Spike visualized ripping his smug little head off then shoving it directly up his arse. Fella spent enough time with his head up there; Spike thought it a fitting tribute on how he should be left to rot. But he stilled himself; Tara needed to work things through on her own, no matter how much her tears made him want to rain his unadulterated anger on these people.
"You're coming home, girlie; we're your kin and we know what's best for you" The old man said.
It was then Spike's concern turned into a smirk, he saw something flash in her eyes; same thing he saw at Giles' house with Buffy.
"What's best FOR ME? You mean like lying to me, making me feel like a freak my entire life? You mean making my mother so miserable she took her own life to get away from you? How dare you think you know what is best or whatever was best for me ?" There were no sad tears from her now, just tears of fury, of rage as she clenched her teeth and stared her father down.
"You just hush now. I see the company you keep now, all of you are just full of sin and evil!" The old man shook his fingers.
"Right on the nose, old man." Spike said shifting into game face and stepping in front of Tara.
"Demon for over a thousand years" Anya said, walking out from behind the counter to stand with Spike.
"I've been possessed by a few" Giles said, following Anya.
"I've got a list if you got the time." Faith chimed in as she took her place.
"Forgive me father, for I am sin" Dawn followed suit.
Soon a wall was between Tara and her father and the others.
"Who the hell do you all think you are?" The father demanded.
"Family" Dawn replied pulling Tara forward to stand in the wall.
"We're her blood, you dare not stop us." Brother said joining with his father in their disdainful looks.
Spike was coiled and ready and was about to pounce when he was taken off guard by Giles and his flying fist landing straight against the old man's jaw.
The old man flew back and hit the floor and a blade whizzed by Spike's head and pinned Brother's pant leg to the floor.
"Don't move there, Chuckles" Faith pointed another throwing blade his way.
"Please, make a move, bitch" Dawn's sentence was punctuated by the flick of her switchblade.
"I would kindly ask you to leave my store and this town and never darken it with your presence again, sir. If you wish to go against my request, I shall have no problem turning your face into a fine paste." Giles continued rolling up his sleeves as he spoke; "You are no longer needed here and these people…" He took a moment to look back at the group "All of them… are near and dear to my heart, and I will take no quarter with ending you for them."
The three of them backed up towards the door and the father looked like he was going to say something, grimaced and left. Tara walked towards the door and made sure they left.
"I love you all but I need to be alone right now" Tara waited for understanding nods before she left the Magic Box towards home.
"I think we all need a drink." Dawn spoke first, breaking the silence, she pulled a bottle from underneath the counter.
"How did you … Right then … I'll get the glasses" Giles lowered his raised hand and went in the back.
Dawn poured as they all stood in silence in front of their glasses.
They all raised their glasses and Giles spoke glancing over them all "I meant every word I said"; "And it's returned in kind" Spike followed; "Cheer to that" Faith said and they all swallowed the scotch down.
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Riley marveled in the awesomeness that he was. He had a girl that adored him even if she was mildly psychotic and a legion of little diseased gremlins at his beck and call. He and Dru had just finished having fun with their latest little morsel and now the minions were dragging the bodies away. He was caught up in the afterglow of this marvelous blood orgy and he playfully licked at a few droplets of blood he had missed on his lover's shoulders much to her chagrin. "Daddy was never as crazy as you, my darling". He growled at the mention of Angel but felt the pride rushing to his chest. He remembers how Buffy told him about the atrocities of Angelus and was a little bit boastful in his own mind that he had even eclipsed him.
His moment of Zen was interrupted by those pesky minions.
"Sorry oh magnificent Adonis of body and mind but there are matters which will concern you that need to be addressed".
He stood and without a word the danced around him, dressing him in a suit. The silk shirt felt glorious sliding across his skin and he would marvel at himself if only he had a mirror… and a reflection.
"How do I look?" He asked.
"Like the sun, moon and stars entombed in the body of a Calvin Klein model of pure perfection, oh wonderfulness" one scabby chimed in as the others nodded vigorously.
