Title:
A Tale Of Pensive Hearts: Part Two
Author:
JINXwatcher
Feedback:
Constructive comments always welcome: jinxascendant@hotmail.com
Pairing:
Spike/Angel, Spike/Penn, Angel/Spike/Penn, mention of past instances of
Spike/Dru and William/Angelus, Angelus/Penn, Darla/Angelus, and
Angelus/Dru
Rating:
R to a possible romantic NC-17'ish
Spoilers:
Some scattered among Buffy Season four and one reference to Angel's
fifth season but then it goes AU, additionally the events of Angel
Season One's Somnambulist Episode happened but instead of Penn being
killed it's Lawson (The vampire he sired in Why we fight, an episode
from season five) who is dusted and Penn doesn't appear at all until
this story. His canon history has been changed to fit the circumstances
of this story. Season Five of Angel does not take place in this
story.
Warnings:
Character deaths in this one, sorry! Adult language, situations, &
Content, slash, violence, all that sort of stuff. Warning some Scooby
bashing road signs ahead....
Disclaimer:
Just borrowing them for a bit of harmless fun. All characters,
recognisable likenesses are retained by their owner and accredited
license holders.
Writer's
Notes: This story takes place in an AU setting so some details
have been changed to ensure continuity in the story so forgive me if it
deviates too far from canon; I hope you'll enjoy it anyway. Please
excuse any minor discrepancies or artist license. As always thanks are
going out to GF, Myst, Betsy, Sweet, Luba, Mandie, and Mera my most
excellent group of Beta/Editors.
Writer's
Credits: Two songs 'Girl you'll be a woman soon' by Neil Diamond
and 'I still miss someone' by Stevie Nicks are used.
Writer
Websites: JINXI's Website: Shadows In A Mirror: Her Archive:
FEVER
DREAMS
JINXI's LiveJournal: http://www.livejournal.com/users/jinxwatcher
The Crypt: http://home.att.net/~lubakmetyk/crypt.htm#buffywatcher
Distribution:
If I've already been given permission to archive my work please
consider it yours if you want it. If I haven't and you would like to
archive it please do, all I ask is that you email me and tell me where
it's going so I can visit.
Distribution:
If I've already been given permission to archive my work please
consider it yours if you want it. If I haven't and you would like to
archive it please do, all I ask is that you email me and tell me where
it's going so I can visit.
Summary:
In the wake of Spike's treatment at the hands of the Initiative and
Buffy, Angel faces an unexpected challenge for the leadership of the
Aurelius Order... and for Spike's affections.
Chapter
Seven
They are gathered at the top of the landing outside the
auditorium waiting for Dawn before they depart for the restaurant
hosting the reception dinner. Every attempt to try and approach Spike
and Tara has been headed off by the cursedly efficient honour guard
that's accompanied them. Only Anya, Xander, and Giles seemingly
permitted to gain entry through the tightly controlled de-militarized
zone that safely harbours Penn, Spike, and Tara at its center. The rest
of them are being watched at the outskirts of the group and while the
Vampires, Ravali, and Jacob are polite, it's clear that they don't
trust them and they're going to remain very protective and aloof.
"Ravali... how is he really?" Angel asks quietly.
Ravali tilts her head and regards him solemnly for several moments
before she looks over her shoulder at her companions and says something
in a language he doesn't recognize. The purring cadence and lilting
sing-song quality of the language is lovely however and he suspects
that it's Ravali's native Rakshasa dialect. Spike answers back in the
same language his soft husky voice is a beautiful sound to many ears.
It's obvious that he's fairly fluent in whichever language they're
speaking as he doesn't hesitate or trip over the words as he replies.
Penn and surprisingly Tara also comment in the same language with
little difficulty which raises several eyebrows.
Ravali turns back to face them and answers the question. "Most of the
damage caused by the malnutrition has finally healed. The steady diet
of Sire's blood and a proper diet have helped in that regard. The
damage caused by the Slayer was fairly extensive but he fortunately
bears only the two scars." Ravali strokes her brow. "The mark of honour
he bears on his brow from the first Slayer he defeated and the
other..."
Her voice trails off and she looks upset and Jacob quickly throws his
arms around her to comfort her.
"That bastard Finn marked him didn't he?" Angel states, making a
growling sound deep in his throat that Buffy echoes.
"Yes he bears a scar from that cowardly attack but he hasn't let it
change him and he found a way to make it into a badge of honour." Jacob
says proudly but enigmatically as he doesn't explain any further.
"What did happen to Riley?" Buffy finally finds the strength of will to
ask.
"What happened to Mr. Finn was nothing short of poetic justice." Ravali
says with a chillingly cold smile. "Our investigation into his
background turned up some surprising information that we put to good
use." Ravali says enigmatically, smiling at Tara as she approaches,
flanked by the ever-protective Ian and Grady, with Lilia on his arm.
Jacob takes her hand as they join the cadre around Tara, their eyes
carefully tracking Willow's movements in particular.
"Riley's fate was left to the Initiative." Tara says coolly. "Penn had
him turned by a minion and arranged for him to be 'found' by his
employers. Perhaps he'll manage to convince them that he's worthy of
mercy but I rather think it will be a foregone conclusion that he'll be
subjected to the same treatment he once merited out to the other
Vampires he helped to capture. I hope he dies quickly. It will be the
only mercy he'll know at their hands I'm sure." Tara says coolly, a
hard glint in her eyes.
"Tara, how can you be so cold about what they did? How can you condone
it?" Willow cries shocked by her seeming unconcern over Riley's fate.
"Would you cry for Hitler if he met his fate in a concentration camp?"
Ravali's voice drips ice. "Your Mr. Finn only proves the adage that a
soul doesn't stop someone from being evil or a monster. Tell me dark
witch, what justice would you consider as fitting for a man that
consigned hundreds of Demons to slow, agonizing deaths. And they were
the lucky ones, the fate of those chosen to live were hundreds and
thousands of times worse. Live dissections, brothels, slavery, we've
found proof that Initiative consigned their 'Hostiles' to all those
fates and more. What punishment is severe enough for a Human that
allows his wife to be subjected to the vilest of breeding experiments
when they needed Host-Mothers for their vile attempts to create a
species they could control? Maybe you would like to see the result of
those experiments for yourself? We rescued the infant and what was left
of his wife."
"What do you mean, what was left of her?" Buffy asks sniffing, as she
uses her fingertips to wipe the tears off her cheeks.
"How can you stand by and let them turn Riley into a Demon?" Willow
demands.
Tara shivers as the chill night wind picks up. She smiles as she feels
the press of a familiar body stepping up behind her. She sighs as arms
curve around her from behind, tenderly gathering her shawl around her
more closely and pulling her back against a strong body.
"Watch your tone when you speak to her." Erick's eyes flash with a
dangerous glint. "Tara isn't responsible for the evil men do." Erick crosses his arms
over her collarbone, holding and comforting her. His mouth quirks up at
the corner as he feels her muscles strengthening as she stands up tall,
taking comfort from his nearness. "Save your sharp tongue for
explaining to your friends about who Rack is and why you stink of black
magic." He suggests with chilly disdain.
Tara leans back against Erick and lets him gently guide her into
turning around as his arm slips around her shoulders. He leads her back
to Spike and Penn, who open their arms and cuddle her between them as
Erick stands protectively behind her, his hands resting on her
shoulders.
"What's going on with them?" Willow demands, looking a little flushed
and a little nervous, hoping that no one was paying attention to the
comment about Rack.
"What was he talking about Willow? What have you been doing while I was
in England?" Giles asks quietly his eyes narrowing as Willow drops her
eyes and looks away. "I'm well aware of who Rack is and what he peddles
in. What have you been doing cavorting with the likes of that lowlife?
Ethan Rayne is more trustworthy and we all know how trustworthy he is."
"Are you so blind that you can't see her for what she is Watcher? She
stinks of dark magic and excess. She's addicted to magic and Rack's
been feeding her habit and using her as a conduit to feed his own sick
perversions; the other foolish blonde that fancies herself a witch as
well. They are corrupted." Jacob says with a flinch of distaste and a
shudder of revulsion.
"Rack has met with an unfortunate accident however so there will be no
more fixes. It's too late for this one and the other though, the taint
clings to them even now. You would be well served to take her magic now
while she is controllable." Jacob advises him as the motor home and the
limo return. He wraps an arm around Ravali and guides her towards the
motor home.
Willow quakes under Giles steel-eyes regard and dropping her face and
stares at her shoes. "As this is Dawn's night I'm going to refrain from
yelling at you." Willow brightens at the prospect. "Right now at
least." Her expression falls again as her hopes of getting off easy are
all too easily dashed. "We will be
discussing this matter at length and I expect to hear some very good
reasons that I shouldn't have your powers bound as Mr. Chenault
suggested."
Bored and eager to get to the reception and the dancing Anya takes
Giles and Xander's hand and starts pulling them towards the limo.
"Let's go, Spike said that we could ride with them to the reception."
She chirps excitedly. "I wonder how much money they have. It must be a
lot, don't you...?" Her voice turns into a distant mumble as she all
but
pushes the pair of bemused men into the limo before climbing in behind
them.
Buffy and Angel watch as Spike, holding a very bubbly Dawn's hand, is
escorted to the limo by a very conscientious Penn and a smiling Tara.
The presence of the other Vampires as real a barrier as any wall and
within seconds Dawn, Spike, Tara, Penn, and the Twins are enclosed
safely inside the limo. One of the other male Vampires gets into the
front passenger seat beside the driver as the other one stops to herd
Ravali, Jacob, the two women, and himself; all of them carrying the
beautifully wrapped gifts brought for Dawn; into the motor home.
Within moments the vehicles move off smoothly. Angel hurriedly gathers
his coat around him as he sweeps down the stairs towards their parked
car, his friends hurrying to catch up as Willow hails a cab. She gives
the cabby the address as she guides Buffy into the back seat before
joining her and Angel and his friends still manage to beat them out of
the
still burgeoning parking lot, despite having to walk farther to reach
their car.
Buffy sits back, staring out the window at the passing night shrouded
streets but what she's seeing lies inside her mind and isn't anything
reflected back at her from reality. It's not the light of the stars
peeking at her through the passing winter clouds; it is a glittering
reminder for every mistake she's made in her life.
There the twinkling reminder of letting her parents convince her that
getting so involved with Pike was a bad idea and agreeing albeit
reluctantly with her Mother's plans to move to Sunnydale. She hesitates
for a moment as she suddenly realizes the similarities between Pike and
Spike. It's more than in their names.
There another too bright reminder of her mistake in getting involved
with Angel and ignoring boys her own age that she could have been happy
with. Next to it the sickly dim star that marks the explosion of
Angelus into her life and beside that smaller clusters of stars all
bearing some tortured Angel memory attached to them. A sky full of
twinkling mistakes there for the entire world to see. Hurting Xander,
Parker, Riley, mistake upon
mistake, they're all there.
She stops to think for a moment about Riley and his fate. She knows how
easily it could have been her instead of Samantha Finn that was used as
an unwitting science experiment. She finds it very hard to blame Spike
or his friends for seeking justice and justice it is. Riley will meet
the same treatment that Spike did at the Initiative's hands. She knows
that Spike has protected her to an extent from the full knowledge of
what he went through at their hands. Maybe Riley's fate will be a
kinder one... maybe.
Her eyes find a bright cluster of stars sitting side by side, two a
little smaller and all but swallowed up by the largest as they sit
slightly to the side and back a bit. The larger star is more showy and
prominent in the night sky. It's like Angel and his bright shiny
destiny as champion for the Powers That Be, all shiny and bright. Her
eyes find the smaller star almost hidden by the bright aura of the
first one. It's small but perfectly formed, shining brightly despite
being half in the shadow of the other. A tiny star is nestled safely in
the light aura of the second star almost as though it were protecting
it. It reminds her so much of the unusual relationship between Spike
and her little sister.
She knows that everyone believes that it was his love for her that
rules over Spike but she knows the truth of it. It's Dawn's love
that truly tamed the beast that is Spike's Demon. The transformation
from enemy to... friend... may have begun with her but it reached its
fruition in the selfless love and affection he harbours for Tara and
Dawn. She squeezes her eyes shut tightly unable to bear the sight of
all her mistakes looking back at her.
"What am I going to do Willow?" A tear forces its way free from her
clenched eyes. "Dawn's going to leave and I'll never see him again, I
know it. Dawn hates me for what I did and I'll never be able to make it
up to any of them if they leave."
"Talk to Dawnie, Buffy. If you can convince her to give you another
chance then Spike will have to as well or risk upsetting her and I
don't think that he will. It's obvious that he's avoided that til now
if he has all these resources and everything and he hasn't done
anything to us before now. He's had the opportunity and he could have
tried to turn Dawn against you but he doesn't appear to have even tried
to do that. That creepy one giving Angel the evil eye was probably
telling the truth about Dawn being the reason Spike hasn't done
anything to hurt us."
"I think Spike came to actually... like us. I don't think that Dawn or
Tara is the only reason he hasn't tried to make us pay for how he was
treated when he only wanted to help us." Buffy says quietly. "I think I
owe him a real apology and I really need to patch things up with Dawn
if I want to stay in her life and have her be part of mine. I don't
think that will happen though until Spike... and Tara... forgive me for
what I did. I've been a horrible friend to them. They all tried to help
me and I just threw their help back in their faces. I have a lot to
make
up for."
"I can't believe Tara left with Spike and she's been with him the whole
time." Willow's tone is dark and angry but underneath that the hurt can
clearly be heard. "She betrayed me, us."
"No, Willow she didn't betray us. We both know why she left and she may
have chosen to go with Spike but he's not the reason she wanted to
leave. They made sure we couldn't track them; they disappeared because
they wanted to, don't you get that? They hid from us deliberately." Buffy
snaps. "You have Amy so don't get mad because Tara moved on too. You
don't have the right to be angry any more than I do. Spike's... moved
on
too."
"Yes I noticed him making with the moving on. Did you have any idea
that he was gay?" Willow asks as she glances at her.
"I know that his relationship to Angelus was a lot more complicated
than Angel or Spike was willing to talk about. When I got involved with
Angel, Giles gave me a lecture about Vampires and how they're
'different'. It was horrible, it lasted about three hours and I thought
I was going to slip into a bored coma." Buffy snickers and Willow
giggles. "It was kind of cute, he kept stuttering and I think he was
about to resort to diagrams. I'm lucky I had to patrol or he'd probably
have lectured me until morning. He told me that the Watchers always
suspected that Angelus and William the Bloody were... close. I've
always
wondered if that's not why they hate each other so much now."
"So wow Spike was all Juliet to Angelus' Romeo huh? That's just... kind
of wow... and hot." Willow giggles again.
"Yeah, I can totally see them oil wrestling." Buffy says with a dreamy
smile.
Willow sighs with the same dreamy expression but then she snaps out of
it as something occurs to her. "I wonder...." She glances over at
Buffy.
"Do you think that Angel has
ever been attracted to Spike? I mean if Angelus was then wouldn't Angel
have been too?"
"If you had noticed the way he kept staring at Spike and that other
Vampire guy, you probably wouldn't have to ask me that." Buffy replies
flatly. "Angel may not realize it but I think there's a reason that
he's never tried very hard to get rid of Spike for good."
"How can you be so sure of that?" Willow asks surprised by Buffy's
unusual insight.
"Because I didn't realize that there was a reason that I couldn't kill
Spike until I thought I had." Buffy admits quietly. "I've spent the
last two years thinking I'd left him to die in that alley and that he had when he didn't come back. Who
could I talk to about it? Dawn? She hated me enough when she thought
I'd just driven him away. I hate to think what she'd have done if I had
killed him for good. You... you were still upset over Tara and let's
face
it we weren't talking for a long time; just yelling. Xander would have
celebrated I think. Anya would have told everyone and that's after she
did her best to make my life hell for what I did. Tara was gone; Giles
was in London and Angel... well I don't know what Angel would have
done."
"He wouldn't have blamed you would he? I mean he's tried to kill Spike
too." Willow tries to comfort Buffy not realizing how cold her words
actually sound.
"He never tried that hard, neither of us did." Buffy says looking down
and sighing. "Angel chose to leave me; his destiny was more important
than I was. Riley was just a Band-Aid to cover the open wound he left
behind... and Spike...." Buffy glances at the limo driving some
distance
ahead of them. She knows that Spike will be sitting beside the other
elegant Vampire, probably holding hands or with an arm around his
shoulder as he snuggles at his side and a single tear rips its way from
the corner of her eye. "Spike was mine, the only one that didn't leave
me until I hurt him too badly for him to stay. I don't blame him for
wanting to live. Well you know what I mean. If he'd stayed, I'd have
gotten him killed... one way or another." She tilts her head until her
hair brushes her cheek wiping the tear away.
"If you love him Buffy then fight for him." Willow implores her. "If
Spike stays in Sunnydale...." Her voice trails off anxiously and she
looks away embarrassed. She doesn't need to finish that sentence for
Buffy to know that she would have added that if Spike stayed so would
Tara.
"It's because I love him that I'm going to do what's best for him and
not interfere in what he has now. They looked happy Willow. When was the last
time you've ever seen them so content? We had our chance to make them
ours and we threw it away. They've made a new family."
"Maybe Spike has but Tara is human and she belongs with us not them."
Willow denies hotly. "If I can just get her to talk to me without all
the interference, I know that I could convince her to stay."
"You know that Tara is learning from that magic guy and Giles seemed to
be really impressed by that and so did you and Amy.... Hey where is
Amy,
Willow?"
Willow looks startled and then ashamed that she didn't even notice
Amy's absence and she shrugs uncomfortably as the taxi pulls to a stop
behind a line of vehicles waiting their chance to drive up the large
scenic lane of the Sunnydale country club. The limo pulls up at the
base of the entrance staircase and what seems to be a swarm of valets
and attendants converge to open the rear door and assist the occupants
out. A pack of neatly garbed valets and parking attendants start to
work the line of vehicles and within moments a fresh faced young man is
opening the door of their taxi with a flourish. They join the sea of
foot traffic and they're soon standing with Angel and his friends, a
few
feet from the group the limo delivered, who are currently being fawned
over by a straight-laced looking man in an expensive suit.
Angel moves closer, curious about what's going on and that's all the
impetus the rest of them need to get them drawing in closer too. Buffy
notes with a wry grin however that everyone stops behind Angel rather
than trying to get any closer.
"I'd like to welcome you, Signore honoured di Aurelius e padrone di
Sunnydale, on behalf of the Sunnydale Country Club. The owners would
like to extend to you a most gracious welcome and free reign of our
facilities while you are gracing us with your presence Sirs and Madams.
I am the Night Manager, Mr. Abrahams." The well-dressed man twitters
looking a little star-struck and perhaps a little frightened. "Your
retainers have been shown to the private kitchen as you requested and
will attend to your food and drink personally as you requested. We've
set aside the garden-side atrium for your party, I think you'll find it
very satisfactory for your party's needs and it opens to the main
ballroom so the guest of honour will still be close to her classmates.
The guests that you're expecting have arrived and await you in the
atrium. Your security requirements have been met as well and I have
personally made sure that all mirrors and other accoutrements have been
removed or concealed. If you would please follow me, it would be an
honour for me to escort you personally." The man gestures towards the
steps in silent inquiry as to whether or not he should precede them.
Penn nods graciously and the man darts up the steps at a slow but
anxious pace. Wrapping his arm around William's shoulders and pulling
him against his side, Penn holds out his elbow for Tara and the trio
start up the steps after the hovering manager, with Dawn and the others
close at their heels, guided by the formidable twin presence of Aaron
and Erick Logan.
"What did those words he said mean?" Fred asks shyly, peeking around
Angel to watch the elegant procession walking up the steps. "What
language was that?"
"I believe it was Italian." Wesley says uncertainly looking at Giles
who only shrugs and starts up the steps.
"Contrary to popular opinion I do not speak every language known to
man." Giles amused voice drifts back to them.
Anya chuckles and pulls Xander after her as she trots to catch up to
Giles.
"It is Italian." Angel says distractedly as he starts up the steps as
well, the others following in his wake. "The main Chantry of the
Aurelius Order was originally located in Venice. It is tradition to
greet and welcome a Master of an Order in the language of the origin
place of their major Chantry." Angel informs them. "What he said was
'Signore honoured di Aurelius e padrone di Sunnydale' and what that
means is 'Honoured Lord of Aurelius and the Master of Sunnydale'. Penn
must be the new Master here." Angel states, sounding somewhat
surprised.
"Why is that so shocking? That she-vamp told us that Dawn was the
reason Buffy and the others were safe, wouldn't he have to claim them
of sorts to extend his protection?" Wesley asks adjusting his glasses
and looking interested in the topic.
"You heard what my Grand-childe... the other one, Lawson's Childe,
said.
Penn won't stand to have Spike or Tara for that matter in this town for
one minute longer than necessary. If the Aurelius Order had established
a Chantry in a neighbouring town we'd have likely heard about it before
now. Since I suspect that Dawn is going to New Orleans for more than
just college we'll have to assume that is where Penn has chosen to make
their home."
Wesley catches on to what's bothering Angel. "So how can Penn and the
Order maintain control over a Hellmouth without actually being here?
That's a very good question and one we need to answer."
"Penn must have a Lieutenant here that he can trust to maintain control
over the majority of the Vampires living here. They'd have to be
strong, a Master, and at least a century and a half old, maybe older."
Angel muses. "One of the twins could do it but something tells me that
Penn keeps them close at hand and none of the others seemed quite
strong enough to hold a Hellmouth on their own."
"If there were a true Master that would explain why things have been so
quiet on the Vampire front here wouldn't it? I mean Buffy hasn't really
fought anyone stronger than minions and fledglings in ages."
"It's highly possible Willow. A Master would keep their Childer and
strongest minions close and send out the weaker ones as foot soldiers.
They could even be letting you do the job of controlling the population
for them by knocking off any Vampires that aren't of their bloodline."
Angel replies.
"I would know if there was another Master Vampire in Sunnydale Angel."
Buffy states dismissingly, with a sweeping motion of her hand.
"You've never met a true Master Vampire." Angel returns her dismissive
tone. "The Master was ancient that's true but he was also weak from
being trapped for so long. And I... well Angelus was insane and Spike
was
hampered by having not only his Sire but his Grand-sire reining him in.
