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Chapter 8

If Doyle weren’t halfway down the block by now, Spike would have rushed out the front door and chased after the half-demon, demanding the git fix whatever problem was keeping him here. He did not want to have to relive history, he’d gotten used to the modern conveniences of his time…say, electricity and drive-in movies – although, those were a rare commodity nowadays.

Tamping down his frustration, he whirled away from the front door and strode deeper into the townhouse, leaving behind a thoroughly shocked butler. What he needed to do right now was get mind-numbingly drunk, then sleep the day away. He refused to look on the bright side of things – a Slayer on tap; the title the Powers had thrust upon him to mollify him for being stuck here (because hey, they had only done it to ensure the safety of their Slayer); the camaraderie of his fellow family members, even if they were just minions; unlimited resources to tap; the ability to travel – no…he refused to dwell on the positives. Because, then, he may actually not mind being stuck here. And, that was what had him grabbing the first decanter he came to and swilling half the contents before he even made his way towards the desk. He refused to be happy about being stuck in the past.

~*~*~*~*~

Giles wasn’t surprised to see Angel, Xander, Willow, and Cordelia at the library when he finally made his way back there. Ethan had managed to vanish while Giles had broken the statue of Janus; he’d spent the last several hours trying to comb the city for a trace of him, to no avail.

“Where’s Buffy,” he asked as he walked through the double doors, allowing them to swing closed silently behind him. His question was met with silence.

He watched as the four traded looks in silence as they sat around one of the tables, unsure as to who would be the one to tell him the bad news. And, surely, it had to be bad news if the grim expression on Angel and Xander’s faces were any indication.

“What is it? What’s happened?”

“We’re not sure, Giles,” Xander spoke up. “One minute we’re being held hostage by a bunch of mini-demons and Buffy’s being bitten by some bleached-haired vamp.”

“Spike,” Angel added.

“Yeah…Well…the next thing we know, the demons are kids crying for their mommy and Buffy is just…gone.”

“Gone?” Giles questioned, confused.

“Yes…gone…as in vanished…disappeared.”

“He’s right,” Angel added. “I combed over every inch of that warehouse for their scent. The trail led to where Spike had Buffy pinned up against a crate…and then…nothing. The scent just disappeared.”

Giles took off his glasses and began rubbing them furiously with a handkerchief he pulled from his pants pocket.

“She’s not dead, is she Giles?” Willow questioned in a small voice.

“Well…a…there’s one way to find out.”

He crossed to the telephone nestled on the wall. He picked up the handset and punched in several numbers by rote. It took a moment for the international call to connect, then Giles heard a pleasant voice answer. Since it was midnight in California, there would be someone in the office by now in London, even if it was a Saturday.

“Hullo.”

“Yes, this is…this is Rupert Giles. I need to speak with Mr. Travers.”

“Mr. Travers has yet to step into the office, Mr. Giles.”

“Well, put me through to his home extension. This is important.”

“Yes sir, one moment.”

Giles listened to a series of clicks then a sleepy voice answered, “This better be important.”

“Uh… Mr. Travers. It’s Rupert, Rupert Giles.”

“Mr. Giles, what can I do for you so bright and early on the one day of the year I should be able to sleep in?” It was customary for demons to take Halloween off, and the Watcher’s Council had come to appreciate the one morning that they were assured of no demon unrest in the world. It had become an unofficial holiday among the Council.

“It’s Buffy…has another Slayer been called, by chance?”

The urgent tone in Giles voice had the Head Watcher sitting upright in his bed.

“What’s happened?”

“Uh…we’re not quite sure, sir. She’s missing. I was trying to ascertain her condition in a rather…um, morbid way, I guess you could say. But, I have my answer, I suppose. You would have been notified if another Slayer had been called, and since you know nothing about a new Slayer, I can only assume she’s just missing, not dead.”

“I’m sorry to have bothered you, sir,” he rambled on not allowing the Head Councilman to get a word in edgewise. “We’ll…I’ll figure it out on this end. Goodbye.”

~*~

Giles hung up the phone before Travers could mention Kendra, the Slayer that had been called when Buffy had briefly “died” several months ago at the hands of the master. Travers listened to the dial tone in his ear a few moments before leaning over and calling the new Slayer’s watcher. If the Hellmouth was unguarded, the best place Kendra could be was in Sunnydale.

~*~

“Well, she’s obviously still alive,” Giles announced as he turned back to the group. Willow, Xander, and Cordelia were wearing identical expressions of shocked horror on their faces. Angel was just scowling. Maybe he should have been more private in his phone conversation, but he’d needed some quick answers, and finding out if a new Slayer had been called was the quickest way to see if Buffy were still alive.

“I’ll hit the streets, see if I can find out anything in the demon world. If Spike has the Slayer, news will travel fast there,” Angel announced as he pushed his way to his feet.

“Very good. Thank you, Angel,” Giles replied. Angel just nodded and was gone, leaving the three students and the librarian alone in the room.

“Xander? You, Willow, and Cordelia best be getting home now. It’s after midnight and your parents will be worried.”

Cordelia rolled her eyes at that announcement.

“That’s ok, Giles, we did the ‘round robin’.” This from Willow.

