Chapter 16
Come Across the Bridges
Kyle had always heard adults use the expression “between a rock and a hard place” and now he finally understood it. He could see a scale in his mind’s eye, one side held the wizard’s code of honor which he’d sworn to uphold and the other side held his actual life.
So he tried lightly placing a surreptitious finger on the scale.
The moment he’d begun reading the second portion of the Grimoire, he’d realized that it was locked, the spells essentially useless. To a wizard, they read like top secret military forms that had been heavily redacted.
Okay, he mused, to a wizard they appeared this way but not to an unknowing demon. He decided to copy them exactly as they were shown. It would buy him time to either figure out an escape plan, or hopefully for someone to spring him.
Kyle stopped writing to squint at the small, crabbed handwriting. His father’s memory was so bad; he’d used the book not only for its intended purpose, but also as a day runner and diary. Kyle read notations about different people he’d met, their likes and dislikes, information on various Council functions, birthday reminders, even witty anecdotes jotted among the spells. The young boy was fascinated. A veritable cornucopia, it offered insight into the daily life of the man he’d never gotten the chance to know.
The magicks themselves, even with the missing components, were works of art, simple and elegant. His father had known exactly what he was doing and he did it well.
Kyle’s heart swelled with pride and he knew he would never allow that weird demon to get his hands on them. It would be an insult to allow some thing as gross as that Chieftain to steal his work and use it against everyone his father had loved.
Kyle continued to turn the pages and scribble pieces of spells, adding in a minor spell of his own that turned any piece of fruit into a banana. He’d use that one if the demon demanded proof that the spells would work.
Yawning, Kyle realized it was getting late and he still had the last few pages to read and transcribe. Rubbing his tired eyes, he picked up the book and squinted at the handwriting again. The pages held several more handwritten reminders and notes, along with some long, extremely complicated incantations.
Kyle sucked in a breath and sat up straighter in the chair. Sneaking a look at the empty window housed within the locked door, he rapidly reread the incantations. Different than anything he had transcribed so far, the words stood out, harbingers for the abomination of dark magicks. Kyle translated the words for control, power, death and Hellmouth. Most of the remaining spell was impossible to read.Father, what did you do?
Debating how to remove these from his translations, he heard a noise in the hallway. The door to his prison swung open and the Gashi Chieftain appeared holding a riding crop. Smiling at the young boy, he said, “So, Kyle, I see you’ve been very busy.”
Kyle closed the thick book. “I’m not finished. The translations are very hard,” he lied.
“Not a problem. I have a meeting to attend. When I return you and I shall have our own little meeting.” He reached for the doorknob. “Then you can explain to me just how all of this works and include a little demonstration.”
Opening the door, he turned back to Kyle and his voice hardened. “Just in case you think you can play me, I’ll make the choice for the demonstration. I do hope you’ve got them all translated correctly. I’m sure you wouldn’t like it if I had to wait.”
Once he heard the lock click again, Kyle exhaled noisily and slumped in his seat. Biting his lip, he tried hard not to cry.
*****
The Imperial Wizard demanded, his tone petulant, “Are we absolutely certain this meeting should be adjourned?”
“There is nothing more to discuss.” Giles wondered if his voice sounded as tired as he felt. “We’ve already agreed that rescuing Kyle and the Grimoire are the number one priority, and Buffy and Spike will use the bracelet to recon and then attempt his rescue later this evening.”
He watched the elderly man think about his answer briefly, before nodding. “You’re right. If you’ll all excuse me, I believe I shall go up to bed, I’m not feeling all that well.”
Giles noticed Buffy and Spike had their heads close together whispering. How long has she allowed him to stand so close to her? Suddenly the air in the room felt too close. Turning to leave, he heard Buffy call his name.
“Giles? Could we maybe cover the bug stuff tomorrow when we get back? I’m really tired and I need some rest before heading out later tonight.”
“Of course, but didn’t you want to discuss something with me?” Giles watched her turn back to Spike once again. Before she could speak, he heard the vampire’s voice. “It’s okay, Pet, you need your sleep more right now.”
