The Slave, the Princess and the Wise -- part 10 of The Island of Galleno (Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss.)
by Isabelle
Rating: R (for cursing, mild nudity, adult situations and violence)
Disclaimers: BTVS belong to Joss Whedon, ME, and UPN they are being used for entertainment, I don't own them. The Count of Monte Cristo belongs to Alexandre Dumas--Spike's journey was taken from the idea of the book and is used in the skeleton of the Series. The title for this part comes as inspiration from Cream's song Tales of Brave Ulysses (from BTVS episode 'Band Candy')
Summary: The moment that Spike finally has Buffy he is vamp-napped by Riley and a new officer, Jack Marshall and sent to the Island of Galleno off the Moroccan coast where all the leftovers of the Initiative are being placed. Buffy frantically looks for Spike but gets news that he was 'accidentally killed' by Jack, who decides to make Sunnydale his residence. The whole thing is Spike trying to get back to Sunnydale and Buffy thinking he's dead. It's filled with exotic places, tons of Original Characters, mysticism, enchantment, magic and love. It takes him years to find out who he is before he can find the one he loves.
Spoilers: Set after Normal Again, Season 6
Feedback: bih80reviews@yahoo.com
Archiving: Carnal Sins, DeathMarkedLove, and Only Time--all others please ask.
A/N: Spike centered Chapter--I know you guys want me to send Jack to the guillotine but hold on *bg*
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Buffy hugged the coat to her small body closer as she the wind hit her and chilled her to the bone. It was a cold front.
Middle of March and she was freezing.
But the outside wind could never compare to the coldness in her heart. She was almost numb with it.
The only reason she went on day to day was because of her son.
Her William.
He was safe now staying with Aunt Willow and Sunt Tara. Happy there. Not at all aware of what this day means.
The only one that knew was Jack and he had conveniently chosen to forget like he had every other year.
She looked back at her SUV.
It was parked close, she had stakes and holy water just in case. She might not have her strength but she remembered her training and she could defend herself in Sunnydale's cemeteries.
But the place was near. Very near.
She was almost there.
She stopped at the entrance and stood before the old door.
Reaching out with her gloved hand she placed it against the concrete and just let herself remember.
She had done this same action long ago... before the nerd trio had made her think she had killed Katrina.
She sighed.
Pushing the door open she let herself in, let herself feel the emptiness of the crypt and let his faint smell surround her.
She walked downstairs to the still intact bed.
She lay down and buried her nose in his covers. She smiled lazily when the faint smell of him hit her.
Opening her small paper bag she took out the contents and spread them on the bed sheets.
Before her lay a small cup cake, a lighter and four candles. The small blonde stuck the four candles in the cup cake and lit them up.
She smiled a watery smile at it and looked around.
"Ok--don't laugh," she said to the empty room. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Spike..." she choked up. "Happy birthday to you."
Softly she blew out the candles.
"You've been gone for four years..." hollow echo answered her. "I miss you..." she smiled. "William--you would be crazy about him... at times I think he knows, he's so smart and he loves to write and read and he's only 3..."
The silence acknowledged her.
"Sometimes I see you in my dreams... and you're ok and you're almost going to get back home. You'll come back and then you'd take us away from it all." she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I don't know if we have a happily ever after, you know--but for at least some time we're happy." she sniffed as her lips trembled. "I haven't stopped loving you...and I know that wherever you are... even in hell you love me too... and that's..."
She remembered his face before she died--there at the foot of her stairs.
Telling her it was enough.
But is wasn't enough.
It was never enough.
"Long ages past..." she whispered to his cupcake.
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"What are you thinking of?" soft murmuring voice came form behind him.
Spike took his gaze away from the night city and turned to look at Fadma as she lounged by the door frame.
"Or shall I say of whom?"
He smiled.
"Her highness is very wise," he said to her and turned to face her.
She was just absolutely stunning.
Most importantly --she knew it.
"You find me beautiful, M'lord?" she whispered, inching towards him.
He cleared his throat. "I find Nicole Kidman beautiful--makes no difference, pet."
