Growing Blaze
Prologue: Alliances
"Let me make sure I understand what it is exactly you are asking of me. You contend that the new mate of your GrandChilde is a newly risen Queen, that she is in my city without an announcement, and you would very much like it if I would send a car around to pick her up and deliver her here. Correct?" The accent was old and thick, the old English sound mixed liberally with a heavy portion of Italian. But the voice that spoke it was pleasant, regal, and Angelus knew, ancient. It was a sound no wise vampire ever forgot, it was the sound of Elizabeth, the White Queen of Rome.
Nodding, Angelus shifted on the satin covered couch, the back of his hand going immediately to rest reassuringly against Xander's hair. "My sources tell me that she's quite powerful--"
Elizabeth laughed, her perfect corkscrew curls shifting around her like a living wheat field. "My dear Angelus, if you came all this way to play with me, I'll have no choice but to turn you out. I find I have no time in my old age for games that have nothing to do with me." Eyes as green as the Elysian Fields sparkled with both mirth and a warning all to clear to any male, and Angelus nodded before trying again.
"Drusilla has foretold another prophecy. Whatever Willow has become, she's no ordinary Queen. My Childe is insane, but make no mistake, her prophecies are never wrong."
Perfectly manicured nails rose to full, pouty lips as Elizabeth nodded silently. Decades ago, he'd brought Drusilla here to repeat a prophecy she'd spoken while hunting in the German foothills. It was why he could come here now and beg a favor from a Queen as ancient as Elizabeth. The prophecy had spoken of a coo between the Orange Queen of Russia and the Green Queen of Germany. What started as an assassination attempt against Elizabeth progressed into World War I and II, but that mattered little. Elizabeth owed him a blood debt, and now was his time to collect.
The sound of silk on satin shifted his attention and Angelus watched with much anticipation as Elizabeth rose and walked to the south side of the massive reception room. The wall was made entirely of mirror, and Angelus watched as she cast no reflection.
"Tell me more about this woman. You say she is only a child?"
Slowly he nodded, collecting his thoughts. "Willow was a human girl born on the Hellmouth in the States. She befriended the Slayer about four years ago and worked with her to guard against the vampires."
Elizabeth nodded, the long gauzy sleeves of her dress swaying as she paced. "Yes, I had heard the Slayer was using mortal help in her war." Then she turned and fixed her fathomless eyes on his. "I also heard story of a certain master vampire who had lost his soul after falling in love with the Slayer and betraying his own Childer. In fact, I heard his GrandChilde was nearly killed. Strange the goings on in the States-- American's are so temperamental."
Shamed by her words, Angelus looked down at his hands. "You hear quite a bit this far from the source, my lady. I am ashamed to say the stories are true. I did fall in love with the Slayer, and I did lose the shelter of the soul I was cursed with, and I did betray my Childer." He lifted his gaze then, his eyes hard with determination. "However, circumstances have changed, and now I search for my GrandChilde and his mate."
That smooth, distinguished accent once again cut him off. "To what end, Angelus? Why do you seek your GrandChilde and his mate? If the stories are true, William has chosen The Way of The Lost, and you have no claim on him or his chosen mate, Queen or no."
The demon inside him rose at the mention of The Way of The Lost. William could be brash and even foolish at times, but he was not The Way of The Lost, at least not yet. Inside his mouth, fangs elongated, and on his face, the demon fought to the surface and begged to rip into human flesh to quench the rage flowing through his veins. William was not The Way of The Lost; Spike belonged to him.
From across the room came a dignified scoff. "Leash the demon, Angelus, it has no place here. I asked but a simple question and the answer is more than obvious to me, but I will hold my observation until I know more about this Queen. Continue, I desire to hear more." With a snap of her fingers a servant arrived caring a glass of blood wine, and though she took it, she offered none to him.
With a deep and unnecessary breath, he produced the human mask and continued Willow's tale. "The Slayer had many interesting human's working with her, but she also had a Werewolf. The boy's name was Oz--"
For the first time that night, Xander spoke up, his eyes alight with righteous justice and the markings of insanity. "Fur rug! We're going to gut him and give him to Willow as a present. She'll be so happy we gave her a present. I never got her anything good for her birthday, but this year I'll get her something she'll really like. I'm going to wrap it in green foil paper, just the way she likes it. She'll be so happy, and then we'll get ice cream and things will be good again, you'll see." And just as suddenly as his words had come, they drifted off again, and once more, Xander Harris stared straight ahead and did not make a sound.
A long pause filled the quiet room as Angelus worked his fingers lightly through Xander's hair, calming himself more than the boy.
He was startled when Elizabeth broke the silence. "He's touched."
Angelus spared her a look before resting his hand along Xander's neck. "Xander and Willow were childhood friends. Willow was betrayed by her then boyfriend Oz, who chose a tryst with the Slayer." The Queen cocked her delicate eyebrow. "She chose death and sought out Spike. What happened between them I don't know, but Spike took her somewhere and something bloomed between them." His eyes saddened for a moment as his presence elicited no response from the boy beside him. "No one knew this of course, believing instead that Willow was dead, a bloody sweater all the proof some needed. The Slayer was blasé about it; however, Xander suffered greatly as he tried to convince others she was still alive. In the end, his pain reduced him to this. I seek William for myself, we have much to work out between us, but I seek Willow for Xander." His voice softened, "He did better when he could hear her voice."
China-white fingers stretched to cover his hand that had moved over Xander's cheek and he watched startled as the White Queen looked deeply into his eyes. "You miss understand child, this boy is touched not in mind but in spirit. An aura surrounds him through which I cannot see. To you, he is insane, but he is not. His mind drifts between here and somewhere else as if a leaf on the wind." She turned from his shocked expression and looked fully at Xander's face. "You say, Drusilla thinks this Willow is something special?" He nodded dumbly, his hand still pressed against Xander's cheek. "As you said, Drusilla is never wrong, and this boy seems to prove she is indeed something unusual. She's nothing but mortal? Nothing unusual about her before William chose her?"
Angel nodded, and then immediately shook his head. "She's human, but before she disappeared she was experimenting with magic. She had her sights set on becoming a witch to help the Slayer."
This piqued Elizabeth's interest. "A witch, you say, hm, most curious. Prophecy's come in two's and three's--as you know--and I have heard from my contacts in the Watcher's Counsel that they have recently unearthed a prophecy concerning a witched made Blood Queen. I confess to thinking nothing of it at the time, but now it seems rather poignant." Suddenly she stood, and moved to the couch across from him before seating herself and staring quietly somewhere above his head.
This was all more than he expected. He'd come to Elizabeth because she owed him a favor, and with Spike and Willow in Rome doing the Powers knew what, she was the only way he could track them down and speak with them. He should have known nothing was as easy as it seemed when dealing with the oldest Blood Queen in the world. She'd received him well, even accepting Xander with little more than a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile, but as usual, things were taking a dramatic turn; what he didn't know yet, was if they were for better or for worse.
"Angelus?" He looked up and nodded. "I believe I would like to meet this young Queen of Spike's. I'll arrange for Darres to bring her here tomorrow evening. In the mean time, you and your human are welcome to stay here." Rather suddenly she rose and held out her hand, palm up, and waited.
It was a gesture not given lightly to anyone. Centuries ago, he and Elizabeth had had a mild liaison, a union that produced no bond but that of limited trust. But this, this was more than could have ever been expected.
Slipping to his knees before her he took her hand and gently kissed her palm. The demon came next, the promise of Queen's blood as strong a call as ever. His tongue stole across the inside of her wrist, before his fangs sliced across her skin and drew the oldest blood in the world.
He took only a few drops, but the ancient mixture flew to his head, making the world crystal clear; making every detail as defined as that of a microscope. The light was a thousand times brighter, but his eyes just as able to adjust. It was a taste of the closest thing to power any male could come too, and it was a most heady taste at that.
By the time his senses returned to normal Elizabeth was long gone. Shaking his head he turned to see that Xander was still in the same spot, his eyes still locked on something only he could see. Shifting, Angelus moved back onto the couch and gently kissed Xander's temple. His feelings for the boy had continue to grow over the months, and now as the mystery behind Xander's fading consciousness was becoming clearer, Angelus knew they would only continue to grow. For some reason, Xander was special to him, special in a way that had him wanting to protect the boy, despite what he was. Whatever the reason, the boy needed his care, and he had every intention of giving it to him.
Standing, he guided Xander to follow, and then turned to the door and nodded once to the vampire waiting there to show them to their quarters. The going was slow, Xander walked as if in a dream; but he didn't rush them, there was no need. Elizabeth would find Willow and bring her here, and knowing Spike he'd spare no time in following. He'd get his family together, hash out their differences and then settle them in one of his many homes across Europe, far from America and the Slayer. He'd set things right, make them into the way they should have been. He'd claim Spike, Xander, and Willow once and for all, and let hell figure out the rest.
