Warrior of the Heart
Author: JimboS
E-mail: [1]RaistlinM1@aol.com
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the characters portrayed in this story they are the property of people much richer than I am.
Dedication: To MJ. You are one of the coolest people I know. Thank you so much for your support.
Author's note: I decided to make this chapter 8b for two reasons. One, this way I don't have to write a journal entry, and I posted the previous chapter quickly because I wanted to get people's reactions to the part. I didn't get much reaction which can be taken in many ways (most of them negative).
Author's note(the return): I would like to thank everyone who has given me feed back on this. I am not good at keeping stuff so I don't have everyone who has said something. I'm sorry about this, but I will give you a resounding: `you guys rock!'
Chapter 8b
If a casual observer were to look at a certain abandoned warehouse in the industrial section of Sunnydale they would probably have said that the building had not been lived in by anyone for a long time, but they would only be half-right. For while the building actually has been inhabited for some time to call any of the current occupants alive would be a grave mistake.
The inside of the building was adorned with red roses and ribbons, which stood out in stark contrast with the desolate interior. The building's main room could only be described as Spartan at best, and was dominated by a long decorative wooden table surrounded by matching chairs, three large wooden boxes laid upon the decorated table along with several other wrapped presents.
Drusilla gently glides across the room with no rhyme or reason like she is being carried on a swirling wind sweeping through the great hall absorbing the strange mix of death and celebration. She wafts among the other vampires, who are moving about busily preparing for the up coming party, until she finally comes to a stop before the end of the table that holds the unassuming wooden boxes.
Spike sitting in a stolen hospital wheel chair quietly rolls up behind the deranged vampire watching from a distance not wanting to intrude upon her silent musing. Spike has not known how to act around Drusilla after the events in the church during the restoration spell. The spell was designed to sacrifice Angel's strength in return for Drusilla's recovery, but it had only been partially successful giving Drusilla her strength back, but the spell was interrupted before its completion rejuvenating her body but leaving her mind to remain in its perpetual state of madness.
It is good having Drusilla strong again, but her recovery had come at a high price. Spike was badly injured in the fight that followed as the slayer fought to save her love's life. Spike was left help less and lifeless from the waist down, and he is now confined to his wheel chair and at the mercy of the strong yet unpredictable Drusilla.
Drusilla remains unaffected by the new presence at her back as she runs her hands through the air above the wooden boxes feeling an intangible presence pressing against her delicate fingertips. Spike told her they were to be a surprise, but the evil emanating from the containers is too tempting to leave alone. She has felt much evil in her time but the contents of the box call to her so strong making the voices in her head sing.
Spike's lackey Dalton approaches the two carrying another wooden box. The scholarly vampire clears his throat softly not sure if drawing the crippled vampire's attention is a wise action. Dalton waits for a few imagined beats of his dead heart before clearing his throat more forcefully.
"What do you want," asks Spike not deeming the vampire worth the effort to actually turn his chair around to look at him.
"Another package arrived for you," says Dalton with a slight quiver in his voice. Dalton unconsciously tenses his body preparing for the worst not sure if Spike is in a good mood or a bad mood.
Dalton breaths a sigh of relief when Spike only waves his hand dismissively and says, "put it on the table with the other presents."
Spike watches as Dalton approaches the table and could not help a smile when he saw his Dru's face light up with delight at the arrival of another present. Spike sends his chair rolling toward the newly arrived present with quick smooth motions of his arms, but the strangeness of his mobility brings forth the question that has been on his mind ever since his accident.
"Are you dead set on this pet," asks Spike, "we could go celebrate in style, maybe Vienna?"
Drusilla draws her lips together in a pout and her eyes grow larger and soft pleadingly as she responds, "but Spike the invitations are sent."
"I know sweet, but I think we should get out of here nothing ever goes off like it should," says Spike in a soft tone as he continues to try and convince the deranged vampire. "It's just that Sunnydale's cursed for us what with the Slayer and Angel always interfering and that damn boy hunting us. Why don't you and me blow this place we can go someplace not so sunny."
Drusilla crouches down in front of the chair and gently runs her fingers across Spike's face caressing the vampire softly before moving it down across his chest. "Now Spike," she said soothingly, "you know my gatherings are always perfect." Drusilla leaning forward to bring her mouth next to Spike's ear finishing her thought with a whisper, "I've got such fun games planned."
Drusilla turns her head to lick at Spike's cheek earning her a smile from the crippled vampire. Spike knows that he can not say `no' to her and another week would not be too bad as long as Drusilla remains happy.
"Can I open one," asks Drusilla motioning toward the boxes with her head. Her voice sounds so sweet and innocent, and Spike can not help but give in.
"Just a peak love," says Spike grinning at her actions, "you know they're for the party."
Drusilla face lights up with excitement as she turns back to the boxes once again reveling in the feeling of evil emanating from the boxes. The voices in her head once again begin to sing their song growing louder with each step taken toward to the plain wooden boxes. Her fingers caress the latch holding down the top of the wooden box before undoing the latch and opening the box to find the present inside.
Inside the box lays a large disembodied leg dressed in leather and chain mail and exuding an aura of pure evil. The leg's flesh is a bright blue color giving the appendage the look of a clear noonday sky, and Drusilla smiles at the peaceful images of a life long lost that the leg conjures up in her mind's eye. The smile only grows bigger when the image is perverted by the vileness coming from the leg as dark clouds roll across her mind covering the clear sky blocking the sun and plunging the day into night.
"This will be the best party ever," whispers Drusilla to herself, "it will have to be because it is going to be the last."
* * *
The night had been dead and not in an exciting staking undead monsters sort of way. Every hot spot where Xander normally found two or even three vampires was now deserted occupied only by the urban wild life of rats and stray dogs and cats.
Xander walks along the alley way leading toward the Bronze whistling a happy tune with his hands shoved deep into his altered pockets absent mindedly touching the daggers strapped to his thighs while kicking the loose rocks strewn about the gravel pathway. With nothing better to do Xander can not help but try and figure out exactly how much his life has changed not only in the past few months but also just in the past few hours.
The rest of the school day had been good for Xander. Willow and he had been able to talk for a while, but there was still a bit of tension between the two of them. It was just too much for them to handle all at once. Suddenly they went from undying love and devotion to finding out and then straight on to the decision to see other people without stopping. Even though the next few classes were awkward beyond reason they both knew that their friendship was strong enough to withstand the trial.
Classes were more than slightly easy that day, in fact classes had not been a problem all year with his new found meditation techniques allowing him to organize his thoughts and memories better. In fact for the first time in years Xander has an A average for his classes.
The day had gotten more than slightly strange when Cordelia asked him to be her date for Buffy's party. After much stammering and tripping over his tongue the young man finally agreed to accompany the beauty queen. Of course Xander got the feeling that Cordelia was hoping for more than just a friendly `I'm not going with anyone you're not going with any one lets go together' sort of date, but he decided to go anyway not wanting to hurt Cordelia's feelings.
At lunch Xander watch Willow ask Oz to the party and he had to laugh when he saw his friend babble for a good ten minutes before coming to her point. Xander was more than surprised that Oz didn't interrupt her before finally saying yes. Instead he just sat there staring at her with a hint of a smile curling up the side of her face reveling in the sounds of Willow's voice.
