New Horizons: Chapter Twenty-Three
By Annie
05-11-2002
They walked in silence.
Buffy was a complete mess and she had come to the conclusion that she couldn't see the lord like this, her dress was torn and her hairdo had come undone, the strands now hanging freely, barely touching her shoulders.
Spike, at least, looked like.Spike.
He was walking an arms length to her right, keeping his eyes focused straight ahead, and she could feel the distance he was taking from her as if he was actually pushing her away and not just quietly ignoring her.
Then he pulled off the trench coat and rolled it up, putting it under one arm he stopped.
"So, what are you gonna do 'bout Prancy boy?" he asked, still not looking at her, not really.
"I can't see him like this," she said, shrugging a little, uncomfortable with how they seemed to be bound to leave things. "I mean, all Raggedy Ann- y and stuff," she mumbled, finding herself not able to look at him either.
He huffed a little and then started walking again.
"Good," he grumbled.
"Spike," she said, walking after him and catching up with him. "I just want you to know that after everything we've been through together."
"Together?" he exclaimed, now stopping and turning to her, looking straight into her eyes he said: "We were NEVER 'together', Slayer. Now, don't bloody talk to me, you hear? I don't wanna hear anything you might need to say right now."
With that he turned from her and started towards the still lit up house, music flowing towards them from the distance.
She looked at him walking away, insecure and feeling something awful start to crawl around in her chest.
Wrecked irreversibly, irreversibly wrecked.
The words chanted inside her head and she shook it, desperate to get rid of them.
God, he almost had me kill him, she thought, still immobile as she watched him take the stairs to the terrace in two big steps and then he was out of sight.
"I guess nothing is supposed to make sense anymore," she grumbled as she slid through the shadows and reached the backdoor to the large kitchen.
She stopped, bracing herself, and then tore the door open, gasping as if out of breath she tumbled into the room, prepared to stage a performance if someone was there to inquire about her appearance.
Someone wasn't, the kitchen was deserted and relieved she continued her journey to the west wing, luckily unnoticed she reached hers and Sarah's room.
She had noticed the time on the big clock in the kitchen saying that it was close to two. She would have to present a descent apology to the lord first thing the next morning or she was sure she could count her chances of finding anything out from the man himself considerably slim.
She opened the door to the darkened room, hearing Sarah's soft breathing as she closed it.
She walked up to her own bed, kicking her shoes off and starting the trial of getting her dress off by herself. When the task incredibly enough was done with her still standing she held it out in front of her, letting the moonlight falling in through the window shine on the damages.
"Darn it," she whined. "He really liked it."
She bit her tongue, shaking her head.
The lord, she told herself, was whom she had meant.
***
"So," Buffy said quietly, leaning back in her chair and looking from Sarah to Jacob to Spike and back again.
They were gathered on a set of uncomfortable iron lawn furniture in the shade of a magnificent oak, the sun was up and shooting its rays unmercifully down on the guests who had chosen to play cricket, tennis or simply stroll around the grounds.
Spike had been quiet when the group met that morning outside the absolutely huge dining hall for breakfast, he had been quiet when they had once more gathered up for the lunch which was served outside and mostly could be called a picnic for a couple of hundred people, and he was even more quiet now, the shadows making his face look etched and his eyes looking at anything but Buffy.
"We have to find the urns, that's for sure. They might be the key to this whole thing and if we destroy them then maybe we can just stop this before it even has a chance to begin," Buffy continued and the others nodded slightly. "So, what do you say, Spike? You up for it?"
He turned his eyes on her, finally, and then tilted his head a little as he sat quiet, just watching her for a moment. She raised her eyebrows slightly, waiting for a reply and not able to not quietly enjoy the fact that he was actually acknowledging her presence.
"Sure," he said with a shrug, once more looking away.
She just wanted to stand up and scream at the top of her lungs, anything to get some sort of reaction out of him.
