CROSS ROADS
Part 3
With the sun high overhead, traveling about in broad daylight was very much a hazard to his health. His undead health, that is. It was also hazardous to others of his kind, but Angel was rarely ever concerned about his own kind. He was uniquely different from them for he was cursed with a soul, and he was forced to live every day with the memories of every living soul he had tormented. And every day he wished he could take it all back.
He wished he had never met Darla.
But wishing was not going to make any of it go away. It never did. All it really did was to force him to think about his past more. It just made the pain worst. The pain would never go away, but he knew that he could at least make it so that it was bearable. He had made a vow to help the innocent as long as he was able to do so. Whether it was saving them from demons of the night, or maybe even an ear to listen, he would be there for them. He would be there for the living.
And he wanted to be there for Willow.
He couldn't imagine anyone wanting to hurt Willow. Willow was special.
Willow was the most, sweetest girl he had ever known. She was so caring and understanding of people, even if she didn't know them. She gave him a chance to be a friend and she had even let him in...Not just to her home, but to her heart as well. She trusted him. Angel had to find her.
Using the numerous underground tunnels and sewer systems beneath Sunnydale, he made his way to the old abandoned factory where he knew the enemy would be. He gained himself entrance, kept out of sight from the minions, and found his way up to the catwalks above the main warehouse of the factory. Below him, he found what he was looking for. But it wasn't exactly like he had expected.
Drusilla, and Dalton were at the table. Dru was sitting at the head of the table with her head tilted and she had her hands over her cards. She was whispering to herself with her eyes half closed. Dalton was sitting still in his own chair, and he had been looking at books, but the meeting commencing around him made studying quite difficult.
"You are OUT of your BLOODY mind!!" Spike shouted dramatically as he stood with his arms outstretched above him as if beckoning unto the heavens for some bloody common sense.
Angel shook his head at the scene. Spike was always one to dramatize. The vampire whom had killed two slayers just loved to do that. He so much enjoyed to listen to his own voice come back at him from the echoes caused by the spacious room of the factory.
Angel again looked down at Drusilla. She had that familiar dazed look on her face of serenity...calm...peace. Angel knew better. As beautiful as Dru was, she was the most evil vampire Angel had ever met. But that was another fault of his. If she ever regained her full strength, Sunnydale was in a lot of trouble.
As far as Dalton was concerned, he was just a lackey. Another minion who had better do what he was told at the snap of a finger or become dust. Just like that.
There were three other vampires milling about, and Angel was certain that they were there just for show. They looked tough and imposing, but that was the odd thing. No matter that the factory was crawling with vampires, the three human visitors standing in front of Spike did not even appear to be intimidated in the slightest bit.
"We cannot make a pact with you," Spike told the humans. He regarded them one by one. "It's really quite simple, even you blokes ought to get the hint. Vampires do not make a pact of any kind with a food resource. Isn't that right, pet?" He tilted back toward Dru.
Dru looked away from her cards and she fixed a gaze upon Abhar Jhamel and smiled seductively. "Yes, luv...you are so right."
Angel had seen many whither under that look. Dru had a special ability not like any vampire. She could look into the eyes of her victim and make them do anything she wanted. This was the first time Angel had seen that look have absolutely no affect.
Jhamel returned the gaze. Then he leaned forward and said, "Your witchcraft will NOT work on me, demon!"
Dru sat back and hissed.
Spike grabbed Jhamel by the throat and lifted him up off the floor. "Where the hell are your bloody manners? You don't become a guest in my house, and then insult the hostess! Apologize!"
Jhamel managed to hiss a command in his native tongue.
His two human companions sprang into action. They opened their coats and revealed explosives that were strapped to their torsos. Spike took one look. Then he set Jhamel down and laughed.
"Oh, bloody hell!! You blokes would come into my home and blow yourselves up?" He slapped Jhamel on the back. "I'll say this for you, chap. You've got balls. But we don't die so easily, as you well know. Your explosives may hurt us, but--"
"These bombs will incinerate your flesh and turn you to dust!" Jhamel
shouted. "Can vampires survive that?"
Spike frowned at him. Then, he shrugged. "Well...I guess you have a point there." He regarded the terrorist warily. "So what the hell do you want?"
Jhamel paused for affect. "We want your people to leave us be! Let us move about as we will throughout Sunnydale. Let us have access to all of your tunnels. Do not hinder us from our task in any way. If you allow us this, we will do something for you."
