Chapter Thirty-Five

The Other Way

 

 

 

 

 

The second Angel pulled away from the connection, pulled away from her soul, Buffy fell back against the bed. She felt depleted and out of breath. 

 

Like Angel had before, she knew her lack of energy was because they were no longer as completely connected. She didn’t know how she knew that, but seeing as how she felt so much more powerful when they were, it only made sense that without that concurrent link she would feel weaker.

 

She lay there taking deep breaths and giving her own natural power a chance to reboot, so to speak. As she did, she couldn’t help but feel a little troubled by this negative aspect of their bond.

 

Well maybe negative wasn’t the right word. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing but it definitely was not helpful, and she had a lot of questions.

 

Would she always feel like this when he left her?

 

What if she was in the middle of a battle and she lost her energy? She would be a sitting duck.

 

Remembering Angel’s words the fear left her. She didn’t know what was going on but she had faith that whatever Angel knew he would tell her. And whatever he didn’t know they would learn and discover together.

 

She sat up when she felt more like herself, well at least the new self that she had suddenly become.  Her feet touched the rug and she stood just as the door was thrown open.

 

Another ten demons, all heavily armed, marched into the room then circled her.

 

The itch to reach out and strangle all of them was strong but she held it back, determined to keep her promise to Angel.

 

“Slayer, you are to come with us.”

 

She stared him down with blatant hatred and her normally bold attitude. A quick nod of her head was the only sign that she heard him, as she fell in behind him and followed him out the door and into the living room.

 

“BUFFY!”

 

She took a step forward, her upper lip curled up in a silent snarl as she saw Dawn across the room being held back by two very ugly trolls. Her anger increased as she saw her sister’s tear streaked face which could not hide the purple bruise on her cheek.

 

She looked at Glory, who was standing to the side, watching the sisters’ reunion with an evil smile on her face. “I am so going to kill you.”

 

Glory confidently chuckled as she strolled over to Dawn.  Touching her hair she began to pet her, all the while her eyes were on Buffy’s stormy face.

 

“Buffy your bravery, stupid and useless as it may be, is still commendable, and my respect for you just keeps growing. I must confess, you are actually the first slayer I’ve ever met and you just keep surprising me.”

 

Her hand left Dawn and she strolled over to stand in front of Buffy.

 

She studied her carefully, her head tilting to the side, her nostrils flaring in curiosity. “You seem…different, since the last time we met.”

 

Buffy stood perfectly still, Glory could ogle her as much as she wanted too she didn’t care. Instead she centered her attention on Dawn.

 

Her gaze flitted toward her sister who was looking right at her. Their eyes met and Buffy gave her a brief smile trying to reassure her that everything would be all right.

 

“There’s darkness inside of you, a blackness that wasn’t there before…interesting.” Glory said her voice calm and full of curiosity.  “So much strength…power…”

 

She took a step back and drew Buffy’s gaze back to her.

 

“It’s very…alluring Buffy. It screams at a demon to just suck it right out of you.”

 

Her eyes lit with hunger as she stared into Buffy’s stone-cold face.

 

“Doesn’t that thought just scare the hell out of you? The idea, that a demon - someone like me actually, could just come along and suck the power right out of you?”

 

Buffy snorted. “Ideas don’t scare me but that hideous perfume you’re wearing does. God, what is that? Eau-Dumpo-Toilet?”  Her nose crinkled as she waved her hand in front of it.

 

Glory’s face contorted with rage and she let loose a mean left hook right to Buffy’s face.

 

Buffy’s head snapped to the left for a scant second before she was once more staring Glory right in the eye…smiling.

 

“That’s all you got? Did you lose some of your power when you were dumped into this dimension? I guess your bosses didn’t think that highly of you ah? I guess that’s why they kicked you out to begin with. How sad for you.”

 

She new she was playing with fire but Buffy didn’t care. She promised Angel she wouldn’t do anything and she wasn’t, physically at least. But there was no way she could control her mouth and the endless smartass remarks that just came flying out of it, and frankly she didn’t want to. At least it gave her some sense of ‘doing something’ besides just standing there like a poof, as Spike would say.

 

Her taunting worked and Glory’s face turned murderous.

