VIS UNITA FORTIOR

[Rogue_demonhunter]

[glow=red,2,300]VIS UNITA FORTIOR[/glow]

     It was becoming very annoying now. He had always found researching boring but with Buffy’s pacing up and down it was destroying the little concentration he had left. He understood though. A demon had attacked Dawn, her own flesh and blood, it was personal. And to piss off the Slayer was always a mistake, but to attack her own family took it to a whole new level. Dawn was all she had left now, Joyce was dead, she had distanced herself from her friends since her return and she knew deep down that her surrogate father Giles would soon leave her, leave her all alone in the world.
“Anything?” Said Buffy hoping that this time she asked there would be good news. Xander didn’t lift his head and continued trying to process what he was reading. Giles looked up from his book though.
“Nothing as of yet. But like I said before we haven’t got a lot to go on.” He took a sip from his Earl Grey tea and then continued reading from the passage he left off.
They had nothing to go on really. Dawn was attacked from behind, bitten at the base of her neck, falling to the ground in pain. She never even saw it. It had disappeared into the night before she had the will to turn around. The fact that there were only two of them researching into to the demon might also explain their lack of  finding any decent information. Tara was with Dawn, looking over her. Tara was the only person Dawn would let near her and so Buffy respected her wishes. Buffy assumed that Dawn was angry with her as she, the Slayer had allowed this to happen to a family member. She had phoned Willow and she was on her way. She had also dropped into see Spike before coming to the Magic Box. He was going to come at Dusk. She checked the clock on the wall and it read twenty-six minutes past seven. The sun went down around seven o’clock so Spike was expected any time soon. With a couple of extra people expected any time soon the research would really pick up.

     Anya passed the customer her purchase and her change. She followed the customer who left the building. She then turned the sign in the window to indicate that the Magic Box was now closed. She just had to count the money and then add a little to the books and then she could join the others at the table opposite her to help. She didn’t want to though, but none of them did. She did enjoy counting the money though and Xander loved to watch. He liked to see her begin to smile as the money kept piling up, it was one of those things he loved about her. After looking for a few moments he got his head down yet again try to discover something useful, to try and impress everyone with his great researching skills, he wouldn’t hold his breath though. Buffy stopped pacing and sat down next to him, placing her head in her hands. The Magic Box was cast into silence, Xander glanced around to try and see why the whole place had suddenly gone quiet. Silence at last he and Giles both thought. Xander turned the page of the book, which now had his full concentration. The Silence continued for a while, but the bell on the Magic Box door killed it as someone walked in.

[Jenni_2000_2004]

Spike had just walked through the door.  <br>  "Bloody Hell.  You all look like you just saw a ..."
He was taken by surprise as something growled from behind him.  As the gang warned him the monster pulled him out the door and started down the street.  "Oh great!  Now we have someone else to save."  Was the first thing that came out of Buffy's mouth.  They grabbed their weapons and went after him.  <br>   Meanwhile, Tara was taking care of Dawn at the house.  "How could Buffy have let that monster hurt me?  Why didn't she watch me better?"Asked Dawn.    
  " Buffy really does care about you. She was just ... occupied with other things."
 "I guess, but lately I feel as though she... "
Suddenly, Spike burst through the door.

[Mephisto]

As the door slammed behind him Spike collapsed, releasing a snarl of pain as he gripped the back of his neck and felt blood drip onto his fingers.
 "Spike" Dawn cried out in suprise and both she and Tara crossed the room to where Spike lay motionless.
 "Jesus" the vampire cursed several times under his breath and pulled himself onto his feet. Blood ran down his neck and shoulders where it met his shirt and stopped, it wasn't a life threatening injury, but then what is to someone long dead.
 "What happened?" the young witch asked, voice tinged with concern.
 "Well" Spike hesitated and searched for his cigarettes, "seems like I'm not the only nasty thing with fangs out tonight". He reached into one of his pockets and withdrew his lighter, held it up to the cigarette betwen his lips and inhaled deeply. "Thing grabbed me from behind when I was goin' into the magic shop, had himself a taste before I could get his ass off me".
 "What about Buffy? If you were at the magic shop didn't she help y..." Spike cut her off.
 "Listen, the day I need help from the Slayer is the day I take a daytime run on a sunlit beach!" his voice filled with anger, "Big Bad needs no-one's help, least of all your bitch of a sister! Only reason I'm here is because she asked me to come and protect you in case it comes back." He stormed across the room to a large chest placed behind the sofa, tossed open the lid and reached inside.
Tara gave Spike a puzzled expression, "What are you doing?"
He pulled out a battleaxe from inside the chest and slammed the lid shut.
 "If it does come back here its gonna find out its not the only thing in Sunnydale that bites."
 

