Yeah Baby, I'm Back...
Author: Alicia (a.k.a. Lady Angel) Email: LadyAngel@Buffymail.com Rating: NC-17 Spoilers: Enemies -> Graduation Summary: Faith brings back Angelus... Disclaimer: Do I look like Joss Whedon to you??? Notes: This is in response to Lisa's challenge. * B/A at first then B/A(us) * Must take place at the Mansion * Faith and the Mayor are killed * The Claddaugh Rings must be mentioned and the whole truth about what they mean is revealed. * The Gem Of Amara is found and used * The Scooby Gang is threatened
Part One "Okay, now do you understand the plan?" Angel nodded. "Giles's friend does his light show, then I pretend to be Angelus again." Buffy looked up at him solemnly. "Are you sure that you're up to this?" Angel smiled sadly. "The question is, Buffy, are you?" He held out his arms to her. She quickly snuggled into his embrace. "Angelus wasn't so bad when you get past the 'I want to kill you' thing. He was kinda like you, only with extra bite." Angel chuckled. "Is that how you'd describe it?" Buffy giggled. "Uh huh!" Angel smiled. "Yeah, you're right. He was angry at you for making him feel the way he did. He loved you, he still does. In reality, he is me. We have the same likes and dislikes, we share the same thoughts and feelings. We're two sides of the same coin, Buffy." Buffy hugged him tight. "Then I love the both of you." "You'd better..." he joked, as he bent down to kiss her. Buffy returned the kiss, wholeheartedly. When the couple parted, Buffy said, "Come on, we'd better get ready." *~*~*~* Angel played the distraught vampire as Faith splashed the blood on his top. "Faith!" "I wanted to do this the old-fashioned way, but hey, your loss. Lucky I've got some tricks Buffy don't know yet," the brunette slayer bragged. "You don't have to do this," Angel attempted to reason with her. "I know, but it's fun. Now relax, it'll be over soon," she smirked. *~*~*~* What the fuck??? Angelus realized that he was back in control again. Buffy's plan had backfired! Deciding to play along, anyway, he grabbed Faith and kissed her. "Thanks, so much." He slapped the slayer. "It's good to have the taste of a Slayer back in my mouth. It's like cigarettes, you know, just when I thought I'd quit." He kicked the fallen slayer in the side. She attempted to rise. "No, don't get up. It's good to be back in Sunnydale. Nice climate, plenty to eat, no tortured humanity to hold me down." Faith manages to get back on her feet. Angelus continues. "But you know what bothers me? You don't seem to be getting the big picture here, Faith. Now I don't know why you turned me, but I'm just glad you did." He had Faith by the neck by now. Faith broke free and kicked him back, whilst pulling out a stake. "I've got my reasons." "Let me guess. You summoned back the true Angelus because you need a new boy toy. Doesn't work that way." "You wanna be smart? You listen to me," Faith tried to get through to him. Angelus chuckled. "Funny thing about vampires, Faith. We don't establish meaningful dialogue with Slayers." "Not how Buffy tells it," Faith sneered. Faith kicked him in the knee, driving him to the ground, jumping astride him, threatening him with the stake. He chuckled. "I should have known you'd like it on top." "You want to listen or you want to die?" the slayer threatened. "As long as you're there, I mostly want you to wriggle. But I'm listening." "Last time you got like this, Buffy kicked your ass all the way back to hell. You want to do better this time?" she asked. "Still listening." May as well play along until I can get to Buffy... "Good boy. Now all you got to do is play nice and call truce and I'll hook you up with the real power in this town. Interested?" "Very." "Then get ready to meet the new boss." *~*~*~* "What are your intentions?" "Well, gee, sir, I thought I'd find that Slayer that's given you so much trouble and torture, maim, and kill her." "Fine! You know it's nice to see you're not one of those slacker types running around town today. Torture Buffy. Killing her is fine, just make it a slow one." "My favorite kind." Anyone stupid enough to believe that he would do that to his Buffy deserved to be double-crossed... *~*~*~* Xander was walking down the dark street, talking to himself. "I love when you talk, Wesley. I love when you sing, Wesley. Can you say the words jailbait, Wesley? Limey bastard." Then he spotted Faith and Angelus. "Hey guys! Man, where you been? You gotta find Buffy. She's going to her place and stocking up on..." Angelus strikes Xander much harder than Angel had planned. There was no way that he wanted Xander to get the Scooby Gang before he was finished. Xander wasn't going to wake up for hours after that blow. "That guy just bugs me," he admitted. Faith didn't even blink an eye. *~*~*~* "Okay, let's get the books someplace safe. Where are they?" Faith and Angel had collected Buffy from her house and had brought her to the mansion. "Actually, there's been a slight change in plan, Buff," Angelus told her. "Buff? You just called...What's the matter with you?" God, I hate this...Buffy thought. Faith stood back and watched the show with a little smile. "Nothing. Matter of fact, I haven't felt this good in a long time." Angelus vamped out. "Angel?" Buffy could feel the familiar shiver of fear travel up her spine. Even though she knew it was all a ruse, she couldn't shake the irrational fear. "You know, I never properly thanked you for sending me to hell." "No," Buffy played her part to the hilt. "Yeah, and I'm just wondering where do I start? Card? Fruit basket? Evisceration?" He grabbed her. "No..." She