Title: C5 Encounters
Disclaimer: Not mine but maybe one day… not likely!
Notes: I had an intense need for violence like I do in most of my fics but I think it's intergral to the way demons live so… Pack details will be at the end of this fic so I don't give anything away, but you can look to get a clearer picture. Thanks to Leigh/Frosteh for all the pack information! She's my resident genius!!! She also picked the title as well! Rated so high due to violence and language
Spike fiddled nervously with the edge of his coat, mind refusing to process what he was doing. Ok so maybe that's all it was doing but it wouldn't do anything else but whisper he was walking into a death trap. It'll get me some violence! Not if you obey the rules. Bloody hell! My mind is arguing with itself. A hand closed over his and Spike looked up at Asara who smiled encouragingly at him. Taking a deep, unneeded breath Spike calmed his nerves and nodded back but the way his thumb ran across her hand betrayed him. Glancing down he saw that Asara's knuckles were white and then he realised just how hard she was squeezing his hand. Asara was just as scared of what was to come as he was but he had seen no other outward sign of her nerves. She's becoming a bloody leader before my eyes. Spike mused.
Asara was aware how tight her grip was but she needed his strength and a little bit of tension eased out of her when he gently squeezed back.
The car they were travelling in slowed and pulled off the road into a lay-by. One by one the pack got out in silence and stretched to ease their aching muscles. Normally the pack would have walked here, taking their time in natural form but Spike couldn't come out during the day so they travelled together, later.
Esster'd sniffed at her clothes,
"God we stink of the car."
"We'll need to hide that. We can't give anything away too soon," Asara replied.
"Oh goodie!" Esster'd grinned. "I get first choice!"
Esster'd grabbed Spike and began to rub herself against him.
"Err Essy?" Spike used her nickname. "What are you doing?"
"We need to hide the scent of the car so we use each other's scents to cover it," Asara replied as she began to rub at Casve.
All the pack worked their way round each other, taking special care with Spike. He was the one who had to smell most pack like to hide his own unique vampire scent for a little while. Spike had spent enough time with his girls, as he called them, to pick up a great deal anyway. Asara left Spike until last but it was worth the wait. Certain areas were left to her as she was his mate and no one had claim to them.
Asara kissed him deeply as her hands shot down his trousers. Spike's eyes widened before his hips jerked forwards and he grabbed Asara's arms, fingers digging in. They didn't stay long but when they came back up she rubbed her face into her hands, covering herself with odour d'Spike.
"Mmmm," she breathed in.
The others watched with something akin to jealously in their eyes as Spike returned the favour with Asara and covered his face with her scent.
"Right," Asara cleared her throat, breaking out of her daze. "Now we walk."
The others nodded and the group ranged out into a proper pack order. Asara and Spike took point and Juidon had taken Beta position since Yimila had left, so she was rear guard. The rest of the pack were strung out between them, the stronger protecting the weaker. They walked for some time and gradually the trees grew closer together until they were walking through a dense forest of pine trees.
Spike could smell nothing expect the pine as it was so strong and perhaps the lingering aroma of Asara from his face. Glancing to his right he sneaked another look at Asara, who looked like she was in her element. Despite all the trouble they were walking into she had a slight smile on her face and her nose and ears were quivering with excitement at the new smells and sounds.
"This guy Wmor owns all this?" Spike asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah," Asara nodded.
"You want this or something like it," Spike guessed accurately.
Asara smiled shyly,
"All this space? You bet ya!"
They continued on until Asara held up her hand and the others recognised the signal. This was it, no turning back because in the next instance they stepped into a clearing. They pooled into the glade and Spike let the others surround he, hiding him from slight for the most part, even though he knew his bleached blonde hair would stand out. Once they were all present a voice announced their arrival to the Alpha whose territory they were in.
"Pack Insiown."
Asara nodded at Wmor who sat on a dais at the other end of the clearing and he returned the greeting before gesturing them on to their provided area.
"So far so good," Asara murmured as they took their places.
A few gave Spike curious glances but none ask any questions, not yet. They waited until the last packs arrived and Wmor stood and officially welcomed all packs to the annual, regional gathering. The talks about territory, hunting rights, human encroachment and other demons were just some of the topics covered in the meeting.
