Chapter 4
Retreat to Advance
The Slayer wanted to question as many of Willy's customers as possible, so she and Spike waited at Giles' apartment. The kind of patrons that frequented Willy's bar never showed up until nightfall.
Pushing open the scarred door, Buffy could see that the bar was still fairly quiet this early in the evening. A handful of customers, mostly gathered at the long bar, stood talking and drinking among themselves. They all turned and warily watched the blond couple head toward the back room.
Willy's back room was the stuff of legend. Every demon in Sunnydale spent time there, either as a player in one of the constantly revolving poker games, or standing around in the adjacent smaller room that Willy used for storage making or breaking the deals that helped create a vital Hellmouth economy.
Spike walked through the door first and was greeted by a couple of the demons already involved in the first poker game of the night. Noticing the Slayer that followed him, their mouths clamped shut and they lowered their eyes, staring intently at their cards.
This isn't goin' to be easy with Buffy along. Spike pulled the Slayer back into the hall and whispered. “Maybe you should go and check the telephone. Use your new pretty and see if there's any residual energy.”
Buffy nodded. “Okay, I'll do that, but this had better work.” She headed for the storage room.
Spike returned to the game. “Okay, I've only got a few minutes before the Slayer returns. I need to find out who would know anythin' about a kidnappin' scheme goin' down. I'll keep your names out of it, but the Slayer will owe you one.”
“How's you find out so quick? He just got snatched a couple minutes ago.”
Confused, Spike stared at the behemoth holding a full house. “Sorry, mate; I'm not sure what you're on about. I'm talkin' about a human woman, couple of days ago.”
It was the poker player's turn to look confused. “Oh, I thought you were talking about the human kid with you. I heard he was just grabbed by some vampires, although on second thought, I guess that's not really a kidnapping, more like takeout.”
Spike ran a hand through his hair. “What kid?”
“The one that came in right behind you and the Slayer. Everyone figured he was with you since he watched you come back here and then settled into one of the booths along the wall, like he was waiting for you.”
Spike grimaced. “Where is he now?”
“Wayne and his crew stuck him outside in their van. I heard they're taking him to their nest. His girlfriend got hurt and can't hunt.”
A couple minutes later Spike and Buffy cautiously crept up on the green van parked on the side of Willy's pothole strewn parking lot. The Slayer grabbed the van's door, yanked it open and staked the vampire in the driver's seat before he could start the engine.
Spike opened the back door of the van at the same time and staked a second vampire.
Crossing his arms and leaning against the open door, he chuckled. “Hey Slayer, you've got yourself a shadow, except he won't be shadowing anyone right now. You want me to leave 'em in here? He'll be put to good use; he's supposed to be dinner for a sick bird.”
Kyle, hands tied behind his back, sat on the floor of the van staring at the floor.
“Hi Kyle. Didn't anyone ever teach you that trying to be inconspicuous in a demon bar when you're human is harder than it looks?” Buffy grinned at the uncomfortable teen. “Besides, I don't think you're old enough to even be in a bar.”
She turned to Spike. “Maybe we should just call his grandfather. I'm sure he'd be interested in what Kyle does in his spare time.”
“Please Ms. Summers, don't do that. I just had to make sure you were really going to look for my mom.”
Buffy took pity on the kid. After all, it was his mom that was missing. “Haul him out Spike and untie him.”
When Kyle was standing in front of them rubbing his wrists, Buffy said, “You've got to promise me that you aren't going to ever go in Willy's again.” She crossed her arms. “Even when you are old enough to drink.”
The teen looked down at his shoes and mumbled. “I promise.”
“Spike I think we need to take Columbo home now.”
“First, I want to know how long you were followin' us.”
“I waited around Mr. Giles' house all afternoon and then I followed you two over here on my bike.”
Spike raised an eyebrow. “I must be losin' my touch. I never heard or smelled you.”
“I used a cloaking spell that allows someone to be undetected for hours.”
“Pretty smart. But why didn't you keep it up in the bar?”
Kyle blushed. “Well, actually, I'm not very powerful yet and it stopped working just as you went in the door. I knew you'd detect me when you came out, so I tried to blend in with the other people in the bar.”
Spike and Buffy both laughed. “Kyle, there's no way you could ever blend in at that bar.”
Spike clasped the teen's shoulder. “Come on, we'll drive you home. Where's your bike hidden?”
Once in the Desoto, they waited to pull out of the parking lot while a black Cadillac crossed through the intersection.
Kyle stared openmouthed at the driver. “Hey, I've seen that guy before. He came to see my mom a couple days before she disappeared and they went out to lunch.”
