Title: Chapter 14 Destined By Fate - Planes
Disclaimer: Buffy and Angel characters aren't mine but I can claim others!
Notes: I'm going to try to use my brain but that'll hurt so bear with me! Thank you all for the reviews. I love reading them and they tell me that my writing's good enough for people to like
Spike was still holding Asara's hand when they passed through the portal and was instantly grateful as he stumbled, doubling over. Asara crashed down onto the rocky ground on her knees, fighting not to throw up, whilst never letting go of Spike's hand.
"Spike," she dry heaved. "Don't you dare vomit mister. You do it so will I and I don't when I'll next get something to eat in this place."
"And you're saying I will?" Spike locked eyes with her.
"You've got me," Asara explained.
Spike forgot his nausea, like everything, when she mentioned feeding him, hauled her off her knees and kissed her hard. Asara didn't hesitate in responding and they stood through the portal closing, battling for supremacy with their tongues but Asara suddenly wrenched away.
"Buffy!" she cried.
"I didn't see that coming," Spike commented. "Something you want to tell me luv?"
Asara hit his arm,
"We're here for her so we need to start looking."
"Well we know she was here," Spike wrinkled his nose.
"Yes but which way did they go?" Asara glanced around, noting the thick mist.
"That way," Spike pointed straight ahead of them.
"How'd you work that one out?" Asara asked.
"Check out the pavement pizza," Spike showed Asara the puddle of vomit.
"Guess the Slayer couldn't hold her stomach," Asara commented. "She must be in a bad way but I can't say I feel sick now."
"Definitely not," Spike growled. "But I can feel something else."
Asara shot him a look,
"Leave it Mister Horny Vampire."
"Fine," Spike grumbled. "But when we get home I'm going to shag you so hard you can't see straight let alone walk."
Asara stumbled slightly as she walked away, mind savouring the image but she drew to a halt when a body appeared out of the mist. It was huge but surrounded by blood and internal organs.
"Looks like the Slayer managed to get a few before they got her," Spike wandered right up to the cadaver. "It's been dumped here rather than left behind in Sunnydale."
Spike kicked the carcass and yelled in surprised when something burst out from within it. It raised its head and swung it round to look at Spike. Well Spike presumed it was looking at him because if that was its arse Spike didn't want to know what it was intending to do with that.
"That's an Amorbis!" Asara called out.
"A what now?" Spike bellowed above the horrendous din the heavily plated worm was making.
"An Amorbis!" Asara repeated louder. "A scavenger in the astral planes which is where I think we are."
"Are they dangerous?" Spike shouted at Asara who was now standing at the other side of the corpse.
"I can't…" Asara began just before the worm buried itself back down into the body.
"No then," Spike was glad the noise had stopped.
"Err Spike?" Asara glanced at the ground before screaming. "Run!"
Spike obeyed, trusting Asara but he hated running especially when he didn't know why.
"Why are we bloody running?" he caught up to Asara's side.
The ground answered him.
"It burrows?" Spike asked.
"Remember Tremors?" Asara picked up the pace.
"Oh bloody hell! You saying that's where the writers got the idea from?" Spike glanced behind him.
Asara was about to answer when suddenly the rocky road they were running on abruptly ended. Asara teetered on the edge, supernatural balance all that kept her from falling into the inky blackness and she grabbed Spike to stop him.
"Looks like we're going to have to fight," Spike turned round.
"What are we meant to fight with exactly?" Asara questioned.
Spike didn't have time to make a reply because the ground erupted at their feet and both were forced to leap away. The Amboris snapped at them with its mandibles before hauling itself completely out the ground. The worm swung its head, searching for them, undecided who to go for as the pair had split up when they had jumped.
"It doesn't stick to the rules!" Spike cursed.
It set off towards Spike when he talked so Asara stalked quietly after the worm, hands transforming into her long claws and Spike understood the plan.
"I hate being the sodding bait!" he told at Asara who grinned but the worm just slithered faster.
Spike waited until it struck at him before dodging away but as the Amboris' head hit the floor he knew that its armour would protect it against most attacks. Maybe it has a soft belly! Spike thought, waiting for the worm to raise its head.
"Damn," Spike swore when his fears were realised.
