Title: Afterglow 40/57 (not a WIP)

Author: T. Claybourne  (t.claybourne@yahoo.com)

Rating: Rated R most chapters for violence and Language, some are NC- 17 for sexual content

A/N I'd like to thank my Beta Reader Hawera And muses Michelle Branch, Robbie Williams and Evanescence

Afterglow Chapter 40 Venice

Willow shifted around in her seat. "I hate these small planes."

"I'm right there with you, Red."

Mia looked back from the cockpit. "I love it."

"You bloody well would. I think you always were a bit touched in the head."

Mia put the headphones on and turned back. Spike could hear her conversation with the pilot.

"Has anyone ever gotten a license flying only at night? Well, what if they only flew their own specially designed plane? I mean, do they ever during the licensing process for some reason have to fly someone else's? So then, their own would work? How many hours does it take? Is that for all of Europe or just England?"

"Willow, she is talking to him about getting a pilot's license. Do you think Angel will let her charge a plane with necrotempered glass on his credit card?"

Willow giggled, "I bet Mia could probably talk him into it."

"Bloody well could. She has the poofter wrapped around that pinky finger of hers."

Willow raised her eyebrows. "Do I hear the green envies, Spike? Why for?"

"No envies involved. It's just the Angel aspect. Figure it out, Wicca."

Mia took off the headphones and turned around. "Getting ready to land: buckle up."

The plane made its descent, and Spike watched the front where he saw something very suspicious. They taxied to the small terminal for private planes and stopped. Spike threw off his belt. Mia and the pilot undid their belts, got up, and laid the head phones on the cockpit seats.

"Mia, you landed this thing; you landed it. Please tell me that you didn't." Spike said in a higher pitched voice than normal.

Mia gave him a nonchalant look and answered. "I didn't."

Willow turned to Spike. "Come on, Spike, she didn't land the plane. It was a perfect landing, you felt it and she's never flown before."

Spike pointed at the pilot, his voice still high. "You bleeding let her, I saw it. You aren't supposed to do that."

The pilot grinned, "No we're not, but she was absolutely brilliant at it, mate. She is a quick learner, and has great reflexes. I kept my hands on the yoke just in case, but there was no need. Like your friend said, it was a perfect landing. Mia assures me no one will find out about this. That was fantastic, Mia, nice flying with you."

"Shit," said Willow

"The word I'm thinking of involves a sharp wooden thing."

Mia walked over, grabbed some of the bags and began crawling out of the door. "Come on, we need to get going. It's not like you lost life or limb. Get a grip, you baby."

"Xander is going to freak when I tell him." Willow said.

"Willow, let's not tell Xander: he'll put in my Mary Sue column for sure."

"Your what?" Willow asked.

"Nothing, come on."

Spike grabbed the rest of the bags and joined Mia on the tarmac. "Baby?" He threw the bags over his shoulder and elbowed her in the nose, drawing blood.

"Giles said there would be a car outside the terminal. Are you sure you guys are alright with the bags? I feel guilty."

"Willow, please," replied Mia as she wiped her nose.

"I know vampires have all that extra strength but…"

"Will, public place. Icsnay on the ampirevay," said Mia.

"Whoops."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The apartment overlooked a canal and was above a restaurant.

"Oh, for fuck sake. I am going to be nauseous the whole time we are here. Do you think someone on the Council did this on purpose? The garlic in this city is bad enough, but over a restaurant! When we get back I am hunting the booking agent down, and they are dead as in drained."

Willow laughed, "Are you always this grouchy when you travel?"

"She deserves it, bleeding landing our plane." Spike glared at her, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Are you saying you can stand that smell?" Mia stood with her hands on her hips.

"No, I tend to agree, but if it tortures you I'll live with it."

Willow got on the phone and two hours later they were in a new place.

Mia and Spike went out on patrol and didn't get back until nearly sunrise. After breakfast Willow went out and did the tourist thing. She headed back to the apartment at five because they were going to do a meditation. Tonight was the full moon and they needed to be ready. Mia was on the phone when she came in.

