Chapter 8 - The Demon Comes to the Fore

I hear voices, but they don't seem to be close. At first, I can't make out the words, but then it becomes clearer.

"Strap him in. No need to be gentle."

"I think he's rousing. Should we do something?"

"Yes, give him this. He's the one that escaped last time. We can't take any chances."

"I thought he was a vampire. He's warm."

"Well, it's probably some sort of trick. We've to take him to the lab, and they'll sort him out."

About then, I feel a needle in my arm, and the voices fade again.

*-*-*

Getting Buffy home after her realisation about Spike was a major effort. She wanted to go after them, the Initiative, Riley, anyone or anything who might be responsible for Spike's disappearance. There was no plan involved, just the need to do something, but the state she was in, she was a danger to anyone who crossed her path, and to herself. Only the promise that I would ask Jenna to join us, to see if she could do some sort of location spell persuaded her to go home.

It was taking some getting used to, but I was eventually getting the idea that Buffy's feelings for Spike were real, and that there was nothing she wouldn't do for him.

I quickly explained the situation to Jenna, and she arrived within half an hour. Half an hour during which Buffy had paced and ranted about what she was going to do with whoever was responsible. It did give me a better insight to Buffy's new status though. There was something quite clearly demonic in the way she was acting. I know Buffy. I don't think many people know her better. I've seen her grow from a child to a young woman. I've seen her deal with betrayal and death. I've seen her die, and come back. And, I've got to say, she's been different since she came back. At first I thought it was because she'd been in Hell. Then, when we knew otherwise, it was because she'd been in Heaven. Now, I know, it's just that she's different.

She's always been single-minded. She'd never have survived everything life has thrown at her if she hadn't been. But, what I'm seeing this evening is something else again. When I think that only a short time ago, she lost Dawn, to now lose Spike too … Well it would be enough to break someone. And it could well break her. But, I don't want to be around to see her broken, because I can't help but think that she might just try to break the world.

Jenna sets things up in the kitchen, away from Buffy's pacing in the living room. She looked nervously at the Slayer as she came in, and I took pains to explain her recent past in more detail than I had before. When Jenna announces that she's ready, I see Buffy taking several deep breaths, then walking into the kitchen. Her knuckles are white with the tension of keeping herself together.

Jenna performs the spell, starting with a map of the local area. When there's no result, she repeats it with a map of the United States. Again there's no result. She repeats it a third time, with a map of the World. Again no result. She looks perplexed. I must look puzzled, and Buffy's looking incredulous.

"What does it mean?" she demands.

I don't know, so I look to Jenna for an answer. She positively cringes from the force of Buffy's question.

"I think it means they've got him shielded somehow. It could mean they've used a portal to take him to another dimension, but that's so dangerous, I can't believe anyone would attempt it. I've got other spells I can try, more powerful ones which might be able to overcome a shield, depending on how it was erected. It'll take some time, though. And, some rather specialised ingredients."

"The Magic Box should be able to provide what you need," I assure her. "If we don't have it in stock, we can order it. We can go first thing in the morning."

"Give me a list," Buffy's voice replies coldly. "I'll go and get Anya to open up, and we'll get what we need now."

"Well, yes, we could, I suppose. I've got keys, …."

Buffy doesn't even wait for me to stop. She's outside and waiting at my car before I even finish the sentence.

"Is tonight ok?" I ask Jenna. She nods, rather bemusedly, and we join Buffy at the car.

Once at the shop, I suggest to Buffy that she go into the training room while Jenna and I look out what's needed. She agrees, and we can soon hear the unmistakable sounds of a Slayer taking out her angst on a punch bag. Well, better that than something living.

It quickly becomes apparent that we haven't got everything Jenna needs. The supplier will be closed for the night, and there's nothing we can do until the morning. Even worse, the only supplier we have for that particular ingredient isn't known for speedy delivery. I'm just wondering how to break the news to Buffy when the bell rings, and someone walks into the shop.

Of all the people it could be, it couldn't be much worse. It's Riley Finn.

"Evening, Giles," he starts, looking completely at ease.

I'm praying that Buffy's so wrapped up in beating up the punch bag that she doesn't hear. I no longer have any positive feelings for the man at the door, but I don't want to see him beaten to a bloody pulp, which is what I'm afraid I'll see if Buffy notices him.

"Riley, this isn't a good time. Perhaps you could come back tomorrow?"

"What's up? Not like you not to welcome me. I'm looking for Buffy. There was no one at home, so I thought I'd check here."

"She's not here," I lie, hoping he'll believe me.

"Then who's that in the training room?" he asks, walking towards the door.

I step between him and the door, desperate to stop him getting there. He pushes me aside as if I were insignificant, and I realise there's more to Riley than I'd thought. I know he was super-charged before, in his Professor Walsh days, but I thought all that was over. It nearly killed him, and I didn't think he'd be stupid enough to risk that again.

He's half way to the door, when Buffy appears. She's surprisingly calm, apparently.

"Riley, what're you doing here?" she asks.

"I came to see you," he replies, still as casual as you like. The tension in the room is terrible, all the real emotion like an undercurrent to the actual words.

"You didn't notice me last time I came, so I thought I'd make up for that."

"Oh, last time, the day you killed my sister?"

