Rating & Pairings: Since this fic takes place in Buffy S1, and most of the players are about 16 years old, I'm keeping this clean. There is a definite S/A relationship, and a hint of W/S.
Spoilers: BtVS S1, Welcome to the Hellmouth, and The Harvest
Distribution: List archives, and my site. Anyone else, please ask first. I'll say yes, but I like to have an idea of where I am. And it's always fun for me to check out other ppl's websites.
Disclaimer: I don't own BtVs or Angel characters. Joss Whedon, David Greenwald, Mutant Enemy and the WB...all rights. No infringement intended.
Author's Notes: This fic is an au of my au series Bloodlines. So it's an au of an au. Not a new idea, as it already has been done by Maayan. Bloodlines does not have to be read to understand this fic. Ppl who know my Bloodlines series will see some familiar elements; others might find some interesting twists.
I love to manipulate canon timelines, so even though this takes place during episodes 1 & 2 of Buffy S1, Buffy is not a new student and already has an established friendship with Xander and Willow. Inspired By: FX reruns of Buffy, and an old fic by SaberShadow Kitten (I can't remember the name anymore, sorry Saber) where she put Spike in High School with the Scoobies. Spike as a High School student with Buffy and Co. would be a hoot to see.
Feedback: Welcomed and adored.
As always, thanks to Elisabeth, Ghostsforge, and DarkCharm for their help.
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Dhampir = Gypsies believed that some vampires have an insatiablesexual appetite and will return from the grave to have sex withtheir widow or a young woman of their choosing. The vampire'scontinued visits could lead to the woman becoming pregnant. Theproduct of such a union, usually a male, was called a dhampir. Itwas believed that the dhampir had unusual powers for detecting anddestroying the vampire - a most important ability. . . .Someindividuals believed to be dhampirs supplemented their income byhiring themselves out as vampire hunters.
From: 'Melton, J Gordon
The Vampire Book, The Encyclopedia Of TheUndead: Visible Ink Press, 1999,
196. J Gordon Melton, in turn isusing two sources, Gypsy Demons & Divinities
and The Vampire.'
Sunnydale, CA, August, 1997
All of Sunnydale High was buzzing about the new student. The girls were fascinated because of his looks. Medium height, very slim, razor sharp cheekbones, and blue eyes that rivaled Leonardo DiCaprio's. And to top off his gorgeous appearance, the young man was English, so he spoke with that an accent that the American females swooned over. The male student body couldn't help but be intrigued by his 'tough guy' swagger.
He was the topic of many conversations, not just because of his attractiveness, but because he was an enigma. He held himself aloof from the other students. Did not socialize. Did not participate in any after school activities. Did not make any appearances at the Bronze, the local teen hang-out.
There had been no sign of any parents, and the Sunnydale network reported that the new boy had been registered by a supposed relative. A badly dressed man who had the odd name of Whistler.
**
"Harmony says that the new kid has shown an interest in her, and that although he hasn't asked her yet, she's claiming it's a sure bet that this 'Spike' will be asking her to homecoming." Sitting with the gang in the library, for once Willow was not concentrating on books or the computer. She, like most of the female population in Sunnydale High, was caught up with the 'new man on campus.'
"What kind of name is Spike?" Xander asked. "What type of parents would name their child Spike."
"Well. . . ." Buffy considered. "He has a punk look to him. Maybe his parents were into the 80's punk scene. Spike would be a name that. . . ."
"His real name is William." Willow interrupted. "Spike is just a nickname that he goes. . . ." She trailed off at the intense stares of her friends.
"Been doing some research on the new boy, Will?" Buffy was intrigued. Her friend was shy and awkward around boys, so they usually didn't come up in her conversations. "Hacking into school files again?"
"Me thinks that someone has more than just a passing interest in this Spike." Xander could help but tease his long time friend.
"No!" Willow protested half-heartedly and then added defensively. "He's in a couple of my classes. . . ."
