Disclaimer: All characters and locations are Joss's
Chapter 19
Angel slammed the demon up against the wall, frustration running through his veins the same as the blood pumped through the young girl beside him. This demon knew something and Angel wasn’t leaving until he knew what it knew. Someone- something- had seen her. Angel almost collapsed with relief; they had been running out of ideas, and options.
Willow stood nervously beside him, afraid but strong. She wanted Buffy back just as much as he did and she’d do anything to get her back; just like he would. Her silent support as she stood there worried Angel a little. Only a little. She knew that time was running out. There would be no objections from her on his treatment of the good demon.
His grip on its throat tightened and the demon frantically scrabbled at the arms that held him. It’s face was red from the lack of oxygen but Angel’s grip didn’t relax. In fact it tightened again. The demon’s bones were bending under his punishing grip and Angel felt arrows of satisfaction pierce through him. He felt like he was actually doing something beneficial to Buffy. He was helping.
‘Tell me what you know,’ he growled dangerously and the demon didn’t dare deny him. It spilled everything it knew to the vampire, which wasn’t much.
Angel let it go when it was done. It ran as thought the devil himself were chasing him, which, Angel thought grimly, was very close to the truth. He nodded as a plan formed in his mind. They now knew the general direction where Buffy was taken. It was a good start.
He looked at Willow who seemed as determined as he felt. He lied a hand on her shoulder and she turned to face him. ‘Let’s go to Giles’,’ he said softly and she nodded, wrapping her arms around herself.
They walked back to the mansion in silence, neither knowing what to say. Tonight they would search the area looking for their missing Slayer. Angel wasn’t leaving that area until he had Buffy in his arms. He was confident she was still there but a small part of him was worried that they were running out of time.
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Everyone was taking a break in the kitchen as the vampire and redhead entered. Giles still had the extremely worried look on his face that he’d been wearing since Buffy had been taken; Connor, Gunn, Wesley and Fred had frowns on their faces, lost in thought, while Cordy merely looked bored. A fact that irritated Angel immensely. His love was in trouble and the Seer didn’t care.
‘She’s being held somewhere in the factory district,’ Willow said tensely as the weary group acknowledged their presence.
Giles immediately perked up. ‘Are you sure?’ the Watcher rubbed his tired eyes beneath his glasses. ‘Where did you come across this information? Is it reliable?’
Angel nodded. ‘She’s there,’ was all he said.
It was enough. Everyone in the room looked to the tired Watcher. He seemed thoughtful for a few moments before he straightened up. ‘Is everybody ready?’ they all looked at him puzzled. ‘I fear we should not leave her there for any longer than we already have. I want her out of there and I want her out of there now,’ the Watcher finished.
Angel nodded instantly, prompting the others acquiescence. He wanted Buffy back sooner rather than later as well and he was glad Giles wasn’t making them wait another night. He’d have gone crazy.
‘Everybody weapon up,’ Angel took charge. ‘Take what you think you may need. We don’t know how many have her or how dangerous they are but they had to be good to become part of the Slayerfest.’
They all walked out to lounge where Giles kept his weapons chest. They stood back while he unlocked it then Angel began doling out the weapons. The vampire picked out a large broadsword and swung it experimentally, liking the feel of it in his hands. He gabbed a crossbow and small hunters knife too. No sense in being caught unprepared. Not when the result could be the unthinkable.
Connor came up beside him and they shared a silent moment. His son knew how important Buffy was to him and he would be beside him every step of the way. It meant more to Angel than Connor would ever know.
Once Connor was fitted out, Angel turned to see how everyone else was faring. Fred had a crossbow and was testing the trigger mechanism, Wesley, who also had a crossbow, was examining a shortsword, testing its manoeuvrability, Gunn, though fitted out with a katana and shortsword, was loading up a gun of some kind.
The former street thug caught Angel’s glance and twirled the gun in his hand. ‘Gotta be prepared,’ he said simply as he put the gun in the holster on his belt.
Angel nodded seriously and turned his attention back to the rest of the group. Though he personally didn’t enforce the use of guns, if Gunn felt the necessity to use one, he didn’t tend to question it.
Gunn use to patrol the streets with his gang, killing vampires and keeping the streets of L.A safe, so Angel trusted his judgement. He knew the kid still didn’t trust him completely and that was fine with him. Gunn had been killing vampire for years now and his sister was killed by one a couple of years ago. He understood the kid’s aversion to trusting him.
