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"The signs have been present for the last year and a half. We have been blinded to the facts, gentleman. The union has been achieved, and we have yet to do a thing about it!"
High Council Member Malachi looked down the gray-haired man speaking, watery blue eyes lined with wrinkles. "Mr. Travers...are you absolutly sure that such a thing has happened? Price has reported no such union."
"His Slayer is not activated, sir. However, the renegade is! Very possibly, if a union has taken place, Mr. Giles would have covered it up, to protect Summers, with whom he holds a most strong affection," Quentin Travers pointed out, and the other Elders exchanged looks.
"There was a unpredicated elclipse last week, one that made the moon appear as blood, and I am sure that you gentleman are familiar with what has been happening along the Californian coastline?"
One of the Elders nodded slowly, looking towards the others, "I decree that we send a representive to Sunnydale at once. If it is indeed true that a union has taken place, he will have to carry-out the precautions..."
"Let me be that man, sir," Travers broke in, "I will not fail you."
The Elders nodded, knowing he was a man to always do the job right. "Very well, Mr. Travers. God Speed, and do be careful."
"The U.S. Coast Guard blames the strange phenoma on a early case of Red Tide,more severe then in the past. The algae gives the water it's crimson color, and discharge of chemicals give off the coppery smell that beach-goers have been complaining of. They suggest to remain away from the beaches till further notice for safety reasons. In other news..."
Spike switched off the tv as Erin stirred behind him, and turned to face the ashen-faced redhead as she sat up. She looked up at him, her eyes strangely haunted and he bit back a sigh as he sat next to her, resting his cool palm against her slightly heated cheek, "How you doing, luv?" He asked softly, and she sighed, closing her eye briefly.
"Tired, mostly...how long...?"
"Better part of two days. You were a little hysterical for awhile, and Giles slipped you something in your drink," He told her, half-apologelitcally, "There was a meeting while you were out...mostly discussin' obtions that won't work and going over the same stuff a million times."
Erin nodded, then rested her head against Spike's chest, still feeling a little out of it. Her recollection was a bit hazy at the moment, but she could remember bits and pieces from the image Satan had given, mostly people writhing in agony in the pits of hell, screaming to be released.
Spike wrapped his arms around her when he felt her body start to shudder and held her in a comforting embrace as she sobbed quietly, stroking her hair tenderly. "Shh...it's okay, baby...it's over now..." He assured her, but that only made her cry harder, and he sighed deeply, pulling her onto his lap and rocking her back and forth, whispering in her ear that everything was going to be all right.
He only hoped that it was true.
Two warnings.
Wesley held his hand against his nose as he knelt near the waves, dipping a test tube into the crimson colored water. A sudden wave threw him off balance, and he swore as the corrupted water washed over him. A bit got in his mouth, and he snorted, standing up to face Giles, "I don't care what the coast guard says, Rupert...but that's blood."
"These are the warnings before the real signs start."
"How many are there? The signs, I mean."
"Seven...it's alway seven. Seven days in a week, seven seas, seven sins, John's seven letters, the seven-fold spirit of God, the seven sealed scrolls, the seven angels with the seven trumpets..."
"And Erin was seventeen when she concieved," Wesley broke in, sighing deeply, "Kids these days...always causing the end of the world..."
Giles smiled strainedly as his cell phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket, " 'lo? Yes, honey...she is? That's great...thanks...love you too..."
Giles glanced at Wesley as he hung up, "Erin's awake."
"Good," Wesley sighed deeply, looking out on the ocean, watching the fish carcasses on the surface, and the two man waded their way through ankle-deep fish and crustcean life, both hopping over the body of a dolphin. "How long till it spreads to the other oceans?"
"Hopefully, it'll stay contained to the coast of California, where most of 'his' power is located," Giles said, "Between the hell mouth..."
"And Erin," Wesley finished for him as they reached a clean stretch of sand, and the younger man hopped underneath the showers to wash the blood off of him. "Do you think we should tell her about this? I mean...she's been through a lot..."
"No, I don't think we should...but we shall. She would be angry if we kept something like this from her. She's right...there is no time left for secrets."
Wesley nodded, agreeing, "But I'm really not looking forward to Wormwood, Rupert."
"Nor am I, Wesley."
Erin dressed slowly, looking out the bedroom window. Spike was down in the front yard, sitting on the grass and smoking a cigarrette. His leather duster was lying on the ground beside him, the day having grown too hot for the black material.
Gere curam finis...
Erin shook her head slightly before turning from the window and taking a deep breath. You can do this...everything will be fine...you can beat Satan...right?
She shuddered slightly. The fact of the matter was that she was merely mortal. She certainly wasn't God or Christ.
She was just a girl...and she was frightened out of her wits.
How can he be so calm? She thought to herself, thinking of Spike, what does he know that I don't?
She sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair, then glanced down at her belly, swollen with life. She rested her hand against it, trying to picture it as a normal, healthy child...full of life and joy...but she could still only see a foul demon, ready to destroy the world.
She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
Maggie Walsh frowned, staring into the television monitors. She was looking in on the hostile holding area, a puzzled look on her face. For some reason, they had all gone berserk.
They were slamming against the barriers, not mindful of the pain, snarling, howling and cursing at the humans that walked on the other end, demanding to be let out. It was a slightly puzzling, if not disturbing, event.
She felt a cool whisper of air, and whirled around, her eyes widening when she saw a black-haired man standing behind her. "How did you get in here?! You're not allowed..."
"Shhhh..." He held his fingers against his lips, and immediately, Walsh clamped her mouth shut against her will, and her eyes widened as they flickered towards a button on the monitors. If she hit it, the alarms would go off.
The man walked by her, looking into the monitors, brushing his fingers across the screens. Walsh nearly screamed as they all exploded at his touch, electricity arching out to consume her body, and as she jittered lifelessly, Satan went towards the computers and sat down at the desk, grinning widely.
"Wax on..." He hit a few buttons, and he heard a loud buzzing sound, and he smiled as he stood, "Wax off..." He walked passed Walsh just as her body fell lifelessly to the floor, "Thanks babe, couldn't do it without ya."
