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~~Part 54~~

Angel slammed his fist into his opponents face, feeling a rush of satisfaction at the sound of the other vampires breaking bones. Not wanting to drag the fight out any longer than possible Angel slid the stake he had hidden up his sleeve and drove it home into the vampire�s chest.

�Some...help...would ...be appreciated.� Giles was knocked upside the head, and the older man stumbled back. Angel sped forward kicked the vampire that was advancing on the Watcher in the stomach, giving Giles time to gain his footing.

Angel went to advance on the vampire, when it turned to a pile of dust at his feet. Gunn gave Angel a mock salute and went back to taking out one of the last of Darla�s little followers.

�We�re wasting our time here.� Spike slipped into his game face, frustrated that they were being held up from their real goal.

�Angel this is a huge building and we�ve only made it to the second floor.� Lindsey grunted as the vampire slammed its fist into his face, snapping his head back. �And I�m tired of getting hit in the face.� Lindsey clenched his fist, and returned the favor to the attacking vampire. Angel smirked slightly, silently commending Lindsey�s ability to hold his own.

Jumping back into the fight, Angel and the four other males found themselves soon surrounded by piles of dust. �There has to be a better way of finding the chits.�

At that moment a heart stopped scream pierced the silent building, stopping all talk between the five males. Angel�s eyes flashed yellow, and Lindsey dropped the stake he was holding. �Sounds like one down, wonder which one will be left.� A humored voice stated from the shadows.

The group turned as one, and watched as Max walked from the corner he had been watching from. �Well if it aint good old Mr. Turner.� Gunn hefted his ax higher, getting in his fighting stance.

�I must say I�m impressed with your fighting abilities, but alas you�re too late. Sounds as though Darla has ridden herself of one of the females already.� An evil smirk crossed the newly made vampire�s face. Turning to Lindsey, Max raised a brow. �I really must admit I�m slightly shocked to see you here Lindsey...this is where all the dirty work is. From what I remember you tend to like to be all cozy in your large office while you hire us *underlings* to do your work for you.�

Lindsey took a step forward, only to be stopped by Angel. �Let it go he�s trying to make you angry so you attack without thinking.�

�So true Angelus. And wow I gotta say that redhead is one good looking broad. How is it you�ve been able to contain yourself around a girl like that?�

�Where are they?� Angel�s voice was deadly calm.

�I�m really disappointed in you Angelus. Do you really think I would just tell you?� Max chuckled.

Shrugging his shoulders Angel took the stake Spike had been holding. �Thought I�d ask nicely first.� Jumping at the other vampire Max was quickly over taken, and Angel held the vampire up by his throat. �Now I won�t ask nicely...WHERE IN THE HELL ARE THE GIRLS.� Angel pronounced each word by shaking the male dangling in his hand.

Max grasped at Angel�s hand and tried to speak. Even though he didn�t need air to live on, it made it difficult to talk with out it.

�Angel speaking from person experience, it�s hard to talk with your hand around someone�s throat.� Lindsey�s voice was now filled with grim humor. Angel looked over his shoulder at Lindsey with a half smile.

�Think I should let him down?� Lindsey pretended to act as though he was carefully considering the dark vampire�s question.

�Not really.� Stalking forward Lindsey clenched his fist and drove it into Max�s face. �Max you don�t know how good that felt or how long I�ve been wanting to do that.�

Max narrowed his eyes at Lindsey as blood seeped from his nose. �Did that hurt Max?� Angel cooed in Max�s face. �Tell me what I want to hear, and maybe I won�t torture you.�

Max made a sound that none of them could distinguish. Spike rolled his eyes, and picked up a discarded stake form the ground and drove it into Max�s chest. �You two are really a bad influence on one another you know that?� Angel and Lindsey looked at each other weighing the blonde�s words and thought maybe under other circumstances they�d laugh about it.

