Adult-FanFiction.org : Buffy

Humanity	By : QueenB Category: AtS/BtVS Crossovers > Het - Male/Female > Angel(us)/Buffy > Angel(us)/Buffy Views: 4278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
There was absolute quiet after Willow left that no one wanted to break. “Look, Buffy…”
“Don’t, Xander, just don’t say a word.”
Xander felt a brief flare of anger. “No, dammit, listen!” Buffy’s head jerked up at his harsh tone. “Willow wasn’t the only one who used that spell, you know. We all pitched in. We wanted you back because we thought you were in Hell. Don’t dump on her unless you’re prepared to take potshots at all of us.”
Buffy’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t want to take potshots at anybody, Xander. I just spoke without thinking, that’s all. I just don’t want to lose any more lives helping that…woman.”
“Here, here,” Anya muttered approvingly.
Xander opened his mouth for an angry reply when a well-known English voice intruded. “Is this a private party or can anyone join?” Meeting with no response except unfriendly silence, he plumped himself down beside Buffy and took a swig of his beer. “I’m surprised to see you all here. Shouldn’t you be out saving little puppies from getting stepped on?”
“Shouldn’t you be cruising the bar looking for a date? Or maybe you’d have better luck in a florist’s shop.” At Xander’s pointed reference to Spike’s sex with a golem, the other Scoobies smirked.
Spike scowled. “I know I didn’t have sex with a dirtball…”
“And we know you did, so stop trying to deny it. You’re not convincing anybody at this table, Farmer Brown.”
“Guys! We’ve got an--” Willow fell silent as she and Melissa noticed Spike sitting next to Buffy. She sent a mental thought towards the others. [LET’S GET INTO XANDER’S CAR. I’LL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THIS ON THE WAY.]
The others got up and started walking quickly out of The Bronze as Willow’s telepathic voice continued to make itself heard. [WE KNOW WHERE THE MOHRA IS GOING TO BE. ONEGIN HAS TO MEET IT IN THE EAST WING AT 6 A.M.]
[THAT’S GREAT, WILLS. BUT ONEGIN IS DEAD, REMEMBER?]
[I KNOW, XANDER, BUT THE MOHRA DOESN’T AND YURI DOESN’T KNOW THAT EITHER. IF MELISSA SHOWS UP WITH A COUPLE OF HUMAN THRALLS IN TOW, YURI PROBABLY WON’T KILL HER RIGHT AWAY OR SUSPECT HER OF KILLING ONEGIN.]
[HUMAN THRALLS?]
[I MEAN BUFFY, ANYA AND YOU.]
[WHAT?!] That outraged mental squawk was Anya’s.
[YOU’LL ALL KILL AS MANY VAMPIRES AS YOU CAN WHILE I USE A TELEPORTATION SPELL TO GET TO THE EAST WING. WHEN I APPEAR, I’LL USE A FREEZE SPELL TO KEEP THE MOHRA IMMOBILE. I’M TELLING YOU, IT COULD WORK!]
[I DON’T CARE IF IT WORKS OR NOT. I THOUGHT WE’D AGREED WE WEREN’T GOING TO HELP HER ANYMORE. I DON’T WANT MY XANDER TO GET HURT AGAIN OVER HER.]
[FINE, ANYA. I GUESS WE’LL JUST GO WITHOUT YOU.]
A wave of hurt followed that quiet statement. Anya couldn’t believe Xander would turn her down in favor of some demon woman he met only two days ago.
[I HAVEN’T AGREED TO THIS, EITHER, XANDER. YOU THINK YOU COULD STAND UP TO THOSE MANY VAMPS WITHOUT MY HELP?]
[BUFFY, PLEASE.] Willow poured as much silent begging as she could into her words. [YOU SAID YOU’RE GOING TO ATTACK THE CASTLE, ANYWAY. WHY DON’T WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MELISSA AS WELL? SHE JUST WANTS A CHANCE TO GET HER SOUL BACK. SHE WANTS TO GET TO HEAVEN, TOO.]
