And Make a Lost World Thy Home: Chapter Seven

[jesterladyfic]

Chapter Seven:

He hacked and slashed his way across the cavern, barely conscious of anything but the glory of the fight. It was moments like these that reminded him of how glad he was who he was.

He found himself back to back with Buffy as she wielded that Scythe with a precision that made him want to rip her clothes off then and there. Little Slayers died left and right, but so did their opponents. He was fiercely proud of the army they’d built over just a few short months and he didn’t so much mourn their deaths as regret the loss of their lives.

“I hate to sound needy,” said Buffy, ducking under the grab of a Turok-Han.

“I love it when you do,” he said back.

“But I am thinking we could really use an amulet powered something about now,” she said.

Spike looked down, he’d forgotten about the amulet. He’d put it in his pocket for safe keeping as they weren’t really sure how it would use him.

“Uh, right, amulet,” he said.

“I can’t believe you forgot about it,” she said, managing to lunge backwards out of claw’s reach and elbow him in the ribs for good measure.

“Bit busy here, yeah?” he retorted.

“Too busy to save the world?”

“Normally,” he said. “But I do like this world…”

She turned and grinned at him and he was struck again by just how beautiful she was and pride swelled up within him.

“So, save it already,” she said. “Save Minchest Unity.”

“It’s Manchester United, love,” he said, and sighed. She would never get it.

“Whatever,” she said, kicking a vampire away from his face.

They fought backwards until they were against a wall and all Buffy had to do was watch his front. Spike leaned his favorite broadsword against the wall and plucked the amulet from his pocket and stared down at it for a second.

“The moment of truth and all that,” he said, preparing to slip it over his head.

“Last chance to say no,” Buffy said, still fighting.

“Made my choice, love,” he said, and put on the amulet.

The sensation started slowly, like water spreading over his body. A warm feeling hovered in his chest, like a glowing ball of fire. The fire shot outward and consumed him utterly. He staggered back under the force of the heat. Light glowed from the amulet and spread out from him in rays. Memories and feelings washed over him and there was something there, just under his skin, tingling and sparking and pricking and he’d never felt so alive.

The cavern began to shake around them and Spike was frozen where he was, held in place by the weight of the amulet. He heard screaming and shouting from all around, watching in wonder as the light emanating from him shot through the Turok-Han, shredding them to dust all over the cavern.

Buffy rushed to him, standing in front of him, Scythe resting in her right hand.

“I can feel it, Buffy,” he said. “My soul.” She reached out and he put his hand out to stop her instinctively. “No, don’t touch.”

“Spike, you did it,” she said. “Now we have to go.”

He shook his head.

“Naw, ain’t happening, love. You know that.”

“I’m not leaving you here,” she said.

His attention could only barely focus on her. There were too many sensations flowing from him, too much to experience; a lifetime lost that he was living now. He couldn’t have walked away from this if he tried, but she was always a huge part of anything good in his life and he forced himself to look at her, to see the pain she was feeling and realize what it meant. Tears welled up in her eyes, but her face was steady.

“I have to do this,” he said.

She nodded slowly and he hated seeing her lose something else. She reached forward her left hand and pressed it against his upraised hand. His fingers curled around hers as much as he was able. He tried to keep the heat and light escaping from him, but a fire sprang up from their fingers and engulfed their clasped hands.

Something revelatory happened to her face and she looked at him like she could feel some of what he was feeling. He’d never felt so in sync with her before, so blessed to know her, so in love.

“I love you,” she said, the evidence of it pouring from her eyes and body language.

“Yeah, you do,” he said. “Thanks for saying it.”

“Which time?” she asked, a hitch in her voice.

“Every time.”

“You are my Champion,” she said.

“You’re mine,” he answered. A fresh rumble sounded around them and the cavern shook. As she swayed for balance their hands broke apart and his focus sharpened and he could feel the amulet’s power building, wanting to tear apart everything it could. “Now go. I want to see how it ends.”

She stepped back, putting the hand he’d been holding to her mouth, and then she ran.

Spike relaxed once he could no longer see her and the rays of light expanded, getting brighter and brighter. It was the moment to end all moments and nothing he’d ever experienced could top it. For the first time since he’d been turned he no longer felt the call for violence, for evil, just contentment in finally doing the right thing. He wasn’t a fan of destiny, but he felt called and used just for this moment. It was a beautiful feeling and he treasured it until the rocks began to fall all around him and the amulet’s light to fail.

“School’s out for bloody summer.”

Then the burning began.

