Hellmouth

Episode One

by Davros41

Air molecules were displaced with a ferocity bordering on violence and local space/time wasn't able to fight back. An object, hazy at first, then taking on definition, started to materialise. With one last 'thunk', it became solid and blue.

A door opened in the front of the 'Police Box' and a young woman stepped out. She had collar length dark hair and wore blue denim jeans and a plain white t-shirt.

"Doctor!," she called back into the box. "This doesn't look much like Disneyworld."

A man appeared in the doorway, stepped out and carefully locked the door behind him. He wore a fawn frock coat over a white cricketing sweater and striped trousers. Fair hair hung down to the collar of his coat.

He looked around himself. They were in a graveyard. That much was obvious from the monuments grouped around the TARDIS' landing site under a tree. Another thing he noticed was that it was dark. They had arrived after sunset.

The Doctor frowned and thrust his hands deep into his trouser pockets.

"Well, we might be nearby," he said. "The TARDIS did indicate we have arrived in America."

"Great! You got me home almost before we started out. Thanks, Doctor!"

"I did my best," he protested.

She scowled. "When have we arrived?" she asked him.

"I'm not sure," The Doctor admitted. He took a pair of half moon spectacles from his pocket and placed them on his nose. He studied a nearby gravestone.

Peri was looking about herself. At least it wasn't cold. A new moon appeared from behind drifting cloud.

"This is interesting," said The Doctor.

"What's interesting?" she asked dutifully.

The Doctor removed his spectacles. "We're in the late 20th Century," he announced. Peri looked quizzical. "This stone," he said, gesturing at the stone before him, "gives a date of death of 25th July 1997. The earth is freshly turned. This poor soul must have just been buried."

Peri moved to examine the stone, kneeling next to The Doctor.

"Mary Elizabeth Bell," she read. Then she looked at the dates. "She was only twenty years old."

Suddenly a hand shot up out of the earth in front of Peri. She fell back with a scream.

A woman, her face deformed by hooded eyes and a prominent forehead, climbed out of the grave. She had wild eyes and large fangs, which she bared in Peri's direction with a growl. Peri scrambled in the grass, trying to get up.

The Doctor intervened, but she threw him aside like a rag doll. She reached for Peri.

Suddenly the woman, Mary Bell presumably, was flying backwards. A girl, about Peri's age, stood between them.

The girl was dressed in black t-shirt and slacks. She had long blonde hair tied back and a pointed stick in her hand.

"Why not pick on someone your own size?" she told the woman, who, by way of reply, lunged at her.

The girl kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying backwards again. They fought like this for a couple of minutes, the girl making the occasional wisecrack. Then Mary Bell got too close and the girl stabbed her.

The effect was instant. Bell exploded in a shower of dust. The girl pocketed the stake and dusted off her hands.

The Doctor had struggled to his feet. "Thank you," he said to the girl as he helped Peri get to her feet.

"What just happened?" Peri asked, staring at the girl in awe.

The girl sighed, as if this sort of thing happened all the time. She pointed to the pile of dust.

"That was a vampire. I'm the Slayer. Simple really." She held out her hand for shaking. "I'm Buffy, by the way."

"Vampires!" scoffed Peri. "Vampires don't exist."

"I'm afraid they do, Peri," The Doctor said, brushing dirt from his fawn frock coat. "The Human variety are descended from the Great Vampires of Gallifreyan legend."

"You sound like my Watcher," Buffy commented.

"I heard that," said a voice from behind her. A man emerged from behind a tomb. He wore glasses and a tweed jacket and Peri thought he looked like a librarian. He spoke with an English accent.

The man stepped forward and offered his hand to The Doctor. "I'm Rupert Giles. I'm the librarian of Sunnydale High School." Peri sniggered.

The Doctor returned the handshake. "I'm The Doctor and this is my companion, Peri. Sunnydale, did you say?"

Giles nodded. "Have you been here long?"

"Just arrived," The Doctor admitted. "To an, interesting welcome." The Doctor looked towards Buffy.

She shrugged. "I just saved your lives, nothing special," she said with sarcasm evident.

"So, you've got a vampire problem?" The Doctor inquired mildly.

"You could put it like that," Giles replied. "Why don't we go back to the library and we can swap notes on vampires?"

"Sounds like a bundle of laughs," Buffy said to Peri. Both girls laughed.

*

Back at the library, The Doctor and Peri were introduced to two more teenagers, Xander and Willow. Xander had dark hair and seemed very interested in Peri, while Willow was a shy seeming girl with long red hair.

After Giles had filled The Doctor in on the situation, The Doctor thrust his hands into his pockets. His face was grim.

"Sounds more like an infestation than just a problem," he said.

"One of the benefits of living on the Hellmouth," Xander quipped. "Life is never dull."

"Hellmouth?" The Doctor inquired.

"A gateway to demonland," Buffy said. "Anything nasty you can imagine, it's here at the Hellmouth."

The Doctor smiled slightly. "I can imagine many nasty things, most of which have no place on Earth. Now, tell me about these demons."

Again Giles and The Doctor went off into a discussion of things unnatural. Xander turned to Peri.

"So, where are you from?"

"New York, 1984," she said automatically. She received strange looks from the three teenagers.

"1984?" Xander inquired.

She nodded, committed to forging ahead. "The Doctor has a machine that can travel in time," she admitted.

Buffy, Willow and Xander looked at each other. "Well, is it really any stranger than vampires and demons running around loose?" Willow asked reasonably.

Buffy shrugged. "I suppose not," she decided.

"So, you've never seen Friends?" Xander asked Peri. She shook her head. "You don't know about the O.J. trial?"

"What's an O.J.?" Peri asked.

Xander just smiled. "You've got a lot of catching up to do," he told her.

The Doctor and Giles had stopped talking. Both looked like they had lost a dollar and found a dime.

"What's wrong?" Peri asked them.

The Doctor looked up. "Well, we could be wrong, but it seems Sunnydale could be in trouble. Big trouble!"

*

Across Sunnydale, a deserted factory wasn't as deserted as most people thought it was. It was the home of a couple of visitors to Sunnydale. Nocturnal visitors.

Spike was every inch the modern vampire about town. From his spiked blond hair to his designer shoes, he liked to keep up with the times. He had been keeping up with fashion for over a century now.

Drusilla was a bit more old fashioned. She prefered long dresses to short skirts and high heels. Then again, she wasn't in her right mind either.

Spike sat at the table, his feet up on it, smoking a cigarette. Drusilla sat opposite, nibbling on a freshly killed rat Spike had brought back from his evening hunt. He had already eaten.

Suddenly Drusilla dropped the rat and her eyes went wild. She gasped.

Spike was at her side in an instant. "What is it, Dru? What can you see, my love?" His accent, like Giles', was English.

Drusilla groaned. "Patterns, colours. Swirling, like a vortex. Pretty."

Spike sighed. While she had a definate talent for seeing the future, her scattered mind made it difficult to bring it all into focus.

"Concentrate, love. Try to see what it all means."

Drusilla gasped. "He's here!"

"Who's here, darling? Someone to help us?"

She shook her head, which led to a fit of the shakes all over. Spike held her, waiting for the fit to die down.

"The ancient enemy. One of them has arrived here," Drusilla whispered as the shaking subsided.

Spike sighed again. "We already know there's a Slayer in Sunnydale, babe. And she's a she, not a he."

"No, one from the time before Slayers. From the great legends. One with the burning blood."

Spike didn't know many vampire legends, he didn't go in for all that learning stuff. But this one he did know. It said that the vampires on Earth were descended from an ancient race of space travelling vampires. These in turn were hunted almost to extinction by another race who could travel in time and whose blood burned vampires on contact.

"That's impossible, my love. It's just an old legend. They never come true. Well, almost never."

"He's here!" Drusilla screamed, before collapsing in his arms, unconscious.

"Whatever you say, my dear," Spike said gently, lifting her effortlessly and carrying her through to her bed.

*

The Doctor and Giles were dashing about the library, searching out ancient texts from among Giles' collection of myths and legends. The teenagers watched the activity with interest and amusement.

