The Late General Hughes
Chapter 5: General Hughes, I presume?
By Claudius
Mrs. Hughes and her daughter had gone to bed, presuming the others had done also. Yeah right.
Upstairs in the Hughes house, Dawn roamed the long corridor, unnoticed by everyone. For once, she allowed her anonymity. She wasn't the priority right now, even if that priority was her plan. Elysia is going to meet her father again, even if it was going to be goodbye. The pleasure of bringing that child some happiness did not save Dawn from some personal weakness. At least Elysia still had her family. Dawn's own Dad may be absent too, but her own mother is really dead. Buffy too. Oh well. Dawn made that reassurance with the levity of stone.
She wandered near her hostess' bedroom. When last looked, Mrs. Hughes was asleep in her bed. Dawn's direction turned to the next door: Elysia appeared to be equally asleep. A little farther, along a balcony above the hall stairs, were the guest rooms. In one, Tara and Willow were making their major spell, though not without argument. Tara had doubts about using magic to force people into doing something. Willow cheerfully argued this spell was 100% completely not wrong. They weren't forcing people to fall in love or become slaves. They were just giving nature a little nudge. If storm clouds were coming, then what was so wrong about making it rain sooner? As usual, Willow got her way.
And now it was time for Mr. Hughes to make his appearance. Since the house was still his, he could enter it any time he wanted without an invitation (and so can any other vampire). Dawn heard footsteps to the other side of the hallway, far back to the kitchen stairs. There came Cordelia and…Hughes? Dawn paused at his entry. This wasn't part of the plan. She had made sure Elysia's window was unlocked, only to see Hughes take the back door! But there was no time to complain, so she kept quiet and got to the fulfillment of their plan.
Hughes looked nervous. His jaw was covered with marker lines. If that was supposed to be hair, he better keep the lights off.
"Ready?" She whispered.
Hughes shook his head in silence. But he entered his daughter's room nevertheless.
"Elysia…"
The child's small eyes slowly opened. She saw the shadows of her toys making black things. Dark, scary things. She wished her mommy was with her in bed. She might go to her bed right now.
"Elysia…"
The girl saw the voice coming from the dark. There was a new shadow, bigger and giant. A strike of fear threw the girl back into her bed, covering herself in protection from the evil things outside.
"Don't be afraid."
Elysia heard that voice before. Fear was overwhelmed for curiosity. The blanket came off her face. The light through the window showed part of a man. The darkness could not keep her from recognition. "Daddy?"
The man nodded, sitting on the bed.
All fear vanished from the child's heart. Elysia flung herself onto her daddy's stomach. Her embrace was accepted by his big arms, which wound tightly around her. Perhaps a little too tight. But her daddy was strong, and it is her daddy! Not buried in ground but with her! She gave a flood of words. "Oh daddy!/I'm so sorry, daddy!/I don't hate you!/I love you!/I don't really want that Bear!"
One arm was released, its end planted on the girl's soft head. "Look at you. You've gotten so big."
Gracia was surprised at her father's kind face. "Daddy, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you go away."
She expected anger. She got nothing but joy. "You're not the one who's sorry, sweetie. Your daddy was awfully mean yelling at you. Do you think you can ever forgive me?"
"Yeah!" Elysia squeaked out loud. She had found a new wonderful day that eclipsed the other ones. Her happiness protected her from the sad eyes upon her father. "Does mommy know?" She began to break free to inform her.
"Ssh!" Hughes asked in a whisper.
The child paused. Her happiness hit a block! "Why daddy?"
Hughes' lips trembled, trying to say something. But he finally said it. "I have to go away again."
Elysia's smile fell. "Won't ya come back?"
Hughes folded his lips. Their opening was negative. "No."
"No…no!" Inside herself, the girl grasped for something steady from this horrible mess. She couldn't find it. Outside she grabbed the only thing. "Don't go! I don't want ya to go away! I'll be a good girl! Wait an' see!"
In close embrace again, Elysia didn't see the face above her, its mask falling apart. The calm face was gone. Eyes lids crushed against his cheeks, flowing out water. "I'm afraid it's not my choice. Nothing else could keep me from you."
"But I love you, daddy."
"Ditto. But I still have to go. You have to be a strong girl for your mother now. Please look after her…for me."
Even for a child, Elysia's bright mind made her understand these words she didn't want to hear. "But who's gonna look after me?"
And in that tortured male face of her father, strong eyes glared from their wet-stained lids. "I will. Even though you won't see me, don't forget that I will always be there in you."
Elysia held tight to her father, in the unfortunate crossroad of accepting goodbye or refusing it with all her heart. Suddenly she began to feel very sleepy. She resisted but for a moment. Her arms slowly fell from their points of affectionate attachment. She would fall too if not for her father's secure embrace. Now it was Hughes' turn to let go. He didn't. The time came again. Still he refused to let go. Even though his experience showed life as unfair, the thought of leaving his child was a new precedent to that rule. There had to be another way! Knowledge snapped inside his gloomy state. If what Dawn said was true, then maybe Elysia can be with him forever…
And never grow up? To never find love and have children of her own? To never walk in the sunlight ever again?
Finally, Hughes gave all his strength against the darkness that fueled his departure from his daughter's life. Slowly he broke the embrace. He lifted the child back into her bed, pulling the covers over her. He lowered his head, sickened by the very thought sprung from a saddened heart (and his new nature). "Bye bye, Elysia." He kissed his daughter's forehead; a cold kiss made by a warm heart.
Cordelia was in the room during this scene of farewell. She looked cautious. Hughes glared accusation at her. For her suspicions, and its convictions. "So this spell…it's now working?"
