The Longest Summer
by Anat

IV

Angelus watched the three humans sleep in the car. He was amazed with how fragile their human lives were. Not that he cared, he told himself. He watched Buffy sleeping peacefully. She was his enemy he should kill her, drink her blood, maim her, and drive her insane… ... But there was this annoying voice in his head. A thing he couldn’t get rid of. Part of Coralancus’ damned game. He was now a combination of the two personalities that shared this body. And he went in no particular direction. He couldn’t control it. There were internal wars between those two. Sometimes it was Angelus gaining the upper hand, and once Angel. Once, everything was simple. There was him controlling this body, or when things went bad, it was Angel. But this game was getting on his nerves. He preferred staying in his old domain, than living with all these human shatters in him.

Buffy stirred and woke up. She saw him outside and got out of the car. "Angel?" he turned to her. The moment of Angelus’ control was over. He pulled her closer to him, and looked down at her face. "You should go back to sleep". He whispered.

She touched his lips softly. "Is that you, Angel?" she whispered. He just kissed her softly and she returned the kiss. They were kissing passionately now. Then Angel was gone.

It took Angelus a slight moment to orient and realize what he was doing. He pushed her away and snarled.

"Sorry..." she hesitated. "I thought you were..."

The earth began to shake. Then it stopped. Then again.

"Go to the car and lock the door". Angel grabbed her, making her move. She looked up at him. "What about you?"

"Go".

Giles and Xander woke up too and peered outside.

The fitful earthquake continued. Then the three humans in the car could hear a voice. Frightening low dreadful voice.

"Where are they?"

Buffy dared to peek out the small window. She could only see the leg of this thing. It was strong, with big brown claws, and its skin seemed to dribble like melted cheese.

"Ewww..." she whispered. The others were disgusted as well. They saw Angel wearing his game face, growling at the huge demon. "Go away. You got nothing to look here. You’re disturbing me". He roared.

"I smelled humans". The demon’s voice rolled like thunders.

"If there were humans here, I ate them. Go find your own food".

"You better not be lying, earthwalker". Angelus roared again, and the giant moved away. The land shook as it walked away, until it faded away, and serenity surrounded them again. A few moments later Angel got inside the car and started driving.

"What was that thing?" Buffy asked.

"A pincos. Giant demon with a nut-sized brain, luckily. But also a very developed sense of smell".

"And developed smell as well. We could smell his stench even inside the car". Added Xander.

"He called you earthwalker". Said Giles, pondering.

"I’m a vampire. Vampires are earthwalkers. Most of the demons don’t go out, but vampires don’t usually go in. they feed of humans".

"That friendly demon seemed like he wanted to feed on us too". Mentioned Xander. "They do like opportunities to torture humans. But they usually feed on other demons. Like goblins, ghouls and other little weak demons".

"It’s a real dog-eat-dog world". Buffy sighed. The scenery outside started to change as the car drove. The green turned to white snow, trees losing their leaves. There were naked dead trees anywhere. Giles looked around. The place was dreadful, the wind whistled as it blew. The chilling cool was felt inside the car as well. "Am I guessing we’ve reached the northern region?" Asked Xander, chattering his teeth.

"Coralancus’ empire". Giles whispered. "What does the First Evil say about her growing strength and power?" he asked. Angelus let out a short laugh. "The Firsts are sleepers. They don’t interfere much with life here or on earth. Only when they are provoked to. It’s really rare though. The First Evil is based in the center of this earth". The car couldn’t drive anymore in the heavy snow and stopped. They got out of the car. "It’s cold here..." Buffy covered herself with her arms.

"It’ll get worse". Angel assured her.

"That’s encouraging". She took out a sweater from her bag. "It’s a good thing we brought my house with us". She said, putting it on.

"Well, it shouldn’t be far from here". Angel looked away.

"Is this Thesulah?" asked Giles.

"No. We’re in the first realm. Thesulah’s the eighth. But there are shortcuts".

"Shortcuts?" Xander asked. They saw a big white bear with red glowing eyes. Saliva dribbling from his open mouth. He looked pretty hungry. It was a lot bigger than an earthly bear. "We better find one now". He added. Buffy was ready to fight. She jumped forward. The oversized devilish bear roared and attacked. She felt its claw tearing her sweater. She kicked it away from her. "Giles, the bow!" she shouted.

Giles took the bow out of his bag and threw it to her. She caught it, sending an arrow to the bear’s shoulder. It roared, lifting its snout in the air. He ran fast her. She released the next arrow without even aiming. But the big bear fell. Greenish-brownish liquid spread on the snowy ground.

"Yuk". Buffy looked at the dead bear.

"Way to go, Buffster. You’ve just made your first hunting in hell". Xander patted her shoulder. "Yes. Buffy. Way to go". They heard a woman’s voice, echoing.

"Welcome to my playground. I hope you liked Sisyphean". She said.

"Huh?"

"He was my pet. One of many". The voice explained.

Buffy made an oh-I-got-it face. "Oh. The cute fluffy carebear".

