Parts: 11 - 20
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 11~
"Did you have fun, Spike?" The redheaded vampire wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist as they leaned against the side of the house.
"Had a blast, luv," he said with a smile, his tongue snaking out and licking the blood from her lips. "Though I have to say, I expected them to taste a little better. A little more like you."
Willow made a face and pulled back, looking at him, her arms still around him. "Wanna go have some dessert?" She asked with a sly smile.
"What did you have in mind?" He questioned, leering at her, waggling his eyebrows.
"Thought maybe we could go pay a visit to the Summers' home," she told him, leaning in and licking his neck seductively.
His smile quickly faded and Spike yanked her back harshly, his grip on her shoulders painful and unyielding. "Told you to stay away from the Slayer," he growled.
"Wasn't talking about the Slayer," she said with a pout. "Wanted to see if maybe Dawnie wanted to come out and play."
"You're completely insane, you know that?" He told her, tightening his grip on her. "You lay so much as a hand on that girl's head and Buffy will stake your ass faster than you can blink, got it?"
"Come on, Spike," she whimpered, jutting out her lower lip. "All the things they did to you while you were chipped, all the humiliation. Don't you wanna have any fun?"
The blonde let out a deep sigh, loosening his hold on her slightly. "Of course I do, luv. Just don't want to lose you is all. Just got you, not ready to give you up just yet."
The redhead grinned and leaned in, kissing the older vampire deeply, running her hands under his shirt and scraping her nails along his pale skin.
"You're trying to distract me," he accused.
"Is it working?" She whispered with a sly smile.
"Not sure," he told her, his eyes closing briefly. "Why don't you keep trying and I'll let you know."
~*~
Buffy and Angel were out on patrol, still having come to no decision on what to do about Willow. They were both tense, neither saying much of anything to one another. Finally, Buffy broke the silence.
"You know, I meant what I said," she stated quietly. "I know it wasn't you, your soul was gone, but, I won't defend you on this either."
Angel nodded sadly. "I understand," he told her. "You know if I could do anything to change this, I would."
Buffy nodded slowly. "I know, but you can't. Look, maybe we should split up, cover more ground," she said, needing a little time alone.
Angel nodded and they each turned, going their separate ways.
Entering the cemetery, Buffy paused, her head lifting up, and she looked around cautiously. She sensed something, something familiar, yet different.
"Spike," she muttered, realizing what it was and turning around, finding him right behind her.
"Slayer," he said with a feral grin.
"What are you so happy about?" She questioned.
"Just got me a new shirt," he said, opening his coat and displaying his silk covered chest. "Was a gift, from a very dear friend. That, and well this."
With that, he pulled his arm back before punching the Slayer as hard a possible, sending her sprawling backwards. Buffy scrambled to her feet, looking at him in shock.
"The chip…it's…"
"Gone," he said with a wide grin. "I'nt that just neat?"
"How?" She asked.
"Ah-ah, that would be telling, now wouldn't it?"
"Willow," she whispered, realization dawning on her.
"Well, you ARE good. Got it on the first try. Yeah, Angel turned the little witch, and guess who she came running to?"
"Willow removed your chip?" She asked quietly, still in slight shock.
"Having a little trouble getting this, aren't you Slayer?" Spike said with a chuckle. "Let me explain, then. Angel left Willow and she came running to me. I took care of her, she removed the chip and a great big blood bath is in the making."
Suddenly, Buffy lashed out, punching Spike hard. His head snapped back, but he quickly recovered, punching her back. He was about to hit her a second time, when Buffy caught his fist, holding it tightly.
"Looks like, this time, Slayer, you lose," he told her, before swinging with his other arm and knocking her out with one solid hit. Looking up from the fallen slayer, Spike felt something. Pain and anger...coming from Willow. Leaving the Slayer unconscious on the ground, Spike turned and walked away, in fast pursuit of Willow.
~Part: 12~
Willow was standing in front of a crypt, looking at the ivy winding around the stone. She felt him approaching before he was even close, and fought the clenching feeling in her stomach. Now was NOT the time for weakness.
"Angel," she said coolly, without turning around. "Could feel you coming a mile away."
"How?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
She turned her head and glanced at him over her shoulder. "The bond still works, even if you choose to ignore it."
"Willow, I-"
"Don't!" She stopped him. "We don't have anything to say to each other."
"Yes, I have to explain to you that-"
"Alright then," she interrupted, "I have nothing to say to you, and you have nothing to say that I could possibly want to hear. So, you can turn around, walk away and go to hell."
"Watch it, childe! I am still your sire and you WILL show me respect," he growled.
"MY sire? My SIRE?! YOU lost all rights and privileges that come along with that title when you abandoned me, leaving me alone with those," she stopped herself, her hands fisted at her sides, nails digging into the palms of her hands enough to draw blood. She stared him down, her eyes filled with seething hatred.
"Willow, I-" Angel paused, inhaling deeply. That scent…it surrounded her. Recognizing who it belonged to he growled, seeing the mark on her neck. "Spike," he ground out. "He's claimed you."
"Is there a problem with that?" She asked innocently just before finding herself slammed back against the crypt, staring into the yellow eyes of her sire.
"How DARE you allow someone else to claim you!" Angel growled, holding the redhead in a painful grip. "You are MINE! I made you."
Angel knew that all control was lost. Angelus was out and ready for blood, and every fiber of his being screamed that he let him go. This was his childe and he would not allow her to be claimed by someone else, least of all Spike.
"Awww look," Willow said with a smile, ignoring his painful grasp, "Daddy's all mad now." She gave him a pouty smile, letting him know that she did not see him as a threat anymore.
"Watch it, little girl," the older vampire growled. "I am your sire. You will treat me with respect or I will be forced to remind you of your place."
Suddenly, Willow grabbed Angel's arms and shoved him off of her, glaring at him in hatred. "You might have made me, but you are NOT my sire!" She yelled. "You left me alone, to die. Spike, he takes care of me. He protects me. You! You are nothing to me."
"Pet? He bothering you?" Her body relaxed slightly as she turned her head to see Spike walking up behind her. She tried to hide her extreme relief at his appearance. The blonde came up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind and she shook her head, looking back at him and smiling before he captured her lips with his own in a passionate kiss that was as much for her own reassurance as it was for show in front of Angel.
