Chapter 10
Betrayal
Buffy didn't answer Spike. Her inter turmoil was evident on her face. It was than that Spike thought you stupid git she hasn't read that part. "Buffy how far did you get?" He picked up the book and showed her where he had stopped when she interrupted him.
Looking at it she said "Not quite as far as you."
"Well I guess you got some reading to do. Luv can I read with you? I'm a might curious as to what happens to them."
"Spike I don't think…." but he cut her off. "Look the way I see it… that Whistler fellow told you, you could learn from reading it. Maybe I can too. You're going to share with the Scoobies and you know Dawn will tell me everything anyway" he gave her a hopeful look.
"I know I'm going to regret this, but fine." Buffy opened the journal and continued to read.
***
I haven't written anything for three weeks. It has taken me that long to piece everything together. I was too hurt to care for awhile, but now it's time to put what I know down on paper. The gang has been a big help, especially Willow. Without her shoulder to cry on, I'm not sure I could have gotten through this. I take that back, I'm not entirely sure I have gotten through it, but I'm working on it. Some of this information is from the gang. I just thank God I'm not alone.
It was a normal day, at least for the slayer. Giles had sent me to check out some vampire activity in an underground area near the old mall. I hate being in the tunnels. There are rats and the smells are something that no human should be expected to endure. Things were still pretty dicey with the Master on the loose. However, having Spike help was making a real difference. There was defiantly some boy bonding between him and my watcher. Giles had even lent him some of his precious books. If you know Giles then you know that's a big deal. The only one that hasn't excepted Spike is Xander. Voices up ahead brought me back to the present. Slowly and stealthily I made my way through the tunnels hoping to sneak up on whoever it was. What I found was the last thing I expected.
There in the torchlight were two figures, one was a vampire I had never seen before. He was in a heated argument with his companion. A vampire in the underground tunnels is no big deal, but who the companion was turned out to be a big deal. Coldness swept up my body freezing me in place. Shock is too mild of a term to express what was going on in my head. I can barely write this even now without tears threatening to fall from my eyes, because the person with the vampire was Spike.
At first I thought it was some kind of trick. He was there to get information about the Master so he could pass it on to us. However, after listening to their argument for a few minutes it was apparent that that was not the case.
Spike slammed the vampire up against the wall. Spike's strong hand pressing into the vampire's throat. "What do you mean she got away? You have one bloody job you git, keeping her safe and you can't even manage that" he yelled with disgust.
The vampire tried to speak, but his airway being choked made it impossible. Spike loosed his hold on the vampire just enough so he could speak. "She is fine. We got her back. You don't understand Drusilla went crazy sheee…….." he was cut off again as Spike squeezed harder.
"Don't talk that way about my Dru you moron. You're not worthy to kiss her feet" Spike roared at the vampire. "Did anyone see her? If they did we're bollixed " Spike fumed while completely releasing his hold on the vampire.
"No, I swear. No one" the vampire responded. After a moment the vampire continued. "She started to rant that you were no longer hers. She tricked Linda and got away. We found her in a toy store smashing all the blond haired dolls. If you could come and see her it might help. It's been months and she thinks you have abandoned her."
With rage in his voice Spike screamed, "Bloody hell I'm doing this all for her. Dru is everything to me. Do you think I like this dangerous game? I'm the one on the line here, but it's worth the risk if it means she gets well. Chain her up if you have to, I'll make it up to her later."
"Whatever you say Spike. Also, there is some good news. Those books you gave us turned out to be the answer. We are almost done with the translation. You'll have it by tomorrow" he said glad that he was able to pass on some good news.
"Yeah, that is more like it. Once she is well, we're getting out of this hellhole of a town" Spike glowered.
"I hate to bring this up, but what about the Master and the Slayer? Are you going to kill them as we planned?" the vampire asked Spike.
"The slayer is going to take care of the Master for me and than I'll take care of her. Don't worry about………Did you hear something? " he stopped to ask his companion.
