Chapter 14
Peace, finally peace...
There was complete abyss. No memories, to images, no smells, no feelings. Just peace. Nothing could touch him hear. His shell would protect him from those things he had done. The things he had done to Dawn. The shell weakened at the thought of her.
No I won't, I won't go back there. It's safe here.
But his resolve softened when a warmth reached through the abyss. Love and caring warmth. It pulled at him. And he moved himself toward it. His mind calling to a feeling he hadn't felt in hundreds of years. As he drew closer towards it the memories came back. Pushing him back. But he fought them. The warmth overcame them all. No one had touched him with that warmth, that feeling behind it.
His eyes began to focus. He caught the image of dawns sad face before it rose and turned away from him. She was alive. She loved him. She touched his chest with love and warmth. He couldn't let that go. Before he could get his muscles working the door closed leaving him alone.
No, I won't give in. She loves me. I won't let it go.
His leg twitched then bent as he began to get up. On his feet his mind fought violently against the memories and feelings that went through him. One part of him said that he was disgusting and that he had done those horrible things to the people he loved. The other part screamed that she loved him, she had the warmth of a person who was still alive and cared for him. That mattered above all.
Staggering slowly, the internal war made him deaf to the sounds coming from the other room. He slowly made his way to the door. Then was snapped out of his mental fighting when a scream ripped out on the other side of the door. It was the scream he had heard on the tower. It was Dawn.
He began to struggle to get the words out of his mouth as he ran to the door.
"I d...I...I...won't"
With that he ripped the door open. Clean off the hinges.
***********
Anya...she must know something...
Her eyes desperately searched the demons face. Buffy was down to her last straw. Her sister had been curled up crying for the fifth time today. Spike had gone catatonic. Giles was scolding Willow for something. And She just got done being reminded that this unbeatable demon has a watch on them. The only person who could possibly know something is Anya. And for all her uncaring bluntness, Anya actually looked as if this was wearing down on her. But this wasn't the time for softness and pity. She needed answers.
"Anya..."
Her voice was a bit harsher than was ment to be. Anya's head jerked to attention at the sound of the Slayers voice. Not buffy's but the Slayer. She visibly shivered as a pang of fear hit her.
Good
"Anya, is there any way I can beat this guy. I mean you had the necklace thing, does this guy have a necklace or place I could stab or hit or something."
Her voice had slid from a harsh commanding tone to a desperate pleading voice on the verge of tears. She needed something, some glimmer of hope. Anything to keep her from breaking down. She saw Anya's brow furrow in deep thought then light up. As if connected Buffy's hope shot up, there was something. Only to die once she saw a shadow cross the demons face.
"There is something. Each revenge demon carries a dagger that can send the demon to it's own dimension. It became standard issue when the revenge demons started to refuse to leave there hosts. They wanted to keep feeding off the emotions, but soon the Hosts wanted to be free. Dhoffryn made each revenge demon carry one at all times to keep the option open for the host. But…this host doesn't want to give up…it's not going to give it up."
The sound of Anya's voice told her that it was impossible to get it from him. He mind ran through everything she could do. Anything but her only choice.
I have to call him...
Picking up the phone she dialed the number she hoped she never would have to again. It rang four times before she heard a deep voice answer. Her mind went blank. What could she say. What could she do. She was jogged out when she noticed the voice on the other side.
"...Hello..."
"Sorry...can I speak to angel please."
"Um...who is this?"
His ex lover, His ex girlfriend, his ex enemy... so many choice...
"Buffy"
"Oh BUFFY, sorry it's just..."
"Just what?"
Her temper was getting the best of her. She doesn't have time for this.
"It's just he's been missing for about five weeks. He's not here."
The emotions rushed to her. Fear, shock, anger, all jumbled and battled for supremacy.
"What do you mean HE'S not there."
Her anger won.
The person on the other side began to explain, but she was only half listening. It was one of the moments she dreaded. A calm before the storm. Dawn was coming from the training room with xander behind her. They were both silent. Her vision rotated to Giles and Willow looking at her from there corner, her outburst catching there attention. Something out the corner of her eye caught movement. The shadows in the corner shifted. Her nose caught the worst smell she could think off. The shadows began to dissapate revealing two burning rings..
