Chapter 44
The entrance of the cave was cluttered by the quiet presence of the group. The determination and confidence that inundated everyone had slowly dwindled down to worry and concern.
It hadn’t helped that Buffy and Angel, the considered leaders of this type of battle plan, seemed bogged down with their own inner thoughts. The only confidence that was being shown was by Spike and Cordelia.
Spike’s confidence didn’t count. The blonde vampire wasn’t there by choice, his self-assurance was just that all about ‘self’. Buffy threatened and he came, there was some doubt that the vampire would act for the greater good.
No one knew where Cordelia’s confidence came from. Wherever it came from it was a sad place, a place of resignation. It was her confidence that triggered Buffy and Angel’s pensive contemplation.
No words had been spoken to confirm this universal thought. None were needed. Buffy and Angel’s eyes hadn’t left the young brunette; their expressions and demeanor turning tense and inward the closer they got to the cave.
“Cordy,” Angel pulled the woman to face him. “It’s going to be okay.” The dark vampire was the first to break the silence.
Cordelia cocked her head. “I know.”
Angel narrowed his eyes suddenly suspicious. Cordelia’s earlier tears her confidence now all coming to a head in Angel’s thoughts. “What do you know? Cordy, did you have another vision. Do you know what’s going to happen? You will not die.”
Cordelia blinked once slowly, silently damning the vampire for making her lie this one last time. “I know that we will close the portal, I know that Buffy will do what she’s supposed to like I will. I know that you’ll, Spike included, will do what’s necessary to make sure that everyone, everyone,” she repeated emphasizing, “will be safe. I know this because we’re damn good at this sort of thing, haven’t lost the world once.”
Angel’s scrutinizing glare remained on the young woman. It didn’t feel right. But, Cordelia was correct- they all would do what was necessary to stop the expansion of the portal and Angel would make damn sure that Cordelia was still alive when it was over.
A silent wave of relief went through the others. Angel was no longer pensive, just determined again, confident in his abilities and by extension theirs.
Buffy was the first to openly acknowledge the change in the vampire and with it blanketed herself in the confidence of her slayer abilities and her friends. “Cordy’s right. We’re damn good, so lets go be good.”
The group nodded quickly, except for Spike who just rolled his eyes. He wasn’t sure what the big deal was; so the world was ending, as far as he could see it never worked. He just wanted to get the show on the road, beat up some demons and then get the hell out of there.
There was a time that Spike would’ve been grateful for the opportunity to stand by the slayer’s side helping her but that had been a long time and several heated rejections ago. This had been the first time in an almost a year that Buffy came to him for help.
Spike was disgusted; habit and the chip made him come. The slayer was using him again and he was letting her.
“I take it the ‘oh’ so bad things are patiently waiting to end the world that’s why were standing here like idiotic blokes with our thumbs up our asses?”
Buffy glared, Angel growled, Cordelia gave a sad look to the vampire. Skip had said that the blonde vampire was turning out surprisingly good; Cordelia just hoped that would be true when this was all over with.
But, he was here, so maybe it would. Cordelia shook her head; she couldn’t concern herself with Buffy and Spike’s future. “Crass but correct, we need to do this,” shrugging.
“Yes,” Wesley’s hand went up to his glasses, coming down immediately when he realized that he wasn’t wearing them. “Cordy, Buffy, you know where you need to be?”
“Near the biggest opening,” both young women repeated as they had done countless times since Wesley instructed and then questioned them. “Buffy…”
The slayer held up a thin sharp longish dagger and the disc. “Got ‘em.”
“The words…”
“I know what I have to say,” Buffy rolled her eyes. Wesley hadn’t changed completely that’s for sure. At least he didn’t stutter pompously when going over and over the information he was imparting anymore.
Wesley nodded. “We’ve two goals, to protect Buffy and Cordy and to stop any attempt by the Drakkus to do the ritual.”
“Wesley, we’ve done this,” Angel growled impatiently.
“Yes, we have, but nothing must go wrong,” Wesley stared intently at the vampire. Wesley was as determined as Angel that nothing other than a cut on Cordelia’s wrist would happen to the young woman.
Angel grunted his acknowledgment of Wesley’s purpose and need.
Wesley took Angel’s nod as permission to proceed with the final repetition of his instructions. “Crystal and Spike will stay close to Buffy and Cordy. Crystal as a last barrier to the Drakkus, Spike will be there to make sure that none get close to her, so we don’t need it.”
Angel grumbled shifting on his feet, his fists clenched to the side. The vampire didn’t like this part of the plan at all.
