The Tides of Change

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Part Nine
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Xander jerked awake with a scream dying on his lips, the images from his nightmare still dancing behind his eyes.

Lacroix sat down beside him, but Xander was saved trying to make awkward post-nightmare conversation when an explosion rocked their cell. Both men leapt to their feet -- well, Xander leapt; Lacroix rose gracefully. For just one split second, Xander really envied that poise.

"What was that?" Xander exclaimed.

"An explosion, I would presume," Lacroix replied drily.

Xander rolled his eyes. "I *know* that," he snapped. "I *meant* what caused it."

"I see," Lacroix began, but before he could finish, a second explosion rocked the floor beneath them, sending Xander stumbling backward against the wall.

"Okay, one time is interesting," Xander muttered, a new kind of fear sending his heart thudding in his chest. Glancing around them warily, he wondered whether the bing ing was going to come down around their ears. "Twice moves firmly into the scary category." No sooner were the words out of his mouth when a third explosion sent them both to the floor. Knees aching, Xander was on his feet a second later, something deep inside him not wanting to meet death on his knees. "And three is just *too* damn many."

He jumped when the door to their small prison groaned, and with an ominous shudder, swung open. **No way!** he thought, his mind denying the reality even as he raced toward the door. The clatter of chains caught his attention just as he reached the doorway and stopped to peek out to see if the coast was clear. It was. Now was his chance. He could run. He could leave this place *without* the help of the vampire who had tried to turn him. He took one step out into the hall, stopped, and glanced back.

Lacroix watched him passively.

Xander couldn't tell from his expression -- or rather lack of expression -- what Lacroix felt about their current change in circumstance. He was sure, the vampire's apparent calm was a cover. No one could be that calm when it looked like they were about to be buried alive -- well, undead in Lacroix' case.

**Run!** he told himself. If he left Lacroix behind, he wouldn't have to worry about him anymore.

//Unless he manages to get free, then, you've got brassed off vamp to consider//

"Shit!" Xander exclaimed, darting back into the room. He couldn't just leave the vampire. There was something wrong with leaving behind the guy you spilled your guts to about your disastrous love life. "Maybe the ring got loosened in one of the explosions?" he suggested as he grabbed hold of the chain attaching Lacroix to the wall.

Lacroix shifted, settling in beside him and both men pulled. Nothing.

Xander frowned and continued pulling, putting his entire weight behind it. And still nothing.

He was t tot to give up when the shriek of tearing metal pierced his ears. He shared a grin with Lacroix -- well, he grinned, Lacroix smiled slightly -- and both men began tugging in earnest. He felt the slightest give in the chain, but he was beginning to panic. They were taking too long. Someone was bound to come by and realize their door was open. Once again, he was tempted to leave Lacroix behind. What with the weakened chain, he read, td, the vampire could most likely get out on his own anyway.

Before he could come to a decision, the wall cracked, the groan reverberating around the room with dust, small pebbles pelting them from the ceiling. With one more solid yank, the ring came free from its damaged mooring, and both he and Lacroix stumbled backward.

Xander glared up at the vampire from his place on the floor. "You could have at least *pretended* to lose your balance you know," he said sourly.

Lacroix chuckled and reached down as best he could, offering a hand up.

Hesitating only briefly, Xander clasped the cool hand and allowed himself to be hauled upright. He wasn't quite sure what to make of Lacroix' tiny little half-smile, though. It was kinda wiggy.

"Thank you."

"What? Oh, yeah. No big," he shrugged. "What say we get out of here?"

Lacroix nodded. "That sounds perfectly acceptable to me."

"Right, whatever," Xander retorted, rolling his eyes and heading for the door at a trot. He was *so* out of here! He kept his eyes open as they ran, twisting and turning through the maze like tunnels. Each 'cell' like the one he'd been in before getting shoved in with Lacroix, he peeked in as he ran past. No way was he leaving *anyone* trussed up while this place fell to the ground, or caved in, or whatever.

//And the others just might be in here too.//

Xander shuddered. He hoped they'd got free, and that he'd been the only one taken. It wouldn't really surprise him given his past history.

Rounding the umpteenth corner, Xander skid to a halt. Bending over and bracing his hands on his knees, he just gasped in huge gulps of air, desperately trying to catch his breath. He was standing in a six way . . . intersection, and didn't dare stay there long -- ahead of them, about fifty yards away, were several dozen of the demons that had captured them. Fortunately, they didn't seem to notice either him or Lacroix.

The problem was, he didn't know which way to turn. Pick the wrong direction and they might never get out.

"This way, Alexander," Lacroix said, pointing slightly ahead and to their left.

"You're sure?" he asked, straightening.

Lacroix nodded. "Yes, I can smell the fresh air."

"Good enough. Let's go." He didn't trust vampires; their will to survive and their senses, however; well, that was a different story.

Xander was three quarters of the way across the intersection when a flash of blonde hair caught his attention. He whipped his head, peering toward it. He *had* to know if it was Buffy.

"Come, Alexander. We don't have all night."

Just then a demon went flying and he caught sight of the face that belonged to the hair. "Buffy!" he exclaimed, then winced, hoping it hadn't been loud enough to distract her. He automatically started her direction, but was forcibly stopped when Lacroix grabbed hold of him.

"What on Earth are you doing?" Lacroix hissed in his ear.

"I've got to help Buffy," he retorted, struggling uselessly against Lacroix' hold.

