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Thanks to Always_jbj for giving this an instant beta for me (I literally stood over her shoulder as she did it.) Written for Always_jbj and Temptation who asked so nicely for this fic.
He stood dangling the shining object before him, letting the light play across its smooth surface. A few speaks of dirt dropping from its patterned clasp, the only outward sign of the trinkets true purpose. “So you’re sure he’s in here?”
“Yes sir we tested it extensively, he is most certainly trapped within the amulet’s stone.”
Angel ignored the small man who had moved to stand beside him, nervously clutching his clipboard. The vampire cocked his head to one side, peering deeper into the surface of the stone, almost as if he were trying to see the soul trapped inside. “And he can’t get out? He’s there for eternity. Right?”
The small man cleared his throat awkwardly, “Well that’s not exactly true sir.” He yelped as Angel darted out a hand to grasp him firmly around the throat.
“What do you mean ‘that’s not exactly true’?” Angel pulled the whimpering man close to his face, “I think you best explain to me EXACTLY what is going on with this thing.” Angel jerked the chain of the amulet as he thrust it into the terrified man’s face.
The small man began to claw at the hand around his throat, “ughhhhhh”
Angel watched in amusement as the man desperately tried to answer his questions while unable to draw air into his lungs. “Whats that… you need to speak up… can’t hear you.”
Angel waited a few more minutes, timing it so that he released the man mere seconds before he passed out. “Now let’s try that again shall we?”
The man stared up at him gasping for breath while absently rubbing his tender throat “Well s..sir our research seems to indicate… what I mean to say is it appears…” He yelped as Angel hauled him to his feet.
“I suggest if you want to keep your head attached to your neck you stop dithering and tell me what is going on.” Angel let himself slip into game-face, relishing the fear that was emanating from the man.
“The amulet’s binding spell is degrading,” the man blurted out.
“And that means…what?” Angel studied the stone once more, twirling it rapidly as he wondered if the soul trapped inside would experience anything that happened to the amulet on the outside.
“Wh what it means sir is that when the spell finally dissipates whoever or or whatever is trapped within it will be expelled back into this reality.”
“So ole Spikey gets to come back for a return visit then.” Angel closed his fist around the stone, “What happens if the amulet is destroyed before he’s released?” He began to squeeze firmly on the amulet’s surface.
The small man jumped forward tugging at Angel’s closed fist, his fear suddenly forgotten as he realised what his fate would be if he didn’t stop his new employer before he destroyed it. “You’ll release him immediately,” he shouted, relief washing over him when the clenched fist suddenly slackened, allowing him to snatch up the amulet and cradle it protectively against his chest.
Anger radiated from Angel, “So what you’re telling me is that I can’t stop Spike from coming back?”
The man hurried over to a small box sitting on a table and lay the amulet carefully within it, “No Sir we have no way of restoring the spell on the amulet, we can, however, stop it from degrading any further.”
Angel’s demeanour changed instantly as he casually strolled over to where the small man stood before the box, “Well why didn’t you say something sooner?” He flung a meaty arm across the small man’s shoulders, “So Dobson… it is Dobson right?” Angel smiled at the obviously relieved man, “tell me how we’re going to stop the evil vampire from reappearing.”
Dobson sighed, for a moment he had thought he was going to lose his head, “You see this box here?” excitement began to creep into his voice as he took the opportunity to show off his skill and knowledge to his new boss. “Well I’ve set it up so that it works like a mini stasis chamber. Now that the amulet has been placed inside all we need to do is close the lid, say a small incantation and it becomes active.”
“And that means that Spike will remain inside the amulet forever?” a gleam crept into Angel’s eye as he mulled over the information.
“Oh yes Sir, he will remain trapped inside forever, unless of course someone unseals the box by repeating the incantation.” Dobson smiled as he carefully lowered the lid, “as you and I are the only ones who will know what that incantation is I feel the chances of that happening are small to say the least.” He leant forward and softly spoke three simple words, causing a small electrical flash to ripple across the surface of the box.
