AGAINST DESTINY

Chapter Five : Relinquished

Spike stood right outside of the Magic Box and stared at the door knob. He contemplated whether he should go in or just ditch the Scoobies and find the Voodoo spell caster on his own. He knew Buffy was in the shop, he could feel it and she did say that she would be waiting for him in there.

He was attracted to her. If he wasn't careful, attraction could grow to adoration and that could lead to love and it is back to square one. He couldn't let that happen after all of the trouble he went through. He couldn't go back to being a love sick Vampire or Ex-Vampire rather and have the Slayer break his heart all over again.

Spike closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Just going to work with the Slayer, is all. Nothing more."

The peroxide blond focused his thoughts on why he was standing outside of the Magic Box. He was there to help Buffy and her friends. If he concentrated on the job at hand and not on the beautiful blonde woman, the whole night could go on smoothly. Comforted by that idea, the Ex-Vampire entered the shop.

All of the Scoobies' heads shot toward the door, who were all seated at the research table, when they heard the bell jingle and then saw Spike enter in his cocky, predatory manner. Buffy got up from her chair and went over to the British man to greet him.

"Spike, hey. You're here," Buffy greeted in a casual tone.

"Slayer," Spike replied with a nod.

She looked past the peroxide blond to see if there was anyone behind him. "Uh... I thought you were bringing help. I don't see anyone with you."

"Couldn't find him," the Ex-Vampire shrugged like it didn't matter. "It's just you and me tonight."

The Slayer looked away from him, not too thrilled with that idea. "Yeah... you and me."

"So, you got any plan, Slayer?"

"Kind of..." Buffy answered and went back to the other Scoobies with Spike a few feet away from her. "Anya said that if we kill the Chobbor, the Voodoo curses will be broken."

"That's 'Bokkor', Buffy. A practitioner of Voodoo," Anya corrected from her seat.

"Whatever," Buffy said and continued to tell Spike the rest of her plan. "Anyway, Tara found a spell that'd protect Xander from the curse. Tara chants the protection spell while Willow, Anya, and Dawn keep an eye on Xander to make sure he doesn't do any dancing or more. Meanwhile, you and me will seek out the Bokkor and kill it." She paused for a second and smiled brightly. "Or hurt it. Hurt it real bad if it's human."

"Sounds like a plan. Better be going then," Spike suggested and headed for the door.

Buffy faced her friends. "You guys, ready?" She received five nods. "Good," she smiled. "We'll be heading out now and bust up someone's doll party."

The Slayer turned around and exited the Magic Box. She found Spike waiting for her by the lamp post.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Always," he smirked as they began to walk. "So, how are we going to find the resident Bokkor?"

"Don't know," Buffy replied dryly. "But it might be a clue if you start doing the Hokey Pokey."

Buffy still wasn't comfortable being alone with Spike. She didn't really want his help with all of the things that had happened to them recently but she had no other choice. Like it or not, Spike was a very valuable and helpful ally to the Scoobies. And then, there was also that strange feeling that was associated with the peroxide blond. There was something off about him. She wanted to ask him what but didn't really know how to attack the question with them in the middle of Bokkor hunting.

"I resent that idea, Slayer," Spike retaliated in a slightly threatening voice.

"It's just an idea," she countered defensively. "Until last night, I've never seen anyone under a Voodoo spell. Have you?"

"Of course. Seen a lot of things with Dru over the past years... all kinds of people, demons, places... a lot of things." He stole a quick glance at Buffy. She had her gaze on the sidewalk, trying to hide the small trace of jealousy in her emerald green eyes. He hid a smile. "I've seen people fall under Voodoo curses before. But to actually see someone cast the spell, no. So, you want to hit Willy's place first?"

"Good place as any," Buffy agreed.

"Heads up!" Spike announced suddenly and darted to the other side of the street.

Buffy followed the Ex-Vampire and found him towering over an unconscious woman on the sidewalk. The Slayer knelt down next to her and felt for her pulse on her neck.

"She's cold," the blonde woman stated.

"But this bird's still alive," the British man told her. "She needs help. Heart beat's really weak."

Buffy knit her brows together, incomprehension plastered on her face. "What?"

"Vampire hearing," he supplied.

"Right," she nodded and stood up. "I'll go get some help."

Spike watched Buffy rush toward a nearby phone booth and contact 911 He heard her tell the authorities about tonight's victim and their location.

"What do you think happened to her?" Buffy asked when she returned.

"Our nasty found a new puppet, I wager," he answered nonchalantly. "The doll that represents her was probably stuck in a freezer or something."

"Help is on the way." She sighed in exasperation. "Just hope Xander and the guys are okay."

***

Tara finished marking a circle on the floor at the back room of the Magic Box with her wonder chalk. She eyed Xander and motioned for him to step into the ring. "It's done."

