Awakening: Part 1
By: Eric
Hendrix
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all related creations and
story therein are property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Email -
Spoilers / Back Ground: Up to
Season 6. This story is an alternate story line. The tale begins directly after
the Season 6 episode “As you were”. After “As you were the story line remains
virtually unchanged except that Spike is not present in “Hell’s Bells” and
“Normal Again”. In this story the events that occurred in “Entropy”, “Seeing
Red”, “Villains”, “Two To Go”, and “Grave” never occurred.
Chapter 1 - A Simple Plan
Spike surveyed his
damaged crypt. Looking around his home he realized that his heart must look the
same. He thought of following the Slayer, trying to talk her out of it. But he
decided against it. Spike continued to do his best at tidying up the room,
cleaning was never his strong spot, and right now it was even worse. Spike
reached down and picked up a vase that had some how escaped the blast and
hurled it against the wall. “God damn
that Slayer and her scatter brain… I mean so finicky… and what in bloody hell possessed
her to call me William!” Spike realized that he was babbling and worse yet he
was babbling to only himself. “I need a drink.”
It
was three days later and well past midnight when Spike made it back to the
cemetery, and Spike new that Buffy had long since came and gone, and yet he
could still smell her in the air. Damn
chip only suppresses the Vamp powers that you want. Spike thought to
himself as he tried to dismiss the scent. As he approached his crypt he saw a
pale light flowing under his door and voices faintly heard. Spike opened the
door to find Clem sitting quietly on his couch watching a movie on his pirated
cable connection. A quick glance around showed that Clem had cleaned up.
“Spike!
Hey man I thought I missed you or somethin’!”
Clem exclaimed with a dopey grin. Spike walked over and plopped down on
the couch next to Clem. “Its Buffy again isn’t it?” Spike acted like he ignored
him. “You know I met the girl and I think a lot of her, I really do, but Spike
she’s breaking your heart.”
“I’m
not in the mood for chat Clem… Let’s just watch the tele… I’ll be fine.” Spike
slumped back not really paying attention to the flickering images on the
television. Spike was always amazed with his relationship with Clem. They were
both demons, but if it weren’t for their special characteristics (especially
Clem’s) they would just seem like average Joes, watching the tele or playing
poker. Hell Clem didn’t really seem like a demon at all, he was kind and
considerate and hell he even cleans. The real reason Spike and Clem got along
so well is because they both were trying to get over long term relationships
when they met. The first few months their conversations consisted of nothing
more than bitching about their old girlfriends. “This god damned chip.” Spike
muttered.
“What
was that?” Clem asked.
“What
movie is this?” Spike knew he had just said the Magick words; Clem could talk
for hours about a movie he likes.
“It’s
Robocop 2, you see the company that made him just put in all this junk
programming and now he can’t do his job. But he knows what has happened and he
overheard his technician at the police department say the only way to get it
out would be to electrocute him or somethin’, to reset him. So he’s about to
stick his hands in a transformer.” The sparkle came back into Spike blue eyes.
“Does
it work?”
“It
beats him up pretty bad but it works.” Clem looked over to Spike again and sees
that the wheels have been turning.
“How
much blood can you get a hold of?”
“What
are you thinking?”
“Just
answer the question.”
“I
don’t know how much do you need?” Spike reached in to a pair or pants that was
hanging over an antique table and pulled out a huge roll of hundreds.
“I
need this much.” Spike said as he tosses Clem the entire roll. “Human, and as
fresh as you can find it.”
“No
problem… Any thing else bud?”
“Just
have it here at sun down, and one more thing, I prefer female blood.”
Chapter 2 – Restless Dreams
Buffy sat on her bed. 5:00 am, and she
couldn’t sleep it still bothered her that all she found at Spikes crypt was
Clem. He told her that Spike had gone before he arrived, he added that they
usually meet up on Friday night to watch the tube, play cards or something. He
then asked if she wanted him to give Spike a message, she told him no and left.
All she did the rest of the night was walk around the graveyard hoping Spike
would soon come home. She couldn’t help to think that she must seem a little
like Drusilla, the way she was playing with him. But was she really playing
with him or herself? Buffy climbed under the covers snuggled up to her pillow
and closed her eyes. “Damn it.” Buffy sat back up and grabbed the phone on her
night stand. She quickly dialed
“He…Helloo?”
“I need to talk.”
“Buffy, Is that you… What time is it?”
“I think it’s like five in the morning… Can
you talk?”
“I think so.”
“Why is it that I can break up with him no problem
and it’s no problem standing firm, unless he is not there to follow me around
like a lost puppy… I don’t know why I get antsy when I think about him doing something
else. He’s an evil Vampire, he cant love, why should I care.”
“Do you honestly believe he can’t love?”
“Yes, he is a soulless creature.”
“Did he love Drusilla?”
“Yea… I think so.” Buffy sighed in
exasperation.
“What bothers you so much about Spike? Is it
your feelings or is it
“I don’t know any more. I just want to know
why I feel this way.”
“Buffy I can’t help you answer these
questions. You are the only person who knows these answers. But if you want to
know what I think, then I would have to say that you are have problems coming
to terms with your feelings for Spike and you just don’t know how to deal with
it. You need to really think about it.”
Chapter
3 – Preparations
Spike had to hurry
it would be dawn soon and he definitely didn’t need to get burned. Not today.
