Creative Works   

Though Lovers Be Lost (Part 5)
By Amy Mina
amymina(at)yahoo.com

Disclaimer: All of the characters like Buffy, Giles, Angel, etc. belong to Joss Whedon and the Mutant Enemy Company. Characters that were seen in Extra Help Needed still belong to themselves.

. . .

Amy slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she felt was confusion at where she was located. She tried to lift her head to get a better view when the pain kicked in. Slowly sitting up, she held her head in-between her hands. What's going on? she thought for a minute. I was leaving with Alicia, when...when Angelus showed up. He has Alicia! Amy jumped up before falling back to the ground again. Slowly supporting herself against the wall, she stood up and walked towards the entrance to the school. When she reached it, she leaned heavily on the door for a minute then pulled to enter. Slowly taking the two flights of stairs to Mr. Kraus' room, she prayed that everyone would still be there.

. . .

"My Angel?" questioned Buffy. "You know a way to bring back my Angel?"

"Yes, but we need to hurry," said Bob. "Let's go back to the music room and I can explain it to you." The mixed group of slayerettes and helpers moved towards the music room. Mr. Kraus let them in, and they all gathered around a table with Bob. They watched him waiting for his plan.

"Okay," he began, "I think there are some things that you need to know before I explain this all to you. I am not human. I am immortal."

"You're immortal?" questioned Pete, surprised. "Since when?"

"Since I was killed by Angelus, over two centuries ago."

"What happened?" asked Willow.

"Before Angel turned, he and I were best friends. On night, he came over to our house, and brought his new girlfriend with him. She had turned him into a vampire, and the two of them massacred my family. I was the only one the alive, if you could call it that."

"So, you've been around for awhile," commented Xander.

"I'm only two years or so younger than Angel. At first, I wanted to save my friend, and I found a spell to make it possible, but unfortunately, we were missing some important ingredients."

"Do we have them now?" asked Giles.

"I think so, but let me tell you about this first, so that you can decide what you want to do." He waited a moment and continued. "Okay, first, we need three people to be involved of the spell. It has to be three that aren't totally human and all have or had a special relationship to Angel and still care for him."

"I can do that," said Buffy.

"And so can I," said Bob, "But everyone else here except for Angela and Beth are human, so we need to find another."

"What about Amy?" questioned Brad.

"I'll have to talk to her, but I'm not sure. Anyway, we also need an Orb of Thesula. I have one."

"What else?"

"There are a few words here, but I can do those. For the spell itself, I need the three people to use their blood to paint a triangle on a floor. On top of the blood, we need to sprinkle on holy water."

"They use their own blood?" asked Angela.

"Yes, without that, it will not work. Then we must get Angelus inside this triangle. Once he is in it, I will say the words, and one of the other two must throw the orb at Angel's feet."

"Wouldn't that break the orb?" asked Pete.

"That is the point," replied Bob. "The soul is supposed to use the blood as a guide to find its way back to the body."

"Why does it have to be their blood then?" asked Mr. Kraus. "It might be too much blood for them to provide without putting their life on the line."

"They should have enough. I'm not sure why it has to be their blood, I think it has something to so with the feelings that these people have for him."

"How do we know Angelus won't just leave the triangle?" Giles questioned.

"A forcefield with develop around him. He won't be able to do anything to stop it. The last person needs to hold a stake and stuff like that just in case it doesn't work. If we are going to do this, the first thing we need to do is find Amy."

"I'm here," came a voice from the door. Bob turned around to see her heavily leaning on the door and holding her head. She started to move forward before going to the floor. She sat there with her head in her hands. Everyone stood around the table, surprised at her actions. Buffy was the first to move. She walked over to Amy and slowly helped her up. Xander followed, and they guided her to a nearby piano bench. She continued to hold her head in her hands.

"Amy, what's wrong?" asked Willow.

"My head...it hurts." Buffy removed Amy's hand and looked at the back of her head.

"Where is some ice?" she asked.

"Either in the nurse's office or the gym teacher's office," answered Angela.

"Show me where, we need to get some ice on this." Angela and Buffy ran out of the room to get some ice. Giles moved forward and looked at Amy's head.