“Are you sure?” She glanced over her shoulder at him. Giles watched this discourse with mounting concern. There was definitely something going on, they’d been acting strangely since their return from the Thesa hive. Sneaking glances at each other throughout the meeting, they had behaved like two school children with a secret.
Irritated at the entire conversation, he nearly shouted to just spill whatever it was they were covering up, let him in on their deep dark secret. Now Spike smiled softly-softly!-and Giles heard him say, “It’s enough right now to know you’re goin’ to do it.”
Do what? I have the right to know what’s going on, she’s my Slayer. Afraid if he continued the conversation much longer, he’d create a scene by demanding to know what the hell was going on, Giles acquiesced. “I agree that it’s much more important for you to get some rest right now, Buffy. We’ll talk in the morning.”
Afraid of the niggling little thought trying to force its way to the forefront, he watched her walk up the stairs, the vampire close at her heels. Spike’s baritone and Buffy’s reply, both lost amid light laughter, floated down to him. He clenched his fists. Turning toward the kitchen he felt a hand rest on his arm.
Margot stood in the hallway and waited until the Watcher turned before speaking. “Rupert, would you have a drink with me before you retire for the evening? It’s been a very trying day and I could really use some company about now.”
“I think I could use a drink myself.”
******
“This is a beautiful suite.” Giles surveyed the living area of the enormous two room suite. Cherry furniture, Chinese in design and more modern than the remainder of the house, complemented the long leather couch and colorful wool rugs situated in front of the fireplace. Several smaller antiques shared space with a cherry sideboard outfitted as a bar. The result was both comfortable and refined. It suits her.
Margot smiled at the complement. “I had the walls knocked out between three of the bedrooms up here when the children were small. We used the area then as a combination family room and play room. Modern kids are so much more exuberant than Victorian children, and I feared for the antiques down stairs. Later, when they grew too old for the space, I had it converted for myself.”
“Please, Rupert, make yourself at home.” Behind the bar, he could hear the quiet slide of doors, then the tinkle of crystal. “You look like a scotch drinker to me.”
“That will be fine.” Sitting on the end of the long couch, he scanned the walls. “You have some lovely pieces.”
Margot handed him a tumbler, and placed a crystal decanter on the coffee table in front of him. Sitting at the other end of the couch, she replied. “Thank you. Some of this stuff has been in my family for generations.”
She grinned. “All except the one you’re looking at, it’s a fake. Claire had a couple years where she was completely enamored with playing softball indoors and out. I sold the original. It deserved much more reserved owners.”
He watched as she sipped her drink. “Do you have any children of your own, Rupert?”
“No.” His mouth quirked. “At least none of which I’m aware.” He took a drink of the smooth scotch. “Very nice.”
He continued the conversation. “Although over the years, Buffy has become like a daughter to me.”
“She is an exuberant woman, yet very strong. I see a lot of myself at that age in her.”
“When Buffy was first approached by your father, I made a phone call to Gillian Peters.”
Margot’s face lit up. “Oh, Gilly, tell me, how is the old dear?”
“Still as hearty as ever. She called you fiery and impetuous.”
Margot threw back her head and laughed. Giles suddenly realized how much he enjoyed hearing the sound. Her laughter, genuine and full bodied, filled the space.
“I’d be surprised if that was all she said. It was me that basically forced her into retirement.” Her eyes twinkled. “I was quite the wild child in those days, rebelling against almost everything, including my father. But you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you Ripper?”
At Giles amazed expression, she laughed again. “You’re not the only one who can check up on people.”
Pouring them each another drink, she handed back his tumbler. “So tell me, Rupert, why have you never married?”
He took another sip before replying. “I suppose I’m married to the job. A Watcher with an active Slayer in the field needs to remain focused.”
“I get that. Wizards don’t have the luxury of much time outside of the job, either.” Tucking her feet under her, she asked, “So there’s never been anyone since Buffy was called, no one you have loved?”