[WILLOW, YOU’RE FORGETTING WHAT YOU TOLD ME. THE MOHRA IS LOOKING FOR ONEGIN. IF HE DOESN’T APPEAR, HE’LL USE MAGIC AND DISAPPEAR. BUFFY WON’T BE ABLE TO CATCH HIM.]
[WILLOW, YOU DIDN’T TELL US THE CREATURE USED MAGIC!]
[WELL, I USE MAGIC, TOO! I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE IT BY SURPRISE.]
[ARE YOU SURE?] Buffy sent her doubt towards the redhead. [THE LAST TIME YOU TRIED A TELEPORTATION SPELL WITH GLORY, YOU COLLAPSED. YOU BARELY HAD THE STRENGTH TO STAND UP.]
Spike didn’t get it. One moment he’d been on the verge of another round of insults with Buffy and her friends. The next they were all staring at each other and making odd faces. Then they’d abruptly got up and left the club without another word. Any nasty comments he made were ignored as if he hadn’t spoken.
In a flash, he understood. They were communicating telepathically, the way they did during their battles. Somehow, they were planning something and leaving him out of it. Again.
He raced after them. Whatever it was, he was keeping close. Maybe there’d be a chance at demon ass-kicking. Buffy abruptly turned on him when he made it clear that he was tagging along. “What do you want, Spike? I don’t recall asking for your company.”
“It’s a public street, Slayer. I can go where I like.”
“Well, unless you’re planning on chasing the car like the other canines, why don’t you go back to your crypt and chew on a bone?”
“No, I just thought I’d hop on my bike. Plenty of room for you to join me. I know you probably miss having something big between your legs.” He smirked suggestively at her.
“No thanks. I don’t miss Angel that much.” With that parting shot, Buffy moved back to join the others.
[BUFFY, WAIT! I’VE GOT AN EVEN BETTER IDEA.]
[MAN, IS ANYONE ELSE STARTING TO GET SCARED WHEN SHE SAYS THAT?] Xander shook his head, spooked at the sudden telepathic intrusion.
Willow looked Spike up and down with a speculative air. “Melissa, you said Onegin had yellowish hair, blue eyes and was short, about five foot three, right?”
“That’s right. What does that have to do with…?” Melissa stopped when Willow’s intentions became clear. The wiccan flashed her a sparkling grin even as Melissa began to yell. “Oh no. OH NO. We are NOT using him!”
“Why not? Look at him. He’s perfect.”
Melissa snorted. “Perfectly skanky, you mean. He doesn’t look like a Russian boyar. He looks like one of the boys Onegin used to pick up for a little fuck-and-suck.”
“Hang on a minute!”
“The Mohra is going to take one look at that whore’s-blond hair and nasty fingernails and know we’re trying to con him. It will NOT work.”
“Sure it will. We’ve got until 6 a.m. That’ll be time enough for us to make a few minor…adjustments.” Melissa threw up her hands and stomped over to Xander’s car. Willow gave Spike a deceptively innocent smile. “So, Spike. How’s your Russian?”
__________
Spike narrowed his eyes and looked back and forth amongst the Scoobies, who all wore varying different looks of incredulity. “Let me get this straight. You want me to impersonate that plonker Onegin? What for?”
“Melissa dusted him in the alleyway near The Bronze,” Xander stated matter-of-factly.
Spike raised an eyebrow at Melissa who stared pointedly down the street, avoiding his look. She’d dusted her Sire? He didn’t know whether to feel shock or admiration. He turned back to the others. “What’s in it for me?”
“What do you mean, what’s in it for you, Fangless? A moment ago, you were tagging along behind us like Rin Tin Tin and now you want to be paid? Typical,” Xander spat with disgust. “No wonder Buffy can’t stand you.”
“Look, if it were going to be for Buffy or the Little Bit, I’d gladly pitch in. But I’m not about to risk my unlife for some vampire cow without a little compensation.”
