Summary: In a land divided and at war between man and demon, what happens when one does the unthinkable and falls for the enemy?
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own the BtVS and AtS characters. There is no intention of copyright infringement or monetary gain in the borrowing of characters. They are used only for entertainment purpose.
Previously on Enemy Mine: Willow has her first close encounter with Angelous. Spike informs Angelous that they should be expecting to have visitors soon. Cordy tells both teams her vision.
Ch 7 Amid Sunlight's Shadow
Buffy could not believe what she had just heard. "What? He's called what?"
"Are you deaf? The Slayer of Slayers," said Cordelia, clearly pissed off. "Obviously, it is as bad as I thought and all because of your really moronic actions. Maybe we'll get lucky and this guy will kill you. Next slayer has to be better than you."
Buffy was furious with Cordelia. They had never gotten along, but this animosity was at an all time high. "Listen, you bitch, next comment out of you and I will forget that you're not technically a demon and squash your ass!"
Cordelia rose angrily from her chair to confront the Slayer. "I only speak the truth. You let loose that bastard and got your friend abducted. She's in danger, she's in pain, she's weak, she's surrounded by vampires, inside - for all intent and purpose - an impenetrable fortress that technically does not exist, protected by magics we don't understand and now, NOW, we find out that not only do we have to deal with all of that and Angelous but also a deadly and powerful vampire that slays slayers!"
The room was full of rising tension until the witch almost immediately intervened. Tara's soft voice diffused the situation with her question. "Why have I never heard of this vampire before?"
Buffy gave one last scathing look at Cordelia before she turned to Wesley. "That's right. I've never heard of this vampire either. If he's so dangerous, why have I never been warned in case I came across him?"
"That's just it," Wesley tried to explain. "He killed countless of slayers during the vampire wars and a couple after that until he suddenly just disappeared. He hasn't been spotted for almost two decades now. I think seventeen years to be precise. The Coven tried to locate him since he was just as big of a threat as Angelous but they never could. It was assumed that he had perished."
"Makes sense they'd think that if he's been holed up in that castle all this time," Oz contemplated.
"Yes." Wesley had just come up with that realization. "Unfortunately, this new information, although extremely helpful, only makes our task that much more difficult."
A shiver of fear passed through Buffy's spine. She hated Cordelia for what she had said but the truth was that she had been right. This was all her fault. She may not have known that making love to Angel would make him lose his soul and put Willow's life in danger but she knew that what she was doing had been wrong. Deep down she knew that having a relationship with the epitome of what she was supposed to eradicate was wrong and that's why she had hidden and kept it secret. Angelous was loose now and she had to do everything in her power to contain him. For everything he had done to help, he deserved to have the chance to be re-ensouled. She loved Angel and would do as much for him as she could but her main priority was getting Willow back. But Cordelia's vision frightened her. She had never been frightened before and this angered her. She had come up against terrible demons and diverted various apocalypses but never before had she faced a loved one turned enemy with a bodyguard that was renown for killing Slayers. She didn't think there was anything stronger than a Slayer. Sure, Slayers were killed in the line of duty, but those deaths were always due to a mistake on the part of the Slayer. They were never done by someone who systematically fought them repeatedly and came out the victor. What did that make him? What kind of vampire was he to be the equivalent of a Slayer?
Buffy shook herself out of her dark introspections. "Okay then," her voice came out firm and resolved, without a hint of her trepidations. "We need to make whatever adjustments are necessary concerning what we know so we can move out and get Willow back as soon as possible."
"This changes a great deal," Wesley informed her, "We were expecting to perhaps come up against vampires and demons but just your average, random ones, not one as deadly as William the Bloody. Willow is in a cloaked castle which we have to be very weary of from what Cordelia has told us and who knows what's inside. We should probably assume to encounter several Master vampires, not including Angelous and William."
"If we're cloaked, we shouldn't have a problem getting in and out undetected."
"Fine, Buffy, let's say you're right and everything goes according to plan. What happens when we come up against Angelous? He's the one that has Willow, and remember that magic doesn't work on him. We don't even know if the cloaking spell will affect his perception."
Darn. Wesley had a point. "Where's Gile's?"
"Tara teleported him to Council Headquarters. He got an urgent message. It seems that the remaining gypsy clan have been keeping an eye on Angelous and knew immediately when the curse broke. Something to do with tracking the curse or the soul. I'm not sure with the particulars. We'll know more when Giles comes back."
"Is he researching the curse with the gypsy clan?"
"We should hope so, Buffy. Isn't that what you asked him to do?"
