Chapter 19 – When Hell Breaks Loose
Bloody Hell, I swear I can sense the witch. She's been hurt and unconscious. Spike thought, smelling the trail of Paige's blood. Concentrating Spike followed the scent of the blood. It was like a beacon to a more dangerous area of the building. Spike could sense the darker force of evil as well as something familiar that was pulling him closer like a magnet. He could smell something beyond the blood. It smelt sweet with a touch of wildness to it. It was rose perfume. Spike froze in his tracks.
"You look lost, my sweet William," a familiar voice sang out from the shadows.
"What are you doing here Drusilla?" Spike rolled his eyes, annoyed. It was clear that Dru was on a mission. Who was she working for this time? Did she kill or hurt Paige? Spike thought suspiciously examining Dru's every move as she circled him like a vulture. His skin tingled as Dru ran her hands up and down his chest, tickling and scratching him with her dark blue nails.
"Playing hide and go seek. Tag you're it," Dru whispered near Spike's ear licking at it and laughing wildly as she ran down the hall until they were close to a corridor that seemed to lead down to the basement. Spike followed her to the spot glimpsing her dark, sparkly, mischievous eyes and her red stained mouth.
Spike grabbed Dru by the hair. She was toying with him again and he had a feeling Dru was part of the reason that Paige was missing.
"Where is the witch, Dru? Did you eat her?" Spike boomed, shoving Dru into the wall and trapping her. Dru grinned at Spike's stroke of violence.
"She disappeared like a bird shot out of the sky by dark hunters. BANG!" Dru stabbed her finger into Spike's chest. "No more sweet song, trapped in a cage." Drusilla wagged her finger back and forth.
Spike's eyes darkened with anger as he grabbed Dru forcefully by the face, her chin in his rough hands.
"Where did they take her?" Spike urged, trying to get Dru's attention as she licked the blood from her bottom lip. Drusilla slowly started to glance up, her eyes as cold as stone as she lifted her finger and put it against Spike's lips. Spike's self control took the backseat as he licked her finger.
"My boy needs something to eat." Drusilla sang soothingly, brushing back Spike's hair and nibbling down his neck. Spike suddenly took a step back. Buffy filled his mind. Buffy's sweet smell, her smile, her kiss and her sparkling eyes. Spike sighed. He couldn't turn on his mission. Could he?
"Slayer turns you to mush. Soft little puppy who is a slave to her every command. Jump, hop and skip! No treat unless baby turns them all to dust. My poor boy is lost. She cannot help you. Only I can help you, my luv," Drusilla chanted, her face crumbling as she looked at Spike. Spike put a hand on Drusilla's face, but she just jerked her head to the side. Spike walked in front of her and gazed down at her glassy, enchanting eyes. He carefully stepped closer to her and gathered her closely into his arms and dug his fingers into her dark, glossy hair, caressing her face. Drusilla buried her face into Spike's shoulder and sobbed. Spike did not know if it was an act or not. Many times Drusilla came back to him only to use him for her own purposes and to throw him away when she felt she was done with him. What makes this time any different? She was distracting him from his mission on finding Paige.
"Dru just take me to the girl. No more games," Spike firmly commanded with a sigh.
Drusilla's shoulders sank as she lowered herself onto the floor. Spike frowned as he curiously crouched down beside her.
"She poisoned our love. Now you can't see. Your eyes are plucked from their sockets. She has your eyes, but no more. You belong on the dark side of the moon, next to me," Drusilla crooned as he stared into her enchanting, mysterious, wild eyes. She dove into his arms and kissed him with full blown passion. The kiss was steamy as she pulled away slowly. Her finger nails were pressed into his shoulders painfully, but all he could feel was the intensity of the kiss. The sting feeling in his arm only added to the fire he felt consume him.
Spike gathered her into his arms and swung her below him as he gathered her skirts up and kissed down her body until he finally reached her lips again. The world as Spike once knew it seemed hazy. He forgot about everything. All he could see was what Drusilla was making him feel. He couldn't think. His vulnerability lied with Drusilla.
Dru laughed crazily as he massaged her hips to match his rhythm. Devouring each other, they let go and pounced like animals driving each other like there was no end. When they were through Spike turned over onto his back smiling greedily. Drusilla pulled him toward her so he was facing her side by side.
