Vampires and Slayers and Parias...Oh My!
"Thank you." India passed the shopgirl back the signed pay slip and took the shopping bag's string handle. "Don't say it." She pre-empted Moe's interjection and hauled the Indian girl out of the boutique.
"India!" Moe's explosion finally stopped India's progress through the crowded mall, the outburst causing several passerby's to giver her wary glances and herd their children closer.
"What?" India glanced around and tried to give people reassuring smiles.
"That top cost two hundred dollars!"
"So?"
"Two hundred dollars for that, that tank top? You could get it for twenty dollars at.."
"Look Moe, it's not your money so don't sweat it."
"Two hundred dollars! Lindsey didn't crack Zanatos Industries so you could buy a two hundred dollar undersized piece of material."
"We needed new clothes." India shrugged. It wasn't like Zanatos would ever notice the missing money. Seemed the man was a crook on every world they jumped to. Didn't make Moe too happy siphoning off his money but the fact most of it wasn't his to start with, and the generous donations Lindsey made in his name to various charities made it a little easier for her to take.
"You know Versache isn't exactly what I had in mind."
"Quality lasts. 'Sides the clothes look good."
Unfortunately Moe had to agree on that. The 60s revival on this dimension certainly suited India. She self consciously tried to pull her own mini skirt down to a more appropriate level.
"It just doesn't feel right."
"Come on Mode. I bet you've never gone on a mad shopping spree. This is like the ultimate window shopping trip."
"I don't..."
India cut her off - her eyes spying a wonderful pair of knee-high bown suede boots that would look divine on Moe. Grabbing her friend's arm she hauled her towards the shoe shop.
"India!"
"Shut up Moe and sit... oh hi, yes those boots please. I'd say she's a size nine. Mmmm... yes she'll try those ones too and maybe those and ooo... these ones for me..."
Within minutes all four of the male clerks were dancing attendance upon India and Mode, flitting off to bring more shoes while hoping for a glimpse of some thigh.
"India...I"
"Shut up and try on the boots."
"I don't...ooo these are nice.... What are you laughing at?"
"Oh nothing."
******************
Jonathan drummed his finger on the Formica table top. What was taking the girls so long? He should never have left India alone with that credit card. Ever since that second run in with Mathew she seemed to have been drowning her sorrows in mounds of expensive clothes and frilly underthings. Not that he minded the frilly underthings. In fact he wholly approved of them. He just kind of wished...
"Hiya guys!" Lexi bounded up to the table, several shopping bags clutched in her hands.
"Umm, where are India and Moe?" Jonathan was a little concerned. He had been counting on Moe to keep Lexi in hand. Who knew what the little red head had done? He really didn't put shoplifting past her.
"I dunno. India found a shoe shop and I got bored. But look!" She gave the guys a huge grin causing Jonathan to groan.
"Cool Lexi."
"Thanx Daemon." She grinned again revealing the two pinty canines which had so upset Jonathan. AThe guy in the store said they're the same kind that the guy wears in Forever Knight."
Lindsey shook his head in disbelief, laughing silently. Trust Lexi.
"Oh no..."
"What J?"
"Oh no... please tell me this isn't happening."
"What's wrong man?"
Jonathan merely started to pound his head against the table.
"J?"
"Uh guys..can we have some...oops..."
"India?"
"Moe?"
One of the remaining towers of shopping bags and shoe boxes teetered its way towards the group's table while India crouched on the floor, picking up her scattered parcels.
"Uh guys, help would really be appreci... oh thank you." India flashed the cute strangers a smile. She supervised the move of her belongings to the table with coy looks and giggles.
"Thanks ever so much," India waved them away. "What?"
"My those muscles are so big?"
"Oh come on Jonathan. It made them happy. 'Sides it's fun playing ditsy some times."
"Well you've certainly bought enough for the part."
India arched her eyebrow at Jonathan. "You know, you could use some new clothes yourself."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Don't start guys." Daemon had a pained look on his face, APlease." He pulled a strange gadget out of his coat pocket. "We don't have much time left so we'd better find somewhere a bit more secluded."
"What and deny India the chance of yet another classic exit?"
"Bastard. Moe, shall we?"
Diving into their bags Moe and India pulled out highly fashionable, small yet physics-defyingly-roomy knapsacks into which, to Lindsey's intense fascination, they proceeded to cram all of their purchases.
"How much longer?"
"Umm.... god damn," Daemon gave the slider a good thwack, "Uh there...five minutes or so."
"Cool, let's head." India rose from her seat, pulled on the knapsack and, followed by Moe, stalked out of the food court causing several male patrons to start drooling.
"She does look really good."
"Huh?" Jonathan turned to Daemon.
"Moe - those boots with that skirt. Hell, could almost convince me I'm swimming in the wrong lane."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh come on J, close your jaw and whipe that drool off your chin." Lexi hauled Lindsey to his feet. "Come on!"
Shaking his head, Jonathan followed his friends out of the mall.
*************
The girl danced around the room, jumping up and down with excitement.
"It's a party ."
"That's right pet. A party just for you." The wheel chair rolled out of the corner.
Clasping her hands together the dark girl stopped her mad whirling, "When will it start Spike? When are they coming?"
Spike indicated to an underling lurking in a corner. "Soon Drue, soon. And don't say Angel is the only one to get you anything."
"Of course not." Druscilla slipped herself on to Spike's lap and threw her arms around his neck. "You've always been good to me." Smiling laviciously she thrust her tongue into his ear.
Averting their eyes, the secondary vampires assembled large candlesticks into a rough pentagon shape on the floor of the warehouse. Swallowing nervously, a bookish type carefully carried a dusty tome over to the couple.
"Sir?"
"What!" It came out as a snarl and Druscilla rapidly withdrew her tongue with a pout.
"We are ready sir."
"Oh goody!" Drue jumped up from Spike's lap and snatched the book.
"Careful pet." Spike wheeled up to her. "Give the book to me."
"But I want my demon Spike."
"And you'll get it Drue. I promise."
Pouting Druscilla reluctantly passed over the book. Opening it carefully Spike blow off the dust and quickly ran his finger down the page. The incantation wasw relatively simple considering the power of the demon they would be raising.
"The sacrifice. Where's the sacrifice?" Druscilla looked around. "Ooo Spike. They forgot the sacrifice."
"Don't fret Drue." He made another signal and a teenage girl was brought kicking and screaming to the centre of the pentagon where she was tied down spread eagle to several iron rings which were conveniently embedded into the floor.
"Pet." Spike's tone was wheedling. "How would you like to do the honours?"
"Really Spike?" Can I?"
"Oh course."
"Ooo...." Druscilla snatched a knife from a watching underling and skipped over to the victim. "So warm," she breathed as she tenderly stroked her hand down the girl's face. ASo alive." She ignored the girl's feeble attempts to get away from her. Druscilla ran her tongue over her teeth which had grown pointy as her face took on its vampiric visage. The girl renewed her screaming.
