XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
“Damn, what happened here?” Faith asked
The pair stepped inside the wrecked house. Blood was sprayed all over the walls, floor and even the ceiling. There were also several severed limbs, mostly arms clutching swords, axes or crossbows, while bolts were imbedded in the wall. Spike looked around slowly, the smell of blood and death invading his nose. There were small piles of dust around the house, as the pair reached the living room, where a pair of bloodied swords lay
“Hey, Spike”
He joined Faith, who was looking at the wall. A symbol had been carved into the brick wall, consisting of a horizontal line with a crescent stretching over it and an inverted star rising above the line
“Mean anything to you?” Faith asked
“Nothing,” Spike replied
He looked around again, seeing several scorch marks on the floor. He breathed in deeply, trying to filter the scents, getting mostly vampire, but also burns, blood, death, fear, Connor and Dawn’s scent. There was another scent that puzzled him. He recognised it, but it didn’t make sense to him
“Where are they?” Faith asked
“We’ll try upstairs”
The pair headed upstairs, reaching the bedroom, finding the floor covered in blood. But that wasn’t the only thing. Connor was leaning against the wall, numerous wounds lacerating his body, which was covered in blood. Beside him was the bassinet and Spike peeked inside briefly, seeing Jadyn there looking back at him
“Connor, what happened!” Faith cried, kneeling beside him
“Attacked…vampires,” Connor gasped, “Took…Dawn…hurt me”
“Who did this?” Spike asked
“…Buffy…” Connor replied, “Take care…of…Jadyn…for me”
“Damn it, Connor, you’re not gonna die,” Faith said
“Faith,” Spike said softly
He could hear Connor’s heartbeat and knew nothing could be done. Joining the Slayer by Connor’s side, Spike watched as Connor slowly died, unable to do a thing. Once Connor took his last breath and fell still, Spike stood silently, before reaching into the bassinet and gently taking Jadyn out
“Spike, what are we going to do?” Faith asked
“What we always do to dead people,” Spike replied, “We bury them”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wesley and Illyria looked up when Spike and Faith came into the hotel, the former carrying a bundled up Jadyn, while Faith was carrying the baby bag
“What happened?” Wesley asked
“Connor and Dawn were attacked by vampires,” Faith replied, “Connor’s dead, but we’ve got no idea where Dawn is”
“Connor’s dead?”
Spike was looking at Jadyn, as Illyria joined him
“I sense distress”
“Dawn meant a lot to me. So did Connor. Now he’s gone, but Dawn’s out there somewhere. I’m gonna find her and return her to her daughter”
Illyria gently took Jadyn out of her fiancée’s hands, as he headed into the office. Wesley soon followed him, closing the door, as Illyria sat on the couch, gently rocking the baby to sleep
“Where is Connor’s body?” Wesley asked
“Still at the house,” Spike replied, “We gotta contact Angel and bury the kid. Angel’s not going to take the news very well”
“So it was vampires that attacked Connor and Dawn?”
“Yeah. According to Junior before he passed away, it was Buffy”
“Buffy? What do you mean, Buffy?”
“I don’t know, Wes. But he said that Buffy attacked him. She kills vampires, not join them. Also, there were scorch marks in the living room on the floor”
“Dawn’s blood can tear down dimensional barriers,” Wesley explained, “Maybe it’s possible they used her to teleport out of the house”
“So, do you want to call him or should I?” Spike asked
Wesley picked up the phone and dialled Angel’s number. However, he was surprised to get no answer. Instead, he left a phone message and hung up
“Got nothing,” Wesley said, “I’ll go and collect Connor’s body”
“Yeah, do that,” Spike said sullenly
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Later that night…
“We are gathered here tonight to farewell a friend of ours,” Wesley said, “We lay to rest, Connor Liam Angel, a good friend and proud warrior, lost in the war against evil. We hope your soul finds peace”
Spike was holding Jadyn as the coffin was lowered into the ground. Illyria was by his side, while Elena stood before them, as the grave was filled up with dirt. Wesley rejoined his wife and son, before leaving with them, as Lindsey, Kate and Andrea also left not long after
“Did you manage to contact Angel?” Illyria said after a moment’s silence
She was wearing a short, black dress for the occasion, mimicking her stepdaughter
“Got nothing,” Spike replied, “It was like he doesn’t exist. I also called Giles about Buffy and he states he hasn’t heard from her in a while, but that’s normal”
“Normal how?”
“Buffy usually keeps out of contact for a few months every now and again. Probably because she gets real busy saving the world sometimes. Come on, let’s go”
The small family turned away and headed to the DeSoto. Spike placed Jadyn in her new baby seat, before getting in the driver’s seat and starting up the car, as Illyria and Elena got in and he drove away towards the Hyperion
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ten minutes later…
Angel stood at the grave of his son, an emotionless expression on his face. Following Cordelia’s death, he had buried her in New York, before setting out on the search for Buffy, hoping to make her pay for murdering Cordelia. He had been on the road for four months, having no contact with anyone, until he had received a phone message from Wesley, telling him about Connor’s death. Angel had driven straight to Los Angeles, waiting for Spike and his family to left the cemetery, before approaching
“I’m sorry, Connor. I’m sorry it had to come to this,” Angel said softly, “I know who killed you and I promise you, Buffy will pay. I swear, they will all pay”
Placing a small rose on the upturned soil, along with the rest of the roses, Angel then impaled his sword into the grave, before turning his back, his coat billowing out behind him as he returned to his car. It wasn’t time for him to retrieve his granddaughter just yet. Spike could keep watching over young Jadyn. Angel had more important things to do. Such as finding Buffy Summers and killing her slowly. Angel started up his car, before flicking on the headlights, seeing someone before him. Getting out of the car, Angel approached the man
“Hey, get out of my way or I’m gonna run you over”
“Angel. Nice to meet you at last,” the man said
“Who are you?”
“The name’s Lucas Strike. I’m sorry about the loss of your son”
“Yeah, sure you are”
Angel turned back to the car, but Lucas closed the door on him
“Listen to me, Angel, I can help you get revenge”
“Really? How so?”
“What say you and I have a pint at the pub?”
Angel looked at Lucas, thinking his words over. He knew he shouldn’t and yet…
“Alright”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX