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Chapter 43

Buffy was spared commenting when a knock at the front door sounded and the voices of Lord Fielding and Lord Devlin – the vampire that had seen her home earlier – reached her ears.  If Byron was here, it could only mean that Spike was contemplating expanding their circle to include a few more vamps.  She hurried to the door and opened it in time to see the two vampires, as well as Lord Maitland, being led past by Higgins, the butler. 

“Something’s happening,” she told Renee, ducking back inside the room.  “Come on.” 

The two women hurried down the hall that led towards Spike’s study.  Not bothering to knock, Buffy let herself in.  Spike was standing behind his desk; the Duke of Abberly and the Marquess of Brummidge were seated in the two chairs in front of his desk, leaving the Marquess of Eaglethorpe and the Earl of Hawkinstone standing in strategic places about the room.  Buffy went immediately to her husband’s side – they’d have to go through her to get to him – and had Renee take up position in front of the door, thus blocking the exit.  The seated vampires looked askance at her’s and Renee’s presence, but didn’t dare object to their being there.  If the master vampire had wanted them gone, they wouldn’t have been in the room. 

Marcus watched as the Lord Thornton seemed to carry on a silent conversation with the other vampires standing about the room, and only just realized that both he and the Duke had been effectively boxed in.  His demon tensed in preparation of attack, though he wasn’t quite sure why.  Beside him, the Duke laid a reassuring hand on the younger vamp’s forearm. 

“Patterns,” he murmured quietly.  Then, he settled back to wait. 

It wasn’t long either, Spike having received the nod of approval from the three vampires stationed in a circle around the two.  Even with their okay, he still felt the Slayer stiffen beside him as he began to speak.  Relaying the same story he’d once told the other vamps.  Halfway through his tale, he noticed the Duke nodding as if his suspicions had been confirmed.  When he got to the part about time travel and that his wife was a Slayer, he took in their shocked expressions, his coiled body relaxing slightly when neither made a move to attack. 

“Who else knows,” Marcus asked abruptly. 

“The Marquess and Marchioness of Darderwyne and the Viscount Sotheby,” Adam Kingston, the Duke of Abberly, replied, beating the Marquess to his answer.  At the master vampire’s surprised look, he added, “Patterns.  They’re good, but I’m better.” 

“Then maybe you should see to the monetary arrangements,” Spike commented.  “Oh, and you forgot Alric Townsend.” 

“Ah, yes, the youngest son of the Viscount Waverly,” Adam commented.  “He’d be a little harder to deduce given his untitled status.  But, the more that I think on it now, I do see how he could be a part of this.” 

“So, you’ll help us?” Buffy interjected. 

“Of course,” Marcus replied immediately. 

“Even knowing what’s going to happen?  That this…whatever it is…isn’t going to end pretty?” 

“Buffy, you should know by now…our clan…it sticks together,” the fledgling told her. 

The Slayer risked a glance at her friend and noticed the smug look on her features.  Surprisingly, it was Spike that contradicted the vamp’s words. 

“May be true in this case, mate.  But, ‘m reckonin’ that whatever happens to change the future, as you guys know it, is caused by an internal power struggle.” 

“'s the only thing that makes sense,” he added upon seeing several of the vampires’ aghast looks.  “Look.  It’s late, and the sun’ll be up in about an hour.  Adam, I’m putting you in charge of our monetary assets.  Coordinate with the others.  Byron, Joseph…you’ll let the others know?” 

The two vampires nodded. 

“Good.  Then I’ll see you tomorrow evening at Whitt’s.” 

Buffy stiffened at Spike’s words, but didn’t comment.  The death of the humans was a foregone conclusion and something she was going to have to force herself to accept – although, she didn’t think she was up to witnessing the event just yet. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Buffy lay still until she was sure that Spike wouldn’t waken before easing out of his arms and sliding out of bed.  Grabbing her robe from where it had been carelessly thrown earlier, she slipped it on and padded on bare feet to the connecting doors leading to her room.  After a last glance at her husband, she slipped through the door, squinting momentarily as her eyes tried to adjust to the sunlight pouring into her room. 

She didn’t bother with calling her maid, not wanting to wake the girl just because she’d been unable to sleep.  Instead, Buffy rummaged through her wardrobe until she found a dress that she could fasten herself and that didn’t require the boa-constricting corset she normally wore.  A few quick brushes through her hair afterwards, and she let herself out of her room. 

