"Why didn't you check the mausoleum?" Buffy asked angel as they headed for the cemetery.
"It was the first place I looked," said Angel. "Amanda must have moved in there after I checked it."
"How many do you think she has with her?" Buffy asked.
"No way of telling," said Angel. "If she has Mordecai and Sebastian with her she might feel she won't need as many local vampires as she would normally have. But she's bound to have a few anyway."
"Let's just be ready," said Buffy. "It's not just our lives at stake here. Willow and the others are at risk too. We can't afford to make any mistakes here."
"I know," said Angel. "Concentrate on taking Amanda out. I'll handle the rest of them."
"You can't handle that many at one time," said Buffy. "There will be too many of them."
"Look," said Angel, "Amanda is controlling them. Once you take her out most of the others will beat a hasty retreat. That should leave just the Berman Brothers for us to deal with. But your main target has to be Amanda."
"Okay," said Buffy. "I'll dust her as quickly as I can. Then we take out the Berman Brothers."
They entered the cemetery and headed directly for the mausoleum. They both knew they were walking into a trap. They also knew they didn't have a choice. All of Buffy's friends were being held by Amanda and they also knew she wouldn't hesitate to kill them if Buffy didn't show up. If she hadn't killed them all ready. Angel seemed to think they were still alive. He said Amanda wouldn't kill them until she had finished with Buffy.
As they entered the mausoleum they noticed the door to the secret passageway that led underneath it standing about halfway open. Cautiously Buffy moved over to the open doorway and looked inside. She saw the stairs leading down into the passages below.
"Okay, here's the plan," she said to Angel. "We go in and start killing vamps. We don't stop until Amanda Walken is dead."
"I know another way into those passages," said Angel. "It will only take me a minute or so to get there. Wait a minute then go down. I'll be able to come in from the opposite side and maybe surprise them."
"Good idea," said Buffy. "Don't take too long. I'm going to need your help down there."
Angel left the mausoleum as Buffy waited at the open door. It seemed like an eternity passed before she decided Angel had reached the other entrance he had mentioned. Cautiously she entered the secret passage and headed down the stairs.
She moved through the passage below the cemetery for several minutes. Finally she came to an open door that led to a large room beyond. That's where Amanda and the others would be. Buffy moved up to the door and looked inside. In the back of the room she could see Willow, Giles, Xander, and Cordelia chained to the back wall each wearing a gag. They were looking around apprehensively.
There was no sign of Angel. Nor could she see Amanda or any of the vampires that were surely waiting inside for her. She edged her way through the door and stood just inside the room. Other than her friends, who all seemed to be trying to tell her something, the room appeared to be empty. Cautiously she stepped into the room.
Suddenly the two remaining Berman Brothers dropped from the ceiling standing next to her. Before she could move they grabbed her, pinning her arms behind her. She struggled against their grip but their strength was incredible. Significantly stronger than any vampire she had encountered previously. She found herself unable to break their grasp.
"Well, well, well," said Amanda Walken, walking into the room from an adjoining chamber, four more vampires walking in behind her, "so this is the famous Buffy Summers. The Slayer that has all the vampires in Sunnydale hiding in fear. I'm a bit disappointed. I would have expected it would be much harder to catch you. But you just walked in here. Not at all the formidable opponent I've been led to believe you are."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that," said Buffy. "This is only round one. Like they say. It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings."
"Yes, that is what they say," said Amanda. "Of course this isn't the opera. And you aren't in much of a position to be making such witty comments. It would take very little to simply snap your neck. No trouble at all."
"Now who's not being the formidable opponent you've been portrayed as?" Buffy said. "I was led to believe you liked to kill Slayers yourself. In a reasonably fair fight. Not trussed up like some Christmas goose ready for serving."
"Oh, you were led to believe correctly," said Amanda. "I have nineteen Slayers to my credit."
"I was told it was fourteen," said Buffy. "Padding the ole' resume are we?"
"Not at all," said Amanda. "Someone just miscounted, that's all. But trust me. I haven't miscounted. It's nineteen, believe me."
"Oh, I do," said Buffy, glancing at the Berman Brothers. "Why not let my friends go? They aren't a part of this. You have me. That's what you wanted."
"Oh, I'm sure they told you about me," said Amanda. "They are a part of this. They are your friends. Once I'm finished with you they will pay for your interference with my kind. As will your mother. I'm very thorough."
"So, what are you waiting for?" Buffy asked. "It's time to dance."
"Release her," said Amanda.
The Berman Brothers released Buffy and stepped back a step. Buffy prepared herself for the fight of her life. And the entire time she was wondering what had happened to Angel.