"This thing will protect me, right?" Xander asked, a bit doubtfully.

"Kind of," Willow replied. "If the Voodoo mage sticks needles or anything pointy in your gut, it won't hurt you..."

"But?" the carpenter urged hesitantly.

"...but the Bokkor will still be able to control your body," the redhead finished. "Sorry. It was the only spell we could find."

"But you don't have to worry about that. Me, Willow, and Anya will make sure you don't step out of the circle. As long as you're in the protection ring, you're safe," Dawn contributed cheerfully.

"I say we just tie him up to a chair. It'll make my job easier!" Anya suggested mischievously.

"Hey! I don't like that!" Xander complained.

Willow, Tara, and Dawn rolled their eyes in exasperation while Xander shot his ex-girlfriend a mild dirty look.

"What? I think it'd be funny watching Xander tied to a chair while he's possessed," Anya chuckled innocently.

***

Spike and Buffy stood in front of a police officer, answering all of her questions regarding the unconscious woman. About five minutes after Buffy made the call, an ambulance and a police car arrived on the scene. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital while the policewoman stayed behind to ask the blonde duo what had happen.

"So, you didn't see who knocked her out?" the policewoman asked.

"No. Just found her like that," Spike answered.

"Any relations to the victim?"

"No, sorry. It's the first time we've seen her," Buffy replied. "Is she going to be okay?"

The officer wrote the information on her notepad. "Paramedics said she'd be just fine. But I don't know what would've happened if your boyfriend didn't find her when he did..."

"He's NOT my boyfriend!!"

"She's NOT my girlfriend!!"

Spike and Buffy immediately looked at each other, surprised and somewhat embarrassed. Buffy thought for sure he would smirk and shoot a sarcastic, clever remark. Spike knew what she would say but didn't expect her to be surprised at his response. The two turned away from each other and then realized that the officer was still there when a few awkward seconds ticked by. Spike maintained a calm exterior while Buffy gave the policewoman a wan smile.

The policewoman eyed the two with amusement. She really thought they were a couple because, well, they DID look like such a nice, perfect, happy pair of love birds. She thought that the two should have seen themselves at their outbursts and the way they looked now. The officer cleared her throat to break the spell and spoke up.

"Well, thanks for your cooperation. If we need any further information, the station will be sure to contact you. Have a nice night," the officer said and left.

As soon as the policewoman left, Spike and Buffy didn't know what to do next. They didn't know if they should stay put, continue the search, or just run away from each other.

"So... um..." Buffy started.

"Uh... yeah..." Spike trailed off.

"To Willy's?" she blurted out.

"Of course," he answered quickly and resumed their hunt.

The two just kept silent as they headed toward the demon bar. Neither of them even looked at each other or tried to. They just kept their eyes on what was straight ahead and their minds on the job that needed to be done. After for what it seemed like to be the longest walk of their lives, the two finally reached Willy's and entered without another thought.

The blonde duo immediately went up to the bartender and didn't waste any time. Spike grabbed its neck and shoved it roughly against the wall while Buffy stood next to her slaying partner with her hands on her hips in an intimidating manner.

"Hey, Willy. What's up? Heard anything about a demon cursing this town with Voodoo spells?" Buffy inquired with faked friendliness.

"N-no! Haven't heard anything about it!!" the demon answered desperately.

From the look of Willy's frightened eyes, Spike knew he wasn't lying but decided to ask another question. "Two nights ago, a young Demoner came into town. Any idea where he is?"

"H-he just came in. He's in the lounge at his usual spot."

Buffy arched an eyebrow. "Demoner?"

Spike dropped the bartender and faced the Slayer. "The bloke you met the other night. Name's Darius. He could give us a hand," he responded and stalked toward the lounge area.

"Darius..." Buffy whispered, sampling and studying how the name sounded. "Has a nice ring to it," she thought and went after the peroxide blond.

Spike found the eighteen year old at his corner like Willy said and wasn't surprised to see the dark haired youth arguing with two vampires.

One of the vampires yanked Darius out of his seat by the lapels of his duster and growled angrily. "Cast another spell or reverse it," he snarled.

Darius pushed the undead fiend away. "Hey! Watch the leather!" He smiled cynically. "And I told you, that spell wasn't one hundred percent guaranteed to work! But did you listen, no!"

"Reverse it!"

"Sorry, pal, but that was a one way spell. It doesn't come with refunds or exchanges so piss off!" the Demoner hissed.

"Perform another one."

"Pay up first," the eighteen year old demanded.

"No way!" The vampire took out a knife. "Do it or else."

"You want a Magick trick? Fine. I'll give you a Magick trick." Darius' face broke into a playful yet malevolent grin. "Bibidi..." he muttered as his eyes dilated and turned black while an invisible force threw the two vampires to the other side of the room. "Babidi..." A pair of stakes materialized above his shoulders and began to spin slowly. "BOO!" He motioned forward with his left hand and the stakes flew toward the vampires' hearts. He watched with satisfaction as his enemies combusted into dust and then noticed the two figures next to him.

"Having fun, mate?" Spike asked in a neutral tone.

"Spike. Slayer," Darius greeted them with a nod. "You two need anything?"

"Heard anything about a Bokkor coming into town?" Spike questioned.

"How am I suppose to know? I only got here two nights ago." The Demoner shrugged. "Don't even know that much about Voodoo. I don't play with dolls. I only play with beasty demons."

"Really?" Spike cocked an eyebrow and eyed Darius as if the Demoner was some sort of sick pervert.

The eighteen year old noticed the look the Ex-Vampire had given him and realized what he had just said. "N-no!! W-wait! That didn't come out right! Scratch that last part! I meant was I only SUMMON beasty kind of demons! Gross, Spike!"

Spike laughed a bit and put up his hands defensively. "Hey, I'm not the one here who said, 'I only PLAY with beasty demons'."

"You're a pig, Spike," Buffy said, disgusted, and looked impatient. "Look, Darius, you going to help us or what?"

"Yeah, I think I can. Let's go outside," the embarrassed Demoner suggested.

Spike and Buffy nodded in agreement and headed toward the exit. When the trio had stepped out of the bar, Darius reached inside his duster and fished out a black flute.

"How in the bleeding Hell does he do that?! Fitting all those things in there," Spike thought.

"What's that?" Buffy asked and pointed at the flute.

"It's the Flute of Anubis," Darius supplied. "Watch." The Demoner took a deep, calm breath and played an other worldly tune for ten seconds.

Before anyone knew it, a creature appeared out of nowhere and perched itself on Darius' shoulder. The summoned demon was pretty much an eyeball the size of a basketball with black bat like wings on its sides, duck like feet, and a red pupil.

"Eww," Buffy grimaced. "What is that... that thing?"

"It's an Ahrima Demon, Slayer," Spike informed.

"He's right," Darius agreed. "This little critter can see and feel anything. It makes a great scout and hound. Anyway, if the Bokkor starts casting those spells, my friend here will pick up the Magick waves and track it down to its source."

"Sounds good but it still doesn't change that the... the Chakichan is all eww," Buffy complained.

"Whatever," Darius scoffed and looked at his pet. "Off you go," he commanded and the Ahrima took off from his shoulder. "Just follow him and you'll find your prey."

Spike raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Not coming, mate?"

"Got things to do," the Demoner told them.

"Better not be something that harms humans or Evil," the blonde woman warned.

"Don't worry. It's very Evil free, Slayer, ma'am, sir," Darius smiled weakly and went back to the bar.

Spike and Buffy then whirled around and went after the Ahrima Demon in awkward silence as it manoeuvred around the town. The flying eyeball led the slaying partners in the industrial district. Shortly, the winged creature stopped in front of an old warehouse and waited for the blondes to catch up. When they did, it froze and faded out of existence.

"Ooh, a warehouse," Buffy said in faked awe. "Perfect place to launch an Evil scheme."

"Right," Spike responded dryly. "On with the killing then." He went up to the door and kicked it down. He waved his hand at the entrance. "Ladies first."

Buffy entered the warehouse without a word with Spike not far behind. The room they were in would have been covered in complete darkness if it wasn't for the single lighted candle at the other side of the room. The two stopped on their tracks when they heard faint, continuous murmuring.

Spike tuned in his night vision and found a demon at end corner. The demon looked like a male human except it had red skin and pointy ears. "There!" he pointed out and dashed forward.

The Bokkor muttered something and the Ex-Vampire soon found himself pinned to the ground by Voodoo dolls, a lot of them. The dolls held down his feet and his arms. Another batch soon came and began to strangle him.

"Spike!" Buffy yelled and didn't know if she should go after the mage, who had fled to the second floor, or help the British man.

"Kill it!" Spike managed to cry out.

The Slayer nodded and headed for the stairs. Spike would be fine. He was a vampire, he didn't need to breathe so it didn't matter if the dolls were strangling him, right? Little did she know that her partner downstairs did need oxygen now.

"Slayer..." the Bokkor hissed when she caught up to him.

Buffy went into a fighting stance and circled around her enemy. "I know when you bought those dolls, it said 'For ages five and up', but whoo! Aren't you a little too old for that sort of thing?"

The demon jumped forward and threw a punch.

She feinted to her left and caught the attack. "Guess not." She countered with a kick on the stomach and sent the enemy reeling backward. She went up to the demon and punched him across the face. The Slayer then gave her opponent a powerful high kick on the chin and broke his neck in the process. The demon fell on the floor and didn't get up again.

