Chapter 7

Willow watched as Buffy and Angel walked up to her and Spike hand-in-hand. They had obviously made up. "What's the what?" Buffy asked.

"That was the most boring thing I've ever been through." Spike said. "I'd much rather sit through Les Mis again."
"I thought it was exciting." Willow said. "I've never felt so jazzed before."

"So, nothing happened?" Angel asked.

"Nothing but some boring old mages sat around with their eyes closed for two hours while they glowed all different colors." Spike said. "The color thing was actually kind of neat for the first five minutes, but after that... I think having a meningful conversation with Harmony while I got my fangs pulled would be more fun."

"Ouch." Buffy said. "So, our killer has yet to strike again."

"He will." Angel said. "He has to. Buffy and I will patrol this place tonight. Spike, stay with Willow. She's got a lot of power and I still think she's a target."

"Haven't left her side yet." Spike said.

"I've noticed." Willow grumped. Then she brightened and looked at Buffy and Angel. "Are you two ok?"

"We're good." Buffy said.

Willow smiled. "Good. Come on, Spike. I need to get to the library and start researching."
"Researching?" Spike asked, seemingly appalled. "What on earth could you be researching? I thought you left that to the Watcher."
"Do you see a Watcher around here?"

"Point taken. Lead the way." Spike sighed and followed Willow.

"What IS she researching?" Buffy asked, watching them walk away.
"A binding spell, probably." Angel answered.
"Do you think it'll work?"

"It has to." He looked at her intently. "I don't think I could live without you and that's exactly what I'll have to do if she doesn't."

"Why?"

"Because I can't resist you anymore."

Buffy smiled seductively. "Really?"
"I'm serious. The memories of you and me last night and today alone would drive me out of my mind. And I never want to let Angelus come back and hurt you."

She wrapped her arms tightly around him, laying her head on his chest. "The memories would drive me crazy too." She didn't want to add that she was prepared to join him in death if Angelus ever came back. If that was the only way to be with him, then so be it. But that wasn't happening now, so she pushed it from her mind. "So, patrolling?"

"Patrolling."

"Does that include the random make-out sessions too?"

"Only when no one's around."


"Why don't you just pop it out of thin air?" Spike asked. "You did ir to fix that Amy-rat."

"Spike, I think I have to make my own spell out of different ones this time." Willow said. "You and Angel are the only two vampires with souls, so there's not exactly a binding spell on a vampire's soul."

"Mine's bound to me."
"That's because you had a demon do it. Angel's is a curse. I have to find a way to work around the curse." Willow paused. "Or work with it."

"What do you mean?"
"Well, maybe I can tweak the restoration spell to include a binding spell."

"But you'd have to restore Angel's soul. He's already got it." Spike sent her a warning glare. "And you'd better not be thinking about letting Angelus out just to do this."

"That's last resort. No, I'm thinking more along the lines of figuring out which part of the spell was the part with the happiness clause in it, taking it out, tweaking it, and making it a binding spell."

"Like, instead of Angelus coming out with a moment of happiness with Buffy, that moment... anchors the soul instead?"

"Exactly!"

"That's... brilliant actually."

"The problem lies in finding out which part of the spell is the happiness clause. I don't think it's in the spell specifically. I could be wrong." She grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the translation of the spell along with the Rumanian part.

What was lost, shall be found.

Not dead, but not of the living

Spirits of the interregnum I call

Let him know the pain of humanity

I call on you gods, do not ignore this supplication

It is written this power is my people's right to wield

Let this one know only pain

Restore to the corporal vessel that which separates us from beast

Let the orb be the vessel to carry his soul to him

Let it be so, now

"Short spell for such a big outcome." Spike quipped. Willow shrugged and began studying it. "What about Let this one know only pain?"

"Could be. I don't know, though. There's nothing here about a moment of pure happiness taking his soul away."

"Well, I would say if he knew anything else BUT pain that would be his trigger."

"But Angel's known things other than just pain."

"Yes and no."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, yes, you can know more than JUST pain, but it's still there. That pain never goes away." Willow watched Spike's face as his mind drifted and he lit up a cigarette. "The pain burrows into your mind permanently and you feel it in every fiber of your being. Every memory reminds you of what you were... before. A soul is just a soul, but it's who that soul was before it was lost is what counts."

"What do you mean?"

Spike took a second to inhale some smoke and blow it out away from Willow. "Well, just because you have a soul doesn't mean that you have much of a conscience, does it? Humans kill other humans on a daily basis, eh? All humans have souls."

"What does that say about Angel's soul?"

"Angel had a lot of guilt before he was a vampire. His dad was always down on him for his lifestyle, his mother tried to protect him from his father's wrath, and his beloved sister was always caught somewhere in the middle. S'why Angel drank so much and stayed out all night. He didn't want to go home and face the war zone because he wasn't everything his father expected him to be."

"And what was that?"

"A good future baron." Willow looked stunned. "You didn't know Angel was high society? Only reason Darla took notice of him in the first place was his money. She went after the richy-rich types for their money, but there was something about Angel... Maybe it was his rebellious nature... but it attracted her nonetheless and here we are today."

"How do you know all of this about Angel?"

"We've had a lot of time to talk over the centuries."

"And when Angel lost his soul…. He forgot all about that pain?"

"Yup. His moment with Buffy…. Can't be described as anything but pure love." Spike stubbed out his cigarette. "I hope you work this spell out, Red. As much as it pains me to say it, he and Buffy deserve that happiness."

"You really do love her, don't you?"

