CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (The ceremony)

A few hours later Spike pulled up in front of the magic box. He quickly threw his door up and got out grabbing the duffel bag that contained Dru's urn. He jogged around the car and to the front door of the shore sliding his key into the lock and turning in one smooth movement. The door opened with the chiming of bells and Spike entered the empty shop wanting to get to the ritual as soon as possible. "Hello?" Spike said loudly.

Xander stuck his head out the training room door, "Hey Deadboy Jr, what took you so long? We're all back here getting ready. Come on" Xander said excitedly.

"Great, if it isn't Bloody Mary Sunshine" Spike muttered to himself as he headed to the back. When Spike entered the training room he couldn't believe his eyes. The room has been completely refurbished. All the old furnishing has been removed and was replaced by a single large wooden altar in center of the room. On top of the altar was a wooden bowl engraved with some sort of ruins that Spike had never seen before. The rest of the room was empty except for a large number of various crystals, candles and incense holders scattered around the altar and throughout the room. Around the altar there were several monks sitting cross-legged on the floor holding hands and meditating. Giles, the scoobies and an older monk with very ornate robes was standing where the couch used to be talking quietly amongst themselves.

"Spike" Giles said motioning the vamp over. "Spike I'd like to introduce you to Brother Nevin, Brother Nevin this is Spike, the vampire in question"

"It's an honor to meet the instrument" Nevin replied bowing low at the waist to Spike.

"Instruwho?" Spike said confused

"Instrument, you are the instrument of the Powers, Dawn is the Key, Your love is the vessel and the demon is the sacrifice and the eggs are the facilitator." Willow gushed out "They wouldn't tell us anymore, they said they had to wait for you, now you're here so we can hear the rest which is good because the suspense is killing me and I so want Buffy back and I'm babbling again aren't I?" Willow asked embarrassed.

"It's ok sweetie" Tara whispered patting Willow on the back

"Well, I guess all we're missing is something blue and something borrowed, no wait that's a different ceremony" Spike joked trying to put the nervous witch at ease.

"Spike, Dawn would you two come with me please, to discuss the ritual?" Nevin asked, "Giles is there somewhere we can . . . ?

"Er, yes, you can go up front, we'll all stay back here" Giles said a little hurt that he was not involved more. Spike sat the duffel bag down gently on the floor near the wall and then he, Dawn and Nevin all disappeared into the front of the building.

"Ah man, there still not going to tell us" Xander whined.

"It doesn't appear so" Giles agreed just as disappointed.

"But I thought we'd be needed to help" Willow said down heartedly.

"We all just need to be supportive, I think whatever is going to happen is going to rough on Dawn" Tara added shyly "I mean those monks have been talking with her all day, getting her prepared so it must be a biggie"

Anya then piped in with her signature way with words "I just want everything to go back to normal, well as normal as you people get. Do you know I haven't had sex in a week!"

"No Anya we didn't know that, and I personally was comfortable with my ignorance" Giles replied sounding quite annoyed.

Xander just blushed "Anya remember what I said about talking about our private times?"

"Yeah, you mean you were talking about sex? Why didn't you just say so? How's I'm I supposed to know, you with your cryptic talk" Anya stated just as Spike returned from the front room.

"Uh oh" Willow said, "Spike has resolve face on. So what's going on? What do you have to do?" Willow asked as soon as Spike joined them.

"I'm not allowed to say exactly. Nevin said it would be easier if you didn't know the details beforehand. He did send me in with some directions for you while he finished getting Dawn prepared. First are any of you packing?" Spike asked.

"Packing, are we going somewhere?" Xander asked.

"Not packing clothes nim wit, weapons. You know stakes, crosses, holy water, swords, crossbows.

The scoobies all replied by either saying or shaking their head "No". Good, Nevin originally wanted you all to leave the room but I convinced him that you needed to be here. I guess when Buffy reforms she will be quite disoriented and it's best to have her family here when that happens. Please don't make me regret that decision. Ok, here's the rules. You are all to sit over here on the floor. Once the ceremony starts, no talking, none, nada. Got me? Spike asked looking in Anya's direction.

"What?, summon one giant troll and you're marked for life as the talker" Anya replied using air quotes when she said talker. The others just gave her stern stares and she said, "Mums the word from me" as she crossed her arms across her stomach.

"Good" Spike said "Also no moving. These rules are very important. Once the ceremony starts, it must be completed so even if you see things that disturb you or give you the urge to try to halt the ceremony you must not or there will be dire effects. If any of you think you can't follow the rules you need to leave now. Are we clear?"

"Crystal" Giles replied just as Dawn entered. Nevin had his arm around the teen who looked incredibly scared but was trying to be brave. She gave the scoobies a small smile.

"The ceremony starts at sun up" Nevin told the group "that's in a half hour"

Dawn turned to Spike "Can I ask you a couple questions, about the you know" Dawn asked shyly.

"Sure Nibblet" Spike said with a hint of fear and sadness in his voice.

"Why don't you go back up front to talk and you need to get into your robes" Nevin told the pair "Oh, Spike, the urn, where is it?"

Spike picked up the duffel bag carefully and removed the urn and turned it over to Nevin's care. "We'll be back in a few" Spike said to no one in particular as he and Dawn moved away from the group.

"Will it hurt?" Dawn whispered.

"No, it doesn't hurt really, it's just a bit uncomfortable. I'll be careful" Spike whispered sincerely right before they went through the door.

Brother Nevin turned to Giles and asked, "Would you and Xander please retrieve the eggs and the demon head? We need to start getting set up"

"Yes, of course, but I would feel more comfortable if you would tell us about this ceremony before it gets started" Giles replied.

