A/N: I’m currently looking for a new summary. *snicker* The current one was fine… until the story evolved into something totally… different.

Thanks to AthenaHahn and BlacknBlue2 for their great betaing, without which I would be lost.

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Gripping her sword loosely in her right hand, with the pommel down and the blade resting alongside the underside of her arm, point towards the night sky, Buffy stepped down off the front porch and stopped, feet slightly spread, looking completely relaxed.

Spike followed her, eyes focused on the mass of approaching demons. “Looks like this could be a right blast, pet,” he said, as he took up position on her left side.

“Oh yeah. It’s gonna be a real fun time Spike,” Buffy replied. “Blood, guts and dismemberment. Just like I’m used to.” Casting a quick glance over the approaching horde, Buffy singled out one opponent. “I’m gonna take out the ass with the katana first, so you can use it, Spike.”

“Okay pet, be careful. Don’t want you getting hurt.” Spike glanced at the katana-wielding demon. “Bugger looks vicious.”

“Oh, he is, but not as vicious as me.” With that said, Buffy launched herself across the distance between herself and the demon. Before the demon could bring its weapon up to defend itself, Buffy brought her sword in a vicious arc across in front of her body, neatly decapitating it. Scooping up the katana, she tossed it towards Spike, who caught it in mid-air as he darted across the space between him and Buffy.

“Okay, that was… neat,” Spike said as he stopped beside Buffy once more.

“Really, did you have to do that?” A well-dressed, human-seeming male asked as he stepped forward from the crowd of demons. “All we want is the sacrifice as was promised us.”

“Sorry mate, the sacrifice has been cancelled,” Spike said with a snarl, his golden eyes glowing with rage.

“Come now, I’m sure we can reach an equitable arrangement. After all, the girl is only human. My name is Hammond, and I work for…” Hammond said with some pomposity.

A low-pitched, rumbling growl issued from Buffy’s throat as she glared at Hammond. “I know who you work for, and I know exactly why you are here. As the vampire said, the sacrifice has been cancelled. The girl belongs to me.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Down in the basement, Giles, Willow, Tara and Anya worked feverishly to construct the concentric wards. They had managed to finish 3 of them, and were all trembling with exhaustion.

“I-I-I don’t think we can k-k-keep this up for m-m-much longer.” Tara stuttered.

“She’s right. I’m just about drained, and if they do manage to get through the wards, none of us will have anything left to fight with.” Willow said quietly.

Xander, having watched quietly thus far, asked, “Why don’t you use the electricity to power the remaining wards? After all, it IS just power you need. Right? I mean I’m no witch or whatever, but isn’t power… well… just power?”

Giles looked at Xander with something akin to shock in his eyes. “Bloody Hell. The boy is a genius.”

“Xander has good ideas Giles, just… not all the time… and not very often,” Willow said with a giggle.

Thus said, the 4 of them started to plug the wards into the electrical system of the house. As they did so, they noticed the ward at the top of the stairs take on an eerie blue sheen.

“You realize that this is going to send Mrs. Summers' electric bill through the roof,” Anya said to nobody in particular.

“Ahn, somehow I don’t think Mrs. Summers will mind, if it saves Dawn. And the rest of us,” Xander interjected.

“Quite right, now can we get back to the task at hand?” Giles asked with some frustration.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“She is MY daughter, and she is coming with me,” Hank Summers said as he pushed his way to the front. “And no two-bit whore is going to stop me.”

Losing his temper, Spike slammed his fist into Hank’s jaw, knocking him out. “NOBODY talks to her like that.”

Hammond glanced down at the sprawled form of Hank Summers. “He isn’t really needed for this part anyway.” Looking at Buffy, he made a gesture towards the demon horde. “I’m sure you are wondering why nobody has noticed my little entourage. Our mages have cast a cloaking spell, both visual and auditory. Soon they will have taken down that feeble ward around the house. I really do suggest just handing over the girl, before you get hurt."

Angel stepped forward, a gloating smirk on his face. “I told you Spike. Dawn will be mine.” He flourished a tightly rolled document. “In writing and everything. Seems dear old Hank signed over his daughter’s virginity to me.”

Hammond interrupted, “Yes, yes, let’s do get on with this. We don’t have all day, or night, as the case may be.”

Buffy looked at both Hammond and Angel, her eyes a brilliant silver, with an ebon flame burning in them. “You will only get Dawn over my cold corpse. And even then you wouldn’t stand a chance.” Silvery scales erupted across her cheekbones, and trailed down her neck. Soon her hands were covered in the same silver scales. “Know this, Hammond, Liaison for WolfRam and Hart. You will not pass. Neither you, nor your associates. None of those who stand with you shall pass.”

Spike smirked. “I stand by what she said. None of you are getting past me either.”

Hammond pulled Angel aside, and gave the order to attack. “Kill them both, and bring me the girl. And kill everyone with the girl.”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed at his words and she made herself a promise to kill Hammond herself… slowly.

Spike spun so that he was at Buffy’s back, guarding hers while she guarded his. As the demons rushed to attack, Spike’s eyes glowed with anticipation for the fight. Unbeknownst to Spike, but in full view of Hammond, Buffy’s eyes did the same, the flame burning higher.

Just as the foremost demons engaged the duo in combat, a clash of blades was heard from the rear of the horde. And an undulating battle cry that Buffy had not heard in millennia brought a wicked smile to her lips.



A/N: up next… the big fight.