Hellmouth’s Twilight Chapter 13 – The Bs

Hellmouth’s Twilight

Chapter 12 – The Bs

By Harley Wilson

“Are you alright?” Bella whispered as Buffy caught up with Xander, Oz, and Willow.

Angel gave a mere nod.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind if you want to go over there and catch up. I know you’ve been worried about her.” Bella said as Angel had his arms wrapped around her waist and chin resting against her shoulder.

“Well, as we can see. She’s perfectly fine.” Angel bitterly muttered.

Bella sighed then crawled out of his lap.

“Angel, I don’t want you holding back because of me. Go say hi.” Bella encouraged while taking his hand and pulling him to his feet.

“That’s just it… I’m not sure how. I mean I’m glad she’s okay. But we didn’t exactly end things on the greatest terms.” Angel wasn’t about to tell Bella that Buffy tried to kill him.

Bella nodded in understanding.

“I better get going. Slayer stuff and all.” Bella said while putting her jacket aka Angel’s old jacket on.

“Mind if I join you?” Angel asked, looking uncomfortable as ever.

“Not at all. Looks like I lost my pilots anyhow.”

“Pilots?” Angel questioned in confusion.

Bella laughed as she grabbed her backpack and then flung it over her shoulder.

“Bella.” She and Angel heard Buffy say, only she wasn’t calling her name to get her attention. No, she was calling her name as if piecing something together.

Buffy looked at Angel and then back to Bella. She tilted her head as she examined the jacket Bella was wearing. Buffy let out a hysterical-like laugh afterward.

“You’re Bella.” She reiterated and Angel recoiled.

“Um, yeah…” Bella awkwardly put.

“She’s pretty. Prettier than I imagined.” Buffy complimented with a smile in Angel’s direction.

Angel didn’t dare comment. He wasn’t dumb enough to fall for that trap.

“We were just going. It was good to see you, Buffy. I’m glad you’re okay.” Angel said while giving Bella a little nudge toward the library exit.

“Wait… I thought you needed our help!” Willow called.

“Angel and I got it. You four enjoy your visit. I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on. It was nice meeting you, Buffy.”

Buffy gave a mere nod but narrowed her eyes as she caught wind of Bram in the background.

“Who’s that?” Buffy whispered with a nod in Willow’s direction.

“Oh, that’s Bram! Bella’s Watcher!” Willow said causing everyone outside of Bram and Bella to flinch.

“What?” Buffy questioned with a hysterical-like giggle.

“Will…” Xander hissed, and Willow sighed.

“Right. Bad timing. Stupid Willow.” Willow muttered under her breath.

“You didn’t tell me she was a Slayer…” Buffy accusingly put while eyeing Angel in particular.

“Because she wasn’t.” Angel miserably uttered.

“Okay, anyone care to clear this up? Because it sounds like I’ve been replaced, in more ways than one!”

          Bella shook her head and then let out a nervous laugh.

“No one’s replaced anyone,” Bella said.

“Let’s see… You managed to steal my boyfriend, my mother’s adoration, and my friends! It’s a good thing you came with your own Watcher or you would’ve stolen mine!”

“Buffy…” Angel muttered in disbelief.

“You know Alex is my cousin, right?” Bella asked.

“What’s that have to do with anything?”

“It means I’ve known Alex since freaking birth, and I’ve known Willow since Kindergarten! They were in my life long before yours, so what you’re trying to claim doesn’t make any sense.”

“And my mother and Angel?”

“That’s enough, Buff,” Xander said in defense of his cousin.

“You’re my friend and all but that’s my cousin you’re talking to. And like you, she didn’t ask for any of this. It kind of fell on her, and she’s going with it.”

Giles cleared his throat as he eyed his Slayer down.

“Would everyone excuse us for a moment? I wish to have a word with my Slayer.”  He severely put.

Bram raised his brows, then quickly rushed everyone out of the room.

---

Giles removed his glasses and then gestured for Buffy to have a seat.

“I’m good.” She said.

Giles slammed his hand down on the table.

“SIT!”