When they finally broke the kiss, she turned her head back, seeing Angel watching them, struggling to keep his temper in check. "You've been replaced, Angel," she said with a wicked smile. "You're nothing to me now."
"Do you know why it feels so right for you to be with him, Willow?" Angel asked in anger, his voice low and dangerous. "Because he's MY childe. You BOTH belong to me. You BOTH were sired with MY blood. The only reason you want him is because he feels like me."
"That's NOT true, Angel," the redhead growled, knowing without looking that there was a pained expression on Spike's face. For all of his macho bad ass talk and actions, she knew his insecurities, and Angel had just hit every one of them.
"He doesn't feel like you. He's better to me than you ever could have been. He offers me the world. All you ever did was take it away." She grinned as she saw him physically flinch from her verbal onslaught. If he was going to use words to hurt the one she loved, she would throw them right back at him.
"Angel, the truth is you despise Spike because he's the demon you will never be. He knows who he is and he's not held back by something as disgusting and wrong as a soul or guilt or love of a Slayer," she spat the last word with disgust.
With that, she closed her eyes, taking a second to center herself, and muttered a few words. When she opened her eyes she smiled, seeing that her sire was gone.
"Where did you send him, pet?" Spike asked as he kissed her ear and neck.
"Right were he started," she told him with a sly smile.
~*~
Angel gasped for unneeded breath, as it felt like his insides were being torn out. Suddenly, the painful sensation stopped, leaving him feeling dizzy and disoriented and it took him a moment to focus his vision. Looking around, he realized that he was no longer in the cemetery. Looking around, he recognized immediately where the witch had sent him…her old bedroom. The place where he had ripped from, the night that he had taken her away.
~Part: 13~
"Bored now."
The words echoed through the alley behind the Bronze as slow footsteps sounded. He watched her as she slowly walked toward him, stepping over one of the bodies that she had drank from earlier. As she lazily ran her fingers along the brick wall beside her, Willow lifted her eyes to look at him.
"Not having fun anymore, pet?" He asked as she reached him. Reaching out with one hand, he caught her wrist and pulled her closer to him, placing his hands on her waist possessively.
"They're bein all quiet now. They don't wanna play nice with me," she said in a slow, sugary voice, sticking out her lower lip.
He took her chin in his hand, tilting her head up a little to look directly at him.
"They won't even scream anymore," she told him, gesturing toward the body of a girl on the ground near their feet, before darting her tongue out, licking lightly up his cheek. "Will you scream for me?"
"I'm thinking maybe I make you scream, pet," came the husky reply. Gripping her hair, he yanked her head back and kissed her roughly.
After a minute, she pulled back and looked at him, smiling slyly. "But I like to be the one to make people scream."
"I know luv, but I reserve the right to make you scream or do anything else that I want." He shoved her roughly into the wall, his mouth claiming hers as she purred softly.
Suddenly he pulled back, feeling a fang bite into his tongue. Grabbing her hair in a tight grip, he slammed her harder against the wall.
"Don't forget who you belong to, little girl. I AM still the Master. Maybe you need a little lesson to remind you."
"Mmmm, maybe I do," she whispered with a sly smile. That was all the encouragement that Spike needed. At those words, he easily lifted her up, tossing her over his shoulder, before swiftly heading toward the crypt.
Once he kicked the door shut and headed down to the cave below, Spike set her on the ground and led the redhead over to a pair of shackles on the wall, binding her there. Willow peered up at him with lust filled eyes, licking her lips and grinning.
"Spikey wants to play," she purred. "Gonna make Willow scream."
"You'll be more than just screaming, luv. You'll be down right begging before I'm done with you," he told her.
"Mmmmm, promise?" She whispered.
Spike simply grinned at her before stepping forward and claiming her lips with his own in another brutal kiss.
~*~
Angel stumbled out the front door, feeling sick to his stomach as the world around him spun. Images and memories flashed through his mind of a young, sweet, innocent redhead, and clashed horribly with those more recent encounters with the vampire version of the once human girl.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
Angel spun around, startled by the voice behind him. He let out a deep sigh, seeing the one person in the world that he knew could make him feel worse than he already did.
"I asked you a question," he said angrily, stalking toward the vampire. "What the hell are you doing here? Haven't you already done enough damage?"
"I didn't mean to come here. She-she did it. She sent me here, somehow, and…"
"Right, whatever," Xander said dismissively.
"What are YOU doing here?" Angel asked suddenly.
"Heard Willow's parents were in town," Xander told him. "Was hoping to get here before…" He looked down, a sick expression on his face.
"She killed them?" Angel asked, his voice quiet and full of dread.
"Like sire like childe," Xander spat out, pulling a stake out of his pocket and holding it up, ready to attack the souled vampire.
"Watch it, Harris. You have no idea what you're talking about," Angel growled, feeling himself tense defensively.
"I know that my best friend is dead. I know that she is out tearing up the town right now, feeding and killing, and I know that you're the one who killed her. Not really any more information I think I need." Xander said, his voice dark and menacing as he took a step toward Angel.
"Xander, listen to me. If there was anything I could do. Any way I could take back what I've done…"
"I got something you could do," Xander told him with a cruel grin. "You could die."
"Killing me won't bring her back," Angel reasoned.
"No, but it sure as hell will make me feel a lot better. Besides, I figure I get you out of the way, there won't be anyone arguing to not give Willow back her soul. Dust you, have Giles do the ritual, abracadabra, I have my best friend back."
"You think that's all there is to it?" Angel scoffed. "Don't you think there's a reason that I am the way I am?"
"What, you mean a broody murderer?" Xander shot at him.
"It's a curse, Xander. A curse. You give her the soul and it won't just be like having Willow back, as if nothing happened."
Xander let out a growl. "Right, because you tortured her until she was nearly insane!"
"No! Because she'll still be dead and she'll still have the demon inside of her, screaming to drink, hurt, kill, destroy. And Willow will have to fight that every day for the rest of eternity. She'll have to fight it AND live with the knowledge of what she's done."
"Whatever she's done, it's not her fault!" Xander shouted, taking another step closer to Angel. "It's your fault! You took Willow out of the body and put the demon in her."
