Title: Afterglow 51/57

Author: T. Claybourne  (t.claybourne@yahoo.com)

Rating: Rated R most chapters for violence and Language, some are NC- 17 for sexual content

A/N I'd like to thank my Beta Reader Hawera And muses Michelle Branch, Robbie Williams and Evanescence

Additional A/N for Chapter 51: Credit goes to the great Rolling Stones, and their 1968 Album *Beggars Banquet* in this chapter. Spike mentions it but I felt I should too.

Afterglow Chapter 51 Take Advantage

Xander had suggested they all go back to their place. The plan was for coffee and pancakes. He figured it would be a good distraction for all of them. It was working too. Everyone was talking and having a good time. Buffy was helping him and Willow with the pancakes and they were laughing at the mess. It only bothered him when he would occasionally wish Mia was there. She would love to see every one together. It was long after sun up and the dishes were done when Lorne stood up. He'd been quiet all morning.

"I can't do it. I tried to stay quiet because it he hadn't asked me to read him," he said loudly.

A hush came over the crowded kitchen.

"I read Spike just before they left, I wasn't trying to and he didn't know I had. He was singing something while packing up the weapons. It's not good, kids."

Xander's stomach tightened.

"What are you talking about?" asked Buffy

"I thought maybe I'd misread him. You know he`s been out of sorts, and then with his past I thought it may just be that but the more I mulled it over…."

"Just tell us!" demanded Buffy.

"I saw blood and ash, and there was light."

"You saw Spike? You saw this happening to Spike?" asked Buffy.

"No, sorry. I saw it happen to all of them."

Xander closed his eyes. He heard her words again, "If I can't keep mine, keep yours…… If they come, people will die." Oh god, she knew. He wanted to scream. He had known too. How? No, it wasn't going to happen. He would stop it.

"No, we'll stop it. Locator spells didn't work to find Mia before but now we can look for Spike or Angel with her. Willow, get started. Lorne, go over with Giles, Buffy and Wes just what you saw. They can plan exactly how to attack. The rest of us, we need to gather silver for weapons: chains, belt buckles, anything. I'll call the place we got our weapons and see if they have silver nitrate on hand so we can pick it up right now. Let's go.

Every one looked at him.

"What the hell is wrong with you people? Oh no, Xander is taking charge? Get over it, you asses. Do you want Angel a pile of ash, or Spike in Dust Buster? Well, I don't feel like carrying Mia around in a plastic baggie, so let's go."

It was Willow standing up and running upstairs that prompted the others to move.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mia turned around and shrugged. "Girl's got to take advantage of what she can, when she can. You just never know. I don't want to have any regrets." She took a deep breath and cocked her head. "Are you two sure about this?"

Angel and Spike caught up and flanked her on either side.

"Never more sure," said Angel.

"Told you before, pet, it's our fight. I'm still wondering why you invited the ponce but…"

"He crashed but remember, neither of you were invited for this. OK, let's go. My Daddy told me to wake up and kick some ass."

They worked their way through a series of pitch black caves until they entered the cavern where two torches were burning. All about it lay the big creatures. Mia used hand signals, motioning Angel to take out five to her left on her signal. Then she turned to Spike and grinned. She signaled that he should take out one on her signal. Spike's face grew angry then cleared: he just shook his head. Angel had watched the exchange and was trying to keep quiet and not to laugh. Mia re-signaled to Spike to take all the creatures, about seven, on her left. She left them posed as she crept to behind the throne. She found a passage, came back and gave the signal. She ran with all her speed through the passage and jumped on the sleeping pallet of the god, straddling him.

Angel took out the gun and fired into the first thing, and then another. He had fired successfully three times before any of them rose. Spike knew what they were up against, so he had fired off his entire gun of six darts before the last one rose. That one was only to its knees as Spike vaulted over it and took off its head with the silver cord. He turned and looked for Angel. The other vampire was further back in the cave. He ran a silver stake in his hand. Two of the creatures had Angel, one at his feet and the other his shoulders. It looked as if they were playing tug of war. Angel had his demon face on, he was struggling and growling. Spike used Angel's torso to get a foot up and sink the stake into the eye of the one that was holding Angel's shoulders. The creature screeched and then reacted to the silver, becoming mud. Spike's action gave Angel the leverage he needed and he flipped, kicking the other creature in the jaw.

" Damn, that thing's got a jaw like steel," Angel commented as he righted himself

Spike tossed him a syringe. Angel jumped straight up, kicking the remaining beast in the nose. On his way back down, he stuck the syringe in its eye.

Spike and Angel watched the thing turn to a mess. "Really, this whole thing is very anti- climatic, I like our kinds' way of exploding into dust much better; this melting into a mud pile is not for me."

"Trust me; it seems more satisfying if you've ever nearly had your head torn off by one of them."

