A Very Ordinary Evil

Part 14 – New Beginnings


Two weeks later


Spike looked around and said “Well, that’s the last of it luv. You ready?”

Willow nodded, and hugged him quickly before getting into the driver’s side cabin of the rented removal truck.

Spike climbed in as well and started the engine. “Have I ever told you how much I hate driving lorries?”

“Ummmm … roughly forty-seven times today.” She grinned at him, teasing.

Spike laughed as he pulled out from her parent’s driveway, heading towards his apartment. In the back was all of his furniture from storage and everything that Willow had wanted to take with her. She had tied up all the loose ends at her parents home, sent them a voice mail message including her new address, telephone and cell phone numbers and the name of her boyfriend ‘William T. Blood.’ She still got giggles from the name Giles had improvised. After much soul searching, she had decided not to let Angel know about her move, and had asked everyone else to avoid mentioning it to him as well.

They drove uneventfully to their new home, and began to unload. {Having a vamp around the house make’s moving and stuff easier.} Willow mused. {Vamp about the House, why does that sound like a TV show?}

She began to help Spike move all their possessions into the ground floor apartment that Spike now owned. It was as she was doing so that she realised that they were not going to be finished by sunrise. “Spike, I guess we better get the bed out and in place now, so when it gets light we can at least sleep in comfort.”

Spike glanced up, and seeing the vague light of false dawn, nodded. He jumped into the back of the truck and moved the bed out, Willow appearing to help him, but was in fact only guiding the bed as Spike took the whole weight. Once they got it into the bedroom, Willow dragged open a carton brought in earlier and threaded heavy black drapes along the curtain rails. “Good, now we’re okay for the day.” She smiled at him and then moved into another embrace. “How did I get so lucky?” She asked him.

Spike grinned down at her, smiled enigmatically and pulled her into a long and very passionate embrace.

* * * *

The following evening saw Spike and Willow complete the unloading of the truck, on this occasion with some help from their friends. Xander and Giles helped with the heavy lifting, while Anya and Cordelia assisted Willow in the arrangement of the furnishings and Spike returned the truck. The telephone lines had been connected, and Willow logged in to check her email accounts, to find a letter from her parents, letting her know that they were expecting to return in less than a week. They included an invitation for Willow and her new partner to come to dinner. She decided to break the news to Spike later, once they were alone.

“So, are we going to see you two at all?” Anya asked. “Or will you be too busy in your little love nest?”

Willow blushed at Anya’s blunt questioning and turned to go into the kitchen. She looked around at the mess still in place and decided to put coffee on. As she rummaged around, hunting out mugs and additives, she listened to the others talking. She could hear the ease with which Cordelia was fitting back in, and the real pleasure that she brought to them with her witticisms and tactlessness. She smiled, pleased that one of those she thought of as ‘the originals’ had returned. {All we need now is for Buffy to get better.} She thought happily.

As she brought the coffee into their new lounge, she smiled. Every seat was occupied, so she would just have to perch on Spikes lap. {Oh, the hardships I suffer for love.} She thought gleefully. She slid the tray with the coffeepot and all it’s associated paraphernalia onto the table and then walked over to sit on the blond’s welcoming lap.

Spike wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck, mock biting, and even slipping into game face for a moment just to bait Xander. Then he looked at his little redhead very seriously. “Red, with you here, my hands are a touch occupied. Can you reach into my duster…”

Spike was interrupted by a chorus of shocked complaints, laughter and—from Anya—a very coarse comment.

“Bloody hell! People complain about me having a one-track mind, but you lot are … are. I’m speechless, totally bloody gobsmacked.”

Spike unwound a hand from Willow’s waist and reached into the upper inside pocket of the coat. He drew out a long legal envelope and gave it to her. “What’s this?” She asked, confused.

“Well, if you don’t open it, you’ll never bloody know.”

