Chapter eight: AKA, rebels of the sacred heart

Heee… not liking GCSE's at the moment. Just had an English paper, got biology tomorrow then another English the day after! ARGH!

Anyways… Chapter start

Angel was brooding, he'd been brooding sense Spike had kissed him. Frequent trips to walk aimlessly around the graveyard, maybe stalk Buffy for a little while, just to bring back old memories. Angry at him self for not being able to handle the situation maturely Angel had to admit that he wanted to talk to some one who was better at this then him, he wanted to talk to anyone about it, except Spike, and probably Buffy wouldn't be a good idea either. He'd have talked to Wes, maybe, or Lorne… he was good with things like that. Angel sighed, Lorne was still around some where, at least, he hoped he was. He could find him, search him out and ask him, but then he'd be breaking his word, he'd told Lorne he wouldn't look for him after. Looking up from the perch he'd taken on a large grave stone he saw some one staling towards him, stalking being the word used because they were trying to be sneaky as they crept around the graves and trees.

"Angel?" He heard the person say out loud, a distinctly familiar female voice. Angel couldn't help but smile. "I had to find you, the pain of death, it hurts me." Blue and brown hair came in to the soft moon light; she was wearing normal clothes, Buffy or faith like, but normal clothes.

"Illyria? What do you mean? Wes and Gunn, or… are you hurt?" Angel stepped forward, ready to play the hero if needed, but Illyria was fine, she was standing strong yet she looked saddened.

"The blond one cries in pain. My pet is dying." Angel face fell; he could suddenly remember the feeling of a sinking heart. The world seemed to slow; Angel wondered if Illyria had done that, if it were actually happened or if it were just his pain stopping him from conceiving the changes around him.

"Where is he? Is he at the mansion, what's wrong with him?" Angel spoke quickly and loudly, angry that she hadn't told him yet, even though it hadn't been a minute sense he'd noticed her.

"He is hidden, I can not find him, but I can feel him, draining away… he wants for you to save him." Angel could feel him, he knew where Spike was, and he wasn't going to waste anytime getting there. He started to run. Illyria took off after him, managing to keep up. Running out of the cemetery gates Angel and Illyria passed what could only be described as 'blonde blur' and 'red blur' but they were in fact Buffy and the newly returned Willow. Curious as to what was going on Buffy followed Angel and Illyria, equally as curious about just who exactly Angel was with. Willow, having nothing better to do and not being told that Buffy was suddenly going to start chasing a familiar blurry shape that ran past, decided to just go back to Buffy's and wait for them there.

Angel turned a corner all too quickly, and found him self tumbling in to the wall on the far side of the alley. Illyria watched as he picked him self up. Surveying the area Angel could feel Spike's life draining, the blood leaving his body, and he hated that feeling. He changed in to his game face and growled as he walked to the middle of the alley and pushed the side door open. It fell to the floor with the weight of his anger and he walked in over it. He heard a week groan coming from within the dark room, he ran towards it and stopped by his childe's side. Spike was lying on the floor, blood dripping slowly from his mouth, ears, nose and chest. He lifted Spike's shirt to check the wound, there was nothing, blood was simply seeping through his chest. Angel was unaware of Buffy's entrance, she stared at Illyria, who noticed her but judged her as no threat, then turned her attention to Angel. She gasped, seeing Spike like that, her heart started to race and she lost no time in getting to his side. Angel was removing a blood pack from the hand of the blond; the blood had been squeezed out of it, over his hand and over the floor.

"Spike, can you hear me? Just, hang in there." Angel didn't know what to do; there was no wound, no obvious way for Spike to be in this mess. Spike coughed, blood splattering down his mouth and on to his bare chest.

"Angel?" Spike whispered faintly. "It," he coughed again, much more throatily and agonizing sounding, "I knew you'd come." Spike smiled weakly, his eyes barely open. They were loosing the mischievous shine they normally held, it faded with every millimeter closer his eye lids drifted.

"Stay awake, Spike. What did this? Who did this?" Angel slowly tried to pull Spike to his feet, but it was proving harder because each touch made the younger vampire cringe and whimper in pain. Spike's eyes closed, he whispered something so quietly only Angel could hear it, then he leaned forward, grimacing in pain, and laid his head on Angel's shoulder and bit him. Angel grunted once, and then let Spike drink, he needed blood and he needed it quickly. Buffy watched on, and so did Illyria, only Illyria picked up on what was there between the two of them, Buffy was just confused. After a minute or so, Angel was feeling slightly week, but he knew that Spike was still feeling worse. The blond vampire released his grip on Angel's neck with his teeth, but wrapped his arms around his sire, grabbing his other hand to hold on. Angel stood up, Spike following him to his feet. He turned and noticed Buffy there for the first time, but he didn't care, he guessed that she wasn't quite smart enough to figure out the undertones there were to that moment, he was right about that. However, Angel hadn't counted for the slightly better at reading that sought of thing sometimes, Willow, to be back in town. Putting an arm around Spike's back Angel guided him out of the building in silence, Illyria walked next to him but Buffy trailed behind, still confused. Angel was talking in a hushed voice to Illyria, Buffy wanted to know what was being said.

"Could you involve me please, I could help!" She was quite angry that she had such a small part to play in the situation. Angel Turned his head slightly, he could just see her out of the corner of his eye, but before he could say anything Illyria cut in.

"What concern is it of yours mortal?" Illyria took her strong stance and glared at Buffy with her large blue eyes. "You are nothing but dust, passing through the wind before they have the chance to even be swept up, and they are dust to me." Illyria's cold steady voice was actually laced with the subtlest hints of anger. "I have walked this human world for weeks now, and I hate it, the grief, it reminds me of the one who called me smurf. This grief, this anguish and pain," She signaled to where Angel was still supporting Spike, finding it hared the longer they stood still, "This is the strongest, it is a powerful emotion, and theirs runs deeper and is of a worse odor then that of any humans!"

"Then why are you here? Why did you come here? And just who the fuck are you?" Buffy shouted, she was mad that this thing thought that she was superior to her, and she was confused.

"Because they have memories which I share with my shell, memories which Wesley shared with them, they meant a lot to them both, and I will protect them, muck at my feet or not. They are still beautiful at night." Illyria turned away from Buffy, not caring enough to answer the question of who she was. Angel, with a grunt, passed Spike to Illyria and gave her directions to the mansion. As she left, carrying the blond with a greater ease then Angel, he stared at Buffy. He wasn't surprised at her reaction, it had to be hard to grasp and unusual, even for a slayer who'd seen almost everything.

"Sorry about her, she, she was a king god of the old ones, her names Illyria… she, she stole Fred's body." Angel was hurt by explaining it but he knew that it would need to be said to Buffy sooner or later what, exactly-or roughly, Illyria was. They stood in silence, Buffy wanted to say something, ask Angel if he was okay because Spike bit him, but she didn't. "Could you get Giles to come over to the mansion, I've got the blood bag and I was wondering if he may be able find out exactly what was wrong with it, if that was the problem anyways." Angel looked at Buffy, his eyes begging for her help to save Spike and hopefully find out who tried to take his childe away from him. Buffy nodded slowly. They both turned in opposite directions and left.

End of chapter eight!

You've read it, you can't unread it! Tune in next time for more TALES, OF, INTEREST… wait, wrong show lol, review it if you read it peeps!