Thank you, thank you, thank you my wonderful betas! Megan and Tam you are the best in the world and without your encouragement I would have quit before I even got started.
Chapter Twenty
Angel led Drusilla into the room they’d prepared to do the ritual in. Wanting everything to go smoothly, he’d made sure the room was cleansed so that the magic would be well focused before he’d created the mystical circle in the center of the floor. The only things left to be done were the mixing of the herbs, the two of them taking their places in the circle and lighting the candles.
They had set up red candles for strength and health, magenta for energizing the ritual to make it work immediately, and white for balance and healing. Angel wasn’t taking any chances with Dru.
Dru pulled Angel to the circle and allowed him to sit with his legs crossed first so that she could sit in his lap. They sat quietly, contemplating what was to come as Spike and Buffy finished the preparations.
She knew she was going to have to talk fast once it was over. The soul that held Angelus prisoner would be no more. He hadn’t been feeding properly, so while he wasn’t as strong as he once was, he’d be ready to rip and tear anything in his path. She couldn’t allow that. It was her fervent hope that Spike and Buffy wouldn’t realize what had happened before they got away.
She was going to have to make him see that leaving Sunnydale for the moment was the best thing they could do. If he wanted to come back when he was at full strength, then she wouldn’t stop him. Whatever her daddy wanted, she would do. Drusilla hoped that he wouldn’t want to destroy Spike or Buffy. They were family and she thought family should always stick together.
After grinding the herbs together, Spike handed them to Angel as Buffy began to light all the candles with shaky hands. She was feeling a little nervous, never having been involved in magiks before. Spike tried reassuring her with a bright smile.
Once all was in place, Buffy and Spike moved to guard the open door of the room, keeping an eye out for anything that might interrupt.
Angel began the ritual by pulling Drusilla snug against his chest with one arm while biting down on his other wrist. Drusilla carefully mixed the herbs into the blood pooling on the surface, and as Angel began to chant in Latin, she sank her fangs into the marks he had opened on his wrist.
“Spiritus of orbis terra audite meus placitum. EGO tribuo libere meus cruor sano is infractus parvulus. Take me quod tribuo eius vires.”
Buffy listened to the soothing tone coming from Angel as he said the necessary words but didn’t understand any of it. Turning to Spike she asked, “What’s he saying?”
“Well pet, as close as I can come to it he’s sayin’ ‘Spirits of the earth hear my plea. I give freely my blood to heal this broken child. Take from me and give her strength’.”
Coppery sweet sire’s blood was filling Dru’s senses with each pull, the herbs only heightening the delicious flavor of him. Every swallow was sending jolts through her body like lightening bolts. Heat was spreading to each limb, infusing her with strength that sent tingles across the surface of her skin. It was glorious.
Suddenly, the factory door slammed open. Buffy and Spike moved quickly to block the entrance so that the healing wouldn’t be interrupted. They were confused by the sight of the Watcher with a loaded crossbow in his hands and Ethan Rayne running in behind him.
“What the bloody hell’s got your knickers in a twist, Watcher?” Spike snarled. Something big and bad must be right behind Giles if he were acting like this.
“We have to stop the ritual now! Angel could lose his soul!” Giles bellowed, completely prepared to do whatever was necessary to bring the mystical proceedings to a halt.
“NO! We’re not doin’ anything of the sort. Understand, mate?” Spike angrily responded as Buffy moved into position to block Giles from getting anywhere near Angel and Drusilla.
Giles continued to advance slowly. Peering around them through the open doorway, he could see Angel’s back with its distinctive tattoo and just a glimpse of Drusilla’s lush dark curls as she fed from him.
He was too late. The ritual had begun.
Angel couldn’t remember ever feeling this kind of pleasure. It was coursing through his shaking body as he continually rubbed his cheek against the soft black cloud of Drusilla’s hair.
Her body was perfectly pliable, her slight curves molding to his form. Drusilla felt the hard bulge of his erection pushing into her bottom. She couldn’t help but move, gliding against him sensually and moaning her joy as she suckled from his wrist.
Angel slid his free hand slowly down her flat abdomen and along the top of her thigh. Carefully pulling her dress up her leg, he was able to get his hand in just the right spot, throwing Drusilla over the edge into orgasm immediately. His body convulsed as he followed her, making a mess of his pants.
At that moment, a brilliant blue light flashed in his eyes as the soul took flight and Angelus was reborn. Searing fire spread through him as Drusilla used her position in his lap to keep him from shouting out his agony, holding him as still as possible. All she’d planned would be lost if anyone else noticed.
