Title: Afterglow 48/57 (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 48 Persuasion

Mia woke herself: she'd had the dream she was experiencing before. She didn't need to do it again. She rubbed her arms although she wasn't cold. She pulled her knees up and put her head on them. It was then that the creatures came for her. Mia didn't fight them: she let them lead her to the very cavern she had not so surprisingly just dreamt of. There, on a throne shaped from hard dried mud, sat something she had never expected: it was a man. He seemed tall, although it was hard to tell because he was sitting down. He had broad shoulders, sharp lines in his face and long raven dark hair, pulled back. His fingers were longer than average man and the area from his cheek to jaw was a bit longer than most, but at a distance he would appear to be like anyone on the street.

"So, this is our new Anat warrior goddess." .

Mia cocked one eyebrow, "Name's actually Mia."

"Actually Emma, but you prefer to go by the new one since I took you, and you were made unclean. Oh yes, I know all about you."

"Well, I guess my plans are foiled."

"Plans? Oh, the ones to kill me." He laughed out loud. "Yes, the chain and cage are my precautions."

"No, not those plans."

"You have no other plans."

"I don't? Well OK, never mind then."

They stared at one another.

"What plans could you have and I not know?"

"The ones to make you my sex slave. I mean come on, I could so brag. Hey, everyone, the lord of death is my bitch."

Mot smiled, "You joke."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "Maybe."

Mot burst out in laughter. The creatures jumped.

Mia used the time to count the creatures and see where the entrance was.

Mot's face became sober. "They are not all here: I just called them back. You joke and show no fear: why is this?"

"To be honest, pretty much the worse that can happen to me already has. Well, unless you can make me look like that." She pointed to a creature. "Can you?"

"No, you are an unclean, formed from dead flesh; they are formed from mud that became live flesh with my blood. So, your fate here, what I have planned for you. Have you no fear of it?"

"Maybe you should fear what I have planned for you. You and yours hurt mine."

"What is this you speak of?"

"When they came for me in my home, they hurt someone important to me."

"Explain this. You were to be taken from the street so that it would be thought that you had been made dust."

Mia grinned. "Oh boy, someone is going to get it. Your creatures must have learned how to block the truth. They broke into my house where there were two others were with me, and they hurt one I love pretty badly. I work with a group that has been trying to kill your things, whatever they are, and they are bound to be upset over this."

Mot made a sound like a growl that sent all the creatures to the floor, holding their heads. Mia dropped to her knees with a sharp pain in her head, but she worked through it and stood up again.

"These ones you work with, will they look for you now?"

"I believe so."

His eyes narrowed. "They cannot have you. I was planning a courtship but now I will just bind you to me. You will be my queen."

Mia snorted, "Bind me to you? Think I'll decline your offer. We just met, and besides you called me an unclean. Doesn't sound like you care for my kind too much."

Mot shrugged his shoulders. "I am more than a king, you are less than a peasant. You have no say and I have all. Whatever I want is what I want."

"Things have changed since you began your reign. My answer is…. Fuck You."

"Fine, we will start there. Bring her to me."

The creatures held her from both sides and Mot grasped her by the jaw, lifting her from the ground to him. He stared into her eyes. Mia stared back.

"It is my will."

"Who the fuck cares?"

He moved his face closer. "Bend!" His brows knit with confusion, "You will not bend."

"Fucking never will either," Mia stated matter of factly as she lifted a brow just slightly.

Mot closed his eyes and when he opened them they were full of anger. He used one hand to toss her away as if she were a napkin he was discarding. She hit the cave wall and passed out.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mia looked around; she was in a suite at the Hyperion. She walked into the bedroom. Spike was kneeling on the bed in front of a piece of cloth of some type. He was doing something that appeared strangely to be almost a religious type of ceremony then he put the material around his head tying a knot at the back. Mia recognized what he'd wrapped around his head. A historically familiar symbol stared back at her; it was a Japanese kamikaze scarf.

Spike, what are you doing?"

"Preparing, love."

"For what?"

"You know."

"Take that thing off. You aren't going anywhere."

Mia walked over and yanked it from his head.

"Emma, that changes nothing." He took it back.

"Why are you doing this?"

"For god and country."

"You have got to be kidding."

"Not this time."

He walked out of the door. Mia ran after him and saw his figure receding. "I want you to stay."

"People in hell want ice water. Remember when I asked Angel? He said it was true. He had them all asking him for some when he first got there."

He disappeared.

Mia tried to wake up but couldn't.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~

The light was so bright. His body was melting, and the smell of blood and ash overwhelmed his senses.

Spike sat straight up in bed. "Bloody hell!" .

Buffy lifted herself up on an elbow. "What is it?"

"Just a nightmare, love. Go back to sleep."

"You've never had them before."

"No, not since the high school basement. And there was this strange one about foot wear right before the big show down with The First."

"Yeah, I didn't think about that. Maybe it's the stress."

