Come Dance With Me by Marianne Part 16
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(Oh, wow, thanks for all the feedback guys - it's really heartening to know that you are still enjoying this)
msu suggested that I do a kind of "recently on Come Dance with Me" (because I'm so slow in updating) I decided to do a short resume and (if you think it's helpful) will put it on the top of every new chapter. Here goes:
Spike, kidnapped by a mad millionaire Laurence Mills (whose forebears Spike has massacred) and taken to England, is forced to fight other demons to prepare him for his last fight - against the slayer. Said slayer (and her watcher) is given a "free vacation" to England by the Council and fooled into accepting an invitation to the millionaire's house. Instead of fighting Spike, she and Giles help him to escape and all three of them go on the run. They go to one of Giles' friends and there meet his housekeeper - Hilda - who is a very powerful witch. The "friend" betrays them to Mills but with Hilda's help Spike escapes while Mills holds Buffy & Giles at gunpoint. Spike in turn rescues them and in the process is shot, Hilda manages to subdue Mills & his henchmen and then gives the vampire a magical ward. Saying goodbye to the witch, they make their way to London and the underground system, where Spike has a contact who can forge some papers to allow him to return to the States. They discover that a professor with an interest in magic and monsters has been employed to de- vamp the London underground. They are captured and Spike is nearly killed when professor Mackness' workers try to remove the ward. Hilda, who now has a mystical connection through the ward to Spike, frees him. Mackness realises that Spike is different from any vampire he has so far seen and invites the four of them to stay with him. Spike, weary of being repulsed by Buffy goes to live with Hilda. Unfortunately, Hilda's coven are at her house and she has to pretend to have him captive to get them off the scent. One of her rivals, who would like to lead the coven in her place, casts a spell that makes Spike revert to demon and he attacks Hilda who has to try more and more powerful magic to counter. They escape, Spike is forced to attack the witch again, who uses up all her magical energy to fight him off. When Spike regains his mind, he takes the unconscious witch back to the professor's house. They all decide that Spike needs to be kept under lock & key in case he attacks anyone else. Buffy takes some blood to him, and while they are sitting together, another spell is cast and Spike attacks and bites her neck, only stopping when the chip reacts.....
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Buffy gazed down at the vampire resting on her lap. Blood was still seeping from his ears and nose and, although now he was deeply unconscious, he was twitching and trembling, obviously still in great pain.
"Here", the professor held out a damp towel, "put it over the wound."
Without looking she put out her hand, and when he passed it to her, began to wipe Spike's face.
"I meant it for you." Mackness said wryly.
"What? Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten." Buffy put the cloth to the bite on her neck and rubbed at it absently.
"How on earth can you forget being bitten by a vampire?" He asked, shaking his head. "He looks as though he's reverted to a feral state. Don't you think we should put him out of his misery? I could give him a simple injection and he'll just slip away, won't feel a thing."
His breath caught in his throat as he saw her expression.
"You don't touch him! If he needs dusting I do it - nobody else!" Her voice echoed round the cell, "He tried to warn me before the spell got too much for him. We have to find a way to help him that doesn't include ending his existence."
She didn't seem to register the tears which, as they slid down her cheeks, dropped on the face of the creature lying on her knees. Buffy looked up and saw the professor's stricken expression. "Look, I'm sorry you got involved in this. Why don't you go home now, Giles can't be much longer, we can take over from here"
Mackness was stung that she thought so little of him. He had seen the attack on his monitor and had rushed down to the cell, only to find the vampire had fainted. "I'll stay if it's all the same to you - do a bit of research. You never know I might come in useful at some stage." He said in a dignified voice, only spoiled a little by a slight tremor.
The young woman seemed to forget him as soon as she looked away. In fact, she seemed only to be aware of the demon and was stroking its face. In spite of himself the professor was fascinated. He hadn't seen Spike's game face before, the vampire had seemed to have absolute control - and now all that control had gone. He shuddered at the thought of what it could have done to this beautiful girl, had it not been restrained.
"I'll be in my office if you need me. And please, if he shows signs of waking up, get out of here as quickly as you can." The professor was unsure that she'd heard anything he'd said. He made his way back to his office and sat watching the monitor for any sign of the vampire attacking again.
Buffy gently brushed her fingers over the ridges on the vampire's forehead and marvelled that she felt none of the revulsion and hatred of the past years, only concern and - and - she forced herself to complete the thought - and love. The last barrier round her heart was broken. Examining him closely for the first time, she saw him, really saw him, game face and all - not just the vampire, but the man. He was, even in this state, handsome and when he was showing his "human" face, he was beautiful. Her heart seemed to squeeze and falter as she studied him.
