Author's Note:
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, here it is: the final chapter of 'Wolves'. It has been a long, strange journey, but it must come to an end. The story picks up right where we left off and just like I had stressed in my last note, it's bloody and will have all of you cursing my name.
I already started preparing the epliogue for this story, and can't hardly hold my enthusiasm for 'Redefinition'... the next and final chapter of this three-part odyssey. It's going to be an interesting turn of events for every character in Whedonverse, as they're all going to be put through major trials and tribulations, so don't leave now.
I have to thank in particular three people that have been greatly supportive through the writing of this tale and those are Aeryn's Tales, L-Fire, angelicGrace and Angel's Girl. You have been there for me when the muses abandoned me and stuck with this little tale and supported it through it all. For that I thank you. I hope to see you for the rest of it.
Now, without further ado... here's the conclusion of 'Wolves'. Hope you like it... it's certainly been a treat to write.
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Chapter XXI: The way we are.
He smells the air. It's saltier than usual. He wonders if it has any meaning.
He takes a few steps towards them and then stops. He puts his hand inside his jacket and takes out a cell-phone. He opens the lid and presses the "Send" button on the dial pad. Then putting it over his right ear, he looks away as he waits for a response.
Hamilton: (answering) "Yes. Clean sweep."
He closes the lid of his phone, then looks back at Lindsey and Wes as he puts it back inside his jacket. He fixes his tie as he twists his neck around.
Hamilton: "I must apologize for that. It's just procedure." (smiles) "You understand, don't you Lindsey?"
He closes his fists, cracking his knuckles in the process. As he opens his hands they can see a smidge of blood coming out of his nails and a dark colored gem encrusted in the palm of his hands.
Hamilton: "Now... where were we?"
Lindsey: "I don't know. You tell me."
Hamilton: "Hmm, I believe you're asking the wrong person."
Wes looks back at Lindsey. He puts his gun inside his jacket and produces a dark-silver colored sphere from his jacket's left outside pocket. He takes the sphere and throws it in the direction of Hamilton, and much to Lindsey's dismay, he catches with both hands and crushes it.
The explosion produces a large almost invisible wave that retracts as soon as it is being released. A light glow of blue energy flows from Wesley and into the black hole the artifact produced after its destruction. Lindsey looks at Wes then at Hamilton confused.
Lindsey: "What going on?"
Then, as if in response to his query, an engulfing shriek of anger is heard in the distance. His palms suddenly sweat from the panic. He takes several steps back towards the stairwell's entrance and looks at Wes. He recognizes the dreadful scream.
Wes: (breathes deeply) "He's coming."
Hamilton: (looking at his wrist watch) "And right on cue."
Wes: "Yes."
He turns back towards Lindsey.
Lindsey: (angry) "What's going on?"
Wes: (looks back at Hamilton) "You wouldn't understand."
Lindsey: "Understand what?" (pauses) "You're working with him?"
Wes: "Among other things."
Lindsey: "What the hell's going on?"
Wes: (pulls out his gun against him) "Are you seriously that mentally incompetent?"
Lindsey steps back a few steps.
Wes: (smiles) "Power, Lindsey. Control over circumstance. That's what I want... and that's what you wanted too." (pauses) "Does it sound familiar?"
Lindsey: "What're you talking about?"
Wes: "The reason you came here."
Lindsey ponders quietly on those words but can't seem to understand what he's saying.
Wes: (cont.) "Oh, right... the Senior Partners locked the information of them in your memory banks." (scoffs) "As convenient as it is, I think it was a waste of time."
Lindsey: (agitated) "I don't know what you're talking about."
Hamilton: (walks up behind Wes) "I'm sorry, but we have to get this underway... they're waiting for acknowledgement that it's done, sir."
Wes looks back at Lindsey and takes out a leather bag from inside his jacket. He walks over to Lindsey, pouring its dust-like contents into the palm of hand, and blows it on his face. The dust flows into his nostrils like the waters of a river into the great blue sea. Lindsey takes a step back sneezing from inhaling it, when it hits him like a shotgun blast to his head. He falls to the ground, shaking in pain as everything comes rushing back in.
He opens his eyes and struggles to stand up. He puts his mouth to his face and notices blood coming out of his nostrils. He looks at Wes and he's just staring at him with his hands in his pockets.
Wes: "Are you done?"
Lindsey: (breathing hard) "The Circle... you bastard... you're trying to get in, are you?"
Wes doesn't respond. Lindsey pushes himself to his feet.
Lindsey: (cont.) "That's why you did this? Spike, Illyria... Fred... what about them?"
Wes remains silent.
Lindsey: "What else did you do? Did you kill Angel too?"
