Spuffy....Spuffy...but will take time to get there.....Buffy/Immortal
implied.....
No actual harm to any fictional charater was done during the writing of
this story. I borrowed the characters and no profit was made by me or
anyone associated with this project.
Los Angeles May 13th 4:30 a.m.
Lorne continued to look into his glass of whiskey, not knowing whether
to cry, laugh, or scream. He knew that by killing Lindsey and not
joining the fight had betrayed his friends in the end. He also knew
that his being there would have hindered the others from fighting at
their best, because they would have been worried about him and his
inability to fight. Angel, especially, would have paid more attention
to his well-being than to his own.
He wasn't sure where to go from here. "Do I wait and see if they make
it and then leave?" He hung his head and held back the tears fighting
for release. "Or do I go and let fate play my hand and see where it
takes me?" He was lost deep in his thoughts that he didn't realize he
had spoken aloud.
The green demon sadly smiled as he stood up, leaving money on the bar
to cover his drink and tip. On his way out the door, he started to hum
a catchy little tune. By the time, he put his key in the ignition and
put the car in drive. He'd started to sing.
"Somewhere, over the rainbow way up high." He pointed the car toward
the east and decided to let fate take him away.
A young male, be that demon or human, no one could tell, stood and
watched the sad ex-owner of a once popular demon bar drive off singing
to the Wizard of Oz. He had tried to get Lorne's attention, but by the
time, he'd gotten within hearing distance the demon had said something
that worried him.
"I have to find out if my father is okay," Connor sighed as he ran to
the SUV. He needed to catch the demon so he could tell him where he
could find Angel.
Connor had to tell his father what he had found when he had returned
home to his so-called surrogate family, Lawrence and Colleen Reilly. It
seemed they had known all along whom and what Connor was. The Senior
Partners hired the couple to watch over him and try to turn him to the
side of evil. What they didn't know was when the spell to make him
forget who he really was had been reversed, he had come to understand
and believe just how much his true father did love him. Nothing was
ever going to destroy that love again.
Lorne felt like someone was following him when suddenly headlights were
flashing on and off from behind. His first instinct was to run, but he
knew that it would be useless. If they were out to kill him, there was
nowhere he could run. Thinking it could be one of the gang, he decided
to stop.
The demon pulled his car over to the side of the street and watched as
the silver SUV pulled up behind him. He watched as a young male got out
of the truck and started to approach his car. For some reason he felt
he knew who it was, but just could not put his finger on it. Suddenly
he called out as he rolled down his window, "Sing for me, young one,
and do it quick."
Connor smiled, and started singing a tune that would remind the demon
of a happier time, not musically as much as comically; with all the
stories he had heard about it. He started singing, Barry Manilow's
'Mandy' and heard the shocked gasp and his name being said,
"Connor, Oh, My God!,, I remember now...Connor!" Lorne shouted.
"Yeah, it's me, and I won't hurt you, I promise."
Lorne opened the car door, jumped out, and grabbed the kid in a bear
hug as his tears flowed. "He will live through you; we haven't lost him
as long as you're alive."
Connor knew the implications of the demon's words as he returned the
hug and started to cry- his father was dead. "He came to see me today,
I knew then it was bad."
Lorne felt a sense of closure as everything was falling into place now,
the real reason Angel went to work for department evil. It was to give
Connor a second chance. Making right what that damn demon hunter had
wrongfully done, by making the son hate the father. Trying to give the
boy a chance to be normal. So he could forget the past misdeeds and
misconceptions that had darkened his life since he had come back from
the other dimension fully grown and brainwashed.
"Tell me, is my father dead?" Connor barely could ask without crying.
"I don't know, for sure if he is yet. But they were meeting up at the
hotel after they finished taking out the circle," Lorne replied.
"Should we join them?"
Lorne looked up and noticed the sun was about to peak its head up over
the horizon. "I'm not sure what we'll find there?"
"I'm willing to take my chances," Connor nodded.
"Okay, sweet cheeks, I drive, you talk. Tell me what happened that you
were out in demon bars to the wee hours of the morning."
Connor smiled as he moved to get into the passenger seat. He took a
moment to catch his breathe before he started to tell Lorne about his
day. Including the fact, he had helped his father fight Hamilton, and
that his father had killed the best-dressed demon rep the firm ever
had, so his father had said.
Lorne heard the sadness in the boy's voice as he told him how Angel
made him leave his side earlier that night. He could hear how the boy
was proud of his father, and had wanted to be there to fight along side
the man he came to admire and love. He also heard the heartbreak in his
voice, over his so-called parents and how they had tried to kill him.
