Chapter Four: The Vampire Haven, Part 2

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy nodded and put her hand to her ear and spoke over the intercom. ::

"Okay everybody, the coast looks pretty clear. Move in, keep a sharp eye out, and communicate. And be careful."

With that, Buffy and her team silently entered the building. The two guards, caught by surprise, were quickly dispatched. The team slowly moved down the staircase. As they went deeper and deeper underground, the heavy pulse of music could be heard, louder and louder.

Reaching the bottom of the staircase, they found a corridor that emptied into a large room. A gothic-looking stone hallway encircled the room, doorways like the one Buffy and the others were standing at on three of the four sides. There were evenly-spaced slits in the stone allowing those in the corridor to look into the room, permitting the white hats to watch the events inside while staying out of view.

Between sixty and seventy vamps were milling about, some dancing, some talking in small groups.

At the head of the room, a figure sat. She was tall, South American - exotic looking. Long dark hair, dark eyes. Thin, lithe. She was looking onto the scene with amusement.

:: Under her breath, Buffy couldn't help but comment. ::

"What is this place? Vamp Studio 54?"

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow watched the vampires, completely shocked, she had never seen Vampires act this way.Then she had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing at buffy’s comment, because that’s what it looked like. She noticed Buffy was looking at the tall women sitting at the front of the hall, and she whispered ::

Buffy: "What do you think is up with the Queen of the damned?"

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy shook her head. She had never seen so many vamps in one place - this was definitely not normal. Something was going on here, and she had a bad feeling that they needed to figure out what it was. But how? ::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike tried very, very hard to remain still and silent. The adrenaline of the upcoming battle threatened to heave him forward into the room, fists and fangs, holding nothing back.

He breathe in and exhaled in an act to calm himself. He closed his eyes. His senses sharpened.

He opened his eyes again, and peered past Buffy into the room.

He caught the seventy or so vamps in th room, and the tall, exotic looking brunette sitting front and center.

Spike's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Oh, shit, Slayer," Spike whispered quickly, harshly, before he could even think to mask his reaction. The gut wrenching dread he'd felt on the walk twisted knots in his stomach. "Buffy, we should go. Right. Sodding. NOW."

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy looked at Spike. Why was he suddenly being so timid? After the number of creepies they defeated in the alley...just because there were more vamps than they had previously thought that didn't mean they couldn't take them. After all, they were a large group of highly trained fighters. ::

"Don't go soft on me now..."

:: She turned back to the window, her eyes resting again on the seated woman. There was something about her...something Buffy couldn't put her finger on. As she studied her face, the woman was watching the other vamps. And then her eyes seemed to lock with Buffy's. And she smiled.

Buffy was startled, and pulled back from the wall. Once again she put her hand to her ear, and spoke to the other groups. ::

"Attack."

:: Buffy led the others through the doorway and into the fray. ::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike was about to reply to Buffy's soft comment - but no sooner did he open his mouth than did Buffy give the signal.

Spike smiled, raised his sword, and dove into the room.

The vamps were quick - Quicker than normal, he thought. It was something Spike filed away as he slid from the face of a man to the face of a monster, and roared.

A vamp dressed in raver gear - bright red PVC pants, hair spiked in a multitude of colors, multicolored bangles around his pale wrists jangling incessantly - turned and roared back at Spike. Spike just grinned at him.

Without thinking, letting his impluses take over, Spike whipped the sword up and tried for a clean swipe to the vamp's head. Instead, the vamp whipped his left arm up to meet the sword.

He hissed as the metal cut him to the bone. He looked at his arm. "That hurt," he grunted. Stolen blood streamed like a waterfall from the wound, making Spike's demon even more bloodthirsty.

The grin never leaving Spike's face, he replied, "Not as much as this is gonna, mate."

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Spike loped his head off cleanly. His head even rolled a couple of times before he dusted.

Oh, this...this is gonna be fun.

[Wanabee-slayer]

::Angel had returned to his team and following Buffy's lead lead his team through the third door. Seeing all the vamps made Angel swear under his breath::

To himself: "I knew there was something she wasn't telling me."

[Winifred Burkle]

::Oz heard Buffy's signals over the headsets, each time waiting to see Faith's first move, before he himself moved.::

(Whoa. This is a hell of a lot of vampires. Definatly more than I expected, more than I think anyone did.)

::His human side was feeling the fear, and it was feeding his animal instincts.::

(This isn't going to be pretty.)

::He only hoped that everyone on their side would come out alive. As a brief memory of graduation day passed through his mind.::

(Here's to hoping.)

::Oz focused in on the task at hand, and pushed aside anything else.::

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow followed the others through the door into the room. A vampire came straight for her , ("I wish I had taken a bigger weapon"). He was picking up speed as her ran towards her, she kicked him in the ankle just as he reached her, the vamp had been running to fast and he tripped up, flying face first into the wall beside the door they had just come in. Willow quickly ran over and staked the vampire before he had gotten back up. Then she turn around to find her next slayee... ::

[Angels baby101]

::Illyria stood beside Faith and oz as they came down the stairs, she stopped when she saw the vamps and smiled, There were alot but enough to handle. As buffy gave word and everyone split up Illyria kept Dawn in eye view and in distance to be protected, A gothic looking vampire made its way toward Illyria quickly throwing a punch at her, Illyria grabbed his hand and flipped him quickly staking him in the heart.::

(This wont take long at all.. after all they are just a bunch of half breeds what destruction could they do?)

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew stared at the large group of vampires in awe. However, after the intense battle in the Los Angeles' alley only a couple nights earlier, he knew they would make it through this one ... or at least, he thought he knew. Andrew made his way into the fray with a long stake in his hand, stabbing anything and everything he could get a hold of. ::

(Take that, you John Travolta wannabees!)

