Vampire Slayers United
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all characters are copyright and
Trademarks of WB, David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon, 20th Century Fox, and
Others. Please do not plagiarize or anything. LOVE YA
Chapter 48: Life without Going On
Memory:
"I think the most important lesson is that we can win." I said quickly, talking to all the girls while we were in a cemetery, big surprise, and I was teaching. It must be in the lineage.
"But you and the other slayer got your asses handed to you." Taylor, a very vanilla girl with cute brown freckles said, "Sorry, but it doesn't sound too convincing."
"When has evil ever won?" I asked.
"Umm, lemme think." Another, Native American, slayer named Lynn, said.
"Rhetorical." I said.
"Huh?" Brindi, an Aussie slayer said.
"Look, I'm just saying never." I said, "We're what monsters are scared of and what is Sinew but another monster?"
"But she's a powerful, be all Goddess!" Lynn said.
"And we're powerful, be all fighters." I said quickly, "Buffy brought out the slayer in us so we can help the world. If only we could do a courage spell."
"Can't your witch do that?" Taylor asked.
"He could, I guess, but magic is sacred and really isn't supposed to be mess with on anything like that." I warned.
"Right." Brindi said, notebook in hand, "Sacred."
"Besides, I don't think you'll be fighting the Goddess, I'll be doing that. You just have your stakes ready." I said.
"What about the other slayer?" Erin, an African American slayer, asked.
I sighed and looked down...where to begin.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Who are you?" I panted, looking at the levitating man.
"I am Twilight...the beginning and the end." Twilight said seriously.
"Oh. Are you next?" I asked.
"Until we meet again." He said, flying away.
"Super spooky." I said slowly.
My dream ended as I sat up, looking around. My house was littered with chip bags, opened books, and too many sheets to count. I breathed a breath of relief as I woke up. The creepy guy in the mask scared me. Twilight. Something told me he wasn't just a figure head. I thought to call Buffy, but told myself that it wasn't a very good idea. I knew it was getting down to the wire. Whatever was happening was going to happen tomorrow night. My little squad was definitely on the move. Doug was, of course, trying to find a magical way to beat our latest Hell Goddess. Kelly had been very secretive about her whereabouts. I kind of suspected that she was with Cale, which was okay, he wasn't a bad person, he just made a bad decision, but I don't think he'll be making leaps and bounds with me. Gemma, of course, helped my friends out and Lestat found out all he could about the threat while Grahm did his best to pull up any news he could. My dream had awoken me, but it also kept me awake. I had been having some weird dreams about the First, the Master, Sinew, and this Twilight guy. They weren't exactly having tea with me, but it was more warning. Before I could catch my breath, Brindi came downstairs.
"Is there anymore chips-a-hoy?" she asked.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Is there anymore cookies?" she asked.
"I...Umm, I don't know. There is, umm, you're bleeding." I said quickly.
"It doesn't hurt...You need to wake up, this place is a mess." Brindi said, "He's coming."
I tried to move, but couldn't, "Something's wrong." I said and Sinew stepped behind Brindi and smiled, sticking her hand in and out of Brindi's hole that bled right above her stomach, "What's going on?"
"Life goes on." Sinew smirked, transforming into Titan, "Be awake when he comes because...he's gonna suck you dry. After him, it will happen between day and night."
"Sounds like a date from Hell." I said my face still on Brindi's bloody hole, "Brindi."
"Life goes on." She said, reaching down to her stomach.
Titan smiled, "It all never happened." He said.
I felt as if I had been hit in my head repeatedly! Visions rushed through my brain! When I met Connor, it was only him! Angel had never been there. All the stuff with Angel and Spike, it never happened, "It's really you!" I said.
"In the dream flesh." Titan smirked.
"Did any of that really happen?" I asked.
"It all did, except the..." he stopped, "I changed your reality. Angel, nor any of his gang, were in Rome, just you, the scoobies, and Connor. I doctored your reality, but you saw what you wanted. You wanted to see Angel and Spike and Illyria. You wanted them to be behind, it gave you strength. That slayer you left in L.A., she's dead now. Slayers don't last long there."
"NO!" I shouted as my vision went black.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Doug lay on the floor next to Austin, trying to recall the last thing he remembered. He remembered Austin and Charity being man-handled by the Hell Goddess. Doug looked around at the destruction he had caused...There was Hell everywhere! Debris and everything as they laid there. Grahm lay only a few feet away, but the rest of the group were nowhere to be found, only Charity, who was still knocked out. Doug looked over at Austin, whose eyes were wide open and his body wasn't moving at all, not even breathing. Doug panicked immediately and crawled to Austin, placing his hand on Austin's chest. Doug felt Austin slipping away and he felt as if he could cry! This guy, who'd introduce him to saving the world, who'd saved him and originally broken his arm, was lying lifeless next to him. Doug asked himself was this really the next step for Austin? Was death the next step? He couldn't, he had to do something, so slid on top of Austin, breathing into Austin's mouth. He exhaled and exhaled until something happened. Austin's chest rose and his eyes closed. He slumped over. There was a rumble and the debris began to move and he knew it was going to be Sinew, coming for them. Doug tried to move and immediately came across another slayer, the one that had been attacked when the battle was almost done. Brindi? She lay lifeless as well. As Sinew came around the corner, Doug threw up his hands and a shield popped in front of Sinew and she stopped,
She began banging on the shield, "Open this shield, BITCH!" she shrieked.
