Title: Unnatural 7/8

Series: Unnatural!Verse. Part One.
Author: Miz Thang
Summary: post-Shells, Illyria has a few thoughts on things. The people she has to deal with. This takes a little twist on canon. I'll just say this doesn't turn out to be a happy ending fic.
Spoilers: Season 5 of Angel, up to Shells, and some plot points beyond that.
Warnings: Spike/Illyria. Sex. Character Death.
Rating: FRM

Author's Note: Imzadi and Spike'sSavior, Buffy's going to serve her purpose. It'll be over by the end of the chapter. We're getting down to the wire. Only one more chapter to go after this one.

Chapter Seven: Jealousy

"Buffy."

No one would have expected this. After Andrew had passed along the message that Buffy didn't trust Angel at Wolfram and Hart, it had been assumed that they hade no allies outside. And, therefore, everyone naturally assumed that the petite blonde slayer would never come to Los Angeles. Not unless she planned on taking Angel out.

And yet there Buffy was with Lorne at her right and Gunn at her left. The look on their faces had been enough for the others to realize two things. The first was that they had heard most of the confrontation about Spike and Illyria's relationship. The second was that it had occurred to them that it would've been better to let Buffy "browse" Angel's office.

Illyria was steaming in a new emotion as she glanced from Spike to the blonde he'd called Buffy, and then back to Spike. A feeling she had never had a need for, nor had she ever felt it. But, she'd seen it in others and even now, it disgusted her.

"In the flesh. Is this going to stay uncomfortable, or am I going to get hugs?"

Jealousy.

Angel hugged Buffy, a lover's embrace. Their lives would forever be entwined, even if they were never together romantically. And then, Spike hugged her. And she'd held on. Illyria had a desire to punch the wall beside her.

"Andrew didn't tell me, you know. He actually tried to stop me from coming." Buffy said, smiling at Spike.

"How'd that work out for him?" Spike asked in amusement.

"I'm pretty sure Dawn let him out of the closet by now."

They laughed. Laughed as if they were old friends without a single problem between them. She had followed alone, stiff, as they traveled through the halls to Angel's suite of an office and sat around the conference room.

Spike sat next to Buffy.

She had irrational thoughts the entire time. Thoughts of obliterating the blonde, sending her back to her origins, her kingdom. She did not like the way Her Spike looked at her…a definite redundancy to every syllable he had spit out seconds before his knowledge of her presence.

And Illyria was jealous.

"I guess I should explain myself. Starting with why I'm not flying off the walls right now." Buffy started. "I knew."

"Wait-" Angel started. "You knew?"

"That Spike was back. Nineteen days, right? I figured there was a reason he didn't come looking for me, to tell me. So, I let it go. No hard feelings. I understand."

She radiated love. Love, for Illyria's property. Even with her bravado earlier, it pained her that he found a relationship with anyone else, especially with her initial impression of Illyria. She didn't like the competition, and she was out to ruin it. Ruin the bond Illyria had diligently formed.

Buffy turned to Angel. "I told Andrew because; well, because Giles has this whole thing. He doesn't care about what you're trying to do here. All he sees is that you're here, and he doesn't trust you. I don't think he trusted you much before this. So, I told Andrew that I didn't trust you."

"That explains a lot." Wesley added, staying clear away from any thoughts of Illyria and the clearly seen rage that covered her face as the Old One glared at Buffy with malicious intent; jealousy. She's not Fred. She's only a shell. He tuned back into the conversation. She's not Fred. She's not Fred…

"Yeah. I'm supposed to be doing re con. All I've managed so far is a trip through Beverly Hills. I figure I might as well get something extra out of this trip. Plus, Dawn made me promise to get a few extra outfits out of it for her." Buffy said, managing to elicit laughs from half the people at the table. As if for the first time, she pretended to had just noticed Illyria. "Who's she?"

Illyria felt hot. Like fire, like molten rock from a volcanic explosion…or maybe she was the volcano about to erupt. She didn't wait for an answer to the question. Her anger had smoldered to the point where she couldn't take it anymore. She stalked out of the room, then, as Spike and the others attempted to explain her existence.

