ntl3


		Not Too Late Parts 18-21

------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part Eighteen ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Angel jumped out of the van as Willow skidded to a stop. He raced towards the place where Willow had last seen Whistler. [Damn, I hope that little bugger hadn't gotten killed.] When Willow came into the Summers house screaming about demons attacking Whistler, everyone snapped into a frenzy. Angel had managed to calm Giles down enough to make him think to search for a reason why the rapier was so important and with his help, he was able to hold Buffy's mother from coming with him and Willow. It wasn't easy, but after Giles' bruised shins and a kick into Angel's groin, they managed to calm her down and convince her to stay at home with Cordelia. [Man, if I were human now, I'd be singing falsetto. Don't know how Giles does it.] Angel opened his senses to try and find the traces of Whistler's scent. "Angel?"Willow whispered. Angel spun around, growling at her. Surprised, she stepped back, holding the cross in front of her. He growled at it. "Willow, I told you to stay in the car,"he said."It may not be safe here for you." "Like it might be for you?"she retorted."Besides, Look!" Angel spun around and saw what had caught Willow's eye. There was a body draped over the garbage cans of an alley near Willie's place. Both ran towards it, but Angel with his speed, got to it first. "Is-is it Willie or Whistler?"Willow asked. Angel turned the body over and saw the familiar bright red aloha shirt under the leather coat. "It's Whistler. And those vampires did a pretty good job on him. Let's get him to Giles,"Angel said as he lifted Whistler's badly beaten body."I guess you mouthed off to one person too many, friend." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I don't get it. Why beat up Whistler?"Cordelia asked as she sat down at the kitchen table. She was busy assembling water guns to hold holy water."I just don't get." "Maybe he mouthed to one demon too many?"Xander replied as he started pouring water into the assembled guns. Giles shook his head."Willow, you said that Whistler called the demon Lilith. And an Immortal. She was after the rapier, but why?" Willow shrugged."I have no idea what's going on. It was too dark to see, but that they were vampires. If that was Lilith, what was she doing around Willie's?" "And what's an Immortal vampire like her doing near that dump of a place?" Spike asked as he took a loud sip from his straw from an orange container."I mean, why would she be there?" He took a louder sip then burped. When he heard silence, he looked around to find everyone looking at him."What?" "We're-uh-trying to figure out what you're trying to say,Spike"Willow said hesitantly. Giles nodded and then gave him a look. "And that you're being quite rude in sipping that juice loudly,"Giles added. "And burping while at it." His eyes meeting the Watcher’s, Spike took another loud slurp, then belched. Loudly. After that, Spike placed the container down on the counter hard as he stepped up to the Watcher."You're not my old man, Watcher. So you'd better stop acting like it, I can throw you out of here if I want." Xander stood up with water gun in hand."Try it, Spikey boy."

"Stop this," Joyce commanded as she stepped into the kitchen with a box of garlic."Or else I get my axe. And hurt the lot of you." Spike settled down and moved away from Joyce as she made her way to the sink. Giles cleared his throat.”I believe that won’t be necessary, Joyce. Right, Xander? Spike?” Spike nodded as he sat on the kitchen island.”I’m just sipping my orange juice, Mum.” “As long as there are no fight, we’ll all be fine, Liam,”Joyce said as she started running water into the sink. Xander shrugged when he saw Giles’s admonishing look. "So is this Lilith an Immortal vampire? Aren't all vampires Immortal?" Xander asked as he picked up a bulb of garlic."Is this one special?" Spike snorted.”She’s special all right. This Lilith’s immortal, so she’s gonna be hard to hurt. Even harder to find. Especially since the scents in the sewer were faint. And the scent on Whistle-boy’s clothes don’t match the ones from the sewer. And the direction of where Willie’s is. Or what’s going on, especially if she’s the Immortal One.” “Ew! You can smell scents of people?”Cordelia squealed as she scrunched up her face.”How gross is that?” Spike was about to retort when Giles spoke up, trying to avoid another barrage of insults.”But what do you mean about the scents doesn’t match with the direction of where Willie’s is? And if she’s the Immortal One?” "The point that Spike is trying to make, in his own inept way, is that Lilith should not have been anywhere near Willie's,"Angel announced as he came from the basement with several empty blood packets.”And not just because it’s in the opposite direction from where the scents in the sewers were heading to.” Angel threw the packets into the garbage can."If this woman is indeed the Immortal Lilith that created the race of vampires, she would have been treated as royalty. Lilith should have had a minion bring her someone to eat. She shouldn't have to go hunting. She should have stayed in place, and let the others bring her...people." The humans within the kitchen pondered that disturbing thought. "So, then where's Buffy?"Joyce asked quietly as she looked up from the garlic that she was peeling."If this Lilith has Buffy, and she’s been found near Willie's. Where is she? Is Buffy still in town with her? And not near that deserted town. At least I hope not." "Who knows? But there are too many things that are puzzling me,"Giles mused.”The Lilith outside Willie’s is just one of them. Is the Immortal One? If so, then why, as Angel said, was she outside of Willie’s?” "Everything puzzles you, G-man. So give,"Xander said as Giles gave him an annoyed look. "To sum it all up:Buffy's going to be sacrificed tomorrow night for a ritual that will destroy both human and vampire. Why? Furthermore, Hlin was told that Whistler and Spike were not to be harmed, as well as this Lilith demon. Why? Also, the same demon is after the rapier that Whistler recognized over ten thousand years ago. Why? There are too many whys and not enough answers," Giles ended frustratingly."Why destroy both human and vampire? Why is that rapier so important?" "Why not?" Xander quipped. Everyone glared at him."What?" "Let me eat him,"Spike growled."That way we won't have to put up with his nonsense." Everyone ignored him. Joyce sighed."And all it boils down to is that we have no idea what is going on and we don't know where on earth Buffy is."

