Reward, Chapter 8
Chapter Eight: Reunion
Mandy awoke slowly. The first thing she felt was strong arms holding her tight, then she could smell an aroma that was uniquely Spike--leather, cigarettes, and the coppery scent of blood, plus something else that was just him. He noticed her stirring. "Mandy, luv? Are you all right?"
"Ohhh...Spike? You're alive?"
"Yeah, pet. Which is more than I can almost say for you. Soddin' bloody hell, don't ever do that to me again. I thought I'd lost you."
Mandy rolled over and put her hand on his cheek. "Join the club. You had a fever, Spike." He blinked at that. "Guess there are things besides sunlight and wooden stakes that can hurt vampires." She kissed his still-bare chest. "You scared us too."
He put his finger under her chin and tilted her face up. "Then let's make a pact, pet. No more scaring each other."
"I can live with that."
He pressed his lips to her forehead, then crushed her to him. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and squeezed him back. Spike's feelings overcame him, and he kissed her passionately on the mouth. She kissed him back just as passionately, finally giving vent to emotions she'd held in check for months. Eventually, with a series of small kisses, he stopped, looking down at her with his heart shining in his eyes.
"And what about," she asked softly, tracing his lips with her fingers and adopting his accent, "'Me vampire, you Slayer'?"
"Sod it," he answered, kissing her again.
***
"Well, pet, what do we do next?"
"I think we need to do more research," Mandy answered. "Dru's supposed to travel with us, right? Well, she can't unless we find some way to make her powerless. No way am I going anywhere with her at full strength."
"So, something like gold Kryptonite for vampires." Off her blank look, he muttered, "I obviously spent way too much time hanging around with Harris."
They called Dusty and let him know what was happening, then buckled down to the research. Spike hit the books, and Mandy jumped online. Every once in awhile they would twine fingers across the table, as if to be sure that they really were awake and all right. "What do you think of this, luv?"
"Looks like it might be pretty," she allowed. "What is it?"
"It's a Stone of Thanikos. Renders a vampire harmless to humans."
"Like the chip did?"
"Yeah, only without the migraine."
"Because we wouldn't want to hurt her after she sicced her poisonous dragon on us," Mandy deadpanned. Spike looked at her sideways. "Not that I'm bitter," she added.
He snorted and said, "See if you can find a picture of it in color on the Web, luv."
"Here it is," she said a few minutes later. "I was right. It is pretty. It's a pendant, and once on it can only be removed by a human." She slid the laptop over, and Spike found himself looking at a deep crimson egg-shaped stone, shot through with veins of gold and blue, on a silver chain.
"Oh, this is just bloody great. 'Only four known to exist.'"
"Guess we won't find one on eBay then. Any clues where any of them are?"
"Yada yada...rumors and innuendo...Australia, Britain, Russia, and...Utah?"
"Utah?" Mandy slid the laptop over and looked at the screen. "Where the heck is Moab? And what is this thing guarding it?"
***
"So, you guys are going to Utah and leaving me here?" Dusty pouted. "You have all the fun."
"Not all of it," Mandy answered. "You get to stay here with Dru and Hans and hold the fort down. Once we uncover this stone then we can all run off together and find the Holy Vessel--whatever that is. Keep talking to Dru. She's very involved in this as well. Write down anything important she says."
"Guess I'd better buy a notebook then. Half the time I can't make out what she's saying, so I don't know if it's important." He thought for a minute. "Um, you're not taking the DeSoto, are you?"
Spike bristled a little. "What's wrong with the DeSoto?"
"Nothing! For driving around LA. Driving around Moab, though...that's a different story. If you guys are going into the back country over there, you're going to need something with a little more oomph."
***
"A little more oomph? Bloody hell, this thing's an animal," Spike said as they drove into Moab a couple of nights later, in Dusty's red six-wheel drive Jeep Mantis.
"Well...at least we don't really stick out here," Mandy said doubtfully. "How do we go about finding this Stone, do you think?"
"Maybe one of these shopowners can tell us. This place looks promising." The shop had numerous "guaranteed authentic" Kachina dolls and Zuni fetishes in the window display, so they pulled over and parked.