After some long and loud 'debates' had raged Wmor stood again and called the Alphas forward. Spike stiffened, having had this bit explained in minute detail. The female Alphas and male Alphas would leave the packs and each have private conversations about governing the packs and any problem members. The long standing Alphas came forward first, already recognised and then the newer members of the elite stood to be recognised.
"Ready?" Asara asked.
"As I bloody ever will be," Spike replied before both rose and stepped forward.
"Asara. This is a new development. Does the unusual Insiown pack now to have an Alpha?" Wmor raised an eyebrow. It was well known that the all female mixed shifter outcast pack was a democracy.
"Yes Wmor. Pack Insiown presents two Alphas and wishes that they be recognised," Asara intoned formally.
"Is that so? You'd better tell us your names," Wmor looked way to calm for Spike's liking but Asara continued without hesitation.
"I would stand as female Alpha for the pack Insiown and my mate Spike would stand for male Alpha for the pack Insiown," Asara's hand went out to Spike's arm, confirming who he was.
Wmor stood and walked towards them until he was nearly breaking Asara's personal space.
"I've never had a problem with you Asara. I have wanted you stand for Alpha before now, you know that but you have always wanted to wait for a mate." Wmor began before turning to Spike. "But you I have never seen before and I am unsure of you. Clearly you've been living with the pack for some time as you smell of them and…"
Suddenly he stopped and Spike knew the game was up.
Wmor hissed,
"You're a vampire!"
The whole gathering tensed, waiting for Spike to deign the statement.
"Yes I am," Spike replied, calmly.
The clearing exploded as the shifters cried out in amazement, horror and, as Asara had feared, disgust. Wmor backed away from Spike and turned his outraged face to Asara.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"We wish to be recognised as Alphas for…" Asara was interrupted as Wmor broke in.
"Alphas? Alphas! He's not even a shifter, let alone the same sort as you!"
"Spike is my mate," Asara replied.
"I won't believe that. It can't…" Worm froze as Spike pulled off his t-shirt and turned his scared shoulder towards Wmor. "That… that could of happened before you were turned."
Asara tilted her head to one side, swept the hair back and revealed her mark,
"What about this?"
"No! It is wrong! I would not expect him to know of our customs, culture but you Asara! You were brought up by shifters. You know this is an insult to all we hold sacred." Wmor broke into her personal space, betraying her.
"Insult? No I never meant it as that Wmor. I simply fell in love with Spike and he stopped me dying. We chose this because we wanted it, not as an insult," Asara replied before her voice hardened. "You know I was hardly raised in Pack society. My parents could hardly wait to be rid of me. I have seen more of the rest of the demon community than the rest of you put together."
"I wasn't told!" Wmor hissed so low only Asara and Spike caught it and they shared a worried look. Wmor turned on his heel and strode back to his dais. "Yimila! Get out here now!"
Asara bit her lip as her friend and Beta appeared. Yimila looked well apart from the red rings around her eyes and Asara was hurt to see the way she cringed away from Wmor.
"Why didn't you tell me about the marks?" he bellowed at her.
"They hadn't done that when I was there," Yimila replied.
Wmor raised his hand to strike Yimila when Asara shouted,
"Hold! She is still part of my pack Wmor! Do not start a war over this."
Wmor stayed his hand, glaring at the woman at his feet.
"Yimila," Asara said softly and the other looked up.
Asara stepped towards her before sinking down on her knees, which earned more startled cries from their audience. An Alpha never supplicated themselves for a sub but here was Asara doing exactly that. Yimila crawled off the stage towards Asara but didn't touch her. Raising her head Asara begged,
"Please Yim. Come home. We need you safe with us."
"But our pack will turn into this now you're an Alpha," Yimila said softly.
"No. This is just so we can get better treatment from the other packs. No at home it'll always be the same. I promise," Asara held out her hands.
Yimila looked at them, then at Spike and then at Asara's face before she burst into tears,
"I've been such a fool! Can you forgive me?"
"Yimila there's nothing to forgive!" Asara folded the other woman into her arms and picked her up.
