Chapter 6: Ether Or
AN: Akasha is the name for the ether in the table of hermetics.
It was Monday night, the dark of the moon, one day before the new moon. A clear lightless sky stretched over Devon's slumbering hills, speckled intermittently with cold stars. The cottage was dark, it's curtains drawn. If by some off chance a traveler happened to be wandering the English countryside at night they would have assumed all the occupants within to be asleep, Dawn Summers knew quite differently. From her perch halfway up the dark bedroom stairs where she sat tense and waiting, the only sound she could hear was her own breath.
"Have they started yet?"
Well that and an annoying Spider Man pajama clad Dungeon Master who seemed to think the workings of serious magic were akin to a road trip.
"Andrew, if you open you're mouth one more time, I will disconnect each and every one of your joints and then let Buffy grind them into a powder." Dawn hissed.
"You wouldn't!" Andrew gasped, then at her glare ducked his head grumbling. "All right, geez, I was only asking."
"Andrew...." Buffy's voice trailed up threateningly from the living room at the bottom of the stairs.
The young man gulped. With a roll of her eyes Dawn watched Buffy turn to a stately grey haired woman in a longish black tunic and skirt who stood near the door.
"Sorry." the Slayer smiled nervously, "Are we ready now?"
The older woman nodded,"It only remains for us to take our places, though it is very important that silence be maintained throughout, aside from the ritual words." Her grey eyes glanced meaningfully at the stairs.
"Don't worry, there won't be any." Buffy said, her eyes shooting daggers in the direction of Andrew's voice. Dawn had better keep him quiet, her little sister was lucky she had agreed to let stay up like this on a school night as it was. "And thank you for doing this Lorna, I-"
The older woman halted her with a dismissive gesture of our hand.
"No need, we are happy to help. Though we are only here to maintain the protective circle, Willow will be the only one at any risk." At Buffy's guilty look she put a hand on her arm. "You must have faith in her child, she will need all our support. It is a necessary task. Rupert was quite clear in his description of your situation, this is a person of some importance is he not?"She asked meaningfully.
Buffy nodded absently, her eyes on her Watcher where he stood amid a knot of black clad women.
Lorna followed he gaze and smiled, "Poor Rupert, he does look a trifle out of place doesn't he? But Maureen's baby couldn't wait." Buffy stifled an inappropriate chuckle at the memory of Giles' face when he was told he would have to step in to fill the thirteenth member's place. Lorna, smiled lightly then took a deep breath as some knowing seemed to pass through her. "You should tell young Mr. Harris to leave now," She said a trifle distantly, "It is almost time." Buffy felt an unpleasant tingle shoot down her spine, they were really doing this.
Approaching her friend where he hovered anxiously near a preparing Willow she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Xand, you should go sit now, Lorna says it's almost time." Looking into Willow's composed face, she gave a small nod, Willow nodded back, not quite managing to smile as she allowed Xander to crush her in a quick hug.
"I love you, be careful." He whispered into her hair. Willow nodded silently into his shoulder, clinging to him for a moment before abruptly stepping away. Xander then turned to Buffy, the small blonde breathed deeply taking his comforting smell of Old Spice and wood shavings as they exchanged a quick squeeze.
"That goes for you too." Xander said gruffly, kissing her cheek. The carpenter then crossed to the stairs, sitting next to Dawn and putting his arm around her shoulder, at least he could keep her safe. He gave the teen's shoulder a squeeze, attempting to give her a reassuring smile. Dawn smiled back, she knew Xander was hating this. It was the first big magic Willow had performed since the activation of the Potentials.
Black for protection, Indigo for revealing mysteries, blue for power. Dawn recited to herself, taking in the garb of those in the circle, she allowed herself a small shiver of anticipation, she couldn't help being a little excited by what she was about to witness.
The plush carpet that usually covered the floor had been rolled back, the furniture pushed against the walls leaving a bare wood floor into the center of which had been drawn a large pentagram. Just outside the circle, at the bottom of the star stood Willow, dressed in a plain sleeveless dress of deep indigo blue, her feet were bare, her red hair hung loose down her back. Around her standing in clumps of twos and threes stood the women of the Coven. All different ages and races, they projected an air of serenity that was blessedly reassuring.