As Doug felt himself begin to slip, the slayers rushed in and grabbed everyone they could. Lestat quickly grabbed Austin and moved towards the door. Lynn stopped and looked at Charity, who was bleeding and slowly breathing, on the other side of the shield.
Sinew looked down at her and smiled up at Lynn, "What do I have here?" she asked, bending down and snatching Charity up with ease, "I think I'll take this." She said, super speeding away.
Lynn cried out for her new friend, but it was of no use, she was gone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kelly had immediately panicked when Doug told her what had happened. Austin had almost died. He had been at the brink. After Doug cast his spell on Sinew, Sinew did something that affected the atmosphere and caused an explosion! Kelly had been able to avoid serious injury by ducking. Kelly was still in full panic mode. One of the slayers hadn't been as lucky, neither had Charity. Grahm had been knocked unconscious, Doug was borderline comatose, and she was in panic mode. Not only did they have to house their slayers, they had Charity's band of misfits. Cale had, however, let her do the research thing to calm her nerves. It hadn't worked before, but it was beginning to.
"Are you going to be okay?" Cale asked.
"No. We're gonna lose." Kelly snapped, and then looked at Cale, who seemed wounded by her words, "Sorry, I'm a little on edge."
"It's quite alright." Cale said, "I alerted Giles and Faith, Buffy has been a little harder tracking down."
"What did Giles say?" Kelly asked.
"That we should stay put until he gets here with help." Cale said, sitting next to her, "But we both know that we don't have the time."
"What are you saying?" Kelly asked.
"We need to get the Slayers ready and we need a way to beat Sinew." Cale explained.
Kelly sighed, "There's no way to beat her, Glory had a weakness...the orb..." Kelly found herself thinking, "The orb! It took Titan's powers..."
"Would it contain both of their powers?" Cale asked.
"Who knows, but it's our only hope." Kelly said, "And the Slayer Weapons. No human weapons, and slayers aren't exactly human."
"Do you know of any?" Cale asked.
"The Scythe, but Buffy has that. The Dagger of Hope, that's one, then, The Slayer Sais? I'm not sure." Kelly said, "It's worth a try. Now all we need is a fully functional head-slayer."
"Is he awake?" Cale asked.
"Somewhat. He's creeped out." Kelly said, "We should go."
"Let's go." Cale said.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As I woke from my dream, I was lying in my bead. I looked around quickly, trying to figure out what was going on. First, I was teaching slayers, then I was fighting weird guys, then I was dreaming...Titan...I threw the covers back and paused in pain.
"Not quite well, Slayer?" Lestat asked.
I groaned as I moved again, "Where's everybody else?" I asked.
"Everybody else almost died." Lestat said quickly, sitting on the bed.
I looked at him with worry, "What happened?" I asked.
"We lost two girls." He said, "The jock and the soldier are down. And some of the slayers have minor injuries."
"Oh." I said slowly, lying back down, "Okay, let's go the easier route, who's not hurt?" I asked.
"The blonde and the Watcher." Lestat answered.
"The Blonde and the Watcher?" I asked, wondering not where, but what they were doing.
"The Magic Store." Lestat said, "Are you alright?"
"Depends on what you mean." I said quickly.
"Most people don't die." Lestat said, "Could cause damage."
"I died?" I asked, "So, that did happen? Everything's a little...urgh."
"Do you need something?" Lestat asked.
"No. The death part just weirded me out." I said slowly, "I think I'll be okay once I start fighting."
"Fighting?" Lestat asked, "I should go and check on the rest of the house.
"Why do you stay around here? Fighting with us?" I asked.
Lestat sighed, "After you've been alive for so long, done things...All you want to do is the right thing." He said, "I've always adored humans."
"But why?" I asked.
"You find something, an obsession of sorts, and you do whatever it takes to keep that obsession close."
"Can you keep a secret?" I asked.
Lestat just stared.
"I'll take that as a yes." I said, "Titan affected my memory. He affected all of our memories. The whole time I thought Connor came to Rome with Angel, but Connor came on a school trip. It's all coming back; the glamour is wearing off now. Angel was never there. I haven't seen him in so long. Why would he create a vision of Angel in our eyes?"
"Maybe he seeks to inspire you." Lestat said.
"Why would he do that?" I asked.
"To destroy you." Lestat said, "You must be wary of this, Titan. He seeks to destroy you through your mind." He said angrily, then he became calm again, "I must go." He said, leaving.
I sighed and got to my feet, walking to my closet and picking out some acid washed jeans and a light blue, striped shirt and walked out of my room. Downstairs, there was calm. No one was around, so I figured they were outside, or in the basement. I walked to the living room and looked at the mess. Brindi was right, this place is a mess. As I began to pick trash up, the front door opened and I paused. Kelly and Cale bounced in, looking as started as I did.
"Austin!" Kelly said, running up and hugging me, "Are you okay?!"