He sprinted along the ground, shopping bags tapping his legs as he ran. It took
him a little longer that he thought to get what he was looking for, but
selection was the key. Spike threw the door to his crypt open and plopped down
on the couch laying the railroad spikes on the table in front of him. He had a
few he wanted to keep dull, and a few that he would sharpen. He had ten in all
he selected six of them to grind to various degrees of sharpness and four to
keep like they are. He pulled a black roll out of one of the plastic shopping
bags, like the ones mechanics and car boosts keep their tools in, and place the
four dull spikes in it. He then got up and grabbed a pint of blood from his
fridge. Have to get my strength up.
He thought to himself as he tore into the bag. He dumped out the other bags on
the table and sifted through them there was some cotton rope, some rubber pipe
coating, a spool of copper wire, a set of what looked like hospital scrubs, his
favorite brand hair color, to big metal files, a few packages of high grit sand
paper, and a few medical supplies, most of them for cleaning and dressing
wounds and a small fire extinguisher. He finished sucking the blood out of the
plastic pouch and picked up the phone. After a few moments it began to ring.
“Willie’s, Willie
speakin’… Hello.”
“Willie, its
Spike.”
“Oh, Spike.” Willie said nervously “What can I
do you for?”
“I need you to get me something, something
from the hospital.”
“SSSppike… You know I can’t get you blood from
there.”
“No you bloody wanker, I need some equipment,
more specifically on of those contraptions the stick down you gits throats when
your to roughed up to eat.”
“I can do that… What’s in it for me?”
“Name it pal, you know I’m good for it, just
have it there by the time Clem gets there for his afternoon drink. Give it to
him and put it on my tab.”
“Nice doin' business with ya Spike.” Spike
hung up the phone Willy may be slimy, but he could do things and go places that
Clem couldn’t. Spike couldn’t help but smile as he picked up his first spike
and began to work on it; he was working them all too various degrees of
sharpness. Yep today was definitely a
good day spike thought to himself. His mind wandered to what Clem was
probably doing. If everything was going to plan he should have just paid up his
friend who works at the blood bank there was an ad in the paper last week about
a blood drive sometime this week at the high school, not Sunnydale high of
course, but it was close enough. That would do just nicely. Clem would probably
buy ever female from that blood drive and then help the guy relabel an equivalent
amount of empty bags, you know to hide that they were missing. When Clem was good
and clear his friend would break half the bags splatter the blood every ware
and call the police hysterical saying a bunch of guys broke in demanding cash. Then
he would say that they said they knew he had some case because they have to pay
people for their blood, and before he could explain to them that they did not
pay for their stock, they trashed the place and gave him a good shiner too
(Courtesy of Clem). After the police poked around a little he would clean up the
blood before anyone who could tell how much blood was really down there could
check it out. Blood is a funny thing; a cup when spilled would look like a
gallon. That too made Spike smile; soon he would be the man he once was. Soon
demons would love him and humans would loath him. Soon Spike would dine on his
third slayer. Soon Spike would be set free.
Chapter
4 – Sundown
Spike stood out side his crypt, the sun just falling low enough
for him to step out side. He could hear Clem on the other side of the cemetery,
he was never late. Nothin’ better than a
punctual demon. Spike thought to himself. Spike stood waiting for him his
hands gold from the thin copper wire wrapped around them and then plunging into
his wrists. His plan was simple after the sparks fly he would get Clem to watch
over him. Keep him full of blood and keep the slayer away if she comes around. If
she did he was to tell her that Spike didn’t want to see her right now and he
would find her when he was ready. And if she persisted Clem would proceeded
into a Willowesc speech about how she couldn’t treat his friend like that and
why she couldn’t just respect Spike’s space until he’s ready. And if that bitch
still persisted he would have to tell her that Spike is barely feeding now and
if he were to see her in this state she might as well stake him. Then he would
slip in the crypt and lock the door. The only wild card was how long it takes
for Spike to heal. But he had to put things like that out of his mind, things
like the fact that he may burst into flames and Clem wouldn’t be able to put
him out. Spike shook the thought out of
his mind and strolled over to help Clem with the huge cooler he was carrying
through the cemetery. Once they got it
in his crypt Spike went over his plan, with a brief intermission of Clem
laughing at the appearance of his hand. The laughter didn’t even anger Spike he
laughed it off with Clem and told him that it was better to be safe than sorry.
They both nodded in agreement. He then showed Clem how to hook him up to feeder
and how to hook the blood supply to it as well. They then proceeded to set
everything up. Clem suggested bringing a pack with them. After all he said the
transformer is all the way across the cemetery and a little blood with them
could make the difference between Undeath and death.
It was about
“No problem, my Aunt Mildred once ate I guy
that was on Rogaine and she tried somethin’ similar with a toaster, to get rid
of the hair… Well not to bore you…” A brief look of relief passed over Spikes
face. He turned to the transformer, whipped on his game face and grabbed the
two wires. At first it was a soft tingle then Spike felt it burn through his
body, the copper wire temporarily tattooing his skin. The transformer began to
sizzle then spark and then BOOM! Both Spike and the town went dark. Spike lay
silent on the ground in a dream like state he couldn’t open his eyes or move at
all. He could smell his burned flesh and the powder of the fire extinguisher.