"A couple of *your* classes." Xander was astounded. Willow was probably the smartest student at Sunnydale, so she was tracked into all the honor courses. "How did this Spike get into your classes?"
"He's smart." Seeing the disbelief on both Buffy and Xander's faces, she added. "Don't judge a book by its cover."
"Boy, Mr. Dodgelin should really retire. Man doesn't know what he's doing anymore. Probably programmed this 'William' into all the wrong classes." Xander couldn't believe this Spike would be in honor courses.
"A little jealous, Xander?" Now it was Buffy's turn to tease.
"Me? Jealous?" Snorting in contempt, the young man wouldn't admit his true feelings to his two female friends. "Of a short, skinny, bleached blond, English punk. I don't think so."
"If you're not here to do anything constructive, then perhaps you should go elsewhere." Coming out of the reference room, Giles hated to see students wasting their time gossiping.
Immediately sitting up in their seats, the three teenagers began opening books. If nothing else, they could at least look like they were working.
"Giles." Book now open in front of him but upside down, Xander turned in his seat to look at the librarian. "What do you think of the new student? I'm sure he came in and spoke to you. A fellow Brit and all."
"Actually he hasn't." Since the new student was neither vampire nor demon, Giles had not paid much attention to all the talk about him.
"What?" Xander pestered. "Another Englishman, and you don't make a point of giving him a proper welcome? Can I say, warm and fuzzy you Brits are no. . .?"
"Ahem." Buffy interrupted as she inclined her head so slightly toward the library doors.
Xander didn't need to turn and look to know who was there. "Noted for." He finished lamely, turning to look at the very person they had been discussing.
"May I help. . .?" Giles started to ask the new student, but then stopped as he took off his glasses and stared hard at the young man. "My God, son, what happened to you?"
"Didn't come in here to see you." Visibly very battered and bruised, Spike answered rudely, deliberately looking away from Giles, focusing on Willow. "I came here to talk to *her*."
"Me?" Willow squeaked out. As usual when talking to an attractive person of the opposite sex, her brain turned off, and her mouth dried up.
"Yeah, missed school the last few days, and I was wondering if I could borrow your notes for. . . ."
"You'll either talk to me young man about what happened to you, or. . . ." Alarmed at Spike's appearance, Giles' first thought was child abuse. "An officer of the law. As the school librarian, I am mandated to report. . . ."
"Just got myself into a scrap." Spike finally turned his head slightly to give Giles the eye. "Nothing for you to get your knickers in a twist about. . .Gramps."
Giles was momentarily speechless at the blatant disrespect.
"I can't actually. . .give. . . ." Stammering nervously, Willow found that she couldn't look at Spike directly. His beat-up face was hard to take. "Give you my notes."
Spike sighed with annoyance. "I was told by my teachers to ask *you* for help, so now what am I suppose to do?"
"Like that's our problem, Mr. Can-I-Be-Any-Ruder." Xander jumped in to defend Willow.
"But if you come to the Bronze this evening. . . ." Willow glanced uncertainly at both Buffy and Xander. She wasn't sure how her friends would take her inviting Spike to join them. "You could copy them there. Do you know where the Bronze is?"
"Yeah, I've heard of it." Disgust written on his face, Spike turned and stomped out of the library.
No one spoke for a moment as the group watched the insolent, young man leave.
"I guess I was right then." Xander was the first to speak. "Brits are not known for being warm and fuzzy."
**
Walking into the Bronze together, Buffy and Xander spotted Willow who had already staked out a place for them.
"Hey Wil. . . ." Xander began to greet his friend when he noticed the mountain of books and notebooks piled up in front of her. "Locker girl. What's with this?" He motioned to the stack of schoolwork.
"You really think Spike's going to show?" Buffy took a seat next to Willow. "He's never been seen by anyone outside of school, and he didn't seem thrilled about coming here to the Bronze."
"Just playing it safe." Willow answered while sipping her soda through a straw. "Don't want to appear inhospitable to the new student on the block."