shook her head in apparent denial. "Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Maybe there's still some good deep down inside of me that remembers and loves you. If only you could reach me. Then again, we have reality." Buffy broke away from him easily, as his grip was far from tight. "I will kill you before I let you touch me. Faith, we need to get out of here, now." She turned to her sister slayer. Here's the test, Faith, now let's see where your loyalties lay... "Speak for yourself, B. Me, I like it here." And now we know... Angel growled, Buffy turned to him. Buffy groaned silently. I hate this part...He knocked her out with a roundhouse blow. "One thing I learned about Buffy, she's so cute when she's sleeping." *~*~*~* Why did he have to hit me so hard...? Was Buffy's first thought when she came around. She groaned. "Morning, sleepyhead. You know what I just can't believe? All of our time together and we never tried chains. Well, can't dwell on the past, especially with the future we have ahead." We definitely have to try them, babe... "Bondage looks good on you, B. The outfit's all wrong, but, hey!" Faith smirked. "You don't know what you're doing." "Really? Weird, because something about all this just feels so right. Maybe it's one of those unhappy childhood things. See, when I was a kid I used to beg my mom for a dog. Didn't matter what kind. I just wanted, you know, something to love." Faith moved to Angelus and kissed him. Angelus resisted the urge to throw the slut out the door... "A dog's all I wanted. Well, that and toys. But mom was so busy, you know, enjoying the drinking and passing out parts of life, that I never really got what I wanted, until now." Faith uncovered Angelus' tools of the torture trade. "Faith, listen to me very closely. Angel's a killer. When he's done with me, he'll turn on you." "She's right. I probably will." More right than even Buffy knows... "Yeah? Hunh. Guess we'll just have to keep you around for a while then. Before we get started, I just want you to know, if you're a screamer, feel free." "Why, Faith? What's in it for you?" Time to grab the info... "What isn't? You know, I come to Sunnydale. I'm the Slayer. I do my job kicking ass better than anyone. What do I hear about everywhere I go? Buffy. So I slay, I behave, I do the good little girl routine. And who's everybody thank? Buffy." There's a reason for that...Angelus chuckled silently. "It's not my fault." "Everybody always asks, why can't you be more like Buffy? But did anyone ever ask if you could be more like me?" "I know I didn't," Angelus couldn't resist adding. "You get the Watcher. You get the mom. You get the little Scooby gang. What do I get? Jack squat. This is supposed to be my town!" "Faith, listen to me!" Buffy tried one last time. "Why? So you can impart some special Buffy wisdom, that it? Do you think you're better than me? Do you? Say it, you think you're better than me," Faith goaded. "I am. Always have been," the blond admitted. "Um, maybe you didn't notice. Angel's with me," Faith had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "And how did you get him, Faith? Magic? Cast some sort of spell? Cause in the real world, Angel would never touch you and we both know it." Faith backhanded her. "You had to tie me up to beat me. There's a word for people like you, Faith. Loser," Buffy smirked. "Uh huh. You're just trying to make me mad so I'll kill you. I'm too smart for that. Stick around." "For what? Your boss's lame Ascension. Like I couldn't stop it." Here it comes... "You can't." "I will." C'mon, Faith, spill... "Keep dreaming. No one can stop the Ascension. Mayor's got it wired, B. He built this town for demons to feed on and come graduation day, he's getting paid. And I'll be sitting at his right hand. Assuming he has hands after the transformation. I'm not too clear on that part. And all your little lame ass friends are going to be kibbles 'n' bits. Think about that when your boyfriend's cutting into you." Oh, I'm gonna love watching my Angel cut into you, B! "I never knew you had so much rage in you," Buffy couldn't believe she hadn't seen it at all. "What can I say? I'm the world's best actor." "Second best." Angel's voice cut in. Faith turned to Angel in surprise. "Graduation day. You think we missed anything?" Buffy asked the vampire she thought to be Angel. "I think we know everything she knows." Buffy smiled, then turned to Faith. "May I say something?" She pulled her hands from behind her back. "Psych!" "You played me. You played me!" Faith became hysterical. Angelus smirked. "Well, sort of..." Then he grabbed Faith by the hair and smashed her head into the stone fireplace. While the brunette was disoriented, he chained her to where Buffy had been. Faith struggled helplessly. Buffy turned to Angel. "What are you doing, Angel?" He grabbed Buffy around the waist and brought her close. "Let's just say that not everything goes according to plan, lover..." Then he kissed her with all of his pent up passion and desire. She struggled, but only for a minute, because she soon remembered her conversation with Angel earlier on. She returned his kiss eagerly. Faith laughed. "Well, now, that's one for the books. You played both of us. So, are you gonna torture her to death? At least, when I go, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you went with me, B. By the hand of your precious Angel, too..." Angelus broke the kiss and grinned at Faith. "Gee, Faith, what gave you that impression?" Part Two Still holding Buffy in his arms, Angelus contemplated Faith. "You know, you and the