Asara carried Yimila back to the remaining members of her pack and let them get reacquainted. She brushed a lock of hair off Yimila's face before going back Spike who had not moved from his position in the centre of the clearing. Wmor had gone back to his dais and was now talking in hushed tones to his Beta. Asara and Spike watched as the Beta nodded and drew back off the dais, disappearing into his pack. Spike did some mental calculation and knew that Wmor's pack by itself could wipe their small pack of ten off the map. The silence was oppressive but eventually a different Alpha cleared his throat and stood forward.
"I know this is hard for everyone to comprehend but we must come to a decision tonight. We must hear the whole story and the views of the other pack members."
"Yes thank you Torc'a," Wmor waved him back. "Not that the subs will every say anything against their chosen Alpha."
Juidon suddenly stood and strode forward.
"You are not an Alpha. You have no say here," Wmor reminded her.
"No perhaps but I'm also your best healer. Remember that gives me a higher rank than my Delta status does," Juidon stood her ground. She was well respected amongst the packs and had often had offers from other packs to join them. Wmor said nothing so Juidon continued,
"Maybe we, as subs, won't say anything against our Alphas because we are not meant to question our leaders but what if we have nothing to say against them?" Juidon shrugged. "I have seen many pairings, more than my fair share, that are not built on love but on status, power or simply because the match got an Alpha out of trouble. This pairing," she gestured at Asara and Spike, "is one of those things that only death would break. I used to hate the idea as much as you did but then I saw Spike's loyalty to Asara in the face of everything and it changed. I saw love and you know what I thought?" Juidon turned to look at everyone. "Do you? I was jealous!"
The packs were mesmerised by her speech until Torc'a broke in again,
"What do the rest say?"
The rest of the pack came forward and gave their views. Casve was hesitant in front of so many people but she gained in confidence as she told her story.
"Asara was sick… We thought she might die and… and I was very scared. No one has given me what Asara has. Juidon promised me it would be alright and it was. It all hung on Spike…his decision… He showed up and he made Asara better. I've never seen her so happy before. She seems to glow," Casve finished shyly, head ducking.
"Have none of you got anything to say against them?" Wmor ground out.
"Well maybe one thing," Esster'd came forward and Spike tensed. "They don't let us get any sleep anymore because they're so noisy when they get going. I mean it's like the discovery channel or something."
A few chuckles drifted round the clearing and Asara went a bit red. Spike glanced at Asara, smiling, well aware that she spoke the truth. Esster'd grinned at them before she sat back down.
"Not quite what I meant," Wmor spat and the laughter disappeared like water on a hot day. "Tell us what happened! Why does your pack keep saying you were dying?"
Asara and Spike exchanged glances before they began to tell their story and a number of views changed. Some felt pity for Asara because to them it looked like she'd had no alternative but to take Spike as her mate. Some knew what love felt like and they could see it between the couple. Some were torn; should she have let herself die or mate with a vampire? Unfortunately the vast majority still didn't like the idea and Wmor was one of them.
"Enough!" he barked. "We vote. Those in favour of letting this…union stand, place your votes."
The Betas of supporting packs went to stand with the Insiown pack and this in turn swayed some of the indecisive when packs saw their allies step forward. In all some twenty packs rallied behind Asara and Spike but against the fifty still remaining the odds were not good.
"Those who remain neutral show yourselves," Wmor continued.
The Betas filed out and stood between the dais and the 'for' group, looking a bit guilty. The odds dropped to twenty forty.
"Bloody Switzerland," Spike muttered under his nonexistent breath.
"Now against," Wmor's voice was low and rough.
The Betas went to stand beside Wmor and he smiled evilly,
"I think it's safe to say the majority wins. Isn't that how you play it Asara?"
Asara nodded before she turned to the Betas.
"Go back to your packs," she told them.
They shuffled indecisively.
"As an ally you must see me as an Alpha and therefore I out rank you. Go back," she commanded.
The Betas drifted slowly back, confused and worried why they were being dismissed. Their Alphas welcomed back and soothed them, knowing exactly what Asara was doing.
"My pack stays safe," she turned to Wmor.
He narrowed his eyes.
"They stay safe," she repeated, voice soft and Spike recognised the shift in her posture.
Wmor nodded brusquely,
"Safe whilst on my lands."
Asara accepted his word as her pack swarmed to her.