[Tortured_Demon]

'What a lovely night it couldn't be more perfect' the couple walked along the sidewalk hand in hand with out a care in the world, they were young and in love nothing else mattered to them, not even the gleaming red eyes watching them from the darkness of a nearby alley.

Her tacky perfume filled its nostrils floating in on the evening breeze, it watched every move they made, each step, each flick of her hair each kiss slowly bringing them closer to where it waited poised for the kill. Predatory instinct took over the humans were so close it could taste their flesh sweet and succulent not at all like the vampire from earlier, that tasted horrible evil swam in that vampires blood, the mere thought made the best shudder.

The humans were getting closer with each step. The beast got low to the floor squatting for the pounce, shoulders arched showing the rippling muscle all down it's torso a pure killing machine. The creature seemed to smile as the couple drew closer still reveling it's jagged teeth stilled stained with blood from its earlier attack. Spike was right he wasn't the only thing with fangs out tonite.

'Well this is me' said the girl blonde hair flowing in the breeze, 'What a cool place, well I guess this is the end of our perfect night' he said taking her in his arms and embracing her with a passionate kiss, that was the last thing he ever did. The beast leapt from from the alley like a bolt of lighting, before anyone knew what was happening the man's head was ripped from his shoulders splashing his girlfriend in blood. The creature sat there poised over the carcuss of what was a young man holding his head in his huge clawed hands. The girl  dragged herself up and ran for her life too shocked to scream she just ran and ran her life flashing before her eyes. The creature watched her intently, he let her run as the the thrill of the hunt gave his life meaning, anyway its not as if shes going to get far...

[LoR]

On and on it seemed she ran, fear more than anything kept her going, when suddenly she was torn from the roadside…<br>
“Be still, be quiet” a strong dominant voice ordered her, she looked up, worn battle weary eyes stared intently on the horizon from where she had ran, the woman tried to speak but the man hushed her very thoughts with one glance, then he whispered.
“Did the beast scratch or bite you?” she shook her head, tears streaming down her whitened cheeks.
“Don’t cry little one, drink this” he passed her a vile “All will be better in the morning” as he realised his grip from around the woman her primal instincts took over and she let loose a heavenly scream.
“Fool!” the man shouted, he glanced once more up the road, shadows began to stir “Run, don’t look back… and drink that potion” with those word he let her go completely and she bolted off toward some buildings in the distance hoping to find sanctuary.
The beast faded to darkness when it heard the scream, knowing what awaited him ahead. It watched silently, patiently as an armoured figure strode out into the light.

“DEMON!” the figure boomed “Come forth and face your destiny, or do we have to await another millennia for this to end”
Slowly and purposely the creature stepped forward from hiding, the armoured man drew out a mighty flamberge carved with bright blood red runes that spiralled down its blade.
“You have prayed on humans to long… and I see your taste for the dark ones is not as it once was” The beast wiped its mouth clean of human and vampiric blood and with a low growl began to cautiously walk forward.
The two warriors of old stood for some time, waiting for the other to make the first move, an age would have passed if it were not for an untimely intervention.

Buffy and Xander made their way though the night hoping to find some clue of what had attacked Dawn and Spike. A strange noise had caught Buffy’s attention
“Xander…do you hear that?” Buffy whispered, Xander looked around, an ignorant look in his eyes
“The only thing I hear is th…”
“Shh!” Buffy silenced him and couched them both down behind some bins.
The noise she heard was getting louder, a faint clicking sound made its way towards where they lay. Seeing an opportunity arise Buffy jumped out only to be momentarily surprised by what she saw. A woman no older than she stood white as a ghost, covered in blood and also holding what seemed to be a bottle in her hands
“Help me” she whispered  “A huge dog attacked my boyfriend, and I ran…” she collapsed.
Buffy held her up and gave the woman a quick examine
“Xander, take her to back to the shop, I’m gonna keep looking for this thing… if its not fussy what’s for dinner then I need to find it fast”<br>Without a word Xander took the woman in his arms and made his way back, he gave a quick glance back to where Buffy stood, but she had gone.
“Be careful,” he said to himself, an ominous sense of dread came over him…<br>

[Rogue_demonhunter]