"Add to the fact that a bunch of vampires are in town which brings up a whole bunch of dead bodies...I think,"said Willow as she drifted off and ran to her laptop. Her fingers flew over the keys. Giles looked over her shoulder. "Willow?" "I'm hacking into the coroner's reports. From what we know, there's been a bunch of vampires coming into town, Right?" "Right."Xander agreed.”From what Willie and Hlin said, there’s a big vamp convention in town.” "But from what we know, there hasn't been any vampire activity in town. No deaths from vampire bites or anything,"Willow said excitedly."Not even that girl we thought was Buffy. See? She died from a broken neck with no bite marks." "That is odd,"Angel said as he looked at Spike. "Don't look at me, Irish. I've been having the stuff that Mum's been giving me." "So if they aren't hunting here, then where?"Cordelia asked. "They must be wherever Buffy is,"Xander said as he looked at Giles for confirmation. "So then where is she?"Joyce asked again. "I know not where she is, Lady Mother,"Hlin said as she entered the kitchen."But I do know where she might have been taken to. Where is Whistler?" "He's in the basement, beaten,"Angel answered as he took a step closer to Hlin."Where's Buffy?" "Will he survive?" "He'll live,"Angel answered curtly."Where's Buffy?" Hlin looked at him coolly and then looked at Buffy's mother."The ritual calls for a sacred place that is near the six elements." "Isn't there only four?"Xander asked. Hlin looked at him impatiently. "There are six: earth, water, air, fire, metal and wood. The Western thought does not include wood and metal."Hlin looked at the Watcher."The deserted town, Navidad, is deserted because it there was a problem with the water table there. It contained a toxic amount of sulfur and radiation. It was originally a mining town." "Water, metal and fire,"Giles whispered."An empty town. Easy to go through the underground tunnels. Near the mountains?" "Surrounded,"Hlin confirmed."There is a house on the mountain that the satellites located." "Buffy's there. Let's go,"Willow said. Hlin stopped her with a hand. "You plan to go into a den of vampires? Without planning something? Are you suicidal?" Giles agreed."We must plan on how to rescue Buffy. We have this night and the day to get her." "And it won't be too late to help her,"Joyce whispered in the air. She looked at Giles. Silently, Giles came over to her and pulled her into his arms."We won't be too late." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part Nineteen ------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hello, how's it going? and what's that?"Xander asked as he pointed to the clay figure being molded in Hlin's hands. Hlin paid no attention to him until he tried to pick up one that was already molded. "Do not touch it, boy!"she growled as she grabbed his hand. Her hazel eyes looked at Xander coldly."It is not ready yet." Xander looked at her and gulped."Sure, Hlin. Whatever you say. We're here trying to create weapons and planning an attack on vampires, and you're here making clay figures." Muttering something under her breath as she stared at the figure she was molding, Hlin ignored him. Xander walked over to where Willow was working. She gave him a welcoming smile. Xander smiled back and the made a head motion towards Hlin. "What's with her? A little obsessive much there,"Xander said as he picked up a small jar and started adding minced garlic to it. Willow glanced at Hlin then back at Xander. "Easy, Xander. She's been like that all night ever since she came back. She only mumbles as she's making those small figures, and lets no one come near her or those figures,"she said as she filled the jars that Xander filled with holy water."What do they look like to you?" "I dunno. Some warped menagerie, I guess. Why is she making those? Shouldn't she be getting help from her Elders or someone? Or at least making weapons?" "I am making weapons, boy,"Hlin said as she walked up behind Xander.”Just like you are.” Xander screamed, then glared at her."We have a rule in this house, no sneaking up on people. What do you mean that you're making weapons? All they you have there are play-dough figures of a weird menagerie." "More specifically, the figures are of a dragon, griffin, lion, wolf, bird, turtle and unicorn,"Giles said as he entered the living room with a book in hand. "What are they to be used for?" "Protection Watcher. We must place these outside the vampire fortress, and the figures will do the rest,"Hlin said."No harm must come to these figures until we are ready to use them. They will protect us when we go into the vampires’ den." "Magic?"Willow asked curiously."Isn't that dangerous?" Hlin smiled softly."Only if the intent is evil and uncontrolled. We of the Mana-kai have been using magics from the beginning, so we know what we are doing." "Speaking of this 'we', are there going to be more of you Mana-kai showing up?"Xander demanded.”Because all these mini-bottles of garlic holy water, stakes and holy water Super-Squirters are not going to be enough if enter the Den of the Dead to rescue Buffy.” "No. Only me, and that is enough for what must be done,"Hlin said calmly. "The others will help in their own way." "Damn, I was hoping there would be more, 'cause that would be helpful,"Oz said as he entered the living room."And before you guys ask, Whistler's still not awake, and Angel's starting to get real freaked down there. And Spike's nettling him. I left before I would get caught in the serious damage that's about to occur." With that said, Willow winced as she heard a loud crash from the basement. "Mrs.Summers is going to be real ticked if they break any more furniture. Where is she anyway?" "Upstairs in her bedroom talking to Buffy's father,"Giles answered absently as he leafed through the book he was holding. Oz and Xander cocked their eyebrows at him while Willow slowly put down the knife she was using to crave arrows crossed her arms. Hlin took a step closer to the Watcher. When he heard the sudden silence and felt the stares, he looked up. Giles looked around puzzled as he lowered the book. "What?"
"If I may ask, what were you two doing in Mrs.Summer's bedroom?" Hlin asked him delicately. "Forget that, were you two alone?"Xander demanded as he put down the spoonful of garlic.”And doing what?” "I am in no mind to tell any of you our business, but to ease your nosy little minds, I was helping Joyce get some weapons from Buffy's room when we heard a phone ring and followed her there. Satisfied with that answer?"Giles retorted indignantly. "Uh...sorta. Where's the weapons?"Willow asked. "And since when did you start calling Buffy's mom Joyce?"Xander asked with a smirk. Giles glared at him. "Since I gave him permission to, Xander,"Joyce said calmly as she was walking down the steps with a box in her hands. When she put the box down to Rupert's waiting hands, she turned to look at Xander."I didn't know that Rupert and I had to clear it with you kids on his using my name or his." "Ah...Well..."Xander babbled.”We just wanted to know, Mrs.S.” Joyce lifted an eyebrow at him.”And here I thought you were just being a bit nosy, Xander.” “That too,”Xander admitted as the tips of his ears grew red. Oz hid a smile under his hand before he turned to Hlin."So what do you know about werewolves?" "Only that they run on pure instinct. I am surprised about you, boy. Very surprised,"Hlin said as her brow frowned in puzzlement."Do you love your fiancée?" "Of course I love her! What kind of question is that?" "I merely wish to say that it is odd that you did not seem unduly concerned about her when we went to release you." "Why should that matter? It shouldn't matter, should it?" "Most werewolves get most, ah, agitated when their mates are in danger. The instinct find the mate and to destroy who or whatever is harming the mate is always heightened when the said mate is threatened,"Hlin explained as she looked at Oz, then Willow.”When she was...agitated, you should have been able to sense it, even though you were far from her.” “I know that I was restless all night, and it didn’t feel like it was from the tranqs,”Oz said thoughtfully as he rubbed his wrists. They were healed now, but he distinctly remembered smelling blood on them when he was nearly over his drugged state. Hlin then looked at Willow, whose brow was wrinkled in concentration. "There are also case in older werewolves, if the connection between mates is deep enough, the human mate can exercise limited control the werewolf." "Would Oz, I mean, most werewolves hurt their mates?"Willow asked hesitantly, slipping her hand into Oz's. Hlin slowly shook her head. "Not if the connection is true." "Well, that's good. Means that Will won't have to worry about a guard dog on the full moon,"Xander quipped. "What?" "I am thinking that perhaps it would be good if Spike did eat you,"Hlin said. "Perhaps it would save us from your wit." "What's going on?" Cordelia asked as she rose from the couch with a huge yawn. "They're going to feed me to Spike,"Xander complained.

