Part VII - Dungherjahar Ashesh

Title: Inhuman Hearts

Pairing: B/S

Rating of the entire story: NC-17

Rating of this part: PG-13

Spoiler: Up to Normal Again.

Disclamer: I don't own them. Not mine.

Part VII - Dungherjahar Ashesh

Willow turned the key and walked into the apparently empty house.

“Buffy!” she called out, throwing her backpack on the couch. “Buffy!” when she was about to shout once more, she heard a noise coming from the basement, closely followed by the door opening.

“Hey!” a very tired Slayer holding a feather duster in her right hand appeared .

“Whatcha you doing?”

“Cleaning.” She answered throwing her exhausted body on the living room couch.

“Why the sudden cleaning bug?” the Wicca continued asking, sitting down next to her friend.

“Boredom mostly. I don’t think I’ve ever been stuck alone in this house for so many straight hours. It gets really dull very quickly.”

“Alone? Where did Spike go?” Willow asked surprised.

“He’s upstairs.”

Willow look at her inquiringly.

“Don’t ask.” Buffy dogged her friend’s curious eyes and changed the subject: “So, you got anything new on little ET?”

“Nop. Not yet. Tara is coming over later to do some research with me. We’re going to work on translating the rest of the passage about the ritual.” Willow’s face immediately lit up when she mentioned Tara’s name.

Buffy smiled sweetly at her friend and asked:

“How are you guys doing?”

“Better.” Was the single answer Buffy got, but she could tell that things were going very well by the blush that quickly sneaked up Willow’s pale checks.

“Well, I’m going upstairs, take a long relaxing bath and lay down for a while. Let me know if you guys find out anything new?”

Willow nodded, watching her friend slowly climb up the stairs.

****************************

Lazily, the Slayer let the warm water surround her aching body. She closed her eyes and relished in the balmy feeling that seeped inside her through every pore of her soft skin. Her mind swayed between reality and the limbo of sweet unconsciousness. The moment of bliss didn’t last for very long. A knock on the door forced her to open her heavy eyelids.

“What?” she sighed annoyed.

“Uhm-Buffy?” Tara’s faltering voice came from the other side of the door. “You better come out here.”

“Hum.” She moaned, “I’m coming.” She rouse from the tub reluctantly and wrapped a towel around her wet body.

“Buffy! Hurry up.” Willow’s very disturbed voice demanded.

“What?” Buffy hissed opening the door abruptly.

It wasn’t necessary for Willow to explain anything. In her hands the Wicca held the book the strange creature had tried to steal a few nights back. A powerful and pulsating red light emanated from it.

“What happen to it?” the Slayer inquired.

“We think someone used a locating spell on it.” Willow explained. When she noticed the frown on her friend’s face she continued: “Someone used a spell to find this book. It’s now sending a signal to whoever performed the enchantment.”

“Huh? You can do that?” Buffy asked.

“Yes. If-if you have a strong connection to a certain object you can.” Tara stuttered nervously.

“You mean to tell me that whoever did this spell can now find this-“ Buffy was interrupted by the sound of shattering glass coming from her room. “Spike!”

In seconds Buffy was in front of the door that led to her room. As she opened it she saw Spike’s motionless body laying on the floor. She ran to him, but the moment she set foot inside her room everything went blank. Suddenly she was hovering in blackness. She knew her eyes were open but she couldn’t see anything. She waved her arms and leg around trying to reach for something solid. There was nothing there to touch. Her heart raced as the darkness that surrounded her seemed to take over her state of mind. After a few moments panic settled in her chest and all she could do was scream. As she opened her mouth and forced the air out of her lungs she was surprised to find there was no sound coming from her throat. “What is this?” she questioned herself, she couldn’t stop thinking: “Does this have anything to do with the Gentlemen?”. She was about to continue her line of thought when she slowly felt the familiar sensation of being sprawled on a hard surface. Slowly she realised her eyes were closed. “Ah! Just another dream!” she concluded, but when she forced her eyelids to open she saw she was laying on the floor and right in front on her lay Willow’s unconscious body. Sluggishly, she sat up and inspected the room, realising it was her bedroom. Behind Willow rested Tara, her body curled up into a little ball.

“Spike!” she whispered desperately scanning the room for the old vampire. To her relief, she found him laying on the floor, on the other side of the bed. She knelt down next to him, carefully holding the towel around her body and stretched out her arm shaking him into awareness.

“Hum?” he moaned opening his eyes. “Wha happen?”

“You ok?” she asked worried.

He nodded. From behind her, Buffy heard Willow and Tara stir. The Wiccas looked at each other and were relieved to find that nothing had happen to either of them.

“Buffy.” The Slayer turned to see Tara’s worried expression looking back at her. “The book… it’s gone.”