Spike lay awake beside Erin, her body spooned against his, her body warming his ever-cool flesh.
He was absently stroking her bare arm, staring down into her tranquil face, a soft sigh and smile the only indication that her dreams were good, despite what had happened.
Her scent filled his nostrils, comforting him somewhat as he kissed her forehead, and she turned in his arms to snuggle against his chest, her sleep-tousled hair tickling him.
He closed his eyes as she sighed his name, "Why do you stay here, baby?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Spike jerked his eyes open, sitting up in his empty bed and fumbling for the glasses on the bedside table before freezing, staring at the gold-rimmed glasses in his hand. He turned his eyes towards where the voice had come from, but all he good see was a white blur, so he slid them on, the figure coming into sharp focus, "What the bloody..."
He stared at the woman in confusion, her white robes flowing to the ground, her long, golden blond hair standing out against her opalescent skin. She was beautiful, but it was beauty of an ethreal quality that reminded him of Erin. A low, white aura of light seemed to surround her, and she smiled, pure white teeth flashing behind rose-bud lips.
"Who the fuck are you and what are you doing in my..." He glanced around, frowning, "In my room two hundred years ago...oh, right...I know this...whacked out dreams...listen, lady, I've had it up to here," He held his hand to his chin with a scowl, "With these fucking dreams. Can't a bloke get a good nights sleep without you freaks babbling Latin at me?"
"Tsk, William...so rude. We thought you would appreciate help from the other side."
Spike's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he climbed out of his bed relunctantly, glancing at the place where Erin should have been, "Where is she?"
"In her room...down the hall," The woman answered, "This is two hundred years ago, after all."
"Bloody hell...at least the brimstoney bastard let's me have sex in those dreams..."
The woman scowled at him, putting her hands on her hips, "I'm Michael, the archangel..."
"Michael? But you're a bird..."
"Yes, I'm aware that I'm a...bird, as you so eloquently put it. But that is only how you see me. I can be whoever or whatever someone likes. Angels are without form, you know. As is Satan and God. You see me as a woman, since a woman has always symbolized a warrior in your eyes. And is it any wonder, being a Watcher and loving a Slayer so dearly, nearly to the point of idolation. Which is a sin, by the way."
"I'm aware of that," Spike answered disinterestedly, "Does this bloody dream have a point, or do I have to listen to cryptic bullshit once more? I bloody hate puzzles and riddles, and I'm fucking sick of them too."
"Crypticism is for liars, William. Although, your visions in the desert were very cryptic...but we had to be sure that you would go though with it."
"I already promised that, luv. I don't back down on my word."
"No matter how much it'll hurt her?"
Spike flinched visibily as the room around them dissolved, "Yes."
"Good," Michael turned away from him as Spike peered about the dark field. Thunder rumbled in the distance and Michael's eyes were drawn to the figure up on the cross, "The symbolism was not lost on us, William. Truly a cruel way to die. HE knew the pain of metal tearing through flesh and bone."
Spike refused to look at the cross, his eyes on the manor house down the hill, watching the candles flickering in the windows, lonely, waiting for someone to come and blow them out. "Your point?"
Michael sighed, glancing at him, "The fight will be long and hard, and there isn't much for us to do. Our Soldier of Light is the Slayer...and there is only the one active right now. Extraordinary girl...but her time will come eventually, as will Faith's."
"And Erin..."
"Not particularly..."
Spike looked at her sharply, but her eyes were once more on the cross, "She will know many lifetimes of pain, William. She will fight and fight and fight...begging for death to come...but she's frightened. Her mortal soul is endangered...her faith in us is damaged. The Council will use her and abuse her...keep her active as long as her life will span the centuries. She will save the world over and over again, but she will not see the reasons why. She won't care anymore about the people..."
"What are you babbling about?"
Michael didn't seem to pay attention to his question as she continued, "She will watch her friends die, William...some of old age, some during the fights, some of sickness...but she will live on...eventually alone. She will beg for death, beg for someone to take her out of this world, but she won't give in...she cannot...for her soul would be damned..."
"What are you saying?" Spike growled, whirling on the angel, "What the fuck are you telling me?"
"She's a half-vampire, Spike...she has many of their strengths...including immortality..."
"Fuck!" Spike snarled, his eyes narrowing, "Why didn't you fuckers tell me this before?! YOU LIED TO ME!"
"We did not lie, we only did not tell you," Michael shifted uncomfortably, shifting her eyes upwards, cocking her head slightly, "She's a Slayer, Spike...they know only pain and loss and the fight. But Erimentha..." Michael sighed, "She has made the angels weep with her heart and soul. She had accomplished something that not even God has done..."
"What's that?"
"Forgiveness of all that had wronged her. God still bears a grudge against Lucifer...our Holy Father, still has not forgiven the Morning Star. Erin has forgiven you, Angelus and Drusilla, though your cruelties were much too much to bear..."
"Dru...?"
"Oh yes..." Michael smiled, "ce oy times I have heard her give thanks to her for protecting you and loving you for so long. For helping you retain what man was left of you. For keeping you safe and by her side for so many years. She had watched you two from the heavens for her entire time here, weeping for the innocents and for the love she had lost to Drusilla. But never did she begrudge you your happiness, twisted though it was."
"She doesn't remember that," Spike whispered, "She only remembers the field..."
"Yes...well...not all of heaven's secrets are to be divulged. Sweet dreams to make her nights more bearable, though the man in them changed through the years, gaining new scars and heartaches and facets to his demon. Forgiveness given fully to you, no questions, no hate, no regrets..." Michael sighed again, still staring at the cross, "How I wept for her, how I wept when she was sent back to face this all over again. I question His judgement...how much could she stand? How much must she suffer in this game? Then He told me that love would end it, finally...that love, pure, unconditionally love would make the world right again. Would make heaven a joyous place again..."
"How can this be right?!" Spike hissed at her, his eyes narrowing behind his glasses, "You tell me she'll live on and want to die! How is that right?!"
Michael looked at him, her blue eyes going gray briefly, the gaze in them wise and older then the ancients, "Love will make it right again, William, once warrior of the light. That is all I can promise you."
