Chapter 38
A New Lead
Spike stood, hands-on-hips, as he watched Sally get dragged off by the ruthless Shadow. He chuckled in his throat, "Got yours."
With a spin on his heels, Spike began pacing toward Oogie, "Now, back to business; what is it, and how are you paying me?" Spike took another cigarette from his pocket to replace the one he lost in the brawl, and lit it with Oogie's flame.
"The job is simple," Oogie began, "You do what I say, when I say, and I'll give you…hmmmm…" Oogie took a hard look at Spike. Those cold, soulless eyes of Oogie's traveled Spike up from his steel toed boots, to his glistening smart-ass smile.
"Blood," Oogie said, "I'll pay you in blood."
Spike took a drag from his cigarette, and then gave a dry laugh, "Pah! Who do you take me for? You think I died yesterday? Blood is not rare enough to be bargained for—"
"It is in this world," Oogie cut him off, "I figure that you favor the taste of human blood, but you won't find any of that on your own. The only human in this world just so happens to be working for me. And I wont allow you to kill her until she's fulfilled her duties to me."
Spike opened his mouth to counter, but nothing came out. He was cornered.
"Getting a little thirsty, vampire?" Oogie teased.
Spike released a heavy breath, and licked his lips. He could use a pint or two about now.
"Fine!" Spike gave in, "I'll work for you, but I want blood daily, and I want my first payment now!"
"No, you start work today, and I'll pay you tomorrow."
"NOW!"
Oogie shot out two things that resembled arms from his flame, and wrapped them around Spike's neck. He felt the burning sensation of heat, without actually being scorched. And even though he didn't breath, Spike felt he was chocking.
"You will do as I say, and you will accept your payment tomorrow. Is that clear?"
Spike nodded.
"Good."
Oogie released Spike. The vamp fell weak on his knees. He coughed a few times and hit his chest to dislodge the cigarette that was half way down his throat.
"What's the first thing I have to do?"
Discreetly, a green portal began to slowly spiral open behind Spike as he started standing up.
Oogie ordered, "Find my human, Sydney Night, and join her on her quest to retrieve the holiday items from my list. Keep her going. Do not let her give up of get killed. She is the only one close enough to Jack to keep him in my game plan."
"Who's Jack?" Spike asked.
"Never mind that, now go—"
"Curious," Spike interrupted, persistent for answers, "What was the bargain that you made with the human?"
"None of your business," Oogie snapped, and with a sudden expansion of his flames, he startled Spike to stumble backwards and fall into the portal. It instantly spiraled inward swallowing Spike whole.
"Finally," Oogie breathed.
There was sudden enthusiasm from Lock, "Mr. Oogie Boogie, sir, did you notice that?"
"Notice what?"
"Sally! Doll face! Oh, this changes everything! Everything!"
"What are you going on about now?"
"Sally's the third lead!"
A gasp escaped everyone's lips.
"But-but how could this be?"
"Just look at it," Lock counted on his fingers, "#1: She is beautiful (a groan came from Shock). #2: Her stitches are her scars. And #3: During a battle, she will penetrate a dead man, and that's exactly what she did."
Lock waited for an understanding response, but only received blank stares, "Ugh! Vampires are dead. Spike is a vampire. Sally fought Spike, and then she stabbed him," he released a breath, "Do you see now?"
"Yes…" Oogie pondered, "This really does change things. All right, here's how it is, Lock you watch over Sally. Shock you monitor Sydney. And Barrel you watch Shadow."
"WHAT?" Barrel shrieked.
"You all are to watch over the women you've been assigned. If any other hints to the prophecy arise, or new information occurs, don't hesitate to inform me."
And before another word could be said, Oogie's flames rose up for a moment, then disappeared entirely. Lock, Shock, and Barrel were left standing alone. A green portal spiraled open and the three jumped in, but not before Barrel whined, "Why do I always get the short end of the stick?"