*****
Part 5:

"We have very little time left, and I need to make it clear that after I embrace and mate with Xander and Wesley I will call on the marks---that affects all of you and everyone else I have ever marked. All of you will heed to the call. Making that connection of calling on the marks will subject everyone to the changes we will undergo, but before I go any further�is there anyone that wants out, because once it starts I can't stop it, not once the bond is established and firmly in place between us" Angel motioned toward Xander and Wes. "When I call on the marks, most of the changes will take place in three days time. I can't remove the marks, but I can block the coming changes through the link. Through that union you'll feel connected to each other, not just to me. I might be able to give you strength, know if you were in danger, and you'll have a similar link with each other. A stronger bond, more in tune with each other, a stronger sense of family."

Cordelia bluntly stated, "A connection; you mean I'll be able to feel what you and the blond wonder over there feels�like EW."

Angel made a slight grin back, "Yeah, but more like the emotions, not the actual feelings or thoughts."

Buffy turned toward Giles, "Is that how it is, or is there something Angel's leaving out?"

"Yes, well there is very little that we actually know to be fact in the chronicles, but it was rumored about the effects of a mating bond between vampires�of feeling the emotions or pain of another mate. It's quite extraordinary really." Giles looked up from polishing his glasses and glanced from Wes to Angel.

"So everything Angel said about this connection thing is of the good." Buffy gasped.

"Yes, as far as I can tell. Anya was right about that clan war 600 some years ago�though I thought it was only a vampire legend. I do know about vampire marks, and I've read counsel reports about this Cain and his childer. They seem to have modeled themselves after Angelus, especially his childer. In some cases, they have worked even harder to outdo him; he will come after us, after you, Dawn. I believe we will need Angel and need him at his strongest."

Dawn's answer seemed to echo everyone's sentiments. "You're my family either way, so having a stronger connection of that doesn't scare me�I just want Spike to stop hurting."

Angel turned toward the young girl who had shown such obvious innocent love for his childe. "He will�I promise"

Willow spoke up, "What about bonds already in place---- Tara and I�after Glory we bonded, magically�will that be hurt or be affected�I don't want to lose what we have now."

"No Little One, you won't lose it. It'll only grow stronger than what you already have."

Willow pulled Tara closer to her as she smiled their consent.

"Cordelia, Fred, Lorne, and Gunn what about you?"

"I followed you through dimensions Angel, I'll follow you through this as well." Fred answered.

"I don't see that we have much choice, as long as I don't get turned. I don't mind having you at my back especially with English keeping you in check, but know this, one fang near me and all bets are off and the fangs dust." Gunn gibed back.

Angel smiled knowing that Gunn's threat was not an idle threat, but a promise. Angel then turned toward Cordelia.

"I �I'm sorry I---I can't. Count me out." Cordelia lowered her head and turned away.

Angel started to move toward Cordy when Lorne, who had uncharacteristically stayed quiet up to this point satisfied in watching the events unfold around him, blocked Angel by stepping in front of Cordelia.

"Don't you think you owe him an explanation, sugar?" Cordelia turned away from him realizing she couldn't hide from him.

"Fine I'll tell him"

"Wait you can't."

`Listen, doll face, I'll be making that connection, and once I do, not only will he know, but so will everyone else that does, so where does that leave you?"

Cordelia shut her mouth and closed her eyes.

"She's afraid of the connection�of the powers sending her messages�that she'll cause the others pain that the Powers send her."

Angel placed a finger under Cordy's chin forcing her to look at him when he asked.

"Is this true Cordy?"

She closed her eyes and slowly nodded.

"No, I don't think it would be like that�in fact I was hoping you would because I think I can block the pain you feel, but still leave you with the visions."

Snapping her eyes open she said, "Really, you think you can�you mean no more pain and killer headaches, yet still able to protect the innocent?" Angel nodded an affirmation.

Cordelia practically jumped into Angel's arms smothering him with her hugs, "Then the answer's yes."

"Buffy? Giles?"

"Yes, I know what is at stake here, Cain must not win---I'm sure you can use a battered, but still a good researcher with a bit of knowledge on magic."

Angel smiled than turned his focus on Buffy and her answer.

"I still don't get all this. Why you think Cain is so powerful, but I trust you. All of you are my family, my life. I'm still the slayer who lives with that duty. I don't see how I can be any closer than I already feel, but I won't object."

"Very well. Our first objective is to create and override Dru's bond by me bonding with Xander and Wes first, then with Will. It would be best if we do this here surrounded by all of you---It will add to the strength of our new covenant, and help to set the union. By this evening we will know if we were successful ---then I will start to call on the marks. I know there isn't a lot of room here, but it would be better if you all stay here and close to each other. The changes will be stronger and happen faster, then enabling you to adjust to them more quickly."

As Angel talked, Wes went to help Xander move Spike toward the center of the room where everyone had formed a circle.

"How has he been?" Wesley asked as they tried to make Spike more comfortable while he still held on to Xander.

"Nothing's changed since you got here, just the moaning and rocking."

"Buffy, I need to talk to you privately." Angel motioned Buffy over to the other side of the room.

"I mentioned earlier, that when you had given yourself I embraced you----I had thought you'd be my pomme de sang. Not then, but now."

"I remember---what does that mean Angel�especially now that you're going to be----?"

