Title: Chapter 13 Pawns
Disclaimer: If I could rhyme this would be pretty.
Notes: I read Robin Jarvis and fell in love with Norse mythology.
"We haven't heard or seen anything since we got here," Gunn hissed. "What's the point?"
"Of hiding behind this bush? Hiding? Life?" Cordelia glared at him.
"Hiding!" Gunn neatly clipped a leaf off the bush. "Why can't we just ask the Slayer where the demon is?"
"'Cause Mister Broody over there doesn't want to run into his ex on her patch," Cordelia flicked her fingers at Angel.
"Will you two be quiet!" Angel had heard every word. "We'll never catch this demon if we're not quiet!"
Everyone fell silent only to jump when Wesley's phone began ringing.
"Sorry," Wesley silenced the noise but answered the call. "Any information?"
"Who's on the phone?" Fred asked.
Gunn shrugged.
"Not going to help us? Why not?... A promise!... This is ridiculous," Wesley clearly wasn't having much luck.
He said goodbye tersely and shook his head at everyone. Angel sighed and stared out across the cemetery,
"Oh you have got to be joking! What is he doing here?"
The group looked up and saw the distinctive bleached blonde head of Spike as he made his way across the cemetery. Angel was up and out from behind cover before anyone could say anything and rapidly closing the distance to Spike.
Spike noticed a dark body move out of the corner of his eye and reacted on pure instinct, rolling away to the right. He stood straight into a fighting stance but Angel was ready for him and the two traded blows. Evenly matched neither one could gain the upper hand.
"Clearly you're glad to see me," Spike said sarcastically in a break in the fight.
"What are you doing in Sunnydale?" Angel watched Spike closely.
"After my next Slayer," Spike grinned, deliberately provoking Angel.
Angel growled.
"Temper temper Deadboy," a familiar voice tutted.
Angel recognised Xander's voice and didn't turn round so Xander walked up to his side.
"Hope you're beating him," Xander grinned.
"As best I can," Angel glared at Spike.
"No not you, you nonce," Spike snorted.
"What?" Angel glanced at Xander.
"My question exactly," Cordelia appeared with the rest in tow.
"Cordy still the Queen Bitch?" Xander greeted his ex.
"Of course. Now what is going on?" Cordelia folded her arms and looked at the three men in front of her.
"I'm going to kill Spike!" Angel fingered his stake.
An eerie howl sounded through the graveyard.
"Oh bad move Deadboy," Xander shook his head.
"And why's that?" Angel glared at Xander and then at Spike when he lit up a cigarette.
"That howl announced the arrival of a very pissed woman," Xander sat himself down on a gravestone.
"What are you talking about?" Cordelia was losing her temper.
"Why don't you ask the bloke who knows the most?" Spike raised an eyebrow.
"Unlikely to be you now is it?" Angel had lost his temper.
Suddenly he was flattened by a blur of motion and found himself pinned face first in the dirt. The others reacted and pointed their weapons at the woman plastered over the top of him but Spike and Xander just grinned.
"We'd like you to meet Asara," Xander announced.
"Just exactly what is going on?" Wesley asked, crossbow levelled at Asara.
"Nah ah. You first," Xander waved a finger. "Or I'll call Buffy over."
"We have come to Sunnydale following one of Cordelia's visions seeking out a demon," Wesley explained.
"And by the looks of things you're not here to ask it to dance the samba," Xander eyed the impressive array of weapons.
"What's this demon look like?" Spike asked, curious.
"About the size of a small pony, hairy, lots of teeth and three claws on each paw," Cordelia summed up.
Spike sniggered,
"Asara pet come off my wanker of a grandsire."
Asara stood and let a very disgruntled Angel up. She was watched by the others closely as she moved to Spike's side.
"Talk," Angel glared at the obvious couple.
"Where to start?" Spike pondered the question. "We know where the demon you're looking for is but you can't kill her."
"Her?" Fred blinked. "Why not?"
"Most definitely," Spike wrapped an arm around Asara's waist. "Well 'cause I expect you couldn't. Luv what do you think?"
"Probably not though… hedgehog here might be a bit of a challenge," Asara eyed Angel.
"Hey! What did I do to you?" Angel's hand unconsciously went to his hair.
