Title: A Passing Shadow: Book I: Deep Down Dark: Chapter 13
Author: VicNoir
Rating: R
Disclaimers, etc.: please see Chapter 1.
"Dawn, how do you KNOW that Drusilla's got Ricky?" This came right after the whole 'shocked silence' thing we did for about five seconds after she said it.
"He...he called me on his cell. He said some crazy lady had him in a crypt in the cemetery. He said she grabbed him right outside our house."
You know, I'd told Dawn to never give out her cell phone number to boys. But I guessed it wasn't the right time to bring that up.
"Yeah, but why does the crazy lady have to be Drusilla? I mean, Sunnydale is full of crazy people, especially since, you know, Glory and stuff." Willow looked hopeful, but I had a bad feeling.
"Ricky said they were going to have a tea-party as soon as the other guests arrived. He said she was talking to the moon--"
"Yeah, that's Dru." Spike's first contribution to the conversation.
All of a sudden, I felt a temper tantrum coming on. It had been a sucky few weeks and I was trying to do the 'stoic-and-unshakable-defender-of-the-innocent' thing, but I'd had enough at that point.
"This is all your fault, you know. If you had let me take Drusilla out when she attacked you, this wouldn't be happening now." It felt good to be yelling at him again. Familiar. Comforting.
I expected him to defend himself. But he was too busy pulling on his boots.
"And where do you think you're going, anyway?"
He looked up at me then. "Where d'you think, pet? After all, it IS all my fault, as you so graciously pointed out."
"Oh, and what--you're gonna help me fight her? Like I need you there, getting in my way? Forget it, Spike." I heaved an axe out of the trunk under the coffee table and checked the blade.
"I may not be up to fightin', Slayer, but I've know Drusilla for better than a century. I speak her language--"
"Yeah, I'm sure you're fluent in Psychotic. But there won't be much speaking going on. Only staking or beheading, whichever works in the moment."
"Slayer--"
"No, Spike. She took this kid off the street in front of our house. She's going down." I held his gaze, not knowing whether he could see my face or not.
He stared at me for a few seconds and then nodded. Then he continued to pull on his boots.
"What part of 'no you can't come with me' didn't you understand, Spike?"
"You may need me more than you think you will, luv. I can--"
"Spike. I don't need you. I NEVER NEED YOU." Wow. Deja vu. Cemetery, almost a year ago, right after Riley took a walk, right around the time the Council stopped by for a visit.
He remembered too. I could tell by the way he squinted at me. I don't remember feeling that bad about saying it the first time. Probably because I didn't.
"She'll make a trade."
"Huh?"
"The boy for me. She'll trade."
"Oh, no, I'm NOT doing business with that loony bitch--"
"Think about it, Slayer. Why d'you think she was on your street? Why THAT boy?"
He had a point.
"But why would she want you in the first place?" Dawn was looking pretty wigged out.
"Not done playin', I expect. You interrupted her fun by haulin' me away the first time, Slayer. She's come back for more. The boy's just bait--"
The cell phone in Dawn's hand rang. We all jumped about three feet. I grabbed it.
"Hello?"
There was a high-pitched giggle on the other end, followed by the voice of a very scared kid.
"H..hello? Dawn?"
"No, this is Buffy."
"Uh...yeah...listen, there's somebody here that wants to talk to you--" He was interrupted by another weird giggle, and then I was talking to the crazy lady herself.
"Is this the little Slayer? The one who's stolen my Spikey away from me?"
"Drusilla, I'm warning you, you'd better let the boy go--"
"But he's such a pretty boy--he reminds me of my sweet Spike--and you can't have all the pretty boys, Slayer, that wouldn't be fair!"
Spike snatched the phone out of my hand. OK, so obviously the eyes were improving.
"Dru." He listened for a moment. "Yes, pet, I know. Yes, I know. I'm coming." He tossed the phone back to Dawn and was out of the room.
