Part 29
Interlude
Drusilla stood outside Spike's crypt searching the sky for a sign of reassurance. But, alas, the stars were silent tonight, sulking like wicked children.
The cemetery was deserted. The town was asleep. Sunnydale's vampire population had long ago finished hunting for tonight. Their insatiable thirst dulled, they had made their way back to their lairs in abandoned houses or caves, of which the the town of Sunnydale had such an abundance. Some would not return to their hiding places. Some would have turned to dust tonight, killed in territorial squabbles or in disputes about precedence and tomorrow night new ones would rise.
Sunrise was near. The sky was already blushing in anticipation. Drusilla could almost sense the sun rushing towards her, feeling its speed like a loud roar only she could hear, smelling its coppery scent as it blistered just beyond the horizon. The sun was a merciless lover, though, it would hurt her, set her skin on fire and devour her. Naughty sun! Drusilla giggled and blew a kiss towards the horizon, then she turned and sought refuge in Spike's crypt.
It was a place were horrible memories lingered. A place that smelled of dreams, hope, despair, humiliation, jealousy and unrequited love. A place that smelled of Spike. It moved her undead heart, squeezing it, crushing it. Drusilla was intoxicated by the images and impressions that assaulted her senses. Another breathless giggle escaped her, as she danced through the crypt to the inaudible sounds of Chopin's Nocturne.
Eventually the music in her head faded. She turned on the television and unpacked her brushes, beautiful antiques Spike had given her years ago. She couldn't remember the year, but she did recall that Spike had worn a straw hat and a cane in those days and that they had spent many evenings going to theatre plays where many pretty girls sang and danced a lot. Sitting down on Spike's bed (she hated his old green armchair) and listening to the sounds of the tv she began to brush her hair. A hundred strokes, like her mother had taught her. Oh, how she longed for Spike to run his hand through her long raven curls. How she longed for the touch of his hands.
"I wonder, where Miss Edith and Miss Abigail are." She said to herself, while she plaited her hair with nimble fingers "I would give them some violets but they ran away. Wicked. Everyone I love just goes away. I will make garlands of rosemary and pansies to catch them."
She buried her face in the cushion, inhaling deeply in order to taste even the finest trace of his scent. Cigarettes, a hint of soap, hairgel and leather. Her mind walked through shreds of dreams that still clung to the sheets. She smiled and closed her eyes. Immersing herself in nightmares and fantasies that weren't her own she fell asleep, oblivious to the sounds of the television. Tomorrow she would hunt for the Knight of Swords.
Part 30, by MARCEE
"Schuetzen," Giles muttered as he stumbled through the cemetery. He had lost all semblance of his former self. Although he had purchased a new wardrobe, he was still wearing the same clothes he had on since he had left his apartment almost a week ago. His hair was matted to his head, his stubble had grown into an approximation of a full beard and, at some point in the last few days, he had lost his glasses. "Protect the Slayer," he yelled into the darkening night.
Suddenly, he spun around, stake in hand. Drusilla was upon him in an instant. "Finally, the Knight of Swords," the words dripped from her lips like blood . They were struggling now, on the wet earth of the cemetery. Giles rolled to his right before Drusilla could pin him down. Her fangs glared bright white in the light of the moon. She rose, her yellow eyes glowed eerily as she tilted her head to the sky. "Where did he come from? Why is he back?" Drusilla murmured as she stood above Giles gazing into the moonlight, "It has been a long time." Giles, slow to rise, backed away from Drusilla until his back encountered a tree. "It's pretty," Drusilla whispered, "the moon, sometimes, it looked different from my window." She cocked her head as if hearing a response. Giles turned and ran, lurching and reeling as if drunk. Drusilla was pulled out of her reverie in time to watch Giles disappear into the city. "The Knight will return," she sighed, "and I'll be there to welcome him."
***
"I'm starting to get worried," Buffy said. She was sitting at her kitchen table. Willow was at the fridge, grabbing a container of orange juice.
"I know. It's odd that he'd just disappear without contacting us," Willow answered as she poured the drink.
Dawn came downstairs. "What's up?" she asked.
Buffy answered, "Nothing, how's Spike?"
"He's still sleeping, looks like the wound is almost healed," she answered sitting down across from Buffy. "So? Have we heard from Giles yet?"
Buffy stared down at a random spot on the table and shook her head.
Willow chimed in, "Don't worry, Dawnie, I'm gonna look up some locator spells when I get to the shop today, ya know, just to make sure everything's okay."
***
At the magic shop, Willow and Tara sat together on the floor with books scattered between them. Anya was at the counter with pencil and paper. Buffy, Spike and Dawn's arrival was indicated by the comforting chime of the bells on the front door. Buffy headed straight to the counter.
"Anya, do we know what items Giles took with him?" she asked, leaning over the counter to see what Anya was writing.
"Yes," she answered, swiping her materials off the counter. Reciting from the list she compiled, "Moltavian Powder, Sigmara's Bracelet, 3 Incan gems and the Sermomortus Crystal."