Buffy regarded her Watcher in surprise.

“You will sit, and you listen to what I have to say.”

Buffy took a seat.

“Giles, I…”

“We agreed on two weeks. Two. That’s what you said you needed.” Giles reminded.

“It’s been TWO MONTHS! Almost three! Do you have any idea-“ Giles trailed off as he collected himself.

“What you pulled was arrogant, selfish, and-and-and bloody heartless! We had no idea where you were or if-if you were even alive!”

“Giles, I’m sorry. I-“

“I don’t want to hear how sorry you are! This isn’t just about what could’ve happened to you, but the friends and family you left behind! You have an obligation when it comes to this town and everyone in it. Believe me when I say your absence was felt!”

“Wasn’t felt that much. The new Slayer seems to have filled in the gaps. I’m not even sure why I came back!”

Giles chuckled like he was going into hysterics.

“You’re right. Must’ve been easy turning your back on your family and friends knowing they could very well perish at a given moment without your guidance. I imagine you slept very well at night.” Giles fired back and Buffy winced.

“Well, how did you sleep?” Giles reiterated.

Buffy didn’t answer.

“Mhm. That’s about what I thought. You-you didn’t think of us once! So, get off that bloody high horse of yours and GO HELP YOUR FRIENDS!”

---

“I’m sorry,” Angel said as he, Bella, Willow, Oz, and Xander headed down the hallway in search of the girl Bella saw in the bathroom earlier.

“For?” Bella asked as they looked around.

“Buffy. She’s mad at me, not you, or anyone else really.”

“Angel, you haven’t anything to be sorry for. Honestly, I expected some drama. Just not the part where she accused me of stealing her mother’s adoration and her friends. That was a little out there, but she has a right to her feelings.”

“That may be, but she had no right to attack you like that. She doesn’t even know you.”

“Something tells me, she doesn’t want to know me and that’s okay. I didn’t exactly picture us being best friends or anything.”

Xander and Willow exchanged glances on this but didn’t comment.

“Hold up,” Bella whispered before signaling for everyone to stay put.

“You guys hear that?” She asked and everyone shook their heads no.

“It’s her. I can hear her crying.” Bella said with a glance in Angel’s direction.

“I can understand them not hearing her, but you?”

“Sorry. I don’t hear anything like that.” Angel said.

Bella headed into the classroom where the crying was coming from. Angel and the others followed.

“Hello?” Bella called.

“Can you hear me? We talked earlier today, in the bathroom, remember? I have some friends with me. We want to help you.”

“He will hurt you if you help me. And please, keep your voice down or he will find us.”

Bella followed the voice and saw the girl as she was hiding under the teacher’s desk.

“Who are you hiding from?” Bella whispered while squatting down to the girl’s level.

“He calls himself Phobos.”

Phobos? Why does that sound so familiar?

“Um, are you guys seeing anything because…” Xander started to say, only to have Bella shush him and everyone else with a finger against her lips.

“You made Phobos mad.”

“I did?” Bella questioned with unease.

“Phobos wanted to see your mind, but he can’t. And he didn’t like it when I asked for your help. I’m sorry. I think I got you and your friends in trouble.”

The girl sounded so childlike. She was slightly younger than Bella but spoke and acted as if she were in elementary. Bella scooted the chair out of her way, then offered the girl a hand.

“Don’t. Please. Just-“

Bella yelped out when something scooped her up and then tossed her across the room.

The girl screamed, then pleaded for whatever it was to stop. Bella came to her feet and stood face-to-face with the entity responsible for whatever happened to the girl and Cordelia’s friend.

Bella wasn’t even sure what she was looking at exactly. Phobos as the girl called him hovered a good two feet off the ground. His flesh looked as though it were some sort of black wood. His arms, legs, and torso were twisted like roots. Only the arms reminded Bella of a spider, but they too were wood and there were six, instead of eight, three on each side. They appeared to be coming out from the back of his shoulders. Phobos had no eyes, or nose from what Bella could tell, only a vast mouth that resembled a cave.

