Part four

Giles slowly circled the parking lot a second time while Buffy looked for her mother's car.

"Here she comes. She just turned in." Buffy said with relief.

"Thank God!" Giles murmured. "Get out and wave her over here."

Buffy jumped out before Giles had even came to a full stop and trotted over to where her Mom was parking. The false Joyce lowered the window and gave Buffy a convincing worried smile as it watched her approach.

"Did you see anything on the way over here? Was there anything at the house? Giles says that those leaves won't do squat against this ain't-a-goblin thing."

The leshii glanced over Buffy's shoulder and noted that Giles was pulling into the space beside them. "No, I didn't see anything. This is so scary. Is Mr. Giles sure about this? I mean, Willow was almost hysterical."

"With good reason." Rupert interjected as he got out of his car. "You shouldn't go home tonight. Stay with a friend, or in a motel."

"I don't know about that."

"Mom, you can't go home. This thing is a wolf and a crow and an evil..."

"Exactly! Honey, how could I go to someone's house and have this thing follow me there? And the same with a motel, what if it did something to some poor soul who was just walking by?"

"MOM!"

"Don't shout at me."

Rupert went up to the window. "Perhaps I should. Joyce, please listen to me - you are in danger. My word... it knows where you live and it has already targeted you once today. I'm positive that if Buffy had not come home when she did it would have caused you great harm."

The leshii rubbed its forehead and sighed. "Maybe I could stay at your apartment until you find this thing."

"Aahh, if you want to."

"I think I would like that. I can go on over there, may I have the key, please?"

Rupert shook his head. "Follow me over there. I would feel more at ease if Buffy and I made a sweep of the area before we left you there.""Right!" Buffy said in agreement. "My 'spidie sense' is going nuts all of a sudden. I really think this thing is after you."

"Well let's go. Maybe we should go there the long way just to make sure that we are not being followed." The clone suggested as it started the car.

"That would not be a bad idea. Also, Buffy, I think you should ride with your mother." Giles pointed out.

"Will do!" Buffy went over to the passenger side and hopped in.

Giles gave the two a nod and returned to his car. They pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward Rupert's flat.

Traffic was not very heavy as they traveled down the main drag so Buffy was a bit concerned as Rupert began to pull a bit ahead of them.

"Aaah nuts, we're not going to make that light." Buffy complained.

"Oh don't worry about it, I can turn here and cut up the next street." The leshii got into the 'right only' lane and came to a stop behind a line of cars.

Buffy wrinkled her brow. "Mom... this isn't going to help. You should have kept going straight."

"Remember, I've been driving for a little longer than you have."

"Ooooo-kay" Buffy answered. Then she sat there making a tick, tick, tick noise while the light cycled twice. "Yeah, Mom. This was a plan." She muttered as they finally made the turn.

"I'll just turn left up here and we're back in business."

"Mom, the next street is Ludlow, one way, going the wrong direction."

"Oh, I forgot about that."

Buffy gave her Mom a concerned glance. "Look, I know you're upset, do you want me to drive?"

"That might not be a bad idea, let me pull over." The leshii said with a shake of her head as she pulled up to the curb and turned off the engine.

Buffy exited the car and came around to the driver's side as the creature slid across the seat. As soon as the Slayer entered it reminded her to fasten her seat belt. Buffy complied with the 'motherly' advice and reached for the ignition. "Aaah, Mom.. I need the keys."

"No you don't." A man's voice responded.

As Buffy jerked her head around her 'mother' disappeared from her seat in a flash of flame and reformed as a man standing in front of the vehicle. In the blink of an eye the leshii again shifted - this time into a Raven perched on the hood. The devil bird let out a mocking, croaking, cackle and took to the air arcing across the street before vanishing in a streak of fire.

The Slayer felt a numbing panic rise within her. Torn between the desire to warn Giles and the need to know what had happened to her mother she knew she needed help. Buffy scrambled out of the car and ran down the street searching for a payphone.

******

Rupert left his flat and nervously looked up and down the empty street. "Where are they?" He worried outloud as he headed back to his car with his sword and a hastily packed bag of assorted other weapons. Placing the items into the open trunk he paused to take a mental inventory. Car lights illuminating his form gave him a moment of relief which quickly faded as a van passed on by. Again a worried frown crinkled his features. Through the open door of his flat he heard the phone start to ring, without taking his eyes from the street he took a couple of hesitant steps toward his apartment.

"Loose something, green eyes?"

Grabbing the sword from the trunk Rupert started toward Kimmie who was standing in his yard twenty paces away.

Then it changed to an image of Joyce. "Maybe I could stay at your apartment until you find this thing."

