A Terrible Beauty-

A Terrible Beauty- part 7 of "All that Heaven Allows Series"

by: Isabelle

-Disclaimer: All of the main characters are owned by Josh Weddon and the WB. Lyrics Outside by Arron Lewis and When you're Gone by The Cranberries.

-Rated:R (Language, Sexual Content, Violence, Adult Situations)

-Summary: Seventh part of a Spike and Buffy series. S/B related. Spike and Buffy are taken by a rich underground demon-group with the purpose of being sold in an auction for millions. The plot thickens as they grow closer to each other and try to find a way back home. This story is set right after Season 4, so Season 5 hasn't happened, and won't happen.

-Author's Note: Please send feedback! Tell me what you think. My email is bih80@yahoo.com

Thanks again to my roommate, Karla, for editing the stories!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And you bring me to my knees

All this time I could beg you please

She woke up and knew she was not happy. Something was wrong but her body hurt too much to know what was bothering her. The last thing she remembered before she drifted off was being trashed into a dark van and driving for what seemed like hours, drifting finally to sleep when the sun came up.

How ironic, now I am keeping Vampire hours. She thought.

Then she remembered Spike, they separated her from Spike. Where was he? Was he hurt?

With those thoughts she opened her eyes to focus on something.

She felt her body, she felt naked and instantly her eyes darted to her form. What the hell?

She was lying on top of the largest pillow she had ever seen, the pillow was made of pure green silk, embroidered with diamonds, mirrors, rubies, emeralds, every type of stone Buffy couldn't identify.

She gasped at its beauty and wondered why someone would let her ruin something so beautiful. Looking from her body and the pillow she focused on her surroundings.

She blinked twice, not accepting the image before her.

I'm either dreaming or dead. She thought, taking in her locality.

The room was magestical. It looked like it droped from some fantastical adventure movie.

It looked Arabic in nature. The colors were breathtaking. Reds, oranges, deep blues, yellows, greens, purples, ivories, stunning her eyes with their ravishing nature.

She gasped. The room must have been as large as her house, with a four poster canopy bed in the middle of the room that was covered with colored silk wrappings. The sheets were of red silk, embroidered with precious stones that covered the entire border of the quilt. There must have been over twenty golden silk pillows, thrown carelessly on top of the bed, shinning brightly against the red.

In front of the bed was a window, and open window. The doors opened out to reveal an ample balcony that overlooked the ocean. In the rest of the room were closet doors, painted in gold. On the floor were the finest persian rugs she had ever seen. There were decorations of exotic statues throughout the room. The statues were naked women that looked like they were dancing in wonderous ways.

The room smelled of incense, strong but sensual incense. Music floated in the room, it sounded like light drums with some pipes. It was beautiful. A place were one goes to escape reality.

She stood on her shaky limbs to find a way of escaping.

She was still in wonder at the surrealism of the room. Making her way slowly to the open window she was startled when she heard people walk in. She instinctively hid behind one of the thick curtains.

"You're up." A man's voice said, he stood in front of the curtain were she was hidding. "There's no use in hidding Ms. Summers, I can see through the curtain."

Buffy trembled, she wondered if she had her strength back so she could kick his ass.

"Yes, you have your strength back, but it'll be no use here. And I promise not to hurt you."

She was dumfounded, he could read minds, GREAT! Slowly she emerged from behind the heavy linen drapes.

The man smiled as she came out.

She somehow eased into his smile, it was genuine, his eyes screamed kindness. Yet he was mystical. And young, almost her own age.

"Look at you, you're a mess." he said looking over her apparel. She looked down. She had to agree with him, her jeans were saggy and dirty, her shirt was stained and ripped, her hair must looked hellish and she felt pale.

"Let's get you cleaned up before we start chatting." He said holding out his hand so she could take it.

"Where's Spike?" she asked looking over him.

The man smiled and nodded. "You're companion is fine, a very violent one he is, but he's fine."

"Where is he?" she asked stubbornly.

"You'll soon find out." he responded lowering his hand.

"I am not going anywhere until you tell me were he's at." She demanded in her Slayer style, placing her hands rigidly on her hips.

The man frowned. "Ms. Summers please, I can only assure you he's receiving the same treatment you are."

Buffy's thoughts raced at all the possibilities that they could be doing to harm him.

"Fast imagination." the man commented. "I can guarantee you they're all overanalysis." he smiled.

"Who are you?" She asked looking over him

"I'm Prince Sethos Habu, I suppose it would be considered that I am your master, but I don't agree with that sorth of foolishness, so you can call me Sethos."

"You're the bitch's brother." She stated looking at him with an enraged expression.

He laughed very amused. "That she is. No wonder she hates you."

