Part 8 – Love Potion Number 9
Two weeks after destroying the Glove of Mynhegon
Spike walked around the burned out factory. In one hand he held a half empty bottle of cheap whiskey and in the other he held a lit cigarette. He was alternating puffing on the smoke and sipping from the bottle. Spike slammed his bottle down on the table and then shouted his pain, "Why did she leave me, how could Dru fall for that slimy demon!"
"Maybe because you are a drunk?" Drew, the young fledgling vampire who had attacked Cordelia the other day at the Bronze said entering the factory.
"So what's it to you poof?" Spike asked, looking at the other vampire, squinting his eyes because he was so drunk that he thought there were two of them there.
"Well rumor on the streets is that you were a big bad at one point, but now looking at you," Drew looked him up and down, almost disgusted at Spike's state, "I would say that those were lies. Course now that Angelus is back in town, maybe I should see if he is looking for some help."
Spike flew across the room at the young vampire, and even in his drunken haze was able to push the vampire against the wall holding his neck with his forearm. "What do you mean Angelus is back?"
"He nearly killed me the other night, when I tried to feed on his new pet." Drew said, struggling in Spike grasp, kind of surprised that the other vampire in his drunken state was so strong.
"Pet, what pet?" Spike asked, knowing that the Slayer would never be mistaken for a pet.
"A leggy brunette who looked ripe for the taking, I wanted to turn her." Drew said, still squirming under Spike's hold.
Spike thought a moment and realized that it must be Cordelia. Maybe it was Angelus; given that Angel was the Slayer's lapdog, he would definitely go after the hot and well endowed brunette. "If you were a smart boy, I wouldn't play with Angelus' toys." Spike said shoving the other vampire away. He picked his whiskey bottle up off the table and took a swig.
"Well she wasn't marked yet, so I figure she is available to the first vampire who gets to her." Drew said dusting off his clothes, looking around at the burned out factory wondering why he ever thought this would be a good place to hang during the daylight hours.
"Don't be stupid, if you have been warned, and don't want to be turned to dust, I would stay clear of Angelus and his new pet." Spike said, wondering if Angelus was still as crazy as he had been a few months back.
"He wouldn't kill one of his own kind would he?" Drew asked.
Spike was pacing and thinking through an alcohol induced haze, "If Angelus is back, that means that Dru will come back to be with her Sire, and then I can get her back."
"Hey, I am into girls, okay man." Drew said taking a step back, thinking that white haired vampire was talking about him. Maybe he had enough time before daylight to find a better place to hang his hat.
"What, no not you, you Poof, I was taking about Drusilla." Spike said looking over the younger vampire, a tall skinny boy who was turned at the prime of geekdom. No, not my type at all, thought Spike.
"Oh, good, well, I am just going to get going. It is almost the witching hour, well I guess you wouldn't call sunrise the witching hour, but anyway." Drew said, starting to back out of the factory.
Spike was muttering again about getting Dru back, and was ignoring the young vampire as he backed out of the factory. "Now how would I get Dru back, and skip the whole Angelus bonding part, and have her come straight to me." Spike paced and drank. Then the young vampires words hit him...witching hour.
"Hold on a second, Poof," Spike said, cutting off Drew before he got to the door, "You are bloody brilliant, I will get a witch and have a love spell cast." Spike placed both his hands on Drew's shoulders and leaned in and kissed the other vampire on the cheek in a quick comradely sort of way. "Brilliant!"
Drew was completely in shock, and wondering what the crazy vampire was going to do next.
"Well, now I just need to get me a witch, and you are going to help me get Angelus here to bait the trap for Dru." Spike said.
"What are you talking about, why do you want to trap me?" Drew asked, looking perplexed at the drunken vampire.
"I don't want to trap you, hell, what is your name?" Spike said, again shoving away from the other vampire.
"Drew, and how am I supposed to get Angelus here, and why am I going to help you?" Drew asked, wondering if it made sense to put his lot in with this particular crazy vampire.
"Oh Bloody Hell, this is going to get confusing between my Dru and your name Drew. Well, Drew, the reason your going to help me is that I will stake you right here and now just for fun if you don't. Plus, I will let you have the Cheerleader once we get Drusilla back to me."
"Ah, now we are talking, how are you going to get a witch?" Drew asked.
"Oh that is easy, just go down to the Magic shop and pick one up." Spike said, laughing and taking another swig from the bottle. He was going to get his Drusilla back.