If you had ever met either Angelus or Spike when they were...
unencumbered you wouldn't be standing here now. You're alive because
for one reason or another we never wanted you to be anything else."
"Yes, well, that's something to think about but it doesn't really give
us any clues to how the Order is maintaining control over a Hellmouth
without actually being here." Wesley says hurriedly, hoping to distract
Buffy and Angel before a full blown argument breaks out.
"The manager said that there were 'guests' waiting for them so maybe
we'll find our answer there or at some point in the evening. If there
are high ranking members of the Order in Sunnydale then protocol will
present themselves to Penn and the Elders of the Order." Angel replies.
"Why didn't the manager greet the others, just, Penn is his name?" Fred
asks. "I mean it's obvious that they're all very important so you think
he would have welcomed them all." She rambles charmingly. "I mean he
wouldn't have wanted to offend anyone and everything?"
"Penn is the Aurelius Order
so greeting him in the proper manner is like greeting them all
individually in a formal situation. He will speak directly to the
others only once Penn gives his permission by introducing them which
usually requires him to state their name, rank within the Order, and
where applicable their position. Spike, Tara, and Dawn are exceptions."
"How are they exceptions?" Wesley asks, frankly fascinated by all the
facts of Vampiric life and customs that he'd been ignorant of
previously.
"Tara is the Lady Witch of the Order and that is a position of very
high esteem, as you may have noticed. That position affords her certain
protections as does the acknowledgement of her standing with Penn and
Spike. No one outside the Order will address her directly until she
gives her leave for them to do so. She is the acknowledged Lady of the
Aurelius Order. That rank is astonishing as it's usually reserved for
the Eldest Female Master of an Order. By gifting it to Tara, Penn has
elevated her to a position just behind that which he and Spike occupy."
Angel explains.
"What about Dawn?" Buffy asks.
"Dawn is a protectorate of the Order and of Penn, Spike, and Tara in
particular I imagine. She is a Princess in a very true sense of the
word." Angel smiles gently. "She will want for nothing in her life,
Buffy. Any Demon that tries to hurt or use her will face the wrath of
one of the most powerful and ancient of the Vampiric Orders. Penn is a
very dangerous opponent on his own but with Spike at his side and the
sheer power they possess individually and at their command, it would be
suicidal to mess with Dawn."
"Spike did that for Dawn?" Willow asks surprised. "Why would he do
that? H obviously had nothing to gain by it since... well...." Willow
glances at Buffy and flushes and looks away hurriedly.
"Spike loves Dawn that's why he did it and that's why he's gone against
every demonic instinct he has and let you live despite the wrongs done
against him." Angel replies with implacable detachment. "You're alive because Spike cares how Dawn feels
and your deaths would make her unhappy. You're alive because Spike is
who he is. Do you really think that a bit of wire and plastic could
have made him do any of the things he's done? You have no conception of
what could have happened to you if Spike wasn't the Vampire that he is.
He could have put out a contract, manipulated other Demons, done any of
a dozen things that would have removed you as effectively as if he'd
killed you himself. If you ever had any doubt of that, look around you
now. WHATEVER Spike wants,
Penn will make it happen, including your deaths." Angel looks over his
shoulder at Willow and she shivers at the cold look in his eyes.
"What makes Spike so important anyway?" Willow mutters under her breath
angrily.
"Penn loves him." Angel replies flatly. "Penn has always loved him,
from the moment he met him William has been the center of his life.
He's been looking for him for over a century and now he has his heart's
desire and the world will burn to ash and Humanity's bones will bake
before he lets him go. He has taken Spike as his Childe and as his
Consort. Spike sits at the right hand of one of the most powerful
Vampires ever sired as the head of one of the oldest Orders. I suggest
that you stop wondering why Spike is the way he is and does the things
he does and just be thankful that what is merely is. I don't know why William has
always been so different but he's affecting positive changes in Penn
and the Order and that can only work out for us. If you can't see that
these Vampires are different and treat them accordingly then leave now
Willow. If you push them, they're going to push back and you won't win
and I won't help you when your actions cause you harm because of your
own foolishness."
Everyone looks at Angel's back in varying degrees of shock at his
coolly voiced warning but no one breaks the silence until Wesley tries
to distract them again.
"So you said Spike is an exception as well? Is it because he is a
consort?" Wesley asks huskily after clearing his throat quietly several
times.
"It's because he is THE Consort.
No one may address him directly until he and Penn have given their
permission and then only using an honorific form, Master or Milord are
the accepted forms. Penn is addressed in a similar manner. Under no
circumstances use a familiar form of address for Penn or Spike unless
they have given you permission to do so specifically. It is an
unpardonable break in protocol and their attendants will not react
kindly to it." Angel instructs them all. "I'd suggest that all of you
do your best to make a good impression and if possible get on their
good side. They can be powerful allies to their friends and death to
their foes. Decide which one you want to be." Angel picks up the pace
and sweeps through the doors as the attendants manning the large doors
scramble to open them in time.
The others all scramble to follow after him not liking the
vulnerability of being left to walk in alone to face the formidable
Vampires that have somehow infiltrated all of their lives on their own.
Chapter
Eight
They're all shown to the long rectangular table that has been set up in
the lovely marble tiled atrium that overlooks the garden. Penn and
companions are already seated as sombrely garbed attendants consult
Ravali before escorting them to their seats.
Angel is fairly surprised to find that he's been placed to the right of
Dawn near the head of the table on the left side. He'd rather expected
to be segregated with the humans and as far away from Penn and Spike as
possible. Instead he's only separated from the pair at the head of the
table by one of the Twin Vampires and Dawn. The other twin takes the
seat next to him and Ravali and Jacob across from him and he almost
smiles as he sees that he's been neatly hemmed in. Bracketing as he is
by the Twins and under the watchful gaze of Ravali and her Mate, he has
been given a place of honour yet they have cleverly managed to isolate
him from Penn and Spike at the same time.
He watches as Ravali quietly directs the seating arrangements from her
seat, curious to see how the others are placed. He's not surprised to
see that Giles and Wesley are seated side by side on his side of table
and next to the twin on his left. Xander and Anya are sitting across
the table from Giles and Wesley. They're sitting to the left of Jacob,
who is seated next to Ravali, who is next to Tara who is sitting at
Penn's right hand.
Lawson's Mate takes a seat next to Wes, as Cordelia, Fred, and Gunn are
escorted to the chairs next lined up to the left of Xander. Buffy is
seated on the left side of the table next to the Vampiress and Willow
is seated in the chair directly across from her on the other side of
the table. Lilia Logan and her Vampire escort are seated next to Willow
and the dark haired Vampire, Ian, sits next to Buffy. The two chairs at
the other end of the table are currently empty. But they don't remain
that way for long.
The first indication that something momentous is about to happen is
when Penn and Spike stand with smiles that can only be called affection
on their faces. They move around the head of the table and meet the
elegant pair just entering the atrium. The older gentleman is very well
dressed in a neatly pressed evening style black suit. A jewel-toned
dark amethyst shirt sets off his salt and pepper hair. His companion is
a lovely sight in a sleeveless little red knit dress with a zip front
and Polo-style collar and a black and red leather belt that's
interspersed with golden chain links. Her dark hair is coiled neatly
with soft tendrils that frame her face. Two attendants appear silently
to accept the woman's evening wrap and the man's overcoat and no one
sitting can get a clear look at the pair but from the solicitous
behaviour of the attendants it's clear that they're important.
The sea of attendants parts as Penn and Spike approach. The pair is
finally revealed and all of them jump to their feet in shock as Spike
opens his arms to the bundle of energy that is Faith Lehane. Penn
reaches out to clasp the shoulder of the man, reaching out to shake his
hand.
"You're as beautiful as ever Sweet Faith. Ethan must be taking
excellent care of you." Spike leans over to kiss Faith's cheek,
chuckling as she blows a kiss at Penn.
"Hey William, you're looking terrific as usual." Faith replies flitting
from his arms to Penn's as she claims another hug before accepting the
hand that her older companion holds out. Their expressions are proud
and amused as they take the two remaining chairs.
"I believe some of you are familiar with Faith Lehane, the current
Slayer, and her partner Ethan Rayne. They attend to our..." Penn pauses
for a moment before his mouth curves up in a smile. "...Interests here
in
Sunnydale."
Ethan's features ripple to reveal his vampiric features, revealing his
strangely glowing red eyes, before rippling back to their human guise.
He chuckles as he sees Giles drop back into his chair heavily, shocked
by the reality of his transformation.
Penn escorts Wil back to their seats and one by one everyone sits back
down and he waves the attendants forward. The manager attends to them
personally as the others spread out around the table and hand everyone
a menu and most immediately open them to peruse the menu. Wil sits
quietly at Penn's side, making no attempt to read the menu, stroking
his fingertips over the back of Penn's hand.
"We'll have the Coconut Shrimp and the Onion Blossom to start with. For
our entrée we'll have the Prime rib, one pound cut, very, very
rare, with the winter vegetable medley and the rice pilaf. We'll have
the red wine with our meal; the Chef knows which 'selections' we
prefer. For dessert we'll have the Chocolate Lava Cake. We'll share the
same plates so only one order of everything," Penn orders after the
briefest of glances at the menu. "We'll be picking up the tab for
everyone Mr. Abrahams."
Angel stares as all of the Vampires and their companions echo the meal
order Penn placed. After a few seconds pause he finds himself doing the
same thing.
After all the orders have been taken the members of the staff quietly
asks if anyone would like a drink to sip before dinner.
"Bring us some carafes of the 'House Red' and a bottle of Jack
Daniels." Penn orders before turning his attention to Wil. The orders
taken the staff members withdraw silently and leave the party to
converse quietly.
Dawn jumps up and hurries out to the main room where she's mobbed by a
group of her friends and impressed classmates; who keep shooting dark
and covetous glances; at the private party.
Spike catches Grady's attention with a fluttering of his hand and the
younger Vampire nods and kissing Lilia on the cheek he melts out into
the crowd. He'll keep a quiet eye on Dawn unobtrusively from the crowd
as the large ballroom fills with still arriving families trying to find
their assigned tables.
"May I speak to Spike, Master Penn; Spike?" Anya asks politely, earning
a pleased smile from Penn and another nod from Spike. "How are you?"
She asks genuinely interested in the answer. Spike is one of the few
people that she really believes is a friend of hers rather than just
ones she inherited by being married to Xander and inheriting his
friends.
"I am very well Anya." Spike returns with a warm smile for the bold
ex-demon. "I am very happy with my life as it is now and with my love."
He leans over and presses a gentle kiss to Penn's jaw, smiling beneath
Penn's lips as he abruptly turns his head to catch his mouth in a brief
but passionate kiss.
"How long have you been together?" Anya asks with a smile finding the
vampires to make a very charming couple.
"Two years, seven months, sixteen days, and..." Penn glances at his
watch. "...Eleven hours." Penn says proudly, lifting his hand to stroke
Wil's cheek. "We haven't been apart since the night I finally found him
again." Penn turns his head and presses another soft kiss to William's
mouth before looking back at Anya. "I searched for over a century and I
would have searched for a thousand more to find him. He is my destiny
and he is the only heart I'll ever need."
"Oh that is so romantic!" Fred exclaims before clapping her hand over
her mouth and looking embarrassed.
"It's quite alright, we don't expect Humans to know our customs or
abide by them Miss Burkle." Penn says graciously, his words only
slightly accented by a sharp tone. "Please speak as you wish. All I
request is that you not upset the celebration. We're all here for Dawn
so for this one night at least we will
all get along; even if it kills you all to have to do it." He
warns subtly.
"How did you get out of prison Faith? Your sentence should have lasted
another ten years." Buffy asks suspiciously.
"I have friends in high places, B." Faith replies with a bright grin
before composing her features into a mask of civility. "Penn needed
someone willing to work with Ethan to look after things here until Dawn
left for college. I'm very well paid for my services and there are some
fringe benefits that appeal to me." Ethan glances at the busty brunette
with a smile that could only be called lascivious.
"How did you get away from the Initiative, Ethan?" Giles asks in a
voice so cool its frozen solid.
"He was at the facility where Mr. Finn was secured. There was little
left of him then but they'd managed to capture another Aurelian that
had sired him in Sunnydale before being dissected herself. Apparently
in the resulting struggle, Ethan's magic was unleashed and it caused a
massive system failure that allowed Wil to escape. We owed a debt and
we've paid it." Penn explains. "Ethan, unwittingly or not, helped Wil
to escape from that hellhole. Ravali nursed him back to health and we
found out that something rather unusual happened when Ethan was turned.
His magic somehow caused two Demons to manifest in the same body.
Eyghon has fused with the Vampiric Demon and feeds them both. Ethan is
a rather unusual Vampire in that he has many of our strengths but few
of our weaknesses." Penn replies.
"The Masters needed someone that could function here and knew their way
around well enough to avoid being caught before we were ready to reveal
we were here. Eyghon's presence makes me stronger than the average
Vampire of my age. Master William had heard about Faith from young
Harris there and it was an easy matter to arrange to speak with her.
She accepted the offer to work for the Aurelius Order in exchange for a
very healthy monetary compensation and her freedom." Ethan replies
looking at the young woman fondly. "We've held the Hellmouth for over
two years in the name of the Order."
"A Slayer and a Warlock turned Vampire would certainly prove difficult
to overcome." Wes comments reluctantly.
"The sixty Fledglings and Neonates that we've steadily moved into
position here have been of some help as well." Faith adds dryly. "It
wasn't hard to arrange for people that are predisposed to assisting
the Order to have been manoeuvred into positions of power in the city
government as well. Sunnydale belongs to Aurelius and within the next
twenty or thirty years the Hellmouths in Rio, India, Russia, and
Zimbabwe will be ours as well."
"And the point of that would be what?" Giles asks seriously. "Once the
other Hellmouths are yours, what then?" He pulls off his glasses and
cleans the spotless lenses furiously.
"Then we hold them Watcher and William and our Order, MY Order will be safer with those
powder kegs under our control. The Order is healthy and thriving for
the first time in centuries and the number of members is even now
growing. Aurelius boasts six of the strongest Master Vampires in
existence with new Childer being sired. We are reclaiming the glory of
our bygone era. When it is time, Wil and I will raise our Childer
together but it is not yet time for us to sire our own Childer. It is a
full time job mentoring the Childer already sired. The remaining
minions are strong and intelligent, each of them worth three or four
their number. Aurelius will be an Order built by Childer not by
disposable minions. Even now the ranks swell with those we can save by
our gift." Penn recites powerfully.
"It's a gift?!" A chorus of voices cry out with Angel's in the
lead and a loud argument breaks out.
"You have to understand that yes it is a gift to some people."
William's quietly voiced comment drops like a stone in the sea of
silence and the ripples soon silence the comments. "I have seen such
wonders in the nearly century and a half that I have existed as a
Vampire. I would have lived or died an unspectacular life, probably
with a proper society wife that married me because it's what women did
back then. She'd give me some spoiled children with no ambition other
than
to be accepted by society and the cycle would start all over again. I
had to die to find a reason
to live."
"I have found some treatments that are capable of sending diseases such
as Cancer into remission but the treatments are too powerful for a
human to use more than three or four and they cannot affect a cure in
less than eight to twelve treatments. All it can do for a Human is
effect a remission of a few years." Ravali reveals with quiet pride.
"Their lives can be extended only a year or two at most, for some in
the last stages of the disease that can be shortened to mere days or
weeks."
"At Master Wil's request, I have perfected the spells necessary to
permanently bind a human soul to a Demon." Jacob provides. "At Master
Penn's request, I have perfected a series of enchantments that will
allow a changed Human to retain their soul after they're sired."
"Wil suggested a means by which our ranks can be repopulated and give
some terminal Humans a second chance at living once their Human LIFE is over. We have had several
Childer born through such a means and with
the approval of your much daunted Powers That Be. It appears
that the defection of their Champion to Wolfram & Hart has left a
vacuum in their infrastructure. It is a deficiency that we have agreed
to fill." Penn's smile is smug as he delivers the devastating news.
"We're turning and training fighters for the Powers That Be, a new
breed of Vampire Guardians."
"Why would they condone something like that?" Giles and Wesley spout in
unison.
"You don't know?" William asks quietly, the surprised look on his face
manages to shut everyone up again. He looks at Buffy and a sad
expression moves across his face before he glances at Willow and his
eyes frost over. "Did you think that you could flaunt the natural law
and there wouldn't be a price to pay? You ripped Buffy out of HEAVEN, returned her to a life as a
SLAYER, when there was already another active Slayer TWICE over. Did
none of you ever stop to wonder what it is you've done?" Wil's voice is
chillingly cold. "The first time Buffy 'died' Xander brought her back
but it took just long enough for Kendra to be called as the new Slayer.
Drusilla killed Kendra and Faith became the new Slayer but then Buffy
died again and as much as I loved her, it was her time." Wil's eyes
drop and so does Buffy as she hears Spike using the past tense in
regard to his feelings for her. "It was an attempt by the Powers That
Be to repair the Slayer line of succession. Buffy earned her reward and
you rip her back to life for purely selfish reasons. You never once
attempted to find out where Buffy actually was; you just assumed that
you knew all there was to know and in that assumption you have caused
something that will never be undone." William leans over towards Penn
unconsciously.
Penn meets his leaning movement, slipping his arm around Wil's
shoulders to slide his hand around the side of his neck so that his
hand can reach up to cup his cheek. He pulls gently guiding Wil's head
to rest against his shoulder and chest, his thumb stroking over the
sharply chiselled cheekbone in a soothing movement. He tips his head to
brush his chin over Wil's baby soft hair and purrs quietly. A loving
smile curves his mouth upward as he feels Wil relax almost instantly,
melting against him and answering his purr with one of his own.
"Your actions have caused a serious shift in the balance of power
between the Powers That Be and the Dark Ones. YOUR actions had freed the First
Evil, the ultimate source of all evil that has ever existed. Buffy's
resurrection was the key that unlocked the gates that have confined it
for countless millennia. To seal the gateway and maintain the balance
of power a tremendous sacrifice was required. The Balance Demons like
Whistler, offered their immortal life-forces to seal the breach but it
wasn't enough. The Powers were forced to sacrifice possibly their
greatest asset in the fight."
Penn continues when it becomes apparent that William can't continue to
talk about the painful event that precipitated this unwelcome news.
"There will no more Slayers. Buffy and Faith are the last of the Slayer
bloodlines; all who would have been called after will now have their
destinies re-written and will live their lives as though they had never
been potentials. THAT is the
price for containing the First and preventing the Apocalypse that you
began single-handedly. You could have ended the world because you
couldn't say goodbye and let go,"
"We have struck a bargain that is beneficial for everyone involved.
Aurelius will be the training and proving ground for the Powers' new
breed of warriors, Penn and myself the first of the new Balance Demons
to replace those that valiantly gave up their existences, and the Order
will reclaim its past glory." William informs them. "The Powers felt
that we have a unique perspective that they can use. We understand the
tactics of Demons and their dark warriors and we understand heroes and
the sacrifices that have to be made. We can walk the line between both
sides."
"And what are you getting for doing it?" Wesley demands, glancing
towards Angel, angry on his behalf.
Penn's only response is a chuckle as he curls his finger under Wil's
chin
and gently tilts his head back and to the side. He grins as a
devilishly wicked tongue sweeps across his bottom lip seconds before
their hungry mouths open and join in a passionate kiss that has their
friends beaming affectionately and has everyone else shifting in their
seats at the carnal display.
"I have the only reward I'm ever going to need Watcher Jr.; I don't
need a carrot dangled in front of my face to get me to do something
unselfish." Penn says bitingly, sending a hard glance at Angel but his
caressing hand on Wil remains tender and gentle.
"We didn't make the decision because we expected to be rewarded for it.
We made the decision because it was right for the Order and it gives us
a future and it gives those that CHOOSE
to join us a future that they wouldn't have had otherwise. The
Powers get their warriors raised, trained, and apprenticed with
experienced fighters and the Aurelius Order thrives and the Powers
welcome their fighters to the hereafter." Wil reveals.
"Are you telling me that the Powers are going to allow DEMONS in
Heaven?!" Giles exclaims.
"The Powers are going to allow those that give their lives in their
service and in the name of their fellows into Heaven, yes. The Demons
will be reclaimed by the darkness that birthed them at the time of
their passing while that which was Human is given to the rest they have
earned." Penn informs them.
"And what happens to you and Spike, when it's your time?" Anya asks.
"Wil and I are unusual as are the others that will eventually be
joining us. We've integrated our Human and Demon halves and to divide
us is to destroy who we are. We'll be sent... elsewhere when our end
comes." Penn replies quietly, tightening his arm around Wil as he
cuddles closer to bury his face against the curve of his neck and
shoulder.
"When OUR end comes?" Angel
questions, his voice tight and strangled.
"We've been apart long enough." The pair murmur together and everyone
inhales in unison as they realize what they're actually stating when
they say that.
"SPIKE, Spike, come dance with me?" Dawn's happily explosive return has
everyone smiling as she wrestles Spike out of his chair with a bit of
subtle help from him and pulls him out into the main room.
Angel notices that the Twin to his right quietly trails after the pair.
Even with Jacob's spell in force preventing anyone in the city from
deliberately doing any harm, their security remains in force. He's
humbled to see how well Penn is taking care of William and sad and
ashamed that he'd failed to do the same. As their Sire, he should have
protected them rather than let them come to harm. He's failed them and
is it little wonder that they have moved on without him. Maybe they
have a point about not finding his redemption as a reward but seeking
it for its own ends. It seems that the Sire still has a lot to learn
from his Childer.
Chapter
Nine
Aaron escorts a flushed and panting Dawn, grinning happily from the
protection of Spike's arms, and a proud looking Spike back to the
atrium, dodging around the serving staff. Fragrant foods are set out
before them like a rich banquet and Spike sweeps Dawn back to her seat
with a graceful flourish that would have done any age-old Royal
courtier well. Aaron resumes his seat, beaming under the smile and nod
of appreciation from Penn and a pat on the shoulder from Spike. Grady
looks somewhat flustered to get the same acknowledgment as he takes his
seat next to his lady-love Lilia.