"So much it hurts sometimes. But I'll never be him. To her, I'm just a poor, love-sick substitute."

"What if I don't figure this spell out?"

Spike shook his head. "That's really something I don't want to think about for both our sakes. We have to live with the two of 'em after this is over with."

"Good point."

"So, let's get to it, shall we? What can I do to help?"


Buffy let out a sigh as she and Angel patrolled the grounds hand-in-hand. All was surprisingly quiet around the place. Willow was safely locked in a library with Spike guarding her, Ork was with three other mages discussing the ritual tomorrow night, and all the other mages were in their rooms resting up for the big show. A part of Buffy wished something would happen, but the other part of her wanted nothing more than to climb back into bed with Angel and enjoy what time they had together now. A part of her was terrified that Willow wouldn't be able to bind Angel's soul.

"Don't worry, Buffy. She's a powerful witch." Angel said, seemingly reading her mind.

"I know she is." Buffy said. "I'm just scared that I'm going to loose you."

"I'll still be around even if she doesn't figure it out."

"No you won't. You said it yourself: We can't resist each other. And after this is over... Well, the crazy, suicide mission you've planned for yourself might actually go off as planned."

"It's the first time I hope a plan doesn't turn out the way I plan it to. It didn't matter before. I had nothing to lose, really. But you walked back into my life."

"Truthfully, do you think you... we're going to die if that plan works?"

"Hey guys!" Spike called behind them.

Buffy turned and looked at Spike. "What are you doing?"

"Coming to walk with you."

"You're supposed to be watching Willow." Angel said.

"Yeah? Oh, she's fine. Asleep in her room."

"Asleep?" Buffy was confused. "She was jazzing towards the library with you not even fifteen minutes ago."

"Oh, yeah. Well, she's asleep now."

Angel shook his head. "She said she was going to work on that spell."

"What spell?"

"Did you hit your head?" Buffy asked. "Are you a bit concussed?"

"No. Why?"

"What's up with you? You've had mood swings and memory lapses since we got here."

"I have? Hmm... Must be this place messing with my head."

"You're head was already messed up before we got here." Angel said. "I doubt it could get any worse."

"Yeah. Me either."

Angel looked taken aback that Spike had agreed with his insult. "What?"

"I was agreeing with you."

"Since when do you do that?"

"Haven't I always?"

"All right, who are you and what have you done with Spike?" Buffy asked.

Spike looked around nervously, backing away. "I'm still Spike. You guys are just confusing me, that's all."

"Where did your accent go?" Angel asked.

"I'm going to find Willow."

"You said she was asleep."

"I know, but I still have to find her." Spike turned and dashed off.

"Wait!" Buffy called. Too late. Spike was gone. "What the hell was his problem?"

"That wasn't Spike." Angel said.

"What do you mean?"

"It didn't smell like it him, he was acting weird, he lost his accent for a second…. he didn't even know he was with Willow in the library."

"Our murderer?"

"Could be."

"Why would he... she... it be impersonating Spike?"

"To throw us off?"

"Off of their trail that we're not really clear on?"

"To keep us from getting clear on it."

"Ok, so... Who here can shape shift?"

"That's a question we need to pose to Willow."

"To the library it is then."


Willow and Spike both jumped as the door to the library banged open and Buffy and Angel strode in. "I figured you'd be here." Angel said to Spike.

"Haven't been anywhere else." Spike retorted.

"Well, you have actually." Buffy said.

"What do you mean, luv?"

"Will, who in this place can shape shift?"

"A lot of people." Willow said. "Why?"

"We just met Spike's doppelganger." Angel said.

"I have a…." Spike gasped dramatically. "I do not!"

"You do so." Buffy said. "He gave himself away too."

"How?" Willow asked.

"He had no clue that the real Spike was in here with you and he lost his accent."

"And he didn't smell like Spike." Angel said, smirking at the blonde vampire.

Spike started to retort, but Buffy cut him off. "I think I've ran into him before."

"Really?" Willow asked.

"Yeah. I was rushing to get away from Angel and I ran into Spike. He acted like he was all pissed at me for not seeing him."

"I didn't do that." Spike said.

"I think I have too. He found me and said he was looking for Buffy." Angel said, shuddering slightly. "He was nice to me. Should've figured it out then."

"I'd never be nice to you."

"I know."

"So, who could it be?" Buffy asked.

"Um…." Willow glanced at the spell she was working. "I'd have to compile a list of the mages with that power. It may take a while."

"Anybody pop into mind right now?"

"Only Ork and Jake."

Buffy's right eyebrow shot up. "Ork and Jake? Jake's on the list of most powerful mages in this place."

"What are you thinking?" Angel asked.

"Probably the same thing you are."

"That Jake may be our killer?" Buffy nodded.

"Why would you think that?" Willow asked.

"Well," Buffy said. "He's at the top. Once you're there, there's only one way left to go. Maybe those other four mages were catching up."

"You obviously haven't met Jake. He keeps to himself. He's a real sweetheart. He would never…."

"Will, think about it. It's always the quiet ones."

"But…." Willow sighed. "What are we gonna do?"

"We're gonna figure out if it's Jake." Angel said.

"What if it isn't though?"

"We're gonna use Jake as bait."

"Bait?"

Buffy and Angel nodded, glancing at each other before turning and heading out of the library. Willow sighed and tried going back to the spell, but her mind kept wandering to Jake. It did seem to point to him now. She sighed again, and opened the book she'd accidentally shut when Buffy and Angel had startled them.