"What happened?" he asked. As soon as he asked her that, he started to cry and put her hands over her face. Beth moved forward, placing her arm around Amy's shoulder. Amy turned to Beth and laid her head on Beth's shoulder, continuing to cry.

"What's wrong?" asked Beth gently.

"They took her," she said, in-between sobs. "They took Alicia."

"Who? Who took Alicia?"

"Angelus. He attacked us with another vampire, and they both took Alicia. The other vampire is going to use her for a toy."

Beth looked at Mr. Kraus for some help, who moved forward to try to calm the sobbing girl. Xander moved forward as well, but for a different purpose.

"You stupid girl," he spat at her. "If you would have just listened to what you were told, then your friend would still be okay."

"Xander-" said Willow.

"I don't understand why you didn't believe what you were told."

"I'm sorry," said Amy. "I should have listened."

"Yeah, well sorry isn't good enough. Now, you're friend may die and it is your fault."

"That's enough, Xander," said Giles, moving between him and the girl.

"I don't think it is."

"Everyone makes mistakes, why can't you just understand that?" asked Willow.

"These mistakes are causing people their lives!" yelled Xander.

Amy felt a knife twist within her heart, and buried her head deeper in her friend's shoulder. Cordelia saw this and motioned Oz to help her get the girl out of the room. As they were leaving with Amy, Cordelia told Buffy, who had just walked in, that now they could talk without her around. Pete and Brad slowly followed them out.

"Xander," said Buffy, from the doorway. "We can talk about this later, right now we need to get ready to get rid of Angelus. If we are going to make this work, we need some bait. Have you filled Amy in on the plan yet?" she questioned Bob.

"No, haven't had a chance yet. I can fill her in pretty quick."

"I don't think we should save him," said Beth, looking at Xander for some type of support.

"What?" came Angela's voice. "Why not?"

"He's a vampire, he's just kidnapped Alicia, and by the lump on Amy's head, I don't think he is worth it."

"He's not responsible for his actions," said Willow. "It is the demon, not our Angel." She felt her face turn red as everyone stared at her. "Well, Buffy's Angel."

"How did he lose his soul, anyway?" questioned Beth. "Even if we do recurse him, he could lose it again." Beth watched as Buffy's face turned a little red.

"I think that we should try," said Mr. Kraus. "If not to get rid of Angelus, but to get us another ally. Can you imagine what the real Angel is going through?"

"Why are you sticking up for him?" asked Xander. "You hated him. He is a vampire, remember?"

"Xander," said Buffy, walking toward him, "Why don't you want us to save him? Is it because you hate him? Is it because he got something that you didn't? Is it because I love him?"

"And slept with him," said Xander. "Yeah, that might have something to do with it."

"You slept with him?" said Angela. Buffy blushed and turned to hit Xander. Beth moved forward in front of him.

"I think Xander is right, kill the bastard." Buffy glared at her in anger and looked at the rest of the people in the room.

"Fine," said Buffy. "If you two won't help, I guess I should ask the rest of the people." She turned to everyone else. "What do the rest of you think? Who thinks that we should just let Angel die?" Surprising everyone, Giles slowly moved forward and claimed a place beside Xander and Beth. "You?" questioned Buffy.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. Angel killed Jenny, and even though she did betray us, I love her and kill hold him accountable for the actions that the demon committed." Buffy looked at everyone else, and dared them to walk across to the other side. Mr. Kraus, Angela and Willow stood with Buffy while Giles, Xander, and Beth stood opposed to them. Bob moved over to stand next to Buffy.

"I think we should try," he said to the others. "If it doesn't work, we can kill him."

"Fine," said Beth, "I'll help."

"Fine," replied Buffy. "We need to get ready for this spell. I want this over quickly. If it doesn't work," she choked out, "then we kill him."

. . .

Alicia stared at Drusilla as she glided by. Attempting to blend into the cement wall, she prayed that the vampire would not come any closer to her. She closed her eyes and tried not to cry, which she had been threatening to do since the vampires first appeared. Think happy thoughts, she said to herself. She tried to think about her family, friends, anything to keep her mind off the fact that he life was in danger. She fingered the cross necklace, wondering why they hadn't taken it off yet. Getting an idea, she slowly reached around the chain to remove the necklace and held it tightly in her hand. When the vampiress came near her, she held it so tightly she could feel the imprint in her hand.