All quite chatter ceased as Lorna turned to the occupants of the room, "It is time now. Take your places please, and may the Goddess guide our efforts this night." Amid quiet murmurs of "So mote et be" the Wiccans filed into a large circle some of them stopping to squeeze Willow's shoulder or give her other signs of support. Lorna stopped in front of the young witch placing a light kiss on her, "May the Goddess guide you child." She said quietly before stepping into her place between Giles and a lovely black woman whose name Buffy couldn't remember, completing the circle which now ringed the smaller one of the pentagram in the center.
"You may take your place now Slayer." Lorna intoned.
Swallowing nervously and tugging at the long sleeves of her soft royal blue shirt Buffy edged between two women in the outer circle, she stepped into her place opposite Willow, near the point of the star, she gave her friend a small smile which Willow returned. Buffy brushed a wisp of escaping hair back into her ponytail, inhaling deeply through her nose as the other spell casters did, then out through her mouth, she let her energy sink into her center, grounding herself. At Willow's nod Buffy sank down with her onto her knees and closed her eyes, suppressing a shiver as the Coven silently followed them, flowing down into tailor style with perfect synchronicity, and waited.
The clock in the hall chimed midnight, its light tones clanging in the silent room. As the last chime was fading away, Lorna began a high ringing chant in a language Buffy didn't recognize, though she felt it in her bones.
When the priestess began to repeat herself Giles spoke up, his deep voice blending with Lorna's creating a deep rich sound that grew as each woman joined in, each adding a level of tone and harmony to the ancient words, they created an intricate round so that the words of the chant seemed to have no beginning and no end.
On the stairs Dawn shifted uncomfortably in her seat, the hairs on the back of her neck prickling at the sensations building in the air. When the last voice had joined the round Willow opened her eyes, deftly lighting the single black taper candle on floor before her she began to speak, the steady back rhythm of the chanting adding strength to her words.
"Vac, creator of words,
Goddess of speech.
We seek that which does not speak
Open a window we do implore,
To Akasha, realm without form.
Let it hear our words;
Let it answer our plea."
Buffy fought the urge to fidget as the power humming throughout the larger circle suddenly rushed to the center, the lines in the pentagram crackled with power, filling the air with a low hum. Darts of energy flickered here and there, only to be stopped by the barrier made by the women in black. Willow looked to the star's crackling lines, her eyes a dense black.
"Oh Ether, Akasha,
Guardian of darkness,
Realm of nightmares and formless sky,
Neither here nor there.
I open a window between realm and air,
We seek one lost,
Let this space be filled by a glimpse of your void,
Hear our plea."
From her perch at the top of the stairs, Dawn watched as scarves of thick black mist began to flow up from the pentagram's lines, snaking smoothly into the still air, they left trailing darkness in their wake, twisting and writhing around each other, until they began to form a blank black space, like the darkness in Willow's eyes.
"Akasha,
We seek a warrior fallen.
If he is lost in your dreaming darkness,
Lift your black cloak,
Loosen your embrace.
We seek one lost,
Pull back your veil,
Release him!"
There was a surge of power that seemed to suck the air from the room. The women in the circle swayed forward eyes, closed, postures vacant, though never breaking their chant. Crackles and charges of sparkling light, arced through the moving darkness contained in the sacred symbol,
"Who dares to approach The Realm of In-Between?" The voice was at once a sibilant whisper and an imperious command.
Willow, gritted her teeth, the electricity in the circle causing wisps of her red hair, to stand on end.
"We seek one fallen, a Champion."
"Those who wander here may not return."
Raising her arms Willow allowed some of her reserves to flow into her voice, green lights began to dance behind her eyes, lifting her face she spoke one word."Release!"
The expressionless voice sounded almost bored. "Your magic has no power here Witch. You can use it to open a window but do not think to bend the Ether to your will, if you strike at us we will flow around it like water, if you enter us you will lose yourself."
Willow shuddered, she knew that darkness."I mean no offence. It is asked to release the Queen's Champion, he is needed."
"Who asks it?"
Buffy rose to her feet. "I ask it."
The darkness in the circle, twitched, that was the only word to describe it, then flowed into the form of a tall woman. Her hair was made of the arcs and charges of the darkness, and her eyes were deeper and blacker than night. She turned these expressionless eyes on the small blonde woman, her face half amusement, half contempt.
"Ensigns of throne and the bloodlines of Earthrealm hold no power here."
"I am not an," Buffy grimaced slightly at what word to use, "an, ensign from this world, I serve the light."
The gate keeper turned her head to one side, Buffy fought the urge to squirm as she seemed to stare straight into with her with a penetrating gaze. "But there is much darkness in you." She cocked her head again as if listening to unheard voices. "Ah. Now I see. The balance has been changed." She turned to stare at the small warrior reproachfully. "You have changed things. Things that were meant to be you have altered, now you seek to twist them further. You upset order wherever you go. You may be worthy to seek what you ask for."
