Chapter 63: Enjoining

Hull gave the zombie a hard shove as he ran past. Already unsteady, the zombie fell. Dawn raced after Hull.

"Dawn," Buffy said. "I have an idea. Did Willow teach you the enjoining spell?"

"Yes," Dawn said. "Of course. Go."

Buffy took off.

Dawn walked over to Nick and Jaime. "Time for a little magic. When I finish casting this, I'm going to need you to make sure either Nick is awake or you yourself protect me."

"Why what spell are you doing?" Jaime asked.

"It's called an enjoining spell. The spell basically increases Buffy's Slayer abilities giving her the ability to cast magic and increasing her own strength ten-fold. It will also make her more animalistic. Add on top of that I will be extremely vulnerable as I will be in a trance like state till the spell is ended since my life force will be added to Buffy's," Dawn said as she sat cross legged on the ground. And she began to chant. "The power of the Slayer and all who wield it. Last to ancient first, I invoke thee. Grant me and my sister thy domain and primal strength. Accept us and the power we possess. Make us mind and heart and spirit enjoined. Let the hand encompass me. Do thy will. By the generous will of the Ancients, the almighty power of the Divine Spirits … Your supplicant humbly beseechs thee to behold me, and that which I possess … the moieties of the One, the Avatar … Spiritus ... spirit. Animus ... heart. Sophus ... mind. And Manus ... the hand. I enjoin that I may inhabit the vessel, the hand ... daughter of Sineya ... first of the ones ... I implore thee: Admit me bring me to the vessel! Take me now! I am heart ... I am mind ... I am spirit ... From the raging storm ... I bring the power of the Primeval One ..."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy had seen Hull turn right, onto a side street, but there was no sign of him. She jogged along the sidewalk, sniffing and listening. When she reached the first corner, she peered around a building to see Hull fifty feet away, casting a spell at a door. An unlock spell.

Buffy rocked on the balls of her feet, holding back until he was inside. Then she stole down the sidewalk. At the still-closing door, she paused. All was silent within. she grabbed the handle before the latch caught, then eased the door open.

Inside the small, dark vestibule, there were stairs leading down to her left. So Hull had taken refuge in a windowless basement, probably with one exit. She smiled.

The stairs stopped at a landing, then doubled back. I peered over the railing into the gloom. A dim security light at the bottom illuminated a time-card rack and punch on the right wall, and an open doorway to the left.

Down the steps, stop and look. A cavernous room opened before her, so big that in the near dark, she couldn't see the other three sides.

There were two exits, not counting the one she'd come in. One opened into a small room with a curtained glass wall another into a hall. Which had Hull picked? Office or hall? Or was he still here, huddled behind a table, waiting to slam Buffy with a knockback spell when she passed? She went still, sniffing and listening. His scent was here. Been here or still here, it was impossible to tell.

Something clattered in the back hall. she hurried forward. At the hall entrance, she paused and peered through. It was a short corridor, no more than fifteen feet, with two closed doors to her left and one open doorway to her right.

The open doorway led to the lunchroom. She could tell by the stink—food that probably smelled just fine on its own, but when combined and left to mellow, was enough to revolt the hungriest stomach.

Edging against the door jamb, Buffy glanced inside. No hiding places even for a small man like Hull. Well, there was the fridge, but he'd need to clear out all the condiments and unwanted food.

The first closed door was locked. She checked the second. Also locked. Back to the first. She twisted the handle hard and fast, snapping the simple key-lock.

She turned her back to the wall, then threw open the door. The stink of cleaning chemicals hit Buffy. She peered inside. Just a closet—so jammed with janitorial equipment even Hull couldn't have squeezed inside.

As Buffy closed the door, something rustled in the main room. Had Hull somehow retreated there while she'd been checking the other rooms? But how? He couldn't get past without then her eyes grew. Cover spell. Sorcerer's were just a fancy name for male witch after all. They had access to some of the same spells. So, he had cast a cover spell, waited for her to pass and then headed back for the main room.

Buffy scanned the main room. All had gone silent. Of course, it had. Hull had found a new spot, and cast his spell again. So why change places and risk making noise? Because he wanted me to hear him, to know he was there, and to keep searching.

