fight. Buffy tried this same argument with us in the beginning, and it didn't work then. We already know about the danger, and we don't care. It won't stop us from helping, whether you like it or not. Now you need someone to watch your back. And we're offering to help. Now, are you gonna run like a girl… or stay and fight?"

Brian narrowed his eyes at the young man, then shook his head slowly. "It's not that simple, Xander. This guy is serious, he's killed before…"

"And I told you, I don't care… we're willing to take this risk." Xander replied with an ease he really didn't feel. "Aren't we, Will?" Willow nodded eagerly without saying a word, and pulled Brian back into the library where Giles and a now semi-conscious Buffy were waiting for them.

"Hey, guys. What'd I miss?" Buffy asked them tiredly.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

David Scott-Thomas suppressed a shiver as they walked through the series of dirty underground caves. It wasn't so much the eerie shifting shadows from the torches that occasionally lined the cave walls, but the fact that his leader was willingly being led by a vampire to this secret meeting. No good can come of this, he was certain. He glanced over to Jessica, Horton's silent assistant, and the stunningly beautiful woman showed no signs of being either concerned or frightened. At best, she seemed bored or indifferent. She stayed a full pace behind Horton, carrying a silver briefcase and her laptop computer.

The vampiric guide opened a thick wooden door that let out an ominous screech that caused David to nearly leap out of his own skin. The door opened to a large chamber, heavy with the scent of musty earth. And of death. He scanned the room, according to intelligence reports, it was a church that was at the epicenter of a massive earthquake. It was nearly sucked whole into the ground, carrying the Master with it.

The chamber was wide and filled with flickering shadows from the dozens of candles placed throughout. Several minions were stationed along the exits, their feral yellow eyes focused hungrily on the humans, causing a shiver to pass through David. The sound of clapping broke him out of his terror, and he looked up to find the Master rising from his makeshift throne at the top of the raised dais. A wide toothy smile graced the Master's bone-white face as he descended the stairs to greet the new arrivals.

"Welcome!," he nearly shouted in excitement, rubbing his hands together then gesturing to a burgundy plush sofa near the stone wall. "It has been so long since we've had guests. Please, make yourselves comfortable."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Slayer swooned as she became more aware of her surroundings. She was more than a little woozy after her practice with Brian. She shook her head in an effort to clear the cobwebs, but only managed to make herself more nauseous. Giles was kneeling next to his charge, flashing a pen light in her eyes, while she fought to keep her lunch down. The library doors reopened, with Xander leading Brian and Willow back. Even from that distance, Buffy could see Brian was upset. Smiling weakly, Buffy called out to her friends. "Hey, guys. What'd I miss?"

Xander looked to Willow and the others. "Oh, um…" He caught a warning look from Giles and shut up quickly. "Nothing much."

Brian caught the suspicious look in Buffy's eyes and hastened to change the subject. "Ummm… Willow, Xander and I were talking about going back to my house and ordering a pizza, maybe renting a movie or something. Wanna come with?"

Buffy nodded eagerly, and stood ready to leave the library immediately. But her legs gave out as she stood, and Giles had to move quickly to catch her before she toppled to the floor. "I think not, Brian." Giles replied. "I believe Buffy has a mild concussion. Perhaps it would be best if we concluded training for the evening. You three should go and… er, hang out, I believe is the phrase you children use today."

Brian looked on guiltily, throwing an apologetic look to the Slayer, as Buffy wrapped her arms tightly around the librarian. He and Xander took the weakened Slayer in their arms and guided her out to Giles' old and battered Citroen. "I'm fine, guys. Really." Buffy protested repeatedly to no avail. Giles turned the key in the ignition and the dilapidated automobile sputtered to life. The car shuddered violently a few times before settling down to a low roar as Giles set the car into gear and drove away.

Willow sighed before turning to Brian and Xander. "Pizza sounds like a good idea, Brian. But are you sure you're okay?"

Brian nodded, but passed his car keys over to a shocked Xander. "I'll be fine, but I'm not sure I'm up to driving right now. You have your license, right?"

Xander was about to answer his affirmative, but a high pitched shriek interrupted him. Without a word, Brian bolted across the campus leaving a startled Xander and Willow to follow. Brian found Cordelia surrounded by three hungry looking vampires. One had her by the neck with her right arm pinned behind her back, while her other arm was keeping the vamp from biting him as she clawed at his face and kicked away from the other two vamps. The leader vamp roared in agony as her nails dug out thin lines of flesh from around his eyes, but refused to let go of his meal.

