Rescue & Revelation
Part 2
Gunn and Harmony left for the office around two that afternoon; Spike handed him and Wesley remote controls, "So you can get back in when you return."
"You trust us…"
Spike smiled "Harmony, you proven that you have some loyalty to me but you have a long road before I completely trust you without question. Gunn you and Wesley are the only ones at this time I would trust my life with."
Wesley opened the garage so Gunn could drive out then closed it. They got back to the office around two thirty. Gunn and Harmony when down stairs picked up carts, taking them into the parking garage loaded them, Harmony looked around to see that Angel wasn't around, as they changed elevators for the one that went to the underground vault were Margie was waiting.
Margie's office had been enlarged when the after the last battle happened they had to walk down five rows of old dusty books to get to her office. At the door to Margie's office they stopped opened the door and rolled the carts into her office. Harmony states to Margie; "Margie, Spike wants you to file these."
She looked at Harmony as if she was looking thought her. Then said, "Leave them and I will input them."
Harmony and Gunn walk down and turn then stopped; Gunn almost stepped on her she was so abrupt.
"What the Hell I thought we were going!"
She said, quietly "We will but I have to see how she inputs the data."
He shook his head and they watched Margie as she picked them up looked at them and put them down. He said, "What is she doing?"
"I don't know."
Margie looked in there direction and said "Scanning them into my main frame."
Harmony sucked her breath in sudden surprise then she turned and ran with Gunn fallowing her.
Margie smiled in there direction as she heard their foot fall move away out of the room, down the hall, then the elevator doors go ding, open and close.
The other Secretaries looked at Harmony as they silently walked out to the parking garage later that evening. Getting into his company car and drove out of the parking garage.
Gunn looked at his watch "It's almost midnight, I think I will go. What about you?
"I could use a drink."
"Yes I could too! Any place special."
"Yea there is this new bar called the Ebony Flow. I and Whistler when to a few weeks ago, it reminds me of a little place in Sunnydale called the Bronze that I use to hag at when I was human."
They drove in the driveway and parked they walked up to the door and into a dimly lit bar. Gunn was stunned out on a large dance floor were creatures dancing with humans. Harmony saw a table and took Gunn's arm leading him to it which was a little more lit up. The waitress came over and laid menus down.
She came back after they looked thought the menu "What will your have?"
"Give me the bloody barbecue wings and a mug of blood"
"Sure honey, and for your friend."
"I'll have a Mug of your darkest beer, salad and a plate of the regular wings."
"OK I'll put in your order and bring your drinks."
She was true to her word the drinks were there very quickly.
"You had the blood and he had the beer."
"Yea that's right said Harmony as the woman sat them down then left.
This is a strange place I haven't seen so many demons in one place in a long time."
"Yea this is called the neutral zone, the owner had wards, charms and spells cast on this place as precautions."
"Is that why every one is getting along?"
"That and the folks that come here want to meet others that they have spoken to over the internet."
"Gunn when I was here the last time there was the band Crimson Oak playing there was this guy he was the lead singer in the band at first I thought the guy was Spike."
"Why would you think that?"
She looked at her blood took a drink "The guy looked like Spike."
"Come on Harmony."
"Don't look at me that way Gunn, this guy could have been Spike's twin, I swear it!"
"If you say so Harmony, how could that be he did not father any children when he was human?"
"That you or I knew of."
"Did you find out the guys name?"
"Yes this guy's name is Uilliam Jason Pratt Knight, since I saw him I have been looking into Spike's family name which was Pratt when he was human, to see if he had any brothers, sisters or cousins that the family genes could have been past down thought."
"Well?"
"He had a male cousin by the name of Dillon Pratt that was married when he was turned. The strange thing is when they left England and came to the United States he came with two women that were both pregnant the one had her child two weeks after they landed the other was about eight weeks after, the first had the name of Cecily and left four weeks after they got here."
"So what is strange about that?"
With exasperation she said, "Cecily left her child at two weeks old and never came back to the US, or had any other contact with the child.
"That is odd, what was the baby's name?"
"The first was Uilliam Jason Pratt Knight. The second was Fremont Dillon Pratt. Where they lived belonged to Cecily's father Lord William Jason Knight"
"Did you find anything on the father was?"