Hull hadn't "accidentally" backed himself into this basement. He lured Buffy in, and now he was teasing her while his magical energies recharged enough to take her down. "Come on, Dawn," she said.

She made her way slowly across the room, each step deliberate, gaze swinging from side to side.

She heard the sounds of footsteps ahead. Nick?

Buffy rounded the doorway before she noticed the heavy stink of rotting flesh. She looked up to see the bowler-hatted zombie staggering down the stairs, knife in hand. "He's in here," Buffy said hoping to buy some time for Dawn to complete her spell. "He's using magic to hide, but he's here—"

The zombie's eyes met Buffy's as she leapt aside just in time. He barreled down the final steps, knife raised like a bayonet.

Buffy backpedaled into the main room. The zombie faltered, as if still struggling under dueling orders. Then he shot forward. She backed up and smacked into the first table. As he came at Buffy, she swung onto the table top, sliding across the slick surface and nearly tumbling off the other side.

"Buffy!" Jaime's voice, from the top of the stairs.

Why was Jaime here? Had Dawn sent her?

"Down—" Buffy said as the zombie's knife arced her way. She shimmied back along the tabletop, out of the knife's reach, and then pushed to her feet. She turned, planning to leap to the next table. Then she saw Hull, across the room, face drawn in concentration as he warred for the zombie, the effort too much for him to continue casting the cover spell.

Buffy and Hull's eyes met. He lifted his hand in a knockback spell, which would send her sailing right into the zombie. She kicked fast and low. Her foot connected with the side of the zombie's head just as Hull's spell hit her. The zombie went down. So, did she—the spell sending her flying over him.

Buffy hit the floor in an awkward tumble, teeth clamping down on her tongue. As Buffy slowly stood back up her eyes glowed orange with power. Dawn's enjoining spell had worked.

"Your magicks pale in comparison to our own," Buffy said.

Hull restarted his incantation but stopped as Buffy approached. He could feel the immense magical power radiating from her. How was that possible? She wasn't a witch; he would have sensed the magical energies before now if she was. He looked over his shoulder.

"There is no escape," Buffy said, "from us."

Hull quickly muttered a knockback spell.

"Im-a sheng-ab," Buffy chanted as she raised her hand and his knockback spell was deflected off. "You have no hope in beating us. Our power is much stronger than yours." She leapt with animal ferocity crashing into him. Her teeth sank into his flesh—any flesh—tearing, spitting and biting.

Hull's screams echoed through the room. Across the room, the zombie rose up and started lurching toward them. Hull's head lifted, gaze going to the zombie, relief and hope filling his eyes. His lips parted. Buffy swung her head down, teeth clamping on his throat, and ripped. He screamed, a high-pitched death shriek that turned to a gurgle as blood filled his throat.

Buffy pushed off him as she turned toward the zombie.

"Uh-uh," said a voice across the room. "This one's mine."

A figure rounded the doorway—a tiny, dark-haired figure. Zoe. While nearly being decapitated had not been decapitated completely and overtime Buffy knew the damaged tissue would regenerate till either she was completely decapitated or it was completely healed. It must have healed enough for Zoe to come and join in the fight.

Zoe staggered a little, and then rushed at the zombie, who turned at the last second to see an iron rod swinging into the side of his head. Buffy dropped to the floor as her eyes closed, momentarily exhausted. When she reopened them her eyes no longer glowed. The enjoining spell had been released.

The zombie fell. Her dark eyes glittering, Zoe leapt over him and swung again, with more force than seemed possible for her tiny frame. When she pulled back for a third swing, he started to crumble, and she stopped, rod still raised, waiting until he'd disintegrated.

"Glad that worked," she said. "I sure as hell didn't want to have to bite him."

"I see you managed to regenerate enough," Buffy said.

"Yes," Zoe said. "Luckily they didn't complete the job." At a noise, she turned toward the stairs, swiveling her whole body, as if she didn't dare try to turn only her head.

"Oh, thank God," Jaime said, running in. "You are down here. I called, but I didn't hear an answer, then I couldn't summon that damned zombie. I tried and tried—"

"You did great," Buffy said. "You controlled someone else's zombie. That's amazing."