He had loved her, she now knew it to be true - and she had thrown it in his face. Not surprising that he had finally given up, with all the physical and verbal abuse that she'd heaped on him. Now all he wanted was to be with the witch.
But it didn't mean that she couldn't help him, fight for him. She found that she was filled with steely determination. She would find a way to protect him. She had to.
She glanced down to the ward at his throat and she noticed that the crystal was no longer glowing and that the vampire was lying completely still. Suddenly she heard a growl and realised that his golden eyes were open and he was staring up at her expressionlessly.
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As the pain receded, the vampire slowly regained consciousness. He became aware that something was dreadfully wrong. He could feel that he was leaning against a warm, living, breathing being, but he was in absolute silence. That was impossible. He should be able to hear the intake of breath and the beating of a pulse. But there was nothing. Fear slowly filled him when he made another terrible discovery - his senses of smell and taste had vanished too. He also realised that he was under some kind of restraint; he could feel the pressure of metal bands round his wrists.
Something hot and wet dropped on to his cheek and it was only by a supreme force of will that he kept motionless. OK, he was deaf, had no sense of smell/taste and he felt as though he had been beaten with a steak tenderiser. Was he blind too? What kind of predator could he be now? He fought the impulse to open his eyes, but his need to know what threat he faced outweighed everything else. He snapped them open with an unheard growl and found himself looking up into the face of a beautiful woman. Her lips moved silently and she gave him a heart-stopping smile. Without thought, he tried to raise his hand to wipe off the tears that were streaming down her face, but was brought short by a chain attached to his wrists. She spoke again and drew her hand through his hair. He tried to speak to her, but distressingly, couldn't even hear his own voice.
His gaze slid down to her throat. She had a bite on her neck and, with a jolt, he saw that it was his mark! He looked back up into her eyes in confusion. She must be his mate - but she was human! Why the hell couldn't he remember this gorgeous female, and why was he under restraint? Was she a prisoner too? If so, why wasn't she chained? The thoughts and questions tumbled around his head making him dizzy. She was still smiling down at him and, crazily, he felt comforted. He tried to blink away the black spots that swam into his vision, but felt himself fall back into unconsciousness.
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TBC
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Oh, wow, thanks for all the feedback guys - it's really heartening to know that you are still enjoying this)
msu suggested that I do a kind of "recently on Come Dance with Me" (because I'm so slow in updating) I decided to do a short resume and (if you think it's helpful) will put it on the top of every new chapter. Here goes:
Spike, kidnapped by a mad millionaire Laurence Mills (whose forebears Spike has massacred) and taken to England, is forced to fight other demons to prepare him for his last fight - against the slayer. Said slayer (and her watcher) is given a "free vacation" to England by the Council and fooled into accepting an invitation to the millionaire's house. Instead of fighting Spike, she and Giles help him to escape and all three of them go on the run. They go to one of Giles' friends and there meet his housekeeper - Hilda - who is a very powerful witch. The "friend" betrays them to Mills but with Hilda's help Spike escapes while Mills holds Buffy & Giles at gunpoint. Spike in turn rescues them and in the process is shot, Hilda manages to subdue Mills & his henchmen and then gives the vampire a magical ward. Saying goodbye to the witch, they make their way to London and the underground system, where Spike has a contact who can forge some papers to allow him to return to the States. They discover that a professor with an interest in magic and monsters has been employed to de- vamp the London underground. They are captured and Spike is nearly killed when professor Mackness' workers try to remove the ward. Hilda, who now has a mystical connection through the ward to Spike, frees him. Mackness realises that Spike is different from any vampire he has so far seen and invites the four of them to stay with him. Spike, weary of being repulsed by Buffy goes to live with Hilda. Unfortunately, Hilda's coven are at her house and she has to pretend to have him captive to get them off the scent. One of her rivals, who would like to lead the coven in her place, casts a spell that makes Spike revert to demon and he attacks Hilda who has to try more and more powerful magic to counter. They escape, Spike is forced to attack the witch again, who uses up all her magical energy to fight him off. When Spike regains his mind, he takes the unconscious witch back to the professor's house. They all decide that Spike needs to be kept under lock & key in case he attacks anyone else. Buffy takes some blood to him, and while they are sitting together, another spell is cast and Spike attacks and bites her neck, only stopping when the chip reacts.....