Spike looked at him with interest. "And what will you do for us?"
"We will give you the Slayer!"
Spike took in a breath. Behind him, Dru smiled and purred. "Oh, luv...I want the Slayer!"
Dalton himself was now paying rapt attention to the meeting.
Spike raised a hand up. "Wait a moment, my precious one. We have tried to get the Slayer for you many times and we know from experience that this is no easy task." He fixed his gaze upon Jhamel. "How do you propose to get us the Slayer?"
Jhamel shrugged. "It is easy. We possess something she wants."
"And that would be?"
"We have Willow Rosenberg."
Spike stared at him.
Dalton dropped his glasses as he tried to wipe off a smudge print.
Dru was so stunned by this that she got out of her seat in spite of her weak condition. She also stared at Jhamel, but a smile began to touch her face. The three vampires who were there for show looked at each other. They didn't voice their thoughts, but they did wonder to themselves why no one else had thought of that.
Spike took a step closer to Jhamel. "You have Willow? How the hell did you bloody pull that one off?!"
"I went into her home," Jhamel explained, "and simply shot her parents, and another woman who was there. Then I shot Willow and simply took her away."
"You shot them?" Spike looked disappointed. "You killed them?! Willow isn't any good to us if she's dead!"
Jhamel scowled. "Do not take me for a fool, demon! I have not killed any of them. I have simply tranquilized them." He paused for affect. "Dead people cannot suffer on this earth."
On the catwalk, Angel softly commented, "Speak for yourself."
Spike tilted his head back and he laughed. "This is incredible!" He turned and looked at Dru and Dalton. "Isn't it, baby? I mean can you bloody believe this?"
Dalton wondered if that was a trick question so he didn't know whether to nod or shake his head. Finally, he just shrugged.
"Aren't you supposed to be looking at a book...for a bloody ritual?" Spike asked him.
"Uh...Yes, but--" Dalton began.
"Oh, don't be so hard on him, dear." Dru smiled. "He's excited about the company we are having."
Spike laughed again. He shook his head in amazement. "I must say, I had found it difficult to believe that there were actually humans out there who were capable of far more acts of evil than we are. I guess I don't find that hard to believe any more." He turned to look at Jhamel. "Though, I would like a LITTLE respect, if you please! I do have this thing about being called a demon. Try 'Spike'."
Jhamel just looked at him.
Dru sidled up close to Spike and rubbed his shoulders. "Luv, I'm hungry. I...want...a...snack..." She purred in his ear and peered at Jhamel.
Spike glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Then he looked at Jhamel. "Tell you what, Mr. Speaker. Bring us Willow Rosenberg...and I mean right now, and we'll give you access to the sewer systems. Give us the Slayer, you can have all of the tunnels."
Jhamel scowled at him. "We must have Willow to lure the Slayer."
"Did you not just hear my lady say she was hungry?"
"Your appetites mean nothing to me, demon!"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Again with the bloody name calling!"
Jhamel pointed at him. "I am giving you an opportunity to become allies with us instead of enemies! You give me nothing!"
"You're a bleeding terrorist, for pity's sake!" Spike shouted back. "You bloody bitch and moan about the wrong done to your own people and so you plant bombs and cry out against America! I don't have to give you anything!" He paused as he regarded Jhamel. Then he took a deep breath and he let it out. "You're a dangerous bastard, Speaker. I've no doubt of that. I have seen your kind before. You could be trouble if we don't come to some kind of agreement. So...tell me something then. Tell me what you are doing here in Sunnydale, and perhaps we can work this out to where we both get what we want."
Jhamel took a step toward him. "I will tell you. But you must first agree to give me and my men complete access to all of the tunnels. All of them!"
"You will tell me...and I will grant you that access. I'll even see to it that if anyone gives you trouble we'll just give it right back. In other words, we'll watch your back."
Jhamel appeared to be thinking about that. Finally, he nodded. "I have a device...a very special device...that has the power to open the Hellmouth, thereby releasing the demons from beyond."
If Spike had been surprised about Willow's kidnapping, this secret revealed to him literally left him speechless. Finally, his mouth dropped open. "What?!" He stammered. "Are you bloody serious?!"
"Very serious, I assure you."
Spike shook his head. "No human weapon or device is capable of opening the Hellmouth."
"You underestimate the power of nuclear fusion."