"Come on, Spike, let's help Mia"

"Do you think I want to have to pull my nose and bits of facial bone out of my brain? Oh no, I'm not pissing her off. Now we wait and watch."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There were twenty syringes, five chains, two silver stakes, and Buffy had five silver crosses. The plan of attack was that Gunn, Buffy, Xander and Wesley would go in first, then the rest would follow.

Willow sat at the kitchen table doing the locator spell.

"It's here." She pointed to a spot on the map.

"You have to be bloody kidding," said Giles.

Every one looked up at his use the swear word.

"What is it, Rupert?" asked Wesley. He looked. "Well, it's, it's…. are you sure Willow?"

"Yes, why?"

"It's Westminster Abbey."

"No it isn't. It's under, way under," reminded Xander

"That's right," agreed Buffy. "There will be a cave entrance in the river."

"Does that mean we go swimming? Damn, I didn't pack my trunks. What kind does a brother wear here?"

Buffy grimaced, "It's too dangerous for everyone to swim in. Willow, once we get there can you do one of those light thingies to find another possible way in?"

"Yes, yes I think so. Good idea, Buffy. If there is another way, we can find it."

"Then let's go. It's been too long as it is!" demanded Xander.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Hello, Groom-to-be, or would you rather be the Bride-to-be?"

"You? What is happening? You should be chained up."

"I'm so over the dog thing, honey. Well, unless hmmm? No, not with you." Mia pulled out a syringe and sunk it in his eye. Nothing happened.

"It doesn't work on me, although the feeling of the needle in the eye was a little strange."

"Damn. Here I come to your bedroom all dressed to play, hoping to get a real good… rise… out of you and nothing. Are you impotent?"

He back-handed her and she flew through the passage way, broke the top of the throne, and landed on the floor in front of it.

Angel started to move towards her, but she was up before he could get to her. She was laughing. "Damn. If you didn't like doing it that way you could just say no."

A man, seven foot tall, appeared in a flash. He was dressed in a filmy gold gown that went to the floor making him appear even taller. He was the size of any professional basket ball player. His hair was long, almost to his knees, but pulled back in a golden clip of some sort. Suddenly he was behind Mia his hand on her neck.

"Ground rules," squeaked Mia. She flipped herself up and over him so she was at his back. "I don't like it from behind unless I have something to hold onto. Ask Spike."

The thing's eyes widened when he saw Spike and Angel.

Mot whipped around and grasped her by the shoulders with both hands, lifting her from the ground to his face. "They are yours?"

"Both of them. Oh and look, I'm so sorry…… Wait, no I'm not… about what they did to yours. I told you, you fucked with me and mine. Bad move, Mot"

Mia watched as the anger filled his face. She braced herself. Sharp stabbing pain shot through her head and radiated her body, but she refused to give in to it. Her eye started to water so she head butted him.

He dropped her, and the pain ceased.

"No one uses my name. I am your lord, your god, and you kneel before me. You are not greater than I. You are unclean, diseased, filthy, disgusting; not meant to walk the earth. I can kill you where you stand."

Angel stepped forward but Spike grabbed the sleeve of his coat. "She's said worse to me on a Monday."

"Tell the white haired one I will not have his unclean mouth speak in my presence."

"Filthy? Disgusting? Please, you stink. They actually refer to you in ancient scrolls as putrid death. I would choose unclean over putrid any day. And if you can kill me, bring it on, Mutu. Oh look used your other name, the one they use in another ancient language. And you just told me not to use it, oops."

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH," he yelled out in anger.

Mia stood where she was, stuck out her hip, and shook her head and shoulders to an apparent rhythm in her head. She laughed from deep in her chest and in perfect tune sang:

" Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails Just call me vampire cause I'm in need of some restraint So if you meet me Have some courtesy Have some sympathy, and some taste Use all your well-learned politesse Or I'll lay your, soul to waste, um yeah Pleased to meet you MOT , Hope you guessed my name, um yeah But what's puzzling you, Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down Oh yeah! Tell me, baby, what's my name Tell me, honey, can ya guess my name Tell me, baby, what's my name I tell you one time, YOU ARE TO BLAME "

"What is she doing?" whispered Angel

"Rolling Stones, that's part of `Sympathy for the Devil'. I didn't even know she knew that bleeding song. It's twenty years older than her."

"Why? Why would she….?"

"It's Mia, so who the hell knows. Maybe being in the dark for five days was a bit much for her. Oh, it's not that she's crazy. Trust me, I'd know if she'd gone round the bend. I'm pretty quick at spotting the barmy ones. I've got a hundred years of practice, you know. I suspect she just had way too much time to plan this out."

Angel shook his head and chuckled. "She never stops surprising me. Here we are, in a serious battle, and she is singing songs to the enemy."

"What are you doing?" asked Mot, a confused look on his face.

To the same tune Mia went on: "Got my sword, see some fire, will build the sieve, got the grinding stones it'll be the desert this time , and buzzards for the bits . The blood, I'll keep for myself. Wonder now, if you know my name."

He was shaking with anger. "You are not her!"

"Are you sure?"

