A/N: I want to just take the opportunity thank everyone that has read this fic and also to those who have maybe left a like or kudos so far! Special thanks to IrisRainbowWolf and TheMissingPieces (both on ao3) who have recently been commenting and absolutely inspiring me to keep going with this work ! I'd also like to thank the lovely girl that contacted me on my tumblr to tell me she's been reading this fic and was just at Joyce's death (sorry about that) and I hope you're still reading because it really did make my day when you went out of your way to message me to tell me that you liked the story !
Anyway, hope you enjoy this update! xoxo
Chapter 54:
The night was quiet, almost too quiet. It was so dark even Spike would be struggling to see if it wasn't for the slither of moonlight casting the dimmest glow above them. All that could be heard was three pairs of footsteps walking over the rough terrain of the graveyard, not along any of the paths. Her mind had been mostly on this as Spike helped her tackle the worst parts under foot as she was struggling to see in the dark. Buffy was squinting, trying to feel out any vamps in the area. It didn't help that she had pulled a tarot card earlier she wasn't sure what to make of. The wheel of fortune.
"Does he have to be here?" Buffy finally said, after the fourth time she had had to stop for the pair to share a kiss.
"Ever heard of three's a crowd? You're the crowd, slayer" Spike grumbled as Saffron's hand lingered along his neck, gently touching the metal chain with the padlock that he now never took off. Their eyes locked and they couldn't help smiling adoringly, annoying Buffy who made a noise of disgust. Spike sighed, rolling his eyes to face Buffy, "Just because you're not getting any…"
Buffy goes to hit him, he blocks then hits her on the nose. He notices again that he can hit the slayer without consequence. He pulled his arm back, preparing to land another punch.
"Hey! Stop, babe" Saff pulls Spike from stalking towards her cousin, "You ok, Buff?"
"Shouldn't he be writhing in pain about now?" Buffy muttered, rather than answering her question.
"Spike?" Saffron frowned, turning to him. He was uncharacteristically chipper after having punched Buffy. Usually he'd be cursing and blinding at the headache.
"She came back… wrong. Not human" he muttered, explaining about why he had really been to see Warren before finishing his explanation, "No pain… I was merely checking Slayer… making sure" His version of an apology, holding his hands up in surrender. Buffy nodded distractedly but didn't say anything, just looks down at the ground.
"Am I?" Saffron suddenly said, "human I mean?"
"I'm not going for you, Honeysuckle"
"Oh yeah, 'cause you're chicken?" She taunted. They had trained together, but Spike rarely got a headache with Saff as he never actually intended to hurt her.
"No, because you're… learning" He tried to be kind with his word choice. She was bloody useless at following direction, but she had been improving.
"I've lived in Sunnydale for so long, I've fought plenty of monsters. Even got the better of you once before, if I recall correctly" the glint in her eye told him she was winding him up but he took the bait. Especially when she started to make chicken noises. Buffy's face started to brighten slightly at the exchange, enjoying watching her tease Spike.
He went to punch her, but Saffron blocked it with a visible smirk, knowing it would rile him up more. They traded blows and the first punch he landed properly, his face softened and he went to check on her, nodding to confirm that he could hit her without pain.
"Actually, pet, I think you're forgetting it was big cuz here that actually threw me into the giant organ" he punctuated his statement with a blow that she was struggling to keep up with, "Leaving me paralysed – you – I'll have you know I haven't forgiven you for that" He pointed threateningly. Buffy just shrugged, a hint of a smile on her face at the mock threatening tone. Saff took this as a chance to tackle Spike and try to pin him under her.
"Yeah but if I hadn't been used as the bait… I was turning your head even back then" She mused, smiling sweetly as he started to protest. She tried to stealthily remove the stake from her waistband.
"Don't flatter yourself, Honeysuckle, I was already on my way out with Dru" He said, flipping her over so that he was on top now.
"Yeah but you still looked when I called your name" Saffron punctuated the remark by kicking Spike off her but he easily got to his feet.
"Oh, you hearing this Slayer? She's taking credit for your hard-earned notch against me! That makes us equal, one all" He said as Saff and Spike circled each other, fists raised. Buffy was walking around, watching Saff's technique.
"Spike, it's more like 52-1 in my favour" Buffy muttered, as she noted that Saff needed to work on using the space around her more effectively.
"I mean, I'd say it's at least 3-1 even to me!" Saffron said smugly, ducking from the punch he was about to land, only for him to have used her own misdirection trick against her as he landed a blow to her shoulder. Buffy laughed at this. Real laughter for the first time in a long time. It felt almost normal.
"In fact, I don't think you even won once" Buffy continued, making Spike scowl.
"I bloody did!"
"When?" The cousins said at the same time. He started to fight more quickly, with Saff struggling to block him let alone try her own offensive attacks.
"To your left, Saff! Duck!" Buffy called.
"That's fucking cheating Slayer!" Spike shouted, grazing Saff's cheek with his fist, just missing as she ducked out of the way.
"Would you rather take us both on?" Buffy raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest as Saff tried to tackle Spike but got flipped onto her arse.
"You'd both just embarrass yourselves, Saff would get under your feet and knock you bloody flying" He pointed out, holding his hand out to help Saff up, kissing her forehead in an apology. She had told him to stop going easy on her, but he always hated it if she lost badly. He couldn't help it.
"Hey! I'm learning!" She pushed him back and got back into her fighting stance. Buffy's eyes glinted as she got into her own. The cousin's looked at each other, beckoning Spike in the same motion.
It was almost… fun. Something that had been an alien concept of late. The pair worked well together but spike held his own. He was used to fighting and not having the upper hand since he got his chip, so he used it to his advantage for the most part. However, the pair managed to back Spike into a nearby mausoleum, both taking their stakes out and pointing them.
