Chapter 17
Siege
The four of them were led through the club beneath a club. Unlike the upstairs, this room was furnished in natural oak. A roaring fireplace lay along one wall. The room was softly lit, tastefully quiet music drifted in through speakers mounted in the corners. It looked more like a medieval tavern more than a club.
Jerking aside a curtain, one of the crossbow-bearing youths, gestured for the four to enter. They did.
Into a room dominated by a giant tree.
The four gaped at it. Not a tiny sapling by any means, this tree was more than a diameter at the base, extending from a patch of plain earth up through the top of the room, which Buffy realized had no ceiling. Leaning against the base of the tree, casually reading a book was a man. The man looked up and Buffy gasped when she saw his face,
“Dracula?” she asked incredulously. The man shook his head and stood, and Buffy got a clearer look at him. No, it wasn’t the Dark Prince. In stark contrast to the vampire’s death-like pallor, this man had dark skin and his hair shined black and luxurious in the firelight, still the resemblance was unmistakable. He smiled and walked over to them, dressed in a poet’s shirt and brown leather pants and bowed,
“Greetings. My name is DeGanon, welcome to my home,” he gestured to the guards who put their crossbows away. He smiled charmingly at them, “And you, if I’m not mistaken, are part of the coterie that devastated my tribe in our raid against the Grigori Estate,” the smile was there but there were sharp edges to it. Buffy spoke first,
“Yeah, well, sorry, but I take exception to being attacked by people flying around and hurling lightening bolts,” she retorted. DeGanon acquiesced the point,
“Perhaps,” he replied dryly. He turned his gaze to Angel, “But this man has no such excuse,” he regarded the vampire coolly, “The legendary Angelus, renown for his brutality almost as much as for his cruelty,” Angel looked down, Buffy shot the swarthy man a dark look,
“As opposed to the legendary DeGanon, who raids peoples homes to steal their magic,” she bit out. DeGanon frowned at her but kept from retorting. Giles spoke up,
“As you may or may not know, Jenny Calendar was a friend of Angel’s,” DeGanon snorted,
“Does he murder all his friends?” he replied. Giles’ face darkened. Dusk stepped in,
“Those were extenuating circumstances,” he explained, “The curse-”
“I know all about the curse,” DeGanon interrupted, “My family’s bloodline was the one that performed it in the first place,” Angel’s eyes widened as DeGanon smirked slightly and turned to Buffy,
“When you came in here, you mistook me for our lord, Dracula, who is an ancestor of mine, I assume you know of him?” Buffy nodded slightly, coloring a little.
“Yeah, we’ve met,” she replied. DeGanon leaned out and tilted her chin up a little, examining the scar left by his bite.
“So I see,” he responded quietly. He released her and regarded the group, “Our lord has us on the lookout for any and all slayers that pass through this city,” he explained.
“Elisabeta?” Dusk asked. DeGanon turned to him in surprise,
“Yes, he seeks his lost bride. Has he told you this?” he inquired. Dusk shook his head,
“Another source of information. Listen,” Dusk spoke up, “We could really use your help, decoding an enchanted fractal,” he informed the gypsy lord. DeGanon frowned,
“Yes?” DeGanon asked. Giles’s nodded,
“We believe it to be a spell. It’s encoded in a way that resembles some things that Jenny did before she died,” he told him. DeGanon nodded,
“I see,” he replied. He turned to someone else and said something in his native tongue. The other man’s eyes bulged and pointed at Angel, jabbering angrily. DeGanon cut him off and sent him away, before turning back to address the group.
“It just so happens, that you came at the right time,” he informed them, “We have need of such fierce warriors, and you owe a debt to us for the deaths of our kinsmen,” he added. Buffy frowned,
“If any of our friends had been killed, would you owe us?” she replied angrily. DeGanon shook his head,
“Of course not, you are Giorgio, non-gypsies. Our rules do not apply to you, “he informed them casually, “Nevertheless, if you will aid in the coming battle, you will be rewarded. I will have the glyph decoded for you and you will be sent on your way,” he finished. Dusk frowned at him,
“If this is another raid-” he began.
“It isn’t,” DeGanon assured him, “Though if the raid last night had been successful, the coming battle would be that much easier,” Giles frowned.
“Then what sort of battle is it?” he asked. DeGanon turned to him,
“Our enemies, here, under the ground. The Khulghaani,” he explained. Buffy frowned,
“Another gypsy tribe?” she asked. DeGanon blanched at the unintentional insult,
“No!” he replied. Buffy started as the gypsy lord calmed himself, “No,” he explained more calmly, “They are blood-drinkers, monstrous creatures of the dark,” he told her. Buffy’s eyed widened,
“Bald vampires? About six or so feet tall, that can turn all shadowy and move really fast?” she asked. DeGanon, surprised, nodded.
