Soul

 

Angel was brooding in the lobby of the hotel when Cordelia and Gunn burst in unexpectedly. “Cordy, what’s wrong? It’s three in the morning.”

 

“I had a vision. Spike and Xander were in it. A demon punched Xander in the face,” said Cordelia worriedly.

 

“That’s all?” asked Angel skeptically.

 

“Well, Spike ripped the demon to shreds, and I saw some other stuff, but it was just flashes.  Didn’t really catch much in them,” she replied.

 

“Angel?” a rumpled Wesley wandered out. “I thought I heard voices… oh,” his sleepy words trailed off when he saw Cordelia and Gunn. “Vision?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Can you remember anything about the rest of the vision?” Angel asked Cordelia.

 

“I think I saw Giles performing a spell, then Willow was standing by a window. And I’m pretty sure I saw Buffy and Dawn. Then, I’m sorry, I can’t remember any more.”

 

“We’d better give Rupert a call,” said Wesley, yawning.

 

“Now?” asked Gunn.

 

“If they’re in danger, they need to know,” responded Wesley.

 

Angel picked up the phone and dialed Giles’ number. “No one’s picking up.” Angel was replacing the receiver when he looked up at the door.

 

“What is it?” asked Wesley, sensing Angel was distressed.

 

“Spike’s here.”

 

“What?!” asked Cordelia. “How do you know?”

 

Just then Spike appeared in the doorway. He sauntered in, “Morning pets, Peaches.  You’re looking extremely broody today.”

 

Cordelia snickered, then quickly put on an innocent face when Angel glared at her.

 

“Why are you here, Spike?” Angel asked, advancing on his childe.

 

“What? I can’t come see my sire when I want?” Spike tried to sound indignant.

 

Gunn and Wesley both smothered laughs, while Cordelia said, “Not when you’ve just had a supporting role in a vision.”

 

“You had a vision, pet?” asked Spike, sounded interested. “What’d you see?”

 

“Xander being punched by a demon, you ripping it to shreds. And each of the Scooby gang individually.”

 

“Oh, that’s all happened,” said Spike dismissively.

 

Suddenly he was be pushed up against a wall by his vamped out sire. “Explain,” Angel growled threateningly.

 

“Well, the witch conjured a demon earlier, that’s what punched Xander before I killed it. Bloody good fight, if I do…” his words were cut off as Angel grabbed his throat and tightened his grip.  “Alright, alright,” Spike choked out.

 

Angel released Spike’s neck. “Is everyone okay?”

 

Spike just looked at Angel for a moment, before pushing him away and striding to the door. “Luv, come on in.”

 

Cordelia screamed and fainted when she saw who entered. Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to the fallen woman. Xander entered unnoticed by any of the others.

 

“Cordy? Wake up!” said Gunn frantically, ignoring the others.

 

Spike and Xander calmly knocked each of the men out. “Peaches prob’ly keeps his chains in his room. I’ll just go get them,” said Spike as he left the lobby.

 

Xander waited while Spike was gone, watching the unmoving forms in front of him. He moved to the fallen body of Angel, focusing his glowing eyes on the souled vampire. Spike reentered the room just as Xander was kneeling by the vampire.

 

“Pet, it’ll be more fun when he’s awake. Trust me,” said the smirking bleached vampire, setting down the chains and rope he had found. “There was a girl upstairs. I took care of her.” Xander smiled. The two quickly had the three humans bound with rope and the vampire secured with chains. Then they waited for them to awaken.

 

 

Angel came to with a start. He tried to get up and quickly realized he couldn’t move. He turned his head and saw the three humans were still out cold. Then he looked to his other side and wished he hadn’t. Spike and his ‘pet’ were naked and writhing on the floor. Spike was thrusting into his partner with abandon and they were both biting the other and lapping up the spilt blood. Their growls and snarls filled the room.

 

Then they shifted and Angel could see who was under his childe. He gasped, unable to believe what he was seeing. It was Xander, but it wasn’t. The boy’s hair was ridiculously long and tangled from the vigorous coupling. His eyes were glowing a strange emerald green and Angel could see fangs in the boy’s mouth. The fresh scent of his childe’s blood drew his eyes to Spike’s back, where claws were raking the skin and leaving blood-filled grooves.

 

Spike howled as the claws ripped through him and increased his thrusts. Xander screamed and came, and Spike soon followed. The two collapsed bonelessly, panting. Then Spike turned to Angel, smirking, and said, “Enjoy the show, Peaches?”

 

“What did you do to Xander?” asked Angel calmly, testing the chains that held him.

