Sanguine Revival 19/? (No pairings this chapter, Adults Only)

AUTHORS: Salustra and Cathelin
E-MAILS: Salustra: goddess_salustra@juno.com ; Cathelin: cathelinn@yahoo.co.uk .
TITLE: Sanguine Revival 19/?
RATING: FRAO, Adults only,
PAIRING: This Chapter- None.
SUMMARY: This chapter:- Spike and Darla meet with Arielle before Spike returns with Joyce and Dawn to Sunnydale. Things are set in motion .
Distribution: Various lists, Wierd Romance Yahoo Group- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WierdRomance ;
Our livejournals - http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=salustra and http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=cathelin; and the website Weird Romances- http://www.freewebs.com/salustra/wr/index.html .
SPOILERS: Through Season 5 BtVS: Fool For Love, and Season 2 Ats: Darla.
WARNINGS: Implied smut. Implied bdsm. Implied nastiness.
DISCLAIMER: We adore playing with the pretties, but we’re just having fun. No money made, don’t sue us!
FEEDBACK: Yes please.
Length: 4153 words



The next night Spike slips out of the hotel to meet up with Darla and Lindsey to go meet Arielle. Angel's been a broody recluse all day, not speaking to anyone.

They are taken by limo. Lindsey says it's important to make a good impression. The limo takes them into old Hollywood, where the early movie stars built their lavish palaces. They pull into the driveway of one of the old mansions.

It's well-preserved, but almost reeking of age and of the debaucheries that have taken place there over the years. They move to the door and Spike raps the knocker. A lovely young woman, dressed demurely but with a silver collar locked on her neck, answers the door. "Yes?"

"We have an appointment with Mistress Arielle." Darla speaks quietly, but coolly. "Aurelius."

The woman ducks her head. "Ah, yes, of course, the Mistress is expecting you. If you would please follow me, I will show you to the Mistress."

The three of them are led through the mansion. It has all the grand appointments of such an old place, marble, gleaming woods, antiques. They are shown into a library, where an improbable creature rises to greet them.

Her skin is gleaming, glittering white, and her hair a silvery-white in a fall down to her waist. Her eyes are completely black, no white, unreadable. She is dressed in a tight black dress that hugs her form all the way down, with a slit up one leg almost to the hip. She is wearing thigh-high black boots, and black opera-length gloves of incredibly soft and thin leather.

She stands and comes to greet them, putting out her hand to Darla first. "Greetings. I am Mistress Arielle."

Darla smiles, taking the other woman's hand and looking her swiftly up and down with appreciation. "I am Darla of Aurelius. This is William of Aurelius." She gestures with her free hand to her right. "Known as Spike." She doesn't bother introducing Lindsey, after all, he is only a pet.

Arielle nods at Spike. "Welcome, Darla, Spike. Shall we sit?" She gestures over to the couch and chairs, all well-stuffed and comfortable, warm red velvet.

"Thank you." Darla nods, taking a seat on one of the couches, beside Spike. "You have a lovely home."

"Thank you. It was one of the few genuinely old homes I could find here in Los Angeles. Belonged to a notorious lesbian movie star of the silent era. She had infamous dinner parties here."

"Sounds delightful." Darla chuckles. Looking over at Lindsey shuffling awkwardly a few feet away, she raises an eyebrow in amusement. "You may sit Pet."

Arielle quirks her lips appreciatively. "He is decorative. They are quite useful, aren't they? Well-trained pets."

"Oh they are indeed." Darla smiles, "I'm sure you have some lovely ones of your own."

"I do. You've seen Dierdre already, of course. They're indispensible for a good household. Particularly for one of my kind, as we have no equivalent of your minions."

"Of course." Darla watches as Lindsey slowly lowers himself onto a chair. She waits until he's seated before saying, "What do you think you're doing?" Arielle and Spike both chuckle as Lindsey ducks his head and moves to sit on the floor next to Darla.

"I apologise Mistress Arielle for the presumption of our pet." Darla says in a quiet tone.

"No need to apologize. He's yours, his behavior is of no consequence to me. Shall we get to why you came?"

"Nevertheless..." Darla reaches out and delivers a sharp slap to Lindsey's cheek. Without even a pause she smiles back at Arielle, "Yes, let's get down to business, I'm sure you're very busy."

"I don't mean to rush you. I just sense your need is urgent, and the movements of William there tells me he has a time deadline to meet."

Spike looks up with a chuckle. "You read people like a Seducer."

