TITLE: The Replacement Slayer III - Roses for Lucifer

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or concepts from BTVS and ANGEL, they belong to Joss Whedon, I'm just borrowing them for this non-commercial fanfic, so no need to sue anyone. I do not own, but use for this story:

Annie Lennox "Love Song for a vampire" (Theme of F.F. Coppola's movie Bram Stoker's Dracula)

Roxette, "Neverending love"

The Cure, "Torture"

The term "Roses for Lucifer" - I borrowed this line from the Roman Polanski Musical "Tanz der Vampire" (Dance of the Vampires)

Timeline: after Season 1- ANGEL-Episode "Hero", but 10 years after The Replacement Slayer I, and so, 5 years after The Replacement Slayer II - The Vampire Strikes Back

Spoilers: Angel season 1, Buffy season 4

Synopsis: Concluding chapter of the trilogy

Rating: With Angelus as protagonist - what do you think?

Protagonists: Angelus, Angel, Buffy, and -- well, The Replacement Slayer.

Author's comments: See Part 1 and 2. However, Part 3 is less parodistic, more serious, and darkest of all. It's definitely the last in series - for the moment.

The dark-clothed woman whirled around and thrust her stake into the chest of the undead creature she had followed to the cemetary gates, and with an astonished look, as if it did not realize the game was over now, the creature turned to dust. The huge crucifix that hang from the woman's neck was swinging, but soon re-established its equilibrium. The night had been calm. After the years she had spent her nights like this despite a full time job, it seemed surreal somehow she had ever had moments of fear in a dark city street at night, with steps sounding from the sidewalk. Slaying was routine, as was sleep. Something one did because it must be done. She still felt energetic and young, though the first number on her birthday cake had turned from a two to a three some time ago. It had not plunged her into a crisis. She had accepted her fate a long time ago. Her secret she could not share.

*

She slipped through the door to her apartment, trying not to wake the sleeping man on her sofa. She heard his breath and touched him gently. His skin felt warm. It was good to have a living, breathing partner at her side. The children of the night still belonged to her life, though she could hardly believe now she had been dangerously close to one of them once. It seemed ages from her present life.

He turned around and murmured sleepily: "Hard night?"

"No," she replied in a low voice, "One, two newbies, that's it. You needn't have waited for the end of patrol. Hope I didn't wake you."

He shook his head. "I was still awake. You know I can't sleep properly till I know you've returned safely. Just wish I weren't a guest at your apartment."

Susan tried to avoid this debate now. "You're always welcome, you know that perfectly well. You have every right to see yourself as more than a guest, you're my watcher, and my friend."

David sat up to look at her. "Friend. Thought we were more than this." He gently touched her face.

Susan pulled away. "David, please."

"You know what I feel, so don't play, Susan. You said you needed time, but I can't wait forever."

Susan sighed. "No, not now, it's three in the morning, don't start a discussion at this hour, you know my attitude."

"One and a half years, and still not even a discussion," he grumbled and turned to the other side.

The Slayer left the room.

Susan knew she had offended him, however, it was still a difficult subject in their relationship. When she had met David one and a half years ago, he had been a colleague at her company, nothing more. It had taken the perseverent Irishman a few weeks to persuade her to date him. Her first date in years. She had wondered how they could have so much in common --- until she learnt who he was. She quit her job, rejected talking to him and deleted his messages on her answering machine when he had revealed the truth. He was working for the Watcher's Council, assigned to offer her the post as the official vampire slayer, after two slayers had declared their independence from it. Susan had no intention to resume the dangerous business she had got a taste of, and by no means she was to be the puppet of a few of aging, stout Englishmen who had no idea what was going on in the real world. She needed no Calling in her life, no Council, and no Watcher either. Until the evening in the dark alley, when she had met one of the guys she had gone to school with. They had been surprised at the unforeseen meeting, what a coincidence it had seemed, what was he now? a lawyer, oh, really? she would never have thought so, and was he married? no, well, she wasn't either, had he heard of any other old classmates?, no, he was so involved in business. Without her powers, she had not recognized him as a vampire until he was at her neck. David had watched her from the shadows and come to her aid, he had finally staked the vampire, but a dangerous skull trauma and extreme loss of blood resulting from the fight had led doctors to set up an artificial coma. He had survived with lots of luck. She had watched the whole fight, and had been unable to help. Ridiculous. The Replacement Slayer, weak, without instincts, without power, watching an undead, who had been a failure at high school already, killing people, and she could not do anything about it.

That was the moment she had changed her mind. She had become a full Slayer, and David had been her Watcher ever since, and, later, her companion. He knew white magic like no one else she knew, he used ancient handwritings and computer technology alike and with the same skill, her family adored him, her friends envied her, but he was dreaming of a small house with a white fence around it and their statistically perfect one and a half children running about the garden. Yet it was not her dream.

Too close were the nightmares.

*

Riley Finn was re-painting the shattered white color of the fence around the farmhouse. He had to pay attention not to let the bucket of paint escape his eyes for a moment, otherwise the two lively little children who were playing on the green grass would knock it over for sure.

Their mother came towards them, the strict expression on her face showing she was sure to spoil the fun. "Let your father work in peace, Riley Junior!"

The blond boy of about five years seemed disappointed. "I'm not disturbing my Daddy," he protested, "I'm helping him paint the fence!"

"Riley hasn't practised to read a single line today," his twin sister announced.

"Now go into the house, both of you. Riley Junior, you should learn to take your duties more seriously, few that you have. And you, young lady, you should learn to advise your brother in sisterly love, not blurting out his mistakes."

The twins strolled over to the house.

Riley Senior sighed. "You shouldn't be that strict with the kids, they are children, after all!"

"They are old enough to know play from duty," Tasha insisted, "And they leave pre-school in fall, they are going to elementary, so they should be able to read by then. How is Riley supposed to understand the Holy Bible if he can't even read it?"

"Don't you think you're exaggerating, love? We agreed you would not impose any religious influence on the kids, didn't we?"

"I'm not imposing any pressure, love, not at all! I just think we should give them moral guidance as soon as possible... in a world like this, with all its... darkness."

Riley said no more. The word darkness involuntarily reminded him of a time he thought of with horror. The darkness that had almost separated his wife from him, and had it not been for the twins, who knew if they were still a family? I want you, you are mine, his bite came much too fast, This was the first kiss in my life, and it also was my last. It still hurt. After these years. It would take centuries to heal.

Riley dipped the brush into fresh paint and resumed his work with a vehemence an unbiased spectator might have called violence.

*

"...what I'm stressing is that Angela Carter inverts the gender roles. It is not the classical male hero of the Gothic Novel of the 19^th century that rescues the innocent female beauty from the fangs of a charismatic, but purely evil villain in the tradition of Stoker's Angelus... uh... sorry, of Stoker's Dracula. Carter's heroines are women: a fragile, but deadly Countess Nosferatu that lures a naive blond cyclist into her castle. Observe how cute he is: He says, 'I shall cure her of these nightmares'. As if he was from Iowa. He does not realize what she is, as men have for centuries not realized what women really are. Well, time's up, thanks for listening, and don't forget to buy my book."

Polite laughter accompanied Mona's closing words. She gathered her script pages and was about to leave the auditory, when one of the students suddenly raised his hand. "Excuse me, professor. I have a question."

Mona looked up. "Sure."

"I've read your book, 'Every Woman Is A Slayer', and I still don't get it! I thought this lecture was on feminist literature! What do you mean, every woman is a slayer? Whom or what does she slay?"

Mona smiled enigmatically. "It's just a metaphor. Every woman has her killer's instincts, her secrets. I'd recommend you read it once more under this aspect, and if you still have questions or comments, please come and see me during my office hours."

The student did not seem enlightened, but at least satisfied.

Mona enjoyed this job. Better than songwriting. But there were not many people who truly understood her so-called metaphor. She had her secrets as well. Mona closed her filofax. She had to hurry if she did not want to miss the dinner. She had been looking forward to the evening. She and Asmodis were seeing Susan and her Watcher. It was the first time they had the chance do this, one of them was always busy, first Asmodis with his tours, then she herself with lecturing on feminist literature at Oxford. She had seen Susan several times in London, they were in touch, but she had never met the mysterious man her friend was spending so much time with. The year before, Susan had first mentioned the name of a new colleague she was dating. It had been a shock to hear Susan was in the slaying business once again, but Mona was extremely curious, for Susan had scarcely looked at any man in years. Well, at least this time, her admirer was not 200 years older than she, and as far as Susan had told her, he used mirrors and had no particular interest in her blood group.

*

"Mona, Asmodis, this is David, my... Watcher."

Watcher, David thought bitterly, not boyfriend, Watcher. He tried not to show his disappointment. "Hi, nice to meet you."

Mona could not refrain from staring at her friend's companion. The clothes he wore, his preference of silk, the way he walked, the sound of his voice. Did the Slayer realize how much David resembled a certain vampire? And was he himself aware of it? Had she told him?

Asmodis had surely noticed that fact as well, but obviously he chose to ignore it. David asked him a few questions about his music, which he was all too ready to answer. He described the details of the new America tour, for which he and Mona would be leaving the next morning, then he told their new acquaintance about the regular host lectures Mona gave at several universities, for example, she had been invited to read at the UC LA.

Mona did not feel like showing off with her latest book.

"Susan, may I have a word with you?" Mona pointed towards the ladies' room.

Susan followed her. What was Mona going to tell her? Did she disapprove of him? The door fell closed behind them.

"What?" Susan asked. "You want to talk about David. What do you think?"

"Well, he's... nice," Mona said helplessly.

"But...?"

"Susan, does he know?"

"What do you mean?" Susan asked, her face like petrified.

"Come on, a blind man would see the resemblance."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"He looks like Angel."

"No, he doesn't," Susan protested, realizing for the first time there was some truth in the observation.

"Have you never looked at him? His hair, those deep and dark eyes, the style of his clothing, I bet it's silk! Then, didn't he tell us he was Irish?"

"Coincidence," Susan replied.

"Sure. He's rather pale, too, isn't he?"

"He's not an outside person, he works with computers, and he has got many indoor hobbies, for example he reads a lot, and he..." she stopped abruptly.

"He draws. Am I right?" If looks could kill, I'd drop dead now.

"That's ridiculous," Susan said, "Let's return to our table. Talk to him, and you'll see how far-fetched the comparison is."

"All right. But, anyway, David deserves the truth. Don't play with his feelings."

"I'm perfectly honest with David!"

"But you haven't told him. About Angelus."

"Of course not!" Susan hissed, "Should I have said, 'Sorry, David, our relationship must be platonic because I'm in love with the Scourge of Europe, who killed me in another time line' ? Great idea." Susan headed for the door.

Mona blocked her way. "Are you?"

"Of course not."

You will wake up screaming my name. You hate yourself, and you hate me, because you can see yourself in my eyes.

*

David stopped the car and turned off the engine.

"It was nice to offer you'd take me home so I don't have to drive," Susan remarked, "But I haven't drunk enough not to see we're not there yet."

"I want answers."

"What?"

"Why did you introduce me as your Watcher?"

"That's what you are."

"Susan, don't you see it hurts? I mean, you make me meet your family and friends, and everyone adores me but you."

Susan paused for a moment. "That's not true," she replied. She embraced him and her lips briefly passed his with a hurried kiss. "I just need some time and space for myself."

David swallowed hard. Then he started the engine again and took her home.

*

Susan closed the door of her apartment behind her. To distract herself from the unpleasant little discussion, she went for her computer to check her e-mail.

One from Tasha. She still hardly believed civilisation had finally hit Iowa. Tasha told her about the latest problems with the kids.

One from her mother. She wanted to know if Susan hard ordered the quilting book she desperately needed. Of course she had. And of course her mother would again say she could have taken herself some time. And her parents invited her and David for dinner on Saturday.

A third e-mail. Obviously from the root mailhub. Were there any problems? Susan opened the file – and froze:

I MISS YOU, LOVER.

This was definitely not from the root mailhub. Susan tried to trace the mail back, but she soon found it was futile, as it had been sent over several anonymous servers.

"Very funny, Asmodis," she said aloud, trying to convince herself that her friends were playing a trick on her. "You almost had me going there."

She picked up the receiver and dialled his apartment. His voice did not sound tired at all, so he had been awake still. "Hey, Suzy, what's up?"

"I got your e-mail," she replied.

There was a long pause at the other end of the line. "Which e-mail?" he finally asked.

"Oh, come on, you needn't pretend you're surprised, I know you can use anonymous servers. Don't you want to annoy Tasha a little?"

There was background noise, as if Mona had entered the room.

Mona took over the receiver. "Hi, Suzy, surprise you're calling! I don't know what you and Asmodis were just talking about, I had a shower, but one can't even leave this man alone for a second! He's over his computer again."

Susan smiled with satisfaction. She had known.

"But it's no use," Mona added, "He'll need a new motherboard."

"What?" Susan asked, not trusting her ears.

"Yeah, sad but true, he's been trying to fix it for two full days, but it won't even boot. Susan, what's wrong? You're not saying anything. Susan? Hello! She's hung up. Just like that. Have I said anything wrong?"

*

Susan was angry with David. He must somehow have dug up her past, and now he was tormenting her with it. But if he really thought he would get away with it, she would prove him how wrong he was. Lying in the dark, with frustration and anger concerning her Watcher, she fell asleep.

*

Susan lacked orientation when she woke. She opened her eyes and looked around. This was not her apartment. The place was pitch dark except for a circle of candles around her. Magical symbols were shattered all over the floor.

"It worked!" she heard an enthusiastic cry.

Then she saw the familiar face of a witch. "Willow," she said with surprise.

"Susan! I'm so glad to see you!" Willow rushed into the magical circle and embraced her. "I had hoped I'd be able to bring you back, but I wasn't sure it would work."

Flabbergasted and reluctant, Susan returned the embrace. "Nice to see you, Will, it's been quite a while. But why am I here? I just remember falling asleep...."

Willow regarded her with a compassionate look. "Yeah... he can be a bastard. But we'll forget about it, now you're back."

Susan was a little confused how Willow could know about David and their row, but probably the witch had looked into a crystal ball, read her mind or simply been watching her since their last encounter. The slayerettes did a good research job, after all.

Again, Willow embraced her. "We need you here," she said gravely.

Susan nodded slowly. Another end-of-the-world-problem. Susan sighed. "Okay, you need another slayer once again. But couldn't you just have given me a call before teleporting me to Sunnydale with a spell?!?!"

Willow gently caressed her cheek. "Poor girl. I'm sorry, I should have known the spell would confuse you, no wonder. Would you like a little rest before I take you to Buffy?"

"Thanks," Susan replied, astonished about the caring behavior of the woman she hardly knew, but who treated her as a life-long friend. The situation must be bad.

Willow handed her a stake. "You're gonna need this. They are everywhere. It's become almost a rebellion, we definitely need another Slayer. Buffy and her Dark Angel are losing control of the situation."

At the mentioning of the name, Susan felt a sudden chill. Yes, he was here. She could sense him.

Willow looked at her with an estimating gaze. "You're gonna need something else to wear, I brought you here in your nightdress. Follow me, my bedroom is right here, we'll get you something from me or Tara. Though Tara's dresses should be too large for you We'll see."

*

Susan still wondered a little about the pleasant outfit Willow had lent her. Good to know the witch had become more daring in the past few years, her clothes used to be horribly old-fashioned. Now the Slayer was wearing a black velvet blouse with lace along the sleeves, and a long tight black velvet skirt, which fell wide about her ankles. She followed Willow through the large building which was completely unfamiliar to her. "Where are we?" she asked.

"It's our new headquarters," the witch explained, "Angel had it built shortly after you were gone. It is a huge apartment complex in the style of the mansion he owns, classical inventory, but state-of-the-art luxury technology. He thought it appropriate we should not be too far apart in case of emergency, with all the vampires and demons around. It's become worse than ever, they are a pest, thinking they could rule the world with their sick ideas." A shadow fell over Willow's face. "Most people have no idea of the development, but Sunnydale has always been... special. They almost killed Oz last full moon."

Susan put a comforting arm around her shoulder. "I had no idea it was that bad."

Willow looked at her with hope in her eyes. "Now you're back, it's you, Buffy and Angel, just like old times. The whole gang is still here, everyone's waiting for you."

Susan could not suppress the question that interested her most. "So they're together?"

Willow stopped abruptly. She put her hands reassuringly on Susan's shoulders. "That does not change the fact he needs you."

Susan stared at her, completely astonished. "How come you know...?"

"...how come I know you have a crush on him?" Willow shrugged. "Who doesn't? But let's leave it like that, it doesn't matter now. There are other people who are dying to see you."

Then she led her down the corridor.

*

The hinges of the large oak wooden door were creaking as the witch opened the way to one of the apartments.

"Hi, anyone home?" Willow called into the emptiness.

One of the side doors leading to the back rooms opened.

"Stop that noise!" Spike's angry voice was heard.

Susan had to smile. Time passes, but some things never change.

Shortly after, the vampire appeared in the living room, wearing a silk dressing gown with a tiger pattern. "Susan!" he greeted in a friendly way, "Long time no see!"

"Same for you," Susan replied and took his hand, which felt cold as ever, regardless of the fact that their last meeting five years ago had left him with a soul. "How are you?"

"Oh, great," he said, "Apart from the fact that certain people---" he glared at Willow --- "never call before they enter someone else's quarters. Believe it or not, Will, there are some people who do have a sex life."

Willow giggled. "So you're telling me you have the nerve to have a woman in there on an important day like today, when you knew I was to bring Susan back?"

Spike yawned. "Most of your spells still fail. If I were to take account of every spell you've been trying, I could as well enter a cloister!"

Now Susan giggled. If there was one thing she could not imagine for the very life of her, it was Spike as a monk.

"Spike, who is it?" they now heard a female voice from what apparently was the bedroom.

"It's Willow and Susan, dear," he replied.

"Oh! So the spell worked!"

According to the noises, the woman in the back part of the apartment was hurrying to get dressed and greet the guests.

Spike picked up a very thin satin nightdress and threw it through the open door. "Try this one!"

"Thanks!"

Then the door opened, and the woman entered the scene. Spike closed one arm around her waist possessively. The nightdress hardly covered her skin, and her neck showed two almost invisible marks which seemed quite fresh. Her long, floating hair was still in disorder, and though it was now dyed in a color that was no darker than Spike's own, Susan recognized her face at once.

"MONA?" she asked in disbelief.

"Hi, Suzy," Mona said.

"You here? What did you do to your hair since... last night? And you and... SPIKE???" Susan did not understand anything any more.

Mona shrugged. "It's exactly what it looks like."

"Did Spike drug you again? And... Asmodis? You must tell him!"

Spike frowned. "I don't need to drug a woman."

Mona just laughed. "What would Asmodis be supposed to say?"

Susan's eyes went wide open. "You mean... he KNOWS?"

"Of course he knows!" Mona turned to Willow. "What's wrong with her? If I remember correctly, she hasn't been that prudish before?"

Susan was shocked. She did not consider herself prudish, but this was definitely of the category 'What you've never wanted to know about your friends'. She had had no idea Mona and Asmodis had an 'open relationship'.

Spike seemed bored by the whole situation. "I hate to interrupt your chattering," he declared, "But, personally, I'd suggest we'll see you later. You see, we're... busy."

Mona's lascivious laughter made Susan feel sick. She willingly left to the corridor with Willow. "How can Asmodis tolerate this?" she finally burst out.

Again, Willow gave her a pitiful look. "You'll soon feel better. There seem to be some things you do not know about your friends. You haven't exactly kept in close touch for quite a while, people are changing. Don't take this too seriously, Asmodis doesn't mind either. Spike has some very special talents, but Asmodis too has something Spike does not."

"Yes," Susan murmured, "For example, a reflection, a pulse..."

However, she was not given much time to recover from the first shock. Asmodis was walking towards them. As he caught sight of Susan, he ran towards her, lifted the surprised Slayer into the air and whirled her around. "Hey, the spell worked! Good job, Willow!"

Willow smiled.

"You didn't tell me yesterday your tour was starting here?" Susan asked.

Asmodis gave her a questioning look, but a warning glance from the witch prevented him from any further comment. "Great to have you here," he told the Slayer, "Much has changed in good old Sunnydale. So, what were the two of you just doing?"

Susan was a little relieved. At least Asmodis seemed to be as always.

"I'm showing Susan around," Willow said, "She's still a little confused because I brought her here with a spell, and she has never been in these surroundings before."

Asmodis showed understanding. "I see. Well, maybe see you at dinnertime. Have you seen Mona?"

Susan blushed deeply.

"She's with Spike," Willow answered frankly.

Susan avoided to look at Asmodis.

"Oh, okay," he just said, "Then there'll be more time for Sunday."

"You're setting up a schedule with Spike?" Susan asked, now really shocked, "Something like, she's with Spike on Saturdays, and with you on Sundays?"

"You're not feeling well, are you?" her friend replied, concerned for her well-being, "I didn't mean Sunday."

"You haven't forgotten about Sunday, have you?" Willow asked.

Susan decided not to inquire any further. She had to see Buffy. Something was wrong here, and the Slayer was bound to know. "I'd like to see Buffy now," she suggested.

"Right," Willow agreed, "I'll ask her if she will see you now. Just wait here, I'll be back in ten minutes." The witch hurried away.

Asmodis said good-bye and disappeared through a dark staircase that seemed to lead to the cellar, whistling a tune that made the Slayer nervous.

Susan was left alone in a totally unknown building with her thoughts. These were people whom she thought she knew, and now did not know at all. Sure, her contact with Asmodis and Mona had not been too frequent, due to their respective jobs, but the night before, they had seemed pretty normal. Though she was still angry with David, she decided she would call her Watcher and ask him to take the next flight. She would feel much less uneasy. And what was Asmodis up to? She hesitated. Willow had said she would be gone for ten minutes. Susan could not resist the temptation to follow him downstairs.

*

Buffy was watching her sleeping mate beside her. His sleep was restless, as often. He threw himself from one side to the other. What would she give to make things easier for him, but his past was something she could not cure him from. She gently ran her fingers through his hair, then over his chest, over every inch of the perfect body she adored so much. The times she could not feel him, not touch him, seemed so far away. His eyelids moved rapidly. He was dreaming. Then he suddenly sat up straight in the bed, his eyes flew open, he screamed.

She embraced him and rocked him in her arms. "It's okay, my dark angel, it was just a dream."

"A nightmare," he whispered. "Buffy, I wish these pictures would not flash before my eyes again and again, they never stop... if I ever do such things again..."

"It's what you were, not what you are," she soothed.

His dark eyes implored her with all sincerety. "Buffy, if I should ever do these things again, if I should ever become like that again... promise me you'll drive a stake into my heart."

"Don't say that," Buffy commanded, "I don't want to hear that."

"You must," he insisted, "You're forgetting I'm a vampire."

"No," she said, "I know you're a vampire, but I would never reproach you. You're not like the others. Now, tell me your dream, will make you feel better."

*

Susan hid in the darkness of the staircase. This was not a cellar – it was a dungeon, with cells.

Asmodis fumbled for the keys. "Have you missed me?"

Susan risked a glance.

In the cell, there was a scared, blond woman who pressed her frail body into the farthest corner of the room.

"I asked a question," Asmodis stated.

"Yes," the girl whispered, her voice shaking with fear and nearly failing her.

Susan noticed with astonishment that the girl was a vampire.

"Yes, master," Asmodis corrected. He sounded like a complete stranger, a tyrant, someone to be afraid of. "How are you today, Sunday? You look pale – well, that's what you usually look like, don't you. Come here, Sunday. Don't be shy." He stepped towards her, bent down and unlocked the iron chains around her wrists. Susan could see her feet were still chained to the cold stones.