"Let me count the ways… Threatened my mate would be the best place to start," Asara narrowed her eyes.
"Mate…?" Angel glanced between the two.
"You and Spike?" Cordelia wrinkled her nose. "What do you see in him?"
"More importantly why couldn't we kill her?" Wesley held up his hand.
"'Cause she'd seriously kick your butts," Xander said.
"You know her?" Gunn eyed the young man.
"Yeah," Xander nodded. "I kinda consider her a good friend in the 'I'm an semi-evil demon' way."
"In the same breath hey and awww," Asara replied.
"You're friends with a short…" Cordelia was interrupted by Asara.
"'Excuse me."
Cordelia glared,
"Ugly…"
"Watch it!" Spike butted in this time.
"Monster?" Cordy finished.
"What Spike?" Xander grinned.
Spike flicked his cigarette butt to hit Xander smack on the end of his nose but Xander neatly caught it, dropped it to the floor and squashed it with his heel.
"He's getting too use to that honey," Asara sighed. "Think of something new."
"You're friends with Spike now?" Cordelia raised an eyebrow.
"How else would I be out with two demons patrolling if I wasn't friends with them?" Xander asked.
"Two demons?" Wesley tightened his grip on his crossbow. "You're a vampire?"
"No," Asara shook her head. "Look fun as it has been we need to get home before the rest of our pack kills our children."
"Pack?" Fred glanced between Spike and Asara. "That howl…"
"Children?" Angel stared at Spike.
"Yeah forgot to call. You're a great granddad," Spike grinned.
"But… but…" Angel shook his head as if to clear cobwebs.
"Wanna come meet the kiddies?" Spike cocked his head.
"We should be out looking for the demon," Angel replied.
"Bloody hell there must be too much gel up there!" Spike held up a finger. "One this is family, two I will not let you kill her and three she's standing right in front of you!"
Silence reigned as Spike's words sank in and all eyes moved to look at Asara.
"Thanks a bunch," Asara said dryly.
"She looks nothing like…" Gunn trailed off as Asara threw up her hands.
"Oh for cryin' out loud!"
Asara stuck out one hand and, without ceremony, changed it into its alter shape. Most of the watching crowd took a tiny step back before they caught themselves and stood firm. Yawning, as if bored with the entire thing, Asara revealed her fine and numerous teeth prior to her body snapping back to its human form.
Wesley squeezed the trigger on his crossbow and Asara grunted as the bolt hit her shoulder. Spike snarled but she caught his arm before he tore Wesley's throat out and with her other hand she pulled out the bolt. She dropped it to the floor and moved her shoulder to test the pain. Asara winced and Spike left off glaring death at Wesley to check her wound. It was small and already healing but that didn't stop Spike from running his fingers over it to check.
"You're off the invite mate," Spike growled at Wesley, pointing at him to emphasises his decision.
"Spike stop waving bloody fingers around," Xander said disgusted.
Spike stopped waving them and put them in his mouth, which gained him several 'eewws' and grimaces but one low rumble. Turning back to Asara Spike caught her low, heated look and slowly pulled his fingers from his mouth before stepping closer to her.
"No!" Xander exclaimed. "No no no! I've just eaten!"
"That was stupid," Spike didn't take his eyes off Asara. "You knew you were out with us."
"If you two are about to do what I think you two are about to do, don't do it," Cordelia instructed.
"I have one question," Fred looked round. "Why would the Powers That Be sends us out to kill a demon that looks… well friendly."
"We have not determined that yet," Wesley hadn't let down his guard.
"Eraghhh," Asara said exasperated. "Look I'm a relatively good person. I haven't killed a human in two hundred years except in self defensive and does anyone here know what your demon is?"
"We did research and we couldn't find any mention of the demon so we thought it might predate the written word," Wesley shrugged.
"Hold on a bloody second. Nothing? So how the hell does Giles know so much?" Spike glanced at Asara.
"Jui said he had a contact," Asara answered. "Your demon… me… is… hold on. How big is your demon?"
"In metres?" Cordelia snorted.
"No… could your demon get its mouth around someone's head?" Asara suggested.
Cordelia shuddered slightly before answering,
"Yes probably."
"So me then," Asara looked grateful but only Spike truly understood why.