"And after it's over...then what? When she dies again..."
"You will not meet her," Michael said simply, turning to walk up the hill, beckoning him to follow her, "You regret nothing but her, William. Repentence is the way into the kingdom of heaven, but while you remain in your soulless state, you are of not our domain."
"Bloody great," Spike's eyes were on the ground, refusing to look up as they reached the top of the hill. Michael touched his shoulder, and he glanced at her to see her smiling gently, "Trust in Him, Spike...for though you have strayed from His path, He still watches you, protecting you from the Wolf. You are His lamb, and He is the shepard."
Spike finally lifted his eyes too see not Erin nailed to the cross, but a deeply tanned man, almost black, with long, ebony hair nailed to the wood, his eyes closed as blood from the thorn crown he wore dripped down his face.
"Jesus H. Christ..." Spike took a step back as Michael glanced at him, "There's no H in His name, William," She turned back towards the cross, and a chalice appeared in her hand and she used it to catch the blood dripping from his feet. When she turned, the cross had disappeared.
She handed him the chalice, "Drink of His blood, so that thy may be purified..."
Spike hesistated, staring down into the dark liquid, and she smiled, "There are no tricks here, William."
"How do I know that?" Spike asked, "I don't trust any of you! You've all lied to me!"
"We didn't..." Michael shook her head, "Maybe we did...but...if you knew...would you have agreed?"
"Never! I thought..." Spike shook his head, "Doesn't matter what I thought, does it know? You already extracted blood from the stone, so what does it matter?"
Michael cast her eyes down, looking ashamed, "I am sorry, William. But for her sake, I beg you...let it end. Not for heaven, not for Him, but for her...whatever pain she faces now, she will never have to face again..."
"Except when she dies by my hand when we're reborn...or when I'm reborn..."
Something flickered across Michael's face, and his eyes narrowed, "I'm right, aren't I? Before she dies, I'll be reborn..."
"And she'll die by the hand that belongs to the face that once loved her," Michael whispered, "We have seen it, William...and I am sorry..."
He snarled angrily, slapping the chalice out of her hand, the blood spilling upon the ground, "FUCK YOU AND FUCK YOUR GOD! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!"
He whirled and stalked down the hill, and Michael called after him, "IT IS SHE WHO WILL BE MORE THE DAMNED, WILLIAM, IF YOU LET THIS COME TO PASS!"
He glanced over his shoulder, "I don't give a fucking damn anymore. Let hell come to earth, let the end of days come! I DON'T GIVE A FLYING FUCK ANYMORE!"
"Will..." Spike eyes shot open and he snarled, and Erin jumped in surprise as he vamped out before leaning into his vision, her hair sweeping across his face, "Will, darling...are you all right?"
Spike blinked in surprise, trying to place himself, absently wondering why she was calling him Will, and Erin smiled softly, stroking his ridges soothingly, "Relax...it's Sunnydale, 1999, darling...everything's normal...sort of..."
Spike closed his eyes with a partly relieved sigh as she continued to stroke his face, taking comfort from her touch, "This isn't another dream, is it?" He whispered softly, and Erin kissed his forehead, "I promise it isn't, darling. Would I lie to you?"
"No," Spike smiled slowly as his face faded back into his human mask, and he opened his dark, blue eyes, looking up into her sweet, beautiful face and he reached up, cupping her chin. She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, sighing deeply, "What were you dreaming?"
"Angels that weren't angels at all..."
Erin frowned slightly in confusion, her eyes still closed as she responded, "Angels?"
"Michael, the Archangel..."
"Of the Flaming Sword," Erin replied softly, opening her eyes, "He expelled Satan from heaven on the tip of it..."
"She, you mean," Spike replied, still looking up at her face, her body still soft and warm with sleep.
"What did she want?"
"To make and break promises," Spike replied softly, closing his eyes once more, "They are all liars, love. Faith means nothing anymore."
"You lost your faith a long time ago, love," She reminded him as he pulled her down to him, kissing her throat and nuzzling his face against it.
"And you?"
"I've doubted often, especially lately..." Erin closed her eyes as his hands trailed down over her back, and then his lips were on his, gently coaxing hers into play. She pulled away after a few moments, looking down at him, "Spike, darling...what did they lie to you about?"
"About you and me, pet. They lied about the way things are going to happen...and now I have a choice..."
"What's that?"
"To save you and the world now...or kill you later..."
Erin frowned, and Spike looked up, pleading with his eyes, and Erin stopped her line of questioning as he drew her down for another kiss. She moved her body over his and straddle his waist as he broke the kiss to lift her night-shirt over her head, mussing her hair even more.
He smiled up at her, and she raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"You're so beautiful," He muttered almost beneath his breath, reaching up to tangle his hands in her thick hair, pulling her back down to him to kiss her passionatly, his lips bruising her soft ones.
He rolled them suddenly, and she closed her eyes as he ran his lips along her throat, and down to her chest. He sucked a nipple into his mouth, his blunt teeth raking along it, drawing some blood that he suckled at as her hands ran along his bare, strong back.
He lifted his head to gaze up at her, seeing her lids half-lidded with desire, and he reached up to her, cupping her face between his hands, "Why did you stay?" He asked, "After all of...that...why did you stay?"
"After what?" Erin asked, and he slowly slid into her as he stared down at her, "Why did you stay with me...after what I did to you...after everything...that happened?"
"Isn't it obvious?" She asked, and Spike blinked in surprise as she lifted her hips to his, pulling his head down to her to whisper in his ear, "I love you, William...more then anything...or anyone. I'd die without you...you're what makes me live...breathe..." She gasped in his ear as he moved against her, his eyes closed as he listened to the sound of her voice, committing it to memory.
"You're a work of art, my love...a demon made to love without question, and to hate without regret..." She hissed against his neck as he reached between their bodies, fingering her clit, "You're beautiful..."
Spike tensed against her before keening her name, coming hard as she vamped out, sinking her fangs into his throat, whispering huskily, "And you're mine..."
