Disclaimer: All Buffy or Angel characters were created by Joss Whedon. Not me.
Author's Note: I really enjoyed writing this chapter, specifically Spike/Illyria pieces, so I hope you'll like it and leave me a review. Don't know 'bout the next one 'cuz I'm waaay behind in school. Hope you'll motivate me. ;)
Chapter Six: Malleus Maleficarum
Connor looked over his shoulder to see Lorne carefully sneaking after him. Faith followed. He jumped over the chain fence and landed without any noise. Demon tossed him the bag. Then he looked uncertainly at them. Faith grabbed him. Lorne took a deep breath. Slayer threw him over the fence, right into Connor's arms. He grunted, but managed to catch Lorne and stay on foot. Faith joined them. Green man picked the bag and they continued their journey. Connor put on a blade on his hand, much similar to the one he had in Quor-Toth. They had to get through the street.
''You see anything?'' Faith whispered.
Connor risked a glance. ''Couple demons. We could take 'em down, but not without catching attention.''
''So what now?'' Lorne asked.
''Maybe we can sneak past them? We'd have to pretty much crawl, but...'' Faith let her voice trail off.
''Maybe.'' Connor agreed. His eyes roamed through space. They stopped on something past the street. He turned back to the alley they were in. ''There is one more way we haven't tried yet.'' he stated. They looked at him questioningly. ''Sewers.''
All three of them looked at the ground behind them. Entrance to the sewers.
''We're gonna regret this.'' Lorne said.
Faith smirked. ''Sewers it is, then.''
He and Faith opened it and tossed the lid away. ''We got any flashlights?''
''No, since they don't work anymore.'' Lorne reminded him.
Slayer crouched, staring at the darkness, before glancing at Connor. ''After you.''
''Charming, really.''
Connor sensed something behind him and immediately whirled around, his arm reaching out. He slashed throat of a zombie. Body hit the ground. Faith looked at it and her hand moved between it and them. ''Okay, how the hell did that thing almost got a jump on us?''
Connor shrugged.
''Let's go, something might've heard that.'' Lorne noticed. Boy went underground first, Lorne second and Faith closed their little mission. ''I can't see anything here.'' Green man complained. Brunette searched her pockets and lit up a lighter. ''That's better.''
They moved through the tight tunnels rather fast, stopping next to a ladder. ''Think we crossed the street already?''
''One way to find out.'' Faith said and climped up.
''We're clear.'' She said to them once she was up. ''How much further?''
''According to this... another street or two. We should see it by now.'' Lorne said after glancing at the map.
''Yeah, well... I see jack.'' Faith observed. ''Let's move.''
Group walked through trashed alleys, broken buildings and everything that was in the way.
''Wait.'' Lorne announced.
''What?'' both of them asked.
''There's been some serious magic done here. I think we're here. Dead center.''
''Then where is it?'' Connor asked. They stood in almost empty street. Luckily for them, it was one of millions other small streets in this city, not very exposed.
''I don't know. The portal is closed.'' Lorne muttered.
''We risked our asses to close a portal that's already closed? Terrific.'' Faith sighed. ''Anyway, why is it closed?''
''Stay put, you two. I'm gonna see if I can find out anything.'' Lorne said and set the bag down. He took out few things, something fang-shaped like plus more that Connor didn't really wanted to see ever again.
''What do you think?''
''Honestly? I have no idea what's going on.'' Connor answered, while carefully scanning the area.
''Damn kid.'' Faith walked to Lone, who was currently mixing the ingredients. ''What are you doing?''
''I'm gonna be out of it for few moments.'' he told her.
''Sure.''
Minutes passed in silence, Lorne sitting on the ground with his eyes closed, Faith and Connor staying in alert.
''Okay, even if this one's put down, there must be half dozen more, right?'' Faith asked.
''No.'' Lorne spoke out.
''Huh?''
He stood up. ''There is no more portals. There's only been one.''
''Wait, you guys said these big guys opened portals. Plural.'' Faith said.
''We-I assumed that. Now wrongly, I realize.''
''Okay, then why is there no more portal here?'' Connor asked.
''Someone closed it.'' Lorne whispered.
''That's a good thing, isn't it?''