****************************

Everyone sat around the dinning room table in silence. Xander was the first to dare say something:

“What do we do now?”

After a pause Willow exposed her idea:

“This… thing didn’t know how to perform the ritual, that’s why it needed the book. That was clear to all of us. What Tara and I think is that it didn’t even know it needed the…” she paused giving Spike a quick glance and then continuing: “inhuman heart. I guess that’s why it never came for Spike.”

“So now that it’s got the book how long till it figure Spike’s his…” Dawn paused in a very similar way that Willow had just done. “Spike’s it?”

“We don’t know.” Tara started. “From what we translated, it needs something other than… Spike. It needs the…” she stopped to check the sheets of paper she held and read: “Dunghe-dunghejar Ashesh, the Dungherjar Ashesh. Sorry, ha-hard to pronounce.”

“Well, where’s this Dungie thingy and how do I get my hands on it.” Buffy asked matter-of-factly.

“The problem is we don’t know what it is. We have to go to the Magic Shop and research it.” Willow explained.

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get cracking.”

They all stood up, including Dawn. Buffy gave her a look and shook her head.

“Please, Buffy. I wanna help.” The younger Summers girl pleaded.

Buffy thought for a while and realised that it was time to include her kid sister, plus she would probably be safer in the Magic Shop where she could keep an eye on the teenager, than alone at home.

********************************

They had been sitting around the table, cover to their necks in thick, heavy, smelly books for hours now.

“I give up.” Spike sighed dropping the book he was reading on the table.

“I wish Anya was here. She’d probably know what this Dungher is.” Willow moaned.

“Wish granted.” The ex-demon’s familiar voice came from the door that led to the training room.

“Anya!” Xander exclaimed surprised to see his ex-bride.

“Willow, can you tell this… thing I am not talking to it EVER again.” Anya said in a cold and distant tone, her chin high in the air as she turned away from Xander.

“Anya, we-“

“Willow, tell it!” Anya repeated.

“Anya?” Willow whispered. She really didn’t want to get in the middle of this.

“Tell it!”

Willow sighed: “Xander, Anya isn’t talking to you ever again.”

“But, An-“ Xander started to protest, but Anya cut him off, holding up her hand to his face and walking towards the table.

“What’s the problem?” she ignored Xander’s pleas and spoke calmly.

Xander was going to start talking but now it was Buffy’s turn to cut him off:

“What’s the Dungher-“ she looked at the piece of paper that had something scribbled in it with Willow penmanship: “Dungherjar Ashesh.”

“Dungherjahar Ashesh.” Anya corrected.

“You know what it is?” Tara asked.

“It’s a powerful dagger used to kill the Lord of the Cimbels.” She walked behind the counter, opened the cash register and took out a small key.

All eyes in the room were on her when she moved towards a small wooden cupboard and unlocked it. Inside were three books that were three times as thick as the ones that were now abandoned on the table. With a lot of effort she tried to pick one of the books up, but it was too heavy and she would have fallen if it hadn’t been for Xander helping her. He gave her a soft smile which made Anya’s ex-demon heart boil in anger, so she simply let go of the book. Under the unexpected burden Xander lost balance and fell to the floor with the book crushing his chest.

“Can’t breathe… oxygen.” Xander breathed forcefully.

Anya stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, enjoying the view as Dawn and Buffy immediately came to his rescue. Buffy easily managed to pick the book up and drop it on the table.

“So what does this baby have?” the Slayer asked, happy to see that everything was falling into place. Even though the chill that froze her stomach told her this story was about to get ugly, she’d rather know what she was facing then live in ignorance of it.

Anya gave Xander another cold look before she turned towards Buffy and started looking though the giant book. They all stood there in silence watching the shopkeeper go through the eggshell coloured pages.

“Here it is. She finally spoke, pointing to a black and white drawing of an old man. It was a normal man but there was something wrong with his eyes. They were entirely black; they had no whites like a normal person. “That’s Aronh, Lord of the Climes.”

“So who was this demon?” Buffy asked impatiently.

“Oh, he was no demon, he was very human alright.” Anya clarified. “Story goes he was the most powerful sorcerer that ever lived. Really big on black magic, hence the black eyes. To make a long story short: lived five thousand years ago, very powerful, wanted to rule the world, unleashed a plague on humanity, diseases, famine, death, yada, yada, yada, humans got together, humans killed him with the Dungherjahar Ashesh, which in Sumerian means Will of the Gods.”

Everyone stared at her.

“Let me guess, this Aronh guys had followers, right?” Buffy deduced. When Anya nodded, she sighed loudly and rolled her eyes. “The Climes?”

“Bingo. They vowed to bring him back even if it took them a thousand years to do it. For that they would need the same weapon that destroyed him.”