“Yes, this is true. How did you know?” he demanded. She gestured to Dusk,
“My brother force-fed one a .357 Mag and blew it out of speeding subway car right onto a ten thousand volt subway rail,” she told him. DeGanon’s eyes widened as he regarded the other man.
“This is so?” he asked. Dusk shrugged,
“I had help,” he told him, turning back to his sister. DeGanon shook his head in wonder,
“The Khulghaani are incredibly vicious fighters,” he told them, more than a little admiration and respect leaking into his voice, “To have slain one in its own territory with no fatalities on your own side is quite an impressive feat,” he finished. He turned to others and pointing at Dusk, said something in Romani. Far from the angry looks they’d given Angel, the other men laughed loudly and came over to slap Dusk on the back, jabbering in rapid, friendly tones to the other man. Dusk just smiled uncomprehending as a gypsy woman brought him a mug of beer.
“What did you say to them?” Dusk asked. DeGanon smiled,
“I told them that you slew no less than five Khulghaani with your bare hands, and that you, the mighty warrior, have agreed to be our general in the coming battle,” he stated simply. Dusk’s jaw dropped,
“You did what?” he demanded. Buffy laughed,
“ ‘The mighty warrior,” she grinned, “I think you’ve just been promoted, ‘General Giles’, sir!” she snapped out a salute as Dusk took a long, steadying pull of the black beer. He swallowed the alcohol and coughed before turning to his grinning sister,
“Fair enough,” he replied, “And as my first act as general of the Spaarti forces, I hereby appoint you my battlefront coordinator,” he informed her. Buffy blanched,
“I don’t lead armies!” she cried, “I just pummel things.” Dusk grinned,
“Well, then it looks like you just got promoted,” he chuckled and turned to DeGanon,
“We have friends upstairs, may they join us?” DeGanon nodded.
“Certainly,” he snapped his fingers and a man came to his side. He said something in Romani. The man nodded and turned to the group,
“DeGanon suggests that one of you travel with me, to ensure your allies cooperation,” he told them. Dusk turned to Angel,
“Angel, would you mind?” Angel shook his head,
“I’m on it,” he told him. He left the room following the gypsy. Dusk turned back to DeGanon, his voice slipping into that authoritative, commanding tone he unconsciously took on whenever he started making a plan,
“What are our forces?” he asked. DeGanon shook his head,
“The failed raid on the estate took a heavy toll, we are no more than twelve men, and a double handful of youths,” he informed them grimly. Dusk shook his head in dismay,
“I don’t suppose the youths can perform magic?” he asked. DeGanon nodded,
“Some, although the best and the brightest were with us upon the attack on the estate,” he told him. Dusk sighed,
“What about the Khulghaani?” he asked. DeGanon shook his head,
“We are unsure, but it is safe to say that they outnumber us by no less than two-to-one,” he told him. Dusk sighed,
“So in other words, we’re outnumbered, outgunned, and expecting attack, when?” he asked the older gypsy.
“No more than four hours from now,” he replied. Dusk sighed,
“And we’re running out of time,” Dusk finished grimly. DeGanon grinned and slapped a hand on his back,
“It is almost unsporting! We should perhaps only send half our forces against the Khulghaani,” he laughed. Dusk eyed him incredulously, “After all, with the general that commands the forces of fire and darkness at our side, how can we lose?” he grinned. Dusk sighed, not bothering to tell the older man that it had be Willow’s spell and Spike’s Molotov cocktail that hand enabled him to turn his darkness shroud into a veritable flaming fount of death. Dusk sighed again looked around at the young men surrounding him.
“How indeed,” he commented dryly.
Their friends joined them shortly after, Buffy filled them in and DeGanon lead them all through a series of tunnels coming out onto the street. A quick trek across the street and they entered the sewers through a manhole cover. Dawn was less than pleased,
“Terrific. Come to New York and take in the scenic sewer system,” she commented unhappily. Buffy smirked,
“Trust me, the sewers in Sunnydale aren’t much better,” she told her sister. Dawn snorted,
“Yeah, well give me a life where it’s a given that I won’t be sludging through sewer systems, period,” Dusk had given her a scarf, borrowed from one of the gypsy women to wrap around her nose, to block out the smell. It was hardly sufficient, Dusk walked up beside DeGanon,
“The young women, the non-combatants, where is the safest place for them, in your fortress?” he asked. DeGanon thought.
“That would be the altar room, it resides in the center of my home and can be sealed shut with heavy floodgates,” he told him.