Riley Finn stood in the midst of the containment area, looking around at the HSTs going nuts in their pens. He passed by a vampire, a young, blond girl who was weeping, and she stood as he walked up towards her, stepping up to the barrier, mascara running down her face. They had only picked her up the night before.
"Please...please...I didn't do anything, I swear...I'll be good...I just wanna go home..." She pleaded with him, sniffling and rubbing at her nose, "I'm sorry...I didn't want to eat that guy...but I have too...I have too live...I'll stop...I swear...please...just let me go..."
"Who are you?"
"Harmony...Harmony Kendall...please...I just wanna go home..."
"When were you turned?"
She sniffled, running her hand across her nose again, "A-at Graduation..." She replied sobbingly, "W-we were figh-fighting the Mayor...wi-with Buffy..."
"You know Buffy?"
Harmony nodded.
"What happened after you were turned?" Riley asked, knowing that it wasn't often a hostile willingly gave up information.
"Af-after I was turned...Sp-Spike...Sp-Spike found me and he...he sho-showed me how to hunt.." Tears of blood poured from Harmony's eyes, "Please? Can I go home? I'll be good...I prom-promise!"
"Spike?" Riley started in surprise, "Do you know where Spike is?"
"N-no..." Harmony shook her head, "H-he disappeared...no one knows where he is...we think he-he's dead..."
"Son of a bitch," Riley swore and Harmony sniffled again, "Please? Can I go home...?"
"I have to be truthful, Harmony...I...I don't think so. I'm sorry...my boss isn't liable to let you go..."
Harmony started crying again, and Riley glanced around guiltly before going closer to the barrier, "Listen, Harm...can I call you Harm?"
Harmony nodded, still sobbing.
"I'm sorry, okay...I'll see if I can do something after they put a little behavior modification in your head...since you've been so sweet...but I can't promise anything...but you can trust me...I'll do what I can, all right?"
"Can I at least move out of here?" She asked, "The demon next to me smells..."
"All right...there's a few empty cells next to each other down the hall, all right? If I open the door, you're going to have to promise to cooperate, cause I don't really want to use the blaster. They can hurt."
Harmony nodded again, and Riley slid a card through the lock by the door, and he smiled reassuringly, still keeping a tight grip on his blaster as Harmony stepped out, glancing around, "Why are they acting so crazy?"
"We don't know. They've been like this for the last few days," Riley told her, digging into his pocket and handing her a pack of tissues he had there, and she took it gratefully as he led her down the aisle, "You don't know why?"
Harmony shook her head, wiping her blood and mascara-streaked face with a tissue, "N-no...but a couple of vamps in my gang were acting all weird too."
Riley shook his head, glancing at her. She didn't seem all that bad...a little ditzy, but certainly not evil like most vampires. She was the second contridiction to what he had been taught. She wasn't even attempting to hurt him or make a run for it. She seemed just like any other scared girl.
"I bet if Spike was here, he'd know why...he was kinda mean to me...but he was smart, y'know? He was going to kill the Slayer with this girl who fed off vampires...I wonder what happened to her...anyway...it didn't work, cause she got away or something...and then Spike kept running off every night and stopped spending the night with me...and then he disappeared...and everyone thinks he's dead or something..." Harmony babbled and Riley shook his head slightly, "What girl?"
"I don't know...some girl...I think her name was like...Erica or something..."
"Erin?"
"Yeah, that's it...Spike was really broody after that...either stayed in his room all night or hung out at the Bronze...at least, that's what I heard...Brendon told Sarah and Sarah told Johnny and Johnny told me..."
"Harm...we're here," Riley paused outside a empty cell, and Harmony looked at it with some trepidation, "Please? Can't I go home?"
"I'm sorry, Harmony...I'll do what I can, I promise, but I'm pretty much on my boss' shit list at the moment. May not do any good..."
"Can you talk to me some more?" Harmony asked, "Cause no one wants to talk and I'm so bored..."
"Fine, I'll talk to you," Riley replied, smiling at her and going into her holding pen and sitting down on the tile, and she came to sit beside him, "About what time did Spike disappear?"
"Oh...I don't know...over six months ago, I guess. It was really weird..." Riley dug into his pocket and removed a candy bar, and Harmony glanced at it longingly as he opened it up, and he glanced at her in surprise, "You want some?"
"Yes, please," Harmony accepted half of it and smiled as she ate it.
"I didn't know vamps liked candy."
"Oh, you know...I still get major cravings once a month..." Harmony looked slightly embaressed, "Not that I have to worry about that stuff anymore...but it still makes a girl feel better. Old habits...Spike used to eat food sometimes too. He liked Mars bars...don't know why...I think they're gross."
"Yeah, me too," Riley chuckled, eating his half, "What else do you know about Spike?"
Harmony frowned in some suspicion, glancing at him, "What do you know about Spike?" She asked, "And why are you so interested in him?"
"Well..." Riley hesistated briefly, "We had him in here a couple of months ago, but he escaped...and I think he was engaged to that Erin girl last I saw him."
"What?!" Harmony almost choked on her candy bar, "He's engaged?!"
Riley shrugged, "Last I heard. I could be wrong though."
"Ewwww...he's engaged to that chica? Gross...then again, Spikey always liked biting..." Harmony looked at him, smiling somewhat sheepishly, "Never mind...but he's dead by now...he wouldn't give up mastership of Sunnydale..."
"He had mastership?"
Harmony nodded, "He was on this big power trip for awhile before he disappeared. I can't believe he got engaged and didn't even tell me! What a bastard!"
Riley smiled as he stood, "I gotta go...I'm sorry, Harm, but duty calls..."
"But you'll try to get them to let me go...right?" Harmony asked, and Riley nodded, "I promise, Harm, cross my heart, hope to die."
Harmony stood, watching with a dejected expression as he started to set the locks, and he sighed, dropping the card before looking around "Come on...quick..." He said, and Harmony smiled brightly as she stepped out, just as the entire room went dark, and redlights started flashing as the alarms all went off.
Riley tensed, glancing at Harmony, who looked around in bewilderment, "What's going on?"
"Warning! Warning! The containment area has been breached! All staff report to safe stations!"
"Oh...never mind..."
