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Part Eleven
Cordelia slammed the doors to the gym behind them, “Why are we here?”
Wesley looked around and saw what he wanted, “Because we now have long range weapons!”
Cordelia folded her arms and looked at the automatic ball dispenser, “Oh, I get it,” she said sarcastically, “We’re going to play fetch with them. Or, how about teaching the Hounds to play tennis?”
“No,” Wesley shook his head, as he pointed at the two machines, “You’re going to shoot the balls at them, giving me time to cast the spell.”
“And what happens when we run out of tennis balls?” Cordy snorted, as she turned on the machines.
“I’d rather not think of...” Wesley began. But he was cut short by the crashing in of the doors, as the Hellhounds broke through the building, “...that. Um....FIRE!”
Cordelia and Joyce aimed their dispensers at the hounds and began to fire a slew of yellow balls at them. As they hit their targets, the Hounds yelped from pain and anger. They tried to advance, but the barrage of flying balls held them at bay. But that would only last as long as they had ammo. And the ammo wouldn’t last forever.
They had to do the spell fast.
****** The Beastmaster howled in pain, as Giles pushed the metal pipe further into the demon’s stomach. Willow watched in horror as the Hellhounds writhed on the floor, sharing the agony that their master was experiencing. But their pain didn’t last long, as the Beastmaster grabbed Giles by his throat, lifted him high of his feet, and pulled the pipe out.
“It’s going to take more than a small metal splinter to kill me, Watcher!” he hissed, tossing the bloodied pipe across the room.
Giles struggled against the vise grip the demon had on him, but could feel reality slipping away, as the world around him grew dark. “You’re...not....going....to.... win....this...time...” he managed to get out with a gasp.
The Beastmaster pulled him close and smiled, “Oh, I think I will.”
“Giles!” Willow screamed, trying to wriggle her way from her captors, but their hold remained firm.
****** “That sounded like Willow!” Xander said, grabbing Oz’s arm.
Oz cocked his head, “It sounds like....” he pointed down a darkened flight of stairs, “That way!”
The boys raced down the steps to the basement, zeroing in on the terrified screams coming from Willow. There, standing in the doorway, were two demons, with the young witch in between. Oz held his breath every time she cried out Giles’ name.
“Okay,” Xander said to his friend, “What do we do now?”
Oz looked around, deciding that stakes just wouldn’t cut it with these guys, and found some old copper wire, lying on the ground. Picking two long pieces up, he looked at Xander with cold determination, “I have an idea.”
****** Willow couldn’t bear to watch the Beastmaster dangle Giles’ limp form like a rag doll. The Watcher had finally passed out, and was now completely at the mercy of the demon. She wasn’t even sure he was still alive, and even if he was, she was in no position to help. All she could do was look at her friend through tear filled eyes, and pray that, by some miracle, help would arrive.
Which was the precise moment she felt both her captors fall away from her.
Willow turned around and saw one of the demons lying on the floor, he head several feet from his body. She looked up from the body to see the impossible...
“Oz?” Willow asked, as if she didn’t believe her own eyes. When he smiled, she ran into his waiting arms, “Oh, Oz! Oz! It’s really you! I-I thought you were....but you’re not....and now...oh, Oz.....you’re alive! The Beastmaster told me you were dead. But you’re not....and...and...”
Oz kissed her firmly on the lips, then smiled, “The reports of my death, have been greatly exaggerated.” He cocked his head and added, “I always wanted to say that.”
“Um, guys,” Xander said, riding on top of the other demon, who was bucking around like a wild bronco, “A little help please.”
“Funny,” Oz said calmly, as him and Willow watched their friend twirling around the hall, “It should have worked. I mean the wire worked for me. Mmmmm....maybe the grade of wire you have is different...”
“Can we analyze this later,” Xander huffed when the demon slammed his back against the wall, “Ooomph! Getting...crushed now.”
“Xander,” Oz said, “hold onto him a little bit more, I think I have an idea.”
“Yeah sure....umph....no problem...ouch,” Xander whimpered, trying to keep his grip, “But can you hurry this up, I think one of my ribs is sticking out my nose.”
