Here's number nine.. in which nothing is explained and the plot thickens.. just to drive Aza and cyberbutterfly even more crazy... Cause I'm mean like that. :D No, really, love you guys! Most loyal readers ever! Big hugs, and I hope you enjoy this. More to come soon!
"I need to make a call.." John muttered as he turned away, ignoring Willow's question. She grabbed his arm, causing him to turn and face her slowly. Willow's hand dropped away from his elbow, empathy overwhelming her at the look on his face. She could see he was terribly upset, and needed to be alone for a bit to sort things out in his head. She nodded to him and patted his shoulder softly, then he walked off to the phone in the kitchen. The rest of the group sat down in the living room, all of them scouring through books of demons, hoping to find the offending monster and maybe even something that might explain why it had taken Sherlock. Giles followed John to the kitchen, making sure his old friend would be alright.
"John.."
"Rupert... Can you.. please.. get my mobile? It-its on the coffee table, I think." John said quietly, forcing back the tears welling up behind his eyes.
"Of course. You all right?"
"Just need my phone.." John replied shakily. He was truly terrified for Sherlock, and wanted nothing more than to enlist a little extra help. Even if it was in the form of the elder Holmes. Giles returned to the kitchen, John's mobile in hand and stood by patiently as John found the number he needed and made the call.
"May I ask.. who're you calling?" Giles asked.
"Mycroft Holmes.. Sherlock's brother."
"Ah.. John, I do hate to be so pessimistic, but I must say he may be Sherlock's brother, though I hardly think he can do anything about this. He's not a member of the council, to my knowledge, and if Sherlock had no real knowledge of the occult previous to this, how would his brother fare any better?"
"No. No, he's not with the Council, but he is the bloody government, and even if he can't do a damn thing, he should know..." John's voice trailed off as the phone stopped ringing and a woman answered. "Um, yes.. Mycroft Holmes, please. Its quite urgent." He was place on hold for a moment, then Mycroft's calm, disinterested voice came through the line.
"Hello, John."
"Mycroft. We have a problem.."
"Oh, I'm well aware."
"How- oh, right.. grade three surveillance. Why didn't you do anything? You do understand what's happened, right?"
"Yes, I'm looking over the video as we speak. I must say, Mr. Giles is looking quite ragged these days. Do give him my regards."
"Wait! What the hell are we to do here? And what do you know? I want information, Mycroft. Not just hidden cameras watching us run about like we've lost our minds. I can't believe I'm saying this, but... please, Mycroft. I need your help.." John's voice quivered, and Mycroft picked up on it, realizing the depth of John's concern was more than he'd thought. "Please.."
"Right.. I'll be there.. oh, say about four hours. See you soon." There was a click and the line went silent. John hung up the phone, then turned to Giles.
"Get ready.. If Mycroft thinks its necessary to take the jet, then its going to be ugly."
"John! Giles! We've got something!" Dawn wailed from the living room. She was seated beside Spike, looking through a large, leather-bound book depicting many varieties of demons. Spike rested his arm around her shoulder, as he looked down at the sketch of the demon that had taken Sherlock. It was a foul looking beast, green scales, long, talon-like claws, and two great horns atop its bald head. As Giles and John dashed into the room, Spike jumped and moved his arm back to his side quickly. "Look! I think I got it. An all-tro-the.. all-tart-hoth.. just.. here!" Dawn thrust the book towards Giles who took it from her and pushed his glasses a little further up his nose. He sat down on the coffee table, looking over the information the girl had found.
"Yes.. right. This looks to be it. Very good, Dawn."
"What is it, Giles?" Willow asked, leaning forward to get a look at the page.
"Altothra demon. They're not the most intelligent, and its says here they commonly work as labourers... Usually in exchange for protection or.. oh, dear.. infants.."
"So.. like.. not the kinda guy to just go snatching people up, huh?"
"No, Willow. I highly doubt it did this on its own. I believe someone is behind this, telling the demon what to do. We just need to find out who and why." Giles set the book down beside him and removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He was about to speak, but was interrupted by the sudden gasp from Spike.
"Oh.. OH! I should've known..." He looked up at John, his eyes huge with worry and a bit of excitement. "Dru. Heard she's back in town. If this was her, she's planning something nasty."
"Druscilla's back and you didn't tell us? Spike.. why?" Willow cried, standing up, her eyes fixed on the vampire. Spike could hardly look at Willow, the hurt and confusion apparent in her eyes. She'd been the first to finally trust him, had been the one that proved to the others he was harmless, and now he'd betrayed not only her but the whole group by not telling them about Dru. He stood and stalked off to the basement, unsure what to say. As he leaned against the cement wall and lit a cigarette, Spike heard the creak of the stairs, signalling someone was coming down. Dawn peeked over the railing and cleared her throat.
