Fic: Shanshu 41 - Kill the Witch

[dragonyphoenix]

Title: Kill the Witch
Fandom: BtVS
Prompt: 471 - Crank Call
Rating: PG
Summary: Another chapter for Shanshu
Word Count: 747

One one side they had Mann's Chinese theater providing the most dramatic ritual backdrop ever. On the other side demon soldiers were clearing the street by chopping axes into cars. “So,” Willow said, “this is pretty much the crankiest of all crank calls ever, right? I mean dialing into a dimension to end all the dimensions, that's definitely not of the good.”

“Not even close,” Spike agreed.

“Did you notice that we can move our feet now?”

And gosh, Spike's stare felt like it was burning right through her. He carefully picked up each foot and gave her a grin that really did explain why Buffy had fallen for him. “Brilliant you are, love.”

“End this farce. Kill the witch.” Okay, and maybe she should have pointed that out sooner so they could have made their move before they became the center of attention. Oh, and one of the three in-charge demons handed Ash, who was Spike's friend, or probably not friend anymore since she was on the side of the demons, and anyway that would have been William's friend because he hadn't had Spike's memories when he was friends with her, and, okay, that was a really sharp dagger she had. What with both edges being sharp and all, Willow figured it'd be really useful for cutting into people.

Spike reached out, grabbed a spear, and twisted it somehow so that the demon holding it fell to the ground. Oh, good, maybe they could fight their way out. Spike threw the spear to her. Or maybe, if they could have fought their way out, they wouldn't have been captured in the first place. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

He grinned at her and, well, at least he already had another spear to hand. “You've been doing this how long? You expected Will, back in the caves, to handle a sword with no training. You've got to be at least as good with a spear as he was with a sword.”

“Spike! He was terrible with the sword. He dropped it when I tossed it to him.”

“Oh.” Spike's face fell. “Yeah.” He grabbed her by the wrist. “Come on, then.” They ran and they must have had surprise on their side because they made it as far as one of the damaged cars. Spike put her against the car and stood, spear at the ready, between her and the demon soldiers.

“Come on, then.” This time the words were directed to the demons, and, hey!, Spike really was good with a spear. He was holding them off but there were too many. Willow was pretty sure he couldn't hold off hundreds, but maybe he didn't have to. The car was no go; an ax had chopped clear through the engine, but Willow thought she could get underneath and wiggle her way to the other side. Then if Spike could work his way around, they could try to put some distance between themselves and the demons.

“Willow, take up your spear.”

Huh? Oh, she did still have the spear he'd tossed her. That was pretty impressive, what with the running and all. Did he have a plan? Some way for them both to get away?

“I want you to kill me.”

“What? No, bad plan, very bad plan.”

“They can't merge the universes if I'm dead. Kill me.”

Oh, yeah. Willow blinked away her tears. She couldn't do it if she couldn't see him.

“Enough,” shouted one of the three demons in charge.

Willow found herself frozen, not just her feet this time but all her limbs, arms and legs not responding at all. Pretty much all she could do was turn her head to see that Spike had also been caught up in the freeze 'em spell. “I'm sorry. I should have been faster.”

“A'handru,” one of the three said. “Perform your duty.” Willow didn't know who this A'handru was supposed to be but Ash, the girl with the big and sharp knife, came toward her.

“Ash, no,” Spike shouted. “If you were ever my friend, let Willow live.”

“Kill her,” the second of the three commanded.

“His despair must be complete,” the third added. “He must know that he and he alone brought his companion to this death.”

“Spike,” Willow shouted. “It's not your fault. Whatever they do, it's not on you.” He didn't look like he believed her. Ash stood right before her, and oh boy did that knife look sharp.