The hallway upstairs was deserted, but she could hear activity below – most likely the downstairs maids cleaning and dusting.  Not wanting to be seen, she took the seldom-used servant’s stairs that led to the kitchens. 

Mrs. Wadsworth was seated at a table as she prepared the day’s meals and gave her a wave as Buffy let herself out into the gardens.  The bright sky was in direct contrast to her mood; it should have been raining…or at the very least, overcast. 

She was tired and cranky – not to mention confused…and she knew it.  Knew exactly what it was that was causing her mood. 

And why she couldn’t sleep. 

Buffy just didn’t know what was expected of her.  And it was those tumultuous thoughts that had kept her awake, long after Spike had succumbed to slumber.  Why she was out here hoping the soothing atmosphere of the gardens would make things more clear. 

An hour later, and she was still no closer to settling things in her mind, and let herself back inside.  

Seeing the look on her mistress’ face, the cook dismissed the others in the room, sending them on false errands so that they could have some privacy. 

“I need to go to Whitt’s,” Buffy announced.  “Right now.” 

Mrs. Wadsworth nodded.  “I’ll have Higgins see to it immediately.  Would you like something to eat while you wait?” 

“No…I…maybe some tea?” 

“I’ll heat up the water.” 

Twenty minutes later, Buffy was tucked inside an unmarked carriage, Spike’s own valet at the reins.  She wasn’t quite sure what had possessed her to go to the Aurelius stronghold.  Or if she could even gain entry.  

Then it was too late for self-doubts, or what-ifs, or any of the other things that made her want to turn tail and run instead of dealing with the situation, because the carriage pulled to a halt.  A moment later, her door opened and Buffy leaned her head out to see that they’d stopped before a second, more private, entrance. 

She allowed herself to be helped down from the coach, and they’d no sooner reached the door than it opened.  The person manning it, obviously human, since he stepped into the sunlight to challenge their entry. 

“Let us pass,” Travis told the man.  “This is Mrs. Thornton.” 

“But…” 

“It’s ok,” Buffy interjected.  “It was foolish on my part to try and come here.” 

“Nonsense,” he told her.  “They wouldn’t dare refuse you entrance.”  He pinned the man with a look.  “Or would you like to explain to Lord Thornton why you turned his wife away.” 

The doorman backed out of the way, and Buffy stepped inside – her Slayer senses tingling at feeling the presence of several vampires roaming throughout the building. 

“Would you like me to stay, m’lady?” Travis asked. 

“No…return for me in an hour’s time.” 

“As you wish.” 

The door closed behind her and she turned to the man that had let her in. 

“Who oversees the dungeons?” 

“D-Dungeons?” he asked, confused. 

“Yes, dungeons.  Cages.  Whatever you call them.  Where are the humans that were brought here earlier?” 

“I-I-I don’t know—” 

“Well, find me someone that does.  And be quick about it.  I don’t have a lot of time,” she snapped. 

The man rushed off, eager to find one of the vampires that helped oversee the gentlemen’s club, so that he could get back to his post and wash his hands of the human female that just happened to be mated to an Aurelius master vampire.  Far better for someone else to be responsible for the girl.  A few minutes later, he found Mr. Laitner, one of the minions that “worked” in the club. 

“Uh…excuse me, Mr. Laitner.  Umm…”  His voice dropped to a whisper.  “Mrs. Thornton is here and wanting to see the dungeons?”

“Here?  As in inside?” 

“Yes, sir.  Her man dropped her off at the back entrance.” 

“She’s alone?”  His voice had risen to an unnaturally high pitch. 

“Yes, sir. You can see my dilemma. Came for you straight away, I did.”

The two wended their way through the tables of the deserted building. It still being well before noon, the establishment was currently closed.

“Mrs. Thornton! I must say it’s quite an honor, if somewhat highly irregular to see you grace our humble establishment,” Mr. Laitner greeted the lady. “That’ll be all, Jacob. You can return to your duties,” he told the other man.

“Yes, sir, Mr. Laitner. Good day, m’lady.” He affected an awkward bow and was off in a hurry, grateful to have passed the responsibility of the woman onto someone else.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. Thornton?” the vampire asked once the two of them were alone.

“I want you to take me to the dungeons…”

“I’m not sure I understand—”

“Look,” she interrupted. “I don’t have time to mince words with you. I want to see the bastards that dusted my chaperone….NOW!”

The minion retreated a few steps as she punctuated her words by invading his personal space, jabbing a finger in his direction.

“I don’t think—”

“I don’t care what you think. I want to see them.”