I caught up to him outside of the shop. I grabbed his arm and wouldn't let go until he stopped and faced me.
"Spike, this isn't happening. I'm not letting you go to her so she can rip you up some more."
"I've no intention of lettin' her rip me up, luv. She took me by surprise last time. It'll be different this go 'round." He pulled away and headed down the sidewalk. If I didn't know better, I'd have sworn he could see perfectly. But for all the vast improvement, the eyes were still not all the way there, 'cause the next thing he did was walk straight into the big mailbox that's parked on the corner.
I stood over him and tried not to laugh, and failed.
"Your mum was such a nice woman, Slayer. Wherever did you YOU learn t'be such a bleedin' bitch?"
Oooooh, I SO wanted to kick his ass. Now, of course, I realize I deserved it, but at the time I was looking for a target and he made such a helpless, annoying one. And besides, I was frustrated on so many levels and he was the reason for an awful lot of it.
But I restrained myself--you would've been proud of me. I didn't kick him, I just planted my right foot in the middle of his chest like the safari hunter that had brought down the biggest lion in the pride.
"I may be a bitch, Bleach Boy, but I'm not enough of one to let you walk into whatever trap Psycho Vamp's got set up for you. Can't you see that I'm trying to protect you?"
For some reason, that made him really crazy. He pushed me off and was on his feet and doing the whole pacing up and down, swinging his arms around and doing the lots-of-noise thing that's his trademark expression of big irritation.
"What the bloody hell will it take for you to understand that I don't need nor want your soddin' protection, Slayer? I've lived for--"
"Yeah, I know, you've lived for a century plus and you're the Big Bad and a Master Vampire, blah blah blah. You're also vision impaired and apparently extremely stupid. You can't fight Drusilla in this condition. You gotta know that."
"Wasn't plannin' on fightin' her, pet. Just gonna distract her a bit, whilst you do a spot of rescue an' recovery." He'd calmed down somewhat, but I could tell that he wasn't going to let me leave him behind.
"Is there anything I can say that'll make you stay here?"
" 'Fraid not."
"Well, let's get with the going then." I reached out and took his hand. He stiffened and try to push it away, but I held on tight. "Settle down. Or do you WANT to walk into every streetlight between here and the cemetery?"
He did the pouty thing, and I fought the urge to reach up and bite his lower lip clean through. But first things first--I had a score to settle with his ex and I was pumped for some serious slayage.
We started down the street and I noticed how naked and vulnerable he looked without his coat flying out behind him. I vowed to myself that before the night was over he'd have that precious duster of his back again, if I had to strip it off Drusilla myself before I dusted her.
Took us longer to get to the cemetery than it usually did, 'cause he stumbled over every other curb on the way. By the time we got to the gates, I was cursing myself for not knocking him in the head and leaving him on the sidewalk back in front of the shop.
We stopped just outside of the crypt. He turned to me and squinted into my eyes.
"Remember, Slayer, I'll distract her and you--"
"Yeah, I got it, Spike. Let's go."
"Wait. I...what I mean to say, is...oh, bugger!" He grabbed me by the shoulders and dragged my mouth up to his and kissed me like he was going off to war or something. Or I was. When he finally let go, it took me a second to catch my breath.
"What was THAT for?"
"Nothin'. Just, whatever happens, know that I'm doin' it for you an' the Niblet."
"OK, whatever, let's just do this, all right?" I was a little embarrassed by all the sudden, heartfelt emotion. It wasn't like him to abandon his 'I'm too cool for the planet' pose. Left me a little wigged, just when I needed to be on top of my game. So I took a deep breath and pushed the kiss out of my mind and kicked that damn door in for what I hoped would be the very last time.
She must have heard us or smelled us or maybe the moon told her we were there. Whatever, it didn't matter, 'cause she was ready and standing just inside the doorway.