Buffy's was a little too close to his heart as he complained, "Watch where you're bloody pointing that!" Buffy eventually let go, high fiving Saff's waiting hand and walking in the direction they had been going in, but Saff lingered, still holding Spike's shoulder and pressed a soft kiss to the pulse point on his neck then ruffling his hair before running away at the glare he shot her way. He had just slicked it back and she had messed it up. She ran off like a shot, with Spike chasing her around the graveyard, weaving between the gravestones in the direction Buffy had gone. Buffy had stopped, now watching them and wasn't able to contain the laughter at the pair. It was nice feeling them so happy and Buffy had been feeling slightly better since the threat from the social worker was one less thing to worry about.
Saff was having fun she almost didn't notice that she could feel Buffy's laughter, a welcome break from something else. Something darker. She could feel Buffy's emotions suddenly. Just a flicker but it was for the first time in a long time. She stopped mid-stride, meaning that Spike caught up to her. Taking her, changing into his game face and acting like he was about to bite her. Buffy had noticed and now Saffron could no longer feel anything from her again. Spike let Saffron to her feet after dipping her and landing a kiss on her neck rather than trying to bite her. Saffron turned to ask Buffy what was going on, but they were interrupted by a light.
A bright, white flickering light, as if a candle were hovering around them flew past them in the graveyard several times before lighting up the entire area, like a floodlight. This can't be good. The three of them looked around at each other confused.
"Aliens? Have we done aliens yet?" Saffron hissed. Unsurprisingly, she had an opinion on them as well (100% real and they were being hidden by secret organisations, in case you were wondering). Buffy and Spike were already in a fighting stance with Saff reluctantly copying them. She had been hoping to go home and have a nice hot shower after their patrolling instead of having to fight something else.
As if someone had set up an invisible sound system, a large booming voice echoed off the gravestones around them. Someone cleared their throat with great importance.
"Is this stupid fucking thing on? I'll have your head if it's not, darling… Oh yes" He coughed again, clearing his throat as the three stood in the graveyard gave a collective eye roll. Oleander. Again, "Ah, were we having fun? It's a shame the runt of the litter couldn't have joined you… it's sad she's often last to be thought of isn't it? Poor lonely Dawn"
"Saff! Buffy I'm-!" Dawn's voice could be heard trying to shout over Oleander but was quickly silenced again.
"Will somebody gag her before I remove her from this mortal plain! Or you – you'll be next, darling! Shut her up!" He screamed at some unseen entities wherever they were, before lowering his voice for the intended recipients in the cemetery, "Annoying little brat" he muttered.
"You've taken Dawn!?" Saffron shouted angrily at the sky, which appeared to be where the sound was coming from. It was very disorientating though and hard to tell. They definitely weren't really with them so it must be some sort of spell.
"Are we surprised?" Buffy stated. Spike shrugged in agreement.
"Aw, they're in no rush I see! Don't worry Dawny! We can have plenty of fun together here…" oleander smiled, clicking his fingers and removing the light that had flooded the graveyard. And his voice. Leaving them in the dark.
Dawn and Oleander could see the women and the vampire in a mirror he had shipped over for the spell. He loved a little theatricality within his plots and the mirror was much like the magic mirror on the wall as referenced in fairy tales.
He turned to Dawn who had been shackled on the platform, "Aw, it's the unremarkable one" He cooed, pulling her cheek, "You not going to snap your restraints and run? Beat me up? Haven't you got any mind power, dearest?" He cackled, playing on her insecurity. He smiled, savouring her guilt over being the awkward one that always needed saving.
"Why can't you leave Saff alone?" Dawn bit back, "She's probably the moodiest person I know. She doesn't want to be this lame good-"
"She wants to save the world. She's corrupted"
"What is it opposites day?" she replied flippantly and Oleander was starting to get madder, "That totally makes her the true sight and you the corrupt-"
"Do not talk to me about corruption, you little bitch of a brat!" He slapped her hard across the face and Dawn whimpered, "You have no clue! You have no possible idea what the real world it like! That it should never be allowed to carry on! What could you possibly know? You are barely a year old and you smell like old pennies"
"Old pennies?"
"Yes, darling. Must be whatever metal your key-self was made from" he shrugged before stalking off and leaving her there.
Dawn had been there for hours. She watched the followers walk in and out. The strangest thing was how quiet they were. As if they walked on air, as oppose to the metaphorical eggshells they were always on around Oleander. They only tended to speak when he wanted them to.
Rather than getting more scared as time went on, her courage grew. She even shocked herself. But when she felt as if she figured him out (in fairness, he was very similar to Saff and she had lived with her for years. Except, obviously he was like a totally twisted version of her).
Oleander had walked back in several times, this last time he stopped. Studying Dawn with great interest. She was a lot stronger than he had given her credit for. She wasn't bawling and promising to do anything he asked yet.
Well, he would have to change this. He was too tired after the dramatic light show he had conducted for Saffron and the others earlier so his influence wouldn't be so effective. Besides, he decided he could probably break her with his words alone.
He stalked towards her, every step calculated and cold. He enjoyed how he had every eye on the room on him. The footsteps echoed around the hall, it was so quiet apart from his step that it was hard for Dawn to believe just how many people were in the room. It was as if they weren't even breathing it was so silent. He knelt down to where Dawn had slumped to sit and he reached out towards her. She flinched slightly but held her head up, trying to show she didn't care. Instead of touching her skin he reached towards her neck and yanked the gold chain she had that matched her sisters.
"What is this hideous thing around your neck, darling?" Oleander sneered.
"A necklace" She snapped, in a way she had learnt from Saff. She had been kidnapped many times before, she knew better than to spill everything she thought and felt.
"Oh, you're a little rottweiler. You think you're like them, connected. But they see you as nothing more than a burden."
"Not true."
"Well, at least one of them does"
"You're totally lying!" she shouted, tears in her eyes making him lick his lips.
