Title: Best Served Cold

Author: ebonyflames

Feedback: ebonyflames666@yahoo.co.uk Go on - you know you want to!

Rating NC17

AU Angel/Spike and Spike/Buffy (don't ask me why...)

Disclaimer: I cannot claim ownership (or responsibility) for any of the recognisable ATS and BTVS characters - they belong to the god that is Joss and Mutant Enemy. I just make them dance for pleasure... Oh and if some of the speech is familiar its just cos I couldn't improve on the actual script...

Set AU - Spike is the vampire with a soul.  Buffy has been a slayer for a year but has not met the Order of Aurelius yet...  Angel doesn't have a soul...

So sorry about makng the end to the last chpt a little angsty and odd - but it is explained here... Also - gonna apologise ahead of time for the cliffhanger - but I didn't want to post one huge chpt.  I will post the second part later today or tomorrow morning and then there are only 3 parts left. Gotta say that this is one of my fav fics but I don't like the ending... Oh well x

Please keep reviewing - I love it when that happens...

8. Coffee

Angelus returned to the lair just before dawn and silently slipped into his own bed.  Darla was in with the Master again and so he had their room to himself which was a great relief as he was shaking.  Leaving Will like that had been the hardest thing that he had ever had to do.  He wanted to wait until his Childe woke up and saw his new Sire but he didn't have that luxury.  He had to come back, smelling of nothing but himself so as not to raise any suspicion.  It was too close to the end game to ruin it by giving way to his heart.  If he didn't manage to do what he had to do he had no doubts as to how vengeance would be served and it would kill him if that were to occur...

"You're back.  I missed you."

Penn.  He was slightly rumpled and Angelus knew that he could not have been back for more than a few hours at the most.  Angelus couldn't help but compare the Childe that he had left to the one that was standing in his doorway.  Will was the slighter of the two but both were slight compared to his broad frame.  Both were naturally fair haired �" Will had more russet tones to his hair �" and both had blue eyes.  But Will's were the ones that he fell into.  Will's were the ones that reminded him of the sky that he hadn't seen in a quarter of a millennia.  Will was the one that he was in love with.  But he loved Penn too.  If Will really were dust, he fancied that he could fall for Penn in that way �" but his heart couldn't betray him, not whilst Will was alive.

He knew that this was the last time that they would ever have together and that made his mind up.  He pulled back the quilt covering on his bed.  "Come sleep with me Childe."  He didn't have to ask twice, and he fell asleep with one blonde Childe wrapped around him tightly, and a small part of him was wishing that it was the other.

********************

Spike woke and immediately he knew that something was very different.  The world seemed sharper and darker than it had ever done and it also felt fragile.  No correct that, he felt powerful.  He could feel his blood pumping through his veins and he could taste the lingering remnants in his mouth.  It was nirvana.  It was powerful and it was so dark that he felt like he was falling into an abyss.  He wanted to ask Angelus why... why had he made him a Master �" rather than a fledgling again.  Spike would have been happy to be his Childe, he'd have been happy to be his fucking minion, but to give him that much power... to make them equals...

That thought sparked off another... what if Angelus wanted more?  More than a Childe/Sire relationship... and there was only one bond more powerful than that and it was a hell of a lot more serious.  What if Angelus wanted them to be Mates?  Mated vampires were rare and powerful and unique and Spike knew that Angelus was the perfect candidate for one half of a mated pair.  Was he good enough to be the other half?

Determined to find out whether that was the case Spike pulled himself from his cocoon of feather quilts and sheets and made to leave the room.  The sketch caught his eye and he smiled at the sappiness of such sentimentality.  It was then he noticed the note.  He couldn't say that he wasn't hurt that Angelus had left before he had awoken, but he had to agree with his Sire's assumptions.  If Angelus hadn't been at the lair today, the whole plan would have been jeopardised and if they had found him... Angelus' life would have been in danger and Spike would never allow that.  He loved his Sire far too much for that.