"Don't think you need to worry about that." Xander sat across from the girls. "The female population of Sunnydale have been trying to make him feel more than *welcome*."
"Yeah, but so far, he hasn't taken much notice." Willow allowed herself a small daydream. If Spike showed up, and she was seen with him at the Bronze, it would be a coup that not even Cordelia or Harmony could claim.
"So what's with that?" Xander asked. "Think maybe this Spike bats for the other te. . . ?"
This time Xander was interrupted by two ahems. Not bothering to turn around and look, he smiled with embarrassment. "Maybe I should just cut my tongue out."
"If you need some help. . . ." Cigarette dangling from his mouth, Spike threw his books on the small table. "I'll be happy to lend a hand. . .Poofter."
"You just called me something bad, didn't you?" Starting to rise from his seat, Xander's posture was that of a male dog guarding his territory.
"Xander!" Grabbing his shirt tail, Buffy jerked him back down in his seat. "Just chill." She rolled her eyes over at Willow who was smiling happily. The last thing she wanted was her friend's moment in the spotlight ruined.
"Here." Willow gave Spike a shy, uncertain smile. "I brought notes from all my classes." She placed a stack of notebooks in front of him. "I. . .err. . .know you're not in all my classes, but I just. . .I wanted to make. . .I. . . ."
"So, Spike." Buffy jumped in to rescue her friend. "How you liking Sunnydale? I suppose it's quite different from England."
"I came here to work. . . ." Spike continued his bad-mannered behavior. "Not make chitchat."
Buffy and Xander exchanged eye rolls.
"So much for a friendly conversation with Mr. Rudeman." Buffy muttered. "Wanna dance." She asked both Xander and Willow.
"Sounds good to me." Xander jumped up from his seat, glad to have an excuse to get away from the annoying new guy. "Willow?"
"No. . .I'll stay here." Even though her voice squeaked slightly from nervousness, Willow had a contented expression on her face. "Just in case. . .Spike here has any questions."
"Let's make this a fast dance." Xander was not liking the way Willow was looking at Spike. "I don't trust this Spike too much, and maybe we shouldn't be leaving Will with him alone."
Buffy glanced over at Willow and Spike, their heads close together as they pored over the numerous notebooks in front of them. "The guy may be rude, but I think he's harmless."
**
Leaving the Bronze a couple hours later, Buffy and Xander followed a happy Willow as she, now over her nervousness, chatted happily with Spike. "Guess Willow has found a 'study partner'." Buffy commented.
"A study partner?" Xander was still eyeing Spike suspiciously. "She doesn't need a study partner; she's got us."
"I don't mean a *study* partner as in study partner. I mean. . .you know." Buffy frowned as Xander's obtuseness.
"No, I don't know." Exasperated, Xander stopped walking. "Don't you know by now that you have to spell. . .hey Buf." Looking up, he saw them, a group of five vampires coming toward them.
"Oh crap." Buffy saw them at the same time Xander did. "I was kind of hoping this was going to be a vamp free night." Pulling out a stake, she shouted to the others. "Stay back. I'll. . . ." Surprise stopped her from finishing her command, as she watched Spike walk fearlessly up to the vampires.
"William." The leader hissed. "How is it that your *Daddy* allows you out by yourself."
"In case you haven't heard. . . ." Spike dropped his books where he stood. "I can take care of myself. . .mate."
Smirking, the vampire studied Spike's battered face. "Is that so? Well, let's put it to the test then." Lunging, he attacked the young man hard, but his blows were effortlessly deflected.
Hesitating for a split second, Buffy's eyes widened in surprise as she watched Spike easily take on the vampire with speed, strength, and skill. Jumping into the fray, she grabbed the nearest vamp throwing him into two others. Xander and Willow helped the cause by beating one of the vampires with a couple of broken, wooden planks.
