“Did it work?” Buffy asked eagerly as she greeted her friends at the door, quickly ushering them in and closing it behind her before any prying eyes could see any further into the house.
“Time will tell. If Quentin is having us watched for some purpose, then you can be sure that we will know within the next twenty-four hours. The man’s like a bull in a china shop, no subtly what-so-ever.” Giles shook his head disdainfully as he walked directly into the living room, placing the tome that held the prophecy in the middle of the table.
“And if it did work?” Willow queried as she took up position on one of the couches, perching precariously on the edge in a move reminiscent of her emotional state. She felt like she had been running on high alert ever since Buffy had first gone missing. Down time was few and far between and even her sleep was fitful at best.
Angelus gave her the willies. He had been one of them, part of their group and he knew what made them tick, yet what did they know about him but what they had learned in the history books? His behaviour didn’t match anything that she had read in her hunt to find out everything about him that she could, which only led her to the disturbing conclusion that he wasn’t playing with the full deck yet.
She shut her eyes as the memory of Buffy’s battered and bruised body when she had first returned to them danced across her mind’s eye. She didn’t want to see the full deck. He had to be stopped before then.
“Then it will be as we discussed last night. Anything they transmit will show the same footage on a continuous loop of us going about our everyday lives. If we had had more time to refine the spell we might have been able to adjust the images—unfortunately they’ll catch on after while that they are merely repeating themselves but hopefully it will buy as a little more time” Giles said in a grave tone as he removed his glasses from his face and began polishing them.
“Do we know what the Council want, yet?” Buffy asked just as Spike entered the room. His hair was still sleep tousled and his feet were bare as he made his way over to the spare seat with a mug of warm blood that Joyce had bought for him.
Buffy watched as he easily folded himself into it with a supernatural grace and found herself having to fight back the blush that was threatening to stain her cheeks pink as thoughts of how she had touched herself before going to sleep that morning surfaced in her mind. In that moment she was glad that she no longer had a heart beat to betray her sudden burst of excitement.
Unfortunately she could do nothing to stop the scent of her arousal permeating the air. She watched as Spike paused, his cup stoping midway to his mouth as he turned his head slightly and sniffed the air. Buffy’s blush came roaring back full force as she looked away from his questioning gaze cursing his heightened sense of smell which was able to so easily detect her arousal.
She shut her eyes tightly as a knowing smirk spread over his lips and she forced herself to listen to what her Watcher was saying.
“I can only assume that their interests stem from this,” he said, passing the translated prophecy towards her. “I haven’t yet been able to discern what it is they intend to do. The first two lines speak of the birth of the demon used to create the First Slayer again from that of evil, which is essentially what has occurred when Angelus tried to turn you; however, I have been less successful in determining what the rest means.” Buffy looked over the notes with a frown, wondering why it was that they always had to talk in riddles.
“Give me a look,” Spike said as he placed his mug on the table and reached across for the note pad. Giles gave him a peculiar look but passed it across to him.
“Let’s see what you make of it, dead boy,” Xander said with a sneer as he watched the vampire scan the prophecy.
Born of evil, yet of the light
Shantari shall arise once more
Power unmatched and untamed
Fatal in its magnitude, unless
Bound by mind and heart
Power shared, and swiftly tamed
Controlled by none,
Yet wielded through love.
“It looks like it’s talking about what to expect from the Slayer. It says Shantari will arise once more and then the next line says Power unmatched and untamed, so I guess you could take it as Shantari—which I’m guessin’ is you—” he said glancing up at the Slayer quickly before looking back down at the notes, “her power in this new form will be unmatched and uncontrollable. Then the two next lines: Fatal in its magnitude, unless bound by mind and heartcould mean that unless a binding ritual or some such rot is done, the extent of the power could prove to be fatal—to the Slayer, I’m thinking. Power shared, and swiftly tamed might refer to when the binding ritual is done and the power is shared between the Slayer and the other being, which stabilises it. Controlled by none, yet wielded through love meaning the Slayer doesn’t control the power by herself, but has access to it together with the one to whom she is bound.”
The group looked suitably stunned by the time Spike had finished his deduction. He smirked as he passed the pad back to the Watcher, who looked as though he had just been slapped across the face.
“That was quite remarkable.” Spike shot him a smug look and leaned back into his seat, propping his legs up on the coffee table in front of him.
“Spent over a century living with an insane psychic, mate. You learn to speak in riddles.” Giles shook himself and began scribbling down notes. Buffy let out a small growl at the mention of Spike’s sire, which Spike ignored. “Is that the entire prophecy?”
“It’s as much as I have translated. You don’t happen to be able to read ancient Amharic by any chance?” Spike chuckled at the Watcher’s hopeful look.
“Not a lick,” he said, reclaiming his mug.
“So I’m going to have to do some sort of binding ritual with someone so I don’t die from the extent of my new powers?” Buffy asked slowly, scrunching her nose in confusion. “What new powers? I’m just stronger and faster.”
“And you glow,” Oz said in his usual monotone
“And you have this strange thrall thing over vampires,” Cordy added in a bored voice as she flipped her hair over her shoulders.
“Plus you look really cool when you go all ‘grr.’” Buffy smiled at Willow’s comment.
“Truth is, we haven’t any idea what your new powers entail. If you would perhaps consent to some tests—” Giles started, the allure of being able to study Buffy too much for even him to be able to resist. He cut himself off however, at the look she gave him and turned back to his notes. “Unfortunately, I have come across no reference as to with whom this binding ritual is to occur, but if what Spike has deciphered is correct, then we may not have much time. You have been turned—for lack of a better term—for a little over a week now.”
