Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you will stay with the story. Things are going to start making sense really soon with the book and the prophecy. It's an adventure, so it's going to take awhile. Willow and Giles are going to add another element to the story though.
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Chapter 10 Hide and Seek
Giles was the first to wake up. He was lying on the ground and as he opened his eyes it was clear that he was no longer in the library. Well, it wasn't surprising really. He was always being knocked unconscious. Only this time he didn't remember being hit.
Her heard a soft moan and realized that Willow was also lying on the ground a few feet away. He stood up and walked over to where she was laying. "Willow, wake up. I believe that we have a problem."
Willow was sure she was hearing a voice and opened her eyes to see Giles standing above her. Was she lying on the ground? What was that smell?
"It looks as if we have been transported somewhere. It seems as if that book did a whammy on us. I can't say the accommodations are first rate though." Just then there was a loud lightning flash and the deafening crash of thunder. They both were startled. "It also looks as if we have landed in the middle of a terrible storm. Yeah for us."
Willow took in what Giles was saying. He was right, it was storming and the roof of their shelter was leaking. It looked as if they were in a stable of some kind. That explained the smell.
"Well, at least we are together Giles. Thank heavens whatever transported us made sure of that anyway. I wouldn't have wanted to end up here alone." Just then she remembered Buffy and how she was alone when she went to the library.
"I believe this is some sort of barn. It really smells atrocious." Just then they heard a noise and a pig came snorting toward them as if they were invading his space. Giles jumped and then looked down at the creature that was grunting and pushing his nose in the mud that the water from the roof was making on the floor.
"Right, well it seems as if we are not wanted here. I am afraid that this place houses the animals and isn't meant for people. We should take a look around and see if we can find a way out of here and into more pleasant accommodations." Willow nodded her head in agreement and they made their way to a door near the back.
They reached the door and opened it slowly in fear of what might be waiting outside. Just then another bolt of lightning hit the ground nearly knocking them down. This was a terrible storm. They could barely make out the outline of a building in the distance through the sheets of rain. It looked like it could be a castle of some kind. A castle? Looks like we aren't in Kansas anymore. No surprise there I guess.
"I don't think we will be going anywhere in this downpour Giles. I think I see some sort of castle in the distance but it is quite a walk from here. This rain isn't helping our situation any. I think we will just have to wait it out." Willow didn't like this situation anymore than Giles but she wasn't walking out into that storm in a foreign place. Who knows what they will find when they get to the castle.
"I think you are right Willow. We should hide here for now. It seems safe enough. I think we should look around for some blankets or anything we can use to make our stay here more pleasant. Hopefully the storm will end soon and we can continue on our quest to find Buffy. Perhaps you will remember something from the book that will be helpful. It didn't seem to make the trip with us."
Giles had decided that Willow was right. It was dangerous to leave the barn for now. There might be guards or worse waiting for them at the castle and they couldn't defend themselves in this storm. Who was he kidding? They had no defenses at all and no plan of action. He knew he needed to come up with something before it was too late. He hoped Buffy wasn't out in this storm.
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Buffy was furious and just a little embarrassed. She stomped to the room and closed the door, leaning against it looking toward the ceiling. Am I crazy? I must be crazy to let Spike kiss me that way. What was he thinking? What was I thinking?
She sighed a very heavy sigh and proceeded to the bed. There it was. The bed. He better not think he was sleeping with her. No way was that happening. He could sleep on the floor or lay on the chaise lounge that was in the far corner of the room.
She heard the crackling of a warm fire and turned to see that a fire had been started in the fire place. The room was warm and cozy. How kind of Julian. He must have had the servants make a fire while they were eating. She walked over to the fireplace and let the warmth of the fire relax her tired muscles from the stress of the day. She hadn't had to fight anything since she had been here, but her muscles were as tight as rubber bands.
Just then the door opened and Spike came in. He glanced at Buffy as she stood in front of the fireplace but didn't say a word. He headed toward the dressing screen and picked up a book of matches next to a wash basin on the table. He lit a cigarette and sat down in a beautiful large chair with clawed feet. He glanced at Buffy again and then bent his head down, rubbing his hands through his hair.
Buffy pretended not to notice his entering the room. She continued to warm her body near the fire. Maybe if she closed her eyes this would all just be a bad dream and she would wake up in her bed in Sunnydale.
He sat there in silence for a few more minutes, taking a drag from his cigarette and rubbing his face with his thumb. She could hear him exhale the smoke. He was contemplating what to say, she knew that. She hoped he would just be silent and get his things and go to sleep. She didn't want to deal with him right now. She just wanted to continue with the original plan. She needed to quietly snoop around and see if she could find any clues as to why they were here.
"Buffy, love, I think we need to talk about what just happened." There it was. He just couldn't leave it alone. She sighed another heavy sigh and finally turned to look at him.
He looked so human sitting there smoking a cigarette in his fancy clothing. She knew better though, and that is what she had to keep reminding herself. He was still a vampire and no matter how much she might want to, she couldn't let him get too close to her. Not in her heart where it mattered. They could pretend all they wanted to, but it could never be for real. She needed to hide that from him no matter what.
She stood looking at him trying to get her thoughts together. "Look, it's late and I still need to search the castle for information. I don't really want to discuss this now. I'm tired Spike. Can we just leave it at that?" Her defeat could be heard in her voice. She was pleading with him to drop this discussion for now.
"I don't think put'in this off until later is helpful pet. I think we need to get this out in the open good and proper. I have some stuff I have been want'in to talk to you about for awhile now. Maybe now is as good a time as any." He wasn't sure if it was the liquor talking or if he was just bloody nuts but he was putting himself out there. It didn't look like Buffy was going to take the bait. She put her hand over her eyes.
"Spike, please, not now. I don't want to get into this with you now. You have had too much to drink and we are both going to say things that we will regret tomorrow. We still have to work together here. Let's not make it any harder for each other." She was being serious now. He could see that. He decided that she wasn't ready and to push it any further would be suicide. He wasn't quite ready for that yet.
"Fine love. I'll drop it for now. But you can bet this isn't the last you are gonna here from me on this subject. I'm not forget'in about it anytime soon." He saw the look of relief on her face.
"No, Spike, I am too sure you won't forget. I just want to go search a little and see what I can find and then get some sleep. I don't remember when I slept last. It seems like we have been here for days." She looked tired. He would help her patrol the castle and then they could get some shut eye until tomorrow.
"I'll help you patrol. We can search a few rooms tonight. I am sure that the prince has settled in for the night. As long as we avoid the servant girls we should be fine. I haven't seen anyone else about since we have been here." Spike was using his soft voice now. She knew he wanted to help and that he wouldn't take no for an answer. It wouldn't make sense to argue about it. She didn't have the strength or the time.
"Good. We'll start with that dragon on the front door. I know that I have seen it somewhere before." She couldn't quite place it but she knew that the dragon head looked familiar. Usually to her all dragons were the same. Fire breathing and dangerous. This one was different and she needed to get another look at it.
Spike nodded and they headed back out the door and into the hallways, seeking answers.