[Reviews - 137]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 2695 times

- Text Size +




Author's Chapter Notes:
Many thanks for your feedback
Chapter 3



Slayer and Watcher stared at each other in amazement “What the hell is he doing now?” said Giles faintly.

“Dunno, but I suppose I had better go get him back, before he gets into more trouble.”

“Yes, I think the Council would take a dim view of us losing him again!”

Buffy ran down the path and tried to locate the fleeing vampire, “Where are you, you stupid creature?” she fumed. Catching sight of his white figure disappearing into the trees, she gave chase.

“Must get away, can’t let it happen – not again!” Was all Spike could think of, as he staggered away from the house, wrapping his arms round his chest, feeling the bandages dampening as his wounds started to bleed again. His legs felt like jelly, and his vision was darkening round the edges. “Not again, not again, not again,” went round his head like a mantra.

Suddenly, he was tackled from behind and he crashed to the ground, Buffy astride him on her knees, stake poised. She wrenched him over on to his back.

“What do you think you doing?” she snarled, “After all the trouble you’ve caused us, I should dust you here and now! Did you think we rescued you, just to let you loose in this country? Where do you think you were going anyway, you don’t know anyone here, you’d starve to death without us, you stupid, brainless creature!”

His lips were moving, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying, and she was uncomfortably aware of damp seeping through the knees of her jeans, where she was kneeling on the wet grass. She stared at him, rage and curiosity battling equally in her mind.

“Tell me what the hell you are doing,” she said venomously.

The vampire struggled feebly against her, “Didn’t know you could be such a bloody unforgiving, vindictive bitch. There’s no way you’re gonna nail me into a coffin, I’d sooner you stake me! Yeah, Slayer, do your precious sacred duty!”

He was so far into his rant, that he didn’t see her stunned expression. It was only when she pocketed the stake, grabbed hold of a handful of his hair and yanked his head off the ground, that he met her furious gaze.

“Unless you tell me now what the hell you are talking about, I’ll haul you back to the house by the hair, tie you up and give you to the Council!”

She realised that he was shaking - not with fear - but with laughter. She let go of his hair and his head fell back to the ground with a thud. He looked up at her, and suddenly all the humour in his expression vanished.

“He didn’t tell you, did he?”

“Huh? Who tell what – listen start making sense or…..”

“Mills didn’t tell you how I was brought here did he?” the vampire interrupted her.

“No,” she said uncertainly.

He gave a humourless smile and then told her in a monotone of his capture and transport to England.

“How long did it take?” Buffy asked in a faint voice.

“Dunno luv, I started counting the times they fed me, guessing that it’d be about once a day, but after 14, things started to get a little fuzzy and I kinda lost it, until they tipped me out at the other end.”

She shuddered, “they must have taken you by road and sea, for it to have taken so long.”

“Yeah, every time the movement stopped, I thought it was the end of the journey, but they only loaded me on to another mode of transport and it went on.” he said dully, “I even started to think I was a kid again, when father locked me in a cupboard….” He stopped, cursing himself for revealing too much, and looked up to try and gauge her reaction. She seemed lost in thought, and he felt a surge of emotion that almost overpowered him. “What’re you thinking, Slayer?”

She stared at him; he seemed diminished somehow, as if a vital part of him had been torn away. She realised that she was seeing under the “Spike” mask again to the complicated, complex creature that he disguised so well. As she watched, she was amazed to see his eyes fill with tears, her defences lowered and her heart went out to him in sympathy.

What was she doing? What about all the other vamps she dusted without a second thought, did they have feelings too? The thought was unbearable, how could she keep slaying? No it was better to believe what Giles, the books and the Council said about them – they are all killers, blood-sucking monsters who don’t deserve to “live” - she was only sparing this one, because he was harmless.

Suddenly realising that she was still kneeling astride him, she sprang to her feet, reeling slightly as the blood rushed from her head. “I’m thinking that we had better get back to Giles before he stakes you himself, for wasting time,” she said coldly as she stalked back towards the house.

Spike was chilled, for a moment it had looked as though she was on his side, and then just as quickly she became the hardened warrior, fully capable of forcing him to travel in a coffin, should she choose to do so. He hauled himself up and moved quickly after her.

“What’re you going to do?” he asked, trying not to sound afraid.

She stopped suddenly, and he almost ran into her. Without turning she said stonily, “we’ll find another way.”

He almost fell again, feeling weak with relief. He felt such a wanker, being frightened of a little girl and her Watcher. But he knew that she could take him with one hand tied behind her back at the moment, he was so exhausted. He followed her back to the house, where a very irate and impatient Giles waited for them.

“What the hell happened? Why did he run off like that?”

Spike groaned and lowered himself on to the couch. This was where his demeaning story was to be retold.

But Buffy only said, “We have to find another way to get Spike back to the States.”

Giles took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Are you going to tell me why we have to give up a perfectly good plan? I have had to resort to blackmail to get this vampire out of the country – the Council are not going to be best pleased!”

Buffy glanced over to Spike, who sighed and said, “Its okay Slayer, tell him.” So Buffy told the Watcher what had happened. All Giles said was “Oh” and sent an unwanted look of pity the vampire’s way.

“You’re wrong, you know,” Spike started.

“Oh, I’m wrong again – what am I wrong about this time?” Even Giles looked surprised at Buffy’s bitter tone.

“I was just going to say luv, that I do have friends here – they may be able to get me a passport. Course, you could always go back as planned, and I’d follow on when I got the papers.”

“Spike, I don’t think you realise how much the Council want to get rid of you. If you don’t go with us, I believe that they’ll send a disposal squad after you.” The Watcher sounded weary, but convincing.

“In that case, why would they bother with a coffin and all the paperwork that entails? I don’t think they have any intention of helping me – they’ll just stake me when they arrive and bingo, no more problem! Let’s face it Slayer, there would be sod-all you could do about it. They’d just be doing your job for you.”


TBC





You must login (register) to review.