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What sound does a heart breaking make?	By : chilli Category: AtS/BtVS Crossovers > Slash - Male/Male > Angel(us)/Xander > Angel(us)/Xander Views: 24007 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, Angel or Blade. I make no money from this.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
BETA'D BY: Elaine and James (I can't thank them enough for what they've done!)
A/N: I know I said that it was only going to be 10 chapters then the epilogue, but there are a couple more loose ends that I think I need to tie up. So there will be a Chapter 11, THEN the epilogue.
I apologise and I'll think of something to make it up to you all.
Chapter 10
Later that night, Angel after reducing Xander to a limp body of pure satisfaction, eyed the satiated face of his lover with a slow smile. “Is it over...?” he asked softly. He gently stroked his lover's hair away from the flushed panting face.
“If you're talking about sex, then that'll be a HELL NO!” the younger man said firmly, though the effect was somewhat ruined by his ragged gasps for breath.
“Wiseass...” the vampire said affectionately. “I'm talking about Buffy and the rest.” He waited with unnerving patience for the answer. Though it really didn't matter one way or the other what Xander said, he was still going to have a little 'talk' with his lover's parents.
The young man in his arms stiffened then relaxed. “Yeah, except for the fat lady...it's almost over.” Xander muttered almost too softly for Angel to hear, but still, vampires have very good hearing.
“Good...that's good.” Angel's voice dropped to soft murmur as he slowly stroked his mate to a state of peaceful slumber. But his easy movement at odds with the vindictive light taking shape in his eyes. And the cold light of retribution was in his deadly smile.
An hour later he rose carefully from the bed and headed for the bathroom for a quick shower. Then heading back into the room and using all the vampire stealth at his command, he dressed hurriedly before making his way out of the bedroom. Unaware of a pair of white, glowing eyes peeking at him from under half-closed lids.
Jogging easily down the stairs and whistling a casual Irish tune, Angel came to a brief stop at the sight of Spike leaning against the main doors.
“Was wonderin' when you were gonna show up,” the blonde said irritably, with a flashing blue-eyed glare at the older vampire.
Angel came down the rest of the stairs, the surprise on his face faded to a quizzical expression. “Spike, what the hell are you doing up?”
“Waitin' for your lardarse...” the other vampire grumbled. “Hadda leave me warm bed with Ethan and Dru still asleep ta come with this bloomin' idiot,” Spike groused softly.
“Come with me?”
And Spike gave the older vampire an amused smirk. “Pull the other one...I seen that look in yer eyes too fuckin' many times...Angelus.”
Slowly the other smiled. “Not Angelus, dear boy.” And as he purred the words, a cold dangerous darkness took shape in his eyes. It almost made the other vampire step back in remembered fear. “But I sure as hell ain't quite as 'good' as I used to be.”
Spike shivered in remembered pleasure at the vicious look in his grandsire's eyes. “This should be interestin'.” And he followed the older vampire out the door.
And for three nights they skulked around the Harris' house.
Leaving 'presents' for the older couple.
Expressing their wordless admiration in elegant, hand-written notes for Mr. and Mrs. Harris.
Day two...Early one morning, sitting innocently on the Harris' doorstep was a beautifully wrapped gift. A cream colored envelope was simply addressed: To the Harris'.
But the box...ohhhhh, the box just screamed the giver spent a lot, like buckets of cash and thought in selecting not only the wrapping paper, but the ribbon as well. And the bow, ohhh how Mary Harris gaped in slack jawed wonder at the ornately crafted bow. Even they, with minds dulled by repeated applications of cheap liquor, recognized that the bow and the box were masterpieces of exquisite, creative designs.
And when Peter Harris brought the gift inside he was so awed and humbled by the beautiful creation that he just stood there, staring at it on the kitchen table. They both did. Then Mary and Peter gazed around at the faded wallpaper in their kitchen, feeling shamed to their core. The wrapped present only seemed to emphasize just how shabby and worn this room...their very lives had become.
So, at first Peter was hesitant to mar the ornamental beauty of the gift by opening the box. Deciding to defer unwrapping the box in favor of reading the hand-written note tucked discretely in the ribbon.
A frown of confusion twisted his face when he pulled the ivory card out. All that was on it was a few words...'Just a little something for you both to express my feelings' and it was simply signed 'Angel'. Who the fuck was Angel? He showed the card to Mary, but she mutely shook her head. She never heard of Angel either.
As Peter eyed the box, a look of greed began flickering to life in his eyes as he mentally began calculating just how much wrapping the box alone added up to. Then he grabbed a knife and began cutting first the fabric ribbon, then the cloth wrapping until finally the box was revealed. Mary stood eagerly by his side as he, with trembling hands, opened the box.
...breaking the spell that Ethan had cleverly settled on the box. When the box was opened, it showered foul smelling dog feces and pungent cat piss all over the room and the humans as well. The lurid, vicious curses that raged in the room would have brought brilliant smiles to both the devilish vampires had they been able to withstand sunlight. But they could imagine.
It put Peter Harris in an even fouler mood to start his day. He had to take two showers just to remove the odor and sense of uncleanliness as well as brush his teeth again. Though he was maliciously gleeful that Mary had to wait for the bathroom and she had to clean the mess. And by the time he arrived to work, he was over an hour late. Which did not please his boss. Who expressed his extreme displeasure very loudly, very publicly, thereby increasing Peter's already nasty mood.
As for Mary Harris, she cursed Peter with vicious intensity while she cleaned the kitchen of the mess. In between answering the phone, and growing more and more pissed at the hangups, interrupting her cleaning. Finally she was she finished, and she headed upstairs and took a long, refreshing shower at 12 pm. Coming back down, she slumped on the couch in the living room, completely exhausted.
Then the phone ring.
A soft, sweet voice whispered, “Here comes a candle to light you to bed; here comes the chopper to chop off your head." There was a titter of merry laughter then the *click* as whoever hung up the phone. Mary dropped the phone in it's cradle, her brows contracting in a puzzled frown.
And throughout that day, it rang.
“Remember, remember the day of screams, treason and blood. Dadde will never forget the Dark Kitten's screams and blood. He's comin' for you.” *Click*
“Rings around the rosies, pockets full of posies, ashes, ashes, YOU ALL FALL DOWN!” *Click*
“Two dead mice, see how they lay; they died 'cause daddy hated the cheese, cut off their heads with a carving knife. Did you ever see such a sight in your life, as two dead mice?” *Click*
“Georgie Porgie, puddin' and pie, beat the boy and made him cry. When daddee came out and saw, daddee broke Georgie's jaw...poor little Georgie...” *Click*
By the eighth call Mrs. Harris was past being angry and belligerent. Now she was seriously contemplating stepping into panic and terror. She had stopped answering the phone, and sat chain smoking nervously in the kitchen. Each time the phone rang, she flinched and poured herself another drink with a trembling hand while eyeing the phone with dark suspicious eyes. And as she raised the glass in her shaking hand to take a drink, it made a near audible clinking sound as it vibrated on her teeth. If she didn't pick up the phone, the call went into the answering machine. There was a slight pause, then *click* as the caller hung up.
All without saying a word. It was only when SHE picked up the phone would someone, something would start singing those crazy songs. And the laughter that followed the taunting, singsong rhymes. Although it had been years since she had last seen one of those fuckin' horror movies, she knew crazy, demented, insane scientist laughter when she heard it. And whoever that bitch was that was calling was seriously fucked up in the head.
And by the time Peter Harris returned home, she was passed out in a drunken stupor on the kitchen floor. Shrugging in contempt, he stepped over her to grab himself a couple of beers before settling on the couch to watch TV.
Dru had such fun terrorizing her Dark Kitten's, mumsy. But it was a secret that she mustn't tell him. “I'll never tell,” was said in a singsong as she danced around the mansion. Xander gave her a puzzled glance, then looked curiously at Ethan. The older man shrugged and gently restrained his beautiful lady's movements.
She gave Ethan a bright innocent smile and started dancing with him. “Little Bo-Peep has lost her sleep, but we know where to find YOU.” Ethan felt a dark quiver at her words. And he didn't know whether to laugh or drag her back upstairs to their bedroom. She was such a little monster, he thought fondly and swept his mad beauty gracefully around the living room.
“Is it just me, or does Dru's craziness seem to be getting contagious?” Faith murmured to Xander as they watched the swaying couple.
“For the sake of my sanity, I'm going to go with it's just you,” Xander said firmly and hastily left the room.
On day two, Mr. Harris came out to his car and opened the door. He immediately vomited all over himself at the ripe smell within. Through tearing eyes, he abruptly noticed that the inside of his car was smeared with a foul smelling paste.
Deep into the still of night, Angel had smeared the interior of the car with the saliva of Aniy demon. Initially it produced a pleasant, fruity smell; however, if not washed off quickly, after a few hours the stench of an Aniy demon's spit could and would reach epic, stomach turning proportions.
“Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet, eating her curds and wheys. Along came the ghosts, along came the ghoulies...all came out to play.” *Click*
“Mary Ann Cotton, she's a liar and rotten. She lies in her bed soon to be dead.” *Click*
“Just you wait 'til it's your time, Haarmann will come after you, with his chopper, oh so fine, he'll make mincemeat out of you.” *Click*
In the dark hours of the morning, Mary Harris stumbled up the stairs to the bedroom. Her lip curled in disgust at the sight of Peter sprawled all over the bed, snoring. And grabbing a nightgown, Mary shucked off her clothes and blinking sleepily she lurched to the bed. Then she became still, her foot frozen in the illusion of walking. Her eyes widening at the sound of singing coming from outside. With dread growing in her heart, Mary walked hesitantly to the window and drew back the curtains. And for a few seconds she regarded the outside with puzzled eyes.Okay, admittedly, there was the porch roof running the length of the front and a little bit of the side of the house but still...
...and she whimpered at the sight of a young, incredibly pale dark-haired girl.