The proprietor's eyes widened when he saw who had walked in, and he hastily put the counter between himself and his new visitors. "I don't want any trouble!" he squeaked.
"Neither do we, mate. Just a little information is all. What's got your knickers in a twist?"
"I know who you are! A-an-and I don't have any information for you."
Mandy idly picked up a nightlight that depicted a large, horned creature with a triangular body and a heart in the middle of its chest. "You don't, huh? What's this?"
"I-it's a nightlight. Ten ninety-five, plus tax."
"That's not what I mean," she said in a deceptively calm voice, "and furthermore, you know that's not what I mean."
"You'll leave? And not come back?"
"Unless you send us on a wild monster chase. That might put us in a bad mood."
"Okay, okay. First, go to the other end of town and turn right at the McDonald's..."
***
"Bloody hell," Spike said incredulously. "We have to go up there?" The sign said "Moab Rim Trail."
"You know, if you roll Dusty's Jeep over, he's going to be really unhappy with you. Maybe we should walk."
"I think you're right, pet. I can drive all right, but not up that." He grabbed their backpacks full of weapons out of the back, and they got out and started hiking.
The rugged country was breathtaking in the moonlight--all red rocks and desert plants. Once they startled a coyote hunting for mice amongst the cedar bushes. Even the defunct trees that looked as if they had been tortured to death by a sadistic giant were strangely lovely. Picturesque, anyway. They came to the end of the trail at the top of the cliff and stared in awe at the whole town spread out a thousand feet below them.
"Wow. Just...wow," Mandy whispered, reaching for Spike's hand.
"Yes, it is beautiful, is it not?" said a deep, rumbly voice behind them. "But the people have forgotten the old ways. They never come to see me anymore."
Well. They had wondered what the ancient Anasazi people had seen when they were carving their pictures into the rocks. Now they knew. It was eight and a half feet tall, with the trademark horns and triangular body. The heart (Eww! Mandy thought) was actually exposed on its chest, beating slowly. It had large, pointy teeth. And it was old.
It cocked its head at Mandy. "You are the Slayer. Interesting. We have not had many dealings with Slayers." It wasn't hostile. Just curious.
Mandy's guard was still up, but she relaxed a little. "You have something we want."
It looked at Spike with obsidian eyes. "The Stone of Thanikos." It appeared in the monster's oversized hand, swinging by the chain. "But not for this one."
"No, not for Spike." This was a very odd conversation.
It got odder. "I will give it to you."
"Not that we're not grateful and all, mate...but why?" Spike asked.
"You are important. We have been instructed to give you what you require. However, we would ask...a favor. It is not a requirement."
Spike and Mandy exchanged a glance. "What favor?"
"Come back when you have finished. Tell us the story." It seemed sorrowful. "We are lonely. No one talks to us anymore."
***
"Wow," Mandy said, as they hiked back down the trail. "That was a lot easier than I expected. Guess looks can be deceiving. I really expected a battle with that thing."
Spike was shaking his head. "I've never had an experience like that. Not ever. Did you feel the age of that creature?"
"If he's been around long enough to have his portrait chiseled into a bunch of rocks by people that have since died out...Can you imagine?"
Spike laughed. "And he wants us to tell him a story. Poor sod must be bored out of his guts. If he has any."
"I like it here. I want to come back."
He put his arm around her as they walked back to the Jeep. "We will, pet."
***
Dusty looked up from the laptop to find Dru staring at him through the bars of the cage. He smiled at her. "Can I get you anything?"
"Your eyes are like an underwater forest," she said. "So different from William's, but so alike. He was full of rage too." She crinkled her nose in a frown. "Then he became full of the Slayer. I never got him back after that."
"I don't think you're getting him back after this either. He's full of this Slayer too. And that whole 'he's good, you're evil' thing makes it hard as well. Sorry."
"I want my family back. Daddy and Grandmother are gone, but Spike and I could make a new one. He's been a bad doggy lately. And that soul." She gave a delicate little shudder. "Well, he won't have it for much longer."
"Really? What makes you say that?"
"Three blind mice, three blind mice, see how they run, see how they run," she sang. "They all ran after a prophecy, the vampire's soul was a casualty, did you ever see such fools as these, the three blind mice?"
