Chapter Seven
Willow went to Harry and basically demanded that he give her the Marauders Map. He did without know what was going on. After confirming Adrian wasn't on school grounds Spike left, searching returning only during the day. Dad and Remus arrived the second day he'd been missing and started scouring the Forbidden Forest. Me? I stayed in my room, a total mess. See the first day, I'd been fine, but the second I woke feeling sick in my stomach. It felt almost like I'd been gutted. Adrian and I had never been separated from each other. We always knew where the other was, or at least had a general idea. Now I didn't and that's where the sick feeling came from. I was missing my twin.
When school resumed Lavender and Parvati had been asked by McGonagle to temporarily take another dorm until the situation was back to normal. They graciously agreed and now some of my more unconventional visitors were free to come and go as they pleased. Spike still had to be careful of course as Hermione, Harry, and Ron still did not know about him.
Hermione brought my work up every night once classes started again and urged me to check into the hospital wing. I refused her and everybody else saying I'd spent enough time there this summer and there wasn't anything Madam Pomfrey could do there that wasn't being done for me in the comfort of my own bed. I knew the only thing that would help me would be to know where Adrian was. And as proof of this the tenth day he was missing the pain from my stomach spread to my chest and head. It hurt to breath.
Spike sat with me during the day seeing as he could be out searching. It surprised me to find him sweet and protective. He watched me like a hawk never hesitating to tell me to drink down some gross concoction of Snape's. Yet he always knew what to say to get me to smile or laugh when I was feeling particularly weighed down with pain. On January 6th, the eleventh day, he came in around ten in the morning. I was propped up on pillows reading Interview With the Vampire, which I'd borrowed from Hermione. I was partly reading, partly staring off into space, and partly shifting around in bed because my head and stomach where killing me.
"I've always been a Lestat. M' old girl was my Claudia." Spike's greeting was as he straddled a chair backwards and moved to my bed. He handed me a tray of food he'd probably nicked from the kitchens. "You?"
"Jesse," I said, catching a breath on a shot of pain from my chest. "From Queen of the Damned. You've read these?"
"Yeah. I've known a Louis too. My old friend Peaches." By the way he said it I could tell this 'Peaches' wasn't exactly a friend. "Wasn't exactly like him, but the sod was close enough to be pretty damned annoying after he got cursed by some gypsies."
"I've read this six times," I admitted. "Always been one of my favorites."
"You've got good taste then." Spike reached into a deep pocket in his black duster and pulled out a vial filled with a swirling green liquid. "The poof with the big nose says you need to drink this. I don't envy you."
"Says the one who likes blood in his cereal." I groaned from both pain and disgust, but took the vial anyway and popped it open. The both of us wrinkled out noses at the smell, but I downed it with Spike watching intently to see that I got every drop. The pain was alleviated slightly but not completely. I knew from experience that the potion would slowly put me to sleep so I folded over the page in the book and turned to Spike.
"Talk to me." I said. "Tell me a story or something."
He looked startled. "A story pet?"
"Yes, something to take my mind off everything. Not a fairy tale or anything sappy. Something interesting…about you. You've been around since the 1800's, you have to have some good stories."
"How about the time I killed a slayer during World War Two?" He asked in a teasing voice.
"No death!" I protested quickly. "C'mon I know you have something. How about why you went to Africa. And don't try to tell me you went for a safari 'cause I think I can still muster up enough strength to slap you."
Spike laughed. "Maybe you could pet. So you want to here about Africa. Fine. Pass me the fags I left here the other day."
I reached over into the drawer of my nightstand and handed him his Camels and lighter. He lit one and took a long drag that would've killed any normal person. He just blew two lines of smoke from his nose and relaxed in the chair. I used my wand to check that the protective shields I'd put up against the smoke were still around my bed and settled down waiting for him to begin.
"I left Sunnyhell in May vowing to become my old self again. I wanted to be the Big Bad that I had been. That damned Bush guy you American's have got in charge of the free world had this secret organization running that was in charge of grabbing supernatural creatures and doin' weird shit to 'em. They got me and bloody neutered me. Took away my ability to kill humans with some stupid computer chip on my brain. Gave me a helluva headache if I even grabbed someone the wrong way. I couldn't even beat the Whelp around. Then the girl I love was datin' one of the officers from the group that did it to me.