She was wearing the duster. She had Ricky by the neck and was weaving from side to side like a cobra, complete with fangs. Did I ever mention how badly Drusilla wigs me? Something about her just really works my nerves.
Spike stepped right up to her and began talking to her in this totally normal voice, like they were old buds that had met by accident on the street somewhere.
"Drusilla, luv, how are you? You're lookin' so pretty tonight, pet." He took her hand--the one that wasn't wrapped around the kid's throat--and brought it to his lips. The whole time, he was staring into her eyes like he couldn't see anything else--which he probably couldn't, come to think of it.
She slid out of game face and laughed at him and rolled her eyes and batted her lashes, just as if the last time she'd seen him she hadn't maimed him. "Oh, it's my Spike...I knew you'd come to me, my sweet Spike...the moon has been whispering of nothing else all evening and then Miss Edith said we must prepare for guests...and look, I brought you a party favor, my love..."
Meanwhile, Ricky looked like he was about to pass out from fright. And I was just standing there like an idiot, watching Spike flirt with his nutty ex-lover. Then he was stroking her cheek and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle in a really evil way, and all of a sudden, I was jealous.
Not the most rational reaction, considering that the whole distraction thing was part of the plan. Without giving it much thought, I closed the few feet between me and Spike and yanked him away from her.
Dru's head snapped up like it was on a string and she went all 'grrr' again. And then it occurred to me that it probably should have been Ricky that I grabbed. Didn't look like I was gonna get a second chance any time soon, either.
"Spike! You've brought the Slayer to our party! Why would you do that, Spike, don't you remember the last time she attended--she has VERY bad manners and Miss Edith doesn't care for the tone of her conversation."
"Yeah, well, Miss Edith can bite me--now let go of the boy." I pushed Spike behind me. Then HE started growling and went all bumpy-forehead-guy.
"Back off, Slayer. This is between my me and my princess--"
"Your princess? You mean the loony-toon that shredded your face a few weeks ago?" All of a sudden, I wasn't sure if he was just playing a part or if...I mean, he and Drusilla were together for a long time, and I started feeling a little insecure.
"Spike, make her go away. I want to be alone with you, Spike, I want it to be like it used to be..." She was doing the weaving-cobra thing again and the claw she was using to hold Ricky tightened up on his throat until I could see blood running from under her fingernails.
"Dru, sweetie, why don't you let the boy go now an' then you an' I can have ourselves a nice little celebration. Let him go, now, luv. No need to aggravate the Slayer, pet, just let the boy go--"
Drusilla started growling deep in her throat. Apparently, she wasn't buying what Spike was selling.
"I can smell her on you, Spike, she's still all over you...why have you come to me with the stench of the Slayer on youuuuuuuuu...." She started this crazy keening wail that made the little hairs all over my body stand up and sing.
And then her hand--the one that wasn't choking Ricky--flew out, faster than I could see it move, or Spike either, given his impairment--and caught Spike just under the chin. She opened a gash and dug her fingers in, dragging him to her.
"I'm very cross with you, Spike, and you know what happens when you make me cross." He was clutching her hand and making a gurgling sound.
She turned to me. "Come now, little Slayer, it's time you made a choice--you must decide between our two pretty boys." She started giggling and rolling her eyes, and it was hard to take in the hugeness of her madness all at once. "You know, the stars have heard rumors that you've been keeping my Spike as a pet. Do you love your pet, Slayer? Does he do tricks for you?"
I watched as she dug her claws deeper into both of the throats she was holding. Ricky had stopped struggling and was almost unconscious. Spike wasn't fighting at all. It occurred to me that if he'd wanted to, he could probably break free. I knew then that he was letting this happen in order to save the kid.
Now, I know that you can't dust a vampire by choking it or even slashing its throat, unless said vamp actually bleeds out, and Spike was a long way from that. I know it now. I knew it then. So what I did next makes no sense. Worse than that, it defies everything I stand for--everything that it means to be a Slayer.