"Not really he was a good person active in Edinburg in the community from 1870 until 1920. There were written roomers from the demon community in a few old diaries of the time that pointed to William Pratt getting Cecily Pregnant but no concrete evidence. Until I found Dillon, he was the caretaker of Lord William's a state in the US.
He was also the care taker of Cecily's mystery child, her father would spend months there with them, going over the books, playing ball with the children, when he die in the winter of 1930.
His land in the states, was given to two people six acres was given to Dillon Basil Pratt, the rest was given to Uilliam Jason Pratt Knight. The land he had in England was left to his younger daughter Beda Genevra and her husband Meyer Van Price, he left his oldest daughter Five thousand pounds."
"So he cut his older daughter out of his will."
"No, but she figured she would get more, it was said, that Cecily was so mad she cursed her younger sister and her descendents. Gunn it was said, Beda loved only demons, Beda love only William even though she married a human and bore ten children."
At that point the waitress returned with there tray of food and they stopped talking, sat and ate.
Gunn asked, "Could Buffy be one of her…"
Harmony looked at him as she finished the wing in her hand "Yea I think she is."
In a quiet voice he said, "That would make her different than the other slayers."
"Yes it does, I remember back in Sunnydale the two of them doing there best to hate each other. I never believe they did. She smiles then says Spike with his game of kill the slayer, Drusilla and I saw though him; he was in love with Buffy back then. Some how she took him back to events before he was turned or something that was close any way."
"Maybe there was someone else that loved him?"
She took a sip of her drink then said, "Beda loved him that much. What if Buffy is her reincarnation but this time she and Spike you know."
"Yea that makes sense from what Wesley has been told Buffy has been acting very strange since the battle in Sunnydale."
They both ate another wing or two as they thought the waitress came back with two fresh mugs.
"I wonder could she be you know…"
"Come on Harmony vampires can't impregnate."
"But what if they could, I would create a new race."
"Yea but it gives me the creeps, what would they be vampires that walk in day light. How would they get thought puberty?"
"I don't know the first time was bad enough for me."
"Yea me too, you finished."
"Almost I think I'll take the rest of my wings home plus I need to stop at the little girl's room."
"I'll call the waitress for the check and get some boxes."
"Sounds good I'll meet you at the register."
"Sounds like a plan."
She got up and left the table as he flagged down the waitress for the bill. By the time she was out he was standing by the register.
Dinner Order
It is the fallowing day around noon, Wesley has gone to his office, sorting and picking up papers to take to the dinner meeting. He goes to the elevator to leave the building, but not before Angel sees him.
Wesley stepped out of the elevator on his way to let Harmony know he was going back to Spikes.
"Wesley"
Wesley looks to see Angel removing his black jacket ripped in many places, which showed a rumpled black dress shirt that has the tail part way tucked in and a rumpled black pair of dress pants all three splatter with something that is still damp.
"Angel I was heading out for a meeting. God you smell horrible."
"Yea I know, been out killing Hellhounds."
Wesley noted something Angel was standing in front of the open door but smoke wasn't rising from his shirt.
"Are you OK Angel?"
"Yes, just on my way up stairs for a shower."
"OK, I have an appointment so I got to go."
"Yea I need to get these clothes off"
Wesley thought about it as he drove to Spikes place, entering the house, then returning to the den he hears Tamon, sitting on the cat perch near the window sill she looked at him and started to chirp.
"Were where you? I woke and you were gone."
"Tamon I had to pick up papers from my office."
"I was worried"
"I'm sorry you were worried, it took me longer to collect them than I thought."
"You smell bad."
He smelled his arms "I ran into Angel he had just got back from dispatching some hellhounds, some of the sent must have transferred from him."
"Shower, clean clothing now!"
"Well aren't you the bossy one."
To look at her you would swear she put her claws on her hips then flew to him sat on his shoulder and dug her claws in "I said, shower now"
"Okay, Okay, you don't have to leave marks."
"Then don't be like my brothers that test me."
He laughs "You just want in the hot water!"
"May be!" she said as he moves in the direction of the stairs, with her on his shoulder. It is and hour later as he walks back into the den "Tamon I do feel more relaxed"
She flew to the perch and said, "You smell better too!"