Quickly Angelus’ pain began to subside as he forced himself to take control of his own body. Chanting the final words, he completed the ritual and exhaustedly nuzzled at his dark girl’s neck.
Dru was elated and couldn’t help the little giggle that sprung from her lips. She could sense Angelus’ demon in full control. There was no longer the stench of that sour soul upon him.
“Now Daddy, you must play nice with the light. We can go before they know anything is different. Somewhere with pretty girls who flow crimson rivers from their torn flesh to help get your strength back. Then we can come back and play with all the pretty dollies again,” Dru whispered into his ear.
“What a wickedly smart girl I have,” Angelus cooed, licking the spot just behind her ear. He was going to have to make that stupid watcher pay eventually for turning him into a white hat, but for the moment he needed to be with her.
Over by the door, chaos reigned. Spike moved forward to stop Giles just as the Watcher was firing a shot off at Angel. Seeing what was about to happen, Buffy leapt forward, throwing herself into the path of the wooden bolt. She screamed as it embedded itself in her bicep.
Hearing her cry out in pain and smelling her rich blood in the air, Spike turned quickly to find Buffy pulling the offending object out of her arm. Snarling with rage, he vamped and lunged for Giles, his demon in full control. Nothing less than a bloody death would do for the man who dared to hurt his mate.
Ethan knew he had to stop Spike before he could get to Giles. Yelling ‘freeze!’, he immobilized him in mid air. The look in the master vampire’s eyes screamed vengeance and he knew he needed Buffy to help calm him down so he could get Giles out of harms way.
Upon seeing the sheer terror in her mate’s eyes because of the wound, Buffy made her decision. The knowledge that he wouldn’t try to change who she was and how much he loved her made it easy. She never wanted to see that look on his face again and as soon as everything was back to normal, she’d tell him.
“Spike? Look at me baby. I’m fine. It’s just a tiny little hole, really.” She attempted to pacify him so that Ethan would release him. “Giles didn’t mean to hit me, and I’m sure that there is a good explanation for his actions tonight. Will you promise not to hurt him so that Ethan will let you go? Please, my Love?”
Spike’s eyes softened minimally at her words, letting her know he wouldn’t attack unless further provoked.
Taking Buffy’s nod, Ethan released Spike. Rushing to her side, he gently lifted her arm to his mouth, laving it with his cool tongue to clean and seal it. Once the injury closed, he proceeded to clean the blood that had run down her arm in slow licks, whimpering with fear the entire time.
“What’s going on in here?” Angelus came into the room with his now healthy girl on his arm, trying to sound concerned and act like a big brooding poof. He knew he’d have to put on a good show to keep Spike from figuring out what was going on.
“I am the cause of all the turmoil,” Giles responded before turning back to apologize to Buffy. “I am truly sorry for hurting you, Miss Summers. That was not my intention.”
“Giles, could you just call me Buffy? Miss Summers is getting on my nerves,” Buffy interrupted.
“Yes, yes of course. Now what was I saying? Oh yes, my only explanation is that I feared for the loss of Angel’s soul due to a moment of perfect happiness. If that were to happen, I can assure you that he would be able to destroy us as well as this town in no time. Angelus was once the epitome of evil, and I’m sure being locked behind a soul could only make his demon worse.
“Angel, I knew your family being here made you happy, even though you tried to hide it. My only thoughts were for everyone’s safety and for all the work you have done trying to be a better man. Again, I am sorry for the mess I caused tonight, for I can see that everything is well. Be careful, Angel. Maybe knowing you can lose the soul will help stop it from ever happening.”
“Awww, Giles, I didn’t know you cared,” Angelus said, trying not to burst with laughter. The stupid man still believed him to be souled! Torturing him for weeks was going to be so much fun when he was fully himself once more.
Lost in his grand thoughts of blood and pain, he almost didn’t see the glint in Spike’s eye. ‘Well shit,’ he thought. ‘I’m going to have to improve on my acting skills.’ Spike was already catching on and he needed to be far away from here with Dru before that happened.
“Nothing to worry about, Giles. I’m still here and will be ready to fight the good fight as soon as I get myself and Drusilla settled in my apartment. Thank you for worrying about me.” Angelus stoically looked down at the floor. He hoped they’d get out of there soon because trying to act soulful was leaving a bad taste in his mouth. A really vile kill would take care of that, though.