Penn stands as William rounds the table to resume his seat and the pair
meets in a slow kiss before they sink in unison back into their chairs
at the head of the table. Penn nods to the nervously hovering wine
steward fluttering about and he pours a small measure of the rich red
wine into his glass. After a brief pause to sip the offering, Penn nods
with a pleased smile and the Steward sighs in relief and hurriedly
fills the glasses in front of Wil and himself about three-quarters
full. The Steward steps back with a bow and waves hurriedly to a quiet
young man behind him; who is holding a smaller cut crystal decanter
holding something equal dark and red but it's not wine.
Penn shakes his head emphatically but softens the affect with a quiet
smile as he holds his hand over his glass. Before anyone realizes
what's going on he's swept up the spotless serrated steak knife and
drawn it deeply across his palm. His healing factor kicks in quickly
and only a small pool of blood gathers in his cupped palm to be tipped
into Wil's wine glass to mix with the rich red already there.
The humans stare in wordless fascination at the sight of Spike cupping
Penn's formerly wounded hand and removing the last traces of blood with
slow languished sweeps of his tongue. They're so fixated on the
carnally sensual display that they barely notice Tara. She holds her
hand out toward Jacob, who quietly draws the gleaming silver dagger
that appears in his hand across her palm lightly scoring into the plump
flesh. The dagger vanishes as suddenly as it appeared.
Tara cups her hand to pool the rich fluid before tipping her hand and
letting her blood drip down into Penn's glass of wine. A whispered
incantation and a sweep of her free hand over her palm and the evidence
of the wound vanishes as though it had never been there at all. Penn
catches her hand and presses a kiss to her knuckles in silent
appreciation and thanks, as Wil straightens up from Penn's glistening
clean palm.
"What in the hell was that?"
Buffy exclaims, shocked at the display so casually enacted for them.
"I'm taking care of my Childe, Slayer. Do you have a problem with
that?" Penn asks as he reaches out to stroke his fingers through Wil's
thick hair in a gentle caress. "I won't have him feed from animals.
It's barely enough to keep a minion functional much less a Master
Vampire and it's certainly not good enough for William. Humans need
certain nutritional requirements to be healthy and for us it is much
the same. I prefer to feed Wil myself when possible as feeding from me
carries certain benefits aside from nutrition." He nuzzles his cheek
against Wil's as a gentle smile curves his mouth as his Childe purrs
quietly in response to the caress.
"He isn't your Childe, he's Drusilla's Childe." Giles points out
coolly. He's not sure what to make of this confident, worldly, and
powerful Vampire that is frankly disproving many of the beliefs about
Vampires that he has held for the majority of his life. It was hard
enough to reconcile and accept Spike with his unique differences but
now to have to accept that all of these Vampires could be so radically
different from what he expected...
"He is mine, Watcher.
Drusilla is no longer a factor." Penn's eyes flash to Angel. "I'm
surprised that you weren't aware of that."
Wil gets everyone's attention as he straightens and sweeps around the
end of the table in a slow walk. The eyes follow him as he walks around
the table slowly, stopping behind Angel's chair. A flash of his fangs
and his palm is lacerated by a line of neat punctures oozing the rich
thickly dark fluid that is their Vampiric lifeblood. He leans over the
back of Angel's chair and allows the bleeding palm to hover in front of
his mouth.
Angel stiffens in his chair, throwing himself against the back of his
chair and away from the scent of the blood that has his fangs dropping
and his mouth flooded with saliva. It is the scent of family, home,
desire, age, power, and obsession. The lure proves too great and he
pitches forward to drag his tongue over the now healed palm, sweeping
up the shed sweetness with hungry sweeps of his tongue.
He's so caught up in the experience that he doesn't realize he's
moaning ecstatically as his tongue chases after each and every last
speck of the rich blood. He's so focused that he doesn't see the
incredulous looks being sent his way or the sudden fidgeting in their
chairs from the majority of the observers as the orgasmic sounds
continue for what seems like forever. Even once the last drop of blood
is gone his tongue still sweeps across the unblemished skin of the
silken palm.
Suddenly Angel stiffens and throws himself back in his chair as his
eyes
lock onto Penn's in a mixture of wonder, shock, horror, and curiosity.
He realizes that it's not what he tastes in Spike's blood that's so
shocking but it's what is no longer there that has awed him.
"I can't believe that you took such a risk, not only with him but
yourself as well." Angel breathes, awed and more than a little jealous.
"What's going on Angel?" Wesley demands, shooting Spike a dark look as
the blond smiles smugly and returns to his seat beside Penn and picks
up his wine glass and calmly sips the luxuriant brew of fine wine and
Sire's blood. "Are you alright?"
"Penn is Spike's Sire, blood doesn't lie. It carries the lineage of not
only the Order a Vampire belongs to but their bloodline and immediate
heritage as well. I should have been able to taste Drusilla in Spike's
blood because it was her blood that resurrected him to his Vampire
life. All I taste in Spike's blood is Penn and to a lesser degree
myself and the Order. The marker Drusilla's blood left in Spike is
gone, totally obliterated. Penn has assumed her place as his Sire and
it is his marker that infuses it now."
"What do you mean you taste yourself?" Wes demands suspiciously looking
at Penn and Spike.
"Penn's blood carries my mark because I sired him, even as my blood
still carries Darla's marker. Because I sired Penn, they both share my
blood marker though Penn's is stronger in Spike now than my own. Penn
has managed to enact a very dangerous, potentially fatal, ceremony
known to very few surviving Vampires. He was telling the truth, Spike
is his." Angel says flatly.
"What sort of ceremony?" Giles finds himself asking, intrigued despite
his better judgement.
"It is a ceremony that is of no concern to a human, Human." Penn
replies in a bored tone, his attention focused on the back of the hand
he's currently kissing and nibbling on while Wil chuckles.
"It is a blood rite that to my knowledge has only been successfully
performed less than five times in all the history of our kind. It could
well have killed them both; as it killed the hundreds, maybe even the
thousands that have tried it in recorded history. What effect did it
have on Drusilla? Does she still exist?" Angel glances towards the head
of the table and feels his dead heart clench painfully.
"Do you know how very sad it is that you have to ask your Childe about
the well-being of another of your Childer?" Ravali comments with a sad
shake of her head. "Have you become so human that you cannot hear the
call of the blood any longer?"
"Drusilla attempted to destroy Spike rather than let me take him from
her but she failed. In the end our bond to each other was strong enough
to overcome her mind games but the trauma nearly killed all of us for
good. Ravali and Tara were able to sustain us long enough for us to
heal and between us, Wil and I were able to prevent Drusilla's final
end. Jacob was able to bind her from causing harm to herself or to us
and she is living quite happily among the Ravanna pride. Ravali's kin
have embraced her and she is cared for and happy and for the first time
in a very long time, she is nearly sane."
"You did your dark work well; she will never again be able to dwell
alone. My Pride will guard her even as they protect her. The darkness
that dwells in her is as dangerous as any that Angelus ever possessed
butit has been contained. She will not be allowed to threaten the
Masters again." Ravali informs him.
"My blood keeps my Childe strong and it has certain benefits that help
to maintain his health despite the chip's effects." Penn strokes a
gentle hand through Spike's hair, the soft strands curling and weaving
around his fingertips. Since he decided to let his hair grow out a bit,
the longer length smoothes the natural curliness of his hair into soft
layers and waves that he just can't seem to keep his hands out of.
"You still have the chip then." Wes leans back, a pleased expression on
his face that earns him dark looks from several of the assembled people.
"You sound pleased Human. It seems that for all your high-handed ideals
that you still revel in the pain of others. Or does your mercy extend
only to your own kind? It must be very convenient to have such
particular morals. For the last year the chip has been firing
constantly regardless of what Wil is doing. It became necessary to
raise his tolerance for pain. I won't describe how that was
accomplished as I'm sure that some of you would prefer to keep your
appetites for this lovely meal." Penn's voice betrays nothing of his
emotions but the look in his eyes is chilling. It's clear that Wesley
has made an enemy.
Wil closes his hand around a razor sharp steak knife. He makes his own
point in a silent display that has all of them jerking up straight in
their chairs as he thrusts the knife through his own hand without a
flinch. He pulls the knife free with a sawing motion, grabbing Penn's
glass of wine and letting it catch the dripping blood. The grievous
wound heals within seconds and he wiggles his fingertips casually,
smiling as Penn returns his earlier favour and licks the remaining
traces of blood from his hand.
Angel quakes faintly at the display. The Initiative may have set out to
de-fang Spike but it seems all that they've managed to do is make him
more dangerous than ever before. Vampires possess unusually high
tolerances for pain to begin with, pain being very much a part of their
Demons, but to have a tolerance capable of overcoming sustained bursts
of agony on an almost constant basis? None of them can mistake Spike
for being anything less than every bit as deadly as he has ever been,
if not in fact more so. It would be a good idea if some others could
show some common sense and stop antagonizing him too.
Angel glances at Wesley and finding him looking back at him, he shakes
his head in silent warning. If the former Watcher continues to
antagonize the very powerful Vampires it's sure to invoke a reaction
that will force a confrontation that he's not sure they could win. With
Buffy's abilities being countered by Faith, Willow, Giles, and Wesley
being matched if not eclipsed by the sheer might of Jacob Chenault and
Tara... it would likely be a fatal mistake. At the very least it could
prove to be a very, very painful one for all of them. He is gratified
as Wesley drops his eyes under his regard and seems to back off.
As soon as his hand is clean, Penn leans back and calmly starts cutting
up the rare prime rib with the same knife that Wil had thrust through
his hand. He is about to take a bite when Wil catches his hand with the
fork. A gently exasperated shake of his head and a fond smile and he
deflects the forkful of meat to his mouth instead. Before it can reach
him however, Aaron catches hold of both of their hands and deflects the
mouthful towards him instead, slipping it off the fork with a graceful
bite. He chews methodically and swallows. After several seconds he nods
subtly and picking up the fork from his roll of silverware he makes it
an issue to taste each and every item that has been brought to Penn and
Spike. Once he's done so, he sets his fork aside and nods. Spike smiles
his thanks and waits contentedly as Penn proceeds to feed them both. It
is a sign for everyone to begin their meal.
The next while passes in an uneasy silence for the Sunnydale and LA
contingents but Penn and company chat and dine in easy camaraderie and
it's obvious that they all hold each in esteem, genuine affection, and
respect.
Angel watches the assemblage with a curious eye. It's clear that Tara,
Dawn, Jacob, and Lilia are considered part of their extended family
despite the humanity that should have the Vampires see them as prey.
Although with the years Jacob has seen without aging, his magic
retarding
the press of the years, he may not be strictly human anymore. Though he
looks to be in his early forties he knows for a fact that the powerful
Warlock has seen at least two centuries, nearly all of those as the
Mate of the powerful and ancient Ravali.
He moves his curious glance towards the elegantly poised Tara. She is
an enigma to him. He has heard Willow speaking about her but somehow
the conversations always turn Willow-centric and he's never managed
to really learn much about Tara. The loyalty she is showing towards his
Childer, his youngest in particular intrigues him greatly. Unless he
misses his guess, it will be something other than magic that will see
the years turning for Tara and leaving her unchanged by its march.
It has been over two centuries since he last saw an Order that had
human servitors as adjuncts to the Order but he remembers some from the
court of The Master during his fledgling years. It is a practice that
was all but extinct in this modern age and he has to feel nostalgic
about its return and the melancholy memories it raises of his own
fledgling years. A lot of truths have been spoken this evening, or
unspoken in some cases but no less apparent. He has a lot of thinking
to do about the choices he's made in his life. Are they truly his
choices or has he been led and manipulated into believing that they
were?
"Do you always eat food?" Anya asks, looking around at the Vampires. "I
thought that Spike was the only Vampire that did that as a normal
thing."
"To our surprise there are some benefits from eating in the human way."
Aaron replies.
"No one could be more shocked than we were to find out that Vampires
that eat actually heal faster than those on a more typical diet.
Additionally they tend to be two to five times stronger and slightly
more resistant to the effects of sunlight." Ravali reveals. "The diet
does require certain elements, heaviest on the protein and the rarer
the better of course. We've done some extensive testing on the subject
in an effort to help Master William recover from his treatment at the
hands of the Humans. It's really all quite fascinating what we've
discovered. For instance a Vampire's body functions very much like a
nuclear reactor. It is a thousand times more efficient than a human's
allowing fully ninety-nine percent of whatever they ingest to be
utilized by their bodies. What little can't be digested and utilized by
the body is excreted through the pours as a perspiration derivative."
Jacob grins at some of the blank and confused looks being sent Ravali's
way. "In laymen's terms, foods go in, nothing... much... comes back out
as
waste." The light dawns for everyone and Angel looks distinctly pleased
as using the bathroom is one experience he can honestly say he's glad
to have missed all these centuries.
"Also we tend to fit in better in social situations where others have
more... traditional diets. We do have fairly extensive dealings with
Humans, some of who are ignorant of what we are." Penn adds with an
amused smile. "We're set apart by the fact of what we are, there's no
need to make it even more readably obvious. We appear at least
cosmetically human most of the time; we can use that to our advantage."
"No doubt to deceive and stalk more human." Wesley says making a
snorting sound. He's not really sure where this sudden burst of
hostility he's feeling originates but the enigmatic looks he keeps
catching Angel shooting towards his Childer is unnerving to him.
"That's rather enough out of you for one evening I think Mr. Price."
Tara says decisively. "If you cannot speak in good will then your
venomous tongue I will still." A flutter of her fingertips and a flash
of light and Wesley makes a choking sound as his hand flies to his
throat.
"I'd consider you fortunate Human. The last person that upset Lady Tara
spent a week as a dung beetle." Erick snickers and one by one everyone
other then the clearly apoplectic Wesley laughs as well.
"He struck Spike for no other reasons than he thought he could and get
away with it. He's lucky he didn't live out his life as one." Tara
sniffs delicately as she sets aside her utensils having finished with
her dinner. "This is Dawn's night and since you can't seem to keep a
civil tongue on your own tonight, I've given you a little help. You can
speak as long as it's civil and polite and intended in good spirit. Otherwise Mr. Price I
for one would rather you remain silent." Tara says implacably firm.
"You really have left me." Willow's voice can be heard clearly despite
the distance separating her from Tara. "I guess I never really thought
that you would do that willingly."
"I'm sure that Amy makes a perfectly acceptable replacement if you need
to leech power Willow." Tara says flatly, dropping her eyes with a sigh
as Willow pales alarmingly and instantly drops her eyes and looks
guilty. "Imagine my surprise when Jacob told me that I was much more
powerful then I'd always assumed I was and that it was you that led me to believe that I
was weak. Powerful little Willow knows best huh?" Tara's tone is both
sad and bitter but strangely lacking in anger.
"You were using her magic to fuel your own?!" Giles exclaims horrified.
"No wonder you suddenly jumped in ability and power if you were
leeching off Tara's magic to fuel your own spell work."
"I didn't do that! It was me, it was all ME!" Willow denies hotly.
"You have barely enough natural magic to cast simple divination spells
and wards. You aren't even a Witch, you're a Sorceress. You need to
absorb magic to cast it and you must have been overjoyed to meet Tara
after you discovered what she is." Jacob says coolly.
"What's the difference between a Witch and a Sorceress?" Gunn asks
looking confused.
"A Witch is born with both the affinity for magical working and with
certain innate power that they can use to facilitate their workings.
The level of ability a true Witch is born with is very personal, it
varies from person to person and can manifest differently even within
familial lines. A Witch has the ability to draw on ambient magical
energy, that like true energy can never be destroyed and its form only
altered, to boost their abilities. However Witches are very much
connected to the flow of power and few will ever trespass so greatly as
to steal another living being's energy." Giles explains, sending a dark
glance to Willow.
"A Sorceress is born with only the affinity for magical working but
little personal power. To work magic they have to absorb sufficient
amounts of ambient energy or draw it from a source of some kind. In
this case Willow's rapid progress in magic was fuelled unwittingly by
Tara, who was unaware of the true extent of her magical gifts. As
Willow drew off more of Tara's energy to fuel her own spells, she grew
in power while it seemed that Tara remained little more than an
apprentice. In truth Tara's abilities are quite impressive and I
believe that in time, they will rival my own." Jacob adds.
"Willow is a magical Vampire!?!" Xander exclaims looking shocked and
hurt by the revelation.
"Well perhaps in a sense that analogy is fitting yes." Jacob agrees.
"Willow is talented that cannot be denied but her path to power is one
that is rife with pitfalls that few have ever navigated successfully.
Magic can be as addicting as any drug, the more you absorb, the more
you want the rush the power brings. Eventually they degenerate into
leeches constantly seeking power to get their fix. Rack was such a
parasite, though he'll be bothering no one else ever again."
"What did you do to Rack?" Willow demands furiously.
"He cheated the centuries with stolen energy from thousands upon
thousands of foolish people that couldn't see him for what he was. That
has been rectified and time's march is once more its own. Rack's stolen
magic has been returned and the price for his trespass has been paid.
Learn from his example and don't follow in his footsteps or his fate
will be yours as well." Jacob's voice holds no pity or mercy and no one
really looks upset as Willow tosses her napkin down on her plate and
storms out.
Giles pulls his glasses off and cleaning the lenses methodically he
looks at Jacob. "Can she be saved? Or has it gone too far already?"
Jacob's mouth turns up at the corner in a wry expression. "You of all
people should know that it's never too late to change Rupert Giles." He
gestures down the table towards Ethan. "Eyghon is contained for as long
as Ethan exists, held in check by the Demon and Ethan's lingering
traces of humanity that Penn and the others have carefully reinforced.
Ethan was a boy when he fell into his dark ways and now he's fighting
for a different way of life as a man. If Willow wants to change and is
willing to do the work then it's never too late." Jacob says
comfortingly but there's a shadow in his eyes that Giles can't help but
feel chilled to see.
"There's something that you aren't saying." Giles challenges.
"Willow and Amy were bringing others to Rack in exchange for boosting
their powers." Tara provides. "As nearly as we could estimate almost
everyone in Sunnydale with any significant level of magic was fodder
for Rack at some point or another, except for Dawn and Anya. Faith
reported that several deaths have been reported lately that the police
had blamed on drug overdoses. They were the shells that were left after
Rack finished draining them of all their magic and energy. We're not
sure whether or not Willow knew what was happening to the people she
'recruited' for Rack but we know that Amy was fully aware of it and
willingly helped him."
"Willow was helping to kill people?" Xander looks horrified and
betrayed. "Why? Why would she do that?" Anya tries to comfort him but
he angrily pushes her hands away and shoves his chair back and hurries
out of the room.
"Let me go after him? I think I can help him with answers he's looking
for." Wil pushes his chair back and stands.
Anya had stood up to follow Xander but the quietly voiced request has
her sinking back into her chair with a grateful nod. "Thank you, Spike,
I don't think I could say what he wants, needs, to hear."
Wil stops and cups her shoulder in silent camaraderie before he leaves
silently. He really has found himself growing very fond of the bluntly
honest ex-Vengeance Demon... and he supposes to a degree it extends to
her Husband as well.
Penn silently gestures to Aaron and the others to keep their seats, as
several of them stand in preparation to follow the departing Vampire,
and follows after William himself.
Chapter Ten
It's not hard for Wil to follow Xander through the crowded rooms of the
Country Club and out into the quiet garden. It's not the first time the
scent of despair, chocolate, carpenter's glue, traces of the musky
oriental scent of Anya's perfume, and rich seasoned wood, that is
Xander's scent, has tickled his nose. He looks around the darkening
night and the soft haze of fog that has begun to lay its nebulous
presence over the garden and he's thankful. The inhospitable night will
keep the less hardy inside and give him a chance to talk to Xander
privately.
He follows the scent trail with unerring accuracy, seemingly
unsurprised when it leads him to the not-so miniscule hedge maze that
dominates the Country Club's rear English-style formal garden. He
smiles fondly as he navigates the maze of twists and turns, chuckling
quietly as he's lead to several dead ends and back out again as he
traces Xander's path. The combination of the fog and the ten foot walls
of living greenery and the soft mossy crush of the grass under his feet
lend a certain sublime familiarity to the proceeding.
He remembers his youth and many country parties spent in such gardens
and mazes, fondly. How strange that he should feel so at home in a
country so far removed from his place of birth... and rebirth. His
wasn't
the most posh of upbringings but he had the privileges of a doting
Mother, a well-padded trust fund from a Father he can't remember, and
swift and intelligent mind. True he was enamoured of a woman that
didn't share his regard; the humiliation of his final night as a human
had been extreme but he was hardly the first or last man to be caught
in such circumstances. It was such an ordinary beginning to such an
extraordinary adventure. He has seen the turn of the century and
eternity has been forced into retreat and it is well possible that he
could see countless more before he reaches the end of his journey. He's
always been amused that he never actually knew how to live until after
he'd died.
The increasing intensity of Xander's scent lets him know that he's
drawing close and it snaps him back to the present. He turns the corner
and isn't surprised to see Xander batting at the trailing leaves of the
hedge in frustration at another dead end, as he spins around in a
little frustrated circle. He looks relieved to see him but then he
carefully blanks his expression and tries to look calm and cool.
"Hey Spike." He says gruffly, crossing his arms and turning his hands
toward him to hug his torso. "Did you zig when you should have zagged
or did you take the wrong turn at Pismo Beach too?"
Wil chuckles and takes Xander's hand and pulls him after him like an
engine does a caboose. It takes him only a two false tries to figure
out the key to the maze. Once he has the key, they quickly reach the
center of the maze and the large sitting area and gazebo that it sports.
Xander looks very impressed. "How did you do that? Is that some weird
vampire thing?"
"It was growing up in a time when these things were in the 'proper'
formal gardens of every country house of any respectable size." Wil
admits honestly. He heads for the gazebo, its protection is rather
meagre but at least it's some shelter from the foggy atmosphere.
Not sure what else to do or what's expected of him Xander follows Spike
and sits across from him on one of the padded wounded benches. "So you
drew the short straw huh?"
"I asked Anya to let me talk to you. I think I can help you with the
answers to those questions you don't really want to ask but that you
need to. You know it's not Willow's fault, not really."
"How can it not be her fault? She's hurting people! She may not have
known that guy was killing them but she had to know he was up to no
good if he had to get them to do his dirty little recruiting for him! I
don't know Willow anymore!" Xander all but screams in anger but then
the fury seems to pass and he visibly deflates and his shoulders droop
as he drops his forward into his cupped palms. "I don't think I know
any of them anymore. Maybe I never did. The Buffy and Willow I thought
I knew couldn't have done the things I know they've done. I don't know
what normal is anymore, if I ever knew that is."
