Spike leaned his own chair back on two legs. “Who are you gonna report us to? The Wanker’s Council?”
Ethan sneered at the vampire. “What are you here for again?”
“You’re the bait. I’m the weapon.”
“You’re being awfully casual about this,” Phillip commented. He was worried that Eyghon would be able to overpower the vampire. Then, they’d all be dead men.
“I’m a vamp. I’m casual about everything.”
Just then a blond girl burst into the store. She might have been pretty – she had a nice enough body – but it was hard to tell because of the demonic visage. The female ignored Spike, and she went straight for Phillip. In an unnaturally deep voice, she said, “It’s your turn.”
“No, he’s the one you want.” Phillip pointed at Ethan.
“I’ll get to him eventually,” Eyghon hissed. She advanced on Phillip, but before she could reach the man Spike stepped in front of her.
“I don’t think so, luv.” Spike grabbed the girl around the throat, and he started to choke her. After a few moments of intense wrestling between the two demons, Spike had the upper hand.
Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Anyanka arrived just in time to see Eyghon leap from Harmony to Spike. They watched in horror as Spike’s demon and Eyghon fought for dominance inside the vampire’s body. His face shifted back and forth from the vampire to Eyghon for several intense, suspenseful minutes until finally Spike was able to throw the other demon out of his body.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief when Eyghon, unable to find a host body, crumbled into dust. Buffy rushed to Spike’s side when he collapsed back against his chair. “Spike, are you okay?”
“Just fine, luv,” Spike panted. Fighting off the other demon was harder than he had anticipated, but he was never going to admit to it. “It was a kick ass fight, if you ask me.”
“Ow,” Harmony whined. She rubbed her neck where Spike had choked her. “That hurt.”
“Looks like Harmony’s still the same,” Xander said out of the side of his mouth to Willow, who covered her mouth to hide a giggle.
“Not quite,” Harmony hissed. She shifted into game face.
Xander let out a little shriek, and he jumped back from the vamped Cordette. “Be gone, foul creature.” He dug around in his pocket for the crucifix he carried for just such occurrences.
“What a wimp.” Anyanka rolled her eyes. She stepped in front of Xander to confront the fledgling. “Honestly if you want a job done, send a woman. Stake please, Slayer.”
Buffy cleared her throat in surprise, but she handed her stake Anyanka anyway. That was something she hadn’t expected from the vengeance demon.
Anyanka plunged the stake towards Harmony’s chest with ease. “There. Easy as pie.” She tilted her head. “Is pie easy?”
“This is so Karmageddon,” Harmony muttered before she turned into dust.
“Karmageddon? What the bloody hell is that?” Spike muttered.
Buffy burst out laughing. “That’s like bad vibes to the max, and some tubular serious bummer time.”
Ethan rolled his eyes. “Americans.”
“Valley girls,” Buffy countered. “Not just Americans, but Californian Americans. The best kind if you ask me.”
Xander raised his hand. “Sunnydale, bred and born.”
“Me too,” Willow said softly. “So, anyone wanna go to the Bronze? The night is young.”
Buffy gave Willow a sly smile. “That cute guitar player was checking you out the last time we were there.”
Willow’s face turned as bright red as her hair. She slapped Buffy’s arm in a gentle rebuke. “Stop it. There is no way he’s going to notice me.”
“I don’t see why not, Red,” Spike drawled. “You’re a fine lookin’ bird.”
Ethan snorted in disgust. “Well, the danger is averted. Hey, Ripper,” he said even louder. “You can let me go now.”
Giles emerged from the back of the store. “I’m not sure that’s entirely a good idea,” he stated. “If we let you go, you’ll cause more problems.”
“Who is this handsome hunk of a man?” Anyanka exclaimed. She licked her lips while her eyes glazed over. “Orgasm city,” she said under her breath.
“Hey, I thought you were here to give me orgasms,” Xander protested.