Buffy was confused, he was nothing like the princess, some what kind and realizing of truth.

"She hates me?" Buffy asked confussed.

"Very insecure, my sister is, she sees you as a threat." he stated. "Now please, come, dinner's almost ready."

Buffy stood there for a moment regarding him. She finally gave in and took his arm for him to lead her.

All the time that I felt insecure

And I leave my burdens at the door

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm on the outside, I am looking in

I can see through you, see your true colors

He woke to find himself chained. Still shirt less, cold, perks of being human he thought, and tired, so tired.

He opened his eyes to study his surroundings, he was in a fairly fancy room, very exotic looking. A large bed in the middle, many pillows, he noted, a lot of silk, and a window.

An open window. He smiled. Wankers. He thought.

He looked up to his chains and started to pull them.

"Look who decided to grace us with his presence." A female voice said from behind him.

He abruptly turned around cursing his inability to sense danger.

Kamiliah walked to his view.

His breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful. Not golden like Buffy, but dark and mysterious, enchanting ang luring. She was wearing a long silk white skirt that hung at her hips and a small top that exposed her perfectly trimmed mid-drift. The white against her olive skin was mesmerizing. Around her slim belly hung a gold chain that gingled when she moved. Her hair was down and cascading around her waist. It was thick and black, a light wave to it and he could smell the jasmine that filtrated through her pores. Her eyes were large and intoxicating, pure purple, so enticing he almost drowned in them.

She walked with graze, not the type of graze that Buffy possesed, but a sultry graze, a tempting graze, as if a touch of her skin will have him prisoner forever.

He took a few large now necessary breaths. "What do you want?" he asked trying to compose his hormones.

"Why do you fight it William?" she asked coming closer to him, her eyes never leaving his.

He stood and looked at her for a long time. "Has there ever been a man you couldn't seduce?"

She smiled.

He went blank. Her teeth were pure white, and her smile was hypnotic.

"Are you enticing that I am seducing you?" she got closer. "The question is, William..." she stood as close as she could get and leaned on his ear. "Are you ready to break?"

He pushed himself back and looked at her. "You must have alot of time on yer hands." he said not taking his eyes away from her.

"We have all the time it takes." she replied.

"For what?" he asked getting madder at himself for letting her control him like this.

"To make you forget." she smiled and reached out to unlock his chains.

"You let me go and I will kill you." he stated.

"Why the warning, William?" she asked purred. "Afraid you wont be able to go through it at the end?"

He stared at her. "I've always been a wanker for women, but for you I'll make an exception."

"Why thank you William, I am touched." she continued to unchain him.

He just waited until she finished.

When his arms were free he roughly grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against the wall.

She laughed lightly.

"I like it when a man is rough." she giggled evily.

She only squeezed harder.

"Too bad you wont be alive for the happy, pet." he stated.

She laughed. "You kill me she dies."

Spike fummed.

"Were is she?" he demanded.

"You kill me, she dies." she repeated calmly.

"Luv, if we are going to repeat all of our words tonight this might take a while." He said pressing her harder against the wall.

"It's your choice, darling." she said bringing her hand to caress his smooth check. "She doesn't even love you."

Spike growled.

"She never will" Her finger traced his face. "But me,....I could give you everything, William. Power. Wealth, eternal life, property, respect, and above all love,........love that you've never received. Love that wont leave you, love that will love you no matter what. Me, William, not her." she rubbed her thumb over his lips as they parted. "Tomorrow she might die, and you'll be left all alone,...again." She stopped and looked at his cloudy eyes, she knew she had him where she wanted. "It hurts, doesn't it, to be alone......."

Spike was struggling. She was enthralling, his heart was pounding wildly in his chest. Without noticing he was lowering his mouth to meet hers.

She smiled as his mouth descended on hers and she kissed him back passionately. His arms went around her and she embraced him in return. Their toungues dueled for what seemed like eternity.

Then something slinthered in his thoughts. It was a dream from so long ago, it hurt him to remember. He was in a field, it was daylight, and he saw her, golden hair blowing in the wind, she turned and smiled at him and said "Come on, my love." Fight for it, Fight for it.

He instantly pulled back and looked at the fuliginous eyes that had held his emotions moments before. And smiled. "Got it out of your system then?"

Her face changed instantly and she pushed him off, rage was the only thing that could describe her feelings.

"You insignificant creature." she sneared. "How dare you?"

He mock laughed. "Do you think for one second that I am going to forget all that I've fought for?"

She walked up to him in defiance."You think you've fought for her?" she smiled "You haven't even begun."

"What do you want from me?"