“Guess they are running about four thousand years late.” Spike groaned. “Persistent little buggers, aren’t they?”

“This is no time for jokes, Spike.” Buffy warned. “What does Aronh have to do with the First Slayer?”

“The First Slayer?” Anya repeated.

“Yeah. Buffy stumbled into a Khind’Ara that was trying to steal this book…”

As Willow told Anya the long story, Buffy fixed her eyes on the old man sketched on the worn out page. It wore a long, dark, hooded robe, which covered every inch of him except for half of his face.

“So now we were looking for the dagger.” Willow finished.

“Summon the First Slayer? Are you sure?” Anya asked. “Sometimes Djaklan is kinda tricky to translate.”

“Yep. That’s the one thing I’m sure of in the entire passage.” Willow assured.

“Maybe it has to do with the power associated with the Slayer.” Xander offered.

“Well, whatever this thing has to do with the First Slayer, it needs the dagger to perform the ritual. Guess we have to get our hands on that thing before anyone else does.” Buffy affirmed. Turning to Tara and Willow she continued: “You guys search the net and see if you can locate the dagger. Anya, we are going to need your connections with the dealers of magic merchandise.”

The ex-demon nodded, headed towards the telephone and picked it up.

“The rest of us, guess we have to search for a connection between this Aronh and the First Slayer. So noses in the books please.” Buffy directed.

Everyone sighed in unison except for Dawn. She was always willing to participate in the Scooby Gang research parties.

Part VIII - Fitting in the pieces

Title: Inhuman Hearts

Pairing: B/S

Rating of the entire story: NC-17

Rating of this part: PG-13

Spoiler: Up to Normal Again.

Disclamer: I don't own them. Not mine.

Part VIII - Fitting in the pieces

Buffy looked through the gruelling drawings that illustrated Aronh’s actions in his time. Sketches of people dying of the most agonizing diseases, others being dismembered and decapitated, but the one that stood out the most was the image of a pyramid of skulls built in the honour of the sorcerer. From what was described in between the terrorizing drawings, Aronh had been considered a god by the tribe of the Climes, who carried out his dirty work.

“Got it!” Anya said triumphantly as she hung up the phone. “The dealer that has the dagger is sending it in as fast as he can. Should be here in tomorrow.”

“Great work, Anya! Now we-“ Buffy stopped talking when she saw Spike bringing his index finger to his mouth, signalling her to shut up. Slowly he stood up and rounded the table, going behind the stacks. A mild struggle was heard and instants later Spike reappeared holding the Khind’Ara by its neck.

“Oh-oh!” the slimy creature uttered with its high-pitched voice, then it gave them the same ridiculous smile it had given Buffy the night they’d first met. “Hello!”

“It was listening to us the whole time.” Xander concluded.

“No kidding Boy Genius!” Spike mocked “Good thing it smells, easy to detect.” As he spoke a drop of the demon’s slime fell from its head onto Spike’s precious duster. “Oh, bloody hell, there goes my duster!” he protested. “Watch where you drop your goo, pal!”

“Sorry!” the creature apologized with a forced grin.

“How does it eat? It doesn’t have any teeth.” Dawn wondered out loud.

Buffy frowned at her sister and looked at Spike:

“Oh great! You got its goo on you, perfect!” she noticed.

“Buffy, don’t worry it only affects humans. Spike’ll be ok.” Willow quickly explained.

The Slayer huffed and turned her attention to the demon, which hung by its neck in Spike’s hand.

“You, start talking.” She ordered.

“Me. No. Talk. Anything!” it pressed its lips together and crossed his long arms over its bony chest in a sign of protest. “You torture. Me no speak.”

It took Buffy only one step towards the creature to make its façade of bravery crumble. In less then a tenth of a second it was screaming:

“No, no, no. No torture. Me talk. Pleeeeeeeease no torture.”

“Not very brave is it?” Xander observed with a smirk.

“I guess we finally found something more spineless that you, Harris!” Spike ridiculed.

“Hey!” Xander resented the statement.

“Guys!” Willow intervened.

Buffy crouched in front of the demon, carefully avoiding getting any of its slime on her.

“Who’s your master?”

The creature looked up at Spike and then back to the Slayer.

“Me no know…” it squealed.

Buffy took a stake from her back pocket and the creature immediately started crying out:

“Me no know! Master is smoke.”

“What do you mean your master is smoke?” Buffy asked, she was starting to loose her patience.

“Master is smoke. When Master is, is all black. Master go puff, no more black.” It spoke quickly and nervously.

“Ok, anybody get that? Cause I think I misplaced my ET lingo to normal speech filter.” Buffy gave up, standing and walking towards the table.

