Of Fact and Fiction - Chapter Thirteen
by Angel Eternal aka Angeline
email: spikes_angel01@yahoo.com
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! ::grins::
Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone at OGD, especially Vera, who has given me crucial help for this chapter - and several other people come to mind also for helping me out with this chapter - Barb, Raven ::showers them with naked choc Spikes::
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!
Danica closed her eyes tightly, chanting steadily. She heard it within her; the steady voices chanting with her
from across dimensions. She could feel their love and concern, and she drew strength from them.
~~~~~~
Against all her fears, Anya chanted, feeling sick. She didn't know what this would accomplish, aside from
getting them all killed. She feared for the girl in the other dimension - it would be through her that the connection
would be made. For the first time in a life filled with death, destruction and salvation, Anya prayed.
~~~~~~
Giles didn't know what this would accomplish, he didn't want to admit it, but he wasn't fully sure what Willow was
up to. But by this point he would do anything to keep the girl he considered his daughter, safe. He didn't want to
think about what other things was going on in her life, and could only hope that she could make it.
~~~~~~~
Dawn felt calm and at ease - she couldn't explain this feeling, but she knew that everything was going to be ok -
it had to be, she would not allow another alternative. She was not going to lose her sister and her best friend - the
world would disintegrate first.
~~~~~~
One phrase ran around Xander's head like a litany, as he tightly grasped Anya's hand, it was simple:
Buffy be safe
~~~~~~
Willow knew that her mind had to be utterly focused, one wrong word, a loss in the rhythm could mean everything.
She could not afford to screw this one up, and she wasn't going to.
~~~~~~~
Tara was prepared to give whatever Willow asked for - and what her lover demanded of her now was complete
and utter trust. She placed her life in Willow's hands, and feared for her, as she watched Willow's dreamy green
eyes turn utterly black...
* * *
"No! Spike! No!" This couldn't be happening - not when she just found him! It wasn't possible that Spike - the
immortal vampire would die before her. Was she fated to be alone? Did all of them have to leave her?
Buffy felt his weight drop onto her, and she gasped, blinking back tears, as she slowly extricated herself from
beneath his desperate clasp.
She stared down at him, at the sculpted cheekbones. She had never realised how long his lashes were, now
she noted the length, as the lashes brushed across his face. She stared at him, willing him to open his eyes.
Slowly, she looked up at Kage - tears of hate and frustration coursing down her face. Not a word would come,
she couldn't even begin to express the feelings of utter despair that had begun to fester in her soul.
They haven't begun - and already he was taken from her.
Kage smiled at her, that saccharine stretching of the lips that she loathed. "I can give you back to him. Just accept
my Slayer..."
At his words, her eyes widened. Give her back to him? Could she...? Did he mean...?
But as she considered it, she knew that Spike would hate her for it - he had given his life for her, and she wasn't
about to throw such a priceless gift away.
"Come my Slayer, give in...the cycle must be renewed!"
Buffy gazed down at Spike, she held him closer and silently begged him to come back and drive her up the wall...
in more ways then one...
* * *
They all gasped, as the feeling of warmth and calm descended upon them.
She had come.
* * *
All was warm and dark, and he couldn't seem to open his eyes. But he could hear a voice, calling.
Slowly he turned, until he saw a small figure.
She sat on top of a large boulder, white dress hugging her slender figure, legs crossed demurely. Her rich brown
tresses were pilled on top of her head in artful disarray. Her chocolate brown eyes sparkled with warmth and
compassion. She smiled at him, and he felt oddly at peace.
"Spike..." her voice was rich and warm, reminded him oddly of whiskey filling his gut. "Never thought that I would
ever be speaking to you. But things change don't they?"
Spike took a step forward, wary.
Her smile never wavered. She held out her hand to him. Without knowing why, he took it.
Her touch was warm, and the warmth danced up his arm, settling in the region where his heart would've been.
He sighed, feeling slightly drunk - the warmth that he felt from her touch was akin to feeling blood dancing in his
veins. He was jostled out of this euphoric state with one thought....
