Chapter 8
The next morning was so awkward. The nakedness was much more of an issue in the bright light of day and the halting exchange of greetings, the excuses, the brief passionless kiss were new experiences that frankly she could probably have done without. At least he’s here, not off draining someone.
She made her way back to the dorm, only to find Giles and Willow waiting with the news that Spike was about to uncover some stupid gem and probably unleash havoc. She snorted at the thought. Spike? Please. Well at least she had an outlet for her frustrations now. That or the shower. Might as well be Spike.
~*~*~*~*~
Spike felt the drill shudder as it hit a harder substance than the limestone rock he’d been drilling through for what felt like days now. He stooped drilling and vamped out as he peered into the hole, realizing he’d finally hit metal. Clearly visible was an iron ring affixed to some type of circular cover. He resumed drilling, carefully clearing away the area as he opened up the space more. He licked his lips in anticipation. He was so close, he could almost taste it. Soon he’d be unstoppable.
His focus had attracted the attentions of the others and he knew he needed to clear them out for the moment if he wanted to secure the Gem before they could stumble upon it. Sure, he’d share the wealth of the other goodies, or maybe he’d just stake them all, but for now, he wanted some peace and quiet. The only thing the book hadn’t detailed was exactly what the Gem looked like.
He climbed down from his scaffold and gathered the crew. “Lads, we’re very close. I should be through before long. But, we’re going to need to hole up here while we sort this. Once we’re in, we can’t be running to and fro, don’t want to attract attention now do we?”
As the others nodded, Spike turned to Brian. “Brian, if you will, take the others and find some fresh blood. We’ll need enough to last 3-4 days. Right then? Well, off with you now.”
“Spike? It’s daylight now.”
Spike rolled his eyes. Yep, once they’d helped him carry out the booty, he was definitely staking this lot. “Use the tunnels, you gits, and stick to the shadows. If you’re right sneaky like, they’ll never expect you in daylight, now will they?”
The others murmured at the cleverness of the plan and immediately began to exit through the tunnel which led to the main artery that ran underneath the town.
Spike climbed back up and slowly pushed on the cover that swung up into the tomb which housed his treasure. He grabbed the lantern and began scanning the room, trying to suss out exactly what the Gem would look like.
He was startled as the high-pitched tones of the inappropriately named Harmony hit his ears. “Ooooh, pretty, can I take stuff?”
Spike shrugged. “Nick whatever you want, I don’t care.” He prowled across the tomb to the bier where a mouldering body lay and honed in on the gleaming stone which lay around the demon’s neck. The Gem. This had to be it.
~*~*~*~*~
Buffy massaged her temples as she finally plopped down in the lounge in the basement of Stevenson. She’d spent most of her day trying to find someone who might have sighted Harmony to no avail and she was no closer to finding Spike than she had been that morning. Additionally, after all his comments last night and assurances this morning, Parker had failed to call as promised. Damn it. He had to call. She needed this relationship. It just required communication and well, more sex. She needed practice, but she could do this. She could have a nice, normal relationship, with a nice, normal guy. She knew she could.
She was startled by a voice almost in her ear. “Hello, what’s you name?”
She looked over at the smallish man with the slight British accent. “Do I know you?” He was creepy and something about him seemed off. Oh wait, that was her spidey sense. Duh, vampire.
“No, but I was wondering if you might could give me…” Suddenly he lunged, apparently intent on a surprise attack and she easily pinned him to the ground.
“My name’s Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, not that it matters, since I’m going to kill you now.” She kept her knee pinned in his back as she rummaged through her bag for a stake. “Jeez, if Spike were only this easy to find.”
“Spike? You’re looking for Spike?” the vamp wheezed.
Buffy suddenly lost interest in the stake. “Yeah, you seen him?”
“If I take you to him, will you let me live?”
Buffy contemplated this for a moment. “He’s the bigger fish, you take me to Spike and I’ll let you go if you leave town, got it?
The vampire nodded and Buffy returned to her search for a pointy wooden object.
“Now, what’s your name?”
“Brian.”
“Great. Well, Brian. I have here Mr. Pointy. I can run faster than you, I’m stronger than you, and I can always find another way to get to Spike. So you try anything funny and you’re dust, got it?”
Brian nodded again and Buffy slowly eased up off his back. “Now, take me to the bleached wonder.”