“Well, how will we know?” Xander asked, suddenly serious at the prospect that his friend might once again be in a life threatening situation.
“I will have to finish the prophecy before we can be sure of anything. Nothing is set in stone at this point,” Giles said tiredly as his eyes scanned over each member of the group assembled.
“So, what do we do until then?” Willow asked quietly.
“There’s nothing you can do at this point Willow, not until I have finished translating the prophecy.”
Buffy worried her bottom lip as she shot a quick look at her Watcher.
“I’m going to head out and do a quick patrol.” She saw the objection rising on her Watcher’s lips and rushed to intercept it, but it was the vampire who voiced his objections first.
“Not so sure that’s such a good idea, pet. Especially if you’ve got Angelus gunning for you—and you’re not exactly on Dru’s good side at the moment either.” Buffy shot him a dark look.
“She deserved everything she got. She got away didn’t she?” Spike stifled his chuckle at her obvious jealousy over his sire. Maybe the chit felt something for him after all.
“No needed to get your knickers in a bunch. I never said she didn’t. Only with Angelus and Drusilla after you, going out isn’t exactly the smartest move.” Buffy glared at him and shot up out of her seat to stand over him.
“So I’m just meant to sit here? Tucked up inside my safe little house with my friends and family while they are out there killing innocents and biding their time? This situation isn’t just going to go away. Sooner or later a confrontation is inevitable.”
“Spike’s right.” Buffy’s eyes went wide and she spun around to pin her glare on her Watcher. “Not only that, but there is also the Council to think about. We don’t know what they have planned with you yet.”
“Exactly!” Buffy said, gesturing wildly. “If I’m out there not only can I kill off some of Angel minions but I can beat up Willy the snitch and see what he knows. I might be able to find out a little something about what the Council is up to, or if they’re in town yet.” She could tell that she wasn’t getting anywhere with him. “Giles, I can’t just keep sitting here, waiting for you to translate some prophecy that is going to tell me I’m gonna die again while I could be out there saving lives. I’m not helpless, and I’m sick of sitting around here waiting for things to happen. It’s not my style.”
Giles stared at her for a long moment before finally heaving a deep breath and nodding his consent. “Very well, I trust that you won’t do anything rash.”
Buffy smiled, shaking her head vigorously. “Check, nothing rash.”
“You’re gonna give up? Just like that?” Spike yelled. Giles sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Yes, Spike. I am.” Spike turned his glare on the Slayer and Buffy gave him a smug smirk.
“I’m coming with you,” he growled out, getting up from the couch and stalking out of the room to get his jacket and shoes.
“What? I don’t need a babysitter you know,” she said, trailing after him as he stomped down the stairs to the basement.
“It’s not about you needing a sitter, Slayer. It’s about keeping you alive,” he replied, without looking back at her.
Buffy bristled at the implication in his comment. “What, you think I can’t handle myself?”
“No,” he said, fighting hard for control. She could be bloody well infuriating when she wanted to, “but I think you have a weak spot when it comes to Angel.”
Her eyes went wide with disbelief and barely controlled anger. Angel had been her everything—the fairytale, her lover and protector—but everything she had suffered under Angelus’ hand had been done wearing Angel’s face while he mocked her with fake works of love and sympathy.
It didn’t matter what she had ever been told about Angelus and Angel being two completely different vampires because of the soul that inhabited Angel’s body. She knew the truth. Angelus was a part of Angel, and Angel was a part of the animal that had so brutally tortured her. The man who had gotten off on her shrieks of pain, and screamed and laughed right along with her as he begged her to beg him to stop.
Spike had heard it happen. He had been wheelchair bound in the same house, unable—unwilling?—to do anything to stop what was happening. Could he really believe that she was still able to love Angel on some level? That she still held a weak spot for him in the hopes that his soul might be restored and they could forget that Angelus ever happened?
Angel and Angelus had become the same person in her mind. The soul was just the chain that bound the dog to the kennel, forcing him to feel guilt for his crimes. Angelus had opened her eyes, and she felt she was truly seeing Angel for the first time.
“A weak spot! You honestly believe after everything he has done to me that I could still have a weak spot for that sadistic bastard? That I still might care for him?” she practically spat at him, her anger was seething at the thought that he might believe that.
Spike’s eyebrows furrowed slightly at her misinterpretation of what he was trying to say.
“No, I honestly believe that it’s because of all he’s done to you that you have a weak spot concerning him. You don’t think clearly when it comes to Angelus, and it is something he can—and will—use to his advantage. It has nothing to do with you being physically weak or still loving the Poof— it’s all about your mental strength. The bastard’s a master at mental torture, and if you let this affect you personally you’ll end up dead!” Spike was being blunt and he knew it. But she had an annoying habit of immediately becoming defensive and missing the point when the conversation was turned in her direction and he wasn’t going to let her twist what he was trying to say.
“This is personal and nothing anyone can do will change that,” she remarked quietly, as if the fight had suddenly drained out of her as she struggled to hold back the tears that were stubbornly welling in her eyes. Spike’s eyes softened and he took a step towards her, running a comforting hand down the outside of her arm.
“I know that, pet. That’s why I’m coming with you, gotta make sure nothing happens to you.” She dropped her eyes to the ground and nodded quickly. He bent down quickly and finished lacing his boots and grabbed his coat from the small cot. “Ready to go, luv?” She nodded again and together they made their way out of the basement.
The living room was strangely quiet as they made their way through the house. A quick look at her friends told Buffy all she needed to know—they had heard everything that had gone on in the basement and were trying hard to pretend they hadn’t. A small smile tugged at her lips as she shook her head gently and followed Spike out the door.