Pairing: S/W, Aus/D, W/Aus, possible W/S/Aus
Rating: pg 13/ r
Summary: What if Willow was the vampire cursed with a soul?
Spoilers: Up to season 2, nothing really specific.
Author's Notes: This story is very AU! There was no soulful Angel, Spike and Dru weren't a couple, more will be revealed as the story continues.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I promise!
Feedback: I live for it!
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~Part: 1~
"How are things on the frontline, Buffy?" questioned her watcher as the blonde walked into the library, followed by a reserved redhead.
"Decent," she replied vaguely, "since the Master is no longer an issue, the vamps have been pretty disorganized. No real leaders in the bunch, so it's been the usual. Nothing interesting." she mumbled as she fell into her chair.
"Don't sound so disappointed, Buff," advised Xander as he munched happily on his twinkie. "You sound like you're asking for trouble, don't ask a gift horse in the mouth."
"I never understood that expression," Giles merely looked at his charge with a confused expression, "the whole 'gift horse' thing," she elaborated. "When was there ever a gift horse?"
"Ah, well, moving on," he interrupted, knowing this could turn into another lengthy but useless argument. "Willow, any news from the demon circuit?"
The redhead moved across the room, gracefully gilding out of the shadows to join the small group at the table. She had reluctantly been accepted into their team almost a year ago. It took a lot of explaining and a detailed account of a gypsy curse, but she had proven to them that she was to be trusted. She soon became a valuable member, equally Buffy in strength and speed, and exceeding her in technique. She was truly a force to be reckoned with.
"Nothing concrete, Rupert. There have been rumblings in the underground. Apparently there is a relatively powerful clan heading this way. It's got some of the lesser demons frightened. I haven't been able to get a lot out of them. They seem to be especially tight-lipped around me."
"Hmmm, could you keep an eye on that?" she nodded her agreement and he was satisfied. "All right, children, I suppose we've done enough work tonight, you can all go home." The smiled gratefully and stood.
"Care to escort me home, Miss Willow?" asked Xander with a gracious bow. She smirked at his display.
"But of course, Mr. Harris, it would be my pleasure," she took his offered arm and separated from the slayer as she too headed home.
~~~*~~~
Rupert Giles laughed slightly at the behavior that the boy seemed to bring out in the usually reserved and guilt-ridden vampire. Willow always seemed to relax when she was around him. Xander took a while to accept her; the fact that she was a demon was naturally disturbing. But the redhead had wormed her way into his heart. Those two were extremely close, especially after Xander had lost his best friend, Jesse, in a vampire attack.
He opened an old watcher's text, skimming the paragraphs until he found what he was looking for. Willow's history. The girl had tended to be something of an enigma. She had told them enough to assure them that she was on their side, but refused to reveal many details of her past. The librarian had finally gotten his hands on a diary that specifically mentioned her. He settled down in his office, preparing to learn about the mysterious souled vampire.
Ireland, 1820
Angelus, the vampire with the Angelic face, has returned to his homeland. Not much is known of this vampire. His sire was Darla, childe of Joseph Heinrich Nest, a legendary vampire in his own right. The slayer has been alerted to his presence but has yet to face him, which might be for the best. He is said to truly be a monster.
With him he has brought a companion. She is described to be young, only eighteen years of age when she was embraced, with flaming red hair and emerald green eyes. She is innocence personified, luring unsuspecting men to their deaths with her charms. She goes by the name, Willow, a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.
The couple leaves a path of destruction wherever they roam. I fear the Emerald Isle may suffer heavy casualties if they cannot be stopped. The scoundrel and his childe may cause destruction the likes of which has never been seen, I fear they will not be stopped.
Frederick Donal, watcher's council.
Giles frowned when he saw the name of her sire. Angelus, it sounded so familiar, but he couldn't seem to place the name. Suddenly, he remembered reading in passing about a massacre that swept through Europe. His blood froze; the girl's sire was one half of the Scourge. He flipped through the pages of the book in front of him, stopping once he found another reference to the pair.
England, 1867
The duo has been spotted yet again. It has been rumored that the elder has taken a liking to a local girl. She is said to have the gift of sight. Angelus and his red haired childe have been said to have stalked the poor girl. I was unsure whether to attempt to intervene but I refrained, knowing it would only lead to my own death.
Sadly, the poor girl, Drusilla, I believe, has now joined the couple. I do not have detailed account of his courting, if you could call it that, but it was decidedly gruesome. The girl was to take her vows in a convent when he took her, turned her into a beast like him.
I fear that I will soon be found out by the heinous demons, so I will leave London in a fortnight. I can only hope, for the safety of the citizens of this great country, that he takes his brood and leaves. So much blood has been spilled already.
Henry Baristow, watcher's council.
Rupert Giles scanned the following pages swiftly, noting that the girl they had come to know as an ally most definitely had some atoning to do. She and her sire, with the addition of the reportedly insane Drusilla, left a trail of broken bodies throughout Europe, for fun. He turned the page once more, the next passage surprising him.
England, 1895
They have returned. They have also increased their clan. Last time they came to this country, Angelus sired an innocent girl, a seer. Now, it seems that his childe, Willow, has taken a childe. Her first and only by record. They have been in and out of London frequently over the years. Her childe, William the Bloody, also known as 'Spike', for his affinity for railroad spikes, has been wreaking havoc on throughout Europe. He and his grandsire, Angelus, have been dubbed 'The Scourge'. None have survived their raids.
The newest member has but one weakness, his beloved sire. He is said to be dedicated to Willow, putting none, including himself above her. She too is devoted to her William. No one has been able to separate them and survive.
A warning has been given to all those in the council to avoid the foursome at all costs. They are considered to be nearly unbeatable.
Robert Potter, watcher's council.
The watcher knew what happened soon after that last entry. The girl had traveled with her family to Romania, where upon feeding on a gypsy she was cursed. She fled her sire and childe, afraid and ashamed. After spending decades feeling pitiful, she decided to do something to help, to try, in vain she believed, to redeem herself.
Deciding that was enough for the night, he locked up the precious journal and left his office.
~~~*~~~
"This is it?!" asked an obviously disgusted voice. Blue eyes surveyed the town that lay before them, not impressed with what he saw.
"Relax, boy," chided his grandsire, "It may not be Paris, but it will have to do, for now." The dark vampire grinned when he felt arms slide around his waist to hug him from behind. "Isn't that right, Dru?"
"Yes, my Angel. The stars tell me such delightful stories, my pets. We're home."
"Yeah," snorted the bleach blonde, "Good ole' Sunnydale. It's like Disneyland for demons, eh?"
"You need to loosen up, Spike," complained Angelus with a dramatic roll of his eyes. "We're here for a reason. Remember?"
"Yes," he answered, straightening at the thought of his lovely sire.
"Don't worry so, poppet. We'll bring your mummy back, and without that icky soul. Miss Edith told me."
Spike sighed, he wanted nothing more than to be back with his sire, but now he only had reassurances from that "Loony bint."
~~~*~~~
Across town, in a sparse apartment, the redhead awoke in a cold sweat, dread filling her. They were back, and there was no doubt that her 'family' would cause a lot of trouble.
