Chapter 22: Showdown.
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“Should I kick it in?” Tyler asked once they head reached the back door.
“No,” Ronnie said and shook her head. “ I took down the security and that includes the electronic locks. You kick it in and they will know we are here.”
“Right, we still have the element of surprise.”
“Quiet,” Faith hissed. They had not alerted anything so far. There were no minions or guards coming out to welcome them in their own matter “I’m going to try the knob. If it’s locked then Tyler and I will try kicking it down.”
“We have you covered,” Tyler said.
“Don’t worry about covering me. I’m a Slayer. Worry about your own asses.”
“We are in this together,” Ronnie said. “We are the Avengers. You just didn’t inspire bravery in Lyra. You inspired it in all of us.”
“Actually I was pretty brave be-“
“Shut up, Tyler,” Ronnie said and shoved the butt of her neon green and dark blue plastic rifle into his ribs.
Faith held up a hand to tell them to stay quiet and opened the door. There were no lights on. For a group of people who should be awake at this time one would think they would be walking about. She took a few steps inside.
The lights flicked on and there were two vampires inside what looked like to be the laundry room. One was crouched on the dryer and jumped onto Faith’s back and he turned to dust before she even had a chance to dust it.
Tyler was in the middle of fighting the other vampire and once he had kicked it against the door he used his double stake nunchuku’s to kill it.
“Which one of us is supposed to be a Slayer again?” Faith asked before she nodded at the kids. “Good job.”
“Those were the demon kind,” Ronnie said. “Why are they here?”
“Because this is a vampire nest?” Tyler asked in a well duh tone of voice.
“This Regine might be using her power over them,” Faith said. “Her sexual power, that or she might be paying them.”
They stepped into the small hall and at the other end they came into the main part of the hours that overlooked the two staircases, the view of the second story and what small bit of a third story the place had. There was just a landing and two doors.
“Lyra made it in,” Ronnie said. She pointed out where the other Slayer and the two bleached vampires had come in.
“I don’t like this,” Tyler said as he kept looking around “Where are the other minions.”
“Maybe there were only two,” Ronnie suggested.
“No,” Faith said. “There are never only two.”
A door swung open and out rolled an ugly woman on skates. Faith thought it was a woman at first but on second glance she was sure she saw an apple.
“Oh bugger,” Spike shouted as more vampires stepped out of the rooms.
Faith looked up at them and then over at the third story landing. Regine walked out of one of the rooms wearing a whiye gauzy gown. Next to her was Unicorn Boy dressed in a dove gray suit. His eyes looked vacant as if he were stoned or under a powerful spell.
“Looks like we have unexpected guests,” Regine said as she placed her hands on the railing. “Welcome to Fright Night.”
“Welcome to the Slayer show, bitch,” Faith said as she stared back up at her.
“That is a dirty mouth you have young lady,” Regine said. “So you happen to be the Slayer in town. My minions have informed me of your kind.” Her smile grew wider. “You are all very naughty children for coming in uninvited. You will have to be disciplined before I can serve the refreshments.”
“And we are on the wine list,” Tyler said.
“Children?” Spike blurted. “Children? I happen to be well over a hundred years old you stupid bint.”
“When did you get the grunts?” Lyra asked.
“Lyra?” Regine asked and raised an eyebrow. “That is quite a clever costume, but Halloween is over my dear.” She never lost her smile. “You were the only one who was invited. You should have informed be about your friends. I would have gladly invited them into our home.
“Lyra,” Unicorn Boy nearly d her name.
“She is coming,” Regine said to him. “And she will soon be like Xander.”
“Where is he?” Faith demanded.
“Resting,” Regine said. “He has quite a good taste. Soon he will rise and have his first taste of blood. It might be yours.”
Faith glowered at her. “You are dead.”
“Have been for a thousand years,” Regine said before she grabbed Unicorn Boy by the hand. “Time to go, Charley. Lyra will join us shortly.” She led the other vampire into the bedroom.
As soon as the door had closed everyone had attacked. Both Faith and Ronnie fired their weapons as Tyler threw a few of the grenades and Ninja Crosses. Two of the vampires turned to dust while two more were burned.
One vampire tackled Faith. She kicked him off and rose to her feet where she used her fist’s to beat back another before she thrust her stake into his chest. She jumped on the banister as the other vampire came to her and before it could blink she jumped down and staked it.
