"So, what cemetery are we looking for anyways?" Faith asked.
"I don't know. Cordelia just said 'the cemetery'. With so many people dying daily here in Sunnydale we can't make do with just one. Maybe we should call back, see if she can get anything else out of the vision."
A bolt of blue energy shot up towards the sky in the distance. It crackled in the air for a few seconds before dissipating.
"I'm gonna pull a guess out the air and say that's the one we're lookin' for." Faith said. "You think that's our guy?"
"Only one way to find out." Buffy said.
The two of them took off towards the nearest cemetery, where the crackle seemed to have came from. It was the same cemetery Spike had taken residence in. When they got up to the front gate, they found it already open. Buffy walked in first, Faith following closely behind. They snuck through the graveyard. Faith grabbed Buffy's arm and pulled her back.
"Buffy, look." She said, pointing.
Up ahead, was Matereani, in the flesh….and metal. He was standing near a grave, whispering something that they could not make out.
"So what's the plan?" Faith asked. "I mean, do we just go out and start throwing down, snatch his dagger, kill him, and leave?"
Buffy thought for a moment.
"Pretty much."
She walked up ahead, exposing herself.
"You look lost." Buffy said. "What happened? Did Laibach leave you in the dust this time?"
Matereani stopped his chant and turned to her. Faith came up from behind her.
"The Slayers." he said in a deep, throaty voice.
"Yeah, that's us." Faith said. "So…how are things? Haven't seen you around in awhile."
"Laibach is a fool. He has deceived me and gone about his own way to bring about the destruction of the earth. He has become powerful over the years since the witch sent him away, back to his home realm. I've come back to control him."
"To stop him from keeping the power to himself, you want power too, blah, blah, blah. Can we just skip to the fighting now?" Buffy sighed. "Skip the 'bad guy tells why he shares a common enemy' cliché. We've looked up on you, and I'm pretty sure you're not here to help me after driving that candlestick through your abdomen. Me and Faith, here, are here to kill you because your friend Laibach has been pretty much making this day miserable for us all. And we here you have just what we need to stop him."
"Buffy!" Faith yelled suddenly.
Buffy spun around just as Laibach gave her a strong punch in the chest that sent her flying. He turned towards Faith and fired a glowing red sphere. The projectile flew towards her. Faith ducked out of the way as it barely missed her, striking the ground where she once stood.
"Take care of the Slayers all you like, Matereani." Laibach said. "I destroyed the talisman in hopes of getting rid of you. But since you're here, at least make your presence profitable. Perhaps I'll have a bit of power in store for you if you participate in their demise."
Buffy sat up painfully. She looked over at Laibach as he turned into a puff of smoke. A black cloud hovered above the cemetery and began to take off. Buffy stared, unsure if she should chase after him.
"Buffy, go!" Faith yelled. "I'll take care of the dagger. Stop Laibach from getting in the way."
"Are you sure you can handle it?" Buffy asked.
"I've fought girls in the yard that look tougher than this guy. Just keep Laibach busy. I'll meet you up there later."
Buffy gave her a respectful nod. Faith nodded back. Buffy jumped to her feet and ran out the cemetery. She turned towards the direction Laibach's cloud went, giving chase.
Faith stood in front of Matereani, fearless. She had total confidence against Matereani. She had defeated him before. Matereani suddenly leaped backwards, floating in mid-air as he extended his forearms. He glided up to the top of a mausoleum.
"Aw come on. I thought you had learned your lesson last time. What you didn't get enough of an ass-whooping or something?" she taunted.
Matereani said nothing. He just stared down at her and smiled. Faith began to feel a little nervous.
"What, got nothing to say? Huh?"
She knew it was bad if they didn't talk trash because that meant they wouldn't bluff.
Out of nowhere she was slapped from the back. It was then she remembered where she was. She turned around, fist ready and swung at the zombie's head. The head exploded into viscous matter. The zombie's body fell limp to the ground. The ground beneath her began to ease as another zombie worked his way out of its grave. She waited until it stuck its head out the ground and she goal kicked it off the zombie's shoulders.
"...And she scores!"
"You think you can just mock me like that." Matereani said.