"No," the girl pleaded, "Please, don't."

"What?" He smiled sadistically. Then he took a tiny veole from his coat.

Sunday began to cry silently, begging him to leave.

"You must understand," Asmodis said, "My other mistress is with one of her... toys, and you don't want me to be lonely, do you."

Sunday's face was full of terror, anticipating pain, agony, approaching death, but not being granted the mercy to die. She seemed to accept the inevitable.

Slowly, she let the rags that clothed her slide down to the floor, resting about her ankles, the chains preventing her from tossing them aside.

Susan was a vampire slayer, true, and she had seen many things that did not make her feel mercy for a demon, however she pitied this girl with all her heart, and had an intervention not meant giving up her hiding, she would have been happy to teach Asmodis manners. But, as things were, she dared not move.

Asmodis washed his hands with the content of the little veole.

The vampire girl he had called Sunday began to whimper.

Then he approached her and touched her skin.

Sunday's skin seemed to burn from the inside, she screamed so loud Susan thought her heart would break. Holy Water. As if abusing her was not enough, he was torturing the vampire with Holy Water.

Susan had seen enough. Disgusted, she turned away and fled from the cellar, not stopping her run until she had reached the corridor in which Willow had left her.

She struggled for her self-control not to vomit. That bastard was not the man whose friendship she had appreciated for so many years. And the poor little girl was by no means a threatening child of the night, she was a prisoner of a sadist, and what was worse, a sadist with flesh, blood, a reflection, and a pulse.

She had to find out what was going on here. Like a guidance in dark night, her eyes fell on a sign: "TO LIBRARY."

The library! She felt relief there was something like a library here, books to research, and, even better, for sure a Rupert Giles she could ask, someone who would help her and let her call David.

She resumed her running and pushed the door open.

"What the hell...?" The man in the library was not to be seen. He stood behind a huge bookshelf, the spaces between the books showing his eyes.

Susan calmed down as she caught his gaze. Rupert Giles.

"Can't I be undisturbed for five minutes?" He finally recognized her. "Susan!" he rejoiced, "So Willow's been lucky! We can use any help we can get."

"Rupert Giles," she exclaimed, "Thank God I've found you! Something's going on here, people behave strangely, and..."

"Slowly, slowly," he said, "I was just preparing a few things for a little ritual, detecting some vampires. Sit down, I'll be with you in a minute."

Susan let her body fall into a soft armchair. Everything was safe now. Asmodis and Mona had obviously lost her mind, but Giles seemed as reasonable as Willow, so they would deal with whatever problem there was.

"Can I offer you anything?" Giles asked from behind his books.

"A cup of tea, if you don't mind," Susan said.

Giles paused. "Oh. I'm afraid I don't have any tea."

Susan frowned. "I did not think I'd ever see the day you wouldn't have any tea, Giles."

Giles stepped out from behind the bookshelf. He was dressed in a crude leather jacket with blue jeans, a gun hanging from his waist. "If you'd like a bourbon, or... and, by the way, I can't remember who last called me Giles. Sounds like my great-grandfather. You know I prefer Ripper."

Susan hid her face in her hands.

But she had already attracted Ripper's attention. "Is there anything I can do for you? Some spell you need?"

Susan was doubtful. "A black spell, I suppose."

He smirked. "What else?" He walked up to the armchair and put his hands on its armrests. "But we don't have to waste our time with magic," he added in a low, seductive tone, "Last time we met you were not interested, but you seem different, somehow. Don't those children here annoy you? I mean, Spike with his ridiculous hairstyle, Asmodis with his childish games with the little vampire girl in the cellar, and our wonderful dark Angel, who believes every woman on this planet has waited just for him?"

Susan was about to thrust him away with her Slayer's abilities when a threatening voice suddenly thundered through the library.

"Mind your speech, Ripper," the man yelled, "When will you learn not to interfere with people more powerful than you?"

Ripper grumbled some curses, then he withdrew.

Susan stared at the door. On the threshold, there was so impressive a man she caught her breath. He was clothed all in black, a cape floating around his broad shoulders. The huge sword around his waist used to cutting off vampires' heads classified him as a warrior, and so did the muscles under the tight leather. His voice had the trained tone of a commander. He was self-assurance in person, his sex-appeal seemed to fill the whole room like a dark aura, putting an ordinary man as Ripper in his place, enchanting any woman present. His eyes, shining and deep like the glossy surface of a black sea, seemed to see right through Susan. He was charismatic, fearful, and incredibly cool.

"Susan. So you're back. Welcome home."

His voice was determined and calm. He pronounced his words with great care, and it was clear he was not American. He stretched out his hand to help Susan up from the armchair.

She felt the warm touch of his hand in hers.

Then she met his eyes.

"Wesley?" she asked in disbelief. "You've... changed."

The Englishman disarmed her with his radiant smile. "I'm just a warrior. I suppose you want to see our leaders now."

This was uncanny. Not even time could turn Wesley into one of the most attractive men she had ever seen.

*

Wesley led Susan into the heart of the headquarters.

"This is the reception hall," he explained.

Susan looked around. The hall was huge, and furnished with expensive antiques which had been chosen with taste.

The centerpiece of the hall was... no, this could not be a throne, impossible. It was so absurd. She must be dreaming. But unfortunately she knew for sure she was wide awake.

She approached the throne, which consisted of two richly decorated chairs. And more than ever since her arrival, she prayed she was dreaming. For a horrible moment, she thought Buffy was a vampire. Until the other slayer descended the stairs of the throne and embraced her, so she could feel the warmth of her body. "Oh, Susan, thank Hell you're back. We do need you."

Susan felt a piercing gaze upon them and broke the embrace to face the throne. The temperature in the room seemed to rise several degrees.

Time stood still as their eyes met.

Five years, and he had not aged a day.

It took her less than the fragment of a second to know he was not Angel. As he rose to his full height and stood before her, the devilish smile about his lips, she knew who he was.

My vampire, she thought with a shiver.

Buffy followed her gaze and grinned. "Don't believe him, he's just playing the untouchable demon king, in fact he's very sorry that he killed you at the spur of the moment."

The vampire descended to them. "My Slayer," he said, and if he had not been Angelus, she would have believed his words tender and intimate.

His kiss was as she remembered it, though she had so often tried to forget.

"We forgive each other?" he finally asked.

Willow thought it necessary to interfere. "Susan has been strange since I brought her back, I think she's lost her memory. Must be a side effect of the spell."

"Really." Angelus' watchful attention seemed to be released somehow. "Could be useful. Hope you've also lost your tendency towards Good. You've always been attracted to light, admit it or not. Well, we all make mistakes. Yet, after the Powers had called you to fight for our side as The Replacement Slayer, you should have taken your calling more seriously."

Susan began to form a suspicion. "Which Powers called me?" she asked, just to earn a sad look from Buffy. "Poor thing. The same Powers that called me to my office, The Powers That Be Bad."

This was no joke. And no dream either. "Tell me more," Susan asked.

"We slay vampires, and demons," Buffy said, "Of course all except Angelus. He's different because of his soullessness."

"And vampires normally have souls?" Susan asked.

"What a question! They are a race, inferior, but a race like humans," Willow explained, then bowed before Angelus. "Sorry, no offence."

"So Buffy and I slay vampires," Susan resumed, "Except you, because you don't have a soul and are as... evil as we are?"

Angelus' gaze drifted away to a time and place far away. "The evil gypsy sorceress thought she was cursing me – I had rescued her daughter, whom she had thrown into the river to let her drown. She had no idea what a favor she did me. Other vampires live on animal blood, can you imagine how sick that is?"

"My Angel was good before the gypsies cursed him, who would have suspected that?" Buffy announced proudly. "Fighting the good fight, how odd! Thank Hell he became sensible. My adorable demon king." She giggled. "Well, and later, ours."

"Everything could have been fine," Angelus said, then his face darkened. "If there had not been the clause."

"Let me guess," Susan said, "A moment of perfect misery?"

His face lit up. "You're beginning to remember."

Buffy almost cried as she continued. "It was the worst time in my life. Whenever I tried to kill some demon, he rescued them! And he did not even look at me, I suffered so much. A repugnant saint walking around with my lover's face."

Angelus put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "They called me Angel," he said, casting his eyes down in embarrassment, "And that's what I was. I became again what I had never wanted to be again. Even now, I sometimes wake up screaming, because I dream I'm helping old women to cross the street, or I'm rescuing an innocent demon. The nightmares of this time will keep haunting me, however much I repent."

"Those were hard times for the purely evil," Buffy added, "We were about to lose, Angel was about to bring about heaven on earth. And you, who should have been defending our cause, you with your good tendencies," Buffy reproached Susan, "You fell in LOVE with Angel."

"When Willow managed to restore the curse," Angelus closed, "I was so upset I killed you. As I said before, we all make mistakes. Do you understand?"

Susan understood. This was not the story as she knew it, and these people here were exactly the opposite of those she had met. She was trapped in a mirror universe. Well, the Willow of this reality had not much more skill at spells than hers. At her attempt to bring the Susan of this universe back, she had blurred the lines between the parallel worlds and had torn her from hers. The e-mail had been the first indicator. Everyone was the opposite of what he had been in her world: Angel was Angelus, Wesley had turned into Superman, Buffy was an evil ice-queen, the Asmodis of this reality was a sadist... and a formerly evil creature such as the vampire Sunday was an innocent victim. While she herself was a warrior for the good with a fatal attraction towards darkness, her counterpart in the mirror universe had been a warrior of evil with some good tendencies, which had cost her life. And now Angelus and Buffy were about to lose the fight and needed her to defeat the good – whoever those were in this reality.

Yet there was one detail: She knew what had happened, but nobody else did.

For the moment, she would have to play their game.

Susan lowered her head. "I understand," she replied, "And I assure you, you can rely on me now."

Angelus looked around the hall. "Leave us," he ordered.

Wesley took Buffy's hand. "Allow me to distract you a little," he said seductively.

Buffy waved at Angelus. "See you later." Then she walked out of the great hall at the other man's side.

Again, the hierarchy among the evil astonished Susan. "And you don't mind?" she asked.

Angelus frowned. "He's just the replacement - I don't see why I should. I wonder if everything went all right with Willow's spell, you've changed, it worries me a little."

She would give up. She would just leave it like that. She was thinking too much in the categories of the good. If she wanted to remain unsuspicious, she would have to allow her darker side to guide her on. Her heart was almost exploding in her chest. He was watchful. She must not make a mistake, or she would end up in the cell with Sunday, or worse.

What would an evil woman do? A woman who did not have to worry about dignity or reputation?

Susan struggled to keep her hand from shaking as she ran her fingers over the ridges of his game face. "Just because I missed you," she whispered, purring like a cat, hardly recognizing her own voice.

"Then prove your loyalty," Angelus replied, not going there.

She gathered her hair on one of her shoulders, exposing the other side of her neck. If only he did not notice she was nearly dying. She was gambling high, if this fails...no, don't go there... but she knew him so well... and if he was just a little like the Scourge of Europe she had met, he had a weakness for gambling... With a bold voice, she posed the challenge: "You're soulless, so your Childe will be soulless, too. If you don't trust me, turn me."

She could not read his eyes and hoped desperately hers were as inexpressive.

"We'll see," Angelus finally said, "For the moment, I prefer to have you alive. As for the future, time will tell. I'd suggest you patrol with Buffy later. Meanwhile, feel like home. My house is your house." With a devilish smile, he added: "This includes every room."

Susan was in a strange state of mind. On the one hand, she was almost despairing, trapped and alone in a nightmarish mirror universe in which the people she used to know were monsters, and she could not even call her watcher – he was likely to be a black magician, if he existed here at all. On the other hand, her skin had not stopped prickling and pleasant shivers shook her whole body occasionally since her arrival, for he was truly there. One of life's little ironies, the only familiar being in this hostile world was the Scourge of Europe.

Susan decided to do everything to gain his and Buffy's trust first, and then think about how she could get away.

Buffy was waiting for her in the hall while Susan was wondering anxiously what this patrol was going to look like. Well, they were going after vampires and demons, after all, so her participation could not be altogether wrong. With a slight feeling of panic, she thought of the poor creature Sunday down in the dungeon.

"Ready?" Buffy asked with a smile.

"Ready," Susan confirmed.

*

The area around the Bronze had changed. If Susan had expected to hear the familiar humming of the basses behind the walls, she was disappointed. Instead, she heard faint tones of classical music.

"Scary, isn't it," Buffy said, "The Bronze is in the possession of the other side now. They're trying to encourage each other with those monstrous tunes."

"When..." Susan was about to ask, but Buffy silenced her with a gesture.

Susan listened for strange noises by the garbage containers.

"That's them," Buffy whispered and drew her stake.

Susan could see a shadow in the faint light coming from a defective street lamp.

"Surprise!" Buffy shouted and rushed at the creature.

The vampire screamed and ran as fast as he could.

This was totally untypical. Susan saw Buffy running after the vampire when she sensed the presence of another creature of the night near.

She listened closely, and with a quick move, she whirled around and pressed the vampire watching her to the wall of the Bronze, drawing her stake. The vamp's eyes were wide open, senses acute and full of fear.

"Please, don't kill me," the vampire pleaded, "My Lord sends for you."

Susan stared at the vampire in confusion. "Who are you?" she demanded.

"I'm just a messenger," she replied, "My Lord knew you before Angelus murdered you. He wants to see you and sent me to deliver the message. My name is Dru."

Susan let go of the woman. "What's the name of your boss?"

Dru looked around anxiously. "The Slayer's returning, the dust of one of my brothers at her hands. I beg you, come to the Bronze when you can." Then she ran off into the shadows, leaving Susan in confusion.

"Hey there," Buffy greeted, "That one was too easy, I'm getting bored. We go to Willie's, slaughtering some demons?"

"I thought Willie's was a kind of neutral zone," Susan said cautiously.

Buffy shrugged. "Who cares? You can't trust anyone these days, can you. So what's up, are you with me?"

Feeling she was sealing a pact with her blood, Susan agreed slowly.

*

The massacre at Willie's still in her bones, Susan soon withdrew to the quarters they had allocated her to, just to leave furtively. She had avoided to kill any demon herself, but she had not stopped Buffy. This Buffy enjoyed killing. The vampires had been fleeing in a confused stampede, were hunted down like animals, helpless, weak, and full of fear. Susan could not get it out of her head. This world did not make sense.

Susan found herself back in the alley behind the Bronze. She was attentive and cautious, her weapons ready, when she asked aloud: "Anyone here?"

One of the side entrances to the Bronze was opened. "Shshsh!" Drusilla admonished her, "They could be everywhere!" She looked around, then, sure no one else was watching them, she pushed Susan into the Bronze. In the light of the hall, Drusilla's face could be seen more clearly. Her black hair was braided tightly, and she wore a suit that allowed maximum movement in a fight. She was pale as any of her race, but her eyes were lively and always in motion.

"Don't think I don't trust you, but we can't be too careful. We've lost too many already."

As she turned to restore the barricade of the door, Susan saw a red scar in the form of a crucifix at one side of her forehead, which she had covered with her hair. "What happened to you?" Susan asked.

"Angelus," Drusilla explained briefly. "I was saved, but many died in his dungeon. I had a friend called Sunday, I don't even know if she's still in this world or in a better one. I want to end this madness."

Believe me, that's what I want as well, Susan thought, not daring to speak aloud.

While Drusilla was still talking, a trap door in the floor opened, and a group of young men, most of them clearly demons and vampires, flooded into the Bronze.

"We met a troup of Angelus' men, some of us are wounded," one of them explained to Drusilla, then he saw Susan. "So you came, after all."

"She doesn't remember," Drusilla described the problem, "Susan, this is the commander of unit five, Lindsey."

Susan stretched out her hand to greet him, when she suddenly noticed his hand was artificial. She froze in the movement. Realizing she was staring, she drew back her hand and murmured an apology.

"It's okay, most people don't know how to react," Lindsey said, "I keep forgetting other people have two hands. People who were clever enough not to interfere with Angelus, of course." He cleared his voice. "As I see, you've met Dru. She's the brain in our troup, her IQ is 243."

Drusilla cast her eyes down shyly. "You really shouldn't mention it."

Susan was astonished. In her reality, she had been told about Drusilla, who had been referred to by the name The Insane, and here she was a genius.

Lindsey noticed her surprise. "You don't remember us at all," he stated sadly, "That's a great disappointment. But you're here, nevertheless you're still on our side."

"I'm not on anyone's side but my own at the moment," Susan corrected, "And I'd appreciate if someone told me what is going on here, so I can form my own picture despite my... amnesia. If I should come to the view you are wrong, I've never been here at all. Deal?" She considered it wiser not to reveal she did not belong here.

"Sounds fair," Lindsey agreed. "You've been on patrol with The Slayer, so you know her methods. She's a killer, in cold blood, and merciless. Her only objective is to kill demons and vampires, just because she can. And we've taken the hopeless duty of stopping her. This world belongs to us, and we must re-claim it before there are no innocent people left. Most of us have been closely involved in the fighting." He pointed at the mark on Dru's skin and his artificial hand. "We are not as many as we were, and we have to proceed cautiously. Buffy and her gang eliminated our most powerful ally, the Mayor of Sunnydale, and hurt our best warrior so seriously she's been in a coma. So we decided against an open fight, and we're trying to infiltrate the enemy. We are behind the organisation called Wolfram & Hart, which pretends to be an attorney's association serving the interests of evil, but which is a beneficial, caritative organisation for the families of slain demons instead. It's my job to keep our secret identities up. Then, there is Ethan. He does the magic stuff."

Ethan waved from behind his book. "Hi."

"He's a valuable source, for he knows some weaknesses of the other side. He studied at university with Ripper."

Susan still was not convinced of the sincerety of these people. "Why do you help vampires?" she asked.

"Angelus and Buffy are destroying peace and justice," Lindsey explained, "And they draw innocent demons to the dark side. Take, for example, Anya --- have you met her?"

Susan shook her head.

"She was a fairy," Drusilla added, "She used to grant wishes. They stole her powers and made her human. It was so cruel. And then, there was Spike. We planned to get married in the fall of that fateful year." She struggled not to cry. "A governmental initiative experimented with electronic chips to increase the physical abilities of our warriors. Spike volunteered for the project. But they somehow managed to re-program the chip, and it turned him into a violent fighting machine --- against his own kind. Losing him wouldn't have been that hard. I'm sorry, I still can't talk about it."

Lindsey handed her a tissue. "Now you've got a first impression. I can take you to our leaders now. Our spiritual leader is one of the Ancients, so please show him your respect. He performs the morning prayers every day." He opened the door.

"Master, The Slayer is here."

The Master turned around. His face had the animalistic look of a typical Ancient, the ridges permanent, the mouth with its long white fangs, his fingers being more like claws. Yet his eyes were calm and warm, his gaze open and reminding Susan of her grandfather. "Welcome. Seeing you again gives me hope, though you don't remember. In your heart, you always knew what was your true nature, and that you belonged to the Good. Angel brought the good in you to the surface, I mourn his loss, and I pray I can make you see the good, too. May Light surround you wherever you go."

Susan bowed her head slightly.

Then a female vampire stepped at his side.

"This is Darla, our leader in battle," the Master introduced her.

Darla made a magic sign of protection on Susan's forehead. "I've always seen Angel as my son, and I hope your love can save him from the shadow that hangs over his soul, as he showed you the way into the light."

Susan felt uncomfortable. The Master and Darla, well-known to her as among the most sadistic of all creation, as warriors for the good? She might be able to accept that. But one thing worried her much more – they still thought she was the Susan of this mirror universe. The evil Susan. If Angel had turned the evil Susan into a saint – what would become of the good Susan in Angelus' power?

*

Susan was deep in thought when she was returning to the mansion, taking the cut over one of Sunnydale's numerous cemeteries. It was much darker than the streets, her eyes had to get used to the darkness to find the path that was leading through the rows of graves and crypts. But she felt safer here. This place was too close to the headquarters to be a raging battleground, Darla's troups did not dare to come into its immediate surroundings. Whereas she remembered it as the home of many undead and one of Buffy's preferred patrol routes, it was deserted now. No one would disturb her here.

She had seen Buffy, the cruelty with which she proceeded in her fight against demons, and she had witnessed the change in her friends, reaching its peak in Asmodis' treatment of Sunday. She had talked to the Master and Darla, to Drusilla and Lindsey, whose hopeless fight against their tyrants showed the marks of totalitarian arbitrariness. Yet they were unwilling to give up.

Susan knew she had to get away, leave this universe in which she did not belong. She had no desire to be the key figure in a battle between good and evil when she could not even tell one side from the other. Her own world was waiting for her, her duties, her job, the Watcher's Council whose official Slayer she now was, the situation with David that would have to be decided, and, most important, her own friends.

Susan felt a sudden chill. Where were the noises of little animals in the night? She had heard them a moment ago, and now, nothing, not even a muffled sound. Silence. In the emptiness between the graves, she felt she was being watched. Her hand closed around the stake. "All right, come out, I know you're there," she shouted.

"Your senses are still acute," Angelus said in an admiring tone, but Susan was unable to determine a direction, and he did not show himself.

"I should have known it's you," she said to the dead stones around her.

"Where were you?" his voice came from somewhere in the darkness.

Susan tried to make out his silhouette between the tombstones, but Angelus was a part of the night surrounding her, and nowhere to be seen. "I could not sleep."

"That does not answer my question."

"I was walking around, no particular destination."

"Being out in the dark can be dangerous."

It sounded like a threat. The night was dark, the shadows from the trees increasing the blackness. It was new moon. There were no street lamps here, clouds hid the stars. Before her lay the white pebbles of the main path that would lead her out to the gates. Susan made some insecure steps forward. If she remained on the main path, she was predictable. If she left it, she might lose her way. It made her nervous not to see where he was. In the dark, the vampire had an advantage. Did he know she had been to the Bronze? Did he suspect she was not what she pretended to be? He had killed her before, in her reality, and in his own. Who told her he was not to do it again? "I'm The Chosen One, I'm not afraid in the dark," she told him, and herself.

She was alone. Her weapons would not be of any use, for there was no direction to aim them at, no light, nothing. She fixed her eyes on the path, listened anxiously for any sound, or any sign of movement.

Then she felt a light touch in her hair. She shot her hand out into the direction the touch had come from, but there was nothing.

She heard him laugh.

The laughter came from her left, she spun round, just to feel a cold hand at her right arm. Vampires moved several times as fast as an ordinary human being, and while she could not even make out the approximate direction the attack came from, he would always know where she was.

Susan took a deep breath, and then made a run for the huge iron gates. She heard his steps behind her, the rhythm slow and steady, every two steps of hers being one of his. She crushed pieces of broken glass under her feet, a startled nightbird in search of insects sped into the air before her, a moth strove her face, as she continued her frantic flight.

As she hit the paled gates and was about to climb over, she realized the steps had stopped.

You know you'll always remember how the night felt, how the colors had faded into an all-consuming, all-covering darkness. When you cling to the iron bars, which are cold against your hands, but warm against the ice-like touch that claims you from behind. When you make efforts to climb over the gate, the only barrier that separates you from the saving freedom, the blessing of light. But there is no light. The moon even hides her face when he's near.

