8 February 1885 {Aurelius townhouse}
Angelus was getting angry. No, he had passed angry and moved on to murderous. Three nights had passed and not a word from her. He and William had both sent notes to her, the first inviting her to the theatre on the 6th, the second to check on her health and welfare on the 7th and now was the 8th and his third note inviting her to the ballet tonight had been returned unopened with a note, supposedly from her, telling them that she no longer wished to have anything to do with them and would they kindly leave her alone.
He threw his snifter of brandy into the fire with a roar of fury. Spike came in at the sound and looked at him alarmed.
"What is it?" Spike asked.
"Read it," Angelus thrust the note at him and Spike read through it with a confused frown. "Do you think she wrote that?"
"It's not her handwriting," Spike shook his head. "Her mother maybe but not her."
"That's what I was thinking too," Angelus said. "I have a bad feeling. Get your coat, we're going over there."
"Angelus, he is an Earl, a member of the House of Lords," his childe cautioned.
"I don't give a fuck if he's the Prince of Wales," Angelus snarled viciously. "He has my baby in that house and I want her back! I'll slaughter the whole city of fucking London if I have to!"
Spike just nodded and followed Angelus out the door. He had never seen Angelus this angry before. Twenty minutes later they were on the doorstep of the O'Callaghan mansion and Angelus banged on the door angrily.
The front door opened then and the butler Reilly appeared.
"Mr. Aurelius, I am sorry sir but the Earl has given strict orders that you not be allowed in," Reilly's tone was genuinely regretful. "Please don't make a fuss, sir. The young lady has already paid enough."
"What does that mean?" Angelus demanded. "What's been done to her?"
Reilly lowered his voice to a whisper, "The Earl beat her near to death with a cane for befriending you. He thinks she's given herself to the two of you but I know her, she's a good girl. Please, sir, don't make it harder on her than it is. She couldn't even get out of bed until this morning. Annie, her maid, had to doctor some of the wounds were the cane split her skin open on her back. I am sorry, sir."
Angelus growled viciously and had to turn away to keep the butler from seeing his eyes change from brown to gold. Spike met his sire's gaze, furious himself with what he had just heard, and then looked back at the butler.
"Is the Earl at home?" he asked the man.
"He and the Countess are gone for the evening to the Duke of Northumberland's ball," Reilly replied.
"Then you can let us in and keep quiet about it," Angelus suggested turning back around. "Has she been seen by a doctor?"
"No, none of her bones were broken so the Earl didn't see the need," Reilly shook his head sadly. "But sir, I'm under strict orders."
"You seem to care for the lady. So do we and it would be cruel not to at least let us say goodbye, would it not?" Angelus asked. The old man was really wearing on his patience. They had been invited into the house already but he didn't want to kill anyone he didn't have to yet. He just needed to get to Aislinn.
Reilly thought for a moment then nodded and opened the door further. "All right then, you can come in and I'll take you to her."
Angelus and Spike walked into the house and followed the man upstairs to Aislinn's bedroom. She was reading a book in bed when they entered, lying on her side because it hurt to lie on her back. She looked up at them in surprise and plastered a fake smile on her unusually pale, pain-tense features. Angelus bit back a growl and went immediately to her sitting carefully on the bed beside her.
"Start packing her things, William," he instructed. Spike nodded and ignoring the protests of Reilly got out her luggage and began packing all her clothes and belongings. Angelus tucked a stray hair behind her ear and said gently, "Let me see, baby."
She silently rolled to her stomach and he unbuttoned her nightgown then swore a blue streak when he saw the black, blue, green, yellow and purple bruises and bloody gashes that covered her back. Rage liked he had never felt before filled him. How dare someone hurt her like this?! They would pay; they would suffer like they had never dreamed of suffering before! She started crying and he carefully buttoned her nightgown back with trembling hands before pulling her up carefully and letting her burrow her head in his chest to sob quietly.
"Shh, baby. It'll be all right. We're going to take you away from here and keep you safe, I promise," Angelus rocked her and murmured soothingly. "I'm going to take care of you, sweetling. Don't cry now. Everything will be all right."
"Is there anything elsewhere in the house I need to get, Aislinn?" Spike asked her after he finished packing up her bedroom.
"My music is in the drawing room, and my paintings and art supplies are in the sun room," she whispered. He nodded and went to find them taking some of her bags and instructing Reilly to take the others down to their coach. To his surprise the butler did as he asked.
