Note: I know it's been a long time since I've sent any
of this fic... *sigh* I'm bad... =0) And I don't have
any excuses... So, here's the latest installment...
*~*~*~*
*~ Everything was dark in the burnt-out warehouse as
the Watcher carefully made his way over the threshold.
It was quiet... too quiet. He understood why the
vampires didn't want to meet in their lair, but he
didn't understand why they wanted to meet in this...
place.
*~ "Goody, you made it," a soft, feminine voice made
him jump violently. His heart pounded frantically in
his chest, making it hard to breathe for a secon.
"Don't be frightened... We need you."
*~ "Quit playing with him and bring him in here, Dru,"
Rupert Giles jumped again at the sound of Angelus's
voice coming from one of the other rooms. Drucilla
smiled what looked like a genuine smile and took him
by the hand, leading him farther into the warehouse.
*~ "Hello, Rupert," Angelus greeted him when he
stepped into the room. "Do sit. I promise I won't hurt
you... yet. I asked you here for your help." Rupert
swallowed nervously, his eyes darting to the still,
expressionless face of his former protegee. She
returned his stare, her green eyes unblinking as she
took in everything about him.
*~ She could feel his fear of her and of her family.
It confused her. Her eyebrows lowered and her head
cocked to the side in the familiar gesture of
curiosity. Instinct told her that he was a friend,
he'd helped her before... He was a... friend. There
wasn't a name or any memories to go with the feelings,
or the face.
*~ "What h-happened to her," he spoke and a thrill of
recognition flew through her. She knew him! But who
was he?
*~ "We were hoping you could help us with it," Angelus
was speaking and Willow's face smoothed out again as
she relaxed against his side, resting her head on his
chest. She wasn't tired, but it was comforting to have
him near. He eased her fear and the constant emotional
pain she experienced when not in his presence. Him and
Dru... The dark haired vampiress was the only one
other than Angelus that could calm her.
*~ "You probably know more than us, mate," Spike
added, and her eyes flew to him. It was like she was
watching a tennis match, when one spoke, she watched
them, and when the other spoke, she switched, watching
them. "You've got them books, you know."
*~ "W-what are the symptoms? I mean... what..." the
Watcher faltered.
*~ "My Blossom has nightmares," Dru said, moving out
of the shadows to sit down next to her sire and
Willow, taking the girl's cold hand in hers. "She
screams and screams in her sleep. She is in so much
pain..."
*~ Angelus took his childe's hand and squeezed it
reassuringly. He took an unneeded breath and proceeded
to tell the Watcher everything they knew.
*~ Rupert's face was red with anger at the end of the
narrative, and he looked ready to murder the dark
haired slayer. His gray eyes met the blank green ones
of the redhead. "I will help you. On one condition."
*~ "Of course, you can keep your life," Spike smirked,
knowing that wasn't what the Watcher was going to ask.
*~ "I want the rest of the group to remain unharmed.
Faith, yes. Buffy and the others, no," Rupert said,
ignoring the blonde vampire.
*~ "After we find out what happened to Willow and kill
the bitch-slayer, we were planning on leaving anyway,"
Angelus snapped. "But we need to know what happened to
Willow and what will happen when she gets her revenge,
if that's what she's back for."
*~ "That didn't answer my question," Rupert narrowed
his eyes on the vampire's face.
*~ "Are you bloody dense?" Spike burst out, looking
annoyed.
*~ "No, I bloody well need assurance," Rupert snapped
back. "I know how you work. I take your words at face
value, then you turn around and kill us all after we
do what you say, justifying it by saying that you
never made any promises. I want a solid promise."
*~ "If you help us, we won't hurt anyone but Faith,"
Angelus conceeded with a smirk.
*~ "Done," Rupert said, an air of finality about him.
There was no way he could go back on his word now. And
there was no way he could let Faith get away with this
without severe consequenses. "I just want to be there
when you kill her."
*~ "Done," Angelus smirked, extending his hand toward
the Watcher. For the first time since he lost his
soul, the demon and the Watcher shook hands, sealing
the fate of the dark slayer.
*~*~*~
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