Brian leapt up on the roof of Cordelia's Dodge Stratus, using it as a springboard to leap even higher. He tucked his legs into his body and rolled forward, carrying his momentum. Completing his somersault, Brian landed feet first on the two minions, sending them stumbling to the asphalt. Showing nearly no reaction to Brian's acrobatics, Willow just left a gawking Xander on the sidewalk and pulled a stake from her purse, kneeling down and dispatching the two stunned vampires. Xander recovered quickly, pulling the stake from his jacket pocket and drove it into the lead vampire's back. The leader never knew what hit him as he dissolved into fine gray ash, much of it coating the back of Cordelia's hair.

Cordelia shrieked as the fine gray powder fluttered into her hair. She stomped around, brushing the particles from her. "Damn it!," she cried. "I just had Giorgio do my hair this afternoon. And now it's ruined!"

Xander and Willow both rolled their eyes. "Are you okay?" Xander asked.

A moment passed and Xander wondered if she even heard him before she nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm fine, Xander." She turned to look at him, and Xander was suddenly uncomfortable with the intensity in her eyes. "Thank you, Xander. If it weren't for you guys, I'd be dead for sure." Quickly, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Xander's waist, enveloping him in her embrace. When she didn't immediately pull away, Xander wrapped his arms around her, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Willow caught Xander's questioning look and offered him one of her own.

Cordelia's mind was reeling with sensations. Just what in the Hell possessed her to latch onto that loser, Xander Harris? Which begged the question, 'why the Hell wasn't she letting go?' 'It must be the trauma,' Cordelia thought. 'Yeah, that has to be it. God, has he been working out? Oh, and that aftershave! Bad thoughts, Cordy. Don't go there. You know Xander Harris is off limits!' Even a little more reluctantly than she would have liked to admit, Cordelia allowed her embrace to slacken and Xander released his hold on her. A part of her mind was pleased to note that Xander held on for several moments before finally letting go.

Brian sheepishly buffed away at the scuff mark on the hood of her car with the sleeve of his sweater. Though his work didn't accomplish much more than moving the dirt around. "Sorry about your car, Cordy."

"Don't worry about it. It's only a car." Cordy replied with a smirk, causing Xander and Willow to look on in surprise. Only a car? They both remembered the day Cordelia rolled in to the school parking lot, showing off her 'Sweet 16' birthday present from her daddy, nearly causing her to be late for class as a result. She turned toward the classic Corvette, rubbing her palm across the chrome surrounding the headlamp. "Now, this… this is art." She locked eyes with Brian, and he got the distinct feeling of being the prey again.

"W-w-we were gonna all head back to m-my place… for pizza. You wanna come?" He picked up on the turn of his phrase, and immediately regretted it.

Willow's eyes flared as Cordelia licked her lips in a rather unsubtle reaction. "Absolutely." Cordy breathed.

"Great!," Brian replied. He turned to Xander and Willow. "I guess that makes four. Willow, why don't you and Cordy follow us?" Willow nodded eagerly, pulling on Cordelia's arm and silencing her protests.

Xander, on the other hand, was giddy with anticipation. He turned the key in the ignition, and the vehicle roared to life. He slammed to gearshift into reverse and peeled out of the parking lot, earning a harsh glare from Brian. "That was a little of my tires you left back there." Brian calmly announced, secretly hiding a grin. He had done that, too, the first time he drove the Corvette.

Sufficiently chastised, Xander slowed the car to a more law-abiding speed, watching in the mirror as Cordelia nearly spun out in her haste to leave the school, as well. Brian heard the squeal of the Status' tires and checked his rear-view mirror. He could see a terrified Willow fumbling at her seat belt, then covering her hands over her eyes. Brian chuckled as he pulled out his cell phone, conferring with Xander as to the phone number of the local pizza parlor and everyone's favorite toppings.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Master smiled indulgently and closed a hand over his mouth to suppress a belch. He tossed a disdainful look over the drained corpse of David Scott-Thomas, and motioned with a flick of his wrist for two of the guards to drag the body away. He leaned back against his high-backed throne, stretching his arms out to the side. "Oh, it's always a treat to feast upon a fresh kill. Though I do so miss the hunt. It has been so long."

"Over sixty years, if my information is accurate," Horton replied offhandedly. "Though this new information should correct this unfortunate situation." He popped open the latch on his briefcase, and slid a thin manila folder across the table.

Lazily, the Master opened the folder, skimming the contents and offering surprised and amused grunts. Horton watched his eyes as he skimmed down the page, and smiled as the Master's eyes widened considerably. The Master paused, soaking in the feelings of joy the information caused him. "James, my good man. I do believe this will most certainly be worth doing business with you."