"There are some similarities." Arielle smiles slightly.

Taking a deep breath, Darla begins to explain their needs. "You have, perhaps, heard of the misfortune that befell our family with the cursing of Angelus?"

"I have heard legends, yes. Though I do not know the details."

"He was cursed with a soul, and has suffered that burden for a hundred years." Darla says sadly. "A couple of years ago there was a period of a few months where he was free of the soul. And that is when the worst of the effects of the curse was revealed."

Arielle looks quite interested, tilting her head. "Worse than a soul?"

"Yeah. " Spike speakes up. "His demon, being caged up that long...is a little insane. Tried to destroy the world. Erratic and violent, even compared to his behaviour before. Dangerous even to family."

Darla sighs heavily, taking Spike's hand in hers. "So you can see our dilemma. We want to free Angelus from the soul, but we cannot take the risks of releasing him when his is in such a state for the sake of our own safety and the sake of what remains of Aurelius."

"I see." Arielle nods. "Have you the means of freeing him from the soul?"

"There is an easy way of course, but since the soul is in control and extremely stubborn it is not as easy as it should be." Darla shakes her head ruefully. "We are currently looking into other methods, as well as trying to break down the Angel's resistance."

Arielle nods. "Well, assuming you can somehow get him here afterwards...in some state where I can physically restrain him...I should be able to help you. I require three things."

"Yes?" Darla asks hopefully. Her heart leapt when Arielle said she could help.

"When I succeed, I will require payment. of $100,000. Tonight, before you leave, I will need to read you both, to get the information I need to be able to start the process with him. And afterwards...well, I know how possessive your type of vampire is of family. I will have to have extensive contact with him to make this work. I will have to stimulate him physically, and I will know things about him by the end that even you do not. I want your word that neither you nor your agents will hold any ill-will against me for that."

Blinking, Darla has to pause to take that all in. The money is nothing of course, but the rest takes a few moments to sink in. She looks over at Spike.

"You give me back my Sire, you have my eternal friendship," Spike responds, without equivocation. Darla smiles as Spike sums it all up, and turns to nod at the woman sitting opposite.

"We give you our word that we will not hold anything against you. Possessive we may be, but we are not insanely so. If you can help us with Angelus, you will be helping to make our family strong and whole. How could we bear you any ill-will for that?"

Arielle smiles. "You would be surprised. Early on in my life I made the mistake of not getting that assurance, it nearly cost me all. My kind have very strong emotional and psychic powers, but physically we are only marginally stronger than humans. I am perhaps ten times William's age, and I have grown stronger over the years, but I am still far weaker physically."

"I see." Darla nods.

"Very well. I will help you. All that remains is for me to read you." Arielle begins to peel off the long gloves. She comes over to Darla, and sits on the coffee table in front of her. "Give me your hands."

Holding out her hands as asked, Darla waits to see what will happen. Arielle takes her hands. There is only a warm glow at first, a rapport established. Darla can hear Arielle's voice as if through a fog. "Don't resist, resisting will hurt us both." Then there is a rush, as Darla can feel emotions and memories spark and flare, a firestorm of them through her all at once. Then her hands are released and it is over.

Disorientated, Darla takes a deep breath and leans back against the couch. She feels light-headed and confused, and her eyelids flutter a little. Spike turns, concerned, wrapping an arm around Darla. "Darla, you awright?"

"Yes." Darla nods, leaning into him "Just a little woozy."

Arielle waits. "Take your time, recover at bit. Then I need to read Spike."

Nodding again, Darla closes her eyes, breathing deeply a couple of times. Spike holds Darla while she gets her bearings again, then gently sets her back. He takes a deep breath and holds out his hands to Arielle. She takes them, and his eyes flutter closed, and his body jerks. Then hers jerks. When she lets go a moment later, both of them have tears running down their cheeks. Spike gasps as he falls back against the couch.

"Sorry," he half-growls. "I didn't know...I didn't mean to resist."

"It's all right. I understand." Arielle shakes her head, slumping slightly forward.

Worried, Darla reaches out to take Spike in her arms. "Are you ok?"

Spike nods and curls against her. "Yeah, m'fine, gimme a minute." Arielle wipes her cheeks and then pulls back on her gloves.

"Call and let me know when you have him. I will clear my schedule to handle it, night or day."

Pressing a kiss to his head, Darla starts to stroke his shoulders soothingly. "Thank you." Darla smiles, "It's very kind of you to put such priority on our case."

