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Chapter 21: Spike, Meet James
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"When I get out of this chair, I'm going to kill you. Slowly," Andrea assured James, glaring at him with hate-filled hazel eyes. "You were my friend."
"Aw, babe, don't be like that." He ripped a length of silvery duct tape off the roll and approached her. "You know," he said, pressing the tape to her lips. "You really do look just exceptional in that dress. Almost. . ." He paused, thinking. "Royal." She jerked against her bindings, causing the chair to jump slightly as she attempted to get closer to him, possibly to do some damage. He grinned. "Yeah. You always were a feisty little one, weren't you? Even when you were flashing me for ten dollars. I could tell you had spunk."
Oh, I'll give you spunk, she thought menacingly. Just give me the chance.
He had changed her into the blue velvety dress, making sure she was bound tightly while he did, then retied her to the chair, strapping her ankles and wrists to the chair's arms and legs.
"Well, would you look at that," he said. "It's almost time for the ritual." He moved to a trunk against the wall and opened it. "Don't worry, gorgeous. You'll be famous. And I'm sure this won't hurt a bit." He paused. "Actually, I imagine it will hurt quite a lot."
Her eyes widened when he withdrew a tray of medical instruments, Latex gloves, a roll of paper towels and a heavy text of some sort. James grinned as he set the tray on the floor next to her, kneeling in front of her chair. Then, he opened the text to the correct page and consulted its context.
"Ah," he said, picking up a scalpel. "Looks like the first step is to remove. . .your. . .What is that?" He frowned, looking more closely at the book. "Oh, I see. Your kidney." She groaned and rolled her eyes. "That's more easily accessible form your back, am I right?" He moved around behind her. She twisted her neck around, attempting to see what he was doing. She heard the snap of Latex on skin as he pulled on the gloves. She winced when she felt the cold, sharp tip of the scalpel cut through the dress and draw blood from her skin. Pain cut through her and she whimpered, gritting her teeth. "Oh, wait a second." She sighed frustratedly. "I should probably get the fire set up first, don't you think? That way your kidney doesn't dry out before I toss it in the flame."
He walked quickly to a cupboard on the wall and, opening it, withdrew an ancient looking bowl and some herbs, strange spheres and multicolored flakes of something. Probably mystical.
"Oh, gosh. I should hurry. Only around seven minutes to get this done." He tossed the flakes, some ginger, root of ivy, and two of the ribbed spheres into the bowl, then added a lit match into the mix. The blend erupted into black and blue flames. "Ah, there we are. He moved behind her again. She stared at the fire, trying not to concentrate on the scalpel slicing into her creamy skin. She felt blood pouring from the deep cut and she groaned in pain, her eyes fluttering shut.
* * *
Spike, Buffy, Anya, Xander, Willow, Tara and Dawn all ran toward the old mansion on Crawford Street.
He just prayed they weren't too late. All they had to do was stall the ritual until the opening was gone. But Spike didn't care about the world. Keep her safe. Andrea was the only thing that mattered. He couldn't bare the thought of her hurt. If she died, he could never forgive himself.
They pushed open the door and came face to face with the Mellora demon. It roared at the sight of them.
Buffy rushed it, swinging an axe at its head. It swatted at her. Willow began to form a blue ball of light that hovered above her hands. She said it would make Spike's chip less effective for maybe twenty minutes. Spike swung at the demon, scraping his knuckles on the hard flesh. Xander shot the crossbow at it. The arrow bounced off.
Buffy, Giles had said to her on the phone, it has to be Spike. No one else can stop this. He has to do it, and him alone. Stay out of it. Distract the demon, but Spike has to stop the ritual. It is written, Buffy remembered him saying.
"Spike, go!" she yelled over the demon's roar. "We can handle the demon," she added when he hesitated. "GO!"
That was the only invitation he needed. He ran to the massive oak door that separated the foyer from the rest of the mansion. He jerked it open and ran inside.
And saw Andrea, tied to a chair, gagged, whimpering softly.
"Oh, God. Andrea -"
A man stood up from behind the chair, a bloody scalpel clutched in a Latex-covered hand. The man looked vaguely impressed as he took in Spike's appearance.