“I-I think what it’s saying is that when it’s Master is with him everything goes black. Com-complete darkness. The absence on light, matter, form…” Tara tried to explain. “His Master is Aronh!”

“That can’t be. I thought the guy was dead.” Xander started protesting.

“Xander, this is Sunnydale. Being dead is not an obstacle, I should know.” Buffy argued.

“Tara is right. I read about this when I was researching about resurrecting t-“ she stopped herself and looked at Buffy for a second. The Wicca’s eyes started to well up with tears, but the Slayer’s understanding smile calmed her and she was able to finish: “the dead. If something happens when you’re… bringing them back…” she swallowed hard and continued: “they can get stuck in a torn space between reality and… the other world. You get trapped in nothingness, in limbo. Someone must had tried to bring Aronh back but failed, probably cause they didn’t have the dagger. Now, Aronh must be, somehow, crossing reality with limbo. That’s what happen to us back in your room Buffy. That’s how he got the book. But he probably can only do that for a few seconds. His soul is trapped in that darkness, he doesn’t have form. The ritual will probably enable him to take form.”

“But what does taking form have to do with the First Slayer?” Dawn finally spoke.

“That thing has a soul?” Buffy seemed to be stuck on the idea that a creature that caused so much destruction could never have a soul.

“Of course. He was human, Buffy.” Anya reminded her.

“Just hard to keep that in mind when you read through this book.” She explained pointing to the large book on the table.

“Wha, Slayer, still think that demons are the only real bad guys in this picture?” Spike asked “Humans can be just as bad, soul or no soul.”

Buffy dropped her gaze to the floor, she couldn’t face the vampire’s accusing eyes. The tension between the two of them was obvious to everyone in the room except for the little demon that was still hanging from Spike’s hand.

“Me go?” it pleaded.

“No!” everyone answered in unison.

“Sorry!” it squealed.

“What are we supposed to do know, Buffy?” Willow asked.

“We stay here and research until we get our hands on the dagger, then we see what we do next.” Buffy explained.

“No, I meant about little ET over there.” The Wicca rephrased pointing to the Khind’Ara demon.

“Yeah, I’m getting kinda tired of holding it.” Spike protested.

“We’ll use the chains in the training room.” Buffy offered.

*******************************************

“Oh! Look how cute it is.” Dawn remarked looking at the strange demon.

It was sitting on the floor, its scrawny legs crossed as well as its arms. From its wrist a heavy metal shackle dangled and chained the creature to the stairs that lead to the top floor of the Magic Shop. It stared at the ceiling with huge gawking eyes.

“It is sweet.” Willow agreed putting down the book she was researching for a second, to look at the demon who was now feverously scratching its chained wrist.

In the meantime, Spike leaned over the counter of the shop and absentmindedly turned the pages of a dusty old book.

“Hey there.” Buffy greeted approaching the vampire.

Spike nodded, his eyes never leaving the book.

“You ok?” Buffy asked “The wound, I mean.” She added lightly tapping her own chest on the spot where his injury was.

Another nod. Awkward silence feel around them and Buffy searched her mind for a topic of conversation.

“You never told me what happen in my bedroom.”

“What do you mean?” he continued to turn the pages and it started to annoy her a lot.

“When I came to the bedroom, before the whole blackness, absence of form thingy started you where on the floor.” She remembered.

“I was?” he asked and for the first time in that conversation he looked at her. “All I remember is one moment I am sound asleep on the bed, the next everything goes pitch black and then I’m on the floor with you calling me.” He explained and returned to the book.

“Oh!” Buffy tried to fill in the silence. “So, whatcha doing?”

Spike raised his eyebrow at her.

“Reading.” He said matter-of-factly.

“Oh! Good.” She continued, leaning on the counter next to him. “Found anything?”

“No.” he answered.

“Hum.”

“Do you need something?” he finally asked.

“No, just making conversation.” She replied.

“I noticed. Why?”

“Do I need a reason?” she questioned.

“Lately? Yeah.” He answered going back to the book.

“Fine! I was just trying to be nice.”

“You? Nice? To me? Since when?” he spoke with an accusing tone.

She stared at him without an answer to his question. They looked at each other for what seemed like eternity. Her heart raced as her mind desperately searched for a way out of that uncomfortable moment. Dawn gave her that chance when she spoke:

“We should give him a name.”

Buffy immediately went into Slayer/Overprotective parent mode. “It’s not a pet, Dawn. It’s a demon and we are not naming it.” She demanded quickly walking away from the vampire and over to her sister.

Dawn pouted crossing her arms. Tara smiled, leaned towards the young teenager and suggested: “What about calling it It?”

Dawn’s face immediately lit up at the Wicca’s words.

“Where are Anya and Xander?” Buffy asked.