Angelus moved her to face him on his lap. "Put your arms around my neck and your legs around my waist, baby," he instructed. It was the best way to carry her without hurting her back. She did as he asked then he took off his cloak and wrapped it around her, tying it around her neck loosely before he put one arm underneath her bottom, the other at the back of her neck and stood up. She held on to him tightly as he carried her from the room and downstairs. Spike and Reilly had her things loaded onto the coach by the time they got down there.
"You will do the right thing by her, won't you sir? She is a fine lady," Reilly asked him worriedly.
"I'll treat her like a princess, Mr. Reilly, I assure you," Angelus told him. "You needn't worry about her."
"That's not what I meant, sir," Reilly shook his head.
"I love him, Reilly," Aislinn said turning to look at the old butler. Angelus was startled she could just come right out and say it but he felt his undead heart soar at the words. And wasn't that just the oddest thing ever?
"I'll do the right thing by her," Angelus said to him. Reilly searched his eyes a moment then nodded and smiled at Aislinn.
"Take care of yourself, my lady. We'll miss you," Reilly said sadly.
"I'll miss you too," Aislinn smiled at him then nodded at Angelus. He kissed her temple and carried her on out to the coach. Spike helped him get her inside without disrupting her injuries and then they were off toward the cottage. Angelus held in his lap the same he had carried her so that she was stable and not bouncing around during the coach ride or hitting her back on the seat. She fell asleep against him during the first fifteen minutes and he felt that purring come from his chest again when she did. Spike looked at him in surprise but he just shrugged. It was still new to him too. His childe grinned knowingly and somewhat smugly then. Angelus knew what that was, though. Spike had found her, brought them together, and he was damned pleased with himself about it.
When they got to the cottage Angelus put her in the master bed to sleep while Spike brought in her things. Then they went hunting and filled the larder/cellar with enough victims to last them at least five days plus extras for Aislinn after she was turned. When they finished that they bathed and changed into their robes then went to the library for some whisky. They always kept extra clothing in all their houses, even the emergency ones.
"I take it we'll be paying her father a visit later on," Spike asked him after a comfortable silence. Angelus nodded. "When are you going to do it, turn her I mean?"
"I have to bed her first," Angelus answered. "Her back injuries need to heal first. You don't turn virgins. The hymen will grow back after every sexual encounter if you do."
"Oh," Spike raised his brows in surprise. "I didn't know that. Handy piece of information."
"I met one once," Angelus nodded absently. "She never forgave her sire for it."
"How long will it take her back to heal?" Spike asked.
"I need to give her some of my blood," he answered quietly. "I did it with Drusilla after I tortured her and before I turned her. She healed in a couple of hours. But I don't want to scare Aislinn."
"You could put it a bottle so she won't be able to tell what it is, tell her it's medicine," Spike suggested. Angelus gave him an odd look. "What?"
"Nothing – that's just – it's a good idea, Will," his sire admitted. He still had a puzzled expression on his face. "Do you think there would be one in the kitchen?"
"I'll go check," Spike said and walked from the room. Ten minutes later he returned with a small blue bottle. "I sanitized it for her but it was already empty."
"Good," Angelus took the bottle and bit into his wrist then let the blood drop into the bottle until it was full. Then he brought his wrist to his mouth and licked the wound closed. "Now I have to get her to drink it."
Spike nodded and followed Angelus upstairs to the master bedroom. He watched his sire sit beside Aislinn on the bed and wake her gently. It was completely uncharacteristic of his sire, the way he acted with this girl. Spike knew his sire was capable of gentleness but it was never sincere before, just a means of seduction. This was totally different.
Aislinn stirred and opened her eyes to look at Angelus. "Where are we?" she asked looking around the strange room.
"We're safe, sweetling, at a cottage I own outside the city. Here, I have some medicine for you and I need you to drink it all down," Angelus told her holding the blue bottle to her lips with one hand and cradling her head with the other. She drank it all with a curious expression on her face. It tasted odd but not bad. And it gave her a heady dazed feeling.
"Is it laudanum?" she asked after she finished and ran her tongue along her teeth and lips to try and discover the taste.
"No, baby, it's a special medicine, a family secret," he answered smiling. "Rest some more now. You'll feel right as rain in a few hours, I promise."
She smiled sleepily and closed her eyes again. She was asleep again in seconds. He rose then left the room with Spike taking the bottle with him. They went back to the library and had another drink.