"So why do you feel like you knew this all along?" He cocked his head to the side, scanning her face. He suddenly moved his head forwards as if he was going to headbutt her but he stopped short and spoke again instead, "Why can I feel your trust crumbling down around us? Poor little Dawny, you're hated by more people than you know. I can feel it. The annoying little brat getting in the way, ruining the plotline"
"Shut up shut up shut up!" she screamed, dipping her head and put her hands over her ears to block his words out. It was just a shame this couldn't block his influence too. She still felt it all.
"You don't have to be this way, so lonely and forgotten about. Nobody cares do they? They don't even notice when you steal and lie"
"Spike and Saff care" she choked out, his influence felt as if she had hands around her neck. She could barely breathe as the tears in her eyes rolled down her cheeks.
"Ah, you see them as pseudo-parents. We'll have to change that won't we? Parents are overrated anyway, orphans like us should know, right?" Dawn's face stayed neutral although he felt the grief, "Spike pities you. He only cares because you're his girlfriend's relative. He doesn't really care. Only bound to you through a flimsy promise. And dearest Saffron only cares about you as much as is necessary. You know she would happily choose the bottle over you. Either way, you're an inconvenience, darling"
It wasn't working the way he thought. His influence wasn't changing her view. She knew Spike, Saff and the others cared. She couldn't let go of that, or she wouldn't have anything left. His influence waned under her protection of the girl he hated.
"Your faith is killing me. Maybe you do have the vampire. The corrupted one. Tied to you through a familial bond… but do you have friends? People you can confide in? Have fun with at school?" That struck a chord. Dawn had a few friends but nobody she could confide in.
"That's right… the world's so unfair isn't it? You hate it. Hate the way it treats your family, the way you were made… you feel it. It's so raw I love it!" He cackled, clapping overexcitedly as he rose to his feet. She tried to stop struggling but it was no use, "No! Don't stop! It's… it's exquisite"
Dawn continued to choke and sob for the next few hours and oleander left her to it, finding other things to occupy his time whilst still being able to sense his hold on her. He was excited that the world would be able to feel it one day. That he could project the suffering, as if through a universal tannoy system. That everyone would know the truth.
xoxoxo
Dawn had been left to sit in her own misery as a ritual was cast. The hazy incense made the room stink and she felt a little dizzy, hoping it didn't mean whatever the ritual meant was working.
The ritual was an attempt by Oleander to remove Saff's bond with Dawn so he would be able to kill her more easily. There had been a complication when he had attempted to kill her when he found her and thus, he was trying a quick-fix to get to the key before Saff got in even closer proximity.
"In the name of the Light, the spirit and the Eye. May our souls in servitude all be tied.
When hate and truth is hidden by it, with intentions true and incense lit.
Hear us now, hear us all.
Together we move, in his name may it be done. Let those that she protects set as the sun."
The Order members spoke as one and Oleander watched from the centre of the room with a smile on his face. He saw Dawn's horror and he felt she wasn't really sure what this meant. He stalked up to her, taking the opportunity to gloat as the chanting dimmed to a low murmur.
"Wait until sunset, dear little key. You'll meet your end and Saffron won't be able to do anything except watch"
"You're too weak to hurt me now?"
"I don't like that term," he moved towards her threateningly but he just stopped and smiled at her reaction, "Shall we say instead that I am alternatively powered. She is my shadow and as such her feelings manifest in mysterious and maddening ways" Mostly, she lends her protective hand to those with souls that he cannot reach. Ever since she knew about him, whether she was aware or not she had been blocking him from his truth.
"Oh, right, the prophecy of the three. Probably way hard to remove" Dawn nodded along and he frowned in confusion. He hadn't thought about that. He took a breath as if to say something but one of his higher-up members came up to him.
"O Leander! I confess we cannot travel to Los Angeles to speak at their chapter of our truth-" he pulled him away from Dawn's eavesdropping although the girl could still hear.
"Are you telling me, your everlasting and… gorgeous light in the dark of this horrible world what to do?" He spoke lazily, plucking adjectives out of the air as if he were speaking casually. But they could all sense an underlying irritation bubbling underneath. Dawn, a girl with the intelligence of a swap gnat had undone his brilliant plan with a single sentence. Of course he couldn't undo Saffron's protection and bond with her in one single ritual. Now he couldn't even leave this shithole of a town?!
"N-Not at all my Light!"
"Explain yourself, my dear, dear follower" He cupped his chin to face him. The man closed his eyes as they watered, the euphoria evident on his face. He was really gracing him with his touch.
"We cannot leave the Mouth of Truth less your almighty power should, ah, not be at it's fullest"
Dawn was intelligent. She didn't have much worldly knowledge, but she was smart enough to understand how Oleander was playing this. She had figured that everything the order members spoke of had been fed to them by Oleander. So the mouth of truth must be something different. She tried to mull it over to figure out what it meant.
"Yes, well, perhaps you should shut your mouth before it begins an assault on the truth"
"I only say this because-" He cuts himself off, but it needs to be said so he continues, "-without the power you share with the Mouth of Truth you may be unable to make it that far without weakening-"
The Mouth of Truth was Oleander's explanation of what the Hellmouth was to him and his. He had decided that 'Hell' Mouth had negative connotations that may make people question his intentions. Which, he was convinced were just. Others just needs a little, say, push into the correct mindset.
What's in a name anyway, darling? One's hell is another's…
Anyway, this was the way that they could show the truth. He had given his power to the Hellmouth and received more in return. Which meant the further away from the Hellmouth he was, the weaker he became.
At the same time, Willow had been researching the Hellmouth and why Oleander may not be able to leave it as Saffron had been told courtesy of fish-features. She discovered that Oleander's power was reliant on the Hellmouth, he provided the souls of his followers and it grew his power. If he left the Hellmouth, however, he would be unable to maintain such power. His influence would not be as strong. Willow figured his influence would almost half and his followers may not be as easily swayed.