"Not everyone that does something bad or something wrong is necessarily
evil, Harris." Wil makes a grand waving gesture with his arm and hand,
sweeping it out into an arch. "You live on a Hellmouth and normal here
is well and truly fucked up royally anywhere else. Normal just doesn't
apply to this place or to the people that stay here. I have to tell you,
Mate, if you're going to judge normal by what happens in this place,
you're never gonna find it."
Wil climbs up on one of the padded benches to sit on the railing facing
Xander and resting his booted feet on the padding. "Your high school blows up. Within a year or two they
simply build a new one, no fan fare no bloody National Guard being
called out or press camped out on every yard like leaches hiding in a
stagnant pool. I'd hate to break it to ya Harris but a school blowing
up just about anywhere else tends to make the news. So does the local
mayor turning into some big principal eating snake thing." Wil points
out wryly, concealing a smile as Xander can't help but chuckle and he
gives himself a little mental pat on the back.
"I guess that's true but it doesn't explain a Spike-abusing Buffy or a
magic–obsessed Willow." Xander points out with a fatalistic sigh.
"Where was I, have I been, that I didn't see what was going on?"
"I think you were growing up Harris." Wil replies quietly. "You grew
up, worked your problems with Anya out, and you got married. Marriage
changes your priorities and prerogatives and you don't see the cracks
in the façade your friends show to the world as easily. You
aren't the moral compass of the Scoobies Xander. What's happened to
Willow isn't your fault."
"Willow is evil and I didn't
notice it! How can that NOT my fault, Spike?!" Xander exclaims but
looks confused as Wil shakes his head and a small chuckle escapes him.
"You may have seen a lot of bad things, beaten a lot of big baddies but
never fool yourselves into thinking you've ever faced true evil,
Harris." Wil's tone is gravely serious as his glacial blue eyes shine
in the darkness with a primal light. "You've never faced true evil; we
wouldn't be talking now if you had. Buffy has saved the world that's
true, many times over, all of you have but for your sakes I hope you
never reach the day that you face evil. You won't win when that day
comes." Wil's voice is deadly serious. "Willow is just a child, a
little girl, that wanted to be needed and its lead her down a dark
road. It was probably simple at first, a little spell to make the
problems go away and no one gets hurt right? That's the way it always
begins, the small seductions that lead you farther and farther away
from the light and into the shadows. She probably had the best of
intentions but you can still make horrible mistakes even when you try
to do something that you think is good. It doesn't make her evil
though, it just makes her a mislead child. The same thing happened to
Buffy. She's a Slayer and they live by their fists it's almost an
expected reaction that she'd strike out. If life has taught me any hard
lessons it's that sometimes the pain gets so bad that the only thing
that makes it better is to hurt someone else; it just happened to be
me. It doesn't make her evil, just wrong to handle it the way that she
did. I wasn't shocked however by the violence she reacted with. Slayers
are bred to violence for a violent and often brief life." Wil says
quietly, shrugging as though it doesn't matter.
Xander can't help but feel sorry for Spike, something he never thought
he'd be, that he can accept violence so easily as part of his life. "So
they're just bad and not evil." Xander can't help the sarcastic tone.
Wil's eyes grow unfocused, as though staring at something very far
away. "Evil is something so beyond anything you've faced before. Do you
want to know what evil is?" He asks in a quiet voice.
All Xander can do is nod, never having seen Spike like this before.
"Evil are the screams of millions dying because they were a convenient
focus for a mad man's vision of world domination. Hitler was Human and
he killed more people than any Demon I've ever met and yes that does
include Angelus and hell it includes me too. Fuck let's just be honest,
that mad man killed more people than probably the entire Vampire
species since the time before history. How many Watchers Council do you
suppose there are to stop that from ever happening again?" Wil's eyes
flash. "You Humans kill more of your own kind than we ever have, isn't
that just ironic? Hitler's scientists used Humans as guinea pigs in
their vile science experiments and it's one of the greatest travesties
of your history. The Initiative does the same on Demons and the Slayer
dates their poster boy and joins up."
The bitter edge to Wil's voice and his clenching fists make Xander
wonder if he ever has known what true evil is. He admits to himself
that he's never seen Spike as anything more than a Vampire. Maybe he
sees him as even lower than most for coveting the dream girl he's never
been man enough to win and getting her,
even if she courted him with her fists more than her kisses. "You were
there." Xander can't imagine what it must have been like to have
actually been around during the time of the holocaust.
"I was there." Wil quietly acknowledges, a definite sad edge to his
voice. "The Nazis didn't discriminate much. For every Human that
perished, three Demons met their end in their vile labs and
exterminations but that never made your nice 'human' history books.
It's funny you know, I was caught in one of their little 'cleansing
sweeps' and I probably would have died if Angelus, well Angel really as
he was still very much souled at the time, hadn't been there helping
the U.S. military? To this night I still don't know why he just let me
go like he did but he did all the same. And what happens? I get caught
by the American inheritors of the Nazi mindset and get me a painful
little souvenir." Wil taps his temple.
"Is what that other guy said true? Does the chip go off for no reason?"
Xander can't help but feel empathy for the pain involved if it's true.
"For the last year it hasn't shut off. Ravali thinks that it's some
kind of a fail-safe built into it, a little insurance against any of
their test subjects getting out of hand or just out 'of' their hands.
Even if one escaped sooner or later the fail-safe would kick in and if
the pain didn't do the poor sods in then they'd probably off themselves
just to end the pain." Wil's fingertips lightly brush his forehead.
"That was never an option for me, Penn will never let me go and I don't
want him to."
"I'm surprised with all the resources you must have now that they can't
find a way to get it out." Xander admits rather surprised that Spike
still has it honestly.
"There's no medical way to remove it, at least not by anyone outside
the Bastards that cut me open and shoved their leash into my brain.
Ravali believes that the chip contains an explosive charge to prevent
medical tampering. One slip of the scalpel and chip goes boom along
with my head. Jacob provided a mystical option that has a price of a
different nature. I know that Penn would accept me whether I had a soul
or not but that would only happen if I survived the Demon Trials and if
I didn't survive, I don't think he would live long after me. That's a
risk that I won't take, not with Penn. He's going to change the face of
what it means to be a Vampire and if we have a future it will be with
him." Wil readily admits. "It would mean more than my existence
if I were to fail. It's too high a price to risk having to pay when
pain is just a trick of the mind. It can be overcome."
"How... how did you overcome it?" Xander stammers, not sure he wants to
know the answer to that question.
"You'll sleep better if I don't answer that question." Wil simply
replies.
Xander decides it's a good idea that he doesn't answer it too suddenly.
"So you're, uh, with that Penn guy, huh?" He stammers a bit.
"Yeah, isn't he beautiful?" Wil replies with an openly honest grin and
a happy wiggle as he wraps his arms around his own waist.
Xander is taken aback by the expression on Spike's face and in his
eyes. He's never seen Spike look that way when he was talking about
someone before, not even Drusilla and Buffy, and he finds it rather
charming. "I didn't know you swung... well... you know 'that' way."
"Humans, you always have to find labels for everything, fit your lives
into neat little boxes." Wil chuckles with a fond smile. "I love him. I
loved Buffy, Dru, Angelus but only Penn has ever loved me back like I
love him. I didn't know how much they'd really fucked me up until he
showed me how love is supposed to be. He's always loved me you know,
from the moment Dru brought me to the family."
"Are you absolutely sure that
you're all Vampires because you're not like any I've ever met and your
friends seem more normal than my friends.
I'm not sure whether to be alarmed or not about that." Xander admits
with a nervous chuckle. Wil lets his Demon flicker forward before
rippling back to the striking features that mark his Human half. "Okay
yeah you're definitely a Vampire." Xander has to chuckle. "Are Vampires
everything Giles says they are Spike?" His expression goes from amused
to serious in a heartbeat.
"Yes and no, whelp. What he does know are mostly half-truths and the
result of observations others have made but they've only seen a partial
glimpse. They know a lot about minions but not much of what they know
about Childer or Master Vampires is accurate." Wil's voice trails off
as something has been nibbling quietly at the edge of his conscious
mind.
"This isn't about Willow is it? Something more has upset you
tonight. Do you want to ask me what you really want to know?" Wil asks
quietly.
"I had a friend, his name was Jesse and he was turned. I staked him...
I
thought I was doing the right thing. Spike did I do the right thing...
or
could Jesse have been like you?" Xander rubs his eyes, dashing away
tears before they can fall.
"To be honest I can only tell you that if he was a minion or turned by
one then you absolutely did the right thing. A minion is little more
than an animal when they're turned initially, a beast in every way.
Their only drive is to kill and feed and they have no real higher
mental functions for quite some time after their turning. It takes
upwards of twenty to thirty years for the bloodlust to recede enough
for them to regain their higher mental functions. Until then they're
merely tools and puppets of the one that turned them. If the one that
turned them is strong enough, the resulting minions will have more
control while in their presence. However even the strongest Master
can't overcome that first initial animalist rush to feed. It typically
passes within two weeks to a month if they're allowed to feed as they
wish to. If your friend was turned by a minion, that's just worse. A
vampire turned by a minion as a minion will never regain any of their
mental faculties." Wil explains bluntly. "He may have looked like your
friend but he'd have killed you as soon as look at you. Death would
have been a mercy to the memory of your friend."
"And if Jesse was like you?" Xander is afraid to know the answer but he
knows that he really needs to ask the question all the same.
"By like me, you mean a Childe as opposed to a minion I assume?" Wil
asks, sighing as Xander nods. "That's a harder question to answer. How
a Childe develops has a lot to do with who their Sire is and of course
their personality before they were turned. I don't know your friend
Jesse but Dru and I were tied tightly to the bloodline back then and I
can honestly say that I think that I would have felt the loss of a true
Childe of the line. There are not that many true Childer and Masters
left and of the few that were left and were here when it must have
happened...." Wil's voice trails off. He shoots a regretful look at
Xander. "I don't think that he was turned as a Childe, Xander or that
if he had he wouldn't have been anything like the friend you remember.
You did do the right thing, the shell that was left wasn't your friend
anymore... OOMPHH!" Wil grunts as Xander suddenly throws his arms
around
him and squeezes him so strongly he lifts him off his feet. He
wraps his arms around the youth's shaking shoulders, carefully
tightening his arms, always cognizant of his inhuman strength, and
strokes a gentle hand through Xander's dark hair.
He holds the young man as he cries; rubbing his back soothingly and he
can't help but marvel at the feel of steel-corded muscle under his
palm. The young man has definitely grown up and construction has
definitely done his body a good service. Anya is a very lucky woman.
'How long have you been blaming yourself for what you did, pet?" He
asks quietly. He stifles a chuckle as he feels the muscles under his
hold stiffen at the sound of his voice. Xander has finally remembered
whose arms he dived into and who he's been crying on. He calmly
releases his hold as the young man jumps back frantically trying to
scrub away the evidence of his tears.
"Well everyone told me I did the right thing, the only thing that I
could do but then you came along and you're so... damn human. I
couldn't
help but wonder if I killed Jesse when I could have helped him." Xander
admits in a voice muffled by his scrubbing hands.
Wil settles back against the railing, looking over his shoulder and
smiles into the fog-shrouded darkness. Penn steps into a patch of soft
light; being cast by the lantern-shaped lighting scattered around the
maze to mimic the Victorian mazes of old. He lifts his hand toward Penn
in silent request and he smiles as the elder Vampire accepts his
invitation without hesitation.
Penn vaults the railing in an easy leap, landing on the bench beside
Wil; who shifts position on the railing until the lounging elder is
cradled between his thighs and resting comfortably against his body.
Penn relaxes in Wil's embrace and smiles as Wil's fingers predictably
gravitate to his hair, carding through the thick strands.
Xander notices the new arrival as he drops his hands and clears his
throat nervously, looking a little embarrassed as he wonders if the
other man saw him breakdown emotionally.
"This is Xander Harris beloved, Xander this is my Sire Penn Ramsay, the
Master of the Aurelius Order." Wil completes the introductions and
completely blows the formal moment by leaning down and squeezing Penn
like a child does a favourite Teddy Bear. The impetuous display has
both Penn and Xander grinning.
"Wil's spoken of you and your Mate often, it's a pleasure Mr. Harris. I
do admit to being curious about the man brave and crazy enough to marry
Anyanka." Penn's voice and expression are surprisingly warm and open.
"It takes either a brave man or a fool to marry a Vengeance Demon,
particularly the patron of scorned women." He notes with more than a
little amusement.
"She's retired, I swear!" Xander replies with a grin but he can't help
but mutter. "But I never forget her birthday or any important Holidays
I can promise you that."
They all share a chuckle over that obviously true statement and Xander
is rather surprised by the obvious happiness and devotion the pair of
Vampires shares. He can't help but be curious about how they came to be
so unique and how they've managed to sway so many others to their way
of thinking. He knows that their kindler gentler approach has to be
genuine because Tara is the sweetest and most gentle soul he's ever
met. He can't imagine her condoning anything but the high degree of
civilized behaviour he's witnessed from these strange but somehow
likeable Vampires tonight.
"I wanted to thank you, Spike, for the wedding gift you sent Anya and
I. You would have been... welcome you know, if you'd wanted to come
that
is... oh and we'd known where to send the invitation." Suddenly a
thought
occurs to Xander. "Hey how did you know when the wedding was anyway...
oh
Dawn right?" Of course it was Dawn and here he was envisioning all
these weird scenarios.
"Anya asked Dawn to let me know that I was invited. I was still too ill
to travel that far so I couldn't be here. I sent the envelope with the
gift to Dawn and she made sure it made its way to the gift table for
me. She told me all about the ceremony. Did D'Hoffryn really try to get
you to leave her at the altar?"
"Yeah he did but fortunately it didn't work this time around. I guess I
did grow a backbone eventually huh? I didn't relax until we were back
from our honeymoon." Xander admits with a grin and the Vampires
obligingly chuckle in response. "Spike could I...?" Xander's voice
trails
off but he forces the butterflies down and continues as Spike nods and
makes a waving motion, encouraging him to ask him whatever it is.
"Could you tell me about how you were, ya know before the whole 'grrrr'
thing?"
"I would prefer it if you called him William or Wil. Spike was a
creation of Angelus' unique brand of torturous Childe-rearing." Penn
requests quietly. "The name has some... less than welcome memories
attached to it now as well." Penn doesn't have to add that the majority
of those unpleasant memories are attached to Buffy and Angel. He
doesn't need to.
"I'm sorry, Wil. Would you mind talking about it? You just seem so
unlike everything Giles taught us that Vampires are, all of you are
really. You were the first to break the stereotype though and I'd
really love to know if you wouldn't mind talking about it." Xander asks
again.
Wil looks surprised but flattered and after a minute's deliberation he
slowly nods. "What I'm going to tell you is something only two people
know, not even Angelus and Drusilla know about my human life."
Xander glances at Penn and he just knows that he is one of the two that
knows everything and if he were to guess than Tara is the other one. He
understands the magnitude of what he's going to hear and settles in to
wait quietly and lets Spike, no Wil, let's Wil talk.
"I was born in 1852 in the Cavendish Square area of London; it was a
fashionable area back in those days. My Mum was a grand beauty in her
day and she had a bit of money. You have to understand that in that
time and place all respectable young women had to look forward to, was
marrying well and hopefully to pick a husband that was at best
tolerable. In those days it was all about making an advantageous match
and love was a luxury that not even the richest could afford. Love was
for Mistresses and duty was for wives." Wil gets a far away look in his
eye; as though he was looking at something only he can see.
"London society was regimented, very much so. The ton rarely had much
to do with anyone they considered to be of a 'lower' station than
themselves. You were either a peer, equal to or greater than their
station in life or you were a servitor there to serve their whims. The
only exceptions were for certain men of 'undeclared parentage' as it
was called back then. It was always men, as not even a healthy dowry
was enough for a female child to overcome the stigma." Penn provides
helpfully.
"They call it 'illegitimate' now." Wil adds and Penn nods. "For the
most part such children were shunned and made outcast from society.
Their only recourse was to retire to a country estate; if they were of
acceptable means; and marry some Land-Owner's daughter. If they didn't
have the means then their only option was to enter what was called
'trade'; that was basically to work for a living. Most High-Born had a
very derogatory regard for anyone that
had to work for a living. There were few exceptions."
"Sometimes the children of illicit liaisons could be accepted by
society if their parentage was of sufficient 'calibre' and they had
funds enough or the prospects thereof to be considered part of the
Ton." Penn provides. "Occasionally such men, for again women were
little more than status symbols in society, could enter the trades if
their position was one of suitable respect. Medical, legal, owning a
successful business, those would have been considered acceptable for
such a man. There were many rules both spoken and unspoken and to break
any of them was reason enough to be exiled from society."
"My mum was a rare woman for her day. She had actually been in love
with the man she was engaged to marry, so much so that she broke the
laws of 'polite' society and lay with him before their marriage vows.
The banns had been spoken on two of the three Sundays as was proper in
high society but unfortunately by the third and final Sunday, my Father
was dead, consumption I believe they claimed it was. My Mother
unfortunately discovered a short time after his death that she was
expecting me." Wil explains. "For many children of such 'unfortunate'
circumstances; that would have been the end of their ever being
accepted by 'high' society." Wil explains with a grimace.
Xander listens raptly, his head cocking to the side as William's accent
gradually smoothens and softens out to sound more like Giles or
Wesley's voices. He's always secretly thought that his voice was quite
nice but with his accent softened and his words free of their usual
brash tones, it's beautiful.
"I was fortunate in that my Father was the only son of a Duke and that
my Mother's position as an heiress and also a daughter of titled
parents, reflected well on me. My Grandfather was a cranky old goat but
he did acknowledge and accept me as the legal heir of his late son. You
have to understand that such occurrences were rare, so rare as to be
barely spoken of." Wil goes on to explain. "As the illegitimate heir, I
could not inherit the title and it would past to my eldest Aunt's
husband on my Father's side. While my Grandfather was willing to
acknowledge me as his late son's heir, he was unwilling to accept me as
his own. It was difficult for me to grasp growing up, the distinction
that he had made."
Wil leans forward and wraps his arms around Penn and pulls him more
tightly against him. "My Mother's family was less accepting and she was
ostracised but her money and titles were hers all the same. I received
my Father's monies and other holdings that were not tied to his
position as the Ducal heir and that left us well off. My Mother chose
to raise me rather than fostering me out as was the custom in those
days for illegitimate children. She bought a large but modest home in
one of the most fashionable neighbourhoods and set us up in simple
elegance. It was to her credit that she was still welcomed by society,
even having not only bourn an illegitimate son but having chosen to
keep him."
Penn strokes Wil's forearm; letting his caresses comfort to him as he
relives a past that few would have ever believed that they could have
attributed to him.
"My Mother doted on me and she gave me the best of everything that she
could afford. She sent me to all the best schools with only one
proviso, being that I not be shipped off to a boarding school but would
remain living at home. I attended Oxford and I was only months away
from my medical certifications when circumstances brought me to
Drusilla's attention. I'd taken a job in a rather posh investment firm,
to help with our expenses. Since we could expect little to no help from
our relatives, we had to be careful in matters of finance, especially
with the greedy bastards trying to take every scrap they felt was their
due. It didn't matter if it really was or not, they just wanted it so
that I couldn't have it. They saw me as Angel sees me now, a waste of
space." Wil explains quietly. "I was a gentleman in every sense of the
word. I would rather quote poetry than joust on the duelling fields.
I'd just had my heartbroken by the woman I'd hoped to court and I
thought that my life was over... and then it was."
Penn takes up the tale as William falls silent. "Drusilla turned him
and brought him back to Angelus and later to Darla and myself to be
presented; as is only proper for a Sire to do when their Sire and
Elders still exist. Drusilla is many things but chief among them is
that she is 'broken' in mind and spirit both. We all knew that any
Childer she had would never survive her insane unconcern for her own
well-being and nevermind anyone else's... excepting her precious
Angelus
of course. She died for him and he became her life, the focus of all
she knew. I knew when I first saw him that William was different, that
much, much more of his humanity had survived the transformation than of
any Childe I had ever heard of. So unchanged was he, that the initial
bloodlust that all who are first turned experience, was all but absent
in him. He overcame in days what takes many a month to achieve."
Penn tilts his head back to look up at Wil and he smiles as a soft kiss
is pressed against his mouth in silent love and affection. He lowers
his head and continues the story. "I tried to spare him what I knew was
coming and offered to raise him myself as my own Childe but all it took
was one look for Angelus to fall. He declared that he would raise
William as his own."
Both Penn and Wil drop their eyes and cling tighter to each other and
it's clear to Xander that both of the men share horrible memories of
whatever happened afterward.
"Angelus did his best to rip and shred any humanity out of Wil and
eventually he succeeded when he practically killed me... again... and
let
Wil think that he had. Of all
the things Angelus has done since he was turned it is what he did to
William more than any other that will damn him. Drusilla may have sired
William but it was Angelus that created Spike. I bet he's never
admitted that to this day that he hates you for being what he made you to be. Angelus was always
good at avoiding having to take responsibility for his own actions."
Penn says bitterly.
"Penn however did survive Angelus' treachery and he thrived. He'd tried
to find me again but Angelus had moved us by then and would keep us
moving for many more years to come until he was finally cursed by the
Romany. Penn tried to follow us but it seemed he was always just a bit
too late and we were always gone by the time he arrived. The years
turned into decades and eventually to years and a century passed.
Learning that Angelus had become Angel and slain his Sire, Grand-sire,
and allowed the slaying of one of his Childer by a human, a conclave
was called. The remaining Masters of the Aurelius Order met and since
Angelus was now Angel and wholly unable to assume his place as the
Master of the Order, Penn was chosen instead." Wil says proudly.
"I learned that William had been spotted here and that the rumours
placed him here still and I set out immediately. I stayed concealed at
first, needing to access the challenges and the threats to William
objectively. I learned what the Initiative had done to him and was
going to reveal myself to him but I chanced upon your Slayer friend
beating him and leaving him to perish. I made myself known after she
had gone and offered my help and then Tara came upon us. We both wanted
to help Wil so we set aside our differences and she chose to accompany
us when we left. And now here we are today." Penn concludes.
"Wow you were going to be a Doctor? I never would have imagined that.
