A Deadly Game
Serena
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, Angel, Willow, Xander, Oz, Cordelia, Giles, Spike, Dru, Joyce, Kendra, and Jenny, they belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB, and 20th Century Fox. I'm just playing with them, I promise to put them back after I'm done. I do own Leonna, Arianna, and all the other gypsies I made up, though. Please don't sue me, I just spent all my money on new clothes and I don't think you big hot-shot guys will look good in capri pants and tank tops.
Author's Notes: Okay, guys, this is the last story in my little trilogy. This follows Another Chance and Vanishing Act so I suggest reading those first. Things could get a little confusing. I've made up everything about the gypsy clan. I tried to be as accurate as possible, but this is fiction, so bare with me. I've never been to Romania either, but I did *research* it. Yea me. And yes, I know how to speak English, the old woman in my story can't talk too good, it's not me or my writing. Thoughts are in < >. Feedback means the world to me, and I will love you forever if you give me some!!! I'm thinking of doing a fluff series as a sort of spin-off to this and would like to know if I should or not.
************PROLOGUE***********
"All right," Rupert Giles said, walking out of the cockpit into the main part of the plane. "We just reached our maximum altitude and are now on our way across the Pacific. We should be reaching our destination in about," he paused, glancing at his watch. "A day or so."
"Is this the official 'seat belt sign is now turned off' notice? 'Cause I gotta use the ladies room," Buffy Summers said, undoing her seat belt and jumping out of her plush leather seat. She turned to Giles before heading to the bathroom. "Giles, this plane is really cool. Any chance the Council will let us keep it?"
"Yeah, we can go save Hawaii from the big bad volcanoes or something," Xander Harris piped in.
"Or go to Paris and go shopping!" Cordelia Chase squealed. Giles gave them a pained look.
"I highly doubt the Council would...appreciate that. This plane is strictly for business--"
"Yeah," Xander said. "Business. Uh huh. Sure. We're on to you, buddy," he shook his finger at Giles.& nbsp; "Now we know what you Watchers really do. Take this plane and go to Vegas."
Giles smiled faintly and turned to go back to the cockpit, where Katrina was overseeing the flying. Buffy disappeared into the bathroom, but not before she went over into the corner where Angelus sat behind a thick curtain, strapped into a chair
"You're awfully quiet," she remarked with a smile. He just growled at her.
"You just wait," he retorted. "You'll get what's coming to you."
"No, honey, I'm afraid you'll get what's coming to you. This is getting really old," she sighed, tossing her blond hair behind her shoulder. "I miss Angel. I can't wait to get him back."
"You change me, I'll just get changed back," he spat back, his eyes glowing yellow. She just laughed.
"That's what you think, babe," she said, patting his head in a sign of power. "That's what you think."
*****************
Leonna stood in the middle of the large room, fuming. She held a letter in her hands that the Slayer had discreetly placed in the old factory. Her anger rolled off of her in waves, threatening to engulf all who came near. She was gazing at it when she felt a presence behind her.
"Why does this always happen when I have plans?" she asked quietly, dangerously, not looking up. The blond vampire shrugged.
"I have no idea, pet. The damn Slayer and her annoying friends always find a way to screw things up royally. They really get on my nerves," Spike said as he walked up to Leonna and took the letter out of her hands.
"Let's see, 'It's a game of tag, and guess who's it'," he read. "'Catch us if you can.' Well, that's helpful," he said, turning his gaze on Leonna. She stood still, her emotions clear on her face. Anger, hatred, the need for revenge. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, muttering something in a language lost long ago. She gasped suddenly and opened her eyes, a small smile creeping onto her blood red lips.
"What is it, love? You look like the bloody cat who ate the canary," Spike said. She just looked at him.
"I'm on to them. They think they're so smart. They're on a plane, darling, a plane headed to Romania. And they have my Angelus. Come, we must be quick. They have quite a lead on us," she said, looking away suddenly. She took the note out of Spike's hand and crumpled it in her fist.
"Umm...Lee? What's the big deal? Why not just wait until they get back from their little vacation?" Spike asked.
Leonna looked at him again with a fire burning in her eyes. "Because I will not let them win."
*****************PART 1*****************
Cordelia looked up from the latest issue of Cosmo as Giles and Katrina entered from the cockpit. The others had been trying to figure out how to work the VCR and were looking for some good movies.
"We must talk about what we're going to do with Angelus," Giles said as they sat down in two of the plush chairs.
"Why don't you let me go so I can kill you all?" he growled from his corner. Everyone ignored him.
"I think we outta stake him. Ya know, so this doesn't happen again," Xander suggested. Buffy gave him a dirty look.
"Try it and you'll be jumping out of this plane without a parachute," she said sweetly. Xander shut his mouth, deciding it would be better for him if he didn't give any more 'suggestions.'
