Thanks everyone for the reviews. I am back from vacation so the story continues. Hope you are still enjoying it!
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Chapter 21 Lost and Found
Xander and Oz had been searching for hours. The table was strewn with books, some opened, and they both looked tired. "You know, this is always easier when Giles is here. It seems like we always manage to find the solution. This research stuff is harder than it looks." Xander was scratching his head at their lack of information.
Oz was tired and had put his head on the table. He raised his head just as Xander finished his sentence with "information". "Information? Did you say that you found some information?" It was clear that they were at their wits end. So far they had not found one piece of information on the Keeper of the Dead or the king. However, Oz did manage to get an address on Mr. Hargis after much surfing. The Internet had proved to be very helpful.
Just then Anya came over to the table. "So, Xander, are you taking me out to lunch or what? I am done here and I only need a moment to close the shop. I am ready for a pleasant lunch with my boyfriend." Anya was especially pleased with herself. She was very happy about running the Magic Box by herself and thought she was doing a wonderful job.
"Honey, I can't go out to lunch. I told you I need to find out about this Keeper of the Dead book. It's important." Xander was tired and trying to be understanding but Anya could be trying at times.
"But I'm important too. I have been running things while Giles has been gone and I want to go out for lunch." She was standing with her hands on her hips and doing that pouty thing again.
"Look, Oz and I have to stay until we find this information. Go get yourself something. We will watch the shop until you get back. As a matter of fact we could use some food as well." Xander was losing patience fast and decided getting rid of her before he lost his temper would be the good route to take here. No harm in asking her to bring them some food. They needed to keep up their strength after all.
"Fine, you need the information then here." She walked over to the stack of books, searched through them and took one out and placed it in front of her. She scanned the pages, stopping about a third of the way through the book, and then handed it back to Xander.
"Here, now can we go to lunch?" Xander looked down at the pages that Anya had opened to and there it was in plain site. He read a little and then looked over to Oz. "This is it Oz. It looks like this is what we have been looking for."
Anya was a little miffed. "Of course it is. You just have to look in the right book of course. I have seen many prophecy books in my hundreds of years as a demon and I sort of have a knack for finding things. It's really not that difficult Xander." Xander was looking a little angry now.
"You mean we have been looking here for hours and you knew how to find it all along?" He was looking at her directly now with aggravation in his eyes. Anya shifted a little and then stammered. "Well, you never asked for my help."
Xander sighed. "Never mind. We don't have time to debate this. I only hope that there is something here to help us." He took the book over to Oz and they began reading the text.
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Giles and Willow had searched the other rooms in the hallway and found nothing. They decided to make their way back to their room. They were locked in and they weren't sure why.
"Giles, do you think that the prince locked us in on purpose? I didn't think that he suspected anything. He was so nice to us and gave us this neat room and food and everything. I really thought he bought our lost father and daughter story." Willow was sitting on the bed now with her hands in her lap.
Giles continued to pace the room some more. He needed to come up with a plan but it wasn't coming. "I am not sure Willow. He could have been pretending to buy our story. We don't exactly blend in here you know. We can't get out so we should spend some time searching this room some more. Maybe something will come up. I honestly don't know."
Willow nodded her head. Giles didn't know any more than her and that didn't make her feel good. He was usually the one with the plan. They hadn't seen Buffy yet either and that made her nervous as well. "Do you think that they have Buffy locked up in another wing somewhere? Maybe she is trapped and can't get out."
Giles had already thought of that but hadn't said anything. Willow was a smart girl. He knew she would think of it sooner or later. "I thought of that as well Willow. I am sure if she is trapped then she is looking for a way out as we should be. Perhaps you can get out what magic supplies you do have and we will think of something." He hated to resort to magic but he secretly hoped that Willow had something useful and that she would be able to use it.
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Her whole body hurt. She felt the cold hard floor against her cheek and realized something was wrong. She opened her eyes and found that she was on the floor.