The feeling of him distancing himself to her that she had thought was so clear last night was even more evident today and it was seriously starting to get on her nerves.
So she thought he had some good in him, she knew he loved her, was that all of a sudden what he DIDN'T want?
She had hardly gotten any sleep because of all the horrible thoughts of what she had done to him, said to him, and now she was just feeling more and more annoyed that he was acting more like she didn't exist than that she had finally had some kind of breakthrough on the whole issue that was him and her.
"Good," she said as a reaction to his 'sure' and looked away.
"Fine," he mumbled and she narrowed her eyes.
"Fine," she said and she could feel that he turned his eyes to her.
"Good," he said and she turned to him as well.
"GOOD," she said, raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms over her chest.
His eyes enlarged a little and he leaned forward.
"FINE," he said and she got to her feet.
"Stop it," she hissed at him, turning around and walking towards the sunlight of the lawn.
"There's the Slayer I know," he grumbled loud enough for her to hear. "Run, run away, little girl, whenever a problem even bloody THREATENS to get near you."
She stopped at that, turning around and staring at him.
"Children," Jacob now said, getting to his feet as Buffy came storming back. "Stop this, my friends. There is no use to."
"I am TRYING to deal with everything," Buffy interrupted him glaring at Spike. "I am TRYING to work this out and all you can do is sit there and be all."
Now he rose, leaning forwards, putting his hands on the table he stared her in the eyes as he said:
"I will help you one last time, but after that."
Her eyes were still caught in his as she frowned questioningly.
"Let's just go," he then said, straightening his back and giving Sarah and Jacob a small smile each before turning to march towards the door leading inside.
Buffy turned to Sarah who merely shook her head a little and then Spike called for the former to hurry up and she sighed, then followed him.
Sarah watched them go.
Can he actually be thinking it over? her thoughts asked, buzzing after the slight hinting of it in what William just had said. Will he stay?
***
They worked quickly and silently, getting the doors to the study open. It hadn't taken a genius to figure out that it was located behind the two doors opposite the grand hall, which also happened to be the only ones that had been completely kept shut throughout the stay.
"Someone's coming," he whispered and she felt the pleasant shivers as she remembered the last time he had used that statement.
"You don't say?" she mumbled but he didn't respond even the slightest, only waited impatiently for her to get the door open.
"Need help?" he asked.
"No," she hissed, the handle giving way and she pushed the door silently open with her shoulder, letting Spike slip in after her before she hurriedly shut it again behind them.
The sound of laughing was clearly heard as a group of ladies came into the hall and stopped in front of the front doors.
The Slayer and the Vamp looked at each other for a moment, then they got to work.
They turned around, eyeing the room over with the training of hundreds of strange rooms before this one in the back of their heads. Then they started the methodical search for any kind of hint pointing at there being a secret opening or anything similar in the room.
They kept on working quickly and silently, after fifteen minutes of nothing Buffy sighed.
"Dammit, we don't have time for this," she said, sitting down in the deep chair by the enormous desk standing with the rooms four large windows in the background.
"Patience," Spike said, keeping on with the search. "Look into it, Slayer."
"You know, you say that word like it's some kind of an accusation," she said, getting to her feet again.
"Well," he said, bending down to look at the bottom shelves of the five large bookcases he had been working on. "Patience is a bloody virtue, or so they say. Guess it might be a good thing to see if you can acquire some since y-."
"Not THAT," she interrupted him, leaning against the desk and eyeing him in a terribly annoying way.
He thought she looked like she was searching for answers that he knew she wouldn't find on him.
"What then?" he asked, straightening his back and she shrugged a little.
"Slayer," she mumbled and then met his eyes, wondering. "You say it like you're accusing me of something."
"Well, I guess you can't really blame me for THAT, now can you.Slayer?" he asked and she smiled a little, he didn't and so she let it fade.
"No, I mean, you never used to." she mumbled, the insecurity now stronger than ever as he took a few steps forward to come stand before her.