“Heavy enough to stall the Khulghaani?” he asked. DeGanon nodded,
“If the battle goes poorly, we will retreat to that room and seal it. That will keep the Khulghaani at bay long enough for us to access a secret passageway, leading through a storm drain out into the street,” he told him. Dusk nodded as DeGanon held up a hand, signaling for the group to stop. Taking out a flare, the gypsy lit it and threw it down a dark corridor. Cupping his hands over his mouth, he let out a strange undulating howl. The call was returned and a few words were yelled in Romany. DeGanon responded and gestured for the group to follow. They turned the corner and were greeted by more youths with guns and tear tattoos. DeGanon waved at them to lower their weapons, they did so and DeGanon led them into the vast subterranean complex. The roaring sound of rushing water filled their ears as they noticed about half a dozen miniature waterfalls spilling from large pipelines mounted high in the walls, spilling their contents into murky pools of water below.
“What IS this place?” Faith asked, taking it all in.
“It used to be an underground reservoir. When the city built its sewer system, this was converted into a massive aqueduct system, to supply the city with its water,” DeGanon gestured at the huge pipelines that flowed water into murky pools, “It has since been rendered obsolete. Rather than tear it down the city decided to just ignore it, building around it rather than through it.”
“Your tax dollars at work,” Xander commented, trying not to slip on the wet concrete catwalk, lined with three pools on each side, upon which the water poured hard into them from the massive aqueducts. Dusk looked around and gestured to the pipes,
“Can these be sealed?” he asked. DeGanon nodded and, putting his fingers to his lips, whistled, making a slashing motion across his throat. There were sounds of acknowledgement and with a groan of metal, huge cover plates slide over the openings of the pipes, cutting off the flow of water. The water slowed to a trickle, then nothing at all. The sudden silence was deafening, followed by a gurgling as the six pools surrounding the catwalk drained out, moments later the concrete pits were empty. Dusk sighed,
“Thank you,” turning to DeGanon, he addressed the gypsy leader, “I need everyone assembled in the largest room that you have. I also need blueprints showing every way in and out of this place, storm drains, electrical access tunnels, miss nothing,” he explained to DeGanon, he turned to Dawn, “We also better get to the altar room, I want to make sure it’s secure,” DeGanon nodded and gestured,
“This way,” he told them leading them down another tunnel. He, and two other men strained unsuccessfully against a huge cover plate. After a while, they gave up and turned to the assembled group.
“I am sorry,” DeGanon apologized, his face red with exertion, “But the plate has rusted shut, it cannot be moved. This room has not been used in many weeks and the corrosive atmosphere of the sewers has taken its toll.” Buffy casually walked past him, and throwing her shoulder into it, shoved the metal plate aside with a groan of tortured metal. The assembled men’s eyes bulged in shock as the petite slayer finished shoving the metal portal aside and turned to regard the gypsy, brushing flecks of rust from her shirt,
“It’s all better now,” she told him. The man just nodded his head dumbfounded; one of the other men crossed himself, muttering a prayer. Dusk frowned and turned to DeGanon,
“That reminds me, do you have a priest here?” he asked. DeGanon nodded,
“Yes, he will be at the meeting,” he told him. Dusk nodded,
“Good, I’ve got an idea,” turning towards the alter room. Giving it the once over, he nodded, satisfied.
“Where’s this storm drain passageway?” he asked. DeGanon pointed at a large stone cross set on the alter,
“It is behind there,” he told him. Walking over to it, he pressed a hidden catch with his foot and the massive stone cross popped open. The group peered into it noticing a long narrow darkened tunnel. DeGanon gestured,
“This crawlway leads out of a storm drain and onto the street,” he told them, “It is about ninety meters long.”
“Two hundred and seventy feet,” Giles commented, peering at the crawlspace, “That would do it,” he nodded and straightened. Dusk turned to Dawn placing his hands on her shoulders,
“Honey, when the battle starts, I need you to stay in this room,” he turned to Anya, “Anya will keep you company, something happens I want you and her to get into this tunnel and get out of here, you hear me?” Dawn shook her head,
“I’m NOT leaving you,” she said stubbornly. Dusk smiled, touched at her loyalty, but crouched in front of her,
“Dawn, if you have to leave, and I’m not with you, then chances are I’m already dead,” he said grimly. Dawn gasped, tears springing to her eyes,
“Don’t SAY that!” she cried, “You’re my hero, you can’t die!” throwing her arms around the older man, she held him tightly. Dusk, held her, whispering reassuringly. Buffy turned to the rest of the group, who were taking the display in with looks of compassion,
“We should check the rest of the hideout,” she commented. Everyone nodded and mumbled agreeing. Willow placed a hand on Dusk’s shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked at her, still holding the frightened Dawn. He nodded to her, letting her know he’d be okay. She smiled at him and followed the rest of her friends out of the room. Dawn hiccupped and pulled away. Dusk wiped the tears from her eyes,
“Listen, don’t worry about me, okay, Dawn? I’m a survivor,” he tilted her chin to look up at him, “Remember, I promised to always watch over you?” Dawn sniffled and nodded. Dusk grinned, “Well, then I will,” he told her. He gave her a tight hug, feeling his own eyes beginning to ache. The thought of dying, of leaving this girl undefended in this world of darkness and hatred, filled his soul with dread. He buried the feeling and looked back at her face. Smiling, he leaned in and placed a warm kiss on her cheek. Dawn closed her eyes and rested her head against his. Finally he pulled back, Dawn touched her cheek,
“What was that for?” she whispered. Dusk smiled,
“For letting me be your hero,” he replied. Dawn smiled at him, her face shining through her tear-streaked face as Dusk reached out and gently stroked her cheek affectionately; Dawn leaned into the caress,
“You’ll always be my hero,” she told him. Dusk smiled and nodded,
“Bet your life,” he replied, taking her hand he led her from the alter room back to join the others.