Spike couldn't believe what he was hearing. He turned his head to look at Dru and Dalton. "Do you bloody believe this? He wants to bloody open the Hellmouth with a bloody nuclear bomb!"
Dalton looked thoughtful.
Spike scowled. "Don't tell me you think that could work?!"
"Well, I would need to look up some things, but--"
"You already have a bloody ritual to study up on," Spike shot back. Then he turned, looked at Jhamel, and shook his head. "And YOU are bloody mad! You want to open the Hellmouth by destroying Sunnydale? This just happens to be my home! My shopping center encompasses the whole bleeding town! I want to open the portal, but certainly not in that way. Besides, nuclear fusion is--"
"Nuclear fusion is the power of God!" Jhamel exclaimed. "Who do you think created such power?"
"Oh, please! Don't bring Him into this!"
"I will! Because it is Allah that brings us here to do his bidding and to destroy the enemies of his people!"
"I thought you were the bloody enemies of His people."
Jhamel ignored him. "With the device, I can open the portal!"
Spike frowned. "Even if you survive the blast, and even if the portal
opens...you will be dead! The demons that come out of there won't like for you to call them names. They will come after you and every living being on this planet! They'll eventually go around the world until they get to your people, too."
"We are prepared to die." Jhamel folded his arms. "No more talk. Decide now. Cooperate or become enemies."
Dru pouted. "I'm still hungry, luv."
Spike sighed. He looked at the Speaker. "You will bring us both Willow and the Slayer?"
Jhamel nodded. "When we have the Slayer, we will bring them both. Besides, we believe that Xander himself will come to us. If he does, we shall take him and he will lead us to the Hellmouth."
Spike blinked. "Because...?"
"He knows where it is."
Dalton let out a nervous chuckle. "Of course, he knows where it is. The Hellmouth--"
"--has NOT been seen by many. But we do know that Xander was there." Spike shot Dalton a warning look. He wanted to laugh, but he didn't. So the Speaker and his minions didn't have a clue as to where the Hellmouth was. Every vampire is Sunnydale knew where it was, but why spoil all the fun. "Very well, then. We shall be your allies."
Dru pouted some more. "Luv...I want a snack."
Spike sighed yet again. "I will get you something, baby. Just give me a minute." He sat down is his chair and put his feet up on the table.
"Before you go, Mr. Speaker, I'm curious. How is Willow? Are your men
hurting her or are they sworn to celibacy and all that?"
"We are not tempted by the flesh," Jhamel snapped.
Spike regarded him. "My baby girl doesn't like damaged goods, incase you're wondering why I'm asking."
Jhamel looked at him. "We do not hurt her body except to keep her tied in place. We restrict her movement. It is her mind that we do the most damage to. We weaken her will. We break her spirit. We tell her lies instead of truths." He shrugged. "We give her hope, then we crush it before her." He waved his hands in the air. "She is already broken." He leaned against the table and looked into Spike's eyes. "When we give her to you, her mind will be completely gone. And you can do with her as you will."
Spike looked at him for a long time. Finally, he nodded his head. "I was right about you. For a human..." he pointed at him, "you're a cold-hearted bastard."
When the three terrorists had finally left, Dru wrapped her arms around
Spike's neck and moaned. "Oh, my luv...I'm so hungry." She closed her eyes and danced seductively against him.
Dalton pretended to be busy looking elsewhere.
Spike held her with one arm around her. With his other hand, he snapped his fingers at the three minions. "Get us some food. Now!" Then he pointed at Dalton. "And you find a bloody hole to crawl into! Take your books, and read! I don't want to see your bloody face until you have the ritual!"
Dalton took his books and ran off.
But the three minions were still there. They looked at each other
nervously.
"Why are you idiots still standing there?" Spike demanded. "Aren't you
supposed to be shopping?"
"But..." one of them dared to say, "it's daylight."
"Then keep to the shadows."
"But...we'll have to--"
Spike glared at them. "Go! Now!"
The three vampires took off at a run. Dru continued to dance against Spike and as much as he was enjoying it...there was something else he had to attend to. He guided Dru to her chair and he gently eased her back into it.
Dru wanted to protest. "But I want to dance, luv."
He took her hands in his as she sat back in the chair, clearly exhausted. "You need to rest, baby." Spike looked at her with concern. "We'll dance after you've had a snack. All right?" He kissed her hands. "Now be a good girl and wait right here. Okay?"