"No we won't leave you!" Esster'd grabbed her hand.
"I won't lose you again after I've just got you back!" Yimila cried. "This is all my fault!"
"This would have happened anyway and you never lost me," Asara reassured. "And you won't this time. Now go sit back down."
The pack was torn but they followed her orders. Asara was glad they were safe but the one person she cared for the most was still in the most danger. Turning to Spike she could see it written in his eyes that he knew what was coming and she held out her hand to him. He came quickly to take it and stand pressed against her before they both turned to the triumphant Wmor. He sneered at the pair,
"You know what's going to happen Asara. I hope your pet does too."
"My mate and I are fully aware of what you will do now," Asara projected an outwardly calm posture but Spike could feel her hand trembling.
"Then let us proceed with this parting," Wmor gestured at his pack. "You know if it's like Juidon said then you'll die tonight."
Asara clamped down so hard on Spikes hand he struggled not to show the pain.
"Then we'll die together," Asara replied.
"Oh no. He'll die but you get to watch it," Wmor grinned.
The Betas, Deltas and all other strong subs from the 'against' packs came forward and surrounded the pair.
"Like old times hey?" Spike joked, moving so they were back to back.
"Yeah," Asara agreed before swallowing. "Spike promise me one thing. If you die, wait for me."
"Forever pet," Spike raised her hand and kissed it. Asara could feel his fangs behind his lips.
"No I doubt it'll be more than an hour before I follow you," Asara whispered, knowing she wouldn't survive without him. She would simply fade away, pining or she'd kill herself.
Then there was no more time for thinking as the tide surged over them. Keeping the shifters at bay was at first easy because they were wary but eventually the numbers began to tell as well as the fact that neither Spike nor Asara could draw blood from their opponents. Both knew they'd simply be overwhelmed but they had worked together for so long they knew how to hold for an extensive amount of time. Each knew what the other's strengths and weaknesses were and since their bonding they could tell when the other stumbled without seeing it. They had become a formidable pair in battle but all it took was one mistake.
Spike made it because he was simply not as use to shifter tricks as Asara. Someone moved to punch him and he caught the fist before it connected. Another followed, then another and soon the shifter was punching at Spike with all his limbs. Unable to guess at the movement of every one Spike received a blow to the side of his head that knocked him to his knees. Asara moved to cover him, to buy him time to gain his feet but she was caught by the leg, pulled down and into the pack.
Spike howled and moved after her. Punching into the pack, still following the rules, he fought to be by her side but he put his fist right into a shifter's mouth. The shifter wasted no time in biting down hard, breaking the bones in his hand. Jerking on his hand Spike tried to free it but it was too late. Other bodies hit him, pushing him down, biting at his throat and Spike wrapped himself into a ball to defend his head and heart. His hand was still trapped so his left arm was extended, defenceless and the shifters ripped into it, tearing through muscle, tendons until the bones showed through. Spike's back was also exposed and many sets of teeth were buried in it and Spike's mind fought against the pain, refusing to cry out, to show weakness.
Suddenly a wounded cry sounded over the noise of growling and Spike knew it was Asara. Forgetting his own pain and injuries he exploded upwards, knocking the shifters away until he could stand. He tunnelled into the people surrounding her, fighting to be with her. Bursting through the wall of people Spike was confronted with a wave of smell. It was the smell of sweat, blood…all of it Asara's blood.
When she'd been grabbed Asara had reacted much like Spike and curled up to protect her soft belly, but again, like Spike, she was unable to fold all her limbs in. Her left leg was ripped to shreds from foot to hip and the pool of blood was still spreading. Asara was grappling with a shifter who had buried his fangs into her throat. He hadn't quite got her enough to make a killing blow but he was close and Asara knew she'd have to be quick about her decision. With fingers outstretched she poked him firmly in his eyes and the shifter jerked away, howling in pain. The shifter knocked the other one that was onto top of Asara off and Spike moved quickly to cover her with his body.
"Spike!" Asara hissed before shifting him slightly so a downward blow missed him.
Spike held her gaze, ignoring the pain rained in from above.
"No," Asara shook her head and rolled them over. "This is my fault. My trouble. You are mine to protect no-one else shall touch you!"
