For Good or Bad, The Memories Remain.

Chapter 32

Disclaimer- I don't own Buffy, I just use her in my writing, just for fun, never for profit "Because that's wrong!"

Spoilers- mid 4th season then everything takes a left turn off the charted path

Rating- May get to R eventually

The combat was all jumbled, filled with blood, tears and fire. Willow was hit with a bullet in the opening salvo, and crumpled to the ground. Buffy dropped Sasha's limp body to the ground to have some chance of putting up some struggle. She had the iron stake from Sasha's chest in one hand and her short sword in the other. She accounted for quite a few bodies. The few demons stayed further back and let the vamps do most of the dieing while they worked their magics and such. Buffy had lost herself in the pure rush of unrestrained combat, a no holds barred fight for her life. She knew that she couldn't win and she was determined to take as many of them with her as she could. She had been a captive before and that though terrorized her more than dieing did. She still had Sasha's blood all down her chest from where she was carrying her and it was caked in vamp ash. She never noticed. She felt the unmistakable swell of powerful magic in the air and feared that the demons had finally completed the ritual and tapped into whatever evil they were attempting to do. She spared a glance in the direction of the bone numbing cold of summoned magic and stumbled in shock. Willow was floating ten feet in the air, she was wreathed in black flames, surrounded in a dark nimbus of magic that formed what appeared like wings of some great predatory bird from her and caused her jet black hair to float like a dark mockery of a halo around her head. A deep arcane command ripped forth from her, freezing everyone in their tracks, demons, vampires and humans alike. Several humans floated into the middle of the clearing, struggling weakly until they spotted Willows flame enshrouded form. Then the wailing frantic struggles began, along with some seriously wet trousers as fear claimed their bladders. Willow descended to the ground and slowly walked over to the humans, still surrounded by the dark flaming wings and halo. The voice that came from willow sounded like nothing she had ever heard from her friend.

"You dare interfere with me! You insignificant little creatures! You let yourselves be manipulated by Radimer to do his dirty work! He would have killed you when he was done, that's his way, it's what he does. You had the chance to live a hundred lifetimes, see so much good, and here you are trying to kill the very people who help hold back the evil in the night! That will be the last mistake, for I AM the evil in your night." She makes a gesture and the 5 humans drop to their knees, arms pinned at their sides. In Willows hand appears a sword of infinite darkness, its blade seeming to drink in the very firelight illuminating the scene before her. Buffy looks on in horror at what is going on. She has seen the magical effect other times, and knows it's source and the sweet seduction of its raw power and purity of purpose, but she had never before seen it from this point of view, always it was around herself, extending from her arms, and wrapping herself in its cold fire. Her lips mouthed the words even as Willow pronounced them.

"Behold! I AM the Angel of Death! And I have come to claim your souls!"

To Be Continued

All Reviews Welcome

A/N: Anybody still reading?