...late the following afternoon at Sunnydale's Magic Shop
"Hello Willow, how are you this fine afternoon?" The middle-aged Wicca shop keeper asked Willow as she looked up from the table of crystals and other odds and ends that she was dusting.
"Pretty good Sandy, I need a few supplies for a spell I want to perform, dove feathers, sage, and dragon's blood powder." Willow said, earlier that day she had reached a conclusion regarding her relationship with Xander...it had to end.
"Willow, it sounds like you want to do a love spell, is there someone you desire?" Sandy the shopkeeper inquired, loving the thought of young love. She heard the back door to the shop open an casually shouted over her shoulder, "Be right with you." She didn't look back to notice the white haired vampire entering her shop.
"No, not love, actually more of an anti-love spell, a de-lusting spell is what I need." Willow was sure that this was the only way she could fight her attraction to Xander Harris, especially since she had Oz and he had Cordelia.
"Ah then, you want canary feathers and not dove's feathers, unless you really want to have him detest you, then you would want to use a crow feather." Sandy said, a little matter-of-factly, as if discussing the recipe for chicken soup.
"No, don't want him to detest me, just want to not lust so much." Willow said, realizing she never wanted to loose Xander's friendship that she had had since the first day of kindergarten.
Sandy quickly moved around the shop, picking up the supplies Willow needed and then took them to the counter and rang them up on the old-fashioned register. "That will be $18.20. And good luck with your spell."
"Thanks Sandy, I appreciate the help, blessed be." Willow said, taking her purchases and heading out the door of the shop.
Sandy turned around to check on her other customer who had wandered in earlier. She walked to the back of the shop and saw the young man standing there, glaring at her. She could smell the alcohol on him, ohh dear, "May I help you?" She asked.
"Mmm, needed some help getting things for a spell, but I think that I have found a better option." Spike said, and then looked at the shopkeeper and licked his lips.
"Oh, well then if there isn't anything that I can do...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Sandy started to say, when she saw Spike vamp out and then lunge at her.
Spike moved quickly and sunk his fangs into her neck, taking a deep drink, draining her quickly. He pulled his head away, and with blood dripping from his lips, "I think I found me the perfect witch in Little Red," he pushed his mouth back to the shopkeeper and finished her off, completely draining her of her life force and blood. Spike licked his lips, and then dropped the woman. Now to follow the little witch, and get her to perform my spell for me.
...even later that evening at the High School Chemistry Lab
"So Willow, why are we meeting here?" Xander asked, coming into the chemistry lab of the High School where Willow was currently working, mixing some random items in a beaker, and getting ready to light the Bunsen burner. "And why does it smell like church in here? Evil church."
"Well, I had to finish some chemistry lab homework, and I figured the high school was central for everyone, so that we could all go bowling together, afterwards." Willow said a little nervously, referring to the double date she, Xander, Cordelia and Oz were going on tonight.
Xander wandered around the work table and looked at the assorted ingredients of the "homework" project and then started putting two and two together. "Hey, this isn't homework!" Xander said picking up the spell book Willow had opened. "You're casting a spell, a love spell!" Finally recognizing the ingredients from when he and Amy had cast the botched love spell last year.
"No not love, de-love, de-lusting, for us, you know so we stop, you know." Willow stuttered.
"No Willow, love spells are dangerous, and you are not doing one." Xander said firmly, not going down this road again, Magic Bad was his new motto.
"But...EEEEKK" Willow started, but then was shocked to see Spike standing at the entrance to the lab, looking evil as usual.
"Now there your wrong boy, because she definitely is going to do another spell, one to get me and Dru back together." Spike said, moving into the chemistry lab, moving to grab Willow.
Xander lunged at Spike, when he realized he was going after Willow and got in a couple good punches that didn't seem to do much to the vampire, other than annoy him. Spike shoved the boy away, and then picked up a heavy microscope off the back lab table and smashed it against Xander's head, knocking him out cold. He then turned to Willow his long black coat swishing as he moved.
"Now look here Red, you and me," Spike grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him emphasizing his strength, "and the putz, are going back to the factory, and you are going to get working on a love spell to bring Dru back."
Willow looked down at Xander's unconscious form and was grateful to see that he was breathing. She didn't say anything, not sure how to measure the behavior of this vampire.