"I'll give her body a couple of hours to heal then I'm going to bed," Angelus told Spike.
"I think I'll stay down here a while, not very tired," Spike said. "You will be gentle with her, won't you?"
Angelus growled at that. "You think I'd hurt her?"
"No, I'm sorry – I just well, you're not known for being this – nice," Spike said carefully. "I speak from personal experience."
"Yeah well, she's different," Angelus muttered darkly.
"I'm glad, happy for you, you know," Spike told him. Angelus raised a questioning brow and his childe sighed. "I mean, you finally have someone to be happy with. I know Darla doesn't make you happy and as much as Dru and me try, we don't either. But with Aislinn, it's different. You look at her with affection I didn't think you were capable of and when you smile at her or speak softly to her you actually mean it. Not that I think you've gone soft, far from it. I have no doubt that you're still more than capable of any kind of evil and violence toward well – anyone that isn't Aislinn."
"You would be right," Angelus stated flatly. "It would be best if you didn't mention my affection for her to anyone else either, particularly Darla. I don't need my enemies or my bitch of a sire knowing how much that girl means to me. Do you understand?"
Spike nodded firmly. "I understand. I won't say a thing."
"Good," Angelus said and the subject was closed. "You're not to touch her intimately either."
"I already figured that one," Spike muttered a little bitterly.
"I thought you were happy with Drusilla?" Angelus tilted his head and regarded his blond childe thoughtfully.
"I am," he said quickly. "I just – well, I can talk to Aislinn; you know an actual intelligent conversation."
"You can still talk to her, you can talk all you like," his sire said. "You just can't fuck her."
"Yeah," Spike sighed in agreement. "But she's so beautiful."
"She's mine, William. Touch her and I'll feed you your cock," Angelus warned.
"Understood," Spike said and he really did. Angelus did not give empty threats. He had learned that the hard way.
It was another thirty minutes before Angelus spoke and when he did it shocked Spike right to his toes.
"William, I need you to find me a priest or a magistrate," Angelus said quietly while he gazed brooding into the fire.
"What for?" Spike had to ask.
"He'll need to bring a certificate of marriage and you need to find wedding rings for she and I too," Angelus told him ignoring the question.
"You're going to marry her? Can vampires even get married?"
"Just do it," Angelus snapped. Spike nodded slowly, taking a long swig of his whisky.
"Right now?" Spike asked.
"There's still a good eight hours before dawn. You have time," Angelus told him. Spike shrugged, went upstairs and dressed then went back out into the night.
He made good time. He got the rings first. He knew Angelus's ring size because he had a signet ring made for him last Christmas. Aislinn had little hands so he got the smallest ladies' size they had. Of course the shop was closed when he went in but that just meant he didn't have to deal with any pesky sales people. The bands were matching wide gold bands with Celtic knot engraving around them. And Aislinn's ring had a diamond set into the face. There was a preacher living next to the church not two miles from their cottage so Spike got the man and the marriage materials they needed then headed back to the cottage. He had only been gone a couple of hours.
Angelus had dressed again when they arrived and was waiting in the parlor. He looked at the preacher and smiled charmingly. "I know this is inconvenient and unorthodox but it's urgent," he said.
"Your friend explained that," the preacher said. "He also said I was to leave out the blessing."
"Yes, there will be no crossing of any kind," Angelus said. "Now, the bride will be down in a moment. She's getting ready."
"How did she take the news?" Spike asked curiously.
"She loves me, how do you think she took it?" Angelus raised a defiant brow. Spike shrugged indifferently. "I'll go ahead and fill out the certificate."
The preacher handed it to him and he went to the desk to fill it out. He used his real name Liam O'Connor on it but added his alias Angelus Aurelius as well. He did a quick recalculation with his birth year but kept the date of it, 31 May. Aislinn told him all her information when he went to wake her and told her about the plan. She was nineteen as it turns out. Her back was completely healed, something she had been astonished about. When he finished he signed his name at the bottom then gave the pen to Spike to sign as a witness. Spike signed it William Pratt Aurelius just to be on the safe side. The preacher signed his part as well so all that was left was Aislinn's signature.
"You know, it's after midnight so the date is actually the 9th," the preacher pointed out as he changed it and signed his name at the bottom. Angelus just nodded slowly in acknowledgement.
"The rings, Will?" he asked his childe.