"Anyway there was a bloody long chain of events leadin' up to my leavin' Sunnyhell, but I did. I'd heard about a demon in Africa who could help me get the damn chip out of my head. I drove out in my Desoto and stowed away on a boat over to Japan, from there I traveled by night all the way across Asia, and stowed away on another boat across the Red Sea and ended up in Egypt. I had to travel across the bleedin' Sahara to get to the Congo River where the demon supposedly was. Sossin' out exactly where it was, was a whole different problem altogether. I found it after two weeks of searching. Turned out to be a her, and she wasn't even a demon. Her name was Adhara. I was about to just bugger the whole thing, but she said she could help. Granted powers by her gods she was. Adhara said she'd give me my deepest desire. I wasn't supposed to say what I wanted, which didn't make any sense t' me.
"So she has her servants take me to a hut where they leave me waitin' for who knows how long. I don't get blood or anything, and by the time she comes back I'm near crazy with blood lust. She comes in with one of her men and tells me I'm free to attack him, kill him, do whatever I wanted. My demon came out, and I jumped on him, tore out his throat, and sucked him dry. You asleep yet pet?"
"No," I said behind a yawn. "Keep going. Adhara took your chip out right? It was your deepest desire."
"Wrong. Accordin' to her it wasn't. She said my deepest desire was to be accepted and loved by Buffy Summers, and to get that she did unchip me, but she also gave me back my soul. After I'd had my fill from the bloke I realized I wasn't feeling the glory of the kill or any of the other stuff I used to feel. It wasn't any bloody fun anymore. I actually felt bad, guilty even for killin' the fellow, then there was this whole other flood of emotions that chose the time to intrude. I was about to go in on Adhara for giving me a soul but she did something weird with her hands and next thing I knew, I was in front of that bloody watcher's house. He sees me, we have a huge roe about a few things, then he goes and offers me a job. Since then I've been watchin' over you and Adrian. Haven't been back to Sunnyhell yet, don't know if I will. Could be nasty, I never said goodbye to anyone. Piper?"
I turned over in bed and pulled the covers up. "Tired." I muttered.
"Figured that." He flung his cigarette aside. "I'll stay till you conk out."
I didn't respond. I was almost asleep and didn't have the energy. I felt Spike stroke my hair and heard him click his lighter for another smoke. The door to the room opened and footsteps fell close to my bed. Spike stood as someone kissed my cheek.
"How is she?" asked my father's voice.
"Fine. The git's potion put her to sleep a few minutes ago." Spike answered. "Have you found anything new?"
"This came in by owl this morning. Harry received it. " I heard parchment being passed. "It's signed Miss. Edith."
A growl sounded low in Spikes throat. "Miss. Edith? Damn her! Goin' after my family."
"Who's Miss Edith?"
"Dru," Tiredness forgotten, I almost sat straight up in the bed. Resisting the urge was hard, but I wanted them to keep talking. "But she's a bit dim, never was the same after Prague. She wouldn't have the mentality to do something like this herself."
"I can help you there. I know this handwriting. It's Wormtail's." said dad grimly. "Do you know what any of this means?"
"Dru always did speak in riddles. She probably dictated this, 'cause it's hers all right. Bloody birds and stars an' all." Spike spat out. "The only thing I can get from this is she knows Adrian's my nephew and Piper's my niece. Or at least the rat does. The rest of it might as well be in Arabic."
I kept my breathing quiet which was a very hard task at the moment. Spike was related to us. Spike was our uncle! This was certainly a twisted turn of events. 'Please keep talking' I prayed. Sleep was trying to settle over me again and it was an uphill battle trying to fight it off.
"Well she's working for Voldemort now." Dad sighed. "Any where she'd likely be?"
"I couldn't tell you. As long as I kept her happy she never cared where we stayed."
"Moony and I haven't scoped the whole forest yet. We're off to another section now. There're lots of abandoned sheds so we'll be awhile."
"I'll catch up tonight after I eat."
"Thanks for staying with her." Footsteps fell and the door closed.
Now that dad was gone I was content to let myself drift off to sleep. Spike was still there, occasionally stroking my hair and muttering under his breath about Drusilla.
*~*
That night Hermione shook me awake around seven o' clock. She was positively breathless and her cheeks were rosy like she'd been running for miles. I was very groggy, but I noticed that the pain around my body had depleted to feel like the flu. Never in my life had I been so grateful for flu symptoms.