"Hush little one," Drue placed her hand over the girl's mouth. "You and I are going to play now. You like games don't you? I do. Ever so much. And this game is so much fun."
"Careful pet. You can't kill her just yet. Five minute smore to the full moon."
Druscilla pouted yet again but anticipation of her new toy was enough to stay her hand.
**************
Daemon pointed the slider mechanism at the side of the mall and pressed a button. Nothing happened. He hit it once or twice until finally a whirling patch of colours appeared on the surface of the wall.
"Okay. After you."
One by one the group took a running leap into the maelstrom of lights until only Daemon and Lexi were left.
"Go ahead Daemon - you're a lot heavier than me."
"AI don't want you landing on top of me again. I still have the bruise from last time."
Daemon shook his head in disbelief but took a dive into the wormhole anyways. "See you on the other s...i...d...e...!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Smiling, Lexi jumped in after him, her stomach instantly dropping out the way it does on a rollar coaster when you start going down a big hill. "This so rocks!" she thought. Then something went wrong - you could feel herself being ripped in two, her body being distended as some other force pulled her of to one side.
"Guys!!" She tried to scream but the words were torn from her lips. Scenes flashed in front of her eyes - scenes of blood and candles, of a tall, dark, consumptive-looking girl holding a pulsating heart up over a teenage girl.
"What the fuck?"
With a crash she dropped down to the floor as the wormhole opened over a star-shaped formation of candles. Luckily her fall was broken by something soft... and warm and...Eewww gross!!! Lexi rolled off of the dead body and scrambled to her feet. "Oh shit... oh shit. Guys?" She looked wildly around her, her heart sinking as she realized she was alone. Well, sort of alone. There were some really creepy dudes looking at her.
"Spike, is that my demon?" Druscilla sounded confused. "She's so small."
"I don't know pet." Something must have gone wrong. Someone must not have done something properly - he was surrounded by idiots.
Lexi really didn't like to looks these creepoids were giving her and what was with their faces? Oh well, things would work out - they always did.
"Hey guys." She flashed them a grin. "So how are..."
She was interupted by the dark girl who squealed before running up and hugging her.
"She's perfect Spike. Better than a demon."
"Ummm... excuse me?"
The girl drew back and for the first time Lexi noticed her teeth. She gulped. "I think there's been some misunderstanding.... You see the funny things is...well you see these aren't..."
"You talk too much. She's so cute Spike. Little, just like a doll."
"Yeah... whatever lady. Look...."
******************
"Oomph...." Daemon landed... heavily.
India pushed him off her and rolled to her feet. Pulling down her skirt which had ridden up embarrassingly high, she quickly scanned the area. No trouble. Good. She watched the wormhole close. Then she did a head count. Shit.
"Uh guys - where's Lexi?"
"Fuck."
******************
Buffy perched on the tombstone, kicking her heels against the etched marble. She idly inspected her nails, picking at the yellow polish in boredom. All in all it was a slow night. If only this vamp would rise she could go and join Willow and Xander at the Bronze. Finally the newly turned soil of the grave started to move and Buffy leapt down from her perch, swiftly pulling a stake out of her inside pocket.
With groans and snarls the vampire excused itself from its grave. Motionless for a second, it appeared to be scanning its surroundings like some feral animal before turning to face the slayer. It smiled.
Buffy grimaced back. The newly born vamp was female and young. Her suspicions were quickly verified.
"Angel sends his regards," the creature hissed before lunging at the teenager.
Buffy slammed a well aimed fist into the vampire's face. It fell with a thud but soon scrambled to its feet and returned the blow sending Buffy flying.
"No wonder he dumped you," the vampire gloated as she stood over Buffy's prone form, "You're weak."
"As if." Buffy leapt to her feet and, ignoring the discarded stake, drop-kicked the creature. They tussled for a bit, the vamp spitting out taunts and Buffy responding with angered fists and feet. Finally she reclaimed the stake.
Facing each other, crouched down in defensive positions, the two girls warily circled each other. Buffy could feel her heart rate start to drop as she slowly regained her cool. The vamp was just trying to rile her, make her lose her head and do something stupid. Angel hand't probably actually said half those things.
"Oh yes," the vamp finally spoke again. AAngel told me that perhaps before I kill you I should give you a few pointers on how to satisfy a real...."
"BITCH!" Buffy's cool exploded into rage as she flung the stake into the vamp's chest. The creature shattered into dust, a look of surprise on its face, but Buffy swore she could hear laughter lingering in the air.
*************************
"I'm sure she'll show up... eventually."
"Yeah - we eventually found her last time - remember." The lack of conviction in Daemon's voice was outstanding.
Jonathan allowed himself to briefly fantasize about losing Lexi for good before he stood up and took inventory of their surroundings. It was an alley and, from the sounds and lights coming from the building next to them, an alley behind a club. Great. Now how to get India out of here before she noticed. Jonathan's line of thought trailed off as he caught Lindsey's unwavering gaze. Almost like he could read his thoughts. Jonathan dropped the eye contact guiltily.
The dark form hovering in the shadows watched in silence as the Parias bickered and laughed and tried to come up with a plan. There was something unusual about them, something that he couldn't quite place his finger on. The blond girl held his attention. They were similar, very similar. This one was taller and a little older but in the end those things didn't matter. He who had once felt blood run through his veins felt the place where his heart had once been ache as he stared at the hollow beneath his throat. So similar....
"We'd better find somewhere to crash tonight. A motel or a shelter or something."
"Yeah." India's response to Jonathan was a little distracted. She could swear she was being watched - the hairs on the back of her neck were standing straight up sending all of her warning bells off. But who? And where? She shivered a little despite the temperate weather.
"Motel please!" Daemon rolled his eyes at the thought of another night in one of those homeless shelters. Sure it had been several dimensions ago but the smell of stale whiskey still emanated from his clothes when it rained.
**********************
He wondered how he could separate the girl from her friends. That would be the only hard thing and then... then it would be so simple. He could feel the frailness of her bones in her hands, sense the life, so ethereal, beneath her skin. But no... he had to think now, resist the memories and concentrate on the others. Perhaps it was his focus on the girl, perhaps it was his memories of her that made him careless, made him not notice the others of his kind until they were almost upon the group.
He hissed. Something big must have happened if Spike was letting his henchmen feed here. Something big for the others to ignore the affinity the Slayer held for this place. Still they might take care of the others long enough for himself to take the girl.
********************
Sometimes Lexi wondered if she should just never open her mouth. She hadn't meant to mention J and the others - afterall who would want to share these really cool people with losers like J - but somehow it had just slipped out. And it wasn't like she'd lied or anything when Druscilla had asked if these people like her. Hell, J spent most of his time trying to kill her. But maybe Druscilla had taken her a little too literally. Lexi was no longer sure if Spike's version of taking care of the others was the same as hers. Some little voice was insisting that he wasn't just going to find them for her. But it was kind of late to tell him not to bother - especially with Drue wanting to have a tea party and all.