"Sure. Both your wife and child are sound asleep." Cordelia gave a whispery assurance. Through hair samples, Willow and Tara cast a sleeping spell on the owners. "Nothing will wake them up until morning. Permit me to demonstrate." She let out a big voice. "The Greatest Love of all, is happening to me..."
The off-key singing stunned Hughes and his sensitive ears. Gracia wasn't exactly a singer either.
"Stop singing!" Dawn yelled in her entry. "It's Gracia!"
All three ran into the hall to see Gracia on the floor, motionless but very living. Maes came first to her side. Before he realized the dangers, he gave her his usual touch. Nothing wrong, save for a lack of consciousness.
"She came to me, asking why I was up," Dawn explained. "Then she got silent. I think she heard you."
Maes tensed at the possibility averted.
"Well, Willow and Tara's spell saved us." Cordelia gave a confident air. "We'll carry her back to her room, and she'll think the whole thing a dream."
Before the girls could react, Hughes scooped Gracia into his arms.
"Hold it!" said Cordelia.
"I can handle it," Hughes said.
"That's not what I meant…"
"I can handle it." Hughes gave a sharp repeat. That was the end of the argument in his view. He walked to the bedroom with his wife delicately held in his arms. Dawn led the way, opening the door. Cordelia followed, clutching her Tazer. They watched as Hughes brought his wife to the side of the bed.
Maes arose to his feet, immersed in thought. It seemed beds were always important for him and Gracia. The sickbed when he first saw Gracia (as best he could despite his once-limited vision). The bed they picnicked on in his apartment. Each further bed they used (whether for sex or not) increased their feelings for each other. But in the end, he didn't die on a bed but at a telephone booth, thanks to a bullet drawn by someone with this woman's form…
Hughes remained standing before Gracia, an actor to a sleeping audience. And what a speech to give her! He wanted to say the worst things, condemn Gracia for making him her slave, for weakening him, for leading him to his death. But her smell stopped him. Her sleeping beauty stopped him. The memories they shared stopped him. And the feelings he still felt, despite all the rage, the bitterness, and the betrayal he received for it. Not Gracia's fault.
"I'm sorry, honey," Maes let out a voice that showed a man very much in love.
And with that as a final answer, Maes Hughes turned away and left the room.
Cordelia kept her serious watch. That was all anti-climactic. Not that she wanted an ending straight out of a horror flick, of course, but how about another kiss? She gave Hughes her stubborn, authoritative look. He responded. "You don't look a thing like her."
Cordelia paused. "Thanks, I think."
Maes turned away from the hallway. A back stairway that led to the kitchen became his path. Dawn followed. It was a slow movement. Maes would leave a place that meant so much for him. More memories followed. The day he presented the house to Gracia. The stairs that he climbed, carrying his new wife. The bed he shared with her, wearing pajamas (or nothing at all). The dining room table he celebrated parties, reunions, and birthdays. The couch where he first met Elysia. The birthdays, the anniversaries, the times of fun, of happiness, of pain and enduring love. But it is a place for the living now. New memories will be made here, but without him.
He heard singing. His own voice.
Lorne sweated in the living room. He couldn't help repeating Murphy's Law. Dawn's plan had every chance of becoming Godfather Part III. Let's see: Maes could freak out his daughter, causing Mrs. Hughes to come in and get equally freaked out, leading to some awkward situations that Noel Coward could never dream of. Or Maes could take out all that anger on his wife…
This demon really needed a Sea-breeze, but apparently the Hughes kitchen took its advice from Mother Hubbard in terms of ingredients. Okay, so what is so wrong? The Sea-breeze was half-full too. He trusted Hughes, as much as one could trust a vampire who beheaded him and knocked him out. The guy was just a confused vampire, another Angel. Only this Angel used him as a punching bag for those confusions.
And then singing attracted his ear. A good voice. As he came closer, confusion came to Lorne's horned head. Hughes was supposed to be upstairs. But unless his demon eyes were lying, there stood another one in the front hall! From his hiding place, the Pylean took study of this twin. He sang some lullaby, showing him to be in a good mood. Too bad Maes Hughes never thought about a career in showbiz!
The mirth ended when Lorne caught the figure's soul. He knew everything. With a chilled resolve, he retreated to the shadows. Leave this to the others.
"Lorne?" an approaching Dawn asked. She too shared his sight and confusion at this stranger. Not so the Hughes with her.
Lorne shushed Dawn as silently as possible.
Lorne and Dawn remained hidden from the stranger's view. Cordelia was not so lucky.
She saw Maes Hughes come up the stairs. Forget something?
But female intuition demanded her discovery of something off with this visitor. This Hughes wore different clothes, had a much better beard. And the reflection on the mirror didn't hurt her suspicions either. All the puzzles fell into place. Her premonition was coming true.
Pod Hughes spotted her. "Hiya, dear." He waved his hand and glinted a smile.
Hearing this, Cordelia decided to play the part. "Oh honey! I thought you were dead."
"Nope," This Hughes bent his head with wonder. "You don't seem convinced."
Cordelia increased the cheer. "Oh of course, I am! Why, you're as real to me as this reflection!" She pointed to the mirror with a smile. "And what a nice reflection it is! Let's go downstairs and talk."
'Hughes' protested. "Hold it. Let's talk here."
Cordelia gulped any fear and waited for the payoff.
"Give me a hug!"
"I…don't think so," Cordelia mixed mirth in her refusal.
'Hughes' arms lowered. "What's a matter?"
"You know me," Cordelia bubbled for nonchalance. "It's the time of the month. Let's go back downstairs."
"But dear," his gentle voice carried an iron to Cordelia's ears, along with the vise-like grip to her arm. "Let's talk now."
"Um, sure!" Cordelia agreed.