"I will, Angel. Talk to you soon. Oh, and just for fun, tell Gunn I sent him a big huge kiss and I can't get that buff body out of my mind. Yes, you can. Wimp. OK, transfer me then. Poop head." Mia laughed. " I know, I just told you I would. He has my back. Besides yourself, who's better? That's what I thought. Ciao. "

Willow sat on the couch next to her.

"Angel? I didn't know, I mean, it makes sense with the sword and all, but you sound close."

"It just kind of happened. We started talking. I kind of had vampire questions then we just talked, and he doesn't do that with many people, but I found he could with me on the phone and, well, it is what it is."

"I almost laughed when you called him poop head."

"He laughed when I asked him to tell Gunn I couldn't get his buff body out of my mind. Let me tell you something: it still freaks me out to hear him laugh."

"You made Angel, the brooding, reads dark French poetry for fun, tortured soul, laugh. You need to be careful. What if he gets too happy and has a moment of true happiness?"

"You know, I never thought of that. I'd better ask Wes if that could happen. I always thought of it being connected to love."

"Who says what type of love, though?"

Mia pushed a speed dial button. " Hi, question. You know how I kind of make my grandsire laugh sometimes? Well, it was brought to my attention this may be a sign of happiness and he can't ever get too much of that, and I don't want to put you guys at risk so should I…." Mia stood and began walking as she talked.

"Oh, true…you're right. Ok…yeah. Oh, not you too… yes, daddy, I will, got number two worst at my back…. all is good...it stinks of garlic here. OK. Tell her "Hi" too. Bring her to England; I'll let you see my weapons' locker. Ciao."

Mia sat back down next to Willow. "He said true happiness takes so many factors that it would take more than that to make him lose it. He reminded me he didn't lose it even when he held his own son. So my making him laugh pales in comparison. You agree?"

"If you put it that way, yes." Willow smiled.

"So, my Wicca friend, let's get all magical, and beat these bad guys."

After the meditation Mia had a clear view of the area, but couldn't pinpoint the exact place of the upcoming attack. Willow tweaked a locator spell and found the precise point on a map. She set up and performed her protection spell, and Mia opened Spike's door a crack so that the essence could flow in and around him. Then Mia drank some blood and left some ready to microwave for Spike. She dressed in her leather vest and pants outfit that was her current choice for patrol, lay back on the sofa and dozed off.

~ ~~ ~ ~

People in robes lay prone all around her alongside the river. They stood up, then knelt back down. "Mutu, Mutu."

A huge, egg-shaped mud statue stood in front of them. From the water, dripping and covered in mud, came a creature taller than any she had seen before.

It said, "Your god needs a consort. One to share his desires."

Her father and brothers pushed her forward along with the other women of the village. They all looked similar, dark skinned, dark haired, full of hip and breast. The creature chose her above all the others and she was ecstatic, she was the one to be her lord's. Her family would have honor. It came to her and spoke soothing, lovely words; its eyes showed her great wonders to be experienced. There was no pain as it gave her the special kiss. The next thing she knew they were in the water: it choked her, but only briefly. He dragged her quickly to a cave, a dark cave with the smell of mud and something rotten, something sinister, something Evil. No, this could not be the place of her god. How could this be a god? "No… No…No… I won't go. Stop… take me back."

"Mia!!"

Mia sat up; Spike was leaning over her on the couch. "You were dreaming, yelling out, pet"

"Willow, can you do a glamour like the one in Amsterdam but tweak it? I need my hair to be darker, almost black, and to have a dark olive skin and a voluptuous hourglass figure. I think my dream had to do with a god named Mutu and that's what he likes."

"Won't that be dangerous? Last time you had that glamour…"

"Last time Spike wasn't there."

"What if it was only a dream, Mia?" asked Willow.

"Then I go around looking a little different tonight, nothing lost."

~ ~ ~ ~

"So hmmm, this is what you'd look like with a tan and a few more pounds. Can't really say it's unbecoming."

"Spike, you really know how to flatter a girl."

"No really, pet, it's ah, fetching."

"Just shut up or we'll go back and I'll have her put the same glamour on you. OK, Spike, let's do this now."

"You know I bloody well hate this."