:: All of a sudden a very large and muscular vamp dressed entirely in leather S&M-wear grabbed Andrew by the neck and lifted him in the air. Andrew, gasping for breath, noticed Illyria out of the corner of his eye. ::

Illyria (through intense weezing and coughing): "Help! ... Over here!"

[Angels baby101]

::Illyria quickly turned to see Andrew being several inches above the ground, She was quite amused at the colors he had been changing, She quickly rushed over to the large vamp and elbowed him in his spine, the vamp let out a growl and dropped andrew to the ground, turning his rage towards Illyria, He stretched his arms out to grasp her in a tight hold but she narrowly ducked his grip, swinging her leg behind his feet tripping him to the ground. She looked around for her stake and took note that she had dropped it where she last stood, She quickly looked around for something else to use and set her eyes on a smallish battle ax, She reached for the ax and brought it down to the vamps neck, slicing through with a little difficulty, she watched as he burst into ashes. She quickly turned to see If Andrew was alright from being dropped::

"Are you injured?"

[Lyri]

::GWen stared in horror at the vampires in front of her.::

Okay, definitely wasn't expecting this many.

::Looking around, she watched as her team leaped into the battle. Her instincts told her to stick with Spike, but they had already decided that they should split up. So she moved to her left, away from Spike.

::Two vampires seemed to catch her scent and came charging for her.

::Gwen let her power flow freely as she lashed out with her fists, striking each leech in the jaw. Their skin sizzled and they convulsed as the electricity pased through them. Gwen penetrated both of their hearts with the stake Faith had given to her and watched as their ashes sifted to the floor.::

"Damn, maybe I am good at this."

::She pivoted on her left foot and took out another one, throwing herself into the fight.::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike whirled, decapitating a female the reminded him starkly of Drusilla. He looked down as the ashes drifted like snowflakes to the floor.

Well, he thought, raising his sword and whirling again, decapiating another leech. That was bloody bracing.

A tall, lumbering linebacker of a vampire stomped in front of Spike, obstructing his vision. "Oh, bloody hell." he cursed.

The vampire smiled at him. It was more a hideous facsimilie of a grin than an actual smile. "Hello, Spike."

Spike cocked his head to the side. "Don't believe I've had the pleasure, mate."

The vampire continued to grin as his raised his fist and smashed it down on Spike's head.

Spike fell to the ground, rolled, and shot back up. Linebacker advanced, quicker than his size let on. They're fast, he reminded himself. Linebacker sent a fist sailing towards Spike's chest - Spike danced backwards, parrying him with his sword.

Spike raised the blade with a roar and and bore it down, cleaving Linebacker between the collarbone and shoulder. The other vampire roared.

Spike tried to pull out the blade, and found it stuck. "...huh," he said quizzically, and before Linebacker could react, Spike had planted both feet firmly on his chest and flipped backwards, wrenching the sword out with the sickening shunk.

Linebacker roared again, stumbling backwards. Spike didn't waste time - he jumped into the air to make up the height difference and swung the sword in and arc that took Linebacker's head clean off.

He landed on the balls of his feet, bouncing. This feels good, he raptured. He spun in enough time to see Gwen staking her first two vamps - Spike caught her gaze, smiled a little, and nodded at her. Good on her, he thought. Girl can take care of herself.

[Wanabee-slayer]

::Angel heard Buffy's command over the earpiece::

All:"Let's go."

::Angel was off hacking and slashing at the vamps attempting to attack him::

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew massaged his neck as Illyria took care of the vampire. ::

Illyria: I'm fine. But ...

:: Andrew pulled himself up from the ground. ::

Illyria: Maybe you should stick close.

[Angels baby101]

::Illyria looked at him with a smirk.::

"Sure just try not to get killed."

::Illyria turned from Andrew and started on another huge vamp, stronger then the one she just dealt with, Illyria found this out as his balled up fist met her jaw, she rubbed it for a second before throwing the same punches back to the vamp, She aimed for his chest and punched deep, her arm slid into the vamp and back out turnning him to dust.::

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew marveled at the skill Illyria possessed and stared in wonderment. ::

Illyria: I don't think that'll be an issue.

:: All of a sudden a female vampire grabbed Andrew from behind and attempted to draw first blood from Andrew's already swollen jugular. However, Andrew swung around quickly and rammed the stake deep into her chest. She fell to dust at his feet. ::

(Looks like I can handle the girls ...)

[VisionGuy]

:: Connor ran toward a vamp and kicked him in his stomach with great force. The vampire went flying backwards. Connor got his sword ready and slashed another vamps head off.

(This isn't too hard.)

:: Another vamp came toward him so Connor swung his sword at him but he missed. The vampire then kicked the sword out of Connor's hand and punched him in the face. Connor fell back so the vampire tried to get a hold of his neck. Connor took out a stake and thrust it right in the vampire's chest.
The vampire turned to dust so Connor jumped up and went to go get his sword.

[Black Eye Guy]

:: It did not take long for another vampire to take on Willow, He had just tried to hit her from the side but she had managed to block it, but she could not keep this up even blocking the attacks hurt, she did not have the strength of a Slayer, but she had other skills. The Vampire took a step back for his next attack and Willow used this, her hand shot out, palm face outwards, her arm extended to just about an inch away from his chest. She then gave the vamp a little magical push, He went flying back and landed on his back. She ran forward stake in hand, but by the time she got to him he had jumped to his feet and spin kicked her, she spun a little and fell to the ground, dropping the stake, it rolled just out of her reach. ("Crap").
The vampire advanced towards her, she waved her hand towards him and yelled ::

Vampire: "Ignis incende"

:: Suddenly the vampire burst into flames and turned to dust. Willow crawled over to her stake, and then got to her feet.
By the time she had gotten to her feet another Vampire had already chosen her as her victim, she started walking towards Willow, ready to kill ::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike had been a little too close to the vampire Willow had ignited. He raised his hands in front of his face and backeds up quickly as the vamp disentegrated into flaming ashes. "Jesus, Red!" Spike shouted, whirling on an advancing vampire. "Not all of us have flaming death wishes."