"I know," he said silently as he reached out a hand and let it brush lightly against her arm before he leaned forward a little.
She looked up at him, the twirling pain was still in his eyes and she swallowed as his mouth was less than two inches away, the voice of reason sighing in her head and then he pulled away as the wall to her left slid open.
She turned her head, surprised, and then turned around towards the desk, looking for what ever button or such that he must have found. Then his hand was there and it pointed out the spot, a small disfiguration on the carvings on the desks edge.
She looked at it, then at him, and smiled, nodding her appreciation before heading towards the opening, sliding through it with him close behind. The wall slid into place behind their backs.
Darkness swallowed them but it was evident that they were standing on a hard stone step, the first of a stair leading down. Spike stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Let me go first," he said and walked a few steps past her, then she felt his hand grab a steady hold of hers before he added: "Keep absolutely quiet."
She was about to protest that she didn't NEED him to put on the whole protection act as they started walking, but then he grabbed her and made her duck as a swarm of small arrows flew above their heads, coming out of small holes in the wall and disappearing into the same on the opposite one, something only he saw, of course.
Her eyes widened a little as he kept her in a crouching position and slowly made his way down the steps again. Then he straightened his back, pulling her with him, and she looked up at him, trying to make him out but the darkness was too thick.
He let her go, everything but her hand and gave it a small squeeze before starting to walk downwards once more, she felt an unfamiliar tingle near her heart at the reassuring gesture but had to concentrate on where she was putting her feet.
They had been walking slowly for at least three minutes when he suddenly stopped. She could tell by the sudden stiffness in his grip that he was listening concentrated.
Then he spun around, pushed her up against one of the walls of the small staircase and leaned heavily against her just as a swooshing sound was heard and the wind following whatever that had just brushed past them moved in Buffy's hair, slid over her cheek.
"What was it?" she asked, he could feel her heart beating hard in her chest and he looked down on her face.
She was looking back into his eyes even though he knew she couldn't see him and he felt the pain twitch its knife one more notch in his chest.
So close, so terribly close, her body against his, her breath caressing his face, and still.
"I don't know," he answered her question. "But it was moving fast."
He pulled away from her, once more grabbing her hand and then started the descent again.
Before they knew it they had to stop since they had reached a door.
"Now THAT is what I call a set of stairs," Buffy mumbled, looking back at from where they had come as Spike started running his hands over the thick wood of the door.
Then he took a step back, seemed to brace himself, leaned down and pushed down the heavy handle.
The door glided open without so much as a sound, revealing a well-lit and big room behind it.
Buffy raised her eyebrows, taking a step forward and walking past him she said:
"Impressive."
"It's amazing what you pick up on after breaking down a few hundred doors unnecessarily," he answered as he followed her, closing the door behind him. "I guess the lord didn't expect anyone to make it down the stairs," he added and Buffy nodded.
"I wouldn't either," she said, turning a little towards him. "Thanks."
He smiled slightly and nodded, the smile once more fading.
"Pleasure," he stated before turning his head to check to room out.
She smiled a little at that and then followed his example.
Their eyes locked at the same time at the urns placed on pedestals in the middle of the large room.
Buffy counted them, then counted them again.
"Nine," she stated. "Damn, we're good."
Spike couldn't hold back the smile this time.
"What the devil do we do with them, then?" he asked as they walked up to them.
Buffy looked thoughtfully at them.
"Hmh, let's see." she said, picking one of them up. "I don't know.we COULD do this," she said, raising her arm and then dropping the urn to the floor, which landed with a harsh thump on the hard stone but didn't even crack. Buffy frowned. "IF that worked," she said and bent down, picking it up again. "Let's try once more with some feeling," she said, raising both arms above her head and throwing the urn to the floor.
Not even a chip came off.
Now Spike smirked, watching her with the spark growing back in his eyes as she looked up at him with a sigh. She was totally surprised by the sudden expression on his face and she smiled a little.
