| The Worlds Revolve by Dark Eyed Seer |
| Chapter #2 - She's Electric |
| (Author's Note: Before I get distracted and forget, the chapter titles in this story are quite different from the last. In 'This Is The Way The World Ends', I was playing on Spike's love of poetry by using the lines of T.S Eliot's 'The Hollowmen' to title everything. In this story, I'm using Spike's love of music and every chapter is a song title. 'About a Girl' was by Nirvana and 'She's Electric' is from Oasis. If anyone is curious. Oh, and the title of this story is line of another T.S Eliot poem called 'The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock.') * * * The trip stopped at the local magic shop to meet up with Tara and Willow. They found them peering through the glass into the darkened storefront. “Are they closed?” Buffy asked getting out of the car. “I don't know. The door is open.” Tara pushed it open, feeling a bit bolder with both Spike and the Slayer behind her. “Oh, my God.” * * * Once Dawn was hustled out in a hurry, Spike, Willow and Buffy began studying the interior of the shop and the body of the shop's former owner. Tara followed Dawn outside and interrupted a creepy scene between the teenager and a mumbling man. “What did he mean, 'I'm not real'?” Dawn asked, visibly upset. “I'm sure it's nothing. You can't pay attention to the rambling of the insane. That man shouldn't even be out of the street. He belongs in a hospital.” Tara soothed, still a little shaken herself by the events of the day so far. * * * “You know, it's a really nice little shop.” Tara commented in the car. “Yeah, they have a lot of great books. It almost makes up for all the crystal balls for the Nouveau Witch.” Willow giggled at her own joke, “Get it? Because… funny.” Tara smiled tolerantly at her girlfriend, “Yes, sweetie. Spike, don't you think it would be a worthwhile business to get into?” Spike glanced at her through the rearview mirror, “If you want the store, pet, it's yours.” “Spike, I want the store.” * * * Buying the thing was surprisingly easy. All it required was a trip to city hall on the way to the mall. Spike gathered that the shop had a new owner every two months or so, a hazard of a dangerous profession. “So I was thinking I could run it on weekends and Willow and Spike can do the accounts. And maybe Mr. Giles would like to help. Has anyone else noticed he really needs a hobby?” Tara toyed with the permits and licenses on her lap. “I'll say. Have you seen his new car? Hello, compensating!” Dawn remarked, feet pressing into the back of Buffy's seat, “Can we go to the mall now?” * * * Falling asleep was difficult that night, mostly because Spike was trying so hard. He was tired. He'd helped Buffy move the last of her things into their bedroom. She'd moved in officially last week. Really, she'd been living there since the previous December, but everyone just remained tactful about that. He and Buffy had had their usual vigorous bout of lovemaking after patrol. He was truly knackered; he should be sleeping like a baby. But he needed to sleep and visit the Dreaming in an effort to find out more about the brand new teenager. He figured Morpheus might know. Or know someone who did. He'd discovered he could travel into the Realm of Dream at will a few weeks ago. He simply went to sleep with the desire to. He marveled at this but accepted it. He'd never mentioned it to Morpheus, he had figured at first that the Dream King must want him there and he wouldn't be able to go otherwise. But one night he arrived while the Prince of Stories was in a funk and refused to see anyone. Clearly, his travel had nothing to do with the preferences of the Endless. He stood, quite suddenly at the gates of the castle. He must have managed to fall asleep after all. The dragon, the winged horse, and the griffin that guarded the steps called out in greeting. They had never moved to stop him, even when once it had been against their master's wishes. He wondered at that as he crossed the threshold. Matthew, the crow swooped down and settled on his shoulder and began to chatter amiably about what had been going on in the Dreaming since Spike's last visit. Cain had killed Abel a full five times. Fiddler's Green had wandered off again. News had come from New York about a nightmare running amok that the master would have to discipline. “Spike.” Morpheus greeted in the library. “Morph.” Spike responded, fingering the spine of “The Emperor Over the Sea” by C.S Lewis. A book never written but highly intended. He spotted a copy of a book of poetry with his name on it and avoided it. The less of that that came out, the better. “You've come to me with a problem.” Morpheus snapped the book he was perusing shut. Spike squinted to read the title as he put it away. It was the sequel to 'Gone with the Wind' written, or rather not written, by Margaret Mitchell. “Who is the girl and what is she doing masquerading as my girl's sister?” Spike asked bluntly. “Let's visit her dreams. They should be able to tell you what you need to know.” * * * Dawn's dreams contained the sweetness of a girl on the verge of womanhood. They had unicorns and fairy lights but also handsome strangers. They had kittens and dragonflies but chaste kisses under the trees as well. They were pure and innocent. She had nothing to do with her own existence, plainly. She was just a girl infused with the same false memories as everyone else. She thought this was her life and her family. “But where did she come from?” Spike strolled through the garden in Dawn's dream and tried hard not to notice any resemblances between himself and the bloke who was playfully pursuing the girl through the trees “I came across the dreams of a monk a few weeks ago. They consisted of bright green lights and a monster looming. I know not of what they mean, but I think he was one of the ones responsible. He's in my sister's realm now.” “Can we go there? Can I see him?” Spike inquired, noticing Morpheus' hesitation. “Of course you can go there, Spike. I just don't know whether or not Death is available to take you through her world.” “Then I'll find him myself. Tell me how to get there.” Spike filed away Morpheus' 'Of course you can go there', comment for later considering. All this led to Spike standing in the realm of Death and seriously reconsidering his previous enthusiasm. * * * |