Stung, Buffy lifted her chin defiantly, "He is necessary."
The corner of the woman's mouth twitched. "Yes, you have made him so." She cocked her head, listening again. "It is decided that you may enter here and face the tests. But you cannot take her with you."
Buffy glanced at Willow's tense form. "I don't plan on taking anybody with me."
"Not the Witch, the Old One. You must face these challenges alone."
At Buffy confused look, the dark woman smirked. "She is not your darkness small warrior, it is all your own. Will you accept the challenge?"
Buffy swallowed nervously, "Yes."
Cupping the side of Buffy's head the dark creature drew a spark of red light into her palm. "Then come!" The gatekeeper held out an imperious hand. Buffy extended her own nervously then stopped.
"How will I get back?"
A look of brief irritation flickered across the guardian's face.
"Since you ask it, we will provide an anchor." Snapping out her wrist she pointed at Willow sending an arc of darkness into the Witch's chest.
"Aaaaah!" Willow screamed doubling over as she fought down the powerful urge to vomit, shaking at the alien energy invading her body, it was like nothing she had ever felt.
"Willow!" Buffy yelled turning towards her friend.
Outside the circle Dawn and Andrew grabbed hold of a frantic Xander and dragged him back from the ring of chanters. Dawn wrapped her arms around Xnder, whispering frantically into his ear.
"We can't Xander, we can't, I'm scared too, but we don't know what an interruption would do to her now."
Trembling with rage and fear for his friend Xander, absently crushed Dawn to his chest, both their eyes riveted on the circle.
"What are you doing to her?!" Buffy yelled, furious.
"It is of no moment. Come!"
"It's alright Buffy." Willow gasped, beads of sweat standing out on her forehead, she shook with strain, but the rope of black energy was beginning to shine with the sparkling red highlights of her own magic. "I'll be alright, I'll bring you home. Go."
Buffy stepped up to the threshold of blank darkness, the guardian gazed at her impassively. "Find him if you will, release him if you can. Now come, we are losing patience."
Closing her eyes Buffy chanted to herself. I can get him back, I can bring Spike back. Willow will bring me home. Taking a deep breath, Buffy plunged into the darkness and blinked, she was standing in blank, black space. Formless, limitless, no up, no down, only the vague sense of something solid underfoot. She turned to look behind her and wasn't surprised to see that the doorway, or window, or whatever it was that opened to her world had disappeared. Turning in a circle she was confronted with the same sight, idly noting that her footsteps made no sound.
Okay. the small warrior thought to herself, Now what?
Back in the cottage Dawn, Xander, Andrew stared at Buffy's still form, slumped on the floor in front of the hissing shifting depths of the Ether window.
"I don't get it." Andrew whispered. "Wasn't something supposed to happen?"
"Is she okay?" Xander asked anxiously.
"I don't know." Dawn whispered, "I'm pretty sure she went somewhere."
"Hello?" Buffy called, wincing as the air seemed to eat up her words. "Anybody there?" Silence was her only answer. "Well this sucks." The Slayer grumbled, kicking at nothing.
"Buffy?"
The Slayer whirled with a gasp to see a slim familiar form standing behind her.
"Anya?"
"Buffy! I was sure it was you." The sandy blonde woman smiled widely. She wore a short peach skirt and a turquoise blouse, her short hair curled around her ears.
"Anya?" Buffy asked in amazement, reaching out a tentative hand.
"Whoa there Miss Touchy, not to keen on having the physical contact with you right now. You just came in so you're probably all prickly."
"Prickly?" Buffy asked in confusion.
"Energy fields and stuff, it's like static. Oh never mind," Anya said cheerily, dismissing the question with a wave of her hand. "I am actually quite pleased to see you. How are things on the good old Hellmouth?"
"Um, kind of obliterated, actually. You didn't know?"
"Well we don't get much news here." The peppy blonde shrugged. "So Sunnydale is gone? What a waste of a commercial district. Think of all the money that must have been lost."
"Yeah," Buffy said slowly, she had forgotten how Anya's unusual priorities worked. "we all mourn the loss of commerce, and my house, and all my things, mom's grave."
"Your mother." Anya repeated sadly. "Does Xander miss me?" She enquired hopefully. "Or has he found someone to give him nice orgasms inappropriately soon after the time of my demise?"
