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Chapter 20: Help
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Her mind slowly began to unfog. The first thing she could process was a low whistle. Someone was whistling the tune to the Band-aide jingle. Andrea blinked, trying to focus her double vision.
The whistling halted and there was silence for a moment. ?Oh, good. You're up,? came a familiar voice. She forced herself to hold her head up. She gaped at what she saw. She shook her head in disbelief.
?No. This has to be a joke.?
?Sorry, hun. No joke. It's really me,? said James Cain, kneeling in front of her. He tenderly pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
?Why?? she forced out of her tightening throat.
?Why what? Why am I ending the world?? She nodded. ?Because I can. I figure the hell gods will be so impressed with me, that they'll make me one of them.?
?James, you're a maggot.,? she spat. ?I don't know why I didn't realize it years ago. You're a worthless, vile, disgusting maggot.? Rage flashed in his dark eyes and he furiously backhanded her across the face, opening a fresh cut on her lip.
?Shut up, slut. You're a filthy whore. Always was, always will be.? He straightened and looked casually at his watch. ?Oh, look at the time. I better get that dress on you so you're ready for the ritual.?
* * *
?Bloody hell,? Spike cursed, tossing a stone at the doorway. It bounced back.
He'd been sitting here for almost an hour, throwing the damn rock at the door; it bouncing off the barrier back to him.
Jill had been lying on the counter, watching him, as if waiting for him to get up and go help her owner. But Andrea was so damn stubborn. How could she do that barrier spell?
He tossed the stone again and it bounced off the barrier and back to him. Some way it had for the past hour.
God, if anything happened to her . . . No. He couldn't think that way. She was very capable. Probably fine. Yeah, right. Probably dead. Hell would be spilling on Earth any second now and all because he'd let that damn Mellora demon grab hold of him.
He threw the stone again, expecting it to come right back to him. But it didn't. It hit the barrier, which caved a little, then sprang back to the floor a few feet away from him.
The barrier was weakening. But why?
Andrea must've cast a spell that was only temporary. God, bless her.
Spike jumped to his feet and ran to the door. He stuck his hand out the doorway, feeling the barrier give a little. He pushed against it harder, until it disappeared completely and he toppled to the ground.
Okay. He was outside. Now what? He couldn't take that Mellora alone. He needed help. He just hoped the help he needed was back from LA.
He ran as quickly was possible to Buffy's house and threw the door open without bothering to knock.
?Slayer!? he yelled. Buffy and Dawn ran into the entry from the kitchen. ?They got her,? he explained. ?I tried to stop it??
?Spike, we don't have time to worry about what we tried to do. Go raid the weapon's trunk. Pack up everything you can carry. I have to call Giles.? Spike nodded and disappeared into the livingroom. Buffy turned to Dawn. ?Go get Willow and Tara. We're going to need all the help we can get.?
?What about Xander and Anya?? Dawn frowned.
?I'll call them.? Dawn's lip quivered.
?Andrea's gunna be okay, right? We'll save her?? Buffy smoothed her sister's hair down lovingly.
?Yeah, Dawn. She'll be fine.? Then she grabbed the phone off the hook and dialed the number from memory.
When she was done talking to Giles, she met Spike, Dawn, Willow and Tara in the living room.
?All right. Giles said that this ritual would be held somewhere dark. Secluded. Probably abandoned.?
?Peaches' mansion,? Spike suggested. Buffy nodded.
?That was my first guess, too. Let's go. We're meeting Xander and Anya at the intersection between Crawford Street and St. George Avenue.?
A/N: Sorry this chapter was kinda short.I'll try and make the next one longer and get it to you as soon as possible. Also, quick question. I haven't heard anything from Sorrow and I'm terribly confused. ;) He/She usually reviews a lot and I haven't gotten anything from him/her in quite a while. I'm concerned. SORROW, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, REVIEW SO THAT I KNOW YOU ARE STILL ALIVE!!! Okay, thanks. Think that's everything..c ya.