"Get your books, and I will get the boy. Quick now, I want to get this started soon." Spike said, bending down and tossing Xander over his shoulder, ready to make his way back to the factory.
...across town at the Mansion
"Look, I am calling it quits with Xander, after we are done bowling with Willow and Oz." Cordy said to Angel, smoothing over a wrinkle in her light blue sweater. She had decided to go for the casual, high-school date outfit of a sweater and jeans. Cordy was a little sad that it was going to be over with Xander, but hadn't it been over for a while, she thought.
"'Bout time." Angel said, not looking up from the dusty old book he was reading, he and Cordy had barely been talking the past week, as she had not called it quits with Harris.
"I told you, I just needed to find the right time. Plus with everyone being so distant with you, I thought it would be better not to spring the whole "us" thing on them right away." Cordy walked over to the couch and stood before Angel. God Angel could make her crazy, she thought. He had his book open and was reading, or at least pretending to read, and ignoring her presence.
"Pfft," Angel said, not looking up from his book. He was mad at Cordelia, and also insanely jealous. The sooner she figured out that he was not going to put up with her still clinging to Harris the better.
He Pfft me, I can't believe it, this is it, Cordy thought, and then pulled the book out of Angel's hands, "Don't Pfft me Mister." Cordelia stood before him, in one hand the book Angel was reading, and the other hand balled into a fist and resting on her hip.
Angel stood up with lightning speed and was now looking down at her from his taller vantage point. The move had him just a hair's breathe away from Cordy, and he wasn't surprised that he could smell her aggravation and almost anger on Cordy's body rather than fear. She didn't fear him anymore, and something in him gloried in that feeling as well as made him angry that he didn't have control over her because of it.
"And what are you going to do about it, Cordelia?" He folded his arms over his chest and tried to give his most intimidating look.
"Well for starters, if you are going to not talk to me or worse, be rude, then you can just sleep on the couch tonight." Cordelia said firmly. Two can play his game.
Angel growled at the bold statement.
"Hmmm...or maybe I will just move back into my parent's house." Cordelia said, knowing that it was an empty threat.
"Maybe you should just break-up using that little portable phone of yours, as I think I might have to lock you in our bedroom. Cordelia, you are not moving back to your parents and I am not sleeping on the couch." Angel said coolly. He was a man, a vampire, and this girl was not going to run his life. Angel was starting to feel the serious effects of not sleeping enough because he craved to know every inch of Cordelia's body, but the god damned curse kept him from that knowledge. He was so jealous of anytime that she spent away from him.
"And you think that would hold me?" Cordy said sharply.
"Well I would be busy holding you and keeping you in one place...so yes, I am pretty confident that you would stay where I put you." The thoughts of holding onto Cordelia and never letting her go ran through Angel's mind. It was what he desired and wanted more than anything. Angel grasped her shoulders firmly, pulling her a little closer to his body. He wanted to make a point about her being in his arms.
Cordelia gulped, the thought of Angel holding her and things going beyond the heavy petting stage, made her dizzy. Plus with him so close to her, all she could feel was his strength and passion. Maybe it was safe to tell him that Willow changed the curse. "You know I would talk you into letting me out. You can't beat me in a verbal warfare." Cordelia stated, she hated loosing an argument but standing this close to Angel made it hard to think straight.
Angel knew that ultimately he would give her whatever she wanted. "Well, I do know one way to shut you up Cordelia." Angel was tired or arguing, tired of being jealous, and he did the only thing he could think of, he claimed what was his, kissing her deeply.
Cordelia's head was spinning, in a good kind of way, the way that Angel knew how. He had a way of kissing her to the point where coherent thought was missing. She dropped the book to the floor, forgetting she was holding it.
Angel pulled away from the kiss, satisfied at Cordelia's reaction, "I am not sleeping on the couch." He stated then leaned back down and gave her a solid kiss, and pulled away. Cordy shook her head in agreement, after opening her eyes from that last intense kiss.
"You are ending it with Xander tonight." Angel stated following the demand by another deep kiss, this time he moved his hand up from her shoulder's to cup her face. Again Cordy shook her head in agreement.
"By phone Cordelia." Angel bent his head to kiss her again into agreement and Cordy pulled back, shaking her head no.
"Angel, I owe it to him to do it in person." Cordelia said in a calming voice.
Angel was trying to decide how hard to push her on this, and realized that it was her honorability that he loved about her, and that she was brave enough to face Harris in person. He nodded, agreeing to her condition.