In truth, the minions were a cowardly group. Realizing they were outmatched, they took tail and ran. Seeing his comrades fleeing, the leader who had been knocked to the ground, quickly got to his feet and began to follow the others. Turning his head, he shouted one last taunt at them. "When the Harvest comes and the mouth of hell opens, I will see you all dead. That includes you, William."
**
It was the next afternoon, before Buffy, Xander, and Willow could meet in the library and tell Giles about what had transpired the night before.
"I'm telling you, Giles." Buffy stood next to her Watcher at the library counter. "This Spike isn't human. He was strong and. . . and he could fight like. . .like. . . ."
"Like a Slayer." Willow finished Buffy's sentence. "He was amazing." Her interest in Spike was growing after seeing his combat skills.
"So-o." Xander was not happy about Willow's growing infatuation. "This Spike. He's gotta be some kind of demon, right?" He looked hopefully at Giles.
"Well. . .I. . . ." Rupert Giles wiped his brow. "He appears human. As far as his extraordinary strength and fighting skills, there could be a number of explanations."
"A male Slayer." Willow exclaimed. She so wanted the explanation to have Spike as a 'good guy.'
"There is only one Slayer, and she is always female." Giles explained patiently. "Now what did you say the vampire said was coming?"
"Something about a Harvest." Buffy said off-handedly. She and her friends were more interested in the mystery of Spike than about some vampire harvest.
"Harvest?" Giles, of course was not on their wave length. "Did he say anything else?"
"Ah, well. . . ." Buffy tried to remember what the vampire said. Drawing a blank, she looked over at her friends for help. "I remember he said harvest."
"And that he would see us all dead." Willow added helpfully. "And. . .and he kept addressing Spike like he knew him."
"All right." Giles put his hand up as in defeat. "We'll discuss Spike in a moment, but first, please try and remember the vampire's exact words."
"That the Harvest was coming." The doors of the library swung open and Spike strolled in. "And the mouth of hell will open."
"Hey. . .Spike." Buffy's greeting was a little sheepish as she wondered if Spike had heard them talking about him.
"Slayer." He greeted her back, expression carefully neutral.
Startled, Buffy stared. "How do you. . . ? You know who. . .?"
"The Slayer's identity is classified information." Xander stood up and walked over to Spike, eyeing him with hostility.
"I know the Slayer, the Chosen One." Spike turned to Giles. "And you're her Watcher."
"That's correct." Taking off his glasses, Giles looked at Spike suspiciously. "And you are?"
Giving Giles a half smirk, Spike pulled away his shirt collar, exposing a branded tattoo.
"My God!" Giles recognized the mark. Stunned, the usually controlled Englishman was flustered. "I-I have read about. . .about your kind but have never. . .never. . . ." He met Spike's cool eyes. "A dhampir."
"A who?" Xander asked, gawking at Spike's tattoo.
"That explains. . . ." Giles paused while putting on his glasses. "Your Slayer like strength and fighting ability."
"I think I speak for all of us. . . ." Buffy looked at Xander and Willow, whose expressions were that of bafflement like hers. "When I say, huh?"
"A dhampir." A troubled Giles struggled for an explanation. "A. . .a. . . ."
"I'm the son of a vampire." Spike impatiently interrupted.
Mouths hanging open, the three teens stared at Spike for a few long seconds, before Xander proudly declared. "So I was right. He is a *demon*."
"I'm *not* a demon, shit-for-brains." Spike snapped back without thinking. "Well, actually. . . ." He reflected a moment. "I guess I am half demon."
"And just who is your Sire?" Giles asked, composure regained.
"You don't need to worry about my Sire." Walking over to the table and chairs, Spike sat himself down on the table top. "He's no threat to any of you."
"Any vampire is a threat." Buffy eyed Spike with great interest, looking for any physical signs of him being a vampire offspring.
"Not my Sire." Spike leaned back on his arms. "Got himself cursed by some gypsies 'bout a hundred years ago. He's got a soul now, so he's not into killing. Mostly just sits around and broods."
