Chapter Eleven

Being Chased

Buffy woke up to a scream from Dawn, all her slayer senses alert. Spike and Fire yelled as sun came streaming into the car they were in from a spear that went through the window on Fire's side of the vehicle. Buffy looked around them, far as she could tell the people on horse back were human and they were trying to kill them. Another spear went through Spike's window causing him to curse at them. Fire grabbed one pulling him half in the car giving his arm a twist that made a sickening crack before punching him in the face and throwing him out of the van.

"Bro, don't these guys look familiar from one of those stupid books you used to love so much," Fire yelled through the rushing wind going throughout the vehicle. Spike took a closer look at the guy he had grabbed around the neck punching his head before knocking him off his horse being careful not to let the sun hit his exposed skin.

"Yeah these guys are the Knights of Byzantium. I didn't think they were around after the crusades in Medieval Times but I stand corrected," Spike replied gasping as sun hit his hand. Buffy turned to him in shock before turning around to look at the other vehicles behind them. They weren't being attacked but Oz had changed and was standing on the roof attacking them before they came to close to their vehicle. She sighed a little relief that her friends were okay and not sustaining much damage.

"What do they want with us though? Aren't they supposed to be doing good deeds and saving damsels in distress?" Buffy asked looking over at Spike. He nodded slowly.

"Luv, your making me think back a long bloody time ago. You should be bloody happy I was able to tell you who they were," Spike stated. Giles looked in his back mirror to see more heading towards them.

"We haven't lost them yet," Giles said and Buffy turned around to look with a groan. Dawn sat quietly shrinking down in her seat as far as she possible could. Fire sighed looking down at her. He placed a hand on her shoulder before the sound of the hooves came closer.

"Get them we can't let the Key get away unless you want the universe destroyed," The leader yelled at his troops. Buffy looked over in Dawn's direction to see if she had heard what they had said. The girl was up right and wide eyed as she had turned to stare behind them. Fire looked at her with a small smile.

"Well I always knew you had to be bloody strong to be a vampire's mate," Fire said but Dawn shook her head. She turned to him with a sigh. She looked out his broken window before unbuckling her seatbelt and climbing over him carefully.

"Hold my waist. I'm going to get rid of these guys," Dawn stated as she careful climbed out of the broken window. Fire's hands wrapped around her waist securing her in place and he quickly made sure his hands avoided any sunlight streaming in through the window. Dawn turned her palms out to the riders that were charging towards her.

"Get the Key!" One of them ordered. Dawn sighed staring at them as a green light was emitted from her hands. Suddenly the light exploded towards them. It blinded the riders and then just as suddenly they seemingly disappeared into thin air as the light past by each of them. Dawn slipped back into the vehicle and slowly sat back down in her seat. Buffy turned to look around and there wasn't a knight in sight.

"What did you do to them?" Buffy asked quietly. Dawn looked over her shoulder at her sister with a sigh.

"I sent them home with no recollection of what took place here or what they were after," She replied just as quietly. Fire stared at her in shock that she could even do that advanced type of magic. The rest of the trip that day was taken in silence as they pulled up to a motel somewhere in the middle of nowhere sometime in the night. Buffy looked at the motel as she climbed out of the van. The green neon sign was missing a few letters and the two story motel's white paint was chipped and peeling. Giles and Joyce did a quick head count before heading into the motel lobby.

Buffy sighed as the energy in her body from being on edge was starting to leave her body. Spike came up behind her wrapping his arms around her waist. His teeth grazed her neck with a silent plea for food. She gave a small smile before tilting her head to the side allowing his teeth to sink deep within her skin. He pulled away and kissed her neck in silent thanks. Joyce and Giles returned handing Buffy, Xander, Tara and Angel a key.

Buffy looked at the key then sighed as she went into the trunk grabbing hers and Spike's bag. Spike grabbed Dawn and Fire's as Fire carried the sleeping girl who had passed out hours ago in his arms. Buffy went up the stairs and to their door. She slid the key into the lock and opened the door. Two double beds were the main feature of the room. A picture hung over each bed and a television was on the beat-up dresser. Otherwise the place was not in the greatest condition but they all knew it would do. Fire walked by the mirror hanging on the wall and Buffy saw her sister floating in thin air making her chuckle softly.

Fire gently placed Dawn on the bed before kissing her on the forehead. He grabbed the bag from Spike then grabbed a container. He opened the lid with a grimace at the congealed blood. A hand sleepily touched his wrist. The lid was placed back on before setting down on the dresser without anyone touching it. Dawn yawned as she pulled Fire over to her. He sat down beside her looking at her. She pulled her hair to one side exposing her pale neck to him.

"Dawn I shouldn't," He said quietly. Buffy shook her head as she slipped into a pair of shorts and t-shirt while the other vampire was pre-occupied. Spike laid on the bed his shirt and duster lay forgotten somewhere. He stared at Fire before giving a sigh.

"You might-as-well. For all we know it could save her life," Spike muttered rolling over as Buffy climbed into the bed beside him. Dawn smiled turning to look at him through blurry eyes. Fire sighed heavily before changing and wrapping his arms around her waist. He bit down gently drinking deeply before pulling away kissing her neck softly. Dawn laid back down before squirming out of her jeans and kicking off her socks then covering herself over and drifting off to sleep.

Fire slipped out of his duster then his shirt before climbing in beside her. She slowly rolled over to curl up beside his cool body. He watched her sleep for a long time wondering if everything would be all right before he joined her in dreams.

Buffy woke suddenly looking around carefully. There was a disturbance outside and her slayer senses were telling her that there was demons. Spike woke as she moved to grab her jeans from the floor. She pulled them on roughly as she grabbed her leather jacket. Spike quickly moved to pull on his own clothes sensing his mate's urgency. Fire woke a moment after that before realizing something was missing. He looked down at the bed peering through the darkness. Shock riddled his face as he looked up at Buffy who had just turned a light on.

"Dawn's gone,"

To Be Continued…