Chapter 26 - Sacrifice

The meeting was even more boring than Buffy had feared. It started predictably enough, with the two Slayers being shown to seats at the top of the table. There was no seat for Spike, of course, who shrugged and improvised, finding a stool somewhere and putting it behind Buffy. It gained him a lot of disapproving looks, of course, but he ignored them. Fortunately, such was the status of a Slayer, and in particular, his Slayer, that no one said anything.

The only news of significance was that the enemy had moved. Substantial troops had been building up for several days, and in the past twenty-four hours they had moved forwards. They were now about ten miles inside what had previously been considered to be the line, and they were waiting there. They were still too far from the plateau for the humans to attack, but it was obvious that the time for battle was near. Reports claimed that the vampires were waiting for a signal of some sort, but there was no information on the form it would take.

Spike suspected he knew what the signal would represent, but he had no idea how it would be made. He had assumed that the news that he had killed the two Slayers would be announced by the humans themselves, thereby indicating to the invaders that it was time to attack. This news suggested something more immediate, and he had no idea what form it might take. He determined to discuss his thoughts with Buffy later, when they had a chance to be alone.

Of course, being alone with Buffy now brought another whole train of thought to his mind. The short while they had before the meeting had simply been enough to whet his appetite for the Slayer. Their love-making had, of necessity, been swift, and while satisfying in itself, it had opened up so many possibilities that he felt he would never have enough time to experience everything.

Buffy's mind was likewise only half on the proceedings in hand. Since Spike's surprise declaration, and her own admission that she wanted him too, her thoughts kept straying to the vampire. She had been surprised at how little her treatment at the castle had affected her response to him. It almost seemed like something she had read about, or had happened to someone else. Spike had been so gentle, too, allowing no comparison with the brutality of that experience.

Their short time together had only shown her a small sample of the pleasure they could bring one another, and it was so different from all her other experiences of that nature, even those entered into willingly, that she had been left breathless. She wanted to touch him, to be sure he was close, and she found her hand snaking between her chair and the adjacent one to rest on his knee which was behind her. Even this simple contact allowed her to relax, knowing that he was close. She had only one regret, and she intended to remedy that when next they were alone. She hadn't told him that she loved him. She'd said other things, but not those words. She smiled to herself as she imagined his expression when the actual words were said. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew they would be important to him.

The meeting dragged on interminably. After the important information had been disseminated and discussed, each person around the table seemed to feel it necessary to give everyone else there his own interpretation of the facts in some sort of lame attempt to justify his presence at the table. Therefore, it was late, and both Slayers had been squirming in their chairs for some time when Prince David called the meeting to a close, with advice that everyone get a good night's sleep.

Escaping from the tent, Buffy was immediately accosted by Emily and regretted her promise to meet the other Slayer after the meeting. Her only thoughts were for how soon she and Spike could resume their exploration of one another.

Emily suggested heading to the north of the plateau, where the cliff was at its steepest, and the view of the valley around stretched to a wide river. Buffy agreed, and Spike, naturally, followed. To get to the spot in question, they had to walk through a thicket of trees, and this provided a barrier from the camp itself. They hadn't been there for long, when footsteps were heard. Emily gave Buffy a wry smile to indicate that she had expected this.

Sure enough, moments later, a tall figure emerged from among the closest trees, and approached Emily. He was close to her, his arm around her waist when Spike first got a look at his face. Without his enhanced night vision, he wouldn't have recognised him, but with it, he had no doubts. It was Liam Sullivan, erstwhile commander of the advance party.

The other vampire gave Spike a look of recognition, but said nothing. Spike immediately moved closer to Buffy, burying his face in her hair, and whispering three words. "Trust me, love." As he spoke, he had intentionally scuffled his feet in the gravelly ground beneath them, hoping to mask his words to all but Buffy. She looked at him quizzically for an instant, then made the decision to wait and see what happened.

Emily had been trying to push Liam away, but he hadn't taken any notice.

"Come on, Emily. You know why you brought us here. The other two are too wrapped up in each other to notice us, so we can do what we want."

While he had been speaking, he had manoeuvred Emily towards a tree, and his weight was now holding her immobile against it. He put his lips to hers, kissing her brutally, and taking no notice of what the others were doing.

Spike took his cue from Liam, and started to kiss Buffy, moving her as he did so closer to the other couple. While his mouth was occupied, his hand slipped to the waistband of Buffy's trousers from which he removed a stake. He stashed it up his own sleeve, then glanced at the other couple, and noticed that Liam had produced a syringe and was currently emptying its contents into the other Slayer's arm, his use of her mouth stopping her from crying out. When he had finished, he pulled an identical syringe from a pocket and handed it to Spike.

Spike took the syringe, and quickly pushed the needle into Buffy's arm, discharging the contents which would ensure she was no longer a physical match for the vampires. Buffy tensed as she felt the needle go in, letting out a single cry of pain. She tried to struggle, but the effect of the chemical was almost immediate, and she could feel her strength leaving her.

"Why are you here?" Spike barked at the other vampire. "This was supposed to be a solo effort."

"Well, yes, but we decided on a contingency, just in case something went wrong. And, when we heard what happened at the outpost, well, it looked like you were going to fail. I must say though, I'm impressed," Liam intoned, holding Emily effortlessly against the tree, and running a hand up and down her body.