"Umm, no orgasms as far as I know." Buffy could barely constrain her laughter. "But yeah, he does miss you, a lot. We all do."
"They must miss you too. But I can tell you right now after the experience I just had, that it is quite gratifying."
"Oh, Anya, I'm not, dead. I'm looking for Spike." As soon as Buffy said his name, she felt an odd pulling sensation beneath her skin, but before she could really get a focus on it Anya chipped back in.
"Well it's very nice for you that you're not dead, but it's very unlikely you'll be able to leave here."
"Anya, have you seen Spike?" Buffy asked again, trying to ignore her friend's last comment.
"Then you have a way out?" Anya asked hopefully. "Will you take me with you, I've grown very bored with this place, there's nothing resembling currency and I've found no one with who I can have satisfying orgasms."
"Anya," Buffy began, "I'm not sure—"
Anya's face crumpled, "Please, Buffy, it hurts. Please let me out, I miss Xander I miss him so much."
Buffy gaped in horror at the tears running down Anya's face.
"I tried, I tried, to be good" The blonde continued. " I fought ugly men with no eyes. Why I am stuck here. Please, Buffy, please! I love Xander, he loves me, it wasn't fair."
"Anya, I don't know how...."
"Give me part of your link to Willow, please, she can pull me home. I could be with Xander again, he'd be so happy."
"Anya," Buffy swallowed, feeling slightly panicked, "I don't know if–"
The young woman's face twisted into a mask of pain and rage.
"Of course you don't. Not when it doesn't suit you. All you care about is getting your precious Spike back!"
"Anya," Buffy began, reeling at the unexpected assault, but the taller woman didn't give her a chance to finish.
" Willow could be back there dying right now and you wouldn't care! You know how dangerous magic is for her, she broke my store after all, but you don't care. Not about anyone, especially not about me, you never cared about me, never gave me a kind word, I was just Xander's attachment. You just think you're better than everyone else, why do you get to decide who lives or dies? Xander deserves some happiness, I deserve some happiness—"
Something inside of Buffy snapped, she wanted to yell that it wasn't her choice, that she'd bring everyone back if she could, that she was sorry, so sorry, but all that came out was:
"I deserve some happiness too!"
She reached out to shake the other woman by the shoulders, to find her hands grasping a scrap of black cloth, which melted back into the darkness from whence it came. Buffy found herself once again alone, her ragged breathing muted in the stillness, tears streaming down her cheeks.
On the floor of the cottage Buffy's form twitched, a single tear escaping from underneath her closed eyelid. "I'm sorry." She whispered, "I'm sorry."
"What's she seeing?" Xander murmured.
"I don't know," Dawn whispered back, just wishing her sister would come home.
Alone once more, Buffy took a deep breath, smoothing the tears from her cheeks.
That wasn't Anya, she told herself firmly, she's not here. She died a human death, she chose.
The tugging was beginning again, low and subtle, and coming from....
"Well done sweetie." The voice was warm and loving, it wrapped around her like comforting arms. Buffy felt a warm light begin to shine on her back, like sunlight pouring in through a window..
"Mommy?"
Buffy turned to see a beloved figure, shining with a nimbus of white light. Joyce Suumer's was dressed in a long white gown, a proud smile on her gentle face. "Oh Buffy."
"Mom," the Slayer choked, "is it really you?"
Gentle fingers reached out to smooth back her hair, Buffy shivered under the warm familiar touch, tears springing to her eyes. "Oh Mom," she sobbed, burying her face in the comforting warmth she thought she'd never find again. "I missed you so much," she suddenly pulled back in dismay "But what are you doing here, you should be in heaven."
"Shhh, its alright honey, look." Still keeping one arm around her daughter Joyce reached out a hand and tugged at the air before them. The blackness rolled back like a curtain to reveal a beautiful sunny sky, well actually it was beams of sunlight slanting through a large curtained window. Buffy found herself in a familiar room. Her mother's room, as it had been when she was alive, but with bigger windows and–
"Yes, I know" Joyce smiled. "A skylight. I finally have time to do all that remodeling I dreamed of before. I had to do something to keep busy while I waited for my girl." Her voice was so warm, so normal, Buffy found herself bursting into fresh tears.
"Oh my dear," Joyce crooned, drawing her crying child back into a motherly embrace. "It's alright now, its alright. My sweet brave Buffy. Just rest now, just rest."
"Oh Mom, its been so hard."
"I know my dear, but I'm so proud of you, you've done so well, and you found me."