"I'm good. A little disoriented, but who isn't nowadays?" I asked.
"Perhaps I should go and check on the girls." Cale said nervously.
"Yeah, umm, where are they?" I asked.
"Out back." Kelly said, looking at Cale, "Umm, there's something you should know."
"What?" I asked, really not wanting to know.
"Charity, she's...umm, gone." Kelly said. I looked at her, trying to make sense of what she had just said, "After we came in to get you guys, Doug had to throw up a shield to protect us all and Charity was just beyond it. Even if the shield was taken down in time, she super sped away."
"So, they're having a memorial?" I asked.
"Yes." Cale said.
"Do we have a plan?" I asked.
"We're going to attack her with magical weapons." Kelly said, "And, that orb you found, the one in Rome."
Doug walked in, "And me. But there's a problem. I did a spell to find her, but she's underground and there's a new magically inclined person in town."
"Right. Gratzie." I said, sitting down, "I have an idea. Well, more like a thought." I said, walking to the mantle, "This place is like Sunnydale, right?" they nodded, "Sunnydale had tunnels and all sorts of demons, and...a sunken church. A few, actually, but one major one."
"Right, the Earthquake years before we were born." Kelly said.
"And I think I know what's she's up to." I groaned, falling back on the sofa.
"What is it?" Doug asked, sitting on the table.
"Why would a Hell Goddess, leave Hell, and come here?" I asked.
"She was summoned." Doug said, "Titan summoned her, remember."
"No, he opened a portal, but she had been trying to get her for ages, remember? I fought against her in the other dimension. She was...almost here. Now she's bringing back the `Master'." I explained.
"So, she was on a mission this whole time?" Cale asked, "Interesting, indeed."
"Looks like I won't be catching `Making the Band" tonight." Kelly sighed.
"Understatement of the century." Doug said, "So, how do we find this Church of the Unholy?"
"The sewers. I heard tales about it." I frowned, "Not a pleasant place. I think I'm going, you guys are going to need to be at the Hellmouth."
"Why? What? We're not letting you go alone." Doug said angrily.
"You are. Look, the demons are going to be swarming at the Hellmouth, plus, taking all those slayers into a cramped, dirty tunnel isn't safe." I explained.
"At least take two or three slayers." Kelly pleaded.
"I will." I said, "We have until sundown. We need to load up."
"Slayers plus weapons?" Kelly asked.
I nodded, "We strike at...twilight, odd." I said.
"What's odd about that? Don't evil things stir at night?" Doug asked.
"Nothing." I said, "Umm, let's just get ready."
"Alright, meet here in about two hours, everybody comfortable with that?" Kelly asked.
"Cool." Doug said, standing.
There was a silence. It wasn't awkward; it wasn't one that broke us apart. It was one that was bringing us together. Who would have thought that these two people would have been so close to me? I had mistaken myself for a weaker person as well. As we broke, I left the house, walking down the street. There was kids playing, birds singing and nothing that would suggest the end of the world. I had heard tales about the Master. I had seen him once, must have been on his way to the high school. I was too young to really know then, though. I guess that's how I put it together so fast. I made my way around the town and back to my house, walking to my backyard. There was a stick cross, marking a grave. Grahm stood by it, sporting some jeans, white tennis shoes, and a white shirt that accentuated all his muscles. I stood by him and he looked up.
"I went up to see you, but you were gone." Grahm said, looking down at me. He was so tall. Seemed all good soldiers were. Riley was.
"Yeah, I took a walk." I said slowly, "Nothing like a walk to clear death away from your mind."
"Death?" Grahm asked.
I nodded, "Brindi. Where's Charity's?" I asked.
"The girls decided she's not dead and we're going to save her." Grahm smiled.
"They live in a different reality." I said quickly, "I failed."
"Failed?" Grahm asked.
"I'm the leader and Brindi was depending on me. Charity might not have been my bestest buddy, but she needed me." I said.
"Do you remember the fight? You saved Charity from dying altogether." Grahm said, "We're alive because you're strong."
"You're alive because Doug raised a force field." I frowned, "I guess I'm just projecting."
"It's alright." Grahm said, grabbing my hand, "Are you ready to fight?"
"I am." I said, squeezing his hand.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kelly and Cale lay in Cale's bed, breathing hard and panting as they finished their love making. It was exactly the first time for either of them, but it was the first time they had actually felt that happy. Kelly made herself comfortable across Cale's chest. There was love in the air, but there was also a sense of forbidding. Kelly hadn't felt this level of danger before and she hadn't...
"I love you." Cale said, out of nowhere.
"Huh?" Kelly asked.
"I love you." He smiled down at her as she lay on his arm.
"Thanks." Kelly said, sitting up, the covers snatched against her chest.
"Thanks?" Cale asked.
"Yeah, thanks." Kelly said.
"So, you don't feel the same way? How terribly awkward." Cale said, sliding on his glasses.
"I'm sorry, but I care for you, not love. I don't think...I meanImightloveyou...Ijustdon'tknowifI..." but she stopped when he kissed her.
"It's alright." He smiled, "We should get going."
"Yeah, we should, but I have questions." Kelly said nervously, "Do we have a chance?"