He raised his arms stretching his fingers wide toward the sky. He was struck by lighting and he redirected it into many fragments with his fingers. All the rays impacted the ground as more zombies began to emerge. Faith was surrounded.
---
Angel watched in the corner as the rest of the gang set up the spell. No one even seemed to notice he was there except for Fred, who would look up at him from time to time, grinning. She was a real sweet girl. Angel had taken a liking to her every since he ran into her in Pylea. She seemed to seek comfort in him. She had been following him around a lot since he brought her back.
The furniture in the apartment had been moved around in preparation for the spell. Cordelia and Xander were pouring salt down on the carpet, and shaping it into the Tedarke symbol. It wasn't all that big, but it was big enough to where Willow could sit in the middle of it. Giles and Fred were setting and lighting candles around the symbol, while Willow was studying the incantation. Spike was standing behind the counter, sipping on a cup of pig's blood.
He couldn't help worrying about Buffy. Although he was sure she could take care of herself, especially with Faith at her back, he couldn't stand sitting there like this. He could at least help with the spell, but there was nothing for him to do.
"This is just bloody terrific." Spike said. "We should be out there. Not sitting here like a bunch of sodding wallflowers."
It was like Spike was reading his mind. He thought for a moment.
Maybe I should just go out there and help them. Who cares what Buffy says? Whatever happens to me beats the hell out of sitting here, waiting for something to happen.
"Then let's go." Angel said.
"What? You heard what Buffy said. We go out there, and we're dust."
"See? I told you you're always drooling behind her. Following everything that she says."
"Like you're one to talk!" Spike retorted. "If remember correctly, you were the one following behind her like a bloody puppy dog before you left. Even then, as soon as she calls you, you come running out here the first chance you get."
"I was in love with Buffy. I still am, and you know that. What's your excuse, Spike?"
Spike remained quiet for a moment, then sighed.
"Let's get out of here." He said.
"Hand me a sword."
Spike grabbed a sword over by the chest. They headed for the door.
"Where ya going?" Cordelia asked.
"We're, um…going back to my crypt, hang out a bit." Spike said.
"With a big ole sword?" Xander asked.
"Yeah, just in case we run into trouble along the way." Angel answered.
"K, have fun." Cordelia said.
"Bye, Angel." Fred said, waving.
"Bye."
Angel and Spike headed out.
---
Buffy continued running down the street, the dark cloud still floating up ahead. Laibach must have known she was chasing him, making sharp turns and shortcuts to try and lose her. She ran into several demons along the way. She rushed past them, determined to keep Laibach from getting to Willow or finding a way to prevent Faith from getting the dagger.
The cloud reached the front of the broken down building of Sunnydale High, and disappeared. He was going to the Hellmouth. She ran inside. She walked through the rubble of the halls of the high school once passed. So far, no sign of him.
She walked into the library, glancing around. She quieted her breathing, using her senses to look out for any shift in the air, a footstep, anything.
A hard blow suddenly struck her in the back. Her body flew through the air, smashing against the wall on the far side. She felt something in her back pop. She clenched her teeth in pain.
I gotta stop falling for that.
She sat up, and placed her back against the wall, turning to face Laibach. He stood in the center of the room.
"Slayer." He said, glaring at her.
---
"Did she even say what cemetery?" Spike asked as they walked.
"Nope. I didn't even think to ask."
"So where in the bloody hell are we walking if you don't even know where to go?"
"Just shut up and follow, Spike."
"Which one are we going to?"
"Whatever one we run into first." Angel answered.
"You don't know where we're going, do you?"
Angel stopped suddenly. He had a weird expression on his face.
"What?"
"Do you smell that?"
Spike smelled it too.
"Blood." He answered.
"It's coming from over there." Angel said, nodding towards the construction sight they were standing by.
"Yeah, well there have been several killings in the past hours. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a few people who were just unlucky tonight." Spike said.
He tried to walk ahead, but Angel stopped him, holding his hand out.
"Let's go check it."
Spike sighed.
"We don't have time for this dross. You got me out here, so let's go find Buffy."
His words fell on deaf ears as Angel leaped over the chain fence of the site.