The two rose, and Horton extended his hand in agreement. The Master grasped Horton's in a firm handshake, then pulled the Watcher to him and tore savagely into his neck. Horton struggled briefly and let out a strangled cry, then went slack in the Master's arms. Two large bodyguards intercepted Jessica as she turned to run, pulling her struggling form back toward the vampire king.

The Master leaned away from the fallen Watcher and let out a sigh of contentment. He saw the anger and fear on the face of Horton's assistant, and he laughed. "Oh, he's not dead, my dear. Well, he is," he reconsidered. "But not for much longer." With a sharpened talon, he sliced a thin line across his wrist, letting the wound drip over Horton's opened mouth. After a moment, the bleeding wound resealed itself and the Master instructed the guards to take the body to one of the empty chambers. "It has been so long since I've made a childe, I nearly forgot what it was like. But since, that little Slayer came to town, I've lost so many… Thomas, Darla, Luke. Oh, it breaks the heart."

Despite herself, Jessica nearly felt sorrow as he expressed his feelings of loss, then reminded herself that he was a soulless demon. She shivered involuntarily as he turned his yellowed and bloodshot eyes towards her. "What to do with you?" He asked, mostly rhetorically. He considered it for a long moment before settling on a most joyous decision. "I will leave the decision up to you: you can die, or you can live."

Jessica swallowed audibly, and let out a shuddering breath. Her eyes tracked the fallen corpses of David Scott-Thomas and James Horton. She wrapped her arms around her chest and began to cry. The Master leaned in close and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to offer some measure of comfort. "It's not so bad, despite what they tell you. I can offer you the world at my right hand, money, power… men," he offered seductively, stroking his taloned finger gently across her pale cheek. "Or women, who am I to judge?"

Despite her best efforts, a small giggle escaped her lips. She looked up and shook her head at that suggestion. Her eyes fell back on the fallen form of James. The ancient vampire tracked her gaze, till it rested on her dead lover. "Oh, I see." He nodded in understanding. "Well, I don't think that would be a problem. In fact, I foresee a long and happy romance with the two of you at my side. Doesn't that just sound wonderful?"

It did sound wonderful to her. It was exactly what she had always dreamt of: an eternity of happiness and love with her James. But was this her James anymore? She pondered it for only a moment, then decided she didn't care. She looked up to the demon next to her. "W-will it… hurt?" She offered cautiously, and barely above a whisper.

The Master nodded reluctantly. "Were I able to spare you that, I would, my dear. But it will only hurt for a moment, and then the world will be in our grasp."

A single teardrop found its way down her cheek, but was brushed away by the vampire's fingertip. "Don't cry, child. This is a moment that fills me with nothing but happiness and pride. As it should you. My family is coming back to me. I shall not be alone when I leave this accursed place." She cried out briefly as his fangs punctured her tender flesh. But he was right, it only hurt for a moment.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Will you slow down, Cordelia? God, you're going to get us killed!" Willow screamed at the top of her lungs. Cordelia shrugged indifferently, turning her head back to watch the road. Obediently, she lessened her pressure on the accelerator and the screaming engine died down to a dull roar. "So, what's the deal with Brian?" She asked mock-innocently without taking her eyes off the road.

Willow looked over to the driver, shooting her a hateful glare. 'So she wants to play it like this,' Willow thought. "What do you mean?," the redhead responded sweetly.

The corner of Cordelia's lips twisted up into a smile. "I mean, well, he's like… totally lunchable. He could have any girl in this school. But then he goes and hangs out with you tweakos. What's up with that?"

"Afraid you finally have some competition?" Willow countered with a malicious grin of her own.

"From you? Don't make me laugh!" The brunette replied nastily. "Don't think that your sudden change in fashion sense makes you competition for me. Beneath the makeup and the clothes and… the admittedly sweet leather jacket, you're just the same mousy little bookworm you've always been." She turned to glance at the redhead, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "And the worst part is, you know as much as I do, that I get whatever… or whomever I want. For your sake, better to just get out of my way, I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

Willow bristled inwardly as her anger fought a war with her fears. Did she even have a chance in Hell with Brian? Was she still the shy little bookworm everyone walked all over? She knew she would never be as beautiful as Cordelia or any of the sheep that grazed in Sunnydale's hallowed halls. The only thing that she had over them was her intelligence. 'So use that to your advantage,' an inner voice called out to her, silencing the emotional turmoil that threatened to overwhelm her. 'Why would Cordelia even be concerned with me? If she's so sure of herself, then why bother telling me at all?' Willow reasoned with herself. The answer came in a flash. "You're afraid of me, aren't you?"