"I have my own reasons as well. But your need is very great, and I can tell no one else could help you." She takes out business cards to give them both. "So that you can reach me. That is my private line, I don't give it out to normal clients."

"Thank you." Darla says again.

Spike looks over at her. "What reasons of your own?"

Arielle shifts uncomfortably. "My kind feed on emotion, as you know. Something like this...is the equivalent of one of your kind drinking a Slayer. The only reason I ask money is to cover the potions and the ritual equipment I will need."

Surprised at the information, and at the fact that it was confessed, Darla smiles faintly. "Ahh."

Spike nods, satisfied. "We'd better go, Darla. He'll want to know where I've been if I'm gone too much longer."

"You're right." Darla sighs. She helps Spike to sit up before standing. Smoothing down her skirt, she smiles and hold out her hand to Arielle. "Thank you again for agreeing to see us, especially at such short notice, and for your help."

"You're most welcome. " Arielle shakes her hand again. "I look forward to hearing from you." She escorts them all to the door and they head off into the night.

****

Spike comes downstairs with the luggage, seeing Cordelia sitting behind the desk. "Hey, cheerleader. Any dates lately?"

Cordy sniffs and glares at him. "Why? You offering bleach-boy?" She smirks and tosses her hair, turning away from him.

"Hmmm. Could be. Vampires are immune to disease so I should be safe enough."

"What?" She turns back to him, confused. After a moment she realises what he's implying. "Hey!"

Spike chuckles and crosses his arms. "So that's a no?"

"Not in a million years buster." She crosses her arms, unconsciously echoing him, and glares. "There's no way I would *ever* choose to sleep with a fashion-retard like you."

"Forever is a long time, pet." Spike grins. "You might find me appealing sometime."

"Yeah right." Cordy snorts and turns her back again, going back to her filing.
Spike chuckles and settles on the couch, waiting for Joyce and Dawn. He idly wonders if Angel will come down to say goodbye.

Angel finally ventures out of his room. He's been closeted away in there for most of the day, avoiding everyone. Spike and Dru had been at it on and off throughout the daylight hours. Whenever he'd get himself under control and manage to fall asleep, they'd start again. It was complete and utter torment.

He'd spent the last few hours on tenterhooks, waiting for them to go for round...whatever, but it had been quiet since soon after sunset. And so here he was, his self-control apparently reinstalled (though he still creeps past the door to the room where he can sense Drusilla asleep) and heading downstairs at last.

Spike smiles at Angel as he comes down the stairs. "Evening, Sire."

"S...Spike." Angel coughs, trying to hide his stutter.

"Surprised to see me? We're leaving tonight you know."

"Er...no. I mean yeah, I knew." Angel nods shifting awkwardly. He glances at Cordy out of the corner of his eye, finding her looking at him coolly with one eyebrow raised.

"Do I get a goodbye hug?" Spike's eyes glitter.

Angel's eyes widen as he swallows nervously. "I...I...er...um...I..."

Cordelia snorts again. "Oh for god's sake. Just hug the menace already. I'm sure you can control yourself long enough for that." Angel flushes and looks over at the strident brunette. Spike stands up and moves towards Angel, gliding, grace in every movement.

The elder vampire's gaze snaps back to watch him move closer, his body reacting predictably to the smooth movements. Cordelia also finds herself watching Spike prowl towards Angel, her eyes widening and heart speeding in response. Spike stops before him. He whispers softly. "I'll miss you, Sire."

Swallowing again, Angel starts to reply only to have to stop and clear his throat. "I'll miss you too. I wish you didn't have to go."

Spike nods, his expression regretful, and he wraps his arms around Angel and rests his head on his chest. "I wish that too."

Hesitantly, Angel wraps his own arms around his childe, slowly lowering his head to press his nose against his neck. He finds himself tightening his hold more and more with each passing second, desperately wanting to keep Spike with him, keep him safe.
Spike purrs softly in his Sire's arms. He really will miss the poofter. Even with the teasing, he's felt closer to him in the last few days than he has in a century.

Cordelia watches the two vampires embrace, her throat tightening in reaction to the tender moment. She'd had no idea that Spike and Angel were so close, you really couldn't tell from what had happened in Sunnydale and then with the ring of Amara. It's a sweet moment, watching them now, but one filled with a strange sense of jealousy.

Joyce and Dawn come down the stairs, and they both stop at the sight. Dawn grins a big goofy grin at them.