Upon hearing that last item, Tara's head bolted upright. "W-what could he p-possibly want with that?" she stuttered.
Willow looked at her Love with concern.
"What's the Sermomor-thingy for?" Buffy asked.
Willow answered, "Remember that purpley-crystal thing Giles had in that box behind the counter?"
Spike interrupted, "It gives the wearer the power to channel the dead."
Part 31, by William the Bloody
"Channel the dead?" Buffy asked in confusion. "Why would Giles want to do that?"
Willow shook her head. "It's not necessarily a matter of want. Yeah, a person can use it that way on purpose, but there's a reason Giles always kept it locked up in its box behind the counter and not out on display. If a person's not careful, the crystal can force a channeling. More like a possession."
"Anya", Buffy asked hastily, "has anything unusual happened with the crystal?"
"No. When Giles had it out, nothing happened to it. It's not like he dropped it or anything. Which is good. I hate when people damage the merchandise."
"He had it out?" Willow asked. "When?"
"Oh, I think it was just a few days ago. I don't really remember. Someone had called about wanting to buy it. I think they changed their mind though. Oh yeah, they definitely did. I remember that Giles was rather upset when the sale didn't go through. Said the profit from that would have paid for all those clothes Spike made him buy."
Willow looked at Spike. "Think! Did Giles make any threats toward you before the shopping trip?"
Spike shook his head. "No. He'd actually been helpful before that, offering Dawn and I a place to stay, and even writing me a letter of reference saying he was my employer. It wasn't until we moved in that he started threatening me. You think something happened when he tried to sell the crystal? Or did I just piss him off that bad by making him spend money?"
Willow looked up at everyone. "Did anyone else notice Giles acting strange, starting around that time?"
Anya slowly raised her hand. Buffy looked at her annoyed. "Anya, I thought you said nothing unusual happened."
Anya spoke up, sounding a little more subdued than her norm. "Well, I didn't really think it was strange at the time."
Everyone looked at her. She looked a bit uncomfortable under everybody's stares. "Giles is always mumbling in all sorts of languages, stuff out of his books, so it didn't seem all that odd. But it's not usually in German. He seemed to be talking in German. A lot."
Willow looked over at Tara. "What do you think? Sermomortus Crystal?" Tara nodded. "It doesn't take much to trigger those. And he had it out just shortly before the trouble started."
Willow agreed. "Well, I guess we better start the locator spell. I sure hope we don't have to go all the way to Germany to try to find him."
Interlude
Drusilla stood outside Spike's crypt searching the sky for a sign of reassurance. But, alas, the stars were silent tonight, sulking like wicked children.
The cemetery was deserted. The town was asleep. Sunnydale's vampire population had long ago finished hunting for tonight. Their insatiable thirst dulled, they had made their way back to their lairs in abandoned houses or caves, of which the the town of Sunnydale had such an abundance. Some would not return to their hiding places. Some would have turned to dust tonight, killed in territorial squabbles or in disputes about precedence and tomorrow night new ones would rise.
Sunrise was near. The sky was already blushing in anticipation. Drusilla could almost sense the sun rushing towards her, feeling its speed like a loud roar only she could hear, smelling its coppery scent as it blistered just beyond the horizon. The sun was a merciless lover, though, it would hurt her, set her skin on fire and devour her. Naughty sun! Drusilla giggled and blew a kiss towards the horizon, then she turned and sought refuge in Spike's crypt.
It was a place were horrible memories lingered. A place that smelled of dreams, hope, despair, humiliation, jealousy and unrequited love. A place that smelled of Spike. It moved her undead heart, squeezing it, crushing it. Drusilla was intoxicated by the images and impressions that assaulted her senses. Another breathless giggle escaped her, as she danced through the crypt to the inaudible sounds of Chopin's Nocturne.
Eventually the music in her head faded. She turned on the television and unpacked her brushes, beautiful antiques Spike had given her years ago. She couldn't remember the year, but she did recall that Spike had worn a straw hat and a cane in those days and that they had spent many evenings going to theatre plays where many pretty girls sang and danced a lot. Sitting down on Spike's bed (she hated his old green armchair) and listening to the sounds of the tv she began to brush her hair. A hundred strokes, like her mother had taught her. Oh, how she longed for Spike to run his hand through her long raven curls. How she longed for the touch of his hands.
"I wonder, where Miss Edith and Miss Abigail are." She said to herself, while she plaited her hair with nimble fingers "I would give them some violets but they ran away. Wicked. Everyone I love just goes away. I will make garlands of rosemary and pansies to catch them."
She buried her face in the cushion, inhaling deeply in order to taste even the finest trace of his scent. Cigarettes, a hint of soap, hairgel and leather. Her mind walked through shreds of dreams that still clung to the sheets. She smiled and closed her eyes. Immersing herself in nightmares and fantasies that weren't her own she fell asleep, oblivious to the sounds of the television. Tomorrow she would hunt for the Knight of Swords.