He watched the firelight play across the planes of her face, softening the fatigue lines, making her eyes seem enormous.
“There was one woman. Her name was Jenny. She was murdered by a vampire a few years ago.”
Continuing to stare at the fire, Margot spoke softly. “I knew you’d suffered a deep loss, I could see it in your aura.” She hesitated before finally adding, “It marks one forever doesn’t it? Never truly going away, making it that much harder to trust the next time.”
“What about you? I understood you’d married again after John died.”
He watched her shrug. She had elegant shoulders. “It was a marriage of convenience. He was a minor member of the Council and needed to cement his standing and I thought Kyle needed a male influence. It lasted three years.” She brightened. “But out of that I got my stepson, Drake, whom I adore.”
She smiled softly. “He loves my daughter Claire but is afraid to tell her. You see, he isn’t a wizard, his talents lie elsewhere and his mother was smart enough not to force it, but that makes him insecure, because they’re so different.”
She stared impassively at Giles. “What do you think? Can a person ever be truly happy with someone from a completely different world?”
Giles gazed into his glass. “I suppose it’s possible. I think it would depend on the two people and how badly they wanted it to work.”
She nodded, apparently satisfied with his answer. They both sat quietly for a few moments staring at the fire.
Margot murmured, “What about a Watcher and a wizard? Do you think there would be any chance they could find some common ground?”
Giles looked at the lovely woman next to him. “I think they already have.”
She moved closer and whispered. “Would you stay with me tonight?”
Removing his glasses, he reached for her. “I’d like that very much.”
When he kissed her, she tasted like peaches and fine scotch.
*****
Disdainfully, the Chieftain surveyed the plain room. The Thesa Overlord had predictably stuck to the agreement in his usual gauche way.
“I’m here, what’s so important that you’d actually request a personal meeting?”
Other than three accompanying Clan members each, it was supposedly just the two of them on neutral territory, sitting down to a civilized meeting, mano e mano.
Except that neither were men nor truly civilized and he knew that either would, without hesitation, easily kill the other right here, right now.
This is why I’ve brought several Gashi with me, waiting outside. If I so choose, I will kill him. He is nothing to me.
He glanced at his watch. “Time is of the essence, I have a prior engagement that I’ve had to postpone.”
The Overlord stared at his old enemy. He hated the Gashi; they were soft, pretending to live like humans and they had no honor. He had expected the Chieftain to show up with his sons and members of his Clan and attempt to murder him on the spot, which was why he had several three-marks secluded within this building. If necessary, they could arrive within minutes. It would not be him that would die this night.
Sitting down at the small table, he gestured for the other demon to sit. Still cautiously watching the Overlord, the Chieftain obeyed the request. “I ask again, what do you want?”
“I have sent for you because I know that you have made an agreement with the Imperial Wizard and their Council and I wish to discuss this fact.”
“I make agreements with demons, humans, wizards, whoever can benefit me and my Clan. Why is this any of your business, Thesa?”
“Because I, too, have made an agreement with the Successor. She sought me out with a personal request.”
Narrowing his eyes, the Chieftain studied his old adversary for signs of a double cross.
“What type of request would the wizard possibly make of you?” Quietly, he flicked his tail, the signal for his men to move forward.
“Before I tell you, I must have your word as a Clan Leader that you will continue the parlay beyond this meeting. There is much we must discuss.” The Thesa opened his wings and one of his soldiers quietly slipped out of the room.
The Gashi shrugged. “I will listen to your meanderings if it doesn’t take all night. What was the request?” He noted the soldier slipping from the room and flicked his tail once more.
“She does not trust you and wishes for your death. If I kill you, then I receive your lands and all possessions.”
Clenching his fist, the Chieftain snarled. “That is an unbelievably stupid proposal. You could never take over my operation; my sons would see to it that you and all other Thesa were killed in a most unpleasant way as retribution for daring to murder a Chieftain of the Gashi Clan. What possible good has it done to bring me here and tell me this?”