"Sirius and Remus," she said panting. "They know where Adrian is, and Wormtail. There's this shed in the forest and they're both there with some woman. They've gone off to get him now. Harry's about to leave in his Invisibility Cloak, which I know can only end in disaster but he's determined not to loose Sirius…what are you doing?" I'd jumped out of bed, pain all but forgotten. I threw off my pajamas and hurriedly dressed in black cargo pants and a black tee shirt.
"Hermione, please go tell Harry to wait for me." I said pulling on my boots that were almost identical to Spike's. I hadn't gotten a chance to wear them at Hogwarts yet as they weren't exactly part of the whole uniform.
"This is a bad idea." Hermione said shaking her head, but she left to go tell him anyway. I dug through my trunk looking for my skullcap. Finding it, I pilled my hair up underneath it then hurried down stairs.
"Harry!" I yelled skidding into the common room. "I'm coming!"
"Are you sure? You've been sick…" He trailed off as I pulled him towards the portrait hole.
"Wait!" We turned to find Hermione approaching us as well. She'd changed and was now in all black as well. "I'm coming, but I still don't like this. I couldn't find Ron though. He's probably at dinner."
"Ok, let's go." Harry swept the cloak over us and we left the common room.
The three of us moved quietly but quickly through the halls. With dinner going on it was easy, even Filch had to eat after all, and so did Mrs. Norris. We exited the school and went to the forest. Just inside we stopped and pulled off the cloak. It would be easier to go through the forest without it.
"North," said Harry surely. "They found him in a section the hadn't covered yet and they hadn't done the north."
Harry preformed a Four Point spell that pointed us due north and we were off. We stayed on the paths at Hermione's insistence, which meant we had to perform the spell several times during our trip. The various beasties that lived in the forest were active that night, and we had quite a few scares, which slowed us down considerably. Pixies can be very annoying. I found this out the hard way as they were trying to yank my hat off my head. Some very good banishing charms on Harry and Hermione's part and some transfiguration of mine got us out of the hoard of pixies within twenty minutes.
We traveled for more than an hour before reaching a small clearing where at least two dozen abandoned shacks stood. We were as north in the Forbidden Forest as we could possibly be so I knew we had to be at our destination. The only problem was there was no sign of human life anywhere. The shacks were all dark and no noise came from them at all. We stared around clueless.
A rustle in the leaves made us all jump. "Lumos." We said in unison.
"Look." Whispered Hermione. "It's only a snake, and a small one at that. Nothing to be worried about."
"It's poisonous." Said Harry.
"How do you know?" I asked.
"He told me."
"Harry can communicate with snakes. He's a Parseltongue." Hermione explained eyeing the snake. "Harry, can you ask him if he's seen anyone with in the last hour?"
Harry made a strange hissing sound with his mouth. The snake slithered closer and hissed back at Harry. The odd conversation continued on for about five minutes before Harry Picked up the snake and motioned for us to follow him. We stopped about ten feet away at an old half eaten tree stump.
"He says that twice within the past two weeks people have come, touched this stump and disappeared." Harry translated. "The second time was about an hour ago. Three men, one black haired, one brown, and one blond."
"Remus, Sirius, and who?" Hermione wondered aloud.
"My protector." I said quickly. "I'll explain later, right now we should probably make with the portkeying."
"D'you really think we should?" Hermione asked. "We don't know where it'll go. We could end up in China."
"Yeah but we'll be there with Sirius and Remus so it won't be all bad." Said Harry with confidence, but he too was eyeing the portkey with worried eyes. The snake hissed to Harry. "He says he'd like to come."
"Whatever, let's just get this over with." I said. Hermione clasped hands with Harry and I, and the snake wrapped its self around Harry's arm. Hermione bent and touched the tree stump. I felt like a fish being hooked and dragged above water. The world swirled around me, as I was pulled my stomach into the tree stump.
I landed on top of Harry and Hermione on top of me. Where ever we had landed was lit by torches hung along the walls. It was damp and smelled like Snape's classroom on a bad day. We untangled ourselves and stood in the room. There was one door leading out of the room and when Harry attempted to open it we discovered it was locked. I tried several unlocking spells but none worked.