"That's it, no one to beat it out of me. What about it slayer, care to oblige? Want to stop by the training center tomorrow?"

Buffy got up and straddled him. "Maybe I can help some other way."

"I guess we could give that a try."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Angel lay looking at the ceiling. Sleep wasn't coming tonight. He'd thought of Spike finding Mia by his mark but why? He never remembered Mia telling him about the mark in the first place. How did he know about it? Maybe he'd known some how back in Los Angeles before she left. Now when he thought about finding her by it, he didn't actually believe it would work, but they had only straws now so he'd grasp them. Something told him, her time was short.

"Angel?"

"Mia?" He sat up, then stopped short seeing the look on her face.

"Quit trying to find me. Tell the others I came to you as I was passing on."

"No."

"You don't understand me. I don't want to be found."

"Because?"

"He wants to make me his queen; it's quite a coup for me. Mild mannered college student becomes slayer, then up the food chain to vampire, and now queen? Or would that make me a goddess if I was the wife to the god of death himself? What more could I want?"

"Xander."

Mia's eyes saddened. "He can have a real girl now."

"This is because you saw…."

"No."

"Buffy had prophetic dreams about Drusilla killing me. As it turned out, I only lost my soul."

"And that is supposed to change my feelings how?"

"My point is that the dreams are sometimes symbolic. Sometimes they mean something else entirely."

"There were no dreams, Angel. I just know that this way will be safer for everyone," she said, with a profoundly sad look on her face.

"Do you want to hear how irritated HE was when he found out our conversation this morning was longer?"

Mia gave a small smile. "I got to eat because HIS was a short conversation. Think he'll be upset I skipped the trip tonight? Because if he complains, mention that it's easier if she holds on to the headboard."

Angel shook his head, "You, of all people, know I did not need that picture in my mind."

"Sorry big guy, I don't want you coming. Angel, you owe me this."

"I'll always owe you, but not this."

"He tried to rape me, using thrall. He didn't succeed because I stopped him, but you guys won't be able to resist his thrall. Please An….."

She faded.

Angel didn't wait; he called Spike immediately and let the phone ring until he picked it up. "What?"

"She was here."

"When?"

"Just faded."

Spike was quiet.

"Spike?"

"What?" he snapped.

"Oh for god sake, you're jealous. She said to tell you…. I can't believe I am, but…it's easier if she holds on to the headboard. That had better mean something and not be a joke because if…."

"It does, now just bleeding tell me what she said."

Angel filled him in on the conversation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Angel looked around at the people in Rupert Giles's living room. It was almost surreal, the blending of his people and the original Scoobies with Spike. Wesley and Giles stood, both leading the meeting. Everyone sat so attentive and about rescuing someone that had only graced each group for only a few months. But he had to admit that really they would do that for anyone in this type of situation. It just seemed different this time with them all coming together, his team and Buffy's.

Angel thought back and about who the girl they were all so interested in finding had been, special in the fact she was highly intelligent but really no one special at all. Emma had been studious. She'd had no real friends before them, and no family since the passing of her grandparents. It was as if the moment Willow had imbued her with Slayer powers everything changed for her. In fact the two of them, she and Angel, had talked about the very thing.

Angel wondered where Mia, or rather Emma, would be if she'd never been a slayer. Probably in a classroom somewhere getting that degree, and then most likely she'd just stay there to teach. Angel wished that was where she was right now, but instead she was chained and caged in some earth-bound god's lair, waiting to become its bride.

Angel shook his head, and what the hell had Mia done to him, anyways? He cared about people, people he'd fought and worked with. How did this need to protect her develop? The girl's strength exceeded his, and besides she had Spike to look out for her. He glanced at Buffy, sitting on the couch, Spike on the floor between her legs. Now Angel knew why he wanted to look after Buffy even with Spike involved, but he felt differently about her than Mia. This was something new and strange to him, this friendship and closeness he felt to Mia. That was surprising after over two hundred years but that was Mia, she was surprising. Even as Emma she had been able to surprise him. That was one of the things he appreciated about her: she was always bringing him fresh perspectives on things.

~ ~ ~

Wesley paced a bit. "So, after all our research, we have come to a hypothesis that these creatures, although we are unable to find reference anywhere to them, may indeed be intermingled in the vampire folk lore. Certain things like the aversion to silver, not actually present in true vampires, but in the lore, the thrall, the feeding on blood, and the fact they spend a lot of time in Romania, one of the countries soaked in folk lore, leads to that conclusion."

"But they're not so much on the intermingling with US, mate. They hate us, call us unclean."

"Like lepers," stated Xander

Everyone looked at his direction.

"What? Just saying, in biblical times they were called unclean."

Giles cleared his throat. "That is quite true, Xander, and very astute of you."

"Yes," started Wesley. "That implies some sort of disease or infection."

"They wore gloves!" exclaimed Willow. "When they came, they were wearing gloves and long sleeves."

Angel stood up. "We might be able to use this to our advantage."