"Mated�yes, I know, I'm sorry. I actually thought it was going to be you that I'd be bonded with, but that's not the case. I need to tell you that because I've already embraced with you and because you're the slayer�you will probably feel a deeper connection; one that could start before I even call on the marks. I want you to be aware of that and not to be afraid of what you might feel from me, us�trust me ok."

"I do trust you Angel, that's why I'm here�You better go and fix Spike, Dawn's not going to stop worrying until he's safe."

Angel nodded and walked back to the center of the room with his childe and soon to be mates. Xander looked up seeing Angel's concern, focusing back on Spike, Xander answered Angel's silent question.

"No change�still shaking. I think he's there with her, in a way. He doesn't really seem to acknowledge anything or anyone around him, but he's seeing something�seeing her I guess."

"You're right about that. I have the strength for a light shield�and right now that's only protecting me, so I can do this and not fall into the pain that has a hold on Dru and Spike."

"Alright, Deadboy�mmm," Xander swallowed, " I mean Angel, so, how does this thing work?"

Xander tried to avoid looking at the others that surrounded him watching everything they said and did. From the corner of his eye, he saw the others join hands as Willow and Tara started to chant.

Buffy and the others became engrossed with the rhythm of Tara and Willow's chant, and watched in fascination as a red haze encircled their friends, their family.

*****
Part 6:

************
Buffy's POV
************

*I'm the slayer, I'm strong, I know sacrifice, I've been doing it for years now, but why doesn't this feel like it?

I still love Angel, with all my heart, and now I'm losing him completely. I should be devastated that I'm not going to be his mate. I was excited when I first heard what needed to be done, that I'd be his mate. Thought, maybe now, the Powers realized that we should be together� that they're going to correct all the past mistakes and even throw in the added bonus of Spike and Xander. Ha, what a laugh that the Powers would do anything in my favor.

I know dying this last time changed me in ways that I can't even comprehend, like dying the first time was easy.

No, it wasn't easy, but it was different. For one thing, I had no memories, no lapse of time the first death. This last time, everything was different. One, I was different before I died. We all changed. Angel was gone, fighting in LA. I found, loved and lost Riley. Dawn was created, and added into my life- numerous changes, but the most drastic change was love and family, she was, is my family. And Mom, damn I still miss her so much. When Willow brought me back, besides living my worst nightmare of crawling out of my own grave�rrrr, still gives me the willies. I felt something missing. I'm not sure what's missing, but it gnaws at me, and seems to be growing each day.

For a brief moment, I thought mating with Angel would satisfy the need, fill that hole that I feel has been missing inside of me for a while, but I realize now that it was wishful thinking on my part. Otherwise, I wouldn't be feeling this relief.

It amazes me that my greatest fantasy, my dream, was in my hands and I didn't really want it. Now I'm watching my friends, my ex-lover bond to each other to become mates, and I'm not even wigged about it. At least not in the way I should be. I should at least be wigged about the thought of them having sex together, but it doesn't. No, wigged would not be the word I'd use, nope, not wigged over strong hot, hard bodies touching, sliding�. Excited much?

Yeah, the thought, images, do make me hot, but why doesn't the thought of me being in the middle of those bodies do anything for me? Why do I feel like there is something important I'm missing here? *

************

"Yes, we have to hurry�we have very little time left." Angel started taking off his shirt as he continued talking. "The spell Willow and Tara are performing will speed up and enhance the mating bond�I've marked each of you, and Angelus already embraced Will and Xander, so I'll embrace Wes then work on the bond with him, then I'll move to you, Xander. It might be best if you both take your shirts off."

Looking anxiously from one to the other before both slowly started to unbutton their shirts.

"Wes come here." Angel reached out, pulling Wes to him and finished taking his shirt off as he did. Angel stared deep into Wes' eyes, caressing his arms and shoulders as he spoke, "What I am�what I have�what is in my heart, my blood---I will be for you�I will accept you above life, above death, my life my blood, accept my embrace, my life, my blood, my bloodline, my family." Angel leaned in closer and licked the pulse beating in Wes' jugular before he sank his teeth in deeply. Wes melted into Angel's embrace moaning his pleasure as Angel drank from him. Angel started to pull away leaving a blood flow down Wes' neck.

"Xander come here."

As Xander reluctantly let go of Spike, he scooted up toward Angel and Wes. Angel started to repeat what he said to Wes. Xander heard him in a dazed whisper, before Angel started to lick his neck, but moved Xander over to Wes and put his lips to Wesley's neck with his still flowing blood. Realizing what Angel wanted, Xander attentively reached out with his tongue and licked away a small patch of blood from Wes' neck. Wes moaned at Xander's touch and leaned into the touch. Wes started to rub himself against Xander to let him know how excited he was. Excited himself, Xander clamped his lips onto Wes' neck, just as Angel bit down into Xander and started his own suction. Angel pulled away from Xander's neck and pulled the boy off of Wesley, but held him so Wes could get into a better position and without being told he drank from Xander's neck.