Cale looked at her nervously, "The Watcher Diaries suggest..."
"I want your opinion." Kelly said quickly.
"Yes. We have a chance, but it's up to us to make sure we do what we have to." Cale said.
"We're not all coming back, are we?" Kelly asked.
"No, we're not." Cale said, kissing her forehead.
Kelly nodded and got up, hooking her bra back on, "We should get going." She said quietly.
"We should." Cale agreed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Doug searched his apartment for every magical crystal and item that he could find. Gemma helped in his search by sitting on the couch, watching "Desperate Housewives". Doug flew by, trying to pick up as much as he could.
Gemma pulled him down onto the couch, "Oy, why are you in full find and destroy mode?" she asked.
"Stop kidding around, I have to hurry. It's almost that time." Doug said, trying to get up again.
"Exactly, that's why I'm calm." Gemma said, "Worrying isn't going to get you anywhere."
Doug sighed and watched her, she was actually calm, "How can you be calm? Last time, we all almost died."
"Yeah, cause you were fidgety." Gemma said, "Look, we're all stressed. This the `Master' guy sounds very scary, but I'm worried about the Goddess running around here."
"We have to stop her before she brings the `Master' back." Doug said, "I watched my best friend almost die and I saved him, I'm not letting him die."
"I'm sorry." Gemma said slowly, "I didn't know it hurt you so much."
"I felt like I was going to die." He said quickly, "And it's not happening again." Doug said. The pain in his eyes burned intensely in that moment, then it died down, "Half of my friends are in a Hell Dimension and Half are in Scotland, fighting. We're fighting for our lives."
"I'm sorry." Gemma said.
"It's okay, but we gotta keep moving. If we don't, he doesn't stand a chance." Doug said, standing.
"He?" Gemma asked.
"We. We don't standing a chance." Doug corrected himself.
Gemma looked at him, trying to figure him out. He was different, for some reason, he wasn't the same. Gemma thought about it for a minute, "You love him?" Gemma asked.
"Depends on what you mean." Doug said, placing books and other items into his backpack.
"Are you in love with him?" Gemma asked.
"No." Doug said, looking at her, "I love him though. We've been together, me, him, and Kelly. And I'm not letting anything happen to either of them."
"Do you love me?" Gemma asked.
"Yes." Doug said, kissing her, "I love you."
"That's the first time you've said that." Gemma said, looking at him with sincerity, "It's sweet."
"I know. But we've gotta." Doug said, quickly grabbing his bag and Gemma and leaving.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I stood in the basement, punching a punching bag. I put myself into my fist and feet and let loose on the bag! I hit the bag so hard that it slid off the stand and flew into the wall. I took a deep breath and turned to see Doug and Kelly.
"Hi." I said, standing in front of the punching bag.
"The, umm, bag is dead." Doug said nervously.
"I got that." I said quickly.
"I've got worse news." Doug said, "I found it in one of my books before I came."
"I figured." I said, sitting on an old lounger, "What's the worst?"
"When...IF, Sinew gets this thing done, she'll regain all her powers." Doug said.
"Dark cloud." I said.
"With a silver lining," Kelly smiled, "She won't be able to be stable, and her body can't sustain that amount of energy here."
"Oh...but does that mean she'll explode or that her demonic form will show?" I asked.
"I'm hoping for number one, but who knows." Doug said, "SO, she's bringing back this Master guy? Is he that bad?"
"Worse." I answered.
"He's just a vampire." Doug said.
"NO." Kelly said, "I read up on him, he's definitely not just some vampire."
"Anybody else scared?" Doug asked.
Kelly and I raised our hands.
"I'm just glad I'm not the only one." Doug said quickly.
"I'm going to see if the troops are ready." Kelly said, hugging us both and climbing the stairs.
"I'd better go, too." Doug said, turning to leave.
"Doug." I said, causing him to turn to me. I walked over and hugged him, "Thank you, for bringing me back."
"It's what friends are for." Doug smiled.
I began to sob on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Doug asked.
"I'm not going to die." I sobbed.
Doug pulled me away from me, "No, you're not. Kelly and I and all those slayers aren't gonna let that happen. We love you." He said.
I smiled, "Thank you." I said, wiping my eyes, "You should go...and be with Gemma."
Doug chuckled, "Yeah, I figure Cale and Kelly are halfway to third base about now." He said, climbing the stairs.
I turned to the punching bag and almost died when I saw Titan standing in the corner, "Hello, slayer." He said, smiling and looking at me up and down, "My, how time has changed you."
"You're not real." I said, trying to convince myself.
"I'm very real." Titan smirked, "And I'm here to..."
"Taunt and annoy me?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
"I was going to say inform you, but we can go with that." Titan said, moving closer.
"Didn't I kill you already?" I asked.
"Not everything that is killed, dies." Titan explained, "And no. I was taken."
"Huh?" I asked.
Titan chuckled, "At least not evil. Evil never dies." He said.
"Doesn't matter. If your girl brings the Master back to Earth, I'll kill him. Then I'll kill her. Or vice versa." I promised.
"You don't get it, do you? The Master has been gone for about twelve years, or more, in a Hell dimension. He's not the same, he's changed." Titan laughed, "He's going to tear this world apart."