*******************
Daemon was a little taken back and a whole lot put out when the dude with the messed up face and pointy teeth had jumped him, sending him sprawling into a mud puddle. Naturally, after hauling himself to his feet and still not receiving an apology, the usually good natured Jamaican had shoved the bastard back. Unfortunately, that had proven to be a bit of a mistake. Well, he supposed as the man twirled him around his head, as his father had often told him, if life only required hindsight we'd all be geniuses. Too bad no one could come to his aid. They all seemed pretty busy fending off attackers of their own. Would this guy ever get tired? He was beginning to feel a little sick.
Buffy's bat radar started to kick in about two blocks from the Bronze. Horrified she started to sprint. Her gut was telling her there were quite a few vamps up ahead and vamps and crowds of teenagers never mixed well. Using a wall for extra support, Buffy propelled herself around the corner only to pull up in surprize. Not only were they still standing but who ever they were they were doing a pretty good job of holding their own against a bunch of Spike's baddies.
Calling on all her X-Men training, some tips from Xena, and some invaluable hints on how to manoeuvre in high heels from Agent Scully (Moe of course never thought she would use this advice but it turned out to be a blessing with these new boots), Moe executed a perfect drop kick into her attacker's stomach. The move propelled him backwards at an alarming speed into another one of the goons. The two went down with a groan.
Not quite as polished, but still highly effective, Jonathan traded blows with the creep who had sucker punched him earlier. A childhood of underground living had given Jonathan an appreciation of when fighting dirty was okay. The jerk went down without a sound, curling up into a foetal ball.
Daemon had given up hope of rescue and had closed his eyes in an attempt not to embarrass himself by throwing up. Promising to give up all sorts of his favourite things, Daemon prayed for the creature to drop him. Luckily for our beloved dread-boy, salvation was at hand. Screaming out the loudest non-vocalized war cry ever not heard, Lindsey shed his usual slacker boy persona and took the monster out at the knees. With a whoosh the goon went down, conveniently impaling himself on a broken crate. There was a poof as the thing dissolved into ashes, showering all over a prone Daemon.
"My word," the Jamaican said to the equally puzzled mute. "You don't see that everyday." Lindsey nodded his head in agreement before looking around to see if anyone else needed his help. Taking out that thing had been fun.
Daemon quickly looked up at the sky. "You know Lord," he said, a charming grin lighting up his features, AI was only joking about A Wedding Story."
Moe was dusting off her hands with satisfaction after kicking yet another thug's ass when she noticed the young blonde watching them. The girl's look was a strange mixture of annoyance and surprise intermingled with what appeared to be a hint of respect. As if the creatures sensed that someone new had arrived, they stopped in their attack and stared at the newcomer. Quickly they fled, leaving their downed brethren to struggle to their feet and make their own way out of the alley.
Recovering her sensibilities and remembering her duties, Buffy whipped out a couple of spare stakes and threw them into the chests of those vamps who were taking a little too long to get away. The disappearing bodies seemed to be of great interest to the people that the vamps had been attacking.
"Oh wow," she heard the Jamaican-looking guy say, "That is just too cool. If only it was always that easy to get rid of the bodies."
Buffy really hoped that was a wide sweeping generalization rather then a clue to the past of this rather strange quartet. At least that Indian girl seemed to have amazing dress sense.
"Nice boots," the teen slayer commented absentmindedly.
"Uh...thankx. Um. Your's too." Personally Moe thought that the girl's outfit was a little too leathery and tight but hey, each to his own or her own as the case may be.
"What is it Lindsey?" Moe turned as the blond boy tugged at her shirt.
He made some motions with his hands.
"Oh no." There was a brief silence as the remaining Parias digested this new news.
"What's up?" Buffy finally had to break the silence. Plus it seemed a good way of initiating a conversation that would have to, at some point, bring up the whole so-how-come-you-guys-were-able-to-kick-some-vamp-butt question.
"India's gone."
"The whole country?" Buffy was more than a little confused. She though she heard a muttered "smart-ass teenager" but wasn't positive.
"Hey!" There was a shout from the far end fo the alley. "So kind of you guys to be concerned." Nimbly leaping down from a stack of boxes, India made her entrance.
"Where were you?"
India ignored Jonathan's question and instead brushed by him to face off the local girl.
"Well, well, well," she said in a scarily calm voice tat the others knew jus tseved to conceal her true feelings. "You must be Buffy. I've heard about you."
*******************
India had been doing her best to fend off two huge goon things while dealing with an uncooperative miniskirt and boots. The creeps were strong and she soon came to the realization that, while she could have handled one no problem, two was a different story. So when the dark stranger had swirled out of the shadows and bopped one of her assailents, she had been mighty grateful. She'd quickly sent the other creature flying (what the hell were those things anyways?).
"Thanx." India flahsed a brilliant smile at the boy, no make that the man. He was actually pretty cute in a dark, overly stereotypical, brooding way but hey, it worked on him.
The guy said nothing but, after some major eye contact, grasped her wrist and dragged her behind a pile of boxes at the far end of the alley.
"Hey!" The move irked India as it implied a level of familiarity the guy definitely didn't have. "What the hmmph..." she was cut off as he clasped a hand over her mouth and indicated the boxes with a slight jerk of his head. Sure enough she was able to hear the heavy breathing of another one of the goons. After nodding her understanding the guy released his grip - a little reluctantly India noted. She watched him motion towards the boxes and then raise up five fingers. India nodded again and, at the count of five, they threw their shoulders into the boxes in syncronized harmony. The boxes topped and India could hear the satisfying sound of a man in obvious pain.
"Who..." but she was silenced again by a touch of the man's finger to her lips. Caught up by the slight unrealness of it all, India allowed herself to be led by the hand at a run, out of the alley and down the block.
"Wait." Insistent she dragged him to a stop, forcibly turning him to face her.
"You're so beautiful." The man tipped up her chin and brushed her tousled hair off her face. ASo like her but so different."
"Woah buddy." India was beginning to get a little nervous. Various lectures of how one is not supposed to run off with strange men, especially not those who are dark and brooding and acting somewhat crazy, trickled through her head. AUm... I don't know about where you come from but...." India tried to back away. The guy stopped her by grabbing onto her upper arms in a crushing grip.
Now that he could see the girl up close Angel could realize his mistake. She was not so similar to her in looks, the blonde hair, blue eyes and delicate features had misled him. But the fire in her eyes, the passion that burned underneath her fragile skin was the same. He gripped her tighter, watching in fascination as the skin turned purple beneath his fingers. They had the same spirit. He hugged her closer burying his face in her hair, breathing in her purfum, ignoring her cries, her struggling. She too would struggle like this one day but until then... "Buffy," he murmured, stroking the blonde hair, feeling her heart pound wildly against his chest, pounding against the spot where he once had a heart.
