The Viking Hunter

Part 10

Spike left Xander's apartment and headed for the shop. Giles and the witches would most likely be there still researching Thor. Well he had all the proof he needed that he was in trouble, a warning from Xander.

When Spike entered the rear door of the Magic Box he slipped into the small office and waited for Giles to come in. He didn't have to wait long, Giles had been watching for him.

Spike looked up when the door open and the watcher stepped into the room.

"Did you find anything Spike?"

"Yeah, more than I was expecting mate. Here read this then we'll talk"

Spike retrieved the letter from his coat and handed it to Giles. Giles opened the envelope and withdrew the sheet of paper. He sat down in shock as he realized who the letter was from. Spike watched with some amusement as shock, sadness and even humor played across the man's features. When he was finished he handed the letter back to Spike who put it back in his coat.

"Dear lord."

"'Bout sums it up."

"How did you get this?"

"Willy. Seems Xander was in earlier this evening and left it for me."

"Do you think it could be a set-up? His saying he has a soul? A way to trap you for his Sire?"

"No. Not Xander, 'sides I could tell from his blood."

"Blood? What blood Spike? I didn't see any blood!"

"That's 'cause I ate it. It was on the envelope, he marked it with his blood. The boy's smarter than you lot ever gave him credit for. He knew that I would be able to sense things from tasting his blood. I guess it was a way for him to prove himself. To me anyway. Look Rupes, I believe him and I know more about vampires than you do."

"You're right. Now we must figure out how it is that he has his soul, and whether there is a chance that he could lose it."

"Been thinking about that one too. Ask the witches. Red there is probably responsible, whenever something strange is going on she's usually the reason behind it. Dangerous little chit, she is."

"Again, good idea. How is it that you know so much about us and yet Buffy beat you every time?"

"Lack of patience mate, that and nothing else. You lot would have been dead and buried years ago if I had any patience at all."

"Well then, lucky for us that you're such a hyper vampire then isn't it?"

"That it is. When are you gonna tell the birds?"

"I should wait until Buffy returns from patrol. Willow, Tara and Dawn are still researching Thor."

"They find anything?"

"Nothing that we didn't already know."

The two men went back out to the front of the shop and joined the others. They continued their search for information on Thor but were greatly unsuccessful. Other than a few paragraphs here and there reporting a sighting or describing a particular 'hunt' with another vampire, there was nothing. Buffy returned an hour later and flung herself into one of the chairs.

"How was patrol Buffy?"

"Grrr. I ran into a Pl'thar demon in the park. I had to chase him for four blocks before I caught him. Then I broke two nails while fighting with him. I killed him but he slimed my new jacket. Then I ran into some of Spike's new friends. Let me tell you, those aren't weak fledges. Definitely stronger than your average bear. They got away. Sorry. Then I finished my route and here I am."

"How many of them slayer?"

"Huh?"

"Minions! How many?"

"Oh, four of them. Why?"

"Well, it took six of them to get me is all."

"Spike! This is hardly the time to compare abilities with Buffy. Children, I have some rather bad news."

Giles told them about Xander's being turned, about Thor being his Sire, that Anya was killed, and that they believed that Xander had his soul. He mentioned the letter that Spike had received and that yes he had read it and no Buffy could not see it. He told them that Xander did not want them to read it, that it was a personal issue and he would not budge on this.

The girls all had a good cry, Tara held Willow while she sobbed in her arms and Buffy and Dawn held each other while they cried. Eventually Dawn was transferred to Spike who sat with her in his lap while she clung to him so that Buffy and Giles could speak in private.

"Giles, this is no longer just Spike's problem. It became personal the minute that bastard killed my friends! I would have staked him anyway for coming after Spike, but now he's going to die painfully!"

"Buffy, do try to calm yourself. This isn't helping anyone. Thor is old. Older than the master by centuries! If you go running off half-cocked all you will succeed in doing is getting yourself killed. We need to plan."

"I know, I just hate this! Xander was my friend, and I was even getting used to Anya and her blunt ways. I miss them. I should have saved them, I'm the slayer that's what I do."

"You can't blame yourself Buffy, you can't guard them twenty-four hours a day."

"I know, but it hurts. I don't want to lose anyone else."

"Xander is still with us, he has his soul. He may be changed but he is still Xander and still your friend."

"Yeah, but how do I get him back? Thor isn't going to just let him go."

"No he isn't. We'll find a way."

Giles held Buffy for a few minutes while she tried to collect herself. Meanwhile in the other room a sobbing Willow finally started to calm down. Tara continued to try and sooth her girlfriend. Spike held Dawn and stroked her hair while she sniffled against his chest. Suddenly Willow sat up.

"Xander has a soul? OH MY GOD! IT WORKED!"

"What worked witch? What did you do?"

Giles and Buffy heard Willow yell and ran into the room just in time to hear Spike ask her what she had done.

"Yes Willow, do tell us what you did."

"Well, I, um, remember when Dracula was here? How he wanted Buffy and made Xander eat bugs?"

"Yes."

"Well after that I started thinking about what would happen if someone like him came around again. You know that I've been studying Angel's curse Right? Well I came up with a way to secure a persons soul to their body in case they were turned. If Xander had died his soul would have left, like anyone else but the spell made it so that if he was turned, his soul would be permanently anchored. He can't lose it like Angel can."

"Willow! Although I am pleased that Xander is still essentially Xander, what you did was wrong. Did you even think to ask him if he would want this? Who else have you performed this spell on?"

"Um, everyone."

"WHAT?!?"

"I was trying to help! We all know too much about each other and Buffy! If any of us were turned than we would be a very big threat to the rest of the group. Do you think that if Xander didn't have a soul that we would be sitting here right now? NO! He would have told Thor all of our secrets, and they would have attacked by now! Buffy, I'm sorry but Dawn is the key, just because Glory is dead doesn't mean that the threat to her is over. Someone else, a wizard or a Demi-God or just about anything could learn of her blood. I was trying to protect her as well."

Willow's speech shocked everyone into silence. They hadn't considered the implications of one of them being turned before. She was right, they would turn on the rest of the group if they became a vampire. Spike was the first one to find his voice again. The idea that Dawn could still be in danger was what got to him.

"You did good Red. It makes sense. Hell if I still had my bite that's what I would do, it's what I was gonna do actually. You remember that night in your dorm room? There was no choice, I'd have turned you."

"I know. That was when I started working on Angels curse. I was hoping to have something permanent to use, just in case. But then after Dracula, I realized that we wouldn't have time to do the curse after it had happened so I started working on ways to do it before it happened."

"I'm sorry I yelled Willow. It's just, I don't like having things done to me without consent."

"I understand Giles. I should have asked first."

Meanwhile outside across the street two vampires were watching the emotional display with avid interest.