"I've never seen him move so fast," Buffy said of Giles.

"He's actually quite spightly, for a man of his age," Willow added. "Please don't tell him I said that."

"Here it is!" Giles exclaimed, clutching a book he had found. The Doctor stopped his search and joined the librarian at the table.

"What have you found, guys?" asked Xander. "The Devil's recipe for chocolate brownies?"

"This is no time for jokes," Giles told him. "The Doctor suspects an ancient evil could be buried under Sunnydale."

"Surprise, surprise," Buffy said sardonically.

"Actually, it's not your common or garden Earthly demon," The Doctor told her. "It's a being from another world!"
"You mean as in 'alien'?" asked Xander. "Wonderful. As if we didn't have enough problems with vampires and ordinary demons, now we've got alien monsters as well."

"Is there such a thing as an ordinary demon?" asked Willow.

"I don't really know," Buffy admitted. "Maybe it should be an exam question. Ordinary demon or alien demon? Discuss."

Giles sighed heavily. "Ignore them, Doctor. This is how they deal with the stresses of Slaying and the Hellmouth in general."

The Doctor smiled. "Understandable, in the circumstances," he said mildly.

The joking had died down now. Giles cleared his throat. "Now, Doctor, can you tell them what you told me?"

"Well, it happened about twenty five years ago, in linear time. To cut a long story short, an old enemy of mine helped to release a being of immense power from a long period of hibernation. But for the brave intervention of a friend of mine, Azal, last of his people, the Daemons, would have crushed the planet Earth like an egg."

"How does this effect us now?" asked Buffy, all business now that danger seemed to be just around the corner.

"When The Doctor mentioned this incident in passing, I remembered an ancient text I had seen, here in the library." Giles opened the book in front of him. "Quote, 'Beware the Hellmouth, for all manner of demons dwell here. Most feared among them is Bezel, brother of Azal. The two of them sleep, Azal at Devil's End, Bezel at the Hellmouth. Death will stalk the world should either awake.'"

"It seems Azal was not the last of his people after all," The Doctor noted.

Peri piped up. "When you said an old enemy, Doctor, did you mean The Master?"

"The Master?" Buffy exclaimed. "You knew him?"

"Yes," The Doctor admitted. "He was my oldest and most persitant enemy. Apart from the Daleks, of course."

"But didn't he die on Sarn?" Peri asked.

"OK, now I'm confused," Buffy told them. "I killed the Master, here in Sunnydale, about six months ago. I don't even know where Sarn is."

"I think we're talking about different people here," Giles clarified. "Our Master was a vampire. Was yours?"

Peri shook her head before The Doctor could speak. "No, he was a bearded meglomaniac who died a fiery death on an alien world. Didn't he, Doctor?"

The Doctor thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his trousers. "Well, The Master has got out of situations like that before, but it did appear he had finally died in the flames."

"So, he isn't here to try and raise this demon guy," she reasoned.

The Doctor looked around the circle of hopeful young faces and sighed. "There is more than one way of raising a daemon," he told them sadly.

*

Elsewhere in Sunnydale, a mass was being held. A black mass.

Robed and hooded figures chanted ancient words of power, words not heard by Human ears for centuries. Candles flickered in the darkness. Shadows seemed to dance in the eerie light they created.

"OGOTER USSAWBM ALEHT TNEW YRAMTA HTERE HWY REVE," chanted the leader of the coven. The rest followed suit.

The leader lifted his hands to the sky. "EKO EKO BEZEL!"

"EKO EKO BEZEL," repeated the followers.

The ground rumbled beneath their feet. Dust was shaken free from the ceiling, spiralling down onto the coven.

The leader threw back his head and laughed. His hood slipped from his head.

If Giles or Buffy had been there they would have recognized Ethan Rayne.

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Episode Two

by Trivial Keithy

The ceremony reached its peak. Ethan felt pure energy flow through his body. Some called it magic, others mana but Ethan had spent half a lifetime devoted to the chaos arts and he knew a portal into the howling furies that existed outside of space and time when he made one. And so it begins! He cried, as flickering tongues of light lapped at the walls. Now is the time of chaos most fallen, in the name of Janus I summon thee Bezel!

*

Argh! Pain lanced through the Doctors body like a thousand swords. He crashed to the floor, curling up instinctively into a ball.

Doctor, whats wrong? Whats happening? Peri ran over to her fallen friend. What is it?

Time, being torn apart...remade. I feel, I feel like someones walking over my grave. He started to shudder.

Peri tried to take his pulses but couldnt wrestle his hand free. Whats happening? She demanded for the second time.

Body feels like fire, burning. Too much pain Peri, too much pain. The Doctor winced as the pain coursed through his body. Might reg...nngh!

Peri tried to hold back her tears and put on a brave face for her friend. Fight it Doctor, fight it.

Goodbye Peri, time to say goodbye. He squeezed the hand of his companion tightly before his grip loosened.

No. Peri shouted, no! She could hold back her tears no more and they fell onto the Doctors still chest.

*

Ethan looked at the strange raven-haired woman; surely this wasnt the mighty Daemon Bezel. Who are you? He demanded.

Foolish creature, dont you know its impolite for the food to ask questions? This is Earth? Good. Casually the newcomer walked over to Cecil, one of Ethan followers, and ripped his head off his shoulders. She fed on his blood for several long and dragging minutes before she finished. That really hit the spot. Here catch. She threw the head to its master, Ethan. It feels almost like an eternity since I last fed.

Ethan tried to hide his anger and his fear. If youre not Bezel then who the hell are you? She was like a cat playing with a pigeon, any second now she was going to go for the kill.

You can call me Ruath, mortal. She paused for a second. Mistress Ruath. Throwing back her head her long dark hair whipped through the air and brushed lightly against the humans skin. She laughed, displaying her long canine teeth prominently. Oh its been too long since I had the chance to talk to anyone. Please me human and I will let you live.

Not for the first time Ethan wished he had a crucifix about his person, holy water would do at a pinch. Where was Rippers Slayer when she was needed? He asked himself.

*

Buffy felt the Doctors neck for a pulse, while Willow comforted Peri, but there wasnt one. Im sorry, hes dead. I think that whatever got him may come back. We should go somewhere else. Somewhere where invisible alien demons cant get at us. Whats the plan Giles?

Err I, erm. I dont know anywhere thats safe from invisible alien demons. To cover his frustration he was forced to remove his glasses and clean them.

So the G-Man isnt the font of all wisdom? Xander stated what everyone else was thinking.

I thought I told you never to call me that again Xander? Giles glared at the young student.

I never said they were invisible. The Doctor stood up. Stay calm, I am the Doctor, despite my new appearance.

You dont appear to have changed much there Doc, in fact youre looking just as much Giles Two as you were before. Xander high-fived a rather puzzled Willow.

The Doctor ignored the American youth. My people can regenerate at the point of death, we can literally become new people. Of course we look quite different. Can I have a mirror please? He held out his hand expectantly.

Willow opened her purse and pulled out a small mirror. Here you go. She handed it to the strangely dressed man.

The Doctor adjusted the mirror to see his new face but he couldnt see anything. Is this a real mirror? It doesnt seem to be working.

*

Drusilla shrieked. She could feel the joy of power flooding her mind. It was like fingernails in babies eyes, it was the delightful agonies of death. Shes here, shes here!

Whos here love? Spike folded his newspaper up and placed it on the desk by his chair. Come on Dru talk to daddy. Two visions in one night, this was unheard of.

His Mistress has arrived. Shes so cruel and nasty. She likes to hurt people in very pretty ways. She makes me feel all tingly in my toes with her wickedness. Drusilla laughed giddily, she could feel the power the new arrival possessed. Shes not afraid of the ancient enemy, she is one of them!

The blonde haired vampire jumped to his feet and punched the air. All bloody right! About time we had some luck on our side for a change. The constant interference by the Slayer in his plans has done a lot to Spikes plans to suck the marrow out of this town. I think its about time we met our new best friend.

