Chapter 23

Buffy crashed through the front door in her haste to get there; glancing around the house she could tell that they were too late. The place was a mess, and Giles was nowhere to be found. She collapsed to the floor, feeling strong arms wrap around her a second later.

“We’ll get him back, love.”

She shook her head. “What if it’s too late? He could already be dead.”

Spike grasped her shoulders and turned her to look at him. “He’s alive; they wouldn’t kill him just yet. Not when they need him, we’ll get him back. I promise you that.”

Buffy nodded, tears forming in her eyes. “I can’t lose him, Spike. He’s the only father I have.”

Spike took her in his arms, rubbing her back as she cried into his chest. No matter what happened, he would make sure Angelus paid for this.


* * * * *


Angelus slapped him across the face one more time, pleased when his eyes finally started to flutter open.

“It’s about time; I thought you would sleep the whole night away.”

Giles opened his eyes and really wished he hadn’t. It was hard to remember what happened, or how he found himself to be tied to a chair, Angelus hovering over him. “What do you want?”

The vampire rolled his eyes. “I think you know the answer to that. Blood is needed to free Acathla. I tried that, but it didn’t work. Now, you’re going to tell me what I’m doing wrong, or I torture you very slowly. The choice is yours.”

Giles held his head up high. “I won’t tell you anything.”

Angelus gave a sadistic grin. “Wrong answer.”


* * * * *


“I think the factory is our best bet. We should check it out first thing in the morning. I just hope Giles is okay.” She snuggled against him, taking comfort in knowing he was right there with her.

Spike agreed. “He’s a strong bloke, I’m sure he can hold his own.”

A knock sounded on the door, it was opened to reveal Xander and Willow.

“We came as soon as we could. Are you sure they have Giles?” the red head wondered.

Buffy nodded. “I can’t think of any other explanation for his disappearance.”

Xander was confused. “How did they even get in? Wouldn’t they need an invite?”

“Dru must have used her thrall. She’s good at that,” Spike explained.

Buffy got back to the point. “We’re hitting the factory as soon as the sun comes up. I need you guys to find Giles and get him out of there, Spike and I will handle the others.”

Willow didn’t love that plan. “We could help, too. You guys could probably use all the help you can get.”

Buffy shook her head. “I can’t worry about the two of you on top of Giles. We can handle it; I’m a lot stronger these days.”

Willow and Xander exchanged looks, so Buffy decided to demonstrate for them.

Spike smiled as she went to the weapon’s chest and bent yet another one of the Watcher’s treasures. He would never get tired of watching her do that.

“Damn, that’s hot,” Xander claimed, then thought better of it when he noticed the thunderous expression on Spike’s face.

“How did you do that, Buffy?”

She explained to them about being the new Slayer, and they were surprisingly not freaked by it.

“Wow, that’s really cool. I mean, that is cool, right?” Willow asked her friend, realizing that she didn’t seem too quick to agree.

Buffy shrugged. “If It helps me get rid of three crazy vampires, then I’m all for it. I’ll worry more about what it means when this is all over. Saving Giles and the world is my main priority right now. God, how did my mom ever handle this?”

Spike wrapped his arms around her. “She was strong, just like you. Your mum put everyone above herself. She was one of the truest hearts I’ve ever known. You’ll make it through this, sweetheart. There’s nothing you can’t do.”

Buffy let out a sigh as she relaxed in his embrace, really hoping that he was right.


* * * * *


“You know, I can stop the pain. You’ve been very brave,” Angelus commented, placing his hand on Giles’ shoulder, “but it’s over. You’ve given enough.” He leaned down to his ear. “Now, let me make it stop.”

Giles panted and shook with agony. “Please,” he whispered.

Angelus knelt down to face him. “Just tell me what I need to know.”

“In order to be worthy,” he started weakly, “You must perform the ritual…in a tutu.”

Angelus scowled at him.

Giles didn’t back down. “Pillock,” he spat.

Angelus stood up straight. “All right, you leave me with no choice. Drusilla? Daddy needs you!” He called behind him, smiling when the vampiress walked over to his side. Angelus caressed her cheek. “Do you want to play a game?”


* * * * *


Giles wouldn’t give in, no matter how much pain Angelus caused him. He would rather die than help the wanker summon Acathla. They were all as good as dead if that happened, anyway. He remained silent when Drusilla glided over to him.

She grabbed a nearby cloth, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Is that better?” Drusilla put away the cloth, running her finger down his cheek. “Poor thing, let’s see what’s inside.” She ran her hand up the back of Giles' head, closing her eyes and concentrating on reading his thoughts. It didn’t take long for her to discover something useful. Drusilla gasped and removed her hand. “Of course,” she whispered in his ear. Drusilla went around to his other side, holding up two fingers. “Look at me.”

Giles tried to resist, but it was a losing battle.

“Be in me,” she said.

In his weakened state, Giles quickly fell under her spell.

Drusilla gazed into his eyes and smiled. “See with your heart.” She covered his eyes with her hand, and when she took it away, he saw Joyce Summers kneeling before him.

The woman that he loved and never thought he would see again, having lost her tragically many years ago to a brain tumor. “I thought I lost you.”

Joyce gave him a small smile. “I’ll never leave you.”

Giles tried to get up. “We have to get out of here.”

She brushed her hand over his temple, trying to calm him. “Did you tell Angel about the ritual?”

Giles shook his head adamantly. “No, we have to get him away from Acathla.”

“Angel himself? He’s the key?”

He nodded. “His blood, we can’t let him get too close.”

She shushed him, then pressed her lips to his.

Angelus was happy with the results. “Blood, of course. The blood on my hands must be my own. I am the key that will open the door. My blood. My life. This is very good.” He focused back on Drusilla to see that she was still in a heavy make out session with the old man. “Um, Dru? We’re done here.”

She pulled away, giving him a sheepish look. “Sorry, I was in the moment.”

Giles opened his eyes and realized that he had been tricked. There would be no stopping them now.