'Hughes' snorted his nose. "So compliant. Figures." His empathic face became darker. Not vampire-darker, as Cordelia noted to herself, but Angelus-in-human-face-darker. At least this wasn't Angelus talking to her.
"Yes, dear?" Cordelia obediently agreed, still playing the part.
"You always were worthless."
"I suppose," Cordelia backed away in catering to this impostor's words.
"Always doing what I said," he snickered contemptuously. "Humiliating yourself for me. Ironing my underwear. What a bitch."
In a snap, Cordelia stopped acting. "Excuse me?" Her temper rocketed.
"My bitch." 'Hughes' lips devilishly pronounced his words.
"Now listen to me…" Cordelia mimicked his tone with equal cruelty. "I'm not some Stepford wife here. Bitches got more respect than that, and I'm one vicious bitch! You know what, you're not my husband at all. You must be one of those morphing demons. Y'know, the ones who take other people's forms to hide their own loserness!"
'Hughes' smile became crooked, his grip tighter. Cordelia maintained her posture. Okay, so dressing down the monster won't work this time. So she thrust the Tazer straight into 'Hughes' arm. Its zap contorted him all the way down the stairs. Then Cordelia fled the opposite direction and to the guest room. "Elysia, stay in there!" She made a quick and loud lie. She slammed the door with hopefulness of distraction. Wait until this Mighty Morphin Demon Ranger gets a load of the untold power of Willow!
That was her thought, unfortunately, when she found Tara and Willow fast asleep. "Hey, guys, this is no time to take five! We got a demon for you to zap!" Cordelia tried to pull the dresser in front. The noise of her voice nor the sounds of the moving dresser did nothing to alert the two sleeping lovers.
By now, the Homunculus wore off from the stun. Little insect had a stinger. The insect will soon perish. Serpent-like, the Hughes impostor leapt a great height to the balcony. His hands spread around the door's wooden frame, aided by a creepy smile that promised retribution. "Let me in, honey!"
"Is that the best you can do?" Cordelia cried. "No shape-shifting demons allowed!"
"Shape-shifting demon?" 'Hughes' pretended insult. "Well, perhaps I am." Though disguised, the impostor spoke in true character. "Yes, I'm not really your husband. He's dead. I saw to that. Y'know, he begged me for his life!" Each word gave a mirth that could chill the hearts of any human. "Oh what pathetic words the worm gave me. 'Please, Please…"
"Forgive me, but I have a wife and daughter waiting for me back home."
A voice out of nowhere, 'Hughes' eyes popped like a blossoming flower. He turned around.
And thus two personas bearing the form of Maes Hughes now met. One surprised, the other calm on the surface. One wore a military uniform, glasses, and a convincing beard. The other had only the glasses. He wore above his pants a wifebeater-undershirt. Old scars sprouted from his exposed skin, with his chest bearing a ghastly wound that once felt a bullet. He toted his push-knife, "General Hughes, I presume?"
A knife materialized in the impostor's hand. He lunged out his attack. His real one parried the blade with his own. Another attack was equally blocked.
"You're really off on the impression." Hughes disarmed his opponent of weaponry. But the impostor let out a quick lunge of his foot that sent the Vampire back. The Homunculus-Hughes' face increased in ugly destruction. His knuckles produced three knives.
Stunned by this sudden ability, Hughes still avoided each weapon's flying deadliness.
"Homunculus?" 'Hughes' darted to his model's direction.
"Not quite," Hughes jovially fought back. The impostor instinctively backed away in avoidance. But the dodge was specially made against a human, and Maes Hughes was more than that. 'Hughes' realized that error via a quick, powerful punch to the face. With further use of new strength and speed, the real one clutched his doppelganger's neck. Blazing emotions showed in his face: A sagging brow, yellow eyes, skeletal cheeks, animal teeth, and an animal's roar.
Surprised at this expression (among other things) 'Hughes' transformed as well. His legs reeled back in the space before his opponent. Their release thrust Hughes to the wall. The vampire quickly shrugged off his own injury. He raised his eyes and saw the Homunculus' new form, just like Edward's description: Long, wild hair held up by a headband atop a leaner, scantily clad form. He is Envy, the shape-shifting Homunculus.
Envy gleamed a sinister smile that showed the cruelty in his heart. "What third-rate alchemy brought you back?" Envy's preferred form smugly stood before his victim. "You're still too sickeningly human."
"Thanks," Hughes readied for another stance with his knife. But Envy changed his form again.
"Remember me, dearest?" worded someone that to Hughes was beauty itself. Actually, it was the form of Cordelia Chase, but it was a close resemblance despite earlier words to the contrary. And Hughes found himself frozen again, vulnerable to 'Cordelia's' deadly kick. He flew from one side of the hall to the other.
"As fucked up your face is, I can still see that despair." The shape-shifter's amused recollection grew louder as he came closer. "How will your wife's face look? Perhaps I shall tell her why you died."
Hughes shied away from his opponent's appearance. No one else shared his reluctance. One person watched with venomous eyes that demanded retribution.
"Hear me, Mrs. Hughes!" He cried out. "Your love killed your husband!" The Homunculus' mouth enlarged for laughter.
"Leave them alone…" Hughes spoke words in whispered growl. He faced his murderer, new facets coming on his demonic face. "One finger on them…" his fanged mouth flapped dangerously, "I'll kill you!"
And the laughing stopped. What did Envy see in those eyes? The evil within Hughes' soul? The desperate but determined fury of a father? A combination of both? Whatever the change, Envy suddenly felt intimidation. Already in disguise, he hid such fears with bravado. "Really? You and what army?"
"Me!" Cried Dawn, intervening between the two beasts with a poker.
