Disclaimer: Don't own the characters nor make any money from stories etc, and bow down to their original creators Joss, et al., plus all the wonderful online writers who continue to give the Buffy/Angel verse characters life.
Dedicated to tempestsreach who inspired the story and deserves all the hugs that one could provide.
PART 10
Spike was in a daze. His Mistress had been here and had fed and pleasured him, and then his carer had landed in his lap, and now… and now… He went by his instinct, pulling his new childe into his lap. He embraced the violated form of his savior before lying him flat once more and letting tears mix with his saliva as he continued to lick his partner's wound closed long after the action was needed. Then in gameface he rhythmically and obsessively, went on to lick every inch of the now former human. His demon finally assuaged, he arranged the violated body carefully, rigor mortis thankfully absent courtesy of the human's changing status.
The lack of stiffness was merely helpful in his final act, it made little difference to Spike. He had been too weak. His Xander was dead, and it must be because of him. Now he would have to be strong, because Sire was always the protector and now their roles had been permanently reversed.
A day later, to the rest of the world, Xander appeared to be sleeping comfortably on his back, head cushioned by ample numbers of pillows and body covered by a soft acrylic blanket. Closer scrutiny however, revealed the deathbed pallor of the skin and blue tinge to the color of the lips.
They had never spoken of turning Xander, indeed the idea of Spike becoming a Sire in the last months seemed ludicrous, so weakened by the experience with Illyria that he still relied entirely on Xander. Now everything had changed. In reuniting with his Mistress Illyria he should, theoretically, have regressed, but instead he had felt first sated, then reassured. He concluded that perhaps, somehow during the carnal act with Illyria, or in the restoring of Xander's soul, the Powers and/or Illyria had changed him, because Spike had awoken from a light snooze beside his new childe feeling 'whole'. For the first time in years he felt… strong, centered and at peace with himself.
The former 'Big Bad' pulled away from his charge and moved to do something he had not been game to do since before his departure with Illyria. He threw open the curtains, and opened the door to their tiny balcony, and stood alone without fear in full game face then roared into the night.
The roar was his grief and anger embodied. Xander's body was in the next room and he had lost his friend, his savior, his human sire. Yet in his haze of blood tinged tears, he pondered the most terrifying part this whole process - his failure to save Xander leading to having to turn a friend when neither had even discussed the option seriously, and hurting as he contemplated his forced new role as Sire.
He knew with every essence of his being, that he was grateful for being granted his unlife back, even if he had been too late to find his wonderful human alive, at least now he could care for the new childe Xander had become. For the first time since before Sunnydale even happened in his life, he knew his purpose and felt whole.
He returned from the night to join his childe once more. He embraced his dead friend, entangling legs and arms and pulling him close, and continued the vigil while his childe's body restored itself and the new status took hold.
……………..
Jason had left five messages and Mark three on the answering machine by the following day. Spike could not bear to pick up… How was he to explain the situation? He had told them enough to be able to ask for their help, but now… now was something quite different.
He returned their call when he knew they would both be at work. Clutching the phone so tightly there was risk of him crushing it, he dialed their apartment.
It was Jason's voice on the message, "Hi, You've called Jason and Mark. We can't take your call at the moment so if you would like to leave your name and number and the time that you rang after the tone, we will get back to you as soon as we can."
"Hey Jas? Mark? I'm so sorry not to have called you back… but um… something has happened… and I've found Xan! He's been really… Spike's voice hitched a little well um… I can't tell you how much you fellows have done for us but please give me one more day before a visit OK. I'm fine… it's just… Oh Bloody Hell… You'll understand when you see him again OK!
He hung up then let out a frustrated growl as he fell into game face again. He dropped the handset and took solace in lying beside his now dead lover, continuing his vigil. Xander would perhaps awaken the following evening … surely!
…………….
Jaquin waited until morning to wander into the bowels of the building, his temporary form moving rather awkwardly, though few of his colleagues noticed and those who did, were uninterested. He wandered to the data processing area, as people arrived for work, nodded at a few of the people sitting in various cubicles and listened. He needed to find this 'Lilah Morgan' and the others on her team that might be part of the attack on the vampire's human companion.
One pretty woman struggled in using a walking frame, accompanied by a handsome male with legs that appeared to articulate an odd way. He stood at the water cooler and watched as the quiet man assisted the woman by swiftly removing her shoes and relieved a feathered tail of the skirt that had been concealing it.
Jaquin smelled both of them – still human, and wondered at the cruelty that must have driven such violations of their form.
The couple kissed and the woman held her partner for a minute longer, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Are you hurting already, baby?"
"It's not so bad today… More about just this morning… you know seeing Wendy struggling – I didn't know… I mean I knew about Ms Morgan taking Wendy as her PA of course but Rod…what could she possibly have done to deserve that?"
"Seem to recall yours was just about shoes, Stace. Don't think she'd need much of an excuse, do you?"
"I guess not… Could be worse I suppose – There have been so many 'disappearances' lately, I guess at least we're still here."
