Of Fact and Fiction - Chapter Twelve
by Angel Eternal aka Angeline
email: spikes_angel01@yahoo.com.au
URL: http://www.geocities.com/spikes_angel01/index.html
Rating: R
Distribution:At my site "In Dreams and Shadows", "Carnal Sins" and at FF.net but it you want to
archive it go ahead, but just let me know first - I kinda like to know where it's going, and plus I find
out about more S/B shipper sites! g
Author's Notes: Big thanks to Niriz, my faithful beta reader! ::kisses him on the cheek::
Disclaimers: 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!
"Buffy!!!!"
He screamed out her name until his throat was raw, and still he called for her.
In vain.
How many times was he supposed to feel this pain? Every time it felt as if someone had ripped out his
guts. The pain was primal, and deep inside he experienced doubt.
He doubted whether their love was meant to be. In the short time they had been together, Buffy had
been wrenched from his grasp twice. Perhaps the gods were trying to tell him something.
Screw the gods.
He was damned anyway.
Spike knew that if Buffy was not by his side, his existence was worthless, and he wasn't going to just
give up. Something had taken her, and that something was going to die a miserable death by his hands.
Spike slumped against a wall, for a moment trying to regain his sense of direction. He had no idea how
long he'd been wandering.
He focused internally. He had always been able to sense when Buffy was around, and if she was still
in this godforsaken dimension - he'd find her.
He concentrated, conjuring up images of his beloved. He recalled the flash of anger in her eyes, the way
that it would change the colour of her eyes from a whimsical blue-green to hardened jade. He recalled
the way the moonlight glinted off her golden locks. He recalled the way she looked up at him, little chin
jutting out, eyes sparkling, soft skin...
There. There it was, that faint yet unmistakable hum that screamed 'Buffy.' He turned, following that
faint sound, he was going to find her - and he was going to get her out of here - no matter the cost.
* * *
Danica continued to pace - she didn't have much time.
If only Elizabeth was here, she'd know what to do. She always knew what to do.
But Elizabeth wasn't here, and Buffy was at the Shadow's mercy - and Spike...
Danica worked quickly, gathering herbs and instruments.
'Black magic...Devil's Spawn...'
She shook her head, she couldn't allow the malicious wagging of decrepit tongues, distract her from
what she must do.
Heaven help her - she would surely burn at the stake.
Grimly, Danica pushed the thought away. Now was not the time for doubt. Besides, people thought she was
mad didn't they? Why would it matter to them what she did or did not do?
As soon as everything was ready, Danica settled herself. She could still feel the traces of another's power -
but she didn't have the energy to seek that one out. She had to call upon the Light - only she could banish
the power of the Shadow.
Conventions be damned, Danica started to chant.
* * *
"There's a reason why Slayers don't live for very long, and its not just the hazards of their occupation."
He smiled at Buffy. "I've been waiting for you a long time now Slayer. You should've been in my grasp
at least two years ago. Yet you continue to defy logic. Two Slayers have been called - one has died
and the other incarcerated. You should by all means be mine now." He stared deep into her eyes.
"Yet here you are, defiant to the very end."
Buffy was getting tired of the babble, "Look, would you just cut to the chase? As poetic you believe
yourself to be, I would rather have this done and over with as soon as possible."
Buffy realised that his eyes were brown, as nondescript as the rest of him. She only noticed that fact
now because his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Well I guess that's really your choice my dear, so long
that you realise that with the ending of this narrative comes the ending of your life."
Buffy shrugged, not the least bit fazed. "I've heard that one before. What is it with the big bad wanting
to air out his master plan?"
He grinned at her, "Ah my dear now that is where you err - I am no 'big bad' as you call them. I simply
am." He leaned back. "Slayer - I am Kage."
He paused expectantly.
Buffy blinked - then realised that he was waiting for her to say something. "What?"
He growled at her, "Your Watcher is incompetent!"
"Hey!" Buffy leapt to Giles' defence. "He is not incompetent! He's very competent - he can kick
your ass!"
