3000, a few seconds later
I help Spike to a standing position again, and we lean heavily against one another. After the adrenaline rush fades, Spike's leg and arm remain injured, and I have still been physically hurt by Prenwick. After making sure that neither of us is fatally wounded, we survey the remainder of the room.
The computer system is smoking, but no flames are visible. The Wiccans lay in a heap, and I sense that none are still alive. Reyni is bending over Rhonda who is cautiously sitting up and rubbing her head. Richard lays huddled in a ball to one side of the computer. His body is motionless.
Then, I realize that Spike and I are the only demons present in the room. Like Prenwick, the rest of the demons have disappeared. I have my theories about this situation, but I am more interested in making sure my friends are well before I attempt to get answers. Without a spoken word between us, Spike limps away to check Richard while I take Rhonda and Reyni.
With her right arm cradled to her chest, Rhonda gets to her feet just as I near. "Buffy, it's over."
"It seems to be." I nod to Reyni. "You okay?"
Reyni's face is covered in blood, both human and demon. "Yeah. I'll live."
Before they get a chance to ask how I'm doing, Spike calls from behind me, "Buffy, love, you better come here!"
Relieved that I don't have to face a barrage of questions just yet about Prenwick, I lead the women to Richard's side. Richard has rolled onto his back, and his expression is distorted with pain, bruises, and blood. His eyes are tightly shut.
From his position squatting next to Richard, Spike raises eyebrows at me. "Pet, something's really wrong with him, but I can't detect any wounds bad enough to make him this bad off."
With a small moan, Richard squints up at me. "Buffy, I'm dying."
Imitating Spike's stance, I place my hand on Richard's forearm. "How do you know? Your injuries aren't extensive enough. You'll be fine."
"Maybe his injuries are internal," Reyni suggests.
Rhonda pipes up from behind me, "The authorities are on their way with medical crew. They have another emergency to take care of first."
Not taking my gaze from Richard's, I repeat, "See. You'll be fine."
"No, I won't." He coughs dryly, too weak to cover his mouth. "The spell. . ." His eyes drift shut, and I begin to worry for the first time.
I squeeze his arm with my full strength. His eyes shoot open. "Richard, what about the spell?" My tone is urgent. We need to know, and if he's truly dying, time is precious.
He is so still that I would have thought him dead if he did not have a heartbeat. Then, "The spell was reversed."
"Reversed? Reversed how?"
"All the demons in the world are gone." The statement is so low that I'm not sure if I heard him properly.
"Gone?" Boy, I'm good with the vocabulary today.
"To the other dimension. Reversed." His body begins trembling.
"But Spike and I are still here." I think I know how Richard will respond, but I have to be certain.
"Love, it's why Richard wanted us in the circle," Spike explains when Richard is silent.
I frown in frustration and disbelief. "I need to hear it from Richard."
"Y-yes. True." Richard takes a deep, halting breath. "It's why I'm dying. The half of me that's demon is gone."
Then, I notice that the absence of Richard's tail, his one mark of demon lineage. "I believe you, Richard." I brush the hair out of his eyes. "Why did you send Spike and me to the circle and not yourself, too?"
He manages to open his eyes again, looking from Spike to me. "You're needed here, and I didn't have time to make it. Reyni needs you. The world needs you. You need each other. There will be others like Prenwick. . . human others. You'll have to stop them. And I'm tired." His eyelashes settle against his cheeks.
Richard says nothing else, and I realize he probably won't say anything else. Suddenly, I feel his weariness, and I'm surprised that I can identify. I feel Spike staring at me, and I read the same feelings mirrored in his eyes.
As Richard's heartbeat fades away, Reyni kneels beside me and puts her arms around my waist and her head on my shoulder. The virtually empty ritual chamber echoes with the sounds of approaching emergency workers and security officers.
* * *
3000, several hours later
"Thanks, Rhonda." I reach over to hug the petite, dark-haired woman. She'd stayed with the rest of us during the international police inquiry and had seen Reyni home with us.
"You're welcome." She smiles tiredly and rubs her eyes, an almost childish gesture by such a tough young woman. "I should be getting home to the husband and kids."