The last thing he wanted was to take the boy to his father's grave. He
prayed for Angel's well being, but he had seen Connor's future, and his
father was no where to be seen. Instead, he had envisioned another
vampire and a slayer holding an important role in the young man's
future.
*******
He could smell the impending scent of dawn approaching as his senses
were coming back to life. For some reason, he was having a hard time
waking up, aching all over while thinking to himself, 'Feels like I've
been run over by a train.'
"You awaken," a monotone voice broke into his thoughts.
"Yeah, so what," he returned as he looked over at her highness, sitting
there all bloody. "What the hell happened to you?" He asked, with a
confused look on his face.
She tilted her head and gave him a questioning look as she replied,
"Same thing that happened to you, vampire."
Spike shook his head, trying to remember what he had been doing the
night before. "Sorry, Your Highness, but I'm drawin' a blank at the
moment."
"I can understand it from a human, but not from an undead creature such
as yourself." Her words spoke unkindly, but the look she was giving him
showed her concern.
"Maybe if you give us just a little hint, it might all come rushin'
back and all." Spike squinted as he looked around the room. Wondering
where Captain bloody Avenger and the rest of his merry crew ran off to.
For some reason he was sure that Angel not being here right now was
very important piece of information.
The blue warrior looked sadly at the vampire who had come to mean
something to her. In their own way, they all had touched her in some
fashion. One she never regarded highly, but she would have to seek
vengeance on. She was sure the traitor would not be happy to see her.
The blonde vampiress would pay for her betrayal.
"Do you not remember our mission to kill the members of the Circle?"
Illryia asked calmly, watching the blonde male closely. "Do you not
remember fighting the demonic army or the slaying of the dragon?"
Spike tilted his head and concentrated on what she was asking, sparks
of memory coming back to him, as he muttered, "I remember going and
savin' the little imp and taking him back to his half-baked mum. Now
that was a vision of sunshine and roses, let me tell ya. Saw more joy
watching Angel's face slam a door in mine, than that poor excuse of a
mother takin' her own flesh and blood back into her arms."
"He will not be safe with her for the survivors of the clan will return
for him," she told him.
"Yeah, well I'm gonna talk with Peaches about that, see if we can find
him a safe home and all." Spike swung his legs over to the side of the
bed. "Where are we?"
"We are inside the hotel."
"Where are the others?" he asked as he stood up and stretched.
"They did not make it," she stated without any emotion as she looked
out at the rain that was still falling from the darkened skies. "When
Angel died, they started to break off and leave."
"What!" Spike looked over at the blue demon. "Angel's
dead? As in- dusted? I mean he's like me and already dead an all, well
undead."
"He did slay the dragon as he wished, and then they killed him." She
shrugged. "They were no longer interested in us for some reason, so I
picked you up and brought you inside here."
"How did he die?"
"They cut off his head, and he became dust." She looked over at the
vampire and frowned. "I can feel your grief. It is as I had felt for
Wesley."
Spike suddenly remembered everything, from catching up with the great
Poof in the alley, to Charlie boy's bloody return, and the Blue Meanie
jumping down to tell them that the ex-watcher had died during his
mission. "Well, seems it's just you and me, pet." He chose to ignore
her assumption on his grief over his Grandsire's demise.
"It is I that wish to keep you as my pet," Illryia glared.
"Ain't nobody bein' anybody's pet, you stupid bint...just an endearment
that I will have to curb using around you I see." Spike rolled his eyes
as it made him think of an ex-demon he used to know as he thought to
himself. 'Ah, Anya...you and Blue here would've been entertainment
galore, that's for sure. Just, as if I was sittin' down to a good dose
of Monty Python.'
"What do we do now?" she asked, ignoring his words.
"Well, I say we get out of L.A. for one, as far away from the evil
empire as we can." Spike walked over toward the window and looked down
into the alley where they had faced their enemy as four soldiers, and
now were down to two. "I don't understand why they just walked away
leavin' us alive. It just makes no sense."
"We are not important to them, insignificant." She shrugged, "A very
bad tactical decision on their part. In my day we left no one standing."
Spike looked sad at first, agreeing about the not being important. "No,
they had their reasons, just didn't care to share. We need to find safe
haven and regroup and plan our next step is all."
"Since this is your world you must decide where we are to go," she
simply stated as she joined him at the window.