Bella winced as Phobos backed her up against the chalkboard. He cupped her chin with one of his spider-like arms then tilted his head.

“Show me.” He demanded in a high-pitched shrill that hurt Bella’s ears.

“Please don’t hurt her! She’s my friend!”

Phobos ignored the child’s cries and went on to lift Bella by the throat. Bella didn’t understand how this was possible considering when she tried to defend herself, her hand went right through him.

“Show me or else.” It demanded with that shrill-like voice again.

Bella gasped once she realized Angel, Willow, and Oz weren’t moving. They were just standing there like they were paralyzed. Bella had done what Angel asked of her. She did this by not using her safeguard to keep him and the others safe but feared the outcome. But deep down, Bella knew Angel was right, she was no good to anyone if she was too weak to fight. But how was she going to fight something she couldn’t physically touch?

“What are you doing to them?” Bella said in a panic.

“I’m so sorry.” The girl said as someone grabbed Bella and took off with her.

---

Ozfearpov:

          Oz covered his eyes as the sun beat down on him. But as he did this, he

felt something cold and metal dangling against his chest. Oz sat up, then looked at his blood-covered hands.

“No…” Oz thought as he had on a pair of broken cuffs, not just any cuffs. No, these went the chains Willow used when she locked him up in the library during a full moon.

            Oz sprang to his feet as a bad feeling washed over him. He was butt-naked but didn’t care. He took off like a bat out of hell and headed for the school.

“No, no, no…” Oz muttered as police, paramedics, and firemen surrounded the place.

            The students looked on as Oz fought his way through the crowded hallway.

“SIR!” A policeman shouted when Oz entered the taped-off library just in time to see Willow’s mutilated face as they zipped the body bag.

“Willow…? Baby?” Oz whispered as he was going into shock.

“This isn’t happening. It can’t be. What did I do?” Oz muttered in absolute horror as there were five other body bags.

            Oz didn’t need to see them. He already knew as the police surrounded him, then tackled him to the ground.

---

Willowfearpov:

          Willow grabbed her tray, then headed for the table where she, Oz, Xander, and Bella normally sat. The three of them were laughing about something when Willow took her usual seat between Oz and Bella.

“Um, hello?” Xander said.

“Um, hi?” Willow taunted in return.

“Are you lost?” Xander asked and Willow laughed.

“Not at the moment.”

            Oz, Bella, and Xander exchanged ‘what the fuck’ glances when she leaned against Oz, lovingly. Oz was quick to scoot over as he sent her a disgusted look.

“What’s with you, all of you!” Willow asked, thinking the three of them were playing some sort of joke on her.

“We should be asking you that very thing,” Bella said.

“Okay, real funny, guys. You can knock it off now.” Willow said but froze when she saw Buffy making her way over.

            Just as Willow was to hop up and greet her. Oz patted his lap invitingly. Willow’s jaw dropped when Buffy sat in his lap and kissed him.

“I missed you,” Oz muttered against her lips.

“Aw, I missed you too,” Buffy said while running a seductive hand along his chest.

“GET YOUR WHORE MOUTH OFF MY BOYFRIEND!” Willow said but was quick to slap a hand over her mouth. She couldn’t believe she’d said that, and to Buffy of all people. That was her best friend!

“Boyfriend?!” Oz muttered in disbelief.

“Alright, Crazy Train back to wherever you came from. No one talks to my friends like that!” Bella warned as she eyed Willow down.

“But, I am your friend. At least I was. Why are all of you acting like you don’t even know me? This isn’t funny! And I can’t believe you’d go as far as to have Buffy…” Willow recoiled when she saw where Oz’s hand was. It was traveling up Buffy’s skirt.

“STOP THAT!” Willow scolded with tears in her eyes.

“YOU’VE TAKEN THIS JOKE TOO FAR, XANDER!”

“Yeah, okay… It’s time for us to head on out,” Xander muttered as he gathered their friends and left Willow to herself.

---

Buffy entered the classroom and saw Angel, Oz, Xander, and Willow. They were just standing there staring at the chalkboard.

“What’s going on?” Buffy asked but wondered where Bella went.

