INT. : LAB -- MOMENTS LATER
FATU
(Flourishing)
Behold D'Hoffryn, Lord of Arashmaha, he who turns the air to blood...
D'HOFFRYN
Fatu... Please. I believe everyone here knows who I am.
ANYA
You are to blame for my death.
D'HOFFRYN
My dear, the path you chose was your own. Only you are to blame for your fate.
ANYA
Every step was guided by you.
XANDER
Anya? What's going on?
D'HOFFRYN
Can't you see? This isn't Anya, Anyanka or even the poor little girl that I rescued from a dreary existence eons ago.
ANGEL (O.S.)
She's a demon.
Xander turns to Angel who happens to be carrying a very big sword.
ANGEL (CONT'D)
Get out of the way Xander.
XANDER
What are you doing?
ANGEL
She's not Anya. She's a demon spirit sent to kill you.
XANDER
Anya?
ANYA
(Guttural)
Stand aside mortal.
D'HOFFRYN
Actually, I do believe she's after me.
ANGEL
She blames you?
D'HOFFRYN
It's actually more political than you think. These retribution spirits tend to trespass on vengeance demons territory more often than naught. And vice versa of course.
ANYA
(Bellowing with a demon's guttural voice.)
That ends tonight!
D'HOFFRYN
(Sighs and shrugs.)
Quite right. Let's get this over with shall we?
D'Hoffryn casually shoots bolts of energy from his hands. Xander grabs Anya and knocks her to the ground. Anya pushes Xander aside and returns fire, knocking D'Hoffryn against the wall. Fatu dives for cover. Angel stands confused.
ANGEL
Who exactly do I want to win here?
Anya rushes towards D'Hoffryn, only to get blown back by one of D'Hoffryn's energy bolts.
D'HOFFRYN
You're going to have to do better than that to defeat me.
ANYA
(Still Guttural)
Not a problem.
Anya "winks" out of existence and reappears in a splash of light right behind D'Hoffryn. She grabs his head which promptly begins to smoke. He screams in pain.
ANYA (CONT'D)
Hurt's don't it?
(A little like Anya)
I always loved that joke.
FATU (O.S.)
Oh, Anyanka!
Anya turns to see Fatu hoisting Xander into the air with one hand.
XANDER
Little help here!
FATU
Unless you want your favorite meat puppet ground into chuck, I suggest you stand down.
ANYA
(without hesitation)
Go ahead.
Fatu turns to Angel.
FATU
Stop her if you want your friend to live.
ANYA
Stay out of this Vampire!
XANDER
Angel! Don't do it!
Angel hesitates.
SPIKE (O.S.)
Excuse me.
Everyone turns to Spike who is holding the rabbit.
SPIKE (CONT'D)
Did anyone lose a pet?
ANYA
No!
Spike tosses the rabbit at Anya who zaps out of existence. The bunny lands safely on the floor. Angel snaps out of his momentary freeze and throws his sword at Fatu, neatly slicing her arm off. Xander drops to the ground, but still has to fight off the rest of Fatu's arm which is still animated. Angel clocks Fatu before she can get a grip (sorry, couldn't resist) and knocks her out.
Anya reappears and shoots an energy bolt at Spike who goes flying. D'Hoffryn recovers and starts shooting energy at Anya. Angel dives at him and knocks him aside, unfortunately sending his aim towards Xander.
ANYA (CONT'D)
No!
Anya jumps in front of the blast, taking it full force.
XANDER
(Throwing the hand away)
Anya!
Angel clocks D'Hoffryn knocking him out.
Anya lies on the ground, the scary demon part appears to have disappeared.
ANYA
Xander?
She's dying. Again. They both know it.
XANDER
What happened?
ANYA
I just couldn't...
XANDER
Did you remember something?
ANYA
No. Not really.
XANDER
Anything?
ANYA
(smiling)
I'll never tell.
She dies. Quietly. Angel and Spike stand with their heads bowed.
INT. INT - WOLFRAM AND HART - ANGEL'S OFFICE. -- LATER
Xander looks out Angel's window holding an icepack to his head. Fatu, D'Hoffryn, Eve, Spike and Angel are in the middle of an argument.
FATU
How you can take sides with a mortal and a demon spirit against one of your longest standing clients is beyond me!
EVE
I'm sure in the heat of the moment, that might have been what it looked like, but...
ANGEL
No, that pretty much sums it up. I was going to take them down.
D'HOFFRYN
Are you sure that's the stance you want to take with me Angelus?
SPIKE
Why don't you blow it out your cake hole?
Eve pushes Spike and Angel aside.
EVE
D'Hoffryn, surely we can work these matters out.
FATU
Never! The mighty D'Hoffryn would never...
EVE
(Interrupting)
There is a matter of a long standing bill due to us...
D'Hoffryn and Fatu quietly look at each other somewhat guiltily.
EVE (CONT'D)
We could consider the bill expunged in the interest of continued service?
D'HOFFRYN
Done. Oh and Angelus? I hope we don't meet each other anytime soon.
SPIKE
Right back at 'cha, Hoffy.
D'HOFFRYN
Then I bid you adieu.
D'Hoffryn and Fatu blink out.
EVE
There. All settled.
SPIKE
This place makes me sick.
ANGEL
Then leave.
SPIKE
I will. But I'd just like to remind you once again that if it wasn't for me...
ANGEL
Yes. I know. You saved the day once again, oh-mighty-tosser-of-the-bunny.
SPIKE
And don't you forget it.
Spike struts out of the office.
EVE
Later boss.
Eve heads towards the exit.
ANGEL
Eve. I don't want us to represent them ever again.
Eve shrugs.
EVE
You're the boss.
Eve leaves.
XANDER
Nice view.
ANGEL
Yeah.
XANDER
Must be some heavy polarization on these things considering you're not a pile of dust.
ANGEL
I usually keep the blinds shut.
XANDER
Is that just a habit, or are you afraid of what the outside world might see?
ANGEL
A little bit of both.
XANDER
Lovely business you have here. It's a testament to everything that I've tried to leave behind.
ANGEL
I'm sorry. I know that was hard for you down there.
Xander stands for a beat or two.
XANDER
Why did she do it?
ANGEL
Because she was protecting the person she loved the most from the demon who took it all away from her.
XANDER
At least... At least I got to say goodbye this time.
(beat)
Wait! I didn't get to say goodbye! Damn it! Why can't I get these things right!
ANGEL
She knew.
XANDER
I hope so.
ANGEL
So is this it? Are you done with the demon world and all its black magic?
XANDER
I don't know. Seems I can never get away, no matter where I run to.
Angel picks up the Magic Eight ball.
ANGEL
Here.
(tosses ball to Xander)
Next time you find yourself dealing with a creature of the night, this might be of use.
XANDER
Plus it makes a handy paperweight.
(beat)
Thanks.
ANGEL
You're welcome.
XANDER
I never liked you. Don't think I'm going to start.
ANGEL
Right back at 'cha.
Xander starts heading to the door.
XANDER
Oh... and this whole belly of the beast thing? Not an easy row to hoe. Be careful. I'd hate to be dragged back here the next time one of my ex-girlfriends becomes a living embodiment of a demon.
ANGEL
Well, Cordelia should be coming out of her coma any day now. Sure you don't want me to give you a call?
XANDER
Do me a big favor. Lose my number.
ANGEL
Done. With Harmony as my secretary, that should be pretty easy.
XANDER
Angel. Seriously. Get yourself out of here. It's not good.
ANGEL
Thanks for the insight.
XANDER
Funny. Very funny.
Xander exits. Angel turns to his view of the city and shuts the blinds.
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