Spike struggled to turn back over but Asara kept him pinned.
"Please don't," Spike ran his good hand through her hair before his eyes hardened. "Not your trouble. Ours together! Remember our oaths? I'm not letting you go!"
Asara shook her head before wincing,
"Spike I want to go recalling the good stuff. Please?"
He gazed her before he kissed her gently. Forget where we are pet, Spike whispered in his mind. Asara started crying but didn't let go of him. Forever.
Neither noticed when the attacks stop. Unaware that the packs had drawn back and they were now alone in the clearing Spike and Asara continued to kiss. Asara drew back her head and said, loudly in the silence,
"I love you."
"I love you too pet," Spike replied, smiling.
Asara smiled at him and then they both noticed the absence of more pain and looked around.
"Erm what the hell is going on?" Spike asked.
"It seems we're not dying," Asara commented.
"Yeah got that bit. It's the other that had me," Spike replied.
Wmor cleared his throat, drawing their attention,
"It seems the subs won't attack you when you're engaged in other activities. They feel insulted that they're not good enough to keep your attention."
"So?" Asara wasn't sure what was going on.
"So it seems that you well get to stay you know like that…" Wmor was very embarrassed.
"Oh come on Peaches spit it out!" Spike snapped, tired.
"You are recognised as a mated pair and accepted as Alphas for the Pack Insiown," Wmor hissed, angry at being outsmarted.
"Oh," Asara had never really thought they could actually succeed. She turned to Spike,
"That's nice." Then she collapsed.
Spike panicked as he listened for her heart beat and it was so faint it didn't do much to reassure him. He rolled her off him, grunting in pain as he tried to use his bad arm. Hands helped him with the last bit and he discovered the rest of the pack was gathered round them, worried frowns on their faces. Juidon was ripping Spike t-shirt into strips and tying them as a tourniquet around Asara's leg.
"Yimila fetch my bag out of the car and hurry," Juidon ordered without looking up and Yimila shot off in a cloud of dust.
"What's going on?" Spike asked, cradling Asara's hand in his.
"Her femoral artery is badly torn and all this blood should be pumping around her body not onto the floor. If we don't stop the bleed, even with her advanced healing she'll die," Juidon replied, applying pressure over the tourniquet. Come on Asara.
Yimila stormed back into the clearing in her natural form, bag handles clasped in her teeth. Esster'd tore it from her and began handing Juidon the equipment she needed and Juidon began digging in Asara's leg for the ends of artery. Spike watched with horror at the harsh way Juidon manipulated Asara leg and muttered curses at the offending blood. Having stitched the big bleeder together Juidon moved on to the rest of the leg, patching up the worst before sighing and shifting back. Esster'd and Casve began to bandage the whole leg up from the tip of her toes to well over her hip.
"Your turn," Juidon said, pulling Spike round to her.
"She's ok?" Spike asked.
"We'll see. She's tough," Juidon smiled then she took a really good look at Spike's arm. "Jeez I'm surprised you're still conscious."
Spike glanced down at his arm and was surprised at its condition,
"It only hurts when I try to use it."
"Fuck," Juidon said eloquently. "That means damaged nerves."
Juidon began to sow Spike back together and as she did so the feeling began to return and it brought its friend pain.
"Bloody hell," Spike muttered.
Juidon glanced up quickly,
"What?"
"It bloody fucking hurts now!" Spike ground his teeth together, making his fangs more pronounced.
"Well this is gonna hurt more," Juidon warned him before she tugged a muscle back into place, having to pull it tight to make it work. Spike screamed and passed out.
-
"Christ what the hell did she do to me?" Spike muttered
"Made you better I hope," answered a voice.
Spike opened his eyes and found Asara looking at him.
"You're awake! You're ok!" Spike went to sit up and nearly tossed his cookies. "I ask again. What the bleedin' hell did she do to me?"
"I'm not surprised you feel so ill. You had very little blood left in you but that doesn't kill vampires. We gave you some shifter stuff as a transfusion when we got you back home but I don't think it sits right with you in large quantities," Juidon answered from the end of their bed.
"Oh right," Spike muttered before trying to rub his eyes. "Er…"
"Three rules for you two," Juidon told them, standing. "One no moving the injured limbs. Asara no walking, Spike no picking things up. Two no feeding off each other. You are both very weak at the moment."