�Can we get on now? We�ve wasted enough time.�

~~~*~~~

Douglass and Cordelia kneeled next to Willow�s injured form, watching helplessly as blood oozed from where the dagger was buried full hilt. Cordelia reached out to grab the dagger, but was stopped by Douglass.

�You can�t, it�ll make her bleed more.� Douglass chocked on her tears.

Willow moaned and tried to open her eyes. �It�s so cold.�

Cordelia placed a hand over her mouth to keep her sobs from spilling forth. Her shoulders shock from the effort. �Willow don�t worry everything is going to be all right.�

�Don�t lie to me Cordy, I know.� A slight smile formed on the redheads blue lips.

Cordelia placed her head in her hands as images of a young Willow swam in front of her eyes. How Willow looked when she was five, swinging on the swings, squealing every time Xander would push her higher and higher. About the times Willow had always been so kind and caring to anyone in need. But mostly about the redhead who had always been brave, no matter what evil they faced. The little faces she made from behind the computer at the old high school whenever she was momentarily stumped. Even the time she and Xander had been caught during their little fluke. This just wasn�t right.

Willow licked her lips and tried to speak. Douglass and Cordelia tried to make her stop, to save her strength. �Please tell Xander that I love him... I always will... that he really has been the closest thing I had to a b-brother. That I-I�m proud of the man he has become. Let Giles know that he has always been like a father to me... Let B-Buffy know that no matter what she has a place in my heart...� Willow started to fade, making both girls lean forward. �A-And you two need to take care of one another and those guys that are so crazy for you...I consider both of you to be my sisters...I�ll always love you.� Taking a ragged breath Willow forced herself to speak.

�Please tell Angel that he has the brightest soul I know. And no matter what he thinks I know I�ll be seeing him in the afterlife.� Cordelia grasped one of Willow�s hands into her own, tears freely falling from her face.

�Douglass do something!� Anger crackled in the seer�s eyes and Douglass shifted back.

�It�s not something I know how to control.� Douglass felt the same frustration at not being able to do something about her friend who was fading fast in front of them. Cordelia gulped in a lung full of air and was going to apologize when a tinkling of laughter erupted from behind.

�The little tree is dying; I could hear the stars whispering to me.� Dru stood in the doorway clapping her hands and swaying back and forth.

Darla smiled at the sight of the two humans kneeling at the redhead�s side; she could almost taste the sorrow drifting off them in waves. �They were naughty. We were such good hosts and they tried to escape.�

Dru drifted forward and kneeled next to Willow, whose breaths were coming out raggedly. �She�s a stubborn one isn�t she?� Dru reached out and touched the blood that was pooling around the small redhead. Bringing a blood-covered finger to her mouth, the dark vampiress smiled. �She tastes good.�

Douglass and Cordelia snapped out of their stupor and cried out in dismay, leaping at the insane vampire. Darla was too quick, grabbing each girl by the hair and yanking her back. �Now play nice.�

Dru acted as though she hadn�t noticed that she was almost assaulted as she stuck her hand down in the blood again, coating her entire palm. �Her blood just screams to me.� The two girls looked away in disgust as Dru smeared the thick crimson liquid across her face.

�As much fun as this is we don�t have time to waste.� Darla pulled both girls over to the bed and throw them down on the mattress. �Dru come here darling.� Dru looked up at Darla her face smeared with Willow�s blood. Standing gracefully Dru made her way to Darla�s side.

�Tessa, listen carefully. Cordelia�s chance at unlife is at stake here. Either you cure my chide of her insanity like a good little girl and I�ll consider changing your little friend when I bring you over. But if you fight me on this I will kill her slowly.� Darla spoke as though Douglass was a three-year-old.

Douglass felt any fight leave her body. �I can�t control it. If I could don�t you think I would have healed Willow?� Darla�s eyes flashed as she reached out to grab Cordelia. �NO!� Douglass jumped from the bed. Limping on her injured foot toward Dru. �I�ll try.�

Douglass stopped in front of the insane vampiress and nearly gagged at the sight of her friend�s blood covering her face. Closing her eyes she trued to concentrate, willing the voices to start whispering inside her head. But there was nothing. Fear and panic pumped through her veins, making her entire body shake.