"So." Xander temporarily forgot his hostility as he, like Buffy and Willow was fascinated by this 'child' of a vampire. "Your old man is a brooder. Does he drink too?"
"Xander!" Giles reproached. "Just stop. . .just keep your mouth closed." Sighing, he turned back to Spike. "The ruling vampire here in Sunnydale is the Master. Is your. . .your Sire part of his Clan?"
"He was." Looking down at his hands, Spike wouldn't meet Giles' eyes. "But the Master won't have anything to do with a souled vampire. Anyway. . . ." Looking up, his face was once again impassive. "I came here to make a deal with you and the Slayer." He looked over at Buffy.
"Go on." Giles stepped closer to Spike.
"My Sire is making plans to leave. If the Harvest is successful, then. . . ." Again, Spike looked away, avoiding eye contact. "I can help you stop the Harvest. But in return, I want a guarantee that you. . . ." He directed this at Buffy. "Won't harm my Sire in any way."
"First tell us who your Sire is." Giles' voice was quiet but firm.
Taking a deep breath, Spike hesitated a moment before speaking. "His name is Angelus. He was once the Master's Heir Apparent."
**
September, 1997
Having just barely escaped the vampires, Buffy and Xander were making their way back to the school library and Giles.
"That was a close one." Between hard breaths, Buffy managed to huff this out. "And by the way, thanks for the hand." She looked at Xander with gratitude as he had just pulled her out of the manhole and away from the vampire who had been holding her by the ankle.
"No problem." Xander tried to smile but failed miserably. They had been on a rescue mission for their friend Jesse who had been kidnapped by the Master's minions, but instead of saving him they had almost become vampire feed.
The rest of the trip was done in silence, as both Buffy and Xander reflected on their close call. Reaching the library, they entered and were immediately greeted by a worried Willow. "Did you find Jesse?"
A dispirited Xander answered. "Yeah."
Since there was no sign of Jesse, Willow knew the news was not good. "He's dead, isn't he?"
A tired Buffy plopped down in a chair. "Worse. I'm sorry, Willow. We were too late. He's now one of them."
"Well. . . ." Willow tried to find something positive to say. "At least you two are okay."
Taking his frustrations out on a waste basket, Xander violently kicked it, startling both Buffy and Willow. "I don't like vampires. I'm gonna take a stand and say they're not good."
Sighing in agreement, Buffy turned to Giles. "So got anything that can make this day any worse?"
Looking up from his book, Giles answered the question with a question. "How about the end of the world?"
"Great." Buffy muttered. "I knew I could count on you. So with that gloomy declaration, I'm guessing you haven't made any progress with what this Harvest is and when's it's going down."
"Well, no." Hands in his pockets, Giles studied the library ceiling. "I know this. Some sixty years ago, a very old, very powerful vampire came to this shore, but not just to feed. This town, Sunnydale, was also called 'Boca del Infierno' by the Spaniards who first settled here. Roughly translated, it means 'Hellmouth', a portal between this reality and the next. The Master tried to open it, but opening dimensional portals is a tricky business. I'm guessing that he got himself stuck, rather like a. . .a cork in a bottle."
"So this Harvest thing is suppose to get him out?" Willow asked.
"I-I believe so." Giles paced the library floor. "But I just don't know what kind of ritual or rituals this Harvest entails, and when all of this is suppose to happen."
Moments of silence as Buffy, Xander, and Willow exchanged looks, daring each other to bring up the subject of Spike.
"Perhaps." Willow began timidly. "We should reconsider Spike's offer."
Head jerking up, Giles frowned at Willow. "We've already discussed that. It's *not* an option."
"Giles, listen to me." Willow pleaded. "I've talked to Spike. He and his. . .his father have been ostracized. They're no friends of the Master."
"Spike's father is the notorious Angelus." Giles' voice was beginning to rise. "The *Scourge of Europe*. Have you any idea of how many people he's tortured and killed? I will *not* be making any kind of pact with him."
