Title: Lessons to Learn Chapter Seven: The Beast
Author: SlayrGrl55 (aka Anna)
Rating: PG
Pairing: B/S
Spoilers: Lessons
Feedback: pretty please?
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'…yet ~laughs deviously~
"Mommy?" she asked, wiping a tear from her eye. "Is it really you?" Buffy reached for her mother's hand through the slot and held on for dear life. Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God…
"Honey, you need to get out of here. If he comes back and finds you he'll kill you. Or worse…you need to leave. I'll be fine. Go and be safe." Joyce pleaded. Her face was dirty and Buffy could tell she'd been crying. She didn't know where she was…or when she was, but she knew she was going to kick the ass of whatever thing dared touch her mother.
"Mom, I'll take care of it. Just tell me where it is." Buffy said. But before her mother could answer she heard footsteps and turned her head to see what it was. A silhouette stood in the dark where she couldn't make out who or what it was. She wanted to stand up; she needed to be ready for an attack. But for some reason her legs wouldn't move. All she could do was cower in fear. "Who-who's there?" she asked. Since when do I stutter?
The figure shifted and took a step closer, stepping into the light and revealing itself. Buffy's heart almost stopped as she looked up at the Beast…as she looked up at Spike.
"The Beast!" Joyce shouted.
"Glory? Where?" Buffy and Spike said together. Suddenly something took hold of both of them and they could no longer control their bodies.
In full vamp face, Spike roared. "What are you doing here?" Whoa, did I just roar? Why did I just roar at Buffy? Oh my god, Buffy! I'm here! I thought I lost you…why can't I speak? What's wrong with me?
Buffy still cowered in the corner near the door. "Please! Let my mother go!" she begged.
"She was a trespasser in my home! She deserves to stay in her prison!" he bellowed. Joyce! I'm so sorry!
Buffy was crying now, she didn't believe what she was seeing. This wasn't Spike. However, she still wanted to stand up and beat the crap out of something, but her legs wouldn't move. It was as if she was seeing out of the eyes of a different body she couldn't control. And then the fateful words came flying out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Take me instead."
That caught his attention. "What? You would take her place?" his voice grew softer and Joyce weakly protested from her cell, her voice gone ragged from crying. Buffy, always being the hero.
"Very well." Spike agreed. He watched helplessly as his body pushed Buffy aside, unlocked the cell and dragged Joyce out. He picked her up and brought her through the maze of hallways. Finally, he reached the front door. He burst through it and practically threw her into the horseless carriage. "Bring her to the village! Leave her there and come right back!" he ordered. The carriage took off and Joyce's cries faded in the distance. He turned back and headed into his castle. A random servant closed the door for him and he slowly made his way back to Buffy. He was afraid of what he might do to her.
"Master!" a tiny and annoying voice called from the floor. He looked down and saw a candlestick holder looking up at him.
"Bloody hell!" he jumped and backed away. The candlestick looked taken back, but continued.
"Master, don't you think the girl should have a…nicer place to stay. Ya know, if she's gonna be here forever, she might as well be comfortable. I'm not saying it has to be the Ritz, but…"
"Xander?" Spike couldn't believe it. This had to be the weirdest dream he'd ever had. He was tempted to step on the tiny Xander candleholder but thought better of it.
He shook his head and continued towards where he left Buffy. He found her in the same spot she had landed when he threw her and she was still crying.
"C'mon, pet. Let me show you to your room." He stretched out his hand, seemingly regaining control of himself. She too had regained control and took his hand.
"Spike, where are we?" she asked, looking around at the walls and ceiling. They definitely weren't in Sunnydale anymore.
"I haven't the slightest clue. Come, let's get you cleaned up." She followed him and they both silently wondered how he knew where he was going. After a few minutes of silence, Spike spoke again.
"This is your home now. You can go anywhere but the West Wing." She was about to questions him when she felt something take hold of her body again. They reached her door and he opened it for her. "You will have dinner with me, tonight. I'll call for you." He turned to leave but she surprised him and herself with her violent protest.
"No!" she screamed. "I will not have dinner with you!" She went to push him, knowing she could easily send him flying backwards, but he barely budged. She tried again. Nothing. What happened to my powers? Her punches and shoves weren't even hurting Spike and he cried out to her mentally as his body laughed at her, mocking her. Finally, she fell to the floor and started to cry again and that was when he turned and left. As he walked down the hall he called back. "I'll see you at dinner."
"Not in this lifetime." She retorted. Collecting herself, she resumed control and began to pace when another disturbingly familiar voice was heard.
"Now dear, we need to get you dressed for dinner." Buffy turned but all she saw was a wardrobe and a bed…a very nice bed, actually. It was made of a dark wood and had four posts that held up a see through canopy that was purple and trimmed with gold to match the rest of the room. Suddenly, the wardrobe doors flew open and the voice continued talking. "I personally think you would look very nice in this pink dress."
Buffy was at a loss for words. "Tara? Is that you?" she approached the wardrobe, feeling like an idiot for talking to an inanimate object.
"Yes Buffy, that's right. Now let's get you dressed. You can't attend dinner in those dirty clothes." The clothes began to ruffle around seemingly by themselves when the door creaked open and a teacup and teakettle bounced into the room.
"This isn't happening…" Buffy mumbled.
Miles away in the village the carriage stopped in front of a tavern and gingerly nudged its passenger out. As soon as Joyce's feet had touched the cold snow the carriage was off again, afraid to even slightly disobey its master. Joyce pulled her torn sweater around herself tighter and made her way into the tavern. Inside she found a crowd of people. Thank God, maybe one of them can help me. She looked around until she spotted someone she knew.
"Ah! Sir, you are one of my daughters callers, are you not?" she asked. The man turned around and looked down at her with obvious contempt in his eyes. "Yes, old woman, I am Buffy's caller. What do you want? I'm busy."
"You have to help her! There was a beast and it took her prison! Oh, it was horrible." The whole bar had heard her and now turned, outwardly interested. But as they individually spoke up it was to mock her.
"Oh, really? Did it have glowing yellow eyes?" one man joked.
"And pointy teeth?" another one called out.
"And a bumpy forehead?" came another voice.
"Yes! It did." She confirmed. "Can you help me?" She didn't realize they mocked her and she began to feel relieved that someone would save her precious daughter.
"Oh, I'll help you, old woman. I'll help you to the door." The original man said. He took Joyce by the arm and shoved her out the door, sending her sprawling into the dirt and slush. Laugher roared inside as the man sat down on a bench and began to think. He called one of his friends over and whispered something in his ear.
"That's so evil." Forrest said with a gleam in his eye. "Riley, you are a genius."
Riley looked up to face the other men at the table. "Gentlemen, I have a proposition for you…"
Author's Note: I hope you're all liking the storyline so far…I know it came out of nowhere but I thought it would be fun to write! Keep the reviews coming! If you don't review then I don't know people are reading and I write slower…if you have any ideas or requests put them in the reviews and I'll take them into consideration. Hope to hear from you J Oh yea, and check out my site at http://devoted.to/dawnscrypt