"Now, dear," said Drusilla to Alicia, "I need you to sit over here. Come on," she said. Alicia slowly moved to sit at a nearby coffee table. Around he table were three chairs. Alicia took the one closest to her. In another was Miss Edith, the doll she treated like a child. Drusilla sat in the last empty one, and began to pour drinks in the cups. When she got to Alicia's cup, Alicia leaned forward to see what was being poured. When the dark, red liquid ran out of the pitcher and the smell of blood enveloped her nostrils, Alicia felt the bile rise in her throat. "Drink up, dearie," said Drusilla. Alicia forced herself not to be sick as the crazy vampire skipped around the table to her chair. Drusilla sat down, and took her glass. She raised it up as a toast and drunk it like tea. When she saw that Alicia wasn't drinking, she got a pouting look on her face. "Angel, my guest doesn't like her tea."

Alicia felt her face pale as she realized that the other vampire was standing behind her. Of all of the vampires, she feared Angelus the most. "Dru, why don't you just kill her and get it over with? As long as we keep her here, she is just a reason for Amy to come looking for us."

"She isn't dead?" said Alicia, quickly spinning around and forgetting her fear in her surprise and relief. The larger vampire smiled at her.

"No, she isn't dead. Going to have quite a headache for awhile, and maybe a scar to go along with it." He smiled at her and she blushed, turning back around. "You know Dru," he said, "I could think of better ways to use your doll." Alicia felt her face heat up even more. Drusilla's face turned into a mask of rage.

"She is mine. Don't even touch her. Find someone else to use...there are others." Alicia quietly thanked God that she had Drusilla to defend her, even if she was planning to eventually kill her. The longer she was alive, the better chance she had of surviving.

"Calm down, dear. I won't touch her. I just think that the longer we keep her here, the tougher it is going to be to keep this hideout a secret."

"But Angel, she looks just like one of us." Angel took a closer look at Alicia and nodded his head. "Can we make her one of us?"

"Sure," said Angel. "But not for a little while. I think that-" He cut off as Drusilla began to wail and held her head in her hands. "Dru, what do you see?"

"They know how to change you...they want you back. They want Angel to come back." Angel face contorted in disgust.

"Don't thy know what happens when they try that?" he asked himself. "Oh, well. I guess I better go take care of the problem." Alicia silently cheered, anything to get the male vampire far away from her. "Dru, can you see who they are and where the spell is taking place?"

Drusilla moved her head back and forth. She placed her hands on her temple. "A young man, wait, not young, outlive his time. He is leading the spell."

"Where are they?"

"They are still as the school. He will bring back their Angel. Stop them," he said, her eyes snapping shut. "Hurry, not much time." Angel spun around and growled at Alicia.

"If they succeed, there is no way they will be able to save you," said Angelus, his face inches from her own. Alicia felt herself pale at the though of becoming like the creatures in front of her and had to struggle for calm. Angel quickly turned and his jacket flowed up in the breeze. He left the warehouse, and Alicia turned to watch the crazy vampire.

"See deary," said Drusilla, getting back into the game of house, and taking a sip from her cup. "It tastes good." Alicia fingered the cross in her hand that she had forgotten about, feeling some calm that it brought her. As the tall vampire walked over to her, Alicia held the cross at her face and stood up. Drusilla smiled. "Oh, that isn't ver nice," she said, drawing the words out. Alicia backed up, hoping to make it to the exit. Forgetting to turn around, she felt herself hit another vampire. The cross what knocked from her hand and Drusilla walked over. "Sit," commanded the vampire, pointing to the chair. Alicia obeyed, not knowing what else she could do.

. . .

"Are you going to help us?" asked Bob. Amy nodded her head, and agreed to his idea. "Good, now, we need to go the auditorium to set up." Amy nodded again and stood up to join everyone else. Buffy had already left in search of a sharp knife to use and some materials to stop the bleeding. Buffy and Bob didn't need to worry so much, their blood would stop quicker. Amy was going to attempt to control her blood flow through her powers, but they didn't know if it would work so they needed to be prepared.

