Angel: The Last Ride
Chapter Five: The Four Seals
"Got it." Faith said as she hung up the phone.
"The Council had the spell to open the gateway?" said Angel.
"Yeah, Willow had the goods. That girl knows her magic."
Angel saw Oz's head jerk up at the mention of Willow's name. He wondered how long it was since he last saw the Wiccan. The vampire took the notes that Faith had scribbled down from her, and read them.
"Right. This shouldn't take too long to set up. Oz, run down to the local magic shop, and get a focussing crystal, and some cloves. Faith, grab some chalk and draw a summoning circle in the middle of the lobby. Spike, just don't touch anything."
An hour later, and the spell was set up. The four heroes stood opposite each other on the circle. Angel held the spell in his hand, while Faith and Oz, facing each other, held incense. Spike was given a bell, and rang it every few seconds. Angel began to chant.
"Phasmatis umbra ego dico. Patefacio porta ut carcer infinitio. Sino nos obduco ut regnum ut habitum quattuor veho. Publicus mihi!"
Suddenly the room developed a large breeze flowing through the halls, centring on the circle. All of a sudden there was a loud cracking sound, and in the centre of the circle, a deep black and purple vortex ripped open. Spike looked at Angel.
"Don't let it be said I ain't a gent Angel. Ladies first.."
Angel ignored Spike's jab, and ran straight into the vortex, closely followed by Spike, Faith and Oz.
The group fell through the portal into the middle of a massive room. Its walls were clad in a dark black stone, which seemed to glow with some kind of otherworldly power. In each corner of the room there was a metal symbol inlaid into the floor. The symbols had been pulled up from the ground. They must be the seals, Angel thought.
"Right, everyone go for a seal. Get there, slam it shut, and then we head back through the gateway. It looks like no one is home.."
"OH, I WOULDN'T BE TOO SURE OF THAT, VAMPIRE" Said a voice that sounded like the echo of time itself, as the speaker stepped from the shadows.
"I was wondering when you would show up, Death." said Angel, as he looked at the entity before him."Where have you been hiding?"
"NOT HIDING, ANGELUS. WATCHING. WATCHING YOU SCRAMBLE TO FACE MY BROTHERS, AND TO SAVE ONE OF YOUR OWN."
Death reached into the darkness behind him and cast a fever ridden Laura onto the floor.
"YOU REALLY SHOULD GUARD YOUR BASE A LITTLE BETTER... NO MATTER, THIS WILL ALL BE OVER SOON ENOUGH."
With those final words, Famine, War and Pestilence stepped from the shadows.
Spike stepped forward and cracked his knuckles.
"Well then.. let's ride..."
Oz immediately shifted into wolf form and launched himself at Pestilence, determined to make the demon pay for what he did to Laura. Faith drew her sword and charged Famine, while Spike and Angel paired off with War and Death.
"Come on then big boy," Spike growled at the advancing War, "How about you dance with the big bad?"
War lashed out at the blonde vampire with his sword, which Spike ducked and drove a knee into the demon's stomach. The horseman backed off but didn't seem affected by the blow. In retaliation the demon lashed out with a brutal backhanded punch, knocking Spike off his feet.
Meanwhile, Faith struck Famine with a vicious roundhouse kick to the face, before following it up with a sword strike down to the neck, which Famine blocked with his sickle. The demon dropped down lower, and took out Faith's legs with a sweep.
Oz was faring a little better against his opponent. The fearsome bestial attacks he threw out knocked Pestilence down to the ground, as he tore into the demon with his razor sharp claws. He intended to make Pestilence pay for every ounce of suffering he inflicted on Laura.
Angel and Death circled each other. The demon's scythe glittered in the darkened room.
"Somehow, I thought it would be me and you."
"YOU WILL FALL HERE, TONIGHT VAMPIRE, AND YOUR FRIENDS WILL DIE SCREAMING."
"Well, is that any way to treat someone who gave you so much business over the years? I mean, a little gratitude is all I ask for.."
Angel lunged at the demon, his sword swinging overhead. The demon moved with such grace, its movements were so fluid it almost disguised the fact that Angel was fighting a walking skeleton. Death knocked Angel to the ground with a sweep of his scythe. Angel looked around at the battle raging round him. He knew the group couldn't stand up against the horsemen for much longer. They were too powerful. They had to close the seals and banish them quickly. He rolled to one side to avoid the follow up strike from Death. He knocked the demon back with a powerful punch. Grabbing his sword, he lashed out at Death. The horseman blocked the blow with his scythe blade, and as the sword made contact with the scythe, it shattered.
"That was my favorite sword, you jackass!"
Angel slammed the sword hilt into the face of the demon, and shoved it aside as he dived for the seal of Death.
"I WILL TEAR OUT YOUR THROAT BEFORE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TOUCH THE SEAL, VAMPIRE."
"Yeah, you might." Angel said as he stood alongside the seal. "But from where I'm standing, you just look like a dead man walking..."
He slammed the seal shut, and Death exploded in a burst of black energy.
Meanwhile, Faith struggled against Famine. The demon had her pinned to the floor, and was slowly forcing it's sickle to her throat.
"Time for dinner, Slayer.." the demon snarled, licking its lips.
Faith fought hard against the monster, but couldn't fight it off her. She felt the cold steel of the sickle begin to press against her throat. Suddenly Famine vanished in a cloud of smoke. Angel helped Faith to her feet.
"Lets help the others."
Faith and Angel closed the seals of War and Pestilence while Spike and Oz distracted them. Not that there was much left of Pestilence after Oz had torn through him.
"Nice job guys," said Laura, "Shame I missed the party.."
They turned to see Laura standing up. They were right, as soon as the seal was shut, Pestilence's plague faded. Oz walked over to her and hugged her.
"I'm glad you're alright."
"Yeah," Faith called over. "It's good to see ya less... septic."
"Come on guys," said Angel. "Let's get home. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm getting fed up with this end of the world crap..."
"Hey," said Spike, "Any apocalypse that doesn't end with me lighting up like a bonfire is a plus in my column.. "
"That is most unpleasant news, Richard."
The Master looked at the vampire messenger with displeasure.
"Now I have to find another way to take down Angel, and I never like that kind of stress. It adds wrinkles..."
"I am sorry Master, b-but I did not fail you. It was the horsemen who-"
"Now, now. If there is one thing I hate more than failure, it's excuses. I think its time you learned how not to say them..."
The Master grabbed the terrified vampire, and forced his mouth open. He reached inside and tore Richard's tongue from his mouth.
"There we go. No more excuses..."