Buffy.
Spike jerked backwards in alarm, eyes frantically snapping from one empty space to another.
She sighed, watching him, "Should've known that I couldn't get you to forget about her."
Spike's eyes jerked back to her, "Buffy."
Her smile brightened. "Yeah...Buffy." she shook her head slightly, "It's beautiful you know? It's one of those things
you hear about, but never expect to experience."
He frowned, he had no idea what she was blathering about, and he didn't have the time for it. "What?"
"True love." she grinned at him, "You've got - the whole heart-thumping, destiny, fairy-tale she-bang." she paused
for a moment, "Well...maybe not the heart-thumping in your case." She shook her head. "What's a girl supposed
to do?" She stared at him some more, and Spike squirmed beneath her intense gaze. "Let me give you some
advice Spikey-boy, remember the difference between fact and fiction, and know that the line is often blurred
until you don't know anything for certain. Remember that."
Spike sighed, he wasn't up for a nice philosophical discussion. "Listen lady, I don't know what the bleeding hell you
want from me, but I got to go find Buffy...she's..."
The dreamy look in the chocolate orbs vanished, "I know perfectly well what the Slayer has been up to Spike."
Then her expression softened, "Just tell me one thing ok? I'm a sucker for happily-ever-afters. Are you prepared
to give her everything?"
Without hesitation Spike nodded empathically, "My whole being is worthless without my sun."
She smiled, head tilting to the side, "Who ever said you were a bloody awful poet?"
She jumped off the boulder, hips swaying, she flicked a glance over one creamy shoulder, and studied his shocked
face. "Trust me...don't use the word 'effulgent'. Just not romantic baby."
With another swing of her hips, she was gone.
* * *
He groaned, feeling as if every bone in his body was broken, and every organ - no matter how useless, was
smashed.
He rolled over, his body screaming in protest. Then he saw her.
Buffy was kneeling, partly hidden in shadows. Kage's hands were stroking the base of her throat, deceptively
innocent. Spike saw the tears glistening on her cheeks, as she turned her face away from the dark creature
draining her strength away.
He watched, partly out of frozen indecision and partly because he felt weak - a fact that he would never admit.
Ever so faintly, she whispered his name, before swiftly knocking Kage back.
Hope surged in his breast, as he watched Buffy attempt to fight Kage off, but the dark creature merely shrugged,
and in a move so fast, had Buffy cradled in his arms once more.
Spike watched horrified, as Buffy's body sagged down - she was exhausted, he could plainly see that. He had
watched her fight long enough, to know when her energy had been depleted. Buffy was now facing him, still
wrapped in that deadly embrace. From the scratches on her arms, and face, Spike could see that she had been
fighting.
He leapt to his feet, ignoring the wave of dizziness that engulfed him. He called out her name.
Buffy's head snapped up, eyes widening as they locked on him, he heard his name slipping past slack lips as she
continued to stare at him with utter shock.
Kage's grip on the Slayer loosened, and she fell from his grasp. His head snapped to the side, it looked as if he was
listening to someone, and Spike would've sworn that he saw a flash of white.
Kage smirked; he flicked a glance at Buffy, who sat in a heap at his feet, and then at him.
"It seems that my sister likes you vampire." Kage smiled indulgently, "Very well then. One last reprieve. If you agree
to my terms. What do you think?"
Spike drew up to his full height, "You know I'd agree."
Kage laughed, "Foolish vampire, you haven't even heard the terms! What if it demands too much?"
Spike glanced briefly at Buffy, and then turned his determined visage back to the dark creature. "Nothing is too much."
Kage sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. "My, my Buffy! What a gallant hero you have!"
Buffy ignored him, and continued to stare at Spike, still unable to believe her eyes. She was certain that he was
an apparition that her dying mind had conjured.
"Alright vampire - the terms are simple, and direct." He gestured to a dark corner, drawing Spike and Buffy's attention
to the figure sheathed in the shadows.