She smiled. "Who's wise now?"
Spike shook his head. "I'm not wise." he looked off into the distance again. The desert was cold at night. He liked it. "If I had been wiser I might have not done some of the things I had."
"Have you ever thought that maybe and perhaps this is the path Allah had planned for you?" she asked coming to stand next to him.
He looked at her sharply. "No one shapes my path--I set it on my own. What I say and do now will determine the consequences of tomorrow!"
She got closer to him, drowning in the yellow light of his eyes.
"And what will you say and do now?"
Her lips were so close and she smelled like citrus musk--it was intoxicating him. But her green eyes were too small... not like Buff--
He shook himself.
"I will bid you good night, your highness and walk away." he whispered and did just that, leaving her standing there by the night.
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"What's happening?" Spike asked Talsi who stood by one of the large pillars of the palace watching as they brought the slaves out to stand before Nabil.
"The war of the slaves--very big entertainment in the palace. The winner is given to a rich sheik or lord." Talsi told Spike as they walked closer to the scene.
"But it's not about the winner--it's about the betting."
"Betting?" Spike asked, confused.
"Yes, the sheiks and lords place bets on which slave they think might win."
Spike huffed. "Nothing changes in parts of the world--same human debility's."
He started to walk away.
"Lord William!"
Spike cursed internally and closed his eyes, slowly turning around and placing a smile on his face.
"Yes, your highness."
Nabil beckoned him forward and he went along. Standing next to the prince he looked at the six slaves before the prince.
They were dirty and in shackles, beards and flith covered them.
"I have been told you are wise, m'lord," the prince said.
Spike glanced sideways at Fadma who was sitting next to her father and she smiled innocently, he fumed.
"Have you?"
"I have--tell me, which of these slaves do you suppose will win--in whom shall I place my bets on?" he asked and the court was silent as they waited for Spike's answer.
Spike laughed a bit. "M'lord--how much exactly are you placing on the line here?"
Nabil looked pensive for a moment. "In American dollars?... Three hundred thousand."
Spike choked. "300,000?"
Nabil laughed. "If you're as wise as you are humble I will give you half my winnings--you can do with them as you please."
Ok, this was looking up--with that money could get his treasure.
"Agreed then--let me see."
He looked over at the slaves.
They were all strong and all very capable of killing one another.
But the third one from the right... he walked closer and studied him.
There was something in his eyes... the man looked back at him with defiement.
"This one." he stated and the room started the mumble.
Nabil leaned forward. "I was going for the fourth one--why chose you this one?"
Spike walked back and stood next to Nabil. He cocked his head to the side and held the slave's eyes. "He wants to live."
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When she woke she felt sticky and hot.
Where was she?
She sat up and realized that like tradition goes she had fallen asleep crying on his bed on the anniversary of his disappearance.
"Jeez--have I really stopped being so predictable?"
She stood up and brushed her clothes off.
Here was the wife of the future California Representative sleeping in a crypt--mourning for her dead lover.
She winced as her bare foot was embedded by something in the floor.
A little black thing she saw as she pulled it back up.
She picked it up.
A metal little black thing.
She studied it.
It looked like one of Riley's military accessories... maybe it had fallen when they were here that one time with the demon eggs.
She sighed and placed it next to her in the mattress as she tied her boots.
William must be waiting with all his things ready--it must be past 9AM.
She quickly looked around the crypt once more and placed a hand on the TV, just feeling it one more time and slipped out.
She arrived at Willow's house around 10AM with all the traffic. She was right--William was waiting with his small backpack all ready.
"Mommy!" he cried and jumped on her arms.
She groaned as she lifted him up. "You're heavy!"
"Big boy!" he claimed.
"Yes you are," she kissed his neck and he squirmed. "My big boy."
"Hey Buffy!" Willow greeted her smiling, her apron covered with cookie crumbs.
"He was missing his mommy last night so I told him lots of old Scoobies stories and baked him cookies for breakfeast.!"
Buffy stared at her friend. "You gave my three year old son cookies for breakfast?"
Willow frowned, realizing what she had done.