She nodded and swallowed, face pale, as if she still wasn't sure how she'd done it. Then she saw Zoe.

"You're—"

"Alive," Zoe said. "Or so I hope. I am alive, right? Not a zombie. Not a walking ghost. Just my usual undead self?"

"Looks like it to me," Jaime said, smiling.

"Thank God." Zoe's dark eyes lit up as she tried to grin, then she winced, hand going to her throat. "God, that's gross. Please tell me it's healing."

"It looks like it," Buffy said.

A small wheezing laugh. "Neck cuts are the worst. I'm always up for a new experience but this—" She shuddered. "This one I could have skipped." She looked down at the scattering of dust. "At least I got my payback."

"Nick! Dawn! Oh, God, where's—?" Buffy said.

"Back in the alley," Jaime said, taking Buffy's elbow and helping her to the stairs. "She told me to guard her but when I had seen that zombie hadn't … I thought I would try controlling it to help you."

"While I'm glad you did," Buffy said. "I have to say I wish you had stayed with Dawn. The enjoining spell is very tricky. If she had been interrupted at any time …"

"That's what she said," Jaime said. "It's why I waited till Nick was awake." She glanced back at Hull's body.

"You guys go on," Zoe said. "I'll handle cleanup duty. Done it before. I trust, Slayer, our business is done?"

"You've earned a free pass, Zoe," Buffy said. "Our business is done. That said though I might call on you again with a fresh deal."

"I look forward to it… Buffy," Zoe said as she held out her hand and Buffy shook it.

When Buffy and Jaime got back to where Dawn and Nick had been. They found Nick kneeling next to Dawn, holding her hand. Rose stumped her way toward them, face fixed in the horrible grimace that passed for her smile.

"'e's gone," she said. "I can feel it. A real weight off my mind, let me tell you. Now get yourself over 'ere and give me what you promised. I can't do it myself."

"Right," Buffy said as she turned to Rose, but hesitated. As hideous as she looked, Buffy couldn't forget that there was a person in there.

"'op to it, girl," she said. "I 'aven't got all day. While you're standing there gawkin', I'm turnin' to mush."

Buffy bit back a laugh. "Okay. Um, how do you want to do this? Snapping your neck is fastest—"

"Fast? Gawd's sakes, girl, you could 'ave 'ad it done by now. Your sister did it fast enough the last time. Now 'op to it or—"

Buffy grabbed her neck and snapped it before she finished the sentence, and hopefully before she saw it coming. As she crumbled, Buffy took a deep breath.

"She's better off now," Jaime said softly. "No matter where she went, it's better than where she was."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"A—Antonio," Dawn said into the phone. "It's me."

"Dawn?" His voice boomed loud enough to make my head rock. "Where the hell—?"

"We're okay," Buffy said. "Nick's fine. Dawn's fine. I'm fine. Jaime's fine. Hull's dead. The zombies are dead. The portal should be closed. Is Jeremy there?"

"He's with Clay. I'm outside, searching for you three. Or four, I suppose, if Jaime went with you. Went to check on Dawn and saw you weren't there Buffy. Savannah released her spell when I caught her scent. She wouldn't tell me where you had gone." A growl of a sigh. "Whatever you and Dawn did, Buffy, whether it killed Hull or not, it was stupid—"

"I know," Buffy said. "As the Slayer, I take full responsibility."

Another sigh, softer. "And probably the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean I'm ever going to admit that to Jeremy. Understood?"

Buffy gave her sister a small smile. "Understood."

"Now get your asses back here pronto."

"We still have one more thing to do," Buffy said. "Hull didn't disintegrate like the zombies. Zoe said she'd clean up but—"

"I'll be right there. But you two are coming back. Get yourselves and Jaime into a cab. And the next time you think about trying to endanger my grandchild, Buffy."

"I dare you to try," Buffy said. "But your concern is duly noted and I will expect a big workout if there is ever a next time."

"Good," Antonio said.

Somewhere on the sisters headlong run up the hotel stairs, Jaime disappeared. She must have decided this was one family scene she didn't care to join.

Buffy and Dawn took a deep breath and knocked. Seconds ticked past. Then Jeremy opened the door. For a long moment, he just stood there and looked at them, face impassive.