~Part: 2~
Willow couldn't help but pace. It was still light outside and she was stuck in her tiny apartment for another couple hours. After waking earlier she couldn't get back to sleep. She didn't know how, but she just had a feeling something bad was about to happen and it involved her long lost family.
She wasn't sure what she would do if they really were back. Angelus never listened to reason, and she may be a master in her own right, but he was still her sire and she couldn't order him around. She knew that demanding that he leave would be useless. Her sire was never rational. He did as he pleased and never worried about the consequences.
Her mind drifted to her sister, Drusilla. She was her sire's pride and joy. That thought surprisingly didn't bother her. Rationally, she knew she should feel jealous. She was older and was Angelus' first true childe. But Dru had a special place in her heart. The woman was merely a child, Angelus broke her so badly. She was always underestimated though. People always forgot she was a demon, no matter her childish exterior, she was ruthless and a seer, a double-threat. Angelus would never admit it, but he loved her, as much as he could. But the love he had for his insane childe didn't compare to the love between herself and her own childe.
William. He was never far from her thoughts. She knew he was hurting, she could feel it through their bond, but she left all those years ago because she couldn't disappoint him. She would never be the demon he needed her to be again. She had hoped that he would move on, in time, be happy, even if that happiness lay with someone else. If the three of them were in town, the slayer wouldn't know what hit her.
She growled as she looked at the clock. Still one hour before she could leave. She was supposed to meet with the gang after sundown but she was going to be late. She had a few places to stop first. She'd make a stop at Willie's, maybe pummel a few demons, and see if she could find out anything. For whatever reason, demons lately refused to give her any helpful information, even when she tried to beat it out of them. Even her informants wouldn't speak with her about this new clan coming to Sunnydale. It was getting frustrating. With that thought, she went back to her pacing.
~~~*~~~
Spike looked around the factory in distaste. Angelus found them accommodations for the daylight hours but in his opinion they were horribly inadequate. He was not impressed by this pathetic town so far. For the hellmouth, it was a real downer. He took an unneeded breath to calm himself. There was only one reason he would leave their comfortable surroundings in Europe to come to this one-horse town, and she was definitely worth the discomfort.
His sire, his Willow was beautiful and deadly. And apparently she also had a soul. That could be a problem. When she first left them, he had no idea what caused her sudden disappearance. Dru's ramblings had shed some light on the subject. They even went back to Romania, in search of the one who cursed her, but by then the gypsies had moved on. And he was left alone. Sure, he had Angelus and Drusilla, but they were so wrapped up in each other that he was always left out. He tried to hate the redhead for abandoning him, but he couldn't. She only did what she thought was best. It was time for him to prove to her that, even if he had to suffer through her soul, he needed her.
So he paced the length of his appointed room, waiting, rather impatiently, for the sun to set. He had a girl to find.
~~~*~~~
Giles was beginning to worry. Willow was rarely late, and usually it was only by a few minutes. It had been nearly an hour now and she still hadn't joined them at the library. Buffy was beginning to get bored with researching and had a hard time waiting for the vampire to join her for patrol.
The double doors were shoved open violently and an angry redhead stalked into the room, met with confused stares. Xander was looking at her, eyes bulging at her outfit. She was dressed in tight leather pants that flared slightly at the bottom, and a blood red tank top, held together by one string in the back. Her eyes were outlined in black, accented with smoky eye-shadow, and her lips were a deep crimson.
"Not that I'm complaining, Wills, but what's with the new look?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. She snarled and threw herself into the nearest chair.
"Nothing!!" she growled. "I went to 'interrogate' some local demons. They know nothing!" she added. Buffy walked quickly to the weapon's cabinet, pulling out a medium sized axe and her usual stakes and holy water.
"Well, I'm gonna head out, see if I can get some people to talk. You ready, Will?"
"No, I'll meet you out there. I've got to finish up some things," she informed her. The slayer nodded and waved her goodbye to Giles as she left to walk Xander home and then patrol.
Once they were out the door, Willow walked to the distracted librarian.
"We have a problem," she told him cryptically. He looked at her with worry. "This new clan, no one, and I mean, *no* *one*, is talking. That can't be good. I just have this feeling," she was reluctant to tell him about her theory that her sire was in town. She didn't want to worry the man if she was wrong. "It's gonna be bad. Something is definitely up."
The watcher frowned. If she was this troubled, then something was truly wrong. She was not easily spooked.
"And they won't *talk*!!" she screeched out of exasperation. "I hit them; I threaten them, and nothing! Buffy can get them to talk, why won't they speak to me?!"
"Well, they may see you as a pariah, of sorts," he added sagely.
"But Rupert, even with the threat of death, they'd rather stake themselves then give me answers! That isn't normal. Vampires are selfish and self-serving. They would give up someone else to save their own hide. I still can't get anything out of them!"
"Maybe the new clan has them running scared. Perhaps the master has threatened them with something worse than death if they speak." She shrugged.
"I guess," she shook her head sadly and stood. "Better meet Buffy, she'll probably need back up tonight. Vamp activity is up lately." The watcher agreed and watched the vampire leave.
~~~*~~~
"This. Is. Getting. Ridiculous!" shouted the slayer as she fought off another vampire. She had to have staked nearly twenty already. That was more than twice the usual number. She dispatched the fledgling quickly and regained her bearings.
Two pairs of eyes, one brown, one blue, studied the blonde's every move. She was good, they had to admit. Angelus had ordered his minions to go out in force. He wanted to test the abilities of the new slayer, watch her in action. Spike was only mildly impressed, he had killed two slayers himself, she was no different in his opinion. They stayed far from her, so she could not sense them. They were shocked when she froze and began to look around.
"Come on out!" she ordered, "I know you're here!" The two glanced at each other, unsure of what to do.
"Relax, Buffy," chided a quiet and amused voice. The two vampires watched in amazement as their redhead walked from the shadows to join the slayer.
"God, Will, it's good to see you," the slayer replied, relieved it was only her friend. "There are so many of them tonight. I could use some reinforcements."
"Well," she replied with a small grin at her annoyance, "the cavalry is here!" The women began walking in the opposite direction of the spying vampires.
"So, my little girl is working for the *slayer*," Angelus spat. He didn't know she would stoop so low as to betray her kind like that. Spike looked on sadly.
"Come on, boy. We'll pay a visit to your mum soon. Right now I'm feeling a bit peckish. Join me in a drink." The blonde nodded and followed his grandsire. While he was sad to see his sire working to kill their kind, he couldn't help but feel relieved that he had finally found her again.
~Part: 3~
Willow was on alert; she had spent the night patrolling with the slayer, which was an event all by itself. She came home an hour before sunrise but had still not entered her apartment. Her light was on. She knew she didn't leave the lamp turned on in her living room. But when she reached her front door, she could see the light spilling out from the open space at the bottom of her door.
She reached for the stake concealed in her back pocket, gripping it tightly. She opened the door slowly, glancing around the door to look at the room. The light was on, as she suspected, but she saw no one. She pushed the door closed behind her and relaxed when she noticed no suspicious movement in front of her.
"About time you got home," mused a mocking voice. She spun, glared at the intruder sitting in her favorite chair. She looked into the eyes of a man she hadn't seen in nearly eighty years.