He smiled at her as she preened he picked up a folder and sat down in the recliner that was next to a open bathroom door, he started to read copies of the files as she suns herself in the window.
It has been six hours since Spike lay down and fell to sleep; he wakes stretches then gets up, dresses and goes up into the kitchen, warms blood. He take it out, as he sips it, sits in the shadows of the quiet kitchen, out side the window the trellis with it's green and wine vines of Morning Glories that hadn't completely closed for the day and the green lawn beyond it, his mind drifts on to Buffy with sadness in his voice "I wonder what Buffy is doing?"
Then with an edge of anger, he said, "She is probably having a ball with the Immortal, while I look after her boyfriend" then takes the last few sips from the cup.
"I'm a fool she would never love me why do I keep taking care of her pals!"
With a look of sadness, he gets up refills the cup puts it into warm.
"I guess I should call the Chop Stick." Seeing that there is a pad and pen on the table, picking up the phone then sits it on the table, as the Microwave dings he takes out the cup and closes the door then walked back to the table sits down and after taking a sip he sits the cup down and dials the number.
"Hello, Chop Stick, Lee speaking."
"Lee"
"Mr. Spike, what would you like tonight? You're usual?"
"NO Lee, give me enough sweet and sour chicken, pepper beef, broccoli beef, almond chicken, orange chicken, egg rolls, chow mien and fried rice for fifty people."
"It will take three hours to prepare it."
"That's fine, I will have Gunn pick it up. "
"We got a real good sushi chef would you like for me to add an assortment for your guests?"
"Sure Lee."
"I read order back to you, sweet and sour chicken, pepper beef, broccoli beef, almond chicken, orange chicken, egg rolls, chow mein, fried rice and sushi for fifty people. It comes to three hundred dollar."
"Fine Lee, I'll tell Gunn."
"Mr. Spike, It will be ready around four."
"Fine Lee."
Spike hangs up the phone, jots down a note or two as he says to himself "As many times as I have told him to call me Spike he still calls me Mr. Spike."
Wesley walked in the kitchen. "Who Spike?"
Spike looked up "Lee at the Chop Stick."
"Oh"
"I was ordering dinner; the rest should be here around five."
"Yes they should."
"Spike I have a question on another subject."
"Yes"
"Do vampires eat food?"
"It's just I've never seen you or Angel…"
Spike started to laugh, for him it seemed like a strange question for a colleague to ask, and then he saw the confused look on Wesley's face.
Spike stared out the windows "We can eat human food Wesley."
"It's just most don't I guess they are too angry!"
Spike pushed two buttons on his phone, which brought up Gunn's office number, the phone rang then Gunn was on the line.
"What's up Spike?"
"Gunn, will you stop by the Chop Stick and pick-up dinner?"
"It will be about three hundred dollars."
"OK, Sure Spike anything else"
"No Clem is arranging the food for the demons; Whistler is bringing the drinks for all groups. Faith has arranged for feeding the Dragons, so I think every thing is ready.
"What time will it be ready?"
"Around four."
"OK, I'll pick it up on the way back to your place."
"Yea great see you after four then."
"Yes see you then."
Spike pushed the off button as the two dragons Mona and Mores flew in the room; he petted them, and thought "I wish Buffy was here she would be enthralled with the two of you.
The two Butterfly dragons looked at each other Mona said, "Give it time she will be with you again." Spike smiled then thought "I wish that were true."
Chop Stick Pick-up
Gunn picked up Illyria and Harmony then they stop by the Chop Stick for their, to go dinner on there way to Spike's.
"Hi Mr. Lee is our order ready"
"Yes Mr. Gunn it is just being packaged."
"How is your daughter Lian-Mingmei?"
"She is doing well she is in college like her two older brothers."
"Good, good. How is your nephew Li?"
"He is no longer in trouble he and his twin sister have been helping me here."
"That is great to hear, the streets are tough."
"Yes I was worried about them…" A smiling young man and woman came out of the kitchen carrying bags.
"Uncle Gunn you are here" she sat the bags on the table and gave him a hug.
"Me Ling you getting good grades in high school?"
"Yes I am on honor roll."
"That's great! What about you Li?"
