Buffy took a deep breath and glanced toward her watch, ignoring the growl of her opponent. Timing was everything. She had to get this right. This plan would give them the upper hand. It would work. They had rehearsed it endlessly. It had to work.
Buffy glanced to her right. Willow sat slumped in the corner with Sophie and Giles. They were unrecognizable. Whatever wonder watcher mojo Giles had worked was perfect. They didn't even smell the same. Buffy sighed. She twisted the minion's head free from his body and moved forward through the hot flash of his falling dust to her next target.
The brutish male facing her would be the one to survive. She spun, kicked out her leg, and knocked him down. He slid down grasping at her foot before falling back.
"The bigger they are the more damage they do to the footwear." Buffy snarled at the torn leather of her boot.
Buffy glared at her victim. The plan hinged on this fool. He was one of two minions that had crossed paths with Marcus over the years. The other one had been too skilled.
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Buffy planted a hand on the table next to her and swung both feet into the behemouth's chest. He flew through the ugly wooden paneled wall and emerged dusty but otherwise unmarred. Buffy growled. She needed to mar his vision slightly, just enough to cover any mishaps with the spell, and he was not making it easy. "Stupid vampire."
The sudden crash of glass and wood didn't phase me. Spike rolled into the place in a swirl of leather. His quick laughter drew her eyes and they nodded to each other.
Marcus strode in and growled. He filled the doorway, all presence and power. He lunged forward and Spike met him halfway. Their bodies blurred as the spun, breaking tables and chairs, scattering the most devoted of the bar's patrons.
Buffy grimaced as pain radiated up her torso. She needed to pay attention. No excuses to miss the bastard's next volley. She flipped over the giant and focused on the battle at hand.
"Bloody damn, Immortal." Spike snarled and flung Marcus across the room. "Why are you involving yourself in this? You haven't left your bloody city since the black fucking death. Leave me and mine alone."
Buffy heard the buzz amongst the few remaining patrons. The demon grapevine activated. Angelus would know about the fight in a matter of minutes. She couldn't fight down her wide grin. She spun into action with a happy chuckle.
"Time to end you, Fool." She giggled and knocked the giant down. She picked him up and tossed him through a wall, ignoring the battle being carefully waged behind her.
"You betray us all, Fool." Marcus growled. Buffy plunged her stake into the giant vampire a whirled in a spiral of dust to face the action. "Cavorting with a slayer? You are the shame of our species, and I will end you."
The pair whirled back into motion, moving so quickly they blurred. Buffy tracked their motion and knocked back another demon that charged her. She cringed when Spike was slammed down onto the floor, but he sprang up, facing Marcus with a snarl.
Marcus panted. His injuries were slight, but necessary. He favored his right leg and eyed Spike. Buffy cringed as they exchanged blows again. Marcus spun and grabbed a chair. Spike shifted his weight and lunged. The chair broke over his back.
Buffy swallowed and grabbed the fire extinguisher, tossing it at Marcus. It was all part of the plan. She rushed forward, and Marcus set of the fire extinguisher creating a thick cloud around them.
Buffy charged forward and screamed. Marcus rose up from the ashes on the floor. Buffy shook and threw her stake.
"You killed him." She sobbed, pulling up her cross bow. "You took him away."
Her shot went wide, but she was reloading. Marcus snarled, yanked the stake free from his shoulder, and tossed it to the ground.
"Aren't you going to fight me?" Buffy kicked a ruined table out of her way. "Isn't it my blood you want?"
"Knowing I killed your mate is reward enough, little slayer." Marcus sneered. "Enjoy your ashes."
Buffy fired her crossbow again, but the bolt flew wide and took out one of the vampires in the audience. She dropped down to her knees and pressed her hand into the pile of ashes that marked the ground she had last seen Spike on. The tears came on cue. The body wracking sobs were unexpected.
"God, Spike, no." She tossed her head back and screamed her agony into the night. The last few demons foolish enough to linger fled.
Buffy scraped up the ashes into her shirt and let her tears go. There was nothing for it. She was shaking. She cupped the ashes even as Giles grabbed her. When had he gotten up? His warm hands gently pulled her up.
"He's gone, Buffy. Let him go." The words tore through her. "Let's get you home."
Giles stopped her and dusted her off. the tears wouldn't stop. She walked quickly beside Giles. She had to get home. Things would be good there.
The door opened, and she stumbled over the threshold. This shouldn't be so hard. Spike was there, flanked by Sophie and Willow. He was so beautiful, but her tears wouldn't stop.
"What the bloody hell did you do to my girl, Rupert?" Spike asked as he dragged her into his arms, his cool wonderful arms, his very much alive arms.
"I think it was the shock of seeing it." Giles sighed. "It was astoundingly real."
"Well, that and I put a little mojo on her to help her with the reaction." Willow grinned. "It should wear off in a couple of hours."
"You aren't dead. Those weren't your ashes." Buffy gripped Spike's body to hers. "When I'm done crying, I'm gonna kill Willow."
"Fine by me, Love." Spike gathered her up into his arms and carried her up to his room.
"I'd find a corner far away from her and hope Spike distracts her." Sophie looked at Willow and shook her head. "Playing with emotions is dangerous, Witch."
"She could have been killed." Giles snarled at Willow. "Her grief was so real. She wasn't trying anymore. That was unwise, Willow."