Willow giggled as she opened it. He sounded almost like her one elderly uncle, crotchety, irritable and impatient. She drew out the document and opened it. As she read, she began to blink and gasp, she lost all her composure and eventually waved the document at Xander. He took the papers from Willow, read them and then looked at her. “I don’t believe it,” Xander murmured. “I just don’t believe it.”

Meanwhile Willow had buried her head into Spike’s chest and was crying. Spike stroked her hair soothingly, a small grin on his face.

Giles, frustrated by all the emotional tension eventually stood up and took the papers from Xander’s hand. He read them through and then looked at Spike. “This is very handsome of you. Thank you.”

Spike grinned and looked down at Willow, once she had stopped crying.. “Happy being a member of the propertied classes pet?”

Cordelia and Anya looked blankly over at the redhead. “Spike gave me a half share in this apartment!” Willow was so excited she got flustered and began to hyperventilate. Cordelia ran to the kitchen and grabbed a paper bag. “Breathe, hon. Breathe.” Cordelia instructed. Spike gently lifted Willow and put her into the chair he had been occupying, and allowed Cordelia to continue her ministrations.

Anya came over and embraced him, then looked him straight in the eye. “I hope Xander learns from this.” Anya said, in a voice she intended Xander to hear. She kissed Spike on both cheeks and then went back to sit next to her lover.

Cordelia just smiled at Spike as she continued to help Willow get over her shock. She was brushing the little redhead’s hair now, soothing her. Xander and Giles were both stunned by the empathy that Cordelia had developed over the previous two years. Obviously her time in LA had been good for her, although to hear her tell it, it wasn’t good to her.

As Willow regained her composure, she looked up at the bleach blond who had, somehow, become the centerpiece of her life. “Why, Spike? You know it wasn’t necessary.”

“Several reasons pet. First, and most importantly, I wanted to. Second, because we can’t actually marry, what with me being technically dead ‘n’all, It sort of symbolises a life for us together. Thirdly, if you look closely, my name of the title deed is William T. Blood, the identity you started to build for me after Ripper there had his warped inspiration. Lastly, and least importantly, by making you co-owner, we guarantee that any vamps other than me will need an invitation to come in. I like it,” he continued, “when the right thing and the practical thing are one and the same. It happens so rarely.”

As Spike finished speaking, Willow leant over and kissed him once more. “Is there a vampiric version of marriage?” she asked.

Spike looked at her oddly. “Why do you ask pet?”

“Curiosity mainly.”

“Well, I’ll explain some of the usual customs a little later. Does anyone know how Sl … er The Mutant is?”

“Who?” Came a chorus of four voices.

Willow interjected to explain. “When Spike discovered that Buffy wasn’t a slut, he decided that he should call her something else.” Giles began to look a little uncomfortable as she spoke.

Willow looked at three uncomprehending faces. “Spike explained it to me. Slayers are normally like Faith, not Buffy, only less evil than she is. Faith I mean, not Buffy. So, when he met a Slayer who’s name could be mto rto rhyme with something like that…” Willow blushed again as she came to a halt in confusion.

“What my delicate little flower of maidenly rectitude is trying to say, is that sla slayers before the current holder of that dubious title were trollops who’d shag anything that moved, and if it didn’t move they’d try and wake it up. However, none had ever gone so far as to shag a vampire. So when I saw her with the hots for Peaches, I drew a perfectly natural, albeit erroneous, conclusion. It therefore only seemed appropriate to find another term for her.”

Xander blinked and muttered, “Did he just sound more like Giles than Giles, only smuttier?” Anya looked at Xander and began to snigger.

Cordelia looked over at Giles, holding in her laughter. “Is this true? It sounds true. I always thought Buffy dressed … well, you know.”

Giles looked discomforted. He took his glasses off to rub the bridge of his nose. As he did so, he sighed. “Well, actually … yes. It is. The Council likes to keep quiet about it though.”

Willow giggled as she made finger quotes. “‘Do you want to hang around skanky hos’; and skanky hos’ in training? If so apply now to the Watchers Council. Call 1-900…” Willow came to a wheezing halt as she started to laugh so hard she fell off Spike’s lap.

