Lycanthrope, Vampirism, and Magick

Lycanthrope, Vampirism and Magick Chapter Seventeen

Angel tuned out the two entirely different sets of chanting and concentrated on the door. They were arranged in a loose formation, Angel, Spike and Buffy were the front line, and then came Kennedy, Cordelia, Gunn and Wesley. Giles and Willow came next, ready to fight, but they were working together to erect a magickal shield around the hotel to keep any invaders out.

Fred was positioned on the second floor landing, not just because she was still learning hand-to-hand combat, but also because she was a natural sharpshooter. She had several crossbows loaded and ready as well as a few of Wesley’s shotguns and a tranq gun.

Xander was with Leo, guarding the door of the room that held Lorne, Wyatt and Chris. Both the whitelighter and the werewolf were ready to fight, but if worst came to worst they would leave, take the two children and orb away.

Angel wasn’t willing to let it come to that, didn’t want to drag this cat and mouse game out any longer, and from what he could hear neither was Piper. The three Halliwell witches were totally behind the lines of defense and were starting their spell by casting a circle for protection.

He wasn’t sure what the older sister had planned for Eve, who was trussed up and in a chair beside their makeshift alter, but Angel found he really didn’t give a damn. He really doubted the witches would kill her; they were a force for good after all. Still, if Piper thought her children would be in danger he wouldn’t put it past her. Angel had no problem with that either, the pain of loosing Connor still felt fresh and given the chance he’d help her dispose of the body.

A storm raged outside, thunderous and loud and already the street in front of the hotel was overflowing from the lack of runoff. Lightning would flash, lighting up the lobby and temporarily blinding him.

Spike was bouncing on the balls of his feet, his energy barely restrained. Angel had to smile at that, just a little. Spike was always impatient to get to the fighting part and the tension in the room would soon make him take a verbal shot at someone else in the room, more than likely it would be himself.

“So when are the bad guys going to get here already?” That was Kennedy, speaking from somewhere behind him and Angel stopped a growl. Spike might be impatient but he was old enough to not rush a fight but the young slayer didn’t have enough experience yet.

Thankfully it was Buffy who calmed her down. “Hey, the longer we wait the more time they have to do the spell. That is of the good in my books.”

“Besides the less fighting we do the less of a chance Peaches gets his hair mussed.” Spike looked at him and grinned, ready to start on a round of their particular brand of snarking but before Angel could tell him to shut up the lighting flashed again.

Suddenly the windows to the lobby shattered, glass flying inward to cover the floor. Angel put an arm up to protect his eyes and he looked quickly around to make sure everyone was okay. Spike had a cut on his forehead but it was almost healed already. Gunn was carefully brushing glass of his front and he could hear Cordelia bitching about needing a facial under her breath.

Willow and Giles looked no worse for wear, and Giles looked at him with a serious expression. “We can’t hold the shield outside any longer than for the next five minutes or so.”

Angel nodded and raised his voice so it could be heard over the storm. “Be ready everyone.”

The shield didn’t even last the next three minutes. It broke like the glass had before, the force of the lightning seemed to be directed at the hotel. The floor was slippery from the rain that had been blown in and Angel set his feet and got ready to protect his people.

What came through the door way wasn’t a complete surprise, unfortunately. Angel had figured the little bastard would show up sooner of later. “Lindsey. Surprised you’re working with Wolfram & Hart again, I wouldn’t have thought they were going to let you live.”

“What can I say Angel? They might want to kill me but they’d much rather crush you, and you know what they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. We’ve managed to come to a mutual agreement. I help them make your life a living hell, and I get to go on my way. I believe you have detained my liaison to the Senior Partners though, I’d like her back please.”

Angel cocked his head to the side as if he was thinking about it. “I’m going to go ahead and say no. In fact, I think that after the witches are done with her, I’d like to find out just how loud your little girlfriend can scream.”

Buffy flashed him an odd look, as if she couldn’t believe what he was saying. He just shook his head slightly. He didn’t really feel like explaining to his ex his history with Lindsey.

“Please, I might be fucking her but that doesn’t mean I give a damn. I’m just trying to fulfill my obligation, and your new friends are trying to put a stop to that. I can’t allow them to succeed.”

“Then it seems we’re going to do this the hard way. Fine with me. In fact I’m looking forward to it.”

“Well then, I guess I shouldn’t keep you waiting.”

Lindsey leapt forward, a sword clutched in his new hand. Angel met his attack, blocking his blow and then used his strength to throw the man halfway across the room. As Lindsey stood up various demons came through the broken windows and through the door.

Angel could see Spike shift to game face and roar. His Childe always did love a good fight. He shook his head fondly and then turned to meet Lindsey’s attack. The former lawyer almost got in a lucky shot but Angel managed to deflect it and he grinned.

After all, he loved a good fight too.

****

Xander watched all the action from his position by the door to the room where Lorne was keeping the children. His job was to put the bite on anyone who got near the door but so far only one or two minion vampires had made it. He hated fighting vampires when he was in his full wolf form; they always left a dusty taste in his mouth.

He would shift to his halfling form, but after the silver poisoning, it would be too hard to hold. He could be human or wolf, but halfway would hurt like a bitch. So he settled for teeth and claws instead of a stake or sword.

