Chapter Five – Tough Love
"We've been walking strait for days. Cant we take a brake?" Spike groaned as the climbed yet near the fifth sand dune in the past hour.
"Sorry friend, but we have to keep moving" Roho wheezed, just as tired as Spike.
"No kid, we are taking a brake. You're not the Energizer Bunny you know"
"Energizer what?"
"Never mind"
They parked themselves for a rest in minimal shade, pleased to see that the sun was just starting to set. From near pure exhaustion, Spike flopped back, not even feeling the sharp pinpricks of searing pain as the little grains of burning hot sand started biting into his back.
"So, tell me about yourself kid. If we're to get along better, I'd like to at least know I'm not walking into an elaborate booby-trap" Spike said as he sat up and dusted of his back.
"Oh no worries about that friend" Roho quipped. "If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead"
"Sure" Spike nodded along, making his voice sound as much unconvinced as possible.
"Then where should I start. I'm the second son of the chief. My soul reason is to guide the Chosen One into the Dark Heart to fulfill the prophecy. Because of my involvement in the prophecy itself, the Council of Watcher took it upon themselves to educate me. I learned everything imaginable – too much actually. The more I learned, the wiser I got and led to loosing control over me. I found out things that man living or dead knows – the truth about almost everything. So as my knowledge grew, so did my distrust of the Council"
Roho looked as if he had wanted to say this all for years. Now that the tap had been turned on, then was no way of stopping it till it all run out.
"I fled from them and returned home to be where I belonged, but found that I had never really belonged there in the first place" he paused and then sighed dejectedly. "All I was to my family was the willing sacrifice – once I led the Chosen One to his destiny, I was practically cannon fodder"
"The prophecy... what does it say we do?" the blond was genuinely interest to know why all this had turned out the way it had.
"I led you, you end the curse. The Vapiris are free and old wounds are healed"
"But how does it go exactly?"
Roho just rolled his eyes exasperatedly and then began to recite the prophecy, the one that he had grown up expecting all his short life.
The Child of the Sun shall lead, the Soul of Destiny
Into the Heart of Eternal Darkness
The One with of the Blessed and the One of the Damned
Of both Worlds he shall bring back the light
The Curse that was wrought will be ended
And Tyrants of the World shall be no more
With a sacrifice of purest Love
The Ruby stone shall brake
Spike was lost in thought, softly muttering to himself. And Tyrants of the World shall be no more... Then he looked up to stare at the dark skinned boy sitting next to him with his mouth hang open on its hinge.
"You mean to say if I succeed, then all vampires will become human again!"
"Yes, if you succeed" Roho nodded and then continued the prophecy.
But if the Hallowed Moon is allowed to Rise
The Never-ending Night shall reign
And the blood the Innocent will pour down like crimson rain
Till the deadly Immortal thrust is quenched
"Well that was positive" Spike grumbled. "Hell, if I was still a vampire, I'd say screw it and wait for the smorgasbord"
"Well, wake me up in the morning"
Spike turned to Roho, but laughed when he found that the boy was already passed out cold on the sand. So... it would be him pitching the tent alone tonight after all.
"Okay, so where should I begin?" Buffy started and she marched back and forth in front of everyone that was her attentive audience.
"So I'm pregnant, the first slayer to actually accomplish getting herself knocked up and yes Spike is the father. But he's in Africa right now. Why? Because he heard of a demon that could give him his soul back – for me" she glared at those that started to speak out and then got the silence back. "But he got more then just that, he became human too and he's –"
Angel was trying desperately to keep a strait face, while Wesley jumped into to argue about what the Shanshu Prophecy said. But Buffy angrily shushed the former watcher with a warning look that read 'Do you really want to get the pregnant lady mad right now?'
"Now to continue from where I was rudely interrupted; he's dying. How do I know all this? Well we are connected through dreams. He told me that it has something to do with the fact that he's both living and dead at the moment because he still has his demon. So to wrap this all up, I need to find a way into Africa. Can anyone help me?"
"I can Sweetheart" Lorne smiled raising a hand.
Then all eyes turned expectantly to the green demon. If Lorne could blush, you couldn't really notice a change, but he was blushing like mad at that moment.
"You can?" Buffy grinned, her first real smile.
"Sure thing precious, I own a small privet jet. I could take you there myself"
Buffy squealed excitedly and ran over to give him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek – aside from Spike, Angel (at times) and Clem; he was the nicest demon she had ever met.
"You have a privet jet?" Cordelia gapped incredulously. "And you never told me?"
"Well that's what 'privet' means doesn't it Sunshine?" Loren just grinned at the gob smacked seer. "So I can only take five people. One is myself, second is Buffy here and third would be Dawn – I know that she hates to be left behind. So you'll have to pick two more honey"
Buffy looked out over everyone, while Dawn rushed forward to completely copy Buffy in hugging Lorne, only tighter if that was possible – she really liked him; he was cool.
