Here he was once again - led back to the cavernous mansion where all of the hysteria began. For some reason, Angel knew he would be taken back to this place, with its hauntingly recognizable atmosphere, which brought back so many feelings of pain and torment. Terrified, Angel lurked in the shadows, listening carefully for clues as to what was happening around him. He knew Spike and Drusilla were here and strangely he had this odd feeling that Buffy was too. 'Impossible,' he thought to himself. Hesitantly, Angel poked his head out of the darkness, in hopes of stealing a quick glimpse at exactly what was going on; his heart leapt into his throat. The horrifying sight of Drusilla lifting Buffy's tiny physique into a metal cage was all it took for his mortal facade to morph into that of his separate entity. 'No, no....this can't be happening!' the words raced through his mind repeatedly. Turning away, he slid to the ground, shaking his head relentlessly in a hopeless attempt to erase the image from his mind.
"Mmmm, I do hope she wakes. Pretty Slayer." Drusilla wrapped her lifeless fingers around the thick bars of the cage; she gawked blatantly at the unconscious Buffy. Spike stared off into the distance, wary of Drusilla's anticipatory mood. "Pet, why must you always insist on playing with your bloody food!" Spike snapped; he'd had enough of the games. Angel sat alone and cloaked by darkness - alert to his surroundings and petrified for Buffy's well-being; he had to do something, but what?
Slumped in his chair, Xander snored softly with his head rested on his palm and a magazine still clasped tightly in one hand; his slumber was interrupted by the frantic tapping on his shoulder. "Excuse me sir?" asked a nervous and somewhat agitated voice. Xander looked up at the nurse with bloodshot eyes, "Wha..." he began but was halted by her hysterical gestures. "Umm, your friend she's... well, she's gone." Xander's head shot up and his body stiffened as fear and shock overwhelmed him; he couldn't speak. Realizing her poor choice of words, the nurse corrected herself, "Oh no, gone in the sense that she's no longer in her room; she's disappeared." After a moment of serious contemplation Xander understood and let out a sigh of relief. "Oh good....wait a minute, she's not here?" Xander gaped at the nurse disbelievingly and, before she could respond, he was already making his way down the corridor to Buffy's room. Barging through the double doors he scanned the room, noting Buffy's vacant gurney. It didn't take him long to see the emergency exit doors flapping in the howling wind.
Drusilla smirked devilishly to herself; she knew her Angel was there and she was well aware of his redemption. It amazed her how perfectly her plan had been executed; he had no idea what lay in store for him just as she was totally oblivious as to how his Slayer would react. 'Does it really matter?' she thought to herself a little doubtfully. Dru sauntered towards the shadows where Angel lay, being sure to speak in an audible tone. "Her time is up, wouldn't you say so Spike?" she stated as more of a rhetorical question than anything else. Spike glared at his lover inquisitively, a little unsure of her query. Before he could respond, Angel stalked into the dim light, wearing his game face. Angel knew what he had to do in order to save Buffy and he was sickened by the thought of it. His stomach turned uneasily as his body stiffened. 'Do it for Buffy, you have to do this for her' the words raced through his head, urging him to do what had to be done. Shifting uneasily Angel made himself known to the awkward pair. Spike immediately advanced towards his foe but was intercepted by Drusilla's petite form which seemed to be all too eager to protect Angel. Giving him a sideways glance, she began to slowly circle the cage.
Buffy could feel herself being lifted out of unconsciousness and the pain was abominable. Her body lay limply with her aching limbs tangled in a heap of mangled flesh. Quivering uncontrollably, she lifted her head ever so slightly with her eyes squeezed shut. The powerful rush that swept through her was indescribable; she could hear muffled voices but couldn't see anything as her eyes refused to open. Her mind was a blank; she was totally unknowledgable of her whereabouts or how she got there. 'What happened?' she asked herself. No sooner had the question crossed her mind then she remembered the horrible turn of events from earlier: the man she loved, Angel, had shot her but she didn't really love him - not the man he had become. It was horribly ironic how her greatest nemesis wore the face of her only lover.
Angel found it impossible to stay focused; his eyes were constantly darting over to Buffy. 'Did she just move?' he thought to himself but accepted his imaginings as wishful thinking instead of reality. Drusilla's face lit up at the sight of him; she circled tormentingly around the sickened vamp while eyeing him up and down suggestively. Angel fought back tears as his eyes met with the lifeless form of his girlfriend, who still lay unconscious in her cage. Seeing his misery, Dru moved towards him gradually and instinctively, without an ounce of trepidation. "Mmmm, so you came back to us love?" she crooned; he simply nodded his head in agreement - words were no longer feasible at this point. "We brought you a present...." Pausing, Dru gestured grandly towards the large cage positioned in the centre of the large room, "....you like?" she asked in a sing-song voice; she knew what he must be thinking at this point and it filled her with something like happiness to see him in a state of such despair and total longing. Angel could feel something pulsating through him; it couldn't be the beating of his heart or the rush of his blood, all those things were snatched away from him at the mercy of Darla; he couldn't pinpoint what was causing his body to behave so strangely but he knew Buffy had something to do with it. It was amazing how he responded whenever she was in danger; he could be sitting in his apartment and it would hit him like a bolt of lightning. The connection he had with her was unbelievable and now he could feel her pain more than anything.
Spike assessed the situation from a distance, realizing the pleasure Dru was getting from the whole scenario. It didn't take him long to understand her plans and it sickened him. As hard as it was for him to believe, he didn't want Dru to have her fun, especially if that fun involved her sire.
Buffy's energy was returning to her quickly and she was astonished by how powerful her Slayer strength was becoming; she felt she could survive anything, but could she survive the sight that lay in store for her? Raising herself slightly on her elbows, she slowly opened her eyes, blinking back tears which refused to fall. The light in the room was dim and it took a while for her eyes to adjust to the lighting. Turning her head to the side, she looked closely at the two dark figures before her. She quickly stifled a sharp sob. There they were: Angel and Dru standing close together only a few feet away from her.
Xander fumbled through the weapons closet in the back of the library at Sunnydale High; he wasted no time in taking action. After seeing Buffy's operating room, vacant and in a state of disarray, he knew there was trouble brewing and his gut told him Angel was behind it. It was still very dark out and would be for another couple of hours; nonetheless, time was of the essence. Giles was still recovering at Sunnydale General and Willow and the others were all recuperating from their recent run-in with Dru and her band of merry vampire henchmen. Xander had to do this on his own - win or lose. Lifting the crossbow from its perch on the wall, he stalked out of the library and back onto the lonely streets of Sunnydale - armed, dangerous and seeking vengeance.
Drusilla pushed herself up against Angel with deliberate suggestability. Twirling one of her long dark curls around her index finger, she circled the disoriented Angel, keeping contact with him at all costs. Angel blinked back tears; this was just too much. The thought of Drusilla seducing him made his stomach ache; he could feel the nausea penetrate the very core of his being. Clenching his eyes tight and envisioning his beloved Buffy safe in his arms, Angel remained dormant and tried to selflessly ignore the whole scenario going on around him. Drusilla, glancing over at Buffy who was awakening in her cage, swooped instinctively down on Angel and pushed her face against his. Angel could feel her cold, lifeless lips pressing against his. Horrified, Angel repelled her in anger and annoyance but it was too late; Buffy had already seen the distasteful act and was planning their demise. She, however, had no idea that her Angel was back or for how long.
To be continued...
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