"Okay, darling." She leaned back and closed her eyes.
Spike looked at her lovingly, and caressed her cheek. He turned to go when she said softly, "He's coming...I saw him..."
Puzzled, Spike turned to look at Dru closely. "Who's coming, luv?"
"He who was but is no more...He who is, yet still not sure..." She trailed off, and then appeared to be sleeping.
Spike frowned. "Luv...? Dru?" When there was no response, he turned and suddenly leapt upwards. Within seconds, he was on the catwalk face to face with Angel. "Heard enough?" he demanded.
Angel let out a sigh. "Get out of my way, Spike."
Spike pretended to be hurt. "Angel! You pierce my heart! I only wanted to pick your brain about the meeting you just attended. There's really no need to get defensive. This is my home, after all!"
"Spike, I don't have time for this."
Spike nodded his head. "Yes, you do. Where do you think you're going off to anyway? Did you really think you were going to follow them in broad daylight hoping they would lead you to Willow?" He laughed. "It's daylight hours, sunshine. Wake up and smell the roses."
Angel frowned. But he realized that Spike was right. "Where is she,
Spike?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Do you even know?"
Spike leaned against the railings, folded his arms across his chest and
sighed. "I'm afraid I don't know...But it's only a matter of time before one of us finds out where they're keeping her." He regarded Angel thoughtfully. "We could join forces and work together on this."
Angel looked at him suspiciously. "Join forces? You and me?"
He nodded. "And the Slayer, though I'd rather not."
Angel looked stunned. "Am I hearing you right, Spike? I just heard you make new allies with terrorists!"
Spike shrugged. "They didn't know I was lying to them."
"Well, how do I know that you're not lying to me?"
Spike let out a weary sigh of frustration. "Oh, for pity's sake, Angel! These mad terrorists want to nuke the whole damn town!! Do you really think I want that? Of course, I don't! I happen to like my bloody humble home. Yes, I want the Hellmouth open, but I don't believe for a moment that a nuclear device will do the trick." He paused as he looked at Angel. "I'm asking for a truce." He held out his hand.
Angel seemed to think about it. "What about Willow?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Forget Willow. She's too thin for a snack anyway. More like a crumb and you can't really get full on that, can you?"
"If you get to her, you won't harm her in any way?"
"You have my bleeding word." Spike hesitated, "You know my word is good. Have I ever broken my word with you in spite of our differences?"
Angel shook his head. "I believe you, Spike. But you have to keep the
others from her, and you can't give her to Dru."
"She'll be safer with me than where she is right now." Spike let out a
sigh. "Angel, we have to stop these damn terrorists and I'm willing to do everything in my power to do so." He held his hand out again. "Truce?"
Angel looked at Spike's hand...and then he shook it. "Truce."
They shook. But when this was over, Angel had to find out what this ritual was that Dalton was looking into and...who was this person that Dru saw in a vision?
"He who was but is no more...He who is, yet still not sure."
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They ate their breakfast in silence.
Mulder had given up on talking any further about what had happened during the night. He should have known that Scully would have seen something else. He could only swear that the girl was extremely dense at times. What would it take to convince her that the truth really was out there?
He sipped his coffee and watched the traffic below the second floor patio of Motel 6. Scully was reading the paper.
"Mulder...listen to this." She read part of an article. "'Willow Rosenberg disappeared from her home Thursday afternoon under bizarre circumstances. Burglary was not suspected because the parents, Ire and Sheila Rosenberg were only sedated and their daughter was apparently taken.'"
Mulder frowned. "What kind of journalists do they have in this town?
'Burglary not suspected'? Sounds like Willow Rosenberg was burglarized to me."
"The address of the Rosenberg home is not far from here. I passed the
street they live on last night." She smiled teasingly at him. "Do you think it was vampires?"
He shrugged. "Only if they were wrapped from head to toe with a dark drape and wearing dark sunglasses. The afternoon when the disappearance occurred is not a good time for them to come out." He paused in thought. "But there has been some instances where some humans would do their bidding during the day."
She frowned. "Why don't we just go and take a look? That would give me a good excuse for me being here with you."
Mulder hid a grin. "What's the matter, Scully? You don't like my company?"
"No, Mulder...I don't. Did you take a shower? You stink." She got up to go. "Are you coming?"
Mulder got up from the table. "Sure, but you're driving. I'd rather stink up your rental than mine."
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TO BE CONTINUED...