Casve was a D'ewain too but as a juvenile she wasn't fully grown yet and Asara was well aware of the sizes adults grew to be and what they could do. Her example was not spur of the moment imagination, with Asara it rarely was.
"You are…?" Gunn waved his axe in the silence.
"A D'ewain shifter," Asara answered.
"Except she's really not is she?"
The Sisters of Fate appeared to answer the Powers That Be. They were three to the Powers' two but even if the Fates were outnumbered a hundred to one they were still have more power. They could bring around their Ragnarök, but The Powers had frozen time so that the group would not be witness to this.
"Why do you say she is not?" the eldest, Urdr, stepped forward and began walking round the group.
"She has done things her species cannot," the male speaker continued.
"She has existed when she should not," Urdr brushed a stray hair from Asara's face.
"Why do you say that? Surely you knew her fate," the female spoke up.
"Yes she was meant to die within her first three hours of life," the second sister, Skuld, admitted.
The Powers exchanged looks,
"She does not exist within the Tapestry."
"No but her children do," Verdandi, the youngest stopped in front of Angel. "Why him?"
"That is not important now," the female said. "If she does not exist within the Tapestry of Life then you cannot control her and therefore she is not the one to do this."
"She does not need controlling," Urdr turned to the female. "Unlike your chosen Champion."
"Control is important or events may become out of our hands," the male answered before making and holding eye contact. "Even out of yours."
"So what makes you think your Champion can handle the problem?" Skuld asked. "He has complicated ties to the Slayer which will always colour his decisions regarding her safety."
"And your Champion has never done some for the greater good," the female sneered. "How can we be sure that she will remain loyal when we cannot control her?"
"She will do anything for her family. That is insurance enough," Verdandi turned her gaze to Spike.
"We will see her memories," the male stepped forward and raised his hand.
"You do not ask permission," Urdr said coldly.
"Hide her memories and we will fight this even more," the male told them.
The Powers That Be may not have the Fates power but they still had enough to hurt the Fates and that which they protected. All three sisters knew that the Powers first move would be against the Well of the World and the World Tree, Yggdrasill and that could lead to a catastrophe.
"We do not need to hide her memories," Skuld stated. "Just as we no longer need to hide our presence. Let them decide."
She waved her hand and time moved forward again in it's relentless pursuit of the future.
"A D'ewain shifter? They're…" Wesley trailed off when they noticed the five others standing with them.
"Now we see," the male said as he and the female stepped to Asara's side and raised their hands.
"Hold on just a bloody minute," Spike growled.
The pair didn't even look at him as they lowered their hands towards her head. Asara twitched and then frowned. Spike surged forwards before jerking to an abrupt halt,
"What the hell?"
"You are not to interfere," Urdr told him.
The Powers That Be placed on hand on either temple and Asara's eyes widened the instance before she screamed. Her spine bowed backwards and her eyes showed white but the Powers kept her from falling. A mist formed in front of them and eventually the colours made pictures and Spike instantly recognised the scene as their children's first birthday. It changed to the blood oath Spike and Asara had taken then to the first time the couple had met all seen as if from Asara's eyes.
"What's happening?" Angel asked.
"The Powers That Be are viewing Asara's memories to verify whether she is good enough," Skuld elucidated.
"PTB? Those guys?" Cordelia looked the pair up and down.
"It is just a corporeal body. They do not truly look like this," Verdandi explained.
"Who are you then?" Wesley questioned curiously.
"The Fates, the Nornir, the Loom Maidens, the Spinners of the Wood, call us what you will," Urdr answered, eyes staying on Asara.
The group got fast forward shots of pack life and intimate moments with sex included. The Powers were ignoring them now as they searched deeper in her memories, looking for something else that would explain her current situation. Everyone watched in silence except Spike's muttered threats as the Powers tore through the memories, but Xander couldn't keep quiet for long.
"Does it have to be so painful?" he glanced at Verdandi who was standing next to him.
"No," she smiled sweetly at him. "It is simply another challenge for her to undertake but it is good to know you care."
Xander sighed. He was in the presence of higher beings and knew he couldn't do anything to help Asara but if Spike kept muttering then the tic showing on the males cheek was going to hurt Spike in a big, explosively painful way. Xander walked over to Spike's frozen side and laid a hand on his shoulder. Spike was allowed enough movement to swivel his head to look at Xander and he snapped,
"What?"