"Ok, maybe this wasn't one of our smarter moves." I admitted, banging on the door. I rammed it with my shoulder expecting it not to budge but it did. The door opened and I fell right into the arms of Peter Pettigrew.
"Wormtail!" Harry yelled.
The rat grasped my arm with his silver one. "We've been expecting you. Follow me."
"No." said Hermione.
"Then this will be Miss. Black's last night on earth." His other hand moved toward my throat. I twisted trying to get out of his grip, but his hand was too strong. "Follow me."
Harry and Hermione said nothing and followed Wormtail as he dragged me down the hall. He hadn't taken our wands, which was good. Maybe he was over confidant. Or maybe they just wouldn't do us any good anyway. Behind us I could hear Harry hissing to the snake. It answered back then everything was quiet.
"What happened to Piper's father?" Hermione asked nervously.
"That is none of your concern." His grip on me tightened as we stopped in front of a door. He used his wand to open it and kicked us inside. The room was bright and held three other occupants. A stunning woman with raven hair, Spike and Adrian. Spike and Adrian were chained to the wall, with their chests exposed. The woman was sitting on the floor seemingly staring off into space.
"Dru," said Wormtail in a sugary voice. "I've brought you some new toys."
"Toys?" Drusilla looked up at us and licked her lips. "We'll have fun won't we? It's almost as good as my birdie. Don't go yet. I've taught this one a new trick. You have to see." She looked at Adrian. "When I call him James he shakes around like a puppet. James, look up at me." And like she'd said Adrian convulsed in the chains.
"That's very good my love. You'll have to teach these some tricks too. I have to work now, but I'll be back later. You can keep your self amused of course."
"Yes, with my new toys." Drusilla eyed us like she wanted to eat us. Peter left then, locking the doors behind him.
"Oh God." Hermione whispered, truly scared.
"You," Dru, pointed at me holding me in her gaze. "My Spike sung to me about you. The stars and wind did too. The song was long and sweet. Go, look at James."
I didn't have to be told twice. I ran to my brother and Spike. Their wrists were chained to the wall above with heavy iron chains. Spike and Adrian's chests were scarred in long running marks. I lifted Adrian's face and gasped. It was contorted like Spike's whenever his demon came out. Fangs were visible from beneath his lips. Spike's demon was present too. Both were unconscious.
"You turned him." I gulped.
"No. James wouldn't let me." Tears fell down my face as Adrian's body convulsed again. "But, Peter told me that if I got him angry enough there'd be a surprise. And that was it. I got a demon! And then I got my Spike back, and he doesn't smell like slayer anymore. He smells like blood again. Sweet blood. But then he said he didn't want me, so I asked Peter to put holy water on them both. I was great fun watching them scream. James yelled first. He yelled for you Piper."
Harry put an arm around my shoulder as Dru finished her speech. He looked just as lost as I did. None of us had any idea of what to do. "What are you going to do with us?" Harry finally asked.
Drusilla's eyes lit up. "I want Piper's demon. Peter said I could have it, and he always gives me what I want."
"I don't have a demon." I protested. Truly, I wasn't sure. If Adrian had one then it would only make sense that I did.
"I don't like it when you lie." Her face turned to a pout. "You have a demon. My new birdie told me. Spike gave it to you. I was there when he did."
"I've never seen you before in my life."
"You look like your grandmother. I was there when the rivers of blood flowed from her. Spike let me have the first taste. It was warm, and tasted like cinnamon. We turned her together." Dru seemed lost in the memory. "You and James are mine. You've got my blood, and my Spike's. We'll be together, as a family. I'll be your mum. Mummy doesn't like your friends Piper. I think I'll like them dead though."
"Hermione move!" Harry yelled as Drusilla lunged for her. Hermione sidestepped just in time, but Drusilla only stood and attacked again.
"Mentia!" Hermione yelled frantically pointing her wand at herself. Drusilla reached to grab her but couldn't. Hermione had used a force field charm.
"That's cheating." Dru said, her fangs slightly slurring her words. "You've only delayed what is to happen. The stars told me, and the stars are always right! I will have to get my other toys now. You'll stay here like good pets and wait for me to come back." Dru left and again locked the door behind her.
"We need a plan." Hermione said firmly.