The day went so well that at the end of the day Xander decided not to tempt fate by staying out, so he rushed to his new house to get ready for the night's patrol. Of course the problem with rushing to be anywhere is that if you are not late you end up doing a lot of waiting, which is exactly what Xander did for a good two hours after school. Luckily Lee left Xander a TV when he left the house along with several other necessities.
In fact Xander loved his house when he got it, but some how it didn't feel like home to him leaving the young man to travel from one house to another training in one and sleeping in another. It wasn't until Xander did one thing that truly made the house his in his mind.
Xander took a shower. Now normal logic may bock at this leap but in Xander's mind it made perfect sense. If a person can get naked in a place and feel comfortable then that place is truly home, and since Xander had no choice but to shower after training or else stink all the way through school he decided to make the house his home.
After that Xander slowly began to move his stuff into his new home setting up his room in the master bedroom. This also gave Xander the feeling of home since he made an almost perfect recreation of his room at the Harris household just on a slightly bigger and more spacious scale.
The only difference was the new bed, which in Xander's humble opinion was the most amazing piece of furniture known to man or demon. In fact it was the bed that made Xander late starting on his patrol. He was only going to take a quick rest, but when he opened his eyes again he was already close to an hour late, so he grabbed his daggers and his patrol jacket and shot out the door to start his patrol.
Xander shakes his head slightly dispelling the thoughts from his brain. He takes a look around the alley and leans against the brick wall of the alley. Xander turns the collar of his dirty dark green jacket up and burrows down into it closing his eyes and growing very still, and his breathing becomes slow and deep. Two teenagers walk down the alley and make a large circle around his calm form not wanting to wake up what appears to them to be a homeless man taking a nap in an alleyway. Xander smiles and chuckles slightly after they pass, for although he did not open his eyes he knew exactly who the two were and what they were feeling.
Xander has learned more than a few useful techniques both mental and physical from the journals of past masters that have become indispensable in his patrols through Sunnydale. The two most helpful involve the two directions of his emotional projection ability, which surprised Xander to find out because he always figured that the ability was a one-way street.
On the out going side of it Xander has learned how to control the projection to emit any chosen emotion regardless of how he feels. The only draw back is that it is not a refined tool and can not be limited to certain people in a crowd but aside from the everyday human mugger the projections of fear and helplessness bring in the evil creatures of the night like bees to honey.
The more important skill is on the intake of emotions from the outside world. By clearing the mind and wiping clean his emotions Xander was able to experience the smaller waves of emotions emitted by all human and otherworldly beings. After practice Xander was able to pick out important emotions from people around him, and by combining it with his sense for self-preservation Xander has cultivated a `spider-sense' to rival Buffy's own ability.
At the moment Xander is clearing his mind and heart to expand his area of influence trying to find any source of evil or emptiness, but all he can feel is the happiness and the sexuality practically bursting from the Bronze and the mob of teenagers within. Xander turns his attention to the hotbed of teenage hormones and begins a search inside looking for the taint of darkness in the bright light of happiness.
Mentally Xander passes through the bronze passing through the throng on the dance floor they only appear as balls of energy and look like fireflies dancing in the night sky. The sheer amount of sexuality and lust emanating from the teenagers is unnerving and intoxicating at the same time. Xander stops short when he feels the faint tinge of evil coming from the bar. Xander's consciousness moves closer toward the bar trying to identify the evil and is only mildly surprised to find the unmistakable signs of two vampires sitting at the bar.
The emotional footprint of a vampire is a strange thing. The energy given off by a vampire can only be described as hollow when it is compared to the full and complex emotions possessed by humanity. The perversion of the human vessel by the inhabiting demon is unmistakable to those who know how to look. The loss of the soul steals the facility for the being to produce emotions beyond the norm given off by most malevolent demons, but the memories of the vessel remain leaving a ghost of what once was behind. The thin veneer of humanity is only a shell to cover the empty darkness that pours from the possessing demon.
Xander suddenly opens his eyes as his consciousness rushes back into his awaiting form. Xander pushes himself off of the alley wall and resumes his walk toward the Bronze. When Xander gets close to the entrance he snakes his arms out of his patrol jacket and folds it over his right arm shedding his patrol persona in favor of his normal clothes underneath.
"No use trying to blend in if you look like a bum," he says quietly to himself as he passes through the doors to the bronze. "Boy am I glad I left the sword at home. I'm sure I would fit in really well with that strapped on my back."
Xander begins to move through the crowd that surrounds him slowly making his way to the bar and the two figures dressed in black and leaning over the bar talking in hushed tones. Xander moves to sit next to the two, orders a soda, and strains to hear the two talk over the music and conversation buzzing around him while trying not to look like he is straining to hear.
"You sure are lucky you aren't working for the psycho queen man," said the first vampire wearing a black leather jacket, which gave him a striking resemblance to Fonzie from `Happy Days'. "Today she had us decorating for a party. I'm talking flowers, streamers, and banners. I signed on for some death and destruction not for better homes and gardens."
"Your right about that, but you still have Spike around and I bet he has something planned for this party to take care of the slayer," says the other vampire in hope of finding out the master vampire's new plan. As a free agent it pays to know what the other players are planning.
"Of course he does," answers Fonzie, "But you and I both know the guy's track record for killing the slayer. I mean if the order of Turaka can't kill her how will the Judge? I mean all the guy has right now are a bunch of boxes that he calls the judge, and I don't see how he expects a bunch of dead demon parts to `judge' anybody."
The other vampire's eyes bulge in their sockets and his eyebrows rush up his forehead in surprise. "Did you say the Judge," asks the vampire raising his voice in excitement.
"Yeah the Judge," answers Fonzie looking around to see if his friend's outburst drew any unwanted attention. Xander quickly looks away and takes a drink of his soda to hide his face all the while concentrating on the conversation not wanting to miss a word.
Fonzie doesn't see anyone watching and looks back at his friend, "at least that's what I heard Spike call the guy, Why do you know something about him?"
"Do I know him," asks the other vampire in disbelief his voice once again rising in excitement, but he once again regains control bringing his voice back down. "This guy is like the demon Holy Grail. I mean we are talking the extermination of humanity here. If Spike can get all of the boxes together not only does the slayer not have a chance in hell all of humanity will be going there with her."
Xander gasps into his glass of soda not liking the sound of this Judge guy one bit. His eyes dart from the conversing vampires to the Bronze's exit contemplating whether to stay and get more info or tell Giles as soon as possible, but a new choice presents itself to Xander as the vampire stands up and tells his friend. "If this is the real deal I've got to see it for myself, and you have got to take me there."
Xander watches the two vampires stand up and start walking toward the exit. Xander waits for ten-seconds before paying for his drink and following the two into the dank alley outside the Bronze. Xander stops at the door and checks the alley for his two escaping targets while shrugging into his jacket.
Xander watches the two vampires walk down the alley casually engaging in conversation as if they are going to go to a party and not to go behold something capable of destroying the human race. Xander follows the pair as quietly as possible waiting for the right time to strike. He reaches into one of the many pockets sown into the inside of his jacket and pulls out a stake and then slides it into his right jacket sleeve. Xander doubles his pace hoping to moke his move before they reach the street, but the vampires seem to have too big of a lead.
With his window of opportunity slipping away Xander decides on gambling on loosing the element of surprise. "Hey buddy can you help me out," he calls trying to appear casual while carrying a stake in his right sleeve and with his left hand in his pocket fingering the pommel of his concealed dagger.