They could either plan to bring him away from the Hellmouth or try to enhance Saffron's powers to equal his in a more sustained way.
"Silence!" He shouted and it echoed around the room. Stopping each member in their tracks and Dawn's mouth opened as she tried to hide her whimper, "Weakening!? Weakening!" He muttered under his breath, furious at the suggestion no matter how true. The member was pulled away screaming, trying to clutch his head as oleander stared at him. He was doing something to him, but Dawn couldn't tell. The screams were sickening though.
Dawn had been there for hours now, sitting through another ritual. She saw someone lose their soul. Ask, no beg for it to leave them. Everyone collectively started to come down from what they had just witnessed. Their minds still buzzing as their new member was walked out of the room. His eyes glazed over and the distinctive glow of his face as his skin started to look as if it was melting off.
This was the price of enlightenment. At least they could mask their faces to all except Saffron. Dawn could only witness it as she had been an unwilling participant to the ritual. She had gasped and her eyes had been transfixed to the man's face. Only snapped out of it when she heard an order member speak up.
"What of the three young men that try to win your heart, O Leander?" Sister Elizabeth asked, knowing he wanted her to. She was speaking of Warren and the others who had conducted a hopeless attempt at messing with the slayer.
"Those maggots? They may help us and when we no longer have use for them, we shall show them how hateful the world truly is" Oleander smiled knowingly as applause erupted around him.
He adored the feeling of awe that surrounded him. The way they elevated him above all else. Everyone… except the brat in the corner who had been ignoring their great movement since she arrived. He had the mind to just snap her neck and get it over with but it would be more fun with Saffron there to watch. Instead, he turned to her, "You can join us, kid. The hate, the unfairness of the world. It gets worse, all you have to do is sign away your life, give in to the hate. Oh, and worship me as your fearless and highly attractive leader"
"No!" Dawn said, screwing her eyes up as soon as she said it. She was trying to be brave but she knew the pain was coming for her. The emotional kind was the worst.
xoxoxo
On the other side of Sunnydale, Saffron and the Scoobies were sat around the living room of the home that most of them now shared (apart from Anya and Xander). Tara couldn't join them but she promised she would do a protection spell for Dawn when she could.
"We need to mount up, what's the plan?" Xander looked from Buffy to Saffron. When they didn't have anything he even looked at Spike. But nobody knew what to do. Walking into the Order was a suicide mission. There was no way to protect themselves and if they all went in together there would be nobody left to defend the Hellmouth from Oleander.
They continued to research, come up with some kind of plan. The fear in the room started to increase, with most of it being her own that she could feel. After what felt like hours she heard from the man himself.
A voice started to spin around her mind. It wasn't hers, "Give in, darling. Give yourself up. You know our little green orb of delight won't last without you"
"Saff! Saff it hurts!" Dawns screaming got worse, "Buffy! Please"
She saw her sister sobbing, felt her pain. She blinked herself out of it. She didn't care for a plan anymore, she was ready to face him.
"I need to go" Saffron got straight to her feet without warning, making everyone in the room jump. She grabbed a jacket and her lighter and tried to bolt for the door.
"Saff-!" Buffy warned stepping in front of her.
"You can't, it's what he wants" Spike backed the slayer up.
"I don't give a shit, she's in so much pain! She's crying he's hurting her!" She said, she was clearly distressed. It made everyone's worry spike which hurt her even more. She twisted the ring that Spike had bought her, managing to get the feeling to dull down a little.
"He'll be ready for the super strength. You'll be in danger, love. Think about it" Spike repeated, blocking
"Why are you fighting me on this?!" She accused, knowing Buffy was usually the first to damn everyone in favour of Dawn. But Buffy's fight had gone. Her spark it was waning.
"SP, as much as I hate to agree with Spike, they're right. We can't do anything for Dawn if we're all dead" Xander said frankly as Willow nodded along.
"Yeah, he won't kill her. Not when it's more valuable to him to-"
"Torture her and allow me to watch through my mind?" Saffron bit back, but she was calming down. She knew everyone was just as worried about Dawn too. So she sat back down and they tried to research some kind of spell they could use to hold Oleander and the order off for long enough that they could get Dawn back safe.
xoxoxo
It was well into the night now, closer to dawn than midnight. Saffron slowly got up and tried to make as little noise as possible. Everyone had fallen asleep while researching. She managed to make it to the door without the others stirring.
She closed the front door slowly, taking ages to make the door click in the frame. She straightened up, ready to venture over to the hall that Saffron now realised was dangerously close to the Hellmouth that fish features had told her he needed.
What she hadn't realised was that Spike was outside smoking, waiting for her to join him. He knew she would try and sneak away to get to Dawn. So he decided he would be by her side. She jumped when she saw him but he just flicked his cigarette away.
"We're going together, love." He stated, rather than asking.
"He'll use you to hurt me" She shook her head but he insisted.
"Won't let that happen. I'm coming"
They walked towards the hall, they paused at the front door. It wasn't as heavily guarded as normal. They looked at each other in shared suspicion before they were suddenly falling downwards.
A trap door.
How had they fucking fallen for a trap door? They landed on their knees in front of Oleander and the order in a smaller room that they had never seen before.
"Nice of you to drop by" He smirked, pleased that had worked. Brother Luis had said it would, but seeing it in action was just too delightful, "You spend a lot of time on your knees don't you, darling? They have a word for people like you… scrubber comes to mind" His eyes sparkled at the insult and she chose to ignore it. It was a cheap shot and they both knew it.
"You know, you get more stereotypical by the day babe" Saff muttered, groaning at her knees as they hurt so much. She straightened up, getting to her feet as Spike did.
"Take that back!" Oleander said in mock-horror, clutching his chest before rolling his eyes. There was nothing wrong with a stereotype if it was effective and had a particular flair.
"Maybe you're the Hannibal Lector to my Clarice Starling. Or the Darth Vader to my Princess Leah"
"It-it's Leia, darling. I mean, if you're going to insult me in the form of pop-culture references at least get it right!"
