3rd Person's POV

Once inside, the vampires spread out, each heading for an exit. Two of them stay behind and close off the front.

Darla heads for the door by the stage that leads backstage. One goes to the bar, another stands in front of the door, and one heads upstairs. Luke climbs up on stage. Darla checks that the exit door is secure. Then she goes over to the fuse box and flips a switch.

The main lights and the music go off. There are gasps and murmurs throughout the club. A voice from the stage calls out.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there's no cause for alarm."

On stage, a single spot continues to shine. Luke steps into the light. His face is rivetingly awful.

"Actually, there is cause for alarm. It just won't
do any good."

A couple tries to get out. The vampire standing guard, his normal face gone, shakes his head no. They shrink back from him.

Laney stares at the stage, Jesse's hands still on her.

"I thought there wasn't any band tonight."

She looks at Jesse to see his face has changed as well.

She gasps, "That makes total sense now."

She starts to struggle but he holds her and pulls her back into the dark under the stairs. Darla re-emerges from backstage then looks up at Luke on stage. Like continues as he gazes over the room.

"This is a glorious night. It's also the last one
any of you shall ever see. Bring me the first!"

One of the vampires pushes the Bouncer up on stage.

"What do you guys want, you want money? Man,
what's wrong with your faces?"

Luke grabs him by the scruff on the neck, squeezing any further conversation out of him.

"Watch me, people! Their fear is elixir. It's almost like blood."

He brings the Bouncer to him and bites his neck, sucking the life out of him in huge gulps. Luke continues feeding. After a bit, he pulls his head back and throws the Bouncer's dead body from him.

"Next!"

Buffy and the others run up to the front door. She tries it but it's locked.

Giles frowns, "We're too late."

"Well, I didn't know I was gonna get grounded!" Buffy says.

"Can you break it down?" Xander asks.

"Not this thing. You guys try the back entrance. I'll find my own way."

Meanwhile in the Bronze, Jesse is still holding a struggling Laney.

"Let go asshole. What happened to you?!"

"Life." Jesse taunts.

"Oh that's cold. Using my own bit against me."

Jesses shrugs and forces his lips onto hers. Laney yelps in shock and disgust as she pushes Jesse away with all her might. He falls to the ground as she wipes her lips.

"Never do that again."

Darla makes her way over and sees Jesse on the ground.

"Really you can't handle this little girl."

"Little?" Laney says with a pout.

Darla punches Laney in the face making her head go back quickly. Laney groans and holds her nose which thankful did not start bleeding.

"Ow what the hell was that for?"

Darla grabs Laney's arm and starts to pull her to the stage.

"This one's mine." Jesse argues as he stands up.

Darla shakes her head, "They are all for the Master."

"I don't get one?"

Upstairs on the balcony, a window opens slowly. Buffy slips in avoiding an oblivious vampire before it. She looks down at the stage, at Luke.

"I feel him rising! I need another!"

She sees the three-pointed star on his head.

"The Vessel..." She whispers to herself.

The vampire turns hearing her. He grabs Buffy and starts to drag her up to the middle of the balcony to present her to Luke.

"Tonight in his ascension. Tonight will be History
at its end! Yours is a glorious sacrifice. Degradation most holy."

He looks around taunting, "What, no volunteers?"

Darla emerges, holding Cordelia and Laney.

"Here's some pretty ones. This one was hiding in the bathroom." She says holding up Cordelia's arm.

"Noooo..." Cordelia starts to whine as Darla pushes her forward.

Luke reaches out for her. Laney shouts no and head bunts Darla. Darla lets out a groan and lets go of Laney. Then Laney elbows Darla in the stomach making her crouch down in pain. Laney raises a fist to punch her but is stopped by Luke holding her fist.

She gasps in pain as he twists her arm to make her turn towards him.

"I like you... You are a fighter... but now you must die."

He grabs her neck and pulls her towards him as she struggles to break free.

On the balcony, Buffy slips out of the vampire's grasp and throws him over the railing. He lands on his back right in front of the stage.

Silence fills the club as everyone looks up.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you in the middle something."

"Buffy!" Laney smiles.

"YOU!" Luke glares, tightening his grip on Laney's neck.

"You didn't think I'd miss this, did you?" Buffy crosses her arms over her chest.

Luke smiles, "I hoped you'd come."

"Be right down."

A vampire comes at Buffy from the side. She grabs him then throws him into the hookah pit. He scrambles back up and she flips herself over backwards,landing on top of the pool table. A cue is lying on the table so she does a hand spring and lands on the floor holding on the cue. A vampire rushes her from the side. Without looking, she jams the cue end into his heart.

"Okay, Vessel-boy. You want blood?"

She steps forward.

Luke throws Laney into the drum set, "I want yours. Only yours."

"Then come and get it."

Cordelia runs over to help Laney up as Luke is distracted. The two run off the stage as Buffy runs and leaps at Luke. She slams her fist into his face making him stumbles back in pain.

He comes back at her but she ducks then comes back up with a roundhouse kick to the face. She whips out her stake and comes at him but he blocks. He nails her in the face, and she skids into the corner.

Backstage, the door bursts open, Xander nearly falling out. He looks about him-- no vampires in the immediate vicinity, then he beings herding people out.

"Come on!"

The people rush past Willow and Giles, who push them towards the exit.

Buffy kicks Luke in the chest. He flies back, landing hard. She's about to go in for the kill when she sees a vampire going for Xander. She's about to go help until Luke steps in the way. She sees Laney nearby.

"Laney a little help!"

Laney turns around to see Buffy indicating towards Xander. A vampire starts going for Xander, who's too busy shepherding people out to notice.

Laney runs back up the stage then  turns to the drum kit and kicks the cymbal right off the stand. She catches it in mid air just as the vampire reaches Xander. It grabs him as Laney hurls the cymbal, frisbee style.

"Hey." Xander points then pushes the vampire away and ducks down.

The vampire turns, eyes wide, and the cymbal flies straight at his neck.

"Heads up..." Xander says softly looking at the vampire turn to dust.

He nods towards Laney thanking her and she nods back.

Luke grabs Buffy lifting her up in a crushing bear hug. Xander is going to help Buffy, until he hears a shriek. He turns to see Cordelia being dragged off into the area below the stairs by Jesse. He throws her to the ground, kneeling above her. Pinning her down.

"Hold still! You're not helping."

Xander appears behind Jesse, holding a stake. He could plunge it right through the back into the heart, but he hesitates.

"Jesse, man... don't make me do it."

Jesse looks around, grinning inhumanly, "Buddy..."