***

Buffy unpeeled herself from the backseat of Angel’s Plymouth and stretched. It had been a long ride and she’d insisted on the backseat so she could try and get some shuteye. It hadn’t really worked and she’d mostly listened to Wesley talk to himself about his theories for the amulet. It was surprisingly soothing and the drive wasn’t as awkward and tense as she’d thought it would be.

They entered the Hyperion and Buffy turned to face Angel.

“So, where are these Powers of yours?”

“It’s sunrise, Buffy,” said Angel, wincing.

“So, how do you normally get around during the day?” she asked, since it was unlikely Los Angeles had also been constructed by a demonically evil Mayor with pro-vampire tendencies.

“Our sewers aren’t as conveniently located,” said Angel, smiling slightly, “but in a city as big as this, they’re everywhere.”

“Shall we?” she said, gesturing.

“Don’t you want to rest after the trip?” asked Angel.

“No, but I’m guessing you do,” she said.

“I haven’t slept in…a while.”

“Fine, power nap for you,” said Buffy. “I’ll grab something to eat. Wes?” she turned to Wesley.

“I’m going to go home for a much needed shower and nap myself,” said Wesley apologetically. “Let me just pop the amulet into the safe and then I’ll get right back to work.”

“Okay,” said Buffy, resigning herself for more waiting.

The thought made her think of Spike and she smiled a little as she assembled a plate from leftover takeout boxes in the fridge. The kitchen was absolutely enormous and she took her food out to the little garden instead of eating in the cavernous darkness.

She continued to think about Spike as she ate, remembering his words to her back at the house before she’d left. He’d proven to her he was still Spike, whether he knew it or not. That thought was reassuring as was the fact that he’d promised to be there when she got back.

She was still adjusting and she was allowed to, but she couldn’t help but feel as if she’d been given a second chance and she’d be a fool not to take it, no matter how difficult it might be.

She wished she’d had a chance to talk to Veronica or Logan or Tara before she’d left. She needed a fresh perspective, which reminded her that she hadn’t updated Dawn yet and her little sister was probably preparing to kill her.

She took out her phone and sure enough, she had a couple of missed calls and several texts. Mostly from Dawn, but Willow had also texted.

She sent a quick response back to Willow, letting her know that they’d found Spike and were trying to figure out why he was back and could she let Giles know?

Buffy swallowed the last of her food and dialed Dawn.

“Where have you been?” asked Dawn. “If this is your idea of how to keep me in school, you’re this close to getting me to ditch my finals and hop a plane.”

“I’m fine,” said Buffy. “Spike…is back.”

“It’s him?” asked Dawn with a hitch in her voice and Buffy was reminded that she was not the only one who had lost him.

“It’s him, Dawnie,” said Buffy. “Don’t know how or why, but he’s back, soul and all.”

“He’s okay?”

“I think so, I’m in LA now, trying to figure out what happened, but he’s back in Neptune.” Angel opened the door to the garden and gestured Buffy inside. Buffy turned back to the phone and cut off Dawn’s line of questioning. “I’m sorry, Dawnie, but I have to go. No one’s in danger, we’re all fine. You should call him and then get back to studying.”

She hung up over Dawn’s squawk of outrage and hurried inside.

“You might be in danger, you know,” said Angel. “The Powers don’t take kindly to questions and every time I go see them I have to find someplace new. Their Conduit to us was severed a few years ago.”

“How do you find them then?” asked Buffy curiously.

“You might have to sing,” said Angel enigmatically and then led the way to the basement and the sewers.

Buffy contemplated that for a second before following him. He led the way through the slimy, echoing sewers and she walked beside him, pondering how familiar it was, but without the same excitement and expectation she used to feel.

He explained more about what they were doing as they walked and by the time they’d arrived at their destination she knew they were going to see Lorne, whom she’d met the last time she was in LA, and who was apparently in the process of reopening his demon karaoke bar, Caritas.

Angel rapped on a back door in a sheltered alley and it was a while before it was opened, locks scraping apart to reveal a green-skinned demon in a silk robe.

He rubbed his red eyes (literally, they were red) and blinked at them.

“Angel cakes, you know I’m always happy to see you, but do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Time for her to sing,” said Angel, pushing his way inside.

Lorne extended his hand to Buffy and she shook it.

“The Slayer herself, well, I can’t deny I’ve been dying to get a read on her for years.”

“Then it’s your lucky day,” said Angel.

Lorne led the way back to the bar, the only place in the room besides the stage that didn’t look like it needed repairs.

“So, what’s your poison?” asked Lorne.

“I guess you don’t have any idea what time it is either,” said Buffy, raising an eyebrow.