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Buffy gazed down at the vampire resting on her lap. Blood was still seeping from his ears and nose and, although now he was deeply unconscious, he was twitching and trembling, obviously still in great pain.
"Here", the professor held out a damp towel, "put it over the wound."
Without looking she put out her hand, and when he passed it to her, began to wipe Spike's face.
"I meant it for you." Mackness said wryly.
"What? Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten." Buffy put the cloth to the bite on her neck and rubbed at it absently.
"How on earth can you forget being bitten by a vampire?" He asked, shaking his head. "He looks as though he's reverted to a feral state. Don't you think we should put him out of his misery? I could give him a simple injection and he'll just slip away, won't feel a thing."
His breath caught in his throat as he saw her expression.
"You don't touch him! If he needs dusting I do it - nobody else!" Her voice echoed round the cell, "He tried to warn me before the spell got too much for him. We have to find a way to help him that doesn't include ending his existence."
She didn't seem to register the tears which, as they slid down her cheeks, dropped on the face of the creature lying on her knees. Buffy looked up and saw the professor's stricken expression. "Look, I'm sorry you got involved in this. Why don't you go home now, Giles can't be much longer, we can take over from here"
Mackness was stung that she thought so little of him. He had seen the attack on his monitor and had rushed down to the cell, only to find the vampire had fainted. "I'll stay if it's all the same to you - do a bit of research. You never know I might come in useful at some stage." He said in a dignified voice, only spoiled a little by a slight tremor.
The young woman seemed to forget him as soon as she looked away. In fact, she seemed only to be aware of the demon and was stroking its face. In spite of himself the professor was fascinated. He hadn't seen Spike's game face before, the vampire had seemed to have absolute control - and now all that control had gone. He shuddered at the thought of what it could have done to this beautiful girl, had it not been restrained.
"I'll be in my office if you need me. And please, if he shows signs of waking up, get out of here as quickly as you can." The professor was unsure that she'd heard anything he'd said. He made his way back to his office and sat watching the monitor for any sign of the vampire attacking again.
Buffy gently brushed her fingers over the ridges on the vampire's forehead and marvelled that she felt none of the revulsion and hatred of the past years, only concern and - and - she forced herself to complete the thought - and love. The last barrier round her heart was broken. Examining him closely for the first time, she saw him, really saw him, game face and all - not just the vampire, but the man. He was, even in this state, handsome and when he was showing his "human" face, he was beautiful. Her heart seemed to squeeze and falter as she studied him.
He had loved her, she now knew it to be true - and she had thrown it in his face. Not surprising that he had finally given up, with all the physical and verbal abuse that she'd heaped on him. Now all he wanted was to be with the witch.
But it didn't mean that she couldn't help him, fight for him. She found that she was filled with steely determination. She would find a way to protect him. She had to.
She glanced down to the ward at his throat and she noticed that the crystal was no longer glowing and that the vampire was lying completely still. Suddenly she heard a growl and realised that his golden eyes were open and he was staring up at her expressionlessly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the pain receded, the vampire slowly regained consciousness. He became aware that something was dreadfully wrong. He could feel that he was leaning against a warm, living, breathing being, but he was in absolute silence. That was impossible. He should be able to hear the intake of breath and the beating of a pulse. But there was nothing. Fear slowly filled him when he made another terrible discovery - his senses of smell and taste had vanished too. He also realised that he was under some kind of restraint; he could feel the pressure of metal bands round his wrists.
Something hot and wet dropped on to his cheek and it was only by a supreme force of will that he kept motionless. OK, he was deaf, had no sense of smell/taste and he felt as though he had been beaten with a steak tenderiser. Was he blind too? What kind of predator could he be now? He fought the impulse to open his eyes, but his need to know what threat he faced outweighed everything else. He snapped them open with an unheard growl and found himself looking up into the face of a beautiful woman. Her lips moved silently and she gave him a heart-stopping smile. Without thought, he tried to raise his hand to wipe off the tears that were streaming down her face, but was brought short by a chain attached to his wrists. She spoke again and drew her hand through his hair. He tried to speak to her, but distressingly, couldn't even hear his own voice.
His gaze slid down to her throat. She had a bite on her neck and, with a jolt, he saw that it was his mark! He looked back up into her eyes in confusion. She must be his mate - but she was human! Why the hell couldn't he remember this gorgeous female, and why was he under restraint? Was she a prisoner too? If so, why wasn't she chained? The thoughts and questions tumbled around his head making him dizzy. She was still smiling down at him and, crazily, he felt comforted. He tried to blink away the black spots that swam into his vision, but felt himself fall back into unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TBC