"But you still hold me accountable for what happened when my soul was gone," Angel said quietly. Xander opened his mouth, ready to argue the point, but then closed it again, unsure of what to say to that. "Willow will be over-run with guilt over the lives she's taken, the people she's hurt, the things she's said and done. Do you want Willow, your best friend, to have to live an eternity like that?"
"I just-I just want her back," Xander said, suddenly sounding defeated, his arm dropping to his side, his fingers still loosely gripping the stake. He looked away from the vampire, feeling the tears fill his eyes. "I just want her back. I want to talk to her, and hug her and I just want her back."
When he finally looked up again he realized that Angel was gone and he was standing alone on the darkened front lawn.
~Part: 14~
The next night, Giles was sitting alone in his home, pouring over book after book, hoping to find something, though he had no idea what he was even looking for, that would make their current situation better. Suddenly, he was pulled from his deep thoughts by a frantic knocking at the door.
Standing up wearily, he wondered who it was, and grabbed a cross and stake off of the table, just in case. It was well past sunset, after all, and any of his young charges would have had no problem walking into the apartment without knocking.
Pulling the door open, Giles took a precautionary step back before letting out a sigh of relief, seeing that it was only Angel standing at his door. A very upset looking Angel, actually, but never the less, he would take an upset looking vampire with a soul, over a smiling vampire without one.
"Angel, come in," Giles said quietly, ushering the vampire into the living room and shutting the door. "What can I do for you?"
"I think you should do the ritual," Angel blurted out.
"What? Well, I must say, I am a bit surprised. What's made you change your mind?"
"Xander was right. I can't expect you to not kill her and not soul her. We can't let her just run wild. It isn't right to let her kill freely, and I can't control her."
"Yes, well I certainly think you've proved that well enough, however, are you sure that this is the best thing to do, giving her a soul? It won't be easy for her."
"I know," Angel replied quietly, looking away from the watcher, "but it's the right thing to do. It won't be easy, but at least, maybe, some day, she can still have some sort of normal life. I can help her with the demon, to so extent at least, and…"
"Angel, I think that you and I both know that she will never have anything close to a normal life," Giles interrupted. Again, the vampire looked down in shame.
"I know," Angel admitted, "but this is better than destroying her."
"I can't help but wonder if your intentions are not of a more selfish inclination," Giles told him. Angel gave him a surprised looked. "To be the only souled vampire in the world, must be terribly lonely, and to be able to make yourself a mate that is the same…"
"No. This isn't about that," Angel insisted, though in the back of his mind, he wondered if any part of what Giles was saying was true. "She and I, we aren't even- she's with Spike, now, and he's claimed her."
"Yes, Buffy did mention to me that she had a little run in with Spike last night and that he and Willow were together. She also said that his chip is gone."
"I figured as much," Angel stated.
"He won't be easily willing to let her go, you know," Giles told him. "What do you plan to do about that?"
"Not sure," Angel admitted. "Spike is strong and stubborn, and he isn't going to allow someone to take away something that he wants, especially something that belongs to him. I don't want to kill him, though."
Giles raised an eyebrow in surprise at that last statement, though he supposed that he shouldn't have been quite so surprised. The two vampires had a history, and though much of it might be mired in fighting and hatred, there was a bond there, even if neither was willing to admit it.
"We could leave the country, though I don't know if that would really stop him," Angel continued. "I'm sure he would search the world for her if necessary, until he found her."
"Once she has the soul, though, he might not be as interested in her anymore," Giles stated.
Angel nodded, but didn't look convinced. "It's possible, but I doubt that. Spike is just too unpredictable to gage his reaction just yet. I suppose I'll just cross that bridge when I come to it. Deal with him when I have to. For now though, just get together everything you need for the ritual. The sooner we do it, the better."
~*~
Willow rolled slightly, moaning softly as she felt an ache spread throughout her body. She and Spike had spent hours `playing' and now she was sore and tired and hurt in all the right places. Turning around to look at the blond vampire, Willow's sleepy smile suddenly faded as she saw that she was alone in the bed.
Immediately, she began to panic. He was gone! He had left her and she was alone. She began to think that maybe he had just used her, to get the chip out, and now that he had what he wanted, he had up and left.
Looking over to the pile of clothes that had been discarded the night before, she felt dread fill her as she saw that his leather duster was gone.
Willow sat up, frantically looking around the dim room, clutching a blanket to her chest like a lifeline. She wasn't sure what to do. She was strong and powerful and she knew she could survive on her own, but the very thought that someone else had abandoned her…
Jumping up off of the bed and wrapping the blanket around herself, the redhead began searching the floor for the clothes that she had been wearing, wanting, no, needing to get out of there as fast as possible.
Spotting her black, leather pants across the room, she scurried over and bent over to pick them up. Suddenly, the young vampire let out a snarling growl as she felt strong hands grip her hips and pull her back forcefully into a hard body.
Bolting upright, Willow felt her true face slip into place as she spun around, growling, and was shocked to see Spike standing before her.
"What did I tell you about not being aware of your surroundings," he chided, though a playful smile slipped across his face.
Willow simply scowled, not wanting him to sense the immense relief she felt as seeing that he was there, that he hadn't left her.
"You're in an awful hurry," he told her. The smile soon faded from his lips, though, as he looked deeper into her eyes, which were now green again, and he could see the glint of vulnerability and fear in them.
"Pet, what's wrong?" He asked in concern, taking her arm and pulled her with him to the bed. He sat and moved her to stand between his legs, looking up at her, noticing that she wouldn't look him in the eye.
"Didn't go too hard on you last night, did I?" He asked, running his hands behind her and over her still sore ass.
Unable to help herself, Willow let her eyes flutter closed and moaned softly. "Mmmm, no, just hard enough," she told him, not seeing the vampire grin at her words.
"Good, then," Spike said, squeezing one cheek before smacking it sharply, loving the sound of her squeal that followed. "So what had you all upset?" He questioned, seeing her face fall as her eyes opened to look at him.
"Who says I was upset?" She stated, coolly, not wanting to appear weak in front of him.
"Willow," he scolded, "don't lie to me. Tell me, now."
Unable to disobey, she looked away before speaking. "I thought you had left," she whispered.
"I did leave," he told her, confusion evident on his face.