“Okay, so here and here are the access tunnels,” Dusk gestured to the map. DeGanon nodded,
“Yes, they run the whole length of the city, two hundred miles,” he told them. Dusk nodded,
“Okay, get them sealed,” he instructed. DeGanon shot looks to two men who hurried to obey, “That leaves only this main access point,” he pointed at the map, “here. Where we all came in,” the gypsy nodded,
“Yes. If there is to be an attack, it will have to come from that direction. All other access points have been sealed and it would take a while for even the Khulghaani to break through,” Dusk nodded and sighed,
“All right then, basic strategy, bottleneck the enemy, force them to come through one way only, and make that one way as unpleasant as possible,” he turned to his father,
“Remember the siege of Masada?” he asked. Giles nodded,
“One thousand Jewish zealots resisting a siege of two years against the Roman Empire in 70 A.D.” he replied.
“What happened to the Jews?” Xander asked.
“All but seven committed suicide rather than be captured by the Romans when the fortress fell,” he replied. Xander blanched and turned to Dusk,
“Dusk, pick another battle, preferably one where the defenders actually WON,” he demanded. Dusk shook his head,
“Think about it though, one thousand untrained Jewish zealots versus an entire legion of professional soldiers, that’s at least ten thousand men,” he told them, “and they held out for two years,”
“We don’t exactly have a thousand people,” Faith noted dryly.
“We’re not exactly facing the entire Roman legion though,” Buffy replied, seeing Dusk’s point, “And I’m willing to bet we only have to hold out until sunrise. Vampires get pretty sluggish if kept up past their bedtimes,” she turned to Angel, “Right?” Angel nodded,
“No vampire will fight during the day if they can help it,” he replied. Dusk nodded,
“Okay, so that’s what we have to do,” he sighed and checked his watch. Three hours to go, sunrise, two hours after that, “Sunrise is in five hours, the Khulghaani are due in three. Which means this battle will be done in two hours, give or take,”
“Or we’ll be,” Xander commented darkly. Dusk nodded, and grinned,
“But unlike the Jewish zealots, who had the numbers. We’ve got the slayers,” he gestured to Buffy and Faith, “a pretty formidable witch,” he gestured to Willow who blushed, “a vampire who’s seen a lot of action,” Angel nodded, “and we’ve got about thirty people trained in both the arcane arts and weapons both ancient and modern,” DeGanon grinned and slapped his shoulder
“And we have you, the mighty general!” he declared. Dusk rolled his eyes and sighed, not really willing to argue the point,
“Okay, so let’s get working on those defenses,” everyone nodded as Dusk laid out the plan.
They were all assembled in a large concrete room, just past the aqueduct chamber.
“Okay, I have to ask,” Buffy spoke, “Who ARE you people?” she asked turning to DeGanon. DeGanon smiled slightly,
“We are mortal descendents of the Romany,” he began gesturing to the dozen or so dark-skinned men and women around the room, “When our lord and master arrived to these shores, we accompanied him. He assigned us to this city, while he himself continued on to Sunnydale,”
“The two most likely places for his Elisabeta to manifest either the largest city in America or the Hellmouth,” Giles chimed in, nodding, “It makes sense,” he smiled slightly and looked up at the gypsy, “Your loyalty to your vampiric lord is well-documented. It is said that you follow him to the death,”
“And beyond my friend,” DeGanon replied, “And beyond. Nevertheless we have remained here in this city, searching it for our master's lost bride,”
“Okay, I get you,” Faith put in. She gestured to the gypsies around the room, “and I get them,” she continued before turning to DeGanon, “but what about all these guys?” she asked gesturing to the kids. The gypsy smiled,
“Ah, this is our redemption,” he beamed at the youths, “each of these children, was encountered in our search for Elisabeta. They each have great potential in the mystical arts,” he sighed, “Unfortunately, they also are outcasts, banished from their homes by unbelieving parents, in fear to their gifts. Thus the enchanted teardrop tattoos,” he sighed and shook his head, “We provide what we can, we teach them so that they may teach others and thus spread hope,” he finished smiling.