"Come on, quick, now!" Riley shouted at her as the holding pen barriers all fizzled, disappearing. When he glanced at Harmony, she was vamped out, and she snarled as she grabbed him by the throat, throwing him into one of the empty pens as the demons all broke loose.
Riley's eyes widened as she leapt in after him, slamming him into the wall, and her mouth descended towards his throat.
Satan smiled as he watched a monitor, the demons all descending down on the Intiative Complex, tearing the place apart for their vengeance. Humans screamed in pain as they died at the hands of the creatures they had kidnapped and studied for their benefits.
Satan nodded once before flipping a switch, deactivating the chips of the hostiles, and laughed as he turned away from the monitors.
Riley listened to the screams in the distance, rubbing his throat as he and Harmony peeked out of the pen they were hiding in, and he glanced at the blond, "Thanks...but was the bite really necessary?"
"If they didn't smell blood, the other vamps wouldn't have bought it," She replied, and Riley raised an eyebrow, "Pretty smart."
"Kinda of a common sense thing, actually," Harmony said, grabbing his hand, "Do you know a way out of this place?"
Riley nodded, pulling her in the opposite direction, "This way...there's a sewer access to the top..."
"Oh...what time is it?"
Riley glanced at his watch, swearing, "Fuck...only half an hour to sunrise..."
"I'll have to hide out in the sewers..." Harmony frowned, "Oooohhh wait...there's a place Spike told me about...to go if it's near sunrise, there's a sewer access there..."
Riley nodded, grabbing her hand, "Let's go, before they get wise and decide that they need a snack," Riley told her, and she nodded, following him.
Quentin Travers paused outside a door, looking at the address before knocking.
After several minutes, a yawning Wesley answered the door, and then his eyes shot wide open, "Mr...Mr. Travers!"
"Morning Price, sorry to disturb your sleep," Travers said insincerely, pushing through and glancing around at the sparse surroundings, "You haven't made much of a home here, have you?"
"Um...no...not really...excuse my impudence, sir...but why...why are you here?"
"I think you've been watching the news," Travers turned, "The sea turning to blood..."
"Um...they said it was...red...red tide..."
"You're stammering, Wesley. You know of the blood tide. Do you understand what it means?"
"Um...no..."
"A dark power is in Sunnydale, Wesley, and it's in direct contact to the Slayer..."
"The Slayer..." Wesley paled considerably, and Travers nodded, "Yes, the Slayer. Only the Slayer could set such motions in progress. Tell me, is she pregnant?"
"Um...Erin? No...she isn't..."
"Not Gillian, you fool. She's uncalled. She cannot do such a thing. I mean Summers. Her vampire...what was his name...?"
"An-Angelus...sir..."
"Yes, Angelus. I believe illicit relations led to his soul being lost, did it not?"
"Yes sir...but Angel has been in LA...for nearly a year..."
"So? She has visited him, I presume, and he has visited here, plenty of chances for the act to have taken place..."
"Sir, Sum--Buffy can't do that with Angel, sir...he loses his soul...and he is very much in possession of it. He's fighting for the PTB in LA..."
Travers snorted, "I'm sure he is...bloody nonense if you ask me...but still...perhaps something else had come up...some wording in the spell that causes him to not lose his soul..."
"They would have never taken the chance, sir. Too much was at stake...I can assure you, Buffy hasn't been with Angel since the first...an-and only time..."
"How do you know that?" Travers waved his hand around, "The fate of the world is at stake, and you make assumpations! Have I taught you nothing?"
"N-no, sir...I mean yes...no...I don't know, sir..." Wesley removed his glasses, fumbling with them, feeling once more the school boy, "But Erin--I mean Buffy! Hasn't had relations...with any vampire, I assure you..."
Travers' eyes narrowed in suspicion at his slip, "How is your Slayer, Wesley? How many kills is she making a night? Where is she now?"
Wesley paled even more, swallowing heavily, "Uh...she's at home, I'm sure...an-and...many...many kills..."
"How many?!"
"Um...six?"
"Hesistation, Price!" Travers snapped, and Wesley straightened by reflex, his forehead popping out in sweat, "Take me to Gillian...NOW!"
Oh...Christ...Wesley nearly moaned as he hung his head, "Yes sir."
Harmony pushed the trapdoor open, peeking her head out curiously as she looked around the indoor garden before stepping out, Riley in tow, "Looks pretty sun-proof," She said, looking down at the now ex-commando, "It's kinda...nice...but in a creepy sort of way."
"What is this place?"
"Um...I think this was where Spike lived when he was still with Dorkzilla."
"Who?"
"Drusilla...his ex...she was a total bitch," Harmony shook her head, "Left him for a chaos demon or something like that. I wasn't really paying attention."
Riley glanced around the garden before following Harmony up the stairs, "Ever meet her?"
"Dorkus? Naw. Don't want too either. She's pretty mean, I hear. Heard she crashed a museum party a while back...totally thrashed the place. I may not be the brightest person on the planet, but I still like art, y'know? It's really sucky to ruin that kind of stuff...cause people work so hard on it..." Harmony sighed, glancing at Riley, "I wanted to be a fashion designer...before I got turned...and now, that's kinda hard since...y'know...no one hires vampires for fashion design...plus there's the issue of not being able to work during the day. It really sucked getting turned at graduation...I had acceptance to a school in Paris and everything. Spike was supposed to take me there, but he never did...and I guess he never will..."
Riley smiled slightly, "You like to talk, don't you?"
"Oh...sorry...Cosmo says a talker is someone who's insecure and I'm kinda nervous...since you're one of the guys that grabbed me in the first place...and then that weird thing in the thingy...what was that anyway?"
"Don't know...the containment barriers shorted out I guess...but there was a constingency plan for that sort of thing...so I don't really know."
"Damn," Harmony pouted slightly, glancing around as they entered the main room, seeing the fireplace, "Oh nice...of course there's no wood. Sucks."
Riley nodded slowly, considering leaving her to go and try to find out what had happened, or if there had been any survivors, but she had saved his life, so he didn't really want to abandon her.