Frowning, Buffy asked, “Are you sure?”
“I'm sure. I didn't get to meet him, they were already pulling out when I got home, but it's definitely him. He was driving that same car.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Did she ever say anything about him after that?”
“Not really. But she goes out all the time with people I don't know, mostly Council people. I didn't even remember him until now.”
“He’s definitely not with the Wizard's Council.”
“You know him Slayer?”
She nodded. “I wonder why he needed to see Kyle’s mom.”
“Who is he?” Spike turned his key in the ignition.
“His name's Ethan Rayne.” She watched the Cadillac stop at the red light. “He’s always a problem when he’s in town.”
“I remember that name. He’s the wanker that changed Rupert into a fyarl.”
“That’s him. I’d sure like to know what he’s doing in Sunnydale.”
“That can be arranged.” Spike wrenched the wheel left and stomped on the gas pedal, muscling the Desoto across the line of oncoming traffic and into the queue headed slowly through the business district.
“Spike? What are you doing? Kyle's house is in the other direction.”
“I know where the kid lives, Slayer.” He glanced over at her. “I thought you wanted to know where Rayne is headed.”
“I do, but this will never work. It’s going to take about sixty seconds before he notices us following him. This car's not exactly hard to miss.”
Kyle leaned forward. “I can help with that. Touch your glamour and the couple charms together when I say so.” He closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath.
“Okay, now.”
Buffy did as he requested and touched the charms. She felt a tingling in her wrist that felt almost as if she'd been lightly shocked by an errant home appliance. Strange but not altogether unpleasant, the tingling feeling ended quickly.
“I don't see anything different.” She twisted around in the seat so she could see the teen. ”Nothing happened.”
“We're stopped at the red light. Look over at that big plate glass window in the front of the clothing store. What do you see?”
Buffy looked over at the window. She saw Rayne's Cadillac and a red convertible waiting behind him reflected in the big window. Amazingly, the Desoto, third in line, appeared to be a green van.
“I thought the charm only hide me or maybe me and one other person.”
“Normally, that's exactly what would happen.” A wide grin spread across his face. “I just boosted the spell a little bit.”
Spike looked at the reflection in the store window and barked a laugh. “Slayer, we're ridin' around in the vamps' van.” Amused, he looked in the rear view mirror at Kyle. “That's pretty slick, wizard.”
Kyle shrugged his shoulders, but couldn't keep the pride out of his voice. “I can do some advanced stuff, it just won’t hold together long.”
The light changed and the line of cars started moving again.
“Spike, he's turning up ahead.” Buffy turned back to the teen. “So, Kyle, how long would you say we'll be incognito people?”
“Um, I'm not sure. It's a fairly powerful spell, but it should hang together for a little while at least. Maybe a half hour?”
“I'd say the point is moot. He's stoppin' up ahead.”
Rayne had pulled the Cadillac over to the curb in front of a row of apartment buildings.
“Keep driving, Spike. Go around the block or something.”
“Way ahead of you, pet.” Spike turned at the intersection and started back around the block. Turning on the street again, Spike pulled the car over to the curb.
“Before we park right behind the git, we better decide what we're doin'.” Looking over at Buffy, he asked, “What's your goal here pet? Do you want to do a recon?”
Buffy shook her head. “It's too dangerous with Kyle. We'll watch where he goes and come back later.”
“Now wait just a darn minute.” Kyle’s voice was low pitched and mutinous. “You might lose your chance to see what this guy is up to, and if I hadn't been here, you wouldn't have gotten this far. He's my clue. You can't take me home now. I won’t go.”
“The junior wizard's got a point, Slayer.”
Buffy chewed her lip. She hated involving innocents and Kyle wasn’t any older than Dawn, but the young wizard had a valid point and he’d already demonstrated the ability to think on his feet.
“Alright, but you absolutely wait in the car.”
His face brightened. “No problem. I'll wait.”
“Okay, pull up and park behind him, Spike.”
Spike moved the car down the block, parked a few spaces behind the Cadillac and shut off the motor. “Let's go.”
*****
Ethan pulled out a key and unlocked the door. “I'm back.”
A blonde lying on the couch watching television sat up and asked. “How'd it go?”
“No problem.” He threw his keys on the small table beside the door. “I gave them the information and left.”
She stood up. “Can you stay?”
“No, I need to take off. I don't want to be seen here. It's too dangerous. I just had to see you again. I've missed you.” He reached over and gathered the woman in his arms. “It won't be too much longer. I'll call you tomorrow morning.” He kissed her.