Cordelia jerked on the wheel so hard she nearly took out a wooden mail box planted near the street. The blood drew away from her face as she turned to face Willow. "Wh-wh-wha… What?"

The look of fear on Cordy's face nearly drew a physical sensation of pleasure for Willow. She had to admit she was just as shocked as Cordelia at the revelation. But the pieces fit. The taunting, the lies, the endless streams of humiliation she suffered at the other girl's hands for the last twelve years. There was a reason for all of it. "You really are afraid of me?"

"I d-don't know wh-what you're talking about, you… you nerd." She was gripping the steering wheel so tightly now that the skin was pulled so taut over her knuckles that her tendons and bones were clearly outlined even in the moonlight.

Despite herself, Willow laughed out loud, earning a withering glare from Cordelia. But she didn't care anymore, any power the brunette might have lorded over her in the past was gone. But there was still a piece of the puzzle remaining. "Why? What could I possibly have that you don't or that your daddy wouldn't buy for you?"

If anything, the look of sheer terror only intensified, and Willow knew she was close. 'Just a little further,' she thought to herself. She searched her memory, digging for the clue that would fit. Then it hit her, like a freight train. "Xander!"

Her cry of amazement turned to one of fear as Cordelia lost control of her Stratus, clipping a series of aluminum garbage cans before she could right herself. The brakes squealed their protest as she brought the vehicle to a sudden halt. Cordelia sat still in shock for a long moment, and Willow wasn't completely certain if she was the cause of the near miss, or just Cordelia's lousy driving. Though she'd put her money on the former. "Co-Cordy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"Just… shut up, Willow." Cordy said, sounding as bone weary as she felt. She slid the car into park and leaned her forehead against the wheel. Willow's sudden sense of superiority was quashed by the lost look on Cordy's face. "You don't understand, Willow. You can't understand."

Willow's brow wrinkled in confusion. She tentatively reached a hand out for Cordy's shoulder but stopped, worried that any sudden movement might just send the other girl running. "Understand what, Cordelia?" the redhead queried softly.

"Ever since… well, for as long as I can remember, my parents have given me anything I've ever wanted: clothes, dolls, toys, cars, vacations, anything with a price tag was mine for the taking."

Willow had no idea where this was heading, so she remained silent, allowing Cordelia to speak at her own pace, and giving her as much support as her silence would allow.

"Eventually, I guess I convinced myself that those things were all that mattered. But they don't. I see it everyday when I see you and Buffy and Xander in the halls. And it's not fair. All I ever wanted… really wanted… were the things I could never have… real friends, a family that loves me no matter who I'm dating or who my friends are, or how much money their parents have in their Swiss bank accounts. I'm not afraid of you, Willow. I'm jealous of you. I see you in the halls, laughing with each other as if nothing in the world can touch you. But I know the truth, even when the world is falling down around your feet, you stay together.

"God, do you have any idea what would happen if I even showed a moment's weakness around Harmony or Aphrodisia or Blue?" Without waiting for a response from the other passenger in the car, she continued. "They'd be on me like a pack of sharks smelling blood in the water!" Tears were pooling in the corners of Cordelia's eyes now, and threatening to spill over.

"But, I thought they were your friends?" Willow replied innocently.

"Friends!?!" Cordelia nearly shouted, causing Willow to flinch involuntarily. Cordy threw her an apologetic look and continued in a more normal tone of voice. "Those vapid little sluts wouldn't know a friend if one came up and bit them on their surgically altered noses. Right now, I'd say you and I were closer than Harmony and I are. At least I can trust you. Truth be told, I can't stand them, but it's part of the game."

"Game?"

She nodded. "Being popular." Cordy clarified. "Daddy just won't be satisfied unless his 'princess' is the most popular girl in school and is dating the captain of the football team during the football season, the point guard during the basketball season, and the star wrestler during the spring." She chuckled dryly, but it was devoid of any humor. "Sometimes I feel like daddy is more like my pimp than my father. But he just has to brag to his partners about his 'little princess' and score his little points in his own game."

Willow's jaw dropped noticeably. "My God, Cordy! That's horrible. Doesn't he even care about what you want?"

She shook her head sadly. "As long as he gets what he wants, no, he doesn't care what I do. I hate it. Sometimes, I even hate him."

"Why do you do it, then?" Willow replied.