Oz took the wire he used and quickly wrapped it around the demon’s feet, “Okay. Pull...hard!” He shouted as he yanked the wire, causing the demon to tumble forward.
As the demon fell forward, the wire that was only slightly embedded in his neck, finished the job, leaving three humans standing alone in the hallway.
“Well,” Xander grumbled, rubbing his sore shoulder, “That was fun. Kinda like taking a kiddie ride on the pony of death. Can we go home now?”
“NO!” Willow cried out, grabbing Xander’s arm, “We have to save Giles!”
“Oh man, you’re right!” he answered, as he looked into the room with the Beatmaster and his two hounds, “But how?”
As if to answer his question, the three heard a familiar voice come from the other end of the room, “You! This ends here!”
Xander turned to his friends and smiled, “Buffy’s here! See? Ask, and ye shall receive.”
“Buffy will save Giles,” Willow chimed in.
****** “YOU BETRAYED ME!!!! YOU’RE FREE!!!!” Buffy/Callisto shouted, hurling a box toward the Beastmaster. The box stuck the demon on the head, making a large gash on the back of his skull. As blue/green blood oozed out, Callisto smiled, “And now you’re mortal. What fun this will be!”
****** “Or maybe not,” Oz sighed.
“What the HELL is going on?!” Xander shouted.
“Buffy fought Callisto,” Angel explained, as he and Faith joined the group, “Somehow, Callisto was able to jump bodies, and is now inside Buffy.”
“Okay,” Xander said to Angel, “First....is there something in the brooding-vampire handbook that tells you how to sneak up on people and scare them to death? Did you ever hear of giving some warning before you jump out? Second...it was hard enough fighting Callisto before...now she’s in Buffy?! What’s wrong with this picture?”
“It was painted by a one armed, six fingered maniac named Bob?” Oz offered.
“Wesley is working on a spell that will cast Callisto back into the void,” Angel explained, “That will stop her.”
“And the Beastmaster?” Faith asked.
“He’s mortal,” Willow said, “Thanks to Giles. He was going try and kill him...but...”
“Yeah,” Angel nodded, looking in to the room where the two powerful demons were about to launch into battle, “The Beastmaster may be mortal, but it won’t be easy to kill him. He’s still a powerful demon.”
“So,” Faith said, placing her hands on her hips, “Let him and Callisto duke it out.”
“Hey, that’s Buffy in there!” Xander growled, “In case you didn’t notice the blonde pony tail.”
“She can handle herself!” Faith sniped back.
“Why you...”
“Guys!” Willow shouted, “Giles....remember?”
****** The Beastmaster turned to Callisto and sneered, “So, you have a new body,” looking her up and down, he added, “A vast improvement.”
“Don’t try to gloss this over,” she growled, “You were to serve me! I summoned you! And now, I’ll kill you!”
“If that’s what you want,” the large demon shrugged, tossing Giles into the far wall, “But I warn you...I may be mortal,” he said, raising his hands as a swirling vortex opened in the room, “I’m not defenseless!”
Three more Hellhounds leaped out of the vortex joining the pack. They fanned out and surrounded Callisto, waiting for the command to attack. Angel shuddered. They were now torn between helping Giles, who was crumpled on the floor, unconscious...and saving Buffy. Even with Callisto in charge, Angel knew that she was no match against five Hounds and an angry demon. And while this battle might surely put an end to Callisto, it would be at a heavy price...Buffy’s life.
“We have to even the playing field,” Angel suggested.
“What are you talking about?” Faith hissed, “Don’t tell me you want us to help Callisto?”
“We wouldn’t be helping Callisto,” he pointed out, as the battle in the room began, “We would be saving Buffy’s life. She *has* to be able to kill the Beastmaster.”
“Why?” Xander asked.
“Because,” Willow said, pointing to the cries of the Hounds when their master was injured, “the Hounds are connected to him. If we kill the Beastmaster...”
“It’ll kill the Hounds,” Oz finished.
“Great,” Xander sighed, as the prepared to join the fight, “then all we have to do is deal with Callisto.”
“Were is Wesley and that spell?” Faith asked.
