The Witch, The Warrior, and the Vampire

Chapter 7
Mobilization

As the sun began its gentle ascent, lightening the sky from midnight night blue to cerulean, streaked with rose and orange, Anya started to come to. She sat up slowly, clutching the back of her head, confused as to where she was. She looked down at her hand and saw the se goe golden band nestled against her engagement ring and she remembered.

She had married her one true love yesterday, and last night he was ripped from her side. Fury, wrath, and rage propelled her to her feet and the phone, making her forget the dull throbbing ache of her head. First she rang Buffy’s house one, two, three, four, five rings, the answering machine. “Hey, this is Anya wake up,” she shouted into the phone, hoping someone would hear her message if not now, soon, “they got Xander last night, meeting at the Magic Box NOW.”

Next she dialed the very familiar numbers for Giles. One, two, three, four rings when a very sleepy voice answered her, “Yes?”

“Giles, it’s Anya, Xander was taken last night, and we’ve got to get him back, NOW!” The rage in her voice brought Giles fully alert.

“Slow down Anya,” he tried to soothe her over the phone, “start from the beginning.”

“We were drinking champagne on the balcony, and about to consummate our marriage, and next thing I know it’s sunrise, I’m still on the balcony and Xander is GONE!” All her anger, wrath, and fury were quickly turning into hysteria as she started hyperventilating Giles tried to get some more information from her, “Anya, have you looked for him everywhere, and have you called the others?”

“Yes...he’s GONE... left Buffy message...Morgaine knew... must get her and Spike,” she managed to choke out between jagged breaths.

“Stay there Anya, I’ll get Morgaine and the others, stay calm, put your head between your knees and try to take slow deep breaths, we’ll be there soon, just t-try to remainm.” m.” Giles started making a mental list of things he needed to do.

Still hyperventilating Anya managed to stutter out, “T-t-thank you,” before she dropped the phone and put her head between her knees to try to get her breathing under control.

Giles leapt out of bed and called Buffy immediately. The phone rang and rang before he heard Willow’s voice still heavy with sleep, “ ‘Lo?”

“Willow? It’s Giles. Something terrible has happened.” Giles wedged the phone between his ear and his shoulder as he struggled into his slacks.

“Oh my god what?” Wide awake now; after yearsphonphone calls jarring her from her pleasant dreams, she was in full Scooby mode as she jumped out of bed and started getting dressed.

“It appears Xander was taken last night; we need everyone at the apartment now, she specifically requested Spike, I want someone over there as soon as possible, Anya’s hysterical, and I have to go get Morgaine, see you soon.” Giles hung up abruptly, grabbing his glasses off the nightstand and heading out the door.

Instinctively Willow didn’t ask any questions, once everyone was assembled it would be time for questions, right now they needed to mobilize. She ran straight to Buffy’s room; the Slayer was sitting up in bed, replacing her phone back on the hook. It looked like she heard the whole conversation. Willow then ran to Tara’s room. She opened the door without knocking and took a moment to watch her lover sleep. She then murmured a quick prayer to the goddess in gratitude that Tara was safe. A look of softness stole over the witch’s face. ‘She’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever known...’ She sat down beside Tara and softly stroked her hair. “Honey, honey you need to wake up now.”

Slowly Tara opened her sleepy eyes and smiled up at Willow, “Good morning.” She stretched lazily.

With those two words Willow’s entire posture and expression hardened, “No, it’s not baby, something got Xander last night, and we’ve got to go to Anya’s now.” Tara shot out of bed at the redhead’s words; only Willow’s quick grab saved her from tumbling to the floor when her feet became entangled in the sheets.

Suddenly Dawn streaked down the hall fully dressed, yelling back at Buffy, “I’ll get Spike up,” only to crash into him at the bottom of the stairs, fully dressed head to toe in black, duster on, stakes in hand.

“No need for that Nibblet, heard you ladies all the way downstairs,” he chanced a look outside the sun was up now, “we don’t have a lot of time. Hurry.”

