Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Joss and ME
Chapter 21
Sunday evening - Mulberry Square Inn - London
Spike had woken up before dawn. He had slept very little since he had spent most of the night thinking why this job bothered him so much. It was odd to say the least. Andrew had knocked on the door and walked inside.
"Andrew. What do you make of this job?"
"Well, I think we can start with another cloaking spell. Giles said that there were two men guarding the entrance to the chapel, so I think if ." Spike stopped him.
"No," he said rolling his eyes. "I mean, don't you think this bloke is a bit off his rocker wanting us to steal a corpse out of a church?"
"Oh, that. Well, since you asked, I think maybe he may be the one that's obsessed. But he is paying us. And there is no harm to anyone, so."
"S'pose your right." Spike shuddered for a moment, "I just don't fancy being in such close company to a cold, long dead body is all." He picked up his bag and followed Andrew out. They knocked on Giles' door. He was already dressed and ready to leave. They walked down the stairs and out to the stables.
"I think we should be riding for a little over six perhaps seven hours."
"Good. The sooner we get to your home, the sooner we can start preparing." Said Andrew.
"I need for you to show me how to get to this church, or chapel, whatever it is. You said there were some woods nearby?" asked Spike
"Yes. The woods are quite dense. Not many people know how to travel through them. I have a small cottage hidden within them. I think once you have Buf.., the body you can go there. I will leave some lanterns burning in the windows, and directions of course." They reached the stables and got on their horses and started to ride out of London.
Giles' home
They stopped twice to rest the horses. They arrived in mid-afternoon. Spike looked around. Something inside of him told him he had seen this all before. It all seemed familiar to him.
"This is beautiful. I think I can even hear the ocean in the distance." Andrew felt like he was in heaven. He had always wanted to live near the ocean. He thought this would be a wonderful place to live. They dismounted their horses and put them in the stables.
"Please come this way." They followed Giles to the front of the house, and to the front doors. Upon stepping near the threshold Spike immediately felt that familiarity again. He saw the staircase at the end of the entrance hall. There were bedrooms up there he thought, and he somehow knew how to get to each and every one.
Spike and Andrew followed Giles to a large library. The first thing Spike noticed was a very sweet and pretty young woman with red hair sitting next to a young man with dark brown hair. They had been laughing before the others entered the room and stopped abruptly when they noticed they were not alone. He saw the blush on the Willow's cheek and gave her a tiny smirk, which made her blush even more. Xander stood.
"Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, this is Andrew Wells and William Boldhaus.
"Spike." He rarely if ever used his real name, since he was a child. Yet Andrew always made introductions with it, so that lead others to do the same. He had taken to calling himself Spike when he was in the Worthington Academy for young men, after being given the name by a stranger in the woods. Xander approached both of them and extended his hand.
"Its nice to meet you."
"Pleasure, " said Andrew. Willow stood and also offered her hand to the two strangers.
"Thank you both for coming and helping us." She said.
"Think nothing of it." Spike took her hand and noticed her sweet smile. He also noticed red marks on her wrists. He knew instantly they were marks one got after being bound by a rope for a long period of time. They had not healed yet, so they were still new. He noted how shy she was, but there was warmth that radiated around her. She made him feel comfortable.
After the introductions were made, they all sat down at the table and began to plan out what would happen that evening.
Evening
Giles had drawn a copy of the map Willow had been using for her locator spells. He drew a path from his home through the forest, leading to the chapel. Xander had gone to the cottage and just returned. He had taken two kerosene lanterns and lit them to make it easier for Spike to find the cottage in the darkness. Giles had given Spike directions, yet there was so much foliage surrounding the cottage, thus the light from the window would make it stand out.
Andrew had been sitting towards the end of the table with Willow discussing his cloaking spell.
"Its quite an easy spell. The only thing is once he is completely invisible and touches something solid he becomes visible. I can't seem to get past that obstacle." Said Andrew.
"I think I saw something in some of the books Giles has in the second level that may help with that. We can try to work it out sometime. That is if you decide to stay a while."
"I'd like that." Willow looked at Andrew and then down the table to Spike. They were certainly an odd pair. "So how is it that you and Spike do this kind of, um, work."
Andrew looked down. He didn't like to discuss his past, especially with strangers. And he knew Spike would have a fit if he knew he was telling anyone about their past.
"We just like to help people that's all. It's a hard world out there." He had hoped that would be explanation enough for hr, but apparently it wasn't.
"How did you meet?" Willow knew he was hiding something. He did not look her in the eyes, and was growing visibly nervous. He decided to be honest, yet would only skim the top of their story.
"Spike and I were once part of that hard world out there. We do this because maybe it will help us find some for of forgiveness for what we have done." He looked at her and she saw his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. These two men had done bad things. She did not go into his mind, but she felt it. She also felt they were good men.
"I'm sure you'll find it. You both will." She smiled at him. They joined the others at the end of the table. It was getting late and Spike decided it was time for him to make his way to the chapel.
Monday evening - Paris France
Wesley's wound still had not healed. The blood was still seeping out but not as much as the day before. Faith had booked them passage on a ship leaving to England that evening.
"Wesley, why won't it close?" she was replacing the earlier dressing she had put before she left. She was scared. This was not supposed to be happening. Vampires don't bleed like this. Their wounds heal within a matter of minutes, or at the very least a few hours, but this did not look any better than when it was first received. He winced as he put his jacket on.
"It has to be the spear. It must be some mystical properties, the religious aspect of it, I don't know, I . I just don't know. But at least we have part of it. It may not be of any use to Angelus in its fragmented state."
"No, I don't believe it can be. I imagine that means he will want that other half more than anything in this world though." she took the spear and placed it in her purse. She wanted it close to her. What ever was happening to Wesley was connected to the spear, and she could not take the chance of losing it.
They boarded the ship early. Faith left Wesley in their cabin and went out to pub near the port. Wesley was not strong enough to feed, and she needed to do something to make sure he had a sufficient supply of blood for the voyage. She purchased a large jug filled with wine and walked out to the alley behind the pub. She emptied the contents of the jug in the alley and waited. Within five minutes she saw a man trying to rob an old gentleman. She came out of the shadows and pretended to have been tipsy. As the man ignored the older gentleman and started to walk toward her she steadied a knife in other right hand. He came nearer and she smiled. She kept the jug behind her in her left hand and sauntered toward the man.
"I'm a bit lonely tonight. My husband left early this morning on a ship. He is going to be gone for such a long time." She said. Her words sounded like honey as she spoke them.
"You'll be wantin' a man around you to keep you warm then?" he smelled of cheap tobacco and whiskey. She mesmerized him. Slowly she walked behind him and pressed her breast against his back. Just as he lifted his arms to reached around to touch her, she brought her right hand around and stabbed him in his neck, then brought the jug to the open cut to catch the now streaming blood. He struggled for a moment, and then began to fall. Faith kept hold of him as the blood flowed into the jug. She filled it completely, then capped it and walked out of the alley. Since she was behind him, she managed the whole operation without getting any blood on herself. As she boarded the ship one of the shipmates saw her walking to her cabin. She smiled.
"My husband just loves this brand of wine." She opened the door went inside and locked them into the cabin until they would reach England.
10:00 pm Giles' home
Andrew was performing the spell to cloak Spike. It would take around 15 to 20 minutes for it to work, giving him time to take the shortcut through the forest and get to the chapel before he disappeared. He put on his long leather coat, with the mantle, and his hat, and picked up the map. He turned before he walked out.
"I'll expect you then tomorrow?"
"Yes, tomorrow before the sun sets." Said Giles as Spike walked out. He got on his horse and rode into the night
Chapter 21
Sunday evening - Mulberry Square Inn - London
Spike had woken up before dawn. He had slept very little since he had spent most of the night thinking why this job bothered him so much. It was odd to say the least. Andrew had knocked on the door and walked inside.
"Andrew. What do you make of this job?"
"Well, I think we can start with another cloaking spell. Giles said that there were two men guarding the entrance to the chapel, so I think if ." Spike stopped him.
"No," he said rolling his eyes. "I mean, don't you think this bloke is a bit off his rocker wanting us to steal a corpse out of a church?"
"Oh, that. Well, since you asked, I think maybe he may be the one that's obsessed. But he is paying us. And there is no harm to anyone, so."
"S'pose your right." Spike shuddered for a moment, "I just don't fancy being in such close company to a cold, long dead body is all." He picked up his bag and followed Andrew out. They knocked on Giles' door. He was already dressed and ready to leave. They walked down the stairs and out to the stables.
"I think we should be riding for a little over six perhaps seven hours."
"Good. The sooner we get to your home, the sooner we can start preparing." Said Andrew.
"I need for you to show me how to get to this church, or chapel, whatever it is. You said there were some woods nearby?" asked Spike
"Yes. The woods are quite dense. Not many people know how to travel through them. I have a small cottage hidden within them. I think once you have Buf.., the body you can go there. I will leave some lanterns burning in the windows, and directions of course." They reached the stables and got on their horses and started to ride out of London.
Giles' home
They stopped twice to rest the horses. They arrived in mid-afternoon. Spike looked around. Something inside of him told him he had seen this all before. It all seemed familiar to him.
"This is beautiful. I think I can even hear the ocean in the distance." Andrew felt like he was in heaven. He had always wanted to live near the ocean. He thought this would be a wonderful place to live. They dismounted their horses and put them in the stables.
"Please come this way." They followed Giles to the front of the house, and to the front doors. Upon stepping near the threshold Spike immediately felt that familiarity again. He saw the staircase at the end of the entrance hall. There were bedrooms up there he thought, and he somehow knew how to get to each and every one.
Spike and Andrew followed Giles to a large library. The first thing Spike noticed was a very sweet and pretty young woman with red hair sitting next to a young man with dark brown hair. They had been laughing before the others entered the room and stopped abruptly when they noticed they were not alone. He saw the blush on the Willow's cheek and gave her a tiny smirk, which made her blush even more. Xander stood.
"Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, this is Andrew Wells and William Boldhaus.