His Sire. 

It felt weird saying that and meaning it just as it sounded.  Before, although he had acknowledged Angelus as his Sire, everyone knew that his blood was from Drusilla's veins and no one had been more aware of it than he had been.  It had hurt knowing that he wasn't Angelus' full blood Childe, that he was just a foster-Childe.  Darla had made him well aware of the fact.  So too had Penn.  It had burnt to the very core of him, but now... now he knew that he was Favoured Childe of perhaps the most powerful vampire to walk the earth.  That sent a primal thrill through his body.

He knew that the sun was now up, but he had no intention of leaving their home.  Theirs.  They lived here now.  He lived with his Sire again.  He was owned again.  He had a home again.  He was more than happy to snuggle back into their bed and fall asleep surrounded by their scent.  As he cuddled down under the cooled sheets he reflected on the fact that, for the first time in a hundred years, he felt safe.

********************

The Master and his clan were gathered in a deep cavern directly below the library of Sunnydale High.  The 27 Masters and Childer were all dressed in long ceremonial robes. They stood in a large circle in the middle of the huge cavern.  For the past hour the minions had dragged the ferals into the circle, where they promptly had their throats slit.  By this point there was a small lake of blood in the centre of the circle.  Sparks of magic were dancing across its surface.  As the last feral was drained the cavern began to shake and the lake's surface started to ripple as if a storm was brewing.  The magic sparks were like small lightening bolts now and the quaking got worse.  The lake's surface was disturbed and from the centre of it rose a large stone monolith.  It was about seven foot high and covered in different glyphs and runes, all of which were telling the story of the Hellmouth.  The Master knew what the stone said; he had after all spent the past couple of centuries preparing for this. 

From his robes the Master took a long jagged knife.  He handed it to Angelus who stood on his right hand side.  Angelus took the knife and slit his wrist with it, he watched as the blood dripped into a cup held by a minion.  He passed the knife to Penn, who copied his Sire.  When the knife and cup had been around the entire circle the Master took the knife and plunged it into his heart. He then took the cup and drank its contents.  He felt the power of his family flow through him.  He ripped the knife from his chest and sunk it into the small opening on the monolith.  He twisted it, as if it was a key.  The rock groaned and shuddered and began to crumble, sinking in to the ground.

There was the whistle of a crossbow bolt and the youngest of the Order, a sandy haired minion by the name of James, exploded into dust.  The vampires turned to see the Slayer, her Watcher, a dark haired boy and girl standing on a rock ledge high above them.  Each one of them held a loaded crossbow.  The Master looked unimpressed.

"I didn't mean to interrupt.  Sorry."  Buffy loved playing coy with the demons.  She didn't know what Angelus had planned but after reading about some of the things that he had done over the years it was obvious that he was good at what he did.

"Slayer.  Welcome child.  I had hoped that you would come to witness the birth of a new age.  I would lower your weapons now; they will do you no good."  He turned to the group of minions, "Take them!"

Willow had been watching Angel and as soon as the Master ordered the minions to attack he gave her the signal...

Willow's Balcony...
 

Angelus watched as the witch focused on the candle.  He could see the power flowing from her into the flame.  It began to glow a deep red at the centre around the wick and a dazzling white at the edges.  Convinced that she was in control of the flow, he began the main part of the spell.

He took the chalice in his hands and brought it to his lips.  He kissed it and whispered "meus cruor nostrum cruor".  He drew a knife across his palm and allowed the blood to flow into the bronze cup.  He picked up the herbs; he slowly added one after the other.  First he added the mandrake to ensure that the spell took on a negative spin.  He took a small emerald and dropped it into the blood along with a sprinkling of goldseal.  He then dropped in a beech leaf saying, "fio lacuna", invoking the connection to the written word.  He took a small slip of paper that had been dipped in holy water and lit it using the candle.  So lost in the spell he didn't feel his flesh burning.  He dropped the lit piece of paper into the chalice, "reus ut flamma".  To increase the potency of the spell he added a small amount of myrrh and mistletoe.