His whole body burned, especially inside his head. He imagined the chip most
likely melted. If it weren’t for his Vamp healing powers he probably would have
major brain damage from it. He felt Clem open his mouth and the blood flow down
his mouth. He couldn’t taste it but he could feel it change him. He could feel
the power flow through him. He knew then and there the chip was gone. It was
only a matter of time.
Chapter 5 – The Rebirth
Spike sat up in his
bed and gently pulled the soft plastic tube out of his throat and clipped the
supply off. Clem was kicked back on the couch watching a soap opera when he
heard Spike stir. Spike started pulling off his bandages, most were off before
Clem made it over to the bed.
“Hey pal, How you
doin’?”
“Not too bad…”
Spikes voice sounded raspy, a hollow shell of his thick British bravado. Clem
went over the microwave and heated Spike up a mug of blood.
“Here take this,
your throat must be sore, it probably got pretty dry.” Spike gladly gulped down
the blood and tried to speak again. This time he actually sounded like himself.
“How long have I
been out?
“Hmmm… About two
weeks.”
“What did I miss?”
“Well let’s see…
You missed Xander's wedding.” Spike shot Clem a like I care glance. “Well his
almost wedding.”
“What do you mean almost wedding?”
“Xander stood Anya up!”
“That bleedin’ git, what buggered him?”
“He never said... All I know is that is father
is a rude drunk.”
“Anything else?”
“Not really, well a couple days ago I heard
through the grapevine that the slayer wigged out and tried to kill her friends
or kidnap them or somethin’. I think they said she was poisoned.
“Bloody Hell, sounds like a Glarghle Guhl
Kashma’nik demon, I don’t even know why I bothered take care of this chip, and
they can destroy themselves better than I ever could.” They both get a good
laugh out of that. “What time is it?”
“It’s about four fifty.”
“It won’t be long, soon night will fall and we
can start recruiting.”
Chapter 6 – Patrol
Buffy went to the
graveyard first tonight. She was determined to see Spike. When she arrived she
found that both Spike and Clem were gone. A quick search or the place revealed
bloody bandages, lots of empty blood pouches, and what looked like a hospital
feeder. “Dear god. What did Spike do?” Buffy said, she was so shocked she couldn’t
help saying it out loud. No that’s crazy
Clem would have told me if he were bad off, if he… Wipe that thought out of
your head Buffy, Spike probably went off brooding, picked a fight with the
wrong Vamp and had to stay laid up for a while. Buffy decided to just go
out on her normal patrol; she figured she would probably run in to the two
somewhere around Willie’s, drunk and singing. Buffy headed out toward the
abandoned warehouse. She figured she would swing by Willie’s real quick to see
what’s up.
When Buffy arrived
at Willie’s she was in for a real shock. The place was deserted yet Willie was
whistling softly as he wiped down the bar. He seemed very happy. Buffy strolled
over to the bar and hopped onto one of the stools. Willie turned to her when
she sat down.
“What’s your
pleasure Buffy? It’s on the house.” Buffy was taken back by Willie’s
generosity, especially when business was so slow.
“Gee Willie; you
seem to be in a petty good mood, what’s goin’ on?”
“I don’t know much.
Earlier today a vamp cam in here, said that my business was gonna be slow for a
while and they gave me more money than I make in a year as compensation.”
Willie slid Buffy a peach wine cooler. “That’s all I know, but the word is that
there is some big and bad stuff about to go down in Sunnydale.”
“Any word on who is
our new big bad?” Buffy asked as she sipped her wine cooler?
“They say it’s
someone old school, but know one knows for sure who it is, but one things for
sure, you’re either with ’em or against ’em.”
“What do you mean
by that?” Buffy asked as that worried little lump began to well in her stomach.
“Well… If you don
in them they kill you.” The blood drained out of Buffy’s face. “Hence I have no
business; everyone is working, hiding, or dead.
“Thanks Willie.”
Buffy managed to blurt out as she sat on the bar stool silent. All she could
think about was this new group confronting Spike, demanding the Slayer, and him
defending her, and eventually being killed after lying low in his crypt trying
to heal. “Have you seen Spike?”
“Yea, he came in
here a couple of Tuesdays ago and hung around a while. About Friday he left and
I think he met a couple of his old friends in the alley as he left. I haven’t
seen him since.”
“Thanks Willie.”
“No problem, if you
need anything Buffy let me know, I’ll have plenty of time on my hands.” Buffy
walked out of a bar and to the nearest pay phone. Willie continued to clean the
bar.
“You did good mate,
real good, Spike said emerging from the back of the bar, handing Willie a
rather large payoff. “ You may come in very handy.”
Chapter 7 – Preparations
Spike sat in the
living room of what used to be Angel’s mansion. Vampires scuffled about him
some cleaning, some looking out for the Slayer. In the dining room a group of
vamps were reading through many of ancient texts that were stolen from the Magick
Box. One vamp stood up and rushed over to Spike.
“Master! Master!”
the vamp said as he kneeled at Spike’s feet. “I have found it. The spell that
will give you control of the Hellmouth!”
Spike’s interest suddenly peaked.
“Tell me more.”
“The spell is quite
complicated; it is actually composed of three stages. It will take a most
powerful witch to execute.”
“Do we have anyone
like that?”
“We don’t have
anyone I would be willing to let try. But the Slayer’s friend…”
“No!” Spike roared.
