A/N: Hello again all! I'm glad you all seem to be enjoying my fic so very much! Keep on reviewing and supporting!
To Chibi-ami: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you think my fic is 'spiffy'
To A Watcher: Cliff-hangers are very fun to write. Sometimes I love to do that to my friends but it never works out well because they try to strangle me. O.o
To Caltimere: Glory the helldog was no typo. My sister and I tend to give people from shows or games nicknames. EX: If you've played Final Fantasy X-2 you meet this really kick-ass awesome guy named Gippal but he did this weird thing with his leg the first time we met him so now my sister and me called him 'Flamingo-boy.'
To White Wolf: okay, here's the chapter you asked for.
To mika: You know that line? I was thinking about it and that's pretty much saying that Buffy knows absolutely NOTHING about the world since Scott is sooo totally clueless where Jean's affections come in to play. ;)
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Chapter Fifteen- Darkness Everlasting"You must be Furia." Buffy drawled, swinging her scythe over her shoulder. She bared her teeth, "Boys over here told me all about you."
"Glad I left an impression." Furia purred and from behind her and Jake, the vampires appeared, "You know what Slayer? I've always wanted to meet you. I'll enjoy ripping out your heart and feasting on it."
"Now, now, sugah." Drawled the right-hand man of Lord Deltoramina, "Ah thought we agreed that Ah'd get to kill the Slayer. Hmm?"
Buffy raised an eyebrow at Jake and said in a lazy voice, "What are you? A Caleb wannabe? Couldn't get the gig as the First's vessel?"
Jake laughed at that, "Caleb. Don't insult me, darlin'. Ah'm much better then Caleb ever was. See, he hated women. I fully enjoy them." With that he smirked.
"Where's Kitty!?" Lance demanded in a snarl.
"Oh, you mean the pretty kitty? Enjoying my hospitality in the gate to Hell." Jake waved his arms to the sky, "Take a long look at your precious sky, Slayer. You'll never see it again."
"Can we get on with it?" Ori asked, her hands glowing from behind Buffy.
"GO!" Furia ordered and lunged forward. Scott was hit hard in the chest by two vampires and was sent onto the floor. Luckily he managed to drag them with him. Kurt teleported immediately and begin to kick his enemies but they were fast enough to dodge him. Ori raised her hands and her vampires were caught in her gold fire but she didn't see the one come charging her from behind. Colossus was dog-piled by ten vampires and even then the big man almost stayed up. His strong muscular arms threw vampire after vampire against the ground and trees. Lance was very careful not to allow the Earth to sake, lest he crush Kitty. Instead he used every basic defense move—and some of his own—Buffy had taught him. And Buffy swung her scythe 'round and 'round, lopping off vampire heads, but they kept on coming; they were an endless supply.
Scott's chest was being crushed by his vampire foes. He tried to drag in air as the vampires clawed at his throat. With a battle cry he pushed them away and lunged to his feet. How do I kill them? Scott wondered in horror as he shut his optic beams in the vampire's stomach. The vampire didn't even flinch as he started to charge Scott again. Scott rolled away from the two vampires. Then Scott remembered. They were vampires! Taking careful aim, Scott shot his red beams directly at the vampires' chests. Their soulless eyes widened instances before they burst into dust. Feeling more confident, Scott moved to take down more.
Kurt was teleporting in lighting speed that would've given Pietro a run for his money. But what frustrated Kurt the most was the fact that no matter how fast he disappeared and reappeared, the vampires were able to dodge him. He couldn't land a hit. Then as Kurt teleported again, he saw Buffy's backpack on the ground next to him. Out of it stuck a stake. Kurt teleported to it, grabbed the stage and shifted himself to the sturdy branch of the tree. One his vampire foes moved under him, he jumped down and plunged the stake in one of the vampire's chest. He teleported before the other one knew what was happening. Then he reappeared behind him and nailed the vamp in the back. Once the vampires were dust, Kurt moved onto the next.