In all her years, it was something Cordelia never even considered that an option. "I… don't know. For the longest time, I thought I was the one who knew what real life was supposed to be like, not this… two-dimensional charade I've been living in."

Willow leaned back against the beige leather bucket seat, absorbing all the information. All the time she envisioned Cordelia as spoiled and shallow. Turns out, she didn't really know her at all. "What are you going to do now?"

She shrugged and laid her head back on the wheel. "I don't know, Willow. How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

Cordelia raised her head up and pointed a slim finger in Willow's direction. "That. Be you. Be yourself. And still have Buffy and Xander and Brian for friends. I don't get it."

"Brian, Buffy and Xander are my friends because I'm myself. Real friends like you for who you are. And Buffy likes you, well, most of the time. So does Brian. Xander and I like you, too, at least when you're not insulting us."

"Y-you do?," Cordelia replied. "Really? Why?"

"Because! Jeez, Cordy. When you're not acting like a spoiled brat, you're actually really nice. That's the part we like. Just wish you'd show it more." Willow answered evenly, showing the beginnings of a weak smile.

The brunette turned to face Willow, showing her a big and watery smile. "I promise. No more teasing. Well, maybe just you. Between you and me, I think Xander kind of gets off on it." The two girls laughed between sniffles and embraced warmly, throwing the bitter past out the window.

It was another ten minutes before Cordelia and Willow arrived at Brian's home. Brian and Xander were waiting rather impatiently, but trying to remain nonchalant by checking out Brian's Corvette. When Xander finally saw the glare of Cordelia's headlights, he nudged Brian with his elbow. Brian turned and they both heaved a sigh of relief. The red Stratus pulled up next to the Corvette in the wide driveway, and Willow was absorbed into a crushing embrace immediately upon exiting the passenger seat. "Where were you two?" Brian all but shouted at the girls. "Five more minutes, and Xander and I were ready to go look for you. I thought you were right behind us."

Cordelia blinked in surprise. Even Xander looked worried for her, and she didn't quite know how to handle that. "I'm… um, sorry. We were talking, and… I guess we just lost track of time."

Brian nodded, accepting the reasoning. "Oh, okay. Well, the pizzas are on the way. I ordered from the car. I got everything except anchovies and mushrooms. Xander told me you didn't like them."

Once again, Cordelia was at a loss. How did he remember she hated mushrooms and anchovies? The last time they had pizza together, they were seven and Cordelia's mother invited her entire second grade class. And Xander bought her a silver necklace with her name on the chain. She still had it in her jewelry box nine years later. "Uh, that's right. Thank you, Xander." Xander smiled and the darkness was able to contain his blush. Willow frowned, wondering about Xander's reaction, and trying unsuccessfully to suppress any feelings of jealousy. She frowned and walked away, a confused Brian in tow, leaving a suddenly shy Xander and an equally - and uncharacteristically - bashful Cordelia to follow in their wake.

The delivery man arrived a few minutes later, as the four were convincing Xander to do his homework. Xander seized the opportunity to launch himself at the door, grabbing the pies from a startled delivery guy. Smiling, Brian handed the guy two twenties, enough to play for the food and still leave a handsome tip. He set the pizzas on the dining room table, in between the piled books and notepads lying haphazardly about. Xander was the first to start to dig in, but Brian slapped at his hand. Xander growled in pain and surprise, and glared up at him. "Hey, what was that all about?"

"Let's let the ladies take the first pieces, please. There's plenty of food to go around, Xander." Brian reprimanded him. Brian pulled the box away from the other boy, presenting the box to Cordelia and Willow. "Didn't your parents ever teach you any manners?"

"None that we're aware of." Willow joked, nudging Xander playfully in the ribs. Cordy laughed, too, which only served to irritate Xander. By the time the pizza had been passed around, there were only two slices left. He grabbed both, pulling them protectively close to his body.

Brian smiled wryly at Xander's antics. "Xander, there's a whole other pizza on the counter. Relax." Brian turned back to the girls and focused on their Calculus assignment. Grudgingly, Xander cracked open his Calculus book, and began to read over the assignment. Life was so much easier when Willow would just let him copy off her homework. "Willow, uh… could you help me with my homework?"

"Sure, what's the problem?" Willow answered him cheerily.

Xander shrugged. "The homework."

He slid his notebook across the table and scooted his chair around to the other side. Willow took a look at his homework, and frowned. "What's wrong with it?"

Again, he shrugged. "I don't know. I just know it's wrong."