Angel separated his mates away from each other. The blood that glistened from their lips excited Angel even more as he licked their lips clean, so then, he could concentrate on their fallen mate. The chanting was like a musical haze in the background, and Angel could feel the strength, the power it was giving him. Excitement built inside him, as Angelus encouraged the events around him. He could still feel Dru, but it was becoming a distant memory; Xander and Wes were filling his senses. Will, he needed to concentrate on Will. The strength of his new mates helped him see the clarity of the situation, instead of feasting and gorging himself sexually on his new mates. He needed William, and Will needed them. Angel crouched down and embraced his William. Angel licked William's neck where he long ago embraced and created his childe. Here the connection and pain to Drusilla was the strongest. He could almost sense her through that connection. His time was up; it had to be now, with his other hand he reached out to Xander and Wes pulling them to him. As quickly as he could, Angel sliced his and Spike's arm open and motioned for Xander and Wes to drink at the same moment Angel slid his fangs into Spike and drank.

Will sat rocking, embraced between the three men; only aware of the pain he could feel from his sweet dark princess.

************
Spike's POV
************

*"Princess, it won't be long now, Please forgive me for not being there for you." Spike watched helplessly as his Princess dangled, whimpering a lullaby to Miss Edith, and her girl Darla who she insisted was waiting for her.

As angry as Spike was for not being able to be with his princess in her final moments, he was glad she believed someone was there for her. His dark princess, what he would give just to have her back, even that day where she left him for that chaos demon. Anything was better than watching this. He didn't know how he got here, but somehow the channel, the connection he felt with Dru, directed him here. If only he knew about this channeling thing years ago, they'd be together right now facing this, their death together.

The gray sky lightened as rays of light stretched out over the horizon. Spike was thankful that Dru was too weak to delay the inevitable. Blood tears continued to stroll down his cheek as he watched his mate sing her last note as the sun kissed her frayed body and combusted into flames until there was nothing left save the dangling chain that once held his princess.

Screams filled his ears as the connection to Dru faded into nothingness. *

************

Screams filled the air of the small room where the sounds bounced and echoed around the room. Willow broke her chant, "We're losing them." Willow's gaze bore into Tara's eyes silently asking the question that Tara answered. "We have no choice, try it." Willow nodded and squeezed Tara's hand as they both started to chant again. This time the room's energy came alive.

*****
Part 7:

Angel felt the moment Dru was gone. They had lost. He was too late; he felt Will's pain swell inside him and knew his mates also felt the tidal wave of pain. In a faint distance he heard screaming and was no longer aware who, or where it was coming from, but he seemed to be surrounded within the pained walls of relentless torment. Angelus, it was Angelus' howling pain that consumed and intertwined with William's pain within Angel's body. Angel no longer felt the strength of his mates; he couldn't even gage his distance from them, but knew logically that they were within his arms reach. One mate, Wes, he was feeding off of him, he should be able to feel Wes' lips on his arm, but Angelus and Will's pain physically numbed him. His other mate Xander, where was Xander? Angel had stopped feeding off of Will when the pain struck, and didn't have the strength to have, or will any more to complete the bond as guilt, and despair consumed him. He had failed; he had failed Dru, Buffy, his friends, William, and his new mates, even Angelus in protecting what was ours. He truly was cursed, cursed to love and know that he damned all of those he loved. Angel was vaguely aware of a new heat and energy surrounding them.

*****

Excitement swiftly turned to pain even as Xander continued to suck on Spike's arm. He felt the incredible connection Angel was trying to describe earlier. It is indescribable, the magnitude of emotions he felt from Angel, Spike, and Wesley hit him ferocity as he experienced Spike and Angel's overwhelming pain. He knew the cycle was incomplete. Xander felt the guilt of failure, and knew that it wasn't his guilt that he was feeling, and he also knew when he lost Wesley to those crushing feelings. The emotions where staggering from Deadboy's guilt to Spike's, pain, anger, helplessness, lost love; feelings that just poured out were threatening to destroy the mating bond.

Xander felt he was about to drown within those feelings just as Wesley had done when a new heated energy swirled around him and plunged deep within him. The feeling started out slowly, but grew within him, and continued to grow in a steady fashion.

Smells consumed him and the excitement was back when he started again to lick at the blood smeared on Spike's arm. It wasn't enough though, he wanted, needed more. A new urgency for the cycle needed to be complete. Xander's beast needed the cycle to be complete, he needed to be complete, and he needed his mates, his pack.

Xander ripped away what was left of Spike's shirt and started to lick his way up his arm imprinting his scent as he continued to his jugular. Xander needed Spike's life force, needed his mate to be with him and not for him to follow his dead mate. The energy crackled around him as he bit, tore and sunk his blunt teeth into his mate, biting and digging with his teeth until he drew blood. As the blood flowed, Xander sucked as if his life depended on it, and with an unknown clarity it did. Xander drew one hand to his neck to the bite Angel created earlier and dug at it with his fingers until he could feel the blood flowing down his neck. Lifting his mouth off of Spike, Xander placed his blood soaked fingers into Spike's mouth forcing Spike's tongue to taste his blood then slicing his finger along his sharp protruding teeth until he created a deeper blood flow. Slowly, and completely unaware of what he was doing, and by instinct Spike started suckling on Xander's fingers as he continued to moan and rock in mourning at the loss of his mate.

Xander used his other hand to pull Angel and moved him closer as he repeated what he did to Spike. Once he had the blood flowing from one side of Angel's jugular, he moved Spike who was still suckling Xander's fingers to Angel's neck. Spike latched onto the continuous blood flow of his Sire's blood. Xander moved to Angel's other side and guided the vampire to lie down while he latched onto the other side of his neck until he created another flow of blood.