Sitting just outside the bedroom window.
On the rooftop.
Outside of my bedroom window.
And that one implausible reality kept circling around in Mary's dazed mind.
“I have a new daddee, he let me have a puppy,” the girl said confidentially, turning wide, innocent eyes on her. “All my other pets stopped moving, but this one will play with me forever and ever. Daddy White-eyes said so!”
“Th...th...that's good,” Mary stammered out, her eyes wide with shock. She was willing to do anything, or say anything to get that disturbing gaze off of her. And she relaxed slightly when the girl turned that disquieting gaze away.
“Star light, star bright won't you come out to play...” the girl softly chanted. Then turned to Mary again. “I have a secret...do you want to hear?” She whispered as she leaned towards Mary conspiratorially. And while her mind screamed 'NO!', to her horror Mary found herself leaning forward, drawn to the young woman by some dreaded fascination.
“I see dead people...”
Mary swallowed heavily, then began backing away from the insane child. Because that's what the girl was, fuckin' nuts! But when a terrifying change rippled across the girl's beautiful face, turning it into some kinda inhuman feature, Mary froze. A feeling of paralysis coming over her as golden eyes glared at her while pink lips were curled upwards in a smile, revealing a mouth full of jagged teeth. Very, very sharp, jagged teeth.
My, what sharp teeth you have, Mary thought hysterically.
“Like daddee...”
And that...that...creature prowled closer to the window in the most fluid, predatory way imaginable with those wide, disturbingly hungry eyes fixed on her. Making her feel like dinner for some kind of rabid, starving wolf.
“...and like me!” The thing lunged forward with wide snapping jaws and all Mary could see was long vicious teeth. So she closed her eyes and began screaming, her voice piercing the night like an air raid siren.
But by the time Peter stumbled out of bed, all he saw was a screaming Mary and the curtains blowing in the wind. And growling irritably, he backhanded her for disturbing his rest. Which snapped her out of her fear induced paralysis and the woman instantly was able to channel her terror into aggression. Handily, Peter had handed her the means of doing so by hitting her. This led them naturally to a fighting, screaming match.
Blowing away the nightmarish vision she had imagined on the rooftop.
After it was all over, Mary laid in the bed beside her snoring husband. Her face and body aching from his fists, but she was at peace. She snorted to herself in self-contempt.
You stupid, dumb bitch! Getting yourself all scared because of some dumbass, little shithead playing games on the phone, she sneered at herself. Letting a couple of punk ass kids get to you, you stupid idiot. Then you start imagining things.
Mary chuckled as she rolled over in bed, absently smacking Peter to stop his snoring. Then she froze, her heart racing in her chest as an eerie voice began softly singing.
“Lullabye and goodnight, the stars shine so bright, we'll creep in your house and torture your spouse; I'll bite your neck, drink your blood so red, and like me you'll be dead. But no Turning just DEAD!”
And silent tears began flowing down Mary's face.
Dru smiled slowly, her luminous golden eyes - closed as she sat on the rooftop, her back pressed against the chimney stack, singing a lullabye for her Dark Kitten's mummy.
By the night of her third day of terror, Mary was jumping and twitching at every little noise she heard outside the house. But it was unfamiliar noise INSIDE the house that had her darting into a corner and cowering with a butcher's knife clutched in one tight fist.
Just waiting.
She knew in her bones that something was coming for her and Peter...and it wasn't going to be pretty.
As for Angel and Spike, day three was their crowning moment. The older vampire knew Peter Harris' routine by heart. Afterall, he had been stalking the man since they had arrived back in Sunnydale. Angel had laid the groundwork by establishing himself at the local watering hole by outdrinking the local inhabitants. Every now and then, buying a round of drinks. And using his almost forgotten Irish accent he was smoothly ingratiating himself with the drunken sots as a good ole boy. Loudly declaiming his worth as 'A Man' and shouting about the evils of his boss. And he waited with cold patience for his chance to go 'Angelus' on Xander's father.
Though he nearly gave his mate an early heart attack that first night by getting into the bed reeking of alcohol. Had it not been so tragic, it would have been funny at just how fast Xander rolled out of bed. Finally coming to a terrified halt against the wall. And Angel found himself summarily banished to the bathroom shower until he no longer reeked of liquor. He had to take three showers before he could coax his trembling boy back into their bed. And even then, he could still feel Xander's heart racing and the limber body tense and unyielding against his own.
After that, Angel made sure that he was as alcohol-free as possible. Smelling faintly of alcohol didn't trigger Xander's defense mechanisms, but reeking certainly brought out the white-eyed Protector in his young lover in a hurry.
But it was all worth it, Angel thought in icy satisfaction as he surreptitiously studied an inebriated Peter Harris. He and Spike trailed Peter to the local bar when Angel decided the time was ripe to put an end to both Ma and Pop Harris. And taking seats next to the man, they struck up a seemingly casual conversation with him, slowly progressing to buying him one drink a piece.
Peter didn't suspect much, having seen the Irish guy in the bar frequently in the past week. Liam was always good for a drink and some kinda bullshit story. By the end of their drinkfest, they played the part of a pair of drunken men easily as Peter. Declaring themselves completely 'shitfaced'. And out of money.
And swaying from side to side, Angel extracted an ATM card. Crowing with triumph, he and Spike leered drunkenly at Peter asking him if he wanted to join them. But Peter Harris, even drunk, was NOT that big of an idiot or a fool. Sober, he knew damn well that something other than 'gangs hopped up on PCP' were the cause of the high number of 'incidents' in Sunnydale. However, both Spike and Angel had centuries worth of experience in luring and beguiling unsuspecting victims to a sometimes violent and bloody end.
So with gruff enthusiasm, Peter stumbled down the street with two of the deadliest predators walking the earth. Once they had money, and had visited the nearest local liquor store Angel began the final stage of the senior Harris' lives. With well played besotted camaraderie, Angel even managed to convince the human to invite them into his home.
“Get up, ya lazy bitch!” Peter shouted, his face turning even redder at the humiliating sight of his wife sitting in a corner. And him with friends right behind him! Indignation rising in him, he started for her in a rage, momentarily forgetting his guests.
But before he could get far, he felt an iron grip on his shoulder, spinning him around. At about that time, Mary started screaming shrilly. Peter saw a pale streak flash by him then his wife's cries abruptly cut off.
“Now, now, none of that luv,” Spike murmured to the woman. His face shifted and he grabbed her arm when she swung at him, then grabbed her by the throat.
However, most of Peter's attention was on a demonic face and a pair of frozen eyes glaring at him. Where the hell was Liam? he thought confusedly. Then he thought nothing as a fist slammed into his temple. And seeing this, Mary felt tears flood her eyes...they were gonna DIE!
“Don't kill her...” Angel called over to Spike, who was leaning in for the kill. “At least not yet,” he tacked on at the blonde's irritated glance.
“Yer always spoiling me fun,” the younger vampire grumbled. But he released the woman, letting her drop contemptuously on the floor. And Mary lay gasping on the floor, watching the two...two...creatures with wide terrified eyes.
Angel snorted. “My boy, I've taught you many things over the years. But I don't think I've taught you Revenge.”
“Is this somtin' like torturing humans?” He asked with a skeptical look.
“Sorta...but better.”
Spike's eyes widened. And pure evil delight glowed softly in his eyes as he shifted back into his human guise. “And me without a bottle of bubbly...”
They began to laugh when Mary began pleading for her life. Begging them to kill her husband, anything...just let her go. Her broken words of promises growing increasingly wilder the longer they ignored her. Then Angel hefted Peter's bulk over his shoulder and carried the unconscious, drunken man away. And Mary began screaming hysterically as the blonde man approached her. She began trying to madly scrambled away from the terrifying creature.
At first Spike watched her entertaining spastic movements to escape with malicious glee. But it was quickly becoming so 'carbon dated' as Cordy would call it.
“Bored now...” The blonde punched the woman in the temple, finally get bit of quiet. Grabbing the woman, he threw her over his shoulder and headed in the direction Angel had taken.
And working swiftly, the two vampires had the Harris' all nicely tied up. Most important of all, the basement safely protected against the those nasty rays of the sun.
Peter opened his eyes groggily, frowning then wincing at the sharp stab of pain in his head. Groaning softly, he blinked rapidly as his blurry vision slowly began to sharpen. Objects, shapes coming into focus and finally recognizing that he was in his basement.
His heart leaped in fear as his eyes settled on a large dark body, terrified that the insane looking creature that had punched him was still here. Then he relaxed, identifying Liam's pale sleeping features in the gloom. His mouth opened, to call to his friend when he happened to look down, finally paying attention to a feeling of tightness around his wrists. And a slight inhalation of shock escaped him at the sight of ropes wrapped around his limbs.
“Ahhh, I see that our gracious hosts are awake,” came a drawling voice. Peter looked up, his mouth shutting abruptly as Liam pushed up from his chair.
“L...L...Liam...” Peter stammered out, staring with wide eyes as his friend strolled closer. Lazy, nonchalance menace was in every move the other made. The human's eyes darted over to Spike, also prowling closer. And with a feeling of shock, he realized that that was how Liam was moving...prowling like some kinda animal. So, if that was the case then where were their prey? And staring up at the two, he had a horrible sinking feeling that he knew.
And while he was thinking, Mary came too. The instinctive feeling of danger had her eyes rapidly clearing and focusing on what was coming towards her. With sharp clarity she recognized Spike and began screaming, her voice getting progressively wilder when she found herself bound to the chair she was sitting in.
“Will ya shut the fuck up, ya stupid lazy cow!” Peter blasted out as he turned his head towards her. And when he turned back, he bit back a scream of his own at the sight of the molten golden eyes on Spike and Liam's faces.
“What the fuck...?”
“We're not fucks...we're vampires,” Spike quipped with snarky cheer. Then assuming a stern expression he intoned solemnly, “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be misquoted and used against you.”