India couldn't remember a time she'd felt more afraid. Ivana had been bad, very bad, but that was just pain, just heartache. The thought of Mathew had kept her strong. This time there was no Mathew, this time there was just a crazed psycho guy who, in most likely hood, was about to rape her. She stopped her struggling, willing herself to endure the feel of his fingers running across her face, touch her lips, her throat all while calling her by another girl's name. No one had touched her like that. No one since Mathew.
Finally the endearments stopped, the gentle touch turned harder. His hand was at her throat again, pulling back her collar while the other held her wrists pinned in an unnaturally strong grasp. She could hear his breathing grow ragged.
"Soon," he whispered, "soon." And then his head reared back, his mouth splitting open to reveal two pointy cannines as his face changed to match those in the alley.
Before India could move he plunged towards her neck. Squeezing her eyes shut, cursing all the memories of those vampire movies which were running through her head, India waited for the pain, for the feel of her life's blood draining out of her. But it didn't come and she slowly opened her eyes. The man was staring at her in horror, his face reverted. Suddenly his grip on her loosened and she feel to the ground.
"It can't be," she heard him say in a bewildered voice. It was then then that she noticed the blood on his face, blood, she realized with relief when she grabbed her neck, that was not hers.
"No!!!" It was a howl. The sound made by a man in deepest grief.
India felt no pity. "Bastard." She punched him in the face. The pain made her feel better. "Jerk." He went down. "Fucker." She booted him in the stomach.
"Buffy." It was a wail, a question.
India kicked him once more before getting the hell out of there.
******************
"You are Buffy?" India repeated the question.
"Yes, but how do you now?" There was a snap in the girl's voice.
"Well when a major creepoid starts getting all scary-like while calling you by some other chick's name and then you show up and aren't at all phased by pointy face and his friends..." India started to lose momentum as she realized the weakness of her arguments. "Uh, women's intuition," she finished somewhat lamely, pulling an equally effective scowl at Jonathan when he rolled his eyes. "Who was that creep?"
Buffy stared at the blonde in disbelief. Angel had gone after this girl and she was still alive.
"Did you ah... kill him?"
"Naw. Just beat the crap out of him." India let her bravadary cover her own feelings of fear. No way she was going to let this snippy looking girl see how scared she'd been. 'Sides, she hadn't answered her question yet,
"Oh. Um..." Buffy debated what to do. Obviously something strange and hellmouthy was going on. Normal teens did not beat the crap out of vamps. Slayers did. Or something inhuman. It was time to bring in Giles. "That was Angel."
"Oh cute," India muttered.
"Look there's someone I think you should meet."
India gave the girl a questioning look.
Buffy hummed and hawed. "See you guys don't look like you're from around here."
Jonathan elbowed Daemon who was giving a muttered "You can say that again."
Buffy ignored them. "And this guy, he knows a lot. He'll be able to answer all your questions."
*********************
"So do you think he got his soul back and that's why he couldn't kill her?" Willow's voice was hesitant.
"I don't know." Buffy's tone was curt as she propelled her friend towards the library.
"But that would be a good thing... right?"
"Yeah."
"What would be a good thing?"
"Oh, hello Xander. Buffy was just telling me all about last night."
"How'd the slaying go then? Vamps up to any new tricks?"
"Even better...."
"Willow!"
But the teenage techno-goddess continued on blithely. "She met these people."
"Ooo..."
"Xander! They're from," and here Willow's voice dropped even further, "Another dimension."
"Really?" Xander winked at Buffy over Willow's head.
"Yes and they're with Gile's right now."
"And this is a good thing because?"
"Because... oh," Willow caught a glimpse of Buffy's face, "Nothing. It wouldn't be a good thing. Why would it be a good thing? No it's definitely a bad thing."
"It's all right Will," Buffy interrupted her friend's rambling. She took a deep breath before turning to Xander. "Apparently Angel attacked one of them but couldn't kill her." She tried to keep her voice as matter of fact as possible.
"Oh. And this could be bad because it might mean that fixated fang-boy has found someone else to obsess over and you're jealous."
"Xander!" Willow was shocked by her friend's callousness.
"Sorry Buff. I was just guessing that if buddy couldn't bite her and from what you were saying before that maybe he has his soul back. But that could mean he likes her more and...."
"You know you're not making things any better."
"Oh, maybe," Xander caught a certain murderous look in Buffy's eyes. "I'll just be shutting up around now." He tried to make himself small and unnoticable as Buffy pushed open the doors to the library.
"How interesting," Giles turned over the o bject in his hands, "And you say this uh device allows you to uh slide through dimensions. Interesting. Ah Buffy." Giles removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose in an appropriately Giles-like manner. "Glad you're back. I think I might have an explanation for last night's incident."
"Oh goodie." Buffy crossed her eyes behind Gile's now turned back causing a quickly surpressed giggle from one of the inter-dimensional gtravellers - Daemon if she remembered correctly.
"Why Buffy," Xander dug the slayer in her ribs, "Aren't you going to introduce us?" He eyed the group's more female members with a grin.
"Down boy," Buffy muttered elbowing him back, earning a wince from Xander, before flashing a rather forced smile at their guests.
"Xander, Willow these are Daemon, Lindsey, Jonathan, Moe and," the smile became even more toothy and forced, "India."
"Hiya," Daemon amicably jumped down from his perch on the desk and thrust out his hand. "Wacked place you have here dudes. Wacked but cool."
"Yes, well we like to call it home." Xander shook the proffered hand with a shake of his head. Wacked? Dudes?
"So what it this theroy?" Willow queried, hoping to head off a confrontation between Buffy and the rather pretty blonde.
"Oh yes," Giles readjusted his glasses. "Well I think that the Hellmouth funnelled as it were the energy created by this ah device and as a result your uh...."
"Wormhole thingy?" Daemon suggested helpfully.
"Yes... wormhole thingy was diverted here."
"Well that explains us," India drawled in her best Rupert Cambell-Black drawl, "But what about our missing friend?"
"Do you think the energies re-funnelled themselves and she ended up where we were supposed to be going?" Jonathan asked, rather too hopefully Moe felt, solidarity was always a better thing to show.
"I don't believe so," Giles was too polite to notice the sudden slump in Jonathan's shoulders. "Last night is considered a rather special one in most demonic cults and there is a distinct possibility that Spike and Druscilla performed one of the more archaic rituals. It would have drawn on the power of the Hellmouth to some extent and that would explain the funnelling of energy and," here his tone grew even more ponderous, "A body was found... a girl."
"Lexi!" It was a shriek from Daemon, one of her perennial supporters.
"No no...." Giles raised his hands half in reassurance and half to ward off an attack. "The body belongs to a girl who was also reported missing last night."
"Vamp attack?" The question came from Buffy.
"No and that's what supports my uh theory. Her heart had been, well hacked is the best word I guess, yes hacked out of her body in a manner consistent with this ritual." Ignoring Xander's mock retching, Giles attempt to forge ahead but was interrupted by India.
"So what are you getting at here?"
"Well I think your friend may have been diverted to the ceremony location and might have even taken the place of the demon they were trying to raise."