 

“You got that all wrong sweetie, I was the Boss and I will be again as soon as I skewer your precious baby sister and open the portal with her blood.”

 

Buffy’s gaze hardened.

 

“You’ll never get back home Glory and you’ll never lay hand on my sister again!”

 

Glory smiled, relaxed once more in the positions each woman was in. “You know Buffy, we’re a lot a like you and I.”

 

“We’re nothing alike!” Buffy spat back.

 

Glory ignored her comment and continued talking as if she never even spoke.

 

“You can be just as evil as I am…I see that now; I can sense it living and breathing inside of you. In another time and another place, we could have been great friends…allies.”

 

Dawn’s eyes bulged hearing what Glory said and she looked at Buffy who was just smiling back at the Goddess utterly detached.

 

She saw the truth in Glory’s words in the cold-hard stare of her sister’s eyes.  She knew something was not right with Buffy when she watched her fight Riley, but evil?  

 

It was the only thing Dawn could think about as she waited by herself in the room Dreg locked her in when they brought her back here.  What happened to Buffy? Would she even come for her anymore? And if she did, should she fear her as well as the Goddess?

 

Buffy sensed Dawn’s shock and concern, the empathetic part of her felt responsible for her young sibling’s confusion. She knew that she would have to sit Dawn down when this was all over and explain everything to her.  Of course she wasn’t quite sure how to do that just yet but she would soon.

 

Seeing Dawn’s frightened, tear-streaked face sent a pang to Buffy’s soul. The poor kid knew less of what was going on than she did, considering Buffy didn’t know much at all meant that Dawn was completely and totally out of the loop. She could only imagine how scary not knowing anything was.

 

Glory’s voice rang loud in the room, drawing Buffy’s thoughts back to the now.

 

“I’m going to give you one last chance Buffy to accept my peace offering. You can come back with me, rule with me as my First in Command. You can kill and maim anyone you want to, I don’t care. Hell, I’d probably even join you. All you have to do is stand by my side tonight and not interfere.”

 

Of course Glory had wanted to kill the pain-in-the-ass Slayer but now sensing her power, the yummy evilness that was pulsing inside of her only sparked Glory’s interest.  The Slayer would be a powerful weapon, a smart addition to her plan to take over Hell. 

 

Her nose crinkled as if smelling something distasteful, which she did. It was goodness. There was still a lot of that inside the Slayer. A bright shining light that was pure ethereally-good goodness. It was quite pungent, actually…it was disgusting.

 

But, it was also a wonder. 

 

How did the girl deal with it, the battle that must surely be raging inside of her even now, how could it not be?

 

Glory knew what it felt like to have both good and evil inside of you. She had Ben, always the little goody two shoes, a constant rub against her evil nature.  But it wasn’t that hard for Glory to deal with because Ben’s goodness was just the normal integrity of a mortal man. 

 

Buffy’s goodness was not. 

 

Buffy’s goodness felt like it came from the heavens above. It was just as strong as the evil inside of her, perhaps Glory thought, even stronger.

 

Well either way, the Slayer intrigued her greatly. She was an enigma, equally good and evil, both in their purest forms, and Glory wanted to use that for her own purposes. 

 

Buffy listened to everything that Glory said with loathing, yet she could not deny the pull the Goddesses words had on her darker side. It seemed to tingle inside of her, tempting her to accept that which the Goddess offered…the freedom to be bad.

 

But while the lure to just let go and do whatever she wanted was tempting, there was no greater temptation then that of her demon lover, and the pleasures she knew that awaited her in his arms.

 

Thinking of him, only made her mind seek him out completely. 

 

Before Glory’s eyes, Buffy’s eyes changed and Glory was staring into black pools of delicious evil.

 

She took a step back, unsure of the Slayer’s disposition. Was this a common thing for them? She had no idea, but she assumed not when she heard the annoying brat’s breath suck in with shock.

 

The moment Buffy fully connected to him, she felt Angelus’ anger with the Goddess’s offer. He didn’t appreciate another demon trying to lure away his mate.