Four sharp blades cut into Faith’s arm as something sped by her. It was the one vampire on roller skates and it was continuing on her path towards Ronnie who had just dusted another vampire.
Tyler tackled the girl and rolled her out of the way at the last second.
“You cut me?” Faith asked. “Nobody is doing any cutting, except for me.”
The vampire on wheels rolled back with her claws bared again. She zipped past Faith and barely missed being staked as she slashed down with her claws and ripped open a few more of the water balloons. The vampire hissed in pain as the water burned through her fleshy tips of her fingers.
“Aw did you break a nail?” Faith asked in a taunting tone. She held up her arm. “Look fresh blood. Wanna taste?”
The vampire rolled back towards her and crouched down. Her eyes were yellow, fangs bared and was about to swipe at Faith.
Tyler stepped in front of Faith or rather almost in front. He held out a bunch of the hand grenades just as the roller vamp’s brought her claws down and shoved the balloons back towards the vamp, spraying her hands and her face.
Faith tackled her from the back while the vamp was still crying out in pain and forced her to the floor. She shoved her stake through the back, cutting deep through the flesh and getting blood spurted into her own face. She remembered what Unicorn Boy and that simpering idiot had said about their kind and left her stake inside.
“What was that about?” Faith asked as she stood back up. She wished she had brought a sword with her. She would have been able to properly cut off the head.
“Can’t let you have all the fun,” Tyler said
“It’s all up to you, Niblet,” Spike shouted from upstairs as Lyra ran to the stairs leading to the third story landing.
Lyra had paused when she reached the top and looked like she was pulling a few things out of her pockets.
“What is she doing?” Ronnie asked.
“I don’t know.” Faith wasn’t sure she liked this. A part of her felt like she should also be up there because it is also her fight, but she knew Little Star needed to face someone like Regine by herself someday.
“Is she under Charley’s thrall?” Ronnie asked.
“Shit,” Faith hissed. She heard a door creak but not turn to it.” I’m going up there.”
“Guys,” Ronnie sounded worried. “We are not alone.”
Faith turned around. Her eyes widened. “No.”
-
The vampires were no match for them. As soon as they came running towards the three of them Spike was ready. He took a stand between two of them and let the stakes that he held up his sleeves slide out and he took out two vampires at the same time.
“Teach me that,” Ed said after he had staked another and Lyra had used her hand gun to take out two more.
“When we are done here,” Spike said and punched another in the face. He grabbed the vamp by the hair and pulled him up before he dusted him.
“And we are done,” Ed said after he had killed another.
“Might want to check on the others first,” Spike said. “And costume girl needs to rescue her boy toy.”
“Not just yet,” a man said as he stepped out from one of the rooms that was close to the second story stairs. He was pretty tall and had a good physique.
“Didn’t you hear?” Lyra asked. “I got an invite.” She fired her hand held.
The meathead grinned as he caught one and with lightening like reflexes he grabbed another.
“Looks like we are doing this the hard way,” Spike said and ran up to him.
“You like it hard?” The man asked as he grabbed Spike by the first and squeezed. He wasn’t human. He was able to crush the bones in Spike’s hand. “I’ll give you hard.” He punched Spike in the stomach and picked him up.
Lyra kicked the muscle man in the gut with her lightening fast feet and legs, prompting the goon to drop Spike.
Spike fell onto the banister and would have fallen over the side if Evil hadn’t grabbed onto his legs and pulled him back over. As soon as Spike was on his feet again he turned was ready to help Lyra.
The little Slayer was doing fine. She ducked and dodged the attacks from the muscle man and was able to get a few chops and kicks in herself.
“You are strong,” the buff man said as he swiped for Lyra and missed. “But I’m stronger.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Lyra said as she jumped and kicked and struck him in the chin.
“How should we help take this guy down?” Ed asked.
“You go high and I go low,” Spike instructed.
“On three?”
“On three. One, two, and three.”
Spike jumped and grabbed the legs of the goon while Ed jumped on his back. “We got him.” He choked out while he stared at Lyra. “It’s all up to you, Niblet.” He watched as she ran up the stairs to the third balcony. “Right, now about this.”
Ed was struggling to keep the big guy subdued and it wasn’t working.
Spike shoved a stake into the man’s stomach and pulled it out. Blood did not fall out of the hole. Maggots, and various beetles slid out instead. Spike looked at it in complete revulsion.
“Ugh,” Evil gagged. “What the hell are you?”