The scenery around them was changed quickly. They were now in a white castle, made of crystal or frost. It was cold. Xander was the first to speak. "Well, we got ourselves a shortcut".

V

Willow was standing in front of them, dressed in a long dark red dress, the neckline cut low.

"Willow!" Both Xander and Buffy paced towards her. Giles grabbed them, dragging them back to him. "It’s not Willow". He said.

She laughed. "Of course I’m not Willow, you inferior mortals". Willow was changed in front of their eyes.

"Go to the garden, free Willow". Angel whispered. "We’ll attract her attention".

Now another woman was standing in front of them. A tall, beautiful brunette. "Well, come on Buffy. Do what you came for". She sent out her hand, motioning Buffy to come. Buffy, clearly hypnotized, moved towards the woman. Angel rushed forward, grabbing her. He swung her around. "Angel..." she whispered. Giles and Xander sneaked out. Coralancus laughed. "Yes, Angel. But this is not Angel". She pointed out her finger at him. Angelus vamped out that second and grabbed.

"Finally, free!" he said.

"Angel..." Her eyes were wide open in horror.

"Is this the frozen garden?" Xander asked as they reached an inner garden. Only in the horizon, they could see the other side of the castle. Giles blinked. "I don’t know".

Xander looked around at the frozen statues. "Well, it’s a garden, and it’s frozen..." he said.

They moved further into the garden. Xander looked down at a small well. "Oh my god... there are things in it!" he called out. Giles looked too. "Fascinating..." murmured Giles. "Okay... Willow... where are you?" Xander turned to walk away.

In the palace, Buffy kicked away Angelus. Coralancus, companioned by Larius in Oz’s form, watched amused. Angelus slapped Buffy and she staggered backwards. She was quick to recover, and made a roundhouse kick at him. He managed to evade and sent a blow to her face. She grabbed his arm and flipped him over. "Again! Again!" Coralancus clapped her hands.

"There are people everywhere!" Xander exclaimed over to Giles. "Just keep looking..." Giles yelled back from another spot. Then he looked at the frozen trees. One of the trees was a weeping willow. They both went there. "How ironically..." said Xander. They saw Willow, but it was like watching her in a mirror covered with frost. Oz was near her.

"Lets free them!" said Xander. "H-h-how?" asked Giles. Xander took off his bag, and spilled its content. Finding a stake inside he started hitting the ice. Giles looked for other things. He found a flashlight. And started hitting with the metal covered side on the ice.

The frost started to shatter. After a while, that seemed like eternity, the ice broke. Willow and Oz were standing there, shivering.

"NO!!!!! IT CAN’T BE!!!!" Coralancus shouted, sawing Larius losing Oz’s form and turning to his true form. Buffy and Angelus were too busy fighting to pay attention. "Forces of Darkness, go to the garden!" Coralancus chanted, lifting her hands up in the air.

"Where are we?" Willow asked. Oz hugged her. Xander smiled faintly. "You’ll never guess".

Willow looked around. "Hell?"

Xander shrugged. "Or you might".

"Lets find our way out of here". Said Giles. Willow grabbed his arm. "Angel. I saw him. He’s here too". She said.

"Uh... Guys?" Oz interrupted.

"What?" they all turned to him. He just motioned with his head to the other direction and they all turned to look.

"Good heavens..." whispered Giles.

The statues opened their red evil eyes, tearing their icy legs from the ground, and moving in their direction.

"We gotta get outta here!" Xander called.

"No, we gotta free Angel first!" Willow objected.

"There’s no time". Giles said. The hundreds of giant armed statues were getting closer, shaking the ice beneath them. "We gotta do it for Buffy!" Willow ran over to another place, they all ran after her.

In the huge hall inside, Angelus gained the upper hand over Buffy. Holding her firmly, he slowly sank his fangs in her neck.

"Finally..." Coralancus smiled. Buffy’s body was getting weaker and weaker, as Angelus drained her from blood.

He suddenly let her go, gasping. "AHHH..." he moaned... "No... it can’t be..." Coralancus called out. Angelus was on his knees now. Buffy’s body was on the floor. He crawled over to her. "I’m not done with you, my love". He said.

In the garden, Angel was back in consciousness in a short while. "I have an idea..." said Oz quietly. "Do share". Nodded Xander, looking fearfully at the approaching statues. "Anyone have matches?" he asked, pointing at the frost-cover trees. "I do! I do!" Xander rejoiced, opening his bag. He found matches, and even torches. They set fire in the trees. The snow was starting to melt. Angel and Giles threw torches at the statues. Soon, the fire was eating the trees. The ice began to melt. They all ran to the palace, the ice melting beneath their legs. No one even looked back. "Buffy..." Angel said suddenly.

