A/N – Thanks
to Marsters’ Girl for beta’ing this fiction!
Chapter Sixteen
The sun had just set as the two darkened vans paused
at their destination; the opening to a large cave, set in the side of a
mountain. Xander and Cordelia shut off
the engines and the drivers, Willow and Angel, got out of the van.
They all stretched their aching muscles, then turned
almost as one to the van which held Buffy and Spike, it was rocking ever so
slightly.
"We really should get going." Angel said quietly.
Xander gave him a hard look and retorted, "You
wanna be the one to stop them?" As
Angel looked away, Xander continued, "Didn't think so."
Willow decided to end the clash, "Why don't we
pack up as much stuff as we can carry while we wait for them to finish."
she said, a slight blush staining her cheeks.
"Good idea." Angel said, before turning back to his van to pack up as much
blood as he could carry.
Cordelia sighed, then followed her boss. Xander and Willow sighed simultaneously,
looking back at the van which had ceased rocking, but they could hear a purring
sound coming from it. They turned and
followed the other two.
--------
Half an hour later the groups were packed and ready
to leave. The vans had been locked up
and left trustingly at the entrance to the cave. As they walked into the dark cave, Buffy glanced back at Willow
who gestured with her hand, muttering a few words in Latin. Suddenly the cave lit up, as though a string
of lights adorned each wall.
Buffy smiled gratefully at her friend, while Spike
said, "Thanks, Red." Willow
smiled at the couple.
"Wow!"
Cordelia said impressed. Xander
flung an arm around Willow's shoulder squeezing slightly before letting go
saying,
"That's my little witch!" Cordelia rolled her eyes, her jealousy
roused.
The group walked in to the cave, Buffy and Spike
first holding hands, each with their own bag.
Buffy's had some clothes for her and Spike, while Spike carried some blood
in a magically enhanced cool bag. A
couple of meters behind them were Xander and Willow, side by side, also holding
their own rucksacks.
Slightly behind them walked Cordelia, and further
behind her, Angel, keeping far away from Buffy and Spike as promised.
Buffy and Spike were extremely conscious of Angel's
presence and Spike mentally spoke to her in order to calm her, with some sort
of privacy.
*Don't think about him, love. He'll only make you upset.* Spike said soothingly, rubbing his thumb
gently over the back of her hand.
*I just wish he didn't have to be here, his being
here keeps me angry and I wanna be cool and controlled.*
*I think I can do something to help that.* he said, before he stopped her, kissing her
passionately, exploring her mouth.
*I love you, Buffy.* he mentally called out.
Buffy broke the kiss and spoke out loud, "I
love you, too Spike."
And with that they continued, the slayer slightly
calmer than before.
The rest of the group regarded the couple
quizzically. They had seen the kiss and
heard Buffy's words. But she had said -
'you too' implying that he had said it first, but no one had heard him.
Everyone ,but Willow, pushing their instinctive questions to the back to their
minds, walked on in silence. The
hacker, however, made a decision to ask Buffy about it, as it was weird, even
for a turned vampire slayer and her unsouled vampire mate.
They had been walking for hours, following the map
provided by the council, and while the vampires could have kept going the
humans were in dire need of a break so they decided to stop at an underground
pool. Xander and Cordelia were verbally
sparring as they ate on a blanket, which he'd laid out.
Angel was sitting on one on of the rocks surrounding
the pool, turning away self-consciously as he ate, staring into the deep
green/blue water. It reminded him of
Buffy's eyes. Spike sat resting his
back on the wall with Buffy sitting in between his legs, her back pressed to
his chest, his arms wrapped around her nuzzling the mark on her neck as she
talked to Willow who was sitting on her bag a little bit away, eating an
apple.
Buffy was explaining her new power to Willow, and
the hacker was listening with great interest.
"I don't know about space and non-contact
conditions though." Buffy was
saying, "So far we've only done it in close proximity to each other or
holding hands."
"Big word, pet." Spike whispered into her ear, blowing into it, causing the slayer
to shiver. He kissed down her neck,
swirling his tongue in intricate patterns around her bite mark, forcing himself
not to bite down again.
He knew Buffy would not be happy if he made her come
in front of her friend.
"Sooo, what do think these tasks are gonna
be?" Buffy asked, as she regained
her equilibrium.
"I guess it'll be like fetch whatever, kill
this, sing that...” Willow ended with a smirk which the slayer returned.
"What’s with Cordy and Xander?" Buffy whispered.
Willow gave her a sneaky look, and whispered "I think they like each
other.....still."
The slayer shot her a mock worried look and giggled,
"A match made on the Hellmouth!"
Willow giggled back, and Spike chuckled mentally, saying, *You think the
witch still likes him?*
*No - lesbian now...remember Janie?.* She asked, as
she watched Willow rummage through her bag.
Janie and Willow had been going out for three years and everything had been
going great until....it had been a car accident. The driver had apparently lost control and had swerved off the
road. Willow had been in hospital for
weeks. Janie hadn't made it.