Lorne grabbed the bag. ''Not necessarily. We should find a place more private. I'll explain everything.''
They squated in an apartment, not far away. Lorne sat in an armchair. Faith and Connor placed themselves on the bed and waited for Lorne to start.
''That place, it was one of the hotspots. You know, where the barrier between dimensions is thinner. I managed to, I wouldn't exactly call it contact, but it told me. Something evil closed that portal.'' He said.
''Why would something evil close a portal that brings... evil?'' Faith asked.
''Because it needed to save power.'' He received blank looks. ''Opening a portal and maintaining it, it's not easy. Not the one this size, leading to so many dimensions. It needs magic to stay open. If someone closed it, that's because he needed the power.''
''I thought it was the Senior Partners that opened the portal.'' Connor noticed.
''Yes, of course.'' Lorne said seriously. ''But like the Circle, they needed to have someone here to watch over it. From what I've gathered, it closed this to open another.''
''Why?''
Green demon scratched his chin absently. ''Something big is coming here. The same thing is going to summon it here. And I guess it just sped up the process.''
''Process?'' Faith stood up.
''Bringing something this powerful to another dimension isn't a piece of cake. This whole thing is way over our heads. I think it's been preparing since the destruction of L.A.'' Lorne sighed. ''And it's getting closer to the finish line.''
''I see we're being optimistic 'bout it.'' Slayer murmured.
''Very.'' Connor deadpanned.
''We should go back to the hotel. There's nothing we can do right now.'' Faith said.
Connor nodded and Lorne got up.
***B***B***
He crashed through the door, immediately searching for something sharp. Not seeing anything, he closed the door and moved a piano to hold it that way. Frantically searching through drawers, he found nothing. Something banged at the door. He cursed and ran out through the back. Few minutes later he stopped, leaning against a wall and breathing deeply. Habit. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, there was a demon in front of him. He ducked the first hit and gave one of his own, hoping to distract it long enough for him to leave. Demon grabbed the back of his neck and threw him to the ground. He stood up and the demon struck, so hard he landed on the other side of the street. Vampire picked himself up and attacked with his leg. Demon caught it and he flew through the air again, this time his landing zone was the hood of a car. He grunted and slid to the ground. He glanced underneath it and saw a handle. He reached out his hand and grasped it. Vampire rolled away when demon wanted to step on him. He had time to look at the thing he grabbed. A machete. What the fuck was a machete doing under a car?
Demon swung at him again and this time he swung back. It let out a blood piercing scream after it's arm separated from the rest of the body. He cut off it's head. Gunn admired his work. That thing was really helpful, he regarded the machete. Not letting go of it, he quickly ran away. Something must've seen him killing the small demon, because now everything he came across wanted to kill him. Though he checked street after street, he haven't found Illyria. He hadn't given up, she had to be here. Somewhere. He heard steps coming his way and hid behind the corner. A figure passed him and Gunn attacked. He ran the machete right through the chest of a thing, while his other hand clasped over the mouth of it. Demon dropped dead to the ground.
He turned around only to be hit across the face. He stumbled back. Another one. If they keep showing up like that, there was no way he'll find Illyria, hell he won't survire. Gunn stabbed the demon in the stomach. It roared and grabbed his neck, with enough force to crush it. He felt his throat giving up and broke the hold of demon, slicing it open. With guts spilling out, it hit the ground. Gunn felt his throat, unsure. He clacked his tongue. Looking to his left he saw another pair of demons coming his way. Fuck this, he needed help. With that he broke into a run.
***B***B***
''Seriously, we need to come up with some kind of plan.'' Spike said.
''Great. Any ideas?'' Illyria didn't even look at him, instead continued to watch the roaches. They were staying in trashed apartment, like many more in this cursed city.
''You know, you've been different ever since that funky behaviour of yours.'' Vampire sat down and played with an iron pipe. ''Why? What changed?''
''Nothing.''
He sighed, frustrated. ''We've been sitting here for the past few days, doing absolutely nothing. We can't stay here forever.''
''We need more power to do anything.'' she finally made eye contact with him. Didn't do much, because her face was unreadable.