Prologue: Alliances
"Let me make sure I understand what it is exactly you are asking of me. You contend that the new mate of your GrandChilde is a newly risen Queen, that she is in my city without an announcement, and you would very much like it if I would send a car around to pick her up and deliver her here. Correct?" The accent was old and thick, the old English sound mixed liberally with a heavy portion of Italian. But the voice that spoke it was pleasant, regal, and Angelus knew, ancient. It was a sound no wise vampire ever forgot, it was the sound of Elizabeth, the White Queen of Rome.
Nodding, Angelus shifted on the satin covered couch, the back of his hand going immediately to rest reassuringly against Xander's hair. "My sources tell me that she's quite powerful--"
Elizabeth laughed, her perfect corkscrew curls shifting around her like a living wheat field. "My dear Angelus, if you came all this way to play with me, I'll have no choice but to turn you out. I find I have no time in my old age for games that have nothing to do with me." Eyes as green as the Elysian Fields sparkled with both mirth and a warning all to clear to any male, and Angelus nodded before trying again.
"Drusilla has foretold another prophecy. Whatever Willow has become, she's no ordinary Queen. My Childe is insane, but make no mistake, her prophecies are never wrong."
Perfectly manicured nails rose to full, pouty lips as Elizabeth nodded silently. Decades ago, he'd brought Drusilla here to repeat a prophecy she'd spoken while hunting in the German foothills. It was why he could come here now and beg a favor from a Queen as ancient as Elizabeth. The prophecy had spoken of a coo between the Orange Queen of Russia and the Green Queen of Germany. What started as an assassination attempt against Elizabeth progressed into World War I and II, but that mattered little. Elizabeth owed him a blood debt, and now was his time to collect.
The sound of silk on satin shifted his attention and Angelus watched with much anticipation as Elizabeth rose and walked to the south side of the massive reception room. The wall was made entirely of mirror, and Angelus watched as she cast no reflection.
"Tell me more about this woman. You say she is only a child?"
Slowly he nodded, collecting his thoughts. "Willow was a human girl born on the Hellmouth in the States. She befriended the Slayer about four years ago and worked with her to guard against the vampires."
Elizabeth nodded, the long gauzy sleeves of her dress swaying as she paced. "Yes, I had heard the Slayer was using mortal help in her war." Then she turned and fixed her fathomless eyes on his. "I also heard story of a certain master vampire who had lost his soul after falling in love with the Slayer and betraying his own Childer. In fact, I heard his GrandChilde was nearly killed. Strange the goings on in the States-- American's are so temperamental."
Shamed by her words, Angelus looked down at his hands. "You hear quite a bit this far from the source, my lady. I am ashamed to say the stories are true. I did fall in love with the Slayer, and I did lose the shelter of the soul I was cursed with, and I did betray my Childer." He lifted his gaze then, his eyes hard with determination. "However, circumstances have changed, and now I search for my GrandChilde and his mate."
That smooth, distinguished accent once again cut him off. "To what end, Angelus? Why do you seek your GrandChilde and his mate? If the stories are true, William has chosen The Way of The Lost, and you have no claim on him or his chosen mate, Queen or no."
The demon inside him rose at the mention of The Way of The Lost. William could be brash and even foolish at times, but he was not The Way of The Lost, at least not yet. Inside his mouth, fangs elongated, and on his face, the demon fought to the surface and begged to rip into human flesh to quench the rage flowing through his veins. William was not The Way of The Lost; Spike belonged to him.
From across the room came a dignified scoff. "Leash the demon, Angelus, it has no place here. I asked but a simple question and the answer is more than obvious to me, but I will hold my observation until I know more about this Queen. Continue, I desire to hear more." With a snap of her fingers a servant arrived caring a glass of blood wine, and though she took it, she offered none to him.
With a deep and unnecessary breath, he produced the human mask and continued Willow's tale. "The Slayer had many interesting human's working with her, but she also had a Werewolf. The boy's name was Oz--"
For the first time that night, Xander spoke up, his eyes alight with righteous justice and the markings of insanity. "Fur rug! We're going to gut him and give him to Willow as a present. She'll be so happy we gave her a present. I never got her anything good for her birthday, but this year I'll get her something she'll really like. I'm going to wrap it in green foil paper, just the way she likes it. She'll be so happy, and then we'll get ice cream and things will be good again, you'll see." And just as suddenly as his words had come, they drifted off again, and once more, Xander Harris stared straight ahead and did not make a sound.