Unwilling to let go, Angel still has his face buried against Spike's throat. His entire perspective has narrowed to the younger vampire. The feel of him in his arms, the scent of him, strong and seductive and overlaid with Dru's scent. It's almost like coming home. He could almost swear that he can even smell Darla on Spike's skin too.

Spike nuzzles and purrs, face rubbing against Angel's chest like a cat marking its owner. He's forgotten their audience as well, senses captured by strong arms around him.

Watching them, Cordelia shifts awkwardly. She can hear Spike purring, she had no idea vampires could purr, and it stirs something inside her.

Dawn suppresses a giggle and whispers to her mom. "They seem to have made up, huh?"

Joyce nods and smiles, patting Dawn's arm. "It appears so."

Spike sighs, hearing Dawn and Joyce, finally raising his head. He whispers, "Sire. I have to go." His voice is heavy with regret.

"I know." Angel replies, nodding shakily as he loosens his hold. "But you'll come back soon?"

"As soon as I can."

"Ok. Good." Angel tries to smile as he steps away. He looks up at Joyce and Dawn, his smile becoming a little stronger. "Joyce. Dawn." He comes forward to offer Joyce his hand and help her down the last few stairs. Dawn comes down and hugs Angel too, in a burst of girlish enthusiasm. "Thanks for letting us stay. And for making up with Spike and all."

Blinking in surprise, Angel returns the hug, "It was nice to have you all here."

Dawn grins up at him. "It was nice being here." She wanted to add, 'especially without Buffy', but she didn't.

"Maybe you could both come visit sometime as well." Angel suggests hesitantly, looking over at Joyce. "When you're feeling better."

Smiling, Joyce nods, "Perhaps."

"We better get going if we're going to make it home before light." Spike sighs and picks up the luggage.

"I'll see you off." Angel echoes Spike's sigh as he lets Dawn go.

Spike heads out the door, and Dawn and Joyce follow along with Angel. Spike loads the luggage in the trunk. Angel watches, his fingers itching to grab hold of Spike and drag him back into the hotel, not let him leave.

Forcing his eyes away from him, Angel steps forward to open the passenger door, helping Joyce inside. Spike settles into the driver's seat and Dawn climbs in the back seat. Spike looks at Angel again. "Goodbye for now."

"For now." Angel nods, trying again to smile. "Keep in touch."

"I will." He smiles. "Now that you have a cellphone." Angel blushes as he steps away from the car. Spike guns the engine to life and slowly pulls away from the curb, heading off into the night. Joyce, notices the blush, and wonders at the reason, smiling faintly as they drive away.

Angel watches them go sadly, raising his hand to return Dawn's waves. God, the thought of his boy returning to Sunnydale, knowing that he's returning to the people who have hurt him and taken advantage of his weakness. It makes his demon rattle madly at the bars of his cage.

He watches until he can't see the car anymore, his body quivering with the need to jump into his own car. He fights the need and sighs, heading reluctantly back into the hotel. Though he wonders, would it really be so bad if he listened to his demon a little and went to Sunnydale to 'speak' to Giles?

****

Willow wrinkles her nose as they approach Giles' apartment. "It'll be okay, Tara. He gave me the key for emergencies, and he's not answering the phone. We *need* to check on him. Maybe he had a heart attack or something."

"Well, if you're sure..." Tara answers, a little nervous about the idea of just letting themselves into Giles' apartment. Maybe he's just busy? Gods, she hoped they weren't going to walk into anything embarrassing.

"We'll be quiet and discreet." Willow moved to put in the key only to see the door was left ajar. "Uh-oh. This doesn't look good." She carefully pushed the door open, hand sliding into her purse to pull out a stake.

Eyes widening with alarm, Tara hesitantly follows Willow through the doorway. She gasps as they look around them. The living area is a shambles, furniture overturned, glass and ceramics smashed and the pieces scattered. "Oh no."

Willow bites her lip. "We need to check." She keeps moving into the apartment, going to the kitchen. Tara follows the stairs up to check the upper floor. A few moments later she comes back down, a little pale and green looking. Willow turns around. "Are you okay?"

Nodding shakily Tara replies, "Er yeah. I was just a little...surprised by some of the things in Giles' bedroom." She's obviously uncomfortable with what she found, and not in a flustered way.

Willow's eyes widen, and she heads upstairs to look for herself. She also comes back downstairs shaken. "I wonder if that's *his* blood on them."

"I er..." Tara looks a little faint, "I don't know which would more disturbing, that it is his, or if it isn't."

