Chapter 13 – Double Trouble
Basement of Wolfram and Hart
"Flashes of blue are now pools of glistening red. No more light. No more shimmering. Bells are broken and now the humans are our token. They are screaming until their voices crack. This is our precious song." Dru swayed her head back and forth in a trance as she waved her arms gracefully the same way like she were hypnotized by a pretty jeweled object.
"Fancy that, my sweet Drusilla. It is our song that may last for all ages. But I don't know if it's enough to quench our desire. The pain I hear seems to be simmering. Someone out there must be helping these white lighters and their charges. But who could it possibly be?" Cole took Dru's hand and sat her down next to him on a bench in the candle lit lair and touched her face tenderly tracing the jaw line to her neck. Dru closed her eyes and sighed with pleasure as she grabbed his hand and guided it to her breast. Cole took it away quickly as Dru reached for it again and started to bite and suck on his fingers.
"My lovely, sweet, Dru. What would I do without you here with me?" Cole asked the wall. Dru seemed to be in a different place and time as usual as he kissed her forehead. "What does my sweet Dru want?"
"I want to hear many screams." She grinned like a Cheshire cat, a growing desire filling her body up. "I want what all bad girls want when they've been oh so very naughty."
"I can provide that in more than one way that will cause the sound to echo and vibrate in your ears in perfect harmony. You just say the word…" Cole held her face and traced his thumb over her rose stained lips. Drusilla licked at his thumb with her cold tongue in amusement. "You speak of many things, but do your actions speak just as loud?" Dru's eyes perked up with a twisted shine to them as she fell into his arms, throwing herself into the passion.
"How about flying like the wind with nothing to hold you back?" Cole asked as his fingers brushed through her dark, glossy hair.
"You fly like the wind with nothing to hold you back... "she whispered lightly into the air between fast growing kisses. A force of red misty fire filled the air, but neither Cole nor Dru noticed it's presence until it broke the two apart and threw an electric ball sending Dru across the room. Dru screeched as her body was forced against the wall by the foreign electric ball. She hissed into the wall in pain and anger. Her fun was spoiled.
"Nice to see that I wasn't missed." Phoebe hissed as she gave Dru a dark, glare with her black, ash looking demonic eyes.
"Pheebs, it's not what you think. We were just…."
Phoebe glanced back at him with fire in her eyes. "Don't even start with me, Cole, or else there will be more than a little damage done here. Do you understand?" She made a fire ball in her hand and raised her arm up as if she were about to toss it.
"Baby, please!" Cole grabbed her arm and distinguished the energy ball.
"I may not be able to hurt you, but I am more than willing and happy to hurt her, whether she is on our team or not." She folded her arms and turned to Dru.
Dru laughed childishly as she painfully grabbed her bleeding arm, dusted herself off and got up slowly by grabbing the pale colored wall as she licked her own blood from her fingers, keeping a steady watch over Phoebe.
"Was that fun? Did you enjoy the ride?" Phoebe huffed at Dru and then turned back to Cole.
"I can't go out for a few hours without you letting the cat in, can I?"
Dru grinned at Phoebe's raging fit as she toyed with the wound on her arm.
"Look I can't have her running off on us, can I, honey. Plus you know how much I desire you." Cole nibbled down Phoebe's throat.
Phoebe jerked away, putting her hand over Cole's lips.
"Save it! You both may need the energy for later," Phoebe snapped.
Dru frowned as she traced a finger into the air and tilted her head to one side.
"What is it, Dru? Is it Phoebe's comment? Do you see something? Tell me, my dark princess." Cole waved his hands frantically in the air to catch Dru's attention, but Dru kept staring into space.
"It seems like your Medusa is finally ignoring you for a change. How intriguing and refreshing. I think I like this side of her." Phoebe laughed as she snapped her fingers in front of Dru's distracted face and watched Dru walk around like a zombie tracing her finger into the air and closing her fist as if she were reaching out to grab something. Cole touched Dru's elbow, but she jerked away as if he had a cross in his hand.
"Sparkling oceans of blue, purple and green tumble in and out and in and out like the tide of time." She pulled her arms in to her sides and then out again as if to catch a splash of water. Her eyes widened with shock as she pulled her arms in suddenly and hugged herself closely and flinched, taking a step back away from Cole and Phoebe who were looking at her with newfound interest in her mind blowing discovery. Dru began to frown with intensity in her eyes as she reached out to the empty air again and let her arm raise and drop like a rag doll.
"Time stops as glowing worms slither through hands and spikes cut through skin. A new feeling enfolds and begins crafting life again. Needles with courageous eyes can give off a surprise that can not be disguised. It reeks of pure kindness. Naughty fairy!" Dru crinkled up her nose in disgust and shivered and wiggled to try to get the image and scent away from her as she twirled hysterically around the room in a daze.
"Translation, please. What the hell was she saying and is that actually in English?" Phoebe complained. "What are we going to do let her spin until she hits a target like dominoes?" Phoebe asked, shaking her head at Dru's antics. "Some help she is as a seer vampire. I'll laugh if she actually stops and hits the floor."