"Oh yeah, here," Spike took the rings out and handed them to Angelus. "Those were the only Irish looking ones I could find."
Angelus grinned looking at them. "They're perfect. Well done," he clapped Spike on the back happily. His childe beamed under the praise.
Aislinn came downstairs a few minutes later. She found the wedding gown that had been made for her wedding to the Earl of Ormonde among her dresses and figured it shouldn't go to waste so that was what she wore. It was a gorgeous combination of ivory silk and gold floral brocade satin with a low neckline off the shoulder and split-capped sheer sleeves. Her hair was pulled from her face with pearl studded pins and the rest fell down her back in curls. She walked into the parlor where she heard the men's voices and they turned to look at her.
Angelus was floored. She blushed and clasped her hands in front of her uncertainly.
"Do I look all right?" she asked.
"Pixie, you couldn't be more beautiful if you were Helen of Troy," Spike told her. "I'd happily launch a thousand ships for you."
"That's my wife, Prince Charming," Angelus muttered darkly. Then he grinned and walked over to Aislinn taking her hands in his. "You look perfect, baby, like every bride should."
"You're not bad yourself, darlin," she eyed his magnificent form in his fine black suit, ivory shirt, white silk cravat and silver brocade vest. He was the most beautiful man. And he was going to be her husband. She grinned happily at him. "Let's get married."
"Right," Angelus agreed. He was almost giddy. It was strange to get that feeling when he wasn't about to commit mass murder. "You need to sign the certificate there then the preacher here can do the ceremony."
She signed it dutifully then they all took their positions. Spike held the rings standing on Angelus's right side.
"We are gathered tonight in the sight of God to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony," the preacher said. "Now, do you, Angelus take thee Aislinn to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love and cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others, for all eternity?"
"I do," Angelus replied confidently. He gave Aislinn a little smug grin. He had changed the 'til death do you part' to 'for all eternity' in the vows for a reason. One, he was already technically dead; two, she would be as well soon; and three, he wanted their bond to be literally forever. The preacher hadn't questioned it either.
"And do you, Aislinn take thee Angelus to your lawfully wedded husband, to love and cherish, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, and forsaking all others, for all eternity?" the preached asked.
"I do," Aislinn said firmly. She and Angelus smiled at each other.
"The rings please," the preacher said to Spike who stepped forward and handed them each other's rings. "Angelus, place the ring on her left ring finger and repeat after me. With this ring, as a token of my love and affection I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."
"With this ring, as a token of my love and affection I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow," Angelus said and slipped the ring onto her finger. It fit. Spike did good.
"Aislinn, place the ring on his left ring finger and repeat after me," the preacher instructed. "With this ring, as a token of my love and affection I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."
"With this ring, as a token of my love and affection I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow," Aislinn repeated and slipped the ring onto Angelus's finger. Then she smiled brightly at him and he grinned.
The preacher couldn't help but smile at the love these two shared. It warmed the heart. "By the power invested in me by God's holy church and Her Majesty the Queen, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," he said.
Angelus didn't hesitate. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her deeply. She gripped his arms kissing back fervently, breathless when he pulled back.
"Congratulations," the preacher said. "I've rarely seen a couple so in love. It more than makes up for being dragged out of bed so late."
"Thank you, Reverend," Angelus said. "Will you have a toast with us before you go?"
"Certainly, thank you," the preacher accepted the wine Angelus poured for him and once everyone had a glass they toasted the new husband and wife merrily. Spike saw the preacher home, with no harm coming to the man because as Angelus pointed out they needed him to record and catalog the marriage and they needed him alive to do that.
Meanwhile Angelus took his bride upstairs to celebrate their wedding night.
Angelus had seen hundreds, maybe even thousands, of naked and beautiful women in his life but never had any of them held him in such awe and reverence as his darling wife did right this moment. Every inch of skin, every curve and line revealed to him as he removed her clothing fascinated and aroused him. Her eyes watched him in complete love and trust, holding still as he explored her body and memorized every detail of it. He straightened when she was completely naked and reached up to her hair to remove the pins from her curls carefully. He loved her hair. It was glorious and dark as the night falling to her hips in soft curls and waves and so thick and soft that he could bury his hands in it and they would disappear from sight.
"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, Aislinn. There'll never be another to rival you, sweetling," Angelus swore fiercely. The intensity of his gaze sent a powerful surge of heat through her body and he growled softly as the scent of her arousal hit him hard.