“And to provide reinforcements for the occasional magical pantry raid?” Buffy asked, a little skeptical. DeGanon sighed and shook his head,
“We take magic from other places, because we need it to defend our sanctuary, from the forces of the outside world, the chief amongst these being the Khulghaani,” he explained. “Without that magic that we take from others, we ourselves would be exterminated,”
“So why not just ASK Marlena for a cup of magic, or whatever?” Buffy demanded, DeGanon snorted.
“Ah yes, I can see how well asking an ex-slayer to provide for the servants of the Prince of Darkness would go,” he replied sardonically.
“You may just be surprised,” Buffy replied, smiling secretly, remembering the elder slayers confessed relationship with the vampire prince, "In any case, it’s okay to draft us into your little war? In case you haven’t noticed there are TWO slayers present,” she gestured to herself and Faith, who grinned and nodded. DeGanon nodded,
“It has not escaped my notice, young warrior. But you and your companions have incurred a debt of blood regarding the Spaarti tribe, a debt that must be repaid if you are to receive our assistance in your quiet,” he leveled a finger at the blond slayer, “Since our best and our brightest died at your hand, you will take their place to defend our home,” Buffy fell silent. Dusk spoke up,
“Speaking of that, let’s get on with the planning. Now here’s what I propose…” the others leaned closer to him as the young man began to outlay their strategy.
Three hours later, which somehow managed to pass both too slowly and far too quickly for all concerned, they were ready. Dusk huddled in the main tunnel, DeGanon beside him, waiting, their senses taunt and tense. Their breath echoed loudly in the stone tunnel, there was no light, save for some afterglow from service lights at the far end of the tunnel.
The end that the Khulghaani attackers would be coming from.
Dusk crouched a little lower into the muck and peered at the end of the corridor.
“Remember, wait until I give the word,” Dusk instructed. DeGanon nodded and turned back to look. His eyes widened and he grabbed Dusk’s arm,
“Look!” he whispered fiercely. Dusk squinted at saw it. A vague humanoid outline, looking more like heat ripples in the air than anything solid, slowly crept up the tunnel, followed by another, and another, and another. Dusk nodded,
“Get ready,” he whispered. DeGanon removed the flare from his pocket. More cloaked shapes moved into the light and begin to advance on them,
“NOW!” Dusk yelled and with a Romani war cry, DeGanon lit the flare and hurled it into the darkness, and with a loud whoosh! The slime lining the floors and walls of the narrow cavern ignited, fueled by the flammable chemical waste DeGanon had had the foresight to keep in barrels for just such an occasion. There were screeches of rage and pain, as the tunnel exploded in fire and light, revealing hordes of the bald vampires, writhing in the flames. Dusk turned,
“Open fire!” he cried. And without warning, two rows of men brandishing crossbows stepped out of the shadows, behind Dusk and DeGanon and took aim at the burning figures. The first row dropped to their knees and fired, skewering several of the vampires with crossbow bolts. The second row advanced as the first row fell back to reload. They too, took aim and fired, impaling several vampires with their bolts causing them to explode into dust. But the tunnel was rapidly filling with hordes of the monstrous creatures and Dusk grimaced inwardly, DeGanon’s estimation of two-to-one odds had been grossly optimistic. The second row of crossbowmen fell back as a gypsy in robes began chanting. The vampires began advancing again as the flames began to exhaust their fuel. DeGanon hurled a Molotov cocktail at the advancing creatures and they snarled and fell back slightly. The gypsy mage finished his spell and bolts of lightening flooded the narrow corridor, striking the oncoming vampires, causing them to jerk and convulse as electricity raced through their bodies. The spell ended and Dusk stood up,
“Fall back, crossbowmen cover!” he yelled. The first line of crossbowmen that had finished reloading, unleashed another barrage of lethal bolts, slowing the Khughaani’s advance before quickly herding out of the narrow corridor. DeGanon followed and Dusk stopped and turned to regard the horrific vampires. They had begun advancing again. Dusk dug into his pocket and found Willow’s magic ball. Kissing it for luck, he leaned back and hurled it at the vampires; the ball struck the ground,
And a gargantuan dragon suddenly filled the tunnel. Dusk’s eyes widened as the massive wyrm roared at the creatures who screeched in terror and fell back. Dusk looked up and noticed that there was a shimmering distortion where the dragon’s head met the ceiling. He understood instantly,
“Cute glamour, love,” he commented. Unfortunately, chances were the Khughaani would unravel the trick soon enough. Turning he dashed through the doorway,
“Seal it!” he cried out. Three gypsies quickly shoved the massive cover plate over the entrance and set to work on it with wielding torches. They had just finished their work when the metal begin to bulge outward, having blows rained on it from the outside. Dusk turned to a gypsy man in robes wearing a rosary.