“Spike...” Angel half-sighed/growled, though he did have a faint smile on his lips.
“Spoilsport...” Spike grumbled, a sulky look on his face as he subside. Then brightening, he sidled over to Mary, his eyes glittering with malevolent enthusiasm. “Can I kill her now?”
“NO! Spike, Spike, Spike...it's Revenge that we're after, remember. So when you do Revenge, you gotta do it real slow while telling them WHY you're doing it. Makes it all that more painful. So let them scream, cry and beg for their worthless lives. Then we really torture them and after that, *then* we Kill. I know it's a fine line, but you have the basics down. We just need to refine them a little bit,” Angel instead waited patiently. Then looking at Peter, he confided, “Childer today are just so impatient. Always rushing the kill.”
Mary resumed screaming, her scream choked off by Angel's silky voice. “My dear woman, you don't have any reason to scream...yet.” He purred with sleek, urbane menace. Then his face shifted into demon mode. “However, I can be persuaded to change my mind.”
“B...bu...but why? I'm mean, we were drinking buddies! I ain't never did nothin' to you!” Peter protested, struggling to understand what was going on.
Spike snorted, his eyes glacially amused. “It ain't what you did to HIM,” he said, jerking a thumb at the icily composed face of Angel, “It's what ya did ta his mate. Ya touched his mate, is why yer gonna die.”
Mary’s eyes widened in shock and anger. “Damn you Peter, you couldn't keep your damn zipper closed for once in ya life, you fuckin' dumbass!”
But Peter shook his head vigorously in denial, his eyes wide in fright. “I swear to God I didn't touch her! The only woman I've been fuckin' is this bitch and that piece of ass down at the bar!” he stridently yelled, jerking his head at his infuriated wife.
And they began a screaming shouting match of vicious, name calling. Abruptly recalled to their surroundings when the two vampires smiled slowly, razor sharp teeth gleaming with menace.
“Who ever said my mate was a female?” Angel smirked nastily.
And for the few seconds after the words filtered through his mind, Peter's expression reflected all the revulsion and contempt he felt. Then his survival instincts kicked in and he smiled desperately at the two vampires, stinking with fear. “Liam, I swear I didn't TOUCH your mate. Even if I knew who he was, I wouldna touched him! I'm straight! I tell ya, I ain't no fuckin' queer. Not that being a flamer is a bad thing. I got a couple of friends that are fags.” He switched his wide, fearful gaze between the two vampires. His tremors of terror increasing at the stifled look of malicious amusement on Spike's face.
“So, tell me Peter...how does it feel to be so fuckin' scared that you're about to piss in your pants?” Angel said conversationally. He strolled back to his chair and picked up a large black bag and returned to a position just in front of the terrified human. “Oh, and by the way, please call me Angel,” the vampire added.
Mary moaned low in her throat at that name, remembering the beautifully wrapped present that had been left on their doorstep. She began trying to scoot her chair backwards when he opened the bag and began removing sharp, gleaming knives.
Then something caught the two vampires attention and their heads lifted alertly, slightly cocked to the side.
Then they froze.
And Mary and Peter froze as well. Their bodies slumping in relief at hearing footsteps above. Taking a chance, their eyes on the motionless vampires, they both began screaming for help at the top of their lungs. Hoping and praying that whoever came down the stairs would suit the vampires much better than they...
Early that morning, a grumbling Xander stumbled out of bed. And his face twisted in a sour expression, his lower lip poking sulkily at the extreme lack of vampire lover in bed. This carousing at all hours had to stop...then he grinned, ten points for me for using 'carousing' in a sentence!
Then he quickly wiped away his grin and continued practicing his stern speech for Angel. Not that he thought his vampire honey was gonna listen. A less tolerant person would say that Anged a d a certain flexible quality that was curiously...not. But not him. Never him. No one would ever hear him say Angel was being uncompromising and or even stubborn. Fortunately nobody around here was a mindreader.
After showering and dressing, Xander headed downstairs. Thankfully, Ethan and Wes were already up and about, and had breakfast ready. Which was a good thing, Xander thought as he grabbed a piece of toast and sausage when Cordy honked impatiently outside. Otherwise, neither he or Faith would ever have a morning meal.
* * *
He, Faith and Cordy made it into school a few minutes before First Bell, with him sliding into his class and quickly taking his seat. And despite Buffy's gimlet stare that was clearly designed to bore a hole through his skull, he maintained a serene smile. Which he knew was bugging the shit out of her. But she couldn't do a thing to him other than glare at him, especially since Mrs. Thomas was darting confused looks between him and the Buffster.
And at their History teacher's resigned look, he could tell Mrs. Thomas had given up on making heads or tails out of what was going on. When she turned her back and began writing on the board, Xander immediately turned and made a horrible face at Buffy.
Some of the class, aware of the trouble between the two, began snickering. Their laughter growing at the dumbfound look that settled on Buffy's face then the furious rage that twisted her face. And by the time Mrs. Thomas whirled around, Buffy was on her feet glaring daggers at Xander's studiously bent head.
“Buffy, is there a problem?” Marlene Thomas asked, her eyes narrowing sternly on the furious young woman. And behind her composed teacher's mask, she silently groaned. While it was very unteacherlike, there was always something about the tiny blonde girl that she positively detested! Every time she saw Buffy, her hand itched to slap that haughty superior-than-thou look off the child's face.
And shaken by the virulence of her thoughts, Marlene missed part of what Buffy was saying.
“...me,” Buffy had a dark glower on her face as she glared hatefully at Xander. Goddamn little fucking bastard! She knew he was behind all those late night visits that Angel had been paying her and Giles. Trying to scare HER! Not that she would admit it, but deep down inside, where no one could see...she was just about to shit in her pants.
There was a time when the creatures of the night feared her, a time when she reveled in the dark. She shuddered slightly, nowadays, all she could think about was the terrors the nighttime held for her. She hardly dared to venture outside after dark. And especially not to the Bronze. No telling when Angel or the rest of them would decide to snatch her from the streets. Besides, from all reports from the other kids in the school, Cordy, Faith and Xander absolutely ruled the Bronze these days. And the heat in her glare double, tripled at Xander.
Marlene shook her head. Her eyes touched on Xander's polite, questioning face for half a second before she fixed her gaze back on her blonde student. But her lips twitched. She had a sneaking idea why Buffy was so 'pissed'. Previous experience with Xander enabled her to recognize the dark, mischievous look glittering in the boy's eyes.
Though while a bit puzzled, even she had heard the rumors of a falling out between the Diabolical Trio as some of the teachers had privately taken to calling Willow, Buffy and Xander. Out of Rupert Giles' earshot, of course. That man had a most shocking, low tolerance for anyone questioning the dubious value of one Buffy Summers.
And opinion was somewhat evenly split over whether Buffy was responsible for their behavior or were Xander and Willow to blame for corrupting her. What had finally ended the vehement arguing was a point smugly presented that Buffy HAD burned down her previous school. That succinct point had abruptly silenced many of Buffy's strongest supporters.
Marlene rubbed her temples wearily. She really didn't need or want to deal with this first thing in the morning. Was being a teacher really worth all the aggravation? Of trying to deal with a couple of troublemakers so early in the school year?
“Buffy, please sit down and address your attention to the work at hand,” she sighed as she half-turned back to the board.
“NO! He...”
And abruptly Marlene lit into a harsh rage. She spun around so fast that the kids in the front row leaned back, trying to put as much distance between the furious, suddenly terrifying woman in front of them as possible.
“I SAID SIT DOWN!” The older woman bellowed, her eyes cold and hard as she glared into Buffy's shocked face. And an astonished silence descended on the room and every student watched Marlene with wary, fascinated attention.
“Young lady, despite what you may think, this is MY classroom. I am the teacher and YOU are the student. And you are sadly mistaken if you think I will allow you to disrupt my classroom one minute longer than you have already. Now you have two choices: you can sit down, open your book and close your mouth...or you may walk out of that door and straight to Principal Wood,” Marlene grated out in the shocking silence of the room. Then she eyeballed the startled and horribly embarrassed girl until Buffy meekly sat back down.
Drunk with power, she was enormously gratified at the avid attention the children focused on her. She was on a roll and Marlene smiled at the room at large, making the students shudder in fear.
“As a matter of fact, I suggest that you ALL open your books, open your minds and close your mouths. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you may be able to learn.” She stared challengingly around the room before she turned back around, flushed with success.
Maybe she'll give teaching another year. And she chuckled silently to herself...Marlene, you silly old thing, you do this every year. Get upset, then have a hissy fit. She snorted, like I would have really retired from teaching.
And contented with the studious quiet behind her, Marlene Thomas enjoyed an extremely well-behaved class and until the bell rang, she held their rapt attention. And by the third class, word of mouth had spread about Mrs. Thomas' badass self and she continued enjoying the respectful attention of her students throughout the week.
In his third class Xander sighed as he got up to the sympathetic looks from his classmates. Principal Wood just gotta stop calling him to his office, he thought aggrievedly. People were starting to get the wrong idea. Yet despite his ill feelings and need to stomp through the halls like a little kid, he maintained an amiable grin. And he didn't even bother to glare back at Giles, who clearly had been sneaking peeks at his X-men comic books. Too bad Cyclop's mutant powers were incompatible with reality.
As he hurried to the Principal's office, he saw Willow quietly retrieving something out of her locker. And by the way her shoulders stiffened he knew she had seen him but she didn't lift her head or try to attract his attention anymore. Probably was scared of what he would do to her, he thought cynically and felt a sharp stab of pain. Out of all of this, the one thing he regretted more was the loss of his faith and ability to trust her. Though the only thing that seemed to be of the good was that Wills seemed to be keeping her distance from Buffy. But he knew it wouldn't last.
~How do you know that?~ The Protector asked with some curiosity.