"Could I – could I undress you?" Aislinn asked shyly. He softened his gaze and smiled gently at her innocent uncertainty. Reaching out to trace her lips with a fingertip he nodded.
"I'm your husband, baby. You don't have to ask. I'm all yours," he told her. Her eyes lit with delight and he grinned slowly. Why or how she adored him so much he had no idea but he wasn't about to question his good fortune.
He stood still as she tentatively began removing his clothing, wondering if he had a similar expression of reverence and adoration on his face during her undressing. He had to sit to let her remove his shoes and socks then stood again when she pulled his shirt off him and ran her hands over his broad muscled chest and shoulders then around to his back. No one had ever touched him like she did, like he was the most precious thing on earth. When she came back around and dropped her shaking hands to the buttons of his trousers he had to clench his fists to keep from grabbing her and taking her right then. He half expected her to stop there but after taking a deep steadying breath his bride undid the buttons and pulled his trousers down slowly and off his legs before she straightened and gazed at him with wide eyes from head to toe and from front to back. When she came around to face him again and looked up into his eyes she shook her head fiercely, her eyes as intense as his had been.
"You're wrong. You're the beautiful one. God's never made a man more perfect than you are. I'm certain of it," she swore. It snapped his control and he took her mouth in an almost punishing kiss filled with love, passion, protectiveness and possessiveness.
Angelus moved them onto the bed and covered his body with hers as he kissed her. He wanted to take her right then but he still had the presence of mind to remember that he had to slow down. He had promised to make it good for her. He kissed her and touched her all over and was delighted her mouth and hands weren't idle either. It seemed his young wife couldn't get enough of him. He knew she would be a passionate little vixen. She was made for him, his mate and his match. The love he felt for her humbled him. And yes, he admitted it now to himself if not aloud that it was love he felt for her. It wasn't something he had ever thought possible but it was the truth. It brought him low and humbled him in its power and intensity.
She gasped with surprise and pleasure when he suckled her breasts and brought them to hard, aching red peaks then moved his mouth to her belly and finally parted her legs and gave her his mouth. Aislinn arched her back and yelled when his tongue touched her wet, hot folds and clit. He put a hand on her belly to hold her down gently and proceeded to use his lips, teeth and tongue to drive her wild. When she was thrashing and bucking her hips into his mouth, her hands buried in his hair, Angelus rose and leaned over slipping one long skilled finger inside her and thrusting slowly then quicker and added a second finger. When he felt her get close, he kissed her mouth deeply.
"Come on, baby. Come for me, sweetling. Now, Aislinn," he demanded in a whisper then curled his fingers inside her and hit her G-spot and she came hard screaming his name. Damn, could his wife scream or what, he thought with pride. That girl had a set of lungs. He couldn't believe that scream hadn't shattered the glass in the room.
Angelus settled himself between her thighs as she came down from her orgasm and gazed up at him with dazed eyes. He brushed the hair back from her flushed and beautiful face and smiled at her before kissing her slack mouth lightly. "There's more, baby," he said.
She nodded running her fingers through his hair then whimpered when she felt the head of his cock brushing against her entrance. Looking down at him her eyes went wide and flew back to his. "Darlin, that won't fit."
"Yes it will, sweetling. It will hurt a moment, though. But only a moment, I promise," he kissed her and caressed her body to bring her back to the same level of passion of himself then he took himself in hand and eased inside her slowly. She tensed slightly and he stilled a moment and met her eyes. "Relax, baby. Open up for me, Aislinn."
Aislinn nodded and relaxed her body fixing her attention on his beautiful face and running her hands over his shoulders and chest. Then he came into her fully with a quick, smooth thrust and broke her maidenhead. She could not have stopped the cry of pain or the tears that filled her eyes if she tried.
He stilled inside her, clenching his teeth and gasping at the mind-blowing pleasure he felt at being inside her at last. It was more than he could have hoped for and imagined. She was so tight, so unbelievably tight, and hot and wet and fit him like a glove. He was right. She was made for him. Her body fit his like they were cut from the same block of marble. Bending his head he kissed away her tears and whispered reassurances to her.
"Shh, honey. It's all right. It'll go away in a moment. It won't hurt at all next time, I swear. I had to get through your maidenhead," he explained gently. "I'm sorry, love."
She nodded and he rested his forehead against hers. Aislinn drew a shaky breath and forced her body to relax. The pain was almost gone now and replaced by an ache deep inside her. She moved her hips up experimentally and he hissed with pleasure and shut his eyes tight. "Angelus?" she asked in concern.