"Is that all? Can I get your ratty red-checked shirt to clean my car?" Xander scowled."I thought you loved me." "I do, but I still want that red shirt. It's hideous for you to wear,but it's soft enough to not leave any marks on my new car." "Fascinating planning going on up here,"Spike said as he entered the living room. Joyce gaped at him and then ran over to look at the cuts and bruises on his scarred face. Then she noted the tears on his shirt and jeans. "Liam! What happened?"Joyce demanded."You and Angel didn't fight again, did you?" "Uh...well no, Mum." "We only had a small war, Mrs.Summers. But it's settled for now, I think," Angel said from behind her. She turned around and her mouth went lower. Angel looked as bad as Spike, except that his nose was still bleeding through the paper he had. "Sit, "she commanded as she thrust Angel on to the couch. She pointed to it as she spoke to Spike."You, too, Liam. I cannot believe you two! Grown men, over 400 hundred years between the two of you, acting like children! Don't fight or else I'll really get angry! Willow get the witch hazel, Cordelia, there are some towels in the linen closet. Rupert, keep an eye on these children, I'm going to get some ice." Giles hid a smirk as he looked at the two vampires sitting on the couch looking not a little apprehensively at Joyce's retreating back."Want to tell us men and lady what the fight is about?" "Not on your bloody life, old man,"Spike growled. Angel reached over to hit him on the head. "You can't talk to Giles that way, you bastard,"Angel growled. Spike leapt to his feet and was about to go after Angel when Giles and Hlin grabbed him from behind. Oz and Xander held Angel back down on the couch. "That's bloody well enough!"Giles commanded."Be still or else, I'll get Joyce's axe." "Here we are,"Willow announced as she was met by Joyce and Cordelia. "Let's get these children cleaned up!" "I'm not a little boy,"Spike growled as he tried to evade Joyce. She caught him by the arm and made him sit with a look. "Then stop acting like one,"she commanded."Willow, see if Angel's nose stopped bleeding. I'll work on him next after Liam here starts to behave himself. Stop growling at me, it isn't polite." “Ow! Mum that hurts!”Spike howled as Joyce started to dab at Spike’s wounds.”Ow! Mum!” Joyce snorted at him.”Be still, Liam. It only hurts a pinch and you know it!” "So what's the plan now?"Xander asked in general. It was funny in an insane way to see that Buffy's mother take care of Spike. He then smirked when he saw Angel try half-heartedly to stop her from attending him. "How is Whistler?"Giles asked Angel. Angel shrugged, then winced as Joyce then applied an ice pack to his eye. "The same. If we need him, what do we do?" "Maybe we really don't need him?"Cordelia said."I mean, the prophecy said nothing about him or the rapier. Only about an Immortal, and that had to be the Lilith chick." "But the rapier is supposed to go to Whistler,"Hlin protested."It will be needed before the night is over. I am sure of it."

"So what do we do?"Willow asked."We carry him to the car and pray that he wakes up before we reach Navidad?" "I think we must,"Giles said slowly."We might not have a choice. We have to take both the rapier as well as Whistler." "Fine. Now that’s settled, let's go and rescue Buffy,"Joyce said as she put the last of the witch hazel away. Giles softly touched her arm. Joyce looked down at his hand, then at him."What?" "Joyce, I don't think that you should go,"Giles said slowly as he braced himself for an explosion."We might not come back from this alive." "And it's perfectly all right for the five of you, three whom are still children, to go and rescue my daughter,"Joyce said, her voice raising at every word."I think not!" Giles was getting angry."When get there it will be dangerous. The place will be crawling with vampires and we may be able to barely reach her. But if we do rescue Buffy, it will be just as dangerous to get her out, not knowing what condition she may be in." "So you'll leave me here to wonder? You-you-you-Pillock!"she sputtered."I cannot believe-oh!" Spike caught her before she hit the floor, and pulled her gently into his arms."Sorry, Mum. But you're staying here where it's safe." He looked directly at the Watcher."Let's go before she wakes up. We can drop off the wolf-boy on the way." Everyone moved quickly. No one wanted to be there when Joyce woke up. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buffy looked around the walls of the atrium, methodically looking for another way to escape. Unfortunately, there was no creeping ivy lattice for her to use to climb. Besides it was harder since Lilith made her change her dress. For some reason, Lilith gave her a deep blue dress to wear. The style was like the Greek women used to, from what she remembered from her history class. She was also wearing an armlet and bracelets that were encrusted with animals from mythology. A dragon, griffin, lion, wolf, bird, turtle and unicorn, to be precise. Amazing that she had even paid attention to Lilith as she thrust it on to her arm. She still had no idea why she was to wear the get up, but every Slayer's instinct told her that it was vital for her to not allow Lilith to put it on her. Lilith finally had to resort to making Buffy unconscious in order to make her wear the outfit. Now that she was wearing it, Buffy couldn't get it off. "Well, Slayer this is the Night of Gaia,"Lady Lilith said from the entrance of the atrium. She looked up at the dying sun. It would be the last that anyone would ever see, if all goes well."It's almost time to be sacrificed. Think of the glorious destiny that awaits for us all." "Yeah, a world of nothingness,"grumbled Buffy from the far wall."You are a raving loony!" "I've been told that before,Slayer,"Lilith replied mildly."Why are you at that far wall?" "You'll have to come and get me if you want me for this damn ritual of yours,"Buffy shouted defiantly. Lilith chuckled softly as she threw a stake and knife to the ground where Buffy was. Buffy made no move to get them. "I won't have to come and get you to put a spell on you, Slayer,"she replied as she made an outstretching motion with her arms. Buffy's eyes widened as she started to look for a way out from the atrium. Lilith started to chant. "Hecate, hear my plea. Morpheus, heed my call. What I see, what I dream, so this Slayer shall see. I see her enemies all around, and they all surround. From this garden she will not leave, 'til an enemy aids her, leading her by the hand. From this garden where she stands. As I will, so mote be."

