Chapter Three: The Centre of my Sinful Earth
A scream tore itself from Spike's mouth as he awoke, gasping as he stared into a pair of red eyes. Blinking wearily, he watched as the creature snapped its jaws and managed a pained, "What...?"
"He's awake!" a female voice exclaimed happily and Spike watched as an attractive blonde woman around twenty years old, wearing a short red dress came in through doorway. She had curly blonde hair to her waste and bright blue eyes that twinkled as she peered up at him. She tapped his nose gently and said, "Now. We're going to play a game, ok? You're going to tell me where my Key is and I'm going to go get it."
"Sod off," Spike managed through clenched teeth. Pain rose up through his arms and legs as he looked up at the chains twisted around his wrists. He gritted his teeth as Glory grabbed his chin roughly and forced him to look at her, saying, "Now, see. This is the problem with you vampires. You just don't follow directions well."
"I suspect it's more loyalty," a male voice said from the doorway. Glory turned and Spike watched as a man, wearing a clergyman's robes, came into the room. His hands were behind his back and he smiled coldly, blue eyes calm and icy. Spike grunted as the priest added, "This is the vampire that kills its kind. Alongside the Slayer."
"You've got no soul that I can see," Glory peered at Spike. "Why would you help the Slayer?"
"Keeps me from gettin' staked," Spike managed through his jaw. "And I like myself that way."
"Oh," Glory perked up. "I see. You must hate having to do that. I think I could help. Tell me where the Key is and I'll let you go."
"He doesn't know," the priest said. "Why would the Slayer confide in a vampire?"
'If only you knew,' Spike thought as he tested his chains with a tiny movement. Glory smiled sweetly at him and said, "Do you think the Slayer would be more receptive if I sent you to her in pieces? Can you sew together a vampire when it's been hacked into many, many parts?"
The monstrosity that had woken him snarled, his mouth snapping dangerously close to Spike's groin area. The priest laughed and clapped his hands, the monster loping over to stand beside him. He stepped foward, Glory standing aside as he said, "My name is Caleb. Perhaps you'd like to confess any sins, damned one?"
"Fuck you," Spike hissed as he tried his chains again. "I'm not tellin' you a damn thing. I don't know what the hell this Key is and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!"
"Oh," Caleb smiled as Glory slid a dagger out of its sheath, a pleased smile on her features. "I think we can convince you otherwise." He stepped back as Glory held the dagger with one hand and reached up to pat Spike's cheek. Then, she slid it into his stomach without hesitation.
Spike gritted his teeth in pain, the veins on his neck bulging as he fought back a scream.
- -
Buffy opened the motel room door gingerly, stepping inside hesitantly. After some deliberation, Giles had insisted on taking Luna back to his apartment and sent Buffy to gather her things. The younger woman had been completely comatose for the second time in a few hours and her pulse had been weak and uneven. Dawn had been frantic in checking her over and when she had touched Luna's face, startled at the sudden glimmer of greenish light that emitted from her hand.
"What are you doing?" Buffy had demanded and Dawn had shaken her head, eyes wide with surprise. "I don't know," she had replied honestly as she stared at the body of her sister. "I didn't know I could do that. She's..." Dawn blinked, eyes widening even more. "Sleeping. I can feel her. She's asleep..."
Buffy shook herself from the memory and looked around the motel room. A guitar case sat on the only chair, a duffel bag on top of the dresser. A large white bowl sat beside it with a soft glow coming from it. Buffy frowned and stepped forward, reaching out to touch the edge. A jolt of electricity moved up her arm and she jerked back with a tiny gasp of surprise.
She swallowed and studied the room some more, taking in the shabby quality, the way Luna had kept her things in the bag, as if she expected to leave with a moment's notice...
Guilt filled her as she sat down on the bed gingerly, her hands coming in contact with a worn notebook, the edges frayed. She studied it for a moment before quietly gathering together Luna's things and leaving the motel.
When she arrived at Giles's flat, Dawn was waiting for her anxiously, her expression filled with worry. "She's been making noises," she said as the Slayer set down the duffel bag, guitar case, and bowl. "She keeps saying stuff in Latin..."