The young man behind her sat his bags down, he and Gunn shook hands with a very proud look "I am on honor roll too!"
Lee got all proud "You not tell me?"
"I was going to tell at dinner."
"OH"
"WOW that is great; it is big turn around for you."
"What grade are you in?" asked Harmony.
"They are in Tenth Miss Harmony," said Lee.
"We better go," said Illyria.
Gunn and Harmony looked around to find Illyria was standing at the entrance. With a look of irritation in Illyria's direction Harmony smiled "Yes we better". As she picked up a set of bags and headed out the door. The twins head for the kitchen to bring the rest of the food while Gunn paid Lee.
"Illyria take these bags to the car."
She nodded and did as he asked. Harmony came in as she left. Li and Me Ling were bringing large covered aluminum trays out of the kitchen with the five of them the car was loaded in short order and they drove away from the Chop Stick.
Dinner Meeting
Back at Spike's he and Wesley are talking in the den:
"We should include Appletree in this meeting Spike!"
Spike was deep in thought until he caught site of Mona and Mores flying around after a few large flies that are buzzing around the window in the den.
"Did you hear me Spike?"
Irritated he said, "Yea, Wesley I did."
He picks his cell phone up from the table in front of him and dialed, the phone rang the operator came on "Los Angeles Police Department just a moment please."
Spike said "Sure" elevator music replaced the operator.
When the switchboard operator returned in a tired voice she said, "Yes how can I help you?"
"I'm Spike connect me to Detective Appletree's desk."
"Let me see if she is in."
Appletree's phone rang she picks it up "Dove"
"A call came in from Spike"
"Patch him though."
When she came back "She is in, I'm putting you through now."
"Thank You"
The line went to the elevator music again then a few moments later Appletree's voice came over the phone.
"Spike, I know you're holding back information! What do you have?"
"Erma their's too much, to tell you over the phone…"
"Spike I can smell when some one is hiding something!"
"Dam It, Woman you're as exasperating as Buf…!
"That is Buffy, Thank you I strive to be just like her. Last night you saw Angel change into something didn't you, something that was not vampire, not Angelus, something new."
"Yea, Wesley and I both saw him but…"
"But he was different."
"Yea how did you know…?"
"I've seen it before."
"I never saw him like that, in the old days yea he was mean, yes he was a vicious, conniving, drunken sob but what I saw last night was…"
"Pure evil!"
"Yea, it was as if he was something else. He killed her coldly, I've seen him kill before but this was…"
"Different…"
"Yea"
"Erma I'm having a dinner meeting at my place tonight to bring every one up to speed, I want you there."
"You're lucky moon rise isn't for a week."
"Yea"
"Why?"
"Let's say I don't play well with others at that time of the month. What time you want me there?"
She grabbed a pad and pencil as he said, Meet me at 1300 Belle Oceana Vista, here in LA. Any time after six will work; I have Gunn picking up the food."
"What are we having?"
"Chinese."
"Do you mind if I bring some one?"
"If Finn and his woman are there bring them!"
"And how did…"
"Why else would you ask?"
"Was I that transparent?"
"No I heard them breathing in the back round. See you then?"
"Yes see you after six" then she hung up the phone.
She turned and looked at the two people that were sitting across the desk, "We are invited to dinner."
They looked at each other "How did he…"
"He heard you breathing."
It was four hours later that Applegate, Finn and his wife showed up at Spike's place the time was five thirty, after giving them the grand tour an introducing them to the cat and the dragons.
Spike was busy serving them drinks in the den about six P.M. and the two troublemakers Bram and Conn settled on Riley and Sam.
"Spike says I see the trouble makers have chosen you two."
"Chosen?"
"Yea they choose companions, you two appear to be the ones they have chosen."
Gunn, Harmony, and Illyria drove on to the driveway. Gunn pulled out a remote to open the garage once inside. Gunn pushed a button on a box on the inside garage wall which made the door close then he pressed the other button and said, "Spike, Wesley where are you, we could use some help out here in the garage!"
Spike went to the box clicked the button "Gunn we are in the den we'll come." Getting up all of them left there drinks and stroll after Spike to the garage to help bring the food into the kitchen.