Dusty hastened to write down her little song in his notebook. It was the most interesting--and disturbing--thing she'd said since Spike and Mandy had been gone. He hoped they'd found what they were looking for and would be back soon. Sitting here and waiting was nerve-wracking.
***
"Really?" Spike said, lighting a cigarette. "She said that?"
"Yeah. It's enough to make me wonder about this prophecy. Didn't you tell me about a false prophecy that someone planted to make that ex-Watcher guy kidnap Angel's son?"
"Yeah. But likely as not it's all a bunch of bollocks anyway. Dru's crazy as a bedbug and doesn't know what she's saying most of the time. It could just be wishful thinking on her part."
"Did you get the pendant? Was it a good fight?" Dusty asked wistfully.
Spike took it out of his pocket. "Didn't have to fight for it at all. He just gave it to us."
"Huh. That's a first."
"Yeah." Mandy was still a little weirded-out by that whole experience. "Pretty country over there."
"Maybe I should talk to Dru," Spike said. "I got pretty good at deciphering what she meant, after a hundred years of listening to her nattering. I'll see if I can get some sense out of her. Besides, we've still got to get this" --he twirled the pendant-- "around her neck. And, since I don't want anyone hurt doing it, I guess it's up to me."
"'Cause, she won't hurt you. She's over being mad about Buffy and the soul and all. That little incident with the dragon? She didn't mean it." Mandy rolled her eyes. "Maybe we should just dart her again."
"No, pet. I need to talk to her."
"Fine! Go!" He started to say something, but she held up her hand. "Just go."
Spike looked at her for a moment, then headed out without speaking. However, the very softly closed door spoke volumes.
Dusty raised an eyebrow at her. "Jealous much?"
Mandy sputtered for a second. "Jealous? Of that? You've got to be kidding me." She stopped and stared at the tabletop. "Maybe a little." Her gaze went around the room restlessly. "I mean, God, they were together for a hundred years. What if..."
"Mandy. There's nothing there. Trust me."
"What, are you getting some kind of guy vibe?"
"I've been watching you two for weeks. Believe me, he doesn't have anything left for Dru. You should have seen him right after he woke up and thought he'd eaten you. He was frantic."
She smiled softly. "Yeah, I got a little of that."
"He was as scared of losing you as you were of losing him." He twitched his nose. "Besides...if I thought he still had a thing for Dru...don't you think I'd be down there with them?"
Her turn for a raised eyebrow. "You just remember that she's a vampire. A real vampire. There are no others like Spike. Just because we're helping her doesn't mean we trust her."
"I know. Fully cognizant here. Guess I'm just seeing what could be."
"And you feel sorry for her."
"Well, yeah. Don't you?"
"Not so much. Maybe a little. I guess it's not her fault she's a crazy evil vampire. What Darla and Angelus did to her was really bad."
***
"My poor Spike. Look what they've done to you. My dark warrior...Now you fight for the other side." Dru shook her head mournfully.
"I fight for the right side, Dru." He opened the cage door, slid inside, and closed it behind him. "And you need help. This is just a start." He pulled the pendant out of his pocket, and she recoiled against the back bars in horror, shaking her head from side to side.
"No! Don't make me! Please!"
"It's for your own good, pet. Wouldn't want to have to stake you for eating the boy."
She growled and raked at him with her nails. He caught one wrist, but she managed to get him across the cheek with the other hand, just barely. He caught that arm on the backswing, spun her around, and pinned her chest up against the back of the cage. Moving both her wrists to one hand, he placed the pendant around her neck, then released her and stepped back. She turned to face him, vamped out, and leaped for his throat. He ducked under her, and she rolled over his back and landed lightly on her feet. He held his hands up placatingly. "Don't make me hurt you, Dru. I really don't want to."
"Well, what if I want to hurt you?" Dru asked, throwing punches that hit the bars of the cage as he dodged. "You left me!"
"Bloody hell, woman!" Spike shouted as he ducked another wild swing. "If I recall correctly, you left me!"
She stopped and stared him down. "You were gone long before I left."
"I didn't...I wasn't..." he stuttered. "I'm sorry."
