Thanks to everyone for the reviews. I appreciate that you are still reading and enjoying the story.
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Chapter 15 Familiar Faces
Buffy felt a little better when she finally got back to their room. She was able to find what looked to be a bathroom after their visit to Anne's room and managed to freshen up a bit. It had only been one day here but she was feeling like they had been there a week. She hadn't taken a bath and she was starting to feel icky. It didn't hurt to freshen up a bit before breakfast with Julian. She needed to at least appear that she had gotten a good nights rest.
Spike had gone on to the room without her. He knew she would take some time cleaning up and he was anxious to make sure no one had been to the room looking for them. He was waiting for her when she finally arrived.
"Well, I thought maybe you fell in slayer. You get yourself all beautified then?" Spike was looking her up and down now in his usual fashion. "Not that you don't always look beautiful, love."
Buffy managed to blush even though she tried not to. He was always saying something that bothered her no matter how hard she tried to ignore it. She was also a little embarrassed that somehow his opinion of her looks mattered to her. She wasn't sure why.
"Yes, it felt good to clean up a bit. You should try it as well." Spike was frowning now. Did the slayer think he smelled? Vampires didn't sweat. She knew that. He started to smell himself and then decided she was pushing his buttons now. Maybe he could use a shower but it wasn't like this was the Ritz. If it was he would have ordered room service by now.
Just then there was a light knock at the door. Buffy motioned for Spike to wait and she went to answer the door. It was one of the servant girls with a small bag.
"Sorry to bother madam, but the prince has asked that I deliver this to you this morning. He said it was important that you receive it first thing. I am also to tell you that the morning meal will be served in a half hour." The girl looked nervous but very polite. Buffy took the bag from her.
"Thank you very much." Buffy was a frowning a little now. Why did this girl look so familiar?
"Do we know each other?" It came out before Buffy could think of what she was asking. The girl shifted her feet and stammered a little.
"I…I don't think so madam. I need to go now. There's lot's to be done in the kitchen." The girl hurried away before Buffy could ask anything more.
Buffy shut the door and came over to the bed to look through the bag. She opened it slowly and inside was a bottle of blood and supplies for transfusion. Julian had remembered her request.
Spike saw the blood as soon as she removed it from the bag. "Looks like the prince is a man of his word. Guess that would be my breakfast then." He walked over and took the bottle from Buffy's hand. "Been a long time since I have seen blood in this kind of container."
Buffy wasn't really listening. She was remembering the servant girl and how her face had looked so familiar. She had to think. The pictures that Giles had shown her. She thought that the girl had looked like one of the pictures.
"Spike, I think that maybe that servant girl is one of the missing girls from Sunnydale." Spike had been inspecting the bottle and then turned to look at Buffy.
"Really? Are you sure Buffy? They all look alike to me with their little servant outfits on. I don't see how you are tell'in them apart from each other."
"I'm pretty sure. I looked her right in the face and I am almost positive she is the same as one of the girls in the pictures that Giles showed me. I wonder if the others are here in the castle too?"
"I guess we will just have to keep our eye out then. It just keeps gett'in more interest'in here by the minute slayer." He was picking the supplies up now and looking at them intently.
"Spike. I hadn't really given it much thought before now but I am sure you realize by now that the blood is human blood." She was looking at him seriously and he knew what she was implying.
"Don't worry slayer. I don't think one pint of human blood is going to make me all grrrrr." He was holding his hands out like claws now and making his funny scary face. It had almost made her laugh. She didn't though because this was a serious issue that she had not considered.
"I know that you need the blood, but I don't want you going all crazy on me here. We have lots of things to find out yet. We have to be together on this. I need you to be at your best. I have another plan."
Great. Yet another plan. "If it involves me wear'in more ridiculous clothes I am out slayer. I have been humiliated enough to last me an eternity." He was bluffing of course. At this point he was pretty much willing to do anything for her, but he wasn't about to let her know that.
"No, nothing like that. It's just that we need more time here and I think the only way is to tell the prince that you are not well enough to travel yet. I am hoping that he will understand that you need your rest and with this being your first transfusion it should be very believable."