She pressed her body into his and murmured. “Are you sure you have to leave?”
He pulled away. “I'm sure. We don't want anything to go wrong after all this careful planning.”
Buffy and Spike had reached the corner of the hall when Ethan came back out the door.
Ducking into a deep old fashioned alcove, they waited until he went down the hall stairs. Following quietly behind him, they watched from the landing while he exited the building. Once he’d slid behind the wheel of the Cadillac and pulled out, they ran back to the Desoto.
Twenty minutes later, they’d followed Rayne to the old warehouse district outside Sunnydale when Kyle spoke urgently. “Spike, stop the car. The spell's breaking apart.”
Spike pulled into an alley and turned off the ignition.
Buffy felt a light tingle in the wrist that wore the bracelet. “The spell's over, isn't it? I could actually feel it break.”
Kyle nodded. “What you felt was the end of your part of the spell.” He slumped in the seat. “I can’t do anymore for awhile, large spells like that drain my energy.”
Spike turned the ignition. “This area's all dead end streets; Rayne must be holed up in here somewhere.”
“We can come back and track him. Right now, we need to take Kyle home.”
Buffy turned to face the backseat and saw the disappointment written across his face. “You really helped a great deal, Kyle. We'll come back later tonight and find out what Ethan's up to.”
She leaned over to touch his hand. “But you have to understand something, too. Ethan Rayne is a rat, but he might be a rat that has nothing to do with your mom's disappearance. It could just be a coincidence. ”
Solemnly, Kyle asked, “Will you call me tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. After tonight, I consider you one of the team.”
Spike looked at the boy in the rearview mirror. “So, wizard, just how much training have you had? That cloaking spell was bloody brilliant.”
Buffy watched as Spike’s comment caused the teen to break out in a grin. Relieved that he wasn’t so glum anymore, she listened to his answer.
“Well, I've been studying since I was four and I'm nearly through my apprenticeship now. But the real wizard in my family is my older sister. My mom says Claire is even better than she was at her age, that she's already good enough to become a Council member. I have to work really hard, but Claire's a natural. The art has always been easy for her.”
“How does a spell like that work? It seemed like you actually added to my bracelet in some way.”
“That’d exactly right. When I was small, my mom explained it like this. A wizard can’t fundamentally change someone else’s spell, but they can enhance the original intent. For example, it’s a chilly day so you put on a long sleeved shirt. That’s your original spell.
But you’re still cold so someone gives you a sweater. That’s their addition to your own spell. The sweater enhances your shirt’s ability to keep you warm. The sweater can’t make you colder, because you originally intended for the shirt to help protect you from the cold. Magic is all about intent and personal strength of will.” He smiled again. “And lots and lots of practice.”
“How long can a spell last?”
Kyle shrugged. “It depends on the wizard casting the spell. Someone as powerful as my mom or my sister could conjure a spell that lasts a lifetime. Me? Obviously not as long.”
“Your sis and your mum looked happy in that picture.”
“I actually took the picture.”
“Your sister’s a bit older than you, eh?”
“Yeah, she's eight years older. I’m fourteen and she’s twenty-two.”
Buffy broke in to the conversation. “Kyle, has your grandfather called to let your sister know about your mom?”
“He spoke with her yesterday. She lives in New York, but she said she'd be here as soon as she could get away.”
Spike stopped for a red light. “I'll bet she's upset about your mum.”
Kyle didn't answer right away. Picking at a loose thread in the hem of his shirt, he finally responded. “Usually they get along really well. But the last couple times we've all been together my mom and Claire have argued. A lot. In fact, Claire was supposed to come with us on this vacation, but she backed out at the last minute.”
“What were they fightin' about?”
Kyle shrugged. “I have no idea. Neither one of them will tell me anything. But I do know who might have heard.”
“Who?”
“The last time they had a huge fight; Claire ran off and stayed with Drake.”
Spike pulled the Desoto up to the curb in front of the Victorian and popped the trunk.
Kyle got out of the car and turned back to Buffy. “You'll definitely call me tomorrow?”
“I'll call, I promise.”
“Don’t worry Kyle. The Slayer won’t break a promise. It’s that whole white hat thing.”
Kyle nodded. “Okay, then I'll talk to you tomorrow.” Pausing briefly, he turned back to the couple and managed a smile. “Thank you both for everything you're doing.” He turned and continued pushing the bike up the walk.
Buffy watched him enter the house. “You know, Spike, there goes a really great kid.”
“Yeah. Now all we've got to do is find his mum, so he can be a kid awhile longer.”
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Author's Chapter Notes:
S5 AU.