"What I meant i-is that we can either let the gypsies perform the spell or do-do it ourselves," he said.
"Ooh, bad idea," Buffy said. "First one anyway. They kinda hate him, remember? Old vengeance kick that they got going on. They could try and turn him into a toad." "Or just put a stake in his heart and end it there," Cordelia said sweetly. Everyone just looked at her. Shrugging, she turned back to her magazine.
"So I get to do the spell again? Cool!" Willow exclaimed as she stood and retrieved one of her bags.
"Do you require any assistance, Willow?" Katrina asked in her soft voice. She had been an instant favorite with the group, particularly Giles. The teens had all exchanged glances when they saw him look at her.
"Not really. I just have to set up and I need someone to read the Latin for me. And another to do the stinky herbs thing. But thanks," she smiled. Katrina nodded faintly.
"Ah ha!" Oz said. Everyone looked at him and he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, just got the VCR working. Which movie, guys?"
"Here," Xander said, handing him one.
"Austin Powers Hey, this movie rocks. Did you bring it?" he asked as he popped it in. Xander shook his head.
"It was here. Who'da thought the stuffy Watchers would have a thing for Mike Myers?" he chuckled. The others laughed as Katrina and Giles exchanged glances, small smiles on their lips.
Xander stood and walked over to Cordelia doing his best Mike Myers impersonation. "Shall we shag now or shall we shag later?" he said to her. "Yeah baby, yeah! Do I make you horny, baby?" Cordelia just sighed and gave Xander a look before pulling her magazine up to cover her face.
"I must be mental," she muttered as the others laughed.
"Okay. I'm ready when you guys are," Willow announced. She handed an old leather-bound book to Giles and lit what looked like a bundle of incense, which she handed to Oz. Katrina went back to flying the plane and Xander sat down quietly, picking up one of Cordelia's magazines and leafing through it.
"Give me a sec," Buffy said as she stood and walked over to where Angelus sat. "Well, hun, it's been real. I'll look you up if I'm ever in hell," she smirked.
"You're still bad in bed, Buff. Soul Boy is too nice to say that to you, so I thought I'd let you know. Have a nice death," he sneered. She just leered at him then turned and marched back to where Willow sat.
"Okay, I'm ready. Better do it before I do something I'll regret later," she complained, flopping into one of the chairs. Willow smiled at her before nodding to Giles, who began to read from his book. Buffy, wanting to be there when her boyfriend awoke again, stood and waited outside the curtain until Willow was almost done. She heard Angelus' scream and stepped behind the curtain just in time to see the green fade from his eyes. He groaned and his head dropped. Buffy slowly approached him, slightly wary of him. Her heart ached to hold Angel once again, but she couldn't get too close yet. The world stopped spinning as she waited for him to wake up.
"Angel?" she whispered uncertainly She took another step closer, waiting for him to respond. When he didn't she got worried. She stood before him and gently took his chin in her hand, pushing it up lightly to gaze at his face. "You're so beautiful..." she said softly, barely audible, as she traced her other hand across his cheek. He leaned into the caress gently and she smiled.
He opened his eyes groggily and blinked before fixing his gaze on Buffy. "Hey honey, I'm home," he joked. She laughed and leaned down, catching his lips in a tender kiss as she reached around him and undid the handcuffs that held him in place. Angel wrapped his arms around Buffy, drawing her down to sit on his lap as they continued to kiss softly. They broke it off when both needed to breathe. Buffy gazed into Angel's eyes.
"This is getting really old, you know. I missed you," she said to him. He smiled slightly and kissed her again before hugging her close to his chest.
"I missed you too, baby. I was only gone for a couple of hours, though. I'm sorry," he replied and kissed her hair. She looked at him in surprise.
"What for? It wasn't your fault. We just didn't know that Spike wanted you back that badly," she smiled. He chuckled softly and she laid her head against his chest again, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He ran his hands up and down her back and arm, stroking her skin softly. "You didn't do anything with that Leonna chick besides kiss her, did you?" she asked suddenly, jealousy surging through her.
"Yes, I got her pregnant and then proposed to her," he replied, laughing. He felt her smile. "No, sweetie, of course not. I missed you too much. She did offer, though..." he trailed off. She playfully hit him on the arm, then lifted her head for another kiss.
"Buff? Is Dead Boy attacking you or something?" Xander called over to the curtain. He heard her giggle, but she didn't reply. "I'll take that as a no..."
Angel brought one hand down to caress her leg and she closed her eyes, smiling. He leaned back and lightly tickled her jean-clad thigh before she swatted his hand away with a promise for later.
"C'mon. I want you to meet Katrina. She's really cool. Plus I hear the Austin Powers music playing," she said as she stood and offered him her hand, which he took, standing up as he did so. She pulled the curtain back and sunlight flooded him, causing him to blink again. He smiled slightly, he had missed it.