That was all I needed to hear. It was all some sick game. He was using me to kill the Master than he was going to kill me. I raced through the tunnels as if my soul was on fire. I needed to get to Giles and tell him everything.
There was some semblance of relief as I entered the library. Tired and out of breath I went about locating Giles. He was in his office talking to Ms. Calendar. "Giles there has to be a mistake. Buffy can't die. There must be a way to stop it" she demanded franticly.
"You think I want this. I have gone over everything and it all ends up the same way. She faces the Master and she dies."
"So I'm going to die. The powers must be laughing their heads off. At least Spike won't get the privilege of killing me and I won't help him kill the Master. I guess that will have to be my reward" she told the adults before her.
"Oh God Buffy, I didn't want you to hear……I was going to tell you. I'm sorry we will think of something" Giles pleaded looking into the lost eyes of his slayer.
"Spike wants me dead" I managed to say before I completely broke down in tears. As Giles held my trembling body I told him everything I had seen and heard. We still weren't sure what Spike was. He was strong, but he couldn't be a vampire, because he didn't get all dusty in sunlight. Giles thought he had heard of a vampire named Drusilla, but he believed she had died a few years before.
***
Buffy looked up from the journal remarking "Spike isn't a vampire, so what is he?"
"He's a vampire luv. Didn't you recognize the ring?" Spike asked her.
"What ring?" she asked truly confused by what he was saying.
"Did you only read the pages that are marked?" she shook her head yes to his question. "Well luv, I read the rest too. Figured the good stuff wouldn't be marked. Anyway she makes a comment about his sparklies. That is what she calls his jewelry. She actually makes fun of it. Do you like my jewelry luv?" Buffy gave him the *I can't believe you asked that look,* so he continued to tell her about the ring. "He has a ring you should remember called the Gem of Amara."
Buffy's expression was one of hatred. "How?"
"Not sure but I will tell you he is a smarter man than me. First he doesn't have that bint Harmony to muck up things and second he doesn't rush out to show off his sparklies to the slayer" he says shaking his head. He sees Buffy giving him a dirty look. "What it's true. I'd still have my gem if I weren't such a wanker." She rolled her eyes at his comment and went back to reading.
***
After telling Giles I needed some time to spend with my mother, I left him and Ms Calendar in the library. "Hello luv" Spike called from the shadows as I approached my front door. "A little jumpy tonight" he said as he advanced on me.
Backing away from him I tried to form a coherent sentence, but it came out something like "Ahhh…not with….the house….I'm lost."
"Come again luv" he said as he moved to take me in his arms. I shoved him away with all my might causing him to land on his ass. By this time I couldn't keep the tears at bay and they fell freely down my ashen cheeks.
This man or whatever he is belongs on the stage, because if I didn't know better I could have sworn that I saw concern in his blue eyes. Getting up off the ground he tried to talk to me, comfort me, but I blocked out his lies. Finally, I screamed telling him to stay away from me. "You don't have to worry about killing me. The Master is going to get that privilege tomorrow night. It's prophesied. But I guess that messes up your plans, so you'll have to kill the Master yourself" I cried my voice awash with fear, hate, and sorrow.
"The tunnels, that was you I heard. Buffy what did you hear? It's not…" but he was interrupted by Buffy cries "Stop lying. If you're here to kill me than lets go, if not I want to spend my last night with my mother. Maybe you'll get lucky and I'll take the Master with me when I die."
"Buffy that is not…" I punched him in the face sending him flying against a tree.
"Stay away from me" I called as I left him on the ground and entered my home.
***
What happened the next day is just plain crazy at best. From Willows account Giles asked Xander and her to meet him in the library. When they got there he was with Ms Calendar. He explained to them what was in the prophecy and my friends, Giles, Willow, and Xander decided to go after the Master and terminate the prophecy. They are the bravest people I've ever known, but it wasn't their fight and in the end it had to be me.