"Good" Riley said as he adjusted his collar and tie, "Now let's take care of pressing matters, shall we."
They scurried out of the room and he followed.
They went down to the subbasement to a monk shackled on the wall. He looked up with both eyes almost swelled shut.
"You are not the Beast?" The man said.
The minions went to hit him for speaking to him without first asking permission but Riley raised his hand. He lifted the man's face to his and then shifted.
"I ate the Beast", He spat in the monk's face.
"Ask about the Key, oh great one?" one of the minions sang.
"The key?" Riley grinned, "Oh, this sounds like it's gonna be fun…"
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Spike had loved that they had put the necro glass in his car right up to this moment. Somehow, even though he was a nocturnal creature he got roped into helping moving so his back seat was filled with girly crap. At least he wasn't in the van like poor Faith and Dawn, having to listen to Anya blather on giddily about moving in with Rupes. Add to that the fact that his outnumbered-ness would go from 4 to 1 to 3 to 1 and he started to even grin a bit. Tara watched him, sitting with her bare feet on the dash smiling right back.
"For a demon without a soul, you are pretty domesticated" She chided him.
"Oy… you shut your gob right now!" he felt quite offended.
"Oh, you know you're still my Big Bad" She said her foot sneaking into his lap.
"That's better" Spike grinned and then jerked the wheel as he got quite a bit distracted.
Giles had the curtains pulled and had a garage so he didn't have to pull out the blanket.
He grabbed some of the stuff and Tara grabbed some more and they made their way into the flat.
"Dear, we're going to have to either decide on things to give away, or upsize my damned apartment" Giles said huffily
"Well, we can get rid of some of your old junk, like these records" Anya replied.
"Oy, I get those if you're tossing em, Watcher" Spike interrupted the spat.
"We are not tossing my record" Giles grabbed away the records Spike was trying to get his hands on.
Giles polished his glasses furiously, "Is it too late to move her back."
Anya slapped him and smiled, "You're stuck with me, you dirty old man, you!"
"What was the birth date on your birth certificate dear, or was it etched in wood or stone?" Giles retorted.
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Spike snuck out for a smoke in the garage only to find Faith and Dawn already there. He grabbed the cigarette Dawn was holding and gave her a glare.
"You told Tara you were quitting, these things will kill ya, Bit" Spike scolded as he puffed away at the pilfered cigarette.
"You're smoking" Dawn growled
"And I'm dead! See that right there … life lesson." Spike grinned as he winked at Faith.
Dawn stomped away but not before taking a moment to turn and stick her tongue out at Spike.
"Hey there, Dad; It's close to dusk, wanna go kill things and get the tension out?" Faith asked.
"Hold your tongue and let me go check."
Spike opened the garage door to the sounds of Anya and Giles fighting over a plate.
"Yeah … seems like they got it all covered" Spike nodded as he hit the door opener.
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Riley was washing off the blood in the bathroom, looking in the empty mirror out of routine.
It had been a few days and Mr. Monk was not budging one bit. If he wasn't the torturer trying to get the information he would admire the balls on this guy. He used all the tricks Walsh had taught him and even mixed a little vampire strength to make things a lot more interesting. He knew there was a key hidden by the monks from Glory so she couldn't open a portal to her home dimension. He was also told by the minions if he opened that portal , his power would become immeasurable but would meld the realms and bring an end to this one but hey… easy come, easy go.
He had an omnipotent prize to get to, he decided it was time for Mr. Tight Lips to lose a limb… or eyeball. He comes out of the bathroom to the minions freaking out , he runs to the room to find empty chains and a few dead minions.
"We are at your mercy, your greatness … he broke his wrist and esc…" The minion's words were interrupted by the wet crack of Riley's fist going through the minion's skull.
This was just a little speed bump that was all. Nothing ever comes easy. He bellowed for his minions to follow along as he walked towards the front doors. He had a Wascally Wabbit to catch.