Mayor didn't do a very thorough job of checking me out. Anyone with half a brain knew that Buffy is everything to me..." Faith watched as Angelus bent down to kiss Buffy again. She tried to break her bonds, but was unsuccessful. The couple parted and Angelus turned back to Faith. "And now that Buffy knows it too, well...let's just say that living in Sunnydale is going to be a lot more fun for me, but a lot less fun for you..." Buffy put a finger to her lips. Yep, just like my Angel...and that extra bite is a kicker! "Angelus? May I ask a question?" He turned back to Buffy. "Of course, lover..." She looked up at him mischievously. "Does that mean you're not going to kill me?" He grinned at her wickedly, then turned to Faith for a second. "I'm going to do something better, Buff." He looked Faith up and down, then dismissed her. "What's the one thing that you and soulboy have longed to do, but unfortunately, I was in the way...?" Buffy eyes widened in realization, then she licked her lips seductively, a hint of nervousness showing. Angelus grabbed her hand and lifted it to his lips. Spying her vacant ring finger, he pulled something out of his pocket. "I believe this belongs to you, Buffy." Buffy held her breath as he returned the ring to it's rightful place on her finger. Warm pleasure spread through her body as the silver ring was replaced. It was almost as if it was the essence of everything they were together. "Thank you," she whispered, before cupping his face in her hands and kissing him tenderly. Watching the by-play, Faith was making her plans. While they're busy fucking each other's brains out, I'll get out of these chains. The mayor is gonna wanna know about this... Buffy nervously glanced at Faith. "What about her?" Angelus tossed a wicked grin in the brunette's direction. "She can watch...then she can die." The blond began chewing her lip. "I don't know, Angel, she's human...and I'm still the Slayer." He kissed the top of her head. "You don't have to do or know a thing, babe. Just leave everything to me." Angelus reluctantly let Buffy go. He then strode over to where Faith was desperately trying to escape her bonds. "Uh ah, Faith. There's no need for that. You're coming with us." He pinched her throat, holding the position until the girl lost consciousness. Angelus then disconnected the chains from the wall and carried her up to the bedroom. Buffy followed him quickly. She couldn't contain the frission of desire that shivered down her spine. She watched as Angelus connected the chains to a large metal ring on the wall of the bedroom. She walked over to the bed and sat herself down, waiting for him to finish. Her eyes followed him around the room, each step that he took just caused her body temperature to rise. It had been over a year since that one time they had been together, and her shared dream with Angel a couple of weeks ago, her love and desire for him hadn't left her, it had only gotten stronger. And now, there was nothing to stand between them. Not even the whole Angel/Angelus thing. Her talk with Angel had forced her to rethink everything that she knew about them, and just accept them as they were. One. The more Buffy thought about it, the more aroused she became. She continued to watch as he removed his duster, throwing it into the closet. He opened one of the drawers and withdrew yet more chains. Then she remembered his comment downstairs about chains...Mmm... Angelus lifted the chains, testing their weight, before bringing them over to the bed and depositing them at her feet. He threw off his long-sleeved shirt, then pushed Buffy back to lay on the bed, moving his body above her. Neither of them notice the chained slayer stir, her eyes opening slowly as she moved her head, trying to snap herself out of it. They lay there, chest to chest. "You know what the chains are for, don't you, Buff?" he murmured. "No time for that...I want you now!" she purred back, pushing him to the side and changing their positions so that she straddled him. His legs were bent at the knee, hanging over the end of the bed. Buffy levered herself up slightly, to access the fly of his pants. Angelus undid the snap of her jeans, while Buffy pulled down his fly, revealing naked skin beneath. "Optimistic, Angel?" Buffy grinned when she saw that he wasn't wearing underwear. "Oh yeah!" Faith watched from the other side of the room as Angelus pulled down Buffy's jeans and pulled off her top. Buffy leant over him and kissed him hard. She could hear their moans and her sister Slayer's heavy breathing as Buffy lowered herself onto her lover. Buffy wriggled slightly as she lowered herself onto Angel's shaft, the fabric of his slacks teasing her heated flesh. Angelus groaned as he felt his Slayer encase his hard cock, with her body. He held her hips in his large hands and watched her, the position reminding him of Faith earlier on in the night when he had first returned. Much more pleasurable with Buffy here... Buffy held onto Angelus' wrists near her waist, using it to move herself on him harder and faster. It had been so long... Angelus gripped her hips tighter, not wanting to ever let go. He began to meet her downward movements, his hips straining higher to thrust deeper inside her. Buffy's fingernails dug into his wrists, and she suddenly stopped all movement. "Buffy!" he gasped. "Fuck, don't stop!" She moved her hands up his arms and bent forward over him. "How much do you want me...?" she whispered. He growled as his face morphed into it's demonic visage. "You'll pay for this, Buff. I want you now!" His body slammed upward and into