Chapter Seventeen
The cemetery was empty as seemed to be the case as of late. Spike knew that was always a sign of a big bad approaching - the smaller demons and vampires that were of no significance to the events went into hiding, waiting for the fall out and feasting on the ruins...not that there usually was any with Buffy around.
He sighed and flopped down onto a nearby tombstone, having his first crafty fag of the night. Buffy had ordered him to stop smoking since he gained his half human body but he couldn't resist the nicotine. He knew there was a risk he could get cancer but to be honest...he didn't really care. It was hard to break an eighty year habit.
He inhaled on the white stick deeply and sucking in a lung full of smoke. He held it for a few moments before breathing it out. He lay back on the tomb, looking up at the starry sky. After a few moments, the peace was shattered and he bolted upwards. His instincts were telling him something was wrong and just as he began to panic about his family, the earth began to shake. He rolled off the side of the tomb and lay flat on the ground, hoping nothing fell on top of him. The earthquake continued for a few seconds only but as the shaken vampire stood up, the devastation around him became apparent. Gravestones lay shattered on the ground, cracks climbed up the walls of mausoleums. In the distance, he heard the sirens in the city, faint screams and then he saw the warm glow of fires on the horizon.
And his panic came back to him. He ran through the cemetery, and at top speed headed for their house in the suburbs. It took him lest than five minutes to reach his house and he was out of breath when he got there. Opening the front door, he cursed the weaknesses of his human half, but his demon was intent on finding his mate and child and making sure they were okay. He burst into the dwelling and looked around frantically. Illyria sat in the living room, staring into space. She seemed to gain awareness as he walked in.
'You are worried? About the earth shaking?' She stated. Spike nodded.
'Uh-huh. Where's Buffy, Blue? And Shannon?' He gulped down air, wincing as it burned his lungs. In nearly twenty years he hadn't gotten used to it and missed the bonuses of a dead corpse as a body. Illyria stood up and walked towards him.
'Your mate took her out for some R&R.' The blue demon said, looking him up and down. 'You are weakened. You ran a distance to get here?' She asked. He nodded, still catching his breath. She looked scornful of his condition. 'I suggest you take your transport to the club. You are out of breath.' She turned on her heel and headed into the kitchen. Spike raised an eyebrow, then grabbed his keys and headed out again, slamming the door behind him.
It took him a few moments to start the car but after pulling off the drive way he set off at top speed into the city. He parked the car round the back of the club they usually attended and rushed inside, ignoring the bouncers. They didn't bat an eyelid, seeing as Spike worked there a few nights a week. The club catered to most sorts and it was well known that Spike was half vampire.
He stood in the middle of the club, closing his eyes and reaching out for Buffy. He felt her here and knew instinctively that his daughter was here as well. The club seemed to have not gained much damage from the quake and he was glad that nothing serious had happened. But right now, he wanted them home, just in case. Suddenly, he spotted Ryan with a familiar figure. He walked over and found his teenaged daughter grinding against the librarian's son. The poor boy looked very uncomfortable and overwhelmed and Spike chuckled a little before grabbing Shannon's arm. She whirled around, raising a fist in a punch, stopping millimetres before she gave her father a black eye.
'Dad?' She blinked a few times. 'The earthquake right?' She said and he nodded.
'Where's your mum?' He asked, looking around. Ryan stood behind Shannon and pointed towards the ladies room.
'She went to the girl's room. I don't think she was too worried about the quake. Everyone screamed a little but then it was like it didn't happen.' He said, shrugging a little. He looked relieved to be rescued from his amorous daughter's advances and Spike felt just a little sorry for the lad. He turned to Shannon. The teen stared at him, waiting for the home command.
'Shannon, I want everyone back at the house. I've got a bad feeling about this.' Shannon bristled and he placed a hand on her shoulder. 'Don't panic, platelet. You got your old dad looking out for you.' He winked and headed towards the ladies. Buffy emerged as he reached the door and she jumped at him, kissing him.
'Hey, sexy.' Great, Buffy was drunk. Spike snarled and she sobered almost immediately. 'What's wrong?'
'Something is; I don't know what. I want you to ring Angel on your cell. Get everyone to the house. I'm taking you and Shannon home. I don't like this Buffy.' She put her arms round his neck, kissing at the scar on his pale skin in an attempt to calm him down. His arms snaked around her and he purred gently. In this club, the demonic display of affection was not unusual.
A noise disrupted them and they span round to see Shannon getting herself into a fight. The guy she was currently hoisting above her head and throwing was a large male vampire. Spike walked to Ryan's side just as the vampire hit a bar and then the ground, very noisily. Ryan looked at the blonde and frowned.
'He came onto her. Then said they could share me as a meal. I don't think she took to the idea.'