Daemon and Lindsey collapsed in a heap of giggles and silent laughter.
"It's actually quite a serious matter," Giles tried to make himself heard over the Daemonion whoops. "I don't think laughter is really an appropriate response. Your friend would... no is in grave danger. Once Druscilla and...."
"Teeth... the teeth..." Daemon became almost coherent.
"Teeth? I'm afraid I don't understand at all. No we must organize a rescue party of some sort. Now we know Druscilla and Spike have changed their homebase but...."
Buffy was the one to interrupt him this time. Her brain, working furiously, finally figured out what Giles was hedging around. "Wait, what has all of this got to do with Angel not being able to kill her?" There was no need to qualify the pronoun.
"Oh." Giles had been hoping that Buffy would forget that. "Well vampires are unnatural creatures and as inter-dimensional travellers so are our guest."
"Hey!" That was cutting it a little close to all of their paranoias about being artificially created. Even Daemon and Lindsey stopped their paroxoms of giggles long enough to glare hotly at the librarian before Daemon uttered "the teeth" again which set them off anew.
"Well, unnatural to this world at least." Giles readjusted his line of reasoning so not to offend. "And I believe that because you are not of this world you are, as it were, immune to vampires."
"Some soft of vamp repellent?"
"Why yes Buffy, that's it exactly."
"Cool. I know who gets to play vamp bait then."
"Shut up Xander." It came from both Giles and an agitated Buffy. What if this vampire-safe girl had managed to bewitch Angel. He could be with this girl.... And what if....
Giles tried to regain control. ASo we should organize patrols tonight to try to find out where Spike and Druscilla are working out of and...."
"The sooner we're out of here the better." India gave Giles a wry grin. "Nice place you have but we are trying to make it home. Once we grab Lexi we'll be out of your hair." The last was directed at Buffy.
Good, at least the pink ranger wanna be wasn't go to try to take over her slaying job too.
"That's settled then. Well Buffy, Xander and Willow should be getting class so the only remaining thing to decide is how to explain your presence on campus to any ah authority figures.
Xander brightened - maybe that meant he'd get to bring a couple back to his place tonight for the whole sleepover thing if they didn't find their friend straightaway.
"School team?" Willow suggested.
"Good idea - a visiting team from...."
"Canada." While from the corner came a muffled "Jamaica" and then more giggles.
"Well Canada then. Now what sort of team?"
"Polo?" Jonathan graoned and burried his head in his hands. "Well I guess only the girls really played a lot but J and I aren't too...."
"Shut up Daemon."
"But the pool has been drained ever since the swim team uh devolved," Willow interupted.
"Why would we need a pool? We don't need a pool. But we do need pon...."
"Shut up Daemon."
Giles spoke over the resulting confusion. "Well as I guess that I would be the supervising teacher we should have a team that would be appropriate for a librarian. Chess?" he asked hopefully, but then sunk as everyone refused to meet his eyes and started to take great interest in their shoes instead. He dredged through his memory. "Reach for the top?"
"Sure." India had heard of that. "It's perfect guys - with Moe's photographic memory we'll kick ass."
Buffy felt her heart sink as Willow raised a tentative hand.
"Yes Willow."
"Uh Giles, we don't have one of those teams any more. Not since the captain was killed by a vampire."
"Well..." Giles stalled for time, "Buffy..."
Buffy gave a forced smile. "Bags I be team captain."
"Oh goody - I never made the real team."
Xander rolled his eyes at his petite sidekick's enthusiasm.
"I hate to spoil all the fun," Jonathan interrupted, "But no one will believe we're a bunch of highschool students."
"You mean you aren't?" Willow's eyes were wide with surprise. "But you...."
Jonathan looked Xander and Buffy up and down. No way they looked seventeen either. AOkay, I get your point."
"Good - it's all settled then. Oh what is it now?" Jonathan had given a sudden bark of laughter.
"I finally get it. Oh this has to be the best, the absolute best."
"What is?"
"She was still wearing her new fangs when we made the leap."
"Fangs?" Giles appeared to be the only one who still wasn't getting the joke.
"Fangs." Daemon held up two inverted fingers under his mouth. "She looks just like one of your vampire friends but without the gnarly face stuff."
****************************
Lexi awoke quickly and allowed herself a few puppy-like stretches. Shaking her hair out of her eyes, she realized that she had no clue as to where she was. It wasn't until she noticed the huge four poster bed's other companion that it all came back. Drue, Spike, the dead chick and them all thinking she was some sort of demon. Too boot, Drue was obviously some sort of psycho-bitch who was obsessed with old-fashioned dolls. Captivated by Lexi's tininess, all the other Miss Carolines and Charlottes had been banished from the ghoul's bed and Lexi installed instead. It had taken ages for Lexi to fall asleep and she was actually starting to feel a little sleepy again. But there was no way she was rejoining that wierdo again. Spotting a beam of light coming down from a broken skylight, Lexi happily skipped over to it. Curling herself up like a cat, she let the sun warm her bones and was soon gently snoring.
***************************
India pulled Buffy aside as they filed out of the library. "Look," she said tentitively, "Giles filled me in on the whole Angel/Angelus thing." She ignored Buffy's sputters of protest over her mentor's indiscretion. "I'm really sorry. I know how you feel."
"Yeah right." Buffy practically snarled the words out and shrugged the other girl's hand off of her shoulder. "I'm so sure you know exactly how it feels to have your boyfriend turn into a blood sucking creep who likes to toy with his food." Buffy stormed off down the hall, not noticing the collapse of India's face.
"Hey are you okay?" Jonathan put a protective arm around her shoulder. "Teenage uber-slayer giving you a hard time?"
India ducked quickly to conceal the tears that were pricking her eyes. Wiping the backs of her hands across her face she gave Jonathan a weak grin. "No, no, it's nothing. I'm just a little tired I guess."
She walked down the hall away from Jonathan, carefully wiping away any errant tears. Her willowy form, with the long legs shown off to advantage in the short skirt and high boots, earned her wolf whistles from the football team emerging from the boy's locker room. Jonathan could just hear a muttered "oh go find a preteen who cares" in response to some catcalls when he felt a warm hand creep into his own. Giving it a gentle squeeze he looked around to see Moe.
"Don't worry so much about her Jonathan. She's tougher than she looks."
Jonathan laughed at the irony.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I reckon I do." Jonathan contemplated taking advantage of having Moe's hand in his. There hadn't been many chances to talk to her since Rutminister and the Polo celebration. But the moment was gone as Moe quickly snatched back her hand from his as though realizing the tension between them. She couldn't understand her feelings for Jonathan yet, and for once felt completely out of her depth.