The vampire darted towards Spike, quicker than the human eye could track. Lucky for me, then, Spike thought as he darted to his right, sending a foot out to crack the vampire in under the chin. The vamp did a comedic flip backwards into his back.

Spike rolled his eyes. "This is too bloody easy," he said, opting for simpler means than the broadsword he favored. He flipped open his duster and produced a stake instead. "There has to be a catch."

Spike bent down and dusted the vamp, and rose in a enough time to dodge the pointy end of another sword aimed to slice his head off. He jumped backwards, startled.

"Spoke too bloody soon, didn't you, Spike?" He chided himself, whipping up his own sword and blocking and advancing attack by the bearer of the sword. The metal shrieked with a resounding clang.

Spike pushed forward, counterbalancing the other vampire and making him stumble. Spike darted forward and spun and kicked, knocking the sword out of the other's hands.

A stake in one hand and his sword in the other, Spike roared and dove into him, stake slamming home.

Spike landed face first on the cold concrete floor, rolled, and flipped back to his feet. He resheathed his stake in his duster pocket and bent to retrieve the fallen vampire's sword.

[Lyri]

::Gwen was lost in the fight, zapping every vampire that came at her, giving her enough time to stake it. She watched out of the corner of her eye as the witch set one of the vamps on fire, and heard Spike retort about being too close.

::Wishing now that she had brought the axe after all, Gwen raised her foot and landed a solid kick to the vamp trying to come at her from the right. A fist to the side of his face sent a wave of electricity through him, and she stepped in close as he jittered from the shock and slammed her stake home.

::She heard someone mumbling about the fight being too easy and whirled around to pinpoint the voice...and saw stars as a fist slammed into the side of her face.::

[Wanabee-slayer]

::Angel slashed at a vampirer that was trying to kick the sword out of his hands and managed to cut it's head off before another one appeared behind. He thrust a stake into it's chest and moved towards Connor::

Connor;"How are you doing over here?"

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike picked up the sword and spun, blades outstretched in both hands. Two more heads hit the ground before they dusted.

He spun both of the swords, relishing the battle. He turned in enough time to see a vampire punch Gwen in the face. The girl reeled.

Spike felt a growl build in his chest, and was about to beat the vampire senseless when two more advanced on him, blocking his view. Spike managed to not roll his eyes at the Terrible Twosome.

"Listen, mates," he said amibly, grinning. "I've got better things to do right now, yea? So make yourselves gone before I make you dust."

The other vampires looked at eachother, and turned on him.

They ran full tilt for him, each spreading to come at him from both sides. Spike flipped the swords again and at the precise moment, raised them.

Both vampires impaled themselves on his blades, and they both let out a roar at the exact some time. Spike laughed.

He wrenched his blades free, spinning gracefully out of the way. He bore down the sword in his right hand, cleaving the vampire at his left in half.

Blood spurted everywhere. Spike smiled.

The other vampire, the female, looked in shock at the gruesome tableau in front of her. "MICHAEL!" She screeched, turning, full of rage, on Spike.

"He's not dead, you dolt." He bit off, rolling his eyes at the idiocy of this clan. They're fast, not smart, he observed.

The girl wasn't listening. She let out a battle cry and came for Spike before he had the chance to raise either of his swords in defense.

The girl lept into the air and kicked him hard on his right temple. He thought of Gwen and the irony of the attack briefly before he spun to the ground, both blades sliding out of his reach.

His head met the concrete with sickening thud. He saw stars for a moment, and blackness started encroaching his vision.

Not now, he thought savagely. Not when they need me.

He swore and pushed himself back up, but not enough time. The girl straddled him and began beating on him with her fists. He was rocked by each punch; the blackness got a little closer each hit she landed. She punched him hard in the jaw - he could taste he own blood in his mouth.

Spike felt his anger rising, burning like a fuel fire inside him. He roared, louder than ever, and with a surge of strength, bucked the female off of him. She flew backwards, landing face first on the cold concrete floor.

Spike flipped upwards. He was panting from the exertion. "Not today, love," he said softly, as he went to one of his swords and stomped it into his waiting hand. He advanced. The girl backed away from him, her hideous vampiric face stricken with fear. He raised his sword, and in one fell swoop, decapitated her. "And not you." He said to the shower of dust.

He raced to the pieces of the other vampire, whipped out his stake, and slammed it home. Both halves turned to dust.

He turned, searching through the battle for Gwen.

[Winifred Burkle]

::Oz was not quite so quick in his dispencing with vamp after vamp, but he was holding his own rather well. Not too worse for wear so far. He'd been studing several martial arts while he was away as a means of channeling his energies and learning more focus. It also made him a more skilled fighter. His technique was much better than it used to be, more fluid, a few good moves and his ax blade sliced into the neck of the nearst vamp, and it quickly fell to dust.::

[Lyri]

::Gritting her teeth, Gwen forced away the darkness that threatened to take hold of her and spun on the guilty vampire. She grabbed him by the front of his tattered shirt, ripping the material even more, exposing his chest. Laying her palm on the vamp's chest, Gwen listened as the skin became to sizzle. Keeping her hand in place, she watched as the vamp started on fire, her power sparking the flames. The vampire combusted within seconds.

::Gwen looked down her her hand.::

"Pretty cool."