~Because she doesn't trust in herself enough and she hates being alone. Willow thinks that when people tell her what to do, that it means they care and that it's a sign of affection or something.~ Xander replied silently.
There was a thoughtful pause as it ruminated on its' host words.
~I do not understand. Nor do I understand your continuing affection for her. ~
Xander stopped at the water fountain and took a drink to give him time to finish their conversation. ~Willow's parent gave her the opposite of attention. Every since she was a little they've basically treated her like a miniature adult. Forcing her to make her own decisions. They had very 'progressive' ideas on how to raise a well-balanced and independent child, a theory which the majority of the adult population definitely didn't agree with. There were absolutely NO rules in her house. Nothing that she did ever had any consequences for her.”
“I remember when we were about 8 or 9 that her parents bought a picture. Willow told us that it cost about 10 or 20 thousand dollars. And to a kid, 1 dollar was a lot of money so naturally me and Jesse were kinda awed by that. Willow drew mustaches and beards on all the women and put skirts on all the men. She was so excited. But me and Jesse were scared to death that her parents would flip out and kill her. But she didn't care because at last she would get their attention, to know that they SAW her. And all they did was pretend like nothing ever happened. Nothing she did ever got their attention. She was invisible in her own home. So she gave up and around them and everybody else she became this shy, geeky little adult just begging for attention. But me and Jesse knew and saw the real Willow Rosenburg. She's a lot stronger than she knows.”~
~So, she's a coward.~ Was the flat statement.
Xander heaved a sigh. He was now standing just outside Principal Wood's door. ~No, she just thinks that if somebody pays attention to her, it makes her visible. She thinks that in order to be accepted and loved she has to be weak and helpless. She ain't figured out that sometimes too much attention can be...painful.~
Then he turned the knob and stepped into the office with a hesitant grin. And at the cool, slightly approving smile the older man gave him all his bullshit senses came silently, quietly alert. However, not by a flicker did he let on that he knew Principal Wood wanted something from him. But playing Go Fish! with Dru taught a person the fine art of patience.
“Principal Wood, you asked to see me?” he asked instead as he trained mild, innocent brown eyes on the older man.
“Yes, please sit down", Robin requested, gesturing to a wooden chair just in front of his desk. He resumed his seat and regarded the young man thoughtfully.
“I just wanted to check up on you, to make sure everything was okay. After that little...” and he shared a smile with Xander, “...rumble with that 'gang' I just was interested in how you and the others were doing. I hope that Ms. Summers is not causing you any more unpleasantries?” Robin said, a brow arching inquisitively and at the quick head shake from Xander he sighed. “Excellent.”
He smiled again at the young man, who cheerfully smiled back at him. A look of wholesome innocence shining visibly in Xander's wide brown eyes.
Robin’s smile widened encouragingly.
Xander smiled back, his lips curving upwards. Now twinkles of good humor dance in his eyes.
Despite his gentle smile, Robin's eyes started hardening as he stared at the boy.
And Xander continued to smile charmingly at Principal Wood. He wasn't budging one inch. For most of his admittedly short life, he had learned how to fake smiling as if there was nothing wrong. As if his life was really a bowl of chocolate covered cherries. Even if his backside felt like it was on fire, he still smiled. People asked questions and got real nosy when kids always went around crying or looking hurt all the time. Which led to more problems at home.
“You know, it would be a lot easier if you just come right out and tell me what you want,” Xander said, easily holding his winsome smile intact.
With a huff of exasperation, Robin's smile vanished as he sat back in his chair. His eyes narrowed on the cheerful looking kid.
“I want Spike.”
Xander blinked. Of all things Principal Wood could have said, THAT surprised him. Damn, who would have thought Principal Wood was gay!
“Uhm...I really think you need to talk to Spike about this. Uhm, you do realize that he's with Dru and Ethan...like together together?” he said uneasily.
Robin’s face immediately screwed up, a look of revulsion on his face. “That's not how I 'want' Spike! I don't want to be his lover!”
“Oh...oh good, cause that'll be a lot of people in that particular bed,” Xander said in relief then groaned. “And I so did NOT need that mental picture that flashed through my mind! Old people having sex...ewwww!”
Robin rubbed the bridge of his nose, struggling not to grin at the horrified, disgusted look that appeared on the boy's face.
“Trust me, us 'old' people...” he broke off what he had been about to say and muttered to himself, “ I can't believe I'm attempting to have this conversation with a kid.”
“Anyway, my request really goes to the Protector, grandpa. I want to kill Spike,” Robin said and gave him his most engaging grin when Xander's brown eyes faded into white.
“No. Now, will that be all? Xander has one more class to go to before lunchtime and I find that listening to his stomach rumble is not conducive to good studying habits,” the Protector stated calmly.
“What do you mean 'No'?! I know why you're protecting Angel considering that the two of you are involved, so why the hell are you protecting Spike?! He killed my mother, that makes him a damned murderer!” Robin shot to his feet, a furious look on his face.
“I would imagine that as an educator you are fully aware of the connotations of the word 'NO',” the white-eyed creature stated dryly, “Therefore, I will answer your second and third questions. Why am I protecting Spike? Because he has an important mission to accomplish for me. And Spike is a vampire so technically, killing Nikki was not an act of murder but one of survival.”
“My mother was a Slayer,” Robin breathed dangerously as he leaned over his desk. “Shouldn't you at least pretend to give a damn about her?”
The Protector's eyes glowed brighter. Abruptly the room shifted, and objects in the room made an abrupt rattling sound before everything settling. “Forgive my lapse in temper,” the white-eyed creature said stiffly to its' motionless grandchild.
“To answer your question, I care for all my daughters. Slayers hunt demons, and should the demon prove to be a menace to their territory, then my daughters are trained to dispatch the demon as swiftly as they can. To imply that because Spike killed Nikki, he is a vicious murderer, that is a blatant untruth. Most demons, especially vampires, generally go out of their way to avoid Slayers. Spike is no exception.”
“He killed my mother!”
~Dude, don't go there!~ Xander yelped to the Protector.
“You are behaving in a most childish fashion,” the white-eyed creature snapped coldly.
~You just had to go there didn't you~ Xander accused his roommate.
Robin drew back in astonished rage. His eyes were wide in disbelief before hardening into chips of obsidian ice.
“Principal Wood, that's not what it meant to say,” Xander said frantically to still the cold fury that was threatening to overwhelm the older man.
“See, Slayer and vampires are like two sides of the same coin. Like that Chinese stuff..uhm Yin and Yan. Slayers are females, females give birth, females...life. Get it? Just like vampires, male or female, are dead...they represent the opposite of Slayers. Vampires are death, the only way they can reproduce is by bringing death.”
“And another thing, vampires are one of the few races of demons that were once humans. So because of that, in vampires and Slayers it creates a kinda tingling, uneasy feeling whenever they get around each other. Faith is no exception but she ignores the feeling cause Rejar, Angel and Kyle taught her how to recognize individual vampiric signatures. She won't react to the vampires that she knows, like Spike and Dru, but she will react to any strange vampire that comes into her territory.”
Xander’s voice slowed down considerably as he saw Principal Wood listening, really listening to him.
“You called Spike a murderer, but he's not a murderer,” the young man stated softly, his eyes steady on the infuriated man.
“Oh, then what would you call him?” Robin snarled sarcastically.
“Uhm, Spike." was the confused response. Xander held up a hand sharply when Robin opened his mouth to blast him. “Look, I'm not trying to be funny or make ya mad and stuff. Spike is what he is...he's no more a murderer than you would be considered a murderer for eating a hamburger.”
Robin sputtered, his eyes narrowing in anger. “That's completely different!"
“How? You eat meat...vampires 'eat' blood.” Xander shrugged. But his eyes were wary as he studied the older man, ready to dodge just in case the other started swinging.
“Then why don't he 'eat' plasma or pig's blood you your precious Angel does?!” Robin shouted harshly with cold gleaming eyes.
The young man rolled his eyes expressively. Then the Protector shifted, taking over the conversation. “Because it is not quite as simple as you think. It is a threefold problem. First of all, a vampire demon that has not made the shift to True Master status is a Revenant. A Revenant is typically personified as a psychopathic, ruthless would-be slaughterer of humans. A few steps above a just awoken vampire Childe. Furthermore, a Revenant is generally only concerned about destroying as many humans as possible. They are so foolish that they seek to destroy that which gave them life. The demon attempts to destroy the creatures that helps maintain their 'lives'...humans. Out of disdain and delusion of their superiority and grandeur.” The white-eyed creature snorted its' contempt.
“Secondly, vampires are created with a psychological imbalance. In essence, they are functionally insane. However, the solution to this problem is quite simple. The more blood they consume, the saner they become...the more HUMAN they become. Vampires need human blood to...grow up, so to speak. Human blood contains a certain nourishment that vampires need to grow into True Master vampires. The vampires that can make the transition into True Master vampires gradually lessen their killing of humans as they get older. They grow stronger, faster and consume considerably less blood than a Revenant.”
“And Thirdly, feeding off of humans keeps a vampire connected to their origins, their mortal state...which is something the demon despises. It keeps the demon eternally chained to the source of their bitterest rivals, humans.”
Robin listened to this all with a set stony face. Then his face twisted into a nasty smirk at the boy and the Protector. “Well, since you apparently don't have a problem with vampires, I guess you don't mind that Angel and Spike have been stalking the Harris', then?” He arched a brow sardonically at the horrified look that settled on the kid's face.
“Well, I guess that answers my question,” he murmured waspishly, with a spiteful gleam in his eyes.
Xander's lips tightened in a hard line. Abruptly he whirled around with a set face and headed out the door.
“Mr. Harris, I don't believe I gave you permission to leave school grounds,” Robin barked harshly after the boy.
And at the slow, flinty-eyed look Xander gave him, he flinched back. “And I don't believe I asked it either,” came the cold reply.