“You all set, Padre?” he asked. The gypsy priest nodded and Dusk gestured to DeGanon,
“Get your people out of here, fall back to the meeting room and prepare defenses!” he commanded. DeGanon nodded and giving Dusk a slap on the back, took the youths and herded them out the back. Dusk turned back to the priest, who was getting ready to do his thing, he looked up at a pair of youths at the switches mounted on the far end of the wall. Then he turned back to the door that was beginning to buckle. Grabbing the priest, he retreated onto the catwalk,
“Get on it, Padre!” he yelled. The priest removed a bag of holy wafers, and praying rapidly dumped their contents into the empty concrete pools lining both sides of the catwalk. He finished just as the door collapsed and furious vampires came barreling into the room.
“NOW!” Dusk yelled, and with war cries, Faith, Buffy, Angel, Giles and Xander came bursting out of the side alcoves, impaling the vampires with giant wooden pikes, and sending them tumbling into the concrete pits below. They formed ranks, swatting the vampires away, knocking them from the narrow catwalk, which forced the Khulghaani to close their ranks and attack single file to pursue the heroes. Some of the Khulghaani decided to descend into the concrete pits and try to outflank them. Dusk grinned wolfishly at their unknowingly grievous tactical error and gestured to the lads at the switches,
“Throw them!” he yelled. The boys threw the switches and with a groan of tortured metal, the cover plates of the aqueducts slid back allowing a deluge of water to flood the concrete pits slamming into the vampires knocked them down with crushing force. The vampires howled in rage. Then their howls became screams of pain as the holy wafers began to dissolve turning the watery pits into giant pools of holy water.
“Enjoy your Jacuzzi, guys!” Faith yelled at the frothing screaming beasts slowly being dissolved by the holy water. Willow had entered the room at this point from behind Dusk,
“Now?” she asked. Dusk nodded and Willow raised her hands into the air,
“Goddess Hecate work thy light, turn water into weapons of holy might!” she chanted, a blue light surrounded her hands and with a roar, the lethal water shot out of the pools, which were filled with dissolved vampire remains, combined into a great tidal wave upon the catwalk and crashed into the advancing vampires. They screeched as the lethal water dissolved their flesh. Dusk grinned and yelled,
“Fall back! Next room!” he screamed to be heard over the rushing water. Grabbing Willow’s arm, he pulled her across the catwalk towards the other end of the room. The rest followed as the vampires began to regroup. There was a cry, Dusk turned to see that the old priest had slipped on the cat walk, he started to move towards him to help when a scarred and pitted hand lashed out of a pool, catching the old priests leg and dragged him screaming into the pool. The bubbling water quickly took on a reddish tint as Dusk paled and fled the watery room diving into the next room, little more than a narrow corridor dominated by a large pipe lining the ceiling. DeGanon slammed the door shut as Dusk scrambled to his feet. He turned to address DeGanon who had assembled with the rest of his tribe in the meeting room.
“Is everything prepared?” he demanded. DeGanon nodded as two youths sealed the room and began welding it shut.
“It is!” he assured him, he frowned, “Where is Father Antonio?” he asked. Dusk just shook his head. DeGanon’s eyes narrowed in rage as he fingered a stake hanging from his belt, cursing softly in Romani.
“The bastards will pay for that,” he growled. Dusk nodded,
“Agreed,” Dusk told him. They turned to see door, already beginning to warp and buckle under the blows of the Khulghaani. Dusk turned to the group,
“Prepare to fall back to the altar room. Ready for hand-to-hand combat,” he instructed. Buffy and Faith grinned dropping their pikes and removing stakes,
“Let’s do what we do, sister,” Faith grinned at Buffy. Buffy nodded,
“Girl power,” she replied. Dusk turned to Willow,
“Any other tricks up your sleeve, princess?” he asked. She shook her head,
“The water weird spell was my last one,” she told him. Dusk nodded,
“Okay, in that case, when we get to the altar room, stick close to Dawn and Anya, things get hairy, take the secret passage out of there, got it?” She paled but nodded, not bothering to argue. She turned to go, and Dusk grabbed her arm, spun her around and captured her mouth in a long passionate kiss, desperate and fiery. They pulled apart and Dusk shoved Willow towards the door to the altar room,
“Go!” he yelled. She nodded, and fled from the room. Dusk turned back to the gypsy lord,
“You ready to work your mojo?” he asked. DeGanon nodded and began to chant. Dusk turned to Buffy,
“What’s on your mind, sis?” he asked casually. She favored him with a wry grin,
“The fact that right now I could be at home drinking nog and eating roast beast instead of in a New York City sewer system in the middle of a war,” she replied. Dusk chuckled,
“Yeah, but think what great stories it’ll make for our respective children,” he replied. She snorted as a particularly loud crash ripped their attention back to the battle,
“Here they come!” Xander cried. And with a crash, the door caved in and Khughaani flooded into the room, claws and fangs dripping.