Part 30, by MARCEE
"Schuetzen," Giles muttered as he stumbled through the cemetery. He had lost all semblance of his former self. Although he had purchased a new wardrobe, he was still wearing the same clothes he had on since he had left his apartment almost a week ago. His hair was matted to his head, his stubble had grown into an approximation of a full beard and, at some point in the last few days, he had lost his glasses. "Protect the Slayer," he yelled into the darkening night.
Suddenly, he spun around, stake in hand. Drusilla was upon him in an instant. "Finally, the Knight of Swords," the words dripped from her lips like blood . They were struggling now, on the wet earth of the cemetery. Giles rolled to his right before Drusilla could pin him down. Her fangs glared bright white in the light of the moon. She rose, her yellow eyes glowed eerily as she tilted her head to the sky. "Where did he come from? Why is he back?" Drusilla murmured as she stood above Giles gazing into the moonlight, "It has been a long time." Giles, slow to rise, backed away from Drusilla until his back encountered a tree. "It's pretty," Drusilla whispered, "the moon, sometimes, it looked different from my window." She cocked her head as if hearing a response. Giles turned and ran, lurching and reeling as if drunk. Drusilla was pulled out of her reverie in time to watch Giles disappear into the city. "The Knight will return," she sighed, "and I'll be there to welcome him."
***
"I'm starting to get worried," Buffy said. She was sitting at her kitchen table. Willow was at the fridge, grabbing a container of orange juice.
"I know. It's odd that he'd just disappear without contacting us," Willow answered as she poured the drink.
Dawn came downstairs. "What's up?" she asked.
Buffy answered, "Nothing, how's Spike?"
"He's still sleeping, looks like the wound is almost healed," she answered sitting down across from Buffy. "So? Have we heard from Giles yet?"
Buffy stared down at a random spot on the table and shook her head.
Willow chimed in, "Don't worry, Dawnie, I'm gonna look up some locator spells when I get to the shop today, ya know, just to make sure everything's okay."
***
At the magic shop, Willow and Tara sat together on the floor with books scattered between them. Anya was at the counter with pencil and paper. Buffy, Spike and Dawn's arrival was indicated by the comforting chime of the bells on the front door. Buffy headed straight to the counter.
"Anya, do we know what items Giles took with him?" she asked, leaning over the counter to see what Anya was writing.
"Yes," she answered, swiping her materials off the counter. Reciting from the list she compiled, "Moltavian Powder, Sigmara's Bracelet, 3 Incan gems and the Sermomortus Crystal."
Upon hearing that last item, Tara's head bolted upright. "W-what could he p-possibly want with that?" she stuttered.
Willow looked at her Love with concern.
"What's the Sermomor-thingy for?" Buffy asked.
Willow answered, "Remember that purpley-crystal thing Giles had in that box behind the counter?"
Spike interrupted, "It gives the wearer the power to channel the dead."
Part 31, by William the Bloody
"Channel the dead?" Buffy asked in confusion. "Why would Giles want to do that?"
Willow shook her head. "It's not necessarily a matter of want. Yeah, a person can use it that way on purpose, but there's a reason Giles always kept it locked up in its box behind the counter and not out on display. If a person's not careful, the crystal can force a channeling. More like a possession."
"Anya", Buffy asked hastily, "has anything unusual happened with the crystal?"
"No. When Giles had it out, nothing happened to it. It's not like he dropped it or anything. Which is good. I hate when people damage the merchandise."
"He had it out?" Willow asked. "When?"
"Oh, I think it was just a few days ago. I don't really remember. Someone had called about wanting to buy it. I think they changed their mind though. Oh yeah, they definitely did. I remember that Giles was rather upset when the sale didn't go through. Said the profit from that would have paid for all those clothes Spike made him buy."
Willow looked at Spike. "Think! Did Giles make any threats toward you before the shopping trip?"
Spike shook his head. "No. He'd actually been helpful before that, offering Dawn and I a place to stay, and even writing me a letter of reference saying he was my employer. It wasn't until we moved in that he started threatening me. You think something happened when he tried to sell the crystal? Or did I just piss him off that bad by making him spend money?"
Willow looked up at everyone. "Did anyone else notice Giles acting strange, starting around that time?"
Anya slowly raised her hand. Buffy looked at her annoyed. "Anya, I thought you said nothing unusual happened."
Anya spoke up, sounding a little more subdued than her norm. "Well, I didn't really think it was strange at the time."
Everyone looked at her. She looked a bit uncomfortable under everybody's stares. "Giles is always mumbling in all sorts of languages, stuff out of his books, so it didn't seem all that odd. But it's not usually in German. He seemed to be talking in German. A lot."
Willow looked over at Tara. "What do you think? Sermomortus Crystal?" Tara nodded. "It doesn't take much to trigger those. And he had it out just shortly before the trouble started."
Willow agreed. "Well, I guess we better start the locator spell. I sure hope we don't have to go all the way to Germany to try to find him."