Part 3
With the sun high overhead, traveling about in broad daylight was very much a hazard to his health. His undead health, that is. It was also hazardous to others of his kind, but Angel was rarely ever concerned about his own kind. He was uniquely different from them for he was cursed with a soul, and he was forced to live every day with the memories of every living soul he had tormented. And every day he wished he could take it all back.
He wished he had never met Darla.
But wishing was not going to make any of it go away. It never did. All it really did was to force him to think about his past more. It just made the pain worst. The pain would never go away, but he knew that he could at least make it so that it was bearable. He had made a vow to help the innocent as long as he was able to do so. Whether it was saving them from demons of the night, or maybe even an ear to listen, he would be there for them. He would be there for the living.
And he wanted to be there for Willow.
He couldn't imagine anyone wanting to hurt Willow. Willow was special.
Willow was the most, sweetest girl he had ever known. She was so caring and understanding of people, even if she didn't know them. She gave him a chance to be a friend and she had even let him in...Not just to her home, but to her heart as well. She trusted him. Angel had to find her.
Using the numerous underground tunnels and sewer systems beneath Sunnydale, he made his way to the old abandoned factory where he knew the enemy would be. He gained himself entrance, kept out of sight from the minions, and found his way up to the catwalks above the main warehouse of the factory. Below him, he found what he was looking for. But it wasn't exactly like he had expected.
Drusilla, and Dalton were at the table. Dru was sitting at the head of the table with her head tilted and she had her hands over her cards. She was whispering to herself with her eyes half closed. Dalton was sitting still in his own chair, and he had been looking at books, but the meeting commencing around him made studying quite difficult.
"You are OUT of your BLOODY mind!!" Spike shouted dramatically as he stood with his arms outstretched above him as if beckoning unto the heavens for some bloody common sense.
Angel shook his head at the scene. Spike was always one to dramatize. The vampire whom had killed two slayers just loved to do that. He so much enjoyed to listen to his own voice come back at him from the echoes caused by the spacious room of the factory.
Angel again looked down at Drusilla. She had that familiar dazed look on her face of serenity...calm...peace. Angel knew better. As beautiful as Dru was, she was the most evil vampire Angel had ever met. But that was another fault of his. If she ever regained her full strength, Sunnydale was in a lot of trouble.
As far as Dalton was concerned, he was just a lackey. Another minion who had better do what he was told at the snap of a finger or become dust. Just like that.
There were three other vampires milling about, and Angel was certain that they were there just for show. They looked tough and imposing, but that was the odd thing. No matter that the factory was crawling with vampires, the three human visitors standing in front of Spike did not even appear to be intimidated in the slightest bit.
"We cannot make a pact with you," Spike told the humans. He regarded them one by one. "It's really quite simple, even you blokes ought to get the hint. Vampires do not make a pact of any kind with a food resource. Isn't that right, pet?" He tilted back toward Dru.
Dru looked away from her cards and she fixed a gaze upon Abhar Jhamel and smiled seductively. "Yes, luv...you are so right."
Angel had seen many whither under that look. Dru had a special ability not like any vampire. She could look into the eyes of her victim and make them do anything she wanted. This was the first time Angel had seen that look have absolutely no affect.
Jhamel returned the gaze. Then he leaned forward and said, "Your witchcraft will NOT work on me, demon!"
Dru sat back and hissed.
Spike grabbed Jhamel by the throat and lifted him up off the floor. "Where the hell are your bloody manners? You don't become a guest in my house, and then insult the hostess! Apologize!"
Jhamel managed to hiss a command in his native tongue.
His two human companions sprang into action. They opened their coats and revealed explosives that were strapped to their torsos. Spike took one look. Then he set Jhamel down and laughed.
"Oh, bloody hell!! You blokes would come into my home and blow yourselves up?" He slapped Jhamel on the back. "I'll say this for you, chap. You've got balls. But we don't die so easily, as you well know. Your explosives may hurt us, but--"
"These bombs will incinerate your flesh and turn you to dust!" Jhamel
shouted. "Can vampires survive that?"
Spike frowned at him. Then, he shrugged. "Well...I guess you have a point there." He regarded the terrorist warily. "So what the hell do you want?"
Jhamel paused for affect. "We want your people to leave us be! Let us move about as we will throughout Sunnydale. Let us have access to all of your tunnels. Do not hinder us from our task in any way. If you allow us this, we will do something for you."