Spike snorted. "Luv, there's nowhere we can call safe, not after
today." He looked down at the trashed alley and wished they could
gather their dead. They didn't deserve unmarked graves. They deserved
words said over their burial places, telling anyone who would listen
that the bravest warriors lie there.
Angel and his lot died to make the world just a little safer, from
those who could not be defeated. Sent evil back to the drawing board to
find another way to defeat and conquer the world.
He hated that Angel was right and couldn't keep from silently agreeing.
"Like Mr. Martyr said- can't kill them? Just make it where they have to
start all over. I think we just move around for awhile, keep a low
profile." Spike sighed. "First we need to think about how to save the
brat, and then leave town."
"First I must find the one who betrayed us and kill her, and then we
can think of the child," Illyria stated, hate laced in her words. She
still had a problem with thinking about the safety of one human child.
"Her?" Spike asked as he looked at the old one, trying to figure out
whom she was talking about when suddenly it came to him like a punch in
the stomach. "Damn, stupid bint. Harmony."
He looked ready to kill, thinking, 'God, can't believe I told her she
had on a pretty skirt and tried to get a quickie, good thing she went
evil, before I got to home plate.'
"Yes, she is who I speak of." Illyria smiled evilly.
"Well, if we find her, you can kill her as long as I get to watch and
cheer you on." Spike returned the smile. "However, we can't hunt her
right now, it's not safe to hunt her and try and get the boy safe
before we leave."
"So, where do we go from here?"
"I say we sleep, and then we can see about procuring us some
transportation out of this town and think of a plan to save Junior."
Spike sighed. "I'm thinkin' after, we just keep moving until we find a
place we wish to hang our white hats for a spell."
"Hang? White hats?" She looked at him as if he had finally lost his
mind. "We do not wear any hats to hang."
"Never, mind luv...another one of those human expression that makes no
sense to you yet." Spike found himself smiling. "I will make you a
human lover yet, Blue, you just wait and see."
Illyria briefly looked at the smiling idiot before turning to find the
comfort only a bed could give her right now. She was feeling tired all
of a sudden and knew she would not be able to stay awake much longer.
"I feel the need for rest."
Spike watched as she moved toward the bed and removed the blankets. His
smile deepened as she used them to cover the windows to block the on
coming rays of sun that would come shortly. "I must make sure my only
chance to get out of this town does not fade to dust."
"I'm glad you got my back, Pet." Spike laughed as he noticed the
irritated look come on her face. He then walked over to lie down on the
other empty bed. 'What I need is some blood soon, lost more then I care
to admit.' He thought of how he was going to get the money he would
need to buy it.
Illyria looked over and noticed that the blonde vampire was more pale
than usual. She walked over bedside the bed, stared down at him, and
smiled. "Would my blood help to sustain you until you can find that
variety that is more acceptable to you?"
"Don't know luv, never bit a blue majestic before." Spike shrugged.
"Not even sure yours won't kill me."
She looked down at him with a look of indecision, when suddenly she lay
down beside him and offered him her neck. "Feed."
"What?" Spike looked into her blue eyes and felt a connection.
"I said feed, Pet." She brought her hand up behind his neck and gently
brought his face closer to her neck. "I do not like how weak you are
becoming."
He could smell the strong blood flowing through her veins, her calling
him pet made him chuckle. "I just need a small nip is all, just enough
to help me heal faster."
"Take what you need, for you will not kill me," she whispered. "You
need me as much as I need you."
He was about to protest, but then realized she had spoken the truth.
For, if they were to survive, they would need each other to do so. Upon
this day, he found the one person he could trust with anything and
everything. Her decision to fight with them forged a trust, but saving
his life formed a bond that nothing but death could break.
She felt his features change and a small pinch in her neck as he gently
bit into her. She felt the pull as he drank softly from her, feeling
warmth for this creature that she had once called enemy.
He took just enough to take off the edge of his hunger. As he withdrew
his fangs, he lightly licked the wound clean until it stopped bleeding
and no blood was left visible. He had expected her to get up and move
on to the other bed but was surprised when she shifted in his arms and
cuddled closer laying her head upon his shoulder.
Neither of them spoke of their position when he pulled her closer as
they drifted off to sleep, to rest for their journey out of L.A., once
the sun disappeared.
*******
Whistler smiled as he looked inside the hotel room through the window,
and noticed the odd couple consoling each other on the bed. The bottom
corner of the window had a small enough opening he could peek through.
He looked up toward the sky and smiled. "I think we did a nice job at
protecting her champion." He opened his hand and revealed an old rolled
up scroll. The fact that The Powers That Be had the original Shanshu
prophecy did not surprise him.