“Such a shame,” said Lorne, mixing himself something.

“Lorne, we need answers,” said Angel. “So, no big theatrical number.”

“What would you like to sing?” asked Lorne.

“I don’t like to sing anything,” said Buffy, shivering as remnants of Xander’s summoning spell for the musical theatre portion of hell was brought to mind.

“Let’s bring something up here,” said Lorne, running his finger over the karaoke screen.

Buffy felt extremely uncomfortable, but she squared her shoulders and sang as the song prompted her. She tried not to think about it, but Angel’s face softened as he listened to her and Lorne’s delight was evident in his entire body.

When she finished she folded her arms across her chest and faced them.

“Well?” she asked.

Lorne grinned at her and then became more serious.

“A performance for the ages. You ever want to moonlight here as a fake audience member, you just let me know, sugar.”

“The reading,” Angel said pointedly.

“Right, well, that’s a pickle and no mistake. Wolfram and Hart is definitely up to their old tricks, poaching off the Powers and their play. Or is it vice versa? What exactly I don’t know, but our gal Lilah’s involved and so is that extravagant amulet.”

“Wes wants you to drop by later and look at it,” said Angel.

“What am I, a traveling jeweler?” said Lorne with a long-suffering face.

“Where are the Powers?” asked Angel, ignoring him.

Lorne rattled off an address and then pulled Buffy aside.

“Private words, Angel-mine, head to the back if you would.” Angel grunted and left the room. “Vampires and their eavesdropping,” said Lorne, nudging her.

“Yeah, they’re the worst,” said Buffy. “What did you want to tell me?”

“I just want to make sure you’re not going to run away from this,” said Lorne. “This is a rare chance for you. Not too many people get that second opportunity for true love.”

“You make it sound inevitable,” said Buffy.

“There’s always a choice in destiny,” said Lorne. “Your job is to figure out what that choice is.”

“It’s…it’s really Spike and he’s back…for good?” asked Buffy reluctantly.

“I can’t make any promises,” said Lorne, winking at her. “But that’s your boy there, you already knew that.”

“Sometimes it’s nice when demons who can predict the future confirm things for you,” said Buffy.

“That’s not how I work,” said Lorne. “Let’s just say that what our dear friends Wolfram and Hart tried to do for evil, you can do for good.”

“Then they brought him back, not the Powers?” asked Buffy.

“Something like that,” said Lorne, taking a sip of his drink. “But when you see the Powers, make sure you ask them about that little blonde friend of yours.”

“Veronica,” Buffy said, already retracing her steps to join Angel.

“Happy hunting,” said Lorne after them. “And now to bed.”

Angel led Buffy back into the sewers and she walked after him, preoccupied with thinking.

“Did he say anything I need to know?” asked Angel finally, pausing in front of a dilapidated looking building just outside of the sewers.

“I think Wolfram and Hart brought Spike back, not the Powers,” said Buffy.

“Good to know,” said Angel, and he bashed a door in, striding forward with a confident swagger.

Buffy raised an eyebrow and followed.

***

Veronica opened the door and ushered Tara inside.

“Hey, thanks for coming,” she said.

“Of course,” said Tara. “How are you holding up?”

“Surprisingly well,” said Veronica.

“Mac wanted me to let you know she’s circulating the amulet as carefully as she can online to her known circles, but she hasn’t gotten any hits yet,” said Tara.

“Okay,” said Veronica. “Good to know. If the amulet was just created, that’s not surprising.”

She led the way to her office, which she’d left for a few hours to clear her head and eat lunch with everyone. Logan had gone to the butcher the day before and gotten blood for Spike, so everyone had what they needed, but it certainly made mealtimes interesting.

She had noticed Spike hadn’t attempted to do anything weird with his blood and she counted that a bad sign.

“Where are the boys?” asked Tara.

“Spike got a phone call from Dawn,” said Veronica, smiling. “He’s been closeted on the phone with her for hours. Logan took the opportunity to get out.”

“And Cordelia?”

“Shopping last I heard.”

“So, it’s just us,” said Tara.

“Yup.”

“Well, then I need you to tell me what you’re hiding,” said Tara.

Veronica stiffened.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Tara leaned against the wall and faced Veronica calmly.

“Every time we’ve talked about your dreams, you hesitate and choose your words carefully. Your aura changes.”

“So you’re a lie detector now?” asked Veronica.

“No,” Tara said, shaking her head. “I can just see you’re keeping something back. So can Logan, he texted me and asked me if I knew what it was. I simply deduced the rest, which I learned from my detective friend.”

Veronica smiled slightly even though she was panicking inside.