hers. She whimpered in pleasure, but still refused to move. "How much???" Angelus growled again. "More than anything..." She gave him a secret smile. "How much do you need me?" she whispered as she moved her body, causing his cock to withdraw from her core, then she slammed herself back down. "I need you...forever..." he groaned, tightening his grip on her hips almost painfully. Buffy's mouth was an inch from his as her hips began a rocking motion. "How much do you love me...?" she murmured before taking possession of his lips. The Slayer resumed her movements, Angelus meeting each and every thrust. Seconds later, Buffy began spasming, her core milking her lover's cock for everything it had. His seed shot inside her and the couple collapsed. Both physically and emotionally drained from the ordeal. Angelus was still inside her as she lay on his chest. He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her body gently before whispering, "More than anything..." *~*~* Faith watched the events that transpired with more than a little lust. But Angelus' words shocked her. She couldn't believe that he of all demons, could love anything, let alone a Slayer. This isn't supposed to be happening! Her mind screamed. He's supposed to be my fucking demon! My lover! *~*~* Buffy smiled into her lover's chest and kissed the cold, bare flesh. She tilted her head to look at his face. A cold hand cupped her cheek as Angelus kissed her again. "Go to sleep," he told her gently. She nodded and curled into his embrace, promptly falling asleep. He gently withdrew from Buffy's body when he realized that she was fast asleep. Angelus pulled the covers over her and did up his fly before crossing the room to where Faith stood, stunned and furious. "You were supposed to be mine, you asshole!" she screamed. Angelus backhanded her. "Be quiet! Buffy's sleeping!" Faith tested her jaw. Painful... "What are you gonna do? Kill me?" she laughed. "B wouldn't like that..." "As long as she doesn't hear about it, she doesn't care," Angelus grinned, as he advanced on her... Faith began to panic, hoping that someone would find them before Angelus got his hands on her... Part Three Angelus stood in front on the slut, one finger at his mouth in a sarcastic gesture of thought. "You know, I never really thanked you for bringing me back, did I, Faith?" "I could always offer you the same things a pretended to offer Buffy...card? Fruit basket... evisceration maybe... And look what I gave her. My love, my body, my soul and my demon...but then, I've always preferred her to you..." He ran a finger down Faith's cheek. "You're just not worth it, Faith. You didn't really think that I'd want you, did you? That Buffy or her friends, even the Mayor, truly want you? "I saw what you did to Xander, and I'm sure that he lusted after you for it, but look at him now. You may have given him a moment's pleasure, but you sure wouldn't be able to give it to me. A long weekend was a little optimistic, don't you think?" Angelus taunted. "Me and you could've had it really nice, Angel, but no, you choose little-miss-perfect-slut over there! I know more than she could ever hope to know!" Faith attempted to taunt him right back. Angelus shook his head with a laugh. "Now Faith, you should know that not all pleasure is derived from the physical. You've killed before. You should know that you can kill a thousand different ways, but it's the feeling of power, the fear, the pain and pleasure of it all that makes it good." Faith knew he was right... "But don't worry. You'll soon know what it's like...as the victim!" Angelus left the room with a chuckle. *~*~* Angelus returned to the bedroom half and hour later. Faith had desperately tried to escape her bonds in that time, not bothering to wake up her sister Slayer, knowing that B would ignore her and just go back to sleep. He dropped the shopping bags onto the floor then left again, this time returning with a long, flat box. He glanced up at Faith's apprehensive face. "Feel like some fun now, Slayer?" Faith's apprehension turned to utter hatred. Everything had been destroyed. All of her plans to prove herself to the mayor, to destroy B and her precious gang of idiots...and have the one thing that Buffy couldn't have, but truly wanted. Angel... But none of that mattered now. Buffy had Angel...or Angelus...and her precious friends, family, Watchers. They all stood by her. She didn't have anybody... Angelus had been right all along. The physical didn't matter much if you didn't have the emotional to go with it. He's won. Her mind was in pain, and soon her body would be, too... "Oh...Faith...came back to me..." Angelus' voice coaxed. He had noticed her zoning out on him and he didn't want that. Faith saw that he had brought up a tool kit. The long box was opened to reveal an array of knives and other sharp objects. He had unpacked the shopping bags. Next to the empty bags were a number of glass jars and small boxes. Angelus followed her gaze. "You didn't think that I'd rely on normal tools to do the job on a Slayer? Oh no, Faith, you have to be stripped of you powers first, and lucky me, Giles' little test on Buffy the other week gave me a few ideas... "Just picture it, Faith, no Slayer strength or stamina to get you through it all. But don't worry, it'll wear off. I can't have you dying on me too quickly..." he chuckled. A sound from the bed caught their attention. Angelus immediately turned to where Buffy was tossing and turning on the bed, still asleep. He went over to the bed, cupping her cheek and placing a kiss on the top of her head. "It's