Giles didn't even look up from his reading. Beatrice took one sniff and
shut her book with a bang. I set my bag on one of the other tables and
took a seat. Buffy sighed and picked her bag back up and set it next to
mine.
Beatrice joined us and we pulled out our fish and chips and started to eat.
"Boy am I hungry, I could eat two orders," Buffy said loudly in between
dipping her fry in ketchup." "That sounds good to me," Beatrice added.
"Buffy, Katherine, I didn't hear you come in," Giles said. "Yeah, we
noticed, but we did save some food for you," Buffy gestured at the last
carton of fish and chips. "I appreciate it." "What were you so interested
in, anyway?" "Not what we're looking for, but fascinating none-the-less.
This volume is an early history of the vampire clans of this world.
Apparently some were descended from Lillith, Adam's first wife and others
from Cain, quite different from the stories of a demon possessing a human,
or maybe not so different. What are those who rebel against God if not
Demons? But none of this has anything to do with the task at hand, sorry."
"It's interesting. I'd love to borrow that book, if it's possible," I
said.
I had heard a shortened version of this history before, but this book would tell even more. At my voice the old man looked up from his own book and blinked at me. He looked meaningfully at Van Helsing. "Ah, Professor Wells, this is Katherine Drummond and Buffy Summers, the Slayer," Van Helsing introduced us. "Katherine Drummond? Is she related to Jillian Drummond?" Wells sounded excited. "I don't appreciate people talking about me like I'm not here," I said. "Jillian was my mother, and who are you besides nosy?" "I am Bertram Wells, formerly a senior member of the Watcher's Society. How could Jillian have had a child we didn't know about, Jacob?" "Jillian didn't want anyone to know about her daughter, especially not the vampires," said Van Helsing. "Hello, I am still standing here. What right do you have to ask questions about my mother, Professor Wells? It seems to me that you weren't very careful with your slayers here. Especially after seeing the way Giles helps Buffy. Where were you when my mother needed you?" I hoped Wells would have an answer for that. "I am afraid that the Watchers in Mr. Giles' world seem to be much more organized than we were. We never had any warning about who would be a slayer. Your mother had other interesting talents. We didn't find out she was hunting vampires until it was much too late. Her death was one of the things that caused us to disband after Doctor Strange cast his spell. We decided that we had been doing more harm than good. We never even knew she was pregnant. I sent Jacob's father to her as soon as I heard, but he only made it there after she had already died. The hospital told him that the baby had died as well, or at least that's what he told me." I looked at Van Helsing, who seemed a bit guilty, "What do you know about this, Jacob?" "My father found your mother shortly before she went into labor. She told him her feelings about your birth, and made him promise to tell no one, not even Professor Wells, about you," Van Helsing said. Wells sighed, "It is probably just as well. I would think that your life would not have been made better by a bunch of meddling old men." "I can agree with that," I said. "Me too," Buffy muttered under her breath. While we were talking Giles had wolfed down his lunch. Now he was back in his seat and had grabbed another volume. He looked up at all of us and glared. "As fascinating as this is, shouldn't we get back to our research?" he asked. Wells Nodded and stuck his nose back in his book. Beatrice rolled her eyes at them and then sat back down as well. I could tell that Buffy would rather do anything else, but I couldn't think of anything. I went over to the book case and grabbed two more volumes. Buffy cleared the garbage off the table and we got down to business. We spent the rest of the afternoon on the tedious, at least for me and Buffy, task of looking through all the volumes of Vampire History. By the time I could feel the dusk gathering outside, most of us were feeling strained eyes and backs. Only Giles and Beatrice were still going strong. Just when I was going to suggest a break for dinner Beatrice let out a whoop. "I think I found something," she announced. "It says here that during the Roman Invasion of England a Celtic Vampire who had set herself up as a Goddess brought across a Roman Centurion named Antonius Silvius." Wells paled at the name, "I would have hoped that he had been destroyed a long time ago." "You've heard of him then?" asked Giles. "Oh Yes, he was always a major organizer of the vampires here in London. Being the oldest lent him credibility as a leader. If Spike and Drusilla have run into him, he will be quite eager to find out more about your Universe. He may even have contacts that will allow them to travel there." "Just what we need, a 2000 year old vampire from another world," said Buffy. "We must stop them before anything happens. He used to own a mansion on the edge of town. No one has been seen there for some time, but he might have a hiding place beneath it." "Well I'm starving, and I don't like slaying on an empty stomach. Why don't you give directions to Beatrice and then we can get some dinner and then go kick ancient vampire ass." "Sounds like a plan," I said.