“It’s just…personal,” she said.

“Then spare me as many details as you can,” said Tara. “I don’t want to push, but this could be important.”

Veronica sighed and sat down, avoiding Tara’s eyes. She supposed it was time, but something had been holding her back, maybe the part of her that didn’t want to admit what was going on. Perhaps Cordelia was right and she was avoiding a potential gift.

“You remember my friend Lilly,” she said softly.

“The one who was murdered,” said Tara.

“Yeah, well, I’ve seen her since then. I’ve dreamt of her before every major event in my life it seems. When I was…investigating her murder there were times I thought she was right there and when I followed her, it led me to clues and things I wouldn’t have considered otherwise. If I hadn’t seen her the day of the bus crash, I would have been on it.”

“That’s pretty big,” said Tara gently.

“Yeah, I avoided thinking about it,” said Veronica. “Didn’t want to think I was crazy. After I met you guys I figured it might have really been her, trying to help me solve her murder, trying to save me.”

“Maybe it was,” said Tara. “Do you know if anyone else saw her?”

Veronica shook her head.

“No one that I know of. She was see-through, like a ghost is supposed to be.”

“But you said you also dreamed about her,” said Tara.

Veronica nodded, wrapping her arms around herself.

“She would say things that helped me put the pieces together. It was just like talking to her again, listening to her insane ideas.”

“When was the last time you dreamt about her?” asked Tara.

“Right before Logan and I decided to have kids,” said Veronica. “We were in my old room and she said…‘big changes coming, Veronica.’ I thought…well, I guess I thought it was the push I needed. So I decided it would be okay to go ahead and have them. Maybe she meant this instead.”

“Maybe she meant both,” said Tara. “Or maybe she didn’t mean anything at all.”

“Come on,” said Veronica. “You think this is something.”

“My opinion isn’t the point,” said Tara. “Veronica, in some way, you’ve always had the sight. What I wonder now is why it’s manifesting so strongly and why Lilly doesn’t appear to be involved since she always has been before.”

“Well, she wasn’t on the bus,” said Veronica, “when I dreamed about those kids.”

“Tell me more,” said Tara, “describe everything you can to me.”

“This is hard,” Veronica admitted.

“I know,” said Tara, offering her a hug.

Veronica leaned forward and accepted Tara’s embrace. It was extremely comforting to simply let go for a moment and accept the support of another human being.

“Thanks,” said Veronica. “Now I’m going to have to tell Logan about Lilly.”

“Only when you’re ready,” said Tara. “I’m sorry to bully it out of you.”

“Yes, I felt very strongly that my lunch money was in danger the whole time,” said Veronica wryly. “Okay, well, let’s get this over with then.”

So for the first time, Veronica didn’t hold anything back and she laid it all out for Tara.

***

When Buffy stepped through the doorway it wasn’t into the dirty and forsaken apartment building she’d been expecting. They were in a cavern, dark and dank, with a rough slab of stone resting in the middle.

“Nice digs,” Buffy said, looking around for signs of life.

“I think I’ve seen this one before,” said Angel. “You’re getting sloppy,” he said to the air.

“Our most sincere apologies, of course,” said a man from behind them.

When Buffy turned, she saw their doorway had vanished.

The man was tall and gray and wearing a black suit. He looked like pictures of old Watchers Giles had shown her pictures of, down to the moustache.

“I’m sure you’re bleeding on the inside,” said Angel. “I need some answers.”

“How unusual for you,” said the man.

“The amulet they gave me, it’s back, and so is the guy who was wearing it.”

“Naturally,” said the man, shrugging.

“Look, Jeeves, I don’t have a lot of time or patience,” said Buffy, moving forward. Angel held out his arm and she slowed reluctantly.

“That’s also rather natural,” said Jeeves, which Buffy supposed she would have to call him, for lack of any other identification.

“What was the amulet for?” asked Angel.

“To destroy a Hellmouth, just as you requested,” said Jeeves.

Angel looked confused.

“What I asked for was a way to bring down the First.”

“Which was done,” said Jeeves, smiling pleasantly.

“So why is it back?”

“The amulet cannot be destroyed,” said Jeeves. “That was not its purpose.”

“What was its purpose?” asked Buffy.

“I believe I just said that, to destroy a Hellmouth,” Jeeves said slowly, like he was talking to a child.

Buffy’s jaw tightened.

“I’m pretty sure I just said I don’t have a lot of patience, so unless you’d like me to rearrange your face I want you to tell me exactly how the amulet was created, what ulterior motives the big boss had, and why Spike is back. Also, what you did to Veronica.”