"I didn't think you were coming back," she explained.
Realization dawned on the older vampire and he let out a deep sigh, mentally kicking himself for not seeing this coming. She was, after all, the childe of Angelus, so he shouldn't have been surprised. He should have been more than used to picking up the pieces after his grandsire had taken off, and the truth was, there was a lot more of Drusilla in Willow than Spike cared to admit.
"Luv," he started, pulling her closer and down onto his lap, delighting in the feel of her against him, "I'm not going anywhere, alright?"
Willow looked up at him with anxious, uncertain eyes. It still amazed him how she could be so powerful and strong one minute and then seem so vulnerable and fragile the next. Yet one more way she reminded him of Dru.
"You're stuck with me for the rest of eternity, whether you like it or not. I'm not Angelus. I won't promise you the world and then turn and run the other way, got it?"
The redhead nodded before smiling slightly. Spike leaned in, kissing her forcefully, his arms wrapped tightly around her. When he finally pulled away, licking the mark on her neck territorially, he saw a questioning look on her face.
"So where did you go then?" She asked.
"Went to visit our old pals," he told her, smirking as she scowled at him.
"You went there without me?" She said, pouting. "You had all the fun, spoiled all my games."
"Not quite, pet," he told her. "Didn't let them know I was there. Just wanted to stop by, see what they were up to."
"And?"
"And…" This was the part he wasn't really looking forward to telling her. He wasn't sure how she would handle it. "Angel was there, talkin to the watcher. Told him to give you back your soul."
Spike watched as the words registered with her and the redhead suddenly vamped out again, straining to control her anger.
"Then I guess it's time I paid a visit to my old pal, Giles," she said, an evil grin spreading across her face, knowing that Spike would not object this time.
~Part: 15~
"So, what exactly are we waiting for at this point?" Anya questioned.
"There are a few different ingredients this time," Giles explained.
"Different?" Xander asked, sounding nervous.
"Yes, well, I've gone over the translation of the spell used on Angel to restore his soul and altered it slightly."
"Are you crazy? What if something awful happens? What if it's like that horrible, horrible movie with the mouse whose sweeping the floor and he makes the one broom turn into two brooms and then they turn into four brooms and all of the sudden, there's an army of brooms, and-and what if you create an army of vampire Willows? Do we really need a vampire Willow army to fight? I mean, one is certainly bad enough, don't you think?"
"Anya, I assure you, I will not be creating an army of vampire Willows," Giles told the woman, shuddering at the very thought.
"Why change the ritual at all?" Xander asked.
"Well, because, quite frankly, I don't want to ever have to worry about another Angelus-on-the-loose episode. This will ensure that her soul is bonded permanently."
"You mean, she can, you know, have a moment of, uh, happiness, and not go all grrr on us?" Xander question, hopefully.
Giles nodded with a soft smile. "Exactly."
"This is so great! She won't have to just be another version of brood boy, then!" Xander stated happily. "She can have her soul but still be happy."
"Oh, I'd say I'm already pretty happy." The three looked up toward the door of the shop, shocked to see the very redhead in question, standing before them, a bleached-blond vampire behind her, his arms around her waist.
"Look, Spike," she said in a sweet, child-like voice, "toys."
"They look like rather boring toys to me, luv," Spike replied, leaning into her back and nipping at her ear, enjoying the small purring noise coming from his mate.
"Hey! I am not boring, buster!" Anya shouted, before realizing what she was saying. "I-I mean yeah, you know, I'm really very boring. You don't want to play with me, trust me. Giles over here, he's much more fun."
"Anya!" Both Giles and Xander exclaimed, the three temporarily forgetting about the vampires who were looking on in amusement.
"Play now?" Willow asked, looking back up at Spike.
"Sure thing, pet. Just be sure to save a little for me when you're done."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Xander yelled, looking around in nervous fear.
"I think it means that she is going to eat us," Anya told him in a harsh whisper.
"Actually," Willow said, stepping closer to the huddled trio, "I think it means that I'm going to make you scream a lot before I kill you."
Seeing Giles' hand sliding back on the counter behind him, ever so slightly, Willow suddenly reached out, grabbing his arm and spinning him around, holding the arm tightly against his back. Giles winced and tried in vain to pull away.
"Naughty, naughty, Watcher," Willow chided, before leaning in and licking his neck, grinning slyly.
Willow turned to look up at Spike, who was watching with a false look of disinterest. He could see the pain and smell the fear coming from the watcher. This had been too long in coming.
"Problem, luv?" He asked.
"Rupert, here, wasn't playing fair. He was gonna try and cheat," she told him.
"No, really, I wasn't. I was just-" Giles was cut off as searing pain shot through his arm. Willow pulled tighter, smiling in satisfaction as she heard something snap.
"No talking, only screaming," she chided. "Bet I can make you scream real good. What do you think?"
The redhead slipped into her true face and was about to lean in to bite the watcher, when she suddenly heard the bell on the front door ring.
"I don't think you're going to be making anyone scream just now."
Willow rolled her eyes, seeing Buffy and Angel standing at the front door.
"Oh, look, it's the slayer and her puppy," Willow said, sounding bored.
"Let him go," Buffy commanded.
"But, he's gonna be so yummy. I mean, yeah, he might taste a little stale and all, but I promise, I'm REALLY going to savor this one."
"Willow, let him go," Angel growled.
The redhead looked toward her sire with a sneer. "I thought we already covered this, Angel. I don't take orders from you anymore."
"Willow, trust me, you don't want to do this," Buffy tried to reason, keeping one eye on Willow and one on the blond vampire to her right.
"Oh, right, because you're going to give me a nice, fluffy little soul, right?" Willow stated, rolling her eyes. "Well, sorry, but not really interested."
"Willow, listen to me," Giles started, before the vampire yanked him a little more firmly into her grasp.
"Shhh," she hissed. "Be quiet like a good puppy and pretty soon Willow will make you bark."
"Willow, don't make me hurt you," Buffy warned.
"Aww, but Buffy, you're so good at it. And I gotta say, I do sorta enjoy the pain. Just ask Spike."
Willow giggled as she heard Angel growl and saw Spike smirk. No one seemed to notice Xander inching up behind her, a cross in hand.