Dutifully, Willow turned back to his notebook and checked for more errors. After a long moment, she shrugged her shoulders, as well. "It looks fine to me, Xan. I don't know what you're so worried about."

Brian, who had gotten up to get his History book, interrupted Xander before he could respond. "Uh, guys. Sorry to interrupt. But I think we have company." He motioned out the main window. The other three launched themselves to the front window, the tops of their heads peeking out from the bottom of the sill.

"I count sixteen vamps, Brian." Willow offered after a moment. Xander cursed and nodded his agreement. The vamps were brazenly staying within the sightline of the street lamps. And whatever they were planning, they appeared to be in no hurry to accomplish it.

"But they can't come in, right?" Cordelia cried. "It's not like you invited them in, or anything? You didn't invite them in, right?"

Brian shook his head. "Of course not, but they can still force us out!" He motioned with a finger to one of the lead vamps, carrying what looked to be a Molotov cocktail, a bottle of flammable liquid with a lit rag stuffed down the neck - a portable and easily made bomb. Without preamble, Brian ran nearly full speed to the kitchen, opening drawers and cabinets seemingly at random.

"What's he doing?" Cordy asked Xander. Xander looked at her and shook his head.

A few moments later, Brian came back with a handful of items. Several large knives, a bottle of cooking oil, and a few rags that he dumped unceremoniously on the floor. Not saying a word, he left - this time for the garage. Fifteen seconds later, he was back with more supplies - a baseball bat, a hammer and a box of nails. "Willow, go to my desk and get the candle lighter." He caught her eye as she turned to go. "And get our swords."

Xander looked at Cordelia, mouthing the word 'our?' Willow hopped up and was gone in a flash. Brian busied himself by hammering the rags to the old Louisville Slugger that Conner had bought him on a business trip to Boston, not long after Brian fell off a pew in the church and broke his arm - complete with signed autographs of Dwight Evans and Jim Rice. "Sorry, guys. But this is important." Brian mumbled as he drove another nail through the now smudged autographs of the old Red Sox outfielders. He looked up suddenly, raising his voice. "Willow! In my closet! Get my crossbow!" He could hear her acknowledgment even as he returned to his hammering.

Willow returned, hopping down the last few stairs, and setting the weapons cases down next to Brian. Not seeking permission, she popped the clasps of the small sword case, finding the hint of cedar oddly comforting just now. She, too, heard Brian refer to the swords as 'our,' so she reached for the wakizashi and released the blade from its scabbard.

Brian reached for the crossbow, and loaded the weapon with casual ease. He pressed the weapon into Cordy's hands, and she accepted it like she had just stuck her hands in cow manure. He grabbed the bolt case and led the cheerleader kicking and screaming upstairs. The first room on the left was the master bedroom. He moved past the king-sized bed and the dark oak armoire and reached the bedroom window. Cordelia knelt by the window, as Brian lifted the latch and pulled the window open as wide as it would go. He turned back to the brunette, taking the weapon gently from her hands. He pointed to the trigger mechanism on the underside, noting the two independent triggers side by side. "Okay, Cordy. This is a Horton double crossbow, which means it can fire two bolts at a time. The right one is for the top, the left for the bottom. I have twenty-two more bolts in the case at your feet." He motioned with a finger to the leather case at her feet. "When you need to reload, put your feet in the stirrups at the front and pull the string back until it catches here. Then place the bolt in the slot like this." He pulled the topmost bolt out of the carrier, and slid it back into its groove. "Got it?"

Cordelia nodded absently. "I-I, uh… I don't know if I can do this."

"Sure you can. You'll do fine." He motioned her to look out the window at the vamps that were kicking over garbage cans, throwing rocks into windows and knocking over mailboxes all down the street. Already, he could hear babies crying and women screaming. He didn't have much more time. "Now, first things first. Anyone with those bottles lit are top priority. Got that? Take them out first. Aim for the center of their chest."

"What if I miss?" Cordy nearly screamed at him, panic beginning to overcome her. "I could hit you! Or Willow or Xander!"

"I trust you, Cordy. You'll be fine, I'm sure of it." He stood, but not before placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder and a kiss on her forehead. He got to the doorway, and smiled to her as he left, then he disappeared downstairs.

Downstairs, Willow and Xander were waiting rather impatiently. "What took you so long?" Willow asked him.

"Last minute instructions: don't shoot Xander. Took awhile before she finally agreed." Brian answered cheekily, and Xander threw him a sour look. Brian handed Xander a large Butcher's knife and the baseball bat. He could see Willow had already taken 'her' sword. "How come Willow gets a sword and I get a baseball bat?"