Slowly her limbs began to move and she was able to push herself up into a sitting position. Suddenly a pain shot through her neck and she reached up to find the wound there. Then it hit her…..Spike.
She reached up to the side of the bedspread and grabbed it to help her up. "How long have I been on the floor" she said aloud. It echoed in the room with no answer. Spike was lying on the bed in the same spot she remembered. She shook him to try to wake him up. Hopefully he was just passed out or sleeping and not………..dead.
"Spike, wake up. Are you alright? Speak to me." Buffy was shaking him more now. He had blood on his mouth. Her blood. She had hoped this plan would work. If he was dead then it was all for nothing. She was starting to panic.
Just then there was a moan and some movement. He opened his eyes slowing and looked right at her. "What's all the sodding fuss slayer? Can't a man get some shut eye? He was waking up and he was already sounding like his old self.
"Spike. Thank god you're alive. Are you feeling better?" Buffy was touching his forehead checking for fever and looking him over like an old mother hen. He was finding it quite amusing.
"Much better thanks. I guess a good dose of slayer blood is the cure all for what ales me huh slayer. I'll have to remember that next time I start feeling a little less than perfect." He was raising his eyebrows up and down and giving her that smug grin. She determined he definitely was feeling better and her plan had worked. Maybe a little too good.
"I am glad you can laugh at this Spike. You almost died and I could have died as well you know." She put her hand up to her neck again as if to check and make sure the wound was still there.
He noticed her covering the bite mark with her hand and the fuzzy memories of what had happened came back to him. He remembered how her skin had felt and the rush of her blood. He remembered how weak he was and how she had held him so he could drink from her. He would never forget the closeness he felt and how she had risked her life to save his.
His thoughts returned to the present and he looked at her with glassy eyes. "Right love, you could have left me to die. Why didn't you?" Spike was back to being serious now. She brought it up so he decided the door was open for the question. Buffy was looking a little uncomfortable now.
"I couldn't let you just die. It's sort of my fault you are here in the first place. I didn't want to be left here alone. I need you just in case we need to fight our way out of a situation." That was the truth she thought. He didn't need to know everything. If she told him it would hurt her if he would have died then he would surely use that against her. That was just Spike.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the sit on the bed with him. He knew it was too soon for her to admit why she had helped him. "Look, Buffy, I know that it took a lot to let me do that. I'm grateful for it, for whatever that's worth. It means a lot that you would try to save me after all we have been through together." He was looking into her eyes and she knew he was being sincere. A sudden look of concern crept over his face. "Are you sure you are ok?" He was embarrassed he hadn't thought to ask her before now.
Buffy was becoming more uncomfortable and didn't want things to get more complicated right now. She let go of his hand, stood up, and headed for the water basin near the dressing screen. She took a small towel and dipped it in the water and dabbed at her neck wound. "I'm fine. A little weak but I'll be fine. I need to find out what's going on and you need to rest. You are not one hundred percent yet but you will be soon. You get some rest and then get cleaned up. I am going to talk to Julian." She quickly discarded the towel and opened the bedroom door to leave and noticed something shiny on the floor just outside the door. She leaned down and picked it up.
The key was silver and sort of looked like a skeleton key but with a dragon's head. She turned back to Spike and then came back inside the room and shut the door. "There was a key on the floor Spike. It's a key with a dragon's head like the one on the front door. I wonder if someone left it here for me to find." She studied the key carefully.
Spike looked at her from across the room. "I think you should wait until we can go out together Buffy. Just give me a few hours. I'll be right as rain."
"I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself Spike. I am going to take a walk and see what I can find out. You rest." With that Buffy left the room before Spike could argue.
Spike laid his head on the pillow. He was still tired and he needed to be his best for Buffy. He didn't like her going out alone but she could handle herself. She had done a wonderful brave thing for him today. She could have died trying. Thank heavens the chip didn't activate and he was able to take just enough blood and not drain her. He wanted her alive and well. His feelings for her were deepening and he hoped that he would be able to convince her that she had feelings too. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.