"Xander?" Willow asked as her friend stepped out of the portal newly downed in robes with his hair flowing down his back and the circlet around his head. He looked more full of life than ever in his true home. He seemed to glow with the magic of the place.
The others were still staring at the beauty around them. They were in underground caverns, but it still looked as beautiful as Elvin homes would on the outside world. The ceiling of the caverns was a good three hundred feet in the air and the rock was a dark blue marble. The ground was dirt and grass, it looked just like their world. There were trees and flowers, and animals of all kinds. Small houses were scattered about and even a large market place settled in the center. But what caught their attention the most was the castle in the distance. It was set in the middle of the place and reeked of magic. It was entirely of marble with vines winding their ways up the sides. Overall it was a very inviting place and spoke nothing of the hostility Drows were capable of. They came out of their trance as a guard of Drows rode up on midnight black horses.
"The King demands your presence Zandrell. He is most displeased with you. He also sends a pleasant invite to Usha along with Liam and William. The humans will be escorted to a safe lodging for the night. You presence will be required tomorrow to discuss what you have come to our lands for. Good day to you." The head rider said and motioned for four horses to be brought forth. A Drow by the name of Darius escorted Buffy and the others away. Xander mounted a horse as did Angel and Spike.
"I am sorry, but my vessel does not know this lovely creature well. I will ride with Zandrell if you do not mind." Dawn said. She kept the unknown voice when she was in the presence of these people. They expected her to be the Key instead of a human girl and she was quiet pleased that someone respected her for what she was finally. The others nodded and Xander helped her mount the horse in front of him. The ride to the castle was in silence as the four rode protected by the ring of warriors. Many people along the sides of the rode stopped and smiled or waved to Xander and he replied likewise. Dawn smiled that knowing smile she had and Xander groaned. She was going to give him hell later. They soon arrived at the castle and dismounted. Xander sighed before striding confidently with his friends behind him towards the meeting hall. He knew his father would be in there.
"Zandrell, so nice of you to rejoin us." The King said with a slight snarl to his voice. Xander studied him looking for the sickness and soon noticed that his father was leaning on his chair in fatigue and that he didn't hold as much life as he should. The glow was gone.
"I am truly sorry for my long stay in the human world, but I found it necessary." Xander told him.
"Yes well we will speak of these matters later my son, but as of now you have brought guest that I wish to speak with. It has been a long while since Liam or should I say Angelus has graced the Drow with his presence. Since before Zandrell was born I believe." Xander sighed. His father could be a little over bearing and so human at times. Xander laughed quietly to himself. The Drow only put on a show of being proper and civilized in the presence of humans, when in all actuality they usually ran around screaming, dancing, and just having an all around good time. He only wished his friends could be like that in their world and hoped that the coming war didn't take that happiness away from his people.
"Yes Liam. Regal us with tales of why you haven't visited in so long." A sarcastic voice said from the door. Xander turned to find his mother smirking at them.
"Mother!" He shouted before running to her and sweeping her up in a bone-crushing hug spinning around merrily.
"Put me down this instant Xan!" His mother shouted feigning being mad. He sat her down and laughed when he saw Angel and Spikes stunned faces.
"Their your parents?" Angel asked.
"No. It was all just a big joke." Alexia, Xander's mother, chided him in a monotone voice. Now they knew where Xander got his dry humor.
"Okay…"Angel said.
"What brings The Key to our home?" The king asked turning towards Dawn.
"I travel with this group. The monks created this body for me using the Slayers blood. The memories I hold are constructed to keep me with these people for my protection." Dawn said still using the eerie voice.
" Ahhh…. I see. Well as much fun as it would be to set around and talk for hours, I have a meeting I must attend to. I'll leave Zandrell to escort you to your rooms. Goodnight." The King moved past them and the Queen with him.
"So I guess you can follow me. You'll be staying in the rooms next to mine since you're my guest and all." Zandrell told them and began to lead them through the castle. Finally he stopped and opened two doors.