Spike looked at him with interest. "And what will you do for us?"
"We will give you the Slayer!"
Spike took in a breath. Behind him, Dru smiled and purred. "Oh, luv...I want the Slayer!"
Dalton himself was now paying rapt attention to the meeting.
Spike raised a hand up. "Wait a moment, my precious one. We have tried to get the Slayer for you many times and we know from experience that this is no easy task." He fixed his gaze upon Jhamel. "How do you propose to get us the Slayer?"
Jhamel shrugged. "It is easy. We possess something she wants."
"And that would be?"
"We have Willow Rosenberg."
Spike stared at him.
Dalton dropped his glasses as he tried to wipe off a smudge print.
Dru was so stunned by this that she got out of her seat in spite of her weak condition. She also stared at Jhamel, but a smile began to touch her face. The three vampires who were there for show looked at each other. They didn't voice their thoughts, but they did wonder to themselves why no one else had thought of that.
Spike took a step closer to Jhamel. "You have Willow? How the hell did you bloody pull that one off?!"
"I went into her home," Jhamel explained, "and simply shot her parents, and another woman who was there. Then I shot Willow and simply took her away."
"You shot them?" Spike looked disappointed. "You killed them?! Willow isn't any good to us if she's dead!"
Jhamel scowled. "Do not take me for a fool, demon! I have not killed any of them. I have simply tranquilized them." He paused for affect. "Dead people cannot suffer on this earth."
On the catwalk, Angel softly commented, "Speak for yourself."
Spike tilted his head back and he laughed. "This is incredible!" He turned and looked at Dru and Dalton. "Isn't it, baby? I mean can you bloody believe this?"
Dalton wondered if that was a trick question so he didn't know whether to nod or shake his head. Finally, he just shrugged.
"Aren't you supposed to be looking at a book...for a bloody ritual?" Spike asked him.
"Uh...Yes, but--" Dalton began.
"Oh, don't be so hard on him, dear." Dru smiled. "He's excited about the company we are having."
Spike laughed again. He shook his head in amazement. "I must say, I had found it difficult to believe that there were actually humans out there who were capable of far more acts of evil than we are. I guess I don't find that hard to believe any more." He turned to look at Jhamel. "Though, I would like a LITTLE respect, if you please! I do have this thing about being called a demon. Try 'Spike'."
Jhamel just looked at him.
Dru sidled up close to Spike and rubbed his shoulders. "Luv, I'm hungry. I...want...a...snack..." She purred in his ear and peered at Jhamel.
Spike glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Then he looked at Jhamel. "Tell you what, Mr. Speaker. Bring us Willow Rosenberg...and I mean right now, and we'll give you access to the sewer systems. Give us the Slayer, you can have all of the tunnels."
Jhamel scowled at him. "We must have Willow to lure the Slayer."
"Did you not just hear my lady say she was hungry?"
"Your appetites mean nothing to me, demon!"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Again with the bloody name calling!"
Jhamel pointed at him. "I am giving you an opportunity to become allies with us instead of enemies! You give me nothing!"
"You're a bleeding terrorist, for pity's sake!" Spike shouted back. "You bloody bitch and moan about the wrong done to your own people and so you plant bombs and cry out against America! I don't have to give you anything!" He paused as he regarded Jhamel. Then he took a deep breath and he let it out. "You're a dangerous bastard, Speaker. I've no doubt of that. I have seen your kind before. You could be trouble if we don't come to some kind of agreement. So...tell me something then. Tell me what you are doing here in Sunnydale, and perhaps we can work this out to where we both get what we want."
Jhamel took a step toward him. "I will tell you. But you must first agree to give me and my men complete access to all of the tunnels. All of them!"
"You will tell me...and I will grant you that access. I'll even see to it that if anyone gives you trouble we'll just give it right back. In other words, we'll watch your back."
Jhamel appeared to be thinking about that. Finally, he nodded. "I have a device...a very special device...that has the power to open the Hellmouth, thereby releasing the demons from beyond."
If Spike had been surprised about Willow's kidnapping, this secret revealed to him literally left him speechless. Finally, his mouth dropped open. "What?!" He stammered. "Are you bloody serious?!"
"Very serious, I assure you."
Spike shook his head. "No human weapon or device is capable of opening the Hellmouth."
"You underestimate the power of nuclear fusion."
