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Spike had asked Buffy to stop to her dorm. He had claimed he
needed something from there. She had the surprise of her life,
when after they entered her room, Spike sat at Willow’s desk,
turned on her laptop, and extracted a blue floppy from his
duster’s inside pocket.
“What are you doing?” she asked, taking other weapons and a pair
of jeans from her closet.
“I’m looking for answers” he replied not looking at her.
“On Willow’s laptop? I had no idea you knew how to use a
computer…” she said.
Spike turned toward her and said, “There are many things you don’t
know about me, Slayer…and it’s fine by me…now, would you leave me
the hell alone, for a while?”
“Sure…I’ll go changing.” She said.
“You might want to eat something…” he absently said while she went
changing.
< Ok, officially wigged out, now…did he just remind me to
*eat*?>
She thought while changing. She could hear him type on the
keyboard and swear under his breath. Where did that floppy come
from? Why was Spike so willing to help?
Another question kept echoing in her mind, though. Who was Spike,
really?
She returned in her room when Spike was turning off Willow’s
laptop, he turned toward her, and Buffy couldn’t help noticing the
distressed look on his face.
Spike…
…William The Bloody…
…was scared. Scared by the information he had found on the floppy.
“Did you find something?” she asked getting close to him.
“Oh, yes…yes I did…” he replied looking at her, his eyes bore into
hers, while he got close to her and Buffy couldn’t help
taking a step back. She swallowed and asked, “What did you find?”
“I know who and what took Red and the Watcher…I know where they
might be…I know what’s happening to them…”
“Do you know how to stop this, uh? Do you even know how to bring
Will and Giles, back, while you're at it?” she dryly asked.
“Oh, yes…I already did, once.”
“Once?” she asked.
“Yes…but first let me ask you a question, are you ready to kill
human beings?” he asked.
“What?” she asked surprised.
“You might be forced to; there will be human beings…are you ready?
I can’t do that…as you bloody well know”
Buffy looked at him, “Human beings?”
“Yes, technically speaking…” he said. He looked at her, catching
the hesitancy in her eyes and said, “Doesn’t it matter now, let’s
go…I think it’s time I told you a story…”
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Under Sunnyhell…that’s where they hiding…” he said heading toward
the door.
“And it’s supposed to take us three days to find them?” she said
following him.
Spike stopped. He turned to look at her and said, “You have no
idea who and what are we dealing with…” he paused, then added,
“Once we enter Sunnyhell’s tunnels, time and space as we know it,
won’t exist anymore. Magic and illusions will reign….”
Buffy looked at him, “I guess I'll have to trust you on this one…
but first…” she surprised him, punching him on the nose.
Spike covered his nose and said, “What the hell was that for?”
“Nothing…it’s just that I feel this is the last time I can rightly
punch you…”
~~*~~*~~*~~
They were outside the tunnel’s entrance. They hadn’t talked since
they had left Buffy’s room.
They both had small backpacks and bags with them. It was still
night, a clear night. Buffy looked around, trying to impress it in
her memory, feeling that was the last time she ever was outside.
Feeling that was the last time she ever looked at the stars.
As if reading her mind, Spike said, “Don’t waste your time looking
at the stars…you’ll see them again” he paused then asked, “Are you
ready?”
Buffy turned and looked at him; she managed to smile before
saying, “Of course…wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Spike shook his head at her words. He hoped Buffy was going to
remain strong. He hadn’t told her everything about what they were
going to see and experience.
If what had been in the floppy was true, some of the more powerful
demons and warlocks had conjured to end the world.
Two months before, one of the Eletti had mysteriously disappeared.
She had been assigned to keep tracks on a Master Vampire in
France. Word was her cover had blown up big time. Since then,
there had been an unusual activity.
He was mad as hell. Why hadn’t he been informed of all this? He
had noticed something strange, but had connected it, on living on
one of the Hellmouths.
He’d had suspicions about what was happening to Giles and Willow.
A brief talk with Ethan had confirmed them.