Chapter XI
The sun was setting when Spike, Drusilla, and Antonius met back in his sitting room. Spike was not happy. Dru had spent the day playing with her new toy. She made the girl sing songs with different emotional content so that she could laugh or cry in turn. Spike had found it very difficult to rest through this. Dru practically skipped her way through the house. Spike slouched after her. Antonius smiled at Dru and gestured for them to sit. Spike still refused to do so in the older vampire's presence. Dru threw herself down on the pillows and looked attentive. "I have contacted a magic user who may be able to open a gate to your world. She is rather wary of vampires, so we must go and meet her," Antonios said. "Well then mate, let's go meet her. I can't wait to get home," said Spike. "Can I bring my little Heather along?" Dru asked. "I've become quite fond of her. I think I'll make her one of us when we get home." "You had best be careful about that," said Antonius. "Humans with powers make powerful vampires and once you bring them over, they have a will of their own once more." "I wouldn't worry about that, Heather loves me. She'd do anything for me. Unlike someone else I could name." "Let's not talk about that right now," said Spike. Spike was worried that Antonius already knew about his betrayal of Angelus. He didn't know about the vampires here, but back home helping a slayer destroy your grandsire would be a big no no. Dru was still angry with him.
He hoped that she would forgive him some time. Antonius led them up a long winding staircase. They came out in an alley behind his house. Parked along the wall was a large black Volkswagen. Antonius got in the driver's seat and Spike sat in front. Drusilla slid into the back. None of them talked as they drove through the dark London streets. Spike stared out the window and wondered how things had gone so wrong. It had been he and Dru alone together for so long. He had thought that she liked it as well as he did, but now he was losing her. He wished he had a magic wand to wave and make things all better between them. Antonios pulled up in front of a small business that went by the name of "Madame Lyanka's." The sign advertised palm and card readings. Antonios got out and opened the door for Dru. She giggled; it had been a long time since someone was such a gentleman. Spike glared at the elder vampire and at that moment decided there was no way this bloke was going to come home with them. He hopped out of the car and slammed the door as hard as he could. He was strangely satisfied when the window shattered. He hurried to catch up with the other two. Antonios flung open the door and strode through. Dru glided in after him, but Spike somehow got caught up in the beaded thing hanging right in front of the door. He had to pull it down to get unstuck. This was definitely turning out to be not his century. The front room was paneled in dark wood and held two ancient leather sofas and an armchair. "Madame Lyanka, we have arrived," Antonios called. There was a second beaded curtain at the other end of the room. There was no door and the soft glow of candle light shone through the beads. A melodious voice came from the room, "Come enter freely into my home, but know that I can revoke this invitation at any time." "Now, Lyanka, you know that old legend doesn't affect me," Antonios said with a sneer. "Perhaps it does not affect you, Antonios, but it does affect your companions." "How the bloody hell did you know that?" Spike demanded. "I am a Sorceress. As I said, come in." Antonios once more led the way with Dru and then Spike following. Spike managed to make it through the curtain this time. He has always hated them in the sixties. The room on the other side was filled with candles in every sort of holder you could imagine. A short round table was in the center of the room. A woman who appeared to be in her early thirties sat on the far side of the table. Cushions filled the floor. Antonios settled on a few of them, reclining. It must remind him of his old Roman days. Dru sat as well. Don't any of these people believe in chairs, Spike thought. If I wasn't a vamp I'd have a sore back by now. "Please sit, William. As you are a vampyr, you should be able to sit on my floor without problems," said Lyanka. "Is everyone in this world a mind reader?" Spike asked as he sunk to a cross-legged position on a large purple cushion. "I am not a mind reader, as I said before, I am a sorceress. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am forced to make my living pretending to be a mind reader. Antonios told me your name, and I could tell from you expression of disdain that you didn't like my seating arrangement. The other was guessing. Now, tell me why you have come." "I'm surprised you haven't guessed," Spike muttered under his breath. Antonios ignored his companion's rude remark and said, "My young friends here are from another world. They want to return home and I wish to accompany them. I was hoping you would be able to send us there." "Maybe I could, but what is in it for me, not that ridding this world of illegal alien vampires and you isn't a good thing in itself," Lyanka said. "I am willing to pay you a very large sum of money." "Now you're speaking my language. I'll need a few hours to prepare and I'll need some of your blood, William and Drusilla." "Are you bonkers? I'm not giving any witch a sample of my blood," Spike said. "You will if you want to go home. I need a connection to your world to prepare the spell. If you know anything about witches you will know that. And I am not a witch, I am a sorceress." "What's the dif? You do magic, that's all that matters." "The difference is I am much more powerful than some earth witch," as she said these words Lyanka suddenly seemed to fill the room. Her eyes glowed with an inner light and suddenly it seemed very hot in the room. "I could destroy you with a snap of my fingers, so do not anger me." "Yeah, sorry," Spike pulled a small knife out of his boot and made a cut on his wrist. Before the blood could drip on her cushions Lyanka held a gold goblet under his arm. Drusilla used her finger nail to slash a cut on her wrist and smiled as the blood fell and mixed with Spikes. "Go back to your house, I will be there within two hours. I will need a room without a carpet on the floor. Preferably stone," Lyanka said. "It shall be ready and so will your payment," Antonios said. He led the way back to his car. They drove quickly back to his house. Antonios went off and left the Dru and Spike to their own devices. They went back to the room they had been assigned. Heather was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling with a blank look on her face. When she heard Dru come in she got off the bed and came over to Dru and started rubbing against her like a dog. Dru giggled and Spike growled. He didn't like the way Dru was giving so much of her attention to this "mutant" girl. Antonios had said that mutants were dangerous and he had no reason to lie. Spike grabbed Heather by one wrist so hard that it broke. Heather started to whimper. Before Dru could say anything Spike sank his fangs into the girl's neck and drained her. He dropped her to the floor and broke off one of the chair legs to make a stake. Dru tried to grab it away from him, but he was able to stake the corpse so she wouldn't rise. "Why did you do that?" Dru asked, pouting. "You heard what Antonios said. Mutants make dangerous vampires. You wouldn't be able to control her after she changed and you know you can't restrain yourself enough to keep her human. I had to do it, Dru, you know I'm right," Spike said. "All I know is, you never let me have what I want. I'm never speaking to you again."
I had heard a shortened version of this history before, but this book would tell even more. At my voice the old man looked up from his own book and blinked at me. He looked meaningfully at Van Helsing. "Ah, Professor Wells, this is Katherine Drummond and Buffy Summers, the Slayer," Van Helsing introduced us. "Katherine Drummond? Is she related to Jillian Drummond?" Wells sounded excited. "I don't appreciate people talking about me like I'm not here," I said. "Jillian was my mother, and who are you besides nosy?" "I am Bertram Wells, formerly a senior member of the Watcher's Society. How could Jillian have had a child we didn't know about, Jacob?" "Jillian didn't want anyone to know about her daughter, especially not the vampires," said Van Helsing. "Hello, I am still standing here. What right do you have to ask questions about my mother, Professor Wells? It seems to me that you weren't very careful with your slayers here. Especially after seeing the way Giles helps Buffy. Where were you when my mother needed you?" I hoped Wells would have an answer for that. "I am afraid that the Watchers in Mr. Giles' world seem to be much more organized than we were. We never had any warning about who would be a slayer. Your mother had other interesting talents. We didn't find out she was hunting vampires until it was much too late. Her death was one of the things that caused us to disband after Doctor Strange cast his spell. We decided that we had been doing more harm than good. We never even knew she was pregnant. I sent Jacob's father to her as soon as I heard, but he only made it there after she had already died. The hospital told him that the baby had died as well, or at least that's what he told me." I looked at Van Helsing, who seemed a bit guilty, "What do you know about this, Jacob?" "My father found your mother shortly before she went into labor. She told him her feelings about your birth, and made him promise to tell no one, not even Professor Wells, about you," Van Helsing said. Wells sighed, "It is probably just as well. I would think that your life would not have been made better by a bunch of meddling old men." "I can agree with that," I said. "Me too," Buffy muttered under her breath. While we were talking Giles had wolfed down his lunch. Now he was back in his seat and had grabbed another volume. He looked up at all of us and glared. "As fascinating as this is, shouldn't we get back to our research?" he asked. Wells Nodded and stuck his nose back in his book. Beatrice rolled her eyes at them and then sat back down as well. I could tell that Buffy would rather do anything else, but I couldn't think of anything. I went over to the book case and grabbed two more volumes. Buffy cleared the garbage off the table and we got down to business. We spent the rest of the afternoon on the tedious, at least for me and Buffy, task of looking through all the volumes of Vampire History. By the time I could feel the dusk gathering outside, most of us were feeling strained eyes and backs. Only Giles and Beatrice were still going strong. Just when I was going to suggest a break for dinner Beatrice let out a whoop. "I think I found something," she announced. "It says here that during the Roman Invasion of England a Celtic Vampire who had set herself up as a Goddess brought across a Roman Centurion named Antonius Silvius." Wells paled at the name, "I would have hoped that he had been destroyed a long time ago." "You've heard of him then?" asked Giles. "Oh Yes, he was always a major organizer of the vampires here in London. Being the oldest lent him credibility as a leader. If Spike and Drusilla have run into him, he will be quite eager to find out more about your Universe. He may even have contacts that will allow them to travel there." "Just what we need, a 2000 year old vampire from another world," said Buffy. "We must stop them before anything happens. He used to own a mansion on the edge of town. No one has been seen there for some time, but he might have a hiding place beneath it." "Well I'm starving, and I don't like slaying on an empty stomach. Why don't you give directions to Beatrice and then we can get some dinner and then go kick ancient vampire ass." "Sounds like a plan," I said.
Chapter XI
The sun was setting when Spike, Drusilla, and Antonius met back in his sitting room. Spike was not happy. Dru had spent the day playing with her new toy. She made the girl sing songs with different emotional content so that she could laugh or cry in turn. Spike had found it very difficult to rest through this. Dru practically skipped her way through the house. Spike slouched after her. Antonius smiled at Dru and gestured for them to sit. Spike still refused to do so in the older vampire's presence. Dru threw herself down on the pillows and looked attentive. "I have contacted a magic user who may be able to open a gate to your world. She is rather wary of vampires, so we must go and meet her," Antonios said. "Well then mate, let's go meet her. I can't wait to get home," said Spike. "Can I bring my little Heather along?" Dru asked. "I've become quite fond of her. I think I'll make her one of us when we get home." "You had best be careful about that," said Antonius. "Humans with powers make powerful vampires and once you bring them over, they have a will of their own once more." "I wouldn't worry about that, Heather loves me. She'd do anything for me. Unlike someone else I could name." "Let's not talk about that right now," said Spike. Spike was worried that Antonius already knew about his betrayal of Angelus. He didn't know about the vampires here, but back home helping a slayer destroy your grandsire would be a big no no. Dru was still angry with him.