''Yeah. We ain't searching for it by staying here.'' Spike stood up and froze. ''There's something in the hallway.'' he whispered. Illyria seemed to not pay any attention to him. Tightening his grip on the pipe, he sneaked to the door and opened them. They made an unbelievable loud noise. He hid in the shadows and prepared to strike at anything. After few seconds something was just behind the door. Spike swung his pipe with a grace and passion that the best baseball players would be proud of. Happy that his enemy immediately went down, vampire looked at the very human body of a girl. He looked at the pipe in his hand, gulped and cast a look behind his shoulder to a see very interested Illyria. She walked over to him. ''Congratulations. You just killed a human.''
Spike crouched next to a body and checked her pulse. ''Bloody hell, she's still alive.''
''What?''
Vampire picked the girl up and placed her on the bed. ''We need to stop the bleeding.'' he said after looking at her head. ''Hand me that shirt. It's rather clean.'' Spike instructed her after looking around. She did as she was told.
''How is she not dead? The force was enough to crush a skull.'' Illyria informed him.
''I don't know. Maybe... maybe she's a slayer.'' Spike thought out loud.
''What?'' she asked sharply.
''Oh, right. You don't know.'' he stopped. ''Well, you should know. Fred knew.'' he said after a moment of silence. Illyria's eyes rolled to the back of her head. ''Whoa, you okay blue?''
Her features twisted in anger after she looked at him. That was not a pretty sight. In three steps she covered the distance between them and slammed him into a wall. ''What the hell?'' he yelped. He was dangling in the air.
''You stupid, little, arrogant vampire! Who did this?''
''Did what? Calm down!'' he replied.
She let go of him. ''Who turned all of potentials vampire slayers to slayers?''
''Willow. What's the big deal? They were actually pretty useful.'' Spike confessed.
''I need to think.'' Illyria turned his back to him.
Spike observed her for a little while before carefully approaching. ''What's going on? Talk to me, we were supposed to be a team, remember?''
''Everything has consequences.'' she spoke up and faced him. ''Why do you think there was only one Slayer?''
''Because some dudes decided that way. So?'' Vampire raised his eyebrow.
''So it had a bigger meaning. One Slayer balanced the power. Have you ever noticed that since the dark one was called, the demon activity seemed bigger?'' She asked him.
''Never thought 'bout it, but... yeah. The big stuff started to happen after Faith.'' he realized. ''Why?''
''Because golden one survived. She never should have.'' Illyria stared at the girl on the bed.
''You tellin' me that Buffy should be dead?'' Spike searched for her eyes.
''Yes. You made innocent girls into slayers. Only a powerful witch could do that. Was she really so reckless, not to think of any collateral?'' Blue woman said. ''She disturbed the power. Brought it to your side. But the balance must always be restored.''
Spike stared at her, horrified. ''Wait. You mean that this, all of this is our fault?''
''Yes. I wondered why this happened now. It wouldn't have if the witch would let the slayer rest. What's dead should stay dead.'' she said without any trace of emotion in her voice.
''This is bull.'' he shook his head. ''There in no way something this big happened only because of that. Angel would've still work at Wolfram & Hart. He'd still destroy the Circle.''
''Maybe. But you might not be here, right? Angel might never come to the Wolf, the Ram and the Hart, if he'd be grieving after her. He wouldn't give a chance to Cordelia. He wouldn't go to the cliff that night to meet her. He never would've been sunk down to the bottom of the ocean by his own.'' Illyria explained. ''We don't know what would happen. We know what did. And we know why.''
Spike sat down, lost in his thought. ''What do you mean by his own?''
Illyria cocked her head. ''You don't know. This is not mine story to tell.''
''Since when do you care?''
''I don't know. I think it's the right thing to do.'' Illyria shrugged.
Vampire smirked. ''You're learning. Adapting. That's good.''
''How do you feel with that burden on your shoulders? Knowing that your actions caused this?'' Illyria asked.
''Don't know yet. Ask me again in couple of hours.'' Spike muttered. Vampire stared into space, apparently going over everything in his head.
Illyria doubled over in pain. Spike was immediately by her side. ''What happened?'' She breathed heavily. ''I don't kno-'' she fell to her knees, face twisting in pain. ''What the bloody hell is goin' on?'' Spike panicked.
Illyria looked him in the eye. ''It's starting. The summoning.''
''What? You said it would take two weeks. We should still have few days left.'' he said.