Spike couldn't believe what he was hearing. He turned his head to look at Dru and Dalton. "Do you bloody believe this? He wants to bloody open the Hellmouth with a bloody nuclear bomb!"
Dalton looked thoughtful.
Spike scowled. "Don't tell me you think that could work?!"
"Well, I would need to look up some things, but--"
"You already have a bloody ritual to study up on," Spike shot back. Then he turned, looked at Jhamel, and shook his head. "And YOU are bloody mad! You want to open the Hellmouth by destroying Sunnydale? This just happens to be my home! My shopping center encompasses the whole bleeding town! I want to open the portal, but certainly not in that way. Besides, nuclear fusion is--"
"Nuclear fusion is the power of God!" Jhamel exclaimed. "Who do you think created such power?"
"Oh, please! Don't bring Him into this!"
"I will! Because it is Allah that brings us here to do his bidding and to destroy the enemies of his people!"
"I thought you were the bloody enemies of His people."
Jhamel ignored him. "With the device, I can open the portal!"
Spike frowned. "Even if you survive the blast, and even if the portal
opens...you will be dead! The demons that come out of there won't like for you to call them names. They will come after you and every living being on this planet! They'll eventually go around the world until they get to your people, too."
"We are prepared to die." Jhamel folded his arms. "No more talk. Decide now. Cooperate or become enemies."
Dru pouted. "I'm still hungry, luv."
Spike sighed. He looked at the Speaker. "You will bring us both Willow and the Slayer?"
Jhamel nodded. "When we have the Slayer, we will bring them both. Besides, we believe that Xander himself will come to us. If he does, we shall take him and he will lead us to the Hellmouth."
Spike blinked. "Because...?"
"He knows where it is."
Dalton let out a nervous chuckle. "Of course, he knows where it is. The Hellmouth--"
"--has NOT been seen by many. But we do know that Xander was there." Spike shot Dalton a warning look. He wanted to laugh, but he didn't. So the Speaker and his minions didn't have a clue as to where the Hellmouth was. Every vampire is Sunnydale knew where it was, but why spoil all the fun. "Very well, then. We shall be your allies."
Dru pouted some more. "Luv...I want a snack."
Spike sighed yet again. "I will get you something, baby. Just give me a minute." He sat down is his chair and put his feet up on the table.
"Before you go, Mr. Speaker, I'm curious. How is Willow? Are your men
hurting her or are they sworn to celibacy and all that?"
"We are not tempted by the flesh," Jhamel snapped.
Spike regarded him. "My baby girl doesn't like damaged goods, incase you're wondering why I'm asking."
Jhamel looked at him. "We do not hurt her body except to keep her tied in place. We restrict her movement. It is her mind that we do the most damage to. We weaken her will. We break her spirit. We tell her lies instead of truths." He shrugged. "We give her hope, then we crush it before her." He waved his hands in the air. "She is already broken." He leaned against the table and looked into Spike's eyes. "When we give her to you, her mind will be completely gone. And you can do with her as you will."
Spike looked at him for a long time. Finally, he nodded his head. "I was right about you. For a human..." he pointed at him, "you're a cold-hearted bastard."
When the three terrorists had finally left, Dru wrapped her arms around
Spike's neck and moaned. "Oh, my luv...I'm so hungry." She closed her eyes and danced seductively against him.
Dalton pretended to be busy looking elsewhere.
Spike held her with one arm around her. With his other hand, he snapped his fingers at the three minions. "Get us some food. Now!" Then he pointed at Dalton. "And you find a bloody hole to crawl into! Take your books, and read! I don't want to see your bloody face until you have the ritual!"
Dalton took his books and ran off.
But the three minions were still there. They looked at each other
nervously.
"Why are you idiots still standing there?" Spike demanded. "Aren't you
supposed to be shopping?"
"But..." one of them dared to say, "it's daylight."
"Then keep to the shadows."
"But...we'll have to--"
Spike glared at them. "Go! Now!"
The three vampires took off at a run. Dru continued to dance against Spike and as much as he was enjoying it...there was something else he had to attend to. He guided Dru to her chair and he gently eased her back into it.
Dru wanted to protest. "But I want to dance, luv."
He took her hands in his as she sat back in the chair, clearly exhausted. "You need to rest, baby." Spike looked at her with concern. "We'll dance after you've had a snack. All right?" He kissed her hands. "Now be a good girl and wait right here. Okay?"