“I had hoped that we would parlay and arrive at a mutual agreement, to either work together to bring down the wizards, or else drop this endeavor completely.”
Jumping to his feet, the Chieftain glared at the other demon. “I work only for my own benefit. What purpose would an alliance serve for me? I can see none at all.
There could never be an agreement between us. You are and always will be an imbecilic soldier. You attempt to bludgeon your way through everything, while I reason using a higher intellect. That is why I have won in the past when our paths have crossed and why I will win going forward.”
He could hear faint noises nearing the room. Lifting his chin he continued. “I have acquired something that will take care of the wizards and the humans on the Hellmouth. It doesn’t matter what agreement I have made with the wizards, I will bury them all and when I am finished, I will have more power than ever before.”
The Chieftain signaled his bodyguards. “There is no reason for me to ally with you, for you have backed the wrong players. When this is over, the Successor will be dead and so will your agreement.” The bodyguards stepped forward to stand beside him.
“You are making a grave mistake by not continuing this parlay. I am giving you a chance to stand with other powerful demons. Together we can bring down the white wizards and even the Slayer. Together we could own the Hellmouth with all of its power. We would have much glory.”
“I have no interest in glory and I have nothing more to say to you. I hold all the chips in this game. We have always been enemies and will remain so.”
The Gashi moved to leave and found the door blocked by the three armed Thesa soldiers. He snarled and demanded, “Make these soldiers move, or I will move them for you.”
His bodyguards crossed to stand with him as more Gashi came through the front door.
The Overlord spoke again, his voice icy cold. “Ah, but you see, there’s a flaw in your brilliant logic, demon. You consider me merely a stupid soldier, but you are too cunning for your own good.”
Several more armed Thesa three-marks rushed through the back door and stood with their leader. Spreading his wings fully, the Overlord stared into the countenance of the snarling Chieftain.
“I already know what it is you have in your possession and it is of no value to you. The Successor will not allow you to hold it for long, it is too important to her. Mark my words, the wizard will retrieve it either by force or stealth, but either way your Clan is too soft and weak to repel an attack by such as her. I have myself been infiltrated by the white hats. This has not happened before in the fifty years I have been Overlord.
An open war now between you would upset the balance of power throughout the Hellmouth. There are already several smaller demon clans and two vampire houses nipping at our heels, waiting for either of us to make a false move and we have both become enmeshed in this because of your ill founded plans and enormous ego.”
“They are not ill-founded! I could easily win in a battle with the wizards; you are just too thick to understand. What I possess holds the key to everything.” Angered beyond control, he flashed his claws. “If I must fight her, it is of no consequence, I will win!”
Staring at the demon across the table, he growled again. “I have the item in my possession and I also hold a hostage. There is no way she would dare move against me.”
The Thesa rose from the table. “Every soldier no matter how ‘thick’ learns tactics; it is the basis for winning all battles.” At the flick of his wrist, his soldiers pulled out their weapons and aimed them at the Gashi.
“I have had several days to decide my options and my tactics.” The Overlord pulled out a large serrated knife. “I have given you a chance to act honorably, to join with other demons.” He advanced toward the Chieftain.
“But you are a leader that is acting rashly and I will not allow you to pull the Thesa down with you. I do not want to fight against the Wizard Council over a mere possession that is useless to us both.”
He motioned again and his men advanced. “Since we can not reach an agreement, I will complete the terms of my agreement with the wizards.” He held up the knife. “You have left me no alternative.”
“Then you and your Clan will die for your lack of foresight and misplaced honor.” The Gashi signaled his bodyguards. Growling, they pulled out their own hidden weapons and ringed their leader.
The Thesa soldiers engaged the Gashi bodyguards in a clash of sharpened steel, claws, and venom.
A lone Gashi bodyguard, hidden behind a tree outside, listened to the commencement of fighting and left for the den. He had orders to carry out.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
These characters are not mine.
The story is set in an AU during season 5.
The story is set in an AU during season 5.