With a satisfied grin on her face for a job well done, Buffy returned to the first floor and found Spike still laying on the ground.

Spike sensed the Slayer come back and forced himself to slow his breathing. He had almost run out of air but luckily, the Bokkor was killed just right on the nick time. Buffy now loomed over him and reached for his hand to help him up. When her fingers brushed against his, he abruptly snatched his hand away and stood up on his own.

Buffy knit her brows together. She could have sworn his fingers felt warm. Did she just imagine it? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Either way, it still didn't change the fact that Spike felt odd. It had been bugging her for the past two nights. She had to know why Spike felt different. She knew she just had to. Now was a good time for they were alone, just the two of them.

Spike looked into her emerald green eyes and saw what she had been thinking. Now was a good time to retreat. "Good job, Slayer. You just saved Sunnyhell yet again. Pat yourself on the back," he said and headed for the door.

"Spike, wait!! Where are you going?" she asked in a casual tone.

"Back to my crypt. Told Clem we'd watch some movies after," he supplied and left.

"Not this time," Buffy muttered to herself and bolted out of the warehouse. "Spike!!" she called out.

The Ex-Vampire stopped on his tracks and turned around to face her, his duster billowing in the breeze in the process. He raised an eyebrow. "Still need something?"

Buffy walked up to him slowly with a determined face. "Spike, that night, when you were hanging around with Darius..."

He knew where the question was heading. He let out a small sigh and decided to finally tell her. She had to find out sooner or later. "Yeah?"

She locked her emerald green eyes with his sapphire blues. She was somewhat disappointed and disturbed that they didn't burn with intensity, desire, and love like they always did. His eyes were hollow. Walls and barriers had come up and hid whatever emotions he felt at the moment.

"You didn't answer my question. You felt different and you still do. There's something you're not telling me," she said and silently thanked The Powers that she managed to maintain a calm exterior. She knew whatever was coming wasn't pretty but she had to know.

Spike snorted and looked sardonic. "You really want to know?"

"Tell me, Spike!!" There was a hint of desperation in her voice.

He smirked and shoved his hands into his duster's front pockets to fidget with his fingers. He was nervous and didn't really know how to start. He just hoped he looked calm and casual. "Fine. Guess you ought to know. You'll find out sooner or later anyways. Best if you hear it from me."

She looked impatient and placed her hands on her hips defiantly. "Quit stalling."

The peroxide blond paused for a moment and circled around her in a predatory manner. "That night... when you told me to 'move on', I did just that after you left." He gave her a sideways glance.

No reaction from her. So far so good.

He stood behind her now. "Went to the Magic Box, got some stuff, and cast a spell on m'self. A spell that'd make me stop loving you."

Buffy almost jumped when she heard his voice from behind. A spell that would make him stop loving her? No, that couldn't be right. She faced him and studied his expression. There was nothing but sheer honesty there. She couldn't believe it. Spike didn't love her? She didn't know if she should cry or laugh. Buffy felt her knees go weak and leaned against a lamp post for support.

"I did it all for you, Slayer. You told me to move on and I did, for you. I loved you enough to let you go... no matter how much it'd burn." There was pain, sorrow, and regret in his speech now.

The Slayer took in a sharp, ragged breath when she felt her chest tighten. Her face paled as she tried to process what Spike had said. She refused to believe it. "No..." she whispered hoarsely.

He gave her an accusing look. "What?! It's what you wanted, right?!"

She shook her head and fought back the tears that threatened to spill out of her eyes. "Spike, I..."

His words were hurting her and he knew. He didn't want to hurt anyone anymore, physically or emotionally. He wanted to stop and apologize but caught himself. As much as he hated it, the matter had to be settled, she had to know. He stalked forward so that he stood in front of her.

"Stop. Don't say anything. You don't get to be the bloody martyr in this piece," he told her in a warning tone. "You're all I bloody thought about... Dreamt about... You were in my gut, my throat... I was drowning in you, Summers. I loved you. But. Not. Anymore."

Sapphire blues gazed at emerald greens. Her green orbs were bright with unshed tears. He knew she had desperately tried to put her barriers up the whole time but failed as pain was etched across her features.

He smiled painfully. "So that's my story. Jump up and down and march in the parade, Slayer," he laughed bitterly.

Buffy glared at him for casting the spell on himself as a pair of tears rolled down her cheeks. But wasn't she the one that drove him to do it?

Spike pushed away all of the pain and guilt he felt for hurting the blonde woman with his words and looked serious. "Don't have to worry 'bout me following you around. Don't have to worry 'bout me getting in your hair. Don't have to worry 'bout me at all. So from now, you can be good, be prim, be proper, be pure."

With a nod, he walked away and then paused. He glanced at her over his shoulder and choked out, "Farewell, Buffy."