Spike said “Some bloody flower of maidenly rectitude you are!” as he bent down to kiss her and lift her back into his lap.

Giles looked at the rest of the group, vague disapproval warred with his quirky sense of humour; both showing on his face.

“Well, it’s not a very good advertisement. I mean, we are meant to be the stout hearted heroes.” Giles grinned at them.

“Talking of Buffy, what’s the latest?” Cordelia asked

“I spoke to her Doctors two days ago.” Giles answered. “It’s a blessing now that we’ve been given full access. Anyway, they are very happy with her progress, and they’re tapering her off the anti-psychotics. Then, however, comes the hard part, re-adjusting her with psychotherapy. We have to be as supportive as possible and, I hate to say this Willow, but perhaps you should stay in the background at first.”

Willow looked saddened but nodded. “It’ll be hard for me, Giles. But I do see the need for it. She’s my friend too.” She smiled wistfully at the Watcher, sighed and lay her head back on Spike’s chest.

Cordelia realised that the slowly growing tension needed to be broken, so she looked at Spike, and asked brightly. “You were going to tell us vampire stuff.”

Spike looked at her and shook his head. “The Poof didn’t fill your head with stories while you were in la-la land?”

“La-la land?”

“Yeah, la. Ell Ay.” Spike shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t know why I try at times.”

“So, Junior, impart to us your wisdom.” Xander quipped.

Spike took a breath and began. “Listenefulefully. I’m a Master Vampire. You know that. What you don’t know is that one of the responsibilities of a Master is to teach, to impart knowledge. In fact, it’s the origin of the term. A Master helps the fledglings survive. You all know how old I am, so you also know that my schooling was Victorian. I will be testing you on all of this, and I will expect you to be ready with the answers, or face the consequences.” He grinned as four faces looked at him confused, as Giles tried to smother an impish grin. Spike looked over at the Watcher and said “Tell ‘em what I mean, would ya mate.”

Giles grinned maliciously, pure Ripper, as he began to speak. “Spike is saying that the only educational system he experienced was that of Victorian England. At that time, corporal punishment was considered an excellent motivator. So, if you don’t live up to his standards, he’ll cane you.”

Giles gestured for quiet in the uproar that followed. Spike watched closely, and noticed it was primarily Cordelia and Xander who were complaining. Willow appeared to be but her protests lacked the fire that he would normally associate with her reacting in opposition to such an outrageous statement. Anya looked amused, almost as if she intended to wield the cane, rather than receive it. As Giles gestures eventually quietened the protests, he continued. “Given some of your research failures lately, I think it’s a bloody good idea.”

Giles grinned openly as four faces turned to him, shocked. “Good, now we have your complete attention, we can begin.” Giles ducked as Xander threw a cushion at him.

“Who here knows what a vampire is? I don’t mean the propaganda that you hear, I mean what is a vampire’s function, it’s place on the food chain?” Spike began. {He really is a damn good teacher.} Willow thought. {What, precisely, does he mean?}

Spike saw the confused looks and sighed. “A vampire is a predator. It hunts and kills other creatures to survive. So, what does being a predator mean, socially?”

Again he got puzzled looks, but this time Willow suggested an answer. “Not very social. Small groups, dominance based social functions.” As the others looked at her she defended herself. “I watch Discovery Channel.”

Spike beamed. “You’d be teacher’s pet, if you weren’t already.” He grinned as he continued. “Willow’s right. Vampires don’t socialise easily. And what socialising is done is primitive and all based on dominance. You all saw how Angelus behaved towards Dru and I.”

“How does this relate to getting married, Junior?”

“Think about it Chubs. If all vampiric social interaction is based on dominance, doesn’t it follow that sexual relationships and marriage or it’s equivalents would also be based on dominance?”

Xander looked at Spike, and asked, “Where did this come from? How come you’re talking like this? To us I mean.”

Spike blinked and thought. “Bloody Hell!” He shouted. “May all the Gods forgive me, but … but … I’m beginning to like you plonkers.”