Spike plants a soft kiss on her forehead. "You're welcome to bring the family over for dinner anytime."
"Will be funny explaining to the hubby the blood part and why I have vampire friends." She laughs a laughter that only comes with staying up beyond that point of sheer exhaustion. "Night, all."
"Night," I call as she enters the transport.
Spike then turns to me and slips a large, cool hand in my little one, stroking my palm with his thumb. "Bedtime, love?"
"Yes! Sleep needed." Time for processing emotions will come later.
We complete our sleep preparations in record timing, but before I can climb into bed next to Spike, I hesitate, hugging my ribs lightly. I'm not really sure the reason for my unwillingness. . . after all, Spike and I have been together for a lot longer than the miniscule piece of time I spent with Prenwick. At my reluctance, Spike's face transforms into a mixture of hurt but also understanding.
He pats the bed next to him and whispers gently, "It's okay, love. I just want to hold you. Nothing else tonight."
I am torn between desire for him and reluctance to touch him. . . anyone who is male. Cold tears roll down my face before I recognize that I'm a bit afraid. His eyes are filled with a need to simply touch me, but he won't come to me because he knows I need to decide for myself tonight.
"I-I can't." I flee the room, shaking like a leaf all over.
Spike doesn't follow me, and anger flashes through my heart. I want him to take care of me like he always has, and I'm perturbed that he hasn't come after me. I try to stay angry, but my body is more exhausted than my will. Soon, I fall into a fitful, nightmare-filled sleep on the lounger.
* * *
3000, a few hours later
Someone is shaking my shoulders, and I hear whimpering and crying. Before I can identify the person who is making such noises, Spike's voice sounds in my mind, "Pet, wake up. You're dreaming and crying and screaming."
The familiar scent of peppermints and smoke fills my nose, and I cling to and weep into the chest attached to the scent like a frightened child. "Don't leave me. I'm scared."
With fresh tenderness, he scoops me up and gathers me in his lap as he sits down on the lounger. Rocking me back and forth in rhythm with my hiccups and sobs, he strokes my back and breathes, "Shhh. Don't worry, pet; I'm not going anywhere."
"You left me." I know I'm making no sense whatsoever, and I don't care. I'm just drowning in his familiar touch and soothing voice.
"I'm sorry, love, I thought it's what you wanted. . . after what happened with Prenwick. Then, I tried to give you space this evening because I thought you needed it. Bloody hell, you confuse me, woman." His last statement is said in a contradictory tone of kindness that makes me laugh through the tears.
"I'm good at that, huh?" Presenting him a watery smile, I gaze up into his blue eyes, which are dark with love. . . not desire. . . love, and I feel myself offer him a tentative trust.
"A bloody expert." He kisses my nose. "A beautiful expert at confusing me."
A moment passes.
Then, I speak again, "I got scared. At the ritual, I could touch you. It was life or death. But, when we got here. . . tonight. . . too intimate. I-I was afraid you'd want to-to. . . make love, and I can't. . . not yet. I guess I just reacted without thinking."
"Which you're allowed to do. I don't want to hurt you, love. I just want you to feel okay around me, and I realize you might not for a while."
"It's not *you*," I correct him because I want to make certain he knows that I'm not rejecting *him*. "It's just the situation and what happened with Prenwick. I'd feel the same with any guy."
"So, now I'm just any guy," he teases, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear and then wiping my cheek clean with his fingers.
I punch his arm. "Hey. No, you're not. You're mine." Snaking my arms around his ribcage, I hug him tightly.
We stay unmoving in the same position until my body relaxes against him, and my tears are spent. His hands remain loose and undemanding about my hips, and his chin rests on the crown of my head.
I sigh sleepily. "Take me to bed and don't let go of me."
Spike doesn't need another signal and stands with me clinging to his body like a baby koala bear. Moments later, I'm spooned against him and for the first time since Prenwick touched me, I feel completely at ease.
TBC. . . All seems safe, but is it? Find out next time as the aftermath of Prenwick's plot continues. . .