"Maybe, but he'll have to go through me first." I said angrily, "And I'm not easy, unlike your Hell Goddess."
"Watch your tongue, Slayer!" Titan frowned.
"Did I hit a nerve? A little Hell God love? I don't care. That bitch is going down, even if I go with her." I said, my body shaking a little.
"This isn't going to be your normal street fight, Slayer." Titan said calmly.
"Goodbye, Titan." I said calmly.
"Goodbye, Austin." Titan smirked, "I'll be seeing you soon." He smirked, disappearing.
"He's not wrong." Lestat said, standing at the bottom of the stairs.
"He's not right either." I said angrily, "I'm going to win this."
"And what if you're already too late?" Lestat asked.
"So, you come here to tell me I'm going to lose? Cause you could easily be my punching bag." I sneered.
Lestat walked into my face, "Are you threatening me?" he asked, "I've been saving your ass, Slayer. I've been behind you!"
"WHY?!" I shouted, "Why?"
Lestat looked at me oddly, the fire in his eyes surprising me. I could feel the intensity in me raise to the top and suddenly, our lips met in an intense, passionate kiss that shocked us both. As we parted, we moved away from each other. I didn't say anything; I just bound up the stairs.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As we assembled in the living room, I stood, waiting for everyone to assemble. Kelly and Doug stood on either side of me, while the slayers took up any available seats and Gemma and Cale took seats on the couch. Grahm and Lestat stood in the doorway. When everyone had assembled, I looked at Doug and Kelly, who both nodded, and then looked at all the Slayers.
"Can you feel it?" I asked. They all looked around, wondering what I felt, "It's the deep feeling in the pit of your stomach, the electricity flowing in your veins...its war. It's not the end-all war to the world, but if we don't win, it's our end. Slayers, you and the gang are going to be going into the college and you're going to seize the Hellmouth. I'm going to the Sunken Church, because this place is seriously irking my nerves, and I'm taking two slayers with me.
"Is it wise for you to go alone?" Henna, a very vibrant Asian girl, asked.
"I won't be alone." I smiled, "And don't worry about me, I'm going to be in communication, so be careful."
"Careful?" Lynn asked, "Are you serious?"
"Especially you and Taylor, you're coming with me." I nodded, "Grahm is taking the first group, and you know who you are. Lestat is with the second group."
"Are you sure we can trust him?" Doug asked.
I looked at him, "He saved us when he didn't have to," I explained, "We can trust him."
They all nodded.
"Doug and Gemma, you two will be using the magic to counteract the spell Sinew's using to bring Hell to Vengeance." I turned to Doug, "Here's the orb." I said.
"What're we `posed to do with it?" Gemma asked.
"It contains the power to strip our latest Hell God of her power. Be ready to absorb it." I said.
Doug and Gemma nodded nervously.
"Kelly and Cale, you ready for combat?" I asked.
"Yup." Kelly said, showing her sword, "Oh, and here." She said, handing me the Slayer Sais.
"They are Slayer weapons, forged to help Slayers." Cale explained, handing me the Dagger of Hope, "This is just for luck."
"After she's human, she won't be a threat." I nodded, handing the Slayer Sais to Lynn and Taylor, "You'll need protection down there."
"Do we know if there'll be others down there?" Lynn asked.
"I'm betting on a few of those scaly demony things that worship Hell Gods." I answered, "I figure we should hack and slash."
"Right." Taylor smiled.
"Everyone ready?" I asked. They all nodded and stood, "Let's go." I said, causing all the Slayers to leave the room.
Doug and Kelly stayed and we shared a group hug before they left. Grahm and Lestat stood, watching me.
"I..." I said, not knowing what to say.
"Don't." Lestat said, grabbing a crossbow and leaving.
"Ditto." Grahm said, "My squad is on it." He said, leaving.
I grabbed a small sword and walked to my front door, turning to look once more. This could be the last time I ever see this house, "Thank God, this trip down Déjà vu land is too creepy." I said, closing the door.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Lynn, Taylor, and I made our way through the tunnels, killing a demon here or there. No major demons, just ones that inhabited the sewers. My outlook was very optimistic. This plan could actually work!
"Ewww!" Lynn said, stepping into sewer water, "Should we really be wearing civilian clothes? Buffy always had us wear..."
"I know, but this isn't Scotland. And I'm really not Buffy." I said, looking down the tunnel, "A brick wall, story of my life."
"Newly cemented." Taylor said, running her finger across it.
"I'd say we're here, girls." I said, kicking the bricks down, "You guys ready?"
They nodded and we walked through the hole. I felt something was off and stopped quickly, causing them to bump into me.
"Wha..." Lynn said, looking from me to what I was looking at. The place was surrounded by lava and at the top was a Church sticking from the inside of the cave. To get to the Church at the top, you had to cross a bridge, but the bridge was missing pieces and looked fairly unstable, "Do we have to cross that? Isn't there a lift or something?"
"Afraid not." I said, not taking my eyes off the scene. The bridge led to a steeper one that was disconnected, "I'll go first. I need to make sure it's safe."
"No. We're all adults here." Taylor, the youngest at sixteen, said.