"You fool,....I hold this universe in my hand and I've offered you something so grand, I can't even begin to describe,....and you.....you throw it away for the love of a woman who will never love you back,........were she only touches you in dreams or out of pure need. Because you're the only one left, because you're all she's got. Because you're her last resort, her desperate measure."

The words sunk deep and hard through his heart, gashing him with anger and frustration. This woman read right through him like he read right thorugh Buffy. He knew he couldn't falter. For his sake, for Buffy's sake, she might not love him, not now not ever, but there was that voice inside of him screaming Fight for it, and that was just what he intended to do.

"She might not love me, not now, not ever, she might despise me once we're out of here, she might try to kill me, she might hurt me. I might be her last resort, she might turn to me out of pure need. I might be her desperate measure. But I am all she's got....... And that's enough for me...... You really don't know me, do you? I am the most stubborn creature on this earth. And as long as I love her, I will be there." He was standing proud by the end of his confession, proud of his strength, proud of his character, proud that he had become the man he never thought possible.

She shook her head in defeat. "Fine, you've made your choice." she walked away. "You will do as I say, or this woman you love so much, will be dead,.....before she knows you love her."

He looked at her wondering if she would really hurt Buffy if she wanted to. He decided that she would and thought it would be better to comply, until he could find out if Buffy was alright, and if he could get her out of there, even if he had to sacrifice himself to do it.

"My servants will come and get you cleaned up and ready for dinner." She turned. "And William, the first attemp you try at your escape, together or alone, I swear on my father's grave I will make her suffer. And that does not necessarily mean killing her."

With that she walked away letting the servants in to take care of Spike.

Cause inside you're ugly, ugly like me

I can see through you, see the real you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley sat on the edge of the bed digesting the information he had just received. Buffy had been sold to that family they had suspected. They had taken her east towards the ocean where the family owned a private beach estate. The coincidence was that over the estate loomed a closed hellmouth that could be re-opened at the right time with the right people.

Angel was brooding, his childe was human, he was a male replica of Buffy, and they were together. He fumed. It was too much, his childe had received what he had wanted for so long. And if he knew those two, they were either eating each other's heads off or they were kissing each other's head off.

He looked at Riley who seemed recklessly worried for his girlfriend.

Idiot! Angel thought, he knew Buffy didn't love him, he had seen it in her eyes. But Spike, her reactions towards Spike were different. He knew his childe brought out the spark in Buffy, he brought her to life, with him she was extremes, either infuriated to the point of staking or calmly listening to his wild behavior.

He also knew that Spike could read her like a book, he could read anyone like a book. If he didn't know better those two had some type of fatal attraction that would lead to two inescapable conclusions,.......madly crazy for each other or dead at each other's hands.

But with Spike turning human, his worst fears could come crashing through. She wouldn't kill him, he was human, he was her. He was, somehow, a custom made match, a sick trick that the fates had played on everyone.

Then, for the first time, he felt sorry for Riley, the poor kid was in for the surprise of his life.

"I have access to enter the palace for the festivities tomorrow night, I'll go in and let them know the plan ahead of time. If everything goes according to schedule, you'll be on your way to California in two days." Lawrence said as the others listened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All this time that I felt like this won't end, was for you

And I taste, but I could never have--it's from you

The room was pure hallucinatory enchantment. There was a long wooden table in the middle, that sat about thirty people. The table was covered with the most luxurious tablecloth he had ever seen, adorned with precious stones and pure golden threads. The table was set for about ten people leaving the rest of the space for decorations of fresh flowers, fish tanks, and food,.....lots of food.

He had not realized he was so hungry. It felt really strange to crave meat instead of blood. Almost as if the bloodlust belonged to a past life. A life he saw far away.

He smelled the scent of food and heard his stomach make a funny noise, he cringed, this was ridiculous.

He was led by two male escorts to his place on the table. He had not entered the room for two seconds when people started to pour in. He saw Kamilah and she smiled at him sweetly.

He frowned. That bint don't give up! He thought.

He was guided to take the seat next to her. And he did. He searched the faces of the other inhabitants, most were fat rich demons, some vampires, and some upper class sluts of the demon community, he even recognized some from his Drusilla days.

Most of them eyed him in wonder. William the bloody, Spike, made human and allied with the Slayer. Some of them looked at him with pity, others with hatred, others dismissed him as a fluke of nature.

He was cringing internally. His eyes wondered to find Buffy but she wasn't there, and he prayed to whatever god was up there that she was OK.

He noticed they were not serving food and he was starved. "Where's the food?" he asked Kamilah roughly.

She smilled at his impatience. "We're waiting." she simply said.

"Waiting for what? A blessing?" he retorted.

She eyed him nastily.

"My brother, the Prince, and his...what shall I call her......prize?" she smiled and Spike knew to who she was refering to.