Why did Angelus hurt you anyway? He's your Sire isn't he?" Xander is
amazed by the story the Vampires have shared with him.
"Yes he sired me but it takes more than that to be a Sire. He knew that
Wil was closer to me than to him and that was something that arrogant
Bastard couldn't accept. His cruelty towards Wil was driving him away
and he knew that any day he'd tire of it and we'd leave together. He
broke into my lair one night while Wil was there and nearly killed the
both of us. He set the lair ablaze and took Wil but he left me to
perish and returned to the lair he'd established nearby for Darla,
Drusilla, Wil, and himself. Darla must have known what he'd done when
she saw the wreck that used to be William. While Angelus was taking
care of Wil she slipped out and arrived in time to pull me to safety.
She arranged for me to be fostered with her Grandchilde Aaron. Angelus
was a very jealous and possessive type even before he was turned and
the Demon had just made it worse. He'd long ago forced Darla to send
her other Childer away and I found refuge with one of them. She was
slain by a Slayer not long after I had recovered and I took over taking
care of Aaron and his Childe Erick in her place. We've been close ever
since."
"Wait I thought that they were Twins but you say Aaron sired Erick...
but
how they look identical and he shouldn't have been old enough to turn a
Childe yet right?" Xander asks confused.
"In most cases you'd be absolutely correct but Aaron... and Erick...
are
not typical of what usually happens. Aaron was the first turned and
within six months he'd found his Brother and the first anyone knew of
it, he was presenting his Sire with his own Childe. Yes he should have
been much too young to create his own Childe so soon and to this day it
is still unclear how he managed it and only that he did."
"As I tried to explain earlier, something of the human can remain in
one turned as a Childe. Aaron found and turned his twin Brother,
willingly may I add, and I turned my Mother when she was near death
from consumption. Sadly she was too pure a soul for such a fate so her
Demon was mad from the beginning. I staked her rather than exist
knowing that I had created this travesty wearing my Mother's sweet
face. She didn't suffer and her end was painless and in the end I guess
it was a blessing." Wil says.
"Amazing, that is just amazing. I never would have expected anything
like that in a million years." Xander admits. "I sort of pictured you
as some sort of a street thug type." He blushed and looks away.
"Is there something else that you wanted to ask?" Wil prompts gently.
"Do you... is it too late to help Willow and Buffy?" Xander asks
haltingly.
"Buffy will in time help herself I believe. She seems more centered
than she was when I lived here and that bodes well. She is learning to
accept that her life has to be lived here and now and not in the past
of that perfect place Willow tore her from. As for Willow, that's
difficult to answer. If she realizes that over-use of magic is wrong
and harmful and she wants help then it is absolutely not too late for
her. If she continues to hide from that fact and ignore the cost then
it will claim her in the end. Magic is a demanding Master and the price
it extorts can be great. I can only hope that if she gives into the
lure everyone around her will survive it. Keep an eye on Anya, Xander.
She may not be a practicing Vengeance Demon any longer by she still
harbours a deep well of arcane energy. Rack is gone and I suspect Amy
will be making like her former rat self and will have scampered off by
now in light of that. Without Tara to fuel her spells of Amy and Rack,
Willow may try to turn her attention to another source." Wil replies.
"Well she won't be paying attention to my Anya!" Xander swears
violently.
Wil angles his head to look down at Penn and finds his gaze has moved
naturally to meet his. Silent communication flies between the depths of
the Cerulean seas and the mysterious depths of the Gray. After a few
silent seconds Penn's eyes flicker to land on Xander for a moment then
back to Wil's and he slowly nods his ascent. He reaches into his jacket
pocket and hands over a small, leather-bound, pocket sized notebook and
hands it to Wil.
Wil presses a kiss to his mouth gently as his hand curves around the
notebook, accepting it gratefully. He leans back and unclipping the
miniature silver-accented black pen that sits in its own pocket, he
finds a fresh page. It takes him only a few moments to write down what
he wants and he carefully tears the small paper free of its brethren.
He caps the pen and slides it back into its pocket with one hand and
deftly closes it, leaning with easy grace to set it back into Penn's
jacket pocket and holds the paper out to Xander with his free hand.
Xander reaches out and takes the paper, looking down at it. He can't
read the words in the dim light so he shifts over a bit on his bench
and angles it towards one of the lantern-shaped light fixtures. He
inhales sharply as the words finally reveal themselves. Wil's provided
their address in New Orleans, several phone numbers including some for
his cell phone as well and for Penn and Tara and surprisingly enough
Dawn. There's even some email addresses written down as well as what
looks like another phone numbers and two lines of numbers and some
smaller groups of words and numbers peppering the bottom part of the
paper. He furrows his brow with effort but he can't figure out what
they are so he looks up to ask Wil or Penn and freezes.
Wil is lying on the bench now, his upper body resting across Penn's
thighs. The laces of his leather waist coat have been undone and the
buttons of his dark blue silk shirt have been undone as the pair shares
a long slow, mouth-watering kiss. Wil's hands are sunk deep into Penn's
hair, holding him into the long, drugging kiss. One of Penn's hands
cups Wil's face but the other rests on his abdomen, his fingertips
playing with the piercing thrust through Wil's belly button. Every few
seconds Penn tugs lightly tugs at the rich ring of ancient gold and its
tiny dangling charms, causing Wil's hips to jerk as he arches under the
rough and tender touch.
Xander is mesmerized by the sight of Penn's hand against the rippled
muscles of Wil's abdomen. As he's watching the pair shamelessly sharing
their emotions as they're sharing their bodies, he watches as Penn's
hands shift on Wil's pliant form and suddenly the younger Vampire is
straddling his thighs. Penn's hands sweep up Wil's back and around to
his chest and the waistcoat and silk shirt start sliding down Wil's
back and arms, baring the impressive musculature of his back to
Xander's eyes. Penn's hands curve over Wil's leather-painted rear,
yanking him tightly against him as their mouths continue to devour each
other. The clearly blatant position brings a gasp to his lips and the
surprised looks of the suddenly aware of him Vampires.
Wil's eyes fly open in shock for a second but then lower to shield his
eyes as a wicked chuckle from deep inside his chest causes his muscles
to ripple and Xander's breathing to increase. His nose twitches faintly
at the sweetly musky scent of human arousal and an enigmatic smile
flashes across his lips before he carefully sweeps it away in favour of
a feigned look of apology.
"Sorry about that Mate, we got a bit carried away." Wil turns on Penn's
lap and slides over slightly to regain his feet, Penn's arm sliding
around his waist and curving over his hip as his own rests across his
shoulders.
Xander clears his throat gruffly and ducking his head he sets the paper
on the bench and leans over and picks up the discarded shirt and
waistcoat and folding them neatly he places them on the bench beside
Penn and retreats hurriedly back to his own bench.
With William's chest bared to his gaze, Xander can see that an
elaborate tattoo covers his heart. It looks vaguely familiar but it
takes him a few moments to remember Buffy describing the tattoo on
Angel's shoulder to him once and that's what it reminds him of. It's
not identical to the one that Buffy described, having split talons one
pointing left and the other to the right. A simple 'A' is clutched in
one talon while the left bears the remarkable image of a cross, a
rather unusual choice for a Vampire but somehow it suits Wil.
He tears his eyes away from Wil's chest, missing the understanding
glance exchanged by Penn and Wil as he picks up the paper and holds it
up in silent inquiry. "I don't understand what this stuff is at the
bottom...." His voice is roughened by embarrassment.
"It's the numbers, pass codes, and passwords that you'll need to access
the two of our accounts that Wil has listed. Each one houses twenty
million dollars and everything that is listed will allow you full
access to the funds they contain. The plan was for Dawn to, one day, be
an administrator of the accounts to assist the Slayers efforts in doing
her job but the Slayer has made her position here untenable. So we are
entrusting them to you and your Mate, Anya."
"Anya has a good head for money, I'd suggest you let her have one of
the accounts to invest, I expect she'll double it within a year or
two." Wil suggests. "You can use it to make sure that Buffy can
continue to do what she was born to do and to make your lives as
comfortable as you can in-between the battles. If you need us we'll be
what help that we can but we will not help her to kill the True Masters
of our kind, though we will not mourn for the minions and fledglings of
the other Orders or the Bastard lines. If the lives of all are at stake
send for us and we'll come."
"That's a lot of responsibility you're placing on my shoulders." Xander
replies nervously.
"When Dawn told us that she wanted to live in New Orleans we knew that
we'd need someone that we could trust to be fair but honest, someone
that could make the decisions for everyone. Wil maintains that the
people we can trust are you and your Mate. The elder Watcher is
unsuitable even if he should choose to remain here rather than
returning to London. The Slayer can manipulate him too easily and while
she isn't unknown to do the same to you, Anya is not so vulnerable. She
won't be able to manipulate the both of you into doing whatever she
wants you to. Wil advises me that managing money or even her day to day
life isn't a strong point for the Slayer."
"Well I have to admit that Buffy isn't very good at the nooks and
crannies of living in the real world. She's all about the punch, kick,
stake, and saving people everywhere and not so much about paying the
electric bill and all and that stuff." Xander reveals.
"Wil believes that you and Anya can do it and I believe in his
judgement." Penn says with absolute faith as he tightens his arm around
Wil's waist in a hug.
Wil tilts his head to the side, sniffing delicately, turning his gaze
towards one of the two entrances into the center of the maze. "Dawn is
headed this way with Angel and Aaron. There's another bloke with them,
a Demon of some sort but not someone I'm familiar with." After a moment
he starts grinning. "They're lost, Angel's got them all turned around.
It will take them an hour to find their way here."
The trio share a chuckle before Wil turns his head and makes a soft
roaring sound not unlike the cry of a panther and within seconds it's
echoed by twin roars from Aaron and Angel.
Penn leans over and grabs nearest bit of Wil's discarded apparel. He
picks up the leather waistcoat and helps Wil back into it, his skilful
hands easily re-lacing the petal soft and supple leather. He doesn't
want Angel staring at Wil. It was amusing to see that the young human
reacted to Wil but he's not sure that he could handle seeing such a
display from Angel without the urge to kick him into the next century.
He looks at Wil and groans, covering his eyes. Without the shirt under
the waistcoat he's only emphasized what he was attempting to conceal
from Angel. He drops his hand from his eyes, the first thing he sees is
Xander Harris hurriedly blinking out an open-jawed stare and hurriedly
looking away from Wil as he jaw snaps shut. He has to chuckle as the
young man frantically tries to find something, anything, else to stare
at to cover up the fact he was staring at William.
Wil just shakes his head with exasperated affection and regains his
perch on the railing with an easy leap and a graceful twist of his
body. He pulls Penn back into the shelter of his legs and arms as the
older Vampire carefully folds his silk shirt into an impossibly small
square of fabric and tucks it into an inside pocket of his coat.
Within a few minutes grinning Aaron leads an embarrassed-looking Angel,
a laughing Dawn and a very strange Demon that bares an uncanny
resemblance to a green-skinned Liberace. Everyone has a laugh at
Angel's expense as he almost trips over his own feet when he catches
sight of Penn and Wil and even Angel has to laugh at the clumsy,
comedic entrance. Dawn hurries over to the pair, jumping onto Penn's
lap and giggling as he snuggles her there quite happily as Wil holds
them both. They're glad to see that Aaron is as thoughtful as usual and
Dawn has on an ankle-length coat made of thick warm wool to keep the
foggy nights chill away. Penn ensures that will happen by opening his
own coat and wrapping the insulating leather around her as best he can,
wrapping her in a cocoon of warmth as she curls up on his lap as happy
as a well-fed kitten.
Xander is surprised by Penn's affectionate and solicitous attitude
towards Dawn but he's not really sure why, you'd think he'd be used to
seeing it since William's always treated her the same way.
"Pardon the intrusion, Milords." Aaron says with a graceful bow of his
head. "An associate of Angel's arrived from LA a little late and would
like to join the celebration." He gestures towards the strange but
harmless looking Demon that accompanied them.
"You don't see that many Pylean Demons in this dimension these days."
Penn notes with a faint smile. "Unless I miss my guess, you must be
Lorne." The smile turns into a grin as Angel and the new arrival look
shocked and a little spooked. "You are of course welcome to join the
celebration." Dawn makes a kittenish noise and pointedly nudges Penn
with her elbow. "Dependant of course on whether you've brought the
pushy young Miss here a gift that is." Penn adds with a chuckle as Dawn
grins.
"Well I most certainly did, Plum Puddin'." Lorne agrees. "I gave it to
that red-haired chilli pepper you have playing guard dog over the
gifts. She whisked it off to I don't know where."
"The dinner service was clearing up the dancing is going to start
soon." Dawn says happily, pinning William under an excited glance.
"You're going to do it right Spike? You promised me remember?" Dawn
demands with a grin as the Master Vampire flushes. "You said you'd do
it when I turned eighteen and if I stayed in school and got good
grades; well my birthday was last month as you know, read the diploma
and weep, and smell the 4.0 Vamp-Boy! I want my entertainment!"
Xander and Angel stare at Dawn like they've never seen her before but
Wil and Penn can only chuckle affectionately at the feisty young woman.
"Your big sis will fricassee my hide if I song that song Nibblet. Can't I sing
something that won't make her want to stake me?" Wil tries to appeal to
her sense of mercy but he knows it's futile even as he's trying it.
"I want my song, Spike, you
promised." Dawn states implacably firm in her resolve. "You promised me
you'd sing at my graduation and show me what you did in that club on
Bourbon Street that made Penn lock you in the bedroom for a week. I did
all those things that you asked and I did it so pay up bucko!"
Wil chuckles and throws up his hands in surrender. "Fine a promise is a
promise but you'd better appreciate this." He warns in mock-petulance.
"I think that I can safely say that every girl in my class, Mother,
Sister, Aunt, or Grandma here tonight are going to appreciate it; and
yeah some of the men too!" Dawn says happily.
Wil groans deep in his chest as he relaxes his back muscles and drops
backwards the six feet or so to the ground, landing on his palms and
flipping to his feet with easy grace as he stalks towards the other
entrance to the center of the maze and vanishes down the hedge lined
expanse beyond. Penn, carrying a giggling Dawn cradled in his arms and
Aaron follow him in a less showy but no less speedy retreat. They can
all hear Penn telling Aaron to tell Grady to make sure he has enough
space on his camera for taping and the load groan from Wil that echoes
that statement.
Surprised, Xander, Angel, and Lorne can only watch them leave when
suddenly Angel's eyes fly open.
"GOD-DAMN IT SPIKE! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET OUT OF HERE!" Angel roars
furiously as he realizes they've been left behind. Wil's husky chuckle
floats back to them from somewhere in the maze and no doubt probably
halfway out already.
Muttering darkly about what he's going to do to Spike when he catches
him, Angel strides down the hedge corridor he saw them take with a
snickering Lorne and Xander following him and trying not to laugh...
too
much.
Chapter
Eleven
It's a very frustrated and exasperated Angel that trudges through the
doors from the garden, having finally
escaped the maze much to the amusement of Xander and Lorne who
have been snickering behind him the whole time.
They notice that the majority of the tables have been efficiently
removed and the remainder grouped together near the far end of the
glass-walled ballroom to create a large dance floor. A stage has been
set up and they can see that Wil, Jacob, Tara, Aaron and Erick are on
the stage. Wil has a guitar hanging off a wide strap bisecting his
chest and he's tuning it with ease as he laughs and talks quietly with
his friends. Tara is standing beside Wil, adjusting the mic stands.
Jacob is sitting behind a grand piano playing a quietly lilting
classical tune as he smiles and talks quietly with the others. Erick is
seated behind a drum kit quietly providing a back beat to Jacob's song.
Aaron has a bass guitar resting on his thighs as he sits on a high
stool, strumming a quiet baseline for Jacob's classical piece.
Penn finishes his piece in a soft flurry of notes and Wil steps up to
the microphone in front of him, Tara taking the place at the microphone
set up next to his. He glances around at his friends receiving a nod
from each before turning back to face the crowd that's started to
gather around Penn and Dawn; who are standing in front of the stage.
They've started realizing that something is going on as Wil quietly
taps the microphone, the quiet feedback getting the attention of those
that haven't noticed them yet.
"Good evening, my name is William Bradley-Ramsay and my friends and I
are here at the request of a very special young woman, Miss Dawn
Summers." Wil smiles down at a beaming Dawn who is almost bouncing in
place she's so excited.
"That's my Brother, isn't he beautiful?!" Dawn calls out playfully,
grinning as her female classmates and more than one female relative
cheer their agreement. "He's taken though!" Dawn calls out, taking
Penn's hand and lifting his arm over his head like the winner of a
championship boxing match.
Penn grins at the less than subtle shove that sends him hurtling
towards the stage but there isn't a second of fear in his mind as
strong arms close around him gentling his forward motion as he knew
would happen. A gentle kiss and a nuzzle of their cheeks and Penn makes
his way back to Dawn as Wil returns to his microphone amid the sounds
of an appreciatively cheering crowd.
"I made a promise and tonight my Little Sis kept her end of it so I
intend to keep mine. This is for you Bit, happy Graduation, we're proud
of you." Wil starts strumming the strings of his guitar the others
joining him in due course as Tara sways gently next to him.
Girl,
you'll be a woman soon.....
Xander chuckles as the Wil starts to sing and he realizes what song
Dawn made him promise to sing and why he just may have thought it was a
bad idea.
Love
you so much
Can't count all the ways
I'd die for you girl
And all they can say is
"He's not your kind"
Wil lets his eyes slip closed momentarily the words of the song are a
bittersweet remembrance of how most of the Scoobies have treated him in
times past.
They
never get tired
Of puttin' me down
And I never know
When I come around
What I'm gonna find
Don't let them make up your mind
Dawn stands up tall, throwing her shoulders back proudly and lifting
her chin. She prides herself on not giving into peer pressure from
Buffy and the others to treat Spike badly. The only port in the verbal
storm was Tara and with Spike, they were the only two that never tried
to make her choose sides. She glances over to where Buffy is standing
and sees her staring fixedly at Spike and she sighs. It was never a
question of choosing sides; it was a question of right and wrong. Spike
may not have been an Angel but he'd earned a little trust and
acceptance, bought it with his blood on more than one occasion.
No one other than maybe Tara has ever understood what Spike was to her
during the summer Buffy was... away. She's never lost her faith in him,
knew that when the Hellions were tearing apart the town that she would
be protected and safe. She was just as safe from the nightmares that
plagued her that summer. It was the first time she heard him singing to
her. Sometimes he would read to her from books and she learned the
comfort of his voice in those private moments between her foster
Brother and herself.
Don't
you know...?
Girl, you'll be a woman soon
Please, come take my hand
Girl, you'll be a woman soon
Soon you'll need a man
Penn bows gallantly and holds out his hand to Dawn with a flourish that
would do a courtier of old justice. He leads her to the center of the
dance floor, the crowd obligingly clearing to the outskirts of the
wooden floor as they swing into a classical waltz that has mouths
dropping all around the room.
Buffy watches as Dawn waltzes across the floor and back, lead
confidently by the suave and elegant elder Master Vampire. She looks so
beautiful, graceful, and grown up that Buffy can't help but feel her
heart clench painfully in response. The little girl that she has always
known; or believed that she has due to the interference of the monks,
has grown into a smart, lovely, and confident young woman.
I've
been misunderstood
For all of my life
But what they're sayin',
Girl, just cuts like a knife
"The boy's no good"
She gasps silently at the words of the song and her eyes jerk to the
stage. She's surprised to see that Spike's eyes are shut and a lone
tear track marks the escape of a single tear from the corner of his
eye. Emotional or not, his hands are steady on the strings of the
guitar he's playing so well and his voice is steady and strong, hitting
each note with the same effortless grace that he can land a punch with.
He is so beautiful in that moment... so pure that she feels a tear drip
off her chin before she's even aware that she's been crying. Of all her
sins, the man singing is probably the greatest of them all. His love
may not have been wholly 'human' but it had been true and lasting until
she destroyed it by destroying the man that felt it.
A flurry of activity catches her eye and she sees that Dawn is now
waltzing with Xander and Penn is leaning against the stage in front of
Spike, looking as proud as any Father watching his daughter's big day.
She realizes that she knows next to nothing about Penn or about how
Dawn fits into his life with Spike but it's clear that he regards her
with no small amount of affection.
Well,
I finally found
What I've been looking for
But if they get the chance,
They'll end it for sure
Sure they would
Baby, I've done all I could
Angel watches as Xander hands off the willowy young Dawn to a beaming
Giles for his turn waltzing with her. It's a beautiful idea and it
seems that the other Fathers and male relatives agree as other blushing
young graduates are lead to the floor to join the glowing Dawn and her
succession of handsome dance partners.
His eyes turn to the stage and his beautiful boys and his dead heart
aches so much he can almost imagine it beating again from the pain.
Over a century ago he left them, unwilling to try and share their lives
once he was souled, he's tried to kill them both, and he looked down on
them as evil monsters. Looking at them now he knows that he was wrong,
he could have had his souls and his boys and now they have each other
and he's the one left behind. It's looking to be a very cold winter all
of a sudden.
It's
up to you
Girl, you'll be a woman soon
Please, come take my hand
Wil sets his guitar aside and leaps nimbly off the stage, his hand
raised toward Giles and Dawn. He's noticed the silent yearning look
from a quiet-looking young man towards the back of the crowd. He's
young and fresh-faced and while his looks lend themselves more towards
cute than handsome, he looks shyly confident though a little uncertain
of his charms. He remembers well that look of shy regard and
gentlemanly appreciation.
Aaron, Erick, and Jacob combine voices to sing the last chorus of the
song as Wil moves through the crowd towards the waltzing Dawn and Giles.
Girl,
you'll be a woman soon
Soon you'll need a man
Soon you'll need a man.....
Giles seeing Spike motioning spins Dawn into a twirl and directly
into his arms and he catches her easily pitching them into a sweeping
whirl. Catching her hand in a gentle hold, he spins her down the length
of his arm until they're only connected by their clasped hands. She
looks so beautiful with her purple silk dress flowing around her like a
cloud of colour. Spike's dark leather clothing, moonlight pale hair,
and handsomeness prove to be an excellent foil for her and they're
breathtaking.
The band segues straight into another song, Tara's voice surprisingly
powerful voice washes over them as she sings one of Christine's arias
from Phantom of the Opera like it hasn't ever been sung before.