I chose Spike.
tbc
Author: VicNoir
Rating: R
Disclaimers, etc.: please see Chapter 1.
"Dawn, how do you KNOW that Drusilla's got Ricky?" This came right after the whole 'shocked silence' thing we did for about five seconds after she said it.
"He...he called me on his cell. He said some crazy lady had him in a crypt in the cemetery. He said she grabbed him right outside our house."
You know, I'd told Dawn to never give out her cell phone number to boys. But I guessed it wasn't the right time to bring that up.
"Yeah, but why does the crazy lady have to be Drusilla? I mean, Sunnydale is full of crazy people, especially since, you know, Glory and stuff." Willow looked hopeful, but I had a bad feeling.
"Ricky said they were going to have a tea-party as soon as the other guests arrived. He said she was talking to the moon--"
"Yeah, that's Dru." Spike's first contribution to the conversation.
All of a sudden, I felt a temper tantrum coming on. It had been a sucky few weeks and I was trying to do the 'stoic-and-unshakable-defender-of-the-innocent' thing, but I'd had enough at that point.
"This is all your fault, you know. If you had let me take Drusilla out when she attacked you, this wouldn't be happening now." It felt good to be yelling at him again. Familiar. Comforting.
I expected him to defend himself. But he was too busy pulling on his boots.
"And where do you think you're going, anyway?"
He looked up at me then. "Where d'you think, pet? After all, it IS all my fault, as you so graciously pointed out."
"Oh, and what--you're gonna help me fight her? Like I need you there, getting in my way? Forget it, Spike." I heaved an axe out of the trunk under the coffee table and checked the blade.
"I may not be up to fightin', Slayer, but I've know Drusilla for better than a century. I speak her language--"
"Yeah, I'm sure you're fluent in Psychotic. But there won't be much speaking going on. Only staking or beheading, whichever works in the moment."
"Slayer--"
"No, Spike. She took this kid off the street in front of our house. She's going down." I held his gaze, not knowing whether he could see my face or not.
He stared at me for a few seconds and then nodded. Then he continued to pull on his boots.
"What part of 'no you can't come with me' didn't you understand, Spike?"
"You may need me more than you think you will, luv. I can--"
"Spike. I don't need you. I NEVER NEED YOU." Wow. Deja vu. Cemetery, almost a year ago, right after Riley took a walk, right around the time the Council stopped by for a visit.
He remembered too. I could tell by the way he squinted at me. I don't remember feeling that bad about saying it the first time. Probably because I didn't.
"She'll make a trade."
"Huh?"
"The boy for me. She'll trade."
"Oh, no, I'm NOT doing business with that loony bitch--"
"Think about it, Slayer. Why d'you think she was on your street? Why THAT boy?"
He had a point.
"But why would she want you in the first place?" Dawn was looking pretty wigged out.
"Not done playin', I expect. You interrupted her fun by haulin' me away the first time, Slayer. She's come back for more. The boy's just bait--"
The cell phone in Dawn's hand rang. We all jumped about three feet. I grabbed it.
"Hello?"
There was a high-pitched giggle on the other end, followed by the voice of a very scared kid.
"H..hello? Dawn?"
"No, this is Buffy."
"Uh...yeah...listen, there's somebody here that wants to talk to you--" He was interrupted by another weird giggle, and then I was talking to the crazy lady herself.
"Is this the little Slayer? The one who's stolen my Spikey away from me?"
"Drusilla, I'm warning you, you'd better let the boy go--"
"But he's such a pretty boy--he reminds me of my sweet Spike--and you can't have all the pretty boys, Slayer, that wouldn't be fair!"
Spike snatched the phone out of my hand. OK, so obviously the eyes were improving.
"Dru." He listened for a moment. "Yes, pet, I know. Yes, I know. I'm coming." He tossed the phone back to Dawn and was out of the room.
I caught up to him outside of the shop. I grabbed his arm and wouldn't let go until he stopped and faced me.