"Filled with the Slayer before. Still filled with the Slayer now. The fire has gone out of your burning fishes, and all we're left with is incinerated emotions." She looked at him through half-lidded eyes. "It's that horrible soul. It spoiled Daddy, and it's spoiled you too." Dru stepped up to him and ran her fingernail down his chest. "We should do something about that. Remember the lovely times we had? Fists and fangs?" Wistfully, "We could be a family again. You and me. The Slayer. That boy. I miss being a family."
He moved her gently away, opened the cage door, and stepped out, locking it behind him again. "Do you miss the angry mobs, Dru? Do you miss being hunted across continents? Because, I don't. That 'boy'? He has feelings for you. I don't know if he loves you or not--God help him if he does--but he wants to help you. We all do. Do you remember what your life was like before Angelus and Darla started messing about with it? Do you remember when your thoughts were your own, and not things that pixies whispered in your ears? We want to give that back to you."
Her demon hissed at him. "We'll see who helps who. We'll see just how long that soul lasts. You'll be begging to give it up before this is over."
"Yeah, pet. We'll see."
***
"That obviously went well," Mandy said drily, eyeing the four nail slashes on Spike's cheek.
"She's wearing it," Spike answered, lighting a cigarette. "Not willingly, but she's wearing it. Are you gonna bust my chops anymore? Because, really? Not in the mood right now."
She looked down. "No. Sorry about before. Didn't mean to go all psycho-Slayer on you. One crazy chick in this group is enough."
"S'alright, poodle." He gave her his patented sardonic grin. "I know jealousy when I see it. Felt kinda good to know you cared that much."
"Yeah, well..." She looked at him sideways. "Don't let it go to your head. Did you get anything else out of her?"
"A lot of tommyrot about how she wants a family again, and that I'll be begging to give up the soul before this is over. I don't believe it--about the soul anyway. I worked too bloody hard to get it in the first place."
***
"Is all in readiness?"
"Yes, sir. We are prepared."
"Good. When Angelus lost his soul, it wreaked havoc across dimensions. Hopefully we can accomplish the same thing with William the Bloody."
TBC...
Chapter Nine
Mandy awoke slowly. The first thing she felt was strong arms holding her tight, then she could smell an aroma that was uniquely Spike--leather, cigarettes, and the coppery scent of blood, plus something else that was just him. He noticed her stirring. "Mandy, luv? Are you all right?"
"Ohhh...Spike? You're alive?"
"Yeah, pet. Which is more than I can almost say for you. Soddin' bloody hell, don't ever do that to me again. I thought I'd lost you."
Mandy rolled over and put her hand on his cheek. "Join the club. You had a fever, Spike." He blinked at that. "Guess there are things besides sunlight and wooden stakes that can hurt vampires." She kissed his still-bare chest. "You scared us too."
He put his finger under her chin and tilted her face up. "Then let's make a pact, pet. No more scaring each other."
"I can live with that."
He pressed his lips to her forehead, then crushed her to him. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and squeezed him back. Spike's feelings overcame him, and he kissed her passionately on the mouth. She kissed him back just as passionately, finally giving vent to emotions she'd held in check for months. Eventually, with a series of small kisses, he stopped, looking down at her with his heart shining in his eyes.
"And what about," she asked softly, tracing his lips with her fingers and adopting his accent, "'Me vampire, you Slayer'?"
"Sod it," he answered, kissing her again.
***
"Well, pet, what do we do next?"
"I think we need to do more research," Mandy answered. "Dru's supposed to travel with us, right? Well, she can't unless we find some way to make her powerless. No way am I going anywhere with her at full strength."
"So, something like gold Kryptonite for vampires." Off her blank look, he muttered, "I obviously spent way too much time hanging around with Harris."
They called Dusty and let him know what was happening, then buckled down to the research. Spike hit the books, and Mandy jumped online. Every once in awhile they would twine fingers across the table, as if to be sure that they really were awake and all right. "What do you think of this, luv?"
"Looks like it might be pretty," she allowed. "What is it?"
"It's a Stone of Thanikos. Renders a vampire harmless to humans."
"Like the chip did?"
"Yeah, only without the migraine."