::Giving Spike the prearranged signal that she was okay, a wink, Gwen waded back into the fight.::

[Harley Quinn]

::A young woman made her way gracefully through the many vampires in the room, her deep blue eyes shining with delight. Her crimson red dress was the same style she always wore and her long, black hair was done in the same fashion as always. Her skin was pale white, and her lips and nails were blood red. A cynical smile formed on those lips when she stopped a few feet from where spike stood. Since she was standing behind him, she went unnoticed until she spoke.::

"Hullo, Spike, have you come to join to party? Miss Edith said you would come."

::She closes her eyes and starts to sway gently to the music, as if it were a waltz of some kind. After a few minutes, though, she stops and opens her eyes to look at him, no longer smiling.::

"Miss Edith says you're not here to dance. And you've come with her."

::A look of disgust crossed Drusilla's face as she glances in Buffy's direction.::

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow watched as Gwen lit one of the vampires on fire::

Gwen: "Guess I’m not the only fire starter here!"

:: She smiled, but the smile quickly faded when she saw the Vampire Spike was talking to, she just stood there watching::

("Oh this is gonna get worse)

::She was still watching Spike and Drusilla, so she only saw the vampire that was about to tackle her a moment before she did. The Vampire jumped at Willow making her fall to the ground, they landed with the vampire on top of her::

Vampire: "Sorry I'm in a relationship"

::She rolled over throwing the vampire off her, and jumped to her feet, as did the vampire, the vampire started to run towards her, but Willow stuck out her arm again and yelled::

Vampire: "Protect!"

[A shield of yellow light protects Willow]

::The vampire is hitting the barrier but it only ripples and shows no sign of giving way::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike caught Gwen's signal and began to wade back into the fight with a smile.

And suddenly...

Spike stopped. He heard her voice, but he wasn't sure, couldn't possibly be...

He turned, slowly, sword limp in his hand. He looked down and met her familiar blue eyes. She swayed, her ethereal beauty catching him off guard.

"Dru." Was all he managed. He was a mixture of many things - terrified, tranfixed. Here stood the woman that made Spike into what he was.

His sword fell to the ground. He managed to back up a few steps, although lots of parts of him didn't want to. He was shocked, shaken to the very core of his being. He looked her up and down, and locked eyes with her. "Drusilla, love, what are you doing here?"

[Anita Blake]

::Faith, fighting next to Oz smiled::

(Now, this is more like it!)

Oz: "How ya doin' there?"

::Twirling around she staked another vamp, and quickly swept her feet out to knock another one down. Swiftly taking care of that one, she jumped back on her feet and started working her way to the door, through which she could hear another team, who sounded like they could use some back up.::

Team: "Come on guys! Lets kick their butts and head out to the real party!"

[Wanabee-slayer]

::Angel heard Dru's name and turned his back on Connor. Then he recognised the girl Spike was talking to.::

To himself:"Crap. This just got a whole lot worse."

[Harley Quinn]

:: Drusilla's cynical smile returned as she danced in a circle around Spike, swaying to her own music. Her arms were outstretched, Miss Edith hanging from her left hand. When she came to stand in front of Spike once more, she said.::

"I've come to dance and play."

::She stared deep into his blue eyes and her smile widened, her eyes filling with child-like innocence.::

"Will you dance with me, Spike?"

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike watched as Drusilla danced around him. He followed her in her circle, eyes ticking at every movement she made. Drusilla was a killer, and the worst part, was that you never knew she was coming for you.

He didn't know what to say to her. The demon that was caged inside, beneath the human influence of his soul, raptured in her presence. The man inside him was shaken.

He understood what Drusilla was saying - he'd been her paramour for over a century, it's not like you don't learn something about a person. The demon in him screamed yes.

"No, Drusilla." He said stonily, yet softly, like he was chiding a child. He'd used this tone many a time in the century or more he and Drusilla had torn the world in two together. "I'm not going to dance with you."

He raised his chin, and ticked his eyes to the sword that lay two, maybe three feet in front of him. Between him and Drusilla. He didn't make a move for it, just prepared himself for whatever mood swing Drusilla might throw herself into.

[Winifred Burkle]

Faith: "Okay."

::That was his sole response to any and all statements she made. It covered it all nicely. They moved into the heart of it, and a couple vamps came at him right off. No doubt Oz appeared to be a smaller, easier target than some of the others. Oz moved with ease and care, and swung on into a wall and kicked the other back, then his ax blade found it's way to both their necks with a few well timed dodge and attack moves.::

(Intense.)

::Things were getting fast paced, at a rather fast pace. He could feel the fire of the animal rising in him, as he became ultra alert. His hearing highly tuned, he heard, but couldn't see Drusilla.::

(That can't be a good sign.)

::He didn't have time to think too much longer though, as he heard a step behind him and turned to defend himself again, from another vampire.::

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow watched with a slight grin on her face, as she was obliviously enjoying this, The vampire was trying to beat its way through the barrier. Knowing that she was safe for the moment she looked back over to where she had seen Drusilla earlier, she was still talking to Spike, both times that Drusilla had come to Sunnydale, she caused so much havoc, it was not a good sign that she was here.
Turning her attention to the Vampire being kept at bay by the barrier, Willow walked up the it. The Vampire was punching it but it only rippled where she touched it. Willow raised her stake had said: ::

"Dimitto"

:: The Barrier faded out of existence, and Willow used the split second between it falling and being gone completely to plunge the Stake into the Vampires chest, The vampire rolled her eyes and turned to dust::

[VisionGuy]

:: Connor saw that the presence of the of the brunette female vampire had gotten Angel distracted. Connor punced a vamp in the face and went over to Angel.

Angel: "Dad, whats wrong? Who is that?"

[Wanabee-slayer]

:: Angel heard Connor but couldn't take his eyes off Drusilla - she was dangerous and he knew that. ::

Connor: "That's Drusilla. Let's just say she's an OLD friend."

