AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you to Siamese for the review! Luckily for you (and possibly some other people) I'm doing the long version. The story won't end on the resolution of the "demon-arc", since my brain is hard at work for what happens after that (if you guys have any wishes, let me know). Now, on with the story!

CHAPTER 15 -SACRIFICES-

"I don't think I know you," Angel stated in a flat voice.

"Of course, how rude of me. My name is Bruce and this here is my brother Bernard."

"I see. And exactly why are you and your..." Angel eyed the Kaliff demons. "...associates, I presume, here?"

"Like I said, you have something that belongs to us." Bruce pointed at Mabon. "That. We'll just take it off your hands and be on our way."

"Mabon doesn't belong to anyone, so just leave him alone!" Fred moved to protect Mabon.

"I would have to disagree, my dear." Bruce pulled aside his long coat, revealing an iron collar hanging on a chain attached to his waist.

Mabon backed away, his eyes wide with fear. His hands went unconsciously to his neck.

Fred glanced back at the elemental. "Mabon?"

Bruce fingered the collar, speaking to Mabon as if only the two of them were present. "You still remember this? You should, it was yours for nearly a century after all. Too bad I never got to see you in it."

"Stay away from me..." Mabon shot up into the sky, halting after he was about fifteen feet in the air.

"So you're thinking about running?"

"He doesn't have to." Wesley took a step forward. "Because I for one will see to it that he will no longer have to fear you."

Gunn, Cordelia and Angel looked at each other and stepped in line with Wesley.

"We'll help."

Wesley smiled at Fred. "What to you think?"

"You didn't even have to ask." Fred loaded her crossbow.

"Very well. Men, attack."

The Kaliff demons charged forward, while Angel and his friends did their best to fight them off Bruce did not budge from the spot where he stood. He had pulled a large dagger out of its scabbard and toyed with the collar. Mabon raised his spear and flung it at the metallurgy demon.

Bruce sidestepped the spear and it embedded itself to the wall behind him. Bruce then took at hold of the collar and threw it in the air, the chain coming just short of Mabon's body. Mabon yelped and floated backward.

Bernard looked up at the desperate expression on Mabon's face and moved before his brother with newfound determination. "Bruce, I can't let you do this. I made a promise, I gave my word, you know what that means."

Bruce smiled sympathetically and laid a hand on Bernard's shoulder. "Don't worry, dear brother." With one switch move, Bruce plunged his dagger into Bernard's stomach. "You won't live long enough to break your promise."

"Bernard! No!" Mabon shifted forward, but stopped the moment that Bruce rounded to face him.

Bruce allowed Bernard's body to fall lifelessly on the ground before it faded away.

The demon kept smiling. "Now look at what you made me do."

"Bernard." Mabon's eyes filled in tears as he watched the place where Bernard's body had fallen.

"My only brother, dead because of you." Bruce shook his head. "Oh well, seeing as he had no heir, all that was his is now mine."

"You bastard!" Mabon's hair went bright blue with anger. He screamed and balls of flame shot out of his hands, hitting Bruce square on the chest.

Bruce chuckled. "Have you forgotten that my kind are immune to heat?"

"Not, if there's enough of it."

Bruce reacted in a flash. His free arm reached out at the closest living thing to him and he pulled Fred in front of himself. "You wouldn't want to scorch her along with me, would you?"

"Let her go!" The air around Mabon was wavy with heat.

"Oh." Bruce smiled. "You care for this human? How would it feel, if I was to cut her stomach open?"

"I'd fly away. I'd fly far away and you would never see me again." Mabon narrowed his eyes, the moment Bruce's dagger had gone into Bernard, Mabon's fear was replaced with simple hate for Bruce.

"Would you?" Bruce moved the blade just inches away from Fred's midsection.

"No!" A huge flame burst out around Mabon's body.

"Didn't think so." Bruce's smile grew, he looked down at Fred's frightened face. "Don't worry, girl, I'll make your death quick. I can't promise it will be clean, but it will be quick."

Fred whimpered and closed her eyes. This could not be it. She had not survived for five years in Pylea to die now. Mabon's soft voice broke through to Fred's hysterical mind, she opened her eyes and saw that the fire around Mabon was gone and his hair was back to normal.

"If you promise that you and your men won't harm her, or her friends..."

"Yes?" Bruce drew the word out.

Mabon hung his head. "I'll come with you... I do not want anyone to get hurt. But you have to give me you word.

"Just like that? Very well, you have my word. I myself or my men will not lay a hand on this human or her friends." Bruce let go of Fred and motioned for the Kaliffs to retreat. "But I think you're selling yourself short, if you don't mind me saying so."

"I do mind." Mabon landed down so that Fred was between him and Bruce.

"Too bad. You won't be in much of a position to object to anything I say soon."

Fred hurried to Mabon and held him a tight embrace. "You don't have to do this."

"I do." Mabon gave Fred a sad smile before burying his face on Fred's shoulder. "You're worth it, Fred. Thank you."

"Please don't go."

Mabon reluctantly pulled away from Fred and was confronted with the rest of Angel Investigations watching him from a safe distance.

"If only I could tell you all how much your kindness has meant to me." Mabon looked at Angel. "Tell them when I'm gone. I'm sorry that I can't be there to tell it myself, but you all have the right to know. I will never forget you."

Mabon turned his back at them and walked to where Bruce was waiting. Angel saw the elemental shiver as the demon placed the collar around his neck. Next one of the Kaliffs cuffed Mabon's hands behind his back.

"Oh, come on! You don't have to do that," Gunn protested.

"I do not need advice on how I handle my property, thank you," Bruce replied.

All the while Mabon stared directly up at Bruce's eyes, Bruce looked down at his defiant prisoner and smiled. "I'm going to love seeing that light in your eyes die."

Bruce gave the chain a sharp tuck and led Mabon out of the court yard, flanked by his Kaliffs. Fred took a hold of Wesley's coat and hid her tear soaked face in the fabric.