At that moment his hunger vanished and was replaced by fumming rage.

Drums sounded from behind the large indoor trees and the people at the table stood in reverence. He reluctantly followed suit.

The door at the head of the table was flung open and in walked three figures.

The man in the middle, Spike would assume, was the Prince. His tunics were purple silk and embroided with gold linings. It had precious stones and rare engravings at the linning of it. He entered with a calm, yet royal air around him.

Next to him was another man that the mere look of him, stired some recognition in Spike's blood. He had seen this man before, in some past life. He was arrogant and demanded respect. He was dressed in a spare-no-expence Armani suit. His salt-and-pepper hair was combed and neatly trimmed, he was cleanly shaven and his jaw was rigid and strong. Stubborn. Was the only word that came to Spike's mind.

Next to the prince on his right side was a vision that took Spike's breath away. There she was. Dressed in a similiar fashion of Kamilah. Her golden hair was combed until it shined, and it hung loosely around her shoulders. The crown on her head was decorated with a string of green gems that cascaded sligtly to her forehead. The fabric of her clothing was made of crystalized linen that hung tight on her small frame. The deep green complimented her skin, giving her an angelic glow.

Her face had been washed and makeup had been applied, he hadn't seen her all dressed up for a while and he was plainly taken back as he gazed at her beauty.

Her large green eyes darted into the room until they met his.

She was scared, upset, worried. But she found his eyes and all was well. She had not been mistreated, on the contrary she had been treated like a queen. But she was not happy, far from it. She had no idea where Spike was at, or if he was even OK. Sethos guaranteed her that he was, but she didn't trust the princess around him.

When their eyes met they spoke of relief for one another. They were alive, both of them. She was led to the room by the kind hand of Sethos and instantly felt eyes boring into her. She turned and met Kamilah's gaze.

The woman had an evil twinkle to her eye, so distrusting it was hard to see anything else.

She noticed that Spike was dressed more differently than she was used to seeing him. He was wearing some form fitting khakis with a tight white polo shirt that clung to his chest showing off his planes.

He was staring at her intently with concern in his eyes, she gave him a look of reassurance and he eased off.

Conversation started in the table as the guest spoke to one another in languages she couldn't understand. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kamilah reach over to Spike and whisper something in his ear. He smiled and looked at the flirting princess.

Buffy's heart slammed against her chest and a wave of jealousy went through her. She tried to concentrate on other things but didn't seem to notice anything but a blond man smiling at an exotic woman.

Spike felt when Kamilah leaned over to him and pressed her lips close to his ear. He frowned internally. She was acting like a seventeen year old who wanted to make an ex-girlfriend jealous.

"Smile and have a good time, darling, for her sake at least." Kamilah whispered in his ear. He looked at her and forced a smile.

"You're so convincing." He murmured.

"Remember, tonight, I am your queen." she smiled sweetly.

"What's wrong, pet, nothin' good on the telly?" he whispered and smiled.

She reached her slim finger, still smiling, and rubbed his lower lip lightly.

He was about to combust. She was beautiful, no doubt, but she was poison, a tempting poison.

He could feel Buffy's discomfort and his heart went out to her.

He was burning inside, he wanted to shove the slut off him and wrap Buffy in his arms, and violently run out of this place. A safe place was all he wanted.

The dinner passed with more or less distress and the Prince finally excused himself to retire, leading Buffy away from the table and into their quarters.

She turned her head one last time to look at Spike who was pleading to her with his eyes. She wished she could accept that he was doing all this for them, that flirting with Princess Ho' was an act, but it hurt her. He hurt her. It was burning in her heart until she could hardly breathe.

She walked away adverting his gaze but there are some things the heart cannot escape from. She loved him and the possibility that he did not return her love was devastating.

All those times that I tried, my intentions full of pride

And I waste more time than anyone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a knock on his door.

"Come in." he said looking up from his book.

She entered, dressed in white and smelling of Jasmine. She smiled at him.

He stood and neared her like a predator that's on a hunt he knows he's won. Violently he embraced her and descended his lips to hers, kissing her furiously and without compassion.

She kissed him back washing her hands through his graying hair.

He suddenly stoped and looked at her with a questioning glance.

"You reek of him." he said harshly.

"A girl had to do what a girl had to do." She responded.

He let her go and walked to the chair he had been sitting at, taking back his book and reading.

"You're not jealous, are you, darling?" She asked swaying her hips as she walked and stood in front of him.

He paused and looked up to her purple eyes.

"Kamilah, I just hope you know what you are doing." With that he lowered his gaze back to his book.

She took the chair next to him and gently grabbed his hand forcing him to look at her. He knew he loved her, in a twisted way, but he did.