You are pulled back, you are not suffered to let your feet lose contact with the earth beneath, as you feel you are losing ground. The darkness, though possessing everything that lives and breathes in the night, claims the very creature that tries to flee from it, its claws close around you. You cannot see it, but you feel it. Your instincts rage against the force which draws you back into this place of death, they cannot accept the battle is lost before it was even fought, they rebel against the way of being forced to someone else's will. But not you. You are beyond fear. The iron bars immovable behind you, becoming a barrier making the world behind it vanish, and you know when you will examine the soft surface of your skin in the morning, when the first rays of sun will scare away the shadows and come to your rescue, it will show streaks of red where the bars are pressing against you now, but then it will be too late, the cavalry, manifesting itself in your imagination as a knight in shining armor will not arrive, not this time. Your world will have changed, irrevocably. Your life should cross before your mind like a movie by now, yet all you can think of is how you will see the bruises of the iron, which will be to you the evidence you haven't dreamt. If you survive this night. Survival. You linger with the thought for a moment, then the reality calls you back. The circle of life that is running the adrenaline through your arteries in masses now cries to you to make the primal instinct of survival your only reality. In a desperate effort, you try to make the escape, to make the run, to go where you came from though you know you've left the point of no return far behind. You are like a chased animal, the fearful, racing heartbeat stimulating its follower into the kill, the flight being part of the game. But not your follower. He is beyond enjoyment. He calculated your flight even before you knew you would need to escape. And as the prey does not see the hawk falling down from the sky as it seals its death sentence, you shall not see what hits you. Your hawk did not fall from the sky, it lurked in the shadows and traced you, basking in your naive conviction you stood any chance at all.

The sky falls down upon you, the faint lights of the stars covered in towering clouds, about to shed their tears for you. You look up at the curve of the dark sky, the pressure of the iron bars replaced by the pain of hard marble against your aching body, you are not even granted the mercy of breathing out onto the wet grass beyond your reach. It is the hard surface of a tombstone he has chosen for the sacrifice to the god he is to himself, and to whom he will make you pray before the night is over.

The old wounds you thought had healed ages ago are torn open violently, the warm liquid of your life rewarding the night hawk for the efforts of the hunt. You will not bleed to death from the wounds, it is a demonstration of power, the distribution of the roles, silencing your instinct of survival, awakening the other strong impulse that urges you on. It would be normal to fight it, you cannot demand life of the very thing that kills you. The touch is lifeless, there is no breath in this chest to make you feel warmth against your skin in the cold air around you, and you might freeze to death if he allows you to live long enough to feel the chill.

So you lie there in silence, as he does what he must to keep existing, to remain unliving. This night will leave you scarred, both of you, and you know the scars will be more painful still if you move now. But you run the risk. You arch against him, exchanging the smooth surface of the marble against his no warmer skin, expecting he will throw you back with so much force it will break your spine and leave you to die where your body will be found among graves in the morning, but he admits your attempt, he welcomes it. And for the first time in this darkness, there is something you see. It is the golden spark in his eyes. The memories of the flame burn into your soul, as does the flame of a candle into the faint trace of consciousness for the moth that it kills. You've come too close to the fatal heat to turn back. And as the moth in the moment of her death melts into the flame, you become one with the fire that consumes you, and part of you will die on this grave, while part of the fire will be yours forever, burning you from the inside with its deadly promise of eternity.

The agony makes you senseless, for he cannot love what he cannot hurt, as he tosses you into an ocean without ground. He need not breathe, he can dive into the ocean and let himself fall, but not you, you must hold on and hope he will take you to the surface once more to get the fresh air that saves you. He forces you over the edge, makes you look into the abyss, makes you fall. You feel like dying. And you hate yourself, for you embrace your death. Here, where the dead are to rest in peace, he desecrates the sanctity of the place, and you give him leave with each of your silent screams. You cannot breathe, for he forces you to experience how close you are, and all your suppressed tension, the pleas you wanted to say to save your pointless life, and all the profound thoughts you planned to throw at him are melting into a careless whisper, whispering his name in the darkness, before you abandon thought, before your world changes for ever.

Then hell breaks loose. The storm is howling between the graves, dashing the clouds, heavy with rain after the drought, and lightning sets the whole scenery ablaze for the fragment of a second. Long enough for you to see his skin is red with your blood, the triumph written on his face, and the fever in his eyes. The thunder drowns your screams, and within minutes, the rain has soaked your hair, the marble has become slippery, and you can only guess the grass has turned into a swamp. You feel the water running down your closed eyelids, the rain like an extinguishing flood washing over you, making no difference where light stops and darkness begins. The sky sheds its tears, washing away the stains, and your tears mingle with the rain, for you know you will never again feel what you felt the moment the storm broke.

*

The sun was shining through Susan's window when the witch awakened her.

"Good morning," Willow greeted, "It's ten already, and the weather's just great! Too great to miss the whole day sleeping. Ripper's invited us for breakfast, but I guess an ice-cold coke and a cigarette are not what you understand by the term breakfast either, so I arranged something else for us."

Susan did not answer. Her eyes had to get accustomed to the bright sunlight.

Willow hardly noticed. "Here, I got you another dress of mine. Thought you could use it, I wasn't sure if you made it home before the rain. Hey, you could think the end of the world was near. You're not a morning person, huh? I'll wait outside so you can get dressed."

*

Susan tried to walk straight, with no gesture indicating the pain her muscles were causing her. She was glad the dress Willow had chosen was not too tight, and not too transparent, so she could pass others without raising questions she would not have been eager to answer.

Willow had led her to one of the large dining halls.

"Whom are we meeting?" Susan asked, this being her longest sentence for the entire morning.

Instead of an answer, Willow opened the door.

"Hi," Buffy greeted them with a bright smile, "What a beautiful sunshine we have today! Was hell of a night yesterday, wasn't it?!"

*

Asmodis did not understand Mona's nervosity. "Don't you think you're exaggerating?"

Mona shook her head. "No, it's untypical of Susan to hang up without even saying good-bye- and she doesn't answer her phone, and her cell-phone not either. I'm afraid something has happened to her."

Asmodis laughed. "What could have happened? She's a Slayer, she knows how to take care of herself."

"I know," Mona admitted, "But that strange talk about an e-mail you told me about... maybe she got an e-mail which upset her, which made her leave the house again. I'll stop by her apartment."

"Now you're being ridiculous," Asmodis said, "It’s pointless! We might miss our flight for nothing. She's probably at work."

"No, she isn't," Mona replied, "Her secretary says she hasn't seen her the whole morning. Susan missed an important conference today, without even calling in."

"Perhaps she's ill," Asmodis suggested.

"One more reason to take a look at her apartment," Mona insisted.

"Have you called David?"

"Of course I have! And he hasn't seen her since he took her home last night. We were the last people to hear from her."

"You sound like Inspector Columbo now."

"This is not funny. David told me they had a little... disagreement yesterday, maybe she was angry, went on patrol... and something happened. Nothing you can say will prevent me from seeing if everything's okay. You can come with me, or leave it."

"Whatever makes you happy," Asmodis sighed. Sometimes his girlfriend behaved like a headless swamp chicken. Then it was no use arguing with her.

*

Susan noticed with surprise how the minions gave way for her as she wandered through the endless corridors. They carefully evaded her, and none of them made a movement that could have given her insult.

She could not really make sense of it and was still reflecting upon this unusual behavior, when suddenly a shadow fell upon her.

"So you’re not accepting my invitation for breakfast."

Susan sighed. Ripper’s advances were the last thing she could use now. "I’m not accepting ANY invitation of yours, you should really know me by now."

However, he did not join in her provoking tone. "I’m sorry," he declared to her surprise, "I’m sorry about yesterday, I didn’t mean it. It was rude and inappropriate. All I want is to support you in every way I can."

Susan studied the expression on his face carefully. This is not about me, she thought, he’s afraid to interfere with Angelus, so he thinks it would be wiser not to make advances.

"I’m glad to hear you’re so… devoted to our cause," she replied and continued her way. She had come to a decision, and it was time to set things in motion.

*

"Where are you going?" Mona's harsh tone was not to be ignored.

"Just to the cellar," Asmodis replied innocently.

"Sure," she retorted, "Playing with Sunday. Again. That she doesn't bore you yet?"

"Spike doesn't seem to bore you either," he said.

Mona gave him a wicked smile. "Jealous?"

"Jealous? Me? Of Spike? You're kidding. I still have no idea what you see in him. At least it doesn't take me blood to climax," he added viciously.

"No, just a few chains, Holy Water, and a scared girl who can't defend herself," the blond vampire said from the door. He managed to evade the fireball coming from Asmodis' outstretched hand just in time.

Susan gasped. The Asmodis she had known had experimented with magical barriers a little and then had abandoned the idea, but this one did have experience with black spells.

Spike went into game face without warning.

"Stop it, both of you," Mona intervened, "I will no longer listen to your childish rows. If you want to keep me, you'd better learn to share."

Susan had heard enough. 'Welcome to the Hellmouth' had never been that true. Her world may not have been perfect, but at least it was hers, and just now she desperately felt like returning home. However, as long as she did not know how the spell worked, she would have to stay, and to survive, in this reality.

As she entered the hall, the talking stopped. Susan was astonished to find everyone was respectfully giving way to her.

"You don't have to attend to me, " she said, confused, "I didn't mean to disturb you."

As she looked at Mona questioningly, the other woman remarked: "What do you expect? Of course we show you our respect. First, you're a Slayer. That is an honor in itself. And then..." she broke off, as if searching for a way to put it, then simply gestured towards the throne.

"What?" Susan asked sharply. What has he done, advertised it in the papers?

"You have his... attention," Mona finally replied, "Makes you number three in the hierarchy."

Number three. After Buffy. This was enough for Susan. Ignoring the others, she stepped past the throne and entered the quarters behind it without knocking.

*

If she had expected him to be at rest at this time of the day, she was mistaken. He was seated in an antique armchair, the other slayer on his lap. The heavy curtains were closed to prevent the slightest spark of daylight penetrate the obscurity of the surroundings.

He did not say a word, not even acknowledged her presence with a single gaze.

Buffy looked up in surprise. "Susan," she said, "What can I do for you?"

"Leave," Susan replied, or rather, commanded.

Buffy frowned. "What did you say?" Buffy’s eyes darkened. How did Susan dare…

Angelus rose from the chair, which made Buffy slide down from his lap. "Please, could you join the others in the reception hall, Buffy? I'll be with you in a minute." He signalled Buffy with his eyes to follow Susan’s command this time. Buffy did not like it, yet she had no desire to start a discussion with her lover while she had no idea which role he had intended for the other woman in his plans. So she held back the anger that was building up inside her and, not without casting him a conspiring look, left the room walking upright like a queen.

Nothing in his face showed he had any idea why Susan should want to talk to him. Again, she caught herself thinking what a poker player he would make.

Angelus just looked at her for a moment. Then he took a seat again and leant back in the chair comfortably. "Well, Susan," he said in the end, "What can I do for you?"

Susan stepped behind the chair. "I'm here to warn you. You can fool the others. But never try to fool me. I know you better than you know herself, Angelus, and, believe me, I can prepare hell on earth for you."

Angelus looked up to her from the dark eyes of his human guise. "Can hardly wait."

Susan turned the chair around for him to face her. "Don't underestimate me, you keep forgetting I'm The Slayer."

Angelus rose from the chair, fixing her with his gaze, trying to touch the marks on her neck. "Of course," he added in a mocking tone, "And Slayers are not afraid in the dark. Especially not in a cemetery."

Susan evaded his touch, and before he knew what was happening, pinned him against the wall. "You're not getting the message," she said.

Now the vampire could see she was wearing a silver crucifix, richly decorated with amethysts. Susan, noticing he was staring at it, smiled inwardly. "We have a problem, you see..." she added seductively and slowly began to unbutton his shirt. "You have to know..." Then she pressed her body against him, letting the crucifix touch him and burn itself into his skin. "...that I'm extremely jealous."

He tried to force her away, but did not succeed. Susan smiled at his attempt. "Nice try," she admitted, letting him feel the pain more intensely by increasing the pressure, "as I said before, I am quite possessive, and if I don't get what I want, I can become really mean." She decided it was enough for the moment and let go of the vampire. At least her other self seemed to have the same preferences as she when it came to jewlery.

Angelus did not seem impressed now the crucifix was gone. He did not mind looking at one, but, hell, touching one without preparation was not a pleasure either. "This will heal within a few hours," he said. "You won't even see it by tonight."

Susan smiled enigmatically. "I don't think you want to see how mean I can be. Use your imagination."

"I had imagined you would see things different this morning."

"Come on, you didn't expect me to turn into a devoted dummy just because of... a thunderstorm."

"Love your metaphors."

"I think I've said everything. Think about it. As long as I get what I want, you have nothing to fear."

He laughed. "I'm the Scourge of Europe, there is nothing I fear."

Without even the slightest trace of jest, she replied: "So far."

"We should join the others now," he suggested. "They're waiting for Buffy and me to announce the next steps in our fight."

"No," Susan corrected, "They are waiting for us."

"Don't push this too far," Angelus warned her, "Buffy has been a slayer for a longer time than you. She has been here before. I'm sorry, hers is the older claim."

"Which doesn't mean I have to accept it," Susan declared boldly.

Angelus frowed with surprise."You really think you get everything you want."

Susan paused. "I got you. So I've defied Buffy's claim already."

The vampire did not seem to take her remark that serious. "We're not too worried about things like that. We're all friends here, we're on the same side, so we share."

"I told you I was possessive."

"But you'll have a hard time should you really decide to cross Buffy. Don't you think there's room enough for two slayers?"

"Will you put up a third throne?"

The vampire laughed. "Of course not!"

"Does that answer your question?"

Without a further comment, Angelus headed for the door to the hall.

*

"Looks pretty normal," Asmodis remarked, "Now you’ve seen she’s not here, can we go? If we’re lucky, we might even catch the flight!"

"Is your flight and that stupid tour everything you can think of?" Mona complained, "If anything has happened to Susan, we might be the only ones who can help!" She rushed into the study room. "Here. Her computer’s been left on."

Asmodis laughed. "That’s ridiculous, everyone in that business leaves their computers on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Mona checked the e-mails.

"Have you ever heard of a right to privacy?" Asmodis asked.

Mona shook her head. "An e-mail from Tasha, and another one from Susan's mother. About a quilting book."

"Probably that’s why she was in a hurry, she didn’t have it!"

"That’s not at all like Susan," Mona rejected the assumption. Then she scrolled down. "What is that?"

"Spam?" Asmodis suggested impatiently.

"It’s supposed to be from her provider, but it isn’t. Did you send her an e-mail over an anonymous server?"

"Why am I always the first suspect???" he asked. "Now, this is getting weird, we should really get going."

Mona’s face went pale as she read the text. "Look at this," she whispered.

Asmodis turned the screen around and read:

I MISS YOU, LOVER.

He shrugged. "Well, looks as if there was more between Susan and David than we thought."

"Think for a minute!" Mona chided, "There’s nothing between her and her Watcher. And this mail must be the reason for Susan’s disappearance. Doesn’t this ring a bell? Who used to call her 'lover'?"

Asmodis thought about it for a moment. Then he shook his head. "That’s impossible," he said, "Angelus can’t have been released."

"We’d better check. I’ll call Buffy."

"What, now? It’s two o’clock in the morning there! I have another idea. We get to the airport. My tour starts in L.A., so we could drop by at Sunnydale. If my theory is correct and it is but a joke, then it doesn’t help anybody if we stay here and call off my tour. I can’t do this to my fans any time a vampire shows up on the horizon. But if you are right, and I’m not saying you are right, then Susan is on her way to Sunnydale anyway."

This made sense. "All right," Mona said, "Let’s go."

*

Susan felt the tension and the questioning looks as she entered the reception hall with the vampire. Buffy had taken her seat on the second throne. Susan had no intention to leave Angelus' side. She had made her decision, she had gone too far already, there was no turning back now. If she wanted to be credible and respected as The Slayer in this world, she would have to establish her position, which would inexorably mean crossing Buffy. Which would mean claiming her throne.

Angelus was looking at her, asking her with his gaze to take her place among the other warriors. Susan did not make a move.

Willow caught her breath. If Susan did not turn back now, it could result in an open fight with Buffy.

Mona thoughtfully curled a strain of her blond hair around her finger. Susan's just a fool. Who does she think she is, his equal? If he but looked at me once, I'd gladly be number three.

Spike exchanged a meaningful glance with Mona. That would be fun. Too bad Susan would get killed soon.

Buffy followed the scene with interest. Does she really think she could challenge me? If she claims my throne, I'll kill her before she can reach for her weapons.

Angelus remained where he was. What would he do?

After a seemingly endless moment of hesitation, he took Susan's hand and led her towards the thrones. Slowly, one step after the other.

Buffy's eyes widened. If he tells me to get up, I'll send both of them to hell.

A thousand thoughts were running through Susan's head. If he tells me to submit to Buffy, I'll send both of them to hell.

Spike pushed Xander aside to have a better view of what was going on. They had reached the end of the catwalk. Two thrones, and three people. Good. Now Angelus would have to make a decision.

He felt the eyes of everyone in the room resting on him. "Obviously, we haven't got enough seats," he announced.

Spike smiled viciously. So what?

"And since it's two Slayers, and one vampire…" Angelus walked towards his own throne and let go of Susan's hand.

Susan felt a sudden chill. He would let her down. He would support Buffy, and she would have to face both of them.

"… and vampires don't get tired easily, I prefer to stand." He stepped behind the throne and gestured Susan to sit down next to Buffy.

Willow sighed with relief. That was close. Too close. For the moment, however, the danger was over.

As Susan sat down, she felt a brief triumph. Though she knew a confrontation with Buffy would be inevitable on the long run.

She wished she could read Buffy's mind right now. The other Slayer smiled politely, but she was sure to resent this new rival, and she would be determined to rid herself of Susan as soon as possible. So whatever she was planning to do, she had better proceed cautiously and quickly.

Buffy leaned over to her. "Welcome to the team, Replacement," she said in a low voice, "I know everything about you."

"Really," Susan replied calmly. Could Buffy have realized who she was?

Buffy smiled knowingly. "It's the rain. He loves the rain. I remember it was raining as well when --- that's another story. Anyway, I'm glad you're back again. He was already getting obsessed." Buffy giggled artificially. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask, sister."

Got the message, Susan thought, You're nothing special, I'm not afraid of you. Same for you… sister.

Susan had been alone before. She had always been used to making lonely decisions, and she had never complained. Yet she felt panic stealing over her, the desperate longing for her home, the friends who supported her, and, even her job and the occasional annoyance of everyday life. She would have given everything to flee this place, not having to confront the other Slayer, not having to live through the nightmare of Angelus' presence again. Susan had to fight back those feelings of fear and despair. She would need all her determination and quick wits to get out of this world.

"… and so, I expect each one of you to concentrate on our cause," Angelus concluded, "the other side is strong, and there is no overcoming it if we do not stand together as…" He was about to finish his sentence, when the hinges of the heavy gates to the hall started creaking.

"She's back," Susan heard the minions whisper in awe.

And then, as if drawn by some magic, the gates flew open.

The woman was dressed in a tight dress of velvet, patterned like a tiger's fur, which revealed the curves of her body rather than hiding them. She wore high heels, which could nevertheless not conceal she was not very tall. Jewelery of different kinds were hung about her neck, and two rings glistened on each of her fingers. But the most striking thing about her were the two black panthers following her around on diamond-spotted leads.

Susan's blood froze in her veins as she saw the features of a familiar face distorted in a look that was equally vulgar and wicked.

Tasha, she thought in a shock.

"My dear Mrs Hellfire," Angelus greeted her.

She walked up to him with a broad smile. "I've been dying to see you again."

One of the panthers thrust forward to the thrones. It stopped for a moment at Susan, then it began to growl, first silently, then loud and angresssive.

"Hey, what’s come over you, baby?" the woman said soothingly, then she saw Susan. "They've brought you back," she commented. "Hey, baby, don't you recognize our dear friend Susan?"

But the panther did not calm down. The other one strolled near, scented Susan, and began to join the other one in its unsual behavior. Their eyes were glowing, and they gave the warning sounds Susan knew from her own cat back home.

These "cats", however, were highly disturbed.

Angelus noticed it as well. "Can you explain that?" he asked Tasha.

"I can't," she admitted, "They've never behaved like that before… it's almost as if they had never seen Susan before… as if they were afraid of her. But they've never been afraid of anyone who is…" she stopped abruptly.

Susan felt more than uneasy. Evil, she finished the sentence in her mind. Were Tasha's pets the ones to crush her cover to pieces?

"Welcome back, my dear Miss Hellfire," another voice broke the uncomfortable, threatening silence. It took Susan no second to recognize it belonged to Riley Finn. Yet she barely dared to look up. What would he be like in this reality.

"I've missed you so much," Riley said.

Tasha turned the focus of her attention away from Susan and kissed Riley politely on the cheek.

Relieved, Susan looked up. And had to struggle not to burst into laughing. Riley Finn's appearance reminded her of an old movie she had seen with Mona years before. He was dressed in black, the pants tight around his thighs, but falling wide around his ankles, but his boots were clearly intended for riding. Above all, he wore a huge cowboy hat on his head. He looked like the prototypical western villain by the name of Santa Maria.

Tasha, however, did not seem to mind.

Susan was not yet sure whether she liked the Riley of this universe any better than her own, but for this time, his unexpected arrival had saved her. Or had it not? She caught Buffy's gaze by coincidence. And she did not like what she saw there. Distrust. Suspicion. And, above all… rage.

*

They stormed into the office without knocking.

"Anyone here?" Mona shouted. "Susan? Susan!!!!"

"Slowly," Asmodis tried to stop her, but he did not succeed and had no other choice but to follow her.

The desk was orderly, as usual. None of the gang seemed to be there. Something Mona found not at all reassuring.

"Susan!" she yelled again, making no effort to keep the panic out of her voice. She wildly searched the rooms for any sign of her friend, when suddenly the sound of her name made her startle.

"Mona."

She whirled around and saw Angel, who had just entered the office by the sewer entrance.

Mona backed away and sought shelter in the corner of the room, where faint rays of sunlight entered through the closed curtains.

"Stay where you are," she said.

"I don't quite understand," he replied.

"I'm sorry about that," Asmodis explained, "There was no way to keep her from coming here."

"Stay away from him," Mona ordered, the memory of Angelus still too vivid in her thoughts. "We don't know yet what's going on. Angel, who is the President of the United States of America?"

Angel frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Answer. My. Question," she said, stressing every word.

"You sure you're alright?"

"I am," Mona said, "I just want to see if you are. Angel, for the last time! What year do we have, and who is President?"

Angel shook his head in disbelief. "Everyone knows, Mona. It's the year 2011, and we are just having another tax reform under the blessed government of our fiftieth president Mr George…"

Mona held her breath.

"… Clooney," Angel finished the sentence, and Mona sighed with relief.

She hurried into the shadows and embraced the vampire. "Thank God it's you," she said, "I had feared you would be Angelus!"

Still a little confused, Angel returned the embrace.

Asmodis coughed.

"Oh, sorry," Mona apologized and decided to get back to work. "Angel, we think Susan is in trouble, and we need your help." She handed him a copy of the e-mail they had found in Susan's computer. "She has disappeared, and this e-mail must have something to do with it," she closed her report.

Angel studied the sheet closely. "Sounds like Angelus," he confirmed thoughtfully, "But there is no way of his being active without my knowing immediately. That doesn't make any sense… I can call Wes and Cordelia, and I also could use some help from Sunnydale. But you know Susan best. Mona, Asmodis, do you have a few hours to spare to help me with research?"

Asmodis sighed. His manager would kill him. "All right," he sighed.

"We'll be here," Mona confirmed.

"Thanks. And, by the way, Mona --- Angelus usually knows what I know, he could have told you who is president."

"Of course," Mona laughed, "I know! It's just – I love when they ask that question in the movies! Adds to the dramatics, doesn't it?"