 

“Your offer is appealing Glory, I can admit that, not that I would ever take it mind you. I have several things here that are more important to me. Besides I can kill as many demons here as I can in hell and be just as satisfied. So I have to decline your offer. I will however give you a bit of advice.  It seems that your offer has offended my lover.  And he is not one to forgive an offense very easily. ”  

 

She took a step closer and whispered. “If I were you, I would run away…very fast and very soon, because if I don’t get the chance to kill you…he will.”

 

At first Glory did not answer, she was actually slightly rattled…oh for all of about two seconds. Then she laughed…heartily.

 

“Very amusing Buffy!  Run, why would I run?  I have you and I have my key.  Your lover, an incredibly magnetic being he may be, but he can’t hurt me. Underneath all that sexy manliness he is nothing but a lowly Vampire.  He can’t compare to me – a Goddess! No, there’s no reason for me to flee.  No one that can stop me now. “

 

Buffy only stared at her as she felt Angelus’ indignant anger at being called a lowly Vampire. She smirked at the Goddess. “You’ll be eating those words later.”

 

Glory smiled back, “No my dear you will be choking on yours, after I drain all the power and life out of you. You won’t be so bold then.”  She turned then, dismissing Buffy and said “

Dreg, it’s time let’s go.” 

 

 She walked out the door snapping her fingers.

The demons grabbed Buffy and the trolls held on to Dawn as they walked them out of the room.

 

“Buffy?”

 

“Don’t worry Dawnie, everything will be okay.”

 

Buffy smiled at her, her eyes once more green and bright with confidence, and Dawn half smiled back. She felt a little bit more at ease but fear was still making her heart beat in her chest.

 

 

 

********************

 

 

 

It didn’t take long for them to reach their destination and when they arrived, Buffy was a little surprised by where they were. 

 

She had naturally assumed that Glory’s obvious conceit and love of finer things would take them some where well, a little classier. She was not expecting to be standing in what appeared to be a run-down old construction site.

 

She had also envisioned some kind of grand altar, something that once again would rival Glory’s penchant for finery. 

 

Yet here she was standing at the base of a crooked metal structure that looked like it was built by mindless drones, as it stretched rather crookedly up to the skies.

 

Buffy took in her surroundings and how they got here, and then sent it all to Angel through the link. 

 

She felt his mental nod, then the supportive feeling of his lips against her forehead as he whispered to her that he and the gang were on their way.

 

“Well Buffy, I’m afraid this is where your journey ends. Well at least until the portal is open and I come back to take everything you have left away from you.”

 

Glory looked around the darkened shadows, her eyes sinister and inquisitive.

 

“Including your lover, who I’m sure, is on his way here, is he not?”

 

She asked as she looked at the curiously quiet and passive Slayer, who just shrugged her shoulders.

 

Glory’s eyes darkened from Buffy’s confident silence, but then quickly turned to excitement as she turned away from her.

 

“Watch her. Do not let her escape. If you need to, kill her,” she told the demons.

 

Briskly walking up to Dawn, Glory grabbed her by the arm dragging her up the crooked structure.

 

Dawn dug her feet into the dirt, her frantic eyes on her sister. “Buffy?”

 

“Don’t worry Dawn, I’ll come for you.”

 

The demons, hearing her words, closed the gap in between them and her. Their snarls were loud and hungry, they were eager for her to make her move. They all knew the legend of the Greatest Slayer that ever lived and they all wanted a piece of her.

 

Buffy ignored them as she watched Glory and Dawn climb up the structure. The higher they climbed the more anxious she became.  She knew Angel and the gang were on their way, and she knew that she promised him she would wait. But as she stood there, fear for Dawn’s safety rose to an uncontrollable degree, and the instinct to protect took control and she could not stop it.

 

The demons were all watching her closely waiting for her to strike, but it didn’t matter.  Her eyes blackened and before they knew what was happening she had already killed three of them.

 

They jumped on her all at once forcing her to the ground as they covered her body, pummeling her with their fists all at once. They landed them on every inch of her body, and she felt their blows bruising her flesh. 

 

It hurt, but the pain only increased her anger and her strength, because she felt Angelus’ rage as well, from the beating she was getting and the fact that she had once more disobeyed him.

 

She roared and stood up in one smooth motion throwing all the demons off of her at once. She wasted no more of her precious time on them; she felt Angel nearing.  He was only seconds away and she knew he would finish them off.

