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Xander watched as Cordelia got up and walked out through the library doors. Xander knew that Cordy was mad at him, although he didn’t know why. Then again, Xander rarely knew why Cordy was mad at him. Xander stared at the library doors for a second longer. He did know one thing though, and that was that he didn’t want her to be mad at him anymore. Xander got up, and followed Cordy out. Willow and Giles were too deep in their research to notice, while Kendra and Pike were too busy exchanging fighting tips. Oz was the only one to see them leave.
Xander rounded a corner and was toppled over by Cordelia. Xander looked up to see two vampires standing over them. Cordy only had time to realize what had broken her fall before one of the vampires pulled her off of him. “Xander,” she called, reaching out to him, as the vampire yanked her to her feet. Xander jumped to his feet, but was unable to do anything, before the other vampire knocked Xander backwards into the wall.
Xander hit the wall with a thud, and the floor with another thud as his legs gave out under him. Cordy tried to scream, but her captor clamped a hand over her mouth. She stomped down on his foot with her heel, and turned away just long enough to slap him. When she turned back, she was held frozen by the sight before her. The other vampire had calmly pulled a gun and was pointing it at Xander. “Scream and he dies,” the vampire said quietly. “Resist and he dies.” Cordy stood frozen to the spot, unable to even speak. She never saw the other vampire hit her. She only saw the curtain of black come over her vision.
Xander watched through his blurred vision as the other vampire knocked Cordy unconscious. The vampire pulled out a sack to put Cordy in, while the other calmly put his gun away. Xander struggled to his feet and aimed a punch at the vampire, but he easily dodged it. The vampire hit Xander in the center of his back, and Xander went down under the blow. The vampire hauled Xander up by a fistful of his own shirt. “Tell the Slayer and her new friend, that we’ve taken the girl to the bluff over looking Sunnydale,” the vampire told him. “If you hurry, we might not make her death too painful,” he added evilly.
Xander face contorted in rage. “I swear, if you-“ The vampire backhanded him, cutting off his threat and making Xander’s head swim.
“Your death might not be so quick.” The vampire laughed as he threw Xander into the row of lockers. Xander hit the lockers and blacked out.
Oz looked at the library doors again. He wasn’t one to pry, but Xander and Cordy had been gone for awhile now. They had probably just found a broom closet somewhere, but then again, this was Sunnydale. Oz tried to concentrate on the book for awhile longer, before he stood up. “I’m going to make sure they’re okay,” Oz said.
“Who?” Willow asked looking up from her computer.
“Xander and Cordy.”
“Oh. I’m sure they’re fine,” Willow replied.
“Yeah. I’ve just got a funny feeling,” Oz said, heading towards the doors. Willow watched him go. She shrugged and turned her attention back to her computer. Willow’s head snapped back up, at the call of Oz’s voice from the hallway. It sounded uncertain, but she didn’t think he sounded very worried. Then again, she’d never heard Oz actually yell before.
Angel and Buffy walked into the library to see Giles and Willow treating an injured Xander. He had a cut above his left eye and his face was turning interesting shades of purple. Oz was hovering near Willow’s arm, while Kendra and Pike were grabbing weapons out of the cage.
“What happened?!” Buffy exclaimed.
“Arestor sent over a few of his minions,” Giles said.
“They’ve taken Cordy,” Xander stated, “They said they were taking her to the bluff over Sunnydale. They wanted to make sure you and Pike found out.”
“Are you okay?” Buffy asked.
“I’m worried he may have a concussion,” Giles stated, as he finished taping a gauze pad over Xander’s eye, “a few bruised ribs, but the cut missed his eye. He’s lucky.”
“We’re ready to move,” Pike said. He and Kendra were standing in the doorway of the cage, armed to the teeth.
“Let me get some extra supplies then we’ll move out,” Buffy said, brushing past Pike and grabbing a few extra weapons from the cage.
“I’m going,” Xander said standing up, though he had to grip the chair to stay standing.
“No! Me, Angel, Pike and Kendra. That’s it!” Buffy responded immediately.
“I’m going!” Xander said, “I’ve got to. I was there when they took her and I couldn’t stop them. I’ve got to go!”
“If Xander’s going, I’m going too!” Willow said.
“And me,” Oz added.
“Fine. We can take Oz’s van there. Xander you and Oz can stay in the van. Willow comes only close enough to get Cordy. Get Cordy to the van and then you ALL leave. The rest of us can take care of Arestor and his thugs.”
“What can stand against two slayers after all?” Kendra asked.
“Nothing so far,” Buffy said smiling.
“We need a new place to meet, since they’ve shown they can get us here. Everyone report back to my house,” Giles said. The others nodded in affirmation, as Buffy slipped a final stake somewhere into her clothing.
“You might want to have plenty of first aide ready when we get back Giles. And extra supplies in case any follow us back,” Angel added.
“Right. Now go,” Giles said shooing them out and closing up behind him. They took off in Giles car and Oz’s van. Giles headed for home, and the others headed through town to the old mansion on the bluff.