Harmony started poking around the rooms, leaving Riley in the main room, and he heard her make an exclamation of surprise, and he hurried after her, "Ohh...cool..." Harmony helped up a blue, victorian style dress from a trunk she had found, and Riley smiled as she held it against her body, spinning around with it, "What do you think?"
"Might have belonged to that Drusilla woman."
"Ooohhh..." Harmony grimaced, tossing it aside as she rummaged through the trunk, "Oh, but there's some nice jewelery here," She said, holding up a ruby necklace and fastening it on with a smile. She dug in further and found a small, ornate silver box and picked it up curiously.
She opened it, peering down in surprise at the small, emerald ring, set with two pearls on either side of the jewel. It was pretty old, from the looks of it, and she removed it, slipping it on her finger. A piece of paper sticking out of the edge of the box caught her eye, and she carefully removed it, the yellow paper nearly crumbling with age.
"I proposed to her today," She read aloud, and Riley glanced at her sharply as she frowned, trying to make out the old writing, "She was so beautiful, lying in the sun, the smell of her skin and hair intoxicating me. She cried, for herself and for me, telling me about the regrets she had of being a Slayer...that she would not live long, that she would die without children. That she would die and leave me alone. What God can allow this sweet, heavenly creature this fate? To fight and to die, to have nothing to hope for. I will give her hope...for she is mine. I love her dearly, for she is my light, my sun, my very goddess, my Venus of desire and purity, all in one. I'll pray every night that He would allow her longer live then other Slayers, that she shall know only happiness, and that I will be the one to bring it to her. I love her, and I will be damned to hell before I ever allow her to be hurt..." Harmony looked up at Riley, "Signed William Giles, 1798..."
"William Giles?"
"It's Spike...I mean, his name was William...before..." Harmony said, glancing down at the paper again, "That's sooo sad, don't you think?"
"Spike was involved with a Slayer before," Riley shook his head in confusion, then heard Harmony gasp, and he looked at her. She was staring at the back of the paper, and Riley looked over her shoulder, his eyes widening when he saw the figure in the picture.
"That's Erica!" Harmony cried, "I'd recoginze her anywhere!"
Giles sighed heavily as he knocked on Erin's door, shaking his head slightly. He had yet been to see the girl since she had woken up from her 'semi-coma,' and he hoped that she was all right.
To his surprise, a bright, cheerful young girl that resembled his niece opened the door, and she beamed brightly, "Giles! Come in! I was just making some tea!" She said, energetically turning and going into the kitchen.
Spike was sitting on the couch, watching her with a small, sad smile on his face, and he glanced at Giles as he walked in, catching the puzzled look on his face, "Gotta love mood swings...in about five minutes, though, she'll be screaming for the death of every man on the planet."
"I heard that!" Spike glanced over his shoulder in time to be hit with a wet tea bag, and his eyes widened in surprise, "Why, you little chit!" He exclaimed, jumping to his feet and rushing into the kitchen. Erin gave a squeal and tried to keep the island between the two of them, but he only jumped over it to land in back of her and he grabbed her around the waist, yanking her back against him with a growl.
She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face down to hers to kiss him passionatly, and Giles cleared his throat to get their attention.
They broke off, each look ing a bit sheepish, "She started it," Spike said and Erin elbowed him in the belly, moving out of his arms to pour the tea, "What's up?"
"Um...Wesley and I investigated the red tide..."
"Let me guess, blood? Lots of it?" Erin said, glancing at Spike, "And damn...here I was looking forward to going to the beach with my new sun-proof husband."
"Don't know, luv...I still kinda sun burn easily...and it tingles."
"Baby," Erin swatted his arm as Giles took his tea, and he raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you're Erin?"
"Pretty sure," Erin said as Spike sat on a stool, and she plopped onto his laugh, glaring at him when he let out an exageratted 'oof'. "I'm not that heavy yet!"
"I know, pet," He kissed the back of her neck, glancing towards Giles, "What's up besides the blood thing?"
"We don't know quite how many signs there are going to be...since the bible is written by men and men are infalliable...and it's corrupted by their influence..."
"Yeah," Spike shook his head, "Bloody pillocks..."
"Who?"
"Angels," Erin answered, "The other side decided to make an appearence in his dreams...and from what I gather...not to promising."
"What?"
"Forget it," Spike sighed, sliding Erin off his lap and kissing her forehead, "I'm gonna get a shower and what say we go out for awhile...just you and me."
"Sure, honey...where too?"
"Don't matter," Spike told her, glancing towards the stairs, then back at her, "Coming?"
"Umm...we have guests..."
"We have a guest...and he's not a real guest. He can leave."
"Spike...you can shower by yourself..."
"That's no fun," He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, "Come on, pet..."
Giles shook his head, "You are both crazy. Thanks for the tea, Erin...I am glad to see you're feeling better."
"Thanks, Giles," Erin said, seeing him to the door, and as soon as it closed, she turned on Spike, "What was with the Anya routine?"
"What?"
"You were five seconds from saying 'Let's go fuck our brains out in the shower,' Spike!"
Spike grinned evilly, swooping her into his arms and running up the stairs with her, "If you insist."
Giles was halfway down the walk when a car stopped across the street, and he watched in shock as Quentin Travers and Wesley stepped out, starting across the street.
Wesley froze suddenly, eyes going wide when he spotted Giles, and Giles' eyes narrowed as he let out a snarl Spike would have been proud of, rushing the younger man. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
Wesley gasped as Giles' body impacted with his, his head cracking painfully against the pavement, and more pain was forthcoming as the older man began to punch him in the face and chest, "YOU SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!"
"Mr. Giles! Control yourself!" Travers snapped, trying to pry the two men apart as Wesley tried to weakly defend himself, but Giles was as a wild animal at his prey, delighting in the Ripper-like emotions that roiled through him as fist met flesh.
Wesley screamed in pain as his nose shattered, throwing his hands up to protect his face and Travers grabbed Giles by the shoulders and yanked him off, sending both men clattering to the street. "The Council shall hear of this!"
"Fuck you and the Council," Giles hissed at him, yanking free and rolling to his feet as Wesley staggered to his feet, blood pouring out from between the fingers pressed to it, "My nosth! You broke my notsth!"