*I don't think she likes Cordelia though - it brings
up bad memories, though I guess she got one over on her in the end.*
*Why doesn't she.....what the fuck is that?* he asked, his eyes following the sea
creature that had just risen from the pool on a bed of water.
*I have no idea.*
Buffy replied before calling out, "Guys look out!" They moved just before a wave of water hit
them.
Xander pushed Cordelia out of the way, while Angel
jumped back. Willow ran out of the way,
and Spike lifted Buffy in his arms, rapidly moving backwards. He put her down and called out over the
noise, "Red can you do something?"
The proverbial light-bulb went up over Willows'
head, and she called back, "Yes, just distract it for a minute."
"No problem." The slayer shouted, and she picked up a rock and through it at
the sea creature. It fell back on to
the water but quickly regained its footing, sending another splash of water
their way. Angel attempted to chuck a
spear at it but it only hit its arm, causing pain but no real damage.
The creature roared and tore the spear from its
body, hurling it back at Angel who caught it and chucked it back. Spike and Buffy continued throwing rocks and
boulders at it, while Angel continued his game of throw and catch.
Cordelia and Xander were hovering protectively over
Willow as she flipped through her spell book, repeating, "Removal spell,
removal spell...".
As she found the incantation, she began to read,
crossed legged rocking back and forth.
**
I beg of the moon, the stars and the sun
Removed this creature, let it be done.
As I perform this honourable spell
Perform upon me no counter-curse
As I will it, so mote it be well
**
A flash of light shot from the ceiling of the cave,
engulfing the creature whole. The group
heard its mangled screams and watched as the light dimmed, taking with it the
monster.
As the light went, Willow slumped back, Xander only
just catching her before she hit the hard floor. Buffy looked around her companions checking that they were okay. Spike moved closer to her, pulling her into
a reassuring kiss.
Angel looked to the floor, while the other two
helped Willow to stand. As Spike moved
back, Buffy smiled at him before turning to the rest of the group, "What
say we get out of here? The sooner we
find this guy the better."
With the group all in agreement, they set off
further into the caves towards their destination, unsure what other pratfalls
their journey would bring.
Part Seventeen:
They had been travelling for just over a day. So far, they'd been lucky. Other than at night - when the caves seemed
eerily dark - their travels had been reasonably well lit. As if some higher being were guiding them to
their destination.... The night before
had been.... disturbing to say the least.
Spike and Angel had disappeared to ensure the 'camp'
was secure. Buffy hadn't liked Spike's
idea, but went along for it for the sake of her sire. She knew they would both come back looking worse for wear...and not
due to any monster they'd met.
Buffy had paced the 'camp' restlessly and nothing
the others tried could placate her to sit down. When they'd finally returned Buffy had practically flown into
Spike's arms, peppering his slightly bruised skin with kisses. From there they'd retreated to their end of
the 'camp'.
Xander had laughed snidely at Angel's cut face, as
the dark vampire fell into his pallet on the opposite side to the other
vampires. Cordy had smacked the whelp
upside the head before gingerly giving Angel his rationed dinner. It was barely acknowledged with a grunt, and
the ex-cheerleader retreated to her pallet.
They had all agreed to take turns in keeping
watch.
First up had been Xander and Cordy.... of course
no-one got any sleep during their watch due to their incessant bickering and
rapid torch flashing
Second, Angel and Willow.... the silence had been
deafening. Willow had tried to start
some sort of conversation, torn between her empathy for the vampire and her
loyalty to Buffy. However, Angel hadn't
been in the most talkative mood - mostly due to his swollen jaw, which ached
with his every movement.
Last, but certainly not least came Buffy and
Spike. They'd been as quiet as any
couple could be during a serious make-out session. Everyone has slept through the night......except one broody
vampire, whose exceptional hearing heard everything from the quietest whimper
to the slightest moan. He felt his
heart break a little more each time.
Nothing had attacked that night, but all felt like
they'd gone ten-rounds with a world class boxer demon the next morning.
So, they continued to trudge through the mass of
tunnels. They had spotted several
tunnels that could have veered off in other directions, but by unanimous
decision they had chosen straight ahead - figuring that to be the best course
of action.
*In your house.... I long to be...room by room.... patiently.... I’ll wait for you there...like a sto-*
"What the hell are you singing? You've been
doing it for an hour now!!"
Everyone jumped at the slayer's loud and sudden jump off topic.
All eyes on her..."Well, I want to know...it’s
annoying not knowing!"
"Buff, I hate to tell you but Junior hasn’t
said anything-"
"Ugh, I meant in my head...I can hear what he's thinking!" Buffy explained, swirling her head to answer Xander.
"You can hear what he's think-” Xander
squeaked, shocked.
"Doesn't he listen to anything?" Spike butted in with an timely eye roll.
"Hey I listen-"
"No."
Cordy answered; interrupting him.
"Since when-"
"It's been like two days now!" Willow interrupted with a frown.
"Will everyone stop-” Xander tried again.