'Cordelia' laughed again. He came to a sudden stop, followed by an inconceivable affliction flooding his entire body; the agony so strong that it stiffened him completely. This followed by Dawn's crushing blow.
The Homunculus staggered to the floor, getting more assaults by Dawn. Hughes poured all his strength to pull her away from the danger. But Cordelia entered the fray. The Homunculus rattled by her Tazer's touch.
"Let me go!" Dawn struggled.
"No way!" Hughes carried on. "Monsters and kids don't mix."
"That's a Ho-monkey, right?"
"Homunculus," Hughes corrected.
Meanwhile, Envy received the full wrath of Cordelia. "Get…Off…My…Face!" Her assault sent him to stagger, quiver, and curse. These blows hurt. They really hurt. But the affliction ceased. He could move again. His bottom torso twisted upwards with legs rotating like a wheel, knocking Cordelia off her feet. The Homunculus was on his own standing in seconds. With renewed glee, Envy's disguise expressed abominable things never thought possible by the face of Cordelia (at least in Cordelia's view; Dawn and Hughes thought Envy made an accurate interpretation).
"Stupid insects have lost their bite." 'Cordelia' disappeared back into Envy's preferred form, death his intention. Cordelia spotted her Tazer at the other end of the hall. Dammit! She began to crawl toward the guest room.
Envy walked after her, able to outpace his victim. He still felt pain on his back, but it was no worse than the earlier agony. Before he began to recognize the reason, a poker protruded through his neck.
"Good aim!" Dawn spoke of Hughes' throwing ability.
But it appeared the impalement only served to bother Envy, not bring him down. He pulled the bolt out. "Ugh…T-That didn't work last time, Hughes."
Dawn got nervous. "So, Maes, do you have any idea how to kill a Ho-monkey?"
Hughes jerked his face to his surprisingly unknowing ally. "I thought you knew!"
"Nothing kills a Homunculus!" cried Envy in robust health. "I'm immortal!"
"Just like the Master, like Mayor Wilkins." Cordelia arrogantly made her corrections. "And we made their immortality shorter!" She got Envy's full attention. "Um, when I said 'we,' I meant I just watched."
Envy came closer to Cordelia's slow retreat. He looked ready to stomp a bug. His speed, however, was too late for a string of lightning that blasted him to the other end of the hall.
From the guest room,Willow came out. Eyes blackened, wind blowing through her hair. Her movements lacked any contact with the floor.
"So this is the famous Willow," Hughes found his watch grow with awe and fear. This girl resembled Schieszka.
Envy tried to make clarity of his jumbled sense of mind and body. What, another Alchemist?
Even Cordelia was impressed by Willow's sudden elevation in the last two years. He (or she, whatever) was in for it now! The woman chortled in vengeful righteousness. Envy was going to get the bibidi-babidi-boo!
And then Willow collapsed. At that, Cordelia let out a forced giggle, reinforcing her victorious poker face over such a poor and predictably tragic change-of-events.
"Wow," Envy claimed. "That went nowhere." He was at full standing again. "Now it's my turn."
"Really?" Cordelia replied half-heartedly at her position for the Homunculus' attention.
Quickly Envy found himself in a headlock. Will this freak ever give up?
The Homunculus now in his control, Hughes flung the both of them off the balcony. The impact was unavoidable, nor was Hughes lucky with the wooden handrail he crashed through in destruction. A spoke found its way through his shoulder blade, very close to his heart. But such weakness did not deter Hughes' hold with Envy. "You won't kill anyone again!" screamed a 'Grrr' faced monster that bore a compassion his kind severely lacked. Twice supernatural fists pummeled the Homunculus.
"I'll do what I want!" Envy pulled most of his body free. His feet rammed upon his captor for complete freedom. Kicks that hit like a sledgehammer fell on Hughes, his face muscles getting pounded out of place. "And you can't do anything!" The Homunculus cackled wildly, proceeding in his foot assault. How long will this worm bother him? Until his daughter is safe?
Thinking that thought, Envy's stamping grew intense.
He then became aware of another presence in this room. A green man with horns. This man backed in protest. "Oh, hi there!"
"Hi, yourself." Envy stopped his torture, moving closer. What a funhouse this place is!
"Uh, bye now!" Lorne turned. His escape found Envy blocking the way.
"And what are you?" Envy was curious.
Lorne tried to be inviting. "Oh, you wouldn't want to hurt a harmless demon like me?"
Envy grinned like a happy child. Definitely not out to make nice.
Lorne tweaked his collar in desperation. "Hey, we can get along can't we? Demon to demon? I mean…we both come from the same tree. Lousy family life…"
Envy's happy face dissolved. A meek Lorne set out for a line of recovery. "But I understand! Sure, so your father Hohenheim abandoned you! Sure, he had those two other sons …and this isn't working, is it?"
Envy's face drained into a meaningful glare. "How do you know?" Each word gasped with a care of violence. Lorne made his own gasps.
"So that's why you're called Envy," The bruised Hughes cried out, getting attention (Allowing Lorne to go straight out of sight). He attempted a calm voice. "Never sing before a Pylean demon, idiot. So…Hohenheim…That's a rare name around here…are you an Elric brother too?"
"The first." Envy proudly scowled at his family station. "And I'll remain the only one, after I destroy those bastards and everything they've brought to this world!"
"Like my daughter?" Hughes' tact faded, creating a face that rivaled the Homunculus in spite. "You hateful bastard."
"Spare me the fatherly love," Envy shrugged, undaunted by this paternal display. "If you really cared for your child, you should not have meddled in my business."
Hughes swamped with pain both in mind and body. But concern for pain was short before his familial instincts. What Envy said was true. But it came from an abandoned child who refused to understand. If he didn't hate the Homunculus with every bone in his body, he would feel sorry for him.