okay, baby, go back to sleep..." he murmured. She immediately calmed down and slept peacefully. Angelus, with one last look at Buffy, left her, approaching Faith once more. "You know, I would have loved to experiment with that chainsaw that I've been dying to use, especially since I didn't get to use it on Giles. I guess it's too late for that now. Buffy wouldn't be all that happy about it. But you, on the other hand...well, the only thing stopping me from using it on you now, is that Buffy's sleeping over there. "A chainsaw will wake her up even if I moved either of you. As it is, I'm going to have to move Buffy elsewhere, since even if I gagged you, she might still wake up, and I'm not stupid enough to try to move you at the moment, Faith. You'll only try to escape..." Angelus knelt down and removed something from the box. A hypodermic needle... Faith let out a piercing scream. Before she could even blink, he had backhanded her and shoved a jawbreaker in her mouth. "Ever seen the movie 'Jawbreaker', Faith? I once watched it with Buffy. Let me tell you, death via that thing in your mouth, well...it isn't pretty," he chuckled. "The blond chick kinda reminded me of Darla, my sire. She was a bitch, but she was a looker. Nothing like Buffy, of course, otherwise I wouldn't have staked her, soul or no soul. She lacked Buffy's innocence, intelligence and inner strength... "Kinda like you..." Angelus couldn't help throwing in. He began mixing herbs and liquids together from the various glass jars. The finished product was a brownish liquid on a small bowl. The mixture was mixing itself, creating a small whirlpool effect as the herbs dissolved. He frowned for a minute. "I nearly forgot something." He picked up another needle, along with a kind of belt. He strapped it around her arm, waiting a minute before sticking the needle in her arm. "I need some of your blood. Not for the relaxant, mind you, but for defeating your precious Richard Wilkins..." He removed the vial from the needle and placed it on the tray at his feet. Then he picked up the hypodermic. The vampire used the hypodermic and transferred the concoction into it. Angelus made sure there were no air pockets before advancing on Faith. "Don't worry, it won't hurt...yet," he smirked as he jabbed the needle into her struggling body. Faith immediately began to feel more limp and pliant. Her body would have fallen to the floor had she not been held up by her bonds. Her tongue felt thick and her entire body felt heavy. "You see, Faith, unlike the Watcher's Council's muscle relaxant, this little beauty is instantaneous and eight times stronger. But only for a little while. Soon enough, you'll feel just like a regular human being. But first, I'll take Buffy out of the room...don't want you waking her up prematurely..." Angelus explained, then crossed over to the bed where Buffy lay sleeping. He gently picked her up in his large arms and held her closely to his chest, carrying her out of the bedroom. Faith heard Buffy's sleepy murmur, "Where are we going...?" "Just to another bed, baby, don't worry. Go back to sleep..." came Angelus' reply. He was back in an instant. "How you feeling, Faith?" The Slayer just glared at him. Angelus smirked at her. He picked up a pair of scissors from the tray. He also picked up a small bowl and cut off a lock of her hair, placing it in the bowl. He then put the bowl aside, next to the vial of her untainted blood. Angelus unbuttoned her top and pushed it back over her shoulders as far as it would go, but the manacles were around her wrists, so he couldn't remove it fully. "I like your outfit, Faith, but it'll just get in the way when I'm cuttin' into you..." He shook his head when saw the bare skin. "No bra? Naughty girl...let's see how the bottom fares..." He rolled the skin tight pants down her legs, only to discover that she wore absolutely no underwear. He was kneeling before her, his hands still on her slacks, when he sniffed the air. "I don't believe it! You're getting off on this!" he laughed at her. "It's not gonna happen girl, so don't even bother thinking about it. I don't want you, Faith. It's Buffy that I want, need and love. You saw that..." He stood up, turning to the tray of sharp objects. He picked up a serrated blade, tapping the flat side against his open palm. "You know, many find that a sharp blade works best, but I've discovered that a serrated edge is much more painful...and artistic!" The jawbreaker in her mouth stopped the scream that emitted from her as the teeth of the knife cut into her left breast... Part Four Silent tears crept down the side of her face. The pain had since faded, her entire body numb. It had been only an hour since Angelus had begun his assault on her body. He had started with what he called 'artistic carvings'. As Faith looked down at her naked body, she could see why. Her entire body looked like one big kiddie jigsaw puzzle. Angelus had sponged the blood from her body, coating it with liquid antiseptic. The end result was a puzzle of red lines. Angelus stood back, wiping the knife with a clean cloth. "Not bad. Still have a long way to go, though. I have yet to do the pictures..." He tossed the knife onto the tray and picked up a sharp blade, holding it up for the Slayer to see. "This part is going to have to wait for a while, Faith. I can tell that the pain isn't as sharp as it should be, and that jawbreaker is getting smaller." He held a cloth in front of her face. "Spit it out, but don't scream. Buffy's still sleeping." She spat the ball out, and tried to scream. Unfortunately, her throat protested, unable