"Angel when I get home," Cordy started, and then leaned in and kissed his lips quickly, "I need to tell you something." She leaned up and kissed him again, reaching her hand up to grasp the short hairs at the nape of his neck. She pulled away and looked up at him.
"Tell me now" Angel said, moving his head down to try and capture her lips again. With fighting with her for the past week, he had gotten in very few kisses and felt like a man in the desert dying of thirst for the taste of her mouth.
"It's a surprise that I think you are going to be happy to hear." Cordy said, deciding that tonight was the night she wanted to tell him she loved him, that the curse was gone, and that he could have her body.
"And what would that be, Cordy?" Angel asked, going back to the shortened version of her name, feeling his jealously subside, but passion rise. He wanted her so badly; he was dying not having Cordelia.
"Now that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" Cordy said a little coyly, feeling a bit like a tease. She leaned up and kissed him again, not able to help herself. She broke away from the kiss, knowing if they didn't stop she would never get out of there. The sooner she saw Xander, the sooner she could come back to Angel.
"I guess so; sure you don't want to phone him?" Angel asked one more time, hopping to get lucky with her response.
Cordy laughed bent down and picked up the book. The move gave Angel a nice view of her cleavage, and he smiled at the sight.
Cordy pushed the book back to him, "Finish reading your novel Angel, tonight you won't have time for any reading, I can promise you that." Cordy said, slightly seductively, wanting him to anticipate what the night would bring.
"I will hold you too that Miss Chase." Angel said, swearing that she was teasing him sexually.
...at the factory
Xander lay unconscious on the dirty bed in the basement of the factory. Willow sat to one side and watched Spike pace back and forth, muttering about his lost love Drusilla.
"You know I am only a new witch, and really have never done anything this powerful before." Willow thought that maybe reasoning him would work, heck it was worth a shot.
Spike smashed the whiskey bottle that he was holding and moved quickly in front of Willow starting to threaten her with the sharp glass. "Oh I have full confidence in you Red, cause if you fail the first time I will kill the boy."
"Ohh" was all Willow could eek out.
Spike moved and sat on the edge of the bed next to Willow, close to her, playing with the broken bottle in one hand. "How could she leave me? I mean, for a slimy demon, all because I helped the Slayer." He moved his free hand up to rub the back of his knuckle against Willow's collar bone. "You know it has been forever since I have had a woman." Spike leered at her, trying to decide if he wanted to kill her or turn the little witch in his drunken mind.
Willow pulled away, "Look Spike, I will do your spell, but there will be no killing of Xander, and no having of me." She said forcefully, enough to make Spike realize she was serious.
"Fine, so get brewing." Spike stood up, he didn't want the little human anyway.
"I don't have all the right ingredients; we will need to get more from the magic shop." Willow said looking at the small pile of stuff she had brought with her from the chemistry lab.
"Tell me what you need, and I will get it." Spike said, standing up and swaying a little. He was on his way to getting Dru back, he just knew it.
"...okay a dove feather...." Willow started listing things off, wondering how she and Xander were going to get out of this one alive.
....Back at Sunnydale High
"Oz, I thought we were meeting them here in the Chemistry Lab?" Cordelia asked, looking around and noticing that the lab looked trashed and no sign of either Willow or Xander.
"Me too, I smell blood, something has happened." Oz said, sniffing the air, his werewolf traits showing through even though he was in human form.
"Ewww gross, you're as bad as Angel. We should get Buffy." Cordelia had a sense that things had gone terribly wrong.
"Buffy's right here." Buffy said, as she came out from the gym and saw Cordelia and Oz standing at the entrance to the Chemistry Lab. "What happened?"
"We were supposed to meet Willow and Xander here, and look at this place, it is trashed." Cordy informed the Slayer.
"Someone or something got to them." Buffy presuming the obvious.
"Well duh." Cordelia couldn't help herself with that comment.
Buffy ignored Cordy's comment, her main concern was figuring out how to get to rescue her best friends. She instantly went into Slayer-in-Charge mode. "Oz, Cordy, why don't you head out to Whistler's Peak, Giles had a retreat he was going to, maybe we can catch him. I'll go get Angel and we will comb the city, his sense of smell might move things along faster."
Oz nodded, "I'll drive." And he started to leave the room, Cordy on his heels. Buffy went in the other direction to get to Angel for his help.
Two weeks after destroying the Glove of Mynhegon
Spike walked around the burned out factory. In one hand he held a half empty bottle of cheap whiskey and in the other he held a lit cigarette. He was alternating puffing on the smoke and sipping from the bottle. Spike slammed his bottle down on the table and then shouted his pain, "Why did she leave me, how could Dru fall for that slimy demon!"
"Maybe because you are a drunk?" Drew, the young fledgling vampire who had attacked Cordelia the other day at the Bronze said entering the factory.
"So what's it to you poof?" Spike asked, looking at the other vampire, squinting his eyes because he was so drunk that he thought there were two of them there.
"Well rumor on the streets is that you were a big bad at one point, but now looking at you," Drew looked him up and down, almost disgusted at Spike's state, "I would say that those were lies. Course now that Angelus is back in town, maybe I should see if he is looking for some help."
Spike flew across the room at the young vampire, and even in his drunken haze was able to push the vampire against the wall holding his neck with his forearm. "What do you mean Angelus is back?"
"He nearly killed me the other night, when I tried to feed on his new pet." Drew said, struggling in Spike grasp, kind of surprised that the other vampire in his drunken state was so strong.
"Pet, what pet?" Spike asked, knowing that the Slayer would never be mistaken for a pet.
"A leggy brunette who looked ripe for the taking, I wanted to turn her." Drew said, still squirming under Spike's hold.
Spike thought a moment and realized that it must be Cordelia. Maybe it was Angelus; given that Angel was the Slayer's lapdog, he would definitely go after the hot and well endowed brunette. "If you were a smart boy, I wouldn't play with Angelus' toys." Spike said shoving the other vampire away. He picked his whiskey bottle up off the table and took a swig.
"Well she wasn't marked yet, so I figure she is available to the first vampire who gets to her." Drew said dusting off his clothes, looking around at the burned out factory wondering why he ever thought this would be a good place to hang during the daylight hours.
"Don't be stupid, if you have been warned, and don't want to be turned to dust, I would stay clear of Angelus and his new pet." Spike said, wondering if Angelus was still as crazy as he had been a few months back.
"He wouldn't kill one of his own kind would he?" Drew asked.
Spike was pacing and thinking through an alcohol induced haze, "If Angelus is back, that means that Dru will come back to be with her Sire, and then I can get her back."
"Hey, I am into girls, okay man." Drew said taking a step back, thinking that white haired vampire was talking about him. Maybe he had enough time before daylight to find a better place to hang his hat.
"What, no not you, you Poof, I was taking about Drusilla." Spike said looking over the younger vampire, a tall skinny boy who was turned at the prime of geekdom. No, not my type at all, thought Spike.
"Oh, good, well, I am just going to get going. It is almost the witching hour, well I guess you wouldn't call sunrise the witching hour, but anyway." Drew said, starting to back out of the factory.
Spike was muttering again about getting Dru back, and was ignoring the young vampire as he backed out of the factory. "Now how would I get Dru back, and skip the whole Angelus bonding part, and have her come straight to me." Spike paced and drank. Then the young vampires words hit him...witching hour.
"Hold on a second, Poof," Spike said, cutting off Drew before he got to the door, "You are bloody brilliant, I will get a witch and have a love spell cast." Spike placed both his hands on Drew's shoulders and leaned in and kissed the other vampire on the cheek in a quick comradely sort of way. "Brilliant!"
Drew was completely in shock, and wondering what the crazy vampire was going to do next.
"Well, now I just need to get me a witch, and you are going to help me get Angelus here to bait the trap for Dru." Spike said.
"What are you talking about, why do you want to trap me?" Drew asked, looking perplexed at the drunken vampire.
"I don't want to trap you, hell, what is your name?" Spike said, again shoving away from the other vampire.
"Drew, and how am I supposed to get Angelus here, and why am I going to help you?" Drew asked, wondering if it made sense to put his lot in with this particular crazy vampire.
"Oh Bloody Hell, this is going to get confusing between my Dru and your name Drew. Well, Drew, the reason your going to help me is that I will stake you right here and now just for fun if you don't. Plus, I will let you have the Cheerleader once we get Drusilla back to me."
"Ah, now we are talking, how are you going to get a witch?" Drew asked.
"Oh that is easy, just go down to the Magic shop and pick one up." Spike said, laughing and taking another swig from the bottle. He was going to get his Drusilla back.