"Giles." Buffy spoke calmly. She knew their options had run out. "Time is a ticking. Would you rather have the Hellmouth open, and the Master set loose?"
**
After school the next day, the gang was once again assembled in the library, but now there was an addition to their ranks.
"The Harvest comes once in a century." Spike was explaining what he knew. "The Master draws power from one of his minions while it feeds. Enough power to break free and open the portal. The minion is called the Vessel, and he bears this symbol." He drew a three- pointed star on a notepad.
Standing behind a seated Spike, Buffy looked over his shoulder. "So, I dust anyone sporting that symbol, and no Harvest."
"That's the idea, Pet." Spike turned his head, his eyes meeting Buffy's. Now allies, he had softened his defensive, rude act.
"Any idea when this little get-together is being held and where?" Buffy asked.
Shrugging his shoulders, Spike looked back at his notepad. "Not sure where, but my Sire is determined to be out of Sunnydale by this Friday."
"So Friday might be our day then." Willow chimed in with a small smile. Their situation was looking less hopeless.
"Spike." A small suspicion began to rise in Giles. "Your Sire does know about you being here helping us, doesn't he?"
Considering, Spike wanted to lie but then thought better of it. "No. Not sure what the Old Boy would think of me working together with the Slayer and all, even if it is to take the Master down a peg or two."
"So basically you lie and sneak behind your father's back, even though he's this vicious killer vampire." Xander stated. "How cool is that."
"Xander, please." Giles sighed with exasperation. "Spike, I don't know if this is such a good idea for you to be doing this without. . .without your Sire's permission."
"Giles." Now it was Buffy's turn to be exasperated. "We're trying to save the world here. Parental permission is the least of our worries."
**
The following Friday afternoon, Xander and Giles were in the library trying to figure out where the Harvest would be taking place.
"The Bronze." Tipped back in a chair, Xander raised a finger in triumph. "It's going to be held at the Bronze."
"What makes you so sure?" Giles looked skeptically at the teen.
"Come on, Giles. All those tasty young morsels in one place? Anyway, that's where Jesse's gonna be, trust me."
"All right then, we should go there. The sun will be down before long. Where is Buffy?" Grabbing his coat, Giles snapped impatiently. "The Hellmouth's about to open, and she's. . .she's shopping or something." He muttered grumpily.
A moment later, Buffy came strolling in with Spike and Willow in tow. Spike had not gone home the night before, since his Sire's agenda was to leave Sunnydale. He had hid out with Buffy, in order to assure that then he would be around to help them stop the Harvest.
"We're here, Giles." Buffy announced the obvious. "Did you figure out where the Harvest is being held?"
"I did." Xander stood up proudly. "It's gotta be the Bronze."
Grabbing three wooden stakes off the library counter, Buffy handed one to Spike, one to Willow, and one she slipped into her pocket. "Let's go then."
**
Chaos reigned in the Bronze, as the frightened patrons screamed and ran around in a panic. Giles, Willow, and Xander were trying to herd the mass out the back door. Spike was busy fighting the vampires, while Buffy was facing down the head minion, Luke. Grabbing a microphone stand, she held it up, ready to throw it at him.
"You forget, Slayer." Luke smirked at her triumphantly. "Metal can't hurt me."
"There's something you forgot about. . .sunrise!" Bluffing, she hurled the stand at the window behind Luke.
A bright light poured in, and Luke, falling for Buffy's con, shielded his face with hands, thinking it was sunlight. Picking up her dropped stake, Buffy lunged toward the vampire and jammed the stake home. "In about nine hours, moron." Watching Luke wither on stage and then turn to dust, she smiled with satisfaction. Apocalypse averted.
Their leader and Vessel dusted, the remaining vampires decided that a quick exit was in order.
"Did we win?" Willow asked as she, Giles, Xander, and Spike, who was holding an arm across his stomach, walked over to Buffy.
"Well, we saved the world. I give us points for that." Buffy said lightly. Looking over at Spike, she smiled. "Good fighting. I couldn't have done it without you."