He shook his head, "I am Kage - the bringer of darkness. I am brother to Hikari - the bringer of light."
He studied her blank expression, and sighed, "Hikari is the caller of Slayers."
Buffy gasped. Could it be? Were her questions going to be answered?
Kage smiled at her again, "The Chosen One - though that title seems a little...unfitting, considering you
are not the One and Only. It is she who Chooses - and it is I that ends it."
Realisation dawned on her - and she finally the meaning of his words sunk in, "So you kill off Slayers when
they're getting too old - is that it?"
He laughed, the sound sending chills down her spine. "Now you're getting it. There is a reason for the
expiration date. A Slayer lives too long, they begin to question. A young Slayer has such a wonderful
outlook on life. Everything is black and white." he flashed her a grin, "You vampire Slayer - them vampires."
He cocked his head to the side, "But you were always different weren't you? You have fallen in
love with that which you must slay. Twice."
He sighed, and flicked his fingers, "Enough of this chit-chat. I am not inclined to unfold the mysteries of the
world before you..." He stood.
Buffy felt paralysed. So this was how it was meant to end. Not at some battle to save humanity - no,
it was to be this dispassionate execution.
She bowed her head, squeezing her eyes shut, and whispered his name.
* * *
His head snapped up - he could smell her now. That intoxicating scent of delicate flowers mixed with the
muskier aroma of power and blood, it was unmistakably Buffy.
He could smell her fear, and in his mind's eye he saw her beautifully defiant. Standing with legs spread
wide, eyes flashing challengingly.
"Hold on Buffy - hold on."
He could feel the undercurrents of ancient power coursing through the atmosphere, and Spike was
filled with apprehension.
But no matter what it was, she would get through it, like she always had.
'Spike...'
He heard it, her faint voice, calling out to him. he heard the resignation in it, and he feared.
Spike ran.
* * *
Willow pressed her hand to her chest, her eyes widening. She turned to Tara.
"Can you feel that?"
Tara shook her head, "What is honey?"
Willow gasped, forcing the air into her lungs. The vibration of power was making her choke. Her eyes
snapped over to where the girl sat by the window.
Dawn felt calm, at ease and she didn't question the feelings.
Willow slowed her breathing, eyes focused on Dawn. The waves of power weren't emanating from Buffy's
sister - it was someone else. And that someone else was generating a lot of energy. What could they
possibly be doing?
Then it dawned on her. Willow stood, and swiftly went to Giles' side.
"Giles."
Giles looked up. Willow's face was tight, and he could see she was in pain. "Willow?"
Silently she held out her hand, and waited.
Realising what she wanted, he relinquished the book, concerned for the girl.
With a nod of thanks, Willow flipped through the pages. Quickly she scanned the words of the last
paragraph, and as she understood, she realised what must be done.
She dropped the book, and in a flurry of red gathered ingredients and tools.
Anya watched her with worry etched on her face. "You're going to pay for that right?"
* * *
It wasn't working; it was enough! Danica wanted to curse and stomp out her frustration, but determination
demanded that she kept up with the chanting.
That was when she felt it. A tendril of that aura that still lingered in the atmoshpere - it was reaching out to her.
Danica tensed up, unsure of what to do, then she felt the gentle persuasion, gently asking, no begging, to be
able to help.
Then the aura grew stronger, and Danica could not refuse.
She opened her mind.
* * *
Willow settled down, she had refused to explain to any of the others what was going. That would waste
precious time. Time she didn't have.
She settled down and began to chant.
Anya's eyes widened as she recognised the chant. "What are you doing?!"
Willow refused to answer and continued with the chant.
Anya shook her head frantically, "No! You mustn't you crazy witch! You have no idea what you're doing!"
She started to pace around her, but unwilling to do more to disturb the witch. She knew the danger of
disrupting the supplicant. "Just because She is Light, doesn't mean She'll take too kindly with this! Willow
please!"