Buffy saw no way out from where she was. When she turned she saw vampires that were surrounding her. She kicked one, and knocked the other out. Another started on her when she spied the stake and the knife that Lilith had thrown. She dove to grab them when a vampire pulled her up by the neck. Buffy twisted, and buried the stake into his heart. He dusted, but another came to her. She slashed him with the knife, then staked him. Another was surrounding her.... Lilith watched sadly as she lit a torch. From a distance, it looked as if the Slayer was doing an insane aerobic dace with all the jumping, feinting and kicking she was doing in the air. Lilith put the torch to the ground, and a fire started around the stonewalled atrium. In a few hours, the carefully controlled fire would blaze out of control and then the Ritual for the Night of Gaia would begin. In the meantime, the Dance of Shiva had already begun. At least for the young Slayer's part, it had. "Good-bye, Slayer. It was nice knowing thee,"she whispered as a tear rolled down Lilith's face unnoticed. She turned unseeing to the room, not noticing a shadow on the farside blending in with the others. Buffy thrust her stake at another vampire as another one tried to grab the knife she wielded. She staked him also, and felt another vampire coming from behind her, and started to feel hot. She saw a ring of fire surround her. "You'll never get me to go to this ritual, Lilith! Never!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------- Part Twenty ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "I go a question that no one might want to hear: what do we do with Whistler if he doesn't wake up? Is there a Plan B?"Xander asked in the van as they approached Navidad from the highway. "Good point, I didn't want to hear it,"Willow replied as she shot a look at Xander."Whoa.Deja vu...think I said that to you once." "We shake the little pissant until he wakes up,"Spike said as he moved his long legs a bit."Get your legs back on your side of the seat you, Irish dog." Angel growled at him."I'm not the one that's trying to take all the space back here you, Scar boy." "Will everyone shut up back there?"Giles said from the front seat of Oz's van."In the case that Whistler does not wake up by the time we get to where Buffy is, we will use the rapier. Hlin, are you all right?" "I am fine, Watcher. Just a little dazed, that's all,"Hlin replied from her seat behind him."I must say, Watcher, it is amazing that you have managed to keep your sanity as long as you have in dealing with these young ones." "How old are you, Hlin?"Willow asked curiously. Hlin smiled sadly in the darkness of the car, not knowing that Willow could see her face. "I would have been five and twenty years come next Saturday,"Hlin said softly. She shook herself and her voice grew stronger."Everyone knows that the figures must be placed in a safely near the fortress. Where they cannot be easily found or crushed." "Yes, we know that, but what are they supposed to do?"Xander asked as he leaned forward, trying to ignore the growls from the back seat."I mean, they don't even look like they could do much except cut the feet of the vamps that step on them." "They can, and will do so much more, boy,"Hlin said as she looked out the car window grimly."They are special and they will protect us all, with the possible exception of the vampires in this car if they do not stop their endless bickering!" Angel and Spike glared at Hlin, then stopped when they felt the van go over a pot hole. Angel was about to say something when the van swerved to a stop. "Got another question, why's Cordelia the one that's driving?"Xander grumbled. Cordelia shot her man a look. "Because I'm the one that is even remotely aware of this lame holed up, bad-excuse-of-an-ashphalt highway,"she informed him haughtily. "And I stopped because I want you to get a look at that!" Peering down from the van windows, an orange glow lit the skies against the dark back drop of a mountain and the dark waters of the Pacific Ocean. Giles walked out and took out a pair of binoculars to look at what was going on. "Damn, can't see anything, it's too dark!"he cursed. Angel took them from him and scanned the area. "I see a whole bunch of vampires, maybe fifty gathered in front of a building, maybe the town hall? No, it looks like a closed off garden or park. There's a pile of wood gathered around the building, which seems to be burning. And they're just standing there. Looks like they're waiting for something to happen,"Angel said as he handed the binoculars back to Giles."But why? What are they wait for?" Spike lifted his head to the wind.”And they’re chanting...something about a Gaia night?” “Sounds like that to me,”Angel muttered as he looked at Hlin.”Well? What’s going on?”