“We will do nothing that could possibly tip the Slayer off. We will have to
find someone else.” Spike’s minion walked back to his seat, very distraught.
Spike yelled back at him. “You better find me a witch before sunrise, or we’ll
be sweeping you up come morning. Frightened the minion jumped out of his chair
and began to leave, before he was interrupted. A voice from the other side of
the room called out.
“I can’t help but
hear you’re looking for a witch.” Spike turned to the other side of the room to
see a young girl standing. She was chained up with a few other ones. She a strait
brown hair and Spike couldn’t help thinking that he had saw her before.
“I normally don’t
chat with my food luv, so you better make it quick.”
“I can help you
with a the spell, I’m just as powerful as
“Unchain her and
bring her to me, you may not have to go too far to find the witch after all.”
The now much happier minion walked over and unchained the girl and brought her
to Spike. “You got a name luv?”
“Amy, my name is
Amy.”
“Hold on a damn
minute here, you’re the one aren’t you?” Amy, now a bit frightened responded.
“Which one?”
“You’re the one
that put the spell on the lil’ pup and made my Dru swoon over him!”
“You mean Xander.”
“You’re damn right
I mean Xander, It was you wasn’t it?”
“Yyess.” Amy meekly
replied.
“You know for weeks
I only dreamt of putting you in you bloody place.” Spike growled as he pushed
him self so close to Amy’s face that the scent of her fear was nearly
overpowering. Just when he thought that she would snap he jerked back. “I guess
it’s a good thing I didn’t huh?” He questioned, unusually pleasant.
“I guess so.” Amy
replied, this time with a little more confidence. Spike sized up Amy. He knew
he had to be sure that she would be completely loyal to him.
“And you said that
you know Red?”
“Yup.”
“And how do I know
that you won’t try to muck things up, or tip off your friends?” Amy began to
stammer, she did not know how to respond to him. She knew that she couldn’t
tell him about all the stuff that happened between her and Willow.
“You’ll just have
to trust me.” Amy figured if she asserted herself she would gain his respect
and trust.
“Feisty, isn’t
she.” Spike said to the room. He turned back to Amy. “You know what; I think I have
a better idea.” Spike pulled Amy to him and kissed her deeply. He then ripped
the two of them apart and bit down on her neck. Spike completed siring her and
let her drop to the ground. “Get her to a room and find her something to wear,
bring her back to me when she wakes.” Spike commanded two large vamps.
Chapter
8 – The Meeting
“Hello?” Xander
questioned sleepily as he tried to wake himself up.
“Hey Xander, Its
“No… Well yeah, but
for the sake of courtesy no.”
“Buffy is calling
an emergency Scooby meeting at the Magick Box; we need you to head over there,
do you think that you and Anya try to get along.”
“Yea, no problem
Will, I’ll head on over.”
“Hello?”
“
“Oh hey Will.
What’s up, and so late?”
“Buffy asked me to
get everyone together, something big is brewing and she needs all our help.”
“Sure no problem,
are we meeting at the Magick Box?”
“Yeah.”
“Good I’ll see you
there.”
“I Love You.” But
When Buffy arrived at the Magick Box the rest of the Scooby gang
was already cleaning up the mess left from the break in. The glass from the
door and windows had just been cleaned up. Buffy noted that Xander was very
angry.
“What happened
here?” Buffy asked
“It looks like whoever
is behind what’s goin down decided to pick up some light reading.
“How do you know it’s
them?”
“Because they took
all the stuff on the loft, you know the dark Magicks.”
“I don’t think this
night could get any better.” Buffy complained as she took a seat. The rest of
the Scoobies gathered around her.
“So Buff, what do
you know about these big bad.” Xander questioned
“Unfortunately, not
too much, I stopped down at Willie’s while on patrol and the place was
disserted. Who ever it is that seems to be brewing some trouble seems to have
the entire underworld spooked as well. The guys must be big and they must be
powerful.”
“Did you see if
Spike has heard anything?”
“Yeah, just what we
need, dead boy’s expert opinion!” Xander murmured. Buffy ignored him, much like
everyone does when he acts like this.
“Spike is missing,
Willie said that Spike left the bar and was met by to vampires as he left. He
hasn’t been seen since. I went to his crypt and found a bunch of bandages and
things… He may be dead.” An odd silence filled the room. All the Scoobies
looked at each other, hoping one would break it.
“Does anybody have
any idea what we are doing here? I mean couldn’t we have had this in the
morning, more importantly how do we get back my books?” Anya whined.
“I think Buffy
called us here to see if we could figure out something, who’s doing this, and
why.”
“Exactly, Xander, I
need you and Anya to go through the inventory and find out exactly which books
are missing. Anya’s face soured and she began to open her mouth in protest but
Buffy cut her off. Willow, Tara, I need you two to figure out what they wanted
the books for and if there is any way to stop what they are doing. I will hit
the streets and see if somebody knows something.
“That may be easier
said than done Buffy,”
“I have faith in
you two, I will see if I can find anything that could help.’”
“Take my cell
phone.”
“Thanks Xander.”
“One more thing
Buffy, I don’t think that you have two worry about them for a while, there are
probably four or five witches within two hundred miles with the skill to do
those spells and two of them are right here, so we probably have a little
time.”
Chapter
9 – Amy
Amy awoke in a very
dark room, but she could see pretty well, she turned the light on, in habit.