Suddenly, Willow let out a loud snarl, spinning around and jumping away from her former friend, throwing the watcher away from her, as she felt the cross burn. Kicking out, she easily knocked the offending object from his hand, and Xander quickly backed away.
The redhead turned back around, glaring at everyone in the room, a low growl rumbling deep in her throat. Spike stepped up behind her cautiously, wrapping an arm around her and purring into her ear.
"Might be a good time to make our exit, luv," he told her.
Willow shook her head. "Didn't get what we came here for."
"And what exactly was that?" Buffy asked, still holding her stake high, ready to do whatever was necessary, but hoping it didn't come to that.
Willow glanced over at the table with the orb and a few books and old papers on it. "Just want to make sure that none of you were hoping to become the new resident witch," she told them, moving over to the table.
Picking up the orb, she looked it for a few moments, contemplating exactly what it was that she held in her hand. This is what had taken everything away. This little orb was the very object that they had used to take her sire away, placing that horrible, disgusting soul back into his body. Rage bubbled up inside of her until she could take no more and suddenly, with a snarl, the vampire threw the orb across the shop, smiling in satisfaction as it shattered against the wall.
"Willow," Xander whispered in dread.
"Aww, don't be all sad, Xander," she told him with a cruel grin. "Trust me, I'm much happier this way. The Willow that you knew, she was pathetic. I'm practically the goddess herself."
"We can always find another orb," Giles told her with a groan, as he pulled himself up from the floor.
"Thought of that," she told him. "I am, after all, the smart one of the group." She lifted up the papers containing the ritual and handed them to Spike. "Lover?" She purred. "A little help?"
"With pleasure, luv," he replied, taking the pages and pulling out his lighter, quickly setting them on fire.
"Willow, stop!" Angel shouted, lunging for the vampire holding the burning pages. Willow yelled out, holding out her hand, and Angel suddenly froze in place. Hearing her yell out again, the older vampire found himself thrown back into a large display, hitting the wall hard and feeling the shelves and objects fall around him.
"Sorry, Daddy," she purred. "Looks like your little girl's all grown up." Turning toward Spike, she smiled, seeing the last of the papers fall to ash on the floor. "Spike, I think it's time to go now."
She held out her hand, and just as Spike was about to reach out and grab it, Buffy lunged for the redhead, tackling her to the ground. Spike was about to pull the slayer off of his mate, when strong, solid hands suddenly gripped his shoulders, holding him back.
"Let me go, you sodding bastard, or so help me…"
"Sorry, Spike, can't do that," Angel said with a slight grin. Both looked toward the two women fighting on the floor, Spike struggling to free himself and Angel holding onto him easily enough.
Just as Willow jumped up and punched the slayer, Spike stomped down hard on Angel's foot, feeling his hold loosening, and spun around, punching him hard in the jaw. Giles, Xander and Anya stood, huddling in a corner, watching the two pairs battling one another.
"Come on, Slayer, show me what you can really do," Willow taunted.
"I don't want to kill you, Willow," Buffy said as the two circled one another predatorily.
"Awww, well, that's too bad, cause I'm really looking forward to spilling your blood," Willow shot back, before lunging for the blonde.
"Looks like your girl is having a little bit of difficulty," Angel told Spike. Spike turned to look toward the two women. Angel saw his moment and took it. Grabbing the younger vampire, he lifted him up off of the ground in one, swift movement, and before Spike could even register what was happening, Angel heaved him forward with every bit of strength in him. The blond vampire found himself propelled through the front display window, glass shattering around him as he landed with a thud on the street. His eyes slowly opened as he groaned and tried to lift himself up, stopped by Angel's booted foot on his chest.
"Think she's still love you when she has a soul, Spike?" Angel taunted, knowing exactly where to aim to do the most damage. "Think she'll still want to have anything to do with you?"
"Shut your mouth!" Spike yelled, gripping the heavy boot and shoving hard, knocking Angel back away from him. "You bloody, righteous bastard! First you abandon Dru and I, and then Willow. You think you deserve to have her back, now?"
"Bottom line, Spike, who got to her first? Huh? Who tasted her innocence and drank it until there was nothing less? Who was the one that was able to bite her?"
Spike visibly flinched at the verbal onslaught, his borrowed blood boiling.
Willow looked up in alarm, hearing the glass smashing, and seeing Angel step through the broken window. Unforunately, had no time to wonder if Spike was okay as she continued to fend off the slayer's advances, but knew that Spike could certainly take care of himself.
"I can see you're starting to get tired," Buffy told Willow. "Why don't you just give up right now."
"I'm just getting started," Willow replied.
"Yeah? I don't think so." At that, Buffy spun around and used every bit of strength in her no throw a right hook directly at the young vampire. She stopped and watched as the redhead fell to the ground, unconscious. Glancing toward the front of the store, Buffy saw that Angel still had Spike distracted outside. She and Xander quickly grabbed the unconscious vampire, running out the back door to where Xander's car was waiting, and drove off as fast as possible, with Giles and Anya following not far behind.
"You may have been the one to turn her, but I'm the one she came to. I'm the one she's wants," Spike told Angel, standing up and punching him hard in the jaw.
Angel simply laughed cruelly. "That right? So, where is your mate now, then?"
Spike stopped, fist in the air, and looked back into the shop through the broken window. Not seeing or hearing anyone, he shoved Angel aside and ran into the shop, looking around frantically. "What the hell did they do with her?"
"Do? She left, Spike. She saw her chance and she took it. Couldn't run out of here fast enough. Guess she doesn't care about you that much after all, huh?"
Spike growled loudly before lunging for Angel, punching the older vampire hard enough to knock him off of his feet.
Not waiting around, Spike ran out the back door, and looked up and down the street, trying to catch a hint of where his mate had run to. Her scent seemed to stop just outside the shop and he had no idea how to trace her. Finally, he decided to head back to the crypt, hoping he would find her there.
Angel pulled himself up off of the floor slowly, rubbing his aching jaw, and watched with a silent frown as Spike went out in search of the redhead.