"Because we wouldn't want to hurt her after she sicced her poisonous dragon on us," Mandy deadpanned. Spike looked at her sideways. "Not that I'm bitter," she added.
He snorted and said, "See if you can find a picture of it in color on the Web, luv."
"Here it is," she said a few minutes later. "I was right. It is pretty. It's a pendant, and once on it can only be removed by a human." She slid the laptop over, and Spike found himself looking at a deep crimson egg-shaped stone, shot through with veins of gold and blue, on a silver chain.
"Oh, this is just bloody great. 'Only four known to exist.'"
"Guess we won't find one on eBay then. Any clues where any of them are?"
"Yada yada...rumors and innuendo...Australia, Britain, Russia, and...Utah?"
"Utah?" Mandy slid the laptop over and looked at the screen. "Where the heck is Moab? And what is this thing guarding it?"
***
"So, you guys are going to Utah and leaving me here?" Dusty pouted. "You have all the fun."
"Not all of it," Mandy answered. "You get to stay here with Dru and Hans and hold the fort down. Once we uncover this stone then we can all run off together and find the Holy Vessel--whatever that is. Keep talking to Dru. She's very involved in this as well. Write down anything important she says."
"Guess I'd better buy a notebook then. Half the time I can't make out what she's saying, so I don't know if it's important." He thought for a minute. "Um, you're not taking the DeSoto, are you?"
Spike bristled a little. "What's wrong with the DeSoto?"
"Nothing! For driving around LA. Driving around Moab, though...that's a different story. If you guys are going into the back country over there, you're going to need something with a little more oomph."
***
"A little more oomph? Bloody hell, this thing's an animal," Spike said as they drove into Moab a couple of nights later, in Dusty's red six-wheel drive Jeep Mantis.
"Well...at least we don't really stick out here," Mandy said doubtfully. "How do we go about finding this Stone, do you think?"
"Maybe one of these shopowners can tell us. This place looks promising." The shop had numerous "guaranteed authentic" Kachina dolls and Zuni fetishes in the window display, so they pulled over and parked.
The proprietor's eyes widened when he saw who had walked in, and he hastily put the counter between himself and his new visitors. "I don't want any trouble!" he squeaked.
"Neither do we, mate. Just a little information is all. What's got your knickers in a twist?"
"I know who you are! A-an-and I don't have any information for you."
Mandy idly picked up a nightlight that depicted a large, horned creature with a triangular body and a heart in the middle of its chest. "You don't, huh? What's this?"
"I-it's a nightlight. Ten ninety-five, plus tax."
"That's not what I mean," she said in a deceptively calm voice, "and furthermore, you know that's not what I mean."
"You'll leave? And not come back?"
"Unless you send us on a wild monster chase. That might put us in a bad mood."
"Okay, okay. First, go to the other end of town and turn right at the McDonald's..."
***
"Bloody hell," Spike said incredulously. "We have to go up there?" The sign said "Moab Rim Trail."
"You know, if you roll Dusty's Jeep over, he's going to be really unhappy with you. Maybe we should walk."
"I think you're right, pet. I can drive all right, but not up that." He grabbed their backpacks full of weapons out of the back, and they got out and started hiking.
The rugged country was breathtaking in the moonlight--all red rocks and desert plants. Once they startled a coyote hunting for mice amongst the cedar bushes. Even the defunct trees that looked as if they had been tortured to death by a sadistic giant were strangely lovely. Picturesque, anyway. They came to the end of the trail at the top of the cliff and stared in awe at the whole town spread out a thousand feet below them.
"Wow. Just...wow," Mandy whispered, reaching for Spike's hand.
"Yes, it is beautiful, is it not?" said a deep, rumbly voice behind them. "But the people have forgotten the old ways. They never come to see me anymore."
Well. They had wondered what the ancient Anasazi people had seen when they were carving their pictures into the rocks. Now they knew. It was eight and a half feet tall, with the trademark horns and triangular body. The heart (Eww! Mandy thought) was actually exposed on its chest, beating slowly. It had large, pointy teeth. And it was old.
It cocked its head at Mandy. "You are the Slayer. Interesting. We have not had many dealings with Slayers." It wasn't hostile. Just curious.