"Roderick, by tomorrow night, they'll be dead." She said gently rubbing her thumb on the back of his palm. "They don't matter."

"Is that what you're telling yourself?" he asked.

"What is that suppose to mean?" she asked raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"When you kiss him, when you flirt with him, I saw you tonight, you couldn't take your arms off him. Are you going to tell me it was to make her jealous?" he said snorting. "You might fool other people, darling, but you'll not fool me. Ever since you found out that he would resist you for the slayer, it has been eating you up inside." He paused and looked at her hardening face. "It's no longer business, is it, princess? It's personnal now. He pushed you away......the only way your fingers touch his flesh is because you dangle her life before his head."

Her eyes had narrowed and she was fumming. "How dare you?" she cried. "I've given you everything, and you sit there analyzing my actions as I were up for study?" she looked at him and stood. "Who gave you the right?"

"You!" he screamed standing in front of her. "The moment you spread your sweet legs for me."

She growled.

"And you know I am right. You hate her, with a passion.......you offered him the throne, didn't you?" he mock laughed. "And he said no,..............poor little spoiled girl, when are you going to learn that you can't buy yourself into people's heart?" His words were harsh and stung at her heart.

At times, in front of him, she felt defenceless, as if he could see right through her. That's why she was with him. He defied her. Just like Spike did.

"I hate you." she hissed. "I want you out."

"Truth hurts doesn't it, baby?" he responded not moving.

She reached under her wrap and before he knew what had happened the sharp wooden stake had penetrated his chest.

Her eyes were cold and she looked at the dust in the floor.

"To kill this man, you have to love him." She murmured to herself.

With that she walked out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm on the outside, I am looking in

I can see through you, see your true colors

Buffy waited until Sethos left her room and her 'servants' finished dressing her for a night's sleep, and she wondered out of her room.

It's now or never. She thought to herself.

She grabbed the black shawl that was in her wardrobe and wrapped it around herself to shield her from the night. She had to find Spike. If she waited until tomorrow it might be too late.

She opened her window and started her climb downwards. She moved with grace and quietness, blending with her environment, she reached the bottom of the three story mansion and walked with the shadows to find the room were Spike was being kept.

The corridors were empty, she guessed it was around eleven at night. At this time normally she was in the height of her patrol. She sighted, she had to get out alive. She had to get out, they had to find help and stop armagedon. The usual.

Hearing some voices in the hall ahead she ducked and hid behind a large plant pot that hosted a large palm tree. She tried to make out the words that were being said, but it was in Arabic. She frowned. Note to self: take Arabic next semester.

She waited until the voices muffled and stepped out of the shadows to follow were the voices were going. She followed the shadows in front of her further into the palace until they rounded a corner and disappeared into a room. Quietly she approached the open door, peering, making sure she went unnoticed.

The room looked empty, she cautiously moved in, making sure she was invinsible and noiseless. She moved around the corners and saw nothing, slowly she walked to the middle of the room and was baffeled that the voices that disappeared into thin air.

Just then something cold and hard hit her and she fell backwards. Falling flat on her back she looked up to find a pair of purple eyes staring at her intently.

"Well, well, well, look what goody I found me." the dancing eyes said.

With that all went blank.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cause inside you're ugly, ugly like me

I can see through you, see to the real you

He paced the room. He knew he was hyper active as a vampire, but with the humaness came the beating heart, blood pressure, bathroom breaks. It simply complicated things.

He was frustrated. Kamilah hung Buffy's life over him by a thread. When he saw her today he was relieved that she was OK, in a physical way, but she seemed desperate inside.

He knew she was tired, he was tired of this entire situation. Always getting more complicated. Too much shit.

//KNOCK, KNOCK//

"Come on in." he growled.

He was expecting Kamilah, she said she would be by soon.

"What kept you?" he asked sarcastically.

But the figure didn't enter the light and lingered in the shadows.

"Well?" he waited.

"Spike?" a man's voice said.

Spike stopped at his tracks and peered into the shadows.

"Lawrence?" he asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was chained and she felt it. They were not the tugging kind, but she felt the cold metal against her skin. And she felt naked.

Her eyes flew open. She was in her room, but she was.......she gasped.

Oh my God! She thought.

She was laying on the same pillow she was when she had first woken up that morning, but this time someone had changed her wardrobe. She looked like Princess Leah, in a gold bikini. It was metal too. She laughed out loud inspite of herself.

In whose sex fantasy did I fall in? She thought ironically.

Her chains were long and she could easily move around the room, she noted.

"Suits you,I think." Kamilah said coming behind her.

Buffy instantly reacted and flung herself at her, trying to hit her, but the princess stepped back and Buffy was restrained by the metal chains. She growled.