Those habits don’t take long to fade. Amy surveyed the room. It was a rather
large room and well furnished right up to the bed she was currently in. It was
fitted with red silk sheets and pillow case and what looked to be a rabbit fur
comforter. Amy of course knew what was
going on, she wasn’t dumb. She knew who she was, and what she had become. She
also knew that vampires not remembering their past lives was a myth, she
remembered everything, but she also felt disgusted about her old life. She
assumed that most vampires choose not to remember their past life. Amy rose
from her bed and explored the room a little. When she reached the closet she
found that it was fully stocked with clothing, clothing that fit her. The
styles ranged from conservative to form fitting leather. She grabbed a pair of leather pants and a red
tank top and headed out the room. Gods I
am starving! Amy thought to herself. She heard Spike tell someone to bring
her to him when she woke, so she decided to find him herself. As she strolled
down the halls she could tell that the house was huge, and partially in
disrepair. She could tell that Spike has had be round the clock repairing the
house, making it worthy of him. The only thing that Amy could not explain was
how she felt towards Spike. She felt an intense desire; she wanted to serve him
selflessly. She finally understood what
he meant by a better idea. When she finally made her way back to the main hall,
and the living room she saw Spike barking orders to a group of what looked like
biker vamps. As soon as she entered the room he turned to look at her.
“Did you sleep well
pet? I bet you feel better now than you ever have.” Amy only nodded, but he was
right. She did feel it, the power, and the strength. “I take it you are ready
to help us with a little Magick luv?” Amy nodded again. “Look at me sitting
here babblin’ like a bloody wanker, dear Amy must be starving.” Spike turned to
a vamp and he unchained one of the girls Amy had been chained to only a couple
hours before. “Drink up Amy; you will be quite busy the next couple of days,
taking control of the Hellmouth isn’t an easy thing. But the benefits are
endless.” Amy smiled as she sank her teeth in to the soft flesh. She noted that
the girl smelled a little like flowers.
Chapter
10 – The Magick Box
When Buffy arrived back at the Magick Box Xander, Anya, Willow,
and Tara were all sitting at the large round table, they had all fallen asleep.
Willow was even sleeping on her laptop and Anya was on the other side of the
table, away from Xander. Buffy slid in the shop through the heavy Plastic that Xander
put up temporarily to replace the broken windows and doors. Buffy was exhausted
and pissed. She was pissed because she patrolled all night and wasn’t able to
find anything with a hint of evil, not even a rat, or a bunny Anya’s case. It
was almost like evil had taken a vacation.
It had been two days since their impromptu meeting and the gang had only
left the Magick Box for food and the check on Dawn. Buffy had arranged for Dawn
to stay with out of town relatives, to make sure nothing came after her. Buffy looked
down at her watch. Good, I’m in time for
the morning news. Buffy walks over to the television and switches it on.
When she does she is startled to find a Missing in Sunnydale graphic on the
screen. Buffy turns to her friends. “Hey guys you better see this.” The gang
slowly rouses and focuses on the images on the television.
“The total numbers are
still unknown but it is estimated that the count surpasses the one hundred
mark. Police still have no leads as fear and panic grip Sunnydale due to the
staggering amount of missing persons the Mayors office and the SPD have
instated an eight o’clock citywide curfew. We will bring you more as the
situation develops.” Buffy switched the television back off.
“How did we miss
this? The vamps have a whole army now, and we don’t even know who it is or what
they want! Have you guys been able to figure anything out?” Buffy realized how
condescending what she said was after she heard it from her own lips.
Fortunately everyone was too exhausted to notice. Willow stretched and turned
to Buffy.
“We don’t know
much, but what we do know may help us out a lot. From the Anya and Xander’s
inventory Tara and I were able to catalogue each of the stolen books and
organize them by their contents.” Willow holds up a notepad filled with
writings. “All of the books were dark Magicks. The common factor between the
books is that their most powerful spells either deal with strengthening a
witch’s power, or taking control of
supernatural forces. We are missing just one thing that would bring this puzzle
together.”
“Were not missing
anything,” Anya chimed in, “the Magick Box’s entire inventory is accounted
for.”
“What about Giles’
stuff, you know his personal collection.” Tara questioned.
“Good thinking
Tara, Will you get on the phone with Giles and see what he left here. Maybe he
can help you find the puzzle piece.” Buffy delegated. “And Xander, fix the
doors and windows.” Xander nodded in compliance, half dozing.
Chapter
11 – The Night before the Dawn
The sun had just set and Amy was just waking
from her slumber. She reached over, but Spike had already roused. She could
tell from earlier that he was excited and she knew that he wouldn’t sleep long.
She decided to go ahead and get up. Plus she wanted to talk to Spike and she
couldn’t go to him in her current state of dress.
When Amy reached the roof she saw Spike
standing there looking at the new additions that had been made to the mansion.
He had about seventy five followers now, only thirty five of which were newly
sired. The rest of the missing persons were corralled in the mansion’s basement
for food. Amy looked down at the Vampires below, all of them bustling about
completing their various tasks, all of them completely loyal to Spike. They
were either loyal by fear, or because they want to see Spike succeed and
finally put those cattle in their place, and finally put the slayer in her
place. “Hello luv, sleep well?” Spike asked without turning around.