A frown creased Buffy's forehead and she followed Dawn up to the guest room. She blinked in surprise as she watched Luna's body arch off the bed, mouth open as she chanted. Giles was standing in the doorway, an expression of grave seriousness on his face. Buffy frowned as Luna's eyes snapped open and she let out a hiss, saying, "Patronus...arbitratus...captio..."
"What's she saying?" Buffy asked and Giles shook his head as he replied, "Protector not hurt." He sighed heavily and said, "I have no clue who she's speaking of but I suspect they're health is very important."
Suddenly, Luna's arched body dropped back to the bed and she let out a gasp. A name.
A chill ran up Buffy's spine.
"William."
- -
Spike grunted as he felt himself drop to the ground. Forcing his eyes open, he watched tiredly as the Hellgod stomped out of the room, the monster of a creature coming forward. It hissed at him, lips pulling back to reveal yellow, jagged teeth. He grunted in pain as the creature dragged him up by the hair and threw him against the wall. Feeling his left arm crack in half, he snarled, his game face coming forward at the pain.
You think you scare me?
The voice was hoarse and grave, the words thick and Spike watched as the creature loped over to him, picking him up with one hand and holding him against the wall. It's red eyes glittered maliciously as it asked, You think I cower in fear of your Slayer?
"Piss off," he managed and the creature roared as it slammed him against the wall, his arm dangling uselessly at his sides. Pain flared inside of him as he said, "She's going to kill you and I'll dance on your bloody ashes."
Not likely. I'll feast on her blood.
"Not if I kill you first," he snarled furiously at the threat to his Slayer. The creature let out a hiss, eyes glittering. You fancy yourself in love. How human. How pathetic.
Lifting Spike up, it threw the Cockney vampire across the room. It prowled forward, saying, She cannot possibly beat me. She is human. Made of flesh and blood on which my kind feast.
"Your kind?" Spike spat as he rolled onto his side, pain flaring upwards into his eyes. "What about your kind?"
Do you not see it, feel it? The creature sneered at him as it loomed above his still form. I am one of the cleansed. I am pure.
Spike's nostrils flared and he grimaced at the stench of death and copper and smoke. Copper...
The realization hit him with horror. Blood. Ashes.
"What are you?" he whispered and the creature threw its head back to howl.
I am more than you will ever be! I am the Beginning! I am Turok-Han!
And fear slid up Spike's spine.
- -
Buffy paced the living room as Willow and Tara performed the locator spell. She watched as the map lit up, a burn mark appearing on it and said, "Well?"
"He's on Mark and Bryant," Willow replied as she began to clear up the equipment. "Are we going after him?"
"Yeah," Buffy said grimly as she marched over to where Giles kept the weapons. "We need to be sure he's okay."
"Why?" Xander asked from where he sat with Anya on the couch. "What do we owe that bloodsucker?"
'Not now, not now, not now,' Buffy thought wearily. Sighing, she straightened her shoulders and said, "I'm not doing this with you right now Xander, all right?"
She picked up a sword and crossbow, tossing it over her shoulder. The crossbow she handed to Tara, who smiled in thanks while Willow picked up a book, flipping through it rapidly. Anya moved forward but paused as Xander said, "He'll spill and then we'll just have to kill him. Let them have him Buffy. He's nothing but a vampire."
"Who has done more for me than anyone," Buffy replied spinning to face him. "I won't let his past mistakes stop me from saving him Xander! I've never held anyone's mistakes against them, not even yours!"
"What are you talking about?" Xander demanded and Buffy snorted as she shook her head. "What was it Will said when I went to face Angelus?" she asked him and watched in satisfaction as he turned pale. "Kick his ass right?"
Willow let out an indignant, "What?" as she turned to look at her oldest friend. "Xander?"
He didn't reply and Buffy shook her head. "I know you don't like vampires. I know you don't like Spike. But I am not your property Xander. I am not your responsibility. I am not your girlfriend either and therefore I will talk, date, be friends, or partners with whoever I see fit!"