She stepped forward, as soon as she moved, Spike recognised the willowy gracefulness of her movements.
Buffy felt ill, she too recognised the figure the moment she moved.
Her dark curls tumbled around shoulders, her pale skin gleamed in what little light there was, and her dark eyes
seemed to glow in the darkness. The shadows claimed the slim figure, as she weaved in and out of the light as
she walked.
"Spike..." his name slipped past her rosy lips, as she gazed at him.
Unable to help himself, Spike took a step forward. "Dru..."
Kage held out his hand to the vampire, who willingly fell into his embrace, "My beautiful child."
He turned to Spike, "She is lovely isn't she Spike?"
All Spike could do was nod, as he stared at Drusilla, his sire, his lover - she who had been everything.
* * *
Buffy wrung her hands anxiously, while Kage watched her, an amused smile twisting his lips. "Slayer...don't you
trust your lover?"
She glared at him, "Of course I trust him!"
But the answer had come too fast, and Kage knew that she was trying to convince herself. He chuckled.
"Wonderful of you really my dear. I mean, he is a soulless vampire after all, and he just walked away with the love
of his undead life." He grinned to himself as he watched the doubt flicker in her eyes. "How strong you are my
dear."
Buffy remained silent. Spike had been so sure that it was Drusilla, she had told him of Kage's deceptions and tricks,
and still he insisted. He and Drusilla had walked away, Spike had taken Buffy's hand and flashed her that rakish
grin that sent shivers through her body. But she couldn't explain why seeing Spike turn and follow Drusilla had rent
her apart, and why now tears slipped down her cheek.
* * *
"Spike...Miss Edith has been calling me again...she tells me that you're far away from me...far, far 'way!"
Spike watched Dru's graceful form sway gently in an unseen breeze. He took a step towards her. "Dru..."
She spun around, her tattered skirts flaring out behind her, "My Spike...my beautiful Spike."
She held his face, and stared deep into his eyes. Ever so gently, she pulled him down, her lips dancing on his.
"How you glow my Spike!"
With that she pulled him down for a savage kiss.
Hard and fast, their tongues duelled with one another, teeth nipping, hands desperately groping. If Spike had any
doubts if this was indeed his dark princess, all was dispelled with this one kiss. He could taste the blood on her
tongue, rich and intoxicating, as she reminded him of all the years passed. Then just as suddenly, the kiss gentled,
and turned almost chaste, as Drusilla ran her hands through his hair, murmuring incoherently.
It was Drusilla who broke the kiss; she stared up at him, her eyes filled with sadness. "So this is it my Spike."
"What is it luv?" He wanted to hold her tighter, have this last moment with her that he would probably never really
have.
Drusilla smiled at him tenderly, stroking the side of his face. "This my Spike is the end, for us, and perhaps for you."
She whirled out his grasp. "Miss Edith has been whispering in my ear...telling me that my Spike is lost to me."
She turned to face, dark eyes unfathomable. "But I didn't want to listen - then another voice started to call to me...
so rich...so dark...I loved him, I followed him. And he leads me into your arms."
Spike swallowed hard, he had been unsure of what to say to his dark princess and yet here she stood. What to say?
Drusilla flung her arms open, and started to whirl around the empty space. Spike watched her - he had always
loved to watch her, and now as no different. His precious Drusilla, so free - deadly and innocent. Buffy would
never understand that about her. Yes Drusilla could be vicious in her bloodlust, but to watch her was poetry.
Fluid movements in the shadows; the very brutality of her actions in such stark contrast with her child-like state.
She was his dark inspiration, and his demon had rejoiced in her.
No. Buffy would never understand, though he loved Buffy with all his being, there would always be his Drusilla.
That night when he had the Slayer in chains, and Drusilla in ropes, he had seen the same sadness in her dark eyes.
She had silently reminded him that she would always be. The Slayer was after all, only mortal - and Drusilla
was forever.
But one thing Spike had always valued was the moment. Only now mattered.