"I'm not a nerd, I don't watch stuff like that. I only know her because she's pretty… anyway, not the point, where's Dawn?!"
"That little brat? Dead. Killed her off, too annoying for her own good that one"
"You fucki-" Spike started to get mad. Not the bloody nibblet.
"He's lying" Saffron assured Spike, putting a hand on his shoulder to soothe him.
"Oh, fine, you got me! You could have let me have that just a little longer. I know you felt the panic in his every pore. Wasn't it adorable? The soulless being discovered feelings. Precious, I'm sure… How can you be sure he isn't just a reflection of what you want him to be?" He mused and when they were both silent he got bored of allowing them to mull it over, "Why would you want to put an end to the way he felt over your little brat, seeing as it was created in your own image?" He dangled this insecurity over them again. Holding back a smile as he felt their anxiety spike. He had seen every intimate detail of Spike and Saff's relationship. He was especially interested in the way upon their first meetings he had terrorised her and her friends. Oleander didn't believe in leopards changing spots.
"Because it wasn't true, you idiot" She muttered, her faith in Spike stronger than ever. Which then made him influence her mind. Flashes of images passed through in seconds. It made her nauseous. It was fake, she could tell but seeing it was still horrific. Bloody scenes. Dawn's body. Torn apart.
She blinked. Hard. Deflecting the assault on her mind. He crooked an eyebrow, impressed at how quickly she had picked up this skill after feeling the way he did it only once.
"Oh go on then, run and find itty bitty bratty baby… It'll be like a family reunion, don't start crying it-it'll make me cry" He fanned himself theatrically as if he was preventing tears. Saffron ran through to the main hall, where she could sense Dawn's emotions. She was crying, still tied up.
"Dawn!" Saffron shouted, running over with Spike on her heels. Saff moved in to hug her, "I was so worried"
"No Buffy?" she asked, a tear running down her cheek.
"Just me today, babe, she shouldn't have to risk herself when this is my fight" She whispered.
"Aw, the lovers. How predictable, darling. The others couldn't pull themselves away, could they? Interesting that, isn't it little nibblet?" Oleander smiled, entering the room and having heard the younger girls questions. Maybe this is more fun than killing her. Watching her in her misery.
"Oi – you don't get to bloody call her that!" Spike warned. Oleander ignored him and stared at Saffron as she started to speak.
"Deal is this. You let Spike take Dawn home safe-"
"Love-"
"-And I'll stay here with you" She offered. He felt her sincerity. There was no trap, no clever little ruse. She had nothing except the fact that she cared deeply for the little brat. Maybe it would be nicer this way. If he killed Dawn's hope at the source. Maybe he could invite the little bitch to the ritual night, where her cousin would die before her. Maybe he could take the slayer out too.
How fortunate that she offered to spare him from admitting his weak plan. He smiled and Saffron noted he gave in too easily, but shrugged.
"Okay, shackle yourself up then. I'll watch and try to keep my hands by my side" He winked at Spike as he took Dawn's shoulder. He looked like he was about to run and tackle him, but looked between Dawn and his girl, who was picking up the shackles from the floor and had started to put one around her wrist, "Or all three of you could die I suppose" He said, hurrying the pair up in leaving. Two order members came to escort the vampire and younger brunette out as Saffron nodded to the pair, sending calmness to wash over them so they didn't try anything stupid on their way out.
These chains were different, they couldn't be snapped in the same way as she had before. There goes that plan.
"Interesting use of your powers… you could have made them so happy they could dance. Or excited for your return… but you use calmness like it's going out of fashion. Why?" He asked as two of the order members came to shackle saffron and pull the metal above her head.
"You know me so well? I'm predictable, right? Why don't you tell me?"
"Because you want them to feel it. The worry about you. The horror that flickers inside their very essence as they think of a world where you're not in it. There's a tiny, real part of you that enjoys feeling their pain. Admit it"
"No"
"I was overestimating you, expecting you to try a little self-awareness" He said, getting too comfortable, "Luckily, we will be able to extract your nature, make you see the truth. Or, you know, see the end of your life. By the grace of the full moon" He said, a twinkle in his eye.
"I don't want to influence them like that. It's their emotions, why should I manipulate them, change how they're feeling on a whim?"
"Because that's how you have the power. The truth" He shrugged, as if it was obvious. Everyone wanted to hold the power, that was the way of the world, he maintained.
"But it's their life. Their emotions. Not my place"
"And you're telling me you're not guilty of trying it once or twice? Just for the thrill?" He felt her falter. She had influenced people when there was no need, when she had first learnt of her ability. She had wanted to try it out, but had since made herself stick to a strict code to ensure she wasn't harming anybody by changing the way they felt. He smiled as she remembered, savouring the self-doubt.
They sat in silence, a battle of unspoken wills. Almost equally matched. Saffron was growing in confidence. Whether unfounded or not.
"Ollie?" She asked.
"Don't"
"What? Nickname from your parents? Daddy issues?" He gets mad, she feels it. She looks at him and smiles. Her confidence that grew in these types of situations, which really didn't reflect how she felt most often, was real here. She was in her element. Facing her shadow self.
"You're one to talk… I've done my research Honeysuckle"
"Don't call me that"
"Oh, sweetness, where's your manners?"
"Oh, I don't know. Three hours back in the land of fuck you" She stuck her middle finger up casually as she said it. Her fight was leaving and she was tired. Tired of this back and forth. Tired of him. Tired of being stuck in a perpetual hostage situation inside her mind.
"We are the opposite side of the same coin. You're obviously the ugly face of a hopeless movement of peace and hope and fluffy kittens, and I, on the other hand, am the beautifully sculpted pioneer of the truth and reality of this realm" He continued, ignoring her half-hearted comeback, "Maybe I should call up our vampire hunk, influence him to join us in our fun little two-way, make it a three-" he needled, knowing her emotions flared when he was mentioned.