Slowly leading the somewhat large crew to the stage of the auditorium, they entered but the back door and turned on the lights. There were many props lying around, from the play that was being worked on. Bob and Pete moved forward to clear a place in the middle of the stage. Everyone else except for Amy headed to the room on the side of the auditorium to hide. Once the stage was clear, Amy took a place of chalk and drew a triangle. Pete left and Buffy returned with a knife and a some towels as well as gauze. Bob pulled out a glass ball from a padded case.

"What is that?" asked Buffy.

"It is an orb or Thesula. It will be used to hold Angel's soul." Buffy extended her hands and Bob gently placed the orb in her hands. Buffy looked at it for a few moments. "This little thing, it is going to bring back my Angel?"

"It will definitely help," said Bob. "We should hurry and make the triangle. Then we need to find him."

"I'll do that," said Giles, entering the auditorium. Buffy shook her head no. "Once you have your blood drawn, you will be to weak," he insisted. Buffy continued to shake her head.

"I don't think so Giles."

"This is not the time to fight my decision, Buffy."

"We could wait until after," said Amy. "If she is too weak, you could decide what to do then."

"I go for that," said Bob. "Now, who wants to go first?" he asked, holding the knife.

"I will," Amy surprised everyone by saying, and took the knife from her friend. Buffy moved over to hold a towel and Amy waved her away. Holding down the queasiness that threatened to make her stomach turn over, she placed the knife on her wrist and make a small incision above the most prominent vein. When the blood began to show, she let it drop on the ground on the triangle drawing.

"Oh god, I'm going to be sick," came Beth's voice from the corner of the stage. Once Amy was done with the using of her blood, she took the towel that Buffy still held and wrapped her wrist in it. Within a few seconds, it began to turn red. "Can you stop it?" came her voice again. Amy shook her head no. Desperately trying, she attempted to make it slow down. Giles walked over and applied pressure on the top of her arm, while clamping an iron grip on the towel. Buffy took the knife from the floor, poured some alcohol on it, and dried it off.

Doing the same thing, Buffy and Bob finished the last two sides of the triangle. When that was completed, Cordelia and Willow sprinkled holy water over the top. "What now?" asked Angela.

"We find Angelus," said Buffy. "Everyone except Bob and I should go hide in the other room. We can handle him."

"I'll find him," said Giles, letting go of Amy's arm. Buffy shook her head no. "You are too weak."

"I am not," argued Buffy.

"Just listen to me and let me find Angelus." The others left the auditorium and went to the room to hide.

Buffy put her hand on her hips and gave Giles an annoyed look. "Do you remember what happened last time you told me I couldn't fight forces of evil somewhere? You ended up with a bruised jaw and a lump on your head. Go in the other room. I think I know where he is. I'll find him."

"I can't believe this," said a voice from the back of the audience chairs. "You and your stupid crowd is trying to restore my soul again!" Coming into the light, Angel was wearing him game face and smiling at Buffy.

"Again?" she questioned, knowing Giles was still behind her.

"That stupid gypsy died trying to restore the pesky thing. The chase was wonderful, Giles. Snapping her neck, nothing gave me more pleasure."

"How dare you," growled Giles at the vampire. Buffy turned around, punched him, and quickly knocked him out.

"Sorry, Giles," she said quietly, as he fell to the floor. "I can't let you almost kill yourself again trying to take revenge." Turning her attention back to Angelus, she took the orb up from its box. Angel looked at her in disbelief.

"I wish you would all learn and quit trying things that are beyond your control. And you," he said, turning to Bob, "Didn't I get rid of you a couple of centuries ago."

"We tried, and you destroyed my family in the process. Now, I think that you are going to pay," said Bob, pulling out a sheet of paper from his pocket. Bob began to talk in Latin, and Angel moved quickly towards him and Buffy. Bob stood on the opposite side of the triangle, and Angelus ran right into it. Bob backed up a few paces because of reflexes, but it was soon obvious that Angel couldn't leave it.

"What did you do to me?" the vampire asked. Bob continued to read. The orb began to glow brightly, and Buffy shut her eyes, letting the feeling of her love calm her. When she opened them, they were glowing bright blue, and there was a predatory look in them. Angelus tried to move back in surprise from that look that quickly turned to fear. Buffy moved forward, and as Bob ended what needed to be said, she grinned.