:: Angel put much emphasis on the word old hoping Connor would get the message. ::

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy fought - taking two, sometimes three at a time. Punch...kick...stake. Stake...hook...stake. Through the crowd of vamps. She looked up to see that the dark-haired woman was now standing, and watching her. Buffy was drawn to her somehow, and the crowd of warring bodies seemed to part for her as she made her way to the head of the room. She stopped, looking up into the face of this strange adversary. ::

[Ansara]

:: She smiled, amused at the scene that lay before her, not caring for the slain minions turning to dust before her. She looked down from where she stood at the Slayer - more that of someone welcoming an old friend than sizing up an enemy. She descended the few stairs that seperated where she was standing from the main floor. She spoke, regal and flowing, only a hint of an accent still in her voice. ::

"I knew you would come. We think alike, you and I."

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy scoffed at the arrogance of the woman standing before her. She exuded confidence - and did not seemed the slightest bit fazed that a battle was raging around her. ::

"Not unless you think you’ll be dust soon."

[Ansara]

:: Ansara laughed. ::

"I doubt that. I doubt that very much."

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy swung at the head of dark-haired woman, but she easily ducked the blow. Buffy then threw a series of punches, but each were blocked. On and on, punch after punch, kick after kick, the Slayer's blows were each countered in turn. Buffy began to tire.

It seemed that she was playing with the Slayer - never trying too hard to attack, but always stopping Buffy's.

And then it happened: the woman attacked and connected, throwing Buffy a distance and knocking her onto the ground.

Buffy looked up in disbelief. The woman was strong, much stronger than the average vampire. And she stood there, smiling down triumphantly. ::

[Ansara]

:: Ansara never lost her feeling of presence throughout the duration of the fight. With the Slayer on the ground she moved forward until she was nearly standing over her. She smiled again. ::

"We will meet again, Slayer."

:: She turned on her heal and with a wave of her hand some of the vamps fell in behind her and retreated, while others moved in between her and the Scoobies, covering their exit. And then she was gone. ::

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy was knocked back into the present as a vamp came rushing at her. She leapt to her feet and used his own force to impale him on the stake she still managed to hold. She then turned, and seeing Willow, moved towards her.

"Will, can you do us some mojo to take out some of these baddies? Something not right here - I think we should get out of here as soon as possible."

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike turned his gaze from Dru long enough to notice the action going on between Buffy and Ansara.

Spike had recognized the dark-haired beauty right off the bat - he remembered now his stuttering warning to Buffy. Spike's hands flexed and twitched as he saw Ansara punch Buffy and throw her to the ground. He almost darted to her aid, but a quick glance at the still smiling Drusilla nipped the thought straight in the bud. She'd be on him in a second, and Buffy was already recovering as Ansara swept from the room.

He turned his attention back to Dru, and rolled his eyes. Her silence was wearing on him. He locked eyes with her and darted to the sword, stomped it back up and without another word to his former love, he darted around her and headed in Buffy's direction.

[Lyri]

::The vampire Gwen had been fighting backed off when the order was given. Looking around, Gwen watched as Buffy fought with a dark skinned woman, and noticed Spike speaking to another female vampire, before lifting his sword and rushing to help Buffy.

::Thinking that she could be of some use, Gwen followed after Spike, keeping the vampire he had been talking to in her peripheral vision.

::But another vamp saw where she was headed and grabbed her by the back of the hair. Gwen chocked back a scream as the leech pulled on her brown tresses, jerking her head back. Exposing her neck.

::Gwen realized at the last second what was about to happen, just before the vampire's fangs pierced her skin, sinking into her flesh. Gwen could feel her blood being sucked into the vampire's mouth. She let out a scream, which she quickly stifeled.::

No, i won't go out like this.

::Reaching up behind her, Gwen laid her palm on the vamp's face and sent a shock through him. It wasn't enough to kill him, but it was enough to make him let her go and he stumbled back.

::Her legs gave way from under her and Gwen collapsed onto the cold stone floor, trying not to balck out.::

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow nodded to Buffy. She looked around at the Vampires, whatever she did she would need to do something big, there was allot of Vampires ::

Buffy: "I'm guessing fire would be the easiest answer. I will recast the fire spell I cast earlier, but I’ll amplify it. I'll need a few minuets to gather some power to control the fire, so I will be able to direct it.”

:: She took a step back from Buffy, stretched her arms out in front of her and clasps them together, then said ::

"Vulcan god of fire I pray to three, bring forth the burning river of Fire.
I ask of thee to burn my enemies, punish and purge them.
To the god of Fire I pray."

:: She slowly started to move her hands apart, revealing a glowing dot of fire, as her hands got further apart the dot got bigger, until it was about the size of a tennis ball ::

"To the bringing of the eternal flame, I call.
Bring a firey rain down upon those who would oppose.
Let the fires consume.
To the god of Fire I pray."

:: She stopped moving her hands, and she started repeating the spell over and over, each time she said it the ball of fire got brighter and brighter ::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike stopped dead in his tracks. Dread washed over him and he wasn't sure why...

He turned around to see a vampire greedily sucking the life from Gwen. If his heart beat, it would've stopped - the world seemed to slow.

Spike changed faces, roaring, "GWEN!"

His anger rose to fever pitch. The hideous visage of the demon inside Spike contorted with rage as Spike veritably flew the twenty or so feet between him and the vampire.

The vampire had backed off Gwen and the girl had fallen. These were things Spike barely saw through his bright yellow eyes.

He raised the sword with a defeaning roar and launched himself into the air. He bore down on the vampire with a rage-fueled strength. The vampire didn't have time to react - Spike struck him in the face with one punch, busted him the in jaw with the hilt of his blade in the other as the both landed on the concrete.

Spike rose and kicked the vampire laying on the ground. Repeatedly. So much so that he could feel his muscles starting to cramp, but that didn't stop him. Nothing stopped him.