Now it was Buffy. "Look, I know you're upset, do you want me to drive?"

With a roar Giles brought the sword around in a viscous swipe toward the creature's neck only to have it disappear an instant before contact. The momentum of the blow caused Rupert to spin in almost a complete circle, he regained his footing and readied another attack.

Randall now appeared. "Joyce and I are having a fine time discussing your various shortcomings."

"I'LL SEND YOU TO HELL!" Giles screamed as he went after the leshii a second time.

"I'm already there... remember?" It cackled back at him.

The apparition again vanished.

"FIGHT LIKE A MAN, DAMN YOU!"

The sword went flying out of Rupert's grasp as the wolf sunk its teeth into his forearm and pulled him to the ground. Giles slammed his free hand into the creature's massive head and forced his thumb into its eye. The wolf snarled and vanished and reformed as the leshii which wrapped its beefy arm around the man's throat. Giles slammed his fist backward into the creature's face again and again, trying to break free before it cut off his air. The leshii let out a rumbling growl and tightened its hold. Rupert's struggles ceased as tunnel vision closed in and the blackness came over him.

******

"It possesses the power of metamorphosis into various animals but, in order to deceive can appear in the guise of a relative, friend or lover."

Wesley closed the book and sat back down. "Interesting, but nothing about how we can destroy it. Have you found anything Miss Rosenberg?"

"How long have they been gone?" Willow responded to Wesley's inquiry.

"Twenty-eight minutes. Which is two minutes longer than the last time you posed that question. So have you found anything."

"It only takes ten minutes to get to the Mini-Mart." Willow muttered.

"And only ten minutes to get back." Xander added. "Something's up... Phone!"

Wesley was nearly run down by Xander as the teen came around the table on a dead run to answer the call. He picked up the receiver and heard Buffy's opening line.

"It's got mom and there's no answer at Giles' place..."

******

The music playing on the car radio accompanied by a very off key bass was the first thing that Rupert became aware of as he came to.

"I can picture every move that a man could make, getting lost in her loving is your first mistake. Sundown you better take care if I find you been creeping 'round my back stairs. Sometimes I think it's a sin when I feel like I'm winning when I'm losing again...."

Giles raised his head and slowly looked over at the leshii as it drove through the warehouse district. His slight motion caught the creature's attention and it shot him a warning look. Rupert raised his bound hands and coldly returned the leshii's malevolent expression. It turned its attention back to the road and continued to sing.

"I can see her looking fast in her faded jeans, she's a hard loving woman, got me feeling mean. Sometimes I think it's a shame when I get feeling better when I'm feeling no pain. Sundown you better take care if I find you been creeping 'round my back stairs..."

As the final refrain played it shook its head. "Weird, ain't it? That song has been running through my head all day. That ever happen to you? Get a tune in your head and it won't go away?" Giles refused to be drawn into a conversation with his captor. The leshii took note of his silence and arched its eyebrows in amusement. "I'm not complaining, 'Sundown' is a good one. Last time it happened it was some piece of 'goat roping' Country and Western shit. Spent two days listening to steel guitars play in my head."

Rupert sat like a rock picking out landmarks, trying to figure out where they were heading. His arm began to throb from the wolf bite and the tight cord around his wrists was causing his hands to feel numb. He moved his feet a bit, no - it had not bound his ankles. The leshii had not killed him outright, for whatever reason it wanted him somewhat restrained but mobile. This gave him a small glimmer of hope that Joyce was also still alive.

The next song began to play and the leshii gave his head a nod of approval. "Wow, 'Seals and Crofts! I always liked them." Then it let out a laugh at Rupert's continued silence. "You know, If I didn't know better I'd think you were pissed off." It pulled the car up in front of the ruins of Spike's old lair and added with another chuckle. "As if I give a rat's ass."

Giles noted the blue car that was parked in front of them. "Who else is here?"

"Theoretically, Adam should be in there waiting for us - with bells on." It answered as it got out of the car. "Now the big question is: did the little shithead wait on us or has he already finished her off? Heh... heh... heh..." It waited as an expression of rage and horror fully appeared on Rupert's face and then slammed the driver's door which such force that the window shattered.

Giles fumbled with the latch and got out as quickly as possible. Leaning up against the side of the car he waited until he leshii came toward him. As soon as it was within range he feigned to the side and planted his knee into the creature's balls. It doubled over with a roar and Rupert brought his bound fists down on the base of its skull. The leshii came back up as a flame and its power knocked Giles headfirst over the roof of the car.

"You just going to screw around out here or are you coming in?" Adam yelled from the doorway.