Their friends are surprised to see Wil escorting Dawn into the crowd of
watchers and rather shocked as he stops in front of a young man that
bares no small resemblance to a landed fish. He bows in a graceful
flourish kissing the back of Dawn's knuckles before holding out their
joined hands to the young man, who steps forward with a blush to take
Dawn's hand. He tries to copy Wil's bow but he's not quite as poised
but the effect is charming and touching and Wil pats his shoulder
approvingly, motioning towards the dance floor. He follows the pair
back and laughs as Penn sweeps him into a bear hug that lifts him right
off his feet, spinning him around happily.
From separate corners of the room Angel and Buffy watch as Penn relaxes
his arms and lets Wil slide slowly down his body until his feet slowly
touch the floor. They remain locked tightly together, body pressing
close but never close enough as they sway to the music of Tara's
amazing voice. They look so right together and they've never hated them
more than at that moment. How could they manage to find the belonging
and the acceptance... and the love... that has eluded them when they
don't
even have souls? The pair watches as Wil dances happily in the
possessively protective embrace of his Sire and Mate oblivious to the
outside world. He was theirs and they threw their chance away and by
the looks of it they're never going to get a second chance.
A movement from the corner of his eye gets Angel's attention as Ravali
silently and nimbly sweeps her way into the crowd a serious and grave
expression on her face. She makes her way to Penn and Wil and the trio
talk quietly for several seconds, the dancers stopping as their
expressions sober and their postures radiate tension. He's positive
that he's read the situation right as Wil heads for Dawn and leads her
away from her dance partner to whisper quietly. Whatever he's saying
but be serious as Dawn throws her arms around him and hugs him tightly
and he has a little trouble getting her back into the arms of her
patiently waiting partner and out of his. Penn motions to Tara and the
band on the stage and they finish up their seat and quickly file off
the stage, Aaron stopping to pack up his guitar and Wil's before
hopping down carefully.
The house band quickly takes their place as Wil joins Penn and Ravali
in a quick but orderly departure from the room, motioning to Faith,
Lilia, and Genevra, Grady, and Ethan then back towards Dawn. The
quintet nod their understanding and make no move to leave and follow
the others, their orders are clear, they'll remain behind to look after
Dawn and the others.
Angel follows after the departing group, dragging his own friends after
him as they realize something must be going on, in turn grabbing the
Sunnydale alumni's attention as well. They find the Aurelians clustered
closely together, talking animatedly in one of the side lounges.
"What's going on?" Angel demands without preamble.
"The Jabari are issuing a challenge for our control of the Hellmouth.
They attacked an Aurelius lair in Colton, the next town over, and four
Neonates and a Childe were killed along with four donor-servitors.
They've heard that the Masters are in personal attendance and they have
issued a formal declaration of challenge." Ravali reveals, her eyes
flashing with hatred.
Penn straightens and pulls Wil against his side. "Aaron, Erick, Wil,
and myself will answer the challenge. While we're facing the
Bastard-blood, Tara, Ravali, take the others and get our lair back and
see if there are any survivors left to help."
Wil's eyes flash with a dangerously feral light. "Four lives for every
Neonate, six for the Childe, and two for each of the Humans." He orders
with a growl. "We'll take care of the bastards that ordered the attack.
The Jabari will regret their actions of this night."
"I'll stay here." Jacob announces. "If this is a ruse to distract us
while they try out-flanking us to reach the Hellmouth, they won't get
past me I promise you." From the obvious confidence in his voice,
they're all positive that he'll be able to do it. "I can get you there
as well. Ravali will let me know when it's time to bring you back. You
know the drill guys." And it's clear that they do as they instantly
draw closer together in a tight group, linking arms.
"We'll take care of her old friend." Penn promises.
"And she will take care of you too." Jacob says with a smile.
There's more than one surprised expression as Anya and Xander share a
glance then wiggle their way into the mass of Vampires, silently
declaring their intent to go along.
"Anya, Harris, where do you think that you're going?" Wil asks with a
furrowed brow.
"We're going to help a friend, Wil." Xander replies with a quiet
maturity that garners him several surprised glances, even from his
friends. Only Anya, Wil, and Penn don't seem surprised.
It's like a rifle shot has gone off though as Angel, Wes, Giles, Gunn,
Buffy, and Cordelia also muscle their way into the tightly grouped
Vampires in a semi-controlled stampede.
"Wait what do we do about weapons?" Giles calls out as he realizes that
none of them seem to be armed for the coming conflict. Almost in
perfect unison all the Vampires, Angel, and Gunn produce stakes that
they somehow managed to conceal despite being dressed for a formal
evening. They hand over the stakes to the unarmed.
"What about you?" Xander asks, taking the stake Wil holds out for him.
"You're unarmed now."
Wil's features ripple to their Demon guise, smiling to flash his fangs
and curving his fingers inward to display his claw like nails. "We're
never unarmed." His features ripple back to their Human countenance and
Xander nods with a small grin, sliding his arm around Wil's bicep as
Penn is doing on his other side.
Penn glances around, pleased to see that his Order has reacted
seamlessly to the additional people and have shuffled their position so
that each Human is bracketed by two of them. He almost chuckles at the
sight of Angel being almost dwarfed by Aaron and Erick as they bracket
him between them. Despite Angel's impressive build the twins are almost
six inches taller and nearly that much wider. They been truly
impressive specimens of humanity and have become even more so in their
transformation into vampires. Nodding, satisfied he searches out
Jacob's gaze and nods once tersely.
Jacob backs up and making sure that anyone not going is clear before a
flurry of gestures and a lyrical invocation sends the group winging on
their way to Colton in an explosion of multicoloured energy. He sees a
straight-backed chair, thick and lushly padded and he's seated, falling
into a light trance, as he frees his instincts, allowing his
consciousness to merge into the wellspring of energy that flood the
eldritch environment that sheathes the Hellmouth. If the Jabari get
past the others, they shall not pass him.
Chapter
Twelve
They arrive safely in a deserted park in Colton, and the Vampires
immediately explode into motion. Penn leads Wil, Aaron, and Erick into
the night without hesitation as Angel, Buffy, Giles, and Wes scramble
to follow them. Ravali rallies the remaining people and they head in
the opposite direction to retake the lair and see if there is anyone
left to save. Xander starts to follow Anya, who is following Ravali's
group when he suddenly takes her hand and spinning her around points
them after the departing Penn's group, jogging to catch up.
"We're going to be fighting an Order challenge. For those of you who
aren't aware of what that it is, the Jabari Order will select their
champions, typically four are chosen." Penn begins to explain. "If this
were a challenge in Jabari's main territory, the Master of the Order
would be one of the Champions but this far from their home Chantry
we'll likely be facing lower ranked Masters. They'll be strong,
possibly the Childer of the Master of their Order, they wouldn't have
challenged us if they weren't strong enough to think they could win.
The Eldest, The Masters of the Orders usually, do not fight first."
"Each Order chooses a Champion, it is always a Master and typically it
is the Childe of the eldest Master Vampire of the Order that is present
at the time. William will fight first. He'll win of course. The
challenging Order may then either withdraw the challenge in which case
we have the right to the forfeit of our choice. If they persist then
Aaron will fight and then Erick after him; they too will win. If the
Jabari still persist then I will their Elder in combat and I will win
and their forfeit will be dire indeed for challenging us." Penn
continues to explain.
"Why would the Jabari dare this?" Angel demands. "They are Bastard
Blood; there was a time when they would never dare to face purebloods."
"You have been Human for too long Angel." Penn says flatly.
"There are only six Pure-bred Orders left." Wil's voice is quiet and
grave and Angel flinches in reaction to his words. "Only the Aurelius,
Baran, Cornelius, Geovesse, Navarro, and Vladimir Order exist in any
sizable numbers. The Tepes, Jomei, Alucard, and Damaris have less than
six Masters between them all and only two of them have but a single
Childe each, they will be extinct within the century if something
doesn't change for them."
"The Vicente, Radames, Jabari, and Sljenko Orders have been usurped by
Bastard-bloods and the Bastard-Bloods have formed six new Orders, the
Toshiro, Xiomar, Rhys, Ryker, Quillan, and Pericles Orders." Aaron
lists.
"Overall the six Pure-blood Orders that have united under a flag of
truce are strong enough to hold back the others. As you can see though,
they're growing bolder, believing that their superior numbers will be
able to overwhelm us." Erick chimes in with.
"We've never been allied with all the Pure-blood Orders." Angel
breathes in amazement.
"Times have a way of changing Angel." Penn says stoically. "Get ready
Beloved, they're nearby." Penn stops where he is, looking around at a
suitable large clearing. It will do for the confrontation to come. Wil,
Aaron, and Erick gather around him as Angel carefully herds everyone
else some distance away, telling them that they can't interfere and
that they'll strictly be observers to what is to come.
Wil's hands go to the laces of his waistcoat, a nimble fluttering of
his fingertips parting the laces with easy grace. He peels the leather
away from his skin, handing it back to Erick, who flips it over his
forearm after folding it neatly. His hands find the hidden catch of the
collar around his throat and it opens with a nearly silent click and he
pulls it away and hands it to Penn who clasps it around his own throat.
Angel can't help the startled breath he's forced to draw in as the
absence of the collar and the waistcoat reveal some of Spike's new
adornments. The tattoo of their Order, albeit modified, rests fittingly
over his stilled heart. He can see some slight imperfections in the
design and he knows that the tattoo is placed where it is for a reason,
rather than on the back of his shoulder blade where it is most
typically worn. It's covering the scar left by Riley's torture no
doubt.
The glint of metal draws his eyes to the washboard planes of Spike's
rippled stomach betraying the presence of his navel ring and its small
charms. The darkness of the mid-winter night can't hide the shadow of
black tracings encircling Spike's throat. A simply elegant circle of
dark lines hugs his throat, the faintly Celtic design of intricate
knots and swirls, has been tattooed directly to his skin. The meaning
of that deceptively simple tattoo is clear to him, as it would be to
anyone that knew what it was to possess someone utterly; with or
without a collar Spike belongs to Penn and it is a very willing
captivity.
No force on this plane of existence or any other would have seen Spike
submitting to such a claiming unless it was by his choice. He should
know he once tried to force him to do that very thing and failed. By
the end of that hellish month of screams and blood soaked nightmares he
knew that he would have to kill Spike to claim him against his will. He
raged for months after that failure to force him to his will and at
last the desire was lost beneath a Gypsy curse and a century of guilt.
He bites back the growl he can feel wanting to claw its way up from his
belly at the sight of those marks, of Penn's victory in light of his
abject failure.
Angel watches as Spike stretches under Penn's watchful gaze, the
muscles flexing under the suede-like perfection of his skin with liquid
fluidity that is equal parts deadly competence and breathtaking
sensuality. Spike has always possessed a unique lithely muscled form
that manages to be both sleek and powerful at the same time. If
function were to dictate form then Spike is the most beautiful and
deadly man, Vampire, or Demon he's ever seen in his inhumanly long
life.
His gaze switches to Penn, who is hovering protectively close to Spike,
as he stretches with agile grace and prepares to defend their Order.
They are such a study in contrasts, they always have been but the
differences only reinforce how amazing these deadliest of his Childer
are. Light, where one is dark, shorter where one is taller, graceful
where one is powerful, and one is wild and free spirited while the
other is patient and settled.
There are his perfectly matched set, each of them chosen for separate
but complimentary reasons to suit their Sire. He watches as Penn
stiffens subtly and an almost imperceptible fluttering of his
fingertips, brings Spike to his side. Spike turns to lean against
Penn's side, slipping one arm around his waist as his free hand lifts
to press against his palm against his chest. Penn's arm slides around
Spike's waist, his palm curving possessively over the leather painted
rear that fits so perfectly in his hold.
Angel's eyes narrow and while he cannot sense them yet he knows
that the Jabari must be very close now. He spares a moment's regret for
the fact that he has distanced himself so much from his Vampire nature
that his Childer are more of a Vampire than he is. The sound of Penn's
voice draws his attention back to the sensual pair of embracing
Vampires.
"I want you to make a show of it, Beloved. We must make an example of
these Jabari; there can be no question that we hold the Hellmouth
firmly under our control. Any sign of vulnerability or weakness and the
other Bastard-Orders will swarm the Hellmouth like locusts." Penn sinks
his fingers into Wil's thick hair and strokes the alabaster strands
absentmindedly, turning his head to press a kiss to Wil's temple and a
smile brightens his features as his Childe purrs contentedly.
"There." Wil says quietly, nodding cunningly towards a copse of
trees some distance away. "They've been watching us for a while now,
probably trying to figure out why we have a Slayer and a bunch of
Humans with us." He surmises.
Penn's smile turns chillingly cold. "We've waited long enough." He
releases Wil and his Childe instantly moves away a shoulder length,
Aaron falling in on his left and Erick falling in on Penn's right.
The four Vampires move forward in unison and stop several feet from the
rest of their group, whom Angel is keeping corralled well back. Angel
watches as Spike leaves the line to stalk to the center of a large
clearing and shivers as his Childe's roar reverberates through the
night air.
The roar is immediately answered and echoed as a large powerful form
explodes out of the tree line and hurtles toward a grinning Spike and
Angel sucks in an anxious breath. Spike crouches and leaps using the
charging Vampire's shoulders as a springboard, deflecting his body into
a twist and landing lightly safely on the other side of the Vampire.
Bracing his palm he turns his body into a low spin, one boot planted as
a fulcrum and the other sweeping out to knock the rhino-like vampire
he's fighting off his feet. He lets the momentum of the spin carry him
back up to his feet and he back springs away several feet landing in a
defensive crouch.
For the next several minutes Spike plays with the much larger Vampire
like a cat with a mouse but like that primordial game of survival,
eventually the conclusion is a foregone one and he strikes with swift
viciousness. He easily leaps the ten foot separation between himself
and the circling Vampire, the tackle forcing the much larger Jabari
onto his back.
Angel watches as Spike pins the squirming male expertly, hissing as his
features shift to their Demon form. He grins, revealing his wickedly
sharp ivory fangs in the few seconds before he pounces and buries his
fangs in the screaming Vampire's throat as he trashes wildly and tries
to push the tenacious Blonde away from his throat.
There is a collectively indrawn breath as the large Vampire's screams
turn to hungry moaning and his twitching becomes passionate writhing
within seconds. Spike wrenches his fangs free and lifts his head but
they all watch in stunned amazement as the larger Vampire sinks his
hands into Spike's hair and yanks his face back against his neck,
forcing Spike's fangs back into his own throat! His fervour to escape
becomes an utter disregard for survival as he presses into Spike,
crying out and arching upward in ecstasy only to collapse into dust
beneath Spike in milliseconds, amid the pained cries of his
Order-mates. Spike crouches amidst the dusty remains for a second in a
debauched preening crouch as his tongue curves and twists around his
fangs cleaning off the lingering traces of scarlet lifeblood. Spike
roars again, signalling his victory, the cry swiftly picked up and
echoed by his Order-mates including Angel, to no few startled looks by
the humans and Slayer he's keeping corralled. As the cries fade
Spike rises with calm assurances and regal grace with the liquid
sensuality and smooth twitch of silken skin-covered steel-corded muscle
that defines his lithe form.
He slowly and deliberately turns his back to the rival Vampires,
silently signalling that he considers them no threat and he lifts a
hand towards Aaron, turning it palm up and fanning his fingers inward,
calling the much larger Master Vampire from the ranks.
Aaron pauses to acknowledge Wil by tipping his head to the side and
baring his throat with a soft thrumming purr, which is answered and
mirrored by Wil as they pass each other. Aaron takes his place at the
center of the clearing as Wil returns to Penn and Erick.
All eyes are on the trio as Penn replaces the collar around Wil's
throat and Erick holds up his waistcoat for him to slip into, lacing it
up for him with smooth practiced motions. Penn flicks open his coat and
in the blink of an eye Wil is nestled against his side and chest. The
generous cut of Penn's coat jacket settles easily around them both but
they are oblivious to the warmth of the leather as their mouths seek a
more intimate communion. The carnally exhibitionist kiss gentles within
seconds and they turn their attention to where Aaron is calmly waiting.
Penn calls out something in a lyrical, almost musical sounding,
language that none of them understand, except for the Vampires, and
seemingly Anya, that is. An answer echoes from the shelter of the trees
in the same delicate sounding language and this time it's Wil that
calls back the answer with fluent grace.
"Angel, what language is that? What are they saying?" Giles whispers
urgently, tugging on the back of Angel's coat to get his attention.
"It's the language of the Kir'a'vasia." Angel replies, looking shocked
that Giles had to ask, his eyes widening as the confusion doesn't clear
up from Giles face or Wesley's for that matter. "It is the first
language of our kind, the ancient dialect that we all share."
"They're speaking in Vampiric Giles." Anya bites out in frustration,
sounding faintly disgusted. "How can you be Watchers and not know
Kir'a'vasia? It's the language that all Vampiric Demons speak and the
basis of many of the ancient Demon Dialects as well."
"I had no idea that Spike spoke other languages... well there was that
time that Ethan turned me into a...." Giles pulls his glasses off and
cleans them thoroughly before replacing them.
"Wil speaks over thirty languages counting the Human languages he's
fluent in. He's conversant in probably that many more and is able to
read still more than he can speak. William has always had a talent for
languages, it would have helped him in his later career if Dru hadn't
found him first." Angel replies quietly.
"What career? Spike had a career?" Buffy stammers out.
"William was months from finishing his medical degree at Oxford when
Dru took his life. He was a gentleman and a gentle man who liked poetry
and loved his Mother so much that the love survived his turning. They
think that I don't know but I know." Angel says quietly, sending a
yearning look towards Spike, still wrapped up in his new Sire's arms
and coat. Movement from the copse of trees across the clearing draws
his eyes. He watches as a trio of Vampires emerges from the trees and
walks forward, their heads lowered and their hands behind their back.
They are submitting to the strength of the stronger Order.
"Good lord, Spike was going to be a doctor." Giles mutters and Wes
looks shocked.
"He put the knowledge to good use thanks to Angelus, to me." Angel
mutters thickly.
No one needs to ask Angel for details, they can only imagine how
dangerous a Vampire with an expert knowledge of the Human body and
anatomy can be and their estimation of just how much they've
underestimated Spike rises dramatically.
"Why did that other Vampire guy do that... thing?" Xander asks after
clearing his throat.
A strange unholy light enters Angel's eyes and the smile that curves
his mouth upward is equal parts amused and wicked. The expression is a
little too close to Angelus-like for their comfort and there is almost
a collective step back and only Xander and Anya hold their spots.
"William has certain... gifts... due to the type of Vampire he is."
Angel
replies, looking over his shoulder at them with a grin.
"What do you mean the type of Vampire that he is? There are types of
Vampires?" Xander asks confused.
Understanding dawns on Anya's features. "Of course, I should have
realized it. Spike is a Seducer isn't he? I'm not sure why I thought he
must be a Warrior." She says matter-of-factly.
"A seducer... Warrior... what are you talking about?" Xander's brow
furrows
in confusion.
"Spike, William, is rather unique in that he is both. Drusilla is my
Childe and while she didn't inherit the Warrior gifts they were carried
in her blood, enough at least to pass in course to her Childe. Darla
was a Seducer also and as she was my Sire, so my blood carries her gift
as well, which Drusilla also inherited. William inherited both gifts
but Angelus, I, chose to train him only as a Warrior. I wanted him to
be mine in every way that there was. After I was souled and left, I
suspect that Darla trained William to use his seducer gift as a way of
getting back at Angelus, at me." Angel replies, his eyes still locked
on his boys.
"Wha... whaaaa... what are you talking about?" Xander stammers.
Angel and Anya turn matching expressions of surprise on Xander and then
beyond him to Giles and Wesley, both of whom also look more than a
little confused.
"You really don't know that much about us do you." Angel realizes in
amazement. "How you have managed to survive is a complete mystery to
me." He shakes his head in amazement. "I suppose I should tell you
something, if only to prevent you killing yourselves with a lot of
stupid assumptions." Angel sighs fatalistically.
He keeps a close watch on his boys, his eyes never straying as they
negotiate the terms of the Jabari surrender. "Vampires are as diverse
as your own species, while you're all human you do further classify
yourselves, by nationality, ethnicity, and other factors. It's the same
with Vampires, while we all share certain traits and weaknesses that
make us Vampires, we also have gifts, strengths, and other things that
further classify us within our species, Order, and even within
Bloodlines." Angel explains, sounding rather distracted. "The Aurelius
Order is one of the most ancient, established at some point during the
height of the Roman Empire. Our line boasted nearly every Vampiric gift
that it was possible to manifest as we absorbed smaller Orders, made
alliances, and carried out our various vendettas. We are primarily
known as a Warrior Order and that sounds pretty much like what it is.
Few Orders could match us Master for Master when it comes to fighting.
There are some instances of the Thrall gift manifesting in Masters of
our line. They are rare, as are the Enchanters and the Psychics who
possess an affinity for magic or for various mental talents, who are
much more numerous in other Orders. The Alucard Order for instance was
known for their Enchanters, marvellous wizards and sorceresses capable
of astonishing feats of magic and the Tepes Order is still known for
having members very gifted with the Thrall."
Angel glances at Xander and hides a grin. "You've had some experience
with them from what Buffy's told me." Xander looks very confused. "That
pitiful excuse for a Vampire that likes to pretend he's Dracula is a
member of that Order."
Xander looks vaguely nauseous for a few seconds and then he looks
relieved. "That wasn't the Dracula
then?" He asks with sigh of relief.
Angel can't help but laugh. "Well yes and no. He was a Dracula but he wasn't the Dracula no. The Master of
their Order, the one history would came to call Vlad Tepes, has not
been seen in centuries. Some believe that he sleeps hidden away
somewhere in the world for the day that Humanity's reign is over and
Demons once more rule all that there is. The stories tell that there
are several such 'sleeping' Ancients, including Marcus Aurelius, but
there is no one Demon still in existence that is said to have met them
personally. Whether it is true or false their myth persists to this day
and those Orders that still bear their names are taught to believe that
they will return one day."
Abandoning any pretence that he hasn't been listening avidly Giles
can't help but ask a question. "And what do you believe? Are there any
of the ancients left?"