The old Spike is ill thing again. This was getting embarrassing for him but he knew she was right. They didn't have anywhere else to go and the key to them getting home surely had to be here in this castle. They needed an excuse to stay.
"Alright slayer. I will play the weakling this time. Just don't expect it to be forever. I have a reputation to uphold you know." She knew it was taking a lot for him to agree to this plan and she was going to be grateful about it.
"Good, it's a deal then. I'll tell Julian when we go to breakfast. You had better get to drinking that so we can get going. I don't want to be late. Do you need any help?" She was trying to be nice now. He was playing nice and it wouldn't hurt her to reward him a little.
"I think I got it slayer. I have been around a bit longer than you. I can take care of myself. Just don't watch me." Spike was a little agitated but he knew she meant well.
Buffy decided to go make the bed. She was sure the servants would be back to do it but it wouldn't hurt to be a good houseguest. After all, Julian had been so kind to them.
They would go to breakfast soon and she would tell Julian that William needed a little more rest before traveling further. They wouldn't be able to keep this excuse up long so they needed to find some answers today. William, yes she would have to remember to call him that.
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Mr. Hargis was pacing the floor in his apartment. His plan was not going as well as he had hoped, but he did manage to get the slayer to cooperate to his liking. It was all coming together as long as that vampire didn't put a wrench in it. He needed to make sure that he didn't mess everything up.
He went to a painting in his bedroom and pulled it out from the wall. Behind the painting was a mirror. It was very intricate in detail with symbols all around the outside. He stood their silently for a few minutes and then began chanting.
"Oh sacred one. Keeper of the Dead. King of all lands known and unknown. I call to you now." He was speaking to the mirror that held his own reflection and nothing else.
Suddenly the mirror turned a smoky white and a face appeared. It looked like a dragon with some human features. It spoke to him.
"Who dares to call me?" The dragon did not look happy and Mr. Hargis appeared to be a little scared but began to speak.
"I…I am sorry King Ryman. It's me, Mr. Hargis. I have important news for you." He was still nervous but he held his ground.
"Very well. Speak." The creature was silent now and Mr. Hargis continued. "I am afraid that I have some bad news your highness. It seems that a vampire has entered the castle along with the slayer. He wasn't supposed to be with her. It wasn't my fault."
"I am already aware of your mistake Hargis. It has been taken care of. It won't be long now. I will have my sweet Anne with me again and I will rein terror on those who have wronged us."
Mr. Hargis was shaking now. He hated delivering bad news and now he had more to deliver. "I am afraid that I have more bad news to share. Two of the slayers friends found the book and have been transported as well."
The King was angry now. "Can you do nothing right Hargis? Must I take care of everything?"
"I….I am sorry. It was not supposed to happen. I gave strict instructions to my contact at the library that no one else should know about the book after the slayer. She…she told them anyway sir. I will make sure that she is punished." Mr. Hargis was stammering again. Stupid girl. He knew she would screw up sooner or later. She had come to him after the first few girls went missing. She was too soft for the job and he knew that. He didn't have any other choice but to use her.
"Yes, make sure you do that Hargis. I know nothing of the slayers friends. Are you sure they were transported here?"
Mr. Hargis was sure of it. Mary had told him what happened to the watcher and the witch. They could be trouble if they found out what was going to happen. He didn't need any more trouble. The King was already angry at him.
"I am sure your highness. Maybe they have not made their way to the castle yet."
The King was not happy. He didn't need anyone messing up his plan. He would have Anne back again. "I will take care of them when they arrive. Nothing will get in my way. You make sure that there are no more mistakes."
The mirror went smoky white again and then back to Mr. Hargis' reflection again. He stood there for a minute and then moved the painting back to cover the mirror.
He knew he had made a few mistakes but it seemed as if things would be ok. At least he hoped they would be, for his sake. The King was not a forgiving man and the curse had surely made him less forgiving. It hadn't helped that Anne had been cursed as well. The King loved her and would make sure that she was cured and he was released from his hell. That much he was sure of. Hargis just hoped that he still had his life…..and his skin when all this was over. Yes, hoped and prayed that he would.