The two vampires turn around not quiet sure what to think of the young man standing before them. The demons look at each other both asking the other the same question with their eyes, `who is this guy, normal people in Sunnydale know not to talk to dark strangers in gloomy alley.'
Xander watches the exchange and realizes his mistake but continues to play his part in the hopes of an easy stake. Xander moves forward closing the gap between himself and his prey. "Yeah, I'm from out of town and I can't find the corner of Coltrain and Davis. Can you give me a hand?"
The two vampires once again turn to look at each other but taking your eyes off of a predator is never smart if you wish to stay alive. With three quick strides Xander moves with striking distance of the first vampire while swinging his right arm forward causing the stake to slide down his sleeve and into his awaiting hand. The stake pushes through the vampire's chest tearing through the dead skin and muscle and crushing the ribs protecting the dead heart.
His left-hand moves in a flash of silver lightning striking the other vampire in the face with the cross guard making his knees buckle and his eyes cross. Xander quickly steps to the side of the vampire he labeled as Fonzie grabbing him by the collar of his leather jacket and begins to shake the awareness back into the vampire.
The clouds over Fonzie's eyes slowly dissipate, and he waists no time in transforming into his vampire face and emitting a growl. Xander's only response is to smile and sweep the demon's feet out from under him and using his grip on the vampire's leather jacket to drive his head down onto the hard gravel alley floor.
Xander brings the blade of the dagger up against Fonzie's throat and watches the skin touching the blade begin to smoke and burn. "Hey Fonzie, I bet you're thinking right now `why is the dagger burning me?' that or `oh my God the pain, it burns, please have mercy on me.'" Xander takes the dagger away from the demon's neck but keeps the blade in plain site of the helpless vampire.
"Well to answer one of your questions the dagger was blessed by a kind priest," says Xander twisting his wrist giving the vampire a good look at every facet of the deadly tool. "You see I had a little problem a while back with a kleptomaniac vampire who tried to kill me with my own dagger. Can you imagine that, I mean the nerve of some people? Of course a vampire isn't exactly a person, which makes me feel a little better about what I have to do."
Fonzie watches the blade of the dagger flash briefly reflecting the light of the moon like the blade is winking at him before the dagger leaves his field of vision heading toward the vampire's neck. The searing pain of the blessed metal is excruciating as Xander uses the flat of the blade increasing the area of contact. The young man keeps the blade there for several seconds using his knee to keep the vampire down and his hand to muffle the screams of torture being ripped from the defenseless vampire.
Xander takes the dagger away from the demon's neck and once again holds it in front of Fonzie's face before starting with his next line of questioning. "Okay Fonzie I want to know where Spike is at and I think we can all assume that I want you to tell me. Now I can take my time and slowly burn every inch of your body with divine fury. Or you can tell me and I can go about my merry way. It's your call."
The vampire struggles under Xander's grip. But he can not gain any leverage from the ground and with Xander holding the knife so close. "Should I take your struggles as a no," asks the young man, "because if it is I think we can get down to business, just out of curiosity do you like your eyes?" Xander brings the tip of the dagger to within an inch of the vampire's right eye causing the vampire's eyes to bulge and his struggling to stop entirely.
"Good, I think we are finally coming to an understanding Fonzie, aye."
* * *
Xander is walking around the outside of abandoned factory once used by the anointed one during his plot to revive the master looking it up and down with the practiced eye of a soldier not sure if he can trust the word of the vampire from the alley. Of course the vampire was so afraid of the burning dagger pressed against his dead flesh that he could not have been able to make up a lie. Xander almost felt bad about killing the demon afterwards; it is one thing to destroy a beast in the heat of battle but the systematic destruction of a helpless opponent leaves a bad taste in the young man's mouth.
Xander stops at a side entrance and presses his ear against the door listening for a sign of life close by. Xander can not feel the presence of any vampires but it never hurts to be too careful especially when walking into a lair full of blood sucking demons.
Xander tries to open the door and is not surprised to find the door locked. Xander kneels down in front of the door placing the lock at eye level and reaches inside one of the pockets of his coat to find his lock picking tools. "You know as much as I like this jacket I think a utility belt would be much more stylish," he muses to himself as he works his tools inside the lock trying to catch the tumbler.
Xander's eyes squint and he bites his lower lip in concentration as he patiently works on the lock waiting for the metal to reveal its secrets and allow him entry. After several minutes tick by Xander's efforts are rewarded by the sound of the bolt sliding back into the door unbarring the way inside. With a steady hand Xander slowly pushes open the door trying to avoid the telltale squeak of the rusty hinges.
Xander pushes the door open wide enough for him to slip through and finds himself in the room where he dealt death to the anointed one. The boxes cargo still remain offering Xander reassuring cover as he quietly sneaks toward the doorway ahead of him and the main room beyond.
Xander reaches the doorway and presses his back against the adjacent wall beside the door crouching down before peeking over the side of the doorway. The decorating of the main room is almost finished and ribbon and flowers covers the walls and furniture concealing the evil that dwells underneath. Xander spots the table and the precious wooden boxes that the dearly departed Fonzie had described. Xander only counts four of the six boxes required to bring forth the Judge and breathes a sigh of relief that he is not too late.
Xander counts five vampires moving about putting the final touches on the decorations. He hears them lamenting their situation left decorating for the party while the others are out hunting. Xander looks for any sign of Spike or Drusilla and comes up empty but does spot a closed door off the side and assumes that the two master vampires decided to stay in for the night.
Xander pulls away from the door not wanting to push his luck and get spotted. "Okay Xander," says the young man to himself still leaning against the wall looking up at the ceiling as if the answers lay somewhere in the tile above. "You can either go run and tell the gang about this and risk the bad guys putting together the evil demon capable of destroying humanity, or you can come up with a borderline suicidal plan by entering a vampire layer and getting one of those boxes."
Xander looks around the room and takes in the boxes surrounding him trying to figure out his best course of action. Xander continues to run the options through his head when he spots something in the corner that makes his eyes dance with mischief and danger and quietly moves across the room as quickly as possible saying to himself, "suicidal it is."
Xander moves over to the far corner of the room and stops in front of a pile of gas cans once used to fuel the factory's machines but abandoned along with everything else inside the room. The cans are in several stages of emptiness, or fullness depending on your perspective, and covered by an old white tarp half soaked in fuel spilled from an overturned can. Xander quickly grabs the tarp and several of the fullest cans and retreats from the side room back outside.
Xander makes several trips into the room grabbing more gas cans and a number of broken pieces of the crates from inside piling all of his booty outside the main door of the factory. Xander works fast once all of the materials are present placing the wood along the door of the factory before dousing it in gas along with the door and the walls before throwing the remaining containers in the pile as well. Xander also completely soaks the tarp cutting it into a few long thin strips and twisting them together to make a long thick piece of gasoline soaked cloth capable of holding more fuel then a single strip. Xander runs the saturated rope from the center of the pile of wood outward creating a crude fuse.
When the crude firebomb is finally set Xander moves to the end of the fuse and inspects his work hoping it will work according to plan. Once he is satisfied his handiwork will do the trick Xander reaches into his jacket and comes away with a book of matches. Xander removes a matchstick and strikes the head creating the spark needed to produce the flame and with a smile touches off the fuse.
Xander watches the flame practically leap to the soaked cloth igniting the gasoline in a flash, which causes the young man to pull back quickly to avoid the heat of the fire. The fire travels along the fuse quickly burning strong enough to convince Xander that the pyre will ignite strong enough to serve his purpose. With that Xander runs toward the side door to get ready for the next phase of the plan.