Dawn had kept her eyes on Willow, she trusted the witch. Swiftly she got up and grasped Willow's hands,
much to Anya's dismay. Dawn listened to the words, and soon joined in with the chant.
Driven with the need to help, Tara got up and joined hands with Willow and Dawn, Willow smiled at her
lover, gripping her hand tightly.
Anya moaned.
Silently, Giles stood, and joined the circle, with Xander on his heels.
By this time, Anya was a nervous wreck.
"You guys have no idea what you're doing! You just can't drop in and say hey, how are you to the bloody
Goddess!" She wrung her hands, and watched.
"Guys please! I want to live a nice long time! I want many, many orgasms!"
Her pleas fell on deaf ears. Xander looked up at her, his pleading for her understanding.
She cracked, and sat next to Xander, muttering about the foolishness of the mortal heart.
* * *
"Buffy!"
A man was seated in an ornate chair, hands loosely clasped together. Spike shuddered, for the first
time in his undead existence he felt cold.
Buffy stood before the man, head bowed, hands clenched.
Seeing him, the man leapt to action. "Do not dream of interfering vampire!"
Spike glared at the man. He didn't feel human; he could pummel him into oblivion. "Course I wouldn't
dream of interfering - I just will you ponce!"
His muscles were tensed to jump at the man, but her voice stopped him in his tracks. "Buffy-love?"
Buffy looked up, "Spike - this is how it was meant to be."
Spike shook his head violently, "What are you saying luv? Nothing is meant to be!" he peered into her
eyes. "Buffy-love, you can do this..."
Buffy shook her head sadly, "It's my time Spike."
"Like hell it is!" It felt as if someone was twisting his heart. "It's not your 'time' - not if I had anything to
say about it!"
The man laughed, "But you have no say in it."
Spike stood and approached Buffy. Gently he took her by the shoulders, "Listen to me Buffy. You're going
to live a nice long time. You'd still be slaying in your tight pants when you're eighty." He saw her lips
twitch, and he pressed on. No one can save Buffy if she didn't want to be saved. "Come on luv - you gotta
pull yourself together."
He turned to the man, "Look, if you're so bloody determined to take a friggin life - take mine."
Something in the man's eyes changed, "You're willing to give your life for the Slayer? The killer of your
kind?"
Spike tilted his head to the side, regarding the man, seeing his chance. "Hell yes."
"No!"
Both men turned to look at the Slayer. Spike saw the fire in her eyes as she stared at the man, "You are
not taking him Kage."
The man shook his head, "How you've deteriorated my Slayer. But it doesn't matter." He turned to Spike.
"Don't dream of pitting yourself on me. I am the source of your power - what I give I can easily take away.
Her time is through vampire - let her go."
Spike stared at her, memorising every feature of her face, "Never - I will never let her go."
Spike lunged towards Kage.
Everything slowed down, as Buffy watched in horror as Spike threw himself at the dark entity. She watched as
Spike moved, reaching for the man's jugular. She saw the expression of disgust and contempt on Kage's
face, watched as he rose his hand, ready to deliver the fatal blow.
A piercing scream rent the air, the voice filled with despair, and with a shock she realised that the voice
was hers. Buffy lunged to intercept Spike's own desperate move, unaware of the dark ball of lightening
hurtling towards them.
But Spike saw, and as Buffy's body hit his, he reached out and grabbed her by the waist, twisting their descent
so that he fell on top of her.
In a flash, the merciless apparent slowness vanished to be replaced with quicksilver light as the energy hit
Spike's body.
Another scream gathered at the back of her throat.
She watched as his eyes widened with the pain, hoarsely he whispered her name, and as she looked into his
eyes, she saw the love he felt for her, before the lids fluttered close.
~To be continued~
Now, I know you want me dead eg then spies the hoard of furious fans - noting that the majority were
from OGD ::grins nervously:: Hey guys!!! ::backs off when some pull out an assortment of weapons::
Eeeep!! Now guys...be reasonable!!! You can't kill me! ::mob inches forward, light gleaming off blades::
You can't! Who's gonna write the next chapter? Guys?