-

She walked through the halls four a few hours, not comprehending why, if she and Spike were now intimate, he could not devote himself to her and forget his past; realize the greatness that lied in his future, with her.

She found herself at Lorne's office and decided she would enter. He was on the phone, but she paid it no mind. Her need for punishing whoever let the vile little human near Her Spike was too strong for niceties such as that.

"You brought her here." She accused.

"Uh…" Lorne looked at her for a moment and then spoke into the phone. "I'll call you back. I have a teed off Old One to deal with." He hung up the phone and looked at Illyria questioningly. "What's that?"

"The petite human-Buffy. You led her to Spike." She dared not admit him as hers in front of the green demon.

"No, Blueberry, I led her to Angel. You and Spike just happened to be there-and what's the whole thing with you two-"

"My property is none of your concern." Illyria cut him off, her eyes cold. "I want her gone." She demanded as if she were some ruler.

"I get it now." Lorne replied. "You're jealous."

"I do not get jealous. Jealousy is a vile-"

"Weakness?" Lorne interrupted her this time, standing and coming around his desk. "You have feelings for Spike, that you don't want, and you thought it was mutual. Then the true love of his life rolls into town and you're old news." He moved to pass her. "Sorry, Bluebird, but love goes that way sometimes."

Illyria followed him with her eyes, rage once again filling her entire being. She grabbed him by his collar, suspending him in the air so that his feet dangled.

"Love? I do not know love. I do not feel love. Not even for one as worthy as Spike. I am above it. And if you will not right your wrong, I will do so for you. These ways are not of my own, and I will not adapt to them. Mark my words, demon clown, I will rule once more, and not even your leader will be able to stop me."

She let go of him, watching for a moment, almost mesmerized as he lied on the floor, choking for breath. She then turned and left the office, quickly walking down the hallway. Illyria almost smiled as she practically hurried down the stairs, her destination the lobby of Wolfram and Hart.

Harmony was sitting at her desk and stood up in alarm as a blue, swirling portal appeared in the center of the lobby at the wave of the Old One's had. She watched as Illyria walked towards it calmly, meanwhile employees panicked. She grabbed the intercom. "Angel, Illyria just went through a portal to somewhere!"

By the time Angel registered, and left his office with Buffy and Spike at his back, the portal was already closing. They were too late. Were they alarmed? Yes, and with good reason.

-

Illyria stepped through the other end and looked around. She was somewhere she had not been before, in a different country. She heard the blonde's voice before she saw her and instantly knew she had done as she had desired. She had traveled back in time to correct things.

"No, Dawn. Just, keep Giles busy until I'm on the first flight out tonight. Yes, I promise there will be clothing in it for you. I have to go. No, no vamps or demons, but I'd like to be prepared if one came along."

"I should honor your request," Illyria said, stepping out of the shadows and facing off against the slayer.

"Dawn? Gotta go." Buffy hung up. "So…who sent you? The Immortal?"

"I work for no one." Illyria then attacked the slayer, sending a hard right to Buffy's chin. She watched with satisfaction as Buffy flew back into a tree trunk.

The blonde rolled to her feet with difficulty. "Then who are you?"

"Illyria." The Old One said. "And soon, my name will be one everyone's lips. I will be ruler once more." As she said this, she blocked Buffy's kick, catching the ankle and twisting it painfully. She then shoved it back, sending Buffy toppling.

"What are you?"

"Beyond your comprehension. I am all, and nothing. " Illyria ducked an attempt to punch her, grabbing her by he neck and hoisting her up, cutting off her air supply. "And you are dead for ever touching what I now consider mine."

"And…what's that…exactly?" Buffy gasped for air, struggling to breathe in her death grip.

"Spike." As soon as the name was out of her mouth, she saw Buffy's eyes widen in shock before Illyria coldly snapped her neck. The body fell with a thump. Then, and only then, did a smile grace Illyria's face. Tomorrow, she would let her plan into action.