"So you are back, Angelus." It wasn't a question, merely a statement. Her earlier fear replaced by momentary annoyance that he broke into her home.
"Of course, you didn't think I could just forget my favorite childe, did you? I'm hurt," he clutched his chest in mock pain.
"Come off it, sire. Why are you here?"
"Disposing of the pleasantries already," he sighed, he stood to join her in the center of the room, "as if you had to ask, then you forget who I am." She simply continued to glare at him. He reached out and she flinched when he grazed her cheek with his hand, but he paid it no mind.
"Why, my dear, I came here for you," he answered with a grin.
"Then you wasted your time. I won't go back, I can't. You know all this Angelus. Why bother?"
"You really think we haven't been looking for you this entire time?" he asked incredulously. "You've gotten better at hiding yourself. I'm proud."
"Don't be. It doesn't take a lot of skill to stay hidden when you lived in rat-infested sewers."
"So the rumors were true, my greatest childe, my prodigy, dwelling with the filth. Why did you do that? Lower yourself. It's pathetic, you're the eldest childe of a master, part of the Order of Aurelius, you shame all of us by associating with vermin."
"Tell me, sire. Did you come here just to insult me?"
"You're not doing much better now, either," he continued as if she never spoke, "Helping the slayer! I can't believe a childe of mine is assisting the *slayer*!" he became increasingly angry.
"I do what I can! I have to save these people. They have no idea they live on the mouth of hell, I have to save them. They are all innocents. The slayer protects them, so I help her. I do what I have to."
"What you have to?" he asked with disgust, "Oh, right. You're penance. How could I forget your precious guilt?" he sneered. "It truly is a shame what those damn gypsies did to you. You were on your way to becoming legendary."
"I don't want to talk about this with you!"
"No, you don't want to talk about this at all!" he shouted, his temper getting the better of his famed control. His human mask faded, to be replaced with that of his demon, "This is what we are! Demons! Your fluffy little soul won't change that! You think they like you, care for you. They hate you! The slayer and her toys! You're what they fight, given the chance that bitch would stake you in a second, just give her a reason."
"That's not true! People change!"
"We're not people! Nothing changes what we are! You better accept that soon, it won't change. Make this easy on yourself. Come home. We'll leave this wretched city, hell, we'll leave this whole damn country. Just come with me."
"I.I can't," she begged him to understand. Through all the hurt and pain, she still cared for her sire. She couldn't bear the idea of being a disappointment, but she couldn't be what he was. Not again.
"Fine, you've made your decision. I understand." She looked at him warily. It couldn't be that easy.
"I better be going then, I have to break the news to Spike." She tensed at the mention of her childe. "This is going to kill him.again," he finished sadly.
"Don't," she growled, "don't you bring him into this!"
"Bring him in this?! He's already in this! You think that your leaving hurt me? It devastated him! Apparently with your soul, you're ability to love him flew out the window. Did you just forget him when they cursed you?"
"I never forgot him, you bastard! I love him, I always have! But I can't be around you, any of you. I can't be what you want me to be! I care. I have a soul and it wasn't my choice but I am not who I was before. I can't hurt people anymore." She got in his face, angry tears clouding her vision, "You don't know how many times I wished this *thing* gone! How much easier my life would be if I didn't have my soul! But it's here and I can't ignore it. So go, leave! But don't you *dare* mention his name again!"
"So touchy." he added with a chuckle. He leaned in, kissing her on the forehead affectionately. And with a wave of his hand he was gone.
Willow crumbled onto her sofa, tears falling down her cheeks. He just had to bring him into this.
~Part: 4~
Spike watched as his grandsire walked into the factory with a bounce in his step. He was curious as to what would put the elder vampire in such a good mood. It was rare when he was so wound up, something must have happened.
"Tsk tsk," scolded Drusilla as she waltzed into the room, looking at her sire with disapproving eyes. "Naughty Daddy, you made poor Mummy cry." she finished with a frown.
"What?!" snarled Spike, turning on Angelus with violence in his eyes. Angelus merely rolled his eyes, ignoring his furious grandchilde.
"Give it a rest, boy. Your mum is fine. Just had a chat, that's all. Save the threatening looks for someone who cares." Spike angrily pushed himself out of the chair he was resting in, preparing to stalk out of the front door.
"Sit. Down. Now..." ordered Angelus, Spike stopped but didn't turn around. "You cannot leave right now, boy. One, the sun is nearly up, two, if you go to her now, you'll ruin everything. So, sit down. Don't *test* me."
Spike shifted on his heel, walking into his room and slamming the door.
"You should be nicer to him," advised Dru, shaking her head at her sire.
"He overstepped his place," he growled at his daughter, angry that they were questioning him. "He's pouting, he'll get over it. I didn't hurt Willow. She got a little teary, she's fine. Besides, she's *my* childe, not his. He has no say in what I do when it comes to her."
"She's his sire, Daddy. He loves our little tree. But you know she's more than that. He's her mate. They are bonded. She's closer to him than she ever was to you. He has every right to be upset, deary. She's his everything." He refused to give her a response; instead, he just strode out of the room to bed.
~~~*~~~
Willow forced herself to sleep. After her encounter with Angelus, she was very nervous. All her worries were confirmed. Apparently, not only was her sire back, but he had, as she expected, brought his childe and her childe. And he had the nerve to use emotional blackmail. Spike was always her weakness. And her sire had just reminded her that she was responsible for all the hurt and anguish her childe had experienced because of her leaving.
She never wanted to hurt him. As much as she cared for Angelus, and she always would, leaving him was nearly painless. He didn't need her, and she was never dependant on him. But she and Spike had a bond, stronger than that of sire and childe.
She had always refused to tell Giles a lot about her past. If he knew the extent of the bond between her and her childe, he would not be pleased. Bonded mates were very rare. The consequences of such a bond would deter most vampires from completing the bonding. When one willingly gives of themselves to another, they are extremely vulnerable. Not only is the couple weak from loss of blood from the actual ceremony, putting them at risk if they were to be attacked, but they are subject to their lover's hurts. For example, if she was to ever be seriously injured, he would feel her pain, intensely. If she were killed, he could die himself. Not many demons were willing to risk their lives from something that they considered so trivial.love.
But her boy had always been special. He had such ability to love, which almost equaled his love of the hunt. He practically worshipped her after he was turned. But it went both ways. While her own sire was.very hands on.he didn't love her. And she didn't go out of her way to impress him. But William had always been quick to please, to prove himself worthy. But he didn't have to try so hard. She was taken with the sensitive poet he once was, as well as the ruthless killer she had made him into. And she abandoned him.
That one thought continued to keep her up at nights.
~~~*~~~
Buffy was ordered to do extra patrols. This new master was wreaking havoc on the small town. Minions were out in force, feeding on the unsuspecting youth, and the slayer was having a difficult time keeping up. Willow was absent from the earlier meeting which was surprising to the small group. The watcher assured her that she was fine, he was sure of it. But truthfully, he wasn't sure that he believed himself. She wasn't telling him something, and whatever it was, it was big.
Buffy had Xander accompany her in hopes that an extra pair of hands, however unskilled, would be of help. The librarian, meanwhile, waited rather impatiently for the vampire to check in.