Harmony, Spike, Gunn and Wes were the last to bring in the food they walked into the den in the middle of a conversation, after a few moments of standing, in the back round and listening to the conversation, as they retrieved and sipping their drinks. Harmony got a far away look as if she was thinking back to the past as she listened.
Sam states to Spike "You're is in love with Buffy!"
"OH come on Sam, she had been the biggest pain in my ass since I met her!"
"Yes but you died to save her."
He flails his arms and walks back and forth around the room as he yells at Sam "Bull Shit!" and walked out.
"Sam how can you tell" asked Riley.
"He acts similar to the way you did when we met."
Riley starts pacing as he frowned "Come on Sam I wasn't that bad!"
She caught his hand as he past, which made him stop pacing and look at her "No Honey you were in a real bad state but he is worse."
"I wish there was something I could do for him…"
He sat down next to her "I know Sam, when I saw Jana last week she spoke of Buffy she is worried about her getting lost in the tunnels."
"I know I spoke to her Sunday she is worried about Buffy to the point that they are keeping a twenty-four hour watch on her. But Buffy still slips away from them now and then, just last week they were hunting for her every where."
Harmony asked, "Where did they find her?"
"They found her not far from the falls that is down by the ocean, she had a bucket and was picking up sea shells, while running along the beach.
"Excuse me Riley, Sam exactly when was that?"
"It was about Friday last week that it happened."
"I know Spike's moods he was sleeping a lot that day I came in once he was talking in his sleep to Buffy like she was in the room.
I hate to say it but they where mated from the moment he saw her. Drusilla and I both saw it in everything he did. He loved her and hated himself for loving her. Without knowing it she made him feel something neither Dru nor I could tap into, if we had been able too…"
Riley and his Wife looked at each other. It was Erma who stated what the two were thinking, in a quiet far away voice she said, "That would explain part of Buffy's actions of late, she said."
Harmony looked at Erma with her dark hair and deep blue eyes, and said in a soft voice, "I don't think he realized… I knew he was hers with every fiber in his body. Why else do you think he's hanging around here in Los Angeles? If he can stop the change Angel is going though, It's all for her, I wish he saw me that way."
Wesley had been in the back with Tamon on his shoulder. "I wonder where the rest are!"
"We should start dinner while the foods still hot," said Gunn.
When they got into the kitchen Spike was getting paper plates out he said, to Wesley "Wes get the plastic ware out of that box next to you."
"Sure"
The others made a line behind Spike as they watched him make two very small plates up and take them to the laundry room then heard him called "Mona, Mores dinner is ready." The two butterfly dragons came flying though the room and into the laundry room.
Wesley fallowed suit, then Reilly, Sam, and Harmony. Clem had come in the kitchen with Whistler and three cases of soda cans "Spike…" was all he got out when the other four dragons flew in the kitchen. Two parked themselves on his shoulders and the other two sat on Whistlers shoulders. Clem was talking to them as if it was nothing new. "Hi guys, let me set these soda's down. You been good Ivar no more paint diving so you can get under the running water?"
"Not today the other two bombers are still at it," said, Harmony.
He looked at her "That isn't to surprising. What we having any way?"
"Chinese It smells good; hi Reilly didn't see you there." Reilly nods as he finishes filling his plate then took a bit.
"Come on Clem lets get the rest of these flying beasties fed."
"Sure Spike."
Spike and Clem got the rest of the dragons and Garmon their dinner, while the others got food and were sitting down to eat.
It was later that evening when Clem and Spike were getting there meal.
"I wonder where Faith and Robin are."
"Spike I got a call from her while you were busy with the little guys she, Connor and Lena are picking up the big dragons and they will be late," said Harmony.
"Yea Robin called too, he is changing clothing and is picking up the slayers" said Gunn.
"OK"
It was close to seven fifteen when Connor, Leana, Faith and the large dragons pulled up in front of the gate. The gate buzzer made Harmony jump; she looked around and saw the flashing red light. She pushed the button "Hello"
"Harmony let us in."
"Sure Faith" She pushed another button.
A few minutes later, the vans rolled up the driveway, stopped, they got out and came in.
Faith looked at her watch "Robin should be here by now."
"What's the matter Faith things going wrong in Paradise?"