"I am a Master, once 'THE' Master
of, Aurelius, out of Marcus Aurelius, progenitor of one of the most
powerful Vampiric Orders." Angel enunciates slowly, as though talking
to a small child, making it very clear that he considers that question
a pointless and stupid one.
Giles clears his throat gruffly and wisely steps back and letting
Angel's very intentional slight to his intelligence pass without
remark.
"So what flavour of frosty blonde Vampsicle is Spike?" Xander asks
curiously. "Some sort of Seducer type Vampire huh? What can they do?"
A wicked light glints in Angel's eyes as he steps closer to Xander,
well inside his personal space and the young man draws in a breath
sharply at his proximity. Neither of them notices as Giles and the
others surge forward in a collective wave wanting to know the answer to
Xander's question as much as he does.
Angel moves smoothly until his fingertip and trace Xander's strong jaw
with a gently sweeping motion. "His kind; they are the rarest of all
the gifted breeds, less than one hundred have ever been known to exist
in all of our recorded history. It is said that they are somehow the
result of every Vampiric gift manifesting in single individual but
others believe them to be a mystical fusion of Vampire and the Succubae
Demon. Really none of us know what they are and how they came to be
what they are but oh how we relish what they can do Human." A subtle
brogue roughens Angel's voice slightly and the almost imperceptible
hissing sound to his words is explained as his smile reveals just the
trace of his fangs.
"And what is it that they can do?" Xander bites back a groan as he asks
and Angel's smile widen until he can see the sharp ivory fangs just
lying against his bottom lip.
"You've seen what he can do." Angel notes amused as he finally notices
that the others have closed around them to eavesdrop. "For most
Vampires the bite is a moment of ecstasy that eclipses almost any
other... yes even that intimate moment between lovers can sometimes
pale
in comparison. For the one being bitten the pain is exquisite and if
the Vampire is old and experienced enough they can make it a very
sexually pleasant experience once the pain passes for the one being
bitten." He almost chuckles as he sees Buffy blush madly and look away
hurriedly.
"William can make his bite pleasurable from the beginning and it is
rapture beyond anything that you have ever known or could ever imagine
that your body could feel. You saw what that Jabari did to keep the
pleasure William was giving him. He gave up his life to him, just to
know that feeling for one moment longer. He gave his existence toWilliam; do
you understand just what fools you've been now?"
The clueless looks on their faces brings a growl rumbling out of his
chest and he almost grins as they all take an instinctual step back. "I
am surrounded by children, clueless children."
He mutters in exasperation. "His bite doesn't hurt." He enunciates slowly, using
little words and then waits.
Anya looks at everyone expectantly but the confused looks finally make
her explode. "Come on, people! His bite doesn't hurt, it feels GOOD. Don't you get it yet?! Oh
someone save me from having to be the baby-sitter for you people! No
pain means chip firing!" The light finally dawns on their faces.
"That's right, now you get it, he could have bitten us at any time and
he chose not to. He could have done any of a dozen
things to get rid of us if he'd actually wanted us dead. I don't know
why he came to us for help and why he let us believe that we needed it
but we should be thankful that he did.
If it wasn't for Dawn...."
"And for you too, Anya; I think he seems strangely fond of Xander too."
Angel adds.
Anya smiles gratefully. "Alright for us then, he wouldn't have been
here to help us against Glory and we'd all be dead. He's all that
stands between us, well most of you since
I think we'd be spared, and Penn. You've hurt his Childe and his Mate
and count yourselves lucky that you're still alive." Giles and the
others all look spooked as Anya turns to Angel. "You may want to say a
few thank-you mantras yourself that for whatever reason they decided to
spare you and your friends too." She smiles in pleasure as Angel
flinches involuntarily at being reminded that his status too is far
from assured at this stage.
"Hey what's going on over there?" Xander asks, pointing over to the
other Vampires.
Everyone turns to look and some eyes widen at the sight of one of the
Vampires kneeling in front of Spike, seemingly begging for something.
Angel looks on sadly as he realizes what he's seeing. "That is the Sire
of the Childe that Spike... claimed. He's asking Spike to take him
also,
so that he can join his Childe in whatever fate lies beyond for our
kind." He says quietly, almost in a whisper, unwilling to disturb this
somber event.
"He wants to die because the other one did?" Buffy asks huskily, her
voice choked up.
"He's lost his Childe, his only one if I had to guess, and it's not
unusual for Sires to suicide at the death of their Childer. It's fairly
common especially if they have only one or it is their favourite
Childe." Angel looks at Buffy sadly, sighing sombrely.
"You are the longest lived Slayer in history and you still have learned
so little about us? You may have named us monsters but and here's a
shock for you, it takes more than your opinion to label what and who we
are. Monsters you may have named us but that doesn't make us what we
are. We are the Kir'a'vasia and we need no Human or Slayer to give us
any other name." Angel says proudly, watching as his boy grants the
Jabari's request and grants him the final death he seeks on the same
orgasmic rush that heralded his Childe's end.
The moment is one of eloquent surrender and respect as the old Master
gives up his existence so it's all the more shocking when the remaining
two Jabari Vampires attack Spike even as the Master collapses to dust
at his feet! The stakes never find their mark though as Penn throws his
body over his Childe, roaring in pain as the stakes rip through him
rather than his precious Childe sheltered under him.
Wil curses flips quickly onto his back and catching Penn as he
collapses unconscious on top of him and rolls them out of the way in an
acrobatic manoeuvre that barrels the Jabari over as they're combined
momentum takes their feet out from under them.
"Kill them all." Wil orders and the Twins leap into a battle that is
bloody but brief as he cradles Penn. He looks up at Angel and then Anya
is suddenly there, helping him to check Penn's injuries. Thankfully
neither stake trespassed too close to his heart but his injuries are
still severe, He lays Penn down carefully and works one of the stakes
free and grimaces as he notes the bubbling white froth surrounding the
wound and the obscene sight of tiny wooden splinters infecting his
flesh.
"They soaked the stakes in holy water and they splintered." He growls
menacingly, carefully picking up Penn and howling sharply, the agonized
sound equal parts fury and pain.
They're startled as Tara appears in an explosion of green energy,
Ravali at her side, both running to the openly crying Wil and the
unconscious Penn. The women snap into action without pause, taking Penn
from Wil and carrying them between them to a nearby decorative
fountain. Ravali cups her hands and uses them to pick up water to
carefully flush the holy water from the wounds as Tara uses her hands
to direct the flow of water, loosening and carrying the deadly
splinters away as the wounds are irrigated.
"They aren't minor injuries but he's not in serious danger." Tara says
quietly, reassuring a nervously hovering Wil. "We'll need to make sure
all the splinters are cleared out but fortunately the holy water's
effects are minimal thanks to the changes in your diet. He'll be
alright in an hour or two but I don't want him to go back to the
Country Club, I think that he should rest."
"Take the Masters to our Lair, Milady. He will need to have both of you
near if he is to relax and rest and heal his injuries. The boys and I
will stay and attend to the Jabari and then return to Jacob." Ravali
decides, using the knee length drape of silk that is folded artfully
over her hair and shoulders to form a cowl, to bind Penn's wounds.
"I want them exterminated Ravali. They've broken the challenge laws and
we will claim their lives as forfeit for their treachery. If they
surrender, allow them to live and have them confined. They will be held
until their Order makes recompense to ours for their actions." Wil
orders in an angry growl. He is tender and careful as he eases Penn
back into his arms, cradling his larger Sire with an easy strength that
makes for a poignant image. "Tara, can you open a portal?"
Tara strokes his cheek silently for several moments, her eyes slipping
closed and a gentle smile blooms as she feels him nuzzling into her
touch with a nearly silent purr of acceptance. She opens her eyes to
reveal that they are solid orbs of green energy pulsing rhythmically as
though echoing her heartbeat.
She nods, ready and prepared, and moves some distance away before she
makes a small dance like motion as she gestures and intones a chant
under her breath. Tendrils of crackling and glowing green energy thrust
out of the ground, thickening and weaving together until a large oval
portal is formed, pulsing with bursts of eldritch power. Both Wes and
Giles look very impressed and more then a little surprised.
"Tara, how are you sustaining that spell?" Giles asks curiously as he
notes Tara is showing no signs of strain despite having opened two
portals in fairly quick succession.
"I'm not maintaining it Giles, my familiar is providing the strength to
sustain it. I'm only focusing and directing the energy to give it form
and purpose." Tara's voice echoes eerily.
Giles and Wes start looking around. "Where is your familiar?" Their
eyes immediately fall on Ravali and they widen comically. "Your
familiar is a Rakshasi?!" They exclaim together.
"Why would you assume that?" Tara asks amused by their surprising
assumptions and naiveté.
"Well it's conceivable that a familiar casting spell...." Giles
starts to say but lets his voice trail off in confusion as Tara,
Ravali, and Spike chuckle and shake their heads in exasperation.
The reason for their chuckle is more than apparent as Spike turns to
face them, Penn cradled in his arms as securely as a Father carrying
their child. Despite Penn being physically the larger and more muscular
of the pair, he looks somehow delicate being carried by Spike so easily
but that isn't what has Giles sucking in his breath sharply. Spike's
visage has shifted to its Demon guise but his features strangely retain
much more of his human aspect than they've seen in any other Vampire.
Without the rush and furore of the fight and in calmer circumstances
they can see the differences.
The very pronounced forehead ridges are absent, his eyes have changed
dramatically, taking on the faintly luminous amber colour common to
Vampires but the cat-like vertically slit pupils are unique. His
features are much the same, from the sharply cut cheekbones and full
lips and the strong and chiselled jaw. The razor points of his
interlocking fangs; the upper fitting neatly inside the lower pair;
dimples his lips slightly creating a strange amalgam of Human, Vampire,
and Feline aspects. It's the glowing rune pulsing with green energy
that is the most significant change.
"Ravali is bound to Jacob as his familiar. It's how they met and how he
came first came to understand the potential of the Aurelius Order. When
it was my turn to seek my focus, no one was more surprised than I was
when Wil's Demon answered the summons." Tara reveals.
"You've bound SPIKE as your
familiar? A Witch hasn't bound to a Vampire in millennia uncounted."
Giles breathes in amazement. "How did you do this? Only the strongest
have ever done what you have Tara and it should have been beyond your
abilities for many years."
"You haven't been listening have you Human?" Ravali says with the
disgust clear in her voice. "Take the Masters to safety Milady. I will
attend to this one's inane questions. Erick, attend your duties."
Ravali says decisively and Wil carries Penn towards the glowing portal
as Erick moves smoothly past them and through the portal.
Tara pauses as she moves to follow and on impulse she gestures to
Xander and Anya and motions towards the portal. Anya gives a happy
squeal and grabbing Xander's hand dives fearlessly through the
crackling energy pulling an unresisting Xander in after her. Wil pauses
at the event horizon waiting for Tara to join him before stepping
through with his precious burden.
"Wait, please." Angel says urgently. "Take me too? Please I really need to go." His tone is earnest
and sincere as is the concern on his face.
Tara's eyes widen in surprise as she looks at Wil in silent inquiry.
After a few seconds he nods slowly and she turns to Angel and nods her
permission. He strides fearlessly through the portal. Wes tries to dart
after him but a snarl from Spike and the other Vampires sends him
stumbling back into Giles, nearly tumbling them both to the ground. In
the ensuing chaos Wil and Tara step through the portal and it
immediately pulses brightly before dissolving in a shower of colourful
sparkles. It is a more than fitting fanfare for their departure.
Ravali rounds on Giles and Wes and they scramble backward, gaining
courage only once they're behind Buffy.
"You shouldn't stand in judgement of things you do not understand." She
states in a tone that clearly implies a warning. "Aaron, please attend
to the Jabari as the Young Master requested." Aaron smiles and kissed
Ravali on the cheek with obvious affection and walks off into the night
without a word.
The weight of Ravali's gaze falls back on them and Giles stiffens his
back to avoid flinching. He can feel more than see Wes doing the same
thing as he stands beside him.
Ravali takes a deep breath as she gathers the silken folds of her Sari
around her gracefully and sighs wearily as she sits on the edge of the
fountain. "You have questions that you may ask now."
"How did Tara end up with Spike of all people as her familiar?" Giles
demands.
"I have a better question. What the hell is a familiar and why does
Tara need one?" Buffy demands with a scowl.
Wesley just taps his foot and looks irritated, still bound by Tara's
spell to speak no ill-will.
"A familiar is usually an animal, or much more rarely it can be
something...." Ravali scowls darkly at Giles use of that derogatory
comment and he abruptly corrects himself. "...Or I mean someone of
supernatural or magical origin. They enable their partners to tap into
a ready source of mystical or life energy that they can then convert to
fuel their magical spells. Someone that practices magic can only
progress just so far in their development alone. To achieve mastery
they must develop to a certain stage and then on the night of a new
moon, when it's at its pinnacle, they must cast a very special spell.
It is said that for every magic-born there is one destined to serve as
their familiar and that when the spell is cast properly and if they are
worthy, they will be called." Giles explains, sounding superior. "The
spell binds the familiar to that Magician for all of their existence.
It is a relationship so close that the death of one can cause the death
of the other."
"As with most things the Watchers know, that is both partially correct
and confused and at the same time incorrect and utter fiction." Ravali
denounces. "It is true that the working of magic is in some ways easier
with a familiar and it is all but unknown for one to be strong enough
to achieve mastery of the craft without one yet it is possible. My
Jacob is such a man. He was a Master of the craft before the spell that
called to me and the Young Mistress spoke the truth in that it was how
we came to meet. The spell however is much different than you have said
Watcher, as a Familiar, I can assure you of that much." Ravali informs
them. "The spell merely 'calls' it does not force or in any way bind
the one or sometimes more than one that responds to it."
"Can you tell what or who the spell is going to call?" Buffy asks,
genuinely interested, despite the nagging feeling of jealousy that's
been nipping at her sharply all night over Spike's moving on.
"Sometimes if they are sensitive they can tell when they've met the one
they'll eventually call. I think Tara has always known that Spike had
some important part to play in her life from the moment she met the
Young Master. She is a very intuitive woman, well in-tune with
herself." Ravali decides after a minute of thinking about it. "Demons
and witches are actually a nice match when their personalities are
compatible and their outlooks mesh well, which they always do or they
would not have heard the 'call'."
"I'm still not sure that I understand what Familiar does." Buffy admits.
"Do you understand what 'magic' is?" Ravali asks and she shoots Giles a
nasty glance when she shakes her head in response. "Magic is the name
given to a source of energy that can not truly be seen only perceived
by those with the gift to manipulate it. It is not like electricity or
power through motion which is the forms that you are perhaps more
familiar with?" Buffy nods.
"It is somewhat alike however in that it is what powers everything. It
is the attraction that draws atoms into their forms, that mysterious
'spark' that infuses all that exists in creation. You must understand
first that this invisible force exists in all things, in all forms, and
in an infinite diversity. Some individuals, beings, and creatures are
tied more closely to this energy, to the stuff of life itself. They can
draw it to them, and store it in their very being, almost like
batteries. Some Demons are unusually attuned to this energy, which is
why as a species Demons are so formidable and why those that can
manipulate it are so incredibly powerful. You have seen what the
Vengeance Demons for instance are capable of?" Ravali asks and she nods
pleased as Buffy, Giles, and Wes all nod.
"Witches are humans born with the ability to shape and focus this
energy and through incantations, gestures, sympathetic tokens, and
other means they are able to manifest it according to their strength of
will alone. However not every Witch is also born with the ability to
draw the energy and they must 'borrow' power from another source. For a
'White Witch' this energy is drawn mostly from nature through the use
of the various rituals of their belief and they request rather than
take. For those that lose their way, the Chaos Mages, the necromancers,
Black Witches, and so forth they take what is not theirs to take. Tara
is blessed in that she has both gifts, as my Jacob does also, the Red
Sorceress however has only half the gift. She can manipulate the energy
but she cannot call it to her, not without using a medium to draw it.
She doesn't work 'magic' she works it through
a focus." Ravali lectures.
"You're talking about Willow right?" Buffy asks sadly.
"Yes, it is she of whom I speak." Ravali replies. "For a long time she
used Tara without her knowledge and consent to power her own spells but
in the process she was manipulating her and undermining her belief in
her own worth. Tara has amazing potential that Jacob can help her to
develop and now that she has willingly entered into 'The Bond' to the
Young Master you will see such wonders as you have never seen."
"The bond, what is that? Is that the Familiar thing again?" Buffy asks
her brow furrowed with the effort to understand.
"Your Watcher spoke falsely before; which isn't so unusual for their
kind." Ravali's voice is biting and disparaging. "The Young Mistress
hasn't placed a binding spell of any kind on the Young Master. The
spell merely alerts interested spirits that a Familiar is requested. By
then the Witch has usually already formed the emotional attachment that
is required, if not to the one that will become their Familiar then at
least to that which shares its form."
"Oh I think I understand. Tara believed that she was some kind of Demon
for most of her life so she had sympathy for them already." Buffy says
excitedly.
"And for Spike specifically since he was the one who defended her
against her family, even though it hurt him to do it and he saved her."
Giles points out helpfully.
Ravali nods regally. "That was a factor in the bond they share to be
sure. Tara cast the spell and William felt it and he chose to answer it." Ravali pins
Giles and Wes with her gaze. "Make no mistake on this point Watchers, a
Familiar cannot be 'bound' in the manner that you spoke of. We must
choose to do so of our free will and it is a bonding not a binding; it
is a partnership not enslavement. Tara and William and even Penn are as
siblings."
"Great Scott, who could have known that Spike...?" Giles starts to say
in
wonder.
"I knew and so did you." Buffy says quietly. "He's so vibrant he
practically glows."
Giles thinks about that for a moment and finally nods reluctantly. Man,
Vampire or anything else, no one has ever had such sheer presence as
the fiery and energetic blond. His eyes widen comically as the image of
a red furred Energizer Bunny with fangs pops into his head.
Ravali, Buffy, and Wes stare at the image of a hilariously laughing
Rupert Giles rolling around on the grass.
Chapter
Thirteen
Wil emerges from the portal and sighs. The midwinter day and falling
rain can't disguise the rich eclectic scent of home. The minions are as
efficiently quick as always and they're barely damp before large
golf-sized umbrellas are quickly put overhead. The sounds of the busy
Vieux Carre streets are muffled by the lush greenery that overflows the
thick-walled courtyard that surrounds their stately home but it a
comforting undertone that tells him that they're home again.
The rich scent of green, growing things, exotic spices, lush waters,
and eldritch wonder cling to this place as tightly as any lover. The
ground beneath him is almost warm, thick moss bubbling up beneath the
marvel cobblestones of their stately home's front courtyard, as though
pressing through to welcome him home with the warmth of its living,
breathing atmosphere. A large marble fountain dominates the courtyard,
heavy marble tables, benches, and antique wrought iron dots the
surrounding lending a certain welcoming acceptance despite the
currently hostile environment. Plants in every shade war with the stone
until it looks like a snapshot from a primordial kingdom untouched by
man.
The red brick and golden-veined marble façade of their home is a
relief to see. A low-rising retaining wall of hand-quarried river stone
and black sand mortar sports the handmade snowy white marble gryphons
that Penn had commissioned, stand silent watch to their approach.
"Where the hell are we?" Xander asks grumpily from his position
squashed with Anya, between two minions that bear a more than passing
resemblance to bull dozers, and being herded towards the portico that
overhangs the truly massive main doors.
"Welcome to New Orleans and the Domaine du lion d'écarlate, as
the locals call it." Wil states; and amused by the shocked look being
shot at him by Xander, Anya, and Angel, he chuckles. "This is the
Estate of the Scarlet Lions if you need that translated. This is the
Master Chantry of the Aurelius Order." Wil climbs the steps easily
carrying Penn, casting a worried glance at him from time to time as his
unconscious state persists. The huge doors are thrown open at his
approach and a striking pair of dynamos explodes out of the interior at
the run.
The woman is quite the sight to see, slight and wiry, with a waist
length mane of curly brown hair and huge violet eyes. She can't be much
over five feet tall if that and if she weighs over a hundred pounds, it
can't be by very much. A long green and silver silk scarf is wrapped
around her head like a head band, a not altogether successful attempt
to tame the riotous mass of curls no doubt. An off-the-shoulder, white
cotton blouse with short sleeves and a low neckline frames an
impressive set of breasts for such a petite woman. It makes her long
dark mane of hair look darker and her fair skin look even more pale and
luminous. The bare feet peeking out from beneath a handkerchief hemmed
gossamer skirt in a riot of bright colours and the musical rustle of
anklets dripping in golden bell charms makes a pleasant sound against
the soundtrack of falling rain. If anyone notices Angel's sudden
scramble to keep a wide berth between him and the colourful gypsy,
they're too polite to say so.
The man is no less impressive though less showy about it in his
threadbare blue jeans and faded black Metallica shirt and Birkenstocks
sandals. However the waist length ponytail caught up at his crown and
left to cascade down his back in various shocking shades of blue hues
is more than enough to make him stand out and he needs nothing else to
be noticed.
"Ад случил к мастерскому Penn? Я сказал вас ничего хорошее не пришл от
посещения того городка! То я сказал и да он был и взгляд здесь вы
болезненн и там будут кровью везде и где другими? Я сказал вас это шло
закончиться плох...." The petite woman mutters darkly in an angry
sounding language as she stomps down the steps with a dangerously vexed
look in her eyes.
"Утихомирите вниз с Murielle, Ravali и Penn сказанное Tara излечит без
проблем. Они будут вперед после того как они закончат общаться с
Jabari." Wil replies in the same language, remaining calm as he climbs
the steps with his unconscious Sire cradled like a little boy in his
arms.
The manic glare fades from the petite woman's eyes somewhat as she
turns with a flounce, sweeping her full skirt and petticoats aside to
abruptly reverse direction. "Enough dawdling Micah, come with me to
prepare the pool!" She orders imperiously and the blue-haired Vampire
sends a silent glance to Wil asking for his instructions, sighing with
relief as he nods with a smile and the relieved man hurries after the
petite tyrant.
Angel looks at Wil as he emerges from the shadows he'd dived into to
avoid the woman that reminds him just a little too much of the Gypsy he
killed to end up cursed with a soul. "Since when do you speak Russian
William?"
"It's a very necessary evil Angel, very necessary for anyone that plans
to spend any time with Murielle." Wil replies with a grin. "We used to
think she was quiet!" He jokes as Angel falls in beside him as he
passes where he's standing on the steps. "That was Murielle and Micah
by the way." He introduces them belatedly.
