Eliza alternately dozed and roused as Gideon dispensed with his nightly duties as Mayor. She and Arden had been bodily transferred to an ante-room just off his office. A dim lamp lit one corner. They had, at least, loosed her ankles. Her feet prickled as circulation was restored.
Needles and pins, needles and pins
Midnight is when the fun begins
The inane verse capered through her mind in a childish sing-song fashion, an echo from her own childhood. She shook her head vigorously to clear it.
"We're never getting out of here alive," Arden remarked. "I hope you realize that."
"I refuse to believe that," she hissed back. "As long as we live, there's hope."
"You've watched one too many Disney movies," he scoffed. "Accept it. You're doomed."
"Then we're doomed," Eliza shot back. "If you can't come up with anything constructive to say, then shut up." She looked over at her fellow prisoner. One eye was blacked and swollen shut. His lower lip was split, and his face was a patchwork of bruises and cuts. She felt a sudden surge of pity for him and her attitude softened.
"I'm sorry, Arden."
"For what?" he growled tiredly.
"Well, for starters, for not listening to you. And for deceiving you. You're mean, cold, and spiteful, but nobody deserves this."
"Gee, thanks," Arden sneered and then winced. "Gideon's right. The weak die. You're weak. And give up any hope of rescue by Buffy or any of her crew. We're far too well guarded. State of the art security system, lots and lots of Gideon's vampires. We're as good as dead."
"You really enjoy hearing yourself talk, don't you?" Eliza remarked as she desperately fought the negative undertow of his words. The glimmer of an idea began to take shape in her mind. Taking a deep breath, the began to concentrate. Her lips moved silently.
"He told you praying wouldn't help." Eliza didn't respond.
She felt a slight surge of energy through her body and focused it into a thin band, directing it at the ropes that bound her wrists. A wisp of smoke rose and drifted toward the ceiling. Arden's eyes widened in surprise and then narrowed suspiciously.
"What are you doing? Are you crazy?" He paused when she gave him no answer. "Hey, what *are* you doing?" Arden felt a spark of hope and then quickly quashed it, reinforcing it with negativity. Perhaps Gideon wouldn't notice.
* * *
The Slayer and her companions exited the Sunnydale Underground at the south exit near the building. They were near a loading dock, and one lone vampire stood guard, pacing back and forth in his boredom.
Piece o' cake, Buffy thought as she began to stalk her prey. She moved with silent grace until she was about two feet behind him, stake raised and at the ready.
"Ahem." Buffy coughed lightly.
The vamp spun and was dusted before he could draw in breath to sound the alarm. Buffy concentrated briefly, and sensed a greater concentration of vampires on the upper levels of the building. Her "spider sense" didn't allow her to determine exact numbers. Well, yet, she amended, fully determined to rectify that little oversight as soon as they got out of this. Buffy waved the rest forward.
"Maybe one more on this level. The rest must be upstairs. We take care of this one and go meet the welcoming party."
They moved quickly through the hallways until they found the staircase they were looking for. Another vampire guarded the entrance. Giles raised the loaded crossbow and fired.
"Two down, God knows how many to go," Xander muttered as the vamp disintegrated. They began the long trek up to the thirteenth floor. Boy, I hope Will knocked out that security system, Buffy thought as she climbed. Well, she must have, she argued with herself. No alarms. That we know about. All too soon they faced the door to hell. Buffy called a halt so they could prepare themselves for who knew what.
"Okay. Cordy, you and Giles are a team, Xander and me the other. Giles, you're rear guard." Giles nodded once, eyes steely green behind his glasses. "We're gonna get her out of this, Giles. I promise. Let's go."
Buffy cracked the door open, waiting. No alarms sounded, no klaxons wailed. So far so good. She reached out with her Slayer senses and found two strong sets of vampire vibes, one group at one end of the hall, and one at the other. She peeked through the crack. About ten on this end. Probably that many on the other. Well, here goes.
"Hello, boys. Where's the boss-man?" began Buffy, and the battle was joined. Giles fired a quarrel and dusted one. He stepped back as Cordelia uncorked a bottle of holy water and splashed an arc of it at the three approaching vamps. Giles drew a pikestaff and plunged the sharpened end briefly into each of the agonized vampires.
Xander and Buffy were dealing with their side efficiently. They'd managed to take out two apiece and were battling thirds when they heard a splash and a hissing of vampire flesh. They glanced at each other, and Xander stepped back from his to fumble with his bottle. Buffy staked one then the other, and Xander stepped forward and splashed three more. Buffy dispatched them quickly. Nine down.
* * *
Gideon listened to the sounds of scuffle outside in the hallway. A grin stretched his lips, and he began to chuckle.
* * *
The Slayer and her friends had finally dispatched all but one of the vamps. Buffy had him pinned up against the wall, stake over his heart.
"Where is Eliza? Where's he holding her?" Buffy demanded. The vampire smiled and lurched forward, breaking her hold and impaling himself on the stake. Buffy blinked as he became dust. She turned to Giles.
"Well, that's not encouraging."
"N-no, it's not," Giles agreed, breathing heavily and deeply disturbed by what he'd just seen.
"She's in there," Buffy said suddenly, pointing to a door at the end of the hallway.
"You're sure?"
"Giles there's one big ol' baddie behind Door Number One. And I'm not even trying to feel him out."
"So. Shall we?" Xander asked. As they approached the door, a great, deep laugh greeted them, as if vented by the devil himself.
"Come in, come in my would-be heroes. Enter freely and of your own will. Be welcome here," came the roaring invitation. The four mortals froze, and Buffy fully appreciated the irony. She looked at each of her companions in turn. Xander and Cordelia clasped hands tightly. Buffy reached for Giles' and gave his a squeeze. Then she nodded once. Simultaneously, they cleared their minds. Giles thought fondly of tea and scones and a roaring fire in the hearth. Buffy dreamed of a sunny day at the beach. Cordelia focused on a facial and a massage. Xander filled his mind with lyrics from country songs, the music of pain. And they entered.
* * *
Arden watched as the ropes that bound Eliza's wrists blackened. She snapped them in half and quickly crossed the room and began to undo his.
"C'mon. We're getting out of here," she said and carefully eased him to his feet. "Can you stand?"
"Yes. Walking's going to be the fun part." His feet went all needley up to his knees.
"We've got a few moments yet, so get your feet under you." At that moment, they heard Gideon's black laugh and his invitation. Eliza trembled. "They're here," she whispered. "Think negatively, Arden. Keep him off balance."
"No problem."
"We've got to time this just right," Eliza muttered and listened carefully to the commotion in the front office.
"Time what right, luv?" The cockney tenor voice froze her in place. "Your escape? Don't be daft, sweetheart. No way you're getting out of here. Or you either," Spike turned and grinned evilly at Snyder. "The Man's got some unfinished business with you, mate."
"Where the hell did you come from?" Snyder demanded.
"The closet. You didn't seriously think he'd leave you unguarded, did you?" Eliza's jaw dropped and Snyder looked bleak.
"Dumber than advertized, I suppose," he chuckled.
Eliza closed her eyes and concentrated. She raised a hand slightly and pointed at Spike's trousers.
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