"We win," she said to Angel. Using all of the force she could, she brought the orb down and smashed it at Angelus' feet. A light moved up, that reminded the two watchers of the Little Mermaid movie, and bounced off the invisible forcefield. Angelus looked on, not able to move from the soul's grasp. The soul reinvaded the body, and he clasped.

. . .

"NO!" came Drusilla's scream. Alicia jumped back in surprise and the chair she had been sitting on went flying backwards. Drusilla began throwing everything within her grasp. "No, no, no, no, NO! Not again! They can't have my Angel again!" Noticing most of the other vampires back away, Alicia did the same. She fell on her knees, and cupped her head in her head in her hands and began to moan. Alicia hit a wall, and froze there, watching this scene for the second time today. Drusilla dragged herself over the table and clasped on top. She motioned to Alicia by waving her wrist back and forth. "Tie her up," she commanded the younger vampires. Alicia turned to her left and ran, but was quickly intercepted by other vampires. Struggling against their grasp, she was tied to a pole in the middle of the room.

Drusilla climbed off the table and walked to the pole, bending down to Alicia's level, who was now sitting on the floor, leaning against the pole. All of the protectiveness she had felt earlier from the vampire disappeared, as well as the bravery and calmness that she had demonstrated from the first moment the vampires appeared. "Don't worry, Miss Alicia," said Drusilla. "Before long, you will be one of us, and you will no longer feel any fear at us. And Angel will be an outcast among his best friends." She stood up and glided out of the room. Alicia quietly whimpered and prayed for her friends to hurry, and for the Angel Amy described to be as much of a help as Amy portrayed him to be.

. . .

"Angel?" Buffy whispered quietly, shaking the vampire's shoulder. Bending down over the still vampire, she attempted to will his eyes open.

Bob moved to lean over Buffy's shoulder. "Is it him?"

Buffy turned to look up at Bob in annoyance. "Do you think I know if it is him? His eyes haven't even opened yet!"

"Maybe he was knocked out like you knocked me out," came Giles' groggy voice from behind the two teens. They both turned around to see the watcher leaning on his elbow, holding his head. "Did you hit him before or after the spell?"

"I didn't hit him at all," insisted Buffy. "You weren't even out for five minutes," said Buffy.

"After being beat on by you multiple times a week, one's body comes to accept and even repel some of the abuse that you place on it."

"Do you ever stop talking like a dictionary?" asked Buffy.

"I don't think he does," answered Bob. "Well, I don't know when Angel is going to wake up, I didn't even know that he was going to be knocked out. We can't do anything else until he comes to."

"You're right about that. Do you think the others should come in and we should let them know that we are still alive?"

"I'll get them." Bob left the auditorium and went to the room next door. Giles slowly got up and came over to sit next to Buffy. Within a few minutes, the rest of the crowd came walking onto the stage.

"Is he staked yet?" asked Xander. Buffy turned to glare at him, and Cordelia slapped his arm.

"We can't stake him yet," said Willow, with her calm reason. "We need him to tell us where Amy's friend is, even if he is still bad." Amy's face turned pale, and Angela laid a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"He shouldn't be out too long," said Bob. "Maybe a few minutes."

"Thanks for telling us," replied Cordelia. "No what we do while waiting for him to get up?"

"We can't do anything," said Buffy. "Just wait." Amy turned to leave the auditorium and Xander followed her. He watched from a distance as she went to the center hall of the school. In the middle of the hall, she took off her cross necklace and bent down on her knees. Xander watched in surprise as her lips began to move, like singing to a song that only she could hear. Xander silently moved closer to hear what she was saying.

"Care for her, Lord. Take care of my friends, and keep them safe. Forgive me for this suicide, for I fear what would happen if she was killed." Amy rose without even turning to look at Xander. Laying the necklace on the ground, and after it followed a stake. She slipped off her dress shoes and went running down the hall towards a door. Xander walked forward and took up her necklace, looking at it closely. Realization dawned on him and he screamed her name down the hallway. She turned and gave him a quick look as she turned and went down another hall. He stood in shock as she disappeared from sight. She her footsteps faded, he sworn he heard her apologize for leaving. Turning in the opposite direction, he headed back to the auditorium.

. . .

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