"I guess YOU would enjoy seeing me squirm," she murmured and the smirk grew larger.
"Only if it's underneath me, love," he said and she looked at him with a SPIKE!-expression.
Then the smile on his lips suddenly faded, the glow in his eyes fading with it as he turned away from her.
Buffy felt something inside wail uncontrollably at the sight, despite her efforts to quiet it.
God, how she hated that expression on his face.
"We need to get out of here so just grab it," his voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "They can't complete the circle if they don't have all nine, right?"
"I suppose," she said, bending down to pick the urn up from the floor. "I can't carry it like this, though" she added. "What if someone sees me?"
He pulled off his jacket, handing it to her to put around the urn.
She worked fast and then nodded.
They walked up to the door and Spike opened it, but when they were about to exit Buffy couldn't move.
"What's the matter?" Spike asked, turning to her.
"I don't know," she answered, fighting to take a step forward, then her eyes widened. "It must be some kind of a spell, I can't budge this thing," she said with a nod towards the package in her arms.
Spike looked up the staircase and quickly stepped inside, shutting the door.
"Put it back, the lord's coming and he's not alone," he said and she swirled around at that, running back to the pedestals and fumbling the urn out of the jacket before putting it back in its place.
"This way," Spike hissed at her and she spotted him standing by a painting, when she joined him he pulled the frame out from the wall and gestured for her to look behind it.
She saw the opening right away, a secret passageway, and didn't hesitate before stepping into it, Spike followed and the painting fell back into place just as they could hear the door open.
"We'd better get going," Spike said in a lowered voice. "If we're not seen when they serve the bloody tea people are gonna wonder what we're up to."
"Yes," she mumbled, wanting to stay and eaves drop, but having to admit that he was right.
Then he got moving and she followed him, the space they were in was stuffy and narrow as they made their way towards an unknown goal.
She was silently wondering what he was thinking.
Why is he like this? she thought. Why now? And WHAT was all that about helping me "one last time"?
She felt his hand suddenly grab hers and she decided to ask him, about everything, later.
By Annie
05-11-2002
They walked in silence.
Buffy was a complete mess and she had come to the conclusion that she couldn't see the lord like this, her dress was torn and her hairdo had come undone, the strands now hanging freely, barely touching her shoulders.
Spike, at least, looked like.Spike.
He was walking an arms length to her right, keeping his eyes focused straight ahead, and she could feel the distance he was taking from her as if he was actually pushing her away and not just quietly ignoring her.
Then he pulled off the trench coat and rolled it up, putting it under one arm he stopped.
"So, what are you gonna do 'bout Prancy boy?" he asked, still not looking at her, not really.
"I can't see him like this," she said, shrugging a little, uncomfortable with how they seemed to be bound to leave things. "I mean, all Raggedy Ann- y and stuff," she mumbled, finding herself not able to look at him either.
He huffed a little and then started walking again.
"Good," he grumbled.
"Spike," she said, walking after him and catching up with him. "I just want you to know that after everything we've been through together."
"Together?" he exclaimed, now stopping and turning to her, looking straight into her eyes he said: "We were NEVER 'together', Slayer. Now, don't bloody talk to me, you hear? I don't wanna hear anything you might need to say right now."
With that he turned from her and started towards the still lit up house, music flowing towards them from the distance.
She looked at him walking away, insecure and feeling something awful start to crawl around in her chest.
Wrecked irreversibly, irreversibly wrecked.
The words chanted inside her head and she shook it, desperate to get rid of them.
God, he almost had me kill him, she thought, still immobile as she watched him take the stairs to the terrace in two big steps and then he was out of sight.
"I guess nothing is supposed to make sense anymore," she grumbled as she slid through the shadows and reached the backdoor to the large kitchen.
She stopped, bracing herself, and then tore the door open, gasping as if out of breath she tumbled into the room, prepared to stage a performance if someone was there to inquire about her appearance.
Someone wasn't, the kitchen was deserted and relieved she continued her journey to the west wing, luckily unnoticed she reached hers and Sarah's room.