 

Kneeling down she looked up the structure. Glory, Dawn and Dreg were half way to the top.  Buffy closed her eyes and dug deep into the connection and made her move. 

 

She sprang up, her feet leaving the ground, her hands lifted above her head, as she flew all the way up in the air, grabbing the metal frame on the level just below them.

 

The demons on the ground had gotten their bearings back just in time to witness her feat and they all stood in awe and in fear, thankful that she had decided they weren’t worth her time. After all, they may have cast their lot in with Glory, but they still wanted to live.

 

Too bad for them, they didn’t see the threat that was heading straight for them at lightning speed, blaring an unnatural roar of promised death that awaited them.

 

Angelus was flying through the air toward the demons that Buffy had dismissed, with Spike, carrying his very special package, close on his heels. 

 

As he quickly worked them over, one by one, more emerged from the shadows. Some joined the demons that were fighting him and Spike. The others turned their attention to the Scoobies who were just now entering the site.

 

“Oh my God, there are so many of them!”  Willow called out as she ducked then staked a vamp in the chest.

 

Giles armed with a sword swung and took off the head of a demon that approached him. “Just hold on Willow! Take out as many as you can!” He screamed, his eyes quickly looking at the carnage that was all around.

 

Cordy, Willow, Wesley, and even Xander fought the demons that attacked them valiantly. Each one armed with some sort of weapon. 

 

He looked past the melee toward Spike and Angel who were in the midst of their own war, and winning very quickly.

 

To the far right something in the shadows moved, he peered closer to it. A face rolled to the side and into the moonlight. Was that…Riley? What the hell was he doing here?

 

Riley was quickly forgotten as Giles ducked just missing the swing of a demon’s arm aimed for his head. He turned and lifted his sword; swinging it to the side, he sliced the demon in half.

 

Angel killed another demon and threw his body to the side then looked up to see Buffy getting closer to Glory. He cursed under his breath, once more agitated that she did not wait for him.

 

He had been with her the entire time through the link. He had listened to Buffy and Glory’s muffled conversation and he had been thankful that Buffy had kept her cool and did what he asked. He should have known it wouldn’t last.

 

Buffy’s heart raced in her chest as she climbed over the metal bar that was the last barrier between her and Glory.

 

Glory, sensing the Slayer behind her, shouted to Dreg, shoving Dawn toward him.

 

“DREG, take her…begin the ritual…hurry!”

 

Dawn fell into his arms, crying and screaming for Buffy.

 

“NO PLEASE!  BUFFY…HELP ME!”

 

She kept screamed as Dreg’s gnarled fingers turned her around till she faced him. He grabbed her wrist and yanked on her arm hard, pulling her up to the top.

 

“Come child, don’t be afraid. I will make it as painless and as quick as possible.”

 

Glory smiling like a fool watched Dreg pull the girl along. Excitement coursed through her, it wouldn’t be long now. Soon she would be home ruling hell the way she was supposed to, but first things first.

 

She turned around just as Buffy jumped up on the landing.

 

“So this is it Buffy. You just couldn’t wait for me could you?”

 

Buffy circled her carefully, she could feel the flimsy metal swaying and bending under her feet as she moved. “I’m very inpatient, one of my many faults. Sorry to have to disappoint you.”

 

Glory smirked at her, “Disappoint?  No, I was going to kill you anyway. Now the pleasure just comes more quickly for me.” 

 

She attacked throwing a right hook. Buffy ducked and Glory missed, losing her balance as her body fell forward with her powerful motion. 

 

Buffy let loose with her own arsenal of fists and feet, and she was landing them all, stunning Glory with her speed, strength and accuracy.

 

As Glory bent over to grab her stomach, Buffy ruthlessly yanked on her hair bringing her watering eyes up to hers. “I’m a lot stronger than you think Glory.”

 

Glory’s eyes flamed with rage and she screamed as she suddenly reared back taking Buffy, who still gripped her hair, with her.

 

They landed on the metal floor; the structure quaked and rumbled, sending a high piercing screech of metal rasping against metal through the air.

 

Angelus looked up hearing the sound as he snapped the demon’s neck that he held in his grasp. He then jumped up through the air grabbing the metal and swarming up the structure. He knew Spike would follow and he knew that the Scoobies would take care of the rest of the demons. His only concern was to get to Buffy before she did something stupid.