"I think there's someone else I'm supposed to be looking for." Buffy paused, a slight frown creasing her forehead. "Spike! Mom, I have to find Spike."
"Oh don't worry sweetie you'll see him soon."
"He's here?"
Joyce smiled. "Of course, he comes by every evening." She grinned ruefully, "He's cleaning me out of those little marshmallows."
"Mom, I really have to find him now." Said Buffy regretfully, painfully, pulling back from her mother's embrace.
"Buffy can't you rest awhile? He'll be here tonight. Just rest awhile, stay here with me."
"Oh Mommy I want to, so much, but I can't, there's Dawn....."
"Oh don't worry Buffy, it won't matter if the dawn comes, the sunlight can't hurt him here."
A cold feeling settled in the pit of Buffy's stomach, she closed her eyes against the pain, it just wasn't fair. For one last time she looked into her mother's eyes, then steeled herself, "This isn't real."
The form of Joyce Summers straightened to gaze sadly at her daughter, then crumbled into dust, sifting to the floor as soundlessly as sand, along with her surroundings. The slayer found herself alone again on her knees, surrounded by the stifling black, and felt a little piece of her heart crack again.
"Spike." she whispered numbly to the darkness, "Where are you?"
"Are you sure you want to find him?"
Buffy looked up to find the thin form and hollow face of herself from two years ago. Dressed in jeans and grease stained tan coat. Hazel eyes dull and lifeless, dark blonde hair hanging lankly just below her ears.
"You know this will hurt him, but, you're right, it doesn't matter, he'll get it done. He's a tool, a good fighter, strong. Nothing else matters, we can't love."
"Aren't you supposed to tell me he can't love?" Buffy snapped, glaring at this hated part of her.
"We always knew he could," her counterpart looked at the ground, tears beginning to form in her empty eyes. "And we hated him for it. An evil, soulless thing, empty inside. If only he'd known we meant you. We can't love. We're hard inside, alone." She looked sadly at her hands, slowly clenching them into fists. "We can't love. But we do need him, you're smarter than I was, you know he'll take everything you throw at him. He won't break until after it's done."
"Stop it." Buffy growled, rising to her feet. "That's not how it is. I'm not that person anymore, I'm not you."
"Yes you are. We're the same person, that's kind of the point."
"That's not what he sees."
"No, you've painted a beautiful mask," her counterpart reached up and plucked something form her face, "but look," The short haired woman held up a mirror, the face reflected back at was lined with anger and condemnation, the eyes empty, the mouth set in a hard line. "This is you."
"No." Buffy clenched her hands into fists. "I've changed, that's not me."
"It's who you'll always be. You can't beat the darkness, it's always in you, you'll never win."
Buffy titled her head at the person she never hoped to be again.
"It's not the only thing that's in me."
Rearing back her fist she punched through the mirror, and through a thick layer of cloth and wood.
She was lying on her back, the horrid white ceiling and satin wall's of the box of death she'd been placed in, pressing in around he, cutting off her air.
"Spike!" she screamed. Pulling back her arm she punched, again, and again, and again, until her hands were bloody and her nails had broken.
Back in the cottage Dawn buried her face in Xander's shoulder as her sister jerked and writhed on the floor, bloody cuts forming on her hands.
With a final kick Buffy heaved herself from her coffin, and fell.
She landed with a thud in front of a familiar rusty iron door, taking a deep breath she rose on shaky legs, and kicked it in. The tugging feeling in her stomach stopped abruptly, brushing her sweat soaked hair back from her face she peered apprehensively into the now familiar blankness.
"Never could learn to knock could you Slayer?"
Buffy's breath caught in her throat. The familiar voice, deep and lyrical, sending chills down her spine. "Spike?"
Something emerged out of the shadows, or was it that there was suddenly light where there hadn't been before, and there he was. The same bleached hair, his sharp features and soft mouth, his wicked smirk, and his eyes. His blue, blue eyes, twinkling at her.
"Yeah, that's m'name luv, already a bit worn out m'afraid," his expression changed to one of concerned amusement. "What are you doin here pet? This isn't the place for you."
Buffy swallowed past a dry throat. "There's a need."
Her heart was battering in her chest, and she had to fight the urge to run forward and crush him in her arms. Buffy wasn't sure what she had expected, but this wasn't it, he was so calm. The twinkle had gone out of his eyes at her words.
"I'm sorry luv, I thought maybe now you'd get to rest."
She smiled sadly at him. "You too."