Xander caressed Wes' back. Wes sat watching with unfocused eyes still wrapped within the pulsing pain from their other mates. He guided Wes, whom he considered his youngest mate even though he knew that by chronological age Wes was older than him, over to the vampires. Wes didn't need to be told what to do as he pressed himself against Angel's side and started suckling at the open wound. Xander lay down on top of Angel so that he could have access to all three and began to lick Wes' jugular, reopening the wound that Angel created earlier. Xander pulled Spike away from Angel and guided Spike's mouth to Wes' wound. Xander moved off Angel and sat back and watched in awe, as Wesley expertly released his, and Spike's hard cocks from the confines of their pants. Both hard cocks were leaking pre cum. Wes' hand glided over Spike's member slicking the leaking cum over his cock, then proceeded to do the same with his own, before guiding it over to grind against Spike. A low throaty moan pierced the air as the scent of arousal grew from the pulsing need Wes was creating, as the last of the blood cycle was complete, and only the ardeur remained.

Angel reached over for Wes and pulled him up stretching him out on top of his body, enjoying the full body contact. Spike moved with Angel in an easy fluid motion scooting closer, and never taking his lips from Wes. He continued to suck on the gift before him until the scent of his Sire's blood filled him and with slight tilt of his head from his Sire he switched back, and latched onto his Sire open wound. Angel continued licking and sucking on his mate Wes' blood, where Spike left off, and at the same time he started stroking Spike's hard member and grinding himself against Wes. Xander couldn't stand it anymore and spooned himself up against Spike. Intertwining his fingers with Angel's as they both pumped Spike with an increasing tempo. Xander needed greater friction and released himself from the confines of his pants and boxers where he proceeded to grind faster into Spike and was quickly following the rhythm his other mates had started. Xander suckled on Spike's wound with the same pace he pumped himself against Spike's backside, and a new dance, rhythm was born. Xander wasn't sure who came first, but thick streams of cum, some cold and some warm intertwined between himself and his mates' fingers and various body parts. The full cycle was completed, and the bond firmly in place with the scent of blood and cum in the air as the ardeur was created between the four mates.

************
Angelus' POV
************

*Damn, someone's whimpering and nipping at me. Damn, stop that, I just want to sleep, so tired, so satisfied, so happy. Happy, I'm happy why? What the hell happened? I'm still here and so is soul-boy though he's more tired than I am. Need to do something, what? And who the hell keeps nipping me?

Mmm, that's Harris' scent, one of my three mates. Will's tucked into my right side silently weeping, but sound asleep, and Wes' is tucked asleep into my left side. That leaves Xander. Xander's lying square on top of me and nipping at my face in between licks. I open an eye and notice his eyes are closed, but he continues to lick and nip me like he's trying to wake me, or tell me something, fighting off his own exhaustion.

Mates, I have mates. Will, Dru---Cain, I remember, I need to call on the marks. The Harris boy knows, he remembers. How was he able to withstand the pain, he's just human. I guess the boy truly is a white knight. And that boy and I are going to have a long talk later especially about him claiming soul-boy, and even though soul-boy and I share the same body we are very separate beings, and I'll just have to remind him about who claimed who first.

I can feel the magic in the air. The witch did a good job. I can feel the protection guards are around us, and they should last through their changes, with enough time for the marked ones to return, and hopefully before Cain's first assault. Just need to wrap the magic into me and recite.*

`Line Order of Aurelius, I call on all within my reach Living-dead, Pets, Marked, Embraced, all within the Aurelius line as head of our clan I call on all marks, To come to me, your one true Master.'

**********

A low steady chant reached out on the whispered breath of air as it escaped the room branching out to the four corners of the earth heralding the call from the true Master of the Aurelius line. Angelus was honoring the rights of past traditions by declaring his rightful claim and heir as the one and only true Master from the Line of Aurelius. As the chant died down to a murmur, Xander stopped the licking and soft nipping of the new Master, his mate. Xander snuggled down, offering his warmth and heat as a blanket to the Master Angelus.

*****
Part 8:

A cool morning breeze floated through the window as dawn's rays flitted across the horizon, and rapid warmth of the morning sun began to fill the room. Cain, a small lean stature of a man, stood for a moment enjoying the knowledge of his niece's final death, and of his brother's pain of both his embraced childer. The moment turned sour when Cain felt the calling minutes later just as the heat from the window poured into the room. "Damn it, Stephan where are you?" Turning and grabbing the remote with one button Cain clicked off the heat that radiated from the window, and another button clicked off the screen projection displaying the morning dawn. "Here Sire." Stephan slowly approached his Sire feeling the anger pour off of him with each step.

"She lied, he's not broken, and even had enough strength to make the calling. Steph, bring me the witch."

Stephan bowed and scurried to do his Sire's bidding, and was thankful that he was not the cause of his Sire anger.

Stephan walked in minutes later dragging the witch behind him then throwing her to his Sire Cain's feet.

Cain reached out pulling the petite witch up by her hair. "You lied to me witch, that Bastard was strong enough to make the calling, he was not destroyed from the pain." Cain pulled her closer, and hissed into her ear, "Now, I'll have to punish you for your lack of insight."