"You bet we bloody well will."

Other ideas and ancient stories and writings were talked about. Angel's idea that Spike might be able to locate her if she was in London was discussed. Willow volunteered to come up with a spell to increase senses. The others insisted on a little more time to prepare. Xander told them he'd have the weapons he had worked on ready in a day.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Buffy was in the shower. Spike was pulling on his boots, struggling with one of the laces that had come out.

"Bugger."

"Maybe you should think about getting something with zippers?"

He jerked with surprise as he looked up and saw Mia. "You're much more stealthy without the body, pet"

With the shortest of laughs she smiled, "Only because you know my scent better than I do." Her face became sober. "Don't come."

"Not your choice." He stared into her eyes.

"It's what I want."

"I don't sodding care."

"You used to care what I wanted," Her head cocked just a bit to the side.

"Well, I guess that was then, this is now." His brow lifted

"You now have that one love you've waited for."

"All is not blood and roses there."

"What?"

"Nothing pet," Spike shook his head.

"I don't want you," she said flatly.

He smiled, "That's never really mattered with any woman and me. I told you, this is our fight and you have me."

Mia faded.

"Buffy, hurry up, love."

"What's the rush?"

Spike shook his head and turned his eyes to the ceiling and back.

"Sodding nothing, I'm just asking you to hurry to irritate you."

He went to the fridge and heated himself some blood. It was then that he realized Mia would be hungry. It had been days since she'd eaten. She could go longer but if she had to do battle well she'd need something. They would have to arrange for some blood.

Spike was busy with his Playstation when Buffy came out forty minutes later. He glanced at the wall clock.

He put down the control. "Let's go"

"I need coffee first."

"Buffy, today is day bloody five, Xander is bringing weapons and Willow will have the spells. We will be getting ready to go just before first light tomorrow. I have classes to teach in between getting things ready. Does any of this make sense to you?"

"It isn't even nine thirty, Spike, I need coffee. Xander won't have the weapons ready until three this afternoon. Angel won't meet you at the building until eleven. Willow won't see you until spell time O dark thirty and you are acting insane. I get it you are worried, but right now with the sun so bright, you can't do anything."

Spike stood up looked around, picked up his television and threw it at the wall where it exploded.

"Holy shit. Spike"

"He tried to rape her, Buffy."

"He didn't succeed: she stopped him"

"And the next time? Or what if it's something else?"

"She'll stop him again; besides she's a vampire."

"It's all so bloody easy for you. She's just another vampire, soul or not. Who cares if she bleeds? She'll heal. And the pain, they can take it. Don't they just sodding come back after it? Didn't you always, Spike? Maybe in your eyes she deserves anything she gets. It doesn't really matter if she's dust, it's just another pile for you. "

"I didn't mean that and you know it. I meant she's strong and will overcome anything. I don't want her dust."

`"Are you sure? I mean, both your beloved Angel and I care. Maybe you are thinking with Mia gone then they will both be all mine again."

"You son of a bitch. I have been trying to help. I'm not good with the books on ancient stuff but I've been there. Do you think it's easy for me watching you act crazy over someone else? Sometimes I wonder if you think of her while we make love."

Spike back handed her across the face.

Buffy was so shocked she just stared at him and put her hand to cheek.

"I won't even let you say her name in our bed. She has never been in our bed. She never will be in that bed. The only one there is you. I don't know if you've figured this out about me, but I'm an `in the moment' kind of guy, and you are my moment. The thing with Mia is something that is so different it has no description. We are two vampires with souls struggling with the trials that brings. That alone would draw us together but it's also about being family, and friend, and then there is the past mixed in with work and the fight. I can't explain it very well to you because I don't understand it all myself but I promise you it doesn't touch us, you and me. It doesn't touch us Buffy. And deep down you know that. You also know Mia wouldn't let it. Be honest Buffy you know how ……"

"I didn't really mean it. I was mad. What do I have to do to prove I want to help?"

"Give me some blood."

"What?"

"Just a pint. I want it for Mia when we find her. She'll need some and there will be a battle: what better than slayer blood to help."

Buffy walked over and punched him in the nose. "I'll do it. I may have been wrong to say what I did but you shouldn't have hit me."

Spike rubbed his finger under his nose and grinned. He grabbed her and carried her to the bedroom.

"Spike, I just got ready, and you're in a big rush"

"Angel won't be there until eleven."

He nuzzled her neck. "I vant your blood slayer."

Buffy giggled.

He put her on the bed as he undressed and she laid and watched.

"I love you, Spike."

"I love you, slayer."

"Do you think you'll always want me like this?"

"I've wanted you since I first saw you. Of course, I envisioned draining you afterwards back then but I was young and stupid. I can't imagine it ever changing."

Buffy laughed, "Really, from the beginning."

"Oh, yes, cutie."

Spike finally pulled off his shirt and climbed up on the bed naked. "Your turn, gorgeous."