'Damn fucking right I didn't.' Shannon fumed. 'But I can't kill him because of club policy.' Spike laughed at his daughter as Buffy approached her.
'Language.' The slayer reprimanded. She then looked to the vampire on the floor, who was struggling to regain his feet. She picked him up. 'You obviously don't know who my daughter is…but I'm the slayer and her daddy is William the Bloody so I suggest you stay away.' The vampire's eyes widened and he ran, heading out of the club. Spike watched him go and the crowd that had gathered dispersed back into the dance floor. He turned to his small family and pointed to the exit. They left hurriedly and made their way round to the car.
Back at the house, the small family gathered with Angel, Gunn, Illyria, Ryan and Dawn. Willow was late but Ryan had been cracking the books all day and had come up with some new information. He waited for everyone to sit down in the dining room and then began his Giles-esque way of speaking. Spike could see the family resemblance. He was the spitting image of his father. Just without the dorky glasses.
Ryan took a breath and looked at Buffy, a glint of hesitation in his eyes. Spike knew why when he said what he was going to say.
'I have discovered the remaining details of the prophecy. The fight to the death involves the warrior childe and the vampire. One will live and one will die to seal the gates of hell forever.' He took a breath, seeing the look on Buffy's face. 'I know that it sounds bad but…There is still more to look for. There could be a way round it. Also, I have discovered that the actual foe we will be facing is…'
A knock at the door interrupted them and Shannon stood up to go and answer it. Her shock was evident when she opened the door to her own mother. Spike stood, growling as the Buffy look-alike walked into the room. It smiled at the real Buffy charmingly and then grinned at Spike.
'Well, well, well. Long time no see.' Shannon sensed the evil and charged the thing in her house, only for it to place a hand squarely on her chest and throwing her backwards against the stairs. Shannon landed in a crumpled heap and Ryan ran to her side. Spike snarled and walked forward. The look-alike stopped him in his tracks with a look and snarled back.
'The First.' He growled and Buffy narrowed her eyes. The First/Buffy smiled at him and folded her arms. 'I should have known. What's with all the last minute bollocks? You like to tease us a bit first don't you? Get your kicks outta making us sweat a bit.'
The First/Buffy shook her head. 'Not this time. As long as Evil exists, I will be here, egging it on. And now, I have this brand spanking corporeal ability which makes it all the easier to kill you. This is it, kiddies. THE apocalypse. This determines it all. Whether I am here or not. After this…you win.' She leant forward. 'But you gotta beat me first.' She grinned wickedly. Buffy walked up to her and snarled.
'May the best Slayer win.' She growled in her opponents face. The First/Buffy laughed at her.
'Who are you going to sacrifice this time, Buff?' She asked, plastering a fake innocent smile on her face. The real Buffy hesitated for a moment and The First pushed her backwards, sending her tumbling into Spike. He caught her and scowled at the impersonator in front of him. She grinned back and turned, flicking her hair over her shoulder. 'See you in a couple of days.' She left and Spike turned to Ryan.
'Why is it doing this? It usually likes to torment us first.'
'I suspect it is probably to stop us finding a solution. The quicker this thing goes down, the less chance we have of stopping it.' Angel said, the others nodding in agreement. Buffy looked to Spike, worry marring her pretty face. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her on the forehead.
'It's gonna be okay pet.'
Silence hit the room as Ryan sat Shannon on a chair and returned to his books. 'The fight will be hard, and "the gates of hell will spew forth with the army of the devil to stop the destruction of evil".' He read out. He frowned, looking to the tired young girl on the chair. She looked at him with sad eyes and he looked back to his books, not knowing how to comfort her at this precise moment. 'The warrior child and the vampire shall fight to the death and only one will walk away. The soul of the determined will shut the gates of hell for all eternity and the army of the devil will be vanquished.' Buffy stood up.
'I'm not doing this again. Someone always dies.' She mumbled and walked away from the group, heading up the stairs. Spike watched her leave. Ryan turned to the vampire and shrugged.
'There is only one outcome. The solstice is when it will start.'
'That's two days away.' Gunn said and Ryan nodded.
'I know. We need to prepare.' He said. Angel turned to Illyria.
'We should stay here, just in case.' Willow, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up.
'I'll start preparing some spells.' She thought for a moment. 'Where is this all going to happen? I mean, where are the gates of hell going to open to?' Ryan flipped a page and fingered down it until he found the paragraph.
'The battle will spill onto the consecrated ground of the Wolf, the Ram and the Hart.'
'Our old offices.' Angel said, turning to Spike. 'I guess we'll be wanted back in work on Monday.' He grinned wryly and Spike nodded; a serious look on his face.
The blonde vampire looked around the small army of sorts and nodded again. 'Let's get to work.'