“I don’t know, we can’t hear the shouting and yelling anymore, maybe they’ve made up.” Willow offered.

“YOU LEFT ME STANDING THERE!!!!” Anya’s angry voice came from the training room.

“Or maybe not.” Willow sighed.

**********************************************

“An, I’ve already told you. I’m sorry! I was just scared, everything was going so fast.” Xander tried to explain, but the ex-demon wouldn’t have it, she crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back to him. “An, please say something.”

“I hate you.” She hissed.

“Something other than that.”

“I despise you.”

Xander sighed. At least she was talking to him. He was about to continue his pleas when the back door of the Magic Shop fell open. Three hooded figures came in.

“Hey, you’re going to pay for that.” Anya protested and walked after the strangers who ignored her and headed towards the main room of the shop, where the other Scobbies were. “Did you hear wh-“ she choked as the last of the hooded figures picked her off the floor by her neck.

“Anya!” Xander shouted, lunging at the figure that held the ex-demon.

The stranger let go of Anya and focused on the human that was now clinging to him and trying to strangle him. Effortlessly he got Xander off him by throwing him across the room. Xander fell to the floor with a loud thud and hit his head on the wall.

“Xander!” Anya yelled as she crawled her way to the unconscious young man.

The hooded figures ignored the wounded couple and continued towards the other room.

***************************

“What was that?” Buffy asked.

“Xander!” Willow replied standing up and walking towards the training room.

She was barred by the three tall, hooded figures.

“Where is it?” one of them inquired.

“Who are you?” Willow asked.

With a swift move of his arm the stranger flung the witch across the room, just as he had done with Xander.

“Willow!” Tara went to her aid, kneeling next to the red headed girl.

“I’m ok!” Willow assured.

“Dawn, under the table.” Buffy order, her eyes fixed on the strangers. As she tried to look at their faces she found them covered by masks. They were completely black except for a strange white symbol that was carved just above the two eyeholes.

At the sight of the three hooded figures the Khind’Ara demon squeaked, curling up into a little ball.

“Tell us where the heart is.” one of them spoke in a low voice.

Buffy’s heart was racing as her body prepare for a confrontation.

“I have a better idea.” She replied calmly moving towards them. “How about I just kick your asses.”

“The heart, Slayer!” the taller one order. Buffy was about to lunge at them when suddenly a bright red light surrounded them, grew in intensity and when it dimmed the three strangers had disappeared.

“What was that?” Dawn asked from under the table.

“Xander! Anya!” Willow reminded them.

Buffy quickly made her way to the training room to find Anya on her knees holding Xander’s head on her lap.

“Xander?” Buffy called.

When she came closer she found him unconscious. Anya looked up at the Slayer; her eyes bright and glassy with tears. Without a word she moved her hand from under Xander’s head and Buffy saw red blood dripping from her long fingers.

“Willow, call an ambulance.” Buffy shouted.

Part IX - Spike-Specials

Title: Inhuman Hearts

Pairing: B/S

Rating of the entire story: NC-17

Rating of this part: PG-13

Spoiler: Up to Normal Again.

Disclamer: I don't own them. Not mine.

Part IX - Spike-Specials

Anya paced around the hospital lounge rubbing her sweaty hands together. She was startled when Willow came from behind and lightly caressed her shoulder.

“Don’t worry, everything’s going to be ok.” The Wicca assured. She never knew what to say in these situations, so she resorted to the stereotypic response.

Anya looked at her wide-eyed. She choked back the tears as she tried to speak. Willow padded her on the back and brought her arms around the ex-demon, holding her until the sobbing subsided.

From the long green hall came a man dressed in what looked like green pyjamas with a stethoscope around his neck. Anya immediately ran to him, assaulting him with an avalanche of questions and sobs.

The man smiled sweetly. “Don’t’ worry, Mr. Harris will be fine. He suffered a minor concussion, other than that his CAT scan’s normal. He’s conscious now and seems completely aware of his surrounding, which is always a good sign. He’ll have to stay the night and probably tomorrow too, just to be sure.”

“He’s ok? Are you sure?” Anya asked in disbelief. As the doctor nodded she flung her arms around the man’s neck and started giving him light pecks on each check. “Thank you, thank you so much. Can I see him?”

“Sure.”

The doctor entered the room followed by Anya and the rest of the gang. She brought her hand to her mouth at the sight of Xander laying on the bed. He had an IV stuck in her right arm and a bandage around his head.

“Mr. Harris, there is someone here to see you.” The doctor announced.

Xander slowly opened his eyes and looked up at a flushed and teary Anya smiling down on him.

“Hey.” He struggled to speak.

“Hey.” She could hardly get the words out as she tried to fight back the tears.

Xander smiled tenderly and looked behind her to see the whole gang.

“Hi, guys!”

