“You could never understand.” Drusilla let out a whimper. “I had to do it, it’s the only way.”
“Why?” Spike glared at her. “Thought you had a bloody soul, how the hell could you do something like that?!”
Drusilla got up from the bed. “Spike, look into my…”
“Forget it, s’not gonna happen!” Spike took a step back, the stake still in a tight grip. “Don’t know how you did it, but I’m not falling for it again.” He paused. “It’s the thrall, isn’t it? You made me think… Oh bloody hell!” He stopped as realization hit him, suddenly understanding why he’d had such a hard time remembering the conversations he knew they had been having lately. “You’ve been doing it all along, haven’t you?”
“I had to.” Drusilla’s voice was calm, in fact, a bit too calm for his liking. “I had to make you love me.”
“You… what?!” Not sure he had heard her correctly; Spike just stared at her in disbelief. He remembered Wesley saying something about the soul had driven Drusilla crazy, and if he hadn’t been convinced before, he was now. “Why would…?” He shook his head. “I could never love you!” His eyes narrowed. “But you already knew that, didn’t you? That’s why you decided to make me think I was with Buffy, so you could…” He stopped, frowning. “What, exactly?”
“You said you were going to help me.” Drusilla suddenly sounded like a stubborn child, and for a moment it was hard to remember that she was an ancient vampire. “You promised.”
“Yeah, well, not like that!” Spike snorted. “I thought you wanted to learn how to live with your soul, how to deal with the guilt and be able to help people against evil. I thought you wanted to… be good.” He stopped, suddenly feeling very stupid. “But that’s not it at all, is it? That’s not why you needed me to help you?”
“No.” Drusilla shook her head, slowly. “I don’t need you to help me live with my soul.” She paused and smiled; a smile that made his skin crawl. “I need you to help me get rid of it.”
“Excuse me?!” Buffy stared at the two watchers, then surprised them by bursting out laughing. “Oh my God, that witch sure knew what she was doing when she put the curse on Drusilla, didn’t she? That’s hilarious!” She stopped laughing as she realized that she seemed to be the only one who was amused. “Come on, guys, it’s funny! Don’t tell me that’s what’s having you both look so concerned? It’s not like that could ever happen.”
“Buffy…” Giles glanced at Wesley, whose worried expression matched his own. “I don’t think you realize the seriousness of this situation. If you…”
“No!” Buffy suddenly looked upset. “You’re saying Drusilla will lose her soul if she can get Spike to love her. And I’m saying that will never happen. Not in a million years.” She paused. “Spike loves me.”
“Yes, well…” Giles hesitated. “That might be true. But…”
“But, nothing!” Buffy glared at him. “Is there another Slayer out there that I haven’t heard about?”
Giles looked confused. “I beg your pardon?” When Buffy didn’t repeat her question, just looked at him patiently, he shook his head. “Of course not. The only way a new Slayer can be called is for the old Slayer to die. You know that.”
“Then we’re safe.” Buffy gave him a stubborn look. “Spike could never love a vampire; you have to be crazy to think…”
“I believe you are correct.” Wesley interrupted her, causing Buffy to frown. Then she smiled.
“Thanks, Wes! Maybe you’re not so bad after all, I…”
Wesley went on, ignoring her; “But he may not have a say in the matter.”
Buffy became quiet for a moment, then looked from Wesley to Giles. “What are you…?”
“Think about it.” Wesley looked her directly in the eyes. “Drusilla is a very powerful vampire. We know she possesses the power of thrall, an ability unknown to most vampires. That means she is able to bend reality after her own wishes.”
“But…” Buffy suddenly looked uncertain. “Are you saying she can make him feel things that aren’t real?”
“Or see things.” Wesley got a thoughtful look on his face. “The book was vague about the possible breaking of the curse. I suppose she could either simply trick him into thinking he is in love with her, or she could use her thrall to appear to him as someone he holds dear, like his mother, or… or…”
“Or me.” Buffy swallowed. Then she shook her head, a hopeful look on her face. “We’re just guessing here, right? I mean, it doesn’t make any sense. You said Drusilla’s had her soul for thirty years. So, why would she suddenly try to get rid of it now?”
“Perhaps…” Wesley hesitated. “We don’t know for sure that she hasn’t tried before. Just because she has never succeeded…” He glanced away, suddenly looking very uncomfortable. “Remember what the book said about seeing what others couldn’t? Perhaps Drusilla gets some kind of visions and are able to find out the identity of the Slayer. There is a possibility she has already tried to get rid of her soul before, and failed.”
“Are you saying…?” Giles removed his glasses. “Do you believe Drusilla may have approached other Slayers before she came to Sunnydale?”
“Or maybe she has already been here before, like three years ago.” Buffy had suddenly become white as a sheet. “Giles, you don’t think…?”
“William…” Giles paled as well. “Oh, dear Lord…”
“Wait a minute…” Wesley shook his head, firmly. “That can’t be. I was informed William was killed during his cruciamentum.” He gave Buffy a questioning look.
Buffy looked down at her feet, swallowing hard. “He was.”
“Actually…” Giles spoke up. “We cannot know that for certain. We just assumed…”
“What are you talking about?” Buffy stared at him in confusion, trying to hold back the tears. “I was there, remember? One of the watchers told me everything, that’s how I knew William was in trouble. I just…” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I was just too late.”
“Yes, we know what they were planning.” Giles looked like he might start crying as well. “But we have no idea who the vampire was who was in that coffin.”
Wesley looked doubtful. “I doubt Drusilla would let herself be captured and locked up in a coffin. Even if she was here back then, and wanted him dead, there would have been easier ways, especially for someone with her abilities. Besides, the soul would prevent her from killing.”
Giles opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Buffy, gasping; “Oh my God!” She grabbed a stake from one of the shelves and rushed towards the door.
“Buffy! Where - where are you…?” Giles stuttered in confusion.
Buffy stopped by the door. “I thought Spike was acting weird earlier. She was there!”
Wesley stared at her, mouth open. “Drusilla? Are you quite certain?”
“She had to be.” Buffy got a grim look on her face. “And if the bitch has so much as touched him, I will kill her, soul or not!”
TBC