Her mind slowly began to unfog. The first thing she could process was a low whistle. Someone was whistling the tune to the Band-aide jingle. Andrea blinked, trying to focus her double vision.
The whistling halted and there was silence for a moment. ?Oh, good. You're up,? came a familiar voice. She forced herself to hold her head up. She gaped at what she saw. She shook her head in disbelief.
?No. This has to be a joke.?
?Sorry, hun. No joke. It's really me,? said James Cain, kneeling in front of her. He tenderly pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
?Why?? she forced out of her tightening throat.
?Why what? Why am I ending the world?? She nodded. ?Because I can. I figure the hell gods will be so impressed with me, that they'll make me one of them.?
?James, you're a maggot.,? she spat. ?I don't know why I didn't realize it years ago. You're a worthless, vile, disgusting maggot.? Rage flashed in his dark eyes and he furiously backhanded her across the face, opening a fresh cut on her lip.
?Shut up, slut. You're a filthy whore. Always was, always will be.? He straightened and looked casually at his watch. ?Oh, look at the time. I better get that dress on you so you're ready for the ritual.?
* * *
?Bloody hell,? Spike cursed, tossing a stone at the doorway. It bounced back.
He'd been sitting here for almost an hour, throwing the damn rock at the door; it bouncing off the barrier back to him.
Jill had been lying on the counter, watching him, as if waiting for him to get up and go help her owner. But Andrea was so damn stubborn. How could she do that barrier spell?
He tossed the stone again and it bounced off the barrier and back to him. Some way it had for the past hour.
God, if anything happened to her . . . No. He couldn't think that way. She was very capable. Probably fine. Yeah, right. Probably dead. Hell would be spilling on Earth any second now and all because he'd let that damn Mellora demon grab hold of him.
He threw the stone again, expecting it to come right back to him. But it didn't. It hit the barrier, which caved a little, then sprang back to the floor a few feet away from him.
The barrier was weakening. But why?
Andrea must've cast a spell that was only temporary. God, bless her.
Spike jumped to his feet and ran to the door. He stuck his hand out the doorway, feeling the barrier give a little. He pushed against it harder, until it disappeared completely and he toppled to the ground.
Okay. He was outside. Now what? He couldn't take that Mellora alone. He needed help. He just hoped the help he needed was back from LA.
He ran as quickly was possible to Buffy's house and threw the door open without bothering to knock.
?Slayer!? he yelled. Buffy and Dawn ran into the entry from the kitchen. ?They got her,? he explained. ?I tried to stop it??
?Spike, we don't have time to worry about what we tried to do. Go raid the weapon's trunk. Pack up everything you can carry. I have to call Giles.? Spike nodded and disappeared into the livingroom. Buffy turned to Dawn. ?Go get Willow and Tara. We're going to need all the help we can get.?
?What about Xander and Anya?? Dawn frowned.
?I'll call them.? Dawn's lip quivered.
?Andrea's gunna be okay, right? We'll save her?? Buffy smoothed her sister's hair down lovingly.
?Yeah, Dawn. She'll be fine.? Then she grabbed the phone off the hook and dialed the number from memory.
When she was done talking to Giles, she met Spike, Dawn, Willow and Tara in the living room.
?All right. Giles said that this ritual would be held somewhere dark. Secluded. Probably abandoned.?
?Peaches' mansion,? Spike suggested. Buffy nodded.
?That was my first guess, too. Let's go. We're meeting Xander and Anya at the intersection between Crawford Street and St. George Avenue.?
A/N: Sorry this chapter was kinda short.I'll try and make the next one longer and get it to you as soon as possible. Also, quick question. I haven't heard anything from Sorrow and I'm terribly confused. ;) He/She usually reviews a lot and I haven't gotten anything from him/her in quite a while. I'm concerned. SORROW, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, REVIEW SO THAT I KNOW YOU ARE STILL ALIVE!!! Okay, thanks. Think that's everything..c ya.