Brian raised an eyebrow. "Ummm, first come, first serve?" Xander nodded, then frowned. Brian saw where his train of thought was leading, and quickly derailed it. "Uh, that came out wrong."

Xander nodded, his eyes still narrowed at the other boy. "Yeah. You'd better hope so."

"Okay. Here's the plan: Xander you take Willow and your first priority is to put out any fires those cocktails might have started. Watch out, too. I told Cordy the bombers were her first priority. If any fires are started, find a garden hose and put them out quickly. Alcohol fires aren't that hot, but they can still ignite wood."

Xander held up his baseball bat and the knife. "What the Hell good are these gonna be against vamps?"

Brian sighed as he led them out to the front porch. With the candle lighter, he ignited the oily rags and the baseball bat turned into a flaming club. Xander immediately drew back and held the bat at a fair distance from him. "Okay, point made, Brian. But what about the knife, I can't exactly kill a vampire with a kitchen knife!"

Brian nodded his agreement. "You're right. But getting stabbed or slashed by one will still hurt them like Hell! I just need you two to keep the mass of them off my back while I take them out." Brian saw the look of fear written on their faces. "Oh, come on! Cordy is handling this. Why can't you? Please tell me you're not gonna chicken out on me, Xander!"

Xander stood a little straighter, his manhood insulted. "Of course not! It's just that Buffy…"

"Buffy isn't here, dammit!" Brian shouted, and both Willow and Xander stepped back in shock. "Okay, here's the deal: it's put up or shut up time, Xander. You said you wanted to help me, and now I need your help! So what's gonna be? Now, I'm going out there, and I'll probably get killed when they surround me. And… aw, to Hell with it… I'll see you later. Or not."

With that, Brian hopped off the porch and towards the throng of undead, a hundred yards away. Willow looked up to her best friend, and saw the fear that was nearly choking him. She pursed her lips, then made her decision. With one last look of disappointment at her friend, she ran down the stone steps and into the melee.

Upstairs, Cordelia focused herself on the instructions she was given. 'Brian is depending on me. Willow is depending on me. Xander is depending on me. I will NOT let them down.' She set her eye along the butt of the crossbow and looked down the sight, looking for any vamps with bottles. It didn't take her very long. The were several of them with bottles in their hands. She set her sights on the closest one and squeezed the trigger. The bolt flew free, just as the butt of the crossbow slammed painfully back into her shoulder, and knocking her to the ground. The bolt flew true, though the aim was well off. Instead of hitting the heart of the vampire, it lodged itself a little lower.

A few feet lower, to be precise.

The vamp roared in pure agony, and he looked down to see the wooden shaft wedged into his groin. Not thinking, he reached down and grabbed at the wound, forgetting the homemade bomb in his hand. The bottle fell at his feet, exploding in a ball of red-orange flames that consumed the wounded vampire, as well as the female vampire next to him. The flames licked at their bodies and the burning liquid stuck to their clothes, setting them ablaze. Moments later the two erupted into ash as the liquid consumed itself on the asphalt.

Brian looked back to the window in surprise, nearly forgetting the mass of bloodsuckers in front of him. With a running head start, he leapt up, nearly eight feet in the air, coming down on the shoulders of two stunned vamps and catapulting him even higher in the air. He came down behind the line of vamps, dusting one before they could turn around. 'Three down, only thirteen to go,' Brian thought. 'Thanks, Cordy!'

Willow ran along the front yards of her neighbor's desperate to find a garden hose to put out the fire one of the vamps started two doors down from Brian's house - the Edmonds house. In the dark, it was difficult to see anything. She cursed, wishing she had thought of a flashlight, but it was too late for that now. Then she remembered: the Walters' had a rose garden only a house away. She sprinted another fifty yards, reaching the rubber hose and twisted at the spigot. It felt rusted over, and the handle tore at her smooth palms. She cried out as much in pain as elation as the spigot finally gave. She spun the handle as far as it would go and she pulled at the hose, dragging it along the yard as far as it could go. She squeezed the trigger handle, and let the water spray across the base of the fire. Brian was right, the alcohol wasn't very hot, but she could see the fire beginning to combust the wood. So consumed by the task of putting out the fire, she failed to notice the vampire who sensed an easy kill. She turned as it growled low in its throat. She held up the wakizashi to defend herself, but it was knocked away easily. The clawed hands reached for her, grasping her soft, pale flesh and her last thoughts were not of her family, or of Xander, but of Brian. She closed her eyes and waited for the end. She heard the grunt and opened her eyes. Xander.