...late the following afternoon at Sunnydale's Magic Shop
"Hello Willow, how are you this fine afternoon?" The middle-aged Wicca shop keeper asked Willow as she looked up from the table of crystals and other odds and ends that she was dusting.
"Pretty good Sandy, I need a few supplies for a spell I want to perform, dove feathers, sage, and dragon's blood powder." Willow said, earlier that day she had reached a conclusion regarding her relationship with Xander...it had to end.
"Willow, it sounds like you want to do a love spell, is there someone you desire?" Sandy the shopkeeper inquired, loving the thought of young love. She heard the back door to the shop open an casually shouted over her shoulder, "Be right with you." She didn't look back to notice the white haired vampire entering her shop.
"No, not love, actually more of an anti-love spell, a de-lusting spell is what I need." Willow was sure that this was the only way she could fight her attraction to Xander Harris, especially since she had Oz and he had Cordelia.
"Ah then, you want canary feathers and not dove's feathers, unless you really want to have him detest you, then you would want to use a crow feather." Sandy said, a little matter-of-factly, as if discussing the recipe for chicken soup.
"No, don't want him to detest me, just want to not lust so much." Willow said, realizing she never wanted to loose Xander's friendship that she had had since the first day of kindergarten.
Sandy quickly moved around the shop, picking up the supplies Willow needed and then took them to the counter and rang them up on the old-fashioned register. "That will be $18.20. And good luck with your spell."
"Thanks Sandy, I appreciate the help, blessed be." Willow said, taking her purchases and heading out the door of the shop.
Sandy turned around to check on her other customer who had wandered in earlier. She walked to the back of the shop and saw the young man standing there, glaring at her. She could smell the alcohol on him, ohh dear, "May I help you?" She asked.
"Mmm, needed some help getting things for a spell, but I think that I have found a better option." Spike said, and then looked at the shopkeeper and licked his lips.
"Oh, well then if there isn't anything that I can do...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Sandy started to say, when she saw Spike vamp out and then lunge at her.
Spike moved quickly and sunk his fangs into her neck, taking a deep drink, draining her quickly. He pulled his head away, and with blood dripping from his lips, "I think I found me the perfect witch in Little Red," he pushed his mouth back to the shopkeeper and finished her off, completely draining her of her life force and blood. Spike licked his lips, and then dropped the woman. Now to follow the little witch, and get her to perform my spell for me.
...even later that evening at the High School Chemistry Lab
"So Willow, why are we meeting here?" Xander asked, coming into the chemistry lab of the High School where Willow was currently working, mixing some random items in a beaker, and getting ready to light the Bunsen burner. "And why does it smell like church in here? Evil church."
"Well, I had to finish some chemistry lab homework, and I figured the high school was central for everyone, so that we could all go bowling together, afterwards." Willow said a little nervously, referring to the double date she, Xander, Cordelia and Oz were going on tonight.
Xander wandered around the work table and looked at the assorted ingredients of the "homework" project and then started putting two and two together. "Hey, this isn't homework!" Xander said picking up the spell book Willow had opened. "You're casting a spell, a love spell!" Finally recognizing the ingredients from when he and Amy had cast the botched love spell last year.
"No not love, de-love, de-lusting, for us, you know so we stop, you know." Willow stuttered.
"No Willow, love spells are dangerous, and you are not doing one." Xander said firmly, not going down this road again, Magic Bad was his new motto.
"But...EEEEKK" Willow started, but then was shocked to see Spike standing at the entrance to the lab, looking evil as usual.
"Now there your wrong boy, because she definitely is going to do another spell, one to get me and Dru back together." Spike said, moving into the chemistry lab, moving to grab Willow.
Xander lunged at Spike, when he realized he was going after Willow and got in a couple good punches that didn't seem to do much to the vampire, other than annoy him. Spike shoved the boy away, and then picked up a heavy microscope off the back lab table and smashed it against Xander's head, knocking him out cold. He then turned to Willow his long black coat swishing as he moved.
"Now look here Red, you and me," Spike grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him emphasizing his strength, "and the putz, are going back to the factory, and you are going to get working on a love spell to bring Dru back."
Willow looked down at Xander's unconscious form and was grateful to see that he was breathing. She didn't say anything, not sure how to measure the behavior of this vampire.
