Title: The Soulmatchers

Author: Sunglow999

Pairing: Spike/Buffy

Rating: R (Just to be on the safe side)

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon & Mutant Enemy, except Cassie and Orion – they belong to me.

Spoilers:- Up to Dead Things, things are different from there on in. Crossover with Angel later on. This is my first ever fanfiction so reviews would be helpful, email me at sunglow999@hotmail.com

A/N Thank you all very much for the lovely comments. So glad you're all enjoying this.

The Soulmatchers

Chapter 5. The origins of Amara

"What the.." Buffy was astounded to find, instead of ashes, Cassie looking up at her with a smug smile on her face. She fell back and Cassie pulled the stake from her chest, wincing.

"God, that always hurts."

Everyone watched as the hole closed, leaving no trace. Spike stubbed out his cigarette and held out his hand. Cassie allowed him to pull her up and brush her backside down. She looked into the uncomprehending eyes of the slayer.

"I let you stake me, Slayer. You had to see that you couldn't kill me. I don't normally waste time fighting when there are more important things to worry about."

"I'll bring Cassie to the Magic Box." Spike said and led the way to his bike.

"Did you see that?" Xander spluttered. "She didn't get dusty, no poof!"

"It's like she's wearing the Gem of Amara, but she isn't wearing any jewellery." Willow said.

"Come on, let's go." Buffy forced herself not to watch the two leather clad vampires stalk away by bending to pick up her stake before walking towards Xander's car.

They arrived at the Magic Box before Spike and Cassie and Anya opened up, locking the door behind them all. Ten minutes passed before the two vampires arrived and knocked on the door. Anya let them in and they were all surprised when Tara preceded them in. Willow hastily straightened her blouse and smoothed her hair back before standing up to greet her estranged lover.

"Hi Tara." She shifted nervously before sitting down again.

"H.hi Willow." Tara ducked her head and sat at the table, fiddling with her bag on her lap.

"Okay, what's the deal? Why didn't you die?" Buffy demanded.

"I suppose I'd better start at the beginning, which is about 1500 years ago in Britain. My twin brother and I were Druids, and a direct link to the Powers that Be. Unfortunately, we were also young and new to our powers and despite the elders warning us of the dangers of going out at night we decided to visit Stonehenge at midnight as a dare from our older brother Galen. We were caught out by vampires and turned. The PTB's didn't like that so we were given our souls and immortality and the promise that one day we would become human again. In return for that promise we would match souls."

"You're The Soulmatchers." Willow breathed in awe.

"You've heard of them?" Xander asked.

"There's a passage on them in one of Giles books. Orion and Cassiopeia, twin vampires. They supposedly matched Napoleon and Josephine, Nelson and Emma Hamilton.." Willow was in lecture mode until Buffy interrupted.

"So, you're immortal."

"Ooh, like Highlander?" Xander asked.

"Highlander is a fictional character." Willow said.

"Enough with the film references." Buffy was getting annoyed.

"Yes." Cassie confirmed.

"What are you here for then, and why do you need our help?"

"Orion came here two weeks ago. We have a telepathic bond, which I lost just under a week ago. I came here straight away but I can't get through to him. He has some powerful wards around him, which I can't get past. I knew Spike was here so I decided to find him."

"What's the deal with you and Bleachboy here?" Xander asked.

"Cassie and Orion got me and Dru out of Prague. I owe them."

"You maybe, but we don't." Buffy's voice was cold.

Cassie's voice was tired.

"Tell me, how many vamps have you killed in the last week?"

"It's been a little quiet, not that many." Buffy reluctantly admitted.

"What if I told you that Orion and I made the Gem of Amara."

"What?"

"It was an experiment. I told you we were young, and foolish as it turned out. Orion can be very persuasive when he wants to be and he convinced me to test the limits of our capabilities. We staked each other, washed in holy water, danced in full sunlight, you name it we did it. Eventually we moved on to our blood, the key to all this. By the light of the full moon, the planets aligned, we created the gemstone. Orion fashioned the ring and we tested it on a fledgling we happened upon. Oh, we tied him up so he couldn't escape before taking off the ring and dusting him. We didn't realise that we had been seen though. Through our own arrogance we brought about the destruction of our village. The vamps attacked one night. They couldn't get into the huts but they could burn them to the ground. They didn't care about the risk to themselves, they wanted the ring. We managed to escape with the ring and were summoned before the PTB's. The ring was taken from us and that's the last we heard of it."

"Oh we've heard of it, haven't we Spike?" Buffy glared at him.

"Why is it called the Gem of Amara?" Willow asked.

"The gold to make the ring was dug up by Orion's dog. The dog was called.."

"Amara." Willow finished for her.

"We made sure that the planets had to be in the correct alignment for the spell to create it to work but what we didn't realise was that what comes around goes around and planets especially. The planets will be aligned three nights from now."

"And?"

"Put the facts together, Slayer." Spike said. "One, Cassie is a powerful witch in her own right but she can't get through the wards cutting her off from Orion. Two, Orion's missing. Three, The planets are aligned. Four, the gem was made from Orion's blood. Five, all the vamps are missing, or in hiding. Need I go on?"

"Oh, Goddess, a powerful witch is going to create more gems from Orion's blood." Willow went white with shock.

"It only takes a teaspoon of blood to make one gem. How many do you think you can get out of eight pints?" Cassie asked.

"No wonder the vamps are keeping a low profile." Xander said. "They want to stay non-dusty until they can get their hands on some insurance."

"We have three days to find him, the spell can only be performed by the light of the full moon."

"There's going to be a lot of vampires guarding him." Buffy rubbed her eyes wearily.

"'Ate to say this, but it looks like we're gonna need Peaches and 'is LA contingent." Spike said.

"Looks like the PTB's have already sent a message." Willow pointed to the window where they could see Angel and Cordelia getting out of his convertible.

"When did Cordelia have a baby?" Dawn asked suddenly.

A/N In Harsh Light of Day, the origin of where the gem came from was sufficiently vague enough for me to write this. More to come soon. Don't worry, I'll be getting to the Spike/Buffy goodness soon.