She had noticed the time on the big clock in the kitchen saying that it was close to two. She would have to present a descent apology to the lord first thing the next morning or she was sure she could count her chances of finding anything out from the man himself considerably slim.
She opened the door to the darkened room, hearing Sarah's soft breathing as she closed it.
She walked up to her own bed, kicking her shoes off and starting the trial of getting her dress off by herself. When the task incredibly enough was done with her still standing she held it out in front of her, letting the moonlight falling in through the window shine on the damages.
"Darn it," she whined. "He really liked it."
She bit her tongue, shaking her head.
The lord, she told herself, was whom she had meant.
***
"So," Buffy said quietly, leaning back in her chair and looking from Sarah to Jacob to Spike and back again.
They were gathered on a set of uncomfortable iron lawn furniture in the shade of a magnificent oak, the sun was up and shooting its rays unmercifully down on the guests who had chosen to play cricket, tennis or simply stroll around the grounds.
Spike had been quiet when the group met that morning outside the absolutely huge dining hall for breakfast, he had been quiet when they had once more gathered up for the lunch which was served outside and mostly could be called a picnic for a couple of hundred people, and he was even more quiet now, the shadows making his face look etched and his eyes looking at anything but Buffy.
"We have to find the urns, that's for sure. They might be the key to this whole thing and if we destroy them then maybe we can just stop this before it even has a chance to begin," Buffy continued and the others nodded slightly. "So, what do you say, Spike? You up for it?"
He turned his eyes on her, finally, and then tilted his head a little as he sat quiet, just watching her for a moment. She raised her eyebrows slightly, waiting for a reply and not able to not quietly enjoy the fact that he was actually acknowledging her presence.
"Sure," he said with a shrug, once more looking away.
She just wanted to stand up and scream at the top of her lungs, anything to get some sort of reaction out of him.
The feeling of him distancing himself to her that she had thought was so clear last night was even more evident today and it was seriously starting to get on her nerves.
So she thought he had some good in him, she knew he loved her, was that all of a sudden what he DIDN'T want?
She had hardly gotten any sleep because of all the horrible thoughts of what she had done to him, said to him, and now she was just feeling more and more annoyed that he was acting more like she didn't exist than that she had finally had some kind of breakthrough on the whole issue that was him and her.
"Good," she said as a reaction to his 'sure' and looked away.
"Fine," he mumbled and she narrowed her eyes.
"Fine," she said and she could feel that he turned his eyes to her.
"Good," he said and she turned to him as well.
"GOOD," she said, raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms over her chest.
His eyes enlarged a little and he leaned forward.
"FINE," he said and she got to her feet.
"Stop it," she hissed at him, turning around and walking towards the sunlight of the lawn.
"There's the Slayer I know," he grumbled loud enough for her to hear. "Run, run away, little girl, whenever a problem even bloody THREATENS to get near you."
She stopped at that, turning around and staring at him.
"Children," Jacob now said, getting to his feet as Buffy came storming back. "Stop this, my friends. There is no use to."
"I am TRYING to deal with everything," Buffy interrupted him glaring at Spike. "I am TRYING to work this out and all you can do is sit there and be all."
Now he rose, leaning forwards, putting his hands on the table he stared her in the eyes as he said:
"I will help you one last time, but after that."
Her eyes were still caught in his as she frowned questioningly.
"Let's just go," he then said, straightening his back and giving Sarah and Jacob a small smile each before turning to march towards the door leading inside.
Buffy turned to Sarah who merely shook her head a little and then Spike called for the former to hurry up and she sighed, then followed him.
Sarah watched them go.
Can he actually be thinking it over? her thoughts asked, buzzing after the slight hinting of it in what William just had said. Will he stay?
***
They worked quickly and silently, getting the doors to the study open. It hadn't taken a genius to figure out that it was located behind the two doors opposite the grand hall, which also happened to be the only ones that had been completely kept shut throughout the stay.