Ori grinded her teeth so hard that she almost feared she would break them. Her hands were as hot as fire as she forced herself to hold the vampires in the air. Their bodies twisted in the flames but they would not die. Time for a different approach, she thought and released the vampires. At the same time she summoned her aurora power in a glowing ball and shot it from her hand. The vampires jumped away and a smoldering hole replaced them. Ori wheeled around and lunged, but the vampires both kicked her in the stomach and sent her sprawling in the ground. Ori jumped to her feet and fired her beams just as the two vampires moved in for the kill. As they turned back to dust, Ori hurried to help whoever needed it.
Colossus had always prided himself on being very strong, but these vampires were overpowering him. Sure there were ten of them and one of him, but it was still shameful. He turned his skin into metal just as a vampire went to sink his teeth into Colossus's jugular vein. Off to the side he heard Buffy cry out in pain and for some reason that had his rage burning. He hated the thought of the Slayer being hurt and it had him pushing all ten of the vampires off of him. At the same time, Kurt threw Colossus a stake and the metal-man caught it. Not even bothering to think about how odd it was that the X-Men and the Brotherhood were helping one another, he begin to kill. When he was done, he turned to see if Buffy was alright and was relieved to see she was unharmed.
Jean stood off to the side off the battle. She felt useless as soon as the battle had started. The vampires hadn't seemed to notice her and for some reason she couldn't make herself move to help anyone, though she desperately wanted to. What was wrong with her? Why wasn't she fighting?
From behind her, a hand grabbed her throat and she screamed as she was dragged against Jake's chest. She tried to twist to punch him, but Jake caught her fist and messaged it.
"Ah like yar hair. Hell fire, it reminds meh off. Howa 'bout ya drop the one-eyed freak and join ma cause?" Jake offered. Jean's eyes narrowed and next thing he knew, Jake was floating in the air.
"Ya're very powerful for one so young, but ya ain't powerful enough." With that Jake raised his hand and Jean was forced back. Inside her mind, Jean dug deeper into her power and forced herself to stay put and keep Jake in the air.
Jake frowned at her, "Let go, sugah. Or Ah'll hurt ya." He warned and snarled when Jean didn't release him, "Fine. Have it ya way." he raised his hands once more and something painful hit Jean in the head and she was falling backwards. Jake lowered gently to the ground as Jean crashed into the Earth.
"JEAN!" Scott shouted and blasted Jake with his optic blast but an invisible force field stopped a direct hit. The fearless leader lunged forward and brought Jean into his arms, "Jean? Jean, can you here me? Open your eyes."
Jean's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at Scott in a daze. Dreamily she put a hand on his cheek and said, "My knight in shining armor."
"Jean." Scott said softly and shook her, though he suddenly wanted to do something very different. But this was neither the time nor the place.
Jean snapped out of her daze and she looked over at Jake, who was shooting glares at Scott.
"So the boyfriend rides to the rescue? Alright ya two lovebirds," Jake said and flexed him muscles, "let's get this show on the road." And Jean and Scott started to fight with Jake.
Lance was having major problems. The vampires were faster then him, stronger then him and very, very evil. Normally, he would've been able to crush the vampires with one stomp of his foot but he remembered Buffy's words about crushing Kitty. The very thought had Lance panicking. So he used every fighting technique he knew, Buffy's training and his own personal experience. The vampires dodged each move easily and pushed him against the ground. They bared their fangs and Lance thought with dread that he was going to dead. His only thought was a pray that Buffy managed to save Kitty. Just as he felt the fangs press against his throat, he felt their dust settle on his skin. Blinking, Lance surged to his feet and faced his savoir.
Buffy's hair was wild and thrown about. Her eyes were glossy from adrenaline and breath hissed through her parted lips. Her red scythe was held high above her head and Lance was struck with the image of a beautiful war goddess, standing over her pray. She was Diana, the goddess of the hunt.
"You… you… ready… to… get… get… the hell-kitten?" Buffy asked between gasps for breath. She felt a smile tug at her lips but she forced it down. She would never tell anyone of the rush she got from fighting vampires, expect maybe Faith because she felt it every time she entered a battle.