“Whatever he is he’s dead,” Spike said. He closed his eyes and slipped his fingers through the hole and ripped it wide open releasing more of the creepy crawlies while the guy seemed to deflate.
Evil jumped down before the bug man fell over.
“I have seen several disgusting things in my afterlife,” Spike said as he stared at the corpse. “I was the cause of several of them, but that makes me want to go bark at the ants.”
“Do you think she made it?” Evil asked.
Spike shrugged and looked at the upper staircase. “Looks like she went inside. Hope she will be able to take on this bird and not have to slay her boy toy. Has happened one too many times to a Slayer.”
“I thought you said there was only one Slayer who fell in love with a vampire with a soul.”
Spike nodded. “That was one too many times.”
“There is the possibility that Brewster might put his thrall on her.”
“Bloody he—wait that also happened before. Buffy was able to resist that poncy bugger.” He wasn’t certain if that was part of the whole Slayer package or the fact that it was just pure Buffy. She did have a will like no one else.
“Xander, no,” the young girl called Ronnie shouted out from below.
Spike looked over the edge and saw Xander. Except it wasn’t the Xander that he knew. This Xander was dressed in a bathrobe like Heffner. His hair was damp and slicked back and he was paler than usual. His one eye had turned yellow and there was no mistaking those lengthened canines in his mouth.
He was advancing on the kids and Faith had stepped in between them.
“Come on Fun Size,” Spike mumbled to himself as he used his good hand to hoist himself over the railing. He jumped down and landed in front of the teenagers. “What the hell are you thinking, Harris?”
Xander glared at him. His one eye glowed with a red light while he shoved him aside and advanced on Faith again.
“You listen to me, Harris.” Spike grabbed him by the shoulder. “You can’t harm the Vixen and not just because she can kick your arse. You don’t want to harm her. She’s special to you. She’s your friend, your fellow warrior against evil, your first shag.”
Xander blinked and stared at him. The glow was gone but his eye still had that yellow color and he still had his fangs extended.
“You loved so many women,” Spike continued. “You have a lot of love in you. It saved the world once when you calmed down, Red. A part of you loves Buffy and it always will. You kill anyone and feed off of them and become complete it will hurt her. You do not want to hurt her.”
“Buffy?” Xander asked. His eye color turned back to normal and his fangs retracted. “No. I don’t want to hurt her.” He said began to pant. He was shaking. “Help.”
Spike grabbed onto him. “I’ve got you.”
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Lyra paused on the stairs and turned around to see how her friends were doing. Spike and Evil were taking on the muscle man and Faith had just tackled the vampire on skates. It was all up to her. She just had to do a few things before she went inside.
“Don’t freak out,” Lyra told herself as she pulled out a Ninja Cross and the compact she received from Charley. “I have to be strong for them.” She pulled down her shirt and pressed the sharp point of the bottom of the cross into her collar area while using the mirror to guide her. She cringed at the pain and cringed even more when she saw the blood. Gritting her teeth she made a second hole. Once that was done she pulled up her shirt and put the items back. She also removed the smaller of the two stakes from her belt and slid it down her shirt, between her breasts.
Lyra took a deep breath and kicked the door in. “Regine.” She stepped into the room and held up her hand held stake gun.
“Hello, Lyra,” Regine said. She did not appear to be afraid at all. She also had two more of the bumpy heads flanking her. “Don’t you think it’s time to stop in this child’s play?”
“Not playing,” Lyra said. “This is the big leagues, and I’m stepping up to bat.”
“I don’t think you understand my intentions, our intentions.”
Lyra was about to ask her what she meant when she was knocked into the wall. She glanced over her shoulder to see Charley as he took the gun from her hand and throw it across the room.
“Careful with that,” Regine said. “We don’t want to damage a classic movie prop. I’m sure the studios would like that classic memorabilia.”
“Charley?” Lyra stared into the eyes of her lover and only saw a look of pure hunger.
“He knows who you are,” Regine said as Lyra was pulled away from the wall by the two flunkies. “That is why we are doing this.”
Lyra grunted as she was forced on her knees and held in place by the two vamps. She gave her boyfriend a pleading look, but knew that would be no use. His eyes had turned yellow and he had his fangs fully extended.
“Remember this, Charley?” Regine asked. Lyra thought that woman’s smile could not grow even more smug. “This was just like it was over twenty years ago with Alex. You nearly bit her, but you were a fool for love and held back. You only drank her blood after Belle slit her throat and Bosworth pushed you against her.”