Willow walked into the nearly empty library, a somber expression on her face. She greeted Giles with a simple nod of the head before seating herself.
"I assume there is a reason why you are so late." prompted the watcher. She studied him silently before sighing.
"Personal." That was all she was going to give him. She knew she should probably warn him of her family's appearance, but she wasn't prepared for the inevitable lecture and battle strategies. She didn't want a fight, she still had hopes that she could convince her sire to leave, and no one would be the wiser.
Giles wasn't satisfied with her answer but knew she wasn't going to be of any help. He returned to his reading and she continued to stare off into space. But she sat up abruptly when she sensed two things at nearly the same time.
There were vampires close, and the slayer. Buffy strode into the library, Xander at her heels. The slayer paused suddenly, most likely sensing the same thing that Willow did.
"Giles!" she alerted the watcher whose head shot up. "Vamps, I can sense them. They're getting close. Weapon up!" Willow looked around frantically, praying to a God she didn't believe in that it wasn't who she thought it was.
"Who is it?!" he asked, panicking slightly.
"I think I found the new master!" she yelled from across the room, grabbing a couple stakes and tossing them at Xander. Willow visibly tensed when she saw who sauntered into the room.
Angelus stood in the doorway, flanked by an amused Drusilla and noticeably on edge Spike. The bleach blonde's eyes immediately flew to those of his sire's. She couldn't move. The sound of an arrow being sheathed in a crossbow woke her from her stupor.
"No!" she demanded, halting the watcher's movements.
"What are you doing, Wills?" hissed the slayer, shocked that her friend wanted them to put their weapons down.
"Why are you here?" she asked calmly, ignoring the irate slayer.
"You know why we're here, kitten," answered Angelus with an enchanting grin.
"You're the new master, here?" she questioned. Her sire merely shook his head.
"Nah, I thought about it. But I decided that it might be time to let the boy have his shot at ruling this hellhole." Willow's eyes widened in surprise. "Spike's the new master, consider me his.advisor."
"Bloody hell! William the Bloody?!" shouted the frightened watcher. If the blonde was Spike, then the darker one must be Angelus. He was now face to face with the infamous Scourge of Europe.
"Heard of me, mate?" asked Spike with his patented smirk, finally tearing his eyes from Willow to look upon the watcher. He then faced the slayer.
"I'm not here to fight you all, not yet anyways. But you now have fair warning. This is *my* town. Don't interfere in my business. I don't fear you slayer, I've faced better and won. Consider this the time for negotiating. If I get what I want, all three of us will pack up and leave Sunnyhell. So, are you willing to give me what is rightfully mine?"
"What is it you think is yours?" questioned the slayer. His cold blue eyes scanned the room before resting on Willow.
"Her," he answered simply. The redhead shook her head, silently pleading with him to forget her and leave. Even if it were for his own safety.
"I can't." she replied sorrowfully. His gaze hardened as he straightened and turned to Dru.
"Come then, pet," he ordered, the brunette was at his side in seconds. "Let's go home, leave mum to her business." He focused on the group one last time, "Be seeing you all," he finished briskly and they left. Angelus remained in the doorway with a secretive smile on his face.
"Angelus!" the little vampire screamed, shocking the mortals into inaction. "How can you do this to me?!"
"Do what to you, darlin'?" he asked with a smirk.
"You can't let him be master," she pleaded, "I.I can't kill him." He gave her an evil, knowing grin.
"I know," and with that he was gone.
~Part: 5~
"What is going on?" the slayer demanded. Obviously Willow knew the new master personally. They had a history and she better get ready to share. Willow just stared at the closed door in shock and horror.
"Buffy-" interrupted her watcher, "may be it would be best for you to do one extra patrol and then go home. We'll talk about this tomorrow." She glared at her watcher before turning to Xander.
"Come on, Xand. Let's get out of here," he nodded slowly and they left. Giles studied the vampire, unsure if where to start.
"Uh, Willow. Can we discuss this." she faced him. She looked so terrified and heartbroken.
"Please. Can it wait? Just till tomorrow?" her voice hoarse. He agreed, knowing this was rather painful for her. She walked out of the library in a daze.
She felt numb. Angelus was showing up out of nowhere. Spike just set himself up as master, the slayer was angry with her for stopping the fight, Giles wanted answers. She didn't know what to do. There was so much that she never shared with the watcher and slayer, it wasn't necessarily their business. But with Spike and Angelus here, secrets were going to come out and nothing good could come from it.
Willow walked aimlessly, avoiding the slayer's patrol route. She sighed and sat on a swing set in the middle of the park, staring off into the stars. She glanced into the darkness in front of her.
"Why are you doing this?" Leaves rustled as a man stepped into the clearing.
"You know why," he responded simply.
"This isn't going to make things better, Spike. Just much, much worse." He growled and she looked up sharply.
"So that's the big hello I get. I haven't seen you in *decades* and that's all you have to say!"
"Don't get that tone with me, Spike," she warned. "I'm your sire."
"Whatever that means," she went to interrupt him but he stopped her, "you want me to believe that you're different. Fine. But that also means that you aren't my sire. My *sire* would never abandon me. She wouldn't push me away."
"Then why are you here? If I'm not her, not who you want, then why are you here?"
"Because you *are* her. It doesn't matter how much you deny it, it's the truth. A soul doesn't change that. You know exactly why I'm here. You and I, we need each other. You've spent too many years running from me. Do I disgust you that much now that you have a soul?"
"No!" she insisted, "Gods, Spike. You don't disgust me. But, your sire, I can't be that again. All the pain and hurt. I caused it; I can't go back to that. Don't you understand?"
"I understand that you're scared. But we found you; you're not getting away again. You know that gnawing in the very center of your being; that just won't go away. The bond is still there and it didn't just happen to you. You don't know the hell you've put me through. Never knowing where you were, if you were safe? You think this has been hard for you. You don't know half of what I went through."
"I'm sorry Spike."
"Don't say that!!" he yelled. "Don't you apologize for what we have! I don't hate you, I never could. But don't push me Willow. You don't how far I am willing to go. I'm not doing this to hurt you. You need me, love *me*. Swallow your pride and come home. We can forget this master business and go back to Europe. It can be like the old times, in London."
"That's just it Spike. It can't be like the old times. You'd grow to resent me. I don't feed on humans, I don't live for torture and mayhem, not anymore. You'd hate me."
"Never happen," he denied adamantly. "We get it. Angelus knows all this, and even he is willing to put it aside. To forget."
"It's not something you can forget. You don't know how much I would love to be rid of this. To just be accepted again. But it is not going to happen and I can't go back with you. I do miss you Spike. Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I'm not the demon you need me to be. Let it go."
"Let it go?!" he asked incredulously. He stalked toward her, his hands flying from their resting place in his duster pockets to grip her arms harshly. His game face slid into place as he stared at her. "I'm not leaving. You'll accept it soon enough. You won't have any other choice."
With that said he tangled his hand in her hair, pulling her head to the side in a ruthless grip. He bit deep into her neck, causing her to gasp in exquisite pain. He pulled away after a minute, licking tenderly at his mark, proof that he had reclaimed her.