When Lance nodded Buffy said, "We go in through the crypt. I saw Furia go in there just a few moments ago. She's up to something."
They moved towards the door when Buffy was sidetracked by Colossus's small cry of pain. Without thinking, she turned and moved towards the big man. She brought her scythe down upon every head she could find and soon she had freed Colossus from his enemies.
Buffy reached down and tugged the big man to his feet, "Come on ya big lug. We'll need you down there. Let's get going."
"What about the others?" Colossus asked as they moved down the crypt.
"If things get rough, Ori will make everyone retreat. This way, follow the light." Buffy said, motioning to the dim glow at the end of the stairway.
"I hope we're going the right way. Who knows what Jake's down to Kitty." Lance said, moving ahead of the group.
Buffy looked into Colossus's big, dark eyes and a silent thought passed through them. They hoped so, too.
Furia sat in a darkened roomed lit only with candles as light. In front of her sat a dark brown-leather book and an out-of-place wind ruffled the fire of the candles. Furia lowered her head into her chest and closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply.
Her head jerked upward and her eyes went black. The wind grew stronger until it had blown out all the candles in the room. An odd glow came from the book.
"Light in darkness." Furia chanted in a deep voice, "Devour the holy light and let darkness insure. Goddess Hecatie, mistress of magick, hear your servant's spell. Cast the sun away from this place and bring the darkness. As I will it, so mote it be."
Furia's head lowered once more and the candles flickered back on and the wind disappeared. As Furia raised her head slowly, as smile twisted her lips.
"It is done." She whispered as her eyes closed. She collapsed to the floor with a thump and fell into a deep sleep.
And above Bayville, the skies turned black and the Earth began to shake.
"I'm getting out of here." Kitty whispered to her herself and raised her wrists. Sweat worked down her forehead as the Shadowcat used all her energy to make her hands slid through the chains. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she managed to slip through and free herself.
Kitty jumped to her feet and instantly regretted it. Her legs were aching, as were her wrists. Those cuffs had been tight. But who knew when Jake was coming back. She had to get out of here while she still could.
So Kitty ran down the twisting pathways of the crypt where she was prisoner. She dunked behind pillars and stones whenever she heard vampires coming, or forced herself to go through wall if there was no where to hid.
By the time Kitty had made it to the middle of the crypt she was exhausted. To weak to move anymore, she slid to the floor. Her body was trembling from the extortion it had taken when Kitty had forced herself to phase.
When I get home, I'm taking a long, hot bath, Kitty told herself. She shook her head suddenly, she wasn't going to get that bath here. Groaning, she pushed herself to her feet, looked at the two pathways she could choose from and ran to the right one.
Kitty managed to make it ten feet before her legs gave way. Trying to stay upright, she leaned herself against a wall. She pressed a hand her pounding heart and drew in deep long breath.
She looked down at her feet and glowered at her sandals. They would slow her down once she got really tired because they were platforms. Deciding it was for the best, Kitty kicked off the shoes and bit her lip when her sensitive under skin was cut with sharp rocks from the ground.
"I… I… have to keep… moving…" Kitty said to herself, "I'm as good as dead is Jake like finds me here." She released her deep breath and began to run again, ignoring the pain coming from her feet as she ran across the rocks.
This time she must have ran for fifteen minutes before she stopped abruptly. But this time it wasn't from exhaustion, but from panic. Kitty was sure she heard footsteps coming towards her! Pain clogged her throat.
Kitty backed away and prepared herself to fight. She was too tired to go through a wall and there was nothing to hide behind. She would have to stay and fight. She'd die fighting. She swore to herself she would not become Jake's prisoner again, no matter what. Death was better.
The footsteps were getting closer and helpless tears formed in Kitty's eyes. She didn't want to die! There were so many things she wanted to do. She was turning seventeen in a month, she had a prom, she was an X-Men, she had friends and…
Lance… she wanted to fix things with Lance. She wanted the friendship she had with him and maybe a little more. She wanted to live and find out her feelings for him. Oh God, help me, Kitty thought.