"Her words maybe a bit on the hazy side, but she is actually making sense in a strange way." Cole grinned as he sat back to enjoy the view.
"Are you going to fill me in or is this another language and secret between the two of you besides sexual tension?" Phoebe muttered under her breath. Dru began to spin faster with her arms apart like a child and dust picking up from the floor as she slammed heavily into Phoebe, causing Phoebe to crash into the corner of the room against the wall.
"Score one for Dru. It looks like she answered your question." Cole said with a deep laugh.
"Although in case you were wondering – I can't translate everything that Dru is saying, but from the look on her face and the tone of her voice, she can sense a new opponent that is pretty powerful on the so called good side. I believe she is referring to your new white lighter."
"Do you mean to tell me that the weakling of a white lighter-half breed is actually really powerful on the other side? That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. How did you actually get all that from her messed up mind anyway? Let me guess... it was Telepathy for Dummies, right?" Phoebe swirled her head around to imitate Dru. Cole laughed loudly as he played with Phoebe's auburn hair.
"Now, now…Someone is being a little harsh, aren't they? Her mind may be messed up, but she's like a moving Ouija board vessel and her words are like dynamite ready to reveal the inner secrets of the outer world, which I think is absolutely fascinating."
Phoebe rolled her eyes at him.
"You probably would think it's fascinating, but I'm not the least impressed. I think it's just a bunch of mumbo jumbo that she is making up and I think that you're like a child playing with wild fire that will soon spread. If Angel so much as senses anything or hears about us or Dru then things may get ugly to a certain extent."
"My dear, Phoebe, how can you mistrust your poor lover so? He won't find out because I have made a deal with Wolfram and Hart that they couldn't refuse. You may say it was like a binding contract." A sly smile spread across his handsome, dark features. "I used to work with the Senior Partners back in my days as a lawyer and I promise you that as long as they have Angel under their wing, everything will turn out fine... for us at least."
"What about the other Slayer….Faith?" Phoebe mused.
"Faith will be taken care of one way or another as my boys lure her back to Los Angeles. As for the half breed white lighter, we can manage him. But for now I need you to check on him from time to time in case things get a little rocky. He is connected to Angel and Buffy somehow and your connections as a Charmed One may throw him off. Now go use that power effectively and wisely and you can have the world in your hands, my sweet." Cole kissed Phoebe's hand as Phoebe used her new shady power to teleport back to the Halliwell home.
Back in Italy
He couldn't do it. He broke the contact. Doyle's hands were damp and his heart felt like it was in his ears. He had never felt so scared like this in his life. If Buffy didn't wake up then it was his fault. He was sure of it. He couldn't let the two friends down. Everything and everyone depended on him. There was no Angel or Angel Investigations as backup. It was all him. Even Leo could not help him with this one. Doyle was on his own and he never felt this isolated and confined in his life. It was as if the room was blurry and the only thing he could see was Buffy and his shaking hands. All he had to do was reach inside her, but everything in him froze. I could definitely use a swift drink right now especially with Buffy's friends lookin' up at the likes 'o me with such hope in their trusting eyes. Doyle shut his eyes. He couldn't look at them. He had to concentrate. Now what did Leo say? If only he paid a little more attention of how Leo healed his charges instead of checking out the attractive charges Leo was healing. 'Kay I can do this. I 'jus need ta relax a bit and breathe normally, Doyle instructed himself quietly as he took a deep breath in and out.
Willow glanced at him with an understanding gaze. Magic was not as simple as Abra Ca Dabra. Sometimes it took time to concentrate to get the job done right or else things may look ugly. She gave an encouraging nod and put a hand on his shoulder for support. It brought him a sense of comfort and something else…peace. He wasn't alone after all and the feeling was encouraging.
"It's okay. Whenever you're ready, Doyle." She gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Her breath was uneven, but she seemed to be trying to hold it together. Xander on the other hand was tapping his foot nervously on the floor while looking over at Dawn and Buffy with worry. Spike was standing in the doorway leaning and folding his arms in a casual way, looking skeptical. At least one person believes and has faith in the likes 'o me and that's all that matters, Doyle thought as he rolled back his shoulders. He started to reach towards Dawn this time. You need to take baby steps first before ye reach yer goal. Steady, man, Doyle told himself as he closed his eyes and placed a hand over Dawn's chest. An energy force poured through him into Dawn. Blue sparks flickered around Dawn as she suddenly burst off the bed and awoke looking startled and breathing heavily.
"Take it easy, sweetie. It's going to be alright," Willow rushed towards Dawn's side and gently eased Dawn slowly and gently back to the bed.
"Mom? Where did you go? What just happened to me and who are you? What did you do to me?" Dawn's eyes traveled around the room and landed on Doyle.
"Way to heal the girl, mate. What did you do? Take her bloody memory?" Spike grunted.
Xander and Willow glared at Spike.
