Chapter 19: The Bloody and Evil
-
Charley stared up at the mysterious stranger. The man looked young, somewhere in his late twenties with well-defined cheekbones and a scar on his left eyebrow. He had bleached his hair and he was dressed in black: shirt, jeans, a black leather duster and black boots. Charley wondered if the guy was supposed to be dressed like a character from the Matrix. He was from England by that accent.
“What did you call me?” Lyra asked.
“Niblet,” the man said and pulled a pack of cigarettes out from his pocket.
“No, after that. You called me a Slayer. You know what I am?”
“Hard not to see what you are, love,” He pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth before he lit it.
“You’re a vampire?” Charley asked. He thought he was getting good at recognizing his own, but this one knew about Slayers and that meant he was the other kind of vampire.
“We both are,” a familiar voice said and was followed by a hyena like laughter that Charley could never forget. His old friend, Edward Thompson came sauntering out of the corner dressed exactly like the mystery vampire. He even had his hair bleached.
“Ed,” Charley said as he stood up. “Never thought I’d see you again.” He was unsure if he should dust this one vampire or not. Ed was once a friend of his and the keyword is was. They did have a short falling out a few months before Dandridge moved next door and what he had learned from Peter was that Ed had fully embraced his new vampire self.
“Brewster?” Ed stared at him. “What are you doing here with kids half your age?”
“Not now, Evil.” Charley did not look at him as he helped Lyra to her feet.
“Brewster’s robbing the cradle,” Edward laughed. He silenced himself quickly and held up his fingers. “Ready to visit Scott Hanson? Have a seat over here.”
“Shut up, Evil.” He slid back his mask.
“Hey Father Time and Mother Nature have been good to you,” Edward said. “You haven’t aged at…” The realization just hit him. “Brewster, your one of us?” That set Evil off again. His laugh wasn’t just annoying Charley. He could see that Evil’s friend also had an expression that said ‘Please Stake Me.’
“You two know each other?” Lyra asked as she pointed to Charley and Evil.
“Oh yeah, Brewster and I are old friends,” Evil said.
“Great do you know where his off switch is?” The British guy asked.
“Lyra,” Xander shouted. Both he and Faith ran up to them and slowed when the saw the new visitors. “Spike?”
“Xander?” The bleached blond stared at Xander and blinked for a few second. “Is that you?” He could not hold it together and broke down into laugher.
“I take you two know each other,” Lyra said as she pointed at Xander and the blond.
“Yeah we know each other,” Xander said. “Unfortunately and Spike, not another word.”
“There will be plenty of words, mate,” Spike said in between laughter.
“Damn,” Evil said. “I thought both of them were women.”
“One’s a woman and the other just fight’s like one,” Spike said.
“You’re a sexist pig,” Lyra told him.
“See that Spike?” Xander asked as he pointed Lyra. “She just met you and she already has an accurate impression of you.”
“Oh,” Evil chuckled as he stepped closer to Faith. “Oh oh oh. Who is this? You are hot.”
Faith just glared at him. “Who’s this mouth breather?”
“Careful with that one.” Spike pointed at her. “She bites.”
“And so do I,” Evil said before he licked his lips.
Charley sighed and grabbed him by the shoulder. “Lay off.”
Faith did not remove her glare from Evil. “Can I stake him?”
“How did you know I was a vampire?” Evil asked.
“I didn’t.”
“I would love to give you the word,” Spike said. “But we need to keep him alive,” he paused to glare at Evil. “For now.”
“She’s a Slayer,” Charley told Evil. “She will have you flat on your back before you can even blink.”
“Why can’t I date a Slayer?” Evil asked. “You are dating one right.”
“Was he always like this?” Lyra asked.
“Always,” Charley said
“Fallen for a Slayer have you?” Spike asked him. “Your kind seems to be stealing from me. I’m glad I got on the soul wagon before it got trendy and now we got more vampires in love with Slayers and this one is dressing like me.” Spike pointed at Evil. “And speaking of dressing what the hell are you supposed to be, Harris?”