She frowns then said flatly "No Spike."
Standing next to Connor, a smiling young man with wide shoulders, wearing designer blue jeans and a silk shirt in wine said Spike, where do you want us?"
Spike looked at the young man with his cat like eyes that made Spike do a double take.
"I'm, I'm not sure; can you eat like humans when in human form?"
"I don't know Mom, Dad."
A woman and man wearing jeans, button down shirts simple circlets on there heads came up behind Connor and the young man, the man stated in British English "Yes we can eat in this form."
Spike looked at them in shock and amazement "Good, we did prepare an area for you and the demons could go if you wished privacy in eating."
"That is very kind of you Spike" as they turned, pick up plates and collected food.
He looked at them She was willowy but then she was from the Asian dragon clan her hair was jet black, tied at the back of the neck with gold and silver cords which overlapped a crossed into a braid. He was from the British dragon clan, he was shorter, heavy built, but muscular. His hair was Blonde pulled back in a ponytail with blue and silver cord tied as it went down his back.
Spike was thinking about the dragons as Robin with the slayers in tow appeared in the kitchen.
"What took you so long I was getting worried said Faith.
Robin smiled "Problems at the school, we had a number of fights. One kid went after the school nurse, three other started a fight in the cafeteria, it went on and on today it was like being back at Sunnydale High again."
"Wow I didn't know, how long has it been happening?"
"It's been getting worse over the last six weeks."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Faith honey you had enough on your plate you were training new girls, dealing with the last big battle then keeping an eye on Angel and your school work."
"Yes but I would of liked to know what was happening to you at the school."
"I know, I know but with everything you have been dealing with I just thought…
"You thought I had too much on my plate to worry about you! Men…"
"Yes, now you know, can we eat I'm starving, I haven't eaten all day."
With nothing more to say on the subject she said, "Sure."
Harmony noted the conversation then pulled Faith aside "Faith, help me get the coffee maker set up."
"Sure Harmony."
"Faith, I didn't mean to ease drop but Robin is a good guy. In my book he would be a keeper so try to give him some slack."
Faith looked at the vampire and pulled out the stake she kept with her at all times, as Harmony backed away, Spike came in the kitchen.
From behind her came Spikes voice, "Faith what are you doing?"
"Tell your vampire horde to keep her nose in her own business!"
"OK Faith but put that stake away, OK" Said Spike.
She looked at her raised hand and said, "A what just happened?"
Harmony still shaken leaned on the counter as Spike said, "It looked like you were going to stake Harmony."
"Harmony what were you two talking about?"
Harmony started to cry softly then said, "I was suggesting that Robin was a good guy and I thought she should give him a break then she pulled the stake."
"What started this whole thing Faith?"
"I'm not sure I…"
"She has been up-set since she picked us up to night," said, the young man that had been with Connor earlier.
"You are?"
"Prince Malin is my full title but Malin to my friends."
"Robin had you noted anything different?"
"Yes she has been more combative the last two weeks I thought it was her period. She gets irritable about that time of month, vitamin B-complex seems to help. It has been a busy month but now that I think of it she has two weeks until then."
Appletree had been in the back round listening in, she said, "She is in the pre-trigger of the Gathering."
Spike and the rest of the people look at her with a look that said, "Pre-trigger of what the hell? "
She walked around the kitchen to the refrigerator as she talked; "It happens every two hundred years, to those that have the slayer blood."
Putting her hand on the door handle then opening the door and looking in she sees all dark beer she gets a beer out. She said, to Spike "You are out of Ale."
"I don't like Ale I like the dark beer."
"Oh! With a far away look, she said, for the old slayer community it is a time of celebration when the old king passes the crown to his successor."
"Are there any signs asked Connor.
"The problem or for runner of such an advent is the violence that is created Each time it is different, each time there is a lost love, each time the successor becomes more violent. There is anger then they leave jobs with no reason to the employer. It's as if you hear a softly played piece of music. All of us feel the pull to leave were we are and go to old Britain."
"Spike she is really freaking me out" said, Harmony.
"Yea, I know Harmony, It's like hearing Drusilla ramble on."
"Spike you must of heard it," said Appletree.
Then she shook her head "What was I saying?"