"Like your dad never meddled in yours?" Hughes made do with some resourcefulness. He pulled himself back up, pain filling like electricity. "That explains all the transforming. Can't deal with the real you?"
"I don't remember…" snapped Envy.
"Can't or don't wanna?" Hughes' cruel human face could be a good model for Envy to use. "I think it's the latter. Poor Hohenheim. You for a son."
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Envy roared his wish defiantly. He now will commit his wish. He dived his foot mightily. Hughes could not avoid it.
But the kick was interrupted. The front door came open. A figure darted into the scene. Envy saw this and took care.
"Hullo," said the figure in black. His wardrobe and blond hair resembled Edward Elric, but he was much taller. "Miss somethin'?" His words were excited; his tone the opposite.
Hughes studied him with his pain-addled eyes. This newcomer resembled Kimbley, but with a despair the Late Crimson Alchemist could never give.
Envy was up to his own tricks again, looking like Cordelia again.
"Please save me!" 'Cordelia' cried. "That monster looks like my husband!"
Hughes growled again.
"Don't worry missy," Spike touched the woman's shoulder, promising safety. He felt something wrong with that, and it wasn't from himself. But he did face the vampire. "Spike!" cried the voice of Dawn, approaching the room. "She's a demon!"
"Run!" a staggered Hughes cried for the poor fool.
"Feck off!" Spike thrust toward the vampire, but he made a soft (ever so soft) elbow jab at the 'woman' behind him. Nothing.
Spike now turned to the 'woman.' "You ain't human." His discovery turned with a jerking squirm, as a long blade ripped through his chest.
"So what?" The 'woman' changed faces, bearing happiness over his first murderous act this night. "Of course I'm nothing like you!"
Hughes tensed at Envy's new victim. Dawn was indifferent as she pulled the spoke off his back.
Envy's eyes glared upon his witness, his blade hand closing away from its prey. Now he walked over this victim and to his new ones. "Now where was I…?"
"You are about to get your ass kicked." Dawn expressed righteousness.
"I've had enough of your attitude, child," Envy used a calm voice this time. Didn't mean any quarter, though. One step closer and he froze, feeling the affliction again.
Also for the second time he heard a voice from behind. "I'm not human eyther."
Reaction was slower than Spike's fangs ramming straight into Envy's neck. Now it was Envy's turn to cry. He had a shared guest in that horror. Hughes' nerves danced at this sight. And that face this Spike gave. And yet, all that red blood…
Envy jabbed Spike off before he got company. He clutched his wounded neck. Was this beast actually drinking? That was a stupid question.
"Bleah!" Spike made some revolting spit takes. "Here, what kinda blood is that?!" He spit again. It wasn't even the oaky taste Lorne had.
"That's a Ho-monkey!" cried Dawn.
Spike got the true idea, but it sounded good. "Didn't know Hos had monkeys!"
"Homunculus, you worm." Envy removed his hand from the wound, now completely healed. He lurked around his opponent, studying him. The latter stood tall and proud, ready to rumble.
"I'm a Vampire," Spike demanded correction. It wouldn't change the fight at any case.
"I really have no time for a freak like you," Envy spoke with boredom. "I have to kill that freak's daughter."
"Really?" Surprise opened Spike's face. "Can I watch?"
"Spike!" Dawn shouted.
The light dimmed from Spike's face. "'Right," he spoke dimly and unconvincingly. "You shall kill her over my…whatever."
"Okay," Envy smugly skipped his brutal dance. "I'm so over you worms!"
"Same here," Spike was indifferent. "You included."
And Envy found a punch to his face, with the hitter swinging around to throw another punch.
Envy ran his foot. Spike's clasps of hands blocked it. This clasp reversed to serve the Homunculus a haymaker. Spike than threw his leg. His weapon fell victim to his foe's grip and contempt. So this worm thought himself a master of foot combat? "Pathet-…"
Envy didn't finish that line as Spike rotated himself, giving Envy a taste of his other boot.
The Homunculus recoiled and lurched like an animal on guard. "Nice trick," Envy rubbed his cheek and bloodied mouth. He was pleased. It had been centuries since he really could fight someone. He moved to somersault. But his leg got grabbed. By Spike's control, Envy hit the table face first. The novelty was fast going away.
Spike leapt. Envy spread and closed his legs like scissors, pinning Spike's neck. The captor swung his captive's head to the floor. Spike felt pain, but he accepted it. Maybe this will jog that bloody chip out of his brain. However, a few more repeats of his head being a ram convinced him to reject this plan.
"You're no fun!" Envy gleefully made his critique.
"That's because it's me who should be having it!" Spike grabbed both of Envy's feet, giving them a quick twist. The headlock was broken as Envy temporarily shirked from this injury. With anger did he kick Spike backwards, but the vampire had grappled his skirt when it happened. He was still holding it in his distant position. The next thing he saw crushed his mouth in suppressed laughter.
Envy grew enraged at this mirthful response. "What's so funny, worm?"
"Nothing, Ken." Spike staggered in laughter. It was unconvincing, but the impact was potent.
"Don't laugh at me!" A savagely distraught Envy began to pounce.
Spike faced the assault without cowardice. He felt a long wooden beam connected to the wall behind him. The subsequent freedom of that beam, the swing Spike put into it, and its subsequent impact sent Envy's head to a twist as unnatural as himself. He rotated it back as he got a remark.
"Vampire 1, Homo 0."
"Now it's my turn," Hughes jumped into the scene, knives in hands.
"No, Uncle Hughes," Spike spoke simply, swatted his vampire 'uncle' away. Then he resumed batting Envy.