“I’m Molotov Cocktease,” Xander said in a tone that said he wished he hadn’t.
“Cocktease?” Spike asked and laughed, setting off Evil again.
“It’s a character,” Xander explained. “Part of a block where adults go swimming on a network that shows cartoons.”
“So where is the monkey?” Faith asked.
“Dead,” Lyra said. “What about the other one and Garret?”
“Monkey is dead and the kid will live,” Faith told her.
“The dance?” Lyra asked.
“Pretty much also dead,” Faith said.
“What are we going to do now?” Lyra asked.
“I’d like to know why Spike is here,” Xander said.
“I came here to ride the movies,” Spike told him in a sarcastic tone. “I came here to give you some information.”
“We,” Evil added.
Spike rolled his eyes. “We came down here with some information.”
More people were coming out of the ballroom. Now would not be a good time to talk. Xander looked pained, like the costume was too tight or rubbing him the wrong way.
“Damn it.” He closed his eye. “Lyra, I want you to find Tyler and the others. Drop Rissa off at her home first and then come by the apartment. Charley can you show it to these guys.”
“I can,” Charley said and turned to Spike. “Do you need a ride or can you follow.”
“We’ll follow you,” Spike said and smiled at Lyra. “So you have friends in on the whole gig? Formed your own Scooby Gang have you?”
“Avengers,” Xander corrected.
“Right,” Spike chuckled.
“Just get out of here,” Xander told him. “And take whatever that is with you.” He pointed at Evil.
Charley grabbed Lyra’s hand. “Sorry about this evening.”
“Don’t blame yourself,” she told him. “Blame those monkey things.”
“You’ll get back to the apartment okay?”
“I’m with Ace and trust me he is one of the best drivers in the ‘verse.”
-
Xander kept asking himself over and over if what he did was the smart thing. He knew he needed to know what knowledge Spike and that annoying vampire had, but he did not like the idea of having them in his apartment. He already gave his invite to one vampire already.
“Should I prepare something?” Faith asked as soon as they had returned to the apartment. “Like drinks.”
“Wait until everyone shows up,” Xander told her. “And then offer it to them.”
The three vampires were the first to show up. They had arrived after Xander got himself out of his costume and changed into a shirt and pair of shorts. As soon as he opened the door he was greeted by a smug grin from Spike.
“So you two didn’t get lost,” Xander said.
“Nope,” Spike said and crossed his arms.
Xander sighed. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. “Okay Dumb and Dumber get inside.”
“Thank you , Harris,” Spike said as he sauntered in and was followed by his wannabe.
“Smoking bachelor pad you got here,” the other vampire said as he entered. “Oh and you live with this Slayer? You are so cool.”
“This was a bad idea,” Xander sighed. He looked outside and saw that Charley was still out there. “I thought I gave you the invite.”
“I was waiting for you to ask me in for tonight,” Charley said as he walked inside. He was still wearing the Tuxedo but left the cape, mask, hat, and gloves in his car.
“A vampire with manners,” Xander said. “Never thought I’d see that.”
“We are not all the same,” Charley said. “I don’t even like the fact that I used we.” His voice sounded weak and he had a pained distant look in his eyes.
“You didn’t want to become one, did you?”
Charley shook his head. “It was against my will.”
“So,” Faith sauntered into the room. “Can I interest you boys in anything to drink?”
“Can we drink you?” The one called Evil asked. He did not see Spike rolling his eyes behind him and Xander had to wonder what that drive was like.
“Can I stake him now?” Faith asked.
“Leave her alone, Evil,” Charley told him.
“Oh come on, Brewster,” Evil said as he pointed at Faith. “How can you not want a piece of that?”
“Some of us know how to talk to women,” Charley said.
“Are you certain you are no longer human?” Evil asked. “You got this power, this strength all of this coolness and you still act like the same Charley Brewster from twenty five years ago.”