The rest looked at her in disbelief, "I slipped into the other world didn't I Riley."
"Yes Erma you did."
She looked at Riley and Sam then noted the bottle of beer in her hand "Evan was here!"
"Yes Erma he was!"
She looked at the others then said, "I guess I should explain who Evan is. He is the spirit of my dead twin brother.
"How did he die?"
"A Religious zealot shot him with a silver bullet, we were thirty that year he had been a Cop for fifteen years, when the guy killed him."
"How long ago did it happen?"
"Twenty years ago" said Erma.
"The guy was a hunter wasn't he?" asked Spike.
In a soft voice she said, "Yes he was."
The room was quiet not even the dragons made a sound. It was like the smell of death hung in the air for a long time, with every one in their own thoughts and minds.
Erma finally spoke "Evan's spirit has been with me since the moon rise after his death."
"That would explain the vibe I was getting off you" said Wesley.
She looked at him in a strange way as if she was no longer in the body, she opened the bottle took a swig of the dark beer, the voice that came from her confirmed it was deep tenor: "Oh this is good, haven't had one these dark beers in years. You Harmony are the secretary?"
"Yes"
"Get something to write with and on"
"Spike"
"They're in the drawer in the side table Harmony."
She got them and sat down, as Erma drank the beer. Erma started to pace back and forth as her voice talked.
"Two are caught gold and wine, Evil intent is in line, death come swift from another place and time, Creature of the night rescued the dragons in flight, small dragons flourish with delight, Dragons come to new world birthing many in the end of the old kings rain, Dragons pick the spirit warriors of the new century again.
Warriors that will bring the new king into the light of day, one died in a battle, one that betrayed him, one the king does not trust,
One the king saved, one the king was jealous of, one that he sacrificed for,
One a love that was ripped from him, four that have connections to an underground world, Two in one justice is served, Support that comes from wing, land and other worldly hands."
Harmony had sat the pad and pencil down as Erma toppled over. Riley was the closest the two of them managed to keep her from hitting the table. Riley and Gunn took her to the couch as Harmony moved quickly out of the way.
"Riley what just happened?"
"It was Evan he was the one that was interested in the family history as she said he speaks thought her sometimes."
"Will she be OK?"
"Yes she will need some rest."
Spike had walked in with a beer in his hand during the poem "Come on, bring her we will put her in the down stairs bedroom, Harmony you show them." He took a swig out of the bottle while they were getting Erma up then stepped a side.
They were talking when Clem came in "Spike the demons are here where do you want them."
He looked at the faces "What happened?"
"We had a visitation from Erma's dead brother Evan."
"OH. What about the demons?"
"The food is in the kitchen there are tables and chairs out here."
"OK but…"
"But what Clem?"
"You need to formally greet them and invite them into your home remember. They tried to open negotiation with Angel with no success.
They were ready to give up when they heard that the slayers, dragons and the league would be here, the older ones said they would try one more time, they are very old fashion and stick very strictly to the rules of Etiquette so could you…"
"Yes I know."
Spike smiled, Clem had been tutoring him in the old demon customs. His heart wasn't into it but he had learned one more thing from Angel how to put his feelings a side, he had not applied it until the last few weeks.
"Clem what aren't you telling me?"
Clem looked at him then said, "Hlin is coming tonight."
"Sure Clem let's do it"
Exhaling, "OH Good!"
"Lead the way."
When they got to the lawn the elders where waiting Clem made the introductions.
"This is Spike"
Spike bowed low to show his respect for the elders then said, "Welcome to my humble home."
A very old female walked around him then Mona and Mores came and landed on his back. They hissed at her, she hissed at them. Then said to him "Stand"
The dragons flew to a near by branch as he stood up.
"You understood them?"
"Yes, they warned you off."
Her wrinkled face became softer she even got a more youthful look as she smiled at the house. She said, "Listen"
He heard Cass making a racket he turned and found her at the window he took a deep breath "Clem will you see what is causing Cass to be up set.
"Yes"
He went to the door opened it when a peach streak flew past him and land on the Elders shoulder.
She spoke to the dragon as tears started to roll down her face "It has been a long time my beauty."
The company stared in wonder as she took a wrinkled finger and petted the dragon.
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