"It's a test Spike and you know Asara always passes them," Xander knew he'd never be able to calm Spike down or allay his fears but he could distract him a tiny bit.
A scene appeared that Spike didn't recognise so intrigued he kept quiet to watch. The Powers let the memory play out in real time and even boosted the sound level so everyone could hear it. All present could see how similar Asara looked to the people in her memory and Urdr decided it was time to explain what they were seeing.
"This is the last time Asara saw her parents and brother over two hundred years ago when they made her leave their pack."
"They knew then that she wasn't right," the female said, voice misty through concentration.
The memories cycled on back through Asara's past and Spike put new people to the top of his list to kill brutally as he saw how bad her past had been. They had rarely talked of their histories and all Spike had known was that is hadn't been a happy time for her, but then none of the pack had a happy childhood.
"The bastards are going to scream," Spike growled and Xander's hand tightened momentarily on his shoulder in understanding.
"It should never have happened," Verdandi shook her head.
"Got that bloody right!" Spike exclaimed.
The Powers pulled their hands away and Asara slumped to the floor. Spike was allowed to move and he pulled her into his lap, head cradled on his shoulder as he murmured to her.
"What the Sisters meant was that Asara was fated to die on her first day of life yet somehow she is here now," the male looked down at the recovering woman in question.
"She has not done anything to warrant this task," the female announced. "Whereas our Champion has."
"Some could say all your Champion is doing is atoning for past sins," Urdr reminded the Powers of Angel's chequered history.
"That does not mean that he cannot and will not do this," the male answered.
"And the same could be said for our Champion," Skuld turned their logic round.
"Erm excuse me," Xander stuck his hand up. "Just a mere mortal here but what is going on?"
Five immortal eyes stared at him.
"Okaaay," Xander dropped his hand.
"But Xander has a point," Angel nodded at him and Xander looked startled. "It seems that we were brought here for a purpose when Cordelia was given a vision from the Powers That Be telling us to kill Asara."
"They should be told," Verdandi looked at her sisters then at the Powers.
"Agreed," the male nodded before turning to Angel. "As you know you have been chosen to be our Champion against evil."
Angel accepted that, with it so far.
"There is an evil coming to this dimension from another and the Slayer is destined, once more, to stop it," the female continued.
"So if the Slayer's got this job why do you need tall and forehead?" Spike frowned from the floor.
"The Slayer will be taken and held by the evil's allies so that she cannot defend this place so someone needs to retrieve her," Urdr looked pointed at Asara then Angel. "And we are disagreeing about whom."
"Whoa," Asara staggered upright, Spike steadying her. "Me? I'm not… a… a champion."
"You are our Champion," Skuld stated.
Asara looked panicked and gripped Spike's arm.
"So it's a contest between Angel and Asara then," Fred was unsure who she wanted to win.
If Angel won then there was a chance he'd die which was bad but the same went for Asara and Fred knew she had children. She didn't know Asara but she knew Angel would want to save Buffy even if it cost him his life.
"We would let them fight but there is not enough time so we must find another way," Verdandi frowned as she thought.
"Why can't they both go?" Gunn asked. "Safe guard if one fails."
"What happens if they both fail? Then this world has lost three of its strongest warriors," the female shook her head. "We cannot let that happen."
"So why not guard Buffy to stop her being taken in the first place?" Xander asked.
"It is too late," the male said simply.
"What?" Angel crossed to him quickly.
"She's gone," Asara whispered.
"How do you know that?" Angel whirled on her.
"I can't smell her anymore and she was in this graveyard so I should be able to," Asara answered.
"How can we trust you on that?" Angel leant in to her.
"Back off!" Spike pushed him back. "She has a fucking amazing sense of smell so piss off."
Asara pulled free of Spike and walked to Urdr.
"The portal is still open but it won't last will it?" Asara made eye contact.
"No," Urdr said softly, glad that she did not have to explain this to Asara.
"How long?"
"Thirty minutes," Urdr replied.
"Will I be able to come back?" Asara swallowed, fear in her eyes.
"It is possible but we do not know if you will," Urdr spoke truthfully.
Asara nodded before turning back to Spike and laying a hand on his cheek.