"Bitch!" she hissed.

"Aren't you the short tempered one?" She was walking around Buffy, inspecting her.

"You're not bad little one, but you must understand I can't have you running around messing thing up, when tomorrow is such a big day for me." She said walking closer to Buffy.

Buffy simply sneered at her. This situation was getting out of control.

"What do you want with me?" Buffy fizzed.

Kamilah took her small face in her hand and forced Buffy to look at her. "Release him."

Buffy could not help but laugh at the irony.

"Release him?" she laughed. "What do you think, that I have him by a ball and chain? You can't control what people feel. It just is. And you're a sad demented case if you think you can manipulate the heart."

Kamilah back handed her hard across her jaw.

"You'll do good to watch your words around me." Kamilah said "I can kill you in a second."

Buffy composed herself, her jaw was throbing. The demoness was stronger than she was and she knew it.

She looked up and met her eyes. "And I look foward to shoving those words down your throat." She responded after she could move her jaw.

Kamilah hit her again and Buffy blacked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All the times that I've cried, all this wasting--it's all inside

And I feel all this pain, stuffed it down--it's back again

"Tell the poof I say thanks." Spike told Lawrence before he stepped out of his room.

"You tell him when you see him." Lawrence told him, trying to give the man hope.

"Just do that, 'lright? Just in case." Spike said looking down.

Lawrence understood that he had accepted the complications of what tomorrow might bring, he was a realist.

Lawrence extended his hand and Spike took it, gripping and sealing the friendship.

"Be gone, then." Spike said, and with that the man nodded and slipped out of his room.

Spike took a seat at the edge of the bed and sighted.

Long day in hell. He thought to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And I lie here in bed all alone--I can't mend

And I fear tomorrow will be okay

She felt a damp cloth patting her aching jaw ever so gently. She was still groagy.

"Spike?" she whispered.

"No, not him." a kind voice said.

She focused her eyesight to find a pair of black eyes looking at her, they were filled with concern and humility.

"Sethos?" she clarrified.

"Yes, Buffy, it's me." he said dabing the cloth on her swollen jaw again. She winced. "Sorry."

"It's ok, I'll heal in a couple of hours.....perks of being a Slayer, I guess." she said proping her elbows from her laying position in bed.

Then she remembered she was chained a'la Princess Leah. She looked down her body and let out a frustrated groan.

"I'm sorry, my sister feels you would escape." he said refering to her condition.

Buffy paused and looked at the kind young man in front of her.

"You're so different from her, why?" she inquired sitting up completely.

He looked down and let out a sigh. "Don't know,..........this,......what she's doing is not what our father wanted." he took a deep breath. "I wish I could do something, but she's so much stronger...."

Buffy shook her head, her patience running low with the weakling. "NO!!" she said loudly, "Why do you tell yourself that?"

Sethos was taken back by her tone. "Be..because it's tr-true" he stammered.

"According to whom? Her?" She let out a small laugh. "She's not all up there." she gently caught his hand. "Even you can see she'll destroy good to fullfil her purpose. What she's doing tomorrow, do you think it's right?"

Sethos thought for a moment playing with his fingers. "No." he said soberly.

"Why not stop her?" she persisted.

Sethos stood from the bed and began pacing the room. "You don't understand,...she's strong,..and smart, very smart, and..."

"Hey! None of that talk!" she said standing as far as her chains would let her. "What would your father had said?"

He paused and looked at her chewing on his bottom lips pensively. "Take charge, Sethos......he would have said Take charge, Sethos." he said.

Buffy nodded. "Take charge then."

A minute passed, he was gathering strength.

"When I faced my greatest opponent, he taunted me...I was alone,...It was all up to me...,and just when I thought I had no hope left I found....me, me is all I had, and me was enough." She placed her hand on his chest. "Take charge, Prince Sethos, claim your rightful throne, rule....rule like your father would have wanted." she said almost in a hard whisper.

When his eyes met hers again there was a fire in them she had never seen before.

"Tomorrow....leave Kamiliah to me." he said giving her an appreciative nod.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He felt her come to his room, without turning around he knew it was her. The evil force around her consumed him and he wanted to throw her out his window.

"Pensive, William?" she asked approaching him.

He didn't move.

"Your girl, she has quite a character." she said standing in front of a sitting Spike.

He looked up at her.

"I hope she told you good 'n proper." he said.

She smiled. "Considering her abilities were limited, she did pretty well of defending herself while she was all chained up."

Spike stood in outrage. The thought of Buffy chained up was unbearable. "What have you done to her?" he cried.

Kamilah laughed at his outburst.