"Spike." He rarely if ever used his real name, since he was a child. Yet Andrew always made introductions with it, so that lead others to do the same. He had taken to calling himself Spike when he was in the Worthington Academy for young men, after being given the name by a stranger in the woods. Xander approached both of them and extended his hand.
"Its nice to meet you."
"Pleasure, " said Andrew. Willow stood and also offered her hand to the two strangers.
"Thank you both for coming and helping us." She said.
"Think nothing of it." Spike took her hand and noticed her sweet smile. He also noticed red marks on her wrists. He knew instantly they were marks one got after being bound by a rope for a long period of time. They had not healed yet, so they were still new. He noted how shy she was, but there was warmth that radiated around her. She made him feel comfortable.
After the introductions were made, they all sat down at the table and began to plan out what would happen that evening.
Evening
Giles had drawn a copy of the map Willow had been using for her locator spells. He drew a path from his home through the forest, leading to the chapel. Xander had gone to the cottage and just returned. He had taken two kerosene lanterns and lit them to make it easier for Spike to find the cottage in the darkness. Giles had given Spike directions, yet there was so much foliage surrounding the cottage, thus the light from the window would make it stand out.
Andrew had been sitting towards the end of the table with Willow discussing his cloaking spell.
"Its quite an easy spell. The only thing is once he is completely invisible and touches something solid he becomes visible. I can't seem to get past that obstacle." Said Andrew.
"I think I saw something in some of the books Giles has in the second level that may help with that. We can try to work it out sometime. That is if you decide to stay a while."
"I'd like that." Willow looked at Andrew and then down the table to Spike. They were certainly an odd pair. "So how is it that you and Spike do this kind of, um, work."
Andrew looked down. He didn't like to discuss his past, especially with strangers. And he knew Spike would have a fit if he knew he was telling anyone about their past.
"We just like to help people that's all. It's a hard world out there." He had hoped that would be explanation enough for hr, but apparently it wasn't.
"How did you meet?" Willow knew he was hiding something. He did not look her in the eyes, and was growing visibly nervous. He decided to be honest, yet would only skim the top of their story.
"Spike and I were once part of that hard world out there. We do this because maybe it will help us find some for of forgiveness for what we have done." He looked at her and she saw his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. These two men had done bad things. She did not go into his mind, but she felt it. She also felt they were good men.
"I'm sure you'll find it. You both will." She smiled at him. They joined the others at the end of the table. It was getting late and Spike decided it was time for him to make his way to the chapel.
Monday evening - Paris France
Wesley's wound still had not healed. The blood was still seeping out but not as much as the day before. Faith had booked them passage on a ship leaving to England that evening.
"Wesley, why won't it close?" she was replacing the earlier dressing she had put before she left. She was scared. This was not supposed to be happening. Vampires don't bleed like this. Their wounds heal within a matter of minutes, or at the very least a few hours, but this did not look any better than when it was first received. He winced as he put his jacket on.
"It has to be the spear. It must be some mystical properties, the religious aspect of it, I don't know, I . I just don't know. But at least we have part of it. It may not be of any use to Angelus in its fragmented state."
"No, I don't believe it can be. I imagine that means he will want that other half more than anything in this world though." she took the spear and placed it in her purse. She wanted it close to her. What ever was happening to Wesley was connected to the spear, and she could not take the chance of losing it.
They boarded the ship early. Faith left Wesley in their cabin and went out to pub near the port. Wesley was not strong enough to feed, and she needed to do something to make sure he had a sufficient supply of blood for the voyage. She purchased a large jug filled with wine and walked out to the alley behind the pub. She emptied the contents of the jug in the alley and waited. Within five minutes she saw a man trying to rob an old gentleman. She came out of the shadows and pretended to have been tipsy. As the man ignored the older gentleman and started to walk toward her she steadied a knife in other right hand. He came nearer and she smiled. She kept the jug behind her in her left hand and sauntered toward the man.
"I'm a bit lonely tonight. My husband left early this morning on a ship. He is going to be gone for such a long time." She said. Her words sounded like honey as she spoke them.
"You'll be wantin' a man around you to keep you warm then?" he smelled of cheap tobacco and whiskey. She mesmerized him. Slowly she walked behind him and pressed her breast against his back. Just as he lifted his arms to reached around to touch her, she brought her right hand around and stabbed him in his neck, then brought the jug to the open cut to catch the now streaming blood. He struggled for a moment, and then began to fall. Faith kept hold of him as the blood flowed into the jug. She filled it completely, then capped it and walked out of the alley. Since she was behind him, she managed the whole operation without getting any blood on herself. As she boarded the ship one of the shipmates saw her walking to her cabin. She smiled.
"My husband just loves this brand of wine." She opened the door went inside and locked them into the cabin until they would reach England.
10:00 pm Giles' home
Andrew was performing the spell to cloak Spike. It would take around 15 to 20 minutes for it to work, giving him time to take the shortcut through the forest and get to the chapel before he disappeared. He put on his long leather coat, with the mantle, and his hat, and picked up the map. He turned before he walked out.
"I'll expect you then tomorrow?"
"Yes, tomorrow before the sun sets." Said Giles as Spike walked out. He got on his horse and rode into the night