"What? Do you really expect me to believe that with the touch of his sodding hands he performed a bloody miracle? We have been through chaos and blood and have performed spells to bring back the dead, but there were always consequences. Now you think a half breed poofter has what it takes to give back life and heal the wounded?" Spike scowled as the two friends ignored him and smiled gratefully at Doyle. Willow gently spoke with Dawn as Xander stared in awe at her remarkable recovery.
"We don't know what happened to you, Dawnie, but you were almost a goner. Your pulse was very faint. We owe it to Doyle for getting you out of your deathly state." Willow brushed away a tear from her tear stained face and surprised Doyle by giving him a hug. Dawn smiled weakly and nodded her thanks as she glanced over at Buffy.
"Don't thank me 'jus yet. I still need ta pull Buffy through too." Doyle pulled away from Willow's hug and rubbed the back of his neck self consciously. Using the white lighter power once and succeeding the first time was one thing. Trying again on a mere supernatural source was a whole different thing altogether. Buffy was the Slayer and he could not understand how she could be caught in such a seriously ill condition. As Doyle placed his rough hands on her smooth skin he noticed how the paleness of her skin was almost like a green invisible, ghastly glow and how the rhythm of her heart was fading with each passing moment and her breathing became more like a faint distant puff. He steadied his hands over her heart and felt her skin turn from a cool temperature to a hot temperature in mere seconds. Her pupils looked as if they were dilated and her eyes seemed to be turning from pale blue to a gold – green color and he could have sworn that they blinked at him as if they had a life all on their own. Doyle's hands seemed to feel like they were being set on fire and as he was about to pour his healing essence into her body and he suddenly heard Buffy's heart gallop and saw Buffy blink up at him for real this time as her hand griped his arm and threw him across the room. Xander rushed over to Doyle's side, looking confused. Sweat dripped down Doyle's forehead as he breathed harshly and covered his hand over his heart. Doyle looked down at his hand. A black X shaped scar was burning into the middle of Doyle's palm and reached the back of his hand as red surrounded the rest of his hand like fire sucking on his skin.
"Hey you're not looking so good, young chap. What's wrong? You looked at her and before we could say 'Eureka' you threw yourself against the wall. You shouldn't beat yourself up like that, Bucko. It might hurt the wall." Xander lent Doyle his hand and helped him up off the floor. Doyle hissed in pain.
"Ya didn't see her move and blink, did ye? Buffy's eyes gave off a green glow and blinked at me as she threw me across the room." Xander, Dawn and Willow curiously looked back at Buffy. Buffy's eyes were back to blue and lifeless and her arm was positioned on the sheet like it was before he tried to reach to heal her. Xander clapped Doyle gently on the shoulder and guided him into a chair.
"I half believe in you." Xander joked, as he turned to look at Doyle with his good eye and winked at him.
Dawn knelt down beside her sister and glanced at Buffy's right shoulder. A black X shaped scar that began to glow red was held above her shoulder.
"Guys, you may want to check this out. Did Buffy suddenly get a tattoo?"
Willow, Xander and Spike looked over Dawn's shoulder and frowned, shaking their heads.
"Not as far as I know, Lil Bit, and I usually know quite a bit," Spike grinned as Xander grimaced at Spike's comment and threw a washcloth at Spike's head.
"Looks like a tic-tac-toe symbol of some kind, which makes me think that this infection Buffy has is supernatural." Xander gestured to the mark as he studied it.
"Well look who decided to reveal the obvious. Really I didn't think you would ever catch on," Spike muttered under his breath.
"Pipe down, blonde." Doyle got up carefully and glanced at the symbol below Buffy's right shoulder that matched the symbol on his own right hand.
"She's been infected by a demon. The scar has backfired onto me. That's why I can't heal her. Something is gettin' in me way from healin' her and I think whoever did this to her left not only a mark, but also took part 'o her soul as well." Doyle showed them his sore hand. "I suggest that the thing we're dealin' with is bigger than we all realize."
"Do you mean that this could be connected to the Hoylges that my cousins were trying to find?" Willow arched her red brows questioningly.
"That is a possibility, but I reckon there is more to this Grims' Fairytale than that, darlin'. If I'm not mistaken then I think we're facin' the same sort a demons that attacked the Elders. This symbol looks ancient and is sorta familiar to me. It was carved into the Elders before they were killed," Doyle replied thoughtfully.
"We already found very little results on these goones. What makes you think we will actually get any more information?" Xander asked, rubbing his patched eye.
"Trust me when I say that I've experienced many tragedies as a half Brachen demon and as we speak there are many folks out there who are bein' tortured and killed to the very core. There is no time for givin' up when so many lives are on the line. Buffy's life is fadin' away and if we don't do somethin' fast then the world may end up in flames," Doyle responded firmly. The gang acknowledged him with a nod of agreement.
"Okay...gotcha! Bring out the research books. It looks like class is back in session now," Xander commented nervously as he nodded at Doyle and left the room in search for more books that would eventually reveal the mystery behind the Hoygles.