Drusilla laughed again. Then we can all have cake and tea. Miss Emily likes cake and tea Spike.

Miss Emily can have all the cake and tea she can bloody well like my love, once we solve our Slayer problem. Spike patted the china doll on its head.

*

Hes a vampire! Buffy leapt over the railing stake in hand, ready to kick alien vampire ass.

No! Peri stood in front of the Doctor. Youre not a vampire are you Doctor, tell her youre not.

Look your friends a demon and Im sorry hes dead but thats not him anymore. Buffy pulled Peri out of the way.

Yes he is. Angel stood in the doorway of the library with Cordelia standing slightly behind him. Id know if he was a vampire.

We didnt see anything on patrol, not that you obviously care one way or the other. Cordy hated not being the constant centre of the Universe and she was forever reminding people that she was way more important than they were.

Angel. Buffys heart skipped a beat. It skipped several more when she saw his shirt was only half fastened. So what is he then?

He is a vampire. Giles stated suddenly. At least he will be after the next full moon.

Buffy looked at her Watcher. Ground control to the man in tweed, hes a vamp not a werewolf.

I think Mr. Giles is right. The Doctor sat down next to Xander. I was bitten by a vampire several years ago. I even started to become one but I destroyed her.

Xander caught the Doctor looking at his neck. Hey no biting or the nice Buffy will stake you in the heart.

Im a Time Lord. The Doctor sighed.

Yeah, so? Xander wasnt impressed by fancy titles.

I have two hearts.

Xander thought for a fraction of a second. Well shell stake you twice then wont you Buffy?"

*

So then Mistress Ruath, how did you get here instead of Bezel? Ethan tried to hold down his meagre dinner as the vampire finished off the last of his followers.

Simple, the portal opened and I stepped through. Do you have anymore followers? Ruath dropped the limp body of Veronica Price to the floor.

Nno. She was the last one. Ethan hoped he wasnt next on the menu.

Not to worry, Im sure I can find something later on. Has anyone ever told you that you have a very attractive neck before?

Thank you. No they havent. Old Ripper was always the ladies man, mind you. I was always the dedicated one even back then. Look at him now, he makes the Victorians look positively decadent.

Thats a fair assessment. Spike stood in the doorway smiling. Sorry to interrupt, Spikes the name. Yeah I knew a few Victorians, well you know how it is when your two hundred years old. Where were we? Oh yeah, decadent. Now Im yer modern vampire me. He took out a box of cigarettes, lit one and took a long drag. Yeah, none of this coffin rubbish and bad clothes for me. Torture, maiming and killing is where its at. None of yer poncing about, looking pale and interesting and generally making a fool of yourself in movies for Dru and me."

So youre what passes for a vampire here are you? Ruath looked the blonde spike-haired youth up and down. I see the great ones blood runs thin in your line.

Ive killed two bloody slayers so dont talk to me about thin blood missus. Spikes face slipped into its true demonic visage.

She liked the young vampires words. Calm down, I can see you have what it takes. Ruath looked at Ethan. If you value your life be somewhere else in ten seconds.

Not waiting for Ruath to count to one Ethan ran out of the door as fast as he could.

Id have killed him personally, but never mind eh? You should come with me and meet Dru. Granted shes insane but its those little things that keep a vamp interested. Besides its dawn in a few hours and we have enough room at the factory for one more.

*

Angel looked closely at the Doctor. For some reason he smelled of vampire but also not of vampire. Giles had said he wasnt a full vampire but it didnt work that way. You were bitten, you took their blood, you died and you woke up the next night a vampire. So youve been bitten? He asked again.

Yes, it was all a long time ago. I managed to kill the one who had infected me. Well actually I jettisoned her into the vortex. Of course the Vortex only affects the living. How could I have been so stupid? Shes been trapped in there all this time once inside there I was freed of the vampiric influence. If shes been freed however He let the sentence float in the air.

Then you become a vamp at the next full moon. Buffy hated unfinished sentences.

Its almost dawn, you can stay at my place. Angel offered his small abode to the Doctor. Come the morning youll be a pile of ashes if you stay here.

Hes right. Giles stated. I would let you stay at my house but its too far.

You can crash at mine Peri. Buffy offered. Moms in LA for the rest of the week so everythings cool.

Yes Im sure youll have a wonderful time at Slayerville. You can talk about medieval weaponry and dating vampires. What? Am I the only one with any sense of perspective here? Cordy looked at the others wondering why they were all staring at her for.

Thanks. Peri felt relieved to be in the company of her fellow Americans once again. It had been too long since she had been in the U.S. she felt. Youll be all right wont you Doctor?

Yes, it may be the best solution for now Peri. Ill be fine at Angels residence.

*

Drusilla felt the power Ruath possessed the moment she walked through the door. I saw you coming I did. Seen you with my own eyes I did. Youre here to fight the nasty man with the burning blood arent you?

Burning blood? Ruath hadnt heard this phrase before, despite her lifetimes of research. I dont know what you mean.

The ancient enemy, the ones who hunted us down long ago. The Lords of Time.

Oh that lot of perfidious egotists? Dont worry about it. By the time their agent realises whats going on this town will be drowning in its own blood! Ruath smiled at Drusilla. In your vision did you see who their agent is?

Not clearly, hes the medicine man. He lives in a blue box with a young lady. She has nice eyes. I like eyes, theyre soft and tasty.

Ill get you her eyes Dru. Spike enjoyed removing the eyes from his victims, preferably when they were still living and with a railroad spike. That was how he earned his name after all.

The Doctor? Why this will be interesting. I wonder, I wonder. When is the next full moon?

Spike picked up his newspaper; it had something in about the moon. Two nights time according to this.

This is good news. In two nights time the Doctor will be one of us! I can feel it in my blood! Ruath held her hands up for dramatic effect.

Both Drusilla and Spike started to laugh at this piece of good news.

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Episode Three

by imortal s8n

Ruath was enjoying the hunt. It had been a very strange experience to be trapped in the vortex. It had been a millennium of timelessness, a feeling of screaming peace as her non existent form was buffeted by imperceptible currents in the passage of time. The hunger had been bad, but the worse thing had been the voices. Voices of hundreds of sentient life forms some living , others dying in the swirling mass of the vortex. Many of them were communicating with each other and a surprising number of them were plotting elaborate revenge schemes against the one called the Doctor. She had seen lesser beings driven insane in the prison but she had had her desire for revenge to keep her focused.

This desire for revenge had kept her sane.
This desire for vengeance had driven her to Ethans time portal. She had sensed that the Doctor was near. She knew the time was right.

As Spike guided them back to the lair, she took stock of her current situation.

She was out of the vortex(This is definitely good).

She had a new coven of enthusiastic, if irritating, followers. The Doctor would soon be hers, and she was hunting again. As she drained the life from a young girl, who was out on the streets far too late for someone of her age. She was happy. Everything was going according to plan. What could possibly go wrong?

Back in the Place of the Summoning everything was still. The dead bodies of the Satanists were still warm, but, aside from the stench of death which permeated the fetid air in the cavern there was a strange air about the place. It was the sensation that the empty cavern was somehow occupied by something very large, very old and very disappointed. The anointed place had been prepared and the something very large, very old and very disappointed, instantaneously became very small, very old and very very irritated.
In one of Sunnydales oldest cemeteries, the sun was just coming over the horizon. Sunnydales cemeteries are at there most tranquil at dawn. It is too early for the warden to begin his rounds and any vampire resurrecting at this time would not have chance to come to terms with their new demonic existence before spontaneously combusting in the first rays of the new days sun.

The prominent feature in this cemetery was a life-size marble angel. This angel had stood on its stone plinth for as long as anyone could remember, watching over people who were, according to their epitaphs, "Just sleeping". In some cases this was more true than the stone mason could have ever imagined.

The marble angel turned her head from side to side surveying the lie of the land. On seeing that she was unobserved, she stepped down from her plinth, and after a few cautious flaps she extended her impossibly heavy wings and took off into the morning sky.