"Are they Vampires too?" Xander asks, as he and Anya hurry to keep up.
"Yes Murielle is a Fledgling, the Watchers destroyed her Sire and she
had no one left of her Bloodline to raise her so she is of Aaron's line
now. Micah is a Neonate out of Maya, out of Henri, Penn's valet. They
were assigned to us as our attendants when Penn brought Tara and me
here. Murielle is Russian as you may have noticed from that fiery
display earlier. She has a wicked temper but she only loses it if she
genuinely cares about something or someone and she's worried about
them. I think that if a time ever comes that Ravali chooses to step
down, she will groom Murielle to take over as the Lady-Steward of the
Order." Wil carries Penn through the doors and into the grand foyer,
ignoring Xander and Anya's gasps at the interior of their beautiful
home.
The few Masters in attendance, Childer, Minions, and Servitors of
various species stand at attention upon sighting them and they all
express their worry about Penn and offer to help. Wil and Tara reassure
them that Penn is expected to recover fully as they walk down a side
hallway to a downward sloping staircase. Tara explains about their
guests and the torrent of whispers as they hear Angel's name is audible
even to her human ears and she knows that the gossip will spread
quickly through the Order that Angelus has returned to Aurelius.
"Micah is quiet but very fierce and he doesn't speak very much as
you may come to notice. He was injured during his turning and his vocal
chords are sustained damage that the Demon was unable to fully
regenerate and talking above the quietest whisper can be agonizing for
him. He usually signs and he's psychic gifted like Dru if you allow him
to touch you he can communicate mentally. Don't worry though he can
only 'speak' and 'hear' your thoughts when you direct them to him. He
can't read minds or influence you in any way; that is beyond the small
level of the gift that he possesses." Wil tells them as they follow
Tara down the stairs.
"What was this place Spike? It's huge and all the artwork looks
original and I'm positive that everything I've seen in here is antique,
at least a century old. You must be very wealthy to afford all of this.
Did you steal it?" Anya asks matter-of-factly.
Tara smiles serenely as Wil chuckles. "No, this used to be Penn's
favorite hotel when he was visiting here. The Order purchased it, fully
furnished, appointed, and staffed, when he was chosen as the new Master
as a gift. Most of the Humans here know what we are and they accept us
willingly. The few that couldn't accept it were given generous
severance pay and a bit of a mystical nudge to forget about us prior to
their departures." Wil explains.
"The Master here didn't object to a major Chantry moving in?" Angel
replies in shock.
"Have you truly distanced yourself so much that you don't know that
Penn was and is the Master
of New Orleans?" The disgust and censure in Wil's voice has Angel
flinching. "New Orleans has been in Aurelius hands for almost six years
now. Penn defeated the Quillan Master and forced them to remove every
Vampire of their lineage from the city as long as Aurelius holds it."
"I can see why they hate us then." Angel replies with a shudder. New
Orleans with its rich mixture of American and European influences,
vivid past, vibrant future, and the eldritch mysticism that gives it
its unique flare, has always been a jewel of North America's Vampiric
society. Few cities, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Miami, and San
Francisco among them, can top the appeal of New Orleans for Vampires,
and his Order holds it. It's a matter of tremendous pride and he can't
help but be proud that they are doing so well; even if he's still not
convinced that it's really to the benefit of humankind just yet.
"You've heard the old saying about a man being reflected by his
friendships but measured by his enemies I'm sure." Wil says dryly,
stepping out of the stairwell and into a well lit basement. They can
see Micah standing beside a doorway along the north wall and beckoning
them with a wave of his hand.
As they step through the others falter and stop behind Tara and Wil as
they enter the room but for very different reasons.
Anya stares at the lovely dark red walls and the red-veined marble that
forms the decorative ceiling and the precisely laid floor. Twin sunken
tubs of the same marvelous Marble dominate the far end of the room. The
tub on the left is fed by a gently steaming waterfall of water that
tumbles from the mouth of a Mermaid-like sculpture. The gently bubbling
water betrays the hidden jets of the cleverly designed hot tub. The tub
on the right is loomed over by an ornate Gryphon statue, with a vibrant
red waterfall of dark scarlet pouring from its open mouth and down into
the gently bubbling pool. She doesn't need to be any closer to know
that it's blood being pumped into and constantly refreshed and recycled
in that pool of healing liquid. She has been in other Chantries over
the centuries and such tubs are fairly common in the wealthier Orders
that can afford them. Vampires enjoy the comfort of the warmth that the
hot tubs and they can promote healing and luxury so she isn't surprised
to see them here; though she has to admit these are the nicest she's
seen yet.
The Roman-style chaise lounges set around the room seem to be fashioned
of the same marble. They are topped with thick cushions of red velvet
with the Gryphon symbol of their Order carefully worked in delicate
threads of gold, silver, and bronze embroidery. The same bronze red,
silver, and gold accents are also carried over to the various other
furnishings and decorations but the amazing marble that dominates in
the Chantry is the true star of the décor. The same marble has
even been worked into marvelous freestanding armoires, in simply
elegant forms, decorated in understated bas relief. This is really the
most beautiful Chantry she has ever seen in her many centuries,
luxurious yet not so ornate that it overwhelms, it's marvelous.
Xander marvels at the skill of the masonry that it must have taken to
work the stone into such fantastic shapes and forms. The cost must have
been incredible, as is the level of workmanship displayed in the
perfect joinery and seams. Several full sized statues dot the room in
various places, depicting fantastic creatures like the Gryphon, which
is the Order's Coat-of-Arms, Dragons, both the long and sleek Asian
variety and the more powerful and imposing-looking Medieval version,
and more. He can't help but walk over to the nearest statue and traces
its amazingly detailed carving only to jerk his hand back with a
startled cry, wrapping his other hand around it protectively. He rubs
his tingling palm with an expression that is a curious mixture of awe
and horror. He can still feel the lingering heat on his skin and the
feeling of the powerful pulse under his hand when he touched the
marble. He's not sure how but he thinks that statue is somehow alive!
Angel stumbles to a stop, pitching forward to brace his palms on his
knees as his chest heaves, his features back and forth from Demon to
Human guises as the incredible scents in the room assault his sensitive
nose. It has been over a century since the scent of so much blood, the
familiar scents of his boys, of family, have so strongly reminded him
of what he truly is. He forces his Demon down and straightens with the
sheer force of his will and watches as William carefully sets Penn down
on one of the lounges and begins to gently undress him with Tara's
help.
His eyes narrow as the silent Micah steps up behind William and begins
skillfully divesting him of his clothing at the same time and he bites
back a growl of annoyance at the sight of those graceful hands
undressing and touching his Wil so familiarly. That Spike is allowing
the much younger Vampire to touch him at all, speaks volumes about the
trust being exchanged and he relaxes. Micah must be his valet, he
realizes and he's only doing his duty by his Master. The sound of the
door being thrown open has him whirling around and instinctually
turning to face his back to the wall as two noisy vampires hurry into
the room just as a delightfully bare Wil is carefully lifting his
equally nude Sire back into his arms.
The newcomers look remarkably alike; each dressed in expensively
tailored three-piece black and grey pinstripe suits. He has to stifle a
chuckle because some how they remind him of the farmer in that famous
American Gothic portrait, only minus the pitchforks and wearing suits.
"What happened?" The older looking of the pair cries in a pompous tone
as he rushes over and picks up Penn's ruined and bloodstained clothes.
He makes sounds of distress as he paws through the wrecked clothing.
Wil ignores the display as he carefully moves Penn to Micah's arms
before he steps down into the bubbling red pool. He settles on the
padded bench and makes himself comfortable and then nods when he's set.
He reaches up and Micah carefully leans down and with some assistance
from Tara and Murielle, the unconscious man is passed safely back into
Wil's waiting arms and settled comfortably. Wil makes sure that Penn's
cheek is braced against his chest and his arm is securely around him
before he arranges them in the pool so that only their heads are
sticking out. The hand stroking through Penn's hair is loving and
tender and Angel is struck by the sight of Wil taking care of Penn. At
first he'd assumed that the relationship the pair shares was a typical
one of a Dominate Sire and a submissive Childe but he can see now that
he was wrong. They are much more equal in their standing than he's used
to seeing in relationships among their kind and he feels a momentary
flush of embarrassment that he'd once thought to break William to such
an uneven relationship.
"Henri, take those up and lament them elsewhere would you?" Wil
chastises in a gentle but weary voice. "Penn will need a change of
clothes, something casual and comfortable please Henri, he's going to
be tender for a while yet. I know that you'll know what he'd want.
Paxton have the staff arrange for a block of rooms to be readied
please." His eyes sweep over Anya, Xander, and Angel. "I believe we can
expect some guests to be visiting us this evening."
The older of the look-alikes shoves the ruined clothing into the
younger one's arms and roughly spins him around and shoves him towards
the door with an impatient shove in the small of his back. "You heard
the Master Paxton, attend to his orders!" The younger Vampire scampers
out of the room followed by the elder, the door closing noisily after
them.
"Murielle, make sure that everyone knows that we may be seeing a Slayer
along with some other Humans this evening. Dismiss the Demon retainers
for the evening and make sure the minions understand that these people
are our guests and that they
are to be treated as such. Have the young minions, Fledglings and
Childer move to the country Manor until after the Slayer is gone. I
don't want anyone here that could lose control." Wil orders quietly.
Murielle nods and sweeps from the room in a rustle of silken petticoats
and ringing jewelry. Wil turns his gaze to Micah, who smiles and nods,
leaving silently before he can say anything and he relaxes in the
bubbling pool, feeling the blood easing his aches and pains. His hands
are still on Penn for only a few seconds before continuing their
roaming caresses, occasionally dipping into the blood and pouring it
over Penn's skin or massaging it into his wounds gently.
Tara sets her shawl wrap aside on one of the marble side tables and
kicks her shoes off with a grateful sigh. She crosses to the lounges
nearest to the pool and gracefully flicking the long skirt of her dress
aside, sits down regally, keeping a close eye on Wil and Penn. One by
one the others join her on the lounge.
"What is that in there? Is that blood?" Xander asks nervously.
"It's blood." Angel confirms in an unemotional voice. "It's very
powerful blood by the smell of it."
"It's the Heart of Fire, Dragon blood." Tara says quietly. "It will
heal Penn's injuries and restore his health. It has remarkable healing
properties for Vampires."
"Where did you find the Dragon? They're all but extinct in this age, I
haven't heard of one being spotted in centuries." Angel asks in
amazement, as the creatures are extremely rare.
"This one was released when Glory's minion succeeded in temporarily
opening a rift between dimensions by shedding Dawn's blood on the
tower. We were all too torn up at the time to think about what might
have had time to escape the portal before Buffy's sacrificed closed it
but Spike saw the Dragon. He couldn't and wouldn't leave us but he knew
that it was too dangerous to allow it to roam free. He sent the word to
the Order through his contacts, remaining anonymous, telling them that
a Dragon had been spotted. He had no way of knowing at the time but
Penn was about to be appointed the Master of the Order. He feared that
he would be in disgrace if it was discovered what had happened to him."
Tara relays to them, a sad expression on her face.
"I dispatched Hunters but we found that we were too late. The Dragon
was a female that had mated and had hatched her first clutch of young
and had laid a second one before we found her." All eyes swing to the
pool at the sound of the quiet and tired voice and they see Wil smiling
lovingly down at Penn who is awake but weak.
"Shhhh let me tell the story and save your strength for healing." Wil
strokes Penn's hair rhythmically until he quiets and relaxes against
him, turning to straddle his thighs so that his head can rest on his
shoulder comfortably. "The Order sent for Jacob and he cast a
confinement spell rather than killing the Dragon and her young. Jacob
shifted them to a pocket dimension that our hunters occasionally
venture to when it is necessary. It controls their population by
weeding out the older and giving the younger a chance to mature and it
gives us access to a very rare commodity."
"Wouldn't he heal faster from feeding than from soaking in blood?" Anya
asks curious, ignoring as Xander pales at the reminder of what they're
soaking in and the fact they're in the Vampire version of a
headquarters or something.
"The pool is a better option since the stakes were soaked with holy
water. It will clear out any traces left and heal the damage and the
Dragon's blood is an excellent antidote to holy water. It will restore
his strength faster and heal the wounds cleanly whereas they'd usually
scar." Tara explains.
The door opens again and Micah quietly returns with some clothing
folded neatly over his arm and Murielle is at his side with a crystal
tray of glasses. Each has an expression on their face that could only
be described as long-suffering and the reason for that is apparent as
the pompous elder Vampire from earlier enters after them. A silk set of
pants and a matching robe is folded neatly over his arm and he's
carrying a pair of soft slippers and talking incessantly. He's
seemingly oblivious to the fact that his companions are utterly silent
as he asks and answers his own questions.
Micah sets the clothing he's carrying down over the arm of one of the
lounges, making sure that it's arranged neatly before crossing to one
of the armoires and opening it to reveal neatly stocked shelves.
Murielle steps past him and crosses the distance to the lounge where
they're sitting. She hands Tara a glass of chilled peach nectar laced
with a shot of fine champagne.
"Would you like some Peach Champagne, Miss?" Murielle asks politely,
holding out a goblet to Anya who accepts it with a smile. She holds one
out to Xander in silent inquiry and he takes it with a smile. She moves
to stand in front of Angel and holds out the tray with a lone goblet,
keeping her eyes lowered and her manner non-threatening. Angel's feels
his conscience twist as he realizes that the young Vampire is afraid of
him. He accepts the goblet of blood laced red wine with a polite nod,
hiding a grimace as she quickly moves away from him and back over to
Micah who welcomes her with a shy smile. They look through the assorted
cut crystal bottles, stopping occasionally to open one and sniff the
contents until they've made some selections and set it on the tray
Murielle brought over.
The other Vampire is hovering over the pool looking anxious. "Can I
assist you Masters?"
"I'm feeling better already Henri, just set those things down and
you're excused." Penn replies wearily, clinging weakly to Wil and
trusting him to take care of him.
"Yes, Master. I'll make sure that your chambers are prepared." He
follows Penn's orders and he's gone within seconds.
Wil glances at the items Henri is brought and approves of the choices.
Reluctantly he has to admit that despite his pompous and often
aggravating manner, he is dedicated and loyal to Penn and he knows his
job well. He turns his attention to Penn, sweeping his palm over the
worst of his wounds, nodding with satisfaction as he feels it has
closed. He stands carrying Penn up with him, sitting on the boundary
wall that separates the pools. He lifts Penn easily, letting his weight
settle across his thighs. He shifts their weight turning onto his hip
as he easily slides him over into the freshwater pool and follows him
over, never losing his hold on Penn.
He smiles as Micah kneels beside the pool, taking the tray that
Murielle is holding out for him. He sets it down and choosing one of
the bottles he opens it and holds it up silently. He nods and Micah
tips the cut crystal bottle and his palm is filled with a rich liquid
soap.
Penn turns to brace his arms on the edge of the pool and sighs. Wil
tenderly rubs the soap into a rich lather and meticulously washes the
remaining traces of the Dragon's blood away. He inhales deeply and
smiles as the earthy scents of clove and orange comfort him and reminds
him of the soap his human mother used to make by hand. He smiles at
Micah and receives a shy smile back. From the first days, Micah has
proven himself to be an invaluable asset to his household and his
loyalty and devotion to William is every bit as unshakable as his own.
He leans back against Wil and lets his Childe bathe him and wash the
traces of the night and his healing dip in the pool, away, as Wil
recounts what happened.
"You acted as I would have if you had been hurt." Penn confirms,
leaning back against Wil and sighing as his arms wrap around him from
behind, crisscrossing over his chest to lock them together. "Murielle,
why don't you escort Mr. and Mrs. Harris to their room, I'm sure that
you've had some prepared? Perhaps they'd like to change into something
more casual too."
Murielle stands and leans forward in a little bow of respect. "Yes,
Milord, the second floor's west wing has been prepared for guests. I'm
sure that Lilia's assistant can bring by some bags packed with the
essentials that will be required for the weekend. Sir, Madam, would you
please accompany me?" Xander and Anya stand to follow her and Tara
stands as well, retrieving her shoes and wrap.
"I'll pay a visit to Lilia's warehouse, I think I know the sizes and
tastes involved so I can find things that they'll be comfortable
wearing." Tara announces. "But first I need to change!" She chuckles
and sweeps from the room Murielle gently guiding Xander and Anya into
following her before trailing them out, the door closing quietly behind
them.
Angel watches as Wil catches Micah's eye and gestures and he nods,
carefully repacking the tray with the items he brought and returning
them neatly to their assigned places on the shelves. He selects two
thick and fluffy bath sheets and sets them down on a small marble side
table braced against the rear wall closest by the baths. He signs
elaborately and both Wil and Penn answer him in the same manner as a
courtesy, the utterly silent conversation is quite lovely to watch.
He's startled to see Micah gesture towards him and continue to 'speak'
with his hands in a flurry of gestures and whatever he's said, Wil and
Penn both seem fairly surprised by that. Micah inclines his head
respectfully and moves towards the door at the far end of the room from
them but makes no moves to leave and merely crosses his hands over his
stomach and waits beside the heavy door.
"Micah believes that there are still some of your things here,
including some clothes that moved here when we changed Chantries. He'll
show you to a room when you're ready and bring the things from the
basement vaults that they've preserved." Wil says quietly. "Apparently
Darla refused to allow them to be thrown out and as the favourite of
the former Master, the order wasn't questioned just obeyed."
"To what do I owe the honour of being allowed to remain?" Angel asks
dryly, not doubting for a second that he hasn't been carefully culled
from the herd for a specific reason.
Wil slips up onto the edge of the pool, unconcerned by his nudity and
both Penn and Angel seem to appreciate his comfort for a long lingering
moment and their mutual interest doesn't escape notice. Penn moves
nonchalantly to sit between Wil's thighs, smiling as his arms and legs
curl around him in a fond embrace.
"Are you going to challenge me?" Penn asks bluntly, his eyes locked on
Angel who deliberately takes a long sip of his wine instead of
answering immediately.
"I've been named outcast by the ruling line of the Order." Angel points
out in an unemotional tone. Each of them knows that so labelled, it
wouldn't matter if he challenged or not without the support of enough
of the Order to ratify it even if he won.
"I'm not talking about the Order, Angelus." Penn's grey eyes narrow as
his hand sweeps along Wil's thigh, stopping to curve possessively over
his knee.
"Angel." He corrects by sheer habit.
"The Humans aren't here Angelus, you can drop the façade. Did
you really think that we of all Vampires wouldn't know that you are
every bit as much Angelus as you ever were?" Penn counters.
Angel relaxes his back leaning against the arm of the lounge in a lazy
but regal sprawl that brings to mind the image of a male Lion at the
peak of his virility. He takes another slow sip of his wine, letting
his eyes skim over his boys with leisurely thoroughness as he licks
some stray traces of wine from his bottom lip. "I'm not Angelus." He
replies in a lazy tone. "I just feel him very keenly of late." His
mouth turns up in one corner in a distinctly wicked manner. He slowly
and deliberately tips his glass again, draining it dry without taking
his eyes off his boys clinging together and staring at him in the
fascination that a mongoose would have for a Cobra.
"You asked me a question that I didn't answer." Angel lets his eyelids
drop over his eyes until only a sliver of colour shows. "I'm not going
to challenge you for William." He can't hide a satisfied smile as the
pair release a pent up breath of relief. "It's not necessary to
challenge for what is already mine."
They suck in a startled breath and tense again and he finally releases
the chuckle that's been trying to fight its way free for some time.
It's William that groans and flops over Penn's shoulder muttering
between uncontrollable snickers as he suddenly realizes what's going on
and he shakes his head and he lets it fall forward to brace against
Penn's shoulder.
"Why would he care Penn? You've taken me from Drusilla but no one has
taken us from him. We are
what we always were. You're the Childe of Angelus and as I am yours, I
am still his Grandchilde just as before." The words are muffled but
their sharp hearing carries the words easily to their ears.
Penn groans and lets his head fall back against Wil's chest. He starts
snickering in response to the chortles he can hear barely being muffled
against his shoulder and he ignore Angel's decidedly pleased gaze as he
looks on.
"If it amuses you to play at being the Masters of the Order, my Boys,
then I give you leave to enjoy it. Maybe it will keep you two pains in
the ass out of trouble." Angel calmly sets his glass aside and stands
in a gracefully roll of his hips and strolls towards the door singing
tunefully.
'S
truagh nach robh mis' ann an Eilean mo Chridh'...
Dhùrachdainn fuireach le
cuideachd mo ghràidh
'S a bhothan aig Uilleam aig tuinne
na traigh;
Gu'n éisd bhi òirnn
tuile gach oidhche na là,
Ach muir agus monadh a laimh rinn.
'S truagh nach robh mis' ann an
Eilean mo Chridh'...
Chì mi am Meall, agus
chì mi an Sgòrr;
Slinnean Churaing agus Binnean an
Stòrr,
Healabhal Bheag agus Healabhal
Mhòr -
Beul nan Tri-Allt is Geàrraidh.
Micah hurries to open the door as Angel approaches and after a startled
look back at Wil and Penn he hurries to follow him, the door closing
silently behind them.
"Wil, that song, what did it say? You're the only one that he forced to
learn Gaelic." Penn looks over his shoulder.
"It's... it is part of a song that he used to sing a lot." Wil breathes
in sharply and translates it for Penn.
O,
would that I were...
My wish is to stay with the kin of my
heart
In William's wee bothy by the waves
on the beach,
Where forever we'd listen each night
and each day
With but moorland and sea beside us.
O, would that I were...
I see the Meall and I see the Sgorr
The side of Quirang and the hills of
the Storr
Little Helaval and Big Helaval
The Three Streams delta and Gearraidh
"It's called Isle of my Heart, it's the first thing he made me learn
when he commanded me to learn Gaelic." Wil adds softly, tightening his
arms and legs around Penn. "He hasn't let us go Penn; he's just decided
to keep us both."
"He is my Sire, my beloved. We know that he spoke the truth. We belong
to him still and always, it's apparent he has no problem accepting that
state of affairs." Penn notes stroking Wil's thigh soothingly. "However
if you ask me what that means for us... I don't have a bloody clue."
The pair stares pensively at the closed door and sighs in unison.
Daddy's come home.