They entered the underground area the Master uses as his lair. Xander told me it took them about a half an hour to get to where the action was taking place. What they found first was Spike, Drusilla, and the Master in some kind of ritual. The Master was tied to an altar his hands and feet bond with his mouth taped shut. There was incense burning and Spike was chanting "Eligor. I name thee. Bringer of War, poisoners, pariahs, grand obscenity. Bring your black medicine. Restore your murderous child." With that he pulls out a dagger and continues his chant "From the blood of the great grand sire she is risen." He stabs the dagger through both Drusilla's and the Master's interlocked hands. Jolts of energy were passing from the Master to Drusilla.
It was about this time that all hell was breaking loose. They could hear fighting from one of the other passages. Giles told Xander and Willow to stay put. He was going to check it. He didn't get very far as the fighters entered the main cavern. What shocked them the most was it was one group of vampires fighting another group. It was total pandemonium. The ritual was interrupted as Drusilla was pulled away from the Master and Spike found himself in combat with several of the Master's followers.
While my friends were witnessing this fight I made my way to the library to say goodbye to them. However, the only person there was Ms Calendar. After a little prodding she told me what they were up to. I was furious how could they be so stupid. If I didn't stand a chance against the Master, how were they going to defeat him? I raced as fast as I could to the underground caverns.
It wasn't very long before Giles, Willow, and Xander were spotted by some of the vamps and pulled into the fray. The weakened Master was soon released by one of his follows. Giles slowly guided himself and his charges to one of the passageways dusting vamps as they went. "We need to get out of here. Just follow me. We'll dust them as we go" Giles yelled to Xander and Willow.
The fighting abruptly stopped as a voice called out; "I'll stake her." Giles stopped to see what was happening but signaled both Xander and Willow to continue their exit out of the caverns. Only about half the number of the vampires were still undead the rest were forgotten dust littering the stone floors. A blond female vampire held the vampire Giles assumed was Drusilla by the throat and pressed a stake to her chest.
"Darla let her go. We don't have a beef with you pet" Spike called to the blond.
"Now why would I do that. I may not wish to stake Drusilla, but it might be worth it to see the look on your face" she answered.
"I'll make a deal with you pet. Let her go and you can have me. You always wanted to take me on. Just you and me and we can see who has the biggest wrinkles. You keep the stake and I'll fight with no weapons. When are you going to get a better deal than that?"
"Always the honor with you William. You know I fight dirty," she said as she tossed Dru to the ground.
The Master laughed as he watched his children eyeing each other up for the fight. "Darla don't kill him too fast I want the pleasure of seeing him suffer before he dies."
Giles watched with fascination as the vampires began to fight. He also noticed that several of Spike's lackeys had maneuvered themselves into position for a quick getaway. Neither vampire seemed to have the upper hand. Even without a weapon Spike was an even match for the vampire he called Darla. Everything happened so fast that Giles didn't even have time to gasp. Darla plunged a stake into Spike's chest, but it didn't even phase him. The hesitation and shock was all Spike needed to get the upper hand. In the wink of an eye, he had Drusilla in his arms and was exiting out one of the passageways with several of his vampire cohorts following.
"After them. I want Spike dead" the Master raged at his minions. The minions regrouped and pursued the fleeing Spike. Only several vampires stayed to assist the Master. Giles decided it was time for him to exit and he retreated into the tunnel.
***
On my way to the Master's lair I came across the Anointed One. What kind of evil would turn a child? The kind I was getting ready to face I told myself. I followed him into the depths of hell. I pray to God if there is one, that my friends are ok and to at least let me die taking that devil with me.
He wasn't hard to find. I dusted the two vampires with him without breaking a nail, but I wouldn't be as lucky with him. He used that damn thrall thing, than bit me and tossed me in a pool of water to drown. That would have been the end of the story but I was saved. Xander and Willow had to fill me in on this part.
***
Giles had made it back to the library but there was no sign of Willow or Xander. Ms Calendar told him I was at the Master's lair. You see Xander and Willow had gotten lost in the tunnels. That turned out to be a plus for me.
"Xander I don't think this is the way out?" Willow chided him. As they rounded a bend they came face to face with Spike. He was alone and in a hurry.
"Stay away from us you devil" Xander shouted while raising a stake and at the same time pushing Willow behind him.