"I’m not sure. But was it at the center of the town, this building that the vampires gathered in front of?"Hlin asked. Angel nodded. Hlin looked at the vampire then at the town."Plans of the town said that there was a town hall that is connected to another house, one that is further by the mountains and the sea, through an underground passage." "By why? Why connect the town hall to another remote house by a route underground?"Willow frowned. It was too weird for her computer-like mind to understand. "Pirates,"Hlin answered."This area is near Mexico. And this town, from it’s history, is a small and isolated coastal village." "So the town hall would be the safest place to gather the women and children, and allow them to go through a hidden passage underground to a safe house, where they could escape either by foot or sea. Ingeneous,"Giles whispered. He noticed everyone's looks."What?" "And now the vampires are using it. Great. Now what?"Xander griped.He looked at Giles, Hlin and Willow."Well, Brain Trust? What now do we do? We don’t have enough ammo in the trunk to take on those vamps down there." Hlin smiled coolly."We look for the other house. The Slayer's Mother said that Buffy was calling from a place where there were lots of trees, water and a mountain. Which means-" "That Buffy had escaped from the safe house,"Willow said excitedly. She ran to the driver's seat of the van. "Let's go! I'll drive!" “Wait. Allow me to do something first,”Hlin commanded as she walked off to the side of the road. Bending down, she took out two clay figures that she had molded that day. She dug a small hole then buried the griffin into it. raising her hand over the small mound, she chanted softly.”As I will, as I see, Protect us all, so mote be.” Taking out the figures of the bird and wolf, Hlin repeated her actions and faced the eyes of the curious. She gave them a grim smile.”Now we are ready to go to battle.” “So if we count at least fifty down there,”Xander said loudly as he climbed into the van.”How many would be in the safe house? OW!! Ow! OW! Ow!” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Joyce woke up in her bed room."Whoa....what was the name of that truck that hit me?" It took a moment to register what had happened to her. She was arguing with Giles. Buffy was going to be found. Liam standing behind her."That boy is going to get a beating. Okay, Joycie, so now what. You have no idea where they went. What to do. Where Buffy is. Not a good start. Now what?" Joyce leaned back against her bedframe."Everyone will have the weapons. I have my axe, so weapons are not a problem. Giles, Angel, Liam, Hlin all know where they're going. But I don't so how do I find...No, not me, I won't find Buffy. But maybe Oz will find Willow!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The sleeping form of the lupine Oz chained on top of Joyce's land rover was heavy. [Whew! I hope that he doesn't wake up before I can get there!] Joyce started the car slowly and drove slowly, as if it was a normal thing for a woman to have a chained-up-and-drugged-up werewolf on top of her car. [Off to Navidad! What a way to go!] When she saw that she was outside the town limits, she stepped on the pedal harder. [Oh god! It's ten o'clock! Buffy will be dead in less than four hours!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buffy fought off another vampire that had come up from behind her. She was getting tired, and the vampires kept on coming after her. She had to do something to prevent the vampires from taking her to that ritual where everyone would take a one trip to oblivion. She looked at the circle of flame around her before she was distracted by another attacking vampire. From the corner of her eye she saw Lilith steadily gaze at her, then she simply turned away. [What’s going on? Why isn’t she getting in here herself? What part am I missing?]

Turning away, Lilith watched as the Slayer grew tired and prepared her Ritual to evoke Gaia's favor. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On the beaten and ill-used road, Willow parked fifty feet away from the mansion that had a huge fire behind it.”I think that we’re here.” "Doesn't anyone here not smoke?"Xander coughed. As he leaned against the van.”And that Smokey the Bear said that only you can prevent forest fires.” "Lilith is evoking a ritual to attract Gaia's attention! We must hurry! It is nearly eleven o'clock, we must stop her! Are the figures planted?"Hlin asked hurriedly. Cordelia nodded. Giles and Angel then appeared beside her. "Small clay things all planted safely and ready to go,"Cordelia said. "So how do we get into the building to save Buffy?"Willow asked in a coughing voice. “And where’s-” "That's easy, we take you there,"a voice growled from the darkness of the forest. Screaming Willow turned to find herself and her friends surrounded by a group of vampires."Look here, we got the Slayer's friends and the traitor. Shall we eat them now? Or take them to Lady Lilith? "She was expecting them,"shrugged one."And I really don't want to get eaten. Better take them to her." From Spike's hiding place, he saw that the Slayer's friends were taken into the building. [Great, just great! Now what do I do?] Spike then spied into the van. [Now or never, I gotta get the little bugger!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Lady Lilith, we bring you those that were expected. The Slayer's friends," presented a vampire as he knelt before her. Lilith ignored him as she cleaned the altar that stood before the only entrance to the atrium. She could still see the Slayer doing her mad fighting dance, though she was begining to move ever more slowly. "My Lady Lilith,"the vampire began again. A tentacle of hair shot out and absorbed the energy of the vampire quickly, leaving only dust. Her hair swirled around like angry snakes before they settled down. "I heard you the first time, vampire," Lady Lilith said as she turned from the altar she was standing near. She faced the Slayer's friends. "You're not the Lilith that Whistler fought!"Willow exclaimed. She looked at Giles in confusion.”That’s NOT her, Giles!” Before Giles could ask, Hlin let out a scream. Pointing in shock, Hlin cried,"By the Gods! You're - You-" “Hello, Hlin, Child of the House of Ceres, little child of the cold, cold, earth,”Lilith said as her hair settled down. She looked at the Slayer’s friends and Mana-kai Hlin as they were lined up before her."I was Mana-kai. Now I'm a monster." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part Twenty-One ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Giles gaped as he looked at the demoness that held his Slayer.”What? Who are you? What do you want with Buffy?” A vampire slapped him from behind causing Giles to fall on his knees.”Be quiet, Human! You will not talk to Lady Lilith that way!” Giles turned to glare at the vampire when Angel shouted, “Buffy!” Immediately, the Slayerettes’ heads turned to watch the macabre sight of Buffy fighting unseen foes in a ring of fire. Angel’s eyes glowed yellow as he glared at Lilith.”What have you done with her?”