She exhaled and slung the sword over her shoulder as a soft voice spoke up from the staircase.
"Got another one of those?" Luna leaned heavily against the wall, her face pale. Buffy studied her sister for a few minutes and said, "You're not coming."
"I've got to," she replied. "It's not just Glory you're facing. That thing I killed? There's another one of them and believe me, none of you can take him yet."
Xander watched as the Slayer and her sister moved to the front door, Luna's skirt swirling around her legs as Buffy paused long enough to press a kiss to Dawn's forehead. Swiftly, she said, "Anya? Take Dawn home and prepare my mom's room for Spike, will you?"
Anya nodded as Giles came down the stairs. "Good luck," the ex-demon called and then turned to look at Xander. At the disappointment and sadness in her eyes, Xander turned away and sat back down on the couch without a word.
- -
Luna strolled down the street, her legs eating up the ground easily. Silvery-white light filtered into her skin and Buffy watched as the lights in the restaurants and streetlights all turned off as Luna walked past them. She listened to the startled calls from people in the shops and glanced over at Tara and Willow, who were both staring at Luna with wide eyes. Buffy sighed and slowed down to walk beside the two witches.
As they approached the fancy building, Buffy narrowed her eyes. The snake she'd killed weeks ago had died a few feet away from here, if she remembered correctly. Which meant Glory had been so close to finding out about Dawn...
She shuddered at the thought and went to stand beside her sister. Luna tilted her head to the side slightly and said, "Top floor. Penthouse." She cracked her neck from side to side, adding, "Whatever you see? Don't interfere with my fight. Got it?"
"Not a problem," Buffy retorted as she went towards the door. "I'm only here to make sure he didn't spill."
"You know he didn't Buffy," Luna replies as she shoved the door open with a flick of her wrist, electricity arching around her body. "Problem is, you still think vampires are evil. You'd be amazed at how much evil is human."
Before she could reply, Luna had passed her, her form glittering in the lobby. The lights flickered and died as she went to the elevator and it opened. Buffy glanced over her shoulder at Tara and Willow who nodded at her. Smiling in thanks, the Slayer turned and followed, the two witches at her heels.
- -
Spike opened his eyes slowly, exhaustion and pain filling him as he teetered between unconsciousness and consciousness. He could see Glory's feet in front of him and inwardly wrinkled his nose at the sight of the painted toenails. He watched as they walked away from him, blinking as his vision went blurry.
The Turok-Han was sitting peacefully beside Caleb. 'S'like an overgrown Doberman,' Spike thought angrily. 'Sittin' there, doin' all the work. If it's so evil and powerful why won't it kill the wanker?'
Pain flared in his legs and he gritted his teeth as he closed his eyes. He knew his left arm was shattered, as well as his legs. Hell, he was pretty sure not a single inch of his body wasn't bruised or broken. It felt like he'd been hit with the organ from that damn church all over again...
'Least I'm not covered in burns,' he thought to himself as he gritted his teeth. He knew if he showed that he was awake, they'd start the process all over again. But he wouldn't betray Buffy like that, he vowed. He wouldn't let Dawn be taken and killed by those things...
Suddenly, the lights flickered off and he grunted as he opened his eyes, letting himself slip into game face. His eyes widened as he saw Luna shoot into the room, electricity arching around her in waves as the Turok-Han and the little brown creatures Glory called her minions rushed her. She moved with casual ease through the minions and the Turok-Han lunged for her, teeth open in a snarl.
He watched as Buffy and the witches came pouring in, Willow chanting as Tara fired a few bolts from the crossbow. He watched as the Slayer hacked her way through the little demons and faced off against Glory. The pain in his body faded into nothing as he watched Buffy's body move in an ancient rhythm. She was poetry in motion, the way her sword become an extension of her self...
He heard footsteps approach and suddenly found himself hauled up to meet Caleb's eyes. The fallen priest smiled pleasantly and said, "I think you and I are going to become great friends." He slammed Spike against the wall and said, "Where is the Key?"
"Fuck. You," he managed. "Prick."