“How does $500,000 sound? Is that sufficient compensation?” The calm statement made the others gape. Melissa gave Spike an enigmatic look.
Spike goggled. That’s what was at stake? “Hell, yeah! That’d do it, all right.”
She thrust herself off the car and called to the others. “Great. Now where do we go to get that crap washed out of his hair?”
“We’ll go to his crypt. It’s closest. He’s probably got weapons, too. We can stock up on those.” Xander held the door open and the others piled in as Spike got on his motorcycle.
Spike thought hard, running through possibilities in his mind. Christ, he could do a lot with $500,000. He wouldn’t need to rely on the damn Scoobies for dosh for a long while. Maybe he could even leave this rotten town…
__________
Melissa tapped her foot impatiently, wrinkling her nose as she peered around the crypt. “Come on, how long does it take to get that junk out?”
“It’s not junk, it’s a very expensive hair dye.”
“Like I said before, who knew expensive could look so cheap?”
Spike climbed out of the downstairs enclosure, a towel draped over his hair. “It looks a hell of lot better than that poofter’s hair.”
“What poofter?”
“Angel. He puts this nancy-boy hair gel in it that makes it stick up like a hedgehog’s.”
Melissa digested this for a moment. “Are you sure you’re not gay? You sling about a lot of derogatory gay terms and homophobia usually indicates repressed homosexual tendencies. Besides, only gay men make such a fuss about their hair--or become critical of other men’s.”
Spike removed the towel and threw it onto an armchair. “Being a vampire’s not about being gay or straight. When you have to entice your prey, you don’t make a distinction between sexes. It’s stupid to cut out half your food source just because you prefer…”
“Steers to cows?” she finished sweetly. She turned to the blonde vampire and stiffened. Spike’s hair was revealed in all its original hue. Robbed of its ever-present dye, it showed up as a natural sandy color. It was disturbing but for a brief moment, she saw Onegin’s features overlaid onto Spike’s. She growled softly in remembered hatred.
Spike noticed. “Okay, now what?”
She moved away abruptly. “Nothing,” she snapped. “What do you have in the way of wardrobe?”
“What you see is what you get, luv.”
“You mean, it’s nothing but black T-shirts and black jeans? Boy, for someone who obviously considers himself a rebel, you have a very narrow view of what it means to be a vampire. Not that Onegin’s crew had any broader viewpoints. You should have heard them making fun of each other’s tastes in music, clothes and books.” She paused. “Not that they talked much about those things. Maybe if you have enough time, you can raid Onegin’s wardrobe for something more suitable.”
“Some looks never go out of style, luv.”
“You mean the gay, leather-clad hustler look was in vogue when you were turned?”
“Shut up.”
Spike shrugged into his leather coat and Melissa rolled her eyes. “Don’t you even have a better coat?”
“What the hell’s wrong with this?”
She walked over and tugged at the collar. “Well, it doesn’t even fit you properly. It’s bunched onto your shoulders, the cuffs hang over your knuckles and the hem drags at your ankles. It’s a wonder you don’t trip every time you take a step in it. The man you stole it from must have been at least three inches taller than you.”
“Slayer.”
Melissa wrinkled her brows in confusion. “What?”
“I stole this from the second Slayer I killed,” Spike said this with supreme self-satisfaction.
Melissa gaped at him and then exploded in disgust, “My God! Does Buffy know about this?”
“Sure she does. I told her.”
She edged away from him, her mouth twisted in distaste. “With a great deal of relish, no doubt. Just another reason for her to hate you, I’ll bet. Why she keeps you around the place, I’ll never comprehend. I’m sure you’re marginally useful at times, but you’re way too proud of your ugly past. If I were she, I’d have staked you long ago, chip or no chip.”
“Yeah, well, Buffy appreciates what I do for her. And don’t forget, I can’t hurt humans but I can still do a number on demons, so you’d better watch your step.”
She chose to ignore the threat and said, “I’m sure Buffy appreciates you for exactly what you are. That’s why she speaks of you the way she does.”
