Chapter 15 – Saturday, Standard Reality

Buffy woke next morning to find Spike gone. She jumped out of bed and saw the note he had left for her.

Buffy,

You said I couldn't stop you giving yourself up to Dominic, but I can. I've gone to get what you need. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Please don't come rushing in – you'll blow my cover.

Know that whatever happens, and whatever you hear, that I love you and the time I've spent with you has been the happiest I've ever known.

Spike

The scream Buffy let out on reading this note had the other occupants of the house running into her bedroom. She didn't know whether she was more angry than afraid or more afraid than angry. By the time Dawn came in, she was sitting on her bed, the letter in her hand, and her face pale except for two red circles on her cheeks. When they asked her what was wrong, she said nothing, simply handed them the paper.

They each read it in silence, passing it on as they finished the short note. Willow sat on the bed next to her friend, and noticed that tears were forming in Buffy's eyes. She put an arm around her shoulder as she would have for her own Buffy. She had always known that this version of Buffy loved Spike, but this was the first real proof she had seen. One look at her face told the witch that Buffy believed Spike already dust, or worse, suffering the torment of the sunroom.

In fact, Spike was neither. He had approached Dominic's warehouse quite openly. Mustering every ounce of his cocky, arrogant manner, he had marched up to the security team and demanded to see the boss. It had taken a while before he got to Dominic. He had to go through several levels of subordinate, each time telling his story.

When he was eventually admitted to the inner sanctum, he looked around in awe. Here was a vampire who knew how to live, but was really afraid of death. The room was large, and could be entered only through two consecutive guard rooms. Even here, there were a dozen vampires of what he supposed were his personal bodyguards present. There was another doorway to the other end of the room, from which he could hear voices – female voices.

Dominic himself surprised him. Somehow he had expected something bigger. Physically, they were about the same height and build. While Spike's hair was platinum blonde, Dominic's was dark - almost black. The most remarkable thing about him was the face. In many respects it was beautiful, but it was a beauty only his demon could appreciate. It was cold, cruel and evil. Spike had been warned on his way to this room that he should treat The Master' with deference. Spike, of course, ignored this advice.

"Nice place," he started, "considering you've only moved in. I particularly like the curtains. Always did like red, reminds me of blood."

The guards blanched visibly, waiting for Dominic's reaction. When it came, it surprised them.

"Thank you, er, Spike, isn't it? Also known as William the Bloody. Now tell me, to what do I owe this visit?"

"Well, I'm sure you already know," Spike explained. "I wouldn't have been allowed in here unless your interest had been piqued, now would I? But for the sake of form, I'll tell you. I hear you came here to get the Slayer. Exactly what I did a while ago. Got to tell you, she's stronger than you'd think. Didn't exactly go to plan. But, I found something better than killing her – at least for now. A Slayer is something special, you know? Imagine the best you've ever known. I'm sure you've gathered a nice collection of.. er.. partners over the years." He nodded knowingly to the door at the end of the room.

"Now imagine the best of them, then imagine her warm and full of Slayer blood. So, why drain the whole thing at once, when you can have all the other advantages, and a regular taster too? It's kept me happy this past year or more, I can tell you. But I know, that wouldn't interest you. So, I've come to do a deal. This Slayer's too strong. You won't get her without help. So, for a certain consideration, I could give her to you. I know her. You need me."

Dominic had been watching the other vampire as he spoke. This was a version of their relationship he hadn't heard before.

"If you're so.. intimate with the Slayer, why have I not heard about it? I knew you have been seen with her, but there has been no suggestion that you have knowledge of her."

Spike grimaced mentally. It was a very long time since he'd heard that particular euphemism for shagging. "This bloke must be out of the ark," he thought to himself.

"Yeah, well, it's a bit of a game, isn't it? She wants to keep her friends, and they wouldn't approve of my having knowledge' of her, so we keep it quiet. Well, not that quiet. She's quite noisy actually, when we. But you don't want to know about that. So, anyway, thing is, I'm ready to move on. Good as it is, everything palls after a while, and I'm prepared to obtain the Slayer for you in return for the wherewithal to set myself up somewhere in a bit of comfort."

Dominic was perplexed. There was truth in what Spike had told him. There was an easy familiarity about the way he spoke that made him inclined to believe that he was indeed intimate with the Slayer. But there was one way to be sure. Motioning to his guards to keep back, he approached Spike, demon face to the fore. He sampled the air around the blonde vampire. He recognised the smell immediately. Human, with the extra tang of Slayer. It was recent, and very personal.

Having discovered that much, Dominic considered the offer. "Well, you may be right. I sent a dozen of my best after her last night, and none returned. It should have been more than enough. You weren't there by any chance, were you?"