"Someone's coming," he whispered and she felt the pleasant shivers as she remembered the last time he had used that statement.
"You don't say?" she mumbled but he didn't respond even the slightest, only waited impatiently for her to get the door open.
"Need help?" he asked.
"No," she hissed, the handle giving way and she pushed the door silently open with her shoulder, letting Spike slip in after her before she hurriedly shut it again behind them.
The sound of laughing was clearly heard as a group of ladies came into the hall and stopped in front of the front doors.
The Slayer and the Vamp looked at each other for a moment, then they got to work.
They turned around, eyeing the room over with the training of hundreds of strange rooms before this one in the back of their heads. Then they started the methodical search for any kind of hint pointing at there being a secret opening or anything similar in the room.
They kept on working quickly and silently, after fifteen minutes of nothing Buffy sighed.
"Dammit, we don't have time for this," she said, sitting down in the deep chair by the enormous desk standing with the rooms four large windows in the background.
"Patience," Spike said, keeping on with the search. "Look into it, Slayer."
"You know, you say that word like it's some kind of an accusation," she said, getting to her feet again.
"Well," he said, bending down to look at the bottom shelves of the five large bookcases he had been working on. "Patience is a bloody virtue, or so they say. Guess it might be a good thing to see if you can acquire some since y-."
"Not THAT," she interrupted him, leaning against the desk and eyeing him in a terribly annoying way.
He thought she looked like she was searching for answers that he knew she wouldn't find on him.
"What then?" he asked, straightening his back and she shrugged a little.
"Slayer," she mumbled and then met his eyes, wondering. "You say it like you're accusing me of something."
"Well, I guess you can't really blame me for THAT, now can you.Slayer?" he asked and she smiled a little, he didn't and so she let it fade.
"No, I mean, you never used to." she mumbled, the insecurity now stronger than ever as he took a few steps forward to come stand before her.
"I know," he said silently as he reached out a hand and let it brush lightly against her arm before he leaned forward a little.
She looked up at him, the twirling pain was still in his eyes and she swallowed as his mouth was less than two inches away, the voice of reason sighing in her head and then he pulled away as the wall to her left slid open.
She turned her head, surprised, and then turned around towards the desk, looking for what ever button or such that he must have found. Then his hand was there and it pointed out the spot, a small disfiguration on the carvings on the desks edge.
She looked at it, then at him, and smiled, nodding her appreciation before heading towards the opening, sliding through it with him close behind. The wall slid into place behind their backs.
Darkness swallowed them but it was evident that they were standing on a hard stone step, the first of a stair leading down. Spike stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Let me go first," he said and walked a few steps past her, then she felt his hand grab a steady hold of hers before he added: "Keep absolutely quiet."
She was about to protest that she didn't NEED him to put on the whole protection act as they started walking, but then he grabbed her and made her duck as a swarm of small arrows flew above their heads, coming out of small holes in the wall and disappearing into the same on the opposite one, something only he saw, of course.
Her eyes widened a little as he kept her in a crouching position and slowly made his way down the steps again. Then he straightened his back, pulling her with him, and she looked up at him, trying to make him out but the darkness was too thick.
He let her go, everything but her hand and gave it a small squeeze before starting to walk downwards once more, she felt an unfamiliar tingle near her heart at the reassuring gesture but had to concentrate on where she was putting her feet.
They had been walking slowly for at least three minutes when he suddenly stopped. She could tell by the sudden stiffness in his grip that he was listening concentrated.
Then he spun around, pushed her up against one of the walls of the small staircase and leaned heavily against her just as a swooshing sound was heard and the wind following whatever that had just brushed past them moved in Buffy's hair, slid over her cheek.
"What was it?" she asked, he could feel her heart beating hard in her chest and he looked down on her face.
She was looking back into his eyes even though he knew she couldn't see him and he felt the pain twitch its knife one more notch in his chest.