“I am the same, mostly.”
“Still playing by the societies rules?” Evil shook his head. “Man you are sad.”
“Excuse me,” Xander grabbed their attention. “Angel junior and Spike junior can we not argue about this now?”
Spike had stared at the younger two vampires for a few minutes with his mouth open. “Right.” He turned back to Faith. “I could go for a beer, love.”
“One beer coming up,” Faith said.
“Two beers,” Evil said.
“Okay two beers and what would Unicorn Boy like?” Faith asked.
“Unicorn Boy?” Evil asked and laughed.
Charley ignored him. “Whatever kind of soda you have would be fine.”
Xander was relieved there was a knock at the door. “That should be the kids.” He opened the door. “Glad you ma—“
“Three of those god damned bloodsuckers,” Tyler said a he stormed into the apartment.
“Made it,” Xander finished what he said. “The rest of you can come in now.”
Ace and Ronnie entered and at down on the couch. They kept their eye on Spike and Evil. Lyra went up to Charley.
“Tyler I will admit I’m not keen of the idea of Spike and his little buddy being here,” Xander said. “Although right now one of those so called god damned blood suckers is more polite than you are.”
“Got the beer and soda.” Faith entered the room with a glass and two bottles. She handed both bottle to Spike and gave Charley the glass. “What would you all like? We got Pepsi, Sprite, orange juice and water.”
“Pepsi,” Ace and Tyler said.
“I’ll take a water please,” Ronnie said.
“And I’ll have the Sprite,” Lyra said.
“X-man?” Faith asked.
“Ask me later,” Xander said. “Right now I want to know why Spike and this guy are here in town.” He pointed at Evil.
“I got a call from the witch,” Spike said after he removed the cap to his beer. “They caught an obnoxious vampire of the turn by biting and keeping the soul variety.” He nodded back to Evil.
“Willow called you?” Xander asked He could not believe she would call Spike before calling him. “She called you about this guy and she didn’t call me and didn’t call me with the fact that she called you?”
“Hi,” Evil waved at him. “I’m this guy and I’m still in this room.”
“Unfortunately we can’t ignore him,” Spike said.
“Trust me I tried,” Charley told him.
“I’m sorry for you, mate,” Spike said. “At least he aint copying your style.”
“Why the hell would anyone want to copy you?” Xander asked.
“He does look kind of cool,” Ace said.
“Thank you,” Spike nodded at him.
“Okay Willow called you about Evil,” Xander tried to get the idiot back to the point. “Then what happened?”
“I showed up at her address,” Spike continued in his story. “She invited me in gave me a hot cup of tea and we caught up on old times.”
“Not that,” Xander said as Faith passed out more glasses. “I don’t need the exact play by play of everything that happened. Just get to the point.”
“Don’t you cramp his style,” Evil pointed at Xander before he took another sip of beer from his bottle.
“Mini brained me shut up,” Spike held up his arm. “I meet this guy both he and Willow have a theory that this whole merging of worlds is due to someone on our original world who wants to make sure there are more vampires for some reason.”
“Probably thinks we are like your kind,” Charley said. “And we would work together.”
“They over looked the detail that ones like Charley have souls,” Ronnie said before she took a sip from her glass.
“Bullshit,” Tyler coughed.
“Continue,” Xander said as he nodded at Spike. He saw that Faith had returned and was sitting on the arm of the couch and sipping her own beer.
“That’s pretty much it,” Spike said. “I also came on down because Willow felt it would be better if I wore this.” He hiked up the pant leg on his right leg and showed a shiny blue metal band.
“You decided to get some ankle jewelry?” Xander asked.
“Magical cuff,” Spike explained. “Numbnuts over here has one as well. He gets to far away from me and he gets zapped. A bit like my old chip.”
“So he’s leashed?” Faith asked. “Can we also muzzle him?”
“I got some juicy gossip,” Evil said as he raised a finger. “Something that I know Brewster will be interested in.”