Robin thought for a few seconds before he hurried after the boy, easily catching up. “You'll get there faster if I drive you,” he said offhandedly at the questioning look Xander gave him.
Arriving at the boy's house, Robin blinked at the shabby, cheap looking interior. He directed a frown at the back of Xander's head, then shook his head. Did the boy really live here? Christ, this place was worse than some of the flophouses him and his momma used to crash.
At the sound of the screams for help, Xander led the way through the kitchen and the basement door.
“Mom...? Dad...?” he called, hurrying down the stairs. But at the sight of Angel and Spike watching him, he froze in midstep. Robin, hurrying behind him almost knocked him down the rest of the stairs.
“Take him!” Peter yelled to Angel and Spike. “Matter of fact, take them both! You don't want me! Look at 'em, young, fresh and healthy too!”
Robin's eyes widened in horror. His astonished gaze darted first to Angel and Spike still in their true faces, then to Xander's father. Then his eyes dropped to the tense and rigid shoulders of the boy.
“damn...” was all he could breathe.
And Angel flinched at the shattered look that flashed in Xander's eyes before his boy's long lashes concealed his expression.
“Kill them! Nobody'll miss the kid, I can guarantee ya! With all the 'gangs' in this here town, I can just tell people that's what happened! I swear, I won't say a thing.” Peter said desperately, his lips twitching in a weird parody of a smile. He licked his lips as his eyes darted between the motionless vampires, his son and that black man.
And a sly look of fierce cunning lit his eyes. “You...you like guys, right? 'Cause your mate's a guy, right? Well, my son...he's a faggot, ya see and you can fuck him then kill him, see?!”
Robin pushed past Xander and slammed a brutal punch in the man's face. “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” He stood breathing heavily as he glared at the groaning man.
“Damn you! You fuck shut up! Do you know what you've done?! Now, if Spike kills you, *I* gotta be grateful for him getting a piece of shit like you outta the gene pool!”
Peter blinked, not understanding what was going on.
Xander whirled around and stumbled up the stairs, gasping for breath. Feeling like his heart was about to shatter in two. His only thought was of getting away. Away from his hateful parents, away from the horrified pity in Principal Wood's eyes...away from that damn look of concern in Angel’s. Absolutely certain that if he had to stay one more minute breathing the same air as his father, all the king's horses and all the king's men wouldn't be able to put him back together again.
But Spike and Angel smelled the salty tang in the air. Angel growled, snarling to Spike that the blonde was NOT to kill the Harris' and raced after his mate. And vampire speed had him up the stairs, and catching his boy running for the door. With a choked watery sob, Xander froze when Angel pulled him back against him.
Guiding the trembling lad to the couch, Angel sat and pulled his forlorn boy into his lap, rocking and purring up a storm as Xander gave up his battle for control and began crying.
“Why c...c...couldn't they love me...?” came the muffled wail into Angel's chest. “They didn't haf...ta love me a lot...just a little bit.” Was said between hiccuping, sobbing breaths.
“I don't know why, baby...” Angel whispered in reply, as he rocked his sweet boy in his arms. Xander's pain was ripping him apart inside and he didn't know what to do other than offer his support and love, and continue stroking his hand soothingly down the boy's shuddering back. Remorse nearly consuming him that his thoughtless quest for vengeance had inadvertently hurt the one person he had thought to protect.
But his comforting hands were at odds with the murderous fury raging in his veins, in his soul. The look in his eyes more akin to Angelus' terrifying rampages than Angel's less intense rages. And the vampire's jaw was clenched tight, a muscle popping just under the skin.
“I wa...wa...was...a good b...b...kid and I loved them!”
“Yes, yes you were...” Angel murmured as he rocked faster, his hands busy patting and rubbing his baby gently.
“Pa...rents are supposed to...love their kids...” was the distraught, stuttering cry from the bewildered young man. All he had ever wanted was for his parents to love him. He would have done anything for their love.
Anything...and they offered him up to be fucked and eaten. He sighed softly, slowly gaining control of himself. His parents were not worth Angel bleeding them.
In a remote corner of his mind, while he felt an incredible sense of giddy happiness that Angel really, REALLY wanted to kill his parents for what they did...he knew that this wouldn't be right. He didn't want his parents blood on Angel's hands.
“Don't kill them...” came a soft murmur from the bowed head.
Angel blinked, his face falling in disappointment. “Not kill 'em?! But Xander, mmmf...” His eyes went wide when Xander grabbed the sides of his head and crushed their lips together. And what the boy lacked in finesse he certainly made it up in enthusiasm, Angel thought dizzily. Then he hastily pulled away from his tantalizing mortal and stood up.
“Now, Xander that's not fair,” he began to lecture the boy. But he also began backing away slowly, unsettled by the lusty gleam in his human's eyes. “Okay, look....you are NOT going to use sex to convince me to let...mmmmf!” Damn, but the boy was fast, was the vampire's fleeting thought, before his mind was becoming lost in the steamy passion that Xander was endeavoring to raise in the room.
Gathering his shredding self-control Angel pushed the boy away from him. And for half a second they stood frozen, staring silently at one another. Then Xander slowly licked his lips and his lips curled upwards as he advanced. He deliberately set aside his unhappiness in favor of trying to distract Angel from killing his parents. And the fact that he would get a BIG happy from his lover was the furthest thing from his mind.
The Protector snorted and hastily retreated to its' room. At least there it would not be bothered the hormonal teen's wild emotions.
Angel straightened his clothing and smoothed his hair. Being older and wiser, and certainly no slouch in human body language, he decided a retreat was in order. Whirling he sped away to the safety of the basement, with a excited Xander chasing merrily after him.
Meanwhile, Robin and Spike gazed at each other. Spike smirked nastily at the deadly, hostile glare the bloke was shooting his way. Cor! Iffen he weren't dead already, by them looks the whelp was given him he certainly would be.
“Where's Lia...I mean Angel gone? Is he gonna kill Xander and let us go?” Peter asked desperately. His face was ashy and slicken with sweat. Nervous tremors visibly shook his bloated frame. He steadfastly ignored the angry black guy in favor of Spike, who was the more deadlier and scarier of the two.
Mary added her shaky pleas to his, blubbering with terror.
“Damn you...shut up! My God, man...he's your son!” Robin burst out turning his gaze on Xander's father, then Mary Harris.
“He's a goddamn, lazy ass faggot! He ain't good for shit!” Peter pulled his terrified eyes away from the coolly composed blonde vampire to shout at the slim dark man. “I hadda put up with his lazy, whiny ass for 17 years. Boy near 'bout to eat me outta house and home. The little fucker don't work and always hanging out with those two trashy little whores! If fuckin' his ass'll save my life, I'll fuck it myself!” The older man shouted, his face red with congested rage and terror.
Mary wailed louder at the wide, evil smile that crossed Spike's face at Peter's words. Her body shaking so hard she was practically vibrating.
Robin’s eyes were blank with such a terrifying rage that Peter's next words ground to a halt in his throat. Even Mary's moans were reduced to faint squeaks of terror. Spike raised an interested brow at the effect the lean dark bloke was having on the humans. Hmmm, the boy would make a terrifying Childe, he thought in grudging admiration.
“The boy tells us yer ma was a Slayer...” Spike said after lighting a cigarette. He took a long satisfying inhale before blowing out a cloudy smoke of nicotine. With that look on the bloke's face, no telling what he might do. And if he can't kill the shitheads, then neither could Wood.
Spike’s eyes narrowed as the rage he smelled seemed to harden into something closer to hatred. And he recalled that night at the Bronze, that same smell came off Wood then. Then he started remembering a certain brown skinned, dark-eyed Slayer. “Yer ma, she wouldn't happen ta haf been kinda tall, bushy hair, leather coat wearing Slayer was she?”
“Yes...” Robin bit out. Surreptitiously his hand began inching towards his back. A stake concealed just for this moment. Protector or not, Spike was HIS!
“And wha' are the odds of that hap'ning?!” Spike shook his head in amazement. And not by a flicker of his eyes did he let on that he knew that Robin's hands were inching towards some sort of weapons.
“You had a right good one there,” he continued, his voice reflecting admiration.
Robin snorted contemptuously. “Yeah, like you would know. Besides, way I see it, she chose duty over me. So what kinda mother does that make...” And before he was able to finish his sentence, Spike’s fist slammed into his face. Fortunately, the basement wall broke his fall. Unfortunately, the basement wall was made of cement.
“Don't you talk about yer ma like that!” Spike roared, his face shifting into his true demonic feature. And reaching down, he plucked the dazed man easily away from the wall. Giving Robin a rough shake in the process. “Yer ma was a fuckin' fine Slayer! The likes of which I was pri'leged to fight against! She's the kinda Slayer that demons are proud to go up against. The ones without all that namby-pamby talking and jesting stuff these bints do today. She was all about the kill. She was the kinda of Slayer that would go through the fires of hell itself to get at you.” Spike shivered in almost orgasmic pleasure, recalling that single-minded intensity devoted exclusively to killing him. That girl was awe inspiring...and he almost regretted having to kill her.
Almost, except for she was trying to kill him in return.
Then Spike looked at the human clutched in his hand. Stupid little wanker was even speaking bad about his own mum, he thought angrily. “Slayer's like yer ma don't just get borned, they get bloody well MADE!” And he tossed the human to the floor with an annoyed, contemptuous snarl.
Robin wheezed as he carefully got to his feet. “Better be careful, somebody might actually think you liked and admired her,” he husked, a vicious sneer on his face..
Spike blinked at the defiant human. “Liked? Didn't know 'nuff about her t'like 'er. But hell, that Slayer bint had some soddin' moves like ya bloody well wouldn't believe! Once that girlie had me in her eyesight she wasn't 'bout ta' let me get away. That bint tracked me like a bloodhound. I didn't drain 'er, did I ya bloomin' ponce?! I just snapped 'er neck...I didn't EAT 'er! Took 'er coat ta remember 'er, didn't I?!” The blonde vampire exclaimed hotly, his vivid blue eyes flaming with righteous indignation.
