Half Breed: Part Twelve
by JeanetteB
Sundown—
The Library—

“So okay, what’s our game plan again?” Xander asked as he and Cordelia entered the library. Willow and Oz were already present, sitting side by side at their research table.

“We should really wait until Buffy and Leonora return from their preliminary scouting,” Giles admonished the young man, then resumed cleaning his glasses.

The assembled group looked up as the topics of their conversation pushed open the library’s double doors. Leonora toted something over her shoulder. “Sorry we’re late,” Buffy began. “Leonora here had to make a stop.” She indicated the contraption the dhampir carried.

“That can’t be what I think it is,” Xander said in amazement, his eyes rounding to the size of dinner plates.

“You’d better believe it,” Leonora answered, setting the flame-thrower on the table.

“I don’t think I want to know where you got that.” Giles looked measuringly at Leonora. “Are you sure that this *thing* is a wise idea?”

“If you have a better one then share with the class. We’re getting ready to go head to head with most of the vampire population in Sunnydale; we needed something with a little more range than a stake and this was all I could come up with on short notice. And since the Slayer informed me that getting all of you to stay behind is about as promising as convincing Angel to work on his tan, I figured this may keep some of them off of you.”

Buffy began passing out stakes, crosses, and vials of holy water to those assembled. “Here’s the plan. Leonora and I didn’t see much vampire activity tonight which means that most of the vampires are either already at the Master’s Lair, or on their way there by way of the underground tunnels. From what we know of this ritual, Li can’t start the party until full dark, so that gives us some time to get set up and into position.”

Leonora took up the instructions. “The Slayer knows the way, so she’ll be leading us in. The two of us will do our best to take out the sentries that will most likely be posted around the lair. Li has to know we’re coming so I expect security to be tight. As for weapons…” The dhampir gestured to Buffy, who continued.

“Giles, you’ve got the crossbow and rear guard. I want everyone armed with several stakes, but your main goal is to stay out of our way and not get yourselves killed.” She dug into her bag and took out a large SuperSoaker water gun. “Cordy, think you can hit anything with this thing?”

“Not a problem as long as the target is big enough. And I don’t break a nail.”

“Fine,” Buffy said, handing her the gun. “It’s filled with holy water. Aim for the chest and you should be okay. Keep a couple of stakes on you for when that thing runs dry.” The Slayer turned to Willow and Oz. “I know you’ll take care of each other, just be careful. You’ve got the crosses and stakes. Stay in the middle with Cordelia.”

“What about me?” Xander asked, a bit miffed that he didn’t get the water gun.

Leonora led him to the table where the flame-thrower rested. “Think you can handle this with your shoulder?”

Xander grinned and hefted it onto his back. When it was securely in place, he grabbed the nozzle and looked up. “Oh, yeah. I can handle this baby.” His grin faded slightly. “Uh, how does it work?” Leonora set about instructing him in its use.

“Just make sure we are out of the way when you open this thing up,” she advised. “I don’t think any of us want to become a crispy critter. You’ll be behind us. You have my permission to barbecue anything that gets in your way once we get where we’re going.”

“Gotcha.”

“Okay guys, let’s roll,” Buffy said, and led the way out of the library.

The Tunnels—

“Welcome to subterranean Sunnydale. Home of rats, vampires, and very little else,” Xander quipped as the group made its way through the labyrinth of underground tunnels that permeated Sunnydale.

“I don’t remember reading about this is the travel brochure,” Leonora noted from just ahead of him.

“It helps to have a native guide.” He made a face when Buffy shushed him. “Just trying to lighten the mood.”

Leonora moved alongside Buffy and whispered, “Giles filled me in on what happened to you the last time you were down here. You sure you’re up for this?”

“I’m sure. Not that I have much of a choice either way. Why, are you concerned?”

“I just don’t want you to freeze up on me in there. Giles wanted me to keep an eye on you—make sure you don’t go all wiggy. Plus I would hate to have to cart your dead body back to the surface.”

“I’ll do my best not to inconvenience you,” the Slayer whispered sharply back.

“Seriously, Buffy,” Leonora said, no joking in her voice now. Buffy looked at her strangely. It was the first time Leonora had ever addressed her by her name. She stopped walking and faced the dhampir. “You’re a good kid. Sure, you’ve got some growing up to do, but who doesn’t. And if nothing else comes out of this, you’ve earned my respect. You and your friends. That’s not something I find too often. So be careful in there.”

She moved past Buffy to take the point, but paused when Buffy spoke. “Leonora, I’m sorry for the stuff I’ve said about you. I know you didn’t deserve *most* of it.” The Slayer smiled.

“An apology,” Leonora said, sounding impressed. “See, you’ve grown up a little already. But we’d better get moving. If we keep standing around here, you’re liable to have another growing experience and I’m not sure if you’re up for two in the same day.” The dhampir grinned as she said it, and this time, Buffy didn’t find the grin as annoying as she had in the past.

They continued on, Buffy leading them unerringly. She hesitated only once at a junction where four tunnels met before leading them down the one that branched right. They hadn’t gone far before Leonora held up her hand for the group to halt. The dhampir ghosted forward on cat feet, making no sound, and disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel.

A small *poof* of air sounded farther down the corridor and Leonora reappeared, silently brushing dust from her clothes. She leaned into the middle of the group and whispered, “From now on, no noise. They’ve started posting sentries. I can sense when we’re coming up on one of them—Buffy and I will take care of them. The rest of you stay behind us and keep it quiet.” With a nod to the Slayer, Leonora set off down the passageway.

Leonora held up her hand and she and Buffy crept forward with greater frequency the closer the group came to the Master’s Lair. Chanting was beginning to sound throughout the tunnel that they were in and vampire guards were appearing in greater numbers. Light flickered ahead of them. After taking out the last of the sentries in their tunnel, Leonora and Buffy moved forward to the mouth of the cavern to see what lay in store for them.

It looked as though Li had already begun the ritual. Buffy saw a small woman standing behind a makeshift altar, a long, wicked-looking knife in one upraised hand. Candles burned throughout the perimeter, forming a circle. Vampires perched on outcrops that the fallen rock had provided. Buffy watched as Li chanted something in an alien tongue and sliced open her palm, allowing the blood to drip over a long bone at the center of the altar.

Li looked up and Buffy’s eyebrows took root somewhere in her hairline. “You weren’t kidding about that forehead thing, were you,” she whispered. Leonora smiled briefly, then pointed. Angel, Drusilla, and Spike had appeared, flanking the altar. Buffy felt something twist inside her, but she fought it down. This was not the time for unresolved emotional issues to surface, she reminded herself.

Li suddenly stopped her chanting and looked directly at their hiding place. Her huge blue eyes blazed with an unholy light, her fangs lengthened, and she snarled, “Traitor!”

Leonora stood, her own eyes beginning to glow an intense green. “Nice to see you too, sis.” And she launched herself into the fray.

“Oh hell,” Buffy said to no one in particular and followed after.

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