Upon reaching the side room Xander slides along the wall quickly making his way to the doorway leading to the main hall and the prize within. Xander crouches with his back against the wall straining to hear what transpires in the hall behind him.
Xander slowly draws his daggers from their sheaths reveling in the whisper of metal sliding across leather. He places the flat side of the daggers against his forehead letting the cool metal draw the heat from his skin while he draws from strength from the daggers in return. Feeling the hard unyielding metal against his skin gives him the reassurance that he is strong as steel and not alone.
Xander counts to ten to himself before slipping into the room quickly ducking behind a large machine to the right of the doorway. Xander studies the rest of the room quickly looking for the fastest way to the table before all hell breaks loose in roughly one more minute. Xander looks for anymore cover but finds the room close to bare compared to the clutter in the room he just vacated.
Xander mentally marks the room's demonic occupants hoping that they all are doing something extremely important and can't tear their gaze away from it. Xander takes a brief look skyward hoping that someone has decided to look out for him at least for the next few seconds before throwing himself into the open.
With the first step away from the safety and cover offered by the decrepit machine Xander feels a strange sensation as his mind and body feed off of the rush provided by the mix of excitement and adrenaline coursing through his veins. It is if the first step takes him, not to a different world, but to a different state of the world where the laws of time and space bend and warp to his will.
The distance to the table appears to shrink and the world around seems to slow while Xander moves the same. With a only few feet from the table Xander watches a female vampire on the cat walk to his right turn around slowly and spot him raising the alarm for all to hear.
The sound of the shout snaps Xander back to reality, and he realizes just how fast he is travelling toward the wooden. He also realizes that there is no way he is going to be able to stop in time to avoid ramming into the solid wooden table. Thinking fast he spots a gap between chairs and leaves his feet sliding on his back under the table and through the crowd of legs underneath letting the friction with the floor slow him down.
Before he can come to a complete stop Xander plants his feet letting his momentum carry his body forward to meet his planted legs while bringing his torso up to add upward momentum. His leg muscles bunch and cord with the sudden strain as his body slides up unto his legs bringing him up smoothly into a standing position.
Xander turns around to face the table and the wooden boxes resting on it putting the trapped front door behind him. Xander spares a glance at the daggers still clutched in his hands and sighs before sliding them back into their concealed sheaths knowing that he will have to sacrifice the extra power if he is going to be able to carry one of the large containers out.
Xander grabs the box closest to him looking around wildly trying to place the enemies surrounding him when he is startled by a voice from his left, "well, well, well if it isn't the little slayer want to be." Xander quickly turn to face the source of the voice to find Spike sitting calmly in his wheel chair.
Xander shrugs and smiles while continuing the count in his head saying, "you know me Spike; I've always wanted to play the hero."
"Well I guess you should have worn the tights," says Spike looking around to take stock of the surrounding vampires, "because I think you may need them." With a wave of his hand he sends the other vampires forward to converge on the young man.
As the count down gets smaller and smaller and the vampires get closer Xander's smile does not fade as he looks down to take stock of his out fit. "I don't know Spike. I kind of like this look; I mean it's no wheel chair, but there is one really great thing about it."
Xander's smile grows even bigger as Spike raises an eyebrow in question. "Well... it's flame retardant." With that Xander throws himself over the top of the table landing on the other side in time to use the heavy oak table as a barrier against the sudden explosion behind him.
When Xander stands up he finds the door is in pieces and the pile of wood has been scattered into flaming pieces and the wall itself in flames. Xander rolls over the table again grabbing the wooden box again before flashing another smile toward Spike, "see sometimes it comes in handy."
Xander takes off toward the door using the flames as a guard against the extremely flammable vampires. Xander wraps his arms around the box as he gets closer to the door feeling the flames heat his face and hands. Xander throws the box through the door allowing him to gain more speed. He hears Spike yelling something at his minions, but Xander does not give himself the time to comprehend it as he pushes himself to move faster.
When he gets with a few feet from the flaming mouth of freedom Xander pulls his jacket up over his neck and hair before diving through the small gap over the bonfire and under the flaming archway. Xander finishes his dive with a froward role putting out the flames clinging to his clothes tenaciously.
Xander stands up and dust himself off giving himself a cursory check to make sure nothing is broken or burned and is happy to find himself in better shape than he expected. Xander spots the wooden box and can not help but wonder how such a plain looking box could require so much trouble. Of course when he thinks about what the box hold and the implications it holds he knows that he actually got away easy.
The weight of that thought prompts Xander to move quickly picking up the container and retreating into the night leaving the flames of the developing inferno to drive away the darkness.
* * *
Xander's house is never quiet. The hum of the refrigerator, the blowing of the air conditioner, and the almost constant buzzing from the TV all swirl together with the sounds of the outside world to create a constant reminder of life and the wonders it possesses for those who stop and listen. The sounds of the house are a comfort to the young man blending to create a rich orchestra that plays the music of safety and comfort while keeping the rhythm the young man's hectic life constant.
Tonight is different, normally after a night of slaying Xander lies in his bed with the lights off and lets the subtle lullaby of the night sooth him to sleep, but tonight is definitely different.
Instead of sitting in the cool embrace of sleep Xander is wide away sitting in his kitchen. He can not hear the evening's opus because his mind is too confused to hear it and his soul is too disturbed to feel it. Because sitting on the table in front of him lies a piece of the judge resting in quiet evil and darkness.
The box silently mocks the young man from its perch symbolizing the struggle ahead. Xander never considered the consequences of his late night raid on the abandoned factory never considered what he would do with the prize once he won it. He can feel the evil pouring from the appendage inside, and he knows that the creatures of the night will not let him rest until they possess it once again.
Xander knows he needs help, but that is where the problem lies. The only people he can turn to are his friends, but to ask for their help means telling them how he came into possession of the piece of evil.
Xander sits in his kitchen just staring at the box part of him willing it to explode and save him the trouble while the other part silently berates him for causing the problem in the first place.
You had to keep it from them didn't you? You had to have something for yourself; you had to have your secret gift. If you had just told them from the start none of this would be a problem. But now you're going to have to tell them that not only have you been lying to them, you have to tell them that you have been keeping a gift from them that could have helped them immensely.
Xander shakes his head vehemently in the hopes of derailing the train of thought going through his head. I never lied to them. They never asked.
Oh yeah like they are going to accept that.
Hey, they couldn't have handled what I am okay! They need to keep their perceptions and ideas without them everything would be upside down, and I have been helping they just didn't have to know I was doing it; and you know it. You're my mind for crying out loud. Why can't you be on my side?
I am on your side, but you do realize that they are not going to accept any of that as a reason. You're going to have to do some serious groveling. That is if you tell them. You could just leave it on Giles' door step with a note or something.
Oh, so now you've moved from logic to devil's advocate? You and I both know that I have to tell them. What am I saying `you and I'? We are `you and I'. Have I mentioned I really hate inner monologues? They're too confusing, so consider this one over.
Xander continues to stare at the plain wooden box too tired to think, too troubled to move, and too scared to sleep afraid of what and who he will have to face in the morning. But sleep does come to him stealing the young man's worries and cares carrying them with it as it passes while giving him the strength to face the day.
And strength he will need.