The younger man's head drew back as he digested Spike's words. “You killed her, but you respected her enough to steal her coat?”
Spike looked at Robin like he was mentally deficient. “I didn't STEAL it! She didn't need it no more and I wanted meself a souvenir. Why else would I have taken it?! I took that Chinese Slayer's hair pieces. She was me first Slayer. If Faith lives long enough, maybe she'll be able ta fight like yer ma or something,” he said vaguely. “Though I won't be a-fightin' her,” he added hastily at the look the other gave him.
“You respected my mother?” Robin repeated his question, his voice rising in disbelief.
“Ya gonna keep repeating that for how long?” Spike raised a sardonic scarred brow. Then he sighed. “Look you, yer ma was a fuckin' genius when it came t'fightin'. I ain't seen that kinda fightin' since Angelus got himself locked up, ya know? 'N the only other body I've ever seen fight like that was that little Chinese bint. Me and Angelus plus the girls were over there when them Chinese people were having one of their little spats,” Spike said, with a vague wave of his hand, airily dismissing the strife that had rocked the Ch'ing dynasty from power.
The young vampire remembered wading through the onslaught of wide-eyed fanatic 'Boxers' as they stormed the hastily erected barricades that were thrown up against them. He and the others had glutted themselves during the long months that followed. They had even managed to settle down for a brief time during the fighting. Making their social calls on the various demons and vampires that lived in China. They were invited to the best dinner parties during that time. There was never a lack of dinner, all a body had to do was reach out the window and grab a bite.
Robin was not stupid, he heard tales of William the Bloody and the era the other had killed his first Slayer.
“I presume you mean the Boxer Rebellion?” His voice was dry as he eyed the vampire with a sardonic eye. Easily recalling the events that had led up to what had since became known as the Boxer Rebellion to the outside world.
While foreign powers scrabbled over China's resources, a drought lay waste to much of the Shandong province. This eventually pushed the inhabitants to the brink of starvation and abject despair, which in turn allowed them to find comfort and belief in the words of Righteous Fists of Harmony. That the foreign devils were responsible for their plight. the they believed and joined the growing quasi-militant ranks of the Righteous Fists of Harmony.
And seeing the followers of the Righteous Fists of Harmony swell to thousands, the Dowager Empress Tsu Hsi contrived an audacious scheme to oust the encroaching foreign powers from China. Hoping that she succeeded before they nibbled away at her country like so many ravenous rats.
It was the foreign powers that had coined the phrase 'Boxers'. Calling the members of the Righteous Fists of Harmony 'Boxers' because of the martial skills the group practiced.
However, unknown to bickering Western powers and tacitly supported by the Dowager Empress, the Chinese government had switched sides. Changing from being Anti-Boxer to Pro-Boxer and all Military commanders, as well as governors, that were against the Boxers were replaced by those that were decidedly in favor with the ideals of the Boxer's slogans.
But unfortunately for China, the Dowager Empress’ plan backfired. She, herself, was forced to flee disguised as a servant. And for the next several months, the combined forces of the Western powers and Japan grew in China as they put down the Boxers, breaking up cells throughout the provinces in the northern countryside.
And despite all her determined efforts to oust the foreign nationals out, China had to endure a devastating blow to her pride, prestige and power. After putting down the Rebellion, the foreigners moved swiftly in consolidating their interests and power within China. Incidentally regaining their previous territorial gains.
Then came the war between Russia and Japan. And the severely weakened Chinese empire could not spare the manpower to intervene, which secured Japan's military dominance of the Far East.
A brief grin flickered on Robin's face as the scroll of information on William the Bloody flashed through his mind. Which in turn led to the synopsis of the cause and effect of the Boxer Rebellion. His smile vanished as he stared at the pale, unrepentant face of the vampire as something, some knowledge struggled for existence in his mind. Something that his mother's Watcher had told him when the older man took over guardianship of him. But what was he forgetting?!
At the sound of running feet, both he and Spike looked up with the vampire's face shifting momentarily to demon as they listened.
And it suddenly clicked in Robin's mind what he had forgotten. What his guardian had tried to drill repeatedly into his head. In his haste to deal with his mother's murderer, he had forgotten the one crucial element that Xander, the Protector and his guardian tried to tell him.
Vampires were NOT human!
Oh, sure they walked around in man-shape. Talked like men, laughed like men...some even operated their lives like men and could even fall in love. But under no circumstances could they be remotely considered human. Human-like, yes. But demons ruled the mind and bodies. Demons that had their own thoughts, customs and beliefs that were at times totally contrary to human beliefs.
His mother wasn't murdered, she had been killed. Almost the same as a cow was killed for hamburger, or a pig was slaughtered to become bacon or ham. Or a wily tiger was pursued by a big game hunter. And in a challenge of wit and survival, man against nature, there was no guarantee that the human would return from battle victorious after they had tested their skills, abilities and cunning to the utmost.
While humans were rumored to be the superior creature, the most intelligent mammal on the face of the earth, even they were forced to bow their proud heads in submission to the worthier foe. Sometimes, they became the prey.
He eyed Spike speculatively, feeling some of his anger and hatred slowly seep away as understanding dawned in his mind. According to his guardian, who had witnessed the whole thing, all the vampire did was break her neck. Spike didn't take her blood. And considering the incredible value and rush a Slayer's blood gave a vampire, that was saying a lot about the respect the vampire accorded his mother. This was something that definitely needed further consideration, Robin decided.
Then his brows shot up as Angel rushed down the stairs. And if it wasn't so ridiculous he would have said that the dark-haired vampire looked panicky about something, which was really stupid...
...then a hot-eyed Xander clattered down the stairs and Robin decided that perhaps Angel had sufficient cause to look that way. He stifled a grin, though his eyes met Spike's dancing eyes with amusement before they both looked away. Not before Spike mouthed the word 'Whipped' to him.
“Angel....” the boy purred seductively as he sauntered closer to his uneasy vampire.
“Now, Xander...” Angel began as he backed away from the young man. His normal grace of movement lost in his efforts to avoid the amorous boy.
“Kill him!” Mary suddenly shrieked, jerking her head to Xander. Peter added his yell to hers, urging the vampire to eat their son. Praying that they would be able to escape death if Angel took them up on their offer of Xander.
Angel's head jerked towards them, his eyes flaring a brilliant gold. He had almost forgotten them. He growled savagely as he started forward menacingly.
Spike merely sighed and sat down to light another fag, silently offering one to Robin who shook his head.
Peter and Mary’s mouths dropped open in shock when their son jumped on the snarling vampire. Their eyes widen even further when Xander began laying frantic kisses on the demon creature, before settling in with a much longer kiss.
Jerking his head back, Angel tried to be stern. “Xander, using sex in not...” his words were cut off when the boy pressed in for another long kiss.
Robin eyed the two disapprovingly, though with a bit of secret amusement. Then shaking his head, the lean dark male motioned to Spike that he was leaving and headed up the stairs.
Angel broke Xander's liplock on him, gasping, “I said that using, uhmmmm...”
This time his mate put even more power into their passionate exchange. Stumbling backwards, Angel fell into a chair. Which allowed the eager boy to settle more firmly onto the swelling erection that was distorting the front of Angel's pants. This time Xander was the one to draw back, panting for breath. He eyed his lover for a few minutes, watching as whiskey-golden eyes flickered open.
“...but I could be convinced,” Angel said in a raspy whisper before pulling his boy back to his mouth. Leisurely sampling the delights hidden behind the lusciously, tempting lips. Groaning as the captivating taste of his lover exploded in his mouth again. And he eagerly delved deeper within the wet, humid depths. Shivering as a sleek, wanton muscle twined luxuriously with his own.
Spike shook his head in disgust. “Whipped he is,” he muttered to the agog Harris’. “Ever since he got himself a soul, he ain't had the stones for blooding and torturing anymore. And between shaggin' the boy, he ain't even had the heart for a little fightin'.” The blonde had a mournful look on his face.
“Wha' the fuck...?” Peter breathed as he stared at the entwined duo in the chair across from them. Unfortunately, his words were heard by Angel's superior hearing ability. The vampire broke off his passionate rendezvous with his lover's delectable mouth and regarded the dumbstruck pair. His eyes slowly cooling, hardening into chips of golden, frozen ice.
Xander whimpered softly, his eyes troubled as he touched the pale, set face with gentle, frantic fingers. His efforts to redirect Angel's attention back to him was to no avail. And he watched the simmering, deadly rage ignite in his lover's eyes with wary eyes.
Angel glanced down into Xander's worried brown eyes. Once again getting lost in the rich chocolate sensation of pure warmth and love. He dropped a soft kiss on his boy's nose, smiling faintly at the look of relief that filled those big, doe eyes.
“Spike, we're not gonna kill them,” he said calmly. His hands stroked gently up and down Xander's back as his beloved hid a warm, flushed face in his shoulder. Angel kissed the blushing cheek as he levered their combined weight out of the chair. Xander slid down Angel's body to rest his feet on the concrete floor, then turned around.
Spike looked outraged. “See, that's what comes when ya take a mortal as a mate! Ya get all soft...and...and.... mushy!” he yelled stormily. Then he pointed a furiously shaking finger at Xander's smiling face, “This is all yer fault, ya know! Ya ruined a perfectly good vampire with yer mushy love!”
“Yeah, like you wouldn't jump when Ethan told you to do something,” Xander replied jeeringly. And stuck out his tongue for good measure at the infuriated blonde.
“That's only because Ethan is evil,” Spike answered with great dignity. “Ya know what that is? It's when something or somebody likes doing BAD THINGS to others!” he said huffily.