"Get the Hell off her, you freak!" Xander shouted and clubbed the vampire in the back of the head with the flaming baseball bat, knocking the vamp instantly unconscious. With a vicious smile, Xander set the vampire's denim jacket and blue jeans on fire and stepped away. Xander leaned down to the redhead and offered her a hand up. She accepted gratefully, coughing and rubbing at her throat. Xander grabbed the garden hose, while Willow reached for her fallen weapon, and quickly dispatched the remainder of the blue tinted fire. "Come on, Will. Brian needs our help!" He grasped onto her hand and pulled her down the street where the remainder of the fight still raged.

Cordelia cursed at herself and Brian. Herself for getting herself caught up in this and these wackos she seems to keep finding herself with. And Brian for not telling her to brace the crossbow against her shoulder. And it affected her aim considerably, despite the pain that she knew was the onset of a major bruise. Her second shot caught the shoulder of a vamp trying to sneak behind Brian. Brian heard the cry of pain, turned around and decapitated the vamp. She smiled at that. Now to reload. "At least he remembered to tell me how to do that," she grumbled to herself.

Brian turned around in time to dispatch the vamp that got behind him and slashed at its neck. The head lifted and exploded into a shower of particles, and the body dropped to the street and crumbled to ash. 'That's five for me.' He turned back to the three that were in front of him, offering a series of sweeps and slashes to keep them at a distance while Cordelia slowed them down.

Willow and Xander plowed through the mass, getting behind Brian. Brian turned his head, exhaling his relief at the sight of reinforcements. "You're late. What kept you?" Brian called out jauntily.

"Got held up in traffic." Willow replied with humor that didn't quite reach her eyes. A vamp that got close to her pulled its hand back with two fewer fingers than it started with. Willow, Xander and Brian formed a defensive circle, Xander keeping them at bay with his torch, which he could see was in the process of burning out. "Brian! My torch is almost gone. Got any other plans?"

"I'm working on it! I'm working on it!" The other boy shouted back, as he sliced through another vamp. Another bolt shot overhead, just missing Brian's ear, and catching a vamp in between the eyes. It dropped instantly, twitching a sickening, spasming dance on the ground. Brian tried his best to ignore it, and had to fight off the waves of revulsion it created. Another shot whistled down and caught a vamp fighting Xander. The shot imbedded itself between the vampire's shoulder blades and he erupted into a cloud of fine gray powder a half-second later. Xander looked up in surprise at Cordelia, who waved down to the young man, then leaned back to reload.

Xander waved back up to her, just as his torch died out. "Shit." He breathed. "Uh, Brian, the torch is gone."

Willow sighed audibly. She was sweating profusely, and the muscles in her arms were shaking with overexertion. "Okay, Brian. I don't know how much longer I can hold out, either." And the vampires were getting bolder, even though the numbers were more or less even. Only two to one now.

Brian felt the sweat stinging his eyes and knew if he didn't come up with something soon, they were all dead. "Fighting retreat, guys. We need to get back to the house." Another shot sailed by, catching a vamp in back of the thigh. Distracted, it never saw Xander crack the bat over its head. The bat broke down the grain, and Xander smiled as he realized something: He just made two stakes. He plunged the handle into the unconscious vamp, and spun around searching for any others that got too close.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Horton turned to the newly-risen Jessica, marveling at her ability to keep her human mask on so soon after rising. She was focused on the task at hand: the portable video camera one of their brethren had liberated from a local news crew. 'They wouldn't be needing it anymore, anyhow,' Horton thought with a smile. He gently touched the shoulder of his assistant, "I believe we have more than enough information to go on, my dear. Give them the signal."

Jessica brought the camera down, then set her fingers between her teeth, then whistled. Even Horton, who had heard it before and was prepared for it, was taken aback by the piercing wail that emanated from her lips. Dutifully, all the remaining vamps retreated into the shadows. Horton pulled his fingers from his ears and nodded in satisfaction. "Now for the real fun!"

Brian sliced through the chest of another female vamp, when a piercing whistle cut the night. Immediately, the siege of vamps backed away and turned to run. He caught one before it could run, its shrieking death wail echoing down the now-silent street. Another took a bolt in the back before it could disappear into the shadows. He let out a breath, as did Willow and Xander.

"We won?" Xander asked for clarification.

Willow nodded. "We're still alive. I say that counts as a win in my book. Right, Brian?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess so." He replied, but he didn't sound the least bit convinced. 'This was too easy.' He took a long look down the shadows, and shivered. 'They had us.'