****** “Are you done yet?!” Cordelia shouted, continuing the barrage of balls, “Please tell me the spell’s almost done.”
Wesley looked up and noticed the Hounds writhing in pain for a few moments before trying to make their advance. So, something was happening with the Beastmaster. But what? “I’m nearly done with the preparations, all I need is a match to light the herbs,” he reached into his pocket and asked, “Does any one have a match?”
“You’re ‘Mr. Spell Guy’,” Cordelia rolled her eyes, “You don’t have a match?!”
“Well,” he defended, “I don’t smoke! And I didn’t exactly have the time to search for some whilst being chased by Hellhounds!”
“Oh for God’s sake,” Joyce sighed, and pulled a lighter out of her pocket. Tossing it to Wesley she added, “Don’t ask. Please don’t ask.”
“Does Buffy know you smoke?” Cordelia asked.
“One night of Chocolate...one night,” she growled, shooting the Hounds with surprising ferocity, “And I’m never going to live it down!”
“Yeah, but smoking?” Cordelia saw the acid expression on the older woman’s face and quickly added, “What?”
“Just shoot.”
****** Angel, Faith, and Xander ran into the room, carrying any kind of weapons they could find. When Willow went to join them, Oz held her back, “Will, no. Stay here. I thought lost you once, I’m not going to lose you for real.”
“But Giles...” She pointed to the fallen Watcher, who was laying frightfully still at the other end of the room.
“We’ll help him,” Oz kissed her, “Don’t worry.” He grabbed a sharp metal stick and raced in after his friends.
Willow found herself watching the horrifying events once again. The only thing that held her back now, were the pleas from her boyfriend. But those pleas weren’t enough to keep her out of the fight. She had to do something. She had to help the man who was willing to sacrifice himself to save her.
Keeping low to the ground, she crawled her way along the wall, trying to attract as little attention to herself as possible. She cringed when Oz was thrown to the ground by a Hound, but sighed with relief as Angel came to his rescue. She continued making her way to Giles, hoping and praying he was still alive.
She finally reached him, scooting her body close to his. His chest was rising and falling with some regularity, which meant he was alive, but Willow wasn’t sure in what condition. Over that past few days, they had been through a lot, but Giles had seen the brunt of it. He was badly beaten, and bleeding profusely from his head. She would have felt better if they could get him to the hospital.
Of course, she really would have felt better if none of this would have happened...
“Giles,” Willow called to him softly, cradling his head in her lap, “Can you hear me?”
Giles moaned. His eyes fluttered open several times before he finally spoke, “Willow,” he whispered, “Wha...what are you doing here? What’s happening?”
“We’ve been rescued,” she said, looking out at the ensuing battle, “Well, kind of. It’s a long story...”
“You’ll have to give me the details...once the room stops spinning,” Giles said, before passing out.
****** Callisto tossed several Hounds aside, as she worked her way to her goal. She looked around and almost couldn’t believe her eyes...the four humans, and Angelus were helping her defeat the Beastmaster and his Hounds. What fools! Trying to save their precious Buffy, will no doubt cost them their lives. But first...
“Now,” she growled, “it’s just you and me! Time for you to die!”
Callisto swung her leg out and kicked the Beastmaster in the gut, sending him flying back. She could have used her powers to kill him, but this would be more fun. This would be a slow death for a deserving traitor. The Beastmaster, got back up and rushed his attacker, striking out at her with his claws. They both fell backward into the old furnace, knocking it over. Oily contents spilled out onto the floor, spreading by the minute.
While Callisto and the Beastmaster were fighting, another struggle was taking place in the room. Angel, Faith, Xander and Oz were fighting off the Hellhounds that kept trying to reach their master.
“One Hound down,” Xander huffed, dodging a blow from the barbed tail, “Can’t we just throw them a milkbone or something?”
“Got any in your pocket?” Angel asked, grabbing onto a tail of another Hound, as it tried to leap at Buffy/Callisto.
“Damn!” Oz said, driving a metal pipe into a Hound, “I knew we forgot something.” He turned around and saw a Hellhound making a line for two figures laying against the wall, “Willow!” he cried out, trying to make his way to them.
Willow stared at the Hound in terror. There was nowhere to go, and she couldn’t leave Giles. The Hound gave a low growl as it lowered its head, ready for the pounce, “Oh, god,” she gave a silent prayer, “Oz? Help, please?”