"It's safer if I do it than one of them, and you know it."

"Fine."

Mia looked deep into his eyes. "No matter what is said or what they show you, you will only see them spilling Buffy's blood." His eyes went a little cloudy.

"You finished?"

"Yep, and it wasn't the same vision as last time. I remember you said that last one was too disturbing. Let's go."

Mia wore her short sword on her back, under her coat, and carried the broad sword inside it. She had her Scottish dirk in her belt. Spike had his weapons in his coat and belt. They made it to the alley and found the creature moving toward a young woman.

"Hi," waved Mia at the girl. "Do you speak English? We're lost."

"Yes," said the girl, coming in their direction.

Just as she got near them the creature moved and caught the girl's eye. Mia jumped forward to attract her attention.

"Look at me. Can you see my eyes? They are like the ocean; see the ocean, only me and the ocean, and all you want to do is go home and think of the ocean."

The creature elbowed Mia and she hit a wall hard. It began speaking to the girl.

"Sorry, I have to go home now," said the girl in Italian as she moved past and away.

Mia stood up and brushed herself off. Spike stood back while Mia approached the thing.

"Aren't I his type?"

The thing gave her a confused look.

"Your lord. Doesn't he like them dark and full? "

"You will do."

"Want to taste?" Mia moved her hair and bared her neck.

"You know our ways. Are you of the ancient people?"

"No, just psychic."

Spike took the opportunity to rush in. He jumped over the creature.

"Well, look at that, you can do those jumps." Mia grinned at Spike.

"Will you bloody well shut up and concentrate."

"My lord is pleased with you." The creature looked down at Mia.

The thing moved forward. Mia pulled her sword from her back.

"Well, tell him he pisses me off."

She jumped and lunged for its eye, but it blocked her. Spike sank his sword at the base of its head into his neck.

Mia fell backwards; she flipped and was up before the creature could get to her.

"Mia, problem," announced Spike

Mia ran as the thing lunged, so she ran along the wall to get to Spike. The thing turned and faced them.

"Bloody sword went in, but no go on the severing."

"Show me that jump again, and this time show off."

They jumped together and flew over the creature.

"Boost?" asked Mia.

Spike dropped to a crouch. Mia used his back and shoulders to jump from. She swung up, throwing a two-footed roundhouse kick at the sword to drive it deeper into the creature's neck.

It screamed and reached for the sword, going round in circles trying to remove it while Mia fell to the ground. "Why won't you die, you son of a bitch!?" yelled Mia as she jumped up.

Spike had maneuvered his way in behind her and grabbed the sword, using all his strength to push it upwards.

Mia heard a crack just before the creature collapsed, grabbing at her locket which sizzled as it touched the thing's hand, leaving indents then the creature grasped Mia's arm, pulling her with it to the ground. Suddenly all Mia was conscious of was whispers, screams and water and thirst and hunger, loneliness and desire. It was attacking her and bruising her from the inside. Images passed by so fast she couldn't make any of them out. The pain of it all was almost more than she could bear. There was so much for so long: where was she; why was she; and she was dying: how; why; help; stop; this had been life and now it was no longer to exist. "Brothers, I am gone: she has killed me."

"Mia!" She felt a sharp slap across her face. Opening her eyes she saw Spike.

She punched him and stood up. "You slapped me, you asshole."

His head snapped back with the force of the punch. "You passed out when the thing touched you; I thought it did some death thrall to you."

"Death thrall, please. You just used it as an excuse to slap me."

Spike chuckled, "Why would I want an excuse to slap you, woman, when I can just use my fist any time I want."

Mia looked embarrassed. "Right….OK, sorry."

The creature was now a messy pile of some grayish-brown matter.

Mia looked down at it. "No dust, just this smelly mud substance. It told the others. They know we killed it; they've never been killed before. That's what it did when it touched me, it showed me. Let's go home. I don't like Venice very much, it's too stinky."

"If they know we killed it, they'll be expecting us next time."

"Maybe, but Spike, we just discovered the fact that silver burns them. That has to be a big advantage." Mia grinned, "A fucking big advantage, wouldn't you say?"