*

The dungeon was pitch dark. The thick walls drowned every scream of the creature emprisoned in the darkness, and it reduced her agony to mere whimpers. Since her torturer had painted the walls of her cell with crucifixes and bathed her clothes in garlic brew, her silent cries had stopped. She still saw his sadistic grin before her when he was not there, she shrank with every noise on the steps that would lead him to her to come up with new ideas to torture her, to break her will. He was a heavy smoker, but when he was near her, he smoked nothing but the herbs they used in church ceremonies, and he never brought an ash tray with him.

She no longer knew how long she had been here.

In the first days of her emprisonment, she had still thought Dru and the others would come to rescue her. Then, she had hoped, the Master would be looking for her. Finally, she had realized nobody would be coming. Probably they thought her dead.

And Asmodis would never get tired of the games. He used her as an outlet for his anger with Mona and Spike, his suppressed yearning for freedom of Angelus' rule, whom he hated because of the power symbolized by the throne he never bowed before. Asmodis was a black magician, he never knelt before the vampire or the Slayer. Yet he could not hope to assume power himself as long as either of them lived. And he wanted power, so much Sunday had understood. They all followed Angelus, but not because they respected him --- because they had no ways to rebel against him. And the more frustrated Asmodis got, the more she had to suffer for it.

Sunday felt weak, and every day she felt less able to go on. If she ever got the mercy of one unattended moment, she would walk out into daylight, she would walk proudly and calmly, as it would mean the end of the pain for her.

She startled. There were steps on the staircase.

What would he have in store for her this time?

But these steps were lighter.

Sunday cried from relief as she recognized a female figure entering the dungeon.

"Shsh, not a sound," Susan whispered, "I'm here to free you."

"What?" Sunday asked behind her tears.

Susan kicked the heavy barred door open with her leg. Then she tore at the chains around Sunday's ankles.

"No," Sunday whimpered, "It's a trick, he sent you to vex me. I'm supposed to think I can flee, and then he throws me back in the cell." Tears were streaming down her face.

"No," Susan tried to calm her, "It's not that way. Follow the passage over there, keep to the left, it leads into the sewers. If you keep on the right as soon as you reach them, they will lead you exactly to the Bronze. I need you to take a message to Drusilla. Tell her she can count on me. Will you?" She broke the lock, and the chains went rattling to the floor.

The vampire was still crying.

Susan slapped her. "Will you?"

Sunday was too flabbergasted to resume her weeping. "I will," she whispered. Then she pressed Susan's hand hard. "Thank you."

"Hurry," Susan said.

As she watched Sunday running off into the night, she realized what people used to call the point of no return. And she knew she had passed it.

The moment she tried to sneak back to the staircase, the slow clapping of hands in applause were heard behind her. It sent chills down her spine. No need to ask who had followed her.

"Brilliant," he said, "Who would have suspected it? Oh, Susan, I know you too well, you can't fool me."

Susan took a deep breath and turned around to face him with dignity.

*

Angel looked around, watching the people scattered about his office.

Willow held the magic crystal over the maps, slowly swinging it in circles over every inch of the paper. She had practiced often to find people this way. She had always started with a map of the world, and then, once she had found a direction, gone deeper into more detailed maps. Yet this time, the procedure proved incredibly difficult, she could not even get a glimpse of the Slayer's presence, though a personality that strong should have been outstanding among millions of mortals. Herself and Tara had been taking turns in performing several tracing spells, leaving both of them exhausted, but to no avail.

Buffy was sitting on the stairs to Angel's apartment with a huge tome, half of which she could not possibly comprehend. She had never done so much research and preferred the action that followed.

Spike was seated next to her, as if to defend his territory. It still made Angel feel sick to see them together. Now Spike had a soul, there was obviously not so much of a difference between them – except that Spike's soul was not a curse and therefore did not place any restrictions on him.

Spike, feeling he was being watched, suddenly looked up. His eyes met Angel's. The still existing dark part of Spike's soul meant to cast him a triumphant glance, but seeing the melancholy in the other vampire's eyes, he could manage nothing but a compassionate nod of the head.

Angel looked away.

Xander was having his fifth jelly donut, carefully avoiding to do any harm to Wesley's books and papers with his sticky fingers.

Anya was sleeping on the sofa in Angel's office.

The vampire himself felt no need for rest, but Cordelia had insisted he took a break from his research and had placed the protesting vampire into a comfortable armchair. He stayed there to please her, but he could not take his mind from the matters.

Angel still turned the paper around in his hands, brooding over the one sentence. His thoughts returned to the moment he had first seen The Replacement Slayer, still very young and unaware of the burden that lay before her. And still a Slayer even then. He smiled inwardly when he remembered their embarrassing first conversation. Susan had had no illusions. She had known instantly there was more to his invitation for coffee, that was why she had refused. He wished he could have spared her what she had gone through since. He wished he could have spared her meeting him and all that darkness he had brought over her life. And yet she had never complained. While he was thinking, probably the same darkness was about to consume her, luring her away with his own dark side, though he could not explain yet how that was possible. He was here, wasn't he. He could still feel the demon's presence, as always, but it was Angel who was in control, his evil side suppressed in the recessses of his heart and mind.

Doyle's words suddenly came back to him. It's not for all eternity. It's just that they have other plans with you right now. .... Give me the ring. The Powers will guard it, so it will be safe from the wrong people. Don't worry about Angel. One day, he will have it, and it will be you who will put it into his hands.

It was supposed to be Susan who would one day free him from the shadows, from the devil lurking beneath the surface, keeping him away from the woman he loved. It was supposed to be Susan who would make him Shan-shu. And now she was gone, disappeared… He realized with surprise that he was less worried about this fact than about what had happened to her. She had once given her soul to save his, and all he had given her in return was his friendship. Was he again the one who had got her into trouble?

Willow put the magic crystal away and shook her head in resignation. "I've searched everywhere. Wherever Susan is, she is not on the surface of this earth. I can't find her with my normal witchcraft."

Angel nodded, absent-minded.

Mona stared at Willow, terror speaking from her eyes. "Is she… dead?" she asked anxiously.

Willow sighed. "I don't know. I can try to contact her spirit, but I can't guarantee it will work."

*

Sunday's hands hammered against the back door of the Bronze. She had run all the way from Angelus' headquarters, anxiously looking around if she was being followed, haunted by the idea they might catch her now, so close to the safety she had longed for all these endless nights. Her hair hang loosely into her face, her legs barely carried her. She was mobilizing all her strength despite the mental and physical exhaustion she had experienced.

With a last effort, she sank into Drusilla's arms.

"Sunday!" The dark vampire embraced her long lost friend and burst into tears immediately. "I thought I'd never see you again."

"So did I," Sunday cried.

Drusilla led her into the refuge. "How did you escape?"

"It was the Slayer," Sunday whispered, "She's on our side. She freed me. You must help her," she entreated Drusilla, "She's in danger there. I heard… Asmodis talk about the suspicions they have about her. The panthers of the Lady Hellfire almost attacked her because they sensed her goodness! Not long and they will know."

"Don't worry about that now," Drusilla said soothingly, " Take a rest, love. We will take care of matters." She gestured towards Lindsey. "Contact our spies. I need more information at once."

*

Tara's eyes were closed. Her hand held Willow's in a firm grip.

"Hecate, Mother, hear your daughters and send us your blessing," Tara chanted slowly.

Willow, now clearly in a trance, replied, "What is it you're asking, Child?"

"Let me have access to the spirit world. Let me pass the barriers of space, time and dimension to get in touch with those who are gone before us."

"Step forward with faith," Willow said.

Mona felt uneasy watching the séance, but she trusted the two witches and guessed they knew what they were doing.

Tara gestured towards the others to enter the circle and join hands. "Let us walk into the spiritual world together," she said.

Mona realized Tara was slipping into a trance as well. She found the whole situation a bit scary, yet it was so unlike the show séances usually shown on TV and in films, she decided to concentrate and support Tara's magic with her own, though very limited, spiritual force.

Tara had the feeling she stood at the beginning (or the end?) of a long corridor, with doors on either side.

She felt the others in the group backing her as she proceded into the realm of spirits.

She opened the first door.

"Who is it you are looking for?" a friendly voice asked. Through the echoes and chants of the afterworld, it was impossible to distinguish a male or female spirit.

"The Replacement Slayer," Willow replied.

"Why do you come to disturb her peace?"

"My God, she's here. She's dead," Mona whispered.

"That would depend on your perspective," the voice replied.

Willow was shivering in the presence of a magic too great to comprehend. "We do not want to disturb..." she began, but Angel cut her off.

"It is my fault she's here, isn't it," he said.

The voice laughed. " That would as well depend on your perspective."

Angel's voice was cool and determined as he replied: "What about a change of perspective, then?"

"What do you want?"

"I just want to find her."

"It is not a small thing you are asking."

"If it was my fault, I have the right to ask. I have the right to know."

The voice murmured agreement.

"Where can I find her?" the vampire demanded.

"She will find you."

Then the vision broke off, leaving them reduced to fear and confusion.

*

"It was nasty to take my toy away from me!" Asmodis was leaning at the wall, playing with the keys to the cells of the dungeon. "What a show," he continued. "Joining Buffy for the massacre at Willie's, gaining her trust. Offering to Angelus he should turn you, gaining his trust. Just to steal away like a thief in the night to the Bronze. What did you do there, Susan, shake hands with Lindsey? Oh, sorry, forgot that's hardly possible." He shook his head. "Susan, Susan, you had planned it so well. And then the incident with the panthers. Pretty nervous, weren't they?"

"I would be nervous, too, if I were at Tasha's mercy," Susan replied coldly.

He smirked devilishly. "Well, you're at my mercy, do you think that's any better? However, releasing Sunday at this crucial stage of your conduct here ---"

His face showed triumph, amusement, and destructive sarcasm was in his voice with every word he spoke.

"What do you want?" Susan asked.

"Don't get me wrong, Susan. We've been friends for years. I have no interest in betraying you to Angelus, just to take the position of number three in the hierarchy. That would be a waste of my talents. I have higher aspirations. I believe the two of us want the same things. We would be better off without Buffy. Without her, you are on top of Angelus' list. And without her, his secured position in the hierarchy is vulnerable. Especially if there was an ambitious, good-looking black magician to take his place… We could be valuable allies, my dear."

Susan shook her head in disgust. "Who says I WANT to be your ally, Asmodis? I could as well tell Angelus you released Sunday yourself. You made the panthers nervous to make me suspicious in his eyes. Vampires don't exactly adore people who can throw fire balls. He would welcome any excuse to get you out of his way."

The black magician did not seem insulted. On the contrary, he seemed almost amused. "You are mistaking your position. I know who you are, and at the moment, I am the only one who does. You do not belong to this universe, babe, and I can prove it!"

The superior smile froze on Susan's face. "How…"

Asmodis shrugged with an all-knowing, all-wise look on his face. "Willow is a weaker magician than I am. I simply thought her unable to perform such a complicated spell without failing. I mean, we're talking about Willow! And you behaved strangely. Forgive my directness, but the evil Susan would not have returned readily to the bed of someone who killed her. So I did some research. What I offer you is a pact. You help me assume Angelus' position --- and I help you to get back to your dimension. You can take him with you, if that's really what you want. Think about it, Susan. The best thing you can hope for the way things are is to be his second mistress. And if you support the demons, you will be against me, which means I would have to turn you over to Angelus. But if you accepted my very few conditions, you would not only free our people from a tyrant,…"

"… you would also make sure he depends on you for ever."

Susan hesitated. "I don't know," she said.

Asmodis smiled and started singing. "Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong…"

"Stop it," Susan commanded. "So what are your terms?"

A wide grin showed on Asmodis' face. "My lips are sealed, I will keep to myself what I know, and officially Sunday unfortunately died in one of our games. And I will put Angelus under a spell so he never suspects you. Meanwhile, I will prepare everything for your ticket home."

"And I?"

"You kill Buffy." Asmodis held out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

*

David did not expect any visitors. As a member of the Watchers' Council, he had been trained to be suspicious of every unexpected event, and especially now Susan had abandoned contact temporarily.

The knock at the door became more vehement.

David opened.

"Hi," Susan said shyly, her eyes cast down.

"Susan!" he exclaimed, "Where WERE you?"

"I needed a change of surroundings," she replied.

"Are you okay? We were worried. Mona was looking for you, and I felt alarmed as well."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I'm okay. You're not angry with me, are you?"

David shook his head. "I'm just glad you're back." He felt relieved and reached out to embrace her, but he restrained himself. He did not want to put pressure on her as well. He would have to accept they were nothing but friends.

Susan looked up. "Don't you want to embrace me?"

David frowned with surprise.

Susan smiled. "I've made up my mind. Sorry I left you waiting for so long." With these words, she flew into his arms and involved her surprised watcher in a passionate kiss.

"Why," David burst out, breaking the kiss and struggling for breath, "yesterday you said you needed time, and now... why this sudden change of mind?"

Susan smiled. "One could say I... woke up." With these words, she pushed him into the apartment and slammed the door. They never made it to the bedroom.

*

"What were you THINKING?" Buffy's hazel eyes showed a dangerous glare.

Angelus pretended he did not understand her excitement. "I thought you agreed it was a good idea to allow Willow to bring Susan back."

"I changed my mind. Angelus, she's dangerous, she betrayed you once, and she'll do it again!"

The vampire gave her a knowing smile. "May I guess what brought about your sudden enlightenment?" His voice assumed a soothing tone as he added: "We are jealous, aren't we?" He put his arm around her waist possessively.

Buffy pushed his hand away and laughed scornfully. "How could I possibly be jealous of Susan? That's ridiculous!"

"So why do you see her as a threat, then?"

"If she collaborates with the enemy, that usually is what we call a threat!"

Angelus seemed relaxed and not in the least concerned. "Even if she was working with Drusilla --- let her have her fun. I can control her."

"You're underestimating the instincts of a slayer."

"And you are underestimating the instincts of a woman."

Buffy assumed a challenging gaze. "We will see who is right. Fifty bucks that she'll try to kill you before the night is over."

Angelus smiled. "Fifty bucks that she'll try to kill you."

*

The room was dark. Susan's eyes were used to darkness, as a slayer she spent a considerable part of her time fighting in darkness. Yet when she entered Buffy's quarters, she had hoped the apartment would be bright. It wasn't. Susan had to remind herself that this was not Buffy, nor was it the universe she belonged to. Yet Susan had never attempted to kill a living, breathing enemy who was not a demon. And especially not a Slayer. She tried to persuade herself she was not doing anything wrong. All she was doing was getting back to her own world, her place in the order of things. She would do what she knew must be done.

"Buffy?" she asked as she pushed the door open.

"Thought we wanted to patrol!" she asked into the emptiness.

The other slayer was nowhere to be seen. However, a scent was in the air, striking Susan the very moment she entered the rooms.

The first relief she would not have to put her plan into action right now gave way to a far greater tension as she now realized clearly she was not alone.

Angelus switched on the light. It was only a single, blinding spot in the middle of the room, now directed straightly at Susan, so bright she had to cast her eyes down and almost completely lacked orientation. "Buffy asked me to tell you she went to patrol alone because she thought you could use some rest. She said you looked extremely pale in the morning."

"She shouldn't have gone without me." Susan drew back from the spotlight she was standing in and slowly moved towards the door.

Angelus called her back. "Want me to patrol with you?"

Susan smiled enigmatically. "I don't want to depress you."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Angelus was an uncompromising fighter. The way he fought depended entirely on his whim. If he wanted torture, he allowed his victims the illusion of escape, just to kill them the very moment they fancied their chances best. If he wanted the quick kill, he had many ways to make a sudden death as painful as a slow one. Demons could sense his presence, however this fact did not improve their chances of survival. During the whole patrol, Angelus showed an amazing range of fighting skills, which Susan could not help but admire, though she was ever conscious that the creatures he killed were not the evil demons that were part of Susan's personal nightmare, but in this world the beings she should support. She had to get out of this world. But before she could do this, she would have to stop the slaughtering.

Another vampire turned up. A young woman. Too naive to sense the danger.

Angelus walked up to her with a broad smile. "What time is it?"

The girl looked at her watch. "Ten thirty."

"Wrong. Time to say good-bye! Didn't your mom tell you never to talk to strangers?" A stake snapped out from his sleeve and turned the girl to dust.

Susan tried to hide her emotions. "I'm getting bored," she said, cautiously avoiding to make him realize how much his conduct disgusted her.

Angelus frowned. "Getting bored," he repeated thoughtfully. "You're getting bored with killing." He approached her with an icy look. "Do you know what Buffy would say? She would say that you've become good, that killing is repugnant to you, and that you want to stop me."

Susan felt the chill. Her face did not betray her. "But you know better."

He laughed, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "Of course." His voice had a dangerous notion when he added: "So you are getting bored, you say. All right. No more slaying. I have a game for you that you will enjoy."

*

The children had gone to bed, after the usual protests and the pleading for "just five more minutes". They had brushed their teeth extensively, and hopefully would be fast asleep.

"I don't understand why Susan did not reply to my e-mail," Tasha complained to Riley, "It's very impolite! Why am I always the only one to keep in touch with my friends?"

Riley sighed. "It's the same with my friends. After the incident with… the thing five years ago, they haven't exactly been eager to write."

"But still," Tasha said, "It's so unlike Susan."

"Well, I forgot to tell you, Mona called today and asked if we had heard from Susan. She doesn't seem to keep in touch with her more regularly either."

Tasha nodded absently. She hesitated for an uncomfortable moment. "Honey..."

Riley looked up from the latest copy of Men's Health. "Yes, love?"

Tasha's face showed concern. "You don't think anything has happened to her, do you? I mean, with the... business she is in."

Riley shook his head. "Are you still thinking about it that much? Look, I've had enough of vampires and demons for a whole lifetime. I really don't wanna hear about it any more."

The door bell saved Tasha an answer. "I'll go and see who's there."

*

"Angel Investigations, we help the..."

"Is that you, Cordelia?"

"That's my name. Who's there?"

"Riley."

Cordelia frowned. The name seemed familiar somehow. "Riley...? Oh, Riley FINN, sorry, I had completely forgotten... it's been a long time. What can I do for you?"

"Is Mona with you?"

"Yes, she's here."

"She called us and asked for Susan."

"Riley, could you speak up, the connection is poor, I can barely hear you!"

"Sorry... the cell phone... tell Mona... Su... on the way... flight... do nothing till..."

"Riley! Riley! RILEY!!!!" Cordelia shouted into the receiver, but the line had broken down. She shrugged and hang up. "That was Riley," she announced.

"I suspected so," Angel replied sarcastically. "What did he want?"

"I have no idea, I could hardly hear him. But he said something about Mona and flight." Her face suddenly lit up. "Perhaps he didn't say flight, but RIGHT, and he meant she should remember to drive on the RIGHT, now she has been to England for lecturing."

"Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Cordelia," Mona replied, "He also could have meant I should remember to turn on the LIGHT when it's dark outside."

Cordelia frowned. "Possible. But you would know that, wouldn't you."

Wesley looked at her over the rims of his glasses. "She's kidding, dear."

"Oh. Of course."

"Buffy, do you have Riley's cell phone number?" Angel asked.

"Why should I?!" Buffy burst out, almost offended, "If I had the cell phone number of every guy I slept with in the past ten years, I would have..." she broke off and colored.

"... four numbers?" Spike asked sarcastically.

"Thanks, love, where would I be without you!" Buffy retorted.

With me, Angel thought, but he held his peace.

"Don't worry," Mona said quickly, "I have Tasha's cell phone number, I can try to call her back."

Buffy tried to avoid Angel's eyes.

Spike was not so shallow as not to notice, and it worried him. The bitter recognition stole over him that despite the affection Buffy had come to have for him, he was still second choice. He was fighting these thoughts. He had no right to reproach her, as his dark goddess still sometimes stole into his dreams.

*

"Where are we going?" Susan asked uneasily.

"You'll know in a minute," Angelus assured her, "We are there."

Susan was led through a back entrance into a building she had never been to. Her gaze fell on a sign near the door: "CARITAS – Staff only."

She frowned. Well, in this world, the CARITAS was likely to be a circle of satanists or the headquarters of the local Cosa Nostra.

"A friend of mine runs this business, I arranged for us to enter through the back entrance," Angelus explained briefly. "I told you we were to play a game. Trust me," he added with a smile, "You'll like it."

Susan was more than sceptical of trusting Angelus.

From the dark in front of her, a horrible version of "Let me entertain you" could be heard, in unison with amused shouts such as "Stop it!", "Go home!", "Give him a hearing aid!".

Susan gave Angelus a questioning look, which he ignored, and he pushed her on to the foot of some stairs.

"To make things easier, I've chosen for you, just go up the stairs and push the curtain aside," Angelus said.

Susan was confused. "You've chosen WHAT for me?" she asked suspiciously.

She slowly went up the stairs and peeped through the curtain. What she saw struck her with horror. They were in the backstage area of a karaoke bar, a karaoke bar full of people, some of them clearly belonging to Angelus' minions, and before her, the poor, narrow-shouldered man who wanted to become the second Meat Loaf was just finishing his song.

"No," Susan refused, "I am not gonna do this!"

Angelus' eyes did not leave any doubt he would not accept this answer. "You have no choice, lover," he replied, "You don't have trouble singing folk songs in an Irish Pub, so why not try a karaoke bar?"

"In an Irish Pub I don't sing alone on a stage! There's no way I'm gonna do this!"

Angelus smiled at her, but it was an evil smile, condescendant and cold. "Yes, you are. Believe me, the alternative is MUCH worse." The threat sounded from every word he said.

"I'm not afraid of you, I told you before," Susan said.

"You said I had your loyalty. Prove it."

Susan sighed. She did not know what he was up to, but she realized that upsetting him in a bar full of his minions was probably not the best idea. Her legs were shaking, and she felt she was about to make a complete fool of herself, but she had no choice at this very moment.

"Which song did you pick?" she asked.

"If I tell you, the fun will be spoiled," he replied. "I see you later."

Angelus made sure she would go out to the stage, then he took a place at the bar, next to a green-skinned demon.

Angelus, with a demon-friend? Susan had not much time to be surprised, for there was an announcement. "Live on stage --- Caritas presents The Replacement Slayer with Annie Lennox, Love Song For A Vampire."

Susan shot Angelus an angry glance. How could he force her to do this?

The audience was cheering.

Sighing, Susan took the microphone and stepped out into the limelight.

*

"Still nothing on the cell phone?" Angel asked Mona impatiently.

"Sorry, she's still turned it off," Mona replied.

"Still nothing from the books about the death of a Replacement Slayer?"

Tara shook her head apologetically.

"It's over," Willow said compassionately, "I'm very sorry."

"This is not the end," Angel said.

"Why, she's dead!" Cordelia blurted out.

"So was I," Buffy answered matter-of-factly.

"She's not dead," Angel disagreed.

Xander sighed. "Denial is a big river in Egypt!"

Angel did not even bother to cast him a disapproving glance. "Something's wrong with her. I know it."

At this moment, there was a knock at the door.

Cordelia rushed to open it. "Riley!" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Can we come in? We're bringing you someone," he said.

Cordelia's eyes opened wide. She was speechless, which was very seldom, and stepped aside.

"Riley!" Angel shot from his chair.

"Hello everybody," Riley said.

Tasha entered behind him. "We got two visitors today, and they asked us to bring them here," she explained.

Mona could not believe her eyes as Susan and David entered.

"Susan, thank God! We were worried!" she yelled.

Susan ignored her and looked around slowly, fixing every one of them with her gaze. "I'm sorry. I had important things to do. Some of you don't know David yet, he's my watcher." Her voice was calm and sounded unfamiliar somehow.

Then she saw Angel.

"Susan," the vampire said. "Are you okay?"

Susan's eyes had a wet shimmering as she walked up to him. "I thought I'd never see you again," she whispered.

David coughed audibly. "We are here for a reason," he reminded her. "I as Susan's watcher have to inform you of an important matter. We have to... prevent the end of the world."