"I'm sorry, I know this must be hard for you all, but trust me this is the best way," Nevin said before moving to talk quietly with the meditating monks.

Xander and Giles returned shortly turning over the items to the monks and rejoining the girls just as Spike re-appeared at the door. "Willow could you help Dawn?" Spike asked as he made his way across the room carrying his robe over one arm. He was barefoot and sans shirt. "It's a hair thing" he stated shrugging his shoulders.

"Sure" Willow replied happy to being doing something anything to help and made her way to the door.

Spike walked towards the small group as he did Anya let out a low wolf whistle. "What the hell was that Anya?" Xander asked a bit peeved.

"I've never seen Spike without a shirt on before, yuuuummmy" she replied licking her lips.

Spike winked at Anya and said "Thanks, pet" as he non-chalantly flexed his biceps as he put his robe on.

"Back off fang boy" Xander said stepping in front of Anya. Everyone else just rolled their eyes at Xander's insecurity.

Dawn and Willow made their way back. Dawn was still looking very uneasy. She was already wearing her robe and Willow had french braided her hair for her.

"Hey look, it's Lara Croft" Xander joked trying to lighten the mood a little.

Dawn tried to smile at Xander and failed miserably. She instead walked over to Spike putting her arms around his waist and burying her head in his chest. "Ok, that it, cancel everything, we're not doing it" Spike said loudly.

All eyes in the room quickly turned to the blonde vamp. "What do you mean, not doing it!" Giles exclaimed.

"I didn't stutter watcher, we're not doing this. I won't put Dawn through it, Buffy wouldn't want her to do this"

Everyone tried to argue at once and the volume in the room increased several fold. "NO" Spike yelled as he removed his arms from Dawn and started pacing. "There is no ceremony without me, and I'm not doing it, end of discussion" he said while he started undoing his robe.

"No Spike, I want to do it." Dawn said hurriedly as she crossed to Spike putting her hand on his arm to halt his undressing. "I'm scared, but I trust you, I really want to do this. I need her back, Spike please" Dawn pleaded with her big eyes staring into Spike's blue ones.

"Well, I want to know what the bloody hell you think you're going to do to Dawn?" Giles said visibly shaken by this exchange.

"Giles, please, it will be ok" Dawn said "Just trust us and follow the rules ok? This is too important not to do just because I'm nervous. I'll be fine" Giles just nodded not knowing what to say.

"The time has come, if we are going to do this we must do it now" Brother Nevin interrupted.

"We're ready" Dawn said taking control of the situation and taking Spikes hand and leading him to the altar while the others took seats on the floor uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry" Spike whispered to Dawn.

"Spike you're bringing my sister back to me, when this is over I'll be thanking you" Dawn whispered back.

"Places everyone" Brother Nevin said as he took his behind of the altar. Dawn and Spike moved to stand side by side hand in hand in front of Nevin. The monks were arranged all standing holding hands so that they formed a circle around the occupants and the altar. In the middle of the altar was the bowl. To the left of the bowl sat a picture of Buffy. To the right sat the black urn, one of the eggs, one of the heads of the demon and a large ceremonial dagger. "If you are ready?" he asked Spike and Buffy and they both looked at each other and nodded to Nevin. "You both know what to do?" he was answered my nods once again. "Ok let us begin" as Nevin finished his head lolled down on his chest almost as if he passed out. Suddenly his head sprang up looking straight at the ceiling as an unnatural chanting started amongst all the monks.

Spike took a deep unneeded breath before he began "Powers that Be hear our call. Take my offering for your counsel" Spike said while picking up the head of the demon with his right hand and placing it in the bowl. Instantly there was a flash of light and the head disappeared and three glowing white balls of light appeared just behind Nevin. Nevin's head snapped back into normal position buy his eyes were glowing like the light behind him. He and the other monks continued their chanting which seemed to get louder as the moments went by.

The scoobies couldn't believe their eyes but they remained seated and silent. Spike continued "We wish to petition the powers for the return of the Chosen one" a humming began in the room as Dawn placed Buffy's picture into the bowl "I have completed the quest you have sent me on" Spike stated at he removed the lid of the black urn and poured the contents into the bowl covering the picture and the humming got louder. "I am your champion of the giver of life," he said as he picked up the egg and crushed it into the bowl.

"Hear our plea" Dawn said in a loud commanding voice. "I offer myself to your instrument and champion and my essence to you" she said while turning to face Spike and nodded to him that it was ok. The humming grew even louder and the room was almost vibrating. Spike finally let go of Dawn's hand and reached around her waist pulling her close. She tilted her head baring her neck to him as she closed her eyes. Spikes face shifted to that of his demon form and he descended on Dawn's neck sliding his teeth into her jugular as gently as possible. Dawn's eyes jerked open but she was no longer scared. All of the scoobies silently gasped all wanting to save Dawn but also wanting the ceremony to work. Spike then extended his right arm over the bowl to Nevin who slashed Spikes wrist with the dagger letting his blood run into the bowl. As the bowl began to fill with blood the room began to shake and a mist appeared and covered the altar and area around it. The scoobies could no long see what was going on the mist was so thick. Suddenly there was a large flash of light and a loud noise that sounded like an explosion. When the light cleared and mist dissipated the scoobies saw Spike, Dawn, Nevin and the rest of the monks all laying on the ground unconscious and the bowl on altar was replaced by a nude female form. It was Buffy, she was back.

TBC in Chapter 14 the conclusion