"I'll do worse then that, you fucking git!" Giles made to lunge at him again when Erin and Spike came running out of the house and down the steps, "GILES! HAVE YOU GONE INSANE!?" She shouted at him, grabbing him by the arm and yanking him back and giving him a shove towards Spike.
She went towards Wesley and lifted his hand away, wincing as she glared over her shoulder, "Have you gone mad, Uncle? Brawling in my friggin' front yard! Get in the house, all of you before the neighbors call the cops!"
"Um...pet?" Spike tilted his head towards Travers, and Erin turned her scathing glare on him, "And who the hell are you?!"
"He's from the Council!" Giles hissed, "The bloody prick went to the Council!"
Travers was staring at Erin's stomach, his eyes narrowed, "You're the Slayer...you're the Slayer that's going to end the world! But you're not called! How is this possible?!"
"I didn'th tell him shith," Wesley lisped, "You sthupidth idioth. You broke my nosth!"
"Come on, Wes...we'll get ice on that," Erin said as Spike let Giles go only to grab Travers by the collar of his suit, dragging him inside the house under protest.
"Let me go, you undead bastard!"
"Look, you stupid fuck," Spike said, trying to keep the growl out of his voice, "If I'm a vamp, why the fuck am I outside at bloody noon?!"
Travers blinked in surprise, "I...uh..."
"That's what I thought," Spike shoved him through the door of the house, not bothering to catch him as he stumbled, glancing at Erin as she led Wesley into the kitchen, getting ice out of the freezer and packing it against his face as he bitched and moaned about Giles.
"Who is this blighter, anyway?"
"Travers...Quentin Travers..."
"Travers?!" Spike growled despite himself, stalking towards the man, "You're a Travers?"
"What of it?" The man asked indiginitly, and Erin glanced at Spike as she led Wesley back into the living room, telling him to sit down with his head back.
"What are you doing here?" Giles asked testily, crossing his arms over his chest, and Travers glared at him, "My job. That little slut fornicated with a vampire and now the world is going to end!"
Spike snarled, his eyes flashing yellow, and Travers jumped in surprise, backing away as Spike took a step towards him, but Giles beat him to the punch...literally.
Travers hit the ground ass first, staring up at Giles in surprise as the man rubbed his knuckles, glaring down at him, "I suggest you watch your mouth around my niece, you pompous arse," The ex-Watcher growled, "And we've been aware of it for months..."
"Then you know she must die to keep it from happening!" Travers said, standing up and brushing himself off, his chin throbbing from the punch Giles had landed. "She's a libelity!"
"She's a human being!"
"She's only a Slayer! She must die for the sake of the world!"
"She's my wife!"
"She's in the room!" The men all looked towards Erin as she straightened, leveling them all with glares, "So I thank you not to speak of me as if I am not here."
"Sorry, luv," Spike said somewhat sheepishly as Erin stalked towards Travers, backing him into the corner, and Wesley lifted the ice pack off his face to watch. Now why is this familiar?
"And I am aware of what must happen to prevent the end of the world, you prat, and I am a Slayer after all," She growled at him, her green eyes narrowed almost ferally, "And I know my duty as well as you do, so don't you fucking tell me what has to be done, while you fops in England sit on your arses and decide MY fate!"
"It's not your fate anymore," Travers snapped, "It's the entire world's! It's happened countless times! You will die...and your vampire," Travers jabbed his thumb in Spike's direction, "Will die too, if I have anything to do with it!"
"Oh yes, cause the Travers' family is so famous for wanting us dead," Spike said casually, leaning against the wall, and Giles glanced at him sharply, "What?"
"Didn't tell you, mate?" Spike grinned darkly, his eyes flashing as he glanced at Travers, "Remember the break-in at the Travers estate...'round the sixties?"
Travers frowned slightly, and Giles raised an eyebrow, "That was you?" He asked in some surprise.
Spike nodded, "Dru was bitching about wanting some talisman they had, so I broke in and for giggles and jollies, I decided to have a peek around at the library...took a couple took a couple journals that proved some interesting reading. Especially the ones from our time."
"What's that?" Erin glanced at him curiously, and Spike advanced on Travers, "A dirty little secret that Travers would have liked to have kept hidden, pet..."
Travers paled as he pressed himself farther into the corner, and Spike tilted his head slightly, "I think baldy here knows what I'm talking about. Remember a certain Watcher named William Giles the Third?"
Travers paled even more, "Heresay...that's all it is...no one would believe a vampire..."
"You sthupidth sodth," Wesley lisped, "He isth William Gilesth."
"Also known as William the Bloody," Giles supplied, stepping closer to the old man, "He did have some interesting places to insert railroad spikes, if the records are right."
"Once shoved one up through a Watcher's anus through his chin after he stood by and watched his Slayer die, doing nothing to help her," Spike said, glancing at Erin briefly before focusing his attention back on Travers. She didn't seem to look upset by his talk, so he continued, "Bloody painful way to die, I think...git screamed for days while I let Dru play with him."
"Nice, darling."
Spike flashed her a grin before looking back at Travers before bracing his hands on either side of the elderly Watchers head, his nose nearly touching his as he dropped his voice a few octaves, "Your great-great-great-great grandfather wanted us dead, mate...cause of my...attachement to my woman over there. He knew Angelus was in town...and he knew Angelus was gunning for me...but he never warned us."
"Very frowned upon by the Council," Giles replied, "No matter how much you want a Slayer dead, she was to be warned, since Angelus did have a penchant for torturing the populace."
"Yes, but he kept it out of town...except when he liked to torment us," Spike's eyes narrowed slightly, "Your family stood by while innocents were slaughtered, mate. Not caring, cause in all likilihood, his Slayer would have been called next. And she was, wasn't she? Didn't survive the Crucimentum, of course, by why did that matter, as long as your family was able to gain it's place firmly in the Council with a Slayer. Still fairly young then, in the tradition, weren't they?"
"Yesth," Wesley called out, "Their family wasn'th esthablishthed in the Councilth till the eighteen-hundredsth."