“Why, what does she have to say about me?” Spike kept his tone light and sneering but inwardly he hoped to hear that Buffy had been talking about him, no matter what.
Melissa stared at him and coldly replied, “Nothing at all.”
She turned towards the entrance as Xander poked his head in. “Is Liberace almost finished with his wardrobe change? Because we’re about ready to go, here.”
Spike sauntered towards him. “At least I don’t dress in Hawaiian shirts. Coming, luv?”
“Lead on, Sparky.”
__________
Xander hefted his axe as they stepped through the sewers. “I still don’t see why we couldn’t just go through the front door,” Anya groused.
Melissa fingered her stake and she sighed. “I’ve explained this already. The entryway here is the shortest path to the main chamber. We can kill any vamps we meet on the way and considerably cut down on the number you’ll have to wade through when you get into the castle. Speaking of which……”
The group paused as they came upon a trio of vampires coming in the other direction. They all froze and then the vamps roared and charged. Buffy and Spike leapt forward and swiftly dispatched them all. Willow murmured under her breath, carefully practicing the spell that would transport her, Spike and Melissa into Onegin’s room. Hopefully, the sound of Buffy and company killing all their comrades would draw any stragglers and divert attention away from them.
There were more encounters with other vampires, not all of them fledglings. A couple were old and cunning fighters but not smart enough to turn down the chance to kill juicy humans. Only one decided to run screaming for the entryway to warn the others. But Buffy threw her stake and caught him squarely in the heart. He was dust before he’d gone ten feet.
They paused before the entrance and lifted their weapons. Buffy turned towards Willow. “Remember, give us fifteen minutes before going upstairs.”
Willow nodded. “Be careful, you guys.”
Buffy gave her a strained smile and then she paused. “Will, about what I said in The Bronze…..”
Willow waved off her apology. “Forget it, Buffy. We can talk about it later. You just be careful.”
Buffy hugged her hard. “You too, Willow. You be careful, too, Melissa.” She ignored Spike.
Xander piped up, “Have fun storming the castle!” At their incredulous looks, he muttered, “Well, somebody had to say it.” They turned towards the entrance and then Buffy eased open the door and tiptoed in. It slammed shut leaving the others in relative quiet.
__________
Willow found herself fidgeting. The two vampires with her were almost preternaturally still. She couldn’t tell anything about what they were thinking from their blank faces. As the minutes ticked by, the silence grew so unbearable, she felt she had to say something.
“So…..,” she gulped. Her voice seemed almost too loud after the eerie quiet. “Melissa, what are you going to do after you become human again?”
Melissa glanced at her and then stared dreamily into space. “I think….I’ll go visit my parents in Vermont. They haven’t heard from me in such a long time. And I never had a funeral so no one knows I was dead. I can just pick up my life without anyone being the wiser.”
“And what life would that be, eh? Grinding mediocrity in Suburbialand? Working late hours and then coming home to lonely, single-woman TV dinners?”
Melissa didn’t spare Spike so much as a look. “Look who’s talking. I didn’t notice any hot young boys waiting for you in that crypt of yours.”
Willow choked back a giggle at Spike’s thunderous expression. Then she glanced at her watch and jumped up. “Okay, you two. It’s show time.” Spike snorted but joined hands with Willow and Melissa as the redheaded wiccan began to chant.
__________
The spell worked perfectly. They materialized in Onegin’s bedroom without a hitch. Almost immediately, Willow staggered, pale and shaken from the spell’s power. Melissa caught her as she swayed and eased her into a chair. She peered into her face with concern. “Willow, are you okay?”
Willow nodded, grateful of the chance to catch her breath. “I think so. I feel a lot better than the last time I tried this. My powers are getting stronger. Soon there’ll be no aftereffects, at all.”
Spike walked towards the desk, picking up the shiny briefcase that lay on top of it. “Wait a minute!” Melissa cried.
“What’s the problem? This is the loot, innit?”