Anya let herself fall onto a chair with a sigh. "Not again!"

*

"It's difficult to read her," the Host whispered to Angelus, "her Slayer personality is so strong it overshines everything else."

"What do you see?" Angelus demanded impatiently.

"Well, what is very prominent in her mind is the picture of you... But there's something else. A strong emotion."

"What?"

"I can't tell. It sounds strange, but it's somewhere between longing and... homesickness."

"Homesickness. That doesn't make any sense," Angelus said.

"I know," the Host sighed, "But it's all I can do for you at the moment. She is not wholly what she is pretending to be. I can't tell you more."

Angelus acknowledged the Host's efforts. The song was finished.

There was a wave of applause, whether genuine or pre-ordered by Angelus, Susan was unable to tell.

The vampire assisted her descending from the stage. He kissed her cheek and gave her a black rose.

"Are you happy now?" Susan hissed.

"Perfectly."

"The end of the world. The more often I hear it, the more it loses impact," Xander said.

"No," Buffy disagreed. " It never does. What can we do?"

David sighed. "I got the news from the Watcher's Council today. Their telepaths noticed a shift in the time-space-continuum as we know it."

"Caused by what?" Wesley enquired.

"That is still an insecure factor. A shift could be a side effect of high supernatural energies. The only trouble is, usually, a magic that powerful cannot be wrought without sensitive, schooled magicians being able to locate its source. However, this time, something weird happened. They did locate a source --- here in Los Angeles. The center of its energy is Angel Investigations."

Angel shook his head. "That doesn't make any sense."

"I'm sorry, I'm a little slow today," Xander interfered (causing Spike to grin and ask: "Today?"), "Would anyone bother to explain what a shift in the time-space-whatever has to do with end-of-the-world and our Slayers?"

"Hear me out before you ask stupid questions," David said, "This will save us all time and effort. They located a second center of the same energies: Susan's apartment."

"Whoops," Xander replied. "Great coincidence, but I still don't see..."

"The prophecy," Wesley explained, "The old scripture says that Angel is going to be Shan-shu when his mission is complete. And what we know about the Ring of Regha is that it has the power to make him... Shan-shu."

Willow's eyes flew wide open as she realized the consequences. "And Doyle said it would be Susan to put the ring into his hands. If we have these two strong poles of energy, it means that Angel's mission is coming to its end." She hesitated. "That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"The final battle," Wesley said solemnly, "His mission will end in the final battle. David is right. The apocalypse is at hand."

"So I'd better not buy tickets for Asmodis' next concert?" Xander asked.

Buffy frowned. "Are you sure there are only TWO centers of energy?"

"Yes," David confirmed, "Why?"

"Perhaps I'm just overestimating myself, but one should expect that the Chosen One has a part in the apocalypse, too."

David shot her a glance of disapproval. "Miss Summers, you are aware that you defied the Council, aren't you? Your behavior does not allow you any claim to the title of the Slayer, now we have a new official one."

Buffy glared at him. "Being the Chosen One is not being the employee of the Council! You can't fire me! I've been called by the Powers That Be!"

David grinned. "And as there was no third center of interdimensional energy, what does that tell us?"

Buffy looked at the others for support.

"I'm afraid he is not altogether wrong," Wesley reluctantly agreed, "The ring was Susan's property, and Doyle talked about her."

"It's stupid," Buffy complained, "I'm the more experienced Slayer."

"This is not about experience," Susan said, "It's about destiny."

"Fine, destiny," Buffy replied, "But I'm the most qualified person when it comes to..." She broke off. When it comes to Angel, I have absolutely no more claims to make.

"Why can't you just be happy that it's not you who has to put herself into danger for the sake of a world not worth saving?" Spike asked.

"Because this is not right!" Buffy exploded, "You've made a mistake!"

"No," David replied coldly, "You have."

Buffy walked up to him and slapped him so hard he fell to the floor. Then she ran out.

"Buffy!" Angel was about to go after her, but Susan's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Let her go," she said softly. "She'll understand."

Angel noticed with surprise that Susan did not look after her watcher, it was Willow and Cordelia who had immediately made sure he was all right. "Are you hurt?" Cordelia asked.

"Only my pride," David answered sourly.

Spike sighed. "Excuse me, someone has to go after Buffy."

Angel watched him leave.

For the first time in years, Angel could not make sense of the flood of information. He had known for a long time the day would come when he would have to complete his mission in the final battle of light and darkness, and he had known he might at last find peace afterwards. However, in his imagination of the day he had not dared to dream of, it had been Buffy fighting at his side. He had seen Susan as a messenger of the Powers That Be, a support in the Slayer's battle, the one who would always be special because she would be the one to reward him – now seeing the former replacement take Buffy's place in the decisive moment of destiny was an idea to get used to.

"You don't say anything," Susan addressed him.

"I'm sorry," Angel said, "It's just... it's too much for one day. I'm not sure what is expected of me."

"We have a lot to talk about," Susan agreed.

Cordelia nodded. She left the room quietly with Tara and Willow.

"I will cross-check what we've got about the final battle," Wesley said, "I'll be in the library if you need me. David, you'll help me?"

The watcher nodded.

"Let's see if we can be of use, too," Mona said, leading Asmodis, Tasha and Riley out of the room.

Susan cast Xander and Anya an impatient look. "We have a lot to talk about," she repeated.

"Okay," Xander said.

"Oops, she probably meant THE TWO of them," Anya concluded and dragged Xander from the room, closing the door behind them.

There was an uncomfortable silence.

Susan finally broke it. "I'm sorry I couldn't prepare you in a less shocking way."

Angel tried a smile, but he did not manage. "Do you think there's still anything to shock me, after all this time?"

Susan shrugged. "I don't know. End of the world sounds pretty shocking to me."

"We've known it for so long."

Susan sighed. "True. I just hadn't expected it so soon." She made an effort to steady her voice. "It's such a responsibility. I don't know if I... if I'm up to it!" She stood at an armlength's distance before him, her shoulders trembling, she looked tired and frail. Tears were welling up in her eyes. "You've lived for so long. But I... I just don't wanna die!"

Seeing her in this state was too much for Angel. Trying to comfort her, he embraced his friend. "You won't if I can prevent it," he whispered.

"There are so many incalculable factors," she replied, her tears burning hot against his shoulder, "So much I have to tell you before the world ends."

"I told you nothing can surprise me," Angel said. He felt her heartbeat wild against his chest and could virtually smell the adrenaline shooting into her blood with the anticipation of what she was going to say.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing at all."

Susan looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Angel... I love you."

*

"Angelus, I hate you!"

"Thanks for the compliment." The vampire enjoyed her rage. "Admit it, Susan, limelight is like a drug, and you desperately want to do it again."

"Absolutely not, and I still can't believe you made me do this!"

"I usually bring out the best in people."

"Of course," Susan remarked contemptuously.

"My friend was very impressed by your performance, we agreed you have to sing again some time soon."

"Why don't you sing, for a change?"

Angelus laughed. "It would be no use, believe me." Seeing the questions in her eyes, he decided to change the subject quickly. He was not keen on her knowing now why he had brought her here. "By the way, have you had any dinner yet? Why don't you stay here and order a little something while I'm taking a quick bite outside?"

Susan wished she had never been sensitive to double meanings of words.

"I'll be right back," the vampire said, not waiting for her answer, and was gone.

A little killing, threatening her into karaoke, then some fresh blood for dinner –another normal date with the Scourge of Europe, Susan thought cynically.

A waiter put a huge tray on her table with a plate on it, covered by a bowl.

"I didn't order..." she began, then a look at the waiter silenced her. It was David.

Hesitantly, Susan lifted the bowl. On the plate, there was a note:

AFTER SUNRISE AT THE DOCKS – ALONE.

Susan saw David's entreating gaze and nodded.

"I apologize, this was for table 5," David said aloud, took the tray and disappeared.

*

It was in the early morning hours when Susan and Angelus returned to the headquarters.

Susan noticed with uneasiness that he was walking her to her door although his own quarters were at the other side of the building.

"Here we are," Susan said, trying to escape into her rooms as fast as possible, "I'm really tired now, see you in the evening, good night!" She reached for her keys.

Angelus was faster and caught her hand in the movement. "Are you not inviting me in for coffee?"

"You don't drink coffee," she said soberly.

"Well, actually you needn't invite me in, this room is in my house anyway," the vampire reminded her and pushed the door open.

Susan noticed with surprise that the door had not been locked, though she was sure she had locked it twice.

She walked into the room behind Angelus, slowly and cautiously. The door fell close behind them.

"You're not exactly polite to your guest," she remarked.

"You're not exactly a guest," Angelus rejoined.

Susan knew the expression on his face well, she had seen it once too often. She would try to settle things sensibly. "Listen, I told you I want to go to bed."

"I won't prevent you."

"I want you to leave."

"No, you don't."

Not this time, Susan thought. This time he would not stalk her, this time she was prepared. "Are you leaving peacefully or do I have to show you to the door?"

Angelus seemed almost amused at the threat.

Susan no longer bothered with threats. She attacked.

She had learned from her earlier fights, she did not fall victim to his faked attacks, and she skillfully avoided his eyes so he would get no chance to hypnotize her. She fought like a lunatic, irrational and with energies she had no idea whence they came. She hit directly, once, twice, three times, not with full power, strong enough to be felt, yet too weak to do harm.

His strikes were different. Unlike in the night's previous fights, he was not trying to show off. His moves were unspectacular, but well-placed and always on the edge of real pain. "That's not your best yet, is it, Slayer?"

"No, not yet," Susan admitted and launched an aggressive and very effective attack.

The amused smirk on his face had vanished and given way to real anger. He's angry because he's losing, Susan realized with surprise. Had Angel been in his place, he would have changed his tactics and would have concentrated on increasing the speed of the fight, relying on his vampiric stamina to tire out even a Slayer. But not Angelus. He now aimed for hurting her.

On purpose, he targeted the parts of her body that were still bruised from being thrown against the iron bars of a cemetary gate the night before.

Susan ignored the burning pain. She shot out her fist, managing a blow that would have broken his jaw had he been human.

Out for revenge, he morphed into game face and made a rush for her.

This was exactly what Susan had expected. She evaded the attack and tried to go for him instead. Angelus realized his mistake and backed away, a sound of silk torn apart was heard as all Susan had caught was a stripe of his shirt. Susan noticed the mark of her crucifix on his chest was no longer visible.

He hit her with all his vampiric strength.

Susan felt she was bleeding, her lip began to swell, but he would pay for that.

Her moves were unpredictable. Susan manoeuvered him into the corner of the room.

Angelus smiled internally. She thought she had him shoulders against the wall, but he would let himself fall and drag her to the ground with him.

He was just about to do this, when he shrank back from the crucifix around her neck.

"You should have left quietly when you had the chance," Susan said, quite out of breath, yet triumphant.

"You feel very courageous with your little toy, don't you," he said. "This could really harm me."

Susan met his gaze. "I don't care."

His game face had drawn back. He could have looked human. Had there not been the cold in his eyes, the scorn in his smile. He might have lost one battle – but he was decided to win the war.

With enormous effort, his hand feeling like on fire, he closed his fingers around the cross.

Susan did not understand. "What the hell are you doing?"

Angelus did not reply. He tried to keep the pain out of his face, which he managed only very superficially, but he did not let go. Susan felt uneasy. He held it for too long, it would burn him if he didn't take his hand away now.

"Stop it," she commanded.

The smell of burnt flesh was all over the room now, and the scars the cross would leave this time might take centuries to heal.

"Let go!" she shouted, but the vampire ignored her. "You'll get yourself killed!"

He just held her gaze.

Susan had to act. She gathered her strength and finally managed to wind the cross out of his hand. It fell to the floor.

"What were you trying to prove?" she shouted angrily.

Only then she realized that she had just dropped her defences, the means to keep the demon at bail.

"That you do care," Angelus said.

They were staring at each other, Susan's fingers still clutched around his wrist. Desperately she felt her anger melting away. "I don't care about you," she claimed, more to convince herself than Angelus, "Your fighting was cheating, it was not fair to use your knowledge of my injuries!" She tried to withdraw her hand, but he did not let her.

Too late Susan realized his eyes had locked on hers. However hard she tried, she could not look away.

"Hypnosis is not your style," she managed to say. "No suffering."

"How little you know me," he replied, "I could make it hurt a lot more."

His eyes were like arrows, piercing her consciousness with a violent attack of pain. Like from far away, his voice reached behind her agony, "Or much less."

She fancied herself lying on soft grass, sunlight warming her skin, pleasure flooding over her, easing the tension of the fight.

Susan fought back his intrusion on her mind. She succeeded in freeing herself from the trance he had tried to put her in.

The tables turned. If one was to be the aggressor, it would be herself. She would be the one in control. Angelus did not seem to notice she had withdrawn from his influence. He had no idea she was wide awake. Convinced she was perfectly at ease, he cast down his eyes and sank his face on her shoulder, in apprehension of the perfect moment to break her skin.

The vampire's eyes flew open as he felt the sudden pain in an unexpected place.

He froze in the movement. And in the usually unreadable eyes flashed... terror.

I scared him, she realized suddenly. However, Susan did not have long to enjoy the temporary power.

"Oh, you've started without me," Buffy's reproaching voice was heard from the threshold to the bedroom. So this was why the door had not been locked.

"How long have you been here?" Susan snapped. "Who let you in?"

"Relax," Angelus said, "I asked her to come."

"You did... what??? I thought we were alone!"

Angelus shrugged. "It's just like old times, Susan, just the three of us."

Susan let go of him and thrust him against the wall. "I told you I never share," she said and walked proudly from the room.

"I don't know what she has," Buffy said innocently.

*

A vampire, as a creature of the night, usually had a very precise sense of hearing. Nevertheless, Angel could not believe he had heard her correctly. "Sorry?" he asked.

Susan suddenly realized her mistake. He has a soul, but he is not my Angel, I must not forget. She broke the embrace and smiled. "I wanted to say how much I appreciate your support, I mean, you've become as close to me as the brother I never had."

He frowned. "I thought you had a brother?"

So he didn't kill my brother in this reality? Have to get used to that. "Of course!" she tried to cover her mistake by an almost hysterical laughter, "Just kidding, how else to get over this situation. I'm sorry. We'd better get to work."

Angel attributed her strange behavior to the circumstances, the impeding end of the world, yet he made a mental note and decided to be watchful. "So, can you give me any details?"

Susan nodded. "Sure. Remember the set of three items?"

"The Two Winters' Amulet, which we have here, the Dagger of Lazarus, the Ring of Regha." How could he ever forget what might be his only hope of salvation?

"Listen carefully, Angel, what I have to say now isn't gonna be easy."

*

"Destroy them, are you insane?" Wesley blurted out.

"I don't know what your problem is," David remarked, "The first time he heard of them, he wanted to destroy them!"

"I did not know then what I know now," the vampire replied quietly. Don't worry about Angel. One day, he will have it, and it will be you who will put it into his hands.

"They have existed for so long, why destroy them now?" Wesley insisted on asking, while he was still looking for any references in his prophecy translation.

"They are part of a greater spell the other side is trying," David explained. "Have you ever heard of the Curse of Seth?"

"The Curse of Seth is a legend," Wesley refused.

"So far," David confirmed, "But you know the three items can defeat death. If they should ever be re-united, their energies would make the worlds of light and darkness lose balance. Because death would be no more. Latest information from the Watchers ' Council is saying there has been a concentration of energies in two centers of the world. Susan's home and yours. The final battle is approaching. The equilibrium of good and evil is disturbed, the only way to re-establish it is to destroy the items."

"As you might know, we don't have the ring," Angel sighed.

"You must destroy the dagger and the amulet," David insisted.

"I have to research this first," Wesley replied suspiciously.

"We don't have the time!" Susan insisted, "If you really want to research, you'd better hurry."

"It may be better like that," Angel agreed. "But destroying the items will not be easy."

"I have detailed instructions on how to do it," David assured them, "I can be of use." He exchanged a glance with Susan. "It's for the best. You have to trust me on that, Angel."

*

The docks were a busy place in the early morning hours. However, Susan had no difficulty distinguishing David in the crowd.

"Glad you've come. Can we walk a bit? They mustn't see us together."

Susan nodded and followed David away from the lot of people into a side alley the foggy light of morning had not touched so far. Susan felt uncomfortable, her instincts told her they were being watched. She looked around, but she could not see anyone who would have raised her suspicion. She ignored the odd feeling, telling herself the sun would be up in a few minutes, confining the vampire to his quarters. It was David who required her full attention now, she could not afford to let anything escape her.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

Susan hesitated. With the real David being one of her most trusted friends, this one should be a devilish enemy. "You're David," she finally said, "My... Watcher."

He smiled faintly. "One could say so, yes. I expected you'd have forgotten many things, you've travelled quite a distance."

Susan looked at him suspiciously, about to ask him what he meant.

"One does not return from the dead every day," he added. "But you're quite cold. What's wrong? Don't you trust me any more?"

"Why the secrecy?" she inquired.

"I came to warn you. Avoid the Host. The green-skinned demon you saw at the Caritas. He can read your soul when you sing. This could be fatal to our cause."

"Our cause?" Susan said, "How do I know my cause is yours as well? I don't trust you. Why do you lure me away to a remote place like this? Why did you turn up at the bar in such a ridiculous masquerade?"

"What should I have done in your point of view, walked up to the table and said 'Hey, Angelus, could you leave us for a moment so I can conspire against you with your mistress'?"

"I'm NOT his mistress," Susan corrected mechanically. Then the meaning of David's words struck her. Conspire against Angelus. This would mean David was on her side.

Susan was left no time to ponder upon this realization. She heard a noise. An unnatural noise, like steps.

Susan was not surprised to turn around and see Buffy.

"What else? His equal?" Buffy said. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but for that, you'd have to get past me."

"That can be arranged." Susan replied coldly, determined to take the challenge.

David gave her a pleading look. It's the Slayer you're going against!

Buffy seemed to guess his thoughts. "You don't know what you're saying, have you gone crazy? You must know that going against my experience is suicide."

"This is not about experience," Susan said, "This is about destiny."

She pushed David out of her way and attacked.

Buffy was surprised, but not surprised enough. With a skillful jump, she evaded Susan's attack and caught her from behind. Susan headed for the wall, shoving Buffy against it with a violent jerk, forcing the other woman to let go of her. Buffy was furious. She aimed a kick against Susan's chin and moved quickly towards her again. Blackness before her eyes from the hit, Susan was desperate not to let down her guard. The darkness slowly faded, and she could see Buffy reaching for a weapon, which Susan quickly kicked from her hand.

Buffy stretched out her hand and pulled Susan's hair, making a burning pain shoot through her skin before Buffy's fist hit her face.

Susan hit back.

Buffy stumbled backwards, not expecting that much resistance from someone just returned from the realm of death.

Blood was trickling down from Buffy's eyebrow, stimulating her even more into rage. Her next move made Susan's back hurt badly again, evening the score. Another hit sent Susan to her knees, the agonizing pain in her stomach too much to take without flinching. Buffy took the chance and was over her.

Susan drove her elbow at Buffy's chest as hard as she could, stunning Buffy for a moment long enough for Susan to get back on her feet and hit again. She pushed Buffy away, sending her against a pile of wooden transport boxes queued for being taken aboard by one of the ships. The boxes came tumbling down, some of them shattered to pieces.

Buffy, dazed at first, quickly looked around the debris she was lying in, for something she could use as a weapon. In the pieces of wood she soon found a large one of broken glass. She clutched her fingers around it and made a rush at Susan. Susan was almost fast enough to avoid her, yet Buffy managed to scratch her arm.

She reacted instantly and caught hold of Buffy's arm, pulling her into her direction, and threw the other slayer over her shoulder.

Buffy hit the ground hard, her shoulderblades hurt like hell.

Enraged even more, she jumped to her feet and aimed several hits at her attacker.

To take the energy out of the blows that hit her, Susan was forced always further out of the alley into the open of the dockside.

The sun was high in the sky now, she felt sweat breaking through her skin, but she fought even fiercer.

Buffy returned her blows with equal strength, but hers were always a little more painful, slightly more determined.

The two women were so involved in their fight that David seemed to be the only one to notice they were moving closer to the water.

Buffy prepared for her final blow.

Susan never knew what instinct made her anticipate the move and get out of her way, but she did. The power of the other slayer's attack went into complete emptiness, however, there was enough energy behind it as to make both of them lose their balance and dragged them into the water.

As Susan felt the waves close above her head, all sounds were drowned in the silence of the water. The colors of the world around her dissolved and were finally washed away. Salt water was burning in her eyes, and she felt the painful grip of her adversary on her shoulders, desperately trying to keep her under water. She struggled to get hold of Buffy to drag her down, but the other woman had come to the surface to breathe, she was on top and determined to let her die from the lack of oxygen. Susan dealt her a few painful blows, then she realized she could not hold her breath for much longer. Her blood began to boil, the heat rising in her body as her skin slowly cooled down from the icy floods around her. She needed air, and she needed it now. Again she frantically fought against the iron grip that held her down.

Suddenly a muffled sound reached into the silence under the surface. Then a cloud dyed the water around her, a red cloud, like red watercolor dissolving in the sea. The grip that kept her down loosened and gave Susan the freedom to move. Coughing and at last filling her lungs with the oxygen she needed, she came to the surface. She was disoriented for a few moments, the reality she could breathe shading everything else. She tried to get the salty taste out of her mouth when she realized she tasted something else. The red liquid in the water tasted of blood. Susan looked around for Buffy, her gaze was still disturbed by the salt in her eyes.

She spotted the other slayer getting out of the water. Her arm was bleeding, she was wounded. At the docks, Susan saw David, some long range weapon in his hand. She could not now make out what it was, but she realized he had saved her life by wounding Buffy so she could no longer keep her down.

So it was true. David was on her side, had even crossed the Slayer to save her. This meant something else. "David!" she screamed. Susan gathered her strength and parted the water with fast movements, following Buffy, praying she would get there on time. In combat with a slayer, her Watcher would not stand any chance at all.

Susan was still a few meters from them when she saw Buffy beating the weapon out of David's hand before he had a chance to open fire.

Buffy struck him down without noticeable resistance.

Susan darted out of the water and ran towards them, ignoring the pain and the nausea which would have made any ordinary woman pass out.

She rushed past her opponent, who stood next to David's body without any visible emotional reaction.

David's eyes were staring into the sky, the visible stimulus on his eyes did not seem to reach his brain any longer. Susan supported his head with her hands and noticed blood streaming over them from David's skull as she felt for his pulse. She felt a faint beating of his heart. "Don't leave me," she whispered, feeling as tears welled up in her eyes. Beside her senses from the impression of almost drowning and the fear for his life, she tried to remember about first aid. "I'm getting help," she added desperately.

David did not seem to see her any more. He turned his head into the direction of her voice, and with a last effort, he replied: "Sorry I missed her."

Then the heartbeat stopped. He breathed out. But not in again.

For a moment, grief overwhelmed her for someone she had hardly known, and yet so well. At last she sat up straight to turn her head to Buffy. "I assume you know you're gonna pay for that."

She had spoken into the empty air. The other slayer had disappeared.

And she had left Susan with more determination than ever to fulfill her part of the agreement with Asmodis. She would return to her own universe. Now she knew the David of the parallel world had been good, there was just one very dangerous implication --- the David of her own universe was evil...

*

"We have to be more careful," Susan chided David, "They have to trust us without even questioning your authority!"

"They will," David tried to calm her. "It's natural they should be suspicious, they don't have the best experiences with the Watcher's Council."

"I know," Susan sighed. "But couldn't you have thought of a better explanation than the Balance of Power?"