Suddenly it was all too much. He was standing before her. Spike. Blue eyed, black clad, infuriating Spike, and she knew that if she didn't touch him that she would shatter into a thousand pieces. "I thought,"She took a step towards him, trying to speak past the emotion bubbling up from her chest. "I thought I'd never—" She reached out a hand to touch his face.
"Hey, hey! No touching. No touching!"
The space seemed to twist, and for a brief disorienting second she was back in the church, in Sunnydale, on the night she had learned he had his soul.
"Sorry pet,"
Buffy blinked, trying to steady herself. They were back in the formless space of before, and he looked so sad.
"but you can't get through."
She frowned at him. "What do you mean?"
"I mean you can't get through. It's not your time yet."
Buffy took a deep breath. "Spike, I don't know where you think you are, but, this isn't heaven."
He snorted at her, rasing one eyebrow in a classic incredulous gesture.
"Bloody hell Slayer, I know that. A bloke like me doesn't end up in heaven. Still," he shrugged "it's not so bad. Got plenty of smokes," he fished in his jeans pocket, and waved a packet at her, " a place to rest," he gestured behind him and she was looking at a bed. The bed, she realized. The one they had slept in when they held each other through the night.
"I figure as Hells go this isn't so bad, some of the Higher Ups must of heard about m'good deeds, done me a favor."
"Spike, this isn't hell."
"Oh?" He questioned her disbelievingly. "It has it's moments."
Buffy, winced, looking down at her boots. "I know." A sudden thought struck her. "Spike, do you remember how you got here?"
His left hand fidgeted nervously with the edge of his belt. "Well, yeah, burned to a crisp saving the bloody world. Thought you might remember that."
"Spike there's something you're not telling me."
The bleached vampire threw his arms in the air, pacing in agitation.
"My god woman! Can't you let anything go!? You're like I dog with a bloody soup bone!" Seeing her staring impassively at him he deflated, staring at his feet. "I don't know alright, one minute I was burning up, the next I was here."
"That can't be all Spike. There must have been something in between."
"Well if there is I don't remember it!" he sighed running a hand through his bristling white hair, "What's going on Buffy, why are you really here, I won't even bother to ask how, I'm sure Red's mixed up in it somehow, right up to her cute green eyes. But why are you here, what are up to?" Looking down he scuffed his booted toe along the invisible floor, "Look, you don't need to feel guilty I made my choice, m' fine. Though I must say, didn't mind having the look in." When his mock leer failed to make her smile he slumped. "Go home lamb."
Trying to quell the stirrings of irritation at his last comment the small blonde licked her dry lips. "Spike I need you to come back with me."
The handsome vampire froze in surprise for moment then scoffed. "Says you. In case you haven't noticed I'm a bit hampered by a small case of being dead here."
"Well you always were." Buffy tried to smile at him, then said more softly "I need you Spike."
"Oh luv," his whole demeanor softened. "I'm sure you were doing just fine without me. It'll be alright."
"Actually," She bit her lip, then let it all come out in a rush. "the worlds ending again, and we've kind of been informed that we're gonna need your help." She looked up nervously at him from under her lashes.
She almost missed the pang of hurt in his eyes, almost, but not quite.
"So that's what all this is about then eh, the Slayer needs more cannon fodder. I might have known."
"I need my Champion."Buffy replied evenly, trying to keep a reign on her temper. Why was this always so hard?
"You've got one as I recall, poncey bugger; bout yay high." He stuck his hand above his head, "pointy hair, cro-Magnon brow, answers to the name o' Peaches."
Buffy felt the insane urge to laugh hysterically. Spike was dead, they were standing in an alternate dimension, or whatever the hell it was, there was another apocalypse on the horizon, she had just braved pain and horror to find him, and he was still managing to royally piss her off.
"Spike, I need you. The world needs you. There's so much good you could still do, we could still....." She trailed off looking at the tips of her black leather boots. She had almost said they could still try. But she couldn't let this be about them. She had the world to save, she could never let herself do this to him for anything less.
Something flickered in his eyes, "Buffy, things were," he paused swallowing nervously, "things were good, where we left them, I don't...I'd rather just leave it at that."
That made her blood boil.
Let's just leave it.
She had been so ready that night to talk. To try and put into form the new and terrifying feelings he was beginning to stir in her, but he had said those words, and she had lost her nerve.
"So that's why you're saying no, because you're afraid?" She crossed her arms glaring at him angrily, "The world can go to hell because William the Bloody's afraid to leave his cell? Is that it?" The words bourne out of her fear and helplessness came out much more harshly than she intended.
