Author's Note: The end is so close I can almost taste it. I have a sizable chunk of what I planned to be the final chapter written, but there are so many plotlines to tie up that I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to do it in two more chapters (or, more accurately, another chapter and an epilogue) I'll see where my muse takes me, but the end is very definitely nigh. And after a year and a half, it's definitely about time. I'm exhausted.
Thank you to everyone who's stuck with me through this long, long tale. The payoff is coming - I swear.
Chapter 35 - Power
"Angel!" Cordy screamed.
The demon was so large that its entire clawed hand wrapped easily around his throat. As a vampire, he was in no danger of suffocating – but given the dangerous look in the Hart's eyes, ripping Angel's head off was a distinct possibility.
Connor, not having the benefits of his father's non-breathing nature, was in even more difficulty. The demon's hand crushed down on his windpipe – literally choking the life out of him.
Cordelia took a deep breath. She could only hope her powers would work when she was in someone else's subconscious. Holding both hands in front of her, she willed a ball of light into being. Hurling it forward with all of her strength, she aimed for the centre of the beast's chest, in the hopes that it would drop both men.
The Hart saw the attack coming, twisting itself away to avoid the blast. The energy ball hit the shoulder of the arm that was holding Connor and the Demon's grasp buckled, allowing him to fall to the floor, gasping as the air rushed back into his lungs.
Without realizing how she was doing it, with a flick of her hand she magically pulled Connor across the room and behind her, before the Demon could grab him again. She had no time to check on him, however, because with both hands now free, the Hart was giving Angel its full attention. Grasping him by the neck with one hand and the shoulder with the other, it was becoming clear what it intended to do.
"I seem to have something you want, Miss Chase," it sneered at her. "You'll submit to me now, or I'll rip your lover in half."
The two armies met with a sickening crunch of bone and steel. Buffy's sword sliced through demon after demon while one eye remained fixed on the Wolf and the Ram – waiting for them to make their move.
It came soon enough – a lightening bolt in her direction. She dove out of the way, barely in time. Instantly, Spike was at her side to pull her back onto her feet.
"Spike! Stop coddling me!"
He scowled at her. "I'm your shadow in this fight, Slayer. Deal with it!"
Ever stubborn, she returned his scowl, but there was no time to argue as more demons were coming their way. Instead, she channeled her annoyance at the blonde vampire into pummeling her attackers.
Behind them, Xander organized his artillery brigade.
"Archers! Fire at will."
A volley shot off into the demon ranks, many hitting their marks.
"Ready with the rocket launcher," he called to Amy, the slayer now charged with their last remaining big gun. Just then, he saw the Wolf preparing to fire another energy bolt at Buffy.
"Amy! Fire!"
The rocket flew straight at the huge demon and detonated. The explosion was immense, but when the smoke cleared, the Wolf appeared unharmed. Its attack on the Slayer, however, had been delayed.
Further back, sheltered from the battle by their lines of defense, Willow, Giles and Dawn sat in a magical circle, as Willow continued to chant, both hands holding the Scythe.
"One no longer – all who can, now possess thy ancient Power. Primal forces of the slayers, rejoined. Combine as one and inhabit the vessels – the chosen two. Let their hands encompass us. Do thy will."
A fierce growl made Dawn open her eyes in panic. Several indescribably ugly demons had circled around the main battle and were headed straight for them.
They got within ten feet of the magic circle, when Illyria appeared before them.
"You must face me, lower beings," she told them. "Try to best me if you dare."
They sprang at her at once, but did not count on her powers as a former old-one. In mere moments, there was nothing left of them and Illyria returned to the frontline of the battle, ready for more carnage.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Willow refocused on completing the spell.
"Spiritus. Animus. Sophus. Manus. May the four elements – earth, air, fire, water – inhabit and bless this magic. Fill the chosen vessels with the Powers of All. They enjoin that they may inhabit the vessel--the hand...the daughters of Sineya...first of the ones... I implore thee, do not ignore my plea, bring the Power to the vessels. Now!"
A swirling light encircled them, spinning wildly. It was as though all the noise of the battle stopped, save for the sound of the whirlwind of magical energy. It spiraled up into the air before seeking out its target – the vessels.
Buffy and Faith readied themselves for the jolt of energy that never came.
Instead, the magicks rocketed towards Willow, filling her completely. With an ethereal glow, she floated a few feet into the air, the look of shock still etched on her face.
"Oh Boy."
The Hart tightened its vice grip and pulled. Cordy could swear she could hear the ligaments and sinew in Angel's arm start to tear. Angel grunted in pain, never taking his eyes off Cordelia, willing her not to surrender.
But she couldn't just stand there and watch as Angel was torn limb from limb.
"No!" she cried. "Wait!"
The Demon paused in his torture of the vampire. "You are submitting, then?"
"I –"
Before she could utter another word, a bolt of energy hit her, circling her body. She rose into the air, glowing and gasping in shock.
"Cordy!" Angel yelled, snapping his head back and catching the demon off guard. Its hold loosened and he dropped to the ground, ready to go to Cordelia's aid. It took a moment for him to realize that she didn't need his help.
Her eyes glowing orange, she locked her gaze on the Hart. When she spoke, she sounded other-worldly, as though her voice had been joined by many others, speaking as one.