"Stay with me, my Spike. Don't leave me my sweet William."
"Dru, luv, that was brilliant, but I- "
"We're soul mates, Spike."
Spike gazed at Drusilla sitting still in the darkness. He felt confused and off guard by Drusilla's comment. Drusilla stood there loving him when Buffy had kept him waiting in the side lines for so long, even after he saved the world with her. He seemed to rely on Buffy's approval while she relied on his protection. She believed in him when nobody else did in Sunnydale. Could he leave Buffy? He wasn't sure he could live with or without Buffy, but Drusilla had been his first love. Spike didn't know who the love of his existence was in the long run. His head and dead heart were screaming two different things making the answer hard to point out. He still felt light headed and giddy from making love with Drusilla. Was it making love or just pure lust? He was clueless about that topic, but all of his existence Drusilla was there for him. He closed his eyes as Drusilla caressed his face. Spike let go of his thoughts and let everything slip away as he kissed Drusilla gently on the lips.
"Buffy, I love you." Spike absentmindedly whispered, leaning his head against Dru's hand.
"I love you too, Spike." With part of Cole's powers Drusilla's voice changed into Buffy's voice as she put her hand over his chest momentarily closing her eyes. A golden glow surfaced under his chest as Drusilla lunged into Spike to pull out the spark that started to fleck light and melt into Drusilla's hand. Spike shook and heaved as he passed out crashing onto the ground.
"Bad boys don't cry," Drusilla giggled as she let the sparks flow out of her hand.
Paige's vision was blurry as she started to adjust to the darker room. Where are Faith and Spike? She thought as she tried to get up from the hard, cool ground. Paige winced as she touched the bump on her head. Blood streamed down her shoulder and her right sleeve seemed to be ripped into shreds. Paige looked around and found herself imprisoned in a bright laser beamed cage with Piper and Leo next to her.
"We promise that Angel and Spike are no longer a part of the problem, Sir," A young man with a suit on and a brief case in his hand confirmed.
"Please Lyndsey, call me Cole Turner," Cole smiled slyly.
"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Turner. The Senior Partners send their gratitude," Lyndsey smiled, shaking Cole's hand firmly.
"I'm sure they do." Cole gestured for Phoebe to come over to him. "Send them my gratitude too," Cole winked at Phoebe. Phoebe nodded as she flicked her hand at Lyndsey and handcuffed him.
"What the hell is going on?" Lilah, Lyndsey's partner asked as she was handcuffed beside him.
"I'm sending them my gratitude by giving you both the honor of binding the business contract," Cole replied. "Take this as a compliment. You're blood will be the appetizer before our main course," Cole clapped his hands together joyfully.
"We got Angel and Spike out of your way and captured the girl. Why are you doing this to us?" Lilah questioned.
"Because I can, I am the First Evil. I can do anything I want. Thanks to you I no longer have powerful soulful vampires against me. Look on the bright side you can stay alive long enough at least to see hell starting to open up." Lyndsey and Lilah tried to jerk out of the cuffs, but could not move their bodies. Their bodies were frozen in place above the dark bull crest and sweat dripped off their foreheads. "Phoebe, will you do the honors?" Cole handed her an ancient looking gold bull inscribed knife and Phoebe grinned, a mischievous look on her features. She came up to Lyndsey and Lilah and started to knick and torture them first and then cut deeper making patterns with her knife. Lyndsey and Lilah stared in soundless shock as their blood ran off the knife and touched the crest. Dark, greenish gray looking largely built demons clawed their way out of the crest with their jaws dropping showing sharp teeth as they grinned evilly and stretched as if they have just woken up from a long nap.
"That's it my Hoygles. Find some human companions and look for your elder ancestors. Suck the life out of whoever gets in your way," Cole boomed as the demons piled up the stairs eagerly.
"What do we do now with them?" Phoebe smiled, hugging Cole beside her.
"Give it time. They'll be dead in no time. Right now I think you should find Drusilla and Spike for me. See that they make it back here safely," Cole commanded.
Phoebe nodded as she disappeared into the flame.
Paige sat there staring in shock as her sister vanished.
"Did you just see that? What happened?" Paige asked Piper.