Xander noticed Oz running toward the Hound and raced after him. Together, they tackled the Hound, bringing the large beast down with a yelp. Willow watched, as the two young men rolled on the floor with the enormous, hairy animal, trying to avoid its sharp claws, teeth and tail. They jabbed, punched, even bit the creature, in the hopes of stopping it. But it only shrugged them off, like a dog shaking off fleas.
They scrambled after it, trying to prevent the Hound from reaching a helpless Willow and Giles, unaware that they too were being sized up!
****** “Hurry up!” Cordelia screamed again, “We don’t have a lot of balls left!”
“Okay,” Wesley said, lighting the herbs, “I’m ready...I think. Just hold them off long enough for me to....”
“Too late!” Joyce yelled, “I’m out!”
Two seconds later, Cordelia Chase, high school senior, and former slayerette, cried out, “Me too!”
****** Callisto stood up and sneered. The Beastmaster gave as good as he took, showing no sign of defeat. This defiance, coming from a demon who was now mortal, made her furious. The time for games were now officially at an end.
All around the room, metal objects began to shudder, and loosen from their bindings. As pipes broke, and flew across the room, all those in its path ducked for cover. Angel pulled Faith close to him and flattened himself against the wall, waiting for it to end. And when metal, struck against metal, sparks flew, igniting the greasy oil that covered a fair amount of the floor.
Now they where fighting in an inferno!
The Beastmaster was hit from all sides, causing him to stumble around the smoke filled room, “You will NOT beat me! You cannot beat me!”
“There,” Callisto smiled, hurling a pipe directly through the demons chest, “you are wrong!”
The large demon, once feared by all those who came in contact with him, staggered backward, looking down at the pipe protruding from his chest. His eyes were wide with pain and surprise. In the thousands of years since his creation, he finally knew fear....and understood death. All around, the Hellhounds howled in pain, and writhed on the floor. And when the Beastmaster took in his last breath, their cries ceased....
...for all eternity.
****** “What happened?” Wesley asked, staring at the dead Hounds lying only ten feet from them.
Joyce smiled, “Maybe Mr. Giles is still alive. I mean, he could have stopped the Beastmaster like he did...um...I mean...”
“What did you say?” Wesley gave her a double take, “Did you just say what I think you just did? Mr. Giles had stopped the Beastmaster once before? When...” then it dawned on him, “Oh my God! That’s right! He was a Watcher then. But, he was the one who stopped the demon? Why didn’t he say anything to the Council?”
“Would you have?” Joyce gave him a stern look, “You know what he would have done to stop him....oh my GOD! If the Beastmaster is gone...then that means....Buffy!”
“Now, let’s not panic,” Wesley urged, “When the Beastmaster was stopped the first time, the Hounds returned to hell with him. But look at them...they’re all dead. That means that the Beastmaster is dead as well. Which also means, that Buffy could still be alive.”
“Great,” Cordy snipped, “Alive, and still Callisto....the spell remember?”
Wesley shook his head, “Oh, yes...right. Sorry.”
****** Callisto turned to face the five mortals and one vampire in the room, and smiled with smug triumph, “Now,” she rubbed her hands, “for some unfinished business.”
The remaining objects in the room, that weren’t already used as projectiles, began to shake. With the sound of the approaching flames, and the billowing smoke, it gave the room the impression of being the beginning of the end. And for the Scooby Gang...it might very well be...
“What now?” Faith shouted, ducking behind a metal block.
“I have no idea,” Angel replied, shouting at the ceiling, “Wesley, where the Hell is that spell!”
“Well, Angelus,” Callisto said, “I guess you’re not going to see things my way. We could have been sooo good for each other. We could have...ruled...” she stopped, and blinked. Something was happening. “We...could....have...” she tried again, but found it difficult to focus her thoughts. She was losing cohesion. Almost as though... “No!” she said, shaking her head, “it...can’t....be!”
Angel smiled and turned on the radio...
“Ishcara....rat’une...enubre...dansoon,” came the voice over the walkie talkie, “Into the darkness of eternity shall thee be sent....to return once more, into the Abyss!”