“Hey!” they all greeted him.

“You gave us all quite a scare there!” Willow whispered coming closer to the bed.

“Next time, let me handle the bad guys, huh?” Buffy joked.

Xander laughed but soon regretted it as throbbing pain took over his head.

“Now you see what I have to suffer with this damned chip in my bloody head!” Spike teased playfully.

“Spike? What are you doing here?” he asked surprised, but deep inside he was sort of happy to see the vampire there.

“They forced me to be here. I didn’t really care.” Spike lied badly.

“Sure.” Xander smiled.

“You feeling ok?” Spike asked, a serious tone taking over.

Xander simply nodded.

“Doctor says you’ll be back on your feet in no time. You’re not getting off research duty that easily.” Willow spoke softly, holding Tara’s hand.

“Thanks, you guys. For being here.” Xander paused and then remembered. “What about ET?”

“We named it It. Isn’t it cool!” Dawn finally spoke. “We left Clem babysitting him, plus Tara did this captivity spell on him. He can’t move more that 10 feet in any direction. It’s pretty cool, you should see the little guy walking round and round in circles. He-“ Dawn was forced to shut up when Buffy put her hand over her mouth.

“We’ll leave now. We’ll be outside if you need anything.” Buffy explained dragging her sister with her. The rest of the gang quickly followed leaving Anya and Xander alone in the room.

“Don’t. Ever. Do. That. Again.” Anya started.

“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t let them-“

She pressed her fingers over his mouth and spoke softly:

“Don’t ever leave me again. It hurts too much.”

Xander’s heart almost jumped out of his chest as she leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

****************************

Buffy and Dawn walked home silently. Behind them, tightly tied with a leash the Khind’Ara demon was dragged by a very discontent vampire.

“Oi, why do I have to take him?” Spike protested.

“Cause if It gets some slime on you, nothing will happen.” Buffy explained for the fifth time since they’d left the hospital.

As they made their way home, the Khind’Ara sneezed, its entire body jolted and in doing so the demon successfully covered the vampire’s right arm in slime.

“Oh, bloody hell!” Spike complained as he walked into the Summers residence.

The two young girls giggled at the sight of the very pissed vampire.

“I’m very fond of this duster and slime-ET over here has pretty much destroyed it.” Spike grumbled.

“Oh, don’t be such a baby, that’ll come off in a second.”

Spike stomped his way up the stairs and headed towards the bathroom cursing under his breath.

“Dawn go wash up too. I’m ordering pizza.” Buffy told her younger sister.

“No, Spike said he’d make Spike-Specials tonight. He promised.” Dawn informed on her way upstairs.

“Fine. I’ll order pizza for myself. Don’t come crawling back when you want some cause you’re not getting any.” Buffy shouted at the teenager at the top of the stairs.

*******************************************

Buffy hung up the phone when she finished ordering an extra cheese and pepperoni pizza.

“Hey, you’re all washed up.” She noted looking at Spike who was now sporting his famous red shirt and black jeans look. “Did it come out?”

“Hum… yeah.” he mumbled pass her and into the kitchen.

“Willow called. Said she’d stay over at Tara’s. Guess they’ve working out their problems, huh?” she asked, trying to start a conversation, but when she had no answer from the vampire she added: “Whatcha doing?”

“Spike-Specials.” He answered distracted as he picked the ingredients off the various shelves.

Buffy leaned on the kitchen sink and watched him in silence. She fumbled with a spoon between her fingers; she couldn’t understand what had gotten into the vampire. He was so… indifferent to her presence. “Good, maybe he’s gotten over this stupid infatuation.” She tried to convince herself, but she couldn’t ignore the gut wrenching feeling brought on by the idea.

Spike moved through the kitchen apparently completely engrossed in his cooking. Buffy nervously tapped her fingers on the table trying to look occupied. As the vampire passed by, she deliberately moved in his way, bumping into him and causing her to loose balance. With supernatural reflexes, Spike snaked his arm around her for support.

As he looked down into her eyes, her chest crushed against his, Spike thanked the gods he didn’t have a heartbeat because, otherwise, the cool and indifferent appearance he was trying so hard to keep up would have been blown to bits. His entire body ordered him to kiss her, but instead, he moved his arm away from her and returned to his cooking without another word.

Buffy just stood there. Shocked. “What?” She felt her heart shrivel up in her chest, while in her stomach a painful battle seemed to break out. She swallowed hard; trying to understand how all of a sudden it looked as if she had absolutely no effect on him. She was brought down to reality by the doorbell ringing.

As she left the kitchen to answer the door, Dawn walked in drying her hair with a white towel.

“Hum, smells good.” She complemented, standing next to the vampire, who was taking an egg from the frying pan into a clean plate.