"I swear I told you." Buffy interrupted a red faced Xander.
Spike laughed as Xander screamed; frustrated.
Everyone fell silent as an answering scream
resounded around the caves.
"Okay, what was that?" Xander whispered.
Five voices spoke simultaneously. "Shhh!"
The screech rang out again- Closer this time.
"It's getting closer." Angel commented.
"No shit, Sherlock...care to-"
"Spike, shhh!" Buffy placed her fingers over her lover’s lips, as its call rang out
once more, trying to discern where it was coming from. They could see four possible entrances. Three to various angles in front of them and
one from behind.
The three vampires instinctively took up protective
places around the group. Angel turned
from his position at he back to take the back entrance while Spike and Buffy
faced the alternate angles forward.
The scream came again… Then another.
"There's more than one." Buffy realized. The second call almost came straight after the first...and those
few milliseconds were enough for her keen hearing. "Everyone got weapons?" She asked, taking the chink of metal as an affirmative.
Then they appeared.
Three slimy, green, snarling..."Are they
lizards?" Willow asked.
"Looks like...go for their stomachs."
"Avoid the teeth and claws." Buffy finished off her lover’s
sentence. "On three?"
"Sure."
"One..."
As one the group sprang forward.
Spike and Angel automatically switched to their true
face but Buffy held back, attempting to keep her head...so to speak.
The three humans held back as the three vamps took
on a lizard each. As Angel was knocked
down they rushed forward to pick up the slack while the vampire quickly rose,
getting back into the fray.
Spike was having the time of his life...it felt like
it'd been forever since he'd gotten to fight something that he knew he was
'allowed' to kill. He flipped his sword
to his left hand as he dodged a Godzilla type paw, rolling out of the way.
Xander and Cordy were knocked back by a stray tail,
which Angel had ducked under. The
vampire swerved on his feet, sliding his knife easily into the creature’s
belly. The lizard let out a cry as the
green blood began to squirt from it.
It spurted towards Willow and she squeaked, holding
up her hands. "Divert!"
The blood seemed to glide off the witch...and land
on Cordy and Xander.
Willow smiled sheepishly. "Ooops?"
Buffy was momentarily distracted as Spike dodged the
sharp tail of 'his' lizard. The
peroxide vampire let out a very unmanly squeal as he ran from it, "Not the
duster, not the duster!"
She giggled, then immediately regretted it when her
opponent took the opportunity to land a hard bow to her face. Her head snapped back with the blow, and the
slayer growled loudly at the scent of her own blood. Her eyes flashed dangerously, and she vamped out.
The lizard let out a snarl of surprise as the
furious vampiress pounced on it, her axe swinging wildly.
Spike, who had managed to recover from his earlier
display, did the neat matrix-trick of running up the wall and flipping back
over his opponent. Fortunately for him,
his lizard-guy did not have as good a timing as Morpheus, and stumbled head
first in to the wall in front of him.
Spike jumped onto the stunned demon, swinging his
sword up and around, using his other hand to pull it around and through the
creature’s neck like an egg slicer. The
demon's head rolled over to where Buffy had finally finished dicing up her
demon.
Buffy stood and smiled over at her lover. Her eyes darted to the group, "You guys
all okay?"
"Yeah, Buff."
"DO I LOOK LIKE I’M OKAY? I'm covered in demon-goo. No, I'm NOT okay!"
Buffy rolled her eyes, sniggering a bit as she began
to slowly move to Spike's side. She
frowned at the scent of his blood in the air, and her eyes dropped to the cut
on his hand from his impromptu guillotine.
"Are you-" She began worriedly.
*Pet...*
Spike began in his head. "Behind you!"
Buffy smiled and dodged, slamming her sword down in
to the fourth lizard-creature, the blade slicing easily through its protective
body armour due to the unrivalled strength she put behind it.
Buffy retracted her sword, moving to her lover's
side. She dropped her weapon, taking
his sliced hand in hers. "You're
hurt." She pouted.
"'S nothin', pet." Spike growled as she brought it up to her
still-vamped lips, her tongue darting out.
Spike leant forward, his own mouth settling over the almost healed cut
on her cheek. Buffy smiled, nuzzling
her face into his mouth, as she began to purr.
"They're kinda like cats." Cordy whispered to Willow, as an answering
purr from Spike was heard. Willow
nodded...her eyes straying to Angel; who had purposely averted his.
“Really big, dangerous cats…” The witch agreed.
"Oh, shit." Everyone turned to Xander who indicated in front of them with his
flash light. The fight seemed to have moved
them further into the caves and they had finally reached the one thing that
they hadn't found before....and the one thing they feared the most.....a cross
road.
"Which way?" Buffy asked, rubbing her face into her sire’s chest, eager to
feel the vibrations, as her face returned to her normal countenance.
Spike lifted one of his hands from around her waist,
rubbing the back of her neck gently.
"Dunno, pet. Group
vote?"
Buffy tuned in his embrace and faced the group. "Guys?"