“Now!” Dusk yelled to the gypsy lord as he threw a curtain of darkness over the advancing Khulghaani, blinding them. DeGanon finished his spell, and suddenly bright blue sparks of light begin swirling in the room. Dusk’s breath crystallized as the temperature in the room plummeted to well below freezing. Dusk lashed out with a darkness tendril severing the pipe over their heads, causing it to disgorge a torrent of water dousing the advancing vampires. DeGanon finished the spell, a bright blue swirling storm in his hands and with a cry he flung it at the soaked vampires. The blue light slammed into them and instantly began to freeze the vampires in their tracks. The enchanted ice engulfed the first few groups of vampires, blocking off the rooms entrance in a huge sheet of ice. DeGanon smiled grimly and lashing out with a pike, shattered the vampires that had frozen,
“That was for Father Antonio, you blood-drinking sons of bitches!” he spat and the frozen remains and turned to Dusk, “I have exhausted my spells, we must retreat,” Dusk nodded and turned to the rest of the group.
“Fall back!” he yelled as already shards of ice began to flake off the mystical barrier, preventing the vampire’s advance. The group hurried into the next room and Buffy and Faith moved the massive plate into place. Dusk’s eyes became pools of darkness as he readied himself for combat. The other youths brandished bowie knives and wooden pikes, having been informed that their guns would be useless. Dusk threw a look at Dawn and Willow, who were hiding behind the stone alter, out of sight and safe with Anya. He nodded before turning to Buffy,
“You ready to do that voodoo that you do so well?” he asked wryly. Buffy grinned and tightened her hold on her stake,
“They want a war? Let’s give it to them, bro,” she replied. She turned to Angel, who had his game face in place, wielding a sword that DeGanon had dug up for him,
“Angel?” she asked. Angel turned to her and saluted with the blade. Giles and Xander each had crossbows along with the elder gypsy men who had their crossbows cocked and ready. Faith narrowed her eyes in anticipation,
“Let’s rock!” she cried and with a roar the vampires came bowling through the steel door and into the room. Faith met one head on and staked it, it exploded into dust as already she was attacking a second. Buffy and Dusk met the next wave as crossbow bolts flew over their heads to decimate the rear ranks of the vampires,
“Reload!” Xander called out, the gypsies fell to their knees and busied themselves with their weapons. The youths descended on the vampires, stabbing slashing and impaling the monsters. Dusk lashed out with sharpened darkness whips, severing arms and heads wherever they struck, Buffy continued to pummel any vampire that came too close as DeGanon fought with massive curved blades, wreaking havoc on the Khulghaani.
“Romani Victor!” he cried out in blood-fueled battle glory. But the fight was not going well, for every vampire they slew, two flooded into the room to replace it. Dusk grimaced as more vampires flooded the room; he turned to Buffy, who was busy dodging a Khugaani’s claws,
“I think we’re in trouble,” he yelled. Without warning a clawed hand lashed out catching him across the head. Dusk tumbled to the floor even as the creature reared up to administer the killing blow. Dusk frantically tried to roll out of the way when suddenly the beast screeched in rage and exploded into dust. Dusk saw a wooden bolt embedded in the wall above him and turned to see his father nodding curtly at him, Dusk rolled to his feet and gave his father a grateful nod.
A sudden movement off to his right caught his eye and Dusk turned, his eyes widening in terror. Somehow, one of the vampires had gotten passed them and had almost made it to the altar, which sheltered Dawn Willow and Anya. With a wild cry, Dusk hurled a vampire out of his way and dashed over to them. The vampire lunged at Dawn, who screamed in terror and jutted her hands out in a futile gesture to keep the demon at bay…and with a flash of light, millions of tiny stars of light burst from her fingers to slam into the vampire. The vampire screamed in pain as the light seared it. It had time to growl once before a blurred, snarling dark shape plowed into it like an enraged freight train.