He knew that they were torturing them. They were fucking with
their heads…and he knew that they didn’t have much time…if they
wanted to save them, not just their bodies, but their minds as
well.
They entered the tunnels. They both jumped when the entrance
disappeared, leaving them in the dark. He heard her open her
backpack; he shook his head and stopped her saying, “Don’t…”
“I can’t see anything…” she replied.
“Oh, yes you can…you’re the Slayer’s for God’s sake! Hone your
senses…adjust to the darkness, you will be surprised” his voice
was low and soothing.
Buffy took a deep breath, while Spike kept talking, “Don’t you
remember what they told you when you were called? One girl in all
the world, a Chosen One, one born with the strength and the
*skill* to hunt the vampires… ”
“Gee…does everyone know this speech?” she asked. She was smiling,
though…Spike had been right. She could see in the darkness. She
was surprised by how different the tunnels looked. She could
almost see the magic; she could feel the evil, more clearly than
she’d ever been able to.
Spike ignored her words, but said, “A Slayer is not just a killing
machine, ducks…what do you see? What do you feel?”
“Magic, it surrounds us…it’s molding this place…” she breathed.
“Very Good…now stick with me, don’t rush at anything, they want us
apart…just focus on your senses” he continued.
They walked in silence for a while. The corridor seemed endless;
Buffy was surprised by how comfortable she felt with Spike. She
looked at him, he looked very calm, there weren’t traces of his
usual hyper self. He looked like a predator, yet he hadn’t morphed
in his game face, he was close to her, but not in a menacing way.
“Are you ever going to tell me the truth?” she asked in a low
voice, “’Cause I gotta tell you, the thirst for violence is not
very convincing any more…”
Spike chuckled at her words, but didn’t say anything. Buffy
realized he was struggling with himself to tell her the truth; she
took a deep breath and said, “You can tell me, Spike…whatever
happens I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”
Spike turned toward her and asked, “Why do you want to know? Isn’t
it enough I’m helping you and your chums?”
Buffy shook her head, “No, it isn’t, Spike. I was used to a cocky,
easily bored, hyper vampire, who loved violence, who loved messing
with our heads…now I’m dealing with a vampire that speaks ancient
languages, that know how to use a computer…and that is way too
calm… so, what’s the what?”
“I’m a vampire, ducks…” he said.
“I kinda noticed that, thank you.” she dryly replied.
Spike snorted at her words and said, “But it’s why I’m a vampire
that matters.”
“Uh?” she asked. The silence in that corridor was almost
deafening.
“Have you ever asked Angel about my turning?” he asked lighting a
cigarette.
“He didn’t want to tell me, the only thing he ever told about you
is that, quote ‘Once he starts something he doesn’t stop until
everything in his path is dead’ end quote”
Spike cocked and eyebrow at her, before saying, “He told you I was
dangerous…but he didn’t tell you how we met…didn’t he?”
“No, although he told me about Drusilla….” She replied.
“Sick bastard…” he murmured, he shook his head then said, “Come
on, Slayer…you’ve been an Angelus’ victim…you know how sick he
is…and how he enjoys it”
“You’ll get no arguments from me here…” she whispered. She then
looked at him and said, “but you’re still not spilling…c’mon
Spike!”
“Have you ever wondered what happens in the rest of the world,
while you’re here slaying?” he asked.
“Everyday…” she whispered, feeling suddenly uncomfortable.
“And have you ever wondered why you don’t travel from place to
place, stopping the various threats against the world?”
“Sometimes…” she admitted, she stopped walking and she crossed her
arms over her chest saying, “but this doesn’t explain anything,
Spike…”
“On the contrary. What do you think the council does besides
giving a watcher to the slayer?”
“I have no idea; they haven’t done anything for me…since they sent
Giles to me. All they did was giving that damn test to me, and
then firing Giles because he cared too much about me…”
“Quentin Travers is an ass…and the Cruciamentum is just crap” he
murmured
“Granted but…hey! How do you know about him and the test?” she
asked surprised.