"Yeah I saw it and I'm afraid there will be more dying innocent out there. Phoebe is evil again. Those demons are soul eaters. The Hoygles are the ones that attacked us from the basement. They use souls for power," Piper hung her head wearily on Leo's shoulder.
"They what?" Paige couldn't believe Phoebe would fall for another one of Cole's tricks again.
"Phoebe's soul is missing and according to my sources Cole Turner is more powerful than anyone can ever imagine now. His older powers are now combined with ancient evil powers and he is now the King of the Underworld otherwise known as the First Evil," Leo explained, he looked worn out with his shirt ripped and his skin looking whipped and burnt.
"I thought he was already the source of all evil before he died," Paige looked back at Leo confused.
"No, he was the Prince of the Underworld. There was a ritual and he was brought back and is now the most powerful in the universe. The only people that can stop him are slayers of demons and vampires, but most of these girls' souls are being eaten alive and they're turning into the monsters. There are two advanced, powerful Slayers that may be able to stop them, but to be honest I am not certain," Leo sighed.
"What about us? Can't we fight them, Piper?" Piper shrugged and then shook her head. Piper's face was full of bruises and she looked as worn out as Leo.
"Our powers don't work well down here and we can't really defeat them without the Power of Three and it seems like we don't have that anymore." Paige frowned looking around for an escape, but each exit was blocked by a Hoygle guard. She reached out and tried to orb, but was blasted against the wall of the cage.
"We can't use our powers here Paige unless we can let Phoebe's guard down and that is going to be hard considering her soul is taken." Piper commented.
Paige sighed. That was why her powers were getting weaker when she first came here. How was Faith and Spike going to find her now if Spike was in trouble? How was she going to warn her new friends about the demons if she couldn't find them?
"It's all my fault, Paige. I should've known Phoebe was evil when she was going to kill Doyle. I just went with it because I thought we were being tricked having a half demon as a white lighter." Tears streamed down Piper's face.
"You can't blame yourself, Piper," Leo soothed Piper quietly giving her a gentle reassuring hug.
Paige's face started to light up with optimism as she encountered an epiphany.
Leo rocked Piper slowly in his arms, comforting her the best he could. Piper turned to Paige and lifted an eyebrow.
"What is it? You have that I have an idea and I think it's going to work look on your face," Piper noted.
"I think Cole hid Phoebe's soul somewhere in this basement."
"Why in the heck would you think that?" Piper moved out of Leo's arms, turning to face Paige. Paige finally got her attention now.
"In life Cole was Phoebe's soul mate and they truly loved each other until the Seer tricked Cole and turned him into the Source. I believe deep down he still has feelings for her and is still inside that First Evil guy somewhere and that he kept her soul and locked it away somewhere," Paige concluded, folding her arms across her chest.
"I don't believe that," Piper looked skeptical.
"I think Paige has a point, Piper. He did love her and he was influenced by the Seer. We just need a hand to get out of here and to get Phoebe's soul before it disappears altogether and cannot be restored into the body," Leo suggested.
"My new friends will find us as soon as they recognize that I'm missing. It won't be long." Paige nodded as she sat near her sister hoping for a miracle.
"This sucks! We have been walking for hours. Can't we sit down for a bit, Buff?" Xander whined.
Buffy shook her head, impatiently. "Xander, we need to find Angel and Doyle and have to try to stop the Hoygles from attacking anymore slayers and innocent people. There's no time for resting. Plus we need to meet up with Spike, Faith and Paige." Buffy stated firmly.
Dawn swayed her head back and forth trying to stay awake. The dark hall and dim lights were almost hypnotizing. Willow just walked quietly with her head held high, although her expression showed that she was clearly upset.
Buffy walked next to her and put a comforting arm around Willow's shoulder. Willow definitely has had to deal with watching her friends and loved ones die off and it wasn't pretty, but at least she has maintained control of her powers and has now kept a focused mind, Buffy thought, squeezing Willow's shoulder companionably. Xander kept the bag of weapons with him like a body guard as he trailed behind Buffy and Willow with Dawn next to him.
The hallway was full of antique looking paintings that emphasized blood shed and war.
"Interesting and welcoming artwork we have here. It makes you kind of feel like you're home, doesn't it?" Willow muttered looking at the paintings lined up on the walls.
"Warms my heart," Dawn nodded. Suddenly Buffy stopped mid step.