�Tessa we can do this now or after I turn you.� Darla stepped behind Douglass and grasped onto the witch�s neck.

�I�m trying.� Douglass cried out as the door crashed open.

Angel stood in the doorway; his face distorted in pain as his eyes took in Willow�s bloody form. A cry of anguish ripped through him as he fell to his knees. Lindsey stood from behind, frozen as he saw Darla gripping onto Douglass�s neck.

Standing on shaky knees Angel�s face morphed and his eyes glued onto Darla who was holding Douglass in front of her. �Hello lover.� Darla purred.

�I�m going to kill you.� Angel took a step forward enough to let the others from behind get a view of the scene inside the room.

�Yes I thought you might, but in time you'll get over her. I�ll be giving you another sister soon.� Darla licked at Douglass�s neck, bringing a whimper form the girl.

Angelus charged forward, ripping Douglass from Darla�s grip and shoving her to Lindsey. �She�s already my sister.� Darla human face dropped as her demon surfaced.

�You may have been able to get rid of me once Angelus, but I wont give you a second chance my boy.� Both vampires attacked simultaneously, both leaping for one another�s jugulars. Spike took the opportunity to slip in the room, forcing himself not to look in Willow�s direction. Coming up on Dru from behind he knew what he had to do.

Dru turned and looked at him sadly. �You loved me once; I created you, taught you. The stars have told me what must be William so I will not fight you on this.� Spike reached out and gently caressed her bloody cheek. With a blink of an eye he slammed a stake through her heart, and watched as his dark princess turned to a pile of dust at his feet.

Angel grabbed Darla and threw her up against the wall, only to have her jump back up and kick him squarely in the chest. Stumbling back Angel gained his footing. �We really don�t need to do this lover. We can walk away from this here and now, bring Tessa over together.�

�Never.� Kicking her legs out from underneath her Angel went to pin her to the ground but she was to fast as she leapt to her feet. Stepping to the side as Angel came at her full force she watched as he crashed to the ground, reaching out and grabbing him from behind. �Listen to me Boy. I am your sire; you belong to me...You-are-mine.�

�Mine!� A small voice came from behind and Darla felt a sharp object entering her back. Angel felt Darla�s hold on him slacken and turned around to watch his sire turn to a pile of dust...again. And Willow collapse through the dust and on top of him, the dagger pushing further into her body.

�NO!� Angel cried out, as he placed Willow back on the ground. �Please you can not leave me.� Taking a pale hand into his he started to cry over her body.

Buffy came rushing to the room that was deadly quiet. All eyes were glues to Angel who was leaning over some ones body. Taking a tentative step in that direction Buffy cried out when she saw Willow on the ground, a dagger sticking up through her chest.

�Is s-she?� Giles stepped forward and took his charge into his arms. �No. I wont except it.�

Angel barely registered the grief stricken words, his eyes glued to Willow�s face. �Douglass.� He croaked and the witch left the security of Lindsey�s arms to join Angel�s side. �Please do something.�

Douglass�s eyes watered as she placed a hand on Angel�s shoulder. �I tried, but the voices wont come...I�m sorry.�

Angel nodded slightly.

�Change her.� Everyone�s eyes left Willow�s prone body to rest on the slayer. �Angel do it.�

�I could never do that to her Buffy.� Shaking his head as her words echoed through him. Willow was still alive enough that it was a possibility.

�Yes you can, we can curse her then anchor her soul. Please Angel I...we can�t lose her.� Buffy wiped the tears from her own eyes, determined that what she was asking was for the best.

�The anchoring spell needs two strong people trained in the arts Buffy.� Giles whispered, but at the same time was hoping that Angel would do something to keep the redhead from slipping from them.

�We�ll figure out a way to unbind Douglass�s powers. Giles please, this is the only way. We can�t just let her die.� Taking a step closer to Angel she pleaded. �We don�t have time to argue, just do it.�

Angel took a look around the room at the other�s faces and saw acceptance written in their expressions. The need to keep Willow by his side was too strong to deny. Taking a deep breath he let his game face slip over his human mask and he scooped Willow into his arms. �I will always love you.�

~~~The End~~~