"That we are lover, that we are. Now come on let's worry about the problems with the lady on the twenty-fifth floor at the end of the day"
Jaquin watched as the young man gently lifted his friend onto a custom built perch, easing her forward until she rested her torso comfortably against a padded stand. He then arranged all her desk items so they were within easy reaching distance.
She sighed as she settled and kissed him lightly as he brushed past her, "Thanks honey."
"You're welcome… See you at lunch." With that, the man moved off, his gait confident but still rather awkward.
Jaquin had heard what he needed and took the elevator to the twenty fourth floor nodding politely to a young articles clerk as he exited the lift and wandered down the corridor to the fire escape. He climbed the last story and emerged on the floor of his target. But he was here for some reconnoitering not for killing. There was plenty of time for feeding later.
The plush carpet and rich dark colors on the walls easily identified this floor as one of the executive 'elite'. He swiftly found a young woman identified on her desk name marker as 'Wendy Malkowitz'. She smiled and nodded as he wandered down the corridor in what appeared to be a 'routine pass'. The old demon noted the pretty female's rather odd backless stool at her work station, then noted that she had her shoes off. There furry paws instead of feet pushing out from the base of her suit pants.
She smiled sweetly and greeted him. He nodded back and tipped his cap in a polite gesture of acknowledgement.
There were four cameras in the corridor and no doubt more in Lilah's office. Cameras were easy to disarm, what worried Jaquin was that he would make his escape swiftly and without detection.
He knew that like Illyria, he could manipulate time, but her instructions were to make the pariah, one Lilah Morgan, suffer before she died… apparently again and this time for good with the help of the Higher Powers.
Jaquin was worried that his voice was not adequately human but fortunately she was on the phone at the time, so he scribbled a kindly note to the young PA and pushed it across the counter..
"All seems in order. You're a trooper, keep up the good work. J"
She put her hand over the mouthpiece, rolled her eyes apologetically and whispered 'boss lady on a bender again… sorry'. After reading the note she, grinned and mouthed 'thanks for this' at him then went back to her conversation.
Jaquin continued his observations on the floor for an hour or so, mapping every aspect, he was satisfied and would act the next day.
………………
Xander woke in his own bed. He was embraced by the arms of his vampiric friend, but it felt like more than that. He felt love and family and content, and all in a way that did not quite make sense.
His last memory was of the spider and of pain, yet now there was none. Overwhelmed by the assault of thoughts, feelings, memories, and newly heightened senses, he … began to cry. Spike felt the distress immediately and pulled his Childe close, pressed the changing visage to his neck and encouraged his offspring to feed.
Xander's bite was deep and as he sucked the red ambrosia he felt it at a most primal level Sire, Love, Sire, Devotion, Care, Protection, Sire!
As he pulled for a final time on his maker's neck, the ex human came without being touched, then instinctively bared his own neck.
Spike drank of his Childe as was custom, but only enough to mark his beloved again. He reserved the replenishing of his own blood for later – via an appointment with a microwave and a number of bags of O pos.
Xander was still only half aware, groaned as he was marked again then simply rolled into the wonderful scent, snuggling down feeling sated and safe. Sire was here. In the rather addled state of his current consciousness, he groaned "Sire", then took an unnecessary breath and returned to slumber. This time Spike slept fitfully also.
The new Sire came back to awareness with a jolt as Xander came to full consciousness and called across their natural bloodlink in confusion.
His Sire rolled toward his first Childe and fed him again. Still without speaking, the young one suckled for a time as Spike stroked his sex. Within seconds of spending his seed at the hand of his Sire, Xander fell away from his feeding and gave in to sleep once more.
Spike eased away from his new childe, letting him rest while the master vampire rose to take a large amount of blood. The Powers and her benevolent highness Illyria had both contributed to his 'stash' and the fridge was stuffed full and ready. His childe's current pattern of feeding and sleeping could go on for another day or so, but Spike was hopeful. The more the fledgling was able to eat and rest in the first few days, the stronger he should be in the end.
Spike smiled as he satisfied his own hunger. He still took comfort by drinking from the glove – but now it was accompanied by a joyful feeling of connection and trust, not one of dependence and need. The newly restored Master Vampire grinned, brushed the collar he still wore and sent a heartfelt prayer of thanks to his Mistress Illyria for not abandoning him.
She felt his lovely tribute and sent a cross dimensional message of love for her pet, and a pledge… He and his fledgling 'half-breed' Childe would always be under her protection should they need it. He felt her message in his gut – and returned his further gratitude and devotion.
……………….
Jaquin eventually had all the information he needed, devised a workable plan and made appropriate arrangements. He 'clocked off' and returned to Xander and Spike's apartment. He knocked quietly then moved to the underground carpark again. He found an alcove with a large number of bags of shredded paper were piled high awaiting disposal. He stretched out on a few of them at the rear intent on rather unhappily snoozing for the rest of the day. He needed to feed properly but would wait until the evening or even the following day. He was a carnivore, he was used to being patient.