End of chapter 8b
References
1. mailto:RaistlinM1@aol.com
Author: JimboS
E-mail: [1]RaistlinM1@aol.com
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the characters portrayed in this story they are the property of people much richer than I am.
Dedication: To MJ. You are one of the coolest people I know. Thank you so much for your support.
Author's note: I decided to make this chapter 8b for two reasons. One, this way I don't have to write a journal entry, and I posted the previous chapter quickly because I wanted to get people's reactions to the part. I didn't get much reaction which can be taken in many ways (most of them negative).
Author's note(the return): I would like to thank everyone who has given me feed back on this. I am not good at keeping stuff so I don't have everyone who has said something. I'm sorry about this, but I will give you a resounding: `you guys rock!'
Chapter 8b
If a casual observer were to look at a certain abandoned warehouse in the industrial section of Sunnydale they would probably have said that the building had not been lived in by anyone for a long time, but they would only be half-right. For while the building actually has been inhabited for some time to call any of the current occupants alive would be a grave mistake.
The inside of the building was adorned with red roses and ribbons, which stood out in stark contrast with the desolate interior. The building's main room could only be described as Spartan at best, and was dominated by a long decorative wooden table surrounded by matching chairs, three large wooden boxes laid upon the decorated table along with several other wrapped presents.
Drusilla gently glides across the room with no rhyme or reason like she is being carried on a swirling wind sweeping through the great hall absorbing the strange mix of death and celebration. She wafts among the other vampires, who are moving about busily preparing for the up coming party, until she finally comes to a stop before the end of the table that holds the unassuming wooden boxes.
Spike sitting in a stolen hospital wheel chair quietly rolls up behind the deranged vampire watching from a distance not wanting to intrude upon her silent musing. Spike has not known how to act around Drusilla after the events in the church during the restoration spell. The spell was designed to sacrifice Angel's strength in return for Drusilla's recovery, but it had only been partially successful giving Drusilla her strength back, but the spell was interrupted before its completion rejuvenating her body but leaving her mind to remain in its perpetual state of madness.
It is good having Drusilla strong again, but her recovery had come at a high price. Spike was badly injured in the fight that followed as the slayer fought to save her love's life. Spike was left help less and lifeless from the waist down, and he is now confined to his wheel chair and at the mercy of the strong yet unpredictable Drusilla.
Drusilla remains unaffected by the new presence at her back as she runs her hands through the air above the wooden boxes feeling an intangible presence pressing against her delicate fingertips. Spike told her they were to be a surprise, but the evil emanating from the containers is too tempting to leave alone. She has felt much evil in her time but the contents of the box call to her so strong making the voices in her head sing.
Spike's lackey Dalton approaches the two carrying another wooden box. The scholarly vampire clears his throat softly not sure if drawing the crippled vampire's attention is a wise action. Dalton waits for a few imagined beats of his dead heart before clearing his throat more forcefully.
"What do you want," asks Spike not deeming the vampire worth the effort to actually turn his chair around to look at him.
"Another package arrived for you," says Dalton with a slight quiver in his voice. Dalton unconsciously tenses his body preparing for the worst not sure if Spike is in a good mood or a bad mood.
Dalton breaths a sigh of relief when Spike only waves his hand dismissively and says, "put it on the table with the other presents."
Spike watches as Dalton approaches the table and could not help a smile when he saw his Dru's face light up with delight at the arrival of another present. Spike sends his chair rolling toward the newly arrived present with quick smooth motions of his arms, but the strangeness of his mobility brings forth the question that has been on his mind ever since his accident.
"Are you dead set on this pet," asks Spike, "we could go celebrate in style, maybe Vienna?"
Drusilla draws her lips together in a pout and her eyes grow larger and soft pleadingly as she responds, "but Spike the invitations are sent."
"I know sweet, but I think we should get out of here nothing ever goes off like it should," says Spike in a soft tone as he continues to try and convince the deranged vampire. "It's just that Sunnydale's cursed for us what with the Slayer and Angel always interfering and that damn boy hunting us. Why don't you and me blow this place we can go someplace not so sunny."
Drusilla crouches down in front of the chair and gently runs her fingers across Spike's face caressing the vampire softly before moving it down across his chest. "Now Spike," she said soothingly, "you know my gatherings are always perfect." Drusilla leaning forward to bring her mouth next to Spike's ear finishing her thought with a whisper, "I've got such fun games planned."
Drusilla turns her head to lick at Spike's cheek earning her a smile from the crippled vampire. Spike knows that he can not say `no' to her and another week would not be too bad as long as Drusilla remains happy.
"Can I open one," asks Drusilla motioning toward the boxes with her head. Her voice sounds so sweet and innocent, and Spike can not help but give in.
"Just a peak love," says Spike grinning at her actions, "you know they're for the party."
Drusilla face lights up with excitement as she turns back to the boxes once again reveling in the feeling of evil emanating from the boxes. The voices in her head once again begin to sing their song growing louder with each step taken toward to the plain wooden boxes. Her fingers caress the latch holding down the top of the wooden box before undoing the latch and opening the box to find the present inside.
Inside the box lays a large disembodied leg dressed in leather and chain mail and exuding an aura of pure evil. The leg's flesh is a bright blue color giving the appendage the look of a clear noonday sky, and Drusilla smiles at the peaceful images of a life long lost that the leg conjures up in her mind's eye. The smile only grows bigger when the image is perverted by the vileness coming from the leg as dark clouds roll across her mind covering the clear sky blocking the sun and plunging the day into night.
"This will be the best party ever," whispers Drusilla to herself, "it will have to be because it is going to be the last."
* * *
The night had been dead and not in an exciting staking undead monsters sort of way. Every hot spot where Xander normally found two or even three vampires was now deserted occupied only by the urban wild life of rats and stray dogs and cats.
Xander walks along the alley way leading toward the Bronze whistling a happy tune with his hands shoved deep into his altered pockets absent mindedly touching the daggers strapped to his thighs while kicking the loose rocks strewn about the gravel pathway. With nothing better to do Xander can not help but try and figure out exactly how much his life has changed not only in the past few months but also just in the past few hours.
The rest of the school day had been good for Xander. Willow and he had been able to talk for a while, but there was still a bit of tension between the two of them. It was just too much for them to handle all at once. Suddenly they went from undying love and devotion to finding out and then straight on to the decision to see other people without stopping. Even though the next few classes were awkward beyond reason they both knew that their friendship was strong enough to withstand the trial.
Classes were more than slightly easy that day, in fact classes had not been a problem all year with his new found meditation techniques allowing him to organize his thoughts and memories better. In fact for the first time in years Xander has an A average for his classes.
The day had gotten more than slightly strange when Cordelia asked him to be her date for Buffy's party. After much stammering and tripping over his tongue the young man finally agreed to accompany the beauty queen. Of course Xander got the feeling that Cordelia was hoping for more than just a friendly `I'm not going with anyone you're not going with any one lets go together' sort of date, but he decided to go anyway not wanting to hurt Cordelia's feelings.
At lunch Xander watch Willow ask Oz to the party and he had to laugh when he saw his friend babble for a good ten minutes before coming to her point. Xander was more than surprised that Oz didn't interrupt her before finally saying yes. Instead he just sat there staring at her with a hint of a smile curling up the side of her face reveling in the sounds of Willow's voice.