The onslaught hit every nerve in Envy's thoughts. Causing pain to lowly lifeforms was a pastime he enjoyed. Getting pain from lowly lifeforms was not. Was the death of a stupid little girl worth this challenge? A thought of Edward Elric and all doubt was destroyed. Rage gave his resolve. "Enough!" He grabbed the beam and separated it into a flurry of wood chips and splinters. "I will not fall to you filthy humans!"
His opponent was equally disturbed. "Oh for the bloody last time, I'm not a feckin' human! I'm a vampire!"
"Whatever," Envy smiled. "The Master will think…"
"'Scuse me, Master?" Spike interrupted the boast with a mocking tone. "You're somebody's flunky?"
"I'm no one's flunky!" the Homunculus hollered with saliva-spewing fangs. He punched Spike in the face. Its pain was obvious but insufficient.
"Oh sorry," Spike faked his apology, "Lackey!" He met Envy's fist. Still the bruised vampire responded with a chuckle. "Master's bitch!"
"You know nothing!" Envy wildly gave his smug declaration. "Entire civilizations of humanity were destroyed in my wake!" He shouted a smug declaration.
"Bullocks!" Spike looked dumbfounded at this achievement. "That's so…"
Envy grew prouder.
"Lame," Spike was to the point. "Since when is it so hard to do in a human? Have you ever fought gods, demons from other dimensions, slayers, vampires? No?" He surmised in a rising state of rage. "So, please understand why I'm not giving you the 'shaking in my boots' impression you desperately wanted to see to boost your self-esteem, dickless!"
Hot insanity grew in Envy like a cloth touched by a glowing poker. Didn't protect him from Spike kicking him away.
"You've gotta raise your standards."
Hughes recovered from that blow. He had been recovering a lot tonight. Didn't keep the healing from hurting like hell. Did the Homunculus suffer the same way? Good.
The optimism lasted for a second. Hughes' resolve had taken as much a beating. He always had been second best. In his living years, his skill with push-knives was masterful, but paled against people who can use swords, guns, auto-mail, and alchemy. As a vampire, he thought he got some leverage. Better survival from blade and bullets, greater speed and strength. But No! Here, he gets upstaged by blondie here!
Perhaps being lower wasn't such a bad goal, the vampire wondered on a dark thought that paralyzed him. The dark terrible face of Spike got first chair. Just think what that might mean! Not to mention his temptation to munch on Envy. Thoughts to a new destiny that he could reach burdened him immensely. And what did Spike mean by Uncle?
Hughes pressed against these troubling thoughts. The illness in character faded to a strong resolve. As a soldier and a Vampire he had failed. As a father he will not!
So Maes Hughes slowly came up the steps. He hadn't seen the others since Spike entered the fight. He found an empty hallway, with rooms just as barren. Where…Of course!
As the downstairs battle with Envy began, Cordelia stayed upstairs. So far, humankind was not faring so well as the mortal-impaired. She remembered Tara's words that this dimension made magic difficult to use. That spell she cast with Willow must have left them really exhausted. Well, so why couldn't this dimension do wonders on her vision-feelings?
But that was not the important thing right now (and sadly not the reckoning she had for Envy for his impression of her). If this Demon Battle Royale was going the way the previous ones went, Gracia and Elysia had to get out of this house immediately. That meant some major crutch-duty was required and fulfilled. So Cordelia, Dawn, and Lorne (who was almost out the back door when Cordelia stopped him) had the duty of spiriting away one adult, two teenagers, and a child. Cordelia pulled Gracia outside. Lorne, since he was a demon, struggled with Tara and Willow. Dawn had the easy job carrying Elysia.
Soon they were outside. "Do you think anyone will hear?" Cordelia asked in amazement at the quiet environment surrounding the house.
The window shattered. Everyone stilled, uncertain about defense. Fortunately, no one's head was popping out of the window. So the relatively safe caravan looked for a car.
They found it halfway on the lawn. Spike's stolen car evidently. Knowing him, the lack of keys was not a problem. A success confirmed when Cordelia heard the ignition.
"Great!" she snapped with joy.
The car backed away, breaking through the garage door in the process.
A figure charged in front. Scream time!
It was Hughes. He got into the car, close to widow and daughter. "Not going back in there," his reply was not a coward, but a protector.
"Fine," Cordelia was impatient. Once Dead Boy Jr. made his addition, Cordelia hit the pedals. The car careened out onto the road.
Dawn handed Hughes his shirt and coat. He didn't wear it, too busy being beside his sleeping wife and daughter. He looked back at the mess they left behind in his house.
"Don't worry, Maes." Dawn attempted some consolation from her front seat position. "Once Spike starts something, he won't finish until he's done."
"With exception to the gazillions times he flunked killing us." Cordelia spoke her mind, getting a scowl from Dawn.
But Hughes was not interested on Spike solving the problem. "I may be new to the monster thing, but won't he go out and kill somebody?"
"Envy's not our problem right now."
"I was talking about your friend Spike."
"Don't worry about that," Dawn's faith persevered. "He has some chip in the brain that gives him pain if he so much comes on to a human."
"Okay." Hughes rolled his eyes to the bizarre adventures of these people. At least he held Elysia in his arms again.
The sound of a car alerted Envy's lost senses. His realization was slowed by that creature's kick, but it came anyway. He ran to the window, slamming it open. A car was fast on the road.
They escaped. That meant something that Envy could not abide. His attention was no longer on this opponent, but on others. Ones who can't fight back.
"Where d' ya think you're going?" Spike ran forward. "There's no refund from the 'ass-kicking' health club!"