“Look, I get that you guys are mad at me but…” Buffy trailed off once she realized none of them were blinking.

Buffy stood directly in front of Angel and snapped her fingers.

“To think… I finally have you right where I want you.” Buffy bleakly murmured as she tilted her head and really looked him over.

“Why her? Huh? What’s so special about her?” Buffy whispered as she caressed his cheek but with tears in her eyes.

“This isn’t over between us. You know that, right? One way or another we will be together again.” Buffy said, then looked at Oz, Xander, and Willow.

“I’ll come back for you three.” The Slayer said before wrapping her arms around Angel’s waist and dragging him into the library.

“What’s this?” Giles questioned once Buffy had Angel inside.

“Not sure. But I’ve three more on the way,” The Slayer said, then took off to get the others.

---

Xanderfearpov:

“Jesus, Alex! Your apartment smells worse than you do!”

            Xander let out an intoxicated grunt as he rolled over and promptly fell off the couch.

“Are you trying to catch the place on fire?!” Bella scolded after picking an ashtray up off the floor.

            She grabbed a couple of bottles of half-emptied whiskey as well and headed for the kitchen.

“What are you doing?!” Xander scolded as he sprang to his feet and stumbled after her.

“What I always do, Alex! Not that it makes any difference. I swear to, God! You’re just like Uncle Tony!”

“I’m nothing like him!”  He said then looked down to see he was in nothing but a pair of grossly stained tighty-whiteys.”

“Sure, you aren’t. Now, shower and get dressed. I’m taking you to rehab! And this time, you had better finish the program.”

“Or what?” Xander said as he opened the fridge and dug through it, in hopes of finding another bottle of whiskey or a bottle of beer even.

“That’s so nasty,” Bella said as he lit a cigarette after his failed attempt due to his cousin throwing everything out.

“You smell like a human ashtray that was puked on! I never thought you’d stoop to this level! Look at you! I thought you’d be married with a couple of kids by now. Hell, if nothing else have a fucking job at least!”

“I told you; I’ve got something lined up.”

“You said that six months ago!” Bella said while flipping through his bills.

            Xander had utility disconnection notices as well as an eviction notice.

 “I can’t keep bailing you out like this! I have kids to feed!”

“Then don’t! I never asked for your help to begin with.”

“You’re right. Maybe if I let you drink yourself to death, I’ll finally be free!”

            Xander reared back on his cousin’s cruel words.

“You heard me. You think this is fun for me? Coming over here, smelling your urine and vomit while I drag your drunk ass to the shower and clean everything up, just so you can turn right back around and make me do it all over again! You know, sometimes I question why I put myself through this. But then I realized, if I don’t, no one else will because you chased everyone else off! I never thought I’d see the day when even Willow wants nothing to do with you!” Bella froze when something else caught her attention.

“Oh, my God! Everytime! Every. Fucking. Time.”

            Xander watched as Bella took off and headed toward whatever had her attention.

“Goddamit, Bell! Why don’t you just stay out of my business!” Xander scolded when she managed to find his well-hidden stash.

            Bella grabbed a screwdriver from one of the kitchen drawers. She climbed up on the couch and was prying the vent open when Xander rushed over and grabbed her.

“Knock it off, Alex!” Bella scolded, then tried yet again to get the vent open.

            He shoved her off the couch and toward the fireplace where Bella hit her head.

“See?! Look what you made me do!” Xander scolded as he fixed his stash and put the vent back how it was.

            It wasn’t until he climbed back down that he realized Bella’s eyes were wide open, but she wasn’t moving.

“Okay, that’s starting to creep me out. Would you get up already!” Xander scolded as he gave her leg a little kick.

“Bell…” Xander called when he saw a trail of blood going down her neck.

“HEY!” Xander shouted as he squatted down, then grabbed ahold of her.

“Come on, Bell! This isn’t funny! Wake up!” He said then gave her a little shake.

“Bell? Please wake up…”

“BELL!” Xander shouted.

“Please! I’m sorry! Just wake up!”