The day went so well that at the end of the day Xander decided not to tempt fate by staying out, so he rushed to his new house to get ready for the night's patrol. Of course the problem with rushing to be anywhere is that if you are not late you end up doing a lot of waiting, which is exactly what Xander did for a good two hours after school. Luckily Lee left Xander a TV when he left the house along with several other necessities.
In fact Xander loved his house when he got it, but some how it didn't feel like home to him leaving the young man to travel from one house to another training in one and sleeping in another. It wasn't until Xander did one thing that truly made the house his in his mind.
Xander took a shower. Now normal logic may bock at this leap but in Xander's mind it made perfect sense. If a person can get naked in a place and feel comfortable then that place is truly home, and since Xander had no choice but to shower after training or else stink all the way through school he decided to make the house his home.
After that Xander slowly began to move his stuff into his new home setting up his room in the master bedroom. This also gave Xander the feeling of home since he made an almost perfect recreation of his room at the Harris household just on a slightly bigger and more spacious scale.
The only difference was the new bed, which in Xander's humble opinion was the most amazing piece of furniture known to man or demon. In fact it was the bed that made Xander late starting on his patrol. He was only going to take a quick rest, but when he opened his eyes again he was already close to an hour late, so he grabbed his daggers and his patrol jacket and shot out the door to start his patrol.
Xander shakes his head slightly dispelling the thoughts from his brain. He takes a look around the alley and leans against the brick wall of the alley. Xander turns the collar of his dirty dark green jacket up and burrows down into it closing his eyes and growing very still, and his breathing becomes slow and deep. Two teenagers walk down the alley and make a large circle around his calm form not wanting to wake up what appears to them to be a homeless man taking a nap in an alleyway. Xander smiles and chuckles slightly after they pass, for although he did not open his eyes he knew exactly who the two were and what they were feeling.
Xander has learned more than a few useful techniques both mental and physical from the journals of past masters that have become indispensable in his patrols through Sunnydale. The two most helpful involve the two directions of his emotional projection ability, which surprised Xander to find out because he always figured that the ability was a one-way street.
On the out going side of it Xander has learned how to control the projection to emit any chosen emotion regardless of how he feels. The only draw back is that it is not a refined tool and can not be limited to certain people in a crowd but aside from the everyday human mugger the projections of fear and helplessness bring in the evil creatures of the night like bees to honey.
The more important skill is on the intake of emotions from the outside world. By clearing the mind and wiping clean his emotions Xander was able to experience the smaller waves of emotions emitted by all human and otherworldly beings. After practice Xander was able to pick out important emotions from people around him, and by combining it with his sense for self-preservation Xander has cultivated a `spider-sense' to rival Buffy's own ability.
At the moment Xander is clearing his mind and heart to expand his area of influence trying to find any source of evil or emptiness, but all he can feel is the happiness and the sexuality practically bursting from the Bronze and the mob of teenagers within. Xander turns his attention to the hotbed of teenage hormones and begins a search inside looking for the taint of darkness in the bright light of happiness.
Mentally Xander passes through the bronze passing through the throng on the dance floor they only appear as balls of energy and look like fireflies dancing in the night sky. The sheer amount of sexuality and lust emanating from the teenagers is unnerving and intoxicating at the same time. Xander stops short when he feels the faint tinge of evil coming from the bar. Xander's consciousness moves closer toward the bar trying to identify the evil and is only mildly surprised to find the unmistakable signs of two vampires sitting at the bar.
The emotional footprint of a vampire is a strange thing. The energy given off by a vampire can only be described as hollow when it is compared to the full and complex emotions possessed by humanity. The perversion of the human vessel by the inhabiting demon is unmistakable to those who know how to look. The loss of the soul steals the facility for the being to produce emotions beyond the norm given off by most malevolent demons, but the memories of the vessel remain leaving a ghost of what once was behind. The thin veneer of humanity is only a shell to cover the empty darkness that pours from the possessing demon.
Xander suddenly opens his eyes as his consciousness rushes back into his awaiting form. Xander pushes himself off of the alley wall and resumes his walk toward the Bronze. When Xander gets close to the entrance he snakes his arms out of his patrol jacket and folds it over his right arm shedding his patrol persona in favor of his normal clothes underneath.
"No use trying to blend in if you look like a bum," he says quietly to himself as he passes through the doors to the bronze. "Boy am I glad I left the sword at home. I'm sure I would fit in really well with that strapped on my back."
Xander begins to move through the crowd that surrounds him slowly making his way to the bar and the two figures dressed in black and leaning over the bar talking in hushed tones. Xander moves to sit next to the two, orders a soda, and strains to hear the two talk over the music and conversation buzzing around him while trying not to look like he is straining to hear.
"You sure are lucky you aren't working for the psycho queen man," said the first vampire wearing a black leather jacket, which gave him a striking resemblance to Fonzie from `Happy Days'. "Today she had us decorating for a party. I'm talking flowers, streamers, and banners. I signed on for some death and destruction not for better homes and gardens."
"Your right about that, but you still have Spike around and I bet he has something planned for this party to take care of the slayer," says the other vampire in hope of finding out the master vampire's new plan. As a free agent it pays to know what the other players are planning.
"Of course he does," answers Fonzie, "But you and I both know the guy's track record for killing the slayer. I mean if the order of Turaka can't kill her how will the Judge? I mean all the guy has right now are a bunch of boxes that he calls the judge, and I don't see how he expects a bunch of dead demon parts to `judge' anybody."
The other vampire's eyes bulge in their sockets and his eyebrows rush up his forehead in surprise. "Did you say the Judge," asks the vampire raising his voice in excitement.
"Yeah the Judge," answers Fonzie looking around to see if his friend's outburst drew any unwanted attention. Xander quickly looks away and takes a drink of his soda to hide his face all the while concentrating on the conversation not wanting to miss a word.
Fonzie doesn't see anyone watching and looks back at his friend, "at least that's what I heard Spike call the guy, Why do you know something about him?"
"Do I know him," asks the other vampire in disbelief his voice once again rising in excitement, but he once again regains control bringing his voice back down. "This guy is like the demon Holy Grail. I mean we are talking the extermination of humanity here. If Spike can get all of the boxes together not only does the slayer not have a chance in hell all of humanity will be going there with her."
Xander gasps into his glass of soda not liking the sound of this Judge guy one bit. His eyes dart from the conversing vampires to the Bronze's exit contemplating whether to stay and get more info or tell Giles as soon as possible, but a new choice presents itself to Xander as the vampire stands up and tells his friend. "If this is the real deal I've got to see it for myself, and you have got to take me there."
Xander watches the two vampires stand up and start walking toward the exit. Xander waits for ten-seconds before paying for his drink and following the two into the dank alley outside the Bronze. Xander stops at the door and checks the alley for his two escaping targets while shrugging into his jacket.
Xander watches the two vampires walk down the alley casually engaging in conversation as if they are going to go to a party and not to go behold something capable of destroying the human race. Xander follows the pair as quietly as possible waiting for the right time to strike. He reaches into one of the many pockets sown into the inside of his jacket and pulls out a stake and then slides it into his right jacket sleeve. Xander doubles his pace hoping to moke his move before they reach the street, but the vampires seem to have too big of a lead.
With his window of opportunity slipping away Xander decides on gambling on loosing the element of surprise. "Hey buddy can you help me out," he calls trying to appear casual while carrying a stake in his right sleeve and with his left hand in his pocket fingering the pommel of his concealed dagger.