The worm moved in quickly, head drawn back like a snakes before it strikes, but this time as Spike leapt away it followed and Spike was knocked to the ground. He turned over as the Amboris rearranged itself for a better angle to strike from, blocking Spike's view and he reacted with feral strength. Flipping onto his feet Spike barrelled into the worms neck bending it back to find Asara on its back, one hand in one eye the other in its mouth and the worm screamed. A high pitched noise that made Spike want to cover his ears and Asara grunted as she dug deeper, seeking the Amboris' brain. She found it after her arms disappeared up to their elbows into the worm and it shuddered, collapsing forward so Spike ended up jumping out the way. It pitched Asara off and Spike caught her neatly.
"Thanks," she grinned, changing her hands back.
Spike kissed her. What was it about her in a fight? Spike thought as he pulled her flush against him. Asara ran her hand up through his hair, holding him to her whilst her other hand dipped below the waistband on his jeans. Spike thrust forward against her hip and she scratch her way up his back, making him growl. He pushed her back until she bumped into the worm and Asara pulled back slightly, staring at him.
In his bright blue eyes she could see the yellow flecks as lust got the better of him but the look of pure lust, shot through with love that was on the vampire's face was what made Asara smile and kiss Spike softly before it grew more passionate. Spike unfastened her jeans, pushing them and her underwear down. He found her sensitive spot and Asara's head dropped back onto the curved shell of the Amboris as her hips arched towards to his probing finger. Making her fingers work somehow she tugged at his jeans, pulling them down so his throbbing erection jumped free and wrapping them around him.
Spike groaned and thrust forward into the warm, if still slightly messy, circle of her hand. He watched Asara lift her head, eyes heavy with desire and she rasped out,
"I want you."
Spike hissed, removing her hand and his fingers to position himself at her entrance. Because of the jeans on both of their legs neither could spread their legs for balance or access but they had done this enough times before to know that it was worth every minute. Spike drove into the waiting warmth and Asara cried out in pleasure at the invasion. Spike moaned as he found her wet and tight before pulling back and thrusting in again. They fell into a hard fast pace, neither having or wanting the control to last.
"Spike," Asara called his name as she came, bucking against him.
Spike drove himself down into her spasming body as he climaxed.
"Asara," he hissed before collapsing against her, head falling down onto her shoulder.
Asara's head thumped back against the worm as she fought for her breath.
"I can't believe we just did that," Asara muttered.
"What?" Spike asked from the crook of her neck, lips moving against her skin. "Need another re-run pet?"
"No not that," Asara smack him lightly on the back of his head. "I meant having sex on something we just killed when we're meant to be fetching the Slayer."
"Ah that," Spike still didn't move. "We seem to have a problem though. Since there's no more road where the hell did she go?"
"Got that worked out," Asara answered. "Look up."
Spike lifted his head and saw the road continued just over two storeys above their heads. Rolling his eyes he stepped back from Asara and pulled his jeans back up whilst she did the same. He calculated the distance he could jump, even with a run up and came up lacking.
"Need a boost?" Asara asked after watching his face.
Spike grinned and walked off a short distance. Asara shook her head and climbed up onto the worm's back so they had extra height before crouching down, cupping her hands. They had done this earlier except they tended to aim along not up but all Asara had to do was stand up.
Spike ran at her full tilt, first leaping up onto the worm and then putting one foot in her clasped hand, pushed up. Asara stood, lifting him up and Spike shot through the air, overshooting the road before crashing back down onto it. Wincing Spike climbed to his feet and peered over the edge to find Asara waiting to see whether he had made it safely. Asara nodded to him and Spike stepped back from the edge to look round. It was the same as before; misty and rocky.
Asara crouched down, legs storing energy coiled springs before leaping straight up. Her hands caught the edge of the road and she hauled herself over the edge. Standing she looked around for Spike but the mist was limiting her vision and every sound was muffled.
Spike?
Asara used their connection to find him. She located him through the anger he was radiating and sent a questioning feeling to him. All she got back was annoyance but she used that to track him down. When she knew she was getting close to him Asara slowed down, wary, and even so nearly bumped into him. Spike was glaring through the mist at something so Asara narrowed her eyes and peered ahead. Through the mist she could just pick out a faint blue light and she realised it was another portal and the way out of the Astral planes. Frowning she wondered what Spike was cross at.
Spike could feel the puzzlement emanating from Asara and he sighed. He got here in time to see the Buffy disappear through the portal so he knew it was the right one but that wasn't what was pissing him off. He come with Asara to keep her safe and get her back home but the twenty huge, well armoured demons was something they couldn't handle alone.