"Did you guys hear something? I think I hear footsteps. Stay back guys. I'm going to check it out," Buffy commanded as she inched against the wall and slowly went around the corner. Buffy saw the tall figure and pounced on it kicking it in the chest. The figure caught her foot and slammed her forcefully into the ground. Buffy blinked repetitively until the stars cleared from her eyes. The figure in front of her stopped and bent down to reach for Buffy. Buffy grabbed the figure's hand and swung its body onto the floor.
"Geeze, B. It's me. Take a chill pill," Faith complained as she quickly got up to dust herself off.
"Sorry, Faith, I thought you were one of them, the Hoygles. Where's Spike and Paige?" Buffy gazed around Faith and folded her arms.
"It's not what you think, B. That chick was captured by something. Spike and me decided to split up to find her. No biggie," Faith raised her hands in defense.
"No biggie? There are monsters out there that are super strong and you're telling me it's no biggie? We need to find them and find them quickly as well as Doyle and Angel. We are better off in larger numbers against these things." Buffy charged around the corner and signaled the Scooby Gang to follow her.
"Got the weapons?" Buffy took the bag from Xander and placed it on the ground.
"Good, these things may help us momentarily protect ourselves in case the Hoygles appear again because they worked super last time, right?" Faith responded sarcastically.
"I just love the smell of fear and confusion in the evening," a familiar deep male voice boomed through the shadows, laughing evilly.
"It looks like we have come just in time for crumpets and tea," a female voice followed, cackling with glee as the voices revealed themselves from the shadows.
"Spike? Spike what are you doing with Drusilla and where is Paige?" Buffy commanded stepping courageously up to him. Spike's face vamped as he grinned at Buffy. Buffy punched him directly in the face. Spike just laughed.
"What has happened to you?" Buffy stepped back, searching his eyes, but nothing was there. Nothing was there except deep lifeless sockets. No light to be seen.
"Are you looking for these ugly looking stars? The beady little stars that brain washed my poor boy," Drusilla grinned wildly, revealing gold sparks falling bit by bit out of her hand.
Buffy rushed towards Drusilla, but Willow stopped her with a flick of her hand.
"No, Buffy." Willow screamed.
"I have to Willow. She is killing him again," Buffy stepped forward as Spike threw her into the wall.
"You know you're never going to get it, Slayer. I'm my own man now. You and your pathetic Scooby Gang have to make a decision. Are you all ready to die?" Spike grinned as he threw Willow across the room. She hit her head on the wall as Xander dove for her and carried her in his arms. Buffy nodded for Xander to run for cover with Faith, but Dawn was stubborn and stayed next to Buffy.
"Get out of here, Dawn. NOW!" Buffy shouted as she side kicked Spike and then elbowed Drusilla in the face. Dawn shook her head. "I'm not going without you." Buffy sighed as Dawn charged at Drusilla with a stake. Dru laughed and vamped out as she cracked Dawn's arm back and grabbed her neck, licking it and savoring the sweat and fear. Buffy stopped kicking Spike as she saw Dru grabbing for Dawn. Spike knocked Buffy down onto the floor and moved towards Drusilla. Dru smiled and gave Dawn to Spike.
"It's either his sparkling maggots or her life," Drusilla hissed. Buffy hesitated. The choice was simple, but could she really loose Spike's life? Could there be a way around this for all of them?
"Time is ticking away, pet. Make a choice, but either way you all are going to die, one nibblet at a time," Spike chuckled as he licked up Dawn's neck. Dawn's face was frozen with pain and fear. She couldn't even talk. Dawn knew Buffy would choose her life, but really what help could she be to fight the upcoming war ahead? Spike was strong and powerful and he loved Buffy, didn't he? Dawn closed her eyes. This must be it then, she thought sadly. We definitely have come to a dead end. "Take me instead," Buffy's voice washed over Dawn as Dawn blacked out from the pain in her twisted arm.
"Keep up with me or you're chopped liver, Harris," Faith marched quickly down the hallway as it twisted into a lighter and wider pathway. Xander huffed and puffed as he trotted down behind Faith, carrying Willow is his arms. It seemed like ages ago since they were fighting an apocalypse in Sunnydale and he didn't feel any better that he he was turning into Porky Pig either. It was definitely not a time to be out of shape.