"Master, Angel did not make the calling." Ariel, panted out through the pain Cain was causing her.

Cain started to yell and shake her hard enough that he had to grab her by his other hand as clumps of hair escaped her scalp and was left enclosed in his tight fist. "Do not lie, he made the call I felt it."

The witch's mate entered the room flanked by two of Cain's other childer. "She is correct Master, Angel did not make the calling, Angelus did."

Cain looked over to the other witch with only an eyebrow raised in question, and asked, "Angelus?"

"Angel and Angelus are one together now sharing the body, but not fighting each other for control. Spike and Angel are devastated and weak from Drusilla's final death, but Angelus was somehow strong enough to make the calling."

Cain eyed the witch who waited his judgment. Sarah stood a head taller than her mate, with long ebony hair that she kept brushed back into a tight tail. Her large black eyes were a mirror of her soul, a black void to equal the soulless ness within. His witches made an interesting pair, twin sets of darkness with the only difference in appearance being in height. Sarah who stood before him matched him in height where Ariel stood a head shorter. Both had the same long ebony hair, dark olive complexion, and large black eyes. Other than appearance both were completely opposite in temperament. Sarah was monotone, stern, and completely cold in her games of violence; were Ariel was emotional, excited, and thrived on the thrill of blood and death. Cain looked down at the witch in his hands. "And you didn't think to inform me of this before?"

Ariel whimpered at Cain's tightening grip. "Master, the powers cannot interfere in stopping us, but they can delay the sight of knowledge." Ariel gasped in answer to her Master's silent threat.

Cain threw the girl to her mate's feet and turned away in disgust.

"Angelus returned?" Cain whispered to himself. He glanced at each of his childer as they awaited his orders, and reassessed each, and their glowing attributes to the game they were about to embark in.

************
Cain's POV
************

Stephan his eldest was a lean muscular, Asian man, of mixed descent. His almond shape topaz cat eyes were what drew Cain to the beautiful man for the intended purpose of his next play thing, but he quickly discovered Stephan was cunning and deadly as a mortal, and he knew creating a childe would only cultivate the demon within the soulless mortal. Stephan, a master juggler, since age twelve, incorporated knives into his act after watching his abusive father bleed to death from his hands. By the time I ran into my beautiful Stephan he had become a serial killer in a time before serial killers, who was always perfecting his craft.

Sandwiched between Stephan and the witch stood his childe, Amber; a petite flaxen hair beauty that originally attracted him from her strong resemblance to his Sire. Cain had trailed her for three hours planning her torture and death. Because of his anger toward Darla it took a long time before he noticed that she was stalking someone herself. Curiosity got the better of him as he watched her for the next three days stalk, plan and then maliciously execute her victim's death, which later he found out had spurned her advances. His devious, delicious Amber was in one word, crackers. So much so that if Drusilla didn't embrace that my idiot of a brother they'd make a wonder matching pair. While Drusilla was driven mad and had the gift of sight, his Amber was mad from the start. From the moment she capture her victim and had released him of his tongue because his screaming annoyed her, he knew he had to have her for his childe. He watched as she stripped, and slowly strip the man of his clothes then stripped him of his skin, but was extremely careful to not dig too deep. She wanted him to live to feel the pain before she brought him death. She danced in the man's blood to only music she could hear before he entered. Looking up she danced like it was an everyday occurrence to be dancing nude bathed in only blood. With so much blood I couldn't contain my true nature, but Amber just waltzed over, smiling coyly reached up and kissed me soundly before snuggling into my embrace. I claimed her after I licked her clean. The remembrance of that night was one the most beautiful of my undead life. Even Angelus would admire the natural cruelty Amber displayed.

Just behind Stephan, the witch and Amber stood my enforcer Elliot. Elliot towered over each with his massive size, and was the perfect embodiment of an enforcer standing at 7 feet and topping the scales at 375. Amber discovered our gentle giant one summer around 1912 as the star attraction of a traveling freak show. The show billed him as a living monster due to his size and facial scaring. Though Elliot was mentally a boy not only in mind, but also in moral age of 19 at the time he stole Amber's heart that night. To which I had to endure her begging for me to turn the boy, and after seeing Elliot for myself I couldn't deny the request. To me, his family he is nothing but a gentle being to which I often questioned the existence of his soul, but the demon is matched by no one for size, demeanor, or wrath of destruction especially when he's protecting his family.

Yes, it will be a joy to watch Elliot twist Angelus into a vampire pretzel, or Stephan and Amber play with him. Yes, each of his childer was more than ready.

************

"Go, collect his pets, and inform the others the hunt is on." Cain watched his childer leave to do his bidding.

Cain turned back to his witches, "Is there anything else I should know about?" Cain caught the slight quiver in both of his witches at his question.

"Angelus & Angel have found mates." Cain voice turned deadly "Mates?"

Sarah straightened in response knowing they would be punished for what she had to tell him. "He has found two others to mate with besides Spike. It's an attempt to override Spike's compulsion to join Drusilla."

"You both have disappointed me. Will this attempt work?" Cain questioned.

"It is possible." Sarah stated flatly.