"You know, your attempts get worse each time. Glad you've finally mastered the single entendre though, good for you" He just smiled as her words and emotions forcefully entered his mind, "Besides, you don't really want him, you just want me. What, you playing hard to get with me, babe?"
He's been through enough in the last year, she thought. Trying to keep Spike away from harm. Oleander nodded along.
"Oh, I know. The crying. He's still not over losing you. Pity he'll have to go through it all over again" He replied to her thought, "I'm so glad you're back, I get the pleasure of killing you"
"Are you gonna hurry up?"
"Nope"
"Are you gonna give me the monologue then?" Her determination was growing and she felt his concern with a smile, "It's kinda boring just… hanging around waiting. Get it? Hanging?" She smiled, moving her hands around, the shackles around her arms making a clinking sound from above her head. He didn't like it when she joked.
"I wouldn't give up the day job, sweetheart. Oh, sorry, that's day jobs isn't it?" He smiled insincerely as she rolled her eyes. Was that the best he could do? Then he thought about it, rubbing his chin mulling it over, "I suppose monologue is my middle name"
"Ollie Monologue does have a nice ring to it, you could be a moviestar" She suggested. Maybe he could star in a cheesy horror flick which is clearly where he's just stepped out of. She couldn't see how this was her apparent mystical other half. What a self-obsessed twat.
"In another world, we could be friends you and I" He mused again as she thought the opposite to herself.
"I really don't think so Ollie" He walked up to her, taking her chin roughly to look up at him. Grey meeting paler grey. Except there was no revelation, no clear path to common ground. He felt it then. She wasn't scared. She didn't care about how powerful was. It annoyed him. If only it was a full moon. He raised his hand and struck her several times until she started laughing at him. As if the pain he could so easily feel from her wasn't so far embedded into her soul it almost hurt him. She was in pain and yet, she would rather be here than anywhere else. Facing him head-on. Maybe he had underestimated her? No, definitely not.
"You're… corrupted" He said slowly, staring into her eyes, "Corrupted by hope. The fake belief that things will turn out okay. You love and hope and jump into the next horror-show of a day in Sunnydale like it could be your last and you… you want to do it. Isn't it tiring doing so much good? Pretending to enjoy your life?"
"Sunnyhell is good for one thing, keeping things interesting. If I didn't help Buffy, who would? Why would I want to create more misery? Why would I want to be like you? You're nothing"
He slapped her hard across the face, not knowing whether his hatred for her or the hard strikes across her face hurt more. His open-handed slaps turned to closed fists until he stopped himself abruptly. He moved his hand, bloodied by Saffron's nose to run across his shaven head.
"Make you feel better?" She asked, sniffing and running her tongue over her teeth to check they were all present and correct. He shrugged, wishing he could keep his cool as she so easily could. She felt his wish, raising his eyebrows and he scowled. No, he didn't want to be anything like her. His anger was warranted, she wanted him dead so she could wrap the world in candyfloss flavoured cotton wool. His anger was righteous, he decided. She deserved it. She wanted to hide the truth.
"Monologues are for the bad guys, I'm the true eye" He said, firmly as he watched the crimson run from her nose. He still wasn't over her expecting a monologue. She couldn't reach her face with her hands from where they were firmly shackled, so she opted to try to wipe her face on her t-shirt.
"You're deluded. The fact you have to keep telling yourself that shows me you're not sure" She muttered, hoping he was in earshot.
"The bad guy makes the monologue, and all I'm just claiming my rightful place in this world"
"Having girls tied up in ugly basements is also something the bad guy does, maybe you should practice in front of the mirror first? I won't laugh I promise" She smiled, maintaining eye contact. He could do whatever he wanted, she wasn't going to roll over and listen to his warped bullshit, she decided. He took a fist full of her hair, harshly pulling her head closer to him.
"You should really get your hair cut, that's how accidents happen, darling" he spat at her. He pulled her hair back hard, sending her head back into the concrete wall behind her. The dramatic final note of the piece of music played just as a sickening crack rang echoed around the room. Nobody winced, it felt right to them, as it felt right to him. He seethed at the girl, staring at her unconscious form as she went limp, her arms still above her head. He shook his head, stalking away to try to cool off.
Meanwhile, down the road from the Order of the eye, Spike and Dawn were stood together. Dawn was holding her necklace, twisting it around. She was still trying to recover.
"What did he do, platelet? Did he touch you in any way?" Spike asked. He was ready to stalk back over there. They had stopped around the corner from the building and Spike was checking the girl over. Dawn just shook her head, telling herself she was stronger than his words. The strike across her face. All of the pain. Dawn would usually have chatted the whole walk, giving him a blow-by-blow account of the whole ordeal. But she had been completely silent and it was worrying him, "Kid, talk to me"
"I'm not a kid!"
"There we go, I knew the bastard hadn't taken your shrill yank accent"
"You called me a kid on purpose didn't you?" Spike's mouth twitched and he nodded, "He was in my head and it hurt. He could tell how I was feeling, like he wanted me to join him. To hurt Saff"
"He's good as dead, Bit" He stated solemnly, "You have my word on that"
"He knew everything. The grief and how-how alone I am" she wiped another stray tear, not looking in his eye.
"You're not alone, Dawn. You got us" He insisted, patting her shoulder slightly awkwardly.
"I know. He tried to like convince me none of you wanted me. But I know you and Saff care"
"So does the Slayer" Spike mumbled, knowing Saff would want him to.