Dawn saw Clay and faltered. The room was dark, quiet and empty. Tolliver was nowhere to be seen, but the room was still littered with medical supplies, as if he'd just left. Clay lay on the bed, asleep.

"The drugs, I guess, huh?" Dawn said. "You probably had to dose him pretty good—" she stopped as her hand touched Clay's forehead, then quickly looked at Jeremy. "He's still warm."

"The fever broke, but he's still fighting the infection."

"Infection? But—" Buffy looked at the bandages on his arm. "Have you checked—?"

"Yes, it's still there."

Jeremy walked over to the sisters; close enough to touch, but just standing beside them.

"Okay," Dawn said. "But that's because the portal isn't completely closed, I bet. It probably takes some time. We should send Nick and Antonio over; see whether anyone's come back through. Then we'll know it's closed."

Jeremy nodded, gaze down, and motioned for Dawn to sit beside Clay while he took the chair. She made the call.

"Jeremy," Buffy said while Dawn was on the phone. "I take full responsibility."

Jeremy nodded. "I know Buffy. I knew from the moment you challenged me what you would do. For you the Slayer has always dominated the wolf in matters of the heart. The Slayer protects those it loves. For it, unlike the wolf, knows what is out there in the darkness. If I may quote the prophecy that Dawn told me. In every generation there is a chosen one. She alone must stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer. You are she, Buffy. But you are more than just the Slayer now, but it still resides within you. And because of it, you will be Alpha someday."

Buffy wasn't sure if she wanted to be Pack Leader or not. But she nodded. She figured that with the support of those she loved this time would be different. That this time would not be like during the deal with the First Evil. That there would be no betrayals.

An hour later, Nick phoned. They'd returned to the portal site to find a growing crowd of media, police and onlookers. The three missing people had appeared shortly after Rose's death, unharmed and dazed, remembering nothing.

So, the portal was closed.

And still Clay slept, still feverish, still infected.

The others returned. They checked on Clay, but there had been no change. Jeremy told them to make ready to head back to Stonehaven. When they left, Dawn stood clutching Clay's warm hand.

"It didn't work, did it?" Dawn said.

He shook his head.

"You knew it wouldn't. You knew Hull was lying, that closing the portal wouldn't cure Clay. There's no magic here, is there?" Buffy said.

He walked up behind the sisters, very gently kissed the back of their heads each in turn and whispered, "No."

Dawn's knees wobbled, and she grabbed the side of the bed, but Buffy and Jeremy caught her arms to steady her.

"He'll be fine, Dawn," Buffy said.

"Randall is coming back to do the debridement—cut away the infected area—" Jeremy added.

"But that means—Tolliver said—it'll be permanent, won't it? Muscle damage?" Dawn said.

"Possibly." He hesitated. "Probably. His arm won't be perfect, but he'll still have it. Right now, those are my priorities. First, that he keeps the arm. Failing that, that he keeps his life."

Dawn lowered herself onto the bed.

Jeremy put his hand on Dawn's shoulder. "Matthew Hull is dead. The portal is closed. Your babies and Buffy's baby are safe. You two are safe. Yes, Clay might lose muscle. Possibly even his arm. But you know what he'll think about that?"

The sisters looked at Jeremy.

"That it was a small price to pay, considering what he could have lost."

Buffy and Dawn nodded in understanding. They knew how Clay felt not only about Dawn, but Buffy and Savannah as well. They knew Clay would be willing to give up his life if it meant that Buffy, Dawn and Savannah were safe.

Clay's cure did come—at the hands of a doctor. Tolliver cut out the infected tissue, and found clean flesh below it. So, it was over. A price paid but, as Jeremy said, a relatively small one.

Clay woke up later the next day, when the drugs wore off. Groggy at first, he just lay there, listening as Dawn told him that Hull was dead. That she had cast the enjoining spell that allowed Buffy to kill him. Clay was too weak to manage more than muttering, "You and Buffy took a stupid risk, Dawn."

Then Jeremy explained what they'd done to his arm, that some of the muscle had been damaged. While he'd have plenty of physiotherapy to undergo, he'd never get his full strength back in that arm.

Clay took it all in, unblinking. He met Dawn's gaze. "Ready to go home, darling?"