Her muscles stiffened and she was frozen. The fear in her paralyzing. Even when It began to move toward dawn she couldn't move. Xander hadn't seen it coming, but was thrown aside against the bookcase. It grabbed Dawn from behind. Wrapping a arm around her waist and another clamping a hand on her mouth. She immediately began to struggle but couldn't do anything but cry and look wildly for someone to help. Giles and Willow ran to help her but both were knocked out by well placed kicks sending them flying back against a bookcase.
Buffy's eyes locked with Dawn's.
The pleading look of fear pulled her crashing down into movement. Running forward she jumped and aimed the kick at it's head, but her foot was caught. Buffy was then thrown harder that she ever was before. Her head hit the far wall and fell to the floor. Blackness overtook her. Dawn screamed.
"BUFFY!"
***********
I love this. The pain, the fear. All swimming around her like a addictive scent.
The smile grew wider when the little girl cried her sisters name. What plans it had for them.
First I think I'll kill her, string her up on display for the others to see. Then slowly kill each one. Right in front of them all.
It's hand went to the hilt of knife it kept behind it's back. Pulling it out and looking at it appreciatively. They actually thought of trying to take it from him. How fitting.
Making sure the girl saw the knife it raised it up, tipping it at an angle it knew would cause the most painful death. It then heard a crashing sound from behind.
Twirling around it looked at the one person it didn't expect. In a blur of Platinum hair and fangs it was kicked harder than it ever was before. It didn't hurt, but by sheer physics it through him into the middle of the shop.
The force had pulled the girl off balance and she went tumbling, skidding a few feet shorter than him.
The rage and delight blinded him to the fact he had dropped the knife.
***********
The first thing he saw was the knife, gleaming in the light, then himself in a long trench coat, then dawn, her body pinned to him. The Rage and anger flooded his eyes turning them red, his inner demon surging forward. The body holding Dawn turned to face him in surprise.
But Spike didn't pay any attention. With all that rage, his foot came up and slammed into the images face. Sending him and her skidding to the floor. His eyes caught the knife skidding with them. Immediately he ran, picking up the knife as he went, jumped and slammed it through the images chest.
NO MORE! I WON'T DO IT TO THEM!
The image looked surprised by the knife in it's chest, then to his doubles face.
Spike roared at his face, with all the rage, pain and emotion that had run through him in all his years of existence.
"I DIDN'T!!!"
Then twisted the knife until it gouged the floor beneath the body.
His image dissipated and was replaced by a pain filled demon face unknown to him. It took a moment to remember the two burning rings. But before he could react it roared in pain as the demons lumpy exterior fell away leaving a human face behind.
Spike was thrown off by the energy that surged out of the body. Sending him skidding back against the steps. The body writhed then stilled. Dead. Then silence over took the room only to be broken by a shaky voice.
"Spike"
Sitting up and turning he saw Dawn. And truly it was one of the most beautiful things he had seen in all his 150 years of existence.
She was kneeling next to him. Her hair was ruffled from the fall. Her eyes were red a puffy from crying so much. But none of that mattered. Her eyes were the image of happiness when his met hers. Then slowly the tears came back. Her body surged forward, arms wrapping around his neck. The sobs came with her. Burying her face in his chest. Spikes arms wrapped around her immediately, gathering her shaking form in his lap he rocked her back and forth.
Her shakey voice was a whisper.
"Don't leave me again."
His heart cracked. Her statement meaning so much to him he could no longer hold back his own tears.
"I won't."
Authors Notes:
IT'S DONE!
Finished
Finis
Fenito
And other words that say finished.
Before you say anything
I know this broke my format that I've been using religiously the whole way through. I don't care. It's the last chapter give me a break.
I know I haven't told you what the deal was with Johnathon Malnaroo. I felt it didn't really matter in the story. But if enough of you write REVIEWS then I will write a Epilogue.
A thanks to all my favorite writers, Their writing skill inspires me.
A SPECIAL thanks to the sweetie Kittyb90. A great writer all in her own right. And officially my favorite person to e-mail. I implore all that have read this to read her writings as well.
Well that's it, I gotta stop before the A/N is longer than the chapter. Just to let you all know that many cups of coffee had to sacrifice there steamy goodness lives in the creation of this chapter.