He should be the one near Cordelia. He wasn’t sure that he could trust either of the demons to keep Cordelia safe. But, Angel had let Cordelia convince that him that he was needed to stop the Drakkus from doing the ritual. She had complained that she couldn’t trust anyone else to make sure that she didn’t end up impregnated by demon spawn.
So, Angel had agreed. But once that danger was obliterated, Angel would be back at Cordelia’s side.
Buffy promised that she wouldn’t let anything happen to Cordelia. Angel would have to rely on the slayer and her abilities until he could get there.
“Now, everyone….”
“Wes, we got it okay,” Cordelia said. “Angel and Gunn will head to any Drakkus that looks like ‘daddy’ material’, everyone else will just be fighting in between. The human guys as far away from Crystal as possible- just in case they go with their first choice as mommy. We need to go.”
Wesley reluctantly nodded. He didn’t have anything else to say. It was time.
***
“Cor.”
“Me, too,” tiptoeing up to kiss Angel. “Go, be a hero,” pushing the dark vampire into the cave.
Once Angel had disappeared, she snatched at Spike as he passed.
“Spike, no matter what, keep Crystal close to me and safe, but as soon as I kiss her get her the hell of out of there.”
“Kiss her?” Spike stared at Cordelia. “You’re changing the plan, what are you playing at?”
“It’s necessary.”
“Necessary? Smooching during an Armageddon?
Cordelia narrowed her eyes. “You must of missed it. Just do it.”
“Missed the part where two hotties are lip locking, don’t think so. I think Peaches and the English wanker need to know about your sudden attraction the tasty gold bit.”
Cordelia shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
“It ain’t nothing, but what is it?”
“Don’t worry about it, just make sure you do it.” Cordelia moved past the blonde vampire into the cave.
Spike looked after the young woman an uncharacteristic unease settled over him.
He needed to talk to Buffy.
Chapter 45
Spike ran into the cave. Cordelia, Buffy and Crystal were already situated by the largest portal.
“Spike, get over there.” Angel growled.
“Peaches, the chit….”
“Go,” the vampire growled, Angel’s attention turned immediately to the sparks and swirls shooting from the portals. “It’s starting, GO.”
“Spike,” Buffy yelled from her position.
Damn’t. Spike ran to the women. “Buffy.”
“Shut up, they’re coming,” both Cordy and Buffy yelled. Spike didn’t miss the glare on the dark haired woman’s face.
Damn her and whatever game she was playing. He wouldn’t let her get away with it, even though he wasn’t sure what it was but it gave him a bad feeling.
Spike started to speak again, when a swirling flash popped into a full-fledged demon swinging a sickle. “Bugger, it’s a lethal spirit of Christmas future, death shroud and black face hole and all.”
“It’s no spirit, it bleeds, so deal with it.” Buffy yelled, resisting the urge to attack.
Spike growled and swung the sword he had been given, slicing the demon in half, turning to face another that appeared in it’s place. His body and sword acting as a barrier between the approaching demons and the women.
“Buffy, calm down. Start the ritual,” Cordy said softly.
Buffy clinched her jaw, nodding, slowly mumbling words, the knife and disc in her hands. Crystal waited nearby, wishing that she could do more. But Cordelia had insisted that she was needed there to be the last defensive against any Drakkus that broke through the others.
***
“Angel,” Wesley tugged at the vampire’s arm and pointed.
Angel tore his attention from Cordelia to where Wesley urged. Standing in the middle of a large circle of demons was a lone-cloaked figure, a disc in his hands.
“Our cue,” Gunn shouted running to keep up with the vampire.
Angel barreled through the deadly obstacle of demons and weapons, cutting down everything in his path. Gunn was left to fend off the replacement demons that materialized at Angel’s rampage.
***
“Xander,” Wesley yelled, swinging his sword.
“I see it.” Xander moved to position himself before a new swirling vortex that had formed depositing more Drakkus.
Willow and Fred ran up swinging their own weapons to help the young man, trying to keep the demons from getting close to where Spike was defending the three women.
***
Spike flinched as one of the demon’s sickles slashed into his side. He turned plunging his sword, pushing up with all of his strength.
The blonde vampire turned favoring his wound at the sound of a gasp. Spike stared as a black energy was surrounding Crystal’s hands and head. That couldn’t be good. The vampire ran trying to see where the threat was coming from.
Spike reached out with a firm grip pulling at the young demon as he sighted the Drakkus manipulating the force encasing her. He kept Crystal close as he lunged with his sword and body. Spike growled as he felt and heard the satisfying sound of his blade hitting its target.