He maintained his hard hold on her hair as his mouth left her neck. He kissed her, placing all his pain, frustration, and undying love into that one kiss. He pulled away, letting her head rest on his shoulder. He reveled in the feeling of her against him again. It had been so long.
She couldn't believe she had let herself get so caught up in him. He was always so hard to resist. She yearned to just give up the fight and run away with him. Instead, she chose to just run away.
He sighed as he watched her run. He knew it wasn't time yet, but he couldn't resist this small indulgence. She'd be back with him soon enough, he just have to be patient. Well, try to be patient, it was never his strong suit.
Willow slammed her apartment door shut behind her before she sunk into her couch. Her fingers lightly traced the claim Spike had left on her neck. She couldn't believe she let herself get so close, close enough to allow him to bite her. She knew there was no keeping this from the small group that awaited her at the library the next day. At least the bite marks should be barely visible by then, vampire healing and all. Now she just had to figure out how to work this out without getting anyone killed.
~Part: 6~
Willow sat feeling very nervous as the teens stared at her. She had just finished explaining, without great detail, how she new the new master and his family. Now, Buffy was just looking at her, not saying a word. Giles, on the other hand, didn't seem all that surprised. The watcher must have managed to get his hands on some of the lost journals featuring her and her kin in detail. She wasn't worried about him. She hated to admit, but in the past few months she had come to cherish the friendship she had formed with the young boy now ignoring her. And although she and Buffy had their differences, she always considered the slayer a friend. She had spent decades being alone, now that she was used to having confidants, she didn't know if she could stomach their rejection, on top of everything else.
"So what's the plan? We dust him?" Willow cringed at the thought.
"It's not that simple. If he is killed, I might die as well," she argued.
"Not seeing the difficult part." interrupted the slayer.
"Buffy!" the watcher reprimanded his charge. "At this point in time, I suggest we *refrain* from staking any of them, especially Spike."
"He said they were here for her," she stopped him, "so why don't we just give her to them?"
"No," Xander's soft voice surprised all those in attendance. "I'm not just going to hand over my friend because you feel betrayed Buffy. There has to be another way." He turned to the little vampire, "Any ideas, Will?" She shook her head sadly.
"Why don't you two patrol?" the watcher suggested to the teens, "And no causing trouble, Buffy." he warned her. She nodded reluctantly and left with Xander. Once they left, he returned his focus to the redhead.
"So how did you get those marks on your neck?" he inquired, she blanched. She had hoped they wouldn't have been noticeable by now. Unfortunately, Spike was rather forceful the night before, resulting in a deeper bite, which would take longer to heal.
"Um, I had a.confrontation last night. Things got a bit.out of hand."
"He claimed you," he declared, wonder in his voice. She knew he was referring to Spike.
"Yeah, again." He continued to look at her curiously, as if she were on display. It was rather unnerving. "Do you mind if I go? It's been a long couple of days." He smiled and nodded, knowing things had been difficult for her. She smiled gratefully and left. She was determined to find where her family was hiding out.
~~~*~~~
The minion was shoved brutally against the wall, a forearm across his throat to keep him there.
"Where is your master?" the redhead growled. This one was working for Spike, he had to know where her mate was.
"I.can't.tell.you." he sputtered, becoming increasingly nervous. She was out for blood. She swiftly reached for her trusty stake, placing it menacingly against his chest, above the heart.
"Talk or you're dust," she warned him.
"The factory, on Canal Street. He's there with a small group of older vampires." she grinned, leaning close to whisper in his ear.
"Thanks," she murmured before piercing his heart. As he dissolved before her eyes she sighed sadly. "Who the hell would turn him?" she wondered, ashamed of her kind yet again. So she finally had an address, now she had to try and make them all understand they had to leave her be.
~~~*~~~
Spike watched Dru spin in circles out of the corner of his eye. He was bored, which was not a new feeling for him. Angelus was amusing himself by examining some new weapons he acquired.
"Psst.psst." Dru whispered, an odd smile on her face, "The stars tell me such wonderful things. She's coming." Spike perked up.
"Who's coming, pet?" She giggled and faced him.
"Mummy is coming. Wants to lecture her naughty boy, tsk.tsk." Angelus glanced at his grandchilde. He was genuinely surprised to hear that his childe was on her way. He never thought she would seek them out. This could be interesting.
Just then the factory doors flew open, an angry redhead standing between them. Angelus small what remained of Spike's earlier bite, smelled the rather potent claim, and merely raised a sardonic eyebrow.
"To what do we owe the pleasure, childe?" He grinned at her outraged look.
"She wants you dead. I don't," when she didn't continue, Angelus silently urged her to keep talking. "What can I do to convince you to give this up? You know I can't join you. It's not possible. So what do I have to do to get you to leave?"
"Nothing you can do, ducks," Spike informed her. "It's all or nothing, sweets."
"You are *infuriating*!" she screamed. "There is no way to get rid of my soul and as long as I have it, I won't join you!"
"That's not true, lovey. There are always ways out," mumbled Drusilla, resuming her twirling. Willow shook her head wildly.
"There's no out, Dru. It can't be undone."
"Why did you really come here?" questioned Spike, "Seems to me you're just repeating yourself, love. So, why are you really here?"
"Contrary to what you might believe, I don't want to see you as dust. The slayer's looking to stake on sight. I'm just asking you not to do anything stupid. Don't provoke her Spike. She's good."
"You're forgetting who you're talking to, pet. I've killed two slayers, this bint doesn't scare me. So, thanks for the warning, but I'll take my chances." She stared at him sadly, and with one last glance at her sire, who was smirking, she left.
No one said anything for awhile, but Angelus suddenly remembered something Dru had rambled on about.
"Dru, princess, what did you mean, there was a way out?" She turned to her beloved sire.
"Mummy's icky curse. Miss Edith tells me those nasty gypsies left her a way out. She could be free, she just needs our help."
"How can we help her, luv?" asked Spike, hope filling him for the first time in decades. There may be a way to get his true sire back. She'd have no reason to avoid him if she was without her soul, without that lingering bit of conscience.
"She needs her William." She gazed at Spike intently, "only you can bring her back. But the stars are vengeful. They don't want to tell princess their secrets. They won't tell me how. But she needs you, pet. You're the key."
Spike looked at Angelus, who was thinking. He was trying to find out how Spike could possibly release her. It had to do with their bond, he just didn't know how.
"Spike, get that minion, Dalton. I want him researching her curse. I want to know if there are any loopholes." He nodded but paused.
"We don't have a copy of the curse, Angelus."
"Then find one, he's the smart one. He'll find a way. Do it now," he ordered. Spike hurried to carry out his grandsire's commands. The answer to his problems may finally be within reach. He wasn't about to give up now. Dru had to be right. Soon, her soul would be a thing of the past, and he'd have his sire back with him. Where she belonged.
~Part: 7~
"I just don't know what to do, Giles," lamented the redhead as she paced back and forth. She spent the last night thinking over her situation. She now realized that there was little to no chance of getting her family to leave without a serious confrontation. And Drusilla's comment bothered her. She never believed there was a way out of her curse, because of the whole 'eternal suffering' bit. She would be lying if she said that part of her didn't want to be rid of her soul, but still it was a part of her, one she couldn't deny. She couldn't picture herself without it.