He had arrived just in time to use the glamour spell to protect Spike
and Illyria. Just like the one he gave Angel to trick Hamilton into
believing he was fighting with his friends. This one made the demon
army think that all four warriors had died in battle.
The demon felt bad, having been the one that put the ball in motion to
set Angel up as the one the prophecy was supposed to be about, under
directions of the Oracles. They had known all along that the cursed
soul Angelus was not the vampire mentioned in the prophecy, but it told
of a creature of the walking dead that fed off humans to survive, that
for the love of a slayer would fight for and win his soul.
He would become a champion, and for overcoming, his true nature he
would be rewarded his Shanshu. What no one knew was the meaning of
Shanshu. Everyone assumed it was becoming human again after redemption,
but again that was the forged copy's intent for those involved to
believe such drivel. Its true meaning could only be revealed to the
rightful recipient when the time was right, and he was ready to accept
it.
Eve waited for her brother as he walked toward her, wanting to run to
him and hug him tight. She held back, not knowing how he would react to
seeing her again after all this time. Thoughts of if he knew that The
Powers That Be had sent her into the fire to prepare for this day came
to mind.
She hated that Angel had Lindsey killed- that had not been part of the
deal. But since having found out that Lorne had been the one to kill
him, she understood why it had to be done. The Pylean must have
foreseen her lover's betrayal of them in the future. Knowing this made
it easier for her to understand, but not making it hurt less.
"So, are they okay?" she asked Whistler as he came and hugged her close.
"Yeah, sis, they are both fine, going to survive this they are." He
smiled sadly down at his youngest sister he had not seen in over a
hundred years. Not since the day she had went to work for the bastards
at Wolfram and Hart. "How are you, Evie?"
"I'm sorry I never told you the truth about why I went to work for the
evil corporate beings," Eve whispered softly. "Other than feeling like
I lost my heart, I'm doing okay, I guess."
"I'm glad you can come home now. Everyone will be more then happy to
see you, ya know."
"I'm more than ready. What better way to heal my broken heart than with
the love of family?" She smiled, knowing she was on the road to become
who she used to be. She was a good little demon, who had stopped
believing in miracles a long time ago. Today she witnessed one, but at
a steep price.
The truth be told she had come to care about Angel's little gang of
do-gooders. "They truly are what heroes are all about. I just wish they
could be written about and given stories worthy of their sacrifice."
Whistler smiled as he let her go, only to take her hand. "Yes, maybe
one day it can be done, maybe you should write about what you have seen
and what you know of them and the events of today." He leaned down and
kissed her forehead, proud of the woman she had become.
"Home," he said as he closed his eyes and mumbled more words under his
breath. Eve smiled as she felt her body becoming warmer as the
incantation started to work. She felt a weight leave her shoulders,
knowing that soon she would be home with her family. Until she would be
needed again that is were she would stay.
*******
Lorne and Connor arrived at the hotel as the sun was rising. The green
demon smiled sadly as he pulled out the key, he thought he would never
use it again as he let himself and the boy in the hotel. By seeing the
lights off and evidence that no one had been in the office told them
what they needed to know. Friends and family had not survived, and both
looked at each other and could not say anything at first.
Finally, Connor looked at the man who he remembered as being easygoing
and always able to see the silver lining in most things. "I'm going to
go to my dad's room and get some sleep."
"You go right ahead kid; you need your beauty sleep. I'll crash here on
the couch." Lorne nodded. "We can rest up and then we can take a look
around town, put our ears to the underground and see if we can find
anything out."
"Sounds like a great plan." Connor looked around the office and thought
of happier times when Cordelia would be answering the phones, Wes and
Gunn would be talking about the latest demon conquest with Fred
listening and smiling with silent understanding. All the while, his
father would be down in his room resting, trusting those he considered
his friends to watch over him.
"Brings back memories, doesn't it?" Lorne sighed. "I will only remember
the good ones."
"Yeah, it does, and I, too, will only take the good ones with me,"
Connor said with a small smile on his face as he went to the elevator
that would take him to his father's room.
"Sleep well sweet cheeks, I'll be here when you wake up, I promise."
"I know you will be," Connor returned, letting his father's friend know
he trusted his word.
Both settled down to rest not knowing that one floor above them were
two survivors who held the answers they were looking for. As the
upstairs couple on the bed slept, not knowing they had guests below
them. Neither knew what the morning would bring, too exhausted to care,
too numb to feel. The protection spell Whistler had placed over the
occupied rooms keeping their presence hidden from each other.
*******