"Get your books, and I will get the boy. Quick now, I want to get this started soon." Spike said, bending down and tossing Xander over his shoulder, ready to make his way back to the factory.
...across town at the Mansion
"Look, I am calling it quits with Xander, after we are done bowling with Willow and Oz." Cordy said to Angel, smoothing over a wrinkle in her light blue sweater. She had decided to go for the casual, high-school date outfit of a sweater and jeans. Cordy was a little sad that it was going to be over with Xander, but hadn't it been over for a while, she thought.
"'Bout time." Angel said, not looking up from the dusty old book he was reading, he and Cordy had barely been talking the past week, as she had not called it quits with Harris.
"I told you, I just needed to find the right time. Plus with everyone being so distant with you, I thought it would be better not to spring the whole "us" thing on them right away." Cordy walked over to the couch and stood before Angel. God Angel could make her crazy, she thought. He had his book open and was reading, or at least pretending to read, and ignoring her presence.
"Pfft," Angel said, not looking up from his book. He was mad at Cordelia, and also insanely jealous. The sooner she figured out that he was not going to put up with her still clinging to Harris the better.
He Pfft me, I can't believe it, this is it, Cordy thought, and then pulled the book out of Angel's hands, "Don't Pfft me Mister." Cordelia stood before him, in one hand the book Angel was reading, and the other hand balled into a fist and resting on her hip.
Angel stood up with lightning speed and was now looking down at her from his taller vantage point. The move had him just a hair's breathe away from Cordy, and he wasn't surprised that he could smell her aggravation and almost anger on Cordy's body rather than fear. She didn't fear him anymore, and something in him gloried in that feeling as well as made him angry that he didn't have control over her because of it.
"And what are you going to do about it, Cordelia?" He folded his arms over his chest and tried to give his most intimidating look.
"Well for starters, if you are going to not talk to me or worse, be rude, then you can just sleep on the couch tonight." Cordelia said firmly. Two can play his game.
Angel growled at the bold statement.
"Hmmm...or maybe I will just move back into my parent's house." Cordelia said, knowing that it was an empty threat.
"Maybe you should just break-up using that little portable phone of yours, as I think I might have to lock you in our bedroom. Cordelia, you are not moving back to your parents and I am not sleeping on the couch." Angel said coolly. He was a man, a vampire, and this girl was not going to run his life. Angel was starting to feel the serious effects of not sleeping enough because he craved to know every inch of Cordelia's body, but the god damned curse kept him from that knowledge. He was so jealous of anytime that she spent away from him.
"And you think that would hold me?" Cordy said sharply.
"Well I would be busy holding you and keeping you in one place...so yes, I am pretty confident that you would stay where I put you." The thoughts of holding onto Cordelia and never letting her go ran through Angel's mind. It was what he desired and wanted more than anything. Angel grasped her shoulders firmly, pulling her a little closer to his body. He wanted to make a point about her being in his arms.
Cordelia gulped, the thought of Angel holding her and things going beyond the heavy petting stage, made her dizzy. Plus with him so close to her, all she could feel was his strength and passion. Maybe it was safe to tell him that Willow changed the curse. "You know I would talk you into letting me out. You can't beat me in a verbal warfare." Cordelia stated, she hated loosing an argument but standing this close to Angel made it hard to think straight.
Angel knew that ultimately he would give her whatever she wanted. "Well, I do know one way to shut you up Cordelia." Angel was tired or arguing, tired of being jealous, and he did the only thing he could think of, he claimed what was his, kissing her deeply.
Cordelia's head was spinning, in a good kind of way, the way that Angel knew how. He had a way of kissing her to the point where coherent thought was missing. She dropped the book to the floor, forgetting she was holding it.
Angel pulled away from the kiss, satisfied at Cordelia's reaction, "I am not sleeping on the couch." He stated then leaned back down and gave her a solid kiss, and pulled away. Cordy shook her head in agreement, after opening her eyes from that last intense kiss.
"You are ending it with Xander tonight." Angel stated following the demand by another deep kiss, this time he moved his hand up from her shoulder's to cup her face. Again Cordy shook her head in agreement.
"By phone Cordelia." Angel bent his head to kiss her again into agreement and Cordy pulled back, shaking her head no.
"Angel, I owe it to him to do it in person." Cordelia said in a calming voice.
Angel was trying to decide how hard to push her on this, and realized that it was her honorability that he loved about her, and that she was brave enough to face Harris in person. He nodded, agreeing to her condition.
