Chapter 6

The Master stepped from the shadows. His bestial appearance thinly disguised a malevolent intelligence. The swarm of vampires parted as he stepped closer to the group. Angel and Spike could both feel the power and control he exuded over lesser vampires, over them. The two Vampires managed to shake off the fog filling their minds and reach for their blades.

"Please." said The Master. "Do you really think you can defeat me here? I have dozens of willing slaves, ready to die at my command. And besides, you didn't exactly put up much of a fight when you faced me in London, did you, Angelus?"

"Managed to get Darla to leave you though. And the name, is Angel."

"Ah yes, I remember," hissed the ancient vampire. "Angel is all that was left after the most delightfully vicious beast I ever met was castrated. That slayer still have a leash round your neck? I notice she hasn't joined you. Shame, I'd love another taste..."

"Go near Buffy," Spike cut in, "and you'll be bloody cat litter before you even open yer gob."

The Master moved so that he faced Spike.

"And who is this? Another of my wayward children I would hazard a guess.."

"Name's Spike. Poet, vampire champion, and soon the guy who killed the bloody Master."

"I like this one, Angelus," said the Master, "He's got fire in his belly. He'll make an excellent plaything for my newest child, when she wakes up.." The Master motioned towards Talia's corpse.

Laura gasped. Faith looked at Talia's body and noticed the blood on her lips. He had forced her to drink.

"I'm so excited to see what happens when she wakes." the Master said with a smug, vicious grin on his face. "There's never been a slayer-vampire before. This should be interesting, don't you think?"

"You bastard."

The team turned to see Laura standing there with her bow loaded and ready to fire, aiming directly at The Master.

"How dare you!" Laura snarled. "As if infesting normal humans wasn't bad enough, now you go and poison a slayer with your filthy blood. You're gonna pay."

"I think you should put your toy down little girl. You'll only hurt yourself.." The Master mocked.

"Shut up and die!"

As she spat out the last, venom filled syllable, Laura fired an arrow directly at the Master's heart.

Everything started to happen as if in slow motion. Angel and Spike dived at the vampires in front of them, as Faith lashed out with her sword at the nearest bloodsucker. Wherever Illyria's fist landed, a vampire's head exploded into dust. And the arrow flew straight at The Master. Laura watched as The Master stared at the arrow sailing towards him, not even attempting to move. She had done it! She had killed one of the most powerful vampires to ever exist, and hadn't even broken a sweat. As the arrow reached The Master's chest, Laura watched on, grinning. That was for Talia, you son of a...

He dodged. The Master sidestepped the arrow a fraction of a second before hit slammed into his chest, plucked the arrow from its flightpath, and threw it right back at Laura. She watched, rooted to the ground in shock as the arrow flew back at her. She couldn't move. It was as if she was mesmerized...

"Laura! MOVE!" Faith screamed from across the room, running towards her. That snapped her out of it. She jumped to the side, but she was slightly too slow, and the arrow thudded into her shoulder.

The Master looked at the young slayer laying on the floor. As she got up he shouted over. "I told you, you would only hurt yourself..."

"We have to get out of here!" Angel yelled. "They're too strong!"

"No arguments here!" Faith shouted back. She turned to Laura. "Head for the door, make sure its clear. I'll be right behind you!"

Laura made a move for the exit. As she fell back she watched the others slowly giving ground to the vampires, and she saw The Master in the background of it all, standing next to Talia's body, his arms folded across his chest as he watched the battle with satisfaction. As Laura reached the doorway, she saw out of the corner of her eye Talia's body begin to rise. The warrior woman had turned.

"Laura! GO!" yelled Faith, as the rest of the team reached them. They sprinted through the doorway, and made for the surface. When they left the tomb, they made a dash for the car they had arrived in. The had to get back to the hotel. They needed to contact the council to see if they had any ideas.

"Shall we follow, Master?" Hissed a large and very ugly vampire.

"No, there's no need my loyal servant." said The Master. "The sun will be up soon. And besides, I'd like the newest addition to our family to lead the next wave, and she needs to be at full strength for that, don't you my pretty?"

Talia looked at the Master. Her body was still scarred by the runic symbols cut into her during the ritual, and her formerly striking features were now twisted into the face of a demon.

"As you wish, Father."