Lost in the Dark, Cleansed in the Flame

WARNING!!!! - character death in this chapter.

Please don't flame me. I'm a schmoopy ending addict. Also, the next
chapter is already in beta so should be up soon.

Thanks!

***

Chapter 14 - Final Challenge

For once, the room didn't undergo any surprise changes once they'd
entered it. The cavern was large and seemingly empty. Xander
wondered what their challenge was supposed to be. From the plaque
they'd read at the beginning of this crazy whirly-gig of fun, he knew it
had to be some type of physical challenge. At least his psyche would
get a break for a while.

When the explosion went off it caught them both by surprise. Xander
and Spike were flung to separate sides of the room, losing mental
contact with each other almost immediately. Xander was blinded for
several moments before his eyes re-adjusted and he began looking
around for Spike.

Xander wasn't particularly surprised when he discovered a clear glass
wall across the middle of the room, separating Spike and himself. He
sighed. He glanced around the room trying to determine if anything
else had changed. What was the challenge supposed to be? Was
he supposed to get to Spike? Or wasre sre something else he was
supposed to be focusing on?

So far, the only thing Xander could see besides the glass partition
was Spike. The vampire didn't appear to be able to see him, despite
Xander waving his arms frantically in a bid to gain Spike's attention. It
was almost as if he were looking through one of those police one way
mirror things. He could see Spike, but Spike couldn't see him. And
the bond they shared through the Claim was being blocked.

On the other side of the wall, Spike was desperately trying to find a
way through the barrier that had been erected between Xander and
himself. Xander could see Spike's struggles and his frustration with
the impenetrable barrier. Then a sudden movement from the corner
of the room caught Xander's eye, and he watched in horror as a
section of the wall slid open to reveal a large, rather scaly, demon.

Xander was at the barrier in an instant, banging against it, trying to
get Spike's attention. His lover needed to turn around before it was
too late, but Spike didn't seem to hear any of his attempts. Xander's
heart was beating so hard he was afraid it was going to burst out of
his chest. His relief was palpable when at the last moment the
demon cried out before lunging for Spike. The battle cry alerted the
vampire enough to maneuver out of the way, and then the fight was
on.

Xander felt useless as he watched the scene from beyond the glass
wall. This was worse than all those times he'd sat at the Scooby
meetings and realized that he was the only one in attendance without
anything special to contribute. He had to stand watcwatch while his
lover fought for his life, doing nothing but hoping that Spike wouldn't
need him.

Spike seemed to be holding his own without a problem, although he
was constantly looking around the room. Probably for a weapon to
finally incapacitate his opponent. Then a bright light appeared in front
of Xander, forcing him to take a step back from the wall. In front of
him a picture of two weapons appeared. To his right was a large troll
axe, to his left was a long, machete-like sword.

What was this? Were they allowing him to pick a weapon for Spike?
What would happen once he chose one? Would the other demon get
a weapon as well? Xander didn't want to do anything that might hurt
Spike, but he also didn't want to pass up the chance to help him.
Realizing that the troll axe would probably be too cumbersome for this
particular fight, he lightly touched the image of the sword. Both
pictures dissolved, and as he watched a real sword materialized
within the chamber.

He wanted to yell and point and get Spike's attention but it would do
no good. So he waited. Finally Spike spotted the new addition to the
room and dove for it. Within minutes the demon was decapitated,
and the sword and body dissolved back into nothingness.

Xander was beginning to relax again, when another section of the
cavern wall slid open. This time there were two demons. Neither
were quite as large as the last, but they looked just as ferocious.
They had long, writhing tentacles and faces that looked as if they'd
been smashed flat. Xander suddenly remembered seeing them in
on Gil Giles' books. He couldn't remember their name, of course, but
he did at least remember how to kill them. Too bad there was no way
to tell Spike. Then the wall lit up again, and Xander studied his two
choices.

The left picture was of an ear; the right was of a mouth. What did that
mean? If he pressed the ear would Spike be able to hear him? Or
would he be able to hear Spike? Would the mouth allow them to talk
to each other? Xander looked beyond the glowing pictures to check
on Spike. He was still holding his own, having sent one of the
demons sprawling while he worked out his aggressions on the other.
Then without warning the fallen demon rose up and tackled Spike
from behind.

Spike was now struggling to release himself from the strong grip of
slimy tentacles, spitting curses that Xander could practically hear. In
desperation Xander touched the image of the mouth. The wall
glowed briefly before the two images faded. He called out to Spike,
earnestly hoping he'd made the right choice.

"Spike!" Xander was giddy with relief when Spike's head spun at the
sound of his voice. He could see the vampire mouthing Xander's
name, but was disappointed when he couldn't hear Spike's voice as
well. "Their only vulnerable spot is just over the heart. It's just above
their right tentacle, in their shoulder. Aim for that spot." The words
rushed out of him.