"I don't either. We need to go tell Buffy, though."

"Yes." Tara heads towards the door hastily, wanting to get out of the apartment. Now that she's seen the 'toys', she can feel some of the energy in the apartment and it's...not nice, not nice at all. "Though I'm not sure how she'll react to Giles being missing too."

"Yeah. This is bad. " Willow sighs. "Come on, let's get over there as soon as we can."

****

Laying on his back, staring at the ceiling, Angel sighs deeply. He’d stayed downstairs for as long as he could after their guests had departed, which wasn’t long. Wesley’s speculative looks and Cordelia’s glares had driven him first into his office, before depression had driven him upstairs. There was no way he could work in this mood, and the ever-growing mound of paperwork (and where the hell does it all come from?) on his desk was doing nothing from distracting him from the whispers of his demon anyway.

So here he was, morosely examining the old stains on the plaster above him, and sighing periodically.

A quiet voice interrupts his brooding. “Daddy’s upset.”

Sitting up, Angel smiles weakly at his girl. “I’m fine Dru.”

Tutting and wagging her finger, Drusilla sways her way across the room to crawl onto the bed beside him. “Silly Daddy, letting the little white lies wiggle out between his lips.” Reaching out she snatches at nothing in front of his mouth, giggling.

Taking her hand, Angel pulls it down and away from his face, making her tut again. “Not now Dru.” He says quietly, shaking his head.

Curling her hand around his, Drusilla croons quietly and shuffles closer to rest against his shoulder. “Daddy’s sad because he had to let Spikey go back to the nasty slayer.” Looking down, Angel rubs his thumb over the frail looking bones of the back of her hand, nodding unhappily.

Rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, Drusilla tries to comfort him. “Don’t worry my Angel. Our Prince is strong, he’ll be ok. You’ll see. The fairies have told me how the nasty old man will pay for hurting our William.”

Raising an eyebrow, Angel tilts his head to look at her. “Have they now? What have they said?”

Lifting her head, Dru interlaces their fingers and presses them to her lips. “Shh it’s a secret…” She murmurs against them, her eyes glitter wickedly.

“A secret?” Angel asks, turning to face her. “And you can’t tell?” Shaking her head, she giggles lightly. “Are you sure?” He asks with a smirk.

Nodding, Drusilla nips gently at one of his fingers, surprising a short bark of quiet laughter from her sire. The younger vampire perks up at the sound, looking a little smug at causing it.

Seized by a sudden and uncharacteristic mischief, Angel pulls her to him. “Sure I can’t persuade you to tell me what they said?” He asks. Drusilla’s eyes widen in the moment before he starts to tickle her.

Shrieking half in surprise, Drusilla falls sideways on the bed at the attack. The sound of her girlish laughter echoes through the now empty hotel, countered by Angel’s deep chuckles as she starts to beg him to stop. Ignoring her pleas he holds her down, tickling her mercilessly.

Ten minutes later they’re tangled together atop his rumbled bed, Angel leaning on his elbows above his willowy childe. Drusilla’s face is streaked with happy tears, and Angel’s face is for once wreathed in a truly lighthearted smile. One that hasn’t graced his features for so very long.

Watching her calm, Angel takes in the familiar planes of her face, automatically searching for any changes and finding none. Smiling sweetly, Drusilla reaches up to cup his face, “I’ve missed you Daddy.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Angel answers with quiet honesty. He breathes in suddenly and freezes as she lifts her head, pressing their mouths together. Exhaling noisily, he hesitantly returns the caress.

After long moments, the kiss ends and Drusilla lowers her head back to the mattress beneath her, looking up at him hopefully. “Daddy?”

Biting his lip, Angel stares into her eyes. He knows what she’s asking, hoping as she shifts beneath him, her legs parting and raising to cradle his hips. He knows he shouldn’t. It’s been drummed into his head thoroughly these last few days. With Spike, with Darla, repeatedly and painfully. But…but…

This was Drusilla. His beautiful, broken princess who was as likely to talk to pixies and stars or giggle and sing during sex as to moan in pleasure. There would be, could be no forgetting with his Drusilla, no Perfect Happiness. Drusilla was *safe*.

Lowering his mouth to hers, he presses their lips together again, this kiss less tentative and more hungry. His body settles against hers, eliciting a sighing moan as Drusilla wraps her arms around his broad shoulders.

‘Safe.’ He repeats in his mind. ‘Safe.’ Before pushing such things aside and burying his problems in his childe’s so willing body.