Peace, finally peace...
There was complete abyss. No memories, to images, no smells, no feelings. Just peace. Nothing could touch him hear. His shell would protect him from those things he had done. The things he had done to Dawn. The shell weakened at the thought of her.
No I won't, I won't go back there. It's safe here.
But his resolve softened when a warmth reached through the abyss. Love and caring warmth. It pulled at him. And he moved himself toward it. His mind calling to a feeling he hadn't felt in hundreds of years. As he drew closer towards it the memories came back. Pushing him back. But he fought them. The warmth overcame them all. No one had touched him with that warmth, that feeling behind it.
His eyes began to focus. He caught the image of dawns sad face before it rose and turned away from him. She was alive. She loved him. She touched his chest with love and warmth. He couldn't let that go. Before he could get his muscles working the door closed leaving him alone.
No, I won't give in. She loves me. I won't let it go.
His leg twitched then bent as he began to get up. On his feet his mind fought violently against the memories and feelings that went through him. One part of him said that he was disgusting and that he had done those horrible things to the people he loved. The other part screamed that she loved him, she had the warmth of a person who was still alive and cared for him. That mattered above all.
Staggering slowly, the internal war made him deaf to the sounds coming from the other room. He slowly made his way to the door. Then was snapped out of his mental fighting when a scream ripped out on the other side of the door. It was the scream he had heard on the tower. It was Dawn.
He began to struggle to get the words out of his mouth as he ran to the door.
"I d...I...I...won't"
With that he ripped the door open. Clean off the hinges.
***********
Anya...she must know something...
Her eyes desperately searched the demons face. Buffy was down to her last straw. Her sister had been curled up crying for the fifth time today. Spike had gone catatonic. Giles was scolding Willow for something. And She just got done being reminded that this unbeatable demon has a watch on them. The only person who could possibly know something is Anya. And for all her uncaring bluntness, Anya actually looked as if this was wearing down on her. But this wasn't the time for softness and pity. She needed answers.
"Anya..."
Her voice was a bit harsher than was ment to be. Anya's head jerked to attention at the sound of the Slayers voice. Not buffy's but the Slayer. She visibly shivered as a pang of fear hit her.
Good
"Anya, is there any way I can beat this guy. I mean you had the necklace thing, does this guy have a necklace or place I could stab or hit or something."
Her voice had slid from a harsh commanding tone to a desperate pleading voice on the verge of tears. She needed something, some glimmer of hope. Anything to keep her from breaking down. She saw Anya's brow furrow in deep thought then light up. As if connected Buffy's hope shot up, there was something. Only to die once she saw a shadow cross the demons face.
"There is something. Each revenge demon carries a dagger that can send the demon to it's own dimension. It became standard issue when the revenge demons started to refuse to leave there hosts. They wanted to keep feeding off the emotions, but soon the Hosts wanted to be free. Dhoffryn made each revenge demon carry one at all times to keep the option open for the host. But…this host doesn't want to give up…it's not going to give it up."
The sound of Anya's voice told her that it was impossible to get it from him. He mind ran through everything she could do. Anything but her only choice.
I have to call him...
Picking up the phone she dialed the number she hoped she never would have to again. It rang four times before she heard a deep voice answer. Her mind went blank. What could she say. What could she do. She was jogged out when she noticed the voice on the other side.
"...Hello..."
"Sorry...can I speak to angel please."
"Um...who is this?"
His ex lover, His ex girlfriend, his ex enemy... so many choice...
"Buffy"
"Oh BUFFY, sorry it's just..."
"Just what?"
Her temper was getting the best of her. She doesn't have time for this.
"It's just he's been missing for about five weeks. He's not here."
The emotions rushed to her. Fear, shock, anger, all jumbled and battled for supremacy.
"What do you mean HE'S not there."
Her anger won.
The person on the other side began to explain, but she was only half listening. It was one of the moments she dreaded. A calm before the storm. Dawn was coming from the training room with xander behind her. They were both silent. Her vision rotated to Giles and Willow looking at her from there corner, her outburst catching there attention. Something out the corner of her eye caught movement. The shadows in the corner shifted. Her nose caught the worst smell she could think off. The shadows began to dissapate revealing two burning rings..