"Austin Powers?" he asked suddenly. She giggled.
"It's a movie, it's really funny. You have to watch it," she said as she pulled him over to where the others sat around the TV. They glanced up as he entered, smiling, then turned back to the movie. He led Buffy over to an empty chair and sat down, pulling her onto his lap once more. She leaned into his embrace, nuzzling his neck before she turned her attention to the movie.
They watched the movie in comfortable silence until Scott Evil came on screen.
"You know, Oz, that Seth Green guy looks a lot like you," Xander remarked. Buffy looked closely at the screen, then at Oz and nodded her head.
"He's right. That's pretty cool," she said. Willow smiled.
"And while we're on the subject, Buff, you look like that chick from I Know What You Did Last Summer. You know, the one in the bathing suit? She was really hot..." Xander stopped talking as he saw Angel and Cordelia glaring at him. He raised his hands in defense. "What?"
Cordelia sighed, shifting slightly in her seat. "Is there any food on this plane, Giles?" she yelled in the direction of the cockpit. After a beat Giles stuck his head out.
"Yes, there should be some in the little metal box that looks like a refrigerator," he said sarcastically, getting surprised looks from everyone. He blushed slightly. "Sorry, didn't mean to snap. I-I've just been reading the little material I could find on Leonna, and I must say, I'm a little worried."
"It'll be no sweat, Giles. Really. Now stop worrying about it. We're on vacation!! For *two* weeks. I'm determined to make you have a good time, even though I know it's against your religion or something. So enjoy it!" she scolded. Giles just gave her a disapproving look before turning around and walking back into the cockpit. She just shrugged. "Well, it's true. I mean, come on, guys, how cool is this? We have no school, we're all with our significant others, we're on our way to a whole new hemisphere..."
"And we have a gypsy vampire who kinda wants to kill us all. Real great, Buffy. And there aren't even any places to shop in Romania!" Cordelia whined, rising from her chair and heading in the direction of the food.
"She's just mad because she's missing that big sale at the mall this week," Xander muttered.
Cordelia didn't turn around from her search in the fridge, only replying, "I heard that, Xander. Oh, wow, how thoughtful! They stocked up on Diet Pepsi for me. You guys want anything?"
"Ooh, do they have any of those little peanuts? I love those things!" Buffy squealed, jumping off Angel's lap and joining Cordelia by the food cabinets. The girls rooted around and brought back chips and sodas that they had brought on the trip with them for everyone. Everyone munched on their snacks as they finished the movie.
Buffy gazed around at her friends, thankful for their support. She was putting on a brave face, showing no fear. But on the inside, she was terrified of Leonna and of the coming days. She had no idea if this would be her final battle, if her time as the Slayer was ending. She silently prayed to whatever God would listen that she and her friends would live through this.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Angel said quietly, shaking Buffy out of her thoughts. She smiled slightly at him, knowing she could keep nothing from him but deciding to try anyway.
"Nothing. I'm just so happy," she said cheerfully. He just raised his eyebrows at her, not believing her for a second. He was awed at how strong she was, he always had been and always would be. He cupped her cheeks in his hands lightly and brushed his palms across the smooth skin. He brought her mouth to meet his in a soft kiss, telling her without words that it was okay to be scared, but that he would be there for her and he would keep her safe from harm. She responded, thanking him. She marveled at how they could communicate without words, without making any conscious thoughts. Her whole being soared with the knowledge that she was being allowed to love him, that they had been given an opportunity to be together and she pulled him closer to her. She had been so terrified when she had realized he had been turned again, she felt the feeling of dread creeping up on her again as she remembered the wave of emotions that had hit her.
He sensed her tense up and held her tightly, anchoring her firmly and running his fingers through her hair as they continued to kiss. He felt a familiar wetness creeping on his cheek and wasn't sure if they were her tears or his. A mixture of both, perhaps. For eternity they stayed together like that, the outside world melting away long ago, leaving the two soul mates to bask in the light of their love. They were the only two who mattered, two halves of one soul.
After a time they pulled apart, brown and hazel eyes quickly becoming lost in the depths of the other's soul. Buffy brought her hands up to slowly draw away the tears that wetted Angel's face and he did the same with hers. She smiled slightly and began to giggle, kissing his forehead and snuggling back up to him.
"Are you two done?" Cordelia asked, sounding slightly annoyed. They looked up to see Willow smiling at them, Xander tossing cheese balls in the air and catching them in his mouth, Oz playing his guitar, and Cordelia staring intently at them. Buffy and Angel nodded. "Okay, good, you two were making me nauseous. Who wants what for lunch?"
The six friends got up and began looking for the sandwiches they had brought, for the moment their minds off the confrontation ahead.