But Envy's direction could not be changed. He leapt out the window, with Spike following. However, Envy transformed into a raven. With a curse, Spike could not. He fell and hit the ground. All right physically, but disappointed. So the fight ended. "Pretty anti-climatic," Spike pressured for the humor, but the despair that still affected him. Guess he'll have to rejoin the gang with his...
They took the bloody car!
Driving to the hospital (the best idea right now), Cordelia looked to her ever-reliable sanctuary of humor. Nice carpool we have here! The living, the dead, the demons, and the witches, and whatever Dawn is supposed to be. From the look of it, Mrs. Hughes and her daughter were the only humans here (not forgetting herself, of course).
Hughes kept silent. Elysia lay upon his chest, a black coat wrapped upon her. His eyes twitched everywhere in near paranoia. No Homunculus would ever get near her again. He hated running away from Envy. But if that monster escaped, it didn't take much to know who his target will be.
"How far to the hospital?" Dawn asked.
"Eh?" Hughes' trance was broken. "Uh, a few more blocks."
They passed by a lane, and a lonely pedestrian.
Suddenly the car stopped, driver and shotgun-seater looking at each other. "Did I just see Xander?" Cordelia asked for confirmation.
The car made a reverse. Sure enough, the pedestrian looked like Xander.
"It could be Envy in disguise!" Hughes spoke with caution.
But Cordelia was unshaken. "No way he'd morph into Xander." There came no further second opinion, so the car pulled up to the boy.
"Cordy? Dawn?" Xander came to utter elation.
Hughes cringed. This man looked like Roy!
"Xander!" Dawn screamed. "We've just fought a shape-shifter."
Xander backed away. He raised his head upwards, bent his arms, pointing his hands left and right, and jigged. The Snoopy Dance did its work.
"Yep!" said Dawn with relief on this confirmed stance of Xander Harris. It also vanquished Hughes' fears. Roy would never do a crazy dance like that! Pity he had no camera.
Xander went into the back of the car, making himself fit. "Willow? Is she alright?"
"Yeah, it figures!" Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Xander defended himself. "This place has been tiring her out," explained Lorne.
So close to him, Hughes was amazed at this young man's resemblance. Pre-war Roy.
"You smell," Cordelia added the insult.
"Got out of Third Reich central through a garbage truck." Getting seated, Xander noticed the three new guests. "Hi! Cute kid!" Xander boyishly waved. "So who are they?"
Dawn was awkward in reply. "Uh, the Hughes family."
"Hughes?" Xander got concerned. "Are you guys okay?"
Dawn nodded uneasily. Hughes was perturbed.
"Spike's taking care of things."
"Oh," Xander morosely calmed to the plan of leaving the world-saving to that guy. "Leave it to Brit boy to kick the ass out of that Hughes monster. Bet the freak's dust by now." He looked to his side, where the guest stared at him funny.
"Xander?" Cordelia's reply was calm, ready for the confirmation of his stupidity. "That freak's…"
"How did you know I was a vampire?" said the person in question.
"Well Angel told me he vamped this guy named Hughes..." Once realization hit, Xander's explanation too died out. There was suddenly a great amount of sudden face changes. A halt of breath struck all (with one going through the motions).
Xander directed all his confusion into anger. "Okay, did I miss a few episodes, or what?"
"Xander…"
"I mean, didn't we used to dust the dead boys? Now it's 'Join the Scoobies!'"
Cordelia gave fire to fire. "So how's your relationship with the vengeance demon?"
"Ex-vengeance demon."
"Going to variety now, eh?" Cordelia was just getting warmed up. "First was that giant mantis substitute teacher, then that Incan mummy girl…"
"Angel turned me into a vampire!?" Hughes shouted like a volcano that smoldered, boiled and erupted.
"Relax," Cordelia found the shit hit the fan.
"You knew?!"
"Well…only five hours ago," Cordelia attempted to save face.
"News to me…" Lorne tried to protect himself.
There came to all a struggle to suppress the chaotic incantation: At least things can't get any worse. But the essence was enough. A loud sound hit the roof, followed by two feet on the front fender.
"Sorry for leaving you in the lurch!" Envy gave his malevolent tone. "I'm back!"
Sure enough, the inside of the car made some screams, especially when the right front door came off. Envy now smiled before this cargo of future corpses. First was the insolent girl who hit him with a poker. His long hand grappled Dawn out of her seat and belts. Cordelia hit the brakes. The inhabitants above came tumbling off the hood into the pavement.
Dawn found she wasn't hurt much. Her eyes checked her new surroundings; right on top of Envy. One scream of horror later, she arose at record time, hoping vainly that her captor was not fast enough to grab her. Then came the surprise: Envy was not attempting to grab her. In fact, Envy didn't seem to be doing much action lying there. His face looked like something his victims might express. What's his problem? Dawn's eyes saw the necklace dangling over her shirt again.
"Dawn!" Hughes gently gave Elysia to Lorne, than ran like hell to Dawn's side, noting her bruises…the blood. He then saw Xander quickly pull the girl away. No fan of vampires, was he? But Hughes' bloodlust was tempered as he turned to Envy's strangely uncharacteristic stance.
Xander turned to Dawn. "Are you okay?"
"Better than our demon is," Dawn weathered the shock of her near-death. But she too studied how paralyzed Envy looked. Did he break his spine or something? Then she remembered Envy freezing before Spike chomped him. He also seemed easier to beat with her poker. "I think I might have something to do with it."
She got free and moved closer to the Homunculus, again ignoring the words of her elders. Envy's statuesque position was nothing to the painful shock on his face. "Impossible…" he squirmed.
Hughes too was beginning to follow Dawn's idea.
"Maybe it's my Key energies, or something in me," Dawn sprightly theorized. "Some kind of Anti-Ho-Monkey repellent."