Mandy's guard was still up, but she relaxed a little. "You have something we want."
It looked at Spike with obsidian eyes. "The Stone of Thanikos." It appeared in the monster's oversized hand, swinging by the chain. "But not for this one."
"No, not for Spike." This was a very odd conversation.
It got odder. "I will give it to you."
"Not that we're not grateful and all, mate...but why?" Spike asked.
"You are important. We have been instructed to give you what you require. However, we would ask...a favor. It is not a requirement."
Spike and Mandy exchanged a glance. "What favor?"
"Come back when you have finished. Tell us the story." It seemed sorrowful. "We are lonely. No one talks to us anymore."
***
"Wow," Mandy said, as they hiked back down the trail. "That was a lot easier than I expected. Guess looks can be deceiving. I really expected a battle with that thing."
Spike was shaking his head. "I've never had an experience like that. Not ever. Did you feel the age of that creature?"
"If he's been around long enough to have his portrait chiseled into a bunch of rocks by people that have since died out...Can you imagine?"
Spike laughed. "And he wants us to tell him a story. Poor sod must be bored out of his guts. If he has any."
"I like it here. I want to come back."
He put his arm around her as they walked back to the Jeep. "We will, pet."
***
Dusty looked up from the laptop to find Dru staring at him through the bars of the cage. He smiled at her. "Can I get you anything?"
"Your eyes are like an underwater forest," she said. "So different from William's, but so alike. He was full of rage too." She crinkled her nose in a frown. "Then he became full of the Slayer. I never got him back after that."
"I don't think you're getting him back after this either. He's full of this Slayer too. And that whole 'he's good, you're evil' thing makes it hard as well. Sorry."
"I want my family back. Daddy and Grandmother are gone, but Spike and I could make a new one. He's been a bad doggy lately. And that soul." She gave a delicate little shudder. "Well, he won't have it for much longer."
"Really? What makes you say that?"
"Three blind mice, three blind mice, see how they run, see how they run," she sang. "They all ran after a prophecy, the vampire's soul was a casualty, did you ever see such fools as these, the three blind mice?"
Dusty hastened to write down her little song in his notebook. It was the most interesting--and disturbing--thing she'd said since Spike and Mandy had been gone. He hoped they'd found what they were looking for and would be back soon. Sitting here and waiting was nerve-wracking.
***
"Really?" Spike said, lighting a cigarette. "She said that?"
"Yeah. It's enough to make me wonder about this prophecy. Didn't you tell me about a false prophecy that someone planted to make that ex-Watcher guy kidnap Angel's son?"
"Yeah. But likely as not it's all a bunch of bollocks anyway. Dru's crazy as a bedbug and doesn't know what she's saying most of the time. It could just be wishful thinking on her part."
"Did you get the pendant? Was it a good fight?" Dusty asked wistfully.
Spike took it out of his pocket. "Didn't have to fight for it at all. He just gave it to us."
"Huh. That's a first."
"Yeah." Mandy was still a little weirded-out by that whole experience. "Pretty country over there."
"Maybe I should talk to Dru," Spike said. "I got pretty good at deciphering what she meant, after a hundred years of listening to her nattering. I'll see if I can get some sense out of her. Besides, we've still got to get this" --he twirled the pendant-- "around her neck. And, since I don't want anyone hurt doing it, I guess it's up to me."
"'Cause, she won't hurt you. She's over being mad about Buffy and the soul and all. That little incident with the dragon? She didn't mean it." Mandy rolled her eyes. "Maybe we should just dart her again."
"No, pet. I need to talk to her."
"Fine! Go!" He started to say something, but she held up her hand. "Just go."
Spike looked at her for a moment, then headed out without speaking. However, the very softly closed door spoke volumes.
Dusty raised an eyebrow at her. "Jealous much?"
Mandy sputtered for a second. "Jealous? Of that? You've got to be kidding me." She stopped and stared at the tabletop. "Maybe a little." Her gaze went around the room restlessly. "I mean, God, they were together for a hundred years. What if..."
"Mandy. There's nothing there. Trust me."
"What, are you getting some kind of guy vibe?"
