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Chapter 23
A large spotted owl fluttered from the branches of a tall pine tree, soared upwards and then banked into a slow glide toward Buffy. Ten feet from the ground, it began to blur and lose solidity. It drifted lower and suddenly, there was a man standing before her. A man who, five seconds ago, had been an owl.“You're not human, are you?” Like that wasn't already obvious!
The corners of his lips twitched, like he was trying not to smile.
“No. I am not. Nor are you.”
“I am so! I may not know everything about who I am, but I sure as hell know I'm human!”
Buffy wondered if she should just be standing here, having a conversation with owl guy, but he hadn't made any threatening moves yet, and although Giles kept telling her she was trained to fight demons and stuff, she wasn't sure if she'd actually remember how to fight, so talking was better, right?
Lucien kept his distance, not making any sudden moves to startle her. He had searched for her for so long . . . Now that he had the chance to talk with her—to explain who she was and their connection—he intended to take full advantage of the opportunity.
“My line was created by the ancient demon Ahriman.” Lucien spike slowly and calmly, his hands hanging loose at his sides. “Ahriman became obsessed with a beautiful mortal woman. He wanted her for his own, so he gave her his blood, hoping to turn her into a being like himself. Their mixed blood created an entirely new species, but she retained her human form and did not become like Ahriman. When his spouse, Ahrimas, discovered what he had done, she was filled with anger and hurt and jealousy, so she left him.
“There were other of the pure demons also attempting to merge with humans. The earth was changing and was no longer compatible with their kind. Some of the demons opened portals and left this world. Wars broke out among demonkind. Many left; many died; but others tried to assure their survival by imbuing humans with their essence. Most of the demons who were . . . neutral were dead or had gone to other worlds, leaving the earth to the evil ones.
“Many years later, a group of men had had enough of the evil demons and decided to fight back. Ahrimas was alone, wandering the earth, trying to find her way back to Ahriman when she was captured by these men. She was bound with magic and chained with iron and they attempted to imbue themselves with her essence so they could fight the evil demons and human half-breeds. They were unsuccessful, and many of their number died before they discovered that Ahrimas could imbue a female with the strength and skill and power to hunt the evil ones.
“My line was created by the demon Ahriman, but your line was created by his mate, Ahrimas. You are the other half of me—light to my darkness. I have searched for centuries for you, and if you agree to share blood with me, we will both finally be complete.”
“Whoa! Back up there, owl-boy! There will be no sharing blood or merging of any kind and besides, I already have a boyfriend. Make one move on me, buster, and I'll kick your ass. I'll . . . slay you. I'm the slayer, right?”
Lucien looked deeply into her eyes. “You do not know who or what you are. You have lost vital pieces of yourself and I will not take more from you against your will. When you are whole, we will talk again.”
Buffy stared at him and, right before her eyes, he turned into mist and drifted away. That was weird.
She'd have to remember to tell Giles all that stuff about Ahriman and Ahrimas—he just looked like he'd be into all that historical demonology stuff! But for now, she wasn't about to look a 'Get out of Danger Free' card in the mouth. Strange owl-guy didn't seem to want to fight her, so she'd better get going—before something else weird happened.
She pulled her cloak tighter around her and hurried to Will's.
**********
Buffy knocked, but there wasn't any answer. He'd planned to work on his book while she went to Ste. Anne's, so he should be here. Maybe he had gone to visit Mrs. Hatcher? Or, maybe he was in the shower and didn't hear her knocking. She tried the knob and it turned easily under her hand. The door wasn't locked, it was cold out and there were weird creatures around—she was sure Will wouldn't mind if she came in.
She stepped into the kitchen. “Will? Are you home?”
He wasn't in the kitchen. She glanced into the living room—not there. She didn't hear any water running, so she went to check the bedroom. Not there, either. He must have gone to Mrs. Hatcher's. Buffy grinned. She was so going to tease him about three-ways with the Hatchers when he got back! In the meantime, she'd just curl up on the couch and wait for him. He probably wouldn't be too long—
Buffy turned to the couch and let out a blood-curdling scream. Will was lying there and he looked dead. He couldn't be dead! He certainly looked dead! He was stretched out on the couch as if in a coffin and there was some kind of green plant in his clasped hands. Buffy looked around wildly.
She had already effectively searched the cottage and there was no one here, but Will certainly didn't die a natural death. Or, if he did, someone else had positioned him like this—and that person might still be nearby.
Who could have done this? Could it have been owl-guy? He'd seemed pretty nice for a demon, but what if she'd just stood there, having a conversation with Will's killer?