"Alright, but caution is the word." I nodded. How could I argue? The last thing I needed was inter-Slayer fighting. I watched as she made her way to the top. Lynn nodded and made her way across and up to Taylor, who helped her up.
"Your turn." Lynn shouted down to me.
I started across the bridge and noticed a cracking noise. The bridge began to break down around me and I began to run! I ran as fast as I could and was only a foot ahead of the falling bridge. It caught up fast and I leaped forward, grabbing onto the ledge as pieces of the bridge continued to fall! As I brought myself up, I saw the girls fighting demons. The demons had razor-sharp talons and spines and fought very fiercely. I found myself crawling up and stopped when I saw that Sinew had Lynn by the neck! She was saying something when I ran up and kicked her in the back, causing her to drop Lynn, who rolled away.
"Slayer, glad you could make it!" Sinew smiled.
"Wouldn't miss it." I smiled.
"So, is that all you got? A kick to my back?" she asked.
I chuckled, "Why don't you figure it out?" I asked.
"Let's fight." Sinew said. As Sinew said her last words, we began to fight.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Doug and Kelly made their way into VU, or Vengeance University, stopping to review the bodies on the floor. Most of which belonged to security and professors. Lestat and Grahm trailed behind them, as well as Gemma and Cale.
Doug hugged Kelly, "Be careful." He said.
"You too." Kelly said, "Are you worried?"
"He's going to be okay." Doug said.
Kelly nodded, "Yeah." She smiled, "We've been through worse."
Doug looked at her oddly, "We have?" he asked.
"It's comforting to say." Kelly said.
"If the Sla...Austin, is fighting Hell Goddess Supreme, we need to get going." Lestat sighed.
Kelly and Doug looked at him, then each other.
"Are you two ready?" Cale asked.
All the doors slammed shut and everybody turned to the Hallway to the Lounge. Austin's grandparents stood only feet away.
Doug turned to Kelly and the rest of the group, "Go!" he said, causing everyone to run down the hallway to the basement. Doug stood, ready when he felt a hand interlock with his and looked to his side to see Gemma. There were no words, just smiles.
Down the hall, Kelly, Grahm, Cale, and Lestat preceded the Slayers to the basement. Down in the basement, they followed a corridor to a locked room. Gram and Lestat knocked the door down and made their way inside the room that looked to be the size of a canyon with a big hole in the middle of the floor. Kelly immediately knew something was wrong.
"Everyone go back into the hall!" Kelly said as the hole closed. They made it back into the hall and noticed that they were surrounded by demons! Kelly raised her sword, "Slayers at the ready!"
The demons growled and roared.
"GO!" she shouted, swinging her sword in front of her face!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Back in the Sunken Church, I was fighting the battle of my life! The two other Slayers were fairing pretty well. Lynn was very agile and bested the demons, but the vampires had started coming by fours. While Lynn fought vampires, Taylor dealt with a scalier, dirty type of demon that worshipped Hell Goddesses. I pressed on, trying to kick Sinew, but she ducked and punched me hard enough for me to roll backwards and almost fall into the lava! As I held on to the ledge, I heard chanting and realized that Sinew had people casting the spell for her!
Sinew walked to the edge and looked down at me, "Looks like you're gonna get burned...when you're in your champion's Heaven, tell your boyfriend Micah I said hi." She smiled.
I felt the anger build in me as I pulled myself up into a handstand, putting my legs around her neck and pulling her downward, causing her to spiral into the lava! I reached the top and rolled onto my back.
Taylor and Lynn ran over, "Are you okay?" Taylor asked.
"Inside, the chanting...go and stop the spell!" I panted.
Taylor and Lynn looked at each other, and then sped off into the Church. I got to my feet and walked to the church. As I got to the front of the Church, I heard bubbling sounds. I turned and saw a hand on the ledge. I began panting faster and faster as Sinew crawled up the ledge, wearing a very singed nightgown. She sped at me, trying to punch me in the face, but I ducked. I crouched and kicked her in the mid-section, bringing an arm up and upper cutting her in the face! I jumped in the air, spinning backwards and landing a kick on her face. Sinew smiled and grabbed me, throwing me through the window of the Church! I crashed in to see Taylor and Lynn strapped to the floor inside pentagrams.
Sinew burst through the door, "We knew you wouldn't come alone, we need sacrifices." She smirked.
I sighed and rolled over onto my back. How could I be so stupid?! I led them into danger and if they hadn't come, everything would be peachy! The chanting continued and I just laid there. I looked over to see the Slayer Sais on the floor. I took the deepest breath I could, deciding that now is not the time to give up. I grabbed the Slayer Sais and kicked Sinew's legs, causing her to stumble back, and jumped to my feet. Sinew ran at me and I put the Sais in front of me, pulling them across again in an X and slicing her stomach! She stepped back and looked at me as if I had done something wrong.
"I'm ready." I panted.
She smiled, "I'm going to love killing you." She said.
"Try." I smirked.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Doug stood, with Gemma, facing Austin's grandparents. Gemma tried to position everything in her mind, tried to put everything into a little folder and separate her thoughts. This was it. They both smelled the mojo coming from Austin's Grandparents. Doug readied himself to do his worse.