“You’d be surprised by how many things I know about the Council.
Did you know, for example, that there’s an intelligence within the
Council?” he said, ignoring her question.
“Intelligence as in…spies and all the lot?” she asked.
“Exactly.”
“And what …whom do they spy on? Is Travers one of them? And how do
you know about it?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“I’m one of them…” he mumbled. How could he explain the fact that
he had willingly chosen to die…and become a monster? How could he
explain what meant to him being one of the Eletti?
“You’re telling me you’re a spy?” she asked incredulity in her
voice.
“Yes…although we call ourselves Eletti.”
“But you’re a vampire and …oh!” she said realization dawning.
“You spy on them? S…since when?”
“Since I was human….” He softly said. “I was a watcher…when they
approached me.”
“They?” she asked.
Spike nodded, “They told me who they were…what they did…they only
choose the best among the watchers…did you know your watcher had
been offered to?”
“Did he refuse?” Buffy asked.
Spike shook his head, “No, he was called as your watcher…after
Merrick died. It had been Merrick to suggest his name as your
watcher…Rupert chose his slayer…to stand beside her and guide
her…” he turned to watch her then softly said, “He chose to stand
beside you even before knowing you…”
Buffy swallowed, fighting back tears, missing Giles more than
ever. She cleared her throat and said, “B...back at you…what
happened?”
“I accepted. I was young, idealist and very lonely…and I wanted to
aid the Slayer…”
“Well, it doesn’t look like you did a good job, then. You killed
two…”
“I had to. Both times.” He snapped.
“You had to?”
“Angelus had kidnapped her. He had decided to turn her…” Spike
noticed Buffy blinking at his words, “but first he decided to fuck
with her mind. Mind torture, Angelus was the master of it. I
couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t contact the Eletti, because the
bastard was checking on me, he didn’t trust me…yet, I managed to
talk to her one night, while Angelus and the others were out
hunting. I told her about me…my calling…”
“Did she believe you?” She asked.
“I don’t know, ducks. I think she was just probably scared to
become a vampire…”
“I can relate…” she mumbled.
Spike shook his head, and started walking again, followed by
Buffy, who asked, “What happened, then?”
Spike slowed and shrugged, then bitterly chuckled before saying,
“Emilie…that was her name…she had asked me to kill her, if I
wouldn’t have been able to save her, so when the wanker surprised
us, together, she punched me. We fought and I killed her”
“How?” she said in a nasal voice.
“Does it matter?” he said in a low voice.
“Yes…did you drain her? Stabbed her?”
“I broke her neck! Are you happy, now? Under Angelus’ eyes…and do
you want to know what he did after I killed her? First he tortured
me for hours”
“He tortured you? Why?”
Spike laughed at her words, “Why? Because he was evil…and sick. He
loved to torture just about anyone. Body, mind…it wasn’t important
to him, as long as he could hurt. I had killed his new toy, he
didn’t trust me… it was torture’s hour and no one was around
except me.”
“He suspected about your calling?”
“No…I wouldn’t be here if he really had suspected that. He just
didn’t trust me…he didn’t like me. ”
“Were you afraid of what he could do to you?” she asked in a low
voice.
“Oh, no… What could he do to me…kill me? I was already dead. He
could just torture me, but I've been trained to bear torture…all
the watchers are…” Spike noticed she flinched at his words, he
shook his head and said, “Then he kissed me…telling me how proud
he was of me, and how all his doubts about me, had been for
naught…”
“Why…didn’t you kill him?” she asked.
“I couldn’t blow my cover. I hadn’t been assigned to him to kill
him, that was the Slayer’s job…my job was to stop his plans…do you
think Achatala has been his first attempt to end the world?
Angelus was the scourge of Europe…and believe me, the things
written in the Watcher’s diaries are nothing compared to what I
saw him doing…”
“So…that’s how you killed the first slayer…what happened, then?”
she asked. She had troubles believing him, but she couldn’t ignore
the sincerity in his voice and the haunted look in his eyes.