Xander had a sly look on his face as he focused on the blonde. “Then I'm evil,” he claimed triumphantly. “Angel loves me, so he's not gonna kill my parents. Something that you want him to do. So that makes me BAD.” And he chortled at the flabbergasted look on the Spike's face.
“NO! Yer a soft, mushy human, that's all! Yer not evil! Yer a pouf! A soft, mushy pansy-ass whelp! Angel, tell him he's not evil! Go on, tell him!” Spike shouted desperately. His eyes were a little wild at the thought of this...this...boy entering the ranks of Evilhood.
“Oh yeah?! Well, you're nothing but a bleached blonde! All that peroxide got your brain all muddled!” Xander shouted back angrily. He leaned, trying to get a good swing at the irritating blonde but was restrained by Angel's grasp on his shirt.
“Will you two please stop arguing? Sheesh! Being around you two is almost as bad as watching over a couple of three-year olds,” Angel grumbled. He gave Xander a slight shake, then pulled his furious lover back into his arms.
“Look, Xander...I'm sorry but you and being evil are so not gonna happen. I love you, but...you're not evil. You're never gonna BE evil. You're not even on the Rictor scale of evil. You're not even quasi-evil. As a matter of fact, you're the complete antithesis of evil. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this but...you're Good,” Angel stated solemnly. His face softening at the heartbroken look that welled up in his baby's big eyes.
“But...” Xander blinked rapidly, his face falling.
Angel cupped the boy's upset face in his hands. “No baby, we all love you,” he ignored Spike's muttered 'I don't!' as he focused on Xander. “Remember, you're in good company. Faith, Wes, and Cordy they're not evil...well, Cordy may be on the verge of being evil, but she still has a ways to go. So just accept the fact that you're Good.”
Xander sniffed back his tears, though why he felt like crying because he wasn't evil was beyond him. But the sweet kiss Angel gave him made up for his lack of evilness.
Peter and Mary looked at each other then at their son. They had remained silent throughout the entire thing as they comprehended that their son...the very same son that they had offered to the vampire...was the mate of the vampire.
“S...s....so y...y...you're m...ma...mates?” Peter stammered out, his eyes widening in shock. Then his expression turned shrewd despite the bonds still restraining him to the chair. “That's good...yeah, that's good. And since I'm your father-in-law,” he almost choked on the words, “You need to release me and her. And I think you should be rewarding us with some money for letting you have our son.” His face was triumphant as he tossed out that last part. They should get something for raising a fuckin' little queer! He had no doubts that it came from Mary's side of the family. And he cast a dark look at his trembling wife. He always thought there was something a little 'funny' about her brother Tommy. Firmly ignoring the other man's incredible, financially successful career.
Angel turned a disturbingly remote gaze on the drink bloated face of Peter Harris. “I beg your pardon? I don't see what one has to do with the other. While my Xander’s value is beyond monetary value to me and our family, you, as his blood relative have displayed considerable evidence of your thoughts on the matter of his worth...which is none. You've beat him, starved him of affection and emotional support, the very things that parents are supposed to give their children. And to make matters even worse, you offer his life and body in exchange for your own wasted existence.”
Xander's head lowered in abject pain, feeling tears prickling in his eyes as Angel continued his blistering denunciation of his parents.
Angel gave the two a poisonous smile. Mary flushed and looked away from the look of biting contempt in the vampire's eyes even as Peter stubbornly set his jaw, struggling not to say the hateful, vicious words trembling on his lips. His opinion of his son not changing one bit.
“Isn't it ironic that the valueless child that you offered to me, to us, to fuck and eat is the very same one that you owe your pathetic, useless lives to?” Angel stated harshly into the frozen silence of the basement. He pulled Xander closer to him, knowing that his mate was bleeding inside from his parent's betrayal. Angel glared at Peter and Mary, his eyes full of vicious derision. “You owe your lives to my mate...anything else is simply greed. And I don't reward cowards and fools with money.”
And drawing himself up to his most imposing height, Angel swept his scornful eyes over the pale trembling faces of Xander's parents. Then with cold, calculated dignity the Master vampire drew his mate up the stairs and away from the foul creatures that stained his beloved's beautiful soul. Angel allowed Xander to lead them upstairs to the bedroom. And feigning reluctance he even allowed his boy to make love to him. Repeatedly. Though he figured the delighted smile on his face sorta gave Xander a clue.
“Whipped...” Spike muttered as he stalked up the stairs. Though a faint smile settled on his face as he sat in the living room watching TV. And he paid no mind to the loud passionate shouts of pleasure that floated down from the bedroom. However, he did spitefully make sure to leave the basement door wide open so the boy's parents could hear the ecstatic screams of their son.
Several hours later, Xander left his parents' home and bounced happily back to the mansion, while Angel and Spike waited for sunset to leave. He was smugly sure that Angel wasn't gonna hurt his parents, nor would the older vampire allow Spike to bring harm to them either.
Unfortunately for the senior Harris', Xander forgot that the simple fact that there were far more than vampires that roamed through the streets of fair Sunnydale.
Both Spike and Angel acted suitably contrite at failing to rescue Peter and Mary Harris from an E'cha demon infestation, or at least Angel tried to look contrite at the sharp glance Xander sent him. But both his and Spike's hands were clean. And when they were taking their ease in Willie's bar, discussing the senior Harris' they declared just how uncaring they were of the residents at 423 Tremont Lane. That, because of their solemn vow, that they were not even gonna walk past the house at 423 TREMONT LANE, no matter what. Nope. No sirree! They had absolutely no interest in the defenseless HUMANS at 423 Tremont Lane.
And they absolutely had nothing to do with the death of Xander's parents.
Meanwhile, Angel continued his campaign of scare with Buffy and Giles.
For Giles, he left beautifully a drawn portrait of Buffy sitting at the dining table. Of course, it did take a bit of imagination for him to include Giles spread-legged on the table with Buffy greedily eating his balls.
For Buffy it was a glorious rendition of her. She looked radiant and beautiful on all fours with a dog collar around her neck...with the leash held firmly in Giles' hands.
Then there were personal appearances by the vampires at the shopping malls, at the grocery store...just about everywhere Buffy and Giles ventured to go in Sunnydale. Flashing a bit of fang at the two whenever the duplicitous duo looked their way.
Steadily increasing the fear within the treacherous two nightly. Smirking at the mounting terror that filled Buffy and Giles' eyes. Making the former Slayer and ex-Watcher even more frantic to find a means of defense against the menacing darkness that was slowly encircling them.
And during Angel and Spike's reign of terror of Xander's parents, Giles finally found a way that would grant them some measure of vengeance as well as to be safeguarded against the vampires.
It took him the better part of a week to translate an ancient spell he had found written in a obscure language. It would return Buffy to her status as a Slayer while at the same time, ripping the power from Faith. Returning things to their proper conclusion. There can be only one Slayer...and that would be Buffy. It would also gain him an equal measure of power himself, he mused, flushed with success at the solution to his and Buffy's mutual problem. The ingredients to the spell were all decidedly simple, he already had access to everything he needed.
One strip from the Toupaka root, ground into a very fine powder; five dragonbane leaves, crushed into a red paste; twelve white hairs from a wolverine; three drops of urine from a virgin sow; ten gallons of purified water; boil, then simmer for 12 hours; strain, let cool then repeat every day until the new moon. Which was in five days. And under the cover of a full moon, at it's apex, recite the incantation; bleed and then strip a young witch of her powers.
Perfect.
And whistling cheerfully, Giles strode happily to ring Buffy up. As he suspected, she didn't have a problem, other than calling dibs on Willow. Telling him that he had better find his own witch.
Fortunately, he already had one in mind.
He glanced at Amy Madison from the corner of his eye as she did her research on an upcoming book report.
Willow eyed the darkened glade with nervous eyes. She glanced at Amy with worried eyes. There was something about the look in Buffy and Giles eyes that was majorly creeping her out. Wiggins be damn, it was time for a full body freakout!
She started at the gentle touch of Buffy's hand on her shoulder.
“Willow, are you my friend?” The blonde asked softly to the red-head, glancing briefly over to where Giles had lead Amy to his chosen area. Both the Watcher and blonde were wearing long, blue robes.
The red-head nodded shakily, then swallowed hard and replied in a trembling voice that she was indeed Buffy's friend. Who else could she possible be friends with? Xander refused to have anything to do with her and Oz was lost to her, there was no one else for her to cling to other than Buffy and Giles. Despite her misgivings about tonight, they were all she had.
“And friends do things for each other, right? Share things with each other...just because they are friends, right?” And somehow, staring into Buffy's eyes, Willow was nagged by a feeling of familiarity in the narrowed blue eyes of her friend.
“I need you to do something for me, for us. Because we're such good, close friends. I need to to lay down on this table. Shhhh, don't worry, nothing bad is gonna happen to you. You know I would never hurt you, never.” Buffy whispered softly, making her eyes warm and friendly, pleased at the hesitant nod she had wrung from the slight red-headed girl.
Trembling, Willow climbed up on the table, blinking as she saw Amy doing the same on another table with Giles standing on the side of the other girl.
The young witch jumped when her hands were taken in a gentle, easily breakable grip. She gave a nervous grin to the blonde, then to the other witch as fear was trying to take hold of her. Buffy smiled down into Willow's anxious eyes even as she bound the girl's hands with the sacrificial rope and drew them above her head, anchoring them to the table.
And still Willow lay there, a feeling of almost unreality coming over her as she stared upwards into the night sky, vaguely hearing Giles chanting. Speaking words that drifted softly on the night sky, coming faintly to her ears.
However, when Buffy straddled the young girl, and the blonde girl removed her robe revealing her nakedness, abruptly the young witch was reminded of what Buffy's eyes reminded her of...a snake! Furiously she began to struggle, hearing cries from the other witch and Giles's voice shouting the words of the spell. She spared a brief aghast look over to see a naked Giles astride Amy, holding a knife in the air. Her eyes whipped back to Buffy in sudden horror, only to see the blonde mirroring the Watcher's position. Willow increased her struggles, terror lending her strength in her determination to escape the fate the two plan for her.