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Thanks for the awesome reviews!!! I'm so glad you're still enjoying! And your kind words mean a lot!!! Okay. . . we just have a few more chapters left! :o)
I help Spike to a standing position again, and we lean heavily against one another. After the adrenaline rush fades, Spike's leg and arm remain injured, and I have still been physically hurt by Prenwick. After making sure that neither of us is fatally wounded, we survey the remainder of the room.
The computer system is smoking, but no flames are visible. The Wiccans lay in a heap, and I sense that none are still alive. Reyni is bending over Rhonda who is cautiously sitting up and rubbing her head. Richard lays huddled in a ball to one side of the computer. His body is motionless.
Then, I realize that Spike and I are the only demons present in the room. Like Prenwick, the rest of the demons have disappeared. I have my theories about this situation, but I am more interested in making sure my friends are well before I attempt to get answers. Without a spoken word between us, Spike limps away to check Richard while I take Rhonda and Reyni.
With her right arm cradled to her chest, Rhonda gets to her feet just as I near. "Buffy, it's over."
"It seems to be." I nod to Reyni. "You okay?"
Reyni's face is covered in blood, both human and demon. "Yeah. I'll live."
Before they get a chance to ask how I'm doing, Spike calls from behind me, "Buffy, love, you better come here!"
Relieved that I don't have to face a barrage of questions just yet about Prenwick, I lead the women to Richard's side. Richard has rolled onto his back, and his expression is distorted with pain, bruises, and blood. His eyes are tightly shut.
From his position squatting next to Richard, Spike raises eyebrows at me. "Pet, something's really wrong with him, but I can't detect any wounds bad enough to make him this bad off."
With a small moan, Richard squints up at me. "Buffy, I'm dying."
Imitating Spike's stance, I place my hand on Richard's forearm. "How do you know? Your injuries aren't extensive enough. You'll be fine."
"Maybe his injuries are internal," Reyni suggests.
Rhonda pipes up from behind me, "The authorities are on their way with medical crew. They have another emergency to take care of first."
Not taking my gaze from Richard's, I repeat, "See. You'll be fine."
"No, I won't." He coughs dryly, too weak to cover his mouth. "The spell. . ." His eyes drift shut, and I begin to worry for the first time.
I squeeze his arm with my full strength. His eyes shoot open. "Richard, what about the spell?" My tone is urgent. We need to know, and if he's truly dying, time is precious.
He is so still that I would have thought him dead if he did not have a heartbeat. Then, "The spell was reversed."
"Reversed? Reversed how?"
"All the demons in the world are gone." The statement is so low that I'm not sure if I heard him properly.
"Gone?" Boy, I'm good with the vocabulary today.
"To the other dimension. Reversed." His body begins trembling.
"But Spike and I are still here." I think I know how Richard will respond, but I have to be certain.
"Love, it's why Richard wanted us in the circle," Spike explains when Richard is silent.
I frown in frustration and disbelief. "I need to hear it from Richard."
"Y-yes. True." Richard takes a deep, halting breath. "It's why I'm dying. The half of me that's demon is gone."
Then, I notice that the absence of Richard's tail, his one mark of demon lineage. "I believe you, Richard." I brush the hair out of his eyes. "Why did you send Spike and me to the circle and not yourself, too?"
He manages to open his eyes again, looking from Spike to me. "You're needed here, and I didn't have time to make it. Reyni needs you. The world needs you. You need each other. There will be others like Prenwick. . . human others. You'll have to stop them. And I'm tired." His eyelashes settle against his cheeks.
Richard says nothing else, and I realize he probably won't say anything else. Suddenly, I feel his weariness, and I'm surprised that I can identify. I feel Spike staring at me, and I read the same feelings mirrored in his eyes.
As Richard's heartbeat fades away, Reyni kneels beside me and puts her arms around my waist and her head on my shoulder. The virtually empty ritual chamber echoes with the sounds of approaching emergency workers and security officers.
* * *
3000, several hours later
"Thanks, Rhonda." I reach over to hug the petite, dark-haired woman. She'd stayed with the rest of us during the international police inquiry and had seen Reyni home with us.
"You're welcome." She smiles tiredly and rubs her eyes, an almost childish gesture by such a tough young woman. "I should be getting home to the husband and kids."
Spike plants a soft kiss on her forehead. "You're welcome to bring the family over for dinner anytime."