"Bloody hell." Spike said. He followed after him.
Spike caught up with Angel off to the side of the building, right by a large garbage bin. He was kneeling over something. Spike looked down to see two corpses slumped on the ground. Both of them appeared to be night watchmen.
Angel turned the head of one of them over. Two little bloody holes were in his neck.
"Vampire." He whispered.
It was then Spike noticed a shadow dart across the unfinished building up above.
"What is it?" Angel asked, standing up.
Spike held a finger up, and started walking towards it. Angel followed behind.
A figure suddenly landed in front of them, and kicked out at Spike just as he turned around, causing him to fly backwards.
"Spike!" Angel yelled, as he started to give chase.
A sharp pain erupted from his chest, and staggered against the building. He looked down to see a stake planted in his chest, just above his heart. He looked up just to catch a blow to the face as another figure elbowed him in the chin. He fell onto his back. The figure planted their foot onto his stomach, their sharp heel digging into him. He looked up at the figure to see Scylla glaring down at him, the same vampire that Buffy encountered at the mansion when Angel had been kidnapped by Spike. Angel and her had never met, but Buffy described her well enough for him to recognize her.
"Angelusss." She said in a snaky, seductive voice. "Sssso glad to finally meet you."
She reached down and grabbed the stake, yanking it out. Angel screamed out at the searing pain. His features contorted into his demon form. He grabbed a hold of her leg and pushed it off. She stumbled back, but regained her footing. Angel jumped up and faced her.
"The pleasure's all mine."
He gave her a quick jab to the face. Scylla hissed and came back towards him. He gave her a few more quick punches, striking her in her chest.
Spike felt his ribs crack as he landed on the hard ground. He coughed painfully and wrapped his right arm across his chest as he looked up to see his attacker. To his surprise, there stood Malik. Spike had ran with him the last time Laibach was in town. Apparently, the sod was immortal too. Spike remembered killing him after he attacked Buffy a few years back.
"Good evening Spike. I want to thank you for killing me earlier, such a release. Allow me to return the favor."
"Piss off!" Spike yelled.
Malik picked Spike off the ground, raising him above his head. With little effort, he threw Spike into the building. Spike crashed through the wood frame, landing painfully into a stack of lumber.
Spike struggled to get up. It felt like every bone is his body had broken. He almost felt like giving up right there, but there was no way in all hell he was going to do it.
Spike's face morphed into its vampire features. He jumped up from the ground, and turned towards Malik. To his surprise, Malik wasn't there.
"You trying to pull a fast one on the Big Bad, eh?" Spike taunted.
He reached down a picked up a shovel that was lying on the ground. He walked out of the building and looked around. Angel was up ahead, struggling with Scylla. Apparently she had showed up too. They had gained immortality after working with Matereani to gain control over Batal. Not that they didn't already have it, being vampires and all. But Spike heard that once they died, they would be sent to the realm where they would remain. But because of current issue with Laibach returning, they were free.
Spike looked up just in time to see a giant cat leap from the top of the building. Malik had morphed into his animal form. Spike ducked out of the way, dodging the attack. He stood up to face Malik just as he disappeared. Malik suddenly reappeared in front of him, and smacked him with a huge paw. Spike fell backwards. Smacking his head on the ground. He watched as Malik came in for the kill.
Angel came in with another jab, but was caught off guard as Scylla grabbed his hand, and came in with a swift head butt. Angel stumbled back, just as Scylla jumped up and planted both of her heels into his chest. Angel flew backwards, crashing against the dumpster. He watched in horror as Scylla's features began to contort. Her mouth widened, and he body began to lengthen. Her legs blended together and stretched, becoming serpent-like. Her whole body was that of a huge snake, save for her upper torso which remained intact, and her claw-like appendages. Angel reached behind him and took out his sword. It was about to get messy.
---
Laibach turned around to one of the walls. One of the loose pipes began wiggling in its spot. Buffy knew what he was about to do. She was already on her feet as the pipe loosened from its place on the wall and came sailing in her direction. Buffy rolled out of the way. The pipe missed her by a mere inch, and went into the wall near which she once stood.