"The most simple logic seldom fails. A spectacular story is much more subject to investigation. We have a deal, and I suggest you don't refrain from it now."

"Don't worry, David. You will get what you want. And so will I."

*

Buffy was very contented when she returned to Angelus' quarters.

The vampire was sprawled on the bed in a very relaxed way. The first few buttons of his satin shirt were open, the candles, which were the only light in the room, throwing a warm light on his pale skin. "Where were you?" he asked.

Buffy smiled radiantly. "At the docks, havin' some fun." She walked up to him slowly, the high heels she wore allowing no faster movement and making her hips sway seductively.

Angelus returned her smile. "What kind of fun, love?"

Buffy stood at the side of the bed and leant against the heavy curtains. "Walking in the sun, swimming, killing..."

Angelus took her hand and slowly pulled her down to himself. "Whom did you kill?"

Buffy lay down lazily on the sheets. She ran her fingers over Angelus' body and began to undo the remaining buttons. "Just an annoying warrior of the good," she purred in his ear and kissed him.

"Who was it?" Angelus wanted to know.

"Come on, you won't spoil the fun talking about business... By the way..." She reached into her bra and to hand Angelus some money she kept there.

"What are you doing?" he inquired.

"I still owe you fifty bucks," Buffy replied.

Angelus tore her top open and helped himself to the money. "So I was right! She did try to kill you! What did you do?"

"Nothing... virtually. I just almost drowned her..."

Angelus' eyes showed a brief sparkle. "Naughty... What else?"

Buffy put on her especially clueless blonde look. Involved in another passionate kiss, she pinned the vampire down on the sheets and flung herself on the top. "I killed her friend," she explained in a low, soft tone others would have used for a love vow.

Angelus closed his eyes, enjoying the sound of her voice. "Tell me how," he whispered.

"It started out as a concussion," she whispered back, "Then I just struck him down and smashed his skull."

She noticed with pleasure how the content of her tale aroused him, awakening all his instincts.

The night would be quite long.

"What happened then?" Angelus inquired, his voice trailing off from rapture.

Buffy's breath was fast and steady. Her cheeks were glowing as she continued whispering her account, covering Angelus' body with caresses. "Susan jumped from the water. She was desperate when she realized she could not save him. She suffered. I think something died in her today."

"No one makes me feel like you do," the vampire managed to say though he was almost driven out of his senses. Then, through the veil of his uncontrollable passions, he suddenly perceived Buffy was not moving any longer and had stopped talking. His eyes flew open.

Buffy was still on top of him, her clothes hanging in shreds from her perfect body. Her hair fell loosely into her face. Her eyes were fixed on the door.

Angelus followed her gaze.

Susan stood there, he knew not how long she had been watching the scene. She was wearing a black coat which was so long it reached down to her ankles. Her dark hair was shiny and framed her determined face.

Buffy's smile turned into a contemptuous grin. "Hello, sister."

Susan's voice was cold as ice as she replied: "You've started without me."

Buffy settled herself comfortably in an upright position. "So what?"

"You said something died in me today, Buffy, and you were right," Susan added. "You were right: the good." She tore the crucifix she had been wearing from her neck and tossed it aside. Then she let the coat fall onto the floor.

"You've changed your mind!" Buffy exclaimed in surprise.

"Did you borrow that from Mrs Hellfire?" Angelus wondered, staring at the outfit she wore beneath the coat.

"I have my secrets," Susan replied.

Susan cleaned the blood from the blade of her sickle knife.

"Why?" Angelus managed to ask.

Susan looked straight in his eyes. "Because she was the more experienced slayer. I could only defeat her when she did not suspect an attack. There was no better moment."

Angelus, still dazed from the effect of the Holy Water, shook his head. "It's a shame. I could have made much better use of all this blood."

*

"So what are we doing about the body?" Angelus wondered, "Do you want me to have it transported into your quarters as a souvenir? Or would you prefer something useful, like a handbag, or a carpet?"

Susan shuddered at the thought. "No, thanks, I don't think it will be necessary. Just dispose of it for me, will you."

"Whatever you say." His gaze fell on the lifeless hand of the other slayer. "I almost forgot about something." He drew something from Buffy's finger, took Susan's hand and asked her to close her eyes.

"I don't think so," Susan refused.

The vampire chuckled. "I understand, I got bad experiences with that, too. Doesn't matter, you might as well look."

Susan felt cold silver against her ring finger. She stared at her hand, then looked at Angelus questioningly. "Do you know what that is?"

"Of course I do! It's a claddagh. I gave it to Buffy, and now I give it to you. Remember you're taken."

Susan's heartbeat almost stopped. It was not just a claddagh. It was HER claddagh. The Ring of Regha. The Circle of Life. Schooled in the duties of a slayer, she now felt the magic of it flowing through her. Was it possible he didn't know? "Angelus, where does the ring come from?"

"Oh, you mean that old Ring of Regha legend. Unfortunately it's meaningless. Without the dagger and the amulet, we can forget about it."

"What happened to the other items?"

He sighed. "Has anyone ever told you you're damn curious? About a decade ago, an ancient vampire, a white magician called Gonzo, bought his mortality with the items. I managed to get the ring from him, but he destroyed the other two items with an elemental spell. Can't think why. Well, I killed him, but it wasn't much fun. End of story."

Susan shivered as she remembered Doyle's words. The Ring of Regha was the key to Angel's salvation, and she held it in her hand.

"Hey, are you still with me?" Angelus' voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Sure," Susan replied quickly.

"You'd better leave now, we are expected to show up at the club tonight. It's the 17^th night, so it is special."

The 17^th night??? Susan thought puzzled, but decided not to ask, now she was out of the immediate danger of discovery. Perhaps she would find out what this was in another way. "What do you think I should wear?"

Angelus smirked. "I don't want you to catch a cold. Just wear what pleases you. To avoid nasty stains, however, I'd suggest something red."

*

Mona stormed into Spike's quarters. "Have you heard?"

"Heard what, pet?" Spike asked, sounding bored.

"Buffy is dead!"

The vampire looked amused. "And I'm the last emperor."

"Seriously! Angelus just announced it!"

Now Spike's interest in the affair seemed to awaken. "How?"

"I don't know precisely, but people say it was Susan who killed her to take her place."

Spike shrugged. "So what?"

Mona looked around to make sure they could not be overheard. Then she lowered her voice. "Without Buffy at his side, Angelus' position is not as unquestionable as it was. Don't you have any dreams, Spike? Any aspirations?"

Spike laughed. "If it's true what you're saying, and Susan killed Buffy, then I don't want to be the one to get in her way. I don't want to end my existence in a hoover."

"I know her. Susan is not interested in politics. She must have had other reasons for what she did. I'm not asking you to start a rebellion. Just be ready when it starts."

"Aren't you forgetting about something? SomeONE who accidentally can throw fireballs?"

Mona laughed. "I can handle Asmodis. He's addicted to me, especially now he broke his toy."

"Well, he couldn't have made much use of it any way, tonight's the 17^th night, remember?"

"How shall I forget! I've been wondering what to wear for months."

*

Susan's mind was filled with images of the ring and the prophecy when she sought Asmodis in his quarters. The black magician looked up from the books he was studying. "Good work, Susan," he remarked admiringly, "To be honest, I thought Buffy would decorate her walls with the remains of your brain, but I was wrong, quite obviously. Come on, give me all the details! Rumor has it you stabbed her during a threesome with Buffy and Angelus?" As Susan cast him a mortifying look, he shrugged. "Okay, no details. Well done, anyway."

"I can live without your praises," Susan replied coldly, " How about my spell?"

" I'm working on it."

"What do you mean, you're WORKING on it? I've done my share of our contract. Now it's time you did yours."

"Hey, relax, take it slowly! No need to haste."

"That's none of your business. You'd better hurry. Remember Buffy? Want me to do the same with you?"

Asmodis grinned. "Depends on who is the third party. Personally, I would prefer Willow to Angelus, or perhaps Anya – if she shuts up."

"I want my spell. A passage to my dimension which carries two. You got 24 hours."

"Aye, Sir, Colonel, Sir," he shouted after her ironically.

"By the way – do you happen to know what the 17^th night means?"

Asmodis smiled. "The night of nights. Like the Senior Prom in high school. Have a date yet? Oh, I'm sure Angelus asked you, didn't he? I'm going with Cordelia, can you imagine that? Just because Spike asked Mona first! However, just be there, it'll be fun!"

Susan looked sceptical.

She closed the back door of his apartment behind her. She had come this way because she was not too keen on being seen as she sneaked into the magician's dwelling.

Nevertheless, she was aware someone was watching her. She whirled around, a stake in her hand.

"Sh, it's me, Drusilla!" The vampire stepped out of the shadows.

"I almost staked you!" Susan lowered her voice. "Why have you come here?"

"I'm risking my life talking to you, so please hear me out," Dru replied, "And, please, put your stake down. Sunday has informed me of what you did for her. And our spies have reported how you disposed of the other Slayer. The Master is proud of you, and we are all grateful, we owe you a lot. We want to know how you are going to proceed. And if you need any help."

"No, thank you," Susan said, "I work alone."

"You are not on your own, Susan. We can never repay what you are doing for our cause. But we can help you."

Susan hesitated. Then she decided to be honest with the vampire. "Drusilla, I'm not doing this for you. I had a reason for freeing Sunday. And I had an even better one for what happened to Buffy."

"I know," Drusilla said gently, "Ethan was wondering why you could not remember us even as time passed. He discovered huge interdimensional energies. We know who you are. You come from another world. I can keep your secret, Susan. I would like to hear all about it. I hope it is a better place than this one."

"Much better," Susan replied thoughtfully, "It is a place where Buffy is my friend. A place where I don't have to kill to survive."

Drusilla put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That is where we can aid you. Ethan has researched an elemental spell. After you have helped us end the tyranny and make our world a better place, he can send you back. He is quite confident it might work."

"So you're proposing a deal – kill our enemies, we'll get you home?" Susan shook her head. "I'm not going to kill one more person if I don't have to."

"Susan, you're the Slayer! We need you for the good fight."

"I'm not involved in your cause, all I want is to get home."

Drusilla's face went even more pale with disappointment. "So you're just planning to leave us? You won't slay Angelus?"

"Don't worry," Susan murmured, "I will handle this my way." She looked at the claddagh.

Drusilla saw the ring as well. Her eyes went wide. "You're taking him with you?"

"I'm not leaving him behind. Don't think you could stop me."

"I won't try. But I don't understand you! You're telling me you miss your home. Why do you prefer being with a killer than with the Angel of your dimension? I imagine he must be a saint."

"Yeah," Susan replied scornfully.

"He's not with you in your world," Drusilla realized. "I'm sorry. Perhaps I have no right to question your decisions. But do think about it twice, Susan. I once had the choice you have now. When Spike was won over to the other side, I could have joined him. But it would have meant perverting our relationship. Not a single day passes without my thinking of him, I remember how it was to love, and I would give my life to have him back, if only for one moment. But what darkness can give you is not love. Being alone is the better choice."

"You have no idea," Susan replied, "My decision's made, and you're in danger here."

"It may be fun to be with him now," Drusilla admonished her, "But he is soulless. He will get tired of you if you're not careful. He gave you the ring, true. But what did he say when he gave it to you? Did he speak of love? I doubt it. If he was capable of feeling, he would have mourned Buffy, not taken you in her place. You say you can handle him. Now. But think twice if you want him in your life. Whatever you do - be aware he will never love you back. And make sure you can live with it."

Drusilla rushed away and vanished into the shadows.

*

"Seth is the god of disorder. In the Egyptian dualistic concept of the cosmos, Seth is placed in juxtaposition with Horus, the god who ruled the land with order and stability," David cited from one of his books. " Seth never had any children, as emphasis of his association with the barren desert and of his status as the antithesis of the fertile good. He was responsible for killing his brother, Osiris. Seth was never a completely evil figure though. He protected the sun barge of Re, his benefactor during the struggles with Horus, during its nightly journey through the underworld and he fights the snake-like monster Apep. By the Twenty-sixth Dynasty, Seth was the embodiment of evil. He was depicted with red eyes and hair. The ancient Egyptians believed red represented evil."

Willow smiled. "Well, you can't please everybody, can you."

"The Curse of Seth was, according to the legends, a ritual attempted by a group of Seth's worshippers. An early form of occultism, if you will. It was dedicated to plunge the world into chaos by destroying the balance of good and evil. It never succeeded, though. The ritual is very complicated, it involves the four elements of earth, fire, air and water. And, as I already said, it must reach into the ethereal sphere, where the three items come in."

"Everything has been prepared for the rites. Now we just need the items," Susan said.

"They are in a safe place. It will take me a few hours to get them here," Angel replied.

"I see. Let us not lose time."

*

Wesley stared at the computer screen. He hated relying on the internet, but he understood it was the fastest way.

"What do we have?" he asked Cordelia.

"Well, no known relatives, seems he has alwaus been a bachelor dedicated to science. David has a degree in Classical Languages, majoring in Latin. He graduated from Oxford University with honors. Oh, there must be a mistake in his records."

"Why?"

"Well, he doesn't look like he was born in 1958. Probably they meant 78."

"Or..." Wesley scarcely dared to pronounce his suspicion. "Or he is not who he claims to be. Think about it. Why should we destroy the items? Doyle himself as the messenger of the Powers That Be told Angel he would one day become Shan-shu through them. If we destroy the items, Angel will remain a vampire, and that was not the original plan."

"But why should anyone want to destroy them? They are so powerful they should be valuable for everyone."

"True. But it is again David and Susan who will perform the rites. Who knows whether the supposed destruction really means destroying the items? They might just want to transport them to a location only known to them and use them for their own purposes. Maybe it's them who want to perform the Curse of Seth."

Cordy stared at her husband. "You think they know where the ring is, and Susan doesn't tell Angel? I don't think she is that mean! That would be really evil. It can't be like that. I mean... she's a Slayer!"

"Like Faith?" Wesley suggested. "No, Cordy, I can't run the risk. Before I let Angel hand the items over to them, I have to be sure we can trust them." He broke off as he heard steps approaching.

Cordy quickly closed her window.

"Have you had any luck with your research?" David asked cheerfully.

"Indeed," Wesley replied. "By the way, while we are waiting for Angel to bring the items, I would like your expert opinion on an ancient Latin translation I'm working on, I'm not really getting on well."

"Well, my Latin has suffered a little, I hope I can be of help. We can have a look at it later, after the ritual, when we have more time. Tomorrow is another day." He did not seem embarrassed, but his answer did not exactly disarm Wesley's suspicions.

"All right," Wesley replied, "That reminds me of the famous quote when Cicero spoke to the emperor Domitian: Meum est propositum in taberna mori! One simple sentence, expressing so much philosophy. Don't you agree?"

"Oh yes, that's one of my favorites! Reaches deep into the heart and sets your mind thinking for hours. But would you excuse me now, I have to look something up." David almost fled from the office.

"I knew it!" Wesley exclaimed.

"What did you say to him?" Cordy wanted to know.

"I intend to die in a tavern. It's not even classical Latin, but medieval. And Cicero could only have spoken to Domitian if he had been a vampire, otherwise he had long been dead!"

Cordelia shrugged. "Well, who knows?"

"This man definitely has not been awarded a degree in Latin!"

"I wouldn't bet on it, I mean, nowadays everyone gets degrees, I have a highschool diploma, and ask me anything about the history of the American Civil War now!"

"True, but as a Watcher, he needs Latin every day! No, I don't trust him, and I will advise Angel not to do so either. Go on with your search. See if you can find a photograph of David in the records."

*

Susan was walking down the corridor leading to her quarters. She stopped for a moment when she heard voices. Children? She was not aware there were children in the headquarters as well. Has anyone ever told you you're damn curious? She smiled inwardly as she proceeded to get nearer to the voices.

She saw Tasha talking to two excited kids, clearly twins, who bore a striking resemblance both to her and Riley.

Now I'm really in hell, Susan thought.

"Mommy, Mommy, can we play with the cats?"

"Of course you can, Riley Junior, but be more careful than last time. We don't want Mommy to pay that much money again for a new one, do we."

"And can we use your iron maiden, mommy?"

"Sure, Tasha Junior, but don't put your brother in it this time."

The little girl was visibly disappointed. "Not even for five minutes?"

"No," Tasha insisted, "I told you, no more violence against your brother! Daddy doesn't like it!"

"But," the girl replied stubbornly, "Uncle Spike promised me I can borrow his chainsaw."

Tasha decided to have a word with the vampire some time soon. She would bring her whip along, just in case.

"Please, Mommy," Tasha Junior begged.

"If you won't be a good girl now, I will forbid your babysitter to let you watch TV tonight when Daddy and I are at the club."

"No, please!" Riley Junior protested. "Tonight we wanted to watch Friday the 13^th!"

"Who's coming to babysit?" Tasha Junior asked curiously.

"We haven't decided yet. I wanted to ask Susan, but... the circumstances don't allow me to do that any more, she'll be busy. Maybe Grandma will be there. Now go, play. Mommy hasn't said her prayers today, and Daddy and I are going from house to house."

"Okay, okay," Tasha Junior sighed and strolled away with her brother.

Lovely little monsters, Susan thought.But who would have expected Tasha to go from house to house in this world? Was she a witness even here?

"Are you ready?" Riley asked.

"Just a moment, love, you're too early! I'm not properly dressed for performing a religious service."

Susan sighed. Some things seemingly never changed. OR DID THEY?

Tasha threw her robe into the corner and put on a deeply cut tank top and leather hot pants. "Have you got everything?"

Riley looked into his bag. "Let's see... hand axe, chains, mace, yes, think so! Let's go!"

"You are unorganized, as usually! How are we supposed to get to the 17^th night at the club in time if you keep forgetting things! What do you want to distribute among the new members we recruit? The watch tower?"

"Sorry, honey, how could I forget?" He grabbed a pile of porn magazines and squeezed them into the bag.

"Perfect," Tasha agreed, "Let's complete our mission!"

When Susan examined matters more closely, this world was not much different from her own, was it?

*

Susan's question on what to wear for the 17^th night at the club had been dealt with when she returned to her quarters. She found a long dress of burgundy-dyed silk laid out on her bed as she entered the room. It shone when light fell upon it and rustled with every move. She wondered how long Angelus might have planned on this, for it was clear that the dress had been especially tailored for this one occasion.

Regarding her image in the mirror, she decided something was missing, and fastened a necklace with a granate-spotted cross about her neck. Though she doubted Angelus would appreciate her taste in jewellery, the color matched perfectly with that of the dress.

As she was walking towards his quarters, making her way through the dimly-lit corridors, a strange feeling seized her. A shivering went through her body, her heart rate seemed to increase, and she felt more and more nauseous as she approached. Susan realized she was experiencing the effects of the blood loss. One should expect a Slayer could take this more relaxed, but it had all been too much in the past few days. Alertness had been her primary concern in this world, she had been fighting the most challenging adversaries, the events culminating in the last confrontation with Buffy. Her relationship to Angelus was not exactly helpful in getting rest either. No wonder her senses could take no more, she would need a break when the night was over.

The hinges only creaked mildly when she opened the doors, but it rang in her ears. The over-acuteness of her senses continued as the vampire's eyes locked on hers. As she had expected, the color of his clothes matched her dress.

He had taken a shower, probably to diminish the pain from the Holy Water. Whatever the scent was that surrounded him now, it was highly intoxicating.

He did not say a word. In silence, he took Susan's hand to lead her to the club.

The moment their hands touched, she felt like struck by lightning. In a moment, she felt her clothes and her hair soaked with rain, in the next one with the blood of the other Slayer, the vision hitting her so hard she struggled to remain on her feet. "What's happening?" she asked, entirely confused.

Then she almost physically felt his cold skin against hers, burning with the heat of the Holy Water between them. The heat rushed into her body, her cheeks were beginning to glow, and she knew she was in a fever.

"You're feeling the blood bond," Angelus explained. "Remember you've always sensed my presence from the first time I drew your blood? The closer we get, the stronger it will be. Maybe you'd better sit down."

As Susan was overwhelmed by more images, she complied to the suggestion. Her legs were shaking, her thoughts drifted in directions she could no longer control, the nausea made her feel so dizzy she would have preferred sleeping in her quarters. "Is there a cure?" she asked, weary and disoriented.

Angelus smiled. "Not unless you want to kill me."

She could not even think of a sarcastic reply now. The symptoms increased so steadily she felt her lungs tighten and was scarcely able to breathe. The tightness of the dress contributed to her feeling she might lose conscience if she did not get more oxygen soon. She closed her eyes, sweat breaking from her skin.

"Concentrate on my voice," Angelus told her, slowly loosening the dress, of which she was incapable, for her hands were shaking so much she could not even open a single button. "Go back in your mind to the images you see, it will help you if you can focus on them. You have to live through it all again, or you will never get used to the symptoms. Go back to the moment you felt Buffy's blood on your skin. Do you see Buffy before you?"

"Yes."

"Good. Go back even further. Where are you?"

"On a stage... God knows, I hate you for that!"

"You're getting better..." His hands pressed the soft tissue of the dress against her shoulders firmly. "Go further."

Susan felt a new fit seize her. She felt close to madness. "I'm in her quarters," she screamed. "You're there." The pictures were more than she could take, the colors piercing her eyes even though they were closed, the fever increasing to a dangerous level.

"I know," Angelus whispered, "You have to focus. Why are you there?"

"I want to kill Buffy."

He frowned. Even at this early stage?

"But she isn't there... I'm relieved it's just you..." Her voice trailed off.

"No," he commanded, "Stay with me! So you wanted to kill her because of me."

Susan giggled, it was the giggle of a drugged person, on the verge of insanity. "Not the whole world turns around you."

He realized she was once again almost fainting, so he kissed her gently to bring her back to her senses and tightened his grip around her shoulders, bruising her skin even through the dress.

"What do you mean? Go further back. Where are you?"

"I can't tell you," Susan refused. She felt feverish, but shivered from the cold.

Angelus closed his arms around her, wrapping her into the jacket belonging to the dress. "Tell me. You'll feel better."

"I can't... You'll hate me." The world around her was veiled into a deep darkness as Susan felt her mind drifting away. It drifted to the moment she felt the Ring of Regha put on her finger, and the lingering with the memory eased her pain. She felt Angelus now physically caressing her hand. "Where are you?"

"In the dungeons," Susan whispered, "Please, let me go, I have to sleep."

"The bond will kill you if you can't face it! Why are you in the dungeons?"

"This is where it started... I set her free."

"Her... do you mean Sunday?" The vampire's mind was working. How? There is no way to go between my dungeons and the Bronze undetected by either side.

"The passage... I sent her through the sewers... to the Bronze..."

"It's okay," he whispered soothingly and laid her out on the bed. "Take a break, I'll get you something less pressing to wear."

He left the bedroom and closed the living room door behind him.

Tara jumped from the sofa, a questioning look on her face.

"You should have become a tailor," Angelus remarked with a smirk, "The magic dress worked out fine."

Tara smiled. "She will remember nothing but a very profound sleep. Did she tell you what you wanted to know?"

"She led me straight to my enemies. Have the dungeons searched. There must be a secret passage in them which leads to the Bronze. If we attack through the passage, they will not even know what hit them. Thank you, Tara. You'd better get dressed now, the 17^th night is ahead."

*

"Are you okay?"

Buffy was standing in the fresh air on the roof of the building, the billions of lights of the City of Angels at her feet. "I'm okay," she replied, "I'm just angry!"

"I know," Spike said.

"It's so unfair. I'm the Slayer, if someone is supposed to have a part in this, it should be me! But then Susan shows up again, and her watcher has the cheekiness to tell me I quit and have no claims!"

"Unfortunately, quitting doesn't always mean breaking with old habits," the vampire sighed.