Wes: "No... but I did order the mutilation of you girlfriend."
The shock and rage caused by these last words are enough to push Lindsey towards him but before he can even touch him, Wes raises his gun and points it in the direction of Lindsey's trachea, leaving him at arms length.
Lindsey: (calms down) "That's why he's coming here, isn't it? You're the reason he was brought here."
Wes: "That I am."
Lindsey: "How did you--?"
Wes: "That little bauble that Hamilton just shattered is a very rare and powerful object used to cloak its wielder from whatever it is he desires. I used it to shield my motives. The Arathma'aet knows and feels that the scales have been tipped... it just didn't know who was it that did it."
Lindsey: (under his breath) "Till now."
Wes: "Yes."
Lindsey: (remains quiet for a while) "He's gonna kill you."
Wes: "Perhaps."
Lindsey: "What about Hamilton?"
Wes: (looks back at Hamilton over his shoulder) "He follows orders... he understands what I'm doing."
Lindsey: "W-What about me?"
Wes: (smiles) "Haven't decided yet."
Lindsey: (scoffs) "So I take it those midnight suppers at the diner could really come in handy here?"
Wes: "Doubtful... I paid for most of them myself."
At that very moment the wind blows hard causing Lindsey to lose his balance. He looks behind Hamilton and sees a shadow crouched on the very ledge where Illyria and Spike had stood moments before. He fixes his gaze on the creature and takes a step back. He feels his heart pump harder than ever before. He looks at it and fears for the worst.
Wes turns around and in the blink of an eye Norin jumps straight at him, sword in hand. Wes takes a step back as it draws near his position, when a fist collides with its face. The Arthma'aet falls flat on the ground astonished by what had overcome it. Hamilton walks over to it and grabs it by the neck, lifting it off the ground and kicking the sword away from it. He crushes its neck within his grasp when his hands and forearm begin to gleam. Norin rattles himself trying to escape from his hold, but Hamilton's strength proves to be superior.
He drops him to the ground in a weakened state. Norin attempts to crawl away towards his sword, dragging its body as it wimpers in pain, but as it reaches for its weapon Hamilton stomps on his hand. He kicks Norin's ribs as it tries to stand up, leaving it entirely defenseless. Marcus grabs it by its arms and drags it to its feet once more, then repeatedly punches its stomach. The Arathma'aet blocks one of his blows, when it's knocked back by a fist to its face.
It tumbles back several steps trying to regain its bearings, when Hamilton approaches it again. The creature grits its teeth and prepares to launch itself against Marcus when he stops. From behind him, Wesley walks over to it. He extends his arm over it and his eyes turn dark.
Wes: "Incinerare."
As soon as the words come out of his lips the Arathma'aet bursts into flames. It twists and turns violently in pain, but slowly withers. As it dies, Hamilton steps back and Wes closes his hand. The flames are extinguished leaving a dark skeleton emitting smoke and ashes. Hamilton looks at it with certain disgust and wipes his hands as he walks away.
Lindsey witnesses the event and, with a resolve of survival, he takes out his pocket knife and morphs it into a broadsword. Wes turns around as Lindsey hammers his sword against him. He dodges in shock and drops his gun, just as Lindsey charges at him again swinging his weapon in full force.
The attack fails as Hamilton intercepts Lindsey with a tackle. Then, without allowing the prodigal lawyer to hit the ground, he hammers Lindsey repeatedly in his stomach. Blood pours out of his mouth with every blow he takes. Marcus slams his fist against his face and cracks his nose. Numbed by the attack, Lindsey begins falling to the ground. Hamilton grabs him by his shirt and pulls him close, then punches his face again.
Wes: "That's enough."
Hamilton looks over to Wes then drops Lindsey just as he was about to ram his face with his fist. Lindsey falls to the ground beaten and bloodied as Wes picks up his gun from the floor.
He walks up to Lindsey and taps Hamilton on the shoulder.
Lindsey: (coughing and chuckling) "Is this what you want?"
Wes: (breathes deeply) "So it seems."
Lindsey looks at the burnt corpse.
Lindsey: "I hate you... I fu--" (coughs)
Wes: "Yes well, I didn't expect to win any popularity contests after this debacle. Least of all with you."
Lindsey struggles to his feet.
Wes: (cont.) "Thanks for the coffee at the hospital."
Lindsey: (voice breaks) "You're not gonna let me beg, are you?"
He puts his gun to his forehead and pulls the trigger. His face turns pale as blood pours between his eyes and into his mouth. His arms fall flat beside him and his knees begin to tremble. Lindsey tumbles to the floor right at his feet. Wes looks at him, then holsters his gun inside his jacket.
Wes: "No."
-- The End. . .