"Well, good evening. Can I help you?" he asked politely. Andrea looked up weakly, and her some emotion flickered through her gorgeous hazel eyes when she saw him. She tried to speak, but whatever she was attempting to say was too muffled by the gag to understand.
"Get the hell away from her," Spike growled. "Sorry, man, can't do that. I'm a little busy, why don't you come back tomorrow?" he suggested. "Oh, my. Where are my manners? I'm James Cain." Spike inhaled an artificial breath, recognizing the name.
"Andrea's editor."
"That's right. I'm sorry, and you are?"
"Spike."
"Well, that clears everything up, doesn't it?" James said sarcastically. "Let me guess. Andie's latest boy toy." It was more a statement than a question. He moved around the chair, tossing the medical instrument to the ground, and approached Spike. "Yes, she's quite the little player. Don't feel bad, I've been there. Dynamite in the sack, though, isn't she?" James's eyes flashed with amusement when Spike growled menacingly from deep within his throat. James leaned toward Spike. "I'll bet it just kills you that I got there first, huh? Especially that I was her first. Popped her cherry," he bragged. Spike's fist connected with James's cheekbone, drawing blood.
"Liar. You tried to rape her. She told me."
It never occurred to Spike that instead of exploding in pain, the only thing he felt in his cranium was a painful twinge that lasted only a few seconds.
"Sure, that's the way she tells it," James said, tenderly touching the fresh cut on his cheek. He gazed absentmindedly at the blood that was smeared on his fingers when her drew them back. "But she's a slut. She's like the town doorknob. Everybody's had a turn."
Spike grabbed James by the shirt collar and threw him up against the wall. Andrea watched from her chair, in a bit of a daze, as Spike repeatedly punched James. Finally, James seemed to get sick of being Spike's punching bag and brought his foot up, kicking Spike in the chest to force him away. He stumbled backward and fell to the floor. He grunted at the sudden contact with the hard floor. James kicked him in the stomach and, despite her injuries, Andrea jerked against the ropes. James stood over Spike, a foot on either side of the vampire, and hit him in the jaw. Spike grabbed James by the neck and flipped him onto his back. James glanced at his watch casually when Spike cut off his air supply.
"Sorry, Spike, my boy. Can we finish this in a few minutes? I got something to do." James pushed Spike off him with amazing strength, considering he was human, and quickly scooped up the blood-stained scalpel. He returned to Andrea's back and reopened the cut, which had already started closing over as a result of slayer strength. Spike started toward James, but he quickly moved the scalpel to Andrea's throat. Spike halted in his spot. "Take another step," James challenged. "I dare you." Spike's blue eyes glinted dangerously.
"Don't touch her."
"Oh, I'll touch her. I have. Did she tell you? She likes to be hurt. It turns her on," he taunted. Andrea threw her head back, hitting James in the nose. He hadn't been expecting her to be well enough to fight. He clutched his nose, blood pouring from it. Spike flew toward him as Andrea jumped in the chair, smashing it on the ground. The force shattered the chairs legs, freeing her feet. She slid off the chair. At least she was able to walk, even if it was unbelievable painful. She ripped off the gag and started working the ropes off her wrists. Spike gripped James's head in both hands, ready to snap his neck.
"Wait," Andrea said. Spike looked up at her, stopping the movement. Andrea drew her leg back and delivered a vicious kick to James's lower back. He screamed in agony. "Asshole. I trusted you." She glared at him. Then gestured to Spike to continue. "Alright, I'm done." Spike shrugged and cruelly snapped James's neck, severing his spinal cord. Then he stood and walked to Andrea. As he wrapped his arms carefully around her waist, wary of her wounds, her knees gave out in a dizzy spell brought about by blood loss. He caught her against his chest and lovingly pressed a kiss to her temple.
"Teach that poof to mess with my girl."
A/N: Hey everybody!! So, was that chapter any good? I was kinda iffy about some stuff, but maybe that's just me being self conscious or overly critical. Feedback's nice, if you don't mind. ;) I'll try to update soon!