Spike was worried this could be the end of his plan, but knew he may have been spotted, so he had to be truthful. "Well, yeah, but I couldn't give her to you without making a deal first, now could I? And anyway, that's how I knew you wanted her. So now, I'm still trusted, well, trusted is maybe a bit strong, but I've still got my invitation to her bed, and I can still deliver."

"Let's say for the moment that I'm considering your offer. I'd really prefer if you stayed here while I make my decision. Is that going to cause a problem? If you don't go back for a day or two, I mean."

"Well," Spike lied. "I sometimes go off for a day or two. But not often. Most times I'm back before sunrise. I always get such a lovely welcome back."

In the back of his mind, Spike realised Buffy wouldn't like this at all. He'd hoped to make it a quick in and out – even if he didn't get the lamp this visit, he had just wanted to be able to come and go freely.

Following their conversation, Spike was taken to a small room down the corridor from Dominic's quarters. It was comfortably appointed, although not so lavish as he had recently seen. There was a bed, a couple of chairs and a small wardrobe. The minion who took him there offered him refreshment, blood, or even a female to pass the time. Spike asked for some beer. He was thirsty after all that talking. Besides, he really needed a drink. He'd have preferred something stronger, but had to keep his wits about him.

Thinking about wits, he wondered if he had any. He had just walked willingly into the lair of a vampire master known to use a sunroom to torture his own minions. What he would do to a spy was anyone's guess. Spike knew, that at the first sign of duplicity, he was in for a very long, very unpleasant end. Still, he knew, even that was better than living without her.

Buffy was frantic. She wished Spike had given her a bit more of a clue about what he planned. She couldn't see how he could get away with this. Willow was so concerned that Buffy would do something stupid, that she called Xander and asked him to come over. When he arrived, they assembled in the lounge. Willow explained what had happened. In response, Xander simply smiled. "Great Godfrey Cambridge, don't you see? He hasn't gone off to do anything noble. He said Dominic wants you, right?"

Buffy nodded.

"Well, he's gone to offer you to him. Probably decided the great white chief can give him more than you can. Surprising thing is, he hasn't done something like this before. There must be any number of vamps and others around would pay a pretty penny for an in to the Slayer. He's been playing you for a fool – hell, he's been playing us all."

Buffy immediately opened her mouth to refute what Xander had said. She knew Spike. She knew how he was last night. She realised that he already planned this when they made love. That was why everything had a different tone. He half expected it was their last time together. The combination of shock at Spike's actions and anger at Xander's words had robbed her of words. Her face reddened noticeably, and Willow jumped between her two friends to head off the murder she could see in Buffy's eyes.

"Xander, stop that. We don't know Spike's planning anything like that. We have to try to find out. Remember, we don't know this Spike. We can't pass judgement on him. We trusted the Riley we knew, remember? But the Riley in the other reality sounds like a monster. We don't know enough to start assuming his motives."

Xander had whitened when he saw Buffy's anger. With a powerful witch – even one who had temporarily forsworn magic between them, his courage returned. "I know all I need to. Spike is a monster. He's an evil, soulless, dead thing. He doesn't care about anyone or anything. He's only stayed around as long as he has because he's been getting happys from the Slayer. Now she's got friends to compare him with, he knows his days are numbered and he's looking to the main chance. And anyway, I haven't heard anything about that other Riley to stop me wanting to shake his hand and congratulate him. Wiping out demons? I thought that's what we'd all been doing these last few years."

Shaking his head in disgust, Xander got up and walked into the kitchen. He hadn't intended to say so much, but seeing Buffy so upset about a worthless corpse had made him angry.

Meanwhile in the lounge, Tara and Dawn were trying to calm Buffy. She still hadn't spoken, but rage was coming off her in waves which were almost visible. Willow followed Xander into the kitchen. "Sometimes you amaze me," she told him. "I know she needs to consider that possibility, but you could have handled that better. You know how stubborn Buffy can be. It wouldn't matter now if we found gold plated evidence that you're right, she still wouldn't believe you. And remember, this Buffy doesn't know you. She doesn't know you said what you did because you love her. She hardly knows you. How would you feel if someone told you that Anya had betrayed you like that?"

"Anya wouldn't," Xander interjected.

"Doesn't matter," Willow jumped back in. "Buffy loves him. If you didn't know that before, you knew that when you saw her today."

Shoulders slumping, Xander made for the back door.

"Where're you going?" Willow asked.

"If you need evidence, I'm going to get evidence," he replied, closing the door behind him.

Spike had been edgy when he arrived. After sitting in this room for four hours, he was beyond edgy. He tried lying down, trying to sleep but that hadn't worked. He'd drunk more beer than he'd intended and even that didn't help. And now he was getting hungry. Sooner or later he was going to have to accept the offer of blood. He just hoped it wouldn't require him taking it direct. It was so long since he had fed from a human, so long since he had even tasted human blood. Still, if he had to, he could. He wouldn't kill, though. He wondered again if he should have mentioned the chip. While he didn't have one, his other self did, and he wasn't sure how general this knowledge was. He had thought it would make him seem pitiful and somehow less believable, so he had decided not to mention it. He could always claim he thought it was common knowledge if it came to light. And then again, it would be useful if he had to prove himself in some way to this clan. If they wanted him to do something to prove his loyalty, he could use it to prevent having to do anything to hurt humans.