---

Angelfearpov:

“Angel?” Bella called with concern.

“Angel… What is it?”

            Something wasn’t right. He had to get away from her. Angel tried to warn her but couldn’t physically voice it as he was no longer in control.

That’s right… She’s all mine now. Finally! You finally see what it’s like to be the passenger. Oh, I’m going to have soooo much fun with this!

            NOOO! YOU LEAVE HER ALONE, YOU BASTARD! Angel internally shouted as Bella snuggled up against Angelus. GET AWAY FROM HER! Angel shouted yet again, and Angelus’s sinister laugh followed.

I don’t think I will. Look at how sweet she is! Mhm, and she smells… Angelus paused as he took a whiff. Well, she smells mouthwatering.

            Angel flinched when Angelus caressed Bella’s cheek.

“Nothing, baby. Sorry, I must’ve spaced out or something.” Angelus said before leaning in and kissing her.

            So, I was thinking about fucking her if that’s okay. Angelus taunted as he continued that kiss.

            Angel went into hysterics as he desperately tried everything, he could think of to break free of whatever this was. He was trapped inside his own body while Angelus took the reins.

            Angelus chuckled, then grabbed a handful of Bella’s ass as he pressed his erect self against her.

So, tell me, Angel… Is she as tight as imagined? Angelus taunted as he positioned himself over her.

          Yeah… I’m going to fuck every orifice, and if the bitch even thinks about stopping me, I’ll tie her up and show her how a real man does things! And when I’m done, I’m going to fuck Willow and Buffy, right in front of her! Then I’ll torture and kill that idiot wolf and cousin of hers. You see, I was thinking we could really use an upgraded version of Drusilla. What do you think?

---

“There’s nothing we can really do for them at this point,” Giles said as he and Bram kept an eye on Angel, Oz, Xander, and Willow.

“Angel I’m sure will be fine. It’s the other three…” Giles didn’t want to wish to worry Buffy considering she had just gotten back. But he feared if they didn’t take care of this entity soon that Oz, Willow, and Xander were as good as dead. Their hearts wouldn’t be able to take much more of whatever this was.

“I’m sure Bella could use some help. Why don’t you see if you can find her?” Giles suggested after checking Willow’s vitals.

Buffy stole one last glance at Angel and her friends before exiting the room.

---

Bella let out a gasp as she came to.

“Oh, thank God! I thought I inadvertently killed you! I’d never done anything like that before! I didn’t know I could!” The girl said while looking at her hands in shock.

Bella sat up as she gathered her bearings.

“Where are we?”

“It’s okay. Phobos can’t find us here. Did I hurt you? I’m sorry if I did, but he would’ve killed you next and you’re the only friend I have.” The girl sadly murmured.

“I need you to take me back.”

“Take you back?!” The girl stated like Bella was crazy.

“My friends they’re in trouble. They need our help.”

“I’m sorry, but your friends… They’re already dead. And you would’ve been next.”

Bella started to respond but froze when she caught wind of something else.

“You never said where we were,” Bella said as she made her way toward the odd-looking lump on the floor. The shadow-cast room smelled like rust and mothballs.

The only light they had was from some sort of green light that would flicker red every once in a while, on the wall.

            It’s too bad Giles didn’t pack a flashlight, Bella thought as she blindly dug through the bag and scanned the area.

Oh, wait! Bella said as she felt something long and cylinder at the very bottom of the bag. Please be what I need.

“Thank you, Giles!” Bella said after removing the object from her bag and seeing that it was indeed a flashlight.

---

Bella turned the flashlight on and then shined it on the lump. Bella’s heart sank in realization, that was no lump. No, that was a body.

“What’s your name?” Bella asked while doing her best to remain calm as possible.

That wasn’t easy considering Bella had a bad feeling about that body and whom it belonged to. That and she was worried about the others.

“Casey. I’ve seen you in school before, but I think you’re older than me.”

“How old are you?” Bella asked while bending down.

“Fifteen.”

Bella forced a steady hand as she reached over and rolled the body over.