"Spike, this isn't happening. I'm not letting you go to her so she can rip you up some more."
"I've no intention of lettin' her rip me up, luv. She took me by surprise last time. It'll be different this go 'round." He pulled away and headed down the sidewalk. If I didn't know better, I'd have sworn he could see perfectly. But for all the vast improvement, the eyes were still not all the way there, 'cause the next thing he did was walk straight into the big mailbox that's parked on the corner.
I stood over him and tried not to laugh, and failed.
"Your mum was such a nice woman, Slayer. Wherever did you YOU learn t'be such a bleedin' bitch?"
Oooooh, I SO wanted to kick his ass. Now, of course, I realize I deserved it, but at the time I was looking for a target and he made such a helpless, annoying one. And besides, I was frustrated on so many levels and he was the reason for an awful lot of it.
But I restrained myself--you would've been proud of me. I didn't kick him, I just planted my right foot in the middle of his chest like the safari hunter that had brought down the biggest lion in the pride.
"I may be a bitch, Bleach Boy, but I'm not enough of one to let you walk into whatever trap Psycho Vamp's got set up for you. Can't you see that I'm trying to protect you?"
For some reason, that made him really crazy. He pushed me off and was on his feet and doing the whole pacing up and down, swinging his arms around and doing the lots-of-noise thing that's his trademark expression of big irritation.
"What the bloody hell will it take for you to understand that I don't need nor want your soddin' protection, Slayer? I've lived for--"
"Yeah, I know, you've lived for a century plus and you're the Big Bad and a Master Vampire, blah blah blah. You're also vision impaired and apparently extremely stupid. You can't fight Drusilla in this condition. You gotta know that."
"Wasn't plannin' on fightin' her, pet. Just gonna distract her a bit, whilst you do a spot of rescue an' recovery." He'd calmed down somewhat, but I could tell that he wasn't going to let me leave him behind.
"Is there anything I can say that'll make you stay here?"
" 'Fraid not."
"Well, let's get with the going then." I reached out and took his hand. He stiffened and try to push it away, but I held on tight. "Settle down. Or do you WANT to walk into every streetlight between here and the cemetery?"
He did the pouty thing, and I fought the urge to reach up and bite his lower lip clean through. But first things first--I had a score to settle with his ex and I was pumped for some serious slayage.
We started down the street and I noticed how naked and vulnerable he looked without his coat flying out behind him. I vowed to myself that before the night was over he'd have that precious duster of his back again, if I had to strip it off Drusilla myself before I dusted her.
Took us longer to get to the cemetery than it usually did, 'cause he stumbled over every other curb on the way. By the time we got to the gates, I was cursing myself for not knocking him in the head and leaving him on the sidewalk back in front of the shop.
We stopped just outside of the crypt. He turned to me and squinted into my eyes.
"Remember, Slayer, I'll distract her and you--"
"Yeah, I got it, Spike. Let's go."
"Wait. I...what I mean to say, is...oh, bugger!" He grabbed me by the shoulders and dragged my mouth up to his and kissed me like he was going off to war or something. Or I was. When he finally let go, it took me a second to catch my breath.
"What was THAT for?"
"Nothin'. Just, whatever happens, know that I'm doin' it for you an' the Niblet."
"OK, whatever, let's just do this, all right?" I was a little embarrassed by all the sudden, heartfelt emotion. It wasn't like him to abandon his 'I'm too cool for the planet' pose. Left me a little wigged, just when I needed to be on top of my game. So I took a deep breath and pushed the kiss out of my mind and kicked that damn door in for what I hoped would be the very last time.
She must have heard us or smelled us or maybe the moon told her we were there. Whatever, it didn't matter, 'cause she was ready and standing just inside the doorway.
She was wearing the duster. She had Ricky by the neck and was weaving from side to side like a cobra, complete with fangs. Did I ever mention how badly Drusilla wigs me? Something about her just really works my nerves.