"We need to find Doyle quickly," Xander replied through choppy breaths.
"Why do you need to see Doyle? What is he going to do for us?" Faith muttered halfheartedly.
"For starters he can heal Willow with his angelic powers." Faith turned around and took Willow out of Xander's arms so that he could keep up.
"A demon can have angelic powers? Sure and I'm married to the Pope," Faith skeptically shook her head, laughing.
"When he died the Elder angels made him into a white lighter due to his bravery and sacrifice. It's like Paige just without the hocus pocus." Faith nodded, half listening and half watching where they were going.
"I figured if we found Doyle we could find Angel and he could help us with Bonnie and Clyde," Xander insisted.
"Good plan except I think there's a good chance that since we are battling the First and his bunch of war crafted demons, we may be fooled into believing and bump into the First or the Hoygles instead of them."
"Wow the gloom and doom Slayer. I feel all safe now," Xander sighed dramatically.
Faith turned around glaring at him with green glowing eyes.
"ZIP IT!" Faith shouted, echoes slamming against the walls.
Xander shuttered, but Faith's eyes turned back to their brown, normal color as she continued to walk down the hall.
"Sorry, Harris. It's not a good time to be testing my nerves. This corridor looks familiar." Xander followed Faith as she stopped in front of an office marked Wesley Windham-Price, Supernatural Advisor. Faith kicked the door open with her foot and walked in as the Angel Investigations group turned around and became silent as Faith laid Willow onto the gray leather sofa.
"Xander? Faith?" Wesley adjusted his glasses looking at the two of them in surprise and gazed behind them confused.
"Hiya! Sorry to march in on you guys like this. Trip was short, but not really sweet. Bumped into some fresh demonic Hoygle faces and one thing lead to another we split up, found Spike with Drusilla and now we're here." Xander shoved his hands inside his pockets nervously.
"Where's Buffy?"
"Good question she's stuck with tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb and Dawn. Doesn't look too good from where I'm standing. It seems like Dru found a way to swipe Spike's soul. I can't imagine how she did it, but he's back, folks and he's looking to pay us all a dinner visit." Xander concluded, leaning over Willow and brushing the hair gently out of her eyes.
"Man, nothing like the end of the world to bring the current and former Californians together." Gunn shook his head, giving Xander his jacket to cover Willow.
"Where's Angel?" Wesley looked upon Faith with anticipation. Silence filled the room as everyone looked at Faith. Faith looked down with guilt.
"Angel? I-"
"She left me hanging all alone in the Senior Partners headquarters while I was fighting the good fight alone. Partnership isn't your strong suit, Faith," Angel commented as he trudged through the door with Doyle right behind him in the doorway. Faith's jaw dropped in surprise, guilt filled her eyes as she saw Angel's right sleeve ripped apart showing scarpes oozing with blood and Doyle with his hair messed up and his bruised cheeks.
"That's okay, Faith. You don't have to say anything. It's your true nature to fight alone." Angel shrugged as his gaze shifted towards the coach where Xander and Fred were kneeling near Willow's motionless body.
"Thank Zeus, you both are here. Dru stole Spike's soul and he's out for blood. He hurt Willow and I don't know what Bonnie and Clyde have in store for Buffy and Dawn. They were left behind." Xander explained quickly. Angel swallowed and looked back at Doyle with unease.
"We'll see what we can do. Buffy is strong and knows Drusilla's and Spike's weaknesses. We better check on Willow." Angel nodded to Doyle to come forward. Doyle approached Willow and placed his hands on her face and then on her neck and chest as the blue crystal clouded her body until the scars and tears on her skin disappeared and she awoke gasping for air. Xander sighed with relief as he held Willow in his arms and smiled thankfully at Doyle. Doyle nodded as he patted Willow's hand.
"Who are you?" Wesley asked his eyes widened with interest.
"Wesley this is Doyle, the man that has given Angel Investigations its name and has started the successful business. Doyle this is Wesley, Fred, Gunn and Lorne, the Angel Investigations team." Angel pointed out.
"It's a pleasure to make yer acquaintances," Doyle nodded, smiling proudly as he shook hands with every one of them.
"Didn't he die from the blasted light from the Scourge demons?" Wesley turned to Angel, raising his eyebrows questioningly.