So she came to visit Giles while the slayer was patrolling, she figured avoiding Buffy until she had a chance to calm down would be safer for everyone.
"Maybe I should just go with them;" she muttered, "then it all can stop." The librarian studied her.
"Is that what you want? To go with them?"
"Yes and no. I care for them.love them. But I'm not like them, not anymore. Joining them would come at the expense of my soul." Giles sighed, knowing she had a difficult predicament.
"You must do what you feel is right. You might want to take some time to think things through. I know you don't want anyone hurt, but unfortunately I don't foresee that happening. There will be no easy solution to your problem, but we'll need one, and soon." She frowned, knowing he was right.
She thought about telling him about Dru's statement, knowing the seer was usually right, but she feared it would cause more problems. It wouldn't do to worry the watcher even more so. They had enough problems without wondering if her soul was in jeopardy.
"You're right. Is there anything I can do now, to help?" she asked in hopes he would have a task for her to do to take her mind off of everything, even if for a moment. He smiled sadly.
"Not at the moment, Buffy has got everything covered. Why don't you go home, rest up, we're facing a possible war, we need our top fighters at their best." She nodded and headed for the door, turning to face the watcher before she left.
"Thanks again, Rupert. For everything." He bowed his head and she walked out.
~~~*~~~
Spike watched his sire leave the school, obviously lost in thought. He had sent Dalton to research any mention of her curse, to find a way to remove it, but he got restless. He was never good at waiting, especially for something so important. So he left the factory, leaving the minion to his reading. Angelus was busy entertaining Dru and he was once again left to his own devices.
He found her at the high school, talking with the watcher. She was distressed, which made him smile. It wasn't that he liked to see her hurting, but he had obviously made an impression on the girl. Good. She tried to give him the feeling that she wasn't affected by his appearance. And this latest development, that could possibly rid her of her precious soul, had her running scared. He could work with that. When his sire was afraid, she became distracted. He could use that to his advantage.
Following her at a distance, he saw her enter a secluded building, possibly an apartment complex. He grinned; he could enter a place like this, public buildings made invitations unnecessary.
Trailing her through the maze of hallways, he stopped at a corner, and watched her go inside a rather Spartan apartment. He waited a few moments, listening contently as she made her way through the living room. Finally opening her door, which was surprisingly unlocked, after he heard her footsteps fade away, signaling that she was no longer in the room.
He glanced at the interior, which reflected her personality, with a soul that is. Her demon would never have such meager surroundings. She would paint the walls a dark, rich color. Her furniture would have been upholstered with luxurious fabrics, and the rooms would be filled with the most expensive accessories.
But this place reflected her soul, and the guilt and humility it instilled her with. The walls were a drab white. The furniture was most likely second-hand, tattered and unimpressive. What accessories there were, were made to be purely functional with no aesthetic value whatsoever. It saddened him to see the way she lived. It showed that she didn't believe herself worthy of comfortable and beautiful surroundings. He hated the soul those gypsies cursed her with. Not because it gave her a conscience, that he could live with, but because it caused her so much pain. Her guilt forced her to live her life without allowing herself any pleasures. She didn't deserve that.
Moving out of the living room and down the lone hallway, he spotted a door that was almost closed, only open a sliver. Peeking through the open space, he saw his beloved, curled up in her bed. He smiled softly and pushed her door open all the way.
He sat near the head of the bed, watching her in a fitful sleep. When she had something on her mind, she often didn't have any restful sleep. She would spend the night tossing and turning, and when she woke, one wouldn't want to get on her bad side. She was her most violent when she hadn't slept well. He smirked as memories assaulted him. He had truly missed her.
He dared to reach out his hand, his fingers gliding gently through her hair. She sighed and unconsciously leaned into his touch. He smiled stretched out onto her bed, shifting so he was on his back, leaning against her headboard. He pulled her into his arms and she wrapped herself around him. He tightened his grip on her, relaxed now that she was with him.
Although he knew it would only last until she woke, he decided to revel in the feeling of her. She had calmed, finally resting peacefully. He always had this ability to soothe her like no one else had, not even her own sire. Even after her most hectic of days, just being with him relaxed her.
He stayed in that position for almost an hour. Knowing his girl, she would only sleep for another hour, two at the most. So he gently released his hold on her and laid her back down. She shifted, trying to make up for losing the feeling of him next to her. He moved to a chair next to her bed, patting down his duster for his cigarettes. Sitting back, he lit one and continued to watch her. Normally he would have worried that the smell of smoke would wake her, but she had grown so used to it over the years that he knew it wouldn't bother her.
He stayed there for another twenty minutes before deciding to leave her. He was feeling a bit hungry and it wouldn't do to have her wake and see him there. He also had to go meet with Dalton, see if he had found anything useful. Standing, he gave her one last look and walked silently out of her apartment.
~~~*~~~
Near three in the morning, Willow woke. She never slept through the entire night; she hadn't in over a century. Luckily she didn't need much sleep, one of the perks of being undead.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes in an effort to focus. She inhaled deeply, a habit she never got rid of. She froze when she smelled the familiar scent of tobacco and leather. Spike. She looked around frantically. She reached out her senses, trying to see if there was anyone, living or dead, in her home. When she felt nothing she sighed and continued to search her bedroom.
Seeing the lone cigarette, crushed against her nightstand, she paused. He had been here. And she didn't even know it. This was so not good. She knew Angelus knew where her apartment was, but now Spike was paying her late night visits.
She walked briskly out of her home, needing to be anywhere else but here.
~Part: 8~
“What’s the word on the curse?” demanded Spike as he strode into the factory just before dawn. Angelus was hovering by the studious minion as he searched through book after book for some reference to the gypsy curse.
“Nothing significant,” answered Angelus with a scowl. He hated knowing there was an answer and not being able to find it.
“Don’t worry so, dear-heart,” advised Drusilla as she drew her sire into her arms. “Things will go as planned. Give it time. After all, time is something we have…” Her sire nodded and allowed her to lead him away and into their bedroom.
“Did you find *anything*?” pressed Spike. Dalton squirmed nervously under the glare of the elder vampire. As he played with his glasses, he dared to look Spike in the eye.
“Some vague references to an ensouled vampire, but nothing concrete, master. But it is encouraging.” Spike grunted and moved away from the researcher. He began to walk to his bedroom, stopping one last time.
“You find *anything*, you tell me. Wake me if you must, if you manage to tell me what you’re there for quickly, I may not stake you.” Dalton just nodded tentatively and Spike left.
~~~*~~~
“This is getting tiring, Giles. I mean, first Angelus shows up at my apartment while I was gone and we have a lovely chat. And now this. I was *there*! He just walked in, came in my bedroom, and I had no clue he was there!” The watcher frowned. She hadn’t told him about the previous visits that her sire paid her.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Willow,” he sighed. They were sitting in his office; Xander and Buffy were researching in the library. Xander made every effort to ease tensions between the slayer and the vampire without much luck. Buffy didn’t hate the girl, she couldn’t bring herself to, but she was still bitter and hurt about being lied to.