"I've been watching you two for weeks. Believe me, he doesn't have anything left for Dru. You should have seen him right after he woke up and thought he'd eaten you. He was frantic."
She smiled softly. "Yeah, I got a little of that."
"He was as scared of losing you as you were of losing him." He twitched his nose. "Besides...if I thought he still had a thing for Dru...don't you think I'd be down there with them?"
Her turn for a raised eyebrow. "You just remember that she's a vampire. A real vampire. There are no others like Spike. Just because we're helping her doesn't mean we trust her."
"I know. Fully cognizant here. Guess I'm just seeing what could be."
"And you feel sorry for her."
"Well, yeah. Don't you?"
"Not so much. Maybe a little. I guess it's not her fault she's a crazy evil vampire. What Darla and Angelus did to her was really bad."
***
"My poor Spike. Look what they've done to you. My dark warrior...Now you fight for the other side." Dru shook her head mournfully.
"I fight for the right side, Dru." He opened the cage door, slid inside, and closed it behind him. "And you need help. This is just a start." He pulled the pendant out of his pocket, and she recoiled against the back bars in horror, shaking her head from side to side.
"No! Don't make me! Please!"
"It's for your own good, pet. Wouldn't want to have to stake you for eating the boy."
She growled and raked at him with her nails. He caught one wrist, but she managed to get him across the cheek with the other hand, just barely. He caught that arm on the backswing, spun her around, and pinned her chest up against the back of the cage. Moving both her wrists to one hand, he placed the pendant around her neck, then released her and stepped back. She turned to face him, vamped out, and leaped for his throat. He ducked under her, and she rolled over his back and landed lightly on her feet. He held his hands up placatingly. "Don't make me hurt you, Dru. I really don't want to."
"Well, what if I want to hurt you?" Dru asked, throwing punches that hit the bars of the cage as he dodged. "You left me!"
"Bloody hell, woman!" Spike shouted as he ducked another wild swing. "If I recall correctly, you left me!"
She stopped and stared him down. "You were gone long before I left."
"I didn't...I wasn't..." he stuttered. "I'm sorry."
"Filled with the Slayer before. Still filled with the Slayer now. The fire has gone out of your burning fishes, and all we're left with is incinerated emotions." She looked at him through half-lidded eyes. "It's that horrible soul. It spoiled Daddy, and it's spoiled you too." Dru stepped up to him and ran her fingernail down his chest. "We should do something about that. Remember the lovely times we had? Fists and fangs?" Wistfully, "We could be a family again. You and me. The Slayer. That boy. I miss being a family."
He moved her gently away, opened the cage door, and stepped out, locking it behind him again. "Do you miss the angry mobs, Dru? Do you miss being hunted across continents? Because, I don't. That 'boy'? He has feelings for you. I don't know if he loves you or not--God help him if he does--but he wants to help you. We all do. Do you remember what your life was like before Angelus and Darla started messing about with it? Do you remember when your thoughts were your own, and not things that pixies whispered in your ears? We want to give that back to you."
Her demon hissed at him. "We'll see who helps who. We'll see just how long that soul lasts. You'll be begging to give it up before this is over."
"Yeah, pet. We'll see."
***
"That obviously went well," Mandy said drily, eyeing the four nail slashes on Spike's cheek.
"She's wearing it," Spike answered, lighting a cigarette. "Not willingly, but she's wearing it. Are you gonna bust my chops anymore? Because, really? Not in the mood right now."
She looked down. "No. Sorry about before. Didn't mean to go all psycho-Slayer on you. One crazy chick in this group is enough."
"S'alright, poodle." He gave her his patented sardonic grin. "I know jealousy when I see it. Felt kinda good to know you cared that much."
"Yeah, well..." She looked at him sideways. "Don't let it go to your head. Did you get anything else out of her?"
"A lot of tommyrot about how she wants a family again, and that I'll be begging to give up the soul before this is over. I don't believe it--about the soul anyway. I worked too bloody hard to get it in the first place."
***
"Is all in readiness?"
"Yes, sir. We are prepared."
"Good. When Angelus lost his soul, it wreaked havoc across dimensions. Hopefully we can accomplish the same thing with William the Bloody."
TBC...
Chapter Nine