''Something changed. It is happening right now.''
''How do we stop it?'' Spike asked.
She stood up. ''We don't.''
''Huh?''
''What's already in motion, can't be stopped.'' Illyria lowered her head.
''Everything can be stopped.'' Spike argued.
''Not this. I'm sorry. We need to find a safer place. Once the thing is here, we don't know what will it do.''
Vampire leaned against the wall, took out a cigarette and lit it. ''Fuck.'' he said, taking a drag.
''Take the girl. We should go.''
***B***B***
''So what are we gonna do now?'' Connor asked.
The three of them were scattered through the lobby. Faith shrugged.
''I don't know.'' Lorne answered. They heard footsteps and soon Katie appeared on the stairs. ''She's asleep. Tired after the night duty.'' she explained while walking down. They all agreed that someone should be up during the night, in case of some accident. Last night belonged to Connor and Rain.
''We still have no idea how to get out?'' she asked.
''No. This... this... whatever it is, it's keeping us in. No way in hell we'll get through.'' Faith muttered. Heavy looks were exchanged between all of them. Connor got to his feet. ''Anyone want some water?'' Slayer raised her hand. He went to Angel's office, they had few bottles there. He took two and passed one to Faith.
Silence.
''Hey, in those journals does it say anything about something big coming?'' Faith spoke up. Lorne shook his head. ''Not that I can remember.''
''Fuck.'' she muttered.
''This is dead end.'' Katie said. ''We can't sit around and do nothing only because we don't know what's going on.''
''Then what should we do? Like you said, this is a dead end. We can't fight battles against unknown enemy.'' Connor replied tiredly.
''That doesn't mean we can just sit on our asses. Come on people, think of something.'' Tall woman stood up. ''We don't know what are we up against, so? Doesn't mean we can't prepare to face it.''
''Okay, alright.'' Faith got up too. ''Let's go to the basement, I'll teach ya.''
Katie smiled and they went down to the basement. Connor turned to Lorne. ''So, you thought about what I asked you?''
''Yeah, yeah. There's no way around it. Maybe some amulets or so, but I can't take the spell off just for you. I'd had to remove it completely, I'm sorry.'' he answered.
''That's okay.'' Boy stood up. ''Look, I'm gonna crash. It's been a long day.''
Lorne nodded. ''Sure. I'll try to dig something up.'' He picked up one of Wesley's journals. Connor was halfway up when he heard something outside. He looked through the window, but saw nothing. He took another step, when the noise was heard again. Connor slowly walked back to the table and put a blade on his right hand.
''What's wrong?'' Lorne asked.
''Get Faith.'' he ordered. Lorne immediately got up and left the lobby. Silently, Connor opened the door and walked out. Though on full alert, he saw nothing. His eyes roamed through the garden. He sensed something behind him and whipped around, his hand ready to decapitate anything, just like the zombie. This time, however, his hand was stopped in the air.
''What's going on?'' Faith asked, releasing it. Lorne and Katie watched them expectantly from the lobby.
''I'm not sure.'' he whispered. ''I swear I heard something here.'' Seeing his seriousness, she scanned the area for any possible threat. Everything seemed normal. The sun was slowly going down, it red rays hiding behind the taller buildings. There wasn't a single noise heard. Which was weird, Faith realized. Dead silence.
''Know what? I don't like it.'' Faith said. ''Let's go back inside.'' They carefully retreated, back-to-back. Nearly there, Faith jumped to the side and yanked something out. Shape seemed human, but it was nearly invisible. ''The fuck is that thing?'' she said through gritted teeth when it started to trash around violently. Connor swung his arm towards what he thought was a torso. He definitely cut something, but received no response. It kicked Faith in the stomach and she lost her hold on it. This time Connor sliced, what he hoped was head. With the cuts, now it was more visible. He struck again, but this time thing shoved him away. He hit the wall few feet behind. Few quiet sounds later, it dropped to the ground. Katie was standing in the door with a gun in her hand.
They stared at the shape, laying dead. Faith walked over to Connor and helped him up. ''How did you see that?'' he asked.
''I didn't'' she confessed. ''I just... trusted my instinct.''
''You know, if there is more of them, they could've easily slip past us.'' Lorne observed.