Before he finished his sentence, Buffy, Willow, and Tara came bounding down the stairs, all were dressed in the first articles of clothing they found, as evidenced by Dawn’s “Hanson” t-shirt and the tag sticking out of the top of Buffy’s sweatpants.

“Time to go now,” Willow commanded, throwing Spike his sun-blanket as she led the way to the car.

Giles had walked up to the front door when Morgaine stepped out. She was clutching what looked like an old doctor’s bag in her hands; “No time to ask me any questions Rupert. We’ve got to go now.” No other words were spoken on the short drive to Anya and Xander’s home.

Willow was the first one through the door. She quickly glanced around the apartment, praying that it was all a joke. At the sight of Anya, head between her legs sobbing, she knew with certain finality it wasn’t. Tara and Dawn quickly rushed to Anya’s side patting her on the back, making soothing murmurs. Buffy and Spike searched the apartment for clues. Willow went to the kitchen and made coffee and a pot of tea. By unspoken agreement they waited on Giles before questioning Anya. For 15 long minutes the only sounds to be heard were the coffee dripping, the teakettle shrieking, and Tara muttering a calming incantation over Anya.

Anya had finally regained her breath when Giles and Morgaine came through the door. Giles rushed to Anya’s side. “I know this is difficult Anya, but you need to tell us exactly what happened.”

“We were on the balcony drinking champ. W. We talked for a few minutes, and had started kissing. Next thing I know the sun’s rising and Xander was gone.” Tara’s spell must have worked because Anya was calm and beginning to sound a little stoned.

Buffy rushed out on the balcony searching for clues. Finding only a few drops of blood and a discarded metal baseball bat.

“OK, someone hit them in the head with this.” She held the bat in front of her, showing it to the group.

“Is this it? Is this what you saw?” Anya asked Morgaine, words slurring together.

“Yes child it is.” Morgaine gently stroked Anya’s long blonde hair.

Giles was flabbergasted. Morgaine and Anya had known something was going to happen to Xander but neither had said a word to him, or anyone else it appeared.

“You mean you knew something terrible was going to happen to Xander, and you let it?” Dawn screamed at Morgaine, full of righteous indignation. Without thinking she launched herself at Morgaine, only to be caught in a blur of black.

“Nibblet, sometimes things can’t be prevented, you just have to let them happen. S’called fate. We couldn’t interfere, but we can get him back.” Spike held Dawn as tight as he could without hurting her. “Witch told me this was going to happen and that it was necessary if we were going to win this war we’ve got to fight. Right now, we need to be calm and find Xander.”

“Was everyone aware of this but me?” Giles demanded looking back and forth between his sometimes-lover, his business partner, and the vampire he had come to trust, albeit reluctantly.

“Rupert, we’re the only ones who knew. I felt I had to prepare Anya. It wouldn’t have been fair for her not to have known.” Morgaine tilted her head towards Spike but never broke eye contact with Giles. “It’s not only Xander’s destiny that is being fulfilled, it is Spike’s as well. But before destiny can be fulfilled, we have much to do. First we must locate Xander; we’ll need to do a locator spell, and then we must ensoul him.”

“En-Ensoul?” Tara timidly questioned.

“They’ve turned him,” Buffy whispered as she sank down, shocked, into the nearest chair.

“NO!” All eyes turned to Willow. Her eyes were darkening and her fury came out in her voice, overshadowing new sobbing from Anya. “No. We will not ensoul Xander. If he’s been turned we’re going to stake him! He hates vampires more than anything and I WILL NOT allow you to force him live for-for eternity as what he despises most.”

“Why?” Everyone heard the small whisper and turned to Buffy. “Why, why did this happen, if it was destiny, tell me, ‘cause I’m with Willow on this. Xander would beg me to stake him, he can’t live like that. It’ll destroy him.” She buried her face in her hands.