Cordy was staying behind and though she was unhappy about it, Angel suspected it wasn’t because she wanted to help, it was because she didn’t like being left out. Willow held a crossbow, a stake and some holy water, bravely waiting to get on the move. It was her devotion that touched him the most. He was supremely glad Buffy had someone who would be there for her no matter what. He was a little disappointed that Xander hadn’t turned up. It would have pleased Buffy enormously to see him there, helping to save her. Not to mention an extra person was always a plus.
Giles held a sword and crossbow. He stood, ready to leave before everyone else and in that movement, seeing the determination in the Watcher’s eyes, he knew they would have Buffy by the end of the night.
‘Let’s go,’ the Watcher turned and walked out the door, Willow following close behind.
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The reached the factory district and piled out of Giles’ battered old Citroen and Wesley’s dirty Miata. They stood for a moment, waiting to see if anything or anyone came out but when no one appeared the began to walk towards the factories.
Angel was unsurprised to learn he could feel Buffy’s presence. She was nearby, he felt it in his bones, his blood. He could feel her running through his system and he scolded himself for not going out and looking for her earlier.
Something hit him and his eyes widened in surprise. He could feel Buffy’s fear. He knew, could feel she was in trouble. He picked up his pace and moved faster down the alley beside the factories. He knew he was on the right path when the feeling in his gut grew.
He opened his mouth to tell the others they were close when three humans stepped into the alley. They stood facing the rescue team, blank look on their faces, hands behind their backs.
Angel stopped and stepped in front of the others protecting them as he could. Connor stepped up to his left, clutching his own broadsword. He, like Angel, had chosen the broadsword, crossbow and small knife. Connor’s, however, were different to Angel’s. The boy’s sword was smaller and easier to use; it had better balance therefore was easier to use with one hand. His knife was a larger hunter’s knife and was sharp enough to cut through bone, while his crossbow held smaller, deadlier bolts.
Together, father and son faced the men in the alley, ready to defend against any attack. Before anyone could make a move, however, a car came screeching round the corner into the alley, startling the inhabitants. The car slammed to a stop and the front door opened, spilling out a brown haired teenager.
Xander ran towards the group, a worried look on his face. ‘I just got the message,’ he panted as he doubled over, trying to catch his breath. ‘Where is she?’
Willow ran over to him and engulfed him in a tight hug. ‘How-’
‘I went to the mansion but only Cordy was there. After I threatened to tell everyone about that summer when she tried to put streaks in her hair but it came out pink, she sung like a bird. So, here I am.’
Tears were flowing down both their faces and Angel was grateful to the boy for getting over whatever it was they fought about. It would mean a lot to his Slayer.
The three at the end of the alley hadn’t moved but even from this distance away Angel could tell there was something different about them. Something was off; they way they stood, they way they stared, it unnerved the vampire immensely. In the periphery of his vision, he saw Willow giving Xander a weapon and, knowing that everyone was at least armed, he walked towards the three at the opposite end.
They stayed where they were, not moving a muscle as the group walked cautiously towards them. When they were within ten feet, the three men drew their weapons. The one on the left pulled a sword from the scabbard on his back, the middle guy pulled a wicked looking knife from his boot- the same place Buffy kept her stakes- and the third uncovered a spiky headed mace, swinging it threateningly.
He stopped, forcing the others to stop and held his sword at the ready. He could feel the others doing the same and he smirked. The demon in him had been spoiling for a good fight for the longest time now and tonight it finally got to play. The three men advanced on the group swinging their weapons.
‘You know,’ Xander’s voice rang though the alley. ‘In normal circumstances I’d be very afraid but with deadboy heading the team, I’m terrified. Why exactly is a vampire leading us?’
Angel ignored him, keeping focus on the advancing men. ‘Because he’s the hardest of us to kill,’ Willow answered him with an accompanying smack. ‘Do you wanna try?’
Xander said nothing and Angel inwardly shook his head. He and the boy needed to have a talk after this.
No one had a chance to say anything else as they three men began to run towards them. Angel and Connor stayed still for a spilt second before they too began to run.
‘Does anyone else think we should be running the other way?’ Xander asked the crowd but they all ignored him.
He sighed and joined them as they got into the fight but there was no need. Angel and Connor had the battle over in seconds, all three men dead on the ground. Before their eyes the “men” began to change, shifting into hideous demons. They all looked the same; tan coloured skin, too many teeth and Angel stepped back, his gaze roaming the alley. There was no way this was that easy.
‘We better move on, now,’ he announced as he shepherded them towards a large warehouse.
As he got closer, he could feel Buffy more strongly and he knew she was in that building. He left the group and ran over to the door. It was locked tight. He searched the alley, frantically looking for something to break down the door, getting the feeling that time was running out.