That single comment froze them all. ''Rain.'' The four of them immediately broke into a mad run, trying to get to the brunette. Connor was the first one and he simply busted through the door.
''What the fuck?'' Rain jumped on the bed. He and Faith went over the whole room while Katie explained everything to her lover.
''It's clean. Nothing's here.'' Faith said.
''None of us should be left alone from now and on.'' Lorne decided. ''It's getting too dangerous.''
''You're right.'' Connor agreed. He looked over to Faith. ''We should get the body or whatever here.''
She nodded and they left the room. Once in the garden, he reached for the body, but his hands found air. ''Okay, this is not good.''
He and Faith frantically searched through the whole space and came up with nothing. ''This just keeps getting better and better.''
***B***B***
Spike readjusted the girl in his arms as he followed Illyria. He still couldn't believe the fact that this was even possible. She stopped. ''It's done. Demon is here.''
''Huh? How do you know that? There was no signs.'' he asked. Everything was fine. Just the way it stayed for the past few days.
Illyria faced him, her look seemed absent. ''Did you expect an earthquake or something?''
''Well, yeah.'' Spike said.
She shook her head. ''It's here, I know it. I know the power that came here. I've been in contact with it before, I'm sure.''
''A friend then?'' he hopefully asked. He received a doubtful look. ''Bugger.''
''I can't put my finger on it.'' she said, her voice loosing a little of it's deepness.
''We better get goin' then, right luv?''
***B***B***
''It's good to see you Willow.'' Buffy hugged her best friend. Witch just arrived. They were gathering forces around the barrier since it appeared.
''Yeah, I know. You totally have to tell me everything that happened in your life. After we deal with this thing. Do you know what it is?'' Willow asked.
''I was kinda hoping you'd tell me.'' Blonde said sheepishly. ''We have no idea. All we know is that we can't get inside.''
''I sense so much power there.'' she admitted, head cocked slightly to the side and lips parted. Buffy observed her for few moments before snapping her fingers. ''Hey. You just spaced out a little. You okay?''
Willow shook her head. ''Of course.'' She looked around. ''Where is Kennedy?''
Buffy snorted. ''Somewhere. She's offended, I think.'' Witch raised her eyebrows. ''What did you expect? She shows up from nowhere, all injured and bloody, claiming she was in the city, after I told her not to go and she tells me that all the slayers are dead. Sorry if I lost my temper.'' she faked a smile.
''Alrighty.'' Witch looked at the barrier. ''Let's see what we can do about that.''
''What about all the military around here? How come they haven't found us yet?'' Buffy asked.
''Oh, don't worry. They're... taken care of.''
''You put a spell on them?'' Slayer demanded an answer.
''Well, I had no choice.'' Witch defended herself.
''Okay, I get it. Sort of.''
Willow smiled and walked closer to the blue force. ''How's Dawnie?''
''She's good. Left her in Italy.''
She nodded her head. ''So, let's try.''
Willow reached her hand and touched the barrier, murmuring some words. ''Someone's coming.'' she said after few minutes. A dark figure was approaching them. Buffy grabbed the Scythe. Figure stopped near the barrier on the other side and said something, in a language Buffy didn't understood. Willow said something back.
''You understand him?''
''He wants me to back off.'' Witch said.
Figure came closer to the barrier and Buffy couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity coming from it. It both fascinated and scared her. ''Will, maybe you should stop.''
''No, I don't scare that easily.''
They continued to talk, Willow and the figure until it raised it's hand and a lighting shot Willow straight in the chest. Witch flew over thirty feet back and landed on the ground, not moving. ''Willow!'' she yelled, but remained frozen in her place. Slayers now gathered around them, some trying to help the fallen witch. Figure then turned to Buffy and she felt the Scythe literally being ripped away from her hands. It passed through the barrer and stopped in figure's open hand.
''Don't try to get in.'' it warned them in a voice that sent terror down Buffy's spine. Then it disappeared. Oldest slayer ran back to her friend. She was unconscious, but breathing.
***B***B***
''Maybe you should pay a visit to your mystery demon-girl savior?'' Faith suggested.
''Don't call her that. And I've been there, looks like she moved.'' Connor replied.