Ethan Rayne was packing, with the sole intention of leaving town very quickly and not coming back till everything had calmed down considerably

" Why does everything I do go wrong?" He muttered to himself "Its not like I'm asking for much, just a little power." He checked himself in the mirror and saw he looked haggard, but passable " I was only trying to summon the devil, for Christ's sake and I get some aristocratic alien vampire bitch, and I really thought it would work this time." He sighed heavily "Never mind. I'm sure Ripper and his Slayer will have sorted everything out by the time I get back from..." He looked around his room at the back of the costume shop. (After all, it was the last place anyone would think of looking for him.)"Now," he thought, "where did I put those car keys?" He was suddenly distracted by the sound of something very heavy landing lightly on the roof, directly above his head. He instinctively knew that this was never good, especially when whatever was on the roof started pacing up and down adgitatedly

Ethan grabbed his car keys and his half packed suitcase and left hurriedly by the backdoor. He would be damned if he was going go stick around now. He started rushing towards his cheap rental car and risked a glance back at the roof, just to see what was there. He was rather surprised to see a large marble angel, stood majestically on his roof, watching him intently. It appeared to be pointing at him. He stumbled, both in his steps and his words "No, its alright. I don't actually believe in angels." He smiled hopefully but his smile faded when his gaze met the eyes of the angel, which glowed with a cold, hard light. He was suddenly gripped with an uncontrollable urge to find out if he did have to be in Fiji to use his Fijian zombification curse. "And besides," he stammered " I really have to go" he waved haphazardly towards his rental car and the angel followed his gesture with her hand and pointed at the car. There was a puff of smoke from the angels fingers and the car disappeared. ha angel returned its, still slightly smoking, hand to pointing at Ethan, only this time its expressionless face seemed somehow more insistent.
Ethan dropped his keys and bag and slowly raised his hands in surrender, smiled and said "So where are we going then?"

The Doctor had spent much of the day pacing up and down in Angel's small home, pausing only to try to see himself in the small mirror that he carried with him.
"This is no good!" he shouted, still pacing "I need to be out there, doing something."
The Timelord felt foolish. He was sure that he should be used to confinement by now, after all, he had been imprisoned by the best of them. But to be held captive by daylight and to be prevented from doing what needed to be done by something that there was no way he could fight, well, it just wasn't cricket!

Giles was not happy either. His carefully put together library was yielding precious little as to the nature of the Daemon brothers that they were sure to face. Aside from the cursory mention as to their respective locations he was unable to find any further mention of them. Before leaving with Angel, the Doctor had recommended that Giles should research events at Devil's End towards the end of the late seventies. He had found mention of the destruction of the church there, but everything in addition to that seemed to have been suppressed by the British military . This was not going well. How could he advise Buffy how to kill this Bezel, if he couldn't even find out the extent of its power.

Ethan had not enjoyed his trip back to the Place of the Summoning at all. For one thing he wanted to be travelling very quickly in the opposite direction, but mainly it was because he was being carried in the arms of a very heavy marble angel which was flying at speed 200 feet above the ground. An angel which had destroyed his only means of escape with a mere gesture.

If it was possible, he was even less happy when the angel unceremoniously deposited him at the opening to the Tomb. He considered making a run for it. (It would be ironic, he thought, running away from the same place twice in one evening.) But the angel was pointing, in the same way that it had been when his car had been put out of commission. Only this time it was pointing at him. He was made even less happy when, from inside the tomb, Something called his name.

"RAYNE!, GET IN HERE." It was a male voice that sounded operatic, but at the same time like a guttural scream from a slashed throat.

Ethan was pushed crudely into the tomb by the angel. He tripped on the first step and tumbled into the tomb. He landed unceremoniously at the foot of the steps, flat on his face. The most evil laugh he had ever heard made him look up.

His followers had started the evening looking for a share in infinite power and ended up as a meal for a time travelling vampire. They had now suffered the further indignity of being made into an ornate throne. It was only ornate because of the interesting way that various body parts and limbs had been twisted into interesting shapes. Something had obviously enjoyed itself greatly making this throne.

On the throne sat a man. At least, it looked like a man at first glance. The cloven hoves, goat legs and impressive horns showed that it wasn't a man. Ethan thought It was clearly the devil himself.
"RAYNE. DON'T BE AN IMBECILE. I'M NOT THE DEVIL"
The voice dripped with sarcasm, impatience and dark, old evil.
"THE DEVIL IS JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU PATHETIC RACE IMAGINED TO TRY TO EXPLAIN MY BROTHER AND I"
Ethan was now very worried. The summoning had clearly been a success. The daemon Bezel was here in front of him and it clearly had the upper hand. He was beginning to regret his earlier actions.
"YES RAYNE, I'M HERE. I'M GLAD YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT ME OR I WOULD HAVE HAD TO DESTROY YOU!"
The demon began to carefully examine one of his claws in an ,almost, casual way
"I don't suppose that there's any point in continuing onto the confinement part of the ritual?" asked Ethan.
"NONE WHATSOEVER EVER."The Daemon smiled, t was one of the most unsettling things that Ethan had ever seen. "THERE WAS RATHER MORE TRAFFIC THROUGH THE HELLMOUTH, THAN THERE WAS AT DEVIL'S END. SO I KNOW ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF HUMANITY. I WILL NOT BE SO EASILY DISTRACTED AS MY BROTHER WAS!"
Ethan could do nothing but nod and smile disarmingly. He was afraid for his life now more than ever.
"What do you wish of me. Oh Mighty Bezel?" Ethan decided that piling on the theatrics was the best thing he could do at the moment.
"AH, I LIKE A MORTAL WHO KNOWS HIS PLACE. THIS IS MY FIRST MANIFESTATION. TRADITION DEMANDS THAT I MAKE THREE OF THESE. AT THE TIME OF MY THIRD APPEARANCE I WILL NEED THINGS TO HAVE BEEN SET IN MOTION. THESE THINGS WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. IF YOU FAIL ME I WILL DESTROY YOU AND THIS PLANET. YOU MAY GO NOW."
As Ethan ran up the steps, the angel blocked his path. The fading form of the daemon called after him. "DON'T TRY TO ESCAPE ME, RAYNE, I WILL JUST SEND BOK TO FETCH YOU, AGAIN"
Ethan looked up at the angel and realised that the fate of the world was solely his responsibility.

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Episode Four

by Trivial Keithy

It was early morning and Peri ate a light breakfast with Buffy. Buffy told Peri one or two things about school in the 1990s and how to act cool. Peri was in fact a first year college student, or she was when she left in the TARDIS to explore the Universe, but it wasnt difficult for her to pass as a senior high school student, as long as she cut back on the make up and wore one of the outfits Buffy lent her. She wasnt sure about going back to school again, but she needed to be at the library and that was on school grounds. Besides she told herself, they might have a nice principal at this school.

Welcome to Sunnydale, Miss Brown. Principal Snyder said to the newest student of his school. She was a friend of Buffy Summers and so he marked her out for special attention. Your last school report is outstanding, I expect all my senior students to excel here. He looked at Summers and noted her squirming, a classic sign of a guilty conscience. Im sure Miss Summers would like to give you a tour of the school before your first class this afternoon.

Oh gee and I was so looking forward to History Principal Snyder. Buffy hated history of course but she couldnt show any weakness to Snyder.

That would be great, Id love to see everything.

Well then dont let me detain you a second longer. Once the students had left Snyder opened a window to let some fresh air into the room. I hate this job. He complained to the world in general, but someone has to keep an eye on them.

The Doctor paced around inside Angels small room. It was almost midday and Angel was fast asleep on his small bed. Time Lords were on a much different sleep pattern to humans or vampires and so it appeared to his young friend Peri that he never slept. However he was bursting with energy and he began to read Angel's small collection of books. Hmmm I thought I had the only copy of this. Carefully he examined the leather bound tome in his hands before diving into the middle of the book to check the contents.