"I'm all right, baby. Does it still hurt?" he asked tightly.
"No, it aches," she moved again and he moved with her. "Oh goodness."
Angelus began to move inside her slowly and gently, in and out, and she moved with him perfectly. It hit him again that he really could not have found a more perfect mate. When he shifted or changed pace she moved with him and by the time he was pounding hard into her she had wrapped her legs around him and was raking her nails into his back as she screamed his name and met him thrust for thrust. When he couldn't take anymore he slipped a hand between them and worked her clit hard. She screamed out his name and came so hard he came with her with a screaming feral roar. He had no choice but to come with her. Her orgasm made her inner muscles clamp down on his cock like a vise and milked every ounce of essence he had to give.
He collapsed on top of her then rolled to his back and brought her with him to lie atop his body. Angelus had never felt more sated and content in his existence. He reached down and pulled the covers over them before wrapping his arms around her tightly and kissing her head that rested on his shoulder. She had passed out, he noted with pleasure. Then he noticed he was purring again, purring like a big cat. But with Aislinn it made sense. It was good to be married, he decided. There was just one problem. He still had to turn her and he couldn't afford to wait.
Angelus gave her half an hour more of sleep before he began kissing and caressing her again. She stirred moaning and arching into him, kissing him back and letting her hands roam his body with newfound appreciation. He moved over on top of her and entered her slowly groaning at the pleasure of it. He rocked into her slowly for a little while then he sat back on his haunches and pulled her with him to straddle his lap and hooked her legs around his waist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely. Soon they were moving together in a wild rhythm, hard and fast. Angelus could hear her heart pounding, her blood pumping strong in her veins and it called to him. He held her close and tight as he felt her climax drawing close. She clung to him and kissed and sucked his neck hard making him growl with appreciation. Then he felt her nails claw into his back and she threw her head back and screamed out her orgasm, her tight pussy clamping down on his cock in powerful contractions. It was time now. He let his features shift and sunk his fangs into her neck. She gasped and climaxed again as he drained her deeply and quickly. He came so hard then he saw stars, roaring out her name and holding in an almost punishing embrace. Then he bit her again, draining her until her heart slowed to almost a stop and she grew light and cold in his arms.
Reaching over to the knife he had in the nightstand he cut his neck and brought her mouth to it. "Drink, baby. You'll be mine forever now," he told her. She began drinking hesitantly. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized that the blood she drank from him now was the same as the 'special medicine' he had given her earlier. The bloodlust took over then, the survival instinct, and she bit down on the wound, drinking deeply and making him orgasm again inside her. That shocked the hell out of him but he welcomed it, embraced it and rode it out holding her firmly in his arms and rocking her as she drank his blood down.
He gave her more blood than he had given Drusilla or William but he had his reasons. There was something special in her blood, something he had only tasted once before, and it was like ambrosia, like liquid sunlight. He wanted her to be stronger than his other childer. He let her drink until he felt her body go limp and unconsciousness. She was in the deep sleep now and would be the next three nights until she arose. He laid her gently back down and used the sheet to wipe the blood from her mouth and neck carefully before taking her in. His fourth childe to date and by far the most beautiful. But she would be more than just his childe. He had married her. And he was going to make her his consort too. Angelus had never even considered a consortium before but he wanted to be bound to Aislinn and she to him in every possible way.
Angelus got up and carefully bathed and dressed her before bathing and dressing himself. He then wrapped her in a blanket and carried her downstairs. Spike was back, sitting in the library reading. He stood when Angelus entered with her.
"I dug a grave under the trees out back," Spike told him lighting a lantern and leading them outside to the freshly dug grave. Angelus handed her to Spike while he got into the hole then took her and laid her down carefully before climbing out and the two of them buried her.
Spike couldn't help but notice how strangely quiet his sire was at the moment. He looked over and saw Angelus staring down at the grave with an unreadable expression on his face.
"Sire?" he asked quietly. "Are you all right?"
Angelus didn't answer, just gave him a curt nod, and walked back into the house. He went back into the master bedroom and climbed into the bed that smelled of him and Aislinn and went to sleep clinging to her pillow. Spike followed him back into the house and upstairs a few moments later and looked into the open doorway to see Angelus there. Then he went down the hall to his own bedroom and went to sleep as well.