"Such an unclean mouth," Caleb tutted. "I'll have to rinse it out with this water." He held up the small bottle and Spike narrowed his gaze as he sniffed the air. Fear filled him as he realized that it held holy water...
Suddenly, a snarl of rage erupted in the penthouse and Caleb turned to see Luna burn the Turok-Han to ashes. He sneered at the girl as she lifted her eyes, the orbs glowing silver and she said, "You." with such hatred and loathing that Spike winced.
He let the vampire go carelessly as Glory slammed Buffy into the nearest wall. The Slayer rolled onto her side with pain written on her features and Willow cried out as her eyes flared black and she strode forward, glitter falling from her hands. She clapped them together and cried, "Evanesco!"
Glory managed a shriek as she suddenly disappeared with a shimmer. Meanwhile, Caleb narrowed his eyes as Luna got closer and he said, his low with fury, "I killed you."
"Funny," Luna's lips twisted upwards. "I don't feel dead."
"I can fix that," he snarled as he lunged for her. She easily swung her sword but the priest sidestepped the swing and laughed as he vanished in a flash of green fire. Luna snarled in anger and threw the sword to the ground, saying, "Damn it! Fuck!" as she ran her hands through her hair furiously.
Buffy groaned as she rolled onto her knees, blonde hair falling in front of her face. She blinked blearily at the ground and looked up to see Luna grumbling to herself as Willow and Tara watched from afar. She let her eyes wander around the now totaled room and the hazel orbs widened at the sight of Spike.
"Oh God," she said bile rising in her throat. "Oh God. Spike?"
She scrambled to her feet, rushing over to him and threw herself beside him. He was one large bruise and she could see that his left arm was completely broken, the limb at a forty-five degree angle. His legs, she noted were awkward and she just knew they were broken. 'He's going to hate having to sit in a wheelchair again,' she thought morosely. 'Oh Spike...'
Gently, she touched his face, which was also bruised and battered. She winced as his eyes fluttered open, the sliver of blue peering up at her. "Slayer?" he managed pain written in his voice. "That you?"
"Yeah," she smiled sudden tears brimming in her eyes. "Yeah. It's me. We came to rescue you."
"'bout bloody time," he hacked, blood spilling onto his chin. Horror and panic filled her but Buffy shoved it down as Luna came over with Tara and Willow following. The Seer's face was dark and angry but it softened as she saw Spike's condition. "Jesus," she said. "Loyalty sure ain't something you're bad at Spike."
Spike snickered and groaned as a fresh wave of pain covered him. Luna sighed and said, "We're going to your house, right Buffy?"
"That's right," Buffy gently touched the one patch of skin on Spike's face that wasn't purple. "We should call Giles. I can't carry him in this condition."
"No need," Luna replied. She squatted down and grabbed Buffy's hand, touching Spike's forehead with her other hand. Glancing over her shoulder, she said, "Meet us at Buffy's place."
Then they were gone, a slight glimmer of silver light hanging in the air before vanishing completely. Willow and Tara both stared in shock before looking at one another and leaving the room.
Unnoticed, one of the small minions opened its eyes and crawled away, pain written in its body. It paused at the sight of boots and looked up into the smiling face of a boy with dark hair and dark eyes. He chuckled as he wandered over to the window and said, "That girl always gets into trouble doesn't she?"
"They've taken the vampire," Caleb said as he stepped out of the shadows. The boy shrugged as he turned to look at him. "I'm not worried."
"I never suggested that you were," Caleb replied as the boy walked through him and squatted down to examine the ashes of the Turok-Han. "We should prepare more for your arrival."
"I have no doubt," the boy said. "When it is time for me to be made flesh, you will do well Caleb. You have always been my most loyal servant."
"I am your vessel," Caleb replied as the boy straightened and turned. "I am yours to do what you will."
"How nice," the boy smiled his eyes glittering. "Considering you killed me."
"For the greater good."
"Bullshit," the boy said as his body shimmered and became that of a slender, dark-haired woman with large brown eyes. "You did it to hurt her."
"True," Caleb agreed with a wicked smile. "I did."