Buffy nodded. "Okay, good. Hopefully we'll be able to re-curse Angel. Now, let's put all our efforts in getting into that castle and coming back out with Willow."
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Willow woke up with immense effort. Whatever the hell she was doing she really needed to stop doing it. She was so damn tired. Didn't think she could be so tired. Opening her eyes was futile. Giving in, she decided to save her energy and try again later. For now, sleep beckoned.
When she woke up again, she was no less tired but she found out that she could at least open her eyes. She didn't know how much time had passed but it felt both like a really long time and not at all. Her body was feeling wonky that way.
She slowly licked her dry lips, trying to get up the courage and her energies and opened her eyes. The gray ceiling of Angelous' bedchamber was staring right back at her. She had really hoped that it hadn't been true, everything that she had gone through so far.
She blinked back the strong feeling of wanting to cry. Didn't think she had the moisture necessary for the action anyway. Stupid, evil, poophead vampire.
"What have you done to me?" came the sudden angry question.
If she could pick up her head - heck, if she could turn her head - she would try to see where it was coming from. She was pretty angry by now and didn't even think about feeling any fear.
"What did you do to me?" came her angry retort.
Before she knew what was happening, two strong hands had her gripped by her upper arms and pulled her up. She still couldn't see him since she didn't even have the energies necessary to hold her head up. Her head was hanging back, her long red hair just skimming the bed sheets.
Angelous stared at the weak girl. His inner turmoil evident in his eyes. Brown and gold eyes warred and fangs itched to drop down.
He let her go just as suddenly as he had grabbed her and she fell back down with a plop.
"Ouch," she muttered, scrunching her eyes shut as she willed away the blossoming crick in her neck when she had fallen back at an odd angle.
When she opened her eyes again, Angelous' face was looming in front of hers.
He didn't look pleased.
"What did you do to me?" he asked again, teeth gritted in anger and annoyance.
"I don't know what you mean," she gritted out in answer.
Defiance, thy name is Willow.
His vampiric face came forward and he growled his displeasure at her. Willow didn't even blink. Wow, feeling at death's door sure gave you a different perspective; mainly that she couldn't give a shit.
"What have you done to me?" he repeated for a third time, angry and confused. He pulled away and when he came back in her line of sight, his handsome human mask was back in place. "Why is it that when I look at you, my anger dissipates? When I touch you, you feel familiar? When I taste you, your blood feels like home? I should have drained you! Fed on your rich blood until sated and full. Why is it that the thought of you lifeless and cold leaves me with dread? WHY? Instead of leaving you dead at the Slayer's doorstep or sending you turned as a gift to her - as what I should do! - I feel like I must protect you."
He leaned into her and sustained his upper weight on one hand beside her sprawled form as the other reached for her cheek. His cool, large hand cupped her face and his thumb did slow sweeps over her downy cheek. "Why is it," he whispered to her in a voice roughened by emotion, "that you feel like mate?"
Ooh. And here was the consequence of the merge. Somehow it just figured. Now Willow what are you going to do?
Well, to begin with, she was going to keep her mouth shut no matter what. No way was she telling him why his demon saw her as his. Yeah, she could just picture herself explaining: Well, you see, I went into you and merged my essence into yours so I could get rid of all your anger and hate so you wouldn't kill me. In return, you now have a little piece of me. Maybe. I think. I'm not quite sure. I'll get back to you on that.
Yeah. . . NO.
"What am I going to do with you?" he wondered.
"Let me go," she answered in a hoarse whisper.
His face impassive, he just scooped her up by winding one arm under her shoulders and neck and pulling her to rest in the crook of his arm. His other hand reached for something and she found the feeling of smooth, cold glass pressed against her parched lips.
At her look down to the contents of the glass, Angelous' voice said, ""Drink. It's only water."
She looked up at him and tried to read the truth in his gaze. After a moment, she figured, the heck with it and opened her lips, allowing the crisp water to pass so she could drink and replenish at least some of the moisture her body had lost through the lost blood.
The glass disappeared when she had drank all the water in it.
"Thank you," she told Angelous for the small display of care.
"You're welcome," he said after a moment of pensive silence and snaked his other arm under her legs.
"What are you doing?" Willow squeaked, eyes wide when he smoothly pulled her into his arms and stood up.