The two vampires turn around not quiet sure what to think of the young man standing before them. The demons look at each other both asking the other the same question with their eyes, `who is this guy, normal people in Sunnydale know not to talk to dark strangers in gloomy alley.'
Xander watches the exchange and realizes his mistake but continues to play his part in the hopes of an easy stake. Xander moves forward closing the gap between himself and his prey. "Yeah, I'm from out of town and I can't find the corner of Coltrain and Davis. Can you give me a hand?"
The two vampires once again turn to look at each other but taking your eyes off of a predator is never smart if you wish to stay alive. With three quick strides Xander moves with striking distance of the first vampire while swinging his right arm forward causing the stake to slide down his sleeve and into his awaiting hand. The stake pushes through the vampire's chest tearing through the dead skin and muscle and crushing the ribs protecting the dead heart.
His left-hand moves in a flash of silver lightning striking the other vampire in the face with the cross guard making his knees buckle and his eyes cross. Xander quickly steps to the side of the vampire he labeled as Fonzie grabbing him by the collar of his leather jacket and begins to shake the awareness back into the vampire.
The clouds over Fonzie's eyes slowly dissipate, and he waists no time in transforming into his vampire face and emitting a growl. Xander's only response is to smile and sweep the demon's feet out from under him and using his grip on the vampire's leather jacket to drive his head down onto the hard gravel alley floor.
Xander brings the blade of the dagger up against Fonzie's throat and watches the skin touching the blade begin to smoke and burn. "Hey Fonzie, I bet you're thinking right now `why is the dagger burning me?' that or `oh my God the pain, it burns, please have mercy on me.'" Xander takes the dagger away from the demon's neck but keeps the blade in plain site of the helpless vampire.
"Well to answer one of your questions the dagger was blessed by a kind priest," says Xander twisting his wrist giving the vampire a good look at every facet of the deadly tool. "You see I had a little problem a while back with a kleptomaniac vampire who tried to kill me with my own dagger. Can you imagine that, I mean the nerve of some people? Of course a vampire isn't exactly a person, which makes me feel a little better about what I have to do."
Fonzie watches the blade of the dagger flash briefly reflecting the light of the moon like the blade is winking at him before the dagger leaves his field of vision heading toward the vampire's neck. The searing pain of the blessed metal is excruciating as Xander uses the flat of the blade increasing the area of contact. The young man keeps the blade there for several seconds using his knee to keep the vampire down and his hand to muffle the screams of torture being ripped from the defenseless vampire.
Xander takes the dagger away from the demon's neck and once again holds it in front of Fonzie's face before starting with his next line of questioning. "Okay Fonzie I want to know where Spike is at and I think we can all assume that I want you to tell me. Now I can take my time and slowly burn every inch of your body with divine fury. Or you can tell me and I can go about my merry way. It's your call."
The vampire struggles under Xander's grip. But he can not gain any leverage from the ground and with Xander holding the knife so close. "Should I take your struggles as a no," asks the young man, "because if it is I think we can get down to business, just out of curiosity do you like your eyes?" Xander brings the tip of the dagger to within an inch of the vampire's right eye causing the vampire's eyes to bulge and his struggling to stop entirely.
"Good, I think we are finally coming to an understanding Fonzie, aye."
* * *
Xander is walking around the outside of abandoned factory once used by the anointed one during his plot to revive the master looking it up and down with the practiced eye of a soldier not sure if he can trust the word of the vampire from the alley. Of course the vampire was so afraid of the burning dagger pressed against his dead flesh that he could not have been able to make up a lie. Xander almost felt bad about killing the demon afterwards; it is one thing to destroy a beast in the heat of battle but the systematic destruction of a helpless opponent leaves a bad taste in the young man's mouth.
Xander stops at a side entrance and presses his ear against the door listening for a sign of life close by. Xander can not feel the presence of any vampires but it never hurts to be too careful especially when walking into a lair full of blood sucking demons.
Xander tries to open the door and is not surprised to find the door locked. Xander kneels down in front of the door placing the lock at eye level and reaches inside one of the pockets of his coat to find his lock picking tools. "You know as much as I like this jacket I think a utility belt would be much more stylish," he muses to himself as he works his tools inside the lock trying to catch the tumbler.
Xander's eyes squint and he bites his lower lip in concentration as he patiently works on the lock waiting for the metal to reveal its secrets and allow him entry. After several minutes tick by Xander's efforts are rewarded by the sound of the bolt sliding back into the door unbarring the way inside. With a steady hand Xander slowly pushes open the door trying to avoid the telltale squeak of the rusty hinges.
Xander pushes the door open wide enough for him to slip through and finds himself in the room where he dealt death to the anointed one. The boxes cargo still remain offering Xander reassuring cover as he quietly sneaks toward the doorway ahead of him and the main room beyond.
Xander reaches the doorway and presses his back against the adjacent wall beside the door crouching down before peeking over the side of the doorway. The decorating of the main room is almost finished and ribbon and flowers covers the walls and furniture concealing the evil that dwells underneath. Xander spots the table and the precious wooden boxes that the dearly departed Fonzie had described. Xander only counts four of the six boxes required to bring forth the Judge and breathes a sigh of relief that he is not too late.
Xander counts five vampires moving about putting the final touches on the decorations. He hears them lamenting their situation left decorating for the party while the others are out hunting. Xander looks for any sign of Spike or Drusilla and comes up empty but does spot a closed door off the side and assumes that the two master vampires decided to stay in for the night.
Xander pulls away from the door not wanting to push his luck and get spotted. "Okay Xander," says the young man to himself still leaning against the wall looking up at the ceiling as if the answers lay somewhere in the tile above. "You can either go run and tell the gang about this and risk the bad guys putting together the evil demon capable of destroying humanity, or you can come up with a borderline suicidal plan by entering a vampire layer and getting one of those boxes."
Xander looks around the room and takes in the boxes surrounding him trying to figure out his best course of action. Xander continues to run the options through his head when he spots something in the corner that makes his eyes dance with mischief and danger and quietly moves across the room as quickly as possible saying to himself, "suicidal it is."
Xander moves over to the far corner of the room and stops in front of a pile of gas cans once used to fuel the factory's machines but abandoned along with everything else inside the room. The cans are in several stages of emptiness, or fullness depending on your perspective, and covered by an old white tarp half soaked in fuel spilled from an overturned can. Xander quickly grabs the tarp and several of the fullest cans and retreats from the side room back outside.
Xander makes several trips into the room grabbing more gas cans and a number of broken pieces of the crates from inside piling all of his booty outside the main door of the factory. Xander works fast once all of the materials are present placing the wood along the door of the factory before dousing it in gas along with the door and the walls before throwing the remaining containers in the pile as well. Xander also completely soaks the tarp cutting it into a few long thin strips and twisting them together to make a long thick piece of gasoline soaked cloth capable of holding more fuel then a single strip. Xander runs the saturated rope from the center of the pile of wood outward creating a crude fuse.
When the crude firebomb is finally set Xander moves to the end of the fuse and inspects his work hoping it will work according to plan. Once he is satisfied his handiwork will do the trick Xander reaches into his jacket and comes away with a book of matches. Xander removes a matchstick and strikes the head creating the spark needed to produce the flame and with a smile touches off the fuse.
Xander watches the flame practically leap to the soaked cloth igniting the gasoline in a flash, which causes the young man to pull back quickly to avoid the heat of the fire. The fire travels along the fuse quickly burning strong enough to convince Xander that the pyre will ignite strong enough to serve his purpose. With that Xander runs toward the side door to get ready for the next phase of the plan.