"When I get out of this chair, I'm going to kill you. Slowly," Andrea assured James, glaring at him with hate-filled hazel eyes. "You were my friend."
"Aw, babe, don't be like that." He ripped a length of silvery duct tape off the roll and approached her. "You know," he said, pressing the tape to her lips. "You really do look just exceptional in that dress. Almost. . ." He paused, thinking. "Royal." She jerked against her bindings, causing the chair to jump slightly as she attempted to get closer to him, possibly to do some damage. He grinned. "Yeah. You always were a feisty little one, weren't you? Even when you were flashing me for ten dollars. I could tell you had spunk."
Oh, I'll give you spunk, she thought menacingly. Just give me the chance.
He had changed her into the blue velvety dress, making sure she was bound tightly while he did, then retied her to the chair, strapping her ankles and wrists to the chair's arms and legs.
"Well, would you look at that," he said. "It's almost time for the ritual." He moved to a trunk against the wall and opened it. "Don't worry, gorgeous. You'll be famous. And I'm sure this won't hurt a bit." He paused. "Actually, I imagine it will hurt quite a lot."
Her eyes widened when he withdrew a tray of medical instruments, Latex gloves, a roll of paper towels and a heavy text of some sort. James grinned as he set the tray on the floor next to her, kneeling in front of her chair. Then, he opened the text to the correct page and consulted its context.
"Ah," he said, picking up a scalpel. "Looks like the first step is to remove. . .your. . .What is that?" He frowned, looking more closely at the book. "Oh, I see. Your kidney." She groaned and rolled her eyes. "That's more easily accessible form your back, am I right?" He moved around behind her. She twisted her neck around, attempting to see what he was doing. She heard the snap of Latex on skin as he pulled on the gloves. She winced when she felt the cold, sharp tip of the scalpel cut through the dress and draw blood from her skin. Pain cut through her and she whimpered, gritting her teeth. "Oh, wait a second." She sighed frustratedly. "I should probably get the fire set up first, don't you think? That way your kidney doesn't dry out before I toss it in the flame."
He walked quickly to a cupboard on the wall and, opening it, withdrew an ancient looking bowl and some herbs, strange spheres and multicolored flakes of something. Probably mystical.
"Oh, gosh. I should hurry. Only around seven minutes to get this done." He tossed the flakes, some ginger, root of ivy, and two of the ribbed spheres into the bowl, then added a lit match into the mix. The blend erupted into black and blue flames. "Ah, there we are. He moved behind her again. She stared at the fire, trying not to concentrate on the scalpel slicing into her creamy skin. She felt blood pouring from the deep cut and she groaned in pain, her eyes fluttering shut.
* * *
Spike, Buffy, Anya, Xander, Willow, Tara and Dawn all ran toward the old mansion on Crawford Street.
He just prayed they weren't too late. All they had to do was stall the ritual until the opening was gone. But Spike didn't care about the world. Keep her safe. Andrea was the only thing that mattered. He couldn't bare the thought of her hurt. If she died, he could never forgive himself.
They pushed open the door and came face to face with the Mellora demon. It roared at the sight of them.
Buffy rushed it, swinging an axe at its head. It swatted at her. Willow began to form a blue ball of light that hovered above her hands. She said it would make Spike's chip less effective for maybe twenty minutes. Spike swung at the demon, scraping his knuckles on the hard flesh. Xander shot the crossbow at it. The arrow bounced off.
Buffy, Giles had said to her on the phone, it has to be Spike. No one else can stop this. He has to do it, and him alone. Stay out of it. Distract the demon, but Spike has to stop the ritual. It is written, Buffy remembered him saying.
"Spike, go!" she yelled over the demon's roar. "We can handle the demon," she added when he hesitated. "GO!"
That was the only invitation he needed. He ran to the massive oak door that separated the foyer from the rest of the mansion. He jerked it open and ran inside.
And saw Andrea, tied to a chair, gagged, whimpering softly.
"Oh, God. Andrea -"
A man stood up from behind the chair, a bloody scalpel clutched in a Latex-covered hand. The man looked vaguely impressed as he took in Spike's appearance.
