Chapter Three
Spike let himself into the motel room just as the sun crested the horizon. He threw his keys and a bag onto the table by the door, then shrugged out of his duster. He winced as the hole in his stomach throbbed, an actual chuckle escaping his lips. He had to give her credit, she was the first to turn his own weapon back on him. Stripping out of his t-shirt, he inspected the wound, glad to see it was already starting to close. The bleeding had stopped long ago, thanks to his good old enhanced vampire healing.
Opening the brown paper bag, Spike pulled out the first aid kit he’d bought, ignoring the other contents for the moment. He quickly opened it and pulled out gauze, antibiotic ointment, and tape. He then smeared some of the ointment on the gauze and slapped it on the hole, hissing a bit at his own forcefulness. He then taped the edges and moved back to the bag.
Now that was done, he could focus on his dinner. Reaching inside, he pulled a out Styrofoam take out tray, and put it aside. He then pulled out a large mason jar filled with blood, followed by a six pack of beer. Taking one, he twisted the cap and took a long drink, savoring the taste of barely and hops as they exploded on his tongue. Grabbing the tray and his blood, he balanced all three objects as he walked to the bed. Placing the beer by the phone, he popped the top of the tray, breathing deep the smell of the chicken wings. He then unscrewed the jar. Plucking up one of the wings, he dipped it into the blood and began to chow down.
It was probably a good thing that he hadn’t gone back to the mansion. Angel and Dru had never understood why he consumed human food. And it wasn’t like he could tell them that he needed both that and the blood to survive, so, he had just taken to eating alone.
Spike dunked his second wing as he reached for the phone, dialing quickly. He balanced the receiver on his shoulder, taking a swig of the beer while he waited for the phone to be answered.
“Hello?”
“I found her.” Spike told the man on the line, ripping into the wing.
“Has she been taken care of?” he asked in a clipped, British voice.
“Not yet. Little Bint actually got a turn on me.” He said with a smile.
“It is imperative that this is dealt with quickly.” Spike rolled his eyes.
“I know that. I’ll get it done. I always do.” he reminded the man.
“What about the other matter?”
“Angelus?”
“Yes. Did he indeed lose his soul?”
“Yeah. He’s the one that turned the Slayer. Right pissed off that she got away from him.” Spike told him with a chuckle. Nothing made him happier than someone getting one over on Angel. “Dru’s here, too.” he said quietly, almost as an afterthought.
“That is unfortunate.” The man replied, “I trust we won’t have another. . .incident like the one we had before?” Spike threw the chicken bone onto the growing pile and pushed the tray away, suddenly losing his appetite.
“No, we won’t. I’ve been over that for a while now.” Pillock, he added silently. He would have loved to reminded the man that it was the damn Council that put him this situation, but it wouldn’t have made any difference.
“Then call me with a full report once they are taken care of.” Before Spike could answer, he heard the click as the man disconnected.
“Right then.” he muttered, hanging up the phone. He then snatched the beer and drained it in three long swallows. He wished now that he had bought something stronger. He hated to be reminded of the time he had lost his way. And those wankers at the council took every opportunity to remind him. It was almost 120 years ago when he had sunk into the pleasures that only vampires could provide. He had spent fifty years immersed in the darkness, with Druscilla by his side. But that was over now. Why couldn’t they just let it go?
*Because you had killed innocents, you git.* Spike told himself. Nothing he could do would ever make up for those lives. So, now, he traveled across the globe, doing the Council’s bidding, taking out the occasional turned Slayer.
Pushing the thoughts away, he leaned back against the pillows, and closed his eyes. Wanting to dispel the unease that had settled over him, his mind happily conjured up the image of his new challenge. The Slayer danced behind his eyelids, her beauty and strength teasing him. He felt his nether regions spring to life as he replayed the fight in his head. He could still smell the scent of her long, golden hair. Still see the bright, hazel eyes. Her body was small, and well muscled, the tiny skirt and tank top she had been wearing hugging every curve.
*Bloody shame I have to kill her.* he thought again, truly regretting his duty for the first time. She was a ripe peach, waiting to be plucked. And what he wouldn’t give to be able to do the plucking. *Oh, well. Just because you have to kill her, doesn’t mean you can’t THINK about shagging her.* Spike told himself, pushing off the bed to head to the bathroom. He hadn’t had a woman in what seemed like forever, and now he needed to have a conversation with his left hand. Whistling quietly, he walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
Seven sets of eyes were riveted to Giles after he dropped that bomb. Buffy was the first to recover her voice.
“What? How. . .I don’t understand. How is that possible?” She asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“It’s quite extraordinary, I assure you.” He paused to clean his glasses, trying to form the correct words in his head. “Let me start by telling you about the man. William Andrew Carlisle the third was a second generation Watcher. Actually, at the time this all transpired, he had just begun his training. For centuries, the Council had been trying to devise a way to deal with the possible threat of a turned Slayer. So far, no vampire had tried to, but there was always a first time. Then, the Council’s scientist came up with a way to adapt a human.”
“Adapt?” Willow asked. “You mean, like genetic mutation?”
“In a way, I suppose.”
“But at the time this happened, that was years before they even knew that there were different blood types.” The red head countered.
“Yeah, and she would know. She doesn’t get the grades for nothin'” Xander piped in. Willow beamed a little under his praise.
“I understand that, Willow. However, the Councils scientists were looking for a solution from both conventional and magical means. They found a way.”
“And what was that?” Buffy asked, noticing Willow leaning forward to be able to hear better. This was totally exciting the scientist and Wiccan part of her.
“Er, I’m afraid I don’t know very much about the procedure. The actual research and lab notes were closed to anyone that didn’t need to see them. I do know that the subject was injected with the blood of a Master vampire, then a magic user casts a spell to fuse the cells together.”