He hoped that she would forgive him some time. Antonius led them up a long winding staircase. They came out in an alley behind his house. Parked along the wall was a large black Volkswagen. Antonius got in the driver's seat and Spike sat in front. Drusilla slid into the back. None of them talked as they drove through the dark London streets. Spike stared out the window and wondered how things had gone so wrong. It had been he and Dru alone together for so long. He had thought that she liked it as well as he did, but now he was losing her. He wished he had a magic wand to wave and make things all better between them. Antonios pulled up in front of a small business that went by the name of "Madame Lyanka's." The sign advertised palm and card readings. Antonios got out and opened the door for Dru. She giggled; it had been a long time since someone was such a gentleman. Spike glared at the elder vampire and at that moment decided there was no way this bloke was going to come home with them. He hopped out of the car and slammed the door as hard as he could. He was strangely satisfied when the window shattered. He hurried to catch up with the other two. Antonios flung open the door and strode through. Dru glided in after him, but Spike somehow got caught up in the beaded thing hanging right in front of the door. He had to pull it down to get unstuck. This was definitely turning out to be not his century. The front room was paneled in dark wood and held two ancient leather sofas and an armchair. "Madame Lyanka, we have arrived," Antonios called. There was a second beaded curtain at the other end of the room. There was no door and the soft glow of candle light shone through the beads. A melodious voice came from the room, "Come enter freely into my home, but know that I can revoke this invitation at any time." "Now, Lyanka, you know that old legend doesn't affect me," Antonios said with a sneer. "Perhaps it does not affect you, Antonios, but it does affect your companions." "How the bloody hell did you know that?" Spike demanded. "I am a Sorceress. As I said, come in." Antonios once more led the way with Dru and then Spike following. Spike managed to make it through the curtain this time. He has always hated them in the sixties. The room on the other side was filled with candles in every sort of holder you could imagine. A short round table was in the center of the room. A woman who appeared to be in her early thirties sat on the far side of the table. Cushions filled the floor. Antonios settled on a few of them, reclining. It must remind him of his old Roman days. Dru sat as well. Don't any of these people believe in chairs, Spike thought. If I wasn't a vamp I'd have a sore back by now. "Please sit, William. As you are a vampyr, you should be able to sit on my floor without problems," said Lyanka. "Is everyone in this world a mind reader?" Spike asked as he sunk to a cross-legged position on a large purple cushion. "I am not a mind reader, as I said before, I am a sorceress. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am forced to make my living pretending to be a mind reader. Antonios told me your name, and I could tell from you expression of disdain that you didn't like my seating arrangement. The other was guessing. Now, tell me why you have come." "I'm surprised you haven't guessed," Spike muttered under his breath. Antonios ignored his companion's rude remark and said, "My young friends here are from another world. They want to return home and I wish to accompany them. I was hoping you would be able to send us there." "Maybe I could, but what is in it for me, not that ridding this world of illegal alien vampires and you isn't a good thing in itself," Lyanka said. "I am willing to pay you a very large sum of money." "Now you're speaking my language. I'll need a few hours to prepare and I'll need some of your blood, William and Drusilla." "Are you bonkers? I'm not giving any witch a sample of my blood," Spike said. "You will if you want to go home. I need a connection to your world to prepare the spell. If you know anything about witches you will know that. And I am not a witch, I am a sorceress." "What's the dif? You do magic, that's all that matters." "The difference is I am much more powerful than some earth witch," as she said these words Lyanka suddenly seemed to fill the room. Her eyes glowed with an inner light and suddenly it seemed very hot in the room. "I could destroy you with a snap of my fingers, so do not anger me." "Yeah, sorry," Spike pulled a small knife out of his boot and made a cut on his wrist. Before the blood could drip on her cushions Lyanka held a gold goblet under his arm. Drusilla used her finger nail to slash a cut on her wrist and smiled as the blood fell and mixed with Spikes. "Go back to your house, I will be there within two hours. I will need a room without a carpet on the floor. Preferably stone," Lyanka said. "It shall be ready and so will your payment," Antonios said. He led the way back to his car. They drove quickly back to his house. Antonios went off and left the Dru and Spike to their own devices. They went back to the room they had been assigned. Heather was lying on the bed staring at the ceiling with a blank look on her face. When she heard Dru come in she got off the bed and came over to Dru and started rubbing against her like a dog. Dru giggled and Spike growled. He didn't like the way Dru was giving so much of her attention to this "mutant" girl. Antonios had said that mutants were dangerous and he had no reason to lie. Spike grabbed Heather by one wrist so hard that it broke. Heather started to whimper. Before Dru could say anything Spike sank his fangs into the girl's neck and drained her. He dropped her to the floor and broke off one of the chair legs to make a stake. Dru tried to grab it away from him, but he was able to stake the corpse so she wouldn't rise. "Why did you do that?" Dru asked, pouting. "You heard what Antonios said. Mutants make dangerous vampires. You wouldn't be able to control her after she changed and you know you can't restrain yourself enough to keep her human. I had to do it, Dru, you know I'm right," Spike said. "All I know is, you never let me have what I want. I'm never speaking to you again."