"Alohomora," Harry pointed his wand at Spike and Adrian's chains. They unlocked releasing their prisoners. Hermione caught Spike and I caught Adrian as they slumped to the ground. I spoke a simple waking spell and seconds later both of their eye lids were fluttering.
"Dru, luv, you've had your fun." Spike muttered as he came awake.
"Spike!" I said. "It's Piper. Dru's stepped out for a minute."
"Piper? Hermione?" Adrian moaned also coming to. "Harry? What're you doing here?"
"Bloody good question." Spike leaned back on his arms. "Why aren't you back at the castle?"
"We were worried you'd get into some sort of trouble which you obviously did. Where're Dad and Remus?" I asked.
"Wormtail took 'em somewhere else. He left us here for Dru to play with."
Harry looked at the scars on their chests. "What'd she do to you?"
"Holly water, crosses, the whole nine yards. She was looking for my demon. She found it." Adrian closed his eyes for a second and his face shifted back to normal. Spike did the same.
"Oh and," Hermione turned to Spike. "Who are you?"
"He's our protector. His name's Spike. Spike, that's Harry and Hermione. Now can we please figure out how to get out of here?" Adrian moaned.
"Well the doors locked and Alohomora doesn't work." Hermione sighed. "There a few things we could try but none that wouldn't have repercussions, and we need to get to Sirius and Remus. I needn't remind you that Wormtail is with them and has a hand made of pure silver. That can't bode well for Remus, and for all we know Wormtail's already given Sirius to the ministry."
"Are you always so bloody optimistic?" Spike asked sarcastically.
"I'm practical." Hermione snapped. "Let's see the door has bars in it, but none we can fit through or break, oh! Harry that snake! Can he get through and maybe spy or get the keys for us?"
Harry conversed briefly with the snake and nodded. Then we watched as he sent our last hope through the bars of the door. "He says he'll be back soon."
"So will Dru." I reminded them just as the door opened. "Speak of the devil."
"You've taken the puppets of the strings." She said, pouting again. She was pulling leather gloves onto her hands and unscrewing a jar filled with water. With a slight push of her hand she knocked Hermione and Harry away from Spike and Adrian. Dru pushed me down on the floor and sat atop my legs as if I were a chair.
"Dru," Spike said slowly when he saw her dipping her gloved hands in the water. "You don't want to play with her. She's boring really. Probably won't scream at all. I'll scream for you if that's what you want."
She ignored him and ripped the top and bottom of my shirt exposing my shoulder and stomach. A drop of the water fell from her glove. It felt like acid burning into my skin as it trailed down my arm. I bit my lip until I tasted blood to avoid yelling out. She dripped more and more down my shoulder until I couldn't help but scream.
"I like this one!" She clapped her hands in delight and looked at Spike. "She can be our little girl, and we can buy her lots of pretty dresses and make her look ready for a ball. It would be like having a live doll. Please Spike, say yes."
"Dru she's not ours."
"Yes she is," more holy water dripped down my skin. Drusilla's face twisted and her demon appeared. "I'll make her mine." She scooped up a handful of the water and dropped it on my chest. I screamed, barely staying conscious. Out of her dress she pulled a small cross and laid it on my chest. It was light being branded. I tried to move it, but she pinned down my hands and lowered her face near mine. "You're going to be mine Piper. You and your brother."
Her fangs plunged into my neck and it was at that moment that I seriously thought I was going to die. She'd taken at least two pints when suddenly I was choking on ashes. Hermione rushed over and knocked the cross off my chest and helped me sit up.
"I've been wanting to do that to her for the longest time." Said the newest member of the room. A petite blond in boots with a very rounded belly was standing above me tossing a stake up and down in her hand.
"Buffy?"
"Spike!" The stake fell to the floor.
I unfortunately chose this time to let my head fall back. I was unconscious.
*~*
A/n- I'm not very good at cliffhangers but I'm hoping that was acceptable. I told you I'd get Buffy in here and here she is. So did you like it? You'd better because I'm missing Buffy to write it (ok I'm taping it, but still). Please leave a review. Coming attractions include Spuffy, revelations, spells, and that pesky Rahc-Meid Demon (they never did kill it remember). And y'know I just had the weirdest thought, wouldn't Willow and Remus make the cutest couple? I know she's gay, but still, I just think they'd be perfect for each other. Remus might have to be a little younger, but still. That's just a random though I had a second ago. Just thought I'd tell you.