"She was not an unclean, she was before they were infected with my blood."

Mia quit singing. "Cousins is it? Well, the only family I get along with are standing right there." Mia pointed to Spike and Angel. "But Mot, you still didn't answer. Do you know my name ? Because you should know who it is that kills you, for good this time."

Suddenly he was in front of her and he used his fist. She flew and hit the cave wall.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~

"Well, this is the place," Buffy said while looking down. "Willow says the glamour to cover us being here during a busy traffic time will last only ten minutes."

"It's pretty high up isn't it?" commented Xander.

"Not too bad," said Gunn.

"I don't think any one has ever jumped from here in an attempt at suicide and actually died."

"Thanks, Wesley," Xander grimaced.

"Everyone's weapons and flash lights secure?" asked Buffy. She watched as they nodded. "OK, then."

"Here goes nothing." Gunn jumped and Wesley followed.

Buffy grabbed Xander's hand. "Let's go get them." They jumped together.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mia got up, staggered a moment, then smiled. Mot was already at her. His fist hit her again. She tried to blocked him but he hit her, spinning her around. He hit her once more, throwing her down the cave. Mia managed to block the next hit but then Mot's fist smashed into her and she flew up to the ceiling of the cavern and came back to the floor with a splat. Mot lifted her up and struck her in the chest. She flew and smashed into the base of the throne totally shattering the remains of it.

Mia lay on the ground with her eyes closed and blocked out everything. It came to her then, just as she had said it. Slayer blood, it was in her. Mia could hear Mot laughing. He thought he was winning. She called on it, on her slayer power, and on the darkness within it to be added to her own. Mot was above her, his hand on her head, he was trying to twist but she pushed up. She stood, her evil grin on her face. She said nothing, mentally concentrating on funneling her power. Finally she opened up and fully let loose her demon, her face turned. Mot was taken aback for the briefest of moments.

"Bloody hell. The stupid tosser has no idea how much trouble he is in now. Game face during a fight, not her usual."

Her golden eyes bore into Mot as she grabbed the staff of a torch that was next to the ruin of the throne. She let out a growl as she used all her strength and slammed the flames and the end of the torch into Mot's body. He was thrown back twenty feet and flames caught the front of his gown. He waved his hand at the fire and it was extinguished. He flew forward, grabbed the torch from her and thrust it at her. The staff pierced her side. He pushed her back with it until she hit the wall. Mia stood her ground, pulled the staff out, tossed it to the side and then stared at him. She put her bloody fingers to her mouth, then she held them to him. He stepped back. Mia shrugged and put them back in her mouth.

Then she jumped at him, pulling her sword from her back. She managed to sink it in under his ribs. A look of horror showed on Mot's face. He back-handed her as he pulled it out, sending her to the cave wall, but she growled, jumping back at him. He came at her with the sword and hit her in the head. Knocking her to the ground he held her there, the flat of the sword to her throat, cutting off her air. Mia grinned. How very stupid this god of death was. Not only did he use the flat of the sword instead of severing her neck and detaching her head with the blade but he thought he was causing her distress by cutting off her breath. The grin seemed to make him push harder. She might not need to breathe but she was pinned down. Suddenly Mot's back was aflame and his hair was on fire.

Spike walked away, throwing down the other torch. Mot put out the flames with his power, but it gave Mia the distraction she needed. She wrapped her legs around his throat and flipped him, then got up herself. Mot stood and before he could move she landed a blow that sent him flying to the back of the cave. He was up again in a flash but she blocked his blows as fast as he threw them. Mot no longer had the upper hand. Mia used the heel of her hand and landed it hard to his chest: the god was knocked into the air and he landed on the rubble of the throne. Mia leaped high and over to him and sank a silver stake straight into his neck at the base of his skull. There was a small explosion of light that blew her back but she was up immediately, pulling out her side sword. She slammed the blade straight across his chest over his heart.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"It's here!" called Willow. The others came running. They found a manhole cover that had already been dislodged.

"Things in this business never cease to amaze me. Not only is the lord of death's lair beneath Westminster Abbey, it even has a manhole entrance only a few streets away," said Giles.

"We opened a portal from Pylea and drove a car through it," Fred reminded them.

"I remember that very well, all too well." said Lorne, shaking his head.

"Does every one have their flash lights?" asked Willow. "Let's go."

They went down one by one.

"Do you think the others are in yet?" asked Fred.

"I hope so," replied Willow

"It's this way," called out Giles. "I've found their lantern."

There was a small light like a camera flash.

"What was that?" asked Willow

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Xander pulled Buffy into the cave. They were all dripping with moisture.

"That smell, what is it?" asked Buffy.

"Death," replied Xander.

"Putrid Death to be exact, according to ancient writings."

"Whatever it is, it stinks bad, real bad. Let's get this done so we can get out of it," stated Gunn.

Turning on their flash lights they headed into the cave. Suddenly there was a quick short burst of light ahead.

"What was…" started Gunn

"That?" finished Xander.