"Buffy, I don't understand" Joyce stood in the main living room of the summer's house, her hands on her hips.
"Neither do I" the slayer looked to her mother, "But Giles is researching it now, he said he was onto something"
"Well then I'll wait till he explains everything " she stood her ground, Buffy's mother knew all too well what dangers her daughters job entailed, but she was not comfortable about leaving her on her own, slayer or not.
"Mum, these vampires, their dangerous and they don't even need invitation to enter your house, please mum"
"No"
"But..." they were interrupted as there was a rap at the front door. Buffy pulled a stake from her pocket as she went to it and opened it cautiously.
"Angel" she cried as his face met hers. He smiled at her, but the grim look on his face stopped her from smiling back.
"It's bad isn't it" she opened the door wider to let him in, as she noticed three other figures walking towards the door. Giles, Wesley and Cordelia.
"We met Giles on the way here" Angel said, "He and Wes have been talking all the way here, whatever's up, it doesn't sound great"
"Angel" Joyce greeted the vampire, "It's nice to see you again"
"And you too Joyce" he shook her hand, "I'm afraid we've been having some trouble with these vampires in LA too"
"I see" she guided him and the others into the living room and offered them a seat. "Anyone for tea?" There were a couple of pleases and thank you's and she went off into the kitchen, leaving them to discuss the current situation.
"Ok what's the deal" Buffy turned to the two watchers who were both looking closely at a book. It almost amused the slayer, the two of them looked like a couple of young boys plotting some conspiracy, but there was not time for humour, this was serious.
"Well we're not entirely certain this is exact" Wesley looked up, "The answer was in the codex"
"But Giles has the..."
"I was robbed" Giles interrupted, "when I went back home the vampires must have made another visit, the codex was gone, along with several other of my references" he sighed to himself, he'd lost quite a few books.
"However I have a few transcripts from the codex including the extract Giles had just reached" Wesley added, "we worked through it on the way here. I have to warn you, it isn't entirely exact"
"Just get to the point" Buffy was becoming impatient, "Whatever it says just say it"
"The extract roughly translates as the following" Giles began. "Out of the second world, seven shall rise, and those about the slayer shall die. All shall be taken from her, vampire, Wicca and Watcher, while others maimed, most shall die, and from the portal, the Master shall rise."
"And in English?" she added.
"What its saying is that the master shall rise again," Wesley frowned in deep thought, "The seven vampires are sent to rid the slayer of all her allies, we're working on the second world bit, the only guess is that there is a second Alternate world, that was created, in which the Master yet lives"
"And so he can get here?" Buffy asked, feeling rather overwhelmed with information.
"If he opens a portal he can" Giles answered, turning back to the book. "But if we destroy him I believe any spells these vampires have performed will be reversed, like Anya's blindness"
"OK, I need to take this all in" Buffy paced back and forth. Joyce returned with a tray of mugs and tea and placed it on the coffee table.
The slayer then stood perfectly still, then she turned to her mother. "Mum get behind the sofa" she said.
"What? Why?"
"Because we've got company" Buffy looked to the window, the shadows of seven figures dominated the space. "Angel, go and get my bag of weapons" The vampire disappeared from the room. It had been a while since he had visited the summer's home, but he hadn't forgotten where the weapons were kept.
There was a crash, the window shattered and a rain of arrows filled the room. They all dived for the floor. Buffy pulled her mother behind the sofa and told her not to move. A second wave of arrows rained down.
"Flaming arrows" Wesley observed one hit a curtain sending flames shooting up.
"Angel hurry up" Buffy shielded her mother. As if on cue, the souled vampire's form stormed the room, crossbow in one hand and bag in another, shooting bolts at the intruders. He dropped the bag in the centre of the floor and the four of them scrambled for weapons. Cordelia opted for a hefty crossbow, using the furniture as a shield she began to shoot bolts. Giles chose a battle axe and Wesley a short sword. Both watchers stood in union and joined Angel in the battle. Buffy was not far behind, sword in one hand and dagger in another, it was proved earlier, stakes were no use here.
The vampires had already spilled into the main living room, some welding swords and blades, others bows. "Stakes don't work Angel" Giles watched as the vampire released a bolt and it pierced the heart of the nearest enemy. "My only guess is old fashioned beheading" The watcher added, feeling bemused. He blocked a blow and swung the axe, missing the vamps neck, only to receive a violent backhand which sent him spinning backward. Buffy stopped him from falling, and pushed in front, welding her sword with precision and speed. It was no lie, these vampires were strong, in the normal way, a slayer, two watchers and a vampire would be no match for seven of them. Hell even Cordelia could dust a few vamps on her own now.
The gang fought for several minutes, but the vampires were gaining the upper hand. Much of the furniture was now in flames, if they didn't get out soon they would risk burning alive. But the battle then suddenly took a turn. Wesley, struggling to fight of two vampires at once, took a strike from a blade, tearing into his arm and he lost his concentration. Stepping back, he failed to block incoming swings. His head came into contact with the blunt side of an axe and he reeled backward landing on the smouldering carpet. Cordelia pulled him away from the line of fire, as arrows rained again.
A sudden intake of breath caused Buffy to look behind her at the older watcher. His wide eyes met hers and he dropped to his knees. Clutching a hand close to his shoulder where an arrow was now protruding from.
"Giles" Buffy pulled herself backward towards him. He struggled and pulled himself upright gritting teeth against the waves of pain.
"Buffy?" Angel's voice now. The slayer turned back to him, in the desperation of the moment, Angel had been left to fight all seven vampires at once. Buffy tore her eyes from her injured watcher and back to the battle. She fought back desperately. Giles was at her side axe in hand, dealing some blows. But it was useless, Angel was trapped and slayer and watcher couldn't reach him. Buffy watched helplessly as the vampires pummelled and overwhelmed Angel, sending him to his knees, to her surprise though, they didn't stake him. To her horror they slung a rope around his neck and dragged him toward to widow and outside.
"No!" she fought on in vain as they pulled him through the window. Giles went down as the arrow was ripped from his shoulder. He rolled on his side groaning in agony at the fresh wound now bleeding though his sweatshirt. The vampire holding the arrow laughed sadistically and punched Buffy clean across the jaw. She jolted backward and saw stars, landing on the floor a few feet behind she looked up. The vampires were gone, and Angel too.