Travers shot a glare at Wesley, and Spike snarled, grabbing his chin and forcing him too look at him, "Your family allowed an innocent girl to suffer and die! Because of your family, we roamed Europe for over a hundred years! A deadly trio that slaughtered thousands! William the Bloody was spawned because of your family!" He grinned, "What do you think the current elders would think when they found out, huh? And heresay, my arse...I have the original journals. All of them...detailing your family's deceit."
Travers was even more pale, unable to figure out the creature before him. Amber seemed to merge with blue, but his demon face didn't come to the fore as Spike studied his face intently, like the predator that he was. A demon...a vampire...that stood out in daylight...all very confusing...his words very dangerous to him and his standing in the Council.
"You have a son, don't you?" Spike questioned almost idly, "About 24, I think...Johnathan, correct?"
Travers inhaled sharply, and Spike smiled, "Yes, I know about him, Quentin...I know all about your family...made it my business long ago. Vowed my vengeance on you...but Prague got in my way, and then Dru being sick and all...the only reason I haven't twisted your head clear off your body is because of that woman standing over there...the one that you want to kill. That one that your family killed long ago..." Spike straightened suddenly, pulling away from him, "Do you love your son, Travers?"
"Y-yes..." The older man stammered, his face quite pale.
"Hmmm...surprising from an animal like you. Here's the deal, Travers...you fuck with me or mine...you or the Council, the journals are sent to the Elders and your little Johnny goes missing...and you start getting body parts in the mail. Nothing big at first...maybe some toes...a pinky...nothing he'll miss too much. Then there's a hand...maybe a foot...then an arm...a leg...a pound of flesh...whatever floats my boat. If she's still being targeted...then we start getting into organs that he could live without...as long as he stays hooked up to machines. Then, eventually...there's a head...then the rest of him...in tiny little bits. And a tape...a video tape to accompany it all, so that you may see and hear his screaming and his begging first hand. And then we go see your wife...and your brother's family, and we start all over again. You can try and hide them, mate...we'll find them...you know I can. We're all hunters by nature."
"You're going to let him speak to me like this?" He hissed at Giles, Wesley and Erin.
Wesley averted his eyes while Giles raised an eyebrow.
"YOU! You're a Slayer!"
"I'm also pregnant and bloody pissed off," Erin replied, her eyes flashing yellow, "And a bit of a monster myself. Can't say the thought of all that carnage doesn't appeal to my demon,though I don't usually indulge it...but in light of recent events...I might offer it a bit of leeway."
"Are we understanding each other, mate?" Spike asked, drawing his attention back to the blond before him, and Travers nodded slowly, casting his eyes down, "Yes..."
"Good," Spike stepped towards Erin, briefly nuzzling her throat as he stepped behind her, his vampiric visage coming into place as he wrapped his arms around her possessively, "Remember, Quentin...you fuck with what's mine, and little Johnny's ass is mine."
Quentin looked visibily ill as he nodded again, and Giles smirked at him, stepping aside as the older Watcher fled out the door. He glanced at Spike, who was still holding Erin, "You weren't serious about that, were you?"
Spike only met his gaze levelly as he straightened, dropping his arms, "Wesley needs a doctor," He said simply, moving towards the stairs, and Giles sent Erin a stricken look, but she only lifted an eyebrow before following her husband.
"We assthiciate wit' the worsth people," Wesley muttered, and Giles nodded, "Couldn't agree more...sorry about the nose..."
"Itsth fine," Wesley said, waving him off as he stood, and to his surprise, Wesley grinned, "Worth it to seeth Traversth running like Satan wasth on histh heelsth."
"That it was," Giles smiled despite his misgivings, "That it was."
Quentin Travers' hands were shaking as he started his car, and he gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to stop the spasms. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before they shot open again. He could almost hear his son's screams.
"Goddamn...bloody...bastard..." He hissed through his teeth, slamming the steeling wheel with the flats of his hands, "Goddamn him!"
"Anyone I know?"
Travers tensed and whirled in his seat, staring in at the man sitting in his backseat. "Who are you?"
"A friend to you, sir, I assure you," Satan smiled amiably, "I have had dealings with Spike many times, and find him a most disagreeable sort, don't you think?"
Travers' gritted his teeth together angrily, "Get out."
"Now, now," Satan held up his hands, "Please, just listen to me for a moment...I promise, it's good..."
Travers glanced towards the house he had just rapidly vacated, leaving a good part of his diginty behind and slowly nodded, "Fine...talk," Travers said as he started the car an pulled away from the curb.
"Good choice, friend," Satan leaned back comfortably as the old man shot him curious and cautious looks in the mirror, "Spike's a thorn in my side, my friend. Has been since the day I met him...except I can't seem to kill him. And I don't want to get directly involved..."
"Why not?"
"Just because," Satan gave him an irritated look before continuing, "The thing of the matter is...the girl..."
"She has to die...she has the child..."
"I'm well aware of that, friend, and don't you worry about a thing. Once Spike is out of the way, I'll have her, and the child is a moot point after I'm through with her...get me?"
"Yes..." Travers frowned as Satan's honeyed voice flowed over him, weaving his little lies, "You'll kill the child?"
"On that you have my word as a good Christian," Satan almost smiled as the man bought it hook line and sinker, "Spike...I want him dead. Real dead...and you can accomplish that, and probably even pay him back a little for threatening you and your son..."
Travers smiled, thinking of that as Satan leaned forward, "Once Spike is gone, the girl is mine and your worries will be over...you'll be a hero to the Council for saving the world, and your reputation is intact...as well as your son's body parts..." Satan reached into his pocket and removed a card, dropping it into Travers' lap, "Call them. Expensive, but they get the job done."
Travers glanced down at it, frowning, "That's the symbol for the..."
"Order of Taraka," Satan smiled, "I trust you get the irony in this."
"Yes...of course...he hired them before to go after Summers..."
"Wrath is sweet, friend," Satan gestured for him to stop, "Think on it. I think you'll agree with me that this is the best course of action."
Satan stepped out of the car and started down the street as Travers studied the card intently before slipping it into his breast pocket. Damn but am I good...
TBC
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