Angel was promptly slapped from behind his head. The ensouled vampire growled dangerously at the other vampire as he looked at him.”Try that again, and I’ll torture you slowly.” Just then Drucilla floated in, dancing with her doll, Miss Edith. She stopped, then looked at the humans that were caught.”Oh, my lady! You have brought us goodies to eat! For the party and the dancing! And Daddy’s here to dance as well! How wonderful!” Lilith not unkindly looked at the insane vampire.”Not for us to eat. To toy with, yes.” “Like hell, you’ll toy with us,”Angel growled.”I won’t allow it.” “You have no authority here, Cursed One,”Lilith said calmly as she stepped from the altar. She cocked her head at Angel.”Odd that a demon like you would love a Slayer.” Drucilla stopped dancing and looked at Lilith.”Oh, but he does! It reeks from him! He wonders about her all the time, searches for her when he sleeps! I can hear his thoughts about her whispering in the dead leaves. Miss Edith can hear his moans for her, too!” “You just had to get her neck a hundred years ago, didn’t you,”Xander said as he shook his head. Angel glared at him. Shaking her head, Hlin looked at Lilith as she tried to process what was going on.“Mana-kai Elder-” A tentacle of hair snaked out and grabbed Hlin by the throat. Everyone gazed in dawning horror as they saw the tentacle start to glow and Hlin start to wither.”I am NOT Mana-kai ANYMORE!!” With that, the tentacle dropped Hlin to the ground, gasping. Lilith watched the girl violently gasp for breath.”Understand this: All that I was died ten thousand years ago. I am Lilith, I am Death. Now and forever.” Drucilla hummed as she danced near the entrance to the atrium, her body casting an eerie shadow as the flames behind her danced around her.”And Death shall come dancing with the Slayer. With all the pretty lights and pretty dresses. And the Slayer will fall down...” “You are nuts. Both of you,”Xander said aloud. Lilith stared coldly at the boy. Xander glared back at her.”But you have more spilt ends.” Lilith stared at him, then threw her head back and laughed.”You are an amusing one, boy. The Slayer has chosen her friends well.” “What have you done to Buffy?”Willow demanded forcefully as she stepped forward to face Lilith. [I am going to throw up soon, I’m so scared.]”Who’s she fighting?” Lilith cocked her head at the little witch.”I put a spell on her that none can break, witch. She thinks she is fighting vampires.” “Why?”Cordelia asked bluntly.”Give her some of your real ones instead of imaginary ones if you want her to kill vamps. Jeez, lady, are you for real?” “I know that I am real. But are you? What do you care about the young Slayer?”Lilith said as she looked at the dark-haired girl.”But then, it matters not if you truly care or do not. You will all die soon.” “Not if we can help it,”Giles gritted out as he struggled against hold a vampire had on him. Lilith looked at him and smiled coldly. “You must be her Watcher,”Lilith mused. After Giles nodded, Lilith nodded as well. Then, then slapped him so hard he fell to the ground, and then spit on his fallen form.”I hate Watchers. I have no use for them.” “Off with his head!”Drucilla shouted with glee as her face vamped out and she danced closer to Giles. Then was promptly choked by a tentacle of hair.

As the tentacle of hair held Drucilla ten feet above the ground, Lilith looked at the mad vampiress.”Enough with your prattling, Drucilla. Else you shall not toy with your Daddy or dance with the Slayer’s friends.” After Drucilla fell on to the floor, Lilith smiled at the Slayer’s friends.”The Watcher and the Hlin shall die last. They shall die knowing they have failed to protect the Slayer.” Hlin looked at Lilith coldly.”And should we know why you have betrayed your blood, traitor? Why you choose to do this to the Chosen One?” Lilith looked at Hlin.”Because I can, little Hlin.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Whistler! Whistler!"Spike hissed as he shook the smaller demon's non-responsive body."Wake up! The shit's in the fire now, you little pissant! You hear me? Criminey, I can't believe this!" Spike threw the demon's body down on to the ground and snorted in disgust. [Christ! We're going to die and this pissant is taking his beauty rest! Now what?] Spike's eyes focused on the rapier next to Whistler. He picked it up and looked at it with concentration. [What the hell am I supposed to do with that over-grown tooth pick?] Spike picked it up, and heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. A large wolf sprang up and growled at him. Spike growled back and the wolf leaped at him. Spike ducked and the wolf knocked the rapier out of his hand and onto Whistler's body. The wolf and Spike started wrestling on the ground when the wolf suddenly reared up it's huge head and in a flash of brown fur, disappeared into the bushes. To the direction of the fortress. [What the hell is going on? That was no wolf, that was a...Oh no, It can't be...]Spike thought. He turned again behind him at the sound of a cracking twig. Growling, Spike reached into the bushes and pulled out..."Mum?" "Liam, you can put me down,"Joyce gasped."Now would be nice." He slowly put her down as if in a daze. Then Spike shook himself and asked her, growling."What the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Sunnyhell!" Joyce dusted herself and then gave him a dirty look. Then without waring, she smacked him upside his head. "What was that for?"Spike demanded. Joyce looked at him with hands on her hips. "That was for knocking me out. How dare you!"Joyce said angrily."I think that you should be glad that I don't take my axe to you! Really, Liam! Sometimes you make me so mad..." "You are mad, Mum,"Spike said as he growled down at her."This is a vampire infested forest! This is no place for you, and I cannot protect you here! And you travelled here! Alone! And with a werewolf?!? What are you thinking of? How did you get here?" "I know how to use a map, Liam. As for the rest, I untied Oz and then Oz led me here,"she replied evenly. "YOU USED A WEREWOLF TO LEAD YOU HERE? Like a tame dog? ARE YOU INSANE,MUM?"shouted Spike. Joyce glared at him. "Hey...what's all the shouting about?"said a groggy voice from the ground. Spike and Joyce looked at Whistler who was holding his head in his hands. "Whistler! You're awake!"Joyce exclaimed as she knelt beside him."How do you feel?" "Like a huge demon sat on my head and then used it as a football," Whistler groan. He opened his eyes then looked around and . "Uh, I hate to ask, but where am I and what's going on?"