 

Glory stood first. 

 

Buffy lay on the cold metal floor shaking her head and gaining her bearings back.

 

Glory took advantage of the Slayer’s position; she swung her leg out and kicked her brutally in the side.

 

Buffy rolled over grabbing her stomach, feeling the full weight of a Goddess’ power in that one kick. It felt like her rib cage had just cracked.

 

Glory kicked her again delighting in the pain she saw pass over the girl’s face.

 

Hearing an angry snarl Glory looked down to see the Vampire quickly scaling the metal bars, he was moving very fast and in no time at all would reach them.

 

She looked up at the top of the tower.

 

Dreg stood on the landing with a screaming and kicking Dawn. The knife was in his hand hovering over her throat as he spoke the words of the ritual.

 

Glory looked back at Buffy smiling, “you’re too late Buffy. In mere seconds the portal will be open, the beasts of hell will be unleashed and I’ll be home again while you and your pathetic friends suffer fates worse then death.”

 

Buffy looked up to where Dawn stood just in time to see Dreg grab her arm and slice it open.

 

“BUFFY! HELP ME!”

 

Dawn’s bloodcurdling scream echoed through the night air. The people on the ground, finally killing the last demon, looked up to see what was happening. 

 

Angelus moved faster up the structure as he heard Spike behind him carrying his package.

 

Buffy became so enraged hearing her sister’s cry she did a back flip solidly landing on her feet. Silently she struck Glory, fist after fist, kick after kick. She was relentless as she beat the blond haired Goddess brutally and quickly until Glory lay on the ground panting. Her face was red and swollen from the beating Buffy gave her. And her eyes were glazed over in pain and utter shock.

 

Looking up Buffy saw Dreg hold out Dawn’s arm. Dawn screamed as he squeezed it and Buffy could just make out drops of Dawn’s blood as they fell into the black sky. 

 

Her eyes widened as the ground began to shake and a small hole ripped opened in the sky letting out a bright blue light that pierced the night.

 

On her hands and knees, Glory was barely holding on. Her body was racked with pain from the Slayer’s inhuman assault. It had happened so fast and with so much unrestrained power that she had been completely caught off guard. Shame and anger filled her. She was a Goddess. How could this slip of a girl defeat her? 

 

Beneath her palms and knees she felt the metal shake and sway, and she sensed the Vampires imminent arrival. But she didn’t care. She saw the portal open she felt its evilness slipping out into the world and she smiled. She just had to hold on and get up there, and then she could finally go home.

 

Her smile vanished though as she suddenly felt something that she wasn’t supposed to feel. She grabbed her head and screamed out loud drawing Buffy’s attention.

 

“NO! We had a deal damn it!”

 

Buffy looked down at Glory to see her face changing to Ben. Her eyes widened as she stared into his brown orbs.

 

“Buffy…”

 

With a shake of his head, he disappeared again, leaving Glory once more.

 

In that one quick second as Buffy watched this change occur once more, she knew exactly what was going on.

 

She remembered seeing this before in the bedroom of the apartment. She remembered the confusion she felt at seeing Glory in the room and not knowing how she got there. She also clearly remembered seeing the shock on Glory’s face too.

 

But she wasn’t confused anymore. It all made sense, somehow, especially the stuttered words that Ben had tried to tell her back in the bedroom.

 

Knowing that time was of the essence, she thanked the Powers that Be for her quick assessment of the situation and she waited for Ben to appear once more.

 

The second he did, she grabbed him by the throat and they looked into each other’s eyes.

 

Buffy stared into the depths of his eyes and felt sorrow slip into her heart. She sensed that Ben, like Dawn, was just an innocent pawn in this war of evil versus good, and she truly felt bad for having to hurt an innocent, but…better him than Dawn.

 

“I’m sorry.”  She softly said

 

His eyes were soft and sad; he faintly smiled at her, acknowledging her empathy. Then his eyes hardened and his voice was strong and clear.  “Do it!”

 

Buffy turned him around, grabbed his head, and then jerked it to the left. With one powerful twist Ben was dead and the Goddess Glory with him.