‘Round robin? What did a bird have to do with anything?’

Seeing his confused expression, Willow elaborated, “You know, I tell my mom I’m staying at Buffy’s, Buffy tells her mom she’s staying at my house…round robin.” She shrugged as if to say, ‘didn’t everyone know?’ Well, apparently not the older generation, which, now that she thought of it, was a good thing. Or else, teenagers everywhere would be in so much trouble.

“Oh… I see…Nevertheless, there’s not much you three can do right now. So, off with you.”

“I know I’m gonna shoot myself for saying this, but why don’t we go to my place? And, if you tell anyone I said that, I’ll personally see to it that you both are marked as pariahs in school….Oh wait…, my bad. You already are,” Cordelia announced.

“Don’t worry, Cordelia. Your secret is safe with us, isn’t it Willow? We know you’re just scared to walk home alone,” Xander antagonized.

“Pfft, whatever!” Cordelia responded with a roll of her eyes. She turned around and walked off haughtily, the skintight cat suit accentuating every curve as she moved.

Willow trailed after the beauty queen, with Xander bringing up the rear.

Giles watched them leave before going into his office and sitting in the chair behind his desk; a heavy sigh escaped his lips. He sure hoped Angel would be able to find out something. He feared the worst for his Slayer.

~*~*~*~*~

Elizabeth had spent the afternoon picking out bolts of material that would be made into various gowns she would be required to wear, as well as several cloaks she would need for the cool November weather. When William had said spare no expense, he wasn’t just saying that. The seamstress and her assistance had appeared to have an unending supply of colors and textures to choose from, and Elizabeth had been caught up into creating a complete new wardrobe.

Then she had gotten word that he was leaving for London for a few days, and she couldn’t help but feel a little hurt that he was leaving so soon after their night together. Sure, he had said that he’d never leave, and some part deep inside of her believed him. But, it had hurt, nonetheless.

When he had stormed into her room a little while later, she couldn’t help the sudden thrill that had raced through her body. She wasn’t even conscious of his demon form until he’d cut her. But when his tongue had darted out to lick the trail of blood from running down her chin she’d realized, and she hadn’t seemed to care. After last night, she had no willpower where he was concerned, and man or demon, he just seemed to excite her.

Shameful, true…and, she’d probably end up in hell over her sinful thoughts. But, she just couldn’t seem to find it in herself to care.

After he had stormed out of her room, she’d collapsed back on the bed, dazed from his intense lovemaking. When her heart rate had returned to normal, she’d removed her gown and slipped into her nightgown before her maid could return. She wanted to be tucked in bed so as to avoid the prying eyes of her servant. She’d finally drifted off into slumber, only to dream about deep blue eyes that faded to amber.

Elizabeth woke just as dawn made its presence felt behind the closed curtains of her bedroom. Stretching languidly, her fingers came up to caress the healed marks on her neck. The thought of how she’d received them brought a flush to her cheeks and a tingling between her legs. Shaking off the sensation, she swung her legs over the side of the bed just as her maid knocked and entered her room.

“Feel up to breakfast in the dining hall, m’lady?”

“Yes, I think I should. After spending all day yesterday stuck up in my room, I feel like exploring the grounds of my guardian.”

“Very good, mistress. I’ll have a bath drawn for you.”

Elizabeth nodded and made quick use of the chamber pot tucked behind the folding screen while her maid was away. She was back in a flash with several men carrying buckets of hot water to fill the tub. When they were gone, Elizabeth climbed back out of bed and quickly disrobed, sinking in the steaming water.

Her maid came over and lathered soap in her hair, giving it a thorough scrub before dumping a spare bucket of water over her head to rinse it through. When she had been scrubbed clean, Elizabeth stood in the tub, allowing her maid to wrap her in a drying cloth.

She stepped out of the tub and moved to sit in front of the vanity. Her maid began brushing her hair, pulling it into an artful style on top of her head. Then, they began the long process of getting dressed. Elizabeth stood patiently as her maid added undergarments to her frame before tightening the corset around her slight figure.

Elizabeth was thankful one of the first dresses the seamstress managed to finish was a day dress. She could conceivably wear it until the early afternoon before needing to change into something more formal for dinner. And, she could beg off from dining in the formal hall since her guardian was still in London, taking a tray in her room instead. Maybe by tomorrow, she’d have something more seemly to wear. She didn’t want to alienate the staff by hiding out in her room all the time. However, she didn’t want to show how much of a pauper she had become since “arriving” back in London either. She did have her pride, after all.

She was jarred out of her dire straits when the corset squeezed like a vice around her ribcage, sucking the breath out of her in a silent whoosh.

“Breath in, miss,” her maid urged.

Elizabeth obliged, dutifully holding her breath while her maid pulled the laces tighter before securing them. She tried to let out her breath but found herself unable to around the strict constraints of the corset. Sighing softly, she waited for the soft lilac day dress to be lowered over her head and settled into place.

Finally finished with her morning toilette, she left her bedroom to descend the stairs to the dining room for breakfast. Again she fingered the marks on her neck, as if seeking the comforting presence of William. She just hoped he concluded his business early and returned to her…she found herself missing him already.

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