He found a big steel pole lying on the ground and he picked it up. Connor got what he was doing and came over to help. Together they hammered at the door, not stopping until they broke though.
After what seemed to Angel like years, the door caved in and they were able to open it. It took some strength but they pulled it open and entered the building.
Immediately they were blinded by the bright lights and white walls. It looked to Angel like a test lab or a private hospital. His fear for Buffy increased even more as he saw the inside of the building in which she was being held. Closing his eyes he latched onto Buffy. Immediately he opened his eyes and ran in that direction. He turned down corridor after corridor, finding no opposition, following his instincts.
He stopped when Gunn’s panting voice called out, ‘Angel, man, do you actually know where you’re goin‘?’
He turned to the group and noted their worried and distrustful looks. ‘I can feel her,’ he said simply and he turned back around.
He just hoped they weren’t too late.
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Buffy was beyond panicking now. The water had risen way above her head and she was standing tiptoe on the desk in the room in order to keep from drowning. The creature was still holding onto her tightly.
So much for wanting something to happen, she thought wildly. I’m going to die. I’m going to drown. I don’t want to drown.
She didn’t know how these people had known she had a fear of drowning but she cursed their knowledge. Ever since she’d drowned at Lothos’ hands, she’d feared it happening again- not enough to stop going to the beach though- because she still swam.
Her head slipped under the water for a moment as she lost her balance. She regained her footing and gasped for air. The poor creature on her head squealed in protest and she winced. She was going to die and she was worried about a naked Care Bear. Her priorities were so skewed right now.
The water was still rising and she barely had her head above the water. Another minute and she’d be under water. Deciding to use what she’d learnt in school, she gingerly reached up and grabbed the creature, removing it from her head. She winced when it pulled out a large chunk of her hair and briefly considered tossing it across the room, leaving it to fend for itself but she restrained herself.
She held it up as she tried to lay on her back, preparing to float. She sank under the water a few times before finally managing to stay on top of the water. She placed the creature gently on her stomach and waved her hand frantically under the water to keep herself afloat. It lasted for a few minutes but the water was still rising and they were almost at the roof.
There’s no way out of this, she realised with sudden shock. This whole time she’d been holding out, waiting for some miracle and… nothing. Every God she’d ever prayed to- even in jest- had let her down. She was going to die- again- and there was nothing she could do. At the moment all she was doing was postponing the inevitable.
Her thoughts turned to her mother and a small smiled grace her lips. At least she’d get to see her again. She missed her mother so much, that’s why she’d thrown herself into Slaying after she died. What else did she have to do? Fighting for your life tended to keep you living in the now. For small spaces of time, her mind wasn’t consumed with thoughts of her mother.
Her head slipped under the water, surprising her and she spluttered as she rose to the surface again. This was it. If she reached out a hand, she could actually touch the roof of the room and it was steadily getting closer. She closed her eyes and said goodbye to everyone; Willow, her new best friend, Xander, guilt racked her for leaving things like that with him, Giles, she’d grown close to the Watcher the last few weeks, Gunn, Fred, Wesley, Connor, Cordy and Angel. Oh god, Angel.
She regretted not having more than just a few kisses. She regretted not leaving a better mark on him. All he’d ever have of her were a few kisses and she was heartbroken . They could have, should have had so much more. She loved him so much and she was going to die without telling him that.
Tears leaked from her eyes and fell into the rising water. Her body pressed up against the ceiling and she began to cry for the first time since being captured. All this from one visit to the Bronze. I’m never going there again, she thought angrily then dissolved into tears when she realised that was true. She never would.
Never again would she enter a bar, never again would she go dancing or order a drink or have fun with her friends or… kiss the man she loved.
She closed her eyes as the water pressed her harder against the roof. She took a deep breath as the water engulfed her but knew it was no use. The creature stopped struggling after a few seconds and a sob escaped her. The bubbles tumbled from her mouth as she cried and her world began to grow black.
It was the same death as her last one, only no pain. No vampire sucking at her neck, no blood loss, just blackness. She surrendered to the darkness and felt her limbs fall still, the air escaped her mouth as she sank in the water.
She didn’t see the door being flung open, didn’t feel all the water rushing out of the room rapidly, didn’t feel her body being carried out with the water, straight into her vampires arms.
Every thing was…
…black.
Yay longer chapter. Took a dman while to write though. I was going to update yesterday but i got sick so sorry guys.
Review please or I’ll end it here. Nah, empty threat; Like when your parents threaten to turn the car around or threaten to leave you on the side of the highway.
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