Upon reaching the side room Xander slides along the wall quickly making his way to the doorway leading to the main hall and the prize within. Xander crouches with his back against the wall straining to hear what transpires in the hall behind him.
Xander slowly draws his daggers from their sheaths reveling in the whisper of metal sliding across leather. He places the flat side of the daggers against his forehead letting the cool metal draw the heat from his skin while he draws from strength from the daggers in return. Feeling the hard unyielding metal against his skin gives him the reassurance that he is strong as steel and not alone.
Xander counts to ten to himself before slipping into the room quickly ducking behind a large machine to the right of the doorway. Xander studies the rest of the room quickly looking for the fastest way to the table before all hell breaks loose in roughly one more minute. Xander looks for anymore cover but finds the room close to bare compared to the clutter in the room he just vacated.
Xander mentally marks the room's demonic occupants hoping that they all are doing something extremely important and can't tear their gaze away from it. Xander takes a brief look skyward hoping that someone has decided to look out for him at least for the next few seconds before throwing himself into the open.
With the first step away from the safety and cover offered by the decrepit machine Xander feels a strange sensation as his mind and body feed off of the rush provided by the mix of excitement and adrenaline coursing through his veins. It is if the first step takes him, not to a different world, but to a different state of the world where the laws of time and space bend and warp to his will.
The distance to the table appears to shrink and the world around seems to slow while Xander moves the same. With a only few feet from the table Xander watches a female vampire on the cat walk to his right turn around slowly and spot him raising the alarm for all to hear.
The sound of the shout snaps Xander back to reality, and he realizes just how fast he is travelling toward the wooden. He also realizes that there is no way he is going to be able to stop in time to avoid ramming into the solid wooden table. Thinking fast he spots a gap between chairs and leaves his feet sliding on his back under the table and through the crowd of legs underneath letting the friction with the floor slow him down.
Before he can come to a complete stop Xander plants his feet letting his momentum carry his body forward to meet his planted legs while bringing his torso up to add upward momentum. His leg muscles bunch and cord with the sudden strain as his body slides up unto his legs bringing him up smoothly into a standing position.
Xander turns around to face the table and the wooden boxes resting on it putting the trapped front door behind him. Xander spares a glance at the daggers still clutched in his hands and sighs before sliding them back into their concealed sheaths knowing that he will have to sacrifice the extra power if he is going to be able to carry one of the large containers out.
Xander grabs the box closest to him looking around wildly trying to place the enemies surrounding him when he is startled by a voice from his left, "well, well, well if it isn't the little slayer want to be." Xander quickly turn to face the source of the voice to find Spike sitting calmly in his wheel chair.
Xander shrugs and smiles while continuing the count in his head saying, "you know me Spike; I've always wanted to play the hero."
"Well I guess you should have worn the tights," says Spike looking around to take stock of the surrounding vampires, "because I think you may need them." With a wave of his hand he sends the other vampires forward to converge on the young man.
As the count down gets smaller and smaller and the vampires get closer Xander's smile does not fade as he looks down to take stock of his out fit. "I don't know Spike. I kind of like this look; I mean it's no wheel chair, but there is one really great thing about it."
Xander's smile grows even bigger as Spike raises an eyebrow in question. "Well... it's flame retardant." With that Xander throws himself over the top of the table landing on the other side in time to use the heavy oak table as a barrier against the sudden explosion behind him.
When Xander stands up he finds the door is in pieces and the pile of wood has been scattered into flaming pieces and the wall itself in flames. Xander rolls over the table again grabbing the wooden box again before flashing another smile toward Spike, "see sometimes it comes in handy."
Xander takes off toward the door using the flames as a guard against the extremely flammable vampires. Xander wraps his arms around the box as he gets closer to the door feeling the flames heat his face and hands. Xander throws the box through the door allowing him to gain more speed. He hears Spike yelling something at his minions, but Xander does not give himself the time to comprehend it as he pushes himself to move faster.
When he gets with a few feet from the flaming mouth of freedom Xander pulls his jacket up over his neck and hair before diving through the small gap over the bonfire and under the flaming archway. Xander finishes his dive with a froward role putting out the flames clinging to his clothes tenaciously.
Xander stands up and dust himself off giving himself a cursory check to make sure nothing is broken or burned and is happy to find himself in better shape than he expected. Xander spots the wooden box and can not help but wonder how such a plain looking box could require so much trouble. Of course when he thinks about what the box hold and the implications it holds he knows that he actually got away easy.
The weight of that thought prompts Xander to move quickly picking up the container and retreating into the night leaving the flames of the developing inferno to drive away the darkness.
* * *
Xander's house is never quiet. The hum of the refrigerator, the blowing of the air conditioner, and the almost constant buzzing from the TV all swirl together with the sounds of the outside world to create a constant reminder of life and the wonders it possesses for those who stop and listen. The sounds of the house are a comfort to the young man blending to create a rich orchestra that plays the music of safety and comfort while keeping the rhythm the young man's hectic life constant.
Tonight is different, normally after a night of slaying Xander lies in his bed with the lights off and lets the subtle lullaby of the night sooth him to sleep, but tonight is definitely different.
Instead of sitting in the cool embrace of sleep Xander is wide away sitting in his kitchen. He can not hear the evening's opus because his mind is too confused to hear it and his soul is too disturbed to feel it. Because sitting on the table in front of him lies a piece of the judge resting in quiet evil and darkness.
The box silently mocks the young man from its perch symbolizing the struggle ahead. Xander never considered the consequences of his late night raid on the abandoned factory never considered what he would do with the prize once he won it. He can feel the evil pouring from the appendage inside, and he knows that the creatures of the night will not let him rest until they possess it once again.
Xander knows he needs help, but that is where the problem lies. The only people he can turn to are his friends, but to ask for their help means telling them how he came into possession of the piece of evil.
Xander sits in his kitchen just staring at the box part of him willing it to explode and save him the trouble while the other part silently berates him for causing the problem in the first place.
You had to keep it from them didn't you? You had to have something for yourself; you had to have your secret gift. If you had just told them from the start none of this would be a problem. But now you're going to have to tell them that not only have you been lying to them, you have to tell them that you have been keeping a gift from them that could have helped them immensely.
Xander shakes his head vehemently in the hopes of derailing the train of thought going through his head. I never lied to them. They never asked.
Oh yeah like they are going to accept that.
Hey, they couldn't have handled what I am okay! They need to keep their perceptions and ideas without them everything would be upside down, and I have been helping they just didn't have to know I was doing it; and you know it. You're my mind for crying out loud. Why can't you be on my side?
I am on your side, but you do realize that they are not going to accept any of that as a reason. You're going to have to do some serious groveling. That is if you tell them. You could just leave it on Giles' door step with a note or something.
Oh, so now you've moved from logic to devil's advocate? You and I both know that I have to tell them. What am I saying `you and I'? We are `you and I'. Have I mentioned I really hate inner monologues? They're too confusing, so consider this one over.
Xander continues to stare at the plain wooden box too tired to think, too troubled to move, and too scared to sleep afraid of what and who he will have to face in the morning. But sleep does come to him stealing the young man's worries and cares carrying them with it as it passes while giving him the strength to face the day.
And strength he will need.
End of chapter 8b
References
1. mailto:RaistlinM1@aol.com