"Bloody hell woman! Can't you just let me rest in peace?!"
The words, ringing in the air, caused both of them to pause for a moment. Then Spike's shoulders slumped. "I'm so tired Buffy, I just don't want to go through all of this again."
Buffy swallowed, then steeled herself for what was to come.
"I know." Purposefully she took a step towards him.
He stepped back immediately, eyes wary. "Wait, luv, you can't do that. I've warned you."
The Slayer looked deeply into his eyes. So blue, so beautiful, so sad.
" I'm sorry." She said softly, and with her hand outstretched, she lunged.
And she was fighting him. In Sunnydale High School, Parent Teacher Night.
A punch, a hard kick to his back, he pulled a bored out of the wall and smacked her viciously in the face. The long shadow of his form stood over her, demon mouth leering, demon eyes ready for the kill.
"No." Buffy stated firmly, still straining against the barrier she couldn't see.
The space twisted again and she was on a New York subway, watching as a wolfish Spike bent and snapped Nikki Wood's neck.
"Not gonna work." Buffy gritted, straining with all her might.
Other visions were thrown at her. Spike killing, maiming, wreaking havoc with a grin on his blood spattered face. A century of slaughter.
Still the Slayer pushed against the strangely thickened patch of air that would not let her through.
Next she was on the balcony at the Bronze; watching herself respond mechanically to him as he took her from behind. As he whispered dark words of despair in her ear, pulling her into the shadows.
"Oh come on," the Slayer sneered, biting back the ache of her bones with defiance, "You can do better than that."
"I'm gonna make you feel it."
Oh god, no.
She was there this time, struggling on the cold bathroom tile. Sobbing, pleading, as Spike forced her onto her back, forced himself on top of her, ripped open her robe.
I can't, please, no.
She couldn't do this. She couldn't bring this monster back. Couldn't let him look at her, touch her, hold her ever again. She was sinking into the blackness of that moment, falling, screaming, ready to crash. And then a memory, like gleam of light forced it's way across the darkness.
Gentle arms around her, holding her, stroking her hair, the soft pressure of lips against her forehead. She was safe, so safe. And she was warm, and she was loved.
Buffy's eyes snapped open, once again she faced the vision, but this time with new strength. She stopped her needless struggle on the floor.
"That's. Not. Him."
Her shout made the air flinch.
She shoved, and the vison vanished.
Closing her eyes for a moment she fixed that memory in her heart.
"I believe in you Spike." she whispered.
Then her face snapped up hazel eyes blazing with fury and strength.
"Now let," punch, "me,"punch, "THROUGH."
The barrier surged, and buckled, and disappeared.
Buffy looked up, her breath coming in heavy short pants.
She was standing a pace apart from Spike. Her arm held tensely straight out in front of her, her fingers firmly interlaced with his. He was staring at her in amazement, his eyes a whirl of love and shock.
"Oh luv."
And the black space around them tore, and shattered into a thousand fragments.
Spikes eyes widened, "Buffy?"
She opened her mouth to answer and felt herself suddenly being yanked back, her fingers pulling from his grip. Buffy looked in horror at Spike's frightened face.
"No!"
Back in the cabin the three spectators had gaped in fascination as Buffy suddenly burst forth an aura of rosy light. Moments later the darkness in the center of the circle winced, and flickered, and split with a multitude of cracks.
Willow's eyes snapped open
"No!" She yelled, gathering her reserves she thrust a sparkling jolt of magic along the energy lodged into her chest, and yanked.
Buffy gasped and opened her eyes, her skin still suffused with a rosy glow, leaping to her feet she dashed to the collapsing window of darkness.
"Spike!" she screamed, "Spike's still in there!" Another huge crack tore through the distressed darkness tearing twin howls from the two women in the circle. Willow's of pain, Buffy's of anguish.
"No!" the blonde screamed, with no thought to the consequences she pivoted and stuck her right hand straight into the beam of darkness pouring into Willow. She choked on a shriek as the magic slammed through the back of her palm causing her to feel as if her bones were melting and causing her hair to stand on end. The pain was almost unbearable but Buffy didn't move, watching in fascination as the energy coming out of her palm suddenly shone with brilliant rosy hued light, and slammed straight into the Ether.
Several things suddenly happened all at once:
The Ether window flickered, then exploded in a silent bang of brilliant light.