~Part: 16~
Spike grabbed a nearby folding chair and threw it across the room with a growl. She hadn't returned. It was well past daybreak and Willow had not returned home. He didn't really believe that she would have just left him, but there was a small part of him that wondered if she had. More likely, though, the slayer and her friends had taken her, somehow, and were holding her somewhere. The very idea made him rage with anger and he swore that one way or another, he would get his mate back. \par
~*~
"You think you can keep me here forever? I can get out easily enough!" Willow shouted into the dark, empty room. "I'll be free, you'll all be dead, and I'll be happy!"
"What are we going to do?" Xander asked, trying to ignore the sounds of the vampire screaming in the basement.
"I have a friend shipping another orb to me. It should be here by tomorrow night," Giles told him. "We just have to hold her here until then, and keep Spike out."
"Well, he doesn't have an invitation any more, so that shouldn't be all that hard," Anya stated.
"Yeah, well this is Spike. I wouldn't put anything past him," Angel grumbled.
"You shouldn't have let him go," Xander shot at the vampire.
"It's complicated," Angel replied, glaring at him.
"Yeah, with you it always seems to be, doesn't it? With me, not so much. I see a vampire? I kill a vampire."
"It's always so black and white for you, isn't it Harris?"
"Guys, stop," Buffy said harshly, quieting them both. "How do we ensure that she doesn't get free between now and then?" She asked Giles.
"The restraints holding her down there are magically reinforced and enchanted, so not only can she not break them with vampire strength or magic, but she will be unable to use her magic against us as well."
"Neat," Buffy said quietly.
"Something wrong?" Giles asked. "Other than the obvious, of course."
"Just want to get this done as soon as possible," she told him.
~*~
Willow heard the door to the basement open and shut, followed by footfalls coming down the steps. A moment later, Angel appeared in front of her, a mug of warmed blood in his hand.
"Thought you might be hungry," he told her softly.
"How thoughtful of you," she shot back.
Opening the cage door, Angel walked in, shutting it behind him. He brought the mug up to her face and she inhaled the scent, grimacing.
"Pig's blood," she growled. "Last time I had to drink that was the day I escaped from that prison you left me in."
Angel swallowed hard, trying not to let her effect him.
"Drink," he growled back, holding the mug up.
"I'd rather get the good stuff," she told him in a silky voice, a sly grin on her lips.
"You know you aren't getting human blood here," he told her.
"Not talking about human blood," she explained. "Come on, daddy. Give your little girl what she needs."
"Enough, Willow. Drink the blood," he told her.
"Not really hungry," she lied, still grinning, as she leaned forward against him slightly.
Suddenly, Angel's arm reached out, grabbing a fist full of hair at the back of her neck, and he yanked her head back slightly.
"I told you to drink," he growled menacingly.
"And I told you that I don't take orders from a vampire with a soul," she ground out through clenched teeth.
"You WILL obey me childe. I created you and you will do as I say," he told her, still holding tightly to her hair, giving another yank and hearing her whimper slightly.
"Did ya like it?" She asked in a child-like voice. Angel gave her a questioning look, his grip loosening just slightly.
"Did you like making a childe? Did it make you feel all strong and manly? Come on, Angel, admit it. You loved it. Even with the soul, you know you loved every minute of it. Look at you now."
Angel let go of her with a shove, putting the mug down on a nearby table.
"You're playing with fire, little girl," he ground out.
"Good thing I like the heat," she told him with another grin. "You know, the things that Spike can do with hot wax…"
Feeling his control slipping, Angel backhanded the younger vampire, watching as her red hair spun around her face. Willow turned back, still grinning, licking slowly and sensually at the blood that was now on her lower lip.
"Mmm...yummy. Wanna taste, Angelus?" She whispered, flicking her tongue over the small wound. "Come on, just a little taste."
Suddenly, Angel had his hand tangled in her hair again, pulling her head back slightly, as his lips devoured hers, the taste of her blood in his mouth. His kiss was deep and possessive and gave into every baser instinct that he had.
Feeling her fang scrape along his tongue, Angel suddenly pulled back, tasting his own blood mingled with hers.
"Watch it, childe," he said harshly, watching her pant with need.
"Just wanted a small taste," she whimpered, pouting before him. "A little treat for bein so good?" She pushed her hips forward, gyrating against his hardened member.
Angel groaned, closing his eyes for a moment, before finally pulling himself away from his childe. He heard her whimper in disapproval.
"You WILL learn to behave," he told her, though his voice lacked the conviction that it held before. Finally, he headed back upstairs, in desperate search of a cold shower.
~Part: 17~
Spike stood in front of the house, contemplating his course of action. His mate was inside. He knew that much. He could feel her. He could also feel Angel and the Slayer. No doubt they were expecting his little visit this evening. They might not be the smartest bunch, but they weren't THAT stupid.
Luckily for Spike, neither was he. He had listened in to their little conversation earlier. Rupert had ordered another orb. He was still planning on doing the restoration. Well, Spike would just have to make sure that they never got the chance.
He nodded his head and watched as a vampire walked up to the door, a box in hand. He rang the door bell and waited. A moment later, Buffy opened the door.
"Can I help you?" She asked cautiously.
"Delivery for Mr. Giles," the vampire told her. "Express package from England."
"Oh, of course. We hadn't expected it so soon," she said in surprise, taking a step back. "Please, come in."
"Don't mind if I do," came another voice. Spike pushed the minion out of the way, and stalking into the house, smiling smugly as Buffy looked on in shock.
"That invitation was not for you," she told Spike.
"Funny thing about invitations," he told her. "They can be terribly vague at times. A general "please come in" applies to just about anyone in the vicinity. Boys?" At that, at least a dozen vampires came pouring into the house, ready to attack. "You should really be more careful about who you invite into the house from now on," Spike chided with a mocking grin.
Buffy and Angel began to fight off the vampires. Almost immediately, they found themselves surrounded by snarling demons.
"Angel?" Buffy yelled out, moving in a slow, defensive circle, glaring at the vampires, feeling Angel's back against her as they moved.
"We need to get downstairs, before Spike does," Angel yelled back.
"Xander and Anya are down there," she told him, pulling a stake out, ready to fight.
"Why does that not give me much comfort?" He asked dryly, sinking slightly lower into a crouch, prepared for the impending attack.