"Done to her?" she walked pass him "Don't you mean what she did to herself?"

Spike ignored her taunts.

"William, I had no choice, she was trying to escape,...she could have avoided the entire situation."

"You don't have to chain her up." he stated trying to control his anger.

"What do you suggest that I do? Slap her hand and tell her to behave?" she smiled. "The Slayer doesn't play that game."

"When she gets through with you, they'll be collecting you with a sponge." he said harshly. "I should know, seen 'her do it before."

"Doubtful, very doubtful." she walked close to her.

"I want to see her." he said walking close to the demon.

She looked at him surprised. "Really?"

"I am through playing your game, I wanna see her." he said.

"No."

"You're gonna let me see her, and you're gonna let me see her tonight." he said "Because if you don't,.......not even I will play your game."

She looked up to his eyes. They were stone cold with anger and menace.

"If you don't let me see her, Kamilah, I will make sure I go through hell and back to prevent the portal from opening." he said in a low harsh whisper.

She swallowed. "I'll take you to her, but only because you've been such fun." she got closer. "And besides...." she caressed his cheek "You need to say your goodbyes."

Spike stiffened under her touch. But nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hold on to love that's what I do,, now that I've found you.

And from above everything's stinking, they're not around you

And in the night, I could be helpless,

I could be lonely, sleeping without you.

And in the day, everything's complex

There's nothing simple, when I'm not around you.

She was pacing the room when she heard to door unlock.

What now? She thought angrily. She couldn't deal with another visit from Princess Bitch.

"Buffy?"

Her heart leaped. "Spike?" she almost cried out. He stepped into the dim light. But she hid herself in the shadows, she didn't want him to see her all chained up.

"Pet, come out here, I don't have long." He said looking in the darkness.

"No Spike, go away." she said trying to compose her pride.

"Luv, its ok, I know what she did to you." he said pleading with her.

She felt humiliated, feeling like a sacrificial piece of meat was making her reach her boiling point. The images of Kamiliah and Spike flirting throughout dinner were engraved in her head and it only made her madder.

"Go away, Spike." she said harshly.

"Pet, please listen to me, I...I had to, I had to Buffy." he swallowed "She's hanging your life over my head like a piece of bait."

Buffy didn't know what to believe. He was here, at least, and she wanted nothing else than to run into his arms. She moved and her chains made a rattling noise.

Tears swelled up in her eyes.

"Please....Spike." she begged him to leave.

"Buffy." He said stirnly. "Come out here, pet, I just want to talk."

She shook her head. "We can talk like this."

"Slayer, you 'r pissin' me off, get your ass out here I ain't got much time!" he cried.

Buffy mustered all her strength and stepped into the light, revealing her half nude self and her chained condition.

Spike swallowed. Part of him cringed with the sight of her like that, part of him couldn't appreciate the sight more, she looked beautiful.

"Well say something." she said looking down embarrased.

"How are you feeling?" Was all he could think of.

Her head shot up angrily. "How am I feeling?" she cried. "That's what you can ask? I am chained, wearing movie props! How do you think I feel?"

He smiled at her wit. He walked closer to her. "You look beautiful."

Buffy blushed. "Yeah, every man's fantasy." She said sarcastically.

He nodded and thought they should get down to business. "Angel's in town."

Her head shot up, her eyes were wide with relief and shock. "Here, where, when?" she asked rapidly.

"I told you I didn't have much time." he said. "I want you to listen to me, and for once Summers don't question my motives or my decisions, or my actions. Can you do that for once?"

He looked straight into her eyes..

She nodded, all of a sudden, finding hope in a situation she thought had become helpless.

"Tomorrow during the celebration, you will be taken to the throne where your chains will be tied. I will be left to roam on my own, Lawrence will.."

"Lawrence?" she cut him off.

He nodded. "Lawrence will get the keys to your chains and give them to me, I will unchain you and you, by yourself, will sneak out to the gardens were Angel will be waiting with a van. You go with him. You don't stop and fight, you don't look back, you don't wait for me."

She was shaking her head.

"I am not leaving with.."

"I have to stay." He said stirnly.

Her eyes went wide. "Oh I see..." she whispered. "Because of her, you want to stay because of her."

He shook his head. "Yes, because of her but not in that way, if you want to get out, I have to distract her, it's your only chance."

Her bottom lip trembeled. "You don't have to lie to me, Spike." her voice quivered. "I understand if you want to stay here, I mean she is beautiful and rich and a princess..."

"Buffy, listen to me.."

"And she'll probably give you all you've ever wanted..."

"Listen, would you listen, its not like that..."

Her voice was shaking with emotion and she hated herself for falling for this trap. "I understand...."

He grabbed her by her shoulders. "Buffy, I love you."