“What is it Ed?” Charley asked in a tone that says he doesn’t want to know.
“Guess who is going to be resurrected?” Evil asked. “Someone you had actually killed.”
“Jerry Dandridge?” Charley asked. “How? Peter and I took him out with sunlight.”
Evil nodded. “But someone has stolen his ashes. Now I don’t know about you but I don’t think they want to scatter them over some sentimental place.”
“Jesus,” Charley rubbed his temples. “Wait what ashes. I was certain there was nothing behind.” More importantly why didn’t he or the others come across when they moved into Jerry’s house?
“They found something,” Evil said. “Some powerful wizard kind of guy. We think he’s the one that did the whole merger deal.”
“Damn,” Charley gasped. “God damn it.” He shook his head.
“Charley?” Lyra looked at him. “This is the one you told me about?” She sounded frightened.
“How bad is this guy?”
“Pretty bad,” Charley said. “He’s still in my nightmares.”
“He’s not too scary,” Evil said. “He’s cool and suave. Ladies like him.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Charley asked. “You were under his control.”
“His thrall?” Xander asked. He knew what that felt like.
“Thrall?” Evil grinned. “I like that. I was and keyword is was. He’s been staked. The thrall has been broken.”
“What is this thrall?” Ronnie asked.
“It’s a way a vampire can control the ones they turned,” Charley said. “They can start it when the other person is still human. They mesmerize and seduce them. That was how they got me.”
“And they could be the ones that won’t let you tell others what you are?” Lyra asked. “Or who did this to you?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’m sorry,” Lyra said and embraced him.
“That means whoever sired Unicorn Boy is still alive,” Faith said. “Or undead.”
“I will stake that person myself,” Lyra said. Her voice was determined.
“Speaking of being staked,” Charley said as he stared at his old friend. “How come you are still walking around, Ed? Peter told me he staked you. Your body was on the living room floor. They took you out in a body bag.”
“Peter didn’t leave the stake inside,” Ed said as he tapped his chest. “I was in sort of a comma until dusk the next night. I woke up feeling ravenous. I had to feed on an owl, several rats and a stray dog.”
“Thanks for the tip,” Faith said.
“Shit.” Ed closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Don’t feel bad.” Spike gave him a pat on the back. “You’re earning your keep. Keep barking up the facts and we don’t kill you.”
“That should be it for now,” Xander said. “We’ll meet Monday at our usual place and time.”
“I still have one question about tonight,” Faith said. “What were those things?”
“Medea Kerkopes,” Ronnie said. “They were in one of the demon books. They were used to punish people who cheat on their lovers. They secrete liquid burning gold from their hands and us it to burn their victims.”
“Why did it go after those two kids?” Charley asked.
“Garret Binoit broke up with Alicia Montgomery a few weeks before Homecoming and started to date Jocelyn Andrews,” Ronnie explained.
“Alicia kept apologizing to Jocelyn in the bathroom,” Lyra added. “We figured the rest out in the car. Alicia summoned them to punish Jocelyn and Garret. She didn’t really want them to be burned to death. She just performed the spell to make herself feel better.”
“And apparently it’s a bad idea to try spells even if you didn’t mean it,” Ace said.
“You got that right,” Spike pointed at him.
“As soon as you are all ready you may leave,” Xander said as he stared at the two bleached vamps.
As soon as everyone finished their drinks they left the apartment. Xander held open the door and watched them as they left.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Charley asked as he and Lyra walked out together.
“Ronnie and I were going to watch movies and give out candy,” Lyra said. “What about you?”
“No plans really,” Charley said. “I was going to invite you over and cook you a dinner. I guess we can do that Friday.”
“I’ll be looking forward to that,” Lyra said. “Would you like to come over and watch the movies with us?”
“I’ll be over as soon as I can,” Charley said. As he and Lyra walked down the stairs together he appeared to be blushing.
Xander sighed. He just hoped what Lyra’s romance with Charley would not exactly repeat like it did with Buffy and Angel.
-