William smiled happily.
"Oh! They were oatmeal! Oatmeal is good--I think?" she asked unsure.
Buffy sighed and kissed William's cheek again. "It's ok, Wills--but when I can't make him take a nap today I'm sending him over."
Willow smiled, not knowing the consequences. "How was ... it?"
Buffy put William down and let him play with Ms.Kittyfantastico.
"Same old, same old... only less smelly." she frowned.
Willow frowns. "It stunk?"
"No!... I mean--it smelled of him... it's smelling less and less of him." she looked down at her son who was trying to handle a very pissed kitty. "I guess I should get used to it."
Willow smiled sympathetically. "I made some tea... let him play with Kitty for a while--let's have a little chat."
Buffy looked at her watch and surrendered. "Sure--being a politician's wife is not as time consuming as I thought... I guess Jack just doesn't want me involved."
Willow said nothing as she set the cup in front of Buffy. As Buffy sat she was reminded what she had in her back pocket as it poked her.
"Oh!" She pulled out the object she had found in Spike's cave. "Check out what I found."
Willow placed down the sugar spoon and took the object.
"Wow, Buffy! This is a highly sophisticated transmitter." Willow exclaimed, her eyes widening.
"It is?" Buffy asked confused and pulled William on her lap.
"Where did you get it?" Willow met her eyes.
"At Spike's crypt... must have been from the time Riley and I went there... you know with the eggs."
"Spike!" William said cheerfully.
Both Buffy and Willow stopped and looked at him.
"William?" Buffy asked him, turning him to look at her. "What did you say?"
"No--mommy said Spike."
Buffy smiled and tugged one of his stray curls behind his ear. "Mommy's good friend."
"I know him," he said and began playing with his toy truck, making noises for the motor and making it crash against Buffy's tea cup.
"William," she urged him. "How do you know Spike, baby?"
"In my dream," the truck crashed again.
Willow's and Buffy's eyes met--they were both wide.
"I'll check this transmitter."
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The Persian court watched with awe as the slave Spike said would win defeated the last slave.
They clapped and cheered. Spike laid back and nodded.
"William! You've made me a richer and more respected man!" Nabil clapped his back.
"I doubt 100,000 makes a difference to you, M'lord," Spike told the prince.
Nabil just laughed some more. "Riches come in many ways."
"That is does," Spike said.
"I'm indebted to you, friend--in honor of that I'll give you the champion slave!"
Spike stared back at him and blew out his smoke. "What would I do with a slave."
Nabil laughed. "Everything you don't wish to do yourself--don't refuse a gift, William."
He walked away to talk to the other rich sheiks that owned him money.
"Take him to my quarters," he told the guards.
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"Buffy, check this out--I can see the day it was used by tracing the frequency," she said as she typed on her laptop then stopped and smiled at Buffy. "I've missed this--the Scooby thing."
Buffy smiled at Willow. "Me too... feels --normal."
"I got it!"
"Now Riley came here before Xander's first attempt at marriage...around February..."
"The frequency was sent on March 20..."
Buffy pulled back and stared at Willow. "That was yesterday... four years from yesterday--"
"Since he went missing," Willow answered for her.
Buffy stood there in shock. "Jack told me that it happened on his way home to me... out in the west cemetery, not in his crypt."
"Buffy..."
William pulled at his mother's pants. "Home," he whimpered and rubbed his eyes.
Buffy pulled him up and cradled him against her.
"I don't know, Will..." she looked ahead very darkly. "But I think I know someone who can help me out."
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"Nice party."
He turned with a smile to look at her.
"Yes, your highness." She smiled and walked around him, letting her clothes touch him lightly on all the right places--he bit his lip to contain a groan.
She placed her hands on the rail. "You're always hiding... always so far away." she turned to look at him. "Tell me about her."
Spike looked at her for a moment before he gave in. "She was brave and loyal and...beautiful..."
"You speak of her in the past."
Spike clenched his jaw. "She is in the past... she died... three years ago."
Fadma ducked her head--her sexual intentions completely gone and all that covered her face was concern.
