School's started so this is going to seriously slow down -
I'm sorry about that, but don't worry the chapters will keep
coming! Thanks for all the reviews!
Of fact and fiction - Chapter Five
by Angel Eternal
email: angel_eternal_01@yahoo.com
silver_moon_07@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13 (for Spike's potty mouth and Buffy's murderous thoughts)
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is owned by Joss Whedon, several
companies and God knows who else. One thing is certain - I don't own
any of it! Nothing - zip - nada!
Willow glared at them, "Really you two, you knew how'd he react..."
Dawn couldn't stop giggling, "Yeah I know, you got to admit Wills, it was
fun!"
Willow rolled her eyes at the girl, and went back to researching.
Tara smiled at Dawn, and Dawn handed her the book, "Just call me over
if anything...interesting happens."
Tara smiled, "Of course."
* * *
Angus paced the library. He wasn't expecting William's presence, and the
fact that he was here was grating on his nerves. He knew that William would
never forgive him for what happened with precious Desdemona.
He smiled cruelly, remembering her soft cries of pain...
"Angus..."
He turned and drank in the sight of the Lady Elizabeth. He rushed forward,
grabbing her hands. It doesn't matter that William was here. He could never
stand between him and this lovely jewel. Knowing that William wanted her
as well, just made the whole thing even better. He would teach William
once and for all that what William had would eventually be his.
"Elizabeth, you grow lovelier by the day."
Buffy blushed as Angel - no Angus, took her hands and kissed them.
"How long will you be staying Laird Angus?"
Angus stared deep into her eyes, "As long as you want me Elizabeth."
Buffy shuddered, how many times had she wanted Angel to say those
words? She shook her head slightly to clear it. This wasn't Angel.
"You may stay as long as you wish Laird."
With that she murmured some excuse about household duties and slipped
off.
Angus watched her retreating form. Yes, the beautiful Lady Elizabeth
would be his, William the Bloody be damned.
* * *
Buffy poured over the texts that she found. She wished that Giles or Willow
were here now. She could imagine them flipping out over the books.
She sighed, and put the book aside. She was restless; she wanted to get
back to slaying. She know realised that slaying was a part of who she was,
integral and not separate.
Frustrated, she slipped into some more comfortable clothing. In the privacy of
her room, she started basic kicks and punches, imagining an opponent. It didn't
give her the same satisfaction as hitting something hold, but it helped. She soon
moved into combinations of kicks and punches, pummelling the invisible opponent.
She worked out her frustrations and for a precious hour thought of nothing.
* * *
She whimpered, pulling away from him. She pressed herself into the corner as
tightly as humanly possible. She stared up at him, eyes wide, breaths coming
in shallow gasps.
He laughed, the sound low and menacing. He leaned down and grabbed a
thick handful of her silky hair and pulled her up.
A finger traced the curve of her hip under the thin cloth of her loose gown.
She whimpered again.
Hearing the sound, he swiftly backhanded her. Her neck snapping back with
such force, that she gasped in pain.
Her eyes blurred with tears, and prayed.
* * *
"Why don't you just send the brute away my lady?"
Winona disliked having the hulking Highlander around. She brushed Buffy's
hair back, and swept it upwards, fastening it with jewelled pins.
Buffy sighed, and smoothed down the rose pink gown that she wore.
"He's a guest Winona - it wouldn't do to be rude to him."
Winona snorted, "I thoroughly dislike the oaf - and where is Lord William
during the day?"
Buffy tried to hide her grin; it was odd seeing this girl who so closely resembled
Willow asking for Spike. "I'm not sure..."
Winona jabbed a pin in, and Buffy winced in pain. She sighed, "I'm sorry my
lady, but I hear that the Prince of Laron is coming."
Buffy straightened. "A Prince?"
Winona rolled her eyes, "The all-mighty Prince Rhys of Laron - a bigger idiot
you will never meet my lady."
Buffy laughed, "Are there are any men that you like Winona?"
Winona grinned at her, meeting her gaze in the mirror, "Lord William."
She pulled back, eyeing her work critically, "Really my lady, you should wear
this hue more often. It suits you."
Buffy rolled her eyes. She hated pink, but the girl had insisted.
Winona flashed her a grin, "The Prince is coming tomorrow night, and I have
the perfect dress in mind."
Buffy stared at her aghast. "Already?"
* * *
"Pink Slayer? Why do I suddenly think of fluffy bunnies?"
Buffy jumped a little, as she felt his breath tickle her ear. "Bunnies Spike? I
have no intention of scaring Anya."
He laughed, the sound and throaty, his gaze settled on Angus who had just
strode into the hall. "Here comes the lord of poofiness - God good woman
what did you ever see in him anyway? I mean look at the git - he's wearing
a bloody skirt!" He exclaimed, as if noting that small fact for the first time.
Buffy covered her mouth to stifle her giggles, "It's a kilt Spike - and besides,
that is Angus, not Angel."
Spike stared into her eyes, "You see a difference?"
Buffy nodded, "Of course..."
Spike rolled his eyes, "Name one."
Buffy opened her mouth, and then closed it again.
Spike smirked, "Granted he's not wearing the nancy-boy gel, but I sure that if it
existed he would be. He's Scottish - Soul boy was Irish - they both speak funny.