Drusilla stopped spinning, and stood, head cocked to one side, eyes blank, a soft smile on her lips. Her eyes
snapped to meet his. "Oh my Spike, my darling! You are mine again!"
She flung herself into his embrace, after years of this; Spike's arms wrapped themselves around her slim waist.
He pressed her close to him. "I'm always yours pet."
She pulled away from, her expressive eyes darkening for a moment, before clearing. "Not now Spike - but you
will be. How I've missed you! Miss Edith has missed you too Spike."
She pressed her body tightly to his, going on her toes to whisper in his ear, as she loved to do. "You must give
her up Spike."
Violently, Spike thrust her from him, eyes wide. There was no mistaking Dru's meaning. The way she had said 'her'
had told him clearly who she was speaking about. The word had dripped with unconcealed venom, and that told
Spike how very much Dru hated his Buffy.
She grinned at him, "Yes my Spike, I see you understand! It is the only way! Don't you love me Spike?"
Then she held out her hand, as if to stop his words, "No, you don't. But you love her...and you would do it for
her. Wouldn't you Spike? You'd let her walk in the sun, while you remain in the cold shadows..."
Driven by fear and rage, Spike's hand connected with Dru's pale cheek.
Slowly, she turned her head to look at him again, and he saw the excitement dancing in her dark eyes. "Oh Spike..."
"Don't toy with me Dru."
That grin was still firmly in place, "Never...my prince tells me there is but one way for you to save her."
She paused, waiting.
Knowing her as only he did, Spike growled, "Please Dru."
She clapped her hands, "Oh Spike!" she took his hand. "Very well my Spike, I'll speak clearly. For you to save
her, you must agree to stay away from her."
"What...?" Spike didn't have the strength to pull away from Drusilla's grasp.
"She's to have no memory of you my Spike - it would be as if our lives and hers have never mixed!"
Drusilla laughed, obviously delighted, while Spike stared at her, devastated. He knew precisely what it was that
Kage was asking of him.
* * *
"Do you think he'll accept my terms Slayer?"
Her nerves had been stretched out, and this wait was pure agony. Buffy had never liked to wait. "Shut up."
Kage rolled his eyes, "Such disrespect for authority! Really Ms. Summers!"
Buffy merely growled at him.
* * *
Dru had been dancing, Spike couldn't tell for how long now - he had been immersed in thought.
Kage would return them to the outside world - if Spike agreed that he would be out of Buffy's life. Her memories
of him - of their time spent together would be erased - never have happened. She would never be his.
Was there any choice?
He called Drusilla's name, and happily Drusilla flew into his arms. Spike stood numbed as she nuzzled against
his chest. His thoughts still in disarray.
There was no choice.
Slowly, he and Dru retraced their steps, until they were once more facing Kage and the Slayer. Spike couldn't
meet her gaze.
Buffy watched them, jealousy flaring up as she eyed Drusilla's arm, which was snaked around Spike's waist. It
didn't help that he refused to look at her. She felt sick.
"So vampire? Do you agree?"
Spike looked up and for the first time stared into Buffy's eyes. "I want to remember."
Kage sighed, and waved his hand, "Done, done! If you insist on torturing yourself, I would gladly oblige."
"Wait! I want a little time..."
"I can do that too!" Kage was grinning. Finally this would be resovled.
Buffy was confused, what was happening? Desperately, she searched Spike's face, but found it curiously blank.
Spike nodded slowly, "I hold you to your word Kage."
Kage nodded eagerly, "Yes yes! You have my word vampire!"
Then swiftly, before anyone could blink he was standing before the vampires.
First, he reached out to touch Drusilla's cheek. Drusilla eagerly leaned into his touch. Kage smiled at her fondly,
and before Spike and Buffy's eyes - she disappeared.
Kage turned to Spike, and leaning in so only the vampire could hear, he whispered. "Remember vampire - she
will be mine eventually. You promise she will be mine."
Mutely, Spike nodded.
Kage smiled, and with a flourish of his hands, all was darkness...
~To be continued~