"That's our portal," Spike took her hand. "Next stop alter dimension Earth."
He led her towards the portal and the pair stood on the edge looking in despite the fact that they couldn't see past the blue pulsing light. Spike knew they were close behind Buffy so they could emerge right into the middle of the demon group. He raised her hand and kissed it before stepping forward into the light.
Asara took a deep breath just before she hit the event horizon and clung to Spike's hand. The trip from astral planes to Earth was different but Asara couldn't decide whether it was worse or not. There was much to be said for the feeling of something trying to pull your brain out your nose. Asara kept her feet this time and pushing her free hand at her head, eyes shut. At least it's warm here. she thought before her head jerked up.
Spike had reacted almost the same way as Asara to the pain and only looked up when her pure shock and fear overloaded his system. The sun was rising in the sky, having breached the horizon over two hours ago. He looked for shelter whilst pulling his duster over his head. The land spread away from them, flat and barren in all directions. Panic threatening to overwhelm him he was surprised when Asara grabbed him and stared at him curiously.
"Don't you normally smoke?" she asked.
"You suggesting I have a ciggy now?" Spike knew it calmed him down but this was ridiculous.
"No I meant you literally smoke in the sun," Asara explained. "You haven't here. Does it feel different?"
Spike thought about it. His initial natural response had taken over his actions and he hadn't stopped to see whether alternate dimensions were physically different.
"It does a bit," Spike agreed. "It doesn't burn."
Slowly he lowered his duster and waited for the telltale feeling but when he didn't come he grinned. Spike rubbed at his hand and frowned,
"It itches like it should burn but doesn't."
Asara tilted her head up and sniff the air. On the air currents she could smell so many things. Spike was the strongest but there was also the hint of the demons and Buffy leading away to the west. Even deeper than that was the scent of the place in which they stood. It was a deep musty scent that spoke of age, history and mighty oaks but over all that lay infinite sadness.
"This place was beautiful once," Asara said softly. "A beautiful oak forest full of life."
"Then evil came," Spike knew the story.
The pair smiled at each other, took a hand and began walking, following the trail. The trail was immediately obvious on the dry ground but traces here and there of blood and scuff marks gave the game away as well as the fact that both could trace their prey through scent. They had been walking for some three hours when a citadel reared up in the distance. Without pausing the couple took in the city with its high walls, guards and began increasing wary as they looked for attack. They stopped on a small rise and watched the group of demons carrying the Slayer enter the fortress after a huge inspection.
"We'll never get in there through the front door," Spike sat down, back against one of the few trees remaining.
"We wait 'til dark then scale the walls," Asara curled up next to him, head on the swell of his chest.
Spike began running his hand through her hair, fingers rubbing at her scalp. Asara yawned but fought the feeling, knowing they were far from safe, exposed in the open.
"Sleep luv. I'll keep watch," Spike kissed the top of her head.
"Wake me later. You need to sleep too," Asara mumbled as she drifted.
Spike knew as her breathing deepened he wouldn't wake her. He loved to watch her sleep and was always loathed to wake her so he'd stay up the rest of the day. It didn't bother him as he was still on Sunnydale time.
-
"I'm sorry," Xander looked round the pack, eyes settling on the four children.
"Thank you for telling us," Juidon took his hand.
Outwardly she presented a calm appearance but as she squeezed Xander's hand he could feel the tremors running through it. He smiled softly at her, trying to reassure her,
"They'll come back. You know Spike, like a bad penny he always turns up."
"And where ever he is Asara is never far away," Esster'd finished.
Xander nodded then bid the pack good night. He still had to call a Scooby meeting to tell them what was going on and so headed for Buffy's house. Angel and the others had phoned everyone and told them to meet at the Summers household immediately. They had argued where to hold the meeting until Xander pointed out Joyce and Dawn needed to know as well, if not more.
Xander was not looking forward to this one bit.
-
"The future of the world rests with two demons who waste their time seeking comfort in each others bodies," the female turned to the male, disgust on her face.
"What were we to do? We could not force the issue," he male answered. "Everything will work."
"I'm going to make sure," the female narrowed her eyes.
"The rest of the Powers That Be will not stand for this again," the male told her.
"We will see," the female left him.
The male did not spend time on speculating what she would do. He acted and told the rest of the entities that made up the Powers That Be his suspicions.