Harshly, Cain replied, "Go, get out of my sight." Cain mentally dismissed, and ignored Sarah moving to help her mate up as they quickly left the room. He quietly picked up the remote and started clicking through several morning scenarios before settling on a scene of the opening dawn over LA.

***********
Cain's POV
***********

`Angelus' alive. Now it's as it should be, and will fully enact my revenge. Darla, slipped through my fingers, and all I had left was that pitiful shell of my former Sire. She was nothing but a weak fledging of that insane niece of mine. No, now no one will question this war between Angelus and myself. Everyone will see who is the greater childe, and who deserves to rule the clan. Angelus is pass�; nothing remains but an old reputation. One that I will easily destroy and replace.

Angelus' mated is interesting. Besides Spike that soul of his must have convinced the slayer to mate with him. A very interesting move, Angelus, but one I know you will regret. And this fourth mate, if I know you brother I'd say its either that ex-watcher fellow, or your seer. It makes no different you will watch them die a slow painful death. Until then I think it would only be proper that send you tributes in honor of your mating. Yes, tributes, I like the sound of that.'

**********

A servant interrupted Cain's thoughts, "Sir, your appointment is here."

"Please, show her in." A moment later, "Sir, Ms. Morgan."

Cain turned and smiled at the elegantly tailored dress woman who smiled in return.

*****
Part 9:

The recreation room was over crowded as they watched the dancer start to perform and sing the B52's song `Love Shack'. The performance-garnered applause to the delight of everyone, including the guards who didn't noticed when a prisoner exited the room.

*****

The lyrics blared and echoed off the walls as a lone woman shook her booty to the beat of the music, and strongly sang out with the song playing.

//If you see a faded sign by the side of the road that says
15 miles to the �..Love Shack! Love Shack yeah
I'm heading down the Atlanta highway, lookin' for the
love getaway
Heading for the love getaway, love getaway,
Got me a car, it's as big as a whale and we're
headin' on down
To the Love Shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money//

Dally watched as her friend started to laugh at her antics, and for a moment the laughter even reached her eyes. Without missing a beat she made a quick glance at her lover Mouse, who sat at Faith's side, the birthday girl, and smiled before she continued her boisterous dance while singing the B52's song `Love Shack'.

***********
Mouse's POV
***********

*I love watching Dally shaking her groove thing, especially since it was making Faith so happy. I was hoping that things would be nicer for her birthday this year, especially after last year's fiasco. Last year, Dally transferred to Chico, and we each walked a fine line of jealousy. It took a long time before Dally and Faith trusted each other, and we were able to form a bond of friendship, and in a way Faith who liked playing my protector gave her consent for our relationship.

But this morning I had to force Faith to wake up because she was trapped in one of those dreams. After a year and half I've had to listen to Faith talk in her sleep, so I've kinda become an expert. At first I thought it was cool because she was dreaming about B, and usually dreaming about B, she goes to one of three places: 1) and the best of the three, is the highly erotic kind, 2) the I promise to make it up to you B, and 3) when she's re-living her past mistakes, and her and B want to kill each other. At first I though it was 1) well it looked like it was, the way she was moving and her legs were all tangled up in the blanket. Plus the moaning for B to do it again was a huge hint. Then it turned, and she started to gasp out the name Angelus. It scared the shit out of me; I haven't heard Faith mention him in forever, but the few times I did they were bad. I don't know who this Angelus is, but whoever he is scares the shit out of Faith, and for some reason it has something to do with B.

Once I woke her, she just lay there and let me hold her. I had asked if she remembered but she wouldn't answer me.

I wanted this to be a great birthday; well to be as great as it could be when you're still in prison. Being in the joint for your birthday and holidays really suck, but they suck even more if your friends and family ignore you all together, and Faith doesn't have many to begin with. I think there have been less than 5 people, who have ever come to visit her since she's been in, and only three were semi-regulars and who I guess you could consider her friends. I never got to meet any, but I caught sight of one of them once. A nice looking blond I thought was B, and even made a comment about it. Faith just laughed and shook her head.

As close as we are, Faith never talks about her past, I've only gotten pieces from her dreams and nightmares. *

************

Mouse turned her attention back to her lover who bumped and grinded herself as she continued to sing before Mouse drew back to her concern for Faith.

//Huggin' and a kissin', dancin' and a lovin', wearin'
next to nothing
Cause it's hot as an oven
The whole shack shimmies,
When everybody's movin' around and around and
around and around!
Everybody's movin' everybody's groovin' baby!
Folks linin' up outside just to get down
Everybody's movin', everybody's groovin' baby
Funky little shack! Funky little shack!//

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Faith's POV
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*I could feel Mouse's pointed stare, and I wanted to tell her everything was five by five, but it wasn't going to happen things were not five by five. Something was up, something big. I didn't say anything, I couldn't tell her, but I did remember my dream, all of it.

At first it was cool because it was just me, and B. At first, I wasn't sure if it was just a cool dream, or one of those shared dreams we have sometimes. I never questioned them, it didn't matter, only thing that matter was B was there. But this was different, B was there in my arms doing the cuddling thing then she was there again, but was walking up to us, me and B. It was funny, two B's, at first I though it was some kind of really cool birthday fantasy, but the B who walked up to us was seriously trying to talk to me, but I couldn't hear what she was saying. Then Angel walked up behind B, then I realized it wasn't Angel, but Angelus he started talking, and I could hear him, `Time to come home little girl. You're one of mine. Don't walk, run home, I'll be waiting' He grasped B's hand, and she wasn't fighting or afraid as they turned and walked away toward another figure. I think, I tried to call out to Angelus, and for a minute I thought the figure was Harris, but the next thing I knew Mouse was shaking me awake.