"Angel when I get home," Cordy started, and then leaned in and kissed his lips quickly, "I need to tell you something." She leaned up and kissed him again, reaching her hand up to grasp the short hairs at the nape of his neck. She pulled away and looked up at him.
"Tell me now" Angel said, moving his head down to try and capture her lips again. With fighting with her for the past week, he had gotten in very few kisses and felt like a man in the desert dying of thirst for the taste of her mouth.
"It's a surprise that I think you are going to be happy to hear." Cordy said, deciding that tonight was the night she wanted to tell him she loved him, that the curse was gone, and that he could have her body.
"And what would that be, Cordy?" Angel asked, going back to the shortened version of her name, feeling his jealously subside, but passion rise. He wanted her so badly; he was dying not having Cordelia.
"Now that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?" Cordy said a little coyly, feeling a bit like a tease. She leaned up and kissed him again, not able to help herself. She broke away from the kiss, knowing if they didn't stop she would never get out of there. The sooner she saw Xander, the sooner she could come back to Angel.
"I guess so; sure you don't want to phone him?" Angel asked one more time, hopping to get lucky with her response.
Cordy laughed bent down and picked up the book. The move gave Angel a nice view of her cleavage, and he smiled at the sight.
Cordy pushed the book back to him, "Finish reading your novel Angel, tonight you won't have time for any reading, I can promise you that." Cordy said, slightly seductively, wanting him to anticipate what the night would bring.
"I will hold you too that Miss Chase." Angel said, swearing that she was teasing him sexually.
...at the factory
Xander lay unconscious on the dirty bed in the basement of the factory. Willow sat to one side and watched Spike pace back and forth, muttering about his lost love Drusilla.
"You know I am only a new witch, and really have never done anything this powerful before." Willow thought that maybe reasoning him would work, heck it was worth a shot.
Spike smashed the whiskey bottle that he was holding and moved quickly in front of Willow starting to threaten her with the sharp glass. "Oh I have full confidence in you Red, cause if you fail the first time I will kill the boy."
"Ohh" was all Willow could eek out.
Spike moved and sat on the edge of the bed next to Willow, close to her, playing with the broken bottle in one hand. "How could she leave me? I mean, for a slimy demon, all because I helped the Slayer." He moved his free hand up to rub the back of his knuckle against Willow's collar bone. "You know it has been forever since I have had a woman." Spike leered at her, trying to decide if he wanted to kill her or turn the little witch in his drunken mind.
Willow pulled away, "Look Spike, I will do your spell, but there will be no killing of Xander, and no having of me." She said forcefully, enough to make Spike realize she was serious.
"Fine, so get brewing." Spike stood up, he didn't want the little human anyway.
"I don't have all the right ingredients; we will need to get more from the magic shop." Willow said looking at the small pile of stuff she had brought with her from the chemistry lab.
"Tell me what you need, and I will get it." Spike said, standing up and swaying a little. He was on his way to getting Dru back, he just knew it.
"...okay a dove feather...." Willow started listing things off, wondering how she and Xander were going to get out of this one alive.
....Back at Sunnydale High
"Oz, I thought we were meeting them here in the Chemistry Lab?" Cordelia asked, looking around and noticing that the lab looked trashed and no sign of either Willow or Xander.
"Me too, I smell blood, something has happened." Oz said, sniffing the air, his werewolf traits showing through even though he was in human form.
"Ewww gross, you're as bad as Angel. We should get Buffy." Cordelia had a sense that things had gone terribly wrong.
"Buffy's right here." Buffy said, as she came out from the gym and saw Cordelia and Oz standing at the entrance to the Chemistry Lab. "What happened?"
"We were supposed to meet Willow and Xander here, and look at this place, it is trashed." Cordy informed the Slayer.
"Someone or something got to them." Buffy presuming the obvious.
"Well duh." Cordelia couldn't help herself with that comment.
Buffy ignored Cordy's comment, her main concern was figuring out how to get to rescue her best friends. She instantly went into Slayer-in-Charge mode. "Oz, Cordy, why don't you head out to Whistler's Peak, Giles had a retreat he was going to, maybe we can catch him. I'll go get Angel and we will comb the city, his sense of smell might move things along faster."
Oz nodded, "I'll drive." And he started to leave the room, Cordy on his heels. Buffy went in the other direction to get to Angel for his help.