“A rather tall order,” said Jeeves. “Should I answer chronologically or alphabetically?”

“Expeditiously,” said Buffy.

Jeeves cocked an eyebrow.

“Excellent vocabulary.”

“Word of the day calendar,” said Buffy.

Angel looked at her, confused, but she refused to validate the look. She was enjoying saying that to people.

“The amulet was created on the vampire with a soul’s request,” said Jeeves, speaking placidly and without emotion. “It was designed to destroy a Hellmouth and restore order, bestowing a soul, righting the balances. That was our entire purpose.”

“Then why is Spike back?” Angel asked, thankfully not mentioning anything about Wolfram and Hart.

“There are other interested parties,” said Jeeves. “The amulet is rather unique, you see. It was not meant for secondary use.”

“What happens if it is used again?” asked Buffy.

“The good it had done would be undone,” said Jeeves. “Something like that anyway. I really couldn’t be sure of the particulars. We didn’t reverse-engineer the process, you see.”

“So someone else brought Spike back to use the amulet again?” asked Angel. “Why bring him back if all they want is the amulet?”

“The amulet was designed to imprint itself upon its wearer,” said Jeeves. “Effectively, it is a failsafe to be sure the amulet could not be used for wanton destruction. We frown upon that sort of thing.”

“So no one can use the amulet but Spike,” said Buffy, working it out. “So someone had to bring him back to get their hands on its powers.”

“By someone I assume you mean Wolfram and Hart,” said Jeeves lightly. “Really rather obvious, I should think.”

“None of this explains Veronica’s dreams,” said Buffy.

Jeeves smiled and extended a hand.

“Pray, go on. I’m afraid I would need more information before I could fully answer your question as…expeditiously as you would like.”

Buffy narrowed her eyes and took a step forward before stopping herself. Glancing up, she saw Angel was just as annoyed as she was.

“She’s not a Slayer, she doesn’t have visions, she never had the sight before,” said Angel. “She dreams Spike came back and it happens. You tell us what that means.”

“Whatever her latent abilities and hidden talents may be, this Veronica,” said Jeeves, “she appears to be a stroke of good fortune, wouldn’t you say? How else would you have known to go to the cavern first?”

“If you wanted us to know about it,” said Angel, “why not just send Cordelia a vision? Isn’t she supposed to be my link to the Powers?”

“That would imply this was about you,” said Jeeves. “Undoubtedly a stolid Champion for the people, but not the only one.”

“Every Champion has to have their own person with visions?” Angel asked incredulously. “What’s wrong with a little outsourcing?”

“That doesn’t make sense,” said Buffy. “You imply the Powers sent the dream to Veronica to warn us about what Wolfram and Hart was going to do, but if Wolfram and Hart were the ones who brought Spike back then how come it only happened once we’d gone to the cavern and found the amulet which the Powers told us to do? Was Wolfram and Hart the ones there before us, casting dark magic? If so, how come they didn’t bring Spike back first?”

“Time is such a hard construct to understand, isn’t it?” said Jeeves condescendingly. “What a pity to be mired down in it.”

“What the hell does that mean?” asked Angel.

“It means that just because something did not happen in the order that makes sense to you does not mean it happened for the reasons you think it did,” said Jeeves and vanished.

“I hate it when he does that,” Angel grumbled.

Buffy shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. She glanced around her.

“How do we get out of here?” she asked.

Angel gestured behind them.

“Door’s back.”

They left the way they came and descended into the sewers once more.

Buffy thought as they walked, trying to make sense of what the faux manservant had told her.

She thought she had a better idea of what Spike had been brought back for and maybe why Veronica had started dreaming. It was all a bit too simultaneous for her, but then again, she wasn’t exactly anything but a linear being.

She and Angel discussed it a little bit, but they were mostly wrapped up in their own thoughts.

They met Wes in the lobby of the Hyperion where he was returning, freshly shaven.

“I slept rather longer than I’d planned,” said Wes. “Fred let me know she and Gunn were out helping some of his friends so we have the place to ourselves.”

He crossed to the office and knelt down to unlock the safe.

Buffy and Angel stopped inside the doorway.

“I have to call home,” said Buffy. “Were you going to confront Wolfram and Hart?”

“Yeah,” said Angel. “I’ll pay Lilah a little visit. I don’t want to tip our hand too early though. It wouldn’t surprise me if they already knew you were here, but maybe you should stay here while I talk to her.”

“I could actually use some sleep,” said Buffy.

A startled cry from behind them made them turn.

Wesley was standing, looking chagrined.

“The amulet is gone.”