“Yes, Morgaine, why don’t you, in your infinite wisdom and all-seeing scrying bowl, tell us why.” Ripper glared across the room at Morgaine, challenge in his eyes. “I’m with the girls on this, for Xander; we must end his misery.”

Eyes never wavering from Ripper, Morgaine answered, “The only way to win the war is if all of you work together. The Powers knew Xander would never trust and accept Spike. They allowed him to be captured and turned.”

“She’s right,” the now-calm voice of Dawn was heard. “Xander would have never trusted Spike, and we all would have died. If he’s a vampire, he’ll have to trust Spike; there won’t be anyone else who can help him.” Spike loosened his grip on Dawn, but the teenager did not step away from him; somehow the vampire’s presence always seemed to calm Dawn inay say she didn’t understand.

Silence filled the room but no one disagreed with Dawn. They knew she was right. It was the only way, if they were going to stop the apocalypse. Buffy fiddled with the bloody baseball bat, clearly feeling the need to do something but not yet sure what.

“What do we need to do?” Tara spoke up.

“We’ll do a locator spell to find him. Buffy and Spike will then go retrieve him, while we ensoul him. This must be done immediately. If he wakes and feeds...” she shook her head to clear away the vision of the alternate outcome of the situation. “Buffy it’s important you listen to me in this. Your job isget get Xander back here. You can NOT interfere with what Spike has to do; your interference would be disastrous.” Morgaine spoke simply, keeping an eye on the Slayer who did not seem willing to accept her statements.

“What exactly does he have to do?” Buffy questioned Morgaine, rebellion in her posture, voice, and eyes.

“He must challenge and defeat Xander’s sire. If he succeeds, he will then transfer the sire-childe bond to himself. If he doesn’t, Angelus may have to come back to Sunnydale after all.” Morgaine met the blond slayer’s glare without flinching. Spike had to give her credit for that; the look Buffy was currently sporting had sent demons twice the size of the priestess scurrying for cover.

“Why can’t I challenge him?” Buffy demanded.

“Because you aren’t a vampire,” Giles sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Spike, I assume you know what to do.” He waited for the blonde’s affirmation, which came in the form of a tense nod. “Good, let’s get this over with.”

Ignoring Giles; Morgaine turned to Spike, “How much time do we have before he rises?”

“Depends, on a lot of things; whether he was made a childe or minion, the strength of his sire, which you can bet will be strong since he’s the Master’s Right Hand.” Spike’s head was spinning and he desperately wanted a cigarette.

“Assume the worst case, childe, powerful sire, blah, blah, blah.” Buffy’s eyes bore into Spike’s as she spoke. He could see her fear, smell it. Once it would have made him feel powerful, now it made him sick.

“Sundown. He’ll rise at earliest by sundown. That gives us plenty of time, so long as we can find him. The Master, he’s calling vampires to him, even with his soul intact, if we don’t get to him first, Harris won’t be able to resist the call.”

“Tell me exactly, how are you able to resist the call?” Suspicion shone from Giles’ eye and Spike caught a glimpse of Ripper.

“Strength of mind, strength of will, and something the Master can never give me: Buffy and Dawn.” He shrugged nonchalantly, hoping no one would realize the depths of his struggles. If Dawn hadn’t screamed out the other night, he would have gone then. The pull was scaring him, but he didn’t want anyone to know.

“Do we have a map of Sunnydale here?” Morgaine asked, in control of the situation again. Although it was just past dawn, the seconds weickiicking away. It was time to get started.

Not speaking, Anya stood and left the room. She returned a few moments later with a map of all the Sunnydale sewers, engineering tunnels, and the Initiative caves Riley had described to Xander long, long ago. She put the map down on the table and sat down again.

“Remarkable,” Giles exclaimed, “wher der did you get this?”

“Xander’s been working on it for years. He was going to hang it up in the Magic Box when he was done, to help us plan strategies.” The word “before…” hung in the air, unsaid but weighing heavily on everyone’s mind.