"You still managed to stay with her. I didn't think you had it in you - to keep her subdued without the drugs. What did you do?"

"I told her I loved her," Spike replied, his voice implying a total lack of anything resembling respect for the Slayer.

Liam laughed at his response. "And she believed you? How could a vampire love a human? It's ridiculous. I mean, I'm not averse to using them. I had yours first, you know, when she was at the castle. Of course, I didn't let her see my face then, just in case. Not bad too, but I think this one'll be better. She's not so used, of course, and it'll be so sweet to kill her at the height of my pleasure. That what you're going to do?"

"Too risky," Spike replied. "They've got to die at the same time, so we need something predictable. I'd go for just breaking their necks, or, if you're really desperate to do it your way, I could just wait and break her neck when you finish with the other one. How's that sound? I've already had her today, so I'm not missing too much."

Buffy felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. She had been hurt before, and the last comment was enough to break her heart, but the knowledge that her gullibility was going to be the ruin of her world was too much for her. Spike laughed at her predicament, an evil laugh that chilled her blood. He looked back towards the other couple, and saw Liam considering his options.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to have her. So, if you want to wait until she's almost dead, you can do it your way. Are you going to watch the show?"

"Thought I would," Spike grinned nastily as he spoke.

Liam laughed at Spike's response, and turned his attention to Emily. He started to rip at her clothing. Spike took off his belt, and quickly used it to secure Buffy to a nearby tree. He then moved closer to the couple who now lay on the ground. Emily's clothing was providing little impediment to Liam's hands now, and he was moving to loosen his own. So engrossed was he in what he was doing, that he didn't notice how close Spike was.

The next thing that happened took Liam completely by surprise. Something grabbed him by the collar and pulled him off the weeping and trembling Slayer. He looked in surprise when he saw Spike standing in front of him with a stake in his hand.

Spike gestured Emily towards Buffy, and the Slayer scuffled across to untie the other woman.

The fight that ensued was more furious than either Slayer had ever seen. The speed at which the two vampires moved effectively precluded the two Slayers getting involved, devoid of Slayer strength and speed as they were. They held each other, both shaking from their ordeal. Emily had no idea what was responsible for the latest turn of events, while Buffy was torn between relief that Spike hadn't allowed Liam to rape Emily, and fear that his intention was to kill them both himself. She knew enough about Spike to know that he didn't see the point in hurting others unnecessarily, and she just didn't know what his final intention might be. She knew she should run, go and alert the camp, but she was riveted to the spot, the familiar lethargy from the drug adding to her need to see what happened.

Despite the ferocity of the fight, the noise wasn't great, and no one in the camp seemed aware of what was happening. The two vampires seemed evenly matched, and the two continued to try to gain the upper hand.

It was inevitable in the end that Liam would achieve that aim. He cared only for himself, while Spike didn't want the two Slayers hurt. After throwing Spike away, Liam scrambled to where the two Slayers huddled, pulling a knife from his belt.

"Slayer or not, a knife in the heart is bound to be fatal," he said, allowing the knife to hover close to Buffy's chest. Unseen, his other hand was pulling a stake from Emily's pocket, and Emily was too shocked to notice.

Spike froze, taking in the situation. "You kill her and not the other one, and you'll fail. And, you can't kill both of them and keep me off at the same time."

"True, but I can kill this one," he said, indicating Buffy. "I knew you had some funny ideas, but this whole 'painless death' thing's the most perverted thing I've ever heard of. I should've guessed back at the castle, when you didn't take a turn at her before you took her away."

Spike shrugged. "Ok, you win. What do you want me to do?"

"Easy, I want you to kill the other one. I've got this one. You got a knife?"

Spike nodded, pulling one from his belt. He had been given it earlier by Prince David who told him it was inappropriate that the partner of a Slayer was unarmed. He moved towards Emily, who looked up with terror-filled eyes.

"Right, this is how it's going to be. A knife to the heart's fatal, but not instantly. I'll stab her, and then you can break the other one's neck at the right instant. Any suggestion that you're going to interfere, and I'll stake you." As Liam spoke, he showed the stake which was in his other hand. Come here," he ordered Spike. Without further comment, Liam pulled Spike's shirt out of the way, placing the stake over Spike's heart. He pierced the skin with it, moving it part of the way into his flesh, but stopping short of his heart. Spike made no sound even though the pain from the wound must have been tremendous.

"So, one wrong move from you, and it's all over." The words were simple, but Spike knew they were true. Held as he was, the merest flick of Liam's wrist would result in the stake entering his heart. It looked as if he had run out of choices.

Without in any way lessening his hold on the stake, Liam altered his grip on the knife, preparing for the thrust which would end Buffy's life. He looked at the Slayer, saw the resignation on her face, and started to push the knife home.

He didn't spot the sudden movement to his side. In a last gasp attempt, Spike had pulled Liam's hand away from Buffy's chest, and was trying to bring a stake to Liam's own chest. Liam simply increased the pressure of his hand on his own stake slightly, and Spike dropped the other stake as he realised he was about to die for the second time.

In the instant it took for the stake to complete its awful task, he turned to Buffy, his face showing his regret, and he managed just two words. "Love you," before he turned to dust.

No, this isn't finished yet. I thought I'd better make that clear before the hate-mail starts. There're another two chapters to go at present. That should be enough to finish the story unless some extra twist occurs to me. Although, I'm not saying you won't want to shout at me when the story is finished..