Ethan pored through his books. He had to find a way of controlling Bezel before the second appearance tonight. His books were useless however, there were summoning and controlling spells for the demons of Earth but there was nothing but a few vague references to beings from other worlds. Of the Daemons there was nothing save the incantation of summoning. It looks like Ill need your help after all Ripper, he said to himself. This always was your area of expertise after all. Ethan considered himself to one of the most proficient spell casters but demonology was for fools and idiots.

And this is the cafeteria. Buffy finished the tour of the school just as the bell rang for recess. Im sure after travelling to many alien worlds youre just dying for good old American cuisine?

Peri smiled. Its been a while since I saw a hotdog. Hey theres your friends over there. Peri waved to the approaching figures of Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia.

Buffy looked at Cordelia for a second. Three out of four isnt bad. Hi Cordelia, love the outfit. Its so yesterday.
Retro is back in didnt you hear? Peri I simply have to thank you for starting this new fashion craze. I can wear these shoes again. I was going to give them away to charity but me, give two hundred dollar shoes to Willow? Thank god for small mercies is what I say. Dont stand too close Xander, we dont want people to think were dating.

But we are dating Cordy.

Yes I know that but the rest of the school doesnt and Id like it to stay that way for as long as possible.

Hey enough bonding, let's eat.

Yes, I think eating is good for you. Oz was sure this was the case; he had learned it in biology so it must be true.

After lunch we can see if Mr. Giles has learned anything that can help your friend. Willow smiled; she liked libraries. There was a definite felling of security that only a lot of books could give you, or Oz. Yes, Oz was good to be around.

Ruath watched the two sleeping vampires for a few seconds; they seemed unusually close for vampires. In all of her studies she learned of only a few instances of genuine affection. Usually one vampire would rip the throat out of another to steal a few pints of blood, if not for fun. She did feel the same about him from time to time and maybe one day he would ask her to be with him but she knew how stubbornly noble he was. Fed up with waiting she dialled for a delivery of fresh meat to be made to the warehouse and when the truck arrived she fed on the delivery girl, twisting the youngsters head off to get at the brain. The meat, when properly squeezed made an excellent drink to wash her feast down with.

So whats up Giles? Find anything out? Buffy stared expectantly at the bespeckled English librarian.

Ah Buffy, Peri. Nothing much to go on yet. Ive rang round a few other Watchers, Kendra says Hello by the way, she may drop by and lend a hand if she can. No its not been a terribly good morning so far. I tried researching into Devils End as the Doctor suggested but all I got was an irate Winifred Bambara telling me it was all classified.

Kendras also a Slayer, she got called after I died. Lucky me though Xander gave me CPR and brought me back to life. Buffy filled in some of the back-story for Peri. Must be a new version of luck Ive never heard of, now that I think about it but Im grateful all the same.

Peri and Buffy sat down on the long oak table and joined Giles in researching possible leads. They didnt notice a new arrival slip quietly into the library.
Ethan made his way silently towards the demonology books kept locked inside the steel mesh box on the left hand side of the room. Without making a single sound he opened the metal container and poured through the first box. Success, it had a great deal of information about the Daemons. This was good, summoning rituals, controlling incarnations and most of all binding chants. He closed the book and returned the rest of the room back to normal when the metal door was slammed closed and locked. The slayer had captured him.

They let anyone inside here these days you know. Vampires, zombies and now scum sucking vermin.

Ethan, I told you to leave town and never return. Giles stared hard and cold at his former friends face. What do you want the book for?

Hello Ripper, I fancied a spot of light reading and Canticles of the Damned by A. Z. Sorvad seemed the perfect choice. Ethan held up the brass bound book for inspection.

Whats so special about that book? Peri saw the shocked look on the nice Mr. Giles face.

Thats the book weve been looking for all this time. Im a fool.

Thats true.

Shut up Ethan. Buffy hit the cage with a convenient bowling ball.

The bowling ball turned out to be Ozs head. So thats how baseballs feel. He stated casually before slumping to the floor.

Buffy and Giles caught the partially conscious senior and lifted him to his feet.

Hi guys, what happened to Oz? Willow stared at the giddy figure of Oz being laid out on the oak table by Giles and Buffy.

Oh Buffy accidentally used him as a heavy object to hit the cage with. Apparently hes not a nice guy. Peri pointed to the captive Ethan Rayne.

Oh him, hes a not very nice guy at all. He turned me into a ghost one time. It was kind of scary at first but it was fun after a while walking through walls. Of course I couldnt touch anything. There was this time I accidentally walked into the shower stall of the local college just after the match; it was fun. Scary, I mean scary. It was defiantly the scary thing.

Willow you voyeur! And heres me thinking you were a good girl. Buffy smiled at her best friend. Once we get that book off Ethan we can find out what hes up to.

No good I bet. Giles stated.

Having read the book three times the Doctor set it down. There was a curious hand written note in the front. To Angelus my wicked boy, love Darla. It seemed to be exactly the same edition as the one in his ship, but curiously the binding was different. This one seemed to be made of a finer and more delicate leather. It was almost as if it had been bound in; he dropped the book in disgust. It was bound in human skin.

The sound woke Angel up. Hey Doctor its not sunset yet. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Ah sorry Angel or is it Angelus?

Instantly Angels eyes opened. Its Angel. Angelus is dead, just like Darla.

Im sorry about that.

Dont be, Im not.

She obviously loved you enough to inscribe it into a book for you.

She was the one who made me into a monster, I can never forgive her. One day I may be able to simply forget.

Im sorry, youre right you need to get some rest before tonight. The Doctor turned his attention to another book while wondering why Angel had kept the book if it held so many bad feelings. Maybe it was to remind him of what he was and the humanity he had regained. I wonder if you will remember me so kindly if I become a monster, Peri.

Come on Ethan, time to talk. Buffy hit the cage with one of her wooden stakes.

Ok, ok on condition that once I tell you what you want to know you let me go free. You dont want to keep me in captivity when it comes for me again.

Well see, Ethan. Giles unlocked the door and escorted Ethan to the oak table where a now recovered Oz was talking to Willow.

Last night something happened. I was trying to summon up Bezel when something went a bit wrong.

You tried to summon a demon and something went a bit wrong? Giles shouted at Ethan. This was far worse than he dared to imagine.

Can I finish please Ripper?

Dont call me that.

Sorry Rupert. Well instead of the hairy horny daemon I expected I got this weird vampire woman, she was going to kill me when another vampire turned up, I think his names Spike, and then she told me to clear off. They left together. I was all set for leaving town when Bezel appeared to me and said something appearing tonight and tomorrow morning when he would give someone the power to rule the Earth or he would destroy it.

Do you know what youve done? Giles voice was glacial in his frosted repulsion of what Ethan had done this time. You may have condemned all life on Earth to a painful fiery death.

Yes well you have to let me go or his servent will come looking for me and believe me it will get messy, multiple bodies messy. Im the only hope this planets got, apparently.

Unable to contain his anger any longer Giles lashed out at Ethan, knocking him out with one punch.

Oh and I wanted to do that. Buffy pouted for a few seconds before smiling. Do you believe him?

Slowly Giles put the brass bound book Ethan had been trying to steal onto the table and removed his glasses. He scratched his head and took in a deep breath of air. Yes, it all fits in with what the Doctor told us last night. It looks like the world could very well end tomorrow night.

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Episode Five

by Davros41

The Doctor paced Angel's small room, hands thrust deep into the pockets of his trousers. It was well into the afternoon but already this felt like the longest day of his already long life.

Angel opened one eye. "Do you think you could keep the noise down a little, Doc?" he asked.

The Time Lord realised he was refering to his cricket boots, which were squeaking in the floor of the room.

"Sorry," The Doctor said. He seated himself at the small table in the corner.

"That's OK," Angel replied magnanimosly, closing the eye and falling, it seemed, instantly asleep.

The Doctor sighed. Was this the fate that befell him? Keeping out of the Sun for fear of burning into a pile of ash and blowing away on the wind? He would have to find a planet with a permanent dark side, he decided, and no sentient life.

Frowning at the thought, The Doctor considered the life of a hermit as the Sun sank oh so slowly over Sunnydale.