Willow laughed delightedly. “Now you see what I love about him Xand. Not the façade, it’s what’s underneath. This is the real Spike.”

Spike cleared his throat intrusively. “However touching this all is, the lesson isn’t over yet. Ripper, I may need those canes you keep in the closet.”

“What … but … how…” Giles stuttered as he blushed

“Simple, I used to live here. I looked around.”

Cordelia and Anya looked curiously at Giles, Xander was opening his mouth repeatedly without any sound emerging, and Willow blushed furiously.

Spike grinned and continued. “Vampiric bonding covers a range of issues and connections. You know about the Sire to Childe bond, after all, Peaches waffled on enough about it. There’s a similar bond through a bloodline, although it become attenuated by distance.”

Cordelia interrupted. “Again with the big words. Just say what you mean.”

Spike shook his head and looked over at Giles. “Youth today. I just don’t know.” He grinned wickedly. “It means lessened, ducks. So, as I was saying, the link between Dru and I is stronger than that between Angel and I, et cetera. Now, there are other bonds as well. When two vampires mate, it’s much like marriage, but the necessary exchange of blood, and the intent of the ritual, to bind the two together, creates a link similar in strength to a Sire to Childe bond. Often, a Sire and Childe will mate, and that increases the intensity of both bonds.”

Seeing everyone strongly focused on what he was saying, he continued. “The other bond made between vampires is the Bond of Fealty. This is socially the most significant, and is always capitalised in its written form. It represents the undertaking by a Master to provide ectiection to his or her minions in exchange for their service to the Master. It dates from feudal times, and is still applicable today. After all, feudal society was also based on dominance. Does everyone understand what I’ve said?” In response to the nods, Spike said “Okay then, questions?”

“What, none at all? Damn, I must be a good teacher.”

“Okay, Fangless, If this ‘Fealty’ thing is so important, why do you burn minions, who you’re supposed to protect, to keep us distracted.?” Xander asked, desperate to take Spike down a peg after his arrogant comment.

Spike grinned. {Works every time.} “I didn’t. I hired those blokes. I wouldn’t set minions up like that. It gets a Master a bad name.”

“Well, why is dominance so important?” Giles asked, acting as a plant for Spike.

“Simple really. It determines who feeds when. The most dominant vampire feeds first, has the choicest kill.”

“Bad case of TMI here, Deadboy Two.” Xander interjected. Spi Spike shook his head. “You want to learn, Moron? If not, push off and let the rest of us get on with it. Any more questions?”

“Yeah.” Cordelia volunteered. “According to you, you can sense Drusilla the strongest, and Angel less strongly, right?” Spike nodded. “Well,” Cordelia continued, “is it like a distance thing?”

“That’s a damn good question. The trouble is, there isn’t a real answer. I can sense the bonds better if I concentrate, and if I’m absorbed by something else, I don’t notice them at all. Distance doesn’t seem to be an issue so much, but it is relevant. When Dru was kicking around in Brazil, I could hardly sense her even when I did think about her. And at first, I thought about her t.” t.”

“So that’s why Drusilla was able to cold cock Angel a few months ago!”

Spike nodded as he amended her comment. “If he was focused on something else, then yes, he wouldn’t sense her even if she was next to him. All the bonds are like that.”

Spike drew in a breath. “There are also bonds between vampires and humans. Do you want to hear about them?”

“Oh no! I so don’t want to hear about them that we’re leaving. Anya, lets go home.”

“But I want to hear this. Xander. I knew about the vampire bonds, but I didn’t know they could be formed with humans.”

“But Anya, hon. I want orgasms.” Xander included a teasing tone and looked at his lover with a puppy dog statement. In the background, he could hear Cordelia gasp, shocked, and Willow giggling quietly.