"You could have fooled me…" She muttered, putting her hands in her pockets and clasping an item she had recently taken from a local store. She stroked the small keyring slowly as they started briskly walking towards her home, needing to tell the others what was going on.
xoxoxo
Beethoven's 5th Symphony in C major was now playing, he could sense her emotions coming back to her. She would be awake soon. It was a classic piece for a classic moment of pain for the girl, he decided. Saffron
Oleander was stood in the middle of the hall. He was talking in a low register to one of his followers. He had been away for half of the day, working somethings out, not just the perfect accompaniment to their conversation, although that had been playing on his mind. He was talking to Brother Sebastian, who was the newest in the long line of second-in-command. For some reason, they never lasted long. His duties were as advisor, although Oleander rarely took advice. He just enjoyed the luxury of a confidant. Someone to hang on his every word. Do anything he told them to.
"You aren't meant to hurt it, my light" Brother Sebastian bowed his head as he spoke.
"She- it was testing my patience" He replied as Sebastian nodded along to his words, "She truly is irredeemable. The corrupted one. Do you see how she casts shadows in the light. Our light?"
"Yes, O Leander. May your hate be upon us and let it fill us with such rage that we were born unto the contagion of the human race" He recited from memory before reminding him again, "It is hard to be around, my light, but it says it must be unharmed as we wait for the end"
"She's weak, but her faith makes her strong... she's naive." He replied, staring over at her. He couldn't imagine wanting to be shackled so someone you loved wouldn't be harmed. She believes simultaneously that she is at her last moment and that she will live to see another day at the same time.
"And you're just a wanker" She said, her eyes open, stretching herself and standing straighter from her spot against the wall.
"Kind of you to join us"
"Best sleep I've had in a long time" She shrugged, feeling the ache from her arms after they had been stuck above her head for so long now. Oleander cleared his throat, moved his head from side to side, cracking his neck and launched into a speech.
"When I was told that I was a half, darling, I decided that this wouldn't be the most interesting part of my life. I have been thirsty my entire life, no alcohol, blood or even energy drinks could quench it. The thirst was to be seen for who I am, not judged before I walk into the room. I want to be judged because of how I walk into the room, to take my rightful place as a God among mortal men.
The power that I have been promised for so long will be mine and the world as we once knew it will be but a bad dream. I know they'll be by my side, kitten… do you know why? Because fear preserves the order of things. It preserves everyone's fight or flight and those that stay beside me will be rewarded.
When I become whole, darling, and I mean when, I can finally mould the world in my image. My Sight, it will be restored and you and your perverse view of the world will be no more. I want pain to be inflicted on others, I want no one to escape. Because they deserve it… they deserve to feel it. To feel it like we do"
He paused before turning to ask, "Well? Aren't you going to say anything?" He asked and she felt it. She felt that he wanted approval, a reaction. That some part of him wanted, maybe even craved to know what she thought.
"Did you want to squeeze any more stereotypes in there?" She asked, smiling at his anger, "You have been practicing" She chuckled. The confidence she held was starting to get her into more trouble, but she couldn't help it.
It was as if she had known Oleander her whole life, the annoying buzz in the back of her mind. The second-guessing herself. The anger, the hatred she had harboured in her chest for so long. The bitterness. He stepped towards her, the man grabbed him back.
"My Light! You cannot-" Brother Sebastian started, but he was quickly cut off. Oleander had struck him so hard he had fallen straight to the ground. There was a snap as a bone was broken, making Saffron wince. His pain was unimaginable, as if he had been slapped from his place beside God himself and it hurt Saffron more than Oleander's strikes. He sobbed on the floor as Oleander stood over him, babbling his apologies. Oleander took his beret from his head, throwing it into the crowd of followers who had now shrunk into the walls, as if they knew what was coming. Oleander started to kick Sebastian hard in the stomach where he was still on the floor. He didn't stop until the man was a sobbing, wheezing wreck. He heard him recite the apology prayer, asking for forgiveness. Mercy.
"There is no mercy in this world" Oleander spat over the man, appalled that in his dying breath he chose to ask for something so disgusting. The final kick was to his head, where both Saffron and Oleander felt the emotions leave his body. Dead.
Saff choked at the sight, hiding her face behind her upstretched arms. It didn't stop her feeling it though. His indifference at what he had done. The feeling was horrible, she felt sick.
He suddenly became overcome by guilt. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. He groaned, trying to block this feeling. It was her. He knew it was her. And he hated it.
His blocking powers had been subsiding in a way he had been told it would when she would realise her strength. He just hadn't realised how quickly she picked things up. Hey, at least the traitor would have something to put on her CV: Shitty job 98-00; Shitty job 00-01; Emotional strength, quick learner, bitch; Dead 2001+
He felt her horror. How precious, it was as if she hadn't seen someone defy their salvation before. She was looking at him, the way they had looked at each other when he was a boy. Hatred, fear, pity. She thought she was so much better than him. He almost snarled in anger, rounding on her, letting her taste some of her own medicine. He wanted to feel the anger and the hate she deserved, the hate the world had reserved for him.
He started to influence her and Saffron braced herself, closing her eyes as she felt the tendrils of pain start to lick up her arms. Then, just as suddenly, her eyes snapped open. A flash of purple enrapturing his hard stare as she mustered everything inside her. All of her strength and hopefully, the will of the powers to help her realise this. To protect her.
She was deflecting. Out of nowhere she was a mirror. Purple electricity crackled around him that made him almost flinch. The idea that her power challenged his angered him, but it was quickly mellowed by her influence on him. She took him off-guard. She was taking his power and bouncing it back at him.
Suddenly she was inside his head. In every corner of his mind. Unlocking every sordid, horrible memory he had ever had.
The wheel of fortune.
Being bullied in the playground. Collecting bottles so he could eat. Never fitting in. Alienation. Hatred. Anger. Death.
His reason to inflict such destruction on the world, he was teaching them a lesson. A lesson in human nature. And now he felt it was time for the world.
The wheel eventually stopped on one particular scene. One that chilled Saffron to her core.
It had been a Monday. There was some old song on the radio. Oleander didn't really keep up with music that wasn't composed centuries ago, so he wasn't aware what the song was. All he knew was that this song got stuck in his head.