Buffy turned around and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

Spike slowly walked to her side and stared down at the city streets below. "You know what I mean. I gave up smoking the day I got my soul back, but since we arrived here, I feel like lighting up one cigarrette after the other."

"Why?" Buffy looked puzzled.

"The way he looks at you, and the way you look at him. My eyesight is still pretty good, Buffy."

Buffy shook her head. "That's simply not true! Of course, I still feel something for Angel. But look, how long have you and I been together? Eight, nine years?"

"Ten years, three months, seventeen days, twelve hours and twenty-five, no, twenty-six minutes."

Buffy was astonished. "You know it that precisely?"

"That's the tragedy of our relationship, I know it, and you don't."

Buffy was about to give a snappish reply and deny everything Spike was saying. But for some reason she decided to hold her peace. The flickering lights on the streets gave the city a pulsating life. Spike kept watching it for a few moments.

"Angel and me could never get back together, even if we wanted to," Buffy said slowly. "You know yourself what it's like with a first love. Think of Dru. And whatever my feelings for Angel may be, I am with you, Spike."

"I know," he replied. "I just wish I had met you first."

An embarrassed cough behind them interrupted their conversation.

"Wes, what can we do for you?" Buffy asked, relieved she did not have to answer any more.

"I have to talk to you. About David and Susan." He breathed deeply. "I don't trust them."

Buffy's face lit up. "Tell me more."

*

Asmodis entered the room. "Willow, do you have a moment? I need your help."

Willow frowned. "Sure, come on in. How can I help you?"

"With some minor magic," he replied. "I used to know my way through some simple spells, but I've forgotten quite a lot."

Willow's eyes sparkled. "What do you have in mind? Floating pencils? A bowl of sunshine? Turning someone into a rat?"

For a moment, Asmodis considered the advantages of turning Tasha into a rat, then he remembered what he came for. "No, much easier. I just want to see Susan."

"That is easy," Willow replied, "She's at Angel's apartment. Downstairs to the left."

"That's not quite what I mean," Asmodis said, "I would like to see her through some magic. I heard of a spell with a mirror, or a bowl of water, that can make you see someone you think of."

"I don't see why, but okay, that's something even a new age freak without any magic whatsoever can do if she tries a little harder." She got up and fetched a mirror with strange symbols in a long forgotten language on it. "Oz sent me this one from Tibet," she explained with a certain pride, "I always have it in my handbag. Normally, I use it to check my make-up, but it's perfect for this purpose."

Willow laid the mirror out carefully. Then she sprinkled some herbs on it. "That's just for the scent. Wearing a moon stone can clarify the vision, but it's not really needed."

She wiped with her hand over the mirror. "Show me Susan."

Asmodis' tension rose as he looked over her shoulder and saw images forming over the shiny surface.

They saw a luxurious bedroom, a black dress hung out at the wardrobe, and a crumpled burgundy dress tossed away on the floor. The image moved towards the bed.

"Ta-da, there she is," Willow announced proudly. Then she watched closer. "Whoops, there is someone else," the witch noticed. Slowly, she recognized Angel's features. "Oh-oh..."

Asmodis saw his suspicions confirmed. "All right, I've seen enough."

"Wait!" Willow exclaimed. "There must be something wrong with my mirror..." She frowned. "What are they doing? I didn't know that was possible..."

Asmodis wiped his hand over the mirror. The images faded and left Willow in utter confusion.

"Did I miss out on something?" Willow asked, "Angel's apartment looked completely refurbished, and what about the curse, anyway?"

"This was not Angel," Asmodis said bleakly, "And I don't know who the woman downstairs with Angel is, but it is definitely not Susan."

Willow's eyes widened. "Someone in her body? And the real Susan is somewhere else with... Angelus? But how?"

"I have no idea yet," Asmodis replied, "But I promise you I'll find out."

"Asmodis, we have to talk to Buffy about this."

*

"Willow, do you have a moment?" Asmodis entered the room without knocking or being asked in.

"You? What do you want?" Willow asked suspiciously.

"Is Tara in?"

"No, she isn't," Willow replied uneasily.

"Where is she?"

"Away on business."

"Ah, away on business," Asmodis repeated mockingly, "She doesn't happen to be in Angelus' quarters, giving him a dress that is supposed to strengthen the blood bond between himself and Susan? A dress especially designed to drive her into madness so she completely succumbs to his will and tells him all he wants?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Willow said stiffly, desperately trying to think of a spell to rid herself of the black magician before he could use his knowledge. Unfortunately, most spells designed for that purpose required stronger magic than hers. What the hell was taking Tara that long?

"Of course not," Asmodis said, advancing on her, "And you're not a lesbian either. I know my spells as well, Willow! Wasn't too bad a deal for Angelus, exchanging the distempered Buffy against Susan, he thought he could manipulate her more easily. Wouldn't it be a shame if someone told her he's been using her?"

"You wouldn't dare," Willow hissed.

"Bet I would," Asmodis replied, "What would she do, kill him? And who could be left in charge of our sweet little family then?"

"You're not born a leader," Willow snapped, "And you're a lousy magician!" She lifted her hand and thrust a bolt of lightning against him.

Asmodis blocked the attack with his eyes. "Famous last words," he said and formed a circle with his hands.

Flames grew out from the floor around Willow. The witch shrieked and turned herself into a rat to escape through the spaces between the flames.

Asmodis raised his hand, and a cage fell from the ceiling, emprisoning Willow.

He took the cage and placed it next to the one where Amy was busy with her running wheel. "You've got company," he remarked sarcastically. "Well, let's see. If my name was Tara, and if I were a rat's girlfriend, where would I keep my elemental spells?"

*

Susan did not understand why she had difficulty steadying her steps, why her head was still spinning, but since she was wearing the black dress, which was obviously less tight than the one in burgundy, at least she could breathe properly again. Angelus was in high spirits, and she sensed his anticipation, though she was not sure what it was that sent his blood on fire.

As she was walking to the club by his side, the minions showed them their respect. Buffy had been wrong, she was treated as his equal.

On entering the club, Susan realized that Tasha obviously had not been the only one to meditate over what to wear for the 17^th night. Everyone was dressed up as for a great reception, a once in a lifetime event.

Asmodis and Cordelia were the first ones to greet them.

While Cordelia involved Angelus in a pointless chatter, Asmodis complimented Susan for the choice of her dress and bent over to kiss her cheek. His voice sank down to a whisper. "Everything is prepared in the upper chamber of the east turret. I'm ready when you are."

Susan acknowledged with no movement that she had understood. She knew Angelus was watching her, and whatever he had planned for this night, she would let him proceed and notify him of her plans when the time arrived.

Mona and Spike were queuing behind them.

"Nice party," Spike remarked coldly.

"Thank you, Spike," Angelus replied equally unemotional.

"So sorry Buffy can't be here," the younger vampire teased, "to protect you," he added, the threat barely concealed.

Angelus tightened his embrace around Susan's shoulders. "Believe me, Spike, I am perfectly satisfied with things as they are."

"So glad to hear it," Spike said, greeting Susan with a brief nod of the head, "There's nothing more heart-warming than the glory of new love."

Susan tried to ignore the open sarcasm in the words. Somewhere in the east turret, her ticket home was awaiting her. Be aware he will never love you back. And make sure you can live with it.

She turned to Angelus, her tone deliberately soft and complying. "Would you do me a favor?"

Angelus looked at her with surprise. "Whatever you want, lover," he agreed.

"Would you sing for me?"

He looked puzzled. Around them, desperate groans and the sounds of physical pain and the anticipation of torture were heard.

No, please, no! Asmodis thought in agony. I really don't want to hear this!

Susan put on the most innocent look she was capable of. She had spotted the Host among the guests. "Please." She looked around challengingly, assuming a threatening tone. "Or is anyone else here of another opinion?"

Slowly, the guests began clapping. Everyone had heard of Buffy's fate by now. Some sycophants even began to encourage Angelus with their pleas to sing.

"If you insist," he finally complied.

Susan cast him a grateful look full of devotion. "You won't regret," she promised.

"No, but we will," Spike said to Mona.

"If we are lucky, it will be the last time we have to bear his singing," Mona whispered back confidently. "By the way, have you seen Willow today? I wonder where she disappeared! She had promised to give me a new haircolor for tonight!" She turned to Asmodis. "Have you seen her?"

Asmodis chuckled. "No, sorry, darling. Would you care for a dance?"

As Angelus made his way to the stage, Susan sought out the Host. She found him in the middle of a group of extremely attractive females, all trying to persuade him to let their lovers sing at the Caritas so they could assure their faithfulness. The Host obviously enjoyed the evening. Soon he would no longer. The girls respectfully gave way as Susan approached.

"Susan, good to see you again," the Host greeted her.

"Pleased to meet you as well," Susan replied cheerfully and clasped the demon's hand. At least that was what it seemed to the people around them. The Host gasped as the painful grip threatened to break his hand. "No more games," Susan whispered, "I know what you are, and I know about your abilities. What do you know about me? What did you tell him?"

"Nothing," the Host exclaimed, causing Susan to increase the pressure on his hand, while she kept smiling openly at him, a smile that was betrayed by the determination in her eyes.

"All right, all right," the Host whimpered, "Listen, I got nothin' to do with whatever's going on between the boss and you! I couldn't read you. I just told him to be careful, and that I felt you wanted to go home."

The audience started to applaud as the music set in.

The answer did not fully satisfy her. "And?"

"And I told him about your... partiality for him. Would you know kindly release my arm?"

It took Susan less than a minute to recognize the tune.

It's you that I long for, it's you that I hunger,
oh you are the maker of waves in my mind.
Susan smiled to herself at the choice of the song – Nice gesture, however, next time I'll ask him to use full playback – as she stepped behind the demon and wrung his arm behind his back. A painful pang shot through the Host's muscles. "I release you when I choose," she said. "Now read him first."

"You want WHAT?" he burst out. "I can't!"

The sound of bone was heard as the Host tried to repress tears of pain. "My shoulder!" he screamed, but nobody ran to his rescue, as everyone was concentrated on the spectacle on stage.

"I can put it back into place," she said matter-of-factly, "It depends on you."

The Host raised his eyes to the ceiling, as if hoping for assistance from what powers there might be. "I tell you I can't read him! However, I'll try."

"I don't see anything," the Host said. "I'm sorry. I told you before. I can't read him."

"That's impossible!" Susan complained, "You could read me! He's singing, well, at least trying to sing, of neverending love, and you can't see if he means it?"

"The soul is the secret," the Host replied, "I can see into people's souls when they sing, so it worked out fine with you. But he doesn't have one. No soul, no feelings, it's as simple as that. I can see neither love nor hatred. He is incapable of both."

Susan put the Host's shoulder back into place. She had known it all before, but secretly she had hoped to prove Drusilla wrong. She was no longer interested in the performance.

*

"You've got mail!" The computer announced. Cordelia welcomed the break. Their conversation was much too complicated. She resumed her place at the computer while the others continued their discourse.

"Come on, Tara, when Faith was walking around in my body, you knew it wasn't me, although we had never met before! You must feel something about Susan!" Buffy insisted.

"You mustn't let your judgement be clouded by your seeing Susan as your rival," Spike reminded her.

"That's ridiculous, she is not my rival," Buffy protested.

Tara shrugged. " I don't feel it this time. Susan definitely is Susan, she is totally convinced of being Susan, and her aura is Susan's as well, perfectly balanced. Sorry, it's all I can tell you!"

"And I know she is not Susan," Asmodis said, "I saw Susan in the mirror, and wherever Susan is, the woman here is a liar!"

"We cannot let Angel listen to her and David," Wesley agreed, "This man does not know a single word of Latin, and he's supposed to have a degree in it!"

Cordelia frowned. She printed the pages in question and handed them to her husband. "This is the research from my friend at the FBI," she announced.

Asmodis was astonished. "You have friends at the FBI?"

"Well, she went to my acting school, but her talent was not as extraordinary as mine, so she went to them. I asked her to browse their data for David's name, and guess what she found."

Wesley examined the printout closely. He held up the report. "You will all agree this picture is not the man who is sitting in Angel's office at the moment."

They gathered curiously around the paper.

"But it says it's David! And Cordy's friend found this picture once again, in the FBI database – an unidentified corpse which was pulled from the Missouri about one and a half years ago, while David was supposed to be on vacation."

"He killed Susan's real watcher and took his place," Asmodis concluded.

"And the false Susan is working together with him," Wesley added in a grave voice.

"But I still don't get how that's possible!" Xander interfered. "When Willow says it's not a body switch, and not a demon, and the real Susan can't be localized any where on the world by witchcraft..."

"It's a parallel universe," Anya said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"A WHAT?" Buffy asked, flabbergasted.

Anya shrugged. "Have you never seen Star Trek? The episode where Kirk is marooned in a hostile parallel world, where he took the position as Captain of the Enterprise by killing former commander Christopher Pike?"

"Oh, yeah, I love that one!" Tasha agreed enthusiastically, "Spock is so sexy with his beard!"

"Yeah, he should've worn it all through the show," Anya added.

"Could we get things straight?" Wesley interrupted, "We have a very serious situation here! Anya, are you positive there are such things as parallel universes?"

"Of course I am," she said, "When I was still a demon, I once lost my way between the dimensions and woke up in one of them! A universe without chocolate! It was a nightmare!"

"Is there any way we could localize Susan?"

"Well, if the Susan in Angel's office is from the same parallel universe where our Susan disappeared, we could ask her."

"Great idea," Spike remarked, "Hey, Susan, we know you're the evil twin, tell us where you're from so we can send you back to hell!"

"Any way we can find our Susan and contact her?" Willow asked.

Anya sighed. "There are infinite possibilities. To cut a long story short: no. Without our knowing where to go - she would have to find us."

Mona seemed concerned. "So we can't do anything for our Susan at the moment? I mean, where did you see her?" she asked Asmodis, "Was she in danger?"

Willow colored.

Asmodis cleared his voice. "No, not in immediate danger."

Wesley rose from his chair. "Considering everything we know, it must be our first duty to arrest Susan and David to make sure they do no harm. Angel must not allow the destruction of the amulet and the dagger. I assume they want to use their magic energies to perform the Curse of Seth themselves. The destruction of two items that powerful will set enough energy free to complete the ritual. We must warn Angel."

Wesley grabbed his jacket to rush out in the corridor.

He backed away as he saw a rifle pointed at him.

"Whom do we have here? Angel's considerate friends, all assembled for his well-being! What a pity your knowledge won't help you," David said. "Walk back into the room – slowly. Keep your hands up where I can see them." He asked over his shoulder: "Everything ready for the barrier?"

Susan stepped into sight with a large magic book. "Till they figure out how to get out of this room, Angel will have destroyed the items."

Mona realized with a shudder they spoke the truth. Even if Angel had his own doubts about their story, he would rather forfeit his own salvation and destroy the items than to run the risk he might be wrong.

*

Angelus drew Susan upon the stage with him. Asmodis assisted her to climb up the steps in her luxurious dress and remained close. He would not miss for the world what was to come now.

Susan was entirely calm, for she had finally come to her resolution. Asmodis had assured her the spell was ready. Once they had returned to her own universe, her Willow would find a way to free Angelus from the curse. If only she could maintain her masquerade for one more night, just a few more hours, this world would not concern her any longer.

Angelus stepped to the front of the stage, presenting Susan by his side like a valuable trophy. "If you thought this was the most important event of this night, I will exceed your expectations," he announced. "I told you this was the 17^th night. The night that will change everything for us. This is the celebration of our victory." He signalled his minions to drop the curtain behind him.

Susan held her breath.

The stage behind the curtain had been prepared for the scenario of the medieval Spanish Inquisition.

"Light has laid siege on darkness for too long. Now the old order has been re-established, and the authors of the uprising will expiate their crimes in fire."

Susan looked around and saw the Master, Darla and Drusilla, being led onto the stage under the howls and praises of the audience to this horrible spectacle.

Drusilla caught her gaze. Her eyes were hollow and full of disappointment.

Susan went pale. A public execution of the leaders of the other side. So that was what he had in mind. "Let's get out of here," she pleaded.

Angelus kissed her forehead. "We can't go now, lover, we still got work to do." He let go of her hand to talk to Spike whether everything was prepared for the execution.

"But how did he find them?" she wondered, seized with unspeakable terror, "The area around the Bronze is so well-watched!"

"It was you," Asmodis replied, "You led him straight to them. Remember the passage under the dungeons?"

"No," Susan refused, "I didn't say a word!"

"He made sure you wouldn't remember," Asmodis enlightened her. "Let me help your memory a little. Ever wondered what made the blood bond between you so strong you could not bear it? Why you're feeling better since you changed clothes?"

The realization cut like a knife. The passage... I sent her through the sewers... to the Bronze... "The dress..."

"It was a magic dress. It enabled him to manipulate you into betraying the way to surprise his enemies. He knew you were acting for both sides all the time. It's an ugly truth, Susan, but he used you." Asmodis saw her face being torn between rage and despair. Sorry I couldn't spare you this humiliation. Well, now you hate Angelus enough to kill him, and all that's left for me to do is use the confusion and throw a fireball at Spike. Life is good.

All eyes rested on the stage. Angelus raised his voice. "Now it is time to burn down the seeds of rebellion. And there is only one woman who deserves the honor of setting them ablaze."

The crowd roared as Angelus handed Susan a torch.

Spike stepped aside to make way for Susan.

Drusilla felt the heat of the fire in her hair already.

She did not falter, she did not flinch on the verge of her fiery death.

Susan stood right before her, the burning torch in her hand. The Ring of Regha was glowing in the blaze of the flame.

Drusilla looked straight into her eyes.

*

"Get me through this barrier!" Buffy cursed.

"We're trying," Asmodis tried to calm her.

"It's a powerful spell," Willow agreed, "It belongs to the magic of the elements, the only trouble is, we don't know which element holds the key. This may take some time."

"We don't have time! What do you suggest?" Wesley asked.

"Since we don't know with which element they sealed our prison, we'd better proceed in alphabetical order. We'll have to test all of them," Asmodis replied.

"All four elements?" Spike blurted out in despair.

"Well... not quite," Tara admitted, "Actually, in this case, we're talking about the elements of the periodic system."

*

Susan had built up four silver bowls, an empty one, one filled with coal, and two filled with earth and water.

Angel still held the dagger and the amulet in his hands.

"Are you okay?" Susan asked compassionately.

"Okay," he confirmed.

"We should begin."

As Angel did not object, but seemed lost in his own thoughts, Susan walked up to the first one and sprinkled water on her skin.

David recited from an ancient scroll. The language sounded like ancient Egyptian to Angel, a tongue he was not familiar with.

Susan walked further to the second bowl. She grasped the earth with her hands and let it run through her fingers while David was reading the next passage.

*

Susan held Drusilla's gaze. She felt the psychic energy of the skilled vampire flooding her as Drusilla forced her way into the slayer's thoughts.

She was still holding the torch, her hesitation sending nervous murmurs through the audience. For quite some time, Susan studied the expressions on the faces in the crowd. After seemingly endless moments of reflection, Susan lifted the torch. She turned to Drusilla and smiled. "I understand," she said aloud.

Then she whirled around and used the torch.

The astonished Spike had no time to realize his end had arrived. He turned into a man-sized flame, blinding Angelus and the others around with its blazing shine so strongly they had to shelter their eyes, an inferno of fire, glorious and sublime in death, a sight never to be forgotten, burning itself into the memories of those present, despite its horrors inspiring the audience with awe, the heat and the smoke from the fire leading to disorientation in the lines of those close to the stage. Then he dissolved into ashes.

There was a moment of silence.

Angelus' face was like stone.

Susan held his gaze.

All her memories, good and bad, were weighing on her mind, as she had made the only decision to free herself from the shadows for ever, and she had made it, conscious she would spend the rest of her life in a fruitless attempt to get his face out of her mind.

There was nothing more to say.

Susan's voice was a whisper, the only sound in the silence, as she said one word: "Run."

Then hell broke loose.

The windows were smashed from the outside as Darla's warriors stormed the headquarters, the ones Susan had seen from the stage, hidden in the audience, giving up their masquerade and reaching for their weapons. They had used the general confusion to free their leaders from their dangerous and uncomfortable positions. Torches flamed up, curtains were torn down and caught fire, demons and humans alike were fighting on the dancefloor. However, it was only a matter of time. The battle was in a hall with limited exits, and Darla's troops were closing in, attacking an enemy who had already seen his victory as safe.

Angelus' minions were without a chance at the surprise attack. Yet their fight was uncompromising, frantic and violent, determined to go down raging against it and taking as many of their enemies with them as possible.

"THIS was not what I had in mind!" Asmodis exclaimed.

"You wanted revolution, you get revolution," Susan replied.

Asmodis grabbed Mona's hand. "We'd better get the hell out of here."

*

Susan hastened up the steps to the east turret. Smoke was slowly filling the building, she could only hope the black magician had not lied when he had told her about the location of the gate. She had long lost Drusilla and the others from her sight, running up the staircase, the terrors and the images of the raging battle at the club still before her mind's eye.

Breathless, she threw open the door to the chamber.

The shimmering gate was in the center of the room.

Susan knew even before she entered she was not alone.

"Hello, lover."

Susan froze at the opposite wall next to the door and did not proceed further into the room as she saw him. "So you made it up to here." She was so close to the gate that would lead her home.

He was everything that stood between her and the place she had longed for ever since she had arrived.

"Too bad you left the torch behind," he remarked sarcastically.

"I could have burnt you as well," Susan replied, "But I didn't, so do the right thing for the only time in your existence and let me pass now."

"No, you didn't dust me when you had the chance," Angelus admitted, "And do you know why? Because you couldn't!"

"Get out of my way," she commanded.

"Let's be honest," he said, "The battle between good and evil is not decided downstairs in the hall, it will be decided here and now, between the two of us." He threw a stake into her direction. It landed right before her feet.

Susan stared at it in disbelief.

"Take it," he encouraged her.

Susan picked up the stake.

Angelus attacked.

*

Meanwhile, Susan's counterpart had come to the final bowl, the one of fire. The flames were almost reaching the ceiling.

David was reading the last passage from the scroll.

*

"When I get out of here, I will break every single bone in Susan's body," Buffy remarked grimly.

"We'll need an awful lot of luck to make it in time," Spike said matter-of-factly.

"I know," Buffy replied. "But you are talking as if the end of the world did not concern you at all."

"It does, Buffy, and it gives me quite some time to think about matters. We've been here before, haven't we. The day you sent Acathala to hell."

"I never want to be reminded of this day again," Buffy retorted vehemently.

"You see what I mean. It's been years, and you still react as if it was only yesterday."

"For me it is still quite close," Buffy replied, "I was a lot closer to the apocalypse than you and Drusilla."

At the mentioning of the name, Spike's features hardened. "Those were the days," he said sarcastically.

"I don't want the world to end now," Buffy replied, now more quietly.

"Do you want to know honestly what I'm thinking, Buffy?" Spike asked her.

"Tell me."

"I think, if we ever get out of this, we should break up."

Buffy was flabbergasted. "WHAT??? Are you DUMPING me???"

He shrugged. "Sort of. C'mon, you knew it had to happen sooner or later! I think we're all old enough to know what we want, it was okay as long as it lasted. We both know you should be with Angel, curse or not. Now let those guys break the barrier, go save the world, and then knock some sense into the head of that old obstinate vampire!"

After Spike's lecture, Buffy wiped away a small tear from her eye and smiled at him. "I love you, Spike!"

Spike embraced the slayer like an old friend. "And I love you, Buffy."

Anya shook her head. "In all my years, I have never seen two people being so happy about breaking up like you are!"