*

"Remind me why we're here and everybody else is at the school library?" Xander asked Willow.

The red haired girl looked up from the computer screen and across at her friend. "Giles thought we should divide our resources," she said patiently. "They look for answers at the school, while we check the Internet from Sunnydale library."

"But Giles has the Internet at the school," protested Xander. "They finally dragged him, kicking and screaming, into the 20th Century, just a few years before it ends."

Willow nodded. "But this way we work on two fronts. Where is the first place any Vampire is going to look for the Slayer and her friends?"

Light dawned in the young man's eyes. "At the school!"

"Right. This way, we can work undisturbed. At least, that's the theory," she finished pointedly.

Xander was silent for a moment and Willow relaxed, concentrating on the screen in front of her.

"So, what have we found so far?" Xander asked, breaking her concentration once more. Willow sighed and shook her head and the Sun sank further over Sunnydale.

*

Ethan woke up to find himself back in the book cage of that damned school library. This really wasn't on!

He rattled the door. "Now look here, Ripper. If that thing comes after me again, I will not be held responsible for the consequences."

Giles glanced up at his former friend from his position at the table, where he was studying the book Ethan had been trying to steal.

"Ignore him," Buffy advised. "He might go away." She glared at the caged man.

Ethan rattled harder. "Damn you, Ripper, let me out, before you get us all killed!"

Giles walked over to the cage. Buffy, Peri and Oz joined him. "You're really terrified of something, aren't you, Ethan?" Giles asked quietly.

"He looks ready to climb the walls," Peri commented.

"OK, so what's got you all fired up?" Buffy asked him. "Don't suppose it's little old me you're so scared of?"

Ethan sneered at her. "You'll be swept aside like all the others when Bezel takes this world." Then his face went white. His eyes widened as he stared past them, his mouth falling open in the process.

Standing in the library doorway was a carved marble angel. Slowly, the angel started walking towards them as the Sun finally set over Sunnydale.

*

Ruath was still picking delivery girl out of her pointed teeth when her two hosts stirred. Spike stretched luxuriously.

"Evening," he said, smiling at her. He shook Dru gently by the shoulder. "Come on, love, it's dark outside. Time to get up."

The Vampire Time Lady looked bored. "Why are the days on this benighted planet so long?"

Spike grinned as he lit a cigarette. "Don't worry. The nights may be short but the feasting is plentiful. Providing that damned Slayer isn't around to spoil our fun."

Ruath laughed. "You mentioned Slayers before. I remember the Slayer programme being set up, after the Great War. The Time Lords knew that, despite the fact that all the giant Vampires were killed in the War, they had spread their seed to a thousand worlds. So they came up with a training programme for those worlds, even the primitive and superstitious ones like this, to protect themselves. They created the Slayers."

"So it's not all legend and folk tale then? Bloody hell. I always thought the 'Lords of Time' were created to frighten little Vampires from straying out in the sunshine." He puffed a smoke ring at the ceiling.

Drusilla draped an arm around his shoulder. "See? Told you I did. Told you the legends were real. The ones with burning blood set the Slayers upon us. Now one of them shall pay."

"That's right love, he will pay. With his soul."

Ruath smiled to herself. How easy these primitive kids were to manipulate. A shame she would have to sacrifice them eventually. Now she could see why some Time Lords kept pets.

*

"At last," The Doctor muttered as the last rays of the Sun died on the horizon. As twilight claimed the town, Angel's eyes snapped open.

He yawned. "Are you ready to face the night, Doctor?"

The Time Lord nodded. "More than ready. Your book collection has given me a few ideas. Not all of them nice ones." He shuddered, remembering the book bound in Human skin.

"Glad to help," Angel replied. "The others will no doubt be at the school library."

"Then that should be our first port of call." The Doctor stepped out onto the street, looked around himself and realised he had no idea which way the school was.

Angel tapped him on the shoulder. "Follow me, Doc," he said, crossing the street.

The Doctor frowned. He hated being called Doc, but that's what happened when you materialized in America. Sighing, he followed the leather clad Vampire into the gathering darkness.

*

"If I ask 'what is that?', am I going to regret the answer?" Buffy said, looking at Giles.

"Bezel calls it Bok," Ethan rasped from behind them. "I think it's looking for me."

Indeed, the marble angel was now pointing towards the book cage. Seeing the crackle of energy building around it's fingers, Buffy and Giles dived aside, taking Peri and Oz respectively with them.

A bolt of lightening crashed against the cage, disintegrating the lock on contact. Ethan had the sense to be standing well away from the door.

"Do you mind? That's school property you've just destroyed!"

"Cool it Giles," Buffy said quietly. "I don't think you can reason with eight foot high marble angels given life by alien demons."

Giles nodded. "Good point, well made," he conceded.

The angel was beckoning to Ethan now. He stepped fearfully out of the cage and followed the angel to the door.

"See you when all Hell breaks loose, Ripper," he said. Then he was gone.

*

Ruath was bored. These two local Vampires seemed to be having fun, chasing teenagers and feasting on the homeless, but she was looking for some other, more interesting sport.

"This Slayer you were talking about. Where will she be?"

Spike sneered. "She'll be closeted in that school library with her Human friends and her Watcher."

Ruath smiled, revealing the points of her teeth. "Then why not take the battle to them?"

"We need to be invited over the threshold," Spike pointed out, stroking Dru's hair.

"He's right, you know," she babbled. "We needs to be asked in."

"Show me this school," Ruath demanded. "I'll get you in."

*

The Doctor and Angel were crossing the sports field when they saw a strange sight. A marble angel leading a man away from the school. The man seemed reluctant.

"Did you see that?" The Doctor asked.

Angel nodded. "When you've been here a while, you'll learn to take anything in your stride."

"Oh, I can do that," The Doctor told him. "I just didn't realise I wasn't the only one who did."

*

"Ethan's really done it this time," Giles muttered, polishing his glasses vigorously. "He's going to cause the end of the world."

"Not if we have anything to do with it," Buffy promised, though she was worried. It took something really big to make Giles this twitchy.

"What happened here?" asked Willow as she and Xander walked in. She was looking at the book cage, it's door hanging off. "Did Ethan escape?"

"Kind of," Oz replied. "This big marble angel came in and took him away."

Willow looked carefully at him. "You haven't been smoking anything... odd... again have you?" she asked quietly.

Before he could answer, The Doctor and Angel arrived. They too asked what had happened and Buffy and Giles explained their adventure.

The Doctor frowned. "So Bezel is free. This is worse than I thought."

He was about to elaborate, when Cordelia walked into the library.

"It's like Grand Central Station in the rush hour tonight," Buffy commented.

"Doctor," Cordy smiled. "I've brought a friend of yours who was waiting outside. She has the most amazing dress sense. Almost as good as me."

Everybody turned to see the woman who walked through the library doors, flanked by two familiar figures. The woman smiled a cruel smile.

"Hello, Doctor," said Ruath. "It's been a long time, even to a Time Lord." She threw her head back and laughed.

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Episode Six

by Trivial Keithy

The Doctor stared at his old friend "Ruath, I might have known. So you escaped from the vortex then?"

"I escaped no thanks to you. For an eternity I suffered but as you can see I survived."

Spike waved at the fancily dressed Time Lord. "Hello Doc, I hear congratulations are in order." He suppressed an odd shudder; he was one of the ancient enemies after all. "It's not everyday someone as powerful as you joins the home team."

Drusilla walked over to the Doctor and put her hands on his shoulder and pushed her bosom against his back. "He's almost one of us Spike. I can feel it in 'im."

"Stay away from him." Buffy pushed a crucifix in Drusilla's face."

"Dru!" Spike shouted. "You shouldn't do that, she's too weak..."

"That's one in our plus column." Xander joked.

"Yes." Willow agreed. "You'd better go before Buffy stake's her."

"Did I mention that she's got good dress sense?" Cordelia asked Willow.

Spike snarled. "You harm one hair on her head and this town will drown in it's own blood." Spike snarled again.

"We don't have to worry about that." Oz said, passing a book to Giles.