“Yeah, I was hoping you could help me get back in.” The girl eerily put as Bella examined the body.

“You know, since you’re the only one that can see me and all…”

“Casey, I don’t think…” Bella paused as she felt for a pulse.

She was alive but barely. Bella didn’t understand though. How was this possible if she was still alive?

“Look, I’ll do whatever I can to help you. But I need to help my friends also. So…” Bella lifted the girl’s body up off the floor, then started for the boiler room exit.

“Let’s get out of here, so I can check on them and get you the help you need,” Bella said only to find the door was locked, only it wasn’t.

“I’m sorry. I can’t let you leave.”

“Casey…” Bella warned in disbelief.

“We have to get out of here. Hiding out won’t solve anything.” Bella explained.

“But this is the only place we can hide! Phobos never looks down here. Honestly, I should’ve never left this room.”

And you would’ve died! Bella thought but wasn’t cruel enough to express that out loud.

“You did the right thing by looking for help. But if we don’t hurry and get you to the hospital, something could happen. Do you understand?”

“But I’m scared.”

“So, am I. There’s nothing wrong with being scared. But we have to face our fears if we’re going to get out of this. I need you to trust me, can you do that?”

The girl looked at Bella, then her body as Bella had it in her arms still.

“I trust you.” The girl said and Bella smiled.

“Thank you. Now, please let us out.”

Casey gave a simple nod and the door swung open.

Bella headed for the staircase, leading out of the boiler room.

“So, what happened? I mean how’d you end up like this?” Bella whispered.

They had a bit of a walk ahead of them as they headed for the library.

Bella knew Casey would be safe with Bram and Giles and hoped one of them could take her to the hospital. Bella would’ve called for an ambulance but knew that’d only create more victims.

“I don’t really know. I remember going to the bathroom one day at lunch. I did my business, washed my hands at the sink…” The girl recoiled at the memory.

“I was washing my hands when I saw his reflection. Only I didn’t know it was Phobos at the time.”

“What’d he do to you?”

“He took me back to my parents.” The girl sadly murmured.

“To your parents?” Bella asked in misunderstanding.

“Daddy was mad. Very mad. He told me I shouldn’t have come back, that I should’ve learned my lesson the first time.”

“Your father said this?!”

The girl gave a teary-eyed nod.

“He had momma hold me down while he…”

“While he what?” Bella uttered in disbelief.

“Beat me with the belt and he always uses the buckle.”

Bella stopped in her tracks.

“Was this something your father did often?”

The girl nodded and Bella recoiled.

“I’m sorry. No one deserves that.” Bella thought back to what she said about her mother holding her down.

“So, your mother didn’t even try to stop him?”

“No, ‘cause she’ll get hit too. He’s done it before, lots of times.”

“Who are your parents?!”

“Well, my new parents are John and Lucinda. I like John and Lucinda. They don’t hit me. I got to live with them when CPS took me away from my biological parents Clancy and Sarah. But Phobos took me back and I couldn’t leave, even when Daddy told me to. Phobos wouldn’t let me.” Again, Bella couldn’t get over how childlike the girl was when she spoke.

“Phobos…” Bella muttered under her breath.

Still, that sounded so familiar. But for the life of her, Bella couldn’t remember where from.

Bella was in the hallway leading to the library when she heard Ms. Calendar hollering for someone to help her, that Angelus was after her.

“That isn’t possible,” Bella whispered knowing damn well Angelus was well-contained at the moment.

Bella was quick to sit Casey’s body down by a set of lockers.

“Hide. I’ll call you when it’s safe.” Bella said and the girl nodded before vanishing.

Bella entered Ms. Calendar’s class and saw Phobos standing in front of her. Bella recoiled as Ms. Calendar looked to be frozen in place, just like Angel, Oz, Xander, and Willow were.

“Let her go,” Bella warned and Phobos let out a shrill-like laugh before gradually spinning around and facing Bella.

“Let me see, and I might.”

“Let you see?” Bella asked and Phobos floated on over.

“I want to see but can’t. Why?!” His voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

“Maybe because you have no eyes?” Bella muttered as if having a Xander moment.