“Yes, but you’re a boy. I need a man.” Anyanka marched over to Giles. She gave a wave of dismissal towards Xander. “I think I’ll keep this one. Go find yourself some young strumpet to mess around with. In a few years, I’ll be happy to grant whatever wish she needs to have done.”
“Okay.” Buffy glanced at Spike. She was a bit weirded out by Anyanka’s interest in her Watcher. Not that Giles wasn’t an attractive man, but it felt like her parent was dating for the first time since a divorce. “This is getting really weird. Can we just go to the Bronze?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
“What on earth is she doing?” Ceridwyn growled when she saw Anyanka’s antics with the Scoobies.
D’Hoffryn patted Ceridwyn on the shoulder. “Despite destiny, some of us still have free will, Ceri,” he said softly. “Buffy will soon learn she has free will too.”
“She’s the Slayer,” Ceridwyn said. “How can she have free will when it comes to that?”
“When is another Slayer called?”
“When Buffy dies, another will be called,” Ceridwyn replied. “She won’t have too many choices to make then.”
D’Hoffryn nodded. “Buffy drowned in May. Her little friend revived her.”
“Oh my, that does put a spin on things.” Ceridwyn studied the face of her resurrected daughter again. “That’s good. She needs some say in her life for a change. Now, let’s go take a look at that idiot vamp and that little bitch of his.” She shook her head. “She has the soul of Cilla, but none of the memories I’m afraid.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
MEANWHILE IN PYLEA
“More cows to sell.” Klempt rubbed his hands together. He crept closer to the young human sitting on the bank of the stream.
“When I get back home, you are in such big trouble, Angel,” Cordelia muttered. “I’m going to tell my father about you.”
Angel stood up suddenly, surprising the approaching demon with his presence. “Like I really care what your father has to say to me,” he grumbled. “Let’s get moving before something attacks us.”
“How am I going to do that, brain trust?” Cordelia held up one of her high-heeled shoes. “These aren’t exactly hiking boots.”
Angel let out an exasperated huff. “I’ll give you a ride than, princess. Let’s get a move on.”
Klempt’s eyes lit up when it dawned on him that he might have stumbled upon royalty. He could hold the princess hostage. Her father was sure to pay big bucks for this cow princess’ return. “Can’t do this one alone,” he murmured. “I need to get my brothers to help.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
“I’m a little more concerned about things other than a crazy vamps need for revenge.” Holland Manners waved a hand towards his crotch. He looked around at the lawyer Lee Mercer. “Where the hell is Lilah this morning? If she had anything to do with this, there will be hell to pay.”
Lindsey rolled his eyes. “Of course it was Lilah who did this. Bitch couldn’t play with the big boys. So, she thought she’d take us down a notch or two.” A grin spread across the Oklahoman’s face. “Too bad she messed with the wrong big boys.”
Manners narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What do you know?”
“On the way here, I saw one of the Seers get blasted out of the White Room.” Lindsey shrugged. “Apparently we lowly lawyers weren’t the only ones to lose our dicks. The Senior Partners are not at all happy right now.”
“Oh boy,” Manners muttered. When the Senior Partners were unhappy, everyone needed to tread lightly. Something needed to be done.
Fast.
With a nod that was more confident than he felt, Holland glanced at Lee Mercer, one of Lindsey’s team mates. “Mercer, contact Littlecock. If anyone knows where the heck Lilah is, he will.”
“That’s Littlecook, sir,” Mercer replied. “We will start our search for Miss Morgan right away, sir.”
“Suck up,” Lindsey grumbled under his breath.
“Lindsey, grab one of the interns. You’re in charge of returning us to normal,” Holland said. He waved his hand in the air. “Hire whoever that loony bird Drusilla wants hired. Take it out of the Heinrich Nest account. She’s his family after all.”
“Yes, sir.” Lindsey gave the two men a salute. Leaving the office, he wondered which intern he should choose: the pretty brunette, the fiery redhead, or the smokin’ hot blond bombshell. Too bad he couldn’t do anything about it at the moment.