*

Susan let all the rage and frustration, all the disappointment of his person, rain down on Angelus in angry and desperate blows. He fought back as fiercely, but Susan realized she was much more in pain than she should be, considering the degree of violence. She had worn the burgundy dress for too long. The blood bond was still so strong between them that she not only anticipated his moves, but felt every pang of pain she gave him exactly the same way as he did. She hit his back and felt the pain piercing her own at the same time she heard the impact of the blow.

Angelus tried to finish her off, knowing she sometimes left her face unguarded when she used her arms. But even as his fist hit her jaw, he felt his own hurting with the burning pain of a thousand nails driven into his flesh.

Susan stumbled back, dazed, to realize her adversary had exactly the same problem.

She struggled to get back on her feet and stormed forward. Angelus knew without even looking up and blocked the attack. As she hurt her arm when he pushed her back violently, he groaned in pain and changed into game face.

Susan felt the demon in her own blood and attacked with new energies.

He threw her over his shoulder and sent her to the floor, yet he regretted it the moment he felt such agony he supposed he had broken a rib.

Susan's leg shot against his thorax. The next moment she felt she must faint from the pain. Her muscles were aching stronger with every move, and she had the feeling a rib was broken and affected her lung.

Angelus' eyes went wide in astonishment. He never breathed, yet something was pressing on his chest, preventing him from mobilizing his strength. The pain cut through his nerves.

Susan knew she could not support this fight any longer. With a desperate effort, she threw herself on his body, sending both of them to the ground, the stake clutched in her fingers.

The vampire was too much affected by his wounds as to resist. Susan held the stake over his heart.

"If you stake me now, you'll kill us both," Angelus told her. "Your human nerves can't take the pain you will feel when your heart is pierced."

"Curse the dress," Susan hissed. "You can't kill me either, you'd die in it!"

"I'd suggest we stop fighting. We have a tie."

Reluctantly, Susan got up and let go of the stake. "I can't accept a tie!" she said, "You betrayed me in every way a human being can be betrayed by another one."

"I'm not a human being, Susan."

"I know. All too well."

"You betrayed me first. You pretended to be the Susan I once killed. We've betrayed each other, we've tried to kill each other, we've failed. We can still start from scratch."

Susan tried to put her dress and hair in shape. She knew she looked burnt out and exhausted, and that was how she felt. "I'm leaving."

Angelus rose as well, as much weakened by their fight as she was. He was back to his human guise. "What do you have to gain in your world? You're one in a million, we're two of a kind."

Susan slowly walked towards the gate. The pulsating surface was only waiting to embrace her, to consume her, to take her back. "Don't talk to me like that," she refused, "I got nothing to say to you."

"You're not even saying good-bye?"

Susan just let it happen as he closed his arms around her. She felt his kiss with the same intensity as she had felt the pain before. It is the drum of drums, it is the song of songs.

"My spell carries two," she said, her trembling voice nearly failing her.

Despite her distraction, she heard someone coming through the door.

"Get away from her!" Drusilla commanded. She was aiming a crossbow at Angelus.

"Careful, he's put a spell on me, if you kill him, I might die as well," Susan warned her as she slowly stepped away from the two vampires and towards the gate.

"Go," Drusilla told her, "I will take care of things now. Thanks for your help. When you're back to your world, the effects of the spell will wear off. You will still feel his death, but it won't be lethal to you. Don't listen to him, he's trying to sooth you into saving him, he's a soulless monster! Never forget about that."

Angelus sought Susan's eyes. "Don't let her execute me."

"He tried to execute me," Drusilla reminded her.

Susan stood before the pulsating gate, totally indecisive, all her resolution failing her as his fear of death flooded her mind. "What will you do to him when I'm gone?" she asked.

Drusilla faced Susan one last time. Despite the triumph her side had achieved that night, she herself looked defeated. "Go back to your perfect world, Susan. I can't let him go. He ruined everything I had. Until tonight I still had my fight. That is over now. And with Spike lost to me forever, I have nothing more to hope for but my vengeance. If you take him with you through this gate, you will take even that from me. Don't let him use you again "

Even in the face of death, he still was calm and proud as he spoke to her. "Don't leave me behind."

Susan drew in her breath. "There is no reason not to be completely honest now. Angelus... have you ever loved me?"

He regarded her for a while without saying anything. The death silence in the room made the tension unsupportable. Until his eyes finally sparkled with a devilish expression as he answered. "With all my soul."

Drusilla's words returned to Susan's mind.

Susan grasped Drusilla's hand. "Were you serious when you said you would give everything to have Spike back? Would you keep to it even if your world were asked of you?"

Tears were glistening in Drusilla's eyes as she let the crossbow sink. "I would."

Susan did not look back as she led Drusilla with her through the gate.

Angelus felt the loss painfully as he watched them disappear, and there was nothing he could do about it. He had lost everything. True, he had survived. But that was it. He expected his dark emotions to be furious with rage, violence and contempt. Instead, anger gave way to despair; he could not do anything but stare at the emptiness, the last shimmering in the air of the closed gate before him. It brought over him a brief moment of epiphany as he realized she had left him for good. The first floating anger gave way to one realization, one sentiment:

*

Susan took a deep breath as the ritual was nearing its completion. She walked up to Angel and held out her hand.

"It's time. Just one more line of the spell we must speak. Now, give me the dagger and the amulet."

Angel hesitated.

Then he was deprived of the decision. The air began flickering, a storm seemed to howl in the middle of the room, the darkness was set on fire, the room was full of colors and brightness, flashes of lightning accompanied the appearance of the gate between the worlds. Thunder broke the silence as two figures stepped through a gate made of fire and smoke.

"I wouldn't do that," Susan's voice suddenly cut the silence.

*

"It's neon!" Willow shouted enthusiastically, "We're through!"

Buffy walked through the door, which was now no longer blocked by a barrier. "Now someone's moment in the limelight will soon be OVER," Buffy decided and seized her weapons.

"Let's go, we have an apocalypse to prevent," Wesley added. "Thank God it was not zenon."

*

Angel stared at the two women in confusion.

"Don't give her anything, she plans to destroy the world!" Susan shouted. "And David's your enemy as well!"

"Don't listen," her counterpart warned Angel, "She comes with Drusilla, you ought to know what to expect!"

"I can explain it," Susan protested, "The gate you see behind us is a pathway between two parallel worlds."

Reluctantly, not knowing whom to believe, Angel took a step back, getting some distance between the two Susans and himself.

It was enough for Drusilla to aim the crossbow at the traitors and fire. She did not miss.

David went down with a cry of loss and despair, dealt a lethal wound straight into the heart.

The evil Susan did not hesitate to go for the attackers coming from the gate.

Before she had reached them, Drusilla's weapon struck her down. She shot again and again, until she had completely run out of bolts, and the other woman was lying at the foot of the gate as a lifeless form.

The fire of the elemental spell was still burning, the sizzling of the flames the only sound left.

Susan slowly walked towards Angel.

He was shivering, the pressure of once more sacrificing his own good to that of the world was taken from his shoulders. The course of events was still beyond his comprehension, and he was in a state of shock.

"Susan... what's happening?" he asked. Then his eyes fell on Drusilla. "You're not Drusilla... and you are. You have a soul?"

Drusilla smiled insecurely. "Where I come from, all vampires have souls. Well, at least the majority. I'll have to get used to a new world." Then she stepped back discreetly.

Susan tried to sound reassuring and confident as she explained to her friend where she had been. Yet her voice often trailed off, she interrupted herself frequently. He listened with any possible attention, sometimes he wondered, sometimes he did not know how to react. But she did not miss out on any detail of her time in the parallel universe. "Now I'm here," she closed, expecting Doyle to show up any moment. "And I'm glad I came in time to prevent the destruction of the items."

She felt a strange sense of deja vu, when, as she had done years before, she fastened the belt with the dagger around Angel's waist. Then, in an almost painfully familiar gesture, she lay her arms around his neck as she hung the amulet around it.

She hesitated and looked at the ring. "This is the moment when someone should show up and prevent me from giving you the ring," she said. "Hello, Powers That Be, are you sleeping? No interruptions this time?"

"Doyle?" Angel asked, first reluctantly and quiet, then louder. "Doyle! Doyle! DOYLE!!!!!"

Susan joined the calls. Doyle. Doyle!

Louder and louder they called, reaching heaven and hell with the word, calling the deceased half-demon's name that it would have to reach him even in the most remote corner of any possible dimension. Doyle. Doyle. Doyle.

However, they were calling, waiting, and fearing, in vain.

They finally gave up.

Susan sighed and took the ring from her finger. "Looks like we got away with it this time. So, that's it, Angel. The Ring of Regha."

She was about to give Angel the ring, when....

"Stoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Buffy's voice thundered through the room as she darted towards them. "Don't you trust her! Don't give her anything," she screamed, out of breath from running, "She's evil, she's from a parallel universe, she wants to..."

Then she saw the bodies of Susan and David lying in front of a strange, pulsating object.

Angel faced Buffy.

Their eyes locked.

"Oh... I'm late," Buffy realized.

Despite the situation, Susan could not conceal she was amused. "Sorry," she said.

"This is the real Susan," Angel said softly. "And, before you ask --- this is Dru. She's a new friend."

"Oh... okay." Then Buffy saw the silver ring in Susan's hand. "That's not the Ring of Regha, is it," she asked, puzzled and excited at the same time.

"It is," Susan confirmed. "Now take it, before anything happens!" She tried to blink away the tears as she cited: "'To those who have the circle of love – it shalt be the circle of life.' I... the Slayer... put it into your hand... Shan-shu."

Angel took the ring, but he did not put it on.

Buffy stood there and stared. Why doesn't he use it???? she wondered.

"He's waiting for you," Spike said, finally reaching the room.

Buffy turned around. "What do you mean?"

"The legend," Spike explained, "Whoever has got all three items can choose between a usual lifetime and a human form of immortality. He wants to know which one you would like to share with him."

Buffy looked at Angel. "Is he right?"

Angel tried to smile, but failed completely. "He always is."

Now Buffy could no longer restrain her tears. "How am I supposed to know!" she exclaimed and flew into his arms.

Susan saw Spike walking up to Drusilla in wonder, rapture. Drusilla seemed to have forgotten the world around her. By the time the two vampires, though they had never seen each other in their unlives, were helplessly lost crying, the other members of the gang had finally managed to reach the office rooms.

"We'll have to take care of your injuries," Spike said thoughtfully and led Drusilla down to Angel's apartment.

Anya was, always, insensitive to situations that required no words. "And what do we say, as polite people???" she burst out.

"Anya," Xander said a word of warning, which was completely lost on the ex-demon.

"What? I just wanted to remind them to thank Susan!"

Buffy laughed from behind her tears. "Anya's right. Thank you, Susan."

Susan shook her head, unwilling to start crying as well. "This wasn't about me... it was about destiny." Hating to be in the focus of general attention, Susan turned to Angel. "You are determined to let the chance pass unused, aren't you?" she reproached him in a friendly way.

Angel was reminded of the ring, still in his hand. He looked at Buffy. "So, this is, till death will do us part?"

Buffy shook her head. "No. This is FOREVER." With these words, she put the Ring of Regha in place.

What happened then was obviously the most unexpected thing: nothing. They stood for minutes, waiting.

"What? No blazes of lightning, no voice speaking to us from the sky, no fireworks?" Xander finally asked with disappointment.

"What did you expect, that he would grow wings?" Anya snapped.

Xander shrugged helplessly. "Not exactly wings, but, yeah, I thought at least SOMETHING."

"Perhaps it takes its time," Wesley suggested.

"Or it didn't work," Spike said pessimistically.

"Sh!" Buffy commanded. "I can hear something."

Susan was silent for a moment. Then she heard it as well.

"I don't hear anything," Anya complained.

"You're standing too far away, and you don't have a Slayer's hearing," Susan explained. But she could hear it, loudly, clearly, and steadily. It was a heartbeat.

Angel handed Buffy the items. "Forever," he said solemnly.

Buffy put on the three items, one after the other. She felt a wave of peace and relaxation go through her body, like touched by a ray of summer sun after a cold and rainy day. However, she could not notice any significant changes.

"I don't feel any different," Buffy remarked, "Maybe a bit stronger." She gathered the items carefully and put them into Susan's hands. "Decide what you think best. I feel you should have them... sister."

Susan nodded. "I am honored by your trust and friendship."

"So we can go home and have dinner, finally?" Xander asked.

He couldn't have been more wrong. For he had forgotten about the most important thing.

Xander screamed in pain as the bullet hit his arm, and blood began to stream from it.

Susan's head flew around.

Next to the slowly fading gate between the dimensions, she saw... herself. Standing not exactly upright, for her severe wound did not allow it, blood staining her clothes, more dead than alive, with nothing left to lose, and therefore of the most dangerous kind. A perverted version of herself, the gun that had injured Xander now pointed at herself.

"You're not going anywhere," the evil Susan commanded. "Killing my Watcher is not exactly polite! By the way, Susan, thanks for bringing me the Ring of Regha, so I get both immortality and apocalypse, feels like Christmas. Bring them over here, slowly. And the others of you, stay where you are, or she dies. Angel and Buffy may be immortal, but Susan isn't."

Susan quickly looked around. Angel and Buffy were behind her, if one of them intended to throw himself into the firing line, it would be too late, her enemy's shot would be faster.

"Don't look around for help. They can't do anything for you, and you won't have the time to join their exclusive immortal club. In the end, Slayers always make lonely decisions."

Angel and Buffy, desperate to interfere, yet too afraid of risking Susan's life, were waiting for the other woman to make a mistake.

One false move, and I'm at your throat, Buffy thought.

Susan walked slowly towards the gate, her eyes fixed on the gun.

"You're not a Slayer, you're a coward, you're hiding behind a firearm," Susan said.

"Maybe I'm a coward, but soon an immortal coward, as you are soon a dead heroine."

Susan straightened her shoulders as she was approaching, walking past the last of the bowls intended for the ritual. One line was missing to their spell, then the items would have delivered the magic energy fit for the apocalypse by their destruction. The fire was still burning, she could feel the heat. "I may be a dead heroine," Susan replied, "But that makes two of us." She moved like lightning and threw the Ring of Regha into the magic flames that consumed it in an instant.

"No!!!!" the evil Susan cried in despair ---- and fired. Once. Twice. Three times.

Angel and Buffy ran towards the gate.

Susan's evil twin, seeing all her hopes turned to ashes, hardly attempted any resistance, knowing that a fight against two immortal warriors, one of them being a Slayer, would have been futile even had she not been fatally wounded.

Buffy disarmed her and finished her off with the most deadly weapon she had, her body.

Angel immediately looked after Susan.

"How serious is it?" Buffy asked with concern.

"She'll be okay," Angel said in a low voice.

Susan smiled. "I won't, and you know."

"Lie still," he replied, "Cordelia's on her way to get help."

Buffy saw all the blood and knew exactly what it meant. All their ancient tomes of knowledge and the magic of witches and demons were sometimes useless when it came to a modern technology weapon employed with the necessary ruthlessness. The blood all over the floor and the three bullets in Susan's body spoke an obvious language. Not even a Slayer could survive. And Susan was aware of it.

"I'm so sorry," Buffy whispered, "If we still had all the items..."

"I had no choice, I couldn't let her take them," Susan tried to comfort her.

Buffy could not bear she was even caring for her in the moment of her death. She turned away not to break into tears in the face of the other Slayer. She knew exactly what Angel had to feel that moment, and she doubted his grief and sorrow that his life had taken Susan's would ever heal again.

"It's my fault," Angel said desperately, "I conjured her, looking for you. I wanted to find you and brought her here. And now..."

Susan sought his eyes. Her voice was faint, every wort hurt incredibly, however, she tried to sound resolved and clear. "It's not your fault. Listen to me, we don't have much time. Do you still have the dagger and the amulet?"

"They are here."

"Angel, burn them. Use their energy to re-establish the gate."

He looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "To what end?"

Susan took a deep breath. "Send me back."

"No," he refused, "You're delirious, I won't send you back!"

"I'm perfectly in good senses! Respect my wish, it's the last and only thing I will ever ask of you from now on. And I tell you, I entreat you, I COMMAND you: Send. Me. Back."

Angel's eyes were full of deep melancholy and sadness as he finally complied. He walked to the fire and dropped amulet and dagger into the flames.

"What's he doing?" Mona asked, desperate, about to run towards them, "She's our friend, I want to be at her side now!"

"Wait," Asmodis asked her, "I think I know what she has in mind."

The explosive power of the magic fire seemed to nourish the gate, it flashed, and grew once more, one last time, to its full height and opened the gateway to another world.

Then Angel assisted Susan to get up and steadied her steps, supporting her body with his arms, as they were approaching the gate.

Susan thanked him briefly. "Have I told you I hate good-byes?"

"Me, too."

"Then we just don't say good-bye." Susan let go of his hand and let herself fall into the current of the gate, which closed irrevocably behind her.

"He's going to kill her," Angel said bleakly. "I don't understand why she wanted to die in that hostile world and not here, among her friends."

Wesley put a hand on his shoulder for comfort. "Maybe that's exactly the problem, among friends." Then he gave Angel the sword he had fetched from his secret weaponry in the office. "Just in case, I mean," the Englishman added.

Angel cast one last look at the lifeless body of the parallel world Susan. Then he wielded the sword.

"Just in case," he said.

*

Pain... hopeless, nameless, timeless, without any nearly fitting expression. His eyes were glowing briefly, and then the pain was gone.

At first he took it for an apparition when the gate he had seen disappear before his very eyes was suddenly re-opening, emerging from the other side.

She was like a vision to him as she stepped through the gate, surrounded by light and brightness, shining in all the colors of the rainbow.

"You've come back," he whispered in rapture.

Then the vision broke. The gate streamed away, collapsing in itself, and was gone.

Reality was hard on Angelus as he was suddenly confronted with it.

He held Susan in his arms, could feel the blood, smell it, as it was streaming all over him, the spark of life just very faint in her eyes.

"Did you miss me?" she managed to say.

"Nothing is the same," he wondered, "I feel... changed. When you were gone, I felt I had nothing left... I was unhappy." Susan could hardly believe her eyes as she saw tearts in his. "I missed you, and... I was so miserable you had gone, I felt so lonely, and..."

Susan smiled. "The curse," she whispered, "A moment of perfect misery. You have a soul. And whatever Powers there are, they were merciful enough to let me know before..."

"You're not dying," Angelus protested.

"I know," she sighed, "In contrast to your counterpart on the other side of this gate, you are still a vampire. A vampire with a soul, which is quite normal here, as I dare say. The bullets hurt like hell, so would you please kill me now?"

Hope flushed briefly in his eyes. "Are you sure? I mean, the life I can give you is different from the one you have."

"Yes, yes, I know, I'll have to resign my collection of crosses, and I can sell my sunglasses."

"You won't have any children."

Susan thought of Tasha and Riley Junior. Uncle Spike promised me I can borrow his chainsaw. "I think I can accept that," she said impatiently.

"There are many other disadvantages, like..."

"... supernatural strength, everlasting youth and beauty, no more visits to the dentist's and unbelievable sex for all eternity? Horrible, I agree!"

Angelus sighed. "Don't say I didn't warn you!"

Susan felt her whole body shaking as his fangs broke her skin. Her heartbeat was racing, making her feel more alive than ever before, forcing her blood out of her body as she surrendered to his embrace. She closed her eyes and felt the taste of his own blood, as he took her life and rewarded her courage with immortality.

*

The song ended, and the group was slowly walking towards the parking lot of the cemetery. "It was a wonderful memorial service," Tasha sighed, trying her best not to burst into tears again. Riley nodded.

"I still don't know what you don't like about my dress," Anya reproached Xander, "It's black!"

"Yes, it's black," Xander admitted, "But it's cut deeply at the back, it's got lace and leather, and is by no means fit for a funeral!"

"I don't know why we needed the whole ceremony in the first place, I mean, we don't even KNOW she died, all we have is the decapitated corpse of a woman who shot at her!"

Xander looked around anxiously, but fortunately nobody really seemed to listen.

"It was a beautiful song," Mona told Asmodis in a gentle voice, "Wish she could have heard you."

"Me, too," Asmodis admitted.

"It's sad we will never know if she made it to her destination," Mona said thoughtfully.

"She did," they heard Angel say behind them.

Mona turned around and embraced him and Buffy. "So glad you made it in time for the ceremony. Susan would have appreciated that."

Asmodis was more interested in the immortal's remark. "You say she got there?"

"I know it," Angel confirmed. "Do you remember when the demon was in control five years ago? The blood bond from that time still exists. I felt her death, minutes after I had sent her back through the gate. It is strange. I also feel her presence now, as if she was quite close to me – and I feel it is a strong presence, full of energy and emotion. Whatever she traded her life against, it doesn't seem to be an altogether bad idea."

"I just wish I could see her again, just once," Buffy sighed, "I would have so much to say!"

They had reached the parking lot. Following the useless nasty traditions to the letter, they had agreed to meet again at a nearby restaurant.

As Buffy got into the car and started the engine, she could not help but observe how she loved the highlights the sunrays were setting in Angel's hair. Then they drove off.

"They look so great together," Mona remarked as she was about to get into their own car, waiting for Asmodis to unlock the door.

Asmodis did not seem to pay attention. His face went red. "Oh. No."

"What?" Mona asked suspiciously.

"I can't find my keys," he said helplessly.

"That's so typical of you!" Mona complained, "Where did you last have them?"

"I'm not sure," he replied.

Mona sighed. "Okay, back at the car in five minutes. You look for them at the flower shop, and I will see if you left them on the memorial stone. And hurry, it's getting dark, and I want there to be some food left when we arrive!"

Asmodis complied apologetically.

Asmodis met Drusilla at the flower shop.

"Still here?" he wondered.

The vampire smiled. "Spike is getting the car, he didn't want me to wait in the cold." She regarded him closely for a few moments. "So, you're Asmodis, the singer, yeah?"

"Yes," he replied proudly, "The Great Asmodis in person!"

Drusilla nodded slowly. "Good." Without any warning, she slapped him.

Totally surprised, he held his hurting cheek and asked reproachfully: "What was that for?"

"Well," Dru explained, "That was purely preventive. Just in case, you know."

*

Mona was walking back to the memorial stone. Even if she lived for a thousand years, she would never get used to that man's understanding of tidiness and order! If his head was not firmly attached to his shoulders, he would keep forgetting that one as well!

She stood in front of the memorial stone for a few minutes, reading the inscription for the thousandth time. Angel had been the one to suggest it, and although nobody had really understood why, there had not been a better idea, and so it was engraved.

There the keys were. She had known.

As she grabbed them from the top of the stone, a vampire showed up.

"Hello," he greeted her with greedy eyes.

Mona yawned. "Hello and good-bye," she replied.

As the vampire jumped at her, Mona broke a small branch from one of the trees and thrust it into the vampire's heart. The astonished demon dissolved into ashes at once.

As if nothing had happened, Mona walked back to the main path leading to the parking lot, when she heard hands clapping behind her. She turned around and saw a figure standing in the shadows.

"That was remarkable," a female voice said.

"I've seen it so often I should know how to dust a vamp by now," Mona explained. Then she looked at the figure suspiciously. "Who are you? What do you want from me?" Her face lit up as she recognized the woman. "Faith! I haven't seen you for ages! Where were you?"

Faith shrugged. "One could say I was working abroad, in the UK."

"I love England! What leads you here? Oh, you've probably heard."

"Well, yes, I have. But, to be honest, that's not the reason for my being here. Actually, I came for you, Mona. The Council sent me. To cut a long story short, I'm your new Watcher, and your Calling awaits you."

Mona looked puzzled. "My... WHAT? I don't have a...." Whenever a slayer dies, a new one is called.... "Well, I guess, now I have one."

THE END (?)