Nevertheless, Bella knew this had to do with her safeguard. It was the same complaint Edward had. But what she didn’t get was what was Phobos trying to see. Whatever it was, he’d done to multiple people already. Bella was more than certain that’s why Cordelia’s friend went into cardiac arrest. This had Bella thinking back to what Casey said about what Phobos did to her.

“If I let you in, will you stop whatever it is you’re doing to my friends?”

Phobos made a gesture toward Ms. Calendar. The teacher gasped as she was released from whatever Phobos was doing to her. Bella let out a sigh of relief as the teacher looked around and gathered her bearings.

“Bella?” She called in confusion.

“You might want to get out of here,” Bella warned with her eyes on Phobos.

Ms. Calendar nodded as she couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

“And the others?” Bella questioned.

“They’ll be free once you do what I asked you to do. All I want is you. Now, show me. What makes that ticker tick?”

“You have to free the girl too,” Bella said.

“There’s nothing I can do. It’s too late for her.”

“You’re lying. She’s still alive! Now, release her!”

“Hmm… Is she? And you realize the longer you spend trying to convince me, the more torture your friends endure and the closer to death they become.”

“And how do I know you’re going to keep your end of the bargain?”

It wasn’t long before Bella heard Angel, Xander, and Bram banging on the door. They were calling to her and trying to get in. She hadn’t a clue where Willow, Giles, Oz, or Buffy was but figured they were dealing with other affairs.

“Proof enough?” He said and Bella nodded.

“Hurry up, before I change my mind.”

Bella closed her eyes and focused on letting her safeguard completely down. This wasn’t something she normally practiced, so she wasn’t so sure it would work. But she had to do something, it was that or put everyone else’s life at risk. One life was better than seven or eight. Had she gone against Angel’s wishes and used her safeguard to begin with, the outcome would’ve been much worse.

“Well?” Phobos impatiently hissed in that shrill voice of his.

“Just give me a minute. I’ve never…” Bella started to say but refrained as she wasn’t sure how to put that exactly. This was a vulnerable moment, to begin with. Hearing Angel and the others calling to her in desperation didn’t help matters.

“Hmmm, I see you….” Phobos hummed in satisfaction.

---

Bellafearpov:

Forks Washington

“Yeah, well I want to make this fast possible. I’m talking signing papers, grabbing the fucking truck, and that’s it. IN and OUT!”

“Come on, Bell. Don’t you want some of the pictures and your father’s things? Like his watch?” Xander asked.

Bella recoiled at the thought. Angel ran a soothing hand along her back as he, Willow, and Oz joined them on this trip.

“We’ll let her decide when she gets there,” Angel said, and Bella saw Xander rolling his eyes through the rearview mirror.

“What the…” Xander muttered before slamming on the brakes.

Angel braced Bella against him as the car spun out of control. Oz flung his hand back and was doing what he could to protect Willow as he was sitting up front with Xander.

The car finally came to a stop and the four of them checked on one another before getting out of the car.

“What was it?” Bella asked as her cousin looked a little shaken.

“I almost hit someone, that’s what. He was standing right there, and then he wasn’t!” Xander frantically put.

“Man, my dad’s going to KILL ME!” He said after looking at the damage done to his car.

“Where’d the hell did that guy go? There’s no way he…” Xander paused in midsentence as the guy he saw from earlier stood a good five feet in front of them.

He didn’t so much as blink. Bella was quick to stand in front of Angel.

“Don’t even think about it,” Bella warned.

Jasper tilted his head in a way that reminded Bella of a caged animal. This brought her back to the birthday party the Cullens threw her and how Jasper almost killed her.

“I’m sorry. I really am, but Alice… She…”

Bella gasped when Jasper charged right for her. He shoved her out of the way and went straight for Angel. The two were battling it out when Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rose, and Bree showed up.

“Bree?” Bella questioned in surprise.

But she wasn’t sure why she was so surprised to see her. She sent Bree to live with the Cullens, knowing that was best for her at the time.