Spike smiled at her as he started cutting the bread. Buffy walked into the room carrying a pizza box in her hands.

“Who wants pizza?” she asked.

“No, thanks. The Spike-Specials are almost ready.” Dawn replied.

“Bring me those plates over there.” Spike requested.

“Okie-Dokie.” Dawn put the plates in front of him.

“There you go.” Spike said with a huge grin on his face.

“Do you think It is hungry?” Dawn inquired.

“Well, I made an extra one, I’ll go and take it to him.”

“No, let me.” Dawn moved to take the plate from the vampire’s hands but was stopped by her sister’s remark:

“Don’t you even think about it! Let Spike take it. I don’t want you going all wonky because of goo-intoxication.”

Dawn pouted as Spike took the plate from her hand and walked over to the living room.

“Hey there slimy, brought you dinner.”

The Khind’Ara demon immediately started moving around in excitement.

“Food good.” He noted stretching out his long arms.

“Hey, watch the fast movements, buddy. I just got cleaned, don’t want your goo all over me again.” Spike protested jumping back.

The demon looked up at the vampire with large pleading eyes.

“Ok, don’t look at me that way. Here you go.” Spike left the dish on the floor, immediately the demon grabbed it and swallowed the whole thing, plate and all.

“Bugger!” Spike exclaimed opening his eyes wide in surprise.

Buffy half-heartedly munched on her pizza as Spike walked into the kitchen.

“This is absolutely wonderful, where did you learn to cook this?” Dawn asked with a mouth full of sandwich.

“Ah, that’s a secret, little bit.” He winked at her.

**********************************

Buffy dried her hands on her jeans as she put the last plate in the dishwasher. She walked into the living room, from where she heard laughter. Looking over to the sofa she saw Spike throwing a chip in the air. The funny looking demon immediately jumped up and caught the chip in his mouth, swallowing it with a very satisfied face. Dawn was sprawled on the couch holding her stomach as she giggled uncontrollably. Spike soon joined her; the Khind’Ara was just too hilarious. “He’s laughing? Since when does he laugh? He never laughs around me.” Buffy thought. Suddenly she felt evil-Buffy taking over as she ordered her sister:

“Dawn, go to bed, you’ve got school tomorrow.”

“But, Buff-“

“I don’t care. Bed. Now!” she commanded.

“Come on, Slayer. It’s only ten o’clock.” Spike disagreed.

“Stay out of this. Dawn!” Buffy snapped.

“You better go.” Spike suggested giving her a light peck on the forehead. “Night, bit.”

“Night, Spike.” She replied moving past Buffy without even looking at her.”

“What bit you in the ass?” Spike asked with a cold tone.

“Nothing. Just don’t butt into things that are none of your business.”

“I care about the Nibblet, that makes it my business.” Spike snapped.

“Hey, she’s my sister. I’ve told you; stay. Out. Of. This.” She shouted.

Spike pressed his lips together to avoid saying something he might regret.

“Look, I don’t know what’s got your knickers in a twist, but you’re not being fair to the Nibblet.” Spike argued standing up to face her.

“Stop calling her that!” she shouted.

“No more food?” the demon protested.

“Shut up!” both Spike and Buffy yelled back at him.

“Ups! Sorry!” It squealed slowly caressing his sore stomach. Probably he had over done it when he swallowed the second plate.

“You’ve got to stop treating her like a kid. She’s fourteen.” Spike said turning to face Buffy again.

“You are not her father.”

“No, I’m her friend.”

“Wake up, Spike! You’re a vampire. You can not be her friend.” She yelled and stormed out of the room without giving him a chance to reply.

Part X - Restless

Title: Inhuman Hearts

Pairing: B/S

Rating of the entire story: NC-17

Rating of this part: PG-13

Spoiler: Up to Normal Again.

Disclamer: I don't own them. Not mine.

Part X - Restless

Spike tossed and turned trying desperately to fall asleep, but as usual Buffy’s face haunted him. His mind insisted on replaying the scenes of the day over and over again. “If she wants it to be over, fine, it’s over”. Everything would be over, including his constant slavering and pining over her. As he turned to face the TV, he remembered holding her in the kitchen, earlier that evening, when they had bumped into each other. “Bloody hell, man, forget about the chit!” he ordered himself. But it was useless. The simple memory of her body crushed against his sent shivers down his spine. “Bugger!” he hissed.

“Me want to sleep. Shut up.” It protested as he lay on the floor.

“Oh, bugger off!” Spike grumbled.

“Evil.” It mumbled half asleep.

“Dam right I am.” Spike spat.

“You angry because Slayer shout?” It asked raising his eyes to the fellow demon on the couch.

“None of your bloody business.”

“You like Slayer.” It squeaked with a large toothless grin.