I laid there trying to understand what had happen, and most of all I tried to understand what this gnawing compulsion, this need I felt to do actually what Angelus said, to return home, to run back to Sunnydale. And every moment it was becoming a burning need that was getting stronger and stronger.*

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//Bang bang bang on the door baby! Knock a little
louder sugar!
Bang bang bang on the door baby! I can't
hear you!
Bang bang! On the door baby
Bang bang! On the door
Bang bang! On the door baby
Bang bang!//

********

Sandra, an older trustee, a lifer, had made her way to the kitchen without raising attention then worked her way to the backroom door where the food deliveries came, and her friend was making food preparations for the next morning. Only one thought propelled her as she sliced the throat of her one time friend, `I'm gonna be free, be free' Sandra waited a moment before she called out for the older guard Alice, then ambushed her. Alice's blood mingled and soaked into Sandra's jeans as she fumbled for the keys chanting, `I'm gonna be free, be free, I'm gonna be free.' Sandra finally got the key to disable the alarm, and opened the backdoor.

A delivery truck was parked by the rear entrance, and Sandra watched as a covered manhole was removed and a blanketed figure ran to the opened door. Safely inside the blanket was removed, and slid to the floor. In its place stood a beautiful young elf like girl dressed in what appeared to be a painted black leather outfit; and though her hair was slicked back making it almost impossible to tell exactly what color it really was, but showed off the diamond stud earring to perfection. The most frightening distinguishable thing about the girl was her small cold piercing steel gray eyes.

The woman turned and watched as twenty of her followers ran into the room; each was dressed similarly as the girl. Sandra looked around and started feeling like a trapped fly in a spider's web, and her chant turned to a whispering whimpering sound.

Te stalked the whimpering woman, breathing in the scent of the blood of her fallen victims. "What a delicious sight you make my dear. Who's is she?" Te leaned forward and wrapped herself around the bloodied woman and began to lick some of the blood from Sandra's face.

A minion step forward, "She's mine Mistress."

"Ah, Lewis. Fine you may keep her after we take the slayer." "Good, things are going as planned. John, Lillie, stay here, guard our exit." Te, the fourth childe of Cain, walked ahead pulling the whimpering woman with her. Te tilted her head and caught the words the woman was still chanting and laughed as she started singing using the same tune, `I'm gonna kill me a slayer, I'm gonna kill, I'm gonna kill me a slayer...' Sandra stopped her own chant and looked up at the woman holding her and smiled for the first time at her Mistress before joining in with her singsong chant.

*****

Faith sat up straighter as the music continued blaring away, she could feel something and started to turn toward the door as it opened. Instinctively she grabbed Mouse's hand she pushed her behind her.

//You're what?... Tin roof, rusted!
Love Shack, baby Love Shack, Love Shack, baby Love Shack!
Love Shack, baby Love Shack, Love Shack, baby Love Shack!
A lot of love at the love shack//

The door pushed open and a group of black leather walked in taking out a couple of the guards and securing the room all in just a few minutes. In front stood a miniscule girl. At first glance she appeared to be a little Goth teenager playing dress up with the black leather, and diamond stud earrings. Faith's slayer instincts were kicking into hyper drive, and she would have laughed at the irony of the situation except, she wasn't concerned for herself as much as she was for her friends. The girl walked over to the radio and smashed it. "I think I like our song best, come on sing our song." The girl turned toward the only one in their group not dressed in leather.

The trustee Sandra stepped forward and started to sing in a singsong lullaby, "I'm gonna kill me a slayer, I'm gonna kill, I'm gonna kill me a slayer�."

"And that would be you little girl, right you're the big bad slayer Faith?" The vampire bowed, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Te and the instrument of your death. You're not much to look at, not that looks really matter when you're dead right? Ha ha, I got to remember to tell that one to Amber. Are you ready to die slayer?"

Faith looked around the room; there really weren't too many options. Though her saving grace was she wasn't going to fight alone, she had at least 25 to 30 fellow prisoners, most were experienced fighters, and many were friends. Dally stood at her right, and Mouse stood behind her to her left. And just as the fighting had begun, Faith quickly turned and started to run.

Laughter filled the room and the girl shouted out, "Now, ain't that a sweet sight, the slayer running away. Though she has no where to run, but she'll taste so much better with more sweat and fear running over and through her. Mmmm, come here girl, you sing our song so nice." Te pulled Sandra toward her and wrapped herself around her, and began to lick the blood off her face again while she enjoyed watching the bloodshed.

A loud crush could be heard over the fighting, and Sandra's singing.

Faith ran back with a dozen broken pieces of wood from the former bookcase from the back of the room. Faith just dusted a vamp as she shouted, "stake'em in the heart, or rip off their heads." No one needed to be told twice as the fighting began in earnest.

Faith just dusted her fourth vamp, and was about to make a quick assessment of the situation, but as she looked up Dally yelled out what she already knew. "We got to get the hell out of here, NOW." Dally screamed to be heard over the sickening sounds of death around them.