to handle the attempt after being overtaxed previously. Only a tiny squeak emerged. Angelus looked at his watch. "Is your strength back, yet?" He frowned. "Hmm...probably not. I'll give it another few minutes. It should all be less painful then, but I haven't finished my artwork yet." Angelus reveled in her helpless and defeated expression. "Oh, come on! Even Ripper lasted longer than this! Oh, I forgot, no inner strength. You're just a scared, lost, little girl...hah! Better get started, then. It'll be less fun, but what the hell!" he chuckled to himself. The vampire picked up the blade, carefully selecting a piece of the puzzle that was her skin. "Hmm... what should I start with? A Celtic design? A nice little griffin like mine? Ah! I've got it! How about a nice little stake?" Angelus began carving a stake into the skin just above her left breast. Appropriate, he thought. When he had done the weapon, he looked up at her, trying to gauge her reaction. He shook his head. He'd lost her somewhere in the haze of pain. He shrugged. Oh well, can't leave the job half finished! Angelus continued with his body art. The finished product consisted of a large griffin in the center of her back, a large snake coiled around each arm, a Celtic cross on her stomach and finally, an excellent representation of the claddaugh on her forehead. He picked up the cloth and carefully wiped away the blood, to reveal his work. Faith just hung there, still as permanent death and as zoned out as a mental patient on one thousand different drugs. Her eyes were red, and she stared into space, not moving, not making a sound. Angelus wiped his hands and cleaned his tools. "Not bad!" He moved to the closet and took out his camera, making sure that the flash was on, then pointing it in Faith's direction. "Smile, Faith!" He hit the button, then the flash went off in her eyes, bringing her to some semblance of awareness. The pain began to return as the camera clicked and whirred, the flashbulb going off repeatedly as Angelus took several photographs from different angles. Faith began to whimper, as each flash brought her back. She could feel each line of broken skin. Angelus watched as the light in her eyes brightened, signaling an increasing awareness of her surroundings. He continued to watch this unexpected turn of events with growing anticipation...then disappointment. It was only an hour until sunrise. He wasn't going to have much time to do more and still drop Faith off to the mayor and make it back to the mansion. As it was, the mayor probably had his underlings out looking for them, since he had wanted Faith back at eleven. The only good thing about that, was that they wouldn't be at City Hall when he dropped off Faith's body. Angelus quickly packed up his tools and placed them in the closet. He left the vial of blood and the bowl with a lock of Faith's hair on the bed. He stepped over to where the Slayer was becoming more aware of herself by the second. His voice seeped into her consciousness. "You're stunning, now, Faith, my work enhancing your lithe body. Sadly, you death won't be as poetic, since I don't want to mess you up, it's going to have to be quick and clean." He easily snapped her neck, watching as the light drained out of her eyes quicker than it had returned. Angelus almost pouted. He quickly wrapped her up in an old blanket, picked her up and headed for City Hall. *~*~* Angelus headed into the building, checking for any of the mayors goons. Seeing that the place was empty, he went in the direction of the mayor's office. The door was open, the mayor nowhere to be seen, so Angelus ducked inside and placed Faith's dead body in the chair as he looked around for a good place to display the body. He spotted the glowing coming from inside a cabinet almost immediately. He opened the doors and saw that the mayor had a little hobby. He recognized the making's of demon worship, as well as a number of demonic volumes. He pulled one out and put it aside. Buffy might find it useful, he thought. He spied the hook at the top of each open door, then looked back to the dead body behind the desk. Oh, yeah... Angelus strode over to Faith's body and picked it up. He carefully impaled each hand on the hooks inside the cabinet. He made a few adjustments to the doors, and when he was finished, the doors stood open, the dead Slayer's body hanging between them, as if suspended on a cross. Very nice work, even if I do say so myself...Angelus chuckled silently, then quickly left. He would have stayed to witness the mayor's return, but the oncoming sunrise was a deterrent that couldn't be ignored. *~*~* As soon as Angelus returned to the mansion, he immediately sensed the presence of a number of humans. Xander's awake and he's brought some friends...he deducted. He stealthily made his way to the rear of the group, who moved not so quietly up the stair to the bedrooms, sporting crosses and stakes. Only Giles was absent. Xander was leading the group. He followed them up the stairs. He watched as Xander peaked into each room, before motioning with his hand to keep moving, without ever turning around. Finally, they found the room Buffy was asleep in, or so they thought. The group followed Xander into the room and approached the bed. Angelus nearly growled when he saw Xander grab his lover's shoulder and shake her, trying to wake her up. If she hadn't been the Slayer, his shaking would probably hurt her. *~* Buffy remained still as they approached her. They could really use some lessons in silence. She had heard them enter the mansion just as the first beams