	Spike crossed his arms as he looked down at the demon."We're in the forest outside the vampire fortress. The Watcher and the others were captured by Lilith's demons while you were having your beauty rest. And everything's about to go fubar in about thirty minutes." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Giles stared at Lilith.”That’s NOT a reason! You would destroy us all beacuse you can?!? Are you insane?” “According to your dark-haired friend, I am. And as for needing a reason, it is for me,”Lilith said calmly. Then she smiled maliciously at Giles.”But if you want to know the real reason, I’ll let you know this: I do this because Adan the Watcher made me into what you now see. A Watcher caused me to become a monster.” Giles paled as his head shook at the implications she made.”No. No..it can’t be. No.” “It is, Watcher,”Lilith smiled at him.”Just as I was once Mana-kai, I was once a Chosen One. And together with this generation’s Chosen, we shall destroy the world!” Lilith pointed to Buffy, who was still fighting her imaginary foes.”Look how she dances with her illusions. Parry, thrust, roll. Using her strength and skills to fight the demons that haunt her. She dances the dance of destruction with Shiva, her energy empowers the Spell of Ragnarok. And she will keep dancing untill she fall down dead.” “Buffy! Stop fighting! Stop it!”Willow screamed, then was promptly backhanded by Drucilla. “Slayer can’t hear you. She can only dance. And dance she will until one of us cuts in,”Drucilla sang madly as she twirled around the fallen witch.”She will dance with Death until a foe cuts in.” Lilith looked at Drucilla, amused by her ramblings.”That’s right. Until a vampire foe rescues her. But enough of this. It is time to start the ceremony. If you believe in your dead gods, you may pray for a quick death.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Fubar? What's fubar?"Joyce asked as she looked at him. Spike looked a little embarressed. "Uh, an impolite term, Mum. You really shouldn't know." "What do you remember, Whistler?"Joyce asked. Whistler looked at her, then at the rapier he held in his hands. "Everything. Let's go get the Slayer before it's too late,"Whistler said as he got up. His hand clutched the rapier. "What's the plan?"Spike asked."How do we get in the fortress?" Joyce heard some shouts in the distance."I think Oz has lead the way. All we need are the weapons." "Follow me,"Spike motioned as he reached the van to get some weapons. "The bloody fools forgot to search the van for the weapons the brat pack made. Here’s the gralic water bombs.” Joyce peered into the small chest.”Can I get the crossbow as well? And my axe, Liam?” “Do you know how to use the crossbow?”Spike asked her warily before he handed it to her. Joyce smiled sweeetly at him.”How hard could it be? Aim and shoot. Buffy and Rupert said so.” His eyes wide, Spike reached to take it back, but Joyce slapped his hand gently.”Mine. Go get your own crossbow.” “I think that I’ll stand behind you when you aim that thing,”Spike grumbled as he shut the chest.“And be quiet, Mum. We don’t want the others to hear us or the werewolf to smell us. Be a very bad thing."

Joyce only snorted.”I bet it would be. Whistler, do you need some weapons?” Whsitler looked at the rapier he held, then looked at the Slayer’s Mother. It was a look so cold that she had to fight the urge to shiver.”I have all the weapons I need.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ “Is there anything out there?”a vampire asked.”I thought I heard a noise.” The other vampire shook his head.”You’re imagining things.” All of a sudden, the two vampires were pounced on by a massive werewolf. Claws shredding the two vampires to pieces before they could scream. The young werewolf then lifted his head and sniffed the air. With a final growl, he then loped off into the building. Spike popped his head out.”Coast is clear. Whistle-boy, you lock the door so we won’t get anymore guests. Mum, stay behind me. And as soon as you can, you give that crossbow to the Watcher.” “Why?”Joyce scowled as she held it protectively. Spike gave her a scowl while Whistler answered her,”Because we don’t want to get accidently shot with that thing.” “I’m not that bad with my aim,”Joyce scowled at Whistler who rolled his eyes at her.”Really, I’ve improved.” Spike snorted.”Yeah, Mum. If you insist. Instead of aiming for the heart can you manage to nail the demon on the foot. Anyway, just give it to the Watcher. And, remember, when I say run, you run. No arguements. Got it?” “You know, you’re sound an awfully like Rupert,”Joyce commented. Spike glared at her.”No need to be insulting, Mum.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Startled, Lilith looked towards the doors that lead to the chamber.”What was that scream?” A vampire screamed as the werewolf bounded into the room and then onto him and started to shred him with its paws. "Oz!"Willow screamed."Oz!" "Xander!Xander!"Cordelia screamed as she clawed at the vampire holding her. Angel used the distraction to fling the vampire that was holding him over his shoulder. He reached over and threw the vampire that was trying to bite Xander over his head. Giles shoved his shoulder against the vampire guard's gut. Hlin suddenly whirled and threw her chained arms around the vampire's neck and proceeded to choke him. "We need weapons!"Hlin shouted. A vampire grabbed at her long hair, but let go when she flipped the vampire she was choking over her back. Hlin fell down and was rising when the vampire that pulled her hair rose first. Growling, he reached for her.Suddenly the vampire looked at his chest and saw a wooden arrow sticking from it. And turned to dust. Hlin looked at see who shot it, and saw the Slayer's Mother, armed with weapons. "Joyce!"Giles hollered as a vampire attacked him from behind. She threw a garlic and holy water jar at the vampire's head. It exploded on impact and sent the vampire screaming. Joyce started to arm the weapon again while shoving it at Giles the same time.“Here! Liam told me to-Look out!” Giles had barely side-stepped in time as the bolt flew into the stomach of a vampire that was rushing towards them. He stared at her increduously.”You nearly shot me!” “It was an accident!”Joyce shouted back in defense as she was about to put another bolt into the crossbow.

“We are bloody well going to discuss this when we get out of here, Joyce! I mean it this time! No more bloody crossbows for you!”Giles shouted as grabbed it from her and armed it and shot at the vampire that was attacking Cordelia.”Now stay behind me and when I say run, you run!” “Now you’re starting to sound like Liam!”Joyce shouted as she threw another garlic holy water bomb at a vampire attacking Willow. “Now you’re being insulting,”Giles shouted as he shot a bolt into the heart of a vampire that was attacking the Ozwolf. “That’s what Liam said!”Joyce glared at him as she threw another garlic and holy water jar at the vampire attacking Xander. He nodded his thanks as she threw a stake to him. Drucilla looked at the chaos that was around her, and leapt at Angel, clawing at him. Spike entered the room, throwing off the vampire on his back. [She always was after her bloody Angel.] Another tackled Spike from behind. "Where's Buffy?"Joyce called. Giles pointed at the only door that lead to the burning atrium. Joyce saw her daughter doing a fierce macabre dance between the flames. She was slashing and stabbing at nothing between the flames."Buffy..." Spike threw off the vampire and saw another leap towards Mum and the Watcher. They both fell to the ground.With a growl, Spike rose, grabbed it by the seat of its pants and threw the vampire away. "No one attacks me Mum,"he growled as he helped her up."Where's the Slayer?" "Over there,"Joyce pointed. Spike saw the Slayer within a ring of fire. Fighting something in the air. "Only an enemy can save her,"Giles shouted."Lilith cast a spell around her, making her see vampires attacking her. She said that only an enemy can save her to break the spell." "Is that so?"Spike said. He looked around him and saw more vampires coming into the room. A woman with octopus hair was trying to grab at the werewolf as it attacked the vampires in the room. Angel was still trying to fight off Drucilla. The others fighting on their own. Then he spied Whistler slipping into the room, breathless."Shut the door and bar it, Mum. Whistler's here. And you, Watcher, had better protect her with your life." Joyce ran to stop more vampires from entering the chamber, Giles following to protect her. Spike took a deep breath and ran headlong towards the circle of fire and then lept into it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buffy staked another vampire and then turned around to strike at another one. [I'm getting tired. They keep coming after me. I can't let them take me...] She looked at the circle of flame around her. [I may have to...What the...] Spike rolled onto the stone path of the atrium, snuffing out the flames on his leather coat. He stood gracefully before the Slayer, noting her wild eyes. "Spike! I don't beleive this! This has to be a part of your plan!"Buffy exclaimed angrily."I won't be a part of your damn ritual!" Spike looked at her, surprised."You know me,Slayer?" "What? You want an introduction? And after the nights we shared trying to kill each other!"Buffy said sarcastically. Spike growled."You're under a spell, Slayer. And I'm here to...Oh God, do I have to say it...rescue you." "Tell me another one!"Buffy shouted as she lunged at Spike. He side stepped her and threw her away. "Will you listen to me!"Spike growled. Buffy lunged at him again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Running, Whistler entered the room and helped Joyce and Giles try to close the door. A vampire lept on to his back, making him lose his hold on the rapier. As he was trying to get the vampire off his back, Whistler hollered,"The Rapier! Get the Rapier!"