**********************
Angel delicately blended the charcoal with his baby finger, blending the shadow in the hollow of her throat across to where it met her collarbones. Carefully, he traced the line of her jaw, intently studying the differences between it and Her's. Propped up again the lamp was Her portrait, drawn while she slept, the fine lashes dark against her cheeks. This new portrait, however, was drawn from memory, the vividness of the girl etched in indelible ink on his brain. The picture caught the apprehension in her eyes, the surprise when she had seen him for what he was. But no fear. She wouldn't have shown fear either. He was sketching in her hair now, feeling its silken weight twined around his fingers as his hand deftly filled in the lines. The portrait was becoming more defined than Her's despite the lack of model. Why had he not been able to take her? To drain her? To make her his? He had felt her life pulse beneath his hands, had felt her body tremble and then relax in resignation, her eyes close as she awaited the moment of death¼ but then nothing. He could not do it. His soul, thank God, was not back, yet he was unable to take this girl's life.
The picture was done. Hands trembling, he removed Her portrait and tossed it onto the ground, replacing it with the new one. This girl had the same spirit as Her but this girl could be with him forever in way She never could. Gone would be the constant drive to suck her life; this girl stopped that. Lighting a candle, he watched the light flicker, its dancing motion bringing the portrait's eyes alive. "India," Angel breathed.
**********************
"India!"
India turned hearing her name. Shielding her eyes against the glare of the setting sun she tried to make out the figure coming towards her.
"Yes?" she called out. "Who's there?"
"Oh 'Dia," the voice was soft and low, a throaty chuckle building, "Surely you knew I'd find you again."
"Mathew?" It came out as a squeak. How had this happened? India felt herself go all tingly inside and then melt as he caught her up in a big bear hug and swung her around.
"Of course it's me you goof," He said fondly ruffling up her hair. "Didn't you yourself say we'd meet again." And then he was kissing her deeply, passionately, until she had no breath left and had to pull back. India reached up a hand and tenderly brushed back the blond hair flapping in front of his patch and wondrously traced her hand down his face.
"It is you," she breathed in delight, "Oh it really is." Burying her head in his chest India started to sob.
"Hush now." Mathew rocked her gently, dropping kisses on the top of her head. "Sshh¼ everything will be all right." Tipping her chin up he brushed the softest kiss on her lips. India closed her eyes and tipped back her head farther as he trailed kisses downward, letting his tongue linger at the hollow of her throat. She giggled slightly as he moved his attentions to just above her collarbone and increased the pressure.
"That tickles¼. Mathew¼ I'll get a hickey¼." But he didn't stop. The pressure became painful and his grip on her arms tightened. "Mathew!" She sounded move desperate now. "Mathew! You're hurting me. Mathew!" India's eyes widened in disbelief as Mathew's sleek blond head darkened and changed. She started to struggle harder but his grip just increased. "Mathew, please¼ oh God¼ No!!!" India awoke with a scream as Mathew raised his head to look at her with the features of Buffy's Angel.
"India!" There was a banging at the door. "India! Open up! What the hell is going on in there? India! Open the door."
But India ignored the demand and just rocked herself, unheeding of the tears streaming down her cheeks or the newly formed bruises on her shoulders, matching those from the previous night circling her upper arms.
"God damn it India!" There was a muffled curse and a thud as Daemon and Jonathan pushed the door open with their combined weight.
"Christ." Jonathan took in the scene - the open window, the new bruises on India and her tears - and leapt to his own conclusions. "It was that bastard you were telling us about wasn't it."
"Not now Jonathan." Daemon silenced the older boy and drew India into his arms, crooning to her gently until her racking sobs stopped.
Claiming tiredness earlier, India had decided to take a short nap before their patrol. As the sun was only just setting and he was rather up to date of vampire lore, Daemon decided that his blonde cohort must have just had a bad dream. India quickly agreed with Daemon but, despite Jonathan and Moe's questions, refused to disclose any more information, insisting that the bruises on her shoulders and neck had been there all along.
*********************************
The orange-red rays of the setting sun were streaming through the kitchen window as Buffy listlessly stirred a jug of frozen pineapple-orange juice. Mechanically she added the required water, trying not to let herself think of the night's upcoming patrol. Angel would show up. She could feel it. And she would have to destroy him.
"Hey." Moe placed two glasses on the counter, purposely interupting Buffy's self absorption.
"Oh, thanks." The slayer poured two glasses.
Raising her glass slightly in acknowledgement, Moe studied the teenager over her drink. She could sense the hurt and longing in the girl but knew it was up to Buffy to initiate the conversation. Stilll a little help¼ "Thanks for the loan of the clothes." Moe flashed Buffy an uncharacteristic smile.
Buffy gave a weak grin back. Moe did look a lot comfier and more at home in a pair of Buffy's jeans and a t-shirt than her mini-skirt, even if the pants revealed a good length of calf. The two girls drank in silence for a bit.
"How's India?" Buffy finally broke the silence.
"Okay." Moe considered her answer carefully. "Just a bad dream¼. She's had a lot of those since Mathew." It was a highly deliberate name drop.
"Mathew?"
"We, well India, met him a couple of dimensions back. He wasn't exactly hanging with the best of crowds," Moe had to refrain from snorting - it was an understatement if ever she'd made one - at least vampires seemed to kill cleanly. "But you know now that is."
"Unhuh.""" Buffy's curiousity was piqued.
Taking a deep breath Moe continued. It wasn't her story to tell but it might remove the hostility she could sense between the two girls. "They feel in love. Neither had had an easy life and they found the first true thing in each other."
"But."
Moe gave a sardonic grin. There was always a but. "But India had to come with us when we jumped. Only we didn't know when. Mathew tried to quit his, er, job, but his boss was more than a little crazy. From the sounds of this Druscilla and Spike she makes them seem like babies."
Buffy found that hard to believe but Moe forestalled her interruption.
"Ivana, his boss found India. She uh¼"
"Beat the crap out of me." A flat voice came from the doorway. "Drugged Mathew so much he didn't know who I was and then¼ and then shot me as we escaped. He thinks I'm dead." The blonde Parias turned on her friend. "You had no right."
Moe said nothing but refused to drop her eyes.
"But you didn't die and neither did he."
"No," and the voice was enough to make even the normally tenacious slayer squirm, "But three worlds later we ran into him. Well the him that would have been had we never met. He was every inch the monster your Angel has become. So don't think for one moment I was just being nice when I said I know how you feel." The last was ripped out of India. She regretted it instantly. "Sorry kid. Guess I'm still a little bitter." She gave a hollow little laugh. "Hell, we've all lost something here haven't we." India gave Moe a very direct look.
"Yes we have." But Moe also crossed her fingers guiltily. She knew Greg would understand that she couldn't grieve forever.
"Well this unburdening is getting a little too heavy for me." India tried to lighten the mood. "Truce?" She held out her hand to Buffy.
Searching the other girl's eyes for an answer to some unknown question, Buffy hesitated. And then, as if finding the answer she was looking for, she firmly clasped India's hand in her own.
"Truce."
"All right then. Let's go kick some Angel butt." India's voice thickened as she was suddenly hit by a wave of emotion. "It will either kill him or cure him."
"Yeah," Buffy echoed quietly, "Kill him or cure him."