"Angel and Dawn you two can pick from either of these. Me and Spike will be straight down the corridor in the next set of rooms." Xander told them. They both smiled knowingly. Xander wasn't kidding anybody; he was dragging Spike into his bed tonight.
"Sure Zandrell. Keep believing yourself." Angel stressed the boys name just to aggravate him. Xander sneered at him before he and Spike continued walking. Xander lead them straight down the corridor to a dead end. He waved his hand over the wall and a magnificent door appeared. He smiled and opened the door.
"It's definitely better than the Hell Hole that is the Harris's basement." Xander smiled as he walked in taking of the circlet and shaking his hair out. He removed the outer robes he wore and was left in a pair silk like pants. He then ran and dived onto the big feather bed. He missed his bed while living in the human world. Spike had just stood and watched him in amusement the whole time.
"Angel was right. You people take your clothes off all to willingly." Xander rolled his eyes. He and Faith were never going to live that down. He motioned for Spike to come and join him. Spike rid himself of his beloved coat, shirt, and Dock Martins before getting into the bed and letting Xander snuggle up to him.
He almost laughed insanely at his thoughts. If he had even considered sharing a bed with the Whelp about two months ago he would have tried to stake himself, but as if was he had realized that there was a different part of Xander Harris that he didn't show to the world. The part that was wild and untamed. The part of him that just wanted to let go of his worries and not sacrifice his happiness for others. The part of Xander that despised being used by his friends because they thought him weak. Spike actually liked the Xander that stood up for him and wouldn't act the innocent.
"Is there any particular reason why you've invited me to your bed two nights in a row?" Spike asked distractedly as he ran his fingers through Xander's hair.
"I'm not positive on why I do, but you don't seem to mind all that much." Xander told him.
"No. I don't mind. It's actually rather nice. Usually people go all screamin' about the cold vamp thing I've got goin' on." Spike told him. Xander smiled and tucked his head into the crook of Spike's neck and began to nuzzle him affectionately.
"So you don't mind if I do this?" Xander asked letting his breath tickle the vampire's neck.
"No." Spike purred as he closed his eyes. Xander placed his hand on Spike's chest to feel the vibrations of his purrs. He looked up again and noticed that Spike was asleep. Xander smiled slightly before tucking his body around Spike's and settling back down to rest. Opening the portal earlier had taken quit a bit of energy.
The next morning Xander woke to a very loud banging on the door. He knew it had to be his father or one of the guards because they were the only ones that knew how to access his rooms. He somehow managed to detangle his limbs from Spike's and stumbled over to the door. He may be a Drow, but he'd gotten used to sleeping late while pretending to be human and he quite liked sleeping late.
"Yes?" Xander asked as he threw open the door. He blinked a couple of times before focusing on Angel, Dawn, and a she-Drow. Wait a minute….
"Zana!" Xander shouted as he sprang after her. She laughed loudly as she took off at a run. Angel and Dawn looked to each other and shrugged before running into Xander's room to check out all the cool stuff he probably kept stashed in there. Xander had always been a kleptomaniac at heart as anyone that had every explored the Harris's basement would know.
Xander chased his older sister through the castle, making the guards and other people to jump out of their way. Xander was only about 200 Drow years old, which was considered very young, while his sister was about the equivalent of a twenty-year-old human at three hundred. Xander was about 17 in human years. He finally managed to corner her back at his rooms and tackled her as they went flying through the door.
"Hey guys." Xander said as he looked up and found the whole gang staring at him from his sitting area along with his father and mother. They must have been brought to his rooms for the meeting since they were his guests.
"Zandrell. Zandra. Aren't you a little old for chasing each other? Especially in front of guest? They both responded with a very resounding 'no'. Delicroux, the King, gave them the evil eye.
"Sorry guys," Xander said as he got to his feet and help his sister up, "I'd like you to meet my sister Zandra." Xander said as he threw on his robes. Polite hellos followed and they all got settled down. Xander squeezed himself onto the coach with Spike, Angel, and Faith. Buffy looked a little ticked, while Tara and Willow looked a little nervous, Giles was polishing his glasses thinking of a way to put into words what the wanted to accomplish, and Dawn was still in Key mode and looked sort of eerie.