"Almost done!" The leshii yelled back as he jerked Giles up from the glass covered gravel. "Or maybe you are done, heh... heh... heh" It laughed as it took note of the gash running across the human's brow.

Adam came forward, vamping out at the sight of Rupert's bloody forehead and arm. "Whoo! Thanks! I could use some dessert."

"You little prick..." Giles began as he attempted to launch himself into the vampire only to be brought up short by the leshii. It curled its fingers around the material of Rupert's jacket and shirt and gave him a shake then tossed him back onto the ground.

Adam laughed and came closer.

"Forget it, comrade! You wouldn't let me play with yours, so I ain't going to let you play with mine."

The vampire laughed even louder. "If you're going to use lines like that, how about you change back to Kimmie?"

Then it was Kimmie. "This better? But I still ain't going to let you play with mine."

The two creatures went up to Giles who was again on his feet trying to wipe the blood from his eyes. They positioned themselves on each side of him. "So we gonna do this the easy way or the hard way?" Kimmie asked.

"Depends. Is Joyce sill alive?" Giles spit back.

"Yeah, but she ain't feeling too good, I think she's anemic."

Rupert forced himself to remain as calm as possible. Getting himself killed in the parking lot was not going to help. "Do you have any idea as to what this thing really is?" He asked Adam as they began to escort him into the building.

"Yeah... pretty much. Hung around Russia somewhere. Got its ass kicked by..."

"Hey Adam! How many of those shoot-em-up, buddy cop, spy, si-fi movies have you seen?" The leshii barked.

"Huh?" The vampire answered, confused by the question.

"How many? Eight - nine blue million?"

"Yeah.. so?"

Kimmie nodded her head and stopped by the door. "Yeah, thought so. Now, have you ever noticed that there is always this big scene where the bad guy stops to tell the hero all about what's coming down, and then the hero uses the four-one-one to kick ass and save the day?"

Adam was getting a little irritated. "What are you getting at?"

"Well guess what numb nuts? There are those who would call this guy the hero and us the bad guys."

"Is this your way of telling me to shut up?" Adam hissed as he left Rupert's side and went around to face off with the leshii.

"No, this is my way of telling you to shut the FUCK up!" It answered while giving the vampire a poke in the chest for emphasis. "Now let's get him in there and get this dog and pony show on the road."

Rupert again addressed Adam. "Don't trust it. It will turn on you."

The vampire's eyes momentarily darted back and forth between Giles and Kimmie. His gaze finally centering on the human. "Since when did you become my best friend?" He growled and pushed Rupert through the door.

******

Wesley's throat went dry as he stooped to pick up Rupert's glasses from the grass. He turned to Xander who was coming out of the flat shaking his head.

"He's not here. The door was wide open, but he's not here." Xander reported, confirming what Wesley already knew. Willow and Cordelia leaned against the car holding each other and sobbing, they could allow themselves the luxury of tears - something his Slayer could not or would not do.

Wyndam-Pryce went up to Buffy who was on one knee in the grass holding Rupert's sword downward by the hilt in a two handed grasp. She reminded him of a warrior of old, kneeling before God and King awaiting the command to begin a quest. They had caught up with her, on a dead run heading for home to save her mother. All they found there was a smeared trail of blood from the kitchen to the inside garage door. And now this....

"Buffy? Rupert saw the leshii at a pub. Maybe we can get some information there."

The Slayer stood with a deadly cold stare she told her Watcher. "Oh, we'll get it, no question."

"Damn straight." Xander affirmed.

Wesley gave his head a jerk toward the car and they headed for the bar. As they drove over Wesley began to think of his Grandmother and her stories. Fairy tales of the hero on the silver rone. The hero had killed a leshii, but of course he had a magical horse and a magical sword courtesy of Baba Jaga - and they had nothing.

"Maybe..." He whispered outloud breaking the painful silence.

"Maybe what?" Cordelia sniffed.

"I have an idea. We have to make a side trip to Holy Trinity." Wesley murmured.

"I want to get to Willy's." Buffy said in a monotone. "Kick ass..."

Wesley did not answer her, he turned the car and went to the church. Arriving he went up and knocked on the door of a house nearby. The priest came and spoke with him on the porch and after what seemed an eternity for the waiting teens, they saw the priest nod in agreement and both went into Holy Trinity.

"What's he doing, lighting candles?" Xander muttered. "We got'ta go."

"If he would have left the keys in here we would have booked by now." Buffy observed. "There he is, about time."

Wesley and the priest had come out of the side door. Wyndam-Pryce shook hands with him and turned to leave. As he departed the teens saw the priest raise his hand and give Wesley a blessing. He then took a few steps toward the car and gave the same to the unseen occupants therein.