"Stop." Austin's Grandfather said, "We are here to help."
"Help?" Doug asked.
"Yes." Austin's Grandfather nodded, "He's our grandson. We will do all we can to protect him."
"Then why bring Sinew to this plane?" Gemma asked.
"Who said we did?" Grandfather asked, "I'm just the Mayor."
"Who built the town?" Doug asked.
Austin's Grandparents grew uneasy.
"Hello, Earth to old people." Gemma pressed.
"We cannot say. We will not choose familial sides." Austin's Grandmother, Benovela, said irritably.
Doug looked away from them, "Familial? You can't mean..." he said, "They're dead. Austin saw it!"
"Who can be sure of what they see?" Austin's Grandfather, Syllacis, asked.
"Where are they?" Doug asked.
"We do not have time." Benovela said.
"Right, Austin's fighting Super-Goddess." Doug said, checking his bags, "We'll need all the power we can get."
"We are here to help." Syllacis smiled warmly.
They all hurried into a classroom nearby and began preparing for the spell.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kelly panted as she ducked a punch from a demon, slicing him from side to side. She looked around to see a Slayer on the floor, dead. She closed her eyes and looked away. Cale had been brave, but had been injured, she saw it. Grahm had called in re-enforcements and the army guys had helped tremendously. Lestat had been fighting forever now and he didn't look tired at all. Kelly could tell he was enjoying it more than he let on. She worried about him. The Slayers were doing what they were trained for and everything was great. She wished she knew that Doug and Austin were okay. She moved through the crowd, slicing whoever she could. She found herself thrilled by the fight but she fell down, or was tripped. She crawled through the fighting and found herself in the corner, watching. She felt like such a fraidy cat and grabbed a nearby crossbow that belonged to one of the Slayers that had been taken out early on and Kelly shot it, saving Lestat, who smiled.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Doug chanted, he was ready to achieve enlightenment and ready to save the day for once. He chanted and found himself at the point where he could either die or be successful. He felt the energy pulse through every part of his body and through the orb! The power levitated the orb, causing it to glow with a crème light! That same light filled Doug's eyes.
"Look at you, doing your own magicks." Titan said from the door.
Doug felt power, intense and strong! There was a surge of power and the entire school it up for just a moment!
"Well, look at that." Titan said, walking over and grabbing Doug by the throat.
Gemma stood and he grabbed her too.
"You have to keep the spell going." Syllacis said quickly, lifting his hands, "Adoche!" he shouted, causing Titan to fly back into the hallway!
"Tell Austin to accept it." Benovela smiled.
"Accept what?" Gemma asked.
"The power." Syllacis said, fleeing to the hall with his wife.
Doug and Gemma looked at each other, and then turned back to the spell. Once again, the school lit up and this time, Gemma felt it too. They panted at the power, both of them, stronger and closer than they had ever been.
In the Hallway, spell after spell had been hurled and only the school had been damaged.
"Your power is compelling," Titan smirked, "But your force is growing weak...to think I had to work for you, to steal my new magic. What is power, of course, if you never use it?"
"Strength." Syllacis said, hurling a fireball at Titan!
Titan chuckled and caught the fireball, "If that is what you think, then you are truly weak, old man." Titan said, hurling the fireball back at Syllacis, scorching his chest!
"Syllacis!" Benovela shouted, racing to her husband's side, "Syllacis, look at me, this is only a scar."
Syllacis chuckled and coughed, "I'll see you on the other side." He smiled.
"Yes, you will." Benovela smiled, standing, "I think your time has come to an end."
"Do you think so? Nia and Victor would disagree." Titan smirked.
"They have always been morally confused." Benovela said.
"Ditiriv!" he said, causing Benovela to fly back against the wall!
Benovela sighed gasped, "I bind you, Titan, from doing harm. Harm against others and harm against yourself." She repeated over and over.
"No movie quotes," Titan smirked, trying to incinerate her, but he couldn't. She was accomplishing her bind! He thought quickly, "Burning soul that waits no more, burn this old heart all the way to the core." He said quickly. Benovela slumped over on the wall and Titan felt himself change. His powers had diminished again, but not completely left him, "We need a cleanup crew around this town."
"You rang." Doug said, levitating in mid-air! He nodded his head and sent Titan crashing out of a nearby window!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I fought Sinew, going toe-to-toe with her. I had finally noticed Charity lying in the middle of the largest pentagram and the witches kept up their chanting. I jumped into the air, kicking Sinew in the face, but she brought up her fist and caught me right in the jaw! I rolled backwards on the dirty Church floor and lost the Sais.
"Lost your weapons?" Sinew asked, picking me up by the neck, "It's time to end this. If it makes you feel better, when Hell comes to Earth, I'll give your friends my regards. After all, I'll need to find that Buffy chick...she has my key."
I choked as I reached into the back of my jeans,"...ck...o..." I choked out.
"What's that?" she asked, pulling me closer and releasing her grip a little.