“Great.” Amy purred. “How ‘bout you?” Spike
turned to Amy but as he was about to respond one of his followers burst through
the door.
“Master, you have a visitor, I tried to keep
her downstairs but…” Spike didn’t even have to look behind the minion; they all
usually reminded him of the little grunts that Glory kept as lap dogs, to see
who was coming up the stairs. He could already hear her complaining
“Spike! Spike! How dare you…” Harmony stopped
dead in her tracks when she saw Amy standing next to Spike. “You’re with Amy
now, that skank!” Amy tensed and Spike became obviously agitated.
“Listen. Harmony I don’t have time for your little
games right now, why don’t you crawl back under whatever surprisingly stylish
rock you climbed out of.”
“No, I will not leave! Look at you, you’re
starting something with out me, I thought we were supposed to be together.”
Harm whined.
“What? I....You… Left…” Spike stammered in
classic Giles style. Amy tuned to Spike.
“You dated Harmony?”
“You damn right he
dated me, and he loves me do don’t you Spikeie?”
“Bloody hell woman!
Who do you think you are?” Spike yelled at Harmony. He knew what this ditz was
up to. She knew he was going to the top and she wanted to sleep her way up with
him. Spike couldn’t believe that she actually thought she could come back. He
knew she wasn’t too stupid to realize that all he did was use her. Harmony
walked up to Spike and put her arms around him and decided to develop wandering
hands. Before Spike could push her away Amy lifted a hand and blew her across
the roof. Harmony got up and stumbled over her broken heel. She kicked off her
shoes and stormed back to Amy.
“Listen, queen
skank, Spike is my man and no witch is gonna steal him from me.” Harmony
screamed.
“No, you listen Harmony;
I don’t know why you think that you can just walk…” Amy held a finger to her
lips, Stopping Spike’s speech. Her eyes glassed over black and she turned to
Harmony levitating her in the air. When Harmony opened her mouth to speak Amy
vamped out, her eyes turned from black to blood red. Harmony froze. The wind
started to blow fiercely. A 2X4 from left over from the construction below flew
up to the roof; it split to a point and plunged straight thru Harmony. Her dust
held its shape until Amy released. The wind stopped and all was calm. When Amy
turned back to Spike she had switched back to her human face. Spike had no
doubt of her loyalty now. “I guess I don’t need to ask if you books have been
successful in juicing you up do I?” Amy shook her head no. “Then we are ready
to proceed?”
“We will start out
here at dawn.” Amy said as she approached Spike and pulled him down on the
roof.
Chapter
12 – Giles
It took Willow
about three hours to catch Giles. After she finally found him she was put on
hold. She didn’t know what time it was over there, but she knew that she had to
reach Giles, Willow waited and waited. Finally, she gave up and went to hang up
the phone she heard a voice. “Um... Hello this is Rupert.” Willow quickly put
the phone to her ear.
“Hey Giles it’s
me!”
“Oh, Hello Willow,
how are you doing, how are things in Sunnydale?”
“Bad and worse.”
“Oh dear, what’s
going on.”
“We don’t really
know, there is a new, old bad in town, they took all of the Magick Box’s books
on the dark Magicks, we don’t know what there up to there are like a hundred
people missing, we have barely slept in days and everyone’s scared.”
“Oh dear.”
“And not to make
things worse, we think that they may have taken some things from your personal
collection.”
“M-my Personal
collection? You mean my things?” Giles stammered.
“Yeah, that’s why I
was calling; we need to know what exactly you had down here, so we can maybe
figure out what they’re up to.”
“Yes yes of course,
I will get my list to you immediately; also could you please give me a listing
of the books that were taken from the shop?”
“Sure no problem I
will email it within the hour.”
“As will I”
“I will call you
back if we find something.”
“I know some
powerful witches in the area; I will get them to look this over with me.”
“Good, I will catch
you then.” Willow hung up the phone and walked over to her laptop and started
composing her and Tara’s notes. She could hear Xander and Anya arguing in the
background.
Chapter
15 – Dawn
Spike stood on the
roof watching Amy as she prepared for the ritual. She had been doing this for hours
now, preparing for dawn. Spike could feel dawn coming it was soon, he could
nearly smell it. “Luv, are you ready? It’s almost time.”
“I’m ready, you
better get inside, you won’t be safe out here when the sun rises.” Amy smiled
at Spike as he walked through the roof’s door. She could barely see him through
the small window. Amy turned to look
over the trees. The sun was rising. Spike could see Amy from his vantage point
she was standing in the middle of her candles and designs. When the sun stuck
her she began to chant. Spike always found humor in hearing the ancient
languages. It always reminded him of those preachers on TV who promise that
they can heal you for a small donation of only one or two months salary. His
attention peaked hen Amy began to float in the air. She had stopped smoking.
Lightning began to flow from Amy’s arms and legs then outlining the designs on
the ground. Suddenly the designs exploded into a purple flame along with Amy.
Her chanting grew louder and louder, all Spike could do was stare. The flame
grew and grew until it seemed to cover the entire sky. The heavens started to
scream. Spike coved is ears and winced from the deafening sound. When he opened
his eyes it was night again, but according to the time it was four after eight.
The whole process took over an hour, but Stage one of the spell was complete;
Sunnydale was now covered in eternal nightfall. Spike rushed out the door to
check on Amy. He could here the other vamps rushing out the mansion and
cheering. When Spike reached Amy she couldn’t move, but she was smiling. Spike
hoisted her up and kissed her. She smiled again.