A long pause filled the quiet room as Angelus worked his fingers lightly through Xander's hair, calming himself more than the boy.
He was startled when Elizabeth broke the silence. "He's touched."
Angelus spared her a look before resting his hand along Xander's neck. "Xander and Willow were childhood friends. Willow was betrayed by her then boyfriend Oz, who chose a tryst with the Slayer." The Queen cocked her delicate eyebrow. "She chose death and sought out Spike. What happened between them I don't know, but Spike took her somewhere and something bloomed between them." His eyes saddened for a moment as his presence elicited no response from the boy beside him. "No one knew this of course, believing instead that Willow was dead, a bloody sweater all the proof some needed. The Slayer was blasé about it; however, Xander suffered greatly as he tried to convince others she was still alive. In the end, his pain reduced him to this. I seek William for myself, we have much to work out between us, but I seek Willow for Xander." His voice softened, "He did better when he could hear her voice."
China-white fingers stretched to cover his hand that had moved over Xander's cheek and he watched startled as the White Queen looked deeply into his eyes. "You miss understand child, this boy is touched not in mind but in spirit. An aura surrounds him through which I cannot see. To you, he is insane, but he is not. His mind drifts between here and somewhere else as if a leaf on the wind." She turned from his shocked expression and looked fully at Xander's face. "You say, Drusilla thinks this Willow is something special?" He nodded dumbly, his hand still pressed against Xander's cheek. "As you said, Drusilla is never wrong, and this boy seems to prove she is indeed something unusual. She's nothing but mortal? Nothing unusual about her before William chose her?"
Angel nodded, and then immediately shook his head. "She's human, but before she disappeared she was experimenting with magic. She had her sights set on becoming a witch to help the Slayer."
This piqued Elizabeth's interest. "A witch, you say, hm, most curious. Prophecy's come in two's and three's--as you know--and I have heard from my contacts in the Watcher's Counsel that they have recently unearthed a prophecy concerning a witched made Blood Queen. I confess to thinking nothing of it at the time, but now it seems rather poignant." Suddenly she stood, and moved to the couch across from him before seating herself and staring quietly somewhere above his head.
This was all more than he expected. He'd come to Elizabeth because she owed him a favor, and with Spike and Willow in Rome doing the Powers knew what, she was the only way he could track them down and speak with them. He should have known nothing was as easy as it seemed when dealing with the oldest Blood Queen in the world. She'd received him well, even accepting Xander with little more than a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile, but as usual, things were taking a dramatic turn; what he didn't know yet, was if they were for better or for worse.
"Angelus?" He looked up and nodded. "I believe I would like to meet this young Queen of Spike's. I'll arrange for Darres to bring her here tomorrow evening. In the mean time, you and your human are welcome to stay here." Rather suddenly she rose and held out her hand, palm up, and waited.
It was a gesture not given lightly to anyone. Centuries ago, he and Elizabeth had had a mild liaison, a union that produced no bond but that of limited trust. But this, this was more than could have ever been expected.
Slipping to his knees before her he took her hand and gently kissed her palm. The demon came next, the promise of Queen's blood as strong a call as ever. His tongue stole across the inside of her wrist, before his fangs sliced across her skin and drew the oldest blood in the world.
He took only a few drops, but the ancient mixture flew to his head, making the world crystal clear; making every detail as defined as that of a microscope. The light was a thousand times brighter, but his eyes just as able to adjust. It was a taste of the closest thing to power any male could come too, and it was a most heady taste at that.
By the time his senses returned to normal Elizabeth was long gone. Shaking his head he turned to see that Xander was still in the same spot, his eyes still locked on something only he could see. Shifting, Angelus moved back onto the couch and gently kissed Xander's temple. His feelings for the boy had continue to grow over the months, and now as the mystery behind Xander's fading consciousness was becoming clearer, Angelus knew they would only continue to grow. For some reason, Xander was special to him, special in a way that had him wanting to protect the boy, despite what he was. Whatever the reason, the boy needed his care, and he had every intention of giving it to him.
Standing, he guided Xander to follow, and then turned to the door and nodded once to the vampire waiting there to show them to their quarters. The going was slow, Xander walked as if in a dream; but he didn't rush them, there was no need. Elizabeth would find Willow and bring her here, and knowing Spike he'd spare no time in following. He'd get his family together, hash out their differences and then settle them in one of his many homes across Europe, far from America and the Slayer. He'd set things right, make them into the way they should have been. He'd claim Spike, Xander, and Willow once and for all, and let hell figure out the rest.