Sinew looked at her hands with disbelief, "Fuck..." I choked, "...YOU!" I said, driving the Dagger of Hope deep into her chest. She dropped me to the floor and I caressed my throat. Sinew fell to the floor and didn't move. I sighed in relief, but realized that the chanting had stopped. I sat up, looking over to Lynn and Taylor, who both had bite marks on their necks. The robed figures were draped around, on the floor. They all moved though, something neither Taylor, nor Lynn did. I stood and limped over to the girls. They were pale and Charity had been moved. I was too preoccupied with the death of two of the best new Slayers that I had gotten particularly close with that I didn't care about the other robed figures standing around. I threw my hands back and the Slayer Sais flew into my hands. I turned to come face to face with Charity, a paler Charity. She was a vampire/slayer! Was that even possible? Could that happen?! Her eyes looked behind me and I followed her gaze. I turned to be face to face with the Master! I elbowed Charity in the face and tried to hit the Master, but he caught my hand.
"My, my...this world has become a moving snack since I perished." The Master said, looking around. The way he moved made my skin crawl. He grabbed me by my throat and threw me out the stain-glass window and down the steps to the Church! I sighed in relief, but Charity and the rest of the vampires jumped out of the window and I hopped to my feet, jumping the gap to the other side, barely making it and I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I had to get out through the sewers!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As the fight marched on, everything was winding down. The Hellmouth had closed, but Kelly still felt something bad. She moved across the hallways and into a small conclave. Kelly watched as her allies battled demons, but every vampire in the room stopped. Everything stopped as the demons and humans realized what the vampires were doing. Kelly grabbed an axe and sped into battle again, chopping at vampires, who seemed to center on everyone else. Everyone began to fight, demon, vampires and humans. No one was safe anymore. Kelly was fighting hard until she heard SNICKT and she fell forward, looking up to see Lestat.
"What..." she asked.
Lestat said nothing, he vamped out, something she had never seen him do, and he bit her neck! Everyone saw this and tried to move to her, but there were too many demons!
"Everybody, move out!" Grahm commanded over the fighting.
A few minutes later, after he said that, everyone began to flee the scene, leaving the demons and vampires fighting. Cale held Kelly and Lestat growled at them as they took her. There was a pounding on the door, and then the door flew off the hinges and flew out of the door, trying to make sense of the scene. I saw Kelly first, then Lestat. I grabbed a crossbow and everyone turned to me, "What's going on?"
Lestat turned to me, shoving his hands on his head, "Kill me now! He's using me!" he screamed. Then he stopped and his face changed, "You won't get away, Slayer!" the Master's voice came through his mouth, "I control vampires, apparently one of my new abilities."
I debated in my mind. Should I? The footsteps let me out of my psychosis and I turned to look at it. I turned back, "I'm so sorry." I said, shooting the crossbow and he caught it, "Everybody out!" I said, causing Cale, carrying a not moving Kelly, and Grahm to leave quickly.
"Foolish Slayer," The Master smiled, "I know what you fear."
"You don't know anything." I frowned.
"It will end in blood. My day is coming." The Master said, "They will all die."
Doug and Gemma came hurtling in, "What's..." Doug stopped, "Who is that?" he asked, not recognizing Lestat's aura.
The Master jumped into the air and I shot another crossbow arrow at him but it missed and he knocked Doug into the hall and held Gemma by her neck, "This is the warning, stay out of my way!" he said, biting into her neck! I ran to the steps and jumped up, punching him repeatedly. I looked at him, finally looked at him and saw that it was Lestat. I threw him into the hallway and locked the basement door behind me. Doug ran at the door, attempting to retrieve his girlfriend's body. Doug pounded on the door but I grabbed him and he shrugged me off. I turned him around and hugged him as he sobbed. We could still hear the fighting, then, suddenly, it stopped. Cale had Kelly lay across his lap and Lestat sat in the corner, eyeing me guiltily, removing the blood from his lips and onto his sleeve. Grahm and his men looked around, surveying the loss. The Slayer panted and tended to the wounded.
"Where is Lynn and Taylor?" one of the Slayers asked.
I turned to them sadly and looked down, shaking my head. It was then that I saw my grandparents, lying in the hallway. I stared at them, not really knowing what to think or say.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I stood at the door of Kelly's hospital room. Luckily, she was the only person that needed medical attention that bad. The other had scars and cuts and things but they were okay. Cale sat at her bedside, his cuts and bruises patched and bandaged. Kelly was comatose. No signs of her waking anytime soon. As we all waited, I left. I moved away from the room, trying not to think about everything. I walked into the empty waiting room. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to receive a hug from Doug, whose eyes were puffy.
"I'm so sorry." I said, letting a tear fall.
"For what?" Doug asked.
"I let him...I should have killed him." I said quickly, "Kelly's not going to wake up, is she?"
"I don't know." Doug said sadly, "Your grandparents...they umm, saved us. They helped us and they said things."
I pulled away, "What kind of things?" I asked.
"Your parents are alive." Doug said, "This was after the fight with Titan. And..."
"I saw them die." I looked away, unable to comprehend what he was saying, "They..."
"They said that you have to accept the power." Doug said.
I felt nauseated all of a sudden. I felt sick, then I felt as if I was falling, then I was!
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Thank you for reading. If you want another chapter, I'm really going to need more feedback.