"I hate to point this out, but she seems to be holding her own, and in case you hadn't noticed; there are about 20 of those . . . things, between you and her."

"Demons," Xander corrected, stilling. "And I don't care. The Scoobies don't leave anyone behind."

"Very well, demons," Lacroix replied with a sigh. "This is for you own good, Alexander," he said, jerking Xander up into the air.

Xander blinked, not quite sure how he'd ended up thrown across Lacroix' shoulder -- especially considering the vampire's hands couldn't move more than half way up his chest. **Neat trick!** Xander thought, but no sooner did the words pass through his mind than he began kicking and struggling.

"Be still!" Lacroix hissed.

"Put me down!" Xander demanded back, just as careful as the vampire to keep his voice down. He didn't want to attract the demons' attention just yet, either.

"I will not, Alexander," Lacroix replied calmly. "If I put you down, you will wade into the middle of those demons, and then you will die," he continued. "I cannot allow that."

Xander stilled instantly, startled by Lacroix' words. He sighed heavily, dropping his head. **Damn it! Why me?** Taking a deep breath, Xander made sure he remained as outwardly calm as Lacroix -- though inwardly he was sick with worry. How was Buffy doing? Was she free already? Or not so good, was she dead? "If you do not put me down, Lacroix, I will *never* forgive you."

"Never is a very long time, Alexander," Lacroix replied urbanely, not slowing, and pointedly not putting Xander down.

"I'm well aware of that!" Xander snapped angrily. Forcing himself to take a deep calming breath, he continued softly, his words filled with quiet conviction. "I am completely capable of holding a grudge. In fact, I'm very good at it; just ask Angel or Spike. Of course, you could simply take my word for it. If we leave here without helping Buffy, not only will I never forgive you, I will hate you for the rest of my life."

Lacroix' step faltered slightly, and Xander crowed silently. The feeling didn't last long, because Lacroix shook his head and continued moving. Every step put them further from helping Buffy, and Xander was fast losing hope he could convince Lacroix.

" *Please*," he pleaded.

Lacroix slowed, but didn't stop. "I cannot, Alexander. I *am* sore however."

Xander was desperate and out of ideas. "I swear, I'll do anything you want if you help me."

Lacroix stopped, and Xander suddenly found himself sliding down Lacroix' body. As soon as his feet touched the floor, the vampire had him pinned against the wall.

"Let me get this straight," he said softly, his mouth mere inches from Xander's ear, "first you wanted me to let you plunge into battle with the demons that *I* couldn't defeat, and *now* you jump to wanting me to dive in there with you?"

Xander nodded, trembling. "Yes?" he said hesitantly.

"And if I *do* allow this . . . insanity, you've given you're free consent for *anything* I wish?"

**Oh God! I did say that, didn't I?** "Ummm, except letting you turn me."

"And there are conditions now."

"S-sorry."

"Don't be sorry," Lacroix snapped angrily. "Say what you mean the first time."

"Uhh, okay. I'll do anything you want -- barring letting myself get turned -- if you help me get Buffy and any other of my friends that are here, out -- alive."

Lacroix pulled back and locked eyes with him. "And that's it?" he asked. "No other conditions, no other . . . tasks?"

Xander frowned, and thought carefully before answering. His mouth got him into trouble more often than he cared to admit, and he didn't want that to happen here. He was making the proverbial deal with the devil. Swallowing nervously, trying to wet a *very* dry mouth, he nodded. "Yes, that's it."

"And if I cared to--" Lacroix paused, pulling back enough to let his eyes roam the length of Xander's body and back up. "--take advantage of that *delicious* body of yours?"

Xander's brain shut down. "What?" he asked. It didn't sound like Lacroix meant in the normal vampire way, and he *really* didn't like what the mental images that were slamming through his brain. Surely he didn't mean. . . .

Smirking, Lacroix leaned forward, until his mouth was only a breath away from Xander's. "I asked you, what if I wanted sex?"

Xander gulped. "I thought that's what you meant." Xander's thoughts whirled. He hadn't imagined that might be the price. "And if I say no to that?" he asked.

Lacroix smirked. His tone was cold, however. "You gave only one condition, if you suddenly insist on two, we leave here. No second chances."

Groaning, Xander closed his eyes in dismay.

"However, I *will* give you the chance to change that condition."

His eyes popping open, Xander stared at Lacroix. "Ch-change it?"

"Yes, remove your first condition and replace it with the other."

"Oh, God."

"I assure you, Alexander, your God has nothing to do with this situation."

Xander thought fast, finally admitting he didn't have much of a choice. "O-okay."

"Which condition?" Lacroix demanded. "I want no misunderstandings after this is all said and done."

"Come on!" Xander urged, not really wanting to make that decision right that second. "She could be dead already. If she is, all bets are off!"

Lacroix didn't let him go. "Then stop wasting her time. Decide now."

**I can't do this!** Xander thought in near panic. "F-fine. The c-condition I choose to stay, is--" He gulped again. "--no turning."

"Very well," Lacroix replied easily, releasing Xander and heading back the way they'd come.

Stunned, Xander didn't move for a second or two, but as soon as his brain kicked in, he quickly scrambled after Lacroix. He just prayed they'd get there in time, conveniently pushing aside everything that didn't immediately concern him. Everything *else* would just have to wait. He couldn't deal with it just yet.



TBC
Kiristeen
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