Giles read the text and swallowed hard. "It says here that the third rising will be at the weakest point in the fabric of reality."

"We don't know where Ethan tried to raise big, ugly and horny." Buffy stated, keeping the crucifix between Drusilla and the Doctor.

"I do." Ruath smiled. "I'll become a goddess yet!" She laughed, putting Dru's most psychotic episodes to shame.

Giles contradicted Ruath. "That's not a problem, anymore. It won't be the weakest point."

"Tell us where o swami." Xander laughed.

"The Hellmouth of course, you stupid boy. Does no one else realise we're standing on top of it? Remember the demon the Master almost brought forth?"

Ethan stood in the doorway and clapped. Behind him the large marble angel stood as still as the rock it was created from. It's eyes glowing red. "That's right and tonight Bezel will give me the world."

Spike charged at the human but suddenly the white angel was in front of Ethan and it swatted him aside. Drusilla screamed and ran over to him as quickly as possible. "Hey I'm ok baby, daddy just got the wind knocked out of him."

Angel and Peri entered the library; they had been out on an errand to collect some rare paintings from the far end of the school.

"More people." Peri gasped. "Hi, I'm Peri."

"They're not people you want to be friends with." Angel whispered to Peri. "At least while you're a human."

Spike stood up. "That can be easily arranged. Once the Doctor becomes one of us I'm sure he'll want his little pet running after him for the rest of eternity."

Angel stood in front of Spike. "Not while I'm around Spike."

Dru giggled. "Spike and Angel are fighting over a girl. It's just like old times. Kill her Spike; make her one of us. Miss Emily needs a friend to come round for tea."

Oz looked at his Scooby Doo watch. "It's almost midnight guys." He warned the others.

Lightning filled the library and ancient columns shot upwards out of the floor in a loose circle, holding everyone inside.

"He's here." Ethan laughed. "Bezel is here."

The Doctor looked at Peri and tried to give her a reassuring look.

Peri screamed at the demonic visage that distorted the Doctors face. He had turned into a vampire.

Two twirls, one of fire and the other of ice, spurted up from the floor and wrapped themselves around each other. They grew in size and width and tore the roof off of the library. Then Bezel grew in size from the size of an atom to thirty feet within seconds and he roared with the feeling of power. Bok knelt in submission to his master's power and then the lights went out to the tune of Cordy's screaming.

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Episode Seven

by Davros41

An unearthly glow settled over the library, illuminating the scene better than electric lighting ever could. Bezel looked about himself, getting his bearings in this new environment. Ruath, Spike and Dru lay by the doors, momentarily stunned. Ethan was gazing in awe at his new lord. And the rest of the Humans and Angel didn't seem to know what to do.

The Doctor took all this in in a couple of seconds. He reached out to Peri, who shied away from him in fear. He felt his face, the new ridge on his brow confirming the worst. With a supreme effort of will, he made his face return to normal.

Bezel's growl made him turn his attention from his companion. He shifted his gaze to Giles, who still looked stunned by the turn of events.

The Doctor grasped the librarian's shoulders, breaking the spell. "Is there anything in that book that might hold Bezel, at least for a while?"

Giles looked at him, then down at the book in his hands. "Erm, yes, there is a binding spell. It doesn't hold for long though."

"It will be long enough. Long enough to deal with Ruath, at least. Give it a try. Please."

"Of course," Giles replied. "Willow, Xander, I'll need your help." The two teenagers came quickly to his side and the three of them began chanting softly.

Now The Doctor turned his attention to Buffy. "I need your help."

She eyed him suspiciously. "How do I know we can trust you?" she said reasonably.

"You don't. All you have is my word. I can hold the craving at bay, at least for now. I need to deal with Ruath, or I'll be like this for eternity."

She sighed. "What do you need?" she asked. He told her what he required and she nodded, handing them over.

Peri tapped him on the shoulder and he whirled round. She shrank back, still half afraid of him.

"Are you, yourself?" she asked him.

"Yes, for now. Please, Peri, keep your head down and try to stay out of trouble. Buffy, will you keep an eye on her?"

The girl nodded. "Of course. Now, I think your friend wants a word." She pointed over his shoulder.

The Doctor turned, to see Ruath standing, with a bit of help from Spike. He strode towards her.

"Ruath, I never did tell you how nice it is to see you again."

She looked straight at him. "No, you didn't. And I didn't expect you to. But it's nice to hear you say it." She smiled, showing the points of her teeth.

The Doctor smiled back, relaxing his mental control. The demonic visage broke through, changing his face into a vampire. He held his arms out to her.

Peri watched in horror from the other side of the library. Giles, Willow and Xander were busy chanting, Angel and Oz were trying to revive Cordelia, who had fainted. Buffy was the only one with her, watching The Doctor.

"I trusted him," Peri sobbed. "Now he's turned into a vampire full time. We're well and truly beaten."

Buffy said nothing, just watched as Ruath embraced The Doctor.

"At last we shall rule the universe together," Ruath said, hugging The Doctor close to her. "Aren't you glad I finally won you over?"

"Not really," he replied. He had not returned her embrace, his arms hanging straight behind her back. A slight shrug of his shoulders dropped a stake into the palm of each hand.

"What's wrong, Doctor?" Ruath said, looking deep into his eyes.

He smiled sadly. "I'm sorry," he told her, genuine feeling in his voice, as he raised his arms at last. Ruath smiled, finally expecting his embrace.

Instead, she felt the sudden pain of twin stakes piercing her hearts. Her mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes showing her feeling of betrayal. The Doctor winced as she crumbled into dust.

He turned away, the stakes dropping from his numb fingers. His demonic visage was melting from his face like ice in sunshine.

Peri's relief at The Doctor's redemption turned quickly to fear for his safety as she saw Spike dive across the room towards him.

"Doctor, look out!"

He turned, but not quickly enough. The enraged vampire knocked him to the ground and stood over his helpless victim.

He reached down towards The Doctor, but Angel appeared as if by magic and gave him an uppercut that sent him flying back across the library, into the arms of Drusilla.

Spike clambered to his feet. The Doctor was now also standing, flanked by Angel and Buffy, the latter holding a stake in one hand and a cross in the other.

"If I have my way," Spike said, rubbing his chin, "you'll live just long enough to regret that, Angelus."

"Go now, while you still can," Angel suggested. Taking the hint, and with a last glance at the dusty remains of Ruath, Spike and Dru left the library.

Peri ran up to The Doctor. "Are you alright?" she asked him, concern etched onto her pretty face.

The Doctor nodded. "There was no other way. I had to destroy her, not just for myself, but for the sake of Earth. And for her own sake."

Buffy put a consoling hand on his arm. "You did good, Doc," she told him.

"Are you cured?" Peri wanted to know. "Are you still infected?"

"I feel like a great weight has been lifted from me," The Doctor replied. "But maybe I should check. Can I borrow a mirror?"

Peri reached into her handbag and offered him her make-up mirror. Both she and The Doctor were relieved when he was clearly reflected in it.

Angel turned their attention back to the other problem facing them. "I don't think they can keep going much longer," he said, indicating the chanting trio stood round the library table.

They looked up. Bezel was frozen in place, as were Ethan and Bok, the marble angel.

"Any thoughts, Doc?" Buffy wanted to know.

The Doctor thrust his hands deep into the pockets of his trousers. "To be quite honest, nothing springs to mind," he told them sadly.

Giles, Willow and Xander were chanting away, but they were getting tired and the chant was failing. At any moment, Bezel would be free.

The Doctor turned quickly to Buffy. "Do you know if Giles had my TARDIS brought here?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's standing in the corner of his office," replied the teenager.

Peri pulled on his sleeve and he looked at her, wondering what she wanted.

"You're not thinking of just jumping in the TARDIS and leaving, are you?" Peri asked him quietly.

The Doctor looked shocked. "Peri, how could you even think such a thing?" He returned his attention to Buffy, and together they worked out a quick, desperate plan.

Soon after, Xander tripped over his tongue and the spell was broken. The chant fell apart and Bezel was free.