"It will be you and your brethren who will submit, Demon."
For a moment, it was as if the entire battlefield had been frozen. Mouths agape, demon and human alike stared in wonder as Willow levitated into the air, pulsating with wraithlike energy.
Buffy and Faith shared a look. This wasn't quite how it was supposed to go down…
The demons were the first to recover, the Wolf roaring a command to attack. They rushed forwards to meet with an army of girls who here no longer Slayers.
Ducking out of the way of a very scary set of claws, Buffy yelled for them all to retreat. She spotted Rona tripping over her own feet in fear and falling to the ground. Buffy grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to her feet, setting off running. She only managed to make it a short distance when something pounced on her from behind.
The hell beast snapped at her throat, ready for blood. Slayer strength gone, there was little Buffy could do.
It was moving in for the kill when it yelped and fell forward, dead, Spike's axe imbedded in the back of its neck.
The vampire pulled her out from underneath the animal and gave her a quick look over. Satisfied she was uninjured, he pushed her behind him.
"Get the hell out of here, love," he ordered her.
Knowing better now than to argue, she took off running once more while Spike and Illyria, the only two remaining with any powers, faced off with the demon hoards. From the back lines, Xander ordered another volley. Two dozen arrows and nearly as many grenades flew towards the enemy lines, helping to keep the demons at bay as the girls escaped.
The shock wore off quickly as the Power filled Willow, taking her over completely. Lowering herself to the ground, she strode towards the Partners. Demons attacked her along the way, but she avoided them like mere disturbances in the air, passing through the battle unharmed.
As she stood in front of her foes, she felt no fear. It was odd, she thought. She was still fully aware of what was going on, but it was as if she were no longer in control of her body. An entity far more powerful than she was now in the driver's seat.
"You think to defeat us, Witch?" the Ram snarled. "You may control powerful magicks, but you are no warrior."
"You are no threat to us," the Wolf agreed. "You are not a Slayer."
"I am all the Slayers," she replied in a voice not of this world. "I am all Magicks. I am your End."
The Wolf quickly became bored and shot a lightening bolt at her. Holding out her hand, she absorbed the energy into herself effortlessly, remaining utterly unharmed.
Reeling in shock, the Ram raised its club and brought it crashing down, aiming straight for Willow's head. With a flick of her wrist, the club crumbled into dust.
Both creatures could not hide their surprise. For the first time, they looked uncertain – even fearful.
"How is this possible?" the Wolf asked.
"You cannot hope to grasp the source of our Power," she replied. "But it is time for me to remove the source of yours."
The Hart rushed at her, but Cordelia was ready. With agility and speed which Angel had never witnessed before, she avoided every punch, every swipe. Leaping into the air, she somersaulted over the demon's head, catching it by surprise with a roundhouse kick from behind. Moments later, with a mere flick of her wrist, she sent it sprawling against the stone wall of the chamber.
Roaring in fury, the Hart leaped to its feet, ready to launch another attack. Cordelia, however, held up her hand and muttered a few words in what Angel guessed was Ancient Sumerian. With a shriek of frustration, the demon was paralyzed in place.
"How is this possible?"
"It is possible because I make it so," she replied. "I banish you demon –"
"No!" it yelled, its fear no longer concealed. "No! You can not –"
"I banish you demon. By the Power of the Slayer and all who wield it. By all Magicks and Nature. In the name of the Powers that Be –"
A wind sprang up from nowhere, whipping past Cordelia and towards the Hart, sweeping up all in its path. Angel ran to Connor, throwing himself down to protect his son as part of the altar broke away and flew across the room.
"I banish you!"
Both demons were paralyzed with just a few words from Willow. Now she stood, hands outstretched, drawing the stolen energy from them. With ever moment that passed, the demons seemed to diminish, growing smaller and less fearsome as the power that had raised them to earth was removed.
"I banish you, Demons," Willow began when she sensed that almost all the Power they had drawn from Angel and Connor had been removed. It was an incantation she had never heard before, but somehow the words flowed from her. The further into the spell she got, the more the fury and the fear showed on her opponents' faces. They knew what was coming…
"I banish you!" she yelled and the wind that had sprung up from nowhere encircled the Wolf and the Ram like a tornado, sucking them into oblivion. A flash of light, an implosion of heat, and they were gone.
Willow now turned her gaze towards the remainder of the demon army, who were collectively staring towards the sky, as though hoping to see where their leaders had disappeared. With the attention of the Witch now upon them, they wasted no time in turning tail and running for their lives.
She watched them go, not moving, as though in a trance. Buffy approached her cautiously.
"Will?"
With an exhalation of breath, Willow sagged, collapsing as the Power left her and returned to its rightful owners. Slayer-speed returned, Buffy caught her before she hit the ground.
There had been a flash of blinding light and, when Angel looked again, the Hart was gone.
"Cordy?"
Getting to his feet, he went to her. She stood in the centre of the chamber as though in a trance. Suddenly, she collapsed as if a huge amount of energy had left her all at once. With lightening quick speed, he caught her.
She looked up at him with brown eyes that were both full of love and exhaustion. When he smiled at her, she was sure that she'd never seen anything so welcome or wonderful in her life.
"Hey."
"Hey," she smiled back. "Let's go home."
To Be Continued...