"Buffy is in there. I'm going after her. So if you children will kindly get out of my way. I'm not in the mood to fight you" Spike rebutted.
Willow was shocked and pushed her way around Xander to take on Spike. "If you think we are letting you go after her so you can kill her….. you have to go through us first" the redhead rebuked.
Spike was loosing patience and as calmly as he could he answered the angry redhead. "I'm trying to save her. I know she is in trouble. I can feel it. If you don't trust me than come with me."
"We don't trust you and we are coming" Willow told him.
I'm not sure how long I had been in the water when they found me. Xander did CPR and brought me back. I was dead really dead. That's not something that happens to you every day. Being back was good news. However, the bad news was, the Master was opening the hellmouth. My death made it possible for him to open it. There was no time to think about Spike standing beside Willow and Xander or about how it felt to be back from the great beyond. I had a job to finish and I knew where to go. By the time we got to the library the place was crawling with vampires and the mouth had started to open. The rest of the gang stayed to fight the demon that was ascending from the depths of hell. I went to the roof to fight the demon that had started this whole mess in the first place.
When it was over I was standing and he was bones. The hellmouth closed and my friends went to a dance. That is our lives, save the world and turn around and do a normal teenage thing like dance. I told them that I would meet them there. There was still some unfinished business Spike and I had to take care of.
"I'm leaving tonight. Taking Dru and headed anywhere but here" he told me with just a trace of regret in his voice.
"So you're not going to kill me. Wasn't that the plan?" I asked pain evident in my speech.
"Plans change. I got what I came for. The Master's dead…. Dru is better. Killing you would have just been a bonus," he said.
The heartbreak and pain of his words must have been apparent on my face, because the next thing he said was; "Being with you was never part of the plan. Falling in love with you was wrong. I know it, but I did it anyway. I'm evil Buffy…..and I'm a killer, but I'm not going to kill today. I'm going to leave your town." He reached up to touch me, but I pulled away.
He turned to leave, but I called out after him "Do you love her?"
Without turning back to look at me he answered, "Yes in my own way. It's not the way I love you. She's like me. I forgot that for a little while."
"She's a vampire. What do you mean she's like you?" I asked really not knowing how he would answer.
This time he did turn to look at me, "I thought you knew. I'm a vampire."
"No, that can't be. I've seen you in sunlight. No, no, you're lying" I spouted. That was the first and only time I saw his true face, the face of the demon that resided in his body. My bottom lip trembled as I gazed at the creature before me. "How?" tumbled from my quivering lips.
He slipped effortlessly back into his human mask and held up his right hand to show me the ring on his finger. "One of the sparklies you always tease me about. It's magic. Found it right here at the hell mouth. It gives a vampire special powers. I guess I'll be going luv. One last thing, that problem with the Anointed One, you don't have to worry I took care of it."
I called out to him, "If you come back here I will stake you….after I pull that damn ring off your finger."
I heard him reply "I know" as he disappeared into the night.
***
Giles filled me in on the ritual Spike performed on Drusilla and the Master. He figured it was a spell to restore a vampire's strength. Spike was a ruthless vampire that had terrorized Europe with this crazy bitch Drusilla. It was assumed she was dead after a run-in with an angry mob in Prague. Giles was very upset about the ring. He called it the Gem of Amara and thought it made Spike the most powerful vampire alive. His words on the topic were "We're lucky to be alive. He could have easily killed us all."
Yeah I'm real lucky. I still cry when I'm alone and he haunts my dreams. I wake from dreams of his soft lips on mine and his hard sculptured body pressed against mine in desire. This doesn't make sense. Why didn't he kill me? Giles says he has killed two slayers. I would have made three. He could have been a legend in the demon world. There are so many unanswered questions. A part of me wants to see him again, so I can ask them, but another part hopes I never see him again for if I do I'll have to stake him.
***
Buffy closed the journal and said "She still loves and wants him." Spike wrapped his arms around the emotionally fragile woman he loved and she let him hold her.
TBC