“Excellent.” Tracing a finger over the Hellmouth Morgaine was baffled at the miles and miles of tunnel and caves underneath Sunnydale. “Why hasn’t the city crumbled into the ground? There’s no reason for it to be standing with all the emptiness below it.”

“Welcome to the Hellmouth,” Buffy, Willow, and Giles spoke in unison.

***

In the tunnels, Maverick had just finished with the vampiress who lay trembling beneath him. She had been his fourth of the night. When the vampiresses had realized he’d been successful in his mission from the Master, they had thrown themselves at him. Each was hoping to be chosen as it would increase their status amongst this new, powerful and large clan. He’d chosen the four mostractractive and skilled to celebrate his victory. Strangely, it made his mouth taste like ashes. The one he’d wanted to come to him hadn’t.

He quickly got dressed ians,ans, white t-shirt, brown leather bomber jacket, and went to watch over his childe. He couldn’t believe she hadn’t come to him. Trinity was the definition of the perfect vampiress. Waist-length black hair, smooth complexion milky not pallid, slanted emerald eyes, legs that went on forever, and a predilection for torture and murder unsurpasby aby any vampire or vampiress he’d ever known.

It was rumored she had once been a bride of Dracula, but Maverick doubted it. It was also rumored she’d been turned by the Master’s favorite childe, Darla. That Maverick could believe. She was over 300 years old, and could kill him in an instant and he knew it. He knew she hadn’t come to him because she meant to challenge him for his position at the Master’s side.

If the Master hadn’t been so old-fashioned and naturally distrusting of females, she would have been proclaimed his right hand. Fortunately for him, she hadn’t arrived in Sunnydale until after the Master had raised him to the status of Right Hand. They’d encountered each other a few times before. He’d seen her as the Master of a neighboring town, an equal. Now he saw her as his potential mate, one who could give as good as she could take. There was nothing he wanted more.

He turned the corner to where he had stashed Xander and was immediately surrounded by his minions. A soft growl later, and they stood down, recognizing him. The last thing he wanted to do was sit beside a corpse until it rose, but the Master had commanded him and so he sat. His mind drifted away again to Trinity. Oh the torture they could inflict upon each other and the world.

***

“Spike, do you need anything before we begin?” Morgaine calmly asked.

“Gonna neo feo feed, more than I usually eat, preferably human too. After I defeat his sire, I’ll have to drain Xander again, and then...” he didn’t finish his sentence, he knew everyone was beyond uncomfortable with the situation, but their anguish had grown at those words. He didn’t want to make it worse than it already was. For anyone.

“I’ll get you some blood, from Willie’s. I’ve got to go change clothes anyway, something a little more stealthy I think. Anyway I’m useless at magick.” Buffy was out the door and gone before anyone could bat an eye. Spike desperately wanted to go with her. He knew she was having a hard time with him being the savior in this situation. Hell, he was having a hard time as it was, and he’d been somewhat prepared. He was lost in his own thoughts and oblivious to the spell the others began.

“This map is the perfect magickal aide in finding him. It was created by him and is therefore filled with his essence.” Morgaine knew the others understood that but said it for Dawn’s benefit. The map was placed on the coffee table, and a small pile of coffee grounds lay in a pile in the middle. “Dawn, I need you to light the incense and the sage, you’ll need to walk in a circle counter-clockwise behind us with the sage until spelspell is finished. The rest of you, sit in a circle around the table, knees touching, holding hands.” When everyone was arranged appropriately, Morgaine squeezed herself in between Tara and Willow. Taking their hands she closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing.

The spell was a simple one really, but they needed to pinpoint his exact locale, not just a general location. Anya began the spell. Her voice was strong, the slurring gone. “Aphrodite, I beseech thee, in the name of love reveal that which was taken from me.” One by one the others added their voice to the chant. After the third time the smoke from the sage turned orange. After the fourth time, the coffee grinds began to move, changing color as they shifted across the map to a deep red. When the movement stopped, a flash of white filled the room and everyone could see Xander’s dead body lying in a cave surrounded by seven vampires, obviously there to guard against interference from the Slayer. The demon had yet to rise, they had proof.