"Well I guess you should be coming Angel, you are the one I came here for help from"
"Then Connor has to come too. I have to keep an eye on he, or he'll tare the place apart" Angel nodded respectively with mild distaste.
"Hey! I resent that!" Connor snapped indignantly, crossing his arms. "I am not a child, so you can't treat me like one!"
"Connor..."
"Stephen!" the boy hissed.
"Connor, if my memory is correct, not to long ago you were trying to kill me. If that's not childish, I don't know what is. You'll be coming if you like it or not"
"You just make sure that Peebrain stays away from me" Dawn grimaced. "Or he'll really be feeling pain before I'm through with him"
"I'd like to see you try it" Connor snapped.
"Does anyone know how to conjure an instant replay? Listen buddy, you are not match for me"
"Sooo..." Buffy smiled trying hard to ignore her sister. "When do we leave?"
"Whenever you feel is right" Lorne replied.
"As soon as possible"
"Then I guess I gotta start packing"
"Umm..."
"Yes?"
Lorne stopped to look back at Buffy as the other were already begging to leave and go about their business.
"That yellow and purple... it soo clashes with your skin"
"Thanks, just the way I like it!"
They all threw together some cloths and then waited for nightfall. They head out with many and minimal farewells, leaving Cordelia in charge of Angel Investigations. It wasn't a long before Lorne directed them to the Los Angeles Airport.
Buffy and Dawn's mouth's almost fell open in shock once they were aboard the jet. This was luxury at its finest – something they had been desperately wanting from almost a year and a half since their mother past away. This thing five recliner seats, a big screen T.V. and a Playstation!
Lorne started making jokes about in flight movies and food, and then going elaborately into taking about show business with Dawn listen in. Connor parked himself in one of the chairs, completely ignoring everyone around him while he tried to read a book. Then it was just Buffy and Angel – they were still on a basic no speaking term and satisfied themselves by sitting back and watch a classic Broadway musical (it was all that Lorne had). All in all, this was going to be one long trip...
"Oh my god, this world is going to hell!" Cordelia groaned once Buffy, Angel and the others had left.
"You got that right" Gunn replied as he set to parking himself on steps of the lobby beside her.
"It's not that bad is it?" Fred looked kind of queasy at the thought.
"No, it already is" Wesley sighed in his oh so British way.
"Why can't we just get a brake for once?" that was one thought they were all thinking right now.
The lives of heroes – they always stank. The four remaining members of the AI Gang where hopeless with out their 'fearless leader'; they could take care of themselves all right, but it was true that without him, things were going to get a lot harder. Then just to commemorate the occasion Cordelia felt like she had just been hit by a truck as she was slammed head first into a vision.
Her three friends had no idea how to help the thrashing seer as she cried out in agony, holding her head. The flashes of events yet to come burned deep, causing her to scream. From her eyes blood streamed down like crimson tears. Helpless... they were all helpless. It took a ten crazy minutes for the visions to end. The seer was wrapped tightly in Fred's arms sobbing. When she finally opened her eyes, albeit painfully – they all saw that the whites of her eyes had turned completely red, all the blood vessels have broken.
"Shhh... it's... its okay, its okay" Fred stuttered, but she was nearly crying herself.
"We have to call an ambulance" Wesley said softly looking a Gunn. "You go get a pillow and a blanket, I'll make the call"
The two men rushed to do their duties, leaving Fred alone with Cordelia still inert in her arms, rocking back and forth. Then Cordy's lips started to move but barely any sound came out. Fred had to lean right over so that her ear was right near Cordelia's mouth in order to hear what she was trying to say.
"They... have... to...win, the whole...world depends – depends on them. I..." more tears trickled down, staining her stark white face. "I saw what the – what the world will... be like...if they don't succeed. Spike...he's the only one – the only one that can save us, but...he could also be the one to destroy us all. The darkness if he fails...will swallow him up..."
Gunn had returned to place the pillow under her head and the blanket over her and then he rushed off to wait for the ambulance with Wesley out front. With a cough that brought up blood, Cordelia forced herself to finish what she had to say to Fred.
"...Someone has to warn Buffy. She has to know who close to failing he is. She told me...about her dreams...then maybe she could warn him..."
"Hush now... save your strength" Fred whimpered, tears pouring steadily down her cheeks. "We still need you"
"I know...but you have to strong... for me"
Then her voice gave out completely. It was a minute later that the ambulance arrived and the all left the hotel, feeling very uncertain about the future to come.
Hello everyone! I'm so glad that you all like the story and I anyone wants to make suggestions, go right a head. I am rather surprised because this is my first attempt at a romance – but this is so much fun and you all help a lot.
It took some careful thought as I went through the suggestions in my reviews and I've come to a decision, but I'll keep it secret to just what I'm going to use and when. But I'd like to make a special thanks to ReiSkye, Lily2122, AthleticCharmedOne and Amandamanda3 for giving me the main ideas – I spiced your four together!