“We know what you are, Bella. After losing Edward and Alice, it’s clear that you’ve become a threat to our family. And we have no choice but to end that threat, that means you and your friends.” Esme said as Emmett tossed a bag over.

Bella caught it and then cautiously opened it. Bella screamed seeing as how it was the heads of Giles and Bram.

“Couldn’t have your Watchers coming back to look for you.” Emmett eerily put.

Everything happened so fast from there. Bella was doing everything she could to protect her cousin and friends, while Angel defended himself against Jasper.

Bella took a beating as Cullen after Cullen charged after her and the others. But she couldn’t be in three places at once and all while defending herself. Bella gave it her all, but at a cost. The Cullens had broken her collarbone, one of her arms, and several ribs. Still, Bella was giving it her all.

Rose laughed as she managed to grab ahold of Willow and snapped her neck.

“Rose, remember this isn’t personal. Bella was family once!” Carlisle scolded.

Bella didn’t comment, she couldn’t. Esme and Carlisle teamed up in holding Bella back while Emmett and Bree teamed up in killing Oz, and Xander next.

Their heads were rolling down the highway when someone yanked Bella out of Carlisle and Esme’s arms.

Bella couldn’t make out who it was at first. She was in too much shock as they ended up in the woods.

“It’s going to be okay, baby.” Angel said and Bella turned to face him as she cried into his shoulder.

Angel stopped running for whatever reason. When Bella looked up, it didn’t exactly register at first. Angel was holding her but his head was missing.

Jasper eyed Bella down as he stood directly behind her and with Angel’s head in hand.

“You ready?” He asked.

Bella closed her eyes and then broke into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

“Oh, come on! That’s all you got, Phobos? You could’ve at least made it a little more realistic. That was so fucking lame.” Bella hollered.

Bella felt a sudden pull as she was yanked out of whatever this was. Bella opened her eyes to see Phobos had her by the shirt and was holding her up in the air.

“What? Never had a girl fake it before?” But as she said this, Bella had her hands wrapped around his spider-like hands.

“Uh, oh… Look who’s vulnerable now? You know, you really should’ve gone with another name… I can’t believe that you’re so egotistical that you would name yourself after a Greek god. You don’t even look like one!”  Bella said while squeezing his arms, to the point of splitting his wood-like body.

Phobos dropped her and then staggered back in shock.

“HOW?!” He roared as Angel, Xander, and Bram entered the room.

“What in the Living Dead 2 slash Freddy Krueger bullshit is going on here?!” Xander said.

“Hell, if I know. But I’m about to Paul Bunyan his ass!”

“Get him, Bell!”

Buffy entered the room as well but stood in the doorway as she looked on.

Phobos took a swing, but his body started to crumble as it dried up and fall apart. Bella was quick to dismantle the fear demon piece by piece.

“That’s my girl.” Buffy heard Angel pridefully whisper.

Buffy rolled her eyes but didn’t let anyone know that she was standing there.

“Now, all we need is a good fire and some marshmallows!” Xander witted as he and Oz helped Bella gather the wood.

“Why do you have utters?” Oz questioned after getting a good look at Xander’s work clothes.

“Would you rather I have a huge set of balls?” Xander asked but winced once he realized he’d set himself up.

Oz didn’t comment but chuckled.

“Take him to the boiler room. I want to make sure he can’t come back.” Bella said.

“Aye, Aye, Sergeant Slayer!”

“You alright?” Angel lovingly whispered as he checked on Bella.

“I’m fine. You?”

“Better now.” He said before kissing her and then putting his forehead to hers afterward.

“Oop, watch out, Buff! Where’d you go anyway? Giles was looking for you.” Xander said as he and Oz damn near knocked her down.

She wasn’t paying them any attention as her focus was on Bella and Angel.

Angel narrowed his eyes and peered back but by the time he glanced back, Buffy was long gone.

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I do not know when I will post again. Our financial situation is very bad right now, so it could be some time. I apologize but I can’t control the situation around us, no matter how hard I try. Life finds a way to fuck us. I will return once I am able to do so. Thank you for your understanding.