Getting back in Wesley handed Cordelia a wooden box. "We might need this. Be careful, it's on loan."

Cordelia opened the box and unfolded the velvet wrappings. "Oh!" She exclaimed as she raised the box. "It's beautiful, what is it?"

"Well Cordelia, I'd say it was a cross." Xander deadpanned. "I might be wrong, but I'll go with my first impression."

"Grandmother said the Holy Priests drove the leshii away. This cross was blessed by Sainted Maksim, the Metropolitan of Kiev in the early 1200's." Wesley explained. "I found out about it when I went to Holy Trinity to say a prayer for Grandmother. The priest could tell I was not Ukrainian Orthodox and he approached me and we had a nice conversation." Wesley's voice trailed off.

Buffy leaned over the seat for a better view of the cross. "So will this really help or it is just a shot in the dark?"

"At this point a shot in the dark is all we have. Aaahh, this is Taylor Street... now where is this place?"

Buffy motioned with her thumb. "Turn right, it's about three miles down."

As Willy's came into view Xander pointed out the dive. "There it is, and it's even nastier on the inside."

As Wesley parked the car he got everyone's attention with an 'um-hum'. "I would like someone to stay in the car and keep the motor running."

Cordelia looked at the bar and quickly volunteered to be the wheelwoman. The other four got out and entered Willy's.

"Slayer!" Willy yelled out as Buffy came through the door. "Slayer with Slayer friends." He corrected as the others followed.

The twenty or so vampires and other creatures turned their attention to the door and rose from their seats. Buffy ignored them and went straight to Willy.

"Where's you pal?"

"I don't have any pals, nobody likes me...."

Buffy went over the counter, Willy backed away, hands raised before him. The vampires began to approach the three humans, Wesley raised the sword, Willow took out the squirt gun of holy water, Xander pulled out a stake and smiled. "Rock and Roll!"

"NO!" Willy screamed as the vision of his business being completely trashed crossed his mind. "Listen Up! Reel it in!"

Both sides paused.

Willy turned to his customers. "Look, I'm going to say it loud so you all hear. This thing she's looking for, it ain't a vamp, I don't even think it's a demon - I don't know what the hell it is. The regulars know who I'm talking about. It's that goblin that called itself Kimmie - you know the one that hung around with the bunch from Sunnydale Graphics?"

"It's a leshii." Wesley shouted from the other side of the room. This information went right over the heads most of the customers. A solitary demon broke away from the crowd and slowly went up to Wesley.

"Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt."

The demon began to laugh. "Then you're fucked." Still laughing it returned to its table and picked up its drink. "Tell them anything you know, then we can get back to our Saturday night. It will be easier to just let the leshii kill them. And believe me, they don't have a chance."

The tension in the room eased a tiny bit.

"You first Willy, and make it good." Buffy threatened.

"It came in yesterday for awhile and then again this afternoon. That kid vampire, Adam... yeah that's his name, he's hanging with it. They both came in together, they had a couple of beers... it asked me for a job... then this glowing picture appeared on the wall and the thing went ballistic. Stuck that knife though the bar, kicked my ass and stole my car. That's all I know."

A vampire reached over the bar and lifted a can of beer from the cooler. "That Adam kid? He's been hanging around for a few nights. Asking about where he could find a vacant lair big enough for a 'party'. He mostly sacked out at Sunnydale Graphics, didn't really have a pack he ran with. Try Spike's old place, I know a couple of people told him about that one."

"Anybody else want to share?" Buffy asked as she came back over the counter. When her query went unanswered, she went over to where Rupert's knife was still impaled and wrapped her hands around the hilt. "This belongs to a friend of mine." Using every bit of Slayer strength she pulled it out of the wood. A couple of the vampires shifted uncomfortably on their feet. "Anybody? Don't be shy."

The vampire at the end of the bar spoke up. "Yeah, the kid talked about payback. Said they were going to turn one and burn one. They were going to take the marks nice and quiet and then blow town before anyone was the wiser. He wanted to get some others to help, you know a fast blitz. As far as I know nobody signed up."

Wesley raised an eyebrow. "Why not, everybody was going on holiday?"

The vampire laughed. "Yeah, that's the ticket. We're all going to take a chartered bus to the Poconos for a week." The vamp took a drink. "No... the marks were too hot. Nobody was stupid enough to jump into that frying pan."

"Joyce Summers. Rupert Giles." Buffy said without emotion.

The vampire gave his head a nod of confirmation and returned to his drink.

Wesley motioned for the others to 'come along' and as soon as Buffy joined them they left the bar. As the door shut behind them the place erupted in laughter.