Buffy found her throwing knife on the ground where she rolled to. She must have dropped it when Laibach performed that sneak attack on her. She picked up the knife, and threw it in his direction.
Please let it cause some damage to him.
The knife suddenly froze in front of him, spinning in mid-air. Laibach jerked his head, and sent it flying back towards her. Buffy reacted quickly. She performed a roundhouse kick, her foot connecting with the knife as soon as it reached her, knocking it out the way.
A bright red glow emitted from Laibach's hands. He shot his hands forward, sending a sphere of energy towards her direction. Buffy jumped out of the way, as it struck the wall behind her. Part of the wall came crumbling down.
Another red projectile was fired at her, but Buffy wasn't so quick. She hadn't had time to register the second attack before the ball smashed into her gut. Her legs buckled underneath her and she fell to the ground. Her whole body felt numb. She began twitching uncontrollably.
Suddenly, she felt her body being lifted off the floor, and tossed across the room, hitting the far wall. Buffy screamed out in pain. She felt another magnetic tug at her body, and she was shot up into the air, hitting the ceiling. The ceiling crumbled on impact and came crashing down. Buffy fell along with the rubble. Wood and concrete landing on top of her.
She sat there painfully as Laibach smirked and made his way over to her. She was finished.
---
Faith stomped on top of the fallen zombie's spine, awarded with a soft brittle snap. The zombie moaned, and effortless attempted to grab her ankle. She kicked out at it. His torso went flying, crashing into another group of zombies that were making there way over to her.
Faith reeked of death. So far, she had taken out over half a dozen of them, and at least a good four dozen were still making their way over to her. She had dropped her crossbow somewhere, and there were too many zombies to go off looking for it. Up above the roof of the crypt, Matereani stood hovering, watching as Faith struggled.
Faith felt a sudden blow to the face. She stumbled back and faced her attacker. It was another zombie. He appeared to be a bald, middle-aged man. Faith could tell he died recently. There was hardly any signs of decay save for the rotting flesh that hung from his neck. The zombie held a bony leg of another corpse in his hand.
"Gross!" Faith yelled.
Faith punched the zombie in the face. The zombie moaned and advanced towards her quicker. She came in with another blow, but was surprised when the zombie managed to block the attack. He grabbed her arm and drew closer to her, opening his rancid mouth and reaching towards her throat. Faith was just about to counter with a head butt, when suddenly, the zombie's head snapped and fell to the ground. The zombie lost its grip, and fell limp to the ground.
Matereani stood before her. She had little time to react before he planted a hard kick to her chest. She flew back, smashing into a gravestone. Faith laid in the grass, clenching her teeth at the pain, as Matereani came at her again. He gave another hard kick to her ribs, causing her to spin the air, and land on her back. He advanced towards her, but she rolled out of the way and jumped to her feet.
"It's about damn time you came down here." Faith said.
She kicked at his head, causing him to stumble back. Matereani growled in rage and threw his fist out. Faith ducked underneath the blow, and gave him a strong punch to the chest. Matereani flew backwards smashing into the mausoleum wall.
Faith ran towards him, and came in with another strong punch. She screamed out in pain as her knuckles slammed into the hard concrete wall. She felt a sudden tug at her hair, and she was jerked down. Her head cracked into a large gravestone. Faith's vision blurred. An intense pain shot out through her face and started spreading across her body. She fell to the grass limp. She could feel herself drifting in and out of consciousness. She saw a blue blur up above, figuring it was Matereani as it watched the zombies advance towards her.
---
Angel charged, sword ready. He swung the blade towards the snake, ready to slice her in half, but she was too quick. With one swift swipe, Scylla knocked the sword out of his hand.
Scylla gave another quick swipe, catching him in the face. He flew backwards, landing hard on his back. He glanced over just in time to see her advancing towards him. He tucked into a roll and ducked out the way as she came charging.
Spike landed hard on the ground. It seemed like he was doing that a lot lately. He looked at the shovel to see that it was broken in two.
Just was I needed.
Spike leaped to his feet just in time as Malik materialized in front of him. Spike ducked down, dodging a swipe, and drove the makeshift stake in his heart. Malik screamed out in pain as the stake buried into his chest.