Chapter 6
Screams...pain...blood...eyes...burning eyes...
He was screaming, screaming while he woke up. The fog was ripped from him and he gladly gave it up. Not wanting to see the burning eyes that seemed to cause him so much pain. He felt the ach radiate from his legs and slowly die down. At first he thought he was on the cross again. Bathed in spotlight, surrounded by the darkness.
But he wasn't.
He looked around and saw shapes, saw the outline of tombstones, the shining moon. He could smell the grass and feel the cool breeze on his skin. At first it was a relief that his body wasn't strapped to the cross. But remembered that last time he checked he was supposed to be in a bed somewhere in England. But this was his cemetery.
What the bloody hell...
Looking down he apparently was hanging in the air. His arms were spread over his head, each wrist tied to the same branch. He then noticed the breeze against his skin. Spike observed that the only thing keeping him from showing the world the family inheritance was a pair of black silk boxers. He assessed the situation.
I'm outside, in my cemetery, hanging from a tree, in my knickers...
"Wonderful"
Letting his head slump he felt the pull at his wrists, and a sharp pain as the rope dug into them. Looking up as best he could he saw that his hands were a mixture of colors. What once was purple now darkened to a black yellow and red. His fingers had straightened and were slowly knitting the bones together.
Deciding to take inventory before he thought a way to get out.
He noticed that his eye had healed and could almost see past the swollen lid. Straining to see the wounds on his lower body he saw that the burns had slowly lost there black chard texture and smoothed out into ghastly scars. From what he could see his legs slowly replaced the missing skin and fat, but were still red.
He was healing.
I'll say hi to Buffy for you...
Panic ripped through his body, but memories from the bedroom came after the terrifying words. Spike let his eyes droop as relief washed over him. He had warned Buffy. Buffy would get out and be safe.
Have to figure out how to...
Spike felt himself heave as a stink like no other hit him. He almost felt himself sway against the force of the scent. The smell brought forth mind numbingly bad memories. Eyelids shooting apart, he saw a tall figure, covered in shadow under the tree opposite to his hanging form. The fear pierced his mind as two burning rings were revealed to him.
NO...NOT AGAIN!!!
***********
Lifting her head from the toilet, Gwen noticed that there was silence. She had spent the last hour sleeping, then waking up with images of blood seeping out of wounds, then emptying the contents of her stomach. Gwen had finally been able to sleep for about 3 hours before having to rush to the bathroom. This was too much. She couldn't handle this.
I mean I just learned that vampires were real, and now one was in her house, mauled beyond recognition.
Shaking, she got to her feet and made her way to the guest room. The blood was still there, turning a dark brown as it dried, but there was no body. Mr. Giles wasn't there either.
I wonder where they went.
There was no way the man could have carried the vampire without waking her with screams of pain. Also it was morning, the sun was out, maybe they died, maybe they ran off. But they were gone all the same. Numbly she stripped the bed down and washed the sheets and pillow cases. After that she sponged down the hard wood floor.
She could feel her mind start to block the memories, never wanting to know, to remember. Slowly exhaustion took her and she finally fell into a dreamless sleep. Never to remember the vampire that saved her life.
***********
After an hour they finally got underway. The scene was grim. Dawn was a sobbing wreck. What did he expect, her friend had just been killed. Buffy was shaking and pale from shock. It knew where they lived, and was playing mind games. Showing that whatever it was, it could get them at any time. Willows face held so many emotions. She was scared, hurt, but all that was muffled by uncaring. She had been this way since Tara's death. He believed it to be a death wish.
I wonder if she would fight if her life depended on it.
It was times like this that the Watcher wanted a normal life for his girls. But he knew that this was the way life was. And nothing can change that. They had tried to call outside Sunnydale but all that was received was static. After Buffy reclaimed some strength and collected a few things, clothes and weapons, they drove to the magic box.
They couldn't stay at the house, whatever this Johnathon Malnaroo was it knew where they were, hell it had brought them there. The only other place would be the magic box, they would hope to use the resources there to help figure out a way to beat this thing, or at the very least get out of Sunnydale.
Xander was meeting them there, they still couldn't reach Anya. The only thing they could do was hope she was alright. Pulling up they saw the light on inside. Entering they were greeted by a enthusiastic Anya doing her capitalist victory dance. Once she caught the grim faces looking at her she stopped and confusion crossed her face.
"Why is everyone so sad. What happened. WHY is WILLOW here! She's not all evil again is she?"
Willow visibly shrank into the seat at the research table. Trying to hide. Even if she had a death wish, she still felt guilty.
Buffy carried a trembling Dawn to the back corner, whispering soothing words to try to calm her down. Anya watched as her confusion grew. Then turning her head silently asking a question.
So many things to explain.
When they were out of earshot Giles leaned over the counter and retold the story he had explained to Xander before they left. Finishing by reaching into his pocket and pulling out the letter he had silently took. Making sure the others didn't see it.
Right now they don't need a token to remind them.
She took it and read, even she visibly pales and breathed in short gasps. Then something unexpected happens. A look of recognition. She looked like she remembered something.
What could she know...
Before he could finish the thought she looked up to him.
"I know who this is." Her voice weak.
Everyone's head shot up. Eyes were trained on her.
***********
She had finally gotten Dawn in the corner. She knew Giles was talking about what happened. Dawn stopped sobbing like mad in the car, but still shook violently. She had seen it before, Dawn had went into herself, trying to block out the pain. Buffy herself almost withdrew completely. But she knew, this was not the time.
She felt Dawn latch on with a grip that rivaled her own. So the slayer just rocked slowly, making soothing noises and saying calming words. Trying desperately to get Dawn out. Slowly but surely the shaking stopped and her breathing became normal. But tears silently trailed down her face.
So much one person to take in a expense of a few months. Buffy's anger boiled.
Why...Why can't we have one God damn moment of happiness!
But her screaming thought was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"I know who this is."
Her head shot up and stared at the Demon. She knew who it was, how? Anya noticed the question in all of them. Her voice then began to surface to its normality and bluntness they knew.
"I don't know who Johnathon is, but Malnaroo was a revenge demon to be specific."
Before anyone could ask she answered.
"A revenge demon finds a host who has been wronged and then joins with the host. It brings with it immortality, strength, speed, and a way of reading memories. In return the demon feeds off the emotion of the host, nourishing it. It won't leave until the revenge has been exacted. Malnaroo is infamous for his ability to bring revenge in horrifying ways. It even made my stomach turn. But he went missing about 200 years ago. I guess this is where he's been."
Everyone stood for a moment. Shocked. Buffy's mind raced with questions.
Why us...why spike, he wasn't alive 200 years ago. The only person I know that old is Anya, and...
Her train of thought was broken with a question from Giles.
"What do you mean a "way" of reading memories?"
She hadn't thought of that. Yeah why is it a way, and not just read minds.
"Each mind has a set of defenses built around memories, usually humans don't have very strong defenses, and can be broken easily. Usually just some emotional trauma will do it. but what I guess with Spike since he's a vamp his defenses were stronger than most, so it took days and days of blood curdling torture to get his defenses down."
Buffy saw everyone cringe at her bluntness. Just once could she have any tact. She felt Dawn begin to tremble again. She had almost forgotten about the sleeping girl she held.
I wonder if that's what will happen with me.
Anya continued.
"But the revenge demon can't break some defenses, like yours Buffy, yours are too strong since you're the slayer, that's probably why he hasn't just snatched you and begun torturing you."
Dawn began crying again at the thought of her sister being tortured. Buffy was about to chastise Anya when Xander burst through the door. Panting like he just ran a mile.
"Xander!"
Anya squeaked. Xander ignored her and approached the two girls in the corner.
"Buffy I found this outside."
She saw the envelope in his hand and turned to Willow to take over watching and holding Dawn. Getting up she took the envelope. Once released Xander went to the two at the counter to get filled in. It was almost the same as the last. Slayer in script that was obviously written in blood. She carefully opened and read.
Slayer,
It is time for us to meet.
Come alone, come armed if you wish. Doesn't matter.
I hope your Demon has informed you of what I am, so you have no delusion of defeating me in a fight.
You have had your warning. Cooperate or face the consequences.
Come immediately or I will come there.
Sincerely
Johnathon Malnaroo
P.S. Oh don't worry about finding me, just follow the screams.
Everyone's head slowly looked toward the door and out towards the cemetery. They all could hear the faint sound of the most terrifying scream of pain any of them had heard.
Screams...pain...blood...eyes...burning eyes...
He was screaming, screaming while he woke up. The fog was ripped from him and he gladly gave it up. Not wanting to see the burning eyes that seemed to cause him so much pain. He felt the ach radiate from his legs and slowly die down. At first he thought he was on the cross again. Bathed in spotlight, surrounded by the darkness.
But he wasn't.
He looked around and saw shapes, saw the outline of tombstones, the shining moon. He could smell the grass and feel the cool breeze on his skin. At first it was a relief that his body wasn't strapped to the cross. But remembered that last time he checked he was supposed to be in a bed somewhere in England. But this was his cemetery.
What the bloody hell...
Looking down he apparently was hanging in the air. His arms were spread over his head, each wrist tied to the same branch. He then noticed the breeze against his skin. Spike observed that the only thing keeping him from showing the world the family inheritance was a pair of black silk boxers. He assessed the situation.
I'm outside, in my cemetery, hanging from a tree, in my knickers...
"Wonderful"
Letting his head slump he felt the pull at his wrists, and a sharp pain as the rope dug into them. Looking up as best he could he saw that his hands were a mixture of colors. What once was purple now darkened to a black yellow and red. His fingers had straightened and were slowly knitting the bones together.
Deciding to take inventory before he thought a way to get out.
He noticed that his eye had healed and could almost see past the swollen lid. Straining to see the wounds on his lower body he saw that the burns had slowly lost there black chard texture and smoothed out into ghastly scars. From what he could see his legs slowly replaced the missing skin and fat, but were still red.
He was healing.
I'll say hi to Buffy for you...
Panic ripped through his body, but memories from the bedroom came after the terrifying words. Spike let his eyes droop as relief washed over him. He had warned Buffy. Buffy would get out and be safe.
Have to figure out how to...
Spike felt himself heave as a stink like no other hit him. He almost felt himself sway against the force of the scent. The smell brought forth mind numbingly bad memories. Eyelids shooting apart, he saw a tall figure, covered in shadow under the tree opposite to his hanging form. The fear pierced his mind as two burning rings were revealed to him.
NO...NOT AGAIN!!!
***********
Lifting her head from the toilet, Gwen noticed that there was silence. She had spent the last hour sleeping, then waking up with images of blood seeping out of wounds, then emptying the contents of her stomach. Gwen had finally been able to sleep for about 3 hours before having to rush to the bathroom. This was too much. She couldn't handle this.
I mean I just learned that vampires were real, and now one was in her house, mauled beyond recognition.
Shaking, she got to her feet and made her way to the guest room. The blood was still there, turning a dark brown as it dried, but there was no body. Mr. Giles wasn't there either.
I wonder where they went.
There was no way the man could have carried the vampire without waking her with screams of pain. Also it was morning, the sun was out, maybe they died, maybe they ran off. But they were gone all the same. Numbly she stripped the bed down and washed the sheets and pillow cases. After that she sponged down the hard wood floor.
She could feel her mind start to block the memories, never wanting to know, to remember. Slowly exhaustion took her and she finally fell into a dreamless sleep. Never to remember the vampire that saved her life.
***********
After an hour they finally got underway. The scene was grim. Dawn was a sobbing wreck. What did he expect, her friend had just been killed. Buffy was shaking and pale from shock. It knew where they lived, and was playing mind games. Showing that whatever it was, it could get them at any time. Willows face held so many emotions. She was scared, hurt, but all that was muffled by uncaring. She had been this way since Tara's death. He believed it to be a death wish.
I wonder if she would fight if her life depended on it.
It was times like this that the Watcher wanted a normal life for his girls. But he knew that this was the way life was. And nothing can change that. They had tried to call outside Sunnydale but all that was received was static. After Buffy reclaimed some strength and collected a few things, clothes and weapons, they drove to the magic box.
They couldn't stay at the house, whatever this Johnathon Malnaroo was it knew where they were, hell it had brought them there. The only other place would be the magic box, they would hope to use the resources there to help figure out a way to beat this thing, or at the very least get out of Sunnydale.
Xander was meeting them there, they still couldn't reach Anya. The only thing they could do was hope she was alright. Pulling up they saw the light on inside. Entering they were greeted by a enthusiastic Anya doing her capitalist victory dance. Once she caught the grim faces looking at her she stopped and confusion crossed her face.
"Why is everyone so sad. What happened. WHY is WILLOW here! She's not all evil again is she?"
Willow visibly shrank into the seat at the research table. Trying to hide. Even if she had a death wish, she still felt guilty.
Buffy carried a trembling Dawn to the back corner, whispering soothing words to try to calm her down. Anya watched as her confusion grew. Then turning her head silently asking a question.
So many things to explain.
When they were out of earshot Giles leaned over the counter and retold the story he had explained to Xander before they left. Finishing by reaching into his pocket and pulling out the letter he had silently took. Making sure the others didn't see it.
Right now they don't need a token to remind them.
She took it and read, even she visibly pales and breathed in short gasps. Then something unexpected happens. A look of recognition. She looked like she remembered something.
What could she know...
Before he could finish the thought she looked up to him.
"I know who this is." Her voice weak.
Everyone's head shot up. Eyes were trained on her.
***********
She had finally gotten Dawn in the corner. She knew Giles was talking about what happened. Dawn stopped sobbing like mad in the car, but still shook violently. She had seen it before, Dawn had went into herself, trying to block out the pain. Buffy herself almost withdrew completely. But she knew, this was not the time.
She felt Dawn latch on with a grip that rivaled her own. So the slayer just rocked slowly, making soothing noises and saying calming words. Trying desperately to get Dawn out. Slowly but surely the shaking stopped and her breathing became normal. But tears silently trailed down her face.
So much one person to take in a expense of a few months. Buffy's anger boiled.
Why...Why can't we have one God damn moment of happiness!
But her screaming thought was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"I know who this is."
Her head shot up and stared at the Demon. She knew who it was, how? Anya noticed the question in all of them. Her voice then began to surface to its normality and bluntness they knew.
"I don't know who Johnathon is, but Malnaroo was a revenge demon to be specific."
Before anyone could ask she answered.
"A revenge demon finds a host who has been wronged and then joins with the host. It brings with it immortality, strength, speed, and a way of reading memories. In return the demon feeds off the emotion of the host, nourishing it. It won't leave until the revenge has been exacted. Malnaroo is infamous for his ability to bring revenge in horrifying ways. It even made my stomach turn. But he went missing about 200 years ago. I guess this is where he's been."
Everyone stood for a moment. Shocked. Buffy's mind raced with questions.
Why us...why spike, he wasn't alive 200 years ago. The only person I know that old is Anya, and...
Her train of thought was broken with a question from Giles.
"What do you mean a "way" of reading memories?"
She hadn't thought of that. Yeah why is it a way, and not just read minds.
"Each mind has a set of defenses built around memories, usually humans don't have very strong defenses, and can be broken easily. Usually just some emotional trauma will do it. but what I guess with Spike since he's a vamp his defenses were stronger than most, so it took days and days of blood curdling torture to get his defenses down."
Buffy saw everyone cringe at her bluntness. Just once could she have any tact. She felt Dawn begin to tremble again. She had almost forgotten about the sleeping girl she held.
I wonder if that's what will happen with me.
Anya continued.
"But the revenge demon can't break some defenses, like yours Buffy, yours are too strong since you're the slayer, that's probably why he hasn't just snatched you and begun torturing you."
Dawn began crying again at the thought of her sister being tortured. Buffy was about to chastise Anya when Xander burst through the door. Panting like he just ran a mile.
"Xander!"
Anya squeaked. Xander ignored her and approached the two girls in the corner.
"Buffy I found this outside."
She saw the envelope in his hand and turned to Willow to take over watching and holding Dawn. Getting up she took the envelope. Once released Xander went to the two at the counter to get filled in. It was almost the same as the last. Slayer in script that was obviously written in blood. She carefully opened and read.
Slayer,
It is time for us to meet.
Come alone, come armed if you wish. Doesn't matter.
I hope your Demon has informed you of what I am, so you have no delusion of defeating me in a fight.
You have had your warning. Cooperate or face the consequences.
Come immediately or I will come there.
Sincerely
Johnathon Malnaroo
P.S. Oh don't worry about finding me, just follow the screams.
Everyone's head slowly looked toward the door and out towards the cemetery. They all could hear the faint sound of the most terrifying scream of pain any of them had heard.