He paused for about two seconds to survey the damage with a grin. He then whipped out his stake and struck the vampire where it hurts. The dust settled.

Spike straightened and sensed another leech coming for the wounded girl on the floor. He turned without a blink and let the stake fly, striking home. Both vampire and stake turned to blood-scented ash.

Spike dropped his sword as he kneeled down beside Gwen, melting out of vamp face. "Gwen, love?" He said shakily, covering the still trickling wound on her neck with his hand. "Static Girl, it's me, it's Spike. I'm here. I'll take care of you ducks, you just need to hang in there for me."

He looked up at Willow with panicked eyes. "Red, make with the sodding mojo already! Gwen's hurt. We need to get her out of here."

[Harley Quinn]

:: Drusilla made her way over to Spike and the girl who had been attacked moments before. She was grinning sadistically and with evil gleam in her eyes. She knelt on the other side of the fallen girl, gazing over her at Spike.::

"You won't dance with me, but you want to. Part of you wants to dance with me, Spike."

:: Drusilla looked down at the girl and ran her hands over the girl's face, not touching her, but close enough.::

"She has power. I can feel it."

::She closed her eyes as she continued running her hands over the girl's face and began to hum.::

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew began to fight his tenth vampire, it seemed. This one was a lot bigger than the rest. He wasn't necessarily muscled ... just really fat. Using the vamp's slowness to his advantage, Andrew threw a few choice punches at the big demon's nose, but noticed that it didn't even slow him down. Realizing he wasn't getting out of this one unharmed, Andrew cringed in anticipation of what was going to happen next. ::

Vampire: Just make it quick ...

:: Andrew winced as the 300-pound vampire picked him up off the cold concrete and threw him straight at Willow ... knocking her to the ground. Andrew looked at her with a guilty expression as he lay on top of her. ::

Willow: Did I mess you up?

[Lyri]

::Gwen blinked back the darkness and looked up at Spike, where he was kneeling beside her, his hand staunching the blood flow.::

Spike: "I'm okay...just a bit light headed."

::She sensed someone else close by and turned to her right and saw the dark haired vampire Spike had been talking to a few moments before. Gwen flinched as the vampiress ran her hand across Gwen's face, but never touching her. The vamp closed her eyes and began to hum, and Gwen inched closer to Spike.::

Spike: "What's going on? Who is she?"

[Wanabee-slayer]

::Angel saw Gwen fall and rushed to her aid although Spike. Angel felt responsible for Gwen as he was one of the first people to have met her. He rushed past Dru and fell to the ground next to Gwen.::

Gwen:" Are you okay?"

[Anita Blake]

::Faith saw Buffy fly past her after being thrown by a vampire who sent warning bells clanging in her head::

(What the hell?)

:: Decapitating one of the vamps currently surrounding her she was about to head towards Buffy, when a vamp, larger than any of the others came weaving through the vamps weilding a very large club::

(Woah, viking dude gotta go!)

::Seeing that the vamp had his gaze fixed on Willow and Andrew, she went charging towards them. Almost absentmindedly staking one of the vamps currently attacking Oz as she passed him (He can handle himself nicely...hmmm) she picked up speed almost running before letting out a Xena-like warrior yell and launching herself in the air towards him....only to have him turn around right before she reached him and grab her in mid-flight by the throat::

(Ouch....maybe next time I'll try for the more silent, less dramatic approach. No more Xena yells, check.)

::Struggling against the vamps hold she started flailing at him and got in a good kick in his abdomen. The vamp grunted and relaxed his grip just long enough for her to get away from him, only to fall on top of the pile that was Willow and Andrew::

Willow and Andrew: "Hey guys. You miss me?"

[Buffy Summers]

As Willow fell to the ground, the fireball in her hand changed from red to a deep blue. It flew erratically into the air, fizzing and popping as it went, zig-zagging until it hit Drusilla full in the chest.

Her eyes grew wide and she was raised slightly off the ground, her body seemingly lit by the mysterious blue light and tense as if she was receiving an electric shock.

Then suddenly the light was gone and Drusilla collapsed to the ground in a heap, unconcious.

Meanwhile, the remaining vamps had begun to retreat after Ansara.


:: Buffy watched the vampires go as her compatriots dispatched those that did not escape fast enough. She had seen Willow's spell go awry, and its effect on Drusilla. The unconcious vampire had given them an opportunity.

She spoke over the intercom to the others. ::

"Okay guys, let's get out of here. Be careful on the way in case any of them decided to hang around."

She indicated to Drusilla. ::

"Bring her. We need to find out what she knows."

[Lyri]

::Gwen used Spike and Angel for support as she pulled herself to her feet, glancing at the unconscious form of the vampire laying at her feet. Letting go of Angel, she gripped Spike's duster.::

"Okay, not exactly what I was expecting."

::She looked around and watched as the other vampiers started to following their leader from the room, and Buffy's teams started dispatching the stragglers. Buffy's voice echoed in her ear piece, telling them all to get out.::

"Yeah, I think I've had enough of this place."

[Buffy Summers]

:: Seeing that Angel had Gwen firmly in hand, Buffy grabbed Spike's arm and pulled him away from the others. She looked him directly in the eye, not letting go of his arm. ::

"Okay, I know you've seen her before. Who is she, Spike?"

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike pulled Gwen closer to him as Drusilla started to hum. He kept his mouth pursed in a tight line, not replying to the girl at his feet.

In a flash of blue light, Drusilla flew into the air and crumbled back to the ground in a heap. Part of his heart wrenched.

And then Angel was there, helping him hold Gwen as the girl tried to stand. He noticed how closely she pulled Spike and not Angel - the thought have Spike a grin of satisfaction.

And then Buffy was there.