"I'm sorry..."
Spike shook his head, not wanting her apologies.
"You still love her?" she asked.
Spike smiled. "She was... ripped from me... forced away from 'er..." he looked at her. "Sometimes at night... I tell myself she's still alive... waiting back home. Just... waiting."
"And..." she encouraged him.
"The day comes and it's no longer night... dreams belong in the darkness..." he sighed. "I've never told anyone ... I mean I've never talked to anyone about 'er--not after her death."
She rubbed his hands together. "Not even Archie."
"Archie--your friend in the island?"
Spike sighed, remembering Archie. "Yeah... good ol' Archie."
"I heard about the island..."
"Yeah... shit happens," he murmured. "Do yourself a favor, your highness... don't waste your time or pretty face on me... I don't want to forget... I'll be years before I forget..."
"I'm not asking you to forget," she stated and moved herself closer to him.
"Yeah..." he ran his cold hand over her bare shoulder and watched her skin rise with goose pimples. "But what you ask I can't yet give."
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"When I get back we'll talk, ok baby?" She explained to a very displeased William. He held his blankie closer to his face and turned away from her. "William, please--"
He ran into Tara's arms. The witch looked at both sympathetically. "I'll take care of him."
"Thank you," she told her with a small smile.
"Buffy are you sure about this? You'd have to tell Jack you've gone back there." Willow insisted.
"I know," the ex-slayer said determinedly and hefted her purse over her shoulder. "But I have to find out the truth, Wills... what if..."
Willow frowned at her friend.
Buffy sighed and grabbed her SUV's keys. "There's many 'what if's'."
"Please be careful," the red head warned.
"I will," she smiled and reached out touch her son's head. "I'll be back, baby--take care of your Aunties for me, okay?"
He didn't respond but only buried his face further into Tara's hair.
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Spike entered his quarters and quickly servants took his extra wrapping until he was left with a plain black t-shirt and the black pants.
"The slave has been brought in, m'lord--he's in the study."
Spike nodded and rubbed his neck as he entered the dimly lit area.
The slave was on his knees with his head bowed and two strong guards stood on either side of him with their swords ready.
"He speaks not Arabic not English, sir," one of them told him.
"What does he speak?" Spike studied the man.
"Spanish."
"Thank you--you may leave," he told them.
The guards looked unsure.
"I can assure you I will be fine."
They nodded and left the room.
The slave didn't move.
"What is your name?" he asked him in Spanish.
The slave looked up at him but said nothing.
He asked him again.
The slave looked unsure and looked away. "Lugo," he said.
"Lugo?"
The slave nodded.
"How old are you?" Spike asked him.
Lugo sat up a bit taller. "Nineteen."
Spike whistled and walked around him, studying him and pouring himself a nice helping of whiskey.
"You're a boy."
Lugo's jaw hardened. "How did you become a slave?"
Lugo took a deep breath--as if he hadn't spoken in ages. "I lost a bet."
"You're a betting man then?" Spike asked, sipping his drink and looking at him.
"I've learned my lesson," he answered.
"A reformed better." he laughed.
Lugo said nothing but stared straight ahead.
Spike walked up to him and lifted up his shackles. "Want these off?"
Lugo studied the vampire and nodded.
"Then make me trust you." Spike responded. "That I won't wake up in the middle of the night with a stake in my heart... that I won't go into my bath one day and find out it's holy water..." he stopped and looked at him. "You get my drift?"
"I would not do so." Lugo stated.
Spike walked to him until they were nose-to-nose. "And why not?" he asked.
"Because you saved my life. Even without shackles I would serve you."
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Jack Marshall hung up the important phone call and smiled down at the papers before him. Everything was going the way he expected.
That is until his door were almost ripped open and he stood stock still staring with awe. "Buffy?"
Buffy dropped the transmitter on his desk and placed her hands on her hips.
The transmitter rolled until it was face to face with Jack.
He looked up at her with questions in his eyes.
"Explain," she said harshly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC....
(Oh yeah--we're rollin' now *g* Also William's dreams will be addressed *g*)