She shuddered. This was all too much for her! She felt the hysteria building. She stared at Will. He was pure white and he hadn't stirred—not even a breath. He had to be dead. He couldn't be dead! Not when she'd just fallen in love with him! She crept closer and tentatively reached out a hand to touch him. His skin was ice cold—cold as death. She had to do something! She couldn't just let him be dead! What about CPR?
She covered her mouth with her hands and ran for the bathroom.
Kneeling on the cold tile floor, she threw up in the toilet and then started to cry with great wracking sobs. A series of images were flashing through her mind. Flash! Coming home/coming into Will's house. Flash! Calling out—Mom, are you home?/Will are you home? Flash! Her mother's/her lover's body sprawled/arranged on the couch. Flash! Dead. Dead. Deaddeaddeaddeaddead . . .
She splashed cold water on her face. She had to get to Giles—he'd know what to do.
Buffy rushed out of the cabin and grabbed Will's skis from the back porch. Quickly adjusting the bindings, she slipped into them and pushed off, angling across the fields on her way back to the convent as fast as she could ski.
**********
Giles, Willow and Pilar were enjoying a snack, consisting of a wonderful, fruity-tasting herb tea blend and thick slices of homemade bread with honey, when Buffy burst into the reception room. She was as close to hysterics as Giles had ever seen anyone be and was obviously hanging on by a thread. He should never have agreed to letting her go out alone!
“Giles! Willow! Other girl! You have to come with me. You have to come right now!”
She turned to go, cross-country skis clumping on the marble floor.
“Wait!” Giles called. “I have a car . . .”
The three grabbed their coats and Giles dug in his pocket to find the car keys. Buffy had already removed her skis and was waiting impatiently by the door. Giles hastily scribbled a note for the Mother Superior and the three hurried down the walk after Buffy.
**********
Buffy huddled on the front seat, arms wrapped around herself, shaking uncontrollably. She spoke only to give Giles necessary directions. They turned off a lane onto a curving driveway, finally pulling up behind a small cottage. Buffy's teeth were chattering and Giles was concerned that she was close to going into shock.
She led the way into a cheerful kitchen and leaned into the sink, hands gripping the porcelain as if she needed the support to remain upright. “In there.” She twitched her head in the direction of the living room.
Pilar touched her shoulder. “Please. Will you come sit down?” she asked gently, pulling out a kitchen chair and helping Buffy into it. Buffy's legs were shaking and her teeth chattering. Pilar put a tablespoon of sugar into a glass and ran the water in the sink until it was hot. She filled the glass with hot water, stirred in the sugar and handed it to Buffy.
“You have had a shock. This will help.”
Buffy wrapped her hands around the warmth of the glass and took a drink. Pilar looked up to see Giles framed in the doorway. The color had drained from his face and he looked like he had seen a ghost. She got out two more glasses. Whatever was happening called for sugar water all around, she decided.
Giles and Willow sat in the kitchen chairs; Pilar placed the warm sugar water in front of each of them and then pulled up the fourth chair.
“Dear lord, Buffy,” Giles said. “It's Spike!”
Buffy looked at him uncomprehendingly.
Willow touched her hand. “You didn't know? You didn't recognize him?”
“I don't know what you're talking about. You're not making any sense. Will's dead and I don't know what to do . . .”
Giles removed his glasses and began polishing them. “I don't know what happened, and, yes, he certainly appears dead, but that's because he's technically dead already. He's a vampire, Buffy. Didn't you notice anything . . . odd about him?”
She gave him a look of disgust. “You're insane! Why are you doing this to me? What game are you playing?”
“Buffy,” Giles spoke gently and reached for her hand. She pulled back and put both hands in her lap, looking at him with revulsion.
He continued in a calm, quiet tone. “We've all known him for years, Buffy. He is a vampire. Think back—have you ever seen him go out in direct sunlight? Have you ever wondered why his body temperature is so cool; why his heart doesn't beat?”
“Yes, I've seen him in direct sunlight. We've gone to lunch at the cafe, gone skiing; his body temperature is on the warm side and I've definitely felt his heart beat. The man I love is dead and for some sick reason you're trying to . . . you're trying . . . I don't know what you're trying to do!”
Willow pushed back her chair and slipped into the living room.
Buffy glared at Giles. “I want you to go. Just leave. I came to you for help, and you're so obsessed with your stupid ideas about demons and vampires and stuff that you're actually trying to convince me that Will is a vampire? You're sick!” Buffy's voice had been rising until she was shouting. “My boyfriend is not a vampire!”
Willow slipped back into the kitchen. “He is now.”
Giles got to his feet and headed toward the living room. Buffy pushed past him. Willow gently held the sweater away from Will's neck to show the deep puncture wounds. They all looked at each other in consternation.