“I do not.” Spike denied.

“You think Slayer is beauuuuuuuuuutiful!” It teased.

“Shut up.”

“You want to kiss Slayer?” It continued pushing his lips to simulate a kiss.

“If you don’t shut your gob I’ll come over there and ring your neck.” Spike threatened.

“You looooooooove h…” It wasn’t able to finish the sentence as the vampire’s cold hands were tightly gripping his throat.

***********************************

“Stupid Spike. Stupid, stupid.” Buffy mumbled to herself as she paced around her room clutching the pillow between her strong arms. After about an hour of walking around in circles, Buffy gave up and prepared to go to bed when she heard a noise coming from the corridor.

“Finally!” she whispered heading for the door and opening it abruptly.

In front of her was a very surprised vampire.

“What are you doing here? If you’re thinking about apologizing you can just turn around and go back to the couch, cause I really don’t want to hear it.” She spat out in her usually arrogant tone.

Spike just stared back, his scared eyebrow raised high on his forehead.

“I wasn’t.” he answered calmly.

Buffy was caught off guard by the answer; her widened eyes were a testament of it, but she decided to play it cool.

“Well, then what are you doing here?” she asked haughtily.

“Little accident with ET down stairs.” When Spike saw Buffy’s please elaborate on the subject so I can understand look he added: “Accidentally tried to choke the little fellow, got slime on my hands and had to wash up.

“Oh!” Buffy murmured heading back to bed.

“You ok?” he asked, he just wasn’t ready to leave her yet.

“Fine! Why wouldn’t I be? I’m just peachy!” she answered with a forced smile on her face that made her look like the Joker.

“Ok! Night Slayer.” He greeted her limply.

“Ah!” she sighed opening her mouth wide. “That’s it? Night, Slayer?” she shouted with a terrible reproduction of his London accent.

“Hey, could you bring it down a notch there? Dawn’s sleeping.” He warned her coming into her bedroom.

“Right, Dawn.” She sighed.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“I-I-“ she stuttered in anger. “I hate you.”

“Oh, it’s the I hate you speech. I’ve heard that one. If you don’t mind I’ll just skip it this time, Slayer.” And he turned to walk away.

“Fine. Leave. I should’ve gotten used to it by now.” She murmured.

“Slayer-“

“Stop calling me that!” she yelled at him.

“Shhhhh. Dawn-“

“Yeah, Dawn’s asleep. You know what? I really don’t care.” She continued talking in a loud voice and Spike was forced to cover hear mouth with his hands.

“Shhhh.” He repeated. As he looked at her, their proximity dawned on both of them and Buffy leaned into his hand. Coldly Spike pulled away from her.

“What is this?” she spoke angrily.

“What’s what?” he asked pretending not to know what she was talking about.

“Why are you acting like this?”

“What do you want from me?”

“I-I want you to stop this… thing. I want… I-I want…” she struggled with the words and finally said with a pout. “I want a Spike-Special.”

“Huh?” Spike looked at her in confusion. ”Why do I always go for the complicated ones?” he asked himself.

“Why didn’t you make me one?” she questioned him, looking up at him.

“All of this is cause of a bloody sandwich?” he stared at her in disbelief.

“You didn’t answer me.”

“Cause you had pizza. You said you wanted to eat pizza.” He explained. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.”

“Maybe I wanted the sandwich.” She continued.

“You want me to make you a bloody sandwich at 3 am?” he asked astonished.

“No.” she exhaled sharply and paused for a moment. “I know you think I’m ugly but that doesn’t mean I’m not sandwich worthy.”

“Huh?”

“You heard me. Why am I not sandwich worthy?” she asked serious as a heart attack.

“Did you get some of ET’s gunk on you or something?”

“No!” she shouted.

“Slayer, shut up and go to sleep.” He said dismissively turning toward the door.

“Stop turning away from me!” she hissed pulling him by his arm.

“What’s gotten into you, Slayer?”

“Why do you keep calling me that? Why does Dawn get to be the Nibblet, Willow gets to be Red and I’m the Slayer?” her voice was low, her hand still held a tight grip on the vampire. “Why don’t I have a pet name?”

“You had one remember? Goldilocks? You went and chopped off your hair.” He hissed at her.

“You think I look ugly with my hair like this? Is that it?” she asked running her hand thru it.

“What’s with the teenage crises all of a sudden? Why do you think you’re ugly?” he moved his head from side to side as he spoke.

“You’ve just been so different. So… distant.”

“I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“No. That’s not what I wanted. I-I want… I want…”

“When you do figure out what you want, be sure to let me know.” He murmured. “Cause I’m just tired of these games, I really don’t need this at-“

“I want you!” she breathed pulling him to her and crushing his mouth with hers.