“You’re,” Dusk tackled the creature to he floor and picking him up slammed him against the wall with a loud “crunch”, “Not,” he continued to slam the creature over and over back and forth against the walls turning it quickly into pulp, “Touching HER!” and with a roar of rage, Dusk brought his arm up, and slammed it down into the creatures face. Blades punctured the beasts face skewering it, it spasmed once and died. With a growl, Dusk retracted his arm…and stared at it in shock. His arm, instead of ending in his hand, now terminated in a variety of sharp blades and hooks, all made of dark metal and crackling with violet strands of energy. He stared uncomprehendingly at the weapon attached to his arm that ran from the middle of his forearm, all the way to out past his hand. With a metallic snap, the blades folded in on themselves disappearing under his skin; leaving only a few crackling bolts of purple energy. Dusk shook his head, frowning in disbelief as he turned to Dawn, who should have be terrified out of her head by the viciousness of Dusk’s attack and the blades that had just emerged from under his skin. Strangely her face was calm as she hugged him, he held her tightly,
“Are you all right?” he asked hurriedly. She just nodded. He looked over at Willow who had come running over, he quickly released Dawn into Willow’s grasp, “Get someplace safe and stay there!” he yelled. They nodded and fled as Dusk leapt off the alter and landed beside Buffy,”
“I think a miracle would be nice right about now!” she yelled.
And on cue, a miracle arrived.
An eruption of shotgun blasts quickly gave way to the sounds of dying vampires. Dusk frowned as one of the rear most vampires exploded into flames; Dusk peered over their heads and his jaw dropped and what he saw,
“That’s right!” a familiar voice yelled out, “I’m back and I’m a bloody animal! Yeah!”
“Spike!” Buffy cried out in disbelief and joy as another vampire exploded into dust revealing the blond vampire wielding a pump-action shotgun, spewing flaming death and howling at the top lungs,
“Yeah, you like that? How about you, mate?” he roared, game face in place as he fired flaming shell after flaming shell into the surprised vampires, “Come on! There’s plenty of Spike to go around! Incendiary rounds for everyone!” he yelled joyfully mowing a path through the vampires.
“Yeah!” Buffy cried and redoubled her attack on the vampires. The sudden arrival of shotgun-wielding Spike had turned the tide back into the slayer’s favor. Dusk grinned and lashed out with more darkness, spreading screaming vampire death throughout the room. Spike bludgeoned a vampire to the ground before reversing his grip on the shotgun and firing. There was a bright flash from the barrel as a flaming projectile flew from it and impeded itself into the creature’s heart, it screeched and burst into flames.
“Where the hell of have YOU been?” Dusk yelled joyfully as he roundhouse kicked a vampire to the ground before decapitating it with a flick of his wrist.
“Sightseeing!” Spike replied as he fired another shell into the vampires midst, “Then I heard about a little war going on and thought I’d enlist!” Dusk grinned and lashed out with a fist, smashing a Khulghaani away from the blond vampire. Another wave of crossbow bolts crashed upon the monstrous vampires and with a roar of rage, they began to retreat.
“We got them on the run!” Dusk cried charging after them, “Finish them off!” With a war cry the room emptied as gypsies and the surviving youths charged after the fleeing creatures. They fought them back to the aqueduct room and knocked them into the still draining pools of holy water, where they died screaming and thrashing. The vampires tried to run, but with no way to cross except the narrow catwalk, which was soaked with holy water, they were cornered. DeGanon and his forces pursued and cut them to ribbons, those that didn’t die in the pools, died by stake, blade, pike, or crossbow bolt.
And suddenly, it was all over.
Dusk looked around dazed, but the battle was done. Spike swaggered over to him,
“Miss me mate?” he asked wryly. Dusk grinned and gathered the vampire in a tight embrace amidst much manly back-pounding,
“Your timing ‘mate’, is impeccable,” Dusk replied releasing the vampire. Spike grinned, before reasserting his masculinity,
“Yeah well, a hug was a little much. A handshake would have sufficed,” he grinned and suddenly exhaled hard as Buffy came running up to Spike, leaping into his arms, hooking her legs behind the vampires back and kissing him full on the mouth. Spike dropped the melted shotgun and kissed her back fiercely. Dusk’s eyes bulged in surprise as he took in the display. Finally the pair parted, Buffy lowering herself to her feet,
“Don’t you EVER run off like that again!” she warned direly. Spike crossed his heart,
“Done deal, luv,” he replied grinning.
“How did you know where to find us?” she asked breathlessly. Spike favored her with a cocky grin,
“Well, the great gob’s not the ONLY vampire ever to reside in the big apple, besides every bloke knows about the Goth church,” he shrugged, “I just followed what people were telling me and here I am,” he grinned at her. Buffy kissed him again,
“You’re so smart,” she replied cutely. Spike grinned and threw an arm around the slayer, following Dusk back into the chamber to meet with the others.
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