“So you and I are the only ones that know the secret password, so to speak” Angel shifted backwards slightly, watching the small man carefully as he admired his work. “And you haven’t told anybody else?”
“Of course not Sir, it would be tempting fate to do such a thing.” Dobson turned to look in Angel’s direction, his eyes widening as he saw the lethal edge of the sword swinging in his direction.
Angel stepped forward standing over the now headless body of the small man, “That it would Dobson, much better if I’m the only one that knows.” He roughly shoved at the body at his feet, carelessly pushing it to one side, before lifting up the box and holding it up for study
“You never did learn did you Spike? You thought you could be the hero, save the day and win the girl.” Angel snorted derisively, “You should have learnt by now that I always get what I want.”
Whistling happily Angel tucked the box under his arm and ambled through a nearby door and down into a darkened storage room. Vamping out in order to see more clearly Angel moved deeper and deeper into the darkness, his eyes darting from side to side as he searched for the perfect spot. Eventually he stopped at one of the dusty racks, towards the back of the room.
Angel pushed the box precariously onto its surface, pausing he studied it momentarily before reaching forward and rearranging it more securely in its resting place, “There you go Spike, can’t have you falling down where someone might find you.” He rapped his knuckle sharply on the lid, “Hey, Spikey, you in there?”
A small sneer twisted at the corner of his mouth, “Guess you can’t hear me, but just in case,” he leaned down close to the surface, “I promise that Buffy won’t mourn you long, you know what they say. Out of sight… out of my way.”
Chuckling Angel strode back out of the room, closing the door securely behind him.
Silence settled over the room, its inky blackness seemingly undisturbed until a large shadow separated from the rest and moved to where the box that held Spike prisoner now sat.
A whisper of sound drifted through the room as paper crinkled under the weight of the thick black pen that made its way across its surface.
The shadow bent close to the box, huskily speaking the three words that would release the amulet from its stasis. Reaching forward the shadow plucked out the trinket, holding it up momentarily before dropping it into the envelope that lay to one side and sealing it.
The shadow moved out of the room and into the busy halls of the law firm, turning into the distinct figure of a man who moved seemingly unnoticed through the people around him. Casually he dropped the envelope onto the mail pile waiting to be taken in to Angel’s office.
He smiled as he watched Harmony pick up the stack and deposit them on Angel’s desk. Moving to one of the internal windows he watched the scene play out before him, snippets of conversation floating through the thick glass.
Angel stood before his team giving his heroic motivational speech. The figure watched as Angel moved to the desk and picked up the envelope that held the amulet, Angel’s voice becoming surprisingly clear, “Meanwhile, we do the work… our way, one thing at a time.”
Angel tore open the envelope, “We deal…” the amulet fell from its depths to rest on the floor before them. “With whatever comes next.” The figure smiled smugly as Angel’s eyes widened in recognition, stepping closer to the glass he spoke one word, “Release.”
Almost immediately a dark whirlwind erupted from its centre, ash swirling around causing the papers on Angel’s desk to scatter about. Slowly a figure began to form before the stunned room, until finally a bleached blonde man stood before them—screaming in remembered agony.
“Welcome back Spike,” the figure turned from the window and moved towards the exit, “Now let’s see if you achieve everything I hope you do.”
The End
For Alwaysjbj and Temptation who nagged me spare on YM wanting a dusty ending for Angel. Here it is girls…..
Angel stared in shock as Spike rushed towards him, and somehow passed right through. Whirling around to face the ghostly form he lost his footing and stumbled forward towards the desk that Spike was now hovering within. Throwing out his hands to steady himself he didn’t notice the small pencil sitting in just the right position until it pierced his flesh and made its way into his dead heart.
Spike watched in wonderment as Angel’s ash settled across the desk's surface, “Bugger.”