She chewed her bottom lip. “I’m not sure. Onegin had two cases and he did speak of cheating the Mohra, if he could. Let me open this one and check.” She spun the numbers on the side.
“How do you know the combination?” Willow inquired.
“Onegin used to send me out on errands with one or the other of these cases. I had to memorize the numbers.” She opened it and rotated the case so Spike could see the green bills nestled inside. Before he could take a closer look, she snapped it shut and twirled the numbers again. “That’s it, then. Let’s go.”
Before any of them could move, the door slammed open. In the doorway stood the imposing bulk of Yuri.
__________
Almost immediately after Buffy and her friends came through the door, they were met by Crusher coming to check if Onegin had returned. He gaped open-mouthed at them. “Hey, who the fu…….?” Before he could get another word out, Xander lunged at him, swinging the axe. The blade swung cleanly through his neck and he was dusted before the stupid look on his face had a chance to disappear.
Buffy gazed at Xander in admiration. “Way to go, big guy.”
Xander swung the axe jauntily. “It’s all in the execution, ladies.”
“Xander, look out!” Anya screamed as a pair of females rounded the corner. The women didn’t hesitate at all. Smelling human flesh, they charged forward, snarling at their prey. As all five clashed, the noises drew other vampires from within the castle and the fight was on.
Yuri had started at the sounds of battle and raced out of the room. One glance had been enough to confirm his fears. Somehow the Slayer and her friends had found their way into the castle. They were keeping vampires from exiting through the doors and the tunnel entrance. There also appeared to be far fewer vampires than he had expected for this time of night. No, morning, he silently amended. It was almost time for the Mohra to appear.
At this thought, a cruel grin lit up his features. He’d bring the creature the money and then let the Slayer tangle with one of the most dangerous assassins ever spawned. He was certain that the monster wouldn’t care who showed once the money was in its claws. It might even appreciate the fact that it wouldn’t have to hunt for the Slayer. He’d turned back hurriedly and opened the door.
All four people froze as Yuri’s eyes fastened on Melissa. “What are you doing in here, bitch? And who are these two?”
Melissa relaxed again. “I was just going to find you. I think the Mohra is due to arrive and I know it wanted its money. This,” gesturing towards Spike, “is a vampire I met earlier this evening. He showed me a place where I could pick up human thralls. So I brought her along. I thought I might eat in again tonight.”
Yuri scowled. “Is that so? How do you know anything about the Mohra’s arrival? I’m sure the Master didn’t discuss it with you.”
Melissa answered, “I’m afraid he did. My new friend and I met him while we were heading back with my little redheaded thrall here, and we ran into the Slayer. She attacked Onegin. While he was fighting her off, he yelled at me to come back here and see you gave the Mohra its money. That’s the last I saw of him. Frankly, I expected him to be back by now.”
Yuri stood stock still for a moment, a dawning look of horror in his eyes. “But…..the Slayer, she is downstairs. If she is here and the Master is not…..”
Melissa said nothing. She would have pretended sympathy but she knew Yuri wouldn’t be fooled for a moment. Yuri appeared to remember the other occupants of the room. All at once, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Spike. “You look familiar. Where do I know you from?”
“I don’t know, pal. I ain’t never been in the Soviet Union. I been in Colorado most of mah life,” Spike replied in a Midwestern drawl.
Melissa had no idea how accurate his accent was but she thought she’d lend a hand. She deadpanned, “Uh, Jebediah, there is no Soviet Union anymore. The Communist party collapsed.”
Spike blinked in simulated stupidity. “Really? Weall, nobuhdy told me.”
Without warning, Yuri roared, “WILLIAM THE BLOODY!” and sprang at him.
“Bugger,” Spike swore under his breath and swung as hard as he could at Yuri’s jaw. The behemoth didn’t even blink as the blow landed. He just wrapped his hands around Spike’s body in a massive bearhug and bore him to the floor. Willow jumped up and tried to cast a spell to freeze the vampire or make him explode into flames. But she was still too weak and reeled as the room spun around her. Melissa staggered as the two wrestling males knocked into her legs and she fell backwards over the desk.