Without further warning, the fight began, two demons attacking each of them. Buffy easily kicked away one vampire, while plunging a stake into the heart of the other. Angel used his own stake to dust one of his attackers, just before flipping the other over his shoulder, impaling him on the stake that was held back by the Slayer. Buffy looked up in surprise, feeling the vampire fall onto the stake.
"Thanks," Angel tossed over his shoulder, the fight continuing.
They were far out numbered, but lucky for both Angel and Buffy, neither were used to a fair fight and both were able to hold their own easily enough. Unfortunately, though, the distraction was enough to allow Spike to slip away, unnoticed.
~Part: 18~
"Bored now," Willow complained, glaring at Xander and Anya who stood before her nervously.
"Um, maybe we could get you television or something, to pass the time," Anya said uncertainly.
"I can think of something much more fun than that," Willow replied, leering suggestively at the girl.
Anya scowled and moved a little closer to her boyfriend. "I think she's hitting on me," Anya whispered harshly.
"Damn straight I am," Willow replied with a wicked grin.
"I hope you aren't planning on having fun without me, pet." Willow's eyes shot up to the top of the stairs, along with Xander's and Anya's, as Spike began to descend them. "You know I at least like to watch," he scolded with a grin.
"Spike," Willow purred, learning against the bars that separated them. She knew he'd come for her.
"Spike?" Anya questioned, cowering behind Xander.
"Spike!" Xander shouted nervously, holding up a cross bow, aiming for the vampire's chest, while Anya hid behind him, both of them backing up toward Willow.
"Great, we all know my name," Spike said with a roll of his eyes. "Let me make sure you never forget it." At that, he let his demon visage slip forward.
Suddenly, Anya let out a shrill scream. Xander spun around, trying to keep one eye on the blond vampire, the other cast toward his girlfriend, who was now being held by the neck by a growling Willow.
Willow's hand was gripping the former demon's neck tightly as she held her against the cage bars.
"Look, Spikey," Willow purred in a child-like voice. "I caught a little prezzie."
"Nice work, luv," Spike replied with a grin. "I suggest you put that crossbow down, unless you want to see your little girlfriend here with her neck snapped," he told Xander.
"What's to stop you from killing us once I do put it down?" Xander asked.
"Hmmm…" Spike said, pretending to look pensive. "Nothing! Guess it's a bit of a stand off, ain't it? But I'll wager that Red here will have your girl's neck snapped before you can even contemplate pulling that trigger."
"Why don't we test that theory," Xander replied, not really thinking about what he was saying.
"Xander!" Anya yelled in fear and anger. "Let's really NOT test that theory."
"I'd listen to the girl, whelp," Spike suggested. "Drop the weapon, now."
Willow squeezed a little tighter, delighting in the pained squeal that came from the girl in her grasp. Hearing Anya cry out, Xander slowly put the cross bow down on the floor, backing away from it.
"Smart move," Spike told him smugly. "Open the cage."
With a defeated sigh, Xander moved to the cage door and opened it. Before anyone knew what had happened, Willow moved with vampire speed, from inside the cage to outside, once again, holding Anya's neck tightly.
"Hey! That isn't the way it works!" Anya argued. "He lets you out and you let me go."
"I don't really like those rules," Willow told her in a silky voice. "This is much better." Leaning in, Willow licked Anya's neck, from her collarbone to her ear, delighting in the girl's whimpers and feeling her shudder in her grasp.
"Not really time to play, luv," Spike told the redhead, becoming increasingly antsy. Those minions wouldn't hold Angel and Buffy off for that long. "We need to go."
"Awww," Willow pouted. "Spoil all my fun." Spike gave her a pointed look. "Just one little taste?" She asked, licking the girls neck again. "I promise I won't take a lot."
"Hey!" Xander yelled, taking a step forward.
"Back off," Willow growled, kicking back, catching Xander hard in the chest with her booted foot, still holding tightly to his girlfriend. Xander fell backward, gasping for breath.
"Xander!" Anya yelled out.
"I wouldn't worry about him," Willow told her in a seductive voice. "I'd worry more about you." At that, she slipping into her true face and slowly bit into Anya's neck. The girl tried to scream, though it came out as little more than a whimper, as she felt her blood being drained from her.
Spike had been listening to fighting above them, and suddenly sensed Angel approaching.
"Time to go, Willow," he told her, leaving no room for argument.
With a disappointed whimper, Willow released Anya, letting the gasping girl drop to the floor. In a flash, she and Spike were up the stairs, and they were just about to make their way out the back door, when Willow collided nose to chest with a very angry Angel.
"You are not leaving this house, Willow," Angel told her sternly.
"Actually, I think you're wrong about that," she responded flippantly.
"You are not going with him. You are MY childe and you WILL do as I say!"
"Angel, let me explain this one more time," she told him. "YOU are nothing to me. Spike, is everything. Where he goes, I go." At that, she punched him as hard as possible, sending him staggering back slightly. "And just think, Daddy," she added with a grin, "I'm everything YOU made me."
"Way to go, pet," Spike said proudly. "Knew you had it in you." Shoving a dazed Angel aside, the two ran from the house and into the night.
~Part: 19~
As they reached the crypt, Spike pulled Willow to him, leaning back and kicking the door open. He pulled the redhead inside, claiming her mouth with his own. The younger vampire fell into him, sighing as the kiss deepened. She felt Spike run his hands around her, gripping her shoulders passionately, as he continued to plunder her mouth with his own. The redhead closed her eyes and leaned into him, giving into the kiss.
Suddenly, without being aware of what was happening, Willow was ripped away from Spike's embrace and she felt herself colliding with the hard, unyielding floor. She looked up at the blond in stunned silence, as he glared down at her with a look of disgust.
"You taste like HIM!" He bellowed. Immediately, Willow realized her mistake, and knew that she was about to pay for it.
"Spike, I can explain. I was just…" She began, but the blond vampire wasn't listening. Borrowed blood pumped in his ears, as the anger raged inside him.
"You touched him," he accused. "You kissed him. What else did you do?" His voice was low and lethal.
Willow began to shake her head. "I didn't do anything. Just a kiss. Just to-" Before she could finish, Spike grabbed her shoulders and yanked the redhead up from the ground in a painful grip.
"You are MINE!" He shouted, shaking her slightly. "How DARE you do anything with him!"