"Will be funny explaining to the hubby the blood part and why I have vampire friends." She laughs a laughter that only comes with staying up beyond that point of sheer exhaustion. "Night, all."
"Night," I call as she enters the transport.
Spike then turns to me and slips a large, cool hand in my little one, stroking my palm with his thumb. "Bedtime, love?"
"Yes! Sleep needed." Time for processing emotions will come later.
We complete our sleep preparations in record timing, but before I can climb into bed next to Spike, I hesitate, hugging my ribs lightly. I'm not really sure the reason for my unwillingness. . . after all, Spike and I have been together for a lot longer than the miniscule piece of time I spent with Prenwick. At my reluctance, Spike's face transforms into a mixture of hurt but also understanding.
He pats the bed next to him and whispers gently, "It's okay, love. I just want to hold you. Nothing else tonight."
I am torn between desire for him and reluctance to touch him. . . anyone who is male. Cold tears roll down my face before I recognize that I'm a bit afraid. His eyes are filled with a need to simply touch me, but he won't come to me because he knows I need to decide for myself tonight.
"I-I can't." I flee the room, shaking like a leaf all over.
Spike doesn't follow me, and anger flashes through my heart. I want him to take care of me like he always has, and I'm perturbed that he hasn't come after me. I try to stay angry, but my body is more exhausted than my will. Soon, I fall into a fitful, nightmare-filled sleep on the lounger.
* * *
3000, a few hours later
Someone is shaking my shoulders, and I hear whimpering and crying. Before I can identify the person who is making such noises, Spike's voice sounds in my mind, "Pet, wake up. You're dreaming and crying and screaming."
The familiar scent of peppermints and smoke fills my nose, and I cling to and weep into the chest attached to the scent like a frightened child. "Don't leave me. I'm scared."
With fresh tenderness, he scoops me up and gathers me in his lap as he sits down on the lounger. Rocking me back and forth in rhythm with my hiccups and sobs, he strokes my back and breathes, "Shhh. Don't worry, pet; I'm not going anywhere."
"You left me." I know I'm making no sense whatsoever, and I don't care. I'm just drowning in his familiar touch and soothing voice.
"I'm sorry, love, I thought it's what you wanted. . . after what happened with Prenwick. Then, I tried to give you space this evening because I thought you needed it. Bloody hell, you confuse me, woman." His last statement is said in a contradictory tone of kindness that makes me laugh through the tears.
"I'm good at that, huh?" Presenting him a watery smile, I gaze up into his blue eyes, which are dark with love. . . not desire. . . love, and I feel myself offer him a tentative trust.
"A bloody expert." He kisses my nose. "A beautiful expert at confusing me."
A moment passes.
Then, I speak again, "I got scared. At the ritual, I could touch you. It was life or death. But, when we got here. . . tonight. . . too intimate. I-I was afraid you'd want to-to. . . make love, and I can't. . . not yet. I guess I just reacted without thinking."
"Which you're allowed to do. I don't want to hurt you, love. I just want you to feel okay around me, and I realize you might not for a while."
"It's not *you*," I correct him because I want to make certain he knows that I'm not rejecting *him*. "It's just the situation and what happened with Prenwick. I'd feel the same with any guy."
"So, now I'm just any guy," he teases, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear and then wiping my cheek clean with his fingers.
I punch his arm. "Hey. No, you're not. You're mine." Snaking my arms around his ribcage, I hug him tightly.
We stay unmoving in the same position until my body relaxes against him, and my tears are spent. His hands remain loose and undemanding about my hips, and his chin rests on the crown of my head.
I sigh sleepily. "Take me to bed and don't let go of me."
Spike doesn't need another signal and stands with me clinging to his body like a baby koala bear. Moments later, I'm spooned against him and for the first time since Prenwick touched me, I feel completely at ease.
TBC. . . All seems safe, but is it? Find out next time as the aftermath of Prenwick's plot continues. . .
Yay! My site's back up at Dark Prophecies! http://darkprophecies.net/eternaldevotion
Thanks for the awesome reviews!!! I'm so glad you're still enjoying! And your kind words mean a lot!!! Okay. . . we just have a few more chapters left! :o)