The vampire and Crystal landed on the broken form of the Drakkus. Spike rolled them, keeping his body in a protective cover over the young demon’s.
***
Buffy kept her eyes on those of Cordelia’s trying to block out the sounds of the deadly battle around them. Her words got louder and clearer as she neared their conclusion. She paused raising her blade.
“It’s all right, Buffy.” Cordelia smiled at the Slayer’s hesitation at the necessary final act of the ritual. “Crystal,” the brunette beckoned. Cordelia jerked away from the blonde reaching for her wrist at the returning silence.
“Crystal,” she called out. Cordelia’s eyes widened at the sight of Spike pulling her away and rolling on the ground. Cordelia automatically moved closer.
Buffy grasped at Cordelia’s arm. “She’ll be fine, Spike has her.”
“NO. She’s too far away, I’ve got to go her.” Cordelia tugged at the slayer’s grip.
“Cordy, she’ll be fine, we’ve got to do this. Look around the Portals are growing, the Drakkus are replacing themselves. We’ve got to finish the ritual.”
“I…” Cordelia glanced at the fighting. Her friends couldn’t keep fighting an endless supply of demons. So far it looked like their wounds weren’t fatal, but soon that wouldn’t be the case, if she didn’t end this.
Cordelia closed her eyes, whispering. “I failed him, again.”
“What? Cordy…” Buffy pulled the woman back towards her.
“Tell him, I’m sorry,” Cordelia looked at the blonde. “And, I’m sorry to you, so sorry,” Cordelia grabbed at the wrist holding the dagger.
“Cordy, what are you doing? I’ve done the spell, we have to finish it.”
“I am, the right way,” tears starting to fall down her face. “This is the only way all of the Drakkus can be destroyed.”
Buffy yanked her arm back in sudden horrified realization of what Cordelia was going to do. But with all of slayer strength, she couldn’t break the other woman’s grip.
“It has to be by your hand, you are the ‘protector’ of the hell mouth, Wes was right about that, I’m so sorry.” A white glow formed gently over Cordelia’s body giving her the strength to withstand the slayer’s. Cordelia brought up Buffy’s wrist, the knife still in the slayer’s hand.
Buffy tried to release the knife, but her fingers wouldn’t move as Cordelia’s fist enclosed over them in a vice grip. She winced as the light glowed brighter merging with the black of the swirling vortex that seemed to form directly behind Cordelia.
“I truly am sorry,” Cordelia plunged, thrusting Buffy’s hand still holding the knife into her own chest.
“NO,” Buffy screamed as the blade penetrated Cordelia’s breastbone to the hilt, jerking upwards ensuring the fatality of the strike.
A light emerged streaming upwards from the wound joining the surrounding brightness. The light expanded into the vortex opening it wide, tentacles of brightness seemed to be sucked into it, growing overwhelming the void and then in a flash, it was over.
***
The group of humans, Angel, Spike and Crystal struggled up from the ground, blinking attempting to rid themselves of the bright spots that blurred their vision.
It took them all a minute to realize that the cave was empty of all Drakkus and swirling voids. Except one, before them was a large vortex swirling and open.
But it wasn’t a black hole of nothingness, it’s interior shone brightly, giving them all the glimpse of life. It was a window into a peaceful plateau, a picture of colors, beauty and light. They all stared in amazement as they realized they were looking into another world, one full of life.
The sounds of deep sobbing tore they’re eyes and attention away from the idyllic scene. Beauty turned immediately to horror.
Buffy was crying gulps of breath, low moans coming from her throat, staring at her bloody hands, rubbing at the stains that wouldn’t go away as she kneeled over Cordelia’s fallen body.
A primal wail vibrated throughout the cave, piercing everyone’s heart, bringing shivers down their spines as Angel stumbled crawling towards the scene.
Buffy resisted, crying louder as Spike instinctively pulled her away from the other vampire’s approach.
Angel ignored all as he cradled the lifeless body in his arms, hugging it tightly, whispering to it, yelling for Cordelia to open her eyes.
Buffy continued to fight against Spike’s hold. “She said she was sorry, she said it was the only way, the only way to destroy all of the Drakkus, she said I had…”
“So, you killed her,” Angel growled, his voice deadly and cold, his eyes never leaving Cordelia’s body.
Spike pushed Buffy further back away from the dark vampire. Buffy fought harder, her sobs engulfing her body.
“NO….I couldn’t stop her, she was too strong…I couldn’t stop her,” Buffy gasped falling back into Spike’s arms. “I couldn’t stop her,” Buffy whimpered into Spike’s chest.