"Yes Doc," Spike mumbled. "Hey wait you said three rules!"
"Three no sex," Juidon left before they could argue. Even so she heard the explosive shouts,
"What? No way!"
Spike sighed,
"This is just too much."
"At least you can walk places," Asara complained.
"I can't move my arms! Why has she strapped both up?" Spike asked, surveying his arms.
"We both had our backs ripped into. Mine affects my legs, yours your arms. Juidon hoped everything will heal in time but until then. Proper strapping," Asara nudged the memories back to the surface. "Look."
Asara lifted the covers to show Spike her lower half. Spike craned his neck to see the dressing cover her from waist to toe.
"Bloody hell that's a big bandage," Spike muttered.
"I'm not sure we could even have sex at the moment," Asara told him truthfully. "I can't…"
"Asara what?" Spike wanted to reach out and touch her, reassure her.
"I can't move anything down there very much. When I was protecting you someone ripped into my spine in my lower back. I'll heal but I won't be able to do things for a while," Asara admitted.
"I'm sorry luv," Spike shook his head.
"Not your fault," Asara touched his cheek before she tried to pull him towards her.
"Damn it!" she swore when it didn't work.
"Hold on," Spike manoeuvred his legs to drag himself across the bed to her side. The bottom half moved but his shoulders stayed stubbornly in place.
"Stay," Asara told him and she positioned herself into the curve of his body, arms round his waist. "I'm very glad we didn't die."
"Me too luv," Spike answered, kissing the top of her head.
"Sleep now," Asara murmured.
"I love you," Spike whispered.
"You know that's the third time you've told me that," Asara commented.
"Third?" Spike blinked.
"You thought I was asleep on our first night," Asara smiled.
"Does it matter how many times I've said it?" Spike asked.
"No I just like hearing it. I love you Spike," Asara lifted her head and kissed him.
"With all my heart," Spike returned.
"Gross dead, unbeating thing," Asara teased.
"Sleep you ungrateful wretch," Spike glared at her.
"Mmmm," Asara agreed.
That was the last thing either one said before they fell asleep.
-
Pack Notes
Packs always have names. Asara's pack - Insiown
Alpha – name for dominate leader of a pack. Both female and male called Alpha. Examples – Asara, Spike, Wmor, Torc'a.
Beta – name for the member who is second in charge, normally male. Asara's pack is all female so Yimila takes over that role.
Delta – name for the third in command. This is Juidon. She got promoted to Beta when Yimila left because the gap needed to be filled. Juidon also holds a special rank as Healer and often this allows her loop holes in the rules.
Gamma – fourth in line – Esster'd.
The other members have no particular rank but they know where they stand. The lowest ranking member is often called Omega but Asara's pack doesn't have this term. Youngsters like Casve have yet to reach maturity and so are not yet ranked and they are highly cared for.
Alphas in most packs have complete rule over the others and the packs members are often related and mixed sexes. Asara's pack is unusual because all her members are female outcasts having lost their families or been rejected by them and so they vote on decisions rather than have an Alpha. Alphas are the most dominate among the pack and often rise to the rank through the pack in fights. If someone is challenged then the fight is to the death and not much will get them out of such a fight.
In my world shifters have a complex society. Each pack is extremely territorial but they all have the sense to meet before things blow out of hand between the packs. These meetings are often regional so some packs have to go to more than one if they lie on the border between two boundaries.
Alphas rarely attack each other unless they are trying a hostile take over of the pack or are dealing with a problem. Subs are under their Alphas protection and an attack on them is often thought of as a direct attack on the Alpha. Wars between packs start because of this. The only time a sub can be hurt by someone outside their pack is when they have caused an insult and are often handed over for punishment to the offended party. Alphas obey a strict rule not to hurt subs belonging to another Alpha, but hurt is considered to be blood drawn or something broken. (NB Wmor nearly broke this when he went to hit Yimila). Asara and Spike therefore couldn't do this to the subs when they got attacked because they knew they were outnumbered and wouldn't have survived a war with the other packs.
Any pairs in the pack can mate and breed but often the Alphas are the only ones to do this.