Spike looked to the side and back to Buffy's eyes. "She used to run with the old crowd - the Master, Darla, the whole Order of Aurelius back in the day. She was the Master's favorite." He dug absently in his duster pockets and produced a crumpled pack of smokes and his silver Zippo. He flicked a cigarette to life and motioned that they should follow Angel and Gwen out the front entrance. He walked lesiurely beside Buffy, even though every instinct in in him screamed to rush to Gwen's side. "No small feat, mind you, to be the favorite of the Master. The old sod was picky about things like that."

He looked away for a moment, then back at Buffy. "Buffy...she's a Slayer. Or was, if you want to be technical. The Master changed her, made her one of us. And she's a stone-cold killer on top of it. Methodical. I only met the bird a couple of times in passing, back when Dru and I used to run with Angelus and Darla. Darla hated the bitch." He lowered his head and chuckled. He looked back up into Buffy's eyes. "Buffy, she's dangerous." He said seriously. "I've seen some the things she's done, and...it made the demon in me slap happy, to put it politely. I really think we should think this one through before we go off tryin' to kill the Big Evil."

[Winifred Burkle]

::Oz let out a breath when Faith dusted one of the vampires that was going after him as she passed. He then turned and offed two more vampire heads as they began to retreat. Then Buffy gave the order to get out. Oz glanced around to see if any of the gang needed assistance of any kind. And he let the animal cool off inside.::

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow was still lying on the floor, moments ago A vampire had thrown Andrew at her and it had stopped the spell, she had been calling in allot of power, and the moment Andrew hit her she had become disconnected from it, it turned to pure power and flew off.
She was exhausted, she set up a little and looked at Andrew ::

Andrew: "No it's not your fault"

:: She could not blame Andrew he had been thrown by someone else. Moments later they were joined by Faith, she smiled at her, she loved how Faith could be in a situation like this but still show she was Uber cool.
She looked around the room, the Vampires had started to flee from the room, following the vampire that had beat up Buffy. She looked toward Buffy, she had just told them they had to leave, but Willow would have to sit for another minuet, ("Having a man thrown at you can really take it out of you").
Buffy was having a conversation with Spike, and she looked like she was questioning him ::

[Angels baby101]

::Illyria looked around and grunted a bit as the vamps fled she caught hold of one on the way past her, grabbing a stake and watching him turn to dust. She turned and headed over toward Faith, Willow, and Andrew::

"The fights not over... "

::Illyria looked toward the door which the vamps fled to::

"Halfbreeds...." Illyria wispered under her breath

[Lyri]

::Gwen felt her knees buckle as Buffy pulled Spike away from her and she grabbed hold of Angel, trying to remain on her feet.::

"Okay, is anyone even listening to me? What is going on?!"

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow looked up at Illyria, as she watched the vampires run ::

"No the fights not finished, but is over for now, im guessing it won't stay that way though. Did you see how that women threw Buffy across the room? I've only ever seen strength like that with Glory.
I hope she's not one of her sisters"

:: She frowns to herself, and then got to her feet ::

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew picked himself off the floor and dusted himself off. ::

Willow: Well, whoever she is ... I doubt Buffy's just going to let her go. I have a feeling we'll be seeing her again ...

:: Andrew rubbed the bleeding wound on his forehead that he had acquired only moments earlier. ::

Willow: Unfortunately ...

[Black Eye Guy]

:: Willow was looking at Andrew, she knew what he said was true. They were going to have to fight her again, probably soon ::

Andrew: "But next time try not to get yourself thrown at me!"

:: She smiles at him ::

[Wanabee-slayer]

::Angel felt Gwen grab him as Spike pulled Buffy away. He felt he should have gone after them but he couldn't leave Gwen alone.::

Gwen:"It's a long story. Look we better get out of here."

::And with that Angel started to help Gwen walk::

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy loosened her grip on Spike's arm, then took a step backwards as she stared at Spike in disbelief. ::

"But that..that can't be possible. Can it?"

[Mesektet Ra]

"'Bout as possible as anything, pet." Spike replied, taking a hit off his cigarette and exhaling. He let the nictoine do its thing, working itself through him to loosen some of the tension he harbored. "'Member that little story I told you a couple years back 'bout Slayers having a death wish? It still holds. This one just got a little more than she bargained for."

Spike looked up ahead of him at Angel and Gwen. He looked at Buffy. "That's all I know, love. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna check on the wounded."

He didn't mention he was wounded himself - he sported cuts and bruises all over his face along with a split lip, and he limped slightly, although he tried his damndest to hide it. He knew he'd be quick to heal, but that didn't help the pain he was feeling at the moment.

He strode away from Buffy to cover the short distance between them and where Gwen was still leaning heavily on Angel, trying to walk. Spike's eyes softened at her strength. She's a fighter, he thought, smiling. Gotta give the girl credit for that.

Spike tapped Angel on the shoulder. "I've got her from here, Peaches." He slid Gwen gently out of his grasp and leaned her onto him. Spike smiled down at her. He began to walk slowly, letting her lean on him heavily for support.

After a beat, Spike looked at Gwen and said, "Y'know, Static Girl, I'm proud of you. You fought better than a lot of demons I've seen in my day." He looked down at the slowly healing bite wound on her neck. "And you've got the battle wounds to show for it, yea?"

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew smirked at Willow's comment. ::

Willow: I'll try. But we all know how much I just can't resist morbidly obese vampires throwing me at random people. It's like an addiction.

:: Andrew looked around at everyone else leaving. ::

Willow and Faith: Maybe we should go? This place kind of gives me the shivers ...

[Lyri]

::As Spike took hold of her, taking her weight, Gwen looked up at Angel and winked at him.::

Angel: "Thanks for the assist."

::Gwen smiled at Spike's comment, putting her hand to the stinging wound in her neck. It had stopped bleeding, mostly, but it was going to leave a scar.::

Spike: "Yeah, first time I've been bitten. It was...intense."