"But you're hurt." Willow put an arm around Spike to support him. "We need to get you to a hospital."
"No hospital." Spike lowered his arm to show deep, bloody gouges, compliments of sharp vampire fingernails. "Not necessary."
"What do you mean, no hospital?" Willow asked, as Xander moved to support Spike on the other side. "You're bleeding."
"Yeah." Spike smiled despite his pain. "And He'll smell it." Walking out of the Bronze, he stopped on the sidewalk, closing his eyes. "He's coming."
Buffy, Willow, and Xander exchanged worried looks. They were sure that Spike was becoming delirious. Only Giles understood. Stopping, he waited with the vampire's son.
"Giles?" Buffy began, looking at her Watcher uncertainly, when out of the darkness came a tall, regal figure.
"William, my Childe." He spoke quietly.
"We stopped it, Sire." Spike moved toward his father. "The Slayer, her mates, and I stopped the Harvest. We don't have to run away. The Master is still trapped underground."
"I know." Taking off his long coat, Angel wrapped it gently around his son. "I felt the Master's loss of power." Looking over at the humans, the vampire's face showed neither friendliness nor hostility. Putting a protective arm around Spike, he led him toward his car which was parked close by.
Watching them leave, Buffy and her friends were thoughtful.
"That's Angelus, Scourge of Europe?" Willow asked as they all turned to head home. "That handsome man? Shouldn't he look more monster like?"
"That was his human visage." Giles explained. "Believe me, he does have a more monster like appearance."
"Do you think that after Spike's wounds heal, he'll be grounded for sneaking out?" Xander mused to Buffy, as they fell in behind Giles and Willow.
"Don't know." Buffy considered. "Do vampires ground their children?"
"You're the Slayer." Giddy at their victory, the four continued their inane conversations while walking down the street. "Aren't you supposed to know about vampire's habits and customs?"
"Must have missed the book on vampire parental customs." Buffy answered which caused Giles to turn and give her a stare. "Actually." She grinned. "I missed *all* the books on vampires. . .and zombies, werewolves, hellhounds, mummies, ghouls, demons. . . ."
**
Epilogue
Straightening up the library, Giles was just about ready to call it a night. Glancing around one last time, he looked forward to a quiet night, a nice dinner, a couple of nightcaps, and the reading of a new text on Tesmi Demons. Turning to switch the lights off, he gasped in shock as a tall, dark man stood before him.
"My God!" Stumbling back a bit, his heart began thumping wildly.
"Rupert Giles." The man spoke. "I've done my research on you. . .Watcher."
"Angelus." Regaining his balance, Giles looked warily at the vampire. Was he here just to talk or to kill him?
"My Childe was injured the other night." Angel did not move closer, but his eyes never left the other man.
"Yes, yes." Giles stammered. "We wanted to take him to the hospital, but he refused, saying that you were coming." The Watcher paused before asking. "And how is Spike?"
Angel did blink at hearing his William called Spike but only said. "He'll be all right. His mother was murdered a couple of years ago. Did you hear about it?"
"Murdered?" Giles was confused by the direction of the conversation. "I'm sorry." He automatically said. "Sorry that she was murdered, but why would you think I would know anything about her murder? I don't believe I knew the lady."
"She was murdered by the Council." Angel looked away, checking his surroundings. "And my Childe was taken hostage by them. They did experiments on him. They wanted to find out how a. . .I believe the word you humans use is dhampir, ticked."
"I-I." Giles had no knowledge of any of this, but the information didn't surprise him. It sounded like something the Council would do. "I didn't know. I'm sorry." He repeated his apology.
"She was an innocent, and so is my Childe, but your Council didn't care." Pausing a moment, Angel brought forth his demon's side. "Be advised, *Watcher*, I may be souled now, but if my Childe is threatened in any way. . . ." Gold eyes flashed a warning. "There will be hell to pay!"
And before Giles could blink, the vampire was gone.
Finis