Only about a third of the prisoners still lived and were fighting for their lives. Bodies were scattered, blood spattered everywhere, and vamps were feasting on their prey. At that moment Faith knew what shark bait felt like, as the vampires continued to thrash their victims beyond death enthralled by the blood lust. Glancing over she noticed even Te the head vamp was also affected by the blood lust, and had gone from licking Sandra to outright drinking her blood.

"We have to rush the door, it's our only way." Faith shouted back to Dally. Both women briefly glanced at each other knowing this could be the end. They both shouted out to the surviving women to follow as they rushed the door. Faith led the fight followed by Mouse who was backed by Dally, followed by two other women.

They just barely made it through the door and started running.

Te dropped the body she had just drained in all the excitement surrounding her. "Oh, goody I get to hunt the slayer after all." Before following the slayer and her little group, Te turned to her minions. "Finish them off then meet back in the tunnels."

Te left the room to start her hunt by stalking her precious prey.

Faith and the others quickly realized that most of the doors were locked down affectively trapping them. "Here, we can go through here, it'll take us down to the kitchen's back way." Yelled one of the women who was able to push her way ahead just as she was able to push her way through and escape the massacre. Without seeing another alternative they ran after the two girls. Dally took the lead as Faith tried to barricade the door behind them, trying to buy them some time.

Dally ran through the kitchen's back door and didn't notice the fresh blood seeping across the floor nor the body of the first girl until it was too late. A hand grabbed her by the throat pulling her closer. Dally had very little room to maneuver as the hands held her tightly around her neck. She started wiggling and striking out blindly trying to reach the body behind her. They only squeezed tighter and wrapped an arm around her to still her movements.

Mouse tried to back away from the bloody scene before her, but was stopped as someone grabbed her hair. The slick floor made it impossible for Mouse to gain a steady foot, and she started to fall and effectively pulled down the one who grabbed her hair.

Dally watched in horror as the blond vampire grabbed handfuls of Mouse's hair trying to maintain a grip on her lover. Dally pushed harder trying to get away, and heard laughter as she felt the creature lick her neck. "Such a sweet morsel you are, so much fear, it's so intoxicating, feel how hot you're making me." He whispered hotly in her ear as he proceeded to rub himself against her.

Mouse continued sliding around in the blood, but managed to twist her way free as parts of her hair parted from her scalp. The blond vamp scrambled after the girl who managed to squeeze out from under her grasp. She was just about to grab her legs when she was pushed backwards with a swift kick in the face from the slayer, and didn't even realize she was stabbed until it was too late as she turned to dust.

Faith grabbed Mouse and pushed her toward the main backdoor, and quickly turned to attack the vampire holding Dally.

Mouse pushed open the door and turned in time to see Dally slump to the floor as the vampire proceeded to fight Faith. Mouse ran back to Dally and gathered her in her arms, "Dal, come on we got to get out of here, Dal�.Dal�." Time seemed to stand still as Mouse noticed the punctured wounds at her lover's neck and the trail of blood. "No, no, Dal, no you can't leave me, no, please, please I can't be without you. Dallllllyyyyyyyy��" Mouse sat holding her lover mindless of the fact she sat amidst other dead sprawled bodies; her only concern was with the one she held in her arms.

Faith heard Mouse screaming, but held her focus on her prey. Before today it had been just over a year and a half since she had a real slay. All her instincts tingled with the excitement of the coming kill though she tried really hard not to think about it, but she missed this, it was a part of her; it was who she was; a Slayer. Faith circled, block kicked, and attacked with vengeance. Right and left hooks, and a side kick swing to the legs brought the vamp to his knees. Faith found herself straddling him with the single focus of raining punches over him trapped in the exhilaration of the moment.

Faith didn't know the span of time before the sounds of crying penetrated her consciousness and brought her back to the dangers around them and brought her focus back. Faith wasted no time and dusted the vamp beneath her and turned toward the cries.

Faith took in the situation and knew they had to leave, and leave now. Faith walked over and started to pull Mouse away from Dally. "No, noooooooo, I can't leave her. Leave me, I just want to die to." Mouse shrieked. "Not happening babe." Faith replied and silently, `Yeah and Dally would, come back and pound the shit out of me if I don't get you out of here' and used her slayer strength to pull Mouse away from her dead lover. Faith pushed open the door and ran through pulling the hysterical girl with her and didn't stop until the sun hit her face. She turned as she heard a scream coming from the open door. The head vamp Te stood there, "You have less than an hour before I come for you Slayer; and when I get you, and I will, we're gonna play, you, your pet and me. Better run little Slayer, run." Faith turned and did just that, dragging a still hysterical Mouse behind her. And just as they made their escape Faith thought she could hear the sound of laughter, before the sounds of the prison alarm went off behind her.

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Te watched with amusement as the slayer threw the crying girl into one of the delivery trucks, hotwired the truck, gunned it and headed straight for the gate smashing it open. The alarms started to sound off just as her people started filing in the room. Te pulled out her cell and dialed, "She ran, and she has a pet with her. Less than hour head start, but we know where she's heading. I'll cut her off before she ever reaches them." Te snapped her cell closed and followed her minions as they started grabbing the blankets and they quietly left just as they came.

*****