Buffy watched as he seemed to debate with himself before he finally turned and motioned her to follow him down the hallway. “Follow me.”

At the end of the hallway, he opened a door and entered what appeared to Buffy to be some type of wine cellar. She watched as he stopped before one of the racks and pulled it away from the wall to reveal a hidden passage. Moments later, they were descending the staircase that eventually opened up into a wide circular area that had cages and various sorts of other torture devices scattered about the room.

Her arrival got the immediate attention of the four humans – the only occupants besides the lone guard that sat at a table in a darkened corner. As the vampire that led her below went to speak with the other, Buffy neared the cell that held the humans.

She didn’t stop until she’d reached the bars separating them.

Buffy wasn’t sure what to expect when she finally got a good look at them. A thought ran through her mind that they looked like criminals. Not so much the clothes, although they were pretty haggard as well. No…it was their eyes. How they leered at her. And she knew that if it weren’t for the bars separating them, she’d have cause to worry about her safety.

“Aren’t you a tasty morsel?” one of them, probably the ringleader, quipped as he drew near. “A lady come t’ get ‘er kicks with a real man? Well, come on then. Open up an’ give us a taste.”

His words seemed to incite the others and the foursome talked over each other as they delighted in telling her in vivid, graphic detail everything they’d do to her once they had her in hand.

“Mighty big words for someone who’s about to die,” Buffy commented casually.

“Bitch,” one of them ground out. “Jus’ wait’ll I get free. Willy’ll make you pay for sassin’ me.”

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and gifted them all with a bored expression.

“Oh, I really don’t think so.”

An arm shot out between the bars as she sneered at the one that had spoken, and Buffy gasped at the hand that closed around her throat. She felt the vampires race to her side, but she didn’t pay either of them any mind. Her concentration was completely on the leader – the one with his hand trying to strangle the breath right out of her. One hand grasped his wrist as the other gripped the bar in front of her to keep him from bringing her any closer.

She had to hand it to him; he was strong.

But she was mad, and his puny efforts to subdue her were no match against the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

“Bet this is what you did to my chaperone, wasn’t it?” she gasped out as her fingers constricted about his wrist.

She watched his eyes flare with recognition and it just increased her rage. She fed on it. Allowed it to consume her until her whole plane of existence narrowed to just him and her. Her grip tightened even more and she smiled when she saw him cringe in pain. Her smile growing wider still as she watched him try to break her hold on him with his other hand.

When he couldn’t, his eyes widened in dawning horror.

“You’re one of them! A monster!” he gasped, fingers opening reflexively as he tried to get away from her.

She released her hold on his arm and watched as he scrambled to the back wall in an attempt to get as far away from her as possible. Buffy laughed, although it came out more like a hoarse cough.

“Monster? Monster?! You rape and pillage and steal. Not to mention kill an unarmed woman for no more than a few pounds…and you call me the monster? I’m not…we’re not… the monsters here. She was my friend, damn you! And you killed her!”

She was crying now, her voice all but gone.

“You all deserve everything that’s coming to you,” she whispered.

Then she turned and walked away.

~*~*~*~*~

Mr. Laitner was silent while he led the human upstairs, unsure exactly what he could do to get her to stop crying – he had no experience, whatsoever, dealing with weeping females.

“Is there something I could get you, m’lady,” he asked once he’d shown her to a couch on the main level. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and leaned down to offer it to her, smiling when she took it without question.

“Home,” Buffy managed to croak out.

“Jacob!” the minion bellowed out as he stood.

Moments later, the human appeared.

“Yes, Mr. Laitner?”

“Lady Thornton would like to go home now.”

“Yes, sir. But…well, her coach hasn’t returned yet. It’s only been thirty minutes.”

“Then find her another one!”

“Yes, sir! Of course…”

Jacob darted out the back door, having no idea where to go to see about obtaining another hack. Luck was with him, however, as he’d no sooner turned the corner and seen the driver that had dropped the lady off sitting atop the carriage she’d arrived in.

“Lady Thornton is ready to go home now,” Jacob called out and turned to run back inside the club to let the vampire know.

Travis guided the carriage around the corner and stopped it before the door. He quickly hopped down from his perch to see his mistress inside. His eyes widened in shock as he got a good look at her. She’d obviously been crying, was still crying, in fact. And the bruises around her neck…

“What the bloody hell happened?” Decorum was forgotten in the face of this outrage.

Buffy shook her head no. She didn’t want to get into this here. All she wanted to do was go home and crawl into bed. Feel Spike’s arms wrap around her and hold her tight.

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