And then the footsteps reached where Kitty stood and with battle cry she lunged. What she got was big, strong arms and a hand through her hair. In shock, she pressed herself against him and began to sob. She was too happy for words.
"Lance!" Kitty said as Lance Alvers crushed her to him.
"God,
Kitty!" Lance said holding onto her as tight as he could, afraid she'd slip
away, "I was so scared! Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
"No, Lance, I'm fine. I-"
Kitty was cut off when Lance crushed his mouth on hers. One a moan, her hands
reached up to tangle in his hair.
It wasn't a gentle kiss like the ones she had had before, but a furious kiss of emotions. The heat and firmness on his lips had Kitty melting against Lance as if she was boneless. Lance's arms tightened around her as a sound of pure male satisfaction was made deep in his throat. His tongue gentle probed the entrance of her mouth and Kitty opened to him willingly when—
A cough had them breaking apart. Buffy and Colossus stood a few feet away from the embracing teens. Buffy had a half-smirk on her lips while Colossus had a polished unreadable face.
"Sorry to brake up this loving reunion, but we might want to get out of here." As if to prove the Slayer's point, the Earth began to shake.
"Good idea." Lance agreed, grabbing Kitty's hand and pulling her forward. Kitty was too exhausted to even move and she collapsed to her knees, "Kitty, I thought you said you weren't hurt!" Lance shouted in horror.
"I'm not. I'm just like so tired." Kitty said and with a growl Lance hauled her into his arms. Then they caught up to Buffy and Colossus. Together they rushed to the exit of the crypt.
All the while the walls and ceiling were crashing down on them. Lance hunched his back and did his best to protect Kitty.
Finally, they came to the exit door and as relief swelled in the all, a pile of rocks crashed down on the opening. Buffy lunged, as did Colossus, and they tried to push the rocks away. Lance knew he couldn't use his powers or he would make all the rocks fall on top of him. He felt useless for the first time.
"We can't move them." Buffy said, confirming Lance's fears.
Lance set Kitty gently on the floor and said, "Can't you phase us through these rocks, Kitty?"
Kitty looked away, "For some reason, this place takes away my power. I don't think I can get us all through them. I might be able to get one or two people throw."
"You and Lance go." Buffy said, "Colossus and I will find another way out. You better get going. I'm not sure how long these walls around going to hold."
Kitty opened her mouth to argue, but Buffy silenced her with a look. Lance glanced back at the Slayer and the mutant as Kitty took his hand. Concentrating every part of her being, she managed to get herself and Lance through the rocks.
Once the two young teens had disappeared, Colossus said to Buffy, "We're going to be crushed and die here, aren't we?"
Buffy turned away from the rocks and said, "Yeah. You have a problem with that?" she raised an eyebrow to prove her point.
"No, I was just wondering." Colossus said and the Earth gave another violent shake. Buffy could fell the ground begin to creak and open. They were going to fall into hell, she realized.
Buffy turned towards Colossus and said in a distant voice, "Good." Then the Earth gave one more violent shake and the ground began to tear open.
Buffy closed her eyes, said a prayer and threw herself against Colossus. Colossus caught her and held her as they slid into the very depths of hell. Buffy didn't scream, Colossus didn't scream. They just accepted.
That was the life of a Slayer and a mutant.
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Another cliffhanger! But some good to did come out of it. Romance! Kitty and Lance kiss, but am I going to let them get together now? No, of course not. Trust me something will get in the way! And now Buffy and Colossus are… well, are they dead or in hell? You won't find out in the next chapter. In chapter sixteen Takeover Xander's get his turn to tell a tale. With the Slayer… er… gone the Tora-Kone have full control over the city and poor Tabitha Smith is caught in the middle! Can Xander save her in time? This is going to be fun.
"I still miss my Ex ... but my aim is improving."
-Lizzy Rebel