''How should I call her then? She's a mystery, a demon girl and she saved you. See? All fits.'' she said smugly. She and Connor were in the lobby, while Lorne, Katie and Rain occupied one of the rooms.
''Her name is Anthis.''
''Whatever.'' Faith dismissed it. ''It's a second night in a row when you haven't slept. It's no good to you, or us.''
''I know, I just can't sleep. I get this feeling...'' Connor trailed off.
''Like we ain't alone? Shit, I thought I was the only one.'' Faith ran her hand through her hair.
''Are you sure it's safe leaving them alone?'' he asked.
''Should be. We checked the room, gave 'em weapons and the door's closed.'' Slayer said.
''This is crazy.'' Connor shook his head. ''We can't just sit here when something is definitely wrong.''
''What choice do we have?'' Faith asked him. ''We can't walk around grabbing thin air and hoping to eventually catch something.'' She stood up and walked to Angel's office.
Connor got up after her and suddenly stopped. He took few steps back and looked to his left. ''I think we won't have to.'' he said.
''Why's that?''
He slowly slid his hand into the wrist-blade. ''Just a hunch.''
Faith walked out of the office. ''What...'' she followed his gaze. Four, five now as another one became visible, demons just like the one they killed earlier, stood near the entrance.
''Throw them outside.'' he said and launched himself at them. All of them tried to hit him, which only resulted in them being stopped by the spell. They seemed to understand and run outside. Faith managed to grab two of them and threw them back to the lobby. ''You can handle them?''
Connor shot her a look and swung at the closest demon. It avoided his blade and, moving with incredible speed, took him down. It opened it's mouth, full of fangs and lowered it to Connor. He struggled, but the other two held him down. ''Faith!'' he yelled
Faith just smashed the skull of one demon with a mace when she heard the call. She saw Connor about to be eaten and threw the mace at the second demon, hitting it square in the chest. Then she ran outside, kicked one demon and forced the second away. With his right hand free, Connor stabbed the third one in the heart. Or the place where heart normally is. Anyway, demon fell to the ground. Connor stood up just in time to get kicked in the face. Five long, deadly nails pierced his chest. He let out a pained cry. Faith threw threw one over her shoulder and was immediately attacked by another. It left four deep scratches in her stomach. Connor kicked the one off him and managed to cut him before being flung to the wall. Faith picked up a rock and took one down. Boy threw himself at another, slashing it's throat. Slayer hammered the head of demon with a rock until it became a bloody mess. She looked up to him. ''Watch out!''
Connor turned around to face the last demon, with his cloven hand ready to kill him. It didn't, because there was something sharp sticking out of it's chest. Then it retreated and demon dropped dead to reveal Gunn standing behind it. Connor punched him and Gunn stumbled back, raising his machete to keep him at distance. Faith stood next to Connor.
''What do you want?'' she demanded.
''Wait! Please.'' he said. Connor and Faith both watched the machete warily. Gunn realized that and lowered it. ''I'm not here to harm you.''
''As if you could.'' Connor snapped.
''Look...'' Gunn hesitated and threw the machete away. ''I need your help.''
Faith and Connor exchanged looks.
***B***B***
Illyria suddenly clasped her hand over Spike's mouth and put a finger next to her own lips. Spike raised his eyebrows but remained silent. They heard a sound of walking. Human steps. Vampire moved to confront the person, but Illyria held him in place. Someone walked past them, a safe distance away. Spike's eyes widened when he saw the Scythe in person's hand. They stayed like that for few more minutes, until Illyria removed her hand.
''What the bloody hell was it?'' Spike whispered. ''That guy had the Scythe.''
''I'm aware.'' she said.
''Why didn't we do anything?'' he asked.
''That was the demon summoned today. He has great power. The power that I now recognize.'' Illyria watched the surroundings.
''I'll bite, whose power?''
''Mine.''
''What? What do you mean?'' Spike made sure he heard her correctly.
''When you used that device on me, where do you think my power went to? Something must've found it.'' Illyria informed him.
''You're tellin' me we made that motherfucker?'' he asked her and set the girl down.
''Yes.'' She said. ''And now I'm not strong enough to stop him.''
Spike grabbed his head. ''Oh my God.''
''There are always consequences.''
***B***B**
So? Good impressions, I hope!