 

“Me?” Spike put on an innocent look. “What makes you think I had anything to do with this?”

 

“Because I know you,” replied Angel through clenched teeth, frustrated at his inability to escape the chains.

 

“So quick to blame the vamp, now aren’t you, Deadboy?” asked Xander, grinning at the captive vampire. “It could never be anyone else when Spike’s around, huh?”

 

Angel stared at the boy, whose voice sounded different: deeper, with a growling undertone.

 

“You see, it wasn’t Spike at all. Willow’s the one who cast the spell that summoned the demon, and she and Buffy,” Xander narrowed his eyes at the stunned vampire, “yes, Buffy, were the ones who commanded it to kill me. They were actually disappointed that it only took one punch to the face. Of course, having bone shards shoved into your brain does tend to kill a person.” Xander stopped and flashed the patented Xander-grin at Angel, who flinched back at the sight of the fangs.

 

“Then how are you here?”

 

The question caught the attention of Spike, who turned to the humans, “Ah, Wesley, back in the world of the living, I see. Just wait, this is the best part of the story. This is where I come in.”

 

“He didn’t turn you, you don’t look…”

 

“Shut up!” yelled Xander, his eyes flashing dangerously. Wesley immediately fell silent. “Thank you. Now, Spike here was the only one who cared enough to stay with me. It was very sweet. You see, he didn’t know what had happened. When I woke up, he kinda freaked a little.”

 

“Well, Pet, you have to admit, I had good reason to be shocked,” Spike smirked at the boy, who ran a finger down his cheek.

 

“Y’know, Spike, we’re still naked.”

 

Spike pretended to be surprised, looking himself and Xander over, “We are? Can’t imagine how that happened.”

 

The two smiled at each other, then Xander shrugged and continued, “Were you guys ever told that I was possessed when I was younger?”

 

“By a soldier, a Halloween fiasco, right?” asked Wesley.

 

Xander shook his head, “No, before that.”

 

“How many times have you been possessed?” asked Angel, shocked.

 

“Twice,” said Xander simply. “Once by the soldier. And the year before that by a hyena demon.”

 

“A Hy’ritus demon? They really exist?” asked Wesley, intrigued.

 

“What?” asked Xander.

 

“Hy’ritus demon. A demon similar to the Vampirae in that it takes over at death, ejecting the soul and causing outward appearance changes. But I thought they were a myth,” explained Wesley.

 

“So, mate,” said Spike. “How do you kill them?”

 

“Don’t tell them, Wes,” said Angel quietly, hoping the other two wouldn’t hear. “If you tell them, they’ll be un…” Angel’s words were cut off by Spike kicking him in the ribs.

 

“No one asked you, Peaches,” he sneered.

 

“Tell us, and we might let you live,” said Xander to Wesley.

 

“Iron through the heart. That’s all. No sun allergies, no restrictions on anything,” said Wesley, trembling.

 

“Spikey, someone’s scared. He’s afraid the Big Bad and the Zeppo are gonna hurt him,” snickered Xander. Then his look changed to that of a fierce predator, “I am hungry, though.”

 

“What say we get rid of the dead weight, then?” asked Spike, gesturing to the still unconscious Cordelia and Gunn.

 

Angel and Wesley tried to turn away as the two descended, but Spike stopped them. “What’s wrong, boys? Don’t want to watch? My boy’s a real beauty when he’s killing.”

 

Spike casually began to drain Gunn, while Xander worked on reviving Cordelia. “More fun when they’re awake,” he explained to Wesley, who had been watching him with horrified curiosity.

 

Spike dropped the body he was holding, “He’s all yours, Pet. Let me see the girl.” They switched places and their two captives watched in horrified disgust as Xander casually ripped the still beating heart from Gunn’s chest and happily feasted on the dripping organ.

 

“She’s not waking up.”

 

“Oh, well. At least these two are awake,” Xander commented as Spike efficiently drained the girl before handing her over to Xander. This time he was messier, making certain to splatter Angel and Wesley with blood.

 

“That’s not nice, luv. Shouldn’t tease Angel’s demon like that,” said Spike, in a mock reproving voice. “Let’s move to the bedroom now. Lots more fun to be had.”

 

 

“Back to the story,” said Xander, once they were all settled on Angel and Wesley’s bed. “First I paid a little visit to my parents, then Spike and I headed to Giles’ place because he could remove the chip.”

 

“Took a bit of persuading. I finally had to promise not to kill ‘im. Too bad he forgot about the whelp.”