of sunrise woke her up. Realizing that she was naked, Buffy silently rushed into the other bedroom and got dressed, then returned to the bed she had been sleeping in. She remembered their reaction when they had discovered that Angel had returned, she didn't want them to know that Angelus was back, too, she didn't want to have to constantly answer to them. She gritted her teeth as Xander violently attempted to shake her awake. "What???" she groaned, forcing her voice to sound thick with sleep. Buffy slowly opened her eyes and saw Xander. She immediately pretended to fully awaken, acting modestly. "Xander! What are you doing in the bedroom???" She hurriedly sat up in the bed. Xander scowled at her. "Where's your demon lover, huh Buff?" "Xander has told us about Angelus," Wesley explained in his stuffy, British way. "You know, you could just ask me..." came Angelus' voice from behind the group. All of them, with the exception of Buffy, turned around in shock and fear. His vampire face revealed itself when several crosses were thrust towards him. "Or you could have just spoken to Giles about it..." "Giles? Huh?" came Willow's confused words. "Mr. Giles would never deal with the likes of you!" Wesley raged on behalf of his fellow Watcher. "Uh, guys? I don't think that was what he meant..." Oz observed. Buffy glared at her supposed friends. "What Oz means is that it was a ruse! God, how dense can you get? You didn't really think that Faith could bring back Angelus???" the Slayer mocked. The group lowered the crosses when it dawned on them. "Sorry, Angel." "Umm, what she said." "I'm terribly sorry." "I knew that!" Only Xander remained silent, glaring at Angelus. "You didn't have to hit me so hard," he finally said. "Faith's a Slayer, I had to make it look real, therefore it had to be real," Angelus pretended to be sorry. "Yes, of course, well, I do believe that we should all perhaps, leave now," Wesley stammered. The group followed him out of the room and back to the high school, leaving Buffy and Angelus alone. "Well," Buffy started. Angelus grinned, approaching the bed, and consequently, the person in it, with a purpose. Part Five "Ya think they're gone?" Buffy questioned nervously. "Yeah, baby..." Angelus answered with a leer. Buffy grinned back. "Good!" she jumped out of the bed and into his arms. Dammit! She's put those fucking jeans back on! He grabbed the waistband of the jeans and pulled her to him. "You're dressed," the vampire growled. Buffy rose her brows. "What? You didn't think that I'd let them come in here to find me buck naked, with imprint of your hands on my hips? I happen to like my life thank you very much. Besides, I didn't want you to end up on the pointy end of a stake," she grinned, grabbing a fistful of his shirt and pulling him closer for a kiss. Angelus threw his arms around her waist and hugged her to him violently as his face transformed. Buffy scraped her tongue on his sharp fangs, but hardly noticed. All she noticed was her lover's immediate arousal as he tasted the sample of her blood. He groaned in pleasure. Blood and sex, that was what it was all about. Add the emotion and you get instant flames. Angelus pulled his mouth from hers reluctantly. If he had been human, he would have been gasping for breath. On the other hand, if he had been human, then he wouldn't be feeling every nuance of physical pleasure that he experienced with her. "Baby...I need you now..." he rasped, backing her up against the wall. She nodded slightly, her brain to fogged up with him to care where the Hell he took her, just as long as he took her now! Buffy felt her back hit the wall with a small 'thud'. The stone wall was as cold as her lover, the coincidence not lost on her. She began moaning as she rubbed up and down between Angelus and the wall. "This is better than orgasmic ice-cream..." Angelus bagman sucking on her neck with his lips, minus the fangs. His hands speedily moved to the front of her jeans, undoing the zipper in record time. Buffy pulled off her top, revealing the bare skin beneath. Her vampire lover kissed his way down her body as he pulled down her jeans. She hadn't put her underwear back on, knowing that it would only annoying them later on, so Angelus continued his path down her body, his cold lips burning her flesh. Buffy thrust her fingers into his dark hair when his lips encountered the nest of curls between her legs. Angelus placed his hand behind her leg, urging her to move it onto his shoulder. Buffy eagerly followed through, hooking one leg over his muscular shoulder, giving him better access to the lips of her core. Angelus was high on the heady scent of her arousal and he thrust his tongue into her waiting body. Buffy thrust her hips forward with an excited moan and gripped his hair in her fingers and pulled him forward... "More...harder! I need you more, Angelus!" He immediately withdrew his tongue, fully conscious off Buffy's disappointed whimper. Angelus moved slightly, causing his lover's leg to fall to the floor. He roughly pinned Buffy against the wall and thrust his hardened shaft into her welcoming heat. Buffy cried out at the new presence, his hard length creating pleasure like no other to spread from her core to every inch of her body, inside and out. Angelus latched onto her neck as he pounded into her repeatedly, responding to her cries of "Harder! Faster! Angelus, please don't stop!". Buffy held his head to her neck, needing to feel his fangs in her neck, sipping at her bodily fluids as he created other inside her. He closed his eyes against everything but her. She was in his