“Shouldn’t you have been able to tell that he was there? You two have a connection, wouldn’t you have sensed him?” She looked at him grimly.
“That’s just it. We *do* have a connection! Am I so off my game that I can’t sense my own childe anymore?!”
“Calm down,” he attempted to pacify the agitated vampire. “It’s been quite some time since you’ve seen him. Maybe you’ve forgotten how…”
“You don’t just forget, Rupert. He’s my blood, there’s no how to it. It’s ingrained in my very being. That’s what bothers me so much. I should have woken. I’m not a deep sleeper; just his presence should have shaken me awake.”
“I think you’re giving this too much thought,” he replied gently. “You’ve been under a lot of stress, you need to collect yourself. Don’t worry yourself. You’re not in any physical danger from them, are you?”
“Well, no. But, you are. I can’t just take time out to ‘collect’ myself. It could get you killed. You need-” the watcher cut her off.
“Don’t worry about what we need. We have a slayer here; she’s quite capable of handling any threat. I know you feel responsible for this, but you can’t be here all of the time. We’re fine; they haven’t even made a move.”
“Yeah, I have to admit that has me worried.”
“What doesn’t these days?” he asked with a small laugh.
“They aren’t ones to back off, Rupert. But they have. Angelus hasn’t bothered me at all, Dru hasn’t made an appearance. Spike just watched me sleep. This can’t be right. They hate waiting, Spike is especially impatient. I can’t help but wonder what they are up to.”
“True, but we can’t fight what we don’t know. Take some time, do some field work if it will make you feel better. But you need to relax. We’ll be fine.” She smiled hesitantly and walked out of his office and through the library doors after a quiet goodbye to Xander.
~~~*~~~
She knew this was a stupid idea, but she couldn’t resist. In fact, she knew she should stay far, far away from her sire and childe, but she had to know what they were up to.
She edged her way around the factory. Most of the minions were out hunting, so she had little chance of being detected by them. They would be gone for quite some time. She peeked in a dirty window, surprised to see a rather reserved, intelligent looking minion hunched over a pile of books. Even with her advanced hearing she couldn’t make out what he was mumbling about.
Angelus strode dramatically into the room, followed closely by Spike. The blonde suddenly grinned maniacally. She wondered what could possibly make him so happy. Angelus seemed to be talking in depth with the minion while Spike considered what they discussed.
Frowning, she moved closer to the trio. She absently wondered where her sister was, she usually never left her sire’s side. Pushing that thought away, she froze when she heard her curse mentioned. So, that’s what has been keeping them busy. That was not good.
Humming could be heard behind her but before she could move, her arm was caught in a tight grip.
“Shush now, lovey. Spikey will be ever so happy to see you again…” Dru pulled the struggling redhead into the factory to the shocked faces of her sire and nephew. She clucked her tongue as she gazed upon her sister.
“Sister was naughty, tsk tsk…” she smiled brightly at Angelus, “she was sneaking, but princess brought her to you. Are you pleased, my Angel?”
“Of course Dru. You do good work, love.” She beamed at her sire’s praise. Dalton reluctantly broke up the reunion.
“M-Master, you now have everything needed to be successful,” he advised, gesturing to the angry redhead. She had no idea what they were talking about, but it couldn’t be good news.
“Nicely done,” replied Spike with a mysterious smile. Angelus pulled Dru away from Willow. “Let’s get reacquainted, love.” He stretched out his hand in a silent invitation. She glanced at her sire, seeing him watching them with interest.
She couldn’t stay here, she realized. It was foolish to come here, and obviously she had walked into some trap. She turned to run, knowing she could out run Dru and Spike, being their elder. But she would be no match for her own sire. Taking that chance, she bolted. But she never made it even a foot.
Spike’s arm lashed out, grabbing her harshly around her waist as he pulled her flush against him.
“Now, now, pet. You can’t leave yet. We were just starting to have some fun…”
~Part: 9~
“What are you doing, Spike?” his sire asked nervously as he held her tightly to him. She shivered unconsciously when she felt his lips brush against her cheek before resting by her ear.
“Not doing a thing, love,” he teased as Angelus gave him a devious grin. The eldest tugged gently on Drusilla’s hand, leading her away from the pair. Dalton quickly scurried to make himself scarce.
“Let. Me. Go,” Willow ordered, forcing an angry tone into her voice. Truth was, she didn’t want to leave his familiar embrace. But he had something planned, that much she knew and whatever it was it wouldn’t be good.
“Hmmm, let me think about that…no.” She growled and he grinned.
“William…” she warned, “I’m your sire, do as I say. *Now*,” she demanded.
“Aw, but pet, we’d have so much more fun if you do as *I* say,” he taunted. She whimpered and began to struggle again.
“Please…” she hated the weakness in her voice, but she hated to be confined and he knew that.
Spike nearly howled with delight at her pleading. His sire never begged. She must be truly desperate to get away from him.
“Shhh, love,” he attempted to sooth her frazzled nerves, “relax.” He kissed her hair. “Don’t fight me, I know you don’t want to. Just let go…give in,” he entreated softly as his grip loosened. His hands began to stroke her arms up and down.
Turning her slowly to face him, one hand grazed her jaw before lightly gripping her chin so she would look at him. He kissed her quickly, not allowing his lips to linger on her mouth, although he wished to.
“Let me make it all better, princess…” he murmured, “let me make it all go away…” He placed small, light kisses along her jaw-line. She began to lose herself in his words. All of him, his touches, his whispering, comforting to the distressed redhead.
“All that pain…the guilt…” he mumbled, “I can make it disappear. Just give yourself to me, love. I promise…you won’t feel remorse or shame any longer. Let me help you, pet.” All of it sounded too good to be true. He was telling her he could make it all go away. The unending guilt, the suffering, the torment. He swore to her he could release her from the pain.
“M-Master, you now have everything needed to be successful,” the minion’s words drifted back to her. Be successful? What did he mean by that? What had they been talking about?
Her soul. The thought was as effective as a bucket of ice water being thrown on her. When she arrived, she suspected they had been speaking about her soul. Spike said he could make the pain go away, the guilt disappear. He could, but to do that, he would have to rid her of her soul. Apparently he knew how, although she was not informed of the process.
Since his hold on her was no longer as severe, she managed to twist out of his grasp.
“No!!” she shrieked, putting distance between them. “I can’t let you!” He stepped closer, his movements slow as to not frighten her. He was so close, he couldn’t let her get away.
“Come on, pet,” he spoke softly, gently, “You told me you wanted that damned soul gone. You were so sure there was no way out. But there is, my love. We found it. Let me help you…”
“No,” she said harshly, “Whether I want it gone or not, I can’t let you take my soul away. I don’t want to hurt people…please. I can’t…” tears gathered in her eyes.
“Don’t be rash. Think about it, all of the agony gone. Finally being able to be yourself. The freedom, haven’t you missed it? We would be together again. We could even leave Angelus and Dru for awhile, go off on our own. We’ve spent so long apart. It doesn’t have to be like that, not anymore. Let me make it all better. Stop feeling responsible for the fate of the whole damn world. What do *you* want?”
“I-I want,” she stuttered, “I…”
“Answer me, pet. What do you want? That’s all that matters.”