So close, so terribly close, her body against his, her breath caressing his face, and still.
"I don't know," he answered her question. "But it was moving fast."
He pulled away from her, once more grabbing her hand and then started the descent again.
Before they knew it they had to stop since they had reached a door.
"Now THAT is what I call a set of stairs," Buffy mumbled, looking back at from where they had come as Spike started running his hands over the thick wood of the door.
Then he took a step back, seemed to brace himself, leaned down and pushed down the heavy handle.
The door glided open without so much as a sound, revealing a well-lit and big room behind it.
Buffy raised her eyebrows, taking a step forward and walking past him she said:
"Impressive."
"It's amazing what you pick up on after breaking down a few hundred doors unnecessarily," he answered as he followed her, closing the door behind him. "I guess the lord didn't expect anyone to make it down the stairs," he added and Buffy nodded.
"I wouldn't either," she said, turning a little towards him. "Thanks."
He smiled slightly and nodded, the smile once more fading.
"Pleasure," he stated before turning his head to check to room out.
She smiled a little at that and then followed his example.
Their eyes locked at the same time at the urns placed on pedestals in the middle of the large room.
Buffy counted them, then counted them again.
"Nine," she stated. "Damn, we're good."
Spike couldn't hold back the smile this time.
"What the devil do we do with them, then?" he asked as they walked up to them.
Buffy looked thoughtfully at them.
"Hmh, let's see." she said, picking one of them up. "I don't know.we COULD do this," she said, raising her arm and then dropping the urn to the floor, which landed with a harsh thump on the hard stone but didn't even crack. Buffy frowned. "IF that worked," she said and bent down, picking it up again. "Let's try once more with some feeling," she said, raising both arms above her head and throwing the urn to the floor.
Not even a chip came off.
Now Spike smirked, watching her with the spark growing back in his eyes as she looked up at him with a sigh. She was totally surprised by the sudden expression on his face and she smiled a little.
"I guess YOU would enjoy seeing me squirm," she murmured and the smirk grew larger.
"Only if it's underneath me, love," he said and she looked at him with a SPIKE!-expression.
Then the smile on his lips suddenly faded, the glow in his eyes fading with it as he turned away from her.
Buffy felt something inside wail uncontrollably at the sight, despite her efforts to quiet it.
God, how she hated that expression on his face.
"We need to get out of here so just grab it," his voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "They can't complete the circle if they don't have all nine, right?"
"I suppose," she said, bending down to pick the urn up from the floor. "I can't carry it like this, though" she added. "What if someone sees me?"
He pulled off his jacket, handing it to her to put around the urn.
She worked fast and then nodded.
They walked up to the door and Spike opened it, but when they were about to exit Buffy couldn't move.
"What's the matter?" Spike asked, turning to her.
"I don't know," she answered, fighting to take a step forward, then her eyes widened. "It must be some kind of a spell, I can't budge this thing," she said with a nod towards the package in her arms.
Spike looked up the staircase and quickly stepped inside, shutting the door.
"Put it back, the lord's coming and he's not alone," he said and she swirled around at that, running back to the pedestals and fumbling the urn out of the jacket before putting it back in its place.
"This way," Spike hissed at her and she spotted him standing by a painting, when she joined him he pulled the frame out from the wall and gestured for her to look behind it.
She saw the opening right away, a secret passageway, and didn't hesitate before stepping into it, Spike followed and the painting fell back into place just as they could hear the door open.
"We'd better get going," Spike said in a lowered voice. "If we're not seen when they serve the bloody tea people are gonna wonder what we're up to."
"Yes," she mumbled, wanting to stay and eaves drop, but having to admit that he was right.
Then he got moving and she followed him, the space they were in was stuffy and narrow as they made their way towards an unknown goal.
She was silently wondering what he was thinking.
Why is he like this? she thought. Why now? And WHAT was all that about helping me "one last time"?
She felt his hand suddenly grab hers and she decided to ask him, about everything, later.