"So now that we are settled, would you care as to tell me what you are here for?" Delicroux asked. He looked towards Giles, who seemed to be the one with the most knowledge on the matter.
"Yes, Yes. I have come across information that leads me to believe that something is going to search out all mythical creatures and may already have various locations. I have also come across text that speak of an army that has no rivals made of entirely mythical creatures that will rise when needed and take out the threat. We came here to get help and give our help because this 'thing' is coming to Sunnydale. They are coming to the Hell Mouth, our home, to begin their destruction of our worlds." Giles said.
"Yes. I know. I've been trying to protect my people, to stop the threat, but it seems as if I have finally failed them. These demons you speak of will rise from the Hell Hole. It is different from the Hell Mouth, but shouldn't be to far away. Demons and vampires aren't attracted to it because it is a portal from the seventh level of Hell, where those humans who did such hideous things in their life that they will never be allowed redemption reside and become foul demons. They are hungry for power and wish to have the powers of the mythical immortals. No one is safe from them." The King stood abruptly.
"Does this mean you will help us?" Willow asked in a quite voice. The King turned to her and looked thoughtful for a minute before turning back and began to walk for the door.
"Alexia will lead the children and the ones not able to fight to the catacombs below the city. Zandra you will take a small force of the younger warriors and stay in the city to protect in case we are invaded." The two women hurried from the room. Delicroux stopped and turned towards Xander.
"Gather the forces in one hour the children will be gone by then. Angelus gather the vampires. Tell them the riders from the seventh hell approach. I'll go pass the word to the elves." The king then strode from the room. All occupants were silent for a moment.
"Wow your King means business doesn't he Xan." Willow said a little shocked at the response she had gotten to her question. Xander smiled to himself. His father had his glow back.
"Well of course. My father is a control freak." Xander said. Quite resided in the room for a moment. Spike smirked at the gaping mouth of the slayer.
"Father?" Buffy asked.
"Well yes. You didn't expect him to tell a common merchant to lead his armies did you?" Xander asked.
"Woah. Information overload." Tara commented. Faith decided it was her turn to speak up.
"Well as nice as a long drawn out conversation would be. Angel here has got to jet it to the head vamp. The rest of us got to bet back to SunnyHell to do research mode and find the Hell Hole. Xander here has got to get into army mode." Faith told them.
"I know where the Hell Hole is." Spike commented from where he sat. All eyes in the room swiveled to him.
"Where?" Buffy asked after several moments.
"The Harris's basement."
"I concur!" Xander shouted.
"You mean that you have been living on this Hell Hole your entire life?" Buffy asked Xander.
"Well my entire Human Life in Sunnydale Yes." Xander told them.
"We still need to get back and research for any information that could help. Will the guardians at the portal let us through without you Xander?" Giles asked as he rose from his seat. Willow, Tara, Buffy, and Dawn were going with him.
"Faith? Spike? Aren't you coming with us?" Willow asked before they left the room/
"Nah. I'm with Angel. He's got to have some back up, even if it's not another vampire." Faith told them as she waved them away. Willow turned to Spike.
"Stayin' here." Was all Spike said. Willow gave him the look, the one that said 'I know you and Xander are up to something, fine don't tell me now, but I will find out later'. The others finally left after saying their goodbyes.
"Well it looks like we will be going to see this first vampire guy. See you guys around." Faith said. She was never real big on goodbyes. She didn't like the mushy stuff. She casually dragged Angel through the castle towards the portal. The Drow world was nice and all, but it was just too happy a place for her to be in right now.
"Well. I've got about forty minutes left." Xander said softly. Spike looked up at Xander.
"Come 'ere Pet." Spike said and opened his arms for his Xander. Xander crawled across the couch and wrapped his arms around Spike as Spike did likewise.
"You think we will come out alive in the end?" Xander asked.
"Don't we always?" Spike asked back as he tilted Xander's face up towards his. He starred into the vivid violet eyes before leaning in and pressing his lips against Xander's softly. It was something Spike had never really experienced before. A soft and gentle, loving kiss.