Chapter 3

Spike blinked. He was in a brightened room. Two people stood on a pedestal. They both had golden skin.

"Who are you?" he asked, pointing at them. "And where the hell am I?"

The female smiled. "We are the keepers. And this is the gate."

Spike snorted. Can they get more cryptic. "Yeah, uh. . . right then. So why am I here? With you?"

The male spoke then. "You have a choice, mortal."

Spike laughed. "I'm no mortal, mate. I'm a vampire."

The beings shared a knowing glance.

"Lower being, we grant you a choice," the male said.

Spike crossed his arms. "Yeah, what?"

"You can take your fate in the dimension you call hell. Or, you can redeem yourself on earth."

"Redeem myself?"

The female replied, "Keep helping the slayer. Be our champion and fulfill your destiny."

"I got news for you, the slayer doesn't want me around."

The female descended the stairs. She neared Spike.

The male gave her a questioning look. "What are you doing?"

She smiled. "Showing him what he left behind," she informed.

She faced Spike. "Come." She led him to a pool. She pointed to the water. "Look."

Spike rested his eyes into the liquid depth. Suddenly, it blackened. Ripples went through it, and then calmed. An image appeared.

There was Buffy. His love, his slayer. She was on the bed, curled up into a ball. She trembled. He reached out to her, but touched only water.

"Buffy!" he called. His chest swelled. She was in pain. He wanted to help.

From behind him, the female keeper spoke. "She mourns for you."

He lowered his head. "No. Buffy doesn't care about me. "

"But she does. She does."

Spike froze. Buffy had disappeared from the pool.

Fingers clutched his shoulders. They were warm and comforting. "You can return to her. She needs you. Her heart is reaching out to you."

Spike clenched his hands into fists. He took a deep breath. "Send me back."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Light engulfed him. The room faded away.

The beings were alone again.

"Nice work," the male said.

"I can handle some things better than you, Brother," the female informed.

"You know I'm not good in dealing with human emotions. Especially love," he replied.

"Yes, Brother, I understand."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Buffy jumped out of bed. She took a long breath. She had to get out of here. The walls were making her claustrophobic.

Too bad it wasn't night. She could use a good patrol.

Buffy went downstairs. She stepped over to the door. A walk. Yes, she would go for a walk.

She turned the knob, pulling the door open. She gasped. Her legs wobbled, threatening to give away.

There, in a heap, was Spike on her doorstep. And he was bathed in sunlight.