Spike stepped right up to her and began talking to her in this totally normal voice, like they were old buds that had met by accident on the street somewhere.
"Drusilla, luv, how are you? You're lookin' so pretty tonight, pet." He took her hand--the one that wasn't wrapped around the kid's throat--and brought it to his lips. The whole time, he was staring into her eyes like he couldn't see anything else--which he probably couldn't, come to think of it.
She slid out of game face and laughed at him and rolled her eyes and batted her lashes, just as if the last time she'd seen him she hadn't maimed him. "Oh, it's my Spike...I knew you'd come to me, my sweet Spike...the moon has been whispering of nothing else all evening and then Miss Edith said we must prepare for guests...and look, I brought you a party favor, my love..."
Meanwhile, Ricky looked like he was about to pass out from fright. And I was just standing there like an idiot, watching Spike flirt with his nutty ex-lover. Then he was stroking her cheek and whispering something in her ear that made her giggle in a really evil way, and all of a sudden, I was jealous.
Not the most rational reaction, considering that the whole distraction thing was part of the plan. Without giving it much thought, I closed the few feet between me and Spike and yanked him away from her.
Dru's head snapped up like it was on a string and she went all 'grrr' again. And then it occurred to me that it probably should have been Ricky that I grabbed. Didn't look like I was gonna get a second chance any time soon, either.
"Spike! You've brought the Slayer to our party! Why would you do that, Spike, don't you remember the last time she attended--she has VERY bad manners and Miss Edith doesn't care for the tone of her conversation."
"Yeah, well, Miss Edith can bite me--now let go of the boy." I pushed Spike behind me. Then HE started growling and went all bumpy-forehead-guy.
"Back off, Slayer. This is between my me and my princess--"
"Your princess? You mean the loony-toon that shredded your face a few weeks ago?" All of a sudden, I wasn't sure if he was just playing a part or if...I mean, he and Drusilla were together for a long time, and I started feeling a little insecure.
"Spike, make her go away. I want to be alone with you, Spike, I want it to be like it used to be..." She was doing the weaving-cobra thing again and the claw she was using to hold Ricky tightened up on his throat until I could see blood running from under her fingernails.
"Dru, sweetie, why don't you let the boy go now an' then you an' I can have ourselves a nice little celebration. Let him go, now, luv. No need to aggravate the Slayer, pet, just let the boy go--"
Drusilla started growling deep in her throat. Apparently, she wasn't buying what Spike was selling.
"I can smell her on you, Spike, she's still all over you...why have you come to me with the stench of the Slayer on youuuuuuuuu...." She started this crazy keening wail that made the little hairs all over my body stand up and sing.
And then her hand--the one that wasn't choking Ricky--flew out, faster than I could see it move, or Spike either, given his impairment--and caught Spike just under the chin. She opened a gash and dug her fingers in, dragging him to her.
"I'm very cross with you, Spike, and you know what happens when you make me cross." He was clutching her hand and making a gurgling sound.
She turned to me. "Come now, little Slayer, it's time you made a choice--you must decide between our two pretty boys." She started giggling and rolling her eyes, and it was hard to take in the hugeness of her madness all at once. "You know, the stars have heard rumors that you've been keeping my Spike as a pet. Do you love your pet, Slayer? Does he do tricks for you?"
I watched as she dug her claws deeper into both of the throats she was holding. Ricky had stopped struggling and was almost unconscious. Spike wasn't fighting at all. It occurred to me that if he'd wanted to, he could probably break free. I knew then that he was letting this happen in order to save the kid.
Now, I know that you can't dust a vampire by choking it or even slashing its throat, unless said vamp actually bleeds out, and Spike was a long way from that. I know it now. I knew it then. So what I did next makes no sense. Worse than that, it defies everything I stand for--everything that it means to be a Slayer.
I chose Spike.
tbc