 

Standing up straight she let him go watching as his lifeless body fell to the ground. For one second she stood there amazed at how easy that was. But then she heard Dawn scream again and she quickly climbed up the rest of the tower.

 

Angelus and Spike looked up just as the dead body flew past them on its way to the ground.

 

Fear raced in Angel’s heart not knowing who it was, until he realized that that body didn’t have long golden or brown hair flowing behind it. Nor was it the petite body of his mate or her sister.

 

“Who the bloody hell was that?” Spike screamed.

 

“I don’t know!” Angelus answered as he looked up to see Buffy climbing the rest of the way up to the top. He saw the portal opening, saw the blue lights that shot out and around it, and he moved faster knowing what she intended to do.

 

Buffy, stop!

 

The adrenaline was flowing and Buffy didn’t answer him, her only thought was to get to the top, save Dawn and close the portal…anyway she had to.

 

“Damn it!”

 

Angelus cursed then called out to Spike who was climbing the structure as quickly as he could with the dead weight he was carrying. “Hurry up!”

 

“Hurry up he says…I’m coming damn it!” Spike called back. “Bloody hell this idiot weighs a ton!” he muttered as he tried to move faster.

 

Buffy’s eyes were pinned on Dawn as she struggled against Dreg, who was completely oblivious to the fact that his mistress was now dead. 

 

He pulled Dawn closer to the portal, talking in some demon language his arm raised the knife aimed at Dawn’s heart.

 

Buffy ran at him at full speed, just as he was about to bring the knife down, she grabbed his arm and ripped him away from Dawn. Moving their arms down, she plunged the knife into his heart. His eyes bulged with shock as he looked at her.

 

Buffy let go pushing him away where, like Ben before him, he fell to the ground…dead.

 

She turned to see Dawn standing near the edge of the platform staring into the blue light, she could hear her crying and she saw her feet moving closer to the edge.

 

“Dawn…stop! Don’t go any further. Just slowly walk back to me.”

 

Dawn turned and looked at her sister; love was reflected in her tear streaked eyes. “No Buffy, I can’t let you. This is my destiny, my fate.”

 

Buffy took a step closer, “no Dawn, it’s not your burden to bear, it’s mine. I’m the Slayer.”

 

“Yeah and I’m the Key. No one needs me. But the world...the world needs you Buffy.”

 

Buffy took another step closer, fear, panic and now anger filling her.

 

“Dawn if you take one more step toward that light I swear to God I’m going to beat the living crap out of you!”

 

Dawn looked deep into her eyes, sadly smiling at her. “I love you Buffy.”

 

Then she turned, ready to jump.

 

Lifting her left foot, she stood on one leg ready to take that final step and seal her fate. Her eyes closed, she took a deep breath and then…she was roughly grabbed from behind. She felt her body flying through the air, but instead of landing on hard dirt she landed on cold steel.

 

Dawn leaned up and looked at the ever widening opening portal in horror. Buffy stood before it, looking into it, the blue light surrounding her.

 

“NO BUFFY…PLEASE…STOP!” She cried out, her voice hitching as her heart shattered into a million pieces.

 

Buffy turned and looked at Dawn. 

 

Tears glistened in her eyes. She felt relieved and happy that she was able to succeed in her duty and save her sister. She had not failed. But they were tears of sadness as well.  She would not be there to comfort Dawn over their mother’s death and the poor girl was now also losing her sister. The only consolation she had was that she knew Angel would be there for her. They would have each other to console and that she was very grateful for.

 

Their eyes met and when she spoke her voice was steady and sure. “I love you Dawn, always remember that.”

 

Turning back around, she closed her eyes.  She had done everything she could for Dawn, now she had to say good bye to the love of her life.

 

Angel, I love you…more than anything else. I’m sorry I couldn’t wait for you. But I couldn’t let Dawn die. Thank you for coming back to me. You saved me Angel and I hope in some way that I saved you too. Take care of Dawn, she’ll need you. Please…don’t mourn me…I’ll always be with you…always…

 

Opening her eyes, she looked straight ahead. She lifted her arms to the sky ready to sacrifice her life to save the world once more.

 

The last thought she had right before she jumped was that there was no response from Angel inside of her, and as her feet left the floor, sadness entered her heart for all that she was giving up.