At last he had slept. It wasn't a restful sleep, filled as it was with dreams of the vampire he'd seen Buffy dust in her basement. He was shaken awake just after sunset by a subservient minion bearing a mug of blood.

"The master has granted you an audience," the minion said deferentially as Spike stood up. "You have time to refresh yourself, but please be ready in fifteen minutes. The master isn't kept waiting."

Sipping the blood, Spike immediately recognised it as human and fresh. Looking across the room, he spotted a basin filled with hot water. He went over and splashed his face, trying to revive himself. When he was taken to Dominic again, it was to a different part of the warehouse. This was a large communal area. Dominic was standing in front of his assembled (male) minions as if to make a speech. Spike's guide explained that Dominic would speak to him after he had addressed the clan.

Dominic's address seemed primarily to cover mundane matters. "Stupid ponce," Spike thought to himself. "Got to stand up in front of them all to remind them who's boss. How insecure's that?"

Towards the end of the address, Spike was guided towards the podium.

"We have a new ally, and I hope, soon, a new adopted clan member," he began. "This is William the Bloody, also known as Slayer of Slayers. He has killed two Slayers already, and has promised me a third. He will be treated with respect."

When the meeting broke up, the minions went to feed. Dominic approached Spike, still flanked by his bodyguards.

"So, you decided to take me up on my offer, then?" Spike asked.

"Yes, I rather think I will," Dominic replied, looking thoughtful. "There's just one thing. It's not just one Slayer I want, it's seven. That must interest you. I may even let you use them a little. And I just need to turn them. There's so much I want to do, and seven Slayers are just the beginning. Once I have them, I can move on to even greater things. If you aid me in this, William, you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams."

Spike considered this. It was even more serious than he'd thought. Seven Slayers – that sounded like a deal – the sort of deal you made with a very powerful demon or maybe a hellgod. Spike tried to look as if he liked what he was hearing.

"I wondered when it would be convenient for me to return to the Slayer. I can return any night you wish, but I will need to keep my information up to date if I'm to be of use to you. Did you have a time in mind for her to be taken?"

Dominic decided he could see the wisdom in this. "Yes, I understand. I need to have the Slayer before the next new moon, so we have time. I'd like to be sure she was here within the next week, so you could work to that, but really, the sooner the better."

Spike agreed, then added, "Tell me, would it be possible to see around your set up here? I mean, the guided tour thing? What I've seen so far is very impressive. And the blood that was provided for me, it was fresh, and young. I'd like to see where it comes from."

"Ah, yes, the farm," Dominic purred. He obviously loved hearing that Spike was impressed. "Yes, we could certainly arrange that." He turned to one of his minions. "Go and get Dr. Wilson," he commanded.

"Wilson," he continued to Spike, "is in charge of the farm. We only started to gather stock a few days ago, but we're already almost self-sufficient. I allow my personal guards to hunt still, but the rest must rely on the farm."

A few moments later, the minion returned with a tall, slim vampire dressed in a business suit and a white coat. "Old habits die hard," Spike thought to himself. Dominic excused himself, asking Wilson to give Spike a tour of the farm.

As he walked around the pens, Spike couldn't help but be impressed. To have achieved so much in just a few days spoke of tremendous organisation. Each pen was filled with ten people. Some pens looked more like hospital wards, with captives lying on beds with drips in their arms. Others held groups of terrified young people, sitting wide-eyed and miserable.

"The drip contains an iron supplement, and a small dose of sedative," the doctor explained. "I have found the iron decreases the time between successive donations, and the sedative keeps things quiet, helps prevent injury. Of course, it doesn't affect us when we feed."

"We are experimenting with other substances. I've noticed a certain reluctance in humans to respond to natural urges in these circumstances. The pens over there," he pointed to the far corner, "will be the breeding pens. They are enclosed, and we can put a variety of chemicals - pheromones and other aphrodisiacs into the air there. Hopefully these will ensure that those in that room do as nature intended. The area to the left currently houses the females we will breed from. They are, of course, not required to donate at present. We need them in full health. I have a great deal of experience, you see. I set up a similar facility for my last master."

Spike paused to consider this. "And where is the clan housed? How do you stop them from sampling when they feel peckish?"

Wilson looked aghast. "The clan is housed upstairs, on the main level. There are several male and one female dormitory there. Of course, the most favoured of the clan have quarters on the top floor. I have a small room there. Only those with business here are welcome in the basement. The punishment for disobeying such restrictions is severe."