"Or it could be that medallion," Xander pointed out.
"Oh…okay," Dawn was a little disappointed. She took off the medallion, lowering it closer to the demon. She got the right effect.
"So, the Ho-Monkey's got a weakness too!" Hughes grinned at the new advantage given to the gang.
All Envy could do was glare. "You think yourself clever?…Well, you're shit!…Humans shit!"
"I'm a vampire, you moron!" Hughes marched to his foe, growing in darkness, again bearing the same expression that briefly intimidated his opponent earlier. He pulled out a push-knife.
Its sharp message was clear to Envy. His gritted teeth grew tighter. His weakened hands flailed. Hughes' one hand grabbed and pinned them both. The struggle was faint. "What's matter? No more laughs? No transformations?"
"No…you wouldn't dare," Envy tried his remaining power of voice. "I will not die by an ant like you!"
"Nobody gets what they want," Hughes raised his knife. All eyes witnessed Maes Hughes get ready to pay his murderer back. Envy will pay for destroying his life, the lives of countless others, and threatening the precious people that remained. His assailant's monstrous face showed the enjoyment, as if it leeched off Envy's previous glee. The bully was now the terrified. Who was the bad guy again?
"You pathetic wimp!" Hughes growled, his eyes pointed with horrible intent. He plunged his knife. The blade stabbed the pavement beside Envy.
Xander was not happy. Not wanting to give Angel or Spike props, at least they killed with no problem. Lorne thought it a beautiful moment for a movie.
Cordelia got back into the car.
Hughes' face regained its humanity. But a victory or a defeat came uncertain by his haunted face. "You're…not worth it," Hughes cringed at his reluctance.
Envy's relief was momentary. He grew furious at not mercy but indifference.
The violence in Hughes smoldered into ash. "We were humans once, Envy." To maintain control of the situation, he amplified his dark threat. "You stay away from my family! Revenge won't protect you next time, but I'll protect Elysia."
"It won't be enough." Envy tried to threaten.
"It's more than your old man ever did for you."
Envy hissed and scowled. "I shall not be pitied!" Painfully he raised his arm, hands clawed to strike. There came no cowardice in his face now.
Even when Cordelia ran him over with the car. Envy came out like a rag doll. Then Cordelia put the car on reverse. Again, Envy ended up looking much worse coming out of the front of the car. A pause dominated his form. His shape became less solid, melting like some red goo.
Cordelia stuck her head out, glorious in her rage. "I got news for you, Envy, and don't you dare disintegrate before I'm finished! First: Don't fuck with Cordelia Chase: Second: Don't fuck with Cordelia! Third: You really don't do me very well."
The creature was now nothing but red fluid.
"I'm not finished!" The woman firmly shrieked. Then she calmed down. "Actually, I am. Oh wait, I forgot. Get over your family issues!" She turned to see everyone looking at her. "What?" she cried.
Hughes looked at Envy's remains. So his murderer was destroyed, and not by his own hands. He was uncertain about his feelings about it.
Everyone got back into the car, which Cordelia drove over the remains of Envy again. This time came no stopping as the vehicle drove away from the major hit-and-run it committed. Still the area remained empty. Warmth burbled on the red fluid of philosopher stone. Disintegration reversed itself. The red blob regained its former shape, albeit crushed and wounded. Envy was whole again. He arose quickly. A sharp pain fell him to his knees. He struggled to be back on his feet, but as ever this was a Homunculus to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, he dealt with insects to reckon with too. A desire to traumatize Elysia Hughes for life had gone wrong. His attempts to change things to a massacre made things worse for him. So Elysia had a great father. So what?! This didn't change his life!
The anger pulled his strained muscles. The return to full strength will take a while. The stings of broken bones knitting together reinforced his target on the people who wronged him. Then shall come the retaliation.
It was a quiet drive toward the hospital. Nothing was said of Hughes' action, or to some, the stupidity of it.
"So…" Cordelia cried to break the mood. "So is that medallion some kinda Homunculus repellent? What is it anyway?"
Dawn treaded on dangerous ground. "Uh…my mother gave it to me before she died."
Hughes studied the medallion. That is, as best he could despite the apprehension its cross-shaped surroundings gave him. It appeared to possess a bone fragment. A bone. And Homunculus were failed-human transmutation…
Hughes' mind needled together all the knowledge he acquired. The answer came to the horrible consequences of Alchemy. The ramifications of what Roy almost did. Of the painful request he himself gave Roy. Of what Ed and Al succeeded in doing…
Dawn wavered on the right thing to say over her questioned 'ownership' of the medallion. Hope the necklace was a very obscure item at the Magic Shop!
Not so, said Xander's keen eyes. Anya told him about this medallion. She said it had the bone fragment of some dead guy whose father she once met. Hoho something. One of those poor schmucks who broke a girl's heart…
But he said nothing. He'll let this slide for Dawn's sake.
Finally, the car made a stop.
"Wait!" Cordelia stopped the car. She turned to Hughes. "You and Lorne."
"Me too," Xander said. "I'm probably Public Enemy No.1." Human and Pylean got out slower than the reality-struck vampire. Hughes felt like lead. But he opened the door, cradling Elysia out of the car. He handed her back to the car seat. He let go in what seemed a slow and eternal struggle. His sight never failed on his sleeping wife and child as they rejoined the group. His eyes did not waver as the car drove away.
"Them's the breaks," Lorne spoke as easily as possible. He got Hughes' attention, a serious expression that expected no nonsense whatsoever. It gave Lorne a great deal of sweat. Was Hughes going to kill him again?
"Cut the crap," Hughes took a colder tone. "You saw Envy's mind. What's his game?"
To Be Continued