“Stop struggling! You said you were my friend! Friends share with other friends, you agreed with me. I need your power to become the Slayer again, Willow! Don't you want me to be a Slayer?! Or are you a selfish little bitch and traitor like the rest of them?!” Buffy screamed into the girl’s panicky face. Even without her Slayer strength, she easily held the smaller girl's bucking body down.
“I'm not that big of a friend, you crazy fool! Nobody is that much of a friend to let you kill them!” Willow shouted and renewed her frenzied movements.
“Kill you?! I'm not gonna kill you,” Buffy exclaimed, sitting back on her heels.
Willow blinked up at her, hearing Giles' voice reaching a crescendo. “You're not...”
“Course not, you idiot! I'm gonna bleed you and strip you of your power...that's what'll kill you! But not me!” Buffy smiled cheerfully down into the horrorstruck green eyes. Slowly raising the knife, enjoying the terror in the little bitch's eyes. That'll serve her right for being sympathetic to Xander, like she didn't notice the little pleading glances Willow kept giving him.
Buffy plunged the knife into Willow's shoulder with cold eyes, an icy smile flashed across her face at the scream from the girl and the loud cry from Amy. She raised the knife for a second bleeding wound, crying out herself as her knife was shot out of her hand.
“THIS IS THE POLICE! WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED! MOVE AWAY FROM THE GIRLS!”
Giles' eyes widened in sudden terror at the bright lights shining on him. He fell off Amy in shock, fumbling for his robe and stumbling through an incoherent explanation of why they were out in a secluded area with the girls. Stuttering at the medical personnel and police rushing towards them that they were rehearsing a play about two girls getting sacrificed. Pleading and shouting that it was only a play even as he was roughly turned around and shoved into the table, and his hands handcuffed behind him.
And as the cuffs snapped around his wrists he felt every scrap of power, every little hoard of magic he managed to accumulate vanish like it never was. He breathed in stunned disbelief, not even hearing Buffy's screaming behind him.
His power was gone...
It was all gone!
He looked up, straight into the venomous eyes of Ethan Rayne. And he knew just how the bloody coppers got the friggin' magic sapping bracelets.
“Bastard! I hope you're enjoying your little fun. I'll be out soon enough,” he breathed sotto voice. And he knew, despite the distance between them, the other heard him. But still he struggled to control his volcanic rage, managing to present a picture of baffled, civilized gentility to the arresting officers. He was at his stuttering, fumbling best of a simple absent-minded man. And he saw the flickering look of confusion in the coppers' eyes and hid a triumphant smirk. But as he glanced away from Ethan, he saw the others. All watching him with varying expressions of contempt, disgust and cool laughter in their eyes. And the pieces clicked into place.
It was a trap...there never was a spell! He snapped, losing all his hard-fought mastery at the stunning conclusion of how he had been led down the garden path.
“YOU FUCKIN' ROTTER! THERE WAS NEVER A SPELL! I'LL FUCKIN' KILL YOU ALL! YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE LAST OF RUPERT GILES, BUT I'LL BE BACK!! I'LL GET YOU ALL, YOU BLOODY ARSEHOLES!” He howled in rage, struggling furiously against the policemen as they sought to drag him into the cruiser.
Willow sobbed in pain as she was helped off the table. Shaking with shock and terror, she was fast sapping her remaining strength to stay upright. She was literally forcing herself to numb her ears to Buffy’s screams for her to tell the cops the truth, that this was just a play they were working on and the yelling foul curses the blonde threw at her.
She was just grateful for the strong, comforting presence of the medical officer attending her. But her head jerked when Giles started raging. And twisting, her eyes met Xander's eerily remote, dispassionate gaze. And at first she felt relief at his expression, thinking it was the Protector. Then sickness rose in her throat as she locked on his brown eyes.
And wondered vaguely why she thought she would be exempt? Oz was punished first; then Buffy and Giles. Why did she think she wouldn't have to pay as well? Afterall, she did betray him too. And good or bad, there was always a price to be paid.
Things would never be the same between them. He could never trust or love her again. She had too many opportunities to step away from Buffy, Giles and Oz and take a stand against them. Not to prove her loyalty to HIM, but to simply prove her humanity. But instead she clung harder to them. So terrified of being alone, that she ignored everything she believed in. Afraid that without someone to validate her existence, she was nothing.
No self.
No Willow.
Nothing but mist.
And now...she was truly alone.
She watched through blurry eyes as they all faded back into the shadows. Numb to her core, she accepted the helping hands of the medic to the ambulance, then to the hospital. And for several days she simply lay there, gazing blankly out the window. Responding with detached calmness to whatever the doctor or nurse told her to do.
Waiting with the dumb patience of a trapped animal for her release.
And when she was finally released, she took a taxi home. Where she was distantly amused that her parents, like always, were away at some seminar.
But they did leave a note in the kitchen. How considerate of them...
...she crumpled it up and tossed it over her shoulder without bothering to read it.
It didn't matter anyhow.
Nothing mattered anymore.
She cleaned the house and washed her clothes. And at the hollow feeling in her stomach, made a small meal for herself before she made her way up the stairs to her bedroom. Sitting at her desk, Willow wrote a lengthy note. Unnoticed at first, tears fell from her eyes, dripping on the paper and making the ink run as feeling began returning to her heart, tearing at her soul.
But it was too late.
Much too late.
And finished at last, she re-read the note with blurry eyes before going over to her perfectly made up bed, propping it on the pillow. Then gathering her supplies, she made her way into the bathroom and ran the water for a bath, setting what she needed on the empty soap dish embedded in the wall. Disrobing, she turned off the water and stepped into the tub, sinking down into the hot water with a little sigh. Then reaching into the soap dish...
...Willow calmly sliced her wrists.
She winced at the sting before dropping them into the soothing water. Sure, she was taking the easy way out, but this was the least she could do. She would much rather not have Xander wind up killing her, or giving the orders for one of them to kill her.
And she watched with drowsy lassitude as the clear water darkened with her lifeblood. Her head fell back as her eyes became heavier and heavier.
Downstairs, the front door opened quietly and two shadowy figures entered. One of dark fathomless eyes and one with eyes of gold. One sniffed intently before motioning towards the stairs. They headed purposely upstairs, pausing outside the bathroom door, before slowly opening it.
They looked with unreadable eyes at the dying girl.
“Now we can't be having any of that, can we?” Xander exclaimed softly as he strode into the bathroom. He smiled amiably as Willow's eyes fluttered open. “Did you really think I would be that merciful? That I would let you, of all people, go so easily?”
And his eyes flared a brilliant white, before resuming his normal brown.
Xander stepped back. “Take her,” he ordered Spike calmly. And the blonde vampire had a wild grin on his face when Willow cried out in horror. She raised her hands in defense and screamed despairingly at the sight of smooth skin on her wrists.
“Xander, NO! Oh God, Xander please! Don't do this to me! I'm so sorry! Please...please...XANDER!” She was screaming and flailing about as Spike roughly seized her wet and squirming body and threw her to the bathroom floor. At her continuing screams of panic and terror, the vampire slapped her viciously, stilling her voice at the incredible shock of pain.
And holding her cheek, she looked up in disbelief at the brown eyed man gazing down at her with cold pitiless eyes.
“Say hello to your new Master. Spike, you know what to do with her.” And Xander walked away, steeling himself when she screamed his name in despair and the smack of the vampire hitting her again. And again. And again.
Until the screaming stopped.
~“Are you certain of this path, young one?”~ Protector asked the boy gently. ~“I can find another, though it may take me a few years to find another mage to serve you.”~
Xander took a much needed breath outside. “No, it has to be this way.”
~“You still believe in her?! Amazing. And after everything she's put you through. But the real question is, does she have the strength to withstand what the vampire must teach her? It will not be pretty, what Spike and Ethan will do to her.”~ It warned the boy softly as they made their way home. Casually incinerating a demon that tried to jump them along the way.
“Yeah, she's always thought she's weak. But she's not. She's strong. I know that she can do this. I know she can.” Xander muttered, feeling his eyes fill with tears. “He...they won't rape her will he?”
~“Not if Spike wants to continue his existence,”~ Protector replied grimly. ~“He knows that I will sense the instant either of them lays one hand on her in a sexual way. They will tell her why they must hurt her and she will need to make the choice. By the time we get home, we will know one way or the other whether Ethan and Spike will continue.”~ It became silent for a few seconds.
~“And Buffy and Giles...what will happen with them?”~
Xander sighed wearily. “Well, Ethan called dibs on Giles but I did get him to promise that he wasn't gonna kill 'im. And Buffy, well...we'll see what happens.”
And the Protector's thoughts, hidden from Xander, was pleased. The child was learning, growing, seeing the possibilities in his mind for the future protection of this world.
In the morning paper the next day, along with the continuing coverage of the arrest of Rupert Giles and Buffy Summers, was the report of the disappearance of 17-year old Willow Rosenburg from her home.
According to the article, “...the police were alerted by a neighbor that said she heard screams from the home. However, by the time the police arrived at the scene the front door was open and the house was empty. The investigating officer declined to comment on what was initially believed to be a suicide attempt after finding the lengthy note. However, staff psychologist say such things are not uncommon, 'Ms. Rosenburg could have become despondent over her friend’s attempt to murder her.' But since there was no body, this theory is in some doubt. An investigation of the bathroom and the splatters of blood on the stairs and out the door leads the police to assume that this must have been a resumption of the first murder attempt by fellow cultists under the direction of Buffy Summers and Rupert Giles. At this time, efforts to contact Willow Rosenburg's parents has proven unsuccessful.”
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