“Again, Miss Summers, ah I mean, Buffy, I’m sorry for inadvertently hurting you. Ethan and I will leave you four to whatever plans you have and get out of your way for the night.” Giles waved and grabbed Ethan’s hand, wanting to get as far away from Spike as he could. The vampire was still radiating with anger towards him and he didn’t want to give him any reason to act on it.
As soon as the watcher and his lover left the factory, Spike turned his attention back to Angel. He’d seen something in his eyes earlier that gave him pause, but the things Angel said were nothing like the Angelus he knew. Maybe Angel was just glad he had Drusilla back and well again, but not happy enough to cause the soul to do a runner.
Concentrating hard, he tried to discern if Angelus was still a prisoner. But then again if his true grandsire was before him, one would think that he would have already attacked- at least the watcher for all the do-gooder stuff. It was probably nothing and he was ready to get Buffy back to their room for a bit of ravishing. His demon felt the need to touch and taste every inch of her to make sure she was okay after seeing the bolt sticking out of her arm.
Drusilla knew she had to get Spike and Buffy to leave soon. She could tell her daddy was about to break under the scrutiny. Bad little boys needed to be taught not to stare at their elders, and oh what lessons her daddy could give. But not now. They needed to bath in blood red rivers and be whole again first.
Spinning into the center of the room, Dru began to sing, knowing this would help distract both her daddy and darling boy. Slowly she made her way to where Spike stood holding Buffy around the waist.
“Thank you for helping to make me all better, Glistening Light, for keeping my daddy safe from that horrid man. And you, Spike, my dark knight no longer, be careful of standing in the sun too long. It could cause you to turn to ashes.” She smiled before starting to sing again as she danced her way back to Angelus.
“Daddy, the party’s over. Can we go now?” Dru pouted up at him as she laid her head upon his shoulder.
“Let’s get your things and then we can go home and rest.” Angelus stroked her black mane as he led her to the room they’d shared in the factory. Remembering he was supposed to be Angel, he turned to say goodbye to Spike and Buffy.
“Thanks again for all your help. I really do need to get Dru back to my apartment so she can get some sleep. I hope you don’t mind seeing yourselves out,” he said in a sickeningly sweet voice before he proceeded to guide Drusilla out of the room.
Buffy wondered what Drusilla meant by Spike standing in the sun too long. It didn’t really matter. Everything had gone smoothly except for the Giles’ part of the evening and now she was going to take her mate home and show him just how much she loved him.
“Come on, baby. Let’s get ourselves gone so we can spend the rest of the night alone. I need to tell you something,” she seductively purred, grabbing his hand and pulling him out the door. Spike would make a great sire as well as mate and she was going to let him know as soon as they were both naked. If she told him before she was sure he’d destroy what she had on trying to get her stripped anyway and she really liked this pair of jeans.
“Oh really. And what might that be, luv?” Spike asked with a leer, tucking her into his side as the walked towards home.
“You’ll just have to wait until we’ve made it back to the motel, mister, and stop doing your sexy tongue behind the teeth thing. Its not gonna make me tell you any sooner,” Buffy playfully admonished.
Yep, life was good and she was surrounded by love. What more could a girl want?
@~@~@~
Angelus watched as the mated couple walked away while Drusilla giddily packed up her things. They were leaving town as soon as they stopped at his place and picked up his clothes and cash.
His thoughts turned to the Watcher and his pathetic time spent as a white hat. They’d definitely be coming back to chain that old man to a wall. There were so many ways to make him scream and bleed without killing him. He was sure he could keep Giles in a constant state of agony for weeks- possibly months- until his demon was satisfied and then he could rip out his throat.
And that slayer. Umm, what a slayer. She was a hot little thing and into demons as well. With a little effort and punishment for being mated to his grandchilde, he was sure she’d beg him to take Spike’s place. No woman would ever choose a boy like Spike over a master vampire like him.
Angelus couldn’t hide the vicious smile that was plastered across his face at the thought of putting his boy back in his place. There would be plenty of beatings and domination, of course, as well as forcing Spike to watch as he took his mate to bed. Once again proving himself to be the better vampire.
This most certainly was not the end. They’d be back and bring with them glorious pain and destruction. Grabbing his dark girl’s things, they strode off into the night.
Unlife was perfect.
Finis
There will be a sequel but I won’t be starting on it until January. I need a little break from this story to get other things in order as well as figuring out exactly where I want to take the sequel. I have started another fic but it will be a little while before I start to post it. I also will be posting a ficlet soon but it is Spilliam so it will only be posted on my site and LJ. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing this story. It is the first fic I started writing and your reviews have meant a lot to me.
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