“It worked” Amy
whispered weakly.
“That it did luv,
that it did.” Spike held her tightly as he walked down the stairs. He could
hear the vamps celebrating. The room roared when Spike and Amy entered. “Could
some one get us a drink?” Spike commanded. Another vampire shoved a young man
in his twenties at Spike, when Spike looked into his face he realized that it
was Warren, one of those nerds that liked to annoy Buffy. They had some name
for the three of them but it escaped him at the time. Warren looked a little
relieved when he saw Spike, but that quickly passed when Spike put on his game
face and sank into his neck. He drank briefly and then pressed Warren to Amy’s
lips. “Drink up, you need your strength, there is still much more work to do.”
Chapter
16 – The Flame
Buffy strolled into
the Magick Box, using its newly fitted door. Inside Willow and Xander sat
watching TV, it was a cartoon that Buffy had never seen before. Willow was
lightly dozing.
“Hey Xand, where’s
Anya and Tara?”
“Oh they went out to pick up breakfast and a few necessities like
coffee, a coffee maker…”
“Something to sleep
on!” Willow groggily chimed in.
“Have you guys
found any new information?”
“No, but I did get
a hold of Giles, he knows more about what was stolen. The book that is missing
from his private collection is written in a language I have never heard of,
plus I cannot even find any information on it.”
“It seems like the
further we get the less we know.” Buffy stated, almost whined.
“I just wish we had
a clue just fall in our laps, I mean just something to tip us off!” Xander
complained, he was definitely whining. Just then Tara and Anya arrived the
three went out side to help them bring in their bounty. Before Buffy even made
it to the door Buffy could tell that Anya over bought. Buffy bent down to
pickup a few bags that we unloaded on the sidewalk when everything suddenly
seemed to have a purple hue. Buffy closed here eyes and shook her head but the
hue remained. When she looked up she saw her friends staring into the sky. The
sky was burning; the entire sky had been engulfed with a purple flame as far as
the eye could see.
“Willow, go call
Giles! NOW!” Buffy commanded “We all need to go inside.” The gang followed
Willow in as she rushed to the phone. They all stood at the front windows of
the Magick Box, staring at the flame filled sky.
“I think were may
be running out of time.” Tara whispered, never taking here eyes off the
spectacle. The gang could hear Willow in the background shouting something
about not getting the run around this time, but none of them really heard it.
They couldn’t turn away from the sky, it was almost hypnotic. Willow was
pleased when she only had to wait a few minutes for Giles this time.
“Giles, thank god!”
“What is it Willow
did you find something?”
“Yes and no, to put
it bluntly, the sky is on fire.”
“Oh my! What
color?”
“Purple.”
“Let me call you
back Willow.” Giles abruptly hung up the phone. Willow walked over to the
window and joined her friends. When the phone rang again Willow and the gang
were still staring into the sky. When Willow turned to answer the phone she
caught a glimpse of a wall clock. They had been looking at the sky for over
thirty minutes.
“Hello.”
“Ah, yes, Willow,
it’s Giles. I can’t talk long I’m in a taxi now, on my way to the airport.”
“I take it that you
found out what is going on, with the spell.”
“Yes I did, and I’m
afraid that it’s bad, very bad.”
“What Giles, what
does it do.”
“From all the
information that you have given us we have been able to determine that the
spell is meant to control the Hellmouth.” Willow dropped the phone.
Chapter
17 – Bloodlines
Spike stared at Amy
as she slept. He knew that he should have been weary about tiring her out so,
especially after this morning’s festivities. It wouldn’t be too much longer
before they were ready to start phase two. What
was it Amy had said about this phase? Spike couldn’t remember, but he knew
that it had something to do with bloodlines, his blood, and changing the moon,
to cause the blood tide, or something like that. Of course there was more to Spike’s
plan than just the Hellmouth. He wanted the Scoobies to, and he wanted all of
them. He knew that Giles would soon be back in Sunnydale, either the Scoobies
told him about it or that coven in Devon that Amy warned him about would sense
it and tell him. Either way he would be here endowed with the knowledge of the
spell, and maybe a little extra magick to. Spike looked around the room; he
observed how it had been changed ever so slightly by the presence of Amy’s
things. Spike could hear Amy begin to stir. Spike was especially good at
knowing when one would wake. Back in his day he would sit and wait. Wait for
hours for his victim to wake on their own. How he loved to see their waking
faces changed to see him over them in full vamp face before he ripped out their
throat. He could hear their heart beat faster; he could hear their breathing
increase. And although Amy had a few less signs than his prey, he could still
tell, he could always tell with Dru, and he can tell with Amy.
“Are you ready darling?” Amy asked as she rose
out of bed, her full body glistening in the candlelight. Spike turned to her
and pulled her close to him.
“I’m already packed luv, get dressed, it’s a
pretty good ride to LA, and I am getting eager to start.”
Cordelia kneeled on
the cold marble floor scrubbing at a faded pentagram. She looked like one of
those television house keepers, complete with dew rag and bucket of soapy
water. “Tried soaking it out, tried scrubbing it out… No question, we got a
ring around the lobby.” She stands and turns to the rest of Angel
Investigations. “I say we toss in the towel and buy a big ass throw rug. Who’s
with me?” Groo, scrubbing on his own little part of the floor turns to Cordy,
apparently pleased by the suggestion.