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Spike was unloading his fists into the gut of the Fyarl, making sure to avoid the mucus as Faith rode it's neck like a bull. After the weeks of it being boring these cuts and bruises felt good as they finally had a challenge. Eventually the slayer strength paid off as the crack of the now broken neck echoed through the graveyard. Spike knew a few scavenger demons that he'd give a call. Aparently Fyarl, after being aged enough, was a delicacy, he cringed at the thought.
Faith seemed to be extremely pleased with herself as they walked out of the cemetery and started walking downtown. It seems everything was back to normal, well as normal as Sunnyhell was. Spike gave her a smoke and lit it as they took a casual stroll down the main drag. He was debating getting a pint with her at Willy's when she punched him in the shoulder and motioned in front of them.
A guy in a robe was bleeding heavily and seemed to trying to reach them with a hand outstretched. Spike took a look at Faith and they both nodded and rushed over to the bleeding man.
He collapsed just as Spike grabbed him and he slowly lowered the pained man to the ground.
"I have kept … my vows" The man coughed out. "The Beast does not know the location of the key… although it has taken a different form…"
"Key? Beast? What the bloody hell are you going on about?" Spike inquired.
The monk was finally able to focus on Spike and his face almost took on a serene look, "I had faith I would find you. I must tell you … my time is coming to a close … It was prophesized the Beast would be defeated by the Hero born of the dark … everything was foretold eons ago … so when the Beast came to our door we sent it to the hero in the form of a girl. Memories were fabricated to form a bond between the two so she would be protected above all."
"What is she? What is Dawn" Spike was shaking the bleeding man in anger "TELL ME!"
"She is a human girl; Blood of your blood; A child born of the blood of a dark hero and the woman who turned his heart to the light. An innocent in all of this … she needs your protection … she needs your love."
And with that the monks heavily lidded eyes closed for the last time.
Spike kept looking at the man, his mind half crazed with the thought of what had been told to him, enveloped in the silence of the night.
"Holy Shit" Faith interjected.
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They sat there in silence. The dead man still cradled in Spike's arms. That's when they heard the steps and Spike looked up and smelled the air.
"Vamps, a few dozen headed this way." Spike growled. "Get the others"
Faith sprinted towards the Magic Box and prayed for Slayer speed.
Spike stood there with clenched fists as they came around the corner in a mass, led by a familiar face in a suit.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Do my eyes deceive me?" He grabbed a minion from the front of the pack. "Is that who I think it is? My eye sight seems to be deceiving me." The vampire looked at his sire with a mixture of fear and questioning, Riley sighed and dusted him by twisting off his head.
"Can't find good help these days, am I right? … Spike old buddy old pal … is it my birthday … is Buffy round the corner right now with a cake? As you can, I took your advice. She's gonna feel the monster in this man, and she'll love it."
"Buffy left … with Angel … said that her last boyfriend left her … hmmm…what's the word … lacking … yeah, definitely lacking would be the proper word to use, ya git" Spike grinned.
Riley growled, but there were more pressing matters to attend to.
"Not that I don't love catching up … because I do but you seem to have taken my slightly now expired monk and I'm wondering if he whispered any sweet nothings that I need to know in your bleached little ear."
"HA! You're the Beast … The Beast of Dullness? …The Beast of Insufferable Personality?"
"I AM A GOD!"
"Or a reasonable Cardboard cut-out of a prat, I'm leaning wayyy towards my idea though, but I might be a tad biased"
Spike did a little mental breath of relief as he felt the others come up on either side of them.
Giles was utterly gob-smacked. "Riley, dear lord…"
Riley went from anger to a smiling face "See, he gets it!"
Riley started backing up into his throng of followers "Kill them, kill them all. Make sure the vampire lives long enough to see them all die." And with that he disappeared into the crowd of advancing undead.
"This is what happens when you don't stay to help with the move!" Anya chided Spike as she tossed him a sword.