He's a poof, Angel's a poof..."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "And that of course sums up your argument?"
Spike nodded, he turned serious, "Can you tell me that you don't think about
Angel when you look at him?"
Buffy flushed, but was rescued by the very man they were discussing.
"Lady Elizabeth, you are radiant, as beautiful as a rose." He bent to kiss her
hand.
Spike rolled his eyes, mocking him.
Buffy saw this, her eyes narrowing. "William really, at least the Laird is kind
enough to pay a lady a compliment."
A glint came into Spike's blue eyes, he leaned forward to whisper into her
ear. "Beautiful isn't even a word for you, for you are beyond that. I see you,
and my breath leaves my body as I have seen heaven itself."
Buffy shivered, as she felt his lips curve into that grin, "The light adores you,
and with reason, the angels sing of you."
Buffy blushed, as Spike bowed to her and smirked at Angus who could only
glare at him.
Before Buffy could say another word, Spike took her firmly by the elbow and
led her away.
"He's not Angel, Spike."
Spike didn't look down at her, "I know that."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Then what was that back there? A pissing competition?"
Spike didn't detect the agitated note in her voice, and answered blithely, "Yeah,
and he couldn't piss for shit."
Buffy growled and jerked her elbow from his grasp. Spike whirled around
and watched her stalk to Angus' side.
He frowned in confusion, what had he done?
Buffy was seething, and the people wisely moved out of her way. Now more
then ever she wanted to plunge her stake into dead flesh...if that dead flesh
happened to have peroxide blonde hair and piercing blue eyes even better.
She stood next to Angus, gritting her teeth. She would willingly die first before
she walked back to that arrogant jackass.
Spike stared at her, eyes narrowed. He watched as she laughed with the poof.
Seethed as the poof leaned close to whisper in her ear.
Buffy shivered in distaste as his moist breath hissed into her ear, she resisted
the urge to wipe her ear clean. But she forced a smile on her mouth, she would
smile even if her face cracked.
Spike leaned against a pillar, glaring at the pair. This was the first time that he
was able closely observe Buffy with him - alright it really wasn't *him*, but the
resemblance was so marked that it was difficult to remember that he wasn't
the Great Souled Poofter himself.
They looked good together, he complimented her perfectly - her delicate beauty
in stark contrast to his dark features. He towered above her, and for the first
time Spike saw what Buffy saw in Angel. Angel was her protector, she had been
at the point of life, when one longs for a knight in shining armour. The one to
cradle and shelter her.
Caught up in thoughts of the past, Spike was oblivious to the present. He didn't
see the poorly concealed glances Buffy sent his way. She was no longer a girl,
dreaming of heroes – she wanted an equal.
Determined to draw her attention away from the figure half-concealed in the
shadows, she scanned the crowd. She frowned, and beckoned to Winona.
"Winona, where is my sister?"
Before Winona could respond, a woman stepped forward. Buffy focused her
attention on her, recognising her as the one that had dragged Danica away
that first night.
"The little lady was feeling poorly today Lady Elizabeth."
Buffy nodded, accepting the excuse, but she noted the way the woman wrung
her hands, and the sweat that beaded her forehead. She noted the quick glance
the woman flicked at Angus. She stored the information away in her mind.
Feeling tired, and not wanting to spend another exhausting moment with Angus,
she murmured her excuses. As she prepared to slip from the room, she felt
a light touch on her elbow.
She turned and drowned in icy blue eyes, self-conscious, she stepped back.
Spike watched her gently shake her head before the cool demeanour slipped
back into place.
"What is wrong? What did I do?"
Buffy glared at him, "Can't you figure it out? That decomposing brain of yours
not getting enough blood?"
Spike shook his head, "Luv, how can I ever know what's going on in that
head of yours?"
Buffy took another step back, trying to calm her thoughts, "Spike, don't ever
hand me one of your lines again." She spat the words out, despising herself for
caring so much, and him for being...him!
She whirled on her heel, and in a flurry of rose-tinted skirts was gone.
Spike stared after her, "But I meant every word..."
* * *
"What's happening?"
Tara looked up, she had been completely engrossed in the book, possibilities
and thoughts whirling around her head. She shook her head, focusing on the
present. "Umm - not much..."
Willow sighed, and sat down next to her lover, "I don't know what to do Tara -
and...and...this...thing, with Spike? Dawn shouldn't...you shouldn't..."
Tara laid a reassuring hand on Willow's fidgeting fingers, "I know that I may
not know Spike as well as you and the others do, but maybe it helps me to
see him clearly. Willow, he's changed, and none of you can see that!"
Willow's red head snapped up, "Changed? Tara..." she lowered her voice, "The
sex bot, what about that?"
Tara shook her head, "I know it's gross and all that, but think about it Willow,
what would you do if the only thing you wanted was the one thing you couldn't
have? It offered him comfort..."
Willow closed her eyes, "It was gross Tara."
Tara nodded empathically, "Yes it was, but all I'm saying is that he has changed."
She eyed Willow's tight face, "Would a soulless, evil creature suffer unspeakable
torture in the hands of hell god in order to protect a child?"
Willow couldn't meet Tara's steady gaze.