“That honor is
mine, Princess.” Groo stated, confirming the previous assumption.
“Aww.” Cordelia
cooed sending him an air kiss. “Groo, honey… do me a favor and dump out the
bucket.” Groo takes the bucket and leaves the lobby, leaving only a smile. Fred
decides to use the opportunity to talk to Cordy.
“Cordelia…”
“He is such a
sweetie. So loyal, and…” Cordelia felt that sudden wave of strangeness pass
through her. She was getting a vision. She sees a group of vampires burst
through the door one of them was speaking with an accent. She couldn’t see him
or understand him, but she knew he was British.
Then she saw the sky above Sunnydale burst into a purple flame, and then
a flash of the moon as it was engulfed in blood. What she saw next chilled her
strait to the bone. The British voice did not come from Wesley, or some new
Demon in town, it came from Spike, the one Vampire that Angel feared most, and
from the rest of the vision, or from the simple fact that she had one to begin
with, she knew that that fancy chip they had heard about must have went dead. When
Cordelia snapped back into it she began to scream.
“Angel! Angel!”
Angel wearily looked up from his newly reacquired desk. After a moments
realization he knew that Cordelia had just had a vision. He jumped out of his
office eager at the prospect of a new case, something to occupy his mind.
“What is it Cordy?
Time to help the helpless?” Angel asked with a forced stoicism.
“No the vision was
about you, it was about us. It was…” The
front doors to Angel Investigations burst off there hinges and scattered off to
the sides like frightened children.
“I believe it was
about me.” Spike mused as he and his gang of Big Bads spilled through the
opening left behind by the doors. Angel noticed that it was dark outside, while
the others stared in fear. All in all there were twenty seven of them, twenty
Five minions and then Spike and Amy. They had been waiting a while outside.
Spike wanted to make sure they had a made a memorable entrance, so he had Amy
whip up an eclipse spell, and a talisman so they would know when the powers
that be sent Cordelia a vision. It was all timed perfectly. “I know that we
have probably came calling at a bad time, but Amy here knew that little
Cordelia would have one of her visions and give us away, so we decided to be
here when she did.” Spike smiled. That smile made Fred shiver. Fred hadn’t
heard and thing about this peroxide vampire, but she could tell that Angel was
a little scared, and that made her shiver again. Spike could smell the fear, it
was pouring off Cordelia and the other girl. He also noticed two other men
enter the room. Spike whispered a question into Amy’s ear and she whispered
back a reply. Time to be the big bad!
Spike thought to himself as he began to step away from his gang. “Well now
Angel, it looks like your dark and broodiness has actually has paid off! You
got a really nice setup here. And I truly mean that.” Spike began to circle the
room; it was time to show off in front of Angels Scooby gang. Spike slid over
to where Cordelia and Fred were standing. “Hello Cordelia, slutty as ever.”
“Bite me Spike!”
She quipped back.
“Don’t tempt me
luv.” Spike responded tapping his forehead, indicating the inactivity of his
chip. “And you must be the ever timid Fred, I don’t suppose Angel has uses his
dark and broody ways on you has he?” Fred Blushed and tuned her head away from
him. Spike then turned to Groo and Gunn. “I take it that you are the
Groosalugg, warrior from a far away place. I hope you’re not a dumb as you
look.” Groo stood silent, glaring at Spike. “And last but not least Charles
Gunn, the bad ass from the streets, I’m guessing that little Fred over there
has been able to “work” the streets out of you, if you know what I mean.” Gunn
decided that he had had enough of this white haired freak, and charged with the
base ball bat lying at the base of the stairs. Before he was able to complete
his swing Spike laid a swift punch in his chest, sending him flying across the
room and in to a small table. “You better go help him Fred; he got a few broken
ribs from that one luv.”
“Hey guys there’s a
big brouhaha at the juice bar across the street, only light on the ha…” Lorne
froze mid sentence knowing that he had walked in on something bad.
“Ahh, looks like we
have a bonus guest, Lorne the empathic lounge singer.”
“Spike, what do you
want?” Angel demanded?
“You, grandsire,
bleeding and near death, and the green one too, I think he will come handy.”
Spike snapped his fingers and four vamps emerged with chains. Two of them
locked up Lorne and pulled him out the doorway, the other two approached Angel.
Before they were able to touch him he grabbed both their and twisted them
around until he felt them pop and tossed them back where they were. Spike
cocked a sly, knowing grin. “Come now Angel don’t you think I would have a plan
for this? Why don’t you give it a shot pet?” Spike said as he turned to Amy.
With a simple wave of her hands Angel floated a foot into the air a green
energy bound Angel’s hands and legs. Spike heard Gunn draw a weapon, and could
feel the muscles tense in the Groosalugg. Spike whipped around to the two men.
“And of course I can’t forget about you two.” Spike motioned and the gang
rushed Grew, Gunn and to a lesser extent Fred. “Now that I’m thinking about it
pet, why don’t you work your mojo on the psychic slut, never hurts to have one
or two lying around, that is if peaches hasn’t driven her crazy yet.” Amy
smiled and Cordelia took her place next to Angel and they floated out, behind
Spike and Amy. The sounds of battle could be heard behind them as they left.
To Be
Continued…