**************************
There are times when you wake up in the middle of the night so overwhelmed with longing that you feel like someone just kneed you in the stomach. It's not a need that arises out of desire but loneliness. You just want to hold the person close to you, breathe in the smell of them, feel the warmth of their skin against the palm of your hand. But they aren't there anymore. And so you just pull the memories close and wish. It was that longing that woke Angel up this night as it did every night since he had relost his soul. It was always the same - the fleeting ghost of Her warmth, Her smile, Her being, would linger momentarily in his dreams, taunting him before vanishing in the limpid light of the moon. But now the smile had changed, the mouth remoulded. This girl could stay with him, could survive the beast within. She would ease the longing and wipe out the memories of Her. And so he rose from his bed and walked the dusk filled streets to find her. Patiently he watched the girl from a distance, watched her talk to Her, watched as the naked emotions played across her face. He would wipe it clean, unfurrow her brow, lift the corners of her mouth in a smile. This girl outshone even Her; She was fading in her light. After tonight there would be no more longing.
It is believed that vampires, having lost their souls and their hearts, can no longer feel the emotions that you and I can. But this is not true for they can all too easily feel hate and jealously and what are these but misdirected love? Angel loved Buffy and she him, but the loss of his soul twisted that love up into a thousand little pieces until it became so misshapen it could only be called obsession and hatred. He hated her for she reminded him of his lost happiness and the pain of feeling, yet he was obsessed with having her to dull the memories. Killing her was too easy - he both needed to destroy her soul and have her heal his. In India he could possess the spirit of Buffy and have her always with him. For he could not kill this girl despite his nature. With Buffy the beast would have eventually conquered and then he would just be left with the longing once again. And so Angel, a creature with no soul and supposedly no emotion, was being driven that night to his destiny by the most powerful emotion of them all - heartache.
********************************************************
Spike had been awoken by an ear-piercing shriek. Already put out by being denied Drue's bed in favour of her new 'toy', he was understandably grouchy as he hurled himself from his bed to see what was wrong with Druscilla who was undeniably the originator of the sound. So grouchy that he almost forgot to take his wheelchair. The dark humour behind his near mistake was almost enough to chase away his bad mood. Almost.
"What is it pet?" Spike did his best to keep his voice under control. No need to give Druscilla another reason to start off again. Or to get a lecture from Angel about how to best treat a woman. Speaking of that bastard - where the hell was he? Usually, at the slightest hint of unease between himself and Drue that bloody Angelus would come skulking out of the woodwork to meddle.
Drue didn't answer her paramour directly. Instead she just shivered even more and pointed a wobbly finger at a bundle of rags tossed on the floor.
Impatiently wheeling himself forward, Spike took a closer look, being careful not to let any part of himself come in contact with the sunbeams refracting down from a broken skylight in the roof. He really would have to get that thing fixed. A hazard it was. One of these days Drue would walk into the sun in her sleep¼ with a start, the blond vampire stopped his musings as he realized that the bundle of rags was no bundle of rags but actually the Lexidemon. No wonder poor Drue was carrying on so. After all their time and effort, not to mention expense, the demon had gone and gotten itself fried. Then Spike looked closer - the thing didn't actually seem dead. And it certainly wasn't smoking. IN fact, unless he was highly mistaken, it was actually¼ snoring?
Spike's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he watched the so-called demon slumber on in the sun. That bloody slayer must somehow be involved. How, he didn't know but he was sure of it.
The intensity of the vampire's scrutiny penetrated Lexi's dream and she awoke with a start. This was never a pretty sight. Unlike kittens and puppies, which have a certain charm as they stretch out their furry little legs, this psuedo demon had all the grace of an asthmatic donkey. Somehow, despite the fact that she was already lying on the floor, Lexi managed to give the impression of someone falling out of bed. While her onlookers might not be so accustomed to such reversal of physics, Lexis was and managed to regain her bearings remarkably quickly. Too bad the upshot of it all was that Lexi really really hoped she was still dreaming. Creepy-guy was giving her a look that would have wilted the fainter of heart and crazy-girl was apparently in some sort of catatonic shock. Well, nothing like a friendly smile to ease the tension.
Lexi bestowed her largest smile of the two vampires in what she hoped was a suitably reassuring and calming manner. In another dimension this would have gone over well but this wasn't another dimension or even Lexis's lucky day. Spike and Druscilla watched in horror as one of Lexi's incisors worked its way off her tooth and fell to the floor in an extremely well shot slow motion scene. Lexi's own eyes grew round as saucers as the fake fang hit the ground and bounced a couple of times before everything sped up to normal time and it rolled away into a corner. Shit.
"Seems like we have an impostor pet," Spike's voice had the same quality as razor blades.
Lexi rapidly came to the conclusion that right about now would be a good time for the cavalry to show up. Unfortunately, whichever guardian angel had the unfortunate responsibility of looking after the red-headed mop was on a coffee break - permanently.
"I said, right about now would be a good time for the cavalry to arrive."
Spike stopped his forward roll at Lexi's outburst.
"Whatever did you say?"
"You mean I said that out loud? Sorry, just ignore it."
"As you wish." Spike recommenced his advance - one hand curled in anticipation of Lexi's neck as the other frantically turned the wheels of his chair - with a certain, murderous look in his eyes¼.
**********************************************
Meanwhile the cavalry was tearing through the suburbs of Sunnydale, frantically trying to reach the warehouse where they believed Spike and Druscilla to be holed up.
"I hope we make it in time," Jonathan panted as he leapt over another shrub.
India gave him as much of a look of disgust as one can while keeping up with a teenage slayer who was leapfrogging over cars left, right and centre. "No you don't."
"Hey!" Jonathan was offended. "That's not true."
"Well if it's not true that's only because you don't want anyone else to kill her before you do."
"Damn straight!¼ omph¼" Jonathan didn't fare nearly as well at hurtling over a park bench as did Buffy.
*******************************************
Scrabbling away from Spike on all fours, Lexi really wished that she could for once just be more elegant so she could at least be ripped apart by someone's bare hands in style. Less than inspired, she chucked the remaining fake fang at the vamp and scuttled into the shadows.
"How utterly, utterly disgusting!" roared Spike as he ineffectively tried to wipe Lexi-drool off the front of his shirt. His wheelchair, still propelled by its forward momentum, continued to advance.
"Ooooo¼." Druscilla was unable to get the proper words out for a warning.
There was a crash as the chair hit a stack of boxes. The crates tumbled down onto the sputtering Spike, leaving him helpless.
"Don't just stand there like a weevil Drue! Get her!"
Lexi had to stuff her hands into her mouth to prevent hysterical giggles from betraying her position as, with a childish stamp of her foot, Drue started to lay into Spike.
"Why do we always have to do what you want Spike?"
"Now is not the time Drue."
"It's never the time. You don't love me."
"Oh Christ-all-mighty. Just get her Drue."
"No!"
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Pretty please?"
"No, no, no, no."
"Pretty please with sugar on top?"
"Well, okay then."