Willow briefly considered using her magic on him, but knew that doing so would only make the situation worse. Spike was like a wild animal who had just been threatened, and for all intents and purposes, he was. She understood that.
"I'm sorry, Spike," she whispered. "I didn't realize-"
Not waiting for her to finish her sentence, Spike gripped her arm and pulled her down into the cave below the crypt, before easily throwing the younger vampire onto the bed, and straddled her hips, holding her down easily enough.
"You belong to me," he told her forcefully.
Willow nodded. "I do. I'm yours, Spike." She was surprised at how easily the words poured from her. It wasn't too long ago that the very idea of belonged to anyone disgusted her. But now, after everything, she knew that she belonged to Spike. She knew that she belonged to him, just as he belonged to her. There was no question there. "I'm yours, forever," she told him, sincerity clear in her voice.
Lunging downward, the blond vampire bit into her neck deeply, causing Willow to arch her back and buck up into him. Spike released his painful grip on her arms as his hands began to explore and claim every inch of her body. Willow reached out, gripping his shoulders, pulling him closer as he continued to drink from her, running one of her hands through his soft hair.
She wasn't aware of the murmured words that spilled from her lips over and over. Spike didn't even hear her chanting until he had finally pulled away, knowing he could drink no more. That was when he finally heard her soft words, being whispered over and over as her eyes fell shut, exhaustion taking over.
"I belong to you, Spike. I belong only to you."
"Don't ever leave me, baby," he whispered, as he pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around the redhead and contently falling asleep.
~*~
Hearing the door open, Xander, Giles and Anya looked up wearily from the kitchen table. Xander had been watching as Giles cleaned and bandaged the wound on Anya's neck, not willing or able to leave her side.
"Did you get it?" Giles asked as the Slayer and the souled vampire walked in.
Angel simply nodded.
"Ran into a little trouble," Buffy told him. "Turned out that we weren't the only ones trying to crash the party."
"Spike," Giles surmised.
Buffy nodded. "He sent a few of his goons over to try and intercept the package. Took a little effort, but we dusted them all and got the orb."
"He's really pulling out all the stops here," Angel mused, more to himself than anyone else.
"Yeah, well, he may have won a battle or two, but we're winning this war," Xander said, determination in his voice.
Buffy walked over and handed the orb to Giles.
"No more waiting," she said decidedly, as Giles looked over the object. "We do this, now." The others simply nodded in agreement. Everything else had already been set up. It merely took the lighting of a few candles, the chanting of a few words, and the ritual was begun.
~Part: 20~
Willow was pulled from her sleep, feeling a burning sensation in her chest. Sitting up, she glanced over to see a still sleeping Spike, as he rolled onto his side and tucked the arm that had been around her underneath his body.
Doubling over from the pain, the redhead gasped and pulled back the blankets, swinging her legs around and standing quickly, stumbling away from the bed. She didn't understand what was happened, where this pain was coming from. It felt like she was burning up from the inside out, and had no way to stop it.
Just before she reached the ladder, Willow gasped again and fell to her knees, her eyes shut tightly as she clutched at her chest.
"Spike," she tried to call out, though it was nothing more than a hoarse whisper.
Glancing back, she saw that the blond was still sleeping in the bed, completely unaware of her pain and anguish. Suddenly, the pain seemed to triple, and Willow felt some kind of energy hit her, full force, and immediately, she knew.
"No! No, not now! Please," she tried to cry out, though she could barely hear her own voice.
The redhead knelt, her hands against the cold floor, panting as tears began to slip from her eyes. Everything was hazy and she felt extremely disoriented. She had no idea where she was or how she had gotten there. Opening her eyes, she looked around, though she couldn't make out any of the shapes or images surrounding her. Blinking several times, she continued to look around in confusion.
Suddenly, things began to come back to her. Angel, Angelus, Spike, Buffy, Anya, Xander, oh god, she was, she had, oh god. She had killed. She had hurt and killed so many. Looking back over toward the bed, she saw the still sleeping vampire, and panic swept over her. Pulling herself up, she stumbled to her feet and took a few shaky steps to the ladder, before quickly ascending and running from the crypt, having no idea where she was heading.
~***~
He had to find her, and he had a pretty good idea of where to look. There were only so many places that Willow would have gone. Angel had explained to the others that it was best that he go and find the redhead, alone. She would be overwhelmed with grief and guilt and every other painful emotion right now, and there was no doubt that she would not be ready to see her friends just yet. Angel only hoped that he would find her alone, without Spike, and that she would allow him to provide whatever small comfort he possibly could.
Walking quietly into the seemingly empty house, Angel immediately heard the faint sounds of sobbing coming from Willow's old bedroom. He had suspected that she would end up here, not having many other choices.
Once he had reached the bedroom door, he pushed it open tentatively, not entirely sure of what exactly he would find on the other side. Looking into the dark room, he could see the redhead in the corner, on the floor, her arms wrapped around her legs, as she rocked back and forth, sobbing.
Moving to her quickly, he paused for a moment, trying to gage exactly what his actions should be. He didn't want to startle or frighten her, and he didn't want to give her any other reason to run from him.
He could hear her mumbling something, as she rocked back and forth, but had to strain to understand it.
"Bad. Bad. Evil. Bad. So bad," she muttered over and over, oblivious to his presence.
"Willow," he called out softly. Getting no response at all, he called out to her again, this time placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
Willow's head shot up, and she glanced toward him, a startled and terrified look on her face. Her wide eyes ran over his face again and again, as if she was trying to recall exactly who he was.
"Angel?" She whispered, her voice unsure and hoarse from crying. "Angel, what happened?" She asked quietly. "I can't remember, only little bits, and-and bad, evil-evil, bad…" Dropping her eyes down, Willow began to rock back and forth again, banging her head against the wall with every mumbled word, seemingly forgetting about the dark haired vampire.
"Willow," Angel called out again, gripping her shoulder in a gentle but firm grasp, forcing her to stop rocking and look up at him again. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was tear-stained. Despite everything, Angel couldn't help but think that even now, the redhead looked completely beautiful, if not completely vulnerable and helpless.
"Come here, childe," he growled softly, pulled the unyielding redhead into his embrace, allowing her to cry her heart out, her sobs tumbling out into his chest as she clutched him tightly, as if afraid to ever let go.