“I was supposed to rule all! I was to be everything!” she gave a hard look at Angel, “This is far from over, Angelus! I will return! I will.....NOOOOOO!!!!!!!” Callisto screamed, as she felt her hold on the mortal plain slip away into nothingness....leaving only a tired, hurting, and confused Slayer in her wake.
“What’s going on,” she coughed, “How did I get here?”
“I’ll explain later,” Angel said, looking over at Willow, Oz and Xander, who was helping Giles to his feet. The vampire scooped Buffy up and hurried her out of the burning building.
“Wait!” Willow shouted, turning back toward the room, “The Book! We have to get the Book of Champaere!”
Oz grabbed Willow and dragged her out of the room, “Willow, come on. There’s no time!”
“But the spells...”
“Would be better off if they were never discovered again,” Angel suggested, as soon as the cleared the building.
The battle weary group looked at the Cannery, which was now completely ablaze, and turned away. They walked in silence, away from the building, as the sounds of the fire trucks were already nearing the site. There wasn’t much left to say. They had fought hell itself and won...again.
And now, it was time to pick up the pieces.
****** THE NEXT DAY:
Buffy walked into the Library with a less then her normal pep. She saw her friends sitting around the main table, much like they have since she knew them. But this time, like her, they seemed to be subdued. They had beaten a terrible foe...the worst yet, and still ...there wasn’t much to be happy about. And to one person in the room, it was an act that was fifteen years too late.
“Did you manage to find Mr. Hampton and Emily?” Giles asked, even though he knew what her answer would be.
“Nope,” the Slayer shook her head, “they’re gone.”
“Do you think Edgar was telling the truth about Emily?” Xander asked, “You know, that’s she’s gonna be some kind of vamp-savior?”
“I don’t know,” Giles sighed, “But I suspect we will find out in time.” He turned to Buffy and ask, with great concern, “How are you doing? And your mother?”
Buffy knew exactly what he meant. “We’re okay. Mom is taking a couple of days off from work, and wants me to do stay home from school. She wants to do the parent daughter bonding thing. She doesn’t say it, but I really think this whole thing got to her. Me being Callisto and all. But, I don’t remember a thing. It’s like I was asleep, and it was all just some strange dream. Which I guess is good thing...”
Giles smiled, “Yes it is,” He stood up slowly, wincing in pain, and headed to his office, “If you will all excuse me...there are a few things I must take care of.” he stopped and looked at the ragtag group of teens, minus Faith, who was missing again, “You’ve accomplished something that few have...you survived. You should all be proud of that.”
Buffy watched him disappear into his office, and felt saddened at his pain. Not the physical pain of the attacks he endured over the past few days, but the emotional anguish he was forced to re live. She wanted to go to him, and try to comfort her friend, but knew that no words could make up for the loss he was feeling. And not even time could take that away from him.
Wesley entered the Library and headed for Giles’ office, but was stopped by Buffy and the gang, “I must speak with Giles,” he said, “I called the Council and explained to them what happened. They want a full report from Mr. Giles-”
“No,” Buffy said sternly, “he’s been through too much to speak to anyone...much less the Council of Cowards!”
“But...”
“You heard Buffy,” Xander said, stepping by her side, “Now shoo. Go. Leave.”
As Wesley turned around, he looked back on the teens, “He was a hero, you know. Twice. The Council should know that. It might affect their decision to reinstate him as Watcher. I was just trying to help.”
Buffy sighed and watched Wesley leave the room. She felt bad for him, in a way. He was only trying to help. But the last thing Giles wanted right now, was to be considered a hero. Right now, he only wanted to put an end to fifteen years of sorrow.
****** “Hello?” Giles spoke into the phone, “Mrs. Masters? This is Rupert Giles...yes, I know you told me never to call...but I have some news...please hear me out....yes, I cared very much for Elizabeth, but...I understand. All I wanted to tell you was...”
CLICK
“It’s finally over.” he said silently into the empty receiver.
He slowly hung the phone up and took out a small photo from his breast pocket. There, frozen in time, was the only person who would understand what he was feeling...if she were still alive. Her honey colored hair, and her bright happy eyes, looked at him with unending compassion, and love. Forever alive in his heart.
“Elizabeth,” he spoke to the photo, “it’s finally over love. It’s over.”
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