Like the demon spawn she was, Drue instantaneously dropped her sacrenely-sweet kitten-like playfulness to assume a more impressive snarly appearance. It certainly impressed Lexi who scuttled even farther into the shadows as Drue advanced. Too bad Lexi hadn't seen more vampire movies or she might have realized that shadows were always a bad idea.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Angel's sardonic voice floated out from the shadows just after he had lifted the squirming Lexi off her feet by her shoulders. "I see you're having problems with vermin again Spike." He added as Lexi kicked out at him. When that had no effect she snaked her head around and bit him in the hand.
"You little bitch!" Angel hurled Lexi against the wall. She hit it with a sickening crunch and her body slumped to the floor like a discarded rag doll.
"Spike - you promised I could get her," Drue pouted.
"Angel old man, you really shouldn't have spoiled Drue's fun like that." Spike relished any chance to point out the darker vampire's mistakes. "You could have at least let us have something to drink before you broke her neck."
Upon hearing the heated discussion on her apparent demise, Lexi wisely kept her eyes closed and tried not to breathe too much.
Drue leapt forward and started to pummel Angel. "I wanted her Angel. You never let me do anything I want." The words were accented by punches and so Angel grabbed Drue's forearms to keep her at a safe distance.
"Don't try me Drue. Today has not been a good day." Angel's snarl was interrupted by a tremendous crash as a lithe figure came hurtling through a warehouse window. In a move that would have done Xena proud, the figure threw itself into a forward somersault to recover on her feet from her headlong dive.
"Unhand her you bastard!"
"It's the bloody slayer!" Spike frantically backwheeled his wheelchair out of the path of danger, spitting in rage.
"Wrong jerk-off. Even worse. It's me." Well in her imagination it had sounded better but oh well. India tossed her head in appropriate Bond-girl fashion and then wielded her stake in what would have been appropriate Bond-girl fashion had Bond girls ever had to deal with vampires. "And the cavalry is here."
Spike, Drue and Angel looked up expecting several more loud crashes and impressive entrances but instead the rest of the Parias and Buffy trooped in through a side door looking rather sheepish. Buffy could be heard muttering htings like "reputation to maintain" but Moe quickly shushed her.
"So as I was saying. Let her go bat-boy¼ or else."
"What?"
"You heard me fang-breath. Or is your brain as dead as the rest of you?"
"Uh India."
"Not now Jonathan."
"India."
"Not now."
"That isn't Lexi India."
"What?!? Oh shit. Damn low light. Where the hell is the little shit then?"
Lexi decided that it was safe to answer that one despite India's rather murderous tone.
"Uh - over here 'Dia. No¼.not there, here." Lexi walked out into the light.
Buffy was a little perplexed by India's methods. Certainly they had staved off an attack, although the fact that she, Buffy, was there could be playing some role. She eyed Angel nervously - trying to determine if he was up to anything other than watching India with a stupefied expression on his face.
"Okay then, who's that?" India indicated Drue with a jerk of her chin.
"Oh her? She's bad." Lexi was all wide-eyed innocence. "Very, very bad. She tried to kill me."
"Like that's anything new¼ ow!"
"Can it Jonathan." Surprisingly it was the mild mannered Daemon who had done the elbowing this time.
"Would someone please tell me what the fuck is going on!" howled a thoroughly confused Spike who felt like he'd just been thrown into the fourth ring of a highly demented three-ring circus.
"Stay out of this wheel-boy," snarled India, "It doesn't concern you."
"Yeah Spike baby. I'll deal with this one." Angel's tone indicated just how personally he'd deal with India.
She narrowed her eyes. "You'd just love that wouldn't you. All right, let's see if you can get a piece of me."
"Ten bucks on India," Jonathan remarked to the room at large.
"You're on." It was Spike. The girl might be good but she wasn't the slayer and, much as he loathed Angel, the vamp did have style - hell, he was Spike's sire after all.
India and Angel started to circle each other warily. Angel knew he couldn't kill this girl, this amazing creature who overwhelmed his senses, but he had to convince her of their destiny - that they were meant to be together until the end of time itself. And if that persuasion involved some physicality it would have to be done. He flickered his glance away from India's face to access her companions, to judge what risk they posed should he have to escape with the girl unconscious.
When Angel's attention wavered, even just for that small instance of time, India saw her chance and swept her leg around to knock Angel's feet out from under him. With a grunt, the vampire went down and India pressed her advantage by kicking him in the ribs¼ repeatedly.
"That has got to hurt." Spike averted his eyes.
"You kill him 'Dia! Kill the bastard."
"I see Lexi has recovered the use of her vocal chords."
Angel curled into a ball and snaked an arm out to pull India down by her ankle. She landed heavily on her bottom earning a collective wince from the spectators.
"Jerk!" India tried to clamber to her feet but Angel grabbed the ankle again. Twisting his body, he used his greater weight to leverage her to the floor.
"Pay up happy meal. Looks like my boy wins."
"It's early yet." But Jonathan swallowed nervously, both at the fight and Spike's strange choice of words.
India squirmed, trying to gain some extra space, but Angel had her pinioned to the floor.
"My love," he whispered in her ear, "Why do you fight what is meant to be?"
"_Hello_. What the hell are you talking about psycho-boy?"
"You, me, us."
India rolled her eyes. "As if." She saw her opening. Just a little more space, an inch or two. She wriggled some more which distracted Angel just enough for her to reach her pocket. India's fingers gripped the stake that Buffy had leant her. It was now or¼. "Ewwwww!" Fury leant her the necessary strength and India rolled over trapping Angel with an arm over his windpipe and the stake raised high to kill him.
Wordlessly, Spike handed Jonathan a tener.
"Wait! Don't kill him." Buffy broke the silence of the moment."
"What do you mean? He slurped my ear!" snarled an indignant India.
"How utterly, utterly gross."
"Now is not the time to remind me Lexi."
"Uh sorry 'Dia - I'll just, uh, shut up now. I guess, yeah, that's what I'll do, I'll shut up."
"Don't kill him India. He's my responsibility, I'm the one who has to kill him."
"Fine. Have it that way. Just don't let him," as she spoke India rolled to her feet, Angel unmoving, "lick my ear ever again!" With that, she drew her leg back and hoofed him in the balls.
"Ahhhh!!!!"
"Ahhhh¼" was echoed, slightly more quietly, by all the male onlookers.
India tossed the stake to Buffy, who caught it neatly, and then brushed off her hands. "Well, that was fun. Anyone else feeling lucky tonight?" She turned to look at Spike, eyes narrowed.
"No, no, that's quite okay. Drue." Spike and Drue withdrew rapidly into the shadows. Angel scrambled to his feet and took off in the other directly followed by looks of utmost disgust from India and Buffy.
The two caught each other's eyes.
"Hmmmph¼ men."
"Yeah¼ men."
India started to chuckle and, after a few seconds Buffy joined in, hesitantly at first but growing in confidence as India reached out her hand.
"Friends?"
"Friends."
Finis