When he didn't say anything but strode out the door, Willow began to feel a niggle of worry. What was he going to do? Was he still angry about the merge? - not that he knew what had happened, but still…
She was feeling better and darn it all, that only allowed her to think and worry. She didn't really need that! She was already stressed enough as it was. Oooh, the stone walls were sure passing fast. Okay, maybe she was a little light headed. That might explain the really inappropriate giddy feeling. That or the vampire currently carrying her in his arms was just moving too fast for her. Was there such a thing as vamp on speed? Boy could he move. There zipped by another door. Bye door! No hungry vamps for me, thanks, door number. . .whatever. Hee. Where the heck was he taking her?
Angelous looked down at the slight girl in his arms when she suddenly grunted softly. A slight smile was displayed on her face. Wonder what she's thinking about?
He was about to turn a corner and into the corridor that led into the baths, when he spotted one of the older minions, Jaques. Jaques had been present during the vampire wars and had acted as a type of butler for the General, seeing to his comforts. He was tall and slender with dark brown hair and caramel colored eyes. He was unremarkable except for the fact that he stubbornly refused to take off a pair of spectacles that he used to wear in his previous human days and he was always impeccably dressed. Because of his lingering sense of responsibility and proud servitud, he had held the position of looking after the General's clothes, chamber, and personal things.
"General," the vampire said coming before him and giving him a respectful bow of the head. "I had heard that you were back with us. I am pleased for you. If there is anything that you need, I will only be happy to comply."
"See to my bedchamber since I've returned, but first bring me some towels, soap and a clean shirt to the baths."
"Right away, Sir." And Jaques left, without daring to look at the girl in his arms or even batting an eyelash.
Angelous made his way to the large chamber that housed the baths and entered, making his way to a stone bench and waiting for Jaques to bring the things he asked for. He sat down and comfortably held Willow against him. Before long, Jaques returned and set out the towels, shirt and soap as Angelous directed him.
"Will, there be anything else?" Jaques asked of his master.
"No, just make it known that nobody is allowed to come in. You may leave now."
When Angelous was left alone with Willow, he rose from his seat and took her to the edge of the pool where he had instructed Jaques to extend one of the towels.
Kneeling on one knee, he lowered her onto the spread towel.
Willow abruptly found a little more focus when she felt herself being placed on top of something hard yet incongruently furry and soft. Uh? When she felt Angelous' hands undoing the buttons of her pajama top she found complete focus and came to her senses. "What are you doing?" she almost shrieked with maiden modesty.
Angelous continued to undo the buttons until the top fell open, leaving a thin strip of skin bare from her collarbone to her navel. "I'm taking this off; it's covered in blood."
"Well, don't. You're a vampire, a little blood is not going to bother you.," she told him irritably. What the heck was his problem? Was he a vamp with a hygiene freak streak? "Do those buttons up, mister," she tried to put as much command in her voice while trying to hide her embarrassment and fear.
He of course ignored her and holding her gaze in direct and purposeful defiance to her wishes, he slowly peeled away the edges of the top, uncovering her upper body completely in slow increments until she was fully exposed. As he looked down at her, a flush spread throughout her body, coloring her flesh in darker shades of pink.
If she could, she would have covered herself. Heck, if she could, she would have run. Too bad neither of those options was feasible. As it was, she could only twitch her index finger of her right hand and nothing more. And she was really, really trying for more.
When Angelous' gaze traveled up to her face again, she saw his eyes had lightened and were almost swallowed in by his pupils. Uhhh. She felt his hands skim her waist, belly, and before she could say anything, had his thumbs hooked on the front of her pajama pants over her pelvic bones and his fingers had slid under the pants and over the curve of her ass.
Willow held her breath in surprise and a little bit of shock as he slowly slid her pants off her body, his fingers skimming along her ass, her thighs, her knees, her calves, her ankles and finally her feet. She had shut her eyes the moment, she had felt the slide of the cloth but now that her pants and his hands were removed she opened up one eye. The tension, the worry and the indecision were freaking killing her. Tentatively she tried to look down but the only thing in her line of vision were her NAKED heaving breasts.
OH GOD. Her body flushed even harder as her mortification escalated.
If she had been able to see Angelous kneeling at the foot of her, her body would have turned a cherry tomato red for the heat in his gaze as he looked at her nude form was consuming in its intensity.
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To be continued: Ch 8 Drowning in Fire
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Author's Note: Okay, here's the thing, I really need reviews. I want to know how I'm doing. It's a lot of fun writing this story but if I don't know how its working out, I'm really not going to be motivated to keep posting it. Is this some kind of blackmail? You betcha! So, if you want to keep reading, give me a shout. It would be deeply appreciated. It only takes a few moments to review to something that takes me a few days to plan and write out out of my busy schedule. Thanks!