Luckily the new vamps were green. Spike and Faith were cutting a swath through them and even Anya and Tara were getting a few dusted as well. Dawn looked like she was born in battle, keeping up with both Spike and Faith for kills. It went from a legion down to about eighteen when they started running. A slayer was bad enough and in Sunnydale they could hopefully find another nest to join. They were all a little worse for the wear but none of them were dead.
The buzz of the win was interrupted by a slow and steady clapping.
Spike spun around to see Riley leaning up against a light post.
"Let's see what you do with a real man, Blondie" He smirked.
"I'll let you know when I get my reflection back then" Spike deadpanned as he jumped towards Riley.
It felt like he was punching concrete even though Riley stood there; even tried to bust his knee, which just made Riley mad. Spike felt like a truck was in his backhand as he flew back into the midst of his group.
"I'm not gonna make your death this easy. I want you to watch them all die" Riley said as he backed away once again from the group. "I want you to see how it ends." And with that, he was gone.
Spike, knowing that the danger was gone let himself finally drift into unconsciousness.
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Spike woke with a start, much to the detriment of his ribs. He looked around and found himself in the middle of the desert alone by himself. He started scrambling as the sun was blazing only to realize he wasn't burning.
Above him stood Old Bat Face in all his ugly glory; Heinrich Joseph Nest.
Spike: Bloody Hell, Am I dead and this is my own personal Hell?
Bat Face: No, you idiot. You're having a dream.
Spike: No offense, but why would I dream of you of all people. You are a git.
Bat Face: The feeling is quite mutual Spike, you were such a disappointment as a vampire; and now, fighting for the side of good, being the Slayer's lap dog, pathetic. But that is neither here nor there. I am to be your guide.
Spike: Why do I need a guide and why would it be you?
Bat Face: Will you just shut up! The battle between good and evil has reached a fever pitch, if the boy succeeds the world itself will fall, the end of everything. You are one of the warriors destined to maintain the balance. I'm here to guide you, to help your find your strength as … *sigh* a hero
Spike: So, let's get this Magical Mystery Tour started.
Bat Face: If I wasn't just the personification of your spiritual guide, I would kill you myself.
Spike: Cheers.
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After walking for seemed like hours in the scorching sun, Spike cursed it. He had missed seeing the sun and feeling it on his face but after spending a few hours in a desert dressed in leather, he had his fill.
Spike: Hey, Yoda. We almost to where we need to go?
Bat Face: The journey is long and arduous.
Spike: Sun's getting to you, Bat Face? Speaking in riddles doesn't seem your style?
Bat Face: You wonder if you are worthy of this path. Too much darkness…
The Master's appearance blurred and shimmered and transformed before Spike's eyes. He dropped to his knees as his mother now stood before him
Mum: To ever reach the light?
Spike felt like a child again and could not help the tears that came pouring forth.
Spike: Forgive me, mum. I didn't mean to kill you. I meant to take of you and be with you forever.
Mum: Oh Dear Sweet William, my son. You know that wasn't I that said such scornful words towards you. The demon had taken control and I was already dead from the sickness, just delayed by time. You set me free, William. Even then you showed such potential; even with no soul you showed such heart.
Spike: I am no hero, mum. I am a fool trying to make amends for over a hundred years of bloody death.
He could not look at her, dared not look the woman in the face, he had betrayed her and he was not worthy to look upon her face ever again. His thoughts were interrupted as she raised his chin with her hand and caressed his cheek, looking upon him with such adoration that it made him gasp.
Mum: You are full of love. You love with all of your being. It's brighter than the fire ... blinding. That's why you pull away from it.
Spike: I don't deserve it. I'm a monster. Tara and Dawn, Faith and Giles and Anya would be better off without me. I don't deserve a family or friends, mum. I don't deserve them.
Mum: Only if you reject them. Love is pain, and true heroes forge strength from pain. Love ... give ... forgive. Risk the pain. It is your heart. Love will bring you to your gift.
Spike: What is my gift?
Mum: And a child will be born of the blood of a dark hero and the woman who turned his heart to the light.
Spike: Dawn is my gift?
Mum: Death is your gift.
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