"Perfection has its price, I suppose," the woman sighed as she changed into a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a twinkle in his eye. "After all, this isn't about the Slayer or even that little Key. It's about my coming home." He laughed. "Now that's a thought. Wonder if my Faith would want to party? She was always such a sweet little girl."
The man turned into a beautiful African girl, whose eyes were hard and filled with nothing. "An' dat is da the impo'tant ting," she said with a sneer of her red lips. "The world will be mine to rule."
"Of course," Caleb said humbly as he bowed his head. The African girl laughed loudly as she became a creature with white skin and red eyes. Wearing all black and leather, the figure who looked like the Master smiled and said pleasantly, "So. Where' s the new puppy to do my bidding?" as Glory came striding into the room, an expression of rage on her face.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded as she marched up to the Master. The figure smiled and became a lithe young woman with dark hair. "Everything."
Glory's eyes narrowed and Caleb said, "Rest now, my God. I will do your bidding."
"Of course," the boy said as he tilted his head up. "You owe me since I'm dead."
"Come Glory," Caleb said to the HellGod. "We have much to do."
"As long as the Slayer dies," Glory hissed. "I'm willing to do anything."
"Well," the boy chirped as he turned and walked into the shadows. "That's good for me isn't it?"
- -
Dawn let out a screech of shock and surprise as Buffy, Luna, and Spike appeared in the living room. At the sight of her best friend and surrogate brother, she let out a cry and began to move forward but Luna's warning of "Dawn. Not now." stopped her in her tracks. She watched as Buffy left the room, returning with a large knife and began the process of cutting Spike's clothes from his body.
Knowing that her vampire would be immensely embarrassed at being naked, she rushed upstairs and returned with a towel, handing it to Buffy and going to get Anya. The ex-demon was already boiling water and preparing bandages. At the look on Dawn's face, Anya smiled and said, "I lived a thousand years ago remember? This is old hat."
Luna entered the kitchen and said, "Did you put sheets on the bed?"
"Old ones," Anya replied briskly. "They had that smell."
Amusement flickered in Luna's eyes but it vanished quickly as she looked at Dawn. "Do not leave here," she ordered. "No matter what you hear, got it Dawn? No leaving. Anya, tie her up if you have too."
Anya saluted her and Luna left the room but paused as Dawn whispered, "How bad is it?"
The Seer sighed heavily and looked over her shoulder at her sister. "Bad."
Tears filled Dawn's eyes and she sank onto the nearest chair, burying her face in her arms. Anya patted her on the shoulder gently as Luna returned to the living room, pausing long enough to see her sister kiss Spike's forehead gently. Smiling to herself, she opted to go and get the bandages first.
Buffy brushed her hand against Spike's forehead, smiling as his eyes fluttered open. He'd blacked out as soon as they'd arrived and she'd been worried she had lost him. "Hi," she said quietly and Spike murmured a soft, "'lo."
"We're at my house," she explained. "It's better than your crypt. Plus, I think Dawn will feel better if we're both here to protect her. And I don't want to worry about you not feeding."
"Ta luv," he mumbled, pain flickering in his eyes. Buffy took a deep breath and added, "Luna and I are going to set your arms and legs down here. Then we'll carry you up to my mom's room."
Spike mumbled a retort, eyes fluttering shut as Luna entered, arms full with bandages, splints, and a large white bowl. At the look on her sister's face, she shrugged and said, "Popped back to Giles' apartment. We'll need this to help with pain."
At that, the two sisters set to work. Spike's screams and growls had Buffy fighting back tears and Luna silent. In the kitchen, Anya had Dawn in her arms and rocked her back and forth, wincing at the sounds of the vampire in pain. She murmured soothingly to Dawn, running a hand over the youngest Summers' long hair.
After a long and excruciating thirty minutes, Spike's arm and legs were splinted and the rest of him was bandaged. The white bowl Luna had gone to gather glowed silver as the two girls maneuvered him upstairs and into a soft bed. He slept and Luna left, Buffy sitting down and taking Spike's hand in hers as she shed quiet tears.
Next, Chapter Four: In All External Grace You Have Some Part...