::Gwen tried to push away the feeling of her blood being slowly drained from her body. It was not something she wanted to experience again.::

::Shifting her weight so that she was more comfortable is Spike's arms, she looked up at the blonde Englishman.::

Spike:" So, that vampire you were talking to...you know her?"

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike took a moment to reply. He took a hit off his cigarette with his free hand, the other loped under Gwen's arms, trying to keep her afloat.

"In a manner of speaking, pet." He didn't look at her - he didn't want to see the look in her eyes when he told her who Drusilla was. "Drusilla...she made me. Sired me, as we vamp types like to call it. She took me from a man..." he gestured futilely to himself, "And made me a monster."

He took another hit off his cigarette and flicked it away, half-smoked. "She was also the first love of my unlife. She and I, we tore the world in half together for over a century.

And then things changed."

He didn't feel like divulging anymore. He dipped his head low, shaking it almost sadly.

If he took the time to really understand why he was saying these things to Gwen Raiden, a girl he'd known for maybe twenty-four hours, he might be afraid. He'd been loathe to analyze anything that had happened between them since they first met.

Just friends, nothing more, he kept telling himself. And that's what he would keep telling himself, at least for now.

[Anita Blake]

::Faith dusted herself off while looking around for her stake::

(Damn it. I really liked that one too.)

Andrew: "You're probably right, but did you see where my sparring buddy went? I sorta wanted to kill him..."

[Lyri]

::Even though he wasn't looking at her, Gwen could see the expression on Spike's face as he told her who the vampire was. She held on to him tighter.::

Spike: "A monster?" she gestured at the dust on the floor as they continued to walk out of the vampire haven. "Like them? I can't believe it. I won't. I've only ever seen you as you are now...I refuse to think of what you used to be. We've all got a past, Spike. I've done something's I'm not proud of."

::She pointed with her free hand at Gunn, who was walking at the head of the crowd, swinging the battle axe she had discarded outside.::

Spike: "I killed Gunn once. Right in front of Fred and Angel. I brought him back, but it didn't change what I'd done. But not one of those guys ever held it against me. I know it was wrong, and I don't deserve to fight by their sides, but I can't change what's in the past...and neither can you. You're not that monster anymore."

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike's head shot up in an astonished stare. He swore he didn't blink for ten whole seconds, just looking at the fragile girl barely walking in his arms with amazement.

He lowered his head and grinned crookedly. He cocked his head back up at her. "Sounded like the Poof for a minute there, didn't I?" He straightened, wincing at the pain that caused in his right leg. "We've all got our demons. Mine just happens to be a little more literal, yea?"

He snorted then, digging around in his duster pockets for his cigarettes. "And the fact I'm making myself out to be like the Great Trotting Hairstyle gives me the heaves." He shook out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth, considering everything else she had said about Gunn, about the White Hats Incorporated. He didn't say anything to her about that - the guilt on her face said enough. He pulled out his lighter and sparked the cigarette.

He puffed, thinking. "I guess all we can do is try to make things right, eh, love? Try to balance out the bad we've done with the good. Doesn't matter if there's no hope - we've gotta try." He placed the hand he'd been holding her up with against the back of her head, showing support and understanding. He smiled at her and continued to walk.

[Lyri]

Spike: "Yeah, it's the only thing we can do. And if we can't succeed, hey, at least we tried."

::They walked in silence for a few seconds, comfortable in each other's company. And then Gwen noticed that Spike was limping. Forgetting the pain the wound in her neck was causing, she looked up at him.::

"Are you okay? You're hurt."

[Wanabee-slayer]

:: After Spike came Angel left Gwen to see Buffy.::

Buffy:"That went well."

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike tried valiantly to mask his limp. He tried to look down and smile at her, but the cut on his lip cracked open with the fresh scent of borrowed blood.

He hissed and took the cigarette from his mouth, gingerly touching the wound. "Sod all," he hissed. He looked back at Gwen. Spike quickly took his hand away from his mouth and smiled through the pain. "Vampire, remember? Quick with the healing. Nothing a few hours won't fix."

He tried to take a hit off his cigarette and hissed in pain again. He flicked another half-smoked cigarette away in a shower of orange sparks and began to suck the blood from his bottom lip absently.

[Winifred Burkle]

::Oz exited the structure, with just his ax in hand. One of the first outside. Everyone seemed to be picking themselves up or already had the assistance they needed, so he decided he'd best just start the train out of that place. It was certainly a strange seen, and he knew that probably wouldn't be the last time they'd be fighting those vampires. He'd noticed the powerful vampire who sent Buffy into a wall like a rag doll, and saw the power Willow had grown.::

(Things are different. And this is no ordinary group of vampires it would seem. And Drusilla, that was just a weird suprise. I hope we can piece together something from all this before next time.)

::As for Oz's state, he was alright, few scrapes and bruises, nothing serious though. But he had to admit he was a little blown away by everything. It had been a while.::

[Buffy Summers]

:: Still in disbelief at the identity of the vampire, Buffy touched her earpiece and made arrangements for David to pick them up. She flexed her arms and knew that she would be sore in the morning. She remembered the dream...the nightmare...herself as a vampire. And now it was a reality in the form of this dark-haired woman. Her thoughts snapped back to the present as Angel spoke to her. ::

"Not really. She let us go. We need to talk to Giles."

[Buffy Summers]

Other than a few stragglers, the companions met no resistance as they left the vampire haven. David met them with the convoy at the road, fully stocked with refreshments and first-aid for the ride back to the compound. They had come through the fight relatively unscathed - the sudden departure of most of their adversaries had prevented any major casualties. Reaching the compound with dawn approaching, most of the tired champions retreated to their rooms, secure in the feeling of a job well done. Most, but not all...