"Okay, darling." She leaned back and closed her eyes.
Spike looked at her lovingly, and caressed her cheek. He turned to go when she said softly, "He's coming...I saw him..."
Puzzled, Spike turned to look at Dru closely. "Who's coming, luv?"
"He who was but is no more...He who is, yet still not sure..." She trailed off, and then appeared to be sleeping.
Spike frowned. "Luv...? Dru?" When there was no response, he turned and suddenly leapt upwards. Within seconds, he was on the catwalk face to face with Angel. "Heard enough?" he demanded.
Angel let out a sigh. "Get out of my way, Spike."
Spike pretended to be hurt. "Angel! You pierce my heart! I only wanted to pick your brain about the meeting you just attended. There's really no need to get defensive. This is my home, after all!"
"Spike, I don't have time for this."
Spike nodded his head. "Yes, you do. Where do you think you're going off to anyway? Did you really think you were going to follow them in broad daylight hoping they would lead you to Willow?" He laughed. "It's daylight hours, sunshine. Wake up and smell the roses."
Angel frowned. But he realized that Spike was right. "Where is she,
Spike?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Do you even know?"
Spike leaned against the railings, folded his arms across his chest and
sighed. "I'm afraid I don't know...But it's only a matter of time before one of us finds out where they're keeping her." He regarded Angel thoughtfully. "We could join forces and work together on this."
Angel looked at him suspiciously. "Join forces? You and me?"
He nodded. "And the Slayer, though I'd rather not."
Angel looked stunned. "Am I hearing you right, Spike? I just heard you make new allies with terrorists!"
Spike shrugged. "They didn't know I was lying to them."
"Well, how do I know that you're not lying to me?"
Spike let out a weary sigh of frustration. "Oh, for pity's sake, Angel! These mad terrorists want to nuke the whole damn town!! Do you really think I want that? Of course, I don't! I happen to like my bloody humble home. Yes, I want the Hellmouth open, but I don't believe for a moment that a nuclear device will do the trick." He paused as he looked at Angel. "I'm asking for a truce." He held out his hand.
Angel seemed to think about it. "What about Willow?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Forget Willow. She's too thin for a snack anyway. More like a crumb and you can't really get full on that, can you?"
"If you get to her, you won't harm her in any way?"
"You have my bleeding word." Spike hesitated, "You know my word is good. Have I ever broken my word with you in spite of our differences?"
Angel shook his head. "I believe you, Spike. But you have to keep the
others from her, and you can't give her to Dru."
"She'll be safer with me than where she is right now." Spike let out a
sigh. "Angel, we have to stop these damn terrorists and I'm willing to do everything in my power to do so." He held his hand out again. "Truce?"
Angel looked at Spike's hand...and then he shook it. "Truce."
They shook. But when this was over, Angel had to find out what this ritual was that Dalton was looking into and...who was this person that Dru saw in a vision?
"He who was but is no more...He who is, yet still not sure."
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They ate their breakfast in silence.
Mulder had given up on talking any further about what had happened during the night. He should have known that Scully would have seen something else. He could only swear that the girl was extremely dense at times. What would it take to convince her that the truth really was out there?
He sipped his coffee and watched the traffic below the second floor patio of Motel 6. Scully was reading the paper.
"Mulder...listen to this." She read part of an article. "'Willow Rosenberg disappeared from her home Thursday afternoon under bizarre circumstances. Burglary was not suspected because the parents, Ire and Sheila Rosenberg were only sedated and their daughter was apparently taken.'"
Mulder frowned. "What kind of journalists do they have in this town?
'Burglary not suspected'? Sounds like Willow Rosenberg was burglarized to me."
"The address of the Rosenberg home is not far from here. I passed the
street they live on last night." She smiled teasingly at him. "Do you think it was vampires?"
He shrugged. "Only if they were wrapped from head to toe with a dark drape and wearing dark sunglasses. The afternoon when the disappearance occurred is not a good time for them to come out." He paused in thought. "But there has been some instances where some humans would do their bidding during the day."
She frowned. "Why don't we just go and take a look? That would give me a good excuse for me being here with you."
Mulder hid a grin. "What's the matter, Scully? You don't like my company?"
"No, Mulder...I don't. Did you take a shower? You stink." She got up to go. "Are you coming?"
Mulder got up from the table. "Sure, but you're driving. I'd rather stink up your rental than mine."
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TO BE CONTINUED...