 

Xander grinned, “So Giles performed the spell and then I ate him. Then we had to go thank Willow and Buffy for their support and concern. Got Dawn while Spike was chatting with the Slayer.” He stopped for a second, idly tracing a pattern on the blanket. “Then I thought we could come say hi to you, Deadboy. And here we are.”

 

Xander and Spike stared at each other for a minute, then turned back to their captives. “Y’know, Deadboy, I think Spikey likes your boytoy.” Wesley’s eyes widened as he realized what that statement implied. Angel growled fiercely. “Shhh,” Xander traced a claw down Angel’s cheek, “I’ll keep you occupied.”

 

Spike moved so that he was on top of the restrained ex-Watcher. Then he untied the man and rolled to one side. “Run, it’s more fun this way.”

 

Wesley scrambled off the bed and out of the room. Spike quickly followed. Angel and Xander could clearly hear Wesley shout when Spike caught up to him.

 

Xander listened to the man’s screams for a few minutes, before turning his attention to the captive vampire. “So, Deadboy, how does this make you feel?” He moved his body languidly, rubbing against the restrained vampire. “You like it, don’t you? The carnage, the rape, mmmm, bloody, violent sex.”

 

Angel moved uselessly against the chains. He could feel the demon begging to be let out, wanting to show this little upstart who was in charge. “Why are you doing this, Xander?”

 

“Why am I doing this?” mocked Xander. “Were you not paying attention to the story, Deadboy? My so-called friends had me killed for their own amusement. But let’s forget about that for a minute. Go back to before my death. Who was I? I was Xander the Zeppo donut boy, everyone’s butt-monkey and demon magnet extraordinaire. Hmmm, I seem to be forgetting a few things, oh yeah! Sex toy to an ex-vengeance demon, verbal punching bag for my so-called friends.”

 

“Y’know, every time I made a suggestion or offered up info, they laughed and ignored me. Especially when I was right. Like about staking you,” Xander pushed a claw into Angel’s chest, right above his heart. “Of course, I’m glad they never did now.”

 

He slowly dragged the claw down, opening a cut that ran down Angel’s chest and onto his abdomen. Then he leaned down and licked at the blood that was welling up. “Mmm, you taste good, Deadboy.”

 

This was the last straw for the demon: Angelus couldn’t stand by and allow this boy to control him anymore and he wrenched control away from the soul. Xander was watching Angel’s face, even as he continued lapping at the vampire’s blood. So when Angelus regained control, Xander saw the change, watched as a malicious glint filled the eyes of the man chained below him. The vampire growled menacingly.

 

“Angelus,” Xander growled right back.

 

“Let me up now, boy,” said the vampire in a controlled voice.

 

“And if I don’t?” purred Xander.

 

“When you do let me up, I’ll show you what real torture is.”

 

“Oh, I’m so scared,” said Xander, as he undid the locks. Immediately Angelus shot out of the room and headed toward where Wesley’s screams had become weak.

 

Xander followed and got into the lobby just in time to see Angelus pull his childe off Wesley’s body. Spike was on his sire in an instant, growling and snapping his fangs. Angelus backhanded his snarling childe and grabbed him by the throat. “Who am I?” snarled Angelus.

 

Spike paled under the fierce gaze that was raking over him. “Angelus. Sire,” he managed to gasp out.

 

“Very good,” said the older vampire, dropping Spike to the floor. “I’m glad you remember some things I taught you. Too bad you forgot about the rest.”

 

Spike stayed on the floor and said nothing. Angelus walked over to where Wesley was and looked at the violated mortal. “Well, it looks like I have two choices here. One, I could turn him. Or I could kill him. I think I’ll… kill him.” So saying, he picked up the mortal and drained him.

 

Then he turned to Spike and Xander, who had gone to Spike’s side and was helping him up, and looked at the two for a moment. “Childe,” he said imperiously. Spike’s head snapped up. “You forget yourself. You WILL obey me.” Spike snarled softly, but dropped his head in submission. “And Xander,” the hyena-demon stared straight at Angelus, matching his gaze. “You need to learn who is in control. Spike is your mate?” Xander nodded. “Then as your mate’s Sire, you will give me the same respect and submission that he does.”

 

“And if I don’t?” snarled Xander.

 

Angelus was next to the brown-haired demon in a second, “You want this in pack terms? Fine, I am Spike’s Alpha. By taking him as your Beta, you become Beta to me.”

 

 

Xander snarled, then tried to control himself better. He glared at Angelus, then acquiesced to the older demon.

 

Angelus smiled triumphantly. With these two at his side, he would reclaim his bloody past.

 

 

The End