"He did."
"I was chosen ta become a white lighter ta help and heal others so I became human again, more or less. Wesley nodded, coughing uncomfortably.
"Where's Cordelia?" Doyle asked, noticing that she was missing from the team.
"She hasn't been feeling well and can't take on this case," Angel replied quickly, looking from Doyle to Wesley. Wesley sighed and the rest of the group just shook their heads in confirmation. Wesley could sense Angel's tension on lying to his friend. It wasn't easy for any of them, but they needed to focus on their upcoming battle.
"Angel what has happened to you?" Lorne asked looking his friend over.
"Got attacked by demons, nothing new there Lorne. Doyle found me and we paid a visit to the Oracles and that's where you caught me in the middle of a cat and mouse game," Angel answered, but Lorne still did not seem convinced.
"I want you guys to sing the chorus of 'Circle of Life' by Elton John." Lorne guided them into the tune as both Doyle and Angel sang a few lines.
"Well your singing is awkward and needs work, but I wish you both told us the truth. Now it makes sense on why you went to the Oracles." Lorne shook his head, sadly. "I can't get a level reading here and my power seems to be blocked by an unknown source. Angel cakes how did you become human and who did this to you? Of all the times to become human this is the worst especially since we have the Hoygles, The First Evil and Spike and Drusilla on our trail." Lorne shook his head, disappointed and upset.
"The Oracles didn't fill me in on that. All I can think of is that I have been hexed by the Senior Partners or something and that they're on the same side as the First." Angel sat down with his head in his hands feeling frustrated.
"Wow lawyers and demons. That's one twisted mix," Willow commented as Fred gave her a drink of water.
"We're going to have one hell of a time defeating that crowd." Xander nodded nervously looking at the ground.
"There's got to be a way to defeat these demons without being infected," Fred chimed in as she browsed the computer. Doyle's eyes lit up.
"Yer right, darlin'. If I 'member correctly the legend has to do with becoming vulnerable and letting your guard down in front of them, but that doesn't really reveal how ta kill 'em."
"What about using the jewel that we used fighting in Sunnydale?" Xander picked up the jewel off of Wesley's desk, twirling it around playfully. Angel grabbed it quickly out of Xander's hands.
"Don't play with it, it's not a toy. Plus it only killed the Ubervamps because it reflected the sun and Hoylges cannot be killed by the sun."
"This is lame. I think we should let everyone save themselves or die," Faith folded her arms, leaning against the desk, her eyes flickering green and then switching back to their brown color, leaving a few speck of green near her irises. Doyle stared at Faith in shock and then turned to Angel.
"Angel, man, she's infected with the Hoygles' disease. There's only so much time 'fore the beast takes fully o'er her mind,body and soul. I believe Buffy had been infected by the Hoygles too. It slowly, but surely takes o'er them and breaks down their defenses until nothin' is left 'o them, but pure evil." Doyle muttered quietly to Angel.
"So that must be part of the disease, right?" Fred stuttered, backing away from Faith.
"What's wrong with you guys? You're looking at me as if I have grown two horns," Faith shouted angrily.
Xander nodded and pointed to her head and made a horn motion. Faith touched her head and poked her hand.
"What the hell is happening?"
"Yer turnin' into one of the Hoygle demons, darlin,' Doyle explained.
"Get rid of it!" Faith shouted hysterically.
"I can't. I don't know how, darlin'. It's all up to you. Can ye save yer own soul and fight the evil inside of ye?" Faith breathed in and out quickly, feeling rage start to boil within her, but seemed to remain motionless with shock as Doyle jolted back grabbing his head in pain.
"Grab her and tie her down quickly," Angel commanded Gunn and Wesley as he hurried over to Doyle's side. They sprang over and dragged and forced Faith into a chair and tied her up as tightly as they could adding handcuffs for good measure.
"You can all run, but you can't hide from the evil that will consume you," Faith's voice boomed deeply revealing the demon inside of her as she squirmed in the chair trying to break free from her handcuffs.
Doyle shook with pain as Angel brought him carefully to the leather chair away from Faith and closer to Wesley's desk.
"What do you see?"