Her muscles stiffened and she was frozen. The fear in her paralyzing. Even when It began to move toward dawn she couldn't move. Xander hadn't seen it coming, but was thrown aside against the bookcase. It grabbed Dawn from behind. Wrapping a arm around her waist and another clamping a hand on her mouth. She immediately began to struggle but couldn't do anything but cry and look wildly for someone to help. Giles and Willow ran to help her but both were knocked out by well placed kicks sending them flying back against a bookcase.
Buffy's eyes locked with Dawn's.
The pleading look of fear pulled her crashing down into movement. Running forward she jumped and aimed the kick at it's head, but her foot was caught. Buffy was then thrown harder that she ever was before. Her head hit the far wall and fell to the floor. Blackness overtook her. Dawn screamed.
"BUFFY!"
***********
I love this. The pain, the fear. All swimming around her like a addictive scent.
The smile grew wider when the little girl cried her sisters name. What plans it had for them.
First I think I'll kill her, string her up on display for the others to see. Then slowly kill each one. Right in front of them all.
It's hand went to the hilt of knife it kept behind it's back. Pulling it out and looking at it appreciatively. They actually thought of trying to take it from him. How fitting.
Making sure the girl saw the knife it raised it up, tipping it at an angle it knew would cause the most painful death. It then heard a crashing sound from behind.
Twirling around it looked at the one person it didn't expect. In a blur of Platinum hair and fangs it was kicked harder than it ever was before. It didn't hurt, but by sheer physics it through him into the middle of the shop.
The force had pulled the girl off balance and she went tumbling, skidding a few feet shorter than him.
The rage and delight blinded him to the fact he had dropped the knife.
***********
The first thing he saw was the knife, gleaming in the light, then himself in a long trench coat, then dawn, her body pinned to him. The Rage and anger flooded his eyes turning them red, his inner demon surging forward. The body holding Dawn turned to face him in surprise.
But Spike didn't pay any attention. With all that rage, his foot came up and slammed into the images face. Sending him and her skidding to the floor. His eyes caught the knife skidding with them. Immediately he ran, picking up the knife as he went, jumped and slammed it through the images chest.
NO MORE! I WON'T DO IT TO THEM!
The image looked surprised by the knife in it's chest, then to his doubles face.
Spike roared at his face, with all the rage, pain and emotion that had run through him in all his years of existence.
"I DIDN'T!!!"
Then twisted the knife until it gouged the floor beneath the body.
His image dissipated and was replaced by a pain filled demon face unknown to him. It took a moment to remember the two burning rings. But before he could react it roared in pain as the demons lumpy exterior fell away leaving a human face behind.
Spike was thrown off by the energy that surged out of the body. Sending him skidding back against the steps. The body writhed then stilled. Dead. Then silence over took the room only to be broken by a shaky voice.
"Spike"
Sitting up and turning he saw Dawn. And truly it was one of the most beautiful things he had seen in all his 150 years of existence.
She was kneeling next to him. Her hair was ruffled from the fall. Her eyes were red a puffy from crying so much. But none of that mattered. Her eyes were the image of happiness when his met hers. Then slowly the tears came back. Her body surged forward, arms wrapping around his neck. The sobs came with her. Burying her face in his chest. Spikes arms wrapped around her immediately, gathering her shaking form in his lap he rocked her back and forth.
Her shakey voice was a whisper.
"Don't leave me again."
His heart cracked. Her statement meaning so much to him he could no longer hold back his own tears.
"I won't."
Authors Notes:
IT'S DONE!
Finished
Finis
Fenito
And other words that say finished.
Before you say anything
I know this broke my format that I've been using religiously the whole way through. I don't care. It's the last chapter give me a break.
I know I haven't told you what the deal was with Johnathon Malnaroo. I felt it didn't really matter in the story. But if enough of you write REVIEWS then I will write a Epilogue.
A thanks to all my favorite writers, Their writing skill inspires me.
A SPECIAL thanks to the sweetie Kittyb90. A great writer all in her own right. And officially my favorite person to e-mail. I implore all that have read this to read her writings as well.
Well that's it, I gotta stop before the A/N is longer than the chapter. Just to let you all know that many cups of coffee had to sacrifice there steamy goodness lives in the creation of this chapter.