They walked into the hall. They saw Angelus lying on Buffy, drinking her. "NO!" Angel yelled and ran towards them. He ripped Angelus off Buffy. The others rushed to her to help her. Buffy opened her eyes slowly. She sat down. "I’m okay..." she whispered. They all turned to see two Angels fighting each other. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" Coralancus was furious. Buffy stood on her feet. The wound in her neck miraculously healed and closed. She took the stake that lay on the floor and threw it on Coralancus direction. Larius charged to defend his mistress and the pointy edge of the stake pierced him in his chest. He let out a call of pain and vanished. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The scream echoed in the palace, making the walls shudder. Angel and Angelus stopped fighting. Coralancus started to change. She grew bigger and bigger into an enormous demon, red skinned with curves and notches. Big yellow eyes. "Oh, I see now why you rather use other people’s bodies". Buffy indicated with her head. Coralancus sent out her clawed hand. Angel ran and flattened Buffy on the floor, lying on her. "Angel..." she whispered, looking at his eyes. He looked back at her. "Later..." he whispered and they got up. "YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE THIS PALACE ALIVE!" she screamed. She turned around, her red long tail flapped in the air, hitting on the floor causing it to shudder. Angelus grabbed Angel, holding him by his throat. "Look, lover. How I put an end to the soul-no-soul story". He said, causing Buffy to look backwards at him. "Let him go!" She hissed. Paying no attention to Coralancus. She only heard her friends’ yell- "BUFFY LOOK OUT!" Coralancus held Buffy in her palm, lifting her high, to her eye level. "And here’s the end to the slayers history". She said. There was a lightning striking in the room. Coralancus started to crush Buffy’s body in her hand. Buffy started to gasp for air. Angelus was choking Angel in the back. Demons were all over, grabbing each person in the room. Then the room lightened. "No!" Coralancus dropped Buffy to the floor. "Ouch..." Buffy let out a moan, rubbing her aching butt. Angelus looked up, surprised. Angel freed himself and ran over to Buffy. "YOU CAN’T INTERFERE!" Coralancus was talking to an unseen persona. "What the..." Xander murmured. They all lifted their head to see stormy clouds in the ceiling, forging a tornado, or was it a vortex. "YOU CAN’T INTERFERE!!! IT’S MY KINGDOM!! MY EMPIRE!" Then the vortex was above them. They could feel the wind sucking them.

VI

Buffy opened her eyes. She was in her bed. She sighed. She’d have some kind of a story to tell Giles. She really hoped it wasn’t a prophecy. It was the yearnings for Angel that tear her apart. It would be better when she’ll start the college. She looked over at the calendar in her bedroom.

Angel drove all the way from Los Angeles to Sunnydale. He had to see Buffy. Just a glimpse look and everything would be all right. He felt weird though. A funny feeling of emptiness filled him. Like there wasn’t this annoying voice in his head anymore. Something was very wrong and very different. Oh, he was still a vampire, feeling his face transforming without even having any reason to change. He stopped near his old mansion. He left the car and walked to Buffy’s house, not caring that it will be daylight in a few of hours. He climbed the tree. He saw her. She was awake, surprisingly. Maybe she just came back from patrol, he thought to himself. She felt him, he knew.

Buffy turned around to have a better look. "Angel?" she asked, half-whispering. He landed on her roof and walked towards her. "Buffy". "I... I... I can’t believe you’re here..." she whispered. "I just...I had to... I felt something was wrong". He said, lowering his eyes. She stepped closer to him. "And I had the weirdest dream". She said.

"I blame it on the Angel-missage". She said. He looked puzzled.

She smiled. "I missed you".

"I missed you too but... I had this dream... where I ..." he started to remember. Buffy looked at her room. She gazed at her bag. Angel watched her spilling the content. She gazed at her shirt, covered with some yellowish stain.

"Oh my god..." she whispered. "It was real..."

"What?"

"Coralancus... we were in Thesulah..." she inhaled.

Angel thought for a second. "I’m starting to remember..." he said finally.

"BUFFY!" they heard a shout from the outside. Buffy slid out of the window and both she and Angel jumped to the ground.

Willow and Oz were approaching, behind them Xander and Giles.

"You remember too?" she asked them.

"It was like the girl said!" Willow said. "I was stuck in one of my crystal balls!" Giles looked at Angel.

"Angel?"

He turned to look at them. "I’m glad to see you’re all right". He said. Buffy snuggled into his arm.

"What was the thing that monster talked with?" She asked. Giles and Angel looked at each other.

"The First Good". They said together.

"Wow". Said Willow.

Angel kissed Buffy’s hair. "I’m think I better go back to L.A". He said.

She looked up at him. "At least stay ‘till tomorrow. It’s going to be daylight soon". She said.

"Okay..." he smiled lightly. They all turned to walk away.

"So anybody wants pizza?" asked Xander.

"Xander, what is it with you and pizza?" asked Willow. Buffy just put her head on Angel’s chest. Feeling him was so good. They let the other walk away.

"Promise me you’ll visit". She said.

He smiled. "I will. And you will come visit me in L.A too". She smiled and kissed him. He leaned to kiss her. The others stopped walking and turned to watch the two kissing passionately, embracing and immersed in one another, maybe not for the last time.

"I think it’s gonna be a long summer". Said Willow, biting her slice of pizza. The others were sitting around the table eating. Except for Angel, who just looked at Buffy happily and smiled to himself. "Yeah", agreed Buffy. "The longest summer ever".

THE END.

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