“I want it to stop…” she mumbled. He smiled reassuringly and stepped toward her once again. She immediately took another step back. He frowned at her avoidance.
A lone tear slipped down her cheek before she spun on her heel and ran as fast as she could.
~~~*~~~
Willow clung to her pillow like a lifeline. She couldn’t stop her tears. His offer had been so tempting. To let go, to forget, even for a moment, would be bliss. But she couldn’t do that, knowing it would result in death for anyone who crossed her path. He didn’t understand, he couldn’t. He didn’t have a soul, he never felt the guilt her actions caused.
She couldn’t let him take her soul. Even though she knew she wouldn’t have to fight her nature any longer, she wouldn’t be an outcast among her own kind, she would return to her soulless, evil and murdering self. She couldn’t let all she had done go to waste. She had saved so many, tried so desperately to make up for all she had done in the past, erase all the hurt she caused.
~~~*~~~
Spike slammed his fist into the table in front of him, leaving a large dent in the metal. An angry snarl came from his mouth as he kicked a nearby chair.
“What the hell is the matter, boy?!” roared Angelus as he stomped into the room. “Where’s Willow?” Spike growled at the mention of his sire.
“Gone! She ran!” Angelus scowled.
“You just let her go?!” he bellowed.
“I’m not going to tie the chit to a bloody chair, you ponce!”
“Maybe you should,” the elder sneered. “Do you want her back with us?” Spike nodded, “Then get over your idol worship, and act like the demon you are! If she won’t listen, make her. I know she’s your sire, so you are *supposed* to abide by her rules, but as *her* sire, I demand that you take action. I *want* my little girl back!”
“I’ll get her back, Angelus. I swear it.”
~Part: 10~
“What is it?! What’s the matter?!” asked a frightened Xander as Willow nearly ran into the library, looking decidedly scared. Giles sat up straighter at one look at the vampire and even Buffy seemed nervous.
“What happened, Wills?” the slayer asked quietly. This shocked the little vampire but she soon regained her bearings.
“I know what they’re up to,” she warned with a trembling voice.
“Please, calm down Willow,” entreated the librarian, standing and allowing her to take his seat. “Now, what is it they are up to?”
“My soul…” she responded in a harsh whisper.
“What about your soul, Wills?” Xander pleaded with her to explain further.
“I don’t know how…they figured out a way to get rid of my soul…” The three surrounding her gasped in surprise.
“How?” asked Giles, partly abhorred, partly fascinated.
“I’m not sure. They need my cooperation; that much I know. But, how? I just don’t know…”
“How did you find all this out?” questioned the slayer, needing answers.
“I…I was stupid. I went to spy on them, to see if I could find out anything about their plans. Drusilla caught me. I couldn’t get away, they wouldn’t let me. They had been talking about my soul. They all had some secretive smile. It was unnerving. And then Spike…” she trailed off.
“What about Spike?” pushed the watcher.
“He kept telling me that he could help me, make all the pain go away. I wanted to, Giles. It was so appealing, a chance to finally be comfortable in my own skin again. But I couldn’t do it. I can’t just hand him my conscience. I won’t be responsible for death and destruction, not anymore. But they know Giles, something we don’t.”
He frowned, he hated to admit that he loathed being in the dark. He was a researcher, he was supposed to know everything mystical. And now his ally’s ‘family’ had figured out a way, albeit unsuccessfully to remove her soul. If she had any hope to come out of this situation unscathed, they needed to find out how her soul could be removed, and how to stop that from happening.
“All right Willow, we’ll get right on this. Um, do you have any idea what books they may have looked in, anything that could be helpful?”
“No, sorry,” she replied mournfully. He smiled reassuringly, then turned to face the two teens.
“Buffy, Xander, go into my office and gather all my books on magic, curses, and gypsies. We need answers now.” They dutifully carried out his orders.
“What can I do?” begged Willow, needing to be of help.
“Nothing,” he replied gently, “it’s probably best if you go home. Get control of your emotions, we’ll need you at your best.”
“Please, Giles. You can’t just ask me to not do anything! You need help, why won’t you let me stay?”
“Because,” he explained slowly, “you’re in no condition to concentrate, we also can’t have any distractions. If Angelus or Spike showed up, it could be detrimental to our plan.”
“Oh, so I’m on my own. I get it. No worries, Rupert. I’m as good as gone.” She stalked angrily out of the library before he could stop her. Maybe it would be best to give her time to cool off, then she would realize he wasn’t trying to push her away, just trying to keep everyone safe.
~~~*~~~
“I could be his great-grandmother for hell’s sake!” she ranted as she stomped to her apartment. “Where does he get off telling me to go home!” She slammed her door as turned on the overhead light in her living room.
She groaned when she looked toward her kitchen.
“Oh hell, not *now*!!” Masculine laughter is the only answer she received.
“What’s the matter, childe? Did the mean ol’ librarian hurt your feelings?” taunted Angelus as he walked to her.
“Shut up! And get out of my house!” she growled, unconsciously stepping closer to her sire, anger clouding her judgment.
“Now, now, I think someone has forgotten the rules. *You* don’t tell *me* what to do.”
“Get out or I’ll throw you out!” her eyes were blazing, shining with an amber glow. He grinned, knowing her demon was barely restrained.
“Come on little girl, show me what you got…”
With a snarl she leapt at her sire, attempting to punch him squarely in his nose. His arm shot out, swiping her fist out of his face before it connected. She kicked out, intent on knocking him off balance, but he merely jumped out of the way. It was frustrating her to no end that he wouldn’t fight back. He was never one to back away from a challenge, but now he was only defending himself. It was utterly aggravating.
“Do *something*!!” she ordered, wanting him to fight her, it would help her vent her frustrations.
“As you wish…” he replied lazily. He was in front of her in an instant, and before she could object, his mouth was covering hers. She tried to push him away, but he had always been stronger than her. Since neither needed to breathe, he may no attempt to let her go.
She needed this to stop, before she did something she might regret. The feel of her sire, especially after so long, was a welcome one and she felt herself relax under his touch. She hated that he could still get to her.
He smiled against her lips when he felt her relax against him. He knew she couldn’t resist him. Even with Dru and Spike, she would be always be his first childe, his best creation. They had a bond that, while it was vastly different from her bond with Spike, was equally as powerful.
Angelus let his arms slide around her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. One hand slipped to her behind, picking her up until her legs naturally found their way around his waist to steady her.
Without breaking the passionate embrace, Angelus led her through the darkened hallway and into her bedroom, shutting the door with a kick of his foot, without breaking stride.
He gently laid her on the bed beneath him as he tugged at the pesky buttons of her shirt. He finally released his hold on her lips as his own trailed down her cheek, down her neck. She couldn’t help the small whimper that escaped her.
Teasing her for what felt like hours, she became impatient as he made no move to finish what he started. She tugged sharply at his hair and he looked up at her with a devious grin. His girl was always so eager.
“Sire…” she breathed, asking him to be with her with that one, desperate word. He growled at her pleading, at her calling to him with such reverence. He was undressed within moments, as was she, and he sank into her, an involuntary groan coming from his mouth.
Willow closed her eyes, feeling whole for the first time in decades. She felt like she was home.