"Spike.. Look. I'm not mad, you know.. but.. why didn't you say something before?" Dawn approached him slowly, reaching out to touch him. As her fingertips brushed the side of his arm, he spun around to face her, pulling her by the wrists into a tight hug. His cheek pressed against the top of her head, Spike took in the scent of her shampoo, the feel of her warm breath against his chest. They stood holding each other for a moment, then Spike leaned back and looked at Dawn. "Why, Spike?"
"I.. I didn't want to scare you lot. Know how the watcher goes into a tizzy over the daft bitch. Way she did him wrong when Angelus... Look, I might be the big bad, but she's all looney toons and I.. I don't want the bunch of ya' rushin' out there and getting yourselves killed. 'Specially you, pet." He placed a kiss on her forehead and turned towards the small basement window, looking out at the sunset. It was moments away from dusk, and he knew it was up to him to fix this. "There's somethin' I have to do.. I love you.." He whispered softly before dashing up the stairs and out of the house altogether. Dawn stood frozen in place, her mind racing with fear and questions. Spike had long left the basement when she was finally able to squeak out "Love you too.." into the darkness.
"Uh.. Hmmph.." Sherlock groaned as his eyes flickered open and he rolled onto his back. He laid still a moment, taking in his immediate surroundings. Marble walls.. tapestry.. bed.. candles... appears to be a mansion.. elegant, but old fashioned.. no electric.. singing.. singing? He fought to sit up, but he soon found he was chained flat to the bed, unable to move more that a few inches in any direction. Lifting his head and peering into the dimly lit room around him, Sherlock quickly noticed two large, green demons near the door and a woman over by the window. She was singing an old folk tune, cradling something in her arms. As he watched her, she slowly turned and took a few steps his way.
"Oh look... see, Miss Edith.. our new toy is awake now.. like the stars. How they burn, love.. bright, dripping diamonds.. And you.." She pointed towards Sherlock and took a few slow, long strides to him. "You smell of.. sand and heartache.. Oh! The clouds in your eyes..." Leaning over Sherlock, Druscilla took a long sniff then licked the side of his face, giggling. "Velvet tears.. They make him ache.." She snarled, then suddenly her expression changed to that of amazement and fear. "He's coming.."
"Ahem.. yes.. well, if that's it then, would you kindly release me now?" Sherlock insisted, the tone of his voice low and discontented.
"Hush now.. He'll be home soon.." Dru cheered, twirling around and humming to herself. She dashed back to the window, staring out at the garden, swaying back and forth. Just as suddenly as she'd gone away, Dru rushed back to Sherlock, flopped onto the bed beside him, then crawled up towards his face. She laid beside her hostage, her head propped up on her hand, long dark hair draping over his own brown curls. "You'll be a darling gift for his homecoming party." She trailed a finger down Sherlock's shirt, then hooked it under the middle button, popping it off and continuing upwards to remove the rest, exposing his bare, pale flesh to the cold air. Dru sat up slowly, tracing small patterns on his skin with her fingernail, adding to the goosebumps that had already erupted across Sherlock's chest.
"Look.. I don't know exactly what you want of me-"
"Shh... too much noise.. Can't hear the poppies. They're whispering, warning.." Dru looked down with a wild expression, then grinned wickedly before jumping off the bed and rushing towards the door. "Leave!" She screeched at the demons who immediately stalked out of the room. Dru left the door open, then crept back over to Sherlock.
"Why am I here? Obviously you're intending on making me a gift to someone. Who? And why?"
"Why.. you have a beautiful mind.. but you know so little.. so little of this.. like tiny ants.. marching one by one.. into the fire."
"That made no sense at all. Do you understand me? What is this about?"
"Blue lights.. wonderful blue light.. melting your soul.."
"Damn it, you're insane! What the hell are you on about?"
"You, pet.. so pretty. You make it all fall away. Better than green.."
"This is absurd! Let me go!" Sherlock growled, straining to break free of the chains. He pulled and wretched side to side, but they were secured under the bed and wouldn't budge a bit. As he tried one last time to slip his hands from the metal cuffs, there was a crash from below him, signalling someone was downstairs, and rather unhappy from the racket they were making. Dru ran out of the room, letting the door open behind her. Sherlock laid still, his breathing slowed, straining to hear who was in the hall with her. What he heard was the most comforting voice he could imagine at the moment, the one voice he longed to hear whilst held captive by an insane vampire. Spike..
I know.. another cliffhanger moment. But I'm going to answer a lot of questions in the next chapter, so I just had to have another "what the hell!" ending. :)