"Dawn? Never saw her. Don't know who killed her, although I could make a guess. I suppose it's a natural consequence of keeping company with a vampire."

Could he have said anything worse? I can't see how. Yet, Buffy hasn't moved yet.

"Spike didn't kill her, you did. You just had to go on meddling with things you don't understand. You and the others. The Initiative, or whatever they call themselves these days. So, what've you done with Spike?"

He seems surprised that she knows about Spike, but does his best not to let it show.

"Well, I heard he was working at the high school, and well, we had to do something. I just put in a word with the people I work for, and they agreed he was a danger to the people of Sunnydale, and decided to take him in hand."

"He wasn't a danger. Now, if you'll just tell me where he is, I might decide not to take out my frustration on your face."

He shakes his head, a parody of pity. "I thought once he was out of the way, whatever spell he's put you under would go. Maybe there's a delay on it. You'll appreciate it some day, or you would, if I could let you live."

I see it with my own eyes, but I know I'll never believe it. Riley's at the doorway to the training room, right next to Buffy faster than I've ever seen anything move. He's glowing slightly, a sickly pink/purple colour, and I see with sudden clarity what's happened. He's the reservoir for the remains of the energy from the Orb of Fire. I feel fear for the first time, not that Buffy will kill him, but that he will kill her.

Suddenly, there's a flash, and both of the people in the doorway freeze. I turn around to the origin of the flash, and see Jenna. She's looking pale. I had forgotten she was here, and apparently, Riley either didn't notice her, or didn't consider her a threat.

"Thanks," I manage. "Can we separate them?"

She nods, and pulls her arms apart in an unmistakable gesture. The two figures separate, Riley returning to the far side of the shop.

"What was that?" she asks.

I explain as much as I can, including the history about which she knows nothing. She takes it remarkably well, nodding as I speak.

"I know you live on the Hellmouth," she comments when I've finished, "but I didn't realise life her was quite so ……. Exciting."

I smile at the comment. At that moment, she reminds me so much of Jenny that my heart almost stops. It's not that she looks like her, it's the expression. It's so like the one Jenny gave me the first time she realised the sort of thing I deal with as a matter of course.

"So, what do we do now?" she asks.

"Well, I'd like to question Finn further," I begin. "But, we've got to keep him under control. He's the host to a terrible power, and it's obvious that it's using him to kill Buffy. He hated Spike, always did, so handing him over to the Initiative is no surprise. But, Riley loves Buffy. He wouldn't knowingly harm her, so I can only assume it's that power that's responsible."

"And Buffy?"

"Well, we need to get her home, and get her calmed down. It's the first time I've seen her like this. Maybe it's knowing she's no longer human that allows that part of her to come forward. Regardless, our priority must be to find Spike. That, and understanding why this power wants Buffy dead."

She nods, and she's obviously thinking about the best way to achieve what's needed. "Where do you want Riley?" she asks.

I consider the options. There's only one I can think of, and it's far from ideal. Then I have a second thought.

"I was thinking about Buffy's house. There's a basement which is fairly secure, but there's another option. There's a mansion, belongs to another vampire, but I know where the keys are. There are chains and suchlike there. That's probably the safest place. Is there something you can do to improve the strength of a set of chains?"

"Well, yes, but …"

She hesitated, and I understand. There was a time when I'd have balked at the idea of chaining up a human being, but I know better now. Some humans are simply too dangerous to be allowed freedom. And, until we come up with a way to free Riley of the power in him, he definitely comes under that category.

"Please," I plead. "You saw him. He's dangerous. You must see that."

She nods.

It's after midnight when we finally get Buffy back to her house. Jenna mutters the words that reverse the spell, and Buffy looks momentarily confused.

"Where's Riley?" she asks.

"He's safe for now."

"I don't want him safe, I want him dead."

"I understand that, Buffy, but I'm sure he can tell us something about where Spike is. And, he's not himself. He's been taken over by the power that destroyed Dawn. I don't know the details, but he's incredibly powerful. He might even be a match for you. You saw the speed with which he got to you. That power wants you dead, and I'm not going to tell you where to find him. I'll question him, see if I can get anything useful out of him, and then we'll go from there. In the meantime, the best we can do is get a night's sleep. We can't get the ingredients for the spell until tomorrow at the earliest, and probably not then. I'll put the order in first thing, and we'll take if from there."

She slumps in front of me. All the bravado, all the strength seems to ebb out of her. She's looking like a lost child again. I approach her and put my arms around her. She starts to sob, and I don't know what to do.

"I need him, Giles. We've got to find him. I can't live without him, not now. Not after everything. Find him for me, please."

"I will," I promise. I've no idea at present how I'm going to keep that promise, but I'll do it if there's any way I can.

I support Buffy as she walks up the stairs, and I see her to the door of her bedroom. She walks inside, and collapses on the bed. I'm loath to leave her, so I close the door, and go downstairs. I tell Jenna that I'm planning on staying here, and offer to call a cab to take her back to my flat. She agrees, and soon after, she's gone.

I make my way upstairs, listening for a few seconds at Buffy's door. I can still make out the hitched breathing and the occasional sob, and my heart's breaking for her. She doesn't deserve this. And, I realise, neither does Spike, wherever he is.