"Take care of them," she murmured.
"No," Spike grabbed on her hand and held it to his face. "You are not going. Angel can go."
"It is not written that he would go," Skuld told them.
"So this was a pointless argument?" Angel frowned.
"No we have changed people's fates before," Urdr admitted. "But we were sure here."
"See?" Asara kissed his hand gently.
Spike hauled her in and kissed her hard, emotions pouring into her. Asara broke away, tears rolling down her face.
"Don't, please," Asara begged.
"I love you," Spike said hoarsely, eyes bright with unshed tears.
"I love you too," Asara took a step backwards.
"I can't let you go," Spike refused to relinquish her hand.
"Please," Asara whispered.
"If you are set on this I'm coming with you," Spike said determinedly.
"No," Asara shook her head. "What if something goes wrong? What if we couldn't come back or… or if we died? The children would lose both of us and I can't let that happen."
Spike swallowed and dropped his gaze, fighting to think of something.
Verdandi looked at her sisters, resolve on her face and they knew what was going to happen. As the youngest she was the one still clinging to the hope of an everlasting love.
"If one of you doesn't make it we will bring the other back here," she told them.
Spike looked up at her,
"Thank you."
"What happens if we are going to succeed? Could you wait?" Asara looked up too.
"Yes but one of you at least is coming home alive," Verdandi promised. "You will have to live with the decision that if it prevents you from bringing the Slayer back then this world is surely doomed."
Spike nodded and Asara looked at Spike, torn. Something in life, not the Fates, had given her Spike and he was more than she ever thought someone could be. She felt both pleased and worried that he was insisting that he wanted to come with her and silently pleaded that nothing would hurt him. Turning to Xander she grasped his hands,
"Will you tell them what's happened here tonight?"
Xander nodded. He was going to be telling a lot of people bad news tonight and not just the pack. Asara smiled gratefully before taking Spike's hand and setting off to the portal, nose unerringly guiding her towards it. The rest hung back slightly to give the couple time to talk and to talk themselves but by the time they had crossed the cemetery silence hung heavy on the air. Everyone could see the torn ground, broken headstones from Buffy's fight, lit by the light coming from the pulsing swirling circle of blue light.
"It's beautiful," Fred whispered, taking a step towards it.
"And bloody deadly I'll bet," Spike gritted his teeth. "Any clue where we'll come out?"
"Another dimension but it'll still be earth," Urdr replied.
"Well looks like our time has come," Asara said tone of voice belaying the important of her words.
Angel stepped to their side and coughed slightly, embarrassed.
"What?" Spike could have snapped but he saw Angel was trying to be nice.
"Thank you," Angel stuck out his hand.
Spike froze momentarily before shaking it and grinning. Angel smiled slightly and held out his hand to Asara, which she took.
"You're good for him," Angel told her.
Asara smiled softly and glanced at Spike.
"Bring her back," Angel told them, dark eyes a swirl of emotion.
"We intend to," Asara nodded.
Angel waited for Spike's sarcastic comment about the Slayer and was surprised when he didn't. Spike noticed and said quietly, for Angel's ears only,
"I have Asara now. I know how you feel."
Angel nodded and stepped back as Spike turned back to Asara and the portal. He took her hand and squeezed it. Asara took a deep breath and together they stepped forward into the light. For a brief instant they were illuminated in its glow but in the next second they were gone.
"I hope they'll be alright," Fred said in the silence.
Suddenly a rushing wind picked up and everyone had to brace against the strong wind that rushed into the portal.
"Now it starts," the male stated before the Powers disappeared.
The portal swelled for a moment, growing bigger in size, twice as bright before it collapsed in on itself, crumpling like a piece of paper in a fire. Each person blinked and turned to the Fates.
"What now?" Angel asked.
"You wait," Urdr told him.
"Wait? For how long?" Wesley questioned.
"Look for the signs," Skuld instructed them.
"Oh goodie research," Xander muttered sarcastically.
The Fates moved towards each other so they stood in a triangle, just like when they had appeared.
"Wait!" Angel strode over to them. "If it wasn't in my destiny to do this and it wasn't in Asara's, was it in Spike's?"
"Yes," Verdandi said before they vanished.
"But Spike hates Buffy…" Xander trailed off.