Willow shrieked hoarsely as the blast of light boiled straight down the cord of dark energy and into her chest.
Buffy was thrown to the floor as the chanters let out a sudden ringing note, stopping the wave of the blast before fainting into a disorganized ring,
And the form of a naked man wrapped in a rosy glow, dropped form the center of the light to land with a thud on the smoking design of the pentagram.
Buffy dug her nails into the floor as the entire world seemed twist and dance for a moment, and then there was an abrupt calm. Buffy rolled to her knees with a groan and crawled to where Spike lay, pulling his unconscious form into her arms.
Xander and Dawn rose from their cowering positions on the floor to see the room and house amazingly still intact.
"Andrew." Dawn bent and shook the young man's shoulder where he still lay trembling, hugging the floor. "Andrew it's okay now, it's over."
There was a sudden loud crack, and Buffy stiffened, swiftly rolling herself and Spike to the side as the floor beneath them split through the center of the pentagram, in a loud jagged crack. Buffy lay breathing harshly into the silence, Spike's unconscious weight lying heavily on top of her.
"Is-- is everyone okay?" she finally managed to rasp.
"We're fine." Dawn managed to squeak out, staring with wide eyes at the place where the pentagram was burned into the floor.
"Willow." Xander gasped, rushing to his friend's side he lifted her prone form and placed it gently on the sofa, smoothing back the red locks of hair from her pale face. All around them there was a collective murmur as the coven began to stir, Buffy could hear various groans and Giles' clear exclamation of "Bloody hell." She herself was simply content to lie there exhausted, with Spike's hard body pressing her aching one into the cold floor, at the moment it was one of the best things she had ever felt.
"Well," Dawn's voice reached her from across the room where she and Andrew were helping various women to their feet. "I guess it must be a pending apocalypse after all, the living room just got destroyed."
Buffy let out a watery chuckle, "And Giles got knocked unconscious too." Absently she allowed her hand to play across the smooth back lying above her, idly stroking the cool skin.
"Wow," Dawn breathed, staring at the sculpted body on top of her sister, "It really worked."
"Is it really Spike?" Andrew asked in fascination, nervously approaching where the two lay on the ground. The floor beneath him creaked loudly in protest.
Spike's eyes snapped open, the contours of his face shifting into a demon's mask. Buffy suddenly found herself staring into a pair of feral golden eyes, completely devoid of any recognition. Her chest hitched with shallow breaths as she realized was unable to move. Completely pinned by the vampire's weight, she could only lie frozen as Spike slowly lowered his nose to sniff delicately at her face. Andrew, unaware of the change in Spike continued to approach, stopping with a small squeak as a pair of golden yellow eyes suddenly riveted upon him. Spike's nostrils, flared, and with a feral roar he launched himself at the boy's throat. Only to snap back abruptly with a surprised snort as Dawn whacked him hard across the face with chair, then dropped like a stone when Buffy's roundhouse kick met the back of his head.
"Xander," Buffy queried, fighting down a sense of panic. "Do you still have those chains in the attic?"
With an "oof", Buffy let Spike drop to the cold earth floor of the cellar, flexing her sore shoulder muscles. It had been quite a workout getting his deadweight into a pair of Xander's old sweats, after carrying him down the stairs. With a weary sigh, she snapped a pair of manacles onto his wrists, driving the divot on the end of each chain deep into the stone wall. Only when she was sure that both chains were secure did the blonde allow herself to sink wearily to floor next to the still form of her returned warrior. She reached out trembling fingers, lightly tracing the razor's edge of one cheekbone.
"Spike, what happened?" She whispered, fighting down the surge of bile as she remembered the fear in his eyes as she was pulled away from him while his prison shattered. Blinking back tears she gently stroked his face, refusing the need to cry with exhaustion and fear. Her fingers trailed up his face to run through his silky hair. Buffy idly noted that is was a dark honey blonde. She had never known that. There were so many things she had never known. Fighting once again the urge to pull him into her arms she allowed a single tear to trickle down her cheek. "Please be alright." she whispered, continuing to stroke his hair.
"Buffy!" Andrew's voice called , causing her to start guiltily, she quickly snatched her hand back from Spike's face.
"Buffy!" It was Xander's voice now, cracking with a note of panic.
Dashing up the cellar stairs Buffy nearly collided with a frantic Dawn.
"Buffy," her sister gasped, "It's Willow. She won't wake up."
I have a dream, it's a small dream but a dream nonetheless. The dream is to get over five reviews on one of my stories. Can any of help me with that?