“Why this William Carlisle guy. Did he draw the short straw or something” Cordelia asked, finally getting interested in the conversation.
“No. When the Council was ready to test what the scientists had found, they look at each of the Watcher’s in training carefully. William had the highest test scores, the best fighting skills. He was good at assessing a situation quickly and executing the proper response. They asked him to volunteer.”
“Do you mean ask as in ‘It’s okay if you don’t want to’ or ask, as in ‘you’re doing it anyway?'” Buffy queried. A slight smile twitched the corners of the Watcher’s mouth.
“I would suppose the latter, probably. Either way, he did.”
“Why go through all that trouble. Why not just have the new Slayer go after her?” This was from Xander. Giles considered his answer carefully, before speaking again.
“Could you imagine a vampire with the combined strengths of a Slayer and a vampire?” Xander blanched a bit at the thought.
“But, if he only had the strength of a vampire, what good would he be?” Joyce asked, trying to wade through her confusion. All of this was too much, and it just seemed to be getting deeper.
“Well, you see. He has all the strengths of a vampire, and none of their weaknesses. He also has all the strengths of a human. And from what I understand, the magic forces used, enhanced his abilities.”
“But why would they want him mixed with a vampire? Isn’t that what we’re fighting against?” Buffy was beyond confused.
“Er, Buffy, haven’t you ever wondered why a Slayer has all the same abilities as a vampire?”
“Maybe.” she answered slowly, not sure she liked where this was going.
“The Powers that Be were the first to endow a human, a girl, with these powers, but still keep her in the light.”
“So, you’re saying I’m part vampire?” she asked, incredulously.
“In a manner of speaking yes.” Buffy wasn’t sure what to think of that. She didn’t even know if she wanted to.
“He’s basically a male Slayer?” Giles nodded affirmation.
“The difference being he is immortal and, since he IS part demon, he has the capacity to give into the cravings of his darker nature.”
“Does he have blood lust?” Now she could get into Slayer mode, if he killed innocents, he was toast.
“I honestly do not know. There is a quite a bit about him that is not known.”
“Are any of the things this book says true?” Buffy looked at him, needing to know.
“I’m not sure.” A dissatisfied hiss escaped her.
“Wait, since Buffy kept her soul, doesn’t that mean that the others would have, too?” Cordelia asked.
“It’s possible.” was all Giles could say.
“Do you think, we could talk to him, or something? Let him know that she isn’t all evil, and stuff.” Willow asked, looking between Giles and Buffy.
“It’s worth a try, I guess. Do you think he’ll listen?” Buffy glanced around the room.
“I suppose we should at least try. In the mean time, I don’t think it would be wise for you to go out alone. Between Spike and Angel, your life is in very grave danger.”
“And Druscilla.” The Slayer mumbled, anger and humiliation rolling through her.
“If Slayer’s aren’t supposed to know about him, how come Kendra did?” Oz asked, as all eyes turned to the other Slayer. Kendra looked a bit sheepish.
“I overheard my Watcher on da phone.” She muttered, not looking at anybody. “He was talkin’ to someone from da council, and I heard him say somting about the Slayer of Slayers comin’ to Sunnydale.”
“Well, it would have been nice if they had called me.” Giles spat. But he knew why they didn’t. Watcher’s had a tendency to do anything to protect their Slayers. Even turned ones.
“What do we do now?” Buffy asked, looking at her pseudo father with sad eyes.
“I guess we should get on with the univite spells, and then get some well deserved rest.” He answered, standing to retrieve the books he needed. Everyone began to get ready to go, each giving Buffy sympathetic looks as they past. Buffy curled against her mother, savoring the comfort of her arms as she allowed tears to slip quietly down her face.
Angel was pissed. Nothing seemed to be going right for him, and it was not making him happy in the least. First, Buffy escapes. He was sure he could get her back, it was just inconvenient. Second, Spike comes back, looking for the Slayer. It seemed to Angel that the younger vampire was always looking to put another notch in his belt. He’d already killed two, and now he was banking on the third. *Show off* he thought bitterly.
But Angel had dome something Spike had never. HE had turned a Slayer. He could have control over one the most powerful vampires, ever. If he could find her.
Growling softly, he rolled over in his bed. Druscilla slept peacefully next to him, a soft smile on her face. He seized her arm roughly, feeling the need to relieve some tension. She moved to him willingly, allowing him to punish her soft flesh. With punishing thrusts he drove them both over the edge, burying his fangs in her throat.
Pushing her away once he was done, he flopped on his back.
“Don’t worry my Angel. All will be as it should be.” Dru whispered, nuzzling up to him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, glaring at her.
“You’ll see. Now that Spike is back, we can be a family again.” Angel snorted. As if THAT would ever happen. He was just about to tell her so, but she had already fallen asleep.
Angel rolled over and tried to get comfortable. Tonight, he decided, he would pay a visit to her Watcher. Maybe her mother. Or that sweet little Willow.
With these happy thoughts in his head, he drifted into a contented slumber.
Spike awoke the next evening with a smile on his face. He had been having very pleasant dreams about the Slayer. Dreams involving her, him and some very interesting toys. Sitting up, he lit a cigarette and relived some of the finer moments.
He knew that some of the stodgier members of the Council would be appalled by his lusting after her. It didn’t disturb him in the least, however. He was man enough to appreciate her looks, and vampire enough to respond to her blood singing to him. After all, it was the same blood that was fused into his system.
“Back to work.” He told himself, hopping out of bed. He was going to go see her Watcher tonight, find out if he had any information on her whereabouts. Watcher’s were notorious for protecting their Slayers.
Dressing quickly, and gathering up his stuff, he walked out of the hotel and into the setting sun.