The Passenger, I ride and I ride…
It irritated him. Almost as much as his parents did.
His father started to hum along to the song, he had tried to relate to Ollie but it had been hard. They were very different people. He wanted him to like football and rock music. Not macrame and the cello. His sexuality was the precipice on which their relationship fell over the cliff-edge although Oleander had cut his ties with the man long before this day.
He had moved away from his parents as early as he could. He elevated himself, went on to do well and get qualifications, the works. He decided he was too good to return to the hell he had been living in back in his hometown.
But he soon discovered everywhere he seemed to go, the hatred. The anger. The depravity appeared to follow him around. Wherever he went.
He didn't receive the respect he knew he deserved. Whether it was his background. His personality. Even the way he held himself. He felt people doubting and hating him for things he could not control. It made him self-conscious.
And then it made him bitter. Angry. Hardened him. He denounced the world. It's inescapable and intolerable nature.
He had found an old prophecy in the library where he had become accustomed to spending his time. It spoke of someone with great power. Someone who could see through it all. The Sight of the world. Someone greater than the mundane cattle that surrounded him.
His powers, he had started to enhance. He had tutored himself in his influence until he held lives in the palms of his hands. He blocked the voice that he had thought of as guidance when it told him to stop. Told him to slow his influence. He was great, why couldn't they see? He blocked it until it would not enter his mind.
He travelled, like he always claimed he would. He met, fucked and ended as many lives as he pleased. He flew, sailed and drove across the globe. But one thing that wouldn't leave his mind is the unfinished business where his anger had begun, been allowed to fester.
One morning he woke up, finding himself in his childhood room. It had changed so much, they had papered over his walls and installed tasteless flatpack furniture that he detested.
He had returned to his parent's house. He hadn't been back for years but his mother's health was failing and his father had called him. He was morbidly curious. Wanting to see the way they had decayed since his presence had left their lives.
He was disappointed to find that despite his mothers illness, they seemed to be… happy. It sickened him.
His mother told him to take his dinner plate to the sink and he snapped. He killed his mother first. Snapped her neck and held her gaze as he did so. It was quick, the spur of the moment and he dropped her frail body to the ground and whipped around to face his father.
During his mother's quick death he had made keep his eyes open and watch. Aware enough that he wanted that to be on his mind before his own death. His father, in name only, was influenced to stay still. Rigid and knowing what was about to happen.
Anger surrounded them. Fiery and hot. The house felt like it was ablaze as he exercised every excruciating thing he could. And Saffron was now enduring every last second of it.
The torture appeared to last for a long time until suddenly the light left his eyes too.
He stared at their pathetic bodies on the floor. He was hollow. The heat only a mere flicker now. He pulled them both onto the sofa, turned the tv on and sat on the floor in front of them like he used to when he was really young. Before he saw it all. Felt it all. He watched the television for hours before he finally got to his feet, snatching up his cello and walked through the streets.
He thought he would feel better. He thought he would feel something.
The only thing that made him get up that morning and each morning after that, was the prophecy. His knowledge of greatness. His knowledge that what he had done was just. True.
They had been horrible to him. They had neglected him. Their blood had cleansed him. Or so he told himself…
You see, the reason this moment of his life had surfaced more prominently in Saffron's was because it had created doubt in his. It made him doubt his intentions. His truth. For a split-second, but it was there nonetheless. He had worked to convince himself otherwise ever since.
"I was wrong, it's Mommy and Daddy issues" She shouted over him, just mustering the energy to rip the chains from the wall and stumble to the exit. Oleander was on the floor. His hands on his head, the pain that she brought ripping into his memory felt as if she had split his skull.
Bitch. Was the last he felt from him before she ran off, security in the order was seriously lacking, as Oleander lay in the foetal position clutching his head. A tear almost escaping his eye at the memory.
xoxoxo
Saff got home just as everyone was mounting up in the living room to come and break her out. Her strong emotional reaction had spurred her power on. And she was grateful. Tara had been armed with a spell that Anya was assisting with and the rest were ready to come and fight to get to her.
"Are you okay?" Willow asked.
"Yeah, just, y'know" She shrugged and her chains clanged together as she did. Xander left and returned with bolt cutters. He cut through the chains for her and she nodded her thanks, rubbing her wrists.
Saffron then explained casually that he was convinced that she was the corrupted one. That he had the true sight. It wasn't a trick, he genuinely thought he was in the right. Everyone was confused. How could he possibly think he was in the right?
"So, how did you manage to get away?" Dawn asked, interrupting everyone's confusion. Saff just shrugged.
"Weird how easy it is to stop being the damsel in distress when you have super powers" She shrugged, pulling off her combat boots and snuggling onto the sofa. Flipping the tv on. Pats next to her for Spike. Everyone still stared, inside their own thoughts. This was going to be tough. Spike shrugged and launched himself into the space next to her. Happily stretching his arm on the headrest behind her. He was so pleased she came back safe. He had been so worried but he knew she would never forgive him if he hadn't got Dawn away from harm first.
"This is serious, we're all at risk here! We're worried"
"Yeah, don't worry. When's the next full moon?" She asked distractedly, staring at the tv. She didn't want to talk.
"The 21st" from Willow, she shrugs she used to date a werewolf. "What? I used to date a werewolf you don't just forget…"
"Well, that's the next time he'll try to get me, there's this whole ceremony where my essence will be tied to his and then I'll die very slowly" She shrugged as everyone appalled. She's still flipping channels.
"Hey, look! Movie night anyone?" she pointed as she found a crappy late-night film.
"Sounds great, pet" Spike smiled, pulling her into him. He gestured to the others to either make themselves scarce or stay and watch as Saff just stared at the screen, trying to decompress.
So, they did. Everyone sat around, Buffy offered to make popcorn and they all settled in making comments and even managing to laugh. They all had a rare evening together just doing nothing, trying to ignore the looming threat.