THROUGH AN ANGEL'S EYES – CHAPTER 12
The re-enforcements got to the church at about three in the morning. The trainees when to use the bathroom and talk to the three local slayers; meanwhile I briefed Riley, Buffy and Faith on what we knew and what had been done. Once I was finished, both girls turned to Riley and with one voice asked "so, what should we do?"
He hesitated, but only for a second, and then the old Riley took over. He lost his fear and self doubt in a heartbeat; it was like watching someone remove a mask that you didn't even know was there. He started issuing orders and detailing strategies. Basically he wanted most of the trainees to escort Brittney home, accompanied by the local slayers. Because he would not be able to detect the additional slayers and the enemy would think it was only the three of them. If the he or she made another attempt at Brittney, the other slayers would be a surprise and probably cost the baddie all of its henchmen. While that was going on, Buffy, Faith and two trainees would attack his base, betting that all of the associates were after Brittney; giving them an opportunity to eliminate the source of the threat. Dawn, Janice and I would remain at the church, as a reserve to help whichever group needed it. The small distance reducing our travel times to seconds. Riley said that he would accompany the escort group.
The slayers were gathered and the plan was explained and modified as necessary. The strike team (Buffy, Faith and two trainees, Colette and Brianna) moved off in the direction that Dawn's sweep of evil energy showed as the most likely spot for a base (because Dawn used neutral energy, she was less likely to be noticed). Right after that, the main group set out in the opposite direction, and the three of us sat there, feeling about as useful as rubber crutches. Janice was listening in on the escort group and Dawn was listening to the strike team.
Suddenly Janice stiffened. "They're under attack" she said. "Maybe as many as fifty vampires and assorted other demons.
I told Janice to keep an eye on the strike team, and Dawn and I went to help the escort group. Janice didn't seem thrilled with the arrangement, but she simply nodded in agreement.
Dawn and I joined hands and almost instantly we were on the edge of the battle. The slayers had formed a protective arc around Brittney, with Riley and Amanda in the center with her. The girls were fighting brilliantly, the co-operative tactics that Riley had taught them was really paying off. Since their forte was vampires, Dawn and I focused on taking out the non-vamps in the group. We tore into the horde, slashing and cutting, and keeping each other safe. In very little time the situation was close to being under control.
Then I got a message from Janice; that she was off to help the strike team and they needed help. I informed Dawn of this and when it became clear that the tide had turned for good, I went to check on Janice and the others. The situation was not good.
They were facing a greater demon; over ten feet tall and immensely powerful. It carried no weapons, but its hands and forearms were covered in black steel gauntlets. It was not Archangel powerful, but it was close. One of the trainees was dead; the other was holding her chest and spitting blood. Buffy had a grotesque wound on her left side. I could see that she was trying to get back into the fight, but I knew that there was no way she could. Faith and Janice alone; were facing the fiend. Not surprisingly, Faith was doing the attacking, while Janice supported her. A blow from the demon caught Faith and staggered her. I could see the demon going for the kill, but Janice partially deflected the blow. It didn't immediately kill Faith, but it knocked her across the room.
That's when Janice went berserk. I've done this several times myself, just become totally lost in battle. I've seen Dawn do it once, but Janice was on a whole other planet. Her eyes were blazing almost as bright as her sword, she had a fey almost ravenous grin on her face, the totality of her being seemed to be made up of rage and joy. You could say that she was completely unhinged, and I suppose you'd be right. She attacked, ducking, dodging, bouncing and yelling, her sword flicking out and dealing wounds almost faster that sight would acknowledge. She did not try to counter the blows of the demon; she simply made sure that she wasn't there to be hit. Wounds began to appear on the demon, as though translated there from nothing. Its black ichor was spurting from these wounds and began to cover the ground.
I was using this time to try and heal Buffy and Brianna, but I was keeping an eye on Janice, because if she fell, it would be my job to finish the task. Somehow, though, I didn't think she was going to fall or fail.
The demon was moving slower, his strikes were wilder and less controlled. Her opening came very quickly. After ducking a sweeping right, it missed but I could see the breeze ruffle her hair, she brought her sword across its abdomen; severing muscles and laying organs bare. It bellowed in agony and bent forward, arms trying to contain its escaping entrails. In this position, its head was close to the ground. Standing under the demons chest, Janice did a 180 and struck out and up with her blade. It entered under the demon's jaw and came out the top of its head. It froze and in that second, she poured power into her sword and exploded the demons head.
The demon forgotten, Janice ran to Faith's side to see if there was anything that she could do to save her. She didn't realize that the head is Faith's least vulnerable spot. After a bit of crying and shaking, she was answered by a croaking voice.
"Can it 'Little J', I'm five by five, or will be in a second. Hey, I didn't know there were four of you.
She closed her eyes, but maintained consciousness, much to everyone's relief. While Faith was laying there, quietly for a change, I saw Janice's eyes loose focus, and I could feel the power running from the smaller girl into the larger, healing the damage, and already working on the grief that would come following the death of Collette. I was already doing the same thing to Brianna, and was sure that Dawn would take care of her sister when she got there. I was aware that the slayers, and especially Faith, would feel bad about the dead girl, but I also knew that they realized that this was the price of being a slayer. I closed my eyes and threw myself into healing the bodies and minds of my charges, because I knew that this was the price of being an angel.