"Buffy is startin' her transformation and it looks like Dawn is being sacrificed. Spike, Drusilla and Buffy are in a room with a bull's crest and Hoygle demons are blockin' every entrance with two people sittin' on stone carved thrones. One of them is Paige's sister. There's three people caged up like animals being tortured. It looks like a basement. We gotta save them, man. Once Buffy and Faith are totally gone we may be bound to this Earth with evil forever." Doyle answered after the pain cleared his head.
"What are we going to do with Faith?" Wesley asked fearfully. Angel turned back to Wesley and then looked at Faith fidgeting with her handcuffs.
"She can't get far and if she escapes she will show up with the rest of her clan. We can at least get a good heads start. Lets go!" Angel whipped on his other black duster as everyone followed him and left Faith in the room.
"Not to be cute or anything Angel, but aren't you human? How can you possibly help Buffy as well as the other prisoners if you are no longer super vamp? What is your plan?" Xander mentioned quietly as they rounded the hall towards the basement.
"I don't really have one in mind. We're improvising," Angel muttered.
"Improvising? Yep! We're going to die. Indiana Jones is bringing us to the Temple of Doom!" Willow elbowed Xander in the chest. Xander coughed and frowned at Willow.
"Trust Angel, man. He has fought as a human 'fore and has done pretty decent or so he has told me." Doyle patted Xander's shoulder reassuringly.
"The Slayer is turning into a demon. What a fascinating idea, Dru! What about the dunce, Angel?" Spike laughed as he and Dru linked arms as they lead Buffy into the basement.
"Grand Daddy is as strong as a lamb. BAA!" Drusilla giggled as she cautiously looked behind her to see Buffy dragging her sister, kicking and screaming.
"My beloved Drusilla has come home at last. I see everything has gone well. Welcome Spike!" Cole punched Spike in the arm causing Spike to growl.
"We've had our bad moments in the past, but lets call this a truce, Spike," Cole replied with a laugh.
"This is my Phoebe." Phoebe smiled as she touched Spike's hand and squeezed it.
"Touch her again and die." Cole warned with a wink."I see you've brought a friend with a treat. How sweet. The banquet has not yet started, but I'm sure we can hold off the desserts." Cole smiled wickedly, touching Dawn's face. Dawn jerked her head away as she spotted Paige.
"Dawn!" Paige screamed. Cole motioned for Phoebe to shut Paige up by throwing her against the cage to shock and burn her.
"It's no use, Paige," Piper whispered, gently helping Paige up from the floor. "Phoebe has the Book of Shadows and with the most powerful Slayer at the First's will we can't be sure how our plan will work without the Power of Three. Phoebe's too strong."
"I have a plan that might bring her back, but we may need a good mortal vessel," Paige replied quietly, writing in the dusty, beige tiled floor.
"How are we going to get that?" Paige gestured her head towards Dawn. Piper shook her head.
"Are you kidding? It's too risky. Plus she is only an amateur witch. She might not be able to handle that power," Piper reasoned quietly.
Spike and Drusilla snagged their teeth on both sides of Dawn's neck, dripping blood onto the crest as more demons clawed out of the crested pit. Dawn's mind was blank from shock and fear as she saw Buffy approach her with green glowing eyes. Drusilla and Spike backed away and watched with glee at the show.
"I've been waiting for this moment for centuries! It's almost like a family reunion," Cole chuckled, cuddling Phoebe close to him. The greenish gray Hoygles gathered in a circle around Buffy as she slowly stepped towards her sister. Dawn looked at her sister as Buffy closed her eyes and placed her hand over Dawn. Dawn wanted to scream, but felt like she lost her voice and ability to think clearly.
"We got to do it now, Piper. Are you ready?" Paige whispered in her sister's ear. Piper swallowed looking over to Leo.Leo confirmed Paige's decision with a brief nod. Piper took a deep breath in and out and held onto Paige 's hands as they began to chant Paige's spell softly:
Through the darkness and the pain,
There is a sacred flame.
Sister to sister and heart to heart,
We need you here to take part
In the fight against evil through and through
Come settle among us, Prue.
Some of the candles suddenly flickered out as a strong wind blew into the room momentarily throwing the demons off guard and onto the ground as they broke the circle around Buffy and Dawn. The wind maintained force and threw Buffy, Spike, Cole, Drusilla and Phoebe into a wall. It stopped short in front of Dawn sending a stream of multi-colored light pouring into her.