"If I don't see you again......." she looked up to his eyes. "Y-yo-you what?"

"I love you." He repeated, knowing this was probably the worst place to say it.

"You love me?" her voice was a whisper. "Why? I am...short...and problematic...and unexperienced....and you hate me.....and I hate you." She didn't believe it herself.

He smiled at her naiveness.

"I love you, Slayer." He got closer. "I've always loved you, since the moment I first saw you." he breathed hard bringing his hand to touch her face. "Such purity,...such danger...you're intoxicating."

Her heart was pounding a mile a minute and she had to remind herself to breathe. It was all too much, somehow in the mist of this entire situation they had managed to fall in love, or at least accept their feelings towards one another.

She stared at his face and not a word could come out of her mouth, it was completely dry.

His hopes sagged, he knew she probably didn't feel the same, but he had to tell her before he never had a chance to.

"Tomorrow at twelve fifteen, in the garden, you be there, if I am not there......you go without me."

She was shaking her head in defyment. "I am NOT leaving without you."

But I'll miss you when you're gone, that is what I do. Hey,baby!

And it's going to carry on, that is what I do. Hey, baby!

He grasped her arms tighter. "Slayer, listen to me, you go.....you get out of here.....you survive.....you make it home."

Her tears were pouring on her cheeks, and uncontrollable sobs errupted her body, he was sacrificing his life for her, for her to get out. "We stick together!" she cried. "I dont leave you, you don't leave me......" she was crying full force and he wrapped her in an embrace.

She sobbed holding tight to him as if he might disappear.

He kissed the top of her head and inhaled her scent. "Buffy listen, pet, I've lived........"

She cried harder clutching on to him.

He continued. "I've plagued this earth for hundreds of years, and if my time comes, its comes." he swallowed trying to accept it himself. "Yours.....yours has not yet come, you'll live." he grasped her face in his hands. "You'll live some more,...and you'll survive."

He bent down and kissed her forehead.

She was sobbing wildly still in denial of what had to be done. "Spike, I am not leaving...." she shook her head.

He shook her roughly. "Don't be foolish!" he cried.

"Fuck you!!" she cried through tears. "I am not leaving you!"

He hugged her shaking body again.

"Not leaving you...not leaving you..." she kept repeating with her head burried in his chest..

"Please Buffy, if not for you do it for me." he said holding her so he could see her face. "I made you a promise once, remember?"

She nodded weakly. Remembering his promise to her the day before his operation.

"Please make me this promise, be strong, baby, please." He pleaded with her.

She looked in his eyes fearing it would be the last time he would hold her. She brought her hand to his face and nodded painfully.

She knew what had to be done. They couldn't fight their way out, but she wasn't leaving without him. She was determined.

He smiled sadly at her reluctant acceptance.

"Good....now pet, for old times sakes..." He looked into her eyes. "Lie to me, and tell me you love me."

Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks as she shook her head meaning 'no'. Her bottom lip quivered.

His heart sank.

"No......" she reached for his scared eyebrow and stroke it, her eyes never leaving his. "I'm gonna lie to you and tell you I don't."

His heart soared. And he captured her mouth in a single stroke. Holding her small body against his lean one. They embrace out of pure desperation. Both knowing what tomorrow might bring and relishing the moment that heaven had allowed them.

Hold onto my hands, I feel I'm sinking, sinking without you.

And to my mind, everything's stinking, stinking with out.

She inhaled his scent that was so purely Spike, she would never forget it. His heart was pounding wildly against hers and while their tongues battled so did their choices.

She couldn't bear to live without him, he was letting her go.

He knew that for the first time in his unlife, he was acting out of pure unselfish reason. It pained him to leave her alone, but she'll live, live with memories, and that was enough for him.

The door opened interrupting them.

"Time's up." the guard said to them.

They looked at each other and she wiped the tears from his cheeks.

"You promised..." he said looking into her eyes. "This all that heaven allows." he quoted whispering it to her ear and kissing her lips one last time.

"I'll always love you." was all she could say before the guards ripped him away from her arms, leaving her cold and alone.

She saw his eyes as he left, this was hurting him as much as it was her. She stood in the middle of the room with her arms still opened, feeling his touch still hot on her body.

She let out a sob and crumbled to the ground curling herself in a fetal position. Her tears came like a flood, she couldn't control them, neither did she want to.

She let them come, for the first time in her life feeling completely loved, and completely alone.

And in the night, I could be helpless

I could be lonely, sleeping without you.

And in the day, everything's complex,

There nothing simple, when I am not around you.

But I'll miss you when you're gone, that is what I do. Hey, baby!

And it's going to carry on, that is what I do. Hey, baby!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~