“He disappeared…later we knew he had been cursed. The Eletti
forgave me for what I had done…and I went for my merry way with
Drusilla…”
“Did she know about you?” she asked.
“Are you kidding me? Of course she didn’t. We traveled from place
to place…I dragged her wherever the Eletti sent me. …most of the
times. For a while, I just enjoyed being a vampire. I just enjoyed
being with Dru. She trusted me…she had sired me, but I took care
of her. ”
“Then what happened?” she asked.
“Something very similar to what’s happening, now…A slayer went
rogue…humans and demons got together to end the world and one of
the Eletti’s cover had blown big time…”
“Let me guess…that’s how you killed the second slayer…” she asked.
“You think Faith was bad? Well…you didn’t see the other…she was
the one who put together demons and sorcerers to end the world…she
was a crazy bitch…”
“The one who begged you to spare her?” she asked.
“Uh? Oh, no…that didn’t ever happen…I was just buying time…do you
think I had come that night to the School to kill you?” he asked.
“Well…let’s see…you said you would have killed me…you said you
would have sucked one of my friends dry…then beat me with their
bones…yes, the idea actually crossed my mind…” she dryly said, she
smiled and added, “gee…I wonder why!”
Spike chuckled at her words then said, “I had to stop St. Vigeous’
night and kill the Anointed One…those were my orders…and well, I
wanted to cure Dru…”
“You were convincing….” She commented.
“I had to sound convincing…there were minions everywhere…” he
paused then looked around saying, “Just think about that…did you
really believe for a second that your mum could have stopped me if
I’d really wanted you dead?
Mr-once-he-starts-something-doesn’t-stop-until-everything-in-his-path-is-dead?
I was waiting for one of your chums to show up…”
“You knew about them?” she asked surprised.
“Luv, I even knew their shoe’s sizes when I came to Sunnydale…and
besides the night we met, at the Bronze, I spied on you for
hours…and by the way, your speaking French was really awful…”
“I can’t believe it…” she said shaking her head. “You scared the
hell out of me…I was sore for days afterwards…”
Spike smirked, “Unfortunately, my demon enjoyed the hunt a little
too much…”
“Your…demon?”
Spike ignored her question and went on saying, “I just had to
prove Dru I had tried to kill you…I’d been successful in stopping
St.Vigeous night…and with half of the minions dusted, courtesy of
the Slayer and her Scooby Gang…I could easily kill The Annoying
One… ”
“So you had planned everything?” she asked.
Spike nodded, “To the least detail, ducks…as always.” He replied
cocking an eyebrow at her.
“You were telling me about the second slayer…”
“There’s nothing to say…she was rogue, she was a bitch…the Eletti
ordered me to kill her and I did. End of story.”
He didn’t want to tell her about what he had found, when he had
gone fighting her and the others. He couldn’t tell her….not in
that tunnel. He had been trained to bear everything. When he
had lived with Angelus he had witnessed torture and mayhem…He had
a nasty son of a bitch of a demon within himself. Yet that night,
kept haunting his dreams. He still had nightmares about that
night…and he couldn’t afford to plague the Slayer with them.
“Why do I feel you’re not telling me anything?” she asked.
“Because you are not stupid…and for this very reason I ask you not
to stick your nose in this…”
“Fine…” she replied.
“Fine” he echoed.
“So” he said after a while. They had been walking in silence for a
while. Both lost in their thoughts. Buffy looked at him. The
vampire looked around and said, “Let’s stay together…is way too
calm here…”
“I agree…” she murmured. Spike was looking at her, an unreadable
expression in his face. “What?” she asked.
“Just when did you realize you were in love with your watcher?” he
asked crossing his arms over his chest.
“I beg your pardon?” she asked.
< I beg your pardon? Gee…couldn’t you be, like,
a little more obvious? >
“When. Did. You. Realize. You. Were. In. Love. With. Him?” he
slowly repeated.
Buffy was about to answer him, when a bright purple light, lit the
corridor. The first battle had begun.
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