He felt the sweat drip down his face and saw that Willow looked just as strained.  He was doing all of the major work but she had never cast before and it looked to be taking its toll. His blood was boiling with the power of vengeance and the knowledge of the gypsy woman from so long ago.  He could feel the vengeance in his very bones, like molten metal.  He watched as the ingredients in the chalice turned black.   He needed to finish the spell before she collapsed and broke it.  "Living vengeance find your way."  He took the girl's hand and curled it around the candle, together they immersed the flame in the blood.  A plume of red smoke unfurled and the small fire died.

Green eyes were watching him intently.  She was pale and drawn.  He needed her to do one more thing.  Gathering her in his arms he carried her into her room.  He went back to his bag and grabbed a piece of vellum, a quill and a folded piece of paper.  He took them and the chalice back into the bedroom.

"You are powerful Little One.  This is where we see how.  You did very well out there, now you have to finish the spell.  I need you to copy this out on to the vellum.  Use the blood in the chalice as ink.  Copy it word for word."

Willow did as he asked her.  Upon the vellum she wrote one sentence "By this flame from this witch, all those who serve will burn."  When she had done so he set it aside to dry. 

"The Master is going to open the Hellmouth using the blood of all the Ferals.  I will deal with the Masters and Childer but I need a way to get rid of the minions.  This spell will.  All you have to do is hold the vellum up and say 'flamma'.  The parchment will go up in flames and so too will all the vampires.  Keep this safe ok?  Otherwise we are in a lot of trouble."

She nodded dumbly, exhausted from the energy she had poured into the spell and astounded at the knowledge and intelligence of the vampire.  He had thought of everything.  It was much easier to handle 30 vampires rather than almost 100.  Willow was going to be the slayer for the night.  That thought would have excited her had she had the energy.  She was dimly aware of him giving her juice and cookies before she passed out...

Willow unfolded the precious parchment and yelled "Flamma".  She was delighted as the parchment went up in flames.  She was ecstatic as she saw the minions immolate.  She felt powerful as she saw all of the remaining vampires turn to her with fear in their eyes.  A fear that hadn't been there when Buffy had appeared.  The Master focused on her.  Her immediate reaction was to pull away from him, but the small smile on Angel's face and the reassuring presence of Spike and Oz in the shadows behind her stopped her from doing that.  Face her fears.  She had just dusted over sixty vampires, she could handle chatting to the Master... she hoped.

"Impressive.  You are quite the powerful witch little girl.  Come, join us and you will get to survive what's coming."

Willow knew that her next comment was the product of one too many visits with Angelus; it was cocky enough for him.  "Let me think... hmm... actually Master I think that I have been given a better offer already.  I'm already going to walk away from this, you won't though."

"You have the ego worthy of someone with power, but you are incorrect in your assumptions.  You can not stop this, no matter how many pieces of paper you pull out of your pocket."

"And you are incorrect in your assumption that I am the one that is going to kill you.  Assuming just makes an ass out of you and me.  Well you at least."  She could see Angelus grinning madly at her. 

"You think that your little slayer friend is going to manage that which so many others before her have failed?  I think that you are sadly mistaken.  Now I will give you one final chance. Join us."

"No."

"Then I will kill you myself!"  A roar of utter frustration ripped its way from the Master's throat and was cut off by a fierce punch to the side of his head.  For the first time in over 600 years the Master was pushed to the floor.  He looked up to see the smirking face of his Grand-Childe and new Childe looking down on him.

"Hi.  How are you?  How's the floor feel?  Comfy?"  The Master growled and began to lift himself from the earth.  "No?  Aw, shame... well you had better get comfy because you're going to be down there for a while.  Nah ah I said stay down."