Some sort of demon with no hair and big fangs that looked like something out of Star Wars knocked Gunn out of the way and was coming their way. Xander gathered himself on his haunches to jump when he heard a shotgun blast and the thing went down, the front of it’s face caved in. He looked up and saw Fred taking aim with a crossbow at a vampire that was about to unarm Kennedy. She made the shot clean and Xander lifted his muzzle and howled just a little. She was really good.

Things got really crazy after that. Angel was still fighting with that blonde that smelled of patchouli and mold. Spike and the others were all busy fighting various other ooglie boogies that where mostly bipedal but he didn’t recognize. There was a lot of shouting, and swearing, and every once in a while Fred would take something out with one of her guns, the sound of it echoing in the lobby and making his ears ring.

He felt a pinch on his tail and swung around. Some sort of insect thing was trying to grab hold and there were five others, two of which were dangerously close to the door. Leo was busy, fighting off some…thing that seemed to ooze. Xander used his jaws to crush them as well as he could and when that didn’t work he flung them across the room. One landed on the face of a demon about to hit Buffy with some sort of club and the blonde slayer looked surprised. He would have laughed if he had the time.

Xander had turned to watch as Leo orbed the demon to the top of the lobby and then let it go before orbing back to the door. Xander winced as he heard the squish of whatever it was, it had been some sort of jelly demon or something with no bones but evidently it couldn’t survive being splattered.

All during the fight though the Halliwell’s chant had grown louder. He didn’t pay attention to the words, but he could make out the command for Wolfram & Hart to be bound to do no harm. He really hoped it would work.

His attention moved to Angel when he heard the vampire growl. Lindsey had slipped through his lover’s defenses and had managed to stick a sword through his gut. He howled but kept his position, despite the fact that he wanted to run over there and help.

Spike was under no constraint to stay and protect the kids though, Xander saw his other lover’s head snap around at the sound of Xander’s call and he could hear the younger vampire’s growl even over the din of the other’s fighting and the witch’s chant.

Spike ran at Lindsey, kicking out and catching the other man behind the knee. Lindsey collapsed and Spike pulled the sword out of Angel. Angel got to his knees and gave Spike a look and then both vampires looked over at him. Xander waved his tail and then tore the throat out of a demon that had gotten too close and they all went back to fighting.

Still it had been a nice moment. Like karma or something. It was like he could feel their connection, even though it was a new thing. It made him feel safe.

Xander shook his head and sneezed from the smell of one of the powders either Willow or Paige was using. Willow blew something at a human looking opponent and he dropped like a sack of bricks.

Just then Xander heard Eve scream and he looked over. Phoebe and Paige were holding her down while Piper cut off a fairly large chunk of hair. As it was thrown into the cauldron they’d set up for the potion on their makeshift altar, the three sisters ended their chant.

“We call upon the power of the Charmed Ones to bind these people from doing harm. By the power of three times three, as we wish it so mote it be!”

The floor started to move and Xander got closer to the doorway, right under the arch. The others hadn’t seen the sisters vanquish someone before, but he had and wanted to be out of the line of fire. The earthquake was a short one but strong, and one of the chandeliers in the lobby fell onto a vampire Giles was about to stake, effectively taking the demon out for him. With the Spell finished they dropped the protective circle and Piper came out blasting away with her powers. Several demons blew up, including another one of those jelly things like Leo had dropped. As is splattered it got both slayers covered in greenish slime.

He hated trying to laugh in wolf form, it always sounded like he was choking. But really, the look on both their faces was priceless. The fighting had mostly stopped and he could hear Cordelia telling Buffy what a good look that was on her.

“What the hell?” Lindsey was trying to use his sword against Angel again but wasn’t able to get closer than a foot before he was stopped by some invisible shield. Xander looked over at Leo and the White Lighter seemed to think it was safe to they left the door and Xander went to lean against Spike’s legs as they watched Lindsey batter at the invisible barrier.

Paige laughed. “It’s like watching some bad cartoon, you’d think he’d get the picture and stop trying by now.

Xander was bone tired; he didn’t think he could even shift back to human without a big meal with lots of carbohydrates and a few hours sleep. Spike reached down and patted him behind the ears and he could feel himself relaxing. Still it was fun to watch especially as Angel smirked at his opponent, egging him on.

Piper finally called a stop to it. “Quit teasing the bad guy people, it’s not polite.”

“You!! You…what did you do to me?”

“We bound you from doing harm to anyone, demon or human or otherwise. That means you can’t hit anyone, can’t plot his or her demise and that stutter? I’m betting you tried to call me a rude name, which would hurt my feelings. You can’t do that either. Which means that the Senior Partners can’t use you anymore, so I think your parole is about to be up.”

As Piper spoke the ground started moving again and Xander scooted away from Lindsey, dragging Spike with him. Angel and the others followed his example and just as they all got clear of the man the floor opened up in a huge crack, swallowing the man whole.

Phoebe ran over and pulled Eve onto her feet, where she had been huddled crying in the circle. She shoved the woman into the hole. “Here! Don’t forget your liaison!”

The floor closed up behind her and the earthquake slowly stopped. Gunn had hit the floor during the rumbling and he got up and went to stand by Phoebe. Fred very carefully made her way down the stairs, and went to join Wesley. They all stood there, quiet except for the cries of the two children that Leo had gone in to get from Lorne.

Spike looked down at Xander and then over at Angel. “Well Peaches, the pup was right. They do make things blow up real good when they take ‘em out.”