 

She was in the air, feeling light and free, when a steely grip suddenly snatched her back. Her back slammed against a hard chest of muscle, a strong powerful arm clamped around her waist like an iron bar, and angry words shouted in her ear.

 

“I TOLD YOU TO WAIT FOR ME DAMN IT! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU THAT EAGER TO DIE?”

 

She turned her head and looked up into livid red eyes and a snarling face; she knew who she was talking too.

 

“Angelus the portal is opened, I have to it’s the only way!” She shouted over the wind that had suddenly picked up and now howled around them angrily.

 

“I told you I’d find another way. Jesus Buffy, your lack of faith in me is really pissing me off!  SPIKE!”

 

He called out and Spike appeared next to them holding on to Riley who was slowly waking up. 

 

Riley looked around at his surroundings as his vision slowly cleared. He was standing atop some atrocious looking tower thing with no recollection of how he got there. The last thing he remembered was Spike’s fists pummeling his body.

 

Confusion was evident on his face as he turned and saw Buffy standing within the possessive embrace of Angelus’ arms.

 

“Buffy? What’s…what’s goin on?”

 

She didn’t have time to answer. She didn’t even know if she could because she had no idea.

 

Before she knew what was happening, Angelus and Spike switched places, and she found herself in Spike’s arms and being dragged away from the portal.

 

“Spike no! Let me go. You know I have to do this!”

 

“Sorry Pet can’t do that.” He held on to her as she struggled against him.

 

He was thankful that she was not fully linked to Angelus in that moment because if she were he knew she could easily kill him.  Still, that didn’t lessen the pain of the sudden left hook that landed on his chin.

 

His face shifted and he threw his own left hitting her in the cheek. He grabbed her again and hauled her up to his snarling face. “Do you really want to do this now Slayer? Or would you rather watch the show?”

 

Buffy looked back at him in confusion. When he tilted his head toward the end of the platform she blankly looked over.

 

Angelus stood by the edge of the platform, with a still confused Riley in his arms. He moved them closer to the edge, closer to the portal. Grabbing Riley by the neck he held him out in front of him.

 

Riley looked down then back at Angelus, his face white with fear.  His hands latched on to Angelus’ arms, as the older demon took a step forward, leaving Riley standing on his toes with nothing but air underneath his heels.

 

Frantic eyes searched Angelus hard, determined face. Riley saw death reflected back…his death, very near and very painful.

 

“Please…don’t!”

 

Angelus ignored his strangled plea. This was one deed he would not be denied.

 

“Remember that long and painful existence I promised you would get in hell Finn? Well here you go. I always keep my promises.”

 

As Riley started to fight against him, screaming like a baby.  Angelus punched him hard in the face. Riley’s head jerked back, his hands automatically reaching up to touch his bruised face, and in the process releasing the only hold he had on unlife.

 

The moment Angelus felt Riley’s hands let go of his arms, he took that final step and released him.   

 

Riley’s horrific screams for help rang across the construction site as he dropped into the portal.

 

‘It’s always about the blood. Dawn’s blood was her blood and Riley drank her blood.’’ Buffy realized as she watched Riley fall through the opening. The ground shook and the bright light started to move like a light show…dancing violently around them.

 

Then it stopped.

 

The light dimmed until it was completely gone, along with Riley, and the portal began to close. 

 

Spike released a dazed Buffy and walked over to the edge to stand next to Angelus. 

 

Buffy stood on the landing, not sure of what just happened, when a small shaking body suddenly flew into her.

 

“Buffy!”

 

Though her shock was real and felt almost foreign to her, the feeling of Dawn’s body pressed against hers did not.  She felt relief enter her soul, and her eyes closed as she bent her head and hugged Dawn tightly to her.

 

“Dawnie, are you okay?”

 

Dawn nodded unable to speak over the lump in her throat.

 

“That was some show.” Spike said as he finally looked at Angel smiling. “I always did enjoy a good light show.”

 

Angel looked at him smirking as well. He slapped him on the shoulder then turned to Buffy.

 

He walked over to her and embraced the hugging sisters in his arms. He held on to both of them as tightly as he could, knowing that he had almost lost both of them.