The Master couldn't move.  Angelus had bound him to the floor; with a simple flick of the wrist roots had shot from their resting place beneath the earth's surface and wrapped around him, holding him tight enough to crush bone.  One had even wrapped its way around his mouth in mockery of a gag.  The more he struggled the more they clamped around him, holding him tighter than ever and dragging him down into the earth. 

None of the other vampires dared to move either.  Angelus could wield magic... that was news to all of them.  Not to mention the fact that he had just floored the Master... the Master(!) with one punch.  A single punch!  Not even wielding a weapon!  The force of his fist had brought the Master down!  This was not normal.  They had al known that Angelus was a powerful vampire, that he would... one day... make a powerful Master, maybe even their Master, but this power was too much for one as young as him.  To be honest, they were afraid.  There were 25 of them, but they were afraid.

Angelus merely looked down upon the vampire that had tried to dominate him for 250 years.  He was going to enjoy this.

"Now that you are comfy I think that I can get on with the explanation part.  I think that you are all going to want to listen really carefully.  Willow over there just gave me a little hand.  Powerful isn't she?  I was shocked that you didn't feel her the minute that we entered this god forsaken town.  I did.  Her power was screaming to the night.  So pure and rich, I tell you, it was a turn on.  And the package, well what can I say?  She is beautiful.  But that's not the point. Point is you missed her, I didn't.  Why?  Well I knew what I was looking for.  Anyone feel anything familiar about the girl?  Darla?"

He turned to his furious Sire.  Luckily she was too worried about her own Sire to try to physically attack her Childe but that didn't stop the verbal assault that he was about to receive.

"What the Hell do you think that you are doing Childe?  You will let him up this instant!  You are a disgrace!  Let him go or I swear that I will make you hurt so much that you'll be begging to become dust!"  Darla's tone was vicious.  It only served to amuse Angelus all the more.

"Hmm, interesting.  But I think Sire o'mine, that I asked you a question.  Do you feel anything familiar about the girl?"

"Do not talk to me in that tone; remember who the Sire here is.  No that girl is nothing to me."

"Really?  Because to me, everything about her screams Romany.  Kalderash, to be exact."  He watched as the colour totally drained from Darla's face.  She was pale, even for a vampire.

"I see that you remember them then?  How long has it been since you thought on that name? A hundred years?  Well I thought on that name every night. Every single day.  And it all boils down to this moment.  Well, phase one of my plan is complete so I guess that I should probably tell you all what is going on." 

He could feel the stares of the other vampires, their hisses bit into his back like asps but he refused to take his gaze from Darla who stood proudly over her fallen Sire.

"You had better have a damn good reason for this or I swear I will stake you myself."

Darla's threat was inconsequential to him.  He was no more afraid of her than he was of the falling rain.  She held no power over him anymore.  There was only one that had the power to break him now and he knew that Spike would greet the dawn before he intentionally harmed Angelus.  He smiled at his Sire.  It was an open, friendly smile and that in itself made her take a step back from her Childe.  She had always known that Angelus was dangerous, that there was something that meant his demon never cowered from its elders.  She had often wondered whether she had turned him incorrectly.  He had never feared her; he had only gone along with her orders when it suited him. His first priority had always been himself and his Childer, nothing else came close.

"Oh, don't worry I do.  I wonder whether we need a bit more privacy for this little chat?"  He glanced round at all of the gathered vampires that were still hissing and spitting at him.  Their attention was firmly fixed to the conversation between Sire and Childe.  Everyone in the cave was intent on hearing what Angelus had planned for them all.   

"I mean I don't want them to turn on you and steal my vengeance when they learn what you have brought down upon them Darla.  I bet that you thought you were free of all of this.  You had rid me of William and all would go back to as it had been.  I would be your perfect boy again and forget.  And guess what, I did.  I went back to what I was... I fucked you and my Childer, but I wasn't the same.  I never forgot.  In fact, I changed more than you can imagine.  Want to hear a story before you go to sleep?"  Angelus proceeded to tell them the truth of what was going on...