blood, his heart, just as he was in her body, her heart, her soul...nothing anyone could do would ever tear them apart again. What is hers, and what is mine, we will make ours...he thought as Buffy's core contracted with the beginning of her orgasm. Angelus let go of the hold he had on her neck and groaned his surrender as he felt her clench around his cock. "Buffy..." he growled, spilling his cold seed into her body. His lover collapsed against him as her body quivered with the last strings of her release. Angelus gladly accepted her weight, nearly dragging her over to the bed where they both fell into a pile of sated flesh. Buffy found the strength to turn over onto her stomach and crawl on top of her own, personal, vampire lover, falling on his chest and finding her favorite place near his unbeating heart. She placed her hand on his chest as Angelus put his arm around her body. The couple fell into a restful sleep almost instantly. *~*~* Meanwhile, in another part of Sunnydale... Mayor Wilkins stood before his fallen warrior, his expression pained and stunned. How could they have done this to my Faith? he silently agonized. She had been his family, yet here she was, hanging as if nailed to a cross instead of a cabinet, naked, her body marred beyond that of art... He easily recognized Angelus' handiwork. The Angel side of the vampire hadn't done this, so he had indeed lost his soul, and had, quite obviously, betrayed and then tortured, Faith. The Mayor concluded that another Slayer would soon be sent to the Hellmouth, ready and eager to fight the good and noble fight. He wondered if poor little Buffy knew about her boyfriend. If she didn't, he would delight in informing her of the fact before slowly killing her. They would pay for what Angelus had done... *~*~* Buffy awoke a couple of hours later. A lone sunbeam shone into the room, but fortunately, didn't reach the bed where Angelus lay, still sleeping. The Slayer got up and went to the other room, opening the closet that Angel had kept her spare clothes in. When she opened the doors, Buffy saw a number of Angelus' tools. She cringed as her mind thought up several scenarios, but decided to let it go. There was nothing she could do, and she knew that they had never been intended for her. Buffy didn't dare wonder how Angelus had dealt with Faith. She didn't want to know if the other Slayer was still alive, or if he had her chained up somewhere in the mansion. She pulled out a spandex dress that went to mid-thigh. She knew that it would taunt Angelus until he could get his hands on her, but since she was going to the school, it would be awhile. Buffy grabbed a pair of matching platform-style heels. She quickly dressed and made her way out of the mansion, pausing long enough to leave a note for her lover.Lover, Heading to the library, need to attend the regular morning meeting, Giles and the gang will want all the info I can give them. Come and get me, Babe... Buffy... She smirked at the last phrase. Come and get me, Babe... It was enough to ensure his presence. He would get there as soon as he was up and able. *~*~* "All she told us was that the Mayor's Ascension was on Graduation Day. Angel got him with a letter opener in the hand. He can't be harmed...at all! Apparently he healed up as soon as he removed the letter opener." Buffy retold the events as she knew them. The group all sat there, not knowing what to say or what to do. It was then that Angel came down from the stacks. He'd obviously come in through the back entrance. He was carrying a large, old book. Buffy stood up and let him have her seat, choosing to use his lap as her chair. Angelus put the book on the table before he pulled Buffy down onto his lap. He tampered down any rough of violent tendencies he had, not wanting to indicate to the group that he wasn't entirely the Angel they all knew and respected. Giles reached over and took a look at the book. "Angel? Where did you get this?" Angel forced his face to remain somber...brooding. "I took a quick trip to the Mayor's office just before sunrise. That's where I had come back from this morning when I had crosses shoved in my face." He grimaced. "I found this, along with a number of other volumes. "He had a cabinet that was full of ritual tools and ingredients. A skull, weapons...you name it. He's been demon worshipping for a while. All of this adds up to his reign after the Ascension." Wesley's ears pricked up. "What do you know about Ascension?" He was forever suspicious. Angel shook his head. "Not much. It's pretty much when a human transforms into pure demon, not just half-breeds, like vampires. He can't be killed. At least, not at the moment. I don't know about after, though. I've never heard of an unkillable demon, well, except the First..." Angelus trailed off as he sensed another presence in the library. "Come out! I can smell you..." The group turned to the stacks, where a hooded figure emerged. Giles quickly stood up and approached him. "I thank you, for all that you have done." "But..." he turned to Angelus, but Buffy, still seated in Angelus' lap, intercepted the look. She shook her head at him, sending him a dangerous look, willing him not to say anything. He nervously turned back to his friend and nodded. "My debt is repaid, do not call upon me again, unless it is of great importance." He stepped back into nothingness. Buffy breathed a sigh of relief and kissed her boyfriend. No one thought anything of it. "His debt is paid? What did you do?" Willow questioned Giles. He looked toward the group seriously. "I introduced him to his wife." Continue