Willow decided to pick up the pace a little. Buffy had called a while ago now and she was still at least 20 minutes away from the magic box. Her indecision of not knowing which magic books to pick up had cost her precious time. She only hoped that Giles and Xander would have discovered what they are up against before she eventually got there. She was just glad that Dawn was alright. She knew Dawn was ok because she could sense it from Tara. Their strong Wicca link gave each other the satisfaction of knowing that the other was ok. Although she could not speak to Tara via this link it was just enough to sense that she was safe.
It’s just a shame that Tara could not sense the same as Willow…<br>
Willow continued to head towards the Magic Box. She looked at her wrist watch it now read 8:04pm. She was only about half a mile from the Magic Box now. She crossed the street to head into town. As she walked down the street she could hear grunts and groans ahead. She picked up her pace to go and investigate. She stopped at the corner of the road and looked around to see what was happening. What looked to be some sort knight was engaging in a battle with some sort of dog creature. She stayed where she was just watching at a distance trying not to be spotted.

The beast swung around and knocked the sword out of the warrior’s hand. He didn’t have time to pick it up, plus he had plenty of weapons on him. He jumped onto the beast driving his fists into its lower body. It was working, the beast let out a little shriek of pain but it was never going to be enough. The beast used it strength and with a terrible growl threw the warrior across the street. He took a moment to catch his breath again. He took two deep breaths before he got back onto his feet. He removed the blade from his belt and signalled for the beast to walk towards him. It sniffed the air, went onto all fours and slowly went towards the huge figure in front of him. He stopped about five feet away from him. It stood up, all seven feet of it. It dwarfed the warrior who stood there with the blade in his hand. He took his chance and the warrior managed to wound the beast on the left arm.
The beast didn’t give him the satisfaction of a scream of pain though. It looked at him. Almost like it was gloating. It delivered a huge blow to the back of the warrior’s head and sent him crashing to the floor. He was out cold. The kill was going to be so easy now. It wasn’t going to be half as fun but this guy was a threat. It went onto all fours again and went to the neck. But there was something wrong. It could smell something. It was fear but also something familiar. It stood up and looked behind. There was nothing there but his other sense weren’t wrong. It could smell her a mile away and it could now hear her heartbeat. She did the worst thing possible, she ran. The beast was on her in a second. It grabbed hold of her and bit her at the base of her neck. She could not scream. It was too painful. He wasn’t going to kill her though. He unleashed some sort of venom into her. She fell to the floor, to the casual observer she looked already dead.

Back at the Summer’s home Tara could only scream out Willows name as Spike and Dawn ran into her to see what was going on.

The beast stood over the still body of Willow. It could not enjoy the sight of her unconscious body on the floor. It was feeling something. Suddenly pain surged through the beast and it fell to its knees. Something was happening. The beast was changing.

Buffy was too late. She got there to find Willow lying motionless on the street, blood pouring from the back of her neck. Yet instead of killing the beast she found herself unable to move. This was a sight she was never expecting to see. Willow lay seemingly dead on the road while a naked Oz was bent over her...

[Mephisto]

"Oh my god, Willow!", Buffy tossed Oz aside as she examined her injured best friend. She was unconscious and bleeding badly, already a pool of of blood was forming around her head and neck filling the cracks in the road as it spread in all directions.
Oz struggled to his feet and stared at the bleeding figure of his former love before turning to Buffy,
"we need to get Willow off the street now, quickly before its too late", the words were coughed out, as if the effort to speak was painful,
"where's safe?"
The Slayer made the decision in a split second,
"the magic box is closer than my house, we go there", she ripped off a portion of her shirt and placed it over the injured wicca's neck. It soaked the makeshift dressing and ran warm over Buffy's fingers, a feeling of panic engulfed her, "what if she's lost too much blood? What if she dies?..." she beat the thoughts down and concentrated on the magic box, if she could get there everything would be okay, Willow would be safe, get to the magic box.

She picked up her injured best friend as though she weighed nothing, Willow was one of the most powerful people Buffy had ever known but at that moment she felt as light and fragile as a doll, take too long and she would break with no chance of ever putting her back together.
The naked Oz raced behind them able to keep up only because the life of his former love lay in limbo, the pain he felt burned to his soul, told him to stop, to ignore Willow and think only of the pain inside him, burning, clawing, looking for a release, he wanted to scream, he needed to scream! But he wouldn't, not until he knew Willow was safe, and if it was inside her.