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The hall was empty. There weren’t demons or humans any more. Both
Spike and Buffy knew some of them had escaped, but they didn’t
care. They got close to Eric, who was still within the green
light, his eyes were closed and he was still chanting.
Spike knew he was closing the leak; the black haired vampire
opened his eyes and said, “They’ve broken the spell…now it’s up to
us…”
“Are they all right?” Buffy and Spike asked practically in unison.
Eric nodded, “Yes, they are…but they’re not safe, yet…we have to
free them and we don’t have much time…follow me…”
Just like Willow and Giles had done, Spike and Buffy headed toward
the junction. They noticed that the purple mist was weaker, they
could clearly saw through it. There weren’t any demons to guard
it, but the evil in it was still palpable, was still there.
Do you think you have won?
The voice asked, and the two vampires and the Slayer knew the
demon was weaker, but they knew as well that they couldn’t let
their guard down.
Buffy and Spike looked at Eric, none of them questioned the strong
silent communication borne among them, they were practically able
to read each other’s minds.
Eric nodded at them and took a step back, while Buffy and Spike,
side by side moved lightly forward toward the centre of the mist.
They could clearly see Willow and Giles; they were standing very
close to each other. They were still dressed as when they had been
taken, they both had their eyes open and were very pale, thick
purple tentacles bound them, they looked like snakes, and lightly
throbbed around their heads.
Buffy and Spike looked at each other, then turned toward Eric who
wasn’t surrounded by the green shield any more, the older vampire
looked at them and said, “Find its heart…I'll weaken it”
Didn’t I tell you to come alone?
The voice asked.
“Did you? Really?” Buffy asked, “How inconsiderate of us…”
Your loved ones will die because of this…
“You know what, purple rain?” Spike said interrupting the
demon. He looked at Buffy who was getting closer to Willow and
Giles, “I think I can probably speak on the Slayer’s behalf too,
when I say DROP DEAD!”
The demon roared, and the tentacles around Willow and Giles
lightly shifted, the mist seemed to become liquid around them, and
the purple light became brighter.
He got close to Buffy, she was standing still in front of Willow
and Giles, her eyes were closed, her head lightly tilted on a
side, a predator smile on her face.
He didn’t understand at first, what was happening, then he heard
the noise, Eric’s chanting in the background couldn’t cover it
completely. It was the demon’s heart.
He couldn’t help smiling at Buffy, before closing his eyes, and
just like she was doing he focused his senses to locate the
demon’s heart.
Eric’s voice grew louder, Spike vaguely recognized the language he
was using and the words he was saying, he knew however, that his
friend was succeeding in weakening the demon.
“Can you hear it?” Buffy asked in a low voice.
“I can almost see it…” Spike said
“It’s between Willow and Giles…” Buffy informed him.
“I know. Their heartbeats are close…”
You will never kill me…
The demon said, its voice was weaker, and it didn’t hold the same
self confidence it had had just a few minutes before.
“Wanna bet?” Buffy asked opening her eyes.
Spike opened his eyes as well, he met Buffy’s eyes, noticing for
the fist time, how the last four days had taken its toll on her,
in that sickening purple light, the circles under her eyes seemed
deeper, her face was dirty, but the fire in her eyes was still
there, a tiny smile formed on her lips, she shrugged and said,
“Wanna shut up this sucker for good?”
Spike just nodded at her words, smiling back at her, in sync they
turned toward Willow and Giles, spotting the demon’s heart which
was between them, it was large, and both Buffy and Spike knew they
had to be very careful not to hurt Willow and Giles.
They were both holding swords in their hands, they moved slowly
toward it, unconsciously waiting for Eric’s signal.
They didn’t have to wait long, for behind their shoulders they
heard the older vampire’s last words of the spell. The demon
howled and its howl almost deafened them, but they didn’t care,
with superhuman strength they pierced the demon’s heart with their
swords.
While the mist dissipated all around them and the light faded,
Buffy and Spike saw the tentacles that had been holding Willow and
Giles melting all around them, their bodies went limp and they
rushed to them, to prevent their fall.
They were used to seeing in the darkness, and what they saw all
around them left them speechless. The gallery was quickly morphing
under their eyes, the evil magic that had been molding it, seemed
to have faded together with the mist.
The gallery, that had seemed endless to them, when they had
entered it, now had returned to its normal size. Both Spike and
Buffy though, didn’t care about that, after four long days they
were holding their loved ones in their arms.
~~*~~*~~*~~
Spike noticed how tenderly, Buffy was caressing Giles hair and
brow, and holding him to her, whispering to him how much she loved
him.
He smiled when the man stirred in her arms and couldn’t help
chuckling when he said aloud, “Ow! Luv, you are squeezing too
tightly… ”
He raised his head when he heard Eric getting close to them. The
vampire knelt in front of him, he was indulgently smiling at him,
he took a look at Willow and said, “So this is the witch?”
“Her name is Willow, you tosser…” Spike growled, but he couldn’t
help smiling at him.
“She’s worth it…”
Spike looked at Eric, they locked eyes for some seconds, then Eric
got up and softly said, “I think she’s worth everything for you,
isn’t she, William?”
Spike just nodded at his words, and shrugged.
Eric laughed and said, “I guess it’s time for me to go…well done,
William…you did a good job…” he turned toward Buffy and added,
“You both did…”
“Did you have any doubts about it?” Buffy and Spike asked in
unison.
Eric snorted at their words and said, “William? Willow asked me to
tell you she loves you…and Slayer? Although your watcher didn’t
say anything, Xander foresaw and I quote him here ‘major
smoochies’ in your future. It’s been good to see you, William…” he
turned toward Buffy and smiling at her said, “It’s been an honour
to know you, Buffy…”
With those words he turned his back to them and disappeared in the
darkness of the gallery.
“Is he going to be safe? We don’t know whether it’s morning
outside…” Buffy asked.
Spike smiled and looking at Eric’s fading form said, “Don't worry,
he always finds a way….”
He lowered his head and looked at Willow, she hadn’t stirred yet,
but her heart was strongly beating in her chest, he gently tucked
some locks away from her face and grazed the soft skin of her
face. A tiny smile formed on Willow’s lips.
“You’re awake, Red?”
“Hmm…” was Willow’s only reply, her smile grew wider when Spike
pulled her tighter to him, she nuzzled against his chest and
murmured, “I like to be in your arms…I could stay like this
forever…”
Spike loudly snorted at her words but didn’t say anything; a goofy
grin was playing on his face. He grazed Willow’s tousled hair with
his fingers and whispered, “It’s fine by me…”
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