Charley closed his eyes and grimaced.
“Oh god,” Lyra whispered. What this bitch had done to him, she could not even begin to describe. She wanted to make Regine suffer slowly and painfully for what she had done, but Lyra felt she would be satisfied with just killing her.
“It is time, Charley,” Regine said. “Take her.”
“You just made one big mistake.” Lyra reached up and grabbed one of the vamps that was holding her down and flipped him over. She grabbed her other stake from her belt, jumped up and jabbed it into the chest of the other one. The dust hadn’t even settle before she struck her fist on the first goon and sent him to the floor. When he tried to stand up and placed her foot on his neck.
“What?” Regine blinked twice. “What are you?”
“I’m Lyra the Vampire Slayer.” She dusted the second goon. “Sorry if I had to change your dinner plans for tonight, but I’m not on the menu. You know what? I’m not sorry. After what you did to the man I love. After what you put him through? I hope you choke on your own blood.”
“You are also a Slayer,” Regine said once she regained her composure. “Did you know this, Charley?”
“You never asked,” Charley said as he glared at her.
“I am asking you now,” Regine said. “Take her. Turn her into one of us.”
“Don’t,” Lyra gasped. Her suspicion was right. Now she had to play her part. “Please don’t do this.” She kept her eyes focused on her boyfriend.
His eyes were yellow once again and his fangs were out. He pounced on her and pulled down her shirt collar. He blinked when he saw the bleeding puncture marks
“Don’t Charley,” Lyra cried out and raised her head and whispered into his ear. “This is self inflicted. Taste it. Slayer blood, my blood will make you strong. It will be over soon.” She lowered her head. “I love you.” She said the words while she stared into his eyes.
She closed her eyes as Charley placed his lips over her wound and sucked and licked. It was an odd feeling, almost sensual. She cried out in mock pain and begged him to stop.
Charley sat back and blinked until his eyes returned to their normal brown color. He still had a bit of blood on his lips. He turned to face Regine.
“It is done,” Regine said. “You and Xander will be welcome members of our family.”
“She is mine,” Charley growled. “Only I will go near her.”
“She is all yours,” Regine said in a proud tone.
“I failed,” Lyra whispered as she crawled towards Charley. “I failed everyone.”
“Don’t worry,” Charley said to her after he licked the last of the blood. “I will help you.”
“I feel strange.” Lyra made her hands tremble. “I feel cold and tired.”
“We will prepare a bath for you,” Regine said. “And we have a pretty dress.”
“A pretty dress?” Lyra asked as Charley removed her utility belt.
“Of course, only the best for a fledgling vampire.” Regine kneeled down and removed the mask from Lyra’s face and held out a hand to help her up.
Lyra pulled out the stake from her shirt and plowed it straight into Regine’s little black heart. She shoved it straight through until even the blunt end went below the flesh.
Regine gasped as the weapon went down inside her. She stood back up and clawed at her chest as she backed up against the wall. She looked up at them in shock and betrayal as blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth. Her hands and arms went slack and she closed her eyes halfway before she slid down. Once her knees struck the floor she slumped over to the side.
“Is she?” Lyra asked.
“Dead,” Charley finished for her. “As long as that stake stays in her.” He shook his head. “I’m free.” The words came out in a weak whisper.
“So is Xander.”
“I’m free,” Charley repeated. His whole body shook. “I’m free.” He blinked back the tears that were forming. He ran over to the other stake that Lyra had dropped and picked it up. He placed the sharp point against his chest.
Lyra realized what he was trying to do and tackled him. After she had removed the stake from his hands she snapped it in half.
“What are you trying to do?”
“Not strong,” Charley said in a weak voice. “Couldn’t save her. I couldn’t save Alex. They’re dead because of me. All my fault.”
“Don’t say that. Don’t you even think that.”
“I failed them.”
“No. You listen to me, Charley Brewster. I love you. You have great strength. You saved me that night I learned I was a Slayer. You have helped me. Your friendship, your love and your strength is what makes me strong. I couldn’t have done this without you. I’m glad both of our worlds merged together. I know it won’t be easy. There will be good days and there will be bad. The hardest thing in this world is to live in it and we can do that together. You are the reason why I am a fighter.” She placed a finger under his chin.
“Lyra,” Charley choked out between tears.
“I’m here for you.” She pulled him into her arms. “I’ll never let you go.” She felt him embrace her back. She continued to hold him as he sobbed.
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