Chapter 3

Angel couldn't help the lurch his heart gave as he watched Buffy walk away from him. She would be fine, he knew, but it didn't stop him from worrying like crazy.

He watched as she approached the still smirking Jack. If he lay one hand on her, barrier or no barrier, he was losing some limbs. She turned to look at him as he scowled at Jack and he nodded supportively before she turned and walked out the door.

He could hear the crowd screaming again and he stood and walked over to the viewing wall, intent on watching the match. Any harm done to her would be visited upon Jack and his crew a hundred fold. She walked into view and the crowd went wild.

Buffy glanced around the crowd and felt her apprehension rise a few notches. God, if these people were any more bloodthirsty they'd be bloody pirates. She noted the hungry, excited look on their faces and she screwed up her nose in disgust. And Giles says humans don't know about demon and vamps. Wrong yet again, Watcher-mine!

She stalked forward and stopped where she was told. The crowd was still going nuts but Buffy ignored them. She didn't want to kill these demons, especially not the non-evil ones, but what else was she supposed to do? With the bracelet on, she was just as much a captive as everyone else and at the moment, it was kill or be killed.

The Fherds came into view and Buffy watched it take its place. The crowd erupted again and Buffy shook her head as the guards prodded and poked at the Fherds, trying to provoke the seemingly placid demon into some sort of savage mood.

Jack's voice suddenly came over the speakers and the whole place quietened. Buffy could sense Angel watching her and she turned slightly to see him staring at her from the viewing window. She smiled slightly at him then turned back to concentrate on Jack's words.

'… special treat for you today, Ladies and Gentlemen. Not only do we have one of the legendary Fherds, we also have, the legend herself, Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer. The best Slayer so far, or so I am told.'

The crowd erupted yet again and Buffy grimaced. This was nuts. How could these people sit there and make bets on who was going to die? Maybe I should let all the demons go, then they could kill everyone in this place. Not like they don't deserve it. Unfortunately, as much as she wanted to, Buffy couldn't let that happen. Human life, all human life, no matter how disgusting, was precious.

Maybe I should have trained first, she thought as she watched the Fherds crack its neck and fingers, an action, she was sure, that wasn't meant to be menacing but still looked that way. I could have sparred with Angel.

Then crowd hushed again and Buffy looked up, thinking she missed something when all of a sudden a loud voice yelled 'Fight.'

The Fherds came forward with surprising speed and Buffy barely ducked in time. She rolled out of the way but the demon was there again as she straightened. She back flipped and turned quickly, anticipating its speed this time, lashing out with her leg and kicking it in its torso. Its torso that feels like a brick wall. Ow.

The impact knocked her back a few steps and she could hear the sounds of the demons cheering, the crowd screaming for blood. Her blood. Hey! she thought indignantly. It sucks being this popular.

She ducked a swing from its right arm then punched it hard in the chest, quickly concluding the chest was a no go area as she pulled back sore knuckles. It took another swing at her, this one making contact with her shoulder, claws raking her skin.

Buffy saw red. She blocked its next swing with her forearm and head butted it, driving it back a step. She stepped in and roundhouse kicked it, the Fherds taking yet another step back then she dropped and kicked its legs out from under it. It fell in a heap, but recovered quickly and heaved itself up.

For the first time in a long time, Buffy had nothing to say, no quips, no taunts no jeering, nothing. What could she say to a demon who was just fighting for his life, as she was?

Unfortunately for him, he was going to lose and Buffy couldn't help but feel helpless. There was nothing she could do to save him, any of them and that pissed her off even more. Jack was gonna die.

She grabbed the demons arm as he lunged at her and threw him over her hip, driving him into the ground. She could faintly hear Angel yelling and she glanced over to him. He pointed towards a wall that held a few swords and some knives. She shook her head at him and ducked as the demon came forward again. This was lasting entirely too long. The Fherds just kept coming at her. Like the Energiser Bunny, she thought humourlessly.

The demon started to get more aggressive and Buffy found herself blocking more attacks. She understood; the heat of battle was getting to him and the fight was getting more instinctual. He was really starting to get desperate, fighting to stay alive.

Buffy failed to block a stunning blow and she landed on her back, screams of cheer resounding from the crowd she'd so far been able to block out. The Fherds stalked towards her and the Slayer's instincts came to the fore. It demon, she slayer.

She flipped to her feet and took a fighting stance. It reached out to grab her and she latched onto the arm, spinning it around and throwing it against the closest wall. The one that happened to have all the weapons on it.

The demon grabbed a short sword and swung at her crazily. She dodged out of the way and came up behind it, kicking it in the back. It stumbled, then swung wide, Buffy just ducking the decapitating blow. She back-flipped to the wall, removing a sword for herself and ducked out of the way as it jabbed at her.

Time to end this, she thought when the blade sliced across her stomach and hip in a blow she was too slow to dodge. She blocked the next blow, kicked it in the legs then head before moving back to circle it. It was getting weak now. The few blows she'd managed to land and the running after her were taking toll on the demon and it was slowing down. She was going to win.

She lunged and again the demon blocked her but with less vigour than it had earlier. It made a half hearted attempt to run her through but she flipped over it's head and drove the sword home, through it's heart, killing it instantly.

It fell face first to the ground and Buffy stood, panting harshly, hand on the throbbing cut on her hip. The crowd was going crazy but Buffy didn't even glance at them.

She turned abruptly and made her way over to the door she'd entered through. She stood, waiting until the doors opened, then walked calmly through, ignoring the screaming crowd.

Jack appeared at her side as she walked through the hall towards the holding area. He was grinning like a madman and in that moment, Buffy wanted to kill him more than she'd ever wanted anything before. Psycho bastard.

'Well done, Miss Summers, well done. Better than even I expected. You truly are amazing. If only I could harness that power.' he sighed regretfully. 'Oh well. You'll just have to become our main attraction,' he laughed and announced to the empty corridor, 'Any demon who wants to fight the Slayer, sign up. Ten thousand to the demon who kills her. Or,' he said thoughtfully. 'We could have an arena grand event. One time only. The Slayer fighting for her life against the very thing she is born to fight against; a vampire, though even better… a souled one. One she cares-'

His words were cut off as Buffy turned and slammed him against the wall, her hand wrapped around his neck. Jack's guards all of a sudden seemed to come out of nowhere, pointing guns at her so she had no other choice but to back off slowly. She continued to glare at him. If she couldn't kill him, she'd make damned sure something else did.

He laughed hoarsely as he rubbed his sore neck then gestured for the guards to escort her back to the cell. His laughter followed her down the hall.

Her shoulders slumped as they turned the corner and the guards kept close to her, guns trained on her. That fight with Angel was coming earlier than she thought it would. What was he going to say about that? Before they made it back to the holding area, however, a flash of light blinded them for a moment then it faded leaving a woman with shoulder length, tawny coloured hair standing there.

'Hello Miss Summers. I'm Lilah Morgan. Let's talk.'