One by one, the magick users came out of their collective trance. Morgaine was the first, followed quickly by Tara. They spoke to eatherther quietly confirming what they had seen. Spike was standing over the coffee table, trying to relate the tunnels to the surface of Sunnydale.

Buffy came back then. She was dressed in black cotton cargo pants, a long sleeved black shirt, and her steel toed combat boots, couy ofy of the Initiative. “Did you find him?” She asked as she threw Spike four bags of blood. It looked like she’d nicked them from the blood bank at the hospital. All of them were O neg, his favorite. He happily sucked the first one down before he got to the kitchen to heat up the second.

“We did, there’s seven vampires guarding him,” Dawn proudly stated. She’d helped! She had finally helped her friends that had risked so much for her time and time again. She promised herself she’d learn to be the best witch she could. It was cool!

“We found him, and the red glowing coffee shows exactly where he is. What we don’t know unfortunately is where that is in regards to the tunnel entrances we’re accustomed to.”

“Oh! I forgot the most important part of the map.” Anya exclaimed as she jumped up and left the room. Seconds later she returned with a see through overlay. She matched the top sheet to the bottom where both said this end u
Ev
Everyone studied it in silence. Finally Buffy spoke up. “It’s under the gym at the old high school.” She looked up at Spike, “Ready?”

“Buffy, you must remember, it is your job to get Xander out and bring him back here. The Master and every vampire in Sunnydale are down there. Do NOT let your calling interfere with your job. I believe his sire was the one in the leather jacket. If you must, you can stake the others, but listen to Spike, he’ll know instinctively which one the sire is. You can NOT stake the sire; it’ll destroy the transformation.” Giles hugged her tightly to him. “I know that goes against everything I’ve ever taught you, but the rules are rapidly changing and it is imperative you follow Spike’s lead this time. Do you understand?”

Gful ful to be in Giles’ supportive arms, Buffy quickly nodded her head. It was going to be hard, but she could do it.

Anya ignored the others and was standing with Spike, one hand gripped tightly on his arm. “Is there anything I can do to make this easier for him?”

Very softly and gently Spike returned her grip with a caress of his own, unconsciously trying totheothe her fears. “Yes, we’ll need blood and plenty of it. Human. From the hospital. Not anyone we know. Fledglings need to feed and feed often, helps control the demon.”

An unfamiliar scent was wafting from Anya to Spike. “Bloody hell, you did it didn’t you?” He whispered, leaned in towards her and took a deep breath inhaling her aroma and noting the changes in it. Mutely Anya nodded at him. “Demon again eh? You know what’s involved with the bonding, don’t you kitten?” Anya remained silent and nodded again. “There’s ways around the sex, love, best way I know of is for you to be there with me. I’ll transfer the bond and let you have the fun part.”

Shakily Anya laughed, but her grip on Spike’s arm tightened. “How soeforefore I can bind him to me?”

“You know about that too, eh? Give it a few days, kitten. He might not be able to kill you from feeding on you ‘cayou’you’re a demon again, but he won’t have the control to keep from draining you too much. It can still hurt you.” Spike deliberately kept his voice low; it was too intensely personal a conversation to be having in a room full of people.

Anya nodded at Spike again and quietly leaned into him and wrapped her arms around him. “Promise me you’ll bring him back.”

“I promise kitten, you’ll have your man, and I’ll have a childe.” He shook his head at the wonder of it all and returned her embrace. They were both oblivious to everyone else in the room.

Uncomfortable with Spike and Anya looking so intimate, Buffy loudly cleared her throat. “Ready, Spike?”

He nodded, kissed Anya on the top of her head. Out the door they went to find Xander and bring him back.

“Let’s curse him and get it over with. They’ll need all the help they can get.” s sas said and wordlessly the witches began setting up for the spell.