Chapter 24

They arrived at the factory first thing in the morning, prepared to go into battle if it came to that. Buffy glanced at her friends, squeezing Spike’s hand to give herself some comfort.

“You guys find Giles, then get out of there. Don’t try to be all heroic, I won’t be able to do my job if I’m worrying about your safety.”

Willow and Xander nodded, heading to the back of the factory.

Buffy turned her attention on Spike now. “Are you ready for this? They’re not gonna get out of this undusted. I don’t expect you to be able to kill Drusilla, but you know I have to do it. I can’t let her walk out of there.”

Spike pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I know, love. I’ve got your back, no matter what.”

Buffy felt relieved to hear that, taking a deep breath and focusing on the entrance. She pulled the sword out of her bag that she got from Giles’ weapon’s chest, hoping that she knew how to use it. “Here goes nothing.”


* * * * *


Angelus stood before Acathla, taking the knife that Drusilla handed to him.

“Now, you will be free.” He sliced the blade across the palm of his hand, wincing in pain. “And so will we all.”

Buffy sneaked in behind one of their minions. She raised her sword and decapitated him with a single swing. He crumbled to ash as his head fell to the floor.

Drusilla and Angelus turned to look at the commotion.

Buffy met their gazes. “Is this a private party, or can anyone join?”

Angelus rolled his eyes. “I don’t have time for you.”

“You don’t have a lot of time left,” she spat.

“Coming on kind of strong, don't you think? You're playing some deep odds here. Do you really think you can take us all on?”

Buffy gave him a determined expression. “No, I don’t.”

The front door busted open, sunlight streaming through as Spike gave them a smile, crossbow raised.

Drusilla whimpered as she moved out of the deadly rays.

Angelus glared at his grandchilde. “How the fuck are you not bursting into flames?”

Spike shrugged. “I’ve been a good boy and got myself a little treat. It’s such a nice day, Angelus. Why don’t you come over here and see for yourself?”

“Sorry, William, but I kind of have a prior engagement. You really think you can take me on with a bow and arrow?”

Spike shook his head. “This isn’t for you, Peaches.” He aimed and fired the crossbow when he saw Darla finally emerge to see what was going on, too caught off guard to realize that an arrow was flying in her direction, until it pierced her heart. Spike smiled in satisfaction as her dust hit the ground, meeting the pure look of anger on Angelus’ face.

Drusilla was crying at the loss of her grandmother, snatching up her ashes and holding them close to her body.

Angelus ignored her whines and scowled at Spike. “You’ll fucking die for that, you piece of shit!”

The battle began.

Spike charged at Angelus, not holding anything back.

Buffy grabbed Drusilla by the hair, throwing her away from Darla’s ashes. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”


* * * * *


“Giles!” Xander yelled when he finally found the beaten up old man. “Are you okay?”

Willow gasped at the sight of him.

“Xander?” Giles wondered, still in a state of shock.

“Can you walk?”

Giles shook his head. “You’re not real.”

Xander wasn’t expecting that. “Sure, I’m real.”

“It’s a trick. They get inside my head; make me see what I want.”

Xander untied the ropes and raised his eyebrows. “Then why would they make you see me?”

Giles took that into consideration. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

Xander and Willow helped him out of there, praying that Buffy was handling everything on her end.


* * * * *


Angelus shoved Spike away from him, kicking the younger vampire hard in the abdomen.

“You’re not going to ruin this for me, boy.” He left Spike on the ground, hurrying over to Acathla and grabbing the sword that was sticking out of the chest with his bloody hand. A bright light shone through as Angelus pulled the sword out.

Drusilla stopped to look up. “Oh, here he comes.”

Buffy put a chokehold on her. “It’s a shame you’re going to miss him.”

Drusilla growled, grabbing Buffy with all her strength and throwing her to the ground. “You’re a Slayer now, just like Mummy. She was a bad girl, you should join her. I can help with that. Be in me, deary.”


* * * * *


Spike ended up using Buffy’s sword to hold off Angelus, even though he knew it was too late and Acathla was slowly awakening. If he had to go to Hell, he would be sure to take Angelus with him. He turned to see that Buffy was starting to weaken as she faced off with Drusilla. He knew she could hold her own, but all bets were off the second Dru left three long scratches on her face. Spike saw red and pushed Angelus away from him, making his way over to Buffy’s side. Drusilla was on top of his girl, about to strike her fangs into Buffy’s neck. Without thinking much about his actions, he pulled a stake out of his pocket and thrust it into her back.

Drusilla turned to him, giving him a sad expression as she exploded in a cloud of dust.

Buffy coughed when the ashes fell on her, gazing up into the face of her boyfriend.

“Sorry, I know you wanted to do it.”

Buffy didn’t care about that. She only cared about the fact that Spike just killed his sire for her.

Spike helped her up, caressing her cheek softly. “No one hurts my girl.”

She felt touched, but her attention was immediately brought away from him.

Angelus laughed in the background. “Well, isn’t that sweet? I’m sure you two can have plenty of cozy moments in the pit of Hell. We’re all going for a ride.”

Spike pulled Buffy behind him as Acathla started to open, knowing that he had to think fast if they were ever going to get out of this. He kicked up the crossbow that was by his side, aiming it toward Angelus. “I’m not ready to leave this world just yet.” He fired the arrow, which struck the elder vampire in the shoulder.

Angelus cried out, then barked in laughter. “You missed, boy, and it looks to me like that was your last one.”

Spike grinned when Angelus fell to the ground. “No, I don’t think I did.”

They walked over to the fallen vampire, glancing down at him.

“What the fuck did you do to me?”

Spike pulled the arrow out of Angelus, not caring about his cry of pain. He held it up for him to see. “It's a mystical compound. The Latin name translates roughly to Killer of the Dead. A poison to vampires. Hurts like a bitch, doesn’t it?”

Angelus tried to get up, but fell back down.

Spike gave him a hand and yanked him to his feet. “The only one going to Hell is you, Peaches.” He moved out of the way, giving Buffy room as she walked over, sword now in hand.

No words needed to be said as she thrust the sword into Angelus’ chest.

He reached out, hoping one of them would have mercy on him, but there was no such luck.

They stood there as Angelus was soon sucked into the vortex, leaving Acathla dormant once again.