Willow looked up from the vampire she helped Cordelia stake and ran towards it."Cordy! Help Giles close the door! Xander help them!" As a vampire ran to attack Cordelia, he stepped on the rapier and slipped, sending it skidding across the room again. Seeing the rapier skid near her, Willow leapt for it. Her hands met the touch of another vampire.Willow looked up and saw the same female vampire that attacked Whistler outside of Willie's bar. The vampire hissed at her and then she was flung away by a flash of fur. Thrown back, Willow lost her grip on the rapier. It skidded across the room, near the altar. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [This isn't working...]Spike thought as he avoided another thrust from the Slayer. "Come on, Spike! I know that you can fight better than this!"Buffy taunted. Spike growled as he stood up slowly. He looked at her, straight into her green eyes. "Slayer. Your mother's here. She wants to stop Lilith from destroyng the world. Lilith would kill her first." "What?"Buffy whispered."Mom's here? My mom's here?" Spike nodded."And if we don't get out of here, she's going to die." "Why should I beleive you?"Buffy flung back, still wary. "Because I don't want this world to end. You know that,"Spike said quietly."Remember? Manchester United and Happy meals with legs?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Give me that rapier!"the female vampire called Lilith screamed as she lept to it. Whistler saw her, then tackled her in mid-air. They rolled on the floor. "You stay away from that rapier,"Whistler gritted out."Lith." “I am Lilith,”the female growled at Whistler as she backhanded him. The force of her hand caused Whistler to lose his balance slightly. She started towards the rapier.”Lilith.” Tackling her from behind, Whistler growled as he rammed his fist into her face.”You are Lith, traitor.” As the vampire and Whistler fought, Willow grabbed at the rapier, and held it near the altar, unsure of what to do. The Werewolf Oz rose from the vampire he had mauled and looked at her. "Oz, Oz.."she whispered. Oz cocked his head towards her, and Willow reached out her hand to him."It's me sweetheart. Me, Willow." Hlin came slowly near Willow, Oz growled threateningly."Slowly Willow, or else he will attack you." Suddenly, Oz screamed and fell to the ground, and behind him stood Joyce, with a small tranquilizer gun in hand. The something knocked it out of her hands. Willow saw it was a tentacle of hair that grabbed at Buffy's mother and threw her to the far wall. The ones that vampires called Lady Lilith stood less than ten feet away from her and was walking towards her. “ENOUGH!!” Everyone stood stock still as the woman called Lady Lilith screamed that command. Seeing all the fighting stop, Lilith slowly walked towards the altar as Willow stepped away from it warily. The Oz werewolf growled at Lilith. When she was in the middle of the room, Lilith turned to look at the humans that were fighting her minions.”Enough. You shall all die-” Suddenly, something, a flash of black and pale blue flew out from the doorway of the atrium and was crouched on top of the altar. When the figure stood, Spike had a triumphant smile on his game face as he gazed at the unconcious Slayer in his arms. He jumped down and stood behind Willow and then looked at Lilith."I got the Slayer. The dance is over and you lose, my Lady Lilith."

"I think not,"Lilith said haughtily."The Slayer only needs to die this night for the Spell of Ragnarok to come to pass. The Dance of Shiva only gathered the energies I needed. I will kill the Slayer." Lilith's hair began to writhe in the air. Angel stood next to Spike with Giles on the other side. Xander stood next to Willow with Cordelia on his other side. All blocked the path to Buffy. "You'll have to go through us first, Lilith,"Angel said defiantly. Giles’s jaw set in agreement. "So be it,"Lilith hissed. Then something hit Lilith on the head, sending her to the ground. When she looked up, she saw a woman with an axe above her. Spike looked above the human's heads and grinned. He mouthed the words that he knew that was going to be said. "You get the Hell away from my daughter,"Joyce said menacingly. Lilith screamed in rage and her hair knocked the axe away from Joyce's hands. Lilith got up and glared at the humans and vampires before her. "I do not understand this! To kill the vampires, the Slayer must die! She has the power to do this! It was written!" "I don't care! Kill the other vampires anyway you want, but don't you kill my daughter!"Joyce said defiantly."You'd have to kill me first." "That can be arranged, human,"Lilith shot back, and her hair began to madly writhe again. "Lilith, STOP! Lily wife, Stop!" Lilith froze and slowly turned around. Her eyes peered into the darkness of the chamber. "Who calls me that?" Whistler step from the darkness, dragging the vampire he was fighting. He looked at Lilith. So many nights that face haunted him in his dreams, so many nights he would wonder who she was and at the child she was often with. When the rapier was placed in his hands, he remembered the dreams and the faces, but not the names. He never knew who she was, but now he did. And it felt like he was in a dream now. "Lily wife,"he whispered."You're alive." "Uh, what's going on?"Xander asked."And what did Whistler just call octopus hair woman?" -----------------------------------------------------------------------

				Continuation to the End

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