He watched as Spike finally broke out of the demon's hold, spinning,
and in one smooth move jabbing his hand forward into the demon's
shoulder. The hapless creature collapsed to the floor, even as Spike
rounded on the other. The battle was over in seconds; both demons
dissolving into nothingness. Xander tried to call out to Spike again,
but apparently that privilege had also been revoked.

The challenge seemed to go on forever. There were several more
demon battles Xander watching helplessly until each choice was
presented to him. He could tell Spike was getting tired, as the
vampire's stamina and speed were waning. How long would this go
on? What did they have to do to finally end it?

***

On the other side of the glass Spike was tiring. He was worried about
Xander, wondering if he had been going through the same physical
challenges that he had been. That brief moment, seemingly hours
ago, when he'd heard his boy's voice had been the only contact
they'd had since they entered the chamber.

He itched to find a way past that damn wall, but was too busy fighting
for his unlife to do it. Whatever, bloody Mountain King running this
thing better not have hurt his mate, or he'd be the one hurting next.

Spike had been repeatedly trying their link, but nothing had come of
it. He'd been without Xander's presence in his mind more in the past
few days than he had in the past two years. It was a feeling he
couldn't, wouldn't, get used to. Having Xan in his mind, in his bloody
soul, was something that had become so much a part of Spike that he
was sure the permanent loss of it would probably dust him.

Spike was just getting his wind when the chamber wall slid open once
more. This time his opponent was carrying a weapon, a very long,
pointy, *wooden* spear. Spike dropped into a fighting stance and
waited.

***

Xander watched in horror as the latest demon entered the chamber.
He was carrying a wooden spear, the sight of which caused fear to
lance through Xander's body. He watched as Spike dodged each
attempted stab. The creature was either too stupid to aim for Spike's
heart, or purposely going for incapacitation instead in order to prolong
Spike's agony. Either way, each jabbing thrust was aimed for Spike's
stomach, the vampire's agility enabling him to jump out of the way
barely in the nick of time.

In one horribly slow motion moment, Xander watched as Spike's feet
were swept out from under him. The normally quick footed vampire,
slowed and tired from the previous battles, was unable to avoid the
spear as the offending demon swept it across the floor and against
Spike's legs. Xander cried out as he saw his lover fall to the ground
on to his back, incapable of righting himself in time.

"Noooo!" Xander screamed as the spear plunged downward toward
Spike's vulnerable flesh.

Then suddenly the scene froze; vampire and demon stilled as if
statues. The wall in front of Xander glowed. A picture of himself
stood to the left, while a picture of Spike stood to the right. Xander
didn't have to think, he made the only choice he could, pressing
lightning quick on the picture of himself.

He felt an odd tingling sensation, and then he was there, in the
chamber, the demon looming above him. He felt the searing pain as
the spear made contact with his stomach and then pierced through
his skin and probably several organs. The pain dulled into a
throbbing numbness. Somewhere, faraway, he heard Spike's
screams and his heart contracted at the agony in his mate's voice.
When he looked up the demon was gone, replaced by Spike's tear
stained visage.

"Spike." The name whispered across his lips.

"Shhh...don't talk, luv." Spike pressed kisses to his face. The demon
and spear had vanished, but Xander's wounds had not. Spike laid his
palm against the gaping hole trying to stem some of the blood loss
but knew it was a lost cause.

{Why, luv?} Spike asked, the link finally restored.

{You know why, Spike. Couldn't watch you die.} Xander's eyes had
closed, making Spike wonder how much longer they had.

{But, you expect me to watch you die!} Spike wailed.

Xander's eyes blinked opened, and he stared into Spike's blue gaze.
{Yes.}

Spike knew what Xander was saying. They'd discussed it years ago.
Xander had made Spike promise that if the boy were ever mortally
wounded, he wouldn't try to turn him. Spike hadn't thought too much
of it at the time, thinking he had years to change his boy's mind.
Knowing that with his added consort healing abilities that a fatal
wound was highly unlikely.

"Please, Xan." He whispered the words, pleading with his eyes that
Xander change his mind.

{No, Spike. You know I can't live like that.} Then his eyes closed
again, in what seemed to Spike an extremely final gesture. {I love
you.}

{I love you, Xan.} Spike kissed him gently on the lips. He d ted tell
that Xander was unconscious now, oblivious to his surroundings. He
watched his boy, listening to his fading heartbeat.

He could turn him now. There wouldn't be anything to stop him, and
by the time Xan woke up it would be too late. Spike even went so far
as lean forward and nuzzle Xander's neck, his lips finding the weak
pulse point and nibbling gently. But in the end he pulled away.
Knowing that Xander didn't want that. That if he tried it his love might
never forgive him. And that would be worse. Worse than having
Xander gone. Having Xander here, with him, and hating him. He'd
rather go to hell.

So he watched, and cried, and waited, until Xander's heart stopped
beating and his blood stopped flowing. And when the chamber
reverted to its original form, and the hallway to their final destination
opened, Spike picked up Xander's lifeless form and carried him to
retrieve their prize.