"Well, good evening. Can I help you?" he asked politely. Andrea looked up weakly, and her some emotion flickered through her gorgeous hazel eyes when she saw him. She tried to speak, but whatever she was attempting to say was too muffled by the gag to understand.
"Get the hell away from her," Spike growled. "Sorry, man, can't do that. I'm a little busy, why don't you come back tomorrow?" he suggested. "Oh, my. Where are my manners? I'm James Cain." Spike inhaled an artificial breath, recognizing the name.
"Andrea's editor."
"That's right. I'm sorry, and you are?"
"Spike."
"Well, that clears everything up, doesn't it?" James said sarcastically. "Let me guess. Andie's latest boy toy." It was more a statement than a question. He moved around the chair, tossing the medical instrument to the ground, and approached Spike. "Yes, she's quite the little player. Don't feel bad, I've been there. Dynamite in the sack, though, isn't she?" James's eyes flashed with amusement when Spike growled menacingly from deep within his throat. James leaned toward Spike. "I'll bet it just kills you that I got there first, huh? Especially that I was her first. Popped her cherry," he bragged. Spike's fist connected with James's cheekbone, drawing blood.
"Liar. You tried to rape her. She told me."
It never occurred to Spike that instead of exploding in pain, the only thing he felt in his cranium was a painful twinge that lasted only a few seconds.
"Sure, that's the way she tells it," James said, tenderly touching the fresh cut on his cheek. He gazed absentmindedly at the blood that was smeared on his fingers when her drew them back. "But she's a slut. She's like the town doorknob. Everybody's had a turn."
Spike grabbed James by the shirt collar and threw him up against the wall. Andrea watched from her chair, in a bit of a daze, as Spike repeatedly punched James. Finally, James seemed to get sick of being Spike's punching bag and brought his foot up, kicking Spike in the chest to force him away. He stumbled backward and fell to the floor. He grunted at the sudden contact with the hard floor. James kicked him in the stomach and, despite her injuries, Andrea jerked against the ropes. James stood over Spike, a foot on either side of the vampire, and hit him in the jaw. Spike grabbed James by the neck and flipped him onto his back. James glanced at his watch casually when Spike cut off his air supply.
"Sorry, Spike, my boy. Can we finish this in a few minutes? I got something to do." James pushed Spike off him with amazing strength, considering he was human, and quickly scooped up the blood-stained scalpel. He returned to Andrea's back and reopened the cut, which had already started closing over as a result of slayer strength. Spike started toward James, but he quickly moved the scalpel to Andrea's throat. Spike halted in his spot. "Take another step," James challenged. "I dare you." Spike's blue eyes glinted dangerously.
"Don't touch her."
"Oh, I'll touch her. I have. Did she tell you? She likes to be hurt. It turns her on," he taunted. Andrea threw her head back, hitting James in the nose. He hadn't been expecting her to be well enough to fight. He clutched his nose, blood pouring from it. Spike flew toward him as Andrea jumped in the chair, smashing it on the ground. The force shattered the chairs legs, freeing her feet. She slid off the chair. At least she was able to walk, even if it was unbelievable painful. She ripped off the gag and started working the ropes off her wrists. Spike gripped James's head in both hands, ready to snap his neck.
"Wait," Andrea said. Spike looked up at her, stopping the movement. Andrea drew her leg back and delivered a vicious kick to James's lower back. He screamed in agony. "Asshole. I trusted you." She glared at him. Then gestured to Spike to continue. "Alright, I'm done." Spike shrugged and cruelly snapped James's neck, severing his spinal cord. Then he stood and walked to Andrea. As he wrapped his arms carefully around her waist, wary of her wounds, her knees gave out in a dizzy spell brought about by blood loss. He caught her against his chest and lovingly pressed a kiss to her temple.
"Teach that poof to mess with my girl."
A/N: Hey everybody!! So, was that chapter any good? I was kinda iffy about some stuff, but maybe that's just me being self conscious or overly critical. Feedback's nice, if you don't mind. ;) I'll try to update soon!