|
|
Slayerettes Together Again
Callista floated after Angel into the library. They had so much to worry about with the Master being back, but all she could think about was Angels' arms around her. They were a little late but, hey, it had been worth it. Giles glared as Angel and Callie came through the door, but Callie smiled sweetly, putting every ounce of charm she possesed into it. Giles' glare faded. *I'm good* Callie thought.. She and Angel quietly took their place at the table and waited for the lecture on having to be careful and duty and plan of action blah blah. "Now, down to business." He turned to Callie and Angel. "I'm worried about you two, especially you Callie. The Master made it very clear he wants you by his side. Along with you, Angel. I don't know how soon he will strike again. Do you two have any ideas?" Angels' face was clouded with worry. "It'll be soon. We've made him mad. He won't give us anytime to prepare." Glass broke and the slayerettes spun around. "You're right about that. You're going now. There's no time left." There stood a group of particularly healthy looking vampires. Say about 30 of them. Six went after Buffy, three after Giles, one each after Cordy, Xander and Willow, athe rest went after Callie and Angel. Buffy quickly staked the first, but was having a difficult time with the rest. Giles was in trouble as was everyone else. Angel and Callie were quickly overwhelmed and knocked unconcious. One vampire threw Callie over his shoulder and two more grabbed Angel and suddenly all the vampires were gone, leaving behind a group of shaken, confused and concerned slayerettes.
*I have to wake up* Angel commanded himself. His mind answered with *Why?* *Because we're in big trouble and Callie could be hurt* With that his eyes finally obeyed and opened. He surveyed the room around him. It wasn't a room really, more like a prison cell, with steel bars. He sat up and brushed against something warm. "Callie." He pulled her into his lap, supporting her head with his arm. He checked her for injures, but aside from the bump on her head, she had remained untouched. "Come on Callie, you have to wake up. I need you awake." He shook her and slapped her cheeks gently. Reluctantly her eyelashed fluttered. Then slowly opened. "Angel?" "Right here." She looked around her and shuddered, realization sinking in. She wrapped her arms around Angel, like she never wanted to let go. He held her realizing how scared she was. He could feel it almost as if it were his own. "It'll be okay. We'll get through this." He laid his cheek against her hair. "Yes, everything *will* be okay. Once you are mine once more." The Master stood there grinning. He was enjoying himself. There were 10 vampires behind him. "Restrain them" The vampires opened the door to the cell and Angel and Callie sprang to their feet. They backed into a corner, knowing there was no way out. Five went for Angel and five for Callie, the fight was over in moments. The Master stepped into the cell carrying an old book. (big surprise an old book) "It will take awhile to find away to release your dark sides, right now though, I'll settle for a mind controlling spell. You two will rule by my side, together you are unstoppable." Callie tried to break away, but the vampires were too strong. Her mind lost its' focus as the Master began to chant. She felt her control draining away to be replace with a pressure forcing her resistance back. She screamed in pain and felt Angel do the same. She used the last of her strength and control to reach out to Buffy.
Back in the library Buffy and the rest of the gang were frantically trying to map out a plan. Everyone jumped when Buffy screamed holding her head. Then stood completely still as if listening to something in her head. Buffy suddenly straightened and turned to her friends. "We're too late and now we've got major problems." "Which would be......." Xander asked. "The Master has put a spell on Angel and Callie to control their minds." Giles looked confused. "Buffy how do you know this?" "Callie used what little energy she had left to contact me. She wanted us to be prepared. She told me that the spell was too strong, she didn't know if they would be able to fight it." Willow knew the pain it caused Buffy having to fight Angel again. "Buffy..." "Will, it's not going to be like last time. We'll find a way to snap them out of this. Callie said there was a way, we just have to find it. Which means we need her and Angel here." "Buffy, I know a way to break the spell.....but, Angel and Callie will have to help us, which means we need to find a way to reach them." Xander broke in, "Look, I never really liked Angel, but he'll try to fight this. I know he would never hurt us. But, I like Callie, she'll be doing everything she can to fight this and help Angel fight it. No spell could be as stubborn as those two." Xander odd streak of loyalty gave everyone strength. They decide to have Willow go out "alone" as bait with the others watching from nearby. They would start that night. Something told them that the Master wouldn't be able to resist rubbing this in their faces.
Callie fell to her knees, and oddly, besides the weakness she felt great. Free of her concience, she turned to Angel and he smiled back at her. He grabbed her and kissed her lips with rough passion. They were going to rule together. Even as this was happening, Angel and Callie were fighting for control. They quickly gave up, deciding to save it for when the time was right. And it could count for something. It was weird though, they were watching what took place around them from the back of their minds. They only hoped that they wouldn't hurt their friends. Giles had been right. The first thing the Master had done was send Callie and Angel after the slayerettes. They saw Willow and were filled with glee. The Masters control over them was almost complete. They were a little shocked when Buffy jumped out of the bushes. Buffy managed to pin Angel and was about to hit him with a piece of wood when she faltered. Angel fought to the surface. "Buffy! Do it! While I still have control!" Buffy swung the branch connecting with Angels' head. She fell to her knees next to him. She kissed him and then tied his hands. She stood up, Xander, Willow and Giles really had their hands full with Callista. Callie knocked Xander down and wrapped her hands around his throat. Suddenly she screamed and threw herself off. She looked up at Buffy. "Buffy! Now! I can't control this much longer and you'll need our strength later!" Buffy nodded and brought the club down on Callista. The teens stood there, feeling numb. It never got any easier to fight your friends. Even if you were the Slayer. Later, after they had moved Callie and Angel into the library, and they were safely tied to chairs, they began to make preparations for the spell. Callie and Angel would have to be put into a trance like state for the spell to work. In a trance their true personalities could surface. The only thing was it could only be done on one person at a time. They decide on helping Callie first so that she could then help Angel break free.
Waiting until they regained conciousness, Giles did the ritual that would put Callista into a trance, then came the difficult part. Breaking the Masters' control. Giles began to chant and the girl in front of him began to writhe. Everyone in the room could feel Callie fighting for control with everything she was. Buffy knew that she wasn't doing it for herself, she was fighting for Angel. The girl in front of the slumped as Giles finished the chant. Everyone held their breath waiting for a sign. They got one. The girl flexed her muscles and the ropes snapped. The look in her eyes, promised revenge for the pain she suffered. The Slayerettes felt a stab of fear, which quickly faded as Callista knelt in front of Angel and kissed him gently. She stood and turned to those behind her. "Now. Lets get Angel back." As Giles looked at the girl, even he had to admit she looked dangerous. She was dressed in light leather pants, a teeny tiny v-neck shirt, boots, and a leather jacket. Her brief loss of control had changed her clothing preferences slightly. Everything was her except the pants. She seemed to sense his thoughts and looked down at herself. "Ick! What was I thinking!" With that the last of the tension and doubt was gone and Callie found herself at the bottom of a dog pile made up of her happy friends. She laughed and finally worked her way free. "Now guys, we have an Angel to bring back." The nodded and once again she knelt in front of the vampire. She grasped his chin in small hands and made him meet her eyes. "Giles" she said, never taking her eyes from Angels', "get going." She held his eyes reinforcing the trance. When that was in place Giles began to chant. Callie focused and reached for Angel mentally. With her added strength he broke free easily. His body slumped in the chair as Callies' had. When he opened his eyes he found himself looking into Callistas' green ones. "Callie." She pulled a small knife out of her pockets and cut away the ropes. "Welcome back Angel." Without warning he stood and wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground. She was surprised when Willow and Buffy joined the hug. Everything seemed so perfect right then. She didn't want to return to reality. She was safe in Angels' arms as he held the three of them. Slowly she backed away smiling as she turned and launched herself at Xander and oz, hugging them. He was so shocked he stood there for a moment, then returned the hug. Finally Callista turned away ran into the back room and returned a few minutes later in a pair of her tight fitting jeans that she loved so much. She smiled as she came into the room. "Do you guys want to do some damage? I think the Master could use a wake up call." She looked at her friends. "I've had it. I'm ending it. It starts tonight. I'm not running, or hiding anymore. I won't let him hurt the people I care about anymore. Tonight is the warning after this. It's war."
The Master was *not* happy. Callista and Angelus had been on a vampire killing spree the night before. He had never realized what a skilled hunter she was. She had always repressed that side of her. Now she embraced it. If she wasn't fighting him, he would have enjoyed her viciousness. But now he wanted her dead. None of the Slayerettes could believe it. Callista reveled in every vampire she killed. Only Angel wasn't surprised. He was worried. He knew she was repressing how scared she was. How much this hurt. He just had to hope she could keep it together.
Callista walked through the Graveyard. This was the first she had hunted alone. She had slipped away when the others were distracted. Her senses were at full alert and she soon found what she was looking for. Many of those things. There were at least 17 of them. She knew instantly that she was in trouble. But she was not going down without a fight. She had managed to take out three when the other four pulled her to the ground and began to kick and beat her without mercy. She just wanted it to stop. She was beyond fighting back. She was startled when she heard a growl and the vampires were pulled off of her. By the time she was able to turn to see what was happening they were all dead. In their place stood Spike. She was more than a little surpised. Ever since Angels' soul had been restored and the Master returned, Spike had disappeared. Now he was back. Seeing Spike brought back so many memories. Days long gone when Angelus, Darla, Dru, Spike and she had traveled together. There had been some good times. Spike knelt and assessed her injures. "Well luv, you're in bad shape." "Finish it Spike. Don't play games." If she had been surprise before, now she was dumbfounded. Spike gathered her into his arms and stood. "Now, luv. I don't want to hurt you. I need your help and you need mine. I've had to hide since the Master came back. We've had good times in the past. And this is for old times. Now relax and let me help you." She put her arm around his neck and finally gave into unconciousness, her head falling against his shoulder. Spike turned toward his next destination. The library. Nobody so much as turned their head when the library doors swung open. It was just Callie and oh was she in trouble. Angel was mad. He turned to glare at her and his eyes widened when he saw Spike standing there holding Callista in his arms. "Hello Angelus." Everyone spun around to face Spike. Then the noticed what he was holding in his arms. A bloody and battered Callie. Angel growled. "Spike. I didn't expect even you to do this to her. You two used to be close. I'm going to rip your throat out." "Whoa, Angelus. I didn't hurt her. I saved her pretty butt. You can ask her when she wakes up. What were you people thinking? Letting hergo out on the hunt alone when the Master has put out a contract on her life!" "We didn't *let* her. She went." Angel replied. "Give her to me." Spike did as he was told, Angel took her into the back room and laid her on a cot while Giles went to get the First Aide kit. Giles called Buffy and Willow into the room and chased Spike, Angel, Oz, and Xander out. About an hour later Giles came out followed by the girls. "She'll be fine in a couple days. You four can stop pacing before you put a hole in my floor." Giles said, with what might have been called a smile. If Giles actually did those things. "You can go see her now." Both vampires walked into the room where Callie lay sleeping. Angel knelt beside the bed and took her hand. "Oh Callie, what were you thinking!" He remembered Spike standing behind him. "All right Spike tell me whats going on." "What's going on friend, is that this time I'm on your side. You know I always had a soft spot for Callie." "Yeah, I do."
Just then they heard a soft moan and turned to see Callista open her eyes. Angel was at her side immediately. "Callie, what were you thinking or were you even thinking at all!" "Angel, please don't yell at me right now. Okay? Please?" Spike took this moment to exit the room. Angel couldn't believe how much Callie sounded like a little girl. A little girl in a lot of pain. "Okay. Not now, but later. All right?" "Okay. Angel please just hold me." Unable to deny such a simple request he climbed into bed next to her and held her. Buffy walked to the door to find Angel asleep next to Callie. She loved him so much. But he had moved on. She'd had no right kissing him after she had knocked him out. He belonged to Callista. She needed to move on too. But part of her would always love him. She returned her mind to what she was supposed to be doing. Getting Callie to drink some water. Angel opened his eyes as she entered the room.. Buffy spoke quickly, afraid of what he might say. "Uh, Giles said it's important that Callie drink plenty of liquids because of the blood loss." "I'll make sure she gets it." "Okay" she turned to go. "Buffy." She stopped and turned slowly, but didn't speak. "I'm sorry for what happened." "I know." She left.
Angel turned his attention to Callie, gently lifting her head so that he could get her to drink a little water. Her eyes opened and she looked at him questionly. "It's just water. Giles said it was important that you drink plenty of water." She nodded and obediently sipped the water. She sank back on to bed feeling slightly better. "Hey Angel?" "Yeah?" "Take me out into the library. I don't like being stuck in here. It's the weekend no one's in the school. You can move the whole cot out if you want but please?" "I'll ask Giles what he thinks. I'll be right back." He kissed her forehead and left.
After a few minutes he returned. "Giles said it would be all right as long as you sat still. Promise?" "I promise as long as you let me check my email and my webpage." "Deal." He gathered her into his arms. (for those who have their minds in the gutter, she was dressed in a long long night shirt that went down to her knees) He carried her out into the library and settled her in the chair in front of the computer, which she eagerly turned on. A few minutes later she groaned. "Oh! This is what I get for not checking my mail! 120 emails. Well there goes the next three days getting caught up." She began her mail checking duties. After about an hour. Angel came out pushing the cot. "All right thats enough for right now. You need to rest." She crossed her arms and pouted. "I'm fine right where I am." "See the one beautiful thing about you being weak is that for once I can make you listen." He laughed picking her up once more and depositing her on the cot. As much as she protested, she was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Angel pulled the sheets around her and sat back to watch her sleep. Spike came out of the stacks. "She never did like to listen. She always gave you the run around Angelus." He walked to where Angel stood. "She's a vampire, but still so much like a angelic child who gets in a lot of trouble." Spikes soft laugh and smile were actually sincere. Willow walked up to the two vampires. "Hey Spike what's with the nice stuff? I thought you liked being bad. Not that I'm complaining. I don't want two little holes in my neck. Big no to that. But what's going on?" "One the Masters hunting me. He's not too happy about me roasting the Annoying one. Two I like Callie. She was always good to me and fun to be around. I'm not about to let some idiots kick her around." Buffy laughed. "You expect us to believe that?" "I do." Everyone stared at Angel as if he had grown another head. "Spike and Callie were always close. She trusted him with her life. If she did, so do I."
Three hours later Callie opened her eyes and looked around. Everyone was busy and paying no attention to her. She quietly got up and managed to get to the phone without being caught. She dialed Cordielias' phone number. "Hey Cordy. Could you do me a favor and bring me some clothes? You know like my normals style. Tight jeans, my boots, tank top?" "Sure be there in a few." "Thanks. Bye." "Bye" Callie quietly crept back into the library and to bed without being seen. She sat with her legs swinging in the air waiting for Cordy. When Cordielia walked in carrying a bag of clothes everyone turned to look at the smirking Callista. "Hi Cordielia! Thanks alot. You know you guys aren't real observant." With that she went in the back room to dress. She came back. and all Angel could do was shake is head. "I can't believe you can stand in those shoes! The heel is two inches high. Your balance isn't that great yet. You-" Callie had heard more than enough. She walked up to him, and grabbed his face, kissing him passionately. Now that Angel is subdued she turns to a laughing Spike. "Well, Spike I guess I owe you a thank you." Spike continued to laugh. "No, I think you more than paid me back. Putting Angel in his place. Best thing I ever saw." Spike dissolved into hysterics again. "I always was good at that huh?" "You were the best love." Callista laughed and launched herself at Spike, who easily caught her and spun her in a circle. She saw the astonished faces of her friends. (Not Angel, he was still in stunned mode.) "Hey, I told you guys that there were some good times. It wasn't all blood and murder. Spike actually has a great sense of humor. You might try giving him a little more credit." Sobering she turned to Spike. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't mean it. I was just so out of it. I....." Spike hugged her again. "I know love don't worry about it." All the attention Spike was giving to Callie finally woke Angel up. He walked up and took Callistas' hand. She squeezed his hand gently telling him he had nothing to worry about. Xander decided to go with this having fun thing. "Hey, since Callie is doing okay, why don't we go to the Bronze?" Callie loved the idea. "Sounds great Xander. Having fun always helps me feel better." "Callie are you sure you're up to this?" Once again Angel was being a mother hen.. "Angel, look at my face. You know what this expression means. I'm going. I'm going to have to face the Master soon, so I'm going to have as much fun as I can until then. All right?" "Okay. Just be careful. You know I love you." "I know. I love you too." Buffy choked. It had taken Angel two years to say that too her. Callista and Angel had been involved a few months and look! She told herself that she wasn't being rational. Callie and Angel had actually been together for over a hundred years. But she really didn't care.
Callista was having fun. She had danced with Oz, Xander, then Angel, and was now dancing with Spike. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much. And now she realized she was ready to face the Master. Tomorrow night. She knew she could die and that was why she was determined to enjoy tonight. After finishing the night off with a dance with Angel, they decided to leave. *Well, I might as well let them know about tomorrow.* Callie turned towards her friends. "Guys. Theres something I need to tell you. I'm ending it tomorrow. I'm going to challenge him tomorrow." Surprisingly nobody argue they just said that they would meet her in the library tomorrow morning to work out a plan. Angel would get there by sewer. Angel and Callie turned for home. (She was living with him. Where else is she supposed to go. oh and by the way. Get your heads out of the gutters.) Angel was very quiet the whole way. They stopped outside the door. Angel looked like he was going to say something but changed his mind. He opened the door and walked in. Callie followed him wrapping her arms around him from behind. He turned and looked into her emerald eyes. "Callie, I'm worried. The Master isn't going to go down easy. I just don't want to loose you." "I know and I don't want to loose you either. But with all of us working together, we can win. Angel, I just don't want to be afraid anymore. Of him. Of what he might do." Tears fell from her eyes as she remembered the night when the Master had changed everything. It tore Angel apart to see her in pain. He did the only thing he could. He pulled her close and kissed her promising to stay with her to the end. The kiss deepened and they were pulled together by their desperation. Angel began kissing her shoulders and her neck. Then her lips again. After an eternity they broke apart. Callie leaned into Angels' strength. She need all the support she could get for tomorrow night. He kissed the top of her head. "You need to rest. Go to bed. I'll see you in the morning." "Okay. Good night." She turned towards her bedroom. She stopped. "Angel? I'm scared, could you......please?" "All right. Get dressed and I'll be in." "Thank you." She quickly changed and told Angel it was okay to come in now. He came in and found her staring at her bed like it would bite her. He came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "It's all right. I'm here. I'll be here the whole night. You're safe." She leaned weakly against him and he lifted her into his arms and placed her on the bed. He crawled to the other side and put her head on his shoulder and held her, hoping to give her some peace.
By 10:00 all the slayerettes were assembled in the library. Buffy and Callie were going through the weapons locker, deciding on their accessories. Callie chose one of the two crossbows, put a dagger in each boot, and disguised one dagger as a hair clip. Buffy chose a cross bow and a few stakes. She handed a couple to Callie. "Can't be too careful." Callie hid these up her the sleeves of her leather jacket. She turned to face the group. "Okay, heres the deal. I'm fighting the Master. Buffy, Spike and Angel are keeping vampires off my back and you four are getting any they miss. So get your stakes crosses, holy water, heck get a dagger. They'll work in a pinch. Other than that I'm solo." She turned from the group and went into the stacks, under the pretense of doing some research. Buffy and Angel exchanged a look, then Angel followed Callie into the stacks. He found what he knew he would, Callie huddled on the floor, making sure she did not let her emotions show. He knew she was terrified and she had every right to be. "Callie, come on. You know you can't hide your feelings from me." He knelt in front of her. "Yeah, but I can hide them from Buffy and everyone else and from myself. Angel, I know your worried, but I can't let myself feel right now. Not until this is over. Which by the way, is in a few hours. So lets get back." Angel sighed and stood up. He extended a hand to Callie, which she took. When she was on her feet, she kissed him tenderly. "I love you. No matter what, know I love you forever." "I know. I love you too." The day passed quickly....too quickly. Soon the sun dipped below the horizon and Callie braced herself. It ended tonight. One way or the other.
They stood outside the entrance to the Masters' lair. Callista was ready and eager. Even Buffy wouldn't have wanted to take her on at that moment. "All right guys. It's time. Remember what I said, cover my back but other than that stay out of it." Callista took Angels' hand and led him a little ways away from the others. They looked into each others eyes, saying more than words could express. He grabbed her arms and pulled her against him roughly. He took her chin in his hands and kissed her fiercly, passionately. They both knew that this could be the last kiss that they shared. Slowly he released her and watched her walk away.
"Lets see how funny you think this is!" Grinning roguishly he reversed their positions so that now he was straddling her stomach. She looked at him and then laughed harder. She attempted to tickle him off of her but laughing he grabbed her wrists and held them above her head. She laughed harder still until she realized how close he was to her now. Their eyes met and slowly his lips met hers. She felt the familiar tingle his touch always brought and the kiss became more passionate. Suddenly she was the one on top hanging on for dear life. She was not happy when she heard a rustling in the bushes. "Angel..." "I heard it. They picked a really bad time." They walked towards the bush to find Xander spying on them. Angel was more than annoyed, in fact he dragged Xander, by the hair, all the way back to house and Callie literally kicked him into the house. She took a deep breath and composed herself. "XANDER! YOU ^$%&&^%&^^/! Poor timing very poor timing!!! I should let Angel rip your throat out!" Buffy and Willow looked up severly. "What did he do now?" "He was spying on us." Angel answered. Antartica held more warmth than his voice. "And he interrupted something important!" Callie added. "Yeah, they were mating." Xander didn't seem to realized how much trouble he was in. "Xander!" Willow was angry. "What now you're spying on Callie and Angel. Why he's not with Buffy anymore! Get a life!" Xander looked shocked. Callista laughed and the tension broke. "Oh well, this is the most fun I've had in a long time." Things were pretty good. "Cordy, do something with him!" "Oh I will." Callie walked away laughing at the frightened look on Xanders' face.
send feed back to:
Buffy589@aol.com
|
This page has been visited
|