Anya may have been naïve regarding human norms of behaviour, but she was not stupid. It was obvious that Xander was trying to manipulate her, even using her own faux pas against her. She decided to be stubborn. “Honey,” she began, cuddling into Xander. “You keep saying that we have to get our priorities right. Learning about these bonds is far more important than, what did you call it once … that’s right, a few moments of fleeting bliss.” Anya smiled sweetly at Xander as she locked him into listening.

“So, we’re all decided?” Spike asked, in a deliberately schoolmasterish voice. “Good, then before we move on, it’s pop quiz time. Ripper, I’ll need those canes about now.” He grinned evilly. The multiple looks of shock were a wonderful reward. Knowing that he couldn’t hurt humans meant that some effective terrorising was an acceptable substitute.

Giles went over to the closet to remove the two canes he kept there, a reminder from his early days on the Watcher’s Council when he had worked as the Latin Master at an English public school. He handed them to Spike with a completely straight face and without a word.

Spike grinned as he looked around. “I guess I’ll start with you. I call Willow Red, because of her hair, but I think calling you ‘Blackhead’ just wouldn’t be the same.”

Cordelia looked shocked as Spike delivered the slightly spiteful witticism. “You can call me Cordelia.”

“Nah, that’s no good. I never use people’s real names. Let’s think a moment. Darkie would have been okay back home when I was a lad, but the connotations are wrong here. Blondie just doesn’t work; No one understands irony any more. Okay, I got it, you’re Virtue.” At the confused looked, he explained. “Your name is Cordelia Chased isn’t it?”

“Chase. No D at the end, Deadboy. I guess decomposition is catching up with you.”

Spike glared at the pert brunette, and nodded. “So the word play didn’t work. A chase is a hunt, so what about Huntress?”

“That’s way cool.”

Spike smiled to himself as he considered the wordplays possible. “Well, Huntress, what’s the most important of the bonds?” He asked as he flexed the whippier of the two canes.

“The Bond of Fealty.”

“Good.” Spike acknowledged as he turned to look at Xander. “Now Chubs, your turn. Who is the bond stronger between? Drusilla and I or Drusilla and Angelus?”

Xander looked at Spike. “How come I didn’t get the easy question?” Spike looked at the young man levelly and flexed the cane significantly. “Ummm … I guess…” Xander stammered, “they would be equal.”

Spike smiled as he remarked, “Well done Chubs, one day you may learn to reason.”

Now, Red, your turn. “How would a vampire establish dominance with a human they didn’t intend to kill or bite?”

Willow puzzled for a moment. She knew that Spike was too good a teacher not to have included all the relevant information. {Vampiress are predators, they control one another with violence, they protect their kills, they warn others off by intimidation. Do they intimidate herbivores? Yes, lions scare off animals close to their prey regardless of their habits.} “Intimidation?” she ventured.

Spike nodded. “Yes pet, now see if you can work out the kind of intimidation.”

She watched him and thought about his behaviour during the ‘lesson’. “Physical violence or humiliation?”

“Well done luv. Really good. It’s a pity though, ‘cos now I won’t get a chance to spank you.”

Willow blushed from the roots of her hair to her neck, and possibly further, but her tee shirt stopped anyone from telling. {Oh Goddess! That’s so embarrassing.} She felt her body respond to what Spike had suggested and blushed even more. {Help! I find the idea of him spanking me exciting! What’s wrong with me?}

Spike, unaware of what he had just triggered in Willow’s mind, held her close, but almost absentmindedly. He looked at the clock and said, “I better move onto the other issues, it’s getting late for you lot. So; the vampire to human bonds. There are two common bonds. The Pet, which is a bond created by the exchange of blood accompanied by a ritual. It creates a human plaything for a vampire. A plaything which is dependent on the vampire for it’s continued existence. That is, if the vampire dies, so does the pet. As a result, the pet will do anything necessary to keep the vampire alive. The other is called a Servitor Bond. It normally has to be instituted with a ritual and the human taking the blood of the vampire, although certain vampires can project that bond without any ritual or blood Chubs discovered that the amusing way. Here endeth the lesson.”

In short order, Spike and Willow saw their friends off, waving to them.