Pilar returned to the kitchen and began to make a pot of coffee. She guessed it was going to take some time to sort this all out.
“Okay,” Willow began. “Since Buffy doesn't remember anything, how about if I sort of summarize things so we're all on the same page. This may sound crazy to you, Buffy, but I swear to the Goddess that it's all true. Just hear me out, okay?”
Buffy looked deeply into Willow's eyes, and then gave a slight nod. “I'm listening.”
Willow took a deep breath. “You're the slayer. Giles, here, was your Watcher—a sort of mentor. You fell in love with a guy named Angel. Angel was a vampire, but he had a soul, which made him different from the other vampires. A bunch of stuff happened, you and Angel broke up, and he moved to Los Angeles. Spike was also a vampire. In fact, he was sort of Angel's vampire grandson.
“The military put a chip in Spike's head so he couldn't hurt anyone and he kinda started hanging around with us. He fell in love with you, but you couldn't love him back because he didn't have a soul. Eventually, he went to Africa and somehow got his soul back. There was a big battle against the forces of evil and Spike fought on our side. He died saving the world.
“Somehow, he was brought back to—um—un-life, and he worked with Angel in LA. There was another big battle, and he and Angel were both killed again. Apparently, Spike came back again, but human—“
“My god! The Shanshu Prophecy!” Giles broke in.
“Whose shoes?”
“It's an ancient prophecy that says the vampire with a soul will avert the apocalypse, become a champion and, as his reward, will shanshu—become human. Be given another chance to live the life that was taken from him when he was sired, as it were. We all assumed the prophecy was meant for Angel, but then Spike voluntarily got his soul, and he did die a Champion, much as I hate to admit it, when he closed the Hellmouth. I'm not too clear on exactly what happened in LA, but the reports we received confirmed that Ms. Burkle, Mr. Gunn, Wesley, Angel and Spike were all killed. Spike apparently fulfilled whatever requirements were necessary to shanshu and was brought back to life as a human—as Buffy's Will. What did you say his surname was, Buffy?”
Buffy looked dazed. “Winter,” she mumbled. “His name is William Winter.”
Willow giggled. They all turned to stare at her.
“Sorry. I just . . . If you married him, Buff, you'd be Buffy Summers-Winter. Okay, inappropriate. Shutting up now.”
Giles' eyes gleamed. “I believe you have found the answer to an incident that has long puzzled the Council. In the late 1800's, a high-ranking member of the Council was contacted by his sister. Her son, William Winter, had disappeared and she was frantic with worry. The full resources of the Council were put into play, but no sign of him was ever found. It was thought that he may have met with foul-play, but his body was never recovered, either. Three days later, Pemberton's sister also disappeared without a trace . . .”
“And this matters now?” Buffy asked incredulously.
“Er, sorry. No, it doesn't. We've never known Spike's antecedents and . . . you're quite correct. It has nothing to do with the matter at hand.”
Willow had been thinking.
“Okay, guys, possible game plan. I've re-ensouled Angel twice, I'm sure I can do Spike. Buff's been through enough—there's no way she could deal with having her boyfriend Will rise as an un-souled vamp. I've been using the Gypsy curse on Angel 'cause that's how he was souled the first time, but I think we can do better for Spike. I'll ward the cottage to keep out whoever sired him . . .” She glanced meaningfully at Giles. “What do you think the odds are that Drusilla's in town?” She continued. “I'll do a generalized dis-invite, but add a little extra anti-Dru mojo. Giles, you stay here with Spike. Find some rope or something and tie up the body, just in case he comes to before we get back, but I don't think he'll rise till tomorrow night. Doesn't it usually take a day or so?”
Giles nodded.
Pilar got up and poured the coffee, handing cups all around.
Willow detailed the rest of her plan.
“Pilar and I will work on a re-ensoulment spell that doesn't have the happiness clause. After all he's been through, it wouldn't be fair to stick him with Angel's curse. We'll get the stuff we need together—most will probably be available at the convent. Those Sisters certainly know their herbs! The biggest problem will be coming up with an Orb of Thesulah, but I can probably have Althenea beam one over—along with anything else I can't find here. We've probably got the rest of tonight and all day tomorrow to work this, so we should be okay.
“Give me the keys, Giles; Pilar, Buffy and I will go back to the convent and get to work.”
“No.” Buffy's voice was ragged. “I won't leave him. I'm staying right here. If this . . . Drusilla . . . does come back, I need to be here . . . to protect him.”
Giles had no doubt which 'him' she referenced, and feelings of old guilt surfaced as he wondered if subconsciously she felt the need to protect Spike from him.
“Okay, people.” General Willow was in full force. “We all know our jobs, let's get cracking!”
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