The Daemon stretched, free from the binding spell. He looked down at the puny Humans ranged before him.

"IS THIS THE BEST THE WORLD CAN SEND AGAINST ME?"

"Hey, we do our best," Willow shouted. Then she looked about herself at the surprised faces of her friends. "Sorry, but that needed saying."

"They are a pitiful bunch," Ethan agreed. "Not worth the attention, my Lord Bezel."

"You seem quite cosy," Giles commented, glaring at his old friend.

"So I should be. Bezel is going to give me the world to rule!"

Bezel growled, causing the foundations to vibrate. "I DID NOT SAY I WOULD SPARE THIS WORLD. AND EVEN IF I DO, YOU HAVE YET TO PROVE YOURSELF WORTHY TO RULE IT."

"You tell him, big guy," Xander encouraged. The Daemon stared at the tiny Human. Xander shrank back into the shadows.

"Maybe I can help," The Doctor said, stepping forward.

"WHO, OR WHAT, ARE YOU?" rumbled Bezel.

"I'm The Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. Maybe you've heard of them."

Bezel shook his huge head. "I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM, NO."

The Doctor looked downhearted. "Oh. Well, never mind. Have you decided what Earth's fate will be?"

"I HAVE. THIS PLANET AND IT'S PEOPLE HAVE NOT REACHED THEIR FULL POTENTIAL."

Ethan visibly paled. "No, you can't do this. You promised me!"

"I PROMISED NOTHING, LITTLE MAN. THIS EXPERIMENT HAS FAILED. IT IS TIME TO TERMINATE IT."

"What's he talking about?" asked Buffy, all too afraid she had the gist of the Daemons words.

"Long ago, Bezel's people ventured out into the galaxy, interfering in the development of the cultures they found," The Doctor told them. "They called these worlds experiments. If the experiment failed..." He just shrugged his shoulders.

"YOU ARE CORRECT, DOCTOR. THIS EXPERIMENT IS ENDED. THIS WORLD SHALL BE DESTROYED!"

Bezel's verdict hung in the air like a thick fog. The Doctor broke the silence.

"I'll make you a deal."

"WHAT DEAL?" Bezel rumbled.

"Leave Earth alone, and I'll return you home."

"I CAN'T GO HOME. MY WORLD AND PEOPLE ARE DEAD. I FELT THEM DIE MANY YEARS AGO, WHILE I SLEPT. YOU CANNOT HELP ME."

"I'm a Time Lord. I can return you to Daemos before it was destroyed. You could stop that happening."

Giles glanced at The Doctor. "Won't that create a paradox?" The Doctor shushed him.

Bezel was thinking about the offer. Everybody held their breath while he debated.

"ACCEPTABLE. I WILL LET THIS PLANET LIVE. NOW, TAKE ME BACK TO MY WORLD, SO I CAN SAVE IT FROM DESTRUCTION."

The Doctor nodded. "You'll have to come down to our size, so you can get into my TARDIS."

There was a rushing sound and Bezel began to blur. He swiftly shrank to Human size.

Ethan was enraged. "You can't do this," he said, grabbing Bezel by the arm.

"LEAVE, HUMAN, BEFORE I BREAK YOUR NECK," Bezel rumbled, glaring at Ethan. The man blanched, let go of the Daemon and ran from the library.

The Doctor smiled at Bezel. "If you'd like to step this way," he invited, showing the Daemon towards the TARDIS. The Doctor unlocked the box quickly. "Now, mind your horns on the door frame."

Peri, Buffy and their friends followed, except Angel, who stood on the threshold. The Doctor raised an inquiring eyebrow.

"I need to be invited," the vampire told him. The Time Lord quickly invited Angel and closed the doors behind him.

Even the large console room of the TARDIS was crowded with the eight Human sized beings inside. Oz had volunteered to stay behind, looking after the still dizzy Cordelia.

"NOW WHAT?" asked Bezel.

Buffy smiled. "Now, we bring you down to size." So saying, she launched herself at the Daemon.

Buffy and Bezel fought across the expanse of the console room. They traded punches, kicks, even the occasional throw. Bezel tried at one stage to use his horns and gore his opponent, but Buffy quickly side-stepped that manoeuvre, bringing her fists clubbing down on his neck.

The others did their best to stay out of the way. Giles, Willow, Xander and Angel knew from experience that Buffy could handle herself in a fight. The Doctor and Peri had been told of her exploits. Now it was all down to Buffy herself.

After a time, both started to grow weary, though neither dare give an inch. They continued fighting, each hoping to gain the upper hand.

Then, an opportunity presented itself. Buffy stumbled and Bezel pressed his advantage. He caught her with a punch just below the ribs and she fell, winded. The Daemon towered over her.

"YOU WOULD CONSPIRE AGAINST ME?" roared the Daemon. "FOR THIS, YOU SHALL ALL DIE."

"I'm already dead," said a voice behind Bezel. Before he could turn, Angel grasped him firmly and, slipping into his demonic visage, sunk his teeth into the Daemon's neck.

Bezel howled as the vampire sucked the like blood out of him. When he was done, Angel dropped him to the floor of the TARDIS.

"Was that really necessary?" The Doctor exclaimed, as Angel wiped his mouth.

"Well, Doc, it was either that or watch my friends die. He wasn't about to give up." He stooped and helped Buffy to her feet. She nodded her thanks, rubbing her bruised stomach.

The Doctor opened the TARDIS doors and they all trooped out, Angel and Xander carrying the body of Bezel, which they laid on the library table.

"That was quick," said Oz, kneeling beside Cordelia, who was sat in a chair, her head in her hands.

"We found another solution," explained Willow.

The Doctor and Giles stood together, discussing the situation. Peri was asking if Buffy was alright, while Xander went over to Oz and Cordelia, as had Willow. Therefore it was Angel, stood alone near the table, who noticed it.

"Look out!" he shouted, as Bezel, now transformed into a vampire, launched himself from the table towards Buffy.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Buffy and Peri turned, to see the undead Daemon hurtling towards them. In what she realized afterwards was an instinctive action, she picked up a stake from the floor where The Doctor had dropped it earlier and pierced the Daemon through the heart. Bezel crumbled into dust, an amazed expression on his face.

"Way to go, girl," Buffy said, as Peri looked at the stake in her hand. It dropped from her numb fingers.

"I, I didn't think, I just reacted," the stunned girl stammered.

"Well, I for one am grateful," Buffy told her, hugging her tightly. "In my bruised condition, he could have finished me. Then the world would be without one cute Slayer."

*

"It's a good job Autumn break started today," Giles said, gazing up at the hole on the library roof and the other damage to the room. "It will give Principle Snyder time to organize repairs."

"He'll blame me, of course," Buffy said, wincing as her bruised ribs reminded her of recent events.

The Doctor and Peri stood before the TARDIS. They had said their goodbyes to Xander, Cordelia, Oz and Willow, who had all left to take Cordelia home. How she loved being the centre of attention.

Angel had also left, as daybreak wasn't far away. The Doctor had shaken his hand, thanking him for his hospitality and for his help with Bezel. The modest vampire had shrugged off the praise and waved his goodbye to them all.

"Where will you go now?" asked Giles.

"We have no idea," Peri said quickly. "I've not been aboard long, but I already know The Doctor can't steer the TARDIS."

"That's unfair," the Time Lord protested. "We just don't always land right on target, that's all."

"Yeah, right," Peri replied. She thanked Buffy for putting her up and helping her out. The two girls hugged, then Peri gave Giles a peck on the cheek and disappeared into the TARDIS.

The librarian flushed with embarrassment, much to the Slayer's amusement.

The Doctor shook Buffy's hand. "It's good to see someone is keeping the vampires at bay," he said, smiling.

"All part of the service," Buffy quipped, smiling back.

"You're always welcome in Sunnydale," Giles said as he shook The Doctor's hand.

"Thank you, I'll bear that in mind," he promised. He waved, then ducked into the TARDIS.

As the TARDIS faded from view, Buffy turned to Giles. "Well, just another average day in Sunnydale!"

The End