Yuri managed to get on top of Spike and caught his head between his hands. Willow sucked in her breath as she saw him begin to squeeze and twist at the blonde vampire’s skull. Oh God, that crushing grip…….
Melissa got up from behind the desk and grabbed one of the axes from the wall. She ran up to Yuri and swung the weapon with all her strength into Yuri’s back. He reared up, bellowing at the pain and turned to stare at her with disbelieving eyes. Willow threw up her hands and chanted as streaks of fire lanced from her fingertips. As the vampire caught on fire, he cried out towards Melissa, “How could you? You are of our clan! Where is your loyalty?”
Melissa gave him the chilliest smile Willow had ever seen on her face. “What can I say, Yuri? I’ve never liked you.” She paused and stepped back as the fire began to consume him. “Yuri, I want you to know one thing before you die. The Slayer didn’t kill Onegin.
“I did.”
Yuri gave a gargled scream of rage and anguish and reached for her. He was old and strong--for a moment it seemed as if he would make it. But, in the end, the magical fire was too much for him. He staggered and collapsed into dust at her feet.
Melissa stood motionless for a moment and then gave a sharp nod. She turned from the pile of ashes in front of her and picked up a Chinese bowl resting on one of the shelves. She found an ornate letter opener lying on the floor among the items scattered during the short fray. “Come on, you two. We’ve got a meeting with a Mohra.”
__________
Below them, the trio was making short work of the remaining vampires. Some of the demons had realized that they were outmatched and tried to make it towards the sewers. But Anya was waiting for them with squirts of holy water that caused them to retreat again and again. Others who tried escaping through the outer doors shrank back from the encroaching dawn. Slowly but steadily, Buffy and her friends were making it towards the east wing.
Spike, Willow and Melissa glanced around the room. They’d gone through a side door that took them away from the fighting. From this distance, they could hear nothing of the battle; the castle walls were too thick to allow the sounds to penetrate. Hopefully, the Mohra would hear nothing to arouse its suspicions. The room was large and conspicuously empty of everything except a few chairs and a long table. It was also quite dark, given the boarded-up windows Melissa had mentioned.
Spike rested the shiny case on the table and tapped it thoughtfully. He’d gotten what he’d come for; why stick around? He could simply pick up the case and leave. But then he’d probably run into Buffy and the others and have to explain why the vampire bint and Red weren’t with him. He could always claim the Mohra had killed them……
“Don’t even think about it, Spike.” The low-voiced warning came from Willow and he didn’t have to see her to know her eyes had turned completely black.
Melissa glanced at him sharply. He gave her an innocent look. “What? I was just wondering when this demon was going to show. Hasn’t he ever heard of punctuality?”
“Patience. He wants his money. He’ll be here,” Melissa replied shortly.
All of a sudden, there was a bright flare at the other end of the room. When it cleared, the Mohra was standing motionless in a slowly dissipating ring of smoke. He looked about the room and then started smashing through one of the windows. The wood splintered under his flailing hands as if it were cardboard. In moments, a sizeable hole had appeared, letting in the first rays of predawn.
Willow tried to appear unafraid but found herself shivering, nonetheless. This demon was huge. At eight feet, it was even taller than Yuri had been. If Onegin had planned to doublecross the creature, it would have taken the combined might of several vampires to defeat it.
Spike approached with his trademark arrogance. If he felt any trepidation, he kept it well hidden. “Right then. You the assassin I’m paying so much for?”
“You are the one called Onegin?” the creature replied in a guttural voice. Evidently the Mohra was as disinterested in pleasantries as they were.
“That’s right. Got your cash right here,” Spike replied in flawless Russian. Hefting up the briefcase, Spike patted it with one hand.
“Let me see the money.” Spike walked as closely as he could to the patch of sunlight where the demon waited. The creature kept his hand on his sword at all times. It was indeed as cautious as Onegin had claimed. It hissed when Spike was about six feet away from it.” That’s close enough! Open the case.”
Spike snapped his fingers without looking at Melissa. She gritted her teeth at the insolent gesture and told herself that he was only staying in character--whether his or Onegin’s was immaterial. She grabbed the case from him, turned the tumblers and opened the case once more. She barely had time to close it and re-set the numbers when the demon extended one hand and waved it at her with irritation. “Throw it here.”
Melissa hesitated. She didn’t understand the Russian at all, though the gesture was clear. She raised an eyebrow at Spike, wondering how he wanted to play it. Somehow they had to keep the creature here until Buffy arrived. She tried to play for time.
“Onegin, ask him if he can really kill the Slayer. This is a woman who defeated a Hellgod, if the rumors are true. What makes him so qualified to succeed where so many others have failed?”
The demon hissed and swiftly drew its sword. It flashed out and he drew intricate patterns in the air with it. The growing light winked and dazzled off its surface as it moved too fast for the human eye to see. “Your minion is too outspoken for its own good. Perhaps I should demonstrate my skill on her.”
“No need, mate. But I’ll be happy to take her place.” The Mohra’s head jerked up at Spike’s abrupt change of accent. But he was unprepared as the blonde vamp attacked him with a flying kick to the head. The blow knocked him out of the sunlight into the surrounding darkness.
Spike drew a short sword out of his coat and Melissa blinked; she hadn’t even known he was carrying it. Melissa shrank back as the two demons engaged each other in battle.
The demon parried his first swing and what followed next happened too quickly for either of the women to follow. The blows came fast and furious as each tried to gain an advantage. Melissa ran back to Willow who was trying to aim another spell. “Willow, don’t.”
“But Spike needs help!”
Melissa glanced back at the energetic duel taking place behind her. “I don’t think so, sweetie. He’s definitely holding his own. Besides, I don’t think he’d forgive us if we interfered.”
Spike was having the time of his unlife. The Mohra was one of the worthiest adversaries he’d ever faced. So far, he hadn’t been able to gain the upper hand. The creature was also trying to maneuver him into the steadily growing patch of sunlight through the open window. When it realized that Spike was too canny for that, it feinted and then darted towards the two girls. Before either could move, it grabbed Melissa by the throat and snatched at the briefcase.
Realizing what it wanted, Melissa yelled, “Willow, catch!” and threw the case through the air so it landed near the redhead’s feet. At that moment, Buffy, Anya and Xander came bursting through the door and stood gaping at the tableau that met their eyes.
The demon held his sword up under Melissa’s throat. “Give me the money or I kill this one.”
Spike shrugged and nonchalantly leaned back against the wall. “Go ahead. She’s only a minion. I’ve got plenty others where she came from.”
Melissa glared at him but nodded her head as much as she dared. “He’s right. I’m only a lowly servant. You want your money, you’ll have to kill the Slayer.”
Buffy stepped forward, stake in hand. “That’s right, tall, green and ugly. You want to put down that neck-biter and earn your pay?” Seeing itself surrounded by so many fighters, the demon hesitated. In that moment, Willow chanted the teleportation spell again and Melissa disappeared from its grip. When she reappeared in front of Willow, Buffy and Spike both dove for the demon.
This time, the fight was swiftly concluded. Buffy’s stake and Spike’s sword both landed in the demon’s chest. “Yes! Got it!”
“What do you mean, you got it, Slayer? I’m the one that finished it.”
“It was going down when you stabbed it, Mr. Spiky-Come-Lately.”
“You’re talking rot, pet, and you know it….”
The argument continued while Melissa brought the bowl over to the recumbent Mohra. Rolling it awkwardly into an upright position, she placed the bowl between its legs. She got behind it and began squeezing and rubbing at its chest in an attempt to get the blood to flow. The others watched her as she continued with varying degrees of curiosity and fascinated horror.
She gave a half-hearted smile in the face of their uncomfortable glances. “This isn’t so bad. It’s a little like pressing grapes, really.” She paused. “God, what an image.” She shuddered briefly and went back to her work.
Finally, when there was approximately a quart of greenish, glowing liquid in the bowl, she picked it up and set it on the table. Quickly, she dipped the letter opener in the fluid and sliced open her left hand. The humans watched breathlessly as the trickle of blood made its way into her bleeding palm.
Melissa frowned. “It’s not working. I don’t feel any diff….AAAHHHHHH!” She screamed and collapsed onto the floor, convulsing violently as the blood began flowing through her. Xander rushed forward and fell onto his knees beside her, trying to keep her from hurting herself, as she thrashed uncontrollably in his grip.
Gradually, her body stilled and she lay limply, taking in large gulps of air. “Oh god, I’m breathing. I can feel my heart.” The words came out in a whisper but they echoed through the room like a shout. Pushing herself to her feet, she made her way towards the shaft of light coming through the broken window. She halted, as if unable to take that final step, and slowly extended her arm into the first rays of dawn.
It hung there, unaffected by the brightness. All at once, she stepped into the full light from the east and turned towards the others. “It’s real. I’m alive again.” She fell to her knees and began crying, full-throated sobs like those Willow had witnessed in the women’s room at The Bronze.
Xander started towards her again only to stop at a gesture from Buffy. “She’s okay, Xander. I think….I think this is just what she needs.”
After long moments had passed, Melissa stood up again and walked back to them. “I-I want to thank you. But somehow saying ‘thank you’ seems woefully inadequate to the occasion. But what can I say? You helped bring me back. You gave me the world again.”
Buffy stilled at hearing these words, an eerie echo of the ones she had spoken when the others had resurrected her. But Melissa meant them. To her, she had the world and heaven within her grasp. She hugged them all, one after the other, even Anya. She wiped her eyes and looked around the room, curiously. “Where’s Spike? When did he leave?”
The others looked around, too. Then Buffy shrugged, uncaring. “That’s Spike. Always cutting out on the emotional moments in life. We should be going now, too.”
They all jumped as a grunt came from the body of the Mohra. “Uh oh, sounds like our friend over there is getting twitchy,” Willow observed.
“No problem, ladies. I used to kick ass at Whack-Em-Mo Games.” Xander lifted his axe and stepped carefully over to the Mohra who was just beginning to stir. He swung the blade as hard as he could at its head. The impact shattered the jewel at one blow. The Mohra leapt up shrieking and everybody flinched as it exploded against the wall.
Melissa straightened her shoulders, happiness radiating from every pore. “Well, it’s all over but the shouting. Are all the minions dead?”
Xander fingered his axe. “They should be, though we should do a final sweep of the castle and sewers.”
Melissa patted him on the shoulder and smiled at his unflagging enthusiasm. “That’s great, though I doubt I’d be much help to you now. I’m going to go through Onegin’s bedroom, see if there’s anything of value I can take with me. The bastard never paid me for my services and I intend to get something out of him. Besides, I need to wipe his computer files clean. I want to erase any trace of myself and him from the system. I don’t want anyone else to know that I’ve been here or guess that I used to be dead.”
She tilted her head, grinned impishly. “How about you guys? Feel like carrying away any souvenirs? Onegin may have been an asshole, but he was a rich asshole.”
Anya perked up noticeably at these words. “Do you think he had any large and expensive jewelry lying around? We could always sell those.”
“I doubt it. There’s jewelry, all right, but they’re mostly period pieces, Onegin family heirlooms and antiques, not to mention the fact that some of them are probably stolen. I don’t think you could sell them without getting a lot of suspicious questions from reputable dealers.”
“Oh.” Anya considered for a moment. “What about disreputable